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diff --git a/40359-0.txt b/40359-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..721c7a1 --- /dev/null +++ b/40359-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,17504 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 40359 *** + +FAIRY RING + + KATE DOUGLAS WIGGIN + NORA ARCHIBALD SMITH + + + + +_The Fairy Ring_ + + + + +THE CHILDREN'S CRIMSON CLASSICS + + +EDITED BY KATE DOUGLAS WIGGIN AND NORA ARCHIBALD SMITH + + GOLDEN NUMBERS + A Book of Verse for Youth + + THE POSY RING + A Book of Verse for Children + + PINAFORE PALACE + A Book of Rhymes for Children + + _Library of Fairy Literature_ + + THE FAIRY RING + + MAGIC CASEMENTS + A Second Fairy Book + + TALES OF LAUGHTER + A Third Fairy Book + + TALES OF WONDER + A Fourth Fairy Book + + THE TALKING BEASTS + Fables from Every Land + + _OTHER VOLUMES TO FOLLOW_ + +[Illustration: LITTLE BROTHER AND SISTER] + + + + + +CRIMSON CLASSICS + +THE FAIRY RING + +EDITED BY KATE DOUGLAS WIGGIN and NORA ARCHIBALD SMITH + + +[Illustration] + + ILLUSTRATED BY ELIZABETH MACKINSTRY + + + DOUBLEDAY, DORAN & COMPANY, INC. + GARDEN CITY 1934 NEW YORK + + + + + _Copyright, 1906, by_ + MCCLURE, PHILLIPS & CO. + + COPYRIGHT, 1910, BY + DOUBLEDAY, PAGE & COMPANY + + PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES + AT + THE COUNTRY LIFE PRESS, GARDEN CITY, N. Y. + + + + +_Messrs. McClure, Phillips & Company wish to make acknowledgment of +their indebtedness to the following publishers:_ + +_Little, Brown & Company, for permission to use "Blanche and Vermilion" +and "Prince Desire and Princess Mignonette" from Old-Fashioned Fairy +Tales;_ + +_A. Wessells Company, for permission to use the story of "The Clever +Prince" from Fairy Tales from Afar;_ + +_American Book Company, for permission to use "Drakesbill and His +Friends" from Fairy Tales and Fables;_ + +_University Publishing Company, for permission to use "The Troll's +Hammer" from Fairy Life;_ + +_Harper & Brothers, for permission to use "The Fair One with Golden +Locks," "The White Cat," "Prince Cherry," and "The Frog Prince" from +Miss Mulock's Fairy Book, and "Yvon and Finette," "The Twelve Months," +and "The Story of Coquerico" from Laboulaye's Fairy Tales of all +Nations;_ + +_G. P. Putnam's Sons, for permission to use "History of Tom Thumb" and +"Tattercoats" from Joseph Jacobs's English Fairy Tales; "Munachar and +Manachar" from Joseph Jacobs's Celtic Fairy Tales; and "Master Tobacco," +"Mother Roundabout's Daughter," and "The Sheep and the Pig" from +Dasent's Tales from the Field;_ + +_F. A. Stokes Company, for permission to use "Lars, My Lad," and +"Twigmuntus and Cowbelliantus" from Fairy Tales from the Swedish;_ + +_Longmans, Green & Company, for permission to use the following +stories: "The Yellow Dwarf," "The Many-Furred Creature," "Spindle, +Shuttle, and Needle," "Princess and the Glass Hill," "The Golden Crab," +"The Magic Ring," "Snow-white and Rose-red," "Graciosa and Percinet," +"The Iron Stove," "The Good Little Mouse," and "The Three Feathers" from +the Andrew Lang Fairy Books._ + +_We also wish to express our thanks to Mr. Seumas MacManus, for +permission to use "The Bee, the Harp, and the Bum-Clock," "The Long +Leather Bag," and "The Widow's Daughter" from his books, Donegal Fairy +Tales and In Chimney Corners, published by us._ + + + + +_CONTENTS_ + + + SCANDINAVIAN + PAGE + EAST O' THE SUN AND WEST O' THE MOON 3 + THE GOLDEN LANTERN, GOLDEN GOAT, AND GOLDEN CLOAK 13 + MOTHER ROUNDABOUT'S DAUGHTER 21 + THE BEAR AND SKRATTEL 28 + THE GOLDEN BIRD 37 + THE DOLL IN THE GRASS 45 + THE PRINCESS ON THE GLASS HILL 47 + THE RAM AND THE PIG WHO WENT INTO THE WOODS + TO LIVE BY THEMSELVES 56 + THE TROLL'S HAMMER 60 + THE CLEVER PRINCE 65 + "LARS, MY LAD!" 70 + TWIGMUNTUS, COWBELLIANTUS, PERCHNOSIUS 85 + + ENGLISH + MASTER TOBACCO 89 + THE HISTORY OF TOM THUMB 95 + TATTERCOATS 101 + HISTORY OF JACK THE GIANT-KILLER 104 + + FRENCH + YVON AND FINETTE 109 + THE FAIR ONE WITH GOLDEN LOCKS 138 + THE LITTLE GOOD MOUSE 148 + THE STORY OF BLANCHE AND VERMILION 161 + PRINCE DESIRE AND PRINCESS MIGNONETTA 165 + THE YELLOW DWARF 171 + GRACIOSA AND PERCINET 179 + DRAK, THE FAIRY 197 + DRAKESBILL AND HIS FRIENDS 202 + RIQUET WITH THE TUFT 209 + THE WHITE CAT 216 + PRINCE CHERRY 229 + THE TWELVE MONTHS 264 + + SPANISH + THE STORY OF COQUERICO 254 + THE BIRD-CAGE MAKER 259 + + GAELIC + THE BEE, THE HARP, THE MOUSE, AND THE BUM-CLOCK 271 + THE LONG LEATHER BAG 279 + THE WIDOW'S DAUGHTER 288 + MUNACHAR AND MANACHAR 292 + + GERMAN + THE WILD SWANS 238 + THE ROAD TO FORTUNE 295 + THE GOLDEN CRAB 301 + THE TABLE, THE ASS, AND THE STICK 307 + THE LITTLE BROTHER AND SISTER 318 + THE OLD GRIFFIN 324 + THE THREE FEATHERS 330 + THE HOUSE IN THE WOOD 334 + RAPUNZEL 339 + THE QUEEN BEE 343 + THE MANY-FURRED CREATURE 345 + SNOW-WHITE AND ROSE-RED 350 + THE FROG PRINCE 357 + THE GOOSE GIRL 361 + BRIAR ROSE 367 + THE IRON STOVE 370 + RUMPEL-STILTS-KEN 376 + FAITHFUL JOHN, THE KING'S SERVANT 379 + SPINDLE, SHUTTLE, AND NEEDLE 386 + + RUSSIAN + THE MAGIC EGG 390 + THE SPARROW AND THE BUSH 402 + THE IRON WOLF 404 + + EAST INDIAN + THE GRATEFUL COBRA 408 + THE MAGIC RING 413 + TIT FOR TAT 426 + THE BRAHMAN, THE TIGER, AND THE SIX JUDGES 427 + MUCHIE LAL 431 + THE VALIANT CHATTEEMAKER 439 + + + +_ILLUSTRATIONS_ + + + LITTLE BROTHER AND SISTER _Frontispiece_ + FACING + PAGE + THE LASSIE RIDING OVER THE SEA ON THE BACK OF + THE NORTH WIND 10 + THE TROLL'S HUT, THE LANTERN, AND THE GOAT WITH + THE GOLDEN HORNS 14 + "SHE SAID SHE WOULD SIT AND DRIVE IN A SILVER + SPOON" 46 + JUST AS CINDERLAD TURNED HIS HORSE AROUND, THE + PRINCESS THREW THE GOLDEN APPLE 52 + "AND WHEN HE SET HER DOWN HE GAVE HER A KISS" 90 + TATTERCOATS FORGOT ALL HER TROUBLES AND FELL TO + DANCING 102 + "THE GIANT AND THE CONJURER NOW KNEW THAT THEIR + WICKED COURSE WAS AT AN END" 108 + "HE FLUNG HUGE MASSES OF ROCK AFTER THE VESSEL" 122 + "SHE WORE THEM ALWAYS...LOOSE AND FLOWING" 138 + "I FEEL AS IF I WERE THE DAUGHTER OF SOME GREAT + KING" 158 + "HE WAS A WEEK TRYING TO TREAD ON THIS FATAL TAIL" 166 + THE MERMAID TAKING THE KING OF THE GOLDEN MINES TO + THE STEEL CASTLE 178 + "MICHEAL, PETRIFIED, STOOD MUTE, . . . CONTEMPLATING + WITH A FRIGHTENED AIR THIS INCONGRUOUS DANCE" 200 + "ELIZA WENT, AND THE KING AND THE ARCHBISHOP FOLLOWED + HER" 252 + "MARCH ROSE IN TURN, AND STIRRED THE FIRE WITH THE + STAFF, WHEN BEHOLD! . . . IT WAS SPRING" 266 + "AN UGLY OLD WOMAN WITH THE MOST MONSTROUS NOSE EVER + BEHELD" 292 + "IN THIS WAY THE FISHERMAN CARRIED HIM TO THE CASTLE" 304 + "IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT, WHEN GRIFFIN WAS SNORING + AWAY LUSTILY, JACK REACHED UP AND PULLED A + FEATHER OUT OF HIS TAIL" 328 + "THEN DUMMLING'S LOVELY MAIDEN SPRANG LIGHTLY AND + GRACEFULLY THROUGH THE RING" 332 + ""WHAT ARE YOU STANDING THERE GAPING FOR?" SCREAMED + THE DWARF" 356 + "FALADA, FALADA, THERE THOU HANGEST!" 364 + "AT LAST HE REACHED THE TOWER . . . WHERE BRIER ROSE + WAS ASLEEP" 370 + "JUST AS IT HAD COME TO THE END OF THE GOLDEN THREAD + IT REACHED THE KING'S SON" 388 + "THE RANEE SAID, 'THIS IS A DEAR LITTLE GIRL'" 434 + + + Throned on a grassy knoll, I watch + The elfin host come trooping by, + And hear the whir of fairy wings, + The goblin voices, shrill and high. + Behind them glides a magic train + Of Kings and Princes, armor-clad, + And serving as their squires bold + Boots, Ashiepattle, Cinderlad. + With silken rustle, flash of gem, + Queen and Czaritsa sweep along, + While red-capped Troll and rainbow Sprite + Peep out amid the enchanted throng. + + _Ting-ling, ting-ling, how sweet the ring, + Like golden bells, of fairy laughter; + Rap-tap, rap-tap, how sharp the clap + Of fairy footfalls following after!_ + + Where witch-grass grows and fern-seed lies, + A Fairy Ring is dimly seen; + And there a glitt'ring host is met + To dance upon the moonlit green. + Riquet, the Tufted, lightly turns + The Fair One with the Golden Hair; + And Prince Desire and Mignonette + Form yet another graceful pair. + Tall as a tower stands Galifron; + The Desert Fay, with snakes bedight, + First pirouettes with him and then + With wee Tom Thumb, King Arthur's Knight. + + _Ting-ling, ting-ling, how sweet the ring, + Like golden bells, of fairy laughter; + Rap-tap, rap-tap, how sharp the clap + Of fairy footfalls following after!_ + + Sweet, unseen harpers harp and sing, + Faint elfin horns the air repeat; + Rapunzel shakes her shining braids, + The White Cat trips with velvet feet. + Rose-red, Snow-white, the faithful Bear, + Cross hands with gallant Percinet; + While Tattercoats, in turn, salutes + Yvon, the Fearless, and Finette. + --But hark! the cock begins to crow; + The darkness turns to day, and, look! + The fairy dancers whirl within + The crimson covers of this book! + NORA ARCHIBALD SMITH + + + + +_INTRODUCTION_ + + +_"THERE was once upon a time a king who had a garden; in that garden was +an apple tree, and on that apple tree grew a golden apple every year."_ + +_These stories are the golden apples that grew on the tree in the king's +garden; grew and grew and grew as the golden years went by; and being +apples of gold they could never wither nor shrink nor change, so that +they are as beautiful and precious for you to pluck to-day as when first +they ripened long, long ago._ + +_Perhaps you do not care for the sort of golden apples that grew in the +king's garden; perhaps you prefer plain russets or green pippins? Well, +these are not to be despised, for they also are wholesome food for +growing boys and girls; but unless you can taste the flavor and feel the +magic that lies in the golden apples of the king's garden you will lose +one of the joys of youth._ + +_No one can help respecting apples (or stories) that gleam as brightly +to-day as they did hundreds and thousands of years ago, when first the +tiny blossoms ripened into precious fruit._ + + _"Should you ask me whence these stories, + Whence these legends and traditions + With the odors of the forest, + With the dew and damp of meadows?"--_ + +_I can say only that the people were telling fairy tales in Egypt, in +Joseph's time, more than three thousand years ago; and that grand old +Homer told them in the famous "Odyssey," with its witches and giants, +its cap of darkness, and shoes of swiftness. Old nurses and village +crones have repeated them by the fireside and in the chimney corner; +shepherds and cowherds have recounted them by the brookside, until the +children of the world have all learned them by heart, bequeathing them, +generation after generation, as a priceless legacy to their own +children. Nor must you fancy that they have been told in your own tongue +only. Long, long before the art of printing was known, men and women of +all nations recited these and similar tales to one another, never +thinking that the day would come when they would be regarded as the +peculiar property of youth and childhood. There is not a country in +Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, or the islands of the sea where fairy +stories of one sort or another have not been current since the dawn of +speech; and to make this Fairy Ring of sixty-odd tales the editors have +read and sifted as many hundreds. You will miss Cinderella, Red Riding +Hood, Jack and the Beanstalk, Toads and Diamonds, Puss in Boots, +Bluebeard, Beauty and the Beast, and other favorites, but these have +been omitted because they can be easily found in half a dozen volumes +already on your shelves, and we preferred to give you in their stead +stories less well known and hackneyed._ + +_The so-called Household Tales, such as Drakesbill, The Little Good +Mouse, and The Grateful Cobra go back to the times when men thought of +animals as their friends and brothers, and in the fireside stories of +that period the central figures were often wise and powerful beasts, +beasts that had language, assumed human form, and protected as well as +served mankind. Frogs, fishes, birds, wolves, cobras, cats, one and all +win our sympathy, admiration, and respect as we read of their deeds of +prowess, their sagacious counsel, their superhuman power of overcoming +obstacles and rescuing from danger or death the golden-haired princess, +the unhappy queen mother, or the intrepid but unfortunate prince._ + +_The giants and ogres and witches in the fairy stories need not greatly +affright even the youngest readers. For the most part they overreach +themselves in ill-doing and are quite at the mercy (as they properly +should be) of the brave and virtuous knight or the clever little +princess._ + +_If you chance to be an elder brother or sister it may surprise and +distress you to find that all the grace, courage, wit, and beauty, as +well as most of the good fortune, are vested in the youngest member of +the household. The fairy-tale family has customs of its own when it +comes to the distribution of vices and virtues, and the elder sons and +daughters are likely to be haughty, selfish, and cruel, while the +younger ones are as enchantingly beautiful as they are marvelously +amiable. The malevolent stepmother still further complicates the +domestic situation, and she is so wicked and malicious that if it were +not for the dear and delightful one in your own household, or the +equally lovable one next door, you might think stepmothers worse than +ogres or witches. I cannot account for this prejudice, except that +perhaps the ideal of mother love and mother goodness has always been so +high in the world that the slightest deviation from it has been held up +to scorn. As for the superhuman youngest son and daughter, perhaps they +are used only to show us that the least and humblest things and persons +are capable of becoming the mightiest and most powerful._ + +_Wiseacres (and people who have no love for golden apples) say that in +many of these tales "The greater the rogue the better his fortune"; but +the Grimm brothers, most famous and most faithful of fairy-tale +collectors, reply that the right user of these narratives "will find no +evil therein, but, as an old proverb has it, merely a witness of his own +heart. Children point at the stars without fear, while others, as the +popular superstition goes, thereby offend the angels."_ + +_The moment you have plucked a golden apple from the magic tree in the +king's garden (which phrase, being interpreted, means whenever you begin +one of the tales in this book) you will say farewell to time and space +as readily as if you had put on a wishing cap, or a pair of seven league +boots, or had blown an elfin pipe to call the fairy host. It matters not +when anything happened. It is "Once upon a time," or "A long time ago." +As to just where, that is quite as uncertain and unimportant, for we all +feel familiar with the fairy-tale landscape, which has delightful +features all its own, and easily recognizable. The house is always in +the heart of a deep, deep wood like the one "amidst the forest darkly +green" where Snowwhite lived with the dwarfs. You know the Well at the +World's End whence arose the Frog Prince; the Glass Mountain that +Cinderlad climbed, first in his copper, then in his silver, then in his +golden armor; the enchanted castle where the White Cat dwelt; the sea +over which Faithful John sailed with the Princess of the Golden Roof._ + +_In the story of The Spindle, the Shuttle, and the Needle, the prince +has just galloped past the cottage in the wood where the maiden is +turning her wheel, when the spindle leaps out of her hand to follow him +on his way--leaps and dances and pursues him along the woodland path, +the golden thread dragging behind. Then the prince turns (fairy princes +always turn at the right time), sees the magic spindle, and, led by the +shimmering thread, finds his way back to the lovely princess, the +sweetest, loveliest, thriftiest, most bewitching little princess in the +whole world, and a princess he might never have found had it not been +for the kind offices of the spindle, shuttle, and needle._ + +_This book is the magic spindle; the stories that were golden apples +have melted into a golden thread, a train of bright images that will +lead you into a radiant country where no one ever grows old; where, when +the prince finds and loves the princess, he marries her and they are +happy ever after; where the obstacles of life melt under the touch of +comprehending kindness; where menacing clouds of misfortune are blown +away by gay good will; and where wicked little trolls are invariably +defeated by wise simpletons._ + +_We feel that we can do anything when we journey in this enchanting +country. Come, then, let us mount and be off; we can ride fast and far, +for imagination is the gayest and fleetest of steeds. Let us climb the +gilded linden tree and capture the Golden Bird. Let us plunge into the +heart of the Briar Wood where the Rose o' the World lies sleeping. Let +us break the spell that holds all her court in drowsy slumber, and +then, coming out into the sunshine, mount and ride again into the +forest. As we pass the Fairy Tree on the edge of the glade we will pluck +a Merry Leaf, for this, when tucked away in belt or pouch, will give us +a glad heart and a laughing eye all the day long. We shall meet ogres, +no doubt, and the more the merrier, for, like Finette, we have but to +cry "Abracadabra!" to defeat not ogres only, but wicked bailiffs, +stewards, seneschals, witch hags, and even the impossibly vicious +stepmother! Cormoran and Blunderbore will quail before us, for our magic +weapons, like those of Cornish Jack, will be all-powerful. Then, flushed +with triumph we will mount the back of the North Wind and search for the +castle that lies East o' the Sun and West o' the Moon. Daylight will +fade, the stars come out, the fire burn low on the hearth, playmates' +voices sound unheeded. We shall still sit in the corner of the window +seat with the red-covered volume on our knees; for hours ago the magic +spindle wrought its spell, and we have been following the golden thread +that leads from this work-a-day world into fairyland._ + + _KATE DOUGLAS WIGGIN_ + + + + +_East o' the Sun and West o' the Moon_ + + +ONCE on a time there was a poor husbandman who had so many children that +he hadn't much of either food or clothing to give them. Pretty children +they all were, but the prettiest was the youngest daughter, who was so +lovely that there was no end to all her loveliness. + +So one day--'twas on a Thursday evening, late at the fall of the year, +the weather was so wild and rough outside, and it was so cruelly dark, +and rain fell and wind blew till the walls of the cottage shook +again--there they all sat round the fire, busy with this thing and that. +But just then, all at once, something gave three taps on the windowpane. +Then the father went out to see what was the matter, and when he got out +of doors, what should he see but a great big white bear! + +"Good evening to you," said the White Bear. + +"The same to you," said the man. + +"Will you give me your youngest daughter? If you will, I'll make you as +rich as you are now poor," said the Bear. + +Well, the man would not be at all sorry to be rich, but still he thought +he must have a bit of a talk with his daughter first, so he went in and +told them how there was a great white bear waiting outside, who had +given his word to make them rich if he could only have the youngest +daughter. + +The lassie said "No" outright. Nothing could get her to say anything +else. So the man went out and settled it with the White Bear that he +should come again the next Thursday evening and get an answer. + +Meantime, he talked his daughter over, and kept on telling her of all +the riches they would get, and how well off she would be herself; and +so at last she thought better of it, and washed and mended her rags, +made herself as smart as she could, and was ready to start. + +Next Thursday evening came the White Bear to fetch her, and she got upon +his back with her bundle, and off they went. + +So, when they had gone a bit of the way, the White Bear said: + +"Are you afraid?" + +No, she wasn't. + +"Well, mind and hold tight to my shaggy coat, and then there's nothing +to fear," said the White Bear. + +So she rode a long, long way, until they came to a very steep hill. +There, on the face of it, the White Bear gave a knock, and a door +opened, and they came into a castle where there were many rooms, all lit +up, rooms gleaming with silver and gold, and there, too, was a table +ready laid, and it was all as grand as grand could be. + +Then the White Bear gave her a silver bell, and when she wanted anything +she had only to ring it and she would get it at once. + +Well, after she had eaten and drunk, and evening wore on, she got sleepy +after her journey, and thought she would like to go to bed. So she rang +the bell, and she had scarce taken hold of it before she came into a +chamber where there was a bed made, as fair and white as anyone could +wish to sleep in, with silken pillows and curtains and gold fringe. + +She slept quite soundly until morning; then she found her breakfast +waiting in a pretty room. When she had eaten it, the girl made up her +mind to take a walk around, in order to find out if there were any other +people there besides herself. + +But she saw nobody but an old woman, whom she took to be a witch, and as +the dame beckoned to her, the girl went at once. + +"Little girl," said the Witch, "if you'll promise not to say a word to +anybody, I'll tell you the secret about this place." + +Of course, the girl promised at once, so the old dame said: + +"In this house there lives a White Bear, but you must know that he is +only a White Bear in the daytime. Every night he throws off his beast +shape and becomes a man, for he is under the spell of a wicked fairy. +Now, be sure and not mention this to anybody, or misfortune will come," +and with these words she disappeared. + +So things went on happily for some time, but at last the girl began to +grow sad and sorrowful, for she went about all day alone, and she longed +to go home to see her father and mother and brothers and sisters. + +"Well, well," said the Bear, "perhaps there's a cure for all this +sorrow. But you must promise me one thing. When you go home, you mustn't +talk about me, except when they are all present, or, if you do, you will +bring bad luck to both of us." + +So one Sunday the White Bear came and said now they would set off to see +her father and mother. + +Well, off they started, she sitting on his back, and they went far and +long. At last they came to a grand house, and there her brothers and +sisters were running about out of doors at play, and everything was so +pretty 'twas a joy to see. + +"This is where your father and mother live now," said the White Bear; +"but don't forget what I told you, or you'll make us both unlucky." + +No--bless her!--she'd not forget, and when they reached the house the +White Bear turned right about and left her. + +Then, when she went in to see her father and mother, there was such joy +there was no end to it. None of them could thank her enough for all the +good fortune she had brought them. + +They had everything they wished, as fine as could be, and they all +wanted to know how she got on and where she lived. + +Well, she said it was very good to live where she did, and she had all +she wished. What she said besides I don't know, but I don't believe any +of them had the right end of the stick, or that they got much out of +her. + +But after dinner her sister called her outside the room, and asked all +manner of questions about the White Bear--whether he was cross, and +whether she ever set eyes on him, and such like--and the end of it all +was that she told her sister the story of how the White Bear was under a +spell. + +But the other girl wouldn't listen to the story, for she said it +couldn't be true, and this made the youngest daughter very angry. + +In the evening the White Bear came and fetched her away, and when they +had gone a bit of the way he asked her whether she had done as he had +told her and refused to speak about him. + +Then she confessed that she had spoken a few words to her sister about +him, and the Bear was very angry, for he said she would surely bring bad +luck to them both. + +When they reached home, she remembered how her sister had refused to +believe the story about the White Bear, so in the night, when she knew +that the Bear was fast asleep, she stole out of bed, lighted her candle, +and crept into his room. Yes, there he lay fast asleep, but instead of +being a White Bear, he was the handsomest Prince you ever saw. She gave +such a start that she dropped three spots of hot tallow from the candle +on to his pillow, so she ran off in a great fright. + +Next morning the White Bear said to her: "I fear you have found out my +secret, for I saw the drops of tallow on my pillow this morning, and now +I know that you spoke to your sister about me. If you had only kept +quiet for a whole year, then I should have become a man for always, and +I should have made you my wife at once. But now all ties are snapped +between us, and I must go away to a big castle which stands East o' the +sun and West o' the moon, and there, too, lives a Princess with a nose +three ells long, and she's the wife I must have now." + +The girl wept, and took it ill, but there was no help for it, go he +must. + +Then she asked if she mightn't go with him. + +No! she mightn't. + +"Tell me the way, then," she said, "and I'll search you out; that, +surely, I may get leave to do." + +Yes; she might do that, but there was no way to the place. It lay East +o' the sun and West o' the moon, and thither she'd never find her way. + +So next morning, when she woke, both Prince and castle were gone, and +there she lay on a little green patch, in the midst of the thick, gloomy +wood, and by her side lay the same bundle of rags that she had brought +with her from her old home. + +So when she had rubbed the sleep from her eyes, and wept till she was +tired, she set out on her way and walked many, many days, till she came +to a lofty crag. Under it sat an old hag, who played with a golden +apple, which she tossed about. The lassie asked her if she knew the way +to the Prince who lived in the castle that lay East o' the sun and West +o' the moon, and who was to marry a Princess with a nose three ells +long. + +"How did you come to know about him?" said the old hag; "but maybe you +are the lassie who ought to have had him?" + +Yes, she was. + +"So, so, it's you, is it?" said the old hag. "Well, all I know about him +is that he lives in the castle that lies East o' the sun and West o' the +moon, and thither you'll come, late or never; but still you may have the +loan of my horse, and on him you can ride to my next neighbor. Maybe +she'll be able to tell you what you want to know; and when you get +there, just give the horse a switch under the left ear, and beg him to +be off home; and stay, you may take this golden apple with you." + +So she got upon the horse and rode a long, long time, till she came to +another crag, under which sat another old hag, with a golden +carding-comb in her hand. The lassie asked her if she knew the way to +the castle that lay East o' the sun and West o' the moon, and she +answered, like the first old hag, that she knew nothing about it, except +that it was East o' the sun and West o' the moon. + +"And thither you'll come, late or never; but you shall have the loan of +my horse to go to my next neighbor; maybe she'll tell you all about it; +and when you get there, just switch the horse under the left ear and beg +him to be off home." + +And this old hag gave her the golden carding-comb; it might be she'd +find some use for it, she said. So the lassie got up on the horse and +rode far, far away, and had a weary time; and so at last she came to +another great crag, under which sat another old hag, spinning with a +golden spinning wheel. The lassie asked her, too, if she knew the way to +the Prince and where the castle was that lay East o' the sun and West o' +the moon. So it was the same thing over again. + +"Maybe it's you who ought to have had the Prince?" said the old hag. + +Yes, it was. + +But, she, too, didn't know the way a bit better than the other two. East +o' the sun and West o' the moon she knew it was; that was all. + +"And thither you'll come, late or never; but I'll lend you my horse, and +then I think you'd best ride to the East Wind and ask him; maybe he +knows those parts and can blow you thither. But when you get to him, you +need only give the horse a switch under the left ear, and he'll trot +home of himself." + +And so, too, she gave the lassie the golden spinning wheel. + +"Maybe you'll find a use for it," said the old hag. + +Then on she rode a great many weary days before she got to the East +Wind's house; but at last she did reach it, and then she asked the East +Wind if he could tell her the way to the Prince who dwelt East o' the +sun and West o' the moon. Yes, the East Wind had often heard about them, +both the Prince and the castle, but he couldn't tell her the way, for +he'd never blown so far. + +"But, if you will, I'll go with you to my brother, the West Wind; maybe +he's been there, for he's much stronger. So, if you will just jump on my +back, I'll carry you thither." + +Yes, she got on his back, and I should just think they went swiftly +along. + +So, when they reached there, they went into the West Wind's house, and +the East Wind said the lassie he had brought was the one that ought to +have married the Prince who lived in the castle East o' the sun and West +o' the moon, and that she had set out to seek him. He then said how he +had come with her, and would be glad to know if the West Wind knew how +to get to the castle. + +"Nay," said the West Wind, "for I've never blown so far; but, if you +will, I'll go with you to our brother, the South Wind, for he's much +stronger than either of us, and he has flapped his wings both far and +wide. Maybe he'll tell you; so you can get on my back and I'll carry you +to him." + +Yes, she got on his back, and so they traveled to the South Wind, and +they weren't so very long on the way, I should think. + +When they reached there, the West Wind asked him if he could tell them +the way to the castle that lay East o' the sun and West o' the moon, for +this was the lassie who ought to have married the Prince who lived +there. + +"You don't say so! That's she, is it?" said the South Wind. "Well, I've +blustered about in most places in my time, but so far I have never +blown; but, if you will, I'll take you to my brother, the North Wind; he +is the oldest and strongest of all of us. If he doesn't know where to +find the place, you will never find anybody to tell you where it is. You +can get on my back and I'll carry you thither." + +Yes, she got on his back, and away he went from his house at a very high +rate, and this time, too, she wasn't long on her way. + +When they got to the North Wind's house, he was so wild and cross that +the puffs came from quite a long way off. + +"WHAT DO YOU WANT?" he roared out to them, in such a voice that it made +them both shiver. + +"Well," said the South Wind, "you needn't talk like that, for here I am, +your brother, the South Wind, and here is the lassie who ought to have +had the Prince who dwells at the castle that lies East o' the sun and +West o' the moon, and now she wants to know if you were ever there, and +can tell her the way, for she would be so glad to find it again." + +[Illustration: THE LASSIE RIDING OVER THE SEA ON THE BACK OF THE NORTH +WIND] + +"YES! I KNOW WELL ENOUGH WHERE IT IS," said the North Wind. "Once in my +life I blew an aspen leaf there, but I was so tired that I couldn't blow +another puff for days after. But if you really wish to go there, and +aren't afraid to trust yourself to me, I'll take you on my back and blow +you thither." + +Yes! with all her heart. She must and would get thither, if it were +possible in any way; and as for fear, however madly he went, she +wouldn't be at all afraid. + +"Very well, then," said the North Wind. "But you must sleep here +to-night, for we must have the whole day before us if we are to get +thither at all." + +Early next morning the North Wind woke her, and puffed himself up, and +blew himself out, and made himself so stout and big 'twas fearful to +look at him; so off they went, up through the air, as if they would +never stop till they came to the world's end. + +Down below there was such a storm, it threw down long tracts of wood and +many houses, and when it swept over the great sea, ships foundered by +hundreds. + +So they tore on and on--nobody can believe how far they went--and all +the while they still went over the sea, and the North Wind got more and +more weary, and so out of breath he could scarce get out a puff. His +wings drooped and drooped, till at last he sank so low that the crests +of the waves dashed over his heels. + +"Are you afraid?" asked the North Wind. + +No, she wasn't. + +But they weren't very far from land, and the North Wind had still so +much strength in him that he managed to throw her upon the shore under +the windows of the castle which lay East o' the sun and West o' the +moon; but then he was so weak and worn out that he had to stay there and +rest for many days before he was fit to return home. + +Next morning the lassie sat down under the castle window and began to +play with the golden apple; and the first person she saw was Long-nose, +who was to marry the Prince. + +"What do you want for your golden apple, lassie?" said Long-nose; and +she threw up the window. + +"It's not for sale, for gold or money," said the lassie. + +"If it's not for sale for gold or money, what is it that you will sell +it for?" said the Princess. "You may name your own price for it." + +"Well, if you will let me speak a few words alone with the Prince who +lives in the castle, I will give you the apple," she answered. + +Yes, she might; that could be done. So the Princess got the golden +apple, and the lassie was shown into the Prince's room. But when she got +inside she found that the Prince was fast asleep, and although she shook +him and called him loudly, it was no use, for she couldn't wake him, so +she had to go away again. + +Next day she sat down under the castle window again, and began to card +with her golden carding-comb; and the same thing happened. The Princess +asked what she wanted for it; and she said it wasn't for sale for either +gold or money, but that if she might have a few words alone with the +Prince, the Princess should have the comb. + +So she was taken up to the Prince's room, and again she found him fast +asleep; and although she wept and shook him for quite a long time she +couldn't get life into him. + +So the next morning the lassie sat down under the castle window and +began to spin with her golden spinning wheel; and that, too, the +Princess with the long nose wanted to have. + +So she threw up the window and asked what the lassie wanted for it; and +the girl said, as she had said twice before, that if she might have a +few words alone with the Prince the Princess might have the wheel, and +welcome. + +Yes, she might do that; and the lassie was shown again into the Prince's +room. This time he was wide awake, and he was very pleased indeed to see +her. + +"Ah!" said the Prince, "you've just come in the nick of time, for +to-morrow is to be our wedding day; but now I won't have Long-nose, and +you are the bride for me. I'll just say that I want to find out what my +wife is fit for, and then I'll beg her to wash the pillow slip which has +on it the three spots of tallow. She will be sure to say 'Yes'; but when +she tries to get out the spots she'll soon find that it is not possible, +for she is a troll, like all the rest of her family, and it is not +possible for a troll to get rid of the marks. Then I'll say that I won't +have any other bride than she who can wash out the spots of tallow, and +I'll call you in to do it." + +The wedding was to take place next day, so just before the ceremony the +Prince said: + +"First of all, I'd just like to see what my bride is fit for." + +"Yes," said the mother, "I'm quite willing." + +"Well, I have a pillow slip which, somehow or other, has got some spots +of grease on it, and I have sworn never to take any bride but the woman +who is able to wash them out for me. If she can't do that, she is not +worth having." + +Well, that was no great thing, they said, so they agreed; and she with +the long nose began to wash away as hard as ever she could; but the more +she rubbed and scrubbed the bigger the spots grew. + +"Ah!" said the old hag, her mother, "you can't wash; let me try." + +But she hadn't long taken the job in hand before it got far worse than +ever; and with all her rubbing, wringing, and scrubbing, the spots grew +bigger and blacker and darker and uglier. + +Then all the other trolls began to wash; but the longer it lasted the +blacker and uglier it grew, until at last it looked as though it had +been up the chimney. + +"Ah!" said the Prince, "you are none of you worth a straw; you can't +wash. Why, there outside sits a beggar lassie, and I'll be bound she +knows how to wash better than the whole lot of you." + +So he shouted to the lassie to come in, and in she came. + +"Can you wash this clean, lassie?" said he. + +"I don't know, but I think I can." + +And almost before she had taken it and dipped it in the water, it was +white as driven snow, and whiter still. + +"Yes, you are the lassie for me," said the Prince. + +At that the old hag flew in such a rage that she burst on the spot, and +the Princess with the long nose after her; and then the whole pack of +trolls did the same. + +As for the Prince and Princess, they had a grand wedding, and lived +happily at the castle East o' the sun and West o' the moon until the end +of their days. + + + + +_The Golden Lantern, Golden Goat, and Golden Cloak_ + + +THERE was once a poor widow who had three sons. The two elder went out +to work for their living and while at home they were of little use, as +they seldom did as their mother wished, whatever she might say to them. +But the youngest lad always remained at home, and helped the old widow +in her daily occupations. Hence he was much beloved by his mother, but +disliked by his brothers, who in mockery gave him the nickname of +_Pinkel_. + +One day the old widow said to her sons: "You must all go abroad in the +world, and seek your fortunes while you can. I am no longer able to feed +you here at home, now that you are grown up." The lads answered that +they wished for nothing better, since it was contrary to their mother's +will that they should remain at home. They then prepared for their +departure, and set out on their journey; but, after wandering about from +place to place, were unable to procure any employment. + +After journeying thus for a long time, they came, late one evening, to a +vast lake. Far out in the water there was an island, on which there +appeared a strong light, as of fire. The lads stopped on shore observing +the wondrous light, and thence concluded that there must be human beings +in the place. As it was now dark, and the brothers knew not where to +find a shelter for the night, they resolved on taking a boat that lay +among the reeds, and rowing over to the island to beg a lodging. With +this view they placed themselves in the boat and rowed across. On +approaching the island they perceived a little hut standing at the +water's edge; on reaching which they discovered that the bright light +that shone over the neighborhood proceeded from a golden lantern that +stood at the door of the hut. In the yard without, a large goat was +wandering about, with golden horns, to which small bells were fastened, +that gave forth a pleasing sound whenever the animal moved. The brothers +wondered much at all this, but most of all at the old crone, who with +her daughter inhabited the hut. The crone was both old and ugly, but was +sumptuously clad in a pelisse or cloak, worked so artificially with +golden threads that it glittered like burnished gold in every hem. The +lads saw now very clearly that they had come to no ordinary human being, +but to a troll. + +[Illustration: THE TROLL'S HUT, THE LANTERN, AND THE GOAT WITH THE +GOLDEN HORNS] + +After some deliberation the brothers entered, and saw the crone standing +by the fireplace, and stirring with a ladle in a large pot that was +boiling on the hearth. They told their story and prayed to be allowed to +pass the night there; but the crone answered _No!_ at the same time +directing them to a royal palace, which lay on the other side of the +lake. While speaking she kept looking intently on the youngest boy, as +he was standing and casting his eyes over everything in the hut. The +crone said to him: "What is thy name, my boy?" The lad answered smartly: +"I am called Pinkel." The Troll then said: "Thy brothers can go their +way, but thou shalt stay here; for thou appearest to me very crafty, and +my mind tells me that I have no good to expect from thee if thou +shouldst stay long at the King's palace." Pinkel now humbly begged to be +allowed to accompany his brothers, and promised never to cause the crone +harm or annoyance. At length he also had leave to depart; after which +the brothers hastened to the boat, not a little glad that all three had +escaped so well in this adventure. + +Toward the morning they arrived at a royal palace, larger and more +magnificent than anything they had ever seen before. They entered and +begged for employment. The eldest two were received as helpers in the +royal stables, and the youngest was taken as page to the King's young +son; and, being a sprightly, intelligent lad, he soon won the good will +of everyone, and rose from day to day in the King's favor. At this his +brothers were sorely nettled, not enduring that he should be preferred +to themselves. At length they consulted together how they might compass +the fall of their young brother, in the belief that afterwards they +should prosper better than before. + +They therefore presented themselves one day before the King, and gave +him an exaggerated account of the beautiful lantern that shed light over +both land and water, adding that it ill beseemed a king to lack so +precious a jewel. On hearing this the King's attention was excited, and +he asked: "Where is this lantern to be found, and who can procure it for +me?" The brothers answered: "No one can do that unless it be our brother +Pinkel. He knows best where the lantern is to be found." The King was +now filled with a desire to obtain the golden lantern about which he had +heard tell, and commanded the youth to be called. When Pinkel came, the +King said: "If thou canst procure me the golden lantern that shines over +land and water I will make thee the chief man in my whole court." The +youth promised to do his best to execute his lord's behest, and the King +praised him for his willingness; but the brothers rejoiced at heart; for +they well knew it was a perilous undertaking, which could hardly +terminate favorably. + +Pinkel now prepared a little boat, and, unaccompanied by anyone, rowed +over to the island inhabited by the Troll-crone. When he arrived it was +already evening, and the crone was busied in boiling porridge for +supper, as was her custom. The youth creeping softly up to the roof +cast from time to time a handful of salt through the chimney, so that it +fell down into the pot that was boiling on the hearth. When the porridge +was ready, and the crone had begun to eat, she could not conceive what +had made it so salt and bitter. She was out of humor, and chided her +daughter, thinking that she had put too much salt into the porridge; but +let her dilute the porridge as she might, it could not be eaten, so salt +and bitter was it. She then ordered her daughter to go to the well, that +was just at the foot of the hill, and fetch water, in order to prepare +fresh porridge. The maiden answered: "How can I go to the well? It is so +dark out of doors that I cannot find the way over the hill." "Then take +my gold lantern," said the crone, peevishly. The girl took the beautiful +gold lantern accordingly, and hastened away to fetch the water. But as +she stooped to lift the pail, Pinkel, who was on the watch, seized her +by the feet, and cast her headlong into the water. He then took the +golden lantern, and betook himself in all haste to his boat. + +In the meantime the crone was wondering why her daughter stayed out so +long, and, at the same moment, chancing to look through the window she +saw the light gleaming far out on the water. At this sight she was +sorely vexed, and hurrying down to the shore, cried aloud: "Is that +thou, Pinkel?" The youth answered: "Yes, dear mother, it is I." The +Troll continued: "Art thou not a great knave?" The lad answered: "Yes, +dear mother, I am so." The crone now began to lament and complain, +saying: "Ah! what a fool was I to let thee go from me; I might have been +sure thou wouldst play me some trick. If thou ever comest hither again, +thou shalt not escape." And so the matter rested for that time. + +Pinkel now returned to the King's palace, and became the chief person at +court, as the King had promised. But when the brothers were informed +what complete success he had had in his adventure, they became yet more +envious and embittered than before, and often consulted together how +they might accomplish the fall of their young brother, and gain the +King's favor for themselves. + +Both brothers went, therefore, a second time before the King, and began +relating at full length about the beautiful goat that had horns of the +purest gold, from which little gold bells were suspended, which gave +forth a pleasing sound whenever the animal moved. They added that it ill +became so rich a king to lack so costly a treasure. On hearing their +story, the King was greatly excited, and said: "Where is this goat to be +found, and who can procure it for me?" The brothers answered: "That no +one can do, unless it be our brother Pinkel; for he knows best where the +goat is to be found." The King then felt a strong desire to possess the +goat with the golden horns, and therefore commanded the youth to appear +before him. When Pinkel came, the King said: "Thy brothers have been +telling me of a beautiful goat with horns of the purest gold, and little +bells fastened to the horns, which ring whenever the animal moves. Now +it is my will that thou go and procure for me this goat. If thou art +successful I will make thee lord over a third part of my kingdom." The +youth having listened to this speech, promised to execute his lord's +commission, if only fortune would befriend him. The King then praised +his readiness, and the brothers were glad at heart, believing that +Pinkel would not escape this time so well as the first. + +Pinkel now made the necessary preparations and rowed to the island where +the Troll-wife dwelt. When he reached it, evening was already advanced, +and it was dark, so that no one could be aware of his coming, the golden +lantern being no longer there, but shedding its light in the royal +palace. The youth now deliberated with himself how to get the golden +goat; but the task was no easy one; for the animal lay every night in +the crone's hut. At length it occurred to his mind that there was one +method which might probably prove successful, though, nevertheless, +sufficiently difficult to carry into effect. + +At night, when it was time for the crone and her daughter to go to bed, +the girl went as usual to bolt the door. But Pinkel was just outside on +the watch, and had placed a piece of wood behind the door, so that it +would not shut close. The girl stood for a long time trying to lock it, +but to no purpose. On perceiving this the crone thought there was +something out of order, and called out that the door might very well +remain unlocked for the night; as soon as it was daylight they could +ascertain what was wanting. The girl then left the door ajar and laid +herself down to sleep. When the night was a little more advanced, and +the crone and her daughter were snug in deep repose, the youth stole +softly into the hut, and approached the goat where he lay stretched out +on the hearth. Pinkel now stuffed wool into all the golden bells, lest +their sound might betray him; then seizing the goat, he bore it off to +his boat. When he had reached the middle of the lake, he took the wool +out of the goat's ears, and the animal moved so that the bells rang +aloud. At the sound the crone awoke, ran down to the water, and cried in +an angry tone: "Is that thou, Pinkel?" The youth answered: "Yes, dear +mother, it is." The crone said: "Hast thou stolen my golden goat?" The +youth answered: "Yes, dear mother, I have." The Troll continued: "Art +thou not a big knave?" Pinkel returned for answer: "Yes, I am so, dear +mother." Now the beldam began to whine and complain, saying: "Ah! what a +simpleton was I for letting thee slip away from me. I well knew thou +wouldst play me some trick. But if thou comest hither ever again, thou +shalt never go hence." + +Pinkel now returned to the King's court and obtained the government of a +third part of the kingdom, as the King had promised. But when the +brothers heard how the enterprise had succeeded, and also saw the +beautiful lantern and the goat with golden horns, which were regarded by +everyone as great wonders, they became still more hostile and embittered +than ever. They could think of nothing but how they might accomplish his +destruction. + +They went, therefore, one day again before the king, to whom they gave a +most elaborate description of the Troll-crone's fur cloak that shone +like the brightest gold and was worked with golden threads in every +seam. The brothers said it was more befitting a queen than a Troll to +possess such a treasure, and added that that alone was wanting to the +King's good fortune. When the King heard all this he became very +thoughtful, and said: "Where is this cloak to be found, and who can +procure it for me?" The brothers answered: "No one can do that except +our brother Pinkel; for he knows best where the golden cloak is to be +found." The King was thereupon seized with an ardent longing to possess +the golden cloak, and commanded the youth to be called before him. When +Pinkel came, the King said: "I have long been aware that thou hast an +affection for my young daughter; and thy brothers have been telling me +of a beautiful fur cloak which shines with the reddest gold in every +seam. It is, therefore, my will that thou go and procure for me this +cloak. If thou art successful, thou shalt be my son-in-law, and after me +shalt inherit the kingdom." When the youth heard this he was glad beyond +measure, and promised either to win the young maiden or perish in the +attempt. The King thereupon praised his readiness; but the brothers were +delighted in their false hearts, and trusted that the enterprise would +prove their brother's destruction. + +Pinkel then betook himself to his boat and crossed over to the island +inhabited by the Troll-crone. On the way he anxiously deliberated with +himself how he might get possession of the crone's golden cloak; but it +appeared to him not very likely that his undertaking would prove +successful, seeing that the Troll always wore the cloak upon her. So +after having concerted divers plans, one more hazardous than another, it +occurred to him that he would try one method which might perhaps +succeed, although it was bold and rash. + +In pursuance of his scheme he bound a bag under his clothes, and walked +with trembling step and humble demeanor into the beldam's hut. On +perceiving him, the Troll cast on him a savage glance, and said: +"Pinkel, is that thou?" The youth answered: "Yes, dear mother, it is." +The crone was overjoyed, and said: "Although thou art come voluntarily +into my power, thou canst not surely hope to escape again from here, +after having played me so many tricks." She then took a large knife and +prepared to make an end of poor Pinkel; but the youth, seeing her +design, appeared sorely terrified, and said: "If I must needs die, I +think I might be allowed to choose the manner of my death. I would +rather eat myself to death with milk porridge, than be killed with a +knife." The crone thought to herself that the youth had made a bad +choice, and therefore promised to comply with his wish. She then set a +huge pot on the fire, in which she put a large quantity of porridge. +When the mess was ready, she placed it before Pinkel that he might eat, +who for every spoonful of porridge that he put into his mouth, poured +two into the bag that was tied under his clothes. At length the crone +began to wonder how Pinkel could contrive to swallow such a quantity; +but just at the same moment the youth, making a show of being sick to +death, sank down from his seat as if he were dead, and unobserved cut a +hole in the bag, so that the porridge ran over the floor. + +The crone, thinking that Pinkel had burst with the quantity of porridge +he had eaten, was not a little glad, clapped her hands together, and ran +off to look for her daughter, who was gone to the well. But as the +weather was wet and stormy, she first took off her beautiful fur cloak +and laid it aside in the hut. Before she could have proceeded far, the +youth came to life again, and springing up like lightning seized on the +golden cloak, and ran off at the top of his speed. + +Shortly after, the crone perceived Pinkel as he was rowing in his little +boat. On seeing him alive again, and observing the golden cloak +glittering on the surface of the water, she was angry beyond all +conception, and ran far out on the strand, crying: "Is that thou, +Pinkel?" The youth answered: "Yes, it is I, dear mother." The crone +said: "Hast thou taken my beautiful golden cloak?" Pinkel responded: +"Yes, dear mother, I have." The Troll continued: "Art thou not a great +knave?" The youth replied: "Yes, I am so, dear mother." The old witch +was now almost beside herself, and began to whine and lament, and said: +"Ah! how silly was it of me to let thee slip away. I was well assured +thou wouldst play me many wicked tricks." They then parted from each +other. + +The Troll-wife now returned to her hut, and Pinkel crossed the water, +and arrived safely at the King's palace; there he delivered the golden +cloak, of which everyone said that a more sumptuous garment was never +seen nor heard of. The King honorably kept his word with the youth, and +gave him his young daughter to wife. Pinkel afterwards lived happy and +content to the end of his days; but his brothers were and continued to +be helpers in the stable as long as they lived. + + + + +_Mother Roundabout's Daughter_ + + +ONCE on a time there was a goody who had a son, and he was so lazy and +slow he would never turn his hand to anything that was useful; but +singing and dancing he was very fond of; and so he danced and sang as +long as it was day, and sometimes even some way on in the night. The +longer this lasted, the harder it was for the goody; the boy grew, and +meat he must have without stint, and more and more was spent in clothing +as he grew bigger and bigger, and it was soon worn out, I should think; +for he danced and sprang about both in wood and field. + +At last the goody thought it too bad; so she told the lad that now he +must begin to turn his hand to work and live steadily, or else there was +nothing before both of them but starving to death. But that the lad had +no mind to do. He said he would far rather woo Mother Roundabout's +daughter; for if he could only get her, he would be able to live well +and softly all his days, and sing and dance, and never do one stroke of +work. + +When his mother heard this she, too, thought it would be a very fine +thing; and so she fitted out the lad as well as she could, that he might +look tidy when he reached Mother Roundabout's house; and so he set off +on his way. + +Now when he got out of doors the sun shone warm and bright; but it had +rained the night before, so that the ways were soft and miry and all the +bog holes stood full of water. The lad took a short cut to Mother +Roundabout's, and he sang and jumped, as was ever his wont; but just as +he sprang and leaped he came to a bog hole, and over it lay a little +bridge, and from the bridge he had to make a spring across a hole on to +a tuft of grass, that he might not dirty his shoes. But _plump_, it went +all at once, and just as he put his foot on the tuft it gave way under +him, and there was no stopping till he found himself in a nasty, deep, +dark hole. At first he could see nothing, but when he had been there a +while he had a glimpse of a rat, that came wiggle-waggle up to him with +a bunch of keys at the tip of her tail. + +"What! you here, my boy?" said the rat. "Thank you kindly for coming to +me. I have waited long for you. You come, of course, to woo me, and you +are eager at it, I can very well see; but you must have patience yet a +while, for I shall have a great dower. I am not ready for my wedding +just yet, but I'll do my best that it shall be as soon as ever I can." + +When she had said that, she brought out ever so many eggshells, with all +sorts of bits and scraps, such as rats are wont to eat, and set them +before him, and said: + +"Now, you must sit down and eat; I am sure you must be both tired and +hungry." + +But the lad thought he had no liking for such food. + +"If I were only well away from this, above ground again," he thought to +himself, but he said nothing out loud. + +"Now, I dare say you'd be glad to go home again," said the rat. "I know +your heart is set on this wedding, and I'll make all the haste I can; +and you must take with you this linen thread, and when you get up above +you must not look round, but go straight home, and on the way you must +mind and say nothing but + + 'Short before, and long back, + Short before, and long back';" + +and as she said this she put the linen thread into his hand. + +"Heaven be praised!" said the lad, when he got above ground. "Thither +I'll never come again, if I can help it." + +But he still had the thread in his hand, and he sprang and sang as he +was wont; but even though he thought no more of the rat hole, he had got +his tongue into the tune, and so he sang, + + "Short before, and long back, + Short before, and long back." + +So when he got back home into the porch he turned round, and there lay +many, many hundred ells of the whitest linen, so fine that the handiest +weaving girl could not have woven it finer. + +"Mother! mother! come out," he cried and roared. + +Out came the goody in a bustle, and asked whatever was the matter; but +when she saw the linen woof, which stretched as far back as she could +see and a bit besides, she couldn't believe her eyes, till the lad told +her how it had all happened. And when she had heard it, and tried the +woof between her fingers, she grew so glad that she, too, began to dance +and sing. + +So she took the linen and cut it out, and sewed shirts out of it both +for herself and her son, and the rest she took into the town and sold, +and got money for it. And now they both lived well and happily a while; +but when the money was all gone, the goody had no more food in the +house, and so she told her son he really must now begin to go to work, +and live like the rest of the world, else there was nothing for it but +starving for them both. + +But the lad had more mind to go to Mother Roundabout and woo her +daughter. Well, the goody thought that a very fine thing, for now he had +good clothes on his back, and he was not such a bad-looking fellow +either. So she made him smart, and fitted him out as well as she could; +and he took out his new shoes and brushed them till they were as bright +as glass, and when he had done that, off he went. + +But all happened just as it did before. When he got out of doors the sun +shone warm and bright; but it had rained overnight, so that it was soft +and miry, and all the bog holes were full of water. The lad took the +short cut to Mother Roundabout, and he sang and sprang as he was ever +wont. Now he took another way than the one he went before; but just as +he leaped and jumped, he got upon the bridge over the moor again, and +from it he had to jump over a bog hole on to a turf that he might not +soil his shoes. But _plump_ it went, and down it went under him, and +there was no stopping till he found himself in a nasty, deep, dark hole. +At first he could see nothing; but when he had been there a while he +caught a glimpse of a rat with a bunch of keys at the tip of her tail, +who came wiggle-waggle up to him. + +"What! you here, my boy?" said the rat. "That was nice of you to wish to +see me so soon again. You are very eager, that I can see; but you really +must wait a while, for there is still something wanting to my dower, +though the next time you come, it shall be all right." + +When she had said this she set before him all kinds of scraps and bits +in eggshells, such as rats eat and like; but the lad thought it all +looked like meat that had been already eaten once, and he wasn't hungry, +he said; and all the time he thought, "If I could only once get above +ground, well out of this hole." But he said nothing out loud. + +So after a while the rat said: + +"I dare say now you would be glad to get home again; but I'll hasten on +the wedding as fast as ever I can. And now you must take with you this +thread of wool; and when you come above ground you must not look round, +but go straight home, and all the way you must mind and say nothing but + + 'Short before, and long back, + Short before, and long back';" + +and as she said that she gave him a thread of wool in his hand. + +"Heaven be praised!" said the lad, "that I got away. Thither I'll never +go again, if I can help it"; and so he sang and jumped as he was wont. +As for the rat hole, he thought no more about it; but as he had got his +tongue into tune he sang, + + "Short before, and long back, + Short before, and long back"; + +and so he kept on the whole way home. + +When he had got into the yard at home again he turned and looked behind +him, and there lay the finest cloth, more than many hundred ells; aye, +almost above half a mile long, and so fine that no town dandy could have +had finer cloth to his coat. + +"Mother! mother! come out!" cried the lad. + +So the goody came out of doors, and clapped her hands, and was almost +ready to swoon for joy when she saw all that lovely cloth; and then he +had to tell her how he had got it, and how it had all happened from +first to last. Then they had a fine time of it, you may fancy. The lad +got new clothes of the finest sort, and the goody went off to the town +and sold the cloth by little and little, and made heaps of money. Then +she decked out her cottage, and looked as smart in her old days as +though she had been born a lady. So they lived well and happily; but at +last that money came to an end too, and so the day came when the goody +had no more food in the house, and then she told her son he really must +turn his hand to work, and live like the rest of the world, else there +was nothing but starvation staring both of them in the face. + +But the lad thought it far better to go to Mother Roundabout and woo her +daughter. This time the goody thought so too, and said not a word +against it; for now he had new clothes of the finest kind, and he looked +so well, she thought it quite out of the question that anyone could say +"No" to so smart a lad. So she smartened him up, and made him as tidy as +she could; and he himself brought out his new shoes, and rubbed them +till they shone so he could see his face in them, and when he had done +that, off he went. + +This time he did not take the short cut, but made a great bend, for down +to the rats he would not go if he could help it, he was so tired of all +that wiggle-waggle and that everlasting bridal gossip. As for the +weather and the ways, they were just as they had been twice before. The +sun shone, so that it was dazzling on the pools and bog holes, and the +lad sang and sprang as he was wont; but just as he sang and jumped, +before he knew where he was, he was on the very same bridge across the +bog again. So he tried to jump from the bridge over a bog hole on to a +tuft that he might not dirty his bright shoes. _Plump_ it went, and it +gave way with him, and there was no stopping till he was down in the +same nasty, deep, dark hole again. At first he was glad, for he could +see nothing; but when he had been there a while he had a glimpse of the +ugly rat, and loath he was to see her with the bunch of keys at the end +of her tail. + +"Good day, my boy!" said the rat; "you are heartily welcome again, for I +see you can't bear to be any longer without me. Thank you, thank you +kindly; but now everything is ready for the wedding, and we shall set +off to church at once." + +"Something dreadful is going to happen," thought the lad, but he said +nothing out loud. + +Then the rat whistled, and there came swarming out such a lot of small +rats and mice of all the holes and crannies, and six big rats came +harnessed to a frying pan; two mice got up behind as footmen, and two +got up before and drove; some, too, got into the pan, and the rat with +the bunch of keys at her tail took her seat among them. Then she said to +the lad: + +"The road is a little narrow here, so you must be good enough to walk by +the side of the carriage, my darling boy, till it gets broader, and then +you shall have leave to sit up in the carriage alongside of me." + +"Very fine that will be, I dare say," thought the lad. "If I were only +well above ground, I'd run away from the whole pack of you." That was +what he thought, but he said nothing out loud. + +So he followed them as well as he could; sometimes he had to creep on +all fours, and sometimes he had to stoop and bend his back as well, for +the road was low and narrow in places; but when it got broader he went +on in front, and looked about him how he might best give them the slip +and run away. But as he went forward he heard a clear, sweet voice +behind him, which said: + +"Now the road is good. Come, my dear, and get up into the carriage." + +The lad turned round in a trice, and had near lost both nose and ears. +There stood the grandest carriage, with six white horses to it, and in +the carriage sat a maiden as bright and lovely as the sun, and round her +sat others who were as pretty and soft as stars. They were a princess +and her playfellows, who had been bewitched all together. But now they +were free because he had come down to them, and never said a word +against them. + +"Come now," said the princess. So the lad stepped up into the carriage, +and they drove to church; and when they drove from church again the +princess said: "Now we will drive first to my house, and then we'll send +to fetch your mother." + +"That is all very well," thought the lad, for he still said nothing, +even now; but, for all that, he thought it would be better to go home to +his mother than down into that nasty rat hole. But just as he thought +that, they came to a grand castle; into it they turned, and there they +were to dwell. And so a grand carriage with six horses was sent to fetch +the goody, and when it came back they set to work at the wedding feast. +It lasted fourteen days, and maybe they are still at it. So let us all +make haste; perhaps we, too, may come in time to drink the bridegroom's +health and dance with the bride. + + + + +_The Bear and Skrattel_ + + +ONE Christmas Day, the King of Norway sat in the great hall of his +palace, holding a feast. "Here's a health," said he, "to our brother the +King of Denmark! What present shall we send our royal brother as a +pledge of our good will, this Christmas-time?" "Send him, please your +majesty," said the Norseman Gunter, who was the King's chief huntsman, +"one of our fine white bears, that his liegemen may show their little +ones what sort of kittens we play with." "Well said, Gunter!" cried the +King; "but how shall we find a bear that will travel so long a journey +willingly, and will know how to behave himself to our worthy brother +when he reaches him?" "Please your majesty," said Gunter, "I have a +glorious fellow, as white as snow, that I caught when he was a cub; he +will follow me wherever I go, play with my children, stand on his hind +legs, and behave himself as well as any gentleman ought to do. He is at +your service, and I will myself take him wherever you choose." + +So the King was well pleased, and ordered Gunter to set off at once with +master Bruin: "Start with the morning's dawn," said he, "and make the +best of your way." + +The Norseman went home to his house in the forest; and early next +morning he waked master Bruin, put the King's collar round his neck, and +away they went over rocks and valleys, lakes and seas, the nearest road +to the court of the King of Denmark. When they arrived there, the King +was away on a journey, and Gunter and his fellow-traveler set out to +follow. It was bright weather, the sun shone, and the birds sang, as +they journeyed merrily on, day after day, over hill and over dale, till +they came within a day's journey of where the King was. + +All that afternoon they traveled through a gloomy, dark forest; but +toward evening the wind began to whistle through the trees, and the +clouds began to gather and threaten a stormy night. The road, too, was +very rough, and it was not easy to tell which was more tired, Bruin or +his master. What made the matter worse was that they had found no inn +that day by the roadside, and their provisions had fallen short, so that +they had no very pleasant prospect before them for the night. "A pretty +affair this!" said Gunter. "I am likely to be charmingly off here in the +woods, with an empty stomach, a damp bed, and a bear for my bedfellow." + +While the Norseman was turning this over in his mind, the wind blew +harder and harder, and the clouds grew darker and darker: the bear shook +his ears, and his master looked at his wits' end, when to his great joy +a woodman came whistling along out of the woods, by the side of his +horse dragging a load of fagots. As soon as he came up Gunter stopped +him, and begged hard for a night's lodging for himself and his +countryman. + +The woodman seemed hearty and good-natured enough, and was quite ready +to find shelter for the huntsman; but as to the bear, he had never seen +such a beast before in his life, and would have nothing to do with him +on any terms. The huntsman begged hard for his friend, and told how he +was bringing him as a present to the King of Denmark; and how he was the +most good-natured, best-behaved animal in the world, though he must +allow that he was by no means one of the handsomest. + +The woodman, however, was not to be moved. His wife, he was sure, would +not like such a guest, and who could say what he might take it into his +head to do? Besides, he should lose his dog and his cat, his ducks and +his geese; for they would all run away for fright, whether the bear was +disposed to be friends with them or not. + +"Good night, master huntsman!" said he; "if you and old shaggy-back +there cannot part, I am afraid you must e'en stay where you are, though +you will have a sad night of it, no doubt." Then he cracked his whip, +whistled up his horse, and set off once more on his way homeward. + +The huntsman grumbled, and Bruin grunted, as they followed slowly after; +when to their great joy they saw the woodman, before he had gone many +yards, pull up his horse once more and turn round. "Stay, stay!" said +he; "I think I can tell you of a better plan than sleeping in a ditch. I +know where you may find shelter, if you will run the risk of a little +trouble from an unlucky imp that has taken up its abode in my old house +down the hill yonder. You must know, friend, that till last winter I +lived in yon snug little house that you will see at the foot of the hill +if you come this way. Everything went smoothly on with us till one +unlucky night, when the storm blew as it seems likely to do to-night, +some spiteful guest took it into his head to pay us a visit; and there +have ever since been such noises, clattering, and scampering up stairs +and down, from midnight till the cock crows in the morning, that at last +we were fairly driven out of house and home. What he is like no one +knows; for we never saw him or anything belonging to him, except a +little crooked high-heeled shoe, that he left one night in the pantry. +But though we have not seen him, we know he has a hand or a paw as heavy +as lead; for when it pleases him to lay it upon anyone, down he goes as +if the blacksmith's hammer had hit him. There is no end of his monkey +tricks. If the linen is hung out to dry, he cuts the line. If he wants a +cup of ale, he leaves the tap running. If the fowls are shut up, he lets +them loose. He puts the pig into the garden, rides upon the cows, and +turns the horses into the hay yard; and several times he nearly burned +the house down, by leaving a candle alight among the fagots. And then he +is sometimes so nimble and active that when he is once in motion, +nothing stands still around him, Dishes and plates--pots and pans--dance +about, clattering, making the most horrible music, and breaking each +other to pieces; and sometimes, when the whim takes him, the chairs and +tables seem as if they were alive, and dancing a hornpipe, or playing +battledore and shuttlecock together. Even the stones and beams of the +house seem rattling against one another; and it is of no use putting +things in order, for the first freak the imp took would turn everything +upside down again. + +"My wife and I bore such a lodger as long as we could, but at length we +were fairly beaten; and as he seemed to have taken up his abode in the +house, we thought it best to give up to him what he wanted; and the +little rascal knew what we were about when we were moving, and seemed +afraid we should not go soon enough. So he helped us off; for on the +morning we were to start, as we were going to put our goods upon the +wagon, there it stood before the door ready loaded; and when we started +we heard a loud laugh, and a little sharp voice cried out of the window, +'Good-by, neighbors!' So now he has our old house all to himself to play +his gambols in, whenever he likes to sleep within doors; and we have +built ourselves a snug cottage on the other side of the hill, where we +live as well as we can, though we have no great room to make merry in. +Now if you, and your ugly friend there, like to run the hazard of taking +up your quarters in the elf's house, pray do! Yonder is the road. He may +not be at home to-night." + +"We will try our luck," said Gunter. "Anything is better to my mind than +sleeping out of doors such a night as this. Your troublesome neighbor +will perhaps think so, too, and we may have to fight for our lodging; +but never mind, Bruin is rather an awkward hand to quarrel with, and the +goblin may perhaps find a worse welcome from him than your house dog +could give him. He will at any rate let him know what a bear's hug is; +for I dare say he has not been far enough north to know much about it +yet." + +Then the woodman gave Gunter a fagot to make his fire with, and wished +him a good night. He and the bear soon found their way to the deserted +house, and no one being at home they walked into the kitchen and made a +capital fire. + +"Lack-a-day!" said the Norseman; "I forgot one thing--I ought to have +asked that good man for some supper; I have nothing left but some dry +bread. However, this is better than sleeping in the woods. We must make +the most of what we have, keep ourselves warm, and get to bed as soon as +we can." So after eating up all their crusts, and drinking some water +from the well close by, the huntsman wrapped himself up close in his +cloak, and lay down in the snuggest corner he could find. Bruin rolled +himself up in the corner of the wide fireplace, and both were fast +asleep, the fire out, and everything quiet within doors long before +midnight. + +Just as the clock struck twelve the storm began to get louder--the wind +blew--a slight noise within the room wakened the huntsman, and all on a +sudden in popped a little ugly skrattel, scarce three spans high, with a +hump on his back, a face like a dried pippin, a nose like a ripe +mulberry, and an eye that had lost its neighbor. He had high-heeled +shoes and a pointed red cap; and came dragging after him a nice fat kid, +ready skinned and fit for roasting. "A rough night this," grumbled the +goblin to himself; "but, thanks to that booby woodman, I've a house to +myself. And now for a hot supper and a glass of good ale till the cock +crows." + +No sooner said than done. The skrattel busied himself about, here and +there; presently the fire blazed up, the kid was put on the spit and +turned merrily round. A keg of ale made its appearance from a closet, +the cloth was laid, and the kid was soon dished up for eating. Then the +little imp, in the joy of his heart, rubbed his hands, tossed up his red +cap, danced before the hearth, and sang his song: + + "Oh! 'tis weary enough abroad to ride, + In the shivery midnight blast; + And 'tis dreary enough alone to bide, + Hungry and cold, + On the wintry wold, + Where the drifting snow falls fast. + + "But 'tis cheery enough to revel by night, + In the crackling fagot's light; + 'Tis merry enough to have and to hold + The savory roast, + And the nut-brown toast, + With jolly good ale and old." + +The huntsman lay snug all this time, sometimes quaking, in dread of +getting into trouble, and sometimes licking his lips at the savory +supper before him, and half in the mind to fight for it with the imp. +However, he kept himself quiet in his corner; till all of a sudden the +little man's eye wandered from his cheering ale cup to Bruin's carcass, +as he lay rolled up like a ball fast asleep in the chimney corner. + +The imp turned round sharp in an instant, and crept softly nearer and +nearer to where Bruin lay, looking at him very closely, and not able to +make out what in the world he was. "One of the family, I suppose!" said +he to himself. But just then Bruin gave his ears a shake, and showed a +little of his shaggy muzzle. "Oh, ho!" said the imp, "that's all, is it? +But what a large one! Where could he come from, and how came he here? +What shall I do? Shall I let him alone or drive him out? Perhaps he may +do me some mischief, and I am not afraid of mice or rats. So here goes! +I have driven all the rest of the live stock out of the house, and why +should I be afraid of sending this brute after them?" + +With that the elf walked softly to the corner of the room, and taking up +the spit, stole back on tiptoe till he got quite close to the bear; then +raising up his weapon, down came a rattling thump across Bruin's mazard, +that sounded as hollow as a drum. The bear raised himself slowly up, +snorted, shook his head, then scratched it, opened first one eye, then +the other, took a turn across the room, and grinned at his enemy; who, +somewhat alarmed, ran back a few paces and stood with the spit in his +hand, foreseeing a rough attack. And it soon came, for the bear, rearing +himself up, walked leisurely forward, and putting out one of his paws +caught hold of the spit, jerked it out of the goblin's hand, and sent it +spinning to the other end of the kitchen. + +And now began a fierce battle. This way and that way flew tables and +chairs, pots and pans. The elf was one moment on the bear's back, +lugging his ears and pommeling him with blows that might have felled an +ox. In the next, the bear would throw him up in the air, and treat him +as he came down with a hug that would make the little imp squall. Then +up he would jump upon one of the beams out of Bruin's reach, and soon, +watching his chance, would be down astride upon his back. + +Meantime Gunter had become sadly frightened, and seeing the oven door +open, crept in for shelter from the fray, and lay there quaking for +fear. The struggle went on thus a long time, without its seeming at all +clear who would get the better--biting, scratching, hugging, clawing, +roaring, and growling, till the whole house rang. The elf, however, +seemed to grow weaker and weaker. The rivals stood for a moment as if to +get breath, and the bear was getting ready for a fierce attack when, all +in a moment, the skrattel dashed his red cap right in his eye, and while +Bruin was smarting with the blow and trying to recover his sight, darted +to the door, and was out of sight in a moment, though the wind blew, the +rain pattered, and the storm raged in a merciless manner. + +"Well done! Bravo, Bruin!" cried the huntsman, as he crawled out of the +oven and ran and bolted the door. "Thou hast combed his locks rarely; +and as for thine own ears, they are rather the worse for pulling. But +come, let us make the best of the good cheer our friend has left us!" So +saying, they fell to and ate a hearty supper. The huntsman, wishing the +skrattel a good night and pleasant dreams in a cup of his sparkling ale, +laid himself down and slept till morning; and Bruin tried to do the +same, as well as his aching bones would let him. + +In the morning the huntsman made ready to set out on his way, and had +not got far from the door before he met the woodman, who was eager to +hear how he had passed the night. Then Gunter told him how he had been +awakened, what sort of creature the elf was, and how he and Bruin had +fought it out. "Let us hope," said he, "you will now be well rid of the +gentleman. I suspect he will not come where he is likely to get any more +of Bruin's hugs; and thus you will be well paid for your entertainment +of us, which, to tell the truth, was none of the best, for if your ugly +little tenant had not brought his supper with him, we should have had +but empty stomachs this morning." + +The huntsman and his fellow-traveler journeyed on, and let us hope they +reached the King of Denmark safe and sound; but, to tell the truth, I +know nothing more of that part of the story. + +The woodman, meantime, went to his work, and did not fail to watch at +night to see whether the skrattel came, or whether he was thoroughly +frightened out of his old haunt by the bear, or whatever he might take +the beast to be that had handled him as he never was handled before. But +three nights passed over, and no traces being seen or heard of him, the +woodman began to think of moving back to his old house. + +On the fourth day he was out at his work in the forest, and as he was +taking shelter under a tree from a cold storm of sleet and rain that +passed over, he heard a little cracked voice singing, or rather croaking +in a mournful tone. So he crept along quietly, and peeped over some +bushes, and there sat the very same figure that the huntsman had +described to him. The goblin was sitting without any hat or cap on his +head, with a woe-begone face, and with his jacket torn into shreds, and +his leg scratched and smeared with blood, as if he had been creeping +through a bramble bush. The woodman listened quietly to his song, and it +ran as before: + + "Oh! 'tis weary enough abroad to ride, + In the shivery midnight blast; + And 'tis dreary enough alone to bide, + Hungry and cold, + On the wintry wold, + Where the drifting snow falls fast." + + +"Sing us the other verse, man!" cried the woodman, for he could not help +cracking a joke on his old enemy, who he saw was sadly in the dumps at +the loss of his good cheer and the shelter against the bad weather. But +the instant his voice was heard the little imp jumped up, stamped with +rage, and was out of sight in the twinkling of an eye. + +The woodman finished his work and was going home in the evening, +whistling by his horse's side, when all of a sudden he saw, standing on +a high bank by the wayside, the very same little imp, looking as grim +and sulky as before. "Hark ye, bumpkin?" cried the skrattel; "canst thou +hear, fellow? Is thy great cat alive, and at home still?" "My cat?" said +the woodman. "Thy great white cat, man!" thundered out the little imp. +"Oh, my cat!" said the woodman, at last recollecting himself. "Oh, yes, +to be sure! alive and well, I thank you; very happy, I'm sure, to see +you and all friends whenever you will do us the favor to call. And hark +ye, friend! as you seem to be so fond of my great cat, you may like to +know that she had five kittens last night." "Five kittens?" muttered the +elf. "Yes," replied the woodman, "five of the most beautiful white kits +you ever saw--so like the old cat, it would do your heart good to see +the whole family--such soft, gentle paws--such delicate whiskers--such +pretty little mouths!" "Five kittens?" muttered, or rather shrieked out, +the imp again. "Yes, to be sure!" said the woodman; "five kittens! Do +look in to-night, about twelve o'clock--the time, you know, that you +used to come and see us. The old cat will be so glad to show them to +you, and we shall be so happy to see you once more. But where can you +have been all this time?" + +"I come? Not I, indeed!" shrieked the skrattel. "What do I want with the +little wretches? Did not I see the mother once? Keep your kittens to +yourself. I must be off--this is no place for me. Five kittens! So there +are six of them now! Good-by to you, you'll see me no more; so bad luck +to your ugly cat and your beggarly house!" "And bad luck to you, Mr. +Crookback!" cried the woodman, as he threw him the red cap he had left +behind in his battle with Bruin. "Keep clear of my cat, and let us hear +no more of your pranks, and be hanged to you!" + +So now that he knew his troublesome guest had taken his leave, the +woodman soon moved back all his goods, and his wife and children into +their snug old house. And there they lived happily, for the elf never +came to see them any more; and the woodman every day after dinner drank, +"Long life to the King of Norway," for sending the cat that cleared his +house of vermin. + + + + +_The Golden Bird_ + + +THERE was once upon a time a king who had a garden; in that garden there +was an apple tree, and on that apple tree there grew a golden apple +every year; but when the time came to pluck the apple it was gone, and +no one knew who took it or what became of it; but gone it was. + +The King had three sons, and one day he told them that he who could +bring him the apple or get hold of the thief, should have the kingdom +after him, no matter whether he was the eldest, the second, or the +youngest son. + +The eldest set out first and sat down under the tree to keep watch for +the thief. Soon after dark a golden bird came flying, and the light from +it was so strong and dazzling that it could be seen a long way off. When +the Prince saw the bird and the dazzling light he became so frightened +that he dared not stay any longer, but rushed indoors as fast as he +could. + +Next morning the apple was gone; the Prince had then, however, recovered +his courage and began to get ready for his journey and wanted to set off +to find the bird. The King fitted him out in grand style and spared +neither money nor fine raiment. When the Prince had gone a bit on the +way he became hungry, opened his scrip and sat down to his breakfast by +the roadside. A fox then came out of the wood and sat down and looked at +him. + +"Do give me a little to eat," said the fox. + +"I'll give you some powder and shot," said the Prince; "my food I shall +want myself; nobody can tell how far and how long I may have to travel," +said he. + +"Just so," said the fox, and so he went back into the wood again. + +When the Prince had finished his meal and rested awhile he set out on +his way again. After a long time he came to a big city, and in that city +there was an inn, where there was always joy and never any sorrow; he +thought that would be a nice place to stop at, and so he remained. And +there was such dancing and drinking and joy and merrymaking that he +forgot the bird and his father and his journey and the whole kingdom. + +Away he was and away he stopped. + +The next year the second prince was to watch for the thief in the +garden; he also sat down under the tree when the apple began to ripen. +But one night, all of a sudden, the golden bird came flying, shining +like the sun, and the Prince became so afraid that he took to his heels +and ran indoors as fast as he could. + +In the morning the apple was gone, but the Prince had then recovered his +courage and wanted to set out and find the bird. He began to get ready +and the King fitted him out in grand style and spared neither money nor +fine raiment. But the same thing happened to him as to his brother; when +he had got a bit on the way he became hungry, opened his scrip and sat +down to his breakfast by the roadside. A fox then came out from the pine +wood and sat down and looked at him. + +"Do give me a little to eat," said the fox. + +"I'll give you some powder and shot," said the Prince; "my food I shall +want myself; nobody can tell how far and how long I may have to travel," +said he. + +"Just so," said the fox, and so he went back into the wood again. + +When the Prince had finished his meal and rested awhile, he set out on +his way again. After a long time he came to the same city and the same +inn, where there was always joy and never any sorrow; and there he also +thought it would be nice to stop, and the first he met was his brother, +and so he remained. The brother had been leading a gay and reckless life +and had scarcely any clothes left on his back; but now he began afresh, +and there was such dancing and drinking and joy and merriment that the +second prince also forgot the bird and his father and his journey and +the whole kingdom. Away he was and away he stopped. + +When the time came for the apple to ripen again the youngest prince was +to go into the garden and watch for the thief. He took a companion with +him who was to help him up into the tree, and to pass away the time so +that he should not fall asleep. All of a sudden they saw a bright light, +as if from the sun; every feather of the bird could be seen long before +it came to the tree. The Prince climbed up into the tree and at the same +time the golden bird swooped down and took the apple; the Prince tried +to seize the bird, but he only caught a feather out of its tail. + +So he went to the King's bedroom, and as he came in with the feather, it +became as light as day. + +He also wanted to try if he could find his brothers and catch the bird, +for he had been so near to it that he had got a feather from its tail +and would know it again anywhere, he said. + +Well, the King went and pondered long whether he should let him go, for +he thought the youngest would not fare any better than the two eldest, +who ought to have more knowledge of the world, and he was afraid he +should lose him also. But the Prince begged so earnestly that at last he +got permission to go. + +He then began to get ready and the King fitted him out in grand style, +both with clothes and money, and so he set off. + +When he had traveled for some time he became hungry and took his scrip +and sat down to have his breakfast, but just as he was in the midst of +it a fox came out of the wood and sat down close by his side and looked +at him. + +"Do give me a little to eat," said the fox. + +"I shall want the food myself," said the Prince, "for I cannot tell how +far I shall have to travel, but I have enough to give you a little." + +When the fox had got the piece of meat he asked the Prince where he was +going. + +Yes, that he would tell him. + +"If you will listen to me, I will help you, and you will have good +luck," said the fox. + +The Prince promised he would, and so they set off together. They +traveled a while till they came to the same city and the same inn, where +there was always joy, but no sorrow. + +"I must keep outside here; the dogs are rather a nuisance," said the +fox, and so he told the Prince where his brothers were to be found and +what they were doing; "and if you go in there you will not get any +further either," said he. + +The Prince promised he would not go in there, and gave him his hand on +it, and so each went his way. But when the Prince came to the inn and +heard the noise and merriment going on he felt he must go in; there was +no help for it, and when he met his brothers there was such rejoicing +that he forgot both the fox and the journey and the bird and his father. +But when he had been there awhile the fox came--he had ventured into the +city after all--and opened the door a little and made a sign to the +Prince, saying that now they must be off. So the Prince bethought +himself, and they went their way. + +When they had traveled awhile they saw a big mountain far away. The fox +said: + +"Three hundred miles at the back of that mountain there is a gilded +linden tree with golden leaves, and in that tree sits the golden bird +from which you took the feather." + +Thither they traveled together. When the Prince was going to catch the +bird the fox gave him some bright feathers which he was to wave in his +hands, and so attract the bird, which would then fly down and sit on his +hand. + +But the fox said he must not touch the linden tree, for inside it was a +big troll who owned it, and if the Prince touched only the smallest +twig the troll would come out and kill him on the spot. + +No, he would not touch it, said the Prince; but when he had got the bird +on his hand he thought he must have a twig of the tree; there was no +help for it, it was so bright and beautiful. So he took a tiny little +sprig, but the same moment the troll came out. + +"Who is that stealing my tree and my bird?" roared the troll, and he was +so angry that he spurted sparks of fire. + +"Thieves believe that all men steal," said the Prince; "but only those +get hanged who do not steal properly," said he. + +The troll said that made no difference, and was going to kill him, but +the Prince begged him to spare his life. + +"Well," said the troll, "if you can bring me back the horse which my +nearest neighbor has taken from me you will get off with your life." + +"Where shall I find it, then?" said the Prince. + +"Oh, he lives three hundred miles at the back of that big blue mountain +against the horizon yonder," said the troll. + +The Prince promised he would do his best. But when he came back to the +fox he found him in rather a bad temper. + +"Now you have got yourself into trouble," said the fox; "if you had +listened to me we could have been on our way home by this time," said +he. + +So they had to make a fresh start, for the Prince had pledged his word, +and his life depended on his finding the horse. + +At last they got there, but as the Prince was going to take the horse +the fox said: + +"When you come into the stable you will find all sorts of bridles +hanging on the wall, both of gold and silver; you must not touch them, +for then the troll will come and kill you; you must take the ugliest and +shabbiest you see." + +Yes, the Prince promised he would; but when he came into the stable he +thought it was quite unreasonable not to take a fine bridle, for there +were plenty of them, and so he took the brightest he could find. It was +as bright as gold, but just then the troll came and was so angry that +sparks flew from him. + +"Who is that stealing my horse and my bridle?" he shrieked. + +"Thieves believe that all men steal," said the Prince; "but only those +get hanged who do not steal properly," said he. + +"Well, that makes no difference. I'll kill you on the spot," shouted the +troll. + +But the Prince begged him to spare his life. + +"Well," said the troll, "if you can bring me back the fair damsel which +my nearest neighbor has taken from me I will spare you." + +"Whereabouts does he live, then?" asked the Prince. + +"Oh, he lives three hundred miles at the back of that big blue mountain +against the horizon yonder," said the troll. + +The Prince promised he would fetch the damsel, and was allowed to go, +and so he escaped with his life. + +But when he came out you may imagine how angry the fox was. + +"Now you've got yourself into trouble again," said he; "if you had +listened to me we could have been on our way home long ago. I almost +think I will not go with you any further." + +But the Prince begged and prayed and promised he would never do anything +else but what the fox told him, if he would only remain with him. At +last the fox gave in, and they became firm friends again; so they set +off once more and came at last to where the fair damsel was. + +"Well," said the fox, "I have your promise, but I dare not let you in to +the troll, after all; this time I must go myself." So he went in, and +after a while he came out with the damsel, and so they went back the +same way they had come. + +When they got to the troll who had the horse they took both the horse +and the brightest bridle; and when they got to the troll who had the +linden tree and the bird, they took both the tree and the bird and +started off with them. + +When they had got a bit on the way they came to a field of rye, and the +fox then said: + +"I hear a thundering noise; you had better go on ahead; I will remain +here awhile," he said. He then plaited himself a gown of rye straw, in +which he looked like a preacher. All at once the three trolls came +rushing along, hoping to overtake the Prince. + +"Have you seen anyone passing here with a fair damsel, a horse with a +golden bridle, a golden bird, and a gilded linden tree?" they shouted to +the fox as he stood there preaching. + +"Well, I've heard from my grandmother's grandmother that something of +the kind passed this way, but that was in the good old times, when my +grandmother's grandmother baked halfpenny cakes and gave back the +halfpenny." + +Then all the trolls burst out laughing: "Ha, ha, ha!" they laughed and +held on to one another. + +"If we have slept so long we may as well turn our noses homeward, and go +to sleep again," they said, and so they went back the way they came. + +The fox then set off after the Prince, but when they came to the city +where the inn and his brothers were, he said: + +"I dare not go through the town on account of the dogs; I must go my own +way just above here, but you must take good care your brothers do not +get hold of you." + +But when the Prince came into the city he thought it would be too bad if +he did not look in upon his brothers and have a word with them, and so +he tarried there for a while. + +When the brothers saw him they came out and took the damsel, and the +horse, and the bird, and the linden tree, and everything from him, and +they put him in a barrel, and threw him into the sea; and so they set +off home to the King's palace, with the damsel, and the horse, and the +bird, and the linden tree, and everything. But the damsel would not +speak, and she became pale and wretched to look upon; the horse got so +thin and miserable that it could hardly hang together; the bird became +silent and shone no more, and the linden tree withered. + +In the meantime the fox was sneaking about outside the city where the +inn and the merriment were, and was waiting for the Prince and the +damsel, and wondering why they did not return. + +He went hither and thither, waiting and watching for them, and at last +he came down to the shore, and when he saw the barrel, which was lying +out at sea drifting, he shouted: "Why are you drifting about there, you +empty barrel?" + +"Oh, it is I," said the Prince in the barrel. + +The fox then swam out to sea as fast as he could, got hold of the +barrel, and towed it to land; then he began to gnaw the hoops, and when +he had got some off the barrel, he said to the Prince: "Stamp and kick." + +The Prince stamped and kicked till all the staves flew about, and out he +jumped from the barrel. + +So they went together to the King's palace, and when they got there the +damsel regained her beauty and began to talk, the horse became so fat +and sleek that every hair glistened; the light shone from the bird and +it began to sing; the linden tree began to blossom and its leaves to +sparkle, and the damsel said, "He is the one who has saved us." + +They planted the linden tree in the garden, and the youngest prince was +to marry the princess, for such the damsel really was; but the two +eldest brothers were put each in a barrel and rolled down a high +mountain. + +Then they began to prepare for the wedding, but the fox first asked the +Prince to put him on the block and cut his head off, and although the +Prince both prayed and cried, there was no help for it; he would have +to do it. But as he cut the head off, the fox turned into a handsome +prince, and he was the brother of the princess, whom they had rescued +from the troll. + +So the wedding came off and everything was so grand and splendid, that +the news of the festivities reached all the way here. + + + + +_The Doll in the Grass_ + + +ONCE upon a time there was a King who had twelve sons. When they were +grown up he told them they must go out into the world and find +themselves wives, who must all be able to spin and weave and make a +shirt in one day, else he would not have them for daughters-in-law. He +gave each of his sons a horse and a new suit of armor, and so they set +out in the world to look for wives. + +When they had traveled a bit on the way they said they would not take +Ashiepattle with them, for he was good for nothing. Ashiepattle must +stop behind; there was no help for it. He did not know what he should do +or which way he should turn; he became so sad that he got off the horse +and sat down on the grass and began to cry. + +When he had sat a while, one of the tussocks among the grass began to +move, and out of it came a small white figure; as it came nearer +Ashiepattle saw that it was a beautiful little girl, but she was so +tiny, so very, very tiny. + +She went up to him and asked him if he would come below and pay a visit +to the doll in the grass. + +Yes, that he would; and so he did. When he came down below, the doll in +the grass was sitting in a chair, dressed very finely and looking still +more beautiful. She asked Ashiepattle where he was going and what was +his errand. + +He told her they were twelve brothers, and that the King had given them +each a horse and a suit of armor, and told them to go out in the world +and find themselves wives, but they must all be able to spin and weave +and make a shirt in a day. + +[Illustration: "SHE SAID SHE WOULD SIT AND DRIVE IN A SILVER SPOON"] + +"If you can do that and will become my wife, I will not travel any +farther," said Ashiepattle to the doll in the grass. + +Yes, that she would, and she set to work at once to get the shirt spun, +woven, and made; but it was so tiny, so very, very tiny, no bigger +than--so! + +Ashiepattle then returned home, taking the shirt with him; but when he +brought it out he felt very shy because it was so small. But the King +said he could have her for all that, and you can imagine how happy and +joyful Ashiepattle became. + +The road did not seem long to him as he set out to fetch his little +sweetheart. When he came to the doll in the grass he wanted her to sit +with him on his horse; but no, that she wouldn't; she said she would sit +and drive in a silver spoon, and she had two small white horses which +would draw her. So they set out, he on his horse and she in the silver +spoon; and the horses which drew her were two small white mice. + +Ashiepattle always kept to one side of the road, for he was so afraid he +should ride over her; she was so very, very tiny. + +When they had traveled a bit on the way they came to a large lake; there +Ashiepattle's horse took fright and shied over to the other side of the +road, and upset the spoon, so that the doll in the grass fell into the +water. Ashiepattle became very sad, for he did not know how he should +get her out again; but after a while a merman brought her up. But now +she had become just as big as any other grown-up being and was much more +beautiful than she was before. So he placed her in front of him on the +horse and rode home. + +When Ashiepattle got there all his brothers had also returned, each with +a sweetheart; but they were so ugly and ill-favored and bad-tempered +that they had come to blows with their sweethearts on their way home. On +their heads they had hats which were painted with tar and soot, and this +had run from their hats down their faces, so that they were still uglier +and more ill-favored to behold. + +When the brothers saw Ashiepattle's sweetheart they all became +envious of him, but the King was so pleased with Ashiepattle and his +sweetheart that he drove all the others away, and so Ashiepattle was +married to the doll in the grass; and afterwards they lived happy and +comfortable for a long, long while; and if they are not dead, they must +be still alive. + + + + +_The Princess on the Glass Hill_ + + +ONCE upon a time there was a man who had a meadow which lay on the side +of a mountain, and in the meadow there was a barn in which he stored +hay. But there had not been much hay in the barn for the last two years, +for every St. John's eve, when the grass was in the height of its vigor, +it was all eaten clean up, just as if a whole flock of sheep had gnawed +it down to the ground during the night. This happened once and it +happened twice, but then the man got tired of losing his crop, and said +to his sons--he had three of them, and the third was called +Cinderlad--that one of them must go and sleep in the barn on St. John's +night, for it was absurd to let the grass be eaten up again, blade and +stalk, as it had been the last two years, and the one who went to watch +must keep a sharp lookout, the man said. + +The eldest was quite willing to go to the meadow. He would watch the +grass, he said, and he would do it so well that neither man nor beast, +nor even the devil himself, should have any of it. So when evening came +he went to the barn and lay down to sleep; but when night was drawing +near there was such a rumbling and such an earthquake that the walls and +roof shook again, and the lad jumped up and took to his heels as fast as +he could, and never even looked back, and the barn remained empty that +year just as it had been for the last two. + +Next St. John's eve the man again said he could not go on in this way +losing all the grass in the outlying field year after year, and that one +of his sons must just go there and watch it, and watch well, too. So +the next oldest son was willing to show what he could do. He went to the +barn and lay down to sleep, as his brother had done; but when night was +drawing near there was a great rumbling, and then an earthquake, which +was even worse than that on the former St. John's night; and when the +youth heard it he was terrified, and went off, running as if for a +wager. + +The year after it was Cinderlad's turn, but when he made ready to go the +others laughed at him and mocked him. "Well, you are just the right one +to watch the hay, you who have never learned anything but how to sit +among the ashes and bake yourself!" said they. Cinderlad did not trouble +himself about what they said, but when evening drew near rambled away to +the outlying field. When he got there he went into the barn and lay +down, but in about an hour's time the rumbling and creaking began, and +it was frightful to hear it. "Well, if it gets no worse than that I can +manage to stand it," thought Cinderlad. In a little time the creaking +began again, and the earth quaked so that all the hay flew about the +boy. "Oh! if it gets no worse than that I can manage to stand it," +thought Cinderlad. But then came a third rumbling and a third +earthquake, so violent that the boy thought the walls and roof had +fallen down; but when that was over everything suddenly grew as still as +death around him. "I am pretty sure that it will come again," thought +Cinderlad; but no, it did not. Everything was quiet and everything +stayed quiet, and when he had lain still a short time he heard something +that sounded as if a horse were standing chewing just outside the barn +door. He stole away to the door, which was ajar, to see what was there, +and a horse was standing eating. It was so big and fat and fine a horse +that Cinderlad had never seen one like it before, and a saddle and +bridle lay upon it, and a complete suit of armor for a knight, and +everything was of copper and so bright that it shone again. "Ha! ha! it +is thou who eatest up our hay, then," thought the boy; "but I will stop +that." So he made haste and took out his steel for striking fire and +threw it over the horse, and then it had no power to stir from the +spot, and became so tame that the boy could do what he liked with it. So +he mounted it and rode away to a place which no one knew of but himself, +and there he tied it up. When he went home again his brothers laughed +and asked how he had got on. + +"You didn't lie long in the barn, if even you have been so far as the +field!" said they. + +"I lay in the barn till the sun rose, but I saw nothing and heard +nothing, not I," said the boy. "Heaven knows what there was to make you +two so frightened." + +"Well, we shall soon see whether you have watched the meadow or not," +answered the brothers; but when they got there the grass was all +standing just as long and as thick as it had been the night before. + +The next St. John's eve it was the same thing once again. Neither of the +two brothers dared to go to the outlying field to watch the crop, but +Cinderlad went, and everything happened exactly the same as on the +previous St. John's eve. First there was a rumbling and an earthquake, +and then there was another, and then a third; but all three earthquakes +were much, very much more violent than they had been the year before. +Then everything became still as death again, and the boy heard something +chewing outside the barn door, so he stole as softly as he could to the +door, which was slightly ajar, and again there was a horse standing +close by the wall of the house, eating and chewing, and it was far +larger and fatter than the first horse, and it had a saddle on its back, +and a bridle was on it, too, and a full suit of armor for a knight, all +of bright silver, and as beautiful as anyone could wish to see. "Ho! +ho!" thought the boy, "is it thou who eatest up our hay in the night? +But I will put a stop to that." So he took out his steel for striking +fire and threw it over the horse's mane, and the beast stood there as +quiet as a lamb. Then the boy rode this horse, too, away to the place +where he kept the other, and then went home again. + +"I suppose you will tell us that you have watched well again this time," +said the brothers. + +"Well, so I have," said Cinderlad. So they went there again, and there +the grass was, standing as high and as thick as it had been before; but +that did not make them any kinder to Cinderlad. + +When the third St. John's night came, neither of the two elder brothers +dared to lie in the outlying barn to watch the grass, for they had been +so heartily frightened the night that they had slept there that they +could not get over it; but Cinderlad dared to go, and everything +happened just the same as on the two former nights. There were three +earthquakes, each worse than the other, and the last flung the boy from +one wall of the barn to the other, but then everything suddenly became +still as death. When he had lain quietly a short time he heard something +chewing outside the barn door. Then he once more stole to the door, +which was slightly ajar, and behold! a horse was standing just outside +it, which was much larger and fatter than the two others he had caught. +"Ho! ho! it is thou, then, who art eating up our hay this time," thought +the boy; "but I will put a stop to that." So he pulled out his steel for +striking fire and threw it over the horse, and it stood as still as if +it had been nailed to the field, and the boy could do just what he liked +with it. Then he mounted it and rode away to the place where he had the +two others, and then he went home again. Then the two brothers mocked +him just as they had done before, and told him that they could see that +he must have watched the grass very carefully that night, for he looked +just as if he were walking in his sleep; but Cinderlad did not trouble +himself about that, but just bade them go to the field and see. They did +go, and this time, too, the grass was standing, looking as fine and as +thick as ever. + +The King of the country in which Cinderlad's father dwelt had a daughter +whom he would give to no one who could not ride up to the top of the +glass hill, for there was a high, high hill of glass, slippery as ice, +and it was close to the King's palace. Upon the very top of this the +King's daughter was to sit with three golden apples in her lap, and the +man who could ride up and take the three golden apples should marry her +and have half the kingdom. The King had this proclaimed in every church +in the whole kingdom, and in many other kingdoms, too. The Princess was +very beautiful, and all who saw her fell violently in love with her, +even in spite of themselves. So it is needless to say that all the +princes and knights were eager to win her and half the kingdom besides, +and that for this cause they came riding thither from the very end of +the world, dressed so splendidly that their raiments gleamed in the +sunshine, and riding on horses which seemed to dance as they went, and +there was not one of these princes who did not think that he was sure to +win the Princess. + +When the day appointed by the King had come, there was such a host of +knights and princes under the glass hill that they seemed to swarm, and +everyone who could walk or even creep was there, too, to see who won the +King's daughter. Cinderlad's two brothers were there, but they would not +hear of letting him go with them, for he was so dirty and black with +sleeping and grubbing among the ashes that they said everyone would +laugh at them if they were seen in the company of such an oaf. + +"Well, then, I will go all alone by myself," said Cinderlad. + +When the two brothers got to the glass hill all the princes and knights +were trying to ride up it, and their horses were in a foam; but it was +all in vain, for no sooner did the horses set foot upon the hill than +down they slipped, and there was not one which could get even so much as +a couple of yards up. Nor was that strange, for the hill was as smooth +as glass windowpanes and as steep as the side of a house. But they were +all eager to win the King's daughter and half the kingdom, so they rode +and they slipped, and thus it went on. At length all the horses were so +tired that they could do no more and so hot that the foam dropped from +them, and the riders were forced to give up the attempt. + +The King was just thinking that he would cause it to be proclaimed that +the riding should begin afresh on the following day, when perhaps it +might go better, when suddenly a knight came riding up on so fine a +horse that no one had ever seen the like of it before, and the knight +had armor of copper, and his bridle was of copper, too, and all his +accouterments were so bright that they shone again. The other knights +all called out to him that he might just as well spare himself the +trouble of trying to ride up the glass hill, for it was of no use to +try; but he did not heed them, and rode straight off to it and went up +as if it were nothing at all. Thus he rode for a long way--it may have +been a third part of the way up--but when he had got so far he turned +his horse round and rode down again. But the Princess thought that she +had never yet seen so handsome a knight, and while he was riding up she +was sitting thinking, "Oh, how I hope he may be able to come up to the +top!" And when she saw that he was turning his horse back she threw one +of the golden apples down after him, and it rolled into his shoe. But +when he had come down from off the hill he rode away, and that so fast +that no one knew what had become of him. + +[Illustration: JUST AS CINDERLAD TURNED HIS HORSE AROUND, THE PRINCESS +THREW THE GOLDEN APPLE] + +So all the princes and knights were bidden to present themselves before +the King that night, so that he who had ridden so far up the glass hill +might show the golden apple which the king's daughter had thrown down. +But no one had anything to show. One knight presented himself after the +other, and none could show the apple. + +At night, too, Cinderlad's brothers came home again and had a long story +to tell about the riding up the glass hill. At first, they said, there +was not one who was able to get even so much as one step up, but then +came a knight who had armor of copper and a bridle of copper, and his +armor and trappings were so bright that they shone to a great distance, +and it was something like a sight to see him riding. He rode one third +of the way up the glass hill, and he could easily have ridden the whole +of it if he had liked; but he had turned back, for he had made up his +mind that that was enough for once. "Oh! I should have liked to see him +too, that I should," said Cinderlad, who was as usual sitting by the +chimney among the cinders. "You, indeed!" said the brothers. "You +look as if you were fit to be among such great lords, dirty creature +that you are to sit there!" + +Next day the brothers were for setting out again, and this time, too, +Cinderlad begged them to let him go with them and see who rode; but no, +they said he was not fit to do that, for he was much too ugly and dirty. +"Well, well, then I will go all alone by myself," said Cinderlad. So the +brothers went to the glass hill, and all the princes and knights began +to ride again, and this time they had taken care to rough the shoes of +their horses; but that did not help them. They rode and they slipped as +they had done the day before, and not one of them could even get so far +as a yard up the hill. When they had tired out their horses, so that +they could do no more, they again had to stop altogether. But just as +the King was thinking that it would be well to proclaim that the riding +should take place next day for the last time, so that they might have +one more chance, he suddenly bethought himself that it would be well to +wait a little longer to see if the knight in copper armor would come on +this day too. But nothing was to be seen of him. + +Just as they were still looking for him, however, came a knight riding +on a steed that was much, much finer than that which the knight in +copper armor had ridden, and this knight had silver armor and a silver +saddle and bridle, and all were so bright that they shone and glistened +when he was a long way off. Again the other knights called to him, and +said that he might just as well give up the attempt to ride up the glass +hill, for it was useless to try; but the knight paid no heed to that, +but rode straight away to the glass hill, and went still farther up than +the knight in copper armor had gone; but when he had ridden two thirds +of the way up he turned his horse round and rode down again. The +Princess liked this knight still better than she had liked the other, +and sat longing that he might be able to get up above, and when she saw +him turning back she threw the second apple after him, and it rolled +into his shoe, and as soon as he had got down the glass hill he rode +away so fast that no one could see what had become of him. + +In the evening, when everyone was to appear before the King and +Princess, in order that he who had the golden apple might show it, one +knight went in after the other, but none of them had a golden apple to +show. + +At night the two brothers went home as they had done the night before, +and told how things had gone, and how everyone had ridden, but no-one +had been able to get up the hill. "But last of all," they said, "came +one in silver armor, and he had a silver bridle on his horse and a +silver saddle, and oh, but he could ride! He took his horse two thirds +of the way up the hill, but then he turned back. He was a fine fellow," +said the brothers, "and the Princess threw the second golden apple to +him!" + +"Oh, how I should have liked to see him too!" said Cinderlad. + +"Oh, indeed! He was a little brighter than the ashes that you sit +grubbing among, you dirty, black creature!" said the brothers. + +On the third day everything went just as on the former days. Cinderlad +wanted to go with them to look at the riding, but the two brothers would +not have him in their company, and when they got to the glass hill there +was no one who could ride even so far as a yard up it, and everyone +waited for the knight in silver armor, but he was neither to be seen nor +heard of. At last, after a long time, came a knight riding upon a horse +that was such a fine one its equal had never yet been seen. The knight +had golden armor and the horse a golden saddle and bridle, and these +were all so bright that they shone and dazzled everyone, even while the +knight was still at a great distance. The other princes and knights were +not able even to call to tell him how useless it was to try to ascend +the hill, so amazed were they at the sight of his magnificence. He rode +straight away to the glass hill, and galloped up it as if it were no +hill at all, so that the Princess had not even time to wish that he +might get up the whole way. As soon as he had ridden to the top he took +the third golden apple from the lap of the Princess, and then turned his +horse about and rode down again, and vanished from their sight before +anyone was able to say a word to him. + +When the two brothers came home again at night they had much to tell of +how the riding had gone off that day, and at last they told about the +knight in the golden armor too. "He was a fine fellow, that was! Such +another splendid knight is not to be found on earth!" said the brothers. + +"Oh, how I should have liked to see him too!" said Cinderlad. + +"Well, he shone nearly as brightly as the coal-heaps that thou art +always lying raking among, dirty black creature that thou art!" said the +brothers. + +Next day all the knights and princes were to appear before the King and +the Princess--it had been too late for them to do it the night +before--in order that he who had the golden apple might produce it. They +all went in turn, first princes and then knights, but none of them had a +golden apple. + +"But somebody must have it," said the King, "for with our own eyes we +all saw a man ride up and take it." So he commanded that everyone in the +kingdom should come to the palace and see if he could show the apple. +And one after the other they all came, but no one had the golden apple, +and after a long, long time Cinderlad's two brothers came likewise. They +were the last of all, so the King inquired of them if there was no one +else in the kingdom left to come. + +"Oh, yes, we have a brother," said the two, "but he never got the golden +apple! He never left the cinder-heap on any of the three days." + +"Never mind that," said the King. "As everyone else has come to the +palace, let him come too." + +So Cinderlad was forced to go to the King's palace. + +"Hast thou the golden apple?" asked the King. + +"Yes, here is the first, and here is the second, and here is the third +too," said Cinderlad, and he took all the three apples out of his +pocket, and with that threw off his sooty rags and appeared there +before them in his bright golden armor, which gleamed as he stood. + +"Thou shalt have my daughter and the half of my kingdom, and thou hast +well earned both!" said the King. So there was a wedding, and Cinderlad +got the King's daughter, and everyone made merry at the wedding, for all +of them could make merry, though they could not ride up the glass hill, +and if they have not left off their merry-making they must be at it +still. + + + + +_The Ram and the Pig who went into the Woods to Live by Themselves_ + + +THERE was once upon a time a ram, who was being fattened up for killing. +He had therefore plenty to eat, and he soon became round and fat with +all the good things he got. One day the dairymaid came and gave him some +more food. + +"You must eat, Ram," she said; "you'll not be long here now, for +to-morrow we are going to kill you." + +"There's an old saying that no one should sneer at old women's advice, +and that advice and physic can be had for everything except death," +thought the Ram to himself; "but perhaps I might manage to escape it +this time." + +And so he went on eating till he was full, and when he was quite +satisfied he ran his horns against the door, burst it open, and set off +to the neighboring farm. There he made straight for the pigsty, to look +for a pig with whom he had struck up an acquaintance on the common, +since when they had always been good friends and got on well together. + +"Good day, and thanks for your kindness last time we met," said the Ram +to the Pig. + +"Good day, and thanks to you," said the Pig. + +"Do you know why they make you so comfortable, and why they feed you and +look after you so well?" said the Ram. + +"No," said the Pig. + +"There are many mouths to feed on this farm, you must know," said the +Ram; "they are going to kill you and eat you." + +"Are they?" said the Pig. "Well, much good may it do them!" + +"If you are of the same mind as I, we will go into the woods and build a +house and live by ourselves; there is nothing like having a home of your +own, you know," said the Ram. + +Yes, the Pig was quite willing. "It's nice to be in fine company," said +he, and off they started. + +When they had got a bit on the way they met a goose. + +"Good day, my good people, and thanks for your kindness last time we +met," said the Goose. "Where are you off to?" + +"Good day, and thanks to you," said the Ram. "We had it altogether too +comfortable at our place, so we are off to the woods to live by +ourselves. In your own house you are your own master, you know," said +he. + +"Well, I'm very comfortable where I am," said the Goose; "but why +shouldn't I join you? Good company makes the day shorter," said she. + +"But neither hut nor house can be built by gabbling and quacking," said +the Pig. "What do you think you can do?" + +"Good counsel and skill may do as much as a giant's will," said the +Goose. "I can pluck moss and stuff it into the crevices, so that the +house will be warm and comfortable." + +Well, she might come with them, thought the Pig, for he liked the place +to be warm and cozy. + +When they had gone a bit on the way--the Goose was not getting along +very fast--they met a hare, who came scampering out of the wood. + +"Good day, my good people, and thanks for your kindness the last time we +met," said the Hare. "How far are you going to-day?" said he. + +"Good day, and thanks to you," said the Ram; "we had it altogether too +comfortable at our place, so we are off to the woods to build a house +and live by ourselves. When you have tried both East and West, you'll +find that a home of your own is, after all, the best," said he. + +"Well, I have, of course, a home in every bush," said the Hare; "but I +have often said to myself in the winter that if I lived till the summer +I would build a house, so I have a good mind to go with you and build +one after all," said he. + +"Well, if the worst comes to the worst, we might take you with us to +frighten the dogs away," said the Pig, "for you couldn't help us to +build the house, I should say." + +"There is always something for willing hands to do in this world," said +the Hare. "I have teeth to gnaw pegs with, and I have paws to knock them +into the walls, so I'll do very well for a carpenter; for 'good tools +make good work,' as the man said, when he skinned his mare with an +auger," said the Hare. + +Well, he might come along with them and help to build the house; there +could be no harm in that. + +When they had got a bit farther on the way they met a cock. + +"Good day, my good people, and thanks for your kindness last time we +met," said the Cock; "where are you all going to-day?" he said. + +"Good day, and thanks to you," said the Ram; "we had it altogether too +comfortable at our place, so we are off to the woods to build a house +and live by ourselves. 'For unless at home you bake, you'll lose both +fuel and cake,'" said he. + +"Well, I am comfortable enough where I am," said the Cock, "but it's +better to have your own roost than to sit on a stranger's perch and +crow; and that cock is best off who has a home of his own," said he. "If +I could join such fine company as yours, I, too, would like to go to the +woods and build a house." + +"Well, flapping and crowing is all very well for noise, but it won't cut +joists," said the Pig. "You can't help us to build a house," he said. + +"It is not well to live in a house where there is neither dog nor cock," +said the Cock; "I am early to rise and early to crow." + +"Yes, 'early to rise makes one wealthy and wise,' so let him come with +us!" said the Pig. (He was always the heaviest sleeper.) "Sleep is a big +thief, and steals half one's life," he said. + +So they all set off to the woods and built the house. The Pig felled the +trees and the Ram dragged them home; the Hare was the carpenter, and +gnawed pegs and hammered them into walls and roof; the Goose plucked +moss and stuffed it into the crevices between the logs; the Cock crew +and took care that they did not oversleep themselves in the mornings, +and when the house was ready and the roof covered with birch bark and +thatched with turf, they could at least live by themselves, and they +were all both happy and contented. + +"It's pleasant to travel both East and West, but home is, after all, the +best," said the Ram. + +But a bit farther into the wood two wolves had their lair, and when they +saw that a new house had been built hard by they wanted to know what +sort of folks they had got for neighbors. For they thought, "a good +neighbor is better than a brother in a foreign land, and it is better to +live among good neighbors than to be known far and wide." + +So one of them made it his business to call there and ask for a light +for his pipe. The moment he came inside the door the Ram rushed at him, +and gave him such a butt with his horns that the wolf fell on his head +into the hearth; the Pig snapped and bit, the Goose nipped and pecked, +the Cock flew up on a rafter and began to crow and cackle, and the Hare +became so frightened that he scampered and jumped around, both high and +low, and knocked and scrambled about from one corner of the room to the +other. + +At last the Wolf managed to get out of the house. + +"Well, to know one's neighbors is to add to one's wisdom," said the Wolf +who was waiting outside; "I suppose you had a grand reception, since you +stayed so long. But what about the light? I don't see either pipe or +smoke," said he. + +"Yes, that was a nice light I got, and a nice lot of people they were," +said he who had been inside. "Such treatment I never met with before, +but 'as you make your bed so you must lie,' and 'an unexpected guest +must put up with what he gets,'" said the Wolf. "No sooner was I inside +the door than the shoemaker threw his last at me, and I fell on my head +in the middle of the forge; there sat two smiths, blowing bellows and +pinching and snipping bits of flesh off me with red-hot tongs and +pincers; the hunter rushed about the room looking for his gun, but, as +luck would have it, he couldn't find it. And up on the rafters sat some +one beating his arms about and shouting: 'Let's hook him! let's hook +him! Sling him up! sling him up!' and if he had only got hold of me I +should never have come out alive." + + + + +_The Troll's Hammer_ + + +WHEN a great famine prevails in a country even the rich suffer. Hard, +indeed, must the lot of the poor peasant be at such a time. + +During a famine a poor peasant, unable to support all his family, told +his eldest son, Niels, that he would have to go out in the world and +provide for himself. + +Niels left home and went out to seek his fortune. As the evening of the +first day drew on, he found himself in a dense forest, and fearing lest +the wild beasts might do him harm during the night, he climbed into a +tree. Hardly had he reached his perch, when he saw a little man running +toward the tree. He was hunchbacked, and had crooked legs, a long beard, +and wore on his head a red cap. He was pursued by a wolf, which attacked +him just under the tree in which Niels was sitting. The little man began +to scream; he bit and scratched, and defended himself as well as he +could. But the wolf was the stronger, and would have torn the little +fellow to pieces if Niels had not sprung down from the tree. As soon as +the wolf saw that he had two to contend with, he fled back into the +forest. + +The troll then said to Niels: + +"Thou hast preserved my life and done me a good service; in return I +will also give thee something that will be of use. See! here is a hammer +with which thou shalt be able to do smith's work that no one shall be +able to equal." When the troll had spoken these words, he sank into the +ground and disappeared. + +The next day the boy wandered on until he came to the neighborhood of +the royal palace, and here he engaged himself to a smith. + +Now it just happened that a few days before a thief had broken into the +King's treasury and stolen a large bag of money. All the smiths in the +city were therefore sent for to the palace, and the King promised that +he who could make the best lock should be appointed court locksmith, and +have a handsome reward into the bargain. The lock had to be finished in +eight days, and so constructed that it could not be picked by anyone. + +When the smith, with whom Niels lived, returned home and related this, +the boy thought he should like to try whether his hammer really +possessed those qualities which the troll had said. He therefore begged +his master to allow him to make a lock, and promised that it should be +finished by the appointed time. Although the smith had no great opinion +of the boy's abilities, he permitted the trial. + +Niels then requested a separate workshop, locked himself in, and began +hammering the iron. One day went, and then another, and the master began +to be curious; but Niels let no one come into his shop, and the smith +was obliged to remain outside, and peep through the keyhole. The work, +however, succeeded far better than the boy himself had expected; and, +without his really knowing how it came to pass, the lock was finished on +the evening of the third day. + +The following morning he went down to his master and asked for some +money. "Yesterday I worked hard," said Niels, "and to-day I will enjoy +myself." + +He went out of the city, and did not return to the workshop till late in +the evening. The next day and the next he did the same, and so through +the rest of the week. + +His master was very angry at this, and threatened to turn him away +unless he finished his work at the appointed time. But Niels told him to +rest easy, and engaged that his lock should be the best. + +When the day arrived, Niels brought his work forth, and carried it up to +the palace. His lock was so ingenious and so delicately made, that it +far excelled all the others. Niels's master was acknowledged as the most +skillful, and he received the promised office and reward. + +The smith was delighted, but he took good care not to confess to anyone +who it was that had made the curious lock. He received one job after +another from the King, and let Niels do them all. + +In the meantime the report spread from place to place of the wonderful +lock the King had got for his treasury. Travelers came from a distance +to see it, and a foreign King came among them. When he had examined the +work a long time he said that the man who had made such a lock deserved +to be honored and respected. + +"But however good a smith he may be," added the foreign King, "I have +his master at home." + +He continued boasting in this manner, till at length the two kings made +a wager as to which smith could execute the most skillful piece of +workmanship. The smiths were sent for, and the two kings determined that +each smith should make a knife. + +The smith related to Niels what had passed, and desired him to try +whether he could make as good a knife as the lock he had made. Niels +promised to do so, although his last work had not brought him much. The +smith was in truth a mean man, and treated Niels so niggardly that +sometimes he had not enough to eat and drink. + +One day, as he was out buying steel to make the knife, he met a man from +his own village, and, in the course of conversation, Niels learned that +his father was in great want and misery. Then he asked his master for +some money, but this was the answer: "You shall not have a shilling +until you have made the knife." + +Thereupon Niels shut himself up in the workshop for a whole day, and, as +on the former occasion, the knife was made without his knowing how it +had happened. + +When the day arrived on which the work was to be exhibited, Niels +dressed himself in his best clothes, and went with his master up to the +palace where the two kings were expecting them. + +The strange smith first showed his knife. It was so beautiful, and so +curiously wrought, that it was a pleasure to look at; it was, moreover, +so sharp and well-tempered that it would cut through a millstone as +easily as through a cheese. Niels's knife, on the contrary, looked very +poor and common. + +The King already began to think he had lost his wager, and spoke harshly +to the master-smith, when his boy begged leave to examine the stranger's +knife a little more closely. + +After having looked at it for some time, he said: "This is a beautiful +piece of workmanship which you have made, and shame on those who would +say otherwise; but my master is, nevertheless, your superior, as you +shall soon experience." + +Saying this, he took the stranger's knife and split it lengthwise from +point to handle with his own knife as easily as one splits a twig of +willow. The kings could scarcely believe their eyes, and the consequence +was that Niels's master was declared the victor. + +When Niels asked for payment, the master refused to give him anything, +although knowing full well that the poor boy only wanted the money to +help his father. Upon this Niels grew angry, went to the King, and told +who it was that had made both the lock and the knife. The master was +then called, but he denied everything, and accused Niels of being an +idle boy, whom he had taken into service out of charity and compassion. + +"We shall soon find out the truth of this story," said the King, who +sided with the master. "Since thou sayest it is thou who hast made this +wonderful knife, and thy master says it is he who has done it, I will +adjudge each of you to make a sword for me within eight days. He who can +make the most perfect one shall be my master-smith; but he who loses +shall forfeit his life." + +Niels was well satisfied with this agreement. He went home, packed up +all his things, and bade his master farewell. The smith would gladly +have made all good again, but Neils appeared not to understand him, and +went his way. He engaged with another master, and began cheerfully to +work on the sword. + +When the appointed day arrived, both Niels and his former master met at +the palace, and the master produced a sword of the most beautiful +workmanship that anyone could wish to see. It was inlaid with gold and +set with precious stones. The King was greatly delighted with it. + +"Now, little Niels," said he, "what dost thou say to this sword?" + +"It is not so badly made as one might expect from such a bungler," said +the boy. + +"Canst thou show anything like it?" asked the King. + +"I believe I can," answered Niels. + +"Well, where is thy sword?" said the King. + +"In my waistcoat pocket," replied Niels. + +Hereupon there was a general laugh which was increased when they saw the +boy take a little packet out of his waistcoat pocket. Niels opened the +paper in which the blade was rolled up like a watch-spring. "Here is my +work," said he. "Will you just cut the thread, master?" + +The smith did it willingly, and in a moment the blade straightened out +and struck him in the face. + +Niels took out of his other pocket a hilt of gold and screwed it fast to +the blade; then he presented the sword to the King; and all present were +obliged to confess that they never before had seen such matchless +workmanship. + +Niels was declared the victor, and the master was obliged to +acknowledge that the boy had made both the lock and the knife. + +The King in his indignation would have had the master put to death if +the boy had not begged for mercy on the culprit. + +Niels received a handsome reward from the King, and from that day all +the work from the palace was intrusted to him. He took his old father to +reside with him, and lived in comfort and happiness till his death. + + + + +_The Clever Prince_ + + +ONCE upon a time there was a youthful Prince who was so wonderfully +handsome that no one had ever seen his like; and he knew this, and was +very glad of it. And everybody said that he was as clever as he was +handsome, and that no one could be compared to him. Of this he was quite +convinced, and he made a solemn vow that he would never take any woman +to wife unless she was as handsome and nearly as clever as he was +himself. If he could find such a paragon he would marry her. There were +many beautiful maidens in the land, but they were not the cleverest. +There were also many maidens who were clever enough, but they were not +the fairest. This much is certain, the Prince found no girl who combined +in her person half enough good looks and wit to suit him. He was now of +an age when he and his father the King, and their faithful subjects, +were all of opinion that he ought to get married; but, as we have seen, +because of the vow he had made, there was not a maiden in the land to +whom he could pay his addresses. + +So he determined to journey to other countries, and to travel +_incognito_ and unattended. He wanted to see things for himself, and to +have no one with him who could reveal anything about him. He traveled +far and wide, from one land to another, but it fared with him abroad as +it had fared with him at home; he could find no girl beautiful or +clever enough for him, much less could he find one who could lay claim +to the possession of both these attributes. So once more he felt his +quest for a worthy bride had proved vain, and turned his face homeward. + +One day he was riding through a wood. He rode and rode, still he could +not get to the end of the forest. Noonday came, and the evening came, +and still he was in the wood, and still could see no way out of it. He +had completely lost his way; he had no idea where he was, nor where he +was going, nor where he should find shelter for the night and food and +rest for himself and his horse. And they were both tired out. At last he +saw a small cloud of blue smoke rising amid the green trees, and riding +toward it he soon came to a little cottage, very poor and mean-looking. +But he was glad enough, for here at least he should find somebody. He +got off his horse and knocked at the door. A poor old man opened it, and +a poor old woman also came forward. They appeared very much astonished +to see such a fine, handsome young knight. The Prince, after wishing +them good evening, said that he had lost his way, and that he had been +riding through the wood all day long without coming to a dwelling of any +kind, and now he begged them to give him shelter for the night. At first +they said they were not the sort of people to receive such grand +gentlefolk. It was easy to see they wanted to get rid of him; but when +he told them that neither he nor his horse could hold out any longer, so +greatly did they need rest and a night's lodging, the old couple had not +the heart to refuse, so they agreed to take him in if he would put up +with what they could offer him. His first care was for his horse. Stable +there was none, but there was a bit of a shed for the old people's cow. +As it was summer time the cow was out to grass, so the Prince put his +horse up in the shed, and gave him a drink of water and a bundle of hay, +to the great content of the poor, tired beast. Then he went into the +cottage, which consisted of one little room, which was both dark and +low. He sat down on a wooden bench and began to talk to the old people. +Did they live here all alone in the wild wood? Yes, the old folk said, +they did. There was nobody else in the house, and there was no other +house for miles and miles around. They got on as best they could, and +managed to make a living out of their goat and their cow. + +Then the Prince had his supper, the best the house could afford--a crust +of dry bread and a bowl of milk. The old folk then fetched a wisp of +straw and spread it out on the floor, intending to lie upon it--they had +but one bed, and they meant to give it up to their grand guest. But the +Prince would not hear of such a thing; they should sleep in their own +bed, and he would lie on the bundle of straw that was spread upon the +floor. So it was arranged as he wished, and they all three retired to +rest. It was quite a different sort of couch from the one he was +accustomed to, but he was thoroughly tired out, so he soon fell asleep, +and he dreamt of all the beautiful maidens who were not clever enough, +and of all the clever maidens who were not beautiful enough, and so he +slept sweetly till the day began to dawn. + +Then he awoke, and stiff enough he was in all his limbs from lying on so +hard a bed; twist and turn as he might, he could not get to sleep again. +Presently he heard something stirring in the little loft overhead. It +might be rats or mice, or perhaps a cat. Yes, it was certainly a cat. +But a little while after he heard a whirring sound, exactly like a +spinning wheel. Then he heard singing. That could not be the cat, nor +was it the song of the birds out in the wood; no, it was a woman's sweet +voice keeping time with the whirring of the wheel. So sweet a song he +had never heard before. He sprang to his feet, rubbed his eyes, pricked +up his ears, and at the same moment the old folk got up too. The Prince +at once asked them who it was up there in the loft that had begun +spinning and singing at break of day. All was quite quiet again overhead +now, and the old people persisted, as they had done the previous night, +that there was no one in the house but themselves. + +"Nay," said the Prince, "it is no use trying to make me believe that. I +prefer believing what I have heard with my own ears. And you may as well +tell me the plain truth, for I am determined to learn it, one way or +another." + +So then the old man made a clean breast of it. The Prince was quite +right, there was somebody else in the house--it was their daughter, in +her little room up in the loft. They were so afraid lest some one should +see her and want to take her away from them; for, indeed, they would +miss her sadly, old and feeble as they were; she earned a few pence by +her spinning and weaving. Who else was there to take care of them? Soon +they would be no longer able to look after themselves. + +Well, the Prince said he had heard her, and now he wanted to see her. He +was no man-eater, nor woman-eater either, so far as he knew; therefore +they might surely let him see the maiden. So the old man had to go and +call her, and she came running down, tripping along, clad in mean +attire, so blithe and fresh and fair. When she saw the handsome young +man, she blushed rosy red, and the Prince was thunderstruck as he looked +on her. Never had he seen anything half so lovely as she was! He was +utterly at a loss what to say or do. In all his travels he had seen no +one to be compared with her. This poor peasant's daughter was far more +beautiful than all the princesses and grand ladies he had ever met at +home or abroad. He could not picture to himself anything more lovely. +But a poor beggar-maid, such as she was, he might not even dream of +making his wife. So he turned resolutely away, and at once bestirred +himself, getting his horse ready to start, and would not so much as +allow himself to look at her again. But when he was in the saddle, just +setting off, as he nodded good-by to the old folk, to whom he had given +a broad gold piece for his night's lodging, and who now were bowing and +scraping before him, he could not help giving a side glance to where she +stood gazing at him with lovely, wondering eyes. And now, of course, he +was obliged to lift his hat and bow "farewell"; and as she returned his +greeting with downcast eyes, and bowed and blushing face, the Prince +felt as if his heart were in his mouth. The lovely eyes looked up once +more as he galloped off, and they followed him till he was out of sight. +And not only did they follow him thus far, but long after he had left +both house and wood far behind those beautiful eyes still haunted him. +And as he rode along he said to himself: + +"Yes, she is beautiful, and more than beautiful enough for me; but I +also vowed that she whom I marry must be as clever, or nearly as clever, +as I am, and that, of course, she cannot be." + +He marked well where the little cottage stood, and soon he reached a +road he knew well, for the wild wood lay on the very border of his own +land. He rode straight home to his father's castle, and told him he had +not yet found anyone who could be considered his equal. + +The old King was much vexed on hearing this, but he was so certain of +his son's exceeding cleverness that he had no doubt matters were exactly +as the Prince represented. He had but one wish, to see his son married +before closing his eyes forever, and he had such faith in his son that +he knew the Prince's choice of a wife would be a wise one. + +So now the Prince was at home once more, surrounded by all the good +things imaginable, and yet he knew not one moment's content. Dainty food +failed to tempt his appetite, no sweet sleep came to him on his downy +couch. His thoughts were always with the fair young maiden who dwelt in +the wild wood. He thought of her early and late, and whether he would or +not. + +At last he said to himself: "There must be an end of this." + +He called to mind his vow that the loveliest and cleverest girl should +be his bride, and so in order to be rid of all thought of her he +determined to convince himself that although the peasant's daughter +might be beautiful enough, yet she was far from being clever enough for +him. So he wrote a letter to her, enclosing two skeins of silk, and +bidding her weave for him with them a pair of bed curtains. He sent off +a royal courier at once, bidding him bring back an immediate answer. The +messenger returned the same evening with a letter from the woodland +maiden, and in the letter lay two tiny splinters of wood. The maiden had +written that if out of these bits of wood he would make her a loom she +would weave him the curtains he had ordered. + +After this the Prince could no longer doubt that she was quite as clever +as he was, and now he felt bound to perform the vow that he had made, +which was just what he most wished to do. So he rode forth with all his +royal train to the cottage in the wild wood; and he told the old people +that he had come to woo their daughter for his bride--if she were +willing. And she was willing. The old folk were very down-hearted at +parting from their child, but they did not wish to stand in the way of +her happiness, so they gave their consent. Then the court ladies clad +the bride in scarlet and silk attire, and adorned her with gold and +jewels. And she had ladies-in-waiting and coaches and carriages and all +sorts of splendor, and the wedding was celebrated with joy and great +magnificence. + + + + +"_Lars, my Lad!_" + + +THERE was once a Prince or a Duke, or something of that sort, but at any +rate he belonged to a very grand family, and he would not stop at home. +So he traveled all over the world, and wherever he went he was well +liked, and was received in the best and gayest families, for he had no +end of money. He made friends and acquaintances, as you may imagine, +wherever he went, for he who has a well-filled trough is sure to fall in +with pigs who want to have their fill. But he went on spending his money +until he came to want, and at last his purse became so empty that he had +not even a farthing left. And now there was an end to all his friends as +well, for they behaved like the pigs; when the trough was empty and he +had no more to give them, they began to grunt and grin, and then they +ran away in all directions. There he stood alone with a long face. +Everybody had been so willing to help him to get rid of his money, but +nobody would help him without it; and so there was nothing for it but to +trudge home and beg for crusts on the way. + +So late one evening he came to a great forest. He did not know where he +should find a shelter for the night, but he went on looking and +searching till he caught sight of an old tumble-down hut, which stood in +the middle of some bushes. It was not exactly good enough for such a +fine cavalier, but when you cannot get what you want you must take what +you can get. And, since there was no help for it, he went into the hut. +Not a living soul was to be seen; there was not even a stool to sit +upon, but alongside the wall stood a big chest. What could there be +inside that chest? If only there were some bits of moldy bread in it! +How nice they would taste! For, you must know, he had not had a single +bit of food the whole day, and he was so hungry and his stomach so empty +that it groaned with pain. He lifted the lid. But inside the chest there +was another chest, and inside that chest there was another; and so it +went on, each one smaller than the other, until they became quite tiny +boxes. The more there were the harder he worked away, for there must be +something very fine inside, he thought, since it was so well hidden. + +At last he came to a tiny, little box, and in this box lay a bit of +paper--and that was all he got for his trouble! It was very annoying, of +course, but then he discovered there was something written on the paper, +and when he looked at it he was just able to spell it out, although at +first it looked somewhat difficult. + +"Lars, my lad!" + +As he pronounced these words something answered right in his ear: + +"What are master's orders?" + +He looked round, but he saw nobody. This was very funny, he thought, and +so he read out the words once more: + +"Lars, my lad!" + +And the answer came as before: + +"What are master's orders?" + +But he did not see anybody this time either. + +"If there is anybody about who hears what I say, then be kind enough to +bring me something to eat," he said. And the next moment there stood a +table laid out with all the best things one could think of. He set to +work to eat and drink, and had a proper meal. He had never enjoyed +himself so much in all his life, he thought. + +When he had eaten all he could get down, he began to feel sleepy, and so +he took out the paper again: + +"Lars, my lad!" + +"What are master's orders?" + +"Well, you have given me food and drink, and now you must get me a bed +to sleep in as well. But I want a really fine bed," he said, for you +must know he was a little more bold now that his hunger was stayed. +Well, there it stood, a bed so fine and dainty that even the King +himself might covet it. Now this was all very well in its way, but when +once you are well off you wish for still more, and he had no sooner got +into bed than he began to think that the room was altogether too +wretched for such a grand bed. So he took out the paper again: + +"Lars, my lad!" + +"What are master's orders?" + +"Since you are able to get me such food and such a bed here in the midst +of the wild forest, I suppose you can manage to get me a better room, +for you see I am accustomed to sleep in a palace, with golden mirrors +and draped walls and ornaments and comforts of all kinds," he said. +Well, he had no sooner spoken the words than he found himself lying in +the grandest chamber anybody had ever seen. + +Now he was comfortable, he thought, and felt quite satisfied as he +turned his face to the wall and closed his eyes. + +But that was not all the grandeur; for when he woke up in the morning +and looked round, he saw it was a big palace he had been sleeping in. +One room led into the other, and wherever he went the place was full of +all sorts of finery and luxuries, both on the walls and on the ceilings, +and they glittered so much when the sun shone on them that he had to +shade his eyes with his hand, so strong was the glare of gold and silver +wherever he turned. He then happened to look out of the window. Good +gracious! How grand it was! There was something else than pine forests +and juniper bushes to look at, for there was the finest garden anyone +could wish for, with splendid trees and roses of all kinds. But he could +not see a single human being, or even a cat; and that, you know, was +rather lonely, for otherwise he had everything so grand and had been set +up as his own master again. + +So he took out the bit of paper: + +"Lars, my lad!" + +"What are master's orders?" + +"Well, now you have given me food and bed and a palace to live in, I +intend to remain here, for I like the place," he said, "yet I don't like +to live quite by myself. I must have both lads and lasses whom I may +order about to wait upon me," he said. + +And there they were. There came servants and stewards and scullery maids +and chambermaids of all sorts, and some came bowing and some curtseying. +So now the Duke thought he was really satisfied. + +But now it happened that there was a large palace on the other side of +the forest, and there the King lived who owned the forest, and the +great, big fields around it. As he was walking up and down in his room +he happened to look out through the window and saw the new palace, where +the golden weathercocks were swinging to and fro on the roof in the +sunlight, dazzling his eyes. + +"This is very strange," he thought; and so he called his courtiers. They +came rushing in, and began bowing and scraping. + +"Do you see the palace over there?" said the King. + +They opened their eyes and began to stare. + +Yes, of course, they saw it. + +"Who is it that has dared to build such a palace on my grounds?" said +the King. + +They bowed, and they scraped with their feet, but they did not know +anything about it. + +The King then called his generals and captains. + +They came, stood at attention and presented arms. + +"Be gone, soldiers and troopers," said the King, "and pull down the +palace over there, and hang him who has built it; and don't lose any +time about it!" + +Well, they set off in great haste to arm themselves, and away they went. +The drummers beat the skins of their drums, and the trumpeters blew +their trumpets, and the other musicians played and blew as best they +could, so that the Duke heard them long before he could see them. But he +had heard that kind of noise before, and knew what it meant, so he took +out his scrap of paper: + +"Lars, my lad!" + +"What are master's orders?" + +"There are soldiers coming here," he said, "and now you must provide me +with soldiers and horses, that I may have double as many as those over +in the wood, and with sabers and pistols, and guns and cannons with all +that belongs to them; but be quick about it." + +And no time was lost; for when the Duke looked out, he saw an immense +number of soldiers, who were drawn up around the palace. + +When the King's men arrived, they came to a sudden halt and dared not +advance. But the Duke was not afraid; he went straight up to the Colonel +of the King's soldiers and asked him what he wanted. + +The Colonel told him his errand. + +"It's of no use," said the Duke. "You see how many men I have; and if +the King will listen to me, we shall become good friends, and I will +help him against his enemies, and in such a way that it will be heard +of far and wide," he said. + +The Colonel was of the same opinion, and the Duke then invited him and +all his soldiers inside the palace, and the men had more than one glass +to drink and plenty of everything to eat as well. + +But while they were eating and drinking they began talking; and the Duke +then got to hear that the King had a daughter who was his only child, +and was so wonderfully fair and beautiful that no one had ever seen her +like before. And the more the King's soldiers ate and drank the more +they thought she would suit the Duke for a wife. + +And they went on talking so long that the Duke at last began to be of +the same opinion. "The worst of it," said the soldiers, "is that she is +just as proud as she is beautiful, and will never look at a man." + +But the Duke laughed at this. "If that's all," said the Duke, "there's +sure to be a remedy for that complaint." + +When the soldiers had eaten and drunk as much as they could find room +for, they shouted "Hurrah!" so that it echoed among the hills, and then +they set out homeward. But, as you may imagine, they did not walk +exactly in parade order, for they were rather unsteady about the knees, +and many of them did not carry their guns in regulation manner. The Duke +asked them to greet the King from him. He would call on him the +following day, he said. + +When the Duke was alone again, he began to think of the Princess, and to +wonder if she were as beautiful and fair as they had made her out to be. +He would like to make sure of it; and as so many strange things had +happened that day it might not be impossible to find that out as well, +he thought. + +"Lars, my lad!" + +"What are master's orders?" + +"Well, now you must bring me the King's daughter as soon as she has gone +to sleep," he said; "but she must not be awakened either on the way here +or back. Do you hear that?" he said. And before long the Princess was +lying on the bed. She slept so soundly and looked so wonderfully +beautiful as she lay there. Yes, she was as sweet as sugar, I can tell +you. + +The Duke walked round about her, but she was just as beautiful from +whatever point of view he looked at her. + +The more he looked the more he liked her. + +"Lars, my lad!" + +"What are master's orders?" + +"You must now carry the Princess home," he said, "for now I know how she +looks, and to-morrow I will ask for her hand," he said. + +Next morning the King looked out of the window. "I suppose I shall not +be troubled with the sight of that palace any more," he thought. But, +zounds! There it stood just as on the day before, and the sun shone so +brightly on the roof, and the weathercocks dazzled his eyes. + +He now became furious, and called all his men. + +They came quicker than usual. + +The courtiers bowed and scraped, and the soldiers stood at attention and +presented arms. + +"Do you see the palace there?" screamed the King. + +They stretched their necks, and stared and gaped. + +Yes, of course, that they did. + +"Have I not ordered you to pull down the palace and hang the builder?" +he said. + +Yes, they could not deny that; but then the Colonel himself stepped +forward and reported what had happened and how many soldiers the Duke +had, and how wonderfully grand the palace was. + +And next he told him what the Duke had said, and how he had asked him to +give his greetings to the King, and all that sort of thing. + +The King felt quite confused, and had to put his crown on the table and +scratch his head. He could not understand all this, although he was a +king; for he could take his oath it had all been built in a single +night; and if the Duke were not the evil one himself, he must in any +case have done it by magic. + +While he sat there pondering, the Princess came into the room. + +"Good morning to you, father!" she said. "Just fancy, I had such a +strange and beautiful dream last night!" she said. + +"What did you dream then, my girl?" said the King. + +"I dreamed I was in the new palace over yonder, and that I saw a Duke +there, so fine and handsome that I could never have imagined the like; +and now I want to get married, father," she said. + +"Do you want to get married?--you, who never cared to look at a man! +That's very strange!" said the King. + +"That may be," said the Princess; "but it's different now, and I want to +get married, and it's the Duke I want," she said. + +The King was quite beside himself, so frightened did he become of the +Duke. + +But all of a sudden he heard a terrible noise of drums and trumpets and +instruments of all kinds; and then came a message that the Duke had just +arrived with a large company, all of whom were so grandly dressed that +gold and silver glistened in every fold. The King put on his crown and +his coronation robes, and then went out on the steps to receive them. +And the Princess was not slow to follow him. + +The Duke bowed most graciously, and the King of course did likewise, and +when they had talked awhile about their affairs and their grandeur they +became the best of friends. A great banquet was then prepared, and the +Duke was placed next to the Princess at the table. What they talked +about is not easy to tell, but the Duke spoke so well for himself that +the Princess could not very well say "No" to anything he said, and then +he went up to the King and asked for her hand. The King could not +exactly say "No" either, for he could very well see that the Duke was a +person with whom it was best to be on friendly terms; but give his +sanction there and then, he could not very well do that either. He +wanted to see the Duke's palace first, and find out about the state of +affairs over there, as you may understand. + +So it was arranged that he should visit the Duke and take the Princess +with him to see his palace; and with this they parted company. + +When the Duke returned home, Lars became busier than ever, for there was +so much to attend to. But he set to work and strove hard; and when the +King and his daughter arrived everything was so magnificent and splendid +that no words can describe it. They went through all the rooms and +looked about, and they found everything as it should be, and even still +more splendid, thought the King, and so he was quite pleased. + +The wedding then took place, and that in grand style; and on the Duke's +arrival home with his bride he, too, gave a great feast, and then there +was an end to the festivities. + +Some time passed by, and one evening the Duke heard these words: + +"Are you satisfied now?" + +It was Lars, as you may guess, but the Duke could not see him. + +"Well, I ought to be," said the Duke. "You have provided me with +everything I have," he said. + +"Yes, but what have I got in return?" asked Lars. + +"Nothing," said the Duke; "but, bless me, what could I have given you, +who are not of flesh and blood, and whom I cannot see either?" he said. +"But if there is anything I can do for you, tell me what it is, and I +shall do it." + +"Well, I should like to ask you for that little scrap of paper which you +found in the chest," said Lars. + +"Nothing else?" said the Duke. "If such a trifle can help you, I can +easily do without it, for now I begin to know the words by heart," he +said. + +Lars thanked the Duke, and asked him to put the paper on the chair in +front of the bed when he retired to rest, and he would be sure to fetch +it during the night. + +The Duke did as he was told; and so he and the Princess lay down and +went to sleep. + +But early in the morning the Duke awoke and felt so cold that his teeth +chattered, and when he had got his eyes quite open he found he was quite +naked and had not even as much as a thread on his back; and instead of +the grand bed and the beautiful bedroom, and the magnificent palace, he +lay on the big chest in the old tumble-down hut. + +He began to shout: + +"Lars, my lad!" But he got no answer. He shouted once more: + +"Lars, my lad!" But he got no answer this time either. So he shouted all +he could: + +"Lars, my lad!" But it was all in vain. + +Now he began to understand how matters stood. When Lars had got the +scrap of paper he was freed from service at the same time, and now he +had taken everything with him, But there was no help for it. There stood +the Duke in the old hut quite naked; and as for the Princess she was not +much better off, although she had her clothes on, for she had got them +from her father, so Lars had no power over them. + +The Duke had now to tell the Princess everything, and ask her to leave +him. He would have to manage as best he could, he said. But she would +not hear of it. She well remembered what the parson had said when he +married them, and she would never, never leave him, she said. + +In the meantime the King in his palace had also awakened, and when he +looked out of the window he did not see any sign whatever of the other +palace where his daughter and son-in-law lived. He became uneasy, as you +may imagine, and called his courtiers. + +They came in, and began to bow and scrape. + +"Do you see the palace over yonder behind the forest?" he asked. + +They stretched their necks and stared with all their might. + +No, they did not see it. + +"Where has it gone to, then?" asked the King. + +Well, really they did not know. + +It was not long before the King set out with all his court through the +forest; and when he arrived at the place where the palace with the +beautiful gardens should have been, he could not see anything but +heather and juniper bushes and firs. But then he discovered the old +tumble-down hut, which stood there among the bushes. He entered the hut +and--mercy on us!--what a sight met his eyes! There stood his +son-in-law, quite naked, and his daughter, who had not very many clothes +on either, and who was crying and moaning. + +"Dear, dear! what does all this mean?" said the King; but he did not get +any answer, for the Duke would rather have died than tell him. + +The King did his utmost to get him to speak; but in spite of all the +King's promises and threats the Duke remained obstinate and would not +utter a word. + +The King then became angry--and no wonder, for now he could see that +this grand Duke was not what he pretended to be, and so he ordered the +Duke to be hanged, and that without any loss of time. The Princess +begged and prayed for mercy; but neither prayers nor tears were of any +help now; for an impostor he was, and as an impostor he should die, said +the King. + +And so it had to be. They erected a gallows, and placed the rope round +the Duke's neck. But while they were getting the gallows ready, the +Princess got hold of the hangman, and gave both him and his assistant +some money, that they should so manage the hanging of the Duke that he +should not lose his life, and in the night they were to cut him down, so +that he and the Princess might then flee the country. And that's how the +matter was arranged. + +In the meantime they had strung up the Duke, and the King and his court +and all the people went their way. + +The Duke was now in great straits. He had, however, plenty of time to +reflect how foolish he had been in not saving some of the crumbs when he +was living in plenty, and how unpardonably stupid he had been in letting +Lars have the scrap of paper. This vexed him more than all. If only he +had it again, he thought, they should see he had been gaining some sense +in return for all he had lost. But it is of little use snarling if you +haven't got any teeth. "Ah, well, well!" he sighed, and so he dangled +his legs, which was really all he could do. + +The day passed slowly and tediously for him, and he was not at all +displeased when he saw the sun setting behind the forest. But just +before it disappeared he heard a fearful shouting, and when he looked +down the hill, he saw seven cartloads of worn-out shoes, and on the top +of the hindmost cart he saw a little old man in gray clothes and with a +red pointed cap on his head. His face was like that of the worst +scarecrow, and the rest of him was not very handsome either. + +He drove straight up to the gallows, and when he arrived right under it +he stopped and looked up at the Duke, and then burst out laughing, the +ugly old fellow! + +"How stupid you were!" he said; "but what should the fool do with his +stupidity if he did not make use of it?" And then he laughed again. +"Yes, there you are hanging now, and here am I carting away all the +shoes I have worn out for your whims. I wonder if you can read what is +written on this bit of paper, and if you recognize it?" he said with an +ugly laugh, holding up the paper before the Duke's eyes. + +But all who hang are not dead, and this time it was Lars who was +befooled. + +The Duke made a clutch, and snatched the paper from him. + +"Lars, my lad!" + +"What are master's orders?" + +"Well, you must cut me down from the gallows and put the palace and all +the rest in its place again, exactly as it was before, and when the +night has set in you must bring back the Princess." + +All went merrily as in a dance, and before long everything was in its +place, just as it was when Lars took himself off. + +When the King awoke the next morning he looked out of the window, as was +his custom, and there stood the palace again, with the weathercocks +glittering so beautifully in the sunshine. He called his courtiers, and +they came and began to bow and scrape. + +They stretched their necks as far as they could, and stared and gaped. + +"Do you see the palace over there?" said the King. + +Yes, of course, they did. + +The King then sent for the Princess, but she was not to be found. He +then went out to see if his son-in-law was still hanging on the gallows, +but neither son-in-law nor gallows was to be seen. + +He had to lift off his crown and scratch his head. But that did not +improve matters; he could not make head or tail of either one thing or +the other. He set off at once with all his court through the forest, and +when he came to the place where the palace should stand, there it stood +sure enough. The gardens and the roses were exactly as they used to be, +and the Duke's people were to be seen everywhere among the trees. His +son-in-law and his daughter received him on the steps, dressed in their +finest clothes. + +"Well, I never saw the like of this," said the King to himself; he could +scarcely believe his own eyes, so wonderful did it all seem to him. + +"God's peace be with you, father, and welcome here!" said the Duke. + +The King stood staring at him. + +"Are you my son-in-law?" he asked. + +"Well, I suppose I am," said the Duke. "Who else should I be?" + +"Did I not order you to be hanged yesterday like any common thief?" said +the King. + +"I think you must have been bewitched on the way," said the Duke, with a +laugh. "Do you think I am the man to let myself be hanged? Or is there +anyone here who dares to believe it?" he said, and looked so fiercely at +the courtiers that they felt as if they were being pierced through and +through. + +They bowed and scraped and cringed before him. + +Who could believe such a thing? Was it at all likely? + +"Well, if there is anyone who dares to say the King could have wished me +such evil, let him speak out," said the Duke, and fixed his eyes upon +them still more fiercely than before. + +They went on bowing and scraping and cringing. + +How could anyone dare to say such a thing? No, they had more sense than +that, they should hope. + +The King did not know what to believe, for when he looked at the Duke he +thought he never could have wished him such evil; but still he was not +quite convinced. + +"Did I not come here yesterday, and was not the whole palace gone, and +was there not an old hut in its place? And did not I go into that hut, +and did not you stand stark naked right before my eyes?" he asked. + +"I wonder the King can talk so," said the Duke. "I think the trolls must +have bewitched your eyes in the forest and made you quite crazy; or what +do you think?" he said, and turned round to the courtiers. + +They bowed and bowed till their backs were bent double, and agreed with +everything he said, there could be no mistake about that. The King +rubbed his eyes, and looked round about him. + +"I suppose it is as you say, then," he said to the Duke, "and it is well +I have got back my proper sight and have come to my senses again. For it +would have been a sin and a shame if I had let you be hanged," he said; +and so he was happy again, and nobody thought any more about the +matter. + +"Once bitten, twice shy," as the proverb says; and the Duke now took +upon himself to manage and look after most of his affairs, so that it +was seldom Lars had to wear out his shoes. The King soon gave the Duke +half the kingdom into the bargain; so he had now plenty to do, and +people said they would have to search a long time to find his equal in +wise and just ruling. + +Then one day Lars came to the Duke, looking very little better than the +first time he had seen him; but he was, of course, more humble, and did +not dare to giggle and make grimaces. + +"You do not want my help any longer, now," he said; "for although I did +wear out my shoes at first, I am now unable to wear out a single pair, +and my feet will soon be covered all over with moss. So I thought I +might now get my leave of absence," he said. + +The Duke quite agreed with him. "I have tried to spare you, and I almost +think I could do without you," he said. "But the palace and all the rest +I do not want to lose, for such a clever builder as you I shall never +get again; nor do I ever want to adorn the gallows again, as you can +well understand; so I cannot give you back the paper on any account," he +said. + +"Well, as long as you have got it, I need not fear," said Lars; "but if +anybody else should get hold of it there will be nothing but running and +trudging about again, and that's what I want to avoid; for when one has +been tramping about for a thousand years, as I have done, one begins to +get tired of it," he said. + +But they went on talking, and at last they agreed that the Duke should +put the paper in the box, and then bury it seven ells under the ground, +under a stone fixed in the earth. They then gave mutual thanks for the +time they had spent in each other's company, and so they parted. + +The Duke carried out his part of the agreement, for he was not likely +to want to change it. He lived happy and contented with the Princess, +and they had both sons and daughters. When the King died, he got the +whole of the kingdom, and you may guess he was none the worse off for +that; and there no doubt he still lives and reigns, if he is not dead. + +But as for that box with the scrap of paper in it, there are many who +are still running about looking for it. + + + + +_Twigmuntus, Cowbelliantus, Perchnosius_ + + +ONCE upon a time there was a king who was so very learned that no parson +in the whole world could surpass him; in fact, he was so learned that +ordinary folks could hardly understand what he said, nor could he +understand them either. But in order to have some one to talk with he +procured seven wise professors, who were not quite so learned as +himself, but who were just able to interpret his learned sayings so that +people could apprehend them, and who could twist and turn about the talk +of ordinary folk so that it became sufficiently learned and complicated +for the King to understand it. + +The King had no son, but he had a daughter, and in order that she should +be happily married, and the country governed according to the +fundamental principles of his learning, he issued an edict that he who +was so learned as to put the King and his professors to silence should +have his daughter and half the kingdom there and then. But anyone who +attempted the task and did not succeed should lose his head for having +dared to exchange words with the King. + +That was no joke; but the Princess was so fair and beautiful that it was +no joke to gaze at her either. And the King did not keep her caged up, +for anyone who wished could see her. + +There came princes and counts and barons and parsons and doctors and +learned persons from all quarters of the world; and no sooner did they +see the Princess than they one and all wanted to try their luck. But, +however learned they were, their learning never proved sufficient, and +everyone of them lost his head. + +Over in a corner of the kingdom there lived a farmer who had a son. This +lad was not stupid; he was quick of apprehension and sharp-witted, and +he was not afraid of anything. + +When the King's edict came to this out-of-the-way place, and the parson +had read it from the pulpit, the lad wanted to try his luck. "He who +nothing risks, nothing wins," thought the lad; and so he went to the +parson and told him that if he would give him lessons in the evenings, +he would work for this worship in the daytime, but he wanted to become +so learned that he could try a bout with the King and his professors. + +"Whoever means to compete with them must be able to do something more +than munch bread," said the parson. + +"That may be," said the lad; "but I'll try my luck." + +The parson thought, of course, that he was mad; but when he could get +such a clever hand to work for him only for his keep, he thought he +could not very well say no; and so the lad got what he wanted. + +He worked for the parson in the daytime, and the parson read with him in +the evening; and in this way they went on for some time, but at last the +lad grew tired of his books. + +"I am not going to sit here and read and grind away, and lose what few +wits I have," he said; "and it won't be of much help either, for if you +are lucky things will come right of themselves, and if you are not lucky +you'll never make a silk purse out of a sow's ear." + +And with this he pitched the books on the shelf and went his way. + +All at once he came to a large forest, where the trees and the bushes +were so thick that it was with difficulty he could get along. While he +was thus pushing his way through, he began wondering what he should say +when he came to the king's palace, and how best he could make use of the +learning he had picked up from the parson. All of a sudden the twig of +a tree struck him across his mouth, so that his teeth rattled. + +"That is Twigmuntus," he said. + +A little while after he came to a meadow where a cow was standing +bellowing so furiously that it almost deafened him. + +"That is Cowbelliantus," he said. + +He then came to a river; but as there was neither bridge nor planks +across it, he had to put his clothes on his head and swim across. + +While he was swimming a perch came and bit him on the nose. + +"That is Perchnosius," he said. + +At last he came to the King's palace, where things did not look at all +pleasant, for there were men's heads stuck on long stakes round about, +and they grinned so horribly that they were enough to frighten anyone +out of his wits. But the lad was not easily frightened. + +"God's peace!" he said, and raised his cap. "There you stick and grin at +me; but who knows if I may not be keeping you company before the day is +over, and be grinning with you at others? But if I happen to be alive, +you shall not stick there any longer gaping at people," he said. + +So he went up to the palace and knocked at the gate. + +The guard came out and asked what he wanted. + +"I have come to try my luck with the Princess," said the lad. + +"You?" said the guard, "well, you're a likely one, you are! Have you +lost your senses? There have been princes and counts and barons and +parsons and doctors and learned persons here, and all of them have had +to pay with their heads for that pleasure; and yet you think you'll +succeed!" he said. + +"I should say it is no concern of yours," said the lad; "just open the +gate, and you'll see one who's not afraid of anything." + +But the guard would not let him in. + +"Do as I tell you," said the lad, "or there'll be a fine to-do!" + +But the guard would not. + +The lad then seized him by the collar and flung him against the wall so +that it creaked; and then he walked straight in to the King, who sat in +his parlor with his seven professors about him. Their faces were long +and thin, and they looked like puny, sickly persons about to die. They +were sitting with their heads on one side, meditating and staring at the +floor. + +Then one of them, who looked up, asked the lad in ordinary language: +"Who are you?" + +"A suitor," said the lad. + +"Do you want to try for the Princess's hand?" + +"Well, that's about it!" said the lad. + +"Have you lost your wits? There have been princes and counts and barons +and parsons and doctors and learned persons here, and all of them have +gone headless away; so you had better turn about and get away while your +head is on your shoulders," he said. + +"Don't trouble yourself on that account, but rather think of the head on +your own shoulders," said the lad. "You look after yours, and I'll take +care of mine! So just begin and let me hear how much wit you have got, +for I don't think you look so very clever," he said. + +The first professor then began a long harangue of gibberish; and when he +had finished the second went on; and then the third; and in this way +they continued till at length it was the turn of the seventh. The lad +did not understand a single word of it all, but he didn't lose courage +for all that. He only nodded his approval to all of it. + +When the last had finished his harangue he asked: + +"Can you reply to that?" + +"That's easy enough," said the lad. "Why, when I was in my cradle and in +my go-cart I could twist my mouth about and prate and jabber like you," +he said. "But since you are so terribly learned, I'll put a question to +you, and that shall not be a long one: + +"Twigmuntus, Cowbelliantus, Perchnosius? Can you give me an answer to +that?" + +And now you should have seen how they stretched their necks and +strained their ears. They put on their spectacles and began to look into +their books and turn over the leaves. + +But while they were searching and meditating, the lad put his hands in +his trousers pockets, and looked so frank and fearless that they could +not help admiring him, and wondering that one who was so young could be +so learned and yet look just like other people. + +"Well, how are you getting on?" said the lad. "Cannot all your learning +help you to open your mouths, so that I can have an answer to my +question?" he said. + +Then they began to ponder and meditate, and then they glanced at the +ceiling, and then they stared at the walls, and then they fixed their +eyes upon the floor. But they could not give him any answer, nor could +the King himself, although he was much more learned than all the others +together. They had to give it up, and the lad got the Princess and half +the kingdom. This he ruled in his own way, and if it did not fare +better, it did not fare worse for him than for the King with all his +fundamental principles. + + + + +_Master Tobacco_ + + +ONCE upon a time there was a poor woman who went about begging with her +son; for at home she had neither a morsel to eat nor a stick to burn. +First she tried the country, and went from parish to parish; but it was +poor work, and so she came into the town. There she went about from +house to house for a while, and at last she came to the Lord Mayor. He +was both open-hearted and open-handed, and he was married to the +daughter of the richest merchant in the town, and they had one little +daughter. As they had no more children, you may fancy she was sugar and +spice and all that's nice, and in a word there was nothing too good for +her. This little girl soon came to know the beggar boy as he went about +with his mother; and as the Lord Mayor was a wise man, as soon as he +saw what friends the two were, he took the boy into his house that he +might be his daughter's playmate. Yes, they played and read and went to +school together, and never had so much as one quarrel. + +[Illustration: "AND WHEN HE SET HER DOWN HE GAVE HER A KISS"] + +One day the Lady Mayoress stood at the window, and watched the children +as they were trudging off to school. There had been a shower of rain, +and the street was flooded, and she saw how the boy first carried the +basket with their dinner over the stream, and then he went back and +lifted the little girl over, and when he set her down he gave her a +kiss. + +When the Lady Mayoress saw this, she got very angry. "To think of such a +ragamuffin kissing our daughter--we who are the best people in the +place!" That was what she said. Her husband did his best to stop her +tongue. "No one knew," he said, "how children would turn out in life, or +what might befall his own. The boy was a clever, handy lad, and often +and often a great tree sprang from a slender plant." + +But no! it was all the same, whatever he said and whichever way he put +it. The Lady Mayoress held her own, and said beggars on horseback always +rode their cattle to death, and that no one had ever heard of a silk +purse being made out of a sow's ear; adding, that a penny would never +turn into a shilling, even though it glittered like a guinea. The end of +it all was that the poor lad was turned out of the house, and had to +pack up his rags and be off. + +When the Lord Mayor saw there was no help for it, he sent him away with +a trader who had come thither with a ship, and he was to be cabin boy on +board her. He told his wife he had sold the boy for a roll of tobacco. + +But before he went the Lord Mayor's daughter broke her ring into two +bits and gave the boy one bit, that it might be a token to know him by +if they ever met again; and so the ship sailed away, and the lad came to +a town, far, far off in the world, and to that town a priest had just +come who was so good a preacher that everyone went to church to hear +him, and the crew of the ship went with the rest the Sunday after to +hear the sermon. As for the lad, he was left behind to mind the ship and +to cook the dinner. So while he was hard at work he heard some one +calling out across the water on an island. So he took the boat and rowed +across, and there he saw an old hag, who called and roared. + +"Aye," she said, "you have come at last! Here have I stood a hundred +years calling and bawling, and thinking how I should ever get over this +water; but no one has ever heard or heeded but you, and you shall be +well paid if you will put me over to the other side." + +So the lad had to row her to her sister's house, who lived on a hill on +the other side close by; and when they got there, she told him to beg +for the old tablecloth which lay on the dresser. Yes! he would beg for +it; and when the old witch who lived there knew that he had helped her +sister over the water, she said he might have whatever he chose to ask. + +"Oh," said the boy, "then I won't have anything else than that old +tablecloth on the dresser yonder." + +"Oh," said the old witch, "that you never asked out of your own wits." + +"Now I must be off," said the lad, "to cook the Sunday dinner for the +church-goers." + +"Never mind that," said the first old hag; "it will cook itself while +you are away. Stop with me, and I will pay you better still. Here have I +stood and called and bawled for a hundred years, but no one has ever +heeded me but you." + +The end was he had to go with her to another sister, and when he got +there the old hag said he was to be sure and ask for the old sword, +which was such that he could put it into his pocket and it became a +knife, and when he drew it out it was a long sword again. One edge was +black and the other white, and if he smote with the black edge +everything fell dead, and if with the white everything came to life +again. So when they came over, and the second old witch heard how he had +helped her sister across, she said he might have anything he chose to +ask for her fare. + +"Oh," said the lad, "then I will have nothing else but that old sword +which hangs up over the cupboard." + +"That you never asked out of your own wits," said the old witch; but for +all that he got the sword. + +Then the old hag said again: "Come on with me to my third sister. Here +have I stood and called and bawled for a hundred years, and no one has +heeded me but you. Come on to my third sister, and you shall have better +pay still." + +So he went with her, and on the way she told him he was to ask for the +old hymn book; and that was such a book that when anyone was sick and +the nurse sang one of the hymns, the sickness passed away, and they were +well again. Well! when they got across, and the third old witch heard he +had helped her sister across, she said he was to have whatever he chose +to ask for his fare. + +"Oh," said the lad, "then I won't have anything else but granny's old +hymn book." + +"That," said the old hag, "you never asked out of your own wits." + +When he got back to the ship the crew were still at church, so he tried +his tablecloth, and spread just a little bit of it out, for he wanted to +see what good it was before he laid it on the table. Yes! in a trice it +was covered with good food and strong drink, enough and to spare. So he +just took a little snack, and then he gave the ship's dog as much as it +could eat. + +When the church-goers came on board, the captain said: "Wherever did you +get all that food for the dog? Why, he's as round as a sausage, and as +lazy as a snail." + +"Oh, if you must know," said the lad, "I gave him the bones." + +"Good boy," said the captain, "to think of the dog." + +So he spread out the cloth, and at once the whole table was covered all +over with such brave meat and drink as they had never before seen in all +their born days. + +Now when the boy was again alone with the dog, he wanted to try the +sword, so he smote at the dog with the black edge, and it fell dead on +the deck; but when he turned the blade and smote with the white edge +the dog came to life again and wagged his tail and fawned on his +playmate. But the book--that he could not get tried just then. + +Then they sailed well and far till a storm overtook them which lasted +many days, so they lay to and drove till they were quite out of their +course, and could not tell where they were. At last the wind fell, and +then they came to a country far, far off that none of them knew; but +they could easily see there was great grief there, as well there might +be, for the King's daughter was a leper. The King came down to the +shore, and asked was there anyone on board who could cure her and make +her well again. + +"No, there was not." That was what they all said who were on deck. + +"Is there no one else on board the ship than those I see?" asked the +King. + +"Yes; there's a little beggar boy." + +"Well," said the King, "let him come on deck." + +So when he came and heard what the King wanted, he said he thought he +might cure her; and then the captain got so wroth and mad with rage that +he ran round and round like a squirrel in a cage, for he thought the boy +was only putting himself forward to do something in which he was sure to +fail, and he told the King not to listen to such childish chatter. + +But the King only said that wit came as children grew, and that there +was the making of a man in every bairn. The boy had said he could do it, +and he might as well try. After all, there were many who had tried and +failed before him. So he took him home to his daughter, and the lad sang +a hymn once. Then the Princess could lift her arm. Once again he sang +it, and she could sit up in bed. And when he had sung it thrice, the +King's daughter was as well as you and I are. + +The King was so glad he wanted to give him half his kingdom and the +princess to wife. + +"Yes," said the lad, "land and power are fine things to have half of," +and was very grateful; "but as for the Princess, he was betrothed to +another," he said, "and he could not take her to wife." + +So he stayed there awhile and got half the kingdom; and when he had not +been very long there, war broke out, and the lad went out to battle with +the rest, and you may fancy he did not spare the black edge of his +sword. The enemy's soldiers fell before him like flies, and the King won +the day. But when they had conquered, he turned the white edge, and they +all rose up alive and became the King's soldiers, who had granted them +their lives. But then there were so many of them that they were badly +off for food, though the King wished to send them away full, both of +meat and drink. So the lad had to bring out his tablecloth, and then +there was not a man that lacked anything. + +Now when he had lived a little longer with the King, he began to long to +see the Lord Mayor's daughter. So he fitted out four ships of war and +set sail; and when he came off the town where the Lord Mayor lived, he +fired off his cannon like thunder, till half the panes of glass in the +town were shivered. On board those ships everything was as grand as in a +King's palace; and as for himself, he had gold on every seam of his +coat, so fine he was. It was not long before the Lord Mayor came down to +the shore and asked if the foreign lord would not be so good as to come +up and dine with him. "Yes, he would go," he said; and so he went up to +the Mansion House where the Lord Mayor lived, and there he took his seat +between the Lady Mayoress and her daughter. + +So as they sat there in the greatest state, and ate and drank and were +merry, he threw the half of the ring into the daughter's glass, and no +one saw it; but she was not slow to find out what he meant, and excused +herself from the feast and went out and fitted his half to her half. Her +mother saw there was something in the wind and hurried after her as fast +as she could. + +"Do you know who that is in there, mother?" said the daughter. + +"No!" said the Lady Mayoress. + +"He whom papa sold for a roll of tobacco," said the daughter. + +At these words the Lady Mayoress fainted and fell down flat on the +floor. + +In a little while the Lord Mayor came out to see what was the matter, +and when he heard how things stood he was almost as uneasy as his wife. + +"There is nothing to make a fuss about," said Master Tobacco. "I have +only come to claim the little girl I kissed as we were going to school." + +But to the Lady Mayoress he said: + +"You should never despise the children of the poor and needy, for none +can tell how they may turn out; since there is the making of a man in +every child of man, and wit and wisdom come with growth and strength." + + + + +_The History of Tom Thumb_ + + +IN the days of the great Prince Arthur there lived a mighty magician, +called Merlin, the most learned and skillful enchanter the world has +ever seen. + +This famous magician, who could take any form he pleased, was traveling +about as a poor beggar, and being very tired, he stopped at the cottage +of a plowman to rest himself, and asked for some food. + +The countryman bade him welcome, and his wife, who was a very +good-hearted woman, soon brought him some milk in a wooden bowl, and +some coarse brown bread on a platter. + +Merlin was much pleased with the kindness of the plowman and his wife; +but he could not help noticing that though everything was neat and +comfortable in the cottage, they both seemed to be very unhappy. He +therefore asked them why they were so melancholy, and learned that they +were miserable because they had no children. + +The poor woman said, with tears in her eyes: "I should be the happiest +creature in the world if I had a son; although he was no bigger than my +husband's thumb, I would be satisfied." + +Merlin was so much amused with the idea of a boy no bigger than a man's +thumb that he determined to grant the poor woman's wish. Accordingly, in +a short time after, the plowman's wife had a son, who, wonderful to +relate, was not a bit bigger than his father's thumb! + +The queen of the fairies, wishing to see the little fellow, came in at +the window while the mother was sitting up in the bed admiring him. The +queen kissed the child, and, giving it the name of Tom Thumb, sent for +some of the fairies, who dressed her little godson according to her +orders: + + An oak-leaf hat he had for his crown; + His shirt of web by spiders spun, + With jacket wove of thistle's down. + His trousers were of feathers done; + His stockings, of apple-rind, they tie + With eyelash from his mother's eye; + His shoes were made of mouse's skin, + Tann'd with the downy hair within. + +Tom never grew any larger than his father's thumb, which was only of +ordinary size; but as he got older he became very cunning and full of +tricks. When he was old enough to play with the boys, and had lost all +his own cherry stones, he used to creep into the bags of his +playfellows, fill his pockets, and, getting out without their noticing +him, would again join in the game. + +One day, however, as he was coming out of a bag of cherry stones, where +he had been stealing as usual, the boy to whom it belonged chanced to +see him. "Ah, ah! my little Tommy," said the boy, "so I have caught you +stealing my cherry stones at last, and you shall be rewarded for your +thievish tricks." On saying this, he drew the string tight round his +neck, and gave the bag such a hearty shake that poor little Tom's legs, +thighs, and body were sadly bruised. He roared loud with pain, and +begged to be let out, promising never to steal again. + +A short time afterwards his mother was making a batter-pudding, and Tom, +being very anxious to see how it was made, climbed up to the edge of the +bowl; but his foot slipped, and he plumped over head and ears into the +batter, without his mother noticing him, who stirred him into the +pudding-bag, and put him in the pot to boil. + +The batter filled Tom's mouth and prevented him from crying; but, on +feeling the hot water, he kicked and struggled so much in the pot that +his mother thought that the pudding was bewitched, and, pulling it out +of the pot, she threw it outside the door. A poor tinker, who was +passing by, lifted up the pudding, and, then putting it into his budget, +walked off. As Tom had now got his mouth cleared of the batter, he then +began to cry aloud, which so frightened the tinker that he flung down +the pudding and ran away. The pudding being broken to pieces by the +fall, Tom crept out, covered all over with the batter, and walked home. +His mother, who was very sorry to see her darling in such a woeful +state, put him into a teacup and soon washed off the batter; after which +she kissed him, and laid him in bed. + +Soon after the adventure of the pudding, Tom's mother went to milk her +cow in the meadow, and she took him along with her. As the wind was very +high, for fear of being blown away, she tied him to a thistle with a +piece of fine thread. The cow soon observed Tom's oak-leaf hat, and +liking the appearance of it, took poor Tom and the thistle at one +mouthful. While the cow was chewing the thistle, Tom was afraid of her +great teeth, which threatened to crush him in pieces, and he roared out +as loud as he could: "Mother, mother!" + +"Where are you, Tommy, my dear Tommy?" said his mother. + +"Here, mother," replied he, "in the red cow's mouth." + +His mother began to cry and wring her hands; but the cow, surprised at +the odd noise in her throat, opened her mouth and let Tom drop out. +Fortunately his mother caught him in her apron as he was falling to the +ground, or he would have been dreadfully hurt. She then put Tom in her +bosom and ran home with him. + +Tom's father made him a whip of a barley straw to drive the cattle with, +and having one day gone into the fields, Tom slipped a foot and rolled +into the furrow. A raven, which was flying over, picked him up, and flew +with him over the sea, and there dropped him. + +A large fish swallowed Tom the moment he fell into the sea, which was +soon after caught and bought for the table of King Arthur. When they +opened the fish in order to cook it, everyone was astonished at finding +such a little boy, and Tom was quite delighted at being free again. They +carried him to the King, who made Tom his dwarf, and he soon grew a +great favorite at court; for by his tricks and gambols he not only +amused the King and Queen, but also all the Knights of the Round Table. + +It is said that when the King rode out on horseback he often took Tom +along with him, and if a shower came on he used to creep into his +majesty's waistcoat pocket, where he slept till the rain was over. + +King Arthur one day asked Tom about his parents, wishing to know if they +were as small as he was, and whether they were well off. Tom told the +King that his father and mother were as tall as anybody about the court, +but in rather poor circumstances. On hearing this the King carried Tom +to his treasury, the place where he kept all his money, and told him to +take as much money as he could carry home to his parents, which made the +poor little fellow caper with joy. Tom went immediately to procure a +purse, which was made of a water bubble, and then returned to the +treasury, where he received a silver threepenny-piece to put into it. + +Our little hero had some difficulty in lifting the burden upon his back; +but he at last succeeded in getting it placed to his mind, and set +forward on his journey. However, without meeting with any accident, and +after resting himself more than a hundred times by the way, in two days +and two nights he reached his father's house in safety. + +Tom had traveled forty-eight hours with a huge silver-piece on his back, +and was almost tired to death, when his mother ran out to meet him, and +carried him into the house. But he soon returned to court. + +As Tom's clothes had suffered much in the batter-pudding and the inside +of the fish, his majesty ordered him a new suit of clothes and to be +mounted as a knight on a mouse. + + Of butterfly's wings his shirt was made, + His boots of chicken's hide; + And by a nimble fairy blade, + Well learned in the tailoring trade, + His clothing was supplied. + A needle dangled by his side; + A dapper mouse he used to ride, + Thus strutted Tom in stately pride! + +It was certainly very diverting to see Tom in this dress and mounted on +the mouse as he rode out a-hunting with the King and nobility, who were +all ready to expire with laughter at Tom and his fine prancing charger. + +The King was so charmed with his address that he ordered a little chair +to be made, in order that Tom might sit upon his table, and also a +palace of gold, a span high, with a door an inch wide, to live in. He +also gave him a coach, drawn by six small mice. + +The Queen was so enraged at the honors conferred on Sir Thomas that she +resolved to ruin him, and told the King that the little knight had been +saucy to her. + +The King sent for Tom in great haste, but being fully aware of the +danger of royal anger, he crept into an empty snail shell, where he lay +for a long time, until he was almost starved with hunger; but at last he +ventured to peep out, and seeing a fine large butterfly on the ground +near the place of his concealment, he got close to it, and jumping +astride on it was carried up into the air. The butterfly flew with him +from tree to tree and from field to field, and at last returned to the +court, where the King and nobility all strove to catch him; but at last +poor Tom fell from his seat into a watering pot, in which he was almost +drowned. + +When the Queen saw him she was in a rage, and said he should be +beheaded; and he was again put into a mouse trap until the time of his +execution. + +However, a cat, observing something alive in the trap, patted it about +till the wires broke, and set Thomas at liberty. + +The King received Tom again into favor, which he did not live to enjoy, +for a large spider one day attacked him; and although he drew his sword +and fought well, yet the spider's poisonous breath at last overcame him. + + He fell dead on the ground where he stood, + And the spider suck'd every drop of his blood. + +King Arthur and his whole court were so sorry at the loss of their +little favorite that they went into mourning and raised a fine white +marble monument over his grave with the following epitaph: + + Here lies Tom Thumb, King Arthur's knight, + Who died by a spider's cruel bite. + He was well known in Arthur's court, + Where he afforded gallant sport; + He rode a tilt and tournament, + And on a mouse a-hunting went. + Alive he filled the court with mirth; + His death to sorrow soon gave birth. + Wipe, wipe your eyes, and shake your head + And cry,--Alas! Tom Thumb is dead! + + + + +_Tattercoats_ + + +IN a great palace by the sea there once dwelt a very rich old lord who +had neither wife nor children living, only one little granddaughter, +whose face he had never seen in all her life. He hated her bitterly, +because at her birth his favorite daughter died; and when the old nurse +brought him the baby he swore that it might live or die as it liked, but +he would never look on its face as long as it lived. + +So he turned his back and sat by his window looking out over the sea, +and weeping great tears for his lost daughter, till his white hair and +beard grew down over his shoulders and twined round his chair and crept +into the chinks of the floor, and his tears, dropping on to the window +ledge, wore a channel through the stone and ran away in a little river +to the great sea. And meanwhile his granddaughter grew up with no one to +care for her or clothe her; only the old nurse, when no one was by, +would sometimes give her a dish of scraps from the kitchen or a torn +petticoat from the rag bag; while the other servants of the palace would +drive her from the house with blows and mocking words, calling her +"Tattercoats," and pointing at her bare feet and shoulders, till she ran +away crying, to hide among the bushes. + +And so she grew up, with little to eat or wear, spending her days in the +fields and lanes, with only the gooseherd for a companion, who would +play to her so merrily on his little pipe when she was hungry or cold or +tired that she forgot all her troubles, and fell to dancing, with his +flock of noisy geese for partners. + +But one day people told each other that the King was traveling through +the land, and in the town near by was to give a great ball to all the +lords and ladies of the country, when the Prince, his only son, was to +choose a wife. + +One of the royal invitations was brought to the palace by the sea, and +the servants carried it up to the old lord who still sat by his window, +wrapped in his long white hair and weeping into the little river that +was fed by his tears. + +But when he heard the King's command he dried his eyes and bade them +bring shears to cut him loose, for his hair had bound him a fast +prisoner and he could not move. And then he sent them for rich clothes +and jewels, which he put on; and he ordered them to saddle the white +horse with gold and silk that he might ride to meet the King. + +Meanwhile Tattercoats had heard of the great doings in the town, and she +sat by the kitchen door weeping because she could not go to see them. +And when the old nurse heard her crying she went to the lord of the +palace, and begged him to take his granddaughter with him to the King's +ball. + +But he only frowned and told her to be silent, while the servants +laughed and said: "Tattercoats is happy in her rags, playing with the +gooseherd; let her be--it is all she is fit for." + +[Illustration: TATTERCOATS FORGOT ALL HER TROUBLES AND FELL TO DANCING] + +A second, and then a third time, the old nurse begged him to let the +girl go with him, but she was answered only by black looks and fierce +words, till she was driven from the room by the jeering servants with +blows and mocking words. + +Weeping over her ill success, the old nurse went to look for +Tattercoats; but the girl had been turned from the door by the cook, and +had run away to tell her friend the gooseherd how unhappy she was +because she could not go to the King's ball. + +But when the gooseherd had listened to her story he bade her cheer up, +and proposed that they should go together into the town to see the King +and all the fine things; and when she looked sorrowfully down at her +rags and bare feet he played a note or two upon his pipe, so gay and +merry that she forgot all about her tears and her troubles, and, before +she well knew, the herdboy had taken her by the hand, and she and he, +and the geese before them, were dancing down the road toward the town. + +Before they had gone very far a handsome young man, splendidly dressed, +rode up and stopped to ask the way to the castle where the King was +staying; and when he found that they too were going thither, he got +off his horse and walked beside them along the road. + +The herdboy pulled out his pipe and played a low, sweet tune, and the +stranger looked again and again at Tattercoats' lovely face, till he +fell deeply in love with her and begged her to marry him. + +But she only laughed and shook her golden head. + +"You would be finely put to shame if you had a goosegirl for your wife!" +said she; "go and ask one of the great ladies you will see to-night at +the King's ball, and do not flout poor Tattercoats." + +But the more she refused him the sweeter the pipe played and the deeper +the young man fell in love, till at last he begged her, as a proof of +his sincerity, to come that night at twelve to the King's ball, just as +she was, with the herdboy and his geese, and in her torn petticoat and +bare feet, and he would dance with her before the King and the lords and +ladies, and present her to them all as his dear and honored bride. + +So when night came, and the hall in the castle was full of light and +music, and the lords and ladies were dancing before the King, just as +the clock struck twelve, Tattercoats and the herdboy, followed by his +flock of noisy geese, entered at the great doors and walked straight up +the ballroom, while on either side the ladies whispered, the lords +laughed, and the King, seated at the far end, stared in amazement. + +But as they came in front of the throne Tattercoats' lover rose from +beside the King and came to meet her. Taking her by the hand, he kissed +her thrice before them all, and turned to the King. + +"Father," he said, for it was the Prince himself, "I have made my +choice, and here is my bride, the loveliest girl in all the land, and +the sweetest as well!" + +Before he had finished speaking the herdboy put his pipe to his lips and +played a few low notes that sounded like a bird singing far off in the +woods; and as he played, Tattercoats' rags were changed to shining robes +sewn with glittering jewels, a golden crown lay upon her golden hair, +and the flock of geese behind her became a crowd of dainty pages +bearing her long train. + +And, as the King rose to greet her as his daughter, the trumpets sounded +loudly in honor of the new Princess, and the people outside in the +street said to each other: + +"Ah, now the Prince has chosen for his wife the loveliest girl in all +the land!" + +But the gooseherd was never seen again, and no one knew what became of +him; while the old lord went home once more to his palace by the sea, +for he could not stay at court when he had sworn never to look on his +granddaughter's face. + +So there he still sits by his window, if you could only see him, as you +some day may, weeping more bitterly than ever, as he looks out over the +sea. + + + + +_History of Jack the Giant-Killer_ + + +IN the reign of the famous King Arthur there lived in Cornwall a lad +named Jack, who was a boy of a bold temper and took delight in hearing +or reading of conjurers, giants, and fairies, and used to listen eagerly +to the deeds of the Knights of King Arthur's Round Table. + +In those days there lived on St. Michael's Mount, off Cornwall, a huge +giant, eighteen feet high and nine feet round, and whose fierce and +savage looks were the terror of all who beheld him. + +He dwelt in a gloomy cavern on the top of the mountain, and used to wade +over to the mainland in search of prey, when he would throw half a dozen +oxen upon his back, tie three times as many sheep and hogs around his +waist, and march back to his own abode. + +The giant had done this for many years, when Jack resolved to destroy +him. + +Jack took a horn, a shovel, a pickax, his armor, and a dark lantern, and +one winter's evening he went to the mount. There he dug a pit +twenty-two feet deep and twenty broad. He covered the top over so as to +make it look like solid ground. He then blew such a tantivy that the +giant awoke and came out of his den, with a cry: "You saucy villain, you +shall pay for this! I'll broil you for my breakfast!" + +He had just finished, when, taking one step farther, he tumbled headlong +into the pit, and Jack struck him a blow on the head with his pickax +that killed him. Jack then returned home to cheer his friends with the +news. + +Another giant, called Blunderbore, vowed to be revenged on Jack if ever +he should have him in his power. This giant kept an enchanted castle in +the midst of a lonely wood, and some time after the death of Cormoran, +Jack was passing through a wood, and being weary sat down and went to +sleep. + +The giant, passing by and seeing Jack, carried him to his castle, where +he locked him up in a large room, the floor of which was covered with +the bodies, skulls, and bones of men and women. + +Soon after the giant went to fetch his brother, who was likewise a +giant, to take a meal off his flesh, and Jack saw with terror through +the bars of his prison the two giants approaching. + +Jack, perceiving in one corner of the room a strong cord, took courage, +and making a slipknot at each end, he threw them over their heads and +tied it to the window bars; he then pulled till he had choked them. When +they were black in the face he slid down the rope and quickly disposed +of them. + +Jack next took a great bunch of keys from the pocket of Blunderbore and +went into the castle again. He made a strict search through all the +rooms, and in one of them found three ladies tied up by the hair of +their heads and almost starved to death. They told him that their +husbands had been killed by the giants, who had then condemned them to +be starved to death, because they would not eat the flesh of the +captives he brought in. + +"Ladies," said Jack, "I have put an end to the monster and his wicked +brother, and I give you this castle and all the riches it contains, to +make some amends for the dreadful pains you have felt." He then very +politely gave them the keys of the castle and went farther on his +journey to Wales. + +As Jack had but little money he went on as fast as possible. At length +he came to a handsome house. Jack knocked at the door, when there came +forth a Welsh giant. Jack said he was a traveler who had lost his way, +on which the giant made him welcome and let him into a room where there +was a good bed to sleep in. + +Jack took off his clothes quickly, but though he was wear he could not +go to sleep. Soon after this he heard the giant walking backward and +forward in the next room and saying to himself: + + "Though here you lodge with me this night, + You shall not see the morning light; + My club shall dash your brains out quite." + +"Say you so?" thought Jack. "Are these your tricks upon travelers? But I +hope to prove as cunning as you are." Then, getting out of bed, he +groped about the room, and at last found a large thick billet of wood. +He laid it in his own place in the bed and then hid himself in a dark +corner of the room. + +The giant, about midnight, entered the apartment, and with his bludgeon +struck many blows on the bed, in the very place where Jack had laid the +log; and then he went back to his own room, thinking he had broken all +Jack's bones. + +Early in the morning Jack put a bold face upon the matter and walked +into the giant's room to thank him for his lodging. The giant started +when he saw him and began to stammer out: "Oh, dear me! Is it you? Pray +how did you sleep last night? Did you hear or see anything in the dead +of the night?" + +"Nothing worth speaking of," said Jack carelessly. "A rat, I believe, +gave me three or four slaps with its tail and disturbed me a little, but +I soon went to sleep again." + +The giant wondered more and more at this, yet he did not answer a word, +but went to bring two great bowls of hasty pudding for their breakfast. +Jack wanted to make the giant believe that he could eat as much as +himself, so he contrived to button a leathern bag inside his coat and +slip the hasty pudding into this bag, while he seemed to put it into his +mouth. + +When breakfast was over he said to the giant: "Now I will show you a +fine trick. I can cure all wounds with a touch. I could cut off my head +in one minute and the next put it sound again on my shoulders. You shall +see an example." He then took hold of the knife, ripped up the leathern +bag, and all the hasty pudding tumbled out upon the floor. + +"Ods splutter hur nails!" cried the Welsh giant, who was ashamed to be +outdone by such a little fellow as Jack, "hur can do that hurself." So +he snatched up the knife, plunged it into his own stomach, and in a +moment dropped down dead. + +Jack, having hitherto been successful in all his undertakings, resolved +not to be idle in future. He therefore furnished himself with a horse, a +cap of knowledge, a sword of sharpness, shoes of swiftness, and an +invisible coat, the better to perform the wonderful enterprises that lay +before him. + +He traveled over high hills, and on the third day he came to a large and +spacious forest through which his road lay. Scarcely had he entered the +forest when he beheld a monstrous giant dragging along by the hair of +their heads a handsome knight and his lady. Jack alighted from his +horse, and tying him to an oak tree, put on his invisible coat, under +which he carried his sword of sharpness. + +When he came up to the giant he made several strokes at him, but could +not reach his body, though he wounded his thighs in several places; and +at length putting both hands to his sword and aiming with all his +might, he cut off both his legs. Then Jack, setting his foot upon the +giant's neck, plunged his sword into the great body, when the monster +gave a groan and expired. + +[Illustration: "THE GIANT AND THE CONJURER NOW KNEW THAT THEIR WICKED +COURSE WAS AT AN END"] + +The knight and his lady thanked Jack for their deliverance and invited +him to their house, to receive a proper reward for his services. "No," +said Jack, "I cannot be easy till I find out this monster's habitation." +So taking the knight's directions, he mounted his horse and soon after +came in sight of another giant, who was sitting on a block of timber +waiting for his brother's return. + +Jack alighted from his horse and, putting on his invisible coat, +approached and aimed a blow at the giant's head, but missing his aim he +only cut off his nose. On this the giant seized his club and laid about +him most unmercifully. + +"Nay," said Jack, "if this be the case I'd better dispatch you!" So +jumping upon the block he stabbed him in the back, when he dropped down +dead. + +Jack then proceeded on his journey and traveled over hills and dales, +till arriving at the foot of a high mountain he knocked at the door of a +lonely house, when an old man let him in. + +When Jack was seated, the hermit thus addressed him: "My son, on the top +of this mountain is an enchanted castle, kept by the giant Galligantus +and a vile magician. I lament the fate of a duke's daughter, whom they +seized as she was walking in her father's garden and brought hither +transformed into a deer." + +Jack promised that in the morning, at the risk of his life, he would +break the enchantment, and after a sound sleep he arose early, put on +his invisible coat, and made ready for the attempt. + +When he had climbed to the top of the mountain he saw two fiery +griffins, but he passed between them without the least fear of danger, +for they could not see him because of his invisible coat. On the castle +gate he found a golden trumpet, under which were written these lines: + + "Whoever can this trumpet blow + Shall cause the giant's overthrow." + +As soon as Jack had read this he seized the trumpet and blew a shrill +blast, which made the gates fly open and the very castle itself tremble. + +The giant and the conjurer now knew that their wicked course was at an +end, and they stood biting their thumbs and shaking with fear. Jack, +with his sword of sharpness, soon killed the giant, and the magician was +then carried away by a whirlwind; and every knight and beautiful lady +who had been changed into birds and beasts returned to their proper +shapes. The castle vanished away like smoke, and the head of the giant +Galligantus was then sent to King Arthur. + +The knights and ladies rested that night at the old man's hermitage, and +next day they set out for the court. Jack then went up to the King and +gave his majesty an account of all his fierce battles. + +Jack's fame had now spread through the whole country, and at the King's +desire the duke gave him his daughter in marriage, to the joy of all his +kingdom. After this the King gave him a large estate, on which he and +his lady lived the rest of their days in joy and contentment. + + + + +_Yvon and Finette_ + +A TALE OF BRITTANY + + +I + +ONCE upon a time there lived in Brittany a noble lord, who was called +the Baron Kerver. His manor house was the most beautiful in the +province. It was a great Gothic castle, with a groined roof and walls, +covered with carving, that looked at a distance like a vine climbing +over an arbor. On the first floor six stained glass balcony windows +looked out on each side toward the rising and the setting sun. In the +morning when the Baron, mounted on his dun mare, went forth into the +forest, followed by his tall greyhounds, he saw at each window one of +his daughters, with prayer book in hand, praying for the house of +Kerver, and who, with their fair curls, blue eyes, and clasped hands, +might have been taken for six madonnas in an azure niche. At evening +when the sun declined and the Baron returned homeward, after riding +round his domains, he perceived from afar, in the windows looking toward +the west, six sons, with dark locks and eagle gaze, the hope and pride +of the family, who might have been taken for six sculptured knights at +the portal of a church. For ten leagues round all who wished to quote a +happy father and a powerful lord named the Baron Kerver. + +The castle had but twelve windows, and the Baron had thirteen children. +The last, the one that had no place, was a handsome boy of sixteen by +the name of Yvon. As usual, he was the best beloved. In the morning at +his departure, and at evening on his return, the Baron always found Yvon +waiting on the threshold to embrace him. With his fair hair falling to +his waist, his graceful figure, his willful air, and his bold bearing, +Yvon was beloved by all the Bretons. At twelve years of age he had +bravely attacked and killed a wolf with an ax, which had won him the +name of _Fearless_. He deserved the title, for never was there a bolder +heart. + +One day, when the Baron had stayed at home, and was amusing himself by +breaking a lance with his squire, Yvon entered the armory in a traveling +dress, and, bending one knee to the ground: + +"My lord and father," said he to the Baron, "I come to ask your +blessing. The house of Kerver is rich in knights, and has no need of a +child; it is time for me to go to seek my fortune. I wish to go to +distant countries to try my strength, and to make myself a name." + +"You are right, Fearless," replied the Baron, more moved than he wished +to appear. "I will not keep you back; I have no right to do so; but you +are very young, my child; perhaps it would be better for you to stay +another year with us." + +"I am sixteen, my father; at that age you had already fought one of the +proudest lords of the country. I have not forgotten that our arms are a +unicorn ripping up a lion, and our motto, "Onward!" I do not wish the +Kervers to blush for their last child." + +Yvon received his father's blessing, shook hands with his brothers, +embraced his sisters, bade adieu to all the weeping vassals, and set out +with a light heart. + +Nothing stopped him on his way. A river appeared, he swam it; a +mountain, he climbed it; a forest, he made his way through it with the +sun for a guide. "_On--the Kerver!_" he cried, whenever he met with an +obstacle, and went straight forward in spite of everything. + +For three years he had been roaming over the world in search of +adventures, sometimes conquering, sometimes conquered, always bold and +gay, when he received an offer to go to fight the heathen of Norway. To +kill unbelievers and to conquer a kingdom was a double pleasure. Yvon +enlisted twelve brave comrades, freighted a ship, and hoisted from the +mainmast a blue standard, with the unicorn and motto of the Kervers. + +The sea was calm, the wind fair, and the night serene. Yvon, stretched +on the deck, watched the stars, and sought the one which cast its +trembling light on his father's castle. All at once the vessel struck +upon a rock; a terrible crash was heard; the sails fell like tinder; and +an enormous wave burst over the deck, and swept away everything upon it. + +"_On--the Kerver!_" cried Yvon, as soon as his head appeared above the +water; and he began to swim as tranquilly as if he had been bathing in +the lake of the old castle. Happily the moon was rising. Yvon saw, at a +little distance, a black speck among the silvery waves--it was land. He +approached it, not without difficulty, and finally succeeded in gaining +a foothold. Dripping wet, exhausted with fatigue, and out of breath, he +dragged himself on the sand; then, without more anxiety, said his +prayers, and went to sleep. + + +II + +IN the morning, on awaking, Yvon tried to discover in what country he +had been cast. He saw in the distance a house as large as a church, with +windows fifty feet in height. He walked a whole day before reaching it, +and at last found himself in front of an immense door, with a knocker so +heavy that it was impossible for a man to lift it. + +Yvon took a great stone and began to knock. "Come in," cried a voice, +that sounded like the roar of a bull. At the same instant the door +opened, and the little Breton found himself in the presence of a giant +not less than forty feet in height. + +"What is your name, and what do you want here?" said the giant, taking +up Yvon between his thumb and finger, and lifting him from the ground so +as to see him better. + +"My name is Fearless, and I am seeking my fortune," answered Yvon, +looking at the monster with an air of defiance. + +"Well, brave Fearless, your fortune is made," said the giant, in a +mocking tone. "I am in need of a servant, and I will give you the place. +You can go to work directly. This is the time for leading my sheep to +the pasture; you may clean the stable while I am gone. I shall give you +nothing else to do," added he, bursting into a laugh. "You see that I am +a good master. Do your task, and, above all things, don't prowl about +the house, or it will cost you your life." + +"Certainly I have a good master; the work is not hard," thought Yvon, +when the giant was gone. "I have plenty of time to sweep the stable. +What shall I do meanwhile to amuse myself? Shall I look about the house? +Since I am forbidden to do so, it must be because there is something to +see." + +He entered the first room, and saw a large fireplace, in which a great +pot was hanging, suspended from a hook. The pot was boiling, but there +was no fire on the hearth. + +"What does this mean?" thought Yvon; "there is some mystery here." He +cut off a lock of his hair, dipped it into the pot, and took it out all +coated with copper. + +"Oh, oh!" cried he, "this is a new kind of soup; anybody that swallows +it must have an iron-clad stomach." + +He went into the next room; there also a pot was suspended from a hook, +and boiling without fire. Yvon dipped a lock of hair into it, and took +it out all coated with silver. + +"The broth is not so rich as this in the Kerver kitchen," thought he, +"but it may have a better taste." + +Upon this, he entered the third room. There also a pot was suspended +from a hook, and boiling without fire. Yvon dipped a lock of hair into +it, and took it out all coated with gold. It shone so brightly that it +might have been mistaken for a sunbeam. + +"Good!" cried he. "In our country the old women have a saying, +'Everything gets worse and worse'; here it is just the contrary, +everything gets better and better. What shall I find in the fourth room, +I wonder--diamond soup?" + +He pushed open the door, and saw something rarer than precious stones. +This was a young woman of such marvelous beauty that Yvon, dazzled, fell +on his knees at the sight. + +"Unfortunate youth!" cried she, in a trembling voice, "what are you +doing here?" + +"I belong to the house," answered Yvon; "the giant took me into his +service this morning." + +"His service!" repeated the young girl. "May Heaven preserve you from +it!" + +"Why so?" said Yvon. "I have a good master; the work is not hard. The +stable once swept, my task is finished." + +"Yes, and how will you set to work to sweep it?" asked the lady. "If you +sweep it in the usual way, for every forkful of dung that you throw out +of the door, ten will come in at the window. But I will tell you what to +do. Turn the fork and sweep with the handle, and the dung will instantly +fly out of itself." + +"I will obey," said Yvon; upon which he sat down by the young girl and +began to talk with her. She was the daughter of a fairy, whom the +wretched giant had made his slave. Friendship soon springs up between +companions in misfortune. Before the end of the day, Finette (for that +was the lady's name) and Yvon had already promised to belong to each +other, if they could escape from their abominable master. The difficulty +was to find the means. + +Time passes quickly in this kind of talk. Evening was approaching when +Finette sent away her new friend, advising him to sweep the stable +before the giant came home. + +Yvon took down the fork and attempted to use it as he had seen it done +at his father's castle. He soon had enough of it. In less than a second +there was so much dung in the stable that the poor boy knew not which +way to turn. He did as Finette had bid him; he turned the fork and swept +with the handle, when behold! in the twinkling of an eye, the stable was +as clean as if no cattle had ever entered it. + +The task finished, Yvon seated himself on a bench before the door of the +house. As soon as he saw the giant coming, he lolled back in his seat, +crossed his legs, and began to sing one of his native airs. + +"Have you cleaned the stable?" asked the giant, with a frown. + +"Everything is ready, master," answered Yvon, without troubling himself +to move. + +"I am going to see for myself," howled the giant. He entered the stable +grumbling, found everything in order, and came out furious. + +"You have seen my Finette," cried he; "this trick did not come from your +own head!" + +"What is myfinette?" asked Yvon, opening his mouth and shutting his +eyes. "Is it one of the animals that you have in this country? Show it +to me, master." + +"Hold your tongue, fool," replied the giant; "you will see her sooner +than you will want to." + +The next morning the giant gathered his sheep together to lead them to +the pasture; but, before setting out, he ordered Yvon to go in the +course of the day in search of his horse, which was turned out to graze +on the mountain. "After that," said he, bursting into a laugh, "you can +rest all day long. You see that I am a good master. Do your task; and, +above all things, don't prowl about the house, or I will cut off your +head." + +Yvon winked his eye as the giant left. "Yes, you are a good master," +said he between his teeth. "I understand your tricks; but, in spite of +your threats, I shall go into the house, and talk with your Finette. It +remains to be seen whether she will not be more mine than yours." + +He ran to the young girl's room. "Hurrah!" cried he; "I have nothing to +do all day but to go to the mountain after a horse." + +"Very well," said Finette; "how will you set to work to ride him?" + +"A fine question," returned Yvon. "As if it were a difficult thing to +ride a horse! I fancy that I have ridden worse ones than this." + +"It is not so easy as you think," replied Finette; "but I will tell you +what to do. Take the bit that hangs behind the stable door, and, when +the animal rushes toward you breathing fire and smoke from his nostrils, +force it straight between his teeth; he will instantly become as gentle +as a lamb, and you can do what you please with him." + +"I will obey," said Yvon; upon which he sat down by the side of Finette, +and began to talk with her. They talked of everything; but, however far +their fancy strayed, they always came back to the point that they were +promised to each other, and that they must escape from the giant. Time +passes quickly in this kind of talk. The evening drew nigh. Yvon had +forgotten the horse and the mountain, and Finette was obliged to send +him away, advising him to bring back the animal before his master's +arrival. + +Yvon took down the bit that was hidden behind the stable door, and +hastened to the mountain, when lo! a horse almost as large as an +elephant rushed toward him at full gallop, breathing fire and smoke from +his nostrils. Yvon firmly awaited the huge animal, and, the moment he +opened his enormous jaws, thrust between them the bit; when lo! the +horse instantly became as gentle as a lamb. Yvon made him kneel down, +sprang on his back, and tranquilly returned home. + +His task finished, Yvon seated himself on the bench before the door of +the house. As soon as he saw the giant coming, he lolled back in his +seat, crossed his legs, and began to sing one of his native airs. + +"Have you brought back the horse?" asked the giant with a frown. + +"Yes, master," answered Yvon, without taking the trouble to move. "He is +a fine animal, and does you credit. He is gentle, well trained, and as +quiet as a lamb. He is feeding yonder in the stable." + +"I am going to see for myself!" howled the giant. He entered the stable +grumbling, found everything in order, and came out furious. + +"You have seen my Finette," said he; "this trick did not come from your +own head." + +"Oh, master," returned Yvon, opening his mouth and shutting his eyes, +"it is the same story over again. What is this myfinette? Once for all, +show me this monster." + +"Hold your tongue, fool," returned the giant; "you will see her sooner +than you will want to." + +The third day at dawn the giant gathered his sheep together to lead them +to the pasture; but, before setting out, he said to Yvon: + +"To-day you must go to the bottomless pit to collect my rent. After +that," continued he, bursting into a laugh, "you may rest all day long. +You see that I am a good master." + +"A good master, so be it," murmured Yvon, "but the task is none the less +hard. I will go and see my Finette, as the giant says; I have great need +of her help to get through to-day's business." + +When Finette had learned what was the task of the day, "Well," said she, +"how will you go to work to do it?" + +"I don't know," said Yvon sadly; "I have never been to the bottomless +pit, and, even if I knew the way there, I should not know what to ask +for. Tell me what to do." + +"Do you see that great rock yonder?" said Finette; "that is one of the +gates of the bottomless pit. Take this stick, knock three times on the +stone, and a demon will come out all streaming with flames, who will ask +you how much you want. Take care to answer, 'No more than I can carry.'" + +"I will obey," said Yvon; upon which he took a seat by the side of +Finette, and began to talk with her. He would have been there till this +time if the young girl had not sent him to the great rock, when the +evening drew nigh, to execute the giant's commands. + +On reaching the spot pointed out to him, Yvon found a great block of +granite. He struck it three times with the stick, when lo! the rock +opened, and a demon came forth all streaming with flames. + +"What do you want?" he cried. + +"I have come for the giant's rent," answered Yvon calmly. + +"How much do you want?" + +"I never want any more than I can carry," replied the Breton. + +"It is well for you that you do not," returned the man in flames. "Enter +this cavern, and you will find what you want." + +Yvon entered, and opened his eyes wide. Everywhere he saw nothing but +gold, silver, diamonds, carbuncles, and emeralds. They were as numerous +as the sands on the seashore. The young Kerver filled a sack, threw it +across his shoulder, and tranquilly returned home. + +His task finished, our Breton seated himself on the bench before the +door of the house. As soon as he saw the giant coming, he lolled back in +his seat, crossed his legs, and began to sing one of his native airs. + +"Have you been to the bottomless pit to collect my rent?" asked the +giant, with a frown. + +"Yes, master," answered Yvon, without taking the trouble to stir. "The +sack is there right before your eyes; you can count it." + +"I am going to see for myself!" howled the giant. He untied the strings +of the sack, which was so full that the gold and silver rolled in all +directions. + +"You have seen my Finette," he cried; "this trick did not come from your +own head." + +"Don't you know but one song," said Yvon, opening his mouth and shutting +his eyes. "It is the old story, myfinette, myfinette. Once for all, show +me this thing." + +"Well, well," roared the giant with fury, "wait till to-morrow, and you +shall make her acquaintance!" + +"Thank you, master," said Yvon. "It is very good of you; but I see from +your face that you are laughing at me." + + +III + +THE next morning the giant went out without giving Yvon any orders, +which troubled Finette. At noon he returned without his flock, +complaining of the heat and fatigue, and said to the young girl: + +"You will find a child, my servant, at the door. Cut his throat, put him +into the great pot to boil, and call me when the broth is ready." Saying +this he stretched himself on the bed to take a nap, and was soon snoring +so loud that it seemed like thunder shaking the mountains. + +Finette prepared a log of wood, took a large knife, and called Yvon. She +pricked his little finger; three drops of blood fell on the log. + +"That is enough," said Finette; "now help me to fill the pot." + +They threw into it all that they could find--old clothes, old shoes, old +carpets, and everything else. Finette then took Yvon by the hand, and +led him through the three antechambers, where she ran in a mold three +bullets of gold, two bullets of silver, and one bullet of copper, after +which they quitted the house and ran toward the sea. + +"_On--the Kerver!_" cried Yvon, as soon as he saw himself in the +country. "Explain yourself, dear Finette; what farce are we playing +now?" + +"Let us run--let us run!" she cried; "if we do not quit this wretched +island before night, it is all over with us." + +"_On--the Kerver!_" replied Yvon laughing, "and down with the giant!" + +When he had snored a full hour, the giant stretched his limbs, half +opened one eye, and cried, "Is it ready?" + +"It is just beginning to boil," answered the first drop of blood on the +log. + +The giant turned over, and snored louder than ever for an hour or two +longer. Then he stretched his limbs, half opened one eye, and cried out, +"Do you hear me? Is it almost ready?" + +"It is half done," answered the second drop of blood on the log. + +The giant turned over, and slept an hour longer. Then he yawned, +stretched his great limbs, and cried out impatiently, "Isn't it ready +yet?" + +"It is ready now," answered the third drop of blood on the log. + +The giant sat up in bed, rubbed his eyes, and looked around to see who +had spoken; but it was in vain to look; he saw nobody. + +"Finette!" howled he, "why isn't the table set?" + +There was no answer. The giant, furious, sprang out of bed, seized a +ladle, which looked like a caldron with a pitchfork for a handle, and +plunged it into the pot to taste the soup. + +"Finette!" howled he, "you haven't salted it. What sort of a soup is +this? I see neither meat nor vegetables." + +No; but, in return, he saw his carpet, which had not quite all boiled to +pieces. At this sight he fell into such a fit of rage that he could not +keep his feet. + +"Villains!" said he, "you have played a fine trick on me; but you shall +pay for it!" + +He rushed out with a stick in his hand, and strode along at such a rate +that in a quarter of an hour he discovered the two fugitives still far +from the seashore. He uttered such a cry of joy that the earth shook for +twelve leagues around. + +Finette stopped, trembling. Yvon clasped her to his heart. + +"_On--the Kerver!_" said he; "the sea is not far off; we shall be there +before our enemy." + +"Here he is! here he is!" cried Finette, pointing to the giant not a +hundred yards off; "we are lost if this charm does not save us." + +She took the copper bullet and threw it on the ground, saying: + + "Copper bullet, save us, pray, + Stop the giant on his way." + +And behold, the earth cracked apart with a terrific noise, and an +enormous fissure, a bottomless pit, stopped the giant just as he was +stretching out his hand to seize his prey. + +"Let us fly!" cried Finette, grasping the arm of Yvon, who was gazing at +the giant with a swaggering air, defying him to come on. + +The giant ran backward and forward along the abyss like a bear in his +cage, seeking a passage everywhere and finding none; then, with a +furious jerk, he tore up an immense oak by the roots, and flung it +across the gap. The branches of the oak nearly crushed the children as +it fell. The giant seated himself astride the huge tree, which bent +under his weight, and crept slowly along, suspended between heaven and +earth, entangled as he was among the branches. When he reached the other +side, Yvon and Finette were already on the shore with the sea rolling +before them. + +Alas! there was neither bark nor ship. The fugitives were lost. Yvon, +always brave, picked up stones to attack the giant, and to sell his life +dearly. Finette, trembling with fear, threw one of the silver bullets +into the sea, saying: + + "Silver bullet, bright and pliant, + Save us from this frightful giant." + +Scarcely had she spoken the magic words when a beautiful ship rose from +the waves like a swan spreading its white wings. Yvon and Finette +plunged into the sea; a rope was thrown them by an invisible hand; and +when the furious giant reached the shore, the ship was receding rapidly +at full sail, leaving behind it a long furrow of shining foam. + +Giants do not like the water. This fact is certified to by old Homer, +who knew Polyphemus; and the same observation will be found in all +natural histories worthy of the name. Finette's master resembled +Polyphemus. He roared with rage when he saw his slaves about to escape +him. He ran hesitatingly along the shore; he flung huge masses of rock +after the vessel, which happily fell by the side of it, and only made +great black holes in the water; and, finally, mad with anger he plunged +head foremost into the sea, and began to swim after the ship with +frightful speed. At each stroke he advanced forty feet, blowing like a +whale, and like a whale cleaving the waves. By degrees he gained on his +enemies; one more effort would bring him within reach of the rudder, and +already he was stretching out his arm to seize it, when Finette threw +the second silver bullet into the sea, and cried, in tears: + + "Silver bullet, bright and pliant, + Save us from this frightful giant." + +Suddenly from the midst of the foam darted forth a gigantic swordfish, +with a sword at least twenty feet in length. It rushed straight toward +the giant, who scarcely had time to dive, chased him under the water, +pursued him on the top of the waves, followed him closely whichever way +he turned, and forced him to flee as fast as he could to his island, +where he finally landed with the greatest difficulty, and fell upon the +shore dripping, worn out, and conquered. + +"_On--the Kerver!_" cried Yvon, "we are saved!" + +"Not yet," said Finette, trembling. "The giant has a witch for a +godmother, I fear that she will revenge on me the insult offered to her +godson. My art tells me, my dear Yvon, that if you quit me a single +instant until you give me your name in the chapel of the Kervers, I have +everything to dread." + +[Illustration: "HE FLUNG HUGE MASSES OF ROCK AFTER THE VESSEL"] + +"By the unicorn of my ancestors," cried Yvon, "you have the heart of a +hare and not of a hero! Am I not here? Am I going to abandon you? Do you +believe that Providence has saved us from the fangs of that monster to +wreck us in port?" + +He laughed so gayly that Finette laughed in turn at the terror that had +seized her. + + +IV + +THE rest of the voyage passed off admirably. An invisible hand seemed to +impel the ship onward. Twenty days after their departure the boat landed +Yvon and Finette near Kerver Castle. Once on shore, Yvon turned to thank +the crew. No one was there. Both boat and ship had vanished under the +waves, leaving no trace behind but a gull on the wing. + +Yvon recognized the spot where he had so often gathered shells and +chased the crabs to their holes when a child. Half an hour's walk would +bring him in sight of the towers of the old castle. His heart beat; he +looked tenderly at Finette, and saw, for the first time, that her dress +was fantastic and unworthy of a woman about to enter the noble house of +Kerver. + +"My dear child," said he, "the Baron, my father, is a noble lord, +accustomed to be treated with respect. I cannot introduce you to him in +this gypsy dress; neither is it fitting that you should enter our great +castle on foot like a peasant. Wait for me a few moments, and I will +bring you a horse and one of my sister's dresses. I wish you to be +received like a lady of high degree. I wish my father himself to meet +you on your arrival, and hold it an honor to give you his hand." + +"Yvon, Yvon!" cried Finette, "do not quit me, I beg you. Once returned +to your castle, I know that you will forget me." + +"Forget you!" exclaimed Yvon. "If anyone else were to offer me such an +insult, I would teach him with my sword to suspect a Kerver. Forget +you, my Finette! you do not know the fidelity of a Breton." + +That the Bretons are faithful, no one doubts; but that they are still +more headstrong is a justice that none will deny them. It was useless +for poor Finette to plead in her most loving tones; she was forced to +yield. She resigned herself with a heavy heart, and said to Yvon: + +"Go without me, then, to your castle, but only stay long enough to speak +to your friends; then go straight to the stable, and return as soon as +possible. You will be surrounded by people; act as if you saw no one, +and, above all, do not eat or drink anything whatever. Should you take +only a glass of water, evil would come upon us both." + +Yvon promised and swore all that Finette asked, but he smiled in his +heart at this feminine weakness. He was sure of himself; and he thought +with pride how different a Breton was from those fickle Frenchmen, whose +words, they say, are borne away by the first breath of the wind. + +On entering the old castle he could scarcely recognize its dark walls. +All the windows were festooned with leaves and flowers within and +without; the courtyard was strewn with fragrant grass; on one side were +spread tables groaning under their weight; on the other, musicians, +mounted on casks, were playing merry airs. The vassals, dressed in their +holiday attire, were singing and dancing, and dancing and singing. It +was a day of great rejoicing at the castle. The Baron himself was +smiling. It is true that he had just married his fifth daughter to the +Knight of Kervalec. This marriage added another quartering to the +illustrious escutcheon of the Kervers. + +Yvon, recognized and welcomed by all the crowd, was instantly surrounded +by his relatives, who embraced him and shook him by the hand. Where had +he been? Where did he come from? Had he conquered a kingdom, a duchy, or +a barony? Had he brought the bride the jewels of some queen? Had the +fairies protected him? How many rivals had he overthrown? All these +questions were showered upon him without reply. Yvon respectfully +kissed his father's hand, hastened to his sisters' chamber, took two of +their finest dresses, went to the stable, saddled a pony, mounted a +beautiful Spanish jennet, and was about to quit the castle, when he +found his relatives, friends, squires, and vassals all standing in his +way, their glasses in their hands, ready to drink their young lord's +health and his safe return. + +Yvon gracefully thanked them, bowed, and made his way by degrees through +the crowd, when, just as he was about to cross the drawbridge, a +fair-haired lady, with a haughty and disdainful air, a stranger to him, +a sister of the bridegroom, perhaps, approached him, holding a +pomegranate in her hand. + +"My handsome knight," said she, with a singular smile, "you surely will +not refuse a lady's first request. Taste this pomegranate, I entreat +you. If you are neither hungry nor thirsty after so long a journey, I +suppose at least that you have not forgotten the laws of politeness." + +Yvon dared not refuse this appeal. He was very wrong. Scarcely had he +tasted the pomegranate when he looked round him like a man waking from a +dream. + +"What am I doing on this horse?" thought he. "What means this pony that +I am leading? Is not my place in my father's house at my sister's +wedding? Why should I quit the castle?" + +He threw the bridle to one of the grooms, leaped lightly to the ground, +and offered his hand to the fair-haired lady, who accepted him as her +attendant on the spot, and gave him her bouquet to hold as a special +mark of favor. + +Before the evening was over there was another betrothed couple in the +castle. Yvon had pledged his faith to the unknown lady, and Finette was +forgotten. + + +V + +POOR Finette, seated on the seashore, waited all day long for Yvon, but +Yvon did not come. The sun was setting in the fiery waves, when Finette +rose, sighing, and took the way to the castle in her turn. She had not +walked long in a steep road, bordered with thorn trees in blossom, when +she found herself in front of a wretched hut, at the door of which stood +an old woman about to milk her cow. Finette approached her, and, making +a low courtesy, begged a shelter for the night. + +The old woman looked at the stranger from head to foot. With her buskins +trimmed with fur, her full red petticoat, her blue jacket edged with +jet, and her diadem, Finette looked more like an Egyptian princess than +a Christian. The old woman frowned, and, shaking her fist in the face of +the poor forsaken girl, "Begone, witch!" she cried; "there is no room +for you in this honest house." + +"My good mother," said Finette, "give me only a corner of the stable." + +"Oh," said the old woman, laughing, and showing the only tooth she had +left, which projected from her mouth like a bear's tusk, "so you want a +corner of the stable, do you! Well, you shall have it, if you will fill +my milk pail with gold." + +"It is a bargain," said Finette quietly. She opened a leather purse +which she wore at her belt, took from it a golden bullet, and threw it +into the milk pail, saying: + + "Golden bullet, precious treasure, + Save me, if it be thy pleasure." + +And behold! the pieces of gold began to dance about in the pail; they +rose higher and higher, flapping about like fish in a net, while the old +woman on her knees gazed with wonder at the sight. + +When the pail was full the old woman rose, put her arm through the +handle, and said to Finette, "Madam, all is yours, the house, the cow, +and everything else. Hurrah! I am going to the town to live like a lady +with nothing to do. Oh, dear, how I wish I were only sixty!" And, +shaking her crutch, without looking backward, she set out on a run +toward Kerver Castle. + +Finette entered the house. It was a wretched hovel, dark, low, damp, +bad-smelling, and full of dust and spiders' webs--a horrible refuge for +a woman accustomed to living in the giant's grand castle. Without +seeming troubled, Finette went to the hearth, on which a few green +boughs were smoking, took another golden bullet from her purse, and +threw it into the fire, saying: + + "Golden bullet, precious treasure, + Save me, if it be thy pleasure." + +The gold melted, bubbled up, and spread all over the house like running +water, and behold! the whole cottage, the walls, the thatch, the wooden +rocking chair, the stool, the chest, the bed, the cow's horns, +everything, even to the spiders in their webs, was turned to gold. The +house gleamed in the moonlight, among the trees, like a star in the +night. + +When Finette had milked the cow and drunk a little new milk, she threw +herself on the bed without undressing, and, worn out by the fatigue of +the day, fell asleep in the midst of her tears. + +Old women do not know how to hold their tongues, at least in Brittany. +Finette's hostess had scarcely reached the village when she hastened to +the house of the steward. He was an important personage, who had more +than once made her tremble when she had driven her cow into her +neighbor's pasture by mistake. The steward listened to the old woman's +story, shook his head, and said that it looked like witchcraft; then he +mysteriously brought a pair of scales, weighed the guineas, which he +found to be genuine and of full weight, kept as many of them as he +could, and advised the owner to tell no one of this strange adventure. +"If it should come to the ears of the bailiff or the seneschal," said +he, "the least that would happen to you, mother, would be to lose every +one of these beautiful bright guineas. Justice is impartial; it knows +neither favor nor repugnance; it takes the whole." + +The old woman thanked the steward for his advice, and promised to follow +it. She kept her word so well that she only told her story that evening +to two neighbors, her dearest friends, both of whom swore on the heads +of their little children to keep it secret. The oath was a solemn one, +and so well kept that at noon the next day there was not a boy of six in +the village that did not point his finger at the old woman, while the +very dogs seemed to bark in their language, "Here is the old woman with +her guineas!" + +A girl who amuses herself by filling milk-pails with gold is not to be +found every day. Even though she should be something of a witch, such a +girl would none the less be a treasure in a family. The steward, who was +a bachelor, made this wise reflection that night on going to bed. Before +dawn he rose to make his rounds in the direction of the stranger's +cottage. By the first gleam of day he spied something shining in the +distance like a light among the woods. On reaching the place he was +greatly surprised to find a golden cottage instead of the wretched hut +that had stood there the day before. But, on entering the house, he was +much more surprised and delighted to find a beautiful young girl, with +raven hair, sitting by the window, and spinning on her distaff with the +air of an empress. + +Like all men the steward did himself justice, and knew, at the bottom of +his heart, that there was not a woman in the world that would not be too +happy to give him her hand. Without hesitating therefore he declared to +Finette that he had come to marry her. The young girl burst out +laughing, upon which the steward flew into a passion. + +"Take care!" said he, in a terrible voice; "I am the master here. No one +knows who you are or whence you came. The gold that you gave the old +woman has raised suspicions. There is magic in this house. If you do not +accept me for a husband this very instant I will arrest you, and before +night perhaps a witch will be burned before Kerver Castle." + +"You are very amiable," said Finette, with a charming grimace; "you have +a peculiar way of paying court to ladies. Even when they have decided +not to refuse, a gallant man spares their blushes." + +"We Bretons are plain-spoken people," replied the steward; "we go +straight to the point. Marriage or prison, which do you choose?" + +"Oh!" cried Finette, laying down the distaff, "there are the firebrands +falling all over the room." + +"Don't trouble yourself," said the steward, "I will pick them up." + +"Lay them carefully on the top of the ashes," returned Finette. "Have +you the tongs?" + +"Yes," said the steward, picking up the crackling coals. + +"_Abracadabra!_" cried Finette, rising. "Villain, may the tongs hold +you, and may you hold the tongs till sunset!" + +No sooner said than done. The wicked steward stood there all day with +the tongs in his hand, picking up and throwing back the burning coals +that snapped in his face, and the hot ashes that flew into his eyes. It +was useless for him to shout, pray, weep, and blaspheme; no one heard +him. If Finette had stayed at home she would doubtless have taken pity +on him; but, after putting the spell upon him she hastened to the +seashore, where, forgetting everything else, she watched for Yvon in +vain. + +The moment that the sun set the tongs fell from the steward's hands. He +did not stop to finish his errand, but ran as if the devil or justice +were at his heels. He made such leaps, he uttered such groans, he was so +blackened, scorched, and benumbed, that everyone in the village was +afraid of him, thinking that he was mad. The boldest tried to speak to +him, but he fled without answering, and hid himself in his house, more +ashamed than a wolf that has left his paw in the trap. + +At evening, when Finette returned home in despair, instead of the +steward she found another visitor little less formidable. The bailiff +had heard the story of the guineas, and had also made up his mind to +marry the stranger. He was not rough like the steward, but a fat, +good-natured man who could not speak without bursting into a laugh, +showing his great yellow teeth, and puffing and blowing like an ox, +though at heart he was not less obstinate or less threatening than his +predecessor. Finette entreated the bailiff to leave her alone. He +laughed and hinted to her in a good-natured way that, by right of his +office, he had the power to imprison and hang people without process of +law. She clasped her hands, and begged him with tears to go. For his +only answer he took a roll of parchment from his pocket, wrote on it a +contract of marriage, and declared to Finette that should he stay all +night he would not leave the house till she had signed the promise. + +"Nevertheless," said he, "if you do not like my person I have another +parchment here on which I will write an agreement to live apart; and if +my sight annoys you, you have only to shut your eyes." + +"Why," said Finette, "I might decide to do as you wish if I were sure of +finding a good husband in you; but I am afraid." + +"Of what, my dear child?" asked the bailiff, smiling, and already as +proud as a peacock. + +"Do you think," said she, with a pettish air, "that a good husband would +leave that door wide open, and not know that his wife was freezing with +cold?" + +"You are right, my dear," said the bailiff; "it was very stupid in me. I +will go and shut it." + +"Have you hold of the knob?" asked Finette. + +"Yes, my charmer," answered the happy bailiff; "I am just shutting the +door." + +"_Abracadabra!_" cried Finette. "May you hold the door, villain, and may +the door hold you till daybreak." + +And behold, the door opened and shut, and slammed against the walls like +an eagle flapping its wings. You may judge what a dance the poor captive +kept up all night. Never had he tried such a waltz, and I imagine that +he never wished to dance a second one of the same sort. Sometimes the +door swung open with him in the street; sometimes it flew back and +crushed him against the wall. He swung backward and forward, screaming, +swearing, weeping, and praying, but all in vain; the door was deaf, and +Finette asleep. + +At daybreak his hands unclasped, and he fell in the road head foremost. +Without waiting to finish his errand he ran as if the Moors were after +him. He did not even turn around for fear that the door might be at his +heels. Fortunately for him all were still asleep when he reached the +village, and he could hide himself in bed without anyone seeing his +deplorable plight. This was a great piece of good fortune for him for he +was covered with whitewash from head to foot, and so pale, haggard, and +trembling that he might have been taken for the ghost of a miller +escaped from the infernal regions. + +When Finette opened her eyes she saw by her bedside a tall man dressed +in black, with a velvet cap and a sword. It was the seneschal of the +barony of Kerver. He stood with his arms folded, gazing at Finette in a +way that chilled the very marrow of her bones. + +"What is your name, vassal?" said he in a voice of thunder. + +"Finette, at your service, my lord," replied she, trembling. + +"Is this house and furniture yours?" + +"Yes, my lord, everything, at your service." + +"I mean that it shall be at my service," returned the seneschal sternly. +"Rise, vassal! I do you the honor to marry you, and to take yourself, +your person, and your property under my guardianship." + +"My lord," returned Finette, "this is much too great an honor for a poor +girl like me, a stranger, without friends or kindred." + +"Be silent, vassal!" replied the seneschal. "I am your lord and master; +I have nothing to do with your advice. Sign this paper." + +"My lord," said Finette, "I don't know how to write." + +"Do you think that I do, either?" returned the seneschal, in a voice +that shook the house. "Do you take me for a clerk? A cross--that is the +signature of gentlemen." + +He made a large cross on the paper, and handed the pen to Finette. + +"Sign," said he. "If you are afraid to make a cross, infidel, you pass +your own death sentence, and I shall take on myself to execute it." He +drew his heavy sword from the scabbard as he spoke, and threw it on the +table. + +For her only answer, Finette leaped out of the window, and ran to the +stable. The seneschal pursued her thither; but, on attempting to enter +an unexpected obstacle stopped him. The frightened cow had backed at the +sight of the young girl, and stood in the doorway with Finette clinging +to her horns, and making of her a sort of buckler. + +"You shall not escape me, sorceress!" cried the seneschal, and, with a +grasp like that of Hercules, he seized the cow by the tail and dragged +her out of the stable. + +"_Abracadabra!_" cried Finette. "May the cow's tail hold you, villain, +and may you hold the cow's tail till you have both been around the world +together." + +And behold! the cow darted off like lightning, dragging the unhappy +seneschal after her. Nothing stopped the two inseparable comrades; they +rushed over mountains and valleys, crossed marshes, rivers, quagmires, +and brakes, glided over the seas without sinking, were frozen in Siberia +and scorched in Africa, climbed the Himalayas, descended Mont Blanc, and +at length after thirty-six hours of a journey, the like of which had +never been seen, both stopped out of breath in the public square of the +village. + +A seneschal harnessed to a cow's tail is a sight not to be seen every +day, and all the peasants in the neighborhood crowded together to wonder +at the spectacle. But, torn as he was by the cactuses of Barbary and the +thickets of Tartary, the seneschal had lost nothing of his haughty air. +With a threatening gesture he dispersed the rabble, and limped to his +house to taste the repose of which he began to feel the need. + + +VI + +WHILE the steward, the bailiff, and the seneschal were experiencing +these little unpleasantnesses, of which they did not think it proper to +boast, preparations were being made for a great event at Kerver Castle, +namely, the marriage of Yvon and the fair-haired lady. Two days had +passed in these preparations, and all the friends of the family had +gathered together for twenty leagues round, when one fine morning Yvon +and his bride, with the Baron and Baroness Kerver, took their seats in a +great carriage adorned with flowers, and set out for the celebrated +church of St. Maclou. + +A hundred knights, in full armor, mounted on horses decked with ribbons, +rode on each side of the betrothed couple, each with his visor raised +and his lance at rest in token of honor. By the side of each baron, a +squire, also on horseback, carried the seigniorial banner. At the head +of the procession rode the seneschal with a gilded staff in his hand. +Behind the carriage gravely walked the bailiff, followed by the vassals, +while the steward railed at the serfs, a noisy and curious rabble. + +As they were crossing a brook a league from the castle, one of the +traces of the carriage broke, and they were forced to stop. The accident +repaired, the coachman cracked his whip, and the horses started with +such force that the new trace broke in three pieces. Six times this +provoking piece of wood was replaced, and six times it broke anew +without drawing the carriage from the hole where it was wedged. + +Everyone had a word of advice to offer; even the peasants, as +wheelwrights and carpenters, were not the last to make a show of their +knowledge. This gave the steward courage; he approached the Baron, took +off his cap, and, scratching his head: + +"My lord," said he, "in the house that you see shining yonder among the +trees there lives a woman who does things such as nobody else can do. +Only persuade her to lend you her tongs, and, in my humble opinion, they +will hold till morning." + +The Baron made a sign, and ten peasants ran to the cottage of Finette, +who very obligingly lent them her gold tongs. They were put in the place +of the trace; the coachman cracked his whip, and off went the carriage +like a feather. + +Everyone rejoiced, but the joy did not last long. A hundred steps +farther, lo! the bottom of the carriage gave way; little more and the +noble Kerver family would have sunk quite out of sight. The wheelwrights +and the carpenters set to work at once; they sawed planks, nailed them +down fast, and in the twinkling of an eye repaired the accident. The +coachman cracked his whip, and the horses started, when behold! half of +the carriage was left behind; the Baroness Kerver sat motionless by the +side of the bride, while Yvon and the Baron were carried off at full +gallop. Here was a new difficulty. Three times was the carriage mended; +three times it broke anew. There was every reason to believe that it was +enchanted. + +Everyone had a word of advice to offer. This gave the bailiff courage. +He approached the Baron, and said in a low tone: + +"My lord, in the house that you see shining yonder among the trees, +there lives a woman who does things such as nobody else can do. Only +persuade her to lend you her door for the bottom of the carriage, and, +in my opinion, it will hold till morning." + +The Baron made a sign, and twenty peasants ran to the cottage of +Finette, who very obligingly lent them her gold door. They put it in the +bottom of the carriage where it fitted as if it had been made expressly +for it. The party took their seats in the carriage, the coachman cracked +his whip, the church was in sight, and all the troubles of the journey +seemed ended. + +Not at all! Suddenly the horses stopped, and refused to draw. There were +four of them. Six, eight, ten, twenty-four more were put to the +carriage, but all in vain; it was impossible to stir them. The more they +were whipped the deeper the wheels sunk into the ground like the colter +of a plow. + +What were they to do? To go on foot would have been a disgrace. To mount +a horse and ride to the church like simple peasants, was not the custom +of the Kervers. They tried to lift the carriage, they pushed the +wheels, they shook it, they pulled it, but all in vain. Meanwhile the +day was declining, and the hour for the marriage had passed. + +Everyone had a word of advice to offer. This gave the seneschal courage. +He approached the Baron, alighted from his horse, raised his velvet cap, +and said: + +"My lord, in the house that you see shining yonder among the trees, +there lives a woman who does things such as nobody else can do. Only +persuade her to lend you her cow to draw the carriage, and, in my +opinion, she will draw it till morning." + +The Baron made a sign, and thirty peasants ran to the cottage of +Finette, who very obligingly lent them her golden-horned cow. + +To go to church drawn by a cow was not, perhaps, what the ambitious +bride had dreamed of, but it was better than to remain unmarried in the +road. The heifer was harnessed therefore before the horses, and +everybody looked on anxiously to see what this boasted animal was +capable of doing. + +But before the coachman had time to crack his whip, lo! the cow started +off as if she were about to go around the world anew. Horses, carriage, +Baron, betrothed, coachman, all were hurried away by the furious animal. +In vain the knights spurred their horses to follow the pair; in vain the +peasants ran at full speed, taking the crossroad and cutting across the +meadows. The carriage flew as if it had wings; a pigeon could not have +followed it. + +On reaching the door of the church the party, a little disturbed by this +rapid journey, would not have been sorry to alight. Everything was ready +for the ceremony, and the bridal pair had long been expected; but, +instead of stopping, the cow redoubled her speed. Thirteen times she ran +round the church like lightning, then suddenly made her way in a +straight line across the fields to the castle with such force that the +whole party were almost shaken to pieces before their arrival. + + +VII + +NO more marriage was to be thought of for that day; but the tables were +set and the dinner served, and the Baron Kerver was too noble a knight +to take leave of his brave Bretons until they had eaten and drunk +according to custom--that is, from sunset till sunrise, and even a +little later. + +Orders were given for the guests to take their seats. Ninety-six tables +were ranged in eight rows. In front of them, on a large platform covered +with velvet, with a canopy in the middle, was a table larger than the +rest, and loaded with fruit and flowers, to say nothing of the roast +hares and the peacocks smoking beneath their plumage. At this table the +bridal pair were to have been seated in full sight in order that nothing +might be lacking to the pleasures of the feast, and that the meanest +peasant might have the honor of saluting them by emptying his cup of +hydromel to the honor and prosperity of the high and mighty house of +Kerver. + +The Baron seated the hundred knights at his table, and placed their +squires behind their chairs to serve them. At his right he put the bride +and Yvon, but he left the seat at his left vacant, and, calling a page, +"Child," said he, "run to the house of the stranger lady who obliged us +only too much this morning. It was not her fault if her success exceeded +her good will. Tell her that the Baron Kerver thanks her for her help, +and invites her to the wedding feast of his son Lord Yvon." + +On reaching the golden house, where Finette in tears was mourning for +her beloved, the page bent one knee to the ground, and, in the Baron's +name, invited the stranger lady to the castle to do honor to the wedding +of Lord Yvon. + +"Thank your master for me," answered the young girl proudly, "and tell +him that if he is too noble to come to my house I am too noble to go to +his." + +When the page repeated this answer to his master the Baron Kerver struck +the table such a blow that three plates flew into the air. + +"By my honor," said he, "this is spoken like a lady, and, for the first +time, I own myself beaten. Quick, saddle my dun mare, and let my knights +and squires prepare to attend me." + +It was with this brilliant train that the Baron alighted at the door of +the golden cottage. He begged Finette's pardon, held the stirrup for +her, and seated her behind him on his own horse, neither more nor less +than a duchess in person. Through respect he did not speak a single word +to her on the way. On reaching the castle, he uncovered his head and led +her to the seat of honor that he had chosen for her. + +The Baron's departure had made a great excitement, and his return caused +still greater surprise. Everyone asked who the lady could be that the +Baron treated with such respect. Judging from her costume she was a +foreigner; could she be the Duchess of Normandy or the Queen of France? +The steward, the bailiff, and the seneschal were appealed to. The +steward trembled, the bailiff turned pale, and the seneschal blushed, +but all three were as mute as fishes. The silence of these important +personages added to the general wonder. + +All eyes were fixed on Finette, who felt a deadly chill at her heart, +for Yvon saw but did not know her. He cast an indifferent glance at her, +then began again to talk in a tender tone to the fair-haired lady, who +smiled disdainfully. + +Finette, in despair, took from the purse the golden bullet, her last +hope. While talking with the Baron, who was charmed with her wit, she +shook the little ball in her hand, and repeated in a whisper: + + "Golden bullet, precious treasure, + Save me, if it be thy pleasure." + +And behold, the bullet grew larger and larger until it became a goblet +of chased gold, the most beautiful cup that ever graced the table of +baron or king. + +Finette filled the cup herself with spiced wine, and calling the +seneschal, who was cowering behind her, she said in her gentlest tones, +"My good seneschal, I entreat you to offer this goblet to Lord Yvon. I +wish to drink his health, and I am sure that he will not refuse me this +pleasure." + +Yvon took the goblet, which the seneschal presented to him on a salver +of enamel and gold, with a careless hand, bowed to the stranger, drank +the wine, and, setting the cup on the table before him, turned to the +fair-haired lady who occupied all his thoughts. The lady seemed anxious +and vexed. He whispered a few words in her ear that seemed to please +her, for her eyes sparkled, and she placed her hand again in his. + +Finette cast down her head and began to weep. All was over. + +"Children," cried the Baron, in a voice of thunder, "fill your glasses. +Let us all drink to the noble stranger who honors us with her presence. +'To the lovely lady of the golden cottage!'" + +All began to huzzah and drink. Yvon contented himself with raising his +goblet to a level with his eyes. Suddenly he started and stood mute, his +mouth open and his eyes fixed, like a man who has a vision. + +It was a vision. In the gold of the goblet Yvon saw his past life as in +a mirror: the giant pursuing him; Finette dragging him along; both +embarking in the ship that saved them; both landing on the shore of +Brittany; he quitting her for an instant; she weeping at his departure. +Where was she? By his side, of course. What other woman than Finette +could be by the side of Yvon? + +He turned toward the fair-haired lady, and cried out like a man treading +on a serpent. Then, staggering as if he were drunk, he rose and looked +around him with haggard eyes. At the sight of Finette he clasped his +trembling hands, and, dragging himself toward her, fell on his knees and +exclaimed, "Finette, forgive me!" + +To forgive is the height of happiness. Before evening Finette was seated +by the side of Yvon, both weeping and smiling. + +And what became of the fair-haired lady? No one knows. At the cry of +Yvon she disappeared; but it was said that a wretched old hag was seen +flying on a broomstick over the castle walls, chased by the dogs; and it +was the common opinion among the Kervers that the fair-haired lady was +none other than the witch, the godmother of the giant. I am not sure +enough of the fact, however, to dare warrant it. It is always prudent to +believe, without proof, that a woman may be a witch, but it is never +wise to say so. + +[Illustration: "SHE WORE THEM ALWAYS ... LOOSE AND FLOWING"] + +What I can say on the word of an historian is that the feast, +interrupted for a moment, went on gayer than ever. Early the next +morning they went to the church, where, to the joy of his heart, Yvon +married Finette, who was no longer afraid of evil spirits; after which +they ate, drank, and danced for thirty-six hours, without anyone +thinking of resting. The steward's arms were a little heavy, the bailiff +rubbed his back at times, and the seneschal felt a sort of weariness in +his limbs, but all three had a weight on their consciences which they +could not shake off, and which made them tremble and flutter, till +finally they fell on the ground and were carried off. Finette took no +other vengeance on them; her only desire was to render all happy around +her, far and near, who belonged to the noble house of Kerver. Her memory +still lives in Brittany; and, among the ruins of the old castle, anyone +will show you the statue of the good lady, with five bullets in her +hand. + + + + +_The Fair One with Golden Locks_ + + +THERE was once a king's daughter so beautiful that they named her the +Fair One with Golden Locks. These golden locks were the most remarkable +in the world, soft and fine, and falling in long waves down to her very +feet. She wore them always thus, loose and flowing, surmounted with a +wreath of flowers; and though such long hair was sometimes rather +inconvenient, it was so exceedingly beautiful, shining in the sun like +ripples of molten gold, that everybody agreed she fully deserved her +name. + +Now there was a young king of a neighboring country, very handsome, very +rich, and wanting nothing but a wife to make him happy. He heard so much +of the various perfections of the Fair One with Golden Locks that at +last, without even seeing her, he fell in love with her so desperately +that he could neither eat nor drink, and resolved to send an ambassador +at once to demand her in marriage. So he ordered a magnificent +equipage--more than a hundred horses and a hundred footmen--in order +to bring back to him the Fair One with Golden Locks, who, he never +doubted, would be only too happy to become his queen. Indeed, he felt so +sure of her that he refurnished the whole palace, and had made, by all +the dressmakers of the city, dresses enough to last a lady for a +lifetime. But, alas! when the ambassador arrived and delivered his +message, either the princess was in a bad humor or the offer did not +appear to be to her taste, for she returned her best thanks to his +majesty, but said she had not the slightest wish or intention to be +married. She also, being a prudent damsel, declined receiving any of the +presents which the King had sent her; except that, not quite to offend +his majesty, she retained a box of English pins, which were in that +country of considerable value. + +When the ambassador returned, alone and unsuccessful, all the court was +very much affected, and the King himself began to weep with all his +might. Now, there was in the palace household a young gentleman named +Avenant, beautiful as the sun, besides being at once so amiable and so +wise that the King confided to him all his affairs; and everyone loved +him, except those people--to be found in all courts--who were envious of +his good fortune. These malicious folk hearing him say gayly, "If the +King had sent me to fetch the Fair One with Golden Locks, I know she +would have come back with me," repeated the saying in such a manner that +it appeared as if Avenant thought overmuch of himself and his beauty, +and felt sure the Princess would have followed him all over the world; +which, when it came to the ears of the King, as it was meant to do, +irritated him so much that he commanded Avenant to be imprisoned in a +high tower, and left to die there of hunger. The guards accordingly +carried off the young man, who had quite forgotten his idle speech, and +had not the least idea what fault he had committed. They ill-treated him +very much and then left him, with nothing to eat and only water to +drink. This, however, kept him alive for a few days, during which he did +not cease to complain aloud, and to call upon the King, saying, "O King, +what harm have I done? You have no subject more faithful than I. Never +have I had a thought which could offend you." + +And it so befell that the King, coming by chance, or else from a sense +of remorse, past the tower, was touched by the voice of the young +Avenant, whom he had once so much regarded. In spite of all the +courtiers could do to prevent him, he stopped to listen, and overheard +these words. The tears rushed into his eyes; he opened the door of the +tower and called, "Avenant!" Avenant came, creeping feebly along, fell +at the King's knees, and kissed his feet: + +"O sire, what have I done that you should treat me so cruelly?" + +"You have mocked me and my ambassador; for you said if I had sent you to +fetch the Fair One with Golden Locks, you would have been successful and +brought her back." + +"I did say it, and it was true," replied Avenant fearlessly; "for I +should have told her so much about your majesty and your various high +qualities, which no one knows so well as myself, that I am persuaded she +would have returned with me." + +"I believe it," said the King, with an angry look at those who had +spoken ill of his favorite; he then gave Avenant a free pardon, and took +him back with him to the court. + +After having supplied the famished youth with as much supper as he could +eat, the King admitted him to a private audience and said: "I am as much +in love as ever with the Fair One with Golden Locks, so I will take thee +at thy word, and send thee to try and win her for me." + +"Very well, please your majesty," replied Avenant cheerfully; "I will +depart to-morrow." + +The King, overjoyed with his willingness and hopefulness, would have +furnished him with a still more magnificent equipage and suite than the +first ambassador, but Avenant refused to take anything except a good +horse to ride and letters of introduction to the Princess's father. The +King embraced him and eagerly saw him depart. + +It was on a Monday morning when, without any pomp or show, Avenant thus +started on his mission. He rode slowly and meditatively, pondering over +every possible means of persuading the Fair One with Golden Locks to +marry the King; but, even after several days' journey toward her +country, no clear project had entered into his mind. One morning, when +he had started at break of day, he came to a great meadow with a stream +running through it, along which were planted willows and poplars. It was +such a pleasant, rippling stream that he dismounted and sat down on its +banks. There he perceived, gasping on the grass, a large golden carp, +which, in leaping too far after gnats, had thrown itself quite out of +the water, and now lay dying on the greensward. Avenant took pity on it, +and though he was very hungry, and the fish was very fat, and he would +well enough have liked it for his breakfast, still he lifted it gently +and put it back into the stream. No sooner had the carp touched the +fresh cool water than it revived and swam away; but shortly returning, +it spoke to him from the water in this wise: + +"Avenant, I thank you for your good deed. I was dying, and you have +saved me. I will recompense you for this one day." + +After this pretty little speech, the fish popped down to the bottom of +the stream, according to the habit of carp, leaving Avenant very much +astonished, as was natural. + +Another day he met with a raven that was in great distress, being +pursued by an eagle, which would have swallowed him up in no time. +"See," thought Avenant, "how the stronger oppress the weaker! What right +has an eagle to eat up a raven?" So taking his bow and arrow, which he +always carried, he shot the eagle dead, and the raven, delighted, +perched in safety on an opposite tree. + +"Avenant," screeched he, though not in the sweetest voice in the world; +"you have generously succored me, a poor miserable raven. I am not +ungrateful, and I will recompense you one day." + +"Thank you," said Avenant, and continued his road. + +Entering in a thick wood, so dark with the shadows of early morning that +he could scarcely find his way, he heard an owl hooting, as if in great +tribulation. She had been caught by the nets spread by birdcatchers to +entrap finches, larks, and other small birds. "What a pity," thought +Avenant, "that men must always torment poor birds and beasts who have +done them no harm!" So he took out his knife, cut the net, and let the +owl go free. She went sailing up into the air, but immediately returned, +hovering over his head on her brown wings. + +"Avenant," said she, "at daylight the birdcatchers would have been here, +and I should have been caught and killed. I have a grateful heart; I +will recompense you one day." + +These were the three principal adventures that befell Avenant on his way +to the kingdom of the Fair One with Golden Locks. Arrived there, he +dressed himself with the greatest care, in a habit of silver brocade, +and a hat adorned with plumes of scarlet and white. He threw over all a +rich mantle, and carried a little basket in which was a lovely little +dog, an offering of respect to the Princess. With this he presented +himself at the palace gates, where, even though he came alone, his mien +was so dignified and graceful, so altogether charming, that everyone did +him reverence, and was eager to run and tell the Fair One with Golden +Locks that Avenant, another ambassador from the King her suitor, awaited +an audience. + +"Avenant!" repeated the Princess. "That is a pretty name; perhaps the +youth is pretty too." + +"So beautiful," said the ladies of honor, "that while he stood under +the palace window we could do nothing but look at him." + +"How silly of you!" sharply said the Princess. But she desired them to +bring her robe of blue satin, to comb out her long hair and adorn it +with the freshest garland of flowers, to give her her high-heeled shoes, +and her fan. "Also," added she, "take care that my audience chamber is +well swept and my throne well dusted. I wish in everything to appear as +becomes the Fair One with Golden Locks." + +This done, she seated herself on her throne of ivory and ebony, and gave +orders for her musicians to play, but softly, so as not to disturb +conversation. Thus, shining in all her beauty, she admitted Avenant to +her presence. + +He was so dazzled that at first he could not speak; then he began and +delivered his harangue to perfection. + +"Gentle Avenant," returned the princess, after listening to all his +reasons for her returning with him, "your arguments are very strong, and +I am inclined to listen to them; but you must first find for me a ring +which I dropped into the river about a month ago. Until I recover it I +can listen to no propositions of marriage." + +Avenant, surprised and disturbed, made her a profound reverence and +retired, taking with him the basket and the little dog Cabriole, which +she refused to accept. All night long he sat sighing to himself: "How +can I ever find a ring which she dropped into the river a month ago? She +has set me an impossibility." + +"My dear master," said Cabriole, "nothing is an impossibility to one so +young and charming as you are. Let us go at daybreak to the riverside." + +Avenant patted him, but replied nothing; until, worn out with grief, he +slept. Before dawn Cabriole wakened him, saying, "Master, dress yourself +and let us go to the river." + +There Avenant walked up and down, with his arms folded and his head +bent, but saw nothing. At last he heard a voice calling from a distance, +"Avenant, Avenant!" + +The little dog ran to the waterside--"Never believe me again, master, +if it is not a golden carp with a ring in its mouth!" + +"Yes, Avenant," said the carp, "this is the ring which the Princess has +lost. You saved my life in the willow meadow, and I have recompensed +you. Farewell!" + +Avenant took the ring gratefully and returned to the palace with +Cabriole, who scampered about in great glee. Craving an audience, he +presented the Princess with her ring, and begged her to accompany him to +his master's kingdom. She took the ring, looked at it, and thought she +was surely dreaming. + +"Some fairy must have assisted you, fortunate Avenant," said she. + +"Madam, I am fortunate only in my desire to obey your wishes." + +"Obey me still," she said graciously. "There is a prince named Galifron, +whose suit I have refused. He is a giant as tall as a tower, who eats a +man as a monkey eats a nut. He puts cannons into his pockets instead of +pistols, and when he speaks his voice is so loud that everyone near him +becomes deaf. Go and fight him, and bring me his head." + +Avenant was thunderstruck; but after a time he recovered himself. "Very +well, madam. I shall certainly perish, but I will perish like a brave +man. I will depart at once to fight the Giant Galifron." + +The Princess, now in her turn surprised and alarmed, tried every +persuasion to induce him not to go, but in vain. Avenant armed himself +and started, carrying his little dog in its basket. Cabriole was the +only creature that gave him consolation: "Courage, master! While you +attack the giant, I will bite his legs. He will stoop down to strike me, +and then you can knock him on the head." Avenant smiled at the little +dog's spirit, but he knew it was useless. + +Arrived at the castle of Galifron, he found the road all strewn with +bones and carcasses of men. Soon he saw the giant walking. His head was +level with the highest trees, and he sang in a terrific voice: + + "Bring me babies to devour; + More--more--more--more-- + Men and women, tender and tough; + All the world holds not enough." + +To which Avenant replied, imitating the tune: + + "Avenant you here may see, + He is come to punish thee; + Be he tender, be he tough, + To kill thee, giant, he is enough." + +Hearing these words, the giant took up his massive club, looked around +for the singer, and, perceiving him, would have slain him on the spot, +had not a raven, sitting on a tree close by, suddenly flown down upon +him and picked out both his eyes. Then Avenant easily killed him and cut +off his head, while the raven, watching him, said: + +"You shot the eagle who was pursuing me. I promised to recompense you, +and to-day I have done it. We are quits." + +"No, it is I who am your debtor, Sir Raven," replied Avenant as, hanging +the frightful head to his saddle bow, he mounted his horse and rode back +to the city of the Fair One with Golden Locks. + +There everybody followed him, shouting, "Here is brave Avenant, who has +killed the giant," until the Princess, hearing the noise, and fearing it +was Avenant himself who was killed, appeared, all trembling; and even +when he appeared with Galifron's head, she trembled still, although she +had nothing to fear. + +"Madam," said Avenant, "your enemy is dead, so I trust you will accept +the hand of the king, my master." + +"I cannot," replied she, thoughtfully, "unless you first bring me a vial +of the water in the Grotto of Darkness. It is six leagues in length, and +guarded at the entrance by two fiery dragons. Within it is a pit, full +of scorpions, lizards, and serpents, and at the bottom of this place +flows the Fountain of Beauty and Health. All who wash in it become, if +ugly, beautiful; and if beautiful, beautiful forever; if old, young; and +if young, young forever. Judge then, Avenant, if I can quit my kingdom +without carrying with me some of this miraculous water." + +"Madam," replied Avenant, "you are already so beautiful that you require +it not; but I am an unfortunate ambassador whose death you desire. I +will obey you, though I know I shall never return." + +So he departed with his only friends--his horse and his faithful dog +Cabriole; while all who met him looked at him compassionately, pitying +so pretty a youth bound on such a hopeless errand. But, however kindly +they addressed him, Avenant rode on and answered nothing, for he was too +sad at heart. + +He reached a mountain-side, where he sat down to rest, leaving his horse +to graze and Cabriole to run after the flies. He knew that the Grotto of +Darkness was not far off, yet he looked about him like one who sees +nothing. At last he perceived a rock as black as ink, whence came a +thick smoke; and in a moment appeared one of the two dragons, breathing +out flames. It had a yellow-and-green body, claws, and a long tail. When +Cabriole saw the monster, the poor little dog hid himself in terrible +fright. But Avenant resolved to die bravely; so taking a vial which the +Princess had given him, he prepared to descend into the cave. + +"Cabriole," said he, "I shall soon be dead. Then fill this vial with my +blood and carry it to the Fair One with Golden Locks, and afterwards to +the King my master, to show him I have been faithful to the last." + +While he was thus speaking a voice called, "Avenant, Avenant!" and he +saw an owl sitting on a hollow tree. Said the owl: "You cut the net in +which I was caught, and I vowed to recompense you. Now is the time. Give +me the vial. I know every corner of the Grotto of Darkness. I will fetch +you the water of beauty." + +Delighted beyond words, Avenant delivered up his vial; the owl flew with +it into the grotto, and in less than half an hour reappeared, bringing +it quite full and well corked. Avenant thanked her with all his heart, +and joyfully took once more the road to the city. + +The Fair One with Golden Locks had no more to say. She consented to +accompany him back, with all her suite, to his master's court. On the +way thither she saw so much of him, and found him so charming, that +Avenant might have married her himself had he chosen; but he would not +have been false to his master for all the beauties under the sun. At +length they arrived at the King's city, and the Fair One with Golden +Locks became his spouse and queen. But she still loved Avenant in her +heart, and often said to the king her lord: "But for Avenant I should +not be here; he has done all sorts of impossible deeds for my sake; he +has fetched me the water of beauty, and I shall never grow old--in +short, I owe him everything." + +And she praised him in this sort so much that at length the King became +jealous, and though Avenant gave him not the slightest cause of offense, +he shut him up in the same high tower once more--but with irons on his +hands and feet, and a cruel jailer besides, who fed him with bread and +water only. His sole companion was his little dog Cabriole. + +When the Fair One with Golden Locks heard of this, she reproached her +husband for his ingratitude, and then, throwing herself at his knees, +implored that Avenant might be set free. But the King only said, "She +loves him!" and refused the prayer. The Queen entreated no more, but +fell into a deep melancholy. + +When the King saw it, he thought she did not care for him because he was +not handsome enough; and that if he could wash his face with her water +of beauty, it would make her love him more. He knew that she kept it in +a cabinet in her chamber, where she could find it always. + +Now it happened that a waiting maid, in cleaning out this cabinet, had, +the very day before knocked down the vial, which was broken in a +thousand pieces, and all the contents were lost. Very much alarmed, she +then remembered seeing in a cabinet belonging to the King, a similar +vial. This she fetched and put in the place of the other one, in which +was the water of beauty. But the King's vial contained the water of +death. It was a poison, used to destroy great criminals--that is, +noblemen, gentlemen, and such like. Instead of hanging them or cutting +their heads off, like common people, they were compelled to wash their +faces with this water, upon which they fell asleep and woke no more. So +it happened that the king, taking up this vial, believing it to be the +water of beauty, washed his face with it, fell asleep, and--died. + +Cabriole heard the news, and, gliding in and out among the crowd which +clustered round the young and lovely widow, whispered softly to her, +"Madam, do not forget poor Avenant." If she had been disposed to do so, +the sight of his little dog would have been enough to remind her of +him--his many sufferings and his great fidelity. She rose up, without +speaking to anybody, and went straight to the tower where Avenant was +confined. There, with her own hands, she struck off his chains, and +putting a crown of gold on his head and a purple mantle on his +shoulders, said to him, "Be King--and my husband." + +Avenant could not refuse, for in his heart he had loved her all the +time. He threw himself at her feet, and then took the crown and scepter, +and ruled her kingdom like a king. All the people were delighted to have +him as their sovereign. The marriage was celebrated in all imaginable +pomp, and Avenant and the Fair One with Golden Locks lived and reigned +happily together all their days. + + + + +_The Little Good Mouse_ + + +Once upon a time there lived a king and queen who loved each other so +much that they were never happy unless they were together. Day after day +they went out hunting or fishing; night after night they went to balls +or to the opera; they sang and danced and ate sugarplums, and were the +gayest of the gay, and all their subjects followed their example so that +the kingdom was called the Joyous Land. Now in the next kingdom +everything was as different as it could possibly be. The King was sulky +and savage, and never enjoyed himself at all. He looked so ugly and +cross that all his subjects feared him, and he hated the very sight of a +cheerful face; so if he ever caught anyone smiling he had his head cut +off that very minute. This kingdom was very appropriately called the +Land of Tears. Now when this wicked King heard of the happiness of the +jolly King, he was so jealous that he collected a great army and set out +to fight him, and the news of his approach was soon brought to the King +and Queen. The Queen, when she heard of it, was frightened out of her +wits, and began to cry bitterly. "Sire," she said, "let us collect all +our riches and run away as far as ever we can, to the other side of the +world." + +But the King answered: + +"Fie, madam! I am far too brave for that. It is better to die than to be +a coward." + +Then he assembled all his armed men, and after bidding the Queen a +tender farewell, he mounted his splendid horse and rode away. When he +was lost to sight the Queen could do nothing but weep and wring her +hands and cry. + +"Alas! If the King is killed, what will become of me and of my little +daughter?" and she was so sorrowful that she could neither eat nor +sleep. + +The King sent her a letter every day, but at last, one morning, as she +looked out of the palace window, she saw a messenger approaching in hot +haste. + +"What news, courier? What news?" cried the Queen, and he answered: + +"The battle is lost and the King is dead, and in another moment the +enemy will be here." + +The poor Queen fell back insensible, and all her ladies carried her to +bed, and stood round her weeping and wailing. Then began a tremendous +noise and confusion, and they knew that the enemy had arrived, and very +soon they heard the King himself stamping about the palace seeking the +Queen. Then her ladies put the little Princess into her arms, and +covered her up, head and all, in the bedclothes, and ran for their +lives, and the poor Queen lay there shaking and hoping she would not be +found. But very soon the wicked King clattered into the room, and in a +fury because the Queen would not answer when he called to her, he tore +back her silken coverings and tweaked off her lace cap, and when all her +lovely hair came tumbling down over her shoulders, he wound it three +times round his hand and threw her over his shoulder, where he carried +her like a sack of flour. + +The poor Queen held her little daughter safe in her arms and shrieked +for mercy, but the wicked King only mocked her, and begged her to go on +shrieking, as it amused him, and so mounted his great black horse, and +rode back to his own country. When he got there he declared that he +would have the Queen and the little Princess hanged on the nearest tree; +but his courtiers said that seemed a pity, for when the baby grew up she +would be a very nice wife for the King's only son. + +The King was rather pleased with this idea, and shut the Queen up in the +highest room of a tall tower, which was very tiny, and miserably +furnished with a table and a very hard bed upon the floor. Then he sent +for a fairy who lived near his kingdom, and after receiving her with +more politeness than he generally showed, and entertaining her at a +sumptuous feast, he took her up to see the Queen. The fairy was so +touched by the sight of her misery that when she kissed her hand she +whispered: + +"Courage, madam! I think I see a way to help you." + +The Queen, a little comforted by these words, received her graciously, +and begged her to take pity upon the poor little Princess, who had met +with such a sudden reverse of fortune. But the King got very cross when +he saw them whispering together, and cried harshly: + +"Make an end of these fine speeches, madam. I brought you here to tell +me if the child will grow up pretty and fortunate." + +Then the fairy answered that the Princess would be as pretty and clever +and well brought-up as it was possible to be, and the old King growled +to the Queen that it was lucky for her that it was so, as they would +certainly have been hanged if it were otherwise. Then he stamped off, +taking the fairy with him, and leaving the poor Queen in tears. + +"How can I wish my little daughter to grow up pretty if she is to be +married to that horrid little dwarf, the King's son," she said to +herself, "and yet, if she is ugly we shall both be killed. If I could +only hide her away somewhere, so that the cruel King could never find +her." + +As the days went on, the Queen and the little Princess grew thinner and +thinner, for their hard-hearted jailer gave them every day only three +boiled peas and a tiny morsel of black bread, so that they were always +terribly hungry. + +At last, one evening, as the Queen sat at her spinning wheel--for the +King was so avaricious that she was made to work day and night--she saw +a tiny, pretty little mouse creep out of a hole, and said to it: + +"Alas, little creature! what are you coming to look for here? I have +only three peas for my day's provision, so unless you wish to fast you +must go elsewhere." + +But the mouse ran hither and thither, and danced and capered so +prettily, that at last the Queen gave it her last pea, which she was +keeping for her supper, saying: "Here, little one, eat it up; I have +nothing better to offer you, but I give this willingly in return for the +amusement I have had from you." + +She had hardly spoken when she saw upon the table a delicious little +roast partridge, and two dishes of preserved fruit. "Truly," said she, +"a kind action never goes unrewarded"; and she and the little Princess +ate their supper with great satisfaction, and then the Queen gave what +was left to the little mouse, who danced better than ever afterwards. +The next morning came the jailer with the Queen's allowance of three +peas, which he brought in upon a large dish to make them look smaller; +but as soon as he set it down the little mouse came and ate up all +three, so that when the Queen wanted her dinner there was nothing left +for her. Then she was quite provoked, and said: + +"What a bad little beast that mouse must be! If it goes on like this I +shall be starved." But when she glanced at the dish again it was covered +with all sorts of nice things to eat, and the Queen made a very good +dinner and was gayer than usual over it. But afterwards as she sat at +her spinning wheel she began to consider what would happen if the little +Princess did not grow up pretty enough to please the King, and she said +to herself: + +"Oh, if I could only think of some way of escaping!" + +As she spoke she saw the little mouse playing in a corner with some long +straws. The Queen took them and began to plait them, saying: + +"If only I had straws enough I would make a basket with them, and let my +baby down in it from the window to any kind passer-by who would take +care of her." + +By the time the straws were all plaited the little mouse had dragged in +more and more, until the Queen had plenty to make her basket, and she +worked at it day and night, while the little mouse danced for her +amusement; and at dinner and supper time the Queen gave it the three +peas and the bit of black bread, and always found something good in the +dish in their place. She really could not imagine where all the nice +things came from. At last one day when the basket was finished, the +Queen was looking out of the window to see how long a cord she must make +to lower it to the bottom of the tower, when she noticed a little old +woman who was leaning upon her stick and looking up at her. Presently +she said: + +"I know your trouble, madam. If you like, I will help you." + +"Oh, my dear friend," said the Queen; "if you really wish to be of use +to me you will come at the time that I will appoint, and I will let down +my poor little baby in a basket. If you will take her and bring her up +for me, when I am rich I will reward you splendidly." + +"I don't care about the reward," said the old woman, "but there is one +thing I should like. You must know that I am very particular about what +I eat, and if there is one thing that I fancy above all others, it is a +plump, tender little mouse. If there is such a thing in your garret just +throw it down to me, and in return I will promise that your little +daughter shall be well taken care of." + +The Queen when she heard this began to cry, but made no answer, and the +old woman after waiting a few minutes asked her what was the matter. + +"Why," said the Queen, "there is only one mouse in this garret, and that +is such a dear, pretty little thing that I cannot bear to think of its +being killed." + +"What!" cried the old woman in a rage. "Do you care more for a miserable +mouse than for your own baby? Good-by, madam! I leave you to enjoy its +company, and for my own part I thank my stars that I can get plenty of +mice without troubling you to give them to me." + +And she hobbled off grumbling and growling. As to the Queen, she was so +disappointed that, in spite of finding a better dinner than usual, and +seeing the little mouse dancing in its merriest mood, she could do +nothing but cry. That night when her baby was fast asleep she packed it +into the basket, and wrote on a slip of paper, "This unhappy little girl +is called Delicia!" This she pinned to its robe, and then very sadly she +was shutting the basket when in sprang the little mouse and sat on the +baby's pillow. + +"Ah! little one," said the Queen, "it cost me dear to save your life. +How shall I know now whether my Delicia is being taken care of or not? +Anyone else would have let the greedy old woman have you and eat you up, +but I could not bear to do it." Whereupon the mouse answered: + +"Believe me, madam, you will never repent of your kindness." + +The Queen was immensely astonished when the mouse began to speak, and +still more so when she saw its little sharp nose turn to a beautiful +face, and its paws to hands and feet; then it suddenly grew tall, and +the Queen recognized the fairy who had come with the wicked King to +visit her. + +The fairy smiled at her astonished look, and said: + +"I wanted to see if you were faithful and capable of feeling a real +friendship for me, for you see we fairies are rich in everything but +friends, and those are hard to find." + +"It is not possible that you should want for friends, you charming +creature," said the Queen, kissing her. + +"Indeed it is so," the fairy said. "For those who are only friendly with +me for their own advantage, I do not count at all. But when you cared +for the poor little mouse you could not have known there was anything to +be gained by it, and to try you further I took the form of the old woman +whom you talked to from the window, and then I was convinced that you +really loved me." Then, turning to the little Princess, she kissed her +rosy lips three times, saying: + +"Dear little one, I promise that you shall be richer than your father, +and shall live a hundred years, always pretty and happy, without fear of +old age and wrinkles." + +The Queen, quite delighted, thanked the fairy gratefully, and begged her +to take charge of the little Delicia and bring her up as her own +daughter. This she agreed to do, and then they shut the basket and +lowered it carefully, baby and all, to the ground at the foot of the +tower. The fairy then changed herself back into the form of a mouse, and +this delayed her a few seconds, after which she ran nimbly down the +straw rope, only to find when she got to the bottom that the baby had +disappeared. + +In the greatest terror she ran up again to the Queen, crying: + +"All is lost! my enemy Cancaline has stolen the Princess away. You must +know that she is a cruel fairy who hates me, and as she is older than I +am and has more power, I can do nothing against her. I know no way of +rescuing Delicia from her clutches." + +When the Queen heard this terrible news she was heartbroken, and begged +the fairy to do all she could to get the poor little Princess back +again. At this moment in came the jailer, and when he missed the little +Princess he at once told the King, who came in a great fury, asking +what the Queen had done with her. She answered that a fairy, whose name +she did not know, had come and carried her off by force. Upon this the +King stamped upon the ground, and cried in a terrible voice: + +"You shall be hung! I always told you you should." And without another +word he dragged the unlucky Queen out into the nearest wood, and climbed +up into a tree to look for a branch to which he could hang her. But when +he was quite high up, the fairy, who had made herself invisible and +followed them, gave him a sudden push, which made him lose his footing +and fall to the ground with a crash and break four of his teeth, and +while he was trying to mend them the fairy carried the Queen off in her +flying chariot to a beautiful castle, where she was so kind to her that +but for the loss of Delicia the Queen would have been perfectly happy. +But though the good little mouse did her very utmost, they could not +find out where Cancaline had hidden the little Princess. + +Thus fifteen years went by, and the Queen had somewhat recovered from +her grief, when the news reached her that the son of the wicked King +wished to marry the little maiden who kept the turkeys, and that she had +refused him; the wedding dresses had been made, nevertheless, and the +festivities were to be so splendid that all the people for leagues round +were flocking in to be present at them. The Queen felt quite curious +about a little turkey maiden who did not wish to be a queen, so the +little mouse conveyed herself to the poultry yard to find out what she +was like. + +She found the turkey maiden sitting upon a big stone, barefooted and +miserably dressed in an old, coarse, linen gown and cap; the ground at +her feet was all strewn with robes of gold and silver, ribbons and +laces, diamonds and pearls, over which the turkeys were stalking to and +fro, while the king's ugly, disagreeable son stood opposite her, +declaring angrily that if she would not marry him she should be killed. + +The turkey maiden answered proudly: + +"I never will marry you! You are too ugly and too much like your cruel +father. Leave me in peace with my turkeys, which I like far better than +all your fine gifts." + +The little mouse watched her with the greatest admiration, for she was +as beautiful as the spring; and as soon as the wicked Prince was gone, +she took the form of an old peasant woman and said to her: + +"Good day, my pretty one! you have a fine flock of turkeys there." + +The young turkey maiden turned her gentle eyes upon the old woman and +answered: + +"Yet they wish me to leave them to become a miserable queen! What is +your advice upon the matter?" + +"My child," said the fairy, "a crown is a very pretty thing, but you +know neither the price nor the weight of it." + +"I know so well that I have refused to wear one," said the little +maiden, "though I don't know who was my father or who was my mother, and +I have not a friend in the world." + +"You have goodness and beauty, which are of more value than ten +kingdoms," said the wise fairy. "But tell me, child, how came you here, +and how is it you have neither father nor mother nor friend?" + +"A fairy called Cancaline is the cause of my being here," answered she, +"for while I lived with her I got nothing but blows and harsh words, +until at last I could bear it no longer, and ran away from her without +knowing where I was going, and as I came through a wood the wicked +Prince met me and offered to give me charge of the poultry yard. I +accepted gladly, not knowing that I should have to see him day by day. +And now he wants to marry me, but that I will never consent to." + +Upon hearing this the fairy became convinced that the little turkey +maiden was none other than the Princess Delicia. + +"What is your name, my little one?" said she. + +"I am called Delicia, if it please you," she answered. + +Then the fairy threw her arms round the Princess's neck, and nearly +smothered her with kisses, saying: + +"Ah, Delicia! I am a very old friend of yours, and I am truly glad to +find you at last; but you might look nicer than you do in that old gown, +which is only fit for a kitchenmaid. Take this pretty dress and let us +see the difference it will make." + +So Delicia took off the ugly cap, and shook out all her fair shining +hair, and bathed her hands and face in clear water from the nearest +spring till her cheeks were like roses, and when she was adorned with +the diamonds and the splendid robe the fairy had given her she looked +the most beautiful princess in the world, and the fairy with great +delight, cried: + +"Now you look as you ought to look, Delicia. What do you think about it +yourself?" + +And Delicia answered: + +"I feel as if I were the daughter of some great king." + +"And would you be glad if you were?" asked the fairy. + +"Indeed I should," answered she. + +"Ah, well," said the fairy, "to-morrow I may have some pleasant news for +you." + +So she hurried back to her castle, where the Queen sat busy with her +embroidery, and cried: + +"Well, madam, will you wager your thimble and your golden needle that I +am bringing you the best news you could possibly hear?" + +"Alas!" sighed the Queen, "since the death of the jolly King and the +loss of my Delicia, all the news in the world is not worth a pin to me." + +"There, there, don't be melancholy," said the fairy. "I assure you the +Princess is quite well, and I have never seen her equal for beauty. She +might be a queen to-morrow if she chose"; and then she told all that had +happened, and the Queen first rejoiced over the thought of Delicia's +beauty, and then wept at the idea of her being a turkey maiden. + +"I will not hear of her being made to marry the wicked King's son," she +said. "Let us go at once and bring her here." + +In the meantime the wicked Prince, who was very angry with Delicia, had +sat himself down under a tree, and cried and howled with rage and spite +until the King heard him, and cried out from the window: + +"What is the matter with you, that you are making all this disturbance?" + +[Illustration: "I FEEL AS IF I WERE THE DAUGHTER OF SOME GREAT KING"] + +The Prince replied: + +"It is all because our turkey maiden will not love me!" + +"Won't love you, eh!" said the King. "We'll very soon see about that!" +So he called his guards and told them to go and fetch Delicia. "See if I +don't make her change her mind pretty soon!" said the wicked King with a +chuckle. + +Then the guards began to search the poultry yard, and could find nobody +there but Delicia, who, with her splendid dress and her crown of +diamonds, looked such a lovely princess that they hardly dared to speak +to her. But she said to them very politely: + +"Pray tell me what you are looking for here?" + +"Madam," they answered, "we are sent for an insignificant little person +called Delicia." + +"Alas!" said she, "that is my name. What can you want with me?" + +So the guards tied her hands and feet with thick ropes, for fear she +might run away, and brought her to the King, who was waiting with his +son. + +When he saw her he was very much astonished at her beauty, which would +have made anyone less hard-hearted sorry for her. But the wicked King +only laughed and mocked at her, and cried: "Well, little fright, little +toad! why don't you love my son, who is far too handsome and too good +for you? Make haste and begin to love him this instant, or you shall be +tarred and feathered." + +Then the poor little Princess, shaking with terror, went down on her +knees, crying: + +"Oh, don't tar and feather me, please! It would be so uncomfortable. Let +me have two or three days to make up my mind, and then you shall do as +you like with me." + +The wicked Prince would have liked very much to see her tarred and +feathered, but the King ordered that she should be shut up in a dark +dungeon. It was just at this moment that the Queen and the fairy arrived +in the flying chariot, and the Queen was dreadfully distressed at the +turn affairs had taken, and said miserably that she was destined to be +unfortunate all her days. But the fairy bade her take courage. + +"I'll pay them out yet," said she, nodding her head with an air of great +determination. + +That very same night, as soon as the wicked King had gone to bed, the +fairy changed herself into the little mouse, and creeping up on to his +pillow nibbled his ear so that he squealed out quite loudly and turned +over on his other side; but that did no good, for the little mouse only +set to work and gnawed away at the second ear until it hurt more than +the first one. + +Then the King cried "Murder!" and "Thieves!" and all his guards ran to +see what was the matter, but they could find nothing and nobody, for the +little mouse had run off to the Prince's room and was serving him in +exactly the same way. All night long she ran from one to the other, +until at last, driven quite frantic by terror and want of sleep, the +King rushed out of the palace crying: + +"Help! help! I am pursued by rats." + +The Prince when he heard this got up also, and ran after the King, and +they had not gone far when they both fell into the river and were never +heard of again. + +Then the good fairy ran to tell the Queen, and they went together to the +black dungeon where Delicia was imprisoned. The fairy touched each door +with her wand, and it sprang open instantly; but they had to go through +forty before they came to the Princess, who was sitting on the floor +looking very dejected. But when the Queen rushed in and kissed her +twenty times in a minute, and laughed and cried and told her all her +history, the Princess was wild with delight. Then the fairy showed her +all the wonderful dresses and jewels she had brought for her, and said: + +"Don't let us waste time; we must go and harangue the people." + +So she walked first, looking very serious and dignified, and wearing a +dress the train of which was at least ten ells long. Behind her came the +Queen wearing a blue velvet robe embroidered with gold and a diamond +crown that was brighter than the sun itself. Last of all walked Delicia, +who was so beautiful that it was nothing short of marvelous. + +They proceeded through the streets, returning the salutations of all +they met, great or small, and all the people turned and followed them, +wondering who these noble ladies could be. + +When the audience hall was quite full, the fairy said to the subjects of +the wicked King that if they would accept Delicia, who was the daughter +of the jolly King, as their Queen, she would undertake to find a +suitable husband for her, and would promise that during their reign +there should be nothing but rejoicing and merrymaking, and all dismal +things should be entirely banished. Upon this the people cried with one +accord: "We will, we will! We have been gloomy and miserable too long +already." And they all took hands and danced round the Queen and Delicia +and the good fairy, singing: "Yes, yes; we will, we will!" + +Then there were feasts and fireworks in every street in the town, and +early the next morning the fairy, who had been all over the world in the +night, brought back with her in her flying chariot the most handsome and +good-tempered Prince she could find anywhere. He was so charming that +Delicia loved him from the moment their eyes met, and as for him, of +course he could not help thinking himself the luckiest prince in the +world. The Queen felt that she had really come to the end of her +misfortunes at last, and they all lived happily ever after. + + + + +_The Story of Blanche and Vermilion_ + + +THERE was once upon a time a widow, a very good kind of woman, who had +two daughters, both very amiable. The elder was called "Blanche" and the +younger "Vermilion." They had received these names because one of them +had the fairest complexion that was ever seen, and the other had cheeks +and lips as red as coral. + +One day, as the good woman was seated near the door of her cottage +spinning, she perceived a poor old woman who could hardly hobble along +with the assistance of her stick. "You appear to be very much tired, my +good woman," said the widow; "sit down here and rest yourself awhile"; +and she then desired one of her daughters to fetch her a chair. Both of +them immediately rose, but Vermilion outran her sister and brought the +chair. + +"Will you please to drink?" said the good old dame to the old woman. +"With all my heart," answered she; "and I feel even as if I could eat a +little if you could give me a bit of something nice." "You shall be +welcome to anything that I have," said the good widow; "but, as I am +poor, it will be nothing out of the common way." At the same time she +desired her daughters to lay the table for the good old dame, who +straightway seated herself at it. + +The widow then told the elder daughter to go and gather some plums from +a tree that she had planted herself, and was very fond of. Blanche, +instead of obeying her mother willingly, murmured, and said to herself, +"So it is for this old gormandizer that I have been so very careful of +my plum tree." She, however, dared not refuse to fetch a few plums, but +she gave them with much reluctance and very ungraciously. "You, +Vermilion," said the good woman to her younger daughter, "have no fruit +to give to this good dame, for your grapes are not ripe." "That's true," +said Vermilion; "but I hear my hen cackling, so she must have laid an +egg, and if the gentlewoman would like a new-laid egg she is very +welcome to it"; and without waiting for any answer from the old woman, +she ran off to seek her egg. The moment she presented it, however, the +old woman disappeared and was replaced by a beautiful lady who said to +the mother: "I am about to recompense your two daughters according to +their deserts. The elder shall become a great queen, and the younger a +farmer's wife." With these words she struck the house with her wand; it +disappeared, and in its place rose a nice, snug-looking farm. "That is +your portion," said she to Vermilion. "I know that I have given each of +you what you like best." Having thus said, the fairy departed; and the +good woman and her two daughters remained in great surprise. + +They went into the farmhouse, and were charmed with the neatness of the +furniture. The chairs were only of wood, but they were so bright that +one might see one's face in them as in a looking-glass. The bedding was +of Irish linen, as white as snow. In the pens were sheep; four oxen and +the like number of cows were in the cowhouses, and the yard was well +stocked with all sorts of domestic animals, as poultry, ducks, pigeons, +etc. There was also a pretty garden, planted with different kinds of +fruit, vegetables, and flowers. + +Blanche regarded without any feelings of jealousy the fairy's gift to +her sister. Her only thoughts were concerning the pleasures she +anticipated in being a queen. All at once she heard a huntsman's horn, +and going to the door to see the party pass, she appeared so beautiful +to the King that he resolved to marry her, and did so accordingly. +Blanche, when she was become a queen, said to her sister Vermilion: "I +do not wish that you should marry a farmer; come to court with me, +sister; I will procure you a great lord for your husband." "I am very +much obliged to you, sister," replied Vermilion, "but I am accustomed to +a country life, and do not wish to change it." + +Queen Blanche then set out, and she was so gratified that she passed +several nights without sleeping, for joy. The first few months she was +so taken up with fine clothes, balls, and plays that she thought of +nothing else. But she soon grew used to these things, and nothing now +amused her; on the contrary, she was very discontented. All the ladies +of the court showed her great respect when they were in her presence; +but she knew that they did not like her, and that they said to each +other behind her back, "See how this peasant girl plays the fine lady! +The King must have had very poor taste to take such a personage for his +consort." The King heard of these remarks, and they made him reflect on +what he had done. He began to think that he had acted wrongly in +marrying Blanche, and as his passion for her had cooled, he soon +neglected her. + +When the courtiers perceived that the King no longer loved his wife, +they paid her little or no attention. She was very unfortunate, for she +had not a single friend to whom she could impart her grief. She observed +that it was the fashion at court to sacrifice one's friend to one's +interest, to smile on one's bitterest enemy, and to tell lies +continually. She was obliged to be serious, because she was told that a +queen ought always to look grave and majestic. She had several children, +and during all this time she was constantly attended by a physician, who +examined everything that she ate, and ordered everything that she liked +to be removed from the table. She was allowed no salt in her soup, she +was forbidden to quit the house when she felt inclined to take a +walk--in a word, she was contradicted from morning till night. +Governesses were engaged for her children, who brought them up in direct +opposition to her wishes; yet she was not permitted to find fault. Poor +Queen Blanche was dying with sorrow, and she grew so thin that it was +pitiable to see her. She had not seen her sister once during the three +years that she had been a queen, because she thought it would be +demeaning her high rank to pay a visit to a farmer's wife; but when she +was quite oppressed with melancholy, she came to the resolution of +spending a few days in the country to restore herself. She asked leave +of the King to go, who permitted her very willingly, for he thought that +he should thus get rid of her for some time. She set out, and arrived in +the dusk of the evening at Vermilion's farm. As she was drawing near, +she observed about the door a company of shepherds and shepherdesses who +were dancing and merrymaking in high glee. "Alas!" said the Queen +sighing, "there was once a time when I could divert myself like these +poor people, and no one found fault with me." Directly she came in +sight, her sister ran to embrace her. She looked so happy, she had grown +so plump, that the Queen could not forbear crying when she looked at +her. + +Vermilion had married a farmer's son, who had no fortune; but he never +ceased to remember that his wife had brought him all that he possessed, +and he strove by his obliging disposition to show his gratitude. +Vermilion had not many servants; but those that she had were as fond of +her as if she had been their mother, because she treated them well. All +her neighbors also liked her, and they were all zealous in showing their +love. She had not much money, nor had she any occasion for much, for her +farm yielded her corn, wine, and oil. Her herds furnished her with milk, +with which she made butter and cheese. She spun the wool supplied by her +sheep into the materials of clothes for herself, her husband, and her +two children. They all enjoyed excellent health, and in the evening, +when the period of working had passed, they diverted themselves with all +sorts of pastimes. "Alas!" cried the Queen, "the fairy made me a very +evil present when she gave me a crown. Contentment is not to be found in +magnificent palaces, but only in the innocent employments of a country +life." These words had hardly passed her lips when the fairy appeared. +"It was not my intention, when I made you Queen, to reward, but to +punish you," said the fairy to her, "for giving me your plums with so +much ill will. To be truly contented and happy, you must, like your +sister, possess only what is necessary, and wish for nothing more." "Ah, +madam!" faltered Blanche, "you are sufficiently revenged; I entreat you +to put an end to my unhappiness." + +"It is at an end," answered the fairy. "The King, who no longer loves +you, has just married another wife, and his officers will arrive here +to-morrow to desire you, in his name, never to return to his court." It +came to pass exactly as the fairy had foretold. Blanche passed the +remainder of her days with her sister Vermilion, in all happiness and +reasonable pleasure, and she never thought of the court again except to +thank the fairy for having brought her from it to her native village. + + + + +_Prince Desire and Princess Mignonetta_ + + +THERE was once upon a time a king who was passionately fond of a +princess; but she could not be married, because she was enchanted. He +went to consult a fairy, to ascertain what he ought to do to make the +Princess love him. The fairy said to him, "You know that the Princess +has a large cat, of which she is very fond; well, she can marry that +person only who can succeed in treading on her cat's tail." The King +said to himself, "That will not be very difficult to accomplish"; and he +quitted the fairy, determined rather to crush the cat's tail than to +fail in treading on it. He hastened to his mistress's palace; Master +Puss came to meet him, very consequentially, as was his wont; the King +lifted up his foot, but when he thought to have put it on the cat's +tail, Puss turned round so quickly that he trod on nothing but the +floor. He was a week trying to tread on this fatal tail, which appeared +to be full of quicksilver, for it was continually moving. But, at last, +the King had the good fortune to surprise Master Puss while he was +asleep, and trod upon his tail with all his weight. Puss awakened, +mewing horribly, and immediately took the shape of a tall man, who, +looking at the King with eyes full of anger, said to him: "You may now +marry the Princess, since you have dissolved the enchantment which +prevented you; but I will be revenged. You shall have a son who will +always be unfortunate until the time when he shall become aware that his +nose is too long; and, if you take any umbrage at what I threaten, you +shall immediately be put to death." + +[Illustration: "HE WAS A WEEK TRYING TO TREAD ON THIS FATAL TAIL"] + +Although the King was frightened at the sight of this tall man, who was +an enchanter, he could not help laughing at his threat. "If my son's +nose should be too long," said he to himself, "unless he should be +either blind or silly, he will certainly be able to see or feel it." +When the enchanter had disappeared, the King went to find the Princess, +who consented to marry him. However, he did not live long with her, for +he died eight months after the wedding. Shortly after his death, the +Queen gave birth to a young Prince, who was called Desire. He had the +finest large blue eyes in the world, and a pretty little mouth; but his +nose was so large that it covered half his face. The Queen was +inconsolable when she saw this large nose; but the ladies who were with +her told her that the nose was not so large as it appeared to her to be; +that it was a Roman nose, and that history averred that all heroes had +large noses. The Queen, who loved her son to excess, was charmed with +this discourse; and, by continually looking at Desire, his nose no +longer appeared to be so very long. The Prince was brought up very +carefully; and, as soon as he could speak, all kinds of shocking stories +were told him of people who had short noses. No one was allowed to +remain near him whose nose did not a little resemble his own; and the +courtiers, to show their respect to the Queen and her son, pulled their +children's noses several times a day, with a view of lengthening them. +They had, however, a difficult task; for their sons appeared to have +hardly any nose at all compared with Prince Desire's. When he became old +enough to understand it, he was instructed in history; and, whenever any +great prince or handsome princess was mentioned to him, he or she was +always spoken of as having a long nose. The room was hung round with +pictures in which all the figures had large noses; and Desire grew so +accustomed to regard length of nose as an ornament, that he would not +for an empire have parted with an atom of his. When he had reached the +age of twenty, it was thought expedient for him to marry; and the +portraits of various princesses were submitted to him. He was in +raptures with that of Mignonetta, the daughter of a great king, and +heiress to several kingdoms; of the kingdoms, however, Desire thought +not at all, he was so much struck with her beauty. + +The Princess Mignonetta, although he was thus charmed with her, had a +little turned-up nose which harmonized admirably with her other +features, but which very much perplexed the courtiers. They had acquired +such a habit of ridiculing small noses, that they sometimes could not +forbear laughing at that of the Princess; but Desire would not suffer a +jest on this subject; and he banished two courtiers from his presence, +who dared to make insinuations against Mignonetta's nose. The others, +warned by their fate, were more cautious; and there was one who said to +the Prince, that, in truth, a man could not be amiable who had not a +large nose, but that it was not the same in respect to woman; for a wise +man, who spoke Greek, had informed him that he had read in an old +manuscript that the fair Cleopatra had the end of her nose turned up. +The Prince made a magnificent present to the courtier who told him this +good news, and dispatched ambassadors to demand Mignonetta in marriage. +His proposal was accepted, and he was so anxious to see her, that he +went more than nine miles on the road to meet her; but as he was just +stepping forward to kiss her hand, the enchanter appeared and carried +off the Princess before his face, leaving him quite inconsolable. + +Desire resolved never to reënter his kingdom, until he had discovered +Mignonetta. He would not allow any of his courtiers to accompany him, +and, mounting a good horse, he laid the bridle on his neck, and allowed +him to choose his own road. The horse presently came to a large plain, +which he traversed the whole day without seeing a single house. Both +horse and rider were ready to die with hunger; at last, as night was +about to set in, they discovered a cave in which a light was burning. +Desire entered, and saw a little old woman, who appeared to be more than +a hundred years old. She put on her spectacles to look at the Prince; +but she was a long time adjusting them, for her nose was too short. The +Prince and the fairy (for it was a fairy) burst out laughing as they +looked at each other; exclaiming simultaneously, "Oh, what a comical +nose!" "Not so comical as yours," said Desire; "but, madam, let us leave +our noses as they are, and have the goodness to give me something to +eat; for both I and my poor horse are dying with hunger." + +"With all my heart," answered the fairy. "Although your nose is +ridiculous, you are not the less the son of my best friend. I loved the +King, your father, like my own brother; but he had a very handsome +nose." "And what is there wanting in mine?" asked Desire. "Oh, it wants +nothing," answered the fairy; "on the contrary, there is far too much of +it; but no matter; a man may be very good, and yet have too large a +nose. I was saying, then, that I was your father's friend; at that time +he frequently came to see me; and you must know that in those days I was +very pretty; your father told me so. I must repeat to you a conversation +that we had together the last time he saw me." "Very well, madam," said +Desire; "I will listen to you with a great deal of pleasure when I have +had my supper; consider, if you please, that I have eaten nothing +to-day." "The poor child is right," said the fairy; "I did not think of +that. I will prepare your supper; and, while you are eating, I will tell +you my history in a few words; for I do not like long tales. A long +tongue is still more insufferable than a large nose; and I remember, +when I was young, that I was admired for not being a great talker; the +Queen, my mother, used frequently to have it mentioned to her; for, such +as you see me, I am a great king's daughter. My father--" "Your father +ate when he was hungry," said the Prince, interrupting her. "Yes, he +did, doubtless," said the fairy, "and you also will have your supper in +a moment: I was merely going to tell you that my father--" "But I will +not listen to a word until I have something to eat," said the Prince, +growing angry. He checked himself, however, for he wanted something of +the fairy, and said: "I know that the pleasure I should take in +listening to you would make me forget my own hunger; but my horse, who +will not understand you, is in need of some food." This compliment made +the fairy blush prettily. "You shall wait no longer," said she to +Desire, calling her domestics; "you are very polite, and, in spite of +the size of your nose, you are very amiable." "Plague take the old woman +with my nose!" said the Prince to himself; "one would have sworn that my +mother had stolen what is wanting in hers, to make mine with; if I were +not hungry, I would leave this prate-a-pace, who fancies that she is a +little talker. One must be very stupid not to perceive one's own +defects; that comes of her being born a princess: flatterers have +spoiled her, and persuaded her that she is a little talker." + +While that was passing in the Prince's mind, the servants laid the +table; and the Prince wondered at the fairy, who kept asking them a +thousand questions, solely to have the pleasure of talking: he was +especially surprised at a waiting woman, who, in everything that she +saw, praised her mistress for her discretion. "Egad!" thought he, as he +was eating, "I am delighted to have found my way here. This example +demonstrates to me how wisely I have acted in not listening to +flatterers, who praise all princes very shamelessly, concealing our +defects from us, or representing them to us as perfections; but as for +me, I shall never be their dupe; I know my own defects, God be thanked." +Poor Desire quite thought he was right, and little imagined that those +who had praised his nose had ridiculed it in their hearts, as the +waiting woman was ridiculing the fairy; for the Prince observed that she +turned her head aside every now and then to laugh. With regard to +himself, he did not say a word, but ate away as fast as he could. +"Prince," said the fairy to him, when he began to be satisfied, "move a +little I entreat you; your nose makes so large a shadow that it prevents +me from seeing what is on my plate. By the way, with regard to your +father: I went to his court when he was quite a child; but it is forty +years since I first retired into this solitude. Tell me a little how +things are going on at court now; are the ladies still as fond of +running about? In my time they used to go on the same day to the +promenade, to the assembly, to the theater, to the ball--But how long +your nose is! I cannot grow used to it." "In truth, madam," answered +Desire, "do not say any more about my nose; it is as it is, and in what +does it concern you? I am contented with it, and do not wish that it was +any shorter; everyone to his taste." "Oh, I perceive now I have hurt +your feelings, my poor Desire," said the fairy, "but I did not intend to +do so; on the contrary, I am your friend, and I wish to do you a +service; but notwithstanding that, I cannot help being shocked at your +nose; I will not, however, mention it to you again; I will even +constrain myself to think that you are snub-nosed; though in truth there +are materials enough in it to make three reasonable noses." + +Desire, who had finished his supper, grew so tired of the fairy's +tedious prattle about his nose that he sprang on his horse and rode away +from the cavern. He continued his journey; and wherever he went, he +thought that everybody was mad, for everybody talked about his nose; +nevertheless, he had been so accustomed to hear it asserted that his +nose was handsome, that he could not reconcile to himself the idea that +it was too long. + +The old fairy, who wished to do him a service in spite of himself, +determined to shut up Mignonetta in a crystal palace, and place this +palace in the Prince's road. Desire, transported with joy, strove to +break it; but he could not succeed: in despair, he wished to approach +near it, so as at least to speak to the Princess, who, on her part, +stretched her hand close to the crystal wall of the palace. He was very +anxious to kiss her hand; but turn his head which way he would, he could +not place his mouth near it, his nose constantly preventing him. He then +perceived for the first time its extraordinary length, and feeling all +over it with his hand, "I must confess," said he, "that my nose is too +large." At the moment he pronounced those words, the crystal palace +vanished, and the fairy appeared leading Mignonetta by the hand, and +saying: "Confess that you are greatly obliged to me. I vainly wished to +speak to you about your nose; but you would never have acknowledged its +defect unless it had become an obstacle to your wishes. In this way +self-love conceals from us all the defects of our minds and bodies. In +vain reason endeavors to unveil them to us; we can never perceive them +until the same self-love that blinds us to them finds them to be opposed +to its interests." Desire, whose nose had become an ordinary nose, +profited by this lesson. He married Mignonetta, and lived very happily +with her to a good old age. + + + + +_The Yellow Dwarf_ + + +THERE once lived a widowed Queen, who had one daughter. There had been +several other children, you must know, but one by one they had died, +until the beautiful Princess All-fair was the only child left. + +Time passed on, and every day the maiden grew more and more lovely, and, +to tell the truth, she not only grew lovelier, but she also became very +vain indeed. + +Well, by the time she reached the age of eighteen, All-fair was so +charming that she had won the hearts of twenty noble kings, and they +were all courting her at the same time. + +But never a smile did they get from the fair Princess. There was not a +man living, be he king or peasant, who was good enough to become her +husband, she said. + +So when the twenty kings heard this, nineteen of them took their hats at +once, and set off in a body to search for brides who were a little less +charming and a little easier to please. + +But the twentieth man, the King of the Golden Mines, was so much in +love with All-fair, that he stayed behind in the hope that she would +change her mind. + +"This will never do," said the Queen one day. "Here am I getting quite +old, and I want to see All-fair safely married and settled down before I +die. I must go and visit the Desert Fairy, and see if she will give me +some advice as to how I can manage my stubborn daughter." + +Now you must know that it was a very hard task indeed to reach the +Desert Fairy, for she was guarded by two fierce and terrible lions. The +only way to get past the animals was to throw them a huge cake made from +crocodiles' eggs, millet, and sugar candy. + +So the Queen set to work, and with her own royal hands she prepared one +of these cakes; then she placed it in a basket and set out for the home +of the Desert Fairy. + +Well, the day was hot, and the cake was heavy, and before long the Queen +was lying fast asleep under a big tree. + +Suddenly a terrible roar awakened her, and she looked round for her cake +to throw to the angry lions, but to her horror it was gone. + +"What is to become of me?" cried the poor Queen in terror, and she burst +into tears. + +"Hem! hem!" cried a small voice, and the Queen looked all around her to +see who could be speaking. + +At last she looked upward, and there, in the branches of the big orange +tree overhead, sat a little yellow man. He was just half a yard high, +and he was eating oranges as quickly as ever he could; in fact, he +didn't even stop eating while he spoke to the Queen, which, of course, +was very rude. + +"Ah, Queen!" he went on, "there is only one way by which you can escape +the lions, and that is by letting me marry your daughter." + +The Queen was so surprised that she even stopped crying. The idea of +that hideous little creature marrying her beautiful daughter was quite +absurd, and she was just about to tell him so when again she heard the +dreadful roaring of the lions. "Be quick and make up your mind!" cried +the Yellow Dwarf. (He was called the Yellow Dwarf, you know, because he +lived in the orange tree, and he had eaten so much of the fruit that his +skin had become the same color.) "Just remember you have no cake to +throw to the lions." + +So, to save her life, the Queen was forced to give her consent to a +marriage between the Yellow Dwarf and her beautiful daughter. + +No sooner did she agree to the match than she began to feel very drowsy, +and the next minute the Queen found herself safely back in her own +palace. + +She was so filled with sadness at the thought of her promise to the +dwarf that a fit of deep gloom settled upon her, and for weeks she never +smiled. + +The Princess was quite at a loss to know what had come over her mother; +so in the end she, too, made up her mind to visit the Desert Fairy in +the hope that she would be able to tell her what ailed the Queen. + +Then All-fair set to work and made a cake from the crocodiles' eggs, +millet, and sugar candy, and when it was ready she started off for the +Desert Fairy's grotto. + +She soon reached the fatal orange tree, and the fruit looked so very +tempting that All-fair laid her cake upon the ground and began to pick +and eat the ripe oranges. + +Just then one of the lions gave a terrible roar, and All-fair looked for +her cake to throw to them. Alas, it was gone! and the maiden began to +weep bitterly. + +"Dry your eyes, lovely Princess!" cried a voice, and, looking up, +All-fair spied the Yellow Dwarf. + +"You need not trouble to go to the Desert Fairy," went on the dwarf, +"for I can tell you what ails your mother." + +"I shall be obliged if you will tell me at once, then," replied +All-fair. + +"Oh, it is all your fault," said the Yellow Dwarf. + +"How dare you say such things!" cried the Princess. "It is nothing of +the sort." + +"Oh, yes, it is," answered the dwarf, with a grin. "Your mother is +sorry now that she promised you to me in marriage." + +"I am sure my mother did not promise me to a fright like you," cried the +angry Princess, "and I will not marry you!" + +"Oh, please yourself," answered the Yellow Dwarf; "but if you don't +marry me you will make a fine meal for the lions, that is all." + +Just at that moment the lions began to roar louder than ever. + +"Well, to save my life," cried poor All-fair, "I will agree to marry +you." + +"I wouldn't have you now," said the dwarf, with an air of disdain. + +"Oh, please do," begged All-fair, "or I shall be torn to pieces by the +lions!" + +"I'll marry you out of charity then," said the Yellow Dwarf. "But don't +suppose that I really want a vain creature like you." + +At that instant the Princess found herself growing very drowsy, and the +next minute she was back again at the palace, and on her finger was a +ring made of a single red hair, which she could not take off. + +After that All-fair grew sad, for she feared that the Yellow Dwarf might +claim her. + +Of course nobody knew the cause of her sadness, and they all wondered +what it could be. + +So the Queen's ministers held a cabinet meeting, and they agreed to ask +the Princess once more if she would marry, for they thought the +excitement of choosing her wedding gown would rouse her from her gloom. + +To the great surprise of them all, All-fair said she was quite willing +to do as they wished. So the King of the Golden Mines had his reward for +waiting so long, for the Princess chose him as her husband. He was very +rich and powerful, and so gallant, that All-fair thought when once she +was his wife she need fear the Yellow Dwarf no more. + +The wedding day arrived at last, and as the guests were on their way to +the church they saw a big box moving toward them, and on the top sat a +very ugly old woman. + +"Stop!" she cried, with a dreadful frown. "Do you remember the promise +you made to my friend, the Yellow Dwarf? I am the Desert Fairy, and if +All-fair does not marry the dwarf she will taste my wrath, you will +find." + +This speech made the brave King of the Golden Mines so angry that he +drew his sword, and shouted loudly: + +"Begone, or I will take your evil life!" + +As soon as he uttered these words, off flew the top of the box, and out +came the Yellow Dwarf seated upon a big, black Spanish cat. + +"Not so fast!" cried the Yellow Dwarf. "I am your rival, so do not vent +your wrath upon the Desert Fairy. I claim the Princess for my bride, and +in token of her promise to me, on her finger you will find a ring made +of a single red hair." + +"It is false!" cried the King of the Golden Mines, and he made a dash, +sword in hand, for the Yellow Dwarf. + +But quick as thought the dwarf drew his sword also, and he rode forward +on his Spanish cat. + +Well, they fought long and fiercely, but the King was not able to +overcome the dwarf because he was protected by two enormous giants, who +stood one on each side of him. + +Suddenly the Desert Fairy stepped forward, and on her head was a wreath +of big, curling snakes. Raising her lance, she struck the Princess such +a blow that All-fair sank fainting into her mother's arms. + +"Revenge!" shouted the King of the Golden Mines, and he rushed to the +aid of his love, as a brave man would, of course. + +But, alas! he was too late, for the dwarf had torn her from her mother's +arms, lifted her on to his Spanish cat, and the next minute they were +flying through the air beyond his reach. + +The poor King was so surprised that all he could do was to gaze up +toward the clouds and wonder what would happen next. Suddenly a mist +gathered before his eyes, and he felt himself being carried up into the +air also. + +Now you must know that the ugly old Desert Fairy had fallen madly in +love with the King of the Golden Mines, and she had made up her mind +that he should never marry All-fair; so she carried him off to secure +him for herself. + +Up into the air they went until they reached a gloomy cave. Then the +fairy set him down, and restored his sight by means of her magic arts. + +"He is sure to fall in love with me," she cried to herself, "now that +All-fair is safely out of the way!" + +But it was not a bit of use, for she was so ugly that the King only +looked the other way the whole time, and this made her very angry +indeed. + +So the fairy tried another plan. She took the form of a beautiful +maiden, and placed the King in a splendid chariot, drawn by two +snow-white swans. + +Then she, too, stepped in, and together they sailed away through the +air. + +"He'll never resist my charms this time," she said to herself. But she +found out her mistake very soon, I can tell you. You see, although the +fairy could change her form at will, her feet always remained the same, +and the King caught sight of two ugly webbed feet, that looked as if +they belonged to a griffin; so he was not deceived at all, and knew her +to be the Desert Fairy, in spite of the disguise. + +On and on they went, and once the King chanced to look downward. There +he saw a castle built of bright polished steel, and on the balcony stood +All-fair weeping very bitterly. + +All-fair chanced to look upward, and she spied the chariot drawn by the +snow-white swans. Although it passed along very quickly, she could see +the King seated inside with a lovely maiden, and as she did not know it +was the Desert Fairy, she felt very jealous indeed. + +Soon the chariot alighted at a lonely palace, shut in by a wall of +emeralds on one side and the sea on the other. + +Well, the King just cast his eyes around the place, and made up his mind +not to stay there long. + +"I'll escape somehow," he said to himself; and he did, too, before very +long. + +He pretended to be in love with the Desert Fairy, and this pleased and +flattered her so much that she began to treat him very kindly indeed. +She even allowed him to walk alone on the seashore for half an hour each +day. + +One morning as the King stood upon the beach he was surprised to see a +charming mermaid rise up from the water. + +"King of the Golden Mines," she said, "I know your story, and have the +power to set you free. I can also restore your Princess All-fair to you +once more. Now, as I am an enemy of the Desert Fairy, I will do this for +you." + +The King thanked her, of course, and the mermaid bade him set himself +upon her tail, and away they sailed at full speed across the blue ocean +until they had gone many miles. + +"The Princess, you must know," said the mermaid, "is being kept a +prisoner by the Yellow Dwarf. She is in a bright steel castle, and in +another hour we shall reach the place." + +On they went still farther, and at length the mermaid set the King down +upon the seashore. + +"The rest of the journey," she said, "you must take alone, and you will +have many enemies to fight before you reach the Princess. But," she +added, "I will present you with this magic sword, which will overcome +everything, so long as you never let it out of your hand." + +The King took the sword, and thanked the mermaid again and again, and +then he set out to seek the steel castle. + +But before he had gone a hundred yards, four terrible griffins attacked +him, and the King stood a good chance of being torn to pieces by their +long claws. Just in time, however, he remembered his magic sword, and no +sooner did the four griffins behold it than they sank to the ground, +blinded by its brightness. + +After that it was an easy matter to cut off their heads, and the King +went on his way again. + +[Illustration: THE MERMAID TAKING THE KING OF THE GOLDEN MINES TO THE +STEEL CASTLE] + +Soon after he met six big dragons, and each one was covered with scales +like cast iron. But by means of his magic sword the King was able to +kill them also, and then he hoped his troubles were nearly over. + +Alas! before he had gone many yards, twenty-four nymphs, all lovely as +the sun, set themselves right in his path. + +"Our business," they said, "is to keep you from reaching the steel +castle. If we let you pass, all our lives will be sacrificed. We have +done you no harm, so do go back again that our innocent lives may be +spared." + +Well, the King scarcely knew how to act; it seemed a pity to destroy +such lovely creatures, and yet get to the steel castle he must. + +"Strike! Strike!" cried a voice loudly, "or you will lose your Princess +forever!" + +So his Majesty destroyed the whole twenty-four of them, and at that +moment the steel castle appeared in sight. + +On the balcony stood All-fair, just as she had been when he passed +through the air in the chariot drawn by swans. + +"Princess," he cried, "your faithful lover has returned at last!" + +"Faithful indeed!" replied All-fair angrily. "You were not faithful when +I saw you being carried through the air in company with a beautiful +maiden." + +"Indeed I was," replied the King of the Golden Mines. "The maiden you +saw was the wicked Desert Fairy. She carried me off to an island, and +there I should be now, if a kind mermaid had not set me free." + +Then the King cast himself at her feet; but, unfortunately, he managed +to drop the magic sword over the balcony. + +Out popped the ugly Yellow Dwarf from behind a big cabbage, where he was +hiding, and he snapped up the sword in a trice. + +The Princess gave a loud shriek when she set eyes on the dwarf, but the +little man, who knew well what a treasure the sword was, just uttered +two magic words, with the weapon in his hand, and there appeared two +terrible giants, who at once bound the King in chains in spite of his +struggles. + +"Now," chuckled the Yellow Dwarf, "your lover is in my power. If he will +consent to your becoming my bride, I will set him free at once." + +"Never!" cried the King of the Golden Mines. + +"Then take that," replied the Yellow Dwarf, and he buried the magic +sword in the heart of the King. + +The poor Princess was filled with sorrow at the loss of her lover, and +she cried loudly: + +"Hideous dwarf, you have gained nothing by slaying my lover, for I will +never marry you. Since he is dead, I will die too." + +Then she seized the sword and plunged it into her own heart. + +The good mermaid was very unhappy when she heard what had taken place, +but as her only power lay in the magic sword, she could help them no +further. + +So she changed them into two palm trees, growing side by side, and every +time the soft breezes blew, their branches caressed and kissed each +other, so they were happy together, after all, in spite of the ugly +Yellow Dwarf. + + + + +_Graciosa and Percinet_ + + +Once upon a time there lived a King and Queen who had one charming +daughter. She was so graceful and pretty and clever that she was called +Graciosa, and the Queen was so fond of her that she could think of +nothing else. + +Every day she gave the Princess a lovely new frock of gold brocade, or +satin, or velvet, and when she was hungry she had bowls full of +sugarplums, and at least twenty pots of jam. Everybody said she was the +happiest princess in the world. Now there lived at this same court a +very rich old Duchess whose name was Grumbly. She was more frightful +than tongue can tell; her hair was red as fire, and she had but one eye, +and that not a pretty one! Her face was as broad as a full moon, and her +mouth was so large that everybody who met her would have been afraid +they were going to be eaten up, only she had no teeth. As she was as +cross as she was ugly, she could not bear to hear everyone saying how +pretty and how charming Graciosa was; so she presently went away from +the court to her own castle, which was not far off. But if anybody who +went to see her happened to mention the charming Princess, she would cry +angrily: + +"It's not true that she is lovely. I have more beauty in my little +finger than she has in her whole body." + +Soon after this, to the great grief of the Princess, the Queen was taken +ill and died, and the King became so melancholy that for a whole year he +shut himself up in his palace. At last his physicians, fearing that he +would fall ill, ordered that he should go out and amuse himself; so a +hunting party was arranged, but as it was very hot weather the King soon +grew tired, and said he would dismount and rest at a castle which they +were passing. + +This happened to be the Duchess Grumbly's castle, and when she heard +that the King was coming she went out to meet him, and said that the +cellar was the coolest place in the whole castle if he would condescend +to come down into it. So down they went together, and the King seeing +about two hundred great casks ranged side by side, asked if it was only +for herself that she had this immense store of wine. + +"Yes, sire," answered she, "it is for myself alone, but I shall be most +happy to let you taste some of it. Which do you like, canary, St. +Julien, champagne, hermitage sack, raisin, or cider?" + +"Well," said the King, "since you are so kind as to ask me, I prefer +champagne to anything else." + +Then Duchess Grumbly took up a little hammer and tapped upon the cask +twice, and out came at least a thousand crowns. + +"What's the meaning of this?" said she, smiling. + +Then she tapped the next cask, and out came a bushel of gold pieces. + +"I don't understand this at all," said the Duchess, smiling more than +before. + +Then she went on to the third cask, tap, tap, and out came such a stream +of diamonds and pearls that the ground was covered with them. + +"Ah!" she cried, "this is altogether beyond my comprehension, sire. Some +one must have stolen my good wine and put all this rubbish in its +place." + +"Rubbish, do you call it, Madam Grumbly?" cried the King. "Rubbish! why +there is enough there to buy ten kingdoms." + +"Well," said she, "you must know that all those casks are full of gold +and jewels, and if you like to marry me it shall all be yours." + +Now the King loved money more than anything else in the world, so he +cried joyfully: + +"Marry you? why, with all my heart! to-morrow if you like." + +"But I make one condition," said the Duchess; "I must have entire +control of your daughter to do as I please with her." + +"Oh, certainly, you shall have your own way; let us shake hands upon the +bargain," said the King. + +So they shook hands and went up out of the cellar of treasure together, +and the Duchess locked the door and gave the key to the King. + +When he returned to his own palace Graciosa ran out to meet him, and +asked if he had had good sport. + +"I have caught a dove," answered he. + +"Oh! do give it to me," said the Princess, "and I will keep it and take +care of it." + +"I can hardly do that," said he, "for, to speak more plainly, I mean +that I met the Duchess Grumbly, and have promised to marry her." + +"And you call her a dove?" cried the Princess. "I should have called her +a screech owl." + +"Hold your tongue," said the King very crossly. "I intend you to behave +prettily to her. So now go and make yourself fit to be seen, as I am +going to take you to visit her." + +So the Princess went very sorrowfully to her own room, and her nurse, +seeing her tears, asked what was vexing her. + +"Alas! who would not be vexed?" answered she, "for the King intends to +marry again, and has chosen for his new bride my enemy, the hideous +Duchess Grumbly." + +"Oh, well!" answered the nurse, "you must remember that you are a +Princess, and are expected to set a good example in making the best of +whatever happens. You must promise me not to let the Duchess see how +much you dislike her." + +At first the Princess would not promise, but the nurse showed her so +many good reasons for it that in the end she agreed to be amiable to her +stepmother. + +Then the nurse dressed her in a robe of pale green and gold brocade, and +combed out her long fair hair till it floated round her like a golden +mantle, and put on her head a crown of roses and jasmine with emerald +leaves. + +When she was ready nobody could have been prettier, but she still could +not help looking sad. + +Meanwhile the Duchess Grumbly was also occupied in attiring herself. She +had one of her shoe heels made an inch or so higher than the other, that +she might not limp so much, and put a cunningly made glass eye in the +place of the one she had lost. She dyed her red hair black, and painted +her face. Then she put on a gorgeous robe of lilac satin lined with +blue, and a yellow petticoat trimmed with violet ribbons, and because +she had heard that queens always rode into their new dominions, she +ordered a horse to be made ready for her to ride. + +While Graciosa was waiting until the King should be ready to set out, +she went down all alone through the garden into a little wood, where she +sat down upon a mossy bank and began to think. And her thoughts were so +doleful that very soon she began to cry, and she cried and cried, and +forgot all about going back to the palace, until she suddenly saw a +handsome page standing before her. He was dressed in green, and the cap +which he held in his hand was adorned with white plumes. When Graciosa +looked at him he went down on one knee, and said to her: + +"Princess, the King awaits you." + +The Princess was surprised, and, if the truth must be told, very much +delighted at the appearance of this charming page, whom she could not +remember to have seen before. Thinking he might belong to the household +of the Duchess, she said: + +"How long have you been one of the King's pages?" + +"I am not in the service of the King, madam," answered he, "but in +yours." + +"In mine?" said the Princess with great surprise. "Then how is it that I +have never seen you before?" + +"Ah, Princess!" said he, "I have never before dared to present myself to +you, but now the King's marriage threatens you with so many dangers that +I have resolved to tell you at once how much I love you already, and I +trust that in time I may win your regard. I am Prince Percinet, of whose +riches you may have heard, and whose fairy gift will, I hope, be of use +to you in all your difficulties, if you will permit me to accompany you +under this disguise." + +"Ah, Percinet!" cried the Princess, "is it really you? I have so often +heard of you and wished to see you. If you will indeed be my friend, I +shall not be afraid of that wicked old Duchess any more." + +So they went back to the palace together, and there Graciosa found a +beautiful horse which Percinet had brought for her to ride. As it was +very spirited he led it by the bridle, and this arrangement enabled him +to turn and look at the Princess often, which he did not fail to do. +Indeed, she was so pretty that it was a real pleasure to look at her. +When the horse which the Duchess was to ride appeared beside Graciosa's, +it looked no better than an old cart horse, and as to their trappings, +there was simply no comparison between them, as the Princess's saddle +and bridle were one glittering mass of diamonds. The King had so many +other things to think of that he did not notice this, but all his +courtiers were entirely taken up with admiring the Princess and her +charming page in green, who was more handsome and distinguished looking +than all the rest of the court put together. + +When they met the Duchess Grumbly she was seated in an open carriage +trying in vain to look dignified. The King and the Princess saluted her, +and her horse was brought forward for her to mount. But when she saw +Graciosa's she cried angrily: + +"If that child is to have a better horse than mine, I will go back to my +own castle this very minute. What is the good of being a Queen, if one +is to be slighted like this?" + +Upon this the King commanded Graciosa to dismount and to beg the Duchess +to honor her by mounting her horse. The Princess obeyed in silence, and +the Duchess, without looking at her or thanking her, scrambled up upon +the beautiful horse, where she sat looking like a bundle of clothes, and +eight officers had to hold her up for fear she should fall off. + +Even then she was not satisfied, and was still grumbling and muttering, +so they asked her what was the matter. + +"I wish that page in green to come and lead the horse, as he did when +Graciosa rode it," said she very sharply. + +And the King ordered the page to come and lead the Queen's horse. +Percinet and the Princess looked at one another, but said never a word, +and then he did as the King commanded, and the procession started in +great pomp. The Duchess was greatly elated, and as she sat there in +state would not have wished to change places even with Graciosa. But at +the moment when it was least expected the beautiful horse began to +plunge and rear and kick, and finally to run away at such a pace that it +was impossible to stop him. + +At first the Duchess clung to the saddle, but she was very soon thrown +off and fell in a heap among the stones and thorns, and there they found +her, shaken to a jelly, and collected what was left of her as if she had +been a broken glass. Her bonnet was here and her shoes there, her face +was scratched, and her fine clothes were covered with mud. Never was a +bride seen in such a dismal plight. They carried her back to the palace +and put her to bed, but as soon as she recovered enough to be able to +speak, she began to scold and rage, and declared that the whole affair +was Graciosa's fault, that she had contrived it on purpose to try and +get rid of her, and that if the King would not have her punished, she +would go back to her castle and enjoy her riches by herself. + +At this the King was terribly frightened, for he did not at all want to +lose all those barrels of gold and jewels. So he hastened to appease the +Duchess, and told her she might punish Graciosa in any way she pleased. + +Thereupon she sent for Graciosa, who turned pale and trembled at the +summons, for she guessed that it promised nothing agreeable for her. She +looked all about for Percinet, but he was nowhere to be seen; so she had +no choice but to go to the Duchess Grumbly's room. She had hardly got +inside the door when she was seized by four waiting women, who looked so +tall and strong and cruel that the Princess shuddered at the sight of +them, and still more when she saw them arming themselves with great +bundles of rods, and heard the Duchess call out to them from her bed to +beat the Princess without mercy. Poor Graciosa wished miserably that +Percinet could only know what was happening and come to rescue her. But +no sooner did they begin to beat her than she found, to her great +relief, that the rods had changed to bundles of peacocks' feathers, and +though the Duchess's women went on till they were so tired that they +could no longer raise their arms from their sides, yet she was not hurt +in the least. However, the Duchess thought she must be black and blue +after such a beating; so Graciosa, when she was released, pretended to +feel very ill, and went away into her own room, where she told her nurse +all that had happened, and then the nurse left her, and when the +Princess turned round there stood Percinet beside her. She thanked him +gratefully for helping her so cleverly, and they laughed and were very +merry over the way they had taken in the Duchess and her waiting maids; +but Percinet advised her still to pretend to be ill for a few days and +after promising to come to her aid whenever she needed him, he +disappeared as suddenly as he had come. + +The Duchess was so delighted at the idea that Graciosa was really ill +that she herself recovered twice as fast as she would have done +otherwise, and the wedding was held with great magnificence. Now as the +King knew that, above all other things, the Queen loved to be told that +she was beautiful, he ordered that her portrait should be painted, and +that a tournament should be held, at which all the bravest knights of +his court should maintain against all comers that Grumbly was the most +beautiful princess in the world. + +Numbers of knights came from far and wide to accept the challenge, and +the hideous Queen sat in great state in a balcony hung with cloth of +gold to watch the contests, and Graciosa had to stand up behind her, +where her loveliness was so conspicuous that the combatants could not +keep their eyes off her. But the Queen was so vain that she thought all +their admiring glances were for herself, especially as, in spite of the +badness of their cause, the King's knights were so brave that they were +the victors in every combat. + +However, when nearly all the strangers had been defeated, a young +unknown knight presented himself. He carried a portrait, inclosed in a +box incrusted with diamonds, and he declared himself willing to maintain +against them all, that the Queen was the ugliest creature in the world, +and that the Princess whose portrait he carried was the most beautiful. + +So one by one the knights came out against him, and one by one he +vanquished them all, and then he opened the box, and said that, to +console them, he would show them the portrait of his queen of beauty, +and when he did so, everyone recognized the Princess Graciosa. The +unknown knight then saluted her gracefully and retired, without telling +his name to anybody. But Graciosa had no difficulty in guessing that it +was Percinet. + +As to the Queen, she was so furiously angry that she could hardly speak; +but she soon recovered her voice, and overwhelmed Graciosa with a +torrent of reproaches. + +"What!" she said, "do you dare to dispute with me for the prize of +beauty, and expect me to endure this insult to my knights? But I will +not bear it, proud Princess. I will have my revenge." + +"I assure you, madam," said the Princess, "that I had nothing to do with +it and am quite willing that you shall be declared queen of beauty." + +"Ah! you are pleased to jest, popinjay!" said the Queen, "but it will be +my turn soon!" + +The King was speedily told what had happened, and how the Princess was +in terror of the angry Queen, but he only said: + +"The Queen must do as she pleases. Graciosa belongs to her!" + +The wicked Queen waited impatiently until night fell, and then she +ordered her carriage to be brought. Graciosa, much against her will, was +forced into it, and away they drove, and never stopped until they +reached a great forest, a hundred leagues from the palace. This forest +was so gloomy and so full of lions, tigers, bears, and wolves that +nobody dared pass through it even by daylight, and here they set down +the unhappy Princess in the middle of the black night, and left her in +spite of all her tears and entreaties. The Princess stood quite still at +first from sheer bewilderment, but when the last sound of the retreating +carriage died away in the distance she began to run aimlessly hither and +thither, sometimes knocking herself against a tree, sometimes tripping +over a stone, fearing every minute that she would be eaten up by the +lions. Presently she was too tired to advance another step, so she threw +herself down upon the ground and cried miserably: + +"O Percinet! where are you? Have you forgotten me altogether?" + +She had hardly spoken when all the forest was lighted up with a sudden +glow. Every tree seemed to be sending out a soft radiance, which was +clearer than moonlight and softer than daylight, and at the end of a +long avenue of trees opposite to her the Princess saw a palace of clear +crystal which blazed like the sun. At that moment a slight sound behind +her made her turn around, and there stood Percinet himself. + +"Did I frighten you, my Princess?" said he. "I come to bid you welcome +to our fairy palace, in the name of the Queen, my mother, who is +prepared to love you as much as I do." The Princess joyfully mounted +with him into a little sledge, drawn by two stags, which bounded off and +drew them swiftly to the wonderful palace, where the Queen received her +with the greatest kindness, and a splendid banquet was served at once. +Graciosa was so happy to have found Percinet, and to have escaped from +the gloomy forest and all its terrors, that she was very hungry and very +merry, and they were a gay party. After supper they went into another +lovely room, where the crystal walls were covered with pictures, and the +Princess saw with great surprise that her own history was represented, +even down to the moment when Percinet found her in the forest. + +"Your painters must indeed be diligent," she said, pointing out the last +picture to the Prince. + +"They are obliged to be, for I will not have anything forgotten that +happens to you," he answered. + +When the Princess grew sleepy, twenty-four charming maidens put her to +bed in the prettiest room she had ever seen, and then sang to her so +sweetly that Graciosa's dreams were all of mermaids, and cool sea +waves, and caverns, in which she wandered with Percinet; but when she +woke up again her first thought was that, delightful as this fairy +palace seemed to her, yet she could not stay in it, but must go back to +her father. When she had been dressed by the twenty-four maidens in a +charming robe which the Queen had sent for her, and in which she looked +prettier than ever, Prince Percinet came to see her, and was bitterly +disappointed when she told him what she had been thinking. He begged her +to consider again how unhappy the wicked Queen would make her, and how, +if she would but marry him, all the fairy palace would be hers, and his +one thought would be to please her. But, in spite of everything he could +say, the Princess was quite determined to go back, though he at last +persuaded her to stay eight days, which were so full of pleasure and +amusement that they passed like a few hours. On the last day, Graciosa, +who had often felt anxious to know what was going on in her father's +palace, said to Percinet that she was sure that he could find out for +her, if he would, what reason the Queen had given her father for her +sudden disappearance. Percinet at first offered to send his courier to +find out, but the Princess said: + +"Oh! isn't there a quicker way of knowing than that?" + +"Very well," said Percinet, "you shall see for yourself." + +So up they went together to the top of a very high tower, which, like +the rest of the castle, was built entirely of rock crystal. + +There the Prince held Graciosa's hand in his, and made her put the tip +of her little finger into her mouth, and look toward the town, and +immediately she saw the wicked Queen go to the King, and heard her say +to him: "That miserable Princess is dead, and no great loss either. I +have ordered that she shall be buried at once." + +And then the Princess saw how she dressed up a log of wood and had it +buried, and how the old King cried, and all the people murmured that the +Queen had killed Graciosa with her cruelties, and that she ought to have +her head cut off. When the Princess saw that the King was so sorry for +her pretended death that he could neither eat nor drink, she cried: + +"Ah, Percinet! take me back quickly, if you love me." + +And so, though he did not want to at all, he was obliged to promise that +he would let her go. + +"You may not regret me, Princess," he said sadly, "for I fear that you +do not love me well enough; but I foresee that you will more than once +regret that you left this fairy palace where we have been so happy." + +But, in spite of all he could say, she bade farewell to the Queen, his +mother, and prepared to set out; so Percinet, very unwillingly, brought +the little sledge with the stags and she mounted beside him. But they +had hardly gone twenty yards when a tremendous noise behind her made +Graciosa look back, and she saw the palace of crystal fly into a million +splinters, like the spray of a fountain, and vanish. + +"O Percinet!" she cried, "what has happened? The palace is gone!" + +"Yes," he answered, "my palace is a thing of the past; you will see it +again, but not until after you have been buried." + +"Now you are angry with me," said Graciosa in her most coaxing voice, +"though after all I am more to be pitied than you are." + +When they drew near the palace the Prince made the sledge and themselves +invisible, so the Princess got in unobserved, and ran up to the great +hall where the King was sitting all by himself. At first he was very +much startled by Graciosa's sudden appearance, but she told him how the +Queen had left her out in the forest, and how she had caused a log of +wood to be buried. The King, who did not know what to think, sent +quickly and had it dug up, and sure enough it was as the Princess had +said. Then he caressed Graciosa, and made her sit down to supper with +him, and they were as happy as possible. But some one had by this time +told the wicked Queen that Graciosa had come back, and was at supper +with the King, and in she flew in a terrible fury. The poor old King +quite trembled before her, and when she declared that Graciosa was not +the Princess at all, but a wicked impostor, and that if the King did not +give her up at once she would go back to her own castle and never see +him again, he had not a word to say, and really seemed to believe that +it was not Graciosa after all. So the Queen in great triumph sent for +her waiting women, who dragged the unhappy Princess away and shut her up +in a garret; they took away all her jewels and her pretty dress, and +gave her a rough cotton frock, wooden shoes, and a little cloth cap. +There was some straw in a corner, which was all she had for a bed, and +they gave her a very little bit of black bread to eat. In this miserable +plight Graciosa did indeed regret the fairy palace, and she would have +called Percinet to her aid, only she felt sure he was still vexed with +her for leaving him, and thought that she could not expect him to come. + +Meanwhile the Queen had sent for an old fairy, as malicious as herself, +and said to her: + +"You must find me some task for this fine Princess which she cannot +possibly do, for I mean to punish her, and if she does not do what I +order, she will not be able to say that I am unjust." So the old fairy +said she would think it over, and come again the next day. When she +returned she brought with her a skein of thread, three times as big as +herself; it was so fine that a breath of air would break it, and so +tangled that it was impossible to see the beginning or the end of it. + +The Queen sent for Graciosa, and said to her: + +"Do you see this skein? Set your clumsy fingers to work upon it, for I +must have it disentangled by sunset, and if you break a single thread it +will be the worse for you." So saying she left her, locking the door +behind her with three keys. + +The Princess stood dismayed at the sight of the terrible skein. If she +did but turn it over to see where to begin, she broke a thousand +threads, and not one could she disentangle. At last she threw it into +the middle of the floor, crying: + +"O Percinet! this fatal skein will be the death of me if you will not +forgive me and help me once more." + +And immediately in came Percinet as easily as if he had all the keys in +his own possession. + +"Here I am, Princess, as much as ever at your service," said he, "though +really you are not very kind to me." + +Then he just stroked the skein with his wand, and all the broken threads +joined themselves together, and the whole skein wound itself smoothly +off in the most surprising manner, and the Prince, turning to Graciosa, +asked if there was nothing else that she wished him to do for her, and +if the time would never come when she would wish for him for his own +sake. + +"Don't be vexed with me, Percinet," she said. "I am unhappy enough +without that." + +"But why should you be unhappy, my Princess?" cried he. "Only come with +me and we shall be as happy together as the day is long." + +"But suppose you get tired of me?" said Graciosa. + +The Prince was so grieved at this want of confidence that he left her +without another word. + +The wicked Queen was in such a hurry to punish Graciosa that she thought +the sun would never set; and indeed it was before the appointed time +that she came with her four fairies, and as she fitted the three keys +into the locks she said: + +"I'll venture to say that the idle minx has not done anything at +all--she prefers to sit with her hands before her to keep them white." + +But as soon as she entered, Graciosa presented her with the ball of +thread in perfect order, so that she had no fault to find, and could +only pretend to discover that it was soiled, for which imaginary fault +she gave Graciosa a blow on each cheek, that made her white-and-pink +skin turn green and yellow. And then she sent her back to be locked into +the garret once more. + +Then the Queen sent for the fairy again and scolded her furiously. +"Don't make such a mistake again; find me something that it will be +quite impossible for her to do," she said. + +So the next day the fairy appeared with a huge barrel full of the +feathers of all sorts of birds. There were feathers from nightingales, +canaries, goldfinches, linnets, tomtits, parrots, owls, sparrows, doves, +ostriches, bustards, peacocks, larks, partridges, and every sort that +you can think of. These feathers were all mixed up in such confusion +that the birds themselves could not have chosen out their own. "Here," +said the fairy, "is a little task which it will take all your prisoner's +skill and patience to accomplish. Tell her to pick out and lay in a +separate heap the feathers of each bird. She would need to be an +enchanter to do it." + +The Queen was more than delighted at the thought of the despair this +task would cause the Princess. She sent for her, and with the same +threats as before locked her up with the three keys, ordering that all +the feathers should be sorted by sunset. Graciosa set to work at once, +but before she had taken out a dozen feathers she found that it was +perfectly impossible to know one from another. + +"Ah, well," she sighed, "the Queen wishes to kill me, and if I must die +I must. I cannot ask Percinet to help me again, for if he really loved +me he would not wait till I called him, he would come without that." + +"I am here, my Graciosa," cried Percinet, springing out of the barrel, +where he had been hiding. "How can you still doubt that I love you with +all my heart?" + +Then he gave three strokes of his wand upon the barrel, and all the +feathers flew out in a cloud and settled down in neat little separate +heaps all round the room. + +"What should I do without you, Percinet?" said Graciosa gratefully. But +still she could not quite make up her mind to go with him and leave her +father's kingdom forever; so she begged him to give her more time to +think of it, and he had to go away disappointed once more. + +When the wicked Queen came at sunset she was amazed and infuriated to +find the task done. However, she complained that the heaps of feathers +were badly arranged, and for that the Princess was beaten and sent back +to her garret. Then the Queen sent for the fairy once more, and scolded +her until she was fairly terrified, and promised to go home and think of +another task for Graciosa, worse than either of the others. + +At the end of three days she came again, bringing with her a box. + +"Tell your slave," said she, "to carry this wherever you please, but on +no account to open it. She will not be able to help doing so, and then +you will be quite satisfied with the result." So the Queen came to +Graciosa and said: + +"Carry this box to my castle, and place it upon the table in my own +room. But I forbid you on pain of death to look at what it contains." + +Graciosa set out, wearing her little cap and wooden shoes and the old +cotton frock, but even in this disguise she was so beautiful that all +the passers-by wondered who she could be. She had not gone far before +the heat of the sun and the weight of the box tired her so much that she +sat down to rest in the shade of a little wood which lay on one side of +a green meadow. She was carefully holding the box upon her lap when she +suddenly felt the greatest desire to open it. + +"What could possibly happen if I did?" she said to herself. "I should +not take anything out. I should only just see what was there." + +And without further hesitation she lifted the cover. + +Instantly out came swarms of little men and women, no taller than her +finger, and scattered themselves all over the meadow, singing and +dancing, and playing the merriest games, so that at first Graciosa was +delighted and watched them with much amusement. But presently, when she +was rested and wished to go on her way, she found that, do what she +would, she could not get them back into their box. If she chased them in +the meadow they fled into the wood, and if she pursued them into the +wood they dodged around trees and behind sprigs of moss, and with peals +of elfin laughter scampered back again into the meadow. + +At last, weary and terrified, she sat down and cried. + +"It is my own fault," she said sadly. "Percinet, if you can still care +for such an imprudent Princess, do come and help me once more." + +Immediately Percinet stood before her. + +"Ah, Princess!" he said, "but for the wicked Queen I fear you would +never think of me at all." + +"Indeed I should," said Graciosa; "I am not so ungrateful as you think. +Only wait a little and I believe I shall love you quite dearly." + +Percinet was pleased at this, and with one stroke of his wand compelled +all the willful little people to come back to their places in the box, +and then rendering the Princess invisible he took her with him in his +chariot to the castle. + +When the Princess presented herself at the door, and said that the Queen +had ordered her to place the box in her own room, the governor laughed +heartily at the idea. + +"No, no, my little shepherdess," said he, "that is not the place for +you. No wooden shoes have ever been over that floor yet." + +Then Graciosa begged him to give her a written message telling the Queen +that he had refused to admit her. This he did, and she went back to +Percinet, who was waiting for her, and they set out together for the +palace. You may imagine that they did not go the shortest way, but the +Princess did not find it too long, and before they parted she had +promised that if the Queen was still cruel to her, and tried again to +play her any spiteful trick, she would leave her and come to Percinet +forever. + +When the Queen saw her returning she fell upon the fairy, whom she had +kept with her, and pulled her hair, and scratched her face, and would +really have killed her if a fairy could be killed. And when the Princess +presented the letter and the box she threw them both upon the fire +without opening them, and looked very much as if she would like to +throw the Princess after them. However, what she really did do was to +have a great hole as deep as a well dug in her garden, and the top of it +covered with a flat stone. Then she went and walked near it, and said to +Graciosa and all her ladies who were with her: + +"I am told that a great treasure lies under that stone: let us see if we +can lift it." + +So they all began to push and pull at it, and Graciosa among the others, +which was just what the Queen wanted; for as soon as the stone was +lifted high enough, she gave the Princess a push which sent her down to +the bottom of the well, and then the stone was let fall again, and there +she was a prisoner. Graciosa felt that now indeed she was hopelessly +lost; surely not even Percinet could find her in the heart of the earth. + +"This is like being buried alive," she said with a shudder. "O Percinet! +if you only knew how I am suffering for my want of trust in you! But how +could I be sure that you would not be like other men and tire of me from +the moment you were sure I loved you?" + +As she spoke she suddenly saw a little door open, and the sunshine +blazed into the dismal well. Graciosa did not hesitate an instant, but +passed through into a charming garden. Flowers and fruit grew on every +side, fountains plashed, and birds sang in the branches overhead, and +when she reached a great avenue of trees and looked up to see where it +would lead her, she found herself close to the palace of crystal. Yes! +there was no mistaking it, and the Queen and Percinet were coming to +meet her. + +"Ah, Princess!" said the Queen, "don't keep this poor Percinet in +suspense any longer. You little guess the anxiety he has suffered while +you were in the power of that miserable Grumbly." + +The Princess kissed her gratefully, and promised to do as she wished in +everything, and holding out her hand to Percinet, with a smile, she +said: + +"Do you remember telling me that I should not see your palace again +until I had been buried? I wonder if you guessed that when that +happened, I should tell you that I love you with all my heart, and will +marry you whenever you like?" + +Prince Percinet joyfully took the hand that was given him, and, for fear +the Princess should change her mind, the wedding was held at once with +the greatest splendor, and Graciosa and Percinet lived happily ever +after. + + + + +_Drak, the Fairy_ + + +IN the last century there lived in the little town of Gaillac, in +Languedoc, a young merchant, who, having arrived at an age when he +wished to settle down in life, sought a wife. Providing she was +sweet-tempered, witty, rich, pretty, and of good family, he was not +particular about the rest; for Michael knew that he must be moderate in +his desires. Unhappily, he could not see in Gaillac one who appeared +worthy of his choice. All the young girls had some known fault, not to +mention those which were not known. At length he was told of a young +lady of Lavaur, endowed with innumerable good qualities and a dowry of +twenty thousand crowns. This sum was exactly that required by Michael to +establish himself in business; so he instantly fell in love with the +young lady of Lavaur. He obtained an introduction to the family, who +liked his appearance, and gave him a good reception. But the young +heiress had many suitors, from whom she hesitated to make a definite +choice. After several discussions it was decided by her parents that the +contending lovers should be brought together at a ball, and after having +compared them a choice should be made. + +On the appointed day Michael set out for Lavaur. His portmanteau was +packed with his finest clothes: an apple-green coat, a lavender vest, +breeches of black velvet, silk stockings with silver trees, buckled +shoes, powder box, and a satin ribbon for his queue. His horse was +harnessed with gay trappings. Furthermore, the prudent traveler, not +having a pistol to put in his holsters, had slipped in a little bottle +of wine and several slices of almond cake, in order to have something at +hand to keep his courage up. For in reality now that the day had come he +was in a very anxious state, and when he saw in the distance the church +of Lavaur he felt quite taken aback. He slackened the pace of his horse, +then dismounted, and in order to reflect upon what he should do at the +ball he entered a little wood and sat down on the turf. He drew from his +holsters, to keep him company, the almond cake and the bottle; the +latter he placed between his knees, so that without thinking of it he +varied his reflections by sips of wine and mouthfuls of cake. These +distractions somewhat enlivened him and gave him confidence, so much so +that he began to discover in himself a number of virtues and +excellences, which could not fail to insure him the victory. + +The sun having disappeared from the horizon he was about to pursue his +journey, when he heard a sound behind him among the leaves, as of a +multitude of little footsteps trampling the grass in tune to the music +of a flute and cymbals. Astonished, he turned around, and by the light +of the first stars, he perceived a troop of fairies, who were running +headed by the King, Tambourinet. In their rear, turning over and over +like a wheel, was the buffoon of the little people--Drak, the fairy. + +The fairies surrounded the traveler, and gave him a thousand welcomes +and good wishes. Michael, who had drunk too freely not to be brave, +welcomed them as old acquaintances, and seeing their little eyes fixed +upon the cake he began to crumble and throw it to them as one would to +the birds. In spite of their numbers, each one had his crumb with the +exception of Drak, who arrived when everyone had finished. Tambourinet +next asked what was in the bottle, and passed it from hand to hand till +it reached the buffoon, who, finding it empty, threw it away. Michael +burst out laughing. + +"That is justice, my little man," said he to the fairy. "For those who +arrive late, there remains nothing but regret." + +"I will make you remember what you have just said," cried Drak in anger. + +"And how?" asked the traveler ironically. "Do you think, now, you are +big enough to revenge yourself?" + +Drak disappeared without answering; and Michael, after taking leave of +Tambourinet, mounted his horse again. + +He had not gone a hundred paces, when the saddle turned and threw him +roughly to the ground. He arose a little stunned, rebuckled the straps, +and mounted his horse again. A little farther on, as he was going over a +bridge, the right stirrup bent slightly, and he found himself thrown in +the middle of the rivulet. He got out again in a very bad humor, and +fell the third time over the pebbles in the road, hurting himself so +much that he could hardly proceed. He began to think if he persisted in +riding in the saddle he would be unable to present himself at all to the +family of the young lady, so he decided to ride his horse barebacked, +and take the saddle upon his shoulder. In this manner he made his entry +into Lavaur amid the loud laughter of the people who were sitting at +their doors. + +"Laugh! laugh! you great stupids," murmured Michael; "is it very +marvelous that a man should carry his saddle when it will not carry +him?" + +At length he reached the inn, where he alighted, and asked for a room in +which to change his traveling clothes. Having obtained a chamber, he +proceeded with much care to open his portmanteau and lay out carefully +on the bed the articles for his toilet. + +His first consideration was whether he should powder his hair white or +yellow. Having decided it should be white, he seized the swans-down +powder puff, and commenced the operation on the right side. But at the +moment when he had finished that side he saw that an invisible hand had +powdered the other side yellow, so that his head had the appearance of +a half-peeled lemon. Michael, stupefied, hastened to mix the powder with +the comb, and finding himself too pressed for time to seek to think out +the reason of the mischance (he was always a slow thinker) stretched out +his hand toward the reel on which the satin for his queue was wound. The +reel escaped from his fingers and fell to the ground. + +[Illustration: "MICHAEL, PETRIFIED, STOOD MUTE, ... CONTEMPLATING WITH A +FRIGHTENED AIR THIS INCONGRUOUS DANCE"] + +Michael went to pick it up, but it seemed to roll before him. Twenty +times he was about to seize it, and twenty times his impatient hands +missed it. One would have said he looked like a kitten playing with a +reel. At length, seeing that time was going, he lost patience and +resigned himself to wear his old ribbon. + +He now hastened to put on his morocco shoes. He buckled the right, then +having finished the left, he stooped to admire them, but as he did so +the right buckle fell to the ground. He replaced it, but no sooner had +he done so than the left followed suit. He had hardly put that right +before the other one claimed his attention again in the same manner as +before. He proceeded thus for some time, without being able to get both +buckles fastened together. + +Furious, he finished by putting on his traveling boots, and was about to +take his velvet breeches, when, immediately he approached the bed, lo! +the breeches began of their own accord to walk about the room. + +Michael, petrified, stood mute, with his arm extended, contemplating +with a frightened air this incongruous dance. But you may guess how he +looked when he saw the vest, coat, and hat join the breeches at their +respective places, and form a sort of counterfeit of himself, which +commenced to walk about and parody his attitudes. + +Pale with fear he drew back to the window; but at this moment the +Michaelesque figure turned toward him, and he saw under the cocked hat +the grimacing face of Drak, the fairy. + +Michael uttered a cry. + +"It is you, you villain, is it? I'll make you repent of your insolence +if you don't instantly give me back my clothes." + +So saying, he rushed to take them; but the fairy, turning sharply +around, ran to the other side of the room. Michael was beside himself +with anger and impatience, and rushed again toward the fairy, who this +time passed between his legs and rushed out on to the staircase. Michael +pursued him angrily up four flights of stairs till they arrived at the +garret, where the fairy dodged him round and round, and then skipped out +of the window. Michael, exasperated, took the same route. The malicious +fairy led him from roof to roof, dragging the velvet breeches, the vest, +and coat in all the gutters, to Michael's despair. At length, after a +peregrination of an hour or two across this Pyrenees of the cats and +swallows, Drak gained a high chimney at the foot of which his pursuer +was forced to stop. + +Drak, leaning over toward Michael, who was out of breath and +discouraged, said: + +"You see, my good friend, you have forced me to spoil your ball dress; +but, happily, I see underneath me the copper of a laundress, where +everything can be put right for you." + +With these words Drak shook the velvet breeches over the chimney pot. + +"What are you doing, rascal?" cried Michael. + +"I am sending your dress to the wash!" said the fairy. + +And so saying, the vest, coat, and hat followed the breeches into the +smoking gulf. + +The young gallant sat down upon the roof with a cry of despair; but +rising immediately, said with resolution: + +"Well, I'll go to the ball in my traveling dress." + +"Hark!" interrupted the fairy. + +The sound of a bell rang out from a neighboring steeple. Midnight +struck! Michael counted the twelve strokes, and could not restrain a +cry. It was the hour designated by the parents when they would proclaim +to the suitors who had presented themselves at the ball their daughter's +choice for a husband. He wrung his hands in despair. + +"Unhappy man that I am!" he cried. "When I arrive all will be over; she +and her parents will laugh at me." + +"And that would be justice, my big man," replied Drak, with a pointed +sneer. "For you have said yourself, '_For those who arrive late, there +remains nothing but regret_.' This will serve you, I hope, as a lesson, +and prevent you another time from laughing at the feeble; for from +henceforth you will know that the smallest are big enough to avenge +themselves." + + + + +_Drakesbill and His Friends_ + + +DRAKESBILL was very little, and that is why some people called him Bill +Drake; but, tiny as he was, he knew a thing or two. He was a great +worker and laid up every cent that he earned; and, long before he was +half as tall as a gray goose he had saved a hundred dollars in gold. The +King of the country, who never did anything but spend money, heard that +Drakesbill had some gold pieces, and he made haste to borrow them. How +very kind and gracious he was until he heard the little yellow coins +jingle in his pocket! And how proud it made Drakesbill feel to have it +said that he had lent money to the King! + +A year went by--two years, three years--and the King seemed to have +forgotten him. He did not even offer to pay Drakesbill the interest, and +the little fellow was very uneasy lest he should lose all his money. At +last he made up his mind that he would go and see the King and tell him +that he needed the gold pieces very much. + +So, early one morning, Drakesbill, as spruce and fresh as a young robin, +went down the highroad toward the King's palace, singing, "Quack, quack, +quack, when shall I get my money back?" + +He had not gone far when he met friend Fox coming home from his rounds +among the farmyards. + +"Good morning, my good neighbor," said friend Fox; "where are you going +so early in the day?" + +"I am going to the King to ask him to pay me what he owes me." + +"Oh, take me with you!" + +"One can't have too many friends," thought Drakesbill. Then he said: +"Certainly I will take you; but you walk on four legs, and you will soon +get tired. So make yourself very small, get into my mouth, creep under +my tongue--and I will carry you." + +Friend Fox thanked him very kindly, made himself very small, and was out +of sight like a letter in a letterbox. + +Then Drakesbill was off again, all spruce and fresh as a spring morning, +and still singing, "Quack, quack, quack, when shall I get my money +back?" + +He had not gone far when he met his lady friend Ladder leaning against +her wall. "Good morning, ducky darling," said the lady friend, "whither +away, so bold and gay, this fine, new day?" + +"I am going to the King to ask him to pay me what he owes me." + +"Oh, take me with you!" + +"One can't have too many friends," thought Drakesbill. Then he said, +"Certainly I will take you; but you have such long wooden legs that you +will soon get tired. So make yourself very small, get into my mouth, +creep under my tongue--and I will carry you." + +The Ladder thanked him, made herself very small, and went to keep +company with friend Fox. + +Then Drakesbill was off again, spruce and fresh as any dapper little +dandy, and singing, "Quack, quack, quack, when shall I get my money +back?" + +He had not gone far when he met his sweetheart, laughing River, +wandering quietly in the sunshine. + +"Good morning, my spoonbill," she said, "whither do you go, so happy and +slow, while the soft breezes blow?" + +"I am going to the King, you know, for he owes me money, and I want him +to pay me back." + +"Oh, take me with you!" + +"One can't have too many friends," thought Drakesbill. Then he said: +"Certainly I will take you; but you always sleep while you run, and you +will soon get tired. So make yourself very small, get into my mouth, +creep under my tongue--and I will carry you." + +The River thanked him very kindly, and then, glou! glou! glou! she went +to take her place between friend Fox and friend Ladder. + +And Drakesbill was off again, spruce and fresh as a busy bee, and +singing, "Quack, quack, quack, when shall I get my money back?" + +A little farther on he met neighbor Wasp-nest, taking his wasps out for +some fresh air. + +"Good morning, neighbor Bill," said Wasp-nest; "whither do we run, so +full of fun, in the bright warm sun?" + +"Oh, don't you know that the King owes me money? And I am going down to +see him and make him pay me," answered Drakesbill. + +"Oh, take us with you!" + +"One can't have too many friends," thought Drakesbill. Then he said: +"Certainly I will take you; but there are so many of you that you will +soon get tired. So make yourself quite small, get into my mouth, creep +under my tongue--and I will carry you." + +Neighbor Wasp-nest thanked him very kindly, and then buzz, buzz, buzz, +file right! march! There wasn't much more room, but by getting close +together everybody was made quite comfortable. + +And then Drakesbill went on singing. + +In the afternoon he came to the great city where the King lived; and as +he marched straight up High Street, he sang as loud as he could, "Quack, +quack, quack! Oh, when shall I get my money back?" + +When he came to the King's palace he climbed up the step; and then he +stood on tiptoe, and knocked at the door, toc! toc! toc! + +"Who's there?" asked the doorkeeper, looking out through the keyhole. + +"'Tis I, Drakesbill. I want to speak with the King." + +"Speak with the King? Nonsense! That is easier said than done. The King +is in the parlor counting out his money." + +"That is just what I want to see him do," said Drakesbill. "Tell him I +am here, and then he will know my business." + +The doorkeeper went into the parlor to speak with the King. But he was +not there; he was in the kitchen, just sitting down to dinner with a +white napkin round his neck. + +"Good! good!" said the King. "I know the rascal. Fetch him in and put +him with the turkeys and chickens." + +The doorkeeper went back to the door. + +"Walk in, sir!" + +"Good!" said Drakesbill to himself. "Now I can see how the folks eat at +the King's table." + +"This way, this way!" said the doorkeeper. "Now step through that gate. +There you are!" + +"What! In the poultry yard? How? What?" + +How vexed the little fellow was! And no wonder. + +"Just wait," he said at last. "I think I'll show them a thing or two. +Quack, quack, quack, when shall I get my money back?" + +But turkeys and chickens are queer things, as you know, and think +themselves a good deal better than other folks. When they saw what a +funny little fellow had come among them, and when they heard him singing +his queer song, they began to ask one another: + +"Who is he? What is he doing here?" + +Then they all rushed upon him, and if he had not had his wits about him +they would have pecked him to death in no time. But, as good luck would +have it, he remembered his friend Fox, and he cried out: + + "Fox, friend Fox, from your hiding place + Come quick, or sad will be my case!" + +Then friend Fox, who was only waiting for these words, leaped out from +his hiding place, as big as life and as happy as a sunflower; and he +threw himself on the wicked fowls, and snip, snap! crish, crash! he +tore them in pieces; and at the end of five minutes not one of them was +left alive. And Drakesbill, spruce and fresh as ever, began to sing +again, "Quack, quack, quack, when shall I get my money back?" + +But the King was very angry when the poultry woman and the cook and the +doorkeeper all rushed into the kitchen where he was eating and told him +what had happened. He ordered them to seize this naughty little +Drakesbill and throw him into the well, and thus make an end of him. + +"I am lost! I am lost!" cried Drakesbill as he fell fluttering down into +the deep, dark hole. "I can never climb out of this place." + +Then he happened to think of his lady friend Ladder, and he sang: + + "Ladder, Ladder, from beneath my tongue + Come quick, or soon my song will be sung!" + +Friend Ladder, who had only been waiting for these words, leaped quickly +out, as tall as a flag pole and as charming as a walking stick; and she +stood with her feet at the bottom of the well and her two arms resting +upon the top; and Drakesbill climbed nimbly on her back, and hip! hop! +hup! how soon he was up and singing louder than ever, "Quack, quack, +quack, when shall I get my money back?" + +The King, who was still at the table, heard him singing, and the song +made him so angry that he almost choked. + +"Can't anybody make that fellow hush?" he cried. + +Then he ordered his men to build a great fire, and, when it was hot, to +throw Drakesbill into it and burn him up for a wicked wizard. + +But Drakesbill was not much afraid this time; he remembered his +sweetheart River. Just when the flames were the highest, and the captain +of the King's men was going to toss him into them, he sang out: + + "River, River, outward flow, + Or into the fire I must go!" + +Then friend River, who had only been waiting for these words, flowed +quickly out, as strong as a storm and as swift as the wind; and she put +out the fire, and drowned all the people that had kindled it; and, glou! +glou! glou! she flowed into the King's palace and stood four feet deep +in the great hall. And Drakesbill, spruce and fresh as ever, swam hither +and thither, singing, "Quack, quack, quack, when shall I get my money +back?" + +Of course, after all this had happened, the King was more angry than he +had ever been before; and when he saw Drakesbill swimming about so +coolly, while he had to stand on the table to keep his feet dry, he +could hardly hold himself. + +"Bring the fellow here, and I'll finish him with the carving knife! +bring him here quick!" he cried. + +Two servants rushed out and seized Drakesbill very rudely. They dragged +him toward the King, who was standing with drawn carving knife. The +King's brave men with swords in their hands were all around him. "It is +all over with me now," said Drakesbill. "I don't see how I can live +through this!" + +But just then he thought of his neighbor Wasp-nest, and he cried out: + + "Wasp-nest, Wasp-nest, hither fly, + Or Drakesbill soon will have to die!" + +Then Wasp-nest, who had been waiting for these words, began to wake up +his wasps, and things changed very quickly. + +"Buzz, buzz, buzz! Charge!" cried Wasp-nest. And the wasps rushed out +and threw themselves upon the King and his brave men, and stung them so +badly that they ran and jumped right out from the windows, and nobody in +the palace ever saw them again. + +As for Drakesbill, he could only sit still and wonder what was going to +happen next. But after a while he remembered his money, and began to +sing as before. Then, as the house was very still, he thought that he +might as well look around a little while; perhaps he would find his +hundred yellow pieces of gold. + +It was of no use, however. He peeped into all the corners and opened all +the drawers. There was not a dollar in the house. The King had spent +everything. + +By and by Drakesbill found his way into the room where the King's throne +stood, and as he was very tired he sat down to rest among the cushions +of velvet and gold. + +When the people saw the King and his brave men running away from the +wasps they felt sure that they would never come back. So they crowded +into the palace to see what was the matter. And the only person they +found there was little Drakesbill sitting by himself on the throne. Then +they all shouted: + + "The King is dead! long live the King! + How glad we'll be to be ruled by this thing!" + +And one of them ran and fetched the golden crown; and they put it on +Drakesbill's head and hailed him as King. And Drakesbill, who had made +up his mind not to be surprised at anything, sat very still and took it +all as a matter of course. + +"He doesn't look much like a king," whispered a few idle fellows; but +they were soon driven out of the hall and made to understand that it was +wrong even to think such words. + +"He will be the best king we have ever had," said others. And some who +had known him before said: "A Drakesbill is better any day than a king +who does nothing but spend our money." + +And that is the way in which little Drakesbill became King. When he had +been crowned, and the people had finished shouting, he made a speech +from the throne. "Ladies and gentlemen," he said, "I am very hungry. Let +us all go to supper." + + + + +_Riquet with the Tuft_ + + +ONCE upon a time there was a Queen who had a son, so ugly and misshapen +that it was doubted for a long time whether his form was really human. A +fairy, who was present at his birth, affirmed, nevertheless, that he +would be worthy to be loved, as he would have an excellent wit; she +added, moreover, that by virtue of the gift she had bestowed upon him, +he would be able to impart equal intelligence to the one whom he loved +best. All this was some consolation to the poor Queen, who was much +distressed at having brought so ugly a little monkey into the world. It +is true that the child was no sooner able to speak than he said a +thousand pretty things, and that in all his ways there was a certain air +of intelligence, with which everyone was charmed. I had forgotten to say +that he was born with a little tuft of hair on his head, and so he came +to be called Riquet with the Tuft; for Riquet was the family name. + +About seven or eight years later, the Queen of a neighboring kingdom had +two daughters. The elder was fairer than the day, and the Queen was so +delighted that it was feared some harm might come to her from her great +joy. The same fairy who had assisted at the birth of little Riquet was +present upon this occasion, and in order to moderate the joy of the +Queen she told her that this little Princess would have no gifts of mind +at all, and that she would be as stupid as she was beautiful. The Queen +was greatly mortified on hearing this, but shortly after, she was even +more annoyed when her second little daughter was born and proved to be +extremely ugly. "Do not distress yourself, madam," said the fairy to +her, "your daughter will find compensation, for she will have so much +intelligence that her lack of beauty will scarcely be perceived." + +"Heaven send it may be so!" replied the Queen; "but are there no means +whereby a little more understanding might be given to the elder, who is +so lovely?" "I can do nothing for her in the way of intelligence, +madam," said the fairy, "but everything in the way of beauty; as, +however, there is nothing in my power I would not do to give you +comfort, I will bestow on her the power of conferring beauty on any man +or woman who shall please her." As these two Princesses grew up their +endowments also became more perfect, and nothing was talked of anywhere +but the beauty of the elder and the intelligence of the younger. It is +true that their defects also greatly increased with their years. The +younger became uglier every moment, and the elder more stupid every day. +She either made no answer when she was spoken to, or else said something +foolish. With this she was so clumsy that she could not even place four +pieces of china on a mantel shelf without breaking one of them, or drink +a glass of water without spilling half of it on her dress. +Notwithstanding the attraction of beauty, the younger, in whatever +society they might be, nearly always bore away the palm from her sister. +At first everyone went up to the more beautiful to gaze at and admire +her; but they soon left her for the cleverer one, to listen to her many +pleasant and amusing sayings; and people were astonished to find that in +less than a quarter of an hour the elder had not a soul near her, while +all the company had gathered around the younger. The elder, though very +stupid, noticed this, and would have given, without regret, all her +beauty for half the sense of her sister. Discreet as she was, the Queen +could not help often reproaching her with her stupidity, which made the +poor Princess ready to die of grief. + +One day, when she had gone by herself into a wood to weep over her +misfortune, she saw approaching her a little man of very ugly and +unpleasant appearance, but magnificently dressed. It was the young +Prince Riquet with the Tuft, who, having fallen in love with her from +seeing her portraits, which were sent all over the world, had left his +father's kingdom that he might have the pleasure of beholding her and +speaking to her. Enchanted at meeting her thus alone, he addressed her +with all the respect and politeness imaginable. Having remarked, after +paying her the usual compliments, that she was very melancholy, he said +to her: "I cannot understand, madam, how a person as beautiful as you +are can be so unhappy as you appear; for, although I can boast of having +seen an infinite number of beautiful people, I can say with truth that I +have never seen one whose beauty could be compared with yours." + +"You are pleased to say so, sir," replied the Princess, and there she +stopped. + +"Beauty," continued Riquet, "is so great an advantage that it ought to +take the place of every other, and, possessed of it, I see nothing that +can have power to afflict one." + +"I would rather," said the Princess, "be as ugly as you are and have +intelligence, than possess the beauty I do and be as stupid as I am." + +"There is no greater proof of intelligence, madam, than the belief that +we have it not; it is the nature of that gift, that the more we have, +the more we believe ourselves to be without it." + +"I do not know how that may be," said the Princess, "but I know well +enough that I am very stupid, and this is the cause of the grief that is +killing me." + +"If that is all that troubles you, madam, I can easily put an end to +your sorrow." + +"And how would you do so?" said the Princess. + +"I have the power, madam," said Riquet with the Tuft, "to give as much +intelligence as it is possible to possess to the person whom I love +best; as you, madam, are that person, it will depend entirely upon +yourself whether or not you become gifted with this amount of +intelligence--provided that you are willing to marry me." + +The Princess was stricken dumb with astonishment, and replied not a +word. + +"I see," said Riquet with the Tuft, "that this proposal troubles you, +and I am not surprised, but I will give you a full year to consider it." + +The Princess had so little sense, and at the same time was so anxious to +have a great deal, that she thought the end of that year would never +come; so she at once accepted the offer that was made her. She had no +sooner promised Riquet with the Tuft that she would marry him that day +twelve months than she felt herself quite another person from what she +had previously been. She found she was able to say whatever she pleased, +with a readiness past belief, and to say it in a clever, but easy and +natural manner. She immediately began a sprightly and well-sustained +conversation with Riquet with the Tuft, and was so brilliant in her talk +that the Prince began to think he had given her more wit than he had +reserved for himself. On her return to the palace, the whole court was +puzzled to account for a change so sudden and extraordinary; for instead +of the number of foolish things which they had been accustomed to hear +from her, she now made as many sensible and exceedingly witty remarks. +All the court was in a state of joy not to be described. The younger +sister alone was not altogether pleased, for, having lost her +superiority over her sister in the way of intelligence, she now appeared +by her side merely as a very unpleasing-looking person. + +The King now began to be guided by his elder daughter's advice, and at +times even held his council in her apartments. The news of the change of +affairs was spread abroad, and all the young princes of the neighboring +kingdoms exerted themselves to gain her affection, and nearly all of +them asked her hand in marriage. She found none of them, however, +intelligent enough to please her, and she listened to all of them +without engaging herself to one. + +At length arrived a prince so rich and powerful, so clever and so +handsome, that she could not help listening willingly to his addresses. +Her father, having perceived this, told her that he left her at perfect +liberty to choose a husband for herself, and that she had only to make +known her decision. As the more intelligence we possess, the more +difficulty we find in making up our mind on such a matter as this, she +begged her father, after having thanked him, to allow her time to think +about it. + +She went by chance to walk in the same wood in which she had met Riquet +with the Tuft, in order to meditate more uninterruptedly over what she +had to do. While she was walking, deep in thought, she heard a dull +sound beneath her feet, as of many persons running to and fro and busily +occupied. Having listened more attentively she heard one say, "Bring me +that saucepan"; another, "Give me that kettle"; another, "Put some wood +on the fire." At the same moment the ground opened, and she saw beneath +her what appeared to be a large kitchen, full of cooks, scullions, and +all sorts of servants necessary for the preparation of a magnificent +banquet. There came forth a band of about twenty to thirty cooks, who +went and established themselves in an avenue of the wood, at a very long +table, and who, each with the larding pin in his hand and the tail of +his fur cap over his ear, set to work, keeping time to a harmonious +song. + +The Princess, astonished at this sight, asked the men for whom they were +working. + +"Madam," replied the chief among them, "for Prince Riquet with the Tuft, +whose marriage will take place to-morrow." The Princess, still more +surprised than she was before, and suddenly recollecting that it was +just a twelvemonth from the day on which she had promised to marry +Prince Riquet with the Tuft, was overcome with trouble and amazement. +The reason of her not having remembered her promise was, that when she +made it she had been a very foolish person, and since she became gifted +with the new mind that the Prince had given her, she had forgotten all +her follies. + +She had not taken another thirty steps when Riquet with the Tuft +presented himself before her, gaily and splendidly attired, like a +prince about to be married. "You see, madam," said he, "I keep my word +punctually, and I doubt not that you have come hither to keep yours, and +to make me, by the giving of your hand, the happiest of men." + +"I confess to you frankly," answered the Princess, "that I have not yet +made up my mind on that matter, and that I doubt if I shall ever be able +to do so in the way you wish." + +"You astonish me, madam," said Riquet with the Tuft. + +"I have no doubt I do," said the Princess; "and assuredly, had I to deal +with a stupid person, with a man without intelligence, I should feel +greatly perplexed. 'A Princess is bound by her word,' he would say to +me, 'and you must marry me, as you have promised to do so.' But as the +person to whom I speak is, of all men in the world, the one of greatest +sense and understanding, I am certain he will listen to reason. You know +that, when I was no better than a fool, I nevertheless could not decide +to marry you--how can you expect, now that I have the mind which you +have given me, and which renders me much more difficult to please than +before, that I should take to-day a resolution which I could not then? +If you seriously thought of marrying me you did very wrong to take away +my stupidity, and so enable me to see more clearly than I saw then." + +"If a man without intelligence," replied Riquet with the Tuft, "who +reproached you with your breach of promise, might have a right, as you +have just intimated, to be treated with indulgence, why would you, +madam, that I should receive less consideration in a matter which +affects the entire happiness of my life? Is it reasonable that persons +of intellect should be in a worse position than those that have none? +Can you assert this--you who have so much, and who so earnestly desired +to possess it? But let us come to the point, if you please. Setting +aside my ugliness, is there anything in me that displeases you? Are you +dissatisfied with my birth, my understanding, my temper, or my manners?" + +"Not in the least," replied the Princess; "I admire in you everything +you have mentioned." + +"If that is so," rejoined Riquet with the Tuft, "I shall soon be happy, +as you have it in your power to make me the most pleasing-looking of +men." + +"How can that be done?" asked the Princess. + +"It can be done," said Riquet with the Tuft, "if you love me +sufficiently to wish that it should be. And in order, madam, that you +should have no doubt about it, know that the same fairy who, on the day +I was born, endowed me with the power to give intelligence to the person +I chose, gave you also the power to render handsome the man you should +love, and on whom you should wish to bestow this favor." + +"If such be the fact," said the Princess, "I wish, with all my heart, +that you should become the handsomest and most lovable Prince in the +world, and I bestow the gift on you to the fullest extent in my power." + +The Princess had no sooner pronounced these words than Riquet with the +Tuft appeared to her eyes, of all men in the world, the handsomest, the +best-made, and most attractive she had ever seen. There are some who +assert that it was not the spell of the fairy, but love alone that +caused this metamorphosis. They say that the Princess, having reflected +on the perseverance of her lover, on his prudence, and on all the good +qualities of his heart and mind, no longer saw the deformity of his +body, or the ugliness of his features; that his hump appeared to her +nothing more than a good-natured shrug of his shoulders, and that +instead of noticing, as she had done, how badly he limped, she saw in +him only a certain lounging air, which charmed her. They say also that +his eyes, which squinted, only seemed to her the more brilliant for +this; and that the crookedness of his glance was to her merely +expressive of his great love; and, finally, that his great red nose had +in it, to her mind, something martial and heroic. However this may be, +the Princess promised on the spot to marry him, provided he obtained the +consent of the King, her father. The King, having learned that his +daughter entertained a great regard for Riquet with the Tuft, whom he +knew also to be a very clever and wise Prince, received him with +pleasure as his son-in-law. The wedding took place the next morning, as +Riquet with the Tuft had foreseen, and according to the orders which he +had given a long time before. + + No beauty, no talent, has power above + Some indefinite charm discern'd only by love. + + + + +_The White Cat_ + + +THERE was once a king who had three sons, all handsome, brave, and noble +of heart. Nevertheless, some wicked courtiers made their father believe +they were eager to wear his crown, which, though he was old, he had no +mind to resign. He therefore invented a plan to get them out of the +kingdom and prevent their carrying out any undutiful projects. Sending +for them to a private audience, he conversed with them kindly, and said: +"You must be sensible, my dear children, that my great age prevents me +from attending as closely as I have hitherto done to state affairs. I +fear this may be injurious to my subjects; I therefore desire to place +my crown on the head of one of you; but it is no more than just that, in +return for such a present, you should procure me some amusement in my +retirement, before I leave the capital forever. I cannot help thinking +that a little dog, handsome, faithful, and engaging, would be the very +thing to make me happy; so that, without bestowing a preference on +either of you, I declare that he who brings me the most perfect little +dog shall be my successor." + +The Princes were much surprised at the fancy of their father to have a +little dog, yet they accepted the proposition with pleasure; and +accordingly, after taking leave of the King, who presented them with +abundance of money and jewels, and appointed that day twelvemonth for +their return, they set off on their travels. + +Before separating, however, they took some refreshment together in an +old palace about three miles out of town, where they mutually agreed to +meet in the same place on that day twelvemonth, and go all together with +their presents to court. They also agreed to change their names and +travel incognito. + +Each took a different road; but it is intended to relate the adventures +of only the youngest, who was the most beautiful, amiable, and +accomplished prince in the world. As he traveled from town to town, he +bought all the handsome dogs that fell in his way; and as soon as he +saw one that was handsomer than those he had, he made a present of the +rest, for twenty servants would scarcely have been sufficient to take +care of all the dogs he was continually purchasing. At length, wandering +he knew not whither, he found himself in a forest; night suddenly came +on, and with it a violent storm of thunder, lightning, and rain. To add +to his perplexity, he lost his way. After he had groped about for a long +time, he perceived a light, which made him suppose that he was not far +from some house. He accordingly pursued his way toward it, and in a +short time found himself at the gates of the most magnificent palace he +had ever beheld. The entrance door was of gold, covered with sapphires, +which shone so that scarcely could the strongest eyesight bear to look +at it. This was the light the Prince had seen from the forest. The walls +were of transparent porcelain, variously colored, and represented the +history of all the fairies that had existed from the beginning of the +world. The Prince, coming back to the golden door, observed a deer's +foot fastened to a chain of diamonds; he could not help wondering at the +magnificence he beheld, and the security in which the inhabitants seemed +to live. "For," said he to himself, "nothing could be easier than for +thieves to steal this chain, and as many of the sapphire stones as would +make their fortunes." He pulled the chain and heard a bell, the sound of +which was exquisite. In a few moments the door was opened; yet he +perceived nothing but twelve hands in the air, each holding a torch. The +Prince was so astonished that he durst not move a step--when he felt +himself gently pushed on by some other hands from behind him. He walked +on in great perplexity till he entered a vestibule inlaid with porphyry +and lapis stone, where the most melodious voice he had ever heard +chanted the following words: + + "Welcome, Prince, no danger fear, + Mirth and love attend you here; + You shall break the magic spell, + That on a beauteous lady fell. + + "Welcome, Prince, no danger fear, + Mirth and love attend you here." + +The Prince now advanced with confidence, wondering what these words +could mean; the hands moved him forward toward a large door of coral, +which opened of itself to give him admittance into a splendid apartment +built of mother-of-pearl, through which he passed into others, so richly +adorned with paintings and jewels, and so resplendently lighted with +thousands of lamps, girandoles, and lusters, that he imagined he must be +in an enchanted palace. When he had passed through sixty apartments, all +equally splendid, he was stopped by the hands, and a large easy chair +advanced of itself toward the fireplace; then the hands, which he +observed were extremely white and delicate, took off his wet clothes, +and supplied their place with the finest linen imaginable, adding a +comfortable wrapping gown embroidered with gold and pearls. + +The hands next brought him an elegant dressing table, and combed his +hair so very gently that he scarcely felt their touch. They held before +him a beautiful basin, filled with perfumes, for him to wash his face +and hands, and afterwards took off the wrapping gown and dressed him in +a suit of clothes of still greater splendor. When his toilet was +complete, they conducted him to an apartment he had not yet seen, and +which also was magnificently furnished. There was a table spread for +supper, and everything upon it was of the purest gold adorned with +jewels. The Prince observed there were two covers set, and was wondering +who was to be his companion, when his attention was suddenly caught by a +small figure not a foot high which just then entered the room and +advanced toward him. It had on a long black veil, and was supported by +two cats dressed in mourning and with swords by their sides. They were +followed by a numerous retinue of cats, some carrying cages full of +rats, and others mouse traps full of mice. + +The Prince was at a loss what to think. The little figure now +approached, and throwing aside her veil, he beheld a most beautiful +white cat. She seemed young and melancholy, and addressing herself to +him, she said: "My Prince, you are welcome; your presence affords me the +greatest pleasure." + +"Madam," replied he, "I would fain thank you for your generosity, nor +can I help observing that you must be an extraordinary creature to +possess, with your present form, the gift of speech and the most +magnificent palace I have ever seen." + +"All this is very true," answered the beautiful cat; "but, Prince, I am +not fond of talking, and least of all do I like compliments; let us +therefore sit down to supper." + +The trunkless hands then placed the dishes on the table, and the Prince +and White Cat seated themselves at it. The first dish was a pie made of +young pigeons, and the next was a fricassee of the fattest mice. The +view of the one made the Prince almost afraid to taste the other, till +the White Cat, who guessed his thoughts, assured him that there were +certain dishes at table which had been dressed on purpose for him, in +which there was not a morsel of either rat or mouse. Accordingly, he ate +heartily of such as she recommended. When supper was over, he perceived +that the White Cat had a portrait set in gold hanging to one of her +feet. He begged her permission to look at it, when, to his astonishment, +he saw the portrait of a handsome young man who exactly resembled +himself! He thought there was something most extraordinary in all this; +yet, as the White Cat sighed and looked very sorrowful, he did not +venture to ask any questions. He conversed with her on different +subjects, and found her extremely well versed in everything that was +passing in the world. When night was far advanced, his hostess wished +him a good night, and he was conducted by the hands to his bedchamber, +which was different still from anything he had seen in the palace, being +hung with the wings of butterflies mixed with the most curious feathers. +His bed was of gauze, festooned with bunches of the gayest ribbons, and +the looking-glasses reached from the floor to the ceiling. The Prince +was undressed and put into bed by the hands without speaking a word. He, +however, slept little, and in the morning was awakened by a confused +noise. The hands took him out of bed and put on him a handsome hunting +jacket. He looked into the courtyard and perceived more than five +hundred cats busily employed in preparing for the field--for this was a +day of festival. Presently the White Cat came to his apartment, and +having politely inquired after his health, she invited him to partake of +their amusement. The Prince willingly acceded, and mounted a wooden +horse, richly caparisoned, which had been prepared for him, and which he +was assured would gallop to admiration. The beautiful White Cat mounted +a monkey; she wore a dragoon's cap, which made her look so fierce that +all the rats and mice ran away in the utmost terror. + +Everything being ready, the horns sounded and away they went. No hunting +was ever more agreeable. The cats ran faster than the hares and rabbits, +and when they caught any they turned them out to be hunted in the +presence of the White Cat, and a thousand cunning tricks were played. +Nor were the birds in safety, for the monkey made nothing of climbing up +the trees with the White Cat on his back, to the nests of the young +eagles. When the chase was over, the whole retinue returned to the +palace. The White Cat immediately exchanged her dragoon's cap for the +veil, and sat down to supper with the Prince, who, being very hungry, +ate heartily, and afterwards partook with her of the most delicious +wines. He then was conducted to his chamber as before, and wakened in +the morning to renew the same sort of life, which day after day became +so charming to him that he no longer thought of anything but of pleasing +the sweet little creature who received him so courteously. Accordingly, +every day was spent in new amusements. The Prince had almost forgotten +his country and relations, and sometimes even regretted that he was not +a cat, so great was his affection for his mewing companions. + +"Alas!" said he to the White Cat, "how will it afflict me to leave you, +whom I love so much! Either make yourself a lady or make me a cat." She +smiled at the Prince's wish, but offered no reply. + +At length the twelvemonth was nearly expired. The White Cat, who knew +the very day when the Prince was to reach his father's palace, reminded +him that he had but three days longer to look for a perfect little dog. +The Prince, astonished at his own forgetfulness, began to afflict +himself, when the cat told him not to be so sorrowful, since she would +not only provide him with a little dog, but also with a wooden horse +which should convey him safely home in less than twelve hours. + +"Look here," said she, showing him an acorn, "this contains what you +desire." + +The Prince put the acorn to his ear, and heard the barking of a little +dog. Transported with joy, he thanked the cat a thousand times, and the +next day, bidding her tenderly adieu, he set out on his return. + +The Prince arrived first at the place of rendezvous, and was soon joined +by his brothers. They mutually embraced, and began to give an account of +their success, when the youngest showed them only a little mongrel cur, +telling them that he thought it could not fail to please the King, from +its extraordinary beauty. The brothers trod on each other's toes under +the table, as much as to say, "We have little to fear from this +sorry-looking animal." The next day they went together to the palace. +The dogs of the two elder brothers were lying on cushions, and so +curiously wrapped around with embroidered quilts that one would scarcely +venture to touch them. The youngest produced his cur, and all wondered +how the Prince could hope to receive a crown for such a shabby present. +The King examined the two little dogs of the elder Princes, and declared +he thought them so equally beautiful that he knew not to which, with +justice, he could give the preference. They accordingly began to +dispute, when the youngest Prince, taking his acorn from his pocket, +soon ended their contention; for a little dog appeared which could with +ease go through the smallest ring, and was besides a miracle of beauty. +The King could not possibly hesitate in declaring his satisfaction; yet, +as he was not more inclined than the year before to part with his crown, +he told his sons that he was extremely obliged to them for the pains +they had taken, and since they had succeeded so well, he wished they +would make a second attempt; he therefore begged they would take +another year in order to procure a piece of cambric fine enough to be +drawn through the eye of a small needle. + +The three Princes thought this very hard; yet they set out, in obedience +to the King's command. The two eldest took different roads, and the +youngest remounted his wooden horse, and in a short time arrived at the +palace of his beloved White Cat, who received him with the greatest joy, +while the trunkless hands helped him to dismount and provided him with +immediate refreshment. Afterwards the Prince gave the White Cat an +account of the admiration which had been bestowed on the beautiful +little dog, and informed her of the further injunction of his father. + +"Make yourself perfectly easy, dear Prince," said she; "I have in my +palace some cats who are perfect adepts in making such cambric as the +King requires; so you have nothing to do but to give me the pleasure of +your company while it is making and I will procure you all the amusement +possible." + +She accordingly ordered the most curious fireworks to be played off in +sight of the window of the apartment in which they were sitting, and +nothing but festivity and rejoicing was heard throughout the palace for +the Prince's return. As the White Cat frequently gave proofs of an +excellent understanding, the Prince was by no means tired of her +company; she talked with him of state affairs, of theaters, of +fashions--in short, she was at a loss on no subject whatever; so that +when the Prince was alone he had plenty of amusement in thinking how it +could possibly be that a small white cat should be endowed with all the +attractions of the very best and most charming of women. + +The twelvemonth in this manner again passed insensibly away, but the cat +took care to remind the Prince of his duty in proper time. "For once, my +Prince," said she, "I will have the pleasure of equipping you as suits +your high rank." And, looking into the courtyard, he saw a superb car, +ornamented all over with gold, silver, pearls, and diamonds, drawn by +twelve horses as white as snow, and harnessed in the most sumptuous +trappings; and behind the car a thousand guards, richly appareled, were +waiting to attend on the Prince's person. She then presented him with a +nut: "You will find in it," said she, "the piece of cambric I promised +you; do not break the shell till you are in the presence of the King +your father." Then, to prevent the acknowledgments which the Prince was +about to offer, she hastily bade him adieu. + +Nothing could exceed the speed with which the snow-white horses conveyed +this fortunate Prince to his father's palace, where his brothers had +just arrived before him. They embraced each other, and demanded an +immediate audience of the King, who received them with the greatest of +kindness. The Princes hastened to place at the feet of his majesty the +curious present he had required them to procure. The eldest produced a +piece of cambric so extremely fine that his friends had no doubt of its +passing through the eye of a needle, which was now delivered to the +King, having been kept locked up in the custody of his majesty's +treasurer all the time. But when the King tried to draw the cambric +through the eye of the needle it would not pass, though it failed but +very little. Then came the second Prince, who made as sure of obtaining +the crown as his brother had done, but, alas! with no better success; +for though his piece of cambric was exquisitely fine, yet it could not +be drawn through the eye of the needle. It was now the turn of the +youngest Prince, who accordingly advanced, and opening an elegant little +box inlaid with jewels, took out a walnut and cracked the shell, +imagining he should immediately perceive his piece of cambric; but what +was his astonishment to see nothing but a filbert! He did not, however, +lose his hopes; he cracked the filbert, and it presented him with a +cherry stone. The lords of the court, who had assembled to witness this +extraordinary trial, could not, any more than the Princes his brothers, +refrain from laughing, to think he should be so silly as to claim the +crown on no better pretensions. The Prince, however, cracked the cherry +stone, which was filled with a kernel; he divided it, and found in the +middle a grain of wheat, and in that a grain of millet seed. He was now +absolutely confounded, and could not help muttering between his teeth, +"O White Cat, White Cat, thou hast deceived me!" At this instant he felt +his hand scratched by the claw of a cat, upon which he again took +courage, and opening the grain of millet seed, to the astonishment of +all present he drew forth a piece of cambric four hundred yards long, +and fine enough to be threaded with perfect ease through the eye of the +needle. + +When the King found he had no pretext left for refusing the crown to his +youngest son, he sighed deeply, and it was easy to be seen that he was +sorry for the Prince's success. + +"My sons," said he, "it is so gratifying to the heart of a father to +receive proofs of his children's love and obedience, that I cannot +refuse myself the satisfaction of requiring of you one thing more. You +must undertake another expedition. That one of you who, by the end of +the year, brings me the most beautiful lady shall marry her and obtain +my crown." + +So they again took leave of the King and of each other, and set out +without delay; and in less than twelve hours our young Prince arrived, +in his splendid car, at the palace of his dear White Cat. Everything +went on as before till the end of another year. At length only one day +remained of the year, when the White Cat thus addressed him: "To-morrow, +my Prince, you must present yourself at the palace of your father and +give him a proof of your obedience. It depends only on yourself to +conduct thither the most beautiful princess ever yet beheld, for the +time is come when the enchantment by which I am bound may be ended. You +must cut off my head and tail," continued she, "and throw them into the +fire." + +"I!" said the Prince hastily--"I cut off your head and tail! You surely +mean to try my affection, which, believe me, beautiful cat, is truly +yours." + +"You mistake me, generous Prince," said she; "I do not doubt your +regard, but if you wish to see me in any other form than that of a cat +you must consent to do as I desire, when you will have done me a service +I shall never be able sufficiently to repay." + +The Prince's eyes filled with tears as she spoke, yet he considered +himself obliged to undertake the dreadful task; and the cat continuing +to press him with the greatest eagerness, with a trembling hand he drew +his sword, cut off her head and tail, and threw them into the fire. No +sooner was this done than the most beautiful lady his eyes had ever seen +stood before him, and ere he had sufficiently recovered from his +surprise to speak to her, a long train of attendants, who at the same +moment as their mistress were changed to their natural shapes, came to +offer their congratulations to the Queen and inquire her commands. She +received them with the greatest kindness, and ordering them to withdraw, +thus addressed the astonished Prince: + +"Do not imagine, dear Prince, that I have always been a cat, or that I +am of obscure birth. My father was the monarch of six kingdoms; he +tenderly loved my mother, and left her always at liberty to follow her +own inclinations. Her prevailing passion was to travel, and a short time +before my birth, having heard of some fairies who were in possession of +the largest gardens filled with the most delicious fruits, she had so +strong a desire to eat some of them that she set out for the country +where they lived. She arrived at their abode, which she found to be a +magnificent palace, glittering on all sides with gold and precious +stones. She knocked a long time at the gates, but no one came, nor could +she perceive the least sign that it had any inhabitant. The difficulty, +however, did but increase the violence of my mother's longing, for she +saw the tops of the trees above the garden walls loaded with the most +luscious fruits. The Queen, in despair, ordered her attendants to place +tents close to the door of the palace; but, having waited six weeks +without seeing anyone pass the gates, she fell sick of vexation and her +life was despaired of. + +"One night, as she lay half asleep, she turned herself about, and +opening her eyes, perceived a little old woman, very ugly and deformed, +seated in the easy chair by her bedside. 'I and my sister fairies,' said +she, 'take it very ill that your majesty should so obstinately persist +in getting some of our fruit; but since so precious a life is at stake, +we consent to give you as much as you can carry away provided you will +give us in return what we shall ask.' 'Ah, kind fairy!' cried the Queen, +'I will give you anything that I possess, even my very kingdoms, on +condition that I eat of your fruit.' The old fairy then informed the +Queen that what they required was that she should give them the child +she was going to have as soon as it should be born, adding that every +possible care should be taken of it, and that it should become the most +accomplished princess. The Queen replied that however cruel the +conditions she must accept them, since nothing but the fruit could save +her life. In short, dear Prince," continued the lady, "my mother +instantly got out of bed, was dressed by her attendants, entered the +palace, and satisfied her longing. Having eaten her fill, she ordered +four thousand mules to be procured and loaded with the fruit, which had +the virtue of continuing all the year round in a state of perfection. +Thus provided, she returned to the King my father, who, with the whole +court, received her with rejoicings, as it was before imagined she would +die of disappointment. All this time the Queen said nothing to my father +of the promise she had made to give her daughter to the fairies, so that +when the time was come that she expected my birth she grew very +melancholy; till at length, being pressed by the King, she declared to +him the truth. Nothing could exceed his affliction when he heard that +his only child, when born, was to be given to the fairies. He bore it, +however, as well as he could for fear of adding to my mother's grief, +and also believing he should find some means of keeping me in a place of +safety, which the fairies would not be able to approach. As soon, +therefore, as I was born, he had me conveyed to a tower in the palace, +to which there were twenty flights of stairs and a door to each, of +which my father kept the key, so that none came near me without his +consent. When the fairies heard of what had been done, they sent first +to demand me, and on my father's refusal, they let loose a monstrous +dragon, which devoured men, women, and children, and which, by the +breath of its nostrils, destroyed everything it came near, so that even +the trees and plants began to die. The grief of the King was excessive, +and, finding that his whole kingdom would in a short time be reduced to +famine, he consented to give me into their hands. I was accordingly laid +in a cradle of mother-of-pearl, ornamented with gold and jewels, and +carried to their palace, when the dragon immediately disappeared. The +fairies placed me in a tower, elegantly furnished, but to which there +was no door, so that whoever approached was obliged to come by the +windows, which were a great height from the ground. From these I had the +liberty of getting out into a delightful garden, in which were baths, +and every sort of cooling fruit. In this place was I educated by the +fairies, who behaved to me with the greatest kindness; my clothes were +splendid, and I was instructed in every kind of accomplishment; in +short, Prince, if I had never seen anyone but themselves I should have +remained very happy. One day, however, as I was talking at the window +with my parrot, I perceived a young gentleman who was listening to our +conversation. As I had never seen a man but in pictures, I was not sorry +for the opportunity of gratifying my curiosity. I thought him a very +pleasing object, and he at length bowed in the most respectful manner, +without daring to speak, for he knew that I was in the palace of the +fairies. When it began to grow dark he went away, and I vainly +endeavored to see which road he took. The next morning, as soon as it +was light, I again placed myself at the window, and had the pleasure of +seeing that the gentleman had returned to the same place. He now spoke +to me through a speaking trumpet, and informed me he thought me a most +charming lady, and that he should be very unhappy if he did not pass his +life in my company. + +"I resolved to find some means of escaping from my tower, and was not +long in devising the means for the execution of my project. I begged the +fairies to bring me a netting needle, a mesh, and some cord, saying I +wished to make some nets to amuse myself with catching birds at my +window. This they readily complied with, and in a short time I completed +a ladder long enough to reach to the ground. I now sent my parrot to +the Prince to beg he would come to the usual place, as I wished to speak +with him. He did not fail; and finding the ladder, mounted it, and +quickly entered my tower. This at first alarmed me, but the charms of +his conversation had restored me to tranquillity, when all at once the +window opened, and the Fairy Violent, mounted on the dragon's back, +rushed into the tower. My beloved Prince thought of nothing but how to +defend me from their fury, for I had had time to relate to him my story +previous to this cruel interruption, but their numbers overpowered him, +and the Fairy Violent had the barbarity to command the dragon to devour +my lover before my eyes. In my despair I would have thrown myself also +into the mouth of the horrible monster, but this they took care to +prevent, saying my life should be preserved for greater punishment. The +fairy then touched me with her wand and I instantly became a white cat. +She next conducted me to this palace, which belonged to my father, and +gave me a train of cats for my attendants, together with the twelve +hands that waited on your highness. She then informed me of my birth and +the death of my parents, and pronounced upon me what she imagined the +greatest of maledictions; that I should not be restored to my natural +figure until a young prince, the perfect resemblance of him I had lost, +should cut off my head and tail. You are that perfect resemblance, and +accordingly you ended the enchantment. I need not add that I already +love you more than my life; let us therefore hasten to the palace of the +King your father, and obtain his approbation to our marriage." + +The Prince and Princess accordingly set out side by side, in a car of +still greater splendor than before, and reached the palace just as the +two brothers had arrived with two beautiful princesses. The King, +hearing that each of his sons had succeeded in finding what he had +required, again began to think of some new expedient to delay the time +of his resigning the crown; but when the whole court with the King was +assembled to pass judgment, the Princess who accompanied the youngest, +perceiving his thoughts by his countenance, stepped majestically forward +and thus addressed him: + +"It is a pity that your majesty, who is so capable of governing, should +think of resigning the crown! I am fortunate enough to have six kingdoms +in my possession; permit me to bestow one on each of the eldest princes, +and to enjoy the remaining four in the society of the youngest. And may +it please your majesty to keep your own kingdom, and make no decision +concerning the beauty of three princesses, who, without such a proof of +your majesty's preference, will no doubt live happily together!" + +The air resounded with the applauses of the assembly. The young Prince +and Princess embraced the King, and next their brothers and sisters. The +three weddings immediately took place, and the kingdoms were divided as +the Princess had proposed. + + + + +_Prince Cherry_ + + +LONG ago there lived a monarch who was such a very honest man that his +subjects entitled him the Good King. One day, when he was out hunting, a +little white rabbit, which had been half killed by his hounds, leaped +right into his majesty's arms. Said he, caressing it: "This poor +creature has put itself under my protection, and I will allow no one to +injure it." So he carried it to his palace, had prepared for it a neat +little rabbit hutch, with abundance of the daintiest food such as +rabbits love, and there he left it. + +The same night, when he was alone in his chamber, there appeared to him +a beautiful lady. She was dressed neither in gold, nor silver, nor +brocade, but her flowing robes were white as snow, and she wore a +garland of white roses on her head. The Good King was greatly astonished +at the sight, for his door was locked, and he wondered how so dazzling a +lady could possibly enter; but she soon removed his doubts. + +"I am the Fairy Candide," said she, with a smiling and gracious air. +"Passing through the wood where you were hunting, I took a desire to +know if you were as good as men say you are. I therefore changed myself +into a white rabbit, and took refuge in your arms. You saved me and now +I know that those who are merciful to dumb beasts will be ten times more +so to human beings. You merit the name your subjects give you: you are +the Good King. I thank you for your protection, and shall be always one +of your best friends. You have but to say what you most desire, and I +promise you your wish shall be granted." + +"Madam," replied the King, "if you are a fairy, you must know without my +telling you the wish of my heart. I have one well-beloved son, Prince +Cherry. Whatever kindly feeling you have toward me, extend it to him." + +"Willingly," said Candide. "I will make him the handsomest, richest, or +most powerful prince in the world. Choose whichever you desire for him." + +"None of the three," returned the father. "I only wish him to be +good--the best prince in the whole world. Of what use would riches, +power, or beauty be to him if he were an evil man?" + +"You are right," said the fairy; "but I cannot make him good. He must do +that himself. I can only change his external fortunes; for his personal +character the utmost I can promise is to give him good counsel, reprove +him for his faults, and even punish him if he will not punish himself. +You mortals can do the same with your children." + +"Ah, yes!" said the King, sighing. Still he felt that the kindness of a +fairy was something gained for his son, and died not long after, content +and at peace. + +Prince Cherry mourned deeply, for he dearly loved his father, and would +have gladly given all his kingdoms and treasures to keep him in life a +little longer. Two days after the Good King was no more, Prince Cherry +was sleeping in his chamber when he saw the same dazzling vision of the +Fairy Candide. + +"I promised your father," said she, "to be your best friend, and in +pledge of this take what I now give you"; and she placed a small gold +ring upon his finger. "Poor as it looks, it is more precious than +diamonds, for whenever you do ill it will prick your finger. If, after +that warning, you still continue in evil, you will lose my friendship +and I shall become your direst enemy." + +So saying she disappeared, leaving Cherry in such amazement that he +would have believed it all a dream save for the ring on his finger. + +He was for a long time so good that the ring never pricked him at all, +and this made him so cheerful and pleasant in his humor that everybody +called him "Happy Prince Cherry." But one unlucky day he was out hunting +and found no sport, which vexed him so much that he showed his ill +temper by his looks and ways. He fancied his ring felt very tight and +uncomfortable, but as it did not prick him he took no heed of this, +until, reëntering his palace, his little pet dog, Bibi, jumped up upon +him, and was sharply told to get away. The creature, accustomed to +nothing but caresses, tried to attract his attention by pulling at his +garments, when Prince Cherry turned and gave it a severe kick. At this +moment he felt in his finger a prick like a pin. + +"What nonsense!" said he to himself. "The fairy must be making game of +me. Why, what great evil have I done! I, the master of a great empire, +cannot I kick my own dog?" + +A voice replied, or else Prince Cherry imagined it: "No, sire; the +master of a great empire has a right to do good, but not evil. I--a +fairy--am as much above you as you are above your dog. I might punish +you, kill you, if I chose; but I prefer leaving you to amend your ways. +You have been guilty of three faults to-day--bad temper, passion, +cruelty. Do better to-morrow." + +The Prince promised, and kept his word awhile; but he had been brought +up by a foolish nurse who indulged him in every way, and was always +telling him that he would be a king one day, when he might do as he +liked in all things. He found out now that even a king cannot always do +that; it vexed him and made him angry. His ring began to prick him so +often that his little finger was continually bleeding. He disliked this, +as was natural, and soon began to consider whether it would not be +easier to throw the ring away altogether than to be constantly annoyed +by it. It was such a queer thing for a king to have always a spot of +blood on his finger! At last, unable to put up with it any more, he took +his ring off and hid it where he would never see it, and believed +himself the happiest of men, for he could now do exactly what he liked. +He did it, and became every day more and more miserable. + +One day he saw a young girl so beautiful that, being always accustomed +to have his own way, he immediately determined to espouse her. He never +doubted that she would be only too glad to be made a queen, for she was +very poor. But Zelia--that was her name--answered, to his great +astonishment, that she would rather not marry him. + +"Do I displease you?" asked the Prince, into whose mind it had never +entered that he could displease anybody. + +"Not at all, my Prince," said the honest peasant maiden. "You are very +handsome, very charming; but you are not like your father the Good King. +I will not be your queen, for you would make me miserable." + +At these words the Prince's love seemed all to turn to hatred. He gave +orders to his guards to convey Zelia to a prison near the palace, and +then took counsel with his foster brother, the one of all his evil +companions who most incited him to do wrong. + +"Sire," said this man, "if I were in your majesty's place, I would never +vex myself about a poor silly girl. Feed her on bread and water till she +comes to her senses, and if she still refuses you, let her die in +torment, as a warning to your other subjects should they venture to +dispute your will. You will be disgraced should you suffer yourself to +be conquered by a simple girl." + +"But," said Prince Cherry, "shall I not be disgraced if I harm a +creature so perfectly innocent?" + +"No one is innocent who disputes your majesty's authority," said the +courtier bowing; "and it is better to commit an injustice than allow it +to be supposed you can ever be contradicted with impunity." + +This touched Cherry on his weak point--his good impulses faded; he +resolved once more to ask Zelia if she would marry him, and if she again +refused, to sell her as a slave. Arrived at the cell in which she was +confined, what was his astonishment to find her gone! He knew not whom +to accuse, for he had kept the key in his pocket the whole time. At last +the foster brother suggested that the escape of Zelia might have been +contrived by an old man, Suliman by name, the Prince's former tutor, who +was the only one who now ventured to blame him for anything that he did. +Cherry sent immediately and ordered his old friend to be brought to him +loaded heavily with irons. Then, full of fury, he went and shut himself +up in his own chamber, where he went raging to and fro, till startled by +a noise like a clap of thunder. The Fairy Candide stood before him. + +"Prince," said she in a severe voice, "I promised your father to give +you good counsels, and to punish you if you refused to follow them. My +counsels were forgotten, my punishments despised. Under the figure of a +man you have been no better than the beasts you chase. Like a lion in +fury, a wolf in gluttony, a serpent in revenge, and a bull in brutality. +Take, therefore, in your new form the likeness of all these animals." + +Scarcely had Prince Cherry heard these words than to his horror he found +himself transformed into what the fairy had named. He was a creature +with the head of a lion, the horns of a bull, the feet of a wolf, and +the tail of a serpent. At the same time he felt himself transported to a +distant forest where, standing on the bank of a stream, he saw reflected +in the water his own frightful shape, and heard a voice saying: + +"Look at thyself, and know that thy soul has become a thousand times +uglier even than thy body." + +Cherry recognized the voice of Candide, and in his rage would have +sprung upon her and devoured her; but he saw nothing, and the same voice +said behind him: + +"Cease thy feeble fury, and learn to conquer thy pride by being in +submission to thine own subjects." + +Hearing no more, he soon quitted the stream, hoping at least to get rid +of the sight of himself; but he had scarcely gone twenty paces when he +tumbled into a pitfall that was laid to catch bears; the bear hunters, +descending from some trees hard by, caught him, chained him, and, only +too delighted to get hold of such a curious-looking animal, led him +along with them to the capital of his own kingdom. + +There great rejoicings were taking place, and the bear hunters, asking +what it was all about, were told that it was because Prince Cherry, the +torment of his subjects, had just been struck dead by a +thunderbolt--just punishment of all his crimes. Four courtiers, his +wicked companions, had wished to divide his throne between them, but the +people had risen up against them and offered the crown to Suliman, the +old tutor whom Cherry had ordered to be arrested. + +All this the poor monster heard. He even saw Suliman sitting upon his +own throne, and trying to calm the populace by representing to them that +it was not certain Prince Cherry was dead; that he might return one day +to reassume with honor the crown which Suliman only consented to wear as +a sort of viceroy. + +"I know his heart," said the honest and faithful old man; "it is +tainted, but not corrupt. If alive, he may yet reform, and be all his +father over again to you, his people, whom he has caused to suffer so +much." + +These words touched the poor beast so deeply that he ceased to beat +himself against the iron bars of the cage in which the hunters carried +him about, became gentle as a lamb, and suffered himself to be taken +quietly to a menagerie, where were kept all sorts of strange and +ferocious animals--a place which he had often visited as a boy, but in +which he never thought he should be shut up himself. + +However, he owned he had deserved it all, and began to make amends by +showing himself very obedient to his keeper. This man was almost as +great a brute as the animals he had charge of, and when he was in ill +humor he used to beat them without rhyme or reason. One day, while he +was sleeping, a tiger broke loose and leaped upon him, eager to devour +him. Cherry at first felt a thrill of pleasure at the thought of being +revenged; then, seeing how helpless the man was, he wished himself free, +that he might defend him. Immediately the doors of his cage opened. The +keeper, waking up, saw the strange beast leap out, and imagined, of +course, that he was going to be slain at once. Instead, he saw the tiger +lying dead, and the strange beast creeping up and laying itself at his +feet to be caressed. But as he lifted up his hand to stroke it, a voice +was heard saying, "Good actions never go unrewarded"; and, instead of +the frightful monster, there crouched on the ground nothing but a pretty +little dog. + +Cherry, delighted to find himself thus metamorphosed, caressed the +keeper in every possible way, till at last the man took him up in his +arms and carried him to the King, to whom he related this wonderful +story from beginning to end. The Queen wished to have the charming +little dog, and Cherry would have been exceedingly happy could he have +forgotten that he was originally a man and a King. He was lodged most +elegantly, had the richest of collars to adorn his neck, and heard +himself praised continually. But his beauty rather brought him into +trouble, for the Queen, afraid lest he might grow too large for a pet, +took advice of dog doctors, who ordered that he should be fed entirely +upon bread, and that very sparingly, so poor Cherry was sometimes nearly +starved. + +One day when they gave him his crust for breakfast, a fancy seized him +to go and eat it in the palace garden; so he took the bread in his mouth +and trotted away toward a stream which he knew, and where he sometimes +stopped to drink. But instead of the stream he saw a splendid palace +glittering with gold and precious stones. Entering the doors was a crowd +of men and women magnificently dressed, and within there was singing and +dancing and good cheer of all sorts. Yet, however grandly and gayly the +people went in, Cherry noticed that those who came out were pale, thin, +ragged, half-naked, covered with wounds and sores. Some of them dropped +dead at once; others dragged themselves on a little way and then lay +down, dying of hunger, and vainly begged a morsel of bread from others +who were entering in--who never took the least notice of them. + +Cherry perceived one woman who was trying feebly to gather and eat some +green herbs. "Poor thing!" said he to himself; "I know what it is to be +hungry, and I want my breakfast badly enough; but still it will not kill +me to wait till dinner time, and my crust may save the life of this poor +woman." + +So the little dog ran up to her and dropped his bread at her feet; she +picked it up and ate it with avidity. Soon she looked quite recovered, +and Cherry, delighted, was trotting back again to his kennel when he +heard loud cries, and saw a young girl dragged by four men to the door +of the palace, which they were trying to compel her to enter. Oh, how he +wished himself a monster again, as when he slew the tiger!--for the +young girl was no other than his beloved Zelia. Alas! what could a poor +little dog do to defend her? But he ran forward and barked at the men, +and bit their heels, until at last they chased him away with heavy +blows. And then he lay down outside the palace door, determined to watch +and see what had become of Zelia. + +Conscience pricked him now. "What!" thought he, "I am furious against +these wicked men, who are carrying her away, and did I not do the same +myself? Did I not cast her into prison and intend to sell her as a +slave? Who knows how much more wickedness I might not have done to her +and others if Heaven's justice had not stopped me in time?" + +While he lay thinking and repenting, he heard a window open, and saw +Zelia throw out of it a bit of dainty meat. Cherry, who felt hungry +enough by this time, was just about to eat it when the woman to whom he +had given his crust snatched him up in her arms. + +"Poor little beast!" cried she, patting him, "every bit of food in that +palace is poisoned. You shall not touch a morsel." + +At the same time the voice in the air repeated again, "Good actions +never go unrewarded"; and Cherry found himself changed into a beautiful +little white pigeon. He remembered with joy that white was the color of +the Fairy Candide, and began to hope that she was taking him into favor +again. + +So he stretched his wings, delighted that he might now have a chance of +approaching his fair Zelia. He flew up to the palace windows, and, +finding one of them open, entered and sought everywhere, but he could +not find Zelia. Then, in despair, he flew out again, resolved to go over +the world until he beheld her once more. + +He took flight at once, and traversed many countries, swiftly as a bird +can, but found no trace of his beloved. At length in a desert, sitting +beside an old hermit in his cave and partaking with him his frugal +repast, Cherry saw a poor peasant girl, and recognized Zelia. +Transported with joy he flew in, perched on her shoulder, and expressed +his delight and affection by a thousand caresses. + +She, charmed with the pretty little pigeon, caressed it in her turn, and +promised it that, if it would stay with her, she would love it always. + +"What have you done, Zelia?" said the hermit, smiling; and while he +spoke the white pigeon vanished, and there stood Prince Cherry in his +own natural form. "Your enchantment ended, Prince, when Zelia promised +to love you. Indeed, she has loved you always, but your many faults +constrained her to hide her love. These are now amended, and you may +both live happy if you will, because your union is founded upon mutual +esteem." + +Cherry and Zelia threw themselves at the feet of the hermit, whose form +also began to change. His soiled garments became of dazzling whiteness, +and his long beard and withered face grew into the flowing hair and +lovely countenance of the Fairy Candide. + +"Rise up, my children," said she; "I must now transport you to your +palace, and restore to Prince Cherry his father's crown, of which he is +now worthy." + +She had scarcely ceased speaking when they found themselves in the +chamber of Suliman, who, delighted to find again his beloved pupil and +master, willingly resigned the throne, and became the most faithful of +his subjects. + +King Cherry and Queen Zelia reigned together for many years, and it is +said that the former was so blameless and strict in all his duties that +though he constantly wore the ring which Candide had restored him, it +never once pricked his finger enough to make it bleed. + + + + +_The Wild Swans_ + + +FAR away in the land to which the swallows fly when it is winter, dwelt +a king who had eleven sons, and one daughter named Eliza. The eleven +brothers were princes, and each went to school with a star on his breast +and a sword by his side. They wrote with diamond pencils on gold slates, +and learned their lessons so quickly and read so easily that everyone +might know they were princes. Their sister Eliza sat on a little stool +of plate glass, and had a book full of pictures which had cost as much +as half a kingdom. Oh, these children were indeed happy, but they were +not to remain so always. Their father, who was King of the country, +married a very wicked Queen who did not love the poor children at all. +They knew this from the very first day after the wedding. In the palace +there were great festivities, and the children played at receiving +company; but instead of having, as usual, all the cakes and apples that +were left, she gave them some sand in a teacup and told them to pretend +it was cake. The week after she sent little Eliza into the country to a +peasant and his wife, and then she told the King so many untrue things +about the young princes that he gave himself no more trouble respecting +them. + +"Go out into the world and get your own living," said the Queen. "Fly +like great birds who have no voice." But she could not make them ugly as +she wished, for they were turned into eleven beautiful wild swans. Then, +with a strange cry, they flew through the windows of the palace, over +the park, to the forest beyond. It was yet early morning when they +passed the peasant's cottage, where their sister Eliza lay asleep in her +room. They hovered over the roof, twisted their long necks, and flapped +their wings; but no one heard them or saw them, so they were at last +obliged to fly away, high up in the clouds; and over the wide world they +flew till they came to a thick, dark wood, which stretched far away to +the seashore. Poor little Eliza was alone in her room playing with a +green leaf, for she had no other playthings, and she pierced a hole +through the leaf and looked through it at the sun, and it was as if she +saw her brothers' clear eyes, and when the warm sun shone on her cheeks +she thought of all the kisses they had given her. One day passed just +like another; sometimes the winds rustled through the leaves of the +rosebush, and would whisper to the roses, "Who can be more beautiful +than you?" But the roses would shake their heads and say, "Eliza is." +And when the old woman sat at the cottage door on Sunday and read her +hymn book, the wind would flutter the leaves and say to the book, "Who +can be more pious than you?" and then the hymn book would answer, +"Eliza." And the roses and the hymn book told the real truth. At fifteen +she returned home, but when the Queen saw how beautiful she was, she +became full of spite and hatred toward her. Willingly would she have +turned her into a swan, like her brothers, but she did not dare to do so +yet, because the King wished to see his daughter. Early one morning the +Queen went into the bathroom; it was built of marble, and had soft +cushions trimmed with the most beautiful tapestry. She took three toads +with her and kissed them, and said to one: "When Eliza comes to the +bath, seat yourself upon her head, that she may become as stupid as you +are." Then she said to another: "Place yourself on her forehead, that +she may become as ugly as you are, and that her father may not know +her." "Rest on her heart," she whispered to the third, "then she will +have evil inclinations, and suffer in consequence." So she put the toads +into clear water, and they turned green immediately. She next called +Eliza and helped her to undress and get into the bath. As Eliza dipped +her head under the water one of the toads sat on her hair, a second on +her forehead, and a third on her breast, but she did not seem to notice +them, and when she rose out of the water there were three red poppies +floating upon it. Had not the creatures been venomous or been kissed by +the witch they would have been changed into red roses. At all events +they became flowers, because they had rested on Eliza's head, and on her +heart. She was too good and too innocent for witchcraft to have any +power over her. When the wicked Queen saw this, she rubbed her face with +walnut juice, so that she was quite brown; then she tangled her +beautiful hair and smeared it with disgusting ointment, till it was +quite impossible to recognize the beautiful Eliza. + +When her father saw her, he was much shocked and declared she was not +his daughter. No one but the watchdog and the swallows knew her, and +they were only dumb animals and could say nothing. Then poor Eliza wept, +and thought of her eleven brothers who were all away. Sorrowfully she +stole away from the palace, and walked the whole day over fields and +moors till she came to the great forest. She knew not in what direction +to go; but she was so unhappy and longed so for her brothers who had +been, like herself, driven out into the world, that she was determined +to seek them. She had been but a short time in the wood when night came +on, and she quite lost the path; so she laid herself down on the soft +moss, offered up her evening prayer, and leaned her head against the +stump of a tree. All nature was still, and the soft, mild air fanned her +forehead. The light of hundreds of glowworms shone amidst the grass and +the moss, like green fire; and if she touched a twig with her hand ever +so lightly, the brilliant fireflies fell down around her like shooting +stars. + +All night long she dreamed of her brothers. She and they were children +again playing together. She saw them writing with their diamond pencils +on golden slates, while she looked at the beautiful picture book which +had cost half a kingdom. They were not writing lines and letters, as +they used to do, but descriptions of the noble deeds they had performed, +and of all they had discovered and seen. In the picture book, too, +everything was living. The birds sang, and the people came out of the +book and spoke to Eliza and her brothers; but, as the leaves turned over +they darted back again to their places, that all might be in order. + +When she awoke the sun was high in the heavens, yet she could scarcely +see him, for the lofty trees spread their branches thickly over her +head, and his beams were glancing through the leaves here and there like +a golden mist. There was a sweet fragrance from the fresh verdure, and +the birds almost perched upon her shoulders. She heard water rippling +from a number of springs, all flowing into a lake with golden sands. +Bushes grew thickly around the lake, and at one spot an opening had been +made by a deer, through which Eliza went down to the water. The lake was +so clear that, had not the wind rustled the branches of the trees and +the bushes so that they moved, they would have appeared as if painted in +the depths of the lake, for every leaf was reflected in the water, +whether it stood in the shade or the sunshine. As soon as Eliza saw her +own face, she was quite terrified at finding it so brown and ugly; but +when she wetted her little hand and rubbed her eyes and forehead the +white skin gleamed forth once more; and, after she had undressed and +dipped herself in the fresh water, a more beautiful king's daughter +could not be found in the wide world. As soon as she had dressed herself +again, and braided her long hair, she went to the bubbling spring and +drank some water out of the hollow of her hand. Then she wandered far +into the forest, not knowing whither she went. She thought of her +brothers, and felt sure that God would not forsake her. It is God who +makes the wild apples grow in the wood to satisfy the hungry, and He now +led her to one of these trees, which was so loaded with fruit that the +boughs bent beneath its weight. Here she held her noonday repast, +placed props under the boughs, and then went into the gloomiest depths +of the forest. It was so still that she could hear the sound of her own +footsteps, as well as the rustling of every withered leaf which she +crushed under her feet. Not a bird was to be seen, not a sunbeam could +penetrate through the large dark boughs of the trees. The lofty trunks +stood so close together that when she looked before her it seemed as if +she were inclosed within trelliswork. Such solitude she had never known +before. The night was very dark. Not a single glowworm glittered in the +moss. + +Sorrowfully she laid herself down to sleep, and after a while it seemed +to her as if the branches of the trees parted over her head, and that +the mild eyes of angels looked down upon her from heaven. When she awoke +in the morning, she knew not whether she had dreamed this or if it had +really been so. Then she continued her wandering, but she had not gone +many steps forward when she met an old woman with berries in her basket, +and begged a few to eat. Then Eliza asked her if she had seen eleven +princes riding through the forest. + +"No," replied the old woman, "but I saw yesterday eleven swans, with +gold crowns on their heads, swimming on the river close by." Then she +led Eliza a little distance farther to a sloping bank, at the foot of +which wound a little stream. The trees on its banks stretched their long +leafy branches across the water toward each other, and where the growth +prevented them from meeting naturally, the roots had torn themselves +away from the ground, so that the branches might mingle their foliage as +they hung over the stream. Eliza bade the old woman farewell and walked +by the flowing river till she reached the shore of the open sea. And +there before the young maiden's eyes lay the glorious ocean, but not a +sail appeared on its surface; not even a boat could be seen. How was she +to go farther? She noticed how the countless pebbles on the seashore had +been smoothed and rounded by the action of the water. Glass, iron, +stones, everything that lay there mingled together, had taken its shape +from the same power, and felt as smooth, or even smoother, than her own +delicate hand. "The water rolls on without weariness," she said, "till +all that is hard becomes smooth; so will I be unwearied in my task. +Thanks for your lessons, bright rolling waves; my heart tells me you +will lead me to my dear brothers." On the foam-covered seaweeds lay +eleven white swan feathers, which she gathered up and placed together. +Drops of water lay upon them; whether they were dewdrops or tears no one +could say. Lonely as it was on the seashore she did not observe it, for +the ever-moving sea showed more changes in a few hours than the most +varying lake could produce during a whole year. If a black heavy cloud +arose, it was as if the sea said, "I can look dark and angry too"; and +then the wind blew, and the waves turned to white foam as they rolled. +When the wind slept and the clouds glowed with the red sunlight, then +the sea looked like a rose leaf. But however quietly its white glassy +surface rested, there was still a motion on the shore, as its waves rose +and fell like the breast of a sleeping child. When the sun was about to +set, Eliza saw eleven white swans with golden crowns on their heads +flying toward the land, one behind the other, like a long white ribbon. +Then Eliza went down the slope from the shore and hid herself behind the +bushes. The swans alighted quite close to her, and flapped their great +white wings. As soon as the sun had disappeared under the water, the +feathers of the swans fell off, and eleven beautiful princes, Eliza's +brothers, stood near her. She uttered a loud cry, for, although they +were very much changed, she knew them immediately. She sprang into their +arms and called them each by name. Then, how happy the princes were at +meeting their little sister again! for they recognized her, although she +had grown so tall and beautiful. They laughed and they wept, and very +soon understood how wickedly their mother had acted to them all. "We +brothers," said the eldest, "fly about as wild swans so long as the sun +is in the sky, but as soon as it sinks behind the hills, we recover our +human shape. Therefore must we always be near a resting place for our +feet before sunset; for if we should be flying toward the clouds at the +time we recovered our natural form as men, we should fall deep into the +sea. We do not dwell here, but in a land just as fair, that lies beyond +the ocean, which we have to cross for a long distance; there is no +island in our passage upon which we could pass the night; nothing but a +little rock rising out of the sea, upon which we can scarcely stand with +safety, even closely crowded together. If the sea is rough, the foam +dashes over us, yet we thank God even for this rock; we have passed +whole nights upon it, or we should never have reached our beloved +fatherland, for our flight across the sea occupies two of the longest +days in the year. We have permission to visit our home once in every +year and to remain eleven days, during which we fly across the forest to +look once more at the palace where our father dwells and where we were +born, and at the church where our mother lies buried. Here it seems as +if the very trees and bushes were related to us. The wild horses leap +over the plains as we have seen them in our childhood. The charcoal +burners sing the old songs to which we have danced as children. This is +our fatherland to which we are drawn by loving ties; and here we have +found you, our dear little sister. Two days longer we can remain here, +and then must we fly away to a beautiful land which is not our home; and +how can we take you with us? We have neither ship nor boat." + +"How can I break this spell?" said their sister. And then she talked +about it nearly the whole night, only slumbering for a few hours. Eliza +was awakened by the rustling of the swans' wings as they soared above. +Her brothers were again changed to swans, and they flew in circles wider +and wider till they were far away; but one of them, the youngest swan, +remained behind and laid his head in his sister's lap, while she stroked +his wings, and they remained together the whole day. Toward evening the +rest came back, and as the sun went down they resumed their natural +forms. "To-morrow," said one, "we shall fly away, not to return again +till a whole year has passed. But we cannot leave you here. Have you +courage to go with us? My arm is strong enough to carry you through the +wood; and will not all our wings be strong enough to fly with you over +the sea?" + +"Yes, take me with you," said Eliza. Then they spent the whole night in +weaving a net with the pliant willow and rushes. It was very large and +strong. Eliza laid herself down on the net, and when the sun rose and +her brothers again became wild swans, they took up the net with their +beaks and flew up to the clouds with their dear sister, who still slept. +The sunbeams fell on her face, therefore one of the swans soared over +her head, so that his broad wing might shade her. They were far from the +land when Eliza woke. She thought she must still be dreaming, it seemed +so strange to her to feel herself being carried so high in the air over +the sea. By her side lay a branch full of beautiful ripe berries and a +bundle of sweet roots; the youngest of her brothers had gathered them +for her, and placed them by her side. She smiled her thanks to him; she +knew it was the same who had hovered over her to shade her with his +wings. They were now so high that a large ship beneath them looked like +a white sea gull skimming the waves. A great cloud floating behind them +appeared like a vast mountain, and upon it Eliza saw her own shadow and +those of the eleven swans, looking gigantic in size. Altogether it +formed a more beautiful picture than she had ever seen; but as the sun +rose higher, and the clouds were left behind, the shadowy picture +vanished away. Onward the whole day they flew through the air like a +winged arrow, yet more slowly than usual, for they had their sister to +carry. The weather seemed inclined to be stormy, and Eliza watched the +sinking sun with great anxiety, for the little rock in the ocean was not +yet in sight. It appeared to her as if the swans were making great +efforts with their wings. Alas! she was the cause of their not advancing +more quickly. When the sun set they would change to men, fall into the +sea, and be drowned. Then she offered a prayer from her inmost heart, +but still no appearance of the rock. Dark clouds came nearer, the gusts +of wind told of a coming storm, while from a thick, heavy mass of clouds +the lightning burst forth flash after flash. The sun had reached the +edge of the sea, when the swans darted down so swiftly that Eliza's +head trembled; she believed they were falling, but they again soared +onward. Presently she caught sight of the rock just below them, and by +this time the sun was half hidden by the waves. The rock did not appear +larger than a seal's head thrust out of the water. They sank so rapidly +that at the moment their feet touched the rock the sun shone only like a +star, and at last disappeared like the last spark in a piece of burned +paper. Then she saw her brothers standing closely around her with their +arms linked together. There was but just room enough for them, and not +the smallest space to spare. The sea dashed against the rock and covered +them with spray. The heavens were lighted up with continual flashes, and +peal after peal of thunder rolled. But the sister and brothers sat +holding each other's hands and singing hymns, from which they gained +hope and courage. In the early dawn the air became calm and still, and +at sunrise the swans flew away from the rock with Eliza. The sea was +still rough, and from their high position in the air the white foam on +the dark green waves looked like millions of swans swimming on the +water. As the sun rose higher Eliza saw before her, floating in the air, +a range of mountains with shining masses of ice on their summits. In the +center rose a castle apparently a mile long, with rows of columns rising +one above another, while around it palm trees waved and flowers bloomed +as large as mill wheels. She asked if this was the land to which they +were hastening. The swans shook their heads, for what she beheld were +the beautiful ever-changing cloud palaces of the "Fata Morgana," into +which no mortal can enter. Eliza was still gazing at the scene when +mountains, forests, and castles melted away, and twenty stately churches +rose in their stead, with high towers and pointed Gothic windows. Eliza +even fancied she could hear the tones of the organ, but it was the music +of the murmuring sea which she heard. As they drew nearer to the +churches, these also changed into a fleet of ships, which seemed to be +sailing beneath her; but as she looked again, she found it was only a +sea mist gliding over the ocean. So there continued to pass before her +eyes a constant change of scene, till at last she saw the real land to +which they were bound, with its blue mountains, its cedar forests, and +its cities and palaces. Long before the sun went down she sat on a rock +in front of a large cave, on the floor of which the overgrown yet +delicate green creeping plants looked like an embroidered carpet. "Now +we shall expect to hear what you dream of to-night," said the youngest +brother, as he showed his sister her bedroom. + +"Heaven grant that I may dream how to save you!" she replied. And this +thought took such hold upon her mind that she prayed earnestly to God +for help, and even in her sleep she continued to pray. Then it appeared +to her as if she were flying high in the air, toward the cloudy palace +of the "Fata Morgana," and a fairy came out to meet her, radiant and +beautiful in appearance, and yet very much like the old woman who had +given her berries in the wood, and who had told her of the swans with +golden crowns on their heads. "Your brothers can be released," said she, +"if you have only courage and perseverance. True, water is softer than +your own delicate hands, and yet it polishes stones into shapes; it +feels no pain as your fingers would feel, it has no soul, and cannot +suffer such agony and torment as you will have to endure. Do you see the +stinging nettle which I hold in my hand? Quantities of the same sort +grow around the cave in which you sleep, but none will be of any use to +you unless they grow upon the graves in a churchyard. These you must +gather even while they burn blisters on your hands. Break them to pieces +with your hands and feet, and they will become flax, from which you must +spin and weave eleven coats with long sleeves; if these are then thrown +over the eleven swans the spell will be broken. But remember, that from +the moment you commence your task until it is finished, even should it +occupy years of your life, you must not speak. The first word you utter +will pierce through the hearts of your brothers like a deadly dagger. +Their lives hang upon your tongue. Remember all I have told you." And as +she finished speaking, she touched her hand lightly with the nettle, +and a pain as of burning fire awoke Eliza. + +It was broad daylight, and close by where she had been sleeping lay a +nettle like the one she had seen in her dream. She fell on her knees and +offered her thanks to God. Then she went forth from the cave to begin +her work with her delicate hands. She groped in among the ugly nettles, +which burned great blisters on her hands and arms, but she determined to +bear it gladly if she could only release her dear brothers. So she +bruised the nettles with her bare feet and spun the flax. At sunset her +brothers returned and were very much frightened when they found her +dumb. They believed it to be some new sorcery of their wicked +stepmother. But when they saw her hands they understood what she was +doing on their behalf, and the youngest brother wept, and where his +tears fell the pain ceased and the burning blisters vanished. She kept +at her work all night, for she could not rest till she had released her +dear brothers. During the whole of the following day, while her brothers +were absent, she sat in solitude, but never before had the time flown so +quickly. One coat was already finished and she had begun the second when +she heard a huntsman's horn and was struck with fear. The sound came +nearer and nearer; she heard the dogs barking, and fled with terror into +the cave. She hastily bound together the nettles she had gathered into a +bundle and sat upon them. Immediately a great dog came bounding toward +her out of the ravine, and then another and another; they barked loudly, +ran back, and then came again. In a very few minutes all the huntsmen +stood before the cave, and the handsomest of them was the King of the +country. He advanced toward her, for he had never seen a more beautiful +maiden. + +"How did you come here, my sweet child?" he asked. But Eliza shook her +head. She dared not speak, at the cost of her brothers' lives. And she +hid her hands under her apron, so that the King might not see how she +must be suffering. + +"Come with me," he said; "here you cannot remain. If you are as good as +you are beautiful, I will dress you in silk and velvet, I will place a +golden crown on your head, and you shall dwell and rule and make your +home in my richest castle." And then he lifted her on his horse. She +wept and wrung her hands, but the King said: "I wish only your +happiness. A time will come when you will thank me for this." And then +he galloped away over the mountains, holding her before him on his +horse, and the hunters followed behind them. As the sun went down they +approached a fair, royal city, with churches and cupolas. On arriving at +the castle the King led her into marble halls where large fountains +played, and where the walls and the ceilings were covered with rich +paintings. But she had no eyes for all these glorious sights; she could +only mourn and weep. Patiently she allowed the women to array her in +royal robes, to weave pearls in her hair, and draw soft gloves over her +blistered fingers. As she stood before them in all her rich dress, she +looked so dazzlingly beautiful that the court bowed low in her presence. +Then the King declared his intention of making her his bride, but the +archbishop shook his head, and whispered that the fair young maiden was +only a witch who had blinded the King's eyes and enchanted his heart. +But the King would not listen to this; he ordered the music to sound, +the daintiest dishes to be served, and the loveliest maidens to dance. +Afterwards he led her through fragrant gardens and lofty halls, but not +a smile appeared on her lips or sparkled in her eyes. She looked the +very picture of grief. Then the King opened the door of a little chamber +in which she was to sleep; it was adorned with rich green tapestry, and +resembled the cave in which he had found her. On the floor lay the +bundle of flax which she had spun from the nettles, and under the +ceiling hung the coat she had made. These things had been brought away +from the cave as curiosities by one of the huntsmen. + +"Here you can dream yourself back again in the old home in the cave," +said the King; "here is the work with which you employed yourself. It +will amuse you now in the midst of all this splendor to think of that +time." + +When Eliza saw all these things which lay so near her heart, a smile +played around her mouth and the crimson blood rushed to her cheeks. She +thought of her brothers, and their release made her so joyful that she +kissed the King's hand. Then he pressed her to his heart. Very soon the +joyous church bells announced the marriage feast, and that the beautiful +dumb girl out of the wood was to be made Queen of the country. Then the +archbishop whispered wicked words in the King's ear, but they did not +sink into his heart. The marriage was still to take place, and the +archbishop himself had to place the crown on the bride's head; in his +wicked spite he pressed the narrow circlet so tightly on her forehead +that it caused her pain. But a heavier weight encircled her +heart--sorrow for her brothers. She felt not bodily pain. Her mouth was +closed; a single word would cost her brothers their lives. But she loved +the kind, handsome King, who did everything to make her happy, more and +more each day; she loved him with her whole heart, and her eyes beamed +with the love she dared not speak. Oh, if she had only been able to +confide in him and tell him of her grief! But dumb she must remain till +her task was finished. Therefore at night she crept away into her little +chamber, which had been decked out to look like the cave, and quickly +wove one coat after another. But when she began the seventh she found +she had no more flax. She knew that the nettles she wanted to use grew +in the churchyard, and that she must pluck them herself. How should she +get out there? "Oh, what is the pain in my fingers to the torment which +my heart endures?" said she. "I must venture; I shall not be denied help +from heaven." Then with a trembling heart, as if she were about to +perform a wicked deed, she crept into the garden in the broad moonlight, +and passed through the narrow walks and the deserted streets till she +reached the churchyard. Then she saw on one of the broad tombstones a +group of ghouls. These hideous creatures took off their rags, as if they +intended to bathe, and then, clawing open the grassy graves with their +long skinny fingers, pulled out the bones and threw them about! Eliza +had to pass close by them, and they fixed their wicked glances upon her, +but she prayed silently, gathered the burning nettles, and carried them +home with her to the castle. One person only had seen her, and that was +the archbishop--he was awake while everybody was asleep. Now he thought +his opinion was evidently correct. All was not right with the Queen. She +was a witch, and had enchanted the King and all the people. Secretly he +told the King what he had seen and what he feared, and as the hard words +came from his tongue, the carved images of the saints shook their heads +as if they would say, "It is not so. Eliza is innocent." + +But the archbishop interpreted it in another way; he believed that they +witnessed against her, and were shaking their heads at her wickedness. +Two large tears rolled down the King's cheeks, and he went home with +doubt in his heart, and at night pretended to sleep, but there came no +real sleep to his eyes, for he saw Eliza get up every night and +disappear in her own chamber. From day to day his brow became darker, +and Eliza saw it and did not understand the reason, but it alarmed her +and made her heart tremble for her brothers. Her hot tears glittered +like pearls on the regal velvet and diamonds, while all who saw her were +wishing they could be queens. In the meantime she had almost finished +her task; only one coat of mail was wanting, but she had no flax left, +and not a single nettle. Once more only, and for the last time, must she +venture to the churchyard and pluck a few handfuls. She thought with +terror of the solitary walk, and of the horrible ghouls, but her will +was firm, as well as her trust in Providence. Eliza went, and the King +and the archbishop followed her. They saw her vanish through the wicket +gate into the churchyard, and when they came nearer they saw the ghouls +sitting on the tombstone as Eliza had seen them, and the King turned +away his head, for he thought she was with them--she whose head had +rested on his breast that very evening. "The people must condemn her," +said he, and she was very quickly condemned by everyone to suffer death +by fire. Away from the gorgeous regal halls was she led to a dark, +dreary cell, where the wind whistled through the iron bars. Instead of +the velvet and silk dresses, they gave her the coats of mail which she +had woven to cover her, and the bundle of nettles for a pillow; but +nothing they could give her would have pleased her more. She continued +her task with joy, and prayed for help, while the street boys sang +jeering songs about her, and not a soul comforted her with a kind word. +Toward evening she heard at the grating the flutter of a swan's wing; it +was her youngest brother--he had found his sister, and she sobbed for +joy, although she knew that very likely this would be the last night she +would have to live. But still she could hope, for her task was almost +finished and her brothers were come. Then the archbishop arrived, to be +with her during her last hours, as he had promised the King. But she +shook her head, and begged him, by looks and gestures, not to stay, for +in this night she knew she must finish her task, otherwise all her pain +and tears and sleepless nights would have been suffered in vain. The +archbishop withdrew, uttering bitter words against her; but poor Eliza +knew that she was innocent, and diligently continued her work. + +[Illustration: "ELIZA WENT, AND THE KING AND THE ARCHBISHOP FOLLOWED +HER"] + +The little mice ran about the floor; they dragged the nettles to her +feet, to help as well as they could, and the thrush sat outside the +grating of the window and sang to her the whole night long, as sweetly +as possible, to keep up her spirits. + +It was still twilight and at least an hour before sunrise when the +eleven brothers stood at the castle gate and demanded to be brought +before the King. They were told it could not be, it was yet almost +night, and as the King slept they dared not disturb him. They +threatened, they entreated. Then the guard appeared, and even the King +himself, inquiring what all the noise meant. At this moment the sun +rose. The eleven brothers were seen no more, but eleven wild swans flew +away over the castle. + +And now all the people came streaming forth from the gates of the city +to see the witch burned. An old horse drew the cart on which she sat. +They had dressed her in a garment of coarse sackcloth. Her lovely hair +hung loose on her shoulders, her cheeks were deadly pale, her lips moved +silently, while her fingers still worked at the green flax. Even on the +way to death she would not give up her task. The ten coats of mail +lay at her feet, she was working hard at the eleventh, while the mob +jeered her and said, "See the witch, how she mutters! She has no hymn +book in her hand. She sits there with her ugly sorcery. Let us tear it +in a thousand pieces." + +And then they pressed toward her, and would have destroyed the coats of +mail, but at the same moment eleven wild swans flew over her and +alighted on the cart. Then they flapped their large wings and the crowd +drew on one side in alarm. + +"It is a sign from heaven that she is innocent," whispered many of them, +but they ventured not to say it aloud. + +As the executioner seized her by the hand to lift her out of the cart, +she hastily threw the eleven coats of mail over the swans, and they +immediately became eleven handsome princes; but the youngest had a +swan's wing instead of an arm, for she had not been able to finish the +last sleeve of the coat. + +"Now I may speak!" she exclaimed. "I am innocent." + +Then the people, who saw what happened, bowed to her as before a saint, +but she sank lifeless in her brother's arms, overcome with suspense, +anguish, and pain. + +"Yes, she is innocent," said the eldest brother; and then he related all +that had taken place, and while he spoke there rose in the air a +fragrance as from millions of flowers. Every piece of fagot in the pile +had taken root, and thrown out branches, and appeared a thick hedge, +large and high, covered with roses, while above all bloomed a white and +shining blossom that glittered like a star. This flower the King plucked +and placed in Eliza's bosom, when she awoke from her swoon with peace +and happiness in her heart. And all the church bells rang of themselves +and the birds came in great troops. And a marriage procession returned +to the castle such as no king had ever before seen. + + + + +_The Story of Coquerico_ + + +ONCE upon a time there was a handsome hen who lived like a great lady in +the poultry yard of a rich farmer, surrounded by a numerous family that +clucked about her, and none of which clamored more loudly or picked up +the corn faster with his beak than a poor little deformed and crippled +chicken. This was precisely the one that the mother loved best. It is +the way with all mothers; the weakest and most unsightly are always +their favorites. This misshapen creature had but one eye, one wing, and +one leg in good condition; it might have been thought that Solomon had +executed his memorable sentence on Coquerico, for that was the name of +the wretched chicken, and cut him in two with his famous sword. When a +person is one-eyed, lame, and one-armed, he may reasonably be expected +to be modest; but our Castilian ragamuffin was prouder than his father, +the best spurred, most elegant, bravest, and most gallant cock to be +seen from Burgos to Madrid. He thought himself a phoenix of grace and +beauty, and passed the best part of the day in admiring himself in the +brook. If one of his brothers ran against him by accident, he abused +him, called him envious and jealous, and risked his only remaining eye +in battle; if the hens clucked on seeing him, he said it was to hide +their spite because he did not condescend to look at them. + +One day, when he was more puffed up with vanity than usual, he resolved +no longer to remain in such a narrow sphere, but to go out into the +world, where he would be better appreciated. + +"My lady mother," said he, "I am tired of Spain; I am going to Rome to +see the Pope and cardinals." + +"What are you thinking of, my poor child!" cried his mother. "Who has +put such a folly into your head? Never has one of our family been known +to quit his country, and, for this reason, we are the honor of our race, +and are proud of our genealogy. Where will you find a poultry yard like +this--mulberry trees to shade you, a whitewashed hen roost, a +magnificent dunghill, worms and corn everywhere, brothers that love you, +and three great dogs to guard you from the foxes? Do you not think that +at Rome itself you will regret the ease and plenty of such a life?" + +Coquerico shrugged his crippled wing in token of disdain. "You are a +simple woman, my good mother," said he; "everything is accounted worthy +of admiration by him who has never quitted his dunghill. But I have wit +enough to see that my brothers have no ideas, and that my cousins are +nothing but rustics. My genius is stifling in this hole; I wish to roam +the world and seek my fortune." + +"But, my son, have you never looked in the brook?" resumed the poor hen. +"Don't you know that you lack an eye, a leg, and a wing? To make your +fortune, you need the eyes of a fox, the legs of a spider, and the wings +of a vulture. Once outside of these walls, you are lost." + +"My good mother," replied Coquerico, "when a hen hatches a duck, she is +always frightened on seeing it run to the water. You know me no better. +It is my nature to succeed by my wit and talent. I must have a public +capable of appreciating the charms of my person; my place is not among +inferior people." + +"My son," said the hen, seeing all her counsels useless, "my son, listen +at least to your mother's last words. If you go to Rome, take care to +avoid St. Peter's Church; the saint, it is said, dislikes cocks, +especially when they crow. Shun, moreover, certain personages called +cooks and scullions; you will know them by their paper caps, their +tucked-up sleeves, and the great knives which they wear at their sides. +They are licensed assassins, who track our steps without pity, and cut +our throats without giving us time to cry mercy. And now, my child," she +added, raising her claw, "receive my blessing. May St. James, the patron +saint of pilgrims, protect thee!" + +Coquerico pretended not to see the tear that trembled in his mother's +eye, nor did he trouble himself any more about his father, who bristled +his plumage and seemed about to call him back. Without caring for those +whom he left behind, he glided through the half-open door, and, once +outside, flapped his only wing and crowed three times, to celebrate his +freedom--"Cock-a-doodle-doo!" + +As he half-flew, half-hopped over the fields, he came to the bed of a +brook which had been dried up by the sun. In the middle of the sands, +however, still trickled a tiny thread of water, so small that it was +choked by a couple of dead leaves that had fallen into it. + +"My friend," exclaimed the Streamlet at the sight of our traveler, "my +friend, you see my weakness; I have not even the strength to carry away +these leaves which obstruct my passage, much less to make a circuit, so +completely am I exhausted. With a stroke of your beak you can restore me +to life. I am not an ingrate; if you oblige me, you may count on my +gratitude the first rainy day, when the water from heaven shall have +restored my strength." + +"You are jesting?" said Coquerico. "Do I look like one whose business it +is to sweep the brooks? Apply to those of your own sort." And, with his +sound leg, he leaped across the Streamlet. + +"You will remember me when you least expect it," murmured the Brook, but +with so feeble a voice that it was lost on the proud cock. + +A little farther on, Coquerico saw the Wind lying breathless on the +ground. + +"Dear Coquerico, come to my aid," it cried; "here on earth we should +help each other. You see to what I am reduced by the heat of the day; I, +who in former times uprooted the olive trees and lashed the waves to +frenzy, lie here well nigh slain by the dog star. I suffered myself to +be lulled to sleep by the perfume of the roses with which I was playing; +and lo! here I am, stretched almost lifeless upon the ground. If you +will raise me a couple of inches with your beak and fan me a little with +your wing, I shall have the strength to mount to yonder white clouds +which I see in the distance, where I shall receive aid enough from my +family to keep me alive till I gain fresh strength from the next +whirlwind. + +"My lord," answered the spiteful Coquerico, "your excellency has more +than once amused himself by playing tricks at my expense. It is not a +week since your lordship glided like a traitor behind me, and diverted +himself by opening my tail like a fan and covering me with confusion in +the face of nations. Have patience, therefore, my worthy friend; mockers +always have their turn; it does them good to repent, and to learn to +respect those whose birth, wit, and beauty should screen them from the +jests of a fool." And Coquerico, bristling his plumage, crowed three +times in his shrillest voice and proudly strutted onward. + +A little farther on he came to a newly mown field, where the farmers had +piled up the weeds in order to burn them. Coquerico approached a smoking +heap, hoping to find some stray kernels of corn, and saw a little flame +which was charring the green stalks without being able to set them on +fire. + +"My good friend," cried the Flame to the newcomer, "you are just in time +to save my life; I am dying for want of air. I cannot imagine what has +become of my cousin, the Wind, who cares for nothing but his own +amusement. Bring me a few dry straws to rekindle my strength, and you +will not have obliged an ingrate." + +"Wait a moment," said Coquerico, "and I will serve you as you deserve, +insolent fellow that dares ask my help!" And behold! he leaped on the +heap of dried weeds, and trampled it down till he smothered both Flame +and smoke; after which he exultingly shouted three times +"Cock-a-doodle-doo!" and flapped his wings, as if he had done a great +deed. + +Proudly strutting onward and crowing, Coquerico at last arrived at Rome, +the place to which all roads lead. Scarcely had he reached the city when +he hastened to the great church of St. Peter. Grand and beautiful as it +was, he did not stop to admire it, but, planting himself in front of the +main entrance, where he looked like a fly among the great columns, he +raised himself on tiptoe and began to shout "Cock-a-doodle-doo!" only to +enrage the saint and disobey his mother. + +He had not yet ended his song when one of the Pope's guards, who chanced +to hear him, laid hands on the insolent wretch who dared thus to insult +the saint, and carried him home in order to roast him for supper. + +"Quick!" said he to his wife on entering the house, "give me some +boiling water; here is a sinner to be punished." + +"Pardon, pardon, Madam Water!" cried Coquerico. "O good and gentle +Water, the best and purest thing in the world, do not scald me, I pray +you!" + +"Did you have pity on me when I implored your aid, ungrateful wretch?" +answered the Water, boiling with indignation. And with a single gush it +inundated him from head to foot, and left not a bit of down on his body. + +The unhappy Coquerico stripped of all his feathers, the soldier took him +and laid him on the gridiron. + +"O Fire, do not burn me!" cried he, in an agony of terror. "O beautiful +and brilliant Fire, the brother of the Sun and the cousin of the +Diamond, spare an unhappy creature; restrain thy ardor and soften thy +flame; do not roast me!" + +"Did you have pity on me when I implored your aid, ungrateful wretch?" +answered the Fire, and, fiercely blazing with anger, in an instant it +burned Coquerico to a coal. + +The soldier, seeing his roast chicken in this deplorable condition, took +him by the leg and threw him out of the window. The Wind bore the +unhappy fowl to a dunghill, where it left him for a moment. + +"O Wind," murmured Coquerico, who still breathed, "oh, kindly zephyr, +protecting breeze, behold me cured of my vain follies; let me rest on +the paternal dunghill." + +"Let you rest!" roared the Wind. "Wait and I will teach you how I treat +ingrates." And with one blast it sent him so high in the air that, as he +fell back, he was transfixed by a steeple. + +There St. Peter was awaiting him. With his own hand he nailed him to the +highest steeple in Rome, where he is still shown to travelers. However +high placed he may be, all despise him because he turns with the +slightest wind; black, dried up, stripped of his feathers, and beaten by +the rain, he is no longer called Coquerico, but Weathercock; and thus +expiates, and must expiate eternally, his disobedience, vanity, and +wickedness. + + + + +_The Bird-Cage Maker_ + + +IN a town of the ancient kingdom of Castile there lived, in former ages, +a youth called Bartolo, who tried to eke out a living by making cages +for birds, and taking them round to sell at the neighboring villages. +But his trade was a poor one, and he judged himself in luck if he sold +one cage in the day, and as may be supposed, he knew what sorrow and +privation were. + +One day as he was proceeding to a village he heard sounds of revelry, +the buzz of many people, and the strains of a band of music. This +merrymaking was a procession of children dressed in white, carrying in +their midst a beautiful child crowned with roses, in a chariot covered +with white satin, and ornamented with acacia and myrtle. This procession +was in honor of Maya, the personification of Spring, and took place to +announce the entry of Spring. In front of the little chariot some +children danced, and held in their hands tin platters for contributions; +and, as may be imagined, all, or nearly all, the spectators dropped +their coins into them. + +Bartolo moved away in a desponding mood, saying to himself as he walked +on: "Is this the justice of the world? There they are, flinging their +money into these platters just because these children come in +procession to announce to them that it is the month of May, as though +they could not know it by looking in an almanac. They barter and grind +me down to the lowest price for my cages, even when I chance to sell +one." + +Full of these bitter thoughts he walked on sadly, for the voices of two +importunate enemies were making themselves heard within him--these were +hunger and thirst: the one clamored for food and the other for drink. +Bartolo had nothing in his wallet but his clasp knife, and had had +nought for his breakfast but hopes, and these made him sharp and active. + +He had reached a plantation when he perceived a well-dressed individual +coming toward him. Pressed by hunger Bartolo, taking his cap off +respectfully, approached and said: "Excuse me, sir, but could you kindly +give me a trifle? I promise I will return it as soon as I earn some +money." + +"Don't you think that it is a shameful thing for a man like you, young +and with a good, healthy appearance, to be demanding charity of people? +Does it not strike you that you have a duty to earn your living by +working at your trade?" + +"Yes, sir, certainly, but my trade does not fulfill its own duty. Most +people like to see the birds flying about free rather than in cages, +and, therefore, day by day I find myself poorer than before." + +At first the stranger doubted what he heard, but the bird-cage maker +gave him so detailed an account of his work and the small profits he +derived, that he became interested and sympathized with his ill fortune. +Bartolo was a man who always knew how to excite great interest in +himself. + +"Come, come," the stranger said, smiling, "I will do something for you. +As I cannot find customers for your cages, I will afford you a powerful +means by which you shall never more be in want." + +He then blew a whistle, and Bartolo saw flying before him a bird blue +as the sky, which came and perched on one of his cages. + +"See here," added the stranger, "what will compensate for all your past +misery. From this day forward you have only to formulate a wish and say +slowly and distinctly, _'Bluest of blue birds, do your duty!'_ and your +wish will be granted to you." + +"By my faith!" cried the bird-cage maker, "but I will try it at once. +For the last twenty years I have wished to kill hunger: 'Bluest of blue +birds, do your duty!'" + +Scarcely were the words out of his mouth than he saw suddenly spread +before him on the grass a breakfast fit for a prince, laid on a service +of exquisite silver and glass and the whitest of cloths. Bartolo, +astonished, flung himself on his knees before his benefactor to thank +him, but he raised him up saying: + +"I am the good genius of the honest workingmen of Castile. Sit down and +eat without fear. Take advantage of your lucky star," and then suddenly +disappeared. + +Bartolo reverently bent down and kissed the spot upon which he had +stood, unable to find adequate expression of his gratitude. He then sat +down and ate his breakfast. After his meal, Bartolo judged that a man +who had feasted in such an elegant manner ought to have other, better +clothing than his well-worn working suit; and, lifting his staff, he +cried to the bird: "Bluest of blue birds, do your duty!" In an instant +his old suit became transformed into one of richest velvet, embroidered +in gold and silver, and his rough staff into a splendid horse fully +caparisoned, and having round its neck a collar of silver bells. + +More astonished than ever, Bartolo suspended to the saddle the cage with +the blue bird, leaped on the horse, and went his way, as proud of his +dress as a donkey of its ears. + +Setting spurs to his horse, he soon reached the gates of a splendid +castle. Some feast was taking place within. The guests were all seated +under a shady bower, deploring that they had been disappointed of the +minstrels who were to have played. + +Bartolo, on learning this, advanced to the bower, and, after elegantly +saluting the lord and lady of the castle, in a most refined voice said: + +"If it be right for a simple knight to offer his services to such a +distinguished company of rank and beauty, I think I could promise to +provide what you are requiring." + +"Oh, do! at once, please!" cried all the ladies, who were longing to +dance. + +"Bluest of blue birds, do your duty!" said Bartolo. + +Suddenly, in the distance, was heard the noise of many feet, and a troop +of musicians with their instruments appeared, to the great delight of +the company. + +The lord of the castle thanked the stranger, and desired him to open the +ball with his eldest daughter, a maiden fair and lovely, like a +snowbird. + +When the ball was at its height, the bird-cage maker ordered an elegant +banquet to be served, during which the bluest of blue birds was +commanded to sing some songs, which were very much admired. Games of +chance followed, and Bartolo, taking advantage of his good fortune, +distributed among the ladies pearls, bracelets, and rings of precious +stones. All those present were surprised beyond measure, because the +lord of the castle was known to be extremely niggardly and mean. + +The lord of the castle, who knew how all this had been done through the +agency of the bird, and being himself of an inordinately avaricious +nature, thought he might do a fine stroke of business were he to buy the +creature. Hence, calling his unknown guest away to his study, he +proposed to him to purchase the bird for what price he should quote. + +"You would never give me my price," replied Bartolo. + +"For it I would give my castle with its nine forests," said the lord of +the castle. + +"It is not enough!" + +"Very well, I will add my olive plantations and vineyards." + +"That is still insufficient!" cried Bartolo. + +"I will add the orchards, gardens, and houses." + +"I want something else!" + +"What, still more? Why, man, you must want paradise itself!" + +"Not so; I want what you can give me this very moment. I want your +daughter with whom I danced just now! Let her be my bride." + +"What, my daughter!" cried the old miser, in an ecstasy of joy; "by my +faith, we shall soon conclude the bargain. Why did you not say so +before?" + +He went to seek the girl, and told her of the engagement he had entered +into. But his daughter, in utter amazement, cried out: + +"But what if he be a wicked elf, and all he does be witchcraft?" + +"You have an amulet of coral hanging from your neck; it is an antidote +against all witchery." + +"And what if he be Satan himself?" + +"I will give you a piece of blessed candle, and he will have no power +over you," replied the unrelenting father. + +Taking her hand, he led her to the stranger, who was already on his +horse, and assisted her to mount behind her future husband. Taking the +cage with the bluest of birds, he watched the retreating forms of the +pair as the horse carried them away swifter than the wind, and when out +of sight, he proceeded to join his guests. The company were all gathered +in knots discussing the extraordinary powers of the bird and all the +events which had taken place. + +"Peace! peace!" cried the lord of the castle, as he entered; "I will +perform more marvelous things than ever he did. I have given him my +daughter to wed in exchange for the bird, and this blue bird will render +me more wealthy than the King of Aragon. Approach, and see the wonders I +will work with it." + +He took the cage, and lifting it up to look at the bird, was astonished +to find that it was not blue at all, but a large gray bird, which +turned to stare at him in an insolent manner, gave a fierce peck at the +door of the cage with its beak, flung it open, and flew out of the +window uttering a terrible screech. + +The lord of the castle stood with open mouth, not knowing what to do or +say. His guests broke out in peals of laughter at his discomfiture and +the well-deserved punishment for his unseemly avarice in exchanging his +beautiful daughter for a worthless bird. + +Meanwhile, Bartolo was galloping on with his bride to the nearest town +to be married, and when he arrived at the first hostelry, he wished to +dismount and engage the most splendid suite of apartments for his +intended wife, but he found himself utterly penniless. He had not +calculated that in parting with the bird he had parted with his luck, +and therefore as soon as he dismounted the horse disappeared and his +elegant dress became changed for the shabby one he had worn before he +met the kind individual who had wished to befriend him. When the +beautiful daughter of the lord of the castle beheld the transformation +which had taken place she ran back to her father as fast as she could, +fright lending wings to her feet. + +Bartolo had to return to his old life of making cages and to his +miserable existence. + + + + +_The Twelve Months_ + + +THERE was once a woman who was left a widow with two children. The +elder, who was only her stepdaughter, was named Dobrunka; the younger, +who was as wicked as her mother, was called Katinka. The mother +worshiped her daughter, but she hated Dobrunka, simply because she was +as beautiful as her sister was ugly. Dobrunka did not even know that she +was pretty, and she could not understand why her stepmother flew into a +rage at the mere sight of her. The poor child was obliged to do all the +work of the house; she had to sweep, cook, wash, sew, spin, weave, cut +the grass, and take care of the cow, while Katinka lived like a +princess, that is to say, did nothing. + +Dobrunka worked with a good will, and took reproaches and blows with the +gentleness of a lamb; but nothing soothed her stepmother, for every day +added to the beauty of the elder sister and the ugliness of the younger. +"They are growing up," thought the mother, "and suitors will soon appear +who will refuse my daughter when they see this hateful Dobrunka, who +grows beautiful on purpose to spite me. I must get rid of her, cost what +it may." + +One day in the middle of January, Katinka took a fancy for some violets. +She called Dobrunka and said: "Go to the forest and bring me a bunch of +violets, that I may put them in my bosom and enjoy their fragrance." + +"Oh, sister, what an idea!" answered Dobrunka; "as if there were any +violets under the snow!" + +"Hold your tongue, stupid lass," returned her sister, "and do as I bid +you. If you do not go to the forest and bring me back a bunch of +violets, I will beat you to a jelly." Upon this the mother took Dobrunka +by the arm, put her out of the door, and drew the bolt on her. + +The poor girl went to the forest weeping bitterly. Every thing was +covered with snow; there was not even a footpath. She lost her way, and +wandered about till, famishing with hunger and perishing with cold, she +entreated God to take her from this wretched life. + +All at once she saw a light in the distance. She went on, climbing +higher and higher, until at last she reached the top of a huge rock, +upon which a great fire was built. Around the fire were twelve stones, +and on each stone sat a motionless figure, wrapped in a large mantle, +his head covered with a hood which fell over his eyes. Three of these +mantles were white like the snow, three were green like the grass of the +meadows, three were golden like the sheaves of ripe wheat, and three +were purple like the grapes of the vine. These twelve figures, gazing +at the fire in silence, were the Twelve Months of the year. + +[Illustration: "MARCH ROSE IN TURN, AND STIRRED THE FIRE WITH THE STAFF, +WHEN, BEHOLD! . . . IT WAS SPRING"] + +Dobrunka knew January by his long white beard. He was the only one that +had a staff in his hand. The poor girl was terribly frightened. She drew +near, saying, in a timid voice: "My good sirs, please let me warm myself +by your fire; I am freezing with cold." + +January nodded his head. "Why have you come here, my child?" he asked. +"What are you looking for?" + +"I am looking for violets," replied Dobrunka. + +"This is not the season for them; there are no violets in the time of +snow," said January, in his gruff voice. + +"I know it," replied Dobrunka sadly; "but my sister and mother will beat +me to a jelly if I do not bring them some. My good sirs, please tell me +where I can find them." + +Old January rose, and, turning to a young man in a green mantle, put his +staff in his hand, and said to him, "Brother March, this is your +business." + +March rose in turn, and stirred the fire with the staff, when behold! +the flames rose, the snow melted, the buds put forth on the trees, the +grass turned green under the bushes, the flowers peeped through the +verdure, and the violets opened--it was spring. + +"Make haste, my child, and gather your violets," said March. + +Dobrunka gathered a large bouquet, thanked the Twelve Months, and +joyfully ran home. You can imagine the astonishment of Katinka and the +stepmother. The fragrance of the violets filled the whole house. + +"Where did you find these fine things?" asked Katinka, in a disdainful +voice. + +"Up yonder on the mountain," answered her sister. "It looked like a +great blue carpet under the bushes." + +Katinka put the bouquet in her bosom, and did not even thank the poor +child. + +The next morning the wicked sister, as she sat idling by the stove, took +a fancy for some strawberries. + +"Go to the forest and bring me some strawberries," said she to Dobrunka. + +"Oh, sister, what an idea! as if there were any strawberries under the +snow!" + +"Hold your tongue, stupid lass, and do as I bid you. If you don't go to +the forest and bring me back a basket of strawberries, I will beat you +to a jelly." + +The mother took Dobrunka by the arm, put her out of the door, and drew +the bolt on her. + +The poor girl returned to the forest, looking with all her eyes for the +light that she had seen the day before. She was fortunate enough to spy +it, and she reached the fire trembling and almost frozen. + +The Twelve Months were in their places, motionless and silent. + +"My good sirs," said Dobrunka, "please let me warm myself by your fire; +I am almost frozen with cold." + +"Why have you returned?" asked January. "What are you looking for?" + +"I am looking for strawberries," answered she. + +"This is not the season for them," returned January, in his gruff voice; +"there are no strawberries under the snow." + +"I know it," replied Dobrunka sadly; "but my mother and sister will beat +me to a jelly if I do not bring them some. My good sirs, please tell me +where I can find them." + +Old January rose, and, turning to a man in a golden mantle, he put his +staff in his hand, saying, "Brother June, this is your business." + +June rose in turn and stirred the fire with the staff, when behold! the +flames rose, the snow melted, the earth grew green, the trees were +covered with leaves, the birds sang, and the flowers opened--it was +summer. Thousands of little white stars enameled the turf, then turned +to red strawberries, looking, in their green cups, like rubies set in +emeralds. + +"Make haste, my child, and gather your strawberries," said June. + +Dobrunka filled her apron, thanked the Twelve Months, and joyfully ran +home. You may imagine the astonishment of Katinka and the stepmother. +The fragrance of the strawberries filled the whole house. + +"Where did you find these fine things?" asked Katinka, in a disdainful +voice. + +"Up yonder on the mountain," answered her sister; "there were so many of +them that they looked like blood poured on the ground." + +Katinka and her mother devoured the strawberries without even thanking +the poor child. + +The third day the wicked sister took a fancy for some red apples. The +same threats, the same insults, and the same violence followed. Dobrunka +ran to the mountain, and was fortunate enough to find the Twelve Months +warming themselves, motionless and silent. + +"You here again, my child?" said old January, making room for her by the +fire. Dobrunka told him, with tears, how, if she did not bring home some +red apples, her mother and sister would beat her to death. + +Old January repeated the ceremonies of the day before. "Brother +September," said he to a gray-bearded man in a purple mantle, "this is +your business." + +September rose and stirred the fire with the staff, when behold! the +flames ascended, the snow melted, and the trees put forth a few yellow +leaves, which fell one by one before the wind--it was autumn. The only +flowers were a few late pinks, daisies, and immortelles. Dobrunka saw +but one thing, an apple tree with its rosy fruit. + +"Make haste, my child; shake the tree," said September. + +She shook it, and an apple fell; she shook it again, and a second apple +followed. + +"Make haste, Dobrunka, make haste home!" cried September, in an +imperious voice. + +The good child thanked the Twelve Months, and joyfully ran home. You may +imagine the astonishment of Katinka and the stepmother. + +"Fresh-plucked apples in January! Where did you get these apples?" asked +Katinka. + +"Up yonder on the mountain; there is a tree there that is as red with +them as a cherry tree in July." + +"Why did you bring only two? You ate the rest on the way." + +"Oh, sister, I did not touch them; I was only permitted to shake the +tree twice, and but two apples fell." + +"Begone, you wretch!" cried Katinka, striking her sister, who ran away +crying. + +The wicked girl tasted one of the apples; she had never eaten anything +so delicious in her life, neither had her mother. How they regretted not +having any more! + +"Mother," said Katinka, "give me my fur cloak. I will go to the forest +and find the tree, and, whether I am permitted or not, I will shake it +so hard that all the apples will be ours." + +The mother tried to stop her. A spoiled child listens to nothing. +Katinka wrapped herself in her fur cloak, drew the hood over her head, +and hastened to the forest. + +Everything was covered with snow; there was not even a footpath. Katinka +lost her way, but she pushed on, spurred by pride and covetousness. She +spied a light in the distance. She climbed and climbed till she reached +the place, and found the Twelve Months each seated on his stone, +motionless and silent. Without asking their permission, she approached +the fire. + +"Why have you come here? What do you want? Where are you going?" asked +old January gruffly. + +"What matters it to you, old fool?" answered Katinka. "It is none of +your business where I came from or whither I am going." She plunged into +the forest. January frowned, and raised his staff above his head. In the +twinkling of an eye the sky was overcast, the fire went out, the snow +fell, and the wind blew. Katinka could not see the way before her. She +lost herself, and vainly tried to retrace her steps. The snow fell and +the wind blew. She called her mother, she called her sister, she prayed +to God. The snow fell and the wind blew. Katinka froze, her limbs +stiffened, and she fell motionless. The snow still fell and the wind +still blew. + +The mother went without ceasing from the window to the door, and from +the door to the window. The hours passed, and Katinka did not return. + +"I must go and look for my daughter," said she. "The child has forgotten +herself with those hateful apples." She took her fur cloak and hood, and +hastened to the mountain. Everything was covered with snow; there was +not even a footpath. She plunged into the forest, calling her daughter. +The snow fell and the wind blew. She walked on with feverish anxiety, +shouting at the top of her voice. The snow still fell and the wind still +blew. + +Dobrunka waited through the evening and the night, but no one returned. +In the morning she took her wheel and spun a whole distaff full; there +was still no news. "What can have happened?" said the good girl, +weeping. The sun was shining through an icy mist, and the ground was +covered with snow. Dobrunka prayed for her mother and sister. They did +not return; and it was not till spring that a shepherd found the two +bodies in the forest. + +Dobrunka remained the sole mistress of the house, the cow, and the +garden, to say nothing of a piece of meadow adjoining the house. But +when a good and pretty girl has a field under her window, the next thing +that follows is a young farmer, who offers her his heart and hand. +Dobrunka was soon married. The Twelve Months did not abandon their +child. More than once, when the north wind blew fearfully and the +windows shook in their frames, old January stopped up all the crevices +of the house with snow, so that the cold might not enter this peaceful +abode. + +Dobrunka lived to a good old age, always virtuous and happy, having, +according to the proverb, winter at the door, summer in the barn, autumn +in the cellar, and spring in the heart. + + + + +_The Bee, the Harp, the Mouse, and the Bum-Clock_ + + +ONCE there was a widow, and she had one son, called Jack. Jack and his +mother owned just three cows. They lived well and happy for a long time; +but at last hard times came down on them, and the crops failed, and +poverty looked in at the door, and things got so sore against the poor +widow that for want of money and for want of necessities she had to make +up her mind to sell one of the cows. "Jack," she said one night, "go +over in the morning to the fair to sell the branny cow." + +Well and good: in the morning my brave Jack was up early, and took a +stick in his fist and turned out the cow, and off to the fair he went +with her; and when Jack came into the fair, he saw a great crowd +gathered in a ring in the street. He went into the crowd to see what +they were looking at, and there in the middle of them he saw a man with +a wee, wee harp, a mouse, and a bum-clock,[A] and a bee to play the +harp. And when the man put them down on the ground and whistled, the bee +began to play the harp, and the mouse and the bum-clock stood up on +their hind legs and took hold of each other and began to waltz. And as +soon as the harp began to play and the mouse and the bum-clock to dance, +there wasn't a man or woman, or a thing in the fair that didn't begin to +dance also; and the pots and pans, and the wheels and reels jumped and +jigged all over the town, and Jack himself and the branny cow were as +bad as the next. + +There was never a town in such a state before or since, and after a +while the man picked up the bee, the harp, and the mouse, and the +bum-clock and put them into his pocket, and the men and women, Jack and +the cow, the pots and pans, wheels and reels that had hopped and jigged +now stopped, and everyone began to laugh as if to break its heart. Then +the man turned to Jack. "Jack," says he, "how would you like to be +master of all these animals?" + +"Why," says Jack, "I should like it fine." + +"Well, then," says the man, "how will you and me make a bargain about +them?" + +"I have no money," says Jack. + +"But you have a fine cow," says the man. "I will give you the bee and +the harp for it." + +"Oh, but," Jack says, says he, "my poor mother at home is very sad and +sorrowful entirely, and I have this cow to sell and lift her heart +again." + +"And better than this she cannot get," says the man. "For when she sees +the bee play the harp, she will laugh if she never laughed in her life +before." + +"Well," says Jack, says he, "that will be grand." + +He made the bargain. The man took the cow; and Jack started home with +the bee and the harp in his pocket, and when he came home his mother +welcomed him back. + +"And Jack," says she, "I see you have sold the cow." + +"I have done that," says Jack. + +"Did you do well?" says the mother. + +"I did well, and very well," says Jack. + +"How much did you get for her?" says the mother. + +"Oh," says he, "it was not for money at all I sold her, but for +something far better." + +"O, Jack! Jack!" says she, "what have you done?" + +"Just wait until you see, mother," says he, "and you will soon say I +have done well." + +Out of his pocket he takes the bee and the harp and sets them in the +middle of the floor, and whistles to them, and as soon as he did this +the bee began to play the harp, and the mother she looked at them and +let a big, great laugh out of her, and she and Jack began to dance, the +pots and pans, the wheels and reels began to jig and dance over the +floor, and the house itself hopped about also. + +When Jack picked up the bee and the harp again the dancing all stopped, +and the mother laughed for a long time. But when she came to herself she +got very angry entirely with Jack, and she told him he was a silly, +foolish fellow, that there was neither food nor money in the house, and +now he had lost one of her good cows also. "We must do something to +live," says she. "Over to the fair you must go to-morrow morning, and +take the black cow with you and sell her." + +And off in the morning at an early hour brave Jack started, and never +halted until he was in the fair. When he came into the fair he saw a big +crowd gathered in a ring in the street. Said Jack to himself, "I wonder +what they are looking at." + +Into the crowd he pushed, and saw the wee man this day again with a +mouse and a bum-clock, and he put them down in the street and whistled. +The mouse and the bum-clock stood up on their hind legs and got hold of +each other and began to dance there and jig, and as they did there was +not a man or woman in the street who didn't begin to jig also, and Jack +and the black cow, and the wheels and the reels, and the pots and pans, +all of them were jigging and dancing all over the town, and the houses +themselves were jumping and hopping about, and such a place Jack or +anyone else never saw before. + +When the man lifted the mouse and the bum-clock into his pocket they all +stopped dancing and settled down, and everybody laughed right hearty. +The man turned to Jack. "Jack," says he, "I am glad to see you; how +would you like to have these animals?" + +"I should like well to have them," says Jack, says he, "only I cannot." + +"Why cannot you?" says the man. + +"Oh!" says Jack, says he, "I have no money, and my poor mother is very +downhearted. She sent me to the fair to sell this cow and bring some +money to lift her heart." + +"Oh!" says the man, says he, "if you want to lift your mother's heart I +will sell you the mouse, and when you set the bee to play the harp and +the mouse to dance to it, your mother will laugh if she never laughed in +her life before." + +"But I have no money," says Jack, says he, "to buy your mouse." + +"I don't mind," says the man, says he, "I will take your cow for it." + +Poor Jack was so taken with the mouse, and had his mind so set on it, +that he thought it was a grand bargain entirely, and he gave the man his +cow and took the mouse and started off for home; and when he got home +his mother welcomed him. + +"Jack," says she, "I see you have sold the cow." + +"I did that," says Jack. + +"Did you sell her well?" says she. + +"Very well indeed," says Jack, says he. + +"How much did you get for her?" + +"I didn't get money," says he, "but I got value." + +"O Jack! Jack!" says she, "what do you mean?" + +"I will soon show you that, mother," says he, taking the mouse out of +his pocket and the harp and the bee, and setting all on the floor; and +when he began to whistle, the bee began to play, and the mouse got up on +its hind legs and began to dance and jig, and the mother gave such a +hearty laugh as she never laughed in her life before. To dancing and +jigging herself and Jack fell, and the pots and pans and the wheels and +reels began to dance and jig over the floor, and the house jigged also. +And when they were tired of this, Jack lifted the harp and the mouse and +the bee and put them in his pocket, and his mother she laughed for a +long time. + +But when she got over that she got very downhearted and very angry +entirely with Jack. "And oh, Jack!" she says, "you are a stupid, +good-for-nothing fellow. We have neither money nor meat in the house, +and here you have lost two of my good cows, and I have only one left +now. To-morrow morning," she says, "you must be up early and take this +cow to the fair and sell her. See you get something to lift my heart +up." + +"I will do that," says Jack, says he. So he went to his bed, and early +in the morning he was up and turned out the spotty cow and went to the +fair. + +When Jack got to the fair he saw a crowd gathered in a ring in the +street. "I wonder what they are looking at, anyhow," says he. He pushed +through the crowd, and there he saw the same wee man he had seen before, +with a bum-clock; and when he put the bum-clock on the ground he +whistled, and the bum-clock began to dance; and the men, women, and +children in the street, and Jack and the spotty cow began to dance and +jig also, and everything on the street and about it--the wheels and +reels, the pots and pans began to jig, and the houses themselves began +to dance likewise. And when the man lifted the bum-clock and put it in +his pocket everybody stopped jigging and dancing and everyone laughed +aloud. The wee man turned and saw Jack. + +"Jack, my brave boy," says he, "you will never be right fixed until you +have this bum-clock, for it is a very fancy thing to have." + +"Oh! but," says Jack, says he, "I have no money." + +"No matter for that," says the man; "you have a cow, and that is as good +as money to me." + +"Well," says Jack, "I have a poor mother who is very downhearted at +home, and she sent me to the fair to sell this cow and raise some money +and lift her heart." + +"Oh! but Jack," says the wee man, "this bum-clock is the very thing to +lift her heart, for when you put down your harp and bee and mouse on the +floor, and put the bum-clock along with them she will laugh if she never +laughed in her life before." + +"Well, that is surely true," says Jack, says he, "and I think I will +make a swap with you." + +So Jack gave the cow to the man and took the bum-clock himself, and +started for home. His mother was glad to see Jack back, and says she, +"Jack, I see that you have sold the cow." + +"I did that, mother," says Jack. + +"Did you sell her well, Jack?" says the mother. + +"Very well indeed, mother," says Jack. + +"How much did you get for her?" says the mother. + +"I didn't take any money for her, mother, but value," says Jack, and he +takes out of his pocket the bum-clock and the mouse, and set them on the +floor and began to whistle, and the bee began to play the harp and the +mouse and the bum-clock stood up on their hind legs and began to dance, +and Jack's mother laughed very hearty, and everything in the house--the +wheels and the reels and the pots and pans went jigging and hopping over +the floor, and the house itself went jigging and hopping about likewise. + +When Jack lifted up the animals and put them in his pocket everything +stopped, and the mother laughed for a good while. But after a while, +when she came to herself and saw what Jack had done and how they were +now without either money, or food, or a cow, she got very, very angry at +Jack and scolded him hard, and then sat down and began to cry. + +Poor Jack, when he looked at himself, confessed that he was a stupid +fool entirely. "And what," says he, "shall I now do for my poor mother?" +He went out along the road, thinking and thinking, and he met a wee +woman who said: "Good morrow to you, Jack," says she, "how is it you are +not trying for the King's daughter of Ireland?" + +"What do you mean?" says Jack. + +Says she: "Didn't you hear what the whole world has heard, that the King +of Ireland has a daughter who hasn't laughed for seven years, and he has +promised to give her in marriage and to give the kingdom along with her +to any man who will take three laughs out of her." + +"If that is so," says Jack, says he, "it is not here I should be." + +Back to the house he went and gathers together the bee, the harp, the +mouse, and the bum-clock, and putting them into his pocket he bade his +mother good-by, and told her it wouldn't be long till she got good news +from him, and off he hurries. + +When he reached the castle there was a ring of spikes all around the +castle and men's heads on nearly every spike there. + +"What heads are these?" Jack asked one of the King's soldiers. + +"Any man that comes here trying to win the King's daughter and fails to +make her laugh three times loses his head and has it stuck on a spike. +These are the heads of the men that failed," says he. + +"A mighty big crowd," says Jack, says he. Then Jack sent word to tell +the King's daughter and the King that there was a new man who had come +to win her. + +In a very little time the King and the King's daughter and the King's +court all came out and sat themselves down on gold-and-silver chairs in +front of the castle, and ordered Jack to be brought in until he should +have his trial. Jack, before he went, took out of his pocket the bee, +the harp, the mouse, and the bum-clock, and he gave the harp to the bee, +and he tied a string to one and the other, and took the end of the +string himself, and marched into the castle yard before all the court, +with his animals coming on a string behind him. + +When the Queen and the King and the court and the princes saw poor +ragged Jack with his bee and mouse and bum-clock hopping behind him on a +string they set up one roar of laughter that was long and loud enough, +and when the King's daughter herself lifted her head and looked to see +what they were laughing at, and saw Jack and his paraphernalia, she +opened her mouth and she gave such a laugh as was never heard before. + +Then Jack dropped a low courtesy and said: "Thank you, my lady; I have +one of the three parts of you won." + +Then he drew up his animals in a circle and began to whistle, and the +minute he did the bee began to play the harp, and the mouse and the +bum-clock stood up on their hind legs, got hold of each other, and began +to dance, and the King and the King's court and Jack himself began to +dance and jig, and everything about the King's castle--pots and pans, +wheels and reels, and the castle itself began to dance also. And the +King's daughter, when she saw this, opened her mouth again and gave a +laugh twice louder than she did before, and Jack, in the middle of his +jigging, drops another courtesy, and says: "Thank you, my lady; that is +two of the three parts of you won." + +Jack and his menagerie went on playing and dancing, but Jack could not +get the third laugh out of the King's daughter, and the poor fellow saw +his big head in danger of going on the spike. Then the brave mouse came +to Jack's help and wheeled round upon its heel, and as it did so its +tail swept into the bum-clock's mouth, and the bum-clock began to cough +and cough and cough. And when the King's daughter saw this she opened +her mouth again, and she laughed the loudest and hardest and merriest +laugh that was ever heard before or since; and, "Thank you, my lady," +says Jack, dropping another courtesy; "I have all of you won." + +Then when Jack stopped his menagerie the King took himself and the +menagerie within the castle. He was washed and combed and dressed in a +suit of silk and satin, with all kinds of gold and silver ornaments, and +then was led before the King's daughter. And true enough she confessed +that a handsomer and finer fellow than Jack she had never seen, and she +was very willing to be his wife. + +Jack sent for his poor old mother and brought her to the wedding, which +lasted nine days and nine nights, every night better than the other. All +the lords and ladies and gentry of Ireland were at the wedding. I was at +it, too, and got brogues, broth and slippers of bread, and came jigging +home on my head. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote A: Cockroach.] + + + + +_The Long Leather Bag_ + + +ONCE on a time, long, long ago, there was a widow woman who had three +daughters. When their father died, their mother thought they never would +want, for he had left her a long leather bag filled with gold and +silver. But he was not long dead, when an old Hag came begging to the +house one day and stole the long leather bag filled with gold and +silver, and went away out of the country with it, no one knew where. + +So from that day, the widow woman and her three daughters were poor, and +she had a hard struggle to live and to bring up her three daughters. + +But when they were grown up, the eldest said one day: "Mother, I'm a +young woman now, and it's a shame for me to be here doing nothing to +help you or myself. Bake me a bannock and cut me a callop, till I go +away to push my fortune." + +The mother baked her a whole bannock, and asked her if she would have +half of it with her blessing, or the whole of it without. She said to +give her the whole bannock without. + +So she took it and went away. She told them if she was not back in a +year and a day from that, then they would know she was doing well, and +making her fortune. + +She traveled away and away before her, far farther than I could tell +you, and twice as far as you could tell me, until she came into a +strange country, and going up to a little house, she found an old Hag +living in it. The Hag asked her where she was going. She said she was +going to push her fortune. + +Said the Hag: "How would you like to stay here with me, for I want a +maid?" + +"What will I have to do?" said she. + +"You will have to wash me and dress me, and sweep the hearth clean; but +on the peril of your life, never look up the chimney," said the Hag. + +"All right," she agreed to this. + +The next day, when the Hag arose, she washed her and dressed her, and +when the Hag went out, she swept the hearth clean, and she thought it +would do no harm to have one wee look up the chimney. And there, what +did she see but her own mother's long leather bag of gold and silver! So +she took it down at once, and getting it on her back, started away for +home as fast as she could run. + +But she had not gone far when she met a horse grazing in a field, and +when he saw her he said: "Rub me! Rub me! for I haven't been rubbed +these seven years." + +But she only struck him with a stick she had in her hand, and drove him +out of her way. + +She had not gone much farther when she met a sheep, who said: "Oh, shear +me! Shear me! for I haven't been shorn these seven years." + +But she struck the sheep, and sent it scurrying out of her way. + +She had not gone much farther when she met a goat tethered, and he said: +"Oh, change my tether! Change my tether! for it hasn't been changed +these seven years." + +But she flung a stone at him, and went on. + +Next she came to a limekiln, and it said: "Oh, clean me! Clean me! for I +haven't been cleaned these seven years." + +But she only scowled at it, and hurried on. + +After another bit she met a cow, and it said: + +"Oh, milk me! Milk me! for I haven't been milked these seven years." + +She struck the cow out of her way, and went on. + +Then she came to a mill. The mill said: "Oh, turn me! Turn me! for I +haven't been turned these seven years." + +But she did not heed what it said, only went in and lay down behind the +mill door, with the bag under her head, for it was then night. + +When the Hag came into her hut again and found the girl gone, she ran to +the chimney and looked up to see if she had carried off the bag. She +flew into a great rage, and she started to run as fast she could after +her. + +She had not gone far when she met the horse, and she said: "Oh, horse, +horse of mine, did you see this maid of mine, with my tig, with my tag, +with my long leather bag, and all the gold and silver I have earned +since I was a maid?" + +"Aye," said the horse, "it is not long since she passed here." + +So on she ran, and it was not long till she met the sheep, and said she: +"Sheep, sheep of mine, did you see this maid of mine, with my tig, with +my tag, with my long leather bag, and all the gold and silver I have +earned since I was a maid?" + +"Aye," said the sheep, "it is not long since she passed here." + +So she goes on, and it was not long before she met the goat, and said +she: "Goat, goat of mine, did you see this maid of mine, with my tig, +with my tag, with my long leather bag, and all the gold and silver I +have earned since I was a maid?" + +"Aye," said the goat, "it is not long since she passed here." + +So she goes on, and it was not long before she met the limekiln, and +said she: "Limekiln, limekiln of mine, did you see this maid of mine, +with my tig, with my tag, with my long leather bag, and with all the +gold and silver I have earned since I was a maid?" + +"Aye," said the limekiln, "it is not long since she passed here." + +So she goes on, and it was not long before she met the cow, and said +she: "Cow, cow of mine, did you see this maid of mine, with my tig, with +my tag, with my long leather bag, and all the gold and silver I have +earned since I was a maid?" + +"Aye," said the cow, "it is not long since she passed here." + +So she goes on, and it was not long before she met the mill, and said +she: "Mill, mill of mine, did you see this maid of mine, with my tig, +with my tag, with my long leather bag, and all the gold and silver I +have earned since I was a maid?" + +And the mill said: "Yes, she is sleeping behind the door." + +She went in and struck her with a white rod, and turned her into a +stone. She then took the bag of gold and silver on her back and went +away back home. + +A year and a day had gone by after the eldest daughter left home, and +when they found she had not returned, the second daughter got up, and +she said: "My sister must be doing well and making her fortune, and +isn't it a shame for me to be sitting here doing nothing, either to help +you, mother, or myself? Bake me a bannock," said she, "and cut me a +callop, till I go away to push my fortune." + +The mother did this, and asked her would she have half the bannock with +her blessing, or the whole bannock without. + +She said the whole bannock without, and she set off. Then she said: "If +I am not back here in a year and a day, you may be sure that I am doing +well and making my fortune," and then she went away. + +She traveled away and away on before her, far farther than I could tell +you, and twice as far as you could tell me, until she came into a +strange country, and going up to a little house, she found an old Hag +living in it. The old Hag asked her where she was going. She said she +was going to push her fortune. + +Said the Hag: "How would you like to stay here with me, for I want a +maid?" + +"What will I have to do?" says she. + +"You'll have to wash me and dress me, and sweep the hearth clean; and on +the peril of your life never look up the chimney," said the Hag. + +"All right," she agreed to this. + +The next day, when the Hag arose, she washed her and dressed her, and +when the Hag went out she swept the hearth, and she thought it would do +no harm to have one wee look up the chimney. And there, what did she see +but her own mother's long leather bag of gold and silver! So she took it +down at once, and getting it on her back, started away for home as fast +as she could run. + +But she had not gone far when she met a horse grazing in a field, and +when he saw her he said: "Rub me! Rub me! for I haven't been rubbed +these seven years." + +But she only struck him with a stick she had in her hand and drove him +out of her way. + +She had not gone much farther when she met the sheep, who said: "Oh, +shear me! Shear me! for I haven't been shorn in seven years." + +But she struck the sheep and sent it scurrying out of her way. + +She had not gone much farther when she met the goat tethered, and he +said: "Oh, change my tether! Change my tether! for it hasn't been +changed in seven years." + +But she flung a stone at him and went on. + +Next she came to the limekiln, and that said: "Oh, clean me! Clean me! +for I haven't been cleaned these seven years." + +But she only scowled at it and hurried on. + +Then she came to the cow, and it said: "Oh, milk me! Milk me! for I +haven't been milked these seven years." + +She struck the cow out of her way and went on. + +Then she came to the mill. The mill said: "Oh, turn me! Turn me! for I +haven't been turned these seven years." + +But she did not heed what it said, only went in and lay down behind the +mill door, with the bag under her head, for it was then night. + +When the Hag came into her hut again and found the girl gone, she ran to +the chimney and looked up to see if she had carried off the bag. She +flew into a great rage, and she started to run as fast as she could +after her. + +She had not gone far when she met the horse, and she said: "Oh, horse, +horse of mine, did you see this maid of mine, with my tig, with my tag, +with my long leather bag, and all the gold and silver I have earned +since I was a maid?" + +"Aye," said the horse, "it is not long since she passed here." + +So on she ran, and it was not long until she met the sheep, and said +she: "Oh, sheep, sheep of mine, did you see this maid of mine, with my +tig, with my tag, with my long leather bag, and all the gold and silver +I have earned since I was a maid?" + +"Aye," said the sheep, "it is not long since she passed here." + +So she goes on, and it was not long before she met the goat, and said: +"Goat, goat of mine, did you see this maid of mine, with my tig, with my +tag, with my long leather bag, and all the gold and silver I have earned +since I was a maid?" + +"Aye," said the goat, "it is not long since she passed here." + +So she goes on, and it was not long before she met the limekiln, and +said she: "Limekiln, limekiln of mine, did you see this maid of mine, +with my tig, with my tag, with my long leather bag, and all the gold and +silver I have earned since I was a maid?" + +"Aye," said the limekiln, "it is not long since she passed here." + +So she goes on, and it was not long before she met the cow, and says +she: "Cow, cow of mine, did you see this maid of mine, with my tig, with +my tag, with my long leather bag, and all the gold and silver I have +earned since I was a maid?" + +"Aye," said the cow, "it is not long since she passed here." + +So she goes on, and it was not long before she met the mill, and said +she: "Mill, mill of mine, did you see this maid of mine, with my tig, +with my tag, with my long leather bag, and all the gold and silver I +have earned since I was a maid?" + +And the mill said: "Yes, she is sleeping behind the door." + +She went in and struck her with a white rod, and turned her into a +stone. She then took the bag of gold and silver on her back and went +home. + +When the second daughter had been gone a year and a day and she hadn't +come back, the youngest daughter said: "My two sisters must be doing +very well indeed, and making great fortunes when they are not coming +back, and it's a shame for me to be sitting here doing nothing, either +to help you, mother, or myself. Make me a bannock and cut me a callop, +till I go away and push my fortune." + +The mother did this, and asked her would she have half of the bannock +with her blessing, or the whole bannock without. + +She said: "I will have half of the bannock with your blessing, mother." + +The mother gave her a blessing and half a bannock, and she set out. + +She traveled away and away on before her, far farther than I could tell +you, and twice as far as you could tell me, until she came into a +strange country, and going up to a little house, she found an old Hag +living in it. The Hag asked her where she was going. She said she was +going to push her fortune. + +Said the Hag: "How would you like to stay here with me, for I want a +maid?" + +"What will I have to do?" said she. + +"You'll have to wash me and dress me, and sweep the hearth clean; and on +the peril of your life never look up the chimney," said the Hag. + +"All right," she agreed to this. + +The next day when the Hag arose, she washed her and dressed her, and +when the Hag went out she swept the hearth, and she thought it would do +no harm to have one wee look up the chimney, and there, what did she see +but her own mother's long leather bag of gold and silver! So she took it +down at once, and getting it on her back, started away for home as fast +as she could run. + +When she got to the horse, the horse said: "Rub me! Rub me! for I +haven't been rubbed these seven years." + +"Oh, poor horse, poor horse," she said, "I'll surely do that." And she +laid down her bag and rubbed the horse. + +Then she went on, and it wasn't long before she met the sheep, who said: +"Oh, shear me! Shear me! for I haven't been shorn these seven years." + +"Oh, poor sheep, poor sheep," she said, "I'll surely do that," and she +laid down the bag and sheared the sheep. + +On she went till she met the goat who said: "Oh, change my tether! +Change my tether! for it hasn't been changed these seven years." + +"Oh, poor goat, poor goat," she said, "I'll surely do that," and she +laid down the bag and changed the goat's tether. + +Then she went on till she met the limekiln. The limekiln said: "Oh, +clean me! Clean me! for I haven't been cleaned these seven years." + +"Oh, poor limekiln, poor limekiln," she said, "I'll surely do that," and +she laid down the bag and cleaned the limekiln. + +Then she went on and met the cow. The cow said: "Oh, milk me! Milk me! +for I haven't been milked these seven years." + +"Oh, poor cow, poor cow," she said, "I'll surely do that," and she laid +down the bag and milked the cow. + +At last she reached the mill. The mill said: "Oh, turn me! Turn me! for +I haven't been turned these seven years." + +"Oh, poor mill, poor mill," she said, "I'll surely do that," and she +turned the mill too. + +As night was on her she went in and lay down behind the mill door to +sleep. + +When the Hag came into her hut again and found the girl gone, she ran to +the chimney to see if she had carried off the bag. She flew into a great +rage, and started to run as fast as she could after her. + +She had not gone far until she came up to the horse and said: "Oh, +horse, horse of mine, did you see this maid of mine, with my tig, with +my tag, with my long leather bag, and all the gold and silver I have +earned since I was a maid?" + +The horse said: "Do you think I have nothing to do but watch your maids +for you? You may go somewhere else and look for information." + +Then she came upon the sheep. "Oh, sheep, sheep of mine, have you seen +this maid of mine, with my tig, with my tag, with my long leather bag, +and all the gold and silver I have earned since I was a maid?" + +The sheep said: "Do you think I have nothing to do but watch your maids +for you? You may go somewhere else and look for information." + +Then she went on till she met the goat. "Oh, goat, goat of mine, have +you seen this maid of mine, with my tig, with my tag, with my long +leather bag, and all the gold and silver I have earned since I was a +maid?" + +The goat said: "Do you think I have nothing to do but watch your maids +for you? You can go somewhere else and look for information." + +Then she went on till she came to the limekiln. "Oh, limekiln, limekiln +of mine, did you see this maid of mine, with my tig, with my tag, with +my long leather bag, and all the gold and silver I have earned since I +was a maid?" + +Said the limekiln: "Do you think I have nothing to do but watch your +maids for you? You may go somewhere else and look for information." + +Next she met the cow. "Oh, cow, cow of mine, have you seen this maid of +mine, with my tig, with my tag, with my long leather bag, and all the +gold and silver I have earned since I was a maid?" + +The cow said: "Do you think I have nothing to do but watch your maids +for you? You may go somewhere else and look for information." + +Then she got to the mill. "Oh, mill, mill of mine, have you seen this +maid of mine, with my tig, with my tag, with my long leather bag, and +all the gold and silver I have earned since I was a maid?" + +The mill said: "Come nearer and whisper to me." + +She went nearer to whisper to the mill, and the mill dragged her under +the wheels and ground her up. + +The old Hag had dropped the white rod out of her hand, and the mill told +the young girl to take this white rod and strike two stones behind the +mill door. She did that, and her two sisters stood up. She hoisted the +leather bag on her back, and the three of them set out and traveled +away and away till they reached home. + +The mother had been crying all the time while they were away, and was +now ever so glad to see them, and rich and happy they all lived ever +after. + + + + +_The Widow's Daughter_ + + +THERE was once a poor widow woman, living in the North of Ireland, who +had one daughter named Nabla. And Nabla grew up both idle and lazy, till +at length, when she had grown to be a young woman, she was both +thriftless and useless, fit only to sit with her heels in the ashes and +croon to the cat the day long. Her mother was annoyed with her, so that +one day, when Nabla refused to do some little trifle about the house, +her mother got out a good stout sally rod and came in and thrashed her +soundly with it. + +As her mother was giving Nabla the whacking she had so richly earned, +who should happen to be riding past but the King's son himself. He heard +the mother beating and scolding, and Nabla crying and pleading within. +So he drew rein, and at the top of his voice shouted to know what was +the matter. The widow came to the door, courtesying when she saw who he +was. Not wishing to give out a bad name on her daughter, she told the +King's son that she had a daughter who killed herself working the +leelong day and refused to rest when her mother asked her, so that she +had always to be beaten before she would stop. + +"What work can your daughter do?" the Prince asked. + +"She can spin, weave, and sew, and do every work that ever a woman did," +the mother replied. + +Now, it so happened that a twelvemonth before the Prince had taken a +notion of marrying, and his mother, anxious he should have none but the +best wife, with his approval, sent messengers over all Ireland to find +him a woman who could perform all a woman's duties, including the three +accomplishments the widow named--spinning, that is, weaving and sewing. +But all the candidates whom the messengers had secured were found +unsatisfactory on being put to trial, and the Prince had remained +unwedded. When, now, the King's son heard this account of Nabla from her +own mother he said: + +"You are not fit to have the charge of such a good girl. For twelve +months, through all parts of my mother's kingdom, search was being made +for just such a young woman that she might become my wife. I'll take +Nabla with me." + +Poor Nabla was rejoiced and her mother astonished. The King's son helped +Nabla to a seat behind him on the horse's back and bidding adieu to the +widow, rode off. + +When he had got Nabla home, he introduced her to his mother, telling the +Queen that by good fortune he had secured the very woman they had so +long sought in vain. The Queen asked what Nabla could do, and he replied +that she could spin, weave, and sew, and do everything else a woman +should; and, moreover, she was so eager for work that her mother was +beating her within an inch of her life to make her rest herself when he +arrived on the scene at Nabla's own cottage. The Queen said that was +well. + +She took Nabla to a large room and gave her a heap of silk and a golden +wheel, and told her she must have all the silk spun into thread in +twenty-four hours. Then she bolted her in. + +Poor Nabla, in amazement, sat looking at the big heap of silk and the +golden wheel. And at length she began to cry, for she had not spun a +yard of thread in all her life. As she cried an ugly woman, having one +of her feet as big as a bolster, appeared before her. + +"What are you crying for?" she asked. + +Nabla told her, and the woman said, "I'll spin the silk for you if you +ask me to the wedding." + +"I'll do that," Nabla said. And then the woman sat down to the wheel, +and working it with her big foot, very soon had the whole heap spun. + +When the Queen came and found all spun she said: "That is good." Then +she brought in a golden loom and told Nabla she must have all that +thread woven in twenty-four hours. + +When the Queen had gone, Nabla sat down and looked from the thread to +the loom and from the loom to the thread, wondering, for she had not in +all her life even thrown a shuttle. At length she put her face in her +hands and began to cry. There now appeared to her an ugly woman with one +hand as big as a pot hanging by her side. She asked Nabla why she cried. +Nabla told her, and then the woman said: + +"I'll weave all that for you if you'll give me the promise of your +wedding." + +Nabla said she would surely. So the woman sat down to the golden loom, +and very soon had all the thread woven into webs. + +When again the Queen came and found all woven she said: "That is good." +And then she gave Nabla a golden needle and thimble and said that in +twenty-four hours more she must have all the webs made into shirts for +the Prince. + +Again when the Queen had gone, Nabla, who had never even threaded a +needle in all her life, sat for a while looking at the needle and +thimble and looking at the webs of silk, and again she broke down, and +began to cry heartily. + +As she cried an ugly woman with a monstrously big nose came into the +room and asked: + +"Why do you cry?" + +When Nabla had told her, the ugly woman said: + +"I'll make up all those webs into shirts for the Prince if you promise +me the wedding." + +"I'll do that," Nabla said, "and a thousand welcomes." + +So the woman with the big nose, taking the needle and thimble, sat down, +and in a short time had made all the silk into shirts and disappeared +again. + +When the Queen came a third time and found all the silk made up in +shirts she was mightily pleased and said: + +"You are the very woman for my son, for he'll never want a housekeeper +while he has you." + +Then Nabla and the Prince were betrothed, and on the wedding night there +was a gay and a gorgeous company in the hall of the castle. All was +mirth and festivity. But as they were about to sit down to a splendid +repast there was a loud knock at the door. A servant opened it and there +came in an ugly old woman with one foot as big as a bolster who, amid +the loud laughter of the company, hobbled along the floor and took a +seat at the table. She was asked of which party was she, the bride or +the groom's, and she replied that she was of the bride's party. When the +Prince heard this he believed that she was one of Nabla's poor friends. +He went up to her and asked her what had made her foot so big. + +"Spinning," she said, "I have been all my life at the wheel, and that's +what it has done for me." + +"Then, by my word," said the Prince, striking the table a great blow, +"my wife shall not turn a wheel while I'm here to prevent it!" + +As the guests were again settling themselves another knock came to the +door. A servant opening it, let in a woman with one hand as big as a +pot. The weight of this hand hanging by her side gave her body a great +lean over, so that as she hobbled along the floor the company at the +table lay back, laughing and clapping their hands at the funny sight. +This woman, taking a seat at the table, was asked by whose invitation +she was there, to which she replied that she was of the bride's party. +Then the Prince went up to her and inquired what caused her hand to be +so big. + +"Weaving," she said. "I have slaved at the shuttle all my life; that's +what has come on me." + +"Then," the Prince said, striking the table a thundering blow, "by my +word, my wife shall never throw a shuttle again while I live to prevent +it." + +A third time the guests were ready to begin their repast, when again +there came a knock to the door. Everyone looked up; and they saw the +servant now admit an ugly old woman with the most monstrous nose ever +beheld. This woman likewise took a chair at the table. She was then +asked who had invited her--the bride or the groom. She said she was one +of the bride's party. Then the Prince, going up to her asked her why her +nose had come to be so very big. + +[Illustration: "AN UGLY OLD WOMAN WITH THE MOST MONSTROUS NOSE EVER +BEHELD"] + +"It's with sewing," she said. "All my life I have been bending my head +over sewing, so that every drop of blood ran down into my nose, swelling +it out like that." + +Then the Prince struck the table a blow that made the dishes leap and +rattle. + +"By my word," he said, "my wife shall never either put a needle in cloth +again, or do any other sort of household work while I live to prevent +it." + +And the Prince faithfully kept his word. He was always on the lookout to +try and catch Nabla spinning, weaving, or sewing, or doing any other +sort of work, for he thought she might at any time try to work on the +sly. + +Poor Nabla, however, never did anything to confirm his uneasiness, but, +taking her old mother to stay in the castle with her, lived happy and +contented, and as lazy as the day was long, ever after. + + + + +_Munachar and Manachar_ + + +THERE once lived a Munachar and a Manachar, a long time ago, and it is a +long time since it was, and if they were alive now they would not be +alive then. They went out together to pick raspberries, and as many as +Munachar used to pick Manachar used to eat. Munachar said he must go +look for a rod to make a gad to hang Manachar, who ate his raspberries +every one; and he came to the rod. "What news to-day?" said the rod. "It +is my own news that I'm seeking. Going looking for a rod, a rod to make +a gad, a gad to hang Manachar, who ate my raspberries every one. + +"You will not get me," said the rod, "until you get an ax to cut me." He +came to the ax. "What news to-day?" said the ax. "It's my own news I'm +seeking. Going looking for an ax, an ax to cut a rod, a rod to make a +gad, a gad to hang Manachar, who ate my raspberries every one." + +"You will not get me," said the ax, "until you get a flag to edge me." +He came to the flag. "What news to-day?" says the flag. "It's my own +news I'm seeking. Going looking for a flag, flag to edge ax, ax to cut a +rod, a rod to to make a gad, a gad to hang Manachar, who ate my +raspberries every one." + +"You will not get me," says the flag, "till you get water to wet me." He +came to the water. "What news to-day?" says the water. "It's my own news +I'm seeking. Going looking for water, water to wet flag, flag to edge +ax, ax to cut a rod, a rod to make a gad, a gad to hang Manachar, who +ate my raspberries every one." + +"You will not get me," said the water, "until you get a deer who will +swim me." He came to the deer. "What news to-day?" says the deer. "It's +my own news I'm seeking. Going looking for a deer, deer to swim water, +water to wet flag, flag to edge ax, ax to cut a rod, a rod to make a +gad, a gad to hang Manachar, who ate my raspberries every one." + +"You will not get me," said the deer, "until you get a hound who will +hunt me." He came to the hound. "What news to-day?" says the hound. +"It's my own news I'm seeking. Going looking for a hound, hound to hunt +deer, deer to swim water, water to wet flag, flag to edge ax, ax to cut +a rod, a rod to make a gad, a gad to hang Manachar, who ate my +raspberries every one." + +"You will not get me," said the hound, "until you get a bit of butter to +put in my claw." He came to the butter. "What news to-day?" says the +butter. "It's my own news I'm seeking. Going looking for butter, butter +to go in claw of hound, hound to hunt deer, deer to swim water, water to +wet flag, flag to edge ax, ax to cut a rod, a rod to make a gad, a gad +to hang Manachar, who ate my raspberries every one." + +"You will not get me," said the butter, "until you get a cat who shall +scrape me." He came to the cat. "What news to-day?" said the cat. "It's +my own news I'm seeking. Going looking for a cat, cat to scrape butter, +butter to go in claw of hound, hound to hunt deer, deer to swim water, +water to wet flag, flag to edge ax, ax to cut a rod, a rod to make a +gad, a gad to hang Manachar, who ate my raspberries every one." + +"You will not get me," said the cat, "until you get milk which you will +give me." He came to the cow. "What news to-day?" said the cow. "It's my +own news I'm seeking. Going looking for a cow, cow to give me milk, milk +I will give to the cat, cat to scrape butter, butter to go in claw of +hound, hound to hunt deer, deer to swim water, water to wet flag, flag +to edge ax, ax to cut a rod, a rod to make a gad, a gad to hang +Manachar, who ate my raspberries every one." + +"You will not get any milk from me," said the cow, "until you bring me a +whisp of straw from those threshers yonder." He came to the threshers. +"What news to-day?" said the threshers. "It's my own news I'm seeking. +Going looking for a whisp of straw to give to the cow, the cow to give +me milk, milk I will give to the cat, cat to scrape butter, butter to go +in claw of hound, hound to hunt deer, deer to swim water, water to wet +flag, flag to edge ax, ax to cut a rod, a rod to make a gad, a gad to +hang Manachar, who ate my raspberries every one." + +"You will not get any whisp of straw from us," said the threshers, +"until you bring us the makings of a cake from the miller over yonder." +He came to the miller. "What news to-day?" said the miller. "It's my own +news I'm seeking. Going looking for the makings of a cake which I will +give the threshers, the threshers to give me a whisp of straw, the whisp +of straw I will give to the cow, the cow to give me milk, milk I will +give to the cat, cat to scrape butter, butter to go in claw of hound, +hound to hunt deer, deer to swim water, water to wet flag, flag to edge +ax, ax to cut a rod, a rod to make a gad, a gad to hang Manachar, who +ate my raspberries every one." + +"You will not get any makings of a cake from me," said the miller, "till +you bring me the full of that sieve of water from the river over there." + +He took the sieve in his hand and went over to the river, but as often +as ever he would stoop and fill it with water, the moment he raised it +the water would run out of it again, and sure, if he had been there, +from that day till this, he never could have filled it. A crow went +flying by him, over his head, "Daub! daub!" said the crow. "My blessings +on ye, then," said Munachar, "but it's the good advice you have"; and he +took the red clay and the daub that was by the brink, and he rubbed it +to the bottom of the sieve, until all the holes were filled, and then +the sieve held the water, and he brought the water to the miller, and +the miller gave him the makings of a cake, and he gave the makings of +the cake to the threshers, and the threshers gave him a whisp of straw, +and he gave the whisp of straw to the cow, and the cow gave him milk, +the milk he gave to the cat, the cat scraped the butter, the butter went +into the claw of the hound, the hound hunted the deer, the deer swam the +water, the water wet the flag, the flag sharpened the ax, the ax cut the +rod, and the rod made a gad, and when he had it ready to hang Manachar +he found that Manachar had BURST. + + + + +_The Road to Fortune_ + + +ONE fine morning two young men were strolling together through the +fields, when they perceived, at a great distance, a very high hill, on +the top of which stood a beautiful castle, which sparkled so brightly in +the sunshine that the youths were quite delighted, and could not help +gazing at it. + +"Let us go to it," said one of the lads. + +"It is easy to say, 'Let us go,' but how can we walk so far?" retorted +the other, who was a lazy fellow. + +"You may do it easily," replied a clear voice behind them. + +On looking around to see whence these words came, they perceived a +beautiful fairy standing on a large ball, which rolled along with her +upon it in the direction of the castle. + +"It is no very difficult task for her, at all events. Look, she can get +forward without moving a limb," said the lazy one, throwing himself down +on the grass. + +The other, however, was not so easily satisfied; for, without stopping +to reflect, he started off after the fairy as fast as he could run, and +catching hold of the skirts of her robe cried, "Who art thou?" + +"I am Fortune," answered the fairy, "and yonder is my castle--follow me +there! If thou reachest it before midnight, I will receive thee as a +friend; but remember, shouldst thou arrive one moment later, my door +will be closed against thee." + +With these words the fairy drew her robe from the hand of the young man, +and went off so quickly upon her ball that she was soon out of sight. + +The youth immediately ran back to his companion and told him all that +had happened, adding: "I intend taking the fairy's advice. Will you +accompany me?" + +"Are you mad?" inquired the other; "for my part, if I had a good horse I +should not mind the journey, but as for walking all that way, I +certainly shall not attempt it." + +"Farewell then," answered his comrade, who started off at a brisk pace +in the direction of the castle. + +The lazy one, however, reasoned thus to himself: "Exert yourself as much +as you please, my worthy friend. Good fortune often comes while we are +dozing; perhaps it may be my case to-day." And without more ado he +stretched himself on the grass and fell fast asleep; not, however, +before he had cast a longing glance at the beautiful castle on the +hill. After sleeping some time he felt as though there were a warm wind +blowing on his ear, and when he had stretched his slothful limbs and +rubbed his sleepy eyes, he perceived a beautiful milk-white horse, ready +saddled, standing beside him, shaking his mane and neighing lustily in +the clear morning air. + +"Ah, did I not say as much?" cried the youth. "Oh, if people would but +trust to Fate! Come here, you fine creature! We must be good friends." +So saying, he threw himself into the saddle, and the steed galloped off +with him as swift as the wind. Thus mounted, our lazy friend very soon +overtook his industrious companion, and hailing him as he passed cried: +"Show respect to my horse's heels!" The other, however, continued on at +a steady pace, without paying much heed to his satire. + +About midday, on arriving at the summit of a beautiful hill, the horse +suddenly stopped. "Quite right," cried his rider; "I find you are a very +sagacious creature--'soft and fairly' is a good proverb; the castle is +now not very far off, but my appetite is a great deal nearer." So +dismounting, he sought out a shady slope, and having laid down in the +moss with his feet against the stump of a tree, he began to take some +refreshment--for happily he had a good supply of bread and sausage in +his pocket, and a pleasant drink in his flask. As soon as the youth had +satisfied his appetite, he began to feel rather drowsy, and, as is usual +with indolent people, he gave full vent to the inclination, stretched +himself on the moss, and fell into a sound sleep. Never had man a more +pleasant sleep, nor accompanied with more delightful dreams. He imagined +that he was already in the castle, reposing on silken cushions; and that +all that he desired came to him immediately upon his beckoning with his +little finger. After thus enjoying himself for some time, it seemed as +though a firework went off with a great explosion; this was followed by +strains of soft music, which went to the tune of a song he had often +heard, every verse of which terminated with these words: + + "Healthful limbs and spirits gay, + Bear the traveler on his way." + +This continued some time, when he awoke with the song still ringing in +his ears; then rubbing his eyes, he perceived that the setting sun was +fast sinking behind the castle, and heard the voice of his companion +singing from the valley before him the very words he had heard in his +dream. + +"What a time I have slept!" cried the lazy fellow. "It is high time that +I was getting on my way. Come here, my steed! where are you?" But no +steed was to be found; the only creature that he could see, after +looking all around, was an old gray donkey, grazing on the top of a hill +at some distance. He shouted and whistled with all his might, but the +horse was gone quite out of hearing, and the old donkey did not seem to +pay the least attention. So, after exerting his lungs to no purpose, the +lazy fellow was obliged to go and try to make friends with the gray old +beast, which allowed itself to be quietly mounted, and then trudged +slowly on with him. + +But our youth found this kind of traveling very different from the +previous stage, for then he not only proceeded at a much quicker pace, +but had a more comfortable seat, which was by no means an unimportant +consideration with him. In the course of a short time it began to grow +dark, and heavy clouds overspread the sky; already he could perceive +that the castle was being lighted up, and now he began to be very +frightened and anxious to get forward. The donkey, however, did not seem +in any way to partake of his feelings, but continued on at even a slower +pace than before. At length it became quite dark, and the donkey, after +going slower and slower, came to a dead stand in the midst of a thick +wood. All his entreaties were of no use, nor were threats and kicks of +more avail--the donkey would not move. At last the rider became so +exasperated that he struck it with his fist; but this did not much +improve our lazy friend's condition, for the obstinate brute instantly +flung up its hind legs, and by that process released itself of its +burden, which fell heavily on the ground. It required much less +violence than our youth experienced in his fall to prove to him that he +was not lying on a satin couch, for his legs and arms were dreadfully +bruised. He remained some time in this miserable plight, but the bright +and inviting appearance of the lights in the castle at length attracted +his attention. "Ah!" thought he, "what beautiful beds must there be in +that fine building!" + +This thought alone aroused for a moment his sluggish energies, and he +managed to get on his feet. "Perhaps," thought he, "the gray old donkey +may by this time have got into a better temper." So he searched about +for him in every direction; but after knocking his head against the +trees here, tearing his face with the thorns there, and stumbling over +roots and stones for a full quarter of an hour without finding it, he +gave up the search as hopeless. It was high time, however, that he made +some effort to get out of this dismal wood, which every now and then +resounded with dreary howls, sounding very much as though they proceeded +from the throats of hungry wolves. At last, when quite bewildered with +fear, he suddenly stumbled against something soft and slimy; he knew by +the touch that it was not the donkey, but fancying it to be in the form +of a saddle, he was about to bestride it at once; yet he found it so +cold and damp to the touch that he quite shuddered at the thought. He +was still hesitating when the castle clock struck, and he counted +eleven. Recollecting that it was drawing near to the eventful time and +that he had no other hope, he threw himself on what appeared to be the +saddle. He found his seat tolerably easy, as it was very soft, and at +his back was something to lean against; another great advantage was that +the creature on which he was mounted seemed to be very surefooted; there +was, however, one great objection to it, and that was the creeping pace +at which it moved, for it went along much slower than even the obstinate +donkey. + +Proceeding thus for some time, he got so near to the castle that he +could count the windows, and in this occupation he was engaged when +suddenly the moon shone out from between the clouds, and, oh, horror! +what did he behold. The creature on which he sat was neither a horse nor +a donkey, but an enormous snail, quite as large as a calf, and its house +which it carried upon its back had served him to lean against! Now he +could well understand why he had come at such a creeping pace. He turned +as cold as death, and his hair stood on end with fright! But there was +now no time for fear, for the castle clock had already made the woods +resound with the first stroke of the midnight hour, just as his steed +crawled out from the wood. Then how great was the young man's +astonishment when he beheld the castle of Fortune in all its grandeur! +Hitherto he had sat quietly on the snail, without hastening it, or in +any way interfering with its pace; at the sight of the castle, however, +he dashed both his heels into its sides, and attempted to urge it on. To +this treatment the snail was quite unaccustomed, and instantly it drew +its head into its shell and left the youth sprawling on the ground. The +castle clock rang out the second stroke. Had the lazy fellow but +mustered up resolution and trusted to his feet even then, he might have +reached the castle in time. But no, there he stood crying bitterly and +screaming out: "A beast! a beast! of whatever kind it may be, to carry +me to yon castle." + +The inmates of the building had already begun to extinguish the lights, +and the moon being hidden by the clouds, he was again in total darkness. +As the clock struck the third time he heard something moving near him, +and, as well as he could make out in the dark, it seemed like a saddled +horse: "Ah, that is my long-lost steed," cried he, "that Heaven has +kindly sent to me at the needful moment!" As quickly as his lazy limbs +would enable him, he leaped on the back of the creature. There was now +only a little elevation to be surmounted, and he could easily see his +companion standing at the open door of the castle waving his cap and +beckoning him on. The clock chimed out the fourth stroke when the +creature whereon he sat began to move slowly; then went the fifth and +sixth strokes, and it began to advance a little at a very awkward pace; +at the seventh, the creature began to move, first sideways and then went +backward! To his great horror and surprise the rider found that he could +not throw himself off, though he struggled with all his might. By a +passing ray of the moon, he discovered that the new steed on which he +was riding was a horrid monster with ten legs, and from either side +there extended a large claw with which it held him fast by the arms. The +youth screamed loudly for help, but all to no purpose; the animal still +kept receding farther and farther from the castle, while the eventful +moment approached nearer and nearer, until the twelfth stroke proclaimed +the midnight hour. A flitting ray of the moon displayed the castle once +more to his view in all its splendor. But in the same moment the youth +heard the door shut, and the rattling noise of chains and bolts. The +entrance to the castle of Fortune was closed against him forever! The +moon now shone again in full luster and discovered the horrid monster, +that still kept carrying him away, to be nothing more nor less than an +enormous crab. Where he went to on this uncommon steed I cannot tell; +for the fact is, nobody ever troubled themselves further about the lazy +fellow. + + + + +_The Golden Crab_ + + +ONCE upon a time there was a fisherman who had a wife and three +children. Every morning he used to go out fishing, and whatever fish he +caught he sold to the King. One day, among the other fishes, he caught a +golden crab. When he came home he put all the fishes together into a +great dish, but he kept the crab separate because it shone so +beautifully, and placed it upon a high shelf in the cupboard. Now, while +the old woman, his wife, was cleaning the fish, and had tucked up her +gown so that her feet were visible, she suddenly heard a voice, which +said: + + "Let down, let down thy petticoat + That lets thy feet be seen." + +She turned around in surprise, and then she saw the little creature, the +golden crab. + +"What! You can speak, can you, you ridiculous crab?" she said, for she +was not quite pleased at the crab's remark. Then she took him up and +placed him on a dish. + +When her husband came home and they sat down to dinner, they presently +heard the crab's little voice saying: "Give me some, too." They were all +very much surprised, but they gave him something to eat. When the old +man came to take away the plate which had contained the crab's dinner, +he found it full of gold, and as the same thing happened every day he +soon became very fond of the crab. + +One day the crab said to the fisherman's wife: "Go to the King and tell +him I wish to marry his younger daughter." + +The old woman went accordingly and laid the matter before the King, who +laughed a little at the notion of his daughter marrying a crab, but did +not decline the proposal altogether, because he was a prudent monarch +and knew that the crab was likely to be a prince in disguise. He said, +therefore, to the fisherman's wife: "Go, old woman, and tell the crab I +will give him my daughter if by to-morrow morning he can build a wall in +front of my castle much higher than my tower, upon which all the flowers +of the world must grow and bloom." + +The fisherman's wife went home and gave this message. + +Then the crab gave her a golden rod and said: "Go and strike with this +rod three times upon the ground on the place which the King showed you, +and to-morrow morning the wall will be there." + +The old woman did so and went away again. + +The next morning, when the King awoke, what do you think he saw? The +wall stood there before his eyes, exactly as he had bespoken it! + +Then the old woman went back to the King and said to him: "Your +majesty's orders have been fulfilled." + +"That is all very well," said the King, "but I cannot give away my +daughter until there stands in front of my palace a garden in which +there are three fountains, of which the first must play gold, the second +diamonds, and the third brilliants." + +So the old woman had to strike again three times upon the ground with +the rod, and the next morning the garden was there. The King now gave +his consent, and the wedding was fixed for the very next day. + +Then the crab said to the old fisherman: + +"Now take this rod; go and knock with it on a certain mountain; then a +black man will come out and ask you what you wish for. Answer him thus: +'Your master, the King, has sent me to tell you that you must send him +his golden garment that is like the sun.' Make him give you, besides, +the queenly robes of gold and precious stones which are like the flowery +meadows, and bring them both to me, and bring me also the golden +cushion." + +The old man went and did his errand. When he had brought the precious +robes the crab put on the golden garment and then crept upon the golden +cushion, and in this way the fisherman carried him to the castle, where +the crab presented the other garment to his bride. Now the ceremony took +place, and when the married pair were alone together the crab made +himself known to his young wife, and told her how he was the son of the +greatest king in the world, and how he was enchanted, so that he became +a crab by day and was a man only at night and he could also change +himself into an eagle as often as he wished. No sooner had he said this +than he shook himself and immediately became a handsome youth; but the +next morning he was forced to creep back again into his crabshell. And +the same thing happened every day. But the Princess's affection for the +crab and the polite attention with which she behaved to him surprised +the royal family very much. They suspected some secret, but though they +spied and spied, they could not discover it. Thus a year passed away and +the Princess had a son, whom she called Benjamin. But her mother still +thought the whole matter very strange. At last she said to the King that +he ought to ask his daughter whether she would not like to have another +husband instead of the crab. But when the daughter was questioned she +only answered: + +[Illustration: "IN THIS WAY THE FISHERMAN CARRIED HIM TO THE CASTLE"] + +"I am married to the crab, and him only will I have." + +Then the King said to her: "I will appoint a tournament in your honor +and I will invite all the princes in the world to it, and if any one of +them pleases you you shall marry him." + +In the evening the Princess told this to the crab, who said to her: +"Take this rod; go to the garden gate and knock with it; then a black +man will come out and say to you, 'Why have you called me and what do +you require of me?' Answer him thus: 'Your master the King has sent me +hither to tell you to send him his golden armor and his steed and the +silver apple.' And bring them to me." + +The Princess did so and brought him what he desired. + +The following evening the Prince dressed himself for the tournament. +Before he went he said to his wife: "Now mind you do not say when you +see me that I am the crab. For if you do this evil will come of it. +Place yourself at the window with your sisters; I will ride by and throw +you the silver apple. Take it in your hand, but if they ask who I am, +say that you do not know." So saying, he kissed her, repeated his +warning once more, and went away. + +The Princess went with her sisters to the window and looked on at the +tournament. Presently her husband rode by and threw the apple up to her. +She caught it in her hand and went with it to her room, and by and by +her husband came back to her. But her father was much surprised that she +did not seem to care about any of the princes; he therefore appointed a +second tournament. + +The crab then gave his wife the same directions as before, only this +time the apple which she received from the black man was of gold. But +before the Prince went to the tournament he said to his wife: "Now I +know you will betray me to-day." + +But she swore to him that she would not tell who he was. He then +repeated his warning and went away. + +In the evening, while the Princess, with her mother and sisters, was +standing at the window, the Prince suddenly galloped past on his steed +and threw her the golden apple. + +Then her mother flew into a passion, gave her a box on the ear, and +cried out: "Does not even that prince please you, you fool?" + +The Princess in her fright exclaimed: "That is the crab himself!" + +Her mother was still more angry because she had not been told sooner, +ran into her daughter's room where the crab shell was still lying, took +it up and threw it into the fire. Then the poor Princess cried bitterly, +but it was of no use; her husband did not come back. + +Now we must leave the Princess and turn to the other persons in the +story. One day an old man went to a stream to dip in a crust of bread +which he was going to eat, when a dog came out of the water, snatched +the bread from his hand, and ran away. The old man ran after him, but +the dog reached a door, pushed it open, and ran in, the old man +following him. He did not overtake the dog, but found himself above a +staircase, which he descended. Then he saw before him a stately palace, +and entering, he found in a large hall a table set for twelve persons. +He hid himself in the hall behind a great picture, that he might see +what would happen. At noon he heard a great noise, so that he trembled +with fear. When he took courage to look out from behind the picture he +saw twelve eagles flying in. At this sight his fear became still +greater. The eagles flew to the basin of a fountain that was there and +bathed themselves, when suddenly they were changed into twelve handsome +youths. Now they seated themselves at the table, and one of them took up +a goblet filled with wine and said, "A health to my father!" And another +said, "A health to my mother!" and so the healths went round. Then one +of them said: + + "A health to my dearest lady, + Long may she live and well! + But a curse on the cruel mother + Who burned my golden shell!" + +And so saying, he wept bitterly. Then the youths rose from the table, +went back to the great stone fountain, turned themselves into eagles +again and flew away. + +Then the old man went away too, returned to the light of day and went +home. Soon after he heard that the Princess was ill, and that the only +thing that did her good was having stories told to her. He therefore +went to the royal castle, obtained an audience of the Princess, and told +her about the strange things he had seen in the underground palace. No +sooner had he finished than the Princess asked him whether he could find +the way to that palace. + +"Yes, certainly," he answered. + +And now she desired him to guide her thither at once. The old man did +so, and when they came to the palace he hid her behind the great picture +and advised her to keep quite still, and he placed himself behind the +picture also. Presently the eagles came flying in and changed themselves +into young men, and in a moment the Princess recognized her husband +among them all and tried to come out of her hiding place; but the old +man held her back. The youths seated themselves at the table; and now +the Prince said again, while he took up the cup of wine: + + "A health to my dearest lady, + Long may she live and well! + But a curse on the cruel mother + Who burned my golden shell!" + +Then the Princess could restrain herself no longer, but ran forward and +threw her arms around her husband. And immediately he knew her again and +said: + +"Do you remember how I told you that day that you would betray me? Now +you see that I spoke the truth. But all that evil time is past. Now +listen to me: I must still remain enchanted for three months. Will you +stay here with me till that time is over?" + +So the Princess stayed with him and said to the old man: "Go back to the +castle and tell my parents that I am staying here." + +Her parents were very much vexed when the old man came back and told +them this, but as soon as the three months of the Prince's enchantment +were over he ceased to be an eagle and became once more a man, and they +returned home together. And then they lived happily, and we who hear the +story are happier still. + + + + +_The Table, the Ass, and the Stick_ + + +ONCE upon a time, a long time ago, there lived a Tailor and his three +sons; but they only had one Goat, which, as it had to give milk enough +for all, had to feed well every day. The sons had to lead it to pasture +in turns, and one morning, when it was the turn of the eldest, he took +it into the churchyard, where grew the richest grass, and let it eat its +fill. In the evening, when it was time to return, he said: + +"Goat, have you eaten well?" + +And the Goat answered: + + "'Tis said that enough is as good as a feast, + And I've had enough for a wise little beast." + +"Then we will go home," said the youth; and he led the Goat home by its +halter, and tied it up in the stable for the night. + +"Well," said the Tailor, "has the Goat eaten well?" + +"It has eaten as much as it can," answered the boy. + +But the father wanted to make sure; so he went into the stable and +stroked the Goat, saying: + +"Goat, have you eaten well?" + +The wicked Goat replied: + + "How can I have eaten well? + I wandered where the dead lie, + But nothing found to feed upon." + +"What do you say?" cried the Tailor, and running in to his son he cried, +"Oh, you wicked boy! you told me the Goat had eaten well, and I find him +shivering in the stable almost famished!" and, seizing his yard measure, +he chased the boy out of the house in great wrath. + +The next day it was the second son's turn, and he chose a place under +the hedge in the garden where there grew some fine rich grass, which the +Goat was not long in eating up completely. When the evening came, and it +was time to go home, this lad, too, asked the Goat if it had had enough, +and it answered as before: + + "'Tis said that enough is as good as a feast, + And I've had enough for a wise little beast." + +"Then we will go home," said the boy, and he took it to the stable and +tied it up. When he went into the house, the Tailor met him, and asked +him: + +"Has the Goat eaten well?" + +"It has eaten as much as it can," answered his son. + +But the Tailor would make sure for all that, and nothing would satisfy +him but that he should go to the stable and ask the Goat for himself. + + "How can I have eaten well? + I roamed all day along the hedge, + And nothing found to feed upon," + +answered the Goat. + +"You bad rascal, to starve such a splendid animal!" cried the Tailor, +running back to the house and catching up his yard measure. Then with +cuffs and blows he chased his second son out of the house. + +The next day it was the third boy's turn, and he found a spot where +there was some lovely young grass; and when it was time to go home, he +asked the Goat the same question, and obtained the same answer: + + "'Tis said that enough is as good as a feast, + And I've had enough for a wise little beast." + +So the lad led the Goat home, and he put it in the stable; and soon the +Tailor came and asked if the Goat had had enough. + +"Yes," replied the boy. + +But the old man would go and make sure for all that. + + "How can I have eaten well? + I sought all day among the leaves, + And nothing found to feed upon," + +was the wicked Goat's answer. + +"The scamp!" cried the Tailor in a fury; "he is as bad as the others, +and out he shall go!" and he drove the poor boy out with the yard +measure, dealing him fearful blows. + +Now the Tailor was left alone to look after the Goat, and next day he +went to it and said: + +"Come, pretty creature, I will take you myself to pasture," and he took +it to the lettuce bed, and there it fed all day. When night came he +asked it, as the boys had done, if it had eaten well, and it said: + + "'Tis said that enough is as good as a feast, + And I've had enough for a wise little beast." + +So they went home, and he put it in the stable; but as he was going, he +said once more: + +"Goat, have you eaten well?" + +The wicked animal, not thinking for the moment to whom he was replying, +answered with the usual complaint: + + "How can I have eaten well? + I only frisked about the bed, + And nothing found to feed upon." + +When the old man heard this he was horrified, for he saw at once how +things had stood all the time, and that he had driven his boys away for +no reason whatever. + +"Oh, you brute!" he said. "You, too, shall be driven out; and I will +take care that you never dare to appear among honest tailors again." + +So he rushed into the house for his razor, and shaved the Goat's head as +smooth as your face; and because the yard measure was too good to use +upon him, he fetched his whip and gave the Goat such a sound thrashing +that it was only too glad to scamper out of the stable and make off as +fast as its legs could carry it. + +When the Tailor returned into his house he was overcome with sorrow for +the three sons whom he had driven from home, and who were wandering no +one knew where. + +However, the eldest boy had apprenticed himself to a carpenter, and he +worked with him well and merrily till his time was out. Then his master +gave him a table, which, though it looked only like an ordinary common +wooden one, yet if its owner stood before it and said, "Table, Table, +spread yourself," it at once became covered with all sorts of good +things, meat and wine and everything necessary for a splendid meal. + +"Now I shall never want again," the young man said to himself, and he +went on journeying merrily, never troubling himself whether his lodging +was good or bad, or whether there was anything to eat or not. + +Sometimes he did not go to an inn at all, but just stopped where he was, +under a hedge or in a wood, and there he would put down his table and +cry, "Table, Table, spread yourself," and then in the twinkle of an eye +he had before him as much as he liked to eat and drink. + +One day he made up his mind to turn his steps homeward, as his father's +anger, he knew, was sure to have died down by then, and they could live +very comfortably together with his lucky table. It happened that one +evening he came to an inn that was full of people, who invited him to +eat in their company. + +"No, not a mouthful, unless you consent to be my guests," answered the +boy. + +The people of course laughed, and thought he was joking; but their mirth +soon changed to wonder when he set down his table in their midst, and +saw that at his command, "Table, Table, spread yourself," it at once +covered itself with all sorts of delicious things, quite as good as the +host could have given them, and smelling very tempting to the hungry +guests. + +"Pray be seated, friends," said the Carpenter cheerily; and the people, +seeing he really meant it, sat down at once and began to ply their +knives and forks very merrily. + +The thing that surprised them the most was, that whenever they emptied +one dish, another full one always appeared immediately in its place; and +the innkeeper, who was looking on, said to himself, "My friend, you +could do very well with such a table as that in your own kitchen"; but +he kept his own counsel. The guests sat up very late that night, but at +last they went to bed. The Carpenter lay down, too, with his magic table +beside him. + +Now the landlord couldn't get to sleep that night at all for thinking +and wishing, till suddenly he remembered that in the lumber room there +was a table that he didn't use, and which was as like the one he coveted +as two pins. Breathlessly and very cautiously he made his way to the +garret and fetched it, and put it beside the lad's bed in place of the +lucky table, which he carried away and hid in a safe place. The next day +the Carpenter paid for his lodging and went on his way, not noticing any +difference in the table, which he hoisted on his back. At midday he +reached his home, and his father was overjoyed to see him. + +"Well, my dear boy," said the old man, "what have you been doing all +these months?" + +"I have been apprenticed to a carpenter," answered the lad. + +"And a very good trade, too; and what have you brought home with you?" + +"The most wonderful thing I ever set eyes on," said his son, setting +down the table. + +"Uhm! I don't think much of that; it looks a very common piece of +furniture," said the father, looking at it all around. + +"But," cried the boy, "it is a magic table, and when I say, 'Table, +Table, spread yourself,' it is at once covered with good things, which +will make your mouth water. Invite all our friends in, and you will see +what a feast there will be." + +When the guests had all arrived, he fetched his table, and placing it in +the middle of the room, he commanded it to spread itself. But the table +remained just like any other table, which takes no notice when you speak +to it; and the poor lad saw at once that somebody had robbed him. Of +course the guests thought he was an impostor and laughed at him, and +went home without any feast, to the poor Carpenter's shame. So the +Tailor had to take up his needle again and stitch away as fast as ever, +and the boy had to leave home again and work for another carpenter. + +Meantime, the second son had taken service with a miller, and when he +had learned everything, his master said: + +"Because you have worked for me faithfully I will give you this ass, +which, though it can neither draw nor carry, is a clever beast, +nevertheless." + +"What can it do, then?" said the boy. + +"Why, if you only pat it and cry 'Bricklebit,' gold will drop out of its +mouth like potatoes into a sack," replied the Miller. + +"That is grand," said the boy; so, thanking his master, he started on +his journey. Now he was rich, for he only had to say "Bricklebit" and a +torrent of gold pieces came out of the ass's mouth, and were there for +the picking up. Wherever he went he ordered the best of everything, and +the more he had to pay for it the better he was pleased. + +Soon he got tired of wandering about the world and thought he would like +to go home and see his father, whose anger had, no doubt, died down by +this time; or, if not, it certainly would when he saw what a rich ass he +had brought home with him. + +Now it chanced that he came to the very same inn where his brother had +lost his table, and when the landlord came out and offered to take the +animal to the stable he said: "No, I will take him myself, for I want to +see where he goes." + +The landlord was surprised, but thought that one who would look after +his own beast must be a poor man. But the boy, putting his hand in his +pocket, drew out two gold pieces, and ordered the best the house +contained. The landlord was very much astonished indeed, and ran and +fetched him the best of everything. When he had eaten his fill the boy +asked what more he owed, and the landlord, being a greedy man, said that +two more gold pieces would pay the bill. The youth put his hand in his +pocket and found it empty. + +"Wait a moment, my friend, and I will fetch some gold," he said +carelessly, and picking up the tablecloth, he went out. + +The landlord didn't at all understand what was going on, but being +inquisitive he crept out after the youth, and as the stable door was +bolted carefully, the landlord had to glue his eye to a hole in the +wall. Then he saw the boy spread out the cloth and say "Bricklebit," and +immediately gold began to drop out of the ass's mouth in showers, as if +it were hailing. + +"Thunder and lightning!" gasped the landlord, running back to the house, +"did one ever see the like of this! Why, that is the finest and fattest +purse I ever set eyes on, and I must see what I can do to obtain it." + +Later in the evening the lad paid his bill and went to bed; but when he +was well asleep, the wicked landlord crept into the stable and took away +the ass, and tied up an ordinary one in its stead. + +The next day the youth went on his way with the ass, which he never +noticed had been changed, and arrived at midday at his father's house. +His father was delighted to see him again, and asked what trade he had +learned. The boy told him that he was a miller. + +"And what have you brought home with you?" said the old man. + +"Only an ass," replied the boy. + +"Ah, my lad, you had better have brought a goat. We have asses enough +about already." + +"Perhaps so," retorted the boy; "but wait till you see what this ass can +do. I have only to say 'Bricklebit' and gold drops out of his mouth in +heaps. Just send for all your friends, and we will make them rich in a +trice." + +"Indeed," said the Tailor, "that is not a bad idea. If what you say is +true, I shall never need to do any more tailoring," and he hurried out +and gathered all his friends in. + +They arrived in high excitement, as you may be sure, and the youth bade +them stand in a circle while he spread out a cloth under the ass's head. + +"Now," he said proudly, "listen to me," and he called, "Bricklebit!" + +But nothing happened, and it seemed that the ass could not coin gold +after all; for it is not an easy thing to do, as you will agree. + +The poor youth was very rueful, for he saw that some one had robbed him, +and he was obliged to apologize to the guests, who only sneered and +jeered at him and departed as poor as they came. + +So the Tailor had to take up his needle once more and stitch away as +fast as ever, and the boy had to go and work for another miller. + +Meantime, the third son had apprenticed himself to a turner. But it +takes a long time to learn to be a turner, and he was still with his +master when his brothers sent a message to tell him how they had fared, +and all about the wicked landlord who had robbed them of their precious +belongings. + +Time went on, and soon he had learned everything, and he took leave of +his master, who gave him a sack, saying: + +"In the sack lies a stick." + +"I will take the sack gladly," said the youth, "for it will be handy. +But of what use is the stick, except to make the sack heavier?" + +"This is the use of the stick: if you want to punish anyone at any time, +you have only to say, 'Come forth, Stick!' and the stick will slip out +of the sack and lay about your enemy's shoulders in such a lively +fashion that he will be as quiet as a tortoise for days afterwards, and +it will not cease beating till you say, 'Stop, Stick, and into the +sack!'" + +The youth thanked him and went on his way, and when any rogue interfered +with him, he only had to cry, "Come forth, Stick!" and out it came and +gave them a sound thrashing, until he told it to stop, and then it +slipped back so quickly that nobody saw where it went. + +One night he arrived at the very inn where his brothers had been +deceived, and putting his sack on the table, he began to boast of all +the curious things he had seen. + +"Yes," he said, "I have even known of a table which covers itself with +food and wine in a twinkling. But that is not all, for I have seen an +ass which coins gold, and scores of other wonderful things besides. But, +when all is said and done, none have compared with what I carry in my +sack." + +The landlord opened his round eyes, saying: + +"I wonder what it is?" and he thought to himself: "The sack must be full +of precious stones. I must get hold of it, for all good luck runs in +threes, and there is no reason why I should not succeed this time as I +have done before." + +As soon as it was time to go to bed the youth lay down on a bench and +pillowed his head on his sack, and when the landlord thought he was fast +asleep he came creeping softly to his side and pulled ever so gently at +the sack to see if he could exchange it for another which he had all +ready in his hand. + +However, the boy was only waiting for this, and suddenly he called out, +"Come forth, Stick!" Immediately it sprang out and beat the landlord +right merrily. + +The landlord howled for mercy, but the Stick only hit the faster, till +at last the rogue fell down exhausted. + +"Now," said the Turner, ordering the stick to return to its bag, "if you +do not deliver up to me the magic table and the lucky ass, the Stick +shall begin again." + +"No, no!" gasped the wretched man. "I will give them up if you will only +spare me!" + +"I will pardon you if you keep your word," said the youth; "but beware +if you try to deceive me!" + +Early next morning the Turner went on his way with the ass and the table +to his father's house. When he arrived his father was overjoyed to see +him, and asked him what trade he had learned. + +"Dear father," he said, "I have become a turner." + +"That is a difficult trade. And what have you brought home with you?" + +"A sack and a stick, and a very valuable stick, too," said the son. + +"What!" cried the old man. "A stick! Why, you can cut a stick off any +tree!" + +"Not a stick like this, for I have only to say, 'Come forth, Stick!' and +it immediately slips out and lays about the shoulders of anyone who +would injure me, so that he has to cry for mercy. By the aid of my stick +I have got back the magic table and lucky ass which the thief of a +landlord stole from my brothers. Now send for them, and call in all your +friends, and I will give them a feast and fill their pockets with money +as well." + +The old Tailor could scarcely believe him, but he did as he was told. +Then the youth spread a cloth on the floor and brought in the ass, +telling his brother to speak to it. + +The Miller called out, "Bricklebit!" and immediately the gold pieces +began dropping out on to the floor in showers, till they all had as much +as they could carry. + +Then the table was brought in and the Carpenter said, "Table, be +spread!" and at once it was covered with all sorts of dainties. Then +they had such a feast as the Tailor had never seen, and they all +remained till late at night making merry. + +The next day the happy Tailor gathered together all his needles and +thread and measures and goose and put them away, and he lived happily +with his sons forever after. + +Now we must see what became of the Goat, whose fault it was that the +brothers had been driven away. It was so ashamed of its shaven head that +it crept into a fox's hole to hide itself. When the Fox came home he saw +two great eyes glittering out of the blackness, and he was so terrified +that he ran away. Soon he met a bear, who, noticing how frightened he +looked, said: + +"What has happened, Brother Fox, to make you look like that?" + +"Oh!" he said, "in my lair is a fearful monster that rolled flaming eyes +at me." + +"We will soon turn him out," said the brave Bear. But when he looked in, +he also was terrified at the glittering eyes and took to flight. He soon +met a bee, and seeing that it was no good to sting him through his thick +coat she said, in friendly fashion: + +"You look very solemn, Mr. Bear. What has come over you?" + +"Oh!" said the Bear, "in Brother Fox's lair is a fearful monster which +rolls flaming eyes at us, and we daren't drive him out." + +"Well, Mr. Bear," said the Bee, "I am sorry for you, and I believe I can +help, though I am such a little creature that nobody thinks I can do any +good in the world." + +So she flew off to the Fox's lair, and dropping on to his bald head, +stung him so terribly that the poor Goat rushed out madly, and he has +never been heard of since. + + + + +_The Little Brother and Sister_ + + +THERE was once a little Brother who took his Sister by the hand and +said: "Since our own dear mother's death we have not had one happy hour; +our stepmother beats us every day, and, if we come near her, kicks us +away with her foot. Our food is the hard crusts of bread which are left, +and even the dog under the table fares better than we, for he often gets +a nice morsel. Come, let us wander forth into the wide world." So the +whole day long they traveled over meadows, fields, and stony roads, and +when it rained the Sister said, "It is Heaven crying in sympathy." By +evening they came into a large forest, and were so wearied with grief, +hunger, and their long walk that they laid themselves down in a hollow +tree and went to sleep. When they awoke the next morning the sun had +already risen high in the heavens, and its beams made the tree so hot +that the little boy said to his Sister, "I am so thirsty; if I knew +where there was a brook I would go and drink. Ah, I think I hear one +running"; and so saying he got up, and taking his Sister's hand they +went in search of the brook. + +The wicked stepmother, however, was a witch, and had witnessed the +departure of the two children; so sneaking after them secretly, as is +the habit of witches, she had enchanted all the springs in the forest. + +Presently they found a brook which ran trippingly over the pebbles, and +the Brother would have drunk out of it, but the Sister heard how it said +as it ran along, "Who drinks of me will become a tiger!" So the Sister +exclaimed: "I pray you, Brother, drink not, or you will become a tiger +and tear me to pieces!" So the Brother did not drink, although his +thirst was so great, and he said, "I will wait till the next brook." As +they came to the second the Sister heard it say, "Who drinks of me +becomes a wolf!" The Sister ran up crying: "Brother, do not, pray do +not, drink, or you will become a wolf and eat me up!" Then the Brother +did not drink, saying: "I will wait until we come to the next spring, +but then I must drink, you may say what you will; my thirst is much too +great." Just as they reached the third brook the Sister heard the voice +saying: "Who drinks of me will become a fawn--who drinks of me will +become a fawn!" So the Sister said: "Oh, my Brother! do not drink, or +you will be changed to a fawn and run away from me!" But he had already +kneeled down and drank of the water, and, as the first drops passed his +lips, his shape became that of a fawn. + +At first the Sister cried over her little changed Brother, and he wept +too, and knelt by her very sorrowful; but at last the maiden said, "Be +still, dear little Fawn, and I will never forsake you"; and, undoing her +golden garter, she put it around his neck, and weaving rushes made a +white girdle to lead him with. This she tied to him, and, taking the +other end in her hand she led him away, and they traveled deeper and +deeper into the forest. After they had walked a long distance they came +to a little hut, and the maiden, peeping in, found it empty, and +thought, "Here we can stay and dwell." Then she looked for leaves and +moss to make a soft couch for the Fawn, and every morning she went out +and collected roots and berries and nuts for herself and tender grass +for the Fawn, which he ate out of her hand, and played happily around +her. In the evening, when the Sister was tired and had said her prayers, +she laid her head upon the back of the Fawn, which served for a pillow, +on which she slept soundly. Had but the Brother regained his own proper +form, their life would have been happy indeed. + +Thus they dwelt in this wilderness, and some time had elapsed, when it +happened that the King of the country held a great hunt in the forest; +and now resounded through the trees the blowing of horns, the barking of +dogs, and the lusty cries of the hunters, so that the little Fawn heard +them and wanted very much to join. "Ah!" said he to his Sister, "let me +go to the hunt, I cannot restrain myself any longer"; and he begged so +hard that at last she consented. "But," said she to him, "return again +in the evening, for I shall shut my door against the wild huntsmen, +and, that I may know you, do you knock and say, 'Sister, let me in,' and +if you do not speak I shall not open the door." As soon as she had said +this, the little Fawn sprang off, quite glad and merry in the fresh +breeze. The King and his huntsmen perceived the beautiful animal, and +pursued him; but they could not catch him, and when they thought they +had him for certain he sprang away over the bushes and got out of sight. +Just as it was getting dark he ran up to the hut, and, knocking, said, +"Sister mine, let me in." Then she undid the little door, and he went in +and rested all night long upon his soft couch. The next morning the hunt +was commenced again, and as soon as the little Fawn heard the horns and +the tallyho of the sportsmen he could not rest, and said, "Sister, dear, +open the door, I must be off." The Sister opened it, saying, "Return at +evening, mind, and say the words as before." When the King and his +huntsmen saw again the Fawn with the golden necklace, they followed him +closely, but he was too nimble and quick for them. The whole day long +they kept up with him, but toward evening the huntsmen made a circle +around him, and one wounded him slightly in the hind foot, so that he +could only run slowly. Then one of them slipped after him to the little +hut, and heard him say, "Sister, dear, open the door," and saw that the +door was opened and immediately shut behind. The huntsman, having +observed all this, went and told the King what he had seen and heard, +and he said, "On the morrow I will once more pursue him." + +The Sister, however, was terribly frightened when she saw that her Fawn +was wounded, and washing off the blood she put herbs upon the foot and +said: "Go and rest upon your bed, dear Fawn, that the wound may heal." +It was so slight that the next morning he felt nothing of it, and when +he heard the hunting cries outside he exclaimed: "I cannot stop away--I +must be there, and none shall catch me so easily again!" The Sister wept +very much and told him: "Soon they will kill you, and I shall be here +all alone in this forest, forsaken by all the world. I cannot let you +go." + +"I shall die here in vexation," answered the Fawn, "if you do not, for +when I hear the horn I think I shall jump out of my skin." The Sister, +finding she could not prevent him, opened the door with a heavy heart, +and the Fawn jumped out, quite delighted, into the forest. As soon as +the King perceived him he said to his huntsmen: "Follow him all day long +till the evening, but let no one do him an injury." When the sun had +set, the King asked his huntsmen to show him the hut; and as they came +to it, he knocked at the door and said, "Let me in, dear Sister." Then +the door was opened, and stepping in the King saw a maiden more +beautiful than he had ever before seen. She was frightened when she saw +not her Fawn, but a man step in who had a golden crown upon his head. +But the King, looking at her with a friendly glance, reached her his +hand, saying, "Will you go with me to my castle and be my dear wife?" +"Oh, yes," replied the maiden; "but the Fawn must go too; him I will +never forsake." The King replied: "He shall remain with you as long as +you live, and shall want for nothing." In the meantime the Fawn had come +in, and the Sister, binding the girdle to him, again took it in her +hand, and led him away with her out of the hut. + +The King took the beautiful maiden upon his horse, and rode to his +castle, where the wedding was celebrated with great splendor, and she +became Queen, and they lived together a long time; while the Fawn was +taken care of and lived well, playing about the castle garden. The +wicked stepmother, however, on whose account the children had wandered +forth into the world, supposed that long ago the Sister had been torn in +pieces by the wild beasts, and the little Brother hunted to death in his +Fawn's shape by the hunters. As soon, therefore, as she heard how happy +they had become, and how everything prospered with them, envy and +jealousy were roused in her heart and left her no peace, and she was +always thinking in what way she could work misfortune to them. Her own +daughter, who was as ugly as night and had but one eye, for which she +was continually reproached, said, "The luck of being a queen has never +yet happened to me." + +"Be quiet now," said the old woman, "and make yourself contented. When +the time comes, I shall be at hand." As soon, then, as the time came +when the Queen brought into the world a beautiful little boy, which +happened when the King was out hunting, the old witch took the form of a +chambermaid, and got into the room where the Queen was lying, and said +to her: "The bath is ready which will restore you and give you fresh +strength; be quick, before it gets cold." Her daughter being at hand, +they carried the weak Queen between them into the room, and laid her in +the bath, and then, shutting the door, they ran off; but first they had +made an immense fire in the stove, which must soon suffocate the young +Queen. + +When this was done the old woman took her daughter, and putting a cap on +her, laid her in the bed in the Queen's place. She gave her, too, the +form and appearance of the real Queen as far as she could; but she could +not restore the lost eye, and so that the King might not notice it, she +turned upon that side where there was no eye. When he came home at +evening and heard that a son was born to him, he was much delighted, and +prepared to go to his wife's bedside to see how she did. So the old +woman called out in a great hurry: "For your life, do not undraw the +curtains; the Queen must not yet see the light, and must be kept quiet." +So the King went away, and did not discover that a false Queen was laid +in the bed. + +When midnight came and everyone was asleep, the nurse, who sat by +herself, wide awake, near the cradle in the nursery, saw the door open +and the true Queen come in. She took the child in her arms and rocked it +awhile, and then, shaking up its pillow, laid it down in its cradle and +covered it over again. She did not forget the Fawn either, but going to +the corner where he was, stroked his back, and then went silently out at +the door. The nurse asked in the morning of the guards if anyone had +passed into the castle during the night, but they answered, "No, we have +seen nobody." For many nights afterwards she came constantly, and never +spoke a word; and the nurse saw her always, but she would not trust +herself to speak about it to anyone. + +When some time had passed away, the Queen one night began to speak, and +said: + + "How fares my child, how fares my Fawn? + Twice more will I come, but never again." + +The nurse made no reply; but, when she had disappeared, went to the King +and told him all. The King exclaimed: "Oh, heavens! what does this mean? +The next night I will watch myself by the child." In the evening he went +into the nursery, and about midnight the Queen appeared and said: + + "How fares my child, how fares my Fawn? + Once more will I come, but never again." + +And she nursed the child as she was used to do, and then disappeared. +The King dared not speak, but he watched the following night, and this +time she said: + + "How fares my child, how fares my Fawn? + This time have I come, but never again." + +At these words the King could hold back no longer, but sprang up and +said, "You can be no other than my dear wife!" Then she answered, "Yes, +I am your dear wife"; and at that moment her life was restored by God's +mercy, and she was again as beautiful and charming as ever. She told the +King the fraud which the witch and her daughter had practiced upon him, +and he had them both tried and sentence pronounced against them. The +daughter was taken into the forest, where the wild beasts tore her in +pieces, but the old witch was led to the fire and miserably burned. And +as soon as she was reduced to ashes the little Fawn was unbewitched, and +received again his human form; and the Brother and Sister lived happily +together to the end of their days. + + + + +_The Old Griffin_ + + +THERE was once a king, but where he reigned and how he was called I know +nothing about. He had no son, only a daughter, who was always ill, and +no doctor could cure her; but it was prophesied to the King that his +daughter would eat herself well with an apple. So he made it known all +over the kingdom that whoever brought his daughter some apples with +which she could eat herself well should marry her and be King. Now a +peasant who had three sons heard of it; and he said to the eldest: "Go +to the garden, take a basketful of those beautiful apples with the red +cheeks, and carry them to the court. Perhaps the King's daughter will be +able to eat herself well with them, and then you can marry her and be +King." The chap did as he was bid and took to the road. When he had +walked a little while he met quite a little iron man, who asked him what +he had in his basket. So Hele, for that was his name, said, "Frogs' +legs!" The Little Man then said, "Well, so it shall be and remain"; and +then went on. At last Hele came to the castle, and had it announced that +he had some apples which would cure the Princess if she ate them. At +that the King was mightily pleased, and received Hele in court. Oh, +dear! when he opened it, instead of apples he had frogs' legs in the +basket, and they were kicking about still. The King flew into a great +rage, and had him kicked out of the castle. When he got home he told his +father how he had fared. Then the father sent his next son, whose name +was Saeme, but it went just the same with him as with Hele. The little +Iron Man met him very soon, and asked him what he had in the basket, and +Saeme said, "Sow-thistles"; and the Little Man said, "Well, so it shall +be and remain." When he arrived at the King's castle, and said he had +apples with which the King's daughter could eat herself well, they would +not let him in, and told him there had already been one who had made +fools of them. But Saeme insisted he had really such apples; they should +only let him in. At last they believed him and took him before the +King; but when he opened the basket he had nothing but sow-thistles. +That annoyed the King most dreadfully, so that he had Saeme whipped out +of the castle. When he got home he told them what had happened to him, +and then came the youngest boy, whom they had always called Stupid Jack, +and asked the father whether he, too, might go with apples. "Yes," said +the father, "you are just the right sort of fellow; if the clever ones +can't succeed, what will you be able to do?" The boy did not believe it. +"Well, father, I will go too." "Get away, you stupid chap!" said the +father; "you must wait till you grow wiser"; and then he turned his back +upon him; but the boy tugged at his smock frock behind and said, "Now, +father, I will go too." "Well, just as you like; go--you will be sure to +come back," he answered in a spiteful way. The boy was beyond measure +delighted, and jumped for joy. "Aye, there! act like a fool! You get +stupider from one day to the next," said the father. That did not affect +Jack a bit, who would not be disturbed in his joy. As night soon came +on, he thought he would wait till the next morning; anyhow, he would not +be able to get to court that day. He could not sleep that night in bed, +and when he only slumbered a little he dreamed of beautiful maidens, of +castles, gold, silver, and all that sort of thing. Early next morning he +went his way, and soon the Little Man in his iron dress met him and +asked him what he had in the basket. "Apples," he answered, "with which +the King's daughter can eat herself well." "Well," said the Little Man, +"such it shall be and remain." But at court they would not let Jack in +at all; for that there had been two who had said they brought apples, +and one had frogs' legs and the other sow-thistles. But Jack insisted +tremendously he had no frogs' legs, but the most beautiful apples that +grew in the kingdom. As he spoke so nicely the doorkeeper thought he +could not be telling a lie, and let him in; and they did quite right, +too, for when Jack uncovered the basket before the King, apples as +yellow as gold came tumbling out. The King was delighted, and had some +of them taken to his daughter at once, and waited in anxious +expectation until they should bring him word what effect they had. Not +long after news was brought him; but what think you it was? It was the +daughter herself! As soon as she had eaten of those apples she had +jumped out of bed quite well. What the King's delight was cannot be +described. + +But now the King would not give Jack his daughter to marry, and said +that he must first make him a boat that would swim better on land than +in the water. Jack agreed to the condition and went home and told his +adventures. So the father sent Hele into the wood to make such a boat; +he worked away diligently, and whistled the while. At midday, when the +sun was at the highest, came the little Iron Man and asked what he was +making. "Wooden bowls," answered he. The Little Man answered, "Well, so +it shall be and remain." In the evening Hele thought he had made the +boat, but when he was going to get into it, it turned to wooden bowls. +The next day Saeme went into the wood, but he met with exactly the same +fate as his brother. On the third day Stupid Jack went. He worked very +hard, so that the wood resounded all through with his heavy blows, and +he sang and whistled besides right merrily. The Little Man came to him +at midday when it was very warm, and asked him what he was making. "A +boat that will swim better on dry land than in the water," he answered, +"and that when he had done it he should marry the King's daughter." +"Well," said the Little Man, "such an one it shall be and remain." In +the evening when the sun was setting like a ball of gold, Jack made +ready his boat and all things belonging to it, and rowed toward the +castle; but the boat went as fast as the wind. The King saw it a long +way off, but would not give Jack his daughter yet, and said he must +first take a hundred hares out grazing from early morning to late in the +evening, and if one were missing he should not have his daughter. Jack +was quite contented, and the next day went out with his herd to the +meadow, and kept a sharp lookout that none should stray away. Not many +hours had passed when a maid came from the castle, and said Jack was to +give her a hare directly, as some visitors had arrived. But Jack saw +through that well enough, and said he would not give her one; the King +might treat his visitors to hare pepper. But the maid would not heed +him, and at last set to scolding. So Jack said that if the King's +daughter came herself he would give her a hare. The maid told them in +the castle, and the King's daughter did go herself. But in the meantime +the Little Man had come again to Jack and asked him what he was doing +there. Oh, he had to watch a hundred hares so that none ran away, and +then he might marry the King's daughter and be King. "Good!" said the +Little Man, "there's a whistle for you, and when one runs away, only +just whistle and he will come back again." When the King's daughter +came, Jack put a hare into her apron, but when she had gone about a +hundred steps off, Jack whistled, and the hare jumped out of the cloth, +and jump, jump! was back to the herd directly. In the evening the +hareherd whistled again, and looked to see they were all right, and +drove them to the castle. The King wondered how Jack had been able to +take care of a hundred hares, so that none should run off, but he would +not yet give him his daughter so easily, but said he must first get him +a feather from the Old Griffin's tail. + +Jack started at once, and marched right briskly on. In the evening he +arrived at a castle, where he asked for a night's lodging, for at that +time there were no such things as hotels; and the master of the castle +greeted him very civilly, and asked him where he was going to. Jack +answered, "To the Old Griffin." "Oh, indeed! to the Old Griffin; they +say he knows everything, and I have lost the key to an iron money chest; +perhaps you would be good enough to ask him where it is!" "Certainly," +said Jack, "that I will." Early the next morning he started off again on +his road, and arrived at another castle, where he again passed the +night. When the people learned that he was going to the Old Griffin, +they said a daughter was ill in the house; they had already tried every +possible remedy, but without effect; would he be kind enough to ask Old +Griffin what would cure her? Jack said he would do it with pleasure, and +went on again. He arrived at a lake, and instead of a ferryboat there +was a big man who had to carry everybody over. The man asked him where +he was bound for? "To the Old Griffin," said Jack. "When you get to +him," said the man, "just ask him why I am obliged to carry everybody +over the water." "Yes, to be sure," said Jack; "goodness gracious! yes, +willingly!" The man then took him up on his shoulder and carried him +over. At last Jack arrived at the Old Griffin's house, and only found +the wife at home, not Old Griffin. The woman asked him what he wanted, +so he told her he must have a feather from Old Griffin's tail; and that +in a castle they had lost the key to the money chest, and he was to ask +the Griffin where it was; and then, in another castle, the daughter was +ill, and he was to know what would make her well again; then not far +from there were the water and the man who was obliged to carry everybody +over, and he should very much like to know why the man was obliged to +carry everybody over. "But," said the woman, "look you, my good friend, +no Christian can speak with a Griffin; he eats them all up; but, if you +like, you can lie there under his bed, and at night when he is fast +asleep you can reach up and pull a feather out of his tail; and as to +those things that you want to know, I will ask him myself." Jack was +quite satisfied with the arrangement, and got under the bed. In the +evening Old Griffin came home, and when he stepped into the room he +said, "Wife, I smell a Christian!" "Yes," said the wife, "there has been +one here to-day, but he went away again." So Old Griffin said no more. +In the middle of the night, when Griffin was snoring away lustily, Jack +reached up and pulled a feather out of his tail. The Griffin jumped up +suddenly and cried: "Wife, I smell a Christian! and it was just as if +some one had been plucking at my tail." The wife said: "You have no +doubt been dreaming. I have told you already that one has been here +to-day, but that he went away again. He told me all sorts of things; +that in one castle they had lost the key of the money chest and could +not find it." "Oh, the fools!" exclaimed the Griffin; "the key lies in +the wood-shed, behind the door, under a log of wood." "And further, he +said that in another castle the daughter was ill, and they knew no means +to cure her." "Oh, the fools!" said the Griffin, "under the cellar +stairs a toad has made its nest of her hair, and if she got the hair +back again she would be well." "And then, again, he said at a certain +place there was a lake, and a man who was obliged to carry everybody +over." "Oh, the fool!" said the Old Griffin, "if he were only to put +somebody into the middle he need not carry any more over." + +[Illustration: "IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT, WHEN GRIFFIN WAS SNORING +AWAY LUSTILY, JACK REACHED UP AND PULLED A FEATHER OUT OF HIS TAIL"] + +Early next morning the Old Griffin got up and went out, and Jack crept +from under the bed with a beautiful feather, having heard what the +Griffin had said about the key, the daughter, and the man. The wife +repeated it all to him so that he should not forget, and then he started +off toward home. He came to the man at the water first, and he asked him +directly what the Griffin had said; but Jack said he must carry him over +first, and then he would tell him. So he carried him over, and when they +got there Jack told him he had only to put somebody into the middle and +then he need carry no more. The man was delighted beyond measure, and +told Jack that out of gratitude he should like to carry him over and +back once more. But Jack said nay, he would save him the trouble; he was +quite contented with him already, and then went on. Next he arrived at +the castle where the daughter was ill; he took her on his shoulder, for +she was not able to walk, and carried her down the cellar stairs, and +then took the toad's nest from under the bottom step and put it into the +daughter's hand, and all at once she jumped off his shoulder, up the +stairs before him, strong and well. Now the father and mother were +delighted indeed, and made Jack presents of gold and silver, and +whatever he wanted they gave him. + +When Jack arrived at the other castle he went straight to the wood-shed, +and found the key right behind the door under the log of wood, and took +it to the master. He was not a little pleased, and gave Jack in return a +great deal of gold that was in the box and all sorts of things besides, +such as cows and sheep and goats. + +When Jack returned to the King with all these things, with the money and +gold and silver, and the cows, sheep, and goats, the King asked him how +he had come by it all. So Jack said the Old Griffin would give one as +much as one liked. The King thought he could find a use for that kind of +gifts himself, and so started off to the Griffin; but when he got to the +water he happened to be the first who had crossed over since Jack, and +the man put him in the middle of the stream and walked off, and the King +was drowned. + +So Jack married the King's daughter and became King. + + + + +_The Three Feathers_ + + +ONCE upon a time there lived a king who had three sons, two of whom were +bright youths, but the youngest never had anything to say for himself, +so he was set down by everyone as a simpleton. + +Years went on, and the King felt himself growing old, and he thought it +was time to decide which of his sons was to succeed him. + +This was not so easy, so he told the youths that whoever should bring +him the most beautiful carpet should be his heir, and, lest they should +all want to go in the same direction and quarrel, he went up to the roof +of the palace and blew three feathers up into the air, saying: + +"As they fly, thither shall you follow." + +One feather flew east, another west, and the third went in a straight +line between the two for a little way, and then fell suddenly to the +ground. So one brother went east, and another west, and poor Dummling +was left to follow the third feather, which had gone no distance at all, +whereat his brothers were much amused. + +Dummling sat down beside his feather, feeling very sad and doleful, and +he was just thinking that all chance of the kingdom was at an end for +him, when he discovered that all the time he was staring at a trapdoor +in the ground. He lifted it, and found steps leading down into the +earth, so he went down the stairs till he came to a door, and then he +knocked. + +Immediately he heard a voice singing: + + "Little frog, so green and cold, + I prithee open and behold + Who it is that knocks so bold," + +and the door opened, and he saw a large frog squatting in the middle of +a circle of little ones. The big one bowed to him as he entered, and +asked him what he sought. + +"Please," said Dummling, taking off his cap and returning the bow, "I +want to know if you can help me to get the most beautiful carpet in the +world." + +The Frog rolled her eyes for a minute, and then, turning to one of the +little ones at her side, said: + +"Go bring me hither the big casket," and the little frog hopped away, +and came back dragging a large box. + +Then the mother Frog took a key that hung around her neck on a chain, +and opened the box and drew forth the most beautiful carpet that was +ever seen. + +Dummling was delighted with it, and thanking her very heartily, he +hurried up the steps, eager to take it to the palace. + +Meanwhile, the two brothers, never thinking that Dummling was clever +enough to find any sort of carpet at all, said to each other: + +"Let us buy the shawl of the first peasant woman we meet. That should be +good enough to win us the kingdom." + +So they bought a common old shawl at the first opportunity, and took it +home to the palace, arriving just at the same moment as Dummling. + +The King was astonished when the carpets were spread out before him and +he saw the lovely thing Dummling had brought. + +[Illustration: "THEN DUMMLING'S LOVELY MAIDEN SPRANG LIGHTLY AND +GRACEFULLY THROUGH THE RING"] + +"The prize," said he, "should by rights belong to my youngest son." + +But the others were so angry at this, and worried their father so much, +that for very peace he had to consent to a new test. + +So the King gave out that whoever should bring him the most beautiful +ring should be King when he died, and he blew up the feathers as before, +and bade the youths follow them. + +The two eldest went east and west, but Dummling's feather did as it did +the first time, and fell to earth just by the trapdoor. So he pulled it +up once again and went down the steps. + +When the door was opened, he told the big Frog that he wanted the most +beautiful ring in the world. So she sent one of her little attendants +hopping for her jewel casket, and, when it was come, she took out of it +a ring that fairly blazed with diamonds and other jewels, and finer than +the finest workmanship that could be obtained. You may imagine Dummling +thanked her very warmly for the ring, and hurried off back to the palace +as fast as his legs could carry him. He found his brothers had just +arrived with rings they had taken no more pains to make than to beat two +rusty nails into circlets. As soon as the King saw Dummling's lovely +jewel, he cried out: + +"The kingdom belongs to him." + +But the brothers again flew into a passion at this, and said that a +youth who had as little wit as Dummling could not possibly reign over +the land. So they worried the father at last to make just one more +condition; and this time he said that whoever should bring home the most +beautiful woman in the world should succeed to the throne. A third time +he blew the feathers into the air, and the youths set out after them. + +Dummling's feather floated and fell just as before, and again he pulled +up his trapdoor and went down into the presence of the old Frog, and +told her that this time he wanted the most beautiful maiden in all the +world. + +"Hum!" said the Frog, "it is not everyone who gets that; still I will do +my best for you, nevertheless. But first take this," and she gave +Dummling a little toy cart made of a hollow carrot, to which were +harnessed six beautiful white mice. + +The youth looked at this rather doubtfully, and asked the mother Frog +what he was to do with it. + +"I will tell you," she said. "Take one of my little frog attendants and +set her on the carrot." + +So Dummling picked up the one that happened to be nearest him and put +her on the carrot, and lo and behold! no sooner was she seated than she +changed into a beautiful maiden, and the carrot and the mice into a +grand chariot drawn by six prancing horses. As soon as he could stop +rubbing his eyes from wonder, Dummling kissed the maiden, and drove off +in triumph to the palace. + +Meanwhile, the brothers, as usual, had taken no trouble whatever, and at +the moment Dummling drove up in his glory they appeared with two peasant +girls, who were not even pretty. + +Of course the King had nothing for it but to award the kingdom to his +youngest son, and, of course, the elder brothers still grumbled, and +made such a fuss that at last the poor King had to consent to yet +another trial. + +To prove which was the best wife of the three, he decided that they +should all jump through a hoop in the hall, and the one who did it most +prettily was to be the winner. + +And now all the court was gathered together in the hall to see the +contest. The country girls jumped, but were so plump that they fell +heavily and broke their arms and legs. Then Dummling's lovely maiden +sprang lightly and gracefully through the ring, and landed safely on the +other side. + +So at last the brothers had to be content, and in time Dummling came to +the throne and ruled wisely and well for many, many years. + + + + +_The House in the Wood_ + + +THERE was once a poor Woodcutter who lived with his Wife and three +Daughters in a little hut on the edge of a large forest. One morning, +when he went out to his usual work, he said to his Wife: "Let my dinner +be brought by our eldest Daughter, I shall not be ready to come home; +and that she may not lose her way, I will take with me a bag of seeds +and strew them on my path." + +So when the sun was risen to the center of the heavens, the Maiden set +out on her way, carrying a jug of soup. But the field and wood sparrows, +the larks, blackbirds, goldfinches, and greenfinches, had many hours ago +picked up the seeds, so that the Maiden could find no trace of the way. +So she walked on, trusting to fortune, till the sun set and night came +on. The trees soon began to rustle in the darkness, the owls to hoot, +and the girl began to feel frightened. All at once she perceived a light +shining at a distance among the trees. "People must dwell there," she +thought, "who will keep me during the night"; and she walked toward the +light. In a short time she came to a cottage where the windows were all +lighted up, and when she knocked at the door a hoarse voice called from +within, "Come in." The girl opened the door and perceived a hoary Old +Man sitting at a table with his face buried in his hands, and his white +beard flowing down over the table on to the ground. On the hearth lay +three animals--a hen, a cock, and a brindled cow. The girl told the Old +Man her adventures, and begged for a night's lodging. The Man said: + + "Pretty Hen, pretty Cock, + And pretty brindled Cow, + What have you to say to that?" + +"Cluck!" said the animals, and as that meant they were satisfied, the +Old Man said to the Maiden: "Here is abundance, and to spare; go now +into the kitchen and cook some supper for us." + +The girl found plenty of everything in the kitchen, and cooked a good +meal, but thought nothing about the animals. When she had finished she +carried a full dish into the room, and, sitting down opposite the Old +Man, ate till she had satisfied her hunger. When she had done she said: +"I am very tired; where is my bed, where I shall lie down and sleep?" +The animals replied: + + "You have eaten with him, + You have drunk, too, with him; + And yet you have not thought of us; + Still you may pass the night here." + +Thereupon the Old Man said: "Step down yon stair, and you will come to a +room containing two beds, shake them up and cover them with white +sheets, and then I will come and lie down to sleep myself." The Maiden +stepped down the stair, and as soon as she had shaken up the beds and +covered them afresh, she laid herself down in one bed, without waiting +for the Old Man. But after some time the Old Man came, and, after +looking at the girl with the light, shook his head when he saw she was +fast asleep; and then, opening a trapdoor, dropped her down into the +cellar below. + +Late in the evening the Woodcutter arrived at home, and scolded his Wife +because she had let him hunger all day long. "It is not my fault," she +replied; "the girl was sent out with your dinner; she must have lost her +way; but to-morrow she will return, no doubt." At daybreak the +Woodcutter got up to go into the forest, and desired that the second +Daughter should bring him his meal this time. "I will take a bag of +peas," he said; "they are larger than corn seed, and the girl will +therefore see them better and not lose my track." At noonday, +accordingly, the girl set out with her father's dinner; but the peas had +all disappeared, for the wood birds had picked them all up as they had +on the day before, and not one was left. So the poor girl wandered about +in the forest till it was quite dark, and then she also arrived at the +Old Man's hut, was invited in, and begged food and a night's lodging. +The Man of the white beard asked his animals again: + + "Pretty Hen, and pretty Cock, + And pretty brindled Cow, + What have you to say to that?" + +They answered again, "Cluck!" and everything thereupon occurred the same +as on the previous day. The girl cooked a good meal, ate and drank with +the Old Man, but never once thought of the animals; and when she asked +for her bed, they made answer: + + "You have eaten with him, + You have drunk, too, with him; + And yet you have not thought of us; + Still you may pass the night here!" + +As soon as she was gone to sleep the Old Man came, and, after looking at +her and shaking his head as before, dropped her into the cellar below. + +Meanwhile the third morning arrived, and the Woodcutter told his Wife to +send their youngest child with his dinner: "For," said he, "she is +always obedient and good; she will keep in the right path and not run +about like those idle hussies, her sisters!" + +But the Mother refused, and said: "Shall I lose my youngest child too?" + +"Be not afraid of that," said her husband; "the girl will not miss her +way, she is too steady and prudent; but for more precaution I will take +beans to strew, they are larger still than peas, and will show her the +way better." + +But by and by, when the girl went out with her basket on her arm, the +wood pigeons had eaten up all the beans, and she knew not which way to +turn. She was full of trouble, and thought with grief how her Father +would want his dinner and how her dear Mother would grieve when she did +not return. At length, when it became quite dark, she also perceived +the lighted cottage, and entering it, begged very politely to be allowed +to pass the night there. The Old Man asked the animals a third time in +the same words: + + "Pretty Hen, pretty Cock, + And pretty brindled Cow, + What have you to say to that?" + +"Cluck, cluck!" said they. Thereupon the Maiden stepped up to the fire, +near which they lay, and fondled the pretty Hen and Cock, smoothing +their plumage down with her hands, while she stroked the Cow between her +horns. Afterwards, when she had got ready a good supper at the Old Man's +request, and had placed the dishes on the table, she thought to herself: +"I must not appease my hunger till I have fed these good creatures. +There is an abundance in the kitchen, I will serve them first." Thus +thinking she went and fetched some corn and strewed it before the fowls, +and then she brought an armful of hay and gave it to the Cow. "Now, eat +away, you good creatures," said she to them, "and when you are thirsty +you shall have a nice fresh draught." So saying she brought in a pailful +of water; and the Hen and Cock perched themselves on its edge, put their +beaks in, and then drew their heads up as birds do when drinking; the +Cow also took a hearty draught. When the animals were thus fed, the +Maiden sat down at table with the Old Man and ate what was left for her. +In a short while the Hen and Cock began to fold their wings over their +heads, and the brindled Cow blinked with both eyes. Then the Maiden +asked: "Shall we not also take our rest?" The Old Man replied as before: + + "Pretty Hen, pretty Cock, + And pretty brindled Cow, + What have you to say to that?" + +"Cluck, cluck!" replied the animals, meaning: + + "You have eaten with us, + You have drunk, too, with us, + You have thought of us kindly, too; + And we wish you a good night's rest." + +So the Maiden went down the stairs, and shook up the feather beds and +laid on clean sheets, and when they were ready the Old Man came and lay +down in one, with his white beard stretching down to his feet. The girl +then lay down in the other bed, first saying her prayers before she went +to sleep. + +She slept quietly till midnight, and at that hour there began such a +tumult in the house that it awakened her. Presently it began to crack +and rumble in every corner of the room, and the doors were slammed back +against the wall, and then the beams groaned as if they were being riven +away from their fastenings, and the stairs fell down, and at last it +seemed as if the whole roof fell in. Soon after that all was quiet, but +the Maiden took no harm, and went quietly off again to sleep. When, +however the bright light of the morning sun awoke her, what a sight met +her eyes! She found herself lying in a large chamber, with everything +around belonging to regal pomp. On the walls were represented gold +flowers growing on a green silk ground; the bed was of ivory, and the +curtains of red velvet, and on a stool close by was placed a pair of +slippers ornamented with pearls. The Maiden thought it was all a dream; +but presently in came three servants dressed in rich liveries, who asked +her what were her commands. "Leave me," replied the Maiden; "I will get +up at once and cook some breakfast for the Old Man, and also feed the +pretty Hen, the pretty Cock, and the brindled Cow." She spoke thus +because she thought the Old Man was already up; but when she looked +round at his bed, she saw a stranger to her lying asleep in it. While +she was looking at him, and saw that he was both young and handsome, he +awoke, and starting up, said to the Maiden: "I am a king's son, who was +long ago changed by a wicked old witch into the form of an old man, and +condemned to live alone in the wood, with nobody to bear me company but +my three servants in the form of a hen, a cock, and a brindled cow. And +the enchantment was not to end until a maiden should come so +kind-hearted that she should behave as well to my animals as she did to +me; and such a one you have been; and, therefore, this last midnight we +were saved through you, and the old wooden hut has again become my royal +palace." + +When he had thus spoken the girl and he arose, and the Prince told his +three servants to fetch to the palace the Father and Mother of the +Maiden, that they might witness her marriage. + +"But where are my two Sisters?" she asked. "I have put them in the +cellar," replied the Prince, "and there they must remain till to-morrow +morning, when they shall be led into the forest, and bound as servants +to a collier, until they have reformed their tempers, and learned not to +let poor animals suffer hunger." + + + + +_Rapunzel_ + + +THERE was once a man and his wife who had long wished in vain for a +child, when at last they had reason to hope that Heaven would grant +their wish. There was a little window at the back of their house, which +overlooked a beautiful garden, full of lovely flowers and shrubs. It +was, however, surrounded by a high wall, and nobody dared to enter it, +because it belonged to a powerful witch, who was feared by everyone. + +One day the woman, standing at this window and looking into the garden, +saw a bed planted with beautiful corn salad. It looked so fresh and +green that it made her long to eat some of it. This longing increased +every day, and as she knew it could never be satisfied, she began to +look pale and miserable, and to pine away. Then her husband became +alarmed, and said: "What ails you, my dear wife?" + +"Alas!" she answered, "if I cannot get any of the corn salad from the +garden behind our house to eat, I shall die." + +Her husband, who loved her, thought: "Before you let your wife die, you +must fetch her some of that corn salad, cost what it may." So in the +twilight he climbed over the wall into the Witch's garden, hastily +picked a handful of corn salad, and took it back to his wife. She +immediately dressed it, and ate it up very eagerly. It was so very, very +nice that the next day her longing for it increased threefold. She could +have no peace unless her husband fetched her some more. So in the +twilight he set out again; but when he got over the wall he was +terrified to see the Witch before him. + +"How dare you come into my garden like a thief, and steal my corn +salad?" she said, with angry looks. "It shall disagree with you." + +"Alas!" he answered, "be merciful to me; I am only here from necessity. +My wife sees your corn salad from the window, and she has such a longing +for it that she would die if she could not get some of it." + +The anger of the Witch abated, and she said to him: "If it is as you +say, I will allow you to take away with you as much corn salad as you +like, but on one condition. You must give me the child which your wife +is about to bring into the world. I will care for it like a mother, and +all will be well with it." In his fear the man consented to everything, +and when the baby was born the Witch appeared, gave it the name of +Rapunzel (corn salad), and took it away with her. + +Rapunzel was the most beautiful child under the sun. When she was twelve +years old, the Witch shut her up in a tower which stood in a wood. It +had neither staircase nor doors, and only a little window quite high up +in the wall. When the Witch wanted to enter the tower, she stood at the +foot of it and cried: + +"Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your hair!" + +Rapunzel had splendid long hair, as fine as spun gold. As soon as she +heard the voice of the Witch she unfastened her plaits and twisted them +around a hook by the window. They fell twenty ells downward, and the +Witch climbed up by them. + +It happened a couple of years later that the King's son rode through the +forest and came close to the tower. From thence he heard a song so +lovely that he stopped to listen. It was Rapunzel, who in her loneliness +made her sweet voice resound to pass away the time. The King's son +wanted to join her, and he sought for the door of the tower, but there +was none to find. + +He rode home, but the song had touched his heart so deeply that he went +into the forest every day to listen to it. Once, when he was hidden +behind a tree, he saw a witch come to the tower and call out: + +"Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your hair!" + +Then Rapunzel lowered her plaits of hair and the Witch climbed up to +her. + +"If that is the ladder by which one ascends, I will try my luck myself." +And the next day, when it began to grow dark, he went to the tower and +cried: + +"Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your hair!" + +The hair fell down at once, and the King's son climbed up by it. + +At first Rapunzel was terrified, for she had never set eyes on a man +before, but the King's son talked to her in a friendly way, and told her +that his heart had been so deeply touched by her song that he had no +peace, and he was obliged to see her. Then Rapunzel lost her fear, and +when he asked if she would have him for her husband, and she saw that he +was young and handsome, she thought, "He will love me better than old +Mother Gothel." So she said, "Yes," and laid her hand in his. She said: +"I will gladly go with you, but I do not know how I am to get down from +this tower. When you come, will you bring a skein of silk with you every +time? I will twist it into a ladder, and when it is long enough I will +descend by it, and you can take me away with you on your horse." + +She arranged with him that he should come and see her every evening, for +the old Witch came in the daytime. + +The Witch discovered nothing, till suddenly Rapunzel said to her: "Tell +me, Mother Gothel, how can it be that you are so much heavier to draw up +than the young Prince who will be here in a moment?" + +"Oh, you wicked child, what do you say? I thought I had separated you +from all the world, and yet you have deceived me." In her rage she +seized Rapunzel's beautiful hair, twisted it twice around her left hand, +snatched up a pair of shears and cut off the plaits, which fell to the +ground. She was so merciless that she took poor Rapunzel away into a +wilderness, where she forced her to live in the greatest grief and +misery. + +In the evening of the day on which she had banished Rapunzel, the Witch +fastened the plaits, which she had cut off, to the hook by the window, +and when the Prince came and called, "Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your +hair!" she lowered the hair. The Prince climbed up, but there he found, +not his beloved Rapunzel, but the Witch, who looked at him with angry +and wicked eyes. + +"Ah!" she cried mockingly, "you have come to fetch your ladylove, but +the pretty bird is no longer in her nest; and she can sing no more, for +the cat has seized her, and it will scratch your own eyes out too. +Rapunzel is lost to you; you will never see her again." + +The Prince was beside himself with grief, and in his despair he sprang +out of the window. He was not killed, but his eyes were scratched out by +the thorns among which he fell. He wandered about blind in the wood, and +had nothing but roots and berries to eat. He did nothing but weep and +lament over the loss of his beloved wife Rapunzel. In this way he +wandered about for some years, till at last he reached the wilderness +where Rapunzel had been living in great poverty with the twins (a boy +and a girl) who had been born to her. + +He heard a voice which seemed very familiar to him, and he went toward +it. The voice was Rapunzel's, and she knew him at once, and fell weeping +upon his neck. Two of her tears fell upon his eyes, and they immediately +grew quite clear, and he could see as well as ever. + +He took her to his kingdom, where he was received with joy, and they +lived long and happily together. + + + + +_The Queen Bee_ + + +ONCE upon a time two princes started off in search of adventure, and, +falling into a wild, free mode of life, did not come home again. + +The third brother, who was called the Blockhead, set out to look for the +other two. But when at last he found them, they mocked him for thinking +of making his way in the world with his simplicity, while they, who were +so much cleverer, could not get on. + +They all three went on together till they came to an ant heap. The two +elder princes wanted to disturb it, to see how the little ants crept +away, carrying their eggs. + +But the Blockhead said: "Leave the little creatures alone; I will not +allow you to disturb them." + +Then they went on farther till they came to a lake in which a great many +ducks were swimming about. The two wanted to catch and roast a pair. + +But the Blockhead would not allow it, and said: "Leave the creatures +alone. You shall not kill them." + +At last they came to a bee's nest, containing such a quantity of honey +that it flowed around the trunk of the tree. + +The two princes wanted to set fire to the tree and suffocate the bees, +so as to remove the honey. + +But the Blockhead stopped them again, and said: "Leave the creatures +alone. I will not let you burn them." + +At last the three brothers came to a castle, where the stables were full +of stone horses, but not a soul was to be seen. They went through all +the rooms till they came to a door quite at the end, fastened with three +bolts. In the middle of the door was a lattice, through which one could +see into the room. + +There they saw a little gray man sitting at a table. They called to him +once, twice; but he did not hear them. Finally, when they had called him +the third time, he stood up and opened the door and came out. He said +not a word, but led them to a richly spread table, and when they had +eaten and drunk, he took them each to a bedroom. + +The next morning the little Gray Man came to the eldest Prince, +beckoned, and led him to a stone tablet whereon were inscribed three +tasks by means of which the castle should be freed from enchantment. + +This was the first task: in the wood, under the moss, lay the Princess's +pearls, a thousand in number. These had all to be found, and if at +sunset a single one were missing, the seeker would be turned to stone. + +The eldest went away, and searched all day, but when evening came, he +had only found the first hundred, and it happened as the inscription +foretold--he was turned to stone. + +The next day the second brother undertook the quest; but he fared no +better than the first, for he found only two hundred pearls, and he too +was turned to stone. + +At last came the Blockhead's turn; he searched in the moss, but the +pearls were hard to find, and he got on but slowly. + +Then he sat down on a rock and cried, and as he was sitting there, the +Ant King, whose life he had saved, came up with five thousand ants, and +it was not long before the little creatures had found all the pearls and +laid them in a heap. + +Now the second task was to get the key of the Princess's room out of the +lake. + +When the Blockhead came to the lake, the ducks, which he had once saved, +swam up, dived, and brought up the key from the depths. + +But the third task was the hardest. The Prince had to find out which was +the youngest and prettiest of the princesses while they were asleep. + +They were exactly alike, and could not be distinguished in any way, +except that before going to sleep each had eaten a different kind of +sweet. The eldest a piece of sugar, the second a little syrup, and the +third a spoonful of honey. + +Then the Queen of the Bees, whom the Blockhead had saved from burning, +came and tried the lips of all three. Finally, she settled on the mouth +of the one who had eaten the honey, and so the Prince recognized the +right one. + +Then the charm was broken and everything in the castle was set free, and +those who had been turned to stone took human form again. + +And the Blockhead married the youngest and sweetest Princess, and became +King after her father's death, while his two brothers married the other +sisters. + + + + +_The Many-Furred Creature_ + + +THERE was once upon a time a king who had a wife with golden hair, and +she was so beautiful that you couldn't find anyone like her in the +world. It happened that she fell ill, and when she felt that she must +soon die she sent for the King and said: "If you want to marry after my +death, make no one queen unless she is just as beautiful as I am and has +just such golden hair as I have. Promise me this." After the King had +promised her this she closed her eyes and died. + +For a long time the King was not to be comforted, and he did not even +think of taking a second wife. At last his councilors said: "The King +must marry again, so that we may have a Queen." So messengers were sent +far and wide to seek for a bride equal to the late Queen in beauty. But +there was no one in the wide world, and if there had been she could not +have had such golden hair. Then the messengers came home again, not +having been able to find a queen. + +Now, the King had a daughter who was just as beautiful as her dead +mother and had just such golden hair. One day, when she had grown up, +her father looked at her and saw that she was exactly like her mother, +so he said to his councilors: "I will marry my daughter to one of you +and she shall be Queen, for she is exactly like her dead mother, and +when I die her husband shall be King." But when the Princess heard of +her father's decision she was not at all pleased and said to him: +"Before I do your bidding I must have three dresses; one as golden as +the sun, one as silver as the moon, and one as shining as the stars. +Besides these, I want a cloak made of a thousand different kinds of +skin. Every animal in your kingdom must give a bit of his skin to it." +But she thought to herself: "This will be quite impossible, and I shall +not have to marry some one I do not care for." + +The King, however, was not to be turned from his purpose, and he +commanded the most skilled maidens in his kingdom to weave the three +dresses, one as golden as the sun, and one as silver as the moon, and +one as shining as the stars; and he gave orders to all his huntsmen to +catch one of every kind of beast in the kingdom and to get a bit of its +skin to make the cloak of a thousand pieces of fur. At last, when all +was ready, the King commanded the cloak to be brought to him, and he +spread it out before the Princess and said: "To-morrow shall be your +wedding day." When the Princess saw that there was no more hope of +changing her father's resolution, she determined to flee away. + +In the night, when everyone else was sleeping, she got up and took three +things from her treasures, a gold ring, a little gold spinning wheel, +and a gold reel. She put the sun, moon, and star dresses in a nut shell, +drew on the cloak of many skins, and made her face and hands black with +soot. Then she commended herself to God and went out and traveled the +whole night till she came to a large forest. And as she was very much +tired she sat down inside a hollow tree and fell asleep. + +The sun rose and she still slept on and on, although it was nearly noon. +Now, it happened that the King to whom this wood belonged was hunting in +it. When his dogs came to the tree they sniffed and ran round and round +it, barking. The King said to the huntsmen: "See what sort of a wild +beast is in there." The huntsmen went in and then came back and said: +"In the hollow tree there lies a wonderful animal that we don't know, +and we have never seen one like it. Its skin is made of a thousand +pieces of fur; but it is lying down asleep." The King said: "See if you +can catch it alive, and then fasten it to the cart and we will take it +with us." + +When the huntsmen seized the maiden, she awoke and was frightened and +cried out to them: "I am a poor child, forsaken by father and mother. +Take pity on me and let me go with you." Then they said to her: +"Many-furred Creature, you can work in the kitchen. Come with us and +sweep the ashes together." So they put her in the cart and went back to +the palace. There they showed her a tiny room under the stairs, where no +daylight came, and said to her: "Many-furred Creature, you can live and +sleep here." Then she was sent into the kitchen, where she carried wood +and water, poked the fire, washed vegetables, plucked fowls, swept up +the ashes, and did all the dirty work. + +So the Many-furred Creature lived for a long time in great poverty. Ah, +beautiful king's daughter, what is going to befall you now? + +It happened once when a great feast was being held in the palace that +she said to the cook: "Can I go upstairs for a little bit and look on? I +will stand outside the doors." The cook replied: "Yes, you can go up, +but in half an hour you must be back here to sweep up the ashes." Then +she took her little oil lamp and went into her little room, drew off her +fur cloak, and washed off the soot from her face and hands, so that her +beauty shone forth, and it was as if one sunbeam after another were +coming out of a black cloud. Then she opened the nut and took out the +dress as golden as the sun. And when she had done this she went up to +the feast, and everyone stepped out of her way, for nobody knew her, and +they thought she must be a king's daughter. But the King came toward her +and gave her his hand, and danced with her, thinking to himself, "My +eyes have never beheld anyone so fair!" When the dance was ended she +courtesied to him, and when the King looked around she had disappeared, +no one knew whither. The guards who were standing before the palace were +called and questioned, but no one had seen her. + +She had run to her little room and had quickly taken off her dress, made +her face and hands black, put on the fur cloak, and was once more the +Many-furred Creature. When she came into the kitchen and was setting +about her work of sweeping the ashes together the cook said to her: "Let +that wait till to-morrow, and just cook the King's soup for me. I want +to have a little peep at the company upstairs. But be sure that you do +not let a hair fall into it, otherwise you will get nothing to eat in +future!" So the cook went away, and the Many-furred Creature cooked the +soup for the King. She made a bread soup as well as she possibly could, +and when it was done she fetched her gold ring from her little room and +laid it in the tureen in which the soup was to be served up. + +When the dance was ended the King had his soup brought to him and ate +it, and it was so good that he thought he had never tasted such soup in +his life. But when he came to the bottom of the dish he saw a gold ring +lying there, and he could not imagine how it got in. Then he commanded +the cook to be brought before him. The cook was terrified when he heard +the command and said to the Many-furred Creature: "You must have let a +hair fall into the soup, and if you have you deserve a good beating!" + +When he came before the King, the King asked who had cooked the soup. +The cook answered: "I cooked it." But the King said: "That's not true, +for it was quite different and much better soup than you have ever +cooked." Then the cook said: "I must confess. I did not cook the soup; +the Many-furred Creature did." "Let her be brought before me," said the +King. + +When the Many-furred Creature came the King asked her who she was. "I +am a poor child without father or mother." Then he asked her: "What do +you do in my palace?" "I am of no use except to have boots thrown at my +head." "How did you get the ring which was in the soup?" he asked. "I +know nothing at all about the ring," she answered. So the King could +find out nothing and was obliged to send her away. + +After a time there was another feast, and the Many-furred Creature +begged the cook again to let her go and look on. He answered: "Yes, but +come back again in half an hour and cook the King the bread soup that he +likes so much." So she ran away to her little room, washed herself +quickly, took out of the nut the dress as silver as the moon and put it +on. Then she went upstairs looking just like a king's daughter, and the +King came toward her, delighted to see her again, and as the dance had +just begun, they danced together. But when the dance was ended she +disappeared again so quickly that the King could not see which way she +went. + +She ran to her little room and changed herself once more into the +Many-furred Creature, and went into the kitchen to cook the bread soup. +When the cook was upstairs she fetched the golden spinning wheel and put +it in the dish, so that the soup was poured over it. It was brought to +the King, who ate it and liked it as much as the last time. He had the +cook sent to him, and again he had to confess that the Many-furred +Creature had cooked the soup. Then the Many-furred Creature came before +the King, but she said again that she was of no use except to have boots +thrown at her head, and that she knew nothing at all of the golden +spinning wheel. + +When the King had a feast for the third time things did not turn out +quite the same as they had before. The cook said: "You must be a witch, +Many-furred Creature, for you always put something in the soup, so that +it is much better and tastes nicer to the King than any that I cook." +But because she begged hard he let her go up for the third time. Now she +put on the dress as shining as the stars and stepped into the hall in +it. + +The King danced again with the beautiful maiden, and thought she had +never looked so beautiful. And while he was dancing he put a gold ring +on her finger without her seeing it, and he commanded that the dance +should last longer than usual. When it was finished he wanted to keep +her hands in his, but she broke from him and sprang so quickly away +among the people that she vanished from his sight. She ran as fast as +she could to her little room under the stairs, but because she had +stayed too long beyond the half hour she could not stop to take off the +beautiful dress, but only threw the fur cloak over it, and in her haste +did not make herself quite black with the soot, one finger remaining +white. + +The Many-furred Creature now ran into the kitchen, cooked the King's +bread soup, and when the cook had gone she laid the golden reel in the +dish. When the King found the reel at the bottom, he had the Many-furred +Creature brought to him, and then he saw the white finger and the ring +which he had put on her hand in the dance. Then he took her hand and +held her tightly, and as she was trying to get away she undid the fur +cloak a little bit and the star dress shone out. The King seized the +cloak and tore it off her. Her golden hair came down, and she stood +there in her full splendor and could not hide herself away any more. And +when the soot and ashes had been washed from her face she looked more +beautiful than anyone in the world. But the King said: "You are my dear +bride and we will never be separated from each other." So the wedding +was celebrated and they lived happily ever after. + + + + +_Snow-white and Rose-red_ + + +A POOR widow once lived in a little cottage with a garden in front of +it, in which grew two rose trees, one bearing white roses and the other +red. She had two children, who were just like the two rose trees; one +was called Snow-white and the other Rose-red, and they were the +sweetest and best children in the world, always diligent and always +cheerful; but Snow-white was quieter and more gentle than Rose-red. +Rose-red loved to run about the fields and meadows and to pick flowers +and catch butterflies; but Snow-white sat at home with her mother and +helped her in the household, or read aloud to her when there was no work +to do. The two children loved each other so dearly that they always +walked about, hand in hand, whenever they went out together, and when +Snow-white said, "We will never desert each other," Rose-red answered, +"No, not as long as we live"; and the mother added: "Whatever one gets +she shall share with the other." They often roamed about in the woods +gathering berries, and no beast offered to hurt them; on the contrary, +they came up to them in the most confiding manner; the little hare would +eat a cabbage leaf from their hands, the deer grazed beside them, the +stag would bound past them merrily, and the birds remained on the +branches and sang to them with all their might. No evil ever befell +them; if they tarried late in the wood and night overtook them, they lay +down together on the moss and slept till morning, and their mother knew +they were quite safe and never felt anxious about them. Once, when they +had slept the night in the wood and had been wakened by the morning sun, +they perceived a beautiful child in a shining white robe sitting close +to their resting place. The figure rose up, looked at them kindly, but +said nothing and vanished into the wood. And when they looked round +about them they became aware that they had slept quite close to a +precipice, over which they would certainly have fallen had they gone on +a few steps farther in the darkness. And when they told their mother of +their adventure, she said what they had seen must have been the angel +that guards good children. + +Snow-white and Rose-red kept their mother's cottage so beautifully clean +and neat that it was a pleasure to go into it. In summer Rose-red looked +after the house, and every morning before her mother awoke she placed a +bunch of flowers before the bed, and a rose from each tree. In winter +Snow-white lit the fire and put on the kettle, which was made of brass, +but so beautifully polished that it shone like gold. In the evening when +the snowflakes fell, their mother said, "Snow-white, go and close the +shutters"; and they drew round the fire, while the mother put on her +spectacles and read aloud from a big book, and the two girls listened +and sat and spun. Beside them on the ground lay a little lamb, and +behind them perched a little white dove with its head tucked under its +wings. + +One evening as they sat thus cozily together some one knocked at the +door as though he desired admittance. The mother said: "Rose-red, open +the door quickly! it must be some traveler seeking shelter." Rose-red +hastened to unbar the door, and thought she saw a poor man standing in +the darkness outside; but it was no such thing, only a bear, who poked +his thick black head through the door. Rose-red screamed aloud and +sprang back in terror, the lamb began to bleat, the dove flapped its +wings, and Snow-white ran and hid behind her mother's bed. But the bear +began to speak, and said: "Don't be afraid; I won't hurt you. I am half +frozen, and only wish to warm myself a little." "My poor bear," said the +mother, "lie down by the fire, only take care you don't burn your fur." +Then she called out: "Snow-white and Rose-red, come out; the bear will +do you no harm; he is a good, honest creature." So they both came out of +their hiding places, and gradually the lamb and dove drew near too, and +they all forgot their fear. The bear asked the children to beat the snow +a little out of his fur, and they fetched a brush and scrubbed him till +he was dry. Then the beast stretched himself in front of the fire and +growled quite happily and comfortably. The children soon grew quite at +their ease with him and led their hapless guest a fearful life. They +tugged his fur with their hands, put their small feet on his back, and +rolled him about here and there, or took a hazel wand and beat him with +it; and if he growled they only laughed. The bear submitted to +everything with the best possible good nature, only when they went too +far he cried: "O children, spare my life! + + "'Snow-white and Rose-red, + Don't beat your lover dead.'" + +When it was time to retire for the night and the others went to bed, the +mother said to the bear: "You can lie there on the hearth, in Heaven's +name; it will be shelter for you from the cold and wet." As soon as day +dawned the children let him out, and he trotted over the snow into the +wood. From this time on the bear came every evening at the same hour, +and lay down by the hearth and let the children play what pranks they +liked with him; and they grew so accustomed to him that the door was +never shut till their black friend had made his appearance. + +When spring came and all outside was green, the bear said one morning to +Snow-white: "Now I must go away and not return again the whole summer." +"Where are you going to, dear bear?" asked Snow-white. "I must go to the +wood and protect my treasure from the wicked dwarfs. In winter, when the +earth is frozen hard, they are obliged to remain underground, for they +can't work their way through; but now, when the sun has thawed and +warmed the ground, they break through and come up above to spy the land +and steal what they can. What once falls into their hands and into their +caves is not easily brought back to light." Snow-white was quite sad +over their friend's departure, and when she unbarred the door for him +the bear, stepping out, caught a piece of his fur in the door knocker, +and Snow-white thought she caught sight of glittering gold beneath it, +but she couldn't be certain of it; and the bear ran hastily away and +soon disappeared behind the trees. + +A short time after this the mother sent the children into the wood to +collect fagots. They came in their wanderings upon a big tree which lay +felled on the ground, and on the trunk among the long grass they noticed +something jumping up and down, but what it was they couldn't +distinguish. + +When they approached nearer they perceived a dwarf with a wizened face +and a beard a yard long. The end of the beard was jammed into a cleft of +the tree, and the little man sprang about like a dog on a chain, and +didn't seem to know what he was to do. He glared at the girls with his +fiery red eyes and screamed out: "What are you standing there for? Can't +you come and help me?" "What were you doing, little man?" asked +Rose-red. "You stupid, inquisitive goose!" replied the dwarf; "I wanted +to split the tree in order to get little chips of wood for our kitchen +fire; those thick logs that serve to make fires for coarse, greedy +people like yourselves quite burn up all the little food we need. I had +successfully driven in the wedge and all was going well, but the horrid +wood was so slippery that it suddenly sprang out, and the tree closed up +so rapidly that I had no time to take my beautiful white beard out, so +here I am stuck fast and I can't get away; and you silly, smooth-faced, +milk-and-water girls just stand and laugh. Ugh, what wretches you are!" + +The children did all in their power, but they couldn't get the beard +out; it was wedged in far too firmly. "I will run and fetch somebody," +said Rose-red. "Crazy blockheads!" snapped the dwarf; "what's the good +of calling anyone else? You're already two too many for me. Does nothing +better occur to you than that?" "Don't be so impatient," said +Snow-white. "I'll see you get help." And taking her scissors out of her +pocket she cut the end off his beard. As soon as the dwarf felt himself +free he seized a bagful of gold which was hidden among the roots of the +tree, lifted it up, and muttered aloud: "Curse these rude wretches, +cutting off a piece of my splendid beard!" With these words he swung the +bag over his back and disappeared without as much as looking at the +children again. + +Shortly after this Snow-white and Rose-red went out to get a dish of +fish. As they approached the stream they saw something which looked like +an enormous grasshopper springing toward the water as if it were going +to jump in. They ran forward and recognized their old friend, the +dwarf. "Where are you going to?" asked Rose-red. "You're surely not +going to jump into the water?" "I'm not such a fool," screamed the +dwarf. "Don't you see that horrid fish is trying to drag me in?" The +little man had been sitting on the bank fishing, when unfortunately the +wind had entangled his beard in the line; and when immediately +afterwards a big fish bit, the feeble little creature had no strength to +pull it out. The fish had the upper fin and dragged the dwarf toward +him. He clung on with all his might to every rush and blade of grass, +but it didn't help him much. He had to follow every movement of the fish +and was in great danger of being drawn into the water. The girls came up +just at the right moment, held him firm, and did all they could to +disentangle his beard from the line; but in vain--beard and line were in +a hopeless muddle. Nothing remained but to produce the scissors and cut +the beard, by which a small part of it was sacrificed. + +When the dwarf perceived what they were about, he yelled to them: "Do +you call that manners, you toadstools! to disfigure a fellow's face? It +wasn't enough that you shortened my beard before, but you must now needs +cut off the best of it. I can't appear like this before my own people. I +wish you'd been at Jericho first." Then he fetched a sack of pearls that +lay among the rushes, and without saying another word he dragged it away +and disappeared behind a stone. + +It happened that soon after this the mother sent the two girls to the +town to buy needles, thread, laces, and ribbons. Their road led over a +heath where huge bowlders of rock lay scattered here and there. While +trudging along they saw a big bird hovering in the air, circling slowly +above them, but always descending lower, till at last it settled on a +rock not far from them. Immediately afterwards they heard a sharp, +piercing cry. They ran forward and saw with horror that the eagle had +pounced on their old friend the dwarf and was about to carry him off. +The tender-hearted children seized hold of the little man, and struggled +so long with the bird that at last he let go his prey. When the dwarf +had recovered from the first shock he screamed in his squeaking voice: +"Couldn't you have treated me more carefully? You have torn my thin +little coat all to shreds, useless, awkward hussies that you are!" Then +he took a bag of precious stones and vanished under the rocks into his +cave. The girls were accustomed to his ingratitude, and went on their +way and did their business in town. On their way home, as they were +again passing the heath, they surprised the dwarf pouring out his +precious stones on an open space, for he had thought no one would pass +by at so late an hour. The evening sun shone on the glittering stones, +and they glanced and gleamed so beautifully that the children stood +still and gazed on them. "What are you standing there gaping for?" +screamed the dwarf, and his ashen-gray face became scarlet with rage. He +was about to go off with these angry words, when a sudden growl was +heard and a black bear trotted out of the wood. The dwarf jumped up in a +great fright, but he hadn't time to reach his place of retreat, for the +bear was already close to him. Then he cried in terror: "Dear Mr. Bear, +spare me! I'll give you all my treasure. Look at these beautiful +precious stones lying there. Spare my life! What pleasure would you get +from a poor, feeble little fellow like me? You won't feel me between +your teeth. There, lay hold of these two wicked girls--they will be a +tender morsel for you, as fat as young quails; eat them up, for Heaven's +sake." But the bear, paying no attention to his words, gave the evil +little creature one blow with his paw and he never moved again. + +[Illustration: "'WHAT ARE YOU STANDING THERE GAPING FOR?' SCREAMED THE +DWARF"] + +The girls had run away, but the bear called after them: "Snow-white and +Rose-red, don't be afraid. Wait, and I'll come with you." Then they +recognized his voice and stood still, and when the bear was quite close +to them his skin suddenly fell off, and a beautiful man stood beside +them, all dressed in gold. "I am a king's son," he said, "and have been +doomed by that unholy little dwarf, who had stolen my treasure, to roam +about the woods as a wild bear till his death should set me free. Now he +has received his well-merited punishment." + +Snow-white married him and Rose-red his brother, and they divided the +great treasure the dwarf had collected in his cave between them. The old +mother lived for many years peacefully with her children; and she +carried the two rose trees with her, and they stood in front of her +window, and every year they bore the finest red and white roses. + + + + +_The Frog Prince_ + + +IN times of yore, when wishes were both heard and granted, lived a king +whose daughters were all beautiful, but the youngest was so lovely that +the sun himself, who has seen so much, wondered at her beauty every time +he looked in her face. Now, near the King's castle was a large dark +forest; and in the forest, under an old linden tree, was a deep well. +When the day was very hot, the King's daughter used to go to the wood +and seat herself at the edge of the cool well; and when she became +wearied she would take a golden ball, throw it up in the air, and catch +it again. This was her favorite amusement. Once it happened that her +golden ball, instead of falling back into the little hand that she +stretched out for it, dropped on the ground and immediately rolled away +into the water. The King's daughter followed it with her eyes, but the +ball had vanished and the well was so deep that no one could see down to +the bottom. Then she began to weep, wept louder and louder every minute, +and could not console herself at all. + +While she was thus lamenting, some one called to her: "What is the +matter with you, King's daughter? You weep so bitterly that you would +touch the heart of a stone." + +She looked around to see whence the voice came, and saw a frog +stretching his thick, ugly head out of the water. + +"Ah, it is you, old water paddler!" said she. "I am crying for my golden +ball, which has fallen into the well." + +"Be content," answered the Frog, "I dare say I can give you some good +advice; but what will you give me if I bring back your plaything to +you?" + +"Whatever you like, dear Frog," said she, "my clothes, my pearls, and +jewels, even the golden crown I wear." + +The Frog answered: "Your clothes, your pearls, and jewels, even your +golden crown I do not care for; but if you will love me, and let me be +your companion and playfellow; sit near you at your little table, eat +from your little golden plate, drink from your little cup, and sleep in +your little bed--if you will promise me this, then I will bring you back +your golden ball from the bottom of the well." + +"Oh, yes!" said she; "I promise you everything, if you will only bring +me back my golden ball." + +She thought to herself meanwhile: "What nonsense the silly Frog talks! +He sits in the water with the other frogs and croaks, and cannot be +anybody's playfellow." + +But the Frog, as soon as he had received the promise, dipped his head +under the water and sank down. In a little while up he came again with +the ball in his mouth, and threw it on the grass. The King's daughter +was overjoyed when she beheld her pretty plaything and picked it up and +ran away with it. + +"Wait! wait!" cried the Frog; "take me with you. I cannot run as fast as +you." + +Alas! of what use was it that he croaked after her as loud as he could. +She would not listen to him, but hastened home, and soon forgot the poor +Frog, who was obliged to plunge again to the bottom of his well. + +The next day, when she was sitting at dinner with the King and all the +courtiers, eating from her little golden plate, there came a sound of +something creeping up the marble staircase--splish, splash; and when it +had reached the top, it knocked at the door and cried: "Youngest King's +daughter, open to me." + +She ran, wishing to see who was outside; but when she opened the door, +and there sat the Frog, she flung it hastily to again, and sat down at +table, feeling very, very uncomfortable. The King saw that her heart was +beating violently, and said: "Well, my child, why are you afraid? Is a +giant standing outside the door to carry you off?" + +"Oh, no!" answered she, "it is no giant, but a nasty frog, who +yesterday, when I was playing in the wood near the well, fetched my +golden ball out of the water. For this I promised him he should be my +companion, but I never thought he could come out of his well. Now he is +at the door, and wants to come in." + +Again, the second time there was a knock, and a voice cried: + + "Youngest King's daughter, + Open to me; + Know you what yesterday + You promised me + By the cool water? + Youngest King's daughter, + Open to me." + +Then said the King: "What you promised you must perform. Go and open the +door." She went and opened the door; the Frog hopped in, always +following and following her till he came up to her chair. There he sat +and cried out: "Lift me up to you on the table." She refused, till the +King, her father commanded her to do it. When the Frog was on the table +he said: "Now push your little golden plate nearer to me that we may eat +together." She did as he desired, but one could easily see that she did +it unwillingly. The Frog seemed to enjoy his dinner very much, but every +morsel she ate stuck in the throat of the poor little Princess. + +Then said the Frog: "I have eaten enough, and am tired; carry me to your +little room, and make your little silken bed smooth, and we will lay +ourselves down to sleep together." + +At this the daughter of the King began to weep, for she was afraid of +the cold frog, who wanted to sleep in her pretty clean bed. + +But the King looked angrily at her, and said again: "What you have +promised you must perform. The Frog is your companion." + +It was no use to complain; whether she liked it or not, she was obliged +to take the Frog with her up to her little bed. So she picked him up +with two fingers, hating him bitterly the while, and carried him +upstairs. But when she got into bed, instead of lifting him up to her, +she threw him with all her strength against the wall, saying: "Now, you +nasty Frog, there will be an end of you!" + +But what fell down from the wall was not a dead frog, but a living young +prince, with beautiful and loving eyes, who at once became, by her own +promise and her father's will, her dear companion and husband. He told +her how he had been cursed by a wicked sorceress, and that no one but +the King's youngest daughter could release him from his enchantment and +take him out of the well. + +The next day a carriage drove up to the palace gates with eight white +horses, having white feathers on their heads and golden reins. Behind it +stood the servant of the young Prince, called the Faithful Henry. This +Faithful Henry had been so grieved when his master was changed into a +frog, that he had been compelled to have three iron bands fastened +around his heart, lest it should break. Now the carriage came to convey +the Prince to his kingdom, so the Faithful Henry lifted in the bride and +bridegroom, and mounted behind, full of joy at his lord's release. But +when they had gone a short distance, the Prince heard behind him a noise +as if something was breaking. He turned around and cried out: "Henry, +the carriage is breaking!" + +But Henry replied: "No, sir, it is not the carriage, but one of the +bands from my heart with which I was forced to bind it up, or it would +have broken with grief while you sat as a frog at the bottom of the +well." + +Twice again this happened, and the Prince always thought the carriage +was breaking; but it was only the bands breaking off from the heart of +the Faithful Henry, out of joy that his lord the Frog Prince was a frog +no more. + + + + +_The Goose Girl_ + + +THE King of a great land died, and left his Queen to take care of their +only child. This child was a daughter who was very beautiful, and her +mother loved her dearly and was very kind to her. And there was a good +fairy, too, who was fond of the Princess, and helped her mother to watch +over her. When she grew up she was betrothed to a prince who lived a +great way off; and as the time drew near for her to be married she made +ready to set off on her journey to his country. Then the Queen, her +mother, packed up a great many costly things; jewels and gold and +silver; trinkets, fine dresses, and in short, everything that became a +royal bride. And she gave her a waiting maid to ride with her, and give +her into the bridegroom's hands; and each had a horse for the journey. +Now the Princess's horse was the fairy's gift, and it was called Falada, +and could speak. + +When the time came for them to set out the fairy went into her +bedchamber, and took a little knife and cut off a lock of her hair and +gave it to the Princess, and said: "Take care of it, dear child; for it +is a charm that may be of use to you on the road." Then they all took a +sorrowful leave of the Princess; and she put the lock of hair into her +bosom, got upon her horse, and set off on her journey to her +bridegroom's kingdom. + +One day, as they were riding along by a brook, the Princess began to +feel very thirsty, and she said to her maid: "Pray get down and fetch me +some water in my golden cup out of yonder brook, for I want to drink." +"Nay," said the maid, "if you are thirsty, get off yourself and stoop +down by the water and drink; I shall not be your waiting maid any +longer." Then she was so thirsty that she got down and knelt over the +little brook and drank, for she was frightened, and dared not bring out +her golden cup; and she wept and said: + +"Alas! what will become of me?" And the lock of hair answered her, and +said: + + "Alas! alas! if thy mother knew it, + Sadly, sadly would she rue it." + +But the Princess was very gentle and meek, so she said nothing to her +maid's ill behavior, but got upon her horse again. + +Then all rode farther on their journey till the day grew so warm, and +the sun so scorching that the bride began to feel very thirsty again; +and at last, when they came to a river, she forgot her maid's rude +speech, and said: "Pray get down and fetch me some water to drink in my +golden cup." But the maid answered her, and spoke even more haughtily +than before: "Drink if you will, but I shall not be your waiting maid." +Then the Princess was so thirsty that she got off her horse and lay +down, and held her head over the running stream and cried and said: +"What will become of me?" And the lock of hair answered her again: + + "Alas! alas! if thy mother knew it, + Sadly, sadly would she rue it." + +And as she leaned down to drink, the lock of hair fell from her bosom +and floated away with the water. Now she was so frightened that she did +not see it; but her maid saw it and was very glad, for she knew the +charm; and she saw that the poor bride would be in her power, now that +she had lost the hair. So when the bride had done drinking, and would +have got upon Falada again, the maid said: "I shall ride upon Falada, +and you may have my horse instead." So she was forced to give up her +horse, and soon afterwards to take off her royal clothes and put on her +maid's shabby ones. + +At last, as they drew near the end of their journey, this treacherous +servant threatened to kill her mistress if she ever told anyone what had +happened. But Falada saw it all and marked it well. + +Then the waiting maid got upon Falada, and the real bride rode upon the +other horse, and they went on in this way till at last they came to the +royal court. There was great joy at their coming, and the Prince flew to +meet them, and lifted the maid from her horse, thinking she was the one +who was to be his wife; and she was led upstairs to the royal chamber; +but the true Princess was told to stay in the court below. + +Now the old King happened just then to have nothing else to do, so he +amused himself by sitting at his kitchen window, looking at what was +going on, and he saw her in the courtyard. As she looked very pretty, +and too delicate for a waiting maid, he went up into the royal chamber +to ask the bride who it was she had brought with her, that was thus left +standing in the court below. "I brought her with me for the sake of her +company on the road," said she; "pray give the girl some work to do, +that she may not be idle." The old King could not for some time think of +any work for her to do, but at last he said: "I have a lad who takes +care of my geese, she may go and help him." Now the name of this lad +that the real bride was to help in watching the King's geese was +Curdken. + +But the false bride said to the Prince: "Dear husband, pray do me one +act of kindness." "That I will," said the Prince. "Then tell one of your +slaughterers to cut off the head of the horse I rode upon, for it was +very unruly, and plagued me sadly on the road"; but the truth was, she +was very much afraid lest Falada should some day or other speak and tell +all she had done to the Princess. She carried her point, and the +faithful Falada was killed; but when the true Princess heard of it she +wept, and begged the man to nail up Falada's head against a large dark +gate of the city, through which she had to pass every morning and +evening, that there she might still see him sometimes. Then the +slaughterer said he would do as she wished; and cut off the head, and +nailed it up under the dark gate. + +Early the next morning, as she and Curdken went out through the gate, +she cried sorrowfully: + +[Illustration: "FALADA, FALADA, THERE THOU HANGEST!" + +"BRIDE, BRIDE, THERE THOU GANGEST!"] + + "Falada, Falada, there thou hangest!" + +and the head answered: + + "Bride, bride, there thou gangest! + Alas! alas! if thy mother knew it, + Sadly, sadly would she rue it." + +Then they went out of the city and drove the geese on. And when she came +to the meadow she sat down upon a bank there, and let down her waving +locks of hair, which were all of pure silver; and when Curdken saw it +glitter in the sun he ran up, and would have pulled some of the locks +out, but she cried: + + "Blow, breezes, blow! + Let Curdken's hat go! + Blow, breezes, blow! + Let him after it go! + O'er hills, dales, and rocks, + Away be it whirl'd, + Till the silvery locks + Are all comb'd and curl'd!" + +Then there came a wind so strong that it blew off Curdken's hat, and +away it flew over the hills, and he was forced to turn and run after it, +till, by the time he came back, she had done combing and curling her +hair, and had put it up safe again. Then he was very angry and sulky, +and would not speak to her at all; but they watched the geese until it +grew dark in the evening, and then drove them homeward. + +The next morning, as they were going through the dark gate, the poor +girl looked up at Falada's head, and cried: + + "Falada, Falada, there thou hangest!" + +and it answered: + + "Bride, bride, there thou gangest! + Alas! alas! if thy mother knew it, + Sadly, sadly would she rue it." + +Then she drove on the geese, and sat down again in the meadow, and began +to comb out her hair as before; and Curdken ran up to her, and wanted to +take hold of it, but she cried out quickly: + + "Blow, breezes, blow! + Let Curdken's hat go! + Blow, breezes, blow! + Let him after it go! + O'er hills, dales, and rocks, + Away be it whirl'd, + Till the silvery locks + Are all comb'd and curl'd!" + +Then a wind came and blew away his hat; and off it flew a great way, +over the hills and far away, so that he had to run after it; and when he +came back she had bound up her hair again, and all was safe. So they +watched the geese till it grew dark. + +In the evening, after they came home, Curdken went to the old King, and +said: "I cannot have that strange girl to help me to keep the geese any +longer." "Why?" said the King. "Because, instead of doing any good, she +does nothing but tease me all day long." Then the King made him tell +what had happened. And Curdken said: "When we go in the morning through +the dark gate with our flock of geese, she cries and talks with the head +of a horse that hangs upon the wall, and says: + + "Falada, Falada, there thou hangest!" + +and the head answers: + + "Bride, bride, there thou gangest! + Alas! alas! if thy mother knew it, + Sadly, sadly would she rue it." + +And Curdken went on telling the King what had happened upon the meadow +where the geese fed; how his hat was blown away, and how he was forced +to run after it, and to leave his flock of geese to themselves. But the +old King told the boy to go out again the next day. And when morning +came, he placed himself behind the dark gate, and heard how she spoke to +Falada, and how Falada answered. Then he went into the field, and hid +himself in a bush by the meadow's side; and he soon saw with his own +eyes how they drove the flock of geese; and how, after a little time, +she let down her hair that glittered in the sun. And then he heard her +say: + + "Blow, breezes, blow! + Let Curdken's hat go! + Blow, breezes, blow! + Let him after it go! + O'er hills, dales, and rocks, + Away be it whirl'd, + Till the silvery locks + Are all comb'd and curl'd!" + +And soon came a gale of wind and carried away Curdken's hat, and away +went Curdken after it, while the girl went on combing and curling her +hair. All this the old King saw. So he went home without being seen, and +when the little goose girl came back in the evening he called her aside, +and asked her why she did this; but she burst into tears, and said: +"That I must not tell you or any man, or I shall lose my life." + +But the old King begged so hard that she had no peace till she had told +him all the tale, from beginning to end, word for word. And it was very +lucky for her that she did so, for when she had done, the King ordered +royal clothes to be put upon her, and gazed on her with wonder, she was +so beautiful. Then he called his son, and told him that he had only the +false bride; for that she was merely a waiting maid while the true bride +stood by. And the young King rejoiced when he saw her beauty, and heard +how meek and patient she had been; and without saying anything to the +false bride, the King ordered a great feast to be made ready for all his +court. The bridegroom sat at the head, with the false Princess on one +side, and the true one on the other; but nobody knew her again, for her +beauty was quite dazzling to their eyes, and she did not seem at all +like the little goose girl, now that she had her brilliant dress on. + +When they had eaten and drunk, and were very merry, the old King said he +would tell them a tale. So he began, and told all the story of the +Princess, as if it was one that he had once heard; and he asked the true +waiting maid what she thought ought to be done to anyone who would +behave thus. "Nothing better," said this false bride, "than that she +should be banished to the depths of the dark woods and live there +forever." "Thou art she!" said the old King; "and as thou hast judged +thyself, so shall it be done to thee." And the young King was then +married to his true wife, and they reigned over the kingdom in peace and +happiness all their lives; and the good fairy came to see them, and +restored the faithful Falada to life again. + + + + +_Briar Rose_ + + +A LONG time ago there lived a king and a queen, who said every day, "If +only we had a child"; but for a long time they had none. + +It fell out once, as the Queen was bathing, that a frog crept out of the +water on to the land and said to her: "Your wish shall be fulfilled; +before a year has passed you shall bring a daughter into the world." + +The frog's words came true. The Queen had a little girl who was so +beautiful that the King could not contain himself for joy, and prepared +a great feast. He invited not only his relations, friends, and +acquaintances, but the fairies, in order that they might be favorably +and kindly disposed toward the child. There were thirteen of them in the +kingdom, but as the King had only twelve golden plates for them to eat +off, one of the fairies had to stay at home. + +The feast was held with all splendor, and when it came to an end the +fairies all presented the child with a magic gift. One gave her virtue, +another beauty, a third riches, and so on, with everything in the world +that she could wish for. + +When eleven of the fairies had said their say, the thirteenth suddenly +appeared. She wanted to revenge herself for not having been invited. +Without greeting anyone, or even glancing at the company, she called out +in a loud voice, "The Princess shall prick herself with a distaff in her +fifteenth year and shall fall down dead"; and without another word she +turned and left the hall. + +Everyone was terror-stricken, but the twelfth fairy, whose wish was +still unspoken, stepped forward. She could not cancel the curse, but +could only soften it, so she said: "It shall not be death, but a deep +sleep lasting a hundred years, into which your daughter shall fall." + +The King was so anxious to guard his dear child from the misfortune that +he sent out a command that all the distaffs in the whole kingdom should +be burned. + +All the promises of the fairies came true. + +The Princess grew up so beautiful, modest, kind, and clever that +everyone who saw her could not but love her. Now it happened that on the +very day when she was fifteen years old the King and Queen were away +from home, and the Princess was left quite alone in the castle. She +wandered about over the whole place, looking at rooms and halls as she +pleased, and at last she came to an old tower. She ascended a narrow, +winding staircase and reached a little door. A rusty key was sticking in +the lock, and when she turned it the door flew open. In a little room +sat an old woman with a spindle, busily spinning her flax. + +"Good day, Granny," said the Princess; "what are you doing?" + +"I am spinning," said the old woman, and nodded her head. + +"What is the thing that whirls round so merrily?" asked the Princess; +and she took the spindle and tried to spin too. + +But she had scarcely touched it before the curse was fulfilled, and she +pricked her finger with the spindle. The instant she felt the prick she +fell upon the bed which was standing near, and lay still in a deep +sleep which spread over the whole castle. + +The King and Queen, who had just come home and had stepped into the +hall, went to sleep, and all their courtiers with them. The horses went +to sleep in the stable, the dogs in the yard, the doves on the roof, the +flies on the wall; yes, even the fire flickering on the hearth grew +still and went to sleep, and the roast meat stopped crackling; and the +cook, who was pulling the scullion's hair because he had made some +mistake, let him go and went to sleep. And the wind dropped, and on the +trees in front of the castle not a leaf stirred. + +But round the castle a hedge of brier roses began to grow up; every year +it grew higher, till at last it surrounded the whole castle so that +nothing could be seen of it, not even the flags on the roof. + +But there was a legend in the land about the lovely sleeping Brier Rose, +as the King's daughter was called, and from time to time princes came +and tried to force a way through the hedge into the castle. But they +found it impossible, for the thorns, as though they had hands, held them +fast, and the princes remained caught in them without being able to free +themselves, and so died a miserable death. + +After many, many years a prince came again to the country and heard an +old man tell of the castle which stood behind the brier hedge, in which +a most beautiful maiden called Brier Rose had been asleep for the last +hundred years, and with her slept the King, Queen, and all her +courtiers. He knew also, from his grandfather, that many princes had +already come and sought to pierce through the brier hedge, and had +remained caught in it and died a sad death. + +Then the young Prince said: "I am not afraid; I am determined to go and +look upon the lovely Brier Rose." + +The good old man did all in his power to dissuade him, but the Prince +would not listen to his words. + +Now, however, the hundred years were just ended, and the day had come +when Brier Rose was to wake up again. When the Prince approached the +brier hedge it was in blossom, and was covered with beautiful large +flowers which made way for him of their own accord and let him pass +unharmed, and then closed up again into a hedge behind him. + +[Illustration: "AT LAST HE REACHED THE TOWER ... WHERE BRIER ROSE WAS +ASLEEP"] + +In the courtyard he saw the horses and dappled hounds lying asleep, on +the roof sat the doves with their heads under their wings, and when he +went into the house the flies were asleep on the walls, and near the +throne lay the King and Queen; in the kitchen was the cook, with his +hand raised as though about to strike the scullion, and the maid sat +with the black fowl before her which she was about to pluck. + +He went on farther, and all was so still that he could hear his own +breathing. At last he reached the tower, and opened the door into the +little room where Brier Rose was asleep. There she lay, looking so +beautiful that he could not take his eyes off her; he bent down and gave +her a kiss. As he touched her, Brier Rose opened her eyes and looked +quite sweetly at him. Then they went down together; and the King and the +Queen and all the courtiers woke up, and looked at each other with +astonished eyes. The horses in the stable stood up and shook themselves, +the hounds leaped about and wagged their tails, the doves on the roof +lifted their heads from under their wings, looked around, and flew into +the fields; the flies on the walls began to crawl again, the fire in the +kitchen roused itself and blazed up and cooked the food, the meat began +to crackle, and the cook boxed the scullion's ears so soundly that he +screamed aloud, while the maid finished plucking the fowl. Then the +wedding of the Prince and Brier Rose was celebrated with all splendor, +and they lived happily till they died. + + + + +_The Iron Stove_ + + +ONCE upon a time when wishes came true there was a king's son who was +enchanted by an old witch, so that he was obliged to sit in a large iron +stove in a wood. There he lived for many years, and no one could free +him. At last a king's daughter came into the wood; she had lost her +way and could not find her father's kingdom again. She had been +wandering round and round for nine days, and she came at last to the +iron stove. A voice came from within and asked her: "Where do you come +from and where do you want to go?" She answered: "I have lost my way to +my father's kingdom, and I shall never get home again." Then the voice +from the iron stove said: "I will help you to find your home again, and +that in a very short time, if you will promise to do what I ask you. I +am a greater prince than you are a princess, and I will marry you." Then +she grew frightened and thought: "What can a young lassie do with an +iron stove?" But as she wanted very much to go home to her father, she +promised to do what he wished. He said: "You must come again, and bring +a knife with you to scrape a hole in the iron." + +Then he gave her some one for a guide, who walked near her and said +nothing, but he brought her in two hours to her house. There was great +joy in the castle when the Princess came back, and the old King fell on +her neck and kissed her. But she was very much troubled and said: "Dear +father, listen to what has befallen me. I should never have come home +again out of the great wildwood if I had not come to an iron stove, and +I have had to promise that I will go back to free him and marry him!" +The old King was so frightened that he nearly fainted, for she was his +only daughter. So they consulted together and determined that the +miller's daughter, who was very beautiful, should take her place. They +took her there, gave her a knife, and said she must scrape at the iron +stove. She scraped for twenty-four hours, but did not make the least +impression. When the day broke a voice called from the iron stove: "It +seems to me that it is day outside." Then she answered: "It seems so to +me; I think I hear my father's mill rattling." + +"So you are a miller's daughter! Then go away at once and tell the +King's daughter to come." + +Then she went away and told the old King that the thing inside the iron +stove would not have her, but wanted the Princess. The old King was +frightened, and his daughter wept. But they had a swineherd's daughter +who was even more beautiful than the miller's daughter, and they gave +her a piece of gold to go to the iron stove instead of the Princess. +Then she was taken there and made to scrape for twenty-four hours, but +she could make no impression. As soon as the day broke the voice from +the stove called out: "It seems to be daylight outside." Then she +answered: "It seems so to me, too; I think I hear my father blowing his +horn." "So you are a swineherd's daughter! Go away at once and let the +King's daughter come. And say to her that what I foretell shall come to +pass, and if she does not come everything in the kingdom shall fall into +ruin, and not one stone shall be left upon another." When the Princess +heard this she began to cry, but it was no good; she had to keep her +word. She took leave of her father, put a knife in her belt, and went to +the iron stove in the wood. As soon as she reached it she began to +scrape and the iron gave way, and before two hours had passed she had +made a little hole. Then she peeped in and saw such a beautiful youth +all shining with gold and precious stones that she fell in love with him +on the spot. So she scraped away harder than ever, and made the hole so +large that he could get out. Then he said: "You are mine and I am thine; +you are my bride and have set me free!" He wanted to take her with him +to his kingdom, but she begged him just to let her go once more to her +father; and the Prince let her go, but told her not to say more than +three words to her father, then to come back again. So she went home, +but, alas! she said more than three words; and immediately the iron +stove vanished and went away over a mountain of glass and sharp swords. +But the Prince was free and was no longer shut up in it. Then she said +good-by to her father, and took a little money with her and went again +into the great wood to look for the iron stove; but she could not find +it. She sought it for nine days, and then her hunger became so great +that she did not know how she could live any longer. And when it was +evening she climbed a little tree and wished that the night would not +come, because she was afraid of the wild beasts. When midnight came she +saw afar off a little light and thought: "Ah, if only I could reach +that!" Then she got down from the tree and went toward the light. She +came to a little old house with a great deal of grass growing around, +and stood in front of a little heap of wood. She thought, "Alas! what am +I coming to?" and peeped through the window; but she saw nothing inside +except big and little toads and a table beautifully spread with roast +meats and wine, and all the dishes and drinking cups were of silver, so +she took heart and knocked. Then a fat toad called out: + + "Little green toad with leg like crook, + Open wide the door, and look + Who it was the latch that shook." + +And a little toad came forward and let her in. When she entered they all +bade her welcome and made her sit down. They asked her how she came +there and what she wanted. Then she told everything that had happened to +her, and how, because she had exceeded her permission only to speak +three words, the stove had disappeared with the Prince; and how she had +searched a very long time, and must wander over mountain and valley till +she found him. + +Then the old toad said: + + "Little green toad whose leg doth twist, + Go to the corner of which you wist, + And bring to me the large old kist." + +And the little toad went and brought out a great chest. Then they gave +her food and drink and led her to a beautifully made bed of silk and +samite, on which she lay down and slept soundly. When the day dawned she +arose, and the old toad gave her three things out of the huge chest to +take with her. She would have need of them, for she had to cross a high +glass mountain, three cutting swords, and a great lake. When she had +passed these she would find her lover again. So she was given three +large needles, a plow wheel, and three nuts, which she was to take great +care of. She set out with these things, and when she came to the glass +mountain which was so slippery, she stuck the three needles behind her +feet and then in front, and so got over it, and when she was on the +other side put them carefully away. + +Then she reached the three cutting swords and got on her plow wheel and +rolled over them. At last she came to a great lake, and when she had +crossed that arrived at a beautiful castle. She went in and gave herself +out as a servant, a poor maid who would gladly be engaged. But she knew +that the Prince whom she had freed from the iron stove in the great wood +was in the castle. So she was taken on as a kitchen maid for very small +wages. Now, the Prince was about to marry another princess, for he +thought she was dead long ago. + +In the evening, when she had washed up and was ready, she felt in her +pocket and found the three nuts which the old toad had given her. She +cracked one and was going to eat the kernel, when behold! there was a +beautiful royal dress inside it. When the bride heard of this she came +and begged for the dress and wanted to buy it, saying that it was not a +dress for a serving maid. Then she said she would not sell it unless she +was granted one favor--namely, to sleep by the Prince's door. The bride +granted her this, because the dress was so beautiful and she had so few +like it. When it was evening she said to her bridegroom: "That stupid +maid wants to sleep by your door." + +"If you are contented, I am," he said. But she gave him a glass of wine +in which she had poured a sleeping draught. Then they both went to their +room, but he slept so soundly that she could not wake him. The maid wept +all night long and said: "I freed you in the wildwood out of the iron +stove. I have sought you and have crossed a glassy mountain, three sharp +swords, and a great lake before I found you, and will you not hear me +now?" The servants outside heard how she cried the whole night, and they +told their master in the morning. + +When she had washed up the next evening she bit the second nut, and +there was a still more beautiful dress inside. When the bride saw it she +wanted to buy it also. But the maid did not want money and asked that +she should sleep again by the Prince's door. The bride, however, gave +him a sleeping draught, and he slept so soundly that he heard nothing. +But the kitchen maid wept the whole night long and said: "I have freed +you in a wood and from an iron stove; I sought you and have crossed a +glassy mountain, three sharp swords, and a great lake to find you, and +now you will not hear me!" The servants outside heard how she cried the +whole night, and in the morning they told their master. And when she had +washed up on the third night she bit the third nut, and there was a +still more beautiful dress inside that was made of pure gold. When the +bride saw it she wanted to have it, but the maid would only give it her +on condition that she should sleep for the third time by the Prince's +door. But the Prince took care not to drink the sleeping draught. When +she began to weep and to say, "Dearest sweetheart, I freed you in the +horrible wildwood and from an iron stove," he jumped up and said: "Thou +art right. Thou art mine and I am thine." Though it was still night, he +got into a carriage with her, and they took the false bride's clothes +away, so that she could not follow them. When they came to the great +lake they rowed across, and when they reached the three sharp swords +they sat on the plow wheel, and on the glassy mountain they stuck the +three needles in. So they arrived at last at the little old house, but +when they stepped inside it turned into a large castle. The toads were +all freed and were beautiful king's children running about for joy. +There they were married, and they remained in the castle, which was much +larger than that of the Princess's father. But because the old man did +not like being left alone they went and fetched him. So they had two +kingdoms and lived in great wealth. + + "A mouse has run, + My story's done." + + + + +_Rumpel-stilts-ken_ + + +BY the side of a wood, in a country a long way off, ran a fine stream of +water, and upon the stream there stood a mill. The miller's house was +close by, and the miller, you must know, had a very beautiful daughter. +She was, moreover, very shrewd and clever; and the miller was so proud +of her that he one day told the King of the land, who used to come and +hunt in the wood, that his daughter could spin gold out of straw. Now +this King was very fond of money, and when he heard the miller's boast +his greediness was roused, and he sent for the girl to be brought before +him. Then he led her to a chamber in his palace where there was a great +heap of straw, and gave her a spinning wheel, and said: "All this must +be spun into gold before morning, as you love your life." It was in vain +that the poor maiden said that it was only a silly boast of her father, +for that she could do no such thing as spin straw into gold. The chamber +door was locked, and she was left alone. + +She sat down in one corner of the room and began to bewail her hard +fate, when on a sudden the door opened and a droll-looking little man +hobbled in and said: "Good morrow to you, my good lass; what are you +weeping for?" "Alas!" said she, "I must spin this straw into gold, and I +know not how." "What will you give me," said the hobgoblin, "to do it +for you?" "My necklace," replied the maiden. He took her at her word and +sat himself down to the wheel, and whistled and sang: + + "Round about, round about, + Lo and behold! + Reel away, reel away, + Straw into gold!" + +And round about the wheel went merrily; the work was quickly done, and +the straw was all spun into gold. + +When the King came in and saw this he was greatly astonished and +pleased, but his heart grew still more greedy of gain, and he shut up +the poor miller's daughter again with a fresh task. Then she knew not +what to do, and sat down once more to weep; but the dwarf soon opened +the door and said: "What will you give me to do your task?" "The ring on +my finger," said she. So her little friend took the ring, and began to +work at the wheel again, and whistled and sang, + + "Round about, round about, + Lo and behold! + Reel away, reel away, + Straw into gold!" + +till, long before morning, all was done again. + +The King was greatly delighted to see all this glittering treasure, but +still he had not enough, so he took the miller's daughter to a yet +larger heap and said: "All this must be spun to-night; and if it is, you +shall be my Queen." As soon as she was alone the dwarf came in and said: +"What will you give me to spin gold for you this third time?" "I have +nothing left," said she. "Then say you will give me," said the little +man, "the first little child that you may have when you are Queen." "That +may never be," thought the miller's daughter, and as she knew no other +way to get her task done she said she would do what he asked. Round went +the wheel again to the old song, and the manikin once more spun the heap +into gold. The King came in the morning, and, finding all he wanted, was +forced to keep his word; so he married the miller's daughter, and she +really became Queen. + +At the birth of her first little child she was very glad, and forgot the +dwarf and what she had promised. But one day he came into her room, +where she was sitting playing with her baby, and put her in mind of it. +Then she grieved sorely at her misfortune, and said she would give him +all the wealth of the kingdom if he would let her off, but in vain; till +at last her tears softened him and he said: "I will give you three days' +grace, and, if during that time you tell me my name, you shall keep your +child." + +Now the Queen lay awake all night, thinking of all the odd names that +she had ever heard, and she sent messengers all over the land to find +out new ones. The next day the little man came, and she began with +TIMOTHY, ICHABOD, BENJAMIN, JEREMIAH, and all the names she could +remember; but to all and each of them he said: "Madam, that is not my +name." + +The second day she began with all the comical names she could hear of, +BANDY LEGS, HUNCHBACK, CROOK SHANKS, and so on; but the little gentleman +still said to every one of them: "Madam, that is not my name." + +The third day one of the messengers came back and said: "I traveled two +days without hearing of any other names; but yesterday, as I was +climbing a high hill, among the trees of the forest where the fox and +the hare bid each other good night, I saw a little hut; and before the +hut burned a fire; and round about the fire a funny little dwarf was +dancing upon one leg, and singing: + + "'Merrily the feast I'll make, + To-day I'll brew, to-morrow bake; + Merrily I'll dance and sing, + For next day will a stranger bring. + Little does my lady dream + Rumpel-stilts-ken is my name!'" + +When the Queen heard this she jumped for joy, and as soon as her little +friend came she sat down upon her throne and called all her court around +to enjoy the fun; and the nurse stood by her side with the baby in her +arms, as if it was quite ready to be given up. Then the little man began +to chuckle at the thoughts of having the poor child to take home with +him to his hut in the woods, and he cried out: "Now, lady, what is my +name?" "Is it JOHN?" asked she. "No, madam!" "Is it TOM?" "No, madam!" +"Is it JEMMY?" "It is not." "Can your name be RUMPEL-STILTS-KEN?" said +the lady slyly. "Some witch told you that!--some witch told you that!" +cried the little man, and dashed his right foot in a rage so deep into +the floor, that he was forced to lay hold of it with both hands to pull +it out. + +Then he made the best of his way off, while the nurse laughed and the +baby crowed; and all the court jeered at him for having had so much +trouble for nothing, and said: "We wish you a very good morning, and a +merry feast, Mr. RUMPEL-STILTS-KEN!" + + + + +_Faithful John, the King's Servant_ + + +THE old King lay dying and was very much worried in his mind because he +was leaving behind him, as his heir, his son, who was a headstrong and +willful youth, not yet come to years of wisdom. He called to his bedside +faithful John, who had been his servant ever since he was a boy, and +charged him thus: + +"I am going to my last rest, and am sorrowful because my boy is left +alone in a high position, and will have no other guidance but yours. Be +his guardian and counselor, and serve him faithfully even as you have +served me, or I cannot die happily." + +"Master, I will," answered faithful John, "even if it cost me my life." + +"Now I can rest in peace," said the King. "When I am dead you must lead +him all over the castle, and show him the halls and chambers and the +vaults and the treasures therein. But one room he must never enter, the +last room in the long corridor, for there hangs the portrait of the +daughter of the King of the Golden Palace, and she is so beautiful that +whoever gazes on her picture will fall down in a swoon for love of her, +and will go through great perils for her sake. Therefore he must never +enter that room." + +The trusty servant pressed his master's hand and promised to do his +commands, and soon afterwards the King laid his head on the pillow and +died. + +After the old King was laid in his grave, the faithful John told the +young King of the commands his father had laid upon him, and swore to +serve him faithfully, even unto death. + +When the days of mourning were over he told the young King that it was +now time for him to see his inheritance; so they went all over the +castle, up into the towers and down into the vaults, and saw all the +great treasure the old King had collected; and they went into all the +grand halls and splendid chambers, into all save one--the last room at +the end of the long corridor, wherein hung the portrait. + +The King noticed that they always passed this door, and asked John why. + +"There is something there that it is dangerous to see," said John. + +"But," answered the King, "I have seen everything else that I possess, +and you must not imagine I am going away without seeing this." + +Faithful John tried to argue him out of it, but it was of no use, and +the obstinate King even made an effort to force the door open, and +declared that he would not leave the spot till he had seen the contents +of the chamber. + +So John, seeing that there was nothing for it but to yield, sorrowfully +took the key from the bunch and put it in the lock. He turned it +suddenly and hurried in, hoping to cover over the portrait before the +King saw it; but he was close on his heels, and John was too late to +prevent the catastrophe, for no sooner had his master set eyes on the +wonderful painting, which appeared to be living, breathing flesh, than +he fell on the floor in a swoon. + +Poor John carried him tenderly to his bed, deeply bewailing the +misfortune that had come upon them, and by dint of forcing wine down his +throat he brought him round again. The first words that he uttered were: + +"Who is the lady of the beautiful picture?" + +"She is the daughter of the King of the Golden Palace," replied John. + +"Then," said the King, "we must seek her at once, for I am filled with +so great a love for her that if all the leaves on the trees had tongues +they should not gainsay it." + +Then trusty John thought for a long, long time as how to set about the +matter, for it was very difficult to reach the presence of the beautiful +Princess. At last he thought of a plan, and he said to the King: + +"I have thought of a way by which you may achieve your end; all the +things the Princess uses, and all the things about her, are +gold--chairs, tables, dishes, pots and pans, all are fashioned of gold. +There are five tons of gold bars in your cellars; you must have them +wrought into articles of every kind, even into beasts and flowers, and +then we will set out and seek her favor." + +So the King sent for all the goldsmiths in the kingdom, and they worked +day and night till all the gold was made into most wonderful and +beautiful forms of the finest workmanship. Then they took them all +aboard a great ship and set sail. They sailed for many days, till they +came to the city where dwelt the daughter of the King of the Golden +Palace. + +The faithful John had decided that it was better for him to go ashore, +so he told the King to remain on board and have all things in readiness, +the treasures displayed and all in order, lest he should bring the +Princess back with him. Then he tied up some of the smaller things in a +handkerchief and rowed ashore. + +When he entered the courtyard of the palace, he saw a beautiful girl +filling two golden pails at the well. When they were full she turned, +and, perceiving the stranger, demanded his business. So he untied the +handkerchief and showed her the dainty trinkets. She was delighted with +them, and at once said: + +"The Princess must see these, for she has a passion for golden things, +and will, no doubt, buy them all." So she took him by the hand and led +him to the King's daughter. The Princess was even more beautiful than +report had made her, and John was dazzled. The lady was very gracious to +him, and was charmed with his treasures, which she wished to purchase. +But John said: + +"I am only a servant. My master is a rich merchant who has even more +beautiful things than these aboard his ship." + +"Let them be brought hither," replied the Princess; but he said: + +"That would take many days and nights, their number is so vast, and even +if they were all brought hither there is no room in the palace large +enough to show them to advantage." + +The Princess's curiosity was very much excited by this time, and she +said: + +"Bring me to the ship, and I will see them there." + +Faithful John was overjoyed at the success of his plans, and conducted +her thither immediately. When the King saw her, he was so overcome with +her beauty that he could hardly help her aboard, but he managed to +control the violent beatings of his heart, and led her down into the +cabin. John remained on deck, and commanded the helmsman to steer out to +sea, and put on all the sail he could, so that they might leave the land +far behind. + +Down below the Princess was enjoying herself immensely, looking at all +the beautiful and curious things, and several hours passed before she +bethought her that it was time to go ashore. So she went on deck +prepared to land immediately, and behold! no land was to be seen, +nothing but the wide sea all around her. + +"Ah!" she screamed, in sudden terror, "I am entrapped by a strange +merchant. I would rather die than remain in his power!" + +The King reassured her, and taking her hand he said: "I am no merchant, +I am a king of royal blood like yourself. I have carried you off because +my love for you is so great that I cannot live without you. You must +know that when I saw your portrait, I was so stricken with love for you +that I fell in a swoon before it." + +When the King's daughter heard this her fear disappeared, and love grew +in its place and she was willing to be his bride. + +One day, when John was sitting on deck piping sweet music, three crows +flew over the ship, talking hard all the time. John understood every +word they said, and this is what he heard: + +"There he is, sailing home with the daughter of the King of the Golden +Palace," said the first. "Ah! they are not home yet," said the second. +"But she is with him in the ship," said the third. "What matters that?" +began the first again; "when they land there will come a beautiful +fox-colored horse, and he will spring upon it and the horse will bound +away with him up into the air and he will never be seen again." + +"But is there no way to save him?" the second one asked. + +"Yes, if one springs up quickly behind him and seizes the pistols which +are in the holsters and shoots the fox-colored horse, then the King will +be saved. But nobody knows, and if one knew and told him, he would be +turned into stone from toe to knee." + +Then the second crow spoke again: + +"I know still more, for even if the horse be shot he will not keep his +lovely bride. When they arrive at the castle a bridal shirt will be +brought to him on a dish, looking as though it were made of silver and +gold, but it is only sulphur and pitch, and when he puts it on he will +be burned to the marrow of his bones." + +"Is there no way to save him?" asked the third crow. + +"Oh, yes! if one were to take up the shirt with his gloves on and throw +it on the fire before the King touches it, he will be saved. But what +matter? for no one knows that, and if one knew and were to tell, he +would be turned into stone from his knee to his heart." + +Then the third crow spoke again: + +"I know even more. Even if the shirt be burned the King will not keep +his bride. After supper a dance will be held, and suddenly, when she is +dancing, the Queen will turn pale and fall in a faint; and if some one +does not raise her up and take three drops of blood from her little +finger and throw them away, she will die. But if anyone knows that and +tells it, he will be turned into stone from the crown of his head to the +toes of his feet." + +Then the crows flew away, leaving John very quiet and sad; for if he +concealed what he knew, misfortune would fall upon his master, and if he +told, he must lose his own life; but he decided that whatever happened +to himself he must save his master. + +When they landed it happened just as the crows had said, and a beautiful +fox-colored horse appeared in front of the King. He exclaimed with +pleasure: + +"Splendid! this shall carry us to the castle." And he sprang into the +saddle. + +But John sprang up after him, and finding the pistols, shot the horse +dead. The other servants who were jealous of John, began to grumble at +this, and said: + +"Shame to kill such a lovely animal, which was fit to bear the King!" + +But the King said: + +"Peace; be silent. He is my faithful servant and I trust him. Who knows +what he has saved us from?" + +Then they went on to the castle, and in the hall it happened just as it +had been foretold--a beautiful bridal shirt was brought to the King. He +was just about to pick it up and put it on when John threw himself in +front of him, and seizing the shirt, carried it to the fire and burned +it. + +Again the other servants set up a murmur: + +"What is he about? See, he has burned the bridal shirt!" + +But the King silenced them and said: + +"He is my faithful John, and I trust him. Who knows what danger he has +averted?" + +After the wedding supper a grand ball was given, and John watched the +Queen very carefully while she danced. Suddenly he saw her turn pale and +fall in a faint. He hurried toward her, and lifting her up he carried +her away to her chamber. Then he knelt down, and drawing three drops of +blood from her little finger he threw them away. Soon the Queen stirred, +and then sat up, quite herself again. But the King had watched all this, +and this time he was furiously angry with faithful John, and ordered him +to be thrown into prison. Next day he was brought to trial and condemned +to be hanged at the gallows. When he was about to be executed he asked +for the usual privilege of a condemned prisoner, to speak once what was +in his mind. The King granted it, and faithful John began: + +"I am innocent of any crime against you, and have always served you +faithfully." + +Then he told what he had heard the crows saying at sea; and how he had +done all these things to save his master's life. + +Then the King cried: "Pardon, pardon, my faithful friend; you are +innocent!" + +But at the last word he had spoken John had fallen down, turned into +stone. + +After this there was great sorrow and lamentation in the palace, and +they had the statue raised and taken to their chamber and placed near +the bed, and often the King looked at it and said: + +"Ah! my trusty John, could I but bring you back to life again!" + +Some time afterwards, to their great joy, twins were born to them, two +healthy boys. One day the Queen was at church and the King was at home +playing with his children, when he looked up at the statue and said: + +"Ah, my poor faithful John, what would I not do to bring you back to +life!" + +To his surprise the statue answered him and said: + +"If you will sacrifice what is dearest to you, you can restore my life +to me." + +"I will do anything in the world for you, only tell me what," answered +the King. + +Then the statue spoke again: + +"Cut off the heads of your children, and sprinkle me with their blood, +and I will be restored to life." + +The poor King was horrified when he heard this, for how could he do such +an awful deed as to kill his own children? But he thought of all John +had done for him, and how much he had sacrificed, and, without +flinching, he drew his sword to cut off their heads. + +But as he was about to kill the little princes, faithful John became +alive again, crying: + +"Stop, stop, my master! Your faith in me is rewarded, and I am free." + +The King was now as happy as he could be, and he thought to give his +wife a pleasant surprise; so when he heard her coming he hid faithful +John and the twins in a cupboard. When she came in he asked her if she +had prayed for all her friends. + +"Yes," she answered; "but I have been thinking of poor John, who is past +our prayers." + +Then the King said: + +"We can restore him to life again, but we must sacrifice both our sons." + +The Queen turned very pale at this and nearly fainted; but she thought +of how it was their fault that John had suffered, and she said bravely +that if it was to restore him to life it must be done. + +The King was overjoyed to find that she thought as he did, and he threw +open the cupboard door and disclosed, not only the twins, but faithful +John also. Then they all rejoiced and were happy together to the end of +their days. + + + + +_Spindle, Shuttle, and Needle_ + + +ONCE upon a time there lived a girl who lost her father and mother when +she was quite a tiny child. Her godmother lived all alone in a little +cottage at the far end of the village, and there she earned her living +by spinning, weaving, and sewing. The old woman took the little orphan +home with her and brought her up in good, pious, industrious habits. + +When the girl was fifteen years old her godmother fell ill, and calling +the child to her bedside she said: "My dear daughter, I feel that my end +is near. I leave you my cottage, which will, at least, shelter you, and +also my spindle, my weaver's shuttle, and my needle, with which to earn +your bread." + +Then she laid her hands on the girl's head, blessed her, and added: +"Mind and be good, and then all will go well with you." With that she +closed her eyes for the last time, and when she was carried to her grave +the girl walked behind her coffin weeping bitterly and paid her all the +last honors. + +After this the girl lived all alone in the little cottage. She worked +hard, spinning, weaving, and sewing, and her old godmother's blessing +seemed to prosper all she did. The flax seemed to spread and increase; +and when she wove a carpet or a piece of linen, or made a shirt, she was +sure to find a customer who paid her well, so that not only did she feel +no want herself, but she was able to help those who did. + +Now, it happened that about this time the King's son was making a tour +through the entire country to look out for a bride. He could not marry a +poor woman and he did not wish for a rich one. + +"She shall be my wife," said he, "who is at once the poorest and the +richest." + +When he reached the village where the girl lived he inquired who was the +richest and who the poorest woman in it. The richest was named first; +the poorest, he was told, was a young girl who lived alone in a little +cottage at the far end of the village. + +The rich girl sat at her door dressed in all her best clothes, and when +the King's son came near she got up, went to meet him, and made him a +low courtesy. He looked well at her, said nothing, but rode on farther. + +When he reached the poor girl's house he did not find her at her door, +for she was at work in her room. The Prince reined in his horse, looked +in at the window through which the sun was shining brightly, and saw the +girl sitting at her wheel busily spinning away. + +[Illustration: "JUST AS IT HAD COME TO THE END OF THE GOLDEN THREAD IT +REACHED THE KING'S SON"] + +She looked up, and when she saw the King's son gazing in at her she +blushed red all over, cast down her eyes, and spun on. Whether the +thread was quite as even as usual I really cannot say, but she went on +spinning till the King's son had ridden off. Then she stepped to the +window and opened the lattice, saying, "The room is so hot," but she +looked after him as long as she could see the white plumes of his hat. + +Then she sat down to her work once more and spun on, and as she did so +an old saying, which she had often heard her godmother repeat while at +work, came into her head, and she began to sing: + + "Spindle, spindle, go and see + If my love will come to me." + +Lo and behold! the spindle leaped from her hand and rushed out of the +room, and when she had sufficiently recovered from her surprise to look +after it she saw it dancing merrily through the fields, dragging a long +golden thread after it, and soon it was lost to sight. + +The girl, having lost her spindle, took up the shuttle and, seating +herself at her loom, began to weave. Meantime the spindle danced on and +on, and just as it had come to the end of the golden thread it reached +the King's son. + +"What do I see?" he cried. "This spindle seems to wish to point out the +way to me." So he turned his horse's head and rode back beside the +golden thread. + +Meantime the girl sat weaving and sang: + + "Shuttle, weave both web and woof; + Bring my love beneath my roof." + +The shuttle instantly escaped from her hand and with one bound was out +at the door. On the threshold it began weaving the loveliest carpet that +was ever seen. Roses and lilies bloomed on both sides, and in the +center a thicket seemed to grow with rabbits and hares running through +it, stags and fawns peeping through the branches, while on the topmost +boughs sat birds of brilliant plumage and so lifelike one almost +expected to hear them sing. The shuttle flew from side to side and the +carpet seemed almost to grow of itself. + +As the shuttle had run away the girl sat down to sew. She took her +needle and sang: + + "Needle, needle, stitch away; + Make my chamber bright and gay." + +And the needle promptly slipped from her fingers and flew about the room +like lightning. You would have thought invisible spirits were at work, +for in next to no time the table and benches were covered with green +cloth, the chairs with velvet, and elegant silk curtains hung before the +windows. The needle had barely put in its last stitch when the girl, +glancing at the window, spied the white-plumed hat of the King's son, +who was being led back by the spindle with the golden thread. + +He dismounted and walked over the carpet into the house, and when he +entered the room there stood the girl blushing like any rose. "You are +the poorest and yet the richest," said he. "Come with me--you shall be +my bride." + +She said nothing but she held out her hand. Then he kissed her and led +her out, lifted her on his horse, and took her to his royal palace, +where the wedding was celebrated with great rejoicings. + +The spindle, the shuttle, and the needle were carefully placed in the +treasury and were always held in the very highest honor. + + + + +_The Magic Egg_ + + +THERE was once upon a time a lark who was the Czar among the birds, and +he took unto himself as his Czaritsa a little shrew mouse. They had a +field all to themselves, which they sowed with wheat, and when the wheat +grew up they divided it between them. When they found that there was one +grain over, the mouse said: + +"Let me have it!" + +But the lark said: + +"No, let me have it!" + +"What's to be done?" thought they. + +They would have liked to take counsel of some one; but they had no +parents or kinsmen--nobody at all to whom they could go and ask advice +in the matter. At last the mouse said: + +"At any rate, let me have the first nibble!" + +The lark Czar agreed to this; but the little mouse fastened her teeth in +it, and ran off into her hole with it, and there ate it all up. At this +the lark Czar was wroth, and collected all the birds of the air to make +war upon the mouse Czaritsa; but the Czaritsa called together all the +beasts to defend her, and so the war began. Whenever the beasts came +rushing out of the wood to tear the birds to pieces, the birds flew up +into the trees; but the birds kept in the air, and hacked and pecked the +beasts wherever they could. Thus they fought the whole day, and in the +evening they lay down to rest. Now when the Czaritsa looked around upon +her forces she saw that the ant was taking no part in the war. She +immediately went and commanded the ant to be there by evening, and when +the ant came the Czaritsa ordered her to climb up the trees with her +kinsmen, and bite off the feathers around the birds' wings. + +Next day, when there was light enough to see by, the mouse Czaritsa +cried: + +"Up, up, my warriors!" + +Thereupon the birds also rose up, and immediately fell to the ground, +where the beasts tore them to bits. So the Czaritsa overcame the Czar. +But there was one eagle who saw there was something wrong, so he did not +try to fly, but remained sitting on the tree. And lo! there came an +archer along that way, and seeing the eagle on the tree, he took aim at +it; but the eagle besought him and said: + +"Do not kill me, and I'll be of great service to thee!" + +The archer aimed a second time, but the eagle besought him still more +and said: + +"Take me down rather and keep me, and thou shalt see that it will be to +thy advantage." + +The archer, however, took aim a third time, but the eagle began to beg +of him most piteously: + +"Nay, kill me not, but take me home with thee, and thou shalt see what +great advantage it will be to thee!" + +The archer believed the bird. He climbed up the tree, took the eagle +down, and carried it home. Then the eagle said to him: + +"Put me in a hut, and feed me with flesh till my wings have grown +again." + +Now this archer had two cows and a steer, and he at once killed and cut +up one of the cows for the eagle. The eagle fed upon this cow for a full +year, and then he said to the archer: + +"Let me go, that I may fly. I see that my wings have already grown +again!" + +Then the archer let him loose from the hut. The eagle flew around and +around, he flew about for half a day, and then he returned to the archer +and said: + +"I feel I have but little strength in me, slay me another cow!" + +And the archer obeyed him, and slew the second cow, and the eagle lived +upon that for yet another year. Again the eagle flew around and around +in the air. He flew around and about the whole day till evening, when he +returned to the archer and said: + +"I am stronger than I was, but I have still but little strength in me, +slay me the steer also!" + +Then the man thought to himself: + +"What shall I do? Shall I slay it, or shall I not slay it?" + +At last he said: + +"Well! I've sacrificed more than this before, so let this go too!" and +he took the steer and slaughtered it for the eagle. + +Then the eagle lived upon this for another whole year longer, and after +that he took to flight, and flew high up right to the very clouds. Then +he flew down again to the man and said to him: + +"I thank thee, brother, for that thou hast been the saving of me! come +now and sit upon me!" + +"Nay, but," said the man, "what if some evil befall me?" + +"Sit on me, I say!" cried the eagle. + +So the archer sat down upon the bird. + +Then the eagle bore him nearly as high as the big clouds, and then let +him fall. Down plumped the man; but the eagle did not let him fall to +the earth, but swiftly flew beneath him and upheld him, and said to him: + +"How dost thou feel now?" + +"I feel," said the man, "as if I had no life in me." + +Then the eagle replied: + +"That was just how I felt when thou didst aim at me the first time." + +Then he said to him: + +"Sit on my back again!" + +The man did not want to sit on him, but what could he do? Sit he must. +Then the eagle flew with him quite as high as the big clouds, and shook +him off, and down he fell headlong till he was about two fathoms from +the ground, when the bird again flew beneath him and held him up. Again +the eagle asked him: + +"How dost thou feel?" + +And the man replied: + +"I feel just as if all my bones were already broken to bits!" + +"That is just how I felt when thou didst take aim at me the second +time," replied the eagle. "But now sit on my back once more." + +The man did so, and the eagle flew with him as high as the small fleecy +clouds, and then he shook him off, and down he fell headlong; but when +he was but a hand's breadth from the earth, the eagle again flew beneath +him and held him up, and said to him: + +"How dost thou feel now?" + +And he replied: + +"I feel as if I no longer belonged to this world!" + +"That is just how I felt when thou didst aim at me the third time," +replied the eagle. "But now," continued the bird, "thou art guilty no +more. We are quits. I owe thee naught, and thou owest naught to me; so +sit on my back again, and I'll take thee to my master." + +They flew on and on, they flew till they came to the eagle's uncle. And +the eagle said to the archer: + +"Go to my house, and when they ask thee: 'Hast thou not seen our poor +child?' reply, 'Give me the magic egg, and I'll bring him before your +eyes!'" + +So he went to the house, and there they said to him: + +"Hast thou heard of our poor child with thine ears, or seen him with +thine eyes, and hast thou come hither willingly or unwillingly?" + +And he answered: + +"I have come hither willingly!" + +Then they asked: + +"Hast thou smelt out anything of our poor youngster? for it is three +years now since he went to the wars, and there's neither sight nor sound +of him more!" + +And he answered: + +"Give me the magic egg, and I'll bring him straightway before your +eyes!" + +Then they replied: + +"'Twere better we never saw him than that we should give thee the magic +egg!" + +Then he went back to the eagle and said to him: + +"They said: 'Twere better we never saw him than that we should give thee +the magic egg.'" + +Then the eagle answered: + +"Let us fly on farther!" + +They flew on and on till they came to the eagle's brother, and the +archer said just the same to him as he had said to the eagle's uncle, +and still he didn't get the egg. Then they flew to the eagle's father, +and the eagle said to him: + +"Go up to the hut, and if they ask for me, say that thou hast seen me +and will bring me before their eyes." + +So he went up to the hut, and they said to him: + +"O Czarevich, we hear thee with our ears and see thee with our eyes, but +hast thou come hither of thine own free will or by the will of another?" + +And the archer answered: + +"I have come hither of my own free will!" + +Then they asked him: + +"Hast thou seen our son? Lo, these four years we have not had news of +him. He went off to the wars, and perchance he has been slain there." + +And he answered them: + +"I have seen him, and if thou wilt give me the magic egg, I will bring +him before your eyes." + +And the eagle's father said to him: + +"What good will such a thing do thee? We had better give thee the lucky +penny!" + +But he answered: + +"I don't want the lucky penny, give me the magic egg!" + +"Come hither, then!" said he, "and thou shalt have it." + +So he went into the hut. Then the eagle's father rejoiced and gave him +the egg and said to him: + +"Take heed thou dost not break it anywhere on the road, and when thou +gettest home, hedge it around and build a strong fence about it, and it +will do thee good." + +So he went homeward. He went on and on till a great thirst came upon +him. So he stopped at the first spring he came to, and as he stooped to +drink he stumbled and the magic egg was broken. Then he perceived that +an ox had come out of the egg and was rolling away. He gave chase to the +ox, but whenever he was getting close to one side of it, the other side +of it got farther away from him. Then the poor fellow cried: + +"I shall do nothing with it myself, I see." + +At that moment an old she dragon came up to him and said: + +"What wilt thou give me, O man, if I chase this ox back again into the +egg for thee?" + +And the archer replied: + +"What can I give?" + +The dragon said to him: + +"Give me what thou hast at home without thy will and wit!" + +"Done!" said the archer. + +Then the dragon chased the ox nicely into the egg again, patched it up +prettily, and gave it into the man's hand. Then the archer went home, +and when he got home he found a son had been born to him there, and his +son said to him: + +"Why didst thou give me to the old she dragon, dad? But never mind, I'll +manage to live in spite of her." + +Then the father was very grieved for a time, but what could he do? Now +the name of this son was Ivan. + +So Ivan lost no time in going to the dragon, and the dragon said to him: + +"Go to my house and do me three tasks, and if thou dost them not, I'll +devour thee." + +Now around the dragon's house was a large meadow stretching as far as +the eye could reach. And the dragon said to him: + +"Thou must in a single night weed out this field and sow wheat in it, +and reap the wheat and store it, all in this very night; and thou must +bake me a roll out of this selfsame wheat, and the roll must be lying +ready for me on my table in the morning." + +Then Ivan went and leaned over the fence, and his heart within him was +sore troubled. Now near to him there was a post, and on this post was +the dragon's starveling daughter. So when he came thither and fell +a-weeping, she asked him: + +"Wherefore dost thou weep?" + +And he said: "How can I help weeping? The dragon has bidden me do +something I can never, never do; and what is more, she has bidden me do +it in a single night." + +"What is it, pray?" asked the dragon's daughter. Then he told her. + +"Not every bush bears a berry!" cried she. "Promise to take me to wife, +and I'll do all she has bidden thee do." + +He promised, and then she said to him again: + +"Now go and lie down, but see that thou art up early in the morning to +bring her her roll." + +Then she went to the field, and before one could whistle she had cleaned +it of weeds and harrowed it and sown it with wheat, and by dawn she had +reaped the wheat and cooked the roll and brought it to him, and said: + +"Now, take it to her hut and put it on her table." + +Then the old she dragon awoke and came to the door, and was amazed at +the sight of the field, which was now all stubble, for the corn had been +cut. Then she said to Ivan: + +"Yes, thou hast done the work well. But now, see that thou doest my +second task." + +Then she gave him her second command: + +"Dig up that mountain yonder and let the Dnieper flow past the site of +it, and there build a storehouse, and in the storehouse stack the wheat +that thou hast reaped, and sell this wheat to the merchant barques that +sail by, and everything must be done by the time I get up early next +morning!" + +Then he again went to the fence and wept, and the maiden said to him: + +"Why dost thou weep?" and he told her all that the she dragon had bidden +him do. + +"There are lots of bushes, but where are the berries? Go and lie down, +and I'll do it all for thee." + +Then she whistled, and the mountain was leveled and the Dnieper flowed +over the site of it, and round about the Dnieper, storehouses rose up, +and then she came and woke him that he might go and sell the wheat to +the merchant barques that sailed by that way, and when the she dragon +rose up early in the morning she was amazed to see that everything had +been done which she had commanded him. + +Then she gave him her third command: + +"This night thou must catch the golden hare, and bring it to me by the +morning light." + +Again he went to the fence and fell a-weeping. And the girl asked him: + +"Why art thou weeping?" + +He said to her: "She has ordered me to catch her the golden hare." + +"Oh, oh!" cried the she dragon's daughter, "the berries are ripening +now; only her father knows how to catch such a hare as that. +Nevertheless, I'll go to a rocky place I know of, and there perchance we +shall be able to catch it." + +So they went to this rocky place together, and she said to him: + +"Stand over that hole. I'll go in and chase him out of the hole, and +thou catch him as he comes out; but mind, whatever comes out of the +hole, seize it, for it will be the golden hare." + +So she went and began beating up, and all at once out came a snake and +hissed, and he let it go. Then she came out of the hole and said to him: + +"What! has nothing come out?" + +"Well," said he, "only a snake, and I was afraid it would bite me, so I +let it go." + +"What hast thou done?" said she; "that was the very hare itself. Look +now!" said she, "I'll go in again, and if anyone comes out and tells you +that the golden hare is not here, don't believe it, but hold him fast." + +So she crept into the hole again and began to beat for game, and out +came an old woman, who said to the youth: + +"What art thou poking about there for?" + +And he said to her: "For the golden hare." + +She said to him: "It is not here, for this is a snake's hole," and when +she had said this she went away. Presently the girl also came out and +said to him: + +"What! hast thou not got the hare? Did nothing come out, then?" + +"No," said he, "nothing but an old woman who asked me what I was +seeking, and I told her the golden hare, and she said, 'It is not here,' +so I let her go." + +Then the girl replied: "Why didst thou not lay hold of her? for she was +the very golden hare itself, and now thou never wilt catch it unless I +turn myself into a hare and thou take and lay me on the table, and give +me into my mother's, the she dragon's hands, and go away, for if she +find out all about it she will tear the pair of us to pieces." + +So she changed herself into a hare, and he took and laid her on the +table, and said to the she dragon: + +"There's thy hare for thee, and now let me go away!" + +She said to him: "Very well--be off!" + +Then he set off running, and he ran and ran as hard as he could. Soon +after the old she dragon discovered that it was not the golden hare, but +her own daughter, so she set about chasing after them and destroying +them both, for the daughter had made haste in the meantime to join Ivan. +But as the she dragon couldn't run herself, she sent her husband, and he +began chasing them and they knew he was coming, for they felt the earth +trembling beneath his tread. Then the she dragon's daughter said to +Ivan: + +"I hear him running after us. I'll turn myself into standing wheat and +thee into an old man guarding me, and if he ask thee, 'Hast thou seen a +lad and a lass pass by this way?' say to him: 'Yes, they passed by this +way while I was sowing this wheat!'" + +A little while afterwards the she dragon's husband came flying up. + +"Have a lad and a lass passed by this way?" said he. + +"Yes," replied the old man, "they have." + +"Was it long ago?" asked the she dragon's husband. + +"It was while this wheat was being sown," replied the old man. + +"Oh!" thought the serpent, "this wheat is ready for the sickle; they +couldn't have been this way yesterday." + +So he turned back. Then the she dragon's daughter turned herself back +into a maiden and the old man into a youth, and off they set again. But +the dragon returned home, and the she dragon asked him: + +"What! hast thou not caught them or met them on the road?" + +"Met them, no!" said he. "I did, indeed, pass on the road some standing +wheat and an old man watching it, and I asked the old man if he had seen +a lad and a lass pass by that way, and he said, 'Yes, while this wheat +was being sown'; but the wheat was quite ripe for the sickle, so I knew +it was a long while ago and turned back." + +"Why didst thou not tear that old man and the wheat to pieces?" cried +the she dragon; "it was they! Be off after them again, and mind, this +time tear them to pieces without fail." + +So the dragon set off after them again, and they heard him coming from +afar, for the earth trembled beneath him. So the damsel said to Ivan: + +"He's coming again; I hear him; now I'll change myself into a monastery, +so old that it will be almost falling to pieces, and I'll change thee +into an old black monk at the gate, and when he comes up and asks, 'Hast +thou seen a lad and a lass pass this way?' say to him: 'Yes, they passed +by this way when this monastery was being built.'" + +Soon afterwards the dragon came flying past, and asked the monk: "Hast +thou seen a lad and a lass pass by this way?" + +"Yes," he replied, "I saw them what time the holy fathers began to build +this monastery." + +The dragon thought to himself: "That was not yesterday! This monastery +has stood a hundred years if it has stood a day, and won't stand much +longer either"; and with that he turned him back. When he got home he +said to the she dragon, his wife: "I met a black monk who serves in a +monastery and I asked him about them, and he told me that a lad and a +lass had run past that way when the monastery was being built, but that +was not yesterday, for the monastery is a hundred years old at the very +least." + +"Why didst thou not tear the black monk to pieces and pull down the +monastery? for 'twas they. But I see I must go after them myself; thou +art no good at all." + +So off she set and ran and ran, and they knew she was coming, for the +earth quaked and yawned beneath her. Then the damsel said to Ivan: + +"I fear me 'tis all over, for she is coming herself! Look now, I'll +change thee into a stream and myself into a fish--a perch." + +Immediately after the she dragon came up and said to the perch: + +"Oh, oh! so thou wouldst run away from me, eh!" + +Then she turned herself into a pike and began chasing the perch, but +every time she drew near to it the perch turned its prickly fins toward +her, so that she could not catch hold of it. So she kept on chasing it +and chasing it, but finding she could not catch it, she tried to drink +up the stream, till she drank so much of it that she burst. + +Then the maiden who had become a fish said to the youth who had become a +river: + +"Now that we are alive and not dead, go back to thy lord father and thy +father's house and see them, and kiss them all except the daughter of +thy uncle, for if thou kiss that damsel thou wilt forget me, and I shall +go to the land of Nowhere." + +So he went home and greeted them all, and as he did so he thought to +himself: + +"Why should I not greet my uncle's daughter like the rest of them? Why, +they'll think me a mere pagan if I don't!" + +So he kissed her, and the moment he did so he forgot all about the girl +who had saved him. + +So he remained there half a year, and then bethought him of taking to +himself a wife. So they betrothed him to a very pretty girl, and he +accepted her and forgot all about the other girl who had saved him from +the dragon, the one who herself was the she dragon's daughter. Now the +evening before the wedding they heard a young damsel crying _shishki_[B] +in the streets. They called to the young damsel to go away, or say who +she was, for nobody knew her. But the damsel answered never a word, but +began to knead more cakes, and made a cock dove and a hen dove out of +the dough and put them down on the ground, and they became alive. And +the hen dove said to the cock dove: + +"Hast thou forgotten how I cleared the field for thee, and sowed it with +wheat, and thou mad'st a roll from the corn which thou gavest to the she +dragon?" + +But the cock dove answered: + +"Forgotten! forgotten!" + +Then she said to him again: + +"And hast thou forgotten how I dug away the mountain for thee, and let +the Dnieper flow by it that the merchant barques might come to thy +storehouses, and that thou might'st sell thy wheat to the merchant +barques?" + +But the cock dove replied: + +"Forgotten! forgotten!" + +Then the hen dove said to him again: + +"And hast thou forgotten how we two went together in search of the +golden hare? Hast thou forgotten me then altogether?" + +And the cock dove answered again: + +"Forgotten! forgotten!" + +Then the good youth Ivan bethought him who this damsel was that had made +the doves, and he took her to his arms and made her his wife, and they +lived happily ever afterwards. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote B: Wedding-cakes of the shape of pine cones.] + + + + +_The Sparrow and the Bush_ + + +A SPARROW once flew down upon a bush and said: + +"Little bush, give good little sparrow a swing." + +"I won't!" said the little bush. Then the sparrow was angry, and went to +the goat and said: + +"Goat, goat, nibble bush, bush won't give good little sparrow a swing." + +"I won't!" said the goat. + +Then the sparrow went to the wolf and said: + +"Wolf, wolf, eat goat, goat won't nibble bush, bush won't give good +little sparrow a swing." + +"I won't!" said the wolf. + +Then the sparrow went to the people and said: + +"Good people, kill wolf, wolf won't eat goat, goat won't nibble bush, +bush won't give good little sparrow a swing." + +"We won't!" said the people. + +Then the sparrow went to the Tartars: + +"Tartars, Tartars, slay people, people won't kill wolf, wolf won't eat +goat, goat won't nibble bush, bush won't give good little sparrow a +swing." But the Tartars said: + +"We won't slay the people!" and the people said: + +"We won't kill the wolf!" and the wolf said: + +"I won't eat the goat!" and the goat said: + +"I won't nibble the bush!" and the bush said: + +"I won't give the good little sparrow a swing." + +"Go!" said the bush, "to the fire, for the Tartars won't slay the +people, and the people won't kill the wolf, and the wolf won't eat the +goat, and the goat won't nibble the bush, and the bush won't give the +dear little sparrow a swing." + +But the fire also said: + +"I won't!" (they were all alike)--"go to the water," said he. + +So the sparrow went to the water and said: + +"Come water, quench fire, fire won't burn Tartars, Tartars won't slay +people, people won't kill wolf, wolf won't eat goat, goat won't nibble +bush, bush won't give good little sparrow a swing." + +But the water also said: + +"I won't!" So the sparrow went to the ox and said: + +"Ox, ox, drink water, water won't quench fire, fire won't burn Tartars, +Tartars won't slay people, people won't kill wolf, wolf won't eat goat, +goat won't nibble bush, bush won't give little sparrow a swing." + +"I won't!" said the ox. + +Then the sparrow went to the poleax and said: + +"Poleax, poleax, strike ox, ox won't drink water, water won't quench +fire, fire won't burn Tartars, Tartars won't slay people, people won't +kill wolf, wolf won't eat goat, goat won't nibble bush, bush won't give +little sparrow a swing." + +"I won't!" said the poleax. + +So the sparrow went to the worms and said: + +"Worms, worms, gnaw poleax, poleax won't strike ox, ox won't drink +water, water won't quench fire, fire won't burn Tartars, Tartars won't +slay people, people won't kill wolf, wolf won't eat goat, goat won't +nibble bush, bush won't give little sparrow a swing." + +"We won't!" said the worms. + +Then the sparrow went to the hen and said: + +"Hen, hen, peck worms, worms won't gnaw poleax, poleax won't strike ox, +ox won't drink water, water won't quench fire, fire won't burn Tartars, +Tartars won't slay people, people won't kill wolf, wolf won't eat goat, +goat won't nibble bush, bush won't give little sparrow a swing." + +"I won't!" said the hen, "but go to the sparrow hawk, he ought to give +the first push, or why is he called the pusher!"[C] + +So the sparrow went to the sparrow hawk and said: + +"Come, pusher, seize hen, hen won't peck worms, worms won't gnaw poleax, +poleax won't strike ox, ox won't drink water, water won't quench fire, +fire won't burn Tartars, Tartars won't slay people, people won't kill +wolf, wolf won't eat goat, goat won't nibble bush, bush won't give +little sparrow a swing." + +Then the sparrow hawk began to seize the hen, the hen began to peck the +worms, the worms began to gnaw the poleax, the poleax began to hit the +ox, the ox began to drink the water, the water began to quench the fire, +the fire began to burn the Tartars, the Tartars began to slay the +people, the people began to kill the wolf, the wolf began to eat the +goat, the goat began to nibble the bush, and the bush cried out: + + "Swing away, swing away, swi-i-i-i-ing! + Little daddy sparrow, have your fli-i-i-ing!" + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote C: _Shulyak_ means both _sparrow hawk_ and _push_.] + + + + +_The Iron Wolf_ + + +THERE was once upon a time a parson who had a servant and when this +servant had served him faithfully for twelve years and upward, he came +to the parson and said: "Let us now settle our accounts, master, and pay +me what thou owest me. I have now served long enough, and would fain +have a little place in the wide world all to myself." + +"Good!" said the parson. "I'll tell thee now what wage I'll give thee +for thy faithful service. I'll give thee this egg. Take it home, and +when thou gettest there, make to thyself a cattle pen, and make it +strong; then break the egg in the middle of thy cattle pen, and thou +shalt see something. But whatever thou doest, don't break it on thy way +home, or all thy luck will leave thee." + +So the servant departed on his homeward way. He went on and on, and at +last he thought to himself: + +"Come now, I'll see what is inside this egg of mine!" So he broke it, +and out of it came all sorts of cattle in such numbers that the open +steppe became like a fair. The servant stood there in amazement, and he +thought to himself: + +"However in this world shall I be able to drive all these cattle back +again?" He had scarcely uttered the words when the Iron Wolf came +running up, and said to him: + +"I'll collect and drive back all these cattle into the egg again, and +I'll patch the egg up so that it will become quite whole. But in return +for that," continued the Iron Wolf, "whenever thou dost sit down on the +bridal bench,[D] I'll come and eat thee." + +"Well," thought the servant to himself, "a lot of things may happen +before I sit down on the bridal bench and he comes to eat me, and in the +meantime I shall get all these cattle. Agreed, then," said he. So the +Iron Wolf immediately collected all the cattle, and drove them back into +the egg, and patched up the egg and made it whole just as it was before. + +The servant went home to the village where he lived, made him a cattle +pen stronger than strong, went inside it and broke the egg, and +immediately that cattle pen was as full of cattle as it could hold. Then +he took to farming and cattle-breeding, and he became so rich that in +the whole wide world there was none richer than he. He kept to himself, +and his goods increased and multiplied exceedingly; the only thing +wanting to his happiness was a wife, but a wife he was afraid to take. +Now near to where he lived was a general who had a lovely daughter, and +this daughter fell in love with the rich man. So the general went and +said to him: + +"Come, why don't you marry? I'll give you my daughter and lots of money +with her." + +"How is it possible for me to marry?" replied the man; "as soon as ever +I sit down on the bridal bench the Iron Wolf will come and eat me up." +And he told the general all that had happened. + +"Oh, nonsense!" said the general, "don't be afraid. I have a mighty +host, and when the time comes for you to sit down on the bridal bench +we'll surround your house with three strong rows of soldiers, and they +won't let the Iron Wolf get at you, I can tell you." So they talked the +matter over till he let himself be persuaded, and then they began to +make great preparations for the bridal banquet. Everything went off +exceedingly well, and they made merry till the time came when bride and +bridegroom were to sit down together on the bridal bench. Then the +general placed his men in three strong rows all around the house so as +not to let the Iron Wolf get in; and no sooner had the young people sat +down upon the bridal bench than, sure enough, the Iron Wolf came running +up. He saw the host standing around the house in three strong rows, but +through all three rows he leaped and made straight for the house. But +the man, as soon as he saw the Iron Wolf, leaped out of the window, +mounted his horse, and galloped off with the wolf after him. + +Away and away he galloped, and after him came the Wolf, but try as it +would, it could not catch him up anyhow. At last, toward evening, the +man stopped and looked about him, and saw that he was in a lone forest, +and before him stood a hut. He went up to this hut, and saw an old man +and an old woman sitting in front of it, and said to them: + +"Would you let me rest a little while with you, good people?" + +"By all means!" said they. + +"There is one thing, however, good people," said he, "don't let the Iron +Wolf catch me while I am resting with you." + +"Have no fear of that!" replied the old couple. "We have a dog called +Chutko[E] who can hear a wolf coming a mile off, and he'll be sure to +let us know." + +So he laid him down to sleep, and was just dropping off when Chutko +began to bark. Then the old people awoke him, and said: + +"Be off! be off! for the Iron Wolf is coming." + +And they gave him the dog, and a wheaten hearth cake as provision by the +way. + +So he went on and on, and the dog followed after him till it began to +grow dark, and then he perceived another hut in another forest. He went +up to that hut, and in front of it were sitting an old man and an old +woman. He asked them for a night's lodging. + +"Only," said he, "take care that the Iron Wolf doesn't catch me." + +"Have no fear of that," said they. "We have a dog here called Vazhko,[F] +who can hear a wolf nine miles off." + +So he laid him down and slept. Just before dawn Vazhko began to bark. +Immediately they awoke him. + +"Run!" cried they, "the Iron Wolf is coming!" + +And they gave him the dog, and a barley hearth-cake as provision by the +way. So he took the hearth cake, sat him on his horse and off he went, +and his two dogs followed after him. + +He went on and on. On and on he went till evening, when again he stopped +and looked about him, and he saw that he was in another forest, and +another little hut stood before him. He went into the hut, and there +were sitting an old man and an old woman. + +"Will you let me pass the night here, good people?" said he. "Only take +care that the Iron Wolf does not get hold of me." + +"Have no fear," said they, "we have a dog called Bary, who can hear a +wolf coming twelve miles off. He'll let us know." + +So he lay down to sleep, and early in the morning Bary let them know +that the Iron Wolf was drawing nigh. Immediately they awoke him. + +"'Tis high time for you to be off!" said they. + +Then they gave him the dog, and a buckwheat hearth cake as provision by +the way. He took the hearth cake, sat him on his horse, and off he +went. So now he had three dogs, and they all three followed him. + +He went on and on, and toward evening he found himself in front of +another hut. He went into it, and there was nobody there. He went and +lay down, and his dogs lay down also--Chutko on the threshold of the +room door, Vazhko at the threshold of the house door, and Bary at the +threshold of the outer gate. Presently the Iron Wolf came trotting up. +Immediately Chutko gave the alarm, Vazhko nailed him to the earth, and +Bary tore him to pieces. + +Then the man gathered his faithful dogs around him, mounted his horse, +and went back to his own home. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote D: _Posad_, or _posag_, a bench covered with white cloth on +which the bride and bridegroom sat down together.] + +[Footnote E: Hearkener.] + +[Footnote F: Heavysides.] + + + + +_The Grateful Cobra_ + + +ONCE upon a time there was a rajah and ranee who were much grieved +because they had no children, and the little dog in the palace had also +no puppies. At last the Rajah and Ranee had some children, and it also +happened that the pet dog in the palace had some puppies; but, +unfortunately, the Ranee's two children were two puppies and the dog's +two puppies were two pretty little girls! This vexed her majesty very +much; and sometimes when the dog had gone away to its dinner, the Ranee +used to put the two puppies (her children) into the kennel, and carry +away the dog's two little girls to the palace. Then the poor dog grew +very unhappy, and said: "They never will leave my two little children +alone. I must take them away into the jungle, or their lives will be +worried out." So one night she took the little girls in her mouth and +ran with them to the jungle, and there made them a home in a pretty cave +in the rock, beside a clear stream; and every day she would go into the +towns and carry away some nice currie and rice to give her little +daughters; and if she found any pretty clothes or jewels that she could +bring away in her mouth, she used to take them also for the children. + +Now it happened some time after this, one day, when the dog had gone to +fetch her daughters' dinner, two young princes (a rajah and his brother) +came to hunt in the jungle, and they hunted all day and found nothing. +It had been very hot, and they were thirsty; so they went to a tree +which grew on a little piece of high ground, and sent their attendants +to search all around for water; but no one could find any. At last one +of the hunting dogs came to the foot of the tree, quite muddy, and the +Rajah said: "Look, the dog is muddy: he must have found water; follow +him, and see where he goes." The attendants followed the dog, and saw +him go to the stream at the mouth of the cave where the two children +were; and the two children also saw them, and were very much frightened +and ran inside the cave. Then the attendants returned to the two princes +and said: "We have found clear, sparkling water flowing past a cave, +and, what is more, within the cave are two of the most lovely young +ladies that eye ever beheld, clothed in fine dresses and covered with +jewels; but when they saw us they were frightened and ran away." On +hearing this the princes bade their servants lead them to the place; and +when they saw the two young girls, they were quite charmed with them, +and asked them to go to their kingdom and become their wives. The +maidens were frightened; but at last the Rajah and his brother persuaded +them, and they went, and the Rajah married the elder sister, and his +brother married the younger. + +When the dog returned, she was grieved to find her children gone, and +for twelve long years the poor thing ran many, many miles to find them, +but in vain. At last one day she came to the place where the two +princesses lived. Now it chanced that the elder, the wife of the Rajah, +was looking out of the window, and seeing the dog run down the street, +she said: "That must be my dear, long-lost mother." So she ran into the +street as fast as possible, and took the tired dog in her arms, and +brought her into her own room, and made her a nice comfortable bed on +the floor, and bathed her feet, and was very kind to her. Then the dog +said to her: "My daughter, you are good and kind, and it is a great joy +to me to see you again, but I must not stay; I will first go and see +your younger sister, and then return." The Ranee answered: "Do not do +so, dear mother; rest here to-day; to-morrow I will send and let my +sister know, and she, too, will come and see you." But the poor, silly +dog would not stay, but ran to the house of her second daughter. Now the +second daughter was looking out of the window when the unfortunate +creature came to the door, and seeing the dog she said to herself: "That +must be my mother. What will my husband think if he learns that this +wretched, ugly, miserable-looking dog is my mother?" So she ordered her +servants to go and throw stones at it, and drive it away, and they did +so; and one large stone hit the dog's head, and she ran back, very much +hurt, to her elder daughter's house. The Ranee saw her coming, and ran +out into the street and brought her in in her arms, and did all she +could to make her well, saying: "Ah, mother, mother! why did you ever +leave my house?" But all her care was in vain: the poor dog died. Then +the Ranee thought her husband might be vexed if he found a dead dog (an +unclean animal) in the palace; so she put the body in a small room into +which the Rajah hardly ever went, intending to have it reverently +buried; and over it she placed a basket turned topsy-turvy. + +It so happened, however, that when the Rajah came to visit his wife, as +chance would have it, he went through this very room; and tripping over +the upturned basket, called for a light to see what it was. Then, lo and +behold! there lay the statue of a dog, life-size, composed entirely of +diamonds, emeralds, and other precious stones, set in gold! So he called +out to his wife, and said: "Where did you get this beautiful dog?" And +when the Ranee saw the golden dog, she was very much frightened, and, +I'm sorry to say, instead of telling her husband the truth, she told a +story, and said, "Oh, it is only a present my parents sent me." + +Now see what trouble she got into for not telling the truth. + +"_Only!_" said the Rajah; "why this is valuable enough to buy the whole +of my kingdom. Your parents must be very rich people to be able to send +you such presents as this. How is it you never told me of them? Where do +they live?" Now she had to tell another story to cover the first. She +said: "In the jungle." He replied: "I will go and see them; you must +take me and show me where they live." Then the Ranee thought: "What will +the Rajah say when he finds I have been telling him such stories? He +will order my head to be cut off." So she said, "You must first give me +a palanquin, and I will go into the jungle and tell them you are +coming"; but really she had determined to kill herself, and so get out +of her difficulties. Away she went; and when she had gone some distance +in her palanquin, she saw a large white ants' nest, over which hung a +cobra, with his mouth wide open; then the Ranee thought: "I will go to +that cobra and put my finger in his mouth, that he may bite me, and so I +shall die." So she ordered the palkee bearers to wait, and said she +would be back in a while, and got out, and ran to the ants' nest, and +put her finger in the cobra's mouth. Now a large thorn had run, a short +time before, into the cobra's throat, and hurt him very much; and the +Ranee, by putting her finger into his mouth, pushed out this thorn; then +the cobra, feeling much better, turned to her, and said: "My dear +daughter, you have done me a great kindness; what return can I make +you?" The Ranee told him all her story, and begged him to bite her, that +she might die. But the cobra said: "You certainly did very wrong to tell +the Rajah that story; nevertheless, you have been very kind to me. I +will help you in your difficulty. Send your husband here. I will provide +you with a father and mother of whom you need not be ashamed." So the +Ranee returned joyfully to the palace, and invited her husband to come +and see her parents. + +When they reached the spot near where the cobra was, what a wonderful +sight awaited them! There, in the place which had before been thick +jungle, stood a splendid palace, twenty-four miles long and twenty-four +miles broad, with gardens and trees and fountains all around; and the +light shining from it was to be seen a hundred miles off. The walls +were made of gold and precious stones, and the carpets, cloth of gold. +Hundreds of servants, in rich dresses, stood waiting in the long, lofty +rooms; and in the last room of all, upon golden thrones, sat a +magnificent old Rajah and Ranee, who introduced themselves to the young +Rajah as his papa- and mamma-in-law. The Rajah and Ranee stayed at the +palace six months, and were entertained the whole of that time with +feasting and music; and they left for their own home loaded with +presents. Before they started, however, the Ranee went to her friend, +the cobra, and said: "You have conjured up all these beautiful things to +get me out of my difficulties, but my husband, the Rajah has enjoyed his +visit so much that he will certainly want to come here again. Then, if +he returns and finds nothing at all, he will be very angry with me." The +friendly cobra answered: "Do not fear. When you have gone twenty-four +miles on your journey, look back, and see what you will see." So they +started; and on looking back at the end of twenty-four miles, saw the +whole of the splendid palace in flames, the fire reaching up to heaven. +The Rajah returned to see if he could help anybody to escape, or invite +them in their distress to his court; but he found that all was burned +down--not a stone nor a living creature remained! + +Then he grieved much over the sad fate of his parents-in-law. + +When the party returned home, the Rajah's brother said to him: "Where +did you get these magnificent presents?" He replied: "They are gifts +from my father- and mother-in-law." At this news the Rajah's brother +went home to his wife very discontented, and asked her why she had never +told him of her parents, and taken him to see them, whereby he might +have received rich gifts as well as his brother. His wife then went to +her sister, and asked how she had managed to get all the things. But the +Ranee said: "Go away, you wicked woman, I will not speak to you. You +killed the poor dog, our mother." + +But afterwards she told her all about it. + +The sister then said: "I shall go and see the cobra, and get presents +too." The Ranee then answered: "You can go if you like." + +So the sister ordered her palanquin, and told her husband she was going +to see her parents, and prepare them for a visit from him. When she +reached the ants' nest she saw the cobra there, and she went and put her +finger in his mouth, and the cobra bit her, and she died. + + + + +_The Magic Ring_ + + +ONCE upon a time there lived an old couple who had one son called +Martin. Now, when the old man's time had come he stretched himself out +on his bed and died. Though all his life long he had toiled and moiled, +he only left his widow and son two hundred florins. The old woman +determined to put by the money for a rainy day, but, alas! the rainy day +was close at hand, for their meal was all consumed, and who is prepared +to face starvation with two hundred florins at their disposal? So the +old woman counted out one hundred florins, and giving them to Martin, +told him to go into the town and lay in a store of meal for a year. + +So Martin started off for the town. When he reached the meat market he +found the whole place in turmoil and a great noise of angry voices and +barking of dogs. Mixing in the crowd, he noticed a stag hound which the +butchers had caught and tied to a post, and which was being flogged in a +merciless manner. Overcome with pity, Martin spoke to the butchers, +saying: + +"Friends, why are you beating the poor dog so cruelly?" + +"We have every right to beat him," they replied. "He has just devoured a +newly killed pig." + +"Leave off beating him," said Martin, "and sell him to me instead." + +"If you choose to buy him," answered the butchers derisively; "but for +such a treasure we won't take a penny less than one hundred florins." + +"A hundred!" exclaimed Martin. "Well, so be it, if you will not take +less"; and taking the money out of his pocket he handed it over in +exchange for the dog, whose name was Schurka. + +When Martin got home his mother met him with the question: + +"Well, what have you bought?" + +"Schurka, the dog," replied Martin, pointing to his new possession. +Whereupon his mother became very angry and abused him roundly. He ought +to be ashamed of himself, when there was scarcely a handful of meal in +the house, to have spent the money on a useless brute like that. On the +following day she sent him back to the town, saying: "Here, take our +last one hundred florins and buy provisions with them. I have just +emptied the last grains of meal out of the chest and baked a bannock; +but it won't last over to-morrow." + +Just as Martin was entering the town he met a rough-looking peasant who +was dragging a cat after him by a string which was fastened around the +poor beast's neck. + +"Stop!" cried Martin. "Where are you dragging that poor cat?" + +"I mean to drown it," was the answer. + +"What harm has the poor beast done?" said Martin. + +"It has just killed a goose," replied the peasant. + +"Don't drown it--sell it to me instead," begged Martin. + +"Not for one hundred florins," was the answer. + +"Surely for one hundred florins you'll sell it?" said Martin. "See! here +is the money." And so saying he handed him the one hundred florins, +which the peasant pocketed, and Martin took possession of the cat, which +was called Waska. + +When he reached his home his mother greeted him with the question: + +"Well, what have you brought back?" + +"I have brought this cat, Waska," answered Martin. + +"And what besides?" + +"I had no money over to buy anything else with," replied Martin. + +"You useless ne'er-do-weel!" exclaimed his mother in a great passion. +"Leave the house at once and go and beg your bread among strangers," And +as Martin did not dare to contradict her, he called Schurka and Waska +and started off with them to the nearest village in search of work. On +the way he met a rich peasant, who asked him where he was going. + +"I want to get work as a day laborer," he answered. + +"Come along with me, then. But I must tell you I engage my laborers +without wages. If you serve me faithfully for a year I promise you it +shall be to your advantage." + +So Martin consented, and for a year he worked diligently and served his +master faithfully, not sparing himself in any way. When the day of +reckoning had come the peasant led him into a barn, and pointing to two +full sacks said: "Take whichever of these you choose." + +Martin examined the contents of the sacks, and seeing that one was full +of silver and the other of sand, he said to himself: "There must be some +trick about this. I had better take the sand." And throwing the sack +over his shoulders he started out into the world in search of fresh +work. On and on he walked, and at last he reached a great gloomy wood. +In the middle of the wood he came upon a meadow, where a fire was +burning, and in the midst of the fire, surrounded by flames, was a +lovely damsel, more beautiful than anything that Martin had ever seen, +and when she saw him she called to him: + +"Martin, if you would win happiness save my life. Extinguish the flames +with the sand that you earned in payment of your faithful service." + +"Truly," thought Martin to himself, "it would be more sensible to save a +fellow-being's life with this sand than to drag it about on one's back, +seeing what a weight it is." And forthwith he lowered the sack from his +shoulders and emptied its contents on the flames, and instantly the +fire was extinguished; but at the same moment lo and behold! the lovely +damsel turned into a serpent and darting upon him coiled itself around +his neck and whispered lovingly in his ear: + +"Do not be afraid of me, Martin. I love you and will go with you through +the world. But first you must follow me boldly into my father's kingdom, +underneath the earth; and when we get there, remember this--he will +offer you gold and silver and dazzling gems, but do not touch them. Ask +him, instead, for the ring which he wears on his little finger, for in +that ring lies a magic power. You have only to throw it from one hand to +the other, and at once twelve young men will appear who will do your +bidding, no matter how difficult it is, in a single night." + +So they started on their way, and after much wandering they reached a +spot where a great rock rose straight up in the middle of the road. +Instantly the serpent uncoiled itself from his neck, and as it touched +the damp earth it resumed the shape of the lovely damsel. Pointing to +the rock, she showed him an opening just big enough for a man to wriggle +through. Passing into it, they entered a long underground passage which +led out on to a wide field above which spread a blue sky. In the middle +of the field stood a magnificent castle built out of porphyry, with a +roof of gold and with glittering battlements. And his beautiful guide +told him that this was the palace in which her father lived and reigned +over his kingdom in the underworld. + +Together they entered the palace and were received by the King with +great kindness. Turning to his daughter he said: + +"My child, I had almost given up the hope of ever seeing you again. +Where have you been all these years?" + +"My father," she replied, "I owe my life to this youth, who saved me +from a terrible death." + +Upon which the King turned to Martin with a gracious smile, saying: "I +will reward your courage by granting you whatever your heart desires. +Take as much gold, silver, and precious stones as you choose." + +"I thank you, mighty King, for your gracious offer," answered Martin, +"but I do not covet either gold, silver, or precious stones; yet if you +will grant me a favor, give me, I beg, the ring from off the little +finger of your royal hand. Every time my eye falls on it I shall think +of your gracious majesty, and when I marry I shall present it to my +bride." + +So the King took the ring from his finger and gave it to Martin, saying: +"Take it, good youth; but with it I make one condition--you are never to +confide to anyone that this is a magic ring. If you do, you will +straightway bring misfortune on yourself." + +Martin took the ring, and having thanked the King he set out on the same +road by which he had come down into the underworld. When he had regained +the upper air he started for his old home, and having found his mother +still living in the old house where he had left her, they settled down +together very happily. So uneventful was their life that it almost +seemed as if it would go on in this way always without let or hindrance. +But one day it suddenly came into his mind that he would like to get +married, and, moreover, that he would choose a very grand wife--a king's +daughter, in short. But as he did not trust himself as a wooer, he +determined to send his old mother on the mission. + +"You must go to the King," he said to her, "and demand the hand of his +lovely daughter in marriage for me." + +"What are you thinking of, my son?" answered the old woman, aghast at +the idea. "Why cannot you marry some one in your own rank? That would be +far more fitting than to send a poor old woman like me a-wooing to the +King's court for the hand of a princess. Why, it is as much as our heads +are worth. Neither my life nor yours would be worth anything if I went +on such a fool's errand." + +"Never fear, little mother," answered Martin. "Trust me; all will be +well. But see that you do not come back without an answer of some kind." + +And so, obedient to her son's behest, the old woman hobbled off to the +palace, and without being hindered reached the courtyard and began to +mount the flight of steps leading to the royal presence chamber. At the +head of the landing rows of courtiers were collected in magnificent +attire, who stared at the queer old figure, and called to her and +explained to her with every kind of sign that it was strictly forbidden +to mount those steps. But their stern words and forbidding gestures made +no impression whatever on the old woman, and she resolutely continued to +climb the stairs, bent on carrying out her son's orders. Upon this some +of the courtiers seized her by the arms and held her back by sheer +force, at which she set up such a yell that the King himself heard it +and stepped out on to the balcony to see what was the matter. When he +beheld the old woman flinging her arms wildly about and heard her scream +that she would not leave the place till she had laid her case before the +King, he ordered that she should be brought into his presence. And +forthwith she was conducted into the golden presence chamber, where, +leaning back among cushions of royal purple, the King sat, surrounded by +his counselors and courtiers. Courtesying low, the old woman stood +silent before him. + +"Well, my good old dame, what can I do for you?" asked the King. + +"I have come," replied Martin's mother--"and your majesty must not be +angry with me--I have come a-wooing." + +"Is the woman out of her mind?" said the King, with an angry frown. + +But Martin's mother answered boldly: "If the King will only listen +patiently to me and give me a straightforward answer, he will see that I +am not out of my mind. You, O King, have a lovely daughter to give in +marriage. I have a son--a wooer--as clever a youth and as good a +son-in-law as you will find in your whole kingdom. There is nothing that +he cannot do. Now tell me, O King, plump and plain, will you give your +daughter to my son as wife?" + +The King listened to the end of the old woman's strange request, but +every moment his face grew blacker and his features sterner, till all at +once he thought to himself: "Is it worth while that I, the King, should +be angry with this poor old fool?" And all the courtiers and counselors +were amazed when they saw the hard lines around his mouth and the frown +on his brow grow smooth, and heard the mild but mocking tones in which +he answered the old woman, saying: + +"If your son is as wonderfully clever as you say, and if there is +nothing in the world that he cannot do, let him build a magnificent +castle, just opposite my palace windows, in twenty-four hours. The +palaces must be joined together by a bridge of pure crystal. On each +side of the bridge there must be growing trees, having golden and silver +apples and with birds of paradise among the branches. At the right of +the bridge there must be a church with five golden cupolas. In this +church your son shall be wedded to my daughter, and we will keep the +wedding festivities in the new castle. But if he fails to execute this +my royal command, then, as a just but mild monarch, I shall give orders +that you and he be taken and first dipped in tar and then in feathers, +and you shall be executed in the market place for the entertainment of +my courtiers." + +And a smile played around the King's lips as he finished speaking, and +his courtiers and counselors shook with laughter when they thought of +the old woman's folly, and praised the King's wise device and said to +each other: "What a joke it will be when we see the pair of them tarred +and feathered! The son is just as able to grow a beard on the palm of +his hand as to execute such a task in twenty-four hours." + +Now, the poor old woman was mortally afraid, and in a trembling voice +she asked: + +"Is that really your royal will, O King? Must I take this order to my +poor son?" + +"Yes, old dame; such is my command. If your son carries out my order he +shall be rewarded with my daughter; but if he fails, away to the tar +barrel and the stake with you both!" + +On her way home the poor old woman shed bitter tears, and when she saw +Martin she told him what the King had said, and sobbed out: + +"Didn't I tell you, my son, that you should marry some one of your own +rank? It would have been better for us this day if you had. As I told +you, my going to court has been as much as our lives are worth, and now +we will both be tarred and feathered and burned in the public market +place. It is terrible!" And she moaned and cried. + +"Never fear, little mother," answered Martin. "Trust me, and you will +see all will be well. You may go to sleep with a quiet mind." + +And stepping to the front of the hut Martin threw his ring from the palm +of one hand into the other, upon which twelve youths instantly appeared +and demanded what he wanted them to do. Then he told them the King's +commands, and they answered that by next morning all should be +accomplished exactly as the King had ordered. + +Next morning when the King awoke and looked out of his window, to his +amazement he beheld a magnificent castle, just opposite his own palace, +and joined to it by a bridge of pure crystal. + +At each side of the bridge trees were growing, from whose branches hung +golden and silver apples, among which birds of paradise perched. At the +right, gleaming in the sun, were the five golden cupolas of a splendid +church, whose bells rang out as if they would summon people from all +corners of the earth to come and behold the wonder. Now, though the King +would much rather have seen his future son-in-law tarred, feathered, and +burned at the stake, he remembered his royal oath and had to make the +best of a bad business. So he took heart of grace and made Martin a +duke, and gave his daughter a rich dowry, and prepared the grandest +wedding feast that had ever been seen, so that to this day the old +people in the country still talk of it. + +After the wedding Martin and his royal bride went to dwell in the +magnificent new palace, and here Martin lived in the greatest comfort +and luxury, such luxury as he had never imagined. But though he was as +happy as the day was long and as merry as a grig, the King's daughter +fretted all day, thinking of the indignity that had been done her in +making her marry Martin, the poor widow's son, instead of a rich young +prince from a foreign country. So unhappy was she that she spent all her +time wondering how she should get rid of her undesirable husband. And +first she determined to learn the secret of his power, and with +flattering, caressing words she tried to coax him to tell her how he was +so clever that there was nothing in the world that he could not do. At +first he would tell her nothing; but once, when he was in a yielding +mood, she approached him with a winning smile on her lovely face, and +speaking flattering words to him she gave him a potion to drink, with a +sweet, strong taste. And when he had drunk it Martin's lips were +unsealed, and he told her that all his power lay in the magic ring that +he wore on his finger, and he described to her how to use it, and still +speaking he fell into a deep sleep. And when she saw that the potion had +worked and that he was sound asleep, the Princess took the magic ring +from his finger, and going into the courtyard she threw it from the palm +of one hand into the other. On the instant the twelve youths appeared +and asked her what she commanded them to do. Then she told them that by +the next morning they were to do away with the castle and the bridge and +the church, and put in their stead the humble hut in which Martin used +to live with his mother, and that while he slept her husband was to be +carried to his old lowly room; and that they were to bear her away to +the utmost ends of the earth, where an old king lived who would make her +welcome in his palace and surround her with the state that befitted a +royal princess. + +"You shall be obeyed," answered the twelve youths at the same moment. +And lo and behold! the following morning when the King woke and looked +out of his window he beheld to his amazement that the palace, bridge, +church, and trees had all vanished, and there was nothing in their place +but a bare, miserable-looking hut. + +Immediately the King sent for his son-in-law and commanded him to +explain what had happened. But Martin looked at his royal father-in-law +and answered never a word. Then the King was very angry, and calling a +council together, he charged Martin with having been guilty of +witchcraft, and of having deceived the King, and having made away with +the Princess; and he was condemned to imprisonment in a high stone +tower, with neither meat nor drink, till he should die of starvation. + +Then, in the hour of his dire necessity, his old friends Schurka (the +dog) and Waska (the cat) remembered how Martin had once saved them from +a cruel death; and they took counsel together as to how they should help +him. And Schurka growled and was of opinion that he would like to tear +everyone in pieces; but Waska purred meditatively, scratched the back of +her ear with a velvet paw, and remained lost in thought. At the end of a +few minutes she had made up her mind, and turning to Schurka, said: "Let +us go together into the town, and the moment we meet a baker you must +make a rush between his legs and upset the tray from off his head. I +will lay hold of the rolls and will carry them off to our master." No +sooner said than done. Together the two faithful creatures trotted off +into the town, and very soon they met a baker bearing a tray on his head +and looking around on all sides while he cried: + + "Fresh rolls, sweet cake, + Fancy bread of every kind, + Come and buy, come and take, + Sure you'll find it to your mind." + +At that moment Schurka made a rush between his legs--the baker stumbled, +the tray was upset, the rolls fell to the ground, and while the man +angrily pursued Schurka, Waska managed to drag the rolls out of sight +behind a bush. And when a moment later Schurka joined her, they set off +at full tilt to the stone tower where Martin was a prisoner, taking the +rolls with them. Waska, being very agile, climbed up by the outside to +the grated window and called in an anxious voice: + +"Are you alive, master?" + +"Scarcely alive--almost starved to death," answered Martin in a weak +voice. "I little thought it would come to this, that I should die of +hunger." + +"Never fear, dear master. Schurka and I will look after you," said +Waska. And in another moment she had climbed down and brought him back a +roll, and then another and another till she had brought him the whole +tray load. Upon which she said: "Dear master, Schurka and I are going +off to a distant kingdom at the utmost ends of the earth to fetch you +back your magic ring. You must be careful that the rolls last till our +return." + +And Waska took leave of her beloved master and set off with Schurka on +their journey. On and on they traveled, looking always to right and left +for traces of the Princess, following up every track, making inquiries +of every cat and dog they met, listening to the talk of every wayfarer +they passed; and at last they heard that the kingdom at the utmost ends +of the earth, where the twelve youths had borne the Princess, was not +very far off. And one day they reached that distant kingdom, and going +at once to the palace they began to make friends with all the dogs and +cats in the place and to question them about the Princess and the magic +ring; but no one could tell them much about either. Now, one day it +chanced that Waska had gone down to the palace cellar to hunt for mice +and rats, and seeing an especially fat, well-fed mouse, she pounced upon +it, buried her claws in its soft fur, and was just going to gobble it up +when she was stopped by the pleading tones of the little creature, +saying: "If you will only spare my life I will be of great service to +you. I will do everything in my power for you; for I am the king of the +mice, and if I perish the whole race will die out." + +"So be it," said Waska. "I will spare your life, but in return you must +do something for me. In this castle there lives a princess, the wicked +wife of my dear master. She has stolen away his magic ring. You must get +it away from her at whatever cost. Do you hear? Till you have done this +I won't take my claws out of your fur." + +"Good!" replied the mouse. "I will do what you ask." And so saying he +summoned all the mice in his kingdom together. A countless number of +mice, small and big, brown and gray, assembled and formed a circle +around their king, who was a prisoner under Waska's claws. Turning to +them he said: "Dear and faithful subjects, whoever among you will steal +the magic ring from the strange Princess will release me from a cruel +death, and I shall honor him above all the other mice in the kingdom." + +Instantly a tiny mouse stepped forward and said: "I often creep about +the Princess's bedroom at night, and I have noticed that she has a ring +which she treasures as the apple of her eye. All day she wears it on her +finger, and at night she keeps it in her mouth. I will undertake, sire, +to steal away the ring for you." + +And the tiny mouse tripped away into the bedroom of the Princess and +waited for nightfall; then, when the Princess had fallen asleep, it +crept up on to her bed and gnawed a hole in the pillow, through which it +dragged, one by one, little down feathers and threw them under the +Princess's nose. And the fluff flew into the Princess's nose and into +her mouth, and starting up she sneezed and coughed, and the ring fell +out of her mouth on to the coverlet. In a flash the tiny mouse had +seized it and brought it to Waska as a ransom for the king of the mice. +Thereupon Waska and Schurka started off and traveled night and day till +they reached the stone tower where Martin was imprisoned; and the cat +climbed up the window and called out to him: + +"Martin, dear master, are you still alive?" + +"Ah! Waska, my faithful little cat, is that you?" replied a weak voice. +"I am dying of hunger. For three days I have not tasted food." + +"Be of good heart, dear master," replied Waska. "From this day forth, +you will know nothing but happiness and prosperity. If this were a +moment to trouble you with riddles, I would make you guess what Schurka +and I have brought you back. Only think, we have found you your ring!" + +At these words Martin's joy knew no bounds, and he stroked her fondly +and she rubbed up against him and purred happily, while below Schurka +bounded in the air and barked joyfully. Then Martin took the ring and +threw it from one hand into the other, and instantly the twelve youths +appeared and asked what they were to do. + +"Fetch me first something to eat and drink as quickly as possible; and +after that bring musicians hither and let us have music all day long." + +Now, when the people in the town and palace heard music coming from the +tower they were filled with amazement, and came to the King with the +news that witchcraft must be going on in Martin's tower, for instead of +dying of starvation he was seemingly making merry to the sound of music +and to the clatter of plates and glass and knives and forks; and the +music was so enchantingly sweet that all the passers-by stood still to +listen to it. On this the King sent at once a messenger to Starvation +Tower, and he was so astonished with what he saw that he remained rooted +to the spot. Then the King sent his chief counselors, and they too were +transfixed with wonder. At last the King came himself, and he likewise +was spellbound by the beauty of the music. + +Then Martin summoned the twelve youths and said to them: "Build up my +castle again and join it to the King's palace with a crystal bridge. Do +not forget the trees with the golden and silver apples and with the +birds of paradise in the branches, and put back the church with the five +cupolas, and let the bells ring out, summoning the people from the four +corners of the kingdom. And one thing more--bring back my faithless wife +and lead her into the women's chamber." + +And it was all done as he commanded, and leaving Starvation Tower he +took the King, his father-in-law, by the arm and led him into the new +palace, where the Princess sat in fear and trembling awaiting her death. +And Martin spoke to the King, saying: "King and royal father, I have +suffered much at the hands of your daughter. What punishment shall be +dealt to her?" + +Then the mild King answered: "Beloved Prince and son-in-law, if you love +me, let your anger be turned to grace--forgive my daughter and restore +her to your heart and favor." + +And Martin's heart was softened and he forgave his wife, and they lived +happily together ever after. And his old mother came and lived with +them, and he never parted with Schurka and Waska; and I need hardly tell +you that he never again let the ring out of his possession. + + + + +_Tit for Tat_ + + +THERE once lived a camel and a jackal who were great friends. One day +the Jackal said to the Camel: "I know that there is a fine field of +sugar cane on the other side of the river. If you will take me across, +I'll show you the place. This plan will suit me as well as you. You will +enjoy eating the sugar cane, and I am sure to find many crabs, bones, +and bits of fish by the riverside, on which to make a good dinner." + +The Camel consented and swam across the river, taking the Jackal, who +could not swim, on his back. When they reached the other side, the Camel +went to eating the sugar cane, and the Jackal ran up and down the river +bank devouring all the crabs, bits of fish, and bones he could find. + +But being so much smaller an animal, he had made an excellent meal +before the Camel had eaten more than two or three mouthfuls; and no +sooner had he finished his dinner than he ran round and round the +sugar-cane field, yelping and howling with all his might. + +The villagers heard him, and thought: "There is a jackal among the sugar +canes; he will be scratching holes in the ground and spoiling the roots +of the plants." And they all went down to the place to drive him away. +But when they got there they found to their surprise not only a jackal, +but a camel who was eating the sugar canes! This made them very angry, +and they caught the poor Camel and drove him from the field and beat and +beat him until he was nearly dead. + +When they had gone, the Jackal said to the Camel, "We had better go +home." And the Camel said: "Very well; then jump upon my back as you did +before." + +So the Jackal jumped upon the Camel's back, and the Camel began to +recross the river. When they had got well into the water the Camel said: +"This is a pretty way in which you have treated me, friend Jackal. No +sooner had you finished your own dinner than you must go yelping about +the place loud enough to arouse the whole village, and bring all the +villagers down to beat me black and blue, and turn me out of the field +before I had eaten two mouthfuls! What in the world did you make such a +noise for?" + +"I don't know," said the Jackal. "It is a habit I have. I always like to +sing a little after dinner." + +The Camel waded on through the river. The water reached up to his +knees--then above them--up, up, up, higher and higher, until he was +obliged to swim. Then turning to the Jackal he said, "I feel very +anxious to roll." "Oh, pray don't; why do you wish to do so?" asked the +Jackal. "I don't know," answered the Camel. "It is a habit I have. I +always like to have a little roll after dinner." So saying, he rolled +over in the water, shaking the Jackal off as he did so. And the Jackal +was drowned, but the Camel swam safely ashore. + + + + +_The Brahman, the Tiger, and the Six Judges_ + + +ONCE upon a time a Brahman, who was walking along the road, came upon an +iron cage, in which a great tiger had been shut up by the villagers who +caught him. + +As the Brahman passed by, the Tiger called out and said to him: "Brother +Brahman, brother Brahman, have pity on me, and let me out of this cage +for one minute only to drink a little water, for I am dying of thirst." +The Brahman answered: "No, I will not; for if I let you out of the cage +you will eat me." + +"Oh, father of mercy," answered the Tiger, "in truth that I will not. I +will never be so ungrateful; only let me out, that I may drink some +water and return." Then the Brahman took pity on him and opened the cage +door; but no sooner had he done so than the Tiger, jumping out, said: +"Now, I will eat you first and drink the water afterwards." But the +Brahman said: "Only do not kill me hastily. Let us first ask the opinion +of six, and if all of them say it is just and fair that you should put +me to death, then I am willing to die." + +"Very well," answered the Tiger, "it shall be as you say; we will first +ask the opinion of six." + +So the Brahman and the Tiger walked on till they came to a Banyan tree; +and the Brahman said to it: "Banyan Tree, Banyan Tree, hear and give +judgment." "On what must I give judgment?" asked the Banyan Tree. "This +Tiger," said the Brahman, "begged me to let him out of his cage to drink +a little water, and he promised not to hurt me if I did so; but now, +that I have let him out, he wishes to eat me. Is it just that he should +do so or no?" + +The Banyan Tree answered: "Men often come to take shelter in the cool +shade under my boughs from the scorching rays of the sun; but when they +have rested, they cut and break my pretty branches and wantonly scatter +my leaves. Let the Tiger eat the man, for men are an ungrateful race." + +At these words the Tiger would have instantly killed the Brahman, but +the Brahman said: "Tiger, Tiger, you must not kill me yet, for you +promised that we should first hear the judgment of six." "Very well," +said the Tiger, and they went on their way. After a little while they +met a camel. "Sir Camel, Sir Camel," cried the Brahman, "hear and give +judgment." "On what shall I give judgment?" asked the Camel. And the +Brahman related how the Tiger had begged him to open the cage door, and +promised not to eat him if he did so; and how he had afterwards +determined to break his word, and asked if that were just or not. The +Camel replied: "When I was young and strong, and could do much work, my +master took care of me and gave me good food; but now that I am old, and +have lost all my strength in his service, he overloads me and starves me +and beats me without mercy. Let the Tiger eat the man, for men are an +unjust and cruel race." + +The Tiger would then have killed the Brahman, but the latter said: +"Stop, Tiger, for we must first hear the judgment of six." + +So they both went again on their way. At a little distance they found a +bullock lying by the roadside. The Brahman said to him: "Brother +Bullock, brother Bullock, hear and give judgment." "On what must I give +judgment?" asked the Bullock. The Brahman answered: "I found this Tiger +in a cage, and he prayed me to open the door and let him out to drink a +little water, and promised not to kill me if I did so; but when I had +let him out he resolved to put me to death. Is it fair that he should do +so or not?" The Bullock said: "When I was able to work my master fed me +well and tended me carefully, but now I am old he has forgotten all I +did for him, and left me by the roadside to die. Let the Tiger eat the +man, for men have no pity." + +Three out of the six had given judgment against the Brahman, but still +he did not lose all hope and determined to ask the other three. + +They next met an eagle flying through the air, to whom the Brahman +cried, "O Eagle, great Eagle, hear and give judgment." "On what must I +give judgment?" asked the Eagle. The Brahman stated the case, and the +Eagle answered: "Whenever men see me they try to shoot me; they climb +the rocks and steal away my little ones. Let the Tiger eat the man, for +men are the persecutors of the earth." + +Then the Tiger began to roar and said: "The judgment of all is against +you, O Brahman!" But the Brahman answered: "Stay yet a little longer, +for two others must first be asked." After this they saw an alligator, +and the Brahman related the matter to him, hoping for a more favorable +verdict. But the Alligator said: "Whenever I put my nose out of the +water men torment me and try to kill me. Let the Tiger eat the man, for +as long as men live we shall have no rest." + +The Brahman gave himself up as lost; but again he prayed the Tiger to +have patience and let him ask the opinion of the sixth judge. Now the +sixth was a jackal. The Brahman told his story, and said to him: "Uncle +Jackal, Uncle Jackal, say what is your judgment?" The Jackal answered: +"It is impossible for me to decide who is in the right and who in the +wrong unless I see the exact position in which you were when the dispute +began. Show me the place." So the Brahman and the Tiger returned to the +place where they first met, and the Jackal went with them. When they got +there, the Jackal said: "Now Brahman, show me exactly where you stood." +"Here," said the Brahman, standing by the iron tiger cage. "Exactly +there, was it?" asked the Jackal. "Exactly here," replied the Brahman. +"Where was the Tiger, then?" asked the Jackal. "In the cage," answered +the Tiger. "How do you mean?" said the Jackal; "how were you within the +cage? which way were you looking?" "Why, I stood so," said the Tiger, +jumping into the cage, "and my head was on this side." "Very good," said +the Jackal, "but I cannot judge without understanding the whole matter +exactly. Was the cage door open or shut?" "Shut and bolted," said the +Brahman. "Then shut and bolt it," said the Jackal. + +When the Brahman had done this, the Jackal said: "Oh, you wicked and +ungrateful Tiger! when the good Brahman opened your cage door, is to eat +him the only return you would make? Stay there, then, for the rest of +your days, for no one will ever let you out again. Proceed on your +journey, friend Brahman. Your road lies that way and mine this." + +So saying, the Jackal ran off in one direction, and the Brahman went +rejoicing on his way in the other. + + + + +_Muchie Lal_ + + +ONCE upon a time there were a rajah and ranee who had no children. Long +had they wished and prayed that the gods would send them a son, but it +was all in vain--their prayers were not granted. One day a number of +fish were brought into the royal kitchen to be cooked for the Rajah's +dinner, and among them was one little fish that was not dead, though all +the rest were dead. One of the palace maid servants seeing this, took +the little fish and put him in a basin of water. Shortly afterwards the +Ranee saw him, and, thinking him very pretty, kept him as a pet; and +because she had no children she lavished all her affection on the fish +and loved him as a son; and the people called him Muchie Rajah (the Fish +Prince). In a little while Muchie Rajah had grown too long to live in +the small basin, so they put him in a larger one, and then when he grew +too long for that, into a big tub. In time, however, Muchie Rajah became +too large for even the big tub to hold him, so the Ranee had a tank made +for him in which he lived very happily; and twice a day she fed him with +boiled rice. Now, though the people fancied Muchie Rajah was only a +fish, this was not the case. He was, in truth, a young rajah who had +angered the gods, and been turned by them into a fish and thrown into +the river as a punishment. + +One morning, when the Ranee brought him his daily meal of boiled rice, +Muchie Rajah called out to her and said: "Queen Mother, Queen Mother, I +am so lonely here all by myself! Cannot you get me a wife?" The Ranee +promised to try, and sent messengers to all the people she knew to ask +if they would allow one of their children to marry her son, the Fish +Prince. But they all answered: "We cannot give one of our dear little +daughters to be devoured by a great fish, even though he is the Muchie +Rajah and so high in your majesty's favor." + +At news of this the Ranee did not know what to do. She was so foolishly +fond of Muchie Rajah, however, that she resolved to get him a wife at +any cost. Again she sent out messengers, but this time she gave them a +great bag containing a lac of gold mohurs,[G] and said to them: "Go into +every land until you find a wife for my Muchie Rajah, and to whoever +will give you a child to be the Muchie Ranee you shall give this bag of +gold mohurs." The messengers started on their search, but for some time +they were unsuccessful. Not even the beggars were to be tempted to sell +their children, fearing the great fish would devour them. At last one +day the messengers came to a village where there lived a fakir, who had +lost his first wife and married again. His first wife had had one little +daughter, and his second wife also had a daughter. As it happened, the +Fakir's second wife hated her little stepdaughter, always gave her the +hardest work to do and the least food to eat, and tried by every means +in her power to get her out of the way in order that the child might not +rival her own daughter. When she heard of the errand on which the +messengers had come, she sent for them when the Fakir was out, and said +to them: "Give me the bag of gold mohurs, and you shall take my little +daughter to marry the Muchie Rajah." ("For," she thought to herself, +"the great fish will certainly eat the girl, and she will thus trouble +us no more.") Then, turning to her stepdaughter, she said: "Go down to +the river and wash your saree, that you may be fit to go with these +people, who will take you to the Ranee's court." At these words the poor +girl went down to the river very sorrowful, for she saw no hope of +escape, as her father was from home. As she knelt by the riverside, +washing her saree and crying bitterly, some of her tears fell into the +hole of an old seven-headed cobra, who lived on the river bank. This +Cobra was a very wise animal, and seeing the maiden, he put his head out +of his hole and said to her, "Little girl, why do you cry?" "Oh, sir," +she answered, "I am very unhappy, for my father is from home, and my +stepmother has sold me to the Ranee's people to be the wife of the +Muchie Rajah, that great fish, and I know he will eat me up." "Do not be +afraid, my daughter," said the Cobra; "but take with you these three +stones and tie them up in the corner of your saree"; and so saying he +gave her three little round pebbles. "The Muchie Rajah, whose wife you +are to be, is not really a fish, but a rajah who has been enchanted. +Your home will be a little room which the Ranee has had built in the +tank wall. When you are taken there, wait and be sure you don't go to +sleep or the Muchie Rajah will certainly come and eat you up. But as you +hear him coming rushing through the water, be prepared, and as soon as +you see him throw this first stone at him; he will then sink to the +bottom of the tank. The second time he comes, throw the second stone, +when the same thing will happen. The third time he comes, throw this +third stone, and he will immediately resume his human shape." So saying, +the old Cobra dived down again into his hole. The Fakir's daughter took +the stones and determined to do as the Cobra had told her, though she +hardly believed it would have the desired effect. + +When she reached the palace the Ranee spoke kindly to her, and said to +the messengers: "You have done your errand well; this is a dear little +girl." Then she ordered that she should be let down the side of the tank +in a basket to a little room which had been prepared for her. When the +Fakir's daughter got there, she thought she had never seen such a pretty +place in her life, for the Ranee had caused the little room to be very +nicely decorated for the wife of her favorite; and she would have felt +very happy away from her cruel stepmother and all the hard work she had +been made to do, had it not been for the dark water that lay black and +unfathomable below the door, and the fear of the terrible Muchie Rajah. + +After waiting some time she heard a rushing sound, and little waves came +dashing against the threshold; faster they came and faster, and the +noise got louder and louder, until she saw a great fish's head above the +water--Muchie Rajah was coming toward her open-mouthed. The Fakir's +daughter seized one of the stones that the Cobra had given her and threw +it at him, and down he sank to the bottom of the tank; a second time he +rose and came toward her, and she threw the second stone at him, and he +again sank down; a third time he came more fiercely than before, when, +seizing the third stone, she threw it with all her force. No sooner did +it touch him than the spell was broken, and there, instead of a fish, +stood a handsome young prince. The poor little Fakir's daughter was so +startled that she began to cry. But the Prince said to her: "Pretty +maiden, do not be frightened. You have rescued me from a horrible +thraldom, and I can never thank you enough; but if you will be the +Muchie Ranee, we will be married to-morrow." Then he sat down on the +doorstep, thinking over his strange fate and watching for the dawn. + +[Illustration: "THE RANEE SAID, 'THIS IS A DEAR LITTLE GIRL'"] + +Next morning early several inquisitive people came to see if the Muchie +Rajah had eaten up his poor little wife, as they feared he would; what +was their astonishment, on looking over the tank wall, to see, not the +Muchie Rajah, but a magnificent prince! The news soon spread to the +palace. Down came the Rajah, down came the Ranee, down came all their +attendants and dragged Muchie Rajah and the Fakir's daughter up the side +of the tank in a basket; and when they heard their story there were +great and unparalleled rejoicings. The Ranee said: "So I have indeed +found a son at last!" And the people were so delighted, so happy and so +proud of the new Prince and Princess that they covered all their path +with damask from the tank to the palace, and cried to their fellows: +"Come and see our new Prince and Princess. Were ever any so divinely +beautiful? Come see a right royal couple--a pair of mortals like the +gods!" And when they reached the palace the Prince was married to the +Fakir's daughter. + +There they lived very happily for some time. The Muchie Ranee's +stepmother, hearing what had happened, came often to see her +stepdaughter, and pretended to be delighted at her good fortune; and +the Ranee was so good that she quite forgave all her stepmother's former +cruelty, and always received her very kindly. At last, one day, the +Muchie Ranee said to her husband: "It is a weary while since I saw my +father. If you will give me leave, I should much like to visit my native +village and see him again." "Very well," he replied, "you may go. But do +not stay away long, for there can be no happiness for me till you +return." So she went, and her father was delighted to see her; but her +stepmother, though she pretended to be very kind, was, in reality, only +glad to think she had got the Ranee into her power, and determined, if +possible, never to allow her to return to the palace again. One day +therefore she said to her own daughter: "It is hard that your stepsister +should have become Ranee of all the land instead of being eaten up by +the great fish, while we gained no more than a lac of gold mohurs. Do +now as I bid you, that you may become ranee in her stead." She then went +on to instruct her how she must invite the Ranee down to the river bank, +and there beg her to let her try on her jewels, and while putting them +on give her a push and drown her in the river. + +The girl consented, and standing by the river bank, said to her +stepsister: "Sister, may I try on your jewels? How pretty they are!" +"Yes," said the Ranee, "and we shall be able to see in the river how +they look." So, undoing her necklaces, she clasped them around the +other's neck. But while she was doing so her stepsister gave her a push, +and she fell backward into the water. The girl watched to see that the +body did not rise, and then, running back, said to her mother: "Mother, +here are all the jewels, and she will trouble us no more." But it +happened that just when her stepsister pushed the Ranee into the river +her old friend the Seven-headed Cobra chanced to be swimming across it, +and seeing the little Ranee likely to be drowned, he carried her on his +back until they reached his hole, into which he took her safely. Now +this hole, in which the Cobra and his wife and all his little ones lived +had two entrances--the one under the water and leading to the river, +and the other above water, leading out into the open fields. To this +upper end of his hole the Cobra took the Muchie Ranee, where he and his +wife took care of her; and there she lived with them for some time. +Meanwhile, the wicked Fakir's wife, having dressed up her own daughter +in all the Ranee's jewels, took her to the palace, and said to the +Muchie Rajah: "See, I have brought your wife, my dear daughter, back +safe and well." The Rajah looked at her, and thought, "This does not +look like my wife." However, the room was dark and the girl was cleverly +disguised, and he thought he might be mistaken. Next day he said again: +"My wife must be sadly changed or this cannot be she, for she was always +bright and cheerful. She had pretty loving ways and merry words, while +this woman never opens her lips." Still, he did not like to seem to +mistrust his wife, and comforted himself by saying, "Perhaps she is +tired with the long journey." On the third day, however, he could bear +the uncertainty no longer, and tearing off her jewels saw, not the face +of his own little wife, but another woman. Then he was very angry and +turned her out of doors, saying: "Begone! since you are but the wretched +tool of others, I spare your life." But of the Fakir's wife he said to +his guards: "Fetch that woman here instantly, for unless she can tell me +where my wife is, I will have her hanged." It chanced, however, that the +Fakir's wife had heard of the Muchie Rajah having turned her daughter +out of doors; so, fearing his anger, she hid herself, and was not to be +found. + +Meantime, the Muchie Ranee, not knowing how to get home, continued to +live in the great Seven-headed Cobra's hole, and he and his wife and all +his family were very kind to her, and loved her as if she had been one +of them; and there her little son was born, and she called him Muchie +Lal,[H] after the Muchie Rajah, his father. Muchie Lal was a lovely +child, merry and brave, and his playmates all day long were the young +cobras. When he was about three years old a bangle seller came by that +way, and the Muchie Ranee bought some bangles from him and put them on +her boy's wrists and ankles; but by the next day, in playing, he had +broken them all. Then, seeing the bangle seller, the Ranee called him +again and bought some more, and so on every day until the bangle seller +got quite rich from selling so many bangles for the Muchie Lal--for the +Cobra's hole was full of treasure, and he gave the Muchie Ranee as much +money to spend every day as she liked. There was nothing she wished for +he did not give her, only he would not let her try to get home to her +husband, which she wished more than all. When she asked him he would +say: "No, I will not let you go. If your husband comes here and fetches +you, it is well; but I will not allow you to wander in search of him +through the land alone." + +And so she was obliged to stay where she was. + +All this time the poor Muchie Rajah was hunting in every part of the +country for his wife, but he could learn no tidings of her. For grief +and sorrow at losing her he had gone well-nigh distracted, and did +nothing but wander from place to place, crying, "She is gone! she is +gone!" Then, when he had long inquired without avail of all the people +in her native village about her, he one day met a bangle seller, and +said to him, "Whence do you come?" The bangle seller answered: "I have +just been selling bangles to some people who live in a cobra's hole in +the river bank." "People! What people?" asked the Rajah. "Why," answered +the bangle seller, "a woman and a child. The child is the most beautiful +I ever saw. He is about three years old, and of course, running about, +is always breaking his bangles, and his mother buys him new ones every +day." "Do you know what the child's name is?" said the Rajah. "Yes," +answered the bangle seller carelessly, "for the lady always calls him +her Muchie Lal." "Ah," thought the Muchie Rajah, "this must be my wife." +Then he said to him again: "Good bangle seller, I would see these +strange people of whom you speak; cannot you take me there?" "Not +to-night," replied the bangle seller; "daylight has gone, and we should +only frighten them; but I shall be going there again to-morrow, and then +you may come too. Meanwhile, come and rest at my house for the night, +for you look faint and weary." The Rajah consented. Next morning, +however, very early, he woke the bangle seller, saying: "Pray let us go +now and see the people you spoke about yesterday." "Stay," said the +bangle seller; "it is much too early. I never go till after breakfast." +So the Rajah had to wait till the bangle seller was ready to go. At last +they started off, and when they reached the Cobra's hole the first thing +the Rajah saw was a fine little boy playing with the young cobras. + +As the bangle seller came along, jingling his bangles, a gentle voice +from inside the hole called out: "Come here, my Muchie Lal, and try on +your bangles." Then the Muchie Rajah, kneeling down at the mouth of the +hole, said, "O lady, show your beautiful face to me." At the sound of +his voice the Ranee ran out, crying, "Husband, husband! have you found +me again!" And she told him how her sister had tried to drown her, and +how the good Cobra had saved her life and taken care of her and her +child. Then he said, "And will you now come home with me?" And she told +him how the Cobra would never let her go, and said: "I will first tell +him of your coming; for he has been as a father to me." So she called +out: "Father Cobra, father Cobra, my husband has come to fetch me; will +you let me go?" "Yes," he said, "if your husband has come to fetch you, +you may go." And his wife said: "Farewell, dear lady, we are loth to +lose you, for we have loved you as a daughter." And all the little +cobras were very sorrowful to think that they must lose their +playfellow, the young Prince. Then the Cobra gave the Muchie Rajah and +the Muchie Ranee and Muchie Lal all the most costly gifts he could find +in his treasure-house, and so they went home, where they lived very +happy ever after. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote G: A lac of gold mohurs is equal to about $750,000.] + +[Footnote H: Little Ruby Fish.] + + + + +_The Valiant Chatteemaker_ + + +ONCE upon a time, in a violent storm of thunder, lightning, wind, and +rain, a tiger crept for shelter close to the wall of an old woman's hut. +This old woman was very poor, and her hut was but a tumble-down place, +through the roof of which the rain came drip, drip, drip, on more sides +than one. This troubled her much, and she went running about from side +to side, dragging first one thing and then another out of the way of the +leaky places in the roof, and as she did so she kept saying to herself: +"Oh, dear! oh, dear! how tiresome this is! I'm sure the roof will come +down! If an elephant, or a lion, or a tiger were to walk in, he wouldn't +frighten me half so much as this perpetual dripping." And then she would +begin dragging the bed and all the other things in the room about again, +to get them out of the way of the wet. The tiger, who was crouching down +just outside, heard all that she said, and thought to himself: "This old +woman says she would not be afraid of an elephant, or a lion, or a +tiger, but that this perpetual dripping frightens her more than all. +What can this 'perpetual dripping' be?--it must be something very +dreadful." And hearing her immediately afterwards dragging all the +things about the room again, he said to himself: "What a terrible noise! +Surely that must be the 'perpetual dripping.'" + +At this moment a Chatteemaker,[I] who was in search of his donkey, which +had strayed away, came down the road. The night being very cold, he had, +truth to say, taken a little more toddy than was good for him, and +seeing, by the glare of a flash of lightning, a large animal lying down +close to the old woman's hut, he mistook it for the donkey he was +looking for. + +So, running up to the tiger, he seized hold of it by one ear, and +commenced beating, kicking, and abusing it with all his might and main. +"You wretched creature!" he cried, "is this the way you serve me, +obliging me to come out and look for you in such pouring rain and on +such a dark night as this? Get up instantly or I'll break every bone in +your body"; so he went on scolding and thumping the tiger with his +utmost power, for he had worked himself up into a terrible rage. The +tiger did not know what to make of it all, but he began to feel quite +frightened, and said to himself: "Why, this must be the 'perpetual +dripping'; no wonder the old woman said she was more afraid of it than +of an elephant, a lion, or a tiger, for it gives most dreadfully hard +blows." + +The Chatteemaker, having made the tiger get up, got on his back and +forced him to carry him home, kicking and beating him the whole way, for +all this time he fancied he was on his donkey; and then he tied his +forefeet and his head firmly together, and fastened him to a post in +front of his house, and when he had done this he went to bed. + +Next morning, when the Chatteemaker's wife got up and looked out of the +window, what did she see but a great big tiger tied up, in front of +their house, to the post to which they usually fastened the donkey. She +was very much surprised, and running to her husband, awoke him, saying: +"Do you know what animal you fetched home last night?" "Yes, the donkey, +to be sure," he answered. "Come and see," said she, and she showed him +the great tiger tied to the post. The Chatteemaker at this was no less +astonished than his wife, and felt himself all over to find if the tiger +had not wounded him. But, no, he was safe and sound, and there was the +tiger tied to the post, just as he had fastened it up the night before. + +News of the Chatteemaker's exploit soon spread through the village, and +all the people came to see him and hear him tell how he had caught the +tiger and tied it to the post; and this they thought so wonderful that +they sent a deputation to the Rajah, with a letter to tell him how a man +of their village had, alone and unarmed, caught a great tiger and tied +it to a post. + +When the Rajah read the letter he also was much surprised, and +determined to go in person and see this astonishing sight. So he sent +for his horses and carriages, his lords and attendants, and they all set +off together to look at the Chatteemaker and the tiger he had caught. + +Now the tiger was a very large one, and had long been the terror of the +whole country around, which made the whole matter still more +extraordinary; and all this being represented to the Rajah, he +determined to confer all possible honor on the valiant Chatteemaker. So +he gave him houses and lands, and as much money as would fill a well, +made him a lord of his court, and conferred on him the command of ten +thousand horse. + +It came to pass, shortly after this, that a neighboring rajah, who had +long had a quarrel with this one, sent to announce his intention of +going instantly to war with him; and tidings were brought at the same +time that the Rajah who sent the challenge had gathered a great army +together on the borders, and was prepared at a moment's notice to invade +the country. + +In this dilemma no one knew what to do. The Rajah sent for all his +generals, and inquired of them which would be willing to take command of +his forces and oppose the enemy. They all replied that the country was +so ill prepared for the emergency, and the case was apparently so +hopeless, that they would rather not take the responsibility of the +chief command. The Rajah knew not whom to appoint in their stead. Then +some of his people said to him: "You have lately given the command of +ten thousand horse to the valiant Chatteemaker who caught the tiger. Why +not make him commander-in-chief? A man who could catch a tiger and tie +him to a post, must surely be more courageous and clever than most." +"Very well," said the Rajah, "I will make him commander-in-chief." So he +sent for the Chatteemaker and said to him: "In your hands I place all +the power of the kingdom; you must put our enemies to flight for us." +"So be it," answered the Chatteemaker; "but, before I lead the whole +army against the enemy, suffer me to go by myself and examine their +position, and, if possible, find out their numbers and strength." + +The Rajah consented, and the Chatteemaker returned home to his wife and +said: "They have made me commander-in-chief, which is a very difficult +post for me to fill, because I shall have to ride at the head of all the +army, and you know I never was on a horse in my life. But I have +succeeded in gaining a little delay, as the Rajah has given me +permission to go first alone and reconnoiter the enemy's camp. Do you +therefore provide a very quiet pony, for you know I cannot ride, and I +will start to-morrow morning." + +But, before the Chatteemaker had started, the Rajah sent over to him a +most magnificent charger richly caparisoned, which he begged he would +ride when going to see the enemy's camp. The Chatteemaker was frightened +almost out of his life, for the charger that the Rajah had sent him was +very powerful and spirited, and he felt sure that even if he ever got on +it, he should very soon tumble off; however, he did not dare to refuse +it, for fear of offending the Rajah by not accepting his present. So he +sent back to him a message of thanks, and said to his wife: "I cannot go +on the pony, now that the Rajah has sent me this fine horse; but how am +I ever to ride it?" "Oh, don't be frightened," she answered; "you've +only to get upon it, and I will tie you firmly on so that you cannot +tumble off, and if you start at night no one will see that you are tied +on." "Very well," he said. + +So that night his wife brought the horse that the Rajah had sent him to +the door. "Indeed," said the Chatteemaker, "I can never get into that +saddle, it is so high up." "You must jump," said his wife. So he tried +to jump several times, but each time he jumped he tumbled down again. "I +always forget when I am jumping," said he, "which way I ought to turn." +"Your face must be toward the horse's head," she answered. "To be sure, +of course," he cried, and giving one great jump he jumped into the +saddle, but with his face toward the horse's tail. "This won't do at +all," said his wife as she helped him down again; "try getting on +without jumping." "I never can remember," he continued, "when I have got +my left foot in the stirrup, what to do with my right foot or where to +put it." "That must go in the other stirrup," she answered; "let me help +you." So after many trials in which he tumbled down very often, for the +horse was fresh and did not like standing still, the Chatteemaker got +into the saddle; but no sooner had he got there than he cried: "Oh, +wife, wife! tie me very firmly as quickly as possible, for I know I +shall jump down if I can." Then she fetched some strong rope and tied +his feet firmly into the stirrups, fastened one stirrup to the other, +and put another rope around his waist and another around his neck, and +fastened them to the horse's body and neck and tail. + +When the horse felt all these ropes about him he could not imagine what +queer creature had got upon his back, and he began rearing and kicking +and prancing, and at last set off full gallop, as fast as he could tear, +right across country. "Wife, wife!" cried the Chatteemaker, "you forgot +to tie my hands." "Never mind," said she, "hold on by the mane." So he +caught hold of the horse's mane as firmly as he could. Then away went +horse, away went Chatteemaker--away, away, away over hedges, over +ditches, over rivers, over plains--away, away like a flash of +lightning--now this way, now that--on, on, on, gallop, gallop, +gallop--until they came in sight of the enemy's camp. + +The Chatteemaker did not like his ride at all, and when he saw where it +was leading him he liked it still less, for he thought the enemy would +catch him and very likely kill him. So he determined to make one +desperate effort to be free, and stretching out his hand as the horse +shot past a young banyan tree, seized hold of it with all his might, +hoping that the resistance it offered might cause the ropes that tied +him to break. But the horse was going at his utmost speed, and the soil +in which the banyan tree grew was loose, so that when the Chatteemaker +caught hold of it and gave it such a violent pull it came up by the +roots, and on he rode as fast as before, with the tree in his hand. + +All the soldiers in the camp saw him coming, and, having heard that an +army was to be sent against them, made sure that the Chatteemaker was +one of the vanguard. "See," cried they, "here comes a man of gigantic +stature on a mighty horse! He rides at full speed across the country, +tearing up the very trees in his rage! He is one of the opposing force; +the whole army must be close at hand. If they are such as he, we are all +dead men." Then, running to their Rajah, some of them cried again: "Here +comes the whole force of the enemy" (for the story had by this time +become exaggerated); "they are men of gigantic stature, mounted on +mighty horses; as they come they tear up the very trees in their rage; +we can oppose men, but not monsters such as these." These were followed +by others, who said: "It is all true," for by this time the Chatteemaker +had got pretty near the camp; "they're coming! they're coming! let us +fly! let us fly--fly, fly for your lives!" And the whole panic-stricken +multitude fled from the camp, those who had seen no cause for alarm +going because the others did, or because they did not care to stay by +themselves, after having obliged their Rajah to write a letter to the +one whose country he was about to invade, to say that he would not do +so, and to propose terms of peace, and to sign it and seal it with his +seal. Scarcely had all the people fled from the camp when the horse on +which the Chatteemaker was came galloping into it, and on his back rode +the Chatteemaker, almost dead from fatigue, with the banyan tree in his +hand. Just as he reached the camp the ropes by which he was tied broke, +and he fell to the ground. The horse stood still, too tired with his +long run to go farther. On recovering his senses, the Chatteemaker +found, to his surprise, that the whole camp, full of rich arms, clothes, +and trappings, was entirely deserted. In the principal tent, moreover, +he found a letter addressed to his Rajah, announcing the retreat of the +invading army and proposing terms of peace. + +So he took the letter and returned home with it as fast as he could, +leading his horse all the way, for he was afraid to mount him again. It +did not take him long to reach his house by the direct road, for while +riding he had gone a more circuitous journey than was necessary, and he +reached there just at nightfall. His wife ran out to meet him, overjoyed +at his speedy return. As soon as he saw her, he said: "Ah, wife, since I +saw you last I've been all around the world, and had many wonderful and +terrible adventures. But never mind that now: send this letter quickly +to the Rajah by a messenger, and send the horse also that he sent for me +to ride. He will then see, by the horse looking so tired, what a long +ride I've had; and if he is sent on beforehand, I shall not be obliged +to ride him up to the palace door to-morrow morning, as I otherwise +should, and that would be very tiresome, for most likely I should tumble +off." So his wife sent the horse and the letter to the Rajah, and a +message that her husband would be at the palace early next morning, as +it was then late at night. And next day he went down there, as he had +said he would; and when the people saw him coming, they said: "This man +is as modest as he is brave; after having put our enemies to flight, he +walks quite simply to the door, instead of riding here in state, as +another man would." For they did not know that the Chatteemaker walked +because he was afraid to ride. + +The Rajah came to the palace door to meet him, and paid him all possible +honor. Terms of peace were agreed upon between the two countries, and +the Chatteemaker was rewarded for all he had done, by being given twice +as much rank and wealth as he had before, and he lived very happily all +the rest of his life. + + +THE END + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote I: Potter.] + + + * * * * * + +Transcriber's Notes: + +Obvious punctuation errors repaired. + +Page 18, "the" changed to "The" (The crone answered) + +Page 41, word "time" added to text. Original read (home by this," said) + +Page 47, "re" changed to "are" (if they are not dead) + +Page 200, illustration facing, "MICHEAL" changed to "MICHAEL" (MICHAEL, +PETRIFIED, STOOD) + +Page 215, "preseverance" changed to "perseverance" (perseverance of her +lover) + +Page 304, "pased" changed to "passed" (a year passed away) + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Fairy Ring, by Various + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 40359 *** |