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diff --git a/42981-0.txt b/42981-0.txt index 9a02745..69c7c34 100644 --- a/42981-0.txt +++ b/42981-0.txt @@ -1,39 +1,4 @@ -The Project Gutenberg eBook, The Folk-Tales of the Magyars, by Various, -Edited by W. Henry Jones and Lajos Kropf, Translated by W. Henry Jones and -Lajos Kropf - - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org - - - - - -Title: The Folk-Tales of the Magyars - Collected by Kriza, Erdélyi, Pap, and Others - - -Author: Various - -Editor: W. Henry Jones and Lajos Kropf - -Release Date: June 18, 2013 [eBook #42981] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - - -***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE FOLK-TALES OF THE MAGYARS*** - - -E-text prepared by Albert László, Adrian Treves, and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team (http://www.pgdp.net) - - +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 42981 *** Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this file which includes the original illustration. @@ -19976,362 +19941,4 @@ All obvious printer errors were corrected. 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Henry Jones and -Lajos Kropf - - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org - - - - - -Title: The Folk-Tales of the Magyars - Collected by Kriza, Erdélyi, Pap, and Others - - -Author: Various - -Editor: W. Henry Jones and Lajos Kropf - -Release Date: June 18, 2013 [eBook #42981] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - - -***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE FOLK-TALES OF THE MAGYARS*** - - -E-text prepared by Albert László, Adrian Treves, and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team (http://www.pgdp.net) - - - -Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this - file which includes the original illustration. - See 42981-h.htm or 42981-h.zip: - (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/42981/42981-h/42981-h.htm) - or - (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/42981/42981-h.zip) - - -Transcriber's note: - - Certain characters cannot be displayed in this text format - and are substituted as follows (where x represents the - accented letter): - - macron as [-x] - tilde as [~x] - caron above as [v^x] - oe ligature as [oe] - dagger symbol as + (page xlviii) - superscript using ^, e.g. 3^e (page 359) - - - - - -The Folk-Lore Society, -for Collecting and Printing -Relics of Popular Antiquities, &c. - -Established in the Year MDCCCLXXVIII. - - -[Illustration: Alter et Idem.] - - -PUBLICATIONS -OF -THE FOLK-LORE SOCIETY. -XIII. (1886). - - * * * * * * - -List of Officers of the Society, - -1888-1889. - - -PRESIDENT. - -ANDREW LANG, ESQ., M.A. - - -VICE-PRESIDENTS. - -W. R. S. RALSTON, M.A. THE RIGHT HON. THE EARL OF STRAFFORD. EDWARD B. -TYLOR, LL.D., F.R.S. - - -DIRECTOR. - -G. L. GOMME, F.S.A., 1, Beverley Villas, Barnes Common, S.W. - - -COUNCIL. - -HON. JOHN ABERCROMBY. THE EARL BEAUCHAMP, F.S.A. EDWARD BRABROOK, F.S.A. -LOYS BRUEYRE. MISS C. S. BURNE. EDWARD CLODD. J. G. FRAZER, M.A. G. L. -GOMME, F.S.A. S. HARTLAND, F.S.A. A. GRANGER HUTT, F.S.A. W. F. KIRBY. -SIR JOHN LUBBOCK, Bt., F.R.S. REV. DR. RICHARD MORRIS. ALFRED NUTT. T. -F. ORDISH. Lt.-Gen. PITT-RIVERS, D.C.L. F.R.S., F.S.A., ETC. PROFESSOR -A. H. SAYCE, M.A. CAPTAIN R. C. TEMPLE. J. S. UDAL. HENRY B. WHEATLEY, -F.S.A. - - -HON. TREASURER. - -EDWARD CLODD, 19, Carleton Road, Tufnell Park, N. - - -AUDITORS. - -G. L. APPERSON. JOHN TOLHURST, F.S.A. - - -LOCAL SECRETARIES. - -Ireland: G. H. KINAHAN. South Scotland: WILLIAM GEORGE BLACK. North -Scotland: Rev. WALTER GREGOR. India: Captain R. C. TEMPLE. China: J. -STEWART LOCKHART. - - -HONORARY SECRETARY. - -J. J. FOSTER, 36, Alma Square, St. John's Wood, N.W. - - * * * * * * - - -THE FOLK-TALES OF THE MAGYARS. - -Collected By Kriza, Erdélyi, Pap, and Others. - -Translated and Edited, with Comparative Notes, - -by - -THE REV. W. HENRY JONES - -and - -LEWIS L. KROPF. - - - - - - - -London: -Published For The Folk-Lore Society -by -Elliot Stock, 62, Paternoster Row. -1889. - -Westminster: Printed by Nichols and Sons, 25, Parliament Street. - - - - -TO - -PROFESSOR ARMINIUS VAMBÉRY, - -WHOSE INDEFATIGABLE LABOURS AND INDOMITABLE ZEAL HAVE DONE SO MUCH TO -ADVANCE OUR KNOWLEDGE OF MANKIND: AND WHOSE ILLUSTRIOUS LIFE IS SO -BRIGHT AN EXAMPLE TO EVERY STUDENT, - -This Work - -ON THE STORIES OF THE FATHERLAND HE LOVES SO WELL AND SERVES SO -FAITHFULLY - -Is Dedicated. - - - - -PREFACE. - - -A vast and precious store of Folk-Lore is to be found amongst the -Magyars as yet but little known to English readers, and so it is hoped -that this work on the subject may prove of some value to the student of -Comparative Folk-Lore. The difficulty of the language is one which makes -it well nigh impossible for the unaided foreigner to do anything like -justice to the stories. We laboured together often till dawn to make the -translation as literal as possible, that the reader might have as true a -rendering of the Magyar story-teller's method and manner as so different -a tongue as English would permit. - -Whilst engaged on the Finnish stories we received the greatest help from -Finnish friends, especially Mr. A. Nieminen, Dr. Fagerlund, Dr. Krohn, -Dr. Rancken, Professor Freudenthal, Mr. Halleen, and Mr. Walter von -Bonsdorff. In the Lapp stories Professor Friis of Christiania has ever -been a true helper. Amongst numerous kindly helpers we tender thanks to -Dr. Retzius, Stockholm; Professor Gittée, Charleroi; the Rev. Henry -Jebb, of Firbeck Hall; Mr. Quigstad, of Troms; Mr. Nordlander; Mr. O. P. -Petersson, Hernösand; Mr. Lindholm; Dr. R. Köhler; Baron Nordenskjöld; -and the Rev. Walter H. James, rector of Fleet. - -We regret that we cannot do more than acknowledge the courtesy of the -late Dr. Greguss (Buda Pest), whose lamented death removed a scholar and -friend to Englishmen. - -If this collection adds a mite to the knowledge of man, our labours will -not have been in vain.[1] - - -W. H. J. - -L. L. K. - - -[1] Mr. Kropf desires it to be stated, that he is not responsible for -the Introduction and Notes beyond supplying certain portions of the -material for their compilation. - - - - -INTRODUCTION. - - -Before the arrival of the Magyars, Hungary was the "cock-pit of eastern -Europe;" its history one incessant struggle between nation and nation, -which either perished or was driven out by some more powerful neighbour. -First we hear of the subjection of what was known as Pannonia, by the -Romans; then, when that great power began to wane, a motley horde under -the great Attila swept down and founded a kingdom. "Attila died in -Pannonia in 453. Almost immediately afterwards the empire he had amassed -rather than consolidated fell to pieces. His too-numerous sons began to -quarrel about their inheritance; while Ardaric, the King of the Gepidae, -placed himself at the head of a general revolt of the dependent nations. -The inevitable struggle came to a crisis near the river Netad, in -Pannonia, in a battle in which 30,000 of the Huns and their -confederates, including Ellak,[1] Attila's eldest son, were slain. The -nation thus broken rapidly dispersed. One horde settled under Roman -protection in Little Scythia (the Dobrudsha); others in Dacia Ripensis -(on the confines of Servia and Bulgaria), or on the southern borders of -Pannonia."[2] A tradition asserts that the Magyars are descendants of -those Huns, who, after their defeat, returned to their homes in Asia. On -the other hand, one of their most learned men says, we cannot "form an -accurate idea as to the part the Hungarians took in the irruption of the -Huns, with which event they are associated in national tradition." But -yet he adds, "we fairly claim that the ancestors of the Hungarians took -part in the great devastating campaigns which Attila carried on against -Rome and the Christian West, as far as France." Legend carries us still -further back, saying that the giant Nimrod had two sons named Hunyor and -Magyar, from whom the Huns and Magyars descended.[3] Leaving legend, in -history we find that the Magyars appeared in Europe about 884, first on -the Ural, later on the banks of the middle Volga; and then, marching -westward, passed over the Danube and the Bug, crossing the Carpathians -between 888 and 900, under Álmos, the father of Árpád,[4] the founder of -modern Hungary, who is said to have claimed the country as his -inheritance from Attila. The Magyars, then, are part of the numerous -hordes of Turco-Tartar origin which, impelled by some mighty impulse, -left their home amid the Altai mountains, and, conquering the divided -forces on the rich plains of Hungary, settled down, and so founded the -race whose tales form the body of this work.[5] - -Another people, the Székely,[6] speak a dialect of Magyar, which, like -other Magyar dialects, differs but slightly from the written language. -This race claims to be descendants of those Hunnish tribes that remained -in Europe after the defeats. They say, that when the Magyars arrived in -modern Hungary they found a Magyar-speaking people (the Székely) -inhabiting parts of Transylvania. This is confirmed to some extent by -the statement of Constantinus Porphyrogenitus, who, writing about 950, -asserted that, amongst others, some Magyar tribes lived on the banks of -the rivers Maros and Körös (Transylvania). Kriza, too, quotes several -Székely sayings referring to the Székely-Magyar relationship, _e.g._: - -"A Székely has borne the Magyar." - -"If there were no Székelys in the world, there would not be any -Magyars." - -"There is the same difference between a Székely and a Magyar as there is -between a man's son and his grandson." - -"Let the Magyar be thankful, that the Székely is his acquaintance." - -With regard to the alleged descent of the Székelys from the Huns, the -evidence in proof of such a pedigree is very meagre. First, it has not -as yet--with any degree of accuracy--been determined who the Huns were. -Prof. Vambéry has, with infinite pains, collected and analysed some -seventy words, mostly proper names--all that has come down to us of the -old Hunnish language--and come to the conclusion that the Huns and Avars -for the greater part belonged to the Turco-Tartar branch of the -Ural-Altaic race; yet he is bound to acknowledge that he would gladly -welcome a few historical facts to support him in his conclusions, which -are built upon an almost entirely philological basis.[7] Indeed, it -seems as though the term "Hun" was a sort of conventional designation, -like "Scythian," or "Barbarian" with the ancient Greeks and Romans; or -"Frenghi" with the modern Turks. Attila and the various races he pressed -into his service were, of course, the Huns _par excellence_. After his -death and the fatal battle near the river Netad his hordes appear to -have well-nigh vanished from Europe; but their terrible deeds left an -indelible impression upon the people who were unfortunate enough to have -been brought into contact with the "scourge of God" and his fierce -warriors. In the lapse of time all kinds of weird traditions gathered -round their names, in the usual way, when great names pass into the -possession of the Folk Historian;[8] and so they drifted through legends -of saints into the region of myths. Thus we find the name Hüne (Heune, -Hewne, Huyne) becomes synonymous with "giant," and to this day the -Westphalian and Dutch peasant speaks of the great tumuli as "Hünen -gräber"--graves of the giants, or Huns.[9] To add to the confusion, it -would appear that there were some German tribes who were known as -Hunes. Mr. Karl Blind has pointed out in the _Gentleman's Magazine_,[10] -that our own Venerable Bede speaks of Hunes as being among the tribes of -Germany that came over to Britain together with the Saxons. -Elsewhere[11] he explains "the tribal origin of Siegfried (of the -Nibelungen lied) as a German Hüne;" a word which has nothing whatever to -do with the Mongolian Huns. We know mediæval writers were not very -particular about facts, and the _licentia poetica_ was claimed not only -by poets, but also by historiographers, as an indisputable privilege. -Thus, João Barros, in his chronicle of Clarimundus,[12] calmly tells us -that Count Henry of Portugal, the Navigator, was of Hungarian descent, -and that he found the statement in a Magyar book.[13] This alleged -pedigree was the cause of a fierce controversy amongst Hungarian -savants, and was fully threshed out in the early part of the present -century.[14] - -Vigfusson[15] remarks that the northern poet, whom he designates the -"Tapestry poet," uses Hunar (Huns), Hynske (Hunnish) as a vague word for -"foreign." Probably the East Baltic folk would have been Huns to the -earlier poets. With regard to the German and Scandinavian Huns, it is -noteworthy what Olaus Magnus writes with regard to the "Huns" of his -time. The learned prelate says that "in provincia Middelpadensi versus -Boreales partes Suetiæ superioris, ubi ferè major pars virorum Huni -nomine appellantur tamquam populi clarius contra Hunos olim -belligerantes ac triumphantes."[16] His statement is borne out by his -colleague, Joannes Magnus,[17] who asserts that "non desunt qui dicant -ipsos Hunnos à Septentrionale parte Scandiæ utra Helsingorum terras ex -Medelphatia primum erupisse: in qua etiam hodie plurimi præstantissimæ -fortitudinis homines inveniuntur, qui Hunni proprio nomine appellantur, -quique magna et præclara opera in tyrannos, qui patriæ libertatem -vexaverat, peregerunt." - -In the face of all this, it is quite evident how difficult a task awaits -those who attempt to identify the lineal descendants of the Huns: and -those who uphold the Hunnish descent of the Székelys do not appear, as -yet, to have advanced sufficient historical grounds to establish the -connection of the modern Székelys with the Huns of Attila.[18] - -It is well known that the Hun descent of the Magyars and Székelys has -equally been questioned. Savants of such authority as Budenz and -Hunfalvy disclaim the Hun relationship, and endeavour to prove the -Finn-Ugrian origin of the Magyars. Whereas Professor Vambéry, in his -work on the "Origin of the Magyars," which received so favourable a -reception at the hands of the whole learned world, defends, as we saw -above, a Turco-Tartar descent. - -It lies far beyond the limits of this work to give even a brief outline -of the history of the Székelys: yet a few data may not be out of place -to show that, although they are at the present time, and mayhap always -have been, a Magyar-speaking people, yet they are in many respects -distinct from the race known as the Magyars. Ibn Dasta, an Arab -writer,[19] at the end of the ninth century, informs us that in his time -some Bulgarians lived on the banks of the River Itil (Volga); and that -they consisted of three tribes, viz.: the Berzuls, the Esseghels, and -the Uz. He further says that "the first territory of the Magyars lies -between the country of the Bisseni and the Esseghel Bulgarians." - -Another Arab writer, Ibn Muhalhal, about the middle of the tenth -century, mentions a people named "Jikil," who lived next to the -"Bajnak." If the writers who would identify in this Ashkal, Esseghel, or -Jikil people, the parents of the Székely race, be right in their -conclusions, then the Siculi (as they are called in Latin deeds) are of -Bulgarian descent.[20] But we know full well how dangerous it is to -build up theories on a mere similarity of names amongst barbarous or -semi-barbarous races. The first reliable information we have about them -is that about the year 1116 A.D. Bisseni and Siculi formed the -body-guard of the Magyar King Stephen II. in his war against the Czechs. -They supplied the vanguard of the army of King Géjza against Henry of -Austria about 1146. More than half a century later, _i.e._ A.D. 1211, -Andreas II. presented some uninhabited territory in Transylvania to the -Teutonic knights; and, in a deed dated 1213, William, Bishop of -Transylvania, granted the tithes of his territory to the same order, but -reserved to himself the right of collecting them from all Magyar or -Székely immigrants who might settle on the lands in question.[21] King -Béla IV. ordered the Székelys[22] to supply him with one hundred mounted -warriors in war; and later on, to show them his gratitude for their -faithful services, he created them military nobles:[23] "Quod non sub -certo numero (in a body as hitherto) sed eo modo sicut servientes -regales, per se et personaliter armata nobiscum exercituare -teneantur."[24] The Székelys of Hungary Proper gradually disappear, but -the Siculi of Transylvania figure throughout the pages of Hungarian -history as a separate people, with institutions and privileges of their -own, and acting as a sort of border-fencibles in the numerous wars with -the enemies of the Magyars. They furnished a separate title to the -Prince of Transylvania,[25] and, although recent reforms have swept away -old barriers, yet one still hears people speaking of the three nations -of Transylvania, viz. the Magyars, the Székelys, and the Saxons.[26] -Whether they ever spoke a language of their own we are unable to say; -they speak several dialects, which have been carefully studied by -Kriza,[27] himself a Székely by birth, and which possess peculiarities -not to be found amongst the Magyars, or any other part of the realm of -St. Stephen. A passage[28] in a work entitled "Hungaria et Attila," by -Nicolaus Oláh, Archbishop of Esztergom (died 1568), might, perhaps, be -quoted to prove that an independent Székely language had existed once, -but there is an ambiguity about the statement of the learned prelate -which makes it useless to the philologist. At any rate, we do not -possess a single scrap of the old language, if it ever existed. - -Having thus made ourselves acquainted with the Székelys, we may proceed -to consider the other Magyar-speaking nationalities. - -The Csángós[29] are Hungarian settlers in Moldavia; there are so many -similarities in their tongue to the Székely dialects that Hunfalvy -appears to be quite confident that they are a people of Székely -origin.[30] Of late years an attempt has been made to resettle them in -the less populous crown lands in Hungary; the result, as one might -expect, is, that some are content, whilst others lust after the -flesh-pots of Moldavia. - -Next come the Kúns (Cumanians). The non-Magyar writers,[31] who have -made the old language of this people their study, declare it, with -almost unanimous consent, to be a Turkish dialect, whereas the Magyar -writers, with very few exceptions, staunchly defend the Magyar origin of -the Cumanians.[32] - -Foremost in the ranks of the latter party was the late Stephen Gyárfás, -who denied that a _lingua Cumenesca_ had ever existed, and that the -various extant specimens are the remnants of the language of a people of -Magyar descent, who had become Turks during the lapse of centuries.[33] -His most powerful antagonist is Count Géjza Kuun, the learned editor of -the _Codex Cumanicus_,[34] who espouses the cause of the Turkish party. -Besides the valuable Glossary preserved in the Codex, several versions -of the Lord's Prayer and other scraps of the Cumanian tongue are in -existence, and have been examined by competent scholars, and pronounced -to be of undoubted Turkish origin.[35] - -Jazygo-Cumanians have been quoted in the note, and so we proceed to -consider the next race--if one may use the word--viz.: the Jazyges, -formerly a military tribe, who, together with the Cumanians, live in -central Hungary, in the vicinity of the capital, and occupy a territory -on the banks of the rivers Danube, Zagyva, Sárrét, Tisza, and Körös. - -From time immemorial, until quite recent times, they enjoyed certain -privileges and administered their own affairs in three districts--the -Jászság, Kis-Kúnság, and Nagy-Kúnság, entirely separate from the -surrounding population, thus forming a state within a state. They had -however to surrender some of their old rights in 1848, and by the law of -1876 (cap. xxxiii.), which readjusted the political divisions of the -kingdom, the limits of their territory disappeared altogether from the -map of Hungary.[36] With regard, then, to the nationality of the Jász -people, they are found at all periods of history in company with the -Cumanians, and so, as their institutions are the same as their fellow -armigerents, we may safely assume with Hunfalvy that they are a branch -of the Cumans, if they be not offspring of the same mother-stock. - -Next come the Palócz folk,[37] who live scattered among the other races -in several of the northern counties of Hungary, and speak a dialect of -their own. Hunfalvy asserts that they are the same people as the -"Polovczi" mentioned by early Russian and Slavonic writers. And as -Jerney, in his paper _The Palócz Nation and The Palócz Chronicle_, has -proved beyond doubt that, whatever the Magyar Chronicles and Byzantine -writers relate anent the Cumans can be traced, statement for statement, -in Russian and Polish writers, with reference to the Polovczi, Hunfalvy -draws the conclusion that the Palócz people are Cumans.[38] - -Their name first occurs in Russian Annals A.D. 1061, and the Magyar -savant to whose rich store of learning this work is so deeply indebted -thinks that the migration of the Cumans into Hungary took place in two -distinct streams, one, an earlier one, from the North, _viâ_ the Slave -countries across the Northern Carpathians, and another, later one from -the south-east, through the passes and defiles of the south-eastern -extension of the same range of mountains. - -Before leaving this part of the subject, the reader must be reminded -that all the foregoing races or nationalities at the present time speak -one or other Magyar dialect,[39] and that the old Cuman tongue is the -only other language of which we know anything.[40] - -Having, we hope, somewhat cleared the way as to people amongst whom the -stories have been collected, we may now proceed to say a few words about -the tales themselves. Of course, the stories will be found to bear a -strong resemblance to other collections, as indeed they must do; the -very fact of the striking way in which not only tales, but even little -superstitions, reappear in all manner of strange places,[41] is of -itself a fact which is of the deepest interest to those who study the -history of man. We have attempted to give some few variants to the tales -in this work, chiefly confining ourselves to Lapp and Finnish tales, -which are but little known in England, and of which, as of the Magyar, -there is a rich store. The more one considers comparative folk-lore, the -more one is convinced that many of these tales were the common property -of mankind before they migrated from their Asiatic home.[42] Of course -local circumstances often colour the stories, but do not change the -theme. Amidst the stories from Hungary we find, as we might presume, the -Székely stories telling of snow-clad mountains, whilst those from the -banks of the Danube dwell on the beauties of the Hungarian plains. The -fierce conflicts of the past, too, have left their marks on the stories, -and so we find the Turkish Sultan[43] and the Dog-headed Tartar[44] as -the tyrants of the tale; and even, in one case, so modern a fact as the -French invasion[45] is used to frighten an old-world witch. We see later -on the influence of Mohammedanism, and also the marks of -Christianity,[46] in some tales which become as it were, a folk-lore -palimpsest. Nor must we omit other ways by which the tales have been -modified. Many of the mediæval romances were, of course, translated into -Hungarian; and even to this day the penny bookstall is always present at -fairs and popular gatherings where "yards of literature" are to be -obtained for a nominal sum. The vendor cannot afford a booth or stall, -so a mat or tarpaulin is spread on the ground, and weighted at the four -corners with brickbats or paving stones, hence the Hungarian name -"ponyva-irodalom" (tarpaulin literature). Here we find mediaeval -romances, bits of national history, biographies and panegyrics of famous -robbers, the wicked doings of the mistress of some castle and her -punishment, the exploits of Magyar heroes, the chronicles of Noodledom, -in prose, or versified by some such favourite poet of the people as -Peter Tatár; and by this means certain tales have been imported, others -modified. Then again, the wandering students were entertained by the -country folk during their peregrinations, and no doubt in return amused -the old folks with the latest news from the town, and the young ones -with tales from the Greek and Roman Mythologies.[47] Another mode of -dissemination and modification was the soldiers. When the Hapsburgs were -at the height of their glory the emperor-king's soldiers were scattered -far and wide over Europe; and, after long years of service in an -infantry regiment and absence from home, the old private returned to his -native village, and at eventide in the village inn related how he, as -"Sergeant of Hussars," caught with his own hand the Emperor Napoleon, -and only let him go at the earnest entreaties of his wife, and upon -receiving a rich bribe in gold.[48] The old soldier was well received in -every family, and enjoyed great authority as a man who had seen the -world. The children sat upon his knee, or stood round about him -open-mouthed, and listened to his marvellous yarns.[49] - -In Hungary, as in other countries, until the labours of the Brothers -Grimm directed attention to the importance of the Folk-tales, nothing -was done in the way of collecting them; and, even after Grimm's work -appeared, no move was made in Hungary until Henszlman read his paper in -1847 before the Kisfaludy Society on the "Popular Tales of Hungary," in -which paper he examined some 14 tales which afterwards appeared in -Erdélyi's Collection, vols. 1 and 2. Ladislaus Arany in May 1867 read -another paper before the same society and according to his calculation -some 240 tales had been collected up to that date: the collections -quoted by him were as follows:-- - - - John Erdélyi,[50] _Folk-Songs and Popular - Tales_, 3 vols. containing 34 tales - - George Gaál,[51] _Hungarian Folk-Tales_, 3 vols. " 53 " - - John Erdélyi, _Hungarian Popular Tales_, 1 vol. " 13 " - - Ladislaus Merényi, _Original Popular Tales_, } - 2 vols. } - } - Ladislaus Merényi, _Popular Tales from the_ } - _Valley of the Sajó_, 2 vols. } " 65 " - } - Ladislaus Merényi, _Popular Tales from the_ } - _Banks of the Danube_, 2 vols. } - - Ladislaus Arany, _Original Popular Tales_, 1 vol. " 35 " - - John Kriza,[52] _Wild Roses_, 1 vol.[53] " 20 " - - Julius Pap, _Palócz Folk-Poetry_, 1 vol. " 6 " - - Count John Majláth,[54] _Hungarian Fairy Tales_, - _Sagas and Popular Tales_, translated from the - German by G. Kazinczy, 1 vol. " 6 " - - Maurus Jókai, _Witty Tales of the - Hungarian Folk_, 1 vol. " 8 " - ------- - Total, 240 - - -Of these, Erdélyi's first collection and Kriza's _Wild Roses_ are the -most important, and the translation of them form the bulk of this -volume. Since 1867 the work of collecting the Popular Tales has been -going on steadily, and the _Hungarian Language Guardian_ (Magyar -Nyelvör) is a paper specially devoted to the purpose: publishing popular -sayings, proverbs, children's games, nursery rhymes, &c. Very little of -the Folk-lore treasure is known outside of Hungary. There is Count -Majláth's collection, which appeared originally in German, and also a -German edition of Gaál, and one by Stier, which contains some of -Erdélyi's stories. In English the only translations we are aware of are -the tale of "The talking grapes, the smiling apple, and the tinkling -apricot," from Erdélyi's collection, which was translated by Mr. E. D. -Butler, and appeared in a London suburban paper; and another tale, "The -Round Stone," in the February number of the _St. Nicholas Magazine_, -1882; so that this collection opens up new ground. The great difficulty -in considering these tales--in common with the Finn, Esthonian, and -Lapp--is the language; and the aim of the present translation is but to -be as literal as possible in its rendering of the stories; there being -no attempt whatever made to polish or beautify the tales, but simply an -endeavour to reproduce as near as may be the stories as told by the -people; in many cases, especially with regard to the Székely stories, -this has been a work of very great difficulty, on account of the -dialect, and must plead for the many shortcomings in the translations. - -A brief consideration of some points in Magyar Folk-lore may be found of -interest in a study of the stories. And I am indebted for the following -information on giants, fairies, and witches to a valuable paper, -entitled _Mythological Elements in Székely Folk-lore and Folk-life_, -read by Kozma before the Hungarian Academy in 1882. - - -I. GIANTS.[55] - -Many of the characteristics of the Magyar giants are the same as those -to be found in the Greek and German mythologies, but we do not find -anything extraordinary in their appearance, such as one eye--as -Cyclops[56], or sundry heads as the northern giants, nor redundant -fingers and toes as the Jews; they are simply big men. There is no trace -of any struggle between the gods and the giants in Magyar mythology. - -They are said to be sons of witches,[57] and as tall as towers,[58] and -step from mountain-top to mountain-top as they walk. - -The length of their stride and the pace at which they walk is -illustrated in a tradition, according to which the giants who inhabited -a fortress called Kadicsavár, near the River Nyikó, were in the act of -shaving when the bells rang first from the church-tower of -Gyula-Fejérvár, at the second ringing they dressed, on the third ringing -they sat in church.[59] - -Near Szotyor in Háromszék[60] there is a rock, which is called the -"Giant's Stone," on the top of this there is a cavity resembling in -shape the heel of a man; the diameter of this hole is five feet, and -popular tradition says it is the imprint of a giant's heel. - -When the giant is angry he strikes a blow with his fist on the rock, and -traces of his fist are shown now-a-days on a rock near Ikavar; his -footstep is shown in the neighbourhood of Kézdi-Borosnyó, on a rocky -ledge near a spring, where he used to come down to drink. - -With one foot he stands on the mountain where Csiki-Bálványos-vár castle -stands; with the other on a mountain opposite, and bending down, he -picks up the water of the River Olt, running in the valley below, in a -gigantic bucket, with one swoop. - -He mounts a horse of such size that it stands with its hind legs on a -mountain in Bodok in Háromszék, while its fore-legs rest on another -mountain in Bickfalú, and its head reaches far into Wallachia, where it -grazes in a green clover-field. - -On short outings he walks; on long journeys he goes on horseback; his -steed is a tátos,[61] with whom he holds many conversations. On -returning home from a long ride he throws his mace, weighing forty -hundredweights, from a distance of forty miles (= about 180 English -miles), which drops into the courtyard of the castle, and penetrating -into the ground taps a subterranean spring.[62] - -While the giant of the Germans lives during the flint-period, and uses -gigantic stones and masses of rock as weapons, the Hungarian giant uses -swords and maces of iron and copper, and also goes in for wrestling. He -is not a cannibal. He is fond of a good supper and warm food, and is not -a teetotaller. He always takes plenty of provisions on the journey. - -Kozma has come across a tale, "Iron-made Peter," in which there figure -six giants, each of whom is proficient in one thing or another. They -bear names which characterise their special accomplishments. In English -they would be as follows: Sharp-eye, Fast-runner, Far-thrower, Glutton, -Drinker, Shiverer. The first is sitting on a mountain-peak reaching up -to heaven's vault, and keeps on bowing in every direction, muttering -"Which way shall I look? Is there nothing else to be seen? I have -already seen everything in the world." The second is wandering about a -vast plain, the boundaries of which cannot even be seen, and is moaning, -evidently in great trouble. "Where shall I run? In which direction? No -sooner do I start than I am at the end of this place." The third is seen -sitting among huge pieces of rock, and crying, "Where shall I throw now? -Which way? The whole world is covered by the stones I have thrown." The -fourth is watching a bullock roasting, and continues yelling, "Oh, how -ravenously hungry I am! What can I eat?" The fifth is rolling about on -the sea-shore, roaring, "Oh, how thirsty I am! What will become of me? -What can I drink? If I drain the ocean there will not be left anything -for to-morrow!" The sixth is shivering on the top of a huge stack of -wood all in a blaze, and exclaiming, "Oh, how cold I am! I am freezing." - -The hero of the tale finds suitable employment for each of the giants. -"Fast-runner" goes on an errand into the seven-times-seventh country, -and returns in five minutes, although he goes to sleep on the road from -the sleeping draught administered to him by a witch. "Sharp-eye" -discovers him asleep; and "Far-thrower" knocks away the pillow from -underneath his head, thus enabling him to return by the appointed time. -"Glutton" consumes 366 fat oxen within six hours. "Drinker" empties -during the same interval the contents of 366 casks, each holding 100 -buckets of wine. "Shiverer" creeps into a furnace, which has been -brought to, and kept in, a glowing heat for the last twenty-four years -by twenty-four gipsies,[63] and by so doing lowers the temperature so -that his mates, who have gone with him, are shivering with cold although -they are wrapped up in thick rugs.[64] - -The giants in northern regions live in six-storied diamond castles, or -in golden fortresses which swivel round on a leg; more generally, -however, they inhabit fortresses built by their own hands on the top of -lofty mountains or steep rocks. In Székelyland the ruins of thirty-six -such castles are existing, all of which are ascribed by the people to -the giants. Some of their names show this; they are called the "Giant's -Rock," the "Giant's Castle," the "Giant's Hill." In one case (Egyeskö in -Csikszèk) they show the giants' table and bench in the rock. Sometimes, -however, the castles are inhabited by fairies. - -Tall mountain chains are sometimes said to be roads built by giants. -Their names are "Attila's Track," "Devil's Ridge," &c. These roads were -constructed by devils and magic cocks who were in the service of the -giants. Hence also the name "Cocks' Ridge." In one case, however, near -Száraz Ajta, the ridges were made by giants themselves,[65] who used -silver-shared ploughs drawn by golden-haired bullocks for this purpose. - -The giants left their homes when "the country was given away to -mankind," or when "modern mankind commenced to exist." When the -husbandmen appeared and began to till the lands in the valleys and -lowlands the giants did not associate with men, but kept to their -castles and only visited the impenetrable woods. - -There is a tale which occurs in several localities about a giant's -daughter who finds a husbandman, picks up him and his team and puts them -into her apron and carries them off as toys, showing them to her father. -The father exclaiming angrily, "Take him back, as he and his -fellow-creatures are destined to be the lords of the globe," or "Their -anger might cause our ruin," or "They will be our successors." We thus -see that, while in the German tale the giant of Nideck-burg in Alsacia -bids his daughter to take back the ploughman and his team for fear that -by preventing his tilling the land the bread-supply might fail, in the -Hungarian tales the giant openly acknowledges the superior power of the -human race.[66] - -The giants, unlike their brethren in foreign lands, are gregarious and -live under a royal dynasty. They hold assemblies, at which their king -presides. Several royal residences exist in Székeland. Near Besenyö -there is one that is called "Csentetetö." Tradition has even preserved -the giant-king's name, which was Bábolna. This king used to convoke the -other giants to the assembly with huge golden bells. On feeling his -approaching death he ordered the bells to be buried in a deep well in -the castle, but on feast days they are still to be distinctly heard -ringing, which sets the whole rock vibrating. - -The name of another king of giants is to be found in Kriza's "Prince -Mirkó" (Kutyafejü = Dogheaded.) - -Sometimes the giants were good-natured and full of kindness towards the -weak.[67] - -They marry, their wives are fairies, so are their daughters. They make -very affectionate fathers. They had no male issue, as their race was -doomed to extermination. They fall in love, and are fond of courting. -Near Bikkfalva, in Háromszék, the people still point out the "Lovers' -Bench" on a rock, where the amorous giant of Csigavár used to meet his -sweetheart, the "fairy of Veczeltetö." - -The giants lived to a great age. Old "Doghead" remembers a dream he -dreamt 600 years ago. His friend Knight Mezei finds him after a -separation of 600 years, and they live happy for a great many years -after.[68] - -They have magic powers. They know when a stranger is hidden in their -home. Doghead knows who has thrown back his mace from a distance of 180 -English miles. They are acquainted with the conjuring formulæ and charms -of the fairies, and know how to overcome them. They have a thorough -knowledge of geography, and can give advice to those who enter their -service, &c. They have great physical strength, and can build huge -castles and roads, subdue whole countries, amass treasures[69] which -they have guarded even after their death. Magic beings, animals, and -implements await their commands. - -In the castle of Hereczvára, near Oltszem, the giants were negroes, and -their servants were black dwarfs. Among the magic animals who guarded -the giant's treasures we may mention the bullock with golden hair, the -tátos, &c. Of weapons, charms, &c., Doghead's copper mace, Prince -Mirkó's magic sword, the wine kept in a cask in the seventh cellar, each -drop of which equals the strength of five thousand men. - -The king of the giants of Görgény is bullet-proof; but if a man who is -the seventh son of his mother (and all the elder brothers of whom are -alive) casts a bullet, at the first appearance of the new moon, by a -fire of wheat straw, this bullet will kill the monarch. Such a man was -found, and the bullet was made, and it killed the king. The other giant, -now being without a leader, evacuated the fortress and withdrew to -Hungary Proper. Thus we see a giant can only be killed with a magic -weapon. - -In one of Kozma's tales the hero is in possession of a rusty padlock, -from which two giants appear whenever he commands. They produce by -charms, a golden cloak, and a golden fortress on the swivel principle, -which they hand over to their master in a nutshell. They then clothe the -poor lad in a copper suit and seat him on a copper steed so that he may -appear decently dressed before the king; they change his miserable hovel -into a fine palace at eleven o'clock, and at noon the whole royal -family, who are his guests, sit down to a sumptuous dinner; they carry -their master and his royal bride across a sea of flames, &c. There are -several other tales which attribute the power of flying to giants. - -Some of the giants have grown old and died a natural death. The greater -part of them, however, were killed by enterprising knights. They have -buried their treasures in deep wells, in huge mountains, or in extensive -cellars under the fortresses. In the well of the Várhegy in Száraz-Ajta -there lies hidden the silver plough and the golden bullock; in the -cellar the silver plough with the fluid gold. In the cellars of -Hereczvára in black casks the accumulated treasure of the negro-giants -is guarded by the black dwarfs, who spend their time in eating, -drinking, and dancing. In the cellar of Kézdi-Szent-Lélek castle the -treasure is guarded by a copper greyhound. In the well and cellar of the -Várbércz, near Kis-Borosnyó, the gigantic golden bells and other -treasures of the king of giants are guarded by two black goats. Near -Angyalos, in the Bábolna dyke, King Bábolna's golden sun and golden lamb -are guarded by two black greyhounds and a snow-white stallion in full -harness. In the well of Csigavàr there is a gold bucket on a golden -chain, and in the bowels of the Tepej mountain, near Alsó-Rákos, the -rams with golden fleece, &c. - -Some of the cellar doors open every third, others every seventh year. -People have been inside, but were careless and lost the treasure on the -way back to the surface, others were more careful, and succeeded in -bringing some of it out; but the moment the wind touched it it changed -into dry leaves or bits of charcoal. Some unwise people have been -foolhardy enough to try the expedition a second time, but the huge iron -doors closed behind them. But whereas the natives have hitherto been -unsuccessful in recovering the hidden treasure, foreigners come and -carry it off wholesale on the backs of horses, which are shod with shoes -turned the wrong way.[70] - - -II. FAIRIES.[71] - -Fairy, in Hungarian, "tündér," from the same root as "tün" (verb) and -"tünés" (noun) = comparitio, apparitio, and "tündök[-o]l" = to shine. -Cf. the Mongolian "Tinghir." - -The queen of the fairies is sometimes called a goddess. Thus, south of -the sulphur cave, Büdös, near Altorja, behind a mountain called the -Priests' Mountain, is situated the very ancient village of Ikafalva, -through which runs a brook named Furus. According to the tradition, the -ancestors of the people of the village were led to this place more than -1,000 years ago, in the time of the conquest of the country, by a hero -who encouraged his warriors in the name of "the goddess Furuzsina." The -hero fell in the struggle, and on the spot where his blood had flowed a -spring appeared, close to which the warriors built the present village, -and named the brook after their goddess. The water of this brook is -collected, even at the present day, into ponds; and drinking from this -"blood and water" has made the villagers so strong that they have quite -a name for physical strength in the neighbourhood. If a lad of Ikafalva -performs some feat of pluck or strength they say: "It is no wonder, he -has grown up on Furus water!" - -Although the fairies, as a rule, are kind, good-natured persons, and -take the hero's part in the tales, the Székely folk-lore furnishes a -case to the contrary, _i.e._ that of two fairies, "Firtos" and "Tartod," -the former being the queen of the good, the latter the queen of the bad, -fairies.[72] - -Kozma has found another variation of the first-named tale in "Fairy -Helena." Helena's father blows across a broad river, whereupon a golden -bridge appears. The young fairy takes a "kourbash," and wipes a rusty -table-fork with it, which at once changes into a steed with golden hair, -on which her lover, the prince, flees to Italy. When they discover that -they are followed, Helena spits on the floor,[73] on the door-handle, -and on the hinge of the door, whereupon the planks, the handle, and the -hinge commence to speak to the king's messengers from behind the closed -door, and the fugitives gain time to make their escape. Her father is -sent after them in the shape of a gigantic spotted eagle, who with the -tip of one wing touches heaven and with the other earth. On the road the -same things happen as in "Fairy Elisabeth," with this difference, that -Helena's mother changes into a buffalo who drinks all the water in the -pond on which the lovers swim about as ducks, whereupon they change into -worms; and, as the mother cannot find them in the mud, she pronounces -the curse of oblivion upon them. - -Their means of charming were: The pond of beautifying milk, dresses, -tears, the saliva, fascinating look, word of command, rejuvenating herb, -rejuvenating water, wound-healing herb, water of life and death, iron -bar, copper bridle, leather belt, gold and diamond rod, copper and gold -whip, at the cracking of which dragons and devils appear; magic wand, -curse of oblivion, sleeping draughts (wine), and the table that covers -itself. The daughter of Doghead rides on a tátos. The magic animals in -their service are: the cat and the cock, although the loud crowing of -the latter has, by indicating the time, very often a fatal influence on -fairies who are forgetful. One fairy queen, Dame Rapson, has the devil -himself in her service. - -Their conjuring formulae are: "You are mine, I am thine." "Be there, -where you have come from!" "Fog before me, smoke behind me." "Hop, hop! -let me be, where I wish to be." "Hop, hop! they shall not know where I -have come from, nor where I am going to! Let me be, where my thoughts -are!" They can teach their magic formulae to their heroes. - -As to _their occupations_. Of serious ones, our tales only mention -embroidery. Their more favourite pastimes seem to be: bathing, banquets, -singing, frivolous dances, and love adventures. After their nocturnal -dances, flowers spring up where their feet have touched the ground. If -anybody approaches them while they are dancing, they, in their unbounded -merriment, drag him also into the dance. - -On one occasion they enticed a shepherd into Borza-vára Cave, and kept -him there for three days, amusing him with singing, dancing, playing -music, and cajoling; finally they invited him to a game of cards and -dismissed him with a big hatful of gold. From the castle-hill of -Makkfalva the merry song of the fairies can be heard now every night as -they dance round the castle-walls to the strains of music. They are -reserved in their love; but, having made their choice, they are -faithful, and their passion has no bounds. The daughter of Doghead is an -instance of this; she reveals to her hero her father's charms, in order -to ensure his victory in his struggle for life and death. The young and -pretty mistress of Kisvártetö Castle, near Zsögöd, in the county of -Csík, stood on a rock-ledge, waiting for the return of her husband from -the war, till she faded away in her grief. The impression of her foot -can still be seen in the rock. The fairy daughter of the giant who -inhabited the castle near Bereczk fell in love with a hero who played -the flute, disguised as a shepherd, at the foot of the rock; but her -haughty father smashed the shepherd with a huge piece of rock, which is -still to be seen in the bed of the brook. His daughter thereupon -escaped from the father's castle, and built a castle (Leányvár = -Maiden's Castle) near Ojtoz for herself, where she spent the rest of her -days mourning for her lover, until grief killed her. Another such a -pretty tale is associated with Firtos Castle. The fairy who lived here -was in love with a knight; and, notwithstanding that her father forbade -the intercourse, they secretly met in the garden every night. One -beautiful moonlight night she was standing on the brink of the rock, -when, as she extended her arm to assist her lover up the steep slope, -the knight's horse slipped, and they were precipitated arm in arm into -the depth below, and thus perished, united for ever in death. The horse -caught on a projecting piece of rock, and petrified. "Firtos's horse" is -still to be seen. Dame Rapson's daughter, Irma, a fairy, also fell a -victim to prohibited love, and fell from a lofty peak where her mother's -castle stood, with her lover, Zelemir, into the depth below, where Dame -Rapson found them, and died of a broken heart. They all three were -buried under the rock below, which tradition names "Zelemir's Tower." - -At the south angle of the Firtos there is a group of rocks which is -called "Fairy Helena's Carriage," in which the fairies who lived in the -castle used to drive out on moonlight nights. But one night they were so -much engrossed in their enjoyments that they returned home late; and lo! -the cock crew, and the carriage turned into stone. - -The fairies live in castles on lofty mountain peaks. They build their -castles themselves, or inherit them from giants. Sometimes they are at a -great distance, as _e.g._ Fairy Elisabeth's Castle in the town of -Johara, in the "Land of Black Sorrow." - -Kozma enumerates the names of about 23 castles which belonged to fairies -and which still exist. The castle of Kadacs formerly belonged to giants, -upon whose extinction the fairies moved into it. Dame Rapson's castle -near Paraja was built of materials which were carried up on the almost -perpendicular side of the rock, to a height which makes one's head swim, -by a magic cat and cock. The road leading to the castle was constructed -by the Devil for a "mountain of gold," and a "valley of silver." Dame -Rapson owed the Devil his wages for several years, although he kept on -reminding her of it, till at last the cunning fairy presented him with a -gold coin between the tips of her upheld fingers, and a silver coin in -her palm, explaining to him that the gold coin is the mountain and the -silver coin the valley.[74] The Devil, seeing that he was outwitted, got -into a fearful rage and destroyed the road, the traces of which are -still shown as far as the Görgény (snow-clad) mountains, and is still -called "Dame Rapson's Road." The tale about building the road for a -mountain of gold and valley of silver is also mentioned in connection -with the Várhegy, near Köszvényes-Remete, but in this case it is Fairy -Helen's daughter who cheats the devil. There is such a dam also at the -foot of the Sóhegy, near Paraja, extending as far as Mikhàza, and this -bank too is called "Dame Rapson's Road," and also "Devil's Dyke." A dam, -similar to the "Cock's Ridge," near Rika, extends in the neighbourhood -of Gagy and Körispatak in the direction of Firtos, and is called "Pretty -Women's Road," or "Fairies' Road." Another high dam with a deep moat at -its southern side, and also called the "Fairies' Road," is to be seen -between Enlaka and Firtos. Under the Szépmezö (Beautiful Meadow) in -Háromszék, the golden bridge of the fairies lies buried. On the -outskirts of Tordátfalva there is a peak called "Ebédlö-Mál" (ebédlö = -dining-place) on which the fairies coming from Firtos to Kadacsvára used -to assemble to dinner. - -In some localities _caves_ are pointed out as the haunts of fairies -such as the caves in the side of the rock named Budvár. We have already -mentioned the cave Borza-vára near the castle of Dame Rapson; another -haunt of fairies is the cave near Almás, and the cold wind known as the -"Nemere" is said to blow when the fairy in Almás cave feels cold. On one -occasion the plague was raging in this neighbourhood; the people -ascribed it to the cold blast emanating from the cave, so they hung -shirts before the mouth of the cave, and the plague ceased. (Mentioned -by L. Köváry.) - -The fairies have beautiful flower-gardens in the castle grounds, and in -the centre of the garden there is generally a golden summer-house which -swivels round on a pivot. On moonlight nights they returned to water -their flower-beds long after they had disappeared from the -neighbourhood. The peonies (Whitsun-roses) that bloom among the ruins of -Dame Rapson's Castle are even nowadays known among the people as Dame -Rapson's roses. - -The fairies live an organised social life. Several of their queens are -known, as _e.g._ Dame Rapson and Fairy Helen. The latter was the most -popular among them. The queens had court-dames, who were also fairies, -and who lived near their queen's castle, as _e.g._ the court-dames of -Dame Rapson lived in Borza-vára Cave. They also live a family -life--their husbands being giants or heroes, their children fairy-girls. -Those of them, however, who waste their love on ordinary mortals all die -an ignoble death. - -Although they have disappeared from earth, they continue to live, even -in our days, in caves under their castles, in which caves their -treasures lie hidden. The iron gates of Zeta Castle, which has subsided -into the ground and disappeared from the surface, open once in every -seven years. On one occasion a man went in there, and met two beautiful -fairies whom he addressed thus: "How long will you still linger here, -my little sisters?" and they replied: "As long as the cows will give -warm milk."[75] (See Baron B. Orbán, _Description of Székelyland_, 3 -vols.) - -Their subterranean habitations are not less splendid and glittering than -were their castles of yore on the mountain peaks. The one at Firtos is a -palace resting on solid gold columns. The palace of Tartod, and the -gorgeous one of Dame Rapson are lighted by three diamond balls, as big -as human heads, which hang from golden chains. The treasure which is -heaped up in the latter place consists of immense gold bars, golden -lions with carbuncle eyes, a golden hen with her brood, and golden casks -filled with gold coin. The treasures of Fairy Helen are kept in a cellar -under Kovászna Castle, the gates of the cellar being guarded by a magic -cock. This bird only goes to sleep once in seven years, and anybody who -could guess the right moment would be able to scrape no end of diamond -crystals from the walls and bring them out with him. The fairies who -guard the treasures of the Pogányvár (Pagan Castle) in Marosszék even -nowadays come on moonlight nights to bathe in the lake below. - -Other fairies known by their names are: Tarkö (after whom a mountain -near Csik-Gyergyó takes its name) with her twin daughters Olt and Maros -(the names of the two principal rivers of Transylvania, the sources of -which are on the Tarkö); their mother touched them with her magic wand, -and they were transformed into water-fairies, they then went in search -of their father, who at the time when the elements were put in order -was transformed into the Black Sea.[76] Another fairy is Mika, the -warrioress fairy, who with her father Kadicsa led the remnants of -Attila's Huns to their present place of sojourn.[77] - -As mentioned before, there were good and bad fairies. The most complete -tale about good and bad fairies is the one about Firsos and Tartód, -fully mentioned by Ipolyi.[78] The castle of Dame Vénétur (near -Bereczk), the bad fairy who defied God, was swallowed up by the earth, -and she herself turned into a stone frog.[79] Dame Jenö (Eugen), who -lived in Énlak Castle, drove out one day, and on her way home her -coachman happened to remark that: "If the Lord will help us, we shall be -home soon!" to which she haughtily replied: "Whether he will help us, or -whether he won't, we shall get home all the same." At that moment she -and her carriage were turned into stone and the people still call a rock -"Dame Jenö's Carriage." (There is also another place called "Dame Jenö's -Garden.") The fairy who lived in Sóvár Castle near Csik-Somlyó, was -spinning on the Sabbath, and while doing so used the Lord's name in -vain, and was, with her spinning-wheel turned into stone. Her stone -distaff is shown to this day. A pond near Székely-Keresztur named -"Katustava" (_i.e._ Kate's Pond) contains a sunken house which once upon -a time belonged to a woman who was punished for doing her washing on a -feast-day. Even now the children stand round the pond and sing out: -"Boil up, boil up, Catherine! boil up, boil up, Catherine! We do our -soaping on Saturday and rinse our clothes on Sunday!" In days gone by, -the water used to boil up with great force and the little folks were -dispersed, and had to run away in consequence of the rush of water. -They returned, however, and threw stones into the pond, and the water -boiled up again vehemently. Aged people say that in their childhood the -pond was ten to twelve yards in diameter, and the water boiled up to a -height of two or three feet. Its present diameter is not more than a -couple of feet, and the boiling up has also considerably decreased in -proportion. The pond will perhaps disappear altogether, but its name -will last, as the whole close of fields is named after it. (Kate's Pond -Close). - -A clear Christian influence can be traced in the four last tales. -Mohamedanism[80] has also left behind its traces in the tales in which -fairies figure who kidnap girls. - -Such a fairy was Dame Hirip, who lived on the Vároldal, near -Gyergyó-Szens-Miklós. She used to stand on the castle tower with a -wreath in her hand, waiting for her two sons, who were engaged at the -bottom of the mountain, cutting down the sweethearts of the girls they -had kidnapped; until, at last, two heroes clad in mourning killed them; -whereupon their mother faded away with the wreath she held in her hand. -On mount Bükkös, which skirts the valley of the Úz, lived another -kidnapping fairy, who kidnapped a girl every year from the shores of the -Black Sea. On one occasion she happened to kidnap the sweetheart of the -King of the Ocean-Fairies, the loveliest maid in the sea; the King -pursued her and impeded her flight, and tired her out by raising a -hurricane and shower of rain. He overtook and caught her at a place -called "Stone Garden;" and, seizing her, killed her by flinging her on -to a rock. A mineral healing spring sprung up where her blood flowed on -the ground.[81] - - -III. WITCHES. - -The degenerate descendants of bad fairies are witches;[82] in Hungarian, -"boszorkány;" in Turkish-Tartar, "Boshûr Khân;" which signifies one who -worries, annoys, or teases. They appear sometimes as green frogs, -sometimes as black cats; and they find a demoniacal delight in -"plaguing" people. Sometimes they appear as horses and kick their -enemies cruelly;[83] if such a horse be caught and shod, the horse-shoes -will be found on the hands and feet of the witch next day.[84] - -In nearly every village, one or two such old women are to be found who -are suspected, but nobody dares to do them any harm.[85] - -It is a very simple thing to see the witches. After the autumn sowing is -over the harrow is to be left on the field over winter. In the morning -of St. George's Day one has to go out in the field, make the harrow -stand upright, stand behind it, and observe through it the herd of -cattle as they pass by. You will then notice the head witch between the -horns of the bull, and the minor witches between the horns of the other -beasts.[86] But if you do not know the necessary protecting formula, -then you are done for. - -If you do not like to risk this, there is another way. Dye the first egg -of a black hen, and take it with you to church in your pocket on Easter -Sunday, and observe the people as they walk into church. Some of them -will have great difficulty in passing through the door on account of the -length of their horns. When leaving the church, you must go out before -them and put down the egg; or stand at the meeting of two cross-roads; -or else they will carry you off. Witches, or other evil spirits, have no -power at cross-roads. The popular tales describe the witches as mothers -of giants, or dragons.[87] The witch is capable of changing forms by -turning somersaults.[88] They appear then as a puddle, brook, golden -pear-tree, fiery oven, &c. They grow so old that their lower lips hang -down as far as their knees; their eyelids also become elongated, so that -if they wish to see anything the eyelid has to be lifted up with a huge -iron rod, weighing 300 hundred-weights. - -They exercise their magic powers: (1) in a defensive way;[89] (2) in an -aggressive way, by bewitching, the cause of which is some real or -fictitious offence, or evil intention. Thus by magic you can make the -woman appear who has taken away the cow's milk, and you can make her -give back the milk. The _modus procedendi_ is as follows: take a rag -saturated with milk, or a horse-shoe or chain which has been made hot in -a clear fire, place it on the threshold and beat it with the head of a -hatchet; or make a plough-share red hot, and plunge it several times -into cold water. In order to keep away intruders it is a rule that the -first woman who enters the house while the incantation proceeds is -severely beaten, because she is the culprit. Sometimes the ridiculous -thing happens that the man has to thrash his own wife, if she happens to -be the first comer. - -By magic one can make a young man marry under all circumstances a girl -previously selected. Of such a young man they say, "They have dug up a -big weed[90] for him;" or, "They are boiling his 'kapcza'[91] for him." -The latter seems to indicate some charm. The sorceress summons toads, -holds an unintelligible conversation with them, and hands some -mysterious charm which has to be placed under the threshold of the -selected young man's house. The person, however, who orders the -incantation will die the same year. - -Some kinds of severe illness or accidents can be produced by planting in -secret certain magic plants on the selected person's ground; the illness -will last, and the consequences of the accident be felt, until the -plants are removed. If the owner plants these plants himself they will -serve as a preventative. - -Thieves can be found out or bewitched, and they dread the thing so much -that very often they return in secret the stolen articles. - -There are various formulæ to cause marriage or produce sickness. One of -them may be mentioned here.[92] The person who orders the incantation -steals from the selected victim some article of dress, and takes it to -the sorceress, who adds three beans, three bulbs of garlic, a few pieces -of dry coal, and a dead frog to it, and places these several articles in -an earthenware pot under the victim's gate or threshold, accompanied by -these words: "Lord of the infernal regions and of the devils, and -possessor of the hidden treasures; give to ... (name of the victim) some -incurable illness--(or inflame ... with irresistible love towards -...)--and I will join your party!" - -In a Hungarian paper, published in 1833, we read - - - Some woman in Transylvania grew tired of her husband, and consulted - a sorceress about the means of getting rid of him. The sorceress (a - Wallachian old woman) visited the woman's house, and they both - retired to the garret, where the sorceress laid out an image in - clay, which was intended to represent the unfortunate husband, and - surrounded it with burning wax tapers, and both women engaged in - prayer for the quick departure from this life of the husband. The - latter, however, appeared on the scene and put an end to the - proceedings. - - -Amidst the vast pile of superstitions still current amidst the -peasantry, we may note the following, from a very valuable work by Varga -János, entitled _A babondák könyve, Arad_, 1877; a volume which won the -prize offered at the time by the Hungarian physicians and others, for -the best work written on the existing superstitions of the Magyar -people. Its chief aim is to instruct the people, and is written in -_very_ popular language. - -To this day old women (Roman Catholics) do not swallow the consecrated -wafer at communion; but save it and carefully wrap it in a handkerchief, -and keep it in a drawer at home, as it will prevent the house from being -burnt down. An epidemic raged all over Hungary, and the people in one of -the villages attributed the outbreak of cholera to an old woman who had -died shortly before, and who was said to have been a witch in her -lifetime. The corpse was dug up, and replaced in the grave face -_downwards_, in order to stay the plague. When the rinderpest broke out -in another village they had recourse to the same remedy. The corpse of -the witch was unearthed, and reburied face downwards. As this had no -effect, the shift of the corpse was turned inside out and put on again. -As the pest still continued, the heart of the witch was taken out and -divided into four pieces, and one quarter burnt at each of the four -corners of the village, and the herd driven through the smoke. One year, -when there was a drought in the country, in a northern village, amongst -the Slováks, a young girl was let down into a well, in order to bring on -the rain. - -_Ghosts._[93] There is a proverb saying that: "The good souls do not -wish to come back, and the bad ones are not allowed to return;" but -still people believe in ghosts. - -_Sprites._ (Evil spirits, garabonczas.) The father of the garabonczas is -the devil; the mother, a witch. The garabonczas mostly appears as a poor -wandering student begging for milk in the village. If he be well treated -no harm will happen to the village, but if he be sent away from the -door, he will bring on hail and will destroy the crops belonging to the -place. He generally rides officially on dragons or tátos. - -_Exchanged children_, or táltos.[94] If a child be born with some defect -(say without an arm, &c.) or with some supernumerary member (say six -fingers or six toes) or with a big head, people say it is an exchanged -child; it is a child of some witch who exchanged her offspring for the -baby, while the baby's mother was in bed. Babies born with teeth are -especially considered to be children of witches. Such unfortunate -creatures are very badly treated by the people, and even by their own -parents. The name "táltos" sticks to them, even when grown up. A knife -stuck into a slice of garlic and placed under the pillow of the woman in -childbed is an effective remedy against babies being exchanged by -witches. - -_Goblins_[95] (Lidércz) are the servants of evil spirits or the evil -spirits themselves. One favourite form they like to appear in is the -"wandering fire," or will-o'-the-wisp. A hen that crows (a hermaphrodite -bird) is also a goblin; and a combination of cock and hen is hatched -from the first egg laid by the young hen, or from very small undersized -eggs as are sometimes laid by fowls. A little decrepit, undeveloped -chicken is also always looked at with suspicion. The good housewife -breaks the first egg laid by a young hen, or a very small egg, to -prevent the goblin's being hatched. The crowing hen is executed, the -neck being laid on the threshold and cut off with a hatchet; if the head -jumps into the yard, then no matter, but if it hops inside the house, -then it means that the house will be burnt down. (In Germany some -hundred and seventy years ago a crowing hen was brought before the -judges, sentenced to death, its neck cut off by the public executioner -in the market-place, and the body burnt at the stake.) - -_Roadside wanderers or inhabitants of graves._[96] Sickly, yellow, -haggard-looking people are said to live in graves or crypts at night. -The Magyar people are very good-natured, and their hospitality is well -known. But such a grave-inhabitant can reckon upon having no mercy. If -they stop and rest anywhere somebody is sure to die in the -neighbourhood. If anybody look at them it will bring on jaundice; if -anybody touch them the healthy person will dry up; children die if -touched or kissed by such a creature. - -There is a rich mine of Folk-Medicine, as yet but little worked by -western students: a few examples will be found in "Székely -Folk-Medicine," _Folk-lore Journal_, April 1884, and we append a few -more, which may be of interest, from an old MS.[97] - -_Jaundice_ is brought on by looking through the window of a house where -there is a corpse laid out, and seeing it. It is cured by taking nine -"creepers" from the head of a person with the same Christian names as -the patient; put the nine insects into an apple; bake the whole, and -give it to the patient for internal application. Then take the -foeces[98] of a person of the same Christian name; place them in a -hard-boiled egg, having first removed the yolk; sew the egg in a small -bag, and place it _secretly_ under the altar, and allow three masses to -be said over it; then hang it round the patient's neck, who has to wear -it for nine days. The cure is to be repeated nine times. There is a -marginal note in the book to the effect that our "doctor" had altogether -six cases under treatment, but not one of the patients got beyond the -first stage of the cure.[99] - -_Pleurisy._ Take a trough in which the dough has been kneaded and taken -out; pour water into it cross-ways (diagonally from corner to corner) -then pour water in cross form over the peel; scrape out the trough and -knead with one finger the scrapings into a flat cake and place it on the -aching side. Varga also gives a form of prayer which has to be recited -when the dough is placed on the side. The same prayer is prescribed for -toothache and sore throat. - -_Scurvy._ (In Magyar "süly.") The scorbutic place is to be rubbed with a -piece of rancid bacon, and the following ditty sung:-- - - - "Sü-sü, lentils-sü - Peas-sü,--pumpkin-sü, - Onion-sü,--77 sorts of sü, - - -I order thee, in the name of the Blessed Virgin Mary to disappear!" - -_Cataract_ in the eye. This is cured with a long prayer, commencing I + -N + R + I, and, if it has no effect, another (shorter) prayer is -mumbled, and the performer breathes upon the eye. - -_Gangrene_ is also cured by prayers; a little garlic and broken glass is -placed upon the wound. - -Another way is to bury three hairs of the patient in the gutter under -the eaves, and then to say the Lord's Prayer. When the medicine-man -arrives at the words "as in earth," he drops a slice of garlick, this is -afterwards buried in some secluded spot. If anybody steps on this place -he will be affected by the same disease. - -_Hydrophobia_ is cured by a mixture of the following nine ingredients:-- - - - 1. A kind of small, vermilion, flat beetle; - - 2. Some dittany gathered before St. John's Day; - - 3. Splinters of tree struck by lightning before St. George's Day; - - 4. Some cantharides; - - 5. Young buds of ash gathered in early spring; - - 6. Rue gathered before St. George's Day; - - 7. "St. Ivan's beetle" (? glow-worm); - - 8. "Christmas crumb"[100] and eggshell from between two - Christmases; - - 9. On Midsummer Day, at early dawn, the medicine-man walks out - barefoot, and the weeds, grasses, flowers, &c. that stick to his - sole or toes form ingredient No. 9. - - -The mixture is to be taken internally. - -_Epilepsy_ is treated with an oil prepared by the quack out of -horseradish; also some brimstone and other things. - -_External_ wounds and sore nails are cured by placing a live toad on the -place. - -The rash called _St. Anthony's Fire_. A man whose Christian name is -Anthony has to produce sparks with steel and flint.[101] - -_Scab_ is treated with an ointment made of beef-fat and brimstone; the -ointment to be used for three days, and to be followed up by a hot-air -bath. As these useful establishments only exist in large towns, the -unfortunate sufferer is put inside a hot oven. - -_Quinsy._--With the child's finger stroke the throat of a lizard,[102] -caught before St. George's Day. - -_Cramp._--Place a left-hand window-frame across the child suffering from -cramp, or burn feathers under its nose. - -_Hand of Glory._[103]--The little finger of the human foetus has all the -virtues of (and is used for the same purpose as) the hand of glory. All -the famous brigands are believed to have one of these articles in their -possession. - -When a person is _in extremis_ they place him or her, bed and all, in a -line with and under the main joist of the ceiling. If the dead person's -eyes are left open somebody will soon follow him or her. - - -_Superstitious Days._ - -_Friday._ Work commenced or finished on Friday is sure to fail. - -Who laughs on Friday will cry on Sunday. - -To sneeze on Friday the first thing in the morning when the stomach is -empty means some great catastrophe. - -To start on a journey on Friday is unlucky. - -He or she who is taken ill on Friday will never again leave their bed. - -A guest on Friday means one week's distress. - -Dough kneaded on Friday will not rise. - -Linen washed on Friday will give the wearer some skin disease. - -If the fires are lighted in the rooms for the first time on Friday the -house will be burnt down. - -If a baby gets its first tooth on a Friday the front teeth will come all -right but no more. - -If a baby commence to talk on a Friday it will, when grown up, stammer -or remain mute altogether. - -If the new year commence with a Friday all the crops will fail. - -If a hen commence to sit on her eggs on a Friday the eggs become -addled.[104] - -_St. Matthias._ "It is better trust the ice after St. Matthias' Day than -in you, my dear little maid." _Erdélyi_, vol. 3. Folk-Song No. 200. - -_St. George's Day_ is a very lucky day. - -A butterfly caught before St. George's Day brings great luck. - -Snakes caught before St. George's Day make a powerful medicine. - -The skin of a marmot caught before St. George's Day will make a purse -which will never be empty. - -The person who sees a swallow or stork before St. George's Day will -live as many years as the bird flaps its wings. - -Procure the wing of a bat caught before St. George's Day and wrap up -money in it; then you will never be without cash. - -On the night following St. George's Day one can listen to the -conversation of the witches and overhear their secrets about good and -bad herbs. - -All the medicines gathered before St. George's Day are very powerful. - -_Christmas Eve._--Roman Catholics fast on this day--eating no meat, -using instead fish and vermicelli with crushed poppy seed and honey. -Those who stand on "Lucy's chair" during midnight mass can tell who is a -witch and who is not. St. Lucy's Day is December 13th, and on that day -some begin to make a small chair, or stool, working at it, on each -following day, so as to get it ready by Christmas Eve. The maker then -takes it to midnight mass, and sits upon it in order to discover who are -witches in the parish. All those who turn their backs to the altar -whilst he (or she) sits on the stool, are witches. "Lucy's chair" is -also said of anything that is being made very slowly. On this day, too, -the farmer's wife and servants wrap their heads up in cloaks, and, armed -with big brushes (a sort of brush tied athwart the end of a pole), go -round and catch the hens and touch their hinder parts, believing that it -will cause them to lay more eggs. The twelve days following St. Lucy's -are called Lucy's Kalendar, and are very carefully observed. If the -first, second, third, &c., be raining, windy, foggy, &c., so will the -first, second, third, &c., months of the next year be. - -_Christmas Day._--Every hour of this day is significant and pregnant -with good or evil. It seems as if on this day every good angel descended -from heaven to scatter blessings, and every demon ascended from the -infernal regions to shower curses on the heads of men.[105] - -Even the remnants of food have their magic power. The well-known -"Christmas crumb" forming an important ingredient in many -folk-medicines. - -Whoever picks up an apple or nut from the ground will be covered with -sores; and if anyone steps upon a reel of cotton (or gets entangled in -it) upon this day, he will, without fail, have an attack of the "evil of -Lazarus." - -A sort of basket made of twisted or plaited straw, such as is used for -taking dough to the bakers, is filled with hay and put under the table -to receive the "little Jesus," who is said to get into it. Maize put -under this basket is said to fatten fowls to a wondrous extent, and -cattle thrive marvellously on the hay. Whosoever eats nuts without honey -will lose his teeth. - -Whosoever does not eat a slice of garlic with honey on this holy day -will get a sore throat.[106] - -There are several Finnish superstitions with regard to this season, -_e.g._: - -In West Bothnia one must not spin on St. John's Day (which is called a -half-holyday), or the sheep will be attacked with disease during the -year. Cf. the well known saying that a spinning wheel is unlucky on -board a ship. - -Fire must not be taken out of a house on Christmas Eve,[107] or else the -so-called "black ears" will grow among the barley. See _Suomen -Muinaismuisto-yhdistyksen, Aikakauskirja_, v. p. 109. - -If the corn is found to be very much entangled when cut, it is said -that the farmer slept crooked in bed on Christmas Eve. In some villages, -on "Knuts Day," Jan. 13th, a young girl is dressed up as a bride, and -called "twenty-days' bride" (twenty days after Christmas), and driven -through the village. The day ends with a dance, and a collection for the -"bride," who is generally one of the poor. Straw, too, was laid on the -room floors in remembrance of the Saviour's bed. A light burnt all night -on the settle.[108] These customs still exist in some places. - -A yule-cross used to be erected at the house-door on Christmas Eve. - -To return to the Magyars. The bread at Christmas time is baked in -curious forms, just as it is in Finland, where, _e.g._, in Åbo, it is -made in the form of a fish, &c., and called "Kuse" and "Kasa," in other -parts in the form of animals, &c. (cf. the "Yuldoos" in Northumberland). - -_New Year's Eve_ and _New Year's Day_.[109] Molten lead is cast into -water to see the future husband's trade. Watch which way the cock crows -on the dawn of the new year, for in that direction your future partner -will surely come. Turn your pillow at midnight (December 31st), and you -will see whom you are to marry, in your dreams. Any one born at midnight -will become a great person. Whosoever is whipped on New Year's Day will -be whipped every day in the new year! Indeed, anything done on this day -will be repeated during the year. It is unlucky to sow on this day, as -it prevents the hens laying. If you put on new linen you will cause your -skin to be covered with sores. New Year's morn is spent in wishing each -other a happy new year; just as, in many parts of England (_e.g._ Hull) -the juvenile population call and expect to receive their reward in the -shape of coin of the realm. - -In Vienna they say: "to have Schweinsglück," or "Sauglück," _i.e._, "a -pig's luck," or a "sow's luck;" and so one sees in some houses a cook -appear, bearing a sucking pig on a tray, and wishing all a happy New -Year, expecting a New Year's box in return. - -According to Paul Kelecsényi, the following custom is observed at -Kolony, in the county of Nyitra. Girls make a bonfire, and leap through -the flame. From their mode of leaping the spectators gather when the -girl will be married. The performance is accompanied by a song, of which -a few verses will suffice as a specimen: - - - "We lay a fire, - We lay it square, - At one corner sit five old men, - At the other sit good looking matrons, - At the third sit handsome young bachelors, - At the fourth sit pretty young maidens. - Then the fire is lighted. - John A's (the name of an unmarried man) is about to catch fire. - Let us extinguish it! (Susie.) - Oh! don't let us forsake the poor people! - Jane B's (generally John A's sweetheart) store house is about to - catch fire. - Let us.... - Oh! don't...." - - -Then follow verses, like the following, and all more or less -unintelligible: - - - "How high the branch of the tree has grown, - [The tree] has sent out branches. - It is bending and bending across the ocean - Into the courtyard of John A. - Of [to?] pretty Helena with the silken yellow tresses." - - -See Erdélyi's _Folk-Songs and Stories_, vol. iii. pp. 148-150. "Szent -Iván Éneke." - -_On St. John the Baptist's Day_[110] the glow-worm is gathered, and also -at dawn the medicinal herbs for certain cures (see supra). On this day -it is also customary to jump over "St. John's fire;" any person doing -this will not die during the year. - -_On the Day of St. Paul's Conversion_ all the bears turn round in their -sleep in their winter dens. - -_On the Night of St. Andrew's_ every girl will dream about her future -husband; if she manage to procure a shirt of a young man and place it -over-night under her pillow, she will so bewitch him that he will follow -her like her shadow. - -_On Saturday before Easter_ all snakes, frogs, toads, &c., can be driven -away in the morning when the cattle's bell is heard. - -_On Palm Sunday_, swallow without chewing three buds blessed by the -priest and brought from church, and this will prevent a sore throat. - -_St. Martin._ On this day, in conformity with an old custom, the Jewish -community of Pozsony (Pressburg) yearly present a fat goose to the King -of Hungary. This deputation is always received personally. - -_St. Michael._ The bier in Magyar is called "St. Michael's horse." - -_St. Stephen._--See _Notes and Queries_, "Magyar and Finn Songs on St. -Stephen's Day," 6 S. viii. 487, and x. 485, with which we may compare -the following:-- - -VAUSENOTTES: La cérémonie de crier les _valantins_: les garçons se -nommoient _vausenots_ et les filles _vausenottes_: ces mots viennent de -_vouser_ ou _vauser_, qui eux-mêmes viennent de _vocare_, nommer, et de -_nuptiae_ noces: comme si l'on disoit appeler aux noces: aux mariages: -cette cérémonie s'est pratiquée longtemps dans le pays Messin. _Voyez -Valantin._ - -VALANTIN: Futur époux, celui qu' on désignoit à une fille le jour des -_brandons_, ou premier dimanche de carême, qui, dès qu'elle étoit -promise, se nommoit _valantine_: Et si son _valantin_ ne lui faisoit -point un present ou ne la regaloit avant le dimanche de la mi-carême, -elle le brûloit sous l'effigie d'un paquet de paille ou de sarment, et -alors les promesses de mariage étoient rompues et annuliés. - -BRANDON: Tisson allumé, feu, flambeau: de-là ou a appelé _dimanche des -brandons_, le premier dimanche de carême, parce qu'on allumoit des feux -ce jour-là, il était encore nommé le jour de _behourdi_, _behourt_, -_bordes_, _bourdich_, termes qui signifioient une joûte une course de -lances. Il se nomme encore dans quelques provinces, le jour de _grand -feux_, des _valantins_, le jour des _bulles_ ou des _bures_, le dimanche -des _bordes_; au figuré, l'ardeur de l'amour et son flambeau, _brando_. -On appelle à Lyons, _brandons_, des rameaux verds auxquels on attache -des gâteaux, des oublies et des bugnes, le premier dimanche de carême. - -BULE, _bulle_; Feu de rejouissance. - -BORDE. One of the meanings of the diminutive of "borde," viz.: -"bordelle" "on a appliqué ensuite aux lieux de débauche."[111] - -Heltay Gáspár, the typographer of Kolozsvár, wrote his book in 1552 -against this custom as practised in Hungary. - -The following Finnish superstitions at certain times may here be noted -for comparative purposes:-- - -_Lent._ Witches are said to have cut off the sheep's wool at this time, -and given it to the evil one; who in return gave them good luck with -their sheep and butter. - -_Shrove Tuesday._ Women are not to spin on this day; because, if they -do, the sheep will suffer from diseases. - -If the sun shines on this day there will be a fine summer. Much sledging -must be done if long flax is desired; and seven meals must be eaten -without drinking, if thirst is to be avoided during the summer heats. - -_Good Friday._ It was not customary formerly to make a fire on this -day. - -_Easter._ On Easter Eve cut off the wool from between the sheep's ears; -so the young folks burn straw and tar-barrels to frighten the Easter -witches (in the parishes of Wörå and Munsala). If anyone wishes to see -the witches, as they ride in mid-air on their broomsticks, he must sit -on the roof of a three-times-removed house. (Houses in Finland are built -of wood, and often sold and removed to another site.) - -_May 1st._ As the weather is this day, so will the rest of the year be. - -_Eve of St. John Baptist._ On this night the young girls go out into -rye-fields with bits of colored worsted, and tie them round the stalks -that are chosen. The stalks are then cut off just above the worsted. -Next morning the stalk that has grown the most during the night -foretells the future of the maiden. The red one foretells purity; green, -love; yellow, rejection; black, grief; blue, old maid; white, death; -speckled, an illegitimate child. The stalk is then taken up and placed -under the pillow, and whatever the sleeper then dreams will undoubtedly -happen. - -A Finnish lady friend relates that she and one of her friends on this -night gathered nine different sorts of flowers, and, having made wreaths -of them, put them under their pillows--as it was said that next morning -there would be a lock of hair the colour of the future husband's found -in each wreath. In order to make sure, each of the young ladies, unknown -to the other, cut a lock off her own head and placed it in her friend's -wreath, but, unfortunately, one of the ladies also put a lock of her own -hair in her own wreath, and thus next day found she was doomed to have -two mates! In some parts, when the farmers return from church, they see -who can get home first, as that one will get his harvest in first the -following year. - -In some places straw is burnt on this night, but it is more common to -burn wood (which fires are called Kokko). In some parts these fires are -burnt on Maunday Thursday night. In Honkojoki, after the Kokko is burned -two persons go and stand each on a wood stack, and begin throwing the -logs into a heap, each trying his best to throw more than his rival. -This done, the logs are counted, and, if found to be an odd number, it -is regarded as an omen of misfortune. The girls are dressed in white on -this night. In the southern parts of the country stones used to be -rolled down the hill sides on this night. The houses are decorated on -the outside with young birches and inside with leafy boughs, &c. For -dressing with flowers and leaves at this time see _Hofberg_, -"Digerdöden." - -_St. Bartholomew._--According to some, seed ought to be sown this day. - -_St. Matthew's Day._--People disguise themselves so as not to be -recognised. A sledge, too, is drawn by a ram, with a straw man as -driver. - -_St. Thomas's Eve._--A Swedish superstition regards this as the goblins' -special night, and one story (_Hofberg_, "Tomten") relates how no one -would go into a smithy that night on this account, and if anyone looked -through the door he would see the goblins forging silver bars, or -"turning their own legs under the hammer." - -In the Highlands, even in modern times, there were May-Day bonfires, at -which the spirits were implored to make the year productive. A feast was -set out upon the grass, and lots were drawn for the semblance of a human -sacrifice; and whoever drew the "black piece" of a cake dressed on the -fire was made to leap three times through the flame.[112] - -In many parts of France the sheriffs or the mayor of a town burned -baskets filled with wolves, foxes, and cats, in the bonfires at the -Feast of St. John; and it is said that the Basques burn vipers in wicker -panniers at Midsummer, and that Breton villagers will sacrifice a snake -when they burn the sacred boat to the goddess who assumed the title of -St. Anne.[113] - -Varga also gives the following information on numbers: - -_13_ is very unlucky.[114] If thirteen sit down to table, one will die. - -_9_ also plays an important part. See folk-medicine. Hydrophobia breaks -out in nine days, weeks, months, or years. Nine different ingredients -often make up the mixture--nine different shoots of nine different -trees. If a cow be bewitched, a cure with nine ants' nests is used. Most -medicines are taken nine times; the patient has to bathe nine times, &c. -&c. - -_7_ is very superstitious. The seventh child plays an important part in -everything; only a seventh child can lift hidden treasures. A seventh -child seven years old has great magic power. In digging for treasures -seven people club together, each member removes seven spades-full of -earth in one night. Seven times seven, or seventy-seven is also a magic -number. The devil's grandmother is 777 years old. - -_3_ very often occurs in fairy-tales. It is an important number with -witches. It is said there are 33,333 witches in Hungary. - -_Superstitions about Animals._ - -It would be more easy to enumerate those animals about which there are -not superstitions, but we will give a few instances from Varga. - -_The Death-Bird_ (a kind of small owl).--If the death-bird settles on -the roof, and calls out three times "kuvik," somebody will die in that -house. - -_The Owl._--The well-known servant of witches. It procures them the -required number of snakes, lizards, &c. - -_The Cuckoo._--It will tell you how many years you have to live. It -sucks the milk out of the udder of the cow. There is also another bird -credited with this. - -_The Crowing-hen._--See _supra_. p. xlvi. - -_The Swallow_ and stork are favourite birds. To catch a swallow is very -unlucky. To disturb its nest will set the roof on fire. If you kill it, -your arm will shrivel up. Of this bird the people say that it dies; of -all others, they perish. (A human being "dies" = "meghal" in Hung. = -"stirbt" in German; an animal "perishes" = "megdöglik," = "crepirt.") If -you see the first swallow, stroke your face and sing, "I see a swallow; -I wash off the freckles"--and the freckles will disappear. The stork is, -also, a sacred bird. It must not be caught or killed; to disturb its -nest will set the house on fire. He who sees for the first time in the -year a stork standing, will be very lazy during the year; if flying, -then fresh and very healthy. - -_Lark_, _Plover_,[115] _Quail_, and _Pigeon_.--When Christ was hiding -himself he went among some underwood, his pursuers were about to follow -him there, when the lark rose and sang: "Nincs, nincs, nincs, nincs, -nincs, sehol itten." (He is not--he is nowhere here). The pursuers were -about to leave, when out of malice the quail flew up and called "Itt -szalad, itt szalad" (Here he runs, here he runs); the pursuers thereupon -returned, and Christ took refuge in a shrubbery; then the plover flew up -and cried "bú vik, bú vik" (he is hiding), and the pigeon added "a -bokorban, a bokorban" (in the bush). Christ blessed the lark, hence it -rises high up in the sky and sings merrily, whereas the three other -birds were accursed to never fly on a tree, but to hide themselves among -grass, in the mud, in old ruins. - -See Arany László "Magyar Népmeséinkröl" (On our Magyar Popular Tales), -a paper read before the Kisfaludy Society on May 29, 1867. Cf. -_Hofberg_, Horsgötten. - -_Newt._--If you swallow a newt with the water drawn from a well, it will -grow quite a monster in your stomach, and eat its way through. The -monster will have a head as a calf; immense immoveable eyes; a skin like -a human being; its voice like a baby's, and its head covered with fur, -like that of a wild cat. - -_Snake._--There is a snake in every house; if it creep out of its hole, -some great misfortune will happen. It is therefore unlucky to disturb -it. The skin of a snake caught before St. George's Day, drawn over a -stick, makes a powerful weapon; it will break iron in two. - -_Snakes and Frogs._[116]--If a snake or frog get into a man's stomach, -it can be allured out by placing some steaming milk near the mouth of -the patient. If they die inside, the patient has to take internally some -powderized stork's stomach. [Cf. "Liber Quartus Practicae Haly," cap. -49, "De eius medela qui leporem marinum aut ranam biberit," p. 207, -verso (Leyden, 1523)]. The so-called frog-rain; the frogs drop from the -clouds, or that they are drawn up by the clouds from lakes, &c. - -_Lizard_, see "Quinsy" and "St. George's Day," pp. xlix. and li. - -_Cat._--The black cat is a favourite disguise of the witch. When the cat -is cleaning herself, you must observe at whom she looks first, when -finished; the person so looked at will go to a ball, or some other -amusement. If the cat uses one paw only, a guest will arrive; he will -come from the direction in which the cat stroked her paw the last time. -If a cat be uneasy, &c., it will rain. - -_Donkey._--There are three indents on the bulrush as if made with teeth. -The tradition is, that the donkey on which Christ sat commenced to -nibble the reed, but before it had time to bite it off, Christ rode -away. The traces of the teeth are still plainly visible. The cross on -the donkey's back is said to be the stains left by Christ's blood, as it -ran down on both sides.--Arany László _loc. cit._ - -_Raven._--There is a well-known Magyar folk-song commencing the thus:-- - - - "The raven washes his brood on Good Friday." - - -_Clocks._--The ticking of the clock-beetle forbodes death in the house. - -_Dog._--The witch will sometimes appear as a black dog. If a dog whine -in his sleep, it is a sign of conflagration; if it bark in its sleep, -robbers are due. If a dog howl,[117] it smells a dead body, and somebody -will die in the house. - -_The Sow_ with a litter of nine, _the Horse_ without a head, _the Bull_ -with horns pointing downwards, are favourite forms assumed by witches. - -_The Tortoise._--When Christ was walking on earth, He appeared as a -beggar, and begged for alms at a Jew's house. The mistress of the house -was very mean; and in order not to be obliged to give anything, she hid -under a trough used for kneading bread, and told her little girl to say -that she was not to be found. When the girl said that her mother was not -at home, Christ replied: "May she never be able to get home!" The girl -waited in vain for her mother to come forth; and when she opened the -closet door, an ugly thing crawled out, with a trough-like shield grown -to its back. This is the origin of the tortoise. - - -_Superstitions about Plants._ - -Varga supplies the following notes on this subject: - -_Deadly Nightshade_ works miracles in folk-medicine. One of its uses is -to cure maggots in beasts. It is not used internally nor applied -externally. The medicine-man approaches the plant wherever it grows, -makes a hole into the ground close to the root, then bends the plant -gently down, sticks the top of it into the hole and buries it, taking -care not to break the plant. Then he repeats the following formula:--"Do -you hear, deadly nightshade? I herewith bury you, and will not again -liberate you until the maggots that have got into the left rump of John -So-and-So's cow clear out from there." - -_Vervain_ or "lock-opening herb."--Open the skin on the palm of your -hand, place a small leaf of vervain under the skin and let the wound -heal over; then at the touch of such hand all locks and bars will open. -All the more famous brigands of old are said to have had such power. - -_Clover._--Clover with four leaves is very lucky. - -_Wolf's-milk._--The milky juice oozing from the broken stem of this -plant will beautify the skin.[118] - -_The Wolf's-bane leaf_, the ökörfark kóró (lit. the dried oxtail)[119], -and _the Rue_ are very important herbs in folk-medicine. - -Some other plants are said to have had this power, that if at dusk you -switch with them three times in the air you hit the witch, and you can -hear her moaning. - -_The Lily_ is the flower of the dead. If any body be executed innocent, -three yellow lilies will grow on his grave. - - -_Superstitions about Stones._ - -_The Diamond_ is blown, like glass, by thousands and thousands of snakes -in caves, who bury them in the sand. - -_The Carbuncle_ glows in the dark. - -_The Garnet._ While the person who wears these stones is healthy the -garnet is of a beautiful red colour; when the wearer ails the stones -turn pale. - -_The Opal_ is an unlucky stone. - - -_Sundries._[120] - -_Astronomy._ The milky way came about in this way. The driver of a cart -of straw was very drunk; the straw was badly loaded and fell off in all -directions as the drunken driver drove his horses irregularly over the -way. - -*Comets forebode a great war or the pest. - -Many people get out at the left side of the bed, pull on the left side -first of their trousers, the left sleeve of their coat, and undress left -first because it is good for toothache. - -*If your palm itches, you receive money; rub it to your hair, and you -get as much money as you touched hairs. - -*Right eye itching, you will cry; left eye, you will be merry; whose -eyes jump about will get beaten. - -*Singing in right ear, bad news; left, good news. - -If a family gets into a new house, somebody will die; a dead body's eyes -left open, he is looking for somebody to follow him. If you pity an -animal when it is being slaughtered it dies very slowly. - -*If a knife, fork, or scissors drop and stick upright in the ground, a -guest will arrive. If by accident one more plate is laid on the table -than necessary, a very hungry guest will come. - -Where there is a baby in the house, you must sit down or you will take -away its sleep. If you stare at the baby, you spoil it with your eye. To -counteract this, put your hat on the child's head or spit on the baby. -If the mischief is already done, drop a piece of live coal into a glass -of water, and make the child drink of it, and bathe his eyes with the -water. At the same time wish the "spoiling" back to the person from whom -it came. - -If a spider lowers itself on somebody at night, it is lucky; in the -daytime, unlucky. - -*If the fire is noisy (a series of small explosions) there will be high -words or some scrimmage in the house. If you dream of fire, you will be -robbed. If in your dream you see yourself as bride or bridegroom, you -will die. If you dream that you are dead, you get married. If, at meals, -you sit between two brothers or sisters, you will get married. - -If a woman in the family-way looks into the window, where there is a -corpse, the baby will be dumb. If the woman sends away a beggar, she -will bear twins. - -In stormy weather stick a hatchet in the threshold, and the hail-clouds -will roll by. *Make the sign of a cross with the poker against the sky -and the rainbow will appear. - -When it rains and the sun shines too, the devil beats his wife. If it -thunders without lightning, the devil has got hold of a poor sinner. If -you abuse the rain, the angels cry and the devil tears his hair. - -If the cow is bewitched and will not allow herself to be milked, place -the pail over her head; or go to the cemetery, procure a decayed old -wooden cross, and beat the animal with it. - -If the cow kicks, cover her head with an old apron and stick holes -through the apron with the pitchfork. *The witch will feel the stabbing -from the prongs. If the witch has taken away the milk of the cow, -procure nine ants'-nests,[121] bury this with nine pieces of bread on -the road over which the cattle goes, so that the cow may step over it. -Then after three days knead the bread and soil together and make the cow -eat it, and her milk will be restored. - -Or pour some of the milk into a fiery oven, and the fire will burn the -witch who spoilt the cow. - -It is not good to look at a cow while calving, because her milk will not -come. The first week's milk is to be given to the poor, or it will be -difficult to milk the cow afterwards. - -Do not call a child "a frog," or it will with difficulty learn to talk. -Do not step over it, or you stop its growing. Do not say thanks for a -medicine, or it will lose its power. Do not wish the fisher or hunter -"good luck," or he will have a poor day. To meet a priest is unlucky; to -meet a Jew lucky. - -If a child suffers from epileptic fits, take the shirt it has worn -during one of the fits and wrap it around one of the (wooden) crosses in -the cemetery, this will cure the child; but the person who removes it -will catch the disease. When a child loses its first tooth, the mother -ought to eat the tooth in a piece of bread, and then she will never -suffer from toothache. When a child sees a swallow for the first time in -Spring, it must spit several times into the palms of its hands and -pretend to wash its face; this will prevent freckles. - -The following is said to cure abscesses: Boil together peas, beans, -lentils, and millet in a new pot, and when the mess is ready bathe the -affected place therein; then take pot and contents at dawn to the -cross-roads, and dash it to the ground. The abscesses will disappear, -the first person who steps over the mess will get them. - -When sweeping the house the dust must not be swept towards the door but -from it, and the sweepings burnt; then luck will never desert the house. - -A loaf that has been cut should never be placed so that the cut part -faces the door, because that would cause lack of bread. - -When the bread is taken from the oven, if a few red-hot cinders be -thrown into the oven it is as good as throwing them down your enemy's -throat! - -*Whenever water is drawn from a well, great care must be taken that a -little is returned, to propitiate the angry sprite of the well. - - -_Manners at Table._ - -"Whereas other learned and wise nations keep their heads covered while -they are at meals, the Magyars uncover themselves at table. Perhaps they -follow this custom because they remember the words of St. Paul (1 Cor. -ii.), who says that every man praying, having his head covered, -dishonoureth his head; the Magyars, however, not only often commence -their meals with a prayer, but mention the Deity as often as they drink, -and wish to those, in whose honour they lift their glasses, good luck -and bliss, and pray to God for these, which custom is not always -followed by other nations. Therefore they think it is better not to -cover the head than to be obliged to uncover themselves so many -times."[122]--_From "A Kopaszsagnac diczireti" (the praise of baldness). -Kolozsvár, 1589; author unknown._ - -_Drinking Custom._--The Finnish word "ukko," at the present day, means -"the host," "the master of the house;" formerly "yli-jumala" meant "the -chief-God," "the God of the weather and fertility." Wherefore -Väinämõinen prays to him when sowing the first seed (Kalevala, I. runes -317-330). - -The heathen Finns, after spring sowing,[123] sacrificed with "Ukko's -cup" (Ukon malja). Jacob Grimm compares Ukko's cup to Thor's drinking -vessel.[124] - -In 1886, or thereabouts, the Magyar Academy of Science came into -possession of some XVIth and XVIIth century deeds written in Magyar, and -relating to the sale of certain vine-yards in the Hegyalja, where the -famous vines of Tokaj[125] grow. From these deeds it appears, that in -each case the bargaining for the vineyard was followed by a -drinking-bout, at which one of the men would lift up his glass; and if -nobody objected to the sale the bargain became confirmed and binding -upon all parties concerned. The ceremony of lifting up the cup that -should serve as a sign that the bargain was struck was called "Ukkon -poharat fölmutatui," = show up Ukko's glass, and the name of the person -who performed the ceremony is mentioned in the deed in every case. Thus, -in one of these documents, dated "Tállya, December 28, 1623," we read as -follows: "In witness thereof, we the above named magistrates and sworn -men, in conformity with the living old custom of our ancestors, have -drunk áldomás[126] &c. Ukko's glass was held up[127] by John Kantuk de -Liszka." - -Thus, while the Finnish Agricola in 1551 condemns the custom of -"drinking Ukko's cup" of the ancient Finns as a superstition, in -Hungary, in the Hegyalja, it was, according to deeds bearing dates from -1596 to 1660, a ceremony "in accordance with the old law and living -custom."[128] - -See Paul Hunfalvy's "Magyarország Ethnographiája," Budapest, 1876, pp. -242 & seq. - -[1] "Aladár," in Hungarian tradition. - -[2] _Enc. Britt._ "Huns." - -[3] See "Rege a csoda-szarvasról, by Arany János, an English translation -of which has been published by Mr. Butler in his _Legends, Folk Songs, -&c._, from the Hungarian." Cf. _Hungary_, by Professor Vambéry, cap. -iii. - -[4] According to Hungarian history, Árpád found numerous small -nationalities inheriting Attila's realm, with each of whom he had to -settle separately. The number of nationalities has been further -increased by fresh arrivals from Asia, and immigrants from Western -Europe during the past ten centuries: thus we hear of the continuous -irruption of Besseni (Petchenegs) during the reign of Stephen the Saint -(first King of Hungary, A.D. 1000); of Cumani in the time of Salamon -(A.D. 1060) and his successors; and of Tartars under Batu Khan (A.D. -1285) in the time of Béla IV. During this last invasion large tracts of -land became depopulated, the inhabitants having either perished or fled; -so that the king was obliged to invite immigrants from Western Europe, -and this was the origin of the Saxon settlements in Transylvania. This -will to some extent show the difficulties which beset the writer who -attempts to give a sketch of the races inhabiting modern Hungary. A -further difficulty, in tracing the origin of such races, is due to the -variety of spelling adopted by different writers in describing the same -race, and the unscrupulous use of the names Huns, Scythae, &c. when -writing about tribes inhabiting regions beyond the borders of the then -known civilised world. _Vide infra_, p. x. - -[5] We have attempted to give but a brief sketch of the Magyars, feeling -that when there is so lucid a work as "Hungary," by so well-known an -authority as Professor Vambéry, within the reach of all, and dealing -with this subject in a way that it would be folly for us to attempt, we -may content ourselves with referring all readers to that work, and to -_Der Ursprung der Magyaren_ by the same author. - -[6] The Székely (in German "Székler," in Latin "Siculus") inhabit the -eastern parts of Transylvania, the territory occupied by them forming an -oblong strip between the Saxon settlement of Besztercze and Brassó -(Kronstadt), with two branches to the west known as Marosszék and -Udvarhelyszék. Another district (szék) inhabited by them, Aranyos-szék, -lies in the western part of Transylvania between the districts of Torda -and Alsó-Fejér. - -[7] _The Nationality of the Huns and Avars_, a paper read before the -Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Oct. 4, 1881. Cf. also "The Origin of the -Magyars," by the same author. - -[8] See p. 380, _infra_. - -[9] Kozma says, that in the two above-mentioned countries the word -"Huns" was used, up to the thirteenth century, among the people as -equivalent to giants, who figured in fairy tales. Simrock and Grimm are -inclined to see real persons in them, and say they were the Huns, and in -later history the Magyars. - -[10] 1883, vol. i. pp. 466, 467. - -[11] _Cornhill Magazine_, May, 1882. - -[12] The first edition appeared in 1520. Cf. _Diccionario Bibliographico -Portuguez_ (Lisboa, 1859) _sub voce_ "Barros." - -[13] He asserts that his chronicle is a translation of "ex lingua -Ungara." So far as one knows, the _original_ remains undiscovered and -unknown! - -[14] Cf. Geo. Fejér, _Henricus Portagulliae Comes origine Burgundus non -Hungarus_, Budæ 1830, and other dissertations by M. Holéczy, &c. in the -British Museum. Press Mark 10632/1. - -[15] _Corpus Poeticum Boreale_, by Vigfusson and Powell. Oxford, 1883, -p. lxi, vol. i. - -[16] _Historia de Gentium Septentrionalium variis conditionibus &c._ -(Basileæ, 1567). Lib. ii. cap. xviii. - -[17] _De Hunnis et Herulis_ Libri Sex. Joannes Magnus died in 1544. His -chronicle appeared interspersed with Olaus Magnus' work. Cf. Lib. viii. -cap. xiii. - -[18] Cf. Paul Hunfalvy's polemic work, _A Székelyek_. Budapest, 1880. -The same learned writer in his well-known _Ethnography of Hungary_, -disputes the separate origin of the Székelys, and maintains that they -are not a distinct people from the Magyars, but that they are Magyars -who have migrated from Hungary Proper into their modern Transylvanian -homes. This assertion gave rise to severe criticism on the part of the -defenders of the old tradition like Dr. John Nagy, Farkas Deák, and -others; and the above mentioned pamphlet was a reply, wherein the author -further defends his assertion, on the testimony of comparative philology -and history. One powerful argument in favour of the separate origin is, -that for centuries the Székely population has kept distinct not only -from the Saxons, but also from the Magyars in Transylvania; they had -privileges which were denied to the Magyars. Their administration until -recently was quite distinct. Their name first occurs in a deed signed by -William, Bishop of Transylvania, dated 1213, in which the Bishop -renounces his right of collecting tithes from settlers in the Bárczasâg -"a waste and uninhabited" track of land, if those settlers be neither -Magyars nor Székelys. - -[19] Abu-Ali Achmed ben Omar ibn Dastás. _Information regarding the -Kozars, Burtás, Bulgarians, Magyars, Slavs and Russ._ Edited by D. A. -Chvolson, St. Petersburg, 1869 (in Russian); quoted by Hunfalvy in his -_Ethnography of Hungary_. - -[20] Abn Dolif Misaris ben Mohalhal _De Intinere Asiatico_--Studio Kurd -de Schloezer. Berolini, 1845. Cf. Defrémery _Fragments de Geographes, -&c._ in _Journ. Asiat._ ser. iv. tom. xiii. 466. Both quoted by Colonel -Yule in _Cathay and the Way Thither_. London, 1866. Vol. i. pp. cxi. and -clxxxvii. - -[21] On the river Vág (in the North of Hungary Proper). - -[22] Hunfalvy _The Székelys_, pp. 40-42. - -[23] _Ib._ p. 41. - -[24] Cf. _Republica Hungarica_, ex off. Elzeviriana, 1634, p. 12. "Nemo -apud illos (Ciculos) ignobilis esse censetur, etiam si manu aratrum -tractet, aut caprino gregi praesit." - -[25] Georgius Rákóczy. Dei Gratia Princeps Transylvaniæ ... et Siculorum -Comes, &c. - -[26] Prior to 1876, the Székelys administered their own affairs, and -were divided into five "széks" (_sedes_). - -[27] His essay, entitled "A few words on the Székely Dialects," was -published at the end of his work, _Vadrózsâk_, vol. i. - -[28] Quoted _infra_, p. xix. - -[29] _Vide infra_, p. 380. - -[30] _Opus citatum_, p. 34. - -[31] Such as Klaproth. - -[32] Cf. Hunfalvy _Ethnography_, p. 408. - -[33] Cf. _The History of the Cumanians_, and also _The Nationality and -Language of the Jazygo-Cumanians_, by Stephen Gyárfás. Budapest, 1882. - -[34] Budapest, 1880. The original MS. is in the Bibliotheca Marciana in -Venice. It was discovered by Cornides in 1770. Klaproth first made it -known in his "Mémoirs relatifs à l'Asie," III. and Roesler published a -specimen of its grammar in his "Romänische Studien," pp. 352-356. - -[35] Count Géjza Kuun has, we are glad to say, not yet spoken his last -word; for that indefatigable scholar is busily engaged on a large work -on his favorite subject, which, judging by the extracts he read (June -1st, 1885) before the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, promises to rank -with the best writings of modern philologists. - -It may be of interest here to quote one of the Cumanian children's -rhymes: - - - Heli, heli, jáde üzürmény - üzbe her! - Zeboralle, sarmamamile, - Alo bizon sasarma, - Düzüsztürmö dücsürmö - Hej ala hilala - Zeboralle dücsürmö. - (Wolan, wolan, ich löse das Gelübde, - Der Lenz ist da! - Mit Gebeten, Zauberzeichen - Mache ich den Zauber - Unschädlich. Ich preise dich! - Es ist nur ein Gott. - Mit Gebeten preise ich dich). - - -_Vide Ungarische Revue_, viii.-ix., Heft. 1885, p. 644. - -[36] How dangerous a practice it is to build up history upon no other -ground than the mere similarity in the sound of the names of -nationalities is shewn in the history of the modern Jazyges. This name -has led many a chronicler astray. Their Magyar proper name is "Jász," -which, according to Hunfalvy (_Ethnography of Hungary_, p. 376) is -derived from the word "ijász," i.e. "an archer," or "bowman," a name -describing their original occupation. In some old deeds of the xivth and -xvth centuries, they are called "Jassones" and "Pharetrarii," and things -kept straight until Ranzanus the Papal Nuncio at the Court of Matthias -Corvinus appeared on the scene, and, struck by the sound of the name -"Jassones" and finding that they lived on the very territory which, -according to Ptolemy, was occupied by the Jazyges: Metanastae in his -time, at once jumped to the conclusion that they were lineal descendants -of the wild horsemen mentioned by the classic author. We know how hard -anything false dies, and so we find this statement copied by subsequent -writers, and even disfiguring the pages of so excellent a work as -Smith's _Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography_, sub. art. "Jazyges." -A still wilder mistake was made by a scribe of King Sigismund, who -re-christened the Jász folk "Philistæi," which afterwards appears in -many deeds. It would appear to be reasoned out thus; a "Jász," or -"bowman," must naturally handle a bow and arrow; but an arrow is called -"pfeil" in German, which comes from the old German "phil," hence -Jász-Philistæi, Q. E. D! Cf. Hunfalvy's _Ethnography loco citato_. - -[37] _Vide infra_, p. 412, &c. - -[38] _Ethnography of Hungary_, p. 362. - -[39] The true born Magyar repudiates with scorn the idea that there is -any such thing as a dialect, boasting that rich and poor speak the same -tongue. Cf. _Galeoti Martii, de Matthiæ egregie, sapienter, fortiter et -jocose dictis ac factis libellus_, ed. Cassoviæ, 1611. "Unde fit ut -carmen lingua Hungarica compositum rusticis et civibus, mediis et -extremis, eodem tenore intelligatur." Galeoti was an Italian by birth, -and Papal Nuncio at the Court of Matthias I. (Corvinus), King of -Hungary. - -[40] There is a passage in the writings of Nicolaus Oláh (_Hungaria et -Attila_, cap. xix. § 3) which at first sight seems to ascribe a separate -language to each of the peoples named in the text. According to him, -"the whole of Hungary in our days (xvith century) contains various -nations, viz., Magyars, Germans, Czechs, Slováks, Croats, Saxons, -Székelys, Wallachs, Servians, Cumans, Jazyges, Ruthens, and finally -Turks, and all these (nations) "differenti inter se utuntur lingua," -except that some of the words may appear somewhat similar and identical -in sound in consequence of (their) protracted use and (the continuous) -contact (of the said nations with each other)." Against this, we may -urge, that if the language of the Székelys, for example, differed no -more from the Magyar than the German speech from that of the Saxons, -they can scarcely be described as two different languages. Moreover, -another writer says, that the "Hungari nobiles ejusdem regionis -(Transylvaniæ) passim intermixti Saxonibus, cum Ciculis propemodum tam -sermone, quam vestitu et armis conveniunt." See _Respublica Hungarica_, -1634. We have good reasons for believing that the passage has been -copied by the Elzevirian compiler from the _Chronigraphica Transylvaniæ_ -of George Reijchersdorffer, 1550. - -[41] Cf. Simpleton stories and lying stories, many of which as told in -Hungary, Finland, and Flanders, and even amongst the Lapps, are -identical with those we hear in Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, Northumberland, -and Norfolk. - -[42] Professor Vambéry says: there are many features in Hungarian -Folk-Tales which can be found in the tales of China, and other Asiatic -countries, ancient and modern. The characteristics of the chief -personages in the tales show that the tales have been imported by the -Magyars from their old Asiatic homes, although a Slavonic influence -cannot be denied. - -[43] P. 239 _infra_. See also remains of the Turkish occupation and -their barbarous doings in the children's rhyme: - - - "Lady bird, lady bird, fly away, fly away, - For the Turks are coming! - They will throw you into a well full of salt water: - They will take you out, and break you on the wheel." - - -Dark wine produced at Eger (Erlau) is called "Turk's blood." - -[44] Pp. 70, 118. - -[45] P. 5, _infra_. - -[46] "Stephen the Murderer," "Fisher Joe," and the "Baa Lambs" in this -collection. Cf. "Die Engel-lämmer" _Aus der im Auftrage der -Kisfaludy-Gesellschaft von Lad Arany und Paul Gyulai besorgten_. -Ungarische Revue viii. ix. Heft, 1885, p. 640, and note, which says: -"Eines der wenigen ungarischen Volkmärchen, in welche die christliche -Mythologie hineinspielt." - -[47] Cf. Such stories as "Handsome Paul," p. 29 _infra et seq._ - -[48] See all this beautifully sketched by Czuczor, in his poem _Joannes -Háry_. - -[49] That the Magyar soldier can tell stories may be seen in Gaál's -tales, most of which Arany tells us have a most undesirable flavour of -the barracks about them. - -[50] John Erdélyi (born 1814, died 1868), Hungarian poet and author, -elected Member of the Hungarian Academy of Science, 1839. - -[51] These tales were collected from soldiers: and are full of -unnecessary flourishes and coarse barrack-room jokes. - -[52] John Kriza (born 1812, died 1875), born in a small village of -Székely parents. Unitarian minister, professor, poet, and author, -elected Member of the Academy, 1841. - -[53] A second volume has, I believe, since appeared. - -[54] Ladislaus Arany objects to this collection, on the ground that the -collector has tried to improve on the original popular form, and -endeavoured to produce something classic, and thus spoiled the stories. - -[55] Giant in Magyar is: "Óriás" i. e. a tall man, tall father. Cf. pp. -99, 147, 318, 340. Cf, numerous stories of giants and what they are like -in Friis. _Lappiske Eventyr_ and Hofberg. _Svenska Sägner_. - -[56] See pp. 146 and 388. - -[57] See "Knight Rose," p. 57. - -[58] See "Knight Rose," p. 55. - -[59] Cf. "Handsome Paul," p. 26 _infra_, where another illustration of -their size will be found; also the giant in Swedish tale who travelled -from Dalecarlia to Stockholm, and the bread was still warm in his -knapsack when he ended his journey. - -[60] Cf. _Friis_. "Jetanis." _Hofberg._ "Bron öfver Kalmarsund" -"Ulfgrytstenarna" "Ruggabron" and "Stenen i Grönan dal." - -[61] Vide pp. 345 and 392 _infra_. - -[62] Vide "Prince Mirkó," p. 72. - -[63] In Hungary, the village blacksmith is a gipsy as a rule. - -[64] Vide "Shepherd Paul," p. 244 and note p. 407. - -[65] Cf. "A Lincolnshire tale," p. 363. - -[66] Cf. Story as found in Finland, Lapland, and Sweden, of Kaleva's -daughter, who, finding a man, put him and his horse and plough into her -apron, and carrying them off to her mother, asked what sort of a dung -beetle this was she had found scratching the earth, receiving a similar -answer to the above-mentioned one. Cf. Hofberg. _Svenska Sägner_, Jätten -Puke. Dybeck, _Runa_ 1845, p. 15, and Thiel _Danmarks. Folksagn_ ii. p. -228. - -[67] Vide "Handsome Paul" and "Fairy Elizabeth." - -[68] See "Prince Mirkó." - -[69] Cf. _Rancken_, "Munsala," 22 i.: Wörå, 22: where a description of -buried treasures will to be found. Also _Hofberg_, "Den forlärade -skatten," "Guldvaggan," "Skatten i Säbybäcken," "Skattgräfvarna," vide -_infra_. pp. xxx. xxxvii. - -[70] Amongst the numerous stories of hidden treasures, I may note two I -heard in my own parish lately. There is a chest of gold buried in Mumby -Hill, and an old man went by "his'sen," and dug and dug, and would have -got it, but so many little devils came round him, he had to give up. - -The other tale is a long story of a man who went to an old house, and -every thing he did "a little devil" did, and as the man could not be -frightened a vast hidden treasure was revealed to him.--W. H. J. - -[71] Rancken, _Några åkerbruksplägseder i Finland_. Munsala, 22, c. and -d. Hofberg. _Svenska Sägner_ "Skogsrået och Sjörået," and -"Ysätters-Kajsa." - -[72] "Fairy Elizabeth," "Handsome Paul," "Knight Rose," and "Prince -Mirkó" are full of the doings of fairies. - -[73] Cf. Ralston, _Russian Folk-Tales_, "The Baba Yaga," p. 143. -_Afanassieff_, i. No. 3 b. - -[74] This is the nearest translation. In the original a hyphen between -gold and mountain, silver and valley, alters the meaning. - -[75] _i.e._ "For ever." A form of orientalism which frequently occurs in -Magyar folk-poetry. For instance, - - - Cf. "My rose I will not marry you - Until there are no fish in the lake, - And as there always will be - You see, my rose, I cannot marry you." - - -[76] The waters of the two rivers flow into the Theiss, this into the -Danube, and the Danube into the Black Sea. - -[77] Baron Orbán's _Székelyland_. - -[78] Bishop Arnold Ipolyi, _Magyar Mythology_. - -[79] Ladislaus Köváry, _Historical Antiquities_. - -[80] In consequence of the Turkish rule over Hungary. Buda was 157 years -in the hands of the Turks. - -[81] _Vide_ Baron Orbán, _Székelyland_. - -[82] One must be careful not to confound, as many writers do, the -witches of fairy tales, with the old women who are designated as witches -by the common people. - -[83] Cf. Many Lincolnshire and Yorkshire tales. - -[84] Cf. _Rancken_, "Purmo" 27, and "Munsala," 25. - -[85] It is interesting to note that, although prosecution for witchcraft -was only abolished in England under George II. in 1736, in Hungary it -was abolished under Coloman the Learned, who reigned 1095-1114, for a -very cogent reason, "Witches are not to be prosecuted, as they do not -exist!" - -[86] The Hungarian cattle have long erect horns like those of the Roman -campagna. - -[87] Cf. p. 203 _infra._ - -[88] As the wolf in the Finnish tale, "The Golden Bird." - -[89] See _Folk Medicine_. - -[90] Charm-weed. - -[91] Square pieces of linen without seam or hem, wrapped round the bare -foot, instead of socks. - -[92] Only lately, a man in my own parish said that when "Maud was a -young 'un, she was amazin' badly. The doctors could do nowt for her: she -was all skin and bone. Doctors said it wor a decline; but a' didn't -believe it, for she did sqweäl amazin'. It was all an owd woman who used -to sell pins and needles." It appears, this old woman always gave, and -insisted upon giving, Maud, some little thing; and at last they -perceived the child was "witched"; so the next time the old woman -appeared, another daughter ordered her off, and the child recovered; the -same old woman is said to have "witched" another child in the parish in -like manner. I may add "Maud" is now a fine strapping girl, and vows -vengeance on the witch.--W. H. J. - -[93] Cf. _Hofberg_, "Bissen," the manner of "laying ghosts," is noticed, -_ib._ "Herrn till Rosendal." - -[94] In some parts of Finland the same superstition is, or was, current -(_e.g._ in Munsala). Unbaptized children are specially liable to be -changed by the trolls, but this may be prevented by putting Holy -Scripture in the cradle, or silver coins, scissors, or other sharp -tools. Cf. _Hofberg_, Svenska Folksägner "Bortbytingen." - -[95] Cf. _Hofberg_ "Mylingen," "Tomten." See also _Några -åkerbruksplägseder bland svenskarne i Finland_ af Dr. J. Oscar I. -Rancken. - -[96] Cf. _Rancken_. "Munsala," 22 g. - -[97] This belonged formerly to a well-known medicine man, who practised -over three countries. There are hundreds and hundreds of cures in it. - -[98] This class of ingredients occupied an important place in the -pharmacop[oe]ia of the physicians of the middle ages. Cf. _Liber -Secundus Practicae Haly_ cap. 51, "De stercoribus et fimis," p. 178 -(Lyons 1523). - -[99] - - - "I physicks 'em, I bleeds 'em, I sweats 'em, - And if they _will_ die, I lets 'em." - - - - -[100] See "Christmas Day." - -[101] Steel and flint are still in extensive use among smokers in rural -districts. - -[102] The Magyar name of quinsy is torokgyik, _i.e._ throat-lizard. - -[103] Varga does not seem to know anything about - - - "The dead, shrivelled hand ... - ... of the gentleman dangling up there." - - - - -[104] So far is this day considered unlucky in Portugal that we heard of -a Portuguese young lady who had ordered a harp from England: it -unfortunately arrived at her house on Friday, and was sent away till -Saturday, although she was "dying to try it!" Tuesday is also regarded -as unlucky in Portugal. - -On St. Peter's Day, in Portugal, the saint is said to have a holiday, -and take the keys with him, and the fisher-folk assert that if anyone is -drowned on that day the chances are he will be sent to the "wrong -place." - - - Cf. "Ma foi sur l'avenir bien fou qui se fiera, - Tel qui rit vendredi, dimanche pleurera."-- - - -Racine au commencement de la comédie des Plaideurs. - -[105] One is said to be most liable to be punished at this time on this -account. - -[106] Garlic is said to be a charm against evil. See _Notes and -Queries_, 6 S. ix. 5. - -[107] It is a common superstition in many parts of Yorkshire that fire -must not go out of the house between New and Old Christmas Day. An old -nurse told us she once went home during this time and her neighbours -would not even give her a match that she might light her candle and so -find her own. - -[108] Cf. Yorkshire, Yule-candle. - -[109] Lead is cast in Finland to see whether fortune or misfortune is in -store; in these degenerate days "stearine," has been used by impatient -souls. See also Burnaby, _Ride to Khiva_, cap. xxii. - -[110] Elton's _Origins of English History_, 270, 271. - -[111] See _Glossaire de la langue Romane_, par J. B. B. Roquefort. -Paris, 1808. - -[112] See Cormac's Glossary, under "Beltene," _Revue Celtique_, iv. 193; -Grimm, _Deutsche Mythol._ 579. - -[113] "C'était en beaucoup d'endroits en France l'usage de jeter dans le -feu de la Saint-Jean des mannes ou des paniers en osier contenant des -animaux, chats, chiens, renards, loups. Au siècle dernier même dans -plusieurs villes c'était le maire ou les échevins qui faisaient mettre -dans un panier une ou deux douzaines de chats pour brûler dans le feu de -joie. Cette coutûme existait aussi à Paris, et elle n'y a été supprimée -qu'au commencement du règne de Louis XIV."--Gaidoz, _Esquisse de la -Religion des Gaulois_, 21. - -[114] In the West-end of London there is a house where No. 13 is -cancelled, and the house re-numbered 15A for the very same reason. The -people are _comme il faut_, and consider themselves educated. - -[115] Plover.--_Notes and Queries_ 4th S. viii. 268. On the Lancashire -Moors there is a tradition that the plovers contain the souls of those -Jews who assisted at the Crucifixion. - -[116] Hungarian saying: "To speak snakes and frogs after a man," to say -everything that is bad about him. - -[117] Or dig. - -[118] I (writes a Magyar friend) have seen a youth use this stuff to -produce a beard and moustache, and the whole of his skin was covered -with ugly sores. - -[119] German name, Himmelbrandt, Wollkraut, Königskerre; French, -bouillon blanc, molène. - -[120] The superstitions marked * have been in Lincolnshire and Yorkshire -quite lately. - -[121] The small heap of soil thrown up by ants. - -[122] The modern custom is to lift the glass and say "Isten éltesse!" -("may God let you live.") - -[123] The Finnish reformer, Michael Agricola, in his preface to the 1551 -edition of the Finnish Psalms, prepared by him, mentions the idols and -sacrifices of the old Finns. The passage relating to this matter is in -verses, and especially of the _Carialians_ he says the following: -"_Egres_ creates them peas, beans, and carrots, cabbage, flax, and hemp; -_Köndös_ guards their cleared grounds and ploughed fields as they -superstitiously believe; and when they finished their spring-sowing, -then they drank Ukko's Cup." - - - "Kuin kevä-kylvä kylvettiin - Silloin Ukon malja juottiin." - - - - -[124] "Wie Thor's cleinne trank man Ukko zu ehren volle Schale." _Mythol -Vorr_ xxviii. In Sweden, as toasts, the only word they mention is -"skål," cup; this is a meagre reminder of "Thor's Schåle." - -[125] Not Tokay; that is German. We have a hazy recollection that one of -the Popes--it may have been Sylvester II. (A.D. 1000) or Pio Nono--upon -receiving a small cask of Tokaj wine, exclaimed "Talc vinum summum -pontificem decet!" or words to this effect. - -[126] "Áldomás," from "áldani" (Latin offerre and benedicere) -hence--"sacrificium" and "benedictio." Cf. "Ultema[v^s]"--"preces" in -Cheremiss. In the district of Hradist in Moravia, "oldoma[v^s] -pit"--"áldoma's drink." In modern Magyar the word "áldozni" is used for -to sacrifice. Whether the Magyar and Finnish Ukko are the same, or -whether it is a mere coincidence, we are not prepared to say. Hunfalvy -makes much of it. - -[127] Ukkon-pohar-felmutato volt. - -[128] In modern times the bargain is first settled and the "liquor" -comes afterwards, _tout comme chez nous_ in England. - - - - -CONTENTS. - - - PAGE - Preface v - Introduction vii - Contents lxx - - - TALES AND NOTES. - - I.--Prince Csihan 1 - Notes 303 - - II.--Stephen the Murderer 7 - Notes 306 - - III.--The Lamb with the Golden Fleece 13 - Notes 312 - - IV.--Fisher Joe 15 - Notes 313 - - V.--Luck and Bliss 22 - Notes 317 - - VI.--The Lazy Cat 23 - - VII.--Handsome Paul 25 - Notes 317 - - VIII.--The Travels of Truth and Falsehood 36 - Notes 322 - - IX.--The Hunting Princes 39 - Notes 324 - - X.--The Lazy Spinning Girl 46 - Notes 330 - - XI.--The Envious Sisters 49 - Notes 335 - - XII.--Knight Rose 54 - Notes 339 - - XIII.--Prince Mirkó 59 - Notes 344 - - XIV.--The Student who was forcibly made King 76 - Notes 354 - - XV.--The Children of the Two Rich Men 80 - Notes 355 - - XVI.--The Hussar and the Servant Girl 83 - Notes 360 - - XVII.--My Father's Wedding 86 - Notes 360 - - XVIII.--The Baa-Lambs 90 - Notes 361 - - XIX.--Fairy Elizabeth 95 - Notes 362 - - XX.--The Three Princes 110 - Notes 373 - - XXI.--The Three Dreams 117 - Notes 375 - - XXII.--Csabor Ur 123 - Notes 380 - - XXIII.--The Devil and the Three Slovák Lads 126 - Notes 383 - - XXIV.--The Count's Daughter 127 - Notes 383 - - XXV.--The Speaking Grapes 131 - Notes 383 - - XXVI.--The Three Oranges 133 - Notes 386 - - XXVII.--The Youngest Prince 137 - Notes 387 - - XXVIII.--The Invisible Shepherd Lad 141 - Notes 387 - - XXIX.--The Three Princesses 144 - Notes 388 - - XXX.--Cinder Jack 149 - Notes 389 - - XXXI.--The Three Brothers 152 - Notes 391 - - XXXII.--The Three Valuable Things 155 - Notes 392 - - XXXIII.--The Little Magic Pony 157 - Notes 392 - - XXXIV.--The Beggars' Present 161 - Notes 394 - - XXXV.--The World's Beautiful Woman 163 - Notes 395 - - XXXVI.--The Girl without Hands 182 - Notes 397 - - XXXVII.--The King and the Devil 188 - Notes 397 - - XXXVIII.--The Three Princes, &c. 196 - Notes 399 - - XXXIX.--The Widower and his Daughter 207 - Notes 401 - - XL.--The Wishes 217 - Notes 402 - - XLI.--The Two Orphans 220 - Notes 402 - - XLII.--The Wonderful Frog 224 - Notes 404 - - XLIII.--The Devil and the Red Cap 225 - Notes 405 - - XLIV.--Jack Dreadnought 228 - Notes 405 - - XLV.--The Secret keeping Little Boy 232 - Notes 406 - - XLVI.--Shepherd Paul 244 - Notes 407 - - XLVII.--The Pelican 250 - Notes 409 - - XLVIII.--The Girl with the Golden Hair 262 - Notes 413 - - XLIX.--The Lover's Ghost 278 - Notes 416 - - L.--Snake Skin 282 - Notes 417 - - LI.--The Fairies' Well 288 - Notes 418 - - LII.--The Crow's Nest 298 - Notes 418 - - LIII.--Woman's Curiosity 301 - Notes 421 - - Index 423 - - - - -MAGYAR FOLK-TALES. - - - - -PRINCE CSIHAN (NETTLES). - - -There was once--I don't know where, at the other side of seven times -seven countries, or even beyond them, on the tumble-down side of a -tumble-down stove--a poplar-tree, and this poplar-tree had sixty-five -branches, and on every branch sat sixty-six crows; and may those who -don't listen to my story have their eyes picked out by those crows! - -There was a miller who was so proud that had he stept on an egg he would -not have broken it. There was a time when the mill was in full work, but -once as he was tired of his mill-work he said, "May God take me out of -this mill!" Now, this miller had an auger, a saw, and an adze, and he -set off over seven times seven countries, and never found a mill. So his -wish was fulfilled. On he went, roaming about, till at last he found on -the bank of the Gagy, below Martonos, a tumble-down mill, which was -covered with nettles. Here he began to build, and he worked, and by the -time the mill was finished all his stockings were worn into holes and -his garments all tattered and torn. He then stood expecting people to -come and have their flour ground; but no one ever came. - -One day the twelve huntsmen of the king were chasing a fox; and it came -to where the miller was, and said to him: "Hide me, miller, and you -shall be rewarded for your kindness." "Where shall I hide you?" said the -miller, "seeing that I possess nothing but the clothes I stand in?" -"There is an old torn sack lying beside that trough," replied the fox; -"throw it over me, and, when the dogs come, drive them away with your -broom." When the huntsmen came they asked the miller if he had seen a -fox pass that way. "How could I have seen it; for, behold, I have -nothing but the clothes I stand in?" With that the huntsmen left, and in -a little while the fox came out and said, "Miller, I thank you for your -kindness; for you have preserved me, and saved my life. I am anxious to -do you a good turn if I can. Tell me, do you want to get married?" "My -dear little fox," said the miller, "if I could get a wife, who would -come here of her own free will, I don't say that I would not--indeed, -there is no other way of my getting one; for I can't go among the -spinning-girls in these clothes." The fox took leave of the miller, and, -in less than a quarter of an hour, he returned with a piece of copper in -his mouth. "Here you are, miller," said he; "put this away, _you will -want_ it ere long." The miller put it away, and the fox departed; but, -before long, he came back with a lump of gold in his mouth. "Put this -away, also," said he to the miller, "as you will need it before long." -"And now," said the fox, "wouldn't you like to get married?" "Well, my -dear little fox," said the miller, "I am quite willing to do so at any -moment, as that is my special desire." The fox vanished again, but soon -returned with a lump of diamond in his mouth. "Well, miller," said the -fox, "I will not _ask_ you any more to get married; I will get you a -wife myself. And now give me that piece of copper I gave you." Then, -taking it in his mouth, the fox started off over seven times seven -countries, and travelled till he came to King Yellow Hammer's. "Good -day, most gracious King Yellow Hammer," said the fox; "my life and death -are in your majesty's hands. I have heard that you have an unmarried -daughter. I am a messenger from Prince Csihan, who has sent me to ask -for your daughter as his wife." "I will give her with pleasure, my dear -little fox," replied King Yellow Hammer; "I will not refuse her; on the -contrary, I give her with great pleasure; but I would do so more -willingly if I saw to whom she is to be married--even as it is, I will -not refuse her." - -The fox accepted the king's proposal, and they fixed a day upon which -they would fetch the lady. "Very well," said the fox; and, taking leave -of the king, set off with the ring to the miller. - -"Now then, miller," said the fox, "you are no longer a miller, but -Prince Csihan, and on a certain day and hour you must be ready to start; -but, first of all, give me that lump of gold I gave you that I may take -it to His Majesty King Yellow Hammer, so that he may not think you are a -nobody." - -The fox then started off to the king. "Good day, most gracious king, my -father. Prince Csihan has sent this lump of gold to my father the king -that he may spend it in preparing for the wedding, and that he might -change it, as Prince Csihan has no smaller change, his gold all being in -lumps like this." - -"Well," reasoned King Yellow Hammer, "I am not sending my daughter to a -bad sort of place, for although I am a king I have no such lumps of gold -lying about in my palace." - -The fox then returned home to Prince Csihan. "Now then, Prince Csihan," -said he, "I have arrived safely, you see; prepare yourself to start -to-morrow." - -Next morning he appeared before Prince Csihan. "Are you ready?" asked -he. "Oh! yes, I am ready; I can start at any moment, as I got ready -long ago." - -With this they started over seven times seven lands. As they passed a -hedge the fox said, "Prince Csihan, do you see that splendid castle?" -"How could I help seeing it, my dear little fox." "Well," replied the -fox, "in that castle dwells your wife." On they went, when suddenly the -fox said, "Take off the clothes you have on, let us put them into this -hollow tree, and then burn them, so that we may get rid of them." "You -are right, we won't have them, nor any like them." - -Then said the fox, "Prince Csihan, go into the river and take a bath." -Having done so the prince said, "Now I've done." "All right," said the -fox; "go and sit in the forest until I go into the king's presence." The -fox set off and arrived at King Yellow Hammer's castle. "Alas! my -gracious king, my life and my death are in thy hands. I started with -Prince Csihan with three loaded wagons and a carriage and six horses, -and I've just managed to get the prince naked out of the water." The -king raised his hands in despair, exclaiming, "Where hast thou left my -dear son-in-law, little fox?" "Most gracious king, I left him in -such-and-such a place in the forest." The king at once ordered four -horses to be put to a carriage, and then looked up the robes he wore in -his younger days and ordered them to be put in the carriage; the -coachman and footman to take their places, the fox sitting on the box. - -When they arrived at the forest the fox got down, and the footman, -carrying the clothes upon his arm, took them to Prince Csihan. Then said -the fox to the servant, "Don't you dress the prince, he will do it more -becomingly himself." He then made Prince Csihan arise, and said, "Come -here, Prince Csihan, don't stare at yourself too much when you get -dressed in these clothes, else the king might think you were not used to -such robes." Prince Csihan got dressed, and drove off to the king. When -they arrived, King Yellow Hammer took his son-in-law in his arms and -said, "Thanks be to God, my dear future son-in-law, for that He has -preserved thee from the great waters; and now let us send for the -clergyman and let the marriage take place." - -The grand ceremony over, they remained at the court of the king. One -day, a month or so after they were married, the princess said to Prince -Csihan, "My dear treasure, don't you think it would be as well to go and -see your realm?" Prince Csihan left the room in great sorrow, and went -towards the stables in great trouble to get ready for the journey he -could no longer postpone. Here he met the fox lolling about. As the -prince came his tears rolled down upon the straw. "Hollo! Prince Csihan, -what's the matter?" cried the fox. "Quite enough," was the reply; "my -dear wife insists upon going to see my home." "All right," said the fox; -"prepare yourself, Prince Csihan, and we will go." - -The prince went off to his castle and said, "Dear wife, get ready; we -will start at once." The king ordered out a carriage and six, and three -waggons loaded with treasure and money, so that they might have all they -needed. So they started off. Then said the fox, "Now, Prince Csihan, -wherever I go you must follow." So they went over seven times seven -countries. As they travelled they met a herd of oxen. "Now, herdsmen," -said the fox, "if you won't say that this herd belongs to the Vasfogu -Bába, but to Prince Csihan, you shall have a handsome present." With -this the fox left them, and ran straight to the Vasfogu Bába. "Good day, -my mother," said he. "Welcome, my son," replied she; "it's a good thing -for you that you called me your mother, else I would have crushed your -bones smaller than poppy-seed." "Alas! my mother," said the fox, "don't -let us waste our time talking such nonsense, the French are coming!" -"Oh! my dear son, hide me away somewhere!" cried the old woman. "I know -of a bottomless lake," thought the fox; and he took her and left her on -the bank, saying, "Now, my dear old mother, wash your feet here until I -return." The fox then left the Vasfogu Bába, and went to Prince Csihan, -whom he found standing in the same place where he left him. He began to -swear and rave at him fearfully. "Why didn't you drive on after me? come -along at once." They arrived at the Vasfogu's great castle, and took -possession of a suite of apartments. Here they found everything the -heart could wish for, and at night all went to bed in peace. - -Suddenly the fox remembered that the Vasfogu Bába had no proper abode -yet, and set off to her. "I hear, my dear son," said she, "that the -horses with their bells have arrived; take me away to another place." -The fox crept up behind her, gave her a push, and she fell into the -bottomless lake, and was drowned, leaving all her vast property to -Prince Csihan. "You were born under a lucky star, my prince," said the -fox, when he returned; "for see I have placed you in possession of all -this great wealth." In his joy the prince gave a great feast to -celebrate his coming into his property, so that the people from Bánczida -to Zsukhajna were feasted royally, but he gave them no drink. "Now," -said the fox to himself, "after all this feasting I will sham illness, -and see what treatment I shall receive at his hands in return for all my -kindness to him." So Mr. Fox became dreadfully ill, he moaned and -groaned so fearfully that the neighbours made complaint to the prince. -"Seize him," said the prince, "and pitch him out on the dunghill." So -the poor fox was thrown out on the dunghill. One day Prince Csihan was -passing that way. "You a prince!" muttered the fox; "you are nothing -else but a miller; would you like to be a house-holder such as you were -at the nettle-mill?" The prince was terrified by this speech of the fox, -so terrified that he nearly fainted. "Oh! dear little fox, do not do -that," cried the prince, "and I promise you on my royal word that I -will give you the same food as I have, and that so long as I live you -shall be my dearest friend and you shall be honoured as my greatest -benefactor." - -He then ordered the fox to be taken to the castle, and to sit at the -royal table, nor did he ever forget him again. - -So they lived happily ever after, and do yet, if they are not dead. May -they be your guests to-morrow! - - - - -STEPHEN THE MURDERER. - - -There was once, I don't know where, over seven times seven countries, or -even beyond that, a very, very rich farmer, and opposite to him lived -another farmer just as rich. One had a son and the other a daughter. -These two farmers often talked over family matters together at their -gates, and at last arranged that their children should marry each other, -so that in case the old people died the young people would be able to -take possession of the farms. But the young girl could not bear the -young man, although he was very fond of her. Then her parents threatened -to disinherit her if she did not marry as she was bid, as they were very -wishful for the marriage to take place. - -On the wedding morning, when they arrived at church, and were standing -before the altar, the bride took the wedding ring and dashed it on the -floor before the clergyman, saying, "Here, Satan, take this ring; and, -if ever I bear a child to this man, take it too!" In a moment the devil -appeared, snatched up the ring, and vanished. The priest, seeing and -hearing all that was done, declined to proceed with the ceremony, -whereupon the fathers remonstrated with him, and declared that if he did -not proceed he would lose his living. The wedding thereupon was duly -celebrated. - -As time went by the farmers both died; and the young folks, who couldn't -bear each other before, at last grew very fond of each other, and a -handsome boy was born. When he was old enough he went to school, where -he got on so well that before long his master could teach him no more. -He then went to college, where he did the same as at school, so that his -parents began to think of him taking holy orders. About this time his -father died; and he noticed that every night when he came home from the -college that his mother was weeping: so he asked her why she wept. -"Never mind me, my son," said she; "I am grieving over your father." -"But you never cared much for him," said he; "cheer up, for I shall -soon be a priest." "That's the very thing I'm weeping over," said his -mother; "for just when you will be doing well the devils will come for -you, because when I was married to your father I dashed the wedding-ring -on the ground, saying, 'Here, Satan, take this ring; and if ever I bear -a child to this man take it too.' One fine day, then, you will be -carried off by the devil in the same way as the ring." "Is this indeed -true, mother?" said the student. "It is indeed, my son." With that he -went off to the priest, and said, "Godfather, are these things which my -mother tells me concerning her wedding true?" "My dear godson," replied -the priest, "they are true; for I saw and heard all myself." "Dear -godfather, give me then at once holy candles, holy water, and incense." -"Why do you want them, my son?" asked the priest. "Because," replied the -student, "I mean to go to hell at once, after that lost ring and the -deed of agreement." "Don't rush into their hands," said the priest; -"they will come for you soon enough." But the more the priest talked the -more determined was the student to set off at once for the infernal -regions. - -So off he went, and travelled over seven times seven countries. One -evening he arrived at a large forest, and, as darkness set in, he lost -his way and roamed about hither and thither looking for some place to -rest; at last he found a small cottage where an old woman lived. "Good -evening, mother," said he. "Good luck has brought you here, my son," -said she. "What are you doing out here so late?" "I have lost my way," -replied the student, "and have come here to ask for a night's lodging." -"I can give you lodging, my son, but I have a murderous heathen son, who -has destroyed three hundred and sixty-six lives, and even now is out -robbing. He might return at any moment, and he would kill you; so you -had better go somewhere else and continue your way in peace, and mind -you take care not to meet him." - -"Whether he kill me or not," said the student, "I shall not stir an -inch." As the old woman could not persuade him to go he stayed. After -midnight the son returned, and shouted out loudly under the window, -"Have you got my supper ready?" He then crept in on his knees, for he -was so tall that he could not enter otherwise. As they sat at table he -suddenly saw the student. "Mother, what sort of a guest is that?" said -he. "He's a poor tramp, my son, and very tired." "Has he had anything to -eat?" "No; I offered him food, but he was too tired to eat." "Go and -wake him, and say, 'Come and eat'; because whether he eat or whether he -let the food alone he will repent it." - -"Hollo!" said the student, "what is the matter?" - -"Don't ask any questions," replied the old woman; "but come and eat." -The student obeyed, and they sat down to supper. "Don't eat much," said -the old woman's son, "because you will repent it if you do eat and you -will repent it if you don't." While they were eating the old woman's son -said, "Where are you going, mate--what is your destination?" "Straight -to hell, among the devils," quoth the student. - -"It was my intention to kill you with a blow; but now that I know where -you are going I will not touch you. Find out for me what sort of a bed -they have prepared for me in that place." - -"What is your name?" - -"My name," said he, "is Stephen the Murderer." - -In the morning, when they awoke, Stephen gave the student a good -breakfast, and showed him which way to go. On he travelled till at -length he approached the gates of hell. He then lighted his incense, -sprinkled the holy water, and lighted the holy candles. In a very short -time the devils began to smell the incense, and ran out, crying, "What -sort of an animal are you? Don't come here! Don't approach this place; -or we will leave it at once!" - -"Wherever you go," said the student, "I tell you I will follow you; for, -on such and such a date, you carried off from the church floor my -mother's wedding-ring; and if you don't return it and cancel the -agreement, and promise me that I will have no more trouble from you, I -will follow you wherever you go." "Don't come here," cried they; "stop -where you are, and we will get them for you at once." - -They then blew a whistle and the devils came hastily out from all -directions, so many you could not count them, but they could not find -the ring anywhere. They sounded the whistle again, and twice as many -came as before, but still the ring was not to be found. They then -whistled a third time, and twice as many more came. One fellow came -limping up, very late. "Why don't you hurry," cried the others; "don't -you see that a great calamity has happened? The ring can't be found. -Turn out everybody's pockets, and on who ever it is found throw him into -the bed of Stephen the Murderer." "Wait a moment," cried the lame one, -"before you throw me into Stephen the Murderer's bed. I would rather -produce three hundred wedding-rings than be thrown into that place:" -whereupon he at once produced the ring, which they threw over the wall -to the student, together with the agreement, crying out that it was -cancelled. - -One evening the student arrived back at Stephen the Murderer's. The -latter was out robbing. After midnight, as usual, he returned, and when -he saw the student he woke him, saying, "Get up, let's have something to -eat! And have you been to hell?" - -"I have." "What have you heard of my bed?" "We should never have got the -ring," said the student, "if the devils had not been threatened with -your bed." "Well," said Stephen, "that must be a bad bed if the devils -are afraid of it." - -They got up the next morning, and the student started for home. Suddenly -it struck Stephen the Murderer that as the student had made himself -happy he ought to do as much for him. So he started after the student, -who, when he saw him coming, was very much afraid lest he should be -killed. In a stride or two Stephen overtook the student. "Stop, my -friend; as you have bettered your lot, better mine, so that I may not go -to that awful bed in hell." - -"Well then," said the student, "did you kill your first man with a club -or a knife?" "I never killed anybody with a knife," said Stephen, "they -have all been killed with a club." "Have you got the club you killed the -first man with? Go back and fetch it." - -Stephen took one or two strides and was at home. He then took the club -from the shelf and brought it to the student; it was so worm-eaten that -you could not put a needle-point on it between the holes. "What sort of -wood is this made of?" asked the student. "Wild apple-tree," replied -Stephen. "Take it and come with me," said the student, "to the top of -the rock." On the top of the rock there was a small hill; into this he -bade him plant the club. "Now, uncle Stephen, go down under the rock, -and there you will find a small spring trickling down the face of the -stone. Go on your knees to this spring and pray, and, creeping on your -knees, carry water in your mouth to this club, and continue to do so -till it buds; it will then bear apples, and when it does you will be -free from that bed." - -Stephen the Murderer began to carry the water to the club, and the -student left him, and went home. He was at once made a priest on account -of his courage in going to hell; and after he had been a priest for -twenty-five years they made him pope, and this he was for many years. - -In those days it was the rule--according to an old custom--for the pope -to make a tour of his country, and it so happened that this pope came to -his journey's end, on the very rock upon which the club had been -planted. He stopped there with his suite, in order to rest. Suddenly one -of the servants saw a low tree on the top of the rock, covered with -beautiful red apples. "Your holiness," said he to the pope, "I have seen -most beautiful red apples, and if you will permit me I will go and -gather some." "Go," said the pope, "and if they are so very beautiful -bring some to me." The servant approached the tree; as he drew near he -heard a voice that frightened him terribly saying, "No one is allowed to -pluck this fruit except him who planted the tree." Off rushed the -servant to the pope, who asked him if he had brought any apples. - -"Your holiness, I did not even get any for myself," gasped the servant, -"because some one shouted to me so loudly that I nearly dropped; I saw -no one, but only heard a voice that said, 'No one is allowed to pluck -this fruit but the man who planted the tree.'" - -The pope began to think, and all at once he remembered that he had -planted the tree when he was a lad. He ordered the horses to be taken -out of his carriage, and, with his servant and his coachman, he set off -to the red apple-tree. When they arrived, the pope cried out, "Stephen -the Murderer, where are you?" A dried-up skull rolled out, and said, -"Here I am, your holiness; all the limbs of my body dropped off whilst I -was carrying water, and are scattered all around; every nerve and muscle -lies strewn here; but, if the pope commands, they will all come -together." The pope did so, and the scattered members came together into -a heap. - -The servant and the coachman were then ordered to open a large, deep -hole, and to put the bones into it, and then cover all up, which they -did. The pope then said mass, and gave the absolution, and at that -moment Stephen the Murderer was delivered from the dreadful bed in hell. -The pope then went back to his own country, where he still lives, if he -has not died since. - - - - -THE LAMB WITH THE GOLDEN FLEECE. - - -There was once a poor man who had a son, and as the son grew up his -father sent him out to look for work. The son travelled about looking -for a place, and at last met with a man who arranged to take him as a -shepherd. Next day his master gave him a flute, and sent him out with -the sheep to see whether he was fit for his work. The lad never lay down -all day, very unlike many lazy fellows. He drove his sheep from place to -place and played his flute all day long. There was among the sheep a -lamb with golden fleece, which, whenever he played his flute, began to -dance. The lad became very fond of this lamb, and made up his mind not -to ask any wages of his master, but only this little lamb. In the -evening he returned home; his master waited at the gate; and, when he -saw the sheep all there and all well-fed, he was very pleased, and -began to bargain with the lad, who said he wished for nothing but the -lamb with the golden fleece. The farmer was very fond of the lamb -himself, and it was with great unwillingness he promised it; but he gave -in afterwards when he saw what a good servant the lad made. The year -passed away; the lad received the lamb for his wages, and set off home -with it. As they journeyed night set in just as he reached a village, so -he went to a farmhouse to ask for a night's lodging. There was a -daughter in the house who when she saw the lamb with the golden fleece -determined to steal it. About midnight she arose, and lo! the moment she -touched the lamb she stuck hard-and-fast to its fleece, so that when the -lad got up he found her stuck to the lamb. He could not separate them, -and as he could not leave his lamb he took them both. As he passed the -third door from the house where he had spent the night he took out his -flute and began to play. Then the lamb began to dance, and on the wool -the girl. Round the corner a woman was putting bread into the oven; -looking up she saw the lamb dancing, and on its wool the girl. Seizing -the peel in order to frighten the girl, she rushed out and shouted, "Get -away home with you, don't make such a fool of yourself." As the girl -continued dancing the woman called out, "What, won't you obey?" and gave -her a blow on her back with the peel, which at once stuck to the girl, -and the woman to the peel, and the lamb carried them all off. As they -went they came to the church. Here the lad began to play again, the lamb -began to dance, and on the lamb's fleece the girl, and on the girl's -back the peel, and at the end of the peel the woman. Just then the -priest was coming out from matins, and seeing what was going on began to -scold them, and bid them go home and not to be so foolish. As words were -of no avail, he hit the woman a sound whack on her back with his cane, -when to his surprise the cane stuck to the woman, and he to the end of -his cane. With this nice company the lad went on; and towards dark -reached the royal borough and took lodgings at the end of the town for -the night with an old woman. "What news is there?" said he. The old -woman told him they were in very great sorrow, for the king's daughter -was very ill, and that no physician could heal her, but that if she -could but be made to laugh she would be better at once; that no one had -as yet been able to make her smile; and moreover the king had issued -that very day a proclamation stating that whoever made her laugh should -have her for his wife, and share the royal power. The lad with the lamb -could scarcely wait till daylight, so anxious was he to try his fortune. -In the morning he presented himself to the king and stated his business -and was very graciously received. The daughter stood in the hall at the -front of the house; the lad then began to play the flute, the lamb to -dance, on the lamb's fleece the girl, on the girl's back the peel, at -the end of the peel the woman, on the woman's back the cane, and at the -end of the cane the priest. When the princess saw this sight she burst -out laughing, which made the lamb so glad that it shook everything off -its back, and the lamb, the girl, the woman, and the priest each danced -by themselves for joy. - -The king married his daughter to the shepherd; the priest was made -court-chaplain; the woman court bakeress; and the girl lady-in-waiting -to the princess. - -The wedding lasted from one Monday to the other Tuesday, and the whole -land was in great joy, and if the strings of the fiddle hadn't broken -they would have been dancing yet! - - - - -FISHER JOE. - - -There was once a poor man, who had nothing in the world but his wife and -an unhappy son Joe. His continual and his only care was how to keep -them: so he determined to go fishing, and thus to keep them from day to -day upon whatever the Lord brought to his net. Suddenly both the old -folks died and left the unhappy son by himself; he went behind the oven -and did not come out till both father and mother were buried; he sat -three days behind the oven, and then remembered that his father had kept -them by fishing; so he got up, took his net, and went fishing below the -weir: there he fished till the skin began to peel off the palms of his -hands, and never caught so much as one fish. At last he said, "I will -cast my net once more, and then I will never do so again." So he cast -his net for the last time and drew to shore a golden fish. While he was -going home he thought he would give it to the lord of the manor, so that -perhaps he might grant a day's wages for it. When he got home he took -down a plate from the rack, took the fish from his bag, and laid it upon -the plate; but the fish slipped off the plate and changed into a lovely -girl, who said, "I am thine, and you are mine, love." The moment after -she asked, "Joe, did your father leave you anything?" "We had -something," replied her husband; "but my father was poor and he sold -everything; but," continued he, "do you see that high mountain yonder? -it is not sold yet, for it is too steep and no one would have it." Then -said his wife, "Let's go for a walk and look over the mountain." So they -went all over it, length and breadth, from furrow to furrow. When they -came to a furrow in the middle his wife said, "Let us sit down on a -ridge, my love, and rest a little." They sat down, and Joe laid his head -on his wife's lap and fell asleep. She then slipped off her cloak, made -it into a pillow, drew herself away, and laid Joe upon the pillow -without waking him. She rose, went away, uncoiled a large whip and -cracked it. The crack was heard over seven times seven countries. In a -moment as many dragons as existed came forth. "What are your Majesty's -commands?" said they. "My commands are these," replied she: "you see -this place--build a palace here, finer than any that exists in the -world; and whatever is needed in it must be there: stables for eight -bullocks and the bullocks in them, with two men to tend them; stalls for -eight horses and the horses in them, and two grooms to tend them; six -stacks in the yard, and twelve threshers in the barn." She was greatly -delighted when she saw her order completed, and thanked God that He had -given her what He had promised. "I shall now go," said she, "and wake my -husband." When she came to him he was still asleep. "Get up, my love," -said she, "look after the threshers, the grooms, the oxen, and see that -all do their work, and that all the work be done, and give your orders -to the labourers; and now, my love, let us go into the house and see -that all is right. You give your orders to the men-servants, and I will -give mine to the maids. We have now enough to live on;" and Joe thanked -God for His blessings. He then told his wife that he would invite the -lord of the manor to dine with him on Whit Sunday. "Don't leave me," -replied his wife; "for if he catch sight of me you will lose me. I will -see that the table is laid and all is ready; but a maid shall wait on -you. I will retire into an inner room lest he should see me." - -Joe ordered the carriage and six, seated himself in it, the coachman sat -on the box, and away they went to the lord's house; they arrived at the -gate, Joe got out, went through the gate, and saw three stonemasons at -work in the yard; he greeted them and they returned the greeting. "Just -look," remarked one of them, "what Joe has become and how miserable he -used to be!" He entered the castle, and went into the lord's room. "Good -day, my lord." "God bless you, Joe, what news?" "I have come to ask your -lordship to dine with me on Whit Sunday, and we shall be very pleased to -see you." "I will come, Joe;" they then said good-bye and parted. After -Joe had gone the lord came into the courtyard, and the three masons -asked him "What did Joe want?" "He has invited me to dine with him," was -the reply, "and I am going." "Of course; you must go," said one of -them, "that you may see what sort of a house he keeps." - -The lord set out in his carriage and four, with the coachman in front, -and arrived at the palace. Joe ran out to meet him, they saluted each -other, and entered arm in arm. They dined, and all went well till the -lord asked, "Well, Joe, and where is your wife?" "She is busy," said -Joe. "But I should like to see her," explained the baron. "She is rather -shy when in men's society," said Joe. They enjoyed themselves, lighted -their pipes and went for a walk over the palace. Then said the baron to -his servant, "Order the carriage at once;" it arrived, and Joe and he -said "Farewell." As the baron went through the gate he looked back and -saw Joe's wife standing at one of the windows, and at once fell so -deeply in love with her that he became dangerously ill; when he arrived -at home the footmen were obliged to carry him from his carriage and lay -him in his bed. - -At daybreak the three masons arrived and began to work. They waited for -their master. As he did not appear, "I will go and see what's the matter -with him," said one of them, "for he always came out at 8 a.m." So the -mason went in and saluted the baron, but got no reply. "You are ill, my -lord," said he. "I am," said the baron, "for Joe has such a pretty wife, -and if I can't get her I shall die." The mason went out and the three -consulted together as to what was best to be done. One of them proposed -a task for Joe, _i.e._ that a large stone column which stood before one -of the windows should be pulled down, the plot planted with vines, the -grapes to ripen over night, and the next morning a goblet of wine should -be made from their juice and be placed on the master's table; if this -was not done Joe was to lose his wife. So one of them went in to the -baron and told him of their plan, remarking that Joe could not do that, -and so he would lose his wife. A groom was sent on horseback for Joe, -who came at once, and asked what his lordship desired. The baron then -told him the task he had to propose and the penalty. Poor Joe was so -downcast that he left without even saying "good-bye," threw himself into -his carriage, and went home. "Well, my love," asked his wife, "what does -he want?" "Want," replied her husband, "he ordered me to pull down the -stone column in front of his window. Since my father was not a -working-man, how could I do any work? Nor is that all. I am to plant the -place with vines, the grapes have to ripen, and I am to make a goblet of -wine, to be placed on his table at daybreak; and if I fail I am to lose -you." - -"Your smallest trouble ought to be greater than that," said his wife. -"Eat and drink, go to bed and have a good rest, and all will be well." -When night came she went out into the farmyard, uncoiled her whip, gave -a crack, which was heard over seven times seven countries, and -immediately all the dragons appeared. "What are your Majesty's -commands?" She then told them what her husband required, and in the -morning Joe had the goblet of wine, which he took on horseback lest he -should be late; he opened the baron's window, and, as nobody was there, -he placed the goblet on the table, closed the window, and returned home. - -At daybreak the baron turned in his bed. The bright light reflected by -the goblet met his eyes, and had such an effect on him that he fell back -in his bed, and got worse and worse. - -The three masons arrived and wondered why their master did not appear. -Said the tallest to the middle one, "I taught him something yesterday; -now you must teach him something else." "Well," said the middle one, "my -idea is this, that Joe shall build a silver bridge in front of the gate -during the night, plant both ends with all kinds of trees, and that the -trees be filled with all kinds of birds singing and twittering in the -morning. I'll warrant he won't do that, and so he will lose his wife." -When the baron came out they communicated their plan; he at once sent -for Joe and told him what he required. Joe went away without even -saying good-bye, he was so sad. When he got home he told his wife what -the baron wanted this time. "Don't trouble yourself, my love," said his -wife, "eat and drink and get a good rest, all shall be well." At night -she cracked her whip and ordered the dragons to do all that was -required, and so at daybreak all was done. The birds made such a noise -that the whole of the village was awakened by them. One nightingale -loudly and clearly to the baron sang, "Whatever God has given to some -one else that you must not covet; be satisfied with what has been given -to you." The baron awoke and turned over, and, hearing the loud singing -of the birds, rose and looked out of the window. The glare of the silver -bridge opposite the gate blinded him, and he fell back in bed and got -worse and worse. When the three masons arrived they could not enter, for -the splendour of the silver bridge dazzled them, and they were obliged -to enter by another gate. - -As they were working, the shortest said to the middle one, "Go and see -why his lordship does not come out; perhaps he is worse." He went in and -found the baron worse than ever. Then said the shortest, "I thought of -something, my lord, which he will never be able to do, and so you will -get his wife." "What is that, mason?" demanded the baron. "It is this, -my lord," said the mason, "that he shall ask God to dinner on Palm -Sunday, and that he can't do, and so he will lose his wife." "If you can -get Joe's wife for me you shall have all this property," said the baron. -"It's ours, then," said they, "for he can't do that." Joe was sent for, -and came at once to know what was required of him. "My orders are -these," replied the baron, "that you invite God to dinner on Palm Sunday -to my house; if you do not your wife is lost." Poor Joe went out without -saying good-bye, jumped into his carriage, and returned home dreadfully -miserable. When his wife asked him what was the matter he told her of -the baron's commands. "Go on," said his wife; "bring me that foal, the -yearling, the most wretched one of all, put upon it an old saddle and -silver harness on its head, and then get on its back." He did so, said -good-bye, and the wretched yearling darted off at once straight to -heaven. By the time it arrived there it had become quite a beautiful -horse. When Joe reached the gates of Paradise he tied his horse to a -stake, knocked at the door, which opened, and he went in and greeted the -Almighty. St. Peter received him, and asked him why he had come. "I've -come," said he, "to invite God to dinner at my lord's on Palm Sunday." -"Tell him from me," said the deity, "that I will come, and tell him that -he is to sow a plot with barley, and that it will ripen, and that I will -eat bread made of it at dinner. That a cow is to be taken to the bull -to-day, and that I will eat the flesh of the calf for my dinner." - -With this Joe took leave, and the foal flew downward. As they went Joe -was like to fall head-foremost off, and called upon the deity. St. Peter -told him not to fear, it was all right; he would fall on his feet. When -Joe arrived at home the barley was waving in the breeze and the cow was -in calf. "Well, wife," said he, "I will go to the baron's and give him -the message." So he went, knocked at the door, and entered the room. -"Don't come a step further," cried the baron. "I don't intend to," said -Joe: "I've come to tell you I have executed your commands, and mind you -don't blame me for what will happen. The deity has sent you this -message: you are to sow a plot with barley, and of it make bread for His -dinner. A cow is to go to the bull, and of the calf's flesh He will -eat." The baron became thoughtful. "Don't worry yourself, my lord," said -Joe, "you have worried me enough, it is your turn now;" and so he said -"good-bye," and went off home: when he got there the barley-bread was -baking and the veal was roasting. - -At this moment the deity and St. Peter arrived from heaven and were on -their way to the baron's, who the moment he saw them called out to his -servant, "Lock the gate, and do not let them in." Then said the deity, -"Let us go back to the poor man's home, and have dinner there." When -they reached the foot of the mountain St. Peter was told to look back -and say what he saw, and lo! the whole of the baron's property was a -sheet of water. "Now," said the deity to St. Peter, "let us go on, for -the mountain is high, and difficult to ascend." When they arrived at -Joe's he rushed out with outspread arms, fell to the ground, and kissed -the sole of the deity's foot. He entered and sat down to dinner, so did -Joe and his wife and also St. Peter. Then said God to Joe, "Set a table -in this world for the poor and miserable, and you shall have one laid -for you in the world to come; and now good-bye: you shall live in joy, -and in each other's love." - -They are living still if they have not died since. May they be your -guests to-morrow! - - - - -LUCK AND BLISS. - - -Luck and Bliss went out one day, and came to a town where they found a -poor man selling brooms, but nobody seemed to buy anything from him. -Bliss thereupon said, "Let us stop, and I will buy them all from the -poor fellow, so that he may make a good bargain." So they stopped, and -Bliss bought them all, and gave him six times the market value of them, -in order that the poor man might have a good start. - -On another occasion they came to the same town and found the man still -selling brooms. Bliss bought them all, and gave him ten times their -market value. They came a third time to the town, and the man was still -selling brooms, whereupon Luck said, "Let me try now, for, see, you have -bought them all twice, and in vain, for the man is a poor broom-seller -still;" so Luck bought them, but she did not give a penny more than the -market price. They came to the town a fourth time and saw the man who -had sold brooms leading wheat into town in a wagon with iron hoops on -the wheels and drawn by four fine bullocks. When they saw this Luck said -to Bliss, "Do you see that man who used to sell brooms? You bought them -all twice for a very high price. I bought them but once, and that for -the market value, and the consequence of my having done so is that he no -longer sells brooms, as he used to do, but wheat, and it appears he must -have got on well with his farm too." - - - - -THE LAZY CAT. - - -A lad married a lazy rich girl, and he made a vow that he would never -beat her. The missis never did any work but went about from house to -house gossiping and making all kinds of mischief, but still her husband -never beat her. One morning as he was going out to his work he said to -the cat, "You cat, I command you to do everything that is needed in the -house. While I am away put everything in order, cook the dinner, and do -some spinning; if you don't, I'll give you such a thrashing as you won't -forget." The cat listened to his speech half asleep, blinking on the -hearth. The woman thought to herself, "My husband has gone mad." So she -said, "Why do you order the cat to do all these things, which she knows -nothing about?" "Whether she does or whether she doesn't it's all the -same to me, wife. I have no one else whom I can ask to do anything; and -if she does not do all that I have ordered her to do you will see that I -will give her such a thrashing as she will never forget." With this he -went out to work, and the wife began to talk to the cat and said, "You -had better get your work done, or he will beat you;" but the cat did not -work, and the wife went from house to house gossiping. When she came -home the cat was asleep on the hearth, and the fire had gone out; so she -said, "Make the fire up, cat, and get your work done, or you will get a -sound thrashing;" but the cat did no work. In the evening the master -came home and found that nothing was done and that his orders were not -carried out; so he took hold of the cat by its tail and fastened it to -his wife's back, and began to beat till his wife cried out, "Don't beat -that cat any more! Don't beat that cat any more! it is not her fault, -she cannot help it, she does not understand these things." "Will you -promise then that you will do it all in her stead?" inquired her -husband. "I will do it all and even more than you order," replied his -wife, "if you will only leave off beating that cat." - -The woman then ran off home to complain to her mother of all these -things, and said, "I have promised that I will do all the work instead -of the cat, in order to prevent my husband beating her to death on my -back." And then her father spoke up and said, "If you have promised to -do it you must do it; if not, the cat will get a thrashing to-morrow." -And he sent her back to her husband. - -Next time the master again ordered the cat what she had to do, and she -did nothing again. So she got another beating on the wife's back, who -ran home again to complain; but her father drove her back, and she ran -so fast that her foot did not touch the ground as she went. - -On the third morning again the master commenced to give his commands to -the cat, who, however, was too frightened to listen, and did no work -that day; but this time the mistress did her work for her. She forgot no -one thing she had promised--she lighted the fire, fetched water, cooked -the food, swept the house, and put everything in order; for she was -frightened lest her husband should beat the poor cat again; for the -wretched animal in its agony stuck its claws into her back, and, -besides, the end of the two-tailed whip reached further than the cat's -back, so that with every stroke she received one as well as the cat. -When her husband came home everything was in order, and he kept -muttering, "Don't be afraid, cat, I won't thrash you this time;" and his -wife laid the cloth joyfully, dished up the food, and they had a good -meal in peace. - -After that the cat had no more beatings, and the mistress became such a -good housewife that you could not wish for a better. - - - - -HANDSOME PAUL. - - -There was once, over seven times seven countries, a poor woman who had a -son, and he decided to go into service. So he said to his mother, -"Mother, fill my bag and let me go out to work, for that will do me more -good than staying here and wasting my time." The lad's name was Paul. -His mother filled his bag for him, and he started off. As it became dark -he reached a wood, and in the distance he saw, as it were, a spark -glimmering amongst the trees, so he made his way in that direction -thinking that he might find some one there, and that he would be able to -get a night's lodging. So he walked and walked for a long time, and the -nearer he came the larger the light became. By midnight he reached the -place where the fire was, and lo! there was a great ugly giant sleeping -by the fire. "Good evening, my father," said Paul. "God has brought you, -my son," replied the giant; "you may think yourself lucky that you -called me father, for if you had not done so I would have swallowed you -whole. And now what is your errand?" - -"I started from home," said Paul, "to find work, and good fortune -brought me this way. My father, permit me to sleep to-night by your -fire, for I am alone and don't know my way." "With pleasure, my son," -said the giant. So Paul sat down and had his supper, and then they both -fell asleep. Next morning the giant asked him where he intended to go in -search of work. "If I could," replied Paul, "I should like to enter the -king's service, for I have heard he pays his servants justly." "Alas! my -son," said the giant, "the king lives far away from here. Your -provisions would fail twice before you reached there, but we can manage -the matter if you will sit on my shoulder and catch hold of the hair on -the back of my head." Paul took his seat on the giant's shoulders. "Shut -your eyes," said the giant, "because if you don't you will turn giddy." -Paul shut his eyes, and the giant started off, stepping from mountain to -mountain, till noon, when he stopped and said to Paul, "Open your eyes -now and tell me what you can see." - -Paul looked around as far as he could see, and said, "I see at an -infinite distance something white, as big as a star. What is it, my -father?" "That is the king's citadel," said the giant, and then they sat -down and had dinner. The giant's bag was made of nine buffalo's skins, -and in it were ten loaves (each loaf being made of four bushels of -wheat), and ten large bottles full of good Hungarian wine. The giant -consumed two bottles of wine and two loaves for his dinner, and gave -Paul what he needed. After a short nap the giant took Paul upon his -shoulders, bade him shut his eyes, and started off again, stepping from -mountain to mountain. At three o'clock he said to Paul, "Open your eyes, -and tell me what you can see." "I can see the white shining thing -still," said Paul, "but now it looks like a building." "Well, then, shut -your eyes again," said the giant, and he walked for another hour, and -then again asked Paul to look. Paul now saw a splendid glittering -fortress, such a one as he had never seen before, not even in his -dreams. "In another quarter-of-an-hour we shall be there," said the -giant. Paul shut his eyes again, and in fifteen minutes they were there; -and the giant put him down in front of the gate of the king's palace, -saying, "Well, now, I will leave you here, for I have a pressing -engagement, and must get back, but whatsoever service they offer to you, -take it, behave well, and the Lord keep you." Paul thanked him for his -kindness and his good-will, and the giant left. As Paul was a fine -handsome fellow he was engaged at once, for the first three months to -tend the turkeys, as there was no other vacancy, but even during this -time he was employed on other work: and he behaved so well, that at the -end of the time he was promoted to wait at the king's table. When he was -dressed in his new suit he looked like a splendid flower. The king had -three daughters; the youngest was more beautiful than the rose or the -lily, and this young lady fell in love with Paul, which Paul very soon -noticed; and day by day his courage grew, and he approached her more and -more, till they got very fond of each other. - -The queen with her serpent's eye soon discovered the state of affairs, -and told the king of it. - -"It's all right," said the king, "I'll soon settle the wretched fellow; -only leave it to me, my wife." - -Poor Paul, what awaits thee? - -The king then sent for Paul and said, "Look here, you good-for-nothing, -I can see you are a smart fellow! Now listen to me: I order you to cut -down during the night the whole wood that is in front of my window, to -cart it home, chop it up, and stack it in proper order in my courtyard; -if you don't I shall have your head chopped off in the morning." Paul -was so frightened when he heard this that he turned white and said, "Oh, -my king! no man could do this." "What!" said the king, "you -good-for-nothing, you dare to contradict me? go to prison at once!" Paul -was at once taken away, and the king repeated his commands, saying that -unless they were obeyed Paul should lose his head. Poor Paul was very -sad, and wept like a baby; but the youngest princess stepped into his -prison through a secret trap-door, and consoled him, giving him a copper -whip, and telling him to go and stand outside the gate on the top of the -hill, and crack it three times, when all the devils would appear. He was -then to give his orders, which the devils would carry out. - -Paul went off through the trap, and the princess remained in prison till -Paul returned; he went out, stood on the hill, and cracked his whip well -thrice, and lo! the devils came running to him from all sides, crying, -"What are your commands handsome Paul?" "I order you," replied Paul, "by -to-morrow morning to have all that large forest cut down, chopped, and -stacked in the king's courtyard;" with this he went back to prison and -spent a little time with the princess before she went away. The devils -entered the wood, and began to hew the trees down; there was a roaring, -clattering, and cracking noise as the big trees were dragged by root and -crown into the king's yard; they were chopped up and stacked; and the -devils, having finished the task, ran back to hell. By one o'clock all -was done. - -In the morning the first thing the king did was to look through the -window in the direction of the wood; he could not see anything but bare -land, and when he looked into the courtyard he saw there all the wood -chopped and stacked. - -He then called Paul from prison and said, "Well, I can see that you know -something, my lad, and I now order you to plough up to-night the place -where the wood used to be, and sow it with millet. The millet must grow, -ripen, be reaped, threshed, and ground into flour by the morning, and of -it you must make me a large millet-cake, else you lose your head." Paul -was then sent back to prison, more miserable than ever, for how could he -do such an unheard-of thing as that? His sweetheart came in again -through the trap-door and found him weeping bitterly. When she heard the -cause of his grief she said, "Oh, don't worry yourself, dear; here is a -golden whip, go and crack it three times on the hill-top, and all the -devils will come that came last night; crack it again three times and -all the female devils will arrive; crack it another three times and even -the lame ones will appear, and those enceinte come creeping forth. Tell -them what you want and they will do it." - -Paul went out and stood on the hill-top, and cracked his whip three good -cracks, and then three more, and three more, such loud cracks that his -ears rung, and again the devils came swarming in all directions like -ants, old ones and young ones, males and females, lame and enceinte, -such a crowd that he could not see them all without turning his head all -round. They pressed him hard, saying, "What are your commands, handsome -Paul? What are your commands, handsome Paul? If you order us to pluck -all the stars from heaven and to place them in your hands it shall be -done." - -Paul gave his orders and went back to prison, and stayed with the -princess till daybreak. - -There was a sight on the hill-side, the devils were shouting and making -such a din that you could not tell one word from another. "Now then! -Come here! This way, Michael! That way, Jack! Pull it this way! Turn it -that way! Go at it! See, the work is done!" - -The whole place was soon ploughed up, the millet sown, and it began to -sprout, it grew, ripened, was cut, carted in wagons, in barrows, on -their backs, or as best they could. It was thrashed with iron flails, -carried to the mill, crushed and bolted, a light was put to the timber -in the yard, it took fire, and the wood crackled everywhere, and there -was such a light that the king in the seventh country off could see to -count his money by it. Then they brought from hell the biggest cauldron -they could find, put it on the fire, put flour into it and boiling -water; as the millet-cake was bubbling and boiling they took it out of -the pot and put it into Mrs. Pluto's lap, placed a huge spoon into her -hands, and she began to stir away, mix it up, and cut it up with her -quick hands till it began to curl up at the side of the cauldron after -the spoon. As it was quite done she mixed it well once more, and being -out of breath handed the spoon to Pluto himself--who was superintending -the whole work,--who took out his pocket-knife--which was red-hot--and -began to scrape the cake off the spoon and to eat it with great gusto. - -Mrs. Pluto then took the cake out with a huge wooden spoon, heaped it up -nicely, patted it all round, and put it on the fire once more; when it -was quite baked she turned it out a large millet-cake in the midst of -the yard, and then they all rushed back, as fast as they could run, to -hell. - -Next morning, when the king looked through the window, an immense -millet-cake was to be seen there, so large that it nearly filled the -whole yard; and he, however vexed he was, could not help bursting out -into a loud laugh. He gave instant orders for the whole town to come and -clear away the millet-cake, and not to leave so much as a mouthful. -Never was such a feast seen before, and I don't think ever will be -again: some carried it away in their hands, some in bags, some in large -table-cloths, sacks, and even in wagons; everybody took some, and it -went in all directions in every possible manner, so that in three hours -the huge cake was all gone; even the part that had stuck to the ground -was scraped up and carried away. Some made tarts of it at home, pounded -poppy-seed, and spread it over them; others wanted pork to eat with it, -others ate it with fresh milk, with dried prunes, with perry, with -craps, with cream-milk, sour-milk, cow's-milk, goat's-milk; some with -curds; others covered it over with cream-cheese, rolled it up and ate it -thus; better houses mixed it with good buffalo-milk, and ate it with -butter, lard, and cream-cheese, so that it was no longer millet-cake -with cream-cheese, but cream-cheese with millet-cake! There were many -who had never eaten anything like it before, and they got so full of it -they could just breathe; even the king had a large piece served up for -his breakfast on a porcelain plate; he then went to the larder for a -large tub, which was full of the best cream-cheese of Csik like unto the -finest butter; he took a large piece of this, spread it on his cake, set -to and ate it to the very last. He then drank three tumblerfuls of the -best old claret, and said, "Well, that really was a breakfast fit for -the gods!" And thus it happened that all the millet-cake was used up, -and then the king sent for Paul and said to him, "Well, you brat of a -devil, did you do all this, or who did it?" "I don't know." "Well, there -are in my stables a bay stallion, a bay mare, two grey fillies and a bay -filly, you must walk them about, in turn, to-morrow morning, till they -are tired out; if you don't I'll have your head impaled." Paul wasn't a -bit frightened this time, but began to whistle, and hum tunes to himself -in the prison, being in capital spirits. "It will be very easy to walk -these horses out," said he; "it's not the first time I've done that." -The matter looked different however in the evening when his sweetheart -came and he told her all about it. "My love," said she, "this is even -worse than all the rest, because the devils did all your former tasks -for you, but this you must do yourself. Moreover, you must know that the -bay stallion will be my father, the bay mare my mother, the two grey -foals my elder sisters, and the bay foal myself. However, we shall find -some way of doing even this. When you enter the stable we all will begin -to kick so terribly that you won't be able to get near us; but you must -try to get hold of the iron pole that stands inside the door, and with -it thrash them all till they are tame; then you must lead them out as -well as you can; but don't beat me, for I shall not desert you." His -love then gave him a copper bridle, which he hid in his bosom, and -buttoned his coat over it. And his lady-love went back to her bedroom; -for she knew there was plenty of hard work in store for her on the -morrow; for the same reason she ordered Paul to try to sleep well. - -In the morning the jailer came, and brought two warders with him, and -led Paul to the stable to take the horses out for a walk. Even in the -distance he could hear the snorting, kicking, pawing, and neighing in -the stable, so that it filled the air. He tried in vain to get inside -the stable-door, he had not courage enough to take even one step inside. -Somehow or other, however, he got hold of the iron pole, and with it he -beat, pounded, and whacked the bay stallion till it lay down in agony. -He then took out his bridle, threw it over its head, led it out, jumped -upon its back, and rode it about till the foam streamed from it, and -then led it in and tied it up. He did the same with the bay mare, only -she was worse; and the grey foals were worse still, till by the end he -was nearly worn out with beating them. At last he came to the bay foal, -but he would not have touched her for all the treasure of the world; -yet, in order to deceive the others, he banged the crib, box, manger, -and posts right lustily, till at last the bay foal lay down. With this -the mare, who was the queen, said to the bay stallion, "You see it was -that bay foal who was the cause of all this. But wait a bit, confound -her!" she cried after them as he led her out of the stable; "I also have -as many wits as you, and I will teach you both a lesson. Never mind, my -sweet daughter, you have treated us all most cruelly with that iron -pole, but you shall pay for it shortly." When Paul heard this he was so -frightened he could hardly lead the foal. "Don't be afraid," said the -foal, "let's get away from here, and the sooner the better, never to -return, or woe betide us!" They cantered up to the house, where she sent -him in to get money, and jewellery, and the various things they would -need, and then galloped off as fast as she could with Paul on her back, -over seven times seven countries, till noon; and just as the sun was at -noon the foal said to Paul, "Look back; what can you see?" Paul looked -back and saw in the distance an eagle flying towards them, from whose -mouth shot forth a flame seven fathoms long. Then said the foal, "I will -turn a somersault, and become a sprouting millet-field; you do the same, -you will become the garde champêtre, and when the eagle, which is my -father, comes, if he ask you if you have seen such and such travellers, -tell him, yes, you saw them pass when this millet was sown." So the foal -turned over and became a sprouting millet-field, and Paul became the -garde champêtre. The eagle arrived, and said, "My lad, have you not seen -a young fellow on a bay foal pass this way in a great hurry?" "Well, -yes," replied Paul, "I saw them at the time this millet was sown, but I -can't tell you where they may be now." "I don't think they can have come -this way," said the eagle, and flew back home and told his wife all -about it. "Oh! you baulked fool!" cried she, "the millet-field was your -daughter, and the lad Paul. So back you go at once, and bring them -home." - -Paul and his foal rode on half the afternoon, and then the foal said, -"Look back, what can you see?" "I see the eagle again," said Paul, "but -now the flame is twice seven fathoms long; he flies very quickly." -"Let's turn over again," said the foal, "and I will become a lamb and -you will be the shepherd, and if my father ask you if you have seen the -travellers say yes, you saw them when the lamb was born." So they turned -over, and one became a lamb and the other a shepherd; the eagle arrived -and asked the shepherd if he had seen the travellers pass by, and was -told that they were seen when the lamb was born. The king returned and -told his wife all, who drove him back, crying, "The lamb was your -daughter and the shepherd, Paul, you empty-headed fool." Paul and the -foal went on a long way, when the foal said, "What can you see?" He saw -the eagle again, but now it was enveloped in flames; they turned over -and the foal became a chapel, and Paul a hermit inside; the eagle -arrived and inquired after the travellers, and was told by the hermit -that they had passed by when the chapel was building. The eagle went -back a third time, and his wife was in an awful rage and told him to -stay where he was, telling him that the chapel was his daughter and the -hermit Paul. "But you are so dense," said she, "they can make you -believe anything; I will go myself and see whether they will fool me." - -The queen started off as a falcon. Paul and the foal went still -travelling on, when the foal said, "Look back, what can you see?" "I see -a falcon," said Paul, "With a flame seventy-seven yards long coming out -of its mouth." "That's my mother," said the foal, "We must be careful -this time, Paul, for we shall not be able to hoodwink her with lies; let -us turn over quickly, she will be here in a second. I will be a lake of -milk and you a golden duck on it; take care she doesn't catch you, or we -are done for." They turned over and changed; the falcon arrived and -swooped down upon the duck like lightning, who had just time to dive and -escape. The falcon tried again and again till it got quite tired; for -each time the duck dived and so she missed him. In a great rage the -falcon turned over and became the queen. She picked up stones and tried -to strike the duck dead, but he was clever enough to dodge her, so she -soon got tired of that and said, "I can see, you beast, that I cannot do -anything with you; my other two daughters died before my eyes to-day -from the beating you gave them with the iron pole, you murderer. Now I -curse you with this curse, that you will forget each other, and never -remember that you have ever known each other." - -With this she turned over, became a falcon, and flew away home very sad, -and the other two changed also, this time into Paul and the princess. -"Nobody will persecute us now," said she, "let us travel on quietly. The -death of my two sisters is no sad or bad news to me, for now when my -father and mother are dead the land will be ours, my dear Paul;" so they -wandered on, and talked over their affairs, till they came to a house; -and as the day was closing they felt very tired and sat down to rest and -fell asleep. After sunset they awoke and stared at each other, but -couldn't make out who the other was, for they had forgotten all the -past, and inquired in astonishment "Who are you?" and "Well, who are -you?" But neither could tell who the other was; so they walked into the -town as strangers and separated. Paul got a situation as valet to a -nobleman, and the princess became a lady's maid in another part of the -city. They lived there for twelve months, and never once remembered -anything that had happened in the past. One night Paul dreamt that the -bay stallion was in its last agony, and soon afterwards died; the lady's -maid, at the same time, dreamt that the bay mare was dying, and died; by -this dream they both remembered all that had happened to each other; but -even then they did not know that they were in the same town. On the day -following this dream Paul was sent by the nobleman's son secretly with a -love-letter to the nobleman's youngest daughter where the lady's maid -lived. Paul took the letter, and handed it to the lady's maid so that -she might place it in her mistress's hands; then he saw who the lady's -maid was, that it was his old sweetheart, the beloved of his soul; now -he remembered how often before he had given her letters from his young -master for the young lady of the house, and how he had done a little -love-making on his own account, but never till now had he recognised -her. The princess recognised Paul at a glance and rushed into his arms -and wept for joy. They told each other their dreams, and knew that her -father and mother--the bay mare and bay stallion of yore--died last -night. "Let us be off," said the princess, "or else the kingdom will be -snatched from us." So they agreed, and fixed the day after the morrow -for the start. Next morning the official crier proclaimed that the king -and queen had died suddenly about midnight; it happened at the very -moment they had had their dreams. - -They started secretly by the same road, and arrived at home in a day. - -The king and queen were still laid in state, and the princess, who was -thought to be lost, shed tears over them. - -She was soon afterwards crowned queen of the realm, and chose Paul for -her consort, and got married; if they have not died since they are still -alive, and in great happiness to this day. - - - - -THE TRAVELS OF TRUTH AND FALSEHOOD. - - -A long time ago--I don't exactly remember the day--Truth started, with -her bag well filled, on a journey to see the world. On she went over -hill and dale, and through village and town, till one day she met -Falsehood. "Good day, countrywoman," said Truth; "where are you bound -for? Where do you intend going?" "I'm going to travel all over the -world," said Falsehood. "That's right," said Truth; "and as I'm bound in -the same direction let's travel together." "All right," replied -Falsehood; "but you know that fellow-travellers must live in harmony, so -let's divide our provisions and finish yours first." Truth handed over -her provisions, upon which the two lived till every morsel was consumed; -then it was Falsehood's turn to provide. "Let me gouge out one of your -eyes," said Falsehood to Truth, "and then I'll let you have some food." -Poor Truth couldn't help herself; for she was very hungry and didn't -know what to do. So she had one of her eyes gouged out, and she got some -food. Next time she wanted food she had the other eye gouged out, and -then both her arms cut off. After all this Falsehood told her to go -away. Truth implored not to be left thus helpless in the wilds, and -asked that she might be taken to the gate of the next town and left -there to get her living by begging. Falsehood led her, not to where she -wanted to go, but near a pair of gallows and left her there. Truth was -very much surprised that she heard no one pass, and thought that all the -folks in that town must be dead. As she was thus reasoning with herself -and trembling with fear she fell asleep. When she awoke she heard some -people talking above her head, and soon discovered that they were -devils. The eldest of them said to the rest, "Tell me what you have -heard and what you have been doing." One said, "I have to-day killed a -learned physician, who has discovered a medicine with which he cured all -crippled, maimed, or blind." "Well, you're a smart fellow!" said the old -devil; "what may the medicine be?" "It consists simply of this," replied -the other, "that to-night is Friday night, and there will be a new moon: -the cripples have to roll about and the blind to wash their eyes in the -dew that has fallen during the night; the cripples will be healed of -their infirmities and the blind will see." "That is very good," said the -old devil. "And now what have you done, and what do you know?" he asked -the others. - -"I," said another, "have just finished a little job of mine; I have cut -off the water-supply and will thus kill the whole of the population of -the country-town not far from here." "What is your secret?" asked the -old devil. "It is this," replied he; "I have placed a stone on the -spring which is situated at the eastern corner of the town at a depth of -three fathoms. By this means the spring will be blocked up, and not one -drop of water will flow; as for me I can go everywhere without fear, -because no one will ever find out my secret, and all will happen just as -I planned it." - -The poor crippled Truth listened attentively to all these things. -Several other devils spoke; but poor Truth either did not understand -them or did not listen to what they said, as it did not concern her. - -Having finished all, the devils disappeared as the cock crew announcing -the break of day. - -Truth thought she would try the remedies she had heard, and at night -rolled about on the dewy ground, when to her great relief her arms grew -again. Wishing to be completely cured, she groped about and plucked -every weed she could find, and rubbed the dew into the cavities of her -eyes. As day broke she saw light once more. She then gave hearty thanks -to the God of Truth that he had not left her, his faithful follower, to -perish. Being hungry she set off in search of food. So she hurried off -to the nearest town, not only for food, but also because she remembered -what she had heard the devils say about cutting off the water supply. -She hurried on, so as not to be longer than she could help in giving -them her aid in their distress. She soon got there, and found every one -in mourning. Off she went straight to the king, and told him all she -knew; he was delighted when he was told that the thirst of the people -might be quenched. She also told the king how she had been maimed and -blinded, and the king believed all she said. They commenced at once with -great energy to dig up the stone that blocked the spring. The work was -soon done; the stone reached, lifted out, and the spring flowed once -more. The king was full of joy and so was the whole town, and there were -great festivities and a general holiday was held. The king would not -allow Truth to leave, but gave her all she needed, and treated her as -his most confidential friend, placing her in a position of great wealth -and happiness. In the meantime Falsehood's provisions came to an end, -and she was obliged to beg for food. As only very few houses gave her -anything she was almost starving when she met her old travelling -companion again. She cried to Truth for a piece of bread. "Yes, you can -have it," said Truth, "but you must have an eye gouged out;" and -Falsehood was in such a fix that she had either to submit or starve. -Then the other eye was taken out, and after that her arms were cut off, -in exchange for dry crusts of bread. Nor could she help it, for no one -else would give her anything. - -Having lost her eyes and her arms she asked Truth to lead her under the -same gallows as she had been led to. At night the devils came; and, as -the eldest began questioning the others as to what they had been doing -and what they knew, one of them proposed that search be made, just to -see whether there were any listeners to their conversation, as some one -must have been eaves-dropping the other night, else it would never have -been found out how the springs of the town were plugged up. To this they -all agreed, and search was made; and soon they found Falsehood, whom -they instantly tore to pieces, coiled up her bowels into knots, burnt -her, and dispersed her ashes to the winds. But even her dust was so -malignant that it was carried all over the world; and that is the reason -that wherever men exist there Falsehood must be. - - - - -THE HUNTING PRINCES. - - -Once there was a king whose only thought and only pleasure was hunting; -he brought up his sons to the same ideas, and so they were called the -Hunting Princes. They had hunted all over the six snow-capped mountains -in their father's realm; there was a seventh, however, called the Black -Mountain, and, although they were continually asking their father to -allow them to hunt there, he would not give them permission. In the -course of time the king died, and his sons could scarcely wait till the -end of the funeral ceremonies before they rushed off to hunt in the -Black Mountain, leaving the government in the hands of an old duke. They -wandered about several days on the mountain, but could not find so much -as a single bird, so they decided to separate, and that each of them -should go to one of the three great clefts in the mountain, thinking -that perhaps luck would serve them better in this way. They also agreed -that whoever shot an arrow uselessly should be slapped in the face. They -started off, each on his way. Suddenly the youngest one saw a raven and -something shining in its beak, that, he thought, was in all probability -a rich jewel. He shot, and a piece of steel fell from the raven's beak, -while the bird flew away unhurt. The twang of the bow was heard all over -the mountain, and the two elder brothers came forward to see what he had -done; when they saw that he had shot uselessly they slapped his face and -went back to their places. When they had gone the youngest suddenly saw -a falcon sitting on the top of the rock. This he thought was of value, -so he shot, but the arrow stuck in a piece of pointed rock which -projected under the falcon's feet, and the bird flew away; as it flew a -piece of rock fell to the ground which he discovered to be real flint. -His elder brothers came, and slapped his face for again shooting in so -foolish a manner. No sooner had they gone and the day was drawing to an -end than he discovered a squirrel just as it was running into its hole -in a tree; so he thought its flesh would be good to eat; he shot, but -the squirrel escaped into a hollow of the tree, and the arrow struck -what appeared to be a large fungus, knocking a piece off, which he found -to be a fine piece of tinder. The elder brothers came and gave him a -sound thrashing which he took very quietly, and after this they did not -separate. As it was getting dark and they were wandering on together a -fine roebuck darted across their path; all three shot, and it fell. On -they went till they came to a beautiful meadow by the side of a spring, -where they found a copper trough all ready for them. They sat down, -skinned and washed the roebuck, got all ready for a good supper, but -they had no fire. "You slapped my face three times because I was wasting -my arrows," said the youngest; "if you will allow me to return those -slaps I will make you a good fire." The elder brothers consented, but -the younger waived his claim and said to them, "You see, when you don't -need a thing you think it valueless; see now, the steel, flint, and -tinder you despised will make us the fire you need." With that he made -the fire. They spitted a large piece of venison and had an excellent -huntsman's supper. After supper they held a consultation as to who was -to be the guard, as they had decided not to sleep without a guard. It -was arranged that they should take the duty in turns, and that death was -to be the punishment of any negligence of duty. The first night the -elder brother watched and the two youngest slept. All passed well till -midnight, when all at once in the direction of the town of the Black -Sorrow, which lay behind the Black Mountain, a dragon came with three -heads, a flame three yards long protruding from its mouth. The dragon -lived in the Black Lake, which lay beyond the town of the Black Sorrow, -with two of his brothers, one with five heads and the other with seven, -and they were sworn enemies to the town of the Black Sorrow. These -dragons always used to come to this spring to drink at midnight, and for -that reason no man or beast could walk there, because whatever the -dragons found there they slew. As soon as the dragon caught sight of the -princes he rushed at them to devour them, but he who was keeping guard -stood up against him and slew him, and dragged his body into a copse -near. The blood streamed forth in such torrents that it put the fire -out, all save a single spark, which the guarding prince fanned up, and -by the next morning there was a fire such as it did one good to see. -They hunted all day, returning at night, when the middle prince was -guard. At midnight the dragon with the five heads came; the prince slew -him, and his blood as it rushed out put the fire entirely out save one -tiny spark, which the prince managed to fan into a good fire by the -morning. - -On the third night the youngest prince had to wrestle with the dragon -with seven heads. He vanquished it and killed it. This time there was so -much blood that the fire was completely extinguished. When he was about -to relight it he found that he had lost his flint. What was to be done? -He began to look about him, and see if he could find any means of -relighting the fire. He climbed up into a very high tree, and from it he -saw in a country three days' journey off, on a hill, a fire of some sort -glimmering: so off he went; and as he was going he met Midnight, who -tried to pass him unseen; but the prince saw him, and cried out, "Here! -stop; wait for me on this spot till I return." But Midnight would not -stop; so the prince caught him, and fastened him with a stout strap to a -thick oak-tree, remarking, "Now, I know you will wait for me!" He went -on some four or five hours longer, when he met Dawn: he asked him, too, -to wait for him, and as he would not he tied him to a tree like -Midnight, and went further and further. Time did not go on, for it was -stopped. At last he arrived at the fire, and found there were -twenty-four robbers round a huge wood fire roasting a bullock. But he -was afraid to go near, so he stuck a piece of tinder on the end of his -arrow, and shot it through the flames. Fortunately the tinder caught -fire, but as he went to look for it the dry leaves crackled under his -feet, and the robbers seized him. Some of the robbers belonged to his -father's kingdom, and, as they had a grudge against the father, they -decided to kill the prince. One said, "Let's roast him on a spit"; -another proposed to dig a hole and bury him; but the chief of the -robbers said, "Don't let us kill the lad, let's take him with us as he -may be very useful to us. You all know that we are about to kidnap the -daughter of the king of the town of the Black Sorrow, and we intend to -sack his palace, but we have no means of getting at the iron cock at the -top of the spire because when we go near it begins at once to crow, and -the watchman sees us; let us take this lad with us, and let him shoot -off the iron cock, for we all know what a capital marksman he is; and -if he succeeds we will let him go." To this the robbers kindly -consented, as they saw they would by this means gain more than if they -killed him. So they started off, taking the prince with them, till they -came close to the fortress guarding the town of the Black Sorrow. They -then sent the prince in advance that he might shoot off the iron cock; -this he did. Then said the chief of the robbers, "Let's help him up to -the battlements, and then he will pull us up, let us down on the other -side, and keep guard for us while we are at work, and he shall have part -of the spoil, and then we will let him go." But the dog-soul of the -chief was false, for his plan was, that, having finished all, he would -hand the prince over to the robbers. This the prince had discovered from -some whisperings he had heard among them. He soon found a way out of the -difficulty. As he was letting them down one by one, he cut off their -heads, and sent them headless into the fortress, together with their -chief. Finding himself all alone, and no one to fear, he went to the -king's palace: in the first apartment he found the king asleep; in the -second the queen; in the third the three princesses. At the head of each -one there was a candle burning; that the prince moved in each case to -their feet, and none of them noticed him, except the youngest princess, -who awoke, and was greatly frightened at finding a man in her bedroom; -but when the prince told her who he was, and what he had done, she got -up, dressed, and took the young prince into a side-chamber and gave him -plenty to eat and drink, treated him kindly, and accepted him as her -lover, and gave him a ring and a handkerchief as a sign of their -betrothal. The prince then took leave of his love, and went to where the -robbers lay, cut off the tips of their noses and ears, and bound them up -in the handkerchief, left the fortress, got the fire, released Midnight -and Dawn, arrived at their resting-place, made a good fire by morning, -so that all the blood was dried up. - -At daybreak in the town of the Black Sorrow, Knight Red, as he was -inspecting the sentries, came across the headless robbers. As soon as he -saw them he cut bits off their mutilated noses and ears, and started for -the town, walking up and down, and telling everybody with great pride -what a hero he was, and how that last night he had killed the -twenty-four robbers who for such a length of time had been the terror of -the town of the Black Sorrow. His valour soon came to the ears of the -king, who ordered the Red Knight to appear before him: here he boasted -of his valour, and produced his handkerchief and the pieces cut from the -robbers. The king believed all that he said, and was so overjoyed at the -good news that he gave him permission to choose which of the princesses -he pleased for his wife, adding that he would also give him a share of -the kingdom. The Red Knight, however, made a mistake, for he chose the -youngest daughter, who knew all about the whole affair, and was already -engaged to the youngest prince. The king told his daughter he was going -to give her as a wife. - -To this she said, "Very well, father, but to whomsoever you intend to -give me he must be a worthy man, and he must give proofs that he has -rendered great service to our town." To this the king replied, "Who -could be able or who has been able to render greater services to the -town than this man, who has killed the twenty-four robbers?" The girl -answered, "You are right, father; whoever did that I will be his wife." -"Well done, my daughter, you are quite right in carrying out my wish; -prepare for your marriage, because I have found the man who saved our -town from this great danger." The young girl began to get ready with -great joy, for she knew nothing of the doings of the Red Knight, and -only saw what was going to happen when all was ready, the altar-table -laid, and the priest called, when lo! in walked the Red Knight as her -bridegroom, a man whom she had always detested, so that she could not -bear even to look at him. She rushed out and ran to her room, where she -fell weeping on her pillow. Everyone was there, and all was ready, but -she would not come; her father went in search of her, and she told him -how she had met the youngest of the Hunting Princes the night before, -and requested her father to send a royal messenger into the deserted -meadow, where the dragons of the Black Lake went to drink at the copper -trough, and to invite to the wedding the three princes who were staying -there; and asked her father not to press her to marry the Red Knight -till their arrival; on such conditions she would go among the guests. -Her father promised this, and sent the messenger in great haste to the -copper trough, and the young girl went among the guests. The feast was -going on in as sumptuous a manner as possible. The messenger came to the -copper trough, and hid himself behind a bush at the skirts of an open -place, and as he listened to the conversation of the princes he knew -that he had come to the right place; he hastened to give them the -invitation from the king of the town of the Black Sorrow to the wedding -of his youngest daughter. - -The princes soon got ready, especially the youngest one, who, when he -heard that his fiancée was to be married, would have been there in the -twinkling of an eye if he had been able. When the princes arrived in the -courtyard the twelve pillows under the Red Knight began to move, as he -sat on them at the head of the table. When the youngest prince stepped -upon the first step of the stairs, one pillow slipped out from under the -Red Knight, and as he mounted each step another pillow fled, till as -they crossed the threshold even the chair upon which he sat fell, and -down dropped the Red Knight upon the floor. - -The youngest Hunting Prince told them the whole story, how his elder -brothers had slain the dragons with three and five heads, and he the one -with seven heads; he also told them especially all about the robbers, -and how he met the king's daughter, how he had walked through all their -bedrooms and changed the candles from their head to their feet; he also -produced the ring and the handkerchief, and placed upon the table the -nose and ear-tips he had cut off the robbers. - -They tallied with those the Red Knight had shown, and it was apparent to -everybody which had been cut off first. - -Everyone believed the prince and saw that the Red Knight was false. For -his trickery he was sentenced to be tied to a horse's tail and dragged -through the streets of the whole town, then quartered and nailed to the -four corners of the town. - -The three Hunting Princes married the three daughters of the king of the -town of the Black Sorrow. The youngest prince married the youngest -princess, to whom he was engaged before, and he became the heir-apparent -in the town of Black Sorrow, and the other two divided their father's -realm. - -May they be your guests to-morrow! - - - - -THE LAZY SPINNING-GIRL WHO BECAME A QUEEN. - - -A common woman had a daughter who was a very good worker, but she did -not like spinning; for this her mother very often scolded her, and one -day got so vexed that she chased her down the road with the distaff. As -they were running a prince passed by in his carriage. As the girl was -very pretty the prince was very much struck with her, and asked her -mother "What is the matter?" "How can I help it?" said the mother, "for, -after she has spun everything that I had, she asked for more flax to -spin." "Let her alone, my good woman," said the prince; "don't beat her. -Give her to me, let me take her with me, I will give her plenty to -spin. My mother has plenty of work that needs to be done, so she can -enjoy herself spinning as much as she likes." The woman gave her -daughter away with the greatest pleasure, thinking that what she was -unwilling to do at home she might be ashamed to shirk in a strange -place, and get used to it, and perhaps even become a good spinster after -all. The prince took the girl with him and put her into a large shed -full of flax, and said "If you spin all you find here during the month -you shall be my wife." The girl seeing the great place full of flax -nearly had a fit, as there was enough to have employed all the girls in -the village for the whole of the winter; nor did she begin to work, but -sat down and fretted over it, and thus three weeks of the month passed -by. In the meantime she always asked the person who took her her food, -"What news there was?" Each one told her something or other. At the end -of the third week one night, as she was terribly downcast, suddenly a -little man half an ell long, with a beard one and a-half ells long, -slipped in and said, "Why are you worrying yourself, you good, pretty -spinning-girl?" "That's just what's the matter with me," replied the -girl; "I am not a good spinster, and still they will believe that I am a -good spinster, and that's the reason why I am locked up here." "Don't -trouble about that," said the little man; "I can help you and will spin -all the flax during the next week if you agree to my proposal and -promise to come with me if you don't find out my name by the time that I -finish my spinning." "That's all right," said the girl, "I will go with -you," thinking that then the matter would be all right. The little dwarf -set to work. It happened during the fourth week that one of the -men-servants, who brought the girl's food, went out hunting with the -prince. One day he was out rather late, and so was very late when he -brought the food. The girl said, "What's the news?" The servant told her -that that evening as he was coming home very late he saw, in the forest, -in a dark ditch, a little man half an ell high, with a beard one and -a-half ells long, who was jumping from bough to bough, and spinning a -thread, and humming to himself:--"My name is Dancing Vargaluska. My -wife will be good spinster Sue." - -Sue, the pretty spinning-girl, knew very well what the little man was -doing, but she merely said to the servant, "It was all imagination that -made you think you saw it in the dark." She brightened up; for she knew -that all the stuff would be spun, and that he would not be able to carry -her off, as she knew his name. In the evening the little man returned -with one-third of the work done and said to her, "Well, do you know my -name yet?" - -"Perhaps, perhaps," said she; but she would not have told his real name -for all the treasures in the world, fearing that he might cease working -if she did. Nor did she tell him when he came the next night. On the -third night the little man brought the last load; but this time he -brought a wheelbarrow with him, with three wheels, to take the girl away -with him. When he asked the girl his name she said, "If I'm not mistaken -your name is Dancing Vargaluska." - -On hearing this the little man rushed off as if somebody had pulled his -nose. - -The month being up, the prince sent to see if the girl had completed her -work; and when the messenger brought back word that all was finished the -king was greatly astonished how it could possibly have happened that so -much work had been done in so short a time, and went himself, -accompanied by a great suite of gentlemen and court-dames, and gazed -with great admiration upon the vast amount of fine yarn they saw. Nor -could they praise the girl enough, and all found her worthy to be queen -of the land. Next day the wedding was celebrated, and the girl became -queen. After the grand wedding-dinner the poor came, and the king -distributed alms to them; amongst them were three deformed beggars, who -struck the king very much: one was an old woman whose eyelids were so -long that they covered her whole face; the second was an old woman -whose lower lip was so long that the end of it reached to her knee; the -third old woman's posterior was so flat that it was like a pancake. - -These three were called into the reception-room and asked to explain why -they were so deformed. The first said, "In my younger days I was such a -good spinster that I had no rival in the whole neighbourhood. I spun -till I got so addicted to it that I even used to spin at night: the -effect of all this was that my eyelids became so long that the doctors -could not get them back to their places." - -The second said, "I have spun so much during my life and for such a -length of time that with continually biting off the end of the yarn my -lips got so soft that one reached my knees." - -The third said, "I have sat so much at my spinning that my posterior -became flat as it is now." - -Hereupon the king, knowing how passionately fond his wife was of -spinning, got so frightened that he strictly prohibited her ever -spinning again. - -The news of the story went out over the whole world, into every royal -court and every town; and the women were so frightened at what had -happened to the beggars that they broke every distaff, spinning-wheel, -and spindle, and threw them into the fire! - - - - -THE ENVIOUS SISTERS. - - -A king had three daughters whose names were Pride, Gentleness, and -Kindness. The king was very fond of them all, but he loved the youngest -one, Kindness, the most, as she knew best how to please him. Many -clever young gentlemen came to visit Kindness, but no one ever came near -the other two, and so they were very envious of her, and decided they -would get rid of her somehow or other. One morning they asked their -father's permission to go out into the fields, and from thence they went -into the forest. Kindness was delighted at having liberty to roam about -in such pretty places; the other two were pleased that they had at last -got the bird into their hands. As the dew dried up the two eldest -sisters strolled about arm in arm, whilst the youngest chased -butterflies and plucked the wild strawberries, with the intention of -taking some home to her father; she spent her time in great glee, -singing and listening to the songs of the birds, when suddenly she -discovered that she had strolled into an immense wood. As she was -considering what to do, her two sisters appeared by her side, and said -spitefully, "Well, you good-for-nothing! you have never done anything -but try to make our father love you most and to spoil our chances in -every way, prepare yourself for your end, for you have eaten your last -piece of bread." Kindness lifted up her hands, and besought them not to -harm her, but they cut off her hands, and only spared her life under the -condition that she would never go near her home again; they then took -her beautiful precious mantle from her, and dressed her in old rags; -they then led her to the highest part of the forest, and showed her an -unknown land, bidding her go there and earn her living by begging. The -blood streamed from Kindness's arms, and her heart ached in an -indescribable way, but she never uttered the slightest reproach against -her sisters, but started off in the direction pointed out to her. -Suddenly she came to a beautiful open plain, where there was a pretty -little orchard full of trees, and their fruit was always ripening all -the year round. She gave thanks to God that he had guided her there, -then, entering the garden, she crouched down in a by-place. As she had -no hands to pluck the fruit with she lived upon what grew upon low -boughs; thus she spent the whole summer unnoticed by any one. - -But towards autumn, when every other fruit was gone save grapes, she -lived on these, and then the gardener soon discovered that the bunches -had been tampered with and that there must be some one about: he watched -and caught her. Now it so happened that the garden belonged to a prince, -who spent a great deal of his time there, as he was very fond of the -place. The gardener did not like to tell him of what had happened, as he -pitied the poor handless girl and was afraid his master would punish her -severely. He decided therefore to let her go. Accidentally, however, the -prince came past and asked who she was. "Your highness," replied the -gardener, "I know no more of her than you do. I caught her in the -garden, and to prevent her doing any more damage I was going to turn her -out." "Don't lead her away," said the prince; "and who are you, -unfortunate girl?" "You have called me right, my lord," said Kindness, -"for I am unfortunate, but I am not bad; I am a beggar, but I am of -royal blood. I was taken from my father because he loved me most; -crippled because I was a good child. That is my story." To this the -prince replied, "However dirtily and ragged you are dressed, still it is -clear to me that you are not of low birth: your pretty face and polished -speech prove it. Follow me; and whatever you have lost you will find in -my house." "Your highness, in this nasty, dirty dress--how can I come -into your presence? Send clothes to me which I can put on, and then I -will do whatever you order." "Very well," said the prince; "stay here, -and I will send to you." He went and sent her a lady-in-waiting with -perfumed water to wash with, a gorgeous dress, and a carriage. Kindness -washed and dressed herself, got into the carriage, and went to the -prince. Quite changed in her appearance, not at all like as she was -before, however much she suffered she was as pretty as a Lucretia; and -the prince fell so much in love with her that he decided on the spot -that he would marry her; and so they got married, with great splendour, -and spent their time together in great happiness. - -When the two elder sisters came home from the forest their father -inquired where Kindness was. "Has she not come home?" said they; "we -thought that she would have been home before us. As she was running -after butterflies she got separated from us. We looked for her -everywhere and called for her; as we got no answer we set off home -before the darkness set in." - -The king gave orders that Kindness was to be looked for everywhere; they -searched for days but could not find her; then the king got so angry in -his sorrow that he drove the two elder girls away because they had not -taken proper care of their sister. They set out into the world in quite -another direction, but by accident arrived in the country where Kindness -was queen; here they lived a retired life in a small town unknown to -all. Kindness at this time was enceinte; and as war broke out with a -neighbouring nation her royal husband was obliged to go to the field of -battle. The war lasted a long time, and in the meantime Kindness gave -birth to twins, two handsome sons; on the forehead of one was the sign -of the blessed sun, on the other the sign of the blessed moon; in great -joy the queen's guardian sent a letter containing the good news to the -king by a messenger to the camp. The messenger had to pass through the -small town where the envious sisters dwelt; it was quite dark when he -arrived, and as he did not see a light anywhere but in their window he -went and asked for a night's lodging; while he stayed there he told them -all about the object of his journey; you may imagine how well he was -received, and with what pleasure they offered him lodging, these envious -brutes! When the messenger fell asleep they immediately took possession -of the letter, tore it open, read it, and burnt it, and put in its place -another to the king, saying that the queen had given birth to two -monsters which looked more like puppies than babes; in the morning they -gave meat and drink to the messenger, and pressed him to call and see -them on his way back, as they would be delighted to see him. He accepted -their kind invitation, and promised that he would come to them, and to -no one else, on his return. The messenger arrived at the camp and -delivered his letter to the king, who was very downcast as he read it; -but still he wrote back and said that his wife was not to be blamed; "if -it has happened thus how can I help it? don't show her the slightest -discourtesy," wrote he. As the messenger went back he slept again in the -house of the two old serpent-sisters; they stole the king's letter and -wrote in its place: "I want neither children nor mother; see that by the -time I come home those monsters be out of my way, so that not even so -much as their name remain." When this letter was read every one was very -sorry for the poor queen, and couldn't make out why the king was so -angry, but there was nothing for it but for the king's orders to be -carried out, and so the two pretty babes were put in a sheet and hung -round Kindness's neck, and she was sent away. For days and days poor -Kindness walked about suffering hunger and thirst, till at last she came -to a pretty wood; passing through this she travelled through a valley -covered with trees; passing through this at last she saw the great -alpine fir-trees at the end of the vale; there she found a clear spring; -in her parching thirst she stooped to drink, but in her hurry she lost -her balance and fell into the water; as she tried to drag herself out -with her two stumps, to her intense astonishment she found that by -immersion her two hands had grown again as they were before; she wept -for joy. Although she was hiding in an unknown place with no husband, no -father, no friend, no help whatever, with two starving children in this -great wilderness, still she wasn't sorrowful, because she was so -delighted to have her hands again. She stood there, and could not make -up her mind in which direction to go; as she stood looking all round she -suddenly caught sight of an old man coming towards her. "Who are you?" -said the old man. "Who am I?" she replied, sighing deeply; "I'm an -unfortunate queen." She then told him all she had suffered, and how she -had recovered her hands that very minute by washing in the spring. "My -poor good daughter," said the old man, bitterly, "then we are both -afflicted ones; it's quite enough that you are alive, and that I have -found you. Listen to me: your husband was warring against me, he drove -me from my country, and hiding from him I came this way; not very far -from here with one of my faithful servants I have built a hut and we -will live together there." The old man, in order to prove the miraculous -curing power of the spring, dipped his maimed finger into it, which was -shot off in the last war; as he took it out, lo! it was all right once -more. - -When the war was over, Kindness's husband returned home and inquired -after his wife. They told him all that had happened, and he was deeply -grieved, and went in search of her with a great number of his people, -and they found her at last with her two pretty babes, living with her -old father. On inquiry it was also found out where the messenger with -the letters had slept and how the letters were changed. Pride and -Gentleness were summoned and sentenced to death; but Kindness forgave -them all their misdeeds, and was so kind to them that she obtained their -pardon, and also persuaded her father to forgive them. - -There is no more of this speech to which you need listen, as I have told -it to the very end and I have not missed a word out of it. Those of whom -I have spoken may they be your guests, every one of them, to-morrow! - - - - -KNIGHT ROSE. - - -A king had three sons. When the enemy broke into the land and occupied -it, the king himself fell in the war. The young princes were good -huntsmen and fled from the danger, all three, taking three horses with -them. They went on together for a long time, till they did not even know -where they were; on they journeyed, till at last they came to the top of -the very highest snow-covered mountain, where the road branched off: -here they decided to separate and try their luck alone. They agreed that -on the summit of the mountain, at the top of a tall tree, they would fix -a long pole, and on it a white handkerchief. They were to keep well in -sight of this white flag, and whenever the handkerchief was seen full of -blood the one who saw it was to start in search of his brothers, as one -of them was in danger. The name of the youngest was Rose; he started off -to the left, the other two went to the right. When Rose came to the -seventh snow-capped mount and had got far into it he saw a beautiful -castle and went in. As he was tired with travelling and wanted a night's -rest, he settled down. When even came the gates of the castle opened -with great noise, and seven immense giants rushed into the courtyard and -from thence into the tower. Every one of them was as big as a tall -tower. Rose, in his fright, crept under the bed; but the moment the -giants entered one of them said, "Phuh! What an Adam-like smell there is -here!" Looking about they caught Rose, cut him up into small pieces like -the stalk of a cabbage and threw him out of the window. - -In the morning the giants went out again on their business. From a bush -there came forth a snake, which had the head of a pretty girl; she -gathered up every morsel of Rose's body, arranged them in order, and -said, "This belongs here, that belongs there." She then anointed him -with grass that had healing power, and brought water of life and death -from a spring that was not far off and sprinkled it over him. Rose -suddenly jumped up on his feet and was seven times more beautiful and -strong than before. At this moment the girl cast off the snake-skin as -far as the arm-pits. As Rose was now so strong he became braver, and in -the evening did not creep under the bed, but waited for the giants -coming home, at the gate. They arrived and sent their servants in -advance to cut up that wretched heir of Adam; but they could not manage -him, it took the giants themselves to cut him up. Next morning the -serpent with the girl's head came again and brought Rose to life as -before, and she herself cast off her skin as far as her waist. Rose was -now twice as strong as a single giant. The same evening the seven giants -killed him again, he himself having killed the servants and wounded -several of the giants. Next morning the giants were obliged to go -without their servants. Then the serpent came and restored Rose once -more, who was now stronger than all the seven giants put together, and -was so beautiful that though you could look at the sun you could not -look at him. The girl now cast off the serpent's skin altogether and -became a most beautiful creature. They told each other the story of -their lives. The girl said that she was of royal blood, and that the -giants had killed her father and seized his land, that the castle -belonged to her father, and that the giants went out every day to -plunder the people. She herself had become a snake by the aid of a good -old quack nurse, and had made a vow that she would remain a serpent -until she had been avenged on the giants, and she knew now that although -she had cast off the snake's skin she had nothing to fear because Rose -was a match for the seven giants. "Now, Rose," said she, "destroy them -every one, and I will not be ungrateful." To which he replied, "Dearest -one, you have restored me to life these three times--how could I help -being grateful to you? My life and my all are yours!" They took an oath -to be true to each other till death, and spent the day merrily till -evening set in, when the giants came, and Rose addressed them thus: "Is -it not true, you pack of scoundrels, that you have killed me three -times? Now, I tell you that not one of you shall put his foot within -these gates! Don't you believe me? Let's fight!" They charged upon him -with great fury, but victory was, this time, on his side; he killed -them one after the other and took the keys of the castle out of their -pockets. He then searched over every nook in the building, and came to -the conclusion that they were safe, as they had now possession of the -castle. - -The night passed quietly; next morning Rose looked from the courtyard to -the top of the snow-covered mountain, in the direction of the white -flag, and saw that it was quite bloody. He was exceedingly sorry, and -said to his love, "I must go in search of my two elder brothers, as some -mischief has befallen them; wait till I return, because if I find them I -shall certainly be back." - -He then got ready, took his sword, bow and arrow, some healing-grass, -and water of life and death with him, and went to the very place where -they had separated. On the way he shot a hare, and when he came to the -place of separation he went on the same road by which his elder brothers -had gone; he found there a small hut and a tree beside it; he stopped in -front of the tree, and saw that his brothers' two dogs were chained to -it; he loosed them, lighted a fire, and began to roast the hare. As he -roasted it he heard a voice as if some one were shouting from the tree -in a shivering voice; "Oh, how cold I am!" it said. "If you're cold," -replied Rose, "get down and warm yourself." "Yes," said the voice, "but -I'm afraid of the dogs." "Don't be afraid as they won't hurt an honest -person." "I believe you," said the voice in the tree, "but still I want -you to throw this hair between them; let them smell it first, then they -will know me by it." Rose took the hair and threw it into the fire. Down -came an old witch from the tree and warmed herself. Then she spitted a -toad and began to roast it. As she did so she said to Rose, "This is -mine, that is yours," and threw it at him. As Rose couldn't stand this -he jumped up, drew his sword, and smote the witch; but lo! the sword -turned into a log of wood, and the witch flew at him to kill him, -crying, "It's all up with you also. I've killed your brothers in -revenge because you killed my seven giant sons."[1] But Rose set the -dogs at her, and they dragged her about till they drew blood. The blood -was spilt on the log of wood and it became a sword again. Rose caught -hold of it and chopped the old witch's left arm off. Now the witch -showed him the place where she had buried his brothers. Rose smote her -once more with his sword and the old witch went to Pluto's. Rose dug out -the bodies, put the bits together, anointed them with the healing-grass, -and sprinkled them with the water of life and death, and they came to -life again. - -When they opened their eyes and saw Rose, they both exclaimed, "Oh! how -long I have been asleep." "Very long indeed," said Rose, "and if I -hadn't come you'd have been asleep still." They told him that soon after -they had separated they received the news that the enemy had withdrawn -from their country, and they decided to return, and that the elder -should undertake the government of the land, and the other go in search -of Rose. On their way they happened to go into the hut, and the old -witch treated them as she was going to treat Rose. - -Rose also told them his tale, and spoke to them thus: "You, my eldest -brother, go home, and sit on our father's throne. You my other brother -come with me, and let us two govern the vast country over which the -giants had tyrannised until now:" and thus they separated and each went -on his own business. - -Rose found his pretty love again, who was nearly dead with fretting for -him, but who quite recovered on his happy return. They took into their -hands the government of the vast country which they had delivered from -the sway of the giants. Rose and his love got married with the most -splendid wedding-feast, and the bride had to dance a great deal; and if -they've not died since they're alive still to this very day. - -May they curl themselves into an eggshell and be your guests to-morrow. - -[1] According to Kozma this is the only instance in the Székely -folk-lore which accounts for the origin of giants. - - - - -PRINCE MIRKÓ. - - -There was once, I don't know where, a king who had three sons. This king -had great delight in his three sons, and decided to give them a sound -education, and after that to give them a place in the government, so -that he might leave them as fit and willing heirs to his throne; so he -sent these sons to college to study, and they did well for a while; but -all of a sudden they left college, came home, and would not return. The -king was very much annoyed at their conduct, and prohibited them from -ever entering his presence. He himself retired, and lived in an eastern -room of the royal residence, where he spent his time sitting in a window -that looked eastward, as if he expected some one to come in that -direction. One of his eyes was continually weeping, while the other was -continually laughing. One day, when the princes were grown up, they held -a consultation, and decided to ascertain from their royal father the -reason why he always sat in the east room, and why one eye was -continually weeping while the other never ceased laughing. The eldest -son tried his fortune first, and thus questioned the king: "Most -gracious majesty, my father. I have come to ask you, my royal sire, the -reason why one of your eyes is always weeping while the other never -ceases laughing, and why you always sit in this east room." The king -measured his son from top to toe, and never spoke a word, but seized his -long straight sword which leant against the window and threw it at him: -it struck the door, and entered into it up to the hilt. The prince -jumped through the door and escaped the blow that was meant for him. As -he went he met his two brothers, who inquired how he had fared. "You'd -better try yourself and you will soon know," replied he. So the second -prince tried, but with no better result than his brother. At last the -third brother, whose name was Mirkó, went in, and, like his brother, -informed the king of the reason of his coming. The king uttered not a -word, but seized the sword with even greater fury, and threw it with -such vehemence that it entered up to the hilt in the wall of the room: -yet Mirkó did not run away, but only dodged the sword, and then pulled -it out of the wall and took it back to his royal father, placing it on -the table in front of him. Seeing this the king began to speak and said -to Prince Mirkó, "My son, I can see that you know more about honour than -your two brothers. So I will answer your question. One of my eyes weeps -continually because I fret about you that you are such good-for-nothings -and not fit to rule; the other laughs continually because in my younger -days I had a good comrade, Knight Mezey, with whom I fought in many -battles, and he promised me that if he succeeded in vanquishing his -enemy he would come and live with me, and we should spend our old age -together. I sit at the east window because I expect him to come in that -direction; but Knight Mezey, who lives in the Silk Meadow, has so many -enemies rising against him every day as there are blades of grass, and -he has to cut them down all by himself every day; and until the enemies -be extirpated he cannot come and stay with me." With this, Prince Mirkó -left his father's room, went back to his brothers, and told them what -he had heard from the king. So they held council again, and decided to -ask permission from their father to go and try their fortunes. First the -eldest prince went and told the king that he was anxious to go and try -his fortune, to which the king consented: so the eldest prince went into -the royal stables and chose a fine charger, had it saddled, his bag -filled, and started on his journey the next morning. He was away for a -whole year, and then suddenly turned up one morning, carrying on his -shoulder a piece of bridge-flooring made of copper; throwing it down in -front of the royal residence, he walked into the king's presence, told -him where he had been, and what he had brought back with him. The king -listened to the end of his tale and said, "Well, my son, when I was as -young as you are I went that way, and it only took me two hours from the -place where you brought this copper from. You are a very weak knight: -you won't do; you can go." With this the eldest prince left his father's -room. The second prince then came in and asked the king to permit him to -try his fortune, and the king gave him permission. So he went to the -royal stables, had a fine charger saddled, his bag filled, and set off. -At the end of a year he returned home, bringing with him a piece of -bridge-flooring made of silver; this he threw down in front of the royal -residence, and went in unto the king, told him all about his journey and -about his spoil. "Alas!" said the king, "when I was as young as you I -went that way, and it did not take me more than three hours; you are a -very weak knight, my son: you will not do." - -With this he dismissed his second son also. At last Prince Mirkó went in -and asked permission to go and try his fortune, and the king granted him -permission, so he also went into the royal stables in order to choose a -horse for the journey; but he did not find one to suit him, so he went -to the royal stud-farm to choose one there. As he was examining the -young horses, and could not settle which to have, there suddenly -appeared an old witch, who asked him what he wanted. Prince Mirkó told -her his intention, and that he wanted a horse to go on the journey. -"Alas! my lord," said the old witch, "you can't get a horse here to suit -you, but I will tell you how to obtain one: go to your father, and ask -him to let you have the horn which in his younger days he used to call -together his stud with golden hair, blow into it, and the golden stud -will at once appear. But don't choose any of those with the golden hair; -but at the very last there will come a mare with crooked legs and shaggy -coat; you will know her by the fact that when the stud passes through -the gates of the royal fortress the mare will come last, and she will -whisk her tail and strike the heel-post of the fortress-gate with such -force that the whole fort will quiver with the shock. Choose her, and -try your fortune." Prince Mirkó followed the witch's advice most -carefully. Going to the king he said, "My royal father, I come to ask -you to give me the horn with which in your younger days you used to call -together your stud with the golden hair." "Who told you of this?" -inquired the king. "Nobody," replied Prince Mirkó. "Well, my dear son, -if no one has informed you of this, and if it be your own conception, -you are a very clever fellow; but if any one has told you to do this -they mean no good to you. I will tell you where the horn is, but by this -time, I daresay, it is all rust-eaten. In the seventh cellar there is a -recess in the wall; in this recess lies the horn, bricked up; try to -find it, take it out, and use it if you think you can." Prince Mirkó -sent for the bricklayer on the spot, and went with him to the cellar -indicated, found the recess, took the horn, and carried it off with him. -He then stood in the hall of the royal residence and blew it, facing -east, west, south, and north. In a short time he heard the tingle of -golden bells begin to sound, increasing till the whole town rang with -the noise; and lo! through the gates of the royal residence beautiful -golden-haired horses came trooping in. Then he saw, even at the -distance, the mare with the crooked legs and shaggy coat, and as she -came, the last, great Heavens! as she came through the gates she whisked -the heel-post with her tail with such force that the whole building -shook to its very foundation. The moment the stud had got into the royal -courtyard he went to the crooked-legged shaggy-coated mare, caught her, -had her taken to the royal stables, and made it known that he intended -to try his fortune with her. The mare said "Quite right, my prince; but -first you will have to give me plenty of oats, because it would be -difficult to go a long journey without food." "What sort of food do you -wish? Because whatever my father possesses I will willingly give to -you," said the prince. "Very well, my prince," said the mare; "but it is -not usual to feed a horse just before you start on a journey, but some -time beforehand." "Well, I can't do much at present," said the prince; -"but whatever I've got you shall have with pleasure." "Well, then, bring -me a bushel of barley at once, and have it emptied into my manger." -Mirkó did this; and when she had eaten the barley she made him fetch a -bushel of millet; and when she had eaten that she said, "And now bring -me half a bushel of burning cinders, and empty them into my manger." -When she had eaten these she turned to a beautiful golden-haired animal -like to the morning-star. "Now, my prince," said she, "go to the king -and ask him to give you the saddle he used when he rode me in his -younger days." Prince Mirkó went to the old king and asked him for the -saddle. "It cannot be used now," said he, "as it has been lying about so -long in the coach-house, and it's all torn by this, but if you can find -it you can have it." Prince Mirkó went to the coach-house and found the -saddle, but it was very dirty, as the fowls and turkeys had for many -years roosted on it, and torn it; still he took it to the mare in order -to put it on her, but she said that it was not becoming a prince to sit -upon such a thing, wherefore he was going to have it altered and -repaired; but the mare told him to hold it in front of her, and she -breathed on it, and in a moment it was changed into a beautiful gold -saddle, such as had not an equal over seven countries; with this he -saddled the tátos (mythical horse). "Now, my prince," said she, "you had -better go to your father and ask him for the brace of pistols and the -sword with which he used to set out when he rode me in former days." So -the prince went and asked these from his father, but the old king -replied "that they were all rusty by this time, and of no use," but, if -he really wanted them, he could have them, and pointed out the rack -where they were. Prince Mirkó took them and carried them to the mare, -who breathed upon them, and changed them into gold; he then girded on -his sword, placed the pistols in the holsters, and got ready for a -start. "Well, my dear master," said the mare, "where now is my bridle?" -Whereupon, the prince fetched from the coach-house an old bridle, which -she blew upon and it changed into gold; this the prince threw over her -head, and led her out of the stable, and was about to mount her when the -mare said, "Wait a minute, lead me outside the town first, and then -mount me;" so he led her outside the town, and then mounted her. At this -moment the mare said, "Well, my dear master, how shall I carry you? -Shall I carry you with a speed like the quick hurricane, or like a flash -of thought?" "I don't mind, my dear mare, how you carry me, only take -care that you run so that I can bear it." - -To this the mare replied, "Shut your eyes and hold fast." Prince Mirkó -shut his eyes, and the mare darted off like a hurricane. After a short -time she stamped upon the ground and said to the prince, "Open your -eyes! What can you see?" "I can see a great river," said Prince Mirkó, -"and over it a copper bridge." "Well, my dear master," said the mare, -"that's the bridge from which your eldest brother carried off part of -the flooring: can't you see the vacant place?" "Yes, I can see it," said -the prince, "and where shall we go now?" "Shut your eyes and I will -carry you;" with this, she started off like a flash of lightning, and in -a few moments again stamped upon the ground and said, "Open your eyes! -Now what do you see?" "I see," said Prince Mirkó, "a great river, and -over it a silver bridge." "Well, my dear master, that's the bridge from -which your second brother took the silver flooring; can't you see the -place?" "Yes," said he, "I can, and now where shall we go?" - -"Shut your eyes and I will carry you," said the mare, and off she darted -like lightning, and in a moment she again stamped upon the ground and -stopped and said to Prince Mirkó, "Open your eyes! What can you see?" "I -see," replied he, "a vast, broad, and deep river, and over it a golden -bridge, and at each end, on this side and that, four immense and fierce -lions. How are we to get over this?" "Don't take any notice of them," -said the mare, "I will settle with them, you shut your eyes." Prince -Mirkó shut his eyes, the mare darted off like a swift falcon, and flew -over the bridge; in a short time she stopped, stamped, and said, "Open -your eyes! Now what do you see?" "I see," said the prince, "an immense, -high glass rock, with sides as steep as the side of a house." "Well, my -dear master," said the mare, "We have to get over that too." - -"But that is impossible," said the prince; but the mare cheered him, and -said, "Don't worry yourself, dear master, as I still have the very shoes -on my hoofs which your father put on them with diamond nails six hundred -years ago. Shut your eyes and hold fast." - -At this moment the mare darted off, and in a twinkling of the eye she -reached the summit of the glass rock, where she stopped, stamped, and -said to the prince, "Open your eyes! What can you see?" "I can see, -below me," said Prince Mirkó, "on looking back, something black, the -size of a fair-sized dish." "Well, my dear master, that is the orb of -the earth; but what can you see in front of you?" "I can see," said -Prince Mirkó, "a narrow round-backed glass path, and by the side of it, -this side as well as on the other side, a deep bottomless abyss." "Well, -my dear master," said the mare, "we have to get over that, but the -passage is so difficult that if my foot slips the least bit either way -we shall perish, but rely on me. Shut your eyes and grasp hold of me, -and I will do it." With this the mare started and in another moment she -again stamped on the ground and said, "Open your eyes! What can you -see?" "I can see," said Prince Mirkó, "behind me, in the distance, some -faint light and in front of me such a thick darkness that I cannot even -see my finger before me." "Well, my dear master, we have to get through -this also. Shut your eyes, and grasp me." Again she started and again -she stamped. "Open your eyes! What can you see now?" "I can see," said -Prince Mirkó, "a beautiful light, a beautiful snow-clad mountain, in the -midst of the mountain a meadow like silk, and in the midst of the meadow -something black." "Well, my dear master, that meadow which looks like -silk belongs to Knight Mezey, and the black something in the middle of -it is his tent, woven of black silk; it does not matter now whether you -shut your eyes or not, we will go there." With this Prince Mirkó spurred -the mare, and at once reached the tent. - -Prince Mirkó jumped from his mare and tied her to the tent by the side -of Knight Mezey's horse, and he himself walked into the tent, and lo! -inside, a knight was laid at full length on the silken grass, fast -asleep, but a sword over him was slashing in all directions, so that not -even a fly could settle on him. "Well," thought Prince Mirkó to himself, -"this fellow must be a brave knight, but I could kill him while he -sleeps; however, it would not be an honourable act to kill a sleeping -knight, and I will wait till he wakes." With this he walked out of the -tent, tied his mare faster to the tent-post, and he also lay down full -length upon the silken grass, and said to his sword, "Sword, come out of -thy scabbard," and his sword began to slash about over him, just like -Knight Mezey's, so that not even a fly could settle on him. - -All of a sudden Knight Mezey woke, and to his astonishment he saw -another horse tied by the side of his, and said, "Great Heavens! what's -the meaning of this? It's six hundred years since I saw a strange horse -by the side of mine! Whom can it belong to?" He got up, went out of the -tent, and saw Prince Mirkó asleep outside, and his sword slashing about -over him. "Well," said he, "this must be a brave knight, and as he has -not killed me while I was asleep, it would not be honourable to kill -him," with this he kicked the sleeping knight's foot and woke him. He -jumped up, and Knight Mezey thus questioned him: "Who are you? What is -your business?" Prince Mirkó told him whose son he was and why he had -come. "Welcome, my dear brother," said Knight Mezey, "your father is a -dear friend of mine, and I can see that you are as brave a knight as -your father, and I shall want you, because the large silken meadow that -you see is covered with enemies every day, and I have to daily cut them -down, but now that you are here to help me I shall be in no hurry about -them; let's go inside and have something to eat and drink, and let them -gather into a crowd, two of us will soon finish them." They went into -the tent and had something to eat and drink; but all at once his enemies -came up in such numbers that they came almost as far as the tent, when -Knight Mezey jumped to his feet and said, "Jump up, comrade, or else we -are done for." They sprang to their horses, darted among the enemy, and -both called out, "Sword, out of thy scabbard!" and in a moment the two -swords began to slash about, and cut off the heads of the enemy, so that -they had the greatest difficulty in advancing on account of the piles of -dead bodies, till at last, at the rear of the enemy, twelve knights took -to flight, and Knight Mezey and Prince Mirkó rode in pursuit of them, -till they reached a glass rock, to which they followed the twelve -knights, Prince Mirkó being the nearest to them. On the top of the rock -there was a beautiful open space, towards which the knights rode and -Prince Mirkó after them on his mare, when all at once they all -disappeared, as if the earth had swallowed them; seeing this, Prince -Mirkó rode to the spot where they disappeared, where he found a -trap-door, and under the door a deep hole and a spiral staircase. The -mare without hesitation jumped into the hole, which was the entrance to -the infernal regions. Prince Mirkó, looking round in Hades, suddenly -discerned a glittering diamond castle, which served the lower regions -instead of the sun, and saw that the twelve knights were riding towards -it; so he darted after them, and, calling out "Sword, come out of thy -scabbard," he slashed off the twelve knights' heads in a moment, and, -riding to the castle, he heard such a hubbub and clattering that the -whole place resounded with it: he jumped off his horse, and walked into -the castle, when lo! there was an old diabolical-looking witch, who was -weaving and making the clattering noise, and the whole building was now -full of soldiers, whom the devilish witch produced by weaving. When she -threw the shuttle to the right, each time two hussars on horseback -jumped out from the shuttle, and when she threw it to the left, each -time two foot soldiers jumped from it fully equipped. When he saw this, -he ordered his sword out of its scabbard, and cut down all the soldiers -present. But the old witch wove others again, so Prince Mirkó thought to -himself, if this goes on, I shall never get out of this place, so he -ordered his sword to cut up into little pieces the old witch, and then -he carried out the whole bleeding mass into the courtyard, where he -found a heap of wood: he placed the mass on it, put a light to it, and -burnt it. But when it was fully alight a small piece of a rib of the -witch flew out of the fire and began to spin around in the dust, and lo! -another witch grew out of it. Prince Mirkó thereupon was about to order -his sword to cut her up too, when the old witch addressed him thus: -"Spare my life, Mirkó, and I will help you in return for your kindness; -if you destroy me you can't get out of this place; here! I will give you -four diamond horse-shoe nails, put them away and you will find them -useful." Prince Mirkó took the nails and put them away, thinking to -himself, "If I spare the old witch she will start weaving again, and -Knight Mezey will never get rid of his enemies," so he again ordered his -sword to cut up the witch, and threw her into the fire and burnt her to -cinders. She never came to life again. He then got on his mare and rode -all over the lower regions, but could not find a living soul anywhere, -whereupon he spurred his mare, galloped to the foot of the spiral -staircase, and in another moment he reached the upper world. When he -arrived at the brink of the glass rock he was about to alight from his -mare: and stopped her for this purpose, but the mare questioned him -thus, "What are you going to do, Prince Mirkó?" "I was going to get -down, because the road is very steep and it's impossible to go down on -horseback." "Well then, dear master, if you do that you can't get below, -because you couldn't walk on the steep road, but if you stop on my back, -take hold of my mane, and shut your eyes, I will take you down." -Whereupon the mare started down the side of the rock, and, like a good -mountaineer, climbed down from the top to the bottom, and having arrived -at the foot of the steep rock, spoke to Prince Mirkó thus: "You can open -your eyes now." Mirkó having opened his eyes, saw that they had arrived -in the silken meadow. - -They started in the direction of Knight Mezey's tent, but Knight Mezey -thought that Mirkó had already perished, when suddenly he saw that Mirkó -was alive, so he came in great joy to meet him, and leading him into his -tent, as he had no heir, he offered him the silk meadow and his whole -realm, but Mirkó replied thus: "My dear brother, now that I have -destroyed all your enemies, you need not fear that the enemy will occupy -your country, therefore I should like you to come with me to my royal -father, who has been expecting you for a very long time." With this they -got on their horses, and started off in the direction of the old king's -realm, and arrived safely at the very spot on the glass rock where -Mirkó had jumped down. Knight Mezey stopped here, and said to Prince -Mirkó: "My dear brother, I cannot go further than this, because the -diamond nails of my horse's shoes have been worn out long ago, and the -horse's feet no longer grip the ground." But Mirkó remembered that the -old witch had given him some diamond nails, and said: "Don't worry -yourself, brother. I have got some nails with me, and I will shoe thy -horse." And taking out the diamond nails, he shod Knight Mezey's horse -with them. They mounted once more, and like two good mountaineers -descended the glass rock, and as swift as thought were on the way home. - -The old king was also then sitting in the eastern window, awaiting -Knight Mezey, when suddenly he saw two horsemen approaching, and, -looking at them with his telescope, recognised them as his dear old -comrade Knight Mezey, together with his son, Prince Mirkó, coming -towards him; so he ran down at once, and out of the hall. He ordered the -bailiff to slaughter twelve heifers, and by the time that Knight Mezey -and Mirkó arrived, a grand dinner was ready waiting for them; and on -their arrival he received them with great joy, embraced them and kissed -them, and laughed with both his eyes. Then they sat down to dinner, and -ate and drank in great joy. During dinner Knight Mezey related Mirkó's -brave deeds, and, amongst other things, said to the old king: "Well, -comrade, your son Mirkó is even a greater hero than we were. He is a -brave fellow, and you ought to be well pleased with him." The old king -said: "Well, when I come to think of it, I begin to be satisfied with -him, especially because he has brought you with him; but still I don't -believe that he would have courage to fight Doghead also." Prince Mirkó -was listening to their talk but did not speak. After dinner, however, he -called Knight Mezey aside, and asked him who Doghead was, and where he -lived. Knight Mezey informed him that he lived in the north, and that he -was such a hero that there was no other to equal him under the sun. -Prince Mirkó at once gave orders for the journey, filled his bag, and -next day started on his mare to Doghead's place; according to his -custom, he sat upon the mare, grasped her firmly, and shut his eyes. The -mare darted off, and flew like a swift cyclone, then suddenly stopped, -stamped on the ground, and said, "Prince Mirkó, open your eyes. What do -you see?" "I see," said the Prince, "a diamond castle, six stories high, -that glitters so that one can't look at it, although one could look at -the sun." "Well, Doghead lives there," said the mare, "and that is his -royal castle." Prince Mirkó rode close under the window and shouted -loudly: "Doghead! are you at home? Come out, because I have to reckon -with you." Doghead himself was not at home, but his daughter was -there--such a beautiful royal princess, whose like one could not find in -the whole world. As she sat in the window doing some needlework, and -heard the high shrill voice, she looked through the window in a great -rage, and gave him such a look with her beautiful flashing black eyes, -that Prince Mirkó and his mare at once turned into a stone statue. -However, she began to think that perhaps the young gentleman might be -some prince who had come to see her; so she repented that she had -transformed him into a stone statue so quickly; and ran down to him, -took out a golden rod, and began to walk round the stone statue, and -tapped its sides with her gold rod, and lo! the stone crust began to -crack, and fell off, and all at once Prince Mirkó and his mare stood -alive in front of her. Then the princess asked; "Who are you? and what -is your business?" And Mirkó told her that he was a prince, and had come -to see the Princess of Doghead. The princess slightly scolded him for -shouting for her father so roughly through the window, but at the same -time fell in love with Prince Mirkó on the spot, and asked him to come -into her diamond castle, which was six stories high, and received him -well. However, while feasting, Prince Mirkó during the conversation -confessed what his true errand was, viz., to fight Doghead; but the -princess advised him to desist from this, because there was no man in -the whole world who could match her father. But when she found that -Mirkó could not be dissuaded, she took pity on him, and, fearing that -lest he should be vanquished, let him into the secret how to conquer her -father. "Go down," she said, "into the seventh cellar of the castle; -there you will find a cask which is not sealed. In that cask is kept my -father's strength. I hand you here a silver bottle, which you have to -fill from the cask; but do not cork the bottle, but always take care -that it shall hang uncorked from your neck; and when your strength -begins to fail, dip your little finger into it, and each time your -strength will be increased by that of five thousand men; also drink of -it, because each drop of wine will give you the strength of five -thousand men." Prince Mirkó listened attentively to her counsel, hung -the silver bottle round his neck, and went down into the cellar, where -he found the wine in question, and from it he first drank a good deal, -and then filled his flask, and, thinking that he had enough in his -bottle, he let the rest run out to the last drop, so that Doghead could -use it no more. There were in the cellar six bushels of wheat flour, -with this he soaked it up, so that no moisture was left, whereupon he -went upstairs to the princess, and reported that he was ready and also -thanked her for her directions, and promised that for all her kindness -he would marry her, and vowed eternal faith to her. The beautiful -princess consented to all, and only made one condition, viz., that in -case Prince Mirkó conquered her father he would not kill him. - -Prince Mirkó then inquired of the beautiful princess when she expected -her father home, and in what direction, to which the princess replied -that at present he was away in his western provinces, visiting their -capitals, but that he would be home soon, because he was due, and that -it was easy to predict his coming, because when he was two hundred miles -from home, he would throw home a mace weighing forty hundredweight, thus -announcing his arrival, and wherever the mace dropped a spring would -suddenly burst from the ground. Prince Mirkó thereupon went with the -royal princess into the portico of the royal castle, to await there -Doghead's arrival, when suddenly, good Heavens! the air became dark, and -a mace, forty hundredweight, came down with a thud into the courtyard of -the royal fortress, and, striking the ground, water burst forth -immediately in the shape of a rainbow. Prince Mirkó at once ran into the -courtyard in order to try how much his strength had increased. He picked -up the mace swung it over his head, and threw it back so that it dropped -just in front of Doghead. Doghead's horse stumbled over the mace; -whereupon Doghead got angry. "Gee up! I wish the wolves and dogs would -devour you," shouted Doghead to the horse. "I have ridden you for the -last six hundred years, and up to this time you have never stumbled -once. What's the reason that you begin to stumble now?" "Alas! my dear -master," said his horse, "there must be something serious the matter at -home, because some one has thrown back your mace that you threw home, -and I stumbled over it." "There's nothing the matter," said Doghead; "I -dreamt six hundred years ago that I would have to fight Prince Mirkó, -and it is he who is at my castle; but what is he to me? I have more -strength in my little finger than he in his whole body." With this he -darted off at a great speed and appeared at the castle. Prince Mirkó was -awaiting Doghead in the courtyard of the fortress. The latter, seeing -Prince Mirkó, galloped straight to him and said, "Well, Mirkó. I know -that you are waiting for me. Here I am. How do you wish me to fight you? -With swords? or shall we wrestle?" "I don't care how; just as you -please," said Mirkó. "Then let us try swords first," said Doghead, and, -getting off his horse, they stood up, and both ordered out their swords. -"Swords, come out of the scabbards." The two swords flew out of the -scabbards and began to fence over the heads of the combatants. The whole -place rung with their clashing, and in their vehemence they sent forth -sparks in such quantity that the whole ground was covered with fire, so -that no one could stand the heat. Whereupon Doghead said to Mirkó, -"Don't let us spoil our swords, but let us put them back into their -scabbards, and let us wrestle." So they sheathed their swords and began -to wrestle. When suddenly Doghead grasped Mirkó round the waist, lifted -him up, and dashed him to the ground with such force that Mirkó sank to -his belt. Mirkó was frightened, and quickly dipped his little finger -into the bottle. Whereupon he regained his strength, and, jumping out of -the ground, made a desperate dash at Doghead, and threw him to the -ground with such force, that he lay full length on the ground like a -green frog; then he seized him by his hair and dragged him behind the -royal residence, where a golden bridge stood over a bottomless lake. He -dragged him on to the bridge, and, holding his head over the water, -ordered his sword out of the scabbard and cut off his head, so that it -dropped into the bottomless lake, and then he pushed the headless trunk -after it. - -Doghead's daughter saw all this, and grew very angry with Prince Mirkó, -and as he approached her she turned her face away, and would not even -speak to him; but Prince Mirkó explained to her that he could not do -otherwise, for if he had spared Doghead's life he would have destroyed -his; and that he was willing to redeem his promise, and keep his faith -to the princess and take her for his wife. Whereupon the royal princess -became reconciled, and they decided to get ready to go to Prince Mirkó's -realm. They ordered the horses--Doghead's charger was got ready for the -beautiful princess--and, mounting them, were about to start, when all at -once deep sorrow seized Prince Mirkó, and the beautiful royal princess -thus questioned him: "Why are you so downcast, Mirkó?" "Well, because," -said Mirkó, "I'm anxious to go back to my country, but I am also -extremely sorry to leave behind this sumptuous diamond castle, six -stories high, which belonged to your father, for there is nothing like -it in my country." "Well, my love," said the princess, "don't trouble -about that. I will transform the castle into a golden apple at once, and -sit in the middle of it, and all you will have to do is to put the apple -into your pocket, and then you can take me with you and the castle too, -and when you arrive at home you can re-transform me wherever you like." -Thereupon the pretty princess jumped down from her horse, handed the -reins to Mirkó, took out a diamond rod, and commenced to walk round the -diamond castle, gently beating the sides of it with the diamond rod, and -the castle began to shrink and shrunk as small as a sentry box, and then -the princess jumped inside of it, and the whole shrivelled up into a -golden apple, the diamond rod lying by the side of it. Prince Mirkó -picked up the golden apple and the diamond rod, and put them into his -pocket, and then got on horseback, and, taking Doghead's horse by the -bridle, he rode quietly home. Having arrived at home, Mirkó had the -horses put in the stables, and then walked into the royal palace, where -he found the old king and Knight Mezey quite content and enjoying -themselves. He reported to them that he had conquered even Doghead, and -that he had killed him; but the old king and Knight Mezey doubted his -words. Therefore Prince Mirkó took them both by their arms, and said to -them, "Come along with me, and you can satisfy yourselves, with your own -eyes, that I have conquered Doghead, because I have brought away with -me, not only his diamond castle, six stories high, but also his -beautiful daughter, inside it, as a trophy of my victory." The old king -and Knight Mezey were astonished at his words, and, still doubting, -followed Mirkó, who took them into the flower garden of the king, in the -middle of which Prince Mirkó selected a nice roomy place for the diamond -castle, and placed the golden apple there, and commenced walking round, -and, patting its sides with the diamond rod, the golden apple began to -swell. It took a quadrangular shape, growing and growing, higher and -higher, till it became a magnificent six-storied diamond castle; and -then he took the old king and Knight Mezey by their arms, and led them -up the diamond staircase into the rooms of the castle, where the -princess, who was world-wide known for her beauty, met them, and -received them most cordially. She bade them sit down, and sent lackeys -to call the other sons of the old king and also the higher dignitaries -of the court. In the dining-hall there was a big table, which could be -opened out. She gave orders, and the table was laid of itself, and on it -appeared all sorts of costly dishes and drinks, and the assembled guests -feasted in joy. The old king was highly satisfied with his son's doings, -and handed over to Mirkó the royal power and the whole realm: he himself -and Knight Mezey retired into quiet secluded life, and lived long in -great happiness. The young royal couple who got married had beautiful -children, and they are alive still, to this very day, if they have not -died since. May they be your guests to-morrow! - - - - -THE STUDENT WHO WAS FORCIBLY MADE KING. - - -A student started on a journey, and as he went over a field he found -some peas which were cracked. He thought that they might be of use to -him as he was a poor lad, and his father had advised him to pick up -anything he saw, if it was worth no more than a flea; so he gathered up -the peas and put them in his pocket. As he travelled he was overtaken by -night just when he arrived at the royal borough; so he reported himself -to the king, and asked for some money for travelling expenses, and a -night's lodging. Now the student was a comely lad, spoke grammatically, -and had good manners. The queen noticed this, and as she had a daughter -ready for marriage, she came to the conclusion that he was a prince in -disguise, who had come in search of a wife. She told this to the king, -and he thought it very probable. Both agreed that they would try to find -out whether he really was a prince, and asked him to stay with them for -two days. The first night they did not give him a very splendid bed, -because they thought that if he were satisfied, he was but a student, if -not, then he must be a prince. They made his bed in the adjoining house, -and the king placed one of his confidential servants outside of the -window, that he might spy out all that the student did. They showed the -bed to the student, and he began to undress when they left. As he -undressed all the peas dropped out of his pocket, and rolled under the -bed; he at once began to look for them and pick them up, one by one, and -did not finish till dawn. The spy outside could not make out what he was -doing, but he saw that he did not go to sleep till dawn, and then only -for a short time, having spent the night arranging his bed; so he -reported to the king that his guest had not slept, but had fidgeted -about, appearing not to be used to such a bed. The student got up, and -during breakfast the king asked him how he had slept, to which he -replied, "A little restlessly, but it was through my own fault." From -this they concluded that he already repented of not having shown them -his true position, and thus having not got a proper bed. They believed, -therefore, that he was a prince, and treated him accordingly. Next night -they made his bed in the same place, but in right royal style. As the -student had not slept the night before, the moment he put his head down -he began to sleep like a pumpkin, and never even moved till dawn. He had -no trouble with his peas this time, for he had tied them up in the -corner of his handkerchief as he picked them up from under the bed. The -spy reported to the king next morning that the traveller slept soundly -all night. They now firmly believed that the student simply dressed up -as such, but in reality was a prince. They tried to persuade him that -he was a prince, and addressed him as such. The king's daughter ran -after the student to get into his favour, and it didn't take much to -make him fall in love with her, and so the two got married. They had -lived a whole year together, when they were sent off to travel in order -that the student-king might show his wife his realm. The student was -very frightened that he might not get out of his trouble so well, and -grew more and more alarmed, till at last he accepted his fate. "Let come -whatever is to come," thought he, "I will go with them, and then, if -nothing else can be done, I can escape, and go back to college," for he -had carried his student's gown with him everywhere. They started off and -travelled till they came to a large forest. The student slipped aside -into a deep ditch, where he undressed, in order to put on his student's -clothes and to escape. Now there was a dragon with seven heads lazily -lying there, who accosted him thus: "Who are you? What are you looking -for here? What do you want?" The student told him his whole history, and -also that he was just going to run away. "There is no need to run away," -said the dragon, "that would be a pity, continue your journey; when you -get out of this wood you will see a copper fortress, which swivels on a -goose's leg. Go into it, and live there in peace with your wife, with -your dog and cat, till the fortress begins to move and turn round. When -this happens, be off, because if I come home and catch you there, there -will be an end of you." The student went back to his travelling -companions and continued his way until, emerging from the wood, he saw -the fortress. They all went in and settled down as in their own, and all -went on very well for two years, and he already began to believe that he -really was a king, when suddenly the fortress began to move, and swivel -round very quickly. The student was downcast, and went up on the -battlement of the fortress, wandering about in great sorrow; he there -found an old woman, who asked him, "What's the matter with your -Majesty?" "H'm! the matter is, old woman," replied the student, "that I -am not a king, and still I am compelled to be one," and then he told her -his whole history up to that time. "There's nothing in that, my son," -said the old woman, "be thankful that you have not tried to keep your -secret from me. I am the queen of magic, and the most formidable enemy -of the dragon with seven heads; therefore this is my advice: get a loaf -made at once, and let this loaf be placed in the oven seven times with -other loaves, this particular loaf each time to be put in the oven the -first and to be taken out last. Have this loaf placed outside the -fortress gate to-morrow, without fail. When the dragon with the seven -heads is coming, it will be such a charm against him that he will never -trouble you again, and the fortress will be left to you with all that -belongs to it." The student had the loaf prepared as he was told, and -when the clock struck one after midnight the bread was already placed -outside the fortress gate. As the sun rose, the dragon with seven heads -went straight towards the fortress gate, where the loaf addressed him -thus, "Stop, I'm guard here, and without my permission you may not -enter; if you wish to come in, you must first suffer what I have -suffered." - -"Well," said the dragon, "I've made up my mind to enter, so let me know -what ordeals you have gone through." - -The loaf told him, that when it was a seed it was buried in a field that -had previously been dug up: then rotted, sprouted, and grew; it had -suffered from cold, heat, rain, and snow, until it ripened; it was then -cut down, tied into sheaves, threshed out, ground, kneaded into dough, -and then seven times running they put it in a fiery oven, each time -before its mates: "If you can stand all this," concluded the loaf, -"then I'll let you in, but on no other condition." The dragon, knowing -that he could not stand all this, got so angry that he burst in his rage -and perished. The student from that day became lord of the fortress, and -after the death of his wife's parents became king of two lands; and if -he has not died yet, he reigns still. - -If I knew that I should fare as well as that student I would become a -student this very blessed day! - - - - -THE CHILDREN OF TWO RICH MEN. - - -There lived, at the two corners of a country, far away from each other, -two rich men; one of them had a son, the other a daughter; these two men -asked each other to be godfather to their children, and, during the -christening they agreed that the babes should wed. The children grew up, -but did no work, and so were spoilt. As soon as they were old enough -their parents compelled them to marry. Shortly afterwards their parents -died and they were left alone; they knew nothing of the world and did -not understand farming, so the serfs and farm-labourers had it all their -own way. Soon their fields were all overgrown with weeds and their -corn-bins empty; in a word they became poor. One day the master -bethought himself that he ought to go to market, as he had seen his -father do; so he set off, and drove with him a pair of beautiful young -oxen that were still left. On his way he met a wedding-party, and -greeted them thus, "May the Lord preserve you from such a sorrowful -change, and may He give consolation to those who are in trouble," Words -he had once heard his father use upon the occasion of a funeral. The -wedding-party got very vexed, and, as they were rather flushed with -wine, gave him a good drubbing, and told him that the next time he saw -such a ceremony he was to put his hat on the end of his stick, lift it -high in the air, and shout for joy. He went on further till he came to -the outskirts of a forest, where he met some butcher-like looking people -who were driving fat pigs, whereupon he seized his hat, put it on the -end of his stick, and began to shout: which so frightened the pigs that -they rushed off on all sides into the wood; the butchers got hold of him -and gave him a sound beating, and told him that the next time he saw -such a party he was to say, "May the Lord bless you with _two_ for every -_one_ you have." He went on again and saw a man clearing out the weeds -from his field, and greeted him, "My brother, may the Lord bless you -with _two_ for every _one_ you have." The man, who was very angry about -the weeds, caught him and gave him a sound beating, and told him that -the next time he saw such things he had better help to pull out one or -two. In another place he met two men fighting, so he went up and began -to pull first at one and then at the other, whereupon they left off -fighting with each other and pitched into him. Somehow or other he at -last arrived at the market, and, looking round, he saw an unpainted cart -for sale, whereupon he remembered that his father used to go into the -wood in a cart, and so he asked the man who had it for sale whether he -would change it for his two oxen--not knowing that having once parted -with the oxen he would not get them back again. The man was at first -angry, because he thought he was making fun of the cart, but he soon saw -that the man with the oxen was not quite right in his head, and so he -struck the bargain with the young farmer, who, when he got the cart, -went dragging it to and fro in the market. He met a blacksmith and -changed the cart for a hatchet; soon the hatchet was changed for a -whetstone; then he started off home as if he had settled matters in the -most satisfactory manner. Near his village he saw a lake, and on it a -flock of wild ducks. He immediately threw his whetstone at them, which -sank to the bottom, whilst every one of the ducks flew away. - -He undressed and got into the lake, in order to recover his whetstone, -but in the meantime his clothes were stolen from the bank, and, having -no clothes, he had to walk home as naked as when he was born. His wife -was not at home when he arrived. He took a slice of bread from the -drawer, and went into the cellar to draw himself some wine; having put -the bread on the door-sill of the cellar, he went back to get his wine, -as he did so he saw a dog come up and run away with his bread; he at -once threw the spigot after the thief, so the spigot was lost, the bread -was lost, and every drop of wine was lost, for it all ran out. Now there -was a sack of flour in the cellar, and in order that his wife might not -notice the wine he spread the flour over it. A goose was sitting on eggs -in the cellar, and as he worked she hissed at him. Thinking that the -bird was saying, that it was going to betray him to his wife, he asked -it two or three times, "Will you split?" Going up to the goose, it -hissed still more, so he caught hold of it by the neck, and dashed it -upon the ground with such force that it died on the spot. He was now -more frightened than ever, and in order to amend his error he plucked -off the feathers, rolled himself about in the floury mess, then amongst -the feathers, and then sat on the nest as if he were sitting. His wife -came home, and, as she found the cellar door wide open, she went down -stairs, and found her husband sitting in the nest and hissing like a -goose; but his wife soon recognised him, and, picking up a log of wood, -she attacked him, saying, "Good Heavens, what an animal, let me kill it -at once!" Up he jumped from the nest, and cried out in a horrible -fright, "Don't touch me, my dear wife, it's I!" His wife then questioned -him about his transactions, and he gave a full account of all that had -happened; so his wife drove him away and said, "Don't come before my -eyes again till you have made good your faults." She then gave him a -slice of bread and a small flask of spirit, which he put in his pocket -and went on his way, his wife wishing him "a happy journey, if the road -is not muddy." On his way he met Our Lord Christ and said to him, "I'm -not going to divide my bread with you, because you have not made a rich -man of me." Then he met Death, with him he divided his bread and his -spirits, therefore Death did not carry him off, and he asked Death to be -his child's godfather. - -Then said Death, "Now you will see a wonder"; with this he slipped into -the spirit flask, and was immediately corked up by the young man. Death -implored to be set free, but the young farmer said, "Promise me then -that you will make me a rich man, and then I will let you out." Death -promised him this, and they agreed that the man was to be a doctor, and -whenever Death stood at the patient's feet, he or she was not to die, -and could be cured by any sort of medicine whatever: but if Death stood -at the patient's head he was to die: with this they parted. - -Our man reached a town where the king's daughter was very ill. The -doctors had tried all they could, but were not able to cure her, so he -said that he was going to cure her, if she could be cured, if not, he -would tell them; so thereupon he went into the patient and saw Death -standing at her feet. He burnt a stack of hay, and made a bath for her -of the ashes, and she recovered so soon as she had bathed in it. The -king made him so many presents that he became a very rich man: he -removed to the town, brought his wife there, and lived in great style as -a doctor. Once however he fell sick, and his koma [his child's -godfather] came and stood at his head, and the patient begged hard for -him to go and stand at his feet, but his koma replied, "Not if I know -it," and then the doctor also departed to the other world. - - - - -THE HUSSAR AND THE SERVANT GIRL.[1] - - -The wife of a priest in olden times, it may have been in the -antediluvian world, put all the plates, dishes, and milk-jugs into a -basket and sent the servant to wash them in the brook. While the girl -was washing she saw a cray-fish crawl out of the water, and, as she had -never seen one in her life before, she stood staring at it, and was a -little frightened. It so happened that a hussar rode past on horseback, -and the girl asked him, "Would you mind telling me, my gallant horseman, -what sort of a God's wonder that yonder is?" "Well, my sister," said the -soldier, "that is a cray-fish." The servant then took courage, and went -near the cray-fish to look at it, and said, "But it crawls!" "But it's a -cray-fish," said the soldier again. "But it crawls," said the servant -abruptly. "But it's a cray-fish," said the soldier a third time. "Well, -my gallant horseman, how can you stand there and tell me that, when I -can see that it crawls?" said the servant. "But, my sister, how can you -stand there and tell me, when I can see that it's a cray-fish?" said the -soldier. "Well, I'm neither blind nor a fool, and I can see quite well -that it's a-crawling," said the servant. "But neither am I blind nor a -fool, and I can see that it is a cray-fish," said the soldier. - -The servant got so angry that she dashed her crockery to the ground and -broke it into fragments, crying, in a great rage, "May I perish here if -it is not a-crawling!" The hussar jumped off his saddle, drew his sword, -and cut off his horse's head, saying, "May the executioner cut off my -neck like this if it isn't a cray-fish!" The soldier went his way on -foot, and the servant went home without her ware, and the priest's wife -asked, "Well, where are all the pots?" The servant told her what had -happened between the soldier and her about a cray-fish and a-crawling. -"Is that the reason why you have done all the damage?" said the priest's -wife. "Oh, mistress, how could I give in when I saw quite well that it -was a-crawling; and still that nasty soldier kept on saying it was a -cray-fish?" The wife of the priest was heating the oven, as she was -going to bake, and she got into such a rage that she seized her new fur -jacket, for which she had given a hundred florins, and pitched it into -the oven, saying, "May the flames of the fire burn me like this if you -were not both great fools!" "What is all this smell of burning?" asked -the priest, coming in. Learning what had happened about a cray-fish and -a-crawling, he took his gown and cut it up on the threshold with a -hatchet, saying, "May the executioner cut me into bits like this if the -three of you are not fools!" Then came the schoolmaster (his calf had -got loose and run into the clergyman's yard, and he had come after it to -drive it home): and, hearing what had happened, and why, he caught hold -of a stick, and struck his calf such a blow on the head that it fell -down dead on the spot, exclaiming, "If God will, may the fiery -thunderbolt thus strike me dead if you all four are not fools!" - -Then came the churchwarden, and asked what had happened there, and when -he was told he got into such a rage that he picked up the church-box and -dashed it on the ground in the middle of the yard, so that the box was -broken to pieces, and the precious altar-covers and linen were rolling -about on the dirty ground, saying, "May I perish like this, at this very -hour, if the whole five of you are not fools!" - -In the meantime the sacristan came in, and, seeing the linen on the -floor, he threw up his hands and said, "Well, I never! whatever's the -matter?" Then they told him what had happened, and why, whereupon he -picked up all the covers and linen and tore them into shreds, saying, -"May the devil tear me to atoms like this if you six are not a parcel of -raving lunatics!" - -News of the event soon got abroad, and the whole congregation gathered -together and set the priest's house on fire, crying, "May the flames of -the fire burn us all like this, every one of us, if all the seven were -not fools!" - -[1] The zest of this tale turns upon a similarity in the sound of the -words in Magyar for "cray-fish," and "crawling." - - - - -MY FATHER'S WEDDING. - - -Once I discovered all of a sudden, it was before I was born, that my -father was going to get married, and take my mother unto him. My father -said to me, "Go to the mill and have some corn ground for bread for the -wedding!" Whereupon I betook myself hurriedly like a smart fellow, I -looked for a cloth, and took up into the loft three bags, and filled -nine sacks with the best wheat of Dálnok, the best to be found; I put -all nine sacks at once over my shoulder, and took them to the cart. I -led out oxen and tried to yoke them, but neither of them could find it's -old place; I put the off-side one on the near side, and the near-side -one on the off side, and they were all right. I tried the yoke-pins, but -they would not fit, I therefore put in lieu of one the handle of a -shovel, and in place of the other a pole, and then all was right. I went -to the mill with the team, and when I arrived there I stopped the oxen -and stuck the whip into the ground in front of them to prevent them -running away; I myself went into the mill to call the miller to assist -me in carrying in the wheat. I couldn't find a soul in the mill. I -looked around, under the bed, behind the oven, and saw that the green -jug was not on it's peg; from this I knew that the mill was away -gathering strawberries, so I thought, if this were so, I should have to -wait patiently till it returned, but then I remembered that it was not -its custom to hurry back, and by the time it got back my hair might be -grey, and then it would be difficult for oxen to wait from year to year -as I had not brought aught for them to feed on. So I rushed after it at -a dog's trot, out on to the mount, and found it sniffing about the -shrubs, so I cut a jolly good stick and began to bang it on both sides -as hard as my strength allowed me, till I happened to hit it rather hard -with the stick, and, having struck it, I could hear it far away as it -began to move down in the valley, and it ground away and made such a -clatter; it was just grinding my wheat! In order to get down from the -mount into the valley more quickly, I lay down on the ground and rolled -down the slope, and after me all the stumps, who envied my pastime. -Nothing happened to them, and the only accident I had was that I knocked -my nose a little into some soft cow-dung, but I didn't carry it away -altogether, and a good deal of it is left there still. The poor white -horse fared much worse than that, as it was grazing at the foot of the -mount, it got so frightened by us that it ran out of this world with a -fetter fastened to it's feet, and has not returned to this very day. I -rubbed my nose on the sward as a hen does, and went to see what had -become of the oxen in the meantime: lo! the stock of my whip had taken -root and become such a tall tree that it was as high as the big tower at -Brassó[1] and the starlings had built their nests in it, and had so many -young ones that you couldn't hear the clattering of the mill for their -chirping. - -Well, I was very much delighted, thinking that now I could catch a lot -of young starlings; I knew how to climb well. I climbed the tree, and -tried to put my hand into a hole but couldn't, so I tried my head, and -that went in comfortably. I stuffed my breast full of starlings. When I -tried to get out of the hole I could not; so I rushed home and fetched -an adze, and cut myself out. I couldn't get down, as the tree was so -thick and my head so giddy, so I called the miller to help me, but he, -thinking that my complaint was hunger, sent me some miller-cake by his -son, but I told him in a great rage that that was not what I wanted: so -off he ran at once, and brought me a bushel of bran, handing it up on -the end of a pale. I twisted the bran into a rope, so strong that it -would bear a millstone, and I tried whether it would reach the ground, -but it did not reach, so I doubled it up, then it not only reached, but -trailed on the ground. I began to glide down it, but a beetle aloft -sawed it in two where it was tied to the bough, and down I dropped rope -and all; but while I was falling to the ground, in the meantime, the -young starlings in my breast got their feathers, took to their wings, -and flew away with me. When we were flying over the river Olt, some -women who were washing rags on the bank began to shout, "What the fiery -thunderbolt is the boy doing that he flies so well? If he drops he will -drop straight in the river and drown." I saw they were all staring at -me, but from the chirping of the young starlings I couldn't clearly hear -what they shouted: so I thought they were shouting that I should untie -the waist-band of my shirt. I untied the waist-band of my shirt below -the garter that tied my socks: with this the young starlings got out of -my bosom all at once and all the wings I had flew away. Down I dropped -into the middle of the river: with my splash the waters overflowed the -banks and washed as far as the foot of the mountain: but when the waters -flowed back into the bed of the river, (with the exception of a few -drops that were lapped up by a thirsty shepherd-dog of Gidófalú) so many -fish were left on the bank that they covered the whole place, from -Málnás to Doboly and from Árkos to Angyalos and even the whole plain of -Szépmezö. Well, there was a lot of fish! Twelve buffalo-carts were -carting them away without interruption for a whole week, and the -quantity didn't get less, you couldn't see that any had been taken away: -but a stark naked gipsy brat came that way from Köröspatak, and he -picked them up, put them into his shirt lap, and carried them all away. - - -I then remembered that they had not sent me here to play but to grind -corn, so I started in the direction of where I had left the oxen to see -what they were doing, and whether they were there still. I travelled for -a long time till I got quite tired. I saw in a meadow a horse, and I -thought I could easily get on it, and go where I wished to go, but it -would not wait for me. I caught hold of its tail, turned it round, and -so we stood face to face, and I said to it quite bumptiously: "Ho! stop, -old nag. Don't be so frisky." It understood the kind words and stopped -dead, like a peg. I put the saddle on the grey and sat on the bay and -started off on the chestnut; over a ditch and over a stile, so that the -horse's feet did not touch the ground. In one place I passed a vineyard, -and inside the hedge there was a lot of pretty ripe fruit. I stopped the -grey, got down from the bay, and tied the chestnut to the paling. I -tried to climb over the hedge, but couldn't, so I caught hold of my -hair, and swung myself over. I began to shake the plum-tree, and walnuts -dropped. I picked up the filberts and put them in my bosom. It was very -hot, I was very thirsty, so that I nearly died of thirst. I saw that not -very far away there were some reapers, and I asked, "Where can I get -water here?" They shewed me a spring not far off. I went there, and -found that it was frozen over. I tried in vain to break the ice with my -heel, and then with a stone, but did not succeed, as the ice was a span -thick; so I took the skull from my head and broke the ice with it -easily. I scooped up water with it, and had a hearty drink. I went to -the hedge and swung myself over by the hair into the road; then I untied -the grey, got on the bay, and galloped off on the chestnut, over stile -and ditch, so that my hair flew on the wind. In one place I passed two -men. As I overtook them, they called out after me: "Where's your head, -my boy?" I immediately felt my back, and lo! my head was not there; so I -galloped back at a quick dog-trot to the spring. What did I see? My -skull felt lonely without me, and had so much sense that as I forgot it -there, it had made a neck, hands, waist, and feet, for itself out of -the mud, and I caught it sliding on the ice. Well! I wasn't a bad hand -at sliding myself, so I slid after it as fast as I could. But it knew -better than I did, and so I couldn't possibly catch it. My good God! -What could I do? I was very much frightened that I was really going to -be left without a head but I remembered something, and thought to -myself: "Never mind, skull, don't strain yourself, you can't outdo me." -So I hurriedly made a greyhound out of mud, and set it after my skull. -He caught it in a jiffy, and brought it to me. I took it and put it on: -I went to the hedge, and seizing myself by the hair, swung myself over -the hedge: untied the grey, got on the bay, and galloped away on the -chestnut, over a stile, and over a ditch, like a bird, till I came to -the mill, where I found that my father had not had patience to wait for -me, and so had set off in search of me; and, as he couldn't find me, -began to bewail me, vociferating: "Oh! my soul! Oh! my son! Where have -you gone? Oh! Oh! Why did I send you without anybody to take care of -you? Oh! my soul! Oh! my son! Now all is over with you. You must have -perished somewhere." As my father was always scolding me, and calling me -bad names in my lifetime, I could never have believed that he were able -to pity me so much. When I saw what was the matter with him, I called -from a distance: "Console yourself, father, I am here, 'a bad hatchet -never gets lost.'" It brought my poor old father's spirits back. We put -the sacks full of flour on the cart and went home, and celebrated my -father's wedding sumptuously. The bride was my mother, and I was the -first who danced the bride's dance with her, and then the others had a -turn, and when the wedding was over, all the guests went away and we -were left at home by ourselves, and are alive at this date, if we are -not dead. I was born one year after this, and I am the legitimate son of -my father, and have grown up nicely, and have become a very clever lad. - -[1] Cronstadt in Transylvania. - - - - -THE BAA-LAMBS. - - -There was once, somewhere or in some other place, I don't know where, -over seven times seven countries, or even beyond them, a poor widow, and -she had three unmarried sons who were so poor that one had always to go -out to service. First the eldest went, and, as he was going and going -over seven times seven countries, and even beyond them, he met an old -man, who accosted him, saying, "My younger brother, where are you -going?" The lad answered, "My father, I am going to look for work." "And -I am in need of a servant," the old man replied; so he engaged the lad -on the spot to tend his baa-lambs. In the morning, as the lad went out -with them, the old man told him not to drive them and not to guide them, -but simply to go after them, as they would graze quietly if left to -themselves. The lad started with the baa-lambs; first they came to a -splendid meadow, he went in and trotted after them as his master had -told him; then they came to a swift stream and the baa-lambs went over -it, but the lad had not the courage to go into the water, but walked up -and down the bank till evening, when the baa-lambs returned of their own -accord, recrossed the water, and, as night had set in, he drove them -home. "Well, my dear son," said his master, "tell me where you have been -with the baa-lambs." "My dear father, I only followed after them. First -of all they went into a large plain; after that we came to a great, -swift stream; they got over the large sheet of water, but I remained on -this side, as I did not dare to go into the deep water." As the poor lad -finished his tale the master said, "Well, my dear son, I shall send you -away, as I can see very well that you are not fit for service," and he -sent him off without any pay. The lad went home, very much cast down. -When he got home his two brothers asked him, "Well, dear brother, how -did you get on in service?" "Hum, how did I get on, and what did I do? -You'd better go yourselves and you will soon know." "Very well," they -replied, and the second son went to look for service, met the same old -man, and fared the same as his brother, and was sent home without -anything. As he arrived home his younger brother met him and asked, -"Well, dear brother, what sort of service did you get?" "Hum," replied -he, "What sort of a place did I get? You had better go and then you also -will know." "Very well," replied the youngest, and he too went to try -his luck. As he went along he met the same old man, and was engaged by -him to tend his baa-lambs for a year; the old man told him, too, to walk -after them, and not to leave them under any circumstances. Next morning -the old man prepared the lad's bag, and let the baa-lambs out of the -fold; they started off, and the lad followed them, step by step, till -they came to a pretty, green plain: they walked over it, quietly grazing -along as they went, till they came to the swift stream; the baa-lambs -crossed it, and the lad followed them; but the moment he entered the -water the swift current swept off his clothes and shrivelled his flesh, -so that, when he got to the other side, he was only skin and bones; so -soon as he reached the other bank the baa-lambs turned back and began to -blow on him, and his body was at once fairer than it ever was before. -The baa-lambs started off again till they came to a large meadow where -the grass was so high that it was ready for the scythe, and still the -cattle grazing on it were so ill-fed that a breath of wind would have -blown them away; the baa-lambs went on to another meadow which was quite -barren, and the cattle there had nothing to eat, yet they were as fat as -butter; thence the baa-lambs went into a huge forest, and there, on -every tree, was such a lamentation and crying and weeping as one could -not conceive of; the lad looked to see what the meaning of the loud -crying could be, and lo, on every bough there was a young sparrow, quite -naked! and all were weeping and crying. From here the baa-lambs went -sauntering on till they came to a vast garden; in this garden there -were two dogs fighting, so that the foam ran from their mouths; still -they could not harm each other. The baa-lambs went on further till they -came to a great lake, and there the lad saw a woman in the lake, -scooping with a spoon something from the water incessantly, and still -she was not able to scoop the thing up. From there the baa-lambs went -further, and, as they went, he saw a brook of beautiful, running water, -clear like crystal, and, as he was very thirsty, he had half a mind to -drink of it, but, thinking that the spring-head was very much better, he -went there, and saw that the water was bubbling out of the mouth of a -rotting dead dog, which so frightened him that he did not taste a drop. -From there the baa-lambs went into another garden, which was so -wonderfully pretty that human eye had never seen the like before. -Flowers of every kind were blooming, but the baa-lambs left them -untouched, only eating the green grass, and, as they ate, he sat down -under the shade of a beautiful flowering tree in order to partake of -some food, when suddenly he saw that a beautiful white pigeon was -fluttering about in front of him; he took his small blunderbuss, which -he had with him, and shot at the pigeon, knocking off a feather, but the -pigeon flew away; he picked up the feather and put it in his bag. From -thence the baa-lambs started off home, the lad following them. When they -arrived, the old man asked: "Well, my son, and how did the baa-lambs -go?" "They went very well," answered the lad, "I had no trouble with -them. I had merely to walk after them." As he said this, the old man -asked him: "Well, my son, tell me where you have been with the -baa-lambs." Then he told him that the baa-lambs first went into a pretty -green plain, then they went through a swift stream; and he told him -all--where he had been with them and so on. When he had finished his -tale, the old man said: "My dear son, you see that wonderful pretty -green plain where you went first with the baa-lambs represents your -youth up to this day. The water through which you went is the water of -life which washes away sin: that it washed away all your clothes and -dried up your flesh means that it washes away all your previous sins: -that on the other shore, upon the baa-lambs breathing on you, your body -became purer, means that the holy faith, by the water of life, has -penetrated all over your soul, and you have become purified from your -sins, regenerate in all; the baa-lambs who breathed upon you are angels, -and your good and pious teachers. The ill-fed cattle amidst the -luxuriant grass means that the avaricious, whilst surrounded by plenty, -even begrudge themselves food; they will be misers even in the other -world: they will have plenty to eat and drink, they will partake of -both, and still will be eternally hungry and thirsty. Those beasts who -fed in the barren field, and were so fat, means that those who have -given from their little to the poor in this world, and have not -chastised their bodies with hunger and thirst, will feed heartily in the -other world out of little food, and will never know hunger or thirst. -That the young birds cried so mournfully in the woods, my son, means -that those mothers in this world who do not have their children -baptised, but have them buried without, will, in the other world, -eternally weep and cry. The two dogs who fought so in the garden means -that those relatives who in this world fight and squabble over property -will eternally fight in the other world, and never come to terms. That -woman who was fishing in a lake so busily for something with a spoon, -and could not catch it, is he who in this world adulterates milk with -water and sells it in this state to others; he will in the other world -continually be in a lake, and will eternally fish about with a spoon, in -order to fish the milk out of the water, and will never succeed. That -you saw a pretty clear brook and did not drink of it, but went to the -spring where the water flowed out of the mouth of a dead dog, that -means, my dear son, the beautiful sermons of the clergy and their holy -prayers. The dead dog from whose mouth the clear water flowed represents -the priests who preach pious and wise lessons, but never keep them -themselves. The garden into which you went is Heaven. Those who live -without sin in this world will come into such a beautiful garden in the -other world. But now, my dear son, can you show me some proof that you -have really been in that garden?" - -The lad quickly took from his bag the white pigeon's feather, and handed -it to him, saying, "Look here, my old father, I shot this from a white -pigeon there." The old man took the pigeon's feather, and said to him, -"You see, my son, I was that white pigeon, and I have been following you -all the journey through, and always kept watch over you, to see what you -did. So God also follows man unknown to him, to see what he does. The -feather you shot away was one of my fingers; look here, I have not got -it!" and as he looked he saw that the little finger was missing from the -old man's hand; with this, the old man placed the feather there, blew -upon it, and the finger was once more all right. In the meantime the -year came to an end--for if I may mention it here the year consisted of -but three days then--so the old man said to the lad: "Well, my son, the -year is now ended; hand me over the bag, and then you can go. But first -let me ask you would you rather have heaven, or so much gold as you can -carry home?" To this the lad replied that he did not wish for gold, but -only desired to be able to go to heaven. Thereupon the old man at once -filled a sack with gold for him, lifted it upon the lad's back, and sent -him home. The lad thanked the old man for his present, betook himself -home with his sack of gold, and became such a rich farmer with six oxen -that not in the whole village, nay, not even in the whole neighbourhood, -was there such a one who came near him. He also took to himself a -suitable girl as his wife, who was as pretty as a flower; he is alive to -this very day, if he has not died since. May he be your guest to-morrow! - - - - -FAIRY ELIZABETH. - - -There was once somewhere, I don't know where, beyond seven times seven -countries, and even beyond them, a poor man who had a wife and three -children. They were awfully poor. One day the eldest son said: "Dear -mother, bake me some ash-cake and let me go into service." His mother at -once baked the cake, and the lad started, and went on and on till he -came to a high snow-clad mountain, where he met a grey-haired man and -greeted him: "May the Lord bless you, my good old father." "The Lord -bless you, my son. What are you after?" asked the old man. "I am going -out to service, if the Lord will help me to some place." "Well, then, -come to me," said the old man, "I will engage you." So they went to the -house of the grey-haired old man, and the very next day they went out -ploughing but they only ploughed up some grass-land, and sowed it with -seed. Now let me tell you, that the old man promised him a bushel of -seed for sowing. Two days passed, and at dawn of the third day the old -man said: "Well, my son, to-day you can go out ploughing for yourself; -get the plough ready, yoke the oxen in, and in the meantime I will get -the bushel of wheat I promised." So the lad put the oxen to the plough -and the old man got the bushel of wheat and placed it on the plough. -They started, the old man accompanying him. Just at the end of the -village he said to the lad: "Well, my son, can you see that place yonder -covered with shrubs? Go there, and plough up as much of it for yourself -as you think will be enough for the bushel of wheat." The lad went, but -was quite alarmed at the sight of the shrubs, and at once lost heart. -"How could he plough there? Why, by the time he had grubbed up the -shrubs alone it would be night." So he ran off home, and left the plough -there, and the oxen then returned of their own accord to the old man's -place--if I may interrupt myself, they were the oxen of a fairy. When -the lad arrived at his father's house, his other brothers asked him: -"What sort of a place have you found?" "What sort of a place!" replied -he, "go yourself, and you will soon find out." The middle son set out, -and just as he was going over the snow-clad mountain he met the old man, -who engaged him on the spot as his servant, and promised him a bushel of -wheat, as he had done before. They went to the old man's home, and he -fared just as his elder brother had done. At dawn on the third day, when -he had to plough for himself, he got frightened at the sight of the vast -number of shrubs, which no human being could have ploughed up in the -stated time. So he went home too, and on his way he met his younger -brother, who asked him: "What sort of a place have you found, my dear -elder brother?" "What sort of a place had I? Get up out of the ashes, -and go yourself, and you will soon find out." Now let me tell you that -this boy was continually sitting among the ashes. He was a lazy, -ne'er-do-weel fellow; but now he got up, and shook the ashes from him -and said: "Well, my mother, bake me a cake also: as my brothers have -tried their fortune let me try mine." But his brothers said: "Oh! you -ash-pan! Supposing you were required to do nothing else but eat, you -would not be good enough even for that." But still he insisted, that his -mother should bake something for him. So his mother set to work and -baked him a cake of some inferior bran, and with this he set out. As he -went over the boundless snow-clad mountain, in the midst of it he met -the old man and greeted him: "The Lord bless you, my old father!" "The -Lord bless you, my son! Where are you going?" "I am going out to -service, if I can find an employer." "Well, you are the very man I want; -I am in search of a servant." And he engaged him on the spot, promising -to make him a present of a bushel of wheat for sowing. They went home -together, and after they had ploughed together for two days, the lad set -out on the third day to plough up the land allotted to him for his own -use: while the youngster was putting the oxen to the plough the old man -got the wheat and placed it on the plough. On the dyke there was a big -dog, who always lay there quietly; but this time he got up, and started -off in front of him. The old man also accompanied him as far as the end -of the village, from whence he showed him where to go ploughing. The -youngster went on with the plough, and soon saw that he was not able to -plough a single furrow, on account of the thick bushes. After -considering what to do, he bethought himself, and took his sharp hatchet -and began to cut down a vast quantity of shrubs and thorns, the dog -carrying them all into a heap. Seeing that he had cut enough, he began -to plough. The two oxen commenced to drag the plough and cut up the -roots in a manner never seen before. After he had turned three times, he -looked round and said: "Well, I'm not going to plough any more, but will -begin to sow, so that I may see how much seed I've got." He sowed the -seed, and noticed that it was just sufficient, and therefore he had to -plough no more. In great joy he set the plough straight and went home. -The old man met him and said: "Well, my son, thanks to the Lord, you -have now finished your year, and in God's name I will let you go. I do -not intend to engage any more servants." Before I forget to tell you, I -may mention it here, that the year had three days then. So the lad went -home, and his brothers asked him: "Well, then, what sort of a place have -you found?" "Well, I believe I've served my master as well as you did." - -One day, a year after, he went into the field to look at his wheat crop. -There he saw an old woman reaping some young wheat, so he went home and -said to his father: "Well, my father, do you know what we have to do? -let's go reaping." "Where, my son?" "Well, father, for my last year's -service I had a bushel of wheat given to me for sowing, it has got ripe -by this time, so let us go and reap it." So all four (his father, his -two brothers, and himself) went; when they came to the spot they saw -that it was a magnificent crop, a mass of golden ears from root to top, -ready and ripe; so they all started to work and cut down every head. - -They made three stacks of it, each stack having twenty-six sheaves. -"Well my son," said the father, "there are three stacks here and there -are three of you to guard them, so while I go home to hire a cart, guard -them well, so that the birds may not carry away a single stem." The -father went home, and the three sat down (one at the foot of each stack) -to watch them, but the youngest was the most anxious, as it was his own, -and ran to and fro continually to prevent his brothers falling asleep. -Just as he had awakened them and was going back to his own stack he saw -a woodpecker dragging away, by jerks, a golden ear along the ground, so -he ran after it in order to get it back, but just as he was on the point -of catching it the woodpecker flew off further and further, and enticed -him, until at last it got him into the very midst of the boundless -snow-clad mountains. All of a sudden the youngster discovered where he -was, and that it was getting dusk. "Where was he to go? and what was he -to do?" So he thought he would go back to the stacks, but as he had kept -his eye on the woodpecker and the wheat-ear, he had taken no notice of -the surroundings, and knew not which way he had come. So he determined -to climb the highest tree and look round from there: he looked about and -found the highest tree, climbed it, and looked East but saw nought, -South and saw nought: North, and far, very far away he saw a light as -big as a candle; so he came down, and started off in the direction in -which he had seen the light and went straight over ditches, woods, -rocks, and fields till at last he came to a large plain, and there he -found the fire which he had seen before, and lo! it was such a heap of -burning wood that the flames nearly reached heaven: he approached it and -when he drew near the burning heap he saw that a man was lying curled -round the fire, his head resting on his feet, and that he was covered -with a large cloak: then thought the lad, "Shall I lie down inside or -outside of the circle formed by the body of the man?" If he lay outside -he would catch cold; if he lay inside he would be scorched, he thought; -so he crept into the sleeve of the cloak, and there fell asleep. In the -morning when the sun arose, the big man awoke, he yawned wide, and got -up from the fire; as he rose the youngster dropt out of his sleeve on to -the ground: the giant looked at him (because I forgot to tell you it -wasn't a man, it was a giant), and was very much pleased at the sight; -he quickly picked him up, took him into his arms, and carried him into -his palace, (and even there put him into the best room) and put him to -bed, covered him up well, and crept out of the room on tiptoe lest he -should wake him. When he heard that the youngster was awake, he called -to him through the open door, "Don't be afraid, my dear son, I am a big -man it is true, but notwithstanding I will be to thee like thy father, -in thy father's place; like thy mother, in thy mother's place." With -this he entered the room, and the poor lad stared into the giant's eyes, -as if he were looking up to the sky. Suddenly the giant asked him how he -got there, and the lad told him the whole tale. "Well, my dear little -son, I will give you everything that your heart can think of, or your -mouth name, I will fulfil your every wish, only don't worry yourself;" -and he had all sorts of splendid clothes made for him, and kept him on -costly food; and this lasted till the lad became twenty years of age, -when one day the lad became very sad, and his giant father asked him, -"Well, my dear son, tell me why you are so sad, I will do all your heart -can think of, or your mouth name; but do tell me what's the matter with -you?" So the lad said, after hesitation, "Well! well! well! my dear -father, I am so sad because the time has come when I ought to get -married, and there's nobody here to get married to." "Oh! my son, don't -worry yourself over that, such a lad as you has but to wish and you -will find plenty of womankind, the very prettiest of them, ready to have -you; you will but have to choose the one your heart loves best." So -saying he called the lad before the gate and said: "Well, my son, you -can see that great white lake yonder: go there at noon prompt and hide -yourself under a tree, for every noon three lovely fairy girls come -there who are as handsome as handsome can be: you _can_ look at the sun, -but you can't look at them! They will come disguised as pigeons, and -when they arrive on the bank they will turn somersaults, and at once -become girls: they will then undress, and lay their dresses on the bank: -you must then glide up, and steal the dress of the one your heart loves -best, and run away home with it, but be careful not to look back, -however they may shout: because if you do, believe me, she will catch -you, box your ears, and take her clothes from you." - -So he went to the lake and hid himself under an oak, and all at once -three white pigeons came flying, their wings flapping loudly as they -came, they settled down on the bank, and went to take a bath. The lad -wasn't slow to leave his hiding-place, and pick up the dress of the -eldest fairy girl and run away with it; but she noticed it at once, -rushed out of the lake, and ran after him, shouting: "Stop! sweet love -of my heart. Look at me; see how beautiful my skin is; how pretty my -breasts are. I'm yours, and you're mine!" So he looked round, and the -fairy snatched her dress away in a moment, slapped his face, and -returned to the others in the lake. Poor lad! he was very sad, and went -back and told his giant father all that had happened, and his giant -father answered, "Well; wasn't I right? Didn't I tell you not to look -back? But don't fret; three in number are the divine truths, and three -times also will you have to try. There are two yet left, go again -to-morrow at noon. Take care you don't look back, or pick up the same -dress that you picked up yesterday, because, believe me, if you do, -there will be the mischief to pay." So he went early next day (he -couldn't wait till noon) and hid himself under a tree, when all of a -sudden the pigeons appeared, turned somersaults, and became three -beautiful fairy girls. They undressed, laid their dresses on the bank, -and went into the lake; in short, the lad fared with the second as with -the first--he couldn't resist the temptation of looking back when the -beautiful fairy kept imploring him, as the sweet love of her heart, to -gaze at her beautiful skin and breasts. He looked back, was slapped in -the face as before, and lost the fairy dress. He went home again, very -sad, to his giant father, and told him how he had fared; and the giant -said in reply: "Never mind, don't bother yourself, my son, three are the -divine truths; there is one more left for you; you can try again -to-morrow, but only be very careful not to look back this time." Next -day he couldn't wait till noon, but went and hid himself under the oak -very early, and had to wait a long, long time. At last the white pigeons -arrived, turned somersaults as before, and put their dresses on the -bank, whilst they themselves went into the lake. Out he rushed from his -hiding-place, snatched up the youngest's dress, and ran away with it. -But the fairy noticed that her dress was gone, and rushed out of the -lake after him like a hurricane, calling out incessantly: "Stop! sweet -love of my heart, look how beautifully white my skin is! See how -beautifully white are my breasts. I am yours, and you are mine." But the -lad only ran faster than ever, and never looked behind once, but ran -straight home to his giant father, and told him that he had got the -dress this time. "Well, my dear son," said he, "didn't I tell you not to -worry yourself in the least, and that I would do all for you that your -heart could desire, or your mouth name?" Once after this the lad was -very sad again, so his giant father asked him: "Well, my son, what's the -matter this time, that you are so sad?" "Well, my dear father, because -we have only got a dress, and that is not enough for a wedding. What's -the use of it? What can I do with it?" "Never mind, don't worry about -that. Go into the inside closet, and on a shelf you will find a walnut, -bring it here." So the lad went and fetched the nut, and the giant split -it neatly in two, took out the kernel, folded up the dress (and I may -mention it here the dress consisted of only one piece), put it inside -the nut-shell, fitted the two halves together, and said to the lad: -"Well, my son, let me have your waistcoat, so that I may sew this nut -into the pocket; and be careful that no one opens it, neither thy -father, nor thy mother, nor any one in this world, because should any -one open it your life will be made wretched; you will be an outcast." - -With this, the giant sewed the nut into the pocket, and put the -waistcoat on him. As they finished this, they heard a great clamping -noise, and a chinking (as of coins) outside. So the giant bade him to -look out of the window, and what did he see? He saw that in the -courtyard there was a lovely girl sitting in a carriage drawn by six -horses, and about her beautiful maids and outriders, and the giant said, -"You see, it is Fairy Elizabeth, your ladylove." So they went out at -once, and helped Fairy Elizabeth out of her carriage, then she ordered -the carriage and horses to go back, at once, to where they had come -from, and in a moment they disappeared, and there was no trace of them -left. They then went into the house, but the giant remained outside, and -he drew in the dust figures of a priest, and a cantor, and guests, and -they appeared at once. All went into the house, and the young folks got -wed, and a great wedding feast was celebrated. There was the -bridegroom's best man, and the groom's men, and the bride's duenna, and -all her bridesmaids, and the wedding feast lasted three full days. They -ate, drank, and enjoyed themselves, and when all was over the young -couple lived together in quiet happiness. Once more, however, the lad -became very sad, and the giant asked him: "Well, my dear son, why are -you sad again? You know that I will do all your heart can desire, or -your mouth name." "Well, my dear father," replied he, "how can I help -being sad; it is true we live together happily, but who knows how my -father and mother and brothers and sisters are at home? I should like -to go to see them." - -"Well, my dear son," said the giant, "I will let you go; you two go -home, and you will find your relations keeping the third anniversary of -your death: they have gathered in all the golden corn, and become so -rich that they are now the greatest farmers in the village: each of your -brothers have their own home and they have become great men (six-ox -farmers) and have a whole flock of sheep." So the giant went outside, -and drew in the dust the figures of horses and carriage, coachman, -footmen, outriders, and court damsels, and they at once appeared; the -young couple sat in the carriage, and the giant told the lad if ought -happened to him he had only to think of one of these horses, and it -would at once bring him back here. With this they started, and they -arrived at home and, saw that the courtyard of his father's house was -full of tables, crowded with people sitting round them, but no one spoke -a word; they all were speechless so that you could not even hear a -whisper. The couple got out of the carriage, in front of the gate, -walked into the yard, and met an old man; it happened to be his father. -"May the Lord give you a good day, Sir!" said he; and the old man -replied, "May the Lord bless you also, my lord!" "Well sir," asked the -young man, "what is the meaning of all this feasting that I see, all -this eating and drinking, and yet no one speaks a word; is it a marriage -or a funeral feast?" "My lord, it is a burial feast," replied the old -man; "I had three sons, one was lost, and to-day we celebrate the third -anniversary of his death." "Would you recognise your son if he -appeared?" Upon hearing this his mother came forward and said, "To be -sure, my dearest and sweetest lord, because there is a mark under his -left armpit." With this the lad pulled up his sleeve and showed the -mark, and they at once recognised him as their lost son; the funeral -feast, thereupon, was at once changed into a grand wedding festival. -Then the lad called out to the carriage and horses "Go back where you -have come from," and in a moment there was not a trace of them left. His -father at once sent for the priest and the verger and they went through -all the ceremonies again, and whether the giant had celebrated them or -not, certainly the father did: the wedding feast was such a one as had -never been seen before! When they rose from the table they began the -bride's dance: in the first place they handed the bride to the cleverest -dancer, and whether he danced or not, most certainly the bride did: as -she danced her feet never touched the ground, and everyone who was there -looked at the bride only, and all whispered to each other, that no man -had ever seen such a sight in all his life. When the bride heard this -she said, "Hum, whether I dance now or whether I don't, I could dance -much better if anyone would return to me the dress I wore in my maiden -days." Whereupon they whispered to each other, "Where can that dress -be?" When the bride heard this she said, "Well, my souls, it is in a -nut-shell, sewn into my husband's waistcoat pocket, but no one will ever -be able to get it." "I can get it for you," said her mother-in-law, -"because I will give my son a sleeping-draught in wine and he will go to -sleep," and so she did, and the lad fell on the bed fast asleep; his -mother then got the nut from his pocket and gave it to her -daughter-in-law, who at once opened it, took the dress out, put it on, -and danced so beautifully, that, whether she danced the _first_ time or -not, she certainly danced this time; you could not imagine anything so -graceful. But, as it was so hot in the house, the windows were left -open, and Fairy Elizabeth turned a somersault, became a white pigeon, -and flew out of the window. Outside there was a pear tree, and she -settled upon the top of it, the people looking on in wonder and -astonishment; then she called out that she wanted to see her husband as -she wished to say a word or two to him, but the sleeping draught had not -yet lost its power, and they could not wake him, so they carried him out -in a sheet and put him under the tree and the pigeon dropped a tear on -his face; in a minute he awoke. "Can you hear me, sweet love of my -heart?" asked the pigeon, "if you ever want to meet me seek for me in -the town of Johara, in the country of Black Sorrow," with this she -spread her wings and flew away. Her husband gazed after her for a while -and then became so grieved that his heart nearly broke. What was he to -do now? He took leave of all and went and hid himself. When he got -outside of the gate he suddenly remembered what the giant had told him -about calling to memory one of the horses; he no sooner did so than it -appeared all ready saddled; he jumped upon it and thought he would like -to be at the giant's gate. In a moment he was there and the giant came -out to meet him. "Well, my dear son, didn't I tell you not to give that -nut to anyone?" The poor lad replied, in great sorrow, "Well, my dear -father, what am I to do now?" "Well, what did Fairy Elizabeth say when -she took leave of you?" "She said that if ever I wished to meet her -again I was to go to the town of Johara, in the country of Black -Sorrow." "Alas, my son!" said the giant, "I have never even heard the -name, so how could I direct you there? Be still, and come and live with -me, and get on as well as you can." But the poor lad said that he would -go, and he must go, in search of his wife as far as his eye could see. -"Well, if you wish to go, there are two more children of my parents -left, an elder brother and an elder sister. Take this; here's a mace. We -three children couldn't divide it amongst us, so it was left with me. -They will know by this that I have sent you; go first to my elder -brother, he is the king of all creeping things; perhaps he may be able -to help you." With this he drew in the dust the figure of a colt three -years old, and bade him sit on it, filled his bag with provisions, and -recommended him to the Lord. The lad went on and on, over seven times -seven countries, and even beyond them; he went on till the colt got so -old that it lost all its teeth; at last he arrived at the residence of -the king of all creeping things, went in, and greeted him, "May the Lord -give you a good day, my dear father!" And the old man replied, "The Lord -has brought you, my son. What is your errand?" And he replied, "I want -to go to the country of Black Sorrow, into the town of Johara if ever I -can find it." "Who are you?" asked the old man. With this he showed him -the mace, and the king at once recognised it and said, "Ah, my dear son, -I never heard the name of that town. I wish you had come last night, -because all my animals were here to greet me. But stay, I will call them -together again to-morrow morning, and we shall then see whether they can -give us any information." Next morning the old man got up very early, -took a whistle and blew it three times, and, in the twinkling of an eye -all the creeping things that existed in the world came forward. He asked -them, one by one, whether they knew aught of the town of Johara in the -country of Black Sorrow. But they all answered that they had never seen -it, and never even heard its name. So the poor lad was very sad, and did -not know what to do. He went outside to saddle his horse, but the poor -brute had died of old age. So the old man at once drew another in the -dust, and it was again a colt three years old. He saddled it for him, -filled his bag with provisions, and gave him directions where to find -his elder sister. With this the lad started off, and went over seven -times seven countries, and even beyond them, till at last, very late, he -arrived at the elder sister's of the giant and greeted her. She returned -it; and asked him, "What is your errand?" he replied that he was going -to the town of Johara in the country of Black Sorrow. "Well, my son," -said the old woman, "and who has sent you to me?" "Don't you know this -mace?" and she recognised it at once, and said, "Alas! my dear son, I am -very pleased to see you, but I cannot direct you, because I never even -heard of the place. Why did you not come last night, as all the animals -were here then. But as my brother has sent you, I will call them all -together again to-night, and perhaps they will be able to tell you -something." With this, he went out to put his horse in the stable, and -found that it had grown so old that it hadn't a single tooth left; he -himself, too, was shrivelled up with age, like a piece of bacon rind, -and his hair was like snow. At eve the old woman said to him, "Lie down -in this bed!" when he lay down she put a heavy millstone upon him; she -then took a whip, went outside the door, and cracked it. It boomed like -a gun and the poor man inside was so startled that he lifted up the -millstone quite a span high. "Don't be afraid, my son," called out the -old woman, "I'm only going to crack it twice more," and she cracked it -again; whether it sounded the first time or not, it certainly did this -time, so that the poor man inside lifted the millstone quite a yard -high, and called out to the old woman not to crack that whip again, or -he should certainly die on the spot. But she cracked it again, -notwithstanding, and it sounded so loud, that whether the first two -sounded or not, this time it sounded so loud that the poor man kicked -the millstone right up to the ceiling. After that the old woman went in -and said to him, "You can get up now, as I am not going to crack my whip -any more." So he got up at once, and she went and opened the window, and -left the door wide open too. At once it became quite dark, the animals -came in such clouds that they quite obscured the sunlight; she let them -in one by one through the window, and read out the name of each one of -them from a list, and asked them if they knew where the country of Black -Sorrow was, but nobody knew it; so she dismissed them and shut the -window and door. The poor man was very sad now; he didn't know what to -do next or where he was to go. "There is nothing more to be done," said -the old woman; "but I will give you a colt, and fill your bag full of -provisions, and in heaven's name go back where you have come from." They -were still consulting when somebody knocked at the window and the old -woman called out, "Who's that?" "It is I, my dear queen," replied a -bird; and she began to scold it for being so late; but still she let it -in, hoping that it might tell them something. Lo! it was a lame -woodpecker. "Why are you so late?" she demanded, and the bird replied -that it was because it had such a bad foot. "Where did you get your leg -broken?" inquired the old woman. "In Johara, in the country of Black -Sorrow." "You are just the one we want," said the old woman; "I command -you to take this man on your back without delay and to carry him to the -very town where you have come from." The woodpecker began to make -excuses and said that it would rather not go there lest they should -break the other leg also; but the old woman stamped with her foot, and -so it was obliged to obey and at once set off with the man on its back, -whose third horse had already died; on they went over seven times seven -countries, and even beyond them, till they came to a very high mountain, -so high that it reached to heaven. - -"Now then," said the woodpecker, "you had better get down here, as we -cannot get over this." "Well, but," said the poor man, "how did _you_ -get over it?" "I? Through a hole." "Well then, take me also through a -hole." Then the woodpecker began to make excuses, that it could not take -him, first urging this reason and then that; so the poor man got angry -with the woodpecker, and began to dig his spurs into the bird's ribs -saying, "Go on, you must take me, and don't talk so much; it was you who -stole the golden wheat-ear from my stack." So what could the poor -woodpecker do but carry him. They arrived in the country of Black -Sorrow, and stopped in the very town of Johara. Then he sent the -woodpecker away, and went straight into the palace where Fairy Elizabeth -lived. As he entered Fairy Elizabeth sat on a golden sofa; he greeted -her, and told her he had come to claim her as his wife. "Is that why you -have come?" replied she. "Surely you don't expect me to be _your_ wife; -an old bent, shrivelled-up man like you. I will give you meat and drink, -and then in heaven's name go back to where you have come from." Hearing -this the poor man became very sad and didn't know what to do, and began -to cry bitterly; but in the meantime (not letting him know) Fairy -Elizabeth had ordered her maids to go out at once and gather all sorts -of rejuvenating plants, and to bring some youth-giving water, and to -prepare a bath for him as quickly as possible. Then she turned to the -old man again, and, in order to chaff him, said, "How can you wish a -beautiful young girl like me to marry such an ugly old man as you? Be -quick, eat, drink, and go back to where you have come from." In his -sorrow the poor man's heart was nearly broken, when all at once Fairy -Elizabeth said to him, "Well, dearest love of my youth, so that you may -not say that I am ungrateful to you for having taken the trouble to come -to me, and made all this long journey for me, I will give you a bath." -She motioned to the maids, they at once seized him, undressed him, and -put him into the tub; in a moment he was a young man again a hundred -times handsomer than he was in his youth; and while they were bathing -him they brought from a shop numerous costly dresses and clothed him -with them and took him to Fairy Elizabeth; man and wife embraced and -kissed each other again and again, and once more celebrated a grand -marriage festival, going through all the ceremonies again; after all -this was over they got into a carriage drawn by six horses, and went to -live with the giant, their father, but they never went again, not even -once, to the place where he had been betrayed. The giant received them -with great joy, and they are still alive to this-day, if they haven't -died since. May they be your guests to-morrow! - - - - -THE THREE PRINCES. - - -There was once, I don't know where, beyond seven times seven countries, -and at a cock's crow even beyond them--an immense, tall, quivering -poplar tree. This tree had seven times seventy-seven branches; on each -branch there were seven times seventy-seven crow-nests, and in each nest -seven times seventy-seven young crows. May those who don't listen -attentively to my tale, or who doze, have their eyes pecked out by all -those young crows; and those who listen with attention to my tale will -never behold the land of the Lord! There was once, I don't know where, a -king who had three sons who were so much like each other that not even -their mother could distinguish them from each other. The king sent his -three sons wandering; the three princes went, and went, and, on the -third day, they arrived at a vast forest, where they first met a -she-wolf with three whelps. "What are you doing here, princes, where not -even the birds ever come?" asked the wolf, "you can go no further, -because I and my whelps will tear you in pieces." "Don't harm us, wolf!" -said the princes, "but rather, let's have your whelps to go as our -servants." "I _will_ tear you to pieces," howled the wolf, and attacked -them; but the princes overcame the wolf, and took the three whelps with -them. They went and went further into the vast forest and met a bear -with three cubs, the next day. "What are you doing here, princes, where -not even a bird comes?" asked the bear; "you can go no further, because -I and my cubs will tear you in pieces." "Don't harm us, bear," said the -princes, "but rather let's have your three cubs to come as our -servants." "I _will_ tear you in pieces," roared the bear, and attacked -them, but the princes overcame the bear, and took the three cubs with -them. Again they went into the vast forest, and met a lioness and her -three cubs, on the third day. "What are you doing here, princes, where -not even a bird comes? you can go no further, because I and my cubs will -tear you in pieces." "Don't harm us, lioness," said the princes, "but -let's have your three cubs to come as our servants." "I _will_ tear you -in pieces," roared the lioness, and attacked them, but the princes -overcame the lioness, and took the three cubs as their servants: and -thus each prince had three servants, a lion, a bear, and a wolf. At last -they reached the outskirts of the vast forest, where the road divided -into three, under a tree, and here the eldest said, "Let us stick our -knives into the tree, and each start in a different direction; in a -year hence we will be back again, and whosoever's knife is covered with -blood, he is in danger, and the others must go in search of him." -"Agreed," said the others, and, sticking their knives into the tree, -started off in different directions. - -After long wanderings the eldest came to a town which was wholly covered -with black cloth, and here he took lodgings with an old woman. "Why is -this town hung with black?" asked the prince. "Alas, we live in great -danger here!" said the old woman, "in the lake near the town lives the -dragon with seven heads, who vomits fire, and to him we have to give a -virgin every week, and to-morrow it is the king's daughter's turn, and -she has to go, and this is the reason why our town is covered with -black." "And is there no man who can help?" inquired the prince. "We -have not found one yet," said the old woman, "although our king has -promised his daughter, and after his death his realm, to the one who -kills the dragon." The prince did not say another word, but took a rest -and, afterwards, went towards the lake, and as he passed the royal -palace he saw the princess in the window weeping. The royal princess was -so beautiful that even the sun stopped before the window, in his course, -to admire her beauty. At last he reached the lake, and could already -hear, even at a distance, the dragon with seven heads roaring, so loudly -that the ground trembled. "How dare you approach me? You must die, even -had you seven souls!" roared the dragon, but instead of an answer the -prince threw his mace at him, with such force that it smashed one of his -heads on the spot, thereupon he attacked him with his sword, and also -set his dogs at him, and while he cut the dragon's heads off one by one, -his servants bit him to pieces, and thus killed the dragon, whose blood -formed a brook seven miles long. After this he drew a tooth out of each -head of the dragon and put them into his sabretache, and, as he was very -tired, he lay down amongst the bulrushes and went fast asleep with his -dogs. The Red Knight was watching the whole light from amongst the -bulrushes, and, seeing that the prince was asleep, he crept to him and -killed him, and quartered him, so that he might not revive, and, picking -up the dragon's seven heads, went off towards the town. As soon as the -Red Knight had gone the three dogs woke, and, seeing that their master -had been murdered, began to howl in their sorrow. "If we only had a -rope, so that we could tie him together. I know of a weed which would -bring him to life again," said the wolf. "If we only knew how to tie him -together, I would soon get a rope," said the lion. "I would tie him -together if I had a rope," said the bear; whereupon the lion ran to the -town, the wolf went in search of the weed, and the bear remained behind -to guard his master's body. The lion rushed into a ropemaker's and -roared, "Give me a rope, or I will tear you in pieces." The ropemaker, -in his fright, produced all the rope he had, and the lion rushed off -with a coil. In the meantime the wolf also returned with the weed, and -the bear tied the prince's body together, and the wolf anointed him. -When, all at once, the prince woke, and, rubbing his eyes, stood up. -"Well, I have slept a long time," said the prince, and as he saw that -the sun was setting he returned to the town with his servants, and, as -he again passed in front of the royal palace, he saw the princess once -more, who looked at him, smiling this time. The prince again took his -night's lodging with the old woman, and, as he got up next morning, the -whole town was covered with red cloth. "Why is the whole town covered -with red, now?" asked the prince. "Because the Red Knight killed the -dragon, and saved the royal princess, and he is to be married to her -to-day," replied the old woman. The prince thereupon went into the -palace, into which crowds of people were streaming. The king was just -leading the Red Knight to his daughter, and said, "Here, my daughter, -this is the hero who killed the dragon, and only the hoe and the spade -will separate him from you from this day." "My royal father," said the -princess, "that isn't the man that killed the dragon, and therefore I -cannot be his wife." "He did kill him," shouted the king, "and, in proof -of it, he brought the dragon's seven heads with him, and therefore you -have to be his wife, according to my promise." And there was a great -feast after this, but the princess sat crying at the table, and the -prince went home very downcast. "Give me some food, master, I'm hungry," -said the wolf, when his master came home. "Go to the king and get some -food from his table," and the wolf went. The Red Knight sat on seven red -pillows, between the king and his daughter, but when he saw the wolf -enter, in his fright a pillow dropped from under him, and the wolf took -a full dish, and went away, and told his master what had happened. "Give -me some food, master. I'm hungry too," said the bear; and his master -sent him also to the palace, and as he entered the Red Knight in his -fright again dropped a pillow from under him. When the bear arrived at -home with the food, he told this to his master. And as the lion got -hungry too, he had to go for his food; and this time the Red Knight -dropped a third pillow, and could hardly be seen above the table. Now -the prince went to the palace himself, and as he entered every one of -the pillows dropped from under the Red Knight in his fright. "Majesty," -said the prince, "do you believe that the Red Knight has killed the -dragon with seven heads?" "Yes," answered the king, "and he brought the -seven heads with him, they are here." "But look, majesty, whether there -is anything missing out of every head." The king examined the dragon's -heads, and exclaimed in astonishment: "Upon my word there is a tooth -missing from every head." "Quite so," said the prince, "and the seven -dragon teeth are here," and, taking them from his sabretache, he handed -the teeth to the king. "Your Majesty, if the Red Knight has killed the -dragon, how could I have obtained the teeth?" "What's the meaning of -this?" inquired the king, in anger, of the Red Knight; "who killed the -dragon?" "Pardon!" implored the knight. In his fear he confessed all, -and the king had him horsewhipped out of the palace, and sent the dogs -after him. - -He bade the prince sit down at once by the side of his daughter, as her -bridegroom; and in joyful commemoration of the event they celebrated -such a wedding that the yellow juice flowed from Henczida to Bonczida. -And the prince and princess lived happily afterwards as man and wife. - -However, it happened once that as the prince went hunting with his three -servants, and after a long walk strolled into the wood, he became tired -and hungry; so he made a fire under a tree, and sat down at it, and -fried some bacon; when suddenly he heard some one call out with a -trembling voice in the tree: "Oh! how cold I am." The prince looked up, -and saw an old woman on the top of the tree shivering. "Come down, old -mother," said he. But the old woman said, still shivering with cold, -"I'm afraid to come down, because your dogs will kill me; but if you -will strike them with this rod, which I throw down to you, they will not -touch me." And the good prince, never thinking that the old woman was a -witch, struck his servants with the rod, who, without him noticing it, -turned into stone. Seeing this, the old woman came down from the tree, -and, having prepared a branch as a spit, she caught a toad. She drew it -on the spit, and held it to the fire, close to the bacon; and when the -prince remonstrated and tried to drive the old woman away, she threw the -toad into his face, whereupon the prince fainted. As his servants could -not assist him, the witch killed him, cut him up in pieces, salted him, -and put him into a cask. The princess was waiting for her husband in -great sorrow; but days passed, and still he did not come, and the poor -princess bewailed him day and night. - -In the meantime, the second prince returned to the tree in which they -had stuck their knives; and, finding that his elder brother's knife was -covered with blood, started in search of him. When he came to the town, -it was again covered with black. He also took lodgings for the night -with the old woman, and on inquiring she told him the whole story of -the first prince, and also informed him that the town was draped in -black because the prince was lost while hunting. The second prince at -once came to the conclusion that it could be no one else but his elder -brother, and went to the palace. The princess, mistaking him for her -husband in her joy, threw her arms round his neck. "Charming princess, I -am not your husband," said the prince, "but your husband's younger -brother." The princess, however, would not believe him, as she could not -imagine how one man could so resemble another; therefore she chatted -with him the whole day, as if with her husband, and, night having set -in, he had to get into the same bed with her. The prince, however, -placed his unsheathed sword between himself and his sister-in-law, -saying: "If you touch me, this sword will at once cut off your hand." -The princess was very sorry on hearing this, but, in order to try, she -threw her handkerchief over the prince, and the sword cut it in two at -once, whereupon the princess burst out crying, and cried the whole -night. Next morning the prince went out in search of his brother, and -went out hunting in the same wood where he had heard his brother was -lost. But, unfortunately, he met the witch, and was treated in the same -way as his brother. She killed and salted him also. - -After this the youngest prince returned to the tree in which the knives -were, and, finding both his brothers' knives covered with blood, went in -the direction in which his eldest brother had gone. He came to the town, -which was still draped in black, and learned all from the old woman; he -went to the palace, where the princess mistook him too for her husband. -He had to sleep with her, but, like his brother, placed a sword between -them, and, to the great sorrow of the princess, he, too, went out -hunting the next morning. Having become tired, he made a fire, and began -to fry some bacon, when the witch threw him the rod; but the prince -luckily discovered in the thicket the six petrified dogs, and instead of -touching his own dogs with the rod, he touched those which had been -turned into stone, and all six came to life again. The witch was not -aware of this and came down from the tree, and the brutes seized her on -the spot, and compelled her to bring their masters to life again. Then -the two princes came to life again. In their joy all three embraced each -other, and their servants tore the witch in pieces. Whereupon they went -home, and now the joy of the princess was full, because her husband and -her brothers-in-law had all returned, and she had no longer any fear -that the sword would be placed in the bed. On account of the joyful -event the town was again draped in red cloth. The eldest prince lived -happily with his wife for a long time, and later on became king. His two -brothers went home safely. - - - - -THE THREE DREAMS. - - -There was once, I don't know where, even beyond the Operencziás Sea, a -poor man, who had three sons. Having got up one morning, the father -asked the eldest one, "What have you dreamt, my son?" "Well, my dear -father," said he, "I sat at a table covered with many dishes, and I ate -so much that when I patted my belly all the sparrows in the whole -village were startled by the sound." "Well, my son," said the father, -"if you had so much to eat, you ought to be satisfied; and, as we are -rather short of bread, you shall not have anything to eat to-day." Then -he asked the second one, "What have you dreamt, my son?" "Well, my dear -father, I bought such splendid boots with spurs, that when I put them on -and knocked my heels together I could be heard over seven countries." -"Well, my good son," answered the father, "you have got good boots at -last, and you won't want any for the winter." At last he asked the -youngest as to what he had dreamt, but this one was reticent, and did -not care to tell; his father ordered him to tell what it was he had -dreamt, but he was silent. As fair words were of no avail the old man -tried threats, but without success. Then he began to beat the lad. "To -flee is shameful, but very useful," they say. The lad followed this good -advice, and ran away, his father after him with a stick. As they reached -the street the king was just passing down the high road, in a carriage -drawn by six horses with golden hair and diamond shoes. The king -stopped, and asked the father why he was ill-treating the lad. "Your -Majesty, because he won't tell me his dream." "Don't hurt him, my good -man," said the monarch; "I'll tell you what, let the lad go with me, and -take this purse; I am anxious to know his dream, and will take him with -me." The father consented, and the king continued his journey, taking -the lad with him. Arriving at home, he commanded the lad to appear -before him, and questioned him about his dream, but the lad would not -tell him. No imploring, nor threatening, would induce him to disclose -his dream. The king grew angry with the lad's obstinacy, and said, in a -great rage, "You good-for-nothing fellow, to disobey your king, you must -know, is punishable by death! You shall die such a lingering death that -you will have time to think over what disobedience to the king means." -He ordered the warders to come, and gave them orders to take the lad -into the tower of the fortress, and to immure him alive in the wall. The -lad listened to the command in silence, and only the king's pretty -daughter seemed pale, who was quite taken by the young fellow's -appearance, and gazed upon him in silent joy. The lad was tall, with -snow-white complexion, and had dark eyes and rich raven locks. He was -carried away, but the princess was determined to save the handsome lad's -life, with whom she had fallen in love at first sight; and she bribed -one of the workmen to leave a stone loose, without its being noticed, so -that it could be easily taken out and replaced; and so it was done! - -And the pretty girl fed her sweetheart in his cell in secret. One day -after this, it happened that the powerful ruler of the dog-headed -Tartars gave orders that seven white horses should be led into the other -king's courtyard; the animals were so much alike that there was not a -hair to choose between them, and each of the horses was one year older -than another; at the same time the despot commanded that he should -choose the youngest from among them, and the others in the order of -their ages, including the oldest; if he could not do this, his country -should be filled with as many Tartars as there were blades of grass in -the land; that he should be impaled; and his daughter become the -Tartar-chief's wife. The king on hearing this news was very much -alarmed, held a council of all the wise men in his realm, but all in -vain: and the whole court was in sorrow and mourning. The princess, too, -was sad, and when she took the food to her sweetheart she did not smile -as usual, but her eyes were filled with tears: he seeing this inquired -the cause; the princess told him the reason of her grief, but he -consoled her, and asked her to tell her father that he was to get seven -different kinds of oats put into seven different dishes, the oats to be -the growths of seven different years; the horses were to be let in and -they would go and eat the oats according to their different ages, and -while they were feeding they must put a mark on each of the horses. And -so it was done, The horses were sent back and the ages of them given, -and the Tartar monarch found the solution to be right. - -But then it happened again that a rod was sent by him both ends of which -were of equal thickness; the same threat was again repeated in case the -king should not find out which end had grown nearest the trunk of the -tree. The king was downcast and the princess told her grief to the lad, -but he said, "Don't worry yourself, princess, but tell your father to -measure carefully the middle of the rod and to hang it up by the middle -on a piece of twine, the heavier end of it will swing downwards, that -end will be the one required." The king did so and sent the rod back -with the end marked as ordered. The Tartar monarch shook his head but -was obliged to admit that it was right. "I will give them another -trial," said he in a great rage; "and, as I see that there must be some -one at the king's court who wishes to defy me, we will see who is the -stronger." Not long after this, an arrow struck the wall of the royal -palace, which shook it to its very foundation, like an earthquake; and -great was the terror of the people, which was still more increased when -they found that the Tartar monarch's previous threats were written on -the feathers of the arrow, which threats were to be carried out if the -king had nobody who could draw out the arrow and shoot it back. The king -was more downcast than ever, and never slept a wink: he called together -all the heroes of his realm, and every child born under a lucky star, -who was born either with a caul or with a tooth, or with a grey lock; he -promised to the successful one, half of his realm and his daughter, if -he fulfilled the Tartar king's wish. The princess told the lad, in sad -distress, the cause of her latest grief, and he asked her to have the -secret opening closed, so that their love might not be found out, and -that no trace be left; and then she was to say, that she dreamt that the -lad was still alive, and that he would be able to do what was needed, -and that they were to have the wall opened. The princess did as she was -told; the king was very much astonished, but at the same time treated -the matter as an idle dream in the beginning. He had almost entirely -forgotten the lad, and thought that he had gone to dust behind the walls -long ago. _But in times of perplexity, when there is no help to be found -in reality, one is apt to believe dreams_, and in his fear about his -daughter's safety, the king at last came to the conclusion that the -dream was not altogether impossible. He had the wall opened; and a -gallant knight stepped from the hole. "You have nothing more to fear, my -king," said the lad, who was filled with hope, and, dragging out the -arrow with his right hand, he shot it towards Tartary with such force -that all the finials of the royal palace dropped down with the force of -the shock. - -Seeing this, the Tartar monarch was not only anxious to see, but also to -make the acquaintance of him who did all these things. The lad at once -offered to go, and started on the journey with twelve other knights, -disguising himself so that he could not be distinguished from his -followers; his weapons, his armour, and everything on him was exactly -like those around him. This was done in order to test the magic power of -the Tartar chief. The lad and his knights were received with great pomp -by the monarch, who, seeing that all were attired alike, at once -discovered the ruse; but, in order that he might not betray his -ignorance, did not dare to inquire who the wise and powerful knight was, -but trusted to his mother, who had magic power, to find him out. For -this reason the magic mother put them all in the same bedroom for the -night, she concealing herself in the room. The guests lay down, when one -of them remarked, with great satisfaction, "By Jove! what a good cellar -the monarch has!" "His wine is good, indeed," said another, "because -there is human blood mixed with it." The magic mother noted from which -bed the sound had come; and, when all were asleep, she cut off a lock -from the knight in question, and crept out of the room unnoticed, and -informed her son how he could recognise the true hero. The guests got up -next morning, but our man soon noticed that he was marked, and in order -to thwart the design, every one of the knights cut off a lock. They sat -down to dinner, and the monarch was not able to recognise the hero. - -The next night the monarch's mother again stole into the bedroom, and -this time a knight exclaimed, "By Jove! what good bread the Tartar -monarch has!" "It's very good, indeed," said another, "because there is -woman's milk in it." When they went to sleep, she cut off the end of the -moustache from the knight who slept in the bed where the voice came -from, and made this sign known to her son; but the knights were more on -their guard than before, and having discovered what the sign was, each -of them cut off as much from their moustache as the knight's who was -marked; and so once more the monarch could not distinguish between them. - -The third night the old woman again secreted herself, when one of the -knights remarked, "By Jove! what a handsome man the monarch is!" "He is -handsome, indeed, because he is a love-child," said another. When they -went to sleep, she made a scratch on the visor of the knight who spoke -last, and told her son. Next morn the monarch saw that all visors were -marked alike. At last the monarch took courage and spoke thus: "I can -see there is a cleverer man amongst you than I; and this is why I am so -much more anxious to know him. I pray, therefore, that he make himself -known, so that I may see him, and make the acquaintance of the only -living man who wishes to be wiser and more powerful than myself." The -lad stepped forward and said, "I do not wish to be wiser or more -powerful than you; but I have only carried out what you bade me do; and -I am the one who has been marked for the last three nights." "Very well, -my lad, now I wish you to prove your words. Tell me, then, how is it -possible there can be human blood in my wine?" "Call your cupbearer, -your majesty, and he will explain it to you," said the lad. The official -appeared hastily, and told the king how, when filling the tankards with -the wine in question, he cut his finger with his knife, and thus the -blood got into the wine. "Then how is it that there is woman's milk in -my bread?" asked the monarch. "Call the woman who baked the bread, and -she will tell," said the lad. The woman was questioned, and narrated -that she was nursing a baby, and that milk had collected in her breasts; -and as she was kneading the dough, the breast began to run, and some -milk dropped into it. The magic mother had previously informed her son, -when telling him what happened the three nights, and now confirmed her -previous confession that it was true that the monarch was a love-child. -The monarch was not able to keep his temper any longer, and spoke in a -great rage and very haughtily, "I cannot tolerate the presence of a man -who is my equal: either he or I will die. Defend yourself, lad!" and -with these words he flashed his sword, and dashed at the lad. But in -doing so, he accidentally slipped and fell, and the lad's life was -saved. Before the former had time to get on his feet, the lad pierced -him through, cut off his head, and presented it on the point of his -sword to the king at home. "These things that have happened to me are -what I dreamt," said the victorious lad; "but I could not divulge my -secret beforehand, or else it would not have been fulfilled." The king -embraced the lad, and presented to him his daughter and half his realm; -and they perhaps still live in happiness to-day, if they have not died -since. - - - - -CSABOR UR. - - -There was once a young prince who was, perhaps, not quite twenty-five -years old, tall, and his slim figure was like a pine tree; his forehead -was sorrowful, like the dark pine; his thunder-like voice made his eyes -flash; his dress and his armour were black, because the prince, who was -known all over the world simply as Csabor Ur (Mr. Csabor), was serving -with the picked heroes of the grand king, and who had no other ornaments -besides his black suit but a gold star, which the grand king had -presented to him in the German camp for having saved his life. The fame -of Csabor Ur's bravery was great, and also of his benevolence, because -he was kind to the poor, and the grand king very often had to scold him -for distributing his property in a careless way. The priests, however, -could not boast of Csabor Ur's alms, because he never gave any to them, -nor did he ever give them any money for masses, and for this reason the -whole hierarchy was angry with him, especially the head priest at the -great king's court; but Csabor Ur being a great favourite of the great -king, not even a priest dared to offend him openly, but in secret the -pot was boiling for him. One cold autumn the great king arrived at the -royal palace from the camp with Csabor Ur, the palace standing on the -bank of a large sheet of water, and before they had taken the saddles -off the stallions the great king thus addressed Csabor Ur: "My lad, rest -yourself during the night, and at dawn, as soon as day breaks, hurry off -with your most trusty men into Roumania beyond the snow-covered -mountains to old Demeter, because I hear that my Roumanian neighbours -are not satisfied with my friendship, and are intriguing with the Turks: -find out, my lad, how many weeks the world will last there (what's the -news?) and warn the old fox to mind his tail, because I may perhaps send -him a rope instead of the archiepiscopal pallium." Csabor Ur received -the grand king's order with great joy, and, having taken leave of Dame -Margit (Margaret), dashed off on his bay stallion over the sandy plains -to the banks of the Olt, and from there he crossed over during a severe -frost beyond the snow-covered mountains; he arrived at the house of -Jordán Boer, the king's confidential man, whose guest he was, and here -he heard of old Demeter's cunning in all its details, and also that he -was secretly encouraged by the great king's head priest to plot against -the sovereign; hearing this, Csabor Ur started on his journey, and -arrived on the fourth day in Roumania, where he became the bishop's -guest, by whom he was apparently received cordially; the old dog being -anxious to mislead with his glib tongue Csabor Ur, about the events -there, but it was very difficult to hoodwink the great king's man. -Csabor Ur never gave any answer to the bishop's many words, and -therefore made the bishop believe that he had succeeded in deceiving -Csabor Ur; but he was more on his guard than ever and soon discovered -that every night crowds of people gathered into the cathedral; therefore -one night he also stole in there dressed in the costume of the country, -and to his horror heard how the people were conspiring with the bishop -against the great king, and how they were plotting an attack with the -aid of the Turkish army. - -Csabor Ur listened to these things in great silence and sent one of his -servants with a letter to the great king next day, in which he described -minutely the whole state of affairs. The spies, however, laid in ambush -for the servant, attacked and killed him, took Csabor Ur's letter from -him, and handed it to the bishop, who learnt from its contents that -Csabor Ur had stolen into the cathedral every night. He, therefore, had -the large oak doors closed as soon as the congregation had assembled on -the same night, and in an infuriated sermon he informed the people that -there was a traitor among them. Hearing this everybody demanded his -death, and they were ready to take their oath on the Holy Cross that -they were not traitors. Whereupon the bishop ordered a stool to be -placed on the steps of the altar, sat down, and administered the oath to -all present. Only one man, in a brown fur-cloak, did not budge from the -side of the stoup. The bishop, therefore, addressed him thus: "Then who -are you? Why don't you come to me?" But the dark cloak did not move, and -the bishop at once knew who it was and ordered the man to be bound; -whereupon the multitude rushed forward to carry out his command. -Thereupon the man dropped his brown cloak; and, behold, Csabor Ur stood -erect--like a dark pine--with knitted brows and flashing eyes, holding -in his right hand a copper mace with a gilt handle, his left resting on -a broad two-edged sword. The multitude stopped, shuddering, like the -huntsman, who in pursuit of hares suddenly finds a bear confronting him; -but in the next moment the crowd rushed at their prey. Csabor Ur, after -cutting down about thirty of them, dropped down dead himself. His blood -spurted up high upon the column, where it can still be seen in the -cathedral--to the left of the entrance--although the Roumanian priests -tried their best to whitewash it. The great king heard of this, had the -head priest imprisoned, and went with an immense army to revenge Csabor -Ur's murder. With his army came also Dame Margit, dressed in men's -clothes, who wept at the foot of the blood-bespurt column till one day -after mass they picked her up dead from the flags. - - - - -THE DEVIL AND THE THREE SLOVÁK LADS. - - -There was once, I don't know where, in Slavonia, a man who had three -sons. "Well, my sons," said he one day to them, "go to see the land; to -see the world. There is a country where even the yellow-hammer bathes in -wine, and where even the fence of the yards is made of strings of -sausages; but if you wish to get on there you must first learn the -language of the country." The three lads were quite delighted with the -description of the wonderful country, and were ready to start off at -once. The father accompanied them as far as the top of a high mountain; -it took them three days to get to the top, and when they reached the -summit they were on the border of the happy land: here the father slung -an empty bag on every one of the lads' shoulders, and, pointing out to -the eldest one the direction, exclaimed, "Ah! can you see Hungary?" and -with this he took leave of them quite as satisfied as if he had then -handed them the key of happiness. The three lads went on and walked into -Hungary; and their first desire was to learn Hungarian, in accord with -their father's direction. The moment they stepped over the border they -met a man, who inquired where they were going? They informed him, "to -learn Hungarian." "Don't go any further, my lads," said the man, "the -school year consists of three days with me, at the end of which you will -have acquired the requisite knowledge." The three lads stayed; and at -the end of the three days one of them had happily learned by heart the -words "we three"; the other, "for a cheese"; and the third, "that's -right." The three Slovák lads were delighted, and wouldn't learn any -more; and so they continued on their journey. They walked till they came -to a forest, where they found a murdered man by the road-side; they -looked at him, and to their astonishment they recognised the murdered -man as their late master whom they had just left; and while they were -sighing, not knowing what to do, the rural policeman arrived on the -spot. He began to question them about the murdered man, saying, "Who -killed him?" The first, not knowing anything else, answered, "We three." -"Why?" asked the policeman. "For a cheese," replied the second. "If this -is so," growled the policeman, "I shall have to put you in irons." -Whereupon the third said, "That's right." The lads were escorted by the -policeman, who also intended to get assistance to carry away the dead -man; but the moment they left, the dead man jumped up, shook himself, -and regained his ordinary appearance, and became a sooty devil, with -long ears and tail, who stood laughing at the lads, being highly amused -at their stupidity, which enabled him to deceive them so easily. - - - - -THE COUNT'S DAUGHTER. - - -There was once, I don't know where, an old tumble-down oven, there was -nothing left of its sides; there was also once a town in which a -countess lived, with an immense fortune. This countess had an -exceedingly pretty daughter, who was her sole heiress. The fame of her -beauty and her riches being very great the marrying magnates swarmed -about her. Among others the three sons of a count used to come to the -house, whose castle stood outside the town in a pretty wood. These -young men appeared to be richer than one would have supposed from their -property, but no one knew where and how the money came to them. The -three young men were invited almost every day to the house, but the -countess and her daughter never visited them in return, although the -young lady was continually asked by them. For a long time the girl did -not accept their invitation, till one day she was preparing for a walk -into the wood, in which the young counts' castle was supposed to be: her -mother was surprised to hear that she intended to go into the wood, but -as the young lady didn't say exactly where she was going her mother -raised no objection. The girl went, and the prettiness of the wood, and -also her curiosity enticed her to go in further and further till at last -she discovered the turrets of a splendid castle; being so near to it her -curiosity grew stronger, and at last she walked into the courtyard. -Everything seemed to show that the castle was inhabited, but still she -did not see a living soul; the girl went on till she came to the main -entrance, the stairs were of white marble, and the girl, quite dazzled -at the splendour she beheld, went up, counting the steps; "one hundred," -said the girl, in a half whisper, when she reached the first flight, and -tarried on the landing. Here she looked round when her attention fell on -a bird in a cage. "Girl, beware!" said the bird. But the girl, dazzled -by the glitter, and drawn on by her curiosity, again began to mount the -stairs, counting them, without heeding the bird's words. "One hundred," -again said the girl, as she tarried on the next landing, but still no -one was to be seen, but thinking that she might find some one she opened -the first door, which revealed a splendour quite beyond all she had ever -imagined, a sight such as she had never seen before, but still no one -appeared. She went into another room and there amongst other furniture -she also found three bedsteads, "this is the three young men's bedroom," -she thought, and went on. The next room into which she stepped was full -of weapons of every possible description; the girl stared and went on, -and then she came to a large hall which was full of all sorts of -garments, clerical, military, civilian, and also women's dresses. She -went on still further and in the next room she found a female figure, -made up of razors, which, with extended arms as it seemed, was placed -above a deep hole. The girl was horror-struck at the sight and her fear -drove her back; trembling she went back through the rooms again, but -when she came into the bedroom she heard male voices. Her courage fled -and she could go no further, but hearing some footsteps approach she -crept under one of the beds. The men entered, whom she recognised as the -three sons of the count, bringing with them a beautiful girl, whom the -trembling girl recognised by her voice as a dear friend; they stripped -her of all, and as they could not take off a diamond ring from her -little finger, one of the men chopped it off and the finger rolled under -the bed where the girl lay concealed. One of the men began to look for -the ring when another said "You will find it some other time," and so he -left off looking for it. Having quite undressed the girl they took her -to the other room, when after a short lapse of time she heard some faint -screaming, and it appeared to her as if the female figure of razors had -snapped together, and the mangled remains of the unfortunate victim were -heard to drop down into the deep hole. The three brothers came back and -one of them began to look for the ring: the cold sweat broke out on the -poor girl hiding under the bed. "Never mind, it is ours new and you can -find it in the morning," said one of the men, and bade the others go to -bed; and so it happened: the search for the ring was put off till next -day. They went to bed and the girl began to breathe more freely in her -hiding-place; she began to grope about in silence and found the ring and -secreted it in her dress, and hearing that the three brothers were fast -asleep, she stole out noiselessly leaving the door half ajar. The next -day the three brothers again visited the countess when the daughter -told them that she had a dream as if she had been to their castle. She -told them how she went up a flight of marble stairs till she counted -100, and up the next flight when she again counted 100. The brothers -were charmed and very much surprised at the dream and assured her that -it was exactly like their home. Then she told them how she went from one -room to another and what she saw, but when she came in her dream as far -as the razor-maid they began to feel uneasy and grew suspicious, and -when she told them the scene with the girl, and in proof of her tale -produced the finger with the ring, the brothers were terrified and -exclaiming, "We are betrayed!" took flight; but everything was arranged, -and the servants, who were ordered to watch, caught them. After an -investigation all their numberless horrible deeds were brought to light -and they were beheaded. - - - - -THE SPEAKING GRAPES, THE SMILING APPLE, AND THE TINKLING APRICOT. - - -There was once, I don't know where, beyond seven times seven countries, -a king who had three daughters. One day the king was going to the -market, and thus inquired of his daughters: "What shall I bring you from -the market, my dear daughters?" The eldest said, "A golden dress, my -dear royal father;" the second said, "A silver dress for me;" the third -said, "Speaking grapes, a smiling apple, and a tinkling apricot for me." -"Very well, my daughters," said the king, and went. He bought the -dresses for his two elder daughters in the market, as soon as he -arrived; but, in spite of all exertions and inquiries, he could not find -the speaking grapes, the smiling apple, and tinkling apricot. He was -very sad that he could not get what his youngest daughter wished, for -she was his favourite; and he went home. It happened, however, that the -royal carriage stuck fast on the way home, although his horses were of -the best breed, for they were such high steppers that they kicked the -stars. So he at once sent for extra horses to drag out the carriage; but -all in vain, the horses couldn't move either way. He gave up all hope, -at last, of getting out of the position, when a dirty, filthy pig came -that way, and grunted, "Grumph! grumph! grumph! King, give me your -youngest daughter, and I will help you out of the mud." The king, never -thinking what he was promising, and over-anxious to get away, consented, -and the pig gave the carriage a push with its nose, so that carriage and -horses at once moved out of the mud. Having arrived at home the king -handed the dresses to his two daughters, and was now sadder than ever -that he had brought nothing for his favourite daughter; the thought also -troubled him that he had promised her to an unclean animal. - -After a short time the pig arrived in the courtyard of the palace -dragging a wheelbarrow after it, and grunted, "Grumph! grumph! grumph! -King, I've come for your daughter." The king was terrified, and, in -order to save his daughter, he had a peasant girl dressed in rich -garments, embroidered with gold, sent her down and had her seated in the -wheelbarrow: the pig again grunted, "Grumph! grumph! grumph! King, this -is not your daughter;" and, taking the barrow, it tipped her out. The -king, seeing that deceit was of no avail, sent down his daughter, as -promised, but dressed in ragged, dirty tatters, thinking that she would -not please the pig; but the animal grunted in great joy, seized the -girl, and placed her in the wheelbarrow. Her father wept that, through a -careless promise, he had brought his favourite daughter to such a fate. -The pig went on and on with the sobbing girl, till, after a long -journey, it stopped before a dirty pig-stye and grunted, "Grumph! -grumph! grumph! Girl, get out of the wheelbarrow." The girl did as she -was told. "Grumph! grumph! grumph!" grunted the pig again; "go into -your new home." The girl, whose tears, now, were streaming like a brook, -obeyed; the pig then offered her some Indian corn that it had in a -trough, and also its litter which consisted of some old straw, for a -resting-place. The girl had not a wink of sleep for a long time, till at -last, quite worn out with mental torture, she fell asleep. - -Being completely exhausted with all her trials, she slept so soundly -that she did not wake till next day at noon. On awaking, she looked -round, and was very much astonished to find herself in a beautiful -fairy-like palace, her bed being of white silk with rich purple curtains -and golden fringes. At the first sign of her waking maids appeared all -round her, awaiting her orders, and bringing her costly dresses. The -girl, quite enchanted with the scene, dressed without a word, and the -maids accompanied her to her breakfast in a splendid hall, where a young -man received her with great affection. "I am your husband, if you accept -me, and whatever you see here belongs to you," said he; and after -breakfast led her into a beautiful garden. The girl did not know -_whether it was a dream she saw or reality_, and answered all the -questions put to her by the young man with evasive and chaffing replies. -At this moment they came to that part of the garden which was laid out -as an orchard, and the bunches of grapes began to speak "Our beautiful -queen, pluck some of us." The apples smiled at her continuously, and the -apricots tinkled a beautiful silvery tune. "You see, my love," said the -handsome youth, "here you have what you wished for--what your father -could not obtain. You may know now, that once I was a monarch but I was -bewitched into a pig, and I had to remain in that state till a girl -wished for speaking grapes, a smiling apple, and a tinkling apricot. You -are the girl, and I have been delivered; and if I please you, you can be -mine for ever." The girl was enchanted with the handsome youth and the -royal splendour, and consented. They went with great joy to carry the -news to their father, and to tell him of their happiness. - - - - -THE THREE ORANGES. - - -There was once, I don't know where, a king, who had three sons. They had -reached a marriageable age, but could not find any one who suited them, -or who pleased their father. "Go, my sons, and look round in the world," -said the king, "and try to find wives somewhere else." The three sons -went away, and at bed-time they came to a small cottage, in which a -very, very old woman lived. She asked them about the object of their -journey, which the princes readily communicated to her. The old woman -provided them with the necessaries for the journey as well as she could, -and before taking leave of her guests, gave them an orange each, with -instructions to cut them open only in the neighbourhood of water, else -they would suffer great, very great damage. The three princes started on -their way again, and the eldest not being able to restrain his curiosity -as to what sort of fruit it could be, or to conceive what harm could -possibly happen if he cut it open in a place where there was no water -near: cut into the orange; and lo! a beautiful girl, such as he had -never seen before, came out of it, and exclaimed, "Water! let me have -some water, or I shall die on the spot." The prince ran in every -direction to get water, but could not find any, and the beautiful girl -died in a short time, as the old woman had said. The princes went on, -and now the younger one began to be inquisitive as to what could be in -his orange. - -They had just sat down to luncheon on a plain, under a tall, leafy tree, -when it appeared to them that they could see a lake not very far off. -"Supposing there is a girl in the fruit, I can fulfil her wish," he -thought to himself, and not being able to restrain his curiosity any -longer, as to what sort of girl there could be inside, he cut his -orange; and lo! a girl, very much more beautiful than the first, stepped -out of it, and called out for water, in order to save her life. He had -previously sent his brother to what he thought was a lake; and, as he -could not wait for his return with the water, he ran off himself, quite -out of breath, but the further he ran the further the lake appeared to -be off, because it was only a mirage. He rushed back to the tree nearly -beside himself, in order to see whether the girl was yet alive, but only -found her body lifeless, and quite cold. - -The two elder brothers, seeing that they had lost what they had been -searching for, and having given up all hope of finding a prettier one, -returned in great sorrow to their father's house, and the youngest -continued his journey alone. He wandered about until, after much -fatigue, he came to the neighbourhood of some town, where he found a -well. He had no doubt that there was a girl in his orange also, so he -took courage, and cut it; and, indeed, a girl, who was a hundred times -prettier than the first two, came out of it. She called out for water, -and the prince gave her some at once, and death had no power over her. -The prince now hurried into the town to purchase rich dresses for his -love; and that no harm might happen to her during his absence, he made -her sit up in a tree with dense foliage, the boughs of which overhung -the well. - -As soon as the prince left, a gipsy woman came to the well for water. -She looked into the well, and saw in the water the beautiful face of -the girl in the tree. At first she fancied that she saw the image of her -own face, and felt very much flattered; but soon found out her mistake, -and looking about discovered the pretty girl in the tree. "What are you -waiting for, my pretty maid?" inquired the gipsy woman with a cunning -face. The girl told her her story, whereupon the gipsy woman, shamming -kindness, climbed up the tree, and pushed the pretty girl into the well, -taking her place in the tree, when the pretty girl sank. The next moment -a beautiful little gold fish appeared swimming in the water; the gipsy -woman recognised it as the girl, and, being afraid that it might be -dangerous to her, tried to catch it, when suddenly the prince appeared -with the costly dresses, so she at once laid her plans to deceive him: -the prince immediately noticed the difference between her and the girl -he had left; but she succeeded in making him believe that for a time -after having left the fairy world, she had to lose her beauty, but that -she would recover it the sooner the more he loved her: so the prince was -satisfied and went home to his father's house with the woman he found, -and actually loved her in hopes of her regaining her former beauty. The -good food and happy life, and also the pretty dresses, improved the -sunburnt woman's looks a little: the prince imagining that his wife's -prediction was going to be fulfilled, felt still more attached to her, -and was anxious to carry out all her wishes. - -The woman, however, could not forget the little gold fish, and therefore -feigned illness, saying that she would not get better till she had eaten -of the liver of a gold fish, which was to be found in such and such a -well: the prince had the fish caught at once, and the princess having -partaken of the liver, got better, and felt more cheerful than before. -It happened, however, that one scale of the fish had been cast out in -the courtyard with the water, and from it a beautiful tree began to -grow; the princess noticed it and found out the reason, how the tree -got there, and again fell ill, and said that she could not get better -until they burnt the tree, and cooked her something by the flames. This -wish also was fulfilled, and she got better; it happened, however that -one of the woodcutters took a square piece of the timber home to his -wife, who used it as a lid for a milk jug: these people lived not very -far from the royal palace, and were poor, the woman herself keeping the -house, and doing all servants' work. - -One day she left her house very early, without having put anything in -order, and without having done her usual household work; when she came -home in the evening, she found all clean, and in the best order; she was -very much astonished, and could not imagine how it came to pass; and it -happened thus on several days, whenever she had not put her house in -order before going out. In order to find out how these things were -accomplished, one day she purposely left her home in disorder, but did -not go far, but remained outside peeping through the keyhole, to see -what would happen. As soon as everything became quiet in the house, the -woman saw that the lid of the milk jug which was standing in the window, -began to move with gentle noise, and in a few moments a beautiful fairy -stepped out of it, who first combed her golden tresses, and performed -her toilet, and afterwards put the whole house in order. The woman, in -order to trap the fairy before she had time to retransform herself, -opened the door abruptly. They both seemed astonished, but the kind and -encouraging words of the woman soon dispelled the girl's fear, and now -she related her whole story, how she came into the world, how she became -a gold fish, and then a tree, and how she used to walk out of the wooden -lid of the milk jug to tidy the house; she also enlightened the woman as -to who the present queen was. The woman listened to all in great -astonishment, and in order to prevent the girl from slipping back into -the lid, she had previously picked it up, when she entered, and now -threw it into the fire. She at once went to the prince, and told him -the whole story. - -The prince had already grown suspicious about his wife's beauty, which -had been very long in returning, and now he was quite sure that she was -a cheat: he sent for the girl and recognised her at once as the pretty -fairy whom he had left in the tree. The gipsy woman was put into the -pillory, and the prince married the pretty girl, and they lived ever -after in happiness. - - - - -THE YOUNGEST PRINCE AND THE YOUNGEST PRINCESS. - - -There was once, I don't know where, an old petticoat a hundred years -old, and in this petticoat a tuck, in which I found the following story. -There was once a king who had seven sons and seven daughters: he was in -great trouble where to find princesses of royal blood as wives for his -sons and princes as husbands for his daughters. At last the idea struck -him that the seven sons should marry the seven daughters. They all -consented to their father's wish with the exception of the youngest son -and daughter: "Well, if you won't," said the father, "I will give you -your inheritance and you can go and try your fortune, and get married as -best you can." The two children went, and came to a strange land, where -they were overtaken by darkness in a wood. They chose a bushy tree for -their resting place, whose leafy boughs bent down to the ground and -afforded shelter. When they woke next morning, the girl told her brother -that she had dreamt that there was a town not far off, where a king -lived who had been ill for a long time, and thousands upon thousands of -doctors had failed to cure him. He again dreamt that an old man with -snow-white hair told him that the tree under which they slept gave -water: in this water the king was to be bathed, and he would be cured. -They at once examined the tree, and from a crack in the bark sap as -clear as crystal was dripping; they filled their flasks with the fluid -and continued their journey. When they reached the outskirts of the -forest, they saw a town in front of them. - -Having arrived there they went into an inn to find out whether their -dream was true, and asked the host what the news was in the town; he, in -his conversation, mentioned the illness of the king, and the many -unsuccessful attempts of men to cure him, and that he had strict orders, -under a heavy penalty, to report at once every doctor that came to his -inn. "I also am a doctor," said the prince, "and this youth is my -assistant," he continued, pointing to his sister, who was dressed in -male attire. The innkeeper at once reported them, and they went to court -to try their remedy on the king. The king's body was covered with sores, -and the doctor bathed his hand with the juice of the tree. To his great -joy, the king discovered next morning that the place which had been -bathed was visibly improving; he therefore, the very same night, sent a -huge wooden vessel on a cart to the tree, to bring him sufficient water -for a bath. After a few baths the king actually recovered; and the -doctor, having received a handsome present, requested a favour of the -king, viz., to pay him a visit and to do him the honour of dining with -him. The king cordially granted the request, and the prince received him -with great splendour in his spacious apartments, which were decorated -with a lavishness becoming a sovereign. As the king found the doctor -alone, he inquired after his assistant, and at this moment a charming -pretty girl stepped from one of the side rooms, whom the king at once -recognised as the doctor's assistant. The strangers now related to him -their story, and the king became more affable, especially towards the -pretty assistant, who at once gained possession of his heart and soul, -and the short acquaintance ended with a wedding. The prince, not -forgetting the object of his journey, started soon after the wedding -festivities were over. - -He passed on till he came to the boundary of the king's realm, and then -went on as far as the capital of the next country. He was riding about -the streets on a fine horse, when he heard a voice coming from a window -close by, "Hum, you, too, won't get on without me," and looking in the -direction from which the voice came, he discovered an old man looking -out of the window. He didn't take any notice of the voice, but went on; -and, having arrived at an inn, made sundry inquiries, when he was told -that adventurous young men in this town might either meet with great -fortune or with a great misfortune; because the king had a daughter whom -no one had as yet seen, with the exception of her old nurse. The girl -had three marks on her, and whoever found out what they were, and where -they were, would become her husband; but whosoever undertook the task -and failed, would be impaled, and that already ninety-nine young fellows -had died in this manner. - -Upon hearing this, it became clear to the prince what the meaning of the -old man's saying was; he thought, that no doubt the old man took him for -another adventurer, and the thought struck him that the old man must be -acquainted with the secret, and that it would be advantageous to make -his acquaintance. He found a plea at once; the old man was a goldsmith, -and, as the prince had lost the rowel of his golden spur on the road, he -called on him, and, having come to terms about the spur, the prince -inquired of him about the princess, and the old man's tale tallied with -that of the innkeeper. After a short reflection, the prince told the old -man who he was, and, with a look full of meaning, inquired if the -goldsmith could help him in case he tried his luck. "For a good sum with -pleasure," replied the goldsmith. "You shall have it," said the prince; -"but tell me how, and I will give you this purse on account." The old -man, seeing that there was good opportunity for gain, said, "I will -construct a silver horse in which you can conceal yourself, and I will -expose it for sale in the market. I am almost sure that no one will buy -it but some one attached to the royal court, and if once you get in -there, you can get out of the horse by a secret opening and go back -whenever you like and, I think, you will succeed." - -And so it happened; on the following market-day a splendid silver horse -was exhibited in the vicinity of the royal palace: there were a good -many admirers, but on account of the great price there was no buyer, -till at last a person belonging to the royal court enquired the price; -after a few moments he returned and bought the horse for the king, who -presented it to his daughter, and thus the prince managed to get into -the chamber of the princess, which was the most difficult of all things, -and he listened amidst fear and joy to the silvery voice of the pretty -girl, who amused herself with the horse--which ran on wheels--and called -it her dear pet. - -Evening drew on, and the mysterious girl went to rest; everything became -quiet, and only her old nurse was sitting up not far from her bed; but -about midnight she, too, fell asleep; hearing that she was fast asleep, -the prince got out of the horse and approached the girl's bed, holding -his breath, and found the mark of the sun shining on the girl's -forehead, the moon on the right breast, and three stars on the left. -Having found out the three secret marks, the prince was about to retire -to his hiding-place when the princess woke. She tried to scream, but at -an imploring gesture of the youth she kept silence. The girl could not -take her eyes off the handsome prince, who related to her how and for -what reason he had dared to come. The girl, being tired of her long -seclusion, consented to his scheme, and they secretly plotted how the -prince should get out of the palace; whereupon he went back to his -hiding-place. In accord with the plot, next morning the girl broke one -of the horse's ears off, and it was sent back to the goldsmith's to be -repaired, and the prince was thus able to leave his dangerous position. - - -Having again splendidly remunerated the goldsmith, he returned to his -new brother-in-law, so that he might come back with a splendid suite and -royal pomp, and appear as a king to try his fortune. The prince returned -with many magnificently-clad knights and splendid horses, and reported -himself to the king, and informed him by message that he was anxious to -try his luck for the possession of his daughter. The king was very much -pleased with the appearance of the youth, and therefore kindly -admonished him not to risk his life, but the prince seemed quite -confident, and insisted on carrying out his wishes; so a day was fixed -for carrying out the task. The people streamed out to the place where -the trial was to take place, like as to a huge festival. And all pitied -the handsome youth, and had sad misgivings as to his fate. - -The king granted three days to those who tried their fortune, and three -guesses. On the first and second day, in order not to betray the plot, -and in order to increase the éclat the prince guessed wrongly on -purpose; but on the third day, when everyone was convinced that he must -die, he disclosed in a loud voice the secret marks of the princess. The -king declared them to be right, and the prince was led to his future -wife, amidst the cheers of the multitude and the joyous strains of the -band. The king ordered immense wedding festivities all over the town, -and resigned his throne in favour of his son-in-law, who reigned happy -for many years after! - - - - -THE INVISIBLE SHEPHERD LAD. - - -There was once, I don't know where, a poor man who had a very good son -who was a shepherd. One day he was tending his sheep in a rocky -neighbourhood, and was sending sighs to Heaven as a man whose heart was -throbbing with burning wishes. Hearing a noise as of some one -approaching he looked round and saw St. Peter standing in front of him -in the guise of a very old grey man. "Why are you sighing, my lad?" -inquired he, "and what is your wish?" "Nothing else," replied the lad, -respectfully, "but to possess a little bag which never gets full, and a -fur cloak which makes me invisible when I put it on." His wish was -fulfilled and St. Peter vanished. The lad gave up shepherding now and -turned to the capital, where he thought he had a chance of making his -fortune. A king lived there who had twelve daughters, and eleven of them -wanted at least six pairs of shoes each every night. Their father was -very angry about this, because it swallowed up a good deal of his -income; he suspected that there was something wrong, but couldn't -succeed by any traps to get to the bottom of it. At last he promised the -youngest princess to him who would unveil the secret. - -The promise enticed many adventurous spirits to the capital, but the -girls simply laughed at them, and they were obliged to leave in -disgrace. The shepherd lad, relying on his fur cloak, reported himself; -but the girls measured him, too, with mocking eyes. Night came, and the -shepherd, muffling himself in his fur cloak, stood at the bedroom door -where they slept, and stole in amongst them when they went to bed. It -was midnight and a ghost walked round the beds and woke the girls. There -was now great preparation. They dressed and beautified themselves, and -filled a travelling bag with shoes. The youngest knew nothing of all -this, but on the present occasion the invisible shepherd woke -her--whereupon her sisters got frightened; but as she was let into their -secret they thought it best to decoy her with them, to which, after a -short resistance, the girl consented. All being ready, the ghost placed -a small dish on the table. Everyone anointed their shoulders with the -contents, and wings grew to them. The shepherd did the same: and when -they all flew through the window, he followed them. - -After flying for several hours they came to a huge copper forest, and to -a well, the railing round which was of copper, and on this stood twelve -copper tumblers. The girls drank here, so as to refresh themselves, when -the youngest, who was here for the first time, looked round in fear. The -lad, too, had something to drink after the girls had left and put a -tumbler, together with a twig that he broke off a tree, in his bag; the -tree trembled, and the noise was heard all over the forest. The youngest -girl noticed it and warned her sisters that some one was after them, but -they felt so safe that they only laughed at her. They continued their -journey, and after a short time came to a silver forest, and to a silver -well. Here again they drank, and the lad again put a tumbler and a -silver twig into his bag. In breaking off the twig the tree shook, and -the youngest again warned her sisters, but in vain. - -They soon came to the end of the forest and arrived at a golden forest, -with a gold well and tumblers. Here again they stopped and drank, and -the lad again put a gold tumbler and twig in his bag. The youngest once -more warned her sisters of the noise the quivering tree made, but in -vain. Having arrived at the end of the forest they came to an immense -moss-grown rock, whose awe-inspiring lofty peaks soared up to the very -heavens. Here they all stopped. The ghost struck the rock with a golden -rod, whereupon it opened, and all entered, the shepherd lad with them. -Now they came to a gorgeous room from which several halls opened, which -were all furnished in a fairy-like manner. From these twelve fairy -youths came forth and greeted them, who were all wonderfully handsome. -The number of servants increased from minute to minute who were rushing -about getting everything ready for a magnificent dance. Soon after -strains of enchanting music were heard, and the doors of a vast dancing -hall opened and the dancing went on without interruption. At dawn the -girls returned--also the lad--in the same way as they had come, and -they lay down as if nothing had happened, which, however, was belied by -their worn shoes, and the next morning they got up at the usual hour. - -The king was impatiently awaiting the news the shepherd was to bring, -who came soon after and told him all that had happened. He sent for his -daughters, who denied everything, but the tumblers and the twigs bore -witness. What the shepherd told the youngest girl also confirmed, whom -the shepherd woke for the purpose. The king fulfilled his promise with -regard to the youngest princess and the other eleven were burnt for -witchcraft. - - - - -THE THREE PRINCESSES. - - -There was once, I shan't tell you where, it is enough if I tell you that -there was somewhere a tumble-down oven, which was in first-rate -condition barring the sides, and there were some cakes baking in it; -this person (the narrator points to some one present) has eaten some of -them. Well then, on the mountains of Komárom, on the glass bridges, on -the beautiful golden chandelier, there was once a Debreczen cloak which -had ninety-nine tucks, and in the ninety-ninth I found the following -tale. - -There was once a king with three daughters, but the king was so poor -that he could hardly keep his family; his wife, who was the girls' -stepmother, therefore told her husband one night, that in the morning -she would take the girls into the wood and leave them in the thicket so -that they might not find again their way home. The youngest overheard -this, and as soon as the king and queen fell asleep she hurried off to -her godmother, who was a magic woman, to ask her advice: her -godmother's little pony (tátos) was waiting at the front gate, and -taking her on its back ran straight to the magic woman. She knew well -what the girl needed and gave her at once a reel of cotton which she -could unwind in the wood and so find her way back, but she gave it to -her on the condition that she would not take her two elder sisters home -with her, because they were very bad and proud. As arranged next morning -the girls were led out by their stepmother into the wood to gather chips -as she said, and, having wandered about a long time, she told them to -rest; so they sat down under a tree and soon all three went to sleep; -seeing this, the stepmother hurried home. - -On waking up, two of the girls, not being able to find their mother, -began to cry, but the youngest was quiet, saying that she knew her way -home, and that she would go, but could not take them with her; whereupon -the two elder girls began to flatter her, and implored her so much that -she gave in at last. Arriving at home their father received them with -open arms; their stepmother feigned delight. Next night she again told -the king that she would lead them deeper still into the wood: the -youngest again overheard the conversation, and, as on the night before, -went on her little pony to her godmother, who scolded her for having -taken home her bad sisters, and on condition that this time she would -not do so, she gave her a bag full of ashes, which she had to strew over -the road as they went on, in order to know her way back; so the girls -were led into the wood again and left there, but the youngest again took -her sisters home, finding her way by the ashes, having been talked over -by many promises and implorings. At home, they were received, as on the -first occasion; on the third night their stepmother once more undertook -to lead them away; the youngest overheard them as before, but this time, -she had not courage to go to her godmother, moreover she thought that -she could help herself, and for this purpose she took a bag full of peas -with her, which she strewed about as they went. Left by their mother, -the two again began to cry, whereas the youngest said laughing, that she -was able to go home on this occasion also; and having again yielded to -her sisters she started on her way back, but to her astonishment could -not find a single pea, as the birds had eaten them all. Now there was a -general cry, and the three outcasts wandered about the whole day in the -wood, and did not find a spring till sunset, to quench their thirst; -they also found an acorn under an oak under which they had lain down to -rest; they set the acorn, and carried water in their mouths to water it; -by next morning it had grown into a tree as tall as a tower, and the -youngest climbed up it to see whether she could not discover some -habitation in the neighbourhood; not being able to see anything, they -spent the whole day crying and wandering about. The following morning, -the tree was as big as two towers, but on this occasion too the youngest -girl looked in vain from its summit: but at last, by the end of the -third day, the tree was as tall as three towers, and this time the -youngest girl was more successful, because she discovered far away a -lighted window, and, having come down, she led her sisters in the -direction of the light. Her sisters, however, treated her most -shamefully, they took away all her best clothes, which she thoughtfully -had brought with her, tied up in a bundle, and she had to be satisfied -with the shabbiest; whenever she dared to contradict them they at once -began to beat her; they gave her orders that wherever they came she had -to represent them as daughters of rich people, she being their servant. -Thus, they went on for three days and three nights until at last they -came to an immense, beautiful castle. - -They felt now in safety, and entered the beautiful palace with great -hopes, but how frightened were they when they discovered a giantess -inside who was as tall as a tower, and who had an eye in the middle of -her forehead as big as a dish, and who gnashed her teeth, which were a -span long. "Welcome, girls!" thus spoke the giantess, "What a splendid -roast you will make!" They all three were terrified at these words, but -the youngest shewed herself amiable, and promised the giantess that they -would make all kind of beautiful millinery for her if she did them no -harm; the woman with the big teeth listened, and agreed, and hid the -girls in a cupboard so that her husband might not see them when he came -home; the giant, who was even taller than his wife, however, at once -began to sniff about, and demanded human flesh of his wife, threatening -to swallow her if she did not produce it. The girls were fetched out, -but were again spared, having promised to cook very savoury food for the -grumbling husband. - -The chief reason of their life having been spared, however, was because -the husband wanted to eat them himself during the absence of his wife, -and the woman had a similar plan in her mind. The girls now commenced to -bake and roast, the two eldest kneaded the dough, the youngest making -the fire in the oven, which was as big as hell, and when it got red hot, -the cunning young girl called the giant, and having placed a pot full of -lard into the oven, asked him to taste it with his tongue to see whether -the lard was hot enough, and if the oven had reached its proper heat. -The tower of flesh tried it, but the moment he put his head inside the -oven, the girl gave him a push and he was a dead man in the fiery oven; -seeing this, the giantess got in a rage, and was about to swallow them -up, but, before doing so, the youngest induced her to let herself be -beautified, to which she consented; a ladder was brought, so that the -young girl might get on to her head to comb the monster's hair; instead -of combing, however, the nimble little girl knocked the giantess on the -head with the huge iron comb, so that she dropped down dead on the spot. -The girls had the bodies carted away with twenty-four pair of oxen, and -became the sole owners of the immense castle. Next Sunday, the two -eldest dressed up in their best, and went for a walk, and to a dance in -the royal town. - -After their departure their youngest sister, who remained at home to do -servants' work, examined all the rooms, passages, and closets in the -castle. During her search she accidentally found something shining in a -flue. She knocked it off with a stone, and found that it was a most -beautiful golden key. She tried it in every door and cupboard, but only -succeeded, after a long search, in opening a small wardrobe with it; -and, how great was her surprise to find that it was full of ladies' -dresses and millinery, and that every thing seemed made to fit her. She -put on a silver dress in great haste, and went to the dance. The -well-known little pony was outside waiting for her, and galloped away -with her like a hurricane. The moment she entered the dancing hall all -eyes were fixed on her, and the men and youths of the highest dignity -vied with each other as to who should dance with her. Her sisters who, -till her arrival, were the heroines of the evening and the belles of the -ball, were quite set aside now. After a few hours' enjoyment the young -lady suddenly disappeared; and, later on, received her sisters on their -return in her servant's clothes. They told her that they had enjoyed -themselves very well at first, but that later on some impudent female -put them in the back-ground. The little girl laughed and said, -"Supposing that I was that lady;" and she was beaten by her sisters, and -called some not very polite names for her remark. Next Sunday the same -thing happened again, only this time the young girl was dressed in gold. -Everything happened the same, and she was again beaten at home. - -The third Sunday the little girl appeared in a diamond dress. At the -dance, again, she was the soul of the evening; but this time the young -men wanted her to stay to the end of the ball, and watched her very -closely, so that she might not escape. When, therefore, she tried to get -away, she was in such a hurry that she had no time to pick up a shoe she -accidentally dropped in the corridor; she was just in time to receive -her sisters. The shoe came into the possession of the prince, who hid -it carefully. After a few days the prince fell very ill, and the best -physicians could not find a cure for him; his father was very nearly in -despair about his only son's health, when a foreign doctor maintained -that the patient could only be cured by marrying, because he was -love-sick. His father, therefore, implored him to make him a full -confession of his love, and, whoever the person whom he wished might be, -he should have her. The prince produced the shoe, and declared that he -wanted the young lady to whom the shoe belonged. So it was announced -throughout the whole realm, that all the ladies of the country should -appear next Sunday to try on the shoe, and whosoever's foot it fitted -she should become the prince's wife. On Sunday the ladies swarmed in -crowds to the capital. Nor were the two eldest of the three sisters -missing, who had had their feet previously scraped with a knife by their -youngest sister, so that they might be smaller. The youngest sister also -got ready after their departure, and, having wrapped the mate of the -lost shoe in a handkerchief, she jumped on the pony's back in her best -dress, and rode to the appointed place. She overtook her sisters on the -road, and, jumping the pony into a puddle, splashed them all over with -mud. The moment she was seen approaching 100 cannons were fired off, and -all the bells were rung; but she wouldn't acknowledge the shoe as her -own without a trial, and, therefore, tried it on. The shoe fitted her -exactly, and when she produced its mate, 300 cannons greeted her as the -future queen. She accepted the honour upon one condition, namely, that -the king should restore her father's conquered realm. Her wish was -granted, and she became the prince's wife. Her sisters were conducted -back to their royal father, who was now rich and powerful once more; -where they live still, if they have not died since. - - - - -CINDER JACK. - - -A peasant had three sons. One morning he sent out the eldest to guard -the vineyard. The lad went, and was cheerfully eating a cake he had -taken with him, when a frog crept up to him, and asked him to let it -have some of his cake. "Anything else?" asked the lad angrily, and -picked up a stone to drive the frog away. The frog left without a word, -and the lad soon fell asleep, and, on awaking, found the whole vineyard -laid waste. The next day the father sent his second son into the -vineyard, but he fared like the first. - -The father was very angry about it, and did not know what to do; -whereupon his youngest son spoke up, who was always sitting in a corner -amongst the ashes, and was not thought fit for anything, and whom for -this reason they nicknamed Cinder Jack. "My father, send me out, and I -will take care of the vineyard." His father and his brothers laughed at -him, but they allowed him to have a trial; so Cinder Jack went to the -vineyard, and, taking out his cake, began to eat it. The frog again -appeared, and asked for a piece of cake, which was given to him at once. -Having finished their breakfast, the frog gave the lad a copper, a -silver, and a gold rod; and told him, that three horses would appear -shortly, of copper, silver, and gold, and they would try to trample down -the vineyard; but, if he beat them with the rods he had given him they -would at once become tame, and be his servants, and could at any time be -summoned to carry out his orders. It happened as the frog foretold; and -the vineyard produced a rich vintage. But Cinder Jack never told his -master or his brothers how he had been able to preserve the vineyard; in -fact, he concealed all, and again spent his time as usual, lying about -in his favourite corner. - -One Sunday the king had a high fir pole erected in front of the church, -and a golden rosemary tied to the top, and promised his daughter to him -who should be able to take it down in one jump on horseback. All the -knights of the realm tried their fortune, but not one of them was able -to jump high enough. But all of a sudden a knight clad in copper mail, -on a copper horse, appeared with his visor down, and snatched the -rosemary with an easy jump, and quickly disappeared. When his two -brothers got home they told Cinder Jack what had happened, and he -remarked, that he saw the whole proceeding much better, and on being -asked "Where from?" his answer was, "From the top of the hoarding." His -brothers had the hoarding pulled down at once, so that their younger -brother might not look on any more. Next Sunday a still higher pole, -with a golden apple at the top, was set up; and whosoever wished to -marry the king's daughter had to take the apple down. Again, hundreds -upon hundreds tried, but all in vain; till, at last, a knight in silver -mail, on a silver horse, took it, and disappeared. Cinder Jack again -told his brothers that he saw the festivities much better than they did; -he saw them, he said, from the pig-stye; so this was pulled down also. -The third Sunday a silk kerchief interwoven with gold was displayed at -the top of a still higher fir pole, and, as nobody succeeded in getting -it, a knight in gold mail, on a gold horse, appeared; snatched it down, -and galloped off. Cinder Jack again told his brothers that he saw all -from the top of the house; and his envious brothers had the roof of the -house taken off, so that the youngest brother might not look on again. - -The king now had it announced that the knight who had shown himself -worthy of his daughter should report himself, and should bring with him -the gold rosemary, the apple, and the silk kerchief; but no one came. So -the king ordered every man in the realm to appear before him, and still -the knight in question could not be found; till, at last, he arrived -clad in gold mail on a gold charger; whereupon the bells were at once -rung, and hundreds and hundreds of cannons fired. The knight, having -handed to the princess the golden rosemary, the apple, and the kerchief, -respectfully demanded her hand, and, having obtained it, lifted his -visor, and the populace, to their great astonishment, recognised Cinder -Jack, whom they had even forgotten to ask to the king's presence. The -good-hearted lad had his brothers' house rebuilt, and gave them presents -as well. He took his father to his house, as the old king died soon -after. Cinder Jack is reigning still, and is respected and honoured by -all his subjects! - - - - -THE THREE BROTHERS. - - -There was once a poor man who had three sons. "My sons," said he to them -one day, "you have not seen anything yet, and you have no experience -whatever; it is time for you to go to different countries and try your -luck in the world; so get ready for the journey, and go as far as your -eyes can see." The three lads got ready, and, having filled their bags -with cakes specially prepared For the occasion, they left home. They -went on and on till at last they got tired and lay down,--the two elder -then proposed that, as it became good brethren, they should all share -equally, and that they should begin with the youngest's provisions, and -when they were finished should divide those of the second, and lastly -those of the eldest. And so it happened; on the first day the youngest's -bag was emptied; but the second day, when meal-time came, the two eldest -would not give the youngest anything, and when he insisted on receiving -his share, they gouged out his eyes and left him to starve. For the -present let us leave the two eldest to continue their way, and let's -see what became of the poor blind lad. He, resigning himself to God's -will, groped his way about, till, alas! he dropped into a well. There -was no water in it, but a great deal of mud; when he dropped into it the -mud splashed all over his body, and he felt quite a new man again and -ever so much better. Having besmeared his face and the hollows of his -eyes with the mud he again saw clearly, because the healing power of the -miracle-working mud had renewed his eyes once more, and his whole face -became of a beautiful complexion. - -The lad took as much mud in a flower pot with him as he could carry and -continued his journey, when suddenly he noticed a little mouse quite -crushed, imploring him for help; he took pity on it, and, having -besmeared it with the miraculous mud, the mouse was cured, and gave to -his benefactor a small whistle, with the direction that if anything -happened to him he had to blow the whistle, and the mouse, who was the -king of mice, would come to his help with all his mates on earth. He -continued his way and found a bee quite crushed and cured it too with -the mud, and obtained another whistle, which he had to blow in case of -danger, and the queen of the bees would come to his aid. Again going on -he found a wolf shockingly bruised; at first he had not courage to cure -it, being afraid that it would eat him; but the wolf implored so long -that at last he cured him too, and the wolf became strong and beautiful; -the wolf, too, gave him a whistle to use in time of need. - -The lad went on till at last he came to the royal town, where he was -engaged as servant to the king. His two brothers were there already in -the same service, and, having recognised him, tried in every way to -destroy him. After long deliberation as to how to carry out their plan -they went to the king and falsely accused their brother of having told -them that he was able to gather the corn of the whole land into the -king's barn in one night; the lad denied it, but all in vain. The king -declared that if all the corn was not in the barn by the morning he -would hang him. The lad wept and wailed for a long time, when suddenly -he remembered his whistles, and blew into the one that the mouse had -given him and when the mice came he told them his misfortunes: by -midnight all the corn of the country was gathered together. Next day his -brothers were more angry still, and falsely said to the king that their -brother was able to build a beautiful bridge of wax from the royal -castle to the market place in one night; the king ordered him to do this -too, and having blown his second whistle the bees, who appeared to -receive his command, did the task for him. Next morning from his window -the king very much admired the beautiful arched bridge; his brothers -nearly burst in their rage, and spread the report that their brother was -able to bring twelve of the strongest wolves into the royal courtyard by -the next morning. They firmly believed that on this occasion they were -quite sure of their victory, because either the wolves would tear their -brother in pieces, or if he could not fulfil the task the king would -have him executed; but again they were out of their reckoning: the lad -blew his third whistle and the king of wolves arrived to receive his -orders. He told him his misfortune, and the wolf ordered not only -twelve, but all his mates in the country, into the royal courtyard. The -lad now sat on the back of the king of wolves, and drove with a whip the -whole pack in front of him, who tore everything in pieces that crossed -them. There was a great deal of weeping, imploring, and wailing in the -royal palace, but all in vain; the king promised a sack full of gold, -but all in vain. The king of the wolves, heedless of any words, urged on -the pack by howling at them continually: "Drive on! Seize them!" The -king promised more; two sacks, three sacks, ten, or even twenty sacks -full of gold were offered but not accepted; the wolves tore everyone in -pieces; the two brothers perished, and so did the king and all his -servants, and only his daughter was spared; the lad married her, -occupied the king's throne, and lives happily to this day if he has not -died since. In his last letter he promised to come and see us to-morrow. - - - - -THE THREE VALUABLE THINGS. - - -There were once two kings who lived in great friendship; one had three -sons, the other a daughter. The two fathers made an agreement, that in -case of either of them dying, the other should become guardian of the -orphans; and that if one of the boys married the girl he should inherit -her property. Very soon after the girl's father died, and she went to -live with her guardian. After a little time the eldest boy went to his -father and asked the girl's hand, threatening to commit suicide if his -request was refused; his father promised to give him a reply in three -weeks. At the end of the first week the second son asked the girl's -hand, and threatened to blow out his brains if he could not wed her; the -king promised to reply to him in a fortnight. At the end of the second -week, the youngest asked for the girl, and his father bade him wait a -week for his answer. The day arrived when all three had to receive their -reply, and their father addressed them thus: "My sons, you all three -love the girl, but you know too well that only one can have her. I will, -therefore, give her to the one who will show himself the most worthy of -her. You had better go, wherever you please, and see the world, and -return in one year from this day, and the girl shall be his who will -bring the most valuable thing from his journey." The princes consented -to this, and started on their journey, travelling together till they -came to a tall oak in the nearest wood; the road here divided into three -branches; the eldest chose the one leading west, the second selected the -one running south, and the third son the branch turning off to the east. -Before separating, they decided to return to the same place after the -lapse of exactly one year, and to make the homeward journey together. - -The eldest looked at everything that he found worthy of note during his -travels, and spared no expense to get something excellent: after a long -journey hither and thither, he at last succeeded in getting a telescope -by the aid of which he could see to the end of the world; so he decided -to take it back to his father, as the most valuable thing he had found. -The second son also endeavoured to find something so valuable that the -possession of it should make him an easy winner in the competition for -the girl's hand: after a long search he found a cloak by means of which, -when he put it on and thought of a place, he was immediately transported -there. The youngest, after long wandering, bought an orange which had -power to restore to life the dead when put under the corpse's nose, -provided death had not taken place more than twenty-four hours before. -These were the three valuable things that were to be brought home; and, -as the year was nearly up, the eldest and the youngest were already on -their way back to the oak: the second son only was still enjoying -himself in various places, as one second was enough for him to get to -the meeting place. The two having arrived at the oak, the middle one -appeared after a little while, and they then shewed each other the -valuables acquired; next they looked through the telescope, and to their -horror they saw that the lady for the possession of whom they had been -working hard for a whole year, was lying dead; so they all three slipped -hurriedly into the cloak, and as quick as thought arrived at home; the -father told them in great grief that the girl could belong to no one as -she was dead: they inquired when she died, and receiving an answer that -she had been dead not quite twenty-four hours, the youngest rushed up to -her, and restored her to life with his magic orange. Now there was a -good deal of litigation and quarrelling among the three lads: the eldest -claimed the greatest merit for himself, because, he said, had they not -seen through his telescope that the girl was dead they would have been -still lingering at the oak, and the orange would have been of no avail; -the second maintained that if they had not got home so quickly with his -cloak the orange would have been of no use; the third claimed his orange -as the best, for restoring the girl to life, without which the other two -would have been useless. In order to settle the dispute, they called all -the learned and old people of the realm together, and these awarded the -girl to the youngest, and all three were satisfied with the award, and -the two others gave up all idea about suicide. The eldest, by the aid of -his telescope, found himself a wife who was the prettiest royal princess -on earth, and married her: the second heard of one who was known for her -virtue and beauty, and got into his cloak, and went to her, and so all -three to their great satisfaction led their brides to the altar, and -became as happy as men can be. - - - - -THE LITTLE MAGIC PONY. - - -Once a poor man had twelve sons, and, not having sufficient means to -keep them at home, he sent them into the great world to earn their bread -by work and to try their fortunes. The brothers wandered twelve days and -nights over hills and dales till at last they came to a wealthy king, -who engaged them as grooms, and promised them each three hundred -florins a year for their wages. Among the king's horses there was a -half-starved looking, decrepit little pony; the eleven eldest boys -continually beat and ill-treated this animal on account of its ugliness, -but the youngest always took great care of it, he even saved all the -bread crumbs and other little dainties for his little invalid pony, for -which his brothers very often chaffed him, and in course of time they -treated him with silent contempt, believing him to be a lunatic; he bore -their insults patiently, and their badgering without a murmur, in the -same way as the little pony the bad treatment it received. The year of -service having come to an end, the lads received their wages, and as a -reward they were also each allowed to choose a horse from the king's -stud. The eleven eldest chose the best-looking horses, but the youngest -only begged leave to take the poor little decrepit pony with him. His -brothers tried to persuade him to give up the foolish idea, but, all in -vain, he would have no other horse. - -The little pony now confessed to his keeper that it was a magic horse, -and that whenever it wanted it could change into the finest charger and -could gallop as fast as lightning. The twelve brothers then started -homewards; the eleven eldest were proudly jumping and prancing about on -their fine horses, whereas the youngest dragged his horse by its halter -along the road: at one time they came to a boggy place and the poor -little decrepit pony sank into it. The eleven brothers who had gone on -before were very angry about it, as they were obliged to return and drag -their brother's horse out of the mud: after a short journey the -youngest's again stuck in the mud, and his brothers had to drag it out -again, swearing at him all the time. When at last it stuck the third -time they would not listen any more to their brother's cries for help. -"Let them go," said the little pony, and after a short time inquired if -they had gone far? "They have," answered the lad. Again, after a short -time, the pony inquired whether he could still see them. "They look like -flying crows or black spots in the distance," replied his master. "Can -you see them now?" asked the pony in a few minutes. "No," was the reply; -thereupon the pony jumped out of the mud and, taking the lad on its -back, rushed forth like lightning, leaving the others far behind. Having -arrived at home the pony became poor and decrepit as before, and crawled -on to the dung heap, eating the straw it found there, the lad concealing -himself behind the oven. The others having arrived showed their wages -and horses to their father, and being asked about their brother they -replied that he had become an idiot, and chosen as his reward an ugly -pony, just such a one as the one on the dung heap, and that he stuck -fast in a bog, and perhaps was now dead. "It is not true," called out -the youngest from behind the oven, and stepped forth to the astonishment -of all. - -Having spent a few days in enjoying themselves at their father's house, -the lads again started on a journey to find wives. They had already -journeyed over seven countries and seven villages as well, and had not -as yet been able to find twelve girls suitable for them, till at last, -as the sun was setting, they came across an old woman with an iron nose, -who was ploughing her field with twelve mares; she asked of them what -they sought, and, having learned the object of their wanderings, she -proposed that they should look at her twelve daughters: the lads having -consented, the old woman drove her twelve mares home and took the lads -into her house and introduced them to her daughters, who were none -others than the twelve mares they saw before. In the evening she bade -each lad go to bed with one of the girls; the eldest lad got into bed -with the eldest girl and so on, her youngest, who was the favourite -daughter and had golden hair, becoming the youngest lad's bedfellow. - -This girl informed the lad that it was her mother's intention to kill -his eleven brothers; and so, in order to save them, on their all falling -asleep, the youngest lad got up and laid all his brothers next to the -wall, making all the girls lie outside, and having done this, quietly -crept back into his bed. - -After a little while, the old woman with the iron nose got up and, with -a huge sword, cut off the heads of the eleven sleepers who were lying -outside, and then she went back to bed to sleep. Thereupon the youngest -lad again got up, and, waking his brothers, told them how he had saved -them, and urged them to flee as soon as possible. So they hurried off, -their brother remaining there till daybreak. At dawn he noticed that the -old woman was getting up, and that she was coming to examine the beds, -so he, too, got up, and sat on his pony, taking the little girl with the -golden hair with him. The old woman with the iron nose, as soon as she -found out the fraud, picked up a poker, turned it into a horse, and flew -after them; when she had nearly overtaken them, the little pony gave the -lad a currycomb, a brush, and a piece of a horse-rug, and bade him throw -first the currycomb behind him, and in case it did not answer, to throw -the brush, and as a last resource the piece of horse-rug; the lad threw -the currycomb, and in one moment it became a dense forest, with as many -trees as there were teeth in the comb; by the time that the old woman -had broken her way through the wood, the couple had travelled a long -distance. When the old woman came very near again, the lad threw the -brush behind him, and it at once became a dense forest, having as many -trees as there were bristles in the brush. The old woman had the -greatest difficulty in working her way through the wood; but again she -drew close to their heels, and very nearly caught them, when the lad -threw the horse-rug away, and it became such a dense forest between them -and the old woman, that it looked like one immense tree; with all her -perseverance, the old woman could not penetrate this wood, so she -changed into a pigeon to enable her to fly over it; but as soon as the -pony noticed this he turned into a vulture, swooped down on the pigeon, -and tore it in pieces with his claws, thus saving both the lad and the -pretty girl with the golden hair from the fury of the hateful old woman -with the iron nose. - -While the eleven elder brothers were still out looking after wives, the -youngest married the pretty little girl with the golden hair, and they -still live merrily together, out of all danger, if they have not died -since. - - - - -THE BEGGAR'S PRESENTS. - - -There was once a very poor man, who went into the wood to fell trees for -his own use. The sweat ran down his cheeks, from his hard work, when all -at once an old beggar appeared and asked for alms. The poor man pitied -him very much, and, putting his axe on the ground, felt in his bag, and, -with sincere compassion, shared his few bits of bread with the poor old -beggar. The latter, having eaten his bread, spoke thus to the -wood-cutter: "My son, here! for your kindness accept this table-cloth, -and whenever hereafter you feel need and are hungry, say to the cloth, -'Spread thyself, little cloth,' and your table will be laid, and covered -with the best meats and drinks. I am the rewarder of all good deeds, and -I give this to you for your benevolence." Thereupon the old man -disappeared, and the wood-cutter turned homewards in great joy. - -Having been overtaken by night on his way, he turned into a hostelry, -and informed the innkeeper, who was an old acquaintance, of his good -fortune; and, in order to give greater weight to his word, he at once -made a trial of the table-cloth, and provided a jolly good supper for -the innkeeper and his wife, from the dainty dishes that were served up -on the cloth. After supper he laid down on the bench to sleep, and, in -the meantime, the wicked wife of the innkeeper hemmed a similar cloth, -and by the morning exchanged it for that of the woodcutter. He, -suspecting nothing, hurried home with the exchanged cloth, and, arriving -there, told his wife what had happened; and, to prove his words, at once -gave orders to the cloth to spread itself; but all in vain. He repeated -at least a hundred times the words "Little cloth, spread thyself," but -the cloth never moved; and the simpleton couldn't understand it. Next -day he again went to the wood, where he again shared his bread with the -old beggar, and received from him a lamb, to which he had only to say, -"Give me gold, little lamb," and the gold coins at once began to rain. -With this the woodcutter again went to the inn for the night, and showed -the present to the innkeeper, as before. Next morning he had another -lamb to take home, and was very much surprised that it would not give -the gold for which he asked. He went to the wood again, and treated the -beggar well, but also told him what had happened to the table-cloth and -lamb. The beggar was not at all surprised, and gave him a club, and said -to him, "If the innkeeper has changed your cloth and lamb, you can -regain them by means of this club: you have only to say, 'Beat away, -beat away, my little club,' and it will have enough power to knock down -a whole army." So the woodcutter went to the inn a third time, and -insisted upon his cloth and lamb being returned; and, as the innkeeper -would not do so, he exclaimed, "Beat away, beat away, my little club!" -and the club began to beat the innkeeper and his wife, till the missing -property was returned. - -He then went home and told his wife, with great joy, what had happened; -and, in order to give greater consequence to his house, he invited the -king to dinner next day. The king was very much surprised, and, about -noon, sent a lackey to see what they were cooking for him; the -messenger, however, returned with the news that there was not even a -fire in the kitchen. His majesty was still more surprised when, at -meal-time, he found the table laden with the finest dishes and drinks. -Upon inquiry where all came from, the poor woodcutter told him his -story, what happened in the wood, about the lamb and cloth, but did not -mention a word about the club. The king, who was a regular tyrant, at -once claimed the cloth and the lamb; and, as the man would not comply, -he sent a few lackeys to him, to take them away; but they were soon -knocked down by the club. So the king sent a larger force against him; -but they also perished to a man. On hearing this the king got into a -great rage, and went in person with his whole army against him; but on -this occasion, too, the woodcutter was victorious, because the club -knocked down dead every one of the king's soldiers; the king himself -died on the battle-field and his throne was occupied by the once poor -woodcutter. It was a real blessing to his people; because, in his -magnanimity, he delighted to assist all whom he knew to be in want or -distress; and so he, also, lived a happy and contented man to the end of -his days! - - - - -THE WORLD'S BEAUTIFUL WOMAN. - - -In the most beautiful land of Asia, where Adam and Eve may have lived, -where all animals, including cows, live wild, where the corn grows wild, -and even bread grows on trees, there lived a pretty girl, whose palace -was built on a low hill, which looked over a pretty, a very pretty -valley, from which one could see the whole world. In the same country -there lived a young king who decided not to get married till he -succeeded in finding the prettiest woman or girl in the world. The -pretty maid lived with her old father, and with only two servant girls. -The young king lived and enjoyed himself amongst the finest young -aristocrats. One day it struck the young king that it would be a good -thing to get married; so he instructed his aristocratic friends to go -all over his vast realm, and to search about till they found the -prettiest girl in the land: they had not to trouble whether she was poor -or rich; but she must be the prettiest. Each of them was to remain in -the town where he found the girl that he deemed was the prettiest and to -write and let the king know, so that he might go and have a look at all -of them and choose for himself the prettiest amongst all the beauties, -the one he liked best. After a year he received letters from every one -of his seventy-seven friends, and extraordinarily all the seventy-seven -letters arrived from the same town, where, on a low hill above a pretty -little valley, there stood a golden palace, in which there lived a young -lady with a nice old man and two maids, and from the four windows of -which palace the whole world could be seen. The young king started with -a large retinue of wedding guests to the place where the prettiest girl -in the world lived: he found there all his seventy-seven friends, who -were all fever-stricken with love, and were lying about on the pavement -of the palace, on hay which was of a very fine silk-like grass; there -they lay every one of them. The moment the young king saw the beautiful -girl he cried: "The Lord has created you expressly for me; you are mine -and I am yours! and it is my wish to find my rest in the same grave with -you." - -The young lady also fell very much in love with the handsome king; in -her fond passion she could not utter a word, but only took him round his -slender waist[1] and led him to her father. Her old father wept tears of -joy, that at last a man was found whom his daughter could love, as she -had thought every man ugly hitherto. The ceremony of betrothal and -wedding was very short; at his pretty wife's wish, the king came to -live on the beautiful spot, than which there was not a prettier one in -the whole world! By the side of the palace there was an earth-hut, in -which lived an old witch who knew all the young lady's secrets, and who -helped her with advice whenever she needed it. The old witch praised the -young lady's beauty to all she met, and it was she who had gathered the -seventy-seven young aristocrats into the palace. On the evening of the -wedding she called upon "the world's beautiful lady" and praised the -young king to her, his handsomeness and riches, and after she had -praised him for an hour or two she sighed heavily: the pretty young lady -asked her what troubled her, as she had this very moment spoken of her -husband as being a handsome, rich, and worthy man? "Because, my pretty -lady, my beautiful queen, if you two live sometime here, you will not -long be the prettiest woman in the world; you are very pretty now, and -your husband is the handsomest of all men; but should a daughter be born -to you, she will be more beautiful than you; she will be more beautiful -than the morning star--this is the reason of my sadness, my beautiful -lady." "You are quite right, good old woman, I will follow any advice; -if you tell me what to do, I will obey you. I will do anything to remain -the most beautiful woman in the world." This was what the old witch said -to the beautiful lady: "I will give you a handful of cotton wool; when -your husband sleeps with you, put this wool on your lips, but be careful -not to make it wet, because there will be poison on it. When your -husband arrives at home all in perspiration from the dance, he will come -to you and kiss you, and die a sudden death." The young lady did as the -witch told her, and the young king was found dead next morning; but the -poison was of such a nature that the physicians were not able to find -out what the king had died of. - -The bride was left a widow, and again went to live with her maid and -her old father, and made a solemn vow that she would never marry again. -And she kept her word. As it happened, however, by some inexplicable -circumstance, or by some miracle, after a few months she discovered that -she was with child; so she ran to the old witch and asked her what to -do. The witch gave her a looking-glass and the following advice: "Every -morning you have to ask this mirror whether there is a more beautiful -woman than yourself in existence, and if it says that there is not, -there really won't be one for a long time, and your mind may be at ease; -but should it say that there is one, there will be one, and I will see -to that myself." The beautiful lady snatched the mirror from the witch -in great joy, and as soon as she reached her dressing-room she placed -the little mirror on the window ledge and questioned it thus: "Well, my -dear little mirror, is there a more beautiful woman in the world than -I?" The mirror replied: "Not yet, but there will be one soon, who will -be twice as handsome as you." The beautiful woman nearly lost her wits -in her sorrow, and informed the witch what the mirror had replied. "No -matter," said the old hag, "let her be born, and we shall soon put her -out of the way." - -The beautiful lady was confined, and a pretty little daughter was born, -and it would have been a sin to look at her with an evil eye. The bad -woman did not even look at the pretty little creature, but fetched her -mirror and said: "Well, my dear little mirror, is there a more beautiful -creature than I?" and the looking-glass replied: "You are very -beautiful, but your little daughter is seven times prettier than you." -So as soon as she left her bed she sent for the old witch to ask her -advice, who, when she took the babe in her arms, exclaimed that she had -never seen such a beautiful creature in all her life. While she gazed at -the beautiful child she spat in her eyes and covered her face, telling -the beautiful woman to look at the child again in three hours, and when -she uncovered it she would be surprised to find what a monster it had -become. The beautiful lady felt very uneasy, and asked the witch whether -she was allowed to question the mirror again? "Certainly," replied the -witch, "for I know that at this moment you are the most beautiful woman -in existence." But the mirror replied, "You are beautiful, but your -daughter is seventy-seven times more beautiful than you." The beautiful -woman nearly died of rage, but the old witch only smiled, being -confident of her magic power. - -The three hours passed, the little girl's face was uncovered, and the -old witch fainted away in her rage; for the little girl had become not -only seven times, but seventy-seven times more beautiful than ever from -the very same thing that usually disfigured other babies: when she -recovered she advised the beautiful lady to kill her baby, as not even -the devil himself had any power over it. The old father of the beautiful -woman had died suddenly, broken hearted by his daughter's shame! The -beautiful woman was nearly killed by sorrow over the loss of her father, -and in order to forget her troubles, she spared her daughter till she -was thirteen: the little girl grew more beautiful every day, so that the -woman could not bear her daughter's beauty any longer, and handed her to -the old witch to be killed. The witch was only too glad to avail herself -of the opportunity, and took her into a vast forest, where she tied the -girl's hands together with a wisp of straw, placed a wreath of straw on -her head, and a girdle of straw round her waist, so that by lighting -them she would burn to death the most beautiful masterpiece of the Lord. -But all of a sudden a loud shouting was heard in the forest, and twelve -robbers came running as swift as birds towards the place where the old -witch and the pretty girl were standing. One of the robbers seized the -girl, another knocked the old witch on the head, and gave her a sound -beating. The witch shammed death, and the robbers left the wicked old -wretch behind, carrying off the pretty girl (who had fainted in her -fright) with them. After half an hour the old witch got up, and rushed -to the castle where the beautiful woman lived, and said, "Well, my -queen, don't question your mirror any more, for you are now the most -beautiful creature in the world, your beautiful daughter lies under -ground." The beautiful lady jumped for joy, and kissed the ugly old -witch. - -The pretty girl upon her recovery found herself in a nice little house, -in a clean bed, and guarded by twelve men, who praised her beauty in -whispers, which was such as no human eye had seen before. The innocent -little thing, not thinking of any harm, looked at the men with their -great beards, who stared at her with wide open eyes. She got up from her -soft bed, and thanked the good men for having delivered her from the -clutches of the awful old witch, and then inquired where she was, and -what they intended to do with her; if they meant to kill her, she begged -them do it at once, as she would die with pleasure, and was only afraid -of being killed by that horrible old witch, who was going to burn her to -death. None of the robbers could utter a word, their hearts were so -softened by her sweet words: such words as they had never before heard -from human lips, and her innocent look which would have tamed even a -wild bull. At last one of the robbers, who was splendidly dressed, said: -"You pretty creature of the Lord, you are in the midst of twelve -robbers, who are men of good hearts, but bad morals; we saved you from -the hands of the ugly old witch whom I knocked down, and killed I -believe; we would not kill you, for the whole world; but, on the -contrary, would fight the whole world for you! Be the ornament of our -house and the feast of our eyes! Whatsoever your eyes or your mouth may -desire, be it wherever man exists, we will bring it to you! be our -daughter, and we will be everything to you! your fathers! brothers! -guardians! and, if you need it, your soldiers!" The little girl smiled, -and was very pleased: she found more happiness among the robbers than -she ever did in her mother's palace; she shook hands with all, commended -herself to their protection, and at once looked after the cooking. The -chief of the robbers called three strong maidens, dressed in white, -from a cave, and ordered them to carry out without delay the orders of -their queen, and if he heard one word of complaint against any of them, -they should die the death of a pig. The young girl spoke kindly to the -three maids, and called them her companions. - -The robbers then went out on to the highway in great joy--to continue -their plundering--singing and whistling with delight, because their home -and their band had the most beautiful queen in the world. The beautiful -woman, the girl's mother, one day felt weary, and listless, because she -had not heard any one praise her beauty for a very long time. So in her -ennui she took her mirror and said to it: "My dear, sweet little mirror, -is there a more beautiful creature in all the world, than I?" The little -mirror replied, "You are very beautiful, but your daughter is a thousand -times handsomer!" The woman nearly had a fit, in her rage, for she had -not even suspected that her hateful daughter was yet alive: she ran to -the old witch like one out of her mind, to tell what the mirror had -said. The witch at once disguised herself as a gipsy, and started on her -journey, and arrived at the fence of the place where the pretty girl -lived; the garden was planted with flowers and large rose bushes; among -the flower beds she could see the pretty girl sauntering in a dress fit -for a queen. The old witch's heart nearly broke when she saw the young -girl, for never, not even in her imagination, had she ever seen any one -so beautiful. She stole into the garden among the flower beds, and on -approaching saw that the young girl's fingers were covered with the most -precious diamond rings: she kissed the girl's beautiful hand, and begged -to be allowed to put on a ring more precious than any she had; the girl -consented, and even thanked her for it. When she entered the house, she -all at once dropped down as if dead; the witch rushed home, and brought -the good news to the beautiful queen, who at once questioned the mirror, -whether there was yet any one who was prettier than she, and the mirror -replied, that there was not. - -The pretty woman was delighted, and nearly went mad with joy on hearing -that she was once more the most beautiful creature in existence, and -gave the witch a handful of gold. - -At noon the robbers dropped in one after another from their plundering, -and were thunderstruck when they saw that the glory of their house and -the jewel of their band lay dead. They bewailed her with loud cries of -grief, and commanded the maidens with threats to tell them who had done -it, but they were even more stunned with grief, and bewailed the good -lady, and could not utter a single word, till one of them said that she -saw the pretty girl talking with a gipsy woman for a while, and that the -moment the woman left she suddenly dropped down dead. After much weeping -and wailing the robbers made preparations for the laying out of their -adored queen; they took off her shoes in order to put more beautiful -ones upon her pretty feet: they then took the rings off her fingers in -order to clean them, and as at the very last one of the robbers pulled -off the most precious ring from her little finger, the young girl sat up -and smiled, and informed them that she had slept very well, and had had -most beautiful dreams; and also that if they had not taken off that very -ring (which the gipsy woman had put on that day) from her little finger -she would never have waked again. The robbers smashed the murderous ring -to atoms with their hatchet-sticks, and begged their dear queen not to -speak to anyone, except themselves, as all others were wicked, and -envious of her on account of her beauty, while they adored her. Having -partaken of a good supper, the robbers again went out to their plunder -singing, and quite at rest in their minds, and for a couple of weeks -nothing happened to the young lady; but after a fortnight her mother -again felt ennui and questioned her mirror: "Is there any one living -being on this earth more beautiful than I?" The mirror replied: "You -are very beautiful, but your daughter is one thousand times more -beautiful." The beautiful lady began to tear her hair in rage, and went -to complain to the witch that her daughter was alive still, so the witch -again went off and found the young lady, as before, among the -flower-beds. The witch disguised herself as a Jewess this time, and -began to praise the gold and diamond pins with which the young lady's -shawl was fastened, which she admired very much, and begged the young -lady's leave to allow her to stick another pin amongst those which she -had already in her bosom, as a keepsake. Among all the pins the -prettiest one was the one which the witch disguised as a Jewess stuck in -the young lady's bosom. The young lady thanked her for it, and went -indoors to look after the cooking, but as soon as she arrived in the -house she gave a fearful scream and dropped down dead. - -The joy of her mother was great when the witch arrived home in great -delight and the mirror again proved that the girl was dead. The robbers -were full of joy, in anticipation of the pleasure of seeing again their -pretty young girl, whose beauty was apparently increasing daily; but -when they heard the cries of sorrow of the three servant maids and saw -the beautiful corpse stretched out on the bier, they lost all their -cheerfulness and began to weep also. Three of the robbers carried in all -the necessaries for the funeral, while the others undressed and washed -the corpse, and as they were drawing out from her shawl the numerous -pins, they found one amongst them which sparkled most brilliantly, -whereupon two of them snatched it away, each being anxious to replace it -in the girl's bosom when redressing her for burial, when suddenly the -virgin queen sat up and informed them that her death was caused by a -Jewess this time. The robbers buried the pin five fathoms deep in the -ground, so that no evil spirit might get it. There is no more restless -being in the world than a woman; it is a misfortune if she is pretty, -and the same if she is not: if she be pretty she likes to be continually -told of it, if she be not she would like to be. The evil one again -tempted the beautiful lady, and she again questioned her mirror whether -any living being was prettier than she: the mirror replied that her -daughter was prettier. - -Upon this she called the old witch all kinds of bad names in her rage, -and threatened her that if she did not kill her daughter outright she -would betray her to the world, and accuse her of having led her to all -her evil deeds; that it was she who induced her to kill her handsome -husband, and that she had given her the mysterious mirror, which was the -cause of her not being able to die in peace. The old hag made no reply, -but went off in a boisterous manner: she transformed herself into a -pretty girl and went straight into the house in which the young lady was -dressing herself and falsely told her that she had been engaged by the -robbers to wait always upon her while she dressed, because she had -already been killed twice, once by a gipsy woman, and another time by a -Jewess; and also that the robbers had ordered her not to do anything -else but to help her in her toilet. The innocent girl believed all that -the she-devil said. She allowed her to undo her hair and to comb it. The -witch did her hair in accordance with the latest fashion, and plaited it -and fastened it with all sorts of hair pins; while doing so she hid a -hair-pin which she had brought with her among the girl's hair, so that -it could not be noticed by anyone; having finished, the new lady's maid -asked permission to leave her mistress for a moment, but never returned, -and her young lady died, while all wept and sobbed most bitterly. The -men and the maids had again to attend with tears to their painful duty -of laying her out for her funeral; they took away all her rings, -breast-pins, and hair-pins; they even opened every one of the folds of -her dress, but still they did not succeed in bringing the young girl to -life again. Her mother was really delighted this time, because she kept -on questioning the mirror for three or four days, and it always replied -to her heart's content. The robbers wailed and cried, and did not even -enjoy their food; one of them proposed that they should not bury the -girl, but that they should come to pray by the side of their dear dead; -others again thought that it would be a pity to confide the pretty body -to the earth, where it would be destroyed; others spoke of the terrible -pang, and said that their hearts would break if they had to look at her -dead beauty for any length of time. So they ordered a splendid coffin -to be made of wrought gold. They wrapped her in purple and fine linen; -they caught an elk and placed the coffin between its antlers, so that -the precious body might not decompose underground: the elk quietly -carried the precious coffin about, and took the utmost care to prevent -it falling from its antlers or its back. This elk happened to graze in -Persia just as the son of the Persian king was out hunting all alone. -The prince was twenty-three years old; he noticed the elk and also the -splendid coffin between its antlers, whereupon he took a pound of sugar -from his bag and gave it to the elk to eat. Taking the coffin from -its back the Persian king's son opened the gold coffin with fear and -trembling, when, unfolding the fine linen, he discovered a corpse, the -like of which he had never seen before, not even in his dreams. - -He began to shake it to wake her: to kiss her, and at last went down -upon his knees by her side to pray to God fervently to restore her to -life, but still she didn't move. "I will take her with me into my room," -he said, sobbing. "Although it is a corpse that must have been dead for -some time, there is no smell. The girl is prettier in her death than all -the girls of Persia alive." It was late at night when the prince got -home, carrying the golden coffin under his cloak. He bewailed the dead -girl for a long time and then went to supper. The king looked anxiously -into his son's eyes, but did not dare to question him as to the cause of -his grief. Every night the prince locked himself up, and did not go to -sleep until he had, for a long time, bemoaned his dead sweetheart; and -whenever he awoke in the night he wept again. - -The prince had three sisters, and they were very good girls, and very -fond of their brother. They watched him every night through the keyhole, -but could see nothing. They heard, however, their brother's sobbing and -were very much grieved by it. The Persian king had war declared against -him by the king of the neighbouring country. The king, being very -advanced in age, asked his son to go in his place to fight the enemy. -The good son promised this willingly, although he was tortured by the -thought of being obliged to leave his beautiful dead girl behind. As, -however, he was aware that he would again be able to see and weep over -his dear one when once the war was over, he locked himself in his room -for two hours, weeping all the time, and kissing his sweetheart. Having -finished, he locked his room and put the key in his sabretache. The -good-hearted princesses impatiently waited till their brother crossed -the border with his army, and so soon as they knew that he had left the -country they went to the locksmith of the castle and took away every key -he had, and with these tried to unlock their brother's room, till at -last one of the keys did fit. They ordered every servant away from the -floor on which the room was situated and all three entered. They looked -all round, and in all the cupboards, and even took the bed to pieces, -and as they were taking out the planks of the bed they suddenly -discovered the glittering gold coffin, and in all haste placed it on the -table, and having opened it found the sleeping angel. All three kissed -her; but when they saw that they were unable to restore life, they wept -most bitterly. They rubbed her and held balsam under her nose, but -without avail. Then they examined her dress, which was very far superior -to their own. They moved her rings and breast-pins, and dressed her up -like a pretty doll. The youngest princess brought combs and perfumed -hair-oils in order to do the hair of the dear dead. They pulled out the -hair-pins and arranged them in nice order, so as to be able to replace -them as before. They parted her golden hair, and began to comb it, -adorning each lock with a hair-pin. As they were combing the hair at the -nape of the neck the comb stuck fast, so they looked at once for the -cause of it, when they saw that a golden hair-pin was entangled in the -hair, which the eldest princess moved with the greatest care. Whereupon -the beautiful girl opened her eyes and her lips formed themselves into a -smile; and, as if awakening from a long, long dream, she slightly -stretched herself, and stepped from the coffin. The girls were not -afraid at all, as she, who was so beautiful in her death, was still more -beautiful in life. The youngest girl ran to the old king and told him -what they had done, and that they had found out the cause of their -brother's grief, and how happy they were now. The old king wept for joy -and hastened after his daughter, and on seeing the beautiful child -exclaimed: "You shall be my son's wife, the mother of my grandchildren!" -And thereupon he embraced and kissed her, and took her into his room -with his daughters. He sent for singing birds so that they might amuse -his dear little new daughter. The old king inquired how she made his -son's acquaintance and where she first met him. But the pretty princess -knew nothing about it, but simply told him what she knew, namely, that -she had two enemies who sooner or later would kill and destroy her; and -she also told him that she had been living among robbers, to whom she -had been handed over by an old witch who would always persecute her till -the last moment of her life. The old king encouraged her, and bade her -not to fear anyone, but to rest in peace, as neither her mother nor the -old witch could get at her, the Persian wise men being quite able to -distinguish evil souls from good ones. The girl settled down and partook -of meat and drink with the king's daughters, and also inquired after the -young prince, asking whether he was handsome or ugly; although, she -said, it did not matter to her whether he was handsome or ugly; if he -was willing to have her, she would marry him. The princesses brought -down the painted portrait of the prince and the young girl fell so -deeply in love with it that she continually carried it with her kissing -it. One morning the news spread over all the country that the young king -had conquered his enemy and was hurrying home to his residential city. -The news turned out to be true, and clouds of dust could be seen in the -distance as the horsemen approached. The princesses requested their -pretty new sister to go with them into the room which adjoined their -brother's, where her coffin was kept under the bed. - -The moment the prince arrived, he jumped off his horse, and, not even -taking time to greet his father, he unlocked his room and began to sob -most violently, dragging out the coffin gently from under the bed, -placing it on the bed with great care, and then opening the lid with -tears; but he could only find a hair-pin. He rushed out of the room like -a madman, leaving the coffin and the door open, crying aloud, and -demanding what sacrilegious hand had robbed his angel from him. But his -angel, over whom he had shed so many tears, stood smiling before him. -The youth seized her and covered her with as many kisses as there was -room for. He took his betrothed, whom Providence had given to him, to -his father and told him how he had found the pretty corpse on the back -of an elk; and the girl also told the whole story of her life; and the -princesses confessed how they had broken into their brother's room, and -how they restored his sweetheart to life again. The old king was -intoxicated with joy, and the same day sent for a priest, and a great -wedding feast was celebrated. The young folks whom Providence had -brought together lived very happily, when one day the young queen, who -was as beautiful as a fairy, informed her husband that she was being -persecuted, and that while her mother lived she could never have any -peace. "Don't fear, angel of my heart," said the young king, "as no -human or diabolic power can harm you while you are here. Providence is -very kind to us. You seem to be a favourite and will be protected from -all evil." The young queen was of a pious turn of mind and believed the -true words of her husband, as he had only spoken out her own thoughts. -About half a year had passed by and the beautiful woman of the world was -still happy. Her mirror was covered with dust, as she never dreamt for a -moment that her daughter was yet alive; but being one day desirous to -repeat her former amusement she dusted her mirror, and, pressing it to -her bosom, said: "Is there a prettier living creature in the world than -myself?" The mirror replied: "You are very pretty, but your daughter is -seventy-seven thousand times more beautiful than you." The beautiful -woman, on hearing the mirror's reply, fainted away, and they had to -sprinkle cold water over her for two hours before she came round. Off -she set, very ill, to the old witch and begged her, by everything that -was holy, to save her from that hateful girl, else she would have to go -and commit suicide. The old witch cheered her, and promised that she -would do all that lay in her power. - -After eight months had elapsed the young prince had to go to war again; -and, with a heavy heart, took leave of his dear pretty wife, as--if one -is obliged to tell it--she was _enceinte_. But the prince had to go, and -he went, consoling his wife, who wept bitterly, that he would return -soon. The young king left orders that as soon as his wife was confined a -confidential messenger was to be sent without delay to inform him of the -event. Soon after his departure two beautiful boys with golden hair were -born and there was great joy in the royal household. The old king danced -about, like a young child, with delight. The princesses wrapped the -babies in purple and silk, and showed them to everybody as miracles of -beauty. - -The old king wrote down the joyful news and sent the letter by a -faithful soldier, instructing him that he was not to put up anywhere -under any pretence whatever. The old soldier staked his moustache not to -call anywhere till he reached the young king. - -While angels were rejoicing, devils were racking their brains and -planning mischief! - -The old witch hid a flask full of spirits under her apron and hurried -off on the same road as the soldier, in order to meet him with his -letter. She pitched a small tent on the road-side using some dirty -sheets she had brought with her, and, placing her flask of spirits in -front of her, waited for the passers-by. She waited long, but no one -came; when all of a sudden a huge cloud gathered in the sky, and the old -witch was delighted. A fearful storm set in. As the rain poured down, -the old witch saw the soldier running to escape the rain. As he ran past -her tent, the wicked old soul shouted to him to come in and sit down in -her tent till the rain was over. The soldier, being afraid of the -thunder, accepted her invitation, and sat musingly in the tent, when the -old woman placed a good dose of spirits in front of him, which the -soldier drank; she gave him another drop, and he drank that too. Now -there was a sleeping-draft in it, and so the soldier fell fast asleep, -_and slept like a fur cloak_. The old woman then looked in his bag for -the letter, and, imitating _the old king's_ hand-writing to great -perfection, informed the young prince that a great sorrow had fallen -upon his house, inasmuch as his wife had been delivered of two puppies. -She sealed the letter and woke the soldier, who began to run again and -did not stop until he reached the camp. The young prince was very much -upset by his father's letter, but wrote in reply that no matter what -sort of children his wife had borne they were not to touch but to treat -them as his own children until he returned. He ordered the messenger to -hurry back with his reply, and not to stop anywhere; but the old soldier -could not forget the good glass of spirits he had, and so went into the -tent again and had some more. The witch again mixed it with a -sleeping-draught and searched the bag while the soldier slept. She stole -the letter, and, imitating the young prince's hand-writing, wrote back -to the old king that he was to have his wife and the young babes killed, -because he held a woman who had puppies must be a bad person. The old -king was very much surprised at his son's reply but said nothing to -anyone. At night he secretly called the old soldier to him and had his -daughter-in-law placed in a black carriage. The old soldier sat on the -box and had orders to take the woman and her two children into the -middle of the forest and brain them there. The carriage stopped in the -middle of the forest, the old soldier got down and opened the door, -weeping bitterly. He pulled out a big stick from under his seat and -requested the young queen to alight. She obeyed his orders and descended -holding her babes in her arms. - -The old soldier tried three times to raise the stick, but could not do -so; he was too much overcome by grief. The young queen implored him not -to kill her, and told him she was willing to go away and never see -anyone again. The old soldier let her go, and she took her two babes and -sheltered in a hollow tree in the forest: there she passed her time -living on roots and wild fruit. - -The soldier returned home, and was questioned by the old king as to -whether he had killed the young queen, as he didn't like to disappoint -his son, who was to return from the camp next day. The old soldier -declared on his oath that he had killed her and her babes too, and that -he had thrown their bodies into the water. The young king arrived at -home in great sorrow, and was afraid to catch sight of his unfortunate -wife and her ugly babes. - -The old king had left his son's letter upon his desk by mistake; the -prince picked it up, and was enraged at its contents: "This looks very -like my writing," he said, "but I did not write it; it must be the work -of some devil." He then produced his father's letter from his pocket, -and handed it to him. The old king was horrified at the awful lie which -some devil had written in his hand. "No, my dear son," said the old -father, weeping, "this is not what I wrote to you; what I really did -write was, that two sons with golden hair had been born to you." "And -I," replied the young king, "said that whatsoever my wife's offspring -was, no harm was to happen to them till I returned. Where is my wife? -where are my golden-haired children?" "My son," said the old king, "I -have carried out your orders; I sent them to the wood and had them -killed, and the corporal belonging to the royal household had their -bodies cast into the water." The old soldier listened, through a crack -in the door, to the conversation of the two kings, who both wept -bitterly. He entered the room without being summoned, and said: "I could -not carry out your orders, my lord and king; I had not the heart to -destroy the most beautiful creature in the world; so I let her go free -in the forest, and she left, weeping. If they have not been devoured by -wild beasts, they are alive still." The young king never touched a bit -of supper, but had his horse saddled at once, and ordered his whole -body-guard out. For three days and three nights they searched the wood -in every direction, without intermission: on the fourth night, at -midnight, the young king thought he heard, issuing from a hollow tree, a -baby's cry, which seemed as harmonious to him as the song of a -nightingale. He sprang off his horse, and found his beautiful wife, who -was more beautiful than ever, and his children, who were joyfully -prattling in their mother's arms. He took his recovered family home, -amidst the joyous strains of the band, and, indeed, a high festival was -celebrated throughout the whole realm. - -The young woman again expressed her fears with trembling, that, while -her mother and that she-devil were alive, she could not live in peace. - -The young king issued a warrant for the capture of the old witch; and -the old soldier came, leading behind him, tied to a long rope, an awful -creature, whose body was covered all over with frightful prickles, and -who had an immense horn in the middle of her forehead. The young queen -at once recognised her as the old witch, who had been captured in the -act of searching the wood in order to find her, and slay her and her two -babes. The young queen had the old witch led into a secret room, where -she questioned her as to why she had persecuted her all her life. -"Because," said the old witch, "I am the daughter of your grandfather, -and the sister of your mother! When I was yet but a suckling babe, your -grandmother gave orders that I was to be thrown into the water; a devil -coming along the road took me and educated me. I humoured your mother's -folly because I thought she would go mad in her sorrow that a prettier -creature than herself existed; but the Lord has preserved you, and your -mother did not go mad till I covered her with small-pox, and her face -became all pitted and scarred. Her mirror was always mocking her, and -she became a wandering lunatic, roaming about over the face of the land, -and the children pelting her with stones. She continually bewails you." - -The young queen informed her husband of all this, and he had the old -witch strangled, strung up in a tree, and a fire made of brimstone -lighted under her. When her soul (pára-animal soul) left her wicked -body, a horse was tied to each of her hands and feet, and her body torn -into four, one quarter of her body being sent to each of the points of -the compass, so that the other witches might receive a warning as to -their fate. - -The "most beautiful woman in the world" was now very ugly, and happened -by chance to reach the palace where the pretty queen lived. Her daughter -wept over her, and had her kept in a beautiful room, every day showing -her through a glass door her beautiful children. The poor lunatic wept -and tortured herself till one day she jumped out of the window and broke -her neck. The young king loved his beautiful wife as a dove does its -mate; he obeyed her slightest wish, and guarded her from every danger. - -The two little sons with the golden hair became powerful and valiant -heroes, and when the old king died he was carried to his vault by his -two golden-haired grandchildren. - -The young couple, who had gone through so many sad trials, are alive -still, if they have not died since. - -[1] The great pride of the Hungarian youth is to have a slender waist. - - - - -THE GIRL WITHOUT HANDS. - - -There was once, I don't know where, a king whose only son was an -exceedingly handsome and brave fellow, who went far into the -neighbouring country to fight. The old king used to send letters to his -son into the camp, through an old faithful servant. Once it happened -that the letter-carrying old servant took a night's lodging in a lonely -house, which was inhabited by a middle-aged woman and her daughter, who -was very pretty. The people of the house had supper prepared for the -messenger, and during the meal the woman questioned him whether he -thought her or her daughter to be the prettier, but the messenger did -not like to state the exact truth, as he did not wish to appear -ungrateful for their hospitality, and only said, "Well, we can't deny -but must confess it that we old people cannot be so handsome as the -young ones." The woman made no reply; but as soon as the messenger had -left she gave her servant orders to take her daughter into the wood and -kill her, and to bring her liver, lungs, and two hands back with him. -The manservant took the pretty girl with him, and, having gone a good -distance, he stopped, and told the girl of her mother's commands. -"But," continued he, "I haven't got the heart to kill you, as you have -always been very kind to me; there is a small dog which has followed us, -and I will take his liver and lungs back to your mother, but I shall be -compelled to cut off your hands, as I can't go back without them." The -servant did as he proposed; he took out the small dog's lungs and liver, -and cut off the girl's hands, much as it was against his wish. He -carefully covered the stumps of her arms with a cloth, and sent the girl -away and went back to his mistress. The woman took the lungs and liver, -put them into her mouth, and said, "You have come out of me, you must -return into me," and swallowed them. The two hands she threw up into the -loft. The servant left the woman's house in a great hurry at the -earliest opportunity, and never returned again. In the meantime the girl -without hands wandered about in unknown places. Fearing that she would -be discovered in the daytime, she hid herself in the wood, and only left -her hiding place at night to find food, and if she chanced to get into -an orchard she ate the fruit she could reach with her mouth. - -At last she came to the town where the king lived: the prince had by -this time returned from the war. One morning, the king was looking out -of his window, and to his great annoyance discovered that, again, there -were less pears on a favourite tree in the orchard than he had counted -the previous day. In a great rage he sent for the gardener, whose -special business it was to take care of the orchard; but he excused -himself on the ground that while he was watching the orchard at night an -irresistible desire to sleep came over him, the like of which he had -never experienced before, and which he was quite unable to shake off. -The king, therefore, ordered another man to keep watch under the tree -the next night, but he fared in the same way as the first; the king was -still more angry. On the third night, the prince himself volunteered to -keep watch, and promised to guard the fruit of the favourite tree; he -laid down on the lawn under the tree, and did not shut his eyes. About -midnight, the girl without hands came forth from a thicket in the -garden, and, seeing the prince, said to him, "One of your eyes is -asleep, the other one must go to sleep too, at once." No sooner had she -uttered these words than the prince fell fast asleep, and the girl -without hands walked under the tree, and picked the fruit with her -mouth. But as there were only a few more pears left on the boughs which -she could get at, she was obliged, in order to satisfy her hunger, to -step on a little mound, and stand on tiptoe that she might reach the -fruit; whilst standing in this position she slipped, and, having no -hands to hold on with, she fell on the sleeping prince. - -The shock awoke the prince at once, and, grasping the girl firmly with -his arms, he kept her fast. Next morning the king looking out of his -window discovered to his astonishment that no pears were missing, and -therefore sent a messenger into the garden to his son to inquire what -had happened? As soon as dawn began to break, the prince saw the girl's -beautiful face; the king's messenger had by this time reached the -prince, who in reply to his query, said: "Tell my father that I have -caught the thief, and I will take care not to let her escape. If my -father, the king, will not give me permission to marry her, I will never -enter his house again; tell him also, that the girl has no hands." The -king did not oppose his son's desire, and the girl without hands became -the prince's wife, and they lived happily together for a time. It -happened, however, that war broke out again with the sovereign of the -neighbouring country, and the prince was once more obliged to go with -his army. While he was away the princess was confined, and bore two -children with golden hair. The old king was highly delighted, and at -once wrote to his son informing him of the happy event. The letter was -again entrusted to the same man, who took the messages during the first -war: he on his way remembered the house where he was so well received on -a previous occasion, and arranged that he should spend the night there. -This time he found the old woman only. He got into conversation with -her, and she asked him where he was going, and what news he had from the -royal town: the messenger told her how the prince had found a beautiful -girl without hands, whom he had married, and who had had two beautiful -children. The woman at once guessed that it was her own daughter, and -that she had been deceived by her servant; she gave her guest plenty to -eat and drink, till he was quite drunk and went to sleep. Whereupon the -woman searched the messenger's bag, found the king's letter, opened it -and read it. The gist of the letter was this, "My dear son, you have -brought to my house a dear and beautiful wife, who has borne you a -beautiful golden-haired child." - -The woman instantly wrote another letter, which ran thus: "You have -brought to my house a prostitute, who has brought shame upon you, for -she has been confined of two puppies." She folded the letter, sealed it -as the first had been, and put it into the messenger's bag. Next morning -the messenger left, having first been invited to spend the night at her -house on his return, as the wicked mother was anxious to know what the -prince's answer would be to the forged letter. The messenger reached the -prince, handed him the letter, which gave him inexpressible grief; but -as he was very fond of his wife he only replied, that, whatever the -state of affairs might be, no harm was to happen to his wife until his -return. The messenger took the letter back and again called upon the old -woman, who was not chary to make him drunk again and to read the reply -_clandestinely_. She was angry at the prince's answer, and wrote another -letter in his name, in which she said, that if matters were as they had -been represented to him in the letter, his wife must get out of the -house without delay, so that he might not see her upon his return. - -The messenger, not suspecting anything, handed the letter to the king, -who was very much upset, and read it to his daughter-in-law. The old -king pitied his pretty and good natured daughter deeply, but what could -he do? They saddled a quiet horse, put the two golden-haired princes in -a basket and tied it in front of the princess; and thus the poor woman -was sent away amidst great lamentations. - -She had been travelling without ceasing for three days, till on the -third day she came into a country where she found a lake full of magic -water, which had the power of reviving and making good the maimed limbs -of any crippled man or beast who bathed in it. So the woman without -hands took a bath in the lake, and both her hands were restored. She -washed her children's clothes in the same lake, and again continued her -journey. Not long after this the war with the neighbouring king was -over, and the prince returned home. On hearing what had happened to his -wife he fell into a state of deep grief, and became so ill that his -death was expected daily. After a long illness, however, his health -began to improve, but only very slowly, and years elapsed before his -illness and his great grief had so far been conquered that he had -strength or inclination to go out. At last he tried hunting, and spent -whole days in the forest. One day as he was thus engaged he followed a -stag, and got deeper and deeper into the thick part of the wood; in the -meantime the sun had set and darkness set in. The prince, having gone -too far, could not find his way back. But as good luck would have it he -saw a small cottage, and started in its direction to find a night's -lodging. He entered, and found a woman with two children--his wife and -two sons. The woman at once recognised the prince, who, however, did not -even suspect her to be his wife, because her hands were grown again: -but, at the same time, the great likeness struck him very much, and at -first sight he felt a great liking for the woman. On the next day he -again went out hunting with his only faithful servant, and purposely -allowed darkness to set in so that he might sleep at the cottage. The -prince felt very tired and laid down to sleep, while his wife sat at the -table sewing, and the two little children played by her side. - -It happened that in his sleep the prince dropped his arm out of bed; one -of the children noticing this called his mother's attention to it, -whereupon the woman said to her son, "Place it back, my son, place it -back, it's the hand of your royal father." The child approached the -sleeping prince and gently lifted his arm back again. After a short time -the prince dropped his leg from the bed while asleep; the child again -told his mother of it, and she said, "Place it back, my son, put it -back, it's your father's leg." The boy did as he was told, but the -prince knew nothing of it. It happened, however, that the prince's -faithful servant was awake and heard every word the woman said to the -child, and told the story to his master the next day. The prince was -astonished, and no longer doubted that the woman was his wife, no matter -how she had recovered her hands. So the next day he again went out -hunting, and, according to arrangement, stayed late in the wood and had -to return to the cottage again. The prince, having gone to bed, feigned -sleep, and dropped his arm over the bed; his wife, seeing this, again -said, "Put it back, my son, put it back, it's your royal father's arm." -Afterwards he dropped his other arm, and then his two legs purposely; -and the woman in each case bade her son put them back, in the same -words. At last he let his head hang over the bedside, and his wife said -to her son, "Lift it back, my son, lift it back; it's your royal -father's head." But the little fellow, getting tired of all this, -replied, "I shan't do it; you better do it yourself this time, mother." -"Lift it back, my son," again said the mother, coaxingly; but the boy -would not obey, whereupon the woman herself went to the bed, in order to -lift the prince's head. But no sooner had she touched him than her -husband caught hold of her with both his hands, and embraced her. "Why -did you leave me?" said he, in a reproachful tone. "How could I help -leaving you," answered his wife, "when you ordered me out of your -house?" "I wrote in the letter," said the prince, "this and this;" and -told her what he had really written; and his wife explained to him what -had been read to her from the letter that had been changed. The fraud -was thus discovered, and the prince was glad beyond everything that he -had found his wife and her two beautiful children. - -He at once had all three taken back to the palace, where a second -wedding was celebrated, and a great festival held. Guests were invited -from the 77th country, and came to the feast. Through the -letter-carrying messenger it became known that the cause of all the -mischief was no one else than the princess's envious mother. But the -prince forgave her all at the urgent request of his wife; and the young -couple lived for a great many years in matrimonial bliss, their family -increasing greatly. At the old king's death the whole realm fell to the -happy couple, who are still alive, if they have not died since. - - - - -THE KING AND THE DEVIL. - - -In the country where lions and bearded wolves live there was a king -whose favourite sport was hunting and shooting; he had some hundred -hounds or more, quite a house full of guns, and a great many huntsmen. -The king had a steady hand, a sharp eye, and the quarry he aimed at -never escaped, for the king never missed what he aimed at; his only -peculiarity was that he did not care to go out shooting with his own -people only, but he would have liked the whole world to witness his -skill in killing game, and that every good man in the world should -partake of it. Well then, whenever he made a good bag the cook and the -cellarer had so much work to do that they were not done till dawn. Such -was the king who reigned in the land where lions and bearded wolves -live. - -Once upon a time this king, according to custom, invited the sovereigns -of the neighbouring lands to a great shooting party, and also their -chief men. It was in the height of summer, just at the beginning of the -dog-days. In the early morning, when they were driving out on to the -pasture the sheep with the silken fleece, the dogs could already be -heard yelping, huntsmen blowing with all their might into the thin end -of their horns, and all was noise and bustle, so that the royal -courtyard rang out with the noise. Then the king swallowed his breakfast -in a soldierlike fashion, and all put on their hunting hats adorned with -eagle's feathers, buckled the shining straps under their chins, mounted -their horses, and in a short time were off over hedges and ditches, -plunging into the vast forest, as the heat was too great for them to -hunt in the open country. Each king accompanied by his own men went in -his own direction, and game was killed with lightning speed; but the -king who owned the forest went by himself in order to show his friends -how much game he could kill single handed. But by some strange -chance--who can tell how?--no game crossed the king's track. He went -hither and thither but found nothing; looking round he discovered that -he had got into a part of the wood where not even his grandfather had -ever been; he went forward but still was lost; sideways, but still did -not know the way; to the right, and found that he was in the same -predicament as the man in Telek, namely, that unless he was taken home -he would never find it. He called upon God for help, but as he never did -that before--for the king didn't like to go to church and never invited -the priest, except upon All Souls' Day, to dinner--the Lord would not -help him; so he called upon the Devil, who appeared at once, as he will -appear anywhere, even where he is not wanted. "You need not tell me -what you are doing here, good king," said the evil spirit, "I know that -you have been out shooting and have found no game and that you have lost -your way. Promise me that you will give me what you have not got in your -house and you shall find plenty of game and I will take you home." "You -ask very little, poor soul," said the king, "Your request shall be -granted; moreover, I will give you something of what I have, whatever -you may wish, if you will but take me home." - -Shortly afterwards the king arrived at home, and had so much game with -him that his horse could scarcely stand beneath the weight; the other -kings were quite impatient with waiting for him, and were highly -delighted when he arrived. At last they sat down to supper and ate and -drank heartily, but the devil ate nothing but the scrapings from the -pots and pans, and drank no wine but the dregs that were left in the -bottles. At midnight an old woman appeared before the company of jolly -kings and shouted as loud as she could in delight because a beautiful -little daughter had been born to the king. The devil jumped up and -capered about in his joy; _standing on his toes and clapping his bony -heels together, he spun the king round like a whirlwind_ and shouted in -his ear, "That girl, king, was not in your house to-day and I will come -for her in ten years." The devil hereupon saddled midnight and darted -off like lightning, while the guests stared at each other in amazement, -and the king's face turned ghastly pale. - -Next morning they counted the heads of game and found that the king had -twice as much as all the rest put together: yet he was very sad; he made -presents to all his guests, and gave them an escort of soldiers as far -as the boundary of his realm. - -Ten years passed as swiftly as the bird flies and the devil appeared -punctually to the minute. The king tried to put him off, and walked up -and down his room greatly agitated; he thought first of one thing and -then of another. At last he had the swineherd's daughter dressed up like -a princess, and placed her on his wife's arm, and then took her to the -devil, both parents weeping most bitterly, and then handed the child -over to the black soul. The devil carried her away in high glee, but -when the pretty little creature was passing a herd of swine she said, -"Well, little sucking pigs, my father won't beat me any more on your -account, for I'm leaving you and going to the 77th country, where the -angels live." The devil listened to the little girl's words and at last -discovered that he had been deceived; in a rage he flew back to the -royal fortress, and dashed the poor child with such force against the -gate-post that her smallest bone was smashed into a thousand atoms. He -roared at the king in such a voice that all the window fittings dropped -out and the plaster fell off the walls in great lumps. "Give me your own -daughter," he screamed, "for whatever you promise to the devil you must -give to him or else he will carry off what you have not promised." The -king again tried to collect his wits and had the shepherd's daughter who -tended the sheep with the golden fleece, and who was ten years old, -dressed in the royal fashion and handed her to the devil amidst great -lamentation. He even placed at the devil's disposal a closed carriage, -"so that the sun might not tan his daughter's face or the wind blow upon -her," as he said, but it was really to prevent the little girl seeing -what was passing and so betraying herself. As the carriage passed by the -silken meadow and the little girl heard the baaing of the lambs she -opened the door and called to the little animals, saying, "Well, little -baa-lambs, my father won't beat me any more on your account, and I won't -run after you in the heat now, because the king is sending me to the -77th country, where the angels live." The devil was now in a towering -passion, and the flame shot out of his nostrils as thick as my arm; he -threw the little girl up into the clouds and returned to the royal -palace. - -The king saw the carriage returning and trembled like an aspen leaf. He -dressed up his daughter, weeping bitterly as he did so, and when the -devil stepped across the threshold of the palace he went to meet him -with the beautiful child, the like of which no other mother ever bore. -The devil, in a great rage, pushed the pretty lily into a slit of his -shirt, and ran with her over hill and dale. Like a thunderstorm he -carried off the little trembling Maria into his dark home, which was -lighted up with burning sulphur, and placed her on a pillow stuffed with -owl's feathers. He then set a black table before her, and on it mixed -two bushels of millet seed with three bushels of ashes, saying, "Now, -you little wretch, if you don't clean this millet in two hours, I will -kill you with the most horrible tortures." With this he left her, and -slammed the door that it shock the whole house. Little innocent Maria -wept bitterly, for she knew she could not possibly finish the work in -the stated time. While she wept in her loneliness, the devil's son very -quietly entered the room. He was a fine handsome lad, and they called -him Johnnie. Johnnie's heart was full of pity at seeing the little -girl's sorrow, and cheered her up, telling her that if she ceased crying -he would do the work for her at once. He felt in his pocket, and took -out a whistle; and, going into a side-room, he blew it, and in a moment -the whole place was filled with devils, whom Johnnie commanded to clean -the millet in the twinkling of an eye. By the time little Maria winked -three times, the millet was not only cleansed, but every seed was -polished and glittered like diamonds. Until the father's return Maria -and Johnnie amused themselves in childish games. The old devil upon his -return, seeing all the work done, shook his head so vehemently that -burning cinders dropped from his hair. He gave the little girl some -manna to eat and lay down to sleep. - -Next day the ugly old devil mixed twice as much millet and ashes, as he -was very anxious to avenge himself on the child whose father had taken -him in twice; but, by the help of Johnnie's servants, the millet was -again cleaned. The devil in his rage gnawed off the end of his beard -and spat it out on the ground, where every hair became a venomous -serpent. The little girl screamed, and at the sound of her voice all the -serpents stretched themselves on the ground, and wriggled about before -the little girl like young eels, for they were charmed, never having -heard so sweet a voice before. The devil was very much enraged that all -the animals and the devils themselves, with the exception of himself, -were so fond of this pretty little girl. "Well, soul of a dog, you -little imp," said the devil, gnashing his teeth, "if by to-morrow -morning you do not build from nothing, under my window, a church, the -ceiling of which will be the sky, and the priest in it the Lord Himself, -whom your father does not fear, I will slay you with tortures the like -of which are not known even in nethermost hell." - -Little Maria was terribly frightened. The old devil, having given his -orders, disappeared amidst thunder. The kind-hearted Johnnie here -appeared, blew his whistle, and the devils came. They listened to the -orders, but replied, that no devil could build a church out of nothing, -and that, moreover, they dare not go up to heaven and had no power over -the Lord to make him become a priest; that the only advice they could -give was, for Johnnie and the little girl to set off at once, before it -was too late, and so escape the tortures threatened by the old devil. -They listened to the advice of the devils, and Johnnie buried his -whistle in a place where his father would not be able to find it, and -send the devils after them. They hurried off towards Maria's father's -land; when, all of a sudden, Maria felt her left cheek burning very -much, and complained of it to Johnnie, who, looking back, found that his -mother was galloping after them on the stick of a whitewashing brush. -Johnnie at once saw their position, and told Maria to turn herself into -a millet field, and he would be the man whose duty it was to scare away -the birds. Maria did so at once, and Johnnie kept the sparrows off with -a rattle. The old woman soon came up, and asked whether he had not seen -a boy and girl running past, a few minutes before. "Well, yes," replied -he, "there are a great many sparrows about, my good lady, and I can't -guard my millet crop from them. Hush! Hush!" "I didn't ask you," replied -she, "whether you had any sparrows on your millet field or not; but -whether you saw a boy and girl running past." "I've already broken the -wings of two cock sparrows, and hanged them to frighten away the rest," -replied the artful boy. - -"The fellow's deaf, and crazy too," said the devil's wife, and hurried -back to the infernal regions. The boy and girl at once retransformed -themselves, and hurried on, when Maria's left cheek began to burn again, -more painfully this time than before; and not without reason, for when -Johnnie looked back this time, he saw his father, who had saddled the -south wind, tearing after them, and great, awe-inspiring, rain-bearing -clouds following in his track. Maria at once turned into a tumble-down -church, and Johnnie into an aged monk, holding an old clasp-bible in his -hand. - -"I say, old fool, have you not seen a young fellow and a little wench -run past? If you have, say so; if you have not, may you be struck dumb!" -yelled the old devil to the monk with the Bible. "Come in," said the -pious monk, "come in, into the house of the Lord. If you are a good soul -pray to Him and He will help you on your journey, and you will find what -you are so anxiously looking for. Put your alms into this bag, for our -Lord is pleased with the offerings of the pure in heart." "Perish you, -your church, and your book, you old fool. I'm not going to waste any -money in such tomfoolery. Answer my question! Have you seen a boy and -girl go past?" again inquired the devil, in a fearful rage. "Come back -to your Lord, you old cursed soul," replied the holy father, "it's never -too late to mend, but it's a sin to put off amending your ways. Offer -your alms, and you will find what you seek!" The devil grew purple with -rage; and, lifting up his huge mace, he struck like lightning at the -monk's head, but the weapon slipped aside and hit the devil on the shin -such a blow that made him and all his family limp; they would limp to -this very day, if they had not perished since! Jumping on the wind with -his lame leg, the devil rode back home. The young couple by this time -had nearly reached the land where Maria's father reigned; when, all of a -sudden, both the girl's cheeks began to burn as they had never burnt -before. Johnnie looked back and saw that both his father and his mother -were riding after them on two dragons, who flew faster than even the -whirlwind. Maria at once became a silver lake and Johnnie a silver duck. -As soon as the two devils arrived they at once scented out that the lake -was the girl and the duck the boy; because wherever there are two devils -together nothing can be concealed. The woman began to scoop up the water -of the lake, and the male devil to throw stones at the duck; but each -scoop of water taken out of the lake only caused the water to rise -higher and higher; and every stone missed the duck, as he dived to the -bottom of the lake and so dodged them. The devil became quite exhausted -with throwing stones, and beckoned to his wife to wade with him into the -lake, and so catch the duck, as it would be a great pity for their son -to be restored to earth. The devils swam in, but the water of the lake -rose over their heads so quickly that they were both drowned before they -could swim out, and that's the reason why there are no devils now left. -The boy and the girl, after all their trials, at last reached the palace -of Maria's parents. The girl told them what had happened to her since -the devil carried her off, and praised Johnnie very highly, telling them -how he had guarded her. She also warned her father, that he who does not -love God must perish, and is not worthy of happiness. The king listened -to his daughter's advice, and sent for a priest to the next village, and -first of all married Maria to the son of the devil, and the young couple -lived very happily ever after. The king gave up hunting, and sent -messages to the neighbouring kings, that he was a happy father; and the -poor found protection and justice in his land. The king and his wife -both died at the same time, and, after that, Johnnie and his wife became -rulers of the land inhabited by lions and bearded wolves. - - - - -THE THREE PRINCES, THE THREE DRAGONS, AND THE OLD WOMAN WITH THE IRON -NOSE. - - -On the shores of the Blue Sea there was a land in which dragons grew. -This land had a king whose court was draped in black, and whose eye -never ceased to weep, because every Friday he had to send ninety-nine -men to the dragons, who were the pest of the place, and who slew and -devoured the ninety-nine human beings sent to them. The king had three -sons, each of whom was handsomer and more clever than the other. The -king was very fond of his sons, and guarded them most carefully. The -eldest was called Andrew, the next Emerich, and the youngest Ambrose. -There were no other lads left in the land, for the dragons fed on lads' -flesh only. One day Andrew and Emerich went to their father and begged -him to allow them to go and fight the dragons, as they were sure they -could conquer them, and that the dragons would not want any more human -flesh after they had been there. But the father would not even listen to -his sons' request. As for Ambrose, he did not even dare so much as to -submit such a request to his father. Andrew and Emerich, at length, by -dint of much talking, prevailed upon their father to allow them to go -and fight the dragons. Now, there were only three dragons left in the -land: one had seven heads, another eight, and the third nine; and these -three had devoured all the other dragons, when they found that there -were no more lads to be had. Andrew and Emerich joyfully galloped off -towards the copper, silver, and golden bridges in the neighbourhood of -which the dragons lived, and Ambrose was left alone to console his royal -father, who bewailed his other sons. - -Ambrose's godmother was a fairy, and as it is the custom for godmothers -to give presents to their godchildren, Ambrose received a present from -his fairy godmother, which consisted of a black egg with five corners, -which she placed under Ambrose's left armpit. Ambrose carried his egg -about with him under his left armpit for seven winters and seven -summers, and on Ash Wednesday, in the eighth year, a horse with five -legs and three heads jumped out of the egg; this horse was a Tátos and -could speak. - -At the time when the brothers went out to fight the dragons, Ambrose was -thirteen years and thirteen days old, and his horse was exactly five -years old. The two elder brothers had been gone some time, when he went -into the stable to his little horse, and, laying his head upon its neck, -began to weep bitterly. The little horse neighed loudly and said, "Why -are you crying, my dear master?" "Because," replied Ambrose, "I dare not -ask my father to let me go away, although I should like to do so very -much." "Go to your royal father, my dear master, for he has a very bad -attack of toothache just now, and tell him that the king of herbs sends -word to him through the Tátos-horse with three heads, that his toothache -will not cease until he gives you permission to go and fight the -dragons; and you can also tell him that if you go, there will be no more -dragons left on this earth; but if you do not go his two elder boys will -perish in the stomachs of the dragons. Tell him, also, that I have -assured you that you will be able to make the dragons vomit out, at -once, all the lads whomsoever they have swallowed; and that his land -will become so powerful when the lads, who have grown strong in the -stomachs of the dragons, return, that, while the world lasts, no nation -will ever be able to vanquish him." Thus spoke the Tátos colt, and -neighed so loudly that the whole world rang with the sound. The little -boy told his father what the Tátos colt had told him; but the king -objected for a long time, and no wonder, as he was afraid lest evil -might happen to his only son: but at last his sufferings got the better -of him, and, after objecting for three hours, he promised his son that -if the Tátos were able to carry out its promise he would give him -permission to go and fight the dragons. - -As soon as he had uttered these words his toothache left him. The little -lad ran off and told the message to his little horse, which capered and -neighed with delight. "I heard you when you were bargaining," said the -horse to its little master, who in his delight didn't know what to do -with himself, "and I should have heard you even if you had been a -hundred miles away. Don't fear anything, my little master; our ride, it -is true, will be a long one, but in the end it will turn out a lucky -one. Go, my great-great-grandmother's great-great-grandmother's saddle -is there on that crooked willow; put it on me, it will fit me exactly!" - -The prince ran, in fact he rushed like a madman, fetched the ragged old -saddle, put it on his horse, and tied it to a gate-post. Before leaving -his father's home, the little horse asked its little master to plug up -one of its nostrils; the prince did so, and the little horse blew upon -him with the other nostril which he had left open, when, oh, horror! the -little boy became mangy like a diseased sucking pig. The little horse, -however, turned into a horse with golden hair, and glistened like a -mirror. When the little boy caught sight of his ugly face amidst the -hair of his shining horse, he became very sad. "Plug up my other -nostril, too!" said the horse with the golden hair. At first the little -master would not do it, until the horse neighed very loudly and bade him -do it at once, as it was very unwise to delay obeying the commands of a -Tátos. So what could the poor lad do but plug up the other nostril of -the horse. The horse then opened wide its mouth, and breathed upon the -lad, who at once became a most handsome prince, worthy to be a fairy -king. "Now sit on my back, my little master, my great king, we are -worthy of each other; and there is no thing in the world that we cannot -overcome. Rejoice! You will conquer the dragons, and restore the young -men to your father's realm; only do as I bid you, and listen to no one -else." - -In an hour's time they arrived on the shore of the Red Sea, which flows -into the Blue Sea. There they found an inn, and close to the inn, within -earshot, stood the copper bridge, on the other side of which the dragon -with seven heads roamed about. Andrew and Emerich were already at the -inn, and as they were very tired, they sat down and began to eat and -drink: when the new guest arrived the knives and forks dropped from the -two princes' hands; but when they learned that he, too, had come to -fight the dragons they made friends with him. They could not, however, -recognise him for all the world. Night set in, and Andrew and Emerich -had eaten and drunk too much, and became decidedly drunk, and so slept -very deeply. Ambrose ate little, drank nothing, and slept lightly. At -dawn the Tátos-horse pulled his master's hair, in order to wake him; -because it knew that the dragon had least strength at dawn, and that the -sun increased his strength. Ambrose at once jumped on horseback and -arrived at the copper bridge: the dragon heard the clattering of the -horse's hoofs, and at once flew to meet him. "Pooh!" cried the dragon -and snorted, "I smell a strange smell! Ambrose, is it you? I know you; -may you perish, you and your horse! Come on!" They fought for one hour -and three quarters. Ambrose, with two strokes, slashed six of the -dragon's heads off, but could not, for a long time succeed in cutting -off the seventh, for in it lay the dragon's magic power. But, at last, -the seventh head came off too. - -The dragon had seven horses, these Ambrose fastened together, and took -them to the inn, where he tied them by the side of Emerich's horse. -Andrew and Emerich did not awake till nine o'clock, when Emerich asked -Andrew if he had killed the dragon, and Andrew asked Emerich if he had -done so; at last Ambrose told them that he had killed the dragon with -seven heads and taken away his seven horses, which he gave to Emerich, -who thanked him for them. The three then continued their journey -together as far as the silver bridge: here again they found an inn, -which stood close to the bridge. Emerich and Andrew ate and drank and -went to sleep as before; the Tátos horse, as soon as day began to break, -awoke his master, who cheerfully jumped up, dressed neatly, and left the -princes asleep. The Tátos scented the dragon quite ten miles off, and -growled like a dog, and the dragon in his rage began to throw his sparks -at them when four German miles off; they rushed upon each other and met -with a tremendous clash on the bridge; it was a very difficult task for -Ambrose to conquer this huge monster, but at last, through the skilful -man[oe]uvring of his horse, he deprived the dragon of all his eight -heads: the eight horses belonging to the dragon he tied to a post near -the head of the eldest prince, Andrew. Andrew and Emerich did not awake -till noon, and were astonished at the sight of the splendid horses, -questioning each other as to who could have brought them there at such -an early hour, and then came to the conclusion that the prince must have -killed the dragon, and that these horses had belonged to the monster, -for no such horses ever neighed under a man before. Ambrose again -confessed that he had killed the dragon, and brought away his horses for -them. He also urged his two companions to hurry on to kill the third -dragon, or they would be too late. They all got on horseback, but in -their joy two of them had had to eat and drink, till they had more than -enough, but Ambrose, according to his custom, took but little; the two -elder brothers again went to sleep and slept like tops; but again the -little Tátos pulled Ambrose's hair, so soon as the morning star began to -glimmer. - -Ambrose got up at once, and dressed even more quickly than before; for -the journey he took a small flask of wine, which he secured upon his -saddle. The horse warned its master to approach the dragon with great -caution, because it was a very excitable one, and if he got frightened -the least it would be very difficult to conquer the monster. Soon the -monster with nine heads arrived, thumped once on the golden bridge, so -that it trembled under the thump; Ambrose dashed at the dragon and -fought with it, but they could not conquer each other, although they -fought fiercely and long. At the last hug, especially, Ambrose grew so -weak that, if he had not taken a long draught from his flask he would -have been done for on the spot; the draught, however, renewed his -strength, and they dashed at each other again, but still neither could -conquer the other. - -So the dragon asked Ambrose to change himself into a steel hoop and he, -the dragon, would become a flint hoop, and that they should both climb -to the top of yon rock, which was so high that the sun was only a good -span above it; and that they should roll down together, and if, while -running, the flint hoop left the rut, and, striking the steel hoop, drew -sparks therefrom, that Ambrose's head should fall off; but if on the -other hand, the steel hoop left the rut and struck the flint hoop so as -to draw sparks, then all the dragon's heads should fall off. But they -were both wise and stuck to their own ruts, rolling down in a straight -course till they reached the foot of the mountain without touching each -other, and lay down when they got to the bottom. As they could not -manage in this way, the dragon proposed: "I will become a red flame and -you will become a white one, and which ever flame reaches highest he -shall be victor." Ambrose agreed to this also; while they were -contending, they both noticed an old crow, which croaked at them from a -hollow tree; the dragon was an old acquaintance of the aged crow, and -requested it to bring in its beak as much water as would extinguish the -white flame, and promised that if he won, he would give his foe's flesh -to the crow, every bit of it. - -Ambrose asked for a single drop of water, and promised the crow all the -flesh of the big-bodied dragon. The crow helped Ambrose: it soaked its -crop full of water and spat it over the red flame; thus Ambrose -conquered his last foe. He got on his horse, tied together the nine -horses of the dragon with nine heads and took them to his brothers, who -were still snoring loudly, although the sun had reached its zenith and -was hot enough to make a roast. At last the two lazy people got up, and -Ambrose divided the nine horses between them and took leave of them, -saying, "Go in peace, I myself am obliged to run wherever my eyes can -see." The two good-for-nothing brothers were secretly delighted, and -galloped off homewards. Ambrose turned himself into a small rabbit, and -as it ran over hill and dale it ran into a small hut where the three -wives of the three dragons were seated. The wife of the dragon with -seven heads took it into her lap and stroked it for a long time, and -thus addressed it: "I don't know whether Ambrose has killed my husband; -if he has, there will be a plague in the world, because I will turn into -a great pear tree, and the odour of its fruit will be smelt seven miles -off, and will be sweet to the taste but deadly poison. The tree which -thus grows from me will not dry up till Ambrose plunge his sword into -its root, then both it and myself will die." Then the wife of the dragon -with eight heads also took the little rabbit in her lap, and spoke thus: -"If Ambrose has killed my husband there will be a plague in the world, I -can tell you! because in my sorrow I will change into a spring; there -will be eight streams flowing out of this spring, each one of which will -run eight miles, where it again will sub-divide into eight more -branches. And whoever drinks of the water will die; but if Ambrose wash -his sword in my blood--which is the water of the spring--all the water -will at once dry up and I shall die." Then the wife of the dragon with -nine heads spoke to the rabbit, saying, "If Ambrose has killed my -husband, in my sorrow I will change into a huge bramble, and will -stretch all over the world, all along the highroads. And whoever trips -over me, will die; but if Ambrose cut my stalk in two anywhere the -bramble will dry up everywhere and I shall die." - -Having listened to all this, the little rabbit scampered off out of the -hut; but an old woman with an iron nose, the mother of the three -dragons, chased him, and chased him over hill and dale: he ran, and -rushed about, till at length he overtook his brothers; jumping on his -little horse's back, he continued his journey at his leisure. As they -travelled on, his eldest brother longed for some good fruit; just then -they saw a fine pear tree, whereupon Ambrose jumped from his horse, and -plunged his sword into the roots of the tree, and drew blood, and a -moaning voice was heard. They travelled on for a few miles, when Emerich -all of a sudden became very thirsty: he discovered a spring, and jumped -off his horse in order to drink, but Ambrose was first to arrive at the -water; when, plunging his sword into it, it became blood, and fearful -screams were heard, and in one moment the whole of the water dried up. -From this point Ambrose galloped on in front till he left his brothers -two miles behind, because he knew that the bramble was stretching far -along the country road; he cut it in two, blood oozed out, and the -bramble at once dried up. Having thus cleared away all dangers from his -brothers' way, he blest them and separated from them. - -The brothers went home, but the old woman with the iron nose persecuted -Ambrose more than ever, being in a great rage at his having killed her -sons and her daughters-in-law. Ambrose ran as hard as he could, for he -had left his horse with his brothers; but when he was quite exhausted -and had lost all confidence in himself, he ran into a smithy, and -promised the smith that he would serve him for two years for nothing if -he would hide him safely and well. The bargain was soon struck, and no -sooner had the smith hidden him than the old woman appeared on the spot -and inquired after a youth: she described his figure, the shape of his -eyes and mouth, height, colour of his moustache and hair, dress, and -general appearance. But the smith was not such a fool as to betray the -lad who had engaged to work at his anvil for him for two years for -nothing. So the old witch with the iron nose got to know nothing and -left the place growling. One day Ambrose was perspiring heavily by the -side of the anvil, so at eventide he went for a short walk in the road -in order to get a mouthful of fresh air. When he had nearly reached the -edge of the wood, which was only at a dog's trot from the smithy, he met -a very old woman with wizened face, whose carriage was drawn by two -small cats: the old woman began to ogle little Ambrose, making sheep's -eyes at him, like fast young women do. "May hell swallow you, you old -hag," said Ambrose to her angrily, "I see you have still such foolish -ideas in your head, although you have grown so old!" Having said this he -gave the carriage in which the witch sat, a kick, but poor Ambrose's -right foot stuck fast to the axle, and the two cats scampered off over -hill and dale with him until he suddenly discovered that he was trotting -in hell, and saw old Pilate staring at him. The old witch with the iron -nose--because it was she who had the carriage and pair of cats--fell -over head and ears in love with the young lad, and at once asked him to -marry her. - -Ambrose shuddered when he heard this repulsive, unnatural request. "Very -well," said the woman with the iron nose, "as you don't intend to marry -me, into jail you go! twelve hundred-weight of iron on your feet!" Nine -black servants seized hold of poor Ambrose, at once, and took him nine -miles down into the bowels of the earth, and fastened a piece of iron -weighing twelve hundred-weight on his feet and secured it with a lock. -The poor lad wept and groaned, but no one had admission to where he was, -with the exception of the old witch and one of her maids. The maid of -the witch with the iron nose was not quite such an ugly fright as her -wizened old mistress, in fact she was such a pretty girl that one would -have to search far for a prettier lass. She commenced to visit Ambrose -in his prison rather often, sometimes even when the old witch did not -dream of it--to tell the truth, she fell head over ears in love with the -lad, nor did Ambrose dislike the pretty girl; on the contrary, he -promised to marry her if she were able to effect his escape from his -deep prison. The girl did not require any further coaxing, but commenced -plotting at once. At last she hit upon a scheme, and thus spoke to her -darling Ambrose: "You cannot get out of this place, unless you marry the -old woman with the iron nose. She having once become your wife will -reveal to you all her secrets; she will also tell you how she manages to -keep alive so long, and by what ways and means she may be got rid of." -Ambrose followed her instructions and was married to the old witch by a -clergyman--there are clergy even in hell, as many as you want. The first -night Ambrose, after having for a long time been kissing and making love -to the old iron nose, asked her: "What keeps you alive for so long, and -when do you think you will die? I don't ask these questions, my dearest -love," he added, flatteringly, "as if I wished for your death, but -because I should like to use those means myself which prolong your life -and keep away everything from me which would shorten life, and thus -preserve me, living long and happily with you." The old woman at first -was half inclined to believe his words, but while meditating over what -she had just heard, she suddenly kicked out in bed, and Ambrose flew -three miles into hell in his fright. - -But the result of all the questioning and flattering in the end was that -the old woman confessed. She confided to him that she kept a wild boar -in the silken meadow, and if it were killed, they would find a hare -inside, inside the hare a pigeon, inside the pigeon a small box, inside -the little box one black and one shining beetle: the shining beetle held -her life, the black one her power; if those two beetles died then her -life would come to an end, too. As soon as the old woman went out for a -drive--which she had to do every day--Ambrose killed the wild boar, took -out the hare, from the hare the pigeon, from the pigeon the box, and -from the box the two beetles: he killed the black one at once, but kept -the shining one alive. The old witch's power left her immediately. When -she returned home her bed had to be made for her. Ambrose sat by her -bedside and looked very sad, and asked her with tears if she, who was -the other half of his soul, died what would become of him, who was a man -from earth and a good soul, who had no business there. "In case I die, -my dear husband," said the doomed woman, in a mild voice, "open with the -key which I keep in my bosom yon black closet in the wall. But you can't -remove the key from my bosom until I am dead. In the closet you will -find a small golden rod; with this rod you must strike the side of the -castle in which we are, and it will become a golden apple. You, then, -can get into the upper world by harnessing my two cats in my carriage, -and by whipping them with the golden rod." Hereupon Ambrose killed the -shining beetle too, and her pára (animal soul) left the old witch at -once. - -He then struck the castle side with the golden rod, and it turned into -an apple; having harnessed the two cats and patted them with the golden -rod, he bade the maid sit by him, and in a wink they reached the upper -world. The maid had been kidnapped by the old witch with the iron nose -from the king of the country in the upper world, in whose land the mouth -of hell was situated. Ambrose placed the golden apple in the prettiest -part of the country and tapped its side with the rod and it became a -beautiful castle of gold, in which he married his sweetheart and lived -with her happily. Some time after he returned to his father's land, -where an immense number of strong soldiers had grown up since Ambrose -had killed the dragons. The old king distributed his realm among his -three sons, giving the most beautiful empires to Ambrose, who took his -father to him and kept him in great honour. His wife bore pretty -children who rode out every day on the Tátos. - - - - -THE WIDOWER AND HIS DAUGHTER. - - -I don't know in what country, in which county, in which district, in -which village, in which street, in which corner, there lived a poor -widower, and not far from him a rich widow. The widower had a beautiful -daughter. The widow had two who were not very pretty, and were rather -advanced in years. The widower married the widow and they combined the -two households and lived together. The husband was as fond of his wife's -daughters as of his own; but the woman liked her own daughters better -than her husband's child, and the two older girls loved their parents -truly but disliked their pretty sister very much. The poor man was very -sad at this, but could not help it. - -Once upon a time there was a fair held in the town, which was not far -from the village, and the husband had to go to the fair. The two elder -girls and their loving mother asked for no end of pretty dresses they -wished their father to bring them from the fair: but the pretty girl of -the poor man did not dare to open her mouth to ask for anything. "Well, -my daughter, what shall I bring for you?" asked the poor man, in a sad -voice; "why don't you speak? You shall have something, too." "Don't -bring me anything," replied the pretty little girl, "but three walnuts, -and I shall be satisfied; a little girl does not want any pretty dresses -as yet." The poor man went to the fair and brought home many showy -dresses, red shoes, and bracelets. The two girls rummaged among the -heaps of pretty things; they threw about the coloured ribbons, golden -rings, and artificial flowers; they tried on their heads the various -Turkish shawls, and tried the effect of paints on their faces; they -skipped about and sang in their joy; they cheerfully embraced their -mother and highly praised their father's choice. At last, having got -tired of looking at the things, everyone put away her share into her -closet. The pretty little girl placed the three walnuts in her bosom and -felt very sad. The two elder girls could hardly wait for Sunday. They -dressed up most showily; they painted their faces, and as soon as the -bells began to ring ran to church and stuck themselves in the front pew. -Before leaving home, however, they gave the pretty little girl some very -dirty wheat and ordered her to clean it--about half a bushel full--by -the time they came back from church. The little girl began to sort the -wheat weeping, and her tears mingled with the wheat; but her complaining -was heard in Heaven and the Lord sent her a flock of white pigeons who -in a minute picked out the dirt and the tares from among the wheat, and -in another minute flew back to where they had come from. The little girl -gave thanks to Providence and cried no more. She fetched her three -walnuts in order to eat them, but as she opened the first one a -beautiful copper dress fell out of it; from the second a silver one; and -from the third a glittering gold one. She was highly delighted, and at -once locked the two walnuts in which the gold and silver dresses were, -safely in a cupboard. She put on the copper dress, hurried off to -church, and sat down in the last pew all among the old women: and lo! -the whole congregation stood up to admire her, so that the clergyman was -obliged to stop in his sermon: the two old maids looked back quite -surprised and found that the new comer's dress was ever so much prettier -than their own. - -It happened that the king's son was also present in whose country the -village was and in which village the poor man and his new wife lived. -The beautiful girl dressed in the glittering copper dress was at once -noticed by the king's son who was at that time looking for a wife all -over the country. As soon as the pretty little girl noticed that the -sermon was coming to an end she left her seat and ran home in order to -get undressed before her step-mother and her two sisters got home. The -king sent a flunkey after her and gave him orders to note the door where -the pretty girl entered; but the swift girl ran much quicker than the -king's servant, and he lost her. She undressed in a great hurry, and by -the time that her two sisters got home in company with their young men -she had her copper dress put away in the walnut and locked it in a -cupboard and donned her ordinary every-day dress, which was very clean, -and was found in the act of fanning the fire under a pot full of -cabbage, and making herself busy about the kitchen in general. "Poor -orphan, you have not seen any thing," exclaimed the two eldest sisters, -who were in high spirits. "The king's son was at church, he sat just -opposite, for a while he kept his eyes fixed on us as if enchanted. You -did not see that, did you? At the beginning of the sermon, however, such -a beautiful girl, dressed in such a gorgeous dress, came in the like of -which no human eye has ever seen before." "I did see that pretty girl as -she turned the corner of the street." "From where did you see her?" at -once asked the envious sisters. "I got on the ladder and went up to the -chimney and saw her from there." "Indeed, then you spent your time -gaping about. You will catch it when father comes home and finds the -wheat unpicked." And they rushed to the place where the wheat was kept, -but lo! the wheat was as clean as washed gold, and the tares and the -dirt had been removed from the house. - -In the afternoon the ladder was taken away from the front of the house, -so that the orphan girl should not be able to get on it any more. In -the afternoon the church bells were again heard ringing. The two elder -girls dressed up even more showily than before and went to church. The -prince also put in his appearance. The little orphan girl had twice as -much wheat meted out to her, and they threatened that if it was not -cleaned by the time they came home they would maltreat her. The little -girl set to work in great sorrow, but white pigeons came, twice as many -as in the morning. The wheat got cleaned like gold in one minute. The -little girl at once opened the second walnut, and the silver dress, -shining like moonbeams, unfolded itself. She went to church and sat in -the same seat where she sat in the morning. The prince took out his -eyeglass and eyed the pretty girl in the silver dress. He nearly -devoured her with his eyes. The girl did not stay long in her place, and -at a moment when nobody was looking she stole out of the church and ran -home. The king's flunkey again was unable to find out her abode. When -the two sisters came home the little girl was filling the cleaned wheat -into bags ready to be carried up into the loft. "Don't carry it up -yet--wait a moment," said the two sisters to her. "You have never seen -and will never behold in all your life what we saw to-day. The fairy -girl of this morning came this afternoon to church dressed in pure -silver; she gleamed like moonlight." "I've seen her," said the orphan -girl, with a meek smile; "I got on the hoarding and stood on the top -rail and saw her as she slipped out of church." "And how about the -wheat; let's have a look at it. We suppose you spent all your time -gaping again. Father will give it to you," said the two wicked girls. -But the wheat was all clean, and would have been so if it had been as -much more. They drove a lot of sharp nails into the top of the hoarding, -in order to prevent the orphan girl getting on to it. - -The two elder girls anxiously waited for the coming Sunday, as they were -eager to show off some of their new dresses they had never had on -before. Sunday at last arrived, and the two elder girls dressed up ever -so much more gorgeously than before. They put on their rings; tied on -many coloured bows; put on red shoes; and rouged their faces. They went -off in great hurry as soon as the bells began. The prince again was -present, and some of his friends with him. The two elder girls tried -their best to look charming: they screwed up their mouths to make them -look small; they piously bent their heads on one side, and kept on -adjusting their ribbons and bows. Whenever the prince, or any of his -friends looked at them they coyly cast down their eyes and played with -their nosegays. The little girl was again left at home; they gave her -three times as much dirty wheat to pick as on the first occasion, and -threatened her that if by the time they came home she did not get it -picked her father would give her a sound thrashing. The pigeons again -came to assist the pretty child, there were three times as many as at -first, and her wheat was again picked in a minute. The little girl -opened the third nut, and, dressed in the golden dress, went to church, -and sat down in her usual place. The congregation was more astounded -than ever; the women and girls jumped up from their seats. They did not -listen to the sermon, but kept staring at the fairy little girl, and -whispered to each other. The prince was determined that the girl must -become his wife, whatever happened; but the fairy-like girl again -slipped away, and the king's servant followed her, until he saw her run -into a house, whereupon he marked it by sticking a gold rose into the -gate-post. The little girl did not notice this. The elder girls came -running home. "If you lived for another thousand years you would not see -such a beauty as we saw to-day. We saw a pretty creature dressed in pure -gold; we don't think there is another in the whole world like her." "I -saw her," said the little girl, laughing; "I climbed on the mulberry -tree and followed her with my eyes from the street corner all the way to -church." "And how about the wheat; is it picked?" "The Lord has helped -me," said the good little child, "as He always will help orphans." The -mulberry tree was cut down the very same afternoon. - -In the afternoon the girls did not bring home any more news from church; -they did not inquire any more whether the wheat had been cleaned, -because they noticed that their step-father was very angry with them for -their having shown so much envy against their sister. The poor father -led his little girl to the cottage of a widow who lived at the end of -the village, and who herself had no children. There she was kept for -several weeks on rather scanty food. The prince had not come to church -for several Sundays; but, after the lapse of three months, three weeks, -and three days, at three in the afternoon, three quarters, and three -minutes, he came on foot into the village, where he had seen the pretty -girl. He had only his servant with him. They examined every gate-post, -and at last found the golden rose which the servant had stuck there. -They entered the cottage, wherein they found an old woman seated reading -her prayers. "Is there a girl in this cot?" inquired the prince. "Yes, -your highness," replied the old woman, "there are two, and either of -them is well worthy of a prince's love." "Call them, my old mother, call -them both; my heart will then recognise its choice." - -"Here they are my lord and prince," said the mother with a joyful face, -having in about half an hour got her two daughters dressed up as well as -she could. "The choice of my heart is not among them;" said the prince, -sadly, "have you no more daughters, good woman? call also the third if -you value my happiness." "The Lord has not given me any more, these two -are quite enough, you cannot find any prettier or better in the whole -village." "Haven't you got a husband and hasn't he got a daughter?" -asked the prince, in great sorrow. "My husband is dead," said the old -hag, "it is three years since he was put into his grave." "Let us go on -then, my lord and prince," said the servant, "and we shall find her if -it please the Lord." As they passed through the gate the servant took -the golden rose from the crack in the gate-post and threw it to the -winds. The golden rose thereupon quietly floated in the air above the -heads of the prince and his servant. The fortune-seekers followed the -rose, mumbling prayers, till at the end of the village it dropped on the -ground in front of the gate of the last cot. "Let's go in here, my lord -and prince, as our prayer has brought us here." "If the Lord call us, -let us enter, my faithful servant," replied the prince. A cock crowed -just as they stepped across the threshold, and a very poor old woman -greeted the guests. "Have you a daughter, my old mother?" inquired the -prince graciously. "No, my lord; I never had one," said the old woman -sadly. "If not, don't you keep an orphan? The Lord will preserve the -good mother who takes care of the orphan, as well as the orphan." "Yes, -my lord, but she has no dress fit to appear in, and she is not a bit -worthy of your looking at her; she is naughty and does not like work, -and for this reason her step-mother has cast her off. Her father -supplies in secret her daily food." "The Lord will provide for him who -is in need," said the prince. "Call her; never mind how ugly she is, or -how badly she is clad. I like to make orphans happy." After much -pressing the wretch of an old woman at last produced the little girl, -who looked very poor, but was very cleanly dressed; her face was as soft -as dew. The prince recognised at the first glance the beautiful figure -and the charming features. - -"I'm not sorry for the trouble I have taken," said the prince, and -embraced the pretty girl. He gave rich presents to the poor woman, and -took his long-sought-for sweetheart with him. On his way home the -servant reminded his master that it would not be the proper thing to -bring the prince's bride home in such a sorry plight. The prince found -his servant's remark correct. They had only to walk about three miles to -reach the frontier of land where the prince's father reigned. They came -to a round lake where they halted, and on its bank stood a large -weeping willow, so they made the girl sit among the branches and -advised her not to leave her place until they returned with the golden -dresses and the royal carriage. Thereupon they left. The little girl had -hidden the three walnuts in her bosom and in order to surprise her -bridegroom she put on her golden dress and thus dressed awaited his -return. No sooner had she finished her toilet than a whole troop of -gipsy women arrived under the tree on which she sat in her golden dress. -The gipsy women at once questioned her, why she sat there? whom she -expected? and where she was going! She, in her innocence, was not afraid -of them, and told them of her descent, narrated them her past -vicissitudes, her present good fortune, and also confided to them that -she was preparing a joke for her royal bridegroom, and showed her -walnuts and her glittering dresses in them. The prettiest of the gipsy -women climbed on the tree and commenced to flatter her. She asked her to -be allowed to see her walnuts, and in one moment, when the girl was off -her guard, pushed her from the tree down into the lake. To the great -amazement of the gipsies the girl transformed herself into a gold duck, -and flew to the centre of the lake, and, alighting on the water, began -to swim. Thereupon the gipsy women began to throw stones at her, which, -however, she evaded by diving under water. The women at last got tired -of throwing stones, and left the gold duck in the lake, and the gipsy -woman among the branches of the weeping willow. The prince arrived at -sunset at the tree where he had left his pretty _fiancée_. When lo! he -discovered the woman in the golden dress. He admired her golden raiment, -and begged her to tell him where she had got her golden dress. The gipsy -told him what the girl had related to her, and asked him his forgiveness -for not having mentioned it when she first saw him at the widow's cot, -and made the prince believe that she had kept silence about it solely -because she wished to find out whether he loved her in her poor dress. -The prince believed every word the gipsy said, and begged her to come -down and sit in his carriage, and to drive home with him to his royal -father's palace. As the prince assisted the gipsy woman down from the -willow, the tanned face of his _fiancée_ looked to him as something most -extraordinary. "You were not so sunburnt, my dear, when I left you; what -made your skin get so discoloured?" "My tender skin got discoloured from -the broiling rays of the sun," replied the wicked soul; "let me get into -the shade and in a few days I shall become pale again." The prince -believed it and bade her sit in his carriage. "I can't leave here until -you shoot that gold duck, I should like to have a bit of it at my -wedding feast," said the false one. The bridegroom and his servants -tried for a long time to hit the golden bird, they wasted a vast amount -of powder and shot; but still the golden duck was unhurt because it -always dived under the water. - -The dusky woman looked very much disheartened when she took her seat in -the prince's coach, but he soon revived her spirits by sweet and kind -words, and in a short time they arrived at home. The old king did not at -all like the looks of his future daughter-in-law, but on his son -assuring him that in a few days she would regain her fairy-like beauty -his mind was set at ease. They lived together for several months and the -young wife was still sunburnt, and so the prince gradually got cool -towards her. The gipsy woman noticed this, and in order to revive the -spirits of her royal husband she announced it all over the town and in -the adjacent villages that there would be a great feather-picking, held -henceforth three times a week in the royal palace, and everybody rich -and poor was invited, the queen being glad to see anyone. The golden -duck had flown after the coach when the queen was driven home, and, -having regained her girl-form, entered service not far from the royal -mansion and worked diligently. She too went to the first feather-picking -meeting, and, not saying a word to anyone, sat at the end of the table -and made herself busy. "Well, my dear queen and wife," said the prince, -"tell the good work-people here the pretty story which happened to you -when your envious sisters would not let you go to church. Tell them also -who helped you to clean the wheat." The gipsy did not know anything -about these events; but still commenced to chatter away whatever came -into her head first. She told them, among other things, that she had -crept through the keyhole in the gate, and collected all the girls in -the neighbourhood, with whose help she finished her wheat-cleaning. -"That wasn't so, most gracious queen," said a girl, with a pretty voice, -who was very shabbily dressed but looked very clean; "it was from the -chimney stack, and from the top of the hoarding, and from among the -branches of the mulberry tree, from where the orphan girl did her -peeping. But the poor orphan girl only told an innocent fib. It was the -same girl with whom the prince fell in love, whom her half-sisters had -cast off, for whom the prince searched with his servant, whom he seated -in the willow tree, and whom you pushed into the lake, whom your husband -tried to shoot. That orphan girl is nobody else but myself." The prince -at once recognised his sweetheart. His wife thereupon fainted away. She -soon recovered however. - -The king made an example of the gipsy woman for her wicked deed: he had -her quartered, and burnt, and then married the little orphan girl. He -had her stepmother cast into prison, and her two daughters' hair cut, -which he ordered to be burnt and cast to the winds: he also took the -orphan girl's father to his court, and married him to the widow at whose -cot he had found his wife. The poor little orphan girl's and her -father's wedding were celebrated together. There was plenty to eat and -drink, so that even the orphan children had rice to eat. Behind the door -there stood a sack in which the Danube and the Theiss were kept. I too -was among the dancing guests, and had a long spur made of straw on my -boot; somebody pushed me by accident, and my spur knocked a hole in the -sack in which the Danube and Theiss were kept; so the water all ran out -and engulphed me, and washed me ashore, not far from here. If you don't -believe my story, here I am! - - - - -THE WISHES. - - -There were 10,000 wagons rolling along the turnpike road, in each wagon -there were 10,000 casks, in each cask 10,000 bags, in each bag 10,000 -poppy seeds, in each poppy seed 10,000 lightnings. May all these -thunderous lightnings strike him who won't listen to my tale, which I -have brought from beyond the Operencian Sea! - -There was once, it doesn't matter where: there was once upon a time, a -poor man who had a pretty young wife; they were very fond of each other. -The only thing they had to complain of was their poverty, as neither of -them owned a farthing; it happened, therefore, sometimes, that they -quarrelled a little, and then they always cast it in each other's teeth -that they hadn't got anything to bless themselves with. But still they -loved each other. - -One evening the woman came home much earlier than her husband and went -into the kitchen and lighted the fire, although she had nothing to cook. -"I think I can cook a little soup, at least, for my husband. It will be -ready by the time he comes home." But no sooner had she put the kettle -over the fire, and a few logs of wood on the fire in order to make the -water boil quicker, than her husband arrived home and took his seat by -the side of her on the little bench. They warmed themselves by the fire, -as it was late in the autumn and cold. In the neighbouring village, they -had commenced the vintage on that very day. "Do you know the news, -wife?" inquired he. "No, I don't. I've heard nothing; tell me what it -is." "As I was coming from the squire's maize-field, I saw in the dark, -in the distance, a black spot on the road. I couldn't make out what it -was, so I went nearer, and lo! do you know what it was?--A beautiful -little golden carriage, with a pretty little woman inside, and four fine -black dogs harnessed to it." "You're joking," interrupted the wife. "I'm -not, indeed, it's perfectly true. You know how muddy the roads about -here are; it happened that the dogs stuck fast with the carriage and -they couldn't move from the spot; the little woman didn't care to get -out into the mud, as she was afraid of soiling her golden dress. At -first, when I found out what it was, I had a good mind to run away, as I -took her for an evil spirit, but she called out after me and implored me -to help her out of the mud; she promised that no harm should come to me, -but on the contrary she would reward me. So I thought that it would be a -good thing for us if she could help us in our poverty; and with my -assistance the dogs dragged her carriage out of the mud. The woman asked -me whether I was married. I told her I was. And she asked me if I was -rich. I replied, not at all; I didn't think, I said, that there were two -people in our village who were poorer than we. That can be remedied, -replied she. I will fulfil three wishes that your wife may propose. And -she left as suddenly as if dragons had kidnapped her: she was a fairy." - -"Well, she made a regular fool of you!" - -"That remains to be seen; you must try and wish something, my dear -wife." Thereupon the woman without much thought said: "Well, I should -like to have some sausage, and we could cook it beautifully on this nice -fire." No sooner were the words uttered than a frying-pan came down the -chimney, and in it a sausage of such length that it was long enough to -fence in the whole garden. "This is grand" they both exclaimed together. -"But we must be a little more clever with our next two wishes; how well -we shall be off! I will at once buy two heifers and two horses, as well -as a sucking pig," said the husband. Whereupon he took his pipe from his -hatband, took out his tobacco-pouch, and filled his pipe; then he tried -to light it with a hot cinder, but was so awkward about it that he upset -the frying-pan with the sausage in it. "Good heavens! the sausage; what -on earth are you doing! I wish that sausage would grow on to your nose," -exclaimed the frightened woman, and tried to snatch the same out of the -fire, but it was too late, as it was already dangling from her husband's -nose down to his toes. "My Lord Creator help me!" shouted the woman. -"You see, you fool, what you've done, there! now the second wish is -gone," said her husband, "what can we do with this thing?" "Can't we get -it off?" said the woman. "Take off the devil! Don't you see that it has -quite grown to my nose; you can't take it off." "Then we must cut it -off," said she, "as we can do nothing else." "I shan't permit it: how -could I allow my body to be cut about? not for all the treasures on -earth; but do you know what we can do, love? there is yet one wish left; -you'd better wish that the sausage go back to the pan, and so all will -be right." But the woman replied, "How about the heifers and the horses, -and how about the sucking pig; how shall we get those?" "Well, I can't -walk about with this ornament, and I'm sure you won't kiss me again with -this sausage dangling from my nose." And so they quarrelled for a long -time, till at last he succeeded in persuading his wife to wish that the -sausage go back to the pan. And thus all three wishes were fulfilled; -and yet they were as poor as ever. - -They, however, made a hearty meal of the sausage; and as they came to -the conclusion that it was in consequence of their quarrelling that they -had no heifers, nor horses, nor sucking pig, they agreed to live -thenceforth in harmony together; and they quarrelled no more after this. -They got on much better in the world, and in time they acquired heifers, -horses, and a sucking pig into the bargain, because they were -industrious and thrifty. - - - - -THE TWO ORPHANS. - - -There was once, I know not where, even beyond the Operencian Land, a -village, and at the end of the village a little hovel. Within the -tumble-down walls of this hovel a poor old woman was lying on some -rotting straw, and two children were crying by her side. The elder was a -pretty girl. The younger was her brother, a small boy with auburn hair. -The old mother died. Her cold body was buried by the parish; but, as -none offered themselves to take charge of the two orphans, they left the -place. They went and went, over many a hill and dale, and had already -covered a long distance when Jack felt burning thirst. They found in the -road some turbid water in a rut, at the sight of which the thirsty -little fellow shouted for joy. "My dear sister, I will drink from this -rut." "Don't drink from it," said his thoughtful sister, "or you will -turn into a cart-wheel if you do." Jack sighed, and they went on their -way. They found some bears' tracks in which some stale rain-water was -putrifying. "My dear sister, I'm thirsty, allow me to drink of this -rain-water." "If you drink, my dear brother, you will become a bear." -The little fellow began to cry, but obeyed, and they went on. In the -road they found some footprints of a wolf. Jack again implored his -sister, with tears, and repeated his former request. "Don't drink, my -dear Jack, or else you will become a wolf." Jack, although his tongue -was parched with burning thirst, obeyed, and they continued their walk -quite exhausted. They found the footmarks of a roebuck in the road. -Water clear as crystal shone in them, that invited him to drink. Jack's -feet gave way under him when he reached the water, and, in spite of all -warning, he drank of it with avidity. His sister, seeing her fear -realised, began to cry. The beautiful auburn locks of her brother -suddenly turned to a soft grayish hair, and horns grew behind his ears. -His legs and arms became the four legs of a roedeer, and the pretty -little creature rubbed gently against his sister, who stroked him with -her pretty hands. The little girl and her brother, the roebuck, -continued their journey till at last they reached the king's palace, -where the young monarch received them with smiles, and offered them a -tidy little room. The little girl lived with her brother here, and, -although she forbade him to speak before others, they would chat when -left alone, their conversation turning mainly upon their deceased good -mother, their journey, the handsome young king, and his frequent hunts. -After several weeks the pretty girl received a royal splendid dress and -was married to the young king. - -The fame of their wedding travelled over seven countries. The loving -couple lived contentedly together; the queen was pretty and good, and -her husband was madly in love with her. The little deer kept continually -by his sister's side; they ate from the same plate, and drank out of the -same glass, and slept in the same room; but this happiness did not last -long. There lived in the king's country an old witch, with iron teeth, -who had a very ugly daughter, whose face was black, her eyes were -yellow, her nose was full of warts, her teeth like hoes, her voice -screeching, her waist crooked; and, besides all this, she was lame of -one foot. It was the old witch's determination to make this creature the -queen of the realm. As she was frustrated in her design she raved. In -her fury she tore up bits of rocks, and dried up whole forests. She -vowed death upon the poor orphan's head; and, in order to cheer up her -ugly daughter's long forlorn hope, she prophecied the queen's death, and -thus spoke: "Dear child, beloved Lucinda, would you like to be a queen? -if so, go secretly into the king's palace, and when the king is out -hunting, steal near the queen in her sleep, and cut off a large lock of -her hair, and bring it to me. Mind where you step, and keep an eye on -every movement of hers." Lucinda dressed herself in a cloak with grey -and red stripes, and at dead of night she reached the king's palace, and -without arousing suspicion stole into the queen's bedroom. She spread -her cloak on the floor, so that she might not awake the sleeping queen -with its rustling as she moved about, and at her mother's sign she -approached the queen's bed on tiptoe, and cut off a beautiful lock with -a rusty old knife: the little deer did not wake. In the morning, the -witch wrapt the beautiful auburn lock in the lungs of a toad, and -roasted it over the embers of some yew boughs which were cut on -Christmas night. After a while, with the ointment thus made, the old -witch rubbed Lucinda from head to foot, who became the next moment an -exact likeness of the young queen. Now the old witch began to ponder how -to do away with the young queen, and at last she hit upon a plan. There -lived at court a miserly gate-keeper, whom she bribed with gold, and -with his assistance, in the absence of the king, they broke into the -queen's bedroom at night, and dragged away by force the poor innocent -woman; the little deer woke at the noise, and followed the murderers at -a distance. - -In a secluded corner of the courtyard there was an old disused -stone-well, and in this well lived a huge whale; they threw the pretty -queen to the bottom of this well, and in her now empty bed Lucinda was -placed, whose outer appearance was not in the slightest different from -that of the queen, so that when the king arrived at home he did not -notice the awful fraud. The little deer henceforward spent all his days -near the well, which circumstance did not escape the notice of the -quick-eyed old witch. So she instructed her daughter to persuade her -royal husband to have the deer killed, and in order to carry this out, -she planned the following scheme. Lucinda shammed deadly illness, her -mother having previously changed her red complexion to yellow; her -husband sat every day and night by her bedside, while the little deer -still spent all his time by the well. They could not find any medicine -which could give the patient relief, when Lucinda, as planned -beforehand, expressed a desire to have the deer's heart and liver cooked -for her. Her husband was horrified on hearing this unexpected wish, and -began to suspect his wife. He could not believe that she could wish to -have her dear little animal, which she idolized, killed; but Lucinda -would not give in, until at last the king, being very much concerned -about his wife's recovery, allowed himself to be persuaded, and gave -orders to one of his cooks to have the deer killed. The deer heard quite -well what Lucinda wished and what the orders were, but kept silence; -and, in order not to arouse suspicion, went back to its favourite place, -the well, where, in its deep grief, it thus spoke down into the whale's -dwelling: - - - My little sister, my little sister, - You dear little sister, - Come out of the well, - Out of the whale's stomach, - Because they are whetting the knife - For my gentle breast, - They are washing the basin - For my beautiful red blood. - - -When the cook, clasping a long knife, stole up to the -little animal in order to drag it to the slaughter-house, the deer -repeated his mournful song, upon hearing which the cook got frightened -and ran away and informed the king of what he had heard and seen. -Thereupon the king determined to personally satisfy himself as to -whether his tale was true. The little deer thereupon cried twice as -mournfully as before, and amid tears sang out the same song as before. - -The king now stepped forward from his hiding-place, and the deer, upon -being questioned, told him the story how the witch and the gate-keeper -dragged his sister out of bed, and how they threw her into the well. As -soon as the pretty animal finished its tale, the huge whale was dragged -out from the bottom of the well; they slit open its stomach, and the -real queen appeared, now seven times prettier than before; her husband -himself assisted her and conducted her back to the palace in triumph. - -Lucinda, her mother, and the gate-keeper were quartered, and their -bodies exhibited at the four corners of the castle as a warning to -everybody. The queen anointed her little brother with some ointment she -had found in the whale's stomach, and he regained his old form. And so -all three of them are alive to this very date, if they have not died -since. May they get into an egg shell and be your guests to-morrow. - - - - -THE WONDERFUL FROG. - - -There was once, I don't know where, a man who had three daughters. One -day the father thus spoke to the eldest girl: "Go, my daughter, and -fetch me some fresh water from the well." The girl went, but when she -came to the well a huge frog called out to her from the bottom, that he -would not allow her to draw water in her jug until she threw him down -the gold ring on her finger. "Nothing else? is that all you want?" -replied the girl, "I won't give away my rings to such an ugly creature -as you," and she returned as she came with the empty pitchers. So the -father sent the second girl, and she fared as the first; the frog would -not let her have any water, as she refused to throw down her gold ring. -Her father gave his two elder daughters a good scolding, and then thus -addressed the youngest: "You go, Betsie, my dear, you have always been a -clever girl: I'm sure you will be able to get some water, and will not -allow your father to suffer thirst; go, shame your sisters!" Betsie -picked up the pitchers and went, but the frog again refused the water -unless she threw her ring down; but she, as she was very fond of her -father, threw the ring in as demanded, and returned home with full -pitchers to her father's great delight. - -In the evening, as soon as darkness set in, the frog crawled out of the -well, and thus commenced to shout in front of Betsie's father's door: -"Father-in-law! father-in-law! I should like something to eat." The man -got angry, and called out to his daughters; "Give something in a broken -plate to that ugly frog to gnaw." "Father-in-law! father-in-law! this -won't do for me; I want some roast meat on a tin plate," retorted the -frog. "Give him something on a tin plate then, or else he will cast a -spell on us," said the father. The frog began to eat heartily, and, -having had enough, again commenced to croak: "Father-in-law! -father-in-law! I want something to drink." "Give him some slops in a -broken pot," said the father. "Father-in-law! father-in-law! I won't -have this; I want some wine in a nice tumbler." "Give him some wine -then," angrily called out the father. He guzzled up his wine and began -again: "Father-in-law! Father-in-law! I would like to go to sleep." -"Throw him some rags in a corner," was the reply. "Father-in-law! -father-in-law! I won't have that; I want a silk bed," croaked the frog. -This was also given to him; but no sooner has he gone to bed than again -he began to croak, "Father-in-law! father-in-law! I want a girl, -indeed." "Go, my daughter, and lie by the side of him," said the father -to the eldest. "Father-in-law! father-in law! I don't want that, I want -another." The father sent the second girl, but the frog again croaked: -"Father-in-law! father-in-law! I don't want that, Betsie is the girl I -want." "Go, my Betsie," said the father, quite disheartened, "else this -confounded monster will cast a spell on us." So Betsie went to bed with -the frog, but her father thoughtfully left a lamp burning on the top of -the oven; noticing which, the frog crawled out of bed and blew the lamp -out. - -The father lighted it again, but the frog put it out as before, and so -it happened a third time. The father saw that the frog would not yield, -and was therefore obliged to leave his dear little Betsie in the dark by -the side of the ugly frog, and felt great anxiety about her. In the -morning, when the father and the two elder girls got up, they opened -their eyes and mouths wide in astonishment, because the frog had -disappeared, and by the side of Betsie they found a handsome Magyar lad, -with auburn locks, in a beautiful costume, with gold braid and buttons -and gold spurs on his boots. The handsome lad asked for Betsie's hand, -and, having received the father's consent, they hastened to celebrate -the wedding, so that christening might not follow the wedding too soon. - -The two elder sisters looked with invidious eyes on Betsie, as they also -were very much smitten with the handsome lad. Betsie was very happy -after, so happy that if anyone doubt it he can satisfy himself with his -own eyes. If she is still alive, let him go and look for her, and try to -find her in this big world. - - - - -THE DEVIL AND THE RED CAP. - - -There was once, I know not where, a soldier who was flogged many times, -and who one night had to stand on sentry. As he paced up and down, a man -with a red cap stopped in front of him and stared hard into his eyes. -The soldier said not a word, but the stranger began: "My dear son, I -know what happens in your heart, you don't like this soldier's life, and -your thoughts are at this very minute wandering to your sweetheart." The -soldier at once concluded that he had to do with the devil, and so made -his acquaintance. "Well, my dear son," said the devil, "undress quickly, -and let's change our clothes; I will stand here on guard for you if you -promise me that in a year hence, on this very day, at this very hour, to -the very minute, you will be back here. In the meantime, go home to your -native place, and don this red cap, as you can freely walk about and no -one will see you as long as you have it on your head." The soldier went -home to his native land, over seven times seven countries, and no one -saw him as he reached his village. He walked into the garden and opened -the door leading into his father's house and stood there listening. His -friends were just then speaking of him. He was delighted to hear it, and -gradually took the red cap from his head and suddenly appeared before -them, who were very pleased to see him back. His sweetheart was also -there; but no one would believe their own eyes, and thought that some -sprite played them a trick. But the soldier explained it all; and, in -order to prove the truth, he disappeared, and the next minute -reappeared. All went well with the poor soldier until the time came when -he had to start back. At the appointed hour and minute he took leave of -his friends and sweetheart amid tears. - -He put on his red cap and walked back unseen by any. "Bravo, my son," -said the devil. "I see now that you are an honest man. A Magyar always -keeps his word. You've returned to the very hour and minute. I've -received a good many floggings, though, during your absence; but don't -be afraid, we shall alter all this. You needn't be particular about your -good conduct; nobody will touch you henceforth, as I've cast a spell -and whenever they flog you the captain will feel the pain." The devil -then changed his uniform, took back the red cap, and disappeared. The -poor soldier--he couldn't help it, as he was tired of soldiering--again -committed something wrong, the punishment for which was one hundred -strokes. All the preparations to carry out the sentence had already been -made, but before he was even touched the captain began to yell as he -felt quite sure that he would suffer under it. Therefore he deemed it -more wise to recommend the dismissal of the useless fellow, instead of -worrying about him. And so it happened, the soldier was dismissed and -arrived home safely: but since this happened even the devil will not -take pity on a poor soldier. - - - - -JACK DREADNOUGHT. - - -A poor widow had a son who was so courageous that not even the devil's -mother would have frightened him, and therefore he was named in his -childhood Jack Dreadnought. His mother was in continual terror lest -something dreadful might happen to her son, as he was so plucky, nay -foolhardy, and determined to use all possible means to teach him to -fear. For this reason she sent him to the clergyman of the village as -"mendicant," and requested the minister to use all his knowledge in -trying to teach her son to fear. The clergyman left nothing untried to -make the boy frightened; he told him all sorts of ghostly and horrible -tales, but these, instead of frightening the lad, made him only more -anxious to make the acquaintance of ghosts similar to those mentioned in -the tales. The clergyman thereupon hit upon the idea of introducing some -sham ghosts in order to break Jack Dreadnought's intrepidity. - -He fixed upon the three nights before Christmas; on these nights the lad -had to go to ring the bells at midnight in the tower that stood at the -very end of the village, and the clergyman thought that he could find -some opportunity of frightening Jack. He took an old cassock and stuffed -it with straw and placed it before the tower door with one hand on the -handle. Midnight came and Jack went to ring the bells and discovered the -dummy in the cassock. "Who are you?" he called out, but received no -reply. "Very well," said the boy, "if you won't answer I will tell you -this, that if you don't clear off from that door I'll kick you in the -stomach that you will turn twelve somersaults." As there was no reply, -Jack in his rage took hold of the dummy's collar and threw him on the -ground with such violence that it rolled away three fathoms, and then, -as if nothing had happened, went up into the tower, rang the bells, and -went home. The clergyman, as his first experiment did not succeed, made -two dummies the next day, which were exactly alike; one he placed in the -same position as before at the door of the tower, the other near the -bell ropes. - -At midnight Jack again went to ring the bells and, as before, made short -work of the first dummy; as he did not receive any reply he took him by -the collar and threw him on the ground. When he went up into the tower -and saw that the rope was held by another, he thought it was the first -one, and thus addressed him, "Well, my friend, you've come here, have -you? You hadn't enough with the first fall? Answer me or I will dash you -on the ground so that you will not be able to get up again," and as the -dummy did not reply Jack took it by the throat and pitched it from the -window of the tower, and it whizzed through the air. The clergyman had -had two unsuccessful experiments but he had great confidence in the -third. He made three dummies this time, two were placed as before and -the third he stood on the bell so that it might prevent it ringing. -Jack Dreadnought dealt with the two first dummies as on the previous -night, but as he was about to ring, to his astonishment, he discovered -the dummy on the bell; he was not frightened, but when he saw that it -would not come down, after a polite request, took it angrily by one leg -and pitched it through the window like a cat. The clergyman had now come -to the conclusion that he was unable to teach Jack fear, and now -commenced to plan how he might get rid of him. The next morning he -called him, and thus spoke to him: "Jack, you are a fine courageous -fellow; go, take my grey horse, and as much provisions as you think will -last you three days, and go into the world and follow your nose; do not -stop all day, but take up your night quarters wherever darkness finds -you. Do this for three days, and settle down where you spend the third -night, and you will be prosperous." - -The clergyman thought that Jack would perish on the way; but we shall -see whether he did. Jack started off the first day, and in the evening -came to a narrow, round timber hut, which was rather high, and he -decided to sleep there. As he found it empty he made a fire in its -centre and commenced to fry some bacon; all of a sudden he felt -something dripping, he looked up and saw something like a human form -dangling in the air. "Well, upon my word," shouted he, "the devil won't -leave me alone even here: get down from there, will you, or do you -expect me to take you down?" No reply came, and Jack, with a clever -jump, caught hold of one of his legs, and brought it down, but the head -was torn off and fell down. Only then he discovered that it was a hanged -man, but he did not think much of it, and stayed there all night. He -travelled the whole of the next day; in the evening he reached an inn -and asked for a room, and received in reply that they had an empty room -on the upper floor, the only one vacant; but that no one could sleep -there, as the place was haunted. "What!" shouted Jack; "Oh! I know those -ghosts; let me have a dish of good food, a mouthful of good wine, and a -burning candle in the upper room, and I will sleep there. I swear by -Beelzebub that the ghosts will come no more!" The innkeeper tried to -dissuade Jack from his foolhardy attempt, but he would not give way. - -He was shown into the room; it was a large apartment on the upper floor. -Jack placed the lighted candle in the middle; a dishful of food and a -jug of wine by the side of it; and settled down in a chair, waiting for -the awful ghosts. No sooner had the clock struck midnight than, all of a -sudden, a fearful chorus of animal noises was to be heard, like the -howling of dogs, neighing of horses, bellowing of cattle, roaring of -wild beasts, bleating of sheep and of goats, and also crying, laughing, -and clanking of chains. Jack was quite delighted with the nocturnal -concert; but, all of a sudden a big skull rolled in through the door and -stopped by the side of the dish. Jack stared at it, and, instead of the -skull, he saw an old monk standing before him with long heavy chains. -"Good evening, brother friar!" shouted Jack, "pray have supper with me." -"I'm going from here," said the friar, "and I want you to come too; I -will show you something." "With pleasure," replied Jack, "will you lead -the way, you devil, or you reverend gentleman?" Thereupon Jack followed -the friar with the lighted candle. When they arrived at the stairs the -friar insisted upon his going first, but Jack would not; and the friar -was obliged to lead the way. Next they came to a narrow landing at the -top of the cellar stairs. Here, again, the friar invited him to go -first, but he would not; and so the apparition had to go first. But, as -soon as he went down a few steps, Jack gave the friar such a push with -such dexterity that he went head over heels down the steps and broke his -neck. In the morning the innkeeper had the friar buried. He made Jack a -handsome present, and the latter continued his journey. - -Jack Dreadnought rode the whole next day, and in the evening again came -to an inn, where he could not get any room except up stairs, where no -one else would sleep, on account of ghostly visitors. Jack took the room -and was again enjoying his supper in the centre, when the old clock -struck midnight. The same sort of music struck his ear as on the -previous night, and, amid a great crash, a human hand dropped from the -ceiling to near his dish. Jack, in cold blood, took up the hand and -threw it behind the door. Another hand fell and went the same way. Now a -leg came, and this, too, went behind the door. Then came its fellow, -which was soon despatched to the rest. At last a big skull dropped right -into the middle of the dish and broke it. Jack got into a rage, and -threw the skull violently behind the door; and, on looking back, he -found, instead of the limbs, an immense ghost standing behind the door, -whom Jack at once taxed with the damage done to the dish, demanding -payment. The ghost replied, "Very well; I will pay for it, if you come -with me." Jack consented, and they went off together; as before, he -always insisted on the ghost going first. They came to a long winding -staircase, and down into a huge cellar. Jack opened his eyes and mouth -wide when he found in the cellar three vats full of gold, six vats of -silver, and twelve vats of copper coins. Then the ghost said to him, -"There, choose a vat full of coins for your dish, and take it whenever -you like." But Jack, however, did not touch the money, but replied, "Not -I; do you suppose that I will carry that money? Whoever brought it here, -let him take it away." "Well done," replied the ghost; "I see I've found -my man at last. Had you touched the treasure you would have died a -sudden death; but now, since you are such a fine courageous fellow, the -like of whom I have never seen before, settle down in this place and -use the treasure in peace; nobody will ever disturb or haunt you any -more." After these words the ghost disappeared. - -Jack became the owner of the immense treasure, and married the -innkeeper's only daughter, who was very pretty, and lives with her to -this day, if he has not died since, enjoying life and spending the money -he found in the vats in the cellar. - - - - -THE SECRET-KEEPING LITTLE BOY AND HIS LITTLE SWORD. - - -There was once, I don't know where, beyond the seas, a little village, -and in the village a widow. The widow had a pretty little son whose -cheeks were as the rose; on the left side of the little boy a scabbard -had grown, and as the boy grew the scabbard grew with him. On the same -day on which the little boy was born the point of a sword appeared in -the soil in their little garden, which kept pace with the growth of the -scabbard on the little boy's side. When the boy was a year old he -discovered the sword in the garden, and every evening at sunset he tried -the sword in the scabbard. One evening after sunset the little boy lay -down and fell fast asleep. Next morning he awaited dawn squatting by the -side of the growing sword, which he passed seven times into the -scabbard. He ran quite delighted to his mother, who got up as the -morning bell began to ring. "Oh, my dear mother, I had such a nice -dream. I wouldn't give my dream for the whole world." "Then what have -you dreamt, my son?" queried the mother. "I wouldn't tell anyone till my -dream has been realised." "Yes, but I want to know it," said his mother -angrily, "and if you won't tell me, I will thrash you." - -But the widow threatened her little son in vain; neither kind words nor -threats could induce him to tell his secret. At last she thrashed him, -but with no result; the little fellow went into the garden and knelt -down by the side of his little sword, which had the peculiar feature -that it continually revolved, and cut everyone's hand who touched it -with the exception of that of the little boy. The little sword as soon -as its point felt the touch of the scabbard stopped and slid into the -scabbard, and the little boy for a long time gazed at his weapon and -wept bitterly. As he was thus weeping in his mother's garden, the king -of the country passed outside the fencing; the king heard the sound of -crying and stopped his carriage, and thus spoke to his footman: "My dear -servant, go to see who is crying in that garden, and ask the cause of -it?" The footman obeyed, and on his return gave the following reply to -his royal master: "Your majesty, a child is kneeling among the flowers, -and cries because his mother has cruelly beaten him." "Bring him here, -my dear servant, tell him his king wants him, who has never cried in his -life, and cannot bear to hear anyone else cry." The footman brought the -child back with him, wiped away his tears, and the king asked the dear -little boy whether he would like to go with him as he was willing to -adopt him as his son. "I would like to go, majesty, if my mother would -let me." "Go, my servant, to this little fellow's mother," said the king -to his footman, "and tell her that the king will take her pretty son to -his palace and if he behave well will give him half of his realm, and -also his prettiest daughter." - -The widow, who only a moment ago was so angry, commenced to cry for joy, -and placed her son with her own hands into the king's lap, and kissed -the monarch's hand. "Don't be so stubborn when you are at your royal -father's court as you were at your widow-mother's house," she said to -him, and with these words the old woman ran away from her pretty little -son, who again cried bitterly. Then the dear little prince begged leave -to get down from the carriage; he pulled the little sword up out of the -ground, and placed it in the scabbard, where it rattled unceasingly. -They had driven a good distance, and the boy had had his cry, when the -king said, "Why did you cry so bitterly in the little garden, my dear -son?" "Because" replied the little boy "my mother continually scolded -me, and also thrashed me cruelly." "And why did your mother thrash you -cruelly and scold you?" asked the king. "Because I wouldn't tell her my -dream." "And why would you not tell your dream to your poor mother?" -"Because I will not tell it to anyone till it is fulfilled." "And won't -you tell it to me either?" asked the king in astonishment. "No, nobody -shall know it but God, who knows it already." "I'm sure you will tell me -when we get home," said his royal father smiling. After three days' -journey they arrived at the king's town: the queen with her three -daughters were greatly delighted that their royal husband and father had -brought them such a pretty boy. The girls offered all sorts of things to -their pretty brother. - -"Don't love him so much," said the wise king, "as he does not deserve -it; he harbours some secret in his heart which he will not tell anyone." -"He will tell me," said the eldest girl, but the little boy shook his -head. "He will tell it me," said the second. "Not I," said the little -boy angrily. "You won't keep it from me," said the youngest coaxingly. -"I will not tell my secret to anyone till it is realised, and I will -punish anyone who dares to inquire," threatened the little boy. The king -in his great sorrow looked at his wife and daughters; he summoned his -servants, handed the little boy to them, and said, "Take away this -stubborn child, take him to your house, he's not fit for a royal -palace." The sword at the little boy's side clanked loudly; the servants -obeyed their royal master's orders, and took the boy to the place where -they lived. The pretty child cried upon being taken away from the -gorgeous palace, and the servants' children consoled him, offered him -fruits and toys, and thus brought back his spirits in a few hours; the -children got used to each other, and the little boy lived with them -until he became seventeen years of age. The elder daughters of the king -married kings of countries beyond the seas, and the youngest one has -also grown old enough to be married. One day she ran from the lofty -palace into the servants' house, where she saw the little boy, who had -grown so handsome that there wasn't a more handsome lad to be seen over -seven times seven countries. The king's daughter was very much struck as -she had never before seen so fine a lad, and thus spoke to him: "If you, -handsome lad, will reveal your secret to me I will become yours, and you -will be mine, and not even the coffin shall separate us." The lad -thrashed the inquisitive princess as he had promised of yore; the pretty -girl wept bitterly and ran to her royal father and complained about the -lad's cruelty. The old king was very angry and uttered an oath, adding, -"If he had a thousand souls he will have to die; his very memory must -die out in my country." - -On the same day on which the widow's son had beaten the king's daughter, -lofty gallows were erected on the western side of the royal town, and -the whole population went out to the place where the execution was to -take place. The hangman tied the handsome lad's hands behind his back, -when the sword again clanked at the lad's side. The assembled people, -who a moment ago were so noisy, grew silent, when the king's preacher -read out the sentence. Suddenly a great hubbub arose, and a gorgeous -coach, from which a white flag was waving, was seen driving rapidly up -to the gallows; in the coach sat the King of the Magyars. The coach -stopped underneath the gallows, and the King of the Magyars jumped out -and asked for the handsome lad's reprieve, who was blindfolded. The -angry king informed him that he had great reason to have the scoundrel -hanged, because he thrashed his daughter for no other cause than her -asking him to reveal his secret. The secret was a dream which he could -only tell when it was realised. "My royal colleague, hand the culprit -over to me," said the king of the Magyars, "I'm sure he will tell me his -secret. I have a pretty daughter who is like the Morning Star, and she -will get it out of him." The sword again clanked at the side of the -handsome lad. The king handed the prisoner to the Magyar king, who bade -him sit in his carriage, and asked him his secret. "It is impossible, my -king and master," said the sad lad, "until the dream is fulfilled." "You -will tell my daughter," said the Magyar king smiling. "To none!" said -the lad resolutely, and his sword gave a terrific clank. The king and -the handsome lad arrived at Buda in a few days. The king's daughter was -just promenading in the garden when her father arrived with the handsome -lad. The pretty girl hurried to her father, and as she kissed his hand -she noticed the handsome lad, the like of whom she had never seen -before. "Have you brought him for me?" inquired the love-sick maid, -"from fairy land? No woman has yet carried, has yet borne, such a child -in her arms!" - -"My dear daughter, I've brought him not from fairy land, but from the -gallows," replied the king, who was vexed with his daughter for having -so quickly fallen in love with him, although she had never spoken to a -man before. "I don't care, my dear father," said the blushing maid, -"even if you brought him from the gallows, he's mine, and I am his, and -we shall die together." The last words were addressed by the king's -daughter to the handsome lad, who smothered the pretty princess with -kisses. "You will soon be angry with him, my dear daughter," said the -sorrowful king, "if you ask his secret; he's a coarse fellow, he's of no -royal blood, his place is among the servants." "If he killed me, if he -gouged out my eyes, or bit off my nose, I couldn't get angry with him," -said the princess. "He will tell me his secret, his lodging will be in -the room set apart for my guests, and he will find a place in the middle -of my heart!" - -But the king shook his head, and sent the lad down into the -summer-house, where he could amuse himself with reading. No sooner had a -week passed than the girl, who was as pretty as a fairy, put her best -dress on and went to the summer-house to pay a visit to the lad who -lived secluded there, to get his secret out of him. When the young lad -saw the pretty girl and had examined her beautiful dress, the book -dropped from his hand, and he stared but could not utter a single word. -The princess thereupon addressed him in such a beautiful voice as his -ear had never heard before, "Tell me, my handsome lad, why have I come -to see you, if you guess it I will be yours?" "My dove, my angel!" said -the lad with glowing cheeks, "I won't tell you my secret, and if you -wish to get back safely to your royal father's palace you had better not -ask any more questions about the matter." But the girl would not listen -to the lad's warning but pressed for an answer more urgently and -embraced him and kissed him. The lad at last got so angry that he -slapped the princess's face and made her nose bleed. The princess ran -screaming back to the palace, where her father was waiting for her -answer; when the king beheld the blood running down upon the pretty -girl's beautiful dress, he yelled down from the window into the garden, -"I will starve you to death, you son of a dragon!" and began to wash his -daughter's cheek and nose. - -The very same day the king summoned all the masons and bricklayers in -the town, and gave them orders to run up in all haste a square building -in which there was to be just room for a stool and a small table, the -table to be so small that only a prayer book could find room on it. In -two hours a small tower was built; the masons had already left off work, -and were going to inform the king that the structure was finished. They -met the king's daughter, who asked one of the masons to stay, the one -who appeared to be the eldest, and asked him whether he could make so -small a hole in the tower that a plate of food and a bottle of wine -could be passed through, and which could not be noticed by any one. "To -be sure," said the grey old mason, "I can and I will make it." The hole -was ready in a quarter of an hour; the king's daughter paid the mason -handsomely and hurried home. - -At sunset, among a large crowd of people, the secret-keeping lad was -conducted into the stone structure, and after all his misdeeds had been -once more enumerated he was walled in. But the king's daughter did not -allow him to suffer either hunger or thirst, she visited her sweetheart -three times every day; and brought him books for which he asked. The -king sent every third day his secretary to look after the prisoner and -to see if he were dead, but the scribe found him still alive, and the -king was very much astonished. One day the Turkish Sultan sent a letter -to the Magyar king; the messenger bearing the letter brought with him -also three canes; the Turkish Sultan wrote in the letter, that if the -king could not tell him which of the three canes grew nearest the root, -which in the middle, and which at the top, he would declare war against -him. The king was very much alarmed, and became sad. His daughter -noticed her father's sorrow, and inquired, "Why are you so downcast, my -royal father?" "How can I be otherwise, my dear daughter," said the good -king; "look here, the Turkish Sultan has sent me three canes, and -writes, that if I cannot tell him which is the cane's root-end, -middle-part, and top-end, he will send his army against my country." -"_The God of the Magyar's_ will help you, my dear father," said the -girl; and hurried to the tower, and informed her sweetheart through the -secret hole of the Turkish Sultan's message, and of her father's sorrow. -"Go home, my love, my sweetheart; go to bed and sleep, and when you wake -tell your royal father that you have dreamt that the canes have to be -placed in lukewarm water, and he will then be able to tell on which part -of the plant the canes grew: the one that sinks to the bottom is the one -from nearest the root; the one which does not sink and does not float -on the surface, comes from the middle; and the one that remains on the -surface is from the top." The girl ran home, went to bed and slept, and -told her father her dream, as her sweetheart had instructed her. The -king did as his daughter advised him, and marked the three canes, -namely, with one notch the root-piece, the middle-piece with two -notches, and the top-piece with three, and sent the explanation to the -Sultan; and, actually, the canes had grown as the Magyar king had picked -them out; and the Sultan did not declare war against the Magyar. - -After a year the Sultan wrote another letter to the Magyar king and sent -him three foals; in the letter he asked him to guess which of the three -animals was foaled in the morn, which at noon, and which in the evening, -and threatened with war in case a correct guess was not forthcoming. The -king was again sorrowful, and his daughter asked him the reason. "How -should I not be sorrowful, my pretty sweet daughter," said the old king, -"I had another letter from the Sultan, and he sent me three foals, and -if I cannot tell him which was foaled in the morn, noon, and even, he -will declare war against me." "The Lord will again help you, my dear -royal father," said the girl quite joyfully. In half an hour she was -again with her sweetheart, and communicated to him her father's trouble -and sorrow. "Go home, idol of my heart," said the captive lad; "go to -bed and sleep. In your dream scream out, and when your father asks you -what is the matter, tell him that you dreamt that the Sultan had sent -some Turks in order to carry your father off to captivity, as he was not -able to guess when the foals were born; but just as they were pinioning -him, you dreamt that the lad who had slapped your face got out somehow -from his prison, and told you which of the foals was foaled in the -morning, which at noon, and which in the evening." The king's daughter -ran home and did exactly as the immured lad had told her. Next morning -the tower was pulled down and the handsome lad conducted before the -king. "The Lord has preserved you in your long captivity, my son, and I -also feel inclined to grant you pardon. But before doing this you will -have to help me in an important matter. I hand you here the Sultan's -letter, read it; the three foals are in my stables; can you answer his -query?" "I can, my king and master," said the liberated lad, "but I must -ask you some questions. Have you got three exactly similar troughs?" -"No, but I will get some," replied the king. In a quarter of an hour -three troughs of the same size and colour were ready. "Give orders, my -king," said the lad, "to have some oats put into one, some live coals in -the other, and some dry coal in the third: the foal which goes to the -oats was foaled in the morning, the one to the live coals, at noon, and -the one which goes to the dry coals, in the evening." The king did as -the lad advised him. He marked the foals and sent them home. The Sultan -was satisfied and did not send any troops against the Magyar king. - -The Sultan had an aunt who was a witch, whom he consulted what to do in -order to get possession of Hungary, and to tell him how he could get to -know who was the man who answered all his questions so cleverly. "Alas! -my dear relative," said the witch, "it isn't the Magyar king who -answered all your queries: he has a lad who is the son of a very poor -woman, but who will become king of Hungary; so long as you do not kill -him you will covet Hungary in vain." Another letter came to the king of -Hungary, in which it was written that if the lad who was kept by the -king, and who was the brat of a poor woman, be not sent to Turkey, war -shall be declared against the king. The king shewed the letter to the -good lad in great sorrow, who, after having read the haughty monarch's -lines, spoke thus: "I'm not afraid of bald-headed dogs, and I will cut -to pieces the whole lot of them." At these words the sword clanked as it -never did before. "I do not want anything save two lads; they must be -both alike, and I will paint a mask resembling their features, and if we -three look alike I'm not afraid of the whole world." - -In the royal town were two brothers who were exactly alike, and the -handsome lad painted himself a mask and put it on, and all three went to -Turkey. The witch smelt the strangers' approach from a great distance. -When they arrived in the Sultan's palace they all three saluted him, and -all three bowed simultaneously; they answered the Sultan's questions all -together; they sat down to supper all together; they all conveyed their -food to their mouths at the same time; they all got up at the same time; -after supper they all three bowed, and at the signal from the Sultan all -three went to bed. The Sultan could not see any difference between the -three, but he did not like to kill all three. The witch, however, -recognised the lad, and explained to her nephew his distinguishing -feature, but the Sultan could not understand her explanation. "Well, you -will know to-morrow morning, my Sultan and relative, which is the one -whom we intend to kill," said the witch; "you will know him by his -shirt-collar, which will have a scissors-cut in it; he is the Magyar -king's man." An hour before midnight, at the time the witches are -invisible, and when they are able to pass through the eye of a needle, -the old witch glided through the keyhole into the bedroom where the -youths soundly slept. All three were lying in the same bed, the handsome -lad on the outside. The witch produced a pair of small scissors, and -clipped out a piece of his shirt-collar, and then crept out of the room. -But the handsome lad, when dressing in the morning, noticed in the -looking-glass the damaged shirt-collar and marked his two mates' collars -the same way. The Sultan asked the three lads to breakfast. The old -witch stood in the window, and was very much surprised that the -shirt-collars of all three were marked in the same way. After breakfast, -they bowed and retired, and were allowed to return home. The king's -daughter was very anxious until her sweetheart returned, but when she -saw him one evening in her father's palace in good health and safe she -was greatly delighted, and begged her father's permission to marry him. -The king, however, made no reply, and the girl was very vexed with her -father. One evening when she was again pleading on his behalf she -suddenly fainted away; her eye fell on a letter sent by the Turkish -Sultan asking her Father to send him this strange lad alone, because he -was a dangerous man to Hungary. The old king sent the letter to the lad -by his daughter, which the girl handed to him with tears. "Do not weep, -love of my heart. God is with me, and his power." Thus he consoled her. -"I will start at sunrise to-morrow, and in a year's time we shall be -each other's." The brave hero went alone to the Sultan; he met the old -witch in the courtyard, who whispered to him, "It is the last time you -will come to beautiful Turkey." The sword clanked, and the youth would -not even listen to the old woman's words. When he stepped across the -Sultan's threshold, fifteen armed Turks confronted him: the sword darted -forth from its scabbard, and cut up the Turks into pulp. It did not -touch the Sultan, but went back into its scabbard. At night the old -witch tried to steal the lad's sword, but the sword jumped out and -chopped off the witch's iron nose. Next morning the Sultan arrayed an -enormous army against the lad, but the sword did its work so swiftly -that not a sword, nor an arrow even so much as scratched the lad, and -all the Turks were killed in a heap. - -The daughter of the Magyar king was nearly in despair, because her -sweetheart did not return on the appointed day, and she bothered her -father with her requests until he led an army against Turkey. The girl -led the troops herself in military uniform, but the troops had not to -march more than a mile, as the lad was already on his way home with his -little sword. The king's daughter and the army conducted him to the -royal palace, and proclaimed him viceroy. The young hero with a few -thousand soldiers returned to the country where he was born. His mother -was very much frightened when she saw the soldiers approach, as she -thought that they had come to destroy the town; and was still more -frightened when she discovered that, while other courtyards were free -from soldiers, her own was full of them, so full that one could not even -drop a needle among them. She trembled, when a handsome fellow got off -his horse, and approached her, but was very much surprised when the same -handsome fellow took hold of her hand and kissed it, saying: "Well, my -dear mother, I will now tell you what I have dreamt. I dreamt that I -should become king of Hungary, my dream has become true, and I may tell -you now what it was, because it is an accomplished fact, and I am king -of Hungary. I wouldn't tell you in my childhood when you asked me, -because had I told you my dream the Magyar king would have killed me. -And now may the Lord bless you that you did beat me; had you not beaten -me the king would not have taken me; had he not taken me he would not -have sentenced me to the gallows; had the king not sentenced me to the -gallows the other king would not have carried me off.... I am now off to -get married." And so it happened; he went home with his soldiers, and -married the daughter of the Magyar king. He is still alive if he has not -died since! - - - - -SHEPHERD PAUL. - - -There was once, I don't know where, a shepherd, who one day found a -little boy in a meadow; the boy was not more than two days old, and so -the shepherd took him to an old ewe and it nursed the child. The little -boy was suckled by it for seven years, his name was Paul; and he grew so -strong that he was able to uproot good-sized trees. The old shepherd -kept the boy another seven years on the old ewe's milk, and after that -he grew so strong that he could pull up oak-trees like weeds. One day -Paul betook himself into the world in order to see countries, to get to -know something of life, and try his luck. He went on and on, and on the -very first day he met a man who was combing huge trees like one does -flax. "Good day, my relative," said Paul; "upon my word, you are very -strong! my Koma!" "I am Tree-Comber," said the man, "and am very anxious -to wrestle with Shepherd Paul." "I'm the man you name; come along and -let us wrestle," exclaimed Paul. And thereupon he seized Tree-Comber and -threw him to the ground with such force that he sunk into the ground as -far as his knees. But he soon recovered, jumped up, seized Paul, and -threw him to the ground, so that he went in as far as his waist; and -then Paul again caught him, and put him in as far as his neck. "That -will do!" called out Tree-Comber; "I can see that you are a smart -fellow, and should be glad to become your ally." "Well and good," said -Paul, and they continued their journey together. - -They went on and soon after found a man who was crushing stones to -powder with his hands, as if they were clods. "Good day," said Paul; -"you must be a strong chap, my Koma." "I am Stone-Crusher, and should -like to wrestle with Shepherd Paul." Thereupon Paul wrestled with him -too, and defeated him the same way as he had done Tree-Comber; and he -too became an ally, and all three continued their journey. After a short -time, they came across a man who was kneading hard iron, as if it were -dough. "Good day," said Paul; "you must have the strength of a devil, -Koma." "I am Iron-Kneader, and should like to fight Shepherd Paul," -answered this man. Paul wrestled with him and defeated him, and they all -four became allies, and continued their journey. About noon they settled -down in a forest, and Paul thus addressed his mates: "We three are going -to look for some game, and you, Koma Tree-Comber, will stop here in the -meantime and prepare a good supper for us." The three went hunting, and -Tree-Comber in the meantime commenced to boil and roast, until he had -nearly got the meal ready, when a little dwarf with a pointed beard -came to the place, and said, "What are you cooking, countryman? Give me -some of it." "I'll give you some on your back if you like," replied -Tree-Comber. The little dwarf made no reply, but waited till the -sauerkraut was done, and then, suddenly seizing Tree-Comber by the neck -and pulling him on his back, he placed the saucepan on his belly, ate -the sauerkraut, and disappeared. Tree-Comber was rather ashamed of this, -and in order to hide the real facts from his friends, commenced working -afresh; however, the vegetable was not done by the time his mates -returned, but he did not tell them the cause of it. - -Next day, Stone-Crusher remained behind, while the others went hunting; -he fared like Tree-Comber with the dwarf with the pointed beard, and the -same thing happened to Iron-Kneader on the third day. Thereupon, Paul -spoke thus: "Well, my Komas, there must be something behind all this, I -think; none of you have been able to do the work while the rest of us -were hunting. I propose that you three go hunting, while I remain and -prepare the food." They went in high glee, chuckling that the little -dwarf would teach Shepherd Paul a lesson also. Paul hurried on with the -cooking, and had nearly finished, when the little fellow with the -pointed beard came and asked for something to eat. "Be off," shouted -Paul, and picked up the saucepan, so that the little fellow could not -get it. The dwarf tried to get hold of his collar, but Paul swiftly -seized him by his beard and tied him to a big tree, so that he could not -move. The three mates returned early from their hunting, but Paul had -the supper ready, and thus spoke to the three astonished men: "You, my -Komas, are a fraud, you weren't able even to outwit that little dwarf -with the pointed beard. Now let us have our supper at once, and then I -will show you what I have done with him." When they finished, Paul took -his mates to the place where he had fastened the dwarf, but he was gone, -and so was the tree, as he had pulled it up by its roots and run away. -The four fellows thereupon decided to give chase to him, and they -followed the track made by the tree, and thus arrived at a deep hole, -and as the track of the tree stopped here they came to the conclusion -that the dwarf must have for a certainty got down into the deep hole. -They held a short consultation and came to the resolution that they -would lower Paul in a basket, and that they would remain above until -Paul should pull the rope, and thus give them a signal to haul him up -with all haste. So they lowered Paul, and deep below in the earth among -beautiful valleys he found a splendid castle, into which he at once -entered. In the castle he found a beautiful girl who at once warned him -to run away as fast as possible if he valued his life, because the -castle belonged to a dragon with six heads, who had kidnapped her from -earth, taken her to this underground place, and made her his wife; but -Paul decided to await the dragon's return, as he was desirous of -liberating the pretty girl. The monster with six heads soon arrived and -angrily gnashed his teeth at the foolhardy Paul, who thus addressed him, -"I am the famous Shepherd Paul, and I've come to fight you." "Well -done," replied the dragon; "so, at least, I shall have something for -supper, but first, let's have something to whet our appetites." -Whereupon he commenced to devour a few hundredweights of huge round -boulders, and, after he had satisfied his hunger, offered Paul one. Paul -took a wooden knife and cut in two the stone offered to him, which -weighed one hundredweight, and took up both halves and launched them -with such power at the dragon that two of his heads were smashed to -pulp. The dragon thereupon got into an awful rage, and made a furious -onslaught on Paul, but he with a clever sword-cut slashed off two more -of the monster's heads, and took him round the waist, and dashed him -against the rock with such force, that the brains splashed out of the -remaining two heads. The pretty girl thereupon with tears in her eyes -thanked Paul for his services, for having liberated her from her ugly -tormentor, but at the same time informed him, that two younger sisters -of hers were languishing in the possession of two more powerful -dragons. - -Paul thereupon at once made up his mind to liberate the other two, and -to take the girl with him. The girl handed him a golden rod, with which -he struck the castle; and it became a golden apple, which he put in his -pocket and went on. Not far off in a gorgeous castle he found the second -girl, whose husband and tormentor was a dragon with twelve heads. This -girl gave Paul a silk shirt in order to make him more fit for the -struggle with her husband. The shirt made Paul twice as strong. He had -dinner with the twelve-headed dragon, and after a long struggle -succeeded in defeating him, and took away all his twelve heads; he then -transformed the castle with a golden rod into a golden apple, and -continued his way with the two girls. Not far off in a castle they found -the third girl, who was the youngest and the prettiest, and whose -husband was a dragon with eighteen heads, who, however, assumed the -shape of a little dwarf with a pointed beard whenever he went on his -expeditions on the surface of the earth. - -Paul longed more than ever to be at him, and in order the better to -fortify him for the struggle with the awful monster, the pretty girl -dressed him in a silk shirt which made him ten times stronger, and she -also gave him some wine which doubled his power again. When the huge -dragon with the eighteen heads arrived, Paul at once accosted him, -saying, "Well, my Koma, I'm Shepherd Paul, and I've come to wrestle with -you, and to liberate that pretty girl from your claws." "I'm glad I've -met you," replied the dragon, "it's you who killed my two brothers, and -you'll have to pay for that with your life, for it is only your blood -that can repay me for the loss." Thereupon the monster went into the -next room, to put on the fortifying shirt, and to drink the -strengthening wine; but there was no shirt, and no wine in the cask, -because the pretty girl had allowed what Paul could not drink to run -out. The dragon became very angry and began to pace up and down, being -rather nervous as to the issue. But Paul was not long before he set at -him, and with one stroke slashed off six of his heads, and, after a -short struggle, either broke or cut off the rest; and having thus -liberated the third girl, he transformed the castle, like the previous -two, into a golden apple, hid it in his pocket, and started with the -three girls towards the opening at the top of which his mates awaited -him. - -Having got there, as there was no room for all four in the basket, Paul -bade the three girls to get in, and pulled the rope, whereupon his three -mates hastily drew up the basket. Seeing the three pretty girls, they -forgot all about hauling up Paul; each chose a girl and hastily left the -forest, and settled down with them beyond the seventh country. Paul -seeing that he was deceived by his faithless friends, began to swear in -his rage, and vowed by heaven and earth that so soon as he should get -out he would take bloody revenge on his deceitful mates, even if they -had hidden themselves at the end of the world. Thereupon, he walked -about aimlessly underground, and cogitated how to get out. After long -wanderings he came to the nest of the huge griffin, in which he found -several small griffins, and as the old bird was away, and it was hailing -fire, he covered the nest with his cloak, and thus saved the little -griffins. The old bird, in order to reward him, took him upon its back -to carry him up to the surface. It took with it some provisions for the -way, which consisted of a roast bullock hanging on one side, and a cask -of wine on the other, and gave Paul directions that whenever it turned -its head to the bullock he was to cut off a piece, and put it in its -mouth, and whenever it turned its head to the cask, to pour a pint of -wine down its throat. The griffin started off with Paul on its back, and -flew three days and three nights, and on the morning of the fourth day -it alighted with Paul outside the very town where his three faithless -mates lived, put him down, and returned to its nest. Paul, as soon as he -had rested from his fatigues, started off in search of his three mates, -who were dreadfully frightened when they saw Shepherd Paul appear, who -they thought was dead long ago. Paul gave them a severe scolding for -their faithlessness, and then quietly killed all three. He placed the -three apples in the prettiest part of the town, side by side, tapped -them with the golden rod, and they became three splendid castles. He -placed the three girls in them, married the youngest, and lives with her -still in the middle castle, if he hasn't died since! - - - - -THE PELICAN. - - -There was once, I don't know where, there was in the world an old king; -one of whose eyes always wept, and the other always smiled. He had three -sons. The youngest was twelve, the eldest twenty, and the middle one -sixteen. These three sons got talking together one spring morning about -different things: the eldest of his sweetheart, the middle one of his -saddle-horse, and the youngest one of his birds. Their conversation at -last turned upon more serious matters, and they wished to know why their -father's one eye always wept and why the other always smiled; so they -decided to go and ask him the reason at once. The father was at -luncheon. The eldest son knocked; and, after greeting his father, kissed -his hand, and asked him why the one eye always wept and the other always -smiled? The father looked very angrily at his son, and beckoned him to -go. The boy became very frightened at seeing his father grow angry so -suddenly, and ran away. Just as he ran through the door he heard a noise -at his heels, and found that his father had thrown his knife and fork -after him. The terrified lad brought the disappointing news to his -brothers. "Then I'll ask him, if no one else will," said the middle son, -who, for his chivalrous deeds, was his father's favourite. The king -still sat at lunch, and the second son, like his elder brother, also -asked his father why one eye always wept, whilst the other always -smiled. The father then threw knife and fork after him, and the fork -stuck fast in the heel of the lad's shoe. The lad was very frightened, -and told his brothers what had happened, at which they were much -disappointed, as they had every confidence in him. "It is of no use your -going," said the second eldest to the youngest, "because our royal -father dislikes you on account of your bird-catching habits." - -But still the little boy went in, and in a trembling but confident voice -asked his father why one eye always wept, whilst the other always -smiled. The king, who had just finished his lunch, no sooner heard the -boy's question than he threw his knives and forks at him, and the blade -of one knife lodged in the boy's thigh, so that the blood spurted out; -but the little boy was not frightened, and, amid his tears, drew the -knife out from his thigh, and having wiped it, took it back to his -father, and repeated his question. The father lovingly stroked the -little fellow's hair and bade him sit on a low chair, and told him the -secret, saying: "One eye always laughs because you three boys are very -handsome children; and when I die you will make three brave kings for -any three countries. My other eye always weeps because once upon a time -I had a beautiful pelican, whose song was so charming, that whosoever -heard it was at once transformed into a youth seventeen years of age. -That bird was stolen from me by two men dressed in black. That is the -reason why one eye always weeps, and why my soul is vexed within me." -The little fellow kissed his father's hand and hurried off to his -brothers, who received him with a mocking smile, but soon felt ashamed -of themselves, when the child, with his wounded thigh, brought the reply -to their question. "We will try to console our father, and make him -young again," said the three brothers all together; "We will endeavour -to find that pelican, if it be yet alive, whether it be on land or sea." -Having thus spoken, they at once got ready for the journey. - -The eldest and the middle sons went to their father's stables, saddled -the finest horses, and put a great deal of treasure in their -sabretaches, and set forth: so that the youngest son was left without a -horse, as his elder brothers had taken away the horses that would have -suited him. - -When they came to the end of the village, an old beggar met them, and -asked them for a coin or a bit of bread: the two elder lads took no -notice of him, but galloped on, the beggar shouting mocking words after -them. The youngest lad arrived half an hour later, and shared half his -cake with the beggar. "As you have helped me, prince," said the beggar, -"I will help you. I know where you are going, and what you are seeking. -You would need the lives of three men if you went on foot, or on the -back of an ordinary horse, for the church in which your pelican sings -now is beyond the Operencian Sea. The saddle-horse which can go there -must have been brought up on dragon's milk, to prevent its hoofs being -worn away on the long journey; but for a good deed you may expect a good -one in return. You have helped me, and I will help you, with my advice -at least, and that is all a poor beggar can offer. Five miles from this -bridge where we stand lives an old witch who has two horses. If you -serve her for a year (her year has three days) she will give you as much -money as you ask for; but if you do not serve your whole year she will -chop off your head. The man has not yet been found who can serve her a -whole year, for her horses are her two daughters, and so soon as the -groom falls asleep, they either disappear into the clouds or the sea; or -slip under ground, and do not reappear until the groom's head is -impaled. But I trust that you will be able to take care of them. Take -this whistle; it has three holes. If you open the first hole the King of -the Gnats will appear at your command; if the second, the King of the -Fishes; if the third, the King of the Mice. Take great care of this -whistle, and when you have done your year, don't ask for money, cattle, -clothes, lands, or suchlike things (the old witch will offer you all -these), but ask for the half-rotten foal which lies buried seven fathoms -deep in the dung-heap. There is a hen-coop, and on the top of it a -saddle and a bridle; put these on the foal just after you have dug it -out. It will be too weak to walk, therefore you must take it on your -back, and carry it to the end of the village. There you will find a -bridge. Place it under the bridge, in the water, for one hour, and then -wash it. I won't tell you any more." - -The same evening, just after the cows had been driven home, the lad was -to be seen sitting on the threshold of the witch's door. The old witch -was at the same hour driving her horses home from the field. Sometimes -they jumped about on the ground; sometimes they flew in the air; but the -old witch was after them everywhere, riding a-straddle on a saddled -mopstick. "Good evening, my dear old mother," said the lad, in a -confidential voice. "Good fortune has brought you, my dear son," -commenced the witch, "it's lucky that you called me your mother, for -see! there are ninety-nine human heads impaled, and yours would have -been the hundredth. What's your errand, my dear son?" "I'm looking for a -situation, my dear old mother!" "Good fortune has brought you, my dear -son; the year lasts three days with me, and during that time you will -have to take care of my two horses. Your wages will be whatever you ask, -and as much as you desire. But if you don't take care of those two -horses, you must die!" "The Lord will help me." "Come in to supper, for -you will have to take the horses out into the Silken Meadow for the -night." The prince went in, and after supper the witch poured a sleeping -draught into the new groom's drinking-cup. Supper over the prince went -into the stables and stroked the horses. He then prepared two halters -from a piece of rope that the beggar had given him, threw them over -their heads, and jumped on the back of the finer horse. The horse, which -had become quite tame with the unusual halter, walked along peaceably -with the prince on its back, to the great surprise of the witch. "Well, -that fellow must know a thing or two!" sighed the old witch as she -looked after him, and slammed the door behind her. As soon as the prince -arrived in the Silken Meadow with the horses a heavy sleep seized him, -and he slept soundly all night. The sun was high in the heavens when he -woke, rubbing his sleepy eyes, and began to call for his horses, which -would not come. He was in great despair until, fumbling in his pockets, -he found the little whistle, which he immediately blew, leaving the -first hole open. The King of the Gnats appeared! "We wait your orders," -said a huge gnat: "speak and tell us what you require. If it be anything -in the air we will find it for you." "I had to take care of two horses, -and I cannot find them. If I do not take them home, death will be my -doom." Gnats went flying forth in all directions at their king's -singing, and in less than half an hour two griffins alighted in front of -the lad. He struck them on the heads with a halter, and they became -horses, and the little groom went home in great joy. "So you have -brought them home safely, my son; your breakfast is ready; eat it and -then go to sleep. By-and-by your dinner will be ready. You have nothing -else to do to-day." So saying, the old witch gave her horses a sound -thrashing with a peel, and then, giving them some burning cinders to -eat, went back to the house, and, sitting in a corner, threaded beads -until noon. - -In the evening the old woman again mixed some sleeping draught into the -little groom's drink, making it stronger than before. He took out his -horses, and when he had gone a little way on the road he fell off the -saddle, and slept till noon the next day. When he awoke his horses were -gone, and so he blew his whistle, leaving the second hole open, and the -King of the Fishes appeared. "We wait your orders," said a mighty whale; -"speak and tell us. If it is to be found in or above the ocean we will -find it." "I had to guard two horses, and I can't find them anywhere, -and if I don't take them back I must die." Fishes swam forth in every -river and sea at the command of their king, and in an hour they drove a -big pike to shore, which had two little gold fish in its inside. The -whale ordered a sword-fish to rip open the pike's belly. The little lad -struck the gold fishes on the head with his halter, and they became -horses once more. Late in the afternoon the little groom arrived in the -courtyard with the horses. "Go inside, my son, and have something to -eat, you have nothing more to do until the evening," said the witch, who -then thrashed her horses with a huge poker, and, having given them some -burning cinders to eat, hobbled back into the house and began to count -her gold coins. The prince had to spend another night with the horses; -and in the evening the old witch went to the horses, and, having scolded -them well, declared that if they would not hide themselves properly this -time she would punish them horribly. She gave her little groom drink -until he was half drunk, and also three pillows which were stuffed with -owl's feathers, which would make him sleep sounder. And he did go to -sleep until the midday sun awoke him next day in the Silken Meadow. But -the little whistle again came to his aid; he opened the lowest hole and -blew the whistle, and the King of all the Mice appeared. "We wait your -orders," said a rat with a big moustache. "Whatever is to be found on -earth or under its crust we will bring to you, if you order us to do -so." "I had to guard two horses and can't find any trace of them; if I -don't take them home I must die." The mice came forth from every wall -and every hole in the ground at the squeak of their king. After an hour -and a half they drove two rats from a granary to the lad, who struck -them on the head with his halter, and changed them back into his horses. - -On his arrival at home the witch said to the prince, "So you have -guarded them well, my dear son. Your year of service is over. Ask what -you like. Here are three keys, one of which opens a cellar where there -are vats full of gold and silver, take as much as you like. The second -key opens a wardrobe, from which you may choose either royal dresses, or -if you like magic garments, which will change into anything you like. -The third key opens the stables, where you will find horses with golden -or silver hair; take which you like best, and as many as you like, it is -all the same to me." The prince looked at the treasures, clothes, and -horses, but chose none of them, and returned the keys, looking very -downcast. - -"My father the king has horses, costly garments, and gold; I have no -need for any of these things." - -"Ask, then, whatever you like; ask my life, because whosoever has served -a year with me well deserves his wages." - -"I don't want your life or your death, my dear old mother; but under -your dung-heap there lies buried seven fathoms deep a wretched foal, and -on the top of your hen-coop there's a worn-out old saddle very much -soiled. These are the things I want; give them to me." - -"You're in league with the devil, my dear son, take care that you don't -get into hell." - -The witch tried to put him off, and made all manner of excuses, but at -last she brought a golden spade and traced a triangle on the dung-heap -which pointed to where, without fail, the wretched foal was to be found. -The prince dug without ceasing for seven days and seven nights, and on -the dawn which followed the eighth night the ground began to move under -his spade and the Tátos foal showed its hoofs. The prince dug it out, -scraped the dirt from it, and, having fetched the saddle from the -hen-coop, put it on the foal; and having taken leave of his witch -mistress he took the foal on his back and carried it as far as the -bridge. While the foal was soaking in the water the old beggar appeared -on the bridge and received a piece of bread from the prince. - -"Prince, when you sit on your horse's back," said the beggar, "take care -of yourself. It will carry you through clouds and over waters; it knows -well the way to the country where the pelican lives, so let it go -wherever it pleases. When you arrive at the shore of the Operencian Sea -leave your horse there, for you will have to walk three hundred miles -further. On your way go into every house and make inquiries. A man who -knows how to use his tongue can get far, and one question is worth more -than a hundred bad guesses. On the shore of the Operencian Sea there are -two trees, one on this side and one on the opposite shore; you cannot -get over the sea unless you climb the trees when they kiss each other, -and this only happens twice a year, at the end of the summer and at the -beginning of spring. More I will not tell you. Good-bye." - -Their conversation had lasted a whole hour, and behold! the wretched -foal had become such a beautiful horse with golden hair and three legs, -that one could not find another to match it. - -The little prince got into the saddle, which had also become gold, and -rode leisurely over the bridge. At the other end his steed spoke thus: -"I shall now be able to see, my little master, whether we can start at -once;" and thereupon darted into the clouds; from thence to the moon; -from thence to the sun; and from the sun to the "hen and chickens" (the -Pleiades); and from thence back to the bridge. - -"I have lived for many a thousand years, but such a rider as you has not -sat on my back before." And again it darted off over seven times seven -countries, and in half an hour the prince reached his brothers, who had -been galloping for the last three days and three nights. They rode -together for a little while when the eldest thus spoke: "My younger -brothers, if we all three keep together we shall never be able to find -the pelican. The road divides into three branches here. Let each of us -go into a different country, and let us mark this finger-post, and in -one year's time meet here again. Should blood ooze out of the post it -will be a sign that the brother who is absent is in misery or captivity; -but if milk flow out of it, then he is well." This proposal was -accepted. The two eldest took the roads on the right and the youngest -the one on the left. But the two eldest were wicked. They did not look -for the pelican but got into bad habits and spent their time in making -love to young ladies. They did not trouble themselves very much about -their father's rejuvenescence. The youngest prince went on steadily and -covered a thousand miles a day; till at last he reached the Operencian -Sea. The two trees which stood on its shores were just then kissing each -other. The prince slackened the girth of his horse, jumped on the tree, -ran along its upper branches, which touched the tree on the other side -of the sea, and in an hour gained the opposite shore. He had left his -horse in a silken meadow, the grass standing as high as the horse's -knees. His horse neighed after him and urged him to make haste. - -On the opposite shore of the sea there was a golden forest. He had a -small hand-adze with him and with it he notched the stems of the trees -so that he might not miss his road upon his return. Beyond the golden -forest there stood a small cottage where an aged woman a hundred years -old lived. - -"Good day, my dear old mother." - -"Good fortune has brought you, my dear son. What are you doing here, -whither not even a bird ever comes? What do you want here, my dear son?" - -"I am trying to find the pelican, my dear old mother." - -"Well, my son, I do not know where it is, but I have heard of it. Go a -hundred miles beyond yonder silver forest, and ask my grandmother. If -she does not know anything about it, nobody does. On your way back with -your bird come and see me, my dear son, and I will give you a present. -Life is worth living." - -The old woman sent her cat with the prince, which accompanied him as far -as the right road, mewed once, and turned back. The wandering prince, -after a journey which lasted for weeks, got through the silver forest -and found a cottage where the old woman lived, who was so much bent from -age that her nose touched the ground. - -"Good evening, my grandmother." - -"Good fortune has brought you, my dear son. What are you doing here, -whither not even a bird ever comes? What do you want, my dear son?" - -"I seek the pelican, my dear mother, whose song makes old people young -again. The Jesuits have stolen it from my father." - -"Well, my son, I know nothing of it. But fifty miles beyond yonder -copper-forest lives my mother, and if she knows nothing about your bird, -then nobody does. On your way back with the bird call upon me, my dear -son, and I will give you a good present for your trouble. Life is still -very pleasant, even to me." - -The prince again continued his journey in company with a red cock, which -took him as far as the right road. There it crowed once, and flew back. -After a journey of days and weeks the prince discovered on the borders -of the copper-forest a little cottage, in which the old woman sat, whose -eyelids were quite covered with moss. "Good day, my dear old mother!" -"Good fortune has brought you, my dear son. What do you want?" - -"I am looking for the pelican." "You are on the right spot, my dear son. -Though I have never seen it; because when it was brought hither I could -use my legs no longer. Step across the threshold, and within a gun-shot -you will see an old tumble-down church; the pelican is kept in there. -By the side of the church there is a beautiful mansion, in it live the -two old Jesuits who brought the bird from some foreign land; but the -bird will not sing to them. Go and tell them that you think you will be -able to make the bird sing, as perhaps it will sing to you as you come -from a foreign land." - -The prince, however, didn't dare to go to see the friars, but waited for -the evening or the morning bell to be rung, and then stole into the -church. He had to wait for seven days, and still he did not succeed in -hearing the pelican sing, as on each occasion a deep sleep overcame -him. The two friars had become youths of seventeen years of age during -the last two days. - -No one knew why the bird did sing on the third day. On this day, the -prince, as soon as he had stepped into the church, made his nose bleed, -and this kept him awake, and he heard the bird's song, and saw the -friars caper round the cage and throw sugar into it. The prince hid -himself under a chair, and when every one had retired to rest after -evening prayers he let the bird out of its cage, hid it under his cloak, -and went back to the first old woman and made her young again. The old -woman jumped with delight, and gave him as much gold and silver as he -liked. In a few weeks he got back to the other old women who lived in -the gold and silver forests, and they regaled him in a royal manner. - -When he reached the sea-shore the two trees were kissing again, so he -ran across them with the bird and appeared by the side of his horse, -which had eaten so much of the fine grass that it had become so fat that -the girth had quite cut into its belly. He made the horse young too, and -sat on its back, and in a short time returned to the post where he had -left his brothers. Lo! blood was flowing on that side on which his -brothers had gone. His sensitive heart was quite overcome with sorrow, -because his brothers were either in danger or misery. So he went on the -same road on which the poor fellows had departed. He had not gone more -than a couple of miles before he came to an inn. Adjoining the inn was a -garden, where his two brothers were working in irons, because they had -squandered their all, including their horses, and had got into debt for -drink. After scolding the innkeeper the little prince bought his -brothers off and repurchased their horses. - -They then started home all together, and he related all his adventures, -and how he had got possession of the favorite pelican. At last they came -to the outskirts of a forest about three miles from home, and at this -place the two elder brothers attacked him from behind, cut off his hands -and feet, took his little bird from him, and hurried home in order to -lengthen their father's life by means of the song of the dear bird that -had been brought back from so far off. The poor little prince began to -cry bitterly with pain and fear. His cries were heard by a swine-herd -who was tending his herd in the same forest in which the wicked brothers -had maimed the little prince. - -The swine-herd picked up the poor boy without hands and feet and carried -him to his hut. "He will do to take care of the hut," said the -swine-herd, "poor wretch!" In the evening, the little crippled boy -related all about his brothers' cruelty, and the poor swine-herd's heart -was filled with pity for the boy's misfortune. Next morning just as he -was going to look after his hogs the little prince called him back with -fearful screams, and to his surprise he saw something that looked like a -human skull wriggle out of the ground. He quickly knocked off the top of -the skull with his hatchet, and the remainder slipped back into the -ground. From the part cut off, blood flowed on to the ground. Somehow or -other his maimed finger came in contact with the mud formed out of the -blood and the dust and to his astonishment it was healed. Great was the -simple swine-herd's joy! He rubbed the boy's stumps with the mud, and -lo! his hands and feet grew again! - -As soon as the news had spread in the royal town that the pelican had -come back all the old men gathered together and many brought presents to -the princes, and took out their horses and dragged their carriage along -the streets. At ten o'clock the next morning the church was crowded, and -the pelican was reinstalled in its old place. The organ began to play -but the bird would not sing. The king had it proclaimed through the -length and breadth of his kingdom that any one who could make the -pelican sing should have half his realm. The swine-herd heard the news -and told it to his helpmate. "Take me, my brother, under your cloak," -said the little prince, "as I do not wish my brothers to see me, lest -they kill me. Let us then go into the town, and, as you are very old, I -will induce the pelican to sing and make you young." So they set off -together and the swine-herd sent word into the crowded meeting that he -had confidence in the Lord, and thought he would be able to make the -bird sing. The people crowded round the swine-herd, who had a handsome, -well-built boy hidden under his cloak. They conducted him into the -church, where he at once took off his great cloak, and no sooner did the -pelican see its liberator than it at once began to sing most -beautifully, and all the old men who were there assembled in great -numbers became seventeen years old. The king recognised his son and made -him tell all about his journey. When he came to the incident of the -savage attack by his brothers the people began to hiss and groan, and -resolved to draw and quarter the two villains, to tie them to horses' -tails, drag them over the town, and hang them on the four corners of the -fortress. The resolution was at once carried into effect. In vain did -the kind-hearted lad beg for their lives. They had to die. The old king -gave half of the realm to the young prince. The swine-herd was dressed -up in velvet and purple, and they all are alive to this day, if they -have not died since. - - - - -THE GIRL WITH THE GOLDEN HAIR. - - -There was once, I do not know where, in the world an old man who had -twelve sons; the eldest of whom served the king for twenty-four years. -One day the old man took it into his head that all his sons should get -married, and they all were willing to comply with their father's wish, -with the exception of the eldest son, who could not on any account be -coaxed into matrimony. However the old man would not give in, and said, -"Do you hear me, my son? the eldest of you must marry at the same time -as the youngest; I want you all to get married at the same time." - -So the old man had a pair of boots made for himself with iron soles and -went in search of wives for his twelve sons. He wandered hither and -thither over several countries until the iron soles of his boots were -worn into holes; at last, however, he found at a house twelve girls, -who, he thought, would do. - -The eleven younger lads made great preparations and went to the fair to -buy themselves saddle-horses; but the eldest, who was serving the king, -did not concern himself about anything, and turned out the king's horses -to grass as usual. Among the animals there was a mare with a foal, and -Jack--this was the name of the eldest lad--always bestowed the greatest -care upon the mare. One day, as the whole stud were grazing in the -fields, the mare neighed and said to the lad, "I say, Jack, I hear that -you are thinking of getting married; your eleven brothers have already -gone to the fair to purchase riding-horses for the wedding; they are -buying the finest animals they can get; but don't you go and purchase -anything: there is a foal of mine that was foaled last year, go and beg -the king to let you have it, you will have no cause to repent your -choice. The king will try to palm off some other animal on you, but -don't you take it. Choose the foal as I tell you." - -So it happened Jack went up stairs and saw the king and spoke to him -thus: "Most gracious Majesty! I have now served you for twenty-four -years and should like to leave this place, because my eleven brothers -are already on their way to get themselves wives; the tips of my -moustache too reach already to my ears, the days fly fast, and it is -high time for me to find a wife too; I should be much obliged if you -would pay me my wages." "You are perfectly right, my dear son, Jack," -replied the king, "it is high time that you too get married; and, as you -have so faithfully served me, I will give orders for your wedding to be -celebrated with the greatest pomp. Let me know your wishes! would you -like to have so much silver as you can carry, or would you prefer as -much gold?" "Most gracious Majesty, I have only one desire, and that is -to be allowed to take with me from your stud a certain foal that belongs -to a certain mare that is with foal again this year." "Surely you don't -want to make an exhibition of yourself on that wretched creature?" "Aye, -but I do, your Majesty, and I do not want anything else." - -Our Jack was still fast asleep when his eleven brothers set out on the -finest horses to fetch their girls. Jack did not get up till noon, at -which hour the king ordered out a coach and six, together with a couple -of outriders, and thus addressed the lad: "Well, Jack, my boy, I have no -objection, you can take your foal, but don't reproach me hereafter." -Jack thereupon had plenty to eat and drink, and even took out a -bucketful of wine to his foal and made it drink the whole. He then took -his goods and chattels and sat in the coach, but the king would not -allow the foal to run along with the coach, and said: "Not that way, if -I know it; put the ugly creature up on the box! I should feel ashamed if -anybody saw the ugly brute running alongside my coach." So the foal was -tied up to the box, and they set off till they reached the outskirts of -the town. By this time the foal, which was in a most uncomfortable -position, presented a most pitiful sight; for by rubbing against the box -the whole of one of its sides had become raw. So they stopped, and it -was taken down and placed on the ground. Jack got out, and, the coach -having set out for home, he sat on the foal's back, his feet touching -the ground. The foal gazed round to see whether anybody was looking on, -and, not seeing a soul, it flew up high into the air and thus addressed -the lad: "Well, my dear master, at what speed shall we proceed? Shall we -go like the hurricane or like a flash of thought?" "As quick as you can, -my dear horse," was his reply. - -They flew along for a while, when the foal again spoke, asking: "Is your -hat tied on, my dear master?" - -"Yes, it is, my dear horse." - -Again they flew along, and again the little foal said: "Well, my dear -master, your hat that you have bought for your wedding is gone. You have -lost it. We have left it some seven miles behind, but we will go back to -fetch it; nobody has as yet picked it up." So they returned and picked -up the hat, and the little foal again flew high up into the air. After -proceeding for three hours they reached the inn where his brothers had -decided to take up their night's lodgings. The other lads had started at -dawn, he not till noon, after his midday meal, and still he left them -behind. Having got within a short distance of the inn, the foal alighted -on the ground with Jack, and addressed him in these words: "Well, my -dear master, get off here and turn me out on to that heap of rubbish and -weeds yonder, then walk into the inn and have plenty to eat and drink; -your eleven younger brothers will also arrive here shortly." So Jack -entered the inn, ordered a bottle of wine, made a hearty meal, and -enjoyed himself heartily. He took out a bucketful of wine to his foal -and gave it to drink; time passed on ... when, at last his brothers -arrived. They were still at some distance when the youngest caught sight -of the foal, and exclaimed: "Oh, look at that miserable screw! Surely it -is our eldest brother's steed." "So it is! So it is!" exclaimed all the -others, but at the same time they all stared at each other, and could -not explain how it came to pass that, although they had started much -earlier than their brother, they had been outdistanced by him, -notwithstanding the fact that his animal could not be compared with -their own horses. The brothers put their steeds into the stables and -placed plenty of hay and corn before them, then they walked into the -tap-room and found Jack already enjoying himself. - -"So you have got here, brother," they remarked. "As you behold, -youngsters, though I had not left home when the clock struck twelve." -"Certainly it is a mystery how you have got here on that thorough-bred -of yours, a wolf could swallow the creature at a bite." - -They sat down and ate and drank; so soon as it became dark, the lads -went out to look after the horses. - -"Well then, where will you put your horse over night?" they inquired of -the eldest. - -"I will put it into the same stables with yours." - -"You don't mean that, it will barely reach to the bellies of our horses, -the stables are too big for that steed of yours." - -But Jack took his foal into the stables and threw his cloak over its -back. In the meantime his brothers had returned to the tap-room and were -holding council as to what was to be done with their eldest brother. - -"What shall we do with him? what indeed? what can we do under the -circumstances but kill him? It will never do to take him with us to the -girls, they will laugh at us and drive us off in disgrace." - -At this the foal began to speak, and said: "I say, dear master, tie me -near the wall, your brothers will come to kill you, but don't do -anything in the matter, leave it to me; join them, eat and drink, and -then come back and lie down at my feet, I will do the rest." - -Jack did as he was told; upon leaving the tap-room he returned to the -stables and lay down at the feet of his foal, and as the wine had made -him a bit drowsy he soon fell asleep. Ere long his brothers arrived with -their hatchet-sticks which they had purchased for the wedding. - -"Gee-up, you jackass," they shouted, and all eleven were about to attack -the poor little foal, when it kicked out with such force that it sent -the youngest flying against the wall. - -"Get up, dear master, they have come." Jack thereupon woke, and his -little foal asked him, "What shall I do with them?" - -"Oh! knock them all against the wall." - -The foal did as it was told, and the lads dropped about like -crab-apples. It collected them all into a heap, when Jack, seeing their -condition, became frightened, so he hurriedly picked up a bucket, ran to -the well, fetched some water and poured it over the eleven. They -managed, with some difficulty, to get on to their feet and then showered -reproaches upon him, complaining bitterly about his unbrotherly conduct -in ordering his foal to handle them so roughly as it had done. - -The eleven then left the inn without a moment's delay, and toiled along -the whole night and the next day, until at last, on the following -evening, they reached the home of the twelve girls. But to get in was -not such an easy task, for the place was fenced round with strong iron -rails, the gate was also very strong and made of iron, and the latch was -so heavy that it took more than six powerful men to lift it. The eleven -brothers made their horses prance about and bade them to kick against -the latch, but all their manoeuvres were of no avail--they could not -move the latch. - -But what has become of Jack? where did he tarry? His foal knew only too -well where the girls could be found, and how they could be got at; so he -did not budge from the inn until late in the afternoon, and spent his -time eating and drinking. His brothers were still busily engaged with -the latch, hammering at it and kicking, when at last, just when the -people were lighting the candles at dusk, the brothers discovered Jack -approaching high up in the air on his foal. As soon as he reached the -gate he wheeled round, the foal gave a tremendous kick at the latch, -whereupon the gate, and with it a portion of the railing, heeled over -into the dust. The landlady, a diabolical old witch, then came running -to the gate with a lamp in her hand, and said: "I knew Jack that you -had arrived, and I have come and opened the gate." This statement was of -course not true. - -The lads entered the house, where they found the twelve girls all -standing in a row. With regard to the age of the maidens they -corresponded to those of the lads; and when it came to choice, the -eldest lad fell in love with the eldest girl, the youngest lad with the -youngest maid, and so on, every lad with the girl of his own age. They -sat down to supper, each girl by the side of her beau; they ate and -drank, enjoyed themselves, and the kissing had no end. At last they -exchanged handkerchiefs. As it was getting late, and the young folks -became sleepy, they all retired to rest. Beds were prepared for all -twenty-four in a huge room; on one side stood the beds for the girls, on -the other those for the lads. Just then the mischievous old witch, who -was the girls' mother, walked out of the house, and muttered to herself: - -"Now I have got you all in my net, you wretched crew, we shall see which -of you will leave this place alive!" - -It so happened that Jack went out to look after his foal; he took a -bucketful of wine with him and gave his animal a drink, whereupon the -foal spoke to him thus: - -"I say, dear master! we have come to an awful place; that old witch -intends to kill you all. At the same time don't be frightened, but do -what I am about to tell you. After everybody has gone to bed, come out -again and lead us horses out from these stables, and tie twelve horses -belonging to the old witch in our places. With regard to yourselves, -place your hats on to the girls' heads, and the old witch will mistake -the maids, and slay them in your stead. I will send such a deep slumber -over them that even a noise seven times as loud as you will make cannot -wake them." - -In conformity with the advice thus received, Jack re-entered the -bedchamber, placed the twelve men's hats on to the heads of the girls; -he then exchanged the horses, and went back to bed. Soon after the old -witch commenced to whet a huge knife, which sent forth a shower of vivid -sparks: she then approached the beds, groped about, and as soon as she -discovered a hat, snap! off went a head, and so she went on until she -had cut off all the girls' heads. Then she left the house, fetched a -broad axe, sharpened it and went into the stables. Snap! off came the -head of the first horse, then the next, till she had killed all twelve. - -The foal then stamped upon the ground, whereupon Jack went out, and was -thus spoken to by his foal: - -"Now then, dear master! rouse up all your brothers, and tell them to -saddle their horses! and let them get away from this place without a -moment's delay. Don't let dawn overtake them here, or they are lost. You -yourself can go back and finish your sleep." - -Jack rushed in and with great difficulty roused them; and then informed -them of the dangerous position they were in. After a great deal of -trouble, they got up and left the place. Jack himself laid down and had -a sound sleep. As soon as the first streaks of dawn appeared, the foal -again stamped; Jack went out, sat upon it, and as they flew through the -gate the foal gave the railing such a powerful kick that even the house -tottered and fell. The old witch hereupon jumped up in great hurry, sat -a-straddle an iron pole, and rode in pursuit of Jack. - -"Stop Jack, you deceitful lad!" she shouted; "you have killed my twelve -daughters, and destroyed my twelve horses. I am not sure whether you -will be able to come again hither or not!" - -"If I do, I shall be here; if not, then I shan't." - -Poor Jack got weary of his life, not having been able to get himself a -wife. He did not return to his native town, but went into the wide, -wide world. As he and his foal were proceeding on their journey, the -steed said to him: "Look, dear master! I have stept on a hair of real -gold; it is here under my hoof. It would bring ill luck if we picked it -up, but it would equally be unlucky to leave it; so you had better take -it with you." Jack picked up the golden hair, and re-mounted his foal, -and continued his journey. After a while the foal again spoke, saying: -"My dear master! now I have stept on a half horse-shoe of pure gold, it -is here under my hoof. It would be unlucky to take it with us, but we -should not fare better if we left it; so you had better take it." Jack -picked up the half horse-shoe of pure gold, put it into his bag, and -they again flew like lightning. They reached a town just as the evening -bell rang, and stopped in front of an hostelry; Jack got off, walked in -and asked the innkeeper: - -"Well, my dear host, what is the news in this town?" - -"Nothing else, my kinsman, but that the king's coachman, who drove his -state-coach, is lying on his death-bed; if you care for the situation, -you had better take it." - -So Jack at once made up his mind, and went to see the king--who was then -still a bachelor--and was at once engaged by him to drive the -state-coach. He did not ask for any wages, but only stipulated that his -foal should be allowed to feed with the coach-horses from the same -manger. To this the king agreed, and Jack at once proceeded to the -stables. In the evening the other grooms (there were some fifty or sixty -of them) raised a great cry, and all asked for candles from the woman -who served out the stores. But Jack did not want any, so he did not ask -for any, and still his horses were in better condition, and were better -groomed than the rest. All the other grooms used a whole candle a head -every night. This set the storekeeper woman thinking; she could not -imagine how it could be that, whereas all the other men wanted a whole -candle a head every blessed night, the man who drove the state-coach -did not want any, and still his horses looked a hundred times better -than the others. She told the strange discovery to the king, who -immediately sent for all the men with the exception of Jack. - -"Well, my sons, tell me this: How is it that every one of you burns a -whole candle every night, whereas my state-coachman has never asked for -any, and still his horses look seven times better than yours?" - -"Oh, your majesty, he has no need to ask for any; we could do without -them, if we were in his position." - -"How is that, explain yourselves." - -"Because, sir, he does his work one morning by the light of a golden -hair, and every other morning by the rays of half a horse-shoe of pure -gold." - -The king dismissed the grooms, and the next day at dawn concealed -himself, and watched Jack, and satisfied himself with his own eyes that -his men had spoken the truth. So soon as he got back into his rooms, he -sent for Jack, and addressed him thus: - -"I say, my boy, you were working this morning by the light of a hair of -real gold." - -"That is not true, your majesty; where on earth could I get a hair of -real gold?" - -"Don't let us waste any words! I saw it with my own eyes this morning. -If the girl to whom that golden hair belonged is not here by to-morrow -morning you forfeit your life! I'll hang you!" - -Poor Jack returned to the stables and wept like a child. "What is the -matter?" inquired his foal; "Why do I see those tears? what makes you -cry?" - -"How could I help crying and weeping? the king has just sent for me and -told me that if I can't produce the girl to whom the golden hair -belonged he will hang me." - -"This is indeed a very serious look-out, my dear master, because you -must know that the old witch whose twelve girls we have slain has yet -another most beautiful daughter; the girl has not yet been allowed to -see daylight, she is always kept in a special room which she has never -yet left, and in which six candles are kept burning day and night--that -is the girl to whom that golden hair once belonged. But never mind, eat -and drink to your heart's content, we will go and fetch her. But be -cautious when you enter the house where the daughter of the old witch is -guarded, because there are a dozen bells over the door, and they may -betray you." - -Jack therefore ate and drank, and took a bucketful of wine to his foal -too, and gave it a drink. Then they started and went and went, until -after a while they reached the dwelling of the old witch. Jack -dismounted, cautiously approached the door, carefully muffled the dozen -bells, and gently opened the door without making the slightest noise. -And lo! inside he beheld the girl with the golden tresses, such a -wonderfully pretty creature the like of which he had not set his eyes -upon before during all his eventful life. He stole up to her bedside on -tiptoe, grasped the girl round the waist, and in another second was -again out of the house, carrying her off with him. He ran as fast as he -could and mounted his steed. The foal gave a parting kick to the house -that made the roof tumble in, and the next moment was off, high up in -the air like a swift bird. But the old witch was not slow either, the -moment she was roused she mounted a long fir-pole and tore after Jack -like forked lightning. - -"It is you, Jack, you good-for-nothing, deceitful fellow! My twelve -daughters have perished by your hand, and now you carry off my -thirteenth! You may have been here before, but I'll take care that you -don't come again." - -"If I do, I do; if I don't, I don't." - -Jack went and went, and by dawn had already reached home; he conducted -the girl into the king's presence, and lo! no sooner had the monarch -caught sight of her than he rushed forward and embraced her, saying: -"Oh, my darling, my pretty love, you are mine and I am yours!" But the -girl would not utter a single word, not for the whole world. This made -the king question her: "What is the matter, my love? Why are you so -sad?" - -"How can I help being sad? Nobody can have me until some one brings -hither all my goods and chattels, my spinning-wheel and distaff, nay, -the very dust in my room." - -The king at once sent for Jack. - -"Well, my boy, if the golden-haired girl's goods and chattels, -spinning-wheel, distaff, and the very dust in her room, are not here by -to-morrow morning, I will hang you." - -Jack was very much downcast and began to cry. When he reached the -stables his foal again asked him: "What's the matter with you, my dear -master? Why all this sorrow?" - -"How can I help weeping and crying, my dear horse; the king has sent for -me and threatened to hang me if the golden-haired girl's goods and -chattels, nay, the very dust of her room, be not here by to-morrow -morning." - -"Don't fret, my dear master, we will go and fetch them too. Get a -table-cloth somewhere, and when you enter her room spread out the cloth -on the floor and sweep all her paraphernalia into it." - -Jack got ready and started on his errand. Within a short time he reached -the dwelling of the old witch, entered the room, and spread out his -cloth. But, would anybody believe it, the glare of the place very nearly -blinded him; the very dust on the floor was pure gold. He swept -everything he could find into the table-cloth, swung the bundle on his -back, and ran out; having got outside, the foal at his bidding gave the -building a powerful kick that demolished its very foundations. This woke -the old witch, who immediately mounted a red-hot broom and tore after -him like a whirlwind. - -"Confound you, deceitful Jack! after you have robbed me of all my -thirteen daughters, you now come and steal the chattels of the youngest -girl. I warrant that you won't return hither any more." - -"If I do, I do; if I don't, I don't." - -Jack went home with the luggage and handed it to the king. - -"Well, my darling, my pretty love! your wish is now fulfilled, and -nothing can prevent you from becoming mine." - -"You shall have me, but only on one condition. Somebody must go for my -stud with golden hair, which is to be found beyond the Red Sea. Until -all my horses are here nobody can have me." - -The king again sent for Jack. - -"Listen to this, my boy; the girl with the golden hair has a -golden-haired stud beyond the Red Sea; if you don't go at once to fetch -them, you forfeit your life." - -Jack went down stairs in great trouble, bent over his foal, buried his -face in his hands, and wept most bitterly, and as he sobbed and moaned -the little foal asked: "What are you crying about now?" Jack told the -foal what the king had ordered him to do, and what the punishment would -be if the order were not obeyed. - -"Don't weep, dear master, don't fret; the thing can be done if you -follow my directions. Go up stairs to the king and beg of him twelve -buffalo-hides, twelve balls of twine, a grubbing-hoe, and an ordinary -hoe, besides a stout awl to sew the buffalo-hides together with." - -Jack went to the king and declared himself willing to carry out his -order if he would let him have these things, to which the king replied: -"Go and take anything that you may require, there must be some sixty -buffalo-hides still left hanging in the loft." - -Jack went up to the loft and took what he wanted; then he ate and drank, -gave his foal a bucketful of wine, and set out in search of the horses -with the golden hair. - -He journeyed on till, after a short lapse of time, he reached the Red -Sea, which he crossed on the back of his foal. As soon as they emerged -from the water and gained the opposite shore, the foal said: "Look, my -dear master; can you see the pear-tree on that hill yonder? Let's go up -on the hill, take your hoe and dig a hole big enough to hold me; and as -soon as you have dug the hole sew the twelve buffalo-hides together and -wrap them round me, as it would not be advisable for me to get into the -hole without them. As soon as I have got in, blow this whistle and the -stallion will appear; and the moment you see it touching the buffalo -skins, throw a halter over its head." - -Jack tucked up his shirt-sleeves, dug the hole, sewed the twelve -buffalo-hides on to the foal, and his steed got into the hole. Then he -blew the whistle, and lo! a fine stallion, with golden hair, and almost -entirely covered with golden froth, jumped out of the ground; it pranced -about, and kicked out in all directions, whereupon Jack's foal said: -"Now then, my dear master, throw that halter over its head and jump on -its back." Jack did as he was told; when, no sooner was he on its back, -than the stallion gave a tremendous neigh that rent all the mountains -asunder. At its call a vast number of golden-haired horses appeared; so -many, that Jack was not able to count them. The whole herd immediately -took to their heels, and galloped off with the speed of lightning. The -king had not yet finished dressing in the morning when the whole stud -with golden hair stood arrayed in his courtyard. So soon as he caught -sight of them he rushed off to the girl with the golden hair and -exclaimed: "Well, my love, the golden horses are all here, and now you -are mine." "Oh, no! I shan't be yours. I won't touch either food or -drink until the lad who has fetched my animals milks the mares." - -The king sent for Jack. - -"I say, my boy, if you do not at once milk the mares, I'll play the -hangman with you." - -"How can I milk them, sir? Even as they are, I find it difficult to save -myself from being trampled to death." - -"Do not let us waste any words; it must be done!" - -Jack returned to the stables, and looked very sad; he would not touch -any food or drink. His foal again addressed him and asked: "Why all this -sorrow, dear master?" - -"How could I help being sad? The king has ordered me to milk the mares -no matter what happens, whether I get over it dead or alive." - -"Don't fret. Ask him to lend you the tub up in the loft, and milk the -mares. They won't do you the least harm." - -And so it happened. Jack fetched the tub and milked the mares. They -stood all the time as quietly as the most patient milch-cows. The king -then said to the girl with the golden hair, "Well, my darling; your wish -is fulfilled, and you are mine." - -"I shan't be yours until the lad who milked the mares has bathed in the -milk." - -The king sent for Jack. - -"Well, my boy, as you have milked the mares, you had better bathe in the -milk." - -"Gracious majesty! How could I do that? The milk is boiling hot, and -throws up bubbles as high as a man." - -"Don't talk; you have to bathe in the milk or you forfeit your life." - -Jack went down and cried, and gave up all hope of life; he was sure of -death on the gallows. His foal again spoke, and said: "Don't cry, dear -master, but tell me what is the matter with you." Jack told him what he -had to do under penalty of death. - -"Don't fret, my dear master; but go to the king and ask his permission -to allow you to lead me to the tub, and be present when you take your -bath. I will draw out all the heat, and you can bathe in the milk -without any fear." - -So Jack went to the king, and said, "Well, gracious majesty, at least -grant me the favour of allowing my foal to be present when I am having -my bath, so that it may see me give up the ghost." - -"I don't care if there be a hundred foals present." - -Jack returned to the stables, led his foal to the tub, who began to -sniff. At last it took a deep breath, and beckoned to Jack not to jump -in yet. Then it continued drawing in its breath, and suddenly at a sign -Jack jumped into the tub, and had his bath. When he finished and got out -of the tub he was three times more handsome than before; although he was -a very handsome lad then. When the king saw this he said to the lad: -"Well, Jack, you see you would not have the bath at first. I'm going to -have one myself." The king jumped in, but in the meantime the foal had -sent all the heat into the milk back again, and the tyrant was scalded -to death. The heat was so intense that nothing was left of his body -except a few bits of bone, as big as my little finger, which were every -now and then brought up by the bubbles. Jack lost not a moment, but -rushed up to the girl with the golden hair, embraced and kissed her, and -said: "Well, my pretty darling, love of my heart, you are now mine, and -I am yours; not even the spade and the hoe shall separate us one from -another." To which she replied: "Oh, my love, Jackie, for a long time -this has been one of my fondest wishes, as I knew that you were a brave -lad." - -The wedding was celebrated with great pomp, that gave people something -to talk about over seven countries. I, too, was present at the banquet, -and kept on shouting: "Chef! Cook! let me have a bone," till, at last, -he did take up a bone and threw it at me. It hit me, and made my side -ache ever since. - - - - -THE LOVER'S GHOST. - - -Somewhere, I don't know where, even beyond the Operencian Seas, there -was once a maid. She had lost her father and mother, but she loved the -handsomest lad in the village where she lived. They were as happy -together as a pair of turtle-doves in the wood. They fixed the day of -the wedding at a not very distant date, and invited their most intimate -friends to it; the girl, her godmother--the lad, a dear old friend of -his. - -Time went on, and the wedding would have taken place in another week, -but in the meantime war broke out in the country. The king called out -all his fighting-men to march against the enemy. The sabres were -sharpened, and gallant fellows, on fine, gaily-caparisoned horses, -swarmed to the banners of the king, like bees. John, our hero, too, took -leave of his pretty _fiancée_; he led out his grey charger, mounted, and -said to his young bride: "I shall be back in three years, my dove; wait -until then, and don't be afraid; I promise to bring you back my love and -remain faithful to you, even were I tempted by the beauty of a thousand -other girls." The lass accompanied him as far as the frontier, and -before parting solemnly promised to him, amidst a shower of tears, that -all the treasures of the whole world should not tempt her to marry -another, even if she had to wait ten years for her John. - -The war lasted two years, and then peace was concluded between the -belligerents. The girl was highly pleased with the news, because she -expected to see her lover return with the others. She grew impatient, -and would sally forth on the road by which he was expected to return, to -meet him. She would go out often ten times a day, but as yet she had no -tidings of her John. Three years elapsed; four years had gone by, and -the bridegroom had not yet returned. The girl could not wait any longer, -but went to see her godmother, and asked for her advice, who (I must -tell you, between ourselves) was a witch. The old hag received her well, -and gave her the following direction: "As it will be full moon to-morrow -night, go into the cemetery, my dear girl, and ask the gravedigger to -give you a human skull. If he should refuse, tell him that it is I who -sent you. Then bring the skull home to me, and we shall place it in a -huge earthenware pot, and boil it with some millet, for, say, two hours. -You may be sure it will let you know whether your lover is alive yet or -dead, and perchance it will entice him here." The girl thanked her for -her good advice, and went to the cemetery next night. She found the -gravedigger enjoying his pipe in front of the gate. - -"Good evening to you, dear old father." - -"Good evening, my lass! What are you doing here at this hour of the -night?" - -"I have come to you to ask you to grant me a favour." - -"Let me hear what it is; and, if I can, I will comply with your -request." - -"Well, then, give me a human skull!" - -"With pleasure; but what do you intend to do with it?" - -"I don't know exactly, myself; my godmother has sent me for it." - -"Well and good; here is one, take it." - -The girl carefully wrapped up the skull, and ran home with it. Having -arrived at home, she put it in a huge earthenware pot with some millet, -and at once placed it on the fire. The millet soon began to boil and -throw up bubbles as big as two fists. The girl was eagerly watching it -and wondering what would happen. When, all of a sudden, a huge bubble -formed on the surface of the boiling mass, and went off with a loud -report like a musket. The next moment the girl saw the skull balanced on -the rim of the pot. "He has started," it said, in a vicious tone. The -girl waited a little longer, when two more loud reports came from the -pot, and the skull said, "He has got halfway." Another few moments -elapsed, when the pot gave three very loud reports, and the skull was -heard to say, "He has arrived outside in the yard." The maid thereupon -rushed out, and found her lover standing close to the threshold. His -charger was snow-white, and he himself was clad entirely in white, -including his helmet and boots. As soon as he caught sight of the girl, -he asked: "Will you come to the country where I dwell?" "To be sure, my -dear Jack; to the very end of the world." "Then come up into my saddle." - -The girl mounted into the saddle, and they embraced and kissed one -another ever so many times. - -"And is the country where you live very far from here?" - -"Yes, my love, it is very far; but in spite of the distance it will not -take us long to get there." - -Then they started on their journey. When they got outside the village, -they saw ten mounted men rush past, all clad in spotless white, like to -the finest wheat flour. As soon as they vanished, another ten appeared, -and could be very well seen in the moonlight, when suddenly John said: - - - "How beautifully shines the moon, the moon; - "How beautifully march past the dead. - "Are you afraid, my love, my little Judith?" - - -"I am not afraid while I can see you, my dear Jack." - -As they proceeded, the girl saw a hundred mounted men; they rode past in -beautiful military order, like soldiers. So soon as the hundred vanished -another hundred appeared and followed the others. Again her lover said: - - - "How beautifully shines the moon, the moon; - "How beautifully march past the dead. - "Are you afraid, my love, my little Judith?" - - -"I am not afraid while I can see you, my darling Jack." - -And as they proceeded the mounted men appeared in fast increasing -numbers, so that she could not count them; some rode past so close that -they nearly brushed against her. Again her lover said: - - - "How beautifully shines the moon, the moon; - "How beautifully march past the dead. - "Are you afraid, my love, my little Judith?" - - -"I am not afraid while I see you, Jack, my darling." - -"You are a brave and good girl, my dove; I see that you would do -anything for me. As a reward, you shall have everything that your heart -can wish when we get to my new country." - -They went along till they came to an old burial-ground, which was -inclosed by a black wall. John stopped here and said to his sweetheart: -"This is our country, my little Judith, we shall soon come to our -house." The house to which John alluded was an open grave, at the bottom -of which an empty coffin could be seen with the lid off. "Go in, my -darling," said the lad. "You had better go first, my love Jack," replied -the girl, "you know the way." Thereupon the lad descended into the grave -and laid down in the coffin; but the lass, instead of following him, ran -away as fast as her feet would carry her, and took refuge in a mansion -that was situated a couple of miles from the cemetery. When she had -reached the mansion she shook every door, but none of them would open to -her entreaties, except one that led to a long corridor, at the end of -which there was a dead body laid out in state in a coffin. The lass -secreted herself in a dark corner of the fire-place. - -As soon as John discovered that his bride had run away he jumped out of -the grave and pursued the lass, but in spite of all his exertions could -not overtake her. When he reached the door at the end of the corridor he -knocked and exclaimed: "Dead man, open the door to a fellow dead man." -The corpse inside began to tremble at the sound of these words. Again -said Jack, "Dead man, open the door to a fellow dead man." Now the -corpse sat up in the coffin, and as Jack repeated a third time the words -"Dead man, open the door to a fellow dead man," the corpse walked to the -door and opened it. - -"Is my bride here?" - -"Yes, there she is, hiding in the corner of the fire-place." - -"Come and let us tear her in pieces." And with this intention they both -approached the girl, but just as they were about to lay hands upon her -the cock in the loft began to crow, and announced daybreak, and the two -dead men disappeared. - -The next moment a most richly attired gentleman entered from one of the -neighbouring rooms. Judging by his appearance one would have believed it -was the king himself, who at once approached the girl and overwhelmed -her with his embraces and kisses. - -"Thank you so much. The corpse that you saw here laid out in state was -my brother. I have already had him buried three hundred and sixty-five -times with the greatest pomp, but he has returned each time. As you have -relieved me of him, my sweet, pretty darling, you shall become mine and -I yours; not even the hoe and the spade shall separate us from one -another!" - -The girl consented to the proposal of the rich gentleman, and they got -married and celebrated their wedding-feast during the same winter. - -This is how far the tale goes. This is the end of it. - - - - -SNAKE SKIN. - - -Far, very far, there was once, I do not know where, even beyond the -frozen Operencian Sea, a poplar-tree, on the top of which there was a -very old, tattered petticoat. In the tucks of this old petticoat I found -the following tale. Whosoever listens to it will not see the kingdom of -heaven. - -There was in the world a poor man and this poor man had twelve sons. The -man was so poor that sometimes he had not even enough wood to make a -fire with. So he had frequently to go into the forest and would pick up -there what he could find. One day, as he could not come across anything -else, he was just getting ready to cut up a huge tree-stump, and, in -fact, had already driven his axe into it, when an immense, -dread-inspiring serpent, as big as a grown-up lad, crept out of the -stump. The poor man began to ponder whether to leave it or to take it -home with him; it might bring him luck or turn out a disastrous venture. -At last he made up his mind that after all was said and done he would -take it home with him. And so it happened, he picked up the creature and -carried it home. His wife was not a little astonished at seeing him -arrive with his burden, and said, "What on earth induced you, master, to -bring that ugly creature home? It will frighten all the children to -death." - -"No fear, wife," replied the man; "they won't be afraid of it; on the -contrary, they will be glad to have it to play with." - -As it was just meal-time, the poor woman dished out the food and placed -it on the table. The twelve children were soon seated and busily engaged -with their spoons, when suddenly the serpent began to talk from -underneath the table, and said, "Mother, dear, let me have some of that -soup." - -They were all not a little astonished at hearing a serpent talk; and the -woman ladled out a plateful of soup and placed it under the bench. The -snake crept to the plate and in another minute had drunk up the soup, -and said: "I say, father, will you go into the larder and fetch me a -loaf of bread?" - -"Alas! my son," replied the poor man, "it is long--very long--since -there was any bread in the larder. I was wealthy then; but now the very -walls of the larder are coming down." - -"Just try, father, and fetch me a loaf from there." - -"What's the good of my going, when there is nothing to be found there?" - -"Just go and see." - -After a good deal of pressing the poor man went to the larder when--oh, -joy!--he was nearly blinded by the sight of the mass of gold, silver, -and other treasure; it glittered on all sides. Moreover, bacon and hams -were hanging from the roof, casks filled with honey, milk, &c., standing -on the floor; the bins were full of flour; in a word, there were to be -seen all imaginable things to bake and roast. The poor man rushed back -and fetched the family to see the miracle, and they were all astounded, -but did not dare to touch anything. - -Then the serpent again spoke and said "Listen to me, mother dear. Go up -to the king and ask him to give me his daughter in marriage." - -"Oh, my dear son, how can you ask me to do that? You must know that the -king is a great man, and he would not even listen to a pauper like -myself." - -"Just go and try." - -So the poor woman went to the king's palace, knocked at the door, and, -entering, greeted the king, and said: "May the Lord grant you a happy -good day, gracious king!" - -"May the Lord grant the same to you, my good woman. What have you -brought? What can I do for you?" - -"Hum! most gracious king, I hardly dare to speak ... but still I will -tell you.... My son has sent me to request your majesty to give him your -youngest daughter in marriage." - -"I will grant him the request, good woman, on one condition. If your son -will fill with gold a sack of the size of a full-grown man, and send it -here, he can have the princess at any minute." - -The poor woman was greatly pleased at hearing this; returned home and -delivered the message. - -"That can easily be done, dear mother. Let's have a wagon, and the king -shall have the gold to a grain." - -And so it happened. They borrowed a wagon of the king, the serpent -filled a sack of the required size full of gold, and put a heap of gold -and diamonds loose in the wagon besides. The king was not a little -astonished, and exclaimed, "Well! upon my word, although I am a king I -do not possess so much gold as this lad." And the princess was -accordingly given away. - -It happened that the two elder princesses were also to be married -shortly, and orders were issued by the king that the wedding of his -youngest daughter should take place at the same time. The state carriage -was therefore wheeled out of the shed, six fine horses were put to it, -the youngest princess sat in it and drove straight to the poor man's -cottage to fetch her bridegroom. But the poor girl very nearly jumped -out of the coach when she saw the snake approaching. But the snake tried -to allay her fears and said, "Don't shrink from me, I am your -bridegroom," and with this crept into the carriage. The bride--poor -thing, what could she do?--put her arm round the snake and covered him -with her shawl, as she did not wish to let the whole town know her -misfortune. Then they drove to church. The priest threw up his arms in -amazement when he saw the bridegroom approach the altar. From church -they drove to the castle. There kings, princes, dukes, barons, and -deputy-lieutenants of the counties were assembled at the festival and -enjoying themselves; they were all dancing their legs off in true Magyar -style, and very nearly kicked out the sides of the dancing-room, when -suddenly the youngest princess entered, followed by her bridegroom, who -crept everywhere after her. The king upon seeing this grew very angry, -and exclaimed, "Get out of my sight! A girl who will marry such a -husband does not deserve to stay under the same roof with me, and I will -take care that you two do not remain here. Body-guards, conduct this -woman with her snake-husband down into the poultry-yard, and lock them -up in the darkest poultry-house among the geese. Let them stay there, -and don't allow them to come here to shock my guests with their -presence." - -And so it happened. The poor couple were locked up with the geese; there -they were left crying and weeping, and lived in great sorrow until the -day when the curse expired, and the snake--who was a bewitched -prince--became a very handsome young man, whose very hair was of pure -gold. And, as you may imagine, great was the bride's joy when she saw -the change. - -"I say, love," spoke her prince, "I will go home to my father's and -fetch some clothes and other things; in the meantime, stay here; don't -be afraid. I shall be back ere long without fail." - -Then the prince shook himself and became a white pigeon, and flew away. -Having arrived at his father's place he said to his parent, "My dear -father, let me have back my former horse, my saddle, sword, gun, and all -my other goods and chattels. The power of the curse has now passed away, -and I have taken a wife to myself." - -"The horse is in the stables, my son, and all your other things are up -in the loft." - -The prince led out his horse, fetched down his things from the loft, put -on his rich uniform all glittering with gold, mounted his charger, and -flew up into the air. He was yet at a good distance from the castle -where the festivities were still going on, when all the loveliest -princesses turned out and crowded the balconies to see who the great -swell was whom they saw coming. He did not pass under the crossbeam of -the gate, but flew over it like a bird. He tied his charger to a tree in -the yard, and then entered the castle and walked among the dancers. The -dance was immediately stopped, everybody gazed upon him and admired him, -and tried to get into his favour. For amusement several of the guests -did various tricks; at last his turn came, and by Jove! he did show them -things that made the guests open their mouths and eyes in astonishment. -He could transform himself into a wild duck, a pigeon, a quail, and so -on, into anything one could conceive of. - -After the conjuring was over he went into the poultry-yard to fetch his -bride. He made her a hundred times prettier than she already was, and -dressed her up in rich garments of pure silver and gold. The assembled -guests were very sorry that the handsome youth in rich attire, who had -shown them such amusing and clever tricks, had so soon left them. - -All at once the king remembered the newly-married couple and thought he -would go to see what the young folks were doing in the poultry-yard. He -sent down a few of his friends, who were nearly overpowered by the shine -and glitter on looking into the poultry-house. They at once unlocked the -door, and led the bride and bridegroom into their royal father's -presence. When they entered the castle, every one was struck with wonder -at discovering that the bridegroom was no one else than the youth who -had amused them shortly before. - -Then the bridegroom walked up to the king and said: "Gracious majesty, -my father and king, for the past twelve years I lay under a curse and -was compelled to wear a serpent's skin. When I entered, not long ago, -your castle in my former plight, I was the laughing-stock of everybody, -all present mocked me. But now, as my time of curse has passed, let me -see the man who can put himself against me." - -"There is, indeed, nobody, no man living," replied the king. - -The bridegroom then led off his bride to the dance, and celebrated such -a fine wedding, that it was talked of over seven countries. - - - - -THE FAIRIES' WELL. - - -Tale, tale, mate; a black little bird flew on the tree; it broke one of -its legs; a new cloak, a shabby old cloak; it put it on. - -Well, to commence! there was in the world a king, who was called the -"Green King," and who had three daughters. He did not like them at all; -he would have very much preferred if they had been boys. He continually -scolded and abused them, and one day, in a fit of passion, the words -slipped from his lips: "What _is_ the good of all these wenches? I wish -the devil would come and fetch them all three!" The devil wasn't slow; -he took the king at his word and ran away with all three girls at once. -The king's fondest wish was hereafter fulfilled; his wife bore him three -sons, and he was very fond of them. - -But the king grew old; his hair turned quite grey. So his sons set out -for the fairies' well to fetch their father some youth-giving water. -They wandered along till they came to a small road-side inn, where they -had something to eat and drink, and gave their horses hay and corn. They -tippled for some time, until the two elder princes got jolly, and -commenced to dance in true style. The youngest one every now and then -reminded them that it was time to continue the journey, but they would -not listen to him. "Don't talk so much," they said, "if you are so very -anxious to be off you had better leave us and go alone." - -So the youngest saddled his horse and left his two brothers. He -travelled along until all of a sudden he discovered that he had lost his -way and found himself in a vast forest. In wandering hither and thither, -he came to a small hut in which an old hermit dwelt. He at once went to -it, knocked and entered, and greeted the old man, saying, "May the Lord -grant you a happy good day, my father." - -"The Lord bless you, my son! where are you going?" - -"Well, old father, I intend to go to the fairies' well for some -youth-giving water, if I can the way thither." - -"May the Lord help you, my son! I don't believe that you will be able to -get there unaided, because it is a difficult journey. But I will tell -you something. I have a piebald horse, that will carry you without -mishap to the fairies' well. I will let you have it if you promise to -bring me back some youth-giving water." - -"I will bring you some with pleasure, old father. You are quite welcome -to it." - -"Very well, my son! Get on the piebald, and be off in the name of -Heaven!" - -The piebald horse was led out and saddled, the prince mounted, and in -another second they were high up in the air, like birds, because the -piebald was a magic horse that at all times grazed on the silken meadow, -the meadow of the fairies. On they travelled, till all at once the -piebald said: - -"I say, dear master, I suppose you know that once you had three sisters, -and that all three were carried off by the devil. We will go and pay a -visit to the eldest. It is true, your brother-in-law is at this moment -out rabbiting, but he will be back soon if I go to fetch him. He will -ask you to bring him, also, some youth-giving water. I'll tell you what -to do. He has a plaid which has the power of making the wearer -invisible. If you put it on, nobody on this earth can see you. If he -will give you that plaid you can promise him as much water as he likes; -a whole tub full, if he wants it." - -When they reached the house, the prince walked in; and the piebald horse -immediately hurried off to the fields, and began to drive the devil so -that his eyes sparkled. As the devil ran homewards, he passed a pair of -gallows with a man hanging upon them; he lifted off the corpse, and ran -away with it. Having arrived at home, he called from the yard through -the window: "Take this, wife! half of him roasted, the other half -boiled, for my meal. Be sure to have him ready by the time I get -inside." Thereupon he pitched the dead man through the window; the meal -was ready in a minute and the devil walked in, sat down and ate him. -Having finished, he happened to look towards the oven and caught sight -of the prince. - -"Halloo! is it you, brother-in-law? Why did you not speak? What a pity -that I did not notice you sooner? You are just too late; you could have -had a bit or two of my bonne-bouche." - -"Thank you, brother-in-law. I don't care for your dainties." - -"Well, then get him some wine, wife! perhaps he will have some of that?" - -The wife brought in the wine and placed it on the table, and the two set -to drinking. - -"May I ask, what are you looking for in this strange part of the world?" -inquired the devil. - -"I am going to the fairies' well for some youth-giving water." - -"Look here, my good man, I am a bit of a smart fellow myself, something -better than you, and still I could not accomplish that journey. I can -get to within about fourteen miles of the place, but even there the heat -is so great that it shrivels me up like bacon-rind." - -"Well, I will go all the same, if Heaven will help me!" - -"And I will give you as much gold and silver as you can carry, if you -will bring me back a gourdful of that water." - -"I'll bring you back some, but for nothing less than for the plaid -hanging on that peg. If you will give that to me you shall have the -water." - -At first the devil would not part with the plaid on any account; but the -prince begged so hard that the devil at last yielded. - -"Well, brother-in-law! This is such a plaid, that if you put it on -nobody can see you." - -The prince was just going when the devil asked him, "Have you any money -for the journey, brother?" - -"I had a little, but I have spent it all." - -"Then you had better have some more." Whereupon he emptied a whole -dishful of copper coins into the prince's bag. The prince went out into -the yard and shook the bridle; the piebald horse at once appeared, and -the prince mounted. The devil no sooner caught sight of the piebald than -he exclaimed, addressing the prince, "Oh, you rascally fellow! Then you -travel on that villainous creature--the persecutor and murderer of our -kinsfolk? Give me back at once my plaid and my gourd, I don't want any -of your youth-giving water!" - -But the prince was not such a fool as to give him back the plaid. In a -minute the piebald was high up in the air and flew off like a bird. They -travelled along until the horse again spoke and said, "Well then, dear -master, we will now go and look up your second sister. True, your -brother-in-law is out rabbiting, but he will soon be back if I go for -him. He, too, will offer you all sorts of things in return for getting -him some youth-giving water. Don't ask for anything else but for a ring -on the window sill, which has this virtue, that it will squeeze your -finger and wake you in case of need." - -The prince went into the house and the piebald fetched the devil. -Everything happened as at the previous house. The devil had his meal, -recognised his brother-in-law, sent for wine, and asked the prince: - -"Well, what are you doing in this neighbourhood?" - -"I am going to the fairies' well for some youth-giving water." - -"You don't mean that! You have undertaken a very difficult task. I am as -good a man as a hundred of your stamp put together, and still I can't go -there. The heat there is so great that it would shrivel me up like -bacon-rind at a distance of fourteen miles. They boil lead there as we -boil water here." - -"Still I intend to go, by the help of Heaven." - -"Very well, brother-in-law. I will give you so much treasure that you -can fill several wagons with it, if you will bring me a gourd full of -that youth-giving water." - -"I don't want anything, brother-in-law, but that ring in the window -yonder." - -"Of what use would it be to you?" - -"Oh! I don't know; let me have it." - -So after a good deal of pressing the devil gave him the ring and said: - -"Well, brother-in-law, this is such a ring that it will squeeze your -finger and wake you, no matter how sound you may be asleep." - -By this time the prince had already reached the courtyard, and was ready -to start, when the devil stopped him and said: - -"Stop a bit, brother-in-law, have you any money for the journey?" - -"I had a little, but it is all gone," replied the prince. - -"Then you had better have some." Whereupon the devil emptied a dishful -of silver money into the prince's bag. The prince then shook the bridle -and the piebald horse at once appeared, which nearly frightened the -devil into a fit. - -"Oh, you rascally fellow!" he exclaimed. "Then you are in league with -the persecutor of our kinsfolk? Stop! Give me back that ring and gourd -at once. I don't want any of your youth-giving water!" - -But the Green Prince took no notice of the devil's shouting and flew -away on his piebald like a bird. They had been travelling for some -distance when the horse said: "We shall now go to see your youngest -sister. Her husband, too, is out at present rabbiting, but I shall fetch -him in, in no time. He, also, will beseech you to get him some -youth-giving water, but don't you yield, no matter how much wealth he -promises you, until he gives you his sword that hangs on the wall. It is -such a weapon that at your command it will slay the populations of seven -countries." - -In the meantime they reached the house. The Green Prince walked in and -the piebald went to look for the third devil. Everything happened as on -the two previous occasions, and the devil asked his wife to send him in -three casks of wine, and they commenced drinking. All of a sudden the -devil asked, "Where are you going?" - -"I am going to the fairies' well for some youth-giving water. My father -has grown very old and requires some of the water to give him back his -youth." - -The devil replied that it was impossible to get there on account of the -great heat. To which the prince said, that he was determined to go, no -matter what might happen. - -"Very well," continued the devil. "I will give you as much gold and -silver as your heart can wish or your mouth name if you will bring me -back a gourd full of the water." - -"The gold is of no use to me; I have plenty of it at home; as much as I -need. But if you will give me that sword on the wall, I will bring you -some water from the fairies' well, with pleasure." - -"Of what use would that sword be to you? You can't do anything with it." - -"No matter. Let me have it." - -The devil, at first, would not part with the sword; but, at last, he -gave in. The Green Prince went into the yard, and was about to start, -when the devil asked: - -"Brother-in-law, have you any money left for the journey?" - -"I had some; but it's nearly gone." - -"Then you had better have some." And with this the devil put a plateful -of gold coins into the prince's bag. The latter shook the bridle and his -piebald appeared. The devil was very much alarmed at the sight, and -exclaimed: "You rascal, then you associate with our arch-persecutor. Let -me have back my sword and the gourd, I don't want any of your water." -But the prince did not listen to him; in fact he had no time to heed the -devil's words even if he had any intention of doing so, as he was -already high up in the air, and the piebald now questioned him: "How -shall we go, dear master? shall we fly as fast as the whirlwind, or like -a flash of thought?" "Just as you please, my dear horse." - -And the piebald flew away, with the prince on its back, in the direction -of the fairies' well. Soon they reached their goal, and alighted on the -ground, whereupon the horse said: "Well, my dear master, we have reached -our destination. Put on the plaid that the first devil gave you and walk -into the fairy queen's palace. The queen has just sat down to supper. -Eat, drink, and enjoy yourself. Don't be afraid, nobody will know that -you are there. In the meantime I will go into the silken meadow and -graze with the horses of the fairy over night. I shall return in the -morning and we will then fill our gourd." - -And so it happened. The Green Prince put on the plaid and walked into -the fairy queen's dining-room, sat down and supped, and for every glass -of wine consumed by the fairy he drank two. The supper over they enjoyed -themselves. Suddenly the fairy queen felt a sensation as if she were -touched by a man, although she could not see anybody. She thereupon -exclaimed to her fairies: "Fairies, fairies, keep the bellows going -under the boiling lead. Some calamity will befall us to-night." - -In the morning the piebald appeared before the castle; the Green Prince -was still fast asleep, but luckily the ring squeezed his finger and he -awoke and so was saved. He lost no time in going down to his horse. - -"I am glad to tell you, my dear master, that all is well. They have not -yet been able to see you. Let us go and get the water at once. This is -how you must proceed. Stick the gourd on the point of your sword and -then dip it under. But, be careful; the gourd must touch the water -before my feet get wet, or else we must pay with our lives for our -audacity." - -The Green Prince did as he was told. He stuck the gourd on the point of -the sword and dipped it into the well, before the piebald's hoofs -touched the surface of the water. - -"Well, my dear master, this has gone off without mishap. Let us at once -go and liberate your sisters." First they visited the youngest. The -Green Prince put on the plaid, and brought her away unnoticed. Then he -rescued the second princess; and at last the eldest, by the aid of his -plaid. And their diabolic husbands never noticed that they had been -stolen. Having thus liberated his three sisters, he returned without -delay to the hermit's hut. - -"Well done, my son! Have you brought back any youth-giving water?" -exclaimed the hermit, as he saw the prince approaching in the distance. - -"To be sure, old father; I have brought plenty." - -With these words the Green Prince approached the hermit, and allowed -just one drop of the magic water drop on to the old man's hand; and oh, -wonder! immediately a change came over him, and the old man instantly -became young, and looked like a lad of sixteen. - -"Well, my son; you have not made your journey in vain. You have secured -the prize that you have striven for; and I shall always be deeply -grateful to you until the end of my days. I won't take back the piebald -from you, as I have another one exactly like it hidden away somewhere. -True, it is only a little foal; but it will grow, and will then be good -enough for me." - -Then they parted, and the prince bent his way homewards. Having arrived -at home he allowed a drop of the magic water drop on to his father's -hand, and the old king immediately became a youth of sixteen. And he not -only got younger, but also grew handsomer; and a hundred times better -looking than he ever was before. - -But the Green Prince had been away for such a length of time on his -journey to the fairies' well that not even his father could remember -him. The king had completely forgotten that the prince was ever born. -What was he to do? Nobody knew him at his father's palace, or would -recognise him as his father's son; so he conceived the strange idea of -accepting a situation as swineherd in his father's service. He found -stables for the piebald in a cellar at the end of the town. - -While he tended his father's pigs, and went through his duties as -swineherd, the fairies travelled all over the world and searched every -nook and corner for the father of the child of their queen. Among other -places they also came to the town of the Green King, and declared that -it was their intention to examine every prince, as the person for whom -they searched could only be a prince. The Green King then suddenly -remembered that he had once another son but did not know his -whereabouts. Something or other, however, recalled to his mind the -swineherd, so he at once took pen and paper and wrote a note to the -swineherd. The purport of the writing was that the king was the real -father of the swineherd, and that the prince should come home with the -least possible delay. The Green King sealed the letter and handed it to -a gipsy with strict instructions to at once deliver it to the swineherd. -The gipsy went, and the swineherd read the note and handed it back to -the messenger, saying: - -"My good man, take the note back. They have sent you on a fool's errand. -I am not the son of the Green King." - -The gipsy took the letter back in great anger. The swineherd, again, ran -as fast as his legs would carry him to the stables in the cellar at the -outskirts of the town, saddled his piebald, and rode _ventre à terre_ to -the centre of the town, and pulled up in front of the king's palace. -There was such a sight to be seen. A great number of wonderfully pretty -fairies had congregated, and were fanning the fire under a huge cauldron -of boiling lead, which emitted such a heat that nobody could approach. -The eldest prince came out and was about to try his fortune; he was -gorgeously dressed, his garments glittering like a mass of gold. As he -approached the cauldron full of boiling lead, a pretty fairy called out -to him: - -"Son of the Green King! are you the father of the child of the queen of -fairies?" - -"I am." - -"Then jump into this seething mass of boiling lead." - -He jumped in and was burnt, shrivelling up to the size of a crab-apple. - -"You won't do," said the fairy. - -Then the second prince stepped forth; his dress, too, was one mass of -sparkling gold. As he approached the cauldron a fairy exclaimed: - -"Son of the Green King! are you the father of the child of the queen of -fairies?" - -"I am." - -"Then jump into this seething mass of boiling lead." - -He jumped in and fared no better than his elder brother. - -Now the swineherd rode forth on his piebald horse. His clothes were one -mass of dirt and grease. To him, too, the fairy called out: - -"Are you the father of the child of the queen of fairies?" - -"I am." - -"Then jump into this seething mass of boiling lead like the rest." - -And, behold! he spurred the piebald horse, pulled tight the bridle, and -again slackened it. The piebald shot up into the air like an arrow; and, -having reached a good height, it came down with the swineherd on its -back in one bold swoop, and jumped into the cauldron full of boiling -lead without a single hair of him getting hurt. Seeing this, the fairies -at once lifted him out, tore his dirty clothes from him, and dressed him -up in garments becoming a king. - -He married the queen of fairies and a sumptuous wedding-feast was -celebrated. - -This is the end of my tale. - - - - -THE CROW'S NEST. - - -There was once in the world a poor man who had a wife and two children, -the elder a girl, the younger a boy. The poor man went out one day -ploughing with two wretched little oxen, his only property; his wife -remained at home to do the cooking. The girl, being the older of the two -children, was often sent out on short errands; upon the present -occasion, too, she was away from the house, her mother having sent her -out to borrow a peel, the dough for the bread being very nearly spoilt -for having been kept too long in the trough. - -Availing herself of the girl's absence, the mother killed the poor -little boy and hid him in a pot of stewed cabbage. By the time that the -girl returned her dear little brother was half stewed. When the mess was -quite done, the woman poured it into a smaller pot, placed the small pot -into a sling, and sent the food by her daughter to her husband who was -in the field. The man liked the dish very much, and asked the girl: - -"What kind of meat is this? It is very nice." - -"I believe, dear father, mother had to kill a small lamb last night, and -no doubt she cooked it for you," replied the girl. - -But somehow or other the girl learned the true state of things, and the -news nearly broke her heart. She immediately went back to the field, -gathered up the bones of her little brother, carefully wrapped them into -a beautiful piece of new white linen and took them into the nearest -forest, where she hid them in a hollow tree. Nobody can foretell what -will happen, and so it came to pass that the bones did not remain very -long in the hollow of the tree. Next spring a crow came and hatched -them, and they became exactly such a boy as they were before. The boy -would sometimes perch on the edge of the hollow, and sing to a beautiful -tune the following words:-- - - - "My mother killed me, - "My father ate me, - "My sister gathered up my bones, - "She wrapped them in clean white linen, - "She placed them in a hollow tree, - "And now, behold, I'm a young crow." - - -Upon one occasion, just as he was singing this song, a man with a cloak -strolled by. - -"Go on, my son," he said, "repeat that pretty song for me! I live in a -big village, and have travelled a good deal in my lifetime, but I have -never heard such a pretty song." - -So the boy again commenced to sing:-- - - - "My mother killed me, - "My father ate me, - "My sister gathered up my bones, - "She wrapped them in clean white linen, - "She placed them in a hollow tree, - "And now, behold, I'm a young crow." - - -The man with the cloak liked the song very much, and made the boy a -present of his cloak; Then a man with a crutch-stick hobbled by. "Well, -my boy," he said, "sing me that song again. I live in a big village, -have travelled far, but have never heard such a pretty tune." And the -boy again commenced to sing:-- - - - "My mother killed me, - "My father ate me, - "My sister gathered up my bones, - "She wrapped them in clean white linen, - "She placed them in a hollow tree, - "And now behold I'm a young crow." - - -The man with the crutch-stick, too, liked the song immensely, and gave -the boy his crutch-stick. The next one to pass was a miller. He also -asked the boy to repeat the pretty tune, and as the boy complied with -his request the miller presented him with a millstone. - -Then a sudden thought flashed across the boy's head and he flew to his -father's house, settled on the roof, and commenced to sing:-- - - - "My mother killed me, - "My father ate me, - "My sister gathered up my bones, - "She wrapped them in clean white linen, - "She placed them in a hollow tree, - "And now behold I'm a young crow." - - -The woman was terrified, and said to her daughter, "Go and drive away -that bird, I don't like its croaking." The girl went out and tried to -drive away the bird, but instead of flying away the young crow continued -to sing the same song, and threw down the cloak to his sister. The girl -was much pleased with the present, ran into the house and exclaimed: -"Look here what a nice present that ugly bird has given to me!" - -"Very nice indeed; very nice indeed. I will go out too," said her -father. So he went out, and the bird threw down to him the crutch-stick. -The old man was highly delighted with the gift; he was getting very -weak, and the crutch-stick came in useful to him as a support. - -"Look here what a strong crutch-stick he has given to me! It will be a -great help to me in my old age." - -Then his mother jumped up from behind the oven and said, "I must go out -too; if presents won't shower at least a few might drivel to me." - -So she went out and looked up to the roof, and the boy gave her a -present for which she had not bargained. He threw the millstone at her, -which killed her on the spot. - -Thus far goes our tale. Here it ends. - - - - -WOMAN'S CURIOSITY. - - -A shepherd saved the life of the daughter of the king of snakes, the -princess narrowly escaping being burnt to death. To show him her -gratitude she taught him the language of animals, and he was able to -understand them. One day his donkey said something that made him smile; -whereupon his wife commenced to tease him, and wanted to know the joke, -but the shepherd was unable to gratify her wish, as his betraying the -secret would have immediately been followed by the penalty of sudden -death. However the wife would not give in and leave him in peace, but -continued to torment her husband with so many questions that he at last -determined to die rather than to bear his wife's ill-temper any longer. -With this view he had his coffin made and brought to his house; he laid -down in the coffin quite prepared for death and ready to divulge the -secret. His faithful dog sat mournfully by his side watching, while the -cock belonging to the house merrily hopped about in the room. The dog -remonstrated with the cock and said that this was not the time for -merriment, seeing how near their master was to death. But the cock -replied quite curtly, "It's master's own fault! why is he such a great -fool and coward? Look at me! I have fifty wives, and they all do as I -tell them to do! If I can get on with so many, surely he ought to be -able to manage one!" Hearing this the shepherd jumped out of the coffin, -seized a wet rope-end and gave the woman a sound thrashing. - -Peace was restored, and they lived happily together ever after. - - -END OF THE TALES. - - - - -NOTES TO THE FOLK-TALES. - - - - -PRINCE CSIHAN. Kriza xvii. - - -In this tale and some others (_e.g._ "Fairy Elisabeth") it is said that -in order to celebrate a wedding the clergyman and the _executioner_ were -sent for. Several of the clergy who live among the Székely people on the -very spot have been applied to for an explanation of the perplexing -word, but they were unable to furnish any clue. The word is not given in -Kriza's Glossary. It appears to be one of those curiosities of popular -nomenclature so often found in Hungary, and may be a fanciful name for -"sacristan," or sexton. One of the many names of this official is -"harangozó," _i. e._ the bellringer; hence the individual who holds the -corresponding office among the Jews is in small villages sometimes -called "the Jewish bellringer," a clear case of _lucus a non lucendo_. A -friend of the editors (who is a Székely) says that "hóhér" in his part -means any one who torments, maltreats, or brutalises another. It is also -made into a verb thus, "hóhérholja a lovat," "he maltreats the horse." -He says that the hóhér is nearly always mentioned in fairy tales in -connection with the priest, who was generally accompanied by him: but he -does not think the word has any special significance in Folk-Lore. - -_Page 5._ "Vasfogu Bába." Bába, in Magyar, as in Japanese, means a -midwife: in Slavonic, an old woman. See Ralston's _Russian Folk Tales_: -note, p. 137. "The French are coming." This must be unique. The usual -exclamations are, "The Turks are coming," or "The Tartars are coming." -The nurse will frighten a naughty child with Turks or Tartars. For the -heroic deeds of a popular hero against the French, cf. "_Le Chevalier -Jean_, Conte Magyar, par Alex. Petoefi ...traduit par A. Dozon." Paris. -18º. - -The present story is one of a host wherein the gratitude of beasts is -compared with the ingratitude of man; and is a more perfect version of -the well-known Puss in Boots. Cf. Schiefner, _Avar Tales_. There is a -variant, "Madon linna" ("The Snake's Castle"), collected in Russian -Karelia, where the hero is the only son of an old couple, the mother -when dying tells her son not to be downhearted, as he still has his -father to help him; soon after the father fell sick. "What shall I do, -dear father, when you die?" asked the lad. "Go to the forest," replied -the father, "and there you will find three traps, bring home alive -whatever you find." Soon the father died, and the lad was left alone in -his sorrow; after many days he suddenly remembered what his father had -said, and set off to the forest, where he found the traps. In the first -and second there was nothing, but in the third was a brown fox, which he -brought home alive, thinking to himself, "There's not much to be got out -of this beast; I shall soon die of hunger." When he got home, he put the -fox on a bench and sat down, when, lo! the fox said, "Look here, Jussi -Juholainen, wouldn't you like to get married?" The lad replied, "Why -should I marry, poor fox? I couldn't live with a poor woman, and a rich -one wouldn't have me." "Marry one of the royal family, and then you'll -be rich." The lad said that it was all nonsense; but the fox declared he -could do it, and then the story goes on very much like Prince Csihan, -shewing the king how rich the suitor for his daughter's hand was, and -frightening the dependents of the snake into declaring that they -belonged to Jussi Juholainen. At last they reach the snake's castle, -"the like of which is not in the whole country, nay, not in the wide -world. An oak was growing by the wayside, and a holly tree in the -courtyard, all the leaves were golden coloured, and golden feathered -birds sang among the branches; and in the park was a magnificent elk -with gold and silver hairs." - -The fox frightens the snake by telling of the coming of a great king, -saying, "O poor snake, the king is coming to destroy your house, and -kill you." The snake at once hurried off to the store-house[1] where the -linen was kept, and hid there, and in due course was burnt up with the -stores, by the fox, who set fire to the whole. The king was "giddy" with -delight at his son-in-law's wealth, and stayed many days. When he -prepared to return home, the fox proposed that Jussi Juholainen and his -man should now visit the king, much to the king's chagrin, who tried to -make excuses; but as this failed, calves and dog-like creatures, and so -forth, were made to jump about the wayside, and in the courtyard, so as -to be something like the palace of his son-in-law. But all failed; and -the fox, having shown how much greater and wealthier a man Jussi -Juholainen was, disappeared. See _Suomen Kansan Satuja ja Tarinoita_. -Part ii. Helsingissä, 1873:[2] where, under head "Kettu kosiomiehenä" -(the fox as wooer for some one), page 36, another variant (Kehnon koti), -"the Evil One's home," is given. - -In the Karelian story, "Awaimetoin Wakka" (the Keyless Chest), _S. ja -T._ i. p. 151, a lad, when walking in the wood one day, heard his dog -barking, and saw that it was a wood-grouse it had found. He drew his bow -and was about to shoot when the bird begged him not to do so, and -promised to reward him. The lad kept the bird for three years, and at -the end of each year a feather fell from the bird's tail, first a copper -one, then a silver one, and lastly a gold one; which feathers in the end -brought wealth and greatness. - -In the Finnish story of "the Golden Bird," a story very much like -"Cinder Jack" (in this collection), p. 149, a wolf brings fortune and -power to the hero because he fed her and her young ones. - -In another Finnish story, "Oriiksi muutettu poika" (The Enchanted -Steed), in _Suomalaisia Kansansatuja_, i. (Helsingissä, 1881), a fox -assists the fugitives to defeat the devil, who pursues them. This tale -is very much like the latter part of "Handsome Paul," p. 33. Compare -also a variant from near Wiborg in _Tidskriften Suomi_, ii. 13, p. 120. - -In a Lapp story a little bird helps. See "Jætten og Veslegutten," from -Hammerfest. _Lappiske Eventyr og Folkesagn ved. Prof. Friis, -Christiania_, 1871,[3] p. 52, &c. - -It is a cat in "Jætten, Katten og Gutten," from Alten, _Friis_, 63; and -a fox in "Bondesønnen, Kongesønnen og Solens Søster," from Tanen, -_Friis_, 140. - -Mr. Quigstad reports another variant from Lyngen, in which also a cat -helps the hero. - -See also Steere's _Swahili Tales_: "Sultan Darai"; Dasent's _Tales from -the Norse_: "Lord Peter," and "Well done, and ill-paid." - -_Old Deccan Days_: "The Brahman." "The Tiger and the Six Judges." - -Mitford's _Tales of Old Japan_: "The Grateful Foxes." "The Adventures of -little Peachling"; and a Bohemian story of the Dog and the Yellow-hammer -in Vernaleken's _In the Land of Marvels_. - -Ralston's _Puss in Boots_ in _XIXth Century, January_, 1883. A most -interesting and exhaustive article. - -Ralston's _Russian Folk Tales_: "The water King and Vasilissa the Wise." -A story which in the beginning is very like "The Keyless Chest." - -Benfey's _Pantschatantra_, i. 208, and _passim_. - -Kletke, _Märchensaal aller Völker_: "Gagliuso." - -Perrault, _Contes des Fées_: "Le maitre chat." - -Hyltén-Cavallius and Stephens. _Svenska Folksagor_, i. _Stockholm_, -1844: "Slottet som stod på Guldstolpar." - -Gubernatis, _Zoological Mythology_, vol. i. 193; vol. ii. 134, 157. - -Grimm's _Household Tales_, Bohn's ed. vol. i. "the Golden Bird," p. 227; -vol. ii. pp. 46, 154, 323, 427, 527. - -_Mentone Stories_, in the _Folk-Lore Record_, vol. iii. part 1, 43. - -Denton's _Serbian Folk-Lore_, 51, 296. - -Naake's _Slavonic Tales_: "Golden Hair," p. 133, a Bohemian Tale. - -Stokes's _Indian Fairy Tales_: "The Demon and the King's Son," 180. - -Payne's _The Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night_, "Abou -Mohammed," vol. iv. p. 10.[4] - - - - -STEPHEN THE MURDERER. Kriza, xviii. - - -The Hungarians have had a Dr. Faust in the person of Professor Hatvani, -but in his case he got the best of the bargain; see _A Magyar Fauszt_, -by Maurus Jókai. The Hungarian professor is an historical personage, and -only resembles Dr. Faust in having a compact with the devil. - -Lad. Arany traces a resemblance between this tale and one in Benfey's -_Pantschatantra_, where it is related how a poor Brahmin, in reward for -his long penitence, has his bones thrown into the sacred waters of the -Ganges. - -There is a curious Finnish story which resembles this tale, -"Ennustukset" (Predictions), from Ilomantsi in _S. ja T._ ii. 64-72. Two -wise men (seers) were out walking, and came near a house where a ewe was -just in the throes of parturition. The younger man wished the elder (and -chief) to help it. "Why should I?" replied he, "a wolf will eat the -lamb." "It is very sad; but still we ought to help the poor sheep." In a -moment the lamb was born. Just then the cries of the mistress of the -house were heard, for she was in travail. The young man again begged his -companion to use his power. "Well! I will help her," said the old seer; -"but would it be kind, for the boy, when born, will murder his father?" -He gave his assistance, and in a moment the child was born. The master -of the house, however, had overheard the conversation, and told it to -his wife, who was horrified at the news. Upon talking it over, they -decided to let the lamb and child live, as the men's words were most -likely of no importance. In the autumn, at the feast of Keyri (the -cattle-god), the lamb was slain and made into Keyri soup, according to -the old custom. The broth was put on the table, and the meat in the -window to cool;[5] and the couple laughed at the words of the men. After -the broth was finished they went for the meat, and lo! it was all -scattered on the ground, and a wolf was devouring the last pieces at its -leisure. - -They were terrified, and cried, "Well, then! the men's words were true." -The man then snatched the child out of its cradle, and was about to cut -its throat, when the woman cried, "Do not kill our own child! Let us -fasten it on a plank, and put it to sea, so that it may die in that -way." And so they did. Tossed by wind and waves, the child chanced to -come to the shore near a monastery, where a peasant found him and took -him to the abbot, who brought him up. When he had grown up, he got tired -of living there, and was sent to the mainland. He wandered on and on -till he came to a house. The mistress only was in, the master being in -the wood. Here the lad was engaged to go and look after the turnips, as -some thieves had been stealing them; and the mistress gave him a bow and -arrows, with strict orders to shoot any one who came. This just suited -the lad, who went and hid himself behind a large stone in the middle of -the field. Before long a man came over the fence and filled his arms -with turnips. The lad drew his bow and shot, and the man fell. The lad -returned home, and told what he had done; and the mistress said that she -was glad that the thief had perished. They then waited for the master's -return, but as he did not come, they went to look for him, and found -that the lad had killed him. The lad stayed with the woman, and after a -time married her, and all went well till one day they went to the -bath[6] together; then she saw a red stripe on the man's chest, and -asked, "What is this?" "I don't know," replied he, "I've had it ever -since I was born." "Where were you born?" asked the woman. He then told -her all he knew; and, to their horror, i they found out they were mother -and son. The man at once set off to the wise men, to know what to do, -and how to be forgiven. On the way he met a monk, with a book under his -arm, and said, "I've killed my father, and married my mother! How can I -be forgiven?" The monk looked through his book and said, "Poor man! your -sins can never be forgiven; they are too awful." The man could not -contain himself when he heard this, and struck the monk such a blow that -he died. - -He then went on and met an older monk and told him all. He looked -through his book and said "There is no forgiveness." He then killed this -monk also. Going on he met a third monk with books under his arms, and -cried, "I've killed my father, and married my mother, and murdered two -old men who said there was no forgiveness. What do you think?" The old -man looked through his books, thought a little, and said, "There is no -crime so great but that it can be forgiven when man truly repents. You -must go to a rock and dig a well in it. Wait till the water rises. And -your mother must sit beside it with a black sheep in her arms until its -wool becomes white." When the man heard this he thanked the monk, and -returned and told his mother all. So they went to a rock, and the man -began to dig with a chisel; and the woman sat beside him with the sheep -in her arms. He worked for a long time, but with no success. Now the -rock was close to the road, and good and bad passed by. One day a -gentleman drove past gaily, the horse-bells tinkling as he went; he -asked the man what he was doing, and was told all. "Who and what are -you?" said the man. "O! I am a very clever man," replied the other. "I -can make wrong right, and right wrong. I am going to the assizes, where -I will help you if you pay me." This enraged the man, because he had to -work so hard, whilst the other lived by trickery. Whilst he grumbled his -old anger flared up, and he struck the gentleman in the forehead with -his chisel and killed him. In a moment the rock opened and there was a -well, and the black sheep became white. This they were exceedingly glad -to see, but the man did not know what to do about killing the gentleman. -So he went to the old monk again and told him all. "Well!" said the -monk, "that's better. He has sinned much more against God than you; -therefore your time of repentance has been shortened. Go in peace." Thus -the sinners escaped judgment and continued to live together in peace. -The one as mother, the other as son. So much for that! (The ordinary -ending of Finnish tales.) - -Another Finnish story, "Antti Puuhaara" (Andrew Tree Twig), _S. ja. T._ -ii. 100, begins much in the same way, only in that case the child is to -be heir of a rich merchant who happened to be in the house at the time -and overheard all. He does his best to prevent the prediction coming -true; which, however, spite of all, is fulfilled. Cf. _Magyarische -Sagen_ von Mailáth. "Die Brüder." Also "_Die Thaten des Bogda Gesser -Châns_," _eine ostasiatische Heldensage aus dem mongolischen übersetzt -von J. J. Schmidt_, _Petersburg_ 1839. And _Folk-lifvet i Skytts härad i -Skåne wid början af detta århundrade, Barndomsminnen utgifna af -Nicolovius_, _Lund_. 1847. "Rike Pehr Krämare." Also _Dasent_, "Rich -Peter the Pedlar"; _Grimm_, "The Devil with the Three Golden Hairs"; and -_Sagas from the Far East_, in which the king fears when he hears the -hermit's prophecy of his son's future, p. 268. - -The bed that the devils so much dreaded occurs in the Polish tale, -"Madey," Naake's _Slavonic Tales_, p. 220. A merchant being lost in a -wood promises an evil spirit that he will give him something that he had -not seen in his house if he will set him in the right road. This -something turns out to be a son born in the merchant's absence. When the -boy grows up he sets out to get the bond from the devil that his father -gave when lost in the wood. As the lad goes on his journey he comes to -the hut of a robber of the name of Madey. He had murdered his father, -and only spared his mother to prepare his food. Here, as in the Magyar -story, the lad is spared on condition that he finds out what sort of bed -is prepared for the robber in hell. The lad enters hell by means of holy -water and incense, and the lame demon Twardowski[7] is threatened with -Madey's bed if he does not give up the bond, which he is loth to do. -This at once produces the desired effect, and Madey was so horrified at -the lad's account of the bed that he struck his murderous club into the -ground, and vowed he would wait till the lad returned as a bishop. Years -afterwards, when the little boy had become a bishop, he found a -beautiful apple tree and an old man kneeling at its foot. The tree was -the robber's club, the old man Madey. As Madey makes his confession -apple after apple becomes a dove and flies heavenward, till at last he -confesses his father's murder, and then the last disappears; and, as the -bishop pronounces the absolution, Madey crumbles to dust. - -See, also, _Svenska Folksägner_, _af H. Hofberg_, _Stockholm_, 1882, p. -48. "Ebbe Skammelsson was a knight who was engaged to the beauteous -Malfrid of Tiraholm. As they both were yet young, the knight set out for -the Holy Land, promising to return in seven years. Soon after Ebbe's -departure Malfrid's father died, and the maid remained with her mother. -Years rolled on, but Ebbe did not return; and as the maid began to fade -away, her mother promised her to another, thinking Ebbe must be dead. -There was a splendid wedding; and just as the guests sat down to the -table, a knight in golden armour galloped up to the house. The bride -turned pale beneath her crown, and the mother, who recognised Ebbe, -rushed out and reminded him that the seven years were past, and he was -too late. In wild rage he struck off the lady's head; and then, dashing -into the wedding hall, slew the bride and bridegroom. Filled with horror -and remorse at his own deeds, he vaulted on to his horse, and rode into -the wild woods. There he roamed in agony and despair. The pope's -indulgence was obtained at the holy father's feet, but not peace; so, -returning to the home of his old love, he begged the judge to sentence -him to the severest punishment. After long deliberation the council -determined that he should be loaded with the heaviest irons, and should -pass a day and a night on each of the three hundred and sixty-five -islands in Bolmen. This was carried out; and in his little boat he -dragged himself from isle to isle. At length he reached the last, and -crawled into a barn. His sad fate had made a deep impression on the -people, and a minstrel wrote a song, which, a witch said, so soon as -Ebbe heard, his irons would fall off and he would die. As he lay in the -barn, a servant, who went to milk the cows, began to sing, 'Knight -Ebbe's Song.' He listened with breathless attention, and then cried out: -'One part is true, one part is false.' The girl fled in terror. Soon the -villagers gathered round to know who he was. He dragged himself to the -hill, and, telling who he was, begged to be taken to the churchyard. -Now, between the village of Angelstad and the church there is a large -stone: mounting this, Ebbe cried, 'Am I worthy to rest in consecrated -ground? If so, let it be....' At that moment the irons dropped off, and -he died. The people buried him in the path, outside the north wall of -the church; but the wall fell down each night, until it was so built as -to include the outlaw's grave. The crosses on the roof of the parish -church are said to be made of Ebbe's fetters, which for a long time hung -inside the sacred building." Cf. J. Allvin, _Beskrifning öfver Vestbo -härad_, p. 147. The same story, with some slight difference, is current -in Halland.[8] A comparison between this and the wild Finnish story is -not without interest, as shewing the humanising influence which has -toned down the rude and rugged teaching of the early ages. - -Cf. Campbell, _Tales of the Western Highlands_, p. 19: "The -Inheritance." - -Baring Gould, _Curious Myths of the Middle Ages_. "The Mountain of -Venus," p. 213. - -_Grimm_, vol. ii. p. 366. "The Three Green Twigs." - -Merényi, _Tales from the Banks of the Danube_, vol. ii. p. 7, in -Hungarian. - -There is an interesting Lapp variant, "Fattiggutten, Fanden og -Guldbyen." _Friis_, p. 161. - - - - -THE LAMB WITH THE GOLDEN FLEECE. Kriza, ix. - - -Cf. _Round the Yule Log._ "Hans, who made the Princess laugh," p. 269. - -_Grimm_, vol. ii. "The Jew among the Thorns," p. 97 and Notes, p. 410, -in which the Jew is compelled to dance to the sound of the fiddler. - -Engel's _Musical Myths_, vol. ii. "The Indefatigable Fiddler," p. 29, -and the "Ratcatcher of Hamelin," p. 37. (Also, _Baring Gould's Curious -Myths_, p. 417.) - -_Griechische und Albanische Märchen, von J. G. von Hahn, Leipzig_, 1864, -vol. i. p. 222, and vol. ii. p. 240.--_Ladislaus Arany._ "The Sad -Princess" (in Hungarian).--_Gaal_, vol. iii. "The Powerful Whistle." - - - - -FISHER JOE. Kriza, xvi. - - -_Page 16. Grimm_, vol. i, "The Gold Children," p. 331, where a man draws -a gold fish out of the water, which tells him if he will throw it back -into the water he shall have a splendid castle. He throws it back, and -all comes as the fish said. The fisher must not reveal how it has come -about; but his wife's curiosity makes him break his word, and all -disappears.[9] The man catches the fish once more, and the same things -happen, wealth and destitution; and then the fish is caught a third -time. This time the fish is cut into six pieces, two of which are put in -the ground, and grow up as golden cities; two are given to the man's -horse, which has two golden foals; and two to the man's wife, who bears -two golden children. See _Grimm's_ notes, p. 453. _Gubernatis_, vol. i. -p. 249 (as to Phallic Significance), and vol. ii. sub. art. "Fish," p. -330. Also Caballero's (Spanish) _Fairy Tales_, "The Bird of Truth," p. -1, and the "Knights of the Fish," p. 29, where a poor cobbler, with no -work, goes a-fishing as a last resource, catches a fish, and cuts it -into six, with the same result as in the above tale. And _Portuguese -Folk-Tales, Folk-Lore Society_, 1882; "The Baker's Idle Son," p. 72; -Payne's _Arabian Nights_, vol. i. pp. 33-51. - -Just as Fisher Joe lays his head on his wife's knee, and sleeps while -wonders happen, so does the drummer rest, while the maiden does his -tasks for him, in the story of the "Drummer," in _Grimm_, ii. 335. - -Cf. also Dasent's _Tales from the Norse_. "The Mastermaid," p. 84, and -Denton's _Serbian Folk-Lore_. "The Golden Fleeced Ram," p. 71. - -_Page 18._ The trouble that comes from the king (or lord) seeing the -hero's wife, or bride, is a common incident in Folk-Tales. - -See the Finnish "Leppäpölkky" (Alder Block). _S. ja T._ ii. p. 2, where -the hero, after infinite trouble, secures the lovely Katherine, who is -said to be so beautiful that-- - - - "One can see her skin through her clothes, - Her flesh through her skin, - Her bones through her flesh, - Her marrow through her bones!" - - -When he arrived at home with his lovely prize, the king wished to know -the whole of his adventures. Now it so happened that Alder Block had -during his travels changed himself to an ermine, and had heard -Syöjätär--who was the mother of the snakes he and his comrades had -killed--tell what plans she had for destroying her children's murderer, -as in the Magyar tale of "The three Princes, the three Dragons, and the -Old Woman with the Iron Nose," p. 202 of this collection. Syöjätär -declared at the same time that whoever dared to repeat her words[10] -would be changed into a blue cross. Alder Block saved his comrades from -the snares till the last one, which took the form "of beds with feather -pillows;" and this time his companions, before he could stop them, threw -themselves down, and were caught. The king ordered him to explain why -his companions were not with him; and as Alder Block did so, he changed -into a blue cross, standing in the churchyard. The whole story is a most -interesting one, weaving in materials that are ordinarily to be found, -not in one, but in many folk tales. The end of all is, the king got the -lovely Katherine, and "took her to his castle, where they still live -to-day, and perhaps to-morrow also; and there came good sons and -beautiful daughters. I was also at the wedding. They gave me a wax -horse. The saddle was made of turnip and the whip of peas. The feast -lasted for many days; and when I came from it I came to Riettilä's corn -kiln.[11] The kiln began to burn, and I to extinguish it. In the heat my -horse began to melt, my saddle to roast, and the village's illegitimate -children to eat it up. I began to drive them away, but the dogs were set -at me; and when I began to whip them, they bit my whip to pieces. So all -my things were destroyed, and poor me fell down. Perhaps I shall never -be well again, it was so long." Compare this characteristic ending with -that of the Magyar tales. - -In the Finnish "Ei-niin-mitä" (Just nothing), _S. ja T._ ii. 53, a man -catches a swan-maiden of great beauty. The king, so soon as he hears of -her, determines to have her for his son, and the courtiers advise him to -make the man procure--1st, "A table, on which is painted the moon and -stars;" this his wife gets her husband while he is asleep; 2nd, "he was -to go nowhere and fetch nothing." His wife again helps him, by sending -him to a house where an old woman summons all her servants (Cf. "Fairy -Elizabeth," p. 106). This time it is a frog who takes the man, and he at -length comes to a palace; and as he paces the floor at night, he mutters -to himself, "Just nothing." "Beg your pardon," says a voice; and he -finds that he has an invisible companion, who obeys all his commands, -and answers to the name of "Just Nothing." When he returns to the king, -he finds they are just celebrating the wedding of the king's son with -his own wife, who does not recognise him till he drops a ring into the -empty goblet out of which he has drunk the corn brandy the bride had -given him. By his new powers he soon upsets the bad king and his host, -and then all is joy and happiness. Cf. _Musaeus_, _Volksmärchen der -Deutschen von J. L. Klee_. _Leipzig_, 1842. "Der geraubte Schleier"; -_Walachische Märchen von A. und A. Schott_. _Stuttgart_, 1845. "Der -verstossene Sohn." Weil, _Tausend und eine Nacht_, vol. iv. "Geschichte -des Prinzen Ojanschach;" _Irische Elfenmärchen, von Grimm_. _Leipzig_, -1826. "Die Flasche." - -Kletke, _Märchensaal aller Völker, für Jung und Alt_. _Berlin_ 1845, -vol. iii. "Der Wundermann." - -Cf. "Bondesønnen, Kongesønnen og Solens Søster," _Friis_, p. 140; where -the hero, by means of a fox, rescues the Sun's sister's sister, "Evening -Red," from the giants who had stolen her, and who were turned into -pillars of stone as soon as they caught sight of the Sun's sister, Dawn. -So soon as the king heard of her, he determined to have her for his -son's wife, and set heavy tasks for the hero to perform, which he does -by means of his wife's power. - -In another tale from Tanen, "Bæive Kongens eller Sol Kongens Datter," -_Friis_, p. 152, the hero will insist upon the king knowing that he is -going home with the Sun King's daughter, whom he has caught by stealing -her swan dress, and so gets into trouble, as the king does all he can to -get possession of the girl. - -In "Gutten, som tjente hos Kongen," _Friis_, p. 167, from Tanen, the -hero is to have the king's daughter in return for faithful service but -at the last moment the king demands certain labours before he will allow -the marriage to take place. In this case it is the Gieddegæ[~s] old -woman, that is, a wise or troll woman, who helps the hero. - -A magic ship that can sail over land and sea is a favourite in Lapp -stories, and is often one of the tasks set. Cf. "Ruobba[12] Jætten og -Fanden," _Friis_, p. 67. Here the third son feeds axes, augurs, planes, -and all sorts of tools,[13] which come and beg for food, and by their -means builds the ship. See Finnish "Maan, meren, kulkija laiwa" ("The -Ship that can Sail on Land and Sea"), from Ilomantsi. _S. ja T._ ii. p. -22. - -Somewhat similar incidents occur in the tale "Seppo Ilmarisen kosinta" -("Smith Ilmarinen's Courtship"). _S. ja T._ i. p. 1, wherein Ilmarinen -goes to woo fair Katherine, the Hiihto king's daughter. The first task -was to plough the king's snake-field--where the snakes were crawling -two yards deep--in bare feet and bare skin. Then he sang a lake full of -fishes into the courtyard. Next he went to bring a chest which had been -covered for a long time, and which the old man, Untamoinen, had. When -Ilmarinen asked for the beautiful Katherine's wedding chest the old man -replied, "If you can stand on my tongue, jump and dance, then I will -give it to you." The smith jumped on to his tongue, but the old man's -mouth was so wide he swallowed Ilmarinen. The smith did not mind that; -he made a smithy of his shirt, bellows of his trousers, used his left -knee for an anvil, and his left hand for tongs. Of the copper buckle of -his skirt he made a bird with claws of iron and bill of steel. He then -sang a song and the bird became alive, and by its means he dug his way -out of Untamoinen's stomach, got the chest, and after a great many -troubles with fair Katherine at last got home. - -In the latter part of the tale one is reminded of such stories as -_Household Stories from the Land of Hofer_, "St. Peter's Three Loaves," -p. 265; _Grimm_, vol. ii., "The Rich Man and the Poor Man," p. 1, and -Notes, p. 373; Stokes's _Indian Tales_, "Rajah Harichand's Punishment," -p. 224. - - - - -LUCK AND BLISS. Kriza, xii. - - -Cf. Caballero's _Spanish Tales_, "Dame Fortune and Don Money," p. 190, -and "Fortune and Misfortune," p. 147. - -_Naake_, "Wisdom and Fortune," p. 243, a Bohemian tale. - - - - -THE LAZY CAT. Kriza, xi. - - -This tale does not call for any special remark. - - - - -HANDSOME PAUL. Kriza, i. - - -_Page 25_. Old men in Hungary are always addressed as "my father," or -"my elder brother," and in turn address their juniors as "my son," or -"my younger brother." Women are also addressed as "mother," "daughter," -"elder sister," or "younger sister." Cf. the "little father," in modern -Russian; also _Reynard the Fox in South Africa_, by Dr. Bleek, "The Lion -who took a Woman's Shape," p. 50, where the lion calls a woman "my -mother" and "my aunt," and she calls him "my uncle." - -Fisk, _Myths and Myth-Makers_, pp. 166, 167, Zulu Uthlakanyana meets a -cannibal, whom he calls "uncle," and is called "child of my sister." The -Yakuts in Siberia call the bear "beloved uncle." - -Tylor's _Primitive Culture_, vol. ii. p. 231. - -Tylor's _Early History of Mankind_. pp. 130-49; 288-91. - -Ibn Batuta, the Moorish traveller, mentions that in his time--about -1347--old men in Cansai, the modern Hangchenfu, were commonly addressed -as "Atha," _i. e._ "Father" in Turkish. Cf. _The Travels of Friar -Odoric_ (Hakluyt Soc.), iv. p. 288. - -_Vide_ Giants in the Introduction to this collection. - -The incident of finding the giant occurs in many stories, _e.g._ a -Finnish tale relates how some sailors sailing along the coast near -Wiborg saw a fire lighted on the shore, and, as they were nearly frozen, -landed, and found to their horror a giant laid round it with his feet -under his head (cf. Giant in "Fairy Elizabeth," p. 99 of this vol.) The -giant awakes and asks where they are from, and hearing that they were -from Wiborg, tells them he knows it well, and drinks with great gusto a -tun of tar, remarking, "Ah! that's the old Wiborg drink!" Topelius, -_Boken om vårt Land. Helsingfors_, 1875, p. 153. - -See also a similar tale, "Glosheds Altare," from Bohuslän, _Hofberg_, p. -81. It is commonly reported in Bohuslän and Dal that the giants withdrew -to Dovre in Norway, or else to some uninhabited island in the North Sea, -and that they most anxiously inquired of any travellers they came across -how things were going on in their native land. They are said to have -left their homes "when modern mankind began to exist," in the Swedish -stories. They often declare it was on account of the continued ringing -that they left the land. - -In "Ulfgrytstenarna," from Närike, the giant hearing the bells for the -first time tells his wife to put a stone in her garter and sling it at -the grey cow which is tinkling near Hjelmar, meaning the newly-built -church at Örebro. The giantess threw the stone thirteen miles too far. -The giant threw and missed, and the bells sounded with wondrous -clearness. The giant then seized two enormous rocks, and set off to -crush the church; on the way an old man who had set out to stop him, -showed him a pile of shoes worn out by his journey from Örebro. The -giant threw the rocks down and went home. _Hofberg_, p. 132. - -See also the story about the old man and Ragnar Lodbrok, who is said to -have delivered Rome from the Norse men, by showing their worn-out iron -shoes. Also Gibeonites and Joshua; Joshua, ix. 5. - -Giants sometimes built instead of destroying religious houses. See -_Afzelius, Svenska Folkets Sagohäfder_, v. p. 31, where the giant Rise -is said to have built Riseberg Monastery and given it his own name; also -"Skaluda-Jätten," a story from Vestergötland. - -For a giant's appetite, _p. 26_, see "Vas Péter," a tale quoted by -Kozma, in which Glutton eats 366 fat oxen in six hours, and Drunkard -empties 366 casks of wine, each holding one hundred buckets, in the same -time. - -Big Mouth, in "Hidatsa," an Indian tale, drinks enormous draughts. -_Folk-Lore Record_, vol. i. p. 140. - -The horse in "Prince Mirkó," p. 65, like the giant in this tale, asks -the hero what he sees, and then tells him to shut his eyes, whilst they -go on. - -_Page 27_. The king's daughter falling in love with one who acts as -servant is a common incident in Finnish and Lapp tales. Generally, the -hero is one who by wearing a cap on the pretext of having a sore head -conceals his beauty, which the king's daughter by chance happens to see -when the cap is off. - -Cf. "Tuhkamo" from Sodan Kyla in North Finland, _S. ja T._ i. p. 35, -where the hero is told to fell all the trees near a bay, and is assisted -by his bride. The whip as a mode of summoning assistance is mentioned in -"Fisher Joe," _supra_, p. 16. - -For difficult tasks vide "Fisher Joe," _supra_, p. 18; "The Three -Brothers," p. 153; "The King and the Devil," p. 192; "The Widower and -his Daughter," p. 208; "The Girl with the Golden Hair," p. 271. - -Cf. also _Malagasy Isùlakòlona_, in _Folk-Lore Journal_, 1884, p. 130. - -Also _Verhandlungen der gelehrten Estnischen Gesellschaft zu Dorpat. -Zweiter Band, drittes Heft_, p. 76. "Der dankbare Fürstensohn." - -Stier, _Ungarische Märchen_, "Das kleine Zauberpferd."--Kletke, -_Märchensaal aller Völker_, "Die gläserne Hacke"; "Kojata"; "Der -Orangenbaum und die Biene." - -_Polnische Volksagen und Märchen_, by Woycicki, translated by Levestam, -"Die Flucht." - -Hyltén-Cavallius och Steffens. _Svenska Folksagor_. "Hafs-Firum." - -_Samlade Smärre Berättelser_, af C. F. Ridderstad, _Linköping_, 1849. -"Agnete lille Dei." - -Winter, _Danske Folkeventyr_: "Prindsen och Havmanden." - -The reader need not be surprised to hear that the simple Magyar peasant -uses classical names like Pluto, Furuzsina (Euphrosiné); for until 1848 -Latin was the official language, and many of the scientific works were -written in it, and so a great many words found their way into the vulgar -tongue, such as: penna, calamus, bugyelláris (pugillares), jus, &c. - -_Page 32_. The chase after the fugitives is a well-known folk-tale -incident. See several instances in this collection. Generally the -pursuer is stopped by something thrown down by the pursued. See "The -Little Magic Pony," p. 160, and notes _infra_. - -In other stories such as the present and "The King and the Devil," p. -193, the pursued change into all manner of wonderful things. Cf. -_Grimm_, vol. i. "Fundevogel," p. 202, and "The Two King's Children," -vol. ii. p. 113. - -In a Portuguese Folk-Tale, "The Daughter of the Witch," F.L.S. 1882, p. -15, the boy becomes a public road, and the girl an old man with a sack -on his back; then the boy becomes a hermitage and the girl a hermit; and -lastly, when the mother comes, who, as usual, is the keenest witted, the -lad becomes a river, and the girl an eel. The mother, as she cannot -catch the eel, pronounces the curse of forgetfulness in case any one -should kiss the hero, which one of his sisters does, while he sleeps. -See also in the same collection, "May you vanish like the wind," p. 20. - -In "Fairy Helena," a story quoted by Kozma in his paper read before the -Hungarian Academy, the fairy's father blows across a wide river, and at -once it is spanned by a golden bridge. The fairy then strikes a rusty -table-fork with a _kourbash_, and it at once becomes a golden steed, -upon which the lovers flee into Italy. When they discover that they are -followed, Helena spits on the floor, the door-latch, and the hinge of -the door, and each expectoration speaks, and so deludes the king's -messengers, and allows the fugitives more time (Cf. Ralston's _Russian -Tales_, p. 142; _Grimm_, i.: "Sweetheart Roland," p. 225, where one -change of Roland is to a fiddler, who makes the witch dance till dead.) -The king following in the form of a gigantic eagle, the tips of whose -wings touch heaven and earth, reminds of such stories as the Lapp -"Jaetten og Veslegutten," from Hammerfest, _Friis_. p. 49, where the -giant is heard coming like a gust of wind; and in "Jaetten og Drengen -hans," from Tanen, _id_. p. 58, where the giant and his wife pursue the -lad, as he walks away, with his bag of silver coins. - -See also Finnish "Oriiksi muntettu poika," _S. ja. T._ i. 142, and -variants there given, in which the devil follows in the form of a -storm-cloud. - -Wonderful transformations of a like sort occur in Indian stories, -_e.g._, "The Phúlmati Rání's arms and legs grew into four houses, her -chest became a tank, and her head a house in the middle of the tank; her -eyes turned into two little doves; and these five houses, the tank, and -the doves, were transported to the jungle. The little doves lived in the -house that stood in the middle of the tank. The other houses stood round -the tank." Stokes' _Indian Tales_, "Phúlmati Rání," p. 5, and "The Bél -Princess," p. 148, where we read, "Then the girl took a knife in her own -hand, and cut out her two eyes; and one eye became a parrot, and the -other a _mainá_ (a kind of starling). Then she cut out her heart, and it -became a great tank. Her body became a splendid palace and garden; her -arms and legs became the pillars that supported the verandah roof; and -her head the dome on the top of the palace." - -_Page 34_. For the curse of oblivion see Panch-Phul Ranee, _Old Deccan -Days_, p. 143, where the conjurors throw some powder in the rice and -fire, and no sooner did the rajah receive them than he forgot his wife, -child, and all that had ever happened to him. In "Chandra's Vengeance," -p. 260, forgetfulness is brought about by enchanted drink. Cf. _Grimm_, -ii. "The Drummer," p. 338. - -In the romance of _Ogier le Danois_, Morgue la Faye, who had kissed -Ogier at his birth, but had been forgotten by him, meets him when he is -a hundred years old, and by means of a ring restores him to youth and -beauty. When Ogier drew near to the castle of Avalon he was met by -singing fays, and a glorious crown placed on his head, whereupon he -instantly forgot all the past, and had no thought "ni de la dame -Clarice, qui tant estoit belle et noble ... ne de creature vivante." See -Keightley's _Fairy Mythology, Bohn's Library_, p. 48. - -The Irish tale of "Grey Norris" from Warland, tells how a little dog -jumps up and kisses the hero, and at once he forgets the poor princess -who waits outside. _Folk-Lore Journal_, 1883, p. 323. - -The Polish tale "Prince Unexpected," contains a similar incident. _Id_. -1884, p. 16. - - - - -THE TRAVELS OF TRUTH AND FALSEHOOD. Kriza, ii. - - -In another version three crows discuss the healing powers of the dew. -Cf. also another version communicated by Kriza in the _Szépirodalmi -Figyelö_. The tale is also found in Hungary Proper. Cf. Gaal, _Märchen -der Magyaren_, "Die dankbaren Thiere." - -Cf. Cruelty of sister or others: in "Envious Sisters," p. 50, "The Three -Brothers," p. 152, and "The Girl without Hands," p. 182. - -Steere's _Swahili Tales_, "Blessing or Property," p. 397. - -Also Wagner's _Asgard and the Gods_, p. 113, where Holda's Quick-born -(fountain of life) restores the crippled and aged. Spanish peasants -believe in a mysterious herb, _pito-real_, invisible to men, and known -to swallows only, which restores eyesight. See _Folk-Lore Record_, p. -295. 1883. - -_Page 37_. Obtaining useful knowledge in secret. Cf. _Sagas from Far -East_, xiv. "The Avaricious Brother," p. 151, in which the poor brother -obtained precious gifts, which he saw the Dakinis (female genii) use; -the rich brother when he heard of it went to see what he could get, and -was seized by the enraged spirits, and after due consultation punished, -by having his nose pulled out five ells long, and nine knots tied in it. - -In _Old Deccan Days_, "The Learned Owl," p. 74, tells how the birds in -the tree tell secrets. In "The Wanderings of Vicram Maharajah," p. 121, -it is two cobras, and in "Panch-Phul Ranee," p. 139, two jackals. - -See also _Stories from Mentone_, "The Charcoal Burners," p. 41. -_Folk-Lore Record_, vol. iii.; and Stokes' _Indian Tales_, "The Fair -Prince," p. 198. - -Cf. Finnish "Totuus ja walhe" (Truth and falsehood), and "Riuta ja -Rauta;" under section 10 of _S. ja T._ ii. pp. 134-146, entitled "Paha -on pettäjän perintö" (The Deceiver's part is a bad one). - -_Magyarische Sagen_, by Mailáth, i. "Die Brüder," p. 169. - -Gerle, _Volksmärchen der Böhmen_. _Prag._ 1819. "St. Walburgisnachttraum -oder die drei Gesellen." - -_Volkslieder und Sagen der Wenden_, von Haupt und Schmaler, _Grimma_ -1843. "Recht bleibt immer Recht." - -_Old Deccan Days_, "Truth's Triumph," p. 50. - -_Serbian Folk-Lore:_ "Justice or Injustice--which is best?" p. 83. Where -the heroes are king's sons, and the just one is helped by fairies who -come to the spring to bathe. - -In "The two Travellers," _Grimm_, vol. ii. p. 81, the heroes are a -sour-tempered shoemaker and a merry tailor. Two sinners hanging on the -gallows talk, and thus the sightless tailor learns many secrets. So soon -as he recovers his sight, he sets off, and arrives at the very town -where the shoemaker has gone, who persuades the king to set the tailor -terrible tasks to perform, which he does, by the aid of grateful -animals, whose lives he spared. The cobbler has his eyes picked out by -the crows that sit on the heads of the two hanged men. See notes, p. -408, and a fragmentary story of "The Men on the Gallows," p. 466, in the -same volume. - -In Naake's _Slavonic Tales_, "Right and Wrong," from the Servian, the -Vilas, beings peculiar to Servia, female genii, come to the spring where -the blind brother is, and talk. - -Also Dasent's _Tales from the Norse_, "True and Untrue," p. 1. - -_Undvalgte Eventyr og Fort[oe]llinger_ ved C. Molbech, _Kjöbenhavn_, -1843. "Godtro og utro, et Skaansk Folkesagn." - -_Sagen, Märchen und Lieder der Herzogthümer Schleswig--Holstein and -Lauenburg_ vom R. Müllenhoff. _Kiel_, 1845. "Vom Bauernsohn der König -ward." - -_Portuguese Stories_. "Unless the Lord build the house, they labour in -vain who build it." _Folk-Lore Record_, 1881, p. 157. The driver hears -the devils talking on the top of the cave, where he shelters, and by -means of which he obtains riches and honour. In this case, the gouging -out of the eyes is omitted, and the whole story modified, and, if one -may so say, Christianised. - - - - -THE HUNTING PRINCES. Kriza, iii. - - -Steel, flint, and tinder, form to this day the "Smoker's companion" in -the rural districts of Hungary, although matches were invented more than -half a century ago by a Hungarian. - -_Page 39_. The youngest son in the Finnish story, "Ihmeellinen Sauwa," -(The Wonderful Stick,) _S. ja T._ i. p. 158, is told to shoot at an oak, -and if he hits it (which he does) he would find his mother who had been -carried off one day whilst walking in the garden years before. - -For other versions see "A Year Hence" in Gaal, vol. ii.; also "The Three -Princes" in the present vol. p. 110, and "The Prince who tied the Dawn" -in another collection of Erdélyi, entitled "_Magyar Népmesék_." - -Dragons[14] appear at every turn in folk-lore, and therefore we can give -but a short selection of comparisons out of the countless hosts of -legends and tales. "At Lueska there is a dark cavern called the -Dragon's Den, which was the terror of the country, and its legend is an -interesting example of how old folk-tales are modified, as time rolls -on; in this case, the burghers of the town can't tell what to do, and a -little dwarf tinker declares he can kill the monster, but that he will -claim as his reward the hand of the burgomaster's daughter. The -burgomaster is mightily indignant, but is obliged to give way to the -force of popular opinion; and is surprised to find his daughter quite -willing to make the sacrifice for the sake of her neighbours. The tinker -confesses and communicates. He then sets off and gathers a herb called -dragon's bane--a powerful narcotic--and makes a strong infusion of it. -With this he sets out, driving two calves before him, and taking some of -his tools, and his fire-pan full of hot embers. The dragon soon scents -the cattle, and rushing out devours them. Meanwhile, the tinker views -all from a tree. Soon the dragon rolls over and falls asleep. The tinker -then pours a goatskin full of his infusion over the monster's head, who -falls into a deep sleep. Down comes the tinker and settles him, cuts off -his head, and carries it in triumph to the town, where the joyous crowd -carry him shoulder-high to the burgomaster's. There the tinker declares -that he will not accept the maiden's hand unless she accepts him freely -and willingly. The young girl, won by his magnanimous conduct, declares -he has won her heart. Whereat he flings off his disguise, and lo! the -lord of Csicso, who confesses that he has long loved the beautiful maid. -General happiness and joy. Curtain!" _Pictures of Hungarian Life_, p. -28. - -Cf. "Grendel" in the "Lay of Beowulf"; "The Lambton Worm," in Surtees' -_History of Durham_, ii. p. 173; Hardwick's _Traditions_, p. 40, and -Henderson's _Folk-Lore of Northern Counties_, F.L.S., under "Worms." -Nork, _Mythologie der Volksagen_, says, the dragon was sacred to Wodin, -and that its image was placed over houses, &c. to keep away evil -influences. - -In _Tales from Hofer's Land_, "The Three Black Dogs," p. 214, the dogs -kill the dragon, and Jössl marries the princess; in "Zovanin Senza -Paura," p. 348, fearless Johnny kills the dragon that has taken -possession of the fountains. - -Baring Gould's _Curious Myths_. "St. George," and Brady's _Clavis -Calendaria_, vol. i. p. 310. - -In Denton's _Serbian Folk-Lore_, "True-steel," p. 146, an alligator -replaces the dragon; the incidents are very like those in the Magyar -tale, but the tale is longer, beginning with three sisters, as well as -the brothers. The sisters are carried off, much the same as in the -Russian story "Marya-Morevna" (_Ralston_, p. 85); and, in seeking for -the sisters, the Magyar incidents come in. The story continues to tell -of the youngest son's entering the forbidden chamber, and letting loose -a man, True-steel, who was confined there (cf. Payne's _Arabian Nights_, -vol. i. p. 141, "Story of the Third Calender"), who runs away with his -wife. His labours to regain her occupy the rest of the tale. True-steel -is killed in the end, by the secret of his strength being destroyed, as -in "Punchkin." - -The tying up of Midnight and Dawn is a piece of primitive science that -in one shape or other is to be found in many stories. Cf. Lapp stories, -where "Evening Red," and the "Sun's Sister" are girls; _Friis_, No. 44; -and in No. 45 Ashiepattle goes for a golden lasso, and has to go till -the sunlight ceases; and then till the moonlight ceases; and then till -starlight ceases. When he arrives in the regions of darkness he finds -the golden lasso. The tale appears to be imperfect, and no use is made -of the lasso. Guns and cannons appear beyond the land of the moonlight! - -The Finnish "Leppäpölkky" tells how Alder Block goes to a castle, and is -told "that a wicked one cursed the sunlight, and so a snake with nine -heads has taken it; and when the snake goes to the sea, he takes the sun -with him. When he is in the country it is day, when he is in the sea it -is night. A wicked one has cursed the moonshine, and a snake with six -heads has taken the moonshine. When he is on the land, it is light; but -when he is in the sea, it is dark. The wicked one has also cursed the -dawn, because it began to shine too soon, and he could not sleep; so the -snake with three heads has taken the dawn. When he is on the land we -have dawn, but when he is at sea we have no dawn." The heroes in turn -destroy the snakes; and dawn, the moon, and the sun escape; and as each -shines over the land, the people pray for blessings on the man's head, -who has delivered the dawn, moon, and sun. This appears to be pretty -clearly an attempt of early man to describe natural phenomena. The story -goes on to tell how the king offered his daughters to the heroes, but -they declined them, only asking for a little corn. - -There is a most interesting myth of Dawn and Twilight, well worthy of -notice, in the Esthonian "Koit ja Ämarik" (Dawn and Twilight). In old -times a mother had two daughters named Videvik (twilight) and Ämarik -(evening twilight). Both were charming and beautiful in appearance, and -in behaviour just as the song says: - - - "Pea valge, pôsld punased - Sitik mustad silmakulmud." - - "Eyes white, cheeks red, - Eyebrows black as a dung beetle." - - -When the sun went to its Creator (set), the elder sister came from the -plough with two oxen, and led them, as an intelligent being ought, to -the river's brink to drink. But, just as now, beauty is the first thing -among girls, and the good-looking ones often gaze into the -looking-glass. So, also, did she, the handsome Videvik. She let her oxen -be oxen, and went to the river's edge; and lo! there on the silver -looking-glass of the water lay reflected the eyebrows black as dung -beetles, and the charming gold-coloured cheeks, and her heart was glad. -The moon, who in accord with the Creator's command and ordinance, was -going to light the land, in place of the sun, who had sunk to rest, -forgot to attend to his duty, and threw himself, like an arrow, with -loving desire into the earth's deep bosom, down to the bottom of the -river; and there, mouth to mouth, and lip to lip, he sealed his -betrothal to Videvik with a kiss, and claimed her as his bride. But, -during this he had quite forgotten his duties; and, see! deep darkness -covered the land whilst he lay on Videvik's bosom. Then occurred a sad -misfortune. The forest robber, Wolf, who now had all his own way, as no -one could see him, tore one of Videvik's oxen, which had gone to the -forest to feed, and seized it as food for himself. Although the shrill -nightingale was heard, and its clear song from the forest rang through -the darkness: - - - "Lazy girl! lazy girl! the long night! the striped ox! - To the furrows! to the furrows! fetch the whip! fetch the nag! - Tsät! Tsät!" - - "Laisk tüdruk, laisk tüdruk, ööpik! kiriküüt! - Raule, raule, too püts, too püts! - Tsät! Tsät!" - - -Yet Videvik heard not: she forgot all but love. Blind, deaf, and without -understanding is love. Of the five senses but feeling is left! When -Videvik at last woke from her love, and saw the Wolf's deed, she wept -bitterly, and her tears became a sea. The innocent tears did not fall -unobserved by Vana-isa (the old father). He stepped down from his golden -heaven to punish the evil-doers, and to set a watch over those who had -broken his commands. He scolded the wicked Wolf, and the Moon received -Videvik to wife. To this day Videvik's mild face shines by the Moon's -side, longingly looking at the water where she tasted for the first time -her husband's love. Then Vana-isa said, "In order that there may be no -more carelessness about the light, and lest darkness grows in power, I -command you, guardians, go each one to your place. And you, Moon and -Videvik, take charge of the light by night. Koit and Ämarik I put -daylight into your hands. Do your duty honestly. Daughter Ämarik in your -care I place the setting sun. See that in the evening every spark be put -out, so that no accident happen, and that all men be in peace! And you -my son Koit take care when you light the new light of the new day that -every place has its light." Both the Sun's servants honestly attended to -their duty, so that he was never missing, even for a single day, from -the heavens. The short summer nights now drew near, when Koit and Ämarik -stretched hand and mouth to each other: the time when the whole world -rejoices, and the little birds make the forests ring with their songs in -their own language; when plants begin to bloom, and shoot forth in their -beauty; when Vana-isa stepped down from his golden throne to keep -Lijon's festival. He found all in order, and rejoiced greatly over his -creation, and said to Koit and Ämarik, "I am pleased with your -watchfulness, and wish you continued happiness! You may now become man -and wife." But they both replied together, "Father, perplex us not. We -are satisfied as we are, and wish to remain lovers: for in this we have -found a happiness which never grows old, but is ever young." Vana-isa -granted their wish, and returned to his golden heaven. - -Cf. Castrén, _Finsk Mytologi_, p. 66, and "Kalevala," Run. 17, line 478. -The Rev. Dr. Taylor kindly points out Dr. Donner's observation in his -_Lieder der Lappen_, p. 55: "Diese Anschauung ist doch bekanntlich auch -unter den arischen Völkern vielfach verbreitet." - -For the discovery of the hero by his shooting, and the rest of the -incidents of the story, cf. _Grimm_, ii. "The Skilful Huntsman," p. 103, -and notes, p. 412: and the marshal in "The Two Brothers," _Grimm_, i. p. -252. In the Lapp. _Friis_, No. 18, the Vesle boy compels the nobles who -go out shooting with him to give him the rings they had received from -the princesses they are betrothed to, before he will give them some -ptarmigan he had shot, and which they are anxious to have, as they had -been unsuccessful in their search for game; and this in order to prevent -false boasting on the part of the nobles, as we find in other variants. -Juanillo, in the Spanish tale, makes each of his brothers give him a -golden pear, and then one of their ears; and next insists upon branding -them on the shoulder, as if they were his slaves: and so in the end -proves their treacherous conduct; see _Patrañas_, "Simple Johnny," p. -38. - -In "Gutten, Havfruen, og Ridder Rød," from Lyngen, _Friis_, p. 131, -Knight Red[15] acts the part of a traitor, and is shown to be so by the -hero, who exhibits part of a ring, the other part of which the princess -has, and which they broke when the lad entered the princess' tower to -fetch the king's sword, which was hidden there. The reward for bringing -it to the battle-field being the princess' hand. - -See also Ritter Red in "Shortshanks," and the "Big Bird Dan," pp. 155, -443, in Dasent's _Tales from the Norse_. - -In a Russian tale (_Afanassieff_, vi. 52), Ivan, by the help of his -animals, kills the twelve-headed serpent that is killing all his people, -and then goes to sleep on the princess's knees. A water-carrier passing -cuts off Ivan's head, and presents himself as the hero. The beasts -return, and find a crow upon Ivan's body, which they spare on condition -that it brings the water of life and death. (This incident occurs in the -Finnish "Golden Bird" a raven coming with its young ones to eat the -corpse.) Ivan is resuscitated, and the water-carrier punished. -_Gubernatis_, vol. i. 216. Dogs restore the dead hero to life in the -story of "John and the Amulet." _Folk-Lore Record_, 1884, p. 197. The -candle at the princesses' heads suggests the Indian stories which tell -of sticks placed at the head or feet, and whilst they are there the girl -cannot move. _Stokes_, pp. 54, 186. - - - - -THE LAZY SPINNING GIRL WHO BECAME A QUEEN. Kriza, iv. - - -The story of the mannikin who is clever at spinning or weaving is -widespread. Thus, in a rubric of the "Catalan" map of the world, in the -National Library at Paris, the date of which map has been fixed at A.D. -1375, we read, "Here [N.W. of Catayo] grow little men who are but five -palms in length; and though they be little, and not fit for weighty -matters, yet they be brave and _clever at weaving_, and at keeping -cattle...." (Col. Yule's translation in _Cathay, and the Way Thither_.) - -A Swedish story tells how a young newly-married girl is terribly upset -by the constant calls of household work; and one morning, in despair at -the many things to be done, she shut herself in the room, and, throwing -herself on the couch, wept bitterly, saying, "Oh, unhappy me! Is there -no one to help me, or comfort a poor woman?" "I can," said a voice; and -lo! there was the old man of Hoberg, a good sprite, who had been a -friend to the family for generations. - -"You bewail your slave life," said the old man, "but that comes from -your want of practice in real work. I will give you ten obedient -servants who will faithfully assist you in all your doings." Just then -he shook his coat, and ten droll little creatures sprang out, and began -to put the room in order. "Stretch forth your hands to me," said the old -man. Elsa tremblingly put out her hands to the old man, who said-- - - - "Tummetott, Hjertehand - Slikepott, Lille Per Roligman." - Långestång,[16] - - -"Be quick and take your places!" In a moment the ministering spirits -disappeared into Elsa's fingers, and the old man vanished. - -The young wife sat staring at her hands for a time, but soon felt a -strange desire to work. - -"Here am I sitting dreaming," said she, with unwonted cheerfulness, "and -it's already seven o'clock. Everyone is waiting for me," she continued; -and, hurrying out, she began her work. From that time she was the model -housewife of the district; see _Hofberg_, p. 58. "De tio tjenstandarna," -from Småland.[17] - -Cf. the mannikin called "Panczimanczi," in Lad. Arany's "_Eredeti -Népmesék_," p. 277. His height is half an ell, his moustache two ells, -his beard three ells long. He is seen leaping merrily over a fire, and -heard singing the following: "I am Panczimanczi; no one knows my name; I -roast, I cook, I boil; the day after to-morrow I shall fetch my pretty -bride home." - -In Kriza's tale his name is Dancing Vargaluska. "How the name is held to -be part of the very being of the man who bears it, so that by it his -personality may be carried away, and, so to speak, grafted elsewhere, -appears in the way in which the sorcerer uses it as a means of putting -the life of his victim into the image upon which he practises;" _e.g._ -the widespread making of wax images to represent certain persons, and -then melting them, that the persons named may waste away. Magyar -peasants say, that hair combings must not be thrown away, lest the birds -get them, and build them in their nests; for whilst they are doing so, -you will have headache; and again, if a young girl wishes to compel a -young man to marry her she must steal something from the young man, and -take it to a witch, who adds to it three beans, three bulbs of garlic, a -few pieces of dry coal, and a dead frog. These are all put into an -earthenware pot, and placed under the threshold, with the words, "Lord -of the infernal regions and of the devils, and possessor of the hidden -treasure, give to N. or M. some incurable illness (or inflame him with -unquenchable love for N. or M.), and I will join you." - -See also "The two Orphans," where the witch's daughter steals a lock of -the queen's hair, p. 222. Cf. the Finnish method of curing "knarr" -(German "Knirrband"), a complaint that is common at harvest-time among -those who are not used to the reaping-hook. Amongst its symptoms are -curious crackings of the wrist. The sick one asks someone who is well -"to chop his knarr" for him, which is done as follows. The patient lays -his sick hand upon a chopping block, and three pieces of three-jointed -straw are so laid, side by side, as to correspond joint for joint. The -"doctor" then takes an axe, and chops with all his strength into the -block through the first joint. "What are you chopping?" asks the sick -one. "I'm chopping the 'knarr' out of your joint into the wood." The -same question and answer is repeated after second blow; after the last -blow the chopper cries "Now he's gone!" In North Germany the ceremony is -performed on the threshold, and ends with the sign of the cross. Cf. -_Finnish Folk-Lore_ in "_Notes and Queries_," 6th S. xi. p. 23. Also, -_Suomen Muinaismuisto-Yhdistyksen Aikakauskirja_, v. p. 103. - -Algerian peasants have a great objection to their portraits being taken; -and Holderness folks rub warts with stolen beef, &c., and let it rot, -saying the warts will disappear with the decaying of the meat, &c., &c. -"A similar train of thought shows itself in the belief that the -utterance of the name of a deity gives to man a means of direct -communication with the being who owns it, or even places in his hands -the supernatural power of that being, to be used at his will." Tylor's -_Early History of Mankind_, pp. 124, 129, and Lubbock's _Origin of -Civilisation_, p. 245. - -Cf. Swedish "Jätten Finn och Lunds domkyrka." _Hofberg_, p. 12. The -giant promises to build a church for the white Christ if Laurentius can -find out his name, and if not he must forfeit his eyes-- - - - "Helt visst - Är hvite krist - En gud, som sitt temple är värdig. - Jag bygger det jag, om du säger mig blott - Hvad namn jag fått, - Se'n kyrkan är murad och färdig. - Men kan du ej säga mitt namn, välan, - Du vise man! - Gif akt på hvad vite jag sätter: - Då måste du ge mig åt mina små - De facklor två, - Som vandra på himmelens slätter."[18] - - -Laurentius found out that the giant's name was "Finn" by hearing the -giantess hush her crying child. - -Similar tales are told of many churches. _E.g._ Drontheim Cathedral, -where the giant is called "Skalle"; see Sjöborg, _Collections_, Part ii. -p. 182. Of Eskilssäter's Church, where the giant's name was "Kinn," see -Fernow, _Verml. Beskr_, i. p. 318. - -Also of a church in Norrland, where St. Olaf found out the troll's name, -"Wind and Weather," see _Iduna_, vol. iii. p. 60; and about Kallundborgs -Church, in Själland, cf. Thiele, _Danske Folkesagn_, i. p. 43. - -_Tales from the Land of Hofer_, "The Wild Jäger and the Baroness"; -secret name, "Buzinigala," p. 110. - -In the _Land of Marvels_, Vernaleken, "Winterkolble," p. 24; and -"Kruzimügeli," p. 28. - -_Grimm_. vol. i. "Rumpelstiltskin," pp. 221, 412.[19] - -The tale appears to be confused towards the end, the three deformed -beggars being the three aunts of the Norse; see _Dasent_, p. 222. The -ordinary story has no dwarf or secret name in it; cf. Spanish tale of -"Guardian Spirits," in _Caballero_, p. 64. - -Also, _Patrañas_, "What Anna saw in the Sunbeam," p. 193. - -And in _Portuguese Folk-Tales_. "The Aunts." _Folk-Lore Soc_. p. 79. - -On the other hand, in the Swedish story from Upland the girl who could -spin gold from clay and long straw was helped by a dwarf whose name -turned out to be "Titteli Ture!". See Thorpe's _Yule Tales_, p. 168. - -See also, _Grimm_, ii. p. 163, "The Lazy Spinner," in which the woman by -her wit contrives to evade her spinning; notes, p. 428. The Finnish -story of "The Old Woman's Loom," from Korpo, is almost identical with -Grimm's. - - - - -THE ENVIOUS SISTERS. Kriza, v. - - -Cf. the beginning of the tale "The Three Princesses," in the present -volume, p. 144. The tale is frequently found in Hungary, also amongst -the Germans and Servians. - -For cruelty towards the best (generally the youngest), cf. pp. 36, 152, -182 in this collection; _Chaucer_ and _Boccacio_; _Grimm_, i. "The Girl -without Hands," p. 127, and Notes, p. 378. The Finnish variant tells how -there was once a brother and sister, and when the father was dying he -said to his son, "Treat your sister well." All went on comfortably until -the brother married a girl who was "the devil's wife's daughter," and -before long, owing to her slanders, the sister was turned out. The girl -then went to the king's castle, and lived there as a beggar. In the -spring the king's son went to sow his field, and said: "Who first eats -of these peas, she shall be my wife." This he said in a joke to the -others. But the girl was there, behind the fence, and she heard and -remembered it all. - -Summer came--the peas were ripe. Then the girl dug a hole under the -fence, and went and ate some peas. Suddenly the king's son remembered -his pea-field, and thought, "I will go and see how the peas are getting -on." He went and saw some one had been eating them, and so he watched for -some time, and lo! a girl came cautiously through a hole and began to -eat the peas. The king's son seized her and carried her home in a sheet. -Then he dressed her in a royal dress, and made her ready to be his wife, -as a king's bride ought to be. They lived together till the king's son -made his wife pregnant, then he was obliged to go to the war, and he -said to his wife, "If you have a boy send me a letter, and I will come -back: if it is a girl, send me a letter, and I will come back when I -can." Well! the wife had a son. She sent a letter asking her husband to -come home at once, and sent a slave with it. The slave went to spend the -night in the girl's home. When he had been there a little time the -mistress said, "Would you like to sleep here?" "Yes," answered the -messenger, and began to bathe; but the devil's daughter, in the -meantime, opened his bag and changed the letter's meaning, and put "a -female child is born." The slave knew nothing of it, but set off with -the letter to the king's son. When he read it he sent the same slave -back with the answer, "I will come when I have time," and the slave -returned. On his way he came to the same house, and the mistress in the -same way sent him to the bath and opened the bag and changed the letter, -"As the child is born, the woman must put off the royal dress and put on -her own rags, and she may, with her child, go where she likes." The -slave brought the letter to the wife, who did as the letter said, and -set off begging and moaning. She began to be thirsty, and sought for -water in the wood. In a little time she found a well, where there was -wonderfully clear water and a beautiful golden ladle. She put down her -child, and went a little way from the well. When the child was alone it -stretched out to the ladle and fell head first into the well. The mother -rushed to help him and got her child out before he was drowned. Wherever -the water touched her she became much more beautiful and white. The -child also became like no other in the world. The woman set off with her -child, and at last came to her own home, where her brother was still -living with his wife. She was not recognised, and asked for a night's -lodging. The mistress shouted, "Outside the door is a good place for -you." "Very well," said the woman, and stayed there with her child all -night. - -She sat there all night, and the king with his soldiers from the war -came there. As the king walked in his room, the woman let her child -crawl on the floor. It crawled to the king, who took it and said, "Who -are you, poor woman, who are so beautiful, and have so handsome a -child?" "I have been in this house before, but my sister-in-law hated -me." "Hold your noise, you blackguard," shouted the woman, and wished -to stop her. But the other went on, "My sister-in-law hated me, and -thrashed me, and drove me away almost dead. I then went to the king's -castle, and became the king's son's wife. When I was pregnant the king's -son went to war, and I sent him a letter that I had got a boy; but he -was so angry, that he ordered me and my child out; and so I had to leave -a good home." "Hold your noise!" shouted the brother's wife again. But -the king said, "I am lord here;" and the woman continued and explained -all. The brother's wife again shouted, "Hold your noise, you -good-for-nothing!" Then the king seized her by the hair, and hanged her -from the gutter, and took his wife and boy home, and they lived happily. -If they are yet alive, I don't know. "Neitonen Hernemaassa."--"The maid -in the pea-field," _S. ja T._ 1, p. 116.--Cf. "Neitonen Kuninkaan -Sadussa," ("The maid in the king's garden,") _id_. 108; "Pigen uden -Haender," in _Udwalgte Eventyr og Fortaellinger, en Laesebog for Folket -og for den barnlige Werden_, (Copenhagen, 1843). No. 48, p. 258; "The -Girl without Hands," p. 182, in this collection; and Steere's _Swahili -Tales_. "Blessing and Property," p. 403. - -The Finnish tale, "Tynnyrissä kaswanut Poika," ("The boy who grew in a -barrel,") _S. ja T._ 1, 105, tells how a king's son heard the three -daughters of a peasant woman talking. The eldest said, "I would like to -make all sorts of foods and drinks out of one corn;" the middle one, "I -would like to make all sorts of clothes out of one flax thread;" the -youngest said, "I don't like work, but will bear children three times, -and have three sons each time, who shall have: - - - "Kun kupeesta kuumottawi, - Päiwyt ompi pääla' ella, - Käet on kultaa kalwoisesta, - Jal'at hopeiset polwista." - - "The moon shining in the temples, - The sun on the top of the head, - Hands of gold to the wrist, - Feet of silver from the knees." - - -The king's son marries the youngest girl and, when she is pregnant, goes -to war. She bears three sons, which the midwife exchanges for three -whelps; the same thing happens a second time; and also a third time, -when the wife manages to save one son. The people insist upon her being -sent away; and so she and her child (which she takes secretly in her -bosom) are put in a barrel and thrown into the sea. The barrel grows too -small, so the lad kicks the bottom out, and they land, and live in a -hut, where the woman makes nine cakes of her milk, and finds her other -eight boys. The king's son soon discovers them, and all goes well. The -changed letter also occurs in Antti Puuhaara. - -Cf. Hahn, _Griechische Märchen_; "Sun, Moon, and Morning Star;" in which -the king's son marries all the three girls. - -_Deccan Days_, "Truth's Triumph," p. 54, where Guzra Bai had one hundred -and one children, which the nurse threw out of the palace on the -dust-heap, and substituted stones for them. - -_In the Land of Marvels_, "The Blackbird," p. 34. - -Stokes' _Indian Tales_. "The boy who had a moon on his forehead, and a -star on his chin:" also Phúlmati Ráni who had on her head the sun; on -her hands, moons; and her face was covered with stars. - -Gonzenbach, _Sicilianische Märchen_, vol. i. p. 19. - -Stier, _Ungarische Volksmärchen_: "Die verwandelten Kinder." - -Stier, _Ungarische Sagen_: "Die beiden jüngsten Königskinder." - -Schott, _Wallachische Märchen_: "Die goldenen Kinder." - -_Gubernatis_, vol. i p. 412, says, "In the European story, when the -beautiful princess, in the absence of the prince, her husband, gives -birth to two beautiful sons, the witch induces the absent prince to -believe that, instead of real sons, his young wife has given birth to -pups. In the seventh story of the third book of Afanassieff, the young -queen gives birth, during the king's absence, to two sons, of whom one -has the moon on his forehead, and the other a star on the nape of his -neck (the Açvinâu). The wicked sister of the young queen buries the -children. Where they were buried a golden sprout and a silver one sprung -up. A sheep feeds upon these plants, and gives birth to two lambs, -having, the one the sun on its head, the other a star on its neck. The -wicked sister, who has meanwhile been married to the king, orders them -to be torn in pieces, and their intestines to be thrown out into the -road. The good lawful queen has them cooked, eats them, and again gives -birth to her two sons, who grow up hardy and strong, and who, when -interrogated by the king, narrate to him the story of their origin: -their mother is recognised, and becomes once more the king's wife. The -wicked sister is put to death." In vol. ii. p. 30, another story of -Afanassieff, bk. iii. 13, is quoted, which resembles the "Envious -Sisters"; also a Servian story, p. 31, where the cut-off hands are -replaced by golden ones, by means of the ashes of three burned hairs -from the tails of a black stallion and a white mare. Reference is also -made to _Pentamerone_, bk. iii. No. 2; _Afanassieff_, bk. iii. No. 6; -_the Mediæval Legends of St. Uliva_, by Prof. A. d'Ancona, Pisa, Nistri, -1863; and, _Figlia del Re di Dacia_, by Prof. A. Wesselofski, Pisa, -Nistri, 1866. - -Cf. Notes in _Stokes_, pp. 242, 250; _Grimm_, vol. i.: "The Gold -Children," p. 333. - -_Portuguese Tales_, by Pedroso: "The Maiden with the Rose on her -Forehead," _F.L.S._ p. 65. - - - - -KNIGHT ROSE. Kriza vi. - - -In folk-stories we often find the heroes erecting some post or pole, or -leaving some article behind them, which will tell of their danger. Cf. -"The Three Princes," p. 111 of this volume. In "The Two Brothers," -(_Grimm_, vol. i. p. 244,) the foster-father gave to each of the boys a -bright knife, and said, "If ever you separate, stick this knife into a -tree at the place where you part, and then when one of you goes back, he -will be able to see how his absent brother is faring, for the side of -the knife which is turned in the direction by which he went will rust if -he dies, but will remain bright as long as he lives." Cf. "The Gold -Children," where death is shown by the drooping of the brother's gold -lily: and notes, _ib._ p. 453. - -In the Russian story "Ivan Popyalof" (_Afanassieff_, ii. 30), Ivan hung -up his gloves, and said to his brothers, "Should blood drop from my -gloves, make haste to help me." - -In "Marya-Morevna" (_Afanassieff_ viii. No. 8), the silver left by -Prince Ivan turned black when evil befell him. - -In "Koschei, the Deathless" (_Afanassieff_, ii. 24), Prince Ivan let -some drops of blood run from his little finger into a glass, gave it to -his brothers, and said "If the blood in this glass turns black, tarry -here no longer; that will mean I am about to die." - -See Ralston's _Russian Folk-Tales_, pp. 67, 88, 102.--The Serbian story -of "The Three Brothers" tells how the brothers stuck their knives into -an oak tree, and when a knife fell out it was a sign that the owner was -dead. Vide _Denton_, p. 273. - -In "Five to One," _Sagas from the Far East_, p. 107, six youths set out -and travelled till they came to where six streams met, and each planted -a tree at the head of the stream he chose, and if any tree withered away -it was a sign evil had befallen its planter. - -In the Greek story, "Sun, Moon, and Morning Star," (Hahn, _Griechische -Märchen_,) the brothers give their sisters two shirts, and if they -become black it means misfortune.--Cf. also _Folk-Lore Record_, vol. i. -p. 207. - -In the curious Egyptian story of the "Two Brothers," the younger brother -says to the elder one, "When thou shalt take a jug of beer into thy hand -and it turns into froth, then delay not; for to thee of a certainty is -the issue coming to pass." _Records of the Past_, vol. ii. p. 144. - -See also Isìlakòlona in "Malagasy Folk-Tales," _Folk-Lore Journal_, -1884, p. 130. - -In folk-stories the giants were gifted with a keen sense of smell; and -no sooner did they enter the room where a man was than they knew of his -being there. The Norwegians and Swedes have stories of beings, which are -called "Trynetyrk," or "Hundetyrk," and so have the Lapps and Finns. The -Lapps call them "Bædnag-njudne," _i.e._, dog's nose; and the Finns, -"Koiran-Kuonalanien," which means the same. These monsters were men who -had noses like dogs, and so could track men by their scent. They were -said to be enormously large, and to have had one eye in the middle of -their forehead; and were much dreaded on account of their being -cannibals. A Lapp story tells how once a Lapp girl got lost, and came to -a Bædnag-njudne's house. He was not at home, but his wife was. The girl -was little, poor, and quite benumbed by the cold, and looked so -terrified that the wife thought it would be a sin for Bædnag-njudne to -eat her when he came home. So she took her and hid her under her gown. -When Bædnag-njudne came home, he at once began to sniff about, and said, -"I smell some one." His wife said all sorts of things to make him -believe it was not so; and, when she did not dare to conceal the girl -any longer, she let her out of the house secretly, and told her to fly -for her life. Meanwhile, Bædnag-njudne was long sniffing about the -house; and when he could not find anyone inside he went outside, and -soon found the footprints. So soon as the girl saw the monster was after -her, in her terror she sprang from a bridge and hid herself under it. So -the monster lost the track, and the girl was saved. _Friis_, p. 43.--Cf. -"Jack the Giant Killer," where the giant says, - - - "Fa, fe, fi, fo, fum, - I smell the blood of an Englishman; - Be he alive, or be he dead, - I'll grind his bones to make my bread." - _Grimm_, vol. ii. p. 504. - - -In the northern ballad we are told how a girl is carried off by the -fairies. Two of her brothers set off to rescue her, but fail, because -they do not carry out Merlin's instructions. The third one succeeds; -and, while he sits talking to his sister, the hall doors fly open and -the elf king comes in shouting: - - - "With _fi_, _fe_, _fa_, and _fum_, - I smell the blood of a Christian man, - Be he dead, be he living, with my brand, - I'll clash his harns frae his harn pan." - - -See Dr. Jamieson's _Illustrations of Northern Antiquities_. - -In the Eskimo story of "The Girl who fled to the Inlanders," (_Rink_, p. -218,) the inlanders know a coast woman has come, by the smell: In -"Inuarutligak," we are told of singular people, whose upper parts are -human, and lower little dogs: and are endowed with a keen sense of -smell.--Cf. p. 199, in this collection. - -The cutting up of the hero's body reminds us of the Egyptian story of -Typhon cutting up Osiris, who is restored to life by Horus; see _Uarda_, -note to cap. viii. Cf. also _Sagas from the Far East_, tale v. p. 75, -and _Vernaleken_, "The Three White Doves," p. 269. - -In the Eskimo stories the heroes are restored to life by the singing of -certain mystic songs. - -In the legend of Gurû Guggâ, the bullocks are restored to life by the -singing of charms; Temple's _Legends of the Punjâb_, p. 124. Cf. -_Grimm_, vol. ii. "Water of Life," and note, p. 399; Ralston's _Russian -Tales_, p. 236. - -The "wound-healing grass"[20] is in all probability flixweed -(_Sisymbrium Sophia_), the Magyar name for which signifies -"wound-healing leaf;" see article on Székely Folk-Medicine in _Folk-Lore -Record_, April, 1884, p. 98, and the Finnish story of "Golden Bird." - -With regard to the passage "Rose ... was so beautiful that though you -could look at the sun you could not look at him," cf. the reply of -Curidach to Attila, as related by Priscus. "He, (Attila,) then invited -Curidach, chieftain of the Akatziri, to come and celebrate their joint -triumph at his court, but that chieftain, suspecting that his -benefactor's kindness was of the same nature as the promised boon of -Polyphemus to Ulysses, courteously declined, saying, 'It is hard for a -man to come into the presence of a god, and if it be not possible to -look fixedly even at the orb of the sun, how shall Curidach gaze -undistressed upon the greatest of God's' (_i.e._ Attila)." _Italy and -her Invaders_, by T. Hodgkin, London, 1880, vol. ii. p. 84. - -The story of a girl assuming a snake's skin reminds us of the daughter -of Ypocras, who dwelt at Lango, in the form of a great dragon; see _The -Voyages and Travels of Sir John Maundeville_, cap. iv. See also, -"Snake-skin," in this collection, p. 283.--A Snake Friend occurs in the -Swahili "Blessing or Property," (_Steere_, p. 405); in the Finnish -"Haastelewat Kuuset," ("The Talking Pines,"); in "Melusina," B. Gould's -_Curious Myths_, p. 471, and in Keightley's _Fairy Mythology_, p. -480.--In the Norse story of the "Three Princesses of Whiteland," -(_Dasent_, p. 210,) the princesses gradually rise out of the earth as -the lad destroys the trolls. See also _Vernaleken_, "The Fisher's Son," -p. 250. - -In the Serbian tale of "The Three Brothers," _Denton_, p. 275, the witch -destroys two of the brothers, having first persuaded them to throw one -of her hairs on their animals. The third brother resuscitates them, and -all goes well. Cf. "The Enchanted Doe," in _Pentamerone_.[21] - -Cf. "To Lappepiger gifte sig med Stall," _Friis_, 106, and "Ivan, -Kupiskas Son," _Friis_, p. 170. Cf. exhaustive note in Stokes's _Indian -Tales_, pp. 163, 268; and the Portuguese tale, "Slices of Fish," in -_Pedroso: Folk-Lore Society_, p. 102. For animals that help, cf. "The -Three Princes," p. 113 of this volume. - -To defeat a witch by drawing her blood is well known in the lore of the -people. - -Cf. Lapp stories, "Ulta Pigen," where the lad catches an Ulta girl by -pricking her in the hand with a pin, so as to draw blood. A similar -incident occurs in "Goveiter Pige," from Næsseby. In "Bondesønnen, -Kongesønnen og Solens Søster," from Tanen, the herd is told to prick his -bride (who has gone from him on account of his looking behind) in her -hand till blood comes, and then suck the drop off. He did so and secured -his bride. _Friis_, pp. 23, 39, 140. - -The same superstition is well known in the North of England. In -Lincolnshire there is a tale still told (1888) of a farmer who could not -get his horses to go past a certain cottage until he got down and -thrashed the old woman, who lived there, till the blood came. Whereupon -the horses went past without further ado. In Sykes's _Local Records_ of -Newcastle-upon-Tyne, under March 26th, 1649, we are told how it was -decided that certain women were witches, because blood did not come when -they were pricked with pins by the "witch-finder." See also _Witch -Stories_ by L. Linton, p. 260, &c. - -We must not feel surprised when we learn that it is still customary -among the Servians and other half-civilised nations to subject women who -are suspected as witches to the trial by water, since there are still -many persons living who can remember the same thing having been done in -the Netherlands and Germany. Thus, in 1823, it went through all the -papers that a middle-aged woman at Delten, in Guelderland, being -suspected of being a witch, volunteered herself to prove her innocence -by the trial of water, that the trial actually took place in broad -daylight before a crowd of people in a neighbouring canal, and that the -result of the trial turned out in her favour. The following case is more -horrible. It happened about thirteen years after the above date on the -Peninsula Hela, near Dantzic. A man living in the Cassubian village -Ceynowa was taken ill with dropsy, and a quack pointed out a poor widow -fifty-one years old, and mother of five young children, as the witch who -had caused the man's illness. In order to force her to undo the charm, -the quack beat her and jumped on her in a most brutal manner, and she -was led to the bed of the patient, who beat her with a stick until she -was covered with blood. Not content with this, the quack and some -fishermen took her into a boat and rowed out to sea twice; they tied her -hands and threw her into the water. On the second occasion they towed -her after the boat so long that the poor creature was drowned. The -further particulars are so revolting that one is apt to think that one -reads a description of a punishment among the cannibals. And this -happened in the Prussian State in the month of August of the year -1836!--From _Die Gartenlaube_, December 1884. - -See also _Folk-Lore Record_, vol. v. p. 156, and Feb. 1883, p. 58; and -Henderson's _Folk-Lore of Northern Counties_, p. 181, and notes, which -says, "In Brittany, if the lycanthropist be scratched above the nose, so -that three drops of blood are extracted, the charm is broken. In -Germany, the werewolf has to be stabbed with knife or pitchfork thrice -on the brows before it can be disenchanted." - -_Restoration to Life_. Cf. "Marya Morevna," _Ralston_, p. 91; Panch-Phul -Ranee, _Frere_, p. 140; "Loving Lailí," _Stokes_, p. 83, where Majnún is -restored to life by Lailí cutting her little finger inside her hand -straight down from the top of her nail to her palm, out of which the -blood gushed like healing medicine; and the Bél-Princess, where the -blood of the little finger again comes in. Also "Golden Hair," _Nauké_, -p. 108, and the Lapp story "Ivan," _Friis_, p. 176. Mr. Quigstad, of -Tromsø, to whose courtesy and learning I am deeply indebted, says he has -heard a similar incident in a Lapp story from Lyngen. - - - - -PRINCE MIRKÓ. Kriza, xiii. - - -_Page 59_. In the Finnish "Leppäpölkky" ("Alder Block"), _S. ja T_. ii. -p. 2, one half of the castle laughs and one half cries. The crying being -on account of a great three-headed snake which arose from the sea, and -would devour half the castle, half the men, and half the precious stones -if the king did not give his eldest daughter in their stead. - -_Page 63_. The Tátos is a mythic horse possessed of the most marvellous -powers. It is generally represented (as in the present tale) as being a -most wretched creature to begin with. Cf. "The Little Magic Pony," p. -157; "The Three Princes, &c.," p. 197, where it is hatched from a -five-cornered black egg; "the wretched foal which lies seven fathoms -deep in the dung-heap," in "The Pelican," p. 256; the ugly creature in -"The Girl with the Golden Hair," p. 264; and the piebald in the -"Fairies' Well," p. 289. It feeds on burning cinders, and its breath -changes the most wretched things into the most glorious. Sometimes, -however, the first breath has an extraordinary effect, as _e.g._ p. 198, -where Ambrose becomes like "a diseased sucking pig." The name is still a -favourite one among the peasants for their horses. The word Tátos also -meant a priest in the old pagan days, but it never has this meaning in -the folk-tales. - - -The Tátos also appears in "Die Königstöchter," in Mailáth's _Magyarische -Sagen_, vol. i. p. 61. See also "Zauberhelene," vol. ii. of the same -collection, where we are told "Taigarot war ein wunderbares Pferd; es -verstand die Reden der Menschen, antwortete auch und hatte neun Füsze." -The whole story tells how Argilus carries off his wife, Helen, from the -power of Holofernes, the fire-king, who has got her in his underground -home. Taigarot belongs to Holofernes, and tells him where Helen is -carried off, and so he recovers her. Argilus hears that the magic horse -has a younger brother still more powerful although possessing but four -legs. This horse belongs to one Iron nose, a witch, and so Argilus -enters her service in order to obtain it. His duties are, first to -control the witch's stud of brazen horses; next to look after her -twelve black mares, who are her daughters, and then to milk them, and -make a bath of their milk. He manages to do all by means of a magic -staff, and so obtains the horse; whilst the witch is burnt to death in -the bath which she thinks will make her young. The horse tells Argilus -to wash it in the bath, and it at once becomes the colour of gold, and -from every hair hangs a golden bell. With this horse Argilus carries off -his wife. Holofernes follows on Taigarot, and not being able to overtake -them, digs his spurs into Taigarot, who in his indignation at such -treatment kicks Holofernes off, and so breaks his neck. - -For magic horses in other lands cf. the following tales:--the Finnish -"Oriiksi Muntettu Poika;" "The Little White Horse" in "Ferdinand the -Faithful," _Grimm_, ii. p. 156; Katar, in "The Bay with a Moon and -Star," _Stokes_, p. 131, which becomes changed by twisting his right -ear; "Weisnittle," in Stier's _Ungarische Volksmärchen_, p. 61; -Sleipnir, Odin's eight-legged horse that used to carry the father of the -gods as swift as the wind over land and sea, in Wagner's _Asgard and the -Gods;_ and "Bayard, Faithful Bayard!" the good steed in the Carolingian -Legends in Wagner's _Epics and Romances of the Middle Ages_, pp. -367-396; "the shaggy dun filly" in "The Young King of Easaidh Ruadh," in -_Campbell's Tales of the Western Highlands_, vol. i. p. 4; and the -"steed," in "The Rider of Grianaig," vol iii. p. 14 of the same book. - -A magic horse appears in the Lapp story "Jætten og Veslegutten," (The -Giant and the Vesle Boy), from Hammerfest; _Friis_, p. 48. In this case -it assists the boy to escape from the giant, and to marry a king's -daughter; and finally becomes a prince when its head is cut off. "A -winged horse" appears in "Ivan, Kupiskas Søn," a story from Akkala, in -Russian Finland; _Friis_, p. 170. In "Jætten Katten og Gutten" (the -Giant, the Cat, and the Boy), from Alten, _Friis_, p. 63, the boy saves -the giant's son from a troll cat, and is told by the lad he saves, that -his father will offer him a gold horse and "a miserable one," and he is -to be sure and choose the miserable one; and in like manner he was to -choose a miserable box, and a miserable flute, in preference to golden -ones, which would be offered to him. There is a somewhat similar Finnish -story, "Paholaisen antamat Soittoneuwot" (Musical Instruments Given by -the Devil), _S. ja T._, vol. i. p. 181, where the hero, when in the -woods, sees the devil[22] running for his life, with a pack of wolves at -his heels. The lad shoots into the pack, killing one wolf, and thus -terrifying the rest. The grateful devil promises the lad whatever he -wishes. Acting on the advice of a maid in the devil's house, he asks -"for the mare which is in the third stall, on the right-hand side of the -stable." The devil is very loath to give this, but is obliged to do so, -and gives the boy a kantele, a fiddle, and a flute besides. The mare -acts the part of a Tátos for part of the tale, and then changes into a -woman, being the wife of the king, who appears at the latter part of the -story, and who orders the hero to perform difficult tasks. The kantele -is like the fiddle in the "Jew in a thicket" (_Musical Myths_, vol. ii. -p. 122; _Grimm_, vol. ii. p. 97), it makes every one dance that hears -it. The woman drops out of the story, and the persecuting king is kicked -up into the clouds by the irate devil who comes to help the hero, and is -never heard of again. - -A horse that can talk plays a prominent part in another Finnish tale, -"The Golden Bird."--"Dapplegrim" is the magic foal in the Norse; see -_Dasent_, pp. 313 and 367. See also the "brown foal" in _Grimm_, "Two -Brothers," No. 107, and the "white horse," in "Ferdinand the Faithful," -No. 126, and _note_. - -Note also horses in "Der goldne Vogel," "Das Zauberross," and "Der Knabe -und der Schlange," in Haltrich's, _Siebenbuergische Märchen_; "La Belle -aux cheveux d'or," in _Contes des Fées_, par Mme. D'Aulnoy; "Schönchen -Goldhaar," _Märchensaal aller Völker für Jung und Alt_, Dr. Kletke, i. -p. 344; "Der goldne Apfelbaum," in Kaiadschitsch, _Volksmärchen der -Serben_, p. 33; and Denton, p. 43. Enchanted horses play a prominent -part in "Simple Johnny," p. 36, and "The Black Charger of Hernando," p. -292, in _Patranas or Spanish Stories_.--Cf. "The little Mare" from -Mentone, _F. L. Record_, vol. iii. p. 44. The Russians tell of "a sorry -colt rolling in the muck," which possesses marvellous powers in "Marya -Morevna," _Ralston_, p. 94; and in "Koshchei, the Deathless," there is -an heroic steed, _ibidem_, p. 101. See also "Ivan Kruchina," _Naake_, p. -124. "The marvellous white horse" appears also in Austria; see _Land of -Marvels_, pp. 48, 256, 260, 272, 342. - -In the story of the third royal mendicant, in the _Arabian Nights_, Agib -mounts a black horse and flies through the air. Similar incidents will -be found in Nos. 1, 2, 4, 10, 17 of Dietrich's _Runische Volksmärchen_. -Several variants, together with the author's view of their significance, -are to be found in _Gubernatis_, vol. i., chap. ii. - -The following, quoted from Stokes's _Fairy Tales_, p. 278, is worthy of -notice:-- - -"On the morning of the day which was to see his last fight, Cúchulainn -ordered his charioteer, Loeg, to harness the Gray to his chariot. 'I -swear to God what my people swears' said Loeg, 'though the men of -Conchobar's fifth (Ulster) were around the Gray of Macha, they could not -bring him to the chariot.... If thou wilt, come thou, and speak with the -Gray himself.' Cúchulainn went to him. And thrice did the horse turn his -left side to his master.... Then Cúchulainn reproached his horse, saying -that he was not wont to deal thus with his master. Thereat the Gray of -Macha came and let his big round tears of blood fall on Cúchulainn's -feet. The hero then leaps into his chariot and goes to battle. At last -the Gray is sore wounded, and he and Cúchulainn bid each other farewell. -The Gray leaves his master; but when Cúchulainn, wounded to death, has -tied himself to a stone pillar to die standing, then came the Gray of -Macha to Cúchulainn to protect him so long as his soul abode in him, and -the 'hero's light' out of his forehead remained. Then the Gray of Macha -wrought the three red routs all around him. And fifty fell by his teeth -and thirty by each of his hooves. This is what he slew of the host. And -hence is (the saying) 'Not keener were the victorious courses of the -Gray of Macha after Cúchulainn's slaughter.' Then Lugaid and his men cut -off the hero's head and right hand and set off, driving the Gray before -them. They met Conall the Victorious, who knew what had happened when -he saw his friend's horse. And he and the Gray of Macha sought -Cúchulainn at the pillar-stone. Then went the Gray of Macha and laid his -head on Cúchulainn's breast. And Conall said, 'A heavy care to the Gray -of Macha is that corpse.' Conall himself, in the fight he has with -Lugaid, to avenge his friend's slaughter, is helped by his own horse, -the Dewy-Red. When Conall found that he prevailed not, he saw his steed, -the Dewy-Red, by Lugaid. And the steed came to Lugaid and tore a piece -out of his side." - -("Cúchulainn's Death," abridged from the "Book of Leinster," in _Revue -Celtique_, Juin, 1877, pp. 175, 176, 180, 182, 183, 185). - -See also, Grimm's _Teutonic Mythology_, Stallybrass, vol. i. pp. 328, -392; McGregor's _Folk-Lore of the North-East of Scotland_, p. 131; and -Belludo, the goblin horse of Alhambra. Nor must we forget "Phooka," the -wild horse of Erin's isle. - -Note also the "Iliad"; cf. book ii. 760, book viii. 157, book x. 338, -473; specially Xanthus and Balius who talk, book xix. 440; and, -Martial's splendid epigram, beginning "Phosphore redde diem, cur gaudia -nostra moraris?" - -Thus on every side we find this noble creature entwined in the lore of -the people, from the peasants' dull superstition to great Milton's -song,-- - - - "Of the wondrous horse of brass, - On which the Tartar king did ride." - - -The horse still plays an important part in the folk-lore. Thus _e.g._ -Yorkshire people say, that if you see a piebald horse, and do not look -at his tail, or think of a fox, whatever you wish for will be granted; -also, that you must spit over your finger for luck when you see a white -horse. The four black horses and chariot still rush through Penzance -streets in the night, according to some, and the white horse is carried -by the Christmas mummers in various parts of England and Germany. In the -Midlands a horse's head and skin is dragged about on Christmas eve; a -simulacrum, as some think, of Odin's heroic steed. Cf. _Henderson_, p. -70, also F. Finn and Magyar Songs on St. Stephen's Day. _Academy_ 1884. -pp. 150, 315. - -_Page 63_. For breathing on old things and causing them to change, see -p. 92, where the baa-lambs restore the lad's body by blowing; and a -Finnish tale tells how a snake commands the hero to create with his -clean breath a copper battlefield that they may fight, and is told by -the man to create an iron one with his heathen breath, which he does; -and other snakes come in the story who in turn create copper and silver -battlefields, see Leppäpölkky, _S. ja T._ 2. - -Sometimes the change is effected by a bath, as in "Fairy Elizabeth," p. -110, _supra_. - -Cf. _Grimm_, "Iron John," vol. ii. p. 195. - -_Page 65._ A glass mountain appears in the "Iron Stove," _Grimm_, vol. -ii. p. 161; "the princess on the glass mountain" in Thorpe's _Yule-Tide -Stories_, p.86; and "The crystal mountain" in _Vernaleken_ p. 276. It -occurs also in a Lincolnshire story, where the forsaken wife sits at her -husband's door and sings: - - - "Bare bull of orange return to me, - For three fine babes I bore to thee, - And climbed a glass hill for thee, - Bare bull of orange return to me." - _Folk-Lore Journal_, 1885, p. 188.[23] - - -See also notes to "The Little Magic Pony," _infra_. - -The giant in "Handsome Paul," p. 26, like the Tátos in the present tale, -tells his friend to shut his eyes and open them at intervals on account -of the great speed they are going at; just as in the Finnish "Golden -Bird," the young man on the wolf's back is obliged to rub his eyes with -his handkerchief because the pace they are going at makes them water. In -the hurry he drops it and asks the wolf to stop a minute to pick it up -and is told it is already 1,000 miles behind them. - -_Page 66._ Knight Mezey's wonderful sword is one of a numberless group -of incidents wherein the sword plays an important part; in this story -Mirkó ordered out his magic sword to protect him while he slept, and -then to join with Knight Mezey's in mowing down the enemies. When he met -Doghead (p. 73), their swords in like manner flew out of the scabbards -and fought their masters' battles; and in the "Secret-keeping little -Boy," p. 233, in this collection, the hero is born with a scabbard at -his side, whilst a sword point appeared in the garden and grew as the -scabbard grew; this sword cut up into pulp any one who came near its -master on mischief bent. Alderblock's sword in the Finnish story in like -manner flew out and cut Syöjätär into mincemeat. The Greeks told of -"Harpé," the sword Hermes lent to Perseus, and of the honoured swords of -Ulysses and Achilles. - -Norse legends tell of wondrous swords, such as Odin's "Gram" that he -drove into an ash tree there to remain till the man should be found -strong enough to draw it out.[24] Cheru's sword, forged by the dwarfs, -"shone every morning on the high place of the sanctuary, sending forth -its light afar when dawn arose like a flame of fire;" then there is -Heimdal, born of nine mothers, the sword "Ase" of the Edda, who with his -mighty sword made even cunning Loki cry for mercy. - -In the Niebelungen there is "Balmung," craftily made by the dwarfs and -tempered in dragons' blood, wherewith Siegfried smote the giants, and -did mighty wonders, yea, even after its master's death slaying his -enemies, till at last it rested on his grave by Brunhild's side. Roland -wielded his good sword "Durindart," the gift of an angel, against the -Paynim foe and did great wonders. - -Dietrich in terrible conflict won "Eche-sax": Flammberg and the good -horse Bayard wrought wonders in the days of Haymon and his children: -Hunford's token of reconciliation to Beowulf, was the gift of "Hrunting" -hardened in dragon's blood: Nägling, Nagelring, and Rosen, too, smote -their worms, whilst "Mimung," good trusty Mimung, in the hands of -heroes, did mighty wonders, even splitting asunder a floating pack of -wool; and was so keen that Amilias did not know that Mimung had cut him -in two till he shook himself; and lo! he fell into two pieces. Wayland -Smith laboured in our own land, and brought forth a wondrous sword. - - - "Bitterfer, the sword hight, - Better swerde bar never knight. - Horn, to thee ich it thought, - - Is nought a knight in Inglond - Schal sitten a dint of thine hand; - Forsake thou it nought." - - -Charlemagne had his "Joyeuse"; Roland his "Durendal"; Arthur his -"Excalibur"-- - - - "All the haft twinkled with diamond sparks, - Myriads of topaz-lights, and jacinth work - Of subtlest jewellery." - - -A wondrous thing that "rose up out of the bosom of the lake," held by an -arm "clothed in white samite, mystic and wonderful;" and when the sword -was thrown back to the lake (its master's life being well nigh run) by -the bold Sir Bedivere-- - - - "behold an arm - Clothed in white samite, mystic and wonderful, - That caught him by the hilt, and brandish'd him - Three times, and drew him under in the mere." - - -Cf. Wagner's _Epics and Romance; Asgard and the Gods; Morte d'Arthur_, -book 1, cap. xxiii. and book 21, cap. v.; _Mythical and Mediæval -Swords_, by Lady Verney, in _Contemporary Review_, October, 1880; _The -Seven Champions of Christendom;_ and Payne's _Arabian Nights_, vol. xi. -pp. 129, 164. - -In the Finnish "Oriiksi muutettu poika," the devil has a wonderful -sword, which the hero obtains by the help of the horse: see also "The -Water Smith," Keightley's _Fairy Mythology_, p. 260.--"Shortshanks," in -_Dasent_, p. 153, gets possession of the only eye an old hag had, and so -obtained "a sword, such a sword! It would put a whole army to flight, be -it ever so great;" and certainly it chopped up sundry ogres later on in -the tale; cf. p. 188 in the same collection. - -The trap-door by which Mirkó entered the nether world appears in many -stories, such as "St. Patrick's Purgatory"; see Baring Gould's _Curious -Myths_, p. 230, and note to "Shepherd Paul" in this collection, _infra_. - -_Page 68._ In the Lapp stories it is said that if Stallo's[25] dog is -not killed as well as the monster himself, that it will lick its -master's blood and then Stallo will come to life again, just as the -witch in this story is evolved out of the morsels of unburnt ribs. See -"Stallo" and "Fogden i Vadsø, som gjorde sig til en Stallo," in _Friis_, -pp. 74, 97. - -_Page 71._ The flashing eyes of the princess remind us of the Gorgons. -Her repentance is like that of the queen in the Russian story, who slays -and restores the hero; _Ralston_, p. 235. - -The "strength-giving fluid" occurs in numerous stories, _e.g._, in the -Finnish stories, "Alder Block," _S. ja T._, ii., p. 2, and the -"Enchanted Horse," where the hero cannot move an immense sword until he -wets his head with the blood that is in a tub in the middle of the -forbidden room in the devil's house. Cf. also _Ralston_, p. 237; -_Dasent_, "The big bird Dan," pp. 445, 459; _Folk-Lore Record_, 1879, p. -99; and, "Irish Folk-Tales," _ibidem_, 1883, p. 55. - -Sometimes it is a belt or ointment that gives strength, as in "The Blue -Belt" and "The Three Princesses of Whiteland," in _Dasent_, pp. 178, -209. Cf. _ante_, p. 248. - -A daughter explains to the hero how to conquer her father, in Brockhaus, -_Märchensammlung des Somadeva Bhatta_, vol. i., p. 110. - -_Page 72._ In the Karelian story "Awaimetoin Wakka," _S. ja T._ i., p. -151, the lad threw a great iron pole against Vääräpyärä's castle, in -order to let the inmates know he was coming. In the Finnish "Alder -Block," _S. ja T._ ii. p. 2, the hero throws or kicks off one of his -shoes, and it flies to his comrades, and they come and help him. - -In "The History of Gherib and his brother Agib," Terkenan threw an iron -mace at his son with such power that it smote three stones out of a -buttress of the palace; Payne's _Arabian Nights_, vol. vi., p. 152. See -also "Story of Vasilisa" in Naake's _Slavonic Tales_, p. 57; and "Sir -Peppercorn," in Denton's _Serbian Folk-Lore_, p. 128: where Peppercorn -hurls the giant's mace back to him just as Mirkó did; and _Roumanian -Fairy Tales_, p. 64. - -As to the name "Doghead," see Notes to "The Three Dreams," _infra_, p. -377. - -_Page 74._ The castle that collapses into an apple also appears in "The -Three Princes," p. 206, in this collection. - -For a variant of Knight Mezey cf. "Zöldike," a Magyar tale, in _Gaal_, -vol. iii., in which the beautiful meadow, the tent, the sleeping knight, -and the witch weaving soldiers, all occur. - - - - -THE STUDENT WHO WAS FORCIBLY MADE KING. Kriza vii. - - -_Page 77._ Heroes of folk-tales often attain wealth, &c., by picking up -some apparently useless thing on the road. See Halliwell, _Nursery -Rhymes_, "The Three Questions;" "The Princess of Canterbury," pp. -153-155. - -Oriental writers, Indian and Persian, as well as Arab, lay great stress -upon the extreme delicacy of the skin of the fair ones celebrated in -their works, constantly attributing to their heroines, bodies so -sensitive as to brook with difficulty the contact of the finest shift, -and we may fairly assume that the skin of an Eastern beauty, under the -influence of constant seclusion and the unremitting use of cosmetics and -the bath, would in time attain a pitch of delicacy and sensitiveness -such as would in some measure justify the seemingly extravagant -statements of their poetical admirers, of which the following anecdote -(quoted by Ibn Khellikan from the historian Et Teberi) is a fair -specimen. Ardeshir Ibn Babek (Artaxerxes I.), the first Sassanian King -of Persia (A.D. 226-242), having long unsuccessfully beseiged El Hedr, a -strong city of Mesopotamia, belonging to the petty king Es Satiroun, at -last obtained possession of it by the treachery of the owner's daughter, -Nezireh, and married the latter, this having been the price stipulated -by her for the betrayal of the place to him. It happened afterwards -that one night as she was unable to sleep and turned from side to side -in the bed, Ardeshir asked her what prevented her from sleeping. She -replied, 'I never yet slept in a rougher bed than this; I feel something -irk me.' He ordered the bed to be changed, but she was still unable to -sleep. Next morning she complained of her side, and on examination a -myrtle leaf was found adhering to a fold of the skin, from which it had -drawn blood. Astonished at this circumstance, Ardeshir asked if it was -this that had kept her awake, and she replied in the affirmative. 'How, -then,' asked he, 'did your father bring you up?' She answered, 'He -spread me a bed of satin, and clad me in silk, and fed me with marrow -and cream and the honey of virgin bees, and gave me pure wine to -drink.'--Payne's _Arabian Nights_, vol. ix., note to p. 148. Cf. "the -Tale of the Dragon," in Geldart, _Folk-Lore of Modern Greece_, p. 142. - -The same idea is the theme of _Andersen's_ "The Princess and the -Pea."--Cf. Finnish verse about the lovely Katherine, p. 314. - -_Page 78._ The castle turns round upon the approach of the dragon in the -story of "Vasilisa," in _Naaké_, p. 51; see also _Ralston_, p. 66. - - - - -THE CHILDREN OF TWO RICH MEN. Kriza viii. - - -For another variant cf. the Magyar tale "The Poor Man and His Child's -Godfather" in Merènyi's _Eredeti Népmesék_, vol. i. See also the Finnish -story, "Lehmää wuohena myöjä," ("The Man who sold his Cow as a Goat") -from Tavastland and Karelia, _S. ja T._ ii. p. 126, which tells of a man -being fooled into the belief that his cow was a goat, but in the end he -overreaches the sharpers. - -Cf. Dasent's _Tales from the Norse:_ "Gudbrand on the Hill Side," p. -172; "Not a Pin to choose between them," p. 198; and "Big Peter and -Little Peter," p. 387. - -_Grimm_, "Wise Folks," vol. ii. p. 73; "Hans in Luck," vol. i. p. 325. - -Ralston, _Russian Folk-Tales_, "The Fool and the Birch Tree" -(Afanassieff V. No. 52), p. 49. Also the latter part of the "Bad wife," -_ib._ i. No. 9. - -_Gubernatis_, vol. i. pp. 44, 200, and 388. - -_Dublin Magazine_ 1868, p. 707, "Bardiello." - -Payne's _Arabian Nights_, vol. iv. p. 223, "The Simpleton and the -Sharper." - -_Udvalgte Eventyr og Fort[oe]llinger_ ved C. Molbech. _Kjöbenhavn_, -1843, p. 317, "Lön som forskyldt, et jydsk eventyr." - -Myllenhoff, _Sagen, Märchen und Lieder der Herzogthümer Schleswig -Holstein und Lauenburg_. (Kiel, 1845.) "Die reichen Bauern." - -J. W. Wolff (Leipzig, 1845), _Deutsche Märchen und Sagen_, ii. p. 52, -"Die betrogenen Schelme." - -Kletke, _Märchensaal aller Völker_, i. p. 98, "Herr Scarpacifico." - -_Il Pentamerone_, ii. 10, "Lo compare." - -_Grimm_, vol. i. "Clever Elsie," p. 138; Stokes, _Indian Fairy Tales_; -"Foolish Sachúli," pp. 27, 257; _Folk-Lore Record_, 1884, p. 40, Variant -of "The Three Noodles." See also Halliwell's _Nursery Rhymes_, "Mr. -Vinegar," p. 149, and the well-known verses about the pedlar called -Stout, and "The Wise Men of Gotham," pp. 24, 56. - -Amongst the numerous other simpleton stories we may note those where -people harrow up their feelings about that which might happen to as yet -unborn children. - -The following are Magyar simpleton tales:-- - -The people in one village tried to carry a ladder through a forest -_across_ their shoulders and cut all the trees down so as to get -through. - -_In another_: A stork soiled the new gold nob on the spire and they shot -it so awkwardly that it hung there and disfigured the place worse than -ever. - -_In another_: Some grass was growing upon an old church: so, instead of -cutting it and throwing it down, they erected an elaborate scaffold and -pulled a bull up by a rope tied round his neck. The poor brute, half -strangled, put out his tongue, whereupon they said, "See, he wants it -already." - -_In another_: When the Turks were coming they put a foal in a little -grotto, and when it grew they could not get it out. - -_In another_: By mistake they made it out that they ate the _same_ -lentils twice, which is still a joke against them. - -In Finland there are many such tales current, of which the following are -specimens. There is a village called Hölmöla, the inhabitants of which -are said to be very cautious, and who always considered well before -doing anything, lest they might get into trouble by overmuch haste. For -instance, when they are going to cut their rye, they always take seven -persons, one bent the rye-stalk down; another held a piece of wood under -it; the third cut the straw off; the fourth carried it to the sheaf; the -fifth bound the sheaf; the sixth piled the sheaves together; and the -seventh ricked them. Matti chanced to see them one day, and was struck -with their manner of working. When evening came there was but a quarter -of the field cut; so he thought he would do them a good turn, and set to -work to cut and bind the rest. When he had finished he laid his sickle -on the last shock and went to sleep. Next morning, when the Hölmöla -people came, they found all cut, and the sickle lying on the shock. They -were all astounded, and came to the conclusion that work done in such -hurry must have been done by witchcraft, and that the sickle was the -wizard who had transformed himself into that shape, and concluded that -he ought to be drowned in order to prevent him interfering with honest -folks' work for the future. As it was not deemed wise to touch such a -creature, they fished it down by means of a long pole with a loop at the -end, and dragged it to the shore, although it was very troublesome, as -it would stick into the stubble and ditches, and try to prevent them -dragging it along. At last it was got into a boat, and rowed off into -the middle of the lake. They then tied a large stone to the handle with -a strong rope, so that it might not float, and then with joyous shout -threw it into the water. Unfortunately the sickle caught the bulwark of -the boat; and, being weighted with a heavy stone, the boat canted over, -and the good folks barely escaped with their lives from the wicked wiles -of the wizard.[26] - -Once they built a hut, and did it so thoroughly that they forgot the -windows. When it was done, it was very dark, and so they sat down to -consider how to get the light in. At last they hit upon a plan: the -light was to be brought in a sack! So they opened the bag wide in the -sunlight, and then, when it was full, tied it carefully up, and brought -it in; but alas! the darkness was not enlightened. They were very much -cast down at this; and while they pondered over it Matti passed by, and, -hearing of their trouble, offered to get them the needed light for one -hundred marks; and they were delighted to get it for so little. Matti -cut a hole in the wall, and lo! the hut was flooded with light. The -people were so delighted that they decided to take the whole wall down. -Now they had light enough, but unfortunately, just then the hut fell -down. - -The writer of this has often heard in Holderness of a man who could not -get into his trousers, and used to get up hours before his comrade, and -get into his trousers by setting them up by a chair and jumping into -them; till at last he was told to sit down, and put on first one leg and -then the other. This was a great revelation to him. Another man took his -wheelbarrow to wheel daylight in, and worked away till he was told to -open his shutters, and it would _come_ in. One day another brilliant saw -some grass in a church steeple, and was just going to hoist his cow up -to it, when a friend pointed out to him that it was easier for _him_ to -go up and bring it down. When at school at Newcastle-on-Tyne, some -twenty years ago, we were very fond of the story of a Dutchman, who, -with his comrades, went out walking one night; saw the moon's reflection -in the water, and thought it was a Dutch cheese. He determined that the -best way to get it was to go on to the bridge, and by taking hold of -each other's feet to form a chain, and so reach the cheese. The Dutchman -was top man, and held on to the bridge. Just when the bottom man was -about to seize the cheese, the Dutchman hollowed out, "Hold on a minute, -till I spit on my hands!" and so they all fell into the water, and -destroyed the cheese, besides other calamities![27] - -Amongst the Lapps, it is the Giants, and Stallo who are fooled, _e.g._: -"Patto-Poadnje hævner sig paa Stallo," "En Askelad narrer Stallo," and -an amusing story of how a dressed-up log was palmed off as a Lapp girl -("Stallobruden"). _Friis_, pp. 78, 90 and 98. - -See also "Den listige Lappen," Hofberg, _Svenska Sägner_, p. 195; and a -Russian variant given in _Ralston_, p. 53. - -Forgetting to put the spigot into the vessel, and so losing all the -wine, occurs in "The Husband who had to mind the House," _Dasent_, p. -310, and in _Grimm_, vol. i.; cf. also note to "Frederick and -Catherine," p. 238; and "Clever Hans," p. 381. - -_Page 82._ In _S. ja T._ ii. pp. 113-126, under head "Kuolema Kummina" -("Death as Godfather"), two stories are given which resemble this part -of the Magyar tale. In "Taiwaan wuohen synty" ("Heaven's Goat's Origin") -from Karelia, a poor man has a child, and goes to look for a godfather. -He meets a stranger, who turns out to be God; but the poor man will not -have him, as he makes one poor and another rich. Soon after he meets -Death, and him he accepts, for with him there are no favourites. Death -gives his godchild three gifts: a chair that whoever sits down on it -cannot get up without leave; a bag that is never empty; and the power to -know whether a person will recover, by noticing whether Death stands at -the head or foot of the bed. The man lived to be over three hundred -years old by tricking Death; and when he died he was not admitted into -heaven because he called God a deceiver, and so he still goes wailing in -mid-air: and this was the origin of the Snipe. In the other story, -"Taiwaasen menijä," (Going to Heaven,) from Kivigari in Tavastland, -Death gives the man an ointment, as a christening present, to heal all, -providing the man sees him standing at the foot of the patient's bed. -Death is grossly deceived, and when the man does die, he only gets into -heaven by a fluke. A variant of the whole story is "Gambling Hansel," -_Grimm_, No. 81. See also: _Grimm_, vol. i. "The Godfather," p. 168; -"Godfather Death," p. 171, and note, p. 391; and "Brother Lustig," p. -312. Grimm, _Deutsche Mythologie_, ii. p. 951; _Dasent_, "The Master -Smith," p. 120; C. Molbech, _Udvalgte Eventyr_, No. 70: "Döden og hans -Gudsön," and "Brave Petrus en zign Zak," a Flemish Tale in _Volkskunde_. -Tijdschrift voor Nederlandsche Folklore onder redactie van Prof. A. -Gittée 3^e Aflevering 1888, may be quoted as further instances. - -Mistress Death appears in "Starving John, the Doctor," in _Patrañas_, p. -125; and in _Vernaleken_, "Hans with the Goitre," p. 238, it is a -skeleton. - -In a Wendish Story, St. Hedwige stands as godmother; see _Dublin -Magazine_, 1861, p. 355. - -In the Russian Story, "The Bad Wife," _Afanassieff_, i. No. 9, quoted in -_Ralston_, p. 39, the devil flies out of Tartarus, to get out of the bad -wife's way, and assists her husband to become a great doctor. See also a -Lapp variant, from Utsjok, "Kjærringen og Fanden," in _Friis_, p. 138. - - - - -THE HUSSAR AND THE SERVANT GIRL. Kriza xix. - - -Cf. _Dasent_, "The Dancing Gang," p. 507; and the "Drop of Honey," in -Payne's _Arabian Nights_, vol. v. p. 275, where, we are told, "a certain -man used to hunt the wild beasts in the desert, and one day he came upon -a grotto in the mountains, where he found a hollow full of bees' honey. -So he took somewhat thereof in a water-skin he had with him, and, -throwing it over his shoulder, carried it to the city, followed by a -hunting dog which was dear to him. He stopped at the shop of an oilman, -and offered him the honey for sale, and he bought it. Then he emptied it -out of the skin, that he might see it, and in the act a drop fell to the -ground; whereupon the flies flocked to it, and a bird swooped down upon -the flies. Now, the oilman had a cat, which pounced upon the bird, and -the huntsman's dog, seeing the cat, sprang upon it and killed it; -whereupon the oilman ran at the dog and killed it; and the huntsman in -turn leapt upon the oilman and killed him. Now the oilman was of one -village and the huntsman of another; and when the people of the two -places heard what had passed, they took up arms and rose on one another -in anger, and there befel a sore battle; nor did the sword cease to play -amongst them till there died of them much people; none knoweth their -number save God the Most High." See also, "_The Book of Sindibad_," -Folk-Lore Society, 1882, p. 133. - - - - -MY FATHER'S WEDDING. Kriza x. - - -Cf. Halliwell, _Nursery Rhymes:_ "Sir Gammer Vans," p. 147. - -_Grimm_, vol. ii., "The story of Schlauraffen land," p. 229; "No-beard -and the Boy," p. 518; "The Turnip," p. 213, and notes, pp. 413, 442, -452. - -_Vernaleken_, "The King does not believe Everything," p. 241. - -Caballero, _Fairy Tales_, "A tale of Taradiddles," p. 80. - -Denton, _Serbian Folk-Lore_, "Lying for a Wager," p. 107. - -Stokes, _Indian Fairy Tales_, Nos. 4, 8, and 17. - -Ralston, _Russian Folk-Tales_, p. 295. - -Mr. Quigstad has kindly sent the following Lapp variants collected at -Lyngen. There was once a pot so large that when cooking was going on at -one end, little boys were skating at the other. One of the men to whom -the pot belonged set to work to make his comrade a pair of shoes, and -used up seven ox-hides on the job. One of them got a bit of dust in his -eye, and the other sought for it with an anchor, and found during his -search a three-masted ship, which was so large that a little boy who -went aloft was a white-haired old man when he got back again. There were -seven parishes in that ship! - -"Lügenmärchen" are common in Finland, and generally turn on a big fish, -or a big turnip, and a big kettle to boil it in, giant potatoes, huge -mushrooms, and so on. A schoolboy's story in Newcastle-on-Tyne relates -how one man told his comrade of a remarkable dream he had had of an -enormous turnip; whereat his comrade replied he had dreamt about an -enormous kettle which was to boil the turnip in. - -The other day a Boston friend told the writer a Lincolnshire story of a -man who grew such splendid turnips that there were only three in a -ten-acre field, and one grew so big it pushed the other two out. This -man had a mate who made such a big kettle, that the man at one side -could not hear the rivetting at the other! I am told by my friend Prof. -Gittée that similar tales are current in Flanders. - -Another north country yarn tells of a naked blind man going out to -shoot, and seeing six crows, he shot them, and put them in his pocket. - -_Page 88._ The river Olt rises in Transylvania, and flows into the -Danube in Wallachia, in which country it is called the Aluta. - - - - -THE BAA-LAMBS. Kriza xiv. - - -Cf. "Saint Peter's Goddaughter," in _Portuguese Folk-Tales_. Folk-Lore -Society, 1882, p. 54. - -Dasent, _Tales from the Norse_, "The Seven Foals," p. 349. - -Naaké, _Slavonic Tales:_ "The Three Brothers", p. 254. - -Stokes, _Indian Fairy Tales_, "The King's Son," p. 234; and the Servian -tale quoted on p. 294. - -_Page 93._ Kriza notes that the "rotting, dead dog's head" occurs in the -"Historiae Tripartitae ex Socrate, Sozomeno et Theodorico in unum -collectae," by Cassiodorus; ii. 12. The first edition appeared in 1472. - - - - -FAIRY ELIZABETH. Kriza xv. - - -Cf. Vernaleken, _In the Land of Marvels_, "The Outcast Son," p. 151. - -_Page 98._ The Judas she-devil's service lasted for three days in "The -Three White Doves," _Vernaleken_, p. 269. - -Amongst the many stories in which time passes rapidly, see Gilmour, -_Among the Mongols_, "The Wizard," p. 344; Ralston, _Russian -Folk-Tales_, p. 304; Baring-Gould, _Curious Myths_, "The Seven -Sleepers," p. 93; and _Friis_, "Troldkjaerringen og Jes," from Swedish -Lapmark, p. 38. - -In the Lapp tale, _Friis_, No. 45, swan-maids come and steal the corn, -and the two elder sons fail to catch the thieves, Gudnavirus -(Ashiepattle) the youngest, succeeding in doing so. - -_Page 99._ Concerning the bird enticing the boy, cf. the bird that -steals the jewel in "Kemerezzam and Budour," in Payne's _Arabian -Nights_, vol. iii. p. 157. - -Cf. also Rink, _Tales of the Eskimo_, "The Sun and the Moon," p. 236; -_S. ja T._, i., "Lippo ja Tapio," from Ilomantsi, p. 6; and _Friis_, -Nos. 44 and 45. - -In some other Magyar tales a lame wolf or a lame eagle takes the -woodpecker's place. Cf. Gaal, "Többsinsckirályfi" ("Prince Non-such"). -In a Bohemian story it is a limping cock-pigeon, see _Vernaleken_, p. -359. - -_Page 101._ Numerous incidents in folk-tales bear on the widespread -superstition against looking (or going) back after setting out on a -journey. - -Cf. _Friis_, "Ulta-Pigen," where a lad is returning home with his bride; -the girl warns him not to look back but he does, and lo! there is a -great herd of beasts his wife's parents have given him. The moment he -turned all those outside of the gate vanished; in "Jætten og -Veslegutten," the lad fools the giant, because he dare not look back; -and in "Bondesønnen og Solens Søster," the hero stumbles and falls and -so sees behind him and in a moment the king's town and palaces -disappear. - -See also Rink, _Tales of the Eskimo_, "The Revived who came to the -underground people," p. 300; Hofberg, _Svenska Sägner_, "Soåsafrun"; -Stokes, _Indian Fairy Tales_, "The Bél Princess," pp. 140, 283; and -Gregor, _Folk-Lore of North-East Scotland_, Folk-Lore Society, 1881, p. -91. - -A Lincolnshire labouring man, when I lived in the north of the county, -told me he knew a wizard who wished to mend the road that led to his -house across a field. He ordered one of his men to take a cartful of -stones and a rake and to set off to mend the road, which was to be done -as follows. The cart was to be taken to the far side of the field, and -driven slowly along the road that needed mending, but the man was under -no circumstances to look back. He did as he was ordered, but there was -such a noise behind him that when he had got nearly over the field he -looked round, and lo! there were thousands of devils at work, who -disappeared the moment he looked round, and the road is not done yet. - -In the same part of Lincolnshire, one day when a lady had gone out with -a child to be baptized she turned back as she had forgotten something; -when she entered the house one of the servants begged her to sit down -before she went out again or something terrible would happen. The same -superstition exists in Holderness, Finland, Hungary, Algeria, and -Sweden. - -_Page 101._ Amongst the numberless examples of swan-maidens, cf. the -following: - -_Friis_, "Pigen fra Havet," p. 27; "Bæivekongens eller Solkongens -Datter," p. 152; and "Goveiter-Pige," p. 39, where the girls appear in -gorgeous dresses. - -_S. ja T._ i. p. 35, "Tuhkamo"; and ii. p. 53, "Ei-niin-mitä." - -Hofberg, _Svenska Sägner_: "Jungfrun i Svanhamn," p. 27. - -A story is current in Småland of a clergyman's son who assisted his -father as curate. One morning when the young man awoke he saw the -sun-beams coming in through a knot-hole in the floor, and suddenly a -woman of marvellous beauty came floating in on the light and stood -before him. He sprang up and threw his cloak over her and took her to -his parents. She became his wife and lived happily with him for many -years. One day he chanced to say how strange her coming was, and in -order to emphasize his words he took the knot out of the hole in the -floor, and in a moment she was gone! - -In a Lapp story, _Friis_, No. 7, the girl tells her husband to drive a -nail into the threshold to prevent her going away. See also "Lappen i -Skathamn." _Hofberg_, p. 174.[28] - -Other examples of the swan-maiden kind are to be found in:-- - -Rink, _Tales of the Eskimo_, "The Man who mated himself with a -Sea-fowl," p. 146. - -Keightley's _Fairy Mythology_, "The Peri Wife," p. 20; also p. 163, -where seals are said to put off their skins; and "The Mermaid Wife," p. -169. - -_Legends of the Wigwam_, "Son of the Evening Star," p. 81. - -Stokes, _Indian Fairy Tales_, "Phúlmati Ráni," p. 6. - -Steere, _Swahili Tales_, "Hasseebu Kareem Ed Deed," p. 355. - -_Household Stories from the Land of Hofer_, "The Dove Maiden," p. 368. - -Vernaleken, _In the Land of Marvels_, "The Three White Doves," p. 263; -"The Maiden on the Crystal Mountain," p. 274; "How Hans finds his Wife," -p. 281; and "The Drummer," p. 288. - -_Grimm_, vol. ii. "The Drummer," p. 333. - -Ralston, _Russian Folk-Tales_, p. 120. - -Croker, _Fairy Legends of the South of Ireland_, "The Lady of Gollerus," -p. 177. - -_Sagas from the Far East_, pp. 29, 91. - -Payne's _Arabian Nights_, "The Story of Janshah," vol. v. p. 98; - -"Hassan of Bassora," and the "King's Daughter of the Jinn," vol. vii. p. -145. - -_Portuguese Folk-Tales_, Folk-Lore Society 1882, "The Spell-bound -Giant," p. 35. - -_Folk-Lore Record_, 1879, p. 12; 1883, pp. 203, 250, 284, 320; and 1884, -p. 11. - -Wägner's _Epics and Romances_, p. 280, see "Valkyrs"; _Asgard and the -Gods_, sub voce "Walkyries." - -Baring Gould, _Curious Myths_, sub "Swan-maidens." - -_Page 103._ Anent the wedding here mentioned, it may be interesting to -note some ceremonies connected with Magyar weddings in olden times. -Love-making was very simple: there was no long courtship before the -betrothal, and one meeting of the couple was often deemed quite -sufficient.[29] The young folks did not choose their future companions, -that being the parents' prerogative; and very often the match was -arranged when they were in their cradles. It was not considered -desirable to make connections with foreign families, and in case a girl -was given away to a foreigner, one of the conditions insisted upon was -that the husband should learn the language of the country. Francis Csáky -was thrown into prison by his father because he would not marry Miss -Homonmay, who had been selected as his wife. Occasionally, however, some -choice was allowed; thus, for instance, Nicholas Bethlen was allowed to -choose his wife from among the daughters of Paul Béldy and Stephen Kun. -It was considered an offence if a young man, not being a relative, paid -a visit to a house where marriageable girls[30] were, as he was -suspected of courting the young ladies on the sly; if the young man was -one whom the parents approved, a day was fixed for him to come and "see" -the girls. On the appointed day the young man started on his journey -with great pomp, and generally arranged to arrive about supper time (7 -to 8 p.m.); if the sight was satisfactory, the girl's hand was at once -asked for.[31] During supper the young couple sat opposite to each -other, and after supper there was a dance. Some parents left it to their -daughters to decide, while others endeavoured "to enlighten them." If -the father was dead the widow sought the advice of her eldest son, or of -the children's guardian. If the young man was refused[32] he left the -place, sometimes carrying the young lady off by force, as John Mikes did -Sarah Tarnóczy. The asking for the young lady's hand was performed by -that member of the family who had the greatest authority; if the offer -was accepted the bridegroom fixed a day for the betrothal. Then came the -interchange of rings. The betrothal ring was not a plain hoop, but one -enamelled and set with diamonds or rubies. From the day of the betrothal -they were considered engaged, and henceforth called each other "my -younger sister" (hugom), and "my elder brother" (bátyám),[33] and the -young man was allowed to make his offerings of gold and silver. The -betrothal--called in Magyar "the clasping of hands"--and interchange of -rings was considered binding on both parties, and a breach of promise -was considered the greatest insult. Sometimes a sort of preliminary -wedding was celebrated, thus Nicholas Bethlen went through the marriage -ceremony soon after the interchange of rings, but a whole year elapsed -before, he took his bride to his house.[34] - -Sometimes an agreement was drawn up; and the wedding-day having been -fixed by the bridegroom, it was communicated to the bride's father, so -as to allow him to make his preparations. The number of the wedding -guests often amounted to several hundreds. At the wedding of Barbara -Thurzó, in 1612, seventy Magyar nobles of the highest rank appeared -personally, besides several from the Austrian dominions. The king of -Poland sent his sons and several ambassadors, the number of the guests' -horses being 4324.[35] The wedding-feast was sometimes utilized for the -discussion of politics. All the inhabitants of the village were invited, -bullocks with gilt horns were roasted, and a goodly number of knives -stuck into them for the use of the people. The bread was exposed in -troughs, and the wine in vats. Amongst people of modest means the forms -were the same, the supplies being smaller. The expenses of the wedding -were borne by the serfs. - -The bridegroom chose his best man from among his near relations, the -groomsmen were young friends. A widower had neither best man nor groom's -men. The bride had a matron[36] who gave her away, and who, together -with the bridesmaids were chosen from near relatives. There was -generally also "a host" chosen from the higher nobility, and he carried -a gold stick in his hand; the deputy host carried a stick painted green; -these two walked about and looked after the guests. A few days before -the wedding the guests met at the bridegroom's house, and on the night -previous to starting a weeping soirée was held, when the bridegroom took -leave of his bachelorship.[37] On the night previous to the wedding the -bridegroom and his guests journeyed to a village near the bride's -residence, and slept there. So far the bridegroom had come on horseback; -but now he took his seat in a carriage, and in front of him rode two -young nobles clad in wild animals' skins,[38] who were called -"fore-greeters" (elölköszöntök). These were followed by pipers, -drummers, and buglers. In the bridegroom's carriage the best man sat by -his side, his groomsmen in the opposite seat. The "matron of the -bedchamber" (nyoszolyó asszony) followed in another carriage preceded by -two young nobles dressed in skins and on horseback. The procession was -closed by the servants, leading gaily caparisoned horses. The two -"fore-greeters" saluted the chief host of the bride, who returned the -greeting, and sent a message saying that the master would be heartily -welcome: this was conveyed to the assembled guests, who thereupon -proceeded to the bride's residence. When they arrived at the outskirts -of the village, the bride's chief host sent a gold ring and some saddled -horses, and a horse-race was at once got up,[39] the prize being the -gold ring. Then the bridegroom sent his presents to the bride; the -guests, too, sent their presents; as did also the representatives of the -united towns and counties. - -If the wedding was kept in a fortified town the guests were saluted by -the firing of guns. The best man greeted the family of the bride, to -which the chief host replied: thereupon the best man asked for the -bride[40] and the chief host replied, endeavouring to pass a joke on the -bridegroom and his best man, to which the latter replied as best he -could. Then the chief host delivered up the bride, and, with a long -speech, invited the guests to the midday meal.[41] The meal was a -sumptuous feast; musicians discoursing sweet music as it proceeded. The -chief host assigned the proper places to the guests. The bride was not -expected to eat, but to weep. The banquet over, dancing began. The first -dance was danced by the best man and matron, who were followed by the -bride and bridegroom; the former simply walking through her dances: -several other dances followed. The bride appeared in three different -dresses on the wedding-day;[42] the bridegroom in three different -dresses on the three days of the wedding. When the bride appeared they -played the "bride's dance." During the parting ceremony the bride went -down upon her knees before her parents, and was handed over to the -bridegroom, who unsheathed his sword and cut off the wedding wreath.[43] -This ceremony was called "taking possession of the girl." The fortress -guns thundered out to let the world know when it took place. The young -couple remained with the bride's parents till the third day, when she -distributed her presents, and then set off to her new home.[44] - -See also an account of the Palócz wedding customs in the Notes to the -"Girl with the Golden Hair," _infra_. - -There is a host of wedding and love songs, especially in cases where -the ardent lover had to go far to meet his beloved, as for instance, the -Lapps had to do. Two are given in Nos. 366 and 406 of the _Spectator_. -The following[45] I do not think has ever been translated before: - - - No, not under the wide spreading heaven - Is there so sweet and rich a flower - As my own, dear, sweet, beloved one, she has all my poor heart. - - When I travel over the windy Alps - I remember my own belov'd one, - And in a moment it's calm and warm, as after Midsummer. - - -The tune is very sweet and plaintiff, like so many of the folk-songs, -the translation conveys no idea of the sweet and liquid music that even -the words of the original are brimful of.[46] - -"_Six-ox farmers._"--To say that a farmer ploughs his land with six oxen -yoked to his plough means that he is very wealthy. - -_Page 104._ The giant in an Austrian story (_Vernaleken_, p. 95) draws -circles in the sand and a fowl appears; and in the Lapp story -("Ulta-Pigen." _Friis_, No. 7) the lad marks out on the ground the plan -of a house, &c., at night, and in the morning all is found complete. - -"My lad, it is a _burial_ feast." Halotti tors or burial-feasts are -still very common among the Magyar rural population. - -_Page 105._ The trouble that comes from those at home[47] occurs over -and over in all manner of folk-tales, _e.g._, in the Lapp story -["Fattiggutten, Fanden og Guldbyen"] the lad, after meeting a beautiful -girl who becomes his bride, insists upon going home to tell of his good -luck, and when there wishes for his bride and her attendants to appear, -to prove that his story is true. They come, but vanish almost at once, -and then comes the numerous troubles before the lost bride can be found. -_Friis_, p. 161. In another, the son of the swan-maiden shows his mother -her dress, which she at once puts on and vanishes, "Pigen fra Havet," -_id._ p. 27, with which Cf. _Dasent_. "Soria Moria Castle," p. 466. - -_Vernaleken._ "The Drummer," p. 289. - -Payne, _Arabian Nights_, "The Story of Janshah," vol. v. p. 109, and -"Hassan of Bassoria," vol. vii. p. 175. - -_Page 105, "Johara."_ There is no town of _Johara_ in Hungary, but there -is in Russia a province of the name of _Jugaria_ or _Juharia_--according -to Lehrberg the Jugra or Ugra, of old Russian records--whence "the -Hungarians (_sic!_) proceeded when they took possession of Pannonia -[their modern home] and subdued many provinces of Europe under their -leader Attila."[48] According to Lehrberg,[49] it comprised the greater -parts of the governments of Perm and Tobolsk of our days. It was said -in Herberstein's time--his journeys were made in 1517 and 1526--that -"the Juhari ... use the same dialect as the Hungarians, but whether this -be true, I cannot say from my own knowledge; for though I have made -diligent search I have been unable to find any man of that country with -whom my servant, who is skilled in the Hungarian language, might have an -opportunity of conversing."[50] Since Ivan the Terrible, the province -gives a title to the Emperors of Russia.[51] - -Cf. Payne, _Arabian Nights_, vol. v. p. 121, wherein the maid flies to -"the Castle of Jewels." The man only gets there by the aid of birds and -beasts, and it is the _third_ and most skilful magician alone who -summons a bird, which is the only one who knows the far-off place. In -another story, vol. vii., p. 176, the maiden flies to the "islands of -Wac." - -_Dasent_, p. 212, it is "Whiteland," and an old pike knows where it is. - -_Vernaleken_, p. 251, Moon and Sun do not know where the mysterious -place is, but the wind does. See also "the Drummer," p. 289, where the -bride flies to the "Crystal Mountain." - -In the Lapp stories we find "Banka Castle" and "Bæive-kingdom," and in -an Irish tale, "Grey Horn's Kingdom," as the mysterious land. - -The three men (or women) to whom the forsaken husband goes occurs in the -Lapp stories, "Bondesønnen," "Bæive Kongens Datter," and "Fattiggutten," -Nos. 44, 45, and 46, _Friis_. - -Finnish, _S. ja T._ "Tuhkamo," i. p. 35, and "Ei-niin-mitä," ii. p. 53. - -_Vernaleken_, "The Judas She-Devil," p. 255. "The Three White Doves," p. -264. "The Maiden of the Crystal Mountain," p. 275. - -_Folk-Lore Record_, 1883, p. 319. - -_Portuguese Stories_, F. L. Soc., 1882, p. 108, "The Prince who had the -head of a Horse." - -_Grimm_, vol. ii. pp. 381, 399. - -The Whistle and Whip as a mode of summoning in common, see "Fisher Joe," -p. 16, _ante_. - -_Page 108._ "The Lame Woodpecker" reminds us of the lame devil in -"Stephen the Murderer," p. 10; in _Vernaleken_, there is "a limper," p. -265, and a "lame hare," p. 275, the reluctance of the birds to take the -man to Johara, &c., occurs in the Finnish and Lapp stories referred to. - -_Page 109._ "Youth-giving water." Cf. "The Fairies Well," in present -collection, p. 295. In Hungary snow-water collected in March is said to -possess the same virtue. - -Cf. also _Finnish_, "Tuhkamo." _S. ja T._ i. p. 43, where Ashiepattle -washes in a well and becomes marvellously beautiful. - -_Lapp_, "Bæivekongen.". _Friis_, p. 152. Where the lad dips his sore -head into a kettle and becomes beautiful and golden haired. See also -_Folk-Lore Record_, 1879. "Old Ballad Folk-Lore," p. 100. In "The Jewel -in the Cock's Head," an Italian story, quoted in the _Dublin Magazine_, -1868, p. 706, the hero at once becomes young and handsome by the virtues -of the jewel, and in a Finnish story, "The Enchanted Ship," the same end -is attained by eating some berries. Cf. the effect of the Tàtos and -baa-lambs breathing on anything, pp. 63 and 92 _ante_; also _Dasent_, p. -362; and such stories as "The Old Man made Young," _Grimm_, vol. ii., p. -215, and note, p. 444. - -There are numerous springs and wells whose waters are said to possess -marvellous powers, such as St. Winifred's in Flintshire, St. Keyne's in -Cornwall, St. Bede's at Jarrow, &c. See Chambers' _Book of Days_, sub -voce "Wells"; _Henderson's_ "Wells"; Hardwick, _Traditions, -Superstitions, and Folk-Lore_, p. 267; and Aubrey, _Remains of -Gentilisme_, F.L.S., 1880, pp. 121. - - - - -THE THREE PRINCES. Erdélyi, i. 1. - - -Cf. _Grimm_, vol. i. "The Gold Children," and note; vol. ii. "The Two -Brothers," p. 244, and notes, p. 418; in "Ivan Kupiskas Søn." _Friis_, -p. 170, a bear, a wolf, and a dog help the hero. - -See also _Dasent_, "The Blue Belt"; and Denton, _Serbian Folk-Lore_, -"The Three Brothers." - -_Page 111._ In explanation of the fact that the wolf, lion, and bear -are sometimes called "dogs," and other times "servants," we may mention -that is quite common in Hungary to address a dog as "my servant;" and -the three brutes in the story are supposed to follow their masters like -dogs. For animals and birds that help, cf. _Ralston_, "The Water King," -p. 120. _Old Deccan Days_, "Punchkin," p. 14. _Vernaleken_, "The Three -White Doves," p. 269, and "The Enchanted Sleep," p. 312. _Sagas from the -Far East_, p. 137. _Friis_, "Jaetten Os Veslegutten." _Uncle Remus_, No. -xxii. and notes to Prince Csihan. - -The sticking of knives into a tree to tell of the fortune or misfortune -of the owner occurs also in "Knight Rose," see notes there, and p. 257. - -A town draped in black cloth appears in _Grimm_, vol. i. note, p. 421. -_Dasent_, "Shortshanks," p. 160. _Vernaleken_, "The Cobblers Two Sons," -p. 197. - -The dragon that devours a virgin every week reminds us of St. George, -see Baring Gould, _Curious Myths_, "St. George," and _The Seven -Champions of Christendom_. Cf. _Grimm. Stories from the Land of Hofer_, -"The Three Black Dogs," p. 214. _Friis_, Bondesønnen and _Dasent_, p. -158. - -_Page 112._ "The healing weed;" see note to "Knight Rose," p. 342. - -The dragon in _No. 7, Pentamerone_, when one of its heads is cut off, -rubs itself against a certain leaf and the head is at once fastened on -again. - -The treachery of the Red Knight which appears in this story has already -been noticed in the notes to "The Hunting Princes." Cf. _Dasent_, "Big -Bird Dan." - -_Page 113._ Animals restore their master to life in _Grimm_, vol. i. p. -253. _Friis_, "Ivan," p. 170. _Ralston_, p. 231. _S. ja T._ i. "Här'än -korwista syntyneet Koirat siw" (The Dogs who grew from the Ears of a -Bull), p. 138; in another Finnish story, "The Golden Bird," the hero is -restored to life by a wolf, after being slain by his treacherous -brothers. In the Kalevala it is a bee that brings the honey which -restores Lemminkäinen; Rune 15, 530. - -The prince thinks he has been asleep, just as Lemminkäinen does in -Kalevala, Song 15, 559. Cf. "Golden Hair," _Naaké_, p. 108; -"Marya-Morevna," _Ralston_, p. 91. - -_Page 114._ "Henczida to Bonczida," names of villages, the former in the -county of Bihar, the latter in Kolozs. - -_Page 115._ The witch throwing down a rod or hair; see also "Knight -Rose," cf. _Portuguese Folk-Tales_, Folk-Lore Society, 1882, "The Tower -of Ill-Luck," p. 49. Basile, _Pentamerone_, No. 7, where a fairy binds -Cienzo by her hair. Denton, _Serbian Folk-Lore_, "The Three Brothers," -p. 275. - -It is curious the part hair plays in popular lore.[52] According to the -old idea that any part of a person, such as his hair, nail clippings, -&c. was to all intents and purposes himself (see notes to "The Lazy -Spinning Girl"[53]); so it appears here the witch's power would be -conveyed by one of her hairs, just as the witch in the "World's -Beautiful Woman" spits on the child's face with the hope of conveying -her enchantment, p. 166. See _Henderson_, _sub voce_, "Hair." Black, -_Folk Medicine in Wäs_. - -_Page 116._ The unsheathed sword in bed occurs in the story of Siegfried -and Brunhild. Cf. also _Dasent_, "The Big Bird Dan," p. 450; Payne's -_Arabian Nights_, "The Story of Prince Seif el Mulouk," vol. vii. p. 94; -_Pentamerone_, i. 9; and _Gubernatis_, vol. i. 330. - - - - -THE THREE DREAMS. Erdélyi, i. 2. - - -Cf. "The Secret-keeping Little Boy," p. 233, in this collection. - -According to Ladislaus Arany,[54] an almost exact version of the tale is -given in Schott's _Wallachische Märchen_ (No. 9). Schott calls attention -to the resemblance of this tale to the story of Joseph, in the Old -Testament, who is released from prison and exalted for the successful -solution of dreams. See also two stories from Radloff, _Proben der -Volkslitteratur der Türkischen Stämme Süd-Siberiens_, quoted in -_Gubernatis_, vol. i. pp. 139-142. - -The "Operencziás Tenger," is the mythical sea of Hungarian folk-tales. -With regard to the etymology of the word, it is said by some to come -from the expression "ober der Enns," in the German name of the Duchy of -Upper Austria. The etymology is given for what it is worth. As to the -cosmology of the story-tellers, all we can say is, that they appear to -uphold the Zetetic school. The earth is flat, and surrounded by the -Operenczian sea: beyond that is fairyland. - -The Magyar peasants think much of dreams, as may be seen in their -wonderful dream-book, "_A legrégibb és legnagyobb Egyiptomi -Almoskönyv_," a work something in the same style as the dream-books that -are still common in country places in England. - -The significance of dreams is noticed in _Uarda_, cap. xv. Cf. _Denton_, -"The Dream of the King's Son." _Horace_, c. _iii_. _xxvii_. 41; S. i. x. -33. _Homer_ says that dreams of falsehood passed through an ivory gate -in the lower world: true ones through a gate of horn. - -See also Tylor, _Early History of Mankind_, pp. 5-10; and _Primitive -Culture_, "Dreams." - -There are many stories of dreams which foretold wealth and power, or -were the means of the dreamer attaining them, _e.g._ "Gontram the good -King of Burgundy," Claud Paradin, _Symbola Heroica_. Also Chambers's -_Book of Days_, vol. i. pp. 276, 394, 617; vol. ii. p. 188. The writer -remembers hearing an almost precisely similar story to the last, when -the ill-fated "Lifeguard" was lost on her way from Newcastle to London. - -The Indians pay great attention to their dreams during the long fast at -the beginning of manhood: see _Legends of the Wigwam_, p. 99. In some -stories one of the chief characters pretends to dream that she may -obtain certain information, such as "Luxhale's wives:" _Stories from the -Land of Hofer_, p. 317. - -It is a common superstition in Holderness that a morning dream is sure -to come true, but if it is told to anyone before breakfast, it will not. - -_Page 118_. "Immured alive": see a Magyar folk-song, "Clement the -Mason," in the _Academy_, July 31, 1886. Cf. a paper read by Oscar -Mailand before the Historical and Antiquarian Society of the County of -Hunyad (April 29, 1885) on the legend of the building of the Monastery -at Arges in Roumania. The story is nearly the same as in the song of -"Clement the Mason." Manuli, the master builder, has a dream, wherein he -is recommended to immure the first woman that appears on the scene; the -victim is Manuli's wife. During the discussion that followed, the -president, Count Géza Kuun, mentioned that the same tale is told of the -castle of Dévén in the county of Nógrád; the fortress of Dévény near -Pozsony (Pressburg); and of another fortress in the Trans-danubian -division, and that the legend is of Slavonic origin. - -_Grimm_, ii. "Maid Maleen," p. 350. - -_Livius_, viii. c. 15, "Virgo Vestalis damnati incesti, viva deforsa -est." - -The king vows to slaughter thirty Muslims at the gate of his palace, -when complete, in "Ali Noureddin." Payne's _Arabian Nights_, vol. viii. -p. 141. - -_Folk-Lore Journal_, 1880, p. 282; January 1883, "A Bewildering -Superstition." - -Cf. also the incident in "Secret-keeping Little Boy", p. 238. - -"_Dog-Headed Tartars_." Our story-tellers almost invariably use the -epithet "dog-headed" when speaking of their old enemies, the Tartars. -Medieval travellers, who wrote in Latin, speak of the Great Khan of -Tartary as "Magnus Canis." Cf. _The Travels of Friar Odoric_, in _Cathay -and the way Thither_ (Hakluyt Soc. 1866). The learned editor remarks (p. -128, note): "I am not sure that a faithful version should not render -'Magnus Canis' as the 'Great Dog,' for in most copies the word is -regularly declined 'Canis,' 'Cani,' 'Canem,' as if he were really a -bow-wow. According to Ludolf, an old German translation of Mandeville -does introduce the mighty prince as 'Der grosse Hund.'" - -The irruption into Hungary of the Tartars under Batu Khan, in the -thirteenth century, and their frightful slaughter and terrible -devastations are sufficiently known, and need not further be enlarged -upon here. - -With regard to dog-headed people (cf. the Kynokephaloi of Ktesias), such -people are often mentioned in ancient travels; thus, Odoric of Pordenone -says: "[L'Isola che si chiama] Nichovera ... nella quale tutti gli -nomini [h]anno il capo a modo d'un cane." From an old Italian MS. text -in the Bibl. Palatina at Florence, printed in _Cathay and the Way -Thither_, p. 51. - -The womankind of dog-headed people are always described as beautiful. -Cf. the travels of Friar Jordanus, Odoric of Pordenone, Ibn Batuta. Cf. -also the lovely wife of old Doghead in "Prince Mirkó" in this volume; -and _Gubernatis_, vol. i. Preface, xix. - -_Page 120._ "Born with a caul." - -In Holderness and North Lincolnshire, a caul is said to prevent the -owner from drowning. I have heard others say, that you can tell by its -condition what the state of its owner's (the one who was born with it) -health is, even if he (or she) is in a distant land. So long as it keeps -as it is he is well, but if it "snerkles up" he is dead.[55] It is -commonly called a "sillyhood" in the North. - -Cf. _Henderson_, pp. 22, 23. _Aubrey, Remaines of Gentilisme_, p. 113. - -Gregor, _Folk-Lore of North-East of Scotland_, p. 25. - -_Grimm_, i. Hans in Luck. "I must have been born with a caul," p. 329. - -Napier, _Folk-Lore_, p. 32. - -Babies born with teeth are said by the Magyar peasants to be the -children of witches; see Varga János, _A babonák Könyve_, Arad, 1877, p. -70. - -Babies born with teeth are regarded as different to other children, in -some parts of England, but the superstition is vague. A friend had a -servant who was born with a grey lock, and the writer has often seen the -girl; it was regarded as somewhat uncanny. Francisque Michel mentions in -his _Histoire des Races Maudites_, that in the Valley of Argelès old -women, when quarrelling with a cagot, shew their tongue "ou derrier -l'oreille"; this is to remind the poor man of the wisp of hair on his -ear, which is considered uncanny. - -_Page 120_. The incident of the lad disguising himself so as to be -exactly like his comrades occurs also at p. 241, in "The Secret-Keeping -Little Boy." To be able to select the right person from several is -looked upon as a test of the magic power of the person tried as in this -case. - -Cf. _Naaké_. "Golden Hair," p. 107. - -_Vernaleken_. "How Hans finds his Wife," p. 284. - -_Folk-Lore Record_, 1883. Ananci Stories, p. 284; and the Polish story, -"Prince Unexpected," _ib._ 1884, p. 13. - -_S. ja T._ i. "Kulta-orit," p. 187. - -Cf. _Folk-Lore Record_, 1880, "Mons Tro," p. 220. - -_Page 121._ In the Lapp story, "Patto-Poadnje." _Friis_, p. 78, the -Stallo's wife suspects there is something wrong with the soup, which is -in reality made of her late husband, but the man fools her by saying he -cut his finger while making it. - -In the Finnish story, "Tynnyrissä kaswanut Poika," ("The Boy who grows -in a Barrel"), _S. ja T._ i., p. 105, there are nine cakes made of a -woman's milk. Cf. "How the widow saved her son's life," _Sagas from the -Far East_, p. 207. - -We may here note the constant difficulties that appear in the -folk-tales, and thwart the love-making of the heroes and heroines. -Commonly it is the king who does all he can to prevent the lovers being -happy, or it is some one at home who causes infinite trouble. For -examples of the tasks that the lover or husband has to accomplish, see -the tales "Fisher Joe," "Handsome Paul," "Fairy Elizabeth," "The Three -Brothers," "The Girl with the Golden Hair," &c., in this volume. - -Cf. also _Friis_. "Ruobba. Jætten og Fanden," p. 67; "Bondesønnen. -Kongesønnen og Solens Søster," p. 140; "Solkongens Datter," p. 152; -"Gutten, som tjente hos Kongen," p. 167. - -_S. ja T._ ii. "Leppäpölkky" ("Alder Block"), p. 2; "Maan, meren kulkija -laiwa" ("The Ship that sails over Land and Sea"), p. 22; "Kaikkia, -matkalla karwitaan" (All is useful in a Voyage), p. 29; and "Lakwan -tekijät," (Ship Builders), p. 33. - -Basile. _Pentamerone_. No. 23. - -Schott. _Wallachische Märchen_, No. 24. - -_Ralston_. "The Water King," p. 120. - -_Sagas from the Far East._ "How Shanggasba buried his Father," p. 189. - -See also the troubles in getting to Johara in Notes to "Fairy -Elizabeth," _ante_. - - - - -CSABOR ÚR. Erdélyi, i. 3. - - -According to some writers this story refers to King Matthias and his -black troop. It is a Csángó tale.[56] - -These traditional stories, as specimens of folk-history, are of great -interest, showing how the kindness or tyranny of some lord or lady -clings to the popular mind, and how all manner of stories attach -themselves to great names. - -Cf. "Herrn till Rosendal," in Hofberg, _Svenska Sägner_, p. 14; -"Herrskapet på Ugerup," p. 17, where Arild dupes the Danish king by -obtaining leave of absence until he reaps his harvest, he having sown -fir-cones. (A variant of which the writer has heard amongst the peasants -of the Eastern counties) and "Elestorps skog," p. 71, where the whole -forest seems on the move as in _Macbeth_, act v. scene v. See also "An -ancient Arabian parallel," by Dr. Redhouse, in the _Academy_, July, 24, -1886. See also "Snapphane-grafven," _ib_. p. 75, a story of a heap of -stones,[57] now known as the "freebooter's grave," that tells how a -brave peasant slew the chief of the plundering band and so dispersed -them. - -"Grefvinnan på Höjentorp," _ib_. p. 97, which is a good example of how -historic incident is moulded and blended in the popular lore, and it may -be of interest to give it here. Shortly after Charles XI. had seized the -greater part of his nobles' property, he went to see his aunt Maria -Eufrosyna and was saluted with a sound box on the ear, and upon asking -why she did it was told he got it for taking all her property from her. -They entered the house where a herring tail and an oat cake was set -before the king, and he was told as he had made his bed so must he lie -on it. The king then asked his aunt if he might take care of her riches -for her, but was saluted with such a box on the ear that he fled and -left her to enjoy her estates in peace. - -"Fru Barbro på Brokind," _ib_. p. 112, is an example of how the memory -of a tyrant lives. - -"Qvick i jord," _ib_. p. 122, tells of a terrible outbreak of plague, -and how a Finn advised the people to bury a live cock, but as the plague -raged as fiercely as ever a live goat was buried, and then a living -boy.[58] - -"Jonas Spets," p. 123, tells how the king found an old soldier -sharpening (putting a point to) his sword and was warned to use it well -on the morrow. After the battle the king ordered him to show his sword, -and lo! it was dripping with blood. "Well done," said the king, "I will -gild the point for you," and so he ennobled the soldier and changed his -name to "Gyllenspets" (Golden-Point). This, according to the popular -story, is the way the family of Gyllenspets in Vermland became nobles. - -The writer heard the following from old men in North Lincolnshire. - -LIMBER.--There have been great wars and battles all over here and most -of them are attributed to Cromwell. At Riby there was a fearful fight, -the blood ran as deep as the horses' bellies, and to this day there is -an opening in the hedge, where nothing will ever grow, known as Riby -Gap, and there the blood flowed deepest.[59] - -THORNTON ABBEY.--There was a great battle there and the soldiers knocked -the church down and the town that used to be near it. - -YARBOROUGH CAMP[60]--according to popular belief--was made by Cromwell's -soldiers, who are said to have sat behind the entrenchment when firing -at their enemies. - -MELTON ROSS.--Perhaps the most curious is the tale told by an old groom -about the gallows at Melton Ross:-- - -Some hundred years ago or so three or four boys were playing at hanging, -and seeing who could hang the longest on a tree, when a three-legged -hare (the devil, sir), came limping past; off ran the lads who were on -the ground after him and forgot their comrade, who when they came back -was dead. The gallows was put up in memory of that. The true story is -that there was a rivalry between the Ross family and the Tyrwhits, and -to such a pitch had it grown among their dependants that the two parties -meeting on a hunting excursion got to blows and many were killed. James -I. being in Lincolnshire shortly after, and hearing of it, ordered a -gallows to be erected where the fight occurred, and enacted that in the -future any persons slain in an encounter of this kind should be deemed -murdered, and the perpetrators of the crime hanged. A gallows is always -kept on the spot and when the old one falls to decay a new one is -erected.[61] - -_Page 125_. _Permanent blood stains._ Cf. those of Rizzio in Holyrood -Palace; those in the Carmelite convent in Paris, said to have been made -by murdered priests in the revolution; those at Cottele, on the banks of -the Tamar, blood of the warder slain by the Lord of the Manor; those in -Sta. Sophia, at Constantinople, &c. - - - - -THE DEVIL AND THE THREE SLOVAK LADS. Erdélyi, ii. 1. - - -Cf. _Grimm_, vol. ii. "The Three Apprentices," pp. 132, 418. _Stier_, -No. 25. - -A similar story used to be current among the schoolboys in -Northumberland. - - - - -THE COUNT'S DAUGHTER. Erdélyi, ii. 2. - - -The writer of this remembers his grandmother telling him this story when -he was a boy in Newcastle on Tyne. - -Cf. _Grimm_, i. "The Robber Bridegroom," pp. 164, 389. - -Chambers, _Book of Days_, vol. i. p. 291, "Mr. Fox." - -Halliwell, _Nursery Rhymes_, p. 164, "The Story of Mr. Fox"; and -Benedict, in "Much Ado About Nothing," act i. scene i.[62] - -Cf. _Hofberg_, p. 14, "Herrn till Rosendal," where the horrors of the -lord's house drives his betrothed away; and the "Iron Virgin," of -Munich, who was said to clasp the doomed in her arms and pierce them -with spikes. _Fraser's Magazine_, 1872, p. 354. - -The story reminds us strongly of Blue Beard. Cf. _Notes and Queries_, -7th S. ii. p. 321. - - - - -THE SPEAKING GRAPES. Erdélyi, ii. 3. - - -Cf. Thorpe. _Yule-Tide Stories_. "Prince Hatt under the Earth," p. 15. -Stokes' _Indian Fairy Tales_, "The Fan Prince," p. 195. _Grimm_, vol. -ii. "The Singing, Soaring Lark," p. 5, and Variants given on pp. 378, -382. _Gubernatis_, vol. ii. Story from Piedmont, p. 381, and a Tuscan -tale, p. 382. In the latter, the father, who has promised his daughter a -rose, forgets it, and his ship refuses to move on the homeward journey, -and so he goes to a garden to get the rose, which is given to him by a -hideous magician. This reminds us of the Finnish story, "Jykeä Lipas" -(The Heavy Chest), _S. ja T._ ii. p. 146, where a man who was ploughing -near a lake, went down to the strand to drink. When he had done drinking -he tried to raise his head but could not, as a sea-troll had got hold of -his beard,[63] and although the man repeated all manner of magic -sentences he could not get away. The man at last had to promise his -daughter, and so was set free: the story then turns on the forbidden -chamber. In another, "Awaimetoim Wakka" (The Keyless Chest), _S. ja T._ -i. p. 151, a man was lost and wanted to get home, when a being appeared -and promised to take him if he would give him what he had at home, which -turns out to be a beautiful child. Cf. "The King and the Devil," p. 189, -in this collection. In Lapp stories the devil comes in. Cf. -"Fattiggutten, Fanden og Guldbyen;" _Friis_, p. 161, where he promises -plenty of fish to a poor man if he will promise what his wife "carries -under her heart;" in another, "Gutten, Havfruen og Ridder Rød," _Friis_, -p. 131,[64] a mermaid stops the king's ship and won't let it go till the -king promises what his wife is bringing into the world. The latter part -of the Finnish and Lapp stories is not like the Magyar, but rather -reminds us of "Stephen the Murderer," and the latter part of "Shepherd -Paul." - -The "Dirty, filthy pig," that helps, is a variant of the huge frog that -will not allow the girl to draw water from the well until she gives it -her ring. Cf. "The wonderful frog," p. 224, and notes. - -For the youngest daughter who wishes for such out-of-the-way, and in -many cases utterly incomprehensible objects, Cf. Stokes' _Indian Tales_, -"The Fan Prince," where the girl wants "Sabr," p. 195; and "The Rájá's -Son," where the young man hears some parrots talk about the Princess -Labám, whom he determines to find, p. 154; and the "Bél Princess," p. -138. Mr. Ralston also notes _Afanassieff_, vol. i. No. 14, and vol. vii. -No. 6. - -_Page 131._ The king tries to deceive the pig, in the same way as he, -the king, on p. 191 tries to deceive the devil. - -Usually, there is a long series of troubles between the enchanted one -appearing in some loathsome form and the revelation of the prince in all -his beauty, as in the well-known story of "Beauty and the Beast."[65] -Cf. "Prince Wolf," _Folk-Lore Record_, 1880, p. 227. "Prince Jalma," -_ib._ 1885, p. 293. On the subject of "Husks," or glorious beings -occurring under lowly forms, see in this collection the snake in "Knight -Rose," "The Wonderful Frog," "Snake Skin," the youngest daughter in "The -Three Princesses," and notes to "The Three Oranges," "Cinder Jack," and -"The Widower and his Daughter." - -Cf. also: The boy in the Lapp stories that wears a hat to hide his -golden helmet. _Friis_, "Jætten og Veslegutten." _Stokes_, "The Monkey -Prince," and "The Boy who had a Moon on his Forehead, and a Star on his -Chin," pp. 126, 130, and note, p. 280. _Old Deccan Days_, "The -wanderings of Vicram Maharajah," p. 119, "The Jackal, the Barber, and -the Brahmin," p. 167, and "Muchie Lal," P. 221.[66] _Dasent:_ Hacan -Grizzlebeard. Also, "The twelve wild ducks" in the same collection, -where the brothers appear under the form of ducks. Cf. the Finnish -"Weljiänsä-etsijät ja Joutsenina lentäjät" (one who seeks brothers -flying as swans): "Saaressa eläjät" (living on an island). "Tynnyrissä -kaswanut poika" (a boy grown in a barrel); _S. ja T._ i. _Märchensaal -aller Völker von Kletke_, No. 2. "Die Drei Königskinder." _Household -Stories from the Land of Hofer_, "The grave Prince and the beneficent -Cat." _Grimm_ ii. "The Donkey." "The Goose-girl at the Well," and note, -p. 441. _Sagas from the Far East_, pp. 28, 92, 222, 244, and 274. - - - - -THE THREE ORANGES. Erdélyi, ii. 4. - - -_Page 133._ In "Loving Lailí." _Stokes_, p. 81, the prince is commanded -to open the fruit when he is alone, as Lailí will be inside quite naked. -See also _ib._ pp. 251, 284, and _Grimm_ ii. p. 496. _Pentamerone_, "The -Three Citrons." _Portuguese Folk Tales_, p. 10, F. L. S. 1882; also -_Dasent_, p. 437, "The Cock and Hen a-nutting." - -_Page 134._ The changed bride occurs in the Finnish "Merestänousija -Neito." (The Sea-Maid.) _S. ja T._ i. p. 77, and "Ihmeellinen Koiwu" -(The wonderful Birch) _S. ja T._ i. p. 59. _Portuguese Folk-Tales_, "The -Maid and the Negress," F. L. S. 1882. _Stokes, Indian Fairy Tales_, pp. -xxiii. xxv. 3, 143, 284. _Dasent_, "The lassie and her Godmother," p. -219, and the "Bushy Bride," p. 376. _Grimm_, ii. "The Goose-girl;" "The -White Bride and the Black one," and "The Maid Maleen," pp. 508, 525. -_Friis_, Lappiske Eventyr, "Haccis-ædne," see "N. and Q." 7th Series, -ii. p. 104. _Pentamerone_, "The Three Citrons." Geldart, _Folk-Lore of -Modern Greece_, "The Knife of Slaughter," p. 63. _Folk-Lore Record_, -1884, p. 242, _ib._ 1885, p. 292. _Gubernatis_, vol. ii. p. 242. Thorpe, -_Yule-Tide Stories_, pp. 47, 54, 62. Gerle, _Volksmärchen der Böhmen_ -No. 5. "Die Goldene Ente." Hyltén-Cavallius. _Svenska Folk Sagor_, No. -7, "Prinsessan som gick upp ur hafvet." Cf. also Steere, _Swahili -Tales_, p. 398. Rink, _Eskimo Tales_, p. 310; and Denton, _Serbian -Tales_, p. 191; also pp. 214 and 222, in this collection. - -_Page 135._ The feigned illness occurs in numerous stories, _e.g._: -_Deccan Days_, "Punchkin," p. 5. _Dasent_, "Katie Woodencloak," p. 413. -_Payne_, vol. i. "The first old man's story," p. 21. _Stokes_, "The -Pomegranate King," p. 9. _Records of the Past_, vol. ii. "Tale of the -Two Brothers," p. 149. _Friis_, "Ivan, Kupiskas Søn," p. 170. - -_Page 136._ House tidying incident. Cf. _Grimm_, vol. i. p. 226. -"Sweetheart Roland." - - - - -THE YOUNGEST PRINCE, AND THE YOUNGEST PRINCESS. Erdélyi, ii. 5. - - -_Page 137._ Good luck coming from being under a tree. Cf. p. 323 in this -collection; and Rink, _Eskimo Tales_, "Kagsagsuk," p. 101. Stokes, -_Indian Tales_, "The Fan Prince," p. 198, and "The Bed," p. 204. -_Pentamerone_, "The Raven." - -_Page 138._ Old one who helps. Vernaleken, _In the Land of Marvels_, -"The Three Tasks," p. 226, and "Piping Hans," p. 221. _S. ja T._ "Maan, -meren kulkija laiwa" (a ship which can sail on land and sea), vol. ii. -p. 22, and "Ihmeellinen Sauwa" (the wonderful stick), _ib._ vol. i. p. -158. In Vicram Maharajah, _Old Deccan Days_, p. 101, the parents of Anar -Ranee caused her garden to be hedged round with seven hedges made of -bayonets, so that none could go in or out, and published a decree that -none should marry her but he who could enter the garden and gather the -three pomegranates in which she and her maids slept. - -_Page 139._ The horse incident. Cf. Trojan horse, also _Gubernatis_, -vol. i. p. 336. Geldart, _Folk-Lore of Modern Greece_, "The Golden -Steed," p. 98. - -_Page 140._ The marks of moon and stars. In _Payne_, vol. ii. p. 163, we -read, that an old woman was taken "for a man of the flower of God's -servants, and the most excellent of devotees, more by token of the -_shining of her forehead_ for the ointment with which she had anointed -it." _S. ja T._ vol. i. p. 105, "Tynnyrissä kaswanut Poika" (a boy who -grew in a barrel) p. 337, _ante_. Stokes _Indian Fairy Tales_, "a boy -who had a moon on his forehead, and a star on his chin," p. 119. Denton, -_Serbian Folk Lore_, "The Shepherd and the King's daughter," p. 173. - - - - -THE INVISIBLE SHEPHERD LAD. Erdélyi, ii. 6. - - -There is a similar tale in Erdélyi, iii. 5. See also _Grimm_, vol. ii. -"The shoes that were danced to pieces," and notes, p. 430. _Roumanian -Fairy Tales_, London, 1881, "The Slippers of the Twelve Princesses." A -sleeping draught is given to the prince in the story of the Enchanted -Youth. _Payne_, vol. i. p. 59. - -_Page 142._ A copper forest occurs in the Lapp story, "Jætten og -Veslegutten." _Friis_, No. 18. Also in _Dasent_, "Katie Woodencloak," -p. 414. - - - - -THE THREE PRINCESSES. Erdélyi, ii. 7. - - -_Page 144._ A girl finds her way back in a similar way in the Lapp -stories. "Stallo og Lappe brødrene Sodno." _Friis_, p. 85, and -"Stallo-vagge," _ib._ p. 106. Cf. also _Roumanian Fairy Tales_, -"Handsome is as Handsome does," p. 81. _Pentamerone_, "Nennillo and -Nennella." _Serbian Folk-Lore_. Denton, "The wicked stepmother." -_Grimm_, vol. i. "Hänsel and Grethel," and note p. 355. - -In the Swedish legend, "Tibble Castle, and Klinta Well." (Hofberg. -_Svenska Sägner_, p. 146,) the princess coming to meet her lover is -carried off by the Mountain King, and leaves her crown hanging on a fir -tree, to show her lover what has happened. - -_Page 146._ The acorn's rapid growth reminds one of Jack and the Bean -Stalk. - -For Magyar idea of giants and giantesses, see the Introduction,[67] The -one-eyed monster occurs in the Lapp, "Ruobba, Jætten og Fanden," -_Friis_, p. 67, and in the Finnish "Leppäpölkky." (_S. ja T._ ii. p. 2) -nine daughters fall into Syöjätär's power, and are only allowed one eye -amongst them. See also _Round the Yule Log_. - -The Lapps tell of monsters which they call Bædnag-njudne[68] who had -dog's noses, and one eye in the middle of their forehead. - -Page 147. Cannibalism. Cf. the Lapp Stories, "Bædnag-njudne," "Stallo og -Fiskerlappen," "En Datter af Stalloslægten flygter fra sine Forældre og -gifter sig med en Lapp," "To Lappepiger gifte sig med Stallo," &c. in -_Friis_. Rink, _Eskimo Tales_, "The Brothers visit their Sister," p. -128. _Old Deccan Days_, "Brave Seventee Bai," p. 28. Payne, _Arabian -Nights_, The History of Gherib and his brother Agib, vol. vi. p. 112. - -_Page 148._ A monster is fooled in a similar way, in "The two Children -and the Witch," p. 60. _Portuguese Folk-Tales_, F.L.S. 1882. See also -_Grimm_, vol. i. Hansel and Grethel, p. 67. _Dasent_, "Buttercup," p. -146, and "Boots and the Troll," p. 253. Also other parallels noted in -Ralston _Russian Tales_, p. 168. - -The hair combing is a favorite incident in numerous Lapp stories. - -The latter part of the story seems to be a compressed edition of the -Cinderella incident. - - - - -CINDER JACK. Erdélyi, ii. 11. - - -The Magyar title of this tale is: "Hamupipöke," and as there are no -genders in the Magyar language, the name may stand either for a male or -a female. - -Sports similar to those mentioned in the tale (but of course on a very -much reduced scale, so as to suit ordinary mortals) formed part of the -wedding festivities in Hungary in days gone by. Cf. Baron Radvánszky's -work on _Magyar Family Life in the 15th and 16th Centuries_. 3 vols. (In -Magyar). - -For the whole story, Cf. the Finnish "Maan, meren kulkija laiwa" (_S. -ja T._ ii. p. 22), a story from Ilomantsi, which tells of a king with an -only daughter, whom he does not wish to marry, as he cannot bear the -thought of parting from her, and so set as a task for any one who wished -to marry her, the building of a ship that could sail over land and sea. -Three brothers, who were merchants, lived in the land: the youngest was -called Tuhkamo (Ashiepattle): these determined to try their luck; but -the elder failed, because they rejected the offer of help from an old -man; Ashiepattle secured the old man's good will, and so won the day. -The latter part of the tale is something like that of Shepherd Paul in -this collection. - -A Karelian story, entitled "Tuhkamo" turns upon three brothers, whose -father before he died bade them come and pray for him by his grave: only -the youngest did so. He was rewarded, and by means of a wonderful horse, -achieved marvellous feats of jumping, and so won the princess. Another -story from North Finland: "Tuhkamo," relates how a dead father came to -his three sons in their dreams, and ordered them to watch on the -sea-shore; the youngest alone did so, and caught a swan maiden, whose -father set him three tasks; viz. to fell all the trees near a bay; to -set them up again; and to bring a golden chain from heaven. He managed -all that by the help of his bride, but got into trouble over the last, -as when he rode up to it, on his wondrous steed, and seized it, it was -so heavy that he fell down to the earth, and was completely buried in -the ground, except a little hair, which remained above ground; a duck -made her nest on his head, and laid her eggs in it, and by means of a -fox and other animals which came to eat the eggs Tuhkamo got out of his -difficulty; he next fooled two men who were quarrelling over three -precious gifts; he then went on to three houses asking for his bride; -all the animals, &c. were summoned, and at last an eagle took him to his -lost bride, who recognised him by a piece of the golden chain he put in -the water the princess's servants drew. - -In another Finnish tale, "The Golden Bird," the third son is the only -one who can watch all night, and so finds out what it is that steals -fruit from his father's favourite tree. - -The Lapp story, "Ruobba,[69] Jætten og Fanden," _Friis_, p. 67, tells of -_tools_ of all sorts, axes and planes, &c. coming and asking the sons -to give them some food; the eldest refuse, but the youngest gives them -food, and so succeeds in finding out the robber. - -Another tale, "Solkongens Datter," _Friis_, p. 152, relates how a man -has a barn full of corn from which some one steals every night. The -man's two elder sons try to watch and fail; but Gudnavir[~u]s (_i.e._ -Ashiepattle) succeeds in finding the robbers--three swan-maidens--and -securing one of them. - -Cf. also Rink, _Eskimo Legends_, "Kagsagsuk," and "The Child Monster," -where ill treated ones suddenly develope vast power. Dasent, _Tales from -the Norse_, "The Princess on the glass hill." _Old Deccan Days_, "The -Raksha's Palace," p. 205. Stokes' _Indian Fairy Tales_, "The boy who had -a moon on his forehead," p. 126, &c. and p. 280. Mitford, _Tales of Old -Japan_, "The story of the Old Man who made withered trees to blossom." -Vernaleken, _In the Land of Marvels_, "Hondiddledo and his Fiddle," and -"Mr. Chick," p. 228. _Roumanian Fairy Tales_, "The Hermit's Foundling." -Geldart, _Folk-Lore of Modern Greece_, "The Scab Pate." Steere, _Swahili -Tales_, "Sultan Majnún." Ralston, _Russian Folk Tales_, "The Norka," p. -73. Denton, _Serbian Folk-Lore_, "The Golden Apple Tree and the nine -Peahens." "Who asks much gets little." _Grimm_, vol. i. "The Golden -Bird," "The Three feathers." _Ibidem_, vol. ii. "Iron John," and notes, -p. 434. _Gubernatis_, vol. i. pp. 25, 177, and 293, &c. where Russian -variants are given. Thorpe, _Yule-Tide Stories_ "The Millet Thief." -_Polnische Volkssagen und Märchen_, Aus dem Polnischen des K. B. -Woycicki von F. H. Levestam, "Der Glasberg." _Deutches Märchenbuch_, von -L. Bechstein, "Hirsedieb." _Sagen Märchen und Gebräuche aus Sachsen und -Thüringen_, Gesammelt von Emil Sommer, "Der Dumme Wirrschopf." _Svenska -Folk Sagor_, Hyltén-Cavallius och G. Steffens, "Prinsessan uppå -Glasberget." - - - - -THE THREE BROTHERS. Erdélyi, ii. 8. - - -The beginning of the tale reminds us of "The travels of Truth and -Falsehood," p. 36 in this collection. - -_Healing Mud_, p. 152. Cf. pp. 36, 53, 323, and 336, in this collection. -Also, "Right is always right," a Wendish story, quoted in the _Dublin -Magazine_, 1868, p. 356, and _Vernaleken_, "The Accursed Garden," p. -308. - -In Tuscany, the peasants believe that whoever washes his face in the dew -before the sun rises on St. John's Day will have no illness all the year -following. See _Gubernatis_, vol. i. p. 219. Cf. also Payne, _Arabian -Nights_, vol. v. pp. 279, 281. A magic whistle appears in the Finnish -story, _e.g._ "The ship that can sail on land and sea," _S. ja T._ ii. -p. 22. See also in this collection, p. 192, and _Gubernatis_, vol. i. p. -289. - -The envious brothers (or fellow-servants) appear in numerous stories, -such as "Kulta-orit, Kulta-nuotta, wasta ja pilli (the golden stallion, -golden drag net, broom and flute)," _S. ja T._ i. p. 187, and _Dasent_, -"Boots and the Troll." - -The tasks set are somewhat like those in "Fisher Joe." - -In the Lapp story, "Gutten, som tjente hos Kongen" (_Friis_, p. 167), -the hero is ordered to bring all the wild beasts of the forest into the -King's courtyard. Animals help Hans in the "Maiden on the Crystal -Mountain;" _Vernaleken_, p. 276. Cf. also notes to "Fisher Joe" and -"Handsome Paul." - - - - -THE THREE VALUABLE THINGS. Erdélyi, ii. 9. - - -Cf. Naaké, _Slavonic Fairy Tales_, "The wise judgment." Caballero, -_Spanish Fairy Tales_, "A girl who wanted three husbands." _Sagas from -the far East_: "Five to one," p. 112; and "Who invented Woman," p. 298. -Denton, _Serbian Folk-Lore_, "The three Suitors." Geldart, _Folk-Lore of -Modern Greece_, "The Golden Casket," pp. 112 and 115, and _Arabian -Nights_, "Prince Ahmed and the Fairy Banou." - - - - -THE LITTLE MAGIC PONY. Erdélyi, ii. 10. - - -A curious story of a magic horse is still told in Lincolnshire, which I -heard the other day in Boston. This is _verbatim_. "Near Lincoln is a -place called Biard's Leap; near there an old witch lived in a cave, who -enticed people in and eat them. One day a man offered to go and kill -her. He had his choice of a dozen horses, so he took them all to a pond, -where he threw a stone into the water, and then led the horses to have a -drink, and the one which lifted its head first he chose. It was blind. -He got on its back, and, taking his sword, set off. When he got to the -cave's mouth, he shouted to the witch to come out. - - - "Wait till I've buckled my shoe, - And suckled my cubs," - - -cried the witch. She then rushed out, and jumping on to the horse stuck -her claws into its rump, which made it jump over thirty feet (the -so-called Biard's leap). The man struck behind him with his sword, which -entered the old woman's left breast, and killed her." - -The legend is given in a curious little tract, entitled "The existing -remains of the Ancient Britons within a small district lying between -Lincoln and Sleaford, by the Rev. G. Oliver, D.D. London, 1846." The man -of the above version is replaced by a knight, who "cast a large stone -into the lake, accompanied by a secret petition to the gods, that the -chosen steed might raise his head from the water;" Biard rises, and they -go to meet the witch, who has her left breast cut off by the first blow -of the knight's sword; the second blow she evades by springing on to -Biard's flank, where she fixes her talons, so that the horse took a -series of prodigious leaps, three of which are at least sixty yards -asunder, and are still marked by the impressions of his feet. The witch -died from her wound, and was buried under a huge stone at the cross -roads, and a stake driven through her body. _Gubernatis_, i. p. 338. Cf. -Notes to Prince Mirkó. - -_Page 160. Obstructions placed in the way of the witch or giant who -follows._ - -Cf. Finnish, "Awaimetoin Wakka" (the Keyless Chest), _S. ja T._ i. p. -151, and "Oriiksi muutettu poika" (the enchanted horse), _ib_. p. 142. -Lapp. "Jaetten og Veslegutten." _Friis_, p. 49, and "Jaetten og Drengen -hans," _ib._ p. 58. Rink, _Eskimo Tales_, "A tale about Two Girls," and -"Giviok." Naaké, _Slavonic Tales_, "The wonderful hair," and "Ivan -Kruchina." _Legends of the Wigwam_, "Exploits of Grasshopper," p. 61. -_Old Deccan Days_, "Truth's Triumph," p. 63. _Portuguese Folk Tales_, F. -L. S. 1882, "The Maid and the Negress," and "St. Peter's Goddaughter." -Ralston, _Russian Folk-Tales_, "Marya Morevna," p. 95: "the Baba Yaga," -p. 141, and "the Witch and the Sun's Sister," p. 173. Dasent, _Norse -Tales_, "The Mastermaid," p. 91; "Farmer Weathersky," p. 334, and "The -Widow's Son," p. 363. _Grimm_, vol. i. "The Water Nix." Geldart, _Greek -Tales_, "Starbright and Birdie," "The Golden Casket," p. 123, and "The -Scab Pate," p. 164. _Vernaleken_, "The Two Sisters," p. 157. -_Pentamerone_, "The Flea," and "Petrosinella." _Records of the Past_, -vol. ii. "Tale of the Two Brothers," p. 142. _Gubernatis_, vol. i. pp. -166, 175. _Folk-Lore Journal_, 1883, "The Three Sisters and Itrìmobé," -p. 235. A Malagasky tale. Ananci Stories, _ib._ p. 286. Irish -Folk-Tales, _ib._ p. 323. _Ibid._ 1884. "Prince Unexpected," p. 15, a -Polish tale, and "Isìlakòlona," _ib._ p. 31, a Malagasy tale. - - - - -THE BEGGAR'S PRESENTS. Erdélyi, ii. 12. - - -Cf. the wonderful gifts in: "Taiwaasen menijä" (one who goes to heaven) -_S. ja T._ ii. p. 113, and "Ei-niin-mitä" (just nothing) _ib._ p. 53. -"Bondesønnen, Kongesønnem og Solens Søster." _Friis_, p. 140. _Dasent_, -"The Best Wish," p. 294, and "Katie Woodencloak," _ib._ p. 412. _Old -Deccan Days_, "The Jackal, the Barber, and the Brahman." Stokes' _Indian -Fairy Tales_, "The Story of Foolish Sachúlí." _Sagas from the Far East_, -"The Avaricious Brother," p. 23. _Vernaleken, In the Land of Marvels_, -"The Wishing Rag," "The Magic Pot." _Patránas_, "Matanzas." Caballero, -_Spanish Folk-Tales_, "Uncle Curro and his Cudgel." _Pentamerone_, "The -Months." _Grimm_, vol. i. "The Wishing Table, the Gold Ass, and the -Cudgel in the Sack," and notes, p. 387. Also "The Knapsack, the Hat, -&c." and notes, p. 409. Crofton Croker, _Irish Fairy Legends_, "The -Legend of Bottle Hill." Payne, _Arabian Nights_, vol. vi. Jouder and his -Brothers. _Folk-Lore Record_, 1878, "Some Italian Folk-Lore," p. 202. -_Gubernatis_, vol. i. pp. 127, 154, 161; and Nordlander, _Sagor, Sägner -och Viso_ No. 4. - - - - -THE WORLD'S BEAUTIFUL WOMAN. Erdélyi, iii. 1. - - -Arany gives the following variants of this tale: _Mailath_ 2, -_Grimm_[70] 53, and _Schott_, Wallachische Märchen 5. See also in -Russian poetry by Pushkin, in Bodenstedt's translation i. p. 100. In the -German variants, twelve pigmies take the place of the twelve robbers in -the Hungarian tale; and the queen thus addresses her mirror: - - - "Spieglein, spieglein an der Wand - Wer ist die schönste im ganzen Land?" - - -And receives the reply-- - - - "Frau Königin. Thr seid die Schönste hier - Aber Schneewitchen ist thausendmal schöner. - Als Thr." - - -Cf. Pedroso _Portuguese Folk-Tales_, F.L.S. 1882. "The Vain Queen," and -"The Maiden with the Rose on her Forehead." - -_Page 164._ The love-stricken ones is a touch of the Oriental method of -describing the power of love. See numberless examples in Payne's -_Arabian Knights_. - -_Page 165._ There is an Indian superstition noted in Temple's _Legends -of the Punjáb_, p. 51, where we read, "he wore some coarse clothes over -his own, so that her perspiration should not injure him," and in the -footnote: "the woman's perspiration would take his 'virtue' out of him." - -_Page 165._ Magic Mirror. Besides the variants at the beginning of the -notes, we may compare the Magic Mirror in the Norse Saga, "King Gram" -and the Hanoverian tale, in _Grimm_, vol. ii. p. 379. - -For spitting as a mode of enchantment, see numerous examples in _Arabian -Nights_. - -_Page 172._ "The Pin, &c. which prevents the girl from moving." Cf. -Stokes, _Indian Fairy Tales_, p. xiii., "The Pomegranate King," - -p. 14, "The princess who loved her father like salt," p. 165; and notes -on pp. 248, &c. - -In the Finnish tale, "Här' än Korwista syntyneet Koirat siw" (Dogs which -sprang from the ears of a bull), in _S. ja T._ 1, a girl scratches her -brother's head with a devil's tusk, and so kills him; but his faithful -dogs lick the wound, and so restore him to life. - -In a Lapp story, "Bondesønnen" (_Friis_, No. 44) the son's sister -awakes, when the hero pricks her hand, and sucks the drop of blood off. - -Cf. Schott, _Wallachische Märchen_, p. 251. Pedroso, _Portuguese Tales_, -F.L.S. 1882, "The Maid and the Negress." _Irish Folk Tales_, Folk-Lore -Record. 1884, p. 197, "The Story of John and the Amulet." Halliwell, -_Nursery Rhymes and Tales_, "The Red Bull of Norroway," p. 169. Thorpe, -_Yule-Tide Stories_, p. 40, "The Princess that came out of the water." -Payne, _Arabian Nights_, vol. i. p. 375. _Gubernatis_, vol. ii. p. 15, -and a story from near Leghorn, p. 242, where it states that similar -stories are to be found in Piedmont, in other parts of Tuscany, in -Calabria, &c. and in the _Tuti-Name_. _Grimm_, vol. ii. p. 243, "The -Glass Coffin." _Pentamerone_, "Sun, Moon, and Talia," and "The Three -Citrons." Gonzenbach, _Sicilianiasches Märchen_, vol. i. p. 82.[71] _Old -Deccan Days_, "Little Surya Bai," p. 83; "Chundun Rajah," p. 233; -"Sodewa Bai," p. 240. In the two last, we also have examples of bodies -remaining undecayed for months after death. Sodewa Bai looked as lovely -a month after her death as on the night she died; cf. also the -well-known "Sleeping Beauty." - -The prince in the Greek story weeps and groans over a picture, just as -this prince does over his dead princess. See _Geldart_, p. 95, "The -Golden Steed." - -_Page 180._ For a fuller note on witches see the Introduction. - - - - -THE GIRL WITHOUT HANDS. Erdélyi, iii. 2. - - -Cf. "Neitonen kuninkaan Sadussa" (The Maid in the King's Garden), and -"Neitonen Hernemaassa"[72] (The Maid in the Pea-field). _S. ja T._ i. -pp. 108-119. _Grimm_, vol. i. "The Girl without Arms," and note, p. 378. -Molbech, _Udvalgte Eventyr og Fortaellinger_, "Pigen uden Haender." - - - - -THE KING AND THE DEVIL. Erdélyi, iii 3. - - -Cf. _Some Italian Folk-Lore_, "Lion Bruno," _Folk-Lore Record_, 1878, p. -209. _Portuguese Stories_, "The Story of a Turner," _Folk-Lore Record_, -1881, p. 152. _Irish Stories, Folk-Lore Journal_, 1884, p. 39. _Grimm_, -vol. ii. "The King of the Golden Mountain," and "The Nix of the Mill -Pond." Thorpe, _Yule-Tide Stories_, "The Gold Ring and the Frog," "The -King's Son and Messeria," and "Goldmaria and Goldfeather." _Vernaleken, -In the Land of Marvels_, "The Fisher's Son," and "The Stolen Princess." - -_S. ja T._ i. "Awaimetoin Wakka," and _S. ja T._ ii. p. 146, "Jykeä -Lipas" (the Heavy Chest). _Friis_, "Gutten, Havfruen og Ridder Rød," and -"Fattiggutten, Fanden og Guldbyen." Ralston, _Russian Folk-Tales_ p. -362-366, 124, 133. - -Steere, _Swahili Tales_, "The Spirit who was cheated by the Sultan's -Son." _Gubernatis_, ii. p. 382. One may also compare the Viennese -Legends of the "Stock-im-Eisen," and of the "Baren-Häuter," for which -_vide Pictures of Hungarian Life_, pp. 172 and 387. Cf. also the Swedish -Legend, "Friskytten," in Hofberg's _Svenska Folksägner_, and the -well-known stories of Faust and Der Freischütz. See also p. 130 _ante_. - -_Page 191._ The attempts to deceive the devil are found in numerous -tales, e.g. _Friis_, "Stallobruden." _Grimm_ ii., "The Iron Stone," p. -158. Lindholm, _Lappbönder_, "De bedragne jätten and; Quigstad og," -Sandberg _Lappiske eventyr og folkesagn_, "Stallo og lappepigen." - -_Page 191._ "Owl's Feathers." Pillows of the same sort appear in "The -Pelican," p. 255, and remind us of the superstitions connected with wild -birds' feathers. In many parts of Lincolnshire, it is said, that it is -impossible to die on a bed that contains them. I know of one old lady in -Yorkshire, who when _in extremis_ begged to be moved off her bed, as she -was sure she could not die on it, as it had some bad feathers in it. In -some places it is pigeon's feathers that the people particularly -dislike. See also Henderson's _Folk-Lore of the Northern Counties_, p. -60. - -_Page 192._ For different tasks, such as the millet cleaning, see also: -_S. ja T._ i. "Ihmeellinen Koiwu" (The wonderful Birch). Stokes, _Indian -Fairy Tales_, "The Rájá's Son," p. 163, and p. 180. Temple, _Legends of -the Punjáb_, "Râjâ Rasâlû," p. 43. Thorpe, _Yule-Tide Stories_. "Svend's -Exploits," p. 353. Geldart, _Folk-Lore of Modern Greece_, "The Snake, -the Dog, and the Cat," p. 44. _Pentamerone_, "The Dove." _Folk-Lore -Journal_, 1884, "Prince Unexpected," p. 13. _Gubernatis_, Vol. i. p. 38. -Ralston, _Russian Folk Tales_, "The Water King," p. 126; also pp. 18, -153, 208 in this work. - -The hairs that became serpents remind us of Medusa. - -_Page 193._ The changes of the pursued, in order to avoid capture, occur -in numerous tales, _e.g._ "Handsome Paul," and note 320 _ante_. Also _S. -ja T._ i. "Oriiksi muutettu poika," and "Awaimetoin Wakka." _Friis_, -"Jætten og Veslegutten," and "Jætten og Drengen hans." _Household -Stories from the Land of Hofer_, "The Dove Maiden," p. 384. _Vernaleken, -In the Land of Marvels_, "How Hans finds his Wife," p. 284, and "The -Drummer," p. 292. _Folk-Lore Journal_, 1884, "Prince Unexpected," p. 15, -and Malagasy Folk-Tales, "Isìlakòlona," p. 131. Campbell, _Popular Tales -of the Western Highlands_, "The Battle of the Birds." - -_Page 194._ The devil's limping and the woodpeckers and hares in other -stories,[73] reminds us of an old Yorkshire saw, "Beware of those whom -God has marked," and I know cases of people who regard any external -deformity as the expression of internal malformation. - -_Page 195._ In the Lapp stories, the giants swallow so much water that -they burst. - -With the moral tacked on to this tale, cf. _Vernaleken_, "The Nine -Birds." - - - - -THE THREE PRINCES, THE THREE DRAGONS, AND THE OLD WOMAN WITH THE IRON -NOSE. Erdélyi, iii. 4. - - -_Page 197._ Tátos. Cf. notes, p. 345, also _Roumanian Fairy-Tales_, "The -Hermit's Foundling" and "Vasilica the Brave." _Pentamerone_, "Corvetto" -and Geldart, _Folk-Lore of Modern Greece_, "The Golden Steed," and "The -Scab Pate." - -The dragon vomiting out those it has eaten. Cf. The queen swallowed by -the whale, in the story of the "Two Orphans," p. 223. Also Red Riding -Hood. _Grimm_, i. "The Wolf and the Seven little Kids." Cf. old Greek -legend of Kronos devouring his children. - -_Page 199._ The bridge seems to suggest the bridge in the Koran. See -also the bridge in _Pentamerone_, "The golden root." - -This part of the story somewhat resembles that of "the Accursed Garden," -in _Vernaleken_. - -_Page 201._ The transformation of Ambrose and the Dragon. Cf. _Roumanian -Fairy Tales_, "Vasilica the Brave," p. 73. - -In the Lapp stories the hero calls for help to his gods. See _Friis_. -"Stallo og Patto Poadnje," and "Stallo og Fiskerlappen." - -_Page 202._ In the Finnish story, Alderblock turns himself into an -ermine. See _S. ja T._ 2, "Leppäpölkky," a story which is very much like -the Magyar in this part. Ralston, _Russian Folk-Tales_, "Ivan Popyalof," -p. 69. Also _ib._ pp. 71 and 72. In the Finnish tale (_S. ja T._ i.) -"Weljiänsä-etsijät Tyttö"--a little dog prevents the girl from bathing -in water which would transform her. Cf. Pedroso, _Portuguese -Folk-Tales_, "Pedro and the Prince," p. 26. _Gubernatis_, i. p. 191. - -_Page 203._ Ambrose sticks to the axle as the people did to the lamb, p. -14, _ante_. Cf. Story of Loki and the Eagle. - -_Page 204._ The witch in the lower world reminds us of the Egyptian -Legend of Ishtar, _Records of the Past_, vol. i. p. 144. - -_Page 205._ The folk-tale-teller was ever fond of having a sly rap at -the clergy. Cf. Lapp tale, where the priest wants to marry the goveiter -girl himself, because she has a costly silver girdle; _Friis_, -"Goveiter-Pige." Also Ralston, _Russian Folk Tales_, p. 27. - -_Page 205._ Worming secrets out of witch, &c. by flattery. Cf. _S. ja -T._ ii. "Antti Puuhaara," and _Friis_, "Stallo og Lappebrødrene Sodno." - -_Ib._ Concealed Life. Cf. _Friis_, "Jætten, som havde skjult sit Liv i -et Hønseaeg," and "Jætten og Veslegutten," where the giant has hid his -life in the middle of a cow's heart. Rink, _Eskimo Tales_, "The girl who -fled to the Inlanders," p. 220. _Old Deccan Days_, "Punchkin," p. 13. -Stokes, _Indian Tales_. "Brave Hírálálbásá," p. 58; "The Demon and the -King's Son," p. 187, and note, p. 261. Dasent, _Tales from the Norse_, -"The giant who had no heart in his body," p. 75. - -_Sagas from the Far East_, "Child Intellect," p. 133. Steere, _Swahili -Tales_, "Story of the Washerwoman's Donkey," p. 5. Ralston, _Russian -Folk Tales_. "Koschei the Deathless," p. 103, and pp. 113--115. Mr. -Ralston also gives _Asbjörnsen_, "New Series," No. 70, p. 39. Haltrich, -_Deutsche Volksmärchen ausdem Sachsenlande in Siebenbürgen_, p. 188. -Wenzig, _Westabauischer Märchenschatz_, No. 37, p. 190. _Hahn_, No. 26, -i. 187, and ii. pp. 215, 294--5, _Vuk Karajich_, No. 8. Cf. _Records of -the Past_, vol. ii. "Tale of the Two Brothers," p. 149. Geldart, _Greek -Folk-Tales_, "The little Brother who saved his Sister from the Dragon," -p. 56. _Pentamerone_, "The Dragon." Campbell, "Tales of the Western -Highlands," vol. i. p. 81. _Grimm_, vol. ii. p. 564. Denton, _Serbian -Folk-Lore_. "Bash-chalek," p. 172. Payne, _Arabian Nights_, vol. i. p. -118, and vol. vii. p. 91. Engel, _Musical Myths_, vol. i. p. 201. -_Folk-Lore Journal_, 1884, "The Philosophy of Punchkin." Tylor, -_Primitive Culture_, pp. 152, 153. _Gubernatis_, vol. i. pp. 131, 140, -269, and 412. Thorpe, _Yule-Tide Stories_. "The Man without a Heart." -Black, _Folk-Medecine_, p. 32. _Gesta Romanorum_, "The Knight and the -Necromancer." Castren, _Ethnologische Vorlesungen über die Altaischen -Völker_, p. 174. _Page 206._ A wonderful chest in the Finnish story, -"Awaimetoin Wakka" (_S. ja T._ i.) opens as the golden apple in the -Magyar tale, and out of it comes castle, servants, &c. See also Prince -Mirkó, p. 74, _ante_. - - - - -THE WIDOWER AND HIS DAUGHTER. Erdélyi iii. 7. - - -There are some wild variants of this tale to be found amongst the -Finnish Folk-Tales. See "Ihmeelinen Koiwu," the wonderful birch, -"Kummallinen Tammi," the marvellous oak, and "Kolmet Sisärykset," the -three sisters. _S. ja T._ i. pp. 59-77, also "Awannolla kehrääjät," the -spinner beside the ice-hole, and "Sisärpuolet," the half-sisters. _S. ja -T._ ii. pp. 161-172. Winther, _Danske Folkeeventyr_, "Den onde -Skemoder," Asbjörnsen og Moe, _Norske Folkeeventyr_, "Manddattern og -Kjärringdattern." _Deutsches Märchenbuch von L. Bechstein_, "Die -Goldmaria und Pechmaria." Kuhn und Schwartz, _Norddeutsche Sagen_, "Das -Mädchen im Paradis." Hyltén-Cavallius, _Svenska Folksagor_. "De twå -Skrinen," Geldart, _Folk Lore of Modern Greece_. "Little Saddleslut" and -the "Goat Girl," _Sagas from the Far East_, p. 180. Ralston's _Russian -Folk Tales_, "The Dead Mother," and p. 260, where a Serbian variant is -quoted, which apparently bears a strong resemblance to some of the -Finnish. Denton's _Serbian Folk-Lore_, "Papalluga." Vernaleken, _In the -Land of Marvels_, "The Blackbird," and p. 84. _Pentamerone_, "La Gatta -Cenerentola." - -_Gubernatis_, vol. i., pp. 31, 182, 195, 208, 241, 291, 293. Thorpe's -_Yule-tide Stories_. "The Little Gold Shoe" and "The Girl clad in -Mouseskin." _Grimm_, vol. 1, "Cinderella," "Allerleirauh," and notes, -pp. 364, 416, 420. _Household Stories from the Land of Hofer_. -"Klein-Else." _Folk-Lore Record_ 1878. "Some Italian Folk-Lore," p. 188: -_ib._ 1880. "The Icelandic story of Cinderella." _Portuguese -Folk-Tales_, F. L. S. pp. 68 and 97: _Folk-Lore Record_ 1884; Folk Tales -of the Malagasy, p. 74, _ib._ Chilian Popular Tales, "Maria the Cinder -Maiden." _Tasks imposed_, p. 208; see _ante_, p. 398. The gold rose -stuck into the gate-post (p. 211) occurs in one of the Finnish variants. - -_Page 214_. The gipsy woman incident. Cf. _ante_, p. 386. - -_Page 215_. The "feather picking" refers to gatherings of country girls -held during the winter, to dress feathers collected during the year for -bedding. - -_Ib_. The golden duck incident is an exceedingly common one. Cf. _Old -Deccan Days_, pp. 85 and 223. _Portuguese Folk-Tales_: F.L.S. p. 12. -Stokes' _Indian Tales_, p. 284. - - - - -THE WISHES. Erdélyi iii. 11. - - -Cf. _Payne_, vol. v. "The man who saw the night of power." _Caballero's_ -Fairy Tales, "The three wishes." _Grimm_, "The poor man and the rich -man," and notes; and a fragment in _Notes and Queries_. Finnish -Folk-Lore, 6th S. viii., p. 201, also _Lewins_ "A fly on the wheel," p. -81, where a Hindustani variant is given. - - - - -THE TWO ORPHANS. Erdélyi iii. 9. - - -In a Finnish Tale, "Weljiänsä-etsijät Tyttö," _S. ja T_. i. p. 119, the -girl who seeks her brothers, the girl is warned by a faithful dog, from -going near or touching water which a witch wishes her to do, and which -entails misery on her; as also in another, "Leppapölky," where the witch -tempts the heroes in like manner. Cf. Geldart's _Folk-Lore of Modern -Greece_. "Starbright and Birdie," p. 33. _Grimm_, "Brother and Sister." -_Gubernatis_, vol. i., pp. 175, 354, and 390. - -_P. 221_. The cutting off of the lock of hair reminds us of the -widespread superstitions connected with hair, or any other part of a -person. Cf. _ante_ pp. 332 and 374. _Archaeology_, "The Physicians of -Myddfai," p. 113. I have also often heard the following in Yorkshire and -Lincolnshire. That you must not give a lock of hair to anyone, or else -you will quarrel with that person; that you must not keep the hair of a -dead person unless it is "made up," or you will have ill-luck; and that -all hair cuttings and nail parings ought to be saved and placed in the -coffin, so that the person may "enter heaven perfect!" A baby's hair and -nails must not be cut until it is a year old, or else it will be a -thief. Hair must not be cut when the moon is waning. It is also said -that ague can be cured by hanging a lock of hair on a willow tree.[74] - -_Page 223._ The witch wishes to get rid of the deer, in the same way -that the gipsy does the golden duck, _ante_ p. 215. Cf. Stokes's _Indian -Fairy Tales:_ "The Pomegranate King," p. 10; "Phúlmati Ráni," p. 4; "The -Jackal and the Kite," p. 22; "The Bél-Princess," p. 144; and Notes, pp. -245-253. _Gubernatis_, vol. i., p. 412, and vol. ii., p. 31. - -_Page 223._ In the Lapp Story, "Pigen fra Havet," _Friis_, No. 8,[75] a -child is brought down to the sea-shore to bring mother back; and in the -Finnish story, "Ihmeelinen Koiwu," The wonderful Birch, the child's cry -brings mother back, just as the little deer's lament in this tale -reaches the sister's ears at the bottom of the well. - -In this Finnish tale the mother replies, and says to the reindeer, which -are feeding near: - - - "Reindeer! Reindeer! feeding in the swamp, - Come and take care of your child! - Come and see the child you have borne! - For the witch's daughter has neither food nor drink, - And cannot quiet its cries." - - -See also _Finnish_, "Maid who rose out of the sea." - -_Grimm_, "The lambkin and the little fish," and notes. - -_Pentamerone_, "The two cakes." Theal, _Kaffir Folk-Lore_, "The story of -Tangalimlibo," p. 61. - -_Page 223._ Creatures inside others. - -Cf. Theal, _Kaffir Folk-Lore_, "The story of the cannibal mother," p. -142; "The story of the glutton," p. 175; "The great chief of the -animals," p. 177; and the Finnish story, "Seppo Ilmarisen Kosinta" -(Smith Ilmarinen's courtship), where the smith, after being swallowed by -Untamoinen, cuts his way out. - -Stokes's _Indian Fairy Tales_, "Loving Lailí," p. 76. - - - - -THE WONDERFUL FROG. Erdélyi, iii. 15. - - -My friend, Prof. Aug. Gittée, has kindly forwarded me a Flemish variant, -"Van het Meisje dat met een Puits trouwde." "The tale of a girl who -married a frog." See _Volskunde Tijdschrift voor Nederlandsche -Folklore_, 1888, p. 48. Cf. _Grimm_. "The Frog King" and notes. Stokes, -_Indian Folk Tales_, p. xvi. and "The Monkey Prince." _Gubernatis_. "The -Frog." Max Müller, _Chips from a German Workshop_, vol. ii. p. 249. Cox. -_Mythology of the Aryan Nations_. "Frog." Halliwell. _Nursery Rhymes and -Tales_. "The maiden and the frog."[76] Dasent. _Tales from the Norse_. -"Bushy Bride." - - - - -THE DEVIL AND THE RED CAP. Erdélyi, iii. 19. - - -Cf. Ralston, _Russian Folk-Tales_, "The Soldier and the Vampire," p. -314. Vernaleken. _In the Land of Marvels._ "How a Shepherd became rich." - - - - -JACK DREADNOUGHT. Erdélyi, iii. 16. - - -Cf. _Grimm_, "The Story of the youth who went to learn what fear was," -and notes: _ib._ "The King's son who feared nothing," and notes. -_Household Stories from the Land of Hofer._ "Fearless Johnny." -_Afanassieff_, v. 46. - -_Page 232._ The secret treasures guarded by ghosts, &c. is a world-wide -tradition. Cf. Hofberg, _Svenska Folksägner_. "Skatten i Säbybäcken," -Where a carriage full of gold and silver is said to be sunk mid-stream, -over which a weird light flickers. Many attempts, we are told, have been -made to rescue it, but each time some one has spoken, or else the -bull-calves--which are not to have a single black hair on them, and were -to be fed for three years on unskimmed milk--were not strong enough; and -so the attempts have ever failed. See also, in the same work -"Skattgräfvarna," where the searchers were frightened away by the Demon -guardians of the hidden store. In Lincolnshire I have heard of a field -where, tradition says, countless barrels of beer, and a fender and -fireirons of silver, are buried, and in my own parish I have collected -three similar tales told of places here, and the other day a Negro from -South Carolina told me another. Cf. Hardwick, _Traditions, -Superstitions, and Folk-Lore_ (chiefly Lancashire and the north of -England), pp. 41, 46, 195, and 252. Cf. Baring Gould. _Curious Myths_. -"The Divining Rod."[77] - - - - -THE SECRET-KEEPING LITTLE BOY AND HIS LITTLE SWORD. Erdélyi, iii. 8. - - -Cf. _Grimm_, vol. i., "Faithful John" and note. See _ante_, p. 350. - -With regard to the sword growing in the garden, Cf. the Hunnish -superstition mentioned by Priscus. "He (Attila) believes also that there -will be before long some noteable increase of his power; and that the -gods have signified this by revealing to him the sword of Mars, a sacred -relic much venerated by the Huns, for many years hidden from their eyes, -but quite lately re-discovered by the trail of the blood of an ox which -had wounded its hoof against it, as it stuck upright in the long grass." -_Italy and her defenders_, by T. Hodgkin, vol. ii. p. 92. No doubt -Priscus makes use of the name of Mars to designate the Hunnish deity in -the same way as Tacitus when he speaks of the Teutonic god of war. A -naked sabre, fixed hilt downwards in the earth, was worshipped by the -Alani. Cf. p. 33 of the above-mentioned work. - -_Payne_, vol. vi. "Jouder and his brothers," pp. 129, 152, 164. - -See also, Geldart, _Folk-Lore of Modern Greece_, "The Scab Pate." Payne, -_Tales from the Arabic_, vol. i., "The story of the King who knew the -quintessence of things." - -"The Three Dreams," p. 117, in this collection, and notes, p. 375. - -_Page 236._ The execution. The last ceremony with a condemned man when -he is pinioned is to read once more his sentence to him. This is done by -the sheriff, and concludes with "Hangman, do your duty!" After the -execution is over, the military present are commanded to prayer; the -helmet is taken off, the musket taken in the left hand and grounded, and -every soldier kneels on his left knee, and remains so for a few minutes -till order is given "From prayer." - -In olden times the sheriff, after he read the sentence, broke his -judicial staff in twain, and threw the pieces at the culprit's feet: -hence the Hungarian saying, "to break the staff near anyone," is -equivalent to pronouncing sentence: _e.g._, "I have done this, but don't -break a staff over my action," _i.e._, do not condemn my action. - -_Page 238._ "Immuring alive." Cf. Roumanian legend "Manuli," and notes -in this collection, p. 376. - -_Page 243._ In the Finnish tale, "Alderblock," there is a sword, which -cuts the enemy into fragments. - - - - -SHEPHERD PAUL. Erdélyi, iii. 17. - - -Cf. Finnish stories, "Lappäpölkky," _S. ja T._ 2; where Alderblock has -five companions who assist him in his labours; also "Mikko Metsolainen" -and "Mikko Mieheläinen," _S. ja T._ i.; stories very much like the -Magyar one. Also, "Maan, meren kulkija laiwa." In a Lapp story we find -companions helping the hero. _Friis_. "Ruobba, Jaetten og Fanden." - -_Grimm._ "How six men got on in the world," and notes; "The six -servants," and notes; "Strong Hans," and notes. - -Müllenhoff, _Märchen und Lieder der Hertzogenthümer Schleswig Holstein -und Lauenberg_, "Rinroth." Molbech, _Udwalgte Eventyr_, "De fer -Tienere." Cavallius och Stefens, _Svenska Folksagor_, "De begge -Fosterbröderne," and "Halftrollet eller de Tre Swärden." - -Bechstein. _Deutsches Märchenbuch_. "Der Hafenhüter." - -Denton. _Serbian Folk-Lore_. "Sir Peppercorn." - -_Patrañas._ "The ill-tempered Princess." "A tale of fourteen men," a -Flemish tale; see _Magazin für die Literatur des Auslandes_, 1844. -Caballero, _Spanish Tales_, "Lucifer's ear." Geldart, _Folk-Lore of -Modern Greece_, "The Golden Casket" and "Little John, the widow's son." -_Pentamerone_, "The Flea" and "The Booby." - -_Folk-Lore Record_, 1881, p. 142. "The story of Mamma-na-Bura," a -Portuguese tale: _ib._ 1883, p. 254, "Folk-Lore of Yucatan." - -_Page 246._ The latter portion of the tale is to be met with in many -tales, _e.g._, "Awannolla Kehräajät," where the girl goes through a hole -in the ice, and finds a beautiful world there. - -Dasent. _Tales from the Norse._ "The two step-sisters," p. 129; -"Shortshanks," p. 166; and "The Big Bird Dan," p. 449. - -Vernaleken. _In the Land of Marvels._ "The Taylor and the Hunter," "The -Accursed Garden," and "The Three Princesses." - -Denton. _Serbian Folk-Lore._ "The wonderful Kiosk." - -_Patrañas_, "Simple Johnny and the spell-bound Princesses." _Grimm_, -"The Elves," and notes. _Sagas from the Far East_, "How the Schimnu-Khan -was slain." Ralston, _Russian Folk-Tales_, "The Norka," and variants -there given on p. 80. - -Geldart, _Folk-Lore of Modern Greece,_ "The Prince and the Fairy." -Steere, _Shahili Tales_, "Hasseebu Kareem ed Deen," p. 337. - -_Arabian Nights._ "Ahmed and Pari-Banou," and numerous other examples of -underground palaces, where distressed princesses lie awaiting -deliverance. - -_Gubernatis_, vol. i. pp. 25, 129, 193, 194; vol. 187, &c. - -Rink. _Tales of Traditions of the Esquimaux._ "The woman who got -connected with the Ingersuit or under-world people." There are numerous -stories about the under-world and its people in Lapp stories, _e.g._, -_Friis_, "Cacce-haldek eller Havfolk," where a boy rows to the -under-world. (_Notes and Queries_, 7th s. v. p. 381; cf. _ib._ 7th s. v. -p. 501.) "Bæivekongens Datter," "Goveiter." There is also a tribe of -underground people called Kadnihak, who are said to dress in red -clothes, and have long flaxen hair reaching to their waists. Some people -are said to have learned their songs, which are called "Kadniha-Vuolee." -Cf. Baring Gould, _Curious Myths of the Middle Ages_, "St. Patrick's -Purgatory." _Deutsche Märchen und Sagen_, Gesammelt und mit Anmerkungen -herausgegeben von J. W. Wolff, "Der Kühne Sergeant." _Polnische -Volksagen_, Aus dem Polnischen des K. W. Woycicki von F. Levestam, "Die -drei Brüder." - -See also, Friis, _Lappisk Mythologi._ "Under jordiske Guder." - -_Page 248._ The Lapp tales say that the Stallos used to wear an iron -shirt. See _Friis_, No. 26. Læstadius believes them to have been old -Vikings. - - - - -THE PELICAN. Erdélyi, iii. 6. - - -Pelicans may occasionally be seen in the South of Hungary, but upon the -whole the bird is unknown to the common people. The story-teller -represents it as a little bird that sings most beautifully. - -The hypercritical reader may be shocked at another natural historical -blunder, viz., when the whale is described as "the king of fishes." But -then we must remember that our own Sir Walter Scott speaks of the phoca -as a fish in the last sentence of chapter xxxvii. of _The Antiquary_. - -The Emperor Joseph II.'s edict expelling the Jesuits is still valid, we -believe, but is not enforced. The Order has one or two houses in the -country, and nobody disturbs them. - -In a Finnish tale one half of a castle weeps while the other half -laughs. Cf. also another Finnish story "The Golden Bird," where a king's -son goes in search of a splendid bird which his father longs for. The -hero is assisted by a wolf, which, amongst many other strange things, by -rolling three times on the ground on its back, becomes a shop full of -precious goods.[78] After many trials, chiefly due to the perfidy of his -brothers, the hero, by the assistance of the wolf, wins the golden bird -and a lovely princess. The golden bird will not sing till the youngest -prince appears, just as in the present tale. - -_Page 251._ "The old Beggar." This incident is common in folk-tales. - -_Page 252._ "Dragon's milk," a favourite compound of mighty power in the -magic formulæ of Finnish and Magyar folk-medicine. - -_Page 255._ "Owls' feathers." _Vide_ p. 398, _ante_, and _Notes and -Queries_, 6th S. X. p. 401. - -_Page 256._ "Traced triangle," _ante_, p. 370. - -_Page 257._ "Pleiades." Stars and their lore is one of the most -interesting branches of Folk-Lore. Space forbids more than passing -allusion to it here. In a note sent by Mr. Haliburton, he points out the -important part this group of stars plays in the history of Primitive -Man. There appears to be a mass of primitive traditions amongst savages, -as to a primæval paradise with its Tree of Life and Knowledge being -situated in the Pleiades. See also legends current amongst the -Polynesians, Kiowas of the Prairies, the Abipones of the Pampas, Dyaks, -&c. We may also compare the Cabeiric brethren in Phoenician tradition. - -In the seventh star, say the Finns, is the sign of the slave; the -ancient Finns having regulated their rising by the seven stars. A -Finnish friend, Mr. K. Krohn, says he has obtained some forty old -Finnish star names from an old woman, and hopes, by comparison of the -same with the Arabic names, to obtain valuable results. - -See also _Sagas from the East_, p. 53, and _Gubernatis_, vol. i., p. -228. Cox, _Mythology of the Aryan Nations_, "Pleiades." - -_Page 258._ Just as the hero here goes to seek in an unknown land for -what he needs, so does the hero in the Finnish tale, "Antti Puuhaara"; -_S. ja T._ 2, go to Pohjola. (Darkness, _i.e._ the Northern Part). Cf. -also Dasent's _Tales from the Norse_ "Rich Peter the Pedlar," p. 236. -Vernaleken, _In the Land of Marvels_, "For one Kreuzer a hundred." -_Pentamerone_, "The Seven Doves," &c. and pp. 107 and 371 in this work. - -_Page 259._ The threshold is a most interesting object in the lore and -tales of the people. In Finland it is regarded as unlucky if a clergyman -steps on the threshold when he comes to preach at a church. A Finnish -friend told me of one of his relations going to preach at a church a few -years ago, he being a candidate for the vacant living, and that the -people most anxiously watched if he stepped on the threshold as he came -in. Had he done so, I fear a sermon never so eloquent would have -counted but little against so dire an omen.[79] In the Lapp tales the -same idea appears, see _Friis_, "Ulta-Pigen," the lad returning from a -visit to his wife's parents (who are fairy folk) is ordered to step -quickly over the threshold, and so saves his life. In the same story we -read that a nail driven into the threshold will prevent a fairy wife -from running away. - -Ralston, _Russian Folk-Tales_, "The Fiend." Here Marusia gets entangled -with the evil one, and death comes into her family; in terror she asks -her granny what she is to do, and is told, "Go quickly to the priest and -ask him this favour--that if you die your body shall not be taken out of -the house through the doorway, but that the ground shall be dug away -from under the threshold, and that you shall be dragged out through that -opening." Rink, _Eskimo Tales_, "The Angakok from Kakortok," p. 391. -Napier, _Folk-Lore from West Scotland_, p. 46, where, in the description -of marriage ceremonies, we read "The threshold of the house was -disenchanted by charms, and by anointing it with certain unctuous -perfumes, but as it was considered unlucky for the new-made wife to -tread upon the threshold on first entering her house, she was lifted -over it and seated upon a piece of wood, a symbol of domestic industry." - -Cf. 1 Samuel, v. 5, "Therefore neither the priests, nor any that come -into Dagon's house, _tread on the threshold_ of Dagon in Ashdod unto -this day." Priests and dervishes in India still leap over the threshold -of their temples, as they are considered too sacred to be trodden -upon.[80] - -_Page 261._ "The Organ Playing." Cf. a similar incident in the Finnish -story of the Golden Bird. - -_Page 262._ In the Finnish "Alder Block," the hero's father and mother -have their age at once reduced by one-half, when the lovely Catherine -embraces them. In the romance of Ogier le Danois sweet singing banishes -all care and sorrow. "Et quand Morgue approcha du dit chasteau, les Faes -vindrent au devant dogier, chantant les plus melodieusement quon -scauroit jamais ouir, si entra dedans la salle pour se deduire -totallement," and so time is destroyed. "Tant de joyeulx passetemps lui -faisoient les dames Faees, quil nest creature en ce monde quil le sceust -imaginer se penser, car les ouir si doulcement chanter il lui sembloit -proprement quil fut en Paradis, si passoit temps de jour en jour, de -sepmaine en sepmaine, tellement que ung an ne lui duroit par ung mois." - - - - -THE GIRL WITH THE GOLDEN HAIR. - - -This story, with the four that follows, viz., "The Lover's Ghost," -"Snake Skin," "The Fairies' Well," and "The Crow's Nest," are Palócz -Folk-Tales, _vide Palócz Folk-Poetry_, by Julius Pap, Sarospatak, 1865. - -The hatchet-stick (in Magyar "fokos") mentioned in the tale is an -ordinary walking-stick with an axe-shaped brass or steel implement at -the end. It is nothing else than the old Scandinavian "paalstaf," the -"palstave" or "winged celt" of English antiquaries. It forms part of the -national costume of the Magyars, and was carried by nearly everybody -before 1867. - -The ceremony of exchanging handkerchiefs alluded to in the tale requires -some explanation, and we avail ourselves of this opportunity to give a -few details of the marriage customs among the Palócz people as related -by Pap. - -On the first morning in May the lad erects a May-pole outside of the -window of his lady-love, the higher the pole the more it pleases the -girl, because the length is understood to be in direct proportion to the -intensity of her lover's passion. On Whitsunday a pilgrimage to the Holy -Well adjoining the monastery at the village of Verebély is arranged, and -here the girl buys a nosegay made of artificial flowers for her lover, -in return for the maypole, which nosegay is worn by the lad until next -May-Day, or until the wedding. In the meantime the lover visits the girl -secretly once or twice at the house of her parents under the cover of -night, and later on introduces himself to her parents. If he be well -received he sends some friends to ask for the girl's hand, who state -their request generally in very flowery language. If the lad's proposal -be accepted, the ceremony of exchanging handkerchiefs takes place soon -after, the lovers presenting handkerchiefs to one another in which they -wrap apples or nuts. From this moment they are considered to be engaged. - -The wedding is generally held after the vintage. On the day before the -wedding a man, whom we shall call the master of ceremonies, perambulates -the village and invites the guests to the festival. On the day itself -the guests congregate at a place appointed by the M.C., and the whole -company start in procession, headed by a band, to the house of the -bride. They all stop outside the gate, and only the bridegroom's best -man enters the house and invites the bride to start. The girl then, -accompanied by her relations and bridesmaids, and a married woman, whom -we shall call the Mistress of the Bedchamber, leaves the house and joins -the procession, and they all proceed straight to the church. After -church the young woman returns with the whole procession to her own -house, and a light breakfast is served, at the end of which all the -people adjourn to the bridegroom's house, leaving however the bride -behind, until after lengthy coaxing, begging, and some elaborate -ceremonies, she consents to go, and is led in triumph to her husband's -house, where she is received by the father-in-law at the gate, who -nearly overwhelms her with kind words, flattery, and congratulations, -and holding her hand leads her into the house and introduces her to his -wife, children, and relations. The rejoicing has now reached its climax, -and the wedding banquet is at once commenced, to which each invited -guest contributes a share according to his or her means. - -During the banquet the bridegroom's best man waits at table, and ushers -in the various courses reciting a verse for each _plat_, setting forth -in most flowery language the various good points of the dish. - -After supper the bridegroom's best man takes three lighted candles into -his left hand and escorts the bride into her bedchamber, where he -removes the "párta,"[81] and confides her to the care of the Mistress of -the Bedchamber. The best man lifts the párta high up in the air at the -end of his palstave, and invites the company to bid for it, and then -recites the so-called slumber-verses, which are attentively listened to -by everyone present. - -Next morning two married women from among the bride's friends arrive "to -wake the bride," who awaits them sitting in a corner. The two females -place the cap worn by married women only, on her head, and present the -young couple with cakes and a mixture of spirit and honey. - -In the meantime another procession has arrived from the bride's house -with the wedding presents, and the people inquire of the Master of the -Ceremonies whether he has not seen a "pretty little golden lamb that -strayed from home and must have come here." The Master of the Ceremonies -replies in the affirmative, but before producing the "lamb" requires a -description of the stray one, and then produces some very old person -bent with age and her face covered with wrinkles, and wants to know -whether this is the lamb they seek for; of course they reply in the -negative, and add that the missing one is young and pretty. The bride is -then produced and shakes hands all round and receives presents from all -present. - -In some places the wedding lasts on and off a whole week, and sometimes -ends with another ceremony of "searching for the lamb," similar to the -one just described. - -Such complicated wedding ceremonies are to be found all over Hungary, -and in order to facilitate matters, the rules and verses for the -occasion are printed and sold at all country fairs, the title-page -generally representing the Master of the Ceremonies and the bridegroom's -best man in their full festive attire.[82] - -Cf. Finnish, "Kulta-orit, Kulta-nuotta, wasta ja pilli." "The golden -Stallion, golden Drag-net, broom and flute." _S. ja T._ i. and "Meresta -nousija Neito," "The Sea Maid." Dasent, _Tales from the Norse_, "Bushy -Bride," p. 374. - -Payne, _Arabian Nights_, vii. pp. 70, 114, and ix. p. 23. - -Payne, _Arabic Tales_, iii. p. 61. - -_Grimm_, "The White Bride and the Black one." - -In the Lapp Story "Bondesønnen, Kongesønnen og Solens Søster." _Friis_. -It is the tail feather of a golden hen, that causes all the troubles. -The beautiful girl, who is the Sun's sister, shone like a star, and -whenever she entered a house it became as light as the brightest day, -even if before it had been pitch dark. The whole tale is a most -interesting one; the Sun's sister's sister, "Evening Red," being stolen -by giants, who are turned into stone by looking at the Sun's sister, -"Dawn." Cf. Princess Labám in "The Rájá's Son," Stokes's _Indian Fairy -Tales_, p. 158. Also, pp. 43, 50, 54, 69, and 93. - -_Grimm_, "The Devil with the three golden hairs," and notes. _Dublin -Magazine_, 1868, Fireside Lore of Italy, "Corvetto." _Folk-Lore Record_, -1880. Danish Popular Tales, p. 217. "Mons Tro." Naaké, _Slavonic Fairy -Tales_, "Golden Hair," from the Bohemian.[83] _Old Deccan Days_, "Brase -Seventee Bai," p. 35; Panch-Phul Ranee, p. 141. - -Haltrich, _Siebenbuergische Märchen_, pp. 61 and 171. - -Mr. Ralston, in his notes in Stokes also gives the following examples of -shining and glorious beings. _Indian Antiquary_, vol. iv. p. 54; _ib._ -Jan. 1875, p. 10. - -Schott, _Wallachische Märchen_, p. 125. - -_Mabinogion_, vol. ii. p. 310; and Thorpe, _Northern Mythology_, vol. i. -p. 47. Cf. Mailath, _Magyarische Sagen_, "Die Brüder," and "Die Gaben." -Cavallius and Stephens, _Svenska Folksagor_, No. 7. - -_Records of the Past_, vol. ii. "Tales of the two Brothers," a fragrant -lock is found in the water, which is said to belong to the daughter of -the Sun God. - -_Page 273._ In the Lapp story of the Sun's Sister the King will not -allow the lad to marry his bride until he has done certain tasks. So -also in the Finnish stories of the Golden Bird and the Golden Stallion. - -_Page 273._ In the Finnish Tale "Totuus ja walte," the King's daughter -is cured by being washed with dew. See also Notes to Fairy Elizabeth and -the Fairies' Well in this collection. - - - - -THE LOVER'S GHOST. - - -As pointed by Lad. Arany, the plot of this tale is, with the exception -of the happy ending, essentially the same as in Bürger's beautiful poem, -"Leonore," in which the bridegroom's ghost repeats three times the -question-- - - - "Graut Liebchen auch? Der Mond scheint hell! - Hurrah! Die Todten reiten schnell! - Graut Liebchen auch vor Todten?" - - -to which the girl each time replies-- - - - "Ach! lass sie ruh'n, die Todten." - - -Arany mentions a Dutch and a Norwegian version of the same tale. Cf. -_Grimm_, vol. iii. p. 75. - -It cannot be supposed that the good Palócz folk have read Bürger, either -in the original or in translation. They only read two kinds of -literature, the prayer-book and politics. Pap relates an incident that -is characteristic. He had to superintend some farm-work; and, in order -to while away the time, was reading a book, which made an old Palócz -remark that he would go straight to heaven if he read his prayer-book -all day, as he did. - -Cf. The old ballad quoted in Old Ballad Lore. _Folk-Lore Record_, 1879, -pp. 111, 112. - -_Page 279._ The charm given by the witch is one of the innumerable -superstitions of a like class. Vide _Magyar Folk-Tales. Notes and -Queries_, 6th s. ix. pp. 501 and 502. - -_Finska Fornminnesforëningens Tidskrift_ v. p. 106, "Folkströ och -plägseder i Mellersta Österbotten," and _Notes and Queries_, 6th s. x. -p. 404, and _ib._ 6th s. xi. p. 22. - -Cf. "The churchyard mould," in McGregor, _Folk-Lore of the North-East of -Scotland_, p. 216. - -_Page 280._ The ghostly horsemen recalls a strange story an old woman -(nearly 80) told me some time ago, and which it is averred happened in -Lincolnshire. One fine frosty night, as the Winterton carrier was going -along the road, he met a pale man on horseback, who said, "It's a hard -winter, and there's going to be a hard time: twenty years' disease -amongst vegetables, twenty years' disease amongst cattle, and twenty -years' disease amongst men, and this will happen as surely as you have a -dead man in your cart." The carrier angrily declared that there was no -dead man in his cart. "But there is," said the horseman. Then the -carrier went and looked, and found that a man he had taken up to give a -ride was dead. Turning round he found the horseman had disappeared. The -potato disease, cattle disease, and cholera followed, said the old dame. -This pale horseman is said to have ridden through the county, and I have -heard of him at various places. - - - - -SNAKE SKIN. - - -In the Finnish Story, "Haastelewat Kuuset," the talking Pines, _S. ja -T._ 2: a hunter is rewarded for helping a snake. See notes to "Woman's -Curiosity," in this collection. - -_Pentamerone_, "The Serpent." - -_Folk-Lore Record_, 1883. "The good Serpent," a Chilian tale. - -The king in this tale is angry at his daughter marrying such a husband, -just as he is in the Finnish "Hüri Morsiamena," where the bride is a -mouse. - -Cf. _Grimm_, "The three Feathers;" "The poor Miller's Boy and the Cat;" -and notes thereto. - -Kahn und Schwartz, _Norddentsche Sagen_, "Das weisze Kätschen." - -Asbjörnsen og Moe, _Norske Folke eventyr_, "Dukken i Græsset." - -Hyltén-Cavallius och Stephens, _Svenska Folksagor_, "Den förtrollade -goodan," and "Den förtrollade fästemön." - -_Contes des fées par Mdme d'Aulnoy_, "La chatte blanche." - -_Polnische Sagen und Märchen des K. Woycicki._ "Die Kröte." - -Cf. also an interesting article by Mr. Ralston, on "Beauty and the -Beast." _Nineteenth Century._ December, 1878. - - - - -THE FAIRIES' WELL. - - -The chief points in this tale have already been noted in others. We may, -however, note the following: The Devil in Stephen the Murderer, p. 7, in -this collection, at once appears, when summoned, as in this tale. - -_Page 290._ With regard to the _menu_ of the devil, cf. - - - "Here lies the carcass of a curséd sinner - Doomed to be roasted for the devil's dinner." - Poems of Robert Wilde. Strahan, 1870. - - -_Page 296._ There is a hunt for the father of a child in the Lapp. -"Jætten, Katten og Gutten." _Friis_. Cf. Payne, _Arabian Nights_, vii. -p. 227. - -_Page 297._ Hot Bath, see p. 276, in this collection; and _Afanassieff_, -v. 23. - - - - -THE CROW'S NEST. - - -The following version is still known to old nurses in Holderness, where -I collected it. It is called "Orange and Lemon": "There were once a -mother and a father who had two daughters, Orange and Lemon. The mother -liked Lemon best, and the father Orange. The mother used to make Orange -do all the dirty work, as soon as the father had turned his back. One -day she sent her to fetch the milk, and said, 'If you break the pitcher -I'll kill you.' As Orange returned she fell down and broke the pitcher, -and so when she came home she hid herself in the passage. When the -mother came out she saw the broken pitcher and the girl, and took her -into the house, when the girl cried 'Oh, mother! Oh, mother! Don't kill -me!' - -The mother said, 'Close the shutters in.' - -'Oh, mother! Oh, mother! Don't kill me!' - -'Light the candle.' - -'Oh, mother! Oh, mother! Don't kill me!' - -'Put the pan on.' - -'Oh, mother! Oh, mother! Don't kill me!' - -'Fetch the block we chop the wood on.' - -'Oh, mother! Oh, mother! Don't kill me!' - -'Bring the axe.' - -'Oh, mother! Oh, mother! Don't kill me!' - -'Put your head on the block.' - -'Oh, mother! Oh, mother! Don't kill me!' - -But the mother chopped off her head, and cooked it for dinner. When the -father came home, he asked what there was for dinner. - -'Sheep's head,' replied the mother. - -'Where's Orange?' - -'Not come from school yet.' - -'I don't believe you,' said the father. Then he went upstairs and found -fingers in a box; whereupon he was so overcome that he fainted. Orange's -spirit flew away to a jeweller's shop and said-- - - - 'My mother chopped my head off, - My father picked my bones, - My little sister buried me - Beneath the cold marble stones.' - - -They said, 'If you say that again we will give you a gold watch.' So -she said it again, and they gave her a gold watch. Then she went off to -a boot shop and said-- - - - 'My mother, &c., &c., &c.' - - -And they said, 'If you say it again we will give you a pair of boots.' -So she said it again, and they gave her a pair of boots. Then she went -to the stonemason's and said-- - - - 'My mother, &c., &c., &c.' - - -And they said, 'If you say it again we will give you a piece of marble -as big as your head.' So she said it again, and they gave her a piece of -marble as big as her head. - -She took the things, and flew home, and sat at the top of the chimney, -and shouted down-- - - - 'Father! Father! come to me, - And I will show thee what I've got for thee.' - - -So he came, and she gave him a gold watch. - -Then she shouted down-- - - - 'Sister! Sister! come to me, - And I will show thee what I've got for thee.' - - -So she came, and she gave her a pair of boots. - -Then she shouted down-- - - - 'Mother! Mother! come to me, - And I will show thee what I've got for thee.' - - -The mother, who thought the others had got such nice things, put her -head right up the chimney, when the big block of marble came down and -killed her. - -Then Orange came down and lived with her father and Lemon happily ever -after." - -Cf. The story of the child that was murdered at Lincoln by a Jewess. See -a fragment of it quoted in Halliwell, _Nursery Rhymes_, p. 276[84]. -Shouting down the chimney occurs in several Lapp stories; also in the -Finnish stories of the "Wonderful Birch" and "The Girl who seeks her -Brothers," where songs somewhat like the above-mentioned occur. Also Cf. -_Vernaleken_, "Moriandle and Sugarkandle," and Naake, _Slavonic Tales_, -"Story of the little Simpleton." A story of a somewhat similar kind is -current in Sweden. See Hofberg. _Svsnska Folksägner_, "Mylingen"[85] and -Hyltén-Cavallius _Värend och Virdarne_, ii. p. 1. - -Also _Grimm_, vol. i. "The Juniper Tree" and notes, and _ib._ "The -Brother and Sister" and notes; _ib._ vol. ii. "The Lambkin and the -Little Fish," and notes. - - - - -WOMAN'S CURIOSITY. Merényi.[86] - - -Cf. _S. ja T._ ii. p. 73, "Haastelewat Kuuset" (the Talking Pines), -which is very like the whole story. - -_Payne_, i. p. 14. Dasent, _Tales from the Norse_, ii. p. 4. Denton, -_Serbian Folk-Lore_, "The Snake's Gift." Naake, _Slavonic Tales_, "The -Language of Animals" (from the Servian), and _Grimm_, vol. ii. p. 541. -The power to understand the language of animals is often referred to in -folk-tales, _e.g. Grimm_, vol. i. "The White Snake" and note, and _ib._ -vol. ii. p. 541, _et seq._ - -_Gubernatis_, vol. i. p. 152. - -_Tales of the Alhambra_, "Legend of Prince Ahmed al Kamel." - -Tylor, _Primitive Culture_, vol. i. pp. 190, 469. - -The power of animals to speak still remains amongst the superstitions of -the people. In Neudorf, near Schärsburg, there is a prevalent -superstition that on new year's night--at midnight--the cattle speak, -but in a language which man may not hear, if he does so he dies. See -Boner, _Transylvania_, p. 372; and I have heard a similar story as to -their speaking (or kneeling) on Christmas Eve in Lincolnshire. Curious -remnants, too, are to be found in the doggrel rhymes of the people, -_e.g._, a few years ago I heard a woman in North Lincolnshire say, - -"What do doves say? - -"Croo! pee! croo! - -"Gillivirens and Jackdaws lay eight or ten eggs to my poor two." - -It is very interesting to compare a Finnish fragment entitled "The -Dove's Cooing" with the foregoing. A dove and a hen had each a nest, but -the dove had ten eggs and the hen only two. Then the hen began to try -and make the dove change with her. At last the dove consented, and gave -the hen her ten eggs and took her two. Soon the dove saw she had lost, -and began to repent her foolish bargain, and she still laments it, for -as soon as you hear her voice you hear her sad song, - - - "Kyy, Kyy, Kymmenen munaa minä, - waiwainen waihdoin tanan, kahteen munaan." - - "I've foolishly bartered my ten eggs - For the hen's two!" [87] - - -[1] Cf. _Finska Kranier jämte några natur och literatur-studier inom -andra områden af Finsk Antropologi_ Skildrade af Prof. G. Retzius, -Stockholm, 1878, p. 121. A most valuable and interesting work which -ought to be known to all students of anthropology. See also Du Chaillu's -_Land of the Midnight Sun_, vol. ii. p. 277. - -[2] Hereafter quoted as _S. ja T._ - -[3] This valuable collection will hereafter be quoted as _Friis_. - -[4] Villon Society. London, 1884; and hereafter quoted as Payne's -_Arabian Nights_. - -[5] Such a window as they had in old times: a hole with sliding door or -shutter. _Vide_ Retzius, p. 110. - -[6] The bath-house is a separate building with a stove in the corner -covered with large stones which become red hot and then water is thrown -upon them which fills the house with steam. Round the sides are shelves -where the bathers (both sexes) recline, and whip themselves with -branches of birch on which the leaves have been left to die. _Retzius_, -p. 119. Cf. also _Land of the Midnight Sun_, vol. ii. p. 207. - -[7] A John Twardowski is said to have been a doctor of medicine in the -university of Cracow, who, like Dr. Faust, signed a contract in his own -blood with the devil. He is said to have been wont to perform his -incantations on the mountains of Krzemionki, or on the tumulus of -Krakus, the mythic founder of Cracow. The demon was to do all the -magician bade him and to have no power over him until he met him at -Rome, where he took good care not to go. Whether this gentleman is -supposed to have ultimately become the lame fiend I know not. See -_Slavonic Folk-Lore_, by Rev. W. S. Lach-Szyrma, in _Folk-Lore Record_, -vol. iv. p. 62. - -[8] A division of South Sweden washed by the Skaggerack and Kattegat. - -[9] Cf. "Haastelewat Kuuset" (The Talking Pines), _S. ja T._ ii. p. 73, -where the man is about to reveal to his wife, who has been plaguing him -to tell her, why he laughed when he heard some birds twittering, and, as -this means death, he puts on all his clothes and lays himself out on a -bench. Just then the hens are let loose, and as they run about the floor -of the chamber where the man is the cock struts about and says, "Cock, -cocko, cock, cocko! See, I have fifty wives and govern them all; the -master has only one and can't manage her, therefore the fool is going to -die." The man heard that, got up and kept his secret. Animals' language -must not be revealed. Cf. Benfey, _Ein Märchen von der Thiersprachen_ in -_Orient und Occident_. Naake's _Slavonic Tales_, Servian story of the -Language of Animals, 71-99; and "Woman's Curiosity," p. 301, in the -present volume. - -[10] _Old Deccan Days_, "Rama and Luxman," p. 66.--Thorpe's _Yule-Tide -Stories_, "Svend's Exploits," p. 343.--_Grimm_, "Faithful John," vol. i. -p. 33, and Notes, p. 348.--"Secret-Keeping Little Boy," p. 233, in this -volume. - -[11] Near the bath-house (_vide supra_, p. 308) is the kiln to dry corn, -a most important building in the Finnish farmstead. It is built of wood -like the bath-house. On one side of the doorway is a stove (built of -stones, see _Land of the Midnight Sun_, vol. ii. p. 274, where there are -illustrations of somewhat similar stoves or ovens), that gives out a -great heat and _smoke_, which fills the inside of the building, -especially the upper part. This "ria" or kiln is used to dry the corn -in. All Finnish rye is dried in this way. _Retzius_, p. 120. - -[12] Ruobba, scurfy skull, or Gudnavirus, _i.e._ Ashiepattle. - -[13] Cf. _Dasent_: "Boots and His Brothers," p. 382, where Boots finds -an axe hewing away at a fir tree, and a spade digging and delving by -itself, and by their means he got the princess and half the kingdom. - -[14] Wagner's _Asgard_, p. 208. Roman intruders are called "the Roman -dragon, the bane of Asgard." Wagner's _Epics and Romances_, "the -Nibelung," p. 3; "the Dragonstone," p. 243. Henderson's _Folk-Lore of -the Northern Counties_, p. 283. - -[15] Professor Ebers says: "Red was the colour of Seth and Typhon. The -Evil One is named the Red, as, for instance, in the papyrus of Ebers -red-haired men were _typhonic_." See "Uarda," note on p. 58. Red-haired -people are still in some parts looked on as unlucky to meet when going -to sea, or as "first foot." See also Black's _Folk-Medicine_, pp. -111-113. According to a Magyar jingle: - - - "A red dog; a red nag; a red man; none is good!" - - - - -[16] A finger song, common, with slight variations, in Sweden, Norway, -and Denmark, and Swedish speaking people in Finland. Cf. Yorkshire-- - - - Tom Thumbkins, Bill Wilkins, - Long Daniel, Bessy Bobtail, - And Little Dick. - - -See Halliwell's _Nursery Rhymes_, p. 206. - -[17] It is interesting to note the finger-lore of the people, _e.g._ -_Gubernatis_, vol. i. 166, says: "The little finger, although the -smallest, is the most privileged of the five." It is the one that knows -everything; in Piedmont, when the mothers wish to make the children -believe that they are in communication with a mysterious spy, who sees -everything that they do, they are accustomed to awe them by the words, -"my little finger tells me everything." See also vol. ii. p. 151. - -In Holderness, Yorkshire, it is a common superstition that if you pinch -anyone's little finger when they are asleep, they will tell you their -secrets; or, as some say, "if you can bear your little finger pinching -you can keep a secret." If you see a white horse, spit over your little -finger for luck. Schoolboys make their bargains irrevocable by spitting -over their little fingers.[A] In Petalaks (a parish in East Bothnia, -about twenty miles from Wasa) every one believes in a "bjero"[B] or -"mjero," which is one respect resembles Sampo in Kalevala, insomuch as -he brings good luck to his possessor. Sometimes he looks like a ball of -yarn, but more often like a hare. The way he is manufactured is as -follows:--A wafer spared from the Communion, some wool stolen from seven -cow-houses on Maundy Thursday, and a drop of blood from the _little -finger_ of the left hand. During the performance the manufacturer must -curse and swear without ceasing. The wool is to be spun on Easter morn -when the sun dances; the thread to be wrapped round the wafer, and the -whole put in the churn. Whilst churning, the spellmaker sings, "Milk and -butter thou must bring to me; I shall burn in hell-fire for thee." After -a time the "bjero" springs out, and asks, "What will you give me to -eat?" "Raisins and almonds," is the reply. And all is complete. See -_Suomen Muinaismusto-yhtiön Aikakauskirja_, ii.; _Helsingissa_, 1877, p. -133; _Vidskepelser insamlade bland allmogan i Petalaks_, 1874; _Skrock -och vidskepliga bruk hos svenska allmogen i Vasabygden_. Af. Prof. -Freudenthal, _Helsingfors_, 1883, p. 8; and Rink's _Tales and Traditions -of the Eskimo_, p. 440. - -[A] Cf. Tylor's Primitive Culture, vol. i. p. 103; vol. ii. p. 439-441. - -[B] _Några åkerbruksplägseder bland svenskarne i Finland_, af. dr. J. -Oscar Rancken, pp. 17, 24, 32. - -[18] Tegnér: Prologen till Gerda. - -[19] See variants given in _Henderson's Folk-Lore of the Northern -Counties_, pp. 258, 262. - -Cf. Riddle set to three soldiers by the devil, and found out by the help -of his grandmother. _Grimm_, vol. ii. pp. 152, 425. Also, _Vernaleken_, -p. 206. - -[20] A similar plant occurs in "The Merchant," in the _Pentamerone_. - -[21] Taylor's Edition. London. 1848. - -[22] Of the word "devil" one cannot do better than quote Mr. Ralston's -words: "The demon rabble of 'popular tales' are merely the lubber fiends -of heathen mythology, being endowed with supernatural might, but -scantily provided with mental power; all of terrific manual clutch, but -of weak intellectual grasp." Cf. _Castrén, Finsk Mytologi_, p. 163. - -[23] A similar tale still exists in Holderness under the name of "The -Glass Stairs." - -[24] _Morte d'Arthur_, book I, cap. iii. tells how "in the greatest -church in London, there was seen in the churchyard a great stone -foursquare, and in the midst thereof was like an anvil of steel a foot -on high, and therein stuck a fair sword naked by the point, and letters -there were written in gold about the sword that said thus: whoso pulleth -out this sword of this stone and anvil is rightwise king born of all -England." Which sword was drawn out by Sir Arthur. Cf. book 2, cap. i. -where a maiden comes girt with a sword, that no one could pull out but -the poor knight Balin. - -[25] This man-eating being was said to be something like a very big and -mighty man, and was to be found in waste places. He was generally -dressed in a white coat, with a silver belt round his waist, from which -hung a silver-hafted knife, and a great many silver ornaments. He was -exceedingly stupid, and the butt of Gudnavirucak. (Ashiepattle) They -were probably nothing more than the old Vikings, and Stallo is thought -to be derived from "Staalmanden," or men dressed in steel (Lapp, -_staale_ = steel). - -[26] Cf. _Grimm_, "The Three Sons of Fortune," i. p. 291. - -[27] I have heard similar stories amongst the peasants in Flanders. - -[28] The magpie is an important bird in folk-belief, and Swedish -peasants say you must not kill it lest it be a troll in disguise as in -this story. If they build in a house it is a sign of luck; if in the -fields and come to the house and laugh, woe be to the house. - -[29] Cf. Amelia Ferrier, _A Winter in Morocco_, p. 172, _et seq_. - -[30] It is curious that the Magyar word for a marriageable girl, "eladó -leány," also means "a girl for sale." - -[31] In old times in Finland, a "spokesman" used to go beforehand to the -girl, in order to find out whether the young man was likely to be -acceptable. Cf. Scheffer, _The History of Lapland_. London, 1751, p. 71; -and Boner, _Transylvania_, p. 488. - -[32] "Given the basket:" in Finland the same phrase is used. Cf. the -English phrase, "to give the sack." - -[33] Cf. Note to "Handsome Paul," p. 317, _ante_. - -[34] In the Russian Church there are two distinct services, which are -performed at the same time, the "betrothal" when rings are given and -exchanged, and the "coronation." Lansdell, _Through Siberia_, vol. i. p. -168. - -[35] Cf. Denton, _Serbian Folk-Lore_, p. 205. - -[36] Cf. this with the Finnish "bride-dresser," who looked after the -bride's toilette, even providing the necessary dresses if the girl did -not possess them. - -[37] See Scotch "feetwashing," _Folk-Lore of North-East Scotland_; -Folk-Lore Society, p. 89. In Finland, before a wedding, the friends of -the bridegroom-elect invite to a party, which is called the "bachelor's -funeral," at which he is oftentimes carried on a sofa shoulder-high as a -mock funeral. - -[38] The royal Hungarian bodyguard wear leopard-skins clasped with -silver buckles. - -[39] I have heard of racing for ribbons, &c., at weddings in Yorkshire; -and of young men racing home from the church to tell the good folk at -home that the marriage was _un fait accompli_. Cf. Napier, _Folk-Lore_, -p. 49, and _Henderson_, p. 37. - -[40] A remain of the marriage by force. Vámbéry notes the existence of -this amongst the Turkomans. The bride's door in Transylvania is often -locked, and the bridegroom has to climb over; or sometimes he has to -chase her, and catch her: _Boner_, p. 491. Cf. also _Tissot_, vol. i. p. -94; _Scheffer_, p. 75; Gilmour, _Among the Mongols_, p. 259; _Napier_, -p. 50. - -[41] For accounts of English wedding-feasts in the north, see Sykes' -_Local Records_, Newcastle-on-Tyne, 1833, vol. i. pp. 194, 205, 209. - -[42] The vizier's daughter is displayed in seven dresses in the story of -"Noureddin Ali of Cairo, and his son Bedreddin Hassan": Payne's _Arabian -Nights_, vol. i. pp. 192-194. And in old times the brides in Japan -changed their dress three to five times during the ceremony: Mitford, -_Tales of Old Japan_, p. 370. - -[43] Cf. _Lappbönder, Skildringar Sägner och sagor från Södra Lappland_. -af. P. A. Lindholm, p. 89. - -_Fra Finmarken. Friis_, ("Laila" in S.P.C.K. translation), cap. xi. - -Dancing the crown off the bride in Finland. See "A Finnish wedding in -the olden times." _Notes and Queries_, 6th s. x. p. 489. - -They cut the long hair off the Saxon brides in Transylvania; and in -Spain, when the bride goes to her bedroom, the young unmarried men -unloose her garter. - -Just as in our land old shoes are thrown after the bride when she leaves -home, and never matter how they fall, or how young relatives batter the -backs of bride and bridegroom with aged slippers, you must not _look -back_: so they say in Holderness, at least. The sumptuary laws of -Hamburg of 1291, enacted that the bridegroom should present his bride -with a pair of shoes. According to Grimm, when the bride put the shoe on -her foot it was a sign of her subjection. (Boner, _Transylvania_, p. -491). See old Jewish custom, _Rath_. iv. 7. - -See also _Napier_, p. 53, where he refers to the Grecian custom of -removing the bride's coronet and putting her to bed. - -Henderson, _Folk-Lore of Northern Counties_, pp. 36, 37, 42. - -Aubrey, _Remains of Gentilisme_, Folk-Lore Society, p. 173. - -Gregor, _Folk-Lore of North-East of Scotland_, pp. 96, 100. - -[44] From a paper read before the Hungarian Historical Society, by Baron -Béla Radvánszky, on Feb. 1st, 1883; Cf. _A magyar csalàdi èlet a_ xv. -_es_ xvi. _szàzadban_, by the same author. - -Cf. Tissot, _Unknown Hungary_, vol. i. p. 227. - -Boner, _Transylvania_, pp. 488-495. - -Fagerlund, _Anteckningar om Korpo och Houtskärs Socknar_, Helsingfors, -1878, p. 42. - -_Lindholm_, "Ett bondbröllop," p. 86; and "Ett lappbröllop," p. 91. - -[45] Laulu Lapista. - -[46] See also Swedish Songs in Du Chaillu, _Land of the Midnight Sun_, -vol. ii. p. 424. - -[47] Cf. another group of stories, where trouble comes from the advice -of those at home, such as _Dasent_, "East o' the Sun, and West o' the -Moon," p. 29; _Afanassieff_, vol. vii. No. 15, and "Cupid and Psyche," -see also notes to "The Speaking Grapes, &c." in this collection. - -[48] Cf. _Rerum Moscoviticarum Commentarii_ by the Baron Sigismund von -Herberstein. London, 1852. (Hakluyt Soc.) vol. ii. pp. 46 _et seq_. - -[49] _Untersuchungen zur Erläuterung der ältesten Geschichte Russlands._ -St. Petersburg. 1806. - -[50] Loc. cit. - -[51] Cf. Hunfalvy Pál, _Magyarország Ethnographiája_. Budapest. 1876. -chap. 41. - -[52] _Notes and Queries_, 7th S. ii. pp. 110, 111. - -[53] Cf. also, _Folk-Lore Record_. 1879, p. 121; _Gesta Romanorum_, "The -Knight and the Necromancer;" _Records of the Past_, vol. i. p. 136. -"Tablet V."; Rink, _Tales and Traditions of the Eskimo_, p. 302; and -Leland, _The Gipsies_, p. 159, where we are told gipsies object to -having their photographs taken unless you give them a shoe-string. - -[54] _Magyar Népmeséinkröl_ in the _Kisfaludy Társaság évlapjai_. New -Series iv. p. 146. - -[55] A Worcestershire woman told the writer that she had a nephew born -with a caul, and when he was at the point of death it became quite -moist. - -[56] The Csángós are Magyar settlers in Moldavia; they are now assisted -to return to Hungary by the Government. This story is told of the feud -between two races. There are others which strike off the characteristics -of neighbouring races, such as the story of the angels, current in -Hungary, which is as follows:-- - -When Adam and Eve fell, God sent Gabriel, the Magyar angel, to turn them -out of the garden of Eden. Adam and his wife received him most -courteously, and most hospitably offered him food and drink. Gabriel had -a kind heart, and took pity on them. He was too proud to accept any -hospitality from them, as he did not consider it quite the right thing. -So he returned to the Deity, and begged that somebody else should be -sent to evict the poor couple, as he had not the heart to do it. -Whereupon Raphael, the Roumanian angel, was sent, who was received and -treated by Adam and Eve in like manner. He, however, was not above a -good dinner, and having finished, he informed the couple of the purpose -of his coming. The two thereupon began to cry, which so mollified -Raphael that he returned to his Master, and begged Him to send some one -else, as he could not very well turn them out after having enjoyed their -hospitality. So Michael, the German angel, was sent, and was treated as -the others. He sat down to a sumptuous meal, and when the last morsel of -food had disappeared, and the last drop of liquor was drained, he rose -from the table, and, addressing the host and hostess said, "Now then, -out you go!" and the poor couple, though they cried most pitifully and -begged hard to be allowed to remain, were cruelly turned out of the -garden of Eden. See Arany's collection. - -[57] The mound was opened in 1870, and found to contain bones. - -[58] As late as 1875, a farmer near Mariestad buried a cow alive, upon -disease breaking out in his herd. See also _Contemporary Review_, Feb. -1878, "Field and Forest Myths," p. 528, "Within the last few years, at -least one Russian peasant has been known to sacrifice a poor relation in -hopes of staying an epidemic." - -[59] I heard this story again the other day in South Lincolnshire. - -[60] Remains of a Roman camp near Brocklesby. - -[61] Vide _A History of the County of Lincoln_. By the author of _The -Histories of London, Yorkshire, Lambeth, &c. &c._ London and Lincoln: -John Saunders gent., 1834. - -[62] Boswell's _Variorum Edition of Shakespeare_, vii. pp. 162, 163. - -[63] "Prince Unexpected." _Folk Lore Record_, 1884, p. 10. - -[64] Cf. Lion Bruno. _Folk Lore Record_, 1878, p. 209. - -[65] See Ralston's "Beauty and the Beast" in _The 19th Century_, -December, 1878. - -[66] In "The Raksha's Palace" in the same work, p. 203, the young -princess found "the skeleton of a poor old beggar-woman, who had -evidently died from want and poverty. The princess took the skin and -washed it, and drew it over her own lovely face and neck, as one draws a -glove on one's hand." - -[67] The giant who demands human flesh of his wife, and the giantess who -has only one eye in the middle of her forehead, are proofs of the -foreign origin of this tale. - -[68] See p. 340 _ante_. - -[69] Ruobba, or Gudnavir[~u]s, _i. e._ scurfy skull, is the Lapp for -Ashiepattle. See "Jætten og Veslegutten," _Friis_. - -[70] See note, vol. i. p. 407. - -[71] _The Death of Dermid_, by Ferguson, may also be compared. Where the -hero is slain by the envenomed bristle piercing his foot. For this part -of the poem, vide _Dublin Magazine_, 1868, p. 594. - -[72] See p. 335, _ante_. - -[73] The witch's daughter in the "Two Orphans" is lame of one foot. See -p. 221. - -[74] There is a curious tale of a relation of my own who was popularly -said to be able to cure people of ague by going to a thorn and shaking -while she said: "Shake, good tree, shake for So-and-so," and then the -disease fled. I have heard that the good old dame was herself always -very ill after this operation. The hanging of a lock of hair on a tree, -I presume, was understood to be the same as taking the afflicted person -to the tree. - -[75] See also another Lapp tale, "Haccis Ædne." _Notes and Queries_, 7th -s. ii. Aug. 7, 1886. - -[76] I have often had this tale told to me by my nurse when a child, and -heard the following version a short time ago in Holderness, and was -informed it had been told thus for ages: "There was a stepmother who was -very unkind to her stepdaughter and very kind to her own daughter; and -used to send her stepdaughter to do all the dirty work. One day she sent -her to the pump for some water when a little frog came up through the -sink and asked her not to pour dirty water down, as his drawing-room was -there. So she did not, and as a reward he said pearls and diamonds -should drop from her mouth when she spoke. When she returned home it -happened as he said; and the step-mother, learning how it had come -about, sent her own daughter to the pump. When she got there the little -frog spoke to her and asked her not to throw dirty water down, and she -replied "Oh! you nasty, dirty little thing, I won't do as you ask me." -Then the frog said "Whenever you speak frogs, and toads, and snakes -shall drop from your mouth." She went home and it happened as the frog -had said. At night when they were sitting at the table a little voice -was heard singing outside-- - - - "Come bring me my supper,[A] - My own sweet, sweet one." - - -When the step-daughter went to the door there was the little frog. She -brought him in in spite of her step-mother; took him on her knee and fed -him with bits from her plate. After a while he sang - - - "Come, let us go to bed, - My own sweet, sweet one." - - -So, unknown to her step-mother, she laid him at the foot of her bed, as -she said he was a poor, harmless thing. Then she fell asleep and forgot -all about him. Next morning there stood a beautiful prince, who said he -had been enchanted by a wicked fairy and was to be a frog till a girl -would let him sleep with her. They were married, and lived happily in -his beautiful castle ever after." This is one of the few folk-stories I -have been able to collect from the lips of a living story-teller in -England. - -[A] There is a traditional air to which these lines are always sung. - -[77] See also notes in the Introduction. - -[78] There is a similar incident in _Grimm_, "The Sea Hare," where a fox -changes himself by dipping in a spring. - -[79] In Finland they say that if two persons shake hands across the -threshold they will quarrel. In East Bothnia, when the cows are taken -out of their winter quarters for the first time, an iron bar is laid -before the threshold, over which all the cows must pass, for if they do -not, there will be nothing but trouble with them all the following -summer. Cf. _Suomen Muinaismuisto Yhdistyksen Aikakauskirja_, v. p. 99. - -[80] On entering a house, especially a royal house, it is improper to -use the _left_ foot on first stepping into it; one must "put one's best -(or right) foot foremost." Malagasy Folk-Lore, p. 37. _Folk-Lore Record_ -1879. - -[81] The "párta" is a head-dress worn by unmarried women only, in the -shape of a "diadem" of the ancients in silk, satin, or velvet, and -generally embroidered - -[82] Cf. p. 365 _ante_. - -[83] Cf. Gerll, Volksmärchen der Böhmen, "Die Goldene Ente." - -[84] See also _Folk-Lore Record_, 1879, "Old Ballad Folk-Lore," pp. 110, -111. - -[85] Myling, myring, or myrding generally means the ghost of a murdered -person. - -[86] Arany says he dare not accept the collection from which this story -is taken for scientific purposes, as Merényi has drawn very liberally on -his own imagination. - -[87] _S. ja T._ iii. "Pienempiä Eläin-jutun katkelmia," p. 37. The whole -of the Finnish beast stories are most interesting, and the resemblance -in many cases to the negro variants in _Uncle Remus_ very striking. - - - - -INDEX. - - -Acorn, magic growth of [Jack and the Beanstalk incident], 146, 388 - -Age of giants, xxix. - -----, hero grows old in his travels, 107 - -Agricultural, xli., see "plough" - -Agriculture, giants' dislike of, xxviii. - -Ague, cure for, 403 - -Allegorical story, 91-95 - -Alligator in Serbian folk-lore, 325 - -American Indians, folk-tales quoted, 364 - ----- notions of, as to dreams, 376 - -Ananci folk-tales, quoted, 379, 394 - -Angels, allegory of, 93 - -Animal superstitions, lx-lxiii. - -Animals, grateful, assistance by, 158, 160, 249, 303-306, 323, 342, 371, -373, 374, 384, 392, 409 - -----, king of the, 106-107, 108 - -----, language of, 301, 421-422 - -----, magic, in service of fairies, xxxiii. - -----, marriage of, with human beings, 225 - -----, sacrifice of, to stay the plague, 381 - ----- servants, 111 - ----- skins of, worn at Magyar weddings, 367 - -----, witch's life contained in, 205 - -----, &c., transformation of, into human beings, see "boy," "eagles," -"falcon," "fish," "horses," "mares," "pig," "pigeons," "oranges," -"snake" - -Anthony's (St.) fire, cure for, xlix. - -Apple, castle transformed into, 74, 247, 248, 353 - ----- smiling, 130 - -Apple tree, miraculous growth of, 11 - -Apricot, tinkling, 130 - -Arabian folk-tales, quoted, 381 - -_Arabian Nights_, quoted, 347, 352, 353, 355, 360, 362, 364, 368, 371, -375, 377, 389, 392, 395, 396, 400, 402, 406, 408, 415, 418 - -Argilus and Helen, story of, 345 - -Árpád, the founder of modern Hungary, viii. - -Arrow, shooting of, as test of strength, 120 - -_Arthur, morte d'_, quoted, 351, 352 - -Ashes, strewed, used for finding way through forest, 145 - ----- (house), youngest brother sits among, 97 - -Asia, migration from, into Europe, viii. - -Assembly of the giants, xxix. - -Astronomy superstitions, lxiv. - -Attila, conquest of Hungary by, vii. - -----, story of, quoted, 342 - -Austrian folk-tales quoted, 370 - -Avaricious, allegory of the, 94 - -Avars, ethnology of, x. - - -Baa-lambs (the), story-title, 90-95 - -Bachelors' funeral at Magyar weddings, 367 - -Bædnag-njudne, giant beings, Lapp, 340 - -Bag which never gets full, 141 - -Baptism, allegory of unbaptised children, 94 - -Basket, to give the, that is to dismiss, Magyar, 366 - -Bath used to produce youthfulness, 110, 349 - -Bathing custom in Hungary, 308 - -Bathing in mare's milk, task set hero, 276 - -Bathing of fairy maidens, 101 - -Battlefields, silver and copper, created for fighting, 349 - -Battles, legends of, in Lincolnshire, 382 - -Beanstalk (Jack) parallel incident, 146, 388 - -Beating of wife, story incident, 23 - -Beauty, delicate skin a feature of, 354 - -Beauty and beast stories, 385 - -Bed, Madeys, devils dread, Slavonic tale, 310 - -Bede (St.), well of, at Jarrow, 373 - -Bees, assistance of, to hero, 153 - -----, honey brought by, restores life, 374 - -Beetles, witch's life and power contained in, 205 - -Beggar character in story helps hero, 251 - -Beggar's presents, story of, 161-163 - -Bells, church, ringing of, a hero-task, 228-229 - -Bells, magic, in giant assemblies, xxix. - -Belt, strength-giving, 353 - -Berries, youth-giving qualities of, 373 - -Betrothal in Magyar marriage, 366 - -Bible quoted, 375, 411 - -Biblical characters, see "God," "Joseph," "Peter" - -Birds having power to restore youth, 251 - -----, hero transforms himself into, 286 - -----, iron, made alive by hero's singing, 317 - -----, leading of hero by, 99; carrying of hero by, 108-109 - -----, enticing of boys by, 362 - -----, hero assisted by, 201, 249 - -----, moral rebuke by, 20 - -Birth, signs of luck at, 120 - -Black, colour of the giants, xxx. - ----- cloth, town draped in, 374 - -Blindness, cure for, in story incident, 37; by mud from well, 152 - -Blood flowing from finger post sign of disaster, 257 - -----, human, wine mixed with, 121 - ----- letting for restoration to life, 344 - ----- stains, indelible, 125, 382 - -Blood feud, incident, Arabian nights, 360 - -Blowing upon wound to heal, 95 - -Blue Beard incidents, 129, 383 - -Blue cross, hero changed to, on divulging secret, 314 - -Bohemian folk-tales, quoted, 323 - -Boiling skull with millet seed used as omen, 279 - -Bones, human, hatched by crow, 299 - ----- of boy collected by sister, 299 - -----, skeleton, miraculous joining of scattered, 12 - -Boy killed for dinner by mother, 298 - -Boy who could not shiver nor shake, type story, 228-232 - -Bramble, dragon's wife takes form of, 202 - -Bread, operation of making, used as story incident, 79 - -Breathing on old things, causes change, 349 - -Bridal customs, Magyar, 365 - -Bride, false, given to prince, 214 - -----, gipsy personates, 214 - -Bride-capture, evidence of, Magyar, 366, 368; Palócz, 413, 414 - ----- and pursuit, story incident, 32-35 - -----, symbolic customs representing, 369 - -Bride purchase, evidence of, Magyar, 365 - -Bridges, fights between hero and dragon, on, 199-201 - -----, in folk-tales, 399 - ----- of copper, silver, and gold, 64, 196; of gold, 74 - -Britain, Teutonic conquest of, xi. - -Britanny, were-wolves, 344 - -Brocklesby, Roman camp near, Lincolnshire, 382 - -Broom, red hot, ridden by witch to pursue hero, 273 - ----- seller, story character, 22 - -Brothers, elder, separate from hero on journey, 257 - -Brothers, three, story title, 152-154 - -Brothers and sisters, marriage of, 137 - -Brush, used as obstacle to pursuit of hero, 160 - -Building, immuration during, 376-377 - -Building legends, 333-334 - -Bulgarians, origin of, xiii. - -Bullet, magic, to kill a giant, xxx. - -Bullocks with gilt horns, roasted at Magyar weddings, 367 - -Bulls used for rescuing treasure, 405 - -Burial feasts, 370 - - -Cake, hero shares with beggar, 252 - -----, millet, used in story incident, 28-29 - -Cakes made with woman's milk, 379 - -Cannibalism, 25, 352, 388-389, 403 - -Cannibal-giant story character, 25 - -Cannibal-man in Lapp stories, 352 - -Castle built by magical command, 16 - ----- built and inhabited by fairies, xxxv.-xxxvi. - ----- built by giants, xxvii. - ----- turned into golden apple, 206, 247 - ----- weeping and laughing, 409 - -Cat, accompanies hero, 258 - -----, a servant of fairies, xxxiii. - -Cat, the lazy, story title, 23-25, 317 - -----, troll, 346 - -----, witches assume the shape of xli. - -Cataract, cure for, xlviii. - -Cats, witch's carriage drawn by, 204 - -Caul, superstition as to being born with, 378 - -Caves as the haunts of fairies, xxxvii. - -Caves, the three, riddle solved by hero, 259 - -Changed bride incident in folk tales, 386 - -Chap-books, xx. - -Chapel and hermit, pursued heroine and hero turn themselves into, 33 - -Charitable (the) allegory of, 94 - -Charles XI., legend of, 381 - -Charming, fairy means of, xxxiii. - -Charms, singing, used for restoration of life, 341 - -Chest, magic, incident in folk-tales, 401 - -Child, first-born, dedication to devil, 7, 189, 384 - -Child-marriage incident, 80 - -"Child born to be a King" type stories, 307-309 - -Children, substitution of, xlv., 52 - -Children's rhymes, Cumanian, xvi. - -Chopping, symbolic action of, for cure of wrist disease, 332 - -Christ, _see_ "God." - -Christianity, influence of, on folk-tales, xx., xl. - -Christmas customs, li. - -Church building legends, 333-334 - -Church to be built in one night task set heroine, 193 - -Church, heroine takes form of, 194 - -----, youth-giving bird kept in, 259 - -Church bells, ringing of, task of hero, 228-229 - -Church marriage, 4, 7 - -Cinder Jack, story title, 149-152 - -Cinderella incident occurring with hero, 97, 150; with heroine, 148; in -folk-tales, 207-216, 389 - -Cinders, burning, drop from devil's hair, 192 - -Clan feuds, Lincolnshire, 382 - -Cloak given to hero for singing, 299 - -----, giving power of invisibility to its wearer, 141 - -----, giving power to transport wearer to any place, 156 - -Cloth, magic, provides food, 161 - -Clothes, stealing of fairy maiden's, 101 - -Club, used by giant for killing, 11 - -----, magic fighting, 162 - -Coachman, King's, hero takes service as, 270 - -Cock, a servant of fairies, xxxiii. - -----, crowing of, good omen, 213 - -----, iron, on spire, in story incident, 42 - -----, lesson taught by, 301 - -----, red, accompanies hero, 259 - -Cock-crow, devils disappear at, 37 - -----, means of getting rid of ghost, 282 - -College, hero's attendance at, 7, 59 - -Constantinople, St. Sophia, blood stains at, 382 - -Cooking, methods alluded to, 30 - -Copper bridge, dragon's home near, 196, 199 - ----- forest, 388 - ----- objects used in story incidents, 2, 28, 31, 40, 61, 78, 142, 150 - -Corn, Finnish method of drying, 315. - -Cornish folk-lore, 349 - ----- wells, 373 - -Corpse assists ghost to find bride, 282 - -Cosmogony, tales dealing with, 375-376 - -Cottele on the Tamar, blood-stains at, 382 - -Cotton as a clew to find way out of thicket, 144 - -Count's daughter, the, story-title, 127-130 - -Country inhabited by lions and wolves, 189, 195 - -Cramp, cure for, xlix. - -Cray-fish in story incident, 84 - -Cripple, cure for, in story incident, 37 - -Cromwell, battles attributed to, 382 - -Crow assists hero in fight with dragon, 201 - ----- hatches bones of boy, 299 - -Crow's nest, story title, 298-301 - -Crutch sticks given to hero for singing, 300 - -Csabor Ur, story title, 123-125 - -Csángós, Magyar settlers in Moldavia, 380 - -----, origin of the, xv. - -Csihan, Prince, story title, 1-6; notes to story, 303-306 - -Cuchulaiun, story of, quoted, 348 - -Cumanians, origin of the, xv.-xvi. - -Cumberland wells, 373 - -Curry-comb, used as obstacle to pursuit of hero, 160 - -Curse of oblivion, 321-322 - - -Dances, wedding, 104-105 - -Dancing, caused by flute, 13-15 - ----- fairy, xxxiv. 143 - -Danish folk-tales quoted, 306, 324, 334, 355, 401 - -Daughters, king ill-using, 288 - ----- of witch, mares till nightfall, 159 - -Dawn, as story character, 42 - -Dawn and night, tying up of, in folk-tales, 326 - -Days of the week, xlix. - -Death cured by magic orange, 156 - ----- in equalled with sleep, 374 - ----- personification of, as story character, 82 - ----- sign of, to three brothers on adventure, 55; superstition, 403 - ----- (sudden) penalty for telling secret, 301 - -Death superstitions, xlix. - -Deception as to birth of prince during king's absence, 335-338 - -Deer, brother of heroine transformed into, 221 - -Devil and the Red Cap, story title, 226-228 - ----- and the Three Slovac lads, story title, 126-127 - ----- and the King, story title, 188-195 - -"Devil with three golden hairs," Finnish variant of, 310 - -Devil carries off corpse from gallows, 289 - ----- carries off girls, 288 - ----- construction of road by, xxxvi. - ----- conversations of, overheard, story incident, 37 - ----- dedication of first child to, 7, 189, 384 - ----- helps king to find game, 189 - ----- personates hero, 226 - ----- use of the word 346 - ----- son of, helps heroine to escape devil, 192 - -Devils marry sisters of hero, 288 - ----- used for carrying out magical commands, 27 - -Devonshire, Cottele on the Tamar, blood-stains at, 382 - -Dew, at Friday's new moon, used for cure of blindness, 37 - -Dew, healing powers of, 322, 416 - ----- St. John's Day, properties of, 392 - -Diamond, brought by fox to hero, 2 - ----- castle, the light of Hades, 68; abode of giant, 71 - ----- horse-shoe nails, used by hero, 68 - -Dissemination of folk-tales, causes of, xxi. - -Doctor, successful, story incident, 83, 138 - -Dog, faithful, in folk-tales, 402 - -----, kissing of hero by, causes oblivion, 322 - ----- lungs and liver of, given instead of heroine's, 182 - -Doghead, story character, 70 - -Dogheaded Tartars, 118 - ----- people, xx., 377-378 - -Dragon, sacrifice of virgin to, 112, 374 - ----- milk of, 409; horse fed on, 252 - -Dragons devouring human beings, 196 - -----, pursuing devils take form of, 195 - -----, slain by three princes, story incident, 41, 199-201 247, 248 - -----, used for carrying out magical commands, 16, 78 - -----, when defeated vomiting lads they had swallowed, 197 - -Drawing of object on the ground, magic powers of, 370 - -Dream of hero _raison d'être_ of story, 233 - -Dream-books, 376 - -Dreams obviate the curse of forgetfulness, 35; importance of in -misfortune, 120 - -Dreams, three, story title 117-123 - -Dress, fairy, stealing of, to secure bride, 101; losing of, gives power -of escape to fairy bride, 105 - -Dresses, wedding, among the Magyars, 368 - -Drink, enchanted, causes oblivion, 321 - ----- customs, lxviii. - -Drowning of devils when pursuing heroine, 195 - -Drugging hero's wine by witch, 253, 254, 255 - -Duck, gold, heroine transformed into, 214, 402 - ----- silver, devil's son takes form of, 195 - -Dust, figures drawn in, come to life, 103, 104 - -Dutch witchcraft, 343 - -Dwarf, assistance to heroine by, 47 - ----- outwits strong men, 245, 246 - - -Eagle, pursuing-father takes the form of, 32, 33 - -Earthenware pot, skull boiled in, used to obtain news of lover, 279 - -Eating taboo, 9 - -Egg (black) presented to hero by fairy godmother, 197 - -Egyptian story quoted, 340, 341, 400 - -Eldest brother hero of tale, 262-277 - -Elk, coffin of heroine, carried about by, 174 - ----- with gold and silver hairs in Russian story, 304 - -Embroidery, an occupation of the fairies, xxxiv. - -Enchantment by spitting, 395 - -English folk-tales, quoted, 354, 356, 360, 383, 396, 404, 406 - -Envious sisters, story title, 49-54 - -Epilepsy, cures for, xlviii. - -Eskimo folk-tales quoted, 331, 341, 362, 363, 364, 375, 386, 387, 389, -391, 393, 400, 408, 411 - -Esthonian folk-tales quoted, 326 - -Ethnology of giants in Magyar folk-lore, xxvi., xxviii. - ----- of Hungary, viii. - -Ewe, hero suckled by, 244 - -Executioner, functionary at a wedding, 303 - -Eye in forehead, giantess with, 146 - -Eye, one, monster, 388 - -Eyes, affection of, story incident, 59 - -Eyes of King unlike each other, _raison d'être_ of story, 250 - -Eye-sight restored by herb, 322 - - -Fairies in Magyar folk-lore, xxxii-xl. - -Fairies, marriage of, with the giants, xxix. - -----, descent of witches from, xli. - -Fairies' well, youth-giving water from, 289 - -Fairies' well, story title, 288 - -Fairy dancing, 142 - -Fairy Elizabeth, story title, 95-110 - -Fairy godmother, present from, to hero, 197 - -Fairy, house, origin of, 136 - -"Faithful John," variants of, 313-315 - -Falcon, shooting at, story incident, 40 - -Falcon, pursuing mother takes the form of, 33 - -False champion, story character, 43, 112 - -Falsehood, personification of, story character, 36 - -Family feuds, Lincolnshire, 382 - -Family life of the fairies, xxxvii. - -Farmer, story character, 7 - -Farming life in story incident, 80 - -Father eats flesh of his boy, 298 - ----- murdered by son in Finnish story, 307 - ----- throws knives and forks to frighten hero, 251 - -Father's (my) wedding, story title, 86-90 - -Faust type stories, 306-312 - -Fays, kissing by, causes oblivion, 322 - -Fear, hero unable to learn, 228 - -----, shown by pillows dropping from the seat, 45, 114 - -Feather picking festival, 215 - ----- picking, peasant occupation, 402 - -Feathers, copper, gold and silver, from tail of wood grouse in Karelian -story, 305 - -Feet, silver, child born with, 337 - ----- washing at weddings in Scotland, 367 - -Feet and hands of hero renewed by rubbing with blood and dust, 261 - -Feuds, clan or family, Lincolnshire, 382 - -Fight between hero and dragons, 199, 200, 201, 247, 248 - -Finger-lore, 331 - -Finger-post as trysting place for hero and brothers, 257 - -Finger songs, 330 - -Finn giant beings, 340 - -Finnish folk-tales, quoted, 307, 314-315, 318, 321, 323, 324, 326, 328, -329, 331, 332, 334, 335, 337, 342, 346, 347, 349, 350, 352, 353, 355, -356, 372, 373, 374, 379, 384, 385, 386, 389-390, 392, 393, 396, 399, -401, 402, 403, 404, 407, 409, 410, 411, 414, 416, 421 - ----- marriage custom, 365, 369 - ----- names for stars, 410 - -Fire, ever-burning, story incident, 41 - -Fire camp, in story incident, 99 - ----- customs, liv., lviii., see "hearth" - -Fire, obtained by youngest brother, 40 - -Firpole ridden by witch to pursue hero, 272 - -Fish, gold, princess turns into, when pushed into well, 135 - -----, king of, assists hero in task, 252, 254 - -----sung out of lake by hero, 316 - -----, transformation of, into lovely girl, 16 - -----, witch's daughters change to, 254 - -Fisher Joe, notes to, 313 - ----- story title, 15-22 - -Fishing, story incident, 16 - -Flame, red, dragon takes form of, 201 - -Flame, white, hero takes form of, 201 - -Flattery, applied to witches, 400 - -Flint, falling from falcons' rock, story incident, 40 - -Flint hoop, dragon takes form of, 201 - -Flintshire wells, 373 - -Flower gardens belonging to the fairies, xxxvii. - -Fluid, strength-giving, 353 - -Flute, powers of, to compel dancing, 13-15 - -Flying, power of, by giants, xxx. - -Foal, half rotten, of hero, demands for wages for performing tasks, 252 - -----, magic power of, 263; helps hero, 263-277 - -Foals, the three, riddle solved by hero, 240 - -Folk-tales, origin of, xix. - -Food, enchanted, causes oblivion, 321 - -----, magic supply of, 284 - -Forbidden chamber stories, 326, 384 - -Forest, filling of, by devils, 28; clearing of, for ploughing, 96 - -Forgetfulness, curse of, story incident, 34 - -Formulae, conjuring, of the fairies, xxxiv. - -Fortunatus' story, 141 - -Foundation sacrifice, 376-377 - -Foundling child becomes hero of tale, 244 - -Fox, a story character, 1, 316 - ----- in Russian Puss-in-Boots story, 304; in Finnish story, 305 - -French folk-tales quoted, 306, 347, 418 - ----- invasion appearing in folk-tales, xx., 5 - -Friar, ghost, in shape of, guardian of buried treasure, 231 - -Friday, efficacy of, in folk-medicine, 37 - -Frisian variants of Fisher Joe, 316 - -Frog, grateful, for hero's kindness, assists him, 150 - -----, the wonderful, story of, 224-226 - -Frog prince story, Lincolnshire, 404-405 - -Frogs, witches assume the shape of, xli. - -Fruit, fairy maiden concealed in, 386 - -Funeral of heroine, 171, 173 - - -Gallows, devil carries off man hanging from, 289 - -----, legend of, 382 - -----, resort of devils at night, 37 - -----, secrets heard under, 323 - -Gangrene, cures for, xlviii. - -Garter, unloosing of, at weddings, 369 - -George (St.) legend of, quoted, 374 - -Gepidae, Ardaric King of, vii. - -German folk-tales quoted, 306, 312, 321, 323, 324, 339, 341, 346, 347, -349, 350, 355, 356, 357, 358, 359, 360, 364, 372, 373, 374, 377, 378, -383, 385, 386, 387, 388, 389, 391, 394, 395, 397, 399, 400, 401, 402, -403, 405, 406, 407, 408, 415, 416 417, 421 - ----- wedding customs, 369 - ----- witchcraft, 343 - -_Gesta Romanorum_ quoted, 375 - -Ghost, story character, 142 - -----, wishing to marry bride, 282 - -Ghost lovers, story title, 278-282, 417 - -Ghosts, xlv; guard buried treasure, 232 - -Giant objects in folk-tales, 361 - ----- story, xxvi.-xxvii. - -Giants, northern, 340 - -----, identified with Huns, x. - -----, origin of, as sons of witch, 57 - -----, story characters, 9, 25, 55, 72, 101, 147 - ----- in Magyar folk-lore, xxiv.-xxxi. - ----- and giantesses, 388 - -Giantess, cannibal story characters, 146 - -Gift to hero by fairy godmother, 197 - -Gifts, wonderful, 394 - -Gipsy tales quoted, 375 - -Gipsy women in folk-tale, 213 - -Girl with the golden hair, story-title, 262-277 - ----- without hands, story of, 182-188 - -Girls assist hero, 248 - -----, captive, rescued by hero, 247, 248 - ----- under form of mares in daytime, 159 - -Glass mountains in folk-tales, 350 - -Glass rock, hero taken over by magic horse, 65 - -Gnats, assists hero in task, 252, 254 - -Goats, guardians of giant's treasure, xxxi. - -Goblet of dazzling brightness, story incident, 19 - -Goblins, xlv.-xlvi. - -God, or Christ, descent of, to earth, story incident, 20, 82 - -Gold bridge, dragon's home near, 196, 201 - ----- children, variant of story, 313 - ----- duck, heroine transformed into, 214 - ----- hair picked up by hero, 269 - ----- horses, fetched by hero as task, 274 - ----- objects used in story incidents, 2, 28, 63-64, 65, 71, 74, 130, -143, 150 - -Golden apple, castle contained in, 206 - ----- coffin of heroine carried about by elk, 173 - ----- forest, 258 - ----- haired children born to heroine, 177, 184 - ----- haired stud of horses, 62 - ----- hair, girl with, story title, 262-277 - ----- girl married to hero, 159 - ----- hair, Tátos horse with, 198 - ----- horned bullocks roasted at Magyar weddings, 367 - ----- spade used to dig up Tátos foal, 251 - -Goods of heroine fetched by hero in table cloth, 273 - -Goose's egg, copper fortress swivelling on, 78 - -Gorgons, parallels to, 353 - -Gothamite stories quoted, 356, see "noodle" - -Grapes, speaking, smiling apple, and tinkling apricot, story title, -130-132 - -Grateful beasts, story incident, 2, [150], 153, 158, 160, 249, 303-306 - -Grave stone and mound, story about, 381 - -Greek folk-tales, quoted, 338, 340, 350, 355, 386, 387, 391, 392, 394, -396, 398, 399, 400, 401, 402, 406, 407, 408 - -Green king, character in story, 288 - -Greyhound, guardian of giant's treasure, xxxi. - -Griffin helps hero to escape from underground world, 249 - -Griffins, witch's daughter changed to, 254 - -Guns fired at weddings, Magyar, 368 - -Gyllenspets, family of, legends as to ennobling, 381 - - -Hair combing in folk-tales, 389 - -----, not to be thrown away, 332 - -----, cutting of, punishment, 216 - -----, at wedding, 369 - -----, folk-lore of, 374-375, 402 - ----- of heroine used as means to bewitch her, 222 - -----, gold, of heroine, used by her to give light, 270 - -Hair-pin, poisonous, used by witch for destroying heroine, 172 - -Hairs, transformed into serpents, 398 - -Handkerchiefs, exchange of, mode of engagements, Palócz, 413 - -Hands, girl without, story of, 182-188 - -----, gold, child born with, 337 - -Hands and feet of hero cut off by his brothers, 260; renewed by rubbing -with blood, 261 - -----, cutting off of heroine's, by eldest sisters, 50 - -Handsome Paul, story title, 25-35; variants of, 317 - -Hanging, ceremonial at, 406-407 - -Harvesting customs, 98 - -Head-dress worn by maidens, Palócz, 414 - -Healing-grass, restoration of life by, 58 - -Healing-mud, 391 - -Healing-plants, 374 - -Hearth custom, mourning behind the oven, 15, see "ashes" - -Heat, great, round fairies' well, 291 - -Heaven, journey to, story incident, 20; allegory of, 94 - -Helen and Argilus, story of, 345 - -Hell, hero marries witch in, 204 - ----- voyage to, 8-10, 67 - -Hermit character in tale, helps hero, 288; hero restores him to youth, -295 - -Hero maimed by elder brothers, 260 - -----, limbs of, restored by using magic mud, 261 - ----- suckled by ewe, 244 - ----- swallowed by king, 317 - -Hero transformed by Tátos horse, 198 - ----- unable to learn to fear, 228 - -Heroine marries devil's son, 195 - -History in folk-tales, 380-382 - -Holofernes, the fire-king, story of, 345 - -Holly tree with gold leaves in Russian story, 304 - -Holyrood, blood-stains at, 382 - -Home, troubles arising from bringing bride to the, 370-371 - -Homer quoted, 376 - -Horace quoted, 376 - -Horn, magic, in story incident, 61 - -Horse fed on dragon's milk for strength, 252 - -----, magic, story incident, 20, 62, 105, 144, 158, 160, 197, 387, 390, -392-393 - -----, old, made young by hero, 260 - -----, piebald, assists hero, 289 - ----- racing at weddings, Magyar, 368 - ----- (stallion) guardian of giant's treasure, xxxi. - ----- with five legs produced from egg, 197 - -Horse-shoe, gold, picked up by hero, 270 - -Horses, age of, tested, 119 - -----, hero's task to take charge of, 253 - -----, mythic, called Tátos, 345-349 - -----, transformation of human beings into, 31 - -----, witch's daughters in shape of, 252 - -----, witches assume the shape of, xli. - -House, folk-lore of the threshold, 410-411 - ----- tidying incident in folk-tales, 386 - -House-fairy, origin of, 136 - -Human sacrifice in story incident, 112 - ----- to stay the plague, 381 - -Hundetyrk, giant beings, Swedish, 340 - -Hunes, a tribe who came over with Saxons to Britain, xi. - -Hungarian Faust story, 312 - ----- folk-tales, collections of, xxii.-xxiii. - -Hungarians, origin of, vii.-viii. - -Hungary, bathing customs in, 308 - -----, the happy land, 126 - -Huns, origin of the, vii., x. - -Hunting princes, story title, 39-46 - -----, story incident, 1, 39, 54, 186, 188 - -Husks in folk-tales, 385 - -Hussar and the servant girl, story-title, 83-85 - -Hydrophobia, cures for, xlviii. - - -_Iliad_, quoted, 349 - -Illness, feigned, incident in folk-tales, 386 - -Images, wax, used in sorcery, 332 - -Immuration of human beings, 376-377, 407 - -----, punishment by, 114 - -Incantation, witch, xliii. - -Indian tales quoted, 306, 307, 314, 321, 323, 338, 339, 341, 342, 344, -346, 356, 361, 362, 363, 364, 373, 383, 384, 385, 386, 387, 389, 391, -394, 395, 396, 398, 400, 402, 403, 404, 415 - -Invisible cap given by devil, 227 - ----- shepherd lad, story title, 141-144 - -Ishtar, legend of, quoted, 400 - -Italian folk-tales quoted, 356, 383, 384, 396-398, 400, 401, 408. 421 - -Irish folk-tales quoted, 322, 348, 353, 355, 364, 372, 394, 396, 397 - -Iron age, giants connected with, xxvi. - ----- kneader, character in story, 245, 246 - ----- nose, woman with, 159, 203, 243 - ----- pole, witch rides on, to pursue hero, 269 - ----- railing round witch's house, 267 - ----- teeth, witch possessing, 221 - -Irons, brothers of hero working in, for debt, 260 - - -Jack and the Bean Stalk incident, 146, 388 - -Jack Dreadnought, story title, 228-232 - -Jack the Giant Killer, 341 - -James I., legend of, 382 - -Japan marriage customs, 368 - -Japanese folk-tales quoted, 306, 391 - -Jaundice, cures for, xlvi. - -Jazyges, origin of the, xvii. - -Jesuits in Hungary, 409 - -Jewel, youth-giving qualities of, 373 - -Jewish wedding customs, 369 - -Jikil, a people of Hungary, xiii. - -Johara, Juharia, province of, recorded in folk-tales, 371 - -Joseph, Biblical story of, quoted, 375 - - -Kaffir folk-tales, 403 - -_Kalevala_, quoted, 331, 374 - -Karelian story quoted, 353, 359, 390 - -Keyne, St., well of, in Cornwall, 373 - -King adopts hero as his son, 234 - ----- and the devil, story of, 188-195 - -----, child born to be, type story, 233-244 - ----- made young again by magic water, 295 - ----- marrying most beautiful woman, 163 - ----- with eyes that weep and laugh, 251 - -King's daughter, story character, 4, 15, 234, 238 - ----- youngest daughter, story character, 27 - -Kissing by fays and by dog, causes oblivion, 322 - -Knife, non-use of, for killing, 11 - -----, wooden, stone cut by, 247 - -Knives stuck in a tree for life index, 374 - -Knot-holes in wood, folk-tale connected with, 364 - -Knowledge, obtaining of secret, 322-324 - -Koiran-Kuonalanien, giant beings, Finn, 340 - -Kronos, legend of, quoted, 399 - -Kuns, origin of the, xv.-xvi. - - -Ladybird rhyme, xx. - -Lake, magic, power of restoring limbs possessed by, 185 - -----, silver, heroine takes form of, 195 - -Lamb, possessing power to rain gold, 162 - ----- with golden fleece, story title, 13-15; variants of, 312 - -Lamb and shepherd, pursued heroine and hero become, 33 - -Lameness of characters in folk-tales, 372 - -----, superstition about, 398 - -Language of animals, see "animals" Languages of Hungary, xviii., xix. - -Lapp folk-tales quoted, 305, 312, 321, 326, 328, 329, 343, 344, 346, -352, 358, 359, 361, 362, 364, 370, 372, 373, 379, 384, 385, 386, 388, -389, 390, 392, 393, 396, 397, 399, 400, 403, 408, 410, 415, 418, 420 - -Lapp giant beings, 340 - ----- wedding customs, 369 - -Laughing, cure of illness by, 15 - -Lazy cat, 23-25; note to, 317 - -Lead, boiling, ordeal of truth by jumping in, 297 - ----- used as punishment by fairies, 294 - -Letter forged by witch, 178, 185 - -Letter intercepted, story incident, 52, 185 - -Life, allegory of, 92-94 - ----- concealed away from the body, 400 - ----- restoration to, 329, 341, 342, 344; by animals, 374, 396; by snake, -55; by healing grass, 58, 113 - -Life or soul, witch's, contained in animals, 205 - -Life index incidents, 339, 340, 374, 378 - -Light extinguished by animal bridegroom, 226 - -Limber, Lincolnshire, battle legends in, 382 - -Lincolnshire folk-lore, 343, 350, 363, 376, 378, 382, 398 - ----- folk-tales quoted, 358, 392, 393, 404, 405, 417, 418-420, 421 - ----- Mumby Hill, treasure legend, xxxi. - ----- superstitions, 402 - ----- treasure legend, 406 - ----- wedding customs, 369 - ----- witchcraft, xliii. - -Lions, country inhabited by, 188, 195 - -Literature, mediæval, influence on folk-tales, xx., xxi. - -Livy quoted, 377 - -Loaf, baked seven times with other loaves, used as charm against dragon, -79 - -Local influences on folk-tales, xx. - -Lodging, hero's, at a cottage held by a murderer, 9 - -London, legend relating to, quoted, 351 - -Looking back, misfortune from, 101 - -----, superstition against, in folk-tales, 362-363 - -----, unlucky at weddings, 369 - -Looking-glass, magic, power of speaking possessed by, 165 - -Lord of the manor, story character, 17 - -Love of the fairies, xxxiv.-xxxv. - -Lover's ghost, story title, 278-282 - -Luck and bliss, story title, 22, 23; variants of, 317 - -Lungs and liver eaten by would-be murderer, 183 - - -Mace, sent as sign of recognition, 106 - ----- used by devil as weapon, 194 - -Mace-throwing, 353 - -Magic pony, little, story of, 157-160 - ----- powers of giants, xxix. - ----- queen of, 78 - ----- woman, godmother to heroine, 144 - -Magpie in Swedish folk-lore, 364 - -Magyars, origin of, viii., xiii. - -Maiming of slain enemies, story incident, 43 - -Malagasy folk-tales quoted, 340, 394, 398, 401 - ----- superstition as to the threshold, 411 - -Man, hanged, eaten by devil, 290 - -Manners of Magyars, lxvii. - -Märchen, origin of, xix. - -Mare, power of talking possessed by, 263 - -Mares, milking, task set hero, 275 - -Mares, witch's daughter in story, 159 - -Market operations in noodle story, 81 - -Marriage by guessing of bride's secret marks, 141 - ----- by taking down objects from high pole, 151 - -----, child, 80 - -----, church, 4, 7 - ----- customs, Magyar, liv., 365; Palóczy, 412-414 - ----- festivals, Magyar, 389 - ----- in folk-tales, 328 - ----- of hero to queen of the fairies, 298 - ----- of hero with witch, 204 - ----- of heroine with frog, 225 - ----- of most beautiful girl, 163 - ----- of twelve brothers to twelve sisters, 159 - ----- to slayer of king's enemies, 44 - ----- by capture, see "bride-capture." - -Maundeville's travels quoted, 342 - -May-pole, used in marriage custom, Palóczy, 412 - -Meadow, silken, of enemies, 67 - -Medicine folk, xlvi.-xlix., 403, 409; in story incident, 37 - -Melton Ross, Lincolnshire, gallows legend at, 382 - -Merlin, tradition of, 341 - -Message stick, story incident, 106 - -Messenger, intercepted, story incident, 52 - -Mezey, knight, story character, 66 - -Mice, king of, assists hero in task, 252, 255 - -Midnight, a story character, 42 - -Migration of a people, probable reference to, in folk-tales, 371 - -Milk, adulteration of, allegory of, 94 - -Milk, bathing in, task set hero, 276 - -Milk flowing from finger-post a sign of prosperity, 257 - -Milk-jug, lid of, formed from remains of murdered princes, 136 - -Milk lake and golden duck, pursued heroine and hero become, 34 - -Milk, woman's, bread made with, 121 - -Milking mares, task set hero, 274 - -Miller, a story character, 1 - -Millet-cake, story incident, 29, 30 - -Millet-field, heroine takes form of, 32, 193 - -Millet-seed, skull boiled with, as means of divination, 279 - ----- to cleanse, task set heroine, 192 - -Millstone given to hero for singing, 300 - -Mirkó, Prince, story title, 59-76 - -Mirror, magic, 395 - -Mohammedanism, influence of, on folk-tales, xx., xl. - -Moldavia, Hungarian settlers in, xv. - -----, Magyar settlers in, 380 - -Money given to hero by devil to aid him on his journeys, 290, 292, 293 - -Mongolian marriage customs, 368 - -Monk, devil's son takes form of, 194 - -Moon, on forehead of twin son, 52, 337; on hero's forehead, 387; on -right breast of king's daughter, 140 - -----, myth of, in folk-tales, 327 - -----, new, efficacy of, in folk-medicine, 37 - ----- superstition, 403 - -Moonlight in the water, 358 - -Mopstick, witch riding on, 253 - -Moss, eyelids covered with, sign of old age, 259 - -Mother marrying son, in Finnish story, 308 - ----- of heroine, her enemy, 183 - -Mountain adventures, story incident, 39, 54 - -Mountains built by giants, xxvii. - -Mouse, assistance of, to hero, 153 - -Murder, crime of, committed and punished, 9-13 - -Murder of father by son in Finnish story, 307 - -Murders of the Blue Beard type, 129 - -Music, folk-, 370 - -Musical air to rhymes, 405 - -Musical myths, quoted, 347, 400 - -Mysterious land in folk-tales, 371-372 - -Myth, saints' legends develop into, x. - - -Nail-pairing superstitions, 402 - -Name, taboo in story incident, 47, 330-344 - -Names of fairies, xxxvi. xxxviii. - -Negro legend of treasure, 406 - -Nettles, Prince Czihan, story title, 1-6 - -New Year's Day, liii. - -_Niebelungen_ quoted, 351 - -Night and dawn, tying up of, in folk-tales, 326 - -Nimrod, giant legend of, viii. - -Noodle stories, 80, 83, 86, 356-359, 361; parallels between, xix. - -Norse tales quoted, 322, 323, 329, 342, 346, 350, 352, 353, 355, 358, -359, 360, 361, 370, 371, 372, 373, 375, 383, 385, 386, 389, 391, 392, -394, 396, 397, 398, 400, 404, 408, 410, 415, 421 - -Northumberland folk-lore, 343, 383 - -Norwegian giant beings, 340 - -Nose, sausage grows to man's, 219 - -Nothing, character in Finnish story, 315 - -Numbers, lix. - -Nutshell, fairy bride's dress placed in, 102 - - -Oak tree with golden leaves in Russian story, 304 - -Oblivion curse of, 321-322 - -Obstacles to pursuit in folk-tale, xxxiii., 32-35, 160, 393-394 - -Occupations of the fairies, xxxiv. - -Ointment, strength-giving, 353 - -Operencian Sea, magic trees on shores of, 256 - -Orange, cure of dead by, 156 - -Oranges, three, story title, princesses spring from, 133-136 - -Orphans, the two, story of, 220-224 - -Oven, retirement behind, as mourning, 15 - -Owls' feathers, 409 - -----, pillow stuffed with, 191, 255, 398 - -Oxen, ploughing with, in tale, 298 - - -Palaces of the fairies, xxxviii. - -Palm Sunday, descent of God to earth on, 21 - -Palocz, origin of the, xviii. - -----, folk-tales, 412 - -Palstave, used by Magyars, 412 - -Pannonia conquest of by Romans, vii. - -Paris, Carmelite convent, blood stains at, 382 - -Pear-tree, poisonous, dragon's wife takes form of, 202 - -Pears, stolen from tree, incident in tale, 183 - -Peas in open field, picked up by hero, 76 - -Peel borrowed by mother in tale, 298 - -Pelican, the, story title, 250-262 - -Pelicans, unknown in Hungary, 409 - -_Pentamerone_ quoted, 339, 342, 374, 375, 379, 386, 387, 388, 394, 396, -398, 399, 400, 401, 403, 407, 410, 417 - -Perspiration, superstition about, Indian, 395 - -Peter (St.), appearance of, to hero, 141 - -----, descent of, to the earth with God, 20 - -Petticoat, tale said to be in tucks of, 282 - -Phooka, the wild horse of Ireland, 349 - -Picture in folk-tales, 396 - -Piebald horse, magic horse, 289; assists hero, 289; enemy of devils, -291, 292, 293 - -Pig, prince in form of, 131, 132 - -Pig-driving, in story incident, 80 - -Pigeon, hero transforms himself into, 286 - -Pigeons, transformation of, into girls, 101 - -Pigeons help heroine in task, 208 - -Pillow stuffed with owls' feathers in devil's house, 191 - -Pin, in folk-tales, 395-396 - -----, poisonous, used by witch to destroy heroine, 170 - -Pistols, used by hero, 63 - -Plaid, possessing power of making wearer invisible, 289 - -Plague, animal sacrifice at, 381; witch sacrifice, xliv. - -Plants, wound-healing, 341 - -----, superstitions, lxiii-lxiv. - -----, see "apples," "apricot," "bramble," "oak," "pear" Pleurisy, cures -for, xlvii. - -Plough, six-ox, yoking of, 370 - -Ploughing task, story incident, 28, 96 - -Pluto, story character, 29 - -Poker changed into horse by witch, 160 - -Polish folk-tales quoted, 322, 379, 418 - -Pony, magic, story of, 157-160 - -Pope, hero becomes, 12 - -Portraits, superstition against, 333 - -Portuguese folk-tales quoted, 324, 334, 339, 342, 361, 365, 372, 374, -386, 389, 394, 395, 396, 397, 399, 400, 401, 402 - -Post (finger) oozing blood, sign of misfortune to hero, 257 - ----- used as trysting place, 257 - -Poultry yard, hero and heroine locked in, 286 - -Presents, the beggar's, story of, 161-163 - -Priest, name for Tátos, also name for mythic horse, 345 - -Priests and their sermons, allegory of, 94 - -----, folk-tale allusion to, 205, 400 - -Princes, the three, story title, 110-117 - -Princess who never laughed, type story, 312 - -Princesses, the three, story title, 144-149 - -Property, obtaining of, by descent, 16, 34, 137; by force, 6; by -marriage, 7, 46, 53, 153 - -Proverbial sayings, Székely, ix. - -Punchkin, incident in folk-tales, 205, 400 - -Punishment by immuration, 114 - -Punishment of false knight, story incident, 45 - -Puppies supposed to be born of heroine, 178, 185 - -Purse which never gets full, see "bag" - -Pursuit obstacles, in story incident, 32-35, 160, 393-394 - -Puss in Boots, type story, 1-6, 303, 306 - -Pygmy race, 330 - - -Queen of the faires, 294 - -Quinsy, cure for, xlix. - - -Rabbit, hero takes form of, 202 - -Races, stories indicating old feuds between, 380 - -Rats, witch's daughters changed to, 255 - -Raven, shooting at, story incident, 39 - -Red cap, devil and the, story of, 226-228 - -Red-haired people, unluck of meeting, 329 - -Red Knight, a false champion, 43, 114 - -Relations, quarrels of, allegory of, 94 - -Rhymes, children's, Cumanian, xvi. - -Rich men, children of two, story title, 80-83 - -Riddles in folk-tales, 239, 240, 334 - -Ring, betrothal, in Magyar marriage, 366 - -----, poisonous, used by witch to kill heroine, 168 - ----- possessing power of waking wearer in case of need, 291 - -Ring, wedding, 3, 7 - -----, wife's means of recognising husband, 315 - -Rivers, fairy origin of, xxxix. - -Robbers, twenty-four, story characters, 42 - -----, heroine protected by, 167 - -Rod, growth of, put as a test, 119 - -----, growth, magic, 71 - -Rose, gold, means of identifying heroine, 211-213 - -Rose, knight, story title, 54-58 - -Roumanian folk-tales quoted, 353, 387, 388, 391, 399, 407 - -Roumanian intrigues with Turkey alluded to, 124 - -Rug, used as obstacle in pursuit of hero, 160 - -Russian folk-tales quoted, 304, 306, 321, 325, 329, 338, 339, 341, 344, -347, 353, 355, 358, 359, 361, 362, 364, 373, 374, 379, 381, 389, 391, -392, 393, 394, 397, 398, 399, 400, 401, 404, 408, 411, 415, 420, 421 - -Russian marriage ceremony, 366 - - -Sacrifice, human, in story incident, 112, 344 - -----, to stay the plague, 381 - -Saddle, magic, for magic horse, 63 - -----, old, used on Tátos horse, 198 - -Saddle and bridle demanded by hero for wages, 252 - -Sale at markets, used as story incident, 22 - -Saints' legends, place of, in mythology, x. - ----- quoted, 339 - -Saints' Days, customs, l.-lix. - -Sausage, magic, 219 - -Scab, cure for, xlix. - -Scabbard growing on hero's side, 233 - -Scandinavian Huns, xi. - -School, hero's attendance at, 7 - -Scottish folk-lore, 363, 368, 411 - ----- folk-tales quoted, 312, 346, 349, 398, 400 - ----- wedding custom, 369 - -Scurvy, cures for, xlvii. - -Sea, mythical, in Hungarian folk-tales, 375-376 - -Secret, hero's life depends on keeping, 233, 244 - -Secret-keeping little boy and his little sword, story title, 233-244, -314 - -Secrets, transformation of hero on divulging, 314 - -Selection, magic powers in, 378 - -Serbian folk-tales quoted, 306, 323, 325, 339, 342, 347, 353, 361, 362, -373, 374, 386, 387, 388, 391, 392, 400, 401, 407, 408, 421 - -Serpents, hairs from devil's beard become, 192 - -Servants, animals so-called, 373 - -Servian witchcraft, 343 - -Service of hero with king, 263 - -Seventh son superstition, xxx. - -Shepherd, story character, 13, 91, 141 - -Shepherd Paul, story title, 244-249 - -Shepherd's daughter given to devil instead of heroine, 191 - -Ship that sails over land and sea, 316 - -Shirt, silk, given to hero to increase strength, 248 - -Shoe, Cinderella's, 149 - -Shoes, in folk-tales, 387 - -Shoes thrown after the bride, 369 - -Shooting incidents in folk-tales, 329 - -Sicilian folk-tales quoted, 338 - -Siculus, people of Székely, ix., xiii., xiv. - -Sillyhood, name for the caul, 378 - -Silver bridge, dragon's house near, 196, 200 - ----- of dazzling brightness, story incident, 20 - -Silver horse, concealment in, 139 - -Silver objects mentioned in story incidents, 61, 130, 143, 150 - -_Sindibad_, book of, quoted, 360 - -Sins, washing away of, allegory of, 93 - -Sisters, twelve, marry twelve brothers, story incident, 159 - -Skin, delicacy of heroines, 354 - -Skin, assumption of snake's, 342 - -Skull, boiling of, used in divination to get news of absent lover, 279 - -Slavonic folk-tales quoted, 323, 306 - -Sleep, magic, falls on watchers of heroine, 183 - -----, mode of, as a test of princely origin, 77 - -Sleeping beauty incidents in folk-tales, 396 - -Smell, giants sense of, 340 - -Smithy, hero takes refuge at, 203 - -Snake in Russian Puss in Boots story, 304 - -----, prince in form of, 283; proposes to marry king's daughter, 284 - ----- teaches hero language of animals, 301 - -----, three-headed, sacrifice of king's daughter to, 344 - ----- with girl's head, restores life to hero, 55 - ----- field, task of hero's to clean, 316 - ----- friends, 342 - -Snake-skin, story title 282-287, 417 - -Snakes-skin, assumption of, by heroine, 342 - -Snipe, origin of, 359 - -Snow-water collected in March, youth-giving qualities of, 372 - -Social organisation of the fairies, xxxvii. - -Son marrying mother in Finnish story, 308 - -Song, singing a, means of discovering truth, 299 - -Songs, mystic, for restoration of life, 341 - -----, wedding and love, 370 - -Spade, golden, used to dig up Tátos foal, 256 - -Spanish belief in herb to restore eyesight, 322 - -Spanish folk-tales quoted, 313, 329, 334, 347, 360, 392, 394, 402, 407, -408 - -Spanish wedding customs, 369 - -_Spectator_, wedding songs quoted from, 370 - -Spinning in folk-tales, 330 - -Spinning-girl (the lazy) who became queen, story-title, 46-49 - -Spitting, enchantment by, 395 - -Spittle, fairy, makes objects speak, xxxiii. - ----- speaking of, to delude pursuers, 321 - ----- used by witch to disfigure heroine, 166 - -Sports at weddings, Magyar, 389 - -Spring of poisonous water, dragon's wife takes form of, 202 - -Sprites, xlv. - -Squirrel, shooting at, story incident, 40 - -Staff broken at hanging ceremony, 407 - -Stag, means of finding heroine, 186 - -Star, morning, horse similar to, 63 - ----- superstitions, 410 - -Stars, child born with, on his face, 338 - -----, marks of, on hero's forehead, 387 - -----, three, on left breast of king's daughter, 140 - -----, kicking of, by high-stepping horses, 130 - -Steel dropping from raven's back, story incident, 39 - ----- hoop, hero takes form of, 201 - -Stepsister, heroine of tale, 207 - -Stephen the murderer, story title, 7-13; variants of, 306-312 - -Stone cut with wooden knife by hero, 247 - -Stone, giants turned to pillars of, 316 - ----- hero turned into, 71; hero's animal servants turned into, 115 - -Stone-boulders eaten by giants for food, 247 - -Stone-column, removal of, as task for hero, 18 - -Stone-crusher, character in story, 245, 246 - -Stonemasons, story characters, 18 - -Stones, with imprint of giant's heel, xxv; of fairies xxxiv.-xxxv. -xxxix. - -Stones, (precious) superstitions, lxiv. - -Strength of giant kept apart from his body, 71 - -----, secret of, revealed in order to kill hero, 326 - -Strength-giving substances, 353 - -Student who was forcibly made king, story-title, 76 - -Students' careers alluded to, see "college" "school" - -Subterfuge for gaining a wife, 4 - -Subterranean houses of the fairies, xxxviii. - -Summons by whistle and whip, 372 - -Sun, child born with, on top of head, 337 - -----, on forehead of twin son, 52; of king's daughter, 140 - -----, comparison of hero with, 342 - -----, hero's beauty like the, 56 - -----, myth of, in folk-tale, 328 - -----, stoppage of, to admire heroine's beauty 112 - -Sunbeams, woman appearing on, 364 - -Swahili folk-tales quoted, 306, 322, 342, 364, 386, 391, 397, 400, 408 - -Swallow, herb known to, will restore eyesight 322 - -Swan-maiden incident, 101, 363-365, 315 390 - -Swedish folk-tales quoted, 306, 330, 333, 334, 362, 386, 388, 391, 397, -401, 405,415 - -Swedish giant beings, 340 - -Swedish wedding songs, 370 - -Swineherd helps hero of tale, 261 - -Swineherd hero-prince takes situation as, 296 - -Swineherd's daughter given to devil instead of heroine, 190 - -Sword, clanking of hero's, denoting approbation, 235, 241 - -Sword possessing power of slaying numbers, 293 - -Sword, unsheathed, placed between wife and husband's substitute, 116, -375 - ----- used by hero, 63, 66; growing in garden, 233; kills hero's enemies, -243 - -Swords, magic, in folk-tales, 350, 406 - -Székely folk-medicine quoted, 342 - -----, origin of the, ix., xii.-xv. - - -Table-cloth, magic, 162 - ----- used by hero to carry goods, 273 - -Tartar conquest alluded to, 118-119, 124 - -Tartars, dog-headed, 377 - -Tasks in folk-tales, 18, 27, 47, 153, 192-193, 273-275, 313, 315, 379, -390, 392, 393, 415 - -Tátos, giant's horse, xxv., 197, 345 - -Teeth, children born with, 378 - -Telescope, wonderful, bought by prince to win a bride, 156 - -Thorn-tree, cure for ague by shaking, 403 - -Thornton Abbey, Lincolnshire, battle legend about, 382 - -Three, significance of the number, 101 - ----- canes, riddle of, solved by hero, 239 - ----- foals, riddle of, solved by hero, 240 - ----- legs, foal with, 257 - ----- Princes, Three Dragons, and the Old Woman with the Iron Nose, -story of, 196-206 - ----- sisters in tale, 224 - ----- sons, hero youngest of, 250 - ----- wishes type story, 217-219 - -Threshold, ceremonies at, 332, 333 - -----, folk-lore of, 410-411 - -Tinder, shot from squirrel's tree, story incident, 40 - -Time, rapid passing of, in folk-tales, see "age," "year" - -----, stopping of, story incident, 42, 362 - -Toad used as means to bewitch heroine, 222 - -Tools, assistance by, to youngest son, 390 - ----- work by themselves, Frisian, 316 - -Toothache of king ceasing only with granting hero's wishes, 197 - -Tower, hero immured in, 240 - -Town draped in black cloth, 374 - -Trance, heroine falls into, through treachery, 172, 174 - -Transformation of hero and heroine to avoid pursuit, 321 - -Transylvania, wedding customs, 369 - -----, races occupying, ix. - -Travelling, speed of, in folk-tales, xxiv.-xxv., 26, 350 - ----- with magic wings, 142 - -Treasure, buried, ghosts as guards of, 231, 232, 405 - -----, buried, legends, xxix., xxx. - -Treasures, offered by witch as reward refused by hero, 255 - -Tree, good luck coming from being under, 387 - -----, grown from remains of murdered princes, 135 - -----, heroine and her children take refuge in, 179 - -----, heroine placed amongst branches of, 213 - -----, magic growth of, 146 - -----, sap of, used for cure of illness, 138 - -----, witch seated in, 57, 115 - -Tree-comber, character in story, 244 - -Trees, magic, on borders of Operencian Sea, 256 - -----, kissing each other means of hero crossing water, 258 - -----, notched by hero to guide his path, 258 - -Triangle traced by witch, 256 - -Tribal blood feud incident, _Arabian Nights_, 360 - -Trolls, assume shape of magpies, in Sweden, 364 - -Truth and falsehood, travels of, story title, 36-39 - -Trynetyrk, giant beings, Norwegian, 340 - -Tumuli, called giants graves, x. - -Turkish sultan in folk-tales, xx. - -Twelve brothers marry twelve sisters, 159, 263, 267 - -Twins, golden-haired, born to heroine, 184 - -Twilight, myth of, in folk-tales, 327 - - -Uliva (St.) legend of, quoted, 339 - -Underground people, in folk-tales, 408 - -Useless article found on road, source of wealth to finder, 354 - - -Valuable, three things, story title, 155-157 - -Vargaluska (dancing), concealed name of dwarf, 48 - -Vasfogu, Bába, story character, 5 - -Vikings, probable legend of, quoted, 352 - -Vine-growing as task for hero, 18 - -Vomiting of persons eaten, incident in folk-tales, 399 - - -Walachian folk-tales, quoted, 338, 395, 396 - -Watching, youngest son successful in, 390 - -Water, foal washed in to gain strength, 256 - ----- immersion, cure of maiming by, story incident, 53 - ----- possessing power of transforming human being into animal, 220 - -----, reflection of heroine's face in, 135 - -----, want of, causes death of princesses who were cut from oranges, 133 - -----, youth-giving, from fairies' well, 289, 293, 295 - ----- of life, allegory of, 93, 250-262 - -Water-spring, blocking up by devils, story incident, 37 - -----, magic origin of, 72 - -Wayland Smith, legend quoted, 351 - -Weaving in folk-tales, 330 - -----, soldiers produced by, 68 - -Wedding customs, Magyar, 365 - ----- festivities, 104-105 - ----- party, greeting to, 80 - -Weeding operations in story incident, 81 - -Well, frog residing in, 224 - -----, holy, flowers from, used at marriages, Palócz, 412 - -----, mud from, cures blindness, 152 - ----- worship, xxxii. - -Wells, marvellous powers of water, 373 - -Wend, folk-tales quoted, 359 - -Were-wolves, 344 - -Whale, heroine devoured by, 222 - -Wheat, dirty, heroine set task of cleaning, 208, 209, 211 - -Whip, magical, 16, 27, 107 - -Whistle, magic, 392 - ----- given by grateful animals for summons, 153 - ----- commanding obedience from insects, fish, or mice, 252, 253 - -Whistle and whip, a method of summons, 372 - -Widower and his daughter, story of, 207-216 - -Wife, lord's power over vassals, alluded to, 18 - -Wife of hero desired by king, 314 - -Wife-beating of, story incident, 23 - -Wife's kindred, interposition of, 24 - -Wine taken by hero to renew strength, 201, 248 - ----- drank by foal for food, 265 - -Wings, magic, for travelling, 142 - -Winifred, St., well of, in Flintshire, 373 - -Wishes, the, story of, 217-219 - -Witches, assist youngest son, hero, 61 - ----- burning of, 181 - ----- changes into pigeon, story incident, 160 - -----, children of, born with teeth, 378 - ----- drugs hero, 253, 254, 255 - -----, fear of, for animals, 57, 115 - -----, giants supposed to be, xxiv. - ----- guardian of castle in Hades, 68 - ----- in Magyar folk-lore, xli.-xliv. - ----- kills her own children by ruse, 159, 268 - -----, magical powers of, xlii. - -----, method of seeing, xli. - -----, mother of giants, 57 - ----- with iron nose, 241, 243 - ----- year consists of three days, 252 - -Witch's daughter personates heroine, 221 - ----- daughters in shape of horses, 252 - ----- maid helps hero, 204 - -Witchcraft defeated by the drawing of blood, 343 - -Wives, dragon's, destroyed by hero, 203 - -Wodin, dragon sacred to, 325 - -Wolf, assistance of, to hero, 153 - -Wolf, in Finnish grateful animal story, 305 - -Wolves, country inhabited by, 188, 195 - -Woman's curiosity, story title, 301-302, 313 - -Woman, old, made young by hero, 260 - -Women, aged, direct hero in quest, 258 - -Wood-grouse in Karelian grateful animal story, 305 - -Woodpecker in folk-tales, 362, 372 - -----, influence of, on hero's actions, 99, 108-109 - -Worcestershire folk-lore, 378 - -Words, story turning on similarity of, 84 - -World, underground, visited by hero, 247 - -World's beautiful woman, story of, 163 - -Wrestling of hero with strong men, 245 - - -Yarborough Camp, Lincolnshire, legend concerning, 382 - -Year of service given by hero, 157 - ----- of three days duration, 98 - -Yellow Hammer, King, story character, 2 - -Yorkshire finger-lore, 330, 331 - ----- folk-lore, 349, 398 - ----- superstitions, 402 - -Youngest, success of, 389-391 - -Youngest brother, story hero, 40, 55, 60, 92, 97, 116, 153, 157, 203 - ----- daughter, story heroine, 27, 43, 49, 159 - ----- prince successful in quest, 288 - ----- prince and youngest princess, story title, 137-141 - ----- sister heroine of tale, 207, 224-226 - ----- son successful, 150, 196, 250 - -Youth, allegory of, 93 - ----- giving plants, 109 - ----- giving water, 288, 372-373 - -----, power to restore, possessed by pelican, 251, 258, 262 - - -WESTMINSTER: PRINTED BY NICHOLS AND SONS, 25, PARLIAMENT STREET. - - - - - * * * * * * - - - - -Transcriber's note: - -All obvious printer errors were corrected. - -Some spelling was corrected for consistency. - -Cyrillic text was romanised as Jugra and Ugra (p. 371) - -Certain characters cannot be displayed in this text format and are -substituted as follows (where x represents the accented letter): - - macron as [-x] - tilde as [~x] - caron above as [v^x] - oe ligature as [oe] - dagger symbol as + (page xlviii) - superscript using ^, e.g. 3^e (page 359) - - - - -***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE FOLK-TALES OF THE MAGYARS*** - - -******* This file should be named 42981-8.txt or 42981-8.zip ******* - 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Henry Jones and Lajos Kropf, Translated by W. Henry Jones and Lajos Kropf</h1> -<p>This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at <a -href="http://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a></p> -<p>Title: The Folk-Tales of the Magyars</p> -<p> Collected by Kriza, Erdélyi, Pap, and Others</p> -<p>Author: Various</p> -<p>Editor: W. Henry Jones and Lajos Kropf</p> -<p>Release Date: June 18, 2013 [eBook #42981]</p> -<p>Language: English</p> -<p>Character set encoding: UTF-8</p> -<p>***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE FOLK-TALES OF THE MAGYARS***</p> <h3>E-text prepared by Albert László, Adrian Treves,<br /> and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team<br /> (http://www.pgdp.net)</h3> @@ -22493,360 +22481,6 @@ Youth, allegory of, <a href="#Page_93">93</a><br /> in the public domain.</p> </div> -<hr class="pg" /> -<p>***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE FOLK-TALES OF THE MAGYARS***</p> -<p>******* This file should be named 42981-h.txt or 42981-h.zip *******</p> -<p>This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:<br /> -<a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/4/2/9/8/42981">http://www.gutenberg.org/4/2/9/8/42981</a></p> -<p> -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions -will be renamed.</p> - -<p> -Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no -one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation -(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without -permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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Henry Jones and Lajos Kropf, Translated by W. Henry Jones and -Lajos Kropf - - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org - - - - - -Title: The Folk-Tales of the Magyars - Collected by Kriza, Erdélyi, Pap, and Others - - -Author: Various - -Editor: W. Henry Jones and Lajos Kropf - -Release Date: June 18, 2013 [eBook #42981] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII) - - -***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE FOLK-TALES OF THE MAGYARS*** - - -E-text prepared by Albert László, Adrian Treves, and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team (http://www.pgdp.net) - - - -Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this - file which includes the original illustration. - See 42981-h.htm or 42981-h.zip: - (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/42981/42981-h/42981-h.htm) - or - (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/42981/42981-h.zip) - - -Transcriber's note: - - Certain accented characters cannot be displayed in this text - format and the following substitutions have been made: - - o with umlaut as oe - u with umlaut as ue - a with umlaut as ae - oe-ligature as oe - ae-ligature as ae - section symbol as sec. (page xix) - dagger symbol as + (page xlviii) - superscripts using ^, e.g. 3^e (page 359) - all other accented letters have had the accents removed - - - - - -The Folk-Lore Society, -for Collecting and Printing -Relics of Popular Antiquities, &c. - -Established in the Year MDCCCLXXVIII. - - -[Illustration: Alter et Idem.] - - -PUBLICATIONS -OF -THE FOLK-LORE SOCIETY. -XIII. (1886). - - * * * * * * - -List of Officers of the Society, - -1888-1889. - - -PRESIDENT. - -ANDREW LANG, ESQ., M.A. - - -VICE-PRESIDENTS. - -W. R. S. RALSTON, M.A. THE RIGHT HON. THE EARL OF STRAFFORD. EDWARD B. -TYLOR, LL.D., F.R.S. - - -DIRECTOR. - -G. L. GOMME, F.S.A., 1, Beverley Villas, Barnes Common, S.W. - - -COUNCIL. - -HON. JOHN ABERCROMBY. THE EARL BEAUCHAMP, F.S.A. EDWARD BRABROOK, F.S.A. -LOYS BRUEYRE. MISS C. S. BURNE. EDWARD CLODD. J. G. FRAZER, M.A. G. L. -GOMME, F.S.A. S. HARTLAND, F.S.A. A. GRANGER HUTT, F.S.A. W. F. KIRBY. -SIR JOHN LUBBOCK, Bt., F.R.S. REV. DR. RICHARD MORRIS. ALFRED NUTT. T. -F. ORDISH. Lt.-Gen. PITT-RIVERS, D.C.L. F.R.S., F.S.A., ETC. PROFESSOR -A. H. SAYCE, M.A. CAPTAIN R. C. TEMPLE. J. S. UDAL. HENRY B. WHEATLEY, -F.S.A. - - -HON. TREASURER. - -EDWARD CLODD, 19, Carleton Road, Tufnell Park, N. - - -AUDITORS. - -G. L. APPERSON. JOHN TOLHURST, F.S.A. - - -LOCAL SECRETARIES. - -Ireland: G. H. KINAHAN. South Scotland: WILLIAM GEORGE BLACK. North -Scotland: Rev. WALTER GREGOR. India: Captain R. C. TEMPLE. China: J. -STEWART LOCKHART. - - -HONORARY SECRETARY. - -J. J. FOSTER, 36, Alma Square, St. John's Wood, N.W. - - * * * * * * - - -THE FOLK-TALES OF THE MAGYARS. - -Collected By Kriza, Erdelyi, Pap, and Others. - -Translated and Edited, with Comparative Notes, - -by - -THE REV. W. HENRY JONES - -and - -LEWIS L. KROPF. - - - - - - - -London: -Published For The Folk-Lore Society -by -Elliot Stock, 62, Paternoster Row. -1889. - -Westminster: Printed by Nichols and Sons, 25, Parliament Street. - - - - -TO - -PROFESSOR ARMINIUS VAMBERY, - -WHOSE INDEFATIGABLE LABOURS AND INDOMITABLE ZEAL HAVE DONE SO MUCH TO -ADVANCE OUR KNOWLEDGE OF MANKIND: AND WHOSE ILLUSTRIOUS LIFE IS SO -BRIGHT AN EXAMPLE TO EVERY STUDENT, - -This Work - -ON THE STORIES OF THE FATHERLAND HE LOVES SO WELL AND SERVES SO -FAITHFULLY - -Is Dedicated. - - - - -PREFACE. - - -A vast and precious store of Folk-Lore is to be found amongst the -Magyars as yet but little known to English readers, and so it is hoped -that this work on the subject may prove of some value to the student of -Comparative Folk-Lore. The difficulty of the language is one which makes -it well nigh impossible for the unaided foreigner to do anything like -justice to the stories. We laboured together often till dawn to make the -translation as literal as possible, that the reader might have as true a -rendering of the Magyar story-teller's method and manner as so different -a tongue as English would permit. - -Whilst engaged on the Finnish stories we received the greatest help from -Finnish friends, especially Mr. A. Nieminen, Dr. Fagerlund, Dr. Krohn, -Dr. Rancken, Professor Freudenthal, Mr. Halleen, and Mr. Walter von -Bonsdorff. In the Lapp stories Professor Friis of Christiania has ever -been a true helper. Amongst numerous kindly helpers we tender thanks to -Dr. Retzius, Stockholm; Professor Gittee, Charleroi; the Rev. Henry -Jebb, of Firbeck Hall; Mr. Quigstad, of Troms; Mr. Nordlander; Mr. O. P. -Petersson, Hernoesand; Mr. Lindholm; Dr. R. Koehler; Baron Nordenskjoeld; -and the Rev. Walter H. James, rector of Fleet. - -We regret that we cannot do more than acknowledge the courtesy of the -late Dr. Greguss (Buda Pest), whose lamented death removed a scholar and -friend to Englishmen. - -If this collection adds a mite to the knowledge of man, our labours will -not have been in vain.[1] - - -W. H. J. - -L. L. K. - - -[1] Mr. Kropf desires it to be stated, that he is not responsible for -the Introduction and Notes beyond supplying certain portions of the -material for their compilation. - - - - -INTRODUCTION. - - -Before the arrival of the Magyars, Hungary was the "cock-pit of eastern -Europe;" its history one incessant struggle between nation and nation, -which either perished or was driven out by some more powerful neighbour. -First we hear of the subjection of what was known as Pannonia, by the -Romans; then, when that great power began to wane, a motley horde under -the great Attila swept down and founded a kingdom. "Attila died in -Pannonia in 453. Almost immediately afterwards the empire he had amassed -rather than consolidated fell to pieces. His too-numerous sons began to -quarrel about their inheritance; while Ardaric, the King of the Gepidae, -placed himself at the head of a general revolt of the dependent nations. -The inevitable struggle came to a crisis near the river Netad, in -Pannonia, in a battle in which 30,000 of the Huns and their -confederates, including Ellak,[1] Attila's eldest son, were slain. The -nation thus broken rapidly dispersed. One horde settled under Roman -protection in Little Scythia (the Dobrudsha); others in Dacia Ripensis -(on the confines of Servia and Bulgaria), or on the southern borders of -Pannonia."[2] A tradition asserts that the Magyars are descendants of -those Huns, who, after their defeat, returned to their homes in Asia. On -the other hand, one of their most learned men says, we cannot "form an -accurate idea as to the part the Hungarians took in the irruption of the -Huns, with which event they are associated in national tradition." But -yet he adds, "we fairly claim that the ancestors of the Hungarians took -part in the great devastating campaigns which Attila carried on against -Rome and the Christian West, as far as France." Legend carries us still -further back, saying that the giant Nimrod had two sons named Hunyor and -Magyar, from whom the Huns and Magyars descended.[3] Leaving legend, in -history we find that the Magyars appeared in Europe about 884, first on -the Ural, later on the banks of the middle Volga; and then, marching -westward, passed over the Danube and the Bug, crossing the Carpathians -between 888 and 900, under Almos, the father of Arpad,[4] the founder of -modern Hungary, who is said to have claimed the country as his -inheritance from Attila. The Magyars, then, are part of the numerous -hordes of Turco-Tartar origin which, impelled by some mighty impulse, -left their home amid the Altai mountains, and, conquering the divided -forces on the rich plains of Hungary, settled down, and so founded the -race whose tales form the body of this work.[5] - -Another people, the Szekely,[6] speak a dialect of Magyar, which, like -other Magyar dialects, differs but slightly from the written language. -This race claims to be descendants of those Hunnish tribes that remained -in Europe after the defeats. They say, that when the Magyars arrived in -modern Hungary they found a Magyar-speaking people (the Szekely) -inhabiting parts of Transylvania. This is confirmed to some extent by -the statement of Constantinus Porphyrogenitus, who, writing about 950, -asserted that, amongst others, some Magyar tribes lived on the banks of -the rivers Maros and Koeroes (Transylvania). Kriza, too, quotes several -Szekely sayings referring to the Szekely-Magyar relationship, _e.g._: - -"A Szekely has borne the Magyar." - -"If there were no Szekelys in the world, there would not be any -Magyars." - -"There is the same difference between a Szekely and a Magyar as there is -between a man's son and his grandson." - -"Let the Magyar be thankful, that the Szekely is his acquaintance." - -With regard to the alleged descent of the Szekelys from the Huns, the -evidence in proof of such a pedigree is very meagre. First, it has not -as yet--with any degree of accuracy--been determined who the Huns were. -Prof. Vambery has, with infinite pains, collected and analysed some -seventy words, mostly proper names--all that has come down to us of the -old Hunnish language--and come to the conclusion that the Huns and Avars -for the greater part belonged to the Turco-Tartar branch of the -Ural-Altaic race; yet he is bound to acknowledge that he would gladly -welcome a few historical facts to support him in his conclusions, which -are built upon an almost entirely philological basis.[7] Indeed, it -seems as though the term "Hun" was a sort of conventional designation, -like "Scythian," or "Barbarian" with the ancient Greeks and Romans; or -"Frenghi" with the modern Turks. Attila and the various races he pressed -into his service were, of course, the Huns _par excellence_. After his -death and the fatal battle near the river Netad his hordes appear to -have well-nigh vanished from Europe; but their terrible deeds left an -indelible impression upon the people who were unfortunate enough to have -been brought into contact with the "scourge of God" and his fierce -warriors. In the lapse of time all kinds of weird traditions gathered -round their names, in the usual way, when great names pass into the -possession of the Folk Historian;[8] and so they drifted through legends -of saints into the region of myths. Thus we find the name Huene (Heune, -Hewne, Huyne) becomes synonymous with "giant," and to this day the -Westphalian and Dutch peasant speaks of the great tumuli as "Huenen -graeber"--graves of the giants, or Huns.[9] To add to the confusion, it -would appear that there were some German tribes who were known as -Hunes. Mr. Karl Blind has pointed out in the _Gentleman's Magazine_,[10] -that our own Venerable Bede speaks of Hunes as being among the tribes of -Germany that came over to Britain together with the Saxons. -Elsewhere[11] he explains "the tribal origin of Siegfried (of the -Nibelungen lied) as a German Huene;" a word which has nothing whatever to -do with the Mongolian Huns. We know mediaeval writers were not very -particular about facts, and the _licentia poetica_ was claimed not only -by poets, but also by historiographers, as an indisputable privilege. -Thus, Joao Barros, in his chronicle of Clarimundus,[12] calmly tells us -that Count Henry of Portugal, the Navigator, was of Hungarian descent, -and that he found the statement in a Magyar book.[13] This alleged -pedigree was the cause of a fierce controversy amongst Hungarian -savants, and was fully threshed out in the early part of the present -century.[14] - -Vigfusson[15] remarks that the northern poet, whom he designates the -"Tapestry poet," uses Hunar (Huns), Hynske (Hunnish) as a vague word for -"foreign." Probably the East Baltic folk would have been Huns to the -earlier poets. With regard to the German and Scandinavian Huns, it is -noteworthy what Olaus Magnus writes with regard to the "Huns" of his -time. The learned prelate says that "in provincia Middelpadensi versus -Boreales partes Suetiae superioris, ubi fere major pars virorum Huni -nomine appellantur tamquam populi clarius contra Hunos olim -belligerantes ac triumphantes."[16] His statement is borne out by his -colleague, Joannes Magnus,[17] who asserts that "non desunt qui dicant -ipsos Hunnos a Septentrionale parte Scandiae utra Helsingorum terras ex -Medelphatia primum erupisse: in qua etiam hodie plurimi praestantissimae -fortitudinis homines inveniuntur, qui Hunni proprio nomine appellantur, -quique magna et praeclara opera in tyrannos, qui patriae libertatem -vexaverat, peregerunt." - -In the face of all this, it is quite evident how difficult a task awaits -those who attempt to identify the lineal descendants of the Huns: and -those who uphold the Hunnish descent of the Szekelys do not appear, as -yet, to have advanced sufficient historical grounds to establish the -connection of the modern Szekelys with the Huns of Attila.[18] - -It is well known that the Hun descent of the Magyars and Szekelys has -equally been questioned. Savants of such authority as Budenz and -Hunfalvy disclaim the Hun relationship, and endeavour to prove the -Finn-Ugrian origin of the Magyars. Whereas Professor Vambery, in his -work on the "Origin of the Magyars," which received so favourable a -reception at the hands of the whole learned world, defends, as we saw -above, a Turco-Tartar descent. - -It lies far beyond the limits of this work to give even a brief outline -of the history of the Szekelys: yet a few data may not be out of place -to show that, although they are at the present time, and mayhap always -have been, a Magyar-speaking people, yet they are in many respects -distinct from the race known as the Magyars. Ibn Dasta, an Arab -writer,[19] at the end of the ninth century, informs us that in his time -some Bulgarians lived on the banks of the River Itil (Volga); and that -they consisted of three tribes, viz.: the Berzuls, the Esseghels, and -the Uz. He further says that "the first territory of the Magyars lies -between the country of the Bisseni and the Esseghel Bulgarians." - -Another Arab writer, Ibn Muhalhal, about the middle of the tenth -century, mentions a people named "Jikil," who lived next to the -"Bajnak." If the writers who would identify in this Ashkal, Esseghel, or -Jikil people, the parents of the Szekely race, be right in their -conclusions, then the Siculi (as they are called in Latin deeds) are of -Bulgarian descent.[20] But we know full well how dangerous it is to -build up theories on a mere similarity of names amongst barbarous or -semi-barbarous races. The first reliable information we have about them -is that about the year 1116 A.D. Bisseni and Siculi formed the -body-guard of the Magyar King Stephen II. in his war against the Czechs. -They supplied the vanguard of the army of King Gejza against Henry of -Austria about 1146. More than half a century later, _i.e._ A.D. 1211, -Andreas II. presented some uninhabited territory in Transylvania to the -Teutonic knights; and, in a deed dated 1213, William, Bishop of -Transylvania, granted the tithes of his territory to the same order, but -reserved to himself the right of collecting them from all Magyar or -Szekely immigrants who might settle on the lands in question.[21] King -Bela IV. ordered the Szekelys[22] to supply him with one hundred mounted -warriors in war; and later on, to show them his gratitude for their -faithful services, he created them military nobles:[23] "Quod non sub -certo numero (in a body as hitherto) sed eo modo sicut servientes -regales, per se et personaliter armata nobiscum exercituare -teneantur."[24] The Szekelys of Hungary Proper gradually disappear, but -the Siculi of Transylvania figure throughout the pages of Hungarian -history as a separate people, with institutions and privileges of their -own, and acting as a sort of border-fencibles in the numerous wars with -the enemies of the Magyars. They furnished a separate title to the -Prince of Transylvania,[25] and, although recent reforms have swept away -old barriers, yet one still hears people speaking of the three nations -of Transylvania, viz. the Magyars, the Szekelys, and the Saxons.[26] -Whether they ever spoke a language of their own we are unable to say; -they speak several dialects, which have been carefully studied by -Kriza,[27] himself a Szekely by birth, and which possess peculiarities -not to be found amongst the Magyars, or any other part of the realm of -St. Stephen. A passage[28] in a work entitled "Hungaria et Attila," by -Nicolaus Olah, Archbishop of Esztergom (died 1568), might, perhaps, be -quoted to prove that an independent Szekely language had existed once, -but there is an ambiguity about the statement of the learned prelate -which makes it useless to the philologist. At any rate, we do not -possess a single scrap of the old language, if it ever existed. - -Having thus made ourselves acquainted with the Szekelys, we may proceed -to consider the other Magyar-speaking nationalities. - -The Csangos[29] are Hungarian settlers in Moldavia; there are so many -similarities in their tongue to the Szekely dialects that Hunfalvy -appears to be quite confident that they are a people of Szekely -origin.[30] Of late years an attempt has been made to resettle them in -the less populous crown lands in Hungary; the result, as one might -expect, is, that some are content, whilst others lust after the -flesh-pots of Moldavia. - -Next come the Kuns (Cumanians). The non-Magyar writers,[31] who have -made the old language of this people their study, declare it, with -almost unanimous consent, to be a Turkish dialect, whereas the Magyar -writers, with very few exceptions, staunchly defend the Magyar origin of -the Cumanians.[32] - -Foremost in the ranks of the latter party was the late Stephen Gyarfas, -who denied that a _lingua Cumenesca_ had ever existed, and that the -various extant specimens are the remnants of the language of a people of -Magyar descent, who had become Turks during the lapse of centuries.[33] -His most powerful antagonist is Count Gejza Kuun, the learned editor of -the _Codex Cumanicus_,[34] who espouses the cause of the Turkish party. -Besides the valuable Glossary preserved in the Codex, several versions -of the Lord's Prayer and other scraps of the Cumanian tongue are in -existence, and have been examined by competent scholars, and pronounced -to be of undoubted Turkish origin.[35] - -Jazygo-Cumanians have been quoted in the note, and so we proceed to -consider the next race--if one may use the word--viz.: the Jazyges, -formerly a military tribe, who, together with the Cumanians, live in -central Hungary, in the vicinity of the capital, and occupy a territory -on the banks of the rivers Danube, Zagyva, Sarret, Tisza, and Koeroes. - -From time immemorial, until quite recent times, they enjoyed certain -privileges and administered their own affairs in three districts--the -Jaszsag, Kis-Kunsag, and Nagy-Kunsag, entirely separate from the -surrounding population, thus forming a state within a state. They had -however to surrender some of their old rights in 1848, and by the law of -1876 (cap. xxxiii.), which readjusted the political divisions of the -kingdom, the limits of their territory disappeared altogether from the -map of Hungary.[36] With regard, then, to the nationality of the Jasz -people, they are found at all periods of history in company with the -Cumanians, and so, as their institutions are the same as their fellow -armigerents, we may safely assume with Hunfalvy that they are a branch -of the Cumans, if they be not offspring of the same mother-stock. - -Next come the Palocz folk,[37] who live scattered among the other races -in several of the northern counties of Hungary, and speak a dialect of -their own. Hunfalvy asserts that they are the same people as the -"Polovczi" mentioned by early Russian and Slavonic writers. And as -Jerney, in his paper _The Palocz Nation and The Palocz Chronicle_, has -proved beyond doubt that, whatever the Magyar Chronicles and Byzantine -writers relate anent the Cumans can be traced, statement for statement, -in Russian and Polish writers, with reference to the Polovczi, Hunfalvy -draws the conclusion that the Palocz people are Cumans.[38] - -Their name first occurs in Russian Annals A.D. 1061, and the Magyar -savant to whose rich store of learning this work is so deeply indebted -thinks that the migration of the Cumans into Hungary took place in two -distinct streams, one, an earlier one, from the North, _via_ the Slave -countries across the Northern Carpathians, and another, later one from -the south-east, through the passes and defiles of the south-eastern -extension of the same range of mountains. - -Before leaving this part of the subject, the reader must be reminded -that all the foregoing races or nationalities at the present time speak -one or other Magyar dialect,[39] and that the old Cuman tongue is the -only other language of which we know anything.[40] - -Having, we hope, somewhat cleared the way as to people amongst whom the -stories have been collected, we may now proceed to say a few words about -the tales themselves. Of course, the stories will be found to bear a -strong resemblance to other collections, as indeed they must do; the -very fact of the striking way in which not only tales, but even little -superstitions, reappear in all manner of strange places,[41] is of -itself a fact which is of the deepest interest to those who study the -history of man. We have attempted to give some few variants to the tales -in this work, chiefly confining ourselves to Lapp and Finnish tales, -which are but little known in England, and of which, as of the Magyar, -there is a rich store. The more one considers comparative folk-lore, the -more one is convinced that many of these tales were the common property -of mankind before they migrated from their Asiatic home.[42] Of course -local circumstances often colour the stories, but do not change the -theme. Amidst the stories from Hungary we find, as we might presume, the -Szekely stories telling of snow-clad mountains, whilst those from the -banks of the Danube dwell on the beauties of the Hungarian plains. The -fierce conflicts of the past, too, have left their marks on the stories, -and so we find the Turkish Sultan[43] and the Dog-headed Tartar[44] as -the tyrants of the tale; and even, in one case, so modern a fact as the -French invasion[45] is used to frighten an old-world witch. We see later -on the influence of Mohammedanism, and also the marks of -Christianity,[46] in some tales which become as it were, a folk-lore -palimpsest. Nor must we omit other ways by which the tales have been -modified. Many of the mediaeval romances were, of course, translated into -Hungarian; and even to this day the penny bookstall is always present at -fairs and popular gatherings where "yards of literature" are to be -obtained for a nominal sum. The vendor cannot afford a booth or stall, -so a mat or tarpaulin is spread on the ground, and weighted at the four -corners with brickbats or paving stones, hence the Hungarian name -"ponyva-irodalom" (tarpaulin literature). Here we find mediaeval -romances, bits of national history, biographies and panegyrics of famous -robbers, the wicked doings of the mistress of some castle and her -punishment, the exploits of Magyar heroes, the chronicles of Noodledom, -in prose, or versified by some such favourite poet of the people as -Peter Tatar; and by this means certain tales have been imported, others -modified. Then again, the wandering students were entertained by the -country folk during their peregrinations, and no doubt in return amused -the old folks with the latest news from the town, and the young ones -with tales from the Greek and Roman Mythologies.[47] Another mode of -dissemination and modification was the soldiers. When the Hapsburgs were -at the height of their glory the emperor-king's soldiers were scattered -far and wide over Europe; and, after long years of service in an -infantry regiment and absence from home, the old private returned to his -native village, and at eventide in the village inn related how he, as -"Sergeant of Hussars," caught with his own hand the Emperor Napoleon, -and only let him go at the earnest entreaties of his wife, and upon -receiving a rich bribe in gold.[48] The old soldier was well received in -every family, and enjoyed great authority as a man who had seen the -world. The children sat upon his knee, or stood round about him -open-mouthed, and listened to his marvellous yarns.[49] - -In Hungary, as in other countries, until the labours of the Brothers -Grimm directed attention to the importance of the Folk-tales, nothing -was done in the way of collecting them; and, even after Grimm's work -appeared, no move was made in Hungary until Henszlman read his paper in -1847 before the Kisfaludy Society on the "Popular Tales of Hungary," in -which paper he examined some 14 tales which afterwards appeared in -Erdelyi's Collection, vols. 1 and 2. Ladislaus Arany in May 1867 read -another paper before the same society and according to his calculation -some 240 tales had been collected up to that date: the collections -quoted by him were as follows:-- - - - John Erdelyi,[50] _Folk-Songs and Popular - Tales_, 3 vols. containing 34 tales - - George Gaal,[51] _Hungarian Folk-Tales_, 3 vols. " 53 " - - John Erdelyi, _Hungarian Popular Tales_, 1 vol. " 13 " - - Ladislaus Merenyi, _Original Popular Tales_, } - 2 vols. } - } - Ladislaus Merenyi, _Popular Tales from the_ } - _Valley of the Sajo_, 2 vols. } " 65 " - } - Ladislaus Merenyi, _Popular Tales from the_ } - _Banks of the Danube_, 2 vols. } - - Ladislaus Arany, _Original Popular Tales_, 1 vol. " 35 " - - John Kriza,[52] _Wild Roses_, 1 vol.[53] " 20 " - - Julius Pap, _Palocz Folk-Poetry_, 1 vol. " 6 " - - Count John Majlath,[54] _Hungarian Fairy Tales_, - _Sagas and Popular Tales_, translated from the - German by G. Kazinczy, 1 vol. " 6 " - - Maurus Jokai, _Witty Tales of the - Hungarian Folk_, 1 vol. " 8 " - ------- - Total, 240 - - -Of these, Erdelyi's first collection and Kriza's _Wild Roses_ are the -most important, and the translation of them form the bulk of this -volume. Since 1867 the work of collecting the Popular Tales has been -going on steadily, and the _Hungarian Language Guardian_ (Magyar -Nyelvoer) is a paper specially devoted to the purpose: publishing popular -sayings, proverbs, children's games, nursery rhymes, &c. Very little of -the Folk-lore treasure is known outside of Hungary. There is Count -Majlath's collection, which appeared originally in German, and also a -German edition of Gaal, and one by Stier, which contains some of -Erdelyi's stories. In English the only translations we are aware of are -the tale of "The talking grapes, the smiling apple, and the tinkling -apricot," from Erdelyi's collection, which was translated by Mr. E. D. -Butler, and appeared in a London suburban paper; and another tale, "The -Round Stone," in the February number of the _St. Nicholas Magazine_, -1882; so that this collection opens up new ground. The great difficulty -in considering these tales--in common with the Finn, Esthonian, and -Lapp--is the language; and the aim of the present translation is but to -be as literal as possible in its rendering of the stories; there being -no attempt whatever made to polish or beautify the tales, but simply an -endeavour to reproduce as near as may be the stories as told by the -people; in many cases, especially with regard to the Szekely stories, -this has been a work of very great difficulty, on account of the -dialect, and must plead for the many shortcomings in the translations. - -A brief consideration of some points in Magyar Folk-lore may be found of -interest in a study of the stories. And I am indebted for the following -information on giants, fairies, and witches to a valuable paper, -entitled _Mythological Elements in Szekely Folk-lore and Folk-life_, -read by Kozma before the Hungarian Academy in 1882. - - -I. GIANTS.[55] - -Many of the characteristics of the Magyar giants are the same as those -to be found in the Greek and German mythologies, but we do not find -anything extraordinary in their appearance, such as one eye--as -Cyclops[56], or sundry heads as the northern giants, nor redundant -fingers and toes as the Jews; they are simply big men. There is no trace -of any struggle between the gods and the giants in Magyar mythology. - -They are said to be sons of witches,[57] and as tall as towers,[58] and -step from mountain-top to mountain-top as they walk. - -The length of their stride and the pace at which they walk is -illustrated in a tradition, according to which the giants who inhabited -a fortress called Kadicsavar, near the River Nyiko, were in the act of -shaving when the bells rang first from the church-tower of -Gyula-Fejervar, at the second ringing they dressed, on the third ringing -they sat in church.[59] - -Near Szotyor in Haromszek[60] there is a rock, which is called the -"Giant's Stone," on the top of this there is a cavity resembling in -shape the heel of a man; the diameter of this hole is five feet, and -popular tradition says it is the imprint of a giant's heel. - -When the giant is angry he strikes a blow with his fist on the rock, and -traces of his fist are shown now-a-days on a rock near Ikavar; his -footstep is shown in the neighbourhood of Kezdi-Borosnyo, on a rocky -ledge near a spring, where he used to come down to drink. - -With one foot he stands on the mountain where Csiki-Balvanyos-var castle -stands; with the other on a mountain opposite, and bending down, he -picks up the water of the River Olt, running in the valley below, in a -gigantic bucket, with one swoop. - -He mounts a horse of such size that it stands with its hind legs on a -mountain in Bodok in Haromszek, while its fore-legs rest on another -mountain in Bickfalu, and its head reaches far into Wallachia, where it -grazes in a green clover-field. - -On short outings he walks; on long journeys he goes on horseback; his -steed is a tatos,[61] with whom he holds many conversations. On -returning home from a long ride he throws his mace, weighing forty -hundredweights, from a distance of forty miles (= about 180 English -miles), which drops into the courtyard of the castle, and penetrating -into the ground taps a subterranean spring.[62] - -While the giant of the Germans lives during the flint-period, and uses -gigantic stones and masses of rock as weapons, the Hungarian giant uses -swords and maces of iron and copper, and also goes in for wrestling. He -is not a cannibal. He is fond of a good supper and warm food, and is not -a teetotaller. He always takes plenty of provisions on the journey. - -Kozma has come across a tale, "Iron-made Peter," in which there figure -six giants, each of whom is proficient in one thing or another. They -bear names which characterise their special accomplishments. In English -they would be as follows: Sharp-eye, Fast-runner, Far-thrower, Glutton, -Drinker, Shiverer. The first is sitting on a mountain-peak reaching up -to heaven's vault, and keeps on bowing in every direction, muttering -"Which way shall I look? Is there nothing else to be seen? I have -already seen everything in the world." The second is wandering about a -vast plain, the boundaries of which cannot even be seen, and is moaning, -evidently in great trouble. "Where shall I run? In which direction? No -sooner do I start than I am at the end of this place." The third is seen -sitting among huge pieces of rock, and crying, "Where shall I throw now? -Which way? The whole world is covered by the stones I have thrown." The -fourth is watching a bullock roasting, and continues yelling, "Oh, how -ravenously hungry I am! What can I eat?" The fifth is rolling about on -the sea-shore, roaring, "Oh, how thirsty I am! What will become of me? -What can I drink? If I drain the ocean there will not be left anything -for to-morrow!" The sixth is shivering on the top of a huge stack of -wood all in a blaze, and exclaiming, "Oh, how cold I am! I am freezing." - -The hero of the tale finds suitable employment for each of the giants. -"Fast-runner" goes on an errand into the seven-times-seventh country, -and returns in five minutes, although he goes to sleep on the road from -the sleeping draught administered to him by a witch. "Sharp-eye" -discovers him asleep; and "Far-thrower" knocks away the pillow from -underneath his head, thus enabling him to return by the appointed time. -"Glutton" consumes 366 fat oxen within six hours. "Drinker" empties -during the same interval the contents of 366 casks, each holding 100 -buckets of wine. "Shiverer" creeps into a furnace, which has been -brought to, and kept in, a glowing heat for the last twenty-four years -by twenty-four gipsies,[63] and by so doing lowers the temperature so -that his mates, who have gone with him, are shivering with cold although -they are wrapped up in thick rugs.[64] - -The giants in northern regions live in six-storied diamond castles, or -in golden fortresses which swivel round on a leg; more generally, -however, they inhabit fortresses built by their own hands on the top of -lofty mountains or steep rocks. In Szekelyland the ruins of thirty-six -such castles are existing, all of which are ascribed by the people to -the giants. Some of their names show this; they are called the "Giant's -Rock," the "Giant's Castle," the "Giant's Hill." In one case (Egyeskoe in -Csikszek) they show the giants' table and bench in the rock. Sometimes, -however, the castles are inhabited by fairies. - -Tall mountain chains are sometimes said to be roads built by giants. -Their names are "Attila's Track," "Devil's Ridge," &c. These roads were -constructed by devils and magic cocks who were in the service of the -giants. Hence also the name "Cocks' Ridge." In one case, however, near -Szaraz Ajta, the ridges were made by giants themselves,[65] who used -silver-shared ploughs drawn by golden-haired bullocks for this purpose. - -The giants left their homes when "the country was given away to -mankind," or when "modern mankind commenced to exist." When the -husbandmen appeared and began to till the lands in the valleys and -lowlands the giants did not associate with men, but kept to their -castles and only visited the impenetrable woods. - -There is a tale which occurs in several localities about a giant's -daughter who finds a husbandman, picks up him and his team and puts them -into her apron and carries them off as toys, showing them to her father. -The father exclaiming angrily, "Take him back, as he and his -fellow-creatures are destined to be the lords of the globe," or "Their -anger might cause our ruin," or "They will be our successors." We thus -see that, while in the German tale the giant of Nideck-burg in Alsacia -bids his daughter to take back the ploughman and his team for fear that -by preventing his tilling the land the bread-supply might fail, in the -Hungarian tales the giant openly acknowledges the superior power of the -human race.[66] - -The giants, unlike their brethren in foreign lands, are gregarious and -live under a royal dynasty. They hold assemblies, at which their king -presides. Several royal residences exist in Szekeland. Near Besenyoe -there is one that is called "Csentetetoe." Tradition has even preserved -the giant-king's name, which was Babolna. This king used to convoke the -other giants to the assembly with huge golden bells. On feeling his -approaching death he ordered the bells to be buried in a deep well in -the castle, but on feast days they are still to be distinctly heard -ringing, which sets the whole rock vibrating. - -The name of another king of giants is to be found in Kriza's "Prince -Mirko" (Kutyafejue = Dogheaded.) - -Sometimes the giants were good-natured and full of kindness towards the -weak.[67] - -They marry, their wives are fairies, so are their daughters. They make -very affectionate fathers. They had no male issue, as their race was -doomed to extermination. They fall in love, and are fond of courting. -Near Bikkfalva, in Haromszek, the people still point out the "Lovers' -Bench" on a rock, where the amorous giant of Csigavar used to meet his -sweetheart, the "fairy of Veczeltetoe." - -The giants lived to a great age. Old "Doghead" remembers a dream he -dreamt 600 years ago. His friend Knight Mezei finds him after a -separation of 600 years, and they live happy for a great many years -after.[68] - -They have magic powers. They know when a stranger is hidden in their -home. Doghead knows who has thrown back his mace from a distance of 180 -English miles. They are acquainted with the conjuring formulae and charms -of the fairies, and know how to overcome them. They have a thorough -knowledge of geography, and can give advice to those who enter their -service, &c. They have great physical strength, and can build huge -castles and roads, subdue whole countries, amass treasures[69] which -they have guarded even after their death. Magic beings, animals, and -implements await their commands. - -In the castle of Hereczvara, near Oltszem, the giants were negroes, and -their servants were black dwarfs. Among the magic animals who guarded -the giant's treasures we may mention the bullock with golden hair, the -tatos, &c. Of weapons, charms, &c., Doghead's copper mace, Prince -Mirko's magic sword, the wine kept in a cask in the seventh cellar, each -drop of which equals the strength of five thousand men. - -The king of the giants of Goergeny is bullet-proof; but if a man who is -the seventh son of his mother (and all the elder brothers of whom are -alive) casts a bullet, at the first appearance of the new moon, by a -fire of wheat straw, this bullet will kill the monarch. Such a man was -found, and the bullet was made, and it killed the king. The other giant, -now being without a leader, evacuated the fortress and withdrew to -Hungary Proper. Thus we see a giant can only be killed with a magic -weapon. - -In one of Kozma's tales the hero is in possession of a rusty padlock, -from which two giants appear whenever he commands. They produce by -charms, a golden cloak, and a golden fortress on the swivel principle, -which they hand over to their master in a nutshell. They then clothe the -poor lad in a copper suit and seat him on a copper steed so that he may -appear decently dressed before the king; they change his miserable hovel -into a fine palace at eleven o'clock, and at noon the whole royal -family, who are his guests, sit down to a sumptuous dinner; they carry -their master and his royal bride across a sea of flames, &c. There are -several other tales which attribute the power of flying to giants. - -Some of the giants have grown old and died a natural death. The greater -part of them, however, were killed by enterprising knights. They have -buried their treasures in deep wells, in huge mountains, or in extensive -cellars under the fortresses. In the well of the Varhegy in Szaraz-Ajta -there lies hidden the silver plough and the golden bullock; in the -cellar the silver plough with the fluid gold. In the cellars of -Hereczvara in black casks the accumulated treasure of the negro-giants -is guarded by the black dwarfs, who spend their time in eating, -drinking, and dancing. In the cellar of Kezdi-Szent-Lelek castle the -treasure is guarded by a copper greyhound. In the well and cellar of the -Varbercz, near Kis-Borosnyo, the gigantic golden bells and other -treasures of the king of giants are guarded by two black goats. Near -Angyalos, in the Babolna dyke, King Babolna's golden sun and golden lamb -are guarded by two black greyhounds and a snow-white stallion in full -harness. In the well of Csigavar there is a gold bucket on a golden -chain, and in the bowels of the Tepej mountain, near Also-Rakos, the -rams with golden fleece, &c. - -Some of the cellar doors open every third, others every seventh year. -People have been inside, but were careless and lost the treasure on the -way back to the surface, others were more careful, and succeeded in -bringing some of it out; but the moment the wind touched it it changed -into dry leaves or bits of charcoal. Some unwise people have been -foolhardy enough to try the expedition a second time, but the huge iron -doors closed behind them. But whereas the natives have hitherto been -unsuccessful in recovering the hidden treasure, foreigners come and -carry it off wholesale on the backs of horses, which are shod with shoes -turned the wrong way.[70] - - -II. FAIRIES.[71] - -Fairy, in Hungarian, "tuender," from the same root as "tuen" (verb) and -"tuenes" (noun) = comparitio, apparitio, and "tuendoekol" = to shine. -Cf. the Mongolian "Tinghir." - -The queen of the fairies is sometimes called a goddess. Thus, south of -the sulphur cave, Buedoes, near Altorja, behind a mountain called the -Priests' Mountain, is situated the very ancient village of Ikafalva, -through which runs a brook named Furus. According to the tradition, the -ancestors of the people of the village were led to this place more than -1,000 years ago, in the time of the conquest of the country, by a hero -who encouraged his warriors in the name of "the goddess Furuzsina." The -hero fell in the struggle, and on the spot where his blood had flowed a -spring appeared, close to which the warriors built the present village, -and named the brook after their goddess. The water of this brook is -collected, even at the present day, into ponds; and drinking from this -"blood and water" has made the villagers so strong that they have quite -a name for physical strength in the neighbourhood. If a lad of Ikafalva -performs some feat of pluck or strength they say: "It is no wonder, he -has grown up on Furus water!" - -Although the fairies, as a rule, are kind, good-natured persons, and -take the hero's part in the tales, the Szekely folk-lore furnishes a -case to the contrary, _i.e._ that of two fairies, "Firtos" and "Tartod," -the former being the queen of the good, the latter the queen of the bad, -fairies.[72] - -Kozma has found another variation of the first-named tale in "Fairy -Helena." Helena's father blows across a broad river, whereupon a golden -bridge appears. The young fairy takes a "kourbash," and wipes a rusty -table-fork with it, which at once changes into a steed with golden hair, -on which her lover, the prince, flees to Italy. When they discover that -they are followed, Helena spits on the floor,[73] on the door-handle, -and on the hinge of the door, whereupon the planks, the handle, and the -hinge commence to speak to the king's messengers from behind the closed -door, and the fugitives gain time to make their escape. Her father is -sent after them in the shape of a gigantic spotted eagle, who with the -tip of one wing touches heaven and with the other earth. On the road the -same things happen as in "Fairy Elisabeth," with this difference, that -Helena's mother changes into a buffalo who drinks all the water in the -pond on which the lovers swim about as ducks, whereupon they change into -worms; and, as the mother cannot find them in the mud, she pronounces -the curse of oblivion upon them. - -Their means of charming were: The pond of beautifying milk, dresses, -tears, the saliva, fascinating look, word of command, rejuvenating herb, -rejuvenating water, wound-healing herb, water of life and death, iron -bar, copper bridle, leather belt, gold and diamond rod, copper and gold -whip, at the cracking of which dragons and devils appear; magic wand, -curse of oblivion, sleeping draughts (wine), and the table that covers -itself. The daughter of Doghead rides on a tatos. The magic animals in -their service are: the cat and the cock, although the loud crowing of -the latter has, by indicating the time, very often a fatal influence on -fairies who are forgetful. One fairy queen, Dame Rapson, has the devil -himself in her service. - -Their conjuring formulae are: "You are mine, I am thine." "Be there, -where you have come from!" "Fog before me, smoke behind me." "Hop, hop! -let me be, where I wish to be." "Hop, hop! they shall not know where I -have come from, nor where I am going to! Let me be, where my thoughts -are!" They can teach their magic formulae to their heroes. - -As to _their occupations_. Of serious ones, our tales only mention -embroidery. Their more favourite pastimes seem to be: bathing, banquets, -singing, frivolous dances, and love adventures. After their nocturnal -dances, flowers spring up where their feet have touched the ground. If -anybody approaches them while they are dancing, they, in their unbounded -merriment, drag him also into the dance. - -On one occasion they enticed a shepherd into Borza-vara Cave, and kept -him there for three days, amusing him with singing, dancing, playing -music, and cajoling; finally they invited him to a game of cards and -dismissed him with a big hatful of gold. From the castle-hill of -Makkfalva the merry song of the fairies can be heard now every night as -they dance round the castle-walls to the strains of music. They are -reserved in their love; but, having made their choice, they are -faithful, and their passion has no bounds. The daughter of Doghead is an -instance of this; she reveals to her hero her father's charms, in order -to ensure his victory in his struggle for life and death. The young and -pretty mistress of Kisvartetoe Castle, near Zsoegoed, in the county of -Csik, stood on a rock-ledge, waiting for the return of her husband from -the war, till she faded away in her grief. The impression of her foot -can still be seen in the rock. The fairy daughter of the giant who -inhabited the castle near Bereczk fell in love with a hero who played -the flute, disguised as a shepherd, at the foot of the rock; but her -haughty father smashed the shepherd with a huge piece of rock, which is -still to be seen in the bed of the brook. His daughter thereupon -escaped from the father's castle, and built a castle (Leanyvar = -Maiden's Castle) near Ojtoz for herself, where she spent the rest of her -days mourning for her lover, until grief killed her. Another such a -pretty tale is associated with Firtos Castle. The fairy who lived here -was in love with a knight; and, notwithstanding that her father forbade -the intercourse, they secretly met in the garden every night. One -beautiful moonlight night she was standing on the brink of the rock, -when, as she extended her arm to assist her lover up the steep slope, -the knight's horse slipped, and they were precipitated arm in arm into -the depth below, and thus perished, united for ever in death. The horse -caught on a projecting piece of rock, and petrified. "Firtos's horse" is -still to be seen. Dame Rapson's daughter, Irma, a fairy, also fell a -victim to prohibited love, and fell from a lofty peak where her mother's -castle stood, with her lover, Zelemir, into the depth below, where Dame -Rapson found them, and died of a broken heart. They all three were -buried under the rock below, which tradition names "Zelemir's Tower." - -At the south angle of the Firtos there is a group of rocks which is -called "Fairy Helena's Carriage," in which the fairies who lived in the -castle used to drive out on moonlight nights. But one night they were so -much engrossed in their enjoyments that they returned home late; and lo! -the cock crew, and the carriage turned into stone. - -The fairies live in castles on lofty mountain peaks. They build their -castles themselves, or inherit them from giants. Sometimes they are at a -great distance, as _e.g._ Fairy Elisabeth's Castle in the town of -Johara, in the "Land of Black Sorrow." - -Kozma enumerates the names of about 23 castles which belonged to fairies -and which still exist. The castle of Kadacs formerly belonged to giants, -upon whose extinction the fairies moved into it. Dame Rapson's castle -near Paraja was built of materials which were carried up on the almost -perpendicular side of the rock, to a height which makes one's head swim, -by a magic cat and cock. The road leading to the castle was constructed -by the Devil for a "mountain of gold," and a "valley of silver." Dame -Rapson owed the Devil his wages for several years, although he kept on -reminding her of it, till at last the cunning fairy presented him with a -gold coin between the tips of her upheld fingers, and a silver coin in -her palm, explaining to him that the gold coin is the mountain and the -silver coin the valley.[74] The Devil, seeing that he was outwitted, got -into a fearful rage and destroyed the road, the traces of which are -still shown as far as the Goergeny (snow-clad) mountains, and is still -called "Dame Rapson's Road." The tale about building the road for a -mountain of gold and valley of silver is also mentioned in connection -with the Varhegy, near Koeszvenyes-Remete, but in this case it is Fairy -Helen's daughter who cheats the devil. There is such a dam also at the -foot of the Sohegy, near Paraja, extending as far as Mikhaza, and this -bank too is called "Dame Rapson's Road," and also "Devil's Dyke." A dam, -similar to the "Cock's Ridge," near Rika, extends in the neighbourhood -of Gagy and Koerispatak in the direction of Firtos, and is called "Pretty -Women's Road," or "Fairies' Road." Another high dam with a deep moat at -its southern side, and also called the "Fairies' Road," is to be seen -between Enlaka and Firtos. Under the Szepmezoe (Beautiful Meadow) in -Haromszek, the golden bridge of the fairies lies buried. On the -outskirts of Tordatfalva there is a peak called "Ebedloe-Mal" (ebedloe = -dining-place) on which the fairies coming from Firtos to Kadacsvara used -to assemble to dinner. - -In some localities _caves_ are pointed out as the haunts of fairies -such as the caves in the side of the rock named Budvar. We have already -mentioned the cave Borza-vara near the castle of Dame Rapson; another -haunt of fairies is the cave near Almas, and the cold wind known as the -"Nemere" is said to blow when the fairy in Almas cave feels cold. On one -occasion the plague was raging in this neighbourhood; the people -ascribed it to the cold blast emanating from the cave, so they hung -shirts before the mouth of the cave, and the plague ceased. (Mentioned -by L. Koevary.) - -The fairies have beautiful flower-gardens in the castle grounds, and in -the centre of the garden there is generally a golden summer-house which -swivels round on a pivot. On moonlight nights they returned to water -their flower-beds long after they had disappeared from the -neighbourhood. The peonies (Whitsun-roses) that bloom among the ruins of -Dame Rapson's Castle are even nowadays known among the people as Dame -Rapson's roses. - -The fairies live an organised social life. Several of their queens are -known, as _e.g._ Dame Rapson and Fairy Helen. The latter was the most -popular among them. The queens had court-dames, who were also fairies, -and who lived near their queen's castle, as _e.g._ the court-dames of -Dame Rapson lived in Borza-vara Cave. They also live a family -life--their husbands being giants or heroes, their children fairy-girls. -Those of them, however, who waste their love on ordinary mortals all die -an ignoble death. - -Although they have disappeared from earth, they continue to live, even -in our days, in caves under their castles, in which caves their -treasures lie hidden. The iron gates of Zeta Castle, which has subsided -into the ground and disappeared from the surface, open once in every -seven years. On one occasion a man went in there, and met two beautiful -fairies whom he addressed thus: "How long will you still linger here, -my little sisters?" and they replied: "As long as the cows will give -warm milk."[75] (See Baron B. Orban, _Description of Szekelyland_, 3 -vols.) - -Their subterranean habitations are not less splendid and glittering than -were their castles of yore on the mountain peaks. The one at Firtos is a -palace resting on solid gold columns. The palace of Tartod, and the -gorgeous one of Dame Rapson are lighted by three diamond balls, as big -as human heads, which hang from golden chains. The treasure which is -heaped up in the latter place consists of immense gold bars, golden -lions with carbuncle eyes, a golden hen with her brood, and golden casks -filled with gold coin. The treasures of Fairy Helen are kept in a cellar -under Kovaszna Castle, the gates of the cellar being guarded by a magic -cock. This bird only goes to sleep once in seven years, and anybody who -could guess the right moment would be able to scrape no end of diamond -crystals from the walls and bring them out with him. The fairies who -guard the treasures of the Poganyvar (Pagan Castle) in Marosszek even -nowadays come on moonlight nights to bathe in the lake below. - -Other fairies known by their names are: Tarkoe (after whom a mountain -near Csik-Gyergyo takes its name) with her twin daughters Olt and Maros -(the names of the two principal rivers of Transylvania, the sources of -which are on the Tarkoe); their mother touched them with her magic wand, -and they were transformed into water-fairies, they then went in search -of their father, who at the time when the elements were put in order -was transformed into the Black Sea.[76] Another fairy is Mika, the -warrioress fairy, who with her father Kadicsa led the remnants of -Attila's Huns to their present place of sojourn.[77] - -As mentioned before, there were good and bad fairies. The most complete -tale about good and bad fairies is the one about Firsos and Tartod, -fully mentioned by Ipolyi.[78] The castle of Dame Venetur (near -Bereczk), the bad fairy who defied God, was swallowed up by the earth, -and she herself turned into a stone frog.[79] Dame Jenoe (Eugen), who -lived in Enlak Castle, drove out one day, and on her way home her -coachman happened to remark that: "If the Lord will help us, we shall be -home soon!" to which she haughtily replied: "Whether he will help us, or -whether he won't, we shall get home all the same." At that moment she -and her carriage were turned into stone and the people still call a rock -"Dame Jenoe's Carriage." (There is also another place called "Dame Jenoe's -Garden.") The fairy who lived in Sovar Castle near Csik-Somlyo, was -spinning on the Sabbath, and while doing so used the Lord's name in -vain, and was, with her spinning-wheel turned into stone. Her stone -distaff is shown to this day. A pond near Szekely-Keresztur named -"Katustava" (_i.e._ Kate's Pond) contains a sunken house which once upon -a time belonged to a woman who was punished for doing her washing on a -feast-day. Even now the children stand round the pond and sing out: -"Boil up, boil up, Catherine! boil up, boil up, Catherine! We do our -soaping on Saturday and rinse our clothes on Sunday!" In days gone by, -the water used to boil up with great force and the little folks were -dispersed, and had to run away in consequence of the rush of water. -They returned, however, and threw stones into the pond, and the water -boiled up again vehemently. Aged people say that in their childhood the -pond was ten to twelve yards in diameter, and the water boiled up to a -height of two or three feet. Its present diameter is not more than a -couple of feet, and the boiling up has also considerably decreased in -proportion. The pond will perhaps disappear altogether, but its name -will last, as the whole close of fields is named after it. (Kate's Pond -Close). - -A clear Christian influence can be traced in the four last tales. -Mohamedanism[80] has also left behind its traces in the tales in which -fairies figure who kidnap girls. - -Such a fairy was Dame Hirip, who lived on the Varoldal, near -Gyergyo-Szens-Miklos. She used to stand on the castle tower with a -wreath in her hand, waiting for her two sons, who were engaged at the -bottom of the mountain, cutting down the sweethearts of the girls they -had kidnapped; until, at last, two heroes clad in mourning killed them; -whereupon their mother faded away with the wreath she held in her hand. -On mount Buekkoes, which skirts the valley of the Uz, lived another -kidnapping fairy, who kidnapped a girl every year from the shores of the -Black Sea. On one occasion she happened to kidnap the sweetheart of the -King of the Ocean-Fairies, the loveliest maid in the sea; the King -pursued her and impeded her flight, and tired her out by raising a -hurricane and shower of rain. He overtook and caught her at a place -called "Stone Garden;" and, seizing her, killed her by flinging her on -to a rock. A mineral healing spring sprung up where her blood flowed on -the ground.[81] - - -III. WITCHES. - -The degenerate descendants of bad fairies are witches;[82] in Hungarian, -"boszorkany;" in Turkish-Tartar, "Boshur Khan;" which signifies one who -worries, annoys, or teases. They appear sometimes as green frogs, -sometimes as black cats; and they find a demoniacal delight in -"plaguing" people. Sometimes they appear as horses and kick their -enemies cruelly;[83] if such a horse be caught and shod, the horse-shoes -will be found on the hands and feet of the witch next day.[84] - -In nearly every village, one or two such old women are to be found who -are suspected, but nobody dares to do them any harm.[85] - -It is a very simple thing to see the witches. After the autumn sowing is -over the harrow is to be left on the field over winter. In the morning -of St. George's Day one has to go out in the field, make the harrow -stand upright, stand behind it, and observe through it the herd of -cattle as they pass by. You will then notice the head witch between the -horns of the bull, and the minor witches between the horns of the other -beasts.[86] But if you do not know the necessary protecting formula, -then you are done for. - -If you do not like to risk this, there is another way. Dye the first egg -of a black hen, and take it with you to church in your pocket on Easter -Sunday, and observe the people as they walk into church. Some of them -will have great difficulty in passing through the door on account of the -length of their horns. When leaving the church, you must go out before -them and put down the egg; or stand at the meeting of two cross-roads; -or else they will carry you off. Witches, or other evil spirits, have no -power at cross-roads. The popular tales describe the witches as mothers -of giants, or dragons.[87] The witch is capable of changing forms by -turning somersaults.[88] They appear then as a puddle, brook, golden -pear-tree, fiery oven, &c. They grow so old that their lower lips hang -down as far as their knees; their eyelids also become elongated, so that -if they wish to see anything the eyelid has to be lifted up with a huge -iron rod, weighing 300 hundred-weights. - -They exercise their magic powers: (1) in a defensive way;[89] (2) in an -aggressive way, by bewitching, the cause of which is some real or -fictitious offence, or evil intention. Thus by magic you can make the -woman appear who has taken away the cow's milk, and you can make her -give back the milk. The _modus procedendi_ is as follows: take a rag -saturated with milk, or a horse-shoe or chain which has been made hot in -a clear fire, place it on the threshold and beat it with the head of a -hatchet; or make a plough-share red hot, and plunge it several times -into cold water. In order to keep away intruders it is a rule that the -first woman who enters the house while the incantation proceeds is -severely beaten, because she is the culprit. Sometimes the ridiculous -thing happens that the man has to thrash his own wife, if she happens to -be the first comer. - -By magic one can make a young man marry under all circumstances a girl -previously selected. Of such a young man they say, "They have dug up a -big weed[90] for him;" or, "They are boiling his 'kapcza'[91] for him." -The latter seems to indicate some charm. The sorceress summons toads, -holds an unintelligible conversation with them, and hands some -mysterious charm which has to be placed under the threshold of the -selected young man's house. The person, however, who orders the -incantation will die the same year. - -Some kinds of severe illness or accidents can be produced by planting in -secret certain magic plants on the selected person's ground; the illness -will last, and the consequences of the accident be felt, until the -plants are removed. If the owner plants these plants himself they will -serve as a preventative. - -Thieves can be found out or bewitched, and they dread the thing so much -that very often they return in secret the stolen articles. - -There are various formulae to cause marriage or produce sickness. One of -them may be mentioned here.[92] The person who orders the incantation -steals from the selected victim some article of dress, and takes it to -the sorceress, who adds three beans, three bulbs of garlic, a few pieces -of dry coal, and a dead frog to it, and places these several articles in -an earthenware pot under the victim's gate or threshold, accompanied by -these words: "Lord of the infernal regions and of the devils, and -possessor of the hidden treasures; give to ... (name of the victim) some -incurable illness--(or inflame ... with irresistible love towards -...)--and I will join your party!" - -In a Hungarian paper, published in 1833, we read - - - Some woman in Transylvania grew tired of her husband, and consulted - a sorceress about the means of getting rid of him. The sorceress (a - Wallachian old woman) visited the woman's house, and they both - retired to the garret, where the sorceress laid out an image in - clay, which was intended to represent the unfortunate husband, and - surrounded it with burning wax tapers, and both women engaged in - prayer for the quick departure from this life of the husband. The - latter, however, appeared on the scene and put an end to the - proceedings. - - -Amidst the vast pile of superstitions still current amidst the -peasantry, we may note the following, from a very valuable work by Varga -Janos, entitled _A babondak koenyve, Arad_, 1877; a volume which won the -prize offered at the time by the Hungarian physicians and others, for -the best work written on the existing superstitions of the Magyar -people. Its chief aim is to instruct the people, and is written in -_very_ popular language. - -To this day old women (Roman Catholics) do not swallow the consecrated -wafer at communion; but save it and carefully wrap it in a handkerchief, -and keep it in a drawer at home, as it will prevent the house from being -burnt down. An epidemic raged all over Hungary, and the people in one of -the villages attributed the outbreak of cholera to an old woman who had -died shortly before, and who was said to have been a witch in her -lifetime. The corpse was dug up, and replaced in the grave face -_downwards_, in order to stay the plague. When the rinderpest broke out -in another village they had recourse to the same remedy. The corpse of -the witch was unearthed, and reburied face downwards. As this had no -effect, the shift of the corpse was turned inside out and put on again. -As the pest still continued, the heart of the witch was taken out and -divided into four pieces, and one quarter burnt at each of the four -corners of the village, and the herd driven through the smoke. One year, -when there was a drought in the country, in a northern village, amongst -the Slovaks, a young girl was let down into a well, in order to bring on -the rain. - -_Ghosts._[93] There is a proverb saying that: "The good souls do not -wish to come back, and the bad ones are not allowed to return;" but -still people believe in ghosts. - -_Sprites._ (Evil spirits, garabonczas.) The father of the garabonczas is -the devil; the mother, a witch. The garabonczas mostly appears as a poor -wandering student begging for milk in the village. If he be well treated -no harm will happen to the village, but if he be sent away from the -door, he will bring on hail and will destroy the crops belonging to the -place. He generally rides officially on dragons or tatos. - -_Exchanged children_, or taltos.[94] If a child be born with some defect -(say without an arm, &c.) or with some supernumerary member (say six -fingers or six toes) or with a big head, people say it is an exchanged -child; it is a child of some witch who exchanged her offspring for the -baby, while the baby's mother was in bed. Babies born with teeth are -especially considered to be children of witches. Such unfortunate -creatures are very badly treated by the people, and even by their own -parents. The name "taltos" sticks to them, even when grown up. A knife -stuck into a slice of garlic and placed under the pillow of the woman in -childbed is an effective remedy against babies being exchanged by -witches. - -_Goblins_[95] (Lidercz) are the servants of evil spirits or the evil -spirits themselves. One favourite form they like to appear in is the -"wandering fire," or will-o'-the-wisp. A hen that crows (a hermaphrodite -bird) is also a goblin; and a combination of cock and hen is hatched -from the first egg laid by the young hen, or from very small undersized -eggs as are sometimes laid by fowls. A little decrepit, undeveloped -chicken is also always looked at with suspicion. The good housewife -breaks the first egg laid by a young hen, or a very small egg, to -prevent the goblin's being hatched. The crowing hen is executed, the -neck being laid on the threshold and cut off with a hatchet; if the head -jumps into the yard, then no matter, but if it hops inside the house, -then it means that the house will be burnt down. (In Germany some -hundred and seventy years ago a crowing hen was brought before the -judges, sentenced to death, its neck cut off by the public executioner -in the market-place, and the body burnt at the stake.) - -_Roadside wanderers or inhabitants of graves._[96] Sickly, yellow, -haggard-looking people are said to live in graves or crypts at night. -The Magyar people are very good-natured, and their hospitality is well -known. But such a grave-inhabitant can reckon upon having no mercy. If -they stop and rest anywhere somebody is sure to die in the -neighbourhood. If anybody look at them it will bring on jaundice; if -anybody touch them the healthy person will dry up; children die if -touched or kissed by such a creature. - -There is a rich mine of Folk-Medicine, as yet but little worked by -western students: a few examples will be found in "Szekely -Folk-Medicine," _Folk-lore Journal_, April 1884, and we append a few -more, which may be of interest, from an old MS.[97] - -_Jaundice_ is brought on by looking through the window of a house where -there is a corpse laid out, and seeing it. It is cured by taking nine -"creepers" from the head of a person with the same Christian names as -the patient; put the nine insects into an apple; bake the whole, and -give it to the patient for internal application. Then take the -foeces[98] of a person of the same Christian name; place them in a -hard-boiled egg, having first removed the yolk; sew the egg in a small -bag, and place it _secretly_ under the altar, and allow three masses to -be said over it; then hang it round the patient's neck, who has to wear -it for nine days. The cure is to be repeated nine times. There is a -marginal note in the book to the effect that our "doctor" had altogether -six cases under treatment, but not one of the patients got beyond the -first stage of the cure.[99] - -_Pleurisy._ Take a trough in which the dough has been kneaded and taken -out; pour water into it cross-ways (diagonally from corner to corner) -then pour water in cross form over the peel; scrape out the trough and -knead with one finger the scrapings into a flat cake and place it on the -aching side. Varga also gives a form of prayer which has to be recited -when the dough is placed on the side. The same prayer is prescribed for -toothache and sore throat. - -_Scurvy._ (In Magyar "suely.") The scorbutic place is to be rubbed with a -piece of rancid bacon, and the following ditty sung:-- - - - "Sue-sue, lentils-sue - Peas-sue,--pumpkin-sue, - Onion-sue,--77 sorts of sue, - - -I order thee, in the name of the Blessed Virgin Mary to disappear!" - -_Cataract_ in the eye. This is cured with a long prayer, commencing I + -N + R + I, and, if it has no effect, another (shorter) prayer is -mumbled, and the performer breathes upon the eye. - -_Gangrene_ is also cured by prayers; a little garlic and broken glass is -placed upon the wound. - -Another way is to bury three hairs of the patient in the gutter under -the eaves, and then to say the Lord's Prayer. When the medicine-man -arrives at the words "as in earth," he drops a slice of garlick, this is -afterwards buried in some secluded spot. If anybody steps on this place -he will be affected by the same disease. - -_Hydrophobia_ is cured by a mixture of the following nine ingredients:-- - - - 1. A kind of small, vermilion, flat beetle; - - 2. Some dittany gathered before St. John's Day; - - 3. Splinters of tree struck by lightning before St. George's Day; - - 4. Some cantharides; - - 5. Young buds of ash gathered in early spring; - - 6. Rue gathered before St. George's Day; - - 7. "St. Ivan's beetle" (? glow-worm); - - 8. "Christmas crumb"[100] and eggshell from between two - Christmases; - - 9. On Midsummer Day, at early dawn, the medicine-man walks out - barefoot, and the weeds, grasses, flowers, &c. that stick to his - sole or toes form ingredient No. 9. - - -The mixture is to be taken internally. - -_Epilepsy_ is treated with an oil prepared by the quack out of -horseradish; also some brimstone and other things. - -_External_ wounds and sore nails are cured by placing a live toad on the -place. - -The rash called _St. Anthony's Fire_. A man whose Christian name is -Anthony has to produce sparks with steel and flint.[101] - -_Scab_ is treated with an ointment made of beef-fat and brimstone; the -ointment to be used for three days, and to be followed up by a hot-air -bath. As these useful establishments only exist in large towns, the -unfortunate sufferer is put inside a hot oven. - -_Quinsy._--With the child's finger stroke the throat of a lizard,[102] -caught before St. George's Day. - -_Cramp._--Place a left-hand window-frame across the child suffering from -cramp, or burn feathers under its nose. - -_Hand of Glory._[103]--The little finger of the human foetus has all the -virtues of (and is used for the same purpose as) the hand of glory. All -the famous brigands are believed to have one of these articles in their -possession. - -When a person is _in extremis_ they place him or her, bed and all, in a -line with and under the main joist of the ceiling. If the dead person's -eyes are left open somebody will soon follow him or her. - - -_Superstitious Days._ - -_Friday._ Work commenced or finished on Friday is sure to fail. - -Who laughs on Friday will cry on Sunday. - -To sneeze on Friday the first thing in the morning when the stomach is -empty means some great catastrophe. - -To start on a journey on Friday is unlucky. - -He or she who is taken ill on Friday will never again leave their bed. - -A guest on Friday means one week's distress. - -Dough kneaded on Friday will not rise. - -Linen washed on Friday will give the wearer some skin disease. - -If the fires are lighted in the rooms for the first time on Friday the -house will be burnt down. - -If a baby gets its first tooth on a Friday the front teeth will come all -right but no more. - -If a baby commence to talk on a Friday it will, when grown up, stammer -or remain mute altogether. - -If the new year commence with a Friday all the crops will fail. - -If a hen commence to sit on her eggs on a Friday the eggs become -addled.[104] - -_St. Matthias._ "It is better trust the ice after St. Matthias' Day than -in you, my dear little maid." _Erdelyi_, vol. 3. Folk-Song No. 200. - -_St. George's Day_ is a very lucky day. - -A butterfly caught before St. George's Day brings great luck. - -Snakes caught before St. George's Day make a powerful medicine. - -The skin of a marmot caught before St. George's Day will make a purse -which will never be empty. - -The person who sees a swallow or stork before St. George's Day will -live as many years as the bird flaps its wings. - -Procure the wing of a bat caught before St. George's Day and wrap up -money in it; then you will never be without cash. - -On the night following St. George's Day one can listen to the -conversation of the witches and overhear their secrets about good and -bad herbs. - -All the medicines gathered before St. George's Day are very powerful. - -_Christmas Eve._--Roman Catholics fast on this day--eating no meat, -using instead fish and vermicelli with crushed poppy seed and honey. -Those who stand on "Lucy's chair" during midnight mass can tell who is a -witch and who is not. St. Lucy's Day is December 13th, and on that day -some begin to make a small chair, or stool, working at it, on each -following day, so as to get it ready by Christmas Eve. The maker then -takes it to midnight mass, and sits upon it in order to discover who are -witches in the parish. All those who turn their backs to the altar -whilst he (or she) sits on the stool, are witches. "Lucy's chair" is -also said of anything that is being made very slowly. On this day, too, -the farmer's wife and servants wrap their heads up in cloaks, and, armed -with big brushes (a sort of brush tied athwart the end of a pole), go -round and catch the hens and touch their hinder parts, believing that it -will cause them to lay more eggs. The twelve days following St. Lucy's -are called Lucy's Kalendar, and are very carefully observed. If the -first, second, third, &c., be raining, windy, foggy, &c., so will the -first, second, third, &c., months of the next year be. - -_Christmas Day._--Every hour of this day is significant and pregnant -with good or evil. It seems as if on this day every good angel descended -from heaven to scatter blessings, and every demon ascended from the -infernal regions to shower curses on the heads of men.[105] - -Even the remnants of food have their magic power. The well-known -"Christmas crumb" forming an important ingredient in many -folk-medicines. - -Whoever picks up an apple or nut from the ground will be covered with -sores; and if anyone steps upon a reel of cotton (or gets entangled in -it) upon this day, he will, without fail, have an attack of the "evil of -Lazarus." - -A sort of basket made of twisted or plaited straw, such as is used for -taking dough to the bakers, is filled with hay and put under the table -to receive the "little Jesus," who is said to get into it. Maize put -under this basket is said to fatten fowls to a wondrous extent, and -cattle thrive marvellously on the hay. Whosoever eats nuts without honey -will lose his teeth. - -Whosoever does not eat a slice of garlic with honey on this holy day -will get a sore throat.[106] - -There are several Finnish superstitions with regard to this season, -_e.g._: - -In West Bothnia one must not spin on St. John's Day (which is called a -half-holyday), or the sheep will be attacked with disease during the -year. Cf. the well known saying that a spinning wheel is unlucky on -board a ship. - -Fire must not be taken out of a house on Christmas Eve,[107] or else the -so-called "black ears" will grow among the barley. See _Suomen -Muinaismuisto-yhdistyksen, Aikakauskirja_, v. p. 109. - -If the corn is found to be very much entangled when cut, it is said -that the farmer slept crooked in bed on Christmas Eve. In some villages, -on "Knuts Day," Jan. 13th, a young girl is dressed up as a bride, and -called "twenty-days' bride" (twenty days after Christmas), and driven -through the village. The day ends with a dance, and a collection for the -"bride," who is generally one of the poor. Straw, too, was laid on the -room floors in remembrance of the Saviour's bed. A light burnt all night -on the settle.[108] These customs still exist in some places. - -A yule-cross used to be erected at the house-door on Christmas Eve. - -To return to the Magyars. The bread at Christmas time is baked in -curious forms, just as it is in Finland, where, _e.g._, in Abo, it is -made in the form of a fish, &c., and called "Kuse" and "Kasa," in other -parts in the form of animals, &c. (cf. the "Yuldoos" in Northumberland). - -_New Year's Eve_ and _New Year's Day_.[109] Molten lead is cast into -water to see the future husband's trade. Watch which way the cock crows -on the dawn of the new year, for in that direction your future partner -will surely come. Turn your pillow at midnight (December 31st), and you -will see whom you are to marry, in your dreams. Any one born at midnight -will become a great person. Whosoever is whipped on New Year's Day will -be whipped every day in the new year! Indeed, anything done on this day -will be repeated during the year. It is unlucky to sow on this day, as -it prevents the hens laying. If you put on new linen you will cause your -skin to be covered with sores. New Year's morn is spent in wishing each -other a happy new year; just as, in many parts of England (_e.g._ Hull) -the juvenile population call and expect to receive their reward in the -shape of coin of the realm. - -In Vienna they say: "to have Schweinsglueck," or "Sauglueck," _i.e._, "a -pig's luck," or a "sow's luck;" and so one sees in some houses a cook -appear, bearing a sucking pig on a tray, and wishing all a happy New -Year, expecting a New Year's box in return. - -According to Paul Kelecsenyi, the following custom is observed at -Kolony, in the county of Nyitra. Girls make a bonfire, and leap through -the flame. From their mode of leaping the spectators gather when the -girl will be married. The performance is accompanied by a song, of which -a few verses will suffice as a specimen: - - - "We lay a fire, - We lay it square, - At one corner sit five old men, - At the other sit good looking matrons, - At the third sit handsome young bachelors, - At the fourth sit pretty young maidens. - Then the fire is lighted. - John A's (the name of an unmarried man) is about to catch fire. - Let us extinguish it! (Susie.) - Oh! don't let us forsake the poor people! - Jane B's (generally John A's sweetheart) store house is about to - catch fire. - Let us.... - Oh! don't...." - - -Then follow verses, like the following, and all more or less -unintelligible: - - - "How high the branch of the tree has grown, - [The tree] has sent out branches. - It is bending and bending across the ocean - Into the courtyard of John A. - Of [to?] pretty Helena with the silken yellow tresses." - - -See Erdelyi's _Folk-Songs and Stories_, vol. iii. pp. 148-150. "Szent -Ivan Eneke." - -_On St. John the Baptist's Day_[110] the glow-worm is gathered, and also -at dawn the medicinal herbs for certain cures (see supra). On this day -it is also customary to jump over "St. John's fire;" any person doing -this will not die during the year. - -_On the Day of St. Paul's Conversion_ all the bears turn round in their -sleep in their winter dens. - -_On the Night of St. Andrew's_ every girl will dream about her future -husband; if she manage to procure a shirt of a young man and place it -over-night under her pillow, she will so bewitch him that he will follow -her like her shadow. - -_On Saturday before Easter_ all snakes, frogs, toads, &c., can be driven -away in the morning when the cattle's bell is heard. - -_On Palm Sunday_, swallow without chewing three buds blessed by the -priest and brought from church, and this will prevent a sore throat. - -_St. Martin._ On this day, in conformity with an old custom, the Jewish -community of Pozsony (Pressburg) yearly present a fat goose to the King -of Hungary. This deputation is always received personally. - -_St. Michael._ The bier in Magyar is called "St. Michael's horse." - -_St. Stephen._--See _Notes and Queries_, "Magyar and Finn Songs on St. -Stephen's Day," 6 S. viii. 487, and x. 485, with which we may compare -the following:-- - -VAUSENOTTES: La ceremonie de crier les _valantins_: les garcons se -nommoient _vausenots_ et les filles _vausenottes_: ces mots viennent de -_vouser_ ou _vauser_, qui eux-memes viennent de _vocare_, nommer, et de -_nuptiae_ noces: comme si l'on disoit appeler aux noces: aux mariages: -cette ceremonie s'est pratiquee longtemps dans le pays Messin. _Voyez -Valantin._ - -VALANTIN: Futur epoux, celui qu' on designoit a une fille le jour des -_brandons_, ou premier dimanche de careme, qui, des qu'elle etoit -promise, se nommoit _valantine_: Et si son _valantin_ ne lui faisoit -point un present ou ne la regaloit avant le dimanche de la mi-careme, -elle le bruloit sous l'effigie d'un paquet de paille ou de sarment, et -alors les promesses de mariage etoient rompues et annulies. - -BRANDON: Tisson allume, feu, flambeau: de-la ou a appele _dimanche des -brandons_, le premier dimanche de careme, parce qu'on allumoit des feux -ce jour-la, il etait encore nomme le jour de _behourdi_, _behourt_, -_bordes_, _bourdich_, termes qui signifioient une joute une course de -lances. Il se nomme encore dans quelques provinces, le jour de _grand -feux_, des _valantins_, le jour des _bulles_ ou des _bures_, le dimanche -des _bordes_; au figure, l'ardeur de l'amour et son flambeau, _brando_. -On appelle a Lyons, _brandons_, des rameaux verds auxquels on attache -des gateaux, des oublies et des bugnes, le premier dimanche de careme. - -BULE, _bulle_; Feu de rejouissance. - -BORDE. One of the meanings of the diminutive of "borde," viz.: -"bordelle" "on a applique ensuite aux lieux de debauche."[111] - -Heltay Gaspar, the typographer of Kolozsvar, wrote his book in 1552 -against this custom as practised in Hungary. - -The following Finnish superstitions at certain times may here be noted -for comparative purposes:-- - -_Lent._ Witches are said to have cut off the sheep's wool at this time, -and given it to the evil one; who in return gave them good luck with -their sheep and butter. - -_Shrove Tuesday._ Women are not to spin on this day; because, if they -do, the sheep will suffer from diseases. - -If the sun shines on this day there will be a fine summer. Much sledging -must be done if long flax is desired; and seven meals must be eaten -without drinking, if thirst is to be avoided during the summer heats. - -_Good Friday._ It was not customary formerly to make a fire on this -day. - -_Easter._ On Easter Eve cut off the wool from between the sheep's ears; -so the young folks burn straw and tar-barrels to frighten the Easter -witches (in the parishes of Woera and Munsala). If anyone wishes to see -the witches, as they ride in mid-air on their broomsticks, he must sit -on the roof of a three-times-removed house. (Houses in Finland are built -of wood, and often sold and removed to another site.) - -_May 1st._ As the weather is this day, so will the rest of the year be. - -_Eve of St. John Baptist._ On this night the young girls go out into -rye-fields with bits of colored worsted, and tie them round the stalks -that are chosen. The stalks are then cut off just above the worsted. -Next morning the stalk that has grown the most during the night -foretells the future of the maiden. The red one foretells purity; green, -love; yellow, rejection; black, grief; blue, old maid; white, death; -speckled, an illegitimate child. The stalk is then taken up and placed -under the pillow, and whatever the sleeper then dreams will undoubtedly -happen. - -A Finnish lady friend relates that she and one of her friends on this -night gathered nine different sorts of flowers, and, having made wreaths -of them, put them under their pillows--as it was said that next morning -there would be a lock of hair the colour of the future husband's found -in each wreath. In order to make sure, each of the young ladies, unknown -to the other, cut a lock off her own head and placed it in her friend's -wreath, but, unfortunately, one of the ladies also put a lock of her own -hair in her own wreath, and thus next day found she was doomed to have -two mates! In some parts, when the farmers return from church, they see -who can get home first, as that one will get his harvest in first the -following year. - -In some places straw is burnt on this night, but it is more common to -burn wood (which fires are called Kokko). In some parts these fires are -burnt on Maunday Thursday night. In Honkojoki, after the Kokko is burned -two persons go and stand each on a wood stack, and begin throwing the -logs into a heap, each trying his best to throw more than his rival. -This done, the logs are counted, and, if found to be an odd number, it -is regarded as an omen of misfortune. The girls are dressed in white on -this night. In the southern parts of the country stones used to be -rolled down the hill sides on this night. The houses are decorated on -the outside with young birches and inside with leafy boughs, &c. For -dressing with flowers and leaves at this time see _Hofberg_, -"Digerdoeden." - -_St. Bartholomew._--According to some, seed ought to be sown this day. - -_St. Matthew's Day._--People disguise themselves so as not to be -recognised. A sledge, too, is drawn by a ram, with a straw man as -driver. - -_St. Thomas's Eve._--A Swedish superstition regards this as the goblins' -special night, and one story (_Hofberg_, "Tomten") relates how no one -would go into a smithy that night on this account, and if anyone looked -through the door he would see the goblins forging silver bars, or -"turning their own legs under the hammer." - -In the Highlands, even in modern times, there were May-Day bonfires, at -which the spirits were implored to make the year productive. A feast was -set out upon the grass, and lots were drawn for the semblance of a human -sacrifice; and whoever drew the "black piece" of a cake dressed on the -fire was made to leap three times through the flame.[112] - -In many parts of France the sheriffs or the mayor of a town burned -baskets filled with wolves, foxes, and cats, in the bonfires at the -Feast of St. John; and it is said that the Basques burn vipers in wicker -panniers at Midsummer, and that Breton villagers will sacrifice a snake -when they burn the sacred boat to the goddess who assumed the title of -St. Anne.[113] - -Varga also gives the following information on numbers: - -_13_ is very unlucky.[114] If thirteen sit down to table, one will die. - -_9_ also plays an important part. See folk-medicine. Hydrophobia breaks -out in nine days, weeks, months, or years. Nine different ingredients -often make up the mixture--nine different shoots of nine different -trees. If a cow be bewitched, a cure with nine ants' nests is used. Most -medicines are taken nine times; the patient has to bathe nine times, &c. -&c. - -_7_ is very superstitious. The seventh child plays an important part in -everything; only a seventh child can lift hidden treasures. A seventh -child seven years old has great magic power. In digging for treasures -seven people club together, each member removes seven spades-full of -earth in one night. Seven times seven, or seventy-seven is also a magic -number. The devil's grandmother is 777 years old. - -_3_ very often occurs in fairy-tales. It is an important number with -witches. It is said there are 33,333 witches in Hungary. - -_Superstitions about Animals._ - -It would be more easy to enumerate those animals about which there are -not superstitions, but we will give a few instances from Varga. - -_The Death-Bird_ (a kind of small owl).--If the death-bird settles on -the roof, and calls out three times "kuvik," somebody will die in that -house. - -_The Owl._--The well-known servant of witches. It procures them the -required number of snakes, lizards, &c. - -_The Cuckoo._--It will tell you how many years you have to live. It -sucks the milk out of the udder of the cow. There is also another bird -credited with this. - -_The Crowing-hen._--See _supra_. p. xlvi. - -_The Swallow_ and stork are favourite birds. To catch a swallow is very -unlucky. To disturb its nest will set the roof on fire. If you kill it, -your arm will shrivel up. Of this bird the people say that it dies; of -all others, they perish. (A human being "dies" = "meghal" in Hung. = -"stirbt" in German; an animal "perishes" = "megdoeglik," = "crepirt.") If -you see the first swallow, stroke your face and sing, "I see a swallow; -I wash off the freckles"--and the freckles will disappear. The stork is, -also, a sacred bird. It must not be caught or killed; to disturb its -nest will set the house on fire. He who sees for the first time in the -year a stork standing, will be very lazy during the year; if flying, -then fresh and very healthy. - -_Lark_, _Plover_,[115] _Quail_, and _Pigeon_.--When Christ was hiding -himself he went among some underwood, his pursuers were about to follow -him there, when the lark rose and sang: "Nincs, nincs, nincs, nincs, -nincs, sehol itten." (He is not--he is nowhere here). The pursuers were -about to leave, when out of malice the quail flew up and called "Itt -szalad, itt szalad" (Here he runs, here he runs); the pursuers thereupon -returned, and Christ took refuge in a shrubbery; then the plover flew up -and cried "bu vik, bu vik" (he is hiding), and the pigeon added "a -bokorban, a bokorban" (in the bush). Christ blessed the lark, hence it -rises high up in the sky and sings merrily, whereas the three other -birds were accursed to never fly on a tree, but to hide themselves among -grass, in the mud, in old ruins. - -See Arany Laszlo "Magyar Nepmeseinkroel" (On our Magyar Popular Tales), -a paper read before the Kisfaludy Society on May 29, 1867. Cf. -_Hofberg_, Horsgoetten. - -_Newt._--If you swallow a newt with the water drawn from a well, it will -grow quite a monster in your stomach, and eat its way through. The -monster will have a head as a calf; immense immoveable eyes; a skin like -a human being; its voice like a baby's, and its head covered with fur, -like that of a wild cat. - -_Snake._--There is a snake in every house; if it creep out of its hole, -some great misfortune will happen. It is therefore unlucky to disturb -it. The skin of a snake caught before St. George's Day, drawn over a -stick, makes a powerful weapon; it will break iron in two. - -_Snakes and Frogs._[116]--If a snake or frog get into a man's stomach, -it can be allured out by placing some steaming milk near the mouth of -the patient. If they die inside, the patient has to take internally some -powderized stork's stomach. [Cf. "Liber Quartus Practicae Haly," cap. -49, "De eius medela qui leporem marinum aut ranam biberit," p. 207, -verso (Leyden, 1523)]. The so-called frog-rain; the frogs drop from the -clouds, or that they are drawn up by the clouds from lakes, &c. - -_Lizard_, see "Quinsy" and "St. George's Day," pp. xlix. and li. - -_Cat._--The black cat is a favourite disguise of the witch. When the cat -is cleaning herself, you must observe at whom she looks first, when -finished; the person so looked at will go to a ball, or some other -amusement. If the cat uses one paw only, a guest will arrive; he will -come from the direction in which the cat stroked her paw the last time. -If a cat be uneasy, &c., it will rain. - -_Donkey._--There are three indents on the bulrush as if made with teeth. -The tradition is, that the donkey on which Christ sat commenced to -nibble the reed, but before it had time to bite it off, Christ rode -away. The traces of the teeth are still plainly visible. The cross on -the donkey's back is said to be the stains left by Christ's blood, as it -ran down on both sides.--Arany Laszlo _loc. cit._ - -_Raven._--There is a well-known Magyar folk-song commencing the thus:-- - - - "The raven washes his brood on Good Friday." - - -_Clocks._--The ticking of the clock-beetle forbodes death in the house. - -_Dog._--The witch will sometimes appear as a black dog. If a dog whine -in his sleep, it is a sign of conflagration; if it bark in its sleep, -robbers are due. If a dog howl,[117] it smells a dead body, and somebody -will die in the house. - -_The Sow_ with a litter of nine, _the Horse_ without a head, _the Bull_ -with horns pointing downwards, are favourite forms assumed by witches. - -_The Tortoise._--When Christ was walking on earth, He appeared as a -beggar, and begged for alms at a Jew's house. The mistress of the house -was very mean; and in order not to be obliged to give anything, she hid -under a trough used for kneading bread, and told her little girl to say -that she was not to be found. When the girl said that her mother was not -at home, Christ replied: "May she never be able to get home!" The girl -waited in vain for her mother to come forth; and when she opened the -closet door, an ugly thing crawled out, with a trough-like shield grown -to its back. This is the origin of the tortoise. - - -_Superstitions about Plants._ - -Varga supplies the following notes on this subject: - -_Deadly Nightshade_ works miracles in folk-medicine. One of its uses is -to cure maggots in beasts. It is not used internally nor applied -externally. The medicine-man approaches the plant wherever it grows, -makes a hole into the ground close to the root, then bends the plant -gently down, sticks the top of it into the hole and buries it, taking -care not to break the plant. Then he repeats the following formula:--"Do -you hear, deadly nightshade? I herewith bury you, and will not again -liberate you until the maggots that have got into the left rump of John -So-and-So's cow clear out from there." - -_Vervain_ or "lock-opening herb."--Open the skin on the palm of your -hand, place a small leaf of vervain under the skin and let the wound -heal over; then at the touch of such hand all locks and bars will open. -All the more famous brigands of old are said to have had such power. - -_Clover._--Clover with four leaves is very lucky. - -_Wolf's-milk._--The milky juice oozing from the broken stem of this -plant will beautify the skin.[118] - -_The Wolf's-bane leaf_, the oekoerfark koro (lit. the dried oxtail)[119], -and _the Rue_ are very important herbs in folk-medicine. - -Some other plants are said to have had this power, that if at dusk you -switch with them three times in the air you hit the witch, and you can -hear her moaning. - -_The Lily_ is the flower of the dead. If any body be executed innocent, -three yellow lilies will grow on his grave. - - -_Superstitions about Stones._ - -_The Diamond_ is blown, like glass, by thousands and thousands of snakes -in caves, who bury them in the sand. - -_The Carbuncle_ glows in the dark. - -_The Garnet._ While the person who wears these stones is healthy the -garnet is of a beautiful red colour; when the wearer ails the stones -turn pale. - -_The Opal_ is an unlucky stone. - - -_Sundries._[120] - -_Astronomy._ The milky way came about in this way. The driver of a cart -of straw was very drunk; the straw was badly loaded and fell off in all -directions as the drunken driver drove his horses irregularly over the -way. - -*Comets forebode a great war or the pest. - -Many people get out at the left side of the bed, pull on the left side -first of their trousers, the left sleeve of their coat, and undress left -first because it is good for toothache. - -*If your palm itches, you receive money; rub it to your hair, and you -get as much money as you touched hairs. - -*Right eye itching, you will cry; left eye, you will be merry; whose -eyes jump about will get beaten. - -*Singing in right ear, bad news; left, good news. - -If a family gets into a new house, somebody will die; a dead body's eyes -left open, he is looking for somebody to follow him. If you pity an -animal when it is being slaughtered it dies very slowly. - -*If a knife, fork, or scissors drop and stick upright in the ground, a -guest will arrive. If by accident one more plate is laid on the table -than necessary, a very hungry guest will come. - -Where there is a baby in the house, you must sit down or you will take -away its sleep. If you stare at the baby, you spoil it with your eye. To -counteract this, put your hat on the child's head or spit on the baby. -If the mischief is already done, drop a piece of live coal into a glass -of water, and make the child drink of it, and bathe his eyes with the -water. At the same time wish the "spoiling" back to the person from whom -it came. - -If a spider lowers itself on somebody at night, it is lucky; in the -daytime, unlucky. - -*If the fire is noisy (a series of small explosions) there will be high -words or some scrimmage in the house. If you dream of fire, you will be -robbed. If in your dream you see yourself as bride or bridegroom, you -will die. If you dream that you are dead, you get married. If, at meals, -you sit between two brothers or sisters, you will get married. - -If a woman in the family-way looks into the window, where there is a -corpse, the baby will be dumb. If the woman sends away a beggar, she -will bear twins. - -In stormy weather stick a hatchet in the threshold, and the hail-clouds -will roll by. *Make the sign of a cross with the poker against the sky -and the rainbow will appear. - -When it rains and the sun shines too, the devil beats his wife. If it -thunders without lightning, the devil has got hold of a poor sinner. If -you abuse the rain, the angels cry and the devil tears his hair. - -If the cow is bewitched and will not allow herself to be milked, place -the pail over her head; or go to the cemetery, procure a decayed old -wooden cross, and beat the animal with it. - -If the cow kicks, cover her head with an old apron and stick holes -through the apron with the pitchfork. *The witch will feel the stabbing -from the prongs. If the witch has taken away the milk of the cow, -procure nine ants'-nests,[121] bury this with nine pieces of bread on -the road over which the cattle goes, so that the cow may step over it. -Then after three days knead the bread and soil together and make the cow -eat it, and her milk will be restored. - -Or pour some of the milk into a fiery oven, and the fire will burn the -witch who spoilt the cow. - -It is not good to look at a cow while calving, because her milk will not -come. The first week's milk is to be given to the poor, or it will be -difficult to milk the cow afterwards. - -Do not call a child "a frog," or it will with difficulty learn to talk. -Do not step over it, or you stop its growing. Do not say thanks for a -medicine, or it will lose its power. Do not wish the fisher or hunter -"good luck," or he will have a poor day. To meet a priest is unlucky; to -meet a Jew lucky. - -If a child suffers from epileptic fits, take the shirt it has worn -during one of the fits and wrap it around one of the (wooden) crosses in -the cemetery, this will cure the child; but the person who removes it -will catch the disease. When a child loses its first tooth, the mother -ought to eat the tooth in a piece of bread, and then she will never -suffer from toothache. When a child sees a swallow for the first time in -Spring, it must spit several times into the palms of its hands and -pretend to wash its face; this will prevent freckles. - -The following is said to cure abscesses: Boil together peas, beans, -lentils, and millet in a new pot, and when the mess is ready bathe the -affected place therein; then take pot and contents at dawn to the -cross-roads, and dash it to the ground. The abscesses will disappear, -the first person who steps over the mess will get them. - -When sweeping the house the dust must not be swept towards the door but -from it, and the sweepings burnt; then luck will never desert the house. - -A loaf that has been cut should never be placed so that the cut part -faces the door, because that would cause lack of bread. - -When the bread is taken from the oven, if a few red-hot cinders be -thrown into the oven it is as good as throwing them down your enemy's -throat! - -*Whenever water is drawn from a well, great care must be taken that a -little is returned, to propitiate the angry sprite of the well. - - -_Manners at Table._ - -"Whereas other learned and wise nations keep their heads covered while -they are at meals, the Magyars uncover themselves at table. Perhaps they -follow this custom because they remember the words of St. Paul (1 Cor. -ii.), who says that every man praying, having his head covered, -dishonoureth his head; the Magyars, however, not only often commence -their meals with a prayer, but mention the Deity as often as they drink, -and wish to those, in whose honour they lift their glasses, good luck -and bliss, and pray to God for these, which custom is not always -followed by other nations. Therefore they think it is better not to -cover the head than to be obliged to uncover themselves so many -times."[122]--_From "A Kopaszsagnac diczireti" (the praise of baldness). -Kolozsvar, 1589; author unknown._ - -_Drinking Custom._--The Finnish word "ukko," at the present day, means -"the host," "the master of the house;" formerly "yli-jumala" meant "the -chief-God," "the God of the weather and fertility." Wherefore -Vaeinaemoinen prays to him when sowing the first seed (Kalevala, I. runes -317-330). - -The heathen Finns, after spring sowing,[123] sacrificed with "Ukko's -cup" (Ukon malja). Jacob Grimm compares Ukko's cup to Thor's drinking -vessel.[124] - -In 1886, or thereabouts, the Magyar Academy of Science came into -possession of some XVIth and XVIIth century deeds written in Magyar, and -relating to the sale of certain vine-yards in the Hegyalja, where the -famous vines of Tokaj[125] grow. From these deeds it appears, that in -each case the bargaining for the vineyard was followed by a -drinking-bout, at which one of the men would lift up his glass; and if -nobody objected to the sale the bargain became confirmed and binding -upon all parties concerned. The ceremony of lifting up the cup that -should serve as a sign that the bargain was struck was called "Ukkon -poharat foelmutatui," = show up Ukko's glass, and the name of the person -who performed the ceremony is mentioned in the deed in every case. Thus, -in one of these documents, dated "Tallya, December 28, 1623," we read as -follows: "In witness thereof, we the above named magistrates and sworn -men, in conformity with the living old custom of our ancestors, have -drunk aldomas[126] &c. Ukko's glass was held up[127] by John Kantuk de -Liszka." - -Thus, while the Finnish Agricola in 1551 condemns the custom of -"drinking Ukko's cup" of the ancient Finns as a superstition, in -Hungary, in the Hegyalja, it was, according to deeds bearing dates from -1596 to 1660, a ceremony "in accordance with the old law and living -custom."[128] - -See Paul Hunfalvy's "Magyarorszag Ethnographiaja," Budapest, 1876, pp. -242 & seq. - -[1] "Aladar," in Hungarian tradition. - -[2] _Enc. Britt._ "Huns." - -[3] See "Rege a csoda-szarvasrol, by Arany Janos, an English translation -of which has been published by Mr. Butler in his _Legends, Folk Songs, -&c._, from the Hungarian." Cf. _Hungary_, by Professor Vambery, cap. -iii. - -[4] According to Hungarian history, Arpad found numerous small -nationalities inheriting Attila's realm, with each of whom he had to -settle separately. The number of nationalities has been further -increased by fresh arrivals from Asia, and immigrants from Western -Europe during the past ten centuries: thus we hear of the continuous -irruption of Besseni (Petchenegs) during the reign of Stephen the Saint -(first King of Hungary, A.D. 1000); of Cumani in the time of Salamon -(A.D. 1060) and his successors; and of Tartars under Batu Khan (A.D. -1285) in the time of Bela IV. During this last invasion large tracts of -land became depopulated, the inhabitants having either perished or fled; -so that the king was obliged to invite immigrants from Western Europe, -and this was the origin of the Saxon settlements in Transylvania. This -will to some extent show the difficulties which beset the writer who -attempts to give a sketch of the races inhabiting modern Hungary. A -further difficulty, in tracing the origin of such races, is due to the -variety of spelling adopted by different writers in describing the same -race, and the unscrupulous use of the names Huns, Scythae, &c. when -writing about tribes inhabiting regions beyond the borders of the then -known civilised world. _Vide infra_, p. x. - -[5] We have attempted to give but a brief sketch of the Magyars, feeling -that when there is so lucid a work as "Hungary," by so well-known an -authority as Professor Vambery, within the reach of all, and dealing -with this subject in a way that it would be folly for us to attempt, we -may content ourselves with referring all readers to that work, and to -_Der Ursprung der Magyaren_ by the same author. - -[6] The Szekely (in German "Szekler," in Latin "Siculus") inhabit the -eastern parts of Transylvania, the territory occupied by them forming an -oblong strip between the Saxon settlement of Besztercze and Brasso -(Kronstadt), with two branches to the west known as Marosszek and -Udvarhelyszek. Another district (szek) inhabited by them, Aranyos-szek, -lies in the western part of Transylvania between the districts of Torda -and Also-Fejer. - -[7] _The Nationality of the Huns and Avars_, a paper read before the -Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Oct. 4, 1881. Cf. also "The Origin of the -Magyars," by the same author. - -[8] See p. 380, _infra_. - -[9] Kozma says, that in the two above-mentioned countries the word -"Huns" was used, up to the thirteenth century, among the people as -equivalent to giants, who figured in fairy tales. Simrock and Grimm are -inclined to see real persons in them, and say they were the Huns, and in -later history the Magyars. - -[10] 1883, vol. i. pp. 466, 467. - -[11] _Cornhill Magazine_, May, 1882. - -[12] The first edition appeared in 1520. Cf. _Diccionario Bibliographico -Portuguez_ (Lisboa, 1859) _sub voce_ "Barros." - -[13] He asserts that his chronicle is a translation of "ex lingua -Ungara." So far as one knows, the _original_ remains undiscovered and -unknown! - -[14] Cf. Geo. Fejer, _Henricus Portagulliae Comes origine Burgundus non -Hungarus_, Budae 1830, and other dissertations by M. Holeczy, &c. in the -British Museum. Press Mark 10632/1. - -[15] _Corpus Poeticum Boreale_, by Vigfusson and Powell. Oxford, 1883, -p. lxi, vol. i. - -[16] _Historia de Gentium Septentrionalium variis conditionibus &c._ -(Basileae, 1567). Lib. ii. cap. xviii. - -[17] _De Hunnis et Herulis_ Libri Sex. Joannes Magnus died in 1544. His -chronicle appeared interspersed with Olaus Magnus' work. Cf. Lib. viii. -cap. xiii. - -[18] Cf. Paul Hunfalvy's polemic work, _A Szekelyek_. Budapest, 1880. -The same learned writer in his well-known _Ethnography of Hungary_, -disputes the separate origin of the Szekelys, and maintains that they -are not a distinct people from the Magyars, but that they are Magyars -who have migrated from Hungary Proper into their modern Transylvanian -homes. This assertion gave rise to severe criticism on the part of the -defenders of the old tradition like Dr. John Nagy, Farkas Deak, and -others; and the above mentioned pamphlet was a reply, wherein the author -further defends his assertion, on the testimony of comparative philology -and history. One powerful argument in favour of the separate origin is, -that for centuries the Szekely population has kept distinct not only -from the Saxons, but also from the Magyars in Transylvania; they had -privileges which were denied to the Magyars. Their administration until -recently was quite distinct. Their name first occurs in a deed signed by -William, Bishop of Transylvania, dated 1213, in which the Bishop -renounces his right of collecting tithes from settlers in the Barczasag -"a waste and uninhabited" track of land, if those settlers be neither -Magyars nor Szekelys. - -[19] Abu-Ali Achmed ben Omar ibn Dastas. _Information regarding the -Kozars, Burtas, Bulgarians, Magyars, Slavs and Russ._ Edited by D. A. -Chvolson, St. Petersburg, 1869 (in Russian); quoted by Hunfalvy in his -_Ethnography of Hungary_. - -[20] Abn Dolif Misaris ben Mohalhal _De Intinere Asiatico_--Studio Kurd -de Schloezer. Berolini, 1845. Cf. Defremery _Fragments de Geographes, -&c._ in _Journ. Asiat._ ser. iv. tom. xiii. 466. Both quoted by Colonel -Yule in _Cathay and the Way Thither_. London, 1866. Vol. i. pp. cxi. and -clxxxvii. - -[21] On the river Vag (in the North of Hungary Proper). - -[22] Hunfalvy _The Szekelys_, pp. 40-42. - -[23] _Ib._ p. 41. - -[24] Cf. _Republica Hungarica_, ex off. Elzeviriana, 1634, p. 12. "Nemo -apud illos (Ciculos) ignobilis esse censetur, etiam si manu aratrum -tractet, aut caprino gregi praesit." - -[25] Georgius Rakoczy. Dei Gratia Princeps Transylvaniae ... et Siculorum -Comes, &c. - -[26] Prior to 1876, the Szekelys administered their own affairs, and -were divided into five "szeks" (_sedes_). - -[27] His essay, entitled "A few words on the Szekely Dialects," was -published at the end of his work, _Vadrozsak_, vol. i. - -[28] Quoted _infra_, p. xix. - -[29] _Vide infra_, p. 380. - -[30] _Opus citatum_, p. 34. - -[31] Such as Klaproth. - -[32] Cf. Hunfalvy _Ethnography_, p. 408. - -[33] Cf. _The History of the Cumanians_, and also _The Nationality and -Language of the Jazygo-Cumanians_, by Stephen Gyarfas. Budapest, 1882. - -[34] Budapest, 1880. The original MS. is in the Bibliotheca Marciana in -Venice. It was discovered by Cornides in 1770. Klaproth first made it -known in his "Memoirs relatifs a l'Asie," III. and Roesler published a -specimen of its grammar in his "Romaenische Studien," pp. 352-356. - -[35] Count Gejza Kuun has, we are glad to say, not yet spoken his last -word; for that indefatigable scholar is busily engaged on a large work -on his favorite subject, which, judging by the extracts he read (June -1st, 1885) before the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, promises to rank -with the best writings of modern philologists. - -It may be of interest here to quote one of the Cumanian children's -rhymes: - - - Heli, heli, jade uezuermeny - uezbe her! - Zeboralle, sarmamamile, - Alo bizon sasarma, - Duezuesztuermoe duecsuermoe - Hej ala hilala - Zeboralle duecsuermoe. - (Wolan, wolan, ich loese das Geluebde, - Der Lenz ist da! - Mit Gebeten, Zauberzeichen - Mache ich den Zauber - Unschaedlich. Ich preise dich! - Es ist nur ein Gott. - Mit Gebeten preise ich dich). - - -_Vide Ungarische Revue_, viii.-ix., Heft. 1885, p. 644. - -[36] How dangerous a practice it is to build up history upon no other -ground than the mere similarity in the sound of the names of -nationalities is shewn in the history of the modern Jazyges. This name -has led many a chronicler astray. Their Magyar proper name is "Jasz," -which, according to Hunfalvy (_Ethnography of Hungary_, p. 376) is -derived from the word "ijasz," i.e. "an archer," or "bowman," a name -describing their original occupation. In some old deeds of the xivth and -xvth centuries, they are called "Jassones" and "Pharetrarii," and things -kept straight until Ranzanus the Papal Nuncio at the Court of Matthias -Corvinus appeared on the scene, and, struck by the sound of the name -"Jassones" and finding that they lived on the very territory which, -according to Ptolemy, was occupied by the Jazyges: Metanastae in his -time, at once jumped to the conclusion that they were lineal descendants -of the wild horsemen mentioned by the classic author. We know how hard -anything false dies, and so we find this statement copied by subsequent -writers, and even disfiguring the pages of so excellent a work as -Smith's _Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography_, sub. art. "Jazyges." -A still wilder mistake was made by a scribe of King Sigismund, who -re-christened the Jasz folk "Philistaei," which afterwards appears in -many deeds. It would appear to be reasoned out thus; a "Jasz," or -"bowman," must naturally handle a bow and arrow; but an arrow is called -"pfeil" in German, which comes from the old German "phil," hence -Jasz-Philistaei, Q. E. D! Cf. Hunfalvy's _Ethnography loco citato_. - -[37] _Vide infra_, p. 412, &c. - -[38] _Ethnography of Hungary_, p. 362. - -[39] The true born Magyar repudiates with scorn the idea that there is -any such thing as a dialect, boasting that rich and poor speak the same -tongue. Cf. _Galeoti Martii, de Matthiae egregie, sapienter, fortiter et -jocose dictis ac factis libellus_, ed. Cassoviae, 1611. "Unde fit ut -carmen lingua Hungarica compositum rusticis et civibus, mediis et -extremis, eodem tenore intelligatur." Galeoti was an Italian by birth, -and Papal Nuncio at the Court of Matthias I. (Corvinus), King of -Hungary. - -[40] There is a passage in the writings of Nicolaus Olah (_Hungaria -et Attila_, cap. xix. sec. 3) which at first sight seems to ascribe a -separate language to each of the peoples named in the text. According -to him, "the whole of Hungary in our days (xvith century) contains -various nations, viz., Magyars, Germans, Czechs, Slovaks, Croats, -Saxons, Szekelys, Wallachs, Servians, Cumans, Jazyges, Ruthens, and -finally Turks, and all these (nations) "differenti inter se utuntur -lingua," except that some of the words may appear somewhat similar -and identical in sound in consequence of (their) protracted use and -(the continuous) contact (of the said nations with each other)." -Against this, we may urge, that if the language of the Szekelys, for -example, differed no more from the Magyar than the German speech from -that of the Saxons, they can scarcely be described as two different -languages. Moreover, another writer says, that the "Hungari nobiles -ejusdem regionis (Transylvaniae) passim intermixti Saxonibus, cum -Ciculis propemodum tam sermone, quam vestitu et armis conveniunt." -See _Respublica Hungarica_, 1634. We have good reasons for believing -that the passage has been copied by the Elzevirian compiler from the -_Chronigraphica Transylvaniae_ of George Reijchersdorffer, 1550. - -[41] Cf. Simpleton stories and lying stories, many of which as told in -Hungary, Finland, and Flanders, and even amongst the Lapps, are -identical with those we hear in Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, Northumberland, -and Norfolk. - -[42] Professor Vambery says: there are many features in Hungarian -Folk-Tales which can be found in the tales of China, and other Asiatic -countries, ancient and modern. The characteristics of the chief -personages in the tales show that the tales have been imported by the -Magyars from their old Asiatic homes, although a Slavonic influence -cannot be denied. - -[43] P. 239 _infra_. See also remains of the Turkish occupation and -their barbarous doings in the children's rhyme: - - - "Lady bird, lady bird, fly away, fly away, - For the Turks are coming! - They will throw you into a well full of salt water: - They will take you out, and break you on the wheel." - - -Dark wine produced at Eger (Erlau) is called "Turk's blood." - -[44] Pp. 70, 118. - -[45] P. 5, _infra_. - -[46] "Stephen the Murderer," "Fisher Joe," and the "Baa Lambs" in this -collection. Cf. "Die Engel-laemmer" _Aus der im Auftrage der -Kisfaludy-Gesellschaft von Lad Arany und Paul Gyulai besorgten_. -Ungarische Revue viii. ix. Heft, 1885, p. 640, and note, which says: -"Eines der wenigen ungarischen Volkmaerchen, in welche die christliche -Mythologie hineinspielt." - -[47] Cf. Such stories as "Handsome Paul," p. 29 _infra et seq._ - -[48] See all this beautifully sketched by Czuczor, in his poem _Joannes -Hary_. - -[49] That the Magyar soldier can tell stories may be seen in Gaal's -tales, most of which Arany tells us have a most undesirable flavour of -the barracks about them. - -[50] John Erdelyi (born 1814, died 1868), Hungarian poet and author, -elected Member of the Hungarian Academy of Science, 1839. - -[51] These tales were collected from soldiers: and are full of -unnecessary flourishes and coarse barrack-room jokes. - -[52] John Kriza (born 1812, died 1875), born in a small village of -Szekely parents. Unitarian minister, professor, poet, and author, -elected Member of the Academy, 1841. - -[53] A second volume has, I believe, since appeared. - -[54] Ladislaus Arany objects to this collection, on the ground that the -collector has tried to improve on the original popular form, and -endeavoured to produce something classic, and thus spoiled the stories. - -[55] Giant in Magyar is: "Orias" i. e. a tall man, tall father. Cf. pp. -99, 147, 318, 340. Cf, numerous stories of giants and what they are like -in Friis. _Lappiske Eventyr_ and Hofberg. _Svenska Saegner_. - -[56] See pp. 146 and 388. - -[57] See "Knight Rose," p. 57. - -[58] See "Knight Rose," p. 55. - -[59] Cf. "Handsome Paul," p. 26 _infra_, where another illustration of -their size will be found; also the giant in Swedish tale who travelled -from Dalecarlia to Stockholm, and the bread was still warm in his -knapsack when he ended his journey. - -[60] Cf. _Friis_. "Jetanis." _Hofberg._ "Bron oefver Kalmarsund" -"Ulfgrytstenarna" "Ruggabron" and "Stenen i Groenan dal." - -[61] Vide pp. 345 and 392 _infra_. - -[62] Vide "Prince Mirko," p. 72. - -[63] In Hungary, the village blacksmith is a gipsy as a rule. - -[64] Vide "Shepherd Paul," p. 244 and note p. 407. - -[65] Cf. "A Lincolnshire tale," p. 363. - -[66] Cf. Story as found in Finland, Lapland, and Sweden, of Kaleva's -daughter, who, finding a man, put him and his horse and plough into her -apron, and carrying them off to her mother, asked what sort of a dung -beetle this was she had found scratching the earth, receiving a similar -answer to the above-mentioned one. Cf. Hofberg. _Svenska Saegner_, Jaetten -Puke. Dybeck, _Runa_ 1845, p. 15, and Thiel _Danmarks. Folksagn_ ii. p. -228. - -[67] Vide "Handsome Paul" and "Fairy Elizabeth." - -[68] See "Prince Mirko." - -[69] Cf. _Rancken_, "Munsala," 22 i.: Woera, 22: where a description of -buried treasures will to be found. Also _Hofberg_, "Den forlaerade -skatten," "Guldvaggan," "Skatten i Saebybaecken," "Skattgraefvarna," vide -_infra_. pp. xxx. xxxvii. - -[70] Amongst the numerous stories of hidden treasures, I may note two I -heard in my own parish lately. There is a chest of gold buried in Mumby -Hill, and an old man went by "his'sen," and dug and dug, and would have -got it, but so many little devils came round him, he had to give up. - -The other tale is a long story of a man who went to an old house, and -every thing he did "a little devil" did, and as the man could not be -frightened a vast hidden treasure was revealed to him.--W. H. J. - -[71] Rancken, _Nagra akerbruksplaegseder i Finland_. Munsala, 22, c. and -d. Hofberg. _Svenska Saegner_ "Skogsraet och Sjoeraet," and -"Ysaetters-Kajsa." - -[72] "Fairy Elizabeth," "Handsome Paul," "Knight Rose," and "Prince -Mirko" are full of the doings of fairies. - -[73] Cf. Ralston, _Russian Folk-Tales_, "The Baba Yaga," p. 143. -_Afanassieff_, i. No. 3 b. - -[74] This is the nearest translation. In the original a hyphen between -gold and mountain, silver and valley, alters the meaning. - -[75] _i.e._ "For ever." A form of orientalism which frequently occurs in -Magyar folk-poetry. For instance, - - - Cf. "My rose I will not marry you - Until there are no fish in the lake, - And as there always will be - You see, my rose, I cannot marry you." - - -[76] The waters of the two rivers flow into the Theiss, this into the -Danube, and the Danube into the Black Sea. - -[77] Baron Orban's _Szekelyland_. - -[78] Bishop Arnold Ipolyi, _Magyar Mythology_. - -[79] Ladislaus Koevary, _Historical Antiquities_. - -[80] In consequence of the Turkish rule over Hungary. Buda was 157 years -in the hands of the Turks. - -[81] _Vide_ Baron Orban, _Szekelyland_. - -[82] One must be careful not to confound, as many writers do, the -witches of fairy tales, with the old women who are designated as witches -by the common people. - -[83] Cf. Many Lincolnshire and Yorkshire tales. - -[84] Cf. _Rancken_, "Purmo" 27, and "Munsala," 25. - -[85] It is interesting to note that, although prosecution for witchcraft -was only abolished in England under George II. in 1736, in Hungary it -was abolished under Coloman the Learned, who reigned 1095-1114, for a -very cogent reason, "Witches are not to be prosecuted, as they do not -exist!" - -[86] The Hungarian cattle have long erect horns like those of the Roman -campagna. - -[87] Cf. p. 203 _infra._ - -[88] As the wolf in the Finnish tale, "The Golden Bird." - -[89] See _Folk Medicine_. - -[90] Charm-weed. - -[91] Square pieces of linen without seam or hem, wrapped round the bare -foot, instead of socks. - -[92] Only lately, a man in my own parish said that when "Maud was a -young 'un, she was amazin' badly. The doctors could do nowt for her: she -was all skin and bone. Doctors said it wor a decline; but a' didn't -believe it, for she did sqweael amazin'. It was all an owd woman who used -to sell pins and needles." It appears, this old woman always gave, and -insisted upon giving, Maud, some little thing; and at last they -perceived the child was "witched"; so the next time the old woman -appeared, another daughter ordered her off, and the child recovered; the -same old woman is said to have "witched" another child in the parish in -like manner. I may add "Maud" is now a fine strapping girl, and vows -vengeance on the witch.--W. H. J. - -[93] Cf. _Hofberg_, "Bissen," the manner of "laying ghosts," is noticed, -_ib._ "Herrn till Rosendal." - -[94] In some parts of Finland the same superstition is, or was, current -(_e.g._ in Munsala). Unbaptized children are specially liable to be -changed by the trolls, but this may be prevented by putting Holy -Scripture in the cradle, or silver coins, scissors, or other sharp -tools. Cf. _Hofberg_, Svenska Folksaegner "Bortbytingen." - -[95] Cf. _Hofberg_ "Mylingen," "Tomten." See also _Nagra -akerbruksplaegseder bland svenskarne i Finland_ af Dr. J. Oscar I. -Rancken. - -[96] Cf. _Rancken_. "Munsala," 22 g. - -[97] This belonged formerly to a well-known medicine man, who practised -over three countries. There are hundreds and hundreds of cures in it. - -[98] This class of ingredients occupied an important place in the -pharmacopoeia of the physicians of the middle ages. Cf. _Liber -Secundus Practicae Haly_ cap. 51, "De stercoribus et fimis," p. 178 -(Lyons 1523). - -[99] - - - "I physicks 'em, I bleeds 'em, I sweats 'em, - And if they _will_ die, I lets 'em." - - - - -[100] See "Christmas Day." - -[101] Steel and flint are still in extensive use among smokers in rural -districts. - -[102] The Magyar name of quinsy is torokgyik, _i.e._ throat-lizard. - -[103] Varga does not seem to know anything about - - - "The dead, shrivelled hand ... - ... of the gentleman dangling up there." - - - - -[104] So far is this day considered unlucky in Portugal that we heard of -a Portuguese young lady who had ordered a harp from England: it -unfortunately arrived at her house on Friday, and was sent away till -Saturday, although she was "dying to try it!" Tuesday is also regarded -as unlucky in Portugal. - -On St. Peter's Day, in Portugal, the saint is said to have a holiday, -and take the keys with him, and the fisher-folk assert that if anyone is -drowned on that day the chances are he will be sent to the "wrong -place." - - - Cf. "Ma foi sur l'avenir bien fou qui se fiera, - Tel qui rit vendredi, dimanche pleurera."-- - - -Racine au commencement de la comedie des Plaideurs. - -[105] One is said to be most liable to be punished at this time on this -account. - -[106] Garlic is said to be a charm against evil. See _Notes and -Queries_, 6 S. ix. 5. - -[107] It is a common superstition in many parts of Yorkshire that fire -must not go out of the house between New and Old Christmas Day. An old -nurse told us she once went home during this time and her neighbours -would not even give her a match that she might light her candle and so -find her own. - -[108] Cf. Yorkshire, Yule-candle. - -[109] Lead is cast in Finland to see whether fortune or misfortune is in -store; in these degenerate days "stearine," has been used by impatient -souls. See also Burnaby, _Ride to Khiva_, cap. xxii. - -[110] Elton's _Origins of English History_, 270, 271. - -[111] See _Glossaire de la langue Romane_, par J. B. B. Roquefort. -Paris, 1808. - -[112] See Cormac's Glossary, under "Beltene," _Revue Celtique_, iv. 193; -Grimm, _Deutsche Mythol._ 579. - -[113] "C'etait en beaucoup d'endroits en France l'usage de jeter dans le -feu de la Saint-Jean des mannes ou des paniers en osier contenant des -animaux, chats, chiens, renards, loups. Au siecle dernier meme dans -plusieurs villes c'etait le maire ou les echevins qui faisaient mettre -dans un panier une ou deux douzaines de chats pour bruler dans le feu de -joie. Cette coutume existait aussi a Paris, et elle n'y a ete supprimee -qu'au commencement du regne de Louis XIV."--Gaidoz, _Esquisse de la -Religion des Gaulois_, 21. - -[114] In the West-end of London there is a house where No. 13 is -cancelled, and the house re-numbered 15A for the very same reason. The -people are _comme il faut_, and consider themselves educated. - -[115] Plover.--_Notes and Queries_ 4th S. viii. 268. On the Lancashire -Moors there is a tradition that the plovers contain the souls of those -Jews who assisted at the Crucifixion. - -[116] Hungarian saying: "To speak snakes and frogs after a man," to say -everything that is bad about him. - -[117] Or dig. - -[118] I (writes a Magyar friend) have seen a youth use this stuff to -produce a beard and moustache, and the whole of his skin was covered -with ugly sores. - -[119] German name, Himmelbrandt, Wollkraut, Koenigskerre; French, -bouillon blanc, molene. - -[120] The superstitions marked * have been in Lincolnshire and Yorkshire -quite lately. - -[121] The small heap of soil thrown up by ants. - -[122] The modern custom is to lift the glass and say "Isten eltesse!" -("may God let you live.") - -[123] The Finnish reformer, Michael Agricola, in his preface to the 1551 -edition of the Finnish Psalms, prepared by him, mentions the idols and -sacrifices of the old Finns. The passage relating to this matter is in -verses, and especially of the _Carialians_ he says the following: -"_Egres_ creates them peas, beans, and carrots, cabbage, flax, and hemp; -_Koendoes_ guards their cleared grounds and ploughed fields as they -superstitiously believe; and when they finished their spring-sowing, -then they drank Ukko's Cup." - - - "Kuin kevae-kylvae kylvettiin - Silloin Ukon malja juottiin." - - - - -[124] "Wie Thor's cleinne trank man Ukko zu ehren volle Schale." _Mythol -Vorr_ xxviii. In Sweden, as toasts, the only word they mention is -"skal," cup; this is a meagre reminder of "Thor's Schale." - -[125] Not Tokay; that is German. We have a hazy recollection that one of -the Popes--it may have been Sylvester II. (A.D. 1000) or Pio Nono--upon -receiving a small cask of Tokaj wine, exclaimed "Talc vinum summum -pontificem decet!" or words to this effect. - -[126] "Aldomas," from "aldani" (Latin offerre and benedicere) -hence--"sacrificium" and "benedictio." Cf. "Ultemas"--"preces" in -Cheremiss. In the district of Hradist in Moravia, "oldomas -pit"--"aldoma's drink." In modern Magyar the word "aldozni" is used for -to sacrifice. Whether the Magyar and Finnish Ukko are the same, or -whether it is a mere coincidence, we are not prepared to say. Hunfalvy -makes much of it. - -[127] Ukkon-pohar-felmutato volt. - -[128] In modern times the bargain is first settled and the "liquor" -comes afterwards, _tout comme chez nous_ in England. - - - - -CONTENTS. - - - PAGE - Preface v - Introduction vii - Contents lxx - - - TALES AND NOTES. - - I.--Prince Csihan 1 - Notes 303 - - II.--Stephen the Murderer 7 - Notes 306 - - III.--The Lamb with the Golden Fleece 13 - Notes 312 - - IV.--Fisher Joe 15 - Notes 313 - - V.--Luck and Bliss 22 - Notes 317 - - VI.--The Lazy Cat 23 - - VII.--Handsome Paul 25 - Notes 317 - - VIII.--The Travels of Truth and Falsehood 36 - Notes 322 - - IX.--The Hunting Princes 39 - Notes 324 - - X.--The Lazy Spinning Girl 46 - Notes 330 - - XI.--The Envious Sisters 49 - Notes 335 - - XII.--Knight Rose 54 - Notes 339 - - XIII.--Prince Mirko 59 - Notes 344 - - XIV.--The Student who was forcibly made King 76 - Notes 354 - - XV.--The Children of the Two Rich Men 80 - Notes 355 - - XVI.--The Hussar and the Servant Girl 83 - Notes 360 - - XVII.--My Father's Wedding 86 - Notes 360 - - XVIII.--The Baa-Lambs 90 - Notes 361 - - XIX.--Fairy Elizabeth 95 - Notes 362 - - XX.--The Three Princes 110 - Notes 373 - - XXI.--The Three Dreams 117 - Notes 375 - - XXII.--Csabor Ur 123 - Notes 380 - - XXIII.--The Devil and the Three Slovak Lads 126 - Notes 383 - - XXIV.--The Count's Daughter 127 - Notes 383 - - XXV.--The Speaking Grapes 131 - Notes 383 - - XXVI.--The Three Oranges 133 - Notes 386 - - XXVII.--The Youngest Prince 137 - Notes 387 - - XXVIII.--The Invisible Shepherd Lad 141 - Notes 387 - - XXIX.--The Three Princesses 144 - Notes 388 - - XXX.--Cinder Jack 149 - Notes 389 - - XXXI.--The Three Brothers 152 - Notes 391 - - XXXII.--The Three Valuable Things 155 - Notes 392 - - XXXIII.--The Little Magic Pony 157 - Notes 392 - - XXXIV.--The Beggars' Present 161 - Notes 394 - - XXXV.--The World's Beautiful Woman 163 - Notes 395 - - XXXVI.--The Girl without Hands 182 - Notes 397 - - XXXVII.--The King and the Devil 188 - Notes 397 - - XXXVIII.--The Three Princes, &c. 196 - Notes 399 - - XXXIX.--The Widower and his Daughter 207 - Notes 401 - - XL.--The Wishes 217 - Notes 402 - - XLI.--The Two Orphans 220 - Notes 402 - - XLII.--The Wonderful Frog 224 - Notes 404 - - XLIII.--The Devil and the Red Cap 225 - Notes 405 - - XLIV.--Jack Dreadnought 228 - Notes 405 - - XLV.--The Secret keeping Little Boy 232 - Notes 406 - - XLVI.--Shepherd Paul 244 - Notes 407 - - XLVII.--The Pelican 250 - Notes 409 - - XLVIII.--The Girl with the Golden Hair 262 - Notes 413 - - XLIX.--The Lover's Ghost 278 - Notes 416 - - L.--Snake Skin 282 - Notes 417 - - LI.--The Fairies' Well 288 - Notes 418 - - LII.--The Crow's Nest 298 - Notes 418 - - LIII.--Woman's Curiosity 301 - Notes 421 - - Index 423 - - - - -MAGYAR FOLK-TALES. - - - - -PRINCE CSIHAN (NETTLES). - - -There was once--I don't know where, at the other side of seven times -seven countries, or even beyond them, on the tumble-down side of a -tumble-down stove--a poplar-tree, and this poplar-tree had sixty-five -branches, and on every branch sat sixty-six crows; and may those who -don't listen to my story have their eyes picked out by those crows! - -There was a miller who was so proud that had he stept on an egg he would -not have broken it. There was a time when the mill was in full work, but -once as he was tired of his mill-work he said, "May God take me out of -this mill!" Now, this miller had an auger, a saw, and an adze, and he -set off over seven times seven countries, and never found a mill. So his -wish was fulfilled. On he went, roaming about, till at last he found on -the bank of the Gagy, below Martonos, a tumble-down mill, which was -covered with nettles. Here he began to build, and he worked, and by the -time the mill was finished all his stockings were worn into holes and -his garments all tattered and torn. He then stood expecting people to -come and have their flour ground; but no one ever came. - -One day the twelve huntsmen of the king were chasing a fox; and it came -to where the miller was, and said to him: "Hide me, miller, and you -shall be rewarded for your kindness." "Where shall I hide you?" said the -miller, "seeing that I possess nothing but the clothes I stand in?" -"There is an old torn sack lying beside that trough," replied the fox; -"throw it over me, and, when the dogs come, drive them away with your -broom." When the huntsmen came they asked the miller if he had seen a -fox pass that way. "How could I have seen it; for, behold, I have -nothing but the clothes I stand in?" With that the huntsmen left, and in -a little while the fox came out and said, "Miller, I thank you for your -kindness; for you have preserved me, and saved my life. I am anxious to -do you a good turn if I can. Tell me, do you want to get married?" "My -dear little fox," said the miller, "if I could get a wife, who would -come here of her own free will, I don't say that I would not--indeed, -there is no other way of my getting one; for I can't go among the -spinning-girls in these clothes." The fox took leave of the miller, and, -in less than a quarter of an hour, he returned with a piece of copper in -his mouth. "Here you are, miller," said he; "put this away, _you will -want_ it ere long." The miller put it away, and the fox departed; but, -before long, he came back with a lump of gold in his mouth. "Put this -away, also," said he to the miller, "as you will need it before long." -"And now," said the fox, "wouldn't you like to get married?" "Well, my -dear little fox," said the miller, "I am quite willing to do so at any -moment, as that is my special desire." The fox vanished again, but soon -returned with a lump of diamond in his mouth. "Well, miller," said the -fox, "I will not _ask_ you any more to get married; I will get you a -wife myself. And now give me that piece of copper I gave you." Then, -taking it in his mouth, the fox started off over seven times seven -countries, and travelled till he came to King Yellow Hammer's. "Good -day, most gracious King Yellow Hammer," said the fox; "my life and death -are in your majesty's hands. I have heard that you have an unmarried -daughter. I am a messenger from Prince Csihan, who has sent me to ask -for your daughter as his wife." "I will give her with pleasure, my dear -little fox," replied King Yellow Hammer; "I will not refuse her; on the -contrary, I give her with great pleasure; but I would do so more -willingly if I saw to whom she is to be married--even as it is, I will -not refuse her." - -The fox accepted the king's proposal, and they fixed a day upon which -they would fetch the lady. "Very well," said the fox; and, taking leave -of the king, set off with the ring to the miller. - -"Now then, miller," said the fox, "you are no longer a miller, but -Prince Csihan, and on a certain day and hour you must be ready to start; -but, first of all, give me that lump of gold I gave you that I may take -it to His Majesty King Yellow Hammer, so that he may not think you are a -nobody." - -The fox then started off to the king. "Good day, most gracious king, my -father. Prince Csihan has sent this lump of gold to my father the king -that he may spend it in preparing for the wedding, and that he might -change it, as Prince Csihan has no smaller change, his gold all being in -lumps like this." - -"Well," reasoned King Yellow Hammer, "I am not sending my daughter to a -bad sort of place, for although I am a king I have no such lumps of gold -lying about in my palace." - -The fox then returned home to Prince Csihan. "Now then, Prince Csihan," -said he, "I have arrived safely, you see; prepare yourself to start -to-morrow." - -Next morning he appeared before Prince Csihan. "Are you ready?" asked -he. "Oh! yes, I am ready; I can start at any moment, as I got ready -long ago." - -With this they started over seven times seven lands. As they passed a -hedge the fox said, "Prince Csihan, do you see that splendid castle?" -"How could I help seeing it, my dear little fox." "Well," replied the -fox, "in that castle dwells your wife." On they went, when suddenly the -fox said, "Take off the clothes you have on, let us put them into this -hollow tree, and then burn them, so that we may get rid of them." "You -are right, we won't have them, nor any like them." - -Then said the fox, "Prince Csihan, go into the river and take a bath." -Having done so the prince said, "Now I've done." "All right," said the -fox; "go and sit in the forest until I go into the king's presence." The -fox set off and arrived at King Yellow Hammer's castle. "Alas! my -gracious king, my life and my death are in thy hands. I started with -Prince Csihan with three loaded wagons and a carriage and six horses, -and I've just managed to get the prince naked out of the water." The -king raised his hands in despair, exclaiming, "Where hast thou left my -dear son-in-law, little fox?" "Most gracious king, I left him in -such-and-such a place in the forest." The king at once ordered four -horses to be put to a carriage, and then looked up the robes he wore in -his younger days and ordered them to be put in the carriage; the -coachman and footman to take their places, the fox sitting on the box. - -When they arrived at the forest the fox got down, and the footman, -carrying the clothes upon his arm, took them to Prince Csihan. Then said -the fox to the servant, "Don't you dress the prince, he will do it more -becomingly himself." He then made Prince Csihan arise, and said, "Come -here, Prince Csihan, don't stare at yourself too much when you get -dressed in these clothes, else the king might think you were not used to -such robes." Prince Csihan got dressed, and drove off to the king. When -they arrived, King Yellow Hammer took his son-in-law in his arms and -said, "Thanks be to God, my dear future son-in-law, for that He has -preserved thee from the great waters; and now let us send for the -clergyman and let the marriage take place." - -The grand ceremony over, they remained at the court of the king. One -day, a month or so after they were married, the princess said to Prince -Csihan, "My dear treasure, don't you think it would be as well to go and -see your realm?" Prince Csihan left the room in great sorrow, and went -towards the stables in great trouble to get ready for the journey he -could no longer postpone. Here he met the fox lolling about. As the -prince came his tears rolled down upon the straw. "Hollo! Prince Csihan, -what's the matter?" cried the fox. "Quite enough," was the reply; "my -dear wife insists upon going to see my home." "All right," said the fox; -"prepare yourself, Prince Csihan, and we will go." - -The prince went off to his castle and said, "Dear wife, get ready; we -will start at once." The king ordered out a carriage and six, and three -waggons loaded with treasure and money, so that they might have all they -needed. So they started off. Then said the fox, "Now, Prince Csihan, -wherever I go you must follow." So they went over seven times seven -countries. As they travelled they met a herd of oxen. "Now, herdsmen," -said the fox, "if you won't say that this herd belongs to the Vasfogu -Baba, but to Prince Csihan, you shall have a handsome present." With -this the fox left them, and ran straight to the Vasfogu Baba. "Good day, -my mother," said he. "Welcome, my son," replied she; "it's a good thing -for you that you called me your mother, else I would have crushed your -bones smaller than poppy-seed." "Alas! my mother," said the fox, "don't -let us waste our time talking such nonsense, the French are coming!" -"Oh! my dear son, hide me away somewhere!" cried the old woman. "I know -of a bottomless lake," thought the fox; and he took her and left her on -the bank, saying, "Now, my dear old mother, wash your feet here until I -return." The fox then left the Vasfogu Baba, and went to Prince Csihan, -whom he found standing in the same place where he left him. He began to -swear and rave at him fearfully. "Why didn't you drive on after me? come -along at once." They arrived at the Vasfogu's great castle, and took -possession of a suite of apartments. Here they found everything the -heart could wish for, and at night all went to bed in peace. - -Suddenly the fox remembered that the Vasfogu Baba had no proper abode -yet, and set off to her. "I hear, my dear son," said she, "that the -horses with their bells have arrived; take me away to another place." -The fox crept up behind her, gave her a push, and she fell into the -bottomless lake, and was drowned, leaving all her vast property to -Prince Csihan. "You were born under a lucky star, my prince," said the -fox, when he returned; "for see I have placed you in possession of all -this great wealth." In his joy the prince gave a great feast to -celebrate his coming into his property, so that the people from Banczida -to Zsukhajna were feasted royally, but he gave them no drink. "Now," -said the fox to himself, "after all this feasting I will sham illness, -and see what treatment I shall receive at his hands in return for all my -kindness to him." So Mr. Fox became dreadfully ill, he moaned and -groaned so fearfully that the neighbours made complaint to the prince. -"Seize him," said the prince, "and pitch him out on the dunghill." So -the poor fox was thrown out on the dunghill. One day Prince Csihan was -passing that way. "You a prince!" muttered the fox; "you are nothing -else but a miller; would you like to be a house-holder such as you were -at the nettle-mill?" The prince was terrified by this speech of the fox, -so terrified that he nearly fainted. "Oh! dear little fox, do not do -that," cried the prince, "and I promise you on my royal word that I -will give you the same food as I have, and that so long as I live you -shall be my dearest friend and you shall be honoured as my greatest -benefactor." - -He then ordered the fox to be taken to the castle, and to sit at the -royal table, nor did he ever forget him again. - -So they lived happily ever after, and do yet, if they are not dead. May -they be your guests to-morrow! - - - - -STEPHEN THE MURDERER. - - -There was once, I don't know where, over seven times seven countries, or -even beyond that, a very, very rich farmer, and opposite to him lived -another farmer just as rich. One had a son and the other a daughter. -These two farmers often talked over family matters together at their -gates, and at last arranged that their children should marry each other, -so that in case the old people died the young people would be able to -take possession of the farms. But the young girl could not bear the -young man, although he was very fond of her. Then her parents threatened -to disinherit her if she did not marry as she was bid, as they were very -wishful for the marriage to take place. - -On the wedding morning, when they arrived at church, and were standing -before the altar, the bride took the wedding ring and dashed it on the -floor before the clergyman, saying, "Here, Satan, take this ring; and, -if ever I bear a child to this man, take it too!" In a moment the devil -appeared, snatched up the ring, and vanished. The priest, seeing and -hearing all that was done, declined to proceed with the ceremony, -whereupon the fathers remonstrated with him, and declared that if he did -not proceed he would lose his living. The wedding thereupon was duly -celebrated. - -As time went by the farmers both died; and the young folks, who couldn't -bear each other before, at last grew very fond of each other, and a -handsome boy was born. When he was old enough he went to school, where -he got on so well that before long his master could teach him no more. -He then went to college, where he did the same as at school, so that his -parents began to think of him taking holy orders. About this time his -father died; and he noticed that every night when he came home from the -college that his mother was weeping: so he asked her why she wept. -"Never mind me, my son," said she; "I am grieving over your father." -"But you never cared much for him," said he; "cheer up, for I shall -soon be a priest." "That's the very thing I'm weeping over," said his -mother; "for just when you will be doing well the devils will come for -you, because when I was married to your father I dashed the wedding-ring -on the ground, saying, 'Here, Satan, take this ring; and if ever I bear -a child to this man take it too.' One fine day, then, you will be -carried off by the devil in the same way as the ring." "Is this indeed -true, mother?" said the student. "It is indeed, my son." With that he -went off to the priest, and said, "Godfather, are these things which my -mother tells me concerning her wedding true?" "My dear godson," replied -the priest, "they are true; for I saw and heard all myself." "Dear -godfather, give me then at once holy candles, holy water, and incense." -"Why do you want them, my son?" asked the priest. "Because," replied the -student, "I mean to go to hell at once, after that lost ring and the -deed of agreement." "Don't rush into their hands," said the priest; -"they will come for you soon enough." But the more the priest talked the -more determined was the student to set off at once for the infernal -regions. - -So off he went, and travelled over seven times seven countries. One -evening he arrived at a large forest, and, as darkness set in, he lost -his way and roamed about hither and thither looking for some place to -rest; at last he found a small cottage where an old woman lived. "Good -evening, mother," said he. "Good luck has brought you here, my son," -said she. "What are you doing out here so late?" "I have lost my way," -replied the student, "and have come here to ask for a night's lodging." -"I can give you lodging, my son, but I have a murderous heathen son, who -has destroyed three hundred and sixty-six lives, and even now is out -robbing. He might return at any moment, and he would kill you; so you -had better go somewhere else and continue your way in peace, and mind -you take care not to meet him." - -"Whether he kill me or not," said the student, "I shall not stir an -inch." As the old woman could not persuade him to go he stayed. After -midnight the son returned, and shouted out loudly under the window, -"Have you got my supper ready?" He then crept in on his knees, for he -was so tall that he could not enter otherwise. As they sat at table he -suddenly saw the student. "Mother, what sort of a guest is that?" said -he. "He's a poor tramp, my son, and very tired." "Has he had anything to -eat?" "No; I offered him food, but he was too tired to eat." "Go and -wake him, and say, 'Come and eat'; because whether he eat or whether he -let the food alone he will repent it." - -"Hollo!" said the student, "what is the matter?" - -"Don't ask any questions," replied the old woman; "but come and eat." -The student obeyed, and they sat down to supper. "Don't eat much," said -the old woman's son, "because you will repent it if you do eat and you -will repent it if you don't." While they were eating the old woman's son -said, "Where are you going, mate--what is your destination?" "Straight -to hell, among the devils," quoth the student. - -"It was my intention to kill you with a blow; but now that I know where -you are going I will not touch you. Find out for me what sort of a bed -they have prepared for me in that place." - -"What is your name?" - -"My name," said he, "is Stephen the Murderer." - -In the morning, when they awoke, Stephen gave the student a good -breakfast, and showed him which way to go. On he travelled till at -length he approached the gates of hell. He then lighted his incense, -sprinkled the holy water, and lighted the holy candles. In a very short -time the devils began to smell the incense, and ran out, crying, "What -sort of an animal are you? Don't come here! Don't approach this place; -or we will leave it at once!" - -"Wherever you go," said the student, "I tell you I will follow you; for, -on such and such a date, you carried off from the church floor my -mother's wedding-ring; and if you don't return it and cancel the -agreement, and promise me that I will have no more trouble from you, I -will follow you wherever you go." "Don't come here," cried they; "stop -where you are, and we will get them for you at once." - -They then blew a whistle and the devils came hastily out from all -directions, so many you could not count them, but they could not find -the ring anywhere. They sounded the whistle again, and twice as many -came as before, but still the ring was not to be found. They then -whistled a third time, and twice as many more came. One fellow came -limping up, very late. "Why don't you hurry," cried the others; "don't -you see that a great calamity has happened? The ring can't be found. -Turn out everybody's pockets, and on who ever it is found throw him into -the bed of Stephen the Murderer." "Wait a moment," cried the lame one, -"before you throw me into Stephen the Murderer's bed. I would rather -produce three hundred wedding-rings than be thrown into that place:" -whereupon he at once produced the ring, which they threw over the wall -to the student, together with the agreement, crying out that it was -cancelled. - -One evening the student arrived back at Stephen the Murderer's. The -latter was out robbing. After midnight, as usual, he returned, and when -he saw the student he woke him, saying, "Get up, let's have something to -eat! And have you been to hell?" - -"I have." "What have you heard of my bed?" "We should never have got the -ring," said the student, "if the devils had not been threatened with -your bed." "Well," said Stephen, "that must be a bad bed if the devils -are afraid of it." - -They got up the next morning, and the student started for home. Suddenly -it struck Stephen the Murderer that as the student had made himself -happy he ought to do as much for him. So he started after the student, -who, when he saw him coming, was very much afraid lest he should be -killed. In a stride or two Stephen overtook the student. "Stop, my -friend; as you have bettered your lot, better mine, so that I may not go -to that awful bed in hell." - -"Well then," said the student, "did you kill your first man with a club -or a knife?" "I never killed anybody with a knife," said Stephen, "they -have all been killed with a club." "Have you got the club you killed the -first man with? Go back and fetch it." - -Stephen took one or two strides and was at home. He then took the club -from the shelf and brought it to the student; it was so worm-eaten that -you could not put a needle-point on it between the holes. "What sort of -wood is this made of?" asked the student. "Wild apple-tree," replied -Stephen. "Take it and come with me," said the student, "to the top of -the rock." On the top of the rock there was a small hill; into this he -bade him plant the club. "Now, uncle Stephen, go down under the rock, -and there you will find a small spring trickling down the face of the -stone. Go on your knees to this spring and pray, and, creeping on your -knees, carry water in your mouth to this club, and continue to do so -till it buds; it will then bear apples, and when it does you will be -free from that bed." - -Stephen the Murderer began to carry the water to the club, and the -student left him, and went home. He was at once made a priest on account -of his courage in going to hell; and after he had been a priest for -twenty-five years they made him pope, and this he was for many years. - -In those days it was the rule--according to an old custom--for the pope -to make a tour of his country, and it so happened that this pope came to -his journey's end, on the very rock upon which the club had been -planted. He stopped there with his suite, in order to rest. Suddenly one -of the servants saw a low tree on the top of the rock, covered with -beautiful red apples. "Your holiness," said he to the pope, "I have seen -most beautiful red apples, and if you will permit me I will go and -gather some." "Go," said the pope, "and if they are so very beautiful -bring some to me." The servant approached the tree; as he drew near he -heard a voice that frightened him terribly saying, "No one is allowed to -pluck this fruit except him who planted the tree." Off rushed the -servant to the pope, who asked him if he had brought any apples. - -"Your holiness, I did not even get any for myself," gasped the servant, -"because some one shouted to me so loudly that I nearly dropped; I saw -no one, but only heard a voice that said, 'No one is allowed to pluck -this fruit but the man who planted the tree.'" - -The pope began to think, and all at once he remembered that he had -planted the tree when he was a lad. He ordered the horses to be taken -out of his carriage, and, with his servant and his coachman, he set off -to the red apple-tree. When they arrived, the pope cried out, "Stephen -the Murderer, where are you?" A dried-up skull rolled out, and said, -"Here I am, your holiness; all the limbs of my body dropped off whilst I -was carrying water, and are scattered all around; every nerve and muscle -lies strewn here; but, if the pope commands, they will all come -together." The pope did so, and the scattered members came together into -a heap. - -The servant and the coachman were then ordered to open a large, deep -hole, and to put the bones into it, and then cover all up, which they -did. The pope then said mass, and gave the absolution, and at that -moment Stephen the Murderer was delivered from the dreadful bed in hell. -The pope then went back to his own country, where he still lives, if he -has not died since. - - - - -THE LAMB WITH THE GOLDEN FLEECE. - - -There was once a poor man who had a son, and as the son grew up his -father sent him out to look for work. The son travelled about looking -for a place, and at last met with a man who arranged to take him as a -shepherd. Next day his master gave him a flute, and sent him out with -the sheep to see whether he was fit for his work. The lad never lay down -all day, very unlike many lazy fellows. He drove his sheep from place to -place and played his flute all day long. There was among the sheep a -lamb with golden fleece, which, whenever he played his flute, began to -dance. The lad became very fond of this lamb, and made up his mind not -to ask any wages of his master, but only this little lamb. In the -evening he returned home; his master waited at the gate; and, when he -saw the sheep all there and all well-fed, he was very pleased, and -began to bargain with the lad, who said he wished for nothing but the -lamb with the golden fleece. The farmer was very fond of the lamb -himself, and it was with great unwillingness he promised it; but he gave -in afterwards when he saw what a good servant the lad made. The year -passed away; the lad received the lamb for his wages, and set off home -with it. As they journeyed night set in just as he reached a village, so -he went to a farmhouse to ask for a night's lodging. There was a -daughter in the house who when she saw the lamb with the golden fleece -determined to steal it. About midnight she arose, and lo! the moment she -touched the lamb she stuck hard-and-fast to its fleece, so that when the -lad got up he found her stuck to the lamb. He could not separate them, -and as he could not leave his lamb he took them both. As he passed the -third door from the house where he had spent the night he took out his -flute and began to play. Then the lamb began to dance, and on the wool -the girl. Round the corner a woman was putting bread into the oven; -looking up she saw the lamb dancing, and on its wool the girl. Seizing -the peel in order to frighten the girl, she rushed out and shouted, "Get -away home with you, don't make such a fool of yourself." As the girl -continued dancing the woman called out, "What, won't you obey?" and gave -her a blow on her back with the peel, which at once stuck to the girl, -and the woman to the peel, and the lamb carried them all off. As they -went they came to the church. Here the lad began to play again, the lamb -began to dance, and on the lamb's fleece the girl, and on the girl's -back the peel, and at the end of the peel the woman. Just then the -priest was coming out from matins, and seeing what was going on began to -scold them, and bid them go home and not to be so foolish. As words were -of no avail, he hit the woman a sound whack on her back with his cane, -when to his surprise the cane stuck to the woman, and he to the end of -his cane. With this nice company the lad went on; and towards dark -reached the royal borough and took lodgings at the end of the town for -the night with an old woman. "What news is there?" said he. The old -woman told him they were in very great sorrow, for the king's daughter -was very ill, and that no physician could heal her, but that if she -could but be made to laugh she would be better at once; that no one had -as yet been able to make her smile; and moreover the king had issued -that very day a proclamation stating that whoever made her laugh should -have her for his wife, and share the royal power. The lad with the lamb -could scarcely wait till daylight, so anxious was he to try his fortune. -In the morning he presented himself to the king and stated his business -and was very graciously received. The daughter stood in the hall at the -front of the house; the lad then began to play the flute, the lamb to -dance, on the lamb's fleece the girl, on the girl's back the peel, at -the end of the peel the woman, on the woman's back the cane, and at the -end of the cane the priest. When the princess saw this sight she burst -out laughing, which made the lamb so glad that it shook everything off -its back, and the lamb, the girl, the woman, and the priest each danced -by themselves for joy. - -The king married his daughter to the shepherd; the priest was made -court-chaplain; the woman court bakeress; and the girl lady-in-waiting -to the princess. - -The wedding lasted from one Monday to the other Tuesday, and the whole -land was in great joy, and if the strings of the fiddle hadn't broken -they would have been dancing yet! - - - - -FISHER JOE. - - -There was once a poor man, who had nothing in the world but his wife and -an unhappy son Joe. His continual and his only care was how to keep -them: so he determined to go fishing, and thus to keep them from day to -day upon whatever the Lord brought to his net. Suddenly both the old -folks died and left the unhappy son by himself; he went behind the oven -and did not come out till both father and mother were buried; he sat -three days behind the oven, and then remembered that his father had kept -them by fishing; so he got up, took his net, and went fishing below the -weir: there he fished till the skin began to peel off the palms of his -hands, and never caught so much as one fish. At last he said, "I will -cast my net once more, and then I will never do so again." So he cast -his net for the last time and drew to shore a golden fish. While he was -going home he thought he would give it to the lord of the manor, so that -perhaps he might grant a day's wages for it. When he got home he took -down a plate from the rack, took the fish from his bag, and laid it upon -the plate; but the fish slipped off the plate and changed into a lovely -girl, who said, "I am thine, and you are mine, love." The moment after -she asked, "Joe, did your father leave you anything?" "We had -something," replied her husband; "but my father was poor and he sold -everything; but," continued he, "do you see that high mountain yonder? -it is not sold yet, for it is too steep and no one would have it." Then -said his wife, "Let's go for a walk and look over the mountain." So they -went all over it, length and breadth, from furrow to furrow. When they -came to a furrow in the middle his wife said, "Let us sit down on a -ridge, my love, and rest a little." They sat down, and Joe laid his head -on his wife's lap and fell asleep. She then slipped off her cloak, made -it into a pillow, drew herself away, and laid Joe upon the pillow -without waking him. She rose, went away, uncoiled a large whip and -cracked it. The crack was heard over seven times seven countries. In a -moment as many dragons as existed came forth. "What are your Majesty's -commands?" said they. "My commands are these," replied she: "you see -this place--build a palace here, finer than any that exists in the -world; and whatever is needed in it must be there: stables for eight -bullocks and the bullocks in them, with two men to tend them; stalls for -eight horses and the horses in them, and two grooms to tend them; six -stacks in the yard, and twelve threshers in the barn." She was greatly -delighted when she saw her order completed, and thanked God that He had -given her what He had promised. "I shall now go," said she, "and wake my -husband." When she came to him he was still asleep. "Get up, my love," -said she, "look after the threshers, the grooms, the oxen, and see that -all do their work, and that all the work be done, and give your orders -to the labourers; and now, my love, let us go into the house and see -that all is right. You give your orders to the men-servants, and I will -give mine to the maids. We have now enough to live on;" and Joe thanked -God for His blessings. He then told his wife that he would invite the -lord of the manor to dine with him on Whit Sunday. "Don't leave me," -replied his wife; "for if he catch sight of me you will lose me. I will -see that the table is laid and all is ready; but a maid shall wait on -you. I will retire into an inner room lest he should see me." - -Joe ordered the carriage and six, seated himself in it, the coachman sat -on the box, and away they went to the lord's house; they arrived at the -gate, Joe got out, went through the gate, and saw three stonemasons at -work in the yard; he greeted them and they returned the greeting. "Just -look," remarked one of them, "what Joe has become and how miserable he -used to be!" He entered the castle, and went into the lord's room. "Good -day, my lord." "God bless you, Joe, what news?" "I have come to ask your -lordship to dine with me on Whit Sunday, and we shall be very pleased to -see you." "I will come, Joe;" they then said good-bye and parted. After -Joe had gone the lord came into the courtyard, and the three masons -asked him "What did Joe want?" "He has invited me to dine with him," was -the reply, "and I am going." "Of course; you must go," said one of -them, "that you may see what sort of a house he keeps." - -The lord set out in his carriage and four, with the coachman in front, -and arrived at the palace. Joe ran out to meet him, they saluted each -other, and entered arm in arm. They dined, and all went well till the -lord asked, "Well, Joe, and where is your wife?" "She is busy," said -Joe. "But I should like to see her," explained the baron. "She is rather -shy when in men's society," said Joe. They enjoyed themselves, lighted -their pipes and went for a walk over the palace. Then said the baron to -his servant, "Order the carriage at once;" it arrived, and Joe and he -said "Farewell." As the baron went through the gate he looked back and -saw Joe's wife standing at one of the windows, and at once fell so -deeply in love with her that he became dangerously ill; when he arrived -at home the footmen were obliged to carry him from his carriage and lay -him in his bed. - -At daybreak the three masons arrived and began to work. They waited for -their master. As he did not appear, "I will go and see what's the matter -with him," said one of them, "for he always came out at 8 a.m." So the -mason went in and saluted the baron, but got no reply. "You are ill, my -lord," said he. "I am," said the baron, "for Joe has such a pretty wife, -and if I can't get her I shall die." The mason went out and the three -consulted together as to what was best to be done. One of them proposed -a task for Joe, _i.e._ that a large stone column which stood before one -of the windows should be pulled down, the plot planted with vines, the -grapes to ripen over night, and the next morning a goblet of wine should -be made from their juice and be placed on the master's table; if this -was not done Joe was to lose his wife. So one of them went in to the -baron and told him of their plan, remarking that Joe could not do that, -and so he would lose his wife. A groom was sent on horseback for Joe, -who came at once, and asked what his lordship desired. The baron then -told him the task he had to propose and the penalty. Poor Joe was so -downcast that he left without even saying "good-bye," threw himself into -his carriage, and went home. "Well, my love," asked his wife, "what does -he want?" "Want," replied her husband, "he ordered me to pull down the -stone column in front of his window. Since my father was not a -working-man, how could I do any work? Nor is that all. I am to plant the -place with vines, the grapes have to ripen, and I am to make a goblet of -wine, to be placed on his table at daybreak; and if I fail I am to lose -you." - -"Your smallest trouble ought to be greater than that," said his wife. -"Eat and drink, go to bed and have a good rest, and all will be well." -When night came she went out into the farmyard, uncoiled her whip, gave -a crack, which was heard over seven times seven countries, and -immediately all the dragons appeared. "What are your Majesty's -commands?" She then told them what her husband required, and in the -morning Joe had the goblet of wine, which he took on horseback lest he -should be late; he opened the baron's window, and, as nobody was there, -he placed the goblet on the table, closed the window, and returned home. - -At daybreak the baron turned in his bed. The bright light reflected by -the goblet met his eyes, and had such an effect on him that he fell back -in his bed, and got worse and worse. - -The three masons arrived and wondered why their master did not appear. -Said the tallest to the middle one, "I taught him something yesterday; -now you must teach him something else." "Well," said the middle one, "my -idea is this, that Joe shall build a silver bridge in front of the gate -during the night, plant both ends with all kinds of trees, and that the -trees be filled with all kinds of birds singing and twittering in the -morning. I'll warrant he won't do that, and so he will lose his wife." -When the baron came out they communicated their plan; he at once sent -for Joe and told him what he required. Joe went away without even -saying good-bye, he was so sad. When he got home he told his wife what -the baron wanted this time. "Don't trouble yourself, my love," said his -wife, "eat and drink and get a good rest, all shall be well." At night -she cracked her whip and ordered the dragons to do all that was -required, and so at daybreak all was done. The birds made such a noise -that the whole of the village was awakened by them. One nightingale -loudly and clearly to the baron sang, "Whatever God has given to some -one else that you must not covet; be satisfied with what has been given -to you." The baron awoke and turned over, and, hearing the loud singing -of the birds, rose and looked out of the window. The glare of the silver -bridge opposite the gate blinded him, and he fell back in bed and got -worse and worse. When the three masons arrived they could not enter, for -the splendour of the silver bridge dazzled them, and they were obliged -to enter by another gate. - -As they were working, the shortest said to the middle one, "Go and see -why his lordship does not come out; perhaps he is worse." He went in and -found the baron worse than ever. Then said the shortest, "I thought of -something, my lord, which he will never be able to do, and so you will -get his wife." "What is that, mason?" demanded the baron. "It is this, -my lord," said the mason, "that he shall ask God to dinner on Palm -Sunday, and that he can't do, and so he will lose his wife." "If you can -get Joe's wife for me you shall have all this property," said the baron. -"It's ours, then," said they, "for he can't do that." Joe was sent for, -and came at once to know what was required of him. "My orders are -these," replied the baron, "that you invite God to dinner on Palm Sunday -to my house; if you do not your wife is lost." Poor Joe went out without -saying good-bye, jumped into his carriage, and returned home dreadfully -miserable. When his wife asked him what was the matter he told her of -the baron's commands. "Go on," said his wife; "bring me that foal, the -yearling, the most wretched one of all, put upon it an old saddle and -silver harness on its head, and then get on its back." He did so, said -good-bye, and the wretched yearling darted off at once straight to -heaven. By the time it arrived there it had become quite a beautiful -horse. When Joe reached the gates of Paradise he tied his horse to a -stake, knocked at the door, which opened, and he went in and greeted the -Almighty. St. Peter received him, and asked him why he had come. "I've -come," said he, "to invite God to dinner at my lord's on Palm Sunday." -"Tell him from me," said the deity, "that I will come, and tell him that -he is to sow a plot with barley, and that it will ripen, and that I will -eat bread made of it at dinner. That a cow is to be taken to the bull -to-day, and that I will eat the flesh of the calf for my dinner." - -With this Joe took leave, and the foal flew downward. As they went Joe -was like to fall head-foremost off, and called upon the deity. St. Peter -told him not to fear, it was all right; he would fall on his feet. When -Joe arrived at home the barley was waving in the breeze and the cow was -in calf. "Well, wife," said he, "I will go to the baron's and give him -the message." So he went, knocked at the door, and entered the room. -"Don't come a step further," cried the baron. "I don't intend to," said -Joe: "I've come to tell you I have executed your commands, and mind you -don't blame me for what will happen. The deity has sent you this -message: you are to sow a plot with barley, and of it make bread for His -dinner. A cow is to go to the bull, and of the calf's flesh He will -eat." The baron became thoughtful. "Don't worry yourself, my lord," said -Joe, "you have worried me enough, it is your turn now;" and so he said -"good-bye," and went off home: when he got there the barley-bread was -baking and the veal was roasting. - -At this moment the deity and St. Peter arrived from heaven and were on -their way to the baron's, who the moment he saw them called out to his -servant, "Lock the gate, and do not let them in." Then said the deity, -"Let us go back to the poor man's home, and have dinner there." When -they reached the foot of the mountain St. Peter was told to look back -and say what he saw, and lo! the whole of the baron's property was a -sheet of water. "Now," said the deity to St. Peter, "let us go on, for -the mountain is high, and difficult to ascend." When they arrived at -Joe's he rushed out with outspread arms, fell to the ground, and kissed -the sole of the deity's foot. He entered and sat down to dinner, so did -Joe and his wife and also St. Peter. Then said God to Joe, "Set a table -in this world for the poor and miserable, and you shall have one laid -for you in the world to come; and now good-bye: you shall live in joy, -and in each other's love." - -They are living still if they have not died since. May they be your -guests to-morrow! - - - - -LUCK AND BLISS. - - -Luck and Bliss went out one day, and came to a town where they found a -poor man selling brooms, but nobody seemed to buy anything from him. -Bliss thereupon said, "Let us stop, and I will buy them all from the -poor fellow, so that he may make a good bargain." So they stopped, and -Bliss bought them all, and gave him six times the market value of them, -in order that the poor man might have a good start. - -On another occasion they came to the same town and found the man still -selling brooms. Bliss bought them all, and gave him ten times their -market value. They came a third time to the town, and the man was still -selling brooms, whereupon Luck said, "Let me try now, for, see, you have -bought them all twice, and in vain, for the man is a poor broom-seller -still;" so Luck bought them, but she did not give a penny more than the -market price. They came to the town a fourth time and saw the man who -had sold brooms leading wheat into town in a wagon with iron hoops on -the wheels and drawn by four fine bullocks. When they saw this Luck said -to Bliss, "Do you see that man who used to sell brooms? You bought them -all twice for a very high price. I bought them but once, and that for -the market value, and the consequence of my having done so is that he no -longer sells brooms, as he used to do, but wheat, and it appears he must -have got on well with his farm too." - - - - -THE LAZY CAT. - - -A lad married a lazy rich girl, and he made a vow that he would never -beat her. The missis never did any work but went about from house to -house gossiping and making all kinds of mischief, but still her husband -never beat her. One morning as he was going out to his work he said to -the cat, "You cat, I command you to do everything that is needed in the -house. While I am away put everything in order, cook the dinner, and do -some spinning; if you don't, I'll give you such a thrashing as you won't -forget." The cat listened to his speech half asleep, blinking on the -hearth. The woman thought to herself, "My husband has gone mad." So she -said, "Why do you order the cat to do all these things, which she knows -nothing about?" "Whether she does or whether she doesn't it's all the -same to me, wife. I have no one else whom I can ask to do anything; and -if she does not do all that I have ordered her to do you will see that I -will give her such a thrashing as she will never forget." With this he -went out to work, and the wife began to talk to the cat and said, "You -had better get your work done, or he will beat you;" but the cat did not -work, and the wife went from house to house gossiping. When she came -home the cat was asleep on the hearth, and the fire had gone out; so she -said, "Make the fire up, cat, and get your work done, or you will get a -sound thrashing;" but the cat did no work. In the evening the master -came home and found that nothing was done and that his orders were not -carried out; so he took hold of the cat by its tail and fastened it to -his wife's back, and began to beat till his wife cried out, "Don't beat -that cat any more! Don't beat that cat any more! it is not her fault, -she cannot help it, she does not understand these things." "Will you -promise then that you will do it all in her stead?" inquired her -husband. "I will do it all and even more than you order," replied his -wife, "if you will only leave off beating that cat." - -The woman then ran off home to complain to her mother of all these -things, and said, "I have promised that I will do all the work instead -of the cat, in order to prevent my husband beating her to death on my -back." And then her father spoke up and said, "If you have promised to -do it you must do it; if not, the cat will get a thrashing to-morrow." -And he sent her back to her husband. - -Next time the master again ordered the cat what she had to do, and she -did nothing again. So she got another beating on the wife's back, who -ran home again to complain; but her father drove her back, and she ran -so fast that her foot did not touch the ground as she went. - -On the third morning again the master commenced to give his commands to -the cat, who, however, was too frightened to listen, and did no work -that day; but this time the mistress did her work for her. She forgot no -one thing she had promised--she lighted the fire, fetched water, cooked -the food, swept the house, and put everything in order; for she was -frightened lest her husband should beat the poor cat again; for the -wretched animal in its agony stuck its claws into her back, and, -besides, the end of the two-tailed whip reached further than the cat's -back, so that with every stroke she received one as well as the cat. -When her husband came home everything was in order, and he kept -muttering, "Don't be afraid, cat, I won't thrash you this time;" and his -wife laid the cloth joyfully, dished up the food, and they had a good -meal in peace. - -After that the cat had no more beatings, and the mistress became such a -good housewife that you could not wish for a better. - - - - -HANDSOME PAUL. - - -There was once, over seven times seven countries, a poor woman who had a -son, and he decided to go into service. So he said to his mother, -"Mother, fill my bag and let me go out to work, for that will do me more -good than staying here and wasting my time." The lad's name was Paul. -His mother filled his bag for him, and he started off. As it became dark -he reached a wood, and in the distance he saw, as it were, a spark -glimmering amongst the trees, so he made his way in that direction -thinking that he might find some one there, and that he would be able to -get a night's lodging. So he walked and walked for a long time, and the -nearer he came the larger the light became. By midnight he reached the -place where the fire was, and lo! there was a great ugly giant sleeping -by the fire. "Good evening, my father," said Paul. "God has brought you, -my son," replied the giant; "you may think yourself lucky that you -called me father, for if you had not done so I would have swallowed you -whole. And now what is your errand?" - -"I started from home," said Paul, "to find work, and good fortune -brought me this way. My father, permit me to sleep to-night by your -fire, for I am alone and don't know my way." "With pleasure, my son," -said the giant. So Paul sat down and had his supper, and then they both -fell asleep. Next morning the giant asked him where he intended to go in -search of work. "If I could," replied Paul, "I should like to enter the -king's service, for I have heard he pays his servants justly." "Alas! my -son," said the giant, "the king lives far away from here. Your -provisions would fail twice before you reached there, but we can manage -the matter if you will sit on my shoulder and catch hold of the hair on -the back of my head." Paul took his seat on the giant's shoulders. "Shut -your eyes," said the giant, "because if you don't you will turn giddy." -Paul shut his eyes, and the giant started off, stepping from mountain to -mountain, till noon, when he stopped and said to Paul, "Open your eyes -now and tell me what you can see." - -Paul looked around as far as he could see, and said, "I see at an -infinite distance something white, as big as a star. What is it, my -father?" "That is the king's citadel," said the giant, and then they sat -down and had dinner. The giant's bag was made of nine buffalo's skins, -and in it were ten loaves (each loaf being made of four bushels of -wheat), and ten large bottles full of good Hungarian wine. The giant -consumed two bottles of wine and two loaves for his dinner, and gave -Paul what he needed. After a short nap the giant took Paul upon his -shoulders, bade him shut his eyes, and started off again, stepping from -mountain to mountain. At three o'clock he said to Paul, "Open your eyes, -and tell me what you can see." "I can see the white shining thing -still," said Paul, "but now it looks like a building." "Well, then, shut -your eyes again," said the giant, and he walked for another hour, and -then again asked Paul to look. Paul now saw a splendid glittering -fortress, such a one as he had never seen before, not even in his -dreams. "In another quarter-of-an-hour we shall be there," said the -giant. Paul shut his eyes again, and in fifteen minutes they were there; -and the giant put him down in front of the gate of the king's palace, -saying, "Well, now, I will leave you here, for I have a pressing -engagement, and must get back, but whatsoever service they offer to you, -take it, behave well, and the Lord keep you." Paul thanked him for his -kindness and his good-will, and the giant left. As Paul was a fine -handsome fellow he was engaged at once, for the first three months to -tend the turkeys, as there was no other vacancy, but even during this -time he was employed on other work: and he behaved so well, that at the -end of the time he was promoted to wait at the king's table. When he was -dressed in his new suit he looked like a splendid flower. The king had -three daughters; the youngest was more beautiful than the rose or the -lily, and this young lady fell in love with Paul, which Paul very soon -noticed; and day by day his courage grew, and he approached her more and -more, till they got very fond of each other. - -The queen with her serpent's eye soon discovered the state of affairs, -and told the king of it. - -"It's all right," said the king, "I'll soon settle the wretched fellow; -only leave it to me, my wife." - -Poor Paul, what awaits thee? - -The king then sent for Paul and said, "Look here, you good-for-nothing, -I can see you are a smart fellow! Now listen to me: I order you to cut -down during the night the whole wood that is in front of my window, to -cart it home, chop it up, and stack it in proper order in my courtyard; -if you don't I shall have your head chopped off in the morning." Paul -was so frightened when he heard this that he turned white and said, "Oh, -my king! no man could do this." "What!" said the king, "you -good-for-nothing, you dare to contradict me? go to prison at once!" Paul -was at once taken away, and the king repeated his commands, saying that -unless they were obeyed Paul should lose his head. Poor Paul was very -sad, and wept like a baby; but the youngest princess stepped into his -prison through a secret trap-door, and consoled him, giving him a copper -whip, and telling him to go and stand outside the gate on the top of the -hill, and crack it three times, when all the devils would appear. He was -then to give his orders, which the devils would carry out. - -Paul went off through the trap, and the princess remained in prison till -Paul returned; he went out, stood on the hill, and cracked his whip well -thrice, and lo! the devils came running to him from all sides, crying, -"What are your commands handsome Paul?" "I order you," replied Paul, "by -to-morrow morning to have all that large forest cut down, chopped, and -stacked in the king's courtyard;" with this he went back to prison and -spent a little time with the princess before she went away. The devils -entered the wood, and began to hew the trees down; there was a roaring, -clattering, and cracking noise as the big trees were dragged by root and -crown into the king's yard; they were chopped up and stacked; and the -devils, having finished the task, ran back to hell. By one o'clock all -was done. - -In the morning the first thing the king did was to look through the -window in the direction of the wood; he could not see anything but bare -land, and when he looked into the courtyard he saw there all the wood -chopped and stacked. - -He then called Paul from prison and said, "Well, I can see that you know -something, my lad, and I now order you to plough up to-night the place -where the wood used to be, and sow it with millet. The millet must grow, -ripen, be reaped, threshed, and ground into flour by the morning, and of -it you must make me a large millet-cake, else you lose your head." Paul -was then sent back to prison, more miserable than ever, for how could he -do such an unheard-of thing as that? His sweetheart came in again -through the trap-door and found him weeping bitterly. When she heard the -cause of his grief she said, "Oh, don't worry yourself, dear; here is a -golden whip, go and crack it three times on the hill-top, and all the -devils will come that came last night; crack it again three times and -all the female devils will arrive; crack it another three times and even -the lame ones will appear, and those enceinte come creeping forth. Tell -them what you want and they will do it." - -Paul went out and stood on the hill-top, and cracked his whip three good -cracks, and then three more, and three more, such loud cracks that his -ears rung, and again the devils came swarming in all directions like -ants, old ones and young ones, males and females, lame and enceinte, -such a crowd that he could not see them all without turning his head all -round. They pressed him hard, saying, "What are your commands, handsome -Paul? What are your commands, handsome Paul? If you order us to pluck -all the stars from heaven and to place them in your hands it shall be -done." - -Paul gave his orders and went back to prison, and stayed with the -princess till daybreak. - -There was a sight on the hill-side, the devils were shouting and making -such a din that you could not tell one word from another. "Now then! -Come here! This way, Michael! That way, Jack! Pull it this way! Turn it -that way! Go at it! See, the work is done!" - -The whole place was soon ploughed up, the millet sown, and it began to -sprout, it grew, ripened, was cut, carted in wagons, in barrows, on -their backs, or as best they could. It was thrashed with iron flails, -carried to the mill, crushed and bolted, a light was put to the timber -in the yard, it took fire, and the wood crackled everywhere, and there -was such a light that the king in the seventh country off could see to -count his money by it. Then they brought from hell the biggest cauldron -they could find, put it on the fire, put flour into it and boiling -water; as the millet-cake was bubbling and boiling they took it out of -the pot and put it into Mrs. Pluto's lap, placed a huge spoon into her -hands, and she began to stir away, mix it up, and cut it up with her -quick hands till it began to curl up at the side of the cauldron after -the spoon. As it was quite done she mixed it well once more, and being -out of breath handed the spoon to Pluto himself--who was superintending -the whole work,--who took out his pocket-knife--which was red-hot--and -began to scrape the cake off the spoon and to eat it with great gusto. - -Mrs. Pluto then took the cake out with a huge wooden spoon, heaped it up -nicely, patted it all round, and put it on the fire once more; when it -was quite baked she turned it out a large millet-cake in the midst of -the yard, and then they all rushed back, as fast as they could run, to -hell. - -Next morning, when the king looked through the window, an immense -millet-cake was to be seen there, so large that it nearly filled the -whole yard; and he, however vexed he was, could not help bursting out -into a loud laugh. He gave instant orders for the whole town to come and -clear away the millet-cake, and not to leave so much as a mouthful. -Never was such a feast seen before, and I don't think ever will be -again: some carried it away in their hands, some in bags, some in large -table-cloths, sacks, and even in wagons; everybody took some, and it -went in all directions in every possible manner, so that in three hours -the huge cake was all gone; even the part that had stuck to the ground -was scraped up and carried away. Some made tarts of it at home, pounded -poppy-seed, and spread it over them; others wanted pork to eat with it, -others ate it with fresh milk, with dried prunes, with perry, with -craps, with cream-milk, sour-milk, cow's-milk, goat's-milk; some with -curds; others covered it over with cream-cheese, rolled it up and ate it -thus; better houses mixed it with good buffalo-milk, and ate it with -butter, lard, and cream-cheese, so that it was no longer millet-cake -with cream-cheese, but cream-cheese with millet-cake! There were many -who had never eaten anything like it before, and they got so full of it -they could just breathe; even the king had a large piece served up for -his breakfast on a porcelain plate; he then went to the larder for a -large tub, which was full of the best cream-cheese of Csik like unto the -finest butter; he took a large piece of this, spread it on his cake, set -to and ate it to the very last. He then drank three tumblerfuls of the -best old claret, and said, "Well, that really was a breakfast fit for -the gods!" And thus it happened that all the millet-cake was used up, -and then the king sent for Paul and said to him, "Well, you brat of a -devil, did you do all this, or who did it?" "I don't know." "Well, there -are in my stables a bay stallion, a bay mare, two grey fillies and a bay -filly, you must walk them about, in turn, to-morrow morning, till they -are tired out; if you don't I'll have your head impaled." Paul wasn't a -bit frightened this time, but began to whistle, and hum tunes to himself -in the prison, being in capital spirits. "It will be very easy to walk -these horses out," said he; "it's not the first time I've done that." -The matter looked different however in the evening when his sweetheart -came and he told her all about it. "My love," said she, "this is even -worse than all the rest, because the devils did all your former tasks -for you, but this you must do yourself. Moreover, you must know that the -bay stallion will be my father, the bay mare my mother, the two grey -foals my elder sisters, and the bay foal myself. However, we shall find -some way of doing even this. When you enter the stable we all will begin -to kick so terribly that you won't be able to get near us; but you must -try to get hold of the iron pole that stands inside the door, and with -it thrash them all till they are tame; then you must lead them out as -well as you can; but don't beat me, for I shall not desert you." His -love then gave him a copper bridle, which he hid in his bosom, and -buttoned his coat over it. And his lady-love went back to her bedroom; -for she knew there was plenty of hard work in store for her on the -morrow; for the same reason she ordered Paul to try to sleep well. - -In the morning the jailer came, and brought two warders with him, and -led Paul to the stable to take the horses out for a walk. Even in the -distance he could hear the snorting, kicking, pawing, and neighing in -the stable, so that it filled the air. He tried in vain to get inside -the stable-door, he had not courage enough to take even one step inside. -Somehow or other, however, he got hold of the iron pole, and with it he -beat, pounded, and whacked the bay stallion till it lay down in agony. -He then took out his bridle, threw it over its head, led it out, jumped -upon its back, and rode it about till the foam streamed from it, and -then led it in and tied it up. He did the same with the bay mare, only -she was worse; and the grey foals were worse still, till by the end he -was nearly worn out with beating them. At last he came to the bay foal, -but he would not have touched her for all the treasure of the world; -yet, in order to deceive the others, he banged the crib, box, manger, -and posts right lustily, till at last the bay foal lay down. With this -the mare, who was the queen, said to the bay stallion, "You see it was -that bay foal who was the cause of all this. But wait a bit, confound -her!" she cried after them as he led her out of the stable; "I also have -as many wits as you, and I will teach you both a lesson. Never mind, my -sweet daughter, you have treated us all most cruelly with that iron -pole, but you shall pay for it shortly." When Paul heard this he was so -frightened he could hardly lead the foal. "Don't be afraid," said the -foal, "let's get away from here, and the sooner the better, never to -return, or woe betide us!" They cantered up to the house, where she sent -him in to get money, and jewellery, and the various things they would -need, and then galloped off as fast as she could with Paul on her back, -over seven times seven countries, till noon; and just as the sun was at -noon the foal said to Paul, "Look back; what can you see?" Paul looked -back and saw in the distance an eagle flying towards them, from whose -mouth shot forth a flame seven fathoms long. Then said the foal, "I will -turn a somersault, and become a sprouting millet-field; you do the same, -you will become the garde champetre, and when the eagle, which is my -father, comes, if he ask you if you have seen such and such travellers, -tell him, yes, you saw them pass when this millet was sown." So the foal -turned over and became a sprouting millet-field, and Paul became the -garde champetre. The eagle arrived, and said, "My lad, have you not seen -a young fellow on a bay foal pass this way in a great hurry?" "Well, -yes," replied Paul, "I saw them at the time this millet was sown, but I -can't tell you where they may be now." "I don't think they can have come -this way," said the eagle, and flew back home and told his wife all -about it. "Oh! you baulked fool!" cried she, "the millet-field was your -daughter, and the lad Paul. So back you go at once, and bring them -home." - -Paul and his foal rode on half the afternoon, and then the foal said, -"Look back, what can you see?" "I see the eagle again," said Paul, "but -now the flame is twice seven fathoms long; he flies very quickly." -"Let's turn over again," said the foal, "and I will become a lamb and -you will be the shepherd, and if my father ask you if you have seen the -travellers say yes, you saw them when the lamb was born." So they turned -over, and one became a lamb and the other a shepherd; the eagle arrived -and asked the shepherd if he had seen the travellers pass by, and was -told that they were seen when the lamb was born. The king returned and -told his wife all, who drove him back, crying, "The lamb was your -daughter and the shepherd, Paul, you empty-headed fool." Paul and the -foal went on a long way, when the foal said, "What can you see?" He saw -the eagle again, but now it was enveloped in flames; they turned over -and the foal became a chapel, and Paul a hermit inside; the eagle -arrived and inquired after the travellers, and was told by the hermit -that they had passed by when the chapel was building. The eagle went -back a third time, and his wife was in an awful rage and told him to -stay where he was, telling him that the chapel was his daughter and the -hermit Paul. "But you are so dense," said she, "they can make you -believe anything; I will go myself and see whether they will fool me." - -The queen started off as a falcon. Paul and the foal went still -travelling on, when the foal said, "Look back, what can you see?" "I see -a falcon," said Paul, "With a flame seventy-seven yards long coming out -of its mouth." "That's my mother," said the foal, "We must be careful -this time, Paul, for we shall not be able to hoodwink her with lies; let -us turn over quickly, she will be here in a second. I will be a lake of -milk and you a golden duck on it; take care she doesn't catch you, or we -are done for." They turned over and changed; the falcon arrived and -swooped down upon the duck like lightning, who had just time to dive and -escape. The falcon tried again and again till it got quite tired; for -each time the duck dived and so she missed him. In a great rage the -falcon turned over and became the queen. She picked up stones and tried -to strike the duck dead, but he was clever enough to dodge her, so she -soon got tired of that and said, "I can see, you beast, that I cannot do -anything with you; my other two daughters died before my eyes to-day -from the beating you gave them with the iron pole, you murderer. Now I -curse you with this curse, that you will forget each other, and never -remember that you have ever known each other." - -With this she turned over, became a falcon, and flew away home very sad, -and the other two changed also, this time into Paul and the princess. -"Nobody will persecute us now," said she, "let us travel on quietly. The -death of my two sisters is no sad or bad news to me, for now when my -father and mother are dead the land will be ours, my dear Paul;" so they -wandered on, and talked over their affairs, till they came to a house; -and as the day was closing they felt very tired and sat down to rest and -fell asleep. After sunset they awoke and stared at each other, but -couldn't make out who the other was, for they had forgotten all the -past, and inquired in astonishment "Who are you?" and "Well, who are -you?" But neither could tell who the other was; so they walked into the -town as strangers and separated. Paul got a situation as valet to a -nobleman, and the princess became a lady's maid in another part of the -city. They lived there for twelve months, and never once remembered -anything that had happened in the past. One night Paul dreamt that the -bay stallion was in its last agony, and soon afterwards died; the lady's -maid, at the same time, dreamt that the bay mare was dying, and died; by -this dream they both remembered all that had happened to each other; but -even then they did not know that they were in the same town. On the day -following this dream Paul was sent by the nobleman's son secretly with a -love-letter to the nobleman's youngest daughter where the lady's maid -lived. Paul took the letter, and handed it to the lady's maid so that -she might place it in her mistress's hands; then he saw who the lady's -maid was, that it was his old sweetheart, the beloved of his soul; now -he remembered how often before he had given her letters from his young -master for the young lady of the house, and how he had done a little -love-making on his own account, but never till now had he recognised -her. The princess recognised Paul at a glance and rushed into his arms -and wept for joy. They told each other their dreams, and knew that her -father and mother--the bay mare and bay stallion of yore--died last -night. "Let us be off," said the princess, "or else the kingdom will be -snatched from us." So they agreed, and fixed the day after the morrow -for the start. Next morning the official crier proclaimed that the king -and queen had died suddenly about midnight; it happened at the very -moment they had had their dreams. - -They started secretly by the same road, and arrived at home in a day. - -The king and queen were still laid in state, and the princess, who was -thought to be lost, shed tears over them. - -She was soon afterwards crowned queen of the realm, and chose Paul for -her consort, and got married; if they have not died since they are still -alive, and in great happiness to this day. - - - - -THE TRAVELS OF TRUTH AND FALSEHOOD. - - -A long time ago--I don't exactly remember the day--Truth started, with -her bag well filled, on a journey to see the world. On she went over -hill and dale, and through village and town, till one day she met -Falsehood. "Good day, countrywoman," said Truth; "where are you bound -for? Where do you intend going?" "I'm going to travel all over the -world," said Falsehood. "That's right," said Truth; "and as I'm bound in -the same direction let's travel together." "All right," replied -Falsehood; "but you know that fellow-travellers must live in harmony, so -let's divide our provisions and finish yours first." Truth handed over -her provisions, upon which the two lived till every morsel was consumed; -then it was Falsehood's turn to provide. "Let me gouge out one of your -eyes," said Falsehood to Truth, "and then I'll let you have some food." -Poor Truth couldn't help herself; for she was very hungry and didn't -know what to do. So she had one of her eyes gouged out, and she got some -food. Next time she wanted food she had the other eye gouged out, and -then both her arms cut off. After all this Falsehood told her to go -away. Truth implored not to be left thus helpless in the wilds, and -asked that she might be taken to the gate of the next town and left -there to get her living by begging. Falsehood led her, not to where she -wanted to go, but near a pair of gallows and left her there. Truth was -very much surprised that she heard no one pass, and thought that all the -folks in that town must be dead. As she was thus reasoning with herself -and trembling with fear she fell asleep. When she awoke she heard some -people talking above her head, and soon discovered that they were -devils. The eldest of them said to the rest, "Tell me what you have -heard and what you have been doing." One said, "I have to-day killed a -learned physician, who has discovered a medicine with which he cured all -crippled, maimed, or blind." "Well, you're a smart fellow!" said the old -devil; "what may the medicine be?" "It consists simply of this," replied -the other, "that to-night is Friday night, and there will be a new moon: -the cripples have to roll about and the blind to wash their eyes in the -dew that has fallen during the night; the cripples will be healed of -their infirmities and the blind will see." "That is very good," said the -old devil. "And now what have you done, and what do you know?" he asked -the others. - -"I," said another, "have just finished a little job of mine; I have cut -off the water-supply and will thus kill the whole of the population of -the country-town not far from here." "What is your secret?" asked the -old devil. "It is this," replied he; "I have placed a stone on the -spring which is situated at the eastern corner of the town at a depth of -three fathoms. By this means the spring will be blocked up, and not one -drop of water will flow; as for me I can go everywhere without fear, -because no one will ever find out my secret, and all will happen just as -I planned it." - -The poor crippled Truth listened attentively to all these things. -Several other devils spoke; but poor Truth either did not understand -them or did not listen to what they said, as it did not concern her. - -Having finished all, the devils disappeared as the cock crew announcing -the break of day. - -Truth thought she would try the remedies she had heard, and at night -rolled about on the dewy ground, when to her great relief her arms grew -again. Wishing to be completely cured, she groped about and plucked -every weed she could find, and rubbed the dew into the cavities of her -eyes. As day broke she saw light once more. She then gave hearty thanks -to the God of Truth that he had not left her, his faithful follower, to -perish. Being hungry she set off in search of food. So she hurried off -to the nearest town, not only for food, but also because she remembered -what she had heard the devils say about cutting off the water supply. -She hurried on, so as not to be longer than she could help in giving -them her aid in their distress. She soon got there, and found every one -in mourning. Off she went straight to the king, and told him all she -knew; he was delighted when he was told that the thirst of the people -might be quenched. She also told the king how she had been maimed and -blinded, and the king believed all she said. They commenced at once with -great energy to dig up the stone that blocked the spring. The work was -soon done; the stone reached, lifted out, and the spring flowed once -more. The king was full of joy and so was the whole town, and there were -great festivities and a general holiday was held. The king would not -allow Truth to leave, but gave her all she needed, and treated her as -his most confidential friend, placing her in a position of great wealth -and happiness. In the meantime Falsehood's provisions came to an end, -and she was obliged to beg for food. As only very few houses gave her -anything she was almost starving when she met her old travelling -companion again. She cried to Truth for a piece of bread. "Yes, you can -have it," said Truth, "but you must have an eye gouged out;" and -Falsehood was in such a fix that she had either to submit or starve. -Then the other eye was taken out, and after that her arms were cut off, -in exchange for dry crusts of bread. Nor could she help it, for no one -else would give her anything. - -Having lost her eyes and her arms she asked Truth to lead her under the -same gallows as she had been led to. At night the devils came; and, as -the eldest began questioning the others as to what they had been doing -and what they knew, one of them proposed that search be made, just to -see whether there were any listeners to their conversation, as some one -must have been eaves-dropping the other night, else it would never have -been found out how the springs of the town were plugged up. To this they -all agreed, and search was made; and soon they found Falsehood, whom -they instantly tore to pieces, coiled up her bowels into knots, burnt -her, and dispersed her ashes to the winds. But even her dust was so -malignant that it was carried all over the world; and that is the reason -that wherever men exist there Falsehood must be. - - - - -THE HUNTING PRINCES. - - -Once there was a king whose only thought and only pleasure was hunting; -he brought up his sons to the same ideas, and so they were called the -Hunting Princes. They had hunted all over the six snow-capped mountains -in their father's realm; there was a seventh, however, called the Black -Mountain, and, although they were continually asking their father to -allow them to hunt there, he would not give them permission. In the -course of time the king died, and his sons could scarcely wait till the -end of the funeral ceremonies before they rushed off to hunt in the -Black Mountain, leaving the government in the hands of an old duke. They -wandered about several days on the mountain, but could not find so much -as a single bird, so they decided to separate, and that each of them -should go to one of the three great clefts in the mountain, thinking -that perhaps luck would serve them better in this way. They also agreed -that whoever shot an arrow uselessly should be slapped in the face. They -started off, each on his way. Suddenly the youngest one saw a raven and -something shining in its beak, that, he thought, was in all probability -a rich jewel. He shot, and a piece of steel fell from the raven's beak, -while the bird flew away unhurt. The twang of the bow was heard all over -the mountain, and the two elder brothers came forward to see what he had -done; when they saw that he had shot uselessly they slapped his face and -went back to their places. When they had gone the youngest suddenly saw -a falcon sitting on the top of the rock. This he thought was of value, -so he shot, but the arrow stuck in a piece of pointed rock which -projected under the falcon's feet, and the bird flew away; as it flew a -piece of rock fell to the ground which he discovered to be real flint. -His elder brothers came, and slapped his face for again shooting in so -foolish a manner. No sooner had they gone and the day was drawing to an -end than he discovered a squirrel just as it was running into its hole -in a tree; so he thought its flesh would be good to eat; he shot, but -the squirrel escaped into a hollow of the tree, and the arrow struck -what appeared to be a large fungus, knocking a piece off, which he found -to be a fine piece of tinder. The elder brothers came and gave him a -sound thrashing which he took very quietly, and after this they did not -separate. As it was getting dark and they were wandering on together a -fine roebuck darted across their path; all three shot, and it fell. On -they went till they came to a beautiful meadow by the side of a spring, -where they found a copper trough all ready for them. They sat down, -skinned and washed the roebuck, got all ready for a good supper, but -they had no fire. "You slapped my face three times because I was wasting -my arrows," said the youngest; "if you will allow me to return those -slaps I will make you a good fire." The elder brothers consented, but -the younger waived his claim and said to them, "You see, when you don't -need a thing you think it valueless; see now, the steel, flint, and -tinder you despised will make us the fire you need." With that he made -the fire. They spitted a large piece of venison and had an excellent -huntsman's supper. After supper they held a consultation as to who was -to be the guard, as they had decided not to sleep without a guard. It -was arranged that they should take the duty in turns, and that death was -to be the punishment of any negligence of duty. The first night the -elder brother watched and the two youngest slept. All passed well till -midnight, when all at once in the direction of the town of the Black -Sorrow, which lay behind the Black Mountain, a dragon came with three -heads, a flame three yards long protruding from its mouth. The dragon -lived in the Black Lake, which lay beyond the town of the Black Sorrow, -with two of his brothers, one with five heads and the other with seven, -and they were sworn enemies to the town of the Black Sorrow. These -dragons always used to come to this spring to drink at midnight, and for -that reason no man or beast could walk there, because whatever the -dragons found there they slew. As soon as the dragon caught sight of the -princes he rushed at them to devour them, but he who was keeping guard -stood up against him and slew him, and dragged his body into a copse -near. The blood streamed forth in such torrents that it put the fire -out, all save a single spark, which the guarding prince fanned up, and -by the next morning there was a fire such as it did one good to see. -They hunted all day, returning at night, when the middle prince was -guard. At midnight the dragon with the five heads came; the prince slew -him, and his blood as it rushed out put the fire entirely out save one -tiny spark, which the prince managed to fan into a good fire by the -morning. - -On the third night the youngest prince had to wrestle with the dragon -with seven heads. He vanquished it and killed it. This time there was so -much blood that the fire was completely extinguished. When he was about -to relight it he found that he had lost his flint. What was to be done? -He began to look about him, and see if he could find any means of -relighting the fire. He climbed up into a very high tree, and from it he -saw in a country three days' journey off, on a hill, a fire of some sort -glimmering: so off he went; and as he was going he met Midnight, who -tried to pass him unseen; but the prince saw him, and cried out, "Here! -stop; wait for me on this spot till I return." But Midnight would not -stop; so the prince caught him, and fastened him with a stout strap to a -thick oak-tree, remarking, "Now, I know you will wait for me!" He went -on some four or five hours longer, when he met Dawn: he asked him, too, -to wait for him, and as he would not he tied him to a tree like -Midnight, and went further and further. Time did not go on, for it was -stopped. At last he arrived at the fire, and found there were -twenty-four robbers round a huge wood fire roasting a bullock. But he -was afraid to go near, so he stuck a piece of tinder on the end of his -arrow, and shot it through the flames. Fortunately the tinder caught -fire, but as he went to look for it the dry leaves crackled under his -feet, and the robbers seized him. Some of the robbers belonged to his -father's kingdom, and, as they had a grudge against the father, they -decided to kill the prince. One said, "Let's roast him on a spit"; -another proposed to dig a hole and bury him; but the chief of the -robbers said, "Don't let us kill the lad, let's take him with us as he -may be very useful to us. You all know that we are about to kidnap the -daughter of the king of the town of the Black Sorrow, and we intend to -sack his palace, but we have no means of getting at the iron cock at the -top of the spire because when we go near it begins at once to crow, and -the watchman sees us; let us take this lad with us, and let him shoot -off the iron cock, for we all know what a capital marksman he is; and -if he succeeds we will let him go." To this the robbers kindly -consented, as they saw they would by this means gain more than if they -killed him. So they started off, taking the prince with them, till they -came close to the fortress guarding the town of the Black Sorrow. They -then sent the prince in advance that he might shoot off the iron cock; -this he did. Then said the chief of the robbers, "Let's help him up to -the battlements, and then he will pull us up, let us down on the other -side, and keep guard for us while we are at work, and he shall have part -of the spoil, and then we will let him go." But the dog-soul of the -chief was false, for his plan was, that, having finished all, he would -hand the prince over to the robbers. This the prince had discovered from -some whisperings he had heard among them. He soon found a way out of the -difficulty. As he was letting them down one by one, he cut off their -heads, and sent them headless into the fortress, together with their -chief. Finding himself all alone, and no one to fear, he went to the -king's palace: in the first apartment he found the king asleep; in the -second the queen; in the third the three princesses. At the head of each -one there was a candle burning; that the prince moved in each case to -their feet, and none of them noticed him, except the youngest princess, -who awoke, and was greatly frightened at finding a man in her bedroom; -but when the prince told her who he was, and what he had done, she got -up, dressed, and took the young prince into a side-chamber and gave him -plenty to eat and drink, treated him kindly, and accepted him as her -lover, and gave him a ring and a handkerchief as a sign of their -betrothal. The prince then took leave of his love, and went to where the -robbers lay, cut off the tips of their noses and ears, and bound them up -in the handkerchief, left the fortress, got the fire, released Midnight -and Dawn, arrived at their resting-place, made a good fire by morning, -so that all the blood was dried up. - -At daybreak in the town of the Black Sorrow, Knight Red, as he was -inspecting the sentries, came across the headless robbers. As soon as he -saw them he cut bits off their mutilated noses and ears, and started for -the town, walking up and down, and telling everybody with great pride -what a hero he was, and how that last night he had killed the -twenty-four robbers who for such a length of time had been the terror of -the town of the Black Sorrow. His valour soon came to the ears of the -king, who ordered the Red Knight to appear before him: here he boasted -of his valour, and produced his handkerchief and the pieces cut from the -robbers. The king believed all that he said, and was so overjoyed at the -good news that he gave him permission to choose which of the princesses -he pleased for his wife, adding that he would also give him a share of -the kingdom. The Red Knight, however, made a mistake, for he chose the -youngest daughter, who knew all about the whole affair, and was already -engaged to the youngest prince. The king told his daughter he was going -to give her as a wife. - -To this she said, "Very well, father, but to whomsoever you intend to -give me he must be a worthy man, and he must give proofs that he has -rendered great service to our town." To this the king replied, "Who -could be able or who has been able to render greater services to the -town than this man, who has killed the twenty-four robbers?" The girl -answered, "You are right, father; whoever did that I will be his wife." -"Well done, my daughter, you are quite right in carrying out my wish; -prepare for your marriage, because I have found the man who saved our -town from this great danger." The young girl began to get ready with -great joy, for she knew nothing of the doings of the Red Knight, and -only saw what was going to happen when all was ready, the altar-table -laid, and the priest called, when lo! in walked the Red Knight as her -bridegroom, a man whom she had always detested, so that she could not -bear even to look at him. She rushed out and ran to her room, where she -fell weeping on her pillow. Everyone was there, and all was ready, but -she would not come; her father went in search of her, and she told him -how she had met the youngest of the Hunting Princes the night before, -and requested her father to send a royal messenger into the deserted -meadow, where the dragons of the Black Lake went to drink at the copper -trough, and to invite to the wedding the three princes who were staying -there; and asked her father not to press her to marry the Red Knight -till their arrival; on such conditions she would go among the guests. -Her father promised this, and sent the messenger in great haste to the -copper trough, and the young girl went among the guests. The feast was -going on in as sumptuous a manner as possible. The messenger came to the -copper trough, and hid himself behind a bush at the skirts of an open -place, and as he listened to the conversation of the princes he knew -that he had come to the right place; he hastened to give them the -invitation from the king of the town of the Black Sorrow to the wedding -of his youngest daughter. - -The princes soon got ready, especially the youngest one, who, when he -heard that his fiancee was to be married, would have been there in the -twinkling of an eye if he had been able. When the princes arrived in the -courtyard the twelve pillows under the Red Knight began to move, as he -sat on them at the head of the table. When the youngest prince stepped -upon the first step of the stairs, one pillow slipped out from under the -Red Knight, and as he mounted each step another pillow fled, till as -they crossed the threshold even the chair upon which he sat fell, and -down dropped the Red Knight upon the floor. - -The youngest Hunting Prince told them the whole story, how his elder -brothers had slain the dragons with three and five heads, and he the one -with seven heads; he also told them especially all about the robbers, -and how he met the king's daughter, how he had walked through all their -bedrooms and changed the candles from their head to their feet; he also -produced the ring and the handkerchief, and placed upon the table the -nose and ear-tips he had cut off the robbers. - -They tallied with those the Red Knight had shown, and it was apparent to -everybody which had been cut off first. - -Everyone believed the prince and saw that the Red Knight was false. For -his trickery he was sentenced to be tied to a horse's tail and dragged -through the streets of the whole town, then quartered and nailed to the -four corners of the town. - -The three Hunting Princes married the three daughters of the king of the -town of the Black Sorrow. The youngest prince married the youngest -princess, to whom he was engaged before, and he became the heir-apparent -in the town of Black Sorrow, and the other two divided their father's -realm. - -May they be your guests to-morrow! - - - - -THE LAZY SPINNING-GIRL WHO BECAME A QUEEN. - - -A common woman had a daughter who was a very good worker, but she did -not like spinning; for this her mother very often scolded her, and one -day got so vexed that she chased her down the road with the distaff. As -they were running a prince passed by in his carriage. As the girl was -very pretty the prince was very much struck with her, and asked her -mother "What is the matter?" "How can I help it?" said the mother, "for, -after she has spun everything that I had, she asked for more flax to -spin." "Let her alone, my good woman," said the prince; "don't beat her. -Give her to me, let me take her with me, I will give her plenty to -spin. My mother has plenty of work that needs to be done, so she can -enjoy herself spinning as much as she likes." The woman gave her -daughter away with the greatest pleasure, thinking that what she was -unwilling to do at home she might be ashamed to shirk in a strange -place, and get used to it, and perhaps even become a good spinster after -all. The prince took the girl with him and put her into a large shed -full of flax, and said "If you spin all you find here during the month -you shall be my wife." The girl seeing the great place full of flax -nearly had a fit, as there was enough to have employed all the girls in -the village for the whole of the winter; nor did she begin to work, but -sat down and fretted over it, and thus three weeks of the month passed -by. In the meantime she always asked the person who took her her food, -"What news there was?" Each one told her something or other. At the end -of the third week one night, as she was terribly downcast, suddenly a -little man half an ell long, with a beard one and a-half ells long, -slipped in and said, "Why are you worrying yourself, you good, pretty -spinning-girl?" "That's just what's the matter with me," replied the -girl; "I am not a good spinster, and still they will believe that I am a -good spinster, and that's the reason why I am locked up here." "Don't -trouble about that," said the little man; "I can help you and will spin -all the flax during the next week if you agree to my proposal and -promise to come with me if you don't find out my name by the time that I -finish my spinning." "That's all right," said the girl, "I will go with -you," thinking that then the matter would be all right. The little dwarf -set to work. It happened during the fourth week that one of the -men-servants, who brought the girl's food, went out hunting with the -prince. One day he was out rather late, and so was very late when he -brought the food. The girl said, "What's the news?" The servant told her -that that evening as he was coming home very late he saw, in the forest, -in a dark ditch, a little man half an ell high, with a beard one and -a-half ells long, who was jumping from bough to bough, and spinning a -thread, and humming to himself:--"My name is Dancing Vargaluska. My -wife will be good spinster Sue." - -Sue, the pretty spinning-girl, knew very well what the little man was -doing, but she merely said to the servant, "It was all imagination that -made you think you saw it in the dark." She brightened up; for she knew -that all the stuff would be spun, and that he would not be able to carry -her off, as she knew his name. In the evening the little man returned -with one-third of the work done and said to her, "Well, do you know my -name yet?" - -"Perhaps, perhaps," said she; but she would not have told his real name -for all the treasures in the world, fearing that he might cease working -if she did. Nor did she tell him when he came the next night. On the -third night the little man brought the last load; but this time he -brought a wheelbarrow with him, with three wheels, to take the girl away -with him. When he asked the girl his name she said, "If I'm not mistaken -your name is Dancing Vargaluska." - -On hearing this the little man rushed off as if somebody had pulled his -nose. - -The month being up, the prince sent to see if the girl had completed her -work; and when the messenger brought back word that all was finished the -king was greatly astonished how it could possibly have happened that so -much work had been done in so short a time, and went himself, -accompanied by a great suite of gentlemen and court-dames, and gazed -with great admiration upon the vast amount of fine yarn they saw. Nor -could they praise the girl enough, and all found her worthy to be queen -of the land. Next day the wedding was celebrated, and the girl became -queen. After the grand wedding-dinner the poor came, and the king -distributed alms to them; amongst them were three deformed beggars, who -struck the king very much: one was an old woman whose eyelids were so -long that they covered her whole face; the second was an old woman -whose lower lip was so long that the end of it reached to her knee; the -third old woman's posterior was so flat that it was like a pancake. - -These three were called into the reception-room and asked to explain why -they were so deformed. The first said, "In my younger days I was such a -good spinster that I had no rival in the whole neighbourhood. I spun -till I got so addicted to it that I even used to spin at night: the -effect of all this was that my eyelids became so long that the doctors -could not get them back to their places." - -The second said, "I have spun so much during my life and for such a -length of time that with continually biting off the end of the yarn my -lips got so soft that one reached my knees." - -The third said, "I have sat so much at my spinning that my posterior -became flat as it is now." - -Hereupon the king, knowing how passionately fond his wife was of -spinning, got so frightened that he strictly prohibited her ever -spinning again. - -The news of the story went out over the whole world, into every royal -court and every town; and the women were so frightened at what had -happened to the beggars that they broke every distaff, spinning-wheel, -and spindle, and threw them into the fire! - - - - -THE ENVIOUS SISTERS. - - -A king had three daughters whose names were Pride, Gentleness, and -Kindness. The king was very fond of them all, but he loved the youngest -one, Kindness, the most, as she knew best how to please him. Many -clever young gentlemen came to visit Kindness, but no one ever came near -the other two, and so they were very envious of her, and decided they -would get rid of her somehow or other. One morning they asked their -father's permission to go out into the fields, and from thence they went -into the forest. Kindness was delighted at having liberty to roam about -in such pretty places; the other two were pleased that they had at last -got the bird into their hands. As the dew dried up the two eldest -sisters strolled about arm in arm, whilst the youngest chased -butterflies and plucked the wild strawberries, with the intention of -taking some home to her father; she spent her time in great glee, -singing and listening to the songs of the birds, when suddenly she -discovered that she had strolled into an immense wood. As she was -considering what to do, her two sisters appeared by her side, and said -spitefully, "Well, you good-for-nothing! you have never done anything -but try to make our father love you most and to spoil our chances in -every way, prepare yourself for your end, for you have eaten your last -piece of bread." Kindness lifted up her hands, and besought them not to -harm her, but they cut off her hands, and only spared her life under the -condition that she would never go near her home again; they then took -her beautiful precious mantle from her, and dressed her in old rags; -they then led her to the highest part of the forest, and showed her an -unknown land, bidding her go there and earn her living by begging. The -blood streamed from Kindness's arms, and her heart ached in an -indescribable way, but she never uttered the slightest reproach against -her sisters, but started off in the direction pointed out to her. -Suddenly she came to a beautiful open plain, where there was a pretty -little orchard full of trees, and their fruit was always ripening all -the year round. She gave thanks to God that he had guided her there, -then, entering the garden, she crouched down in a by-place. As she had -no hands to pluck the fruit with she lived upon what grew upon low -boughs; thus she spent the whole summer unnoticed by any one. - -But towards autumn, when every other fruit was gone save grapes, she -lived on these, and then the gardener soon discovered that the bunches -had been tampered with and that there must be some one about: he watched -and caught her. Now it so happened that the garden belonged to a prince, -who spent a great deal of his time there, as he was very fond of the -place. The gardener did not like to tell him of what had happened, as he -pitied the poor handless girl and was afraid his master would punish her -severely. He decided therefore to let her go. Accidentally, however, the -prince came past and asked who she was. "Your highness," replied the -gardener, "I know no more of her than you do. I caught her in the -garden, and to prevent her doing any more damage I was going to turn her -out." "Don't lead her away," said the prince; "and who are you, -unfortunate girl?" "You have called me right, my lord," said Kindness, -"for I am unfortunate, but I am not bad; I am a beggar, but I am of -royal blood. I was taken from my father because he loved me most; -crippled because I was a good child. That is my story." To this the -prince replied, "However dirtily and ragged you are dressed, still it is -clear to me that you are not of low birth: your pretty face and polished -speech prove it. Follow me; and whatever you have lost you will find in -my house." "Your highness, in this nasty, dirty dress--how can I come -into your presence? Send clothes to me which I can put on, and then I -will do whatever you order." "Very well," said the prince; "stay here, -and I will send to you." He went and sent her a lady-in-waiting with -perfumed water to wash with, a gorgeous dress, and a carriage. Kindness -washed and dressed herself, got into the carriage, and went to the -prince. Quite changed in her appearance, not at all like as she was -before, however much she suffered she was as pretty as a Lucretia; and -the prince fell so much in love with her that he decided on the spot -that he would marry her; and so they got married, with great splendour, -and spent their time together in great happiness. - -When the two elder sisters came home from the forest their father -inquired where Kindness was. "Has she not come home?" said they; "we -thought that she would have been home before us. As she was running -after butterflies she got separated from us. We looked for her -everywhere and called for her; as we got no answer we set off home -before the darkness set in." - -The king gave orders that Kindness was to be looked for everywhere; they -searched for days but could not find her; then the king got so angry in -his sorrow that he drove the two elder girls away because they had not -taken proper care of their sister. They set out into the world in quite -another direction, but by accident arrived in the country where Kindness -was queen; here they lived a retired life in a small town unknown to -all. Kindness at this time was enceinte; and as war broke out with a -neighbouring nation her royal husband was obliged to go to the field of -battle. The war lasted a long time, and in the meantime Kindness gave -birth to twins, two handsome sons; on the forehead of one was the sign -of the blessed sun, on the other the sign of the blessed moon; in great -joy the queen's guardian sent a letter containing the good news to the -king by a messenger to the camp. The messenger had to pass through the -small town where the envious sisters dwelt; it was quite dark when he -arrived, and as he did not see a light anywhere but in their window he -went and asked for a night's lodging; while he stayed there he told them -all about the object of his journey; you may imagine how well he was -received, and with what pleasure they offered him lodging, these envious -brutes! When the messenger fell asleep they immediately took possession -of the letter, tore it open, read it, and burnt it, and put in its place -another to the king, saying that the queen had given birth to two -monsters which looked more like puppies than babes; in the morning they -gave meat and drink to the messenger, and pressed him to call and see -them on his way back, as they would be delighted to see him. He accepted -their kind invitation, and promised that he would come to them, and to -no one else, on his return. The messenger arrived at the camp and -delivered his letter to the king, who was very downcast as he read it; -but still he wrote back and said that his wife was not to be blamed; "if -it has happened thus how can I help it? don't show her the slightest -discourtesy," wrote he. As the messenger went back he slept again in the -house of the two old serpent-sisters; they stole the king's letter and -wrote in its place: "I want neither children nor mother; see that by the -time I come home those monsters be out of my way, so that not even so -much as their name remain." When this letter was read every one was very -sorry for the poor queen, and couldn't make out why the king was so -angry, but there was nothing for it but for the king's orders to be -carried out, and so the two pretty babes were put in a sheet and hung -round Kindness's neck, and she was sent away. For days and days poor -Kindness walked about suffering hunger and thirst, till at last she came -to a pretty wood; passing through this she travelled through a valley -covered with trees; passing through this at last she saw the great -alpine fir-trees at the end of the vale; there she found a clear spring; -in her parching thirst she stooped to drink, but in her hurry she lost -her balance and fell into the water; as she tried to drag herself out -with her two stumps, to her intense astonishment she found that by -immersion her two hands had grown again as they were before; she wept -for joy. Although she was hiding in an unknown place with no husband, no -father, no friend, no help whatever, with two starving children in this -great wilderness, still she wasn't sorrowful, because she was so -delighted to have her hands again. She stood there, and could not make -up her mind in which direction to go; as she stood looking all round she -suddenly caught sight of an old man coming towards her. "Who are you?" -said the old man. "Who am I?" she replied, sighing deeply; "I'm an -unfortunate queen." She then told him all she had suffered, and how she -had recovered her hands that very minute by washing in the spring. "My -poor good daughter," said the old man, bitterly, "then we are both -afflicted ones; it's quite enough that you are alive, and that I have -found you. Listen to me: your husband was warring against me, he drove -me from my country, and hiding from him I came this way; not very far -from here with one of my faithful servants I have built a hut and we -will live together there." The old man, in order to prove the miraculous -curing power of the spring, dipped his maimed finger into it, which was -shot off in the last war; as he took it out, lo! it was all right once -more. - -When the war was over, Kindness's husband returned home and inquired -after his wife. They told him all that had happened, and he was deeply -grieved, and went in search of her with a great number of his people, -and they found her at last with her two pretty babes, living with her -old father. On inquiry it was also found out where the messenger with -the letters had slept and how the letters were changed. Pride and -Gentleness were summoned and sentenced to death; but Kindness forgave -them all their misdeeds, and was so kind to them that she obtained their -pardon, and also persuaded her father to forgive them. - -There is no more of this speech to which you need listen, as I have told -it to the very end and I have not missed a word out of it. Those of whom -I have spoken may they be your guests, every one of them, to-morrow! - - - - -KNIGHT ROSE. - - -A king had three sons. When the enemy broke into the land and occupied -it, the king himself fell in the war. The young princes were good -huntsmen and fled from the danger, all three, taking three horses with -them. They went on together for a long time, till they did not even know -where they were; on they journeyed, till at last they came to the top of -the very highest snow-covered mountain, where the road branched off: -here they decided to separate and try their luck alone. They agreed that -on the summit of the mountain, at the top of a tall tree, they would fix -a long pole, and on it a white handkerchief. They were to keep well in -sight of this white flag, and whenever the handkerchief was seen full of -blood the one who saw it was to start in search of his brothers, as one -of them was in danger. The name of the youngest was Rose; he started off -to the left, the other two went to the right. When Rose came to the -seventh snow-capped mount and had got far into it he saw a beautiful -castle and went in. As he was tired with travelling and wanted a night's -rest, he settled down. When even came the gates of the castle opened -with great noise, and seven immense giants rushed into the courtyard and -from thence into the tower. Every one of them was as big as a tall -tower. Rose, in his fright, crept under the bed; but the moment the -giants entered one of them said, "Phuh! What an Adam-like smell there is -here!" Looking about they caught Rose, cut him up into small pieces like -the stalk of a cabbage and threw him out of the window. - -In the morning the giants went out again on their business. From a bush -there came forth a snake, which had the head of a pretty girl; she -gathered up every morsel of Rose's body, arranged them in order, and -said, "This belongs here, that belongs there." She then anointed him -with grass that had healing power, and brought water of life and death -from a spring that was not far off and sprinkled it over him. Rose -suddenly jumped up on his feet and was seven times more beautiful and -strong than before. At this moment the girl cast off the snake-skin as -far as the arm-pits. As Rose was now so strong he became braver, and in -the evening did not creep under the bed, but waited for the giants -coming home, at the gate. They arrived and sent their servants in -advance to cut up that wretched heir of Adam; but they could not manage -him, it took the giants themselves to cut him up. Next morning the -serpent with the girl's head came again and brought Rose to life as -before, and she herself cast off her skin as far as her waist. Rose was -now twice as strong as a single giant. The same evening the seven giants -killed him again, he himself having killed the servants and wounded -several of the giants. Next morning the giants were obliged to go -without their servants. Then the serpent came and restored Rose once -more, who was now stronger than all the seven giants put together, and -was so beautiful that though you could look at the sun you could not -look at him. The girl now cast off the serpent's skin altogether and -became a most beautiful creature. They told each other the story of -their lives. The girl said that she was of royal blood, and that the -giants had killed her father and seized his land, that the castle -belonged to her father, and that the giants went out every day to -plunder the people. She herself had become a snake by the aid of a good -old quack nurse, and had made a vow that she would remain a serpent -until she had been avenged on the giants, and she knew now that although -she had cast off the snake's skin she had nothing to fear because Rose -was a match for the seven giants. "Now, Rose," said she, "destroy them -every one, and I will not be ungrateful." To which he replied, "Dearest -one, you have restored me to life these three times--how could I help -being grateful to you? My life and my all are yours!" They took an oath -to be true to each other till death, and spent the day merrily till -evening set in, when the giants came, and Rose addressed them thus: "Is -it not true, you pack of scoundrels, that you have killed me three -times? Now, I tell you that not one of you shall put his foot within -these gates! Don't you believe me? Let's fight!" They charged upon him -with great fury, but victory was, this time, on his side; he killed -them one after the other and took the keys of the castle out of their -pockets. He then searched over every nook in the building, and came to -the conclusion that they were safe, as they had now possession of the -castle. - -The night passed quietly; next morning Rose looked from the courtyard to -the top of the snow-covered mountain, in the direction of the white -flag, and saw that it was quite bloody. He was exceedingly sorry, and -said to his love, "I must go in search of my two elder brothers, as some -mischief has befallen them; wait till I return, because if I find them I -shall certainly be back." - -He then got ready, took his sword, bow and arrow, some healing-grass, -and water of life and death with him, and went to the very place where -they had separated. On the way he shot a hare, and when he came to the -place of separation he went on the same road by which his elder brothers -had gone; he found there a small hut and a tree beside it; he stopped in -front of the tree, and saw that his brothers' two dogs were chained to -it; he loosed them, lighted a fire, and began to roast the hare. As he -roasted it he heard a voice as if some one were shouting from the tree -in a shivering voice; "Oh, how cold I am!" it said. "If you're cold," -replied Rose, "get down and warm yourself." "Yes," said the voice, "but -I'm afraid of the dogs." "Don't be afraid as they won't hurt an honest -person." "I believe you," said the voice in the tree, "but still I want -you to throw this hair between them; let them smell it first, then they -will know me by it." Rose took the hair and threw it into the fire. Down -came an old witch from the tree and warmed herself. Then she spitted a -toad and began to roast it. As she did so she said to Rose, "This is -mine, that is yours," and threw it at him. As Rose couldn't stand this -he jumped up, drew his sword, and smote the witch; but lo! the sword -turned into a log of wood, and the witch flew at him to kill him, -crying, "It's all up with you also. I've killed your brothers in -revenge because you killed my seven giant sons."[1] But Rose set the -dogs at her, and they dragged her about till they drew blood. The blood -was spilt on the log of wood and it became a sword again. Rose caught -hold of it and chopped the old witch's left arm off. Now the witch -showed him the place where she had buried his brothers. Rose smote her -once more with his sword and the old witch went to Pluto's. Rose dug out -the bodies, put the bits together, anointed them with the healing-grass, -and sprinkled them with the water of life and death, and they came to -life again. - -When they opened their eyes and saw Rose, they both exclaimed, "Oh! how -long I have been asleep." "Very long indeed," said Rose, "and if I -hadn't come you'd have been asleep still." They told him that soon after -they had separated they received the news that the enemy had withdrawn -from their country, and they decided to return, and that the elder -should undertake the government of the land, and the other go in search -of Rose. On their way they happened to go into the hut, and the old -witch treated them as she was going to treat Rose. - -Rose also told them his tale, and spoke to them thus: "You, my eldest -brother, go home, and sit on our father's throne. You my other brother -come with me, and let us two govern the vast country over which the -giants had tyrannised until now:" and thus they separated and each went -on his own business. - -Rose found his pretty love again, who was nearly dead with fretting for -him, but who quite recovered on his happy return. They took into their -hands the government of the vast country which they had delivered from -the sway of the giants. Rose and his love got married with the most -splendid wedding-feast, and the bride had to dance a great deal; and if -they've not died since they're alive still to this very day. - -May they curl themselves into an eggshell and be your guests to-morrow. - -[1] According to Kozma this is the only instance in the Szekely -folk-lore which accounts for the origin of giants. - - - - -PRINCE MIRKO. - - -There was once, I don't know where, a king who had three sons. This king -had great delight in his three sons, and decided to give them a sound -education, and after that to give them a place in the government, so -that he might leave them as fit and willing heirs to his throne; so he -sent these sons to college to study, and they did well for a while; but -all of a sudden they left college, came home, and would not return. The -king was very much annoyed at their conduct, and prohibited them from -ever entering his presence. He himself retired, and lived in an eastern -room of the royal residence, where he spent his time sitting in a window -that looked eastward, as if he expected some one to come in that -direction. One of his eyes was continually weeping, while the other was -continually laughing. One day, when the princes were grown up, they held -a consultation, and decided to ascertain from their royal father the -reason why he always sat in the east room, and why one eye was -continually weeping while the other never ceased laughing. The eldest -son tried his fortune first, and thus questioned the king: "Most -gracious majesty, my father. I have come to ask you, my royal sire, the -reason why one of your eyes is always weeping while the other never -ceases laughing, and why you always sit in this east room." The king -measured his son from top to toe, and never spoke a word, but seized his -long straight sword which leant against the window and threw it at him: -it struck the door, and entered into it up to the hilt. The prince -jumped through the door and escaped the blow that was meant for him. As -he went he met his two brothers, who inquired how he had fared. "You'd -better try yourself and you will soon know," replied he. So the second -prince tried, but with no better result than his brother. At last the -third brother, whose name was Mirko, went in, and, like his brother, -informed the king of the reason of his coming. The king uttered not a -word, but seized the sword with even greater fury, and threw it with -such vehemence that it entered up to the hilt in the wall of the room: -yet Mirko did not run away, but only dodged the sword, and then pulled -it out of the wall and took it back to his royal father, placing it on -the table in front of him. Seeing this the king began to speak and said -to Prince Mirko, "My son, I can see that you know more about honour than -your two brothers. So I will answer your question. One of my eyes weeps -continually because I fret about you that you are such good-for-nothings -and not fit to rule; the other laughs continually because in my younger -days I had a good comrade, Knight Mezey, with whom I fought in many -battles, and he promised me that if he succeeded in vanquishing his -enemy he would come and live with me, and we should spend our old age -together. I sit at the east window because I expect him to come in that -direction; but Knight Mezey, who lives in the Silk Meadow, has so many -enemies rising against him every day as there are blades of grass, and -he has to cut them down all by himself every day; and until the enemies -be extirpated he cannot come and stay with me." With this, Prince Mirko -left his father's room, went back to his brothers, and told them what -he had heard from the king. So they held council again, and decided to -ask permission from their father to go and try their fortunes. First the -eldest prince went and told the king that he was anxious to go and try -his fortune, to which the king consented: so the eldest prince went into -the royal stables and chose a fine charger, had it saddled, his bag -filled, and started on his journey the next morning. He was away for a -whole year, and then suddenly turned up one morning, carrying on his -shoulder a piece of bridge-flooring made of copper; throwing it down in -front of the royal residence, he walked into the king's presence, told -him where he had been, and what he had brought back with him. The king -listened to the end of his tale and said, "Well, my son, when I was as -young as you are I went that way, and it only took me two hours from the -place where you brought this copper from. You are a very weak knight: -you won't do; you can go." With this the eldest prince left his father's -room. The second prince then came in and asked the king to permit him to -try his fortune, and the king gave him permission. So he went to the -royal stables, had a fine charger saddled, his bag filled, and set off. -At the end of a year he returned home, bringing with him a piece of -bridge-flooring made of silver; this he threw down in front of the royal -residence, and went in unto the king, told him all about his journey and -about his spoil. "Alas!" said the king, "when I was as young as you I -went that way, and it did not take me more than three hours; you are a -very weak knight, my son: you will not do." - -With this he dismissed his second son also. At last Prince Mirko went in -and asked permission to go and try his fortune, and the king granted him -permission, so he also went into the royal stables in order to choose a -horse for the journey; but he did not find one to suit him, so he went -to the royal stud-farm to choose one there. As he was examining the -young horses, and could not settle which to have, there suddenly -appeared an old witch, who asked him what he wanted. Prince Mirko told -her his intention, and that he wanted a horse to go on the journey. -"Alas! my lord," said the old witch, "you can't get a horse here to suit -you, but I will tell you how to obtain one: go to your father, and ask -him to let you have the horn which in his younger days he used to call -together his stud with golden hair, blow into it, and the golden stud -will at once appear. But don't choose any of those with the golden hair; -but at the very last there will come a mare with crooked legs and shaggy -coat; you will know her by the fact that when the stud passes through -the gates of the royal fortress the mare will come last, and she will -whisk her tail and strike the heel-post of the fortress-gate with such -force that the whole fort will quiver with the shock. Choose her, and -try your fortune." Prince Mirko followed the witch's advice most -carefully. Going to the king he said, "My royal father, I come to ask -you to give me the horn with which in your younger days you used to call -together your stud with the golden hair." "Who told you of this?" -inquired the king. "Nobody," replied Prince Mirko. "Well, my dear son, -if no one has informed you of this, and if it be your own conception, -you are a very clever fellow; but if any one has told you to do this -they mean no good to you. I will tell you where the horn is, but by this -time, I daresay, it is all rust-eaten. In the seventh cellar there is a -recess in the wall; in this recess lies the horn, bricked up; try to -find it, take it out, and use it if you think you can." Prince Mirko -sent for the bricklayer on the spot, and went with him to the cellar -indicated, found the recess, took the horn, and carried it off with him. -He then stood in the hall of the royal residence and blew it, facing -east, west, south, and north. In a short time he heard the tingle of -golden bells begin to sound, increasing till the whole town rang with -the noise; and lo! through the gates of the royal residence beautiful -golden-haired horses came trooping in. Then he saw, even at the -distance, the mare with the crooked legs and shaggy coat, and as she -came, the last, great Heavens! as she came through the gates she whisked -the heel-post with her tail with such force that the whole building -shook to its very foundation. The moment the stud had got into the royal -courtyard he went to the crooked-legged shaggy-coated mare, caught her, -had her taken to the royal stables, and made it known that he intended -to try his fortune with her. The mare said "Quite right, my prince; but -first you will have to give me plenty of oats, because it would be -difficult to go a long journey without food." "What sort of food do you -wish? Because whatever my father possesses I will willingly give to -you," said the prince. "Very well, my prince," said the mare; "but it is -not usual to feed a horse just before you start on a journey, but some -time beforehand." "Well, I can't do much at present," said the prince; -"but whatever I've got you shall have with pleasure." "Well, then, bring -me a bushel of barley at once, and have it emptied into my manger." -Mirko did this; and when she had eaten the barley she made him fetch a -bushel of millet; and when she had eaten that she said, "And now bring -me half a bushel of burning cinders, and empty them into my manger." -When she had eaten these she turned to a beautiful golden-haired animal -like to the morning-star. "Now, my prince," said she, "go to the king -and ask him to give you the saddle he used when he rode me in his -younger days." Prince Mirko went to the old king and asked him for the -saddle. "It cannot be used now," said he, "as it has been lying about so -long in the coach-house, and it's all torn by this, but if you can find -it you can have it." Prince Mirko went to the coach-house and found the -saddle, but it was very dirty, as the fowls and turkeys had for many -years roosted on it, and torn it; still he took it to the mare in order -to put it on her, but she said that it was not becoming a prince to sit -upon such a thing, wherefore he was going to have it altered and -repaired; but the mare told him to hold it in front of her, and she -breathed on it, and in a moment it was changed into a beautiful gold -saddle, such as had not an equal over seven countries; with this he -saddled the tatos (mythical horse). "Now, my prince," said she, "you had -better go to your father and ask him for the brace of pistols and the -sword with which he used to set out when he rode me in former days." So -the prince went and asked these from his father, but the old king -replied "that they were all rusty by this time, and of no use," but, if -he really wanted them, he could have them, and pointed out the rack -where they were. Prince Mirko took them and carried them to the mare, -who breathed upon them, and changed them into gold; he then girded on -his sword, placed the pistols in the holsters, and got ready for a -start. "Well, my dear master," said the mare, "where now is my bridle?" -Whereupon, the prince fetched from the coach-house an old bridle, which -she blew upon and it changed into gold; this the prince threw over her -head, and led her out of the stable, and was about to mount her when the -mare said, "Wait a minute, lead me outside the town first, and then -mount me;" so he led her outside the town, and then mounted her. At this -moment the mare said, "Well, my dear master, how shall I carry you? -Shall I carry you with a speed like the quick hurricane, or like a flash -of thought?" "I don't mind, my dear mare, how you carry me, only take -care that you run so that I can bear it." - -To this the mare replied, "Shut your eyes and hold fast." Prince Mirko -shut his eyes, and the mare darted off like a hurricane. After a short -time she stamped upon the ground and said to the prince, "Open your -eyes! What can you see?" "I can see a great river," said Prince Mirko, -"and over it a copper bridge." "Well, my dear master," said the mare, -"that's the bridge from which your eldest brother carried off part of -the flooring: can't you see the vacant place?" "Yes, I can see it," said -the prince, "and where shall we go now?" "Shut your eyes and I will -carry you;" with this, she started off like a flash of lightning, and in -a few moments again stamped upon the ground and said, "Open your eyes! -Now what do you see?" "I see," said Prince Mirko, "a great river, and -over it a silver bridge." "Well, my dear master, that's the bridge from -which your second brother took the silver flooring; can't you see the -place?" "Yes," said he, "I can, and now where shall we go?" - -"Shut your eyes and I will carry you," said the mare, and off she darted -like lightning, and in a moment she again stamped upon the ground and -stopped and said to Prince Mirko, "Open your eyes! What can you see?" "I -see," replied he, "a vast, broad, and deep river, and over it a golden -bridge, and at each end, on this side and that, four immense and fierce -lions. How are we to get over this?" "Don't take any notice of them," -said the mare, "I will settle with them, you shut your eyes." Prince -Mirko shut his eyes, the mare darted off like a swift falcon, and flew -over the bridge; in a short time she stopped, stamped, and said, "Open -your eyes! Now what do you see?" "I see," said the prince, "an immense, -high glass rock, with sides as steep as the side of a house." "Well, my -dear master," said the mare, "We have to get over that too." - -"But that is impossible," said the prince; but the mare cheered him, and -said, "Don't worry yourself, dear master, as I still have the very shoes -on my hoofs which your father put on them with diamond nails six hundred -years ago. Shut your eyes and hold fast." - -At this moment the mare darted off, and in a twinkling of the eye she -reached the summit of the glass rock, where she stopped, stamped, and -said to the prince, "Open your eyes! What can you see?" "I can see, -below me," said Prince Mirko, "on looking back, something black, the -size of a fair-sized dish." "Well, my dear master, that is the orb of -the earth; but what can you see in front of you?" "I can see," said -Prince Mirko, "a narrow round-backed glass path, and by the side of it, -this side as well as on the other side, a deep bottomless abyss." "Well, -my dear master," said the mare, "we have to get over that, but the -passage is so difficult that if my foot slips the least bit either way -we shall perish, but rely on me. Shut your eyes and grasp hold of me, -and I will do it." With this the mare started and in another moment she -again stamped on the ground and said, "Open your eyes! What can you -see?" "I can see," said Prince Mirko, "behind me, in the distance, some -faint light and in front of me such a thick darkness that I cannot even -see my finger before me." "Well, my dear master, we have to get through -this also. Shut your eyes, and grasp me." Again she started and again -she stamped. "Open your eyes! What can you see now?" "I can see," said -Prince Mirko, "a beautiful light, a beautiful snow-clad mountain, in the -midst of the mountain a meadow like silk, and in the midst of the meadow -something black." "Well, my dear master, that meadow which looks like -silk belongs to Knight Mezey, and the black something in the middle of -it is his tent, woven of black silk; it does not matter now whether you -shut your eyes or not, we will go there." With this Prince Mirko spurred -the mare, and at once reached the tent. - -Prince Mirko jumped from his mare and tied her to the tent by the side -of Knight Mezey's horse, and he himself walked into the tent, and lo! -inside, a knight was laid at full length on the silken grass, fast -asleep, but a sword over him was slashing in all directions, so that not -even a fly could settle on him. "Well," thought Prince Mirko to himself, -"this fellow must be a brave knight, but I could kill him while he -sleeps; however, it would not be an honourable act to kill a sleeping -knight, and I will wait till he wakes." With this he walked out of the -tent, tied his mare faster to the tent-post, and he also lay down full -length upon the silken grass, and said to his sword, "Sword, come out of -thy scabbard," and his sword began to slash about over him, just like -Knight Mezey's, so that not even a fly could settle on him. - -All of a sudden Knight Mezey woke, and to his astonishment he saw -another horse tied by the side of his, and said, "Great Heavens! what's -the meaning of this? It's six hundred years since I saw a strange horse -by the side of mine! Whom can it belong to?" He got up, went out of the -tent, and saw Prince Mirko asleep outside, and his sword slashing about -over him. "Well," said he, "this must be a brave knight, and as he has -not killed me while I was asleep, it would not be honourable to kill -him," with this he kicked the sleeping knight's foot and woke him. He -jumped up, and Knight Mezey thus questioned him: "Who are you? What is -your business?" Prince Mirko told him whose son he was and why he had -come. "Welcome, my dear brother," said Knight Mezey, "your father is a -dear friend of mine, and I can see that you are as brave a knight as -your father, and I shall want you, because the large silken meadow that -you see is covered with enemies every day, and I have to daily cut them -down, but now that you are here to help me I shall be in no hurry about -them; let's go inside and have something to eat and drink, and let them -gather into a crowd, two of us will soon finish them." They went into -the tent and had something to eat and drink; but all at once his enemies -came up in such numbers that they came almost as far as the tent, when -Knight Mezey jumped to his feet and said, "Jump up, comrade, or else we -are done for." They sprang to their horses, darted among the enemy, and -both called out, "Sword, out of thy scabbard!" and in a moment the two -swords began to slash about, and cut off the heads of the enemy, so that -they had the greatest difficulty in advancing on account of the piles of -dead bodies, till at last, at the rear of the enemy, twelve knights took -to flight, and Knight Mezey and Prince Mirko rode in pursuit of them, -till they reached a glass rock, to which they followed the twelve -knights, Prince Mirko being the nearest to them. On the top of the rock -there was a beautiful open space, towards which the knights rode and -Prince Mirko after them on his mare, when all at once they all -disappeared, as if the earth had swallowed them; seeing this, Prince -Mirko rode to the spot where they disappeared, where he found a -trap-door, and under the door a deep hole and a spiral staircase. The -mare without hesitation jumped into the hole, which was the entrance to -the infernal regions. Prince Mirko, looking round in Hades, suddenly -discerned a glittering diamond castle, which served the lower regions -instead of the sun, and saw that the twelve knights were riding towards -it; so he darted after them, and, calling out "Sword, come out of thy -scabbard," he slashed off the twelve knights' heads in a moment, and, -riding to the castle, he heard such a hubbub and clattering that the -whole place resounded with it: he jumped off his horse, and walked into -the castle, when lo! there was an old diabolical-looking witch, who was -weaving and making the clattering noise, and the whole building was now -full of soldiers, whom the devilish witch produced by weaving. When she -threw the shuttle to the right, each time two hussars on horseback -jumped out from the shuttle, and when she threw it to the left, each -time two foot soldiers jumped from it fully equipped. When he saw this, -he ordered his sword out of its scabbard, and cut down all the soldiers -present. But the old witch wove others again, so Prince Mirko thought to -himself, if this goes on, I shall never get out of this place, so he -ordered his sword to cut up into little pieces the old witch, and then -he carried out the whole bleeding mass into the courtyard, where he -found a heap of wood: he placed the mass on it, put a light to it, and -burnt it. But when it was fully alight a small piece of a rib of the -witch flew out of the fire and began to spin around in the dust, and lo! -another witch grew out of it. Prince Mirko thereupon was about to order -his sword to cut her up too, when the old witch addressed him thus: -"Spare my life, Mirko, and I will help you in return for your kindness; -if you destroy me you can't get out of this place; here! I will give you -four diamond horse-shoe nails, put them away and you will find them -useful." Prince Mirko took the nails and put them away, thinking to -himself, "If I spare the old witch she will start weaving again, and -Knight Mezey will never get rid of his enemies," so he again ordered his -sword to cut up the witch, and threw her into the fire and burnt her to -cinders. She never came to life again. He then got on his mare and rode -all over the lower regions, but could not find a living soul anywhere, -whereupon he spurred his mare, galloped to the foot of the spiral -staircase, and in another moment he reached the upper world. When he -arrived at the brink of the glass rock he was about to alight from his -mare: and stopped her for this purpose, but the mare questioned him -thus, "What are you going to do, Prince Mirko?" "I was going to get -down, because the road is very steep and it's impossible to go down on -horseback." "Well then, dear master, if you do that you can't get below, -because you couldn't walk on the steep road, but if you stop on my back, -take hold of my mane, and shut your eyes, I will take you down." -Whereupon the mare started down the side of the rock, and, like a good -mountaineer, climbed down from the top to the bottom, and having arrived -at the foot of the steep rock, spoke to Prince Mirko thus: "You can open -your eyes now." Mirko having opened his eyes, saw that they had arrived -in the silken meadow. - -They started in the direction of Knight Mezey's tent, but Knight Mezey -thought that Mirko had already perished, when suddenly he saw that Mirko -was alive, so he came in great joy to meet him, and leading him into his -tent, as he had no heir, he offered him the silk meadow and his whole -realm, but Mirko replied thus: "My dear brother, now that I have -destroyed all your enemies, you need not fear that the enemy will occupy -your country, therefore I should like you to come with me to my royal -father, who has been expecting you for a very long time." With this they -got on their horses, and started off in the direction of the old king's -realm, and arrived safely at the very spot on the glass rock where -Mirko had jumped down. Knight Mezey stopped here, and said to Prince -Mirko: "My dear brother, I cannot go further than this, because the -diamond nails of my horse's shoes have been worn out long ago, and the -horse's feet no longer grip the ground." But Mirko remembered that the -old witch had given him some diamond nails, and said: "Don't worry -yourself, brother. I have got some nails with me, and I will shoe thy -horse." And taking out the diamond nails, he shod Knight Mezey's horse -with them. They mounted once more, and like two good mountaineers -descended the glass rock, and as swift as thought were on the way home. - -The old king was also then sitting in the eastern window, awaiting -Knight Mezey, when suddenly he saw two horsemen approaching, and, -looking at them with his telescope, recognised them as his dear old -comrade Knight Mezey, together with his son, Prince Mirko, coming -towards him; so he ran down at once, and out of the hall. He ordered the -bailiff to slaughter twelve heifers, and by the time that Knight Mezey -and Mirko arrived, a grand dinner was ready waiting for them; and on -their arrival he received them with great joy, embraced them and kissed -them, and laughed with both his eyes. Then they sat down to dinner, and -ate and drank in great joy. During dinner Knight Mezey related Mirko's -brave deeds, and, amongst other things, said to the old king: "Well, -comrade, your son Mirko is even a greater hero than we were. He is a -brave fellow, and you ought to be well pleased with him." The old king -said: "Well, when I come to think of it, I begin to be satisfied with -him, especially because he has brought you with him; but still I don't -believe that he would have courage to fight Doghead also." Prince Mirko -was listening to their talk but did not speak. After dinner, however, he -called Knight Mezey aside, and asked him who Doghead was, and where he -lived. Knight Mezey informed him that he lived in the north, and that he -was such a hero that there was no other to equal him under the sun. -Prince Mirko at once gave orders for the journey, filled his bag, and -next day started on his mare to Doghead's place; according to his -custom, he sat upon the mare, grasped her firmly, and shut his eyes. The -mare darted off, and flew like a swift cyclone, then suddenly stopped, -stamped on the ground, and said, "Prince Mirko, open your eyes. What do -you see?" "I see," said the Prince, "a diamond castle, six stories high, -that glitters so that one can't look at it, although one could look at -the sun." "Well, Doghead lives there," said the mare, "and that is his -royal castle." Prince Mirko rode close under the window and shouted -loudly: "Doghead! are you at home? Come out, because I have to reckon -with you." Doghead himself was not at home, but his daughter was -there--such a beautiful royal princess, whose like one could not find in -the whole world. As she sat in the window doing some needlework, and -heard the high shrill voice, she looked through the window in a great -rage, and gave him such a look with her beautiful flashing black eyes, -that Prince Mirko and his mare at once turned into a stone statue. -However, she began to think that perhaps the young gentleman might be -some prince who had come to see her; so she repented that she had -transformed him into a stone statue so quickly; and ran down to him, -took out a golden rod, and began to walk round the stone statue, and -tapped its sides with her gold rod, and lo! the stone crust began to -crack, and fell off, and all at once Prince Mirko and his mare stood -alive in front of her. Then the princess asked; "Who are you? and what -is your business?" And Mirko told her that he was a prince, and had come -to see the Princess of Doghead. The princess slightly scolded him for -shouting for her father so roughly through the window, but at the same -time fell in love with Prince Mirko on the spot, and asked him to come -into her diamond castle, which was six stories high, and received him -well. However, while feasting, Prince Mirko during the conversation -confessed what his true errand was, viz., to fight Doghead; but the -princess advised him to desist from this, because there was no man in -the whole world who could match her father. But when she found that -Mirko could not be dissuaded, she took pity on him, and, fearing that -lest he should be vanquished, let him into the secret how to conquer her -father. "Go down," she said, "into the seventh cellar of the castle; -there you will find a cask which is not sealed. In that cask is kept my -father's strength. I hand you here a silver bottle, which you have to -fill from the cask; but do not cork the bottle, but always take care -that it shall hang uncorked from your neck; and when your strength -begins to fail, dip your little finger into it, and each time your -strength will be increased by that of five thousand men; also drink of -it, because each drop of wine will give you the strength of five -thousand men." Prince Mirko listened attentively to her counsel, hung -the silver bottle round his neck, and went down into the cellar, where -he found the wine in question, and from it he first drank a good deal, -and then filled his flask, and, thinking that he had enough in his -bottle, he let the rest run out to the last drop, so that Doghead could -use it no more. There were in the cellar six bushels of wheat flour, -with this he soaked it up, so that no moisture was left, whereupon he -went upstairs to the princess, and reported that he was ready and also -thanked her for her directions, and promised that for all her kindness -he would marry her, and vowed eternal faith to her. The beautiful -princess consented to all, and only made one condition, viz., that in -case Prince Mirko conquered her father he would not kill him. - -Prince Mirko then inquired of the beautiful princess when she expected -her father home, and in what direction, to which the princess replied -that at present he was away in his western provinces, visiting their -capitals, but that he would be home soon, because he was due, and that -it was easy to predict his coming, because when he was two hundred miles -from home, he would throw home a mace weighing forty hundredweight, thus -announcing his arrival, and wherever the mace dropped a spring would -suddenly burst from the ground. Prince Mirko thereupon went with the -royal princess into the portico of the royal castle, to await there -Doghead's arrival, when suddenly, good Heavens! the air became dark, and -a mace, forty hundredweight, came down with a thud into the courtyard of -the royal fortress, and, striking the ground, water burst forth -immediately in the shape of a rainbow. Prince Mirko at once ran into the -courtyard in order to try how much his strength had increased. He picked -up the mace swung it over his head, and threw it back so that it dropped -just in front of Doghead. Doghead's horse stumbled over the mace; -whereupon Doghead got angry. "Gee up! I wish the wolves and dogs would -devour you," shouted Doghead to the horse. "I have ridden you for the -last six hundred years, and up to this time you have never stumbled -once. What's the reason that you begin to stumble now?" "Alas! my dear -master," said his horse, "there must be something serious the matter at -home, because some one has thrown back your mace that you threw home, -and I stumbled over it." "There's nothing the matter," said Doghead; "I -dreamt six hundred years ago that I would have to fight Prince Mirko, -and it is he who is at my castle; but what is he to me? I have more -strength in my little finger than he in his whole body." With this he -darted off at a great speed and appeared at the castle. Prince Mirko was -awaiting Doghead in the courtyard of the fortress. The latter, seeing -Prince Mirko, galloped straight to him and said, "Well, Mirko. I know -that you are waiting for me. Here I am. How do you wish me to fight you? -With swords? or shall we wrestle?" "I don't care how; just as you -please," said Mirko. "Then let us try swords first," said Doghead, and, -getting off his horse, they stood up, and both ordered out their swords. -"Swords, come out of the scabbards." The two swords flew out of the -scabbards and began to fence over the heads of the combatants. The whole -place rung with their clashing, and in their vehemence they sent forth -sparks in such quantity that the whole ground was covered with fire, so -that no one could stand the heat. Whereupon Doghead said to Mirko, -"Don't let us spoil our swords, but let us put them back into their -scabbards, and let us wrestle." So they sheathed their swords and began -to wrestle. When suddenly Doghead grasped Mirko round the waist, lifted -him up, and dashed him to the ground with such force that Mirko sank to -his belt. Mirko was frightened, and quickly dipped his little finger -into the bottle. Whereupon he regained his strength, and, jumping out of -the ground, made a desperate dash at Doghead, and threw him to the -ground with such force, that he lay full length on the ground like a -green frog; then he seized him by his hair and dragged him behind the -royal residence, where a golden bridge stood over a bottomless lake. He -dragged him on to the bridge, and, holding his head over the water, -ordered his sword out of the scabbard and cut off his head, so that it -dropped into the bottomless lake, and then he pushed the headless trunk -after it. - -Doghead's daughter saw all this, and grew very angry with Prince Mirko, -and as he approached her she turned her face away, and would not even -speak to him; but Prince Mirko explained to her that he could not do -otherwise, for if he had spared Doghead's life he would have destroyed -his; and that he was willing to redeem his promise, and keep his faith -to the princess and take her for his wife. Whereupon the royal princess -became reconciled, and they decided to get ready to go to Prince Mirko's -realm. They ordered the horses--Doghead's charger was got ready for the -beautiful princess--and, mounting them, were about to start, when all at -once deep sorrow seized Prince Mirko, and the beautiful royal princess -thus questioned him: "Why are you so downcast, Mirko?" "Well, because," -said Mirko, "I'm anxious to go back to my country, but I am also -extremely sorry to leave behind this sumptuous diamond castle, six -stories high, which belonged to your father, for there is nothing like -it in my country." "Well, my love," said the princess, "don't trouble -about that. I will transform the castle into a golden apple at once, and -sit in the middle of it, and all you will have to do is to put the apple -into your pocket, and then you can take me with you and the castle too, -and when you arrive at home you can re-transform me wherever you like." -Thereupon the pretty princess jumped down from her horse, handed the -reins to Mirko, took out a diamond rod, and commenced to walk round the -diamond castle, gently beating the sides of it with the diamond rod, and -the castle began to shrink and shrunk as small as a sentry box, and then -the princess jumped inside of it, and the whole shrivelled up into a -golden apple, the diamond rod lying by the side of it. Prince Mirko -picked up the golden apple and the diamond rod, and put them into his -pocket, and then got on horseback, and, taking Doghead's horse by the -bridle, he rode quietly home. Having arrived at home, Mirko had the -horses put in the stables, and then walked into the royal palace, where -he found the old king and Knight Mezey quite content and enjoying -themselves. He reported to them that he had conquered even Doghead, and -that he had killed him; but the old king and Knight Mezey doubted his -words. Therefore Prince Mirko took them both by their arms, and said to -them, "Come along with me, and you can satisfy yourselves, with your own -eyes, that I have conquered Doghead, because I have brought away with -me, not only his diamond castle, six stories high, but also his -beautiful daughter, inside it, as a trophy of my victory." The old king -and Knight Mezey were astonished at his words, and, still doubting, -followed Mirko, who took them into the flower garden of the king, in the -middle of which Prince Mirko selected a nice roomy place for the diamond -castle, and placed the golden apple there, and commenced walking round, -and, patting its sides with the diamond rod, the golden apple began to -swell. It took a quadrangular shape, growing and growing, higher and -higher, till it became a magnificent six-storied diamond castle; and -then he took the old king and Knight Mezey by their arms, and led them -up the diamond staircase into the rooms of the castle, where the -princess, who was world-wide known for her beauty, met them, and -received them most cordially. She bade them sit down, and sent lackeys -to call the other sons of the old king and also the higher dignitaries -of the court. In the dining-hall there was a big table, which could be -opened out. She gave orders, and the table was laid of itself, and on it -appeared all sorts of costly dishes and drinks, and the assembled guests -feasted in joy. The old king was highly satisfied with his son's doings, -and handed over to Mirko the royal power and the whole realm: he himself -and Knight Mezey retired into quiet secluded life, and lived long in -great happiness. The young royal couple who got married had beautiful -children, and they are alive still, to this very day, if they have not -died since. May they be your guests to-morrow! - - - - -THE STUDENT WHO WAS FORCIBLY MADE KING. - - -A student started on a journey, and as he went over a field he found -some peas which were cracked. He thought that they might be of use to -him as he was a poor lad, and his father had advised him to pick up -anything he saw, if it was worth no more than a flea; so he gathered up -the peas and put them in his pocket. As he travelled he was overtaken by -night just when he arrived at the royal borough; so he reported himself -to the king, and asked for some money for travelling expenses, and a -night's lodging. Now the student was a comely lad, spoke grammatically, -and had good manners. The queen noticed this, and as she had a daughter -ready for marriage, she came to the conclusion that he was a prince in -disguise, who had come in search of a wife. She told this to the king, -and he thought it very probable. Both agreed that they would try to find -out whether he really was a prince, and asked him to stay with them for -two days. The first night they did not give him a very splendid bed, -because they thought that if he were satisfied, he was but a student, if -not, then he must be a prince. They made his bed in the adjoining house, -and the king placed one of his confidential servants outside of the -window, that he might spy out all that the student did. They showed the -bed to the student, and he began to undress when they left. As he -undressed all the peas dropped out of his pocket, and rolled under the -bed; he at once began to look for them and pick them up, one by one, and -did not finish till dawn. The spy outside could not make out what he was -doing, but he saw that he did not go to sleep till dawn, and then only -for a short time, having spent the night arranging his bed; so he -reported to the king that his guest had not slept, but had fidgeted -about, appearing not to be used to such a bed. The student got up, and -during breakfast the king asked him how he had slept, to which he -replied, "A little restlessly, but it was through my own fault." From -this they concluded that he already repented of not having shown them -his true position, and thus having not got a proper bed. They believed, -therefore, that he was a prince, and treated him accordingly. Next night -they made his bed in the same place, but in right royal style. As the -student had not slept the night before, the moment he put his head down -he began to sleep like a pumpkin, and never even moved till dawn. He had -no trouble with his peas this time, for he had tied them up in the -corner of his handkerchief as he picked them up from under the bed. The -spy reported to the king next morning that the traveller slept soundly -all night. They now firmly believed that the student simply dressed up -as such, but in reality was a prince. They tried to persuade him that -he was a prince, and addressed him as such. The king's daughter ran -after the student to get into his favour, and it didn't take much to -make him fall in love with her, and so the two got married. They had -lived a whole year together, when they were sent off to travel in order -that the student-king might show his wife his realm. The student was -very frightened that he might not get out of his trouble so well, and -grew more and more alarmed, till at last he accepted his fate. "Let come -whatever is to come," thought he, "I will go with them, and then, if -nothing else can be done, I can escape, and go back to college," for he -had carried his student's gown with him everywhere. They started off and -travelled till they came to a large forest. The student slipped aside -into a deep ditch, where he undressed, in order to put on his student's -clothes and to escape. Now there was a dragon with seven heads lazily -lying there, who accosted him thus: "Who are you? What are you looking -for here? What do you want?" The student told him his whole history, and -also that he was just going to run away. "There is no need to run away," -said the dragon, "that would be a pity, continue your journey; when you -get out of this wood you will see a copper fortress, which swivels on a -goose's leg. Go into it, and live there in peace with your wife, with -your dog and cat, till the fortress begins to move and turn round. When -this happens, be off, because if I come home and catch you there, there -will be an end of you." The student went back to his travelling -companions and continued his way until, emerging from the wood, he saw -the fortress. They all went in and settled down as in their own, and all -went on very well for two years, and he already began to believe that he -really was a king, when suddenly the fortress began to move, and swivel -round very quickly. The student was downcast, and went up on the -battlement of the fortress, wandering about in great sorrow; he there -found an old woman, who asked him, "What's the matter with your -Majesty?" "H'm! the matter is, old woman," replied the student, "that I -am not a king, and still I am compelled to be one," and then he told her -his whole history up to that time. "There's nothing in that, my son," -said the old woman, "be thankful that you have not tried to keep your -secret from me. I am the queen of magic, and the most formidable enemy -of the dragon with seven heads; therefore this is my advice: get a loaf -made at once, and let this loaf be placed in the oven seven times with -other loaves, this particular loaf each time to be put in the oven the -first and to be taken out last. Have this loaf placed outside the -fortress gate to-morrow, without fail. When the dragon with the seven -heads is coming, it will be such a charm against him that he will never -trouble you again, and the fortress will be left to you with all that -belongs to it." The student had the loaf prepared as he was told, and -when the clock struck one after midnight the bread was already placed -outside the fortress gate. As the sun rose, the dragon with seven heads -went straight towards the fortress gate, where the loaf addressed him -thus, "Stop, I'm guard here, and without my permission you may not -enter; if you wish to come in, you must first suffer what I have -suffered." - -"Well," said the dragon, "I've made up my mind to enter, so let me know -what ordeals you have gone through." - -The loaf told him, that when it was a seed it was buried in a field that -had previously been dug up: then rotted, sprouted, and grew; it had -suffered from cold, heat, rain, and snow, until it ripened; it was then -cut down, tied into sheaves, threshed out, ground, kneaded into dough, -and then seven times running they put it in a fiery oven, each time -before its mates: "If you can stand all this," concluded the loaf, -"then I'll let you in, but on no other condition." The dragon, knowing -that he could not stand all this, got so angry that he burst in his rage -and perished. The student from that day became lord of the fortress, and -after the death of his wife's parents became king of two lands; and if -he has not died yet, he reigns still. - -If I knew that I should fare as well as that student I would become a -student this very blessed day! - - - - -THE CHILDREN OF TWO RICH MEN. - - -There lived, at the two corners of a country, far away from each other, -two rich men; one of them had a son, the other a daughter; these two men -asked each other to be godfather to their children, and, during the -christening they agreed that the babes should wed. The children grew up, -but did no work, and so were spoilt. As soon as they were old enough -their parents compelled them to marry. Shortly afterwards their parents -died and they were left alone; they knew nothing of the world and did -not understand farming, so the serfs and farm-labourers had it all their -own way. Soon their fields were all overgrown with weeds and their -corn-bins empty; in a word they became poor. One day the master -bethought himself that he ought to go to market, as he had seen his -father do; so he set off, and drove with him a pair of beautiful young -oxen that were still left. On his way he met a wedding-party, and -greeted them thus, "May the Lord preserve you from such a sorrowful -change, and may He give consolation to those who are in trouble," Words -he had once heard his father use upon the occasion of a funeral. The -wedding-party got very vexed, and, as they were rather flushed with -wine, gave him a good drubbing, and told him that the next time he saw -such a ceremony he was to put his hat on the end of his stick, lift it -high in the air, and shout for joy. He went on further till he came to -the outskirts of a forest, where he met some butcher-like looking people -who were driving fat pigs, whereupon he seized his hat, put it on the -end of his stick, and began to shout: which so frightened the pigs that -they rushed off on all sides into the wood; the butchers got hold of him -and gave him a sound beating, and told him that the next time he saw -such a party he was to say, "May the Lord bless you with _two_ for every -_one_ you have." He went on again and saw a man clearing out the weeds -from his field, and greeted him, "My brother, may the Lord bless you -with _two_ for every _one_ you have." The man, who was very angry about -the weeds, caught him and gave him a sound beating, and told him that -the next time he saw such things he had better help to pull out one or -two. In another place he met two men fighting, so he went up and began -to pull first at one and then at the other, whereupon they left off -fighting with each other and pitched into him. Somehow or other he at -last arrived at the market, and, looking round, he saw an unpainted cart -for sale, whereupon he remembered that his father used to go into the -wood in a cart, and so he asked the man who had it for sale whether he -would change it for his two oxen--not knowing that having once parted -with the oxen he would not get them back again. The man was at first -angry, because he thought he was making fun of the cart, but he soon saw -that the man with the oxen was not quite right in his head, and so he -struck the bargain with the young farmer, who, when he got the cart, -went dragging it to and fro in the market. He met a blacksmith and -changed the cart for a hatchet; soon the hatchet was changed for a -whetstone; then he started off home as if he had settled matters in the -most satisfactory manner. Near his village he saw a lake, and on it a -flock of wild ducks. He immediately threw his whetstone at them, which -sank to the bottom, whilst every one of the ducks flew away. - -He undressed and got into the lake, in order to recover his whetstone, -but in the meantime his clothes were stolen from the bank, and, having -no clothes, he had to walk home as naked as when he was born. His wife -was not at home when he arrived. He took a slice of bread from the -drawer, and went into the cellar to draw himself some wine; having put -the bread on the door-sill of the cellar, he went back to get his wine, -as he did so he saw a dog come up and run away with his bread; he at -once threw the spigot after the thief, so the spigot was lost, the bread -was lost, and every drop of wine was lost, for it all ran out. Now there -was a sack of flour in the cellar, and in order that his wife might not -notice the wine he spread the flour over it. A goose was sitting on eggs -in the cellar, and as he worked she hissed at him. Thinking that the -bird was saying, that it was going to betray him to his wife, he asked -it two or three times, "Will you split?" Going up to the goose, it -hissed still more, so he caught hold of it by the neck, and dashed it -upon the ground with such force that it died on the spot. He was now -more frightened than ever, and in order to amend his error he plucked -off the feathers, rolled himself about in the floury mess, then amongst -the feathers, and then sat on the nest as if he were sitting. His wife -came home, and, as she found the cellar door wide open, she went down -stairs, and found her husband sitting in the nest and hissing like a -goose; but his wife soon recognised him, and, picking up a log of wood, -she attacked him, saying, "Good Heavens, what an animal, let me kill it -at once!" Up he jumped from the nest, and cried out in a horrible -fright, "Don't touch me, my dear wife, it's I!" His wife then questioned -him about his transactions, and he gave a full account of all that had -happened; so his wife drove him away and said, "Don't come before my -eyes again till you have made good your faults." She then gave him a -slice of bread and a small flask of spirit, which he put in his pocket -and went on his way, his wife wishing him "a happy journey, if the road -is not muddy." On his way he met Our Lord Christ and said to him, "I'm -not going to divide my bread with you, because you have not made a rich -man of me." Then he met Death, with him he divided his bread and his -spirits, therefore Death did not carry him off, and he asked Death to be -his child's godfather. - -Then said Death, "Now you will see a wonder"; with this he slipped into -the spirit flask, and was immediately corked up by the young man. Death -implored to be set free, but the young farmer said, "Promise me then -that you will make me a rich man, and then I will let you out." Death -promised him this, and they agreed that the man was to be a doctor, and -whenever Death stood at the patient's feet, he or she was not to die, -and could be cured by any sort of medicine whatever: but if Death stood -at the patient's head he was to die: with this they parted. - -Our man reached a town where the king's daughter was very ill. The -doctors had tried all they could, but were not able to cure her, so he -said that he was going to cure her, if she could be cured, if not, he -would tell them; so thereupon he went into the patient and saw Death -standing at her feet. He burnt a stack of hay, and made a bath for her -of the ashes, and she recovered so soon as she had bathed in it. The -king made him so many presents that he became a very rich man: he -removed to the town, brought his wife there, and lived in great style as -a doctor. Once however he fell sick, and his koma [his child's -godfather] came and stood at his head, and the patient begged hard for -him to go and stand at his feet, but his koma replied, "Not if I know -it," and then the doctor also departed to the other world. - - - - -THE HUSSAR AND THE SERVANT GIRL.[1] - - -The wife of a priest in olden times, it may have been in the -antediluvian world, put all the plates, dishes, and milk-jugs into a -basket and sent the servant to wash them in the brook. While the girl -was washing she saw a cray-fish crawl out of the water, and, as she had -never seen one in her life before, she stood staring at it, and was a -little frightened. It so happened that a hussar rode past on horseback, -and the girl asked him, "Would you mind telling me, my gallant horseman, -what sort of a God's wonder that yonder is?" "Well, my sister," said the -soldier, "that is a cray-fish." The servant then took courage, and went -near the cray-fish to look at it, and said, "But it crawls!" "But it's a -cray-fish," said the soldier again. "But it crawls," said the servant -abruptly. "But it's a cray-fish," said the soldier a third time. "Well, -my gallant horseman, how can you stand there and tell me that, when I -can see that it crawls?" said the servant. "But, my sister, how can you -stand there and tell me, when I can see that it's a cray-fish?" said the -soldier. "Well, I'm neither blind nor a fool, and I can see quite well -that it's a-crawling," said the servant. "But neither am I blind nor a -fool, and I can see that it is a cray-fish," said the soldier. - -The servant got so angry that she dashed her crockery to the ground and -broke it into fragments, crying, in a great rage, "May I perish here if -it is not a-crawling!" The hussar jumped off his saddle, drew his sword, -and cut off his horse's head, saying, "May the executioner cut off my -neck like this if it isn't a cray-fish!" The soldier went his way on -foot, and the servant went home without her ware, and the priest's wife -asked, "Well, where are all the pots?" The servant told her what had -happened between the soldier and her about a cray-fish and a-crawling. -"Is that the reason why you have done all the damage?" said the priest's -wife. "Oh, mistress, how could I give in when I saw quite well that it -was a-crawling; and still that nasty soldier kept on saying it was a -cray-fish?" The wife of the priest was heating the oven, as she was -going to bake, and she got into such a rage that she seized her new fur -jacket, for which she had given a hundred florins, and pitched it into -the oven, saying, "May the flames of the fire burn me like this if you -were not both great fools!" "What is all this smell of burning?" asked -the priest, coming in. Learning what had happened about a cray-fish and -a-crawling, he took his gown and cut it up on the threshold with a -hatchet, saying, "May the executioner cut me into bits like this if the -three of you are not fools!" Then came the schoolmaster (his calf had -got loose and run into the clergyman's yard, and he had come after it to -drive it home): and, hearing what had happened, and why, he caught hold -of a stick, and struck his calf such a blow on the head that it fell -down dead on the spot, exclaiming, "If God will, may the fiery -thunderbolt thus strike me dead if you all four are not fools!" - -Then came the churchwarden, and asked what had happened there, and when -he was told he got into such a rage that he picked up the church-box and -dashed it on the ground in the middle of the yard, so that the box was -broken to pieces, and the precious altar-covers and linen were rolling -about on the dirty ground, saying, "May I perish like this, at this very -hour, if the whole five of you are not fools!" - -In the meantime the sacristan came in, and, seeing the linen on the -floor, he threw up his hands and said, "Well, I never! whatever's the -matter?" Then they told him what had happened, and why, whereupon he -picked up all the covers and linen and tore them into shreds, saying, -"May the devil tear me to atoms like this if you six are not a parcel of -raving lunatics!" - -News of the event soon got abroad, and the whole congregation gathered -together and set the priest's house on fire, crying, "May the flames of -the fire burn us all like this, every one of us, if all the seven were -not fools!" - -[1] The zest of this tale turns upon a similarity in the sound of the -words in Magyar for "cray-fish," and "crawling." - - - - -MY FATHER'S WEDDING. - - -Once I discovered all of a sudden, it was before I was born, that my -father was going to get married, and take my mother unto him. My father -said to me, "Go to the mill and have some corn ground for bread for the -wedding!" Whereupon I betook myself hurriedly like a smart fellow, I -looked for a cloth, and took up into the loft three bags, and filled -nine sacks with the best wheat of Dalnok, the best to be found; I put -all nine sacks at once over my shoulder, and took them to the cart. I -led out oxen and tried to yoke them, but neither of them could find it's -old place; I put the off-side one on the near side, and the near-side -one on the off side, and they were all right. I tried the yoke-pins, but -they would not fit, I therefore put in lieu of one the handle of a -shovel, and in place of the other a pole, and then all was right. I went -to the mill with the team, and when I arrived there I stopped the oxen -and stuck the whip into the ground in front of them to prevent them -running away; I myself went into the mill to call the miller to assist -me in carrying in the wheat. I couldn't find a soul in the mill. I -looked around, under the bed, behind the oven, and saw that the green -jug was not on it's peg; from this I knew that the mill was away -gathering strawberries, so I thought, if this were so, I should have to -wait patiently till it returned, but then I remembered that it was not -its custom to hurry back, and by the time it got back my hair might be -grey, and then it would be difficult for oxen to wait from year to year -as I had not brought aught for them to feed on. So I rushed after it at -a dog's trot, out on to the mount, and found it sniffing about the -shrubs, so I cut a jolly good stick and began to bang it on both sides -as hard as my strength allowed me, till I happened to hit it rather hard -with the stick, and, having struck it, I could hear it far away as it -began to move down in the valley, and it ground away and made such a -clatter; it was just grinding my wheat! In order to get down from the -mount into the valley more quickly, I lay down on the ground and rolled -down the slope, and after me all the stumps, who envied my pastime. -Nothing happened to them, and the only accident I had was that I knocked -my nose a little into some soft cow-dung, but I didn't carry it away -altogether, and a good deal of it is left there still. The poor white -horse fared much worse than that, as it was grazing at the foot of the -mount, it got so frightened by us that it ran out of this world with a -fetter fastened to it's feet, and has not returned to this very day. I -rubbed my nose on the sward as a hen does, and went to see what had -become of the oxen in the meantime: lo! the stock of my whip had taken -root and become such a tall tree that it was as high as the big tower at -Brasso[1] and the starlings had built their nests in it, and had so many -young ones that you couldn't hear the clattering of the mill for their -chirping. - -Well, I was very much delighted, thinking that now I could catch a lot -of young starlings; I knew how to climb well. I climbed the tree, and -tried to put my hand into a hole but couldn't, so I tried my head, and -that went in comfortably. I stuffed my breast full of starlings. When I -tried to get out of the hole I could not; so I rushed home and fetched -an adze, and cut myself out. I couldn't get down, as the tree was so -thick and my head so giddy, so I called the miller to help me, but he, -thinking that my complaint was hunger, sent me some miller-cake by his -son, but I told him in a great rage that that was not what I wanted: so -off he ran at once, and brought me a bushel of bran, handing it up on -the end of a pale. I twisted the bran into a rope, so strong that it -would bear a millstone, and I tried whether it would reach the ground, -but it did not reach, so I doubled it up, then it not only reached, but -trailed on the ground. I began to glide down it, but a beetle aloft -sawed it in two where it was tied to the bough, and down I dropped rope -and all; but while I was falling to the ground, in the meantime, the -young starlings in my breast got their feathers, took to their wings, -and flew away with me. When we were flying over the river Olt, some -women who were washing rags on the bank began to shout, "What the fiery -thunderbolt is the boy doing that he flies so well? If he drops he will -drop straight in the river and drown." I saw they were all staring at -me, but from the chirping of the young starlings I couldn't clearly hear -what they shouted: so I thought they were shouting that I should untie -the waist-band of my shirt. I untied the waist-band of my shirt below -the garter that tied my socks: with this the young starlings got out of -my bosom all at once and all the wings I had flew away. Down I dropped -into the middle of the river: with my splash the waters overflowed the -banks and washed as far as the foot of the mountain: but when the waters -flowed back into the bed of the river, (with the exception of a few -drops that were lapped up by a thirsty shepherd-dog of Gidofalu) so many -fish were left on the bank that they covered the whole place, from -Malnas to Doboly and from Arkos to Angyalos and even the whole plain of -Szepmezoe. Well, there was a lot of fish! Twelve buffalo-carts were -carting them away without interruption for a whole week, and the -quantity didn't get less, you couldn't see that any had been taken away: -but a stark naked gipsy brat came that way from Koeroespatak, and he -picked them up, put them into his shirt lap, and carried them all away. - - -I then remembered that they had not sent me here to play but to grind -corn, so I started in the direction of where I had left the oxen to see -what they were doing, and whether they were there still. I travelled for -a long time till I got quite tired. I saw in a meadow a horse, and I -thought I could easily get on it, and go where I wished to go, but it -would not wait for me. I caught hold of its tail, turned it round, and -so we stood face to face, and I said to it quite bumptiously: "Ho! stop, -old nag. Don't be so frisky." It understood the kind words and stopped -dead, like a peg. I put the saddle on the grey and sat on the bay and -started off on the chestnut; over a ditch and over a stile, so that the -horse's feet did not touch the ground. In one place I passed a vineyard, -and inside the hedge there was a lot of pretty ripe fruit. I stopped the -grey, got down from the bay, and tied the chestnut to the paling. I -tried to climb over the hedge, but couldn't, so I caught hold of my -hair, and swung myself over. I began to shake the plum-tree, and walnuts -dropped. I picked up the filberts and put them in my bosom. It was very -hot, I was very thirsty, so that I nearly died of thirst. I saw that not -very far away there were some reapers, and I asked, "Where can I get -water here?" They shewed me a spring not far off. I went there, and -found that it was frozen over. I tried in vain to break the ice with my -heel, and then with a stone, but did not succeed, as the ice was a span -thick; so I took the skull from my head and broke the ice with it -easily. I scooped up water with it, and had a hearty drink. I went to -the hedge and swung myself over by the hair into the road; then I untied -the grey, got on the bay, and galloped off on the chestnut, over stile -and ditch, so that my hair flew on the wind. In one place I passed two -men. As I overtook them, they called out after me: "Where's your head, -my boy?" I immediately felt my back, and lo! my head was not there; so I -galloped back at a quick dog-trot to the spring. What did I see? My -skull felt lonely without me, and had so much sense that as I forgot it -there, it had made a neck, hands, waist, and feet, for itself out of -the mud, and I caught it sliding on the ice. Well! I wasn't a bad hand -at sliding myself, so I slid after it as fast as I could. But it knew -better than I did, and so I couldn't possibly catch it. My good God! -What could I do? I was very much frightened that I was really going to -be left without a head but I remembered something, and thought to -myself: "Never mind, skull, don't strain yourself, you can't outdo me." -So I hurriedly made a greyhound out of mud, and set it after my skull. -He caught it in a jiffy, and brought it to me. I took it and put it on: -I went to the hedge, and seizing myself by the hair, swung myself over -the hedge: untied the grey, got on the bay, and galloped away on the -chestnut, over a stile, and over a ditch, like a bird, till I came to -the mill, where I found that my father had not had patience to wait for -me, and so had set off in search of me; and, as he couldn't find me, -began to bewail me, vociferating: "Oh! my soul! Oh! my son! Where have -you gone? Oh! Oh! Why did I send you without anybody to take care of -you? Oh! my soul! Oh! my son! Now all is over with you. You must have -perished somewhere." As my father was always scolding me, and calling me -bad names in my lifetime, I could never have believed that he were able -to pity me so much. When I saw what was the matter with him, I called -from a distance: "Console yourself, father, I am here, 'a bad hatchet -never gets lost.'" It brought my poor old father's spirits back. We put -the sacks full of flour on the cart and went home, and celebrated my -father's wedding sumptuously. The bride was my mother, and I was the -first who danced the bride's dance with her, and then the others had a -turn, and when the wedding was over, all the guests went away and we -were left at home by ourselves, and are alive at this date, if we are -not dead. I was born one year after this, and I am the legitimate son of -my father, and have grown up nicely, and have become a very clever lad. - -[1] Cronstadt in Transylvania. - - - - -THE BAA-LAMBS. - - -There was once, somewhere or in some other place, I don't know where, -over seven times seven countries, or even beyond them, a poor widow, and -she had three unmarried sons who were so poor that one had always to go -out to service. First the eldest went, and, as he was going and going -over seven times seven countries, and even beyond them, he met an old -man, who accosted him, saying, "My younger brother, where are you -going?" The lad answered, "My father, I am going to look for work." "And -I am in need of a servant," the old man replied; so he engaged the lad -on the spot to tend his baa-lambs. In the morning, as the lad went out -with them, the old man told him not to drive them and not to guide them, -but simply to go after them, as they would graze quietly if left to -themselves. The lad started with the baa-lambs; first they came to a -splendid meadow, he went in and trotted after them as his master had -told him; then they came to a swift stream and the baa-lambs went over -it, but the lad had not the courage to go into the water, but walked up -and down the bank till evening, when the baa-lambs returned of their own -accord, recrossed the water, and, as night had set in, he drove them -home. "Well, my dear son," said his master, "tell me where you have been -with the baa-lambs." "My dear father, I only followed after them. First -of all they went into a large plain; after that we came to a great, -swift stream; they got over the large sheet of water, but I remained on -this side, as I did not dare to go into the deep water." As the poor lad -finished his tale the master said, "Well, my dear son, I shall send you -away, as I can see very well that you are not fit for service," and he -sent him off without any pay. The lad went home, very much cast down. -When he got home his two brothers asked him, "Well, dear brother, how -did you get on in service?" "Hum, how did I get on, and what did I do? -You'd better go yourselves and you will soon know." "Very well," they -replied, and the second son went to look for service, met the same old -man, and fared the same as his brother, and was sent home without -anything. As he arrived home his younger brother met him and asked, -"Well, dear brother, what sort of service did you get?" "Hum," replied -he, "What sort of a place did I get? You had better go and then you also -will know." "Very well," replied the youngest, and he too went to try -his luck. As he went along he met the same old man, and was engaged by -him to tend his baa-lambs for a year; the old man told him, too, to walk -after them, and not to leave them under any circumstances. Next morning -the old man prepared the lad's bag, and let the baa-lambs out of the -fold; they started off, and the lad followed them, step by step, till -they came to a pretty, green plain: they walked over it, quietly grazing -along as they went, till they came to the swift stream; the baa-lambs -crossed it, and the lad followed them; but the moment he entered the -water the swift current swept off his clothes and shrivelled his flesh, -so that, when he got to the other side, he was only skin and bones; so -soon as he reached the other bank the baa-lambs turned back and began to -blow on him, and his body was at once fairer than it ever was before. -The baa-lambs started off again till they came to a large meadow where -the grass was so high that it was ready for the scythe, and still the -cattle grazing on it were so ill-fed that a breath of wind would have -blown them away; the baa-lambs went on to another meadow which was quite -barren, and the cattle there had nothing to eat, yet they were as fat as -butter; thence the baa-lambs went into a huge forest, and there, on -every tree, was such a lamentation and crying and weeping as one could -not conceive of; the lad looked to see what the meaning of the loud -crying could be, and lo, on every bough there was a young sparrow, quite -naked! and all were weeping and crying. From here the baa-lambs went -sauntering on till they came to a vast garden; in this garden there -were two dogs fighting, so that the foam ran from their mouths; still -they could not harm each other. The baa-lambs went on further till they -came to a great lake, and there the lad saw a woman in the lake, -scooping with a spoon something from the water incessantly, and still -she was not able to scoop the thing up. From there the baa-lambs went -further, and, as they went, he saw a brook of beautiful, running water, -clear like crystal, and, as he was very thirsty, he had half a mind to -drink of it, but, thinking that the spring-head was very much better, he -went there, and saw that the water was bubbling out of the mouth of a -rotting dead dog, which so frightened him that he did not taste a drop. -From there the baa-lambs went into another garden, which was so -wonderfully pretty that human eye had never seen the like before. -Flowers of every kind were blooming, but the baa-lambs left them -untouched, only eating the green grass, and, as they ate, he sat down -under the shade of a beautiful flowering tree in order to partake of -some food, when suddenly he saw that a beautiful white pigeon was -fluttering about in front of him; he took his small blunderbuss, which -he had with him, and shot at the pigeon, knocking off a feather, but the -pigeon flew away; he picked up the feather and put it in his bag. From -thence the baa-lambs started off home, the lad following them. When they -arrived, the old man asked: "Well, my son, and how did the baa-lambs -go?" "They went very well," answered the lad, "I had no trouble with -them. I had merely to walk after them." As he said this, the old man -asked him: "Well, my son, tell me where you have been with the -baa-lambs." Then he told him that the baa-lambs first went into a pretty -green plain, then they went through a swift stream; and he told him -all--where he had been with them and so on. When he had finished his -tale, the old man said: "My dear son, you see that wonderful pretty -green plain where you went first with the baa-lambs represents your -youth up to this day. The water through which you went is the water of -life which washes away sin: that it washed away all your clothes and -dried up your flesh means that it washes away all your previous sins: -that on the other shore, upon the baa-lambs breathing on you, your body -became purer, means that the holy faith, by the water of life, has -penetrated all over your soul, and you have become purified from your -sins, regenerate in all; the baa-lambs who breathed upon you are angels, -and your good and pious teachers. The ill-fed cattle amidst the -luxuriant grass means that the avaricious, whilst surrounded by plenty, -even begrudge themselves food; they will be misers even in the other -world: they will have plenty to eat and drink, they will partake of -both, and still will be eternally hungry and thirsty. Those beasts who -fed in the barren field, and were so fat, means that those who have -given from their little to the poor in this world, and have not -chastised their bodies with hunger and thirst, will feed heartily in the -other world out of little food, and will never know hunger or thirst. -That the young birds cried so mournfully in the woods, my son, means -that those mothers in this world who do not have their children -baptised, but have them buried without, will, in the other world, -eternally weep and cry. The two dogs who fought so in the garden means -that those relatives who in this world fight and squabble over property -will eternally fight in the other world, and never come to terms. That -woman who was fishing in a lake so busily for something with a spoon, -and could not catch it, is he who in this world adulterates milk with -water and sells it in this state to others; he will in the other world -continually be in a lake, and will eternally fish about with a spoon, in -order to fish the milk out of the water, and will never succeed. That -you saw a pretty clear brook and did not drink of it, but went to the -spring where the water flowed out of the mouth of a dead dog, that -means, my dear son, the beautiful sermons of the clergy and their holy -prayers. The dead dog from whose mouth the clear water flowed represents -the priests who preach pious and wise lessons, but never keep them -themselves. The garden into which you went is Heaven. Those who live -without sin in this world will come into such a beautiful garden in the -other world. But now, my dear son, can you show me some proof that you -have really been in that garden?" - -The lad quickly took from his bag the white pigeon's feather, and handed -it to him, saying, "Look here, my old father, I shot this from a white -pigeon there." The old man took the pigeon's feather, and said to him, -"You see, my son, I was that white pigeon, and I have been following you -all the journey through, and always kept watch over you, to see what you -did. So God also follows man unknown to him, to see what he does. The -feather you shot away was one of my fingers; look here, I have not got -it!" and as he looked he saw that the little finger was missing from the -old man's hand; with this, the old man placed the feather there, blew -upon it, and the finger was once more all right. In the meantime the -year came to an end--for if I may mention it here the year consisted of -but three days then--so the old man said to the lad: "Well, my son, the -year is now ended; hand me over the bag, and then you can go. But first -let me ask you would you rather have heaven, or so much gold as you can -carry home?" To this the lad replied that he did not wish for gold, but -only desired to be able to go to heaven. Thereupon the old man at once -filled a sack with gold for him, lifted it upon the lad's back, and sent -him home. The lad thanked the old man for his present, betook himself -home with his sack of gold, and became such a rich farmer with six oxen -that not in the whole village, nay, not even in the whole neighbourhood, -was there such a one who came near him. He also took to himself a -suitable girl as his wife, who was as pretty as a flower; he is alive to -this very day, if he has not died since. May he be your guest to-morrow! - - - - -FAIRY ELIZABETH. - - -There was once somewhere, I don't know where, beyond seven times seven -countries, and even beyond them, a poor man who had a wife and three -children. They were awfully poor. One day the eldest son said: "Dear -mother, bake me some ash-cake and let me go into service." His mother at -once baked the cake, and the lad started, and went on and on till he -came to a high snow-clad mountain, where he met a grey-haired man and -greeted him: "May the Lord bless you, my good old father." "The Lord -bless you, my son. What are you after?" asked the old man. "I am going -out to service, if the Lord will help me to some place." "Well, then, -come to me," said the old man, "I will engage you." So they went to the -house of the grey-haired old man, and the very next day they went out -ploughing but they only ploughed up some grass-land, and sowed it with -seed. Now let me tell you, that the old man promised him a bushel of -seed for sowing. Two days passed, and at dawn of the third day the old -man said: "Well, my son, to-day you can go out ploughing for yourself; -get the plough ready, yoke the oxen in, and in the meantime I will get -the bushel of wheat I promised." So the lad put the oxen to the plough -and the old man got the bushel of wheat and placed it on the plough. -They started, the old man accompanying him. Just at the end of the -village he said to the lad: "Well, my son, can you see that place yonder -covered with shrubs? Go there, and plough up as much of it for yourself -as you think will be enough for the bushel of wheat." The lad went, but -was quite alarmed at the sight of the shrubs, and at once lost heart. -"How could he plough there? Why, by the time he had grubbed up the -shrubs alone it would be night." So he ran off home, and left the plough -there, and the oxen then returned of their own accord to the old man's -place--if I may interrupt myself, they were the oxen of a fairy. When -the lad arrived at his father's house, his other brothers asked him: -"What sort of a place have you found?" "What sort of a place!" replied -he, "go yourself, and you will soon find out." The middle son set out, -and just as he was going over the snow-clad mountain he met the old man, -who engaged him on the spot as his servant, and promised him a bushel of -wheat, as he had done before. They went to the old man's home, and he -fared just as his elder brother had done. At dawn on the third day, when -he had to plough for himself, he got frightened at the sight of the vast -number of shrubs, which no human being could have ploughed up in the -stated time. So he went home too, and on his way he met his younger -brother, who asked him: "What sort of a place have you found, my dear -elder brother?" "What sort of a place had I? Get up out of the ashes, -and go yourself, and you will soon find out." Now let me tell you that -this boy was continually sitting among the ashes. He was a lazy, -ne'er-do-weel fellow; but now he got up, and shook the ashes from him -and said: "Well, my mother, bake me a cake also: as my brothers have -tried their fortune let me try mine." But his brothers said: "Oh! you -ash-pan! Supposing you were required to do nothing else but eat, you -would not be good enough even for that." But still he insisted, that his -mother should bake something for him. So his mother set to work and -baked him a cake of some inferior bran, and with this he set out. As he -went over the boundless snow-clad mountain, in the midst of it he met -the old man and greeted him: "The Lord bless you, my old father!" "The -Lord bless you, my son! Where are you going?" "I am going out to -service, if I can find an employer." "Well, you are the very man I want; -I am in search of a servant." And he engaged him on the spot, promising -to make him a present of a bushel of wheat for sowing. They went home -together, and after they had ploughed together for two days, the lad set -out on the third day to plough up the land allotted to him for his own -use: while the youngster was putting the oxen to the plough the old man -got the wheat and placed it on the plough. On the dyke there was a big -dog, who always lay there quietly; but this time he got up, and started -off in front of him. The old man also accompanied him as far as the end -of the village, from whence he showed him where to go ploughing. The -youngster went on with the plough, and soon saw that he was not able to -plough a single furrow, on account of the thick bushes. After -considering what to do, he bethought himself, and took his sharp hatchet -and began to cut down a vast quantity of shrubs and thorns, the dog -carrying them all into a heap. Seeing that he had cut enough, he began -to plough. The two oxen commenced to drag the plough and cut up the -roots in a manner never seen before. After he had turned three times, he -looked round and said: "Well, I'm not going to plough any more, but will -begin to sow, so that I may see how much seed I've got." He sowed the -seed, and noticed that it was just sufficient, and therefore he had to -plough no more. In great joy he set the plough straight and went home. -The old man met him and said: "Well, my son, thanks to the Lord, you -have now finished your year, and in God's name I will let you go. I do -not intend to engage any more servants." Before I forget to tell you, I -may mention it here, that the year had three days then. So the lad went -home, and his brothers asked him: "Well, then, what sort of a place have -you found?" "Well, I believe I've served my master as well as you did." - -One day, a year after, he went into the field to look at his wheat crop. -There he saw an old woman reaping some young wheat, so he went home and -said to his father: "Well, my father, do you know what we have to do? -let's go reaping." "Where, my son?" "Well, father, for my last year's -service I had a bushel of wheat given to me for sowing, it has got ripe -by this time, so let us go and reap it." So all four (his father, his -two brothers, and himself) went; when they came to the spot they saw -that it was a magnificent crop, a mass of golden ears from root to top, -ready and ripe; so they all started to work and cut down every head. - -They made three stacks of it, each stack having twenty-six sheaves. -"Well my son," said the father, "there are three stacks here and there -are three of you to guard them, so while I go home to hire a cart, guard -them well, so that the birds may not carry away a single stem." The -father went home, and the three sat down (one at the foot of each stack) -to watch them, but the youngest was the most anxious, as it was his own, -and ran to and fro continually to prevent his brothers falling asleep. -Just as he had awakened them and was going back to his own stack he saw -a woodpecker dragging away, by jerks, a golden ear along the ground, so -he ran after it in order to get it back, but just as he was on the point -of catching it the woodpecker flew off further and further, and enticed -him, until at last it got him into the very midst of the boundless -snow-clad mountains. All of a sudden the youngster discovered where he -was, and that it was getting dusk. "Where was he to go? and what was he -to do?" So he thought he would go back to the stacks, but as he had kept -his eye on the woodpecker and the wheat-ear, he had taken no notice of -the surroundings, and knew not which way he had come. So he determined -to climb the highest tree and look round from there: he looked about and -found the highest tree, climbed it, and looked East but saw nought, -South and saw nought: North, and far, very far away he saw a light as -big as a candle; so he came down, and started off in the direction in -which he had seen the light and went straight over ditches, woods, -rocks, and fields till at last he came to a large plain, and there he -found the fire which he had seen before, and lo! it was such a heap of -burning wood that the flames nearly reached heaven: he approached it and -when he drew near the burning heap he saw that a man was lying curled -round the fire, his head resting on his feet, and that he was covered -with a large cloak: then thought the lad, "Shall I lie down inside or -outside of the circle formed by the body of the man?" If he lay outside -he would catch cold; if he lay inside he would be scorched, he thought; -so he crept into the sleeve of the cloak, and there fell asleep. In the -morning when the sun arose, the big man awoke, he yawned wide, and got -up from the fire; as he rose the youngster dropt out of his sleeve on to -the ground: the giant looked at him (because I forgot to tell you it -wasn't a man, it was a giant), and was very much pleased at the sight; -he quickly picked him up, took him into his arms, and carried him into -his palace, (and even there put him into the best room) and put him to -bed, covered him up well, and crept out of the room on tiptoe lest he -should wake him. When he heard that the youngster was awake, he called -to him through the open door, "Don't be afraid, my dear son, I am a big -man it is true, but notwithstanding I will be to thee like thy father, -in thy father's place; like thy mother, in thy mother's place." With -this he entered the room, and the poor lad stared into the giant's eyes, -as if he were looking up to the sky. Suddenly the giant asked him how he -got there, and the lad told him the whole tale. "Well, my dear little -son, I will give you everything that your heart can think of, or your -mouth name, I will fulfil your every wish, only don't worry yourself;" -and he had all sorts of splendid clothes made for him, and kept him on -costly food; and this lasted till the lad became twenty years of age, -when one day the lad became very sad, and his giant father asked him, -"Well, my dear son, tell me why you are so sad, I will do all your heart -can think of, or your mouth name; but do tell me what's the matter with -you?" So the lad said, after hesitation, "Well! well! well! my dear -father, I am so sad because the time has come when I ought to get -married, and there's nobody here to get married to." "Oh! my son, don't -worry yourself over that, such a lad as you has but to wish and you -will find plenty of womankind, the very prettiest of them, ready to have -you; you will but have to choose the one your heart loves best." So -saying he called the lad before the gate and said: "Well, my son, you -can see that great white lake yonder: go there at noon prompt and hide -yourself under a tree, for every noon three lovely fairy girls come -there who are as handsome as handsome can be: you _can_ look at the sun, -but you can't look at them! They will come disguised as pigeons, and -when they arrive on the bank they will turn somersaults, and at once -become girls: they will then undress, and lay their dresses on the bank: -you must then glide up, and steal the dress of the one your heart loves -best, and run away home with it, but be careful not to look back, -however they may shout: because if you do, believe me, she will catch -you, box your ears, and take her clothes from you." - -So he went to the lake and hid himself under an oak, and all at once -three white pigeons came flying, their wings flapping loudly as they -came, they settled down on the bank, and went to take a bath. The lad -wasn't slow to leave his hiding-place, and pick up the dress of the -eldest fairy girl and run away with it; but she noticed it at once, -rushed out of the lake, and ran after him, shouting: "Stop! sweet love -of my heart. Look at me; see how beautiful my skin is; how pretty my -breasts are. I'm yours, and you're mine!" So he looked round, and the -fairy snatched her dress away in a moment, slapped his face, and -returned to the others in the lake. Poor lad! he was very sad, and went -back and told his giant father all that had happened, and his giant -father answered, "Well; wasn't I right? Didn't I tell you not to look -back? But don't fret; three in number are the divine truths, and three -times also will you have to try. There are two yet left, go again -to-morrow at noon. Take care you don't look back, or pick up the same -dress that you picked up yesterday, because, believe me, if you do, -there will be the mischief to pay." So he went early next day (he -couldn't wait till noon) and hid himself under a tree, when all of a -sudden the pigeons appeared, turned somersaults, and became three -beautiful fairy girls. They undressed, laid their dresses on the bank, -and went into the lake; in short, the lad fared with the second as with -the first--he couldn't resist the temptation of looking back when the -beautiful fairy kept imploring him, as the sweet love of her heart, to -gaze at her beautiful skin and breasts. He looked back, was slapped in -the face as before, and lost the fairy dress. He went home again, very -sad, to his giant father, and told him how he had fared; and the giant -said in reply: "Never mind, don't bother yourself, my son, three are the -divine truths; there is one more left for you; you can try again -to-morrow, but only be very careful not to look back this time." Next -day he couldn't wait till noon, but went and hid himself under the oak -very early, and had to wait a long, long time. At last the white pigeons -arrived, turned somersaults as before, and put their dresses on the -bank, whilst they themselves went into the lake. Out he rushed from his -hiding-place, snatched up the youngest's dress, and ran away with it. -But the fairy noticed that her dress was gone, and rushed out of the -lake after him like a hurricane, calling out incessantly: "Stop! sweet -love of my heart, look how beautifully white my skin is! See how -beautifully white are my breasts. I am yours, and you are mine." But the -lad only ran faster than ever, and never looked behind once, but ran -straight home to his giant father, and told him that he had got the -dress this time. "Well, my dear son," said he, "didn't I tell you not to -worry yourself in the least, and that I would do all for you that your -heart could desire, or your mouth name?" Once after this the lad was -very sad again, so his giant father asked him: "Well, my son, what's the -matter this time, that you are so sad?" "Well, my dear father, because -we have only got a dress, and that is not enough for a wedding. What's -the use of it? What can I do with it?" "Never mind, don't worry about -that. Go into the inside closet, and on a shelf you will find a walnut, -bring it here." So the lad went and fetched the nut, and the giant split -it neatly in two, took out the kernel, folded up the dress (and I may -mention it here the dress consisted of only one piece), put it inside -the nut-shell, fitted the two halves together, and said to the lad: -"Well, my son, let me have your waistcoat, so that I may sew this nut -into the pocket; and be careful that no one opens it, neither thy -father, nor thy mother, nor any one in this world, because should any -one open it your life will be made wretched; you will be an outcast." - -With this, the giant sewed the nut into the pocket, and put the -waistcoat on him. As they finished this, they heard a great clamping -noise, and a chinking (as of coins) outside. So the giant bade him to -look out of the window, and what did he see? He saw that in the -courtyard there was a lovely girl sitting in a carriage drawn by six -horses, and about her beautiful maids and outriders, and the giant said, -"You see, it is Fairy Elizabeth, your ladylove." So they went out at -once, and helped Fairy Elizabeth out of her carriage, then she ordered -the carriage and horses to go back, at once, to where they had come -from, and in a moment they disappeared, and there was no trace of them -left. They then went into the house, but the giant remained outside, and -he drew in the dust figures of a priest, and a cantor, and guests, and -they appeared at once. All went into the house, and the young folks got -wed, and a great wedding feast was celebrated. There was the -bridegroom's best man, and the groom's men, and the bride's duenna, and -all her bridesmaids, and the wedding feast lasted three full days. They -ate, drank, and enjoyed themselves, and when all was over the young -couple lived together in quiet happiness. Once more, however, the lad -became very sad, and the giant asked him: "Well, my dear son, why are -you sad again? You know that I will do all your heart can desire, or -your mouth name." "Well, my dear father," replied he, "how can I help -being sad; it is true we live together happily, but who knows how my -father and mother and brothers and sisters are at home? I should like -to go to see them." - -"Well, my dear son," said the giant, "I will let you go; you two go -home, and you will find your relations keeping the third anniversary of -your death: they have gathered in all the golden corn, and become so -rich that they are now the greatest farmers in the village: each of your -brothers have their own home and they have become great men (six-ox -farmers) and have a whole flock of sheep." So the giant went outside, -and drew in the dust the figures of horses and carriage, coachman, -footmen, outriders, and court damsels, and they at once appeared; the -young couple sat in the carriage, and the giant told the lad if ought -happened to him he had only to think of one of these horses, and it -would at once bring him back here. With this they started, and they -arrived at home and, saw that the courtyard of his father's house was -full of tables, crowded with people sitting round them, but no one spoke -a word; they all were speechless so that you could not even hear a -whisper. The couple got out of the carriage, in front of the gate, -walked into the yard, and met an old man; it happened to be his father. -"May the Lord give you a good day, Sir!" said he; and the old man -replied, "May the Lord bless you also, my lord!" "Well sir," asked the -young man, "what is the meaning of all this feasting that I see, all -this eating and drinking, and yet no one speaks a word; is it a marriage -or a funeral feast?" "My lord, it is a burial feast," replied the old -man; "I had three sons, one was lost, and to-day we celebrate the third -anniversary of his death." "Would you recognise your son if he -appeared?" Upon hearing this his mother came forward and said, "To be -sure, my dearest and sweetest lord, because there is a mark under his -left armpit." With this the lad pulled up his sleeve and showed the -mark, and they at once recognised him as their lost son; the funeral -feast, thereupon, was at once changed into a grand wedding festival. -Then the lad called out to the carriage and horses "Go back where you -have come from," and in a moment there was not a trace of them left. His -father at once sent for the priest and the verger and they went through -all the ceremonies again, and whether the giant had celebrated them or -not, certainly the father did: the wedding feast was such a one as had -never been seen before! When they rose from the table they began the -bride's dance: in the first place they handed the bride to the cleverest -dancer, and whether he danced or not, most certainly the bride did: as -she danced her feet never touched the ground, and everyone who was there -looked at the bride only, and all whispered to each other, that no man -had ever seen such a sight in all his life. When the bride heard this -she said, "Hum, whether I dance now or whether I don't, I could dance -much better if anyone would return to me the dress I wore in my maiden -days." Whereupon they whispered to each other, "Where can that dress -be?" When the bride heard this she said, "Well, my souls, it is in a -nut-shell, sewn into my husband's waistcoat pocket, but no one will ever -be able to get it." "I can get it for you," said her mother-in-law, -"because I will give my son a sleeping-draught in wine and he will go to -sleep," and so she did, and the lad fell on the bed fast asleep; his -mother then got the nut from his pocket and gave it to her -daughter-in-law, who at once opened it, took the dress out, put it on, -and danced so beautifully, that, whether she danced the _first_ time or -not, she certainly danced this time; you could not imagine anything so -graceful. But, as it was so hot in the house, the windows were left -open, and Fairy Elizabeth turned a somersault, became a white pigeon, -and flew out of the window. Outside there was a pear tree, and she -settled upon the top of it, the people looking on in wonder and -astonishment; then she called out that she wanted to see her husband as -she wished to say a word or two to him, but the sleeping draught had not -yet lost its power, and they could not wake him, so they carried him out -in a sheet and put him under the tree and the pigeon dropped a tear on -his face; in a minute he awoke. "Can you hear me, sweet love of my -heart?" asked the pigeon, "if you ever want to meet me seek for me in -the town of Johara, in the country of Black Sorrow," with this she -spread her wings and flew away. Her husband gazed after her for a while -and then became so grieved that his heart nearly broke. What was he to -do now? He took leave of all and went and hid himself. When he got -outside of the gate he suddenly remembered what the giant had told him -about calling to memory one of the horses; he no sooner did so than it -appeared all ready saddled; he jumped upon it and thought he would like -to be at the giant's gate. In a moment he was there and the giant came -out to meet him. "Well, my dear son, didn't I tell you not to give that -nut to anyone?" The poor lad replied, in great sorrow, "Well, my dear -father, what am I to do now?" "Well, what did Fairy Elizabeth say when -she took leave of you?" "She said that if ever I wished to meet her -again I was to go to the town of Johara, in the country of Black -Sorrow." "Alas, my son!" said the giant, "I have never even heard the -name, so how could I direct you there? Be still, and come and live with -me, and get on as well as you can." But the poor lad said that he would -go, and he must go, in search of his wife as far as his eye could see. -"Well, if you wish to go, there are two more children of my parents -left, an elder brother and an elder sister. Take this; here's a mace. We -three children couldn't divide it amongst us, so it was left with me. -They will know by this that I have sent you; go first to my elder -brother, he is the king of all creeping things; perhaps he may be able -to help you." With this he drew in the dust the figure of a colt three -years old, and bade him sit on it, filled his bag with provisions, and -recommended him to the Lord. The lad went on and on, over seven times -seven countries, and even beyond them; he went on till the colt got so -old that it lost all its teeth; at last he arrived at the residence of -the king of all creeping things, went in, and greeted him, "May the Lord -give you a good day, my dear father!" And the old man replied, "The Lord -has brought you, my son. What is your errand?" And he replied, "I want -to go to the country of Black Sorrow, into the town of Johara if ever I -can find it." "Who are you?" asked the old man. With this he showed him -the mace, and the king at once recognised it and said, "Ah, my dear son, -I never heard the name of that town. I wish you had come last night, -because all my animals were here to greet me. But stay, I will call them -together again to-morrow morning, and we shall then see whether they can -give us any information." Next morning the old man got up very early, -took a whistle and blew it three times, and, in the twinkling of an eye -all the creeping things that existed in the world came forward. He asked -them, one by one, whether they knew aught of the town of Johara in the -country of Black Sorrow. But they all answered that they had never seen -it, and never even heard its name. So the poor lad was very sad, and did -not know what to do. He went outside to saddle his horse, but the poor -brute had died of old age. So the old man at once drew another in the -dust, and it was again a colt three years old. He saddled it for him, -filled his bag with provisions, and gave him directions where to find -his elder sister. With this the lad started off, and went over seven -times seven countries, and even beyond them, till at last, very late, he -arrived at the elder sister's of the giant and greeted her. She returned -it; and asked him, "What is your errand?" he replied that he was going -to the town of Johara in the country of Black Sorrow. "Well, my son," -said the old woman, "and who has sent you to me?" "Don't you know this -mace?" and she recognised it at once, and said, "Alas! my dear son, I am -very pleased to see you, but I cannot direct you, because I never even -heard of the place. Why did you not come last night, as all the animals -were here then. But as my brother has sent you, I will call them all -together again to-night, and perhaps they will be able to tell you -something." With this, he went out to put his horse in the stable, and -found that it had grown so old that it hadn't a single tooth left; he -himself, too, was shrivelled up with age, like a piece of bacon rind, -and his hair was like snow. At eve the old woman said to him, "Lie down -in this bed!" when he lay down she put a heavy millstone upon him; she -then took a whip, went outside the door, and cracked it. It boomed like -a gun and the poor man inside was so startled that he lifted up the -millstone quite a span high. "Don't be afraid, my son," called out the -old woman, "I'm only going to crack it twice more," and she cracked it -again; whether it sounded the first time or not, it certainly did this -time, so that the poor man inside lifted the millstone quite a yard -high, and called out to the old woman not to crack that whip again, or -he should certainly die on the spot. But she cracked it again, -notwithstanding, and it sounded so loud, that whether the first two -sounded or not, this time it sounded so loud that the poor man kicked -the millstone right up to the ceiling. After that the old woman went in -and said to him, "You can get up now, as I am not going to crack my whip -any more." So he got up at once, and she went and opened the window, and -left the door wide open too. At once it became quite dark, the animals -came in such clouds that they quite obscured the sunlight; she let them -in one by one through the window, and read out the name of each one of -them from a list, and asked them if they knew where the country of Black -Sorrow was, but nobody knew it; so she dismissed them and shut the -window and door. The poor man was very sad now; he didn't know what to -do next or where he was to go. "There is nothing more to be done," said -the old woman; "but I will give you a colt, and fill your bag full of -provisions, and in heaven's name go back where you have come from." They -were still consulting when somebody knocked at the window and the old -woman called out, "Who's that?" "It is I, my dear queen," replied a -bird; and she began to scold it for being so late; but still she let it -in, hoping that it might tell them something. Lo! it was a lame -woodpecker. "Why are you so late?" she demanded, and the bird replied -that it was because it had such a bad foot. "Where did you get your leg -broken?" inquired the old woman. "In Johara, in the country of Black -Sorrow." "You are just the one we want," said the old woman; "I command -you to take this man on your back without delay and to carry him to the -very town where you have come from." The woodpecker began to make -excuses and said that it would rather not go there lest they should -break the other leg also; but the old woman stamped with her foot, and -so it was obliged to obey and at once set off with the man on its back, -whose third horse had already died; on they went over seven times seven -countries, and even beyond them, till they came to a very high mountain, -so high that it reached to heaven. - -"Now then," said the woodpecker, "you had better get down here, as we -cannot get over this." "Well, but," said the poor man, "how did _you_ -get over it?" "I? Through a hole." "Well then, take me also through a -hole." Then the woodpecker began to make excuses, that it could not take -him, first urging this reason and then that; so the poor man got angry -with the woodpecker, and began to dig his spurs into the bird's ribs -saying, "Go on, you must take me, and don't talk so much; it was you who -stole the golden wheat-ear from my stack." So what could the poor -woodpecker do but carry him. They arrived in the country of Black -Sorrow, and stopped in the very town of Johara. Then he sent the -woodpecker away, and went straight into the palace where Fairy Elizabeth -lived. As he entered Fairy Elizabeth sat on a golden sofa; he greeted -her, and told her he had come to claim her as his wife. "Is that why you -have come?" replied she. "Surely you don't expect me to be _your_ wife; -an old bent, shrivelled-up man like you. I will give you meat and drink, -and then in heaven's name go back to where you have come from." Hearing -this the poor man became very sad and didn't know what to do, and began -to cry bitterly; but in the meantime (not letting him know) Fairy -Elizabeth had ordered her maids to go out at once and gather all sorts -of rejuvenating plants, and to bring some youth-giving water, and to -prepare a bath for him as quickly as possible. Then she turned to the -old man again, and, in order to chaff him, said, "How can you wish a -beautiful young girl like me to marry such an ugly old man as you? Be -quick, eat, drink, and go back to where you have come from." In his -sorrow the poor man's heart was nearly broken, when all at once Fairy -Elizabeth said to him, "Well, dearest love of my youth, so that you may -not say that I am ungrateful to you for having taken the trouble to come -to me, and made all this long journey for me, I will give you a bath." -She motioned to the maids, they at once seized him, undressed him, and -put him into the tub; in a moment he was a young man again a hundred -times handsomer than he was in his youth; and while they were bathing -him they brought from a shop numerous costly dresses and clothed him -with them and took him to Fairy Elizabeth; man and wife embraced and -kissed each other again and again, and once more celebrated a grand -marriage festival, going through all the ceremonies again; after all -this was over they got into a carriage drawn by six horses, and went to -live with the giant, their father, but they never went again, not even -once, to the place where he had been betrayed. The giant received them -with great joy, and they are still alive to this-day, if they haven't -died since. May they be your guests to-morrow! - - - - -THE THREE PRINCES. - - -There was once, I don't know where, beyond seven times seven countries, -and at a cock's crow even beyond them--an immense, tall, quivering -poplar tree. This tree had seven times seventy-seven branches; on each -branch there were seven times seventy-seven crow-nests, and in each nest -seven times seventy-seven young crows. May those who don't listen -attentively to my tale, or who doze, have their eyes pecked out by all -those young crows; and those who listen with attention to my tale will -never behold the land of the Lord! There was once, I don't know where, a -king who had three sons who were so much like each other that not even -their mother could distinguish them from each other. The king sent his -three sons wandering; the three princes went, and went, and, on the -third day, they arrived at a vast forest, where they first met a -she-wolf with three whelps. "What are you doing here, princes, where not -even the birds ever come?" asked the wolf, "you can go no further, -because I and my whelps will tear you in pieces." "Don't harm us, wolf!" -said the princes, "but rather, let's have your whelps to go as our -servants." "I _will_ tear you to pieces," howled the wolf, and attacked -them; but the princes overcame the wolf, and took the three whelps with -them. They went and went further into the vast forest and met a bear -with three cubs, the next day. "What are you doing here, princes, where -not even a bird comes?" asked the bear; "you can go no further, because -I and my cubs will tear you in pieces." "Don't harm us, bear," said the -princes, "but rather let's have your three cubs to come as our -servants." "I _will_ tear you in pieces," roared the bear, and attacked -them, but the princes overcame the bear, and took the three cubs with -them. Again they went into the vast forest, and met a lioness and her -three cubs, on the third day. "What are you doing here, princes, where -not even a bird comes? you can go no further, because I and my cubs will -tear you in pieces." "Don't harm us, lioness," said the princes, "but -let's have your three cubs to come as our servants." "I _will_ tear you -in pieces," roared the lioness, and attacked them, but the princes -overcame the lioness, and took the three cubs as their servants: and -thus each prince had three servants, a lion, a bear, and a wolf. At last -they reached the outskirts of the vast forest, where the road divided -into three, under a tree, and here the eldest said, "Let us stick our -knives into the tree, and each start in a different direction; in a -year hence we will be back again, and whosoever's knife is covered with -blood, he is in danger, and the others must go in search of him." -"Agreed," said the others, and, sticking their knives into the tree, -started off in different directions. - -After long wanderings the eldest came to a town which was wholly covered -with black cloth, and here he took lodgings with an old woman. "Why is -this town hung with black?" asked the prince. "Alas, we live in great -danger here!" said the old woman, "in the lake near the town lives the -dragon with seven heads, who vomits fire, and to him we have to give a -virgin every week, and to-morrow it is the king's daughter's turn, and -she has to go, and this is the reason why our town is covered with -black." "And is there no man who can help?" inquired the prince. "We -have not found one yet," said the old woman, "although our king has -promised his daughter, and after his death his realm, to the one who -kills the dragon." The prince did not say another word, but took a rest -and, afterwards, went towards the lake, and as he passed the royal -palace he saw the princess in the window weeping. The royal princess was -so beautiful that even the sun stopped before the window, in his course, -to admire her beauty. At last he reached the lake, and could already -hear, even at a distance, the dragon with seven heads roaring, so loudly -that the ground trembled. "How dare you approach me? You must die, even -had you seven souls!" roared the dragon, but instead of an answer the -prince threw his mace at him, with such force that it smashed one of his -heads on the spot, thereupon he attacked him with his sword, and also -set his dogs at him, and while he cut the dragon's heads off one by one, -his servants bit him to pieces, and thus killed the dragon, whose blood -formed a brook seven miles long. After this he drew a tooth out of each -head of the dragon and put them into his sabretache, and, as he was very -tired, he lay down amongst the bulrushes and went fast asleep with his -dogs. The Red Knight was watching the whole light from amongst the -bulrushes, and, seeing that the prince was asleep, he crept to him and -killed him, and quartered him, so that he might not revive, and, picking -up the dragon's seven heads, went off towards the town. As soon as the -Red Knight had gone the three dogs woke, and, seeing that their master -had been murdered, began to howl in their sorrow. "If we only had a -rope, so that we could tie him together. I know of a weed which would -bring him to life again," said the wolf. "If we only knew how to tie him -together, I would soon get a rope," said the lion. "I would tie him -together if I had a rope," said the bear; whereupon the lion ran to the -town, the wolf went in search of the weed, and the bear remained behind -to guard his master's body. The lion rushed into a ropemaker's and -roared, "Give me a rope, or I will tear you in pieces." The ropemaker, -in his fright, produced all the rope he had, and the lion rushed off -with a coil. In the meantime the wolf also returned with the weed, and -the bear tied the prince's body together, and the wolf anointed him. -When, all at once, the prince woke, and, rubbing his eyes, stood up. -"Well, I have slept a long time," said the prince, and as he saw that -the sun was setting he returned to the town with his servants, and, as -he again passed in front of the royal palace, he saw the princess once -more, who looked at him, smiling this time. The prince again took his -night's lodging with the old woman, and, as he got up next morning, the -whole town was covered with red cloth. "Why is the whole town covered -with red, now?" asked the prince. "Because the Red Knight killed the -dragon, and saved the royal princess, and he is to be married to her -to-day," replied the old woman. The prince thereupon went into the -palace, into which crowds of people were streaming. The king was just -leading the Red Knight to his daughter, and said, "Here, my daughter, -this is the hero who killed the dragon, and only the hoe and the spade -will separate him from you from this day." "My royal father," said the -princess, "that isn't the man that killed the dragon, and therefore I -cannot be his wife." "He did kill him," shouted the king, "and, in proof -of it, he brought the dragon's seven heads with him, and therefore you -have to be his wife, according to my promise." And there was a great -feast after this, but the princess sat crying at the table, and the -prince went home very downcast. "Give me some food, master, I'm hungry," -said the wolf, when his master came home. "Go to the king and get some -food from his table," and the wolf went. The Red Knight sat on seven red -pillows, between the king and his daughter, but when he saw the wolf -enter, in his fright a pillow dropped from under him, and the wolf took -a full dish, and went away, and told his master what had happened. "Give -me some food, master. I'm hungry too," said the bear; and his master -sent him also to the palace, and as he entered the Red Knight in his -fright again dropped a pillow from under him. When the bear arrived at -home with the food, he told this to his master. And as the lion got -hungry too, he had to go for his food; and this time the Red Knight -dropped a third pillow, and could hardly be seen above the table. Now -the prince went to the palace himself, and as he entered every one of -the pillows dropped from under the Red Knight in his fright. "Majesty," -said the prince, "do you believe that the Red Knight has killed the -dragon with seven heads?" "Yes," answered the king, "and he brought the -seven heads with him, they are here." "But look, majesty, whether there -is anything missing out of every head." The king examined the dragon's -heads, and exclaimed in astonishment: "Upon my word there is a tooth -missing from every head." "Quite so," said the prince, "and the seven -dragon teeth are here," and, taking them from his sabretache, he handed -the teeth to the king. "Your Majesty, if the Red Knight has killed the -dragon, how could I have obtained the teeth?" "What's the meaning of -this?" inquired the king, in anger, of the Red Knight; "who killed the -dragon?" "Pardon!" implored the knight. In his fear he confessed all, -and the king had him horsewhipped out of the palace, and sent the dogs -after him. - -He bade the prince sit down at once by the side of his daughter, as her -bridegroom; and in joyful commemoration of the event they celebrated -such a wedding that the yellow juice flowed from Henczida to Bonczida. -And the prince and princess lived happily afterwards as man and wife. - -However, it happened once that as the prince went hunting with his three -servants, and after a long walk strolled into the wood, he became tired -and hungry; so he made a fire under a tree, and sat down at it, and -fried some bacon; when suddenly he heard some one call out with a -trembling voice in the tree: "Oh! how cold I am." The prince looked up, -and saw an old woman on the top of the tree shivering. "Come down, old -mother," said he. But the old woman said, still shivering with cold, -"I'm afraid to come down, because your dogs will kill me; but if you -will strike them with this rod, which I throw down to you, they will not -touch me." And the good prince, never thinking that the old woman was a -witch, struck his servants with the rod, who, without him noticing it, -turned into stone. Seeing this, the old woman came down from the tree, -and, having prepared a branch as a spit, she caught a toad. She drew it -on the spit, and held it to the fire, close to the bacon; and when the -prince remonstrated and tried to drive the old woman away, she threw the -toad into his face, whereupon the prince fainted. As his servants could -not assist him, the witch killed him, cut him up in pieces, salted him, -and put him into a cask. The princess was waiting for her husband in -great sorrow; but days passed, and still he did not come, and the poor -princess bewailed him day and night. - -In the meantime, the second prince returned to the tree in which they -had stuck their knives; and, finding that his elder brother's knife was -covered with blood, started in search of him. When he came to the town, -it was again covered with black. He also took lodgings for the night -with the old woman, and on inquiring she told him the whole story of -the first prince, and also informed him that the town was draped in -black because the prince was lost while hunting. The second prince at -once came to the conclusion that it could be no one else but his elder -brother, and went to the palace. The princess, mistaking him for her -husband in her joy, threw her arms round his neck. "Charming princess, I -am not your husband," said the prince, "but your husband's younger -brother." The princess, however, would not believe him, as she could not -imagine how one man could so resemble another; therefore she chatted -with him the whole day, as if with her husband, and, night having set -in, he had to get into the same bed with her. The prince, however, -placed his unsheathed sword between himself and his sister-in-law, -saying: "If you touch me, this sword will at once cut off your hand." -The princess was very sorry on hearing this, but, in order to try, she -threw her handkerchief over the prince, and the sword cut it in two at -once, whereupon the princess burst out crying, and cried the whole -night. Next morning the prince went out in search of his brother, and -went out hunting in the same wood where he had heard his brother was -lost. But, unfortunately, he met the witch, and was treated in the same -way as his brother. She killed and salted him also. - -After this the youngest prince returned to the tree in which the knives -were, and, finding both his brothers' knives covered with blood, went in -the direction in which his eldest brother had gone. He came to the town, -which was still draped in black, and learned all from the old woman; he -went to the palace, where the princess mistook him too for her husband. -He had to sleep with her, but, like his brother, placed a sword between -them, and, to the great sorrow of the princess, he, too, went out -hunting the next morning. Having become tired, he made a fire, and began -to fry some bacon, when the witch threw him the rod; but the prince -luckily discovered in the thicket the six petrified dogs, and instead of -touching his own dogs with the rod, he touched those which had been -turned into stone, and all six came to life again. The witch was not -aware of this and came down from the tree, and the brutes seized her on -the spot, and compelled her to bring their masters to life again. Then -the two princes came to life again. In their joy all three embraced each -other, and their servants tore the witch in pieces. Whereupon they went -home, and now the joy of the princess was full, because her husband and -her brothers-in-law had all returned, and she had no longer any fear -that the sword would be placed in the bed. On account of the joyful -event the town was again draped in red cloth. The eldest prince lived -happily with his wife for a long time, and later on became king. His two -brothers went home safely. - - - - -THE THREE DREAMS. - - -There was once, I don't know where, even beyond the Operenczias Sea, a -poor man, who had three sons. Having got up one morning, the father -asked the eldest one, "What have you dreamt, my son?" "Well, my dear -father," said he, "I sat at a table covered with many dishes, and I ate -so much that when I patted my belly all the sparrows in the whole -village were startled by the sound." "Well, my son," said the father, -"if you had so much to eat, you ought to be satisfied; and, as we are -rather short of bread, you shall not have anything to eat to-day." Then -he asked the second one, "What have you dreamt, my son?" "Well, my dear -father, I bought such splendid boots with spurs, that when I put them on -and knocked my heels together I could be heard over seven countries." -"Well, my good son," answered the father, "you have got good boots at -last, and you won't want any for the winter." At last he asked the -youngest as to what he had dreamt, but this one was reticent, and did -not care to tell; his father ordered him to tell what it was he had -dreamt, but he was silent. As fair words were of no avail the old man -tried threats, but without success. Then he began to beat the lad. "To -flee is shameful, but very useful," they say. The lad followed this good -advice, and ran away, his father after him with a stick. As they reached -the street the king was just passing down the high road, in a carriage -drawn by six horses with golden hair and diamond shoes. The king -stopped, and asked the father why he was ill-treating the lad. "Your -Majesty, because he won't tell me his dream." "Don't hurt him, my good -man," said the monarch; "I'll tell you what, let the lad go with me, and -take this purse; I am anxious to know his dream, and will take him with -me." The father consented, and the king continued his journey, taking -the lad with him. Arriving at home, he commanded the lad to appear -before him, and questioned him about his dream, but the lad would not -tell him. No imploring, nor threatening, would induce him to disclose -his dream. The king grew angry with the lad's obstinacy, and said, in a -great rage, "You good-for-nothing fellow, to disobey your king, you must -know, is punishable by death! You shall die such a lingering death that -you will have time to think over what disobedience to the king means." -He ordered the warders to come, and gave them orders to take the lad -into the tower of the fortress, and to immure him alive in the wall. The -lad listened to the command in silence, and only the king's pretty -daughter seemed pale, who was quite taken by the young fellow's -appearance, and gazed upon him in silent joy. The lad was tall, with -snow-white complexion, and had dark eyes and rich raven locks. He was -carried away, but the princess was determined to save the handsome lad's -life, with whom she had fallen in love at first sight; and she bribed -one of the workmen to leave a stone loose, without its being noticed, so -that it could be easily taken out and replaced; and so it was done! - -And the pretty girl fed her sweetheart in his cell in secret. One day -after this, it happened that the powerful ruler of the dog-headed -Tartars gave orders that seven white horses should be led into the other -king's courtyard; the animals were so much alike that there was not a -hair to choose between them, and each of the horses was one year older -than another; at the same time the despot commanded that he should -choose the youngest from among them, and the others in the order of -their ages, including the oldest; if he could not do this, his country -should be filled with as many Tartars as there were blades of grass in -the land; that he should be impaled; and his daughter become the -Tartar-chief's wife. The king on hearing this news was very much -alarmed, held a council of all the wise men in his realm, but all in -vain: and the whole court was in sorrow and mourning. The princess, too, -was sad, and when she took the food to her sweetheart she did not smile -as usual, but her eyes were filled with tears: he seeing this inquired -the cause; the princess told him the reason of her grief, but he -consoled her, and asked her to tell her father that he was to get seven -different kinds of oats put into seven different dishes, the oats to be -the growths of seven different years; the horses were to be let in and -they would go and eat the oats according to their different ages, and -while they were feeding they must put a mark on each of the horses. And -so it was done, The horses were sent back and the ages of them given, -and the Tartar monarch found the solution to be right. - -But then it happened again that a rod was sent by him both ends of which -were of equal thickness; the same threat was again repeated in case the -king should not find out which end had grown nearest the trunk of the -tree. The king was downcast and the princess told her grief to the lad, -but he said, "Don't worry yourself, princess, but tell your father to -measure carefully the middle of the rod and to hang it up by the middle -on a piece of twine, the heavier end of it will swing downwards, that -end will be the one required." The king did so and sent the rod back -with the end marked as ordered. The Tartar monarch shook his head but -was obliged to admit that it was right. "I will give them another -trial," said he in a great rage; "and, as I see that there must be some -one at the king's court who wishes to defy me, we will see who is the -stronger." Not long after this, an arrow struck the wall of the royal -palace, which shook it to its very foundation, like an earthquake; and -great was the terror of the people, which was still more increased when -they found that the Tartar monarch's previous threats were written on -the feathers of the arrow, which threats were to be carried out if the -king had nobody who could draw out the arrow and shoot it back. The king -was more downcast than ever, and never slept a wink: he called together -all the heroes of his realm, and every child born under a lucky star, -who was born either with a caul or with a tooth, or with a grey lock; he -promised to the successful one, half of his realm and his daughter, if -he fulfilled the Tartar king's wish. The princess told the lad, in sad -distress, the cause of her latest grief, and he asked her to have the -secret opening closed, so that their love might not be found out, and -that no trace be left; and then she was to say, that she dreamt that the -lad was still alive, and that he would be able to do what was needed, -and that they were to have the wall opened. The princess did as she was -told; the king was very much astonished, but at the same time treated -the matter as an idle dream in the beginning. He had almost entirely -forgotten the lad, and thought that he had gone to dust behind the walls -long ago. _But in times of perplexity, when there is no help to be found -in reality, one is apt to believe dreams_, and in his fear about his -daughter's safety, the king at last came to the conclusion that the -dream was not altogether impossible. He had the wall opened; and a -gallant knight stepped from the hole. "You have nothing more to fear, my -king," said the lad, who was filled with hope, and, dragging out the -arrow with his right hand, he shot it towards Tartary with such force -that all the finials of the royal palace dropped down with the force of -the shock. - -Seeing this, the Tartar monarch was not only anxious to see, but also to -make the acquaintance of him who did all these things. The lad at once -offered to go, and started on the journey with twelve other knights, -disguising himself so that he could not be distinguished from his -followers; his weapons, his armour, and everything on him was exactly -like those around him. This was done in order to test the magic power of -the Tartar chief. The lad and his knights were received with great pomp -by the monarch, who, seeing that all were attired alike, at once -discovered the ruse; but, in order that he might not betray his -ignorance, did not dare to inquire who the wise and powerful knight was, -but trusted to his mother, who had magic power, to find him out. For -this reason the magic mother put them all in the same bedroom for the -night, she concealing herself in the room. The guests lay down, when one -of them remarked, with great satisfaction, "By Jove! what a good cellar -the monarch has!" "His wine is good, indeed," said another, "because -there is human blood mixed with it." The magic mother noted from which -bed the sound had come; and, when all were asleep, she cut off a lock -from the knight in question, and crept out of the room unnoticed, and -informed her son how he could recognise the true hero. The guests got up -next morning, but our man soon noticed that he was marked, and in order -to thwart the design, every one of the knights cut off a lock. They sat -down to dinner, and the monarch was not able to recognise the hero. - -The next night the monarch's mother again stole into the bedroom, and -this time a knight exclaimed, "By Jove! what good bread the Tartar -monarch has!" "It's very good, indeed," said another, "because there is -woman's milk in it." When they went to sleep, she cut off the end of the -moustache from the knight who slept in the bed where the voice came -from, and made this sign known to her son; but the knights were more on -their guard than before, and having discovered what the sign was, each -of them cut off as much from their moustache as the knight's who was -marked; and so once more the monarch could not distinguish between them. - -The third night the old woman again secreted herself, when one of the -knights remarked, "By Jove! what a handsome man the monarch is!" "He is -handsome, indeed, because he is a love-child," said another. When they -went to sleep, she made a scratch on the visor of the knight who spoke -last, and told her son. Next morn the monarch saw that all visors were -marked alike. At last the monarch took courage and spoke thus: "I can -see there is a cleverer man amongst you than I; and this is why I am so -much more anxious to know him. I pray, therefore, that he make himself -known, so that I may see him, and make the acquaintance of the only -living man who wishes to be wiser and more powerful than myself." The -lad stepped forward and said, "I do not wish to be wiser or more -powerful than you; but I have only carried out what you bade me do; and -I am the one who has been marked for the last three nights." "Very well, -my lad, now I wish you to prove your words. Tell me, then, how is it -possible there can be human blood in my wine?" "Call your cupbearer, -your majesty, and he will explain it to you," said the lad. The official -appeared hastily, and told the king how, when filling the tankards with -the wine in question, he cut his finger with his knife, and thus the -blood got into the wine. "Then how is it that there is woman's milk in -my bread?" asked the monarch. "Call the woman who baked the bread, and -she will tell," said the lad. The woman was questioned, and narrated -that she was nursing a baby, and that milk had collected in her breasts; -and as she was kneading the dough, the breast began to run, and some -milk dropped into it. The magic mother had previously informed her son, -when telling him what happened the three nights, and now confirmed her -previous confession that it was true that the monarch was a love-child. -The monarch was not able to keep his temper any longer, and spoke in a -great rage and very haughtily, "I cannot tolerate the presence of a man -who is my equal: either he or I will die. Defend yourself, lad!" and -with these words he flashed his sword, and dashed at the lad. But in -doing so, he accidentally slipped and fell, and the lad's life was -saved. Before the former had time to get on his feet, the lad pierced -him through, cut off his head, and presented it on the point of his -sword to the king at home. "These things that have happened to me are -what I dreamt," said the victorious lad; "but I could not divulge my -secret beforehand, or else it would not have been fulfilled." The king -embraced the lad, and presented to him his daughter and half his realm; -and they perhaps still live in happiness to-day, if they have not died -since. - - - - -CSABOR UR. - - -There was once a young prince who was, perhaps, not quite twenty-five -years old, tall, and his slim figure was like a pine tree; his forehead -was sorrowful, like the dark pine; his thunder-like voice made his eyes -flash; his dress and his armour were black, because the prince, who was -known all over the world simply as Csabor Ur (Mr. Csabor), was serving -with the picked heroes of the grand king, and who had no other ornaments -besides his black suit but a gold star, which the grand king had -presented to him in the German camp for having saved his life. The fame -of Csabor Ur's bravery was great, and also of his benevolence, because -he was kind to the poor, and the grand king very often had to scold him -for distributing his property in a careless way. The priests, however, -could not boast of Csabor Ur's alms, because he never gave any to them, -nor did he ever give them any money for masses, and for this reason the -whole hierarchy was angry with him, especially the head priest at the -great king's court; but Csabor Ur being a great favourite of the great -king, not even a priest dared to offend him openly, but in secret the -pot was boiling for him. One cold autumn the great king arrived at the -royal palace from the camp with Csabor Ur, the palace standing on the -bank of a large sheet of water, and before they had taken the saddles -off the stallions the great king thus addressed Csabor Ur: "My lad, rest -yourself during the night, and at dawn, as soon as day breaks, hurry off -with your most trusty men into Roumania beyond the snow-covered -mountains to old Demeter, because I hear that my Roumanian neighbours -are not satisfied with my friendship, and are intriguing with the Turks: -find out, my lad, how many weeks the world will last there (what's the -news?) and warn the old fox to mind his tail, because I may perhaps send -him a rope instead of the archiepiscopal pallium." Csabor Ur received -the grand king's order with great joy, and, having taken leave of Dame -Margit (Margaret), dashed off on his bay stallion over the sandy plains -to the banks of the Olt, and from there he crossed over during a severe -frost beyond the snow-covered mountains; he arrived at the house of -Jordan Boer, the king's confidential man, whose guest he was, and here -he heard of old Demeter's cunning in all its details, and also that he -was secretly encouraged by the great king's head priest to plot against -the sovereign; hearing this, Csabor Ur started on his journey, and -arrived on the fourth day in Roumania, where he became the bishop's -guest, by whom he was apparently received cordially; the old dog being -anxious to mislead with his glib tongue Csabor Ur, about the events -there, but it was very difficult to hoodwink the great king's man. -Csabor Ur never gave any answer to the bishop's many words, and -therefore made the bishop believe that he had succeeded in deceiving -Csabor Ur; but he was more on his guard than ever and soon discovered -that every night crowds of people gathered into the cathedral; therefore -one night he also stole in there dressed in the costume of the country, -and to his horror heard how the people were conspiring with the bishop -against the great king, and how they were plotting an attack with the -aid of the Turkish army. - -Csabor Ur listened to these things in great silence and sent one of his -servants with a letter to the great king next day, in which he described -minutely the whole state of affairs. The spies, however, laid in ambush -for the servant, attacked and killed him, took Csabor Ur's letter from -him, and handed it to the bishop, who learnt from its contents that -Csabor Ur had stolen into the cathedral every night. He, therefore, had -the large oak doors closed as soon as the congregation had assembled on -the same night, and in an infuriated sermon he informed the people that -there was a traitor among them. Hearing this everybody demanded his -death, and they were ready to take their oath on the Holy Cross that -they were not traitors. Whereupon the bishop ordered a stool to be -placed on the steps of the altar, sat down, and administered the oath to -all present. Only one man, in a brown fur-cloak, did not budge from the -side of the stoup. The bishop, therefore, addressed him thus: "Then who -are you? Why don't you come to me?" But the dark cloak did not move, and -the bishop at once knew who it was and ordered the man to be bound; -whereupon the multitude rushed forward to carry out his command. -Thereupon the man dropped his brown cloak; and, behold, Csabor Ur stood -erect--like a dark pine--with knitted brows and flashing eyes, holding -in his right hand a copper mace with a gilt handle, his left resting on -a broad two-edged sword. The multitude stopped, shuddering, like the -huntsman, who in pursuit of hares suddenly finds a bear confronting him; -but in the next moment the crowd rushed at their prey. Csabor Ur, after -cutting down about thirty of them, dropped down dead himself. His blood -spurted up high upon the column, where it can still be seen in the -cathedral--to the left of the entrance--although the Roumanian priests -tried their best to whitewash it. The great king heard of this, had the -head priest imprisoned, and went with an immense army to revenge Csabor -Ur's murder. With his army came also Dame Margit, dressed in men's -clothes, who wept at the foot of the blood-bespurt column till one day -after mass they picked her up dead from the flags. - - - - -THE DEVIL AND THE THREE SLOVAK LADS. - - -There was once, I don't know where, in Slavonia, a man who had three -sons. "Well, my sons," said he one day to them, "go to see the land; to -see the world. There is a country where even the yellow-hammer bathes in -wine, and where even the fence of the yards is made of strings of -sausages; but if you wish to get on there you must first learn the -language of the country." The three lads were quite delighted with the -description of the wonderful country, and were ready to start off at -once. The father accompanied them as far as the top of a high mountain; -it took them three days to get to the top, and when they reached the -summit they were on the border of the happy land: here the father slung -an empty bag on every one of the lads' shoulders, and, pointing out to -the eldest one the direction, exclaimed, "Ah! can you see Hungary?" and -with this he took leave of them quite as satisfied as if he had then -handed them the key of happiness. The three lads went on and walked into -Hungary; and their first desire was to learn Hungarian, in accord with -their father's direction. The moment they stepped over the border they -met a man, who inquired where they were going? They informed him, "to -learn Hungarian." "Don't go any further, my lads," said the man, "the -school year consists of three days with me, at the end of which you will -have acquired the requisite knowledge." The three lads stayed; and at -the end of the three days one of them had happily learned by heart the -words "we three"; the other, "for a cheese"; and the third, "that's -right." The three Slovak lads were delighted, and wouldn't learn any -more; and so they continued on their journey. They walked till they came -to a forest, where they found a murdered man by the road-side; they -looked at him, and to their astonishment they recognised the murdered -man as their late master whom they had just left; and while they were -sighing, not knowing what to do, the rural policeman arrived on the -spot. He began to question them about the murdered man, saying, "Who -killed him?" The first, not knowing anything else, answered, "We three." -"Why?" asked the policeman. "For a cheese," replied the second. "If this -is so," growled the policeman, "I shall have to put you in irons." -Whereupon the third said, "That's right." The lads were escorted by the -policeman, who also intended to get assistance to carry away the dead -man; but the moment they left, the dead man jumped up, shook himself, -and regained his ordinary appearance, and became a sooty devil, with -long ears and tail, who stood laughing at the lads, being highly amused -at their stupidity, which enabled him to deceive them so easily. - - - - -THE COUNT'S DAUGHTER. - - -There was once, I don't know where, an old tumble-down oven, there was -nothing left of its sides; there was also once a town in which a -countess lived, with an immense fortune. This countess had an -exceedingly pretty daughter, who was her sole heiress. The fame of her -beauty and her riches being very great the marrying magnates swarmed -about her. Among others the three sons of a count used to come to the -house, whose castle stood outside the town in a pretty wood. These -young men appeared to be richer than one would have supposed from their -property, but no one knew where and how the money came to them. The -three young men were invited almost every day to the house, but the -countess and her daughter never visited them in return, although the -young lady was continually asked by them. For a long time the girl did -not accept their invitation, till one day she was preparing for a walk -into the wood, in which the young counts' castle was supposed to be: her -mother was surprised to hear that she intended to go into the wood, but -as the young lady didn't say exactly where she was going her mother -raised no objection. The girl went, and the prettiness of the wood, and -also her curiosity enticed her to go in further and further till at last -she discovered the turrets of a splendid castle; being so near to it her -curiosity grew stronger, and at last she walked into the courtyard. -Everything seemed to show that the castle was inhabited, but still she -did not see a living soul; the girl went on till she came to the main -entrance, the stairs were of white marble, and the girl, quite dazzled -at the splendour she beheld, went up, counting the steps; "one hundred," -said the girl, in a half whisper, when she reached the first flight, and -tarried on the landing. Here she looked round when her attention fell on -a bird in a cage. "Girl, beware!" said the bird. But the girl, dazzled -by the glitter, and drawn on by her curiosity, again began to mount the -stairs, counting them, without heeding the bird's words. "One hundred," -again said the girl, as she tarried on the next landing, but still no -one was to be seen, but thinking that she might find some one she opened -the first door, which revealed a splendour quite beyond all she had ever -imagined, a sight such as she had never seen before, but still no one -appeared. She went into another room and there amongst other furniture -she also found three bedsteads, "this is the three young men's bedroom," -she thought, and went on. The next room into which she stepped was full -of weapons of every possible description; the girl stared and went on, -and then she came to a large hall which was full of all sorts of -garments, clerical, military, civilian, and also women's dresses. She -went on still further and in the next room she found a female figure, -made up of razors, which, with extended arms as it seemed, was placed -above a deep hole. The girl was horror-struck at the sight and her fear -drove her back; trembling she went back through the rooms again, but -when she came into the bedroom she heard male voices. Her courage fled -and she could go no further, but hearing some footsteps approach she -crept under one of the beds. The men entered, whom she recognised as the -three sons of the count, bringing with them a beautiful girl, whom the -trembling girl recognised by her voice as a dear friend; they stripped -her of all, and as they could not take off a diamond ring from her -little finger, one of the men chopped it off and the finger rolled under -the bed where the girl lay concealed. One of the men began to look for -the ring when another said "You will find it some other time," and so he -left off looking for it. Having quite undressed the girl they took her -to the other room, when after a short lapse of time she heard some faint -screaming, and it appeared to her as if the female figure of razors had -snapped together, and the mangled remains of the unfortunate victim were -heard to drop down into the deep hole. The three brothers came back and -one of them began to look for the ring: the cold sweat broke out on the -poor girl hiding under the bed. "Never mind, it is ours new and you can -find it in the morning," said one of the men, and bade the others go to -bed; and so it happened: the search for the ring was put off till next -day. They went to bed and the girl began to breathe more freely in her -hiding-place; she began to grope about in silence and found the ring and -secreted it in her dress, and hearing that the three brothers were fast -asleep, she stole out noiselessly leaving the door half ajar. The next -day the three brothers again visited the countess when the daughter -told them that she had a dream as if she had been to their castle. She -told them how she went up a flight of marble stairs till she counted -100, and up the next flight when she again counted 100. The brothers -were charmed and very much surprised at the dream and assured her that -it was exactly like their home. Then she told them how she went from one -room to another and what she saw, but when she came in her dream as far -as the razor-maid they began to feel uneasy and grew suspicious, and -when she told them the scene with the girl, and in proof of her tale -produced the finger with the ring, the brothers were terrified and -exclaiming, "We are betrayed!" took flight; but everything was arranged, -and the servants, who were ordered to watch, caught them. After an -investigation all their numberless horrible deeds were brought to light -and they were beheaded. - - - - -THE SPEAKING GRAPES, THE SMILING APPLE, AND THE TINKLING APRICOT. - - -There was once, I don't know where, beyond seven times seven countries, -a king who had three daughters. One day the king was going to the -market, and thus inquired of his daughters: "What shall I bring you from -the market, my dear daughters?" The eldest said, "A golden dress, my -dear royal father;" the second said, "A silver dress for me;" the third -said, "Speaking grapes, a smiling apple, and a tinkling apricot for me." -"Very well, my daughters," said the king, and went. He bought the -dresses for his two elder daughters in the market, as soon as he -arrived; but, in spite of all exertions and inquiries, he could not find -the speaking grapes, the smiling apple, and tinkling apricot. He was -very sad that he could not get what his youngest daughter wished, for -she was his favourite; and he went home. It happened, however, that the -royal carriage stuck fast on the way home, although his horses were of -the best breed, for they were such high steppers that they kicked the -stars. So he at once sent for extra horses to drag out the carriage; but -all in vain, the horses couldn't move either way. He gave up all hope, -at last, of getting out of the position, when a dirty, filthy pig came -that way, and grunted, "Grumph! grumph! grumph! King, give me your -youngest daughter, and I will help you out of the mud." The king, never -thinking what he was promising, and over-anxious to get away, consented, -and the pig gave the carriage a push with its nose, so that carriage and -horses at once moved out of the mud. Having arrived at home the king -handed the dresses to his two daughters, and was now sadder than ever -that he had brought nothing for his favourite daughter; the thought also -troubled him that he had promised her to an unclean animal. - -After a short time the pig arrived in the courtyard of the palace -dragging a wheelbarrow after it, and grunted, "Grumph! grumph! grumph! -King, I've come for your daughter." The king was terrified, and, in -order to save his daughter, he had a peasant girl dressed in rich -garments, embroidered with gold, sent her down and had her seated in the -wheelbarrow: the pig again grunted, "Grumph! grumph! grumph! King, this -is not your daughter;" and, taking the barrow, it tipped her out. The -king, seeing that deceit was of no avail, sent down his daughter, as -promised, but dressed in ragged, dirty tatters, thinking that she would -not please the pig; but the animal grunted in great joy, seized the -girl, and placed her in the wheelbarrow. Her father wept that, through a -careless promise, he had brought his favourite daughter to such a fate. -The pig went on and on with the sobbing girl, till, after a long -journey, it stopped before a dirty pig-stye and grunted, "Grumph! -grumph! grumph! Girl, get out of the wheelbarrow." The girl did as she -was told. "Grumph! grumph! grumph!" grunted the pig again; "go into -your new home." The girl, whose tears, now, were streaming like a brook, -obeyed; the pig then offered her some Indian corn that it had in a -trough, and also its litter which consisted of some old straw, for a -resting-place. The girl had not a wink of sleep for a long time, till at -last, quite worn out with mental torture, she fell asleep. - -Being completely exhausted with all her trials, she slept so soundly -that she did not wake till next day at noon. On awaking, she looked -round, and was very much astonished to find herself in a beautiful -fairy-like palace, her bed being of white silk with rich purple curtains -and golden fringes. At the first sign of her waking maids appeared all -round her, awaiting her orders, and bringing her costly dresses. The -girl, quite enchanted with the scene, dressed without a word, and the -maids accompanied her to her breakfast in a splendid hall, where a young -man received her with great affection. "I am your husband, if you accept -me, and whatever you see here belongs to you," said he; and after -breakfast led her into a beautiful garden. The girl did not know -_whether it was a dream she saw or reality_, and answered all the -questions put to her by the young man with evasive and chaffing replies. -At this moment they came to that part of the garden which was laid out -as an orchard, and the bunches of grapes began to speak "Our beautiful -queen, pluck some of us." The apples smiled at her continuously, and the -apricots tinkled a beautiful silvery tune. "You see, my love," said the -handsome youth, "here you have what you wished for--what your father -could not obtain. You may know now, that once I was a monarch but I was -bewitched into a pig, and I had to remain in that state till a girl -wished for speaking grapes, a smiling apple, and a tinkling apricot. You -are the girl, and I have been delivered; and if I please you, you can be -mine for ever." The girl was enchanted with the handsome youth and the -royal splendour, and consented. They went with great joy to carry the -news to their father, and to tell him of their happiness. - - - - -THE THREE ORANGES. - - -There was once, I don't know where, a king, who had three sons. They had -reached a marriageable age, but could not find any one who suited them, -or who pleased their father. "Go, my sons, and look round in the world," -said the king, "and try to find wives somewhere else." The three sons -went away, and at bed-time they came to a small cottage, in which a -very, very old woman lived. She asked them about the object of their -journey, which the princes readily communicated to her. The old woman -provided them with the necessaries for the journey as well as she could, -and before taking leave of her guests, gave them an orange each, with -instructions to cut them open only in the neighbourhood of water, else -they would suffer great, very great damage. The three princes started on -their way again, and the eldest not being able to restrain his curiosity -as to what sort of fruit it could be, or to conceive what harm could -possibly happen if he cut it open in a place where there was no water -near: cut into the orange; and lo! a beautiful girl, such as he had -never seen before, came out of it, and exclaimed, "Water! let me have -some water, or I shall die on the spot." The prince ran in every -direction to get water, but could not find any, and the beautiful girl -died in a short time, as the old woman had said. The princes went on, -and now the younger one began to be inquisitive as to what could be in -his orange. - -They had just sat down to luncheon on a plain, under a tall, leafy tree, -when it appeared to them that they could see a lake not very far off. -"Supposing there is a girl in the fruit, I can fulfil her wish," he -thought to himself, and not being able to restrain his curiosity any -longer, as to what sort of girl there could be inside, he cut his -orange; and lo! a girl, very much more beautiful than the first, stepped -out of it, and called out for water, in order to save her life. He had -previously sent his brother to what he thought was a lake; and, as he -could not wait for his return with the water, he ran off himself, quite -out of breath, but the further he ran the further the lake appeared to -be off, because it was only a mirage. He rushed back to the tree nearly -beside himself, in order to see whether the girl was yet alive, but only -found her body lifeless, and quite cold. - -The two elder brothers, seeing that they had lost what they had been -searching for, and having given up all hope of finding a prettier one, -returned in great sorrow to their father's house, and the youngest -continued his journey alone. He wandered about until, after much -fatigue, he came to the neighbourhood of some town, where he found a -well. He had no doubt that there was a girl in his orange also, so he -took courage, and cut it; and, indeed, a girl, who was a hundred times -prettier than the first two, came out of it. She called out for water, -and the prince gave her some at once, and death had no power over her. -The prince now hurried into the town to purchase rich dresses for his -love; and that no harm might happen to her during his absence, he made -her sit up in a tree with dense foliage, the boughs of which overhung -the well. - -As soon as the prince left, a gipsy woman came to the well for water. -She looked into the well, and saw in the water the beautiful face of -the girl in the tree. At first she fancied that she saw the image of her -own face, and felt very much flattered; but soon found out her mistake, -and looking about discovered the pretty girl in the tree. "What are you -waiting for, my pretty maid?" inquired the gipsy woman with a cunning -face. The girl told her her story, whereupon the gipsy woman, shamming -kindness, climbed up the tree, and pushed the pretty girl into the well, -taking her place in the tree, when the pretty girl sank. The next moment -a beautiful little gold fish appeared swimming in the water; the gipsy -woman recognised it as the girl, and, being afraid that it might be -dangerous to her, tried to catch it, when suddenly the prince appeared -with the costly dresses, so she at once laid her plans to deceive him: -the prince immediately noticed the difference between her and the girl -he had left; but she succeeded in making him believe that for a time -after having left the fairy world, she had to lose her beauty, but that -she would recover it the sooner the more he loved her: so the prince was -satisfied and went home to his father's house with the woman he found, -and actually loved her in hopes of her regaining her former beauty. The -good food and happy life, and also the pretty dresses, improved the -sunburnt woman's looks a little: the prince imagining that his wife's -prediction was going to be fulfilled, felt still more attached to her, -and was anxious to carry out all her wishes. - -The woman, however, could not forget the little gold fish, and therefore -feigned illness, saying that she would not get better till she had eaten -of the liver of a gold fish, which was to be found in such and such a -well: the prince had the fish caught at once, and the princess having -partaken of the liver, got better, and felt more cheerful than before. -It happened, however, that one scale of the fish had been cast out in -the courtyard with the water, and from it a beautiful tree began to -grow; the princess noticed it and found out the reason, how the tree -got there, and again fell ill, and said that she could not get better -until they burnt the tree, and cooked her something by the flames. This -wish also was fulfilled, and she got better; it happened, however that -one of the woodcutters took a square piece of the timber home to his -wife, who used it as a lid for a milk jug: these people lived not very -far from the royal palace, and were poor, the woman herself keeping the -house, and doing all servants' work. - -One day she left her house very early, without having put anything in -order, and without having done her usual household work; when she came -home in the evening, she found all clean, and in the best order; she was -very much astonished, and could not imagine how it came to pass; and it -happened thus on several days, whenever she had not put her house in -order before going out. In order to find out how these things were -accomplished, one day she purposely left her home in disorder, but did -not go far, but remained outside peeping through the keyhole, to see -what would happen. As soon as everything became quiet in the house, the -woman saw that the lid of the milk jug which was standing in the window, -began to move with gentle noise, and in a few moments a beautiful fairy -stepped out of it, who first combed her golden tresses, and performed -her toilet, and afterwards put the whole house in order. The woman, in -order to trap the fairy before she had time to retransform herself, -opened the door abruptly. They both seemed astonished, but the kind and -encouraging words of the woman soon dispelled the girl's fear, and now -she related her whole story, how she came into the world, how she became -a gold fish, and then a tree, and how she used to walk out of the wooden -lid of the milk jug to tidy the house; she also enlightened the woman as -to who the present queen was. The woman listened to all in great -astonishment, and in order to prevent the girl from slipping back into -the lid, she had previously picked it up, when she entered, and now -threw it into the fire. She at once went to the prince, and told him -the whole story. - -The prince had already grown suspicious about his wife's beauty, which -had been very long in returning, and now he was quite sure that she was -a cheat: he sent for the girl and recognised her at once as the pretty -fairy whom he had left in the tree. The gipsy woman was put into the -pillory, and the prince married the pretty girl, and they lived ever -after in happiness. - - - - -THE YOUNGEST PRINCE AND THE YOUNGEST PRINCESS. - - -There was once, I don't know where, an old petticoat a hundred years -old, and in this petticoat a tuck, in which I found the following story. -There was once a king who had seven sons and seven daughters: he was in -great trouble where to find princesses of royal blood as wives for his -sons and princes as husbands for his daughters. At last the idea struck -him that the seven sons should marry the seven daughters. They all -consented to their father's wish with the exception of the youngest son -and daughter: "Well, if you won't," said the father, "I will give you -your inheritance and you can go and try your fortune, and get married as -best you can." The two children went, and came to a strange land, where -they were overtaken by darkness in a wood. They chose a bushy tree for -their resting place, whose leafy boughs bent down to the ground and -afforded shelter. When they woke next morning, the girl told her brother -that she had dreamt that there was a town not far off, where a king -lived who had been ill for a long time, and thousands upon thousands of -doctors had failed to cure him. He again dreamt that an old man with -snow-white hair told him that the tree under which they slept gave -water: in this water the king was to be bathed, and he would be cured. -They at once examined the tree, and from a crack in the bark sap as -clear as crystal was dripping; they filled their flasks with the fluid -and continued their journey. When they reached the outskirts of the -forest, they saw a town in front of them. - -Having arrived there they went into an inn to find out whether their -dream was true, and asked the host what the news was in the town; he, in -his conversation, mentioned the illness of the king, and the many -unsuccessful attempts of men to cure him, and that he had strict orders, -under a heavy penalty, to report at once every doctor that came to his -inn. "I also am a doctor," said the prince, "and this youth is my -assistant," he continued, pointing to his sister, who was dressed in -male attire. The innkeeper at once reported them, and they went to court -to try their remedy on the king. The king's body was covered with sores, -and the doctor bathed his hand with the juice of the tree. To his great -joy, the king discovered next morning that the place which had been -bathed was visibly improving; he therefore, the very same night, sent a -huge wooden vessel on a cart to the tree, to bring him sufficient water -for a bath. After a few baths the king actually recovered; and the -doctor, having received a handsome present, requested a favour of the -king, viz., to pay him a visit and to do him the honour of dining with -him. The king cordially granted the request, and the prince received him -with great splendour in his spacious apartments, which were decorated -with a lavishness becoming a sovereign. As the king found the doctor -alone, he inquired after his assistant, and at this moment a charming -pretty girl stepped from one of the side rooms, whom the king at once -recognised as the doctor's assistant. The strangers now related to him -their story, and the king became more affable, especially towards the -pretty assistant, who at once gained possession of his heart and soul, -and the short acquaintance ended with a wedding. The prince, not -forgetting the object of his journey, started soon after the wedding -festivities were over. - -He passed on till he came to the boundary of the king's realm, and then -went on as far as the capital of the next country. He was riding about -the streets on a fine horse, when he heard a voice coming from a window -close by, "Hum, you, too, won't get on without me," and looking in the -direction from which the voice came, he discovered an old man looking -out of the window. He didn't take any notice of the voice, but went on; -and, having arrived at an inn, made sundry inquiries, when he was told -that adventurous young men in this town might either meet with great -fortune or with a great misfortune; because the king had a daughter whom -no one had as yet seen, with the exception of her old nurse. The girl -had three marks on her, and whoever found out what they were, and where -they were, would become her husband; but whosoever undertook the task -and failed, would be impaled, and that already ninety-nine young fellows -had died in this manner. - -Upon hearing this, it became clear to the prince what the meaning of the -old man's saying was; he thought, that no doubt the old man took him for -another adventurer, and the thought struck him that the old man must be -acquainted with the secret, and that it would be advantageous to make -his acquaintance. He found a plea at once; the old man was a goldsmith, -and, as the prince had lost the rowel of his golden spur on the road, he -called on him, and, having come to terms about the spur, the prince -inquired of him about the princess, and the old man's tale tallied with -that of the innkeeper. After a short reflection, the prince told the old -man who he was, and, with a look full of meaning, inquired if the -goldsmith could help him in case he tried his luck. "For a good sum with -pleasure," replied the goldsmith. "You shall have it," said the prince; -"but tell me how, and I will give you this purse on account." The old -man, seeing that there was good opportunity for gain, said, "I will -construct a silver horse in which you can conceal yourself, and I will -expose it for sale in the market. I am almost sure that no one will buy -it but some one attached to the royal court, and if once you get in -there, you can get out of the horse by a secret opening and go back -whenever you like and, I think, you will succeed." - -And so it happened; on the following market-day a splendid silver horse -was exhibited in the vicinity of the royal palace: there were a good -many admirers, but on account of the great price there was no buyer, -till at last a person belonging to the royal court enquired the price; -after a few moments he returned and bought the horse for the king, who -presented it to his daughter, and thus the prince managed to get into -the chamber of the princess, which was the most difficult of all things, -and he listened amidst fear and joy to the silvery voice of the pretty -girl, who amused herself with the horse--which ran on wheels--and called -it her dear pet. - -Evening drew on, and the mysterious girl went to rest; everything became -quiet, and only her old nurse was sitting up not far from her bed; but -about midnight she, too, fell asleep; hearing that she was fast asleep, -the prince got out of the horse and approached the girl's bed, holding -his breath, and found the mark of the sun shining on the girl's -forehead, the moon on the right breast, and three stars on the left. -Having found out the three secret marks, the prince was about to retire -to his hiding-place when the princess woke. She tried to scream, but at -an imploring gesture of the youth she kept silence. The girl could not -take her eyes off the handsome prince, who related to her how and for -what reason he had dared to come. The girl, being tired of her long -seclusion, consented to his scheme, and they secretly plotted how the -prince should get out of the palace; whereupon he went back to his -hiding-place. In accord with the plot, next morning the girl broke one -of the horse's ears off, and it was sent back to the goldsmith's to be -repaired, and the prince was thus able to leave his dangerous position. - - -Having again splendidly remunerated the goldsmith, he returned to his -new brother-in-law, so that he might come back with a splendid suite and -royal pomp, and appear as a king to try his fortune. The prince returned -with many magnificently-clad knights and splendid horses, and reported -himself to the king, and informed him by message that he was anxious to -try his luck for the possession of his daughter. The king was very much -pleased with the appearance of the youth, and therefore kindly -admonished him not to risk his life, but the prince seemed quite -confident, and insisted on carrying out his wishes; so a day was fixed -for carrying out the task. The people streamed out to the place where -the trial was to take place, like as to a huge festival. And all pitied -the handsome youth, and had sad misgivings as to his fate. - -The king granted three days to those who tried their fortune, and three -guesses. On the first and second day, in order not to betray the plot, -and in order to increase the eclat the prince guessed wrongly on -purpose; but on the third day, when everyone was convinced that he must -die, he disclosed in a loud voice the secret marks of the princess. The -king declared them to be right, and the prince was led to his future -wife, amidst the cheers of the multitude and the joyous strains of the -band. The king ordered immense wedding festivities all over the town, -and resigned his throne in favour of his son-in-law, who reigned happy -for many years after! - - - - -THE INVISIBLE SHEPHERD LAD. - - -There was once, I don't know where, a poor man who had a very good son -who was a shepherd. One day he was tending his sheep in a rocky -neighbourhood, and was sending sighs to Heaven as a man whose heart was -throbbing with burning wishes. Hearing a noise as of some one -approaching he looked round and saw St. Peter standing in front of him -in the guise of a very old grey man. "Why are you sighing, my lad?" -inquired he, "and what is your wish?" "Nothing else," replied the lad, -respectfully, "but to possess a little bag which never gets full, and a -fur cloak which makes me invisible when I put it on." His wish was -fulfilled and St. Peter vanished. The lad gave up shepherding now and -turned to the capital, where he thought he had a chance of making his -fortune. A king lived there who had twelve daughters, and eleven of them -wanted at least six pairs of shoes each every night. Their father was -very angry about this, because it swallowed up a good deal of his -income; he suspected that there was something wrong, but couldn't -succeed by any traps to get to the bottom of it. At last he promised the -youngest princess to him who would unveil the secret. - -The promise enticed many adventurous spirits to the capital, but the -girls simply laughed at them, and they were obliged to leave in -disgrace. The shepherd lad, relying on his fur cloak, reported himself; -but the girls measured him, too, with mocking eyes. Night came, and the -shepherd, muffling himself in his fur cloak, stood at the bedroom door -where they slept, and stole in amongst them when they went to bed. It -was midnight and a ghost walked round the beds and woke the girls. There -was now great preparation. They dressed and beautified themselves, and -filled a travelling bag with shoes. The youngest knew nothing of all -this, but on the present occasion the invisible shepherd woke -her--whereupon her sisters got frightened; but as she was let into their -secret they thought it best to decoy her with them, to which, after a -short resistance, the girl consented. All being ready, the ghost placed -a small dish on the table. Everyone anointed their shoulders with the -contents, and wings grew to them. The shepherd did the same: and when -they all flew through the window, he followed them. - -After flying for several hours they came to a huge copper forest, and to -a well, the railing round which was of copper, and on this stood twelve -copper tumblers. The girls drank here, so as to refresh themselves, when -the youngest, who was here for the first time, looked round in fear. The -lad, too, had something to drink after the girls had left and put a -tumbler, together with a twig that he broke off a tree, in his bag; the -tree trembled, and the noise was heard all over the forest. The youngest -girl noticed it and warned her sisters that some one was after them, but -they felt so safe that they only laughed at her. They continued their -journey, and after a short time came to a silver forest, and to a silver -well. Here again they drank, and the lad again put a tumbler and a -silver twig into his bag. In breaking off the twig the tree shook, and -the youngest again warned her sisters, but in vain. - -They soon came to the end of the forest and arrived at a golden forest, -with a gold well and tumblers. Here again they stopped and drank, and -the lad again put a gold tumbler and twig in his bag. The youngest once -more warned her sisters of the noise the quivering tree made, but in -vain. Having arrived at the end of the forest they came to an immense -moss-grown rock, whose awe-inspiring lofty peaks soared up to the very -heavens. Here they all stopped. The ghost struck the rock with a golden -rod, whereupon it opened, and all entered, the shepherd lad with them. -Now they came to a gorgeous room from which several halls opened, which -were all furnished in a fairy-like manner. From these twelve fairy -youths came forth and greeted them, who were all wonderfully handsome. -The number of servants increased from minute to minute who were rushing -about getting everything ready for a magnificent dance. Soon after -strains of enchanting music were heard, and the doors of a vast dancing -hall opened and the dancing went on without interruption. At dawn the -girls returned--also the lad--in the same way as they had come, and -they lay down as if nothing had happened, which, however, was belied by -their worn shoes, and the next morning they got up at the usual hour. - -The king was impatiently awaiting the news the shepherd was to bring, -who came soon after and told him all that had happened. He sent for his -daughters, who denied everything, but the tumblers and the twigs bore -witness. What the shepherd told the youngest girl also confirmed, whom -the shepherd woke for the purpose. The king fulfilled his promise with -regard to the youngest princess and the other eleven were burnt for -witchcraft. - - - - -THE THREE PRINCESSES. - - -There was once, I shan't tell you where, it is enough if I tell you that -there was somewhere a tumble-down oven, which was in first-rate -condition barring the sides, and there were some cakes baking in it; -this person (the narrator points to some one present) has eaten some of -them. Well then, on the mountains of Komarom, on the glass bridges, on -the beautiful golden chandelier, there was once a Debreczen cloak which -had ninety-nine tucks, and in the ninety-ninth I found the following -tale. - -There was once a king with three daughters, but the king was so poor -that he could hardly keep his family; his wife, who was the girls' -stepmother, therefore told her husband one night, that in the morning -she would take the girls into the wood and leave them in the thicket so -that they might not find again their way home. The youngest overheard -this, and as soon as the king and queen fell asleep she hurried off to -her godmother, who was a magic woman, to ask her advice: her -godmother's little pony (tatos) was waiting at the front gate, and -taking her on its back ran straight to the magic woman. She knew well -what the girl needed and gave her at once a reel of cotton which she -could unwind in the wood and so find her way back, but she gave it to -her on the condition that she would not take her two elder sisters home -with her, because they were very bad and proud. As arranged next morning -the girls were led out by their stepmother into the wood to gather chips -as she said, and, having wandered about a long time, she told them to -rest; so they sat down under a tree and soon all three went to sleep; -seeing this, the stepmother hurried home. - -On waking up, two of the girls, not being able to find their mother, -began to cry, but the youngest was quiet, saying that she knew her way -home, and that she would go, but could not take them with her; whereupon -the two elder girls began to flatter her, and implored her so much that -she gave in at last. Arriving at home their father received them with -open arms; their stepmother feigned delight. Next night she again told -the king that she would lead them deeper still into the wood: the -youngest again overheard the conversation, and, as on the night before, -went on her little pony to her godmother, who scolded her for having -taken home her bad sisters, and on condition that this time she would -not do so, she gave her a bag full of ashes, which she had to strew over -the road as they went on, in order to know her way back; so the girls -were led into the wood again and left there, but the youngest again took -her sisters home, finding her way by the ashes, having been talked over -by many promises and implorings. At home, they were received, as on the -first occasion; on the third night their stepmother once more undertook -to lead them away; the youngest overheard them as before, but this time, -she had not courage to go to her godmother, moreover she thought that -she could help herself, and for this purpose she took a bag full of peas -with her, which she strewed about as they went. Left by their mother, -the two again began to cry, whereas the youngest said laughing, that she -was able to go home on this occasion also; and having again yielded to -her sisters she started on her way back, but to her astonishment could -not find a single pea, as the birds had eaten them all. Now there was a -general cry, and the three outcasts wandered about the whole day in the -wood, and did not find a spring till sunset, to quench their thirst; -they also found an acorn under an oak under which they had lain down to -rest; they set the acorn, and carried water in their mouths to water it; -by next morning it had grown into a tree as tall as a tower, and the -youngest climbed up it to see whether she could not discover some -habitation in the neighbourhood; not being able to see anything, they -spent the whole day crying and wandering about. The following morning, -the tree was as big as two towers, but on this occasion too the youngest -girl looked in vain from its summit: but at last, by the end of the -third day, the tree was as tall as three towers, and this time the -youngest girl was more successful, because she discovered far away a -lighted window, and, having come down, she led her sisters in the -direction of the light. Her sisters, however, treated her most -shamefully, they took away all her best clothes, which she thoughtfully -had brought with her, tied up in a bundle, and she had to be satisfied -with the shabbiest; whenever she dared to contradict them they at once -began to beat her; they gave her orders that wherever they came she had -to represent them as daughters of rich people, she being their servant. -Thus, they went on for three days and three nights until at last they -came to an immense, beautiful castle. - -They felt now in safety, and entered the beautiful palace with great -hopes, but how frightened were they when they discovered a giantess -inside who was as tall as a tower, and who had an eye in the middle of -her forehead as big as a dish, and who gnashed her teeth, which were a -span long. "Welcome, girls!" thus spoke the giantess, "What a splendid -roast you will make!" They all three were terrified at these words, but -the youngest shewed herself amiable, and promised the giantess that they -would make all kind of beautiful millinery for her if she did them no -harm; the woman with the big teeth listened, and agreed, and hid the -girls in a cupboard so that her husband might not see them when he came -home; the giant, who was even taller than his wife, however, at once -began to sniff about, and demanded human flesh of his wife, threatening -to swallow her if she did not produce it. The girls were fetched out, -but were again spared, having promised to cook very savoury food for the -grumbling husband. - -The chief reason of their life having been spared, however, was because -the husband wanted to eat them himself during the absence of his wife, -and the woman had a similar plan in her mind. The girls now commenced to -bake and roast, the two eldest kneaded the dough, the youngest making -the fire in the oven, which was as big as hell, and when it got red hot, -the cunning young girl called the giant, and having placed a pot full of -lard into the oven, asked him to taste it with his tongue to see whether -the lard was hot enough, and if the oven had reached its proper heat. -The tower of flesh tried it, but the moment he put his head inside the -oven, the girl gave him a push and he was a dead man in the fiery oven; -seeing this, the giantess got in a rage, and was about to swallow them -up, but, before doing so, the youngest induced her to let herself be -beautified, to which she consented; a ladder was brought, so that the -young girl might get on to her head to comb the monster's hair; instead -of combing, however, the nimble little girl knocked the giantess on the -head with the huge iron comb, so that she dropped down dead on the spot. -The girls had the bodies carted away with twenty-four pair of oxen, and -became the sole owners of the immense castle. Next Sunday, the two -eldest dressed up in their best, and went for a walk, and to a dance in -the royal town. - -After their departure their youngest sister, who remained at home to do -servants' work, examined all the rooms, passages, and closets in the -castle. During her search she accidentally found something shining in a -flue. She knocked it off with a stone, and found that it was a most -beautiful golden key. She tried it in every door and cupboard, but only -succeeded, after a long search, in opening a small wardrobe with it; -and, how great was her surprise to find that it was full of ladies' -dresses and millinery, and that every thing seemed made to fit her. She -put on a silver dress in great haste, and went to the dance. The -well-known little pony was outside waiting for her, and galloped away -with her like a hurricane. The moment she entered the dancing hall all -eyes were fixed on her, and the men and youths of the highest dignity -vied with each other as to who should dance with her. Her sisters who, -till her arrival, were the heroines of the evening and the belles of the -ball, were quite set aside now. After a few hours' enjoyment the young -lady suddenly disappeared; and, later on, received her sisters on their -return in her servant's clothes. They told her that they had enjoyed -themselves very well at first, but that later on some impudent female -put them in the back-ground. The little girl laughed and said, -"Supposing that I was that lady;" and she was beaten by her sisters, and -called some not very polite names for her remark. Next Sunday the same -thing happened again, only this time the young girl was dressed in gold. -Everything happened the same, and she was again beaten at home. - -The third Sunday the little girl appeared in a diamond dress. At the -dance, again, she was the soul of the evening; but this time the young -men wanted her to stay to the end of the ball, and watched her very -closely, so that she might not escape. When, therefore, she tried to get -away, she was in such a hurry that she had no time to pick up a shoe she -accidentally dropped in the corridor; she was just in time to receive -her sisters. The shoe came into the possession of the prince, who hid -it carefully. After a few days the prince fell very ill, and the best -physicians could not find a cure for him; his father was very nearly in -despair about his only son's health, when a foreign doctor maintained -that the patient could only be cured by marrying, because he was -love-sick. His father, therefore, implored him to make him a full -confession of his love, and, whoever the person whom he wished might be, -he should have her. The prince produced the shoe, and declared that he -wanted the young lady to whom the shoe belonged. So it was announced -throughout the whole realm, that all the ladies of the country should -appear next Sunday to try on the shoe, and whosoever's foot it fitted -she should become the prince's wife. On Sunday the ladies swarmed in -crowds to the capital. Nor were the two eldest of the three sisters -missing, who had had their feet previously scraped with a knife by their -youngest sister, so that they might be smaller. The youngest sister also -got ready after their departure, and, having wrapped the mate of the -lost shoe in a handkerchief, she jumped on the pony's back in her best -dress, and rode to the appointed place. She overtook her sisters on the -road, and, jumping the pony into a puddle, splashed them all over with -mud. The moment she was seen approaching 100 cannons were fired off, and -all the bells were rung; but she wouldn't acknowledge the shoe as her -own without a trial, and, therefore, tried it on. The shoe fitted her -exactly, and when she produced its mate, 300 cannons greeted her as the -future queen. She accepted the honour upon one condition, namely, that -the king should restore her father's conquered realm. Her wish was -granted, and she became the prince's wife. Her sisters were conducted -back to their royal father, who was now rich and powerful once more; -where they live still, if they have not died since. - - - - -CINDER JACK. - - -A peasant had three sons. One morning he sent out the eldest to guard -the vineyard. The lad went, and was cheerfully eating a cake he had -taken with him, when a frog crept up to him, and asked him to let it -have some of his cake. "Anything else?" asked the lad angrily, and -picked up a stone to drive the frog away. The frog left without a word, -and the lad soon fell asleep, and, on awaking, found the whole vineyard -laid waste. The next day the father sent his second son into the -vineyard, but he fared like the first. - -The father was very angry about it, and did not know what to do; -whereupon his youngest son spoke up, who was always sitting in a corner -amongst the ashes, and was not thought fit for anything, and whom for -this reason they nicknamed Cinder Jack. "My father, send me out, and I -will take care of the vineyard." His father and his brothers laughed at -him, but they allowed him to have a trial; so Cinder Jack went to the -vineyard, and, taking out his cake, began to eat it. The frog again -appeared, and asked for a piece of cake, which was given to him at once. -Having finished their breakfast, the frog gave the lad a copper, a -silver, and a gold rod; and told him, that three horses would appear -shortly, of copper, silver, and gold, and they would try to trample down -the vineyard; but, if he beat them with the rods he had given him they -would at once become tame, and be his servants, and could at any time be -summoned to carry out his orders. It happened as the frog foretold; and -the vineyard produced a rich vintage. But Cinder Jack never told his -master or his brothers how he had been able to preserve the vineyard; in -fact, he concealed all, and again spent his time as usual, lying about -in his favourite corner. - -One Sunday the king had a high fir pole erected in front of the church, -and a golden rosemary tied to the top, and promised his daughter to him -who should be able to take it down in one jump on horseback. All the -knights of the realm tried their fortune, but not one of them was able -to jump high enough. But all of a sudden a knight clad in copper mail, -on a copper horse, appeared with his visor down, and snatched the -rosemary with an easy jump, and quickly disappeared. When his two -brothers got home they told Cinder Jack what had happened, and he -remarked, that he saw the whole proceeding much better, and on being -asked "Where from?" his answer was, "From the top of the hoarding." His -brothers had the hoarding pulled down at once, so that their younger -brother might not look on any more. Next Sunday a still higher pole, -with a golden apple at the top, was set up; and whosoever wished to -marry the king's daughter had to take the apple down. Again, hundreds -upon hundreds tried, but all in vain; till, at last, a knight in silver -mail, on a silver horse, took it, and disappeared. Cinder Jack again -told his brothers that he saw the festivities much better than they did; -he saw them, he said, from the pig-stye; so this was pulled down also. -The third Sunday a silk kerchief interwoven with gold was displayed at -the top of a still higher fir pole, and, as nobody succeeded in getting -it, a knight in gold mail, on a gold horse, appeared; snatched it down, -and galloped off. Cinder Jack again told his brothers that he saw all -from the top of the house; and his envious brothers had the roof of the -house taken off, so that the youngest brother might not look on again. - -The king now had it announced that the knight who had shown himself -worthy of his daughter should report himself, and should bring with him -the gold rosemary, the apple, and the silk kerchief; but no one came. So -the king ordered every man in the realm to appear before him, and still -the knight in question could not be found; till, at last, he arrived -clad in gold mail on a gold charger; whereupon the bells were at once -rung, and hundreds and hundreds of cannons fired. The knight, having -handed to the princess the golden rosemary, the apple, and the kerchief, -respectfully demanded her hand, and, having obtained it, lifted his -visor, and the populace, to their great astonishment, recognised Cinder -Jack, whom they had even forgotten to ask to the king's presence. The -good-hearted lad had his brothers' house rebuilt, and gave them presents -as well. He took his father to his house, as the old king died soon -after. Cinder Jack is reigning still, and is respected and honoured by -all his subjects! - - - - -THE THREE BROTHERS. - - -There was once a poor man who had three sons. "My sons," said he to them -one day, "you have not seen anything yet, and you have no experience -whatever; it is time for you to go to different countries and try your -luck in the world; so get ready for the journey, and go as far as your -eyes can see." The three lads got ready, and, having filled their bags -with cakes specially prepared For the occasion, they left home. They -went on and on till at last they got tired and lay down,--the two elder -then proposed that, as it became good brethren, they should all share -equally, and that they should begin with the youngest's provisions, and -when they were finished should divide those of the second, and lastly -those of the eldest. And so it happened; on the first day the youngest's -bag was emptied; but the second day, when meal-time came, the two eldest -would not give the youngest anything, and when he insisted on receiving -his share, they gouged out his eyes and left him to starve. For the -present let us leave the two eldest to continue their way, and let's -see what became of the poor blind lad. He, resigning himself to God's -will, groped his way about, till, alas! he dropped into a well. There -was no water in it, but a great deal of mud; when he dropped into it the -mud splashed all over his body, and he felt quite a new man again and -ever so much better. Having besmeared his face and the hollows of his -eyes with the mud he again saw clearly, because the healing power of the -miracle-working mud had renewed his eyes once more, and his whole face -became of a beautiful complexion. - -The lad took as much mud in a flower pot with him as he could carry and -continued his journey, when suddenly he noticed a little mouse quite -crushed, imploring him for help; he took pity on it, and, having -besmeared it with the miraculous mud, the mouse was cured, and gave to -his benefactor a small whistle, with the direction that if anything -happened to him he had to blow the whistle, and the mouse, who was the -king of mice, would come to his help with all his mates on earth. He -continued his way and found a bee quite crushed and cured it too with -the mud, and obtained another whistle, which he had to blow in case of -danger, and the queen of the bees would come to his aid. Again going on -he found a wolf shockingly bruised; at first he had not courage to cure -it, being afraid that it would eat him; but the wolf implored so long -that at last he cured him too, and the wolf became strong and beautiful; -the wolf, too, gave him a whistle to use in time of need. - -The lad went on till at last he came to the royal town, where he was -engaged as servant to the king. His two brothers were there already in -the same service, and, having recognised him, tried in every way to -destroy him. After long deliberation as to how to carry out their plan -they went to the king and falsely accused their brother of having told -them that he was able to gather the corn of the whole land into the -king's barn in one night; the lad denied it, but all in vain. The king -declared that if all the corn was not in the barn by the morning he -would hang him. The lad wept and wailed for a long time, when suddenly -he remembered his whistles, and blew into the one that the mouse had -given him and when the mice came he told them his misfortunes: by -midnight all the corn of the country was gathered together. Next day his -brothers were more angry still, and falsely said to the king that their -brother was able to build a beautiful bridge of wax from the royal -castle to the market place in one night; the king ordered him to do this -too, and having blown his second whistle the bees, who appeared to -receive his command, did the task for him. Next morning from his window -the king very much admired the beautiful arched bridge; his brothers -nearly burst in their rage, and spread the report that their brother was -able to bring twelve of the strongest wolves into the royal courtyard by -the next morning. They firmly believed that on this occasion they were -quite sure of their victory, because either the wolves would tear their -brother in pieces, or if he could not fulfil the task the king would -have him executed; but again they were out of their reckoning: the lad -blew his third whistle and the king of wolves arrived to receive his -orders. He told him his misfortune, and the wolf ordered not only -twelve, but all his mates in the country, into the royal courtyard. The -lad now sat on the back of the king of wolves, and drove with a whip the -whole pack in front of him, who tore everything in pieces that crossed -them. There was a great deal of weeping, imploring, and wailing in the -royal palace, but all in vain; the king promised a sack full of gold, -but all in vain. The king of the wolves, heedless of any words, urged on -the pack by howling at them continually: "Drive on! Seize them!" The -king promised more; two sacks, three sacks, ten, or even twenty sacks -full of gold were offered but not accepted; the wolves tore everyone in -pieces; the two brothers perished, and so did the king and all his -servants, and only his daughter was spared; the lad married her, -occupied the king's throne, and lives happily to this day if he has not -died since. In his last letter he promised to come and see us to-morrow. - - - - -THE THREE VALUABLE THINGS. - - -There were once two kings who lived in great friendship; one had three -sons, the other a daughter. The two fathers made an agreement, that in -case of either of them dying, the other should become guardian of the -orphans; and that if one of the boys married the girl he should inherit -her property. Very soon after the girl's father died, and she went to -live with her guardian. After a little time the eldest boy went to his -father and asked the girl's hand, threatening to commit suicide if his -request was refused; his father promised to give him a reply in three -weeks. At the end of the first week the second son asked the girl's -hand, and threatened to blow out his brains if he could not wed her; the -king promised to reply to him in a fortnight. At the end of the second -week, the youngest asked for the girl, and his father bade him wait a -week for his answer. The day arrived when all three had to receive their -reply, and their father addressed them thus: "My sons, you all three -love the girl, but you know too well that only one can have her. I will, -therefore, give her to the one who will show himself the most worthy of -her. You had better go, wherever you please, and see the world, and -return in one year from this day, and the girl shall be his who will -bring the most valuable thing from his journey." The princes consented -to this, and started on their journey, travelling together till they -came to a tall oak in the nearest wood; the road here divided into three -branches; the eldest chose the one leading west, the second selected the -one running south, and the third son the branch turning off to the east. -Before separating, they decided to return to the same place after the -lapse of exactly one year, and to make the homeward journey together. - -The eldest looked at everything that he found worthy of note during his -travels, and spared no expense to get something excellent: after a long -journey hither and thither, he at last succeeded in getting a telescope -by the aid of which he could see to the end of the world; so he decided -to take it back to his father, as the most valuable thing he had found. -The second son also endeavoured to find something so valuable that the -possession of it should make him an easy winner in the competition for -the girl's hand: after a long search he found a cloak by means of which, -when he put it on and thought of a place, he was immediately transported -there. The youngest, after long wandering, bought an orange which had -power to restore to life the dead when put under the corpse's nose, -provided death had not taken place more than twenty-four hours before. -These were the three valuable things that were to be brought home; and, -as the year was nearly up, the eldest and the youngest were already on -their way back to the oak: the second son only was still enjoying -himself in various places, as one second was enough for him to get to -the meeting place. The two having arrived at the oak, the middle one -appeared after a little while, and they then shewed each other the -valuables acquired; next they looked through the telescope, and to their -horror they saw that the lady for the possession of whom they had been -working hard for a whole year, was lying dead; so they all three slipped -hurriedly into the cloak, and as quick as thought arrived at home; the -father told them in great grief that the girl could belong to no one as -she was dead: they inquired when she died, and receiving an answer that -she had been dead not quite twenty-four hours, the youngest rushed up to -her, and restored her to life with his magic orange. Now there was a -good deal of litigation and quarrelling among the three lads: the eldest -claimed the greatest merit for himself, because, he said, had they not -seen through his telescope that the girl was dead they would have been -still lingering at the oak, and the orange would have been of no avail; -the second maintained that if they had not got home so quickly with his -cloak the orange would have been of no use; the third claimed his orange -as the best, for restoring the girl to life, without which the other two -would have been useless. In order to settle the dispute, they called all -the learned and old people of the realm together, and these awarded the -girl to the youngest, and all three were satisfied with the award, and -the two others gave up all idea about suicide. The eldest, by the aid of -his telescope, found himself a wife who was the prettiest royal princess -on earth, and married her: the second heard of one who was known for her -virtue and beauty, and got into his cloak, and went to her, and so all -three to their great satisfaction led their brides to the altar, and -became as happy as men can be. - - - - -THE LITTLE MAGIC PONY. - - -Once a poor man had twelve sons, and, not having sufficient means to -keep them at home, he sent them into the great world to earn their bread -by work and to try their fortunes. The brothers wandered twelve days and -nights over hills and dales till at last they came to a wealthy king, -who engaged them as grooms, and promised them each three hundred -florins a year for their wages. Among the king's horses there was a -half-starved looking, decrepit little pony; the eleven eldest boys -continually beat and ill-treated this animal on account of its ugliness, -but the youngest always took great care of it, he even saved all the -bread crumbs and other little dainties for his little invalid pony, for -which his brothers very often chaffed him, and in course of time they -treated him with silent contempt, believing him to be a lunatic; he bore -their insults patiently, and their badgering without a murmur, in the -same way as the little pony the bad treatment it received. The year of -service having come to an end, the lads received their wages, and as a -reward they were also each allowed to choose a horse from the king's -stud. The eleven eldest chose the best-looking horses, but the youngest -only begged leave to take the poor little decrepit pony with him. His -brothers tried to persuade him to give up the foolish idea, but, all in -vain, he would have no other horse. - -The little pony now confessed to his keeper that it was a magic horse, -and that whenever it wanted it could change into the finest charger and -could gallop as fast as lightning. The twelve brothers then started -homewards; the eleven eldest were proudly jumping and prancing about on -their fine horses, whereas the youngest dragged his horse by its halter -along the road: at one time they came to a boggy place and the poor -little decrepit pony sank into it. The eleven brothers who had gone on -before were very angry about it, as they were obliged to return and drag -their brother's horse out of the mud: after a short journey the -youngest's again stuck in the mud, and his brothers had to drag it out -again, swearing at him all the time. When at last it stuck the third -time they would not listen any more to their brother's cries for help. -"Let them go," said the little pony, and after a short time inquired if -they had gone far? "They have," answered the lad. Again, after a short -time, the pony inquired whether he could still see them. "They look like -flying crows or black spots in the distance," replied his master. "Can -you see them now?" asked the pony in a few minutes. "No," was the reply; -thereupon the pony jumped out of the mud and, taking the lad on its -back, rushed forth like lightning, leaving the others far behind. Having -arrived at home the pony became poor and decrepit as before, and crawled -on to the dung heap, eating the straw it found there, the lad concealing -himself behind the oven. The others having arrived showed their wages -and horses to their father, and being asked about their brother they -replied that he had become an idiot, and chosen as his reward an ugly -pony, just such a one as the one on the dung heap, and that he stuck -fast in a bog, and perhaps was now dead. "It is not true," called out -the youngest from behind the oven, and stepped forth to the astonishment -of all. - -Having spent a few days in enjoying themselves at their father's house, -the lads again started on a journey to find wives. They had already -journeyed over seven countries and seven villages as well, and had not -as yet been able to find twelve girls suitable for them, till at last, -as the sun was setting, they came across an old woman with an iron nose, -who was ploughing her field with twelve mares; she asked of them what -they sought, and, having learned the object of their wanderings, she -proposed that they should look at her twelve daughters: the lads having -consented, the old woman drove her twelve mares home and took the lads -into her house and introduced them to her daughters, who were none -others than the twelve mares they saw before. In the evening she bade -each lad go to bed with one of the girls; the eldest lad got into bed -with the eldest girl and so on, her youngest, who was the favourite -daughter and had golden hair, becoming the youngest lad's bedfellow. - -This girl informed the lad that it was her mother's intention to kill -his eleven brothers; and so, in order to save them, on their all falling -asleep, the youngest lad got up and laid all his brothers next to the -wall, making all the girls lie outside, and having done this, quietly -crept back into his bed. - -After a little while, the old woman with the iron nose got up and, with -a huge sword, cut off the heads of the eleven sleepers who were lying -outside, and then she went back to bed to sleep. Thereupon the youngest -lad again got up, and, waking his brothers, told them how he had saved -them, and urged them to flee as soon as possible. So they hurried off, -their brother remaining there till daybreak. At dawn he noticed that the -old woman was getting up, and that she was coming to examine the beds, -so he, too, got up, and sat on his pony, taking the little girl with the -golden hair with him. The old woman with the iron nose, as soon as she -found out the fraud, picked up a poker, turned it into a horse, and flew -after them; when she had nearly overtaken them, the little pony gave the -lad a currycomb, a brush, and a piece of a horse-rug, and bade him throw -first the currycomb behind him, and in case it did not answer, to throw -the brush, and as a last resource the piece of horse-rug; the lad threw -the currycomb, and in one moment it became a dense forest, with as many -trees as there were teeth in the comb; by the time that the old woman -had broken her way through the wood, the couple had travelled a long -distance. When the old woman came very near again, the lad threw the -brush behind him, and it at once became a dense forest, having as many -trees as there were bristles in the brush. The old woman had the -greatest difficulty in working her way through the wood; but again she -drew close to their heels, and very nearly caught them, when the lad -threw the horse-rug away, and it became such a dense forest between them -and the old woman, that it looked like one immense tree; with all her -perseverance, the old woman could not penetrate this wood, so she -changed into a pigeon to enable her to fly over it; but as soon as the -pony noticed this he turned into a vulture, swooped down on the pigeon, -and tore it in pieces with his claws, thus saving both the lad and the -pretty girl with the golden hair from the fury of the hateful old woman -with the iron nose. - -While the eleven elder brothers were still out looking after wives, the -youngest married the pretty little girl with the golden hair, and they -still live merrily together, out of all danger, if they have not died -since. - - - - -THE BEGGAR'S PRESENTS. - - -There was once a very poor man, who went into the wood to fell trees for -his own use. The sweat ran down his cheeks, from his hard work, when all -at once an old beggar appeared and asked for alms. The poor man pitied -him very much, and, putting his axe on the ground, felt in his bag, and, -with sincere compassion, shared his few bits of bread with the poor old -beggar. The latter, having eaten his bread, spoke thus to the -wood-cutter: "My son, here! for your kindness accept this table-cloth, -and whenever hereafter you feel need and are hungry, say to the cloth, -'Spread thyself, little cloth,' and your table will be laid, and covered -with the best meats and drinks. I am the rewarder of all good deeds, and -I give this to you for your benevolence." Thereupon the old man -disappeared, and the wood-cutter turned homewards in great joy. - -Having been overtaken by night on his way, he turned into a hostelry, -and informed the innkeeper, who was an old acquaintance, of his good -fortune; and, in order to give greater weight to his word, he at once -made a trial of the table-cloth, and provided a jolly good supper for -the innkeeper and his wife, from the dainty dishes that were served up -on the cloth. After supper he laid down on the bench to sleep, and, in -the meantime, the wicked wife of the innkeeper hemmed a similar cloth, -and by the morning exchanged it for that of the woodcutter. He, -suspecting nothing, hurried home with the exchanged cloth, and, arriving -there, told his wife what had happened; and, to prove his words, at once -gave orders to the cloth to spread itself; but all in vain. He repeated -at least a hundred times the words "Little cloth, spread thyself," but -the cloth never moved; and the simpleton couldn't understand it. Next -day he again went to the wood, where he again shared his bread with the -old beggar, and received from him a lamb, to which he had only to say, -"Give me gold, little lamb," and the gold coins at once began to rain. -With this the woodcutter again went to the inn for the night, and showed -the present to the innkeeper, as before. Next morning he had another -lamb to take home, and was very much surprised that it would not give -the gold for which he asked. He went to the wood again, and treated the -beggar well, but also told him what had happened to the table-cloth and -lamb. The beggar was not at all surprised, and gave him a club, and said -to him, "If the innkeeper has changed your cloth and lamb, you can -regain them by means of this club: you have only to say, 'Beat away, -beat away, my little club,' and it will have enough power to knock down -a whole army." So the woodcutter went to the inn a third time, and -insisted upon his cloth and lamb being returned; and, as the innkeeper -would not do so, he exclaimed, "Beat away, beat away, my little club!" -and the club began to beat the innkeeper and his wife, till the missing -property was returned. - -He then went home and told his wife, with great joy, what had happened; -and, in order to give greater consequence to his house, he invited the -king to dinner next day. The king was very much surprised, and, about -noon, sent a lackey to see what they were cooking for him; the -messenger, however, returned with the news that there was not even a -fire in the kitchen. His majesty was still more surprised when, at -meal-time, he found the table laden with the finest dishes and drinks. -Upon inquiry where all came from, the poor woodcutter told him his -story, what happened in the wood, about the lamb and cloth, but did not -mention a word about the club. The king, who was a regular tyrant, at -once claimed the cloth and the lamb; and, as the man would not comply, -he sent a few lackeys to him, to take them away; but they were soon -knocked down by the club. So the king sent a larger force against him; -but they also perished to a man. On hearing this the king got into a -great rage, and went in person with his whole army against him; but on -this occasion, too, the woodcutter was victorious, because the club -knocked down dead every one of the king's soldiers; the king himself -died on the battle-field and his throne was occupied by the once poor -woodcutter. It was a real blessing to his people; because, in his -magnanimity, he delighted to assist all whom he knew to be in want or -distress; and so he, also, lived a happy and contented man to the end of -his days! - - - - -THE WORLD'S BEAUTIFUL WOMAN. - - -In the most beautiful land of Asia, where Adam and Eve may have lived, -where all animals, including cows, live wild, where the corn grows wild, -and even bread grows on trees, there lived a pretty girl, whose palace -was built on a low hill, which looked over a pretty, a very pretty -valley, from which one could see the whole world. In the same country -there lived a young king who decided not to get married till he -succeeded in finding the prettiest woman or girl in the world. The -pretty maid lived with her old father, and with only two servant girls. -The young king lived and enjoyed himself amongst the finest young -aristocrats. One day it struck the young king that it would be a good -thing to get married; so he instructed his aristocratic friends to go -all over his vast realm, and to search about till they found the -prettiest girl in the land: they had not to trouble whether she was poor -or rich; but she must be the prettiest. Each of them was to remain in -the town where he found the girl that he deemed was the prettiest and to -write and let the king know, so that he might go and have a look at all -of them and choose for himself the prettiest amongst all the beauties, -the one he liked best. After a year he received letters from every one -of his seventy-seven friends, and extraordinarily all the seventy-seven -letters arrived from the same town, where, on a low hill above a pretty -little valley, there stood a golden palace, in which there lived a young -lady with a nice old man and two maids, and from the four windows of -which palace the whole world could be seen. The young king started with -a large retinue of wedding guests to the place where the prettiest girl -in the world lived: he found there all his seventy-seven friends, who -were all fever-stricken with love, and were lying about on the pavement -of the palace, on hay which was of a very fine silk-like grass; there -they lay every one of them. The moment the young king saw the beautiful -girl he cried: "The Lord has created you expressly for me; you are mine -and I am yours! and it is my wish to find my rest in the same grave with -you." - -The young lady also fell very much in love with the handsome king; in -her fond passion she could not utter a word, but only took him round his -slender waist[1] and led him to her father. Her old father wept tears of -joy, that at last a man was found whom his daughter could love, as she -had thought every man ugly hitherto. The ceremony of betrothal and -wedding was very short; at his pretty wife's wish, the king came to -live on the beautiful spot, than which there was not a prettier one in -the whole world! By the side of the palace there was an earth-hut, in -which lived an old witch who knew all the young lady's secrets, and who -helped her with advice whenever she needed it. The old witch praised the -young lady's beauty to all she met, and it was she who had gathered the -seventy-seven young aristocrats into the palace. On the evening of the -wedding she called upon "the world's beautiful lady" and praised the -young king to her, his handsomeness and riches, and after she had -praised him for an hour or two she sighed heavily: the pretty young lady -asked her what troubled her, as she had this very moment spoken of her -husband as being a handsome, rich, and worthy man? "Because, my pretty -lady, my beautiful queen, if you two live sometime here, you will not -long be the prettiest woman in the world; you are very pretty now, and -your husband is the handsomest of all men; but should a daughter be born -to you, she will be more beautiful than you; she will be more beautiful -than the morning star--this is the reason of my sadness, my beautiful -lady." "You are quite right, good old woman, I will follow any advice; -if you tell me what to do, I will obey you. I will do anything to remain -the most beautiful woman in the world." This was what the old witch said -to the beautiful lady: "I will give you a handful of cotton wool; when -your husband sleeps with you, put this wool on your lips, but be careful -not to make it wet, because there will be poison on it. When your -husband arrives at home all in perspiration from the dance, he will come -to you and kiss you, and die a sudden death." The young lady did as the -witch told her, and the young king was found dead next morning; but the -poison was of such a nature that the physicians were not able to find -out what the king had died of. - -The bride was left a widow, and again went to live with her maid and -her old father, and made a solemn vow that she would never marry again. -And she kept her word. As it happened, however, by some inexplicable -circumstance, or by some miracle, after a few months she discovered that -she was with child; so she ran to the old witch and asked her what to -do. The witch gave her a looking-glass and the following advice: "Every -morning you have to ask this mirror whether there is a more beautiful -woman than yourself in existence, and if it says that there is not, -there really won't be one for a long time, and your mind may be at ease; -but should it say that there is one, there will be one, and I will see -to that myself." The beautiful lady snatched the mirror from the witch -in great joy, and as soon as she reached her dressing-room she placed -the little mirror on the window ledge and questioned it thus: "Well, my -dear little mirror, is there a more beautiful woman in the world than -I?" The mirror replied: "Not yet, but there will be one soon, who will -be twice as handsome as you." The beautiful woman nearly lost her wits -in her sorrow, and informed the witch what the mirror had replied. "No -matter," said the old hag, "let her be born, and we shall soon put her -out of the way." - -The beautiful lady was confined, and a pretty little daughter was born, -and it would have been a sin to look at her with an evil eye. The bad -woman did not even look at the pretty little creature, but fetched her -mirror and said: "Well, my dear little mirror, is there a more beautiful -creature than I?" and the looking-glass replied: "You are very -beautiful, but your little daughter is seven times prettier than you." -So as soon as she left her bed she sent for the old witch to ask her -advice, who, when she took the babe in her arms, exclaimed that she had -never seen such a beautiful creature in all her life. While she gazed at -the beautiful child she spat in her eyes and covered her face, telling -the beautiful woman to look at the child again in three hours, and when -she uncovered it she would be surprised to find what a monster it had -become. The beautiful lady felt very uneasy, and asked the witch whether -she was allowed to question the mirror again? "Certainly," replied the -witch, "for I know that at this moment you are the most beautiful woman -in existence." But the mirror replied, "You are beautiful, but your -daughter is seventy-seven times more beautiful than you." The beautiful -woman nearly died of rage, but the old witch only smiled, being -confident of her magic power. - -The three hours passed, the little girl's face was uncovered, and the -old witch fainted away in her rage; for the little girl had become not -only seven times, but seventy-seven times more beautiful than ever from -the very same thing that usually disfigured other babies: when she -recovered she advised the beautiful lady to kill her baby, as not even -the devil himself had any power over it. The old father of the beautiful -woman had died suddenly, broken hearted by his daughter's shame! The -beautiful woman was nearly killed by sorrow over the loss of her father, -and in order to forget her troubles, she spared her daughter till she -was thirteen: the little girl grew more beautiful every day, so that the -woman could not bear her daughter's beauty any longer, and handed her to -the old witch to be killed. The witch was only too glad to avail herself -of the opportunity, and took her into a vast forest, where she tied the -girl's hands together with a wisp of straw, placed a wreath of straw on -her head, and a girdle of straw round her waist, so that by lighting -them she would burn to death the most beautiful masterpiece of the Lord. -But all of a sudden a loud shouting was heard in the forest, and twelve -robbers came running as swift as birds towards the place where the old -witch and the pretty girl were standing. One of the robbers seized the -girl, another knocked the old witch on the head, and gave her a sound -beating. The witch shammed death, and the robbers left the wicked old -wretch behind, carrying off the pretty girl (who had fainted in her -fright) with them. After half an hour the old witch got up, and rushed -to the castle where the beautiful woman lived, and said, "Well, my -queen, don't question your mirror any more, for you are now the most -beautiful creature in the world, your beautiful daughter lies under -ground." The beautiful lady jumped for joy, and kissed the ugly old -witch. - -The pretty girl upon her recovery found herself in a nice little house, -in a clean bed, and guarded by twelve men, who praised her beauty in -whispers, which was such as no human eye had seen before. The innocent -little thing, not thinking of any harm, looked at the men with their -great beards, who stared at her with wide open eyes. She got up from her -soft bed, and thanked the good men for having delivered her from the -clutches of the awful old witch, and then inquired where she was, and -what they intended to do with her; if they meant to kill her, she begged -them do it at once, as she would die with pleasure, and was only afraid -of being killed by that horrible old witch, who was going to burn her to -death. None of the robbers could utter a word, their hearts were so -softened by her sweet words: such words as they had never before heard -from human lips, and her innocent look which would have tamed even a -wild bull. At last one of the robbers, who was splendidly dressed, said: -"You pretty creature of the Lord, you are in the midst of twelve -robbers, who are men of good hearts, but bad morals; we saved you from -the hands of the ugly old witch whom I knocked down, and killed I -believe; we would not kill you, for the whole world; but, on the -contrary, would fight the whole world for you! Be the ornament of our -house and the feast of our eyes! Whatsoever your eyes or your mouth may -desire, be it wherever man exists, we will bring it to you! be our -daughter, and we will be everything to you! your fathers! brothers! -guardians! and, if you need it, your soldiers!" The little girl smiled, -and was very pleased: she found more happiness among the robbers than -she ever did in her mother's palace; she shook hands with all, commended -herself to their protection, and at once looked after the cooking. The -chief of the robbers called three strong maidens, dressed in white, -from a cave, and ordered them to carry out without delay the orders of -their queen, and if he heard one word of complaint against any of them, -they should die the death of a pig. The young girl spoke kindly to the -three maids, and called them her companions. - -The robbers then went out on to the highway in great joy--to continue -their plundering--singing and whistling with delight, because their home -and their band had the most beautiful queen in the world. The beautiful -woman, the girl's mother, one day felt weary, and listless, because she -had not heard any one praise her beauty for a very long time. So in her -ennui she took her mirror and said to it: "My dear, sweet little mirror, -is there a more beautiful creature in all the world, than I?" The little -mirror replied, "You are very beautiful, but your daughter is a thousand -times handsomer!" The woman nearly had a fit, in her rage, for she had -not even suspected that her hateful daughter was yet alive: she ran to -the old witch like one out of her mind, to tell what the mirror had -said. The witch at once disguised herself as a gipsy, and started on her -journey, and arrived at the fence of the place where the pretty girl -lived; the garden was planted with flowers and large rose bushes; among -the flower beds she could see the pretty girl sauntering in a dress fit -for a queen. The old witch's heart nearly broke when she saw the young -girl, for never, not even in her imagination, had she ever seen any one -so beautiful. She stole into the garden among the flower beds, and on -approaching saw that the young girl's fingers were covered with the most -precious diamond rings: she kissed the girl's beautiful hand, and begged -to be allowed to put on a ring more precious than any she had; the girl -consented, and even thanked her for it. When she entered the house, she -all at once dropped down as if dead; the witch rushed home, and brought -the good news to the beautiful queen, who at once questioned the mirror, -whether there was yet any one who was prettier than she, and the mirror -replied, that there was not. - -The pretty woman was delighted, and nearly went mad with joy on hearing -that she was once more the most beautiful creature in existence, and -gave the witch a handful of gold. - -At noon the robbers dropped in one after another from their plundering, -and were thunderstruck when they saw that the glory of their house and -the jewel of their band lay dead. They bewailed her with loud cries of -grief, and commanded the maidens with threats to tell them who had done -it, but they were even more stunned with grief, and bewailed the good -lady, and could not utter a single word, till one of them said that she -saw the pretty girl talking with a gipsy woman for a while, and that the -moment the woman left she suddenly dropped down dead. After much weeping -and wailing the robbers made preparations for the laying out of their -adored queen; they took off her shoes in order to put more beautiful -ones upon her pretty feet: they then took the rings off her fingers in -order to clean them, and as at the very last one of the robbers pulled -off the most precious ring from her little finger, the young girl sat up -and smiled, and informed them that she had slept very well, and had had -most beautiful dreams; and also that if they had not taken off that very -ring (which the gipsy woman had put on that day) from her little finger -she would never have waked again. The robbers smashed the murderous ring -to atoms with their hatchet-sticks, and begged their dear queen not to -speak to anyone, except themselves, as all others were wicked, and -envious of her on account of her beauty, while they adored her. Having -partaken of a good supper, the robbers again went out to their plunder -singing, and quite at rest in their minds, and for a couple of weeks -nothing happened to the young lady; but after a fortnight her mother -again felt ennui and questioned her mirror: "Is there any one living -being on this earth more beautiful than I?" The mirror replied: "You -are very beautiful, but your daughter is one thousand times more -beautiful." The beautiful lady began to tear her hair in rage, and went -to complain to the witch that her daughter was alive still, so the witch -again went off and found the young lady, as before, among the -flower-beds. The witch disguised herself as a Jewess this time, and -began to praise the gold and diamond pins with which the young lady's -shawl was fastened, which she admired very much, and begged the young -lady's leave to allow her to stick another pin amongst those which she -had already in her bosom, as a keepsake. Among all the pins the -prettiest one was the one which the witch disguised as a Jewess stuck in -the young lady's bosom. The young lady thanked her for it, and went -indoors to look after the cooking, but as soon as she arrived in the -house she gave a fearful scream and dropped down dead. - -The joy of her mother was great when the witch arrived home in great -delight and the mirror again proved that the girl was dead. The robbers -were full of joy, in anticipation of the pleasure of seeing again their -pretty young girl, whose beauty was apparently increasing daily; but -when they heard the cries of sorrow of the three servant maids and saw -the beautiful corpse stretched out on the bier, they lost all their -cheerfulness and began to weep also. Three of the robbers carried in all -the necessaries for the funeral, while the others undressed and washed -the corpse, and as they were drawing out from her shawl the numerous -pins, they found one amongst them which sparkled most brilliantly, -whereupon two of them snatched it away, each being anxious to replace it -in the girl's bosom when redressing her for burial, when suddenly the -virgin queen sat up and informed them that her death was caused by a -Jewess this time. The robbers buried the pin five fathoms deep in the -ground, so that no evil spirit might get it. There is no more restless -being in the world than a woman; it is a misfortune if she is pretty, -and the same if she is not: if she be pretty she likes to be continually -told of it, if she be not she would like to be. The evil one again -tempted the beautiful lady, and she again questioned her mirror whether -any living being was prettier than she: the mirror replied that her -daughter was prettier. - -Upon this she called the old witch all kinds of bad names in her rage, -and threatened her that if she did not kill her daughter outright she -would betray her to the world, and accuse her of having led her to all -her evil deeds; that it was she who induced her to kill her handsome -husband, and that she had given her the mysterious mirror, which was the -cause of her not being able to die in peace. The old hag made no reply, -but went off in a boisterous manner: she transformed herself into a -pretty girl and went straight into the house in which the young lady was -dressing herself and falsely told her that she had been engaged by the -robbers to wait always upon her while she dressed, because she had -already been killed twice, once by a gipsy woman, and another time by a -Jewess; and also that the robbers had ordered her not to do anything -else but to help her in her toilet. The innocent girl believed all that -the she-devil said. She allowed her to undo her hair and to comb it. The -witch did her hair in accordance with the latest fashion, and plaited it -and fastened it with all sorts of hair pins; while doing so she hid a -hair-pin which she had brought with her among the girl's hair, so that -it could not be noticed by anyone; having finished, the new lady's maid -asked permission to leave her mistress for a moment, but never returned, -and her young lady died, while all wept and sobbed most bitterly. The -men and the maids had again to attend with tears to their painful duty -of laying her out for her funeral; they took away all her rings, -breast-pins, and hair-pins; they even opened every one of the folds of -her dress, but still they did not succeed in bringing the young girl to -life again. Her mother was really delighted this time, because she kept -on questioning the mirror for three or four days, and it always replied -to her heart's content. The robbers wailed and cried, and did not even -enjoy their food; one of them proposed that they should not bury the -girl, but that they should come to pray by the side of their dear dead; -others again thought that it would be a pity to confide the pretty body -to the earth, where it would be destroyed; others spoke of the terrible -pang, and said that their hearts would break if they had to look at her -dead beauty for any length of time. So they ordered a splendid coffin -to be made of wrought gold. They wrapped her in purple and fine linen; -they caught an elk and placed the coffin between its antlers, so that -the precious body might not decompose underground: the elk quietly -carried the precious coffin about, and took the utmost care to prevent -it falling from its antlers or its back. This elk happened to graze in -Persia just as the son of the Persian king was out hunting all alone. -The prince was twenty-three years old; he noticed the elk and also the -splendid coffin between its antlers, whereupon he took a pound of sugar -from his bag and gave it to the elk to eat. Taking the coffin from -its back the Persian king's son opened the gold coffin with fear and -trembling, when, unfolding the fine linen, he discovered a corpse, the -like of which he had never seen before, not even in his dreams. - -He began to shake it to wake her: to kiss her, and at last went down -upon his knees by her side to pray to God fervently to restore her to -life, but still she didn't move. "I will take her with me into my room," -he said, sobbing. "Although it is a corpse that must have been dead for -some time, there is no smell. The girl is prettier in her death than all -the girls of Persia alive." It was late at night when the prince got -home, carrying the golden coffin under his cloak. He bewailed the dead -girl for a long time and then went to supper. The king looked anxiously -into his son's eyes, but did not dare to question him as to the cause of -his grief. Every night the prince locked himself up, and did not go to -sleep until he had, for a long time, bemoaned his dead sweetheart; and -whenever he awoke in the night he wept again. - -The prince had three sisters, and they were very good girls, and very -fond of their brother. They watched him every night through the keyhole, -but could see nothing. They heard, however, their brother's sobbing and -were very much grieved by it. The Persian king had war declared against -him by the king of the neighbouring country. The king, being very -advanced in age, asked his son to go in his place to fight the enemy. -The good son promised this willingly, although he was tortured by the -thought of being obliged to leave his beautiful dead girl behind. As, -however, he was aware that he would again be able to see and weep over -his dear one when once the war was over, he locked himself in his room -for two hours, weeping all the time, and kissing his sweetheart. Having -finished, he locked his room and put the key in his sabretache. The -good-hearted princesses impatiently waited till their brother crossed -the border with his army, and so soon as they knew that he had left the -country they went to the locksmith of the castle and took away every key -he had, and with these tried to unlock their brother's room, till at -last one of the keys did fit. They ordered every servant away from the -floor on which the room was situated and all three entered. They looked -all round, and in all the cupboards, and even took the bed to pieces, -and as they were taking out the planks of the bed they suddenly -discovered the glittering gold coffin, and in all haste placed it on the -table, and having opened it found the sleeping angel. All three kissed -her; but when they saw that they were unable to restore life, they wept -most bitterly. They rubbed her and held balsam under her nose, but -without avail. Then they examined her dress, which was very far superior -to their own. They moved her rings and breast-pins, and dressed her up -like a pretty doll. The youngest princess brought combs and perfumed -hair-oils in order to do the hair of the dear dead. They pulled out the -hair-pins and arranged them in nice order, so as to be able to replace -them as before. They parted her golden hair, and began to comb it, -adorning each lock with a hair-pin. As they were combing the hair at the -nape of the neck the comb stuck fast, so they looked at once for the -cause of it, when they saw that a golden hair-pin was entangled in the -hair, which the eldest princess moved with the greatest care. Whereupon -the beautiful girl opened her eyes and her lips formed themselves into a -smile; and, as if awakening from a long, long dream, she slightly -stretched herself, and stepped from the coffin. The girls were not -afraid at all, as she, who was so beautiful in her death, was still more -beautiful in life. The youngest girl ran to the old king and told him -what they had done, and that they had found out the cause of their -brother's grief, and how happy they were now. The old king wept for joy -and hastened after his daughter, and on seeing the beautiful child -exclaimed: "You shall be my son's wife, the mother of my grandchildren!" -And thereupon he embraced and kissed her, and took her into his room -with his daughters. He sent for singing birds so that they might amuse -his dear little new daughter. The old king inquired how she made his -son's acquaintance and where she first met him. But the pretty princess -knew nothing about it, but simply told him what she knew, namely, that -she had two enemies who sooner or later would kill and destroy her; and -she also told him that she had been living among robbers, to whom she -had been handed over by an old witch who would always persecute her till -the last moment of her life. The old king encouraged her, and bade her -not to fear anyone, but to rest in peace, as neither her mother nor the -old witch could get at her, the Persian wise men being quite able to -distinguish evil souls from good ones. The girl settled down and partook -of meat and drink with the king's daughters, and also inquired after the -young prince, asking whether he was handsome or ugly; although, she -said, it did not matter to her whether he was handsome or ugly; if he -was willing to have her, she would marry him. The princesses brought -down the painted portrait of the prince and the young girl fell so -deeply in love with it that she continually carried it with her kissing -it. One morning the news spread over all the country that the young king -had conquered his enemy and was hurrying home to his residential city. -The news turned out to be true, and clouds of dust could be seen in the -distance as the horsemen approached. The princesses requested their -pretty new sister to go with them into the room which adjoined their -brother's, where her coffin was kept under the bed. - -The moment the prince arrived, he jumped off his horse, and, not even -taking time to greet his father, he unlocked his room and began to sob -most violently, dragging out the coffin gently from under the bed, -placing it on the bed with great care, and then opening the lid with -tears; but he could only find a hair-pin. He rushed out of the room like -a madman, leaving the coffin and the door open, crying aloud, and -demanding what sacrilegious hand had robbed his angel from him. But his -angel, over whom he had shed so many tears, stood smiling before him. -The youth seized her and covered her with as many kisses as there was -room for. He took his betrothed, whom Providence had given to him, to -his father and told him how he had found the pretty corpse on the back -of an elk; and the girl also told the whole story of her life; and the -princesses confessed how they had broken into their brother's room, and -how they restored his sweetheart to life again. The old king was -intoxicated with joy, and the same day sent for a priest, and a great -wedding feast was celebrated. The young folks whom Providence had -brought together lived very happily, when one day the young queen, who -was as beautiful as a fairy, informed her husband that she was being -persecuted, and that while her mother lived she could never have any -peace. "Don't fear, angel of my heart," said the young king, "as no -human or diabolic power can harm you while you are here. Providence is -very kind to us. You seem to be a favourite and will be protected from -all evil." The young queen was of a pious turn of mind and believed the -true words of her husband, as he had only spoken out her own thoughts. -About half a year had passed by and the beautiful woman of the world was -still happy. Her mirror was covered with dust, as she never dreamt for a -moment that her daughter was yet alive; but being one day desirous to -repeat her former amusement she dusted her mirror, and, pressing it to -her bosom, said: "Is there a prettier living creature in the world than -myself?" The mirror replied: "You are very pretty, but your daughter is -seventy-seven thousand times more beautiful than you." The beautiful -woman, on hearing the mirror's reply, fainted away, and they had to -sprinkle cold water over her for two hours before she came round. Off -she set, very ill, to the old witch and begged her, by everything that -was holy, to save her from that hateful girl, else she would have to go -and commit suicide. The old witch cheered her, and promised that she -would do all that lay in her power. - -After eight months had elapsed the young prince had to go to war again; -and, with a heavy heart, took leave of his dear pretty wife, as--if one -is obliged to tell it--she was _enceinte_. But the prince had to go, and -he went, consoling his wife, who wept bitterly, that he would return -soon. The young king left orders that as soon as his wife was confined a -confidential messenger was to be sent without delay to inform him of the -event. Soon after his departure two beautiful boys with golden hair were -born and there was great joy in the royal household. The old king danced -about, like a young child, with delight. The princesses wrapped the -babies in purple and silk, and showed them to everybody as miracles of -beauty. - -The old king wrote down the joyful news and sent the letter by a -faithful soldier, instructing him that he was not to put up anywhere -under any pretence whatever. The old soldier staked his moustache not to -call anywhere till he reached the young king. - -While angels were rejoicing, devils were racking their brains and -planning mischief! - -The old witch hid a flask full of spirits under her apron and hurried -off on the same road as the soldier, in order to meet him with his -letter. She pitched a small tent on the road-side using some dirty -sheets she had brought with her, and, placing her flask of spirits in -front of her, waited for the passers-by. She waited long, but no one -came; when all of a sudden a huge cloud gathered in the sky, and the old -witch was delighted. A fearful storm set in. As the rain poured down, -the old witch saw the soldier running to escape the rain. As he ran past -her tent, the wicked old soul shouted to him to come in and sit down in -her tent till the rain was over. The soldier, being afraid of the -thunder, accepted her invitation, and sat musingly in the tent, when the -old woman placed a good dose of spirits in front of him, which the -soldier drank; she gave him another drop, and he drank that too. Now -there was a sleeping-draft in it, and so the soldier fell fast asleep, -_and slept like a fur cloak_. The old woman then looked in his bag for -the letter, and, imitating _the old king's_ hand-writing to great -perfection, informed the young prince that a great sorrow had fallen -upon his house, inasmuch as his wife had been delivered of two puppies. -She sealed the letter and woke the soldier, who began to run again and -did not stop until he reached the camp. The young prince was very much -upset by his father's letter, but wrote in reply that no matter what -sort of children his wife had borne they were not to touch but to treat -them as his own children until he returned. He ordered the messenger to -hurry back with his reply, and not to stop anywhere; but the old soldier -could not forget the good glass of spirits he had, and so went into the -tent again and had some more. The witch again mixed it with a -sleeping-draught and searched the bag while the soldier slept. She stole -the letter, and, imitating the young prince's hand-writing, wrote back -to the old king that he was to have his wife and the young babes killed, -because he held a woman who had puppies must be a bad person. The old -king was very much surprised at his son's reply but said nothing to -anyone. At night he secretly called the old soldier to him and had his -daughter-in-law placed in a black carriage. The old soldier sat on the -box and had orders to take the woman and her two children into the -middle of the forest and brain them there. The carriage stopped in the -middle of the forest, the old soldier got down and opened the door, -weeping bitterly. He pulled out a big stick from under his seat and -requested the young queen to alight. She obeyed his orders and descended -holding her babes in her arms. - -The old soldier tried three times to raise the stick, but could not do -so; he was too much overcome by grief. The young queen implored him not -to kill her, and told him she was willing to go away and never see -anyone again. The old soldier let her go, and she took her two babes and -sheltered in a hollow tree in the forest: there she passed her time -living on roots and wild fruit. - -The soldier returned home, and was questioned by the old king as to -whether he had killed the young queen, as he didn't like to disappoint -his son, who was to return from the camp next day. The old soldier -declared on his oath that he had killed her and her babes too, and that -he had thrown their bodies into the water. The young king arrived at -home in great sorrow, and was afraid to catch sight of his unfortunate -wife and her ugly babes. - -The old king had left his son's letter upon his desk by mistake; the -prince picked it up, and was enraged at its contents: "This looks very -like my writing," he said, "but I did not write it; it must be the work -of some devil." He then produced his father's letter from his pocket, -and handed it to him. The old king was horrified at the awful lie which -some devil had written in his hand. "No, my dear son," said the old -father, weeping, "this is not what I wrote to you; what I really did -write was, that two sons with golden hair had been born to you." "And -I," replied the young king, "said that whatsoever my wife's offspring -was, no harm was to happen to them till I returned. Where is my wife? -where are my golden-haired children?" "My son," said the old king, "I -have carried out your orders; I sent them to the wood and had them -killed, and the corporal belonging to the royal household had their -bodies cast into the water." The old soldier listened, through a crack -in the door, to the conversation of the two kings, who both wept -bitterly. He entered the room without being summoned, and said: "I could -not carry out your orders, my lord and king; I had not the heart to -destroy the most beautiful creature in the world; so I let her go free -in the forest, and she left, weeping. If they have not been devoured by -wild beasts, they are alive still." The young king never touched a bit -of supper, but had his horse saddled at once, and ordered his whole -body-guard out. For three days and three nights they searched the wood -in every direction, without intermission: on the fourth night, at -midnight, the young king thought he heard, issuing from a hollow tree, a -baby's cry, which seemed as harmonious to him as the song of a -nightingale. He sprang off his horse, and found his beautiful wife, who -was more beautiful than ever, and his children, who were joyfully -prattling in their mother's arms. He took his recovered family home, -amidst the joyous strains of the band, and, indeed, a high festival was -celebrated throughout the whole realm. - -The young woman again expressed her fears with trembling, that, while -her mother and that she-devil were alive, she could not live in peace. - -The young king issued a warrant for the capture of the old witch; and -the old soldier came, leading behind him, tied to a long rope, an awful -creature, whose body was covered all over with frightful prickles, and -who had an immense horn in the middle of her forehead. The young queen -at once recognised her as the old witch, who had been captured in the -act of searching the wood in order to find her, and slay her and her two -babes. The young queen had the old witch led into a secret room, where -she questioned her as to why she had persecuted her all her life. -"Because," said the old witch, "I am the daughter of your grandfather, -and the sister of your mother! When I was yet but a suckling babe, your -grandmother gave orders that I was to be thrown into the water; a devil -coming along the road took me and educated me. I humoured your mother's -folly because I thought she would go mad in her sorrow that a prettier -creature than herself existed; but the Lord has preserved you, and your -mother did not go mad till I covered her with small-pox, and her face -became all pitted and scarred. Her mirror was always mocking her, and -she became a wandering lunatic, roaming about over the face of the land, -and the children pelting her with stones. She continually bewails you." - -The young queen informed her husband of all this, and he had the old -witch strangled, strung up in a tree, and a fire made of brimstone -lighted under her. When her soul (para-animal soul) left her wicked -body, a horse was tied to each of her hands and feet, and her body torn -into four, one quarter of her body being sent to each of the points of -the compass, so that the other witches might receive a warning as to -their fate. - -The "most beautiful woman in the world" was now very ugly, and happened -by chance to reach the palace where the pretty queen lived. Her daughter -wept over her, and had her kept in a beautiful room, every day showing -her through a glass door her beautiful children. The poor lunatic wept -and tortured herself till one day she jumped out of the window and broke -her neck. The young king loved his beautiful wife as a dove does its -mate; he obeyed her slightest wish, and guarded her from every danger. - -The two little sons with the golden hair became powerful and valiant -heroes, and when the old king died he was carried to his vault by his -two golden-haired grandchildren. - -The young couple, who had gone through so many sad trials, are alive -still, if they have not died since. - -[1] The great pride of the Hungarian youth is to have a slender waist. - - - - -THE GIRL WITHOUT HANDS. - - -There was once, I don't know where, a king whose only son was an -exceedingly handsome and brave fellow, who went far into the -neighbouring country to fight. The old king used to send letters to his -son into the camp, through an old faithful servant. Once it happened -that the letter-carrying old servant took a night's lodging in a lonely -house, which was inhabited by a middle-aged woman and her daughter, who -was very pretty. The people of the house had supper prepared for the -messenger, and during the meal the woman questioned him whether he -thought her or her daughter to be the prettier, but the messenger did -not like to state the exact truth, as he did not wish to appear -ungrateful for their hospitality, and only said, "Well, we can't deny -but must confess it that we old people cannot be so handsome as the -young ones." The woman made no reply; but as soon as the messenger had -left she gave her servant orders to take her daughter into the wood and -kill her, and to bring her liver, lungs, and two hands back with him. -The manservant took the pretty girl with him, and, having gone a good -distance, he stopped, and told the girl of her mother's commands. -"But," continued he, "I haven't got the heart to kill you, as you have -always been very kind to me; there is a small dog which has followed us, -and I will take his liver and lungs back to your mother, but I shall be -compelled to cut off your hands, as I can't go back without them." The -servant did as he proposed; he took out the small dog's lungs and liver, -and cut off the girl's hands, much as it was against his wish. He -carefully covered the stumps of her arms with a cloth, and sent the girl -away and went back to his mistress. The woman took the lungs and liver, -put them into her mouth, and said, "You have come out of me, you must -return into me," and swallowed them. The two hands she threw up into the -loft. The servant left the woman's house in a great hurry at the -earliest opportunity, and never returned again. In the meantime the girl -without hands wandered about in unknown places. Fearing that she would -be discovered in the daytime, she hid herself in the wood, and only left -her hiding place at night to find food, and if she chanced to get into -an orchard she ate the fruit she could reach with her mouth. - -At last she came to the town where the king lived: the prince had by -this time returned from the war. One morning, the king was looking out -of his window, and to his great annoyance discovered that, again, there -were less pears on a favourite tree in the orchard than he had counted -the previous day. In a great rage he sent for the gardener, whose -special business it was to take care of the orchard; but he excused -himself on the ground that while he was watching the orchard at night an -irresistible desire to sleep came over him, the like of which he had -never experienced before, and which he was quite unable to shake off. -The king, therefore, ordered another man to keep watch under the tree -the next night, but he fared in the same way as the first; the king was -still more angry. On the third night, the prince himself volunteered to -keep watch, and promised to guard the fruit of the favourite tree; he -laid down on the lawn under the tree, and did not shut his eyes. About -midnight, the girl without hands came forth from a thicket in the -garden, and, seeing the prince, said to him, "One of your eyes is -asleep, the other one must go to sleep too, at once." No sooner had she -uttered these words than the prince fell fast asleep, and the girl -without hands walked under the tree, and picked the fruit with her -mouth. But as there were only a few more pears left on the boughs which -she could get at, she was obliged, in order to satisfy her hunger, to -step on a little mound, and stand on tiptoe that she might reach the -fruit; whilst standing in this position she slipped, and, having no -hands to hold on with, she fell on the sleeping prince. - -The shock awoke the prince at once, and, grasping the girl firmly with -his arms, he kept her fast. Next morning the king looking out of his -window discovered to his astonishment that no pears were missing, and -therefore sent a messenger into the garden to his son to inquire what -had happened? As soon as dawn began to break, the prince saw the girl's -beautiful face; the king's messenger had by this time reached the -prince, who in reply to his query, said: "Tell my father that I have -caught the thief, and I will take care not to let her escape. If my -father, the king, will not give me permission to marry her, I will never -enter his house again; tell him also, that the girl has no hands." The -king did not oppose his son's desire, and the girl without hands became -the prince's wife, and they lived happily together for a time. It -happened, however, that war broke out again with the sovereign of the -neighbouring country, and the prince was once more obliged to go with -his army. While he was away the princess was confined, and bore two -children with golden hair. The old king was highly delighted, and at -once wrote to his son informing him of the happy event. The letter was -again entrusted to the same man, who took the messages during the first -war: he on his way remembered the house where he was so well received on -a previous occasion, and arranged that he should spend the night there. -This time he found the old woman only. He got into conversation with -her, and she asked him where he was going, and what news he had from the -royal town: the messenger told her how the prince had found a beautiful -girl without hands, whom he had married, and who had had two beautiful -children. The woman at once guessed that it was her own daughter, and -that she had been deceived by her servant; she gave her guest plenty to -eat and drink, till he was quite drunk and went to sleep. Whereupon the -woman searched the messenger's bag, found the king's letter, opened it -and read it. The gist of the letter was this, "My dear son, you have -brought to my house a dear and beautiful wife, who has borne you a -beautiful golden-haired child." - -The woman instantly wrote another letter, which ran thus: "You have -brought to my house a prostitute, who has brought shame upon you, for -she has been confined of two puppies." She folded the letter, sealed it -as the first had been, and put it into the messenger's bag. Next morning -the messenger left, having first been invited to spend the night at her -house on his return, as the wicked mother was anxious to know what the -prince's answer would be to the forged letter. The messenger reached the -prince, handed him the letter, which gave him inexpressible grief; but -as he was very fond of his wife he only replied, that, whatever the -state of affairs might be, no harm was to happen to his wife until his -return. The messenger took the letter back and again called upon the old -woman, who was not chary to make him drunk again and to read the reply -_clandestinely_. She was angry at the prince's answer, and wrote another -letter in his name, in which she said, that if matters were as they had -been represented to him in the letter, his wife must get out of the -house without delay, so that he might not see her upon his return. - -The messenger, not suspecting anything, handed the letter to the king, -who was very much upset, and read it to his daughter-in-law. The old -king pitied his pretty and good natured daughter deeply, but what could -he do? They saddled a quiet horse, put the two golden-haired princes in -a basket and tied it in front of the princess; and thus the poor woman -was sent away amidst great lamentations. - -She had been travelling without ceasing for three days, till on the -third day she came into a country where she found a lake full of magic -water, which had the power of reviving and making good the maimed limbs -of any crippled man or beast who bathed in it. So the woman without -hands took a bath in the lake, and both her hands were restored. She -washed her children's clothes in the same lake, and again continued her -journey. Not long after this the war with the neighbouring king was -over, and the prince returned home. On hearing what had happened to his -wife he fell into a state of deep grief, and became so ill that his -death was expected daily. After a long illness, however, his health -began to improve, but only very slowly, and years elapsed before his -illness and his great grief had so far been conquered that he had -strength or inclination to go out. At last he tried hunting, and spent -whole days in the forest. One day as he was thus engaged he followed a -stag, and got deeper and deeper into the thick part of the wood; in the -meantime the sun had set and darkness set in. The prince, having gone -too far, could not find his way back. But as good luck would have it he -saw a small cottage, and started in its direction to find a night's -lodging. He entered, and found a woman with two children--his wife and -two sons. The woman at once recognised the prince, who, however, did not -even suspect her to be his wife, because her hands were grown again: -but, at the same time, the great likeness struck him very much, and at -first sight he felt a great liking for the woman. On the next day he -again went out hunting with his only faithful servant, and purposely -allowed darkness to set in so that he might sleep at the cottage. The -prince felt very tired and laid down to sleep, while his wife sat at the -table sewing, and the two little children played by her side. - -It happened that in his sleep the prince dropped his arm out of bed; one -of the children noticing this called his mother's attention to it, -whereupon the woman said to her son, "Place it back, my son, place it -back, it's the hand of your royal father." The child approached the -sleeping prince and gently lifted his arm back again. After a short time -the prince dropped his leg from the bed while asleep; the child again -told his mother of it, and she said, "Place it back, my son, put it -back, it's your father's leg." The boy did as he was told, but the -prince knew nothing of it. It happened, however, that the prince's -faithful servant was awake and heard every word the woman said to the -child, and told the story to his master the next day. The prince was -astonished, and no longer doubted that the woman was his wife, no matter -how she had recovered her hands. So the next day he again went out -hunting, and, according to arrangement, stayed late in the wood and had -to return to the cottage again. The prince, having gone to bed, feigned -sleep, and dropped his arm over the bed; his wife, seeing this, again -said, "Put it back, my son, put it back, it's your royal father's arm." -Afterwards he dropped his other arm, and then his two legs purposely; -and the woman in each case bade her son put them back, in the same -words. At last he let his head hang over the bedside, and his wife said -to her son, "Lift it back, my son, lift it back; it's your royal -father's head." But the little fellow, getting tired of all this, -replied, "I shan't do it; you better do it yourself this time, mother." -"Lift it back, my son," again said the mother, coaxingly; but the boy -would not obey, whereupon the woman herself went to the bed, in order to -lift the prince's head. But no sooner had she touched him than her -husband caught hold of her with both his hands, and embraced her. "Why -did you leave me?" said he, in a reproachful tone. "How could I help -leaving you," answered his wife, "when you ordered me out of your -house?" "I wrote in the letter," said the prince, "this and this;" and -told her what he had really written; and his wife explained to him what -had been read to her from the letter that had been changed. The fraud -was thus discovered, and the prince was glad beyond everything that he -had found his wife and her two beautiful children. - -He at once had all three taken back to the palace, where a second -wedding was celebrated, and a great festival held. Guests were invited -from the 77th country, and came to the feast. Through the -letter-carrying messenger it became known that the cause of all the -mischief was no one else than the princess's envious mother. But the -prince forgave her all at the urgent request of his wife; and the young -couple lived for a great many years in matrimonial bliss, their family -increasing greatly. At the old king's death the whole realm fell to the -happy couple, who are still alive, if they have not died since. - - - - -THE KING AND THE DEVIL. - - -In the country where lions and bearded wolves live there was a king -whose favourite sport was hunting and shooting; he had some hundred -hounds or more, quite a house full of guns, and a great many huntsmen. -The king had a steady hand, a sharp eye, and the quarry he aimed at -never escaped, for the king never missed what he aimed at; his only -peculiarity was that he did not care to go out shooting with his own -people only, but he would have liked the whole world to witness his -skill in killing game, and that every good man in the world should -partake of it. Well then, whenever he made a good bag the cook and the -cellarer had so much work to do that they were not done till dawn. Such -was the king who reigned in the land where lions and bearded wolves -live. - -Once upon a time this king, according to custom, invited the sovereigns -of the neighbouring lands to a great shooting party, and also their -chief men. It was in the height of summer, just at the beginning of the -dog-days. In the early morning, when they were driving out on to the -pasture the sheep with the silken fleece, the dogs could already be -heard yelping, huntsmen blowing with all their might into the thin end -of their horns, and all was noise and bustle, so that the royal -courtyard rang out with the noise. Then the king swallowed his breakfast -in a soldierlike fashion, and all put on their hunting hats adorned with -eagle's feathers, buckled the shining straps under their chins, mounted -their horses, and in a short time were off over hedges and ditches, -plunging into the vast forest, as the heat was too great for them to -hunt in the open country. Each king accompanied by his own men went in -his own direction, and game was killed with lightning speed; but the -king who owned the forest went by himself in order to show his friends -how much game he could kill single handed. But by some strange -chance--who can tell how?--no game crossed the king's track. He went -hither and thither but found nothing; looking round he discovered that -he had got into a part of the wood where not even his grandfather had -ever been; he went forward but still was lost; sideways, but still did -not know the way; to the right, and found that he was in the same -predicament as the man in Telek, namely, that unless he was taken home -he would never find it. He called upon God for help, but as he never did -that before--for the king didn't like to go to church and never invited -the priest, except upon All Souls' Day, to dinner--the Lord would not -help him; so he called upon the Devil, who appeared at once, as he will -appear anywhere, even where he is not wanted. "You need not tell me -what you are doing here, good king," said the evil spirit, "I know that -you have been out shooting and have found no game and that you have lost -your way. Promise me that you will give me what you have not got in your -house and you shall find plenty of game and I will take you home." "You -ask very little, poor soul," said the king, "Your request shall be -granted; moreover, I will give you something of what I have, whatever -you may wish, if you will but take me home." - -Shortly afterwards the king arrived at home, and had so much game with -him that his horse could scarcely stand beneath the weight; the other -kings were quite impatient with waiting for him, and were highly -delighted when he arrived. At last they sat down to supper and ate and -drank heartily, but the devil ate nothing but the scrapings from the -pots and pans, and drank no wine but the dregs that were left in the -bottles. At midnight an old woman appeared before the company of jolly -kings and shouted as loud as she could in delight because a beautiful -little daughter had been born to the king. The devil jumped up and -capered about in his joy; _standing on his toes and clapping his bony -heels together, he spun the king round like a whirlwind_ and shouted in -his ear, "That girl, king, was not in your house to-day and I will come -for her in ten years." The devil hereupon saddled midnight and darted -off like lightning, while the guests stared at each other in amazement, -and the king's face turned ghastly pale. - -Next morning they counted the heads of game and found that the king had -twice as much as all the rest put together: yet he was very sad; he made -presents to all his guests, and gave them an escort of soldiers as far -as the boundary of his realm. - -Ten years passed as swiftly as the bird flies and the devil appeared -punctually to the minute. The king tried to put him off, and walked up -and down his room greatly agitated; he thought first of one thing and -then of another. At last he had the swineherd's daughter dressed up like -a princess, and placed her on his wife's arm, and then took her to the -devil, both parents weeping most bitterly, and then handed the child -over to the black soul. The devil carried her away in high glee, but -when the pretty little creature was passing a herd of swine she said, -"Well, little sucking pigs, my father won't beat me any more on your -account, for I'm leaving you and going to the 77th country, where the -angels live." The devil listened to the little girl's words and at last -discovered that he had been deceived; in a rage he flew back to the -royal fortress, and dashed the poor child with such force against the -gate-post that her smallest bone was smashed into a thousand atoms. He -roared at the king in such a voice that all the window fittings dropped -out and the plaster fell off the walls in great lumps. "Give me your own -daughter," he screamed, "for whatever you promise to the devil you must -give to him or else he will carry off what you have not promised." The -king again tried to collect his wits and had the shepherd's daughter who -tended the sheep with the golden fleece, and who was ten years old, -dressed in the royal fashion and handed her to the devil amidst great -lamentation. He even placed at the devil's disposal a closed carriage, -"so that the sun might not tan his daughter's face or the wind blow upon -her," as he said, but it was really to prevent the little girl seeing -what was passing and so betraying herself. As the carriage passed by the -silken meadow and the little girl heard the baaing of the lambs she -opened the door and called to the little animals, saying, "Well, little -baa-lambs, my father won't beat me any more on your account, and I won't -run after you in the heat now, because the king is sending me to the -77th country, where the angels live." The devil was now in a towering -passion, and the flame shot out of his nostrils as thick as my arm; he -threw the little girl up into the clouds and returned to the royal -palace. - -The king saw the carriage returning and trembled like an aspen leaf. He -dressed up his daughter, weeping bitterly as he did so, and when the -devil stepped across the threshold of the palace he went to meet him -with the beautiful child, the like of which no other mother ever bore. -The devil, in a great rage, pushed the pretty lily into a slit of his -shirt, and ran with her over hill and dale. Like a thunderstorm he -carried off the little trembling Maria into his dark home, which was -lighted up with burning sulphur, and placed her on a pillow stuffed with -owl's feathers. He then set a black table before her, and on it mixed -two bushels of millet seed with three bushels of ashes, saying, "Now, -you little wretch, if you don't clean this millet in two hours, I will -kill you with the most horrible tortures." With this he left her, and -slammed the door that it shock the whole house. Little innocent Maria -wept bitterly, for she knew she could not possibly finish the work in -the stated time. While she wept in her loneliness, the devil's son very -quietly entered the room. He was a fine handsome lad, and they called -him Johnnie. Johnnie's heart was full of pity at seeing the little -girl's sorrow, and cheered her up, telling her that if she ceased crying -he would do the work for her at once. He felt in his pocket, and took -out a whistle; and, going into a side-room, he blew it, and in a moment -the whole place was filled with devils, whom Johnnie commanded to clean -the millet in the twinkling of an eye. By the time little Maria winked -three times, the millet was not only cleansed, but every seed was -polished and glittered like diamonds. Until the father's return Maria -and Johnnie amused themselves in childish games. The old devil upon his -return, seeing all the work done, shook his head so vehemently that -burning cinders dropped from his hair. He gave the little girl some -manna to eat and lay down to sleep. - -Next day the ugly old devil mixed twice as much millet and ashes, as he -was very anxious to avenge himself on the child whose father had taken -him in twice; but, by the help of Johnnie's servants, the millet was -again cleaned. The devil in his rage gnawed off the end of his beard -and spat it out on the ground, where every hair became a venomous -serpent. The little girl screamed, and at the sound of her voice all the -serpents stretched themselves on the ground, and wriggled about before -the little girl like young eels, for they were charmed, never having -heard so sweet a voice before. The devil was very much enraged that all -the animals and the devils themselves, with the exception of himself, -were so fond of this pretty little girl. "Well, soul of a dog, you -little imp," said the devil, gnashing his teeth, "if by to-morrow -morning you do not build from nothing, under my window, a church, the -ceiling of which will be the sky, and the priest in it the Lord Himself, -whom your father does not fear, I will slay you with tortures the like -of which are not known even in nethermost hell." - -Little Maria was terribly frightened. The old devil, having given his -orders, disappeared amidst thunder. The kind-hearted Johnnie here -appeared, blew his whistle, and the devils came. They listened to the -orders, but replied, that no devil could build a church out of nothing, -and that, moreover, they dare not go up to heaven and had no power over -the Lord to make him become a priest; that the only advice they could -give was, for Johnnie and the little girl to set off at once, before it -was too late, and so escape the tortures threatened by the old devil. -They listened to the advice of the devils, and Johnnie buried his -whistle in a place where his father would not be able to find it, and -send the devils after them. They hurried off towards Maria's father's -land; when, all of a sudden, Maria felt her left cheek burning very -much, and complained of it to Johnnie, who, looking back, found that his -mother was galloping after them on the stick of a whitewashing brush. -Johnnie at once saw their position, and told Maria to turn herself into -a millet field, and he would be the man whose duty it was to scare away -the birds. Maria did so at once, and Johnnie kept the sparrows off with -a rattle. The old woman soon came up, and asked whether he had not seen -a boy and girl running past, a few minutes before. "Well, yes," replied -he, "there are a great many sparrows about, my good lady, and I can't -guard my millet crop from them. Hush! Hush!" "I didn't ask you," replied -she, "whether you had any sparrows on your millet field or not; but -whether you saw a boy and girl running past." "I've already broken the -wings of two cock sparrows, and hanged them to frighten away the rest," -replied the artful boy. - -"The fellow's deaf, and crazy too," said the devil's wife, and hurried -back to the infernal regions. The boy and girl at once retransformed -themselves, and hurried on, when Maria's left cheek began to burn again, -more painfully this time than before; and not without reason, for when -Johnnie looked back this time, he saw his father, who had saddled the -south wind, tearing after them, and great, awe-inspiring, rain-bearing -clouds following in his track. Maria at once turned into a tumble-down -church, and Johnnie into an aged monk, holding an old clasp-bible in his -hand. - -"I say, old fool, have you not seen a young fellow and a little wench -run past? If you have, say so; if you have not, may you be struck dumb!" -yelled the old devil to the monk with the Bible. "Come in," said the -pious monk, "come in, into the house of the Lord. If you are a good soul -pray to Him and He will help you on your journey, and you will find what -you are so anxiously looking for. Put your alms into this bag, for our -Lord is pleased with the offerings of the pure in heart." "Perish you, -your church, and your book, you old fool. I'm not going to waste any -money in such tomfoolery. Answer my question! Have you seen a boy and -girl go past?" again inquired the devil, in a fearful rage. "Come back -to your Lord, you old cursed soul," replied the holy father, "it's never -too late to mend, but it's a sin to put off amending your ways. Offer -your alms, and you will find what you seek!" The devil grew purple with -rage; and, lifting up his huge mace, he struck like lightning at the -monk's head, but the weapon slipped aside and hit the devil on the shin -such a blow that made him and all his family limp; they would limp to -this very day, if they had not perished since! Jumping on the wind with -his lame leg, the devil rode back home. The young couple by this time -had nearly reached the land where Maria's father reigned; when, all of a -sudden, both the girl's cheeks began to burn as they had never burnt -before. Johnnie looked back and saw that both his father and his mother -were riding after them on two dragons, who flew faster than even the -whirlwind. Maria at once became a silver lake and Johnnie a silver duck. -As soon as the two devils arrived they at once scented out that the lake -was the girl and the duck the boy; because wherever there are two devils -together nothing can be concealed. The woman began to scoop up the water -of the lake, and the male devil to throw stones at the duck; but each -scoop of water taken out of the lake only caused the water to rise -higher and higher; and every stone missed the duck, as he dived to the -bottom of the lake and so dodged them. The devil became quite exhausted -with throwing stones, and beckoned to his wife to wade with him into the -lake, and so catch the duck, as it would be a great pity for their son -to be restored to earth. The devils swam in, but the water of the lake -rose over their heads so quickly that they were both drowned before they -could swim out, and that's the reason why there are no devils now left. -The boy and the girl, after all their trials, at last reached the palace -of Maria's parents. The girl told them what had happened to her since -the devil carried her off, and praised Johnnie very highly, telling them -how he had guarded her. She also warned her father, that he who does not -love God must perish, and is not worthy of happiness. The king listened -to his daughter's advice, and sent for a priest to the next village, and -first of all married Maria to the son of the devil, and the young couple -lived very happily ever after. The king gave up hunting, and sent -messages to the neighbouring kings, that he was a happy father; and the -poor found protection and justice in his land. The king and his wife -both died at the same time, and, after that, Johnnie and his wife became -rulers of the land inhabited by lions and bearded wolves. - - - - -THE THREE PRINCES, THE THREE DRAGONS, AND THE OLD WOMAN WITH THE IRON -NOSE. - - -On the shores of the Blue Sea there was a land in which dragons grew. -This land had a king whose court was draped in black, and whose eye -never ceased to weep, because every Friday he had to send ninety-nine -men to the dragons, who were the pest of the place, and who slew and -devoured the ninety-nine human beings sent to them. The king had three -sons, each of whom was handsomer and more clever than the other. The -king was very fond of his sons, and guarded them most carefully. The -eldest was called Andrew, the next Emerich, and the youngest Ambrose. -There were no other lads left in the land, for the dragons fed on lads' -flesh only. One day Andrew and Emerich went to their father and begged -him to allow them to go and fight the dragons, as they were sure they -could conquer them, and that the dragons would not want any more human -flesh after they had been there. But the father would not even listen to -his sons' request. As for Ambrose, he did not even dare so much as to -submit such a request to his father. Andrew and Emerich, at length, by -dint of much talking, prevailed upon their father to allow them to go -and fight the dragons. Now, there were only three dragons left in the -land: one had seven heads, another eight, and the third nine; and these -three had devoured all the other dragons, when they found that there -were no more lads to be had. Andrew and Emerich joyfully galloped off -towards the copper, silver, and golden bridges in the neighbourhood of -which the dragons lived, and Ambrose was left alone to console his royal -father, who bewailed his other sons. - -Ambrose's godmother was a fairy, and as it is the custom for godmothers -to give presents to their godchildren, Ambrose received a present from -his fairy godmother, which consisted of a black egg with five corners, -which she placed under Ambrose's left armpit. Ambrose carried his egg -about with him under his left armpit for seven winters and seven -summers, and on Ash Wednesday, in the eighth year, a horse with five -legs and three heads jumped out of the egg; this horse was a Tatos and -could speak. - -At the time when the brothers went out to fight the dragons, Ambrose was -thirteen years and thirteen days old, and his horse was exactly five -years old. The two elder brothers had been gone some time, when he went -into the stable to his little horse, and, laying his head upon its neck, -began to weep bitterly. The little horse neighed loudly and said, "Why -are you crying, my dear master?" "Because," replied Ambrose, "I dare not -ask my father to let me go away, although I should like to do so very -much." "Go to your royal father, my dear master, for he has a very bad -attack of toothache just now, and tell him that the king of herbs sends -word to him through the Tatos-horse with three heads, that his toothache -will not cease until he gives you permission to go and fight the -dragons; and you can also tell him that if you go, there will be no more -dragons left on this earth; but if you do not go his two elder boys will -perish in the stomachs of the dragons. Tell him, also, that I have -assured you that you will be able to make the dragons vomit out, at -once, all the lads whomsoever they have swallowed; and that his land -will become so powerful when the lads, who have grown strong in the -stomachs of the dragons, return, that, while the world lasts, no nation -will ever be able to vanquish him." Thus spoke the Tatos colt, and -neighed so loudly that the whole world rang with the sound. The little -boy told his father what the Tatos colt had told him; but the king -objected for a long time, and no wonder, as he was afraid lest evil -might happen to his only son: but at last his sufferings got the better -of him, and, after objecting for three hours, he promised his son that -if the Tatos were able to carry out its promise he would give him -permission to go and fight the dragons. - -As soon as he had uttered these words his toothache left him. The little -lad ran off and told the message to his little horse, which capered and -neighed with delight. "I heard you when you were bargaining," said the -horse to its little master, who in his delight didn't know what to do -with himself, "and I should have heard you even if you had been a -hundred miles away. Don't fear anything, my little master; our ride, it -is true, will be a long one, but in the end it will turn out a lucky -one. Go, my great-great-grandmother's great-great-grandmother's saddle -is there on that crooked willow; put it on me, it will fit me exactly!" - -The prince ran, in fact he rushed like a madman, fetched the ragged old -saddle, put it on his horse, and tied it to a gate-post. Before leaving -his father's home, the little horse asked its little master to plug up -one of its nostrils; the prince did so, and the little horse blew upon -him with the other nostril which he had left open, when, oh, horror! the -little boy became mangy like a diseased sucking pig. The little horse, -however, turned into a horse with golden hair, and glistened like a -mirror. When the little boy caught sight of his ugly face amidst the -hair of his shining horse, he became very sad. "Plug up my other -nostril, too!" said the horse with the golden hair. At first the little -master would not do it, until the horse neighed very loudly and bade him -do it at once, as it was very unwise to delay obeying the commands of a -Tatos. So what could the poor lad do but plug up the other nostril of -the horse. The horse then opened wide its mouth, and breathed upon the -lad, who at once became a most handsome prince, worthy to be a fairy -king. "Now sit on my back, my little master, my great king, we are -worthy of each other; and there is no thing in the world that we cannot -overcome. Rejoice! You will conquer the dragons, and restore the young -men to your father's realm; only do as I bid you, and listen to no one -else." - -In an hour's time they arrived on the shore of the Red Sea, which flows -into the Blue Sea. There they found an inn, and close to the inn, within -earshot, stood the copper bridge, on the other side of which the dragon -with seven heads roamed about. Andrew and Emerich were already at the -inn, and as they were very tired, they sat down and began to eat and -drink: when the new guest arrived the knives and forks dropped from the -two princes' hands; but when they learned that he, too, had come to -fight the dragons they made friends with him. They could not, however, -recognise him for all the world. Night set in, and Andrew and Emerich -had eaten and drunk too much, and became decidedly drunk, and so slept -very deeply. Ambrose ate little, drank nothing, and slept lightly. At -dawn the Tatos-horse pulled his master's hair, in order to wake him; -because it knew that the dragon had least strength at dawn, and that the -sun increased his strength. Ambrose at once jumped on horseback and -arrived at the copper bridge: the dragon heard the clattering of the -horse's hoofs, and at once flew to meet him. "Pooh!" cried the dragon -and snorted, "I smell a strange smell! Ambrose, is it you? I know you; -may you perish, you and your horse! Come on!" They fought for one hour -and three quarters. Ambrose, with two strokes, slashed six of the -dragon's heads off, but could not, for a long time succeed in cutting -off the seventh, for in it lay the dragon's magic power. But, at last, -the seventh head came off too. - -The dragon had seven horses, these Ambrose fastened together, and took -them to the inn, where he tied them by the side of Emerich's horse. -Andrew and Emerich did not awake till nine o'clock, when Emerich asked -Andrew if he had killed the dragon, and Andrew asked Emerich if he had -done so; at last Ambrose told them that he had killed the dragon with -seven heads and taken away his seven horses, which he gave to Emerich, -who thanked him for them. The three then continued their journey -together as far as the silver bridge: here again they found an inn, -which stood close to the bridge. Emerich and Andrew ate and drank and -went to sleep as before; the Tatos horse, as soon as day began to break, -awoke his master, who cheerfully jumped up, dressed neatly, and left the -princes asleep. The Tatos scented the dragon quite ten miles off, and -growled like a dog, and the dragon in his rage began to throw his sparks -at them when four German miles off; they rushed upon each other and met -with a tremendous clash on the bridge; it was a very difficult task for -Ambrose to conquer this huge monster, but at last, through the skilful -manoeuvring of his horse, he deprived the dragon of all his eight -heads: the eight horses belonging to the dragon he tied to a post near -the head of the eldest prince, Andrew. Andrew and Emerich did not awake -till noon, and were astonished at the sight of the splendid horses, -questioning each other as to who could have brought them there at such -an early hour, and then came to the conclusion that the prince must have -killed the dragon, and that these horses had belonged to the monster, -for no such horses ever neighed under a man before. Ambrose again -confessed that he had killed the dragon, and brought away his horses for -them. He also urged his two companions to hurry on to kill the third -dragon, or they would be too late. They all got on horseback, but in -their joy two of them had had to eat and drink, till they had more than -enough, but Ambrose, according to his custom, took but little; the two -elder brothers again went to sleep and slept like tops; but again the -little Tatos pulled Ambrose's hair, so soon as the morning star began to -glimmer. - -Ambrose got up at once, and dressed even more quickly than before; for -the journey he took a small flask of wine, which he secured upon his -saddle. The horse warned its master to approach the dragon with great -caution, because it was a very excitable one, and if he got frightened -the least it would be very difficult to conquer the monster. Soon the -monster with nine heads arrived, thumped once on the golden bridge, so -that it trembled under the thump; Ambrose dashed at the dragon and -fought with it, but they could not conquer each other, although they -fought fiercely and long. At the last hug, especially, Ambrose grew so -weak that, if he had not taken a long draught from his flask he would -have been done for on the spot; the draught, however, renewed his -strength, and they dashed at each other again, but still neither could -conquer the other. - -So the dragon asked Ambrose to change himself into a steel hoop and he, -the dragon, would become a flint hoop, and that they should both climb -to the top of yon rock, which was so high that the sun was only a good -span above it; and that they should roll down together, and if, while -running, the flint hoop left the rut, and, striking the steel hoop, drew -sparks therefrom, that Ambrose's head should fall off; but if on the -other hand, the steel hoop left the rut and struck the flint hoop so as -to draw sparks, then all the dragon's heads should fall off. But they -were both wise and stuck to their own ruts, rolling down in a straight -course till they reached the foot of the mountain without touching each -other, and lay down when they got to the bottom. As they could not -manage in this way, the dragon proposed: "I will become a red flame and -you will become a white one, and which ever flame reaches highest he -shall be victor." Ambrose agreed to this also; while they were -contending, they both noticed an old crow, which croaked at them from a -hollow tree; the dragon was an old acquaintance of the aged crow, and -requested it to bring in its beak as much water as would extinguish the -white flame, and promised that if he won, he would give his foe's flesh -to the crow, every bit of it. - -Ambrose asked for a single drop of water, and promised the crow all the -flesh of the big-bodied dragon. The crow helped Ambrose: it soaked its -crop full of water and spat it over the red flame; thus Ambrose -conquered his last foe. He got on his horse, tied together the nine -horses of the dragon with nine heads and took them to his brothers, who -were still snoring loudly, although the sun had reached its zenith and -was hot enough to make a roast. At last the two lazy people got up, and -Ambrose divided the nine horses between them and took leave of them, -saying, "Go in peace, I myself am obliged to run wherever my eyes can -see." The two good-for-nothing brothers were secretly delighted, and -galloped off homewards. Ambrose turned himself into a small rabbit, and -as it ran over hill and dale it ran into a small hut where the three -wives of the three dragons were seated. The wife of the dragon with -seven heads took it into her lap and stroked it for a long time, and -thus addressed it: "I don't know whether Ambrose has killed my husband; -if he has, there will be a plague in the world, because I will turn into -a great pear tree, and the odour of its fruit will be smelt seven miles -off, and will be sweet to the taste but deadly poison. The tree which -thus grows from me will not dry up till Ambrose plunge his sword into -its root, then both it and myself will die." Then the wife of the dragon -with eight heads also took the little rabbit in her lap, and spoke thus: -"If Ambrose has killed my husband there will be a plague in the world, I -can tell you! because in my sorrow I will change into a spring; there -will be eight streams flowing out of this spring, each one of which will -run eight miles, where it again will sub-divide into eight more -branches. And whoever drinks of the water will die; but if Ambrose wash -his sword in my blood--which is the water of the spring--all the water -will at once dry up and I shall die." Then the wife of the dragon with -nine heads spoke to the rabbit, saying, "If Ambrose has killed my -husband, in my sorrow I will change into a huge bramble, and will -stretch all over the world, all along the highroads. And whoever trips -over me, will die; but if Ambrose cut my stalk in two anywhere the -bramble will dry up everywhere and I shall die." - -Having listened to all this, the little rabbit scampered off out of the -hut; but an old woman with an iron nose, the mother of the three -dragons, chased him, and chased him over hill and dale: he ran, and -rushed about, till at length he overtook his brothers; jumping on his -little horse's back, he continued his journey at his leisure. As they -travelled on, his eldest brother longed for some good fruit; just then -they saw a fine pear tree, whereupon Ambrose jumped from his horse, and -plunged his sword into the roots of the tree, and drew blood, and a -moaning voice was heard. They travelled on for a few miles, when Emerich -all of a sudden became very thirsty: he discovered a spring, and jumped -off his horse in order to drink, but Ambrose was first to arrive at the -water; when, plunging his sword into it, it became blood, and fearful -screams were heard, and in one moment the whole of the water dried up. -From this point Ambrose galloped on in front till he left his brothers -two miles behind, because he knew that the bramble was stretching far -along the country road; he cut it in two, blood oozed out, and the -bramble at once dried up. Having thus cleared away all dangers from his -brothers' way, he blest them and separated from them. - -The brothers went home, but the old woman with the iron nose persecuted -Ambrose more than ever, being in a great rage at his having killed her -sons and her daughters-in-law. Ambrose ran as hard as he could, for he -had left his horse with his brothers; but when he was quite exhausted -and had lost all confidence in himself, he ran into a smithy, and -promised the smith that he would serve him for two years for nothing if -he would hide him safely and well. The bargain was soon struck, and no -sooner had the smith hidden him than the old woman appeared on the spot -and inquired after a youth: she described his figure, the shape of his -eyes and mouth, height, colour of his moustache and hair, dress, and -general appearance. But the smith was not such a fool as to betray the -lad who had engaged to work at his anvil for him for two years for -nothing. So the old witch with the iron nose got to know nothing and -left the place growling. One day Ambrose was perspiring heavily by the -side of the anvil, so at eventide he went for a short walk in the road -in order to get a mouthful of fresh air. When he had nearly reached the -edge of the wood, which was only at a dog's trot from the smithy, he met -a very old woman with wizened face, whose carriage was drawn by two -small cats: the old woman began to ogle little Ambrose, making sheep's -eyes at him, like fast young women do. "May hell swallow you, you old -hag," said Ambrose to her angrily, "I see you have still such foolish -ideas in your head, although you have grown so old!" Having said this he -gave the carriage in which the witch sat, a kick, but poor Ambrose's -right foot stuck fast to the axle, and the two cats scampered off over -hill and dale with him until he suddenly discovered that he was trotting -in hell, and saw old Pilate staring at him. The old witch with the iron -nose--because it was she who had the carriage and pair of cats--fell -over head and ears in love with the young lad, and at once asked him to -marry her. - -Ambrose shuddered when he heard this repulsive, unnatural request. "Very -well," said the woman with the iron nose, "as you don't intend to marry -me, into jail you go! twelve hundred-weight of iron on your feet!" Nine -black servants seized hold of poor Ambrose, at once, and took him nine -miles down into the bowels of the earth, and fastened a piece of iron -weighing twelve hundred-weight on his feet and secured it with a lock. -The poor lad wept and groaned, but no one had admission to where he was, -with the exception of the old witch and one of her maids. The maid of -the witch with the iron nose was not quite such an ugly fright as her -wizened old mistress, in fact she was such a pretty girl that one would -have to search far for a prettier lass. She commenced to visit Ambrose -in his prison rather often, sometimes even when the old witch did not -dream of it--to tell the truth, she fell head over ears in love with the -lad, nor did Ambrose dislike the pretty girl; on the contrary, he -promised to marry her if she were able to effect his escape from his -deep prison. The girl did not require any further coaxing, but commenced -plotting at once. At last she hit upon a scheme, and thus spoke to her -darling Ambrose: "You cannot get out of this place, unless you marry the -old woman with the iron nose. She having once become your wife will -reveal to you all her secrets; she will also tell you how she manages to -keep alive so long, and by what ways and means she may be got rid of." -Ambrose followed her instructions and was married to the old witch by a -clergyman--there are clergy even in hell, as many as you want. The first -night Ambrose, after having for a long time been kissing and making love -to the old iron nose, asked her: "What keeps you alive for so long, and -when do you think you will die? I don't ask these questions, my dearest -love," he added, flatteringly, "as if I wished for your death, but -because I should like to use those means myself which prolong your life -and keep away everything from me which would shorten life, and thus -preserve me, living long and happily with you." The old woman at first -was half inclined to believe his words, but while meditating over what -she had just heard, she suddenly kicked out in bed, and Ambrose flew -three miles into hell in his fright. - -But the result of all the questioning and flattering in the end was that -the old woman confessed. She confided to him that she kept a wild boar -in the silken meadow, and if it were killed, they would find a hare -inside, inside the hare a pigeon, inside the pigeon a small box, inside -the little box one black and one shining beetle: the shining beetle held -her life, the black one her power; if those two beetles died then her -life would come to an end, too. As soon as the old woman went out for a -drive--which she had to do every day--Ambrose killed the wild boar, took -out the hare, from the hare the pigeon, from the pigeon the box, and -from the box the two beetles: he killed the black one at once, but kept -the shining one alive. The old witch's power left her immediately. When -she returned home her bed had to be made for her. Ambrose sat by her -bedside and looked very sad, and asked her with tears if she, who was -the other half of his soul, died what would become of him, who was a man -from earth and a good soul, who had no business there. "In case I die, -my dear husband," said the doomed woman, in a mild voice, "open with the -key which I keep in my bosom yon black closet in the wall. But you can't -remove the key from my bosom until I am dead. In the closet you will -find a small golden rod; with this rod you must strike the side of the -castle in which we are, and it will become a golden apple. You, then, -can get into the upper world by harnessing my two cats in my carriage, -and by whipping them with the golden rod." Hereupon Ambrose killed the -shining beetle too, and her para (animal soul) left the old witch at -once. - -He then struck the castle side with the golden rod, and it turned into -an apple; having harnessed the two cats and patted them with the golden -rod, he bade the maid sit by him, and in a wink they reached the upper -world. The maid had been kidnapped by the old witch with the iron nose -from the king of the country in the upper world, in whose land the mouth -of hell was situated. Ambrose placed the golden apple in the prettiest -part of the country and tapped its side with the rod and it became a -beautiful castle of gold, in which he married his sweetheart and lived -with her happily. Some time after he returned to his father's land, -where an immense number of strong soldiers had grown up since Ambrose -had killed the dragons. The old king distributed his realm among his -three sons, giving the most beautiful empires to Ambrose, who took his -father to him and kept him in great honour. His wife bore pretty -children who rode out every day on the Tatos. - - - - -THE WIDOWER AND HIS DAUGHTER. - - -I don't know in what country, in which county, in which district, in -which village, in which street, in which corner, there lived a poor -widower, and not far from him a rich widow. The widower had a beautiful -daughter. The widow had two who were not very pretty, and were rather -advanced in years. The widower married the widow and they combined the -two households and lived together. The husband was as fond of his wife's -daughters as of his own; but the woman liked her own daughters better -than her husband's child, and the two older girls loved their parents -truly but disliked their pretty sister very much. The poor man was very -sad at this, but could not help it. - -Once upon a time there was a fair held in the town, which was not far -from the village, and the husband had to go to the fair. The two elder -girls and their loving mother asked for no end of pretty dresses they -wished their father to bring them from the fair: but the pretty girl of -the poor man did not dare to open her mouth to ask for anything. "Well, -my daughter, what shall I bring for you?" asked the poor man, in a sad -voice; "why don't you speak? You shall have something, too." "Don't -bring me anything," replied the pretty little girl, "but three walnuts, -and I shall be satisfied; a little girl does not want any pretty dresses -as yet." The poor man went to the fair and brought home many showy -dresses, red shoes, and bracelets. The two girls rummaged among the -heaps of pretty things; they threw about the coloured ribbons, golden -rings, and artificial flowers; they tried on their heads the various -Turkish shawls, and tried the effect of paints on their faces; they -skipped about and sang in their joy; they cheerfully embraced their -mother and highly praised their father's choice. At last, having got -tired of looking at the things, everyone put away her share into her -closet. The pretty little girl placed the three walnuts in her bosom and -felt very sad. The two elder girls could hardly wait for Sunday. They -dressed up most showily; they painted their faces, and as soon as the -bells began to ring ran to church and stuck themselves in the front pew. -Before leaving home, however, they gave the pretty little girl some very -dirty wheat and ordered her to clean it--about half a bushel full--by -the time they came back from church. The little girl began to sort the -wheat weeping, and her tears mingled with the wheat; but her complaining -was heard in Heaven and the Lord sent her a flock of white pigeons who -in a minute picked out the dirt and the tares from among the wheat, and -in another minute flew back to where they had come from. The little girl -gave thanks to Providence and cried no more. She fetched her three -walnuts in order to eat them, but as she opened the first one a -beautiful copper dress fell out of it; from the second a silver one; and -from the third a glittering gold one. She was highly delighted, and at -once locked the two walnuts in which the gold and silver dresses were, -safely in a cupboard. She put on the copper dress, hurried off to -church, and sat down in the last pew all among the old women: and lo! -the whole congregation stood up to admire her, so that the clergyman was -obliged to stop in his sermon: the two old maids looked back quite -surprised and found that the new comer's dress was ever so much prettier -than their own. - -It happened that the king's son was also present in whose country the -village was and in which village the poor man and his new wife lived. -The beautiful girl dressed in the glittering copper dress was at once -noticed by the king's son who was at that time looking for a wife all -over the country. As soon as the pretty little girl noticed that the -sermon was coming to an end she left her seat and ran home in order to -get undressed before her step-mother and her two sisters got home. The -king sent a flunkey after her and gave him orders to note the door where -the pretty girl entered; but the swift girl ran much quicker than the -king's servant, and he lost her. She undressed in a great hurry, and by -the time that her two sisters got home in company with their young men -she had her copper dress put away in the walnut and locked it in a -cupboard and donned her ordinary every-day dress, which was very clean, -and was found in the act of fanning the fire under a pot full of -cabbage, and making herself busy about the kitchen in general. "Poor -orphan, you have not seen any thing," exclaimed the two eldest sisters, -who were in high spirits. "The king's son was at church, he sat just -opposite, for a while he kept his eyes fixed on us as if enchanted. You -did not see that, did you? At the beginning of the sermon, however, such -a beautiful girl, dressed in such a gorgeous dress, came in the like of -which no human eye has ever seen before." "I did see that pretty girl as -she turned the corner of the street." "From where did you see her?" at -once asked the envious sisters. "I got on the ladder and went up to the -chimney and saw her from there." "Indeed, then you spent your time -gaping about. You will catch it when father comes home and finds the -wheat unpicked." And they rushed to the place where the wheat was kept, -but lo! the wheat was as clean as washed gold, and the tares and the -dirt had been removed from the house. - -In the afternoon the ladder was taken away from the front of the house, -so that the orphan girl should not be able to get on it any more. In -the afternoon the church bells were again heard ringing. The two elder -girls dressed up even more showily than before and went to church. The -prince also put in his appearance. The little orphan girl had twice as -much wheat meted out to her, and they threatened that if it was not -cleaned by the time they came home they would maltreat her. The little -girl set to work in great sorrow, but white pigeons came, twice as many -as in the morning. The wheat got cleaned like gold in one minute. The -little girl at once opened the second walnut, and the silver dress, -shining like moonbeams, unfolded itself. She went to church and sat in -the same seat where she sat in the morning. The prince took out his -eyeglass and eyed the pretty girl in the silver dress. He nearly -devoured her with his eyes. The girl did not stay long in her place, and -at a moment when nobody was looking she stole out of the church and ran -home. The king's flunkey again was unable to find out her abode. When -the two sisters came home the little girl was filling the cleaned wheat -into bags ready to be carried up into the loft. "Don't carry it up -yet--wait a moment," said the two sisters to her. "You have never seen -and will never behold in all your life what we saw to-day. The fairy -girl of this morning came this afternoon to church dressed in pure -silver; she gleamed like moonlight." "I've seen her," said the orphan -girl, with a meek smile; "I got on the hoarding and stood on the top -rail and saw her as she slipped out of church." "And how about the -wheat; let's have a look at it. We suppose you spent all your time -gaping again. Father will give it to you," said the two wicked girls. -But the wheat was all clean, and would have been so if it had been as -much more. They drove a lot of sharp nails into the top of the hoarding, -in order to prevent the orphan girl getting on to it. - -The two elder girls anxiously waited for the coming Sunday, as they were -eager to show off some of their new dresses they had never had on -before. Sunday at last arrived, and the two elder girls dressed up ever -so much more gorgeously than before. They put on their rings; tied on -many coloured bows; put on red shoes; and rouged their faces. They went -off in great hurry as soon as the bells began. The prince again was -present, and some of his friends with him. The two elder girls tried -their best to look charming: they screwed up their mouths to make them -look small; they piously bent their heads on one side, and kept on -adjusting their ribbons and bows. Whenever the prince, or any of his -friends looked at them they coyly cast down their eyes and played with -their nosegays. The little girl was again left at home; they gave her -three times as much dirty wheat to pick as on the first occasion, and -threatened her that if by the time they came home she did not get it -picked her father would give her a sound thrashing. The pigeons again -came to assist the pretty child, there were three times as many as at -first, and her wheat was again picked in a minute. The little girl -opened the third nut, and, dressed in the golden dress, went to church, -and sat down in her usual place. The congregation was more astounded -than ever; the women and girls jumped up from their seats. They did not -listen to the sermon, but kept staring at the fairy little girl, and -whispered to each other. The prince was determined that the girl must -become his wife, whatever happened; but the fairy-like girl again -slipped away, and the king's servant followed her, until he saw her run -into a house, whereupon he marked it by sticking a gold rose into the -gate-post. The little girl did not notice this. The elder girls came -running home. "If you lived for another thousand years you would not see -such a beauty as we saw to-day. We saw a pretty creature dressed in pure -gold; we don't think there is another in the whole world like her." "I -saw her," said the little girl, laughing; "I climbed on the mulberry -tree and followed her with my eyes from the street corner all the way to -church." "And how about the wheat; is it picked?" "The Lord has helped -me," said the good little child, "as He always will help orphans." The -mulberry tree was cut down the very same afternoon. - -In the afternoon the girls did not bring home any more news from church; -they did not inquire any more whether the wheat had been cleaned, -because they noticed that their step-father was very angry with them for -their having shown so much envy against their sister. The poor father -led his little girl to the cottage of a widow who lived at the end of -the village, and who herself had no children. There she was kept for -several weeks on rather scanty food. The prince had not come to church -for several Sundays; but, after the lapse of three months, three weeks, -and three days, at three in the afternoon, three quarters, and three -minutes, he came on foot into the village, where he had seen the pretty -girl. He had only his servant with him. They examined every gate-post, -and at last found the golden rose which the servant had stuck there. -They entered the cottage, wherein they found an old woman seated reading -her prayers. "Is there a girl in this cot?" inquired the prince. "Yes, -your highness," replied the old woman, "there are two, and either of -them is well worthy of a prince's love." "Call them, my old mother, call -them both; my heart will then recognise its choice." - -"Here they are my lord and prince," said the mother with a joyful face, -having in about half an hour got her two daughters dressed up as well as -she could. "The choice of my heart is not among them;" said the prince, -sadly, "have you no more daughters, good woman? call also the third if -you value my happiness." "The Lord has not given me any more, these two -are quite enough, you cannot find any prettier or better in the whole -village." "Haven't you got a husband and hasn't he got a daughter?" -asked the prince, in great sorrow. "My husband is dead," said the old -hag, "it is three years since he was put into his grave." "Let us go on -then, my lord and prince," said the servant, "and we shall find her if -it please the Lord." As they passed through the gate the servant took -the golden rose from the crack in the gate-post and threw it to the -winds. The golden rose thereupon quietly floated in the air above the -heads of the prince and his servant. The fortune-seekers followed the -rose, mumbling prayers, till at the end of the village it dropped on the -ground in front of the gate of the last cot. "Let's go in here, my lord -and prince, as our prayer has brought us here." "If the Lord call us, -let us enter, my faithful servant," replied the prince. A cock crowed -just as they stepped across the threshold, and a very poor old woman -greeted the guests. "Have you a daughter, my old mother?" inquired the -prince graciously. "No, my lord; I never had one," said the old woman -sadly. "If not, don't you keep an orphan? The Lord will preserve the -good mother who takes care of the orphan, as well as the orphan." "Yes, -my lord, but she has no dress fit to appear in, and she is not a bit -worthy of your looking at her; she is naughty and does not like work, -and for this reason her step-mother has cast her off. Her father -supplies in secret her daily food." "The Lord will provide for him who -is in need," said the prince. "Call her; never mind how ugly she is, or -how badly she is clad. I like to make orphans happy." After much -pressing the wretch of an old woman at last produced the little girl, -who looked very poor, but was very cleanly dressed; her face was as soft -as dew. The prince recognised at the first glance the beautiful figure -and the charming features. - -"I'm not sorry for the trouble I have taken," said the prince, and -embraced the pretty girl. He gave rich presents to the poor woman, and -took his long-sought-for sweetheart with him. On his way home the -servant reminded his master that it would not be the proper thing to -bring the prince's bride home in such a sorry plight. The prince found -his servant's remark correct. They had only to walk about three miles to -reach the frontier of land where the prince's father reigned. They came -to a round lake where they halted, and on its bank stood a large -weeping willow, so they made the girl sit among the branches and -advised her not to leave her place until they returned with the golden -dresses and the royal carriage. Thereupon they left. The little girl had -hidden the three walnuts in her bosom and in order to surprise her -bridegroom she put on her golden dress and thus dressed awaited his -return. No sooner had she finished her toilet than a whole troop of -gipsy women arrived under the tree on which she sat in her golden dress. -The gipsy women at once questioned her, why she sat there? whom she -expected? and where she was going! She, in her innocence, was not afraid -of them, and told them of her descent, narrated them her past -vicissitudes, her present good fortune, and also confided to them that -she was preparing a joke for her royal bridegroom, and showed her -walnuts and her glittering dresses in them. The prettiest of the gipsy -women climbed on the tree and commenced to flatter her. She asked her to -be allowed to see her walnuts, and in one moment, when the girl was off -her guard, pushed her from the tree down into the lake. To the great -amazement of the gipsies the girl transformed herself into a gold duck, -and flew to the centre of the lake, and, alighting on the water, began -to swim. Thereupon the gipsy women began to throw stones at her, which, -however, she evaded by diving under water. The women at last got tired -of throwing stones, and left the gold duck in the lake, and the gipsy -woman among the branches of the weeping willow. The prince arrived at -sunset at the tree where he had left his pretty _fiancee_. When lo! he -discovered the woman in the golden dress. He admired her golden raiment, -and begged her to tell him where she had got her golden dress. The gipsy -told him what the girl had related to her, and asked him his forgiveness -for not having mentioned it when she first saw him at the widow's cot, -and made the prince believe that she had kept silence about it solely -because she wished to find out whether he loved her in her poor dress. -The prince believed every word the gipsy said, and begged her to come -down and sit in his carriage, and to drive home with him to his royal -father's palace. As the prince assisted the gipsy woman down from the -willow, the tanned face of his _fiancee_ looked to him as something most -extraordinary. "You were not so sunburnt, my dear, when I left you; what -made your skin get so discoloured?" "My tender skin got discoloured from -the broiling rays of the sun," replied the wicked soul; "let me get into -the shade and in a few days I shall become pale again." The prince -believed it and bade her sit in his carriage. "I can't leave here until -you shoot that gold duck, I should like to have a bit of it at my -wedding feast," said the false one. The bridegroom and his servants -tried for a long time to hit the golden bird, they wasted a vast amount -of powder and shot; but still the golden duck was unhurt because it -always dived under the water. - -The dusky woman looked very much disheartened when she took her seat in -the prince's coach, but he soon revived her spirits by sweet and kind -words, and in a short time they arrived at home. The old king did not at -all like the looks of his future daughter-in-law, but on his son -assuring him that in a few days she would regain her fairy-like beauty -his mind was set at ease. They lived together for several months and the -young wife was still sunburnt, and so the prince gradually got cool -towards her. The gipsy woman noticed this, and in order to revive the -spirits of her royal husband she announced it all over the town and in -the adjacent villages that there would be a great feather-picking, held -henceforth three times a week in the royal palace, and everybody rich -and poor was invited, the queen being glad to see anyone. The golden -duck had flown after the coach when the queen was driven home, and, -having regained her girl-form, entered service not far from the royal -mansion and worked diligently. She too went to the first feather-picking -meeting, and, not saying a word to anyone, sat at the end of the table -and made herself busy. "Well, my dear queen and wife," said the prince, -"tell the good work-people here the pretty story which happened to you -when your envious sisters would not let you go to church. Tell them also -who helped you to clean the wheat." The gipsy did not know anything -about these events; but still commenced to chatter away whatever came -into her head first. She told them, among other things, that she had -crept through the keyhole in the gate, and collected all the girls in -the neighbourhood, with whose help she finished her wheat-cleaning. -"That wasn't so, most gracious queen," said a girl, with a pretty voice, -who was very shabbily dressed but looked very clean; "it was from the -chimney stack, and from the top of the hoarding, and from among the -branches of the mulberry tree, from where the orphan girl did her -peeping. But the poor orphan girl only told an innocent fib. It was the -same girl with whom the prince fell in love, whom her half-sisters had -cast off, for whom the prince searched with his servant, whom he seated -in the willow tree, and whom you pushed into the lake, whom your husband -tried to shoot. That orphan girl is nobody else but myself." The prince -at once recognised his sweetheart. His wife thereupon fainted away. She -soon recovered however. - -The king made an example of the gipsy woman for her wicked deed: he had -her quartered, and burnt, and then married the little orphan girl. He -had her stepmother cast into prison, and her two daughters' hair cut, -which he ordered to be burnt and cast to the winds: he also took the -orphan girl's father to his court, and married him to the widow at whose -cot he had found his wife. The poor little orphan girl's and her -father's wedding were celebrated together. There was plenty to eat and -drink, so that even the orphan children had rice to eat. Behind the door -there stood a sack in which the Danube and the Theiss were kept. I too -was among the dancing guests, and had a long spur made of straw on my -boot; somebody pushed me by accident, and my spur knocked a hole in the -sack in which the Danube and Theiss were kept; so the water all ran out -and engulphed me, and washed me ashore, not far from here. If you don't -believe my story, here I am! - - - - -THE WISHES. - - -There were 10,000 wagons rolling along the turnpike road, in each wagon -there were 10,000 casks, in each cask 10,000 bags, in each bag 10,000 -poppy seeds, in each poppy seed 10,000 lightnings. May all these -thunderous lightnings strike him who won't listen to my tale, which I -have brought from beyond the Operencian Sea! - -There was once, it doesn't matter where: there was once upon a time, a -poor man who had a pretty young wife; they were very fond of each other. -The only thing they had to complain of was their poverty, as neither of -them owned a farthing; it happened, therefore, sometimes, that they -quarrelled a little, and then they always cast it in each other's teeth -that they hadn't got anything to bless themselves with. But still they -loved each other. - -One evening the woman came home much earlier than her husband and went -into the kitchen and lighted the fire, although she had nothing to cook. -"I think I can cook a little soup, at least, for my husband. It will be -ready by the time he comes home." But no sooner had she put the kettle -over the fire, and a few logs of wood on the fire in order to make the -water boil quicker, than her husband arrived home and took his seat by -the side of her on the little bench. They warmed themselves by the fire, -as it was late in the autumn and cold. In the neighbouring village, they -had commenced the vintage on that very day. "Do you know the news, -wife?" inquired he. "No, I don't. I've heard nothing; tell me what it -is." "As I was coming from the squire's maize-field, I saw in the dark, -in the distance, a black spot on the road. I couldn't make out what it -was, so I went nearer, and lo! do you know what it was?--A beautiful -little golden carriage, with a pretty little woman inside, and four fine -black dogs harnessed to it." "You're joking," interrupted the wife. "I'm -not, indeed, it's perfectly true. You know how muddy the roads about -here are; it happened that the dogs stuck fast with the carriage and -they couldn't move from the spot; the little woman didn't care to get -out into the mud, as she was afraid of soiling her golden dress. At -first, when I found out what it was, I had a good mind to run away, as I -took her for an evil spirit, but she called out after me and implored me -to help her out of the mud; she promised that no harm should come to me, -but on the contrary she would reward me. So I thought that it would be a -good thing for us if she could help us in our poverty; and with my -assistance the dogs dragged her carriage out of the mud. The woman asked -me whether I was married. I told her I was. And she asked me if I was -rich. I replied, not at all; I didn't think, I said, that there were two -people in our village who were poorer than we. That can be remedied, -replied she. I will fulfil three wishes that your wife may propose. And -she left as suddenly as if dragons had kidnapped her: she was a fairy." - -"Well, she made a regular fool of you!" - -"That remains to be seen; you must try and wish something, my dear -wife." Thereupon the woman without much thought said: "Well, I should -like to have some sausage, and we could cook it beautifully on this nice -fire." No sooner were the words uttered than a frying-pan came down the -chimney, and in it a sausage of such length that it was long enough to -fence in the whole garden. "This is grand" they both exclaimed together. -"But we must be a little more clever with our next two wishes; how well -we shall be off! I will at once buy two heifers and two horses, as well -as a sucking pig," said the husband. Whereupon he took his pipe from his -hatband, took out his tobacco-pouch, and filled his pipe; then he tried -to light it with a hot cinder, but was so awkward about it that he upset -the frying-pan with the sausage in it. "Good heavens! the sausage; what -on earth are you doing! I wish that sausage would grow on to your nose," -exclaimed the frightened woman, and tried to snatch the same out of the -fire, but it was too late, as it was already dangling from her husband's -nose down to his toes. "My Lord Creator help me!" shouted the woman. -"You see, you fool, what you've done, there! now the second wish is -gone," said her husband, "what can we do with this thing?" "Can't we get -it off?" said the woman. "Take off the devil! Don't you see that it has -quite grown to my nose; you can't take it off." "Then we must cut it -off," said she, "as we can do nothing else." "I shan't permit it: how -could I allow my body to be cut about? not for all the treasures on -earth; but do you know what we can do, love? there is yet one wish left; -you'd better wish that the sausage go back to the pan, and so all will -be right." But the woman replied, "How about the heifers and the horses, -and how about the sucking pig; how shall we get those?" "Well, I can't -walk about with this ornament, and I'm sure you won't kiss me again with -this sausage dangling from my nose." And so they quarrelled for a long -time, till at last he succeeded in persuading his wife to wish that the -sausage go back to the pan. And thus all three wishes were fulfilled; -and yet they were as poor as ever. - -They, however, made a hearty meal of the sausage; and as they came to -the conclusion that it was in consequence of their quarrelling that they -had no heifers, nor horses, nor sucking pig, they agreed to live -thenceforth in harmony together; and they quarrelled no more after this. -They got on much better in the world, and in time they acquired heifers, -horses, and a sucking pig into the bargain, because they were -industrious and thrifty. - - - - -THE TWO ORPHANS. - - -There was once, I know not where, even beyond the Operencian Land, a -village, and at the end of the village a little hovel. Within the -tumble-down walls of this hovel a poor old woman was lying on some -rotting straw, and two children were crying by her side. The elder was a -pretty girl. The younger was her brother, a small boy with auburn hair. -The old mother died. Her cold body was buried by the parish; but, as -none offered themselves to take charge of the two orphans, they left the -place. They went and went, over many a hill and dale, and had already -covered a long distance when Jack felt burning thirst. They found in the -road some turbid water in a rut, at the sight of which the thirsty -little fellow shouted for joy. "My dear sister, I will drink from this -rut." "Don't drink from it," said his thoughtful sister, "or you will -turn into a cart-wheel if you do." Jack sighed, and they went on their -way. They found some bears' tracks in which some stale rain-water was -putrifying. "My dear sister, I'm thirsty, allow me to drink of this -rain-water." "If you drink, my dear brother, you will become a bear." -The little fellow began to cry, but obeyed, and they went on. In the -road they found some footprints of a wolf. Jack again implored his -sister, with tears, and repeated his former request. "Don't drink, my -dear Jack, or else you will become a wolf." Jack, although his tongue -was parched with burning thirst, obeyed, and they continued their walk -quite exhausted. They found the footmarks of a roebuck in the road. -Water clear as crystal shone in them, that invited him to drink. Jack's -feet gave way under him when he reached the water, and, in spite of all -warning, he drank of it with avidity. His sister, seeing her fear -realised, began to cry. The beautiful auburn locks of her brother -suddenly turned to a soft grayish hair, and horns grew behind his ears. -His legs and arms became the four legs of a roedeer, and the pretty -little creature rubbed gently against his sister, who stroked him with -her pretty hands. The little girl and her brother, the roebuck, -continued their journey till at last they reached the king's palace, -where the young monarch received them with smiles, and offered them a -tidy little room. The little girl lived with her brother here, and, -although she forbade him to speak before others, they would chat when -left alone, their conversation turning mainly upon their deceased good -mother, their journey, the handsome young king, and his frequent hunts. -After several weeks the pretty girl received a royal splendid dress and -was married to the young king. - -The fame of their wedding travelled over seven countries. The loving -couple lived contentedly together; the queen was pretty and good, and -her husband was madly in love with her. The little deer kept continually -by his sister's side; they ate from the same plate, and drank out of the -same glass, and slept in the same room; but this happiness did not last -long. There lived in the king's country an old witch, with iron teeth, -who had a very ugly daughter, whose face was black, her eyes were -yellow, her nose was full of warts, her teeth like hoes, her voice -screeching, her waist crooked; and, besides all this, she was lame of -one foot. It was the old witch's determination to make this creature the -queen of the realm. As she was frustrated in her design she raved. In -her fury she tore up bits of rocks, and dried up whole forests. She -vowed death upon the poor orphan's head; and, in order to cheer up her -ugly daughter's long forlorn hope, she prophecied the queen's death, and -thus spoke: "Dear child, beloved Lucinda, would you like to be a queen? -if so, go secretly into the king's palace, and when the king is out -hunting, steal near the queen in her sleep, and cut off a large lock of -her hair, and bring it to me. Mind where you step, and keep an eye on -every movement of hers." Lucinda dressed herself in a cloak with grey -and red stripes, and at dead of night she reached the king's palace, and -without arousing suspicion stole into the queen's bedroom. She spread -her cloak on the floor, so that she might not awake the sleeping queen -with its rustling as she moved about, and at her mother's sign she -approached the queen's bed on tiptoe, and cut off a beautiful lock with -a rusty old knife: the little deer did not wake. In the morning, the -witch wrapt the beautiful auburn lock in the lungs of a toad, and -roasted it over the embers of some yew boughs which were cut on -Christmas night. After a while, with the ointment thus made, the old -witch rubbed Lucinda from head to foot, who became the next moment an -exact likeness of the young queen. Now the old witch began to ponder how -to do away with the young queen, and at last she hit upon a plan. There -lived at court a miserly gate-keeper, whom she bribed with gold, and -with his assistance, in the absence of the king, they broke into the -queen's bedroom at night, and dragged away by force the poor innocent -woman; the little deer woke at the noise, and followed the murderers at -a distance. - -In a secluded corner of the courtyard there was an old disused -stone-well, and in this well lived a huge whale; they threw the pretty -queen to the bottom of this well, and in her now empty bed Lucinda was -placed, whose outer appearance was not in the slightest different from -that of the queen, so that when the king arrived at home he did not -notice the awful fraud. The little deer henceforward spent all his days -near the well, which circumstance did not escape the notice of the -quick-eyed old witch. So she instructed her daughter to persuade her -royal husband to have the deer killed, and in order to carry this out, -she planned the following scheme. Lucinda shammed deadly illness, her -mother having previously changed her red complexion to yellow; her -husband sat every day and night by her bedside, while the little deer -still spent all his time by the well. They could not find any medicine -which could give the patient relief, when Lucinda, as planned -beforehand, expressed a desire to have the deer's heart and liver cooked -for her. Her husband was horrified on hearing this unexpected wish, and -began to suspect his wife. He could not believe that she could wish to -have her dear little animal, which she idolized, killed; but Lucinda -would not give in, until at last the king, being very much concerned -about his wife's recovery, allowed himself to be persuaded, and gave -orders to one of his cooks to have the deer killed. The deer heard quite -well what Lucinda wished and what the orders were, but kept silence; -and, in order not to arouse suspicion, went back to its favourite place, -the well, where, in its deep grief, it thus spoke down into the whale's -dwelling: - - - My little sister, my little sister, - You dear little sister, - Come out of the well, - Out of the whale's stomach, - Because they are whetting the knife - For my gentle breast, - They are washing the basin - For my beautiful red blood. - - -When the cook, clasping a long knife, stole up to the -little animal in order to drag it to the slaughter-house, the deer -repeated his mournful song, upon hearing which the cook got frightened -and ran away and informed the king of what he had heard and seen. -Thereupon the king determined to personally satisfy himself as to -whether his tale was true. The little deer thereupon cried twice as -mournfully as before, and amid tears sang out the same song as before. - -The king now stepped forward from his hiding-place, and the deer, upon -being questioned, told him the story how the witch and the gate-keeper -dragged his sister out of bed, and how they threw her into the well. As -soon as the pretty animal finished its tale, the huge whale was dragged -out from the bottom of the well; they slit open its stomach, and the -real queen appeared, now seven times prettier than before; her husband -himself assisted her and conducted her back to the palace in triumph. - -Lucinda, her mother, and the gate-keeper were quartered, and their -bodies exhibited at the four corners of the castle as a warning to -everybody. The queen anointed her little brother with some ointment she -had found in the whale's stomach, and he regained his old form. And so -all three of them are alive to this very date, if they have not died -since. May they get into an egg shell and be your guests to-morrow. - - - - -THE WONDERFUL FROG. - - -There was once, I don't know where, a man who had three daughters. One -day the father thus spoke to the eldest girl: "Go, my daughter, and -fetch me some fresh water from the well." The girl went, but when she -came to the well a huge frog called out to her from the bottom, that he -would not allow her to draw water in her jug until she threw him down -the gold ring on her finger. "Nothing else? is that all you want?" -replied the girl, "I won't give away my rings to such an ugly creature -as you," and she returned as she came with the empty pitchers. So the -father sent the second girl, and she fared as the first; the frog would -not let her have any water, as she refused to throw down her gold ring. -Her father gave his two elder daughters a good scolding, and then thus -addressed the youngest: "You go, Betsie, my dear, you have always been a -clever girl: I'm sure you will be able to get some water, and will not -allow your father to suffer thirst; go, shame your sisters!" Betsie -picked up the pitchers and went, but the frog again refused the water -unless she threw her ring down; but she, as she was very fond of her -father, threw the ring in as demanded, and returned home with full -pitchers to her father's great delight. - -In the evening, as soon as darkness set in, the frog crawled out of the -well, and thus commenced to shout in front of Betsie's father's door: -"Father-in-law! father-in-law! I should like something to eat." The man -got angry, and called out to his daughters; "Give something in a broken -plate to that ugly frog to gnaw." "Father-in-law! father-in-law! this -won't do for me; I want some roast meat on a tin plate," retorted the -frog. "Give him something on a tin plate then, or else he will cast a -spell on us," said the father. The frog began to eat heartily, and, -having had enough, again commenced to croak: "Father-in-law! -father-in-law! I want something to drink." "Give him some slops in a -broken pot," said the father. "Father-in-law! father-in-law! I won't -have this; I want some wine in a nice tumbler." "Give him some wine -then," angrily called out the father. He guzzled up his wine and began -again: "Father-in-law! Father-in-law! I would like to go to sleep." -"Throw him some rags in a corner," was the reply. "Father-in-law! -father-in-law! I won't have that; I want a silk bed," croaked the frog. -This was also given to him; but no sooner has he gone to bed than again -he began to croak, "Father-in-law! father-in-law! I want a girl, -indeed." "Go, my daughter, and lie by the side of him," said the father -to the eldest. "Father-in-law! father-in law! I don't want that, I want -another." The father sent the second girl, but the frog again croaked: -"Father-in-law! father-in-law! I don't want that, Betsie is the girl I -want." "Go, my Betsie," said the father, quite disheartened, "else this -confounded monster will cast a spell on us." So Betsie went to bed with -the frog, but her father thoughtfully left a lamp burning on the top of -the oven; noticing which, the frog crawled out of bed and blew the lamp -out. - -The father lighted it again, but the frog put it out as before, and so -it happened a third time. The father saw that the frog would not yield, -and was therefore obliged to leave his dear little Betsie in the dark by -the side of the ugly frog, and felt great anxiety about her. In the -morning, when the father and the two elder girls got up, they opened -their eyes and mouths wide in astonishment, because the frog had -disappeared, and by the side of Betsie they found a handsome Magyar lad, -with auburn locks, in a beautiful costume, with gold braid and buttons -and gold spurs on his boots. The handsome lad asked for Betsie's hand, -and, having received the father's consent, they hastened to celebrate -the wedding, so that christening might not follow the wedding too soon. - -The two elder sisters looked with invidious eyes on Betsie, as they also -were very much smitten with the handsome lad. Betsie was very happy -after, so happy that if anyone doubt it he can satisfy himself with his -own eyes. If she is still alive, let him go and look for her, and try to -find her in this big world. - - - - -THE DEVIL AND THE RED CAP. - - -There was once, I know not where, a soldier who was flogged many times, -and who one night had to stand on sentry. As he paced up and down, a man -with a red cap stopped in front of him and stared hard into his eyes. -The soldier said not a word, but the stranger began: "My dear son, I -know what happens in your heart, you don't like this soldier's life, and -your thoughts are at this very minute wandering to your sweetheart." The -soldier at once concluded that he had to do with the devil, and so made -his acquaintance. "Well, my dear son," said the devil, "undress quickly, -and let's change our clothes; I will stand here on guard for you if you -promise me that in a year hence, on this very day, at this very hour, to -the very minute, you will be back here. In the meantime, go home to your -native place, and don this red cap, as you can freely walk about and no -one will see you as long as you have it on your head." The soldier went -home to his native land, over seven times seven countries, and no one -saw him as he reached his village. He walked into the garden and opened -the door leading into his father's house and stood there listening. His -friends were just then speaking of him. He was delighted to hear it, and -gradually took the red cap from his head and suddenly appeared before -them, who were very pleased to see him back. His sweetheart was also -there; but no one would believe their own eyes, and thought that some -sprite played them a trick. But the soldier explained it all; and, in -order to prove the truth, he disappeared, and the next minute -reappeared. All went well with the poor soldier until the time came when -he had to start back. At the appointed hour and minute he took leave of -his friends and sweetheart amid tears. - -He put on his red cap and walked back unseen by any. "Bravo, my son," -said the devil. "I see now that you are an honest man. A Magyar always -keeps his word. You've returned to the very hour and minute. I've -received a good many floggings, though, during your absence; but don't -be afraid, we shall alter all this. You needn't be particular about your -good conduct; nobody will touch you henceforth, as I've cast a spell -and whenever they flog you the captain will feel the pain." The devil -then changed his uniform, took back the red cap, and disappeared. The -poor soldier--he couldn't help it, as he was tired of soldiering--again -committed something wrong, the punishment for which was one hundred -strokes. All the preparations to carry out the sentence had already been -made, but before he was even touched the captain began to yell as he -felt quite sure that he would suffer under it. Therefore he deemed it -more wise to recommend the dismissal of the useless fellow, instead of -worrying about him. And so it happened, the soldier was dismissed and -arrived home safely: but since this happened even the devil will not -take pity on a poor soldier. - - - - -JACK DREADNOUGHT. - - -A poor widow had a son who was so courageous that not even the devil's -mother would have frightened him, and therefore he was named in his -childhood Jack Dreadnought. His mother was in continual terror lest -something dreadful might happen to her son, as he was so plucky, nay -foolhardy, and determined to use all possible means to teach him to -fear. For this reason she sent him to the clergyman of the village as -"mendicant," and requested the minister to use all his knowledge in -trying to teach her son to fear. The clergyman left nothing untried to -make the boy frightened; he told him all sorts of ghostly and horrible -tales, but these, instead of frightening the lad, made him only more -anxious to make the acquaintance of ghosts similar to those mentioned in -the tales. The clergyman thereupon hit upon the idea of introducing some -sham ghosts in order to break Jack Dreadnought's intrepidity. - -He fixed upon the three nights before Christmas; on these nights the lad -had to go to ring the bells at midnight in the tower that stood at the -very end of the village, and the clergyman thought that he could find -some opportunity of frightening Jack. He took an old cassock and stuffed -it with straw and placed it before the tower door with one hand on the -handle. Midnight came and Jack went to ring the bells and discovered the -dummy in the cassock. "Who are you?" he called out, but received no -reply. "Very well," said the boy, "if you won't answer I will tell you -this, that if you don't clear off from that door I'll kick you in the -stomach that you will turn twelve somersaults." As there was no reply, -Jack in his rage took hold of the dummy's collar and threw him on the -ground with such violence that it rolled away three fathoms, and then, -as if nothing had happened, went up into the tower, rang the bells, and -went home. The clergyman, as his first experiment did not succeed, made -two dummies the next day, which were exactly alike; one he placed in the -same position as before at the door of the tower, the other near the -bell ropes. - -At midnight Jack again went to ring the bells and, as before, made short -work of the first dummy; as he did not receive any reply he took him by -the collar and threw him on the ground. When he went up into the tower -and saw that the rope was held by another, he thought it was the first -one, and thus addressed him, "Well, my friend, you've come here, have -you? You hadn't enough with the first fall? Answer me or I will dash you -on the ground so that you will not be able to get up again," and as the -dummy did not reply Jack took it by the throat and pitched it from the -window of the tower, and it whizzed through the air. The clergyman had -had two unsuccessful experiments but he had great confidence in the -third. He made three dummies this time, two were placed as before and -the third he stood on the bell so that it might prevent it ringing. -Jack Dreadnought dealt with the two first dummies as on the previous -night, but as he was about to ring, to his astonishment, he discovered -the dummy on the bell; he was not frightened, but when he saw that it -would not come down, after a polite request, took it angrily by one leg -and pitched it through the window like a cat. The clergyman had now come -to the conclusion that he was unable to teach Jack fear, and now -commenced to plan how he might get rid of him. The next morning he -called him, and thus spoke to him: "Jack, you are a fine courageous -fellow; go, take my grey horse, and as much provisions as you think will -last you three days, and go into the world and follow your nose; do not -stop all day, but take up your night quarters wherever darkness finds -you. Do this for three days, and settle down where you spend the third -night, and you will be prosperous." - -The clergyman thought that Jack would perish on the way; but we shall -see whether he did. Jack started off the first day, and in the evening -came to a narrow, round timber hut, which was rather high, and he -decided to sleep there. As he found it empty he made a fire in its -centre and commenced to fry some bacon; all of a sudden he felt -something dripping, he looked up and saw something like a human form -dangling in the air. "Well, upon my word," shouted he, "the devil won't -leave me alone even here: get down from there, will you, or do you -expect me to take you down?" No reply came, and Jack, with a clever -jump, caught hold of one of his legs, and brought it down, but the head -was torn off and fell down. Only then he discovered that it was a hanged -man, but he did not think much of it, and stayed there all night. He -travelled the whole of the next day; in the evening he reached an inn -and asked for a room, and received in reply that they had an empty room -on the upper floor, the only one vacant; but that no one could sleep -there, as the place was haunted. "What!" shouted Jack; "Oh! I know those -ghosts; let me have a dish of good food, a mouthful of good wine, and a -burning candle in the upper room, and I will sleep there. I swear by -Beelzebub that the ghosts will come no more!" The innkeeper tried to -dissuade Jack from his foolhardy attempt, but he would not give way. - -He was shown into the room; it was a large apartment on the upper floor. -Jack placed the lighted candle in the middle; a dishful of food and a -jug of wine by the side of it; and settled down in a chair, waiting for -the awful ghosts. No sooner had the clock struck midnight than, all of a -sudden, a fearful chorus of animal noises was to be heard, like the -howling of dogs, neighing of horses, bellowing of cattle, roaring of -wild beasts, bleating of sheep and of goats, and also crying, laughing, -and clanking of chains. Jack was quite delighted with the nocturnal -concert; but, all of a sudden a big skull rolled in through the door and -stopped by the side of the dish. Jack stared at it, and, instead of the -skull, he saw an old monk standing before him with long heavy chains. -"Good evening, brother friar!" shouted Jack, "pray have supper with me." -"I'm going from here," said the friar, "and I want you to come too; I -will show you something." "With pleasure," replied Jack, "will you lead -the way, you devil, or you reverend gentleman?" Thereupon Jack followed -the friar with the lighted candle. When they arrived at the stairs the -friar insisted upon his going first, but Jack would not; and the friar -was obliged to lead the way. Next they came to a narrow landing at the -top of the cellar stairs. Here, again, the friar invited him to go -first, but he would not; and so the apparition had to go first. But, as -soon as he went down a few steps, Jack gave the friar such a push with -such dexterity that he went head over heels down the steps and broke his -neck. In the morning the innkeeper had the friar buried. He made Jack a -handsome present, and the latter continued his journey. - -Jack Dreadnought rode the whole next day, and in the evening again came -to an inn, where he could not get any room except up stairs, where no -one else would sleep, on account of ghostly visitors. Jack took the room -and was again enjoying his supper in the centre, when the old clock -struck midnight. The same sort of music struck his ear as on the -previous night, and, amid a great crash, a human hand dropped from the -ceiling to near his dish. Jack, in cold blood, took up the hand and -threw it behind the door. Another hand fell and went the same way. Now a -leg came, and this, too, went behind the door. Then came its fellow, -which was soon despatched to the rest. At last a big skull dropped right -into the middle of the dish and broke it. Jack got into a rage, and -threw the skull violently behind the door; and, on looking back, he -found, instead of the limbs, an immense ghost standing behind the door, -whom Jack at once taxed with the damage done to the dish, demanding -payment. The ghost replied, "Very well; I will pay for it, if you come -with me." Jack consented, and they went off together; as before, he -always insisted on the ghost going first. They came to a long winding -staircase, and down into a huge cellar. Jack opened his eyes and mouth -wide when he found in the cellar three vats full of gold, six vats of -silver, and twelve vats of copper coins. Then the ghost said to him, -"There, choose a vat full of coins for your dish, and take it whenever -you like." But Jack, however, did not touch the money, but replied, "Not -I; do you suppose that I will carry that money? Whoever brought it here, -let him take it away." "Well done," replied the ghost; "I see I've found -my man at last. Had you touched the treasure you would have died a -sudden death; but now, since you are such a fine courageous fellow, the -like of whom I have never seen before, settle down in this place and -use the treasure in peace; nobody will ever disturb or haunt you any -more." After these words the ghost disappeared. - -Jack became the owner of the immense treasure, and married the -innkeeper's only daughter, who was very pretty, and lives with her to -this day, if he has not died since, enjoying life and spending the money -he found in the vats in the cellar. - - - - -THE SECRET-KEEPING LITTLE BOY AND HIS LITTLE SWORD. - - -There was once, I don't know where, beyond the seas, a little village, -and in the village a widow. The widow had a pretty little son whose -cheeks were as the rose; on the left side of the little boy a scabbard -had grown, and as the boy grew the scabbard grew with him. On the same -day on which the little boy was born the point of a sword appeared in -the soil in their little garden, which kept pace with the growth of the -scabbard on the little boy's side. When the boy was a year old he -discovered the sword in the garden, and every evening at sunset he tried -the sword in the scabbard. One evening after sunset the little boy lay -down and fell fast asleep. Next morning he awaited dawn squatting by the -side of the growing sword, which he passed seven times into the -scabbard. He ran quite delighted to his mother, who got up as the -morning bell began to ring. "Oh, my dear mother, I had such a nice -dream. I wouldn't give my dream for the whole world." "Then what have -you dreamt, my son?" queried the mother. "I wouldn't tell anyone till my -dream has been realised." "Yes, but I want to know it," said his mother -angrily, "and if you won't tell me, I will thrash you." - -But the widow threatened her little son in vain; neither kind words nor -threats could induce him to tell his secret. At last she thrashed him, -but with no result; the little fellow went into the garden and knelt -down by the side of his little sword, which had the peculiar feature -that it continually revolved, and cut everyone's hand who touched it -with the exception of that of the little boy. The little sword as soon -as its point felt the touch of the scabbard stopped and slid into the -scabbard, and the little boy for a long time gazed at his weapon and -wept bitterly. As he was thus weeping in his mother's garden, the king -of the country passed outside the fencing; the king heard the sound of -crying and stopped his carriage, and thus spoke to his footman: "My dear -servant, go to see who is crying in that garden, and ask the cause of -it?" The footman obeyed, and on his return gave the following reply to -his royal master: "Your majesty, a child is kneeling among the flowers, -and cries because his mother has cruelly beaten him." "Bring him here, -my dear servant, tell him his king wants him, who has never cried in his -life, and cannot bear to hear anyone else cry." The footman brought the -child back with him, wiped away his tears, and the king asked the dear -little boy whether he would like to go with him as he was willing to -adopt him as his son. "I would like to go, majesty, if my mother would -let me." "Go, my servant, to this little fellow's mother," said the king -to his footman, "and tell her that the king will take her pretty son to -his palace and if he behave well will give him half of his realm, and -also his prettiest daughter." - -The widow, who only a moment ago was so angry, commenced to cry for joy, -and placed her son with her own hands into the king's lap, and kissed -the monarch's hand. "Don't be so stubborn when you are at your royal -father's court as you were at your widow-mother's house," she said to -him, and with these words the old woman ran away from her pretty little -son, who again cried bitterly. Then the dear little prince begged leave -to get down from the carriage; he pulled the little sword up out of the -ground, and placed it in the scabbard, where it rattled unceasingly. -They had driven a good distance, and the boy had had his cry, when the -king said, "Why did you cry so bitterly in the little garden, my dear -son?" "Because" replied the little boy "my mother continually scolded -me, and also thrashed me cruelly." "And why did your mother thrash you -cruelly and scold you?" asked the king. "Because I wouldn't tell her my -dream." "And why would you not tell your dream to your poor mother?" -"Because I will not tell it to anyone till it is fulfilled." "And won't -you tell it to me either?" asked the king in astonishment. "No, nobody -shall know it but God, who knows it already." "I'm sure you will tell me -when we get home," said his royal father smiling. After three days' -journey they arrived at the king's town: the queen with her three -daughters were greatly delighted that their royal husband and father had -brought them such a pretty boy. The girls offered all sorts of things to -their pretty brother. - -"Don't love him so much," said the wise king, "as he does not deserve -it; he harbours some secret in his heart which he will not tell anyone." -"He will tell me," said the eldest girl, but the little boy shook his -head. "He will tell it me," said the second. "Not I," said the little -boy angrily. "You won't keep it from me," said the youngest coaxingly. -"I will not tell my secret to anyone till it is realised, and I will -punish anyone who dares to inquire," threatened the little boy. The king -in his great sorrow looked at his wife and daughters; he summoned his -servants, handed the little boy to them, and said, "Take away this -stubborn child, take him to your house, he's not fit for a royal -palace." The sword at the little boy's side clanked loudly; the servants -obeyed their royal master's orders, and took the boy to the place where -they lived. The pretty child cried upon being taken away from the -gorgeous palace, and the servants' children consoled him, offered him -fruits and toys, and thus brought back his spirits in a few hours; the -children got used to each other, and the little boy lived with them -until he became seventeen years of age. The elder daughters of the king -married kings of countries beyond the seas, and the youngest one has -also grown old enough to be married. One day she ran from the lofty -palace into the servants' house, where she saw the little boy, who had -grown so handsome that there wasn't a more handsome lad to be seen over -seven times seven countries. The king's daughter was very much struck as -she had never before seen so fine a lad, and thus spoke to him: "If you, -handsome lad, will reveal your secret to me I will become yours, and you -will be mine, and not even the coffin shall separate us." The lad -thrashed the inquisitive princess as he had promised of yore; the pretty -girl wept bitterly and ran to her royal father and complained about the -lad's cruelty. The old king was very angry and uttered an oath, adding, -"If he had a thousand souls he will have to die; his very memory must -die out in my country." - -On the same day on which the widow's son had beaten the king's daughter, -lofty gallows were erected on the western side of the royal town, and -the whole population went out to the place where the execution was to -take place. The hangman tied the handsome lad's hands behind his back, -when the sword again clanked at the lad's side. The assembled people, -who a moment ago were so noisy, grew silent, when the king's preacher -read out the sentence. Suddenly a great hubbub arose, and a gorgeous -coach, from which a white flag was waving, was seen driving rapidly up -to the gallows; in the coach sat the King of the Magyars. The coach -stopped underneath the gallows, and the King of the Magyars jumped out -and asked for the handsome lad's reprieve, who was blindfolded. The -angry king informed him that he had great reason to have the scoundrel -hanged, because he thrashed his daughter for no other cause than her -asking him to reveal his secret. The secret was a dream which he could -only tell when it was realised. "My royal colleague, hand the culprit -over to me," said the king of the Magyars, "I'm sure he will tell me his -secret. I have a pretty daughter who is like the Morning Star, and she -will get it out of him." The sword again clanked at the side of the -handsome lad. The king handed the prisoner to the Magyar king, who bade -him sit in his carriage, and asked him his secret. "It is impossible, my -king and master," said the sad lad, "until the dream is fulfilled." "You -will tell my daughter," said the Magyar king smiling. "To none!" said -the lad resolutely, and his sword gave a terrific clank. The king and -the handsome lad arrived at Buda in a few days. The king's daughter was -just promenading in the garden when her father arrived with the handsome -lad. The pretty girl hurried to her father, and as she kissed his hand -she noticed the handsome lad, the like of whom she had never seen -before. "Have you brought him for me?" inquired the love-sick maid, -"from fairy land? No woman has yet carried, has yet borne, such a child -in her arms!" - -"My dear daughter, I've brought him not from fairy land, but from the -gallows," replied the king, who was vexed with his daughter for having -so quickly fallen in love with him, although she had never spoken to a -man before. "I don't care, my dear father," said the blushing maid, -"even if you brought him from the gallows, he's mine, and I am his, and -we shall die together." The last words were addressed by the king's -daughter to the handsome lad, who smothered the pretty princess with -kisses. "You will soon be angry with him, my dear daughter," said the -sorrowful king, "if you ask his secret; he's a coarse fellow, he's of no -royal blood, his place is among the servants." "If he killed me, if he -gouged out my eyes, or bit off my nose, I couldn't get angry with him," -said the princess. "He will tell me his secret, his lodging will be in -the room set apart for my guests, and he will find a place in the middle -of my heart!" - -But the king shook his head, and sent the lad down into the -summer-house, where he could amuse himself with reading. No sooner had a -week passed than the girl, who was as pretty as a fairy, put her best -dress on and went to the summer-house to pay a visit to the lad who -lived secluded there, to get his secret out of him. When the young lad -saw the pretty girl and had examined her beautiful dress, the book -dropped from his hand, and he stared but could not utter a single word. -The princess thereupon addressed him in such a beautiful voice as his -ear had never heard before, "Tell me, my handsome lad, why have I come -to see you, if you guess it I will be yours?" "My dove, my angel!" said -the lad with glowing cheeks, "I won't tell you my secret, and if you -wish to get back safely to your royal father's palace you had better not -ask any more questions about the matter." But the girl would not listen -to the lad's warning but pressed for an answer more urgently and -embraced him and kissed him. The lad at last got so angry that he -slapped the princess's face and made her nose bleed. The princess ran -screaming back to the palace, where her father was waiting for her -answer; when the king beheld the blood running down upon the pretty -girl's beautiful dress, he yelled down from the window into the garden, -"I will starve you to death, you son of a dragon!" and began to wash his -daughter's cheek and nose. - -The very same day the king summoned all the masons and bricklayers in -the town, and gave them orders to run up in all haste a square building -in which there was to be just room for a stool and a small table, the -table to be so small that only a prayer book could find room on it. In -two hours a small tower was built; the masons had already left off work, -and were going to inform the king that the structure was finished. They -met the king's daughter, who asked one of the masons to stay, the one -who appeared to be the eldest, and asked him whether he could make so -small a hole in the tower that a plate of food and a bottle of wine -could be passed through, and which could not be noticed by any one. "To -be sure," said the grey old mason, "I can and I will make it." The hole -was ready in a quarter of an hour; the king's daughter paid the mason -handsomely and hurried home. - -At sunset, among a large crowd of people, the secret-keeping lad was -conducted into the stone structure, and after all his misdeeds had been -once more enumerated he was walled in. But the king's daughter did not -allow him to suffer either hunger or thirst, she visited her sweetheart -three times every day; and brought him books for which he asked. The -king sent every third day his secretary to look after the prisoner and -to see if he were dead, but the scribe found him still alive, and the -king was very much astonished. One day the Turkish Sultan sent a letter -to the Magyar king; the messenger bearing the letter brought with him -also three canes; the Turkish Sultan wrote in the letter, that if the -king could not tell him which of the three canes grew nearest the root, -which in the middle, and which at the top, he would declare war against -him. The king was very much alarmed, and became sad. His daughter -noticed her father's sorrow, and inquired, "Why are you so downcast, my -royal father?" "How can I be otherwise, my dear daughter," said the good -king; "look here, the Turkish Sultan has sent me three canes, and -writes, that if I cannot tell him which is the cane's root-end, -middle-part, and top-end, he will send his army against my country." -"_The God of the Magyar's_ will help you, my dear father," said the -girl; and hurried to the tower, and informed her sweetheart through the -secret hole of the Turkish Sultan's message, and of her father's sorrow. -"Go home, my love, my sweetheart; go to bed and sleep, and when you wake -tell your royal father that you have dreamt that the canes have to be -placed in lukewarm water, and he will then be able to tell on which part -of the plant the canes grew: the one that sinks to the bottom is the one -from nearest the root; the one which does not sink and does not float -on the surface, comes from the middle; and the one that remains on the -surface is from the top." The girl ran home, went to bed and slept, and -told her father her dream, as her sweetheart had instructed her. The -king did as his daughter advised him, and marked the three canes, -namely, with one notch the root-piece, the middle-piece with two -notches, and the top-piece with three, and sent the explanation to the -Sultan; and, actually, the canes had grown as the Magyar king had picked -them out; and the Sultan did not declare war against the Magyar. - -After a year the Sultan wrote another letter to the Magyar king and sent -him three foals; in the letter he asked him to guess which of the three -animals was foaled in the morn, which at noon, and which in the evening, -and threatened with war in case a correct guess was not forthcoming. The -king was again sorrowful, and his daughter asked him the reason. "How -should I not be sorrowful, my pretty sweet daughter," said the old king, -"I had another letter from the Sultan, and he sent me three foals, and -if I cannot tell him which was foaled in the morn, noon, and even, he -will declare war against me." "The Lord will again help you, my dear -royal father," said the girl quite joyfully. In half an hour she was -again with her sweetheart, and communicated to him her father's trouble -and sorrow. "Go home, idol of my heart," said the captive lad; "go to -bed and sleep. In your dream scream out, and when your father asks you -what is the matter, tell him that you dreamt that the Sultan had sent -some Turks in order to carry your father off to captivity, as he was not -able to guess when the foals were born; but just as they were pinioning -him, you dreamt that the lad who had slapped your face got out somehow -from his prison, and told you which of the foals was foaled in the -morning, which at noon, and which in the evening." The king's daughter -ran home and did exactly as the immured lad had told her. Next morning -the tower was pulled down and the handsome lad conducted before the -king. "The Lord has preserved you in your long captivity, my son, and I -also feel inclined to grant you pardon. But before doing this you will -have to help me in an important matter. I hand you here the Sultan's -letter, read it; the three foals are in my stables; can you answer his -query?" "I can, my king and master," said the liberated lad, "but I must -ask you some questions. Have you got three exactly similar troughs?" -"No, but I will get some," replied the king. In a quarter of an hour -three troughs of the same size and colour were ready. "Give orders, my -king," said the lad, "to have some oats put into one, some live coals in -the other, and some dry coal in the third: the foal which goes to the -oats was foaled in the morning, the one to the live coals, at noon, and -the one which goes to the dry coals, in the evening." The king did as -the lad advised him. He marked the foals and sent them home. The Sultan -was satisfied and did not send any troops against the Magyar king. - -The Sultan had an aunt who was a witch, whom he consulted what to do in -order to get possession of Hungary, and to tell him how he could get to -know who was the man who answered all his questions so cleverly. "Alas! -my dear relative," said the witch, "it isn't the Magyar king who -answered all your queries: he has a lad who is the son of a very poor -woman, but who will become king of Hungary; so long as you do not kill -him you will covet Hungary in vain." Another letter came to the king of -Hungary, in which it was written that if the lad who was kept by the -king, and who was the brat of a poor woman, be not sent to Turkey, war -shall be declared against the king. The king shewed the letter to the -good lad in great sorrow, who, after having read the haughty monarch's -lines, spoke thus: "I'm not afraid of bald-headed dogs, and I will cut -to pieces the whole lot of them." At these words the sword clanked as it -never did before. "I do not want anything save two lads; they must be -both alike, and I will paint a mask resembling their features, and if we -three look alike I'm not afraid of the whole world." - -In the royal town were two brothers who were exactly alike, and the -handsome lad painted himself a mask and put it on, and all three went to -Turkey. The witch smelt the strangers' approach from a great distance. -When they arrived in the Sultan's palace they all three saluted him, and -all three bowed simultaneously; they answered the Sultan's questions all -together; they sat down to supper all together; they all conveyed their -food to their mouths at the same time; they all got up at the same time; -after supper they all three bowed, and at the signal from the Sultan all -three went to bed. The Sultan could not see any difference between the -three, but he did not like to kill all three. The witch, however, -recognised the lad, and explained to her nephew his distinguishing -feature, but the Sultan could not understand her explanation. "Well, you -will know to-morrow morning, my Sultan and relative, which is the one -whom we intend to kill," said the witch; "you will know him by his -shirt-collar, which will have a scissors-cut in it; he is the Magyar -king's man." An hour before midnight, at the time the witches are -invisible, and when they are able to pass through the eye of a needle, -the old witch glided through the keyhole into the bedroom where the -youths soundly slept. All three were lying in the same bed, the handsome -lad on the outside. The witch produced a pair of small scissors, and -clipped out a piece of his shirt-collar, and then crept out of the room. -But the handsome lad, when dressing in the morning, noticed in the -looking-glass the damaged shirt-collar and marked his two mates' collars -the same way. The Sultan asked the three lads to breakfast. The old -witch stood in the window, and was very much surprised that the -shirt-collars of all three were marked in the same way. After breakfast, -they bowed and retired, and were allowed to return home. The king's -daughter was very anxious until her sweetheart returned, but when she -saw him one evening in her father's palace in good health and safe she -was greatly delighted, and begged her father's permission to marry him. -The king, however, made no reply, and the girl was very vexed with her -father. One evening when she was again pleading on his behalf she -suddenly fainted away; her eye fell on a letter sent by the Turkish -Sultan asking her Father to send him this strange lad alone, because he -was a dangerous man to Hungary. The old king sent the letter to the lad -by his daughter, which the girl handed to him with tears. "Do not weep, -love of my heart. God is with me, and his power." Thus he consoled her. -"I will start at sunrise to-morrow, and in a year's time we shall be -each other's." The brave hero went alone to the Sultan; he met the old -witch in the courtyard, who whispered to him, "It is the last time you -will come to beautiful Turkey." The sword clanked, and the youth would -not even listen to the old woman's words. When he stepped across the -Sultan's threshold, fifteen armed Turks confronted him: the sword darted -forth from its scabbard, and cut up the Turks into pulp. It did not -touch the Sultan, but went back into its scabbard. At night the old -witch tried to steal the lad's sword, but the sword jumped out and -chopped off the witch's iron nose. Next morning the Sultan arrayed an -enormous army against the lad, but the sword did its work so swiftly -that not a sword, nor an arrow even so much as scratched the lad, and -all the Turks were killed in a heap. - -The daughter of the Magyar king was nearly in despair, because her -sweetheart did not return on the appointed day, and she bothered her -father with her requests until he led an army against Turkey. The girl -led the troops herself in military uniform, but the troops had not to -march more than a mile, as the lad was already on his way home with his -little sword. The king's daughter and the army conducted him to the -royal palace, and proclaimed him viceroy. The young hero with a few -thousand soldiers returned to the country where he was born. His mother -was very much frightened when she saw the soldiers approach, as she -thought that they had come to destroy the town; and was still more -frightened when she discovered that, while other courtyards were free -from soldiers, her own was full of them, so full that one could not even -drop a needle among them. She trembled, when a handsome fellow got off -his horse, and approached her, but was very much surprised when the same -handsome fellow took hold of her hand and kissed it, saying: "Well, my -dear mother, I will now tell you what I have dreamt. I dreamt that I -should become king of Hungary, my dream has become true, and I may tell -you now what it was, because it is an accomplished fact, and I am king -of Hungary. I wouldn't tell you in my childhood when you asked me, -because had I told you my dream the Magyar king would have killed me. -And now may the Lord bless you that you did beat me; had you not beaten -me the king would not have taken me; had he not taken me he would not -have sentenced me to the gallows; had the king not sentenced me to the -gallows the other king would not have carried me off.... I am now off to -get married." And so it happened; he went home with his soldiers, and -married the daughter of the Magyar king. He is still alive if he has not -died since! - - - - -SHEPHERD PAUL. - - -There was once, I don't know where, a shepherd, who one day found a -little boy in a meadow; the boy was not more than two days old, and so -the shepherd took him to an old ewe and it nursed the child. The little -boy was suckled by it for seven years, his name was Paul; and he grew so -strong that he was able to uproot good-sized trees. The old shepherd -kept the boy another seven years on the old ewe's milk, and after that -he grew so strong that he could pull up oak-trees like weeds. One day -Paul betook himself into the world in order to see countries, to get to -know something of life, and try his luck. He went on and on, and on the -very first day he met a man who was combing huge trees like one does -flax. "Good day, my relative," said Paul; "upon my word, you are very -strong! my Koma!" "I am Tree-Comber," said the man, "and am very anxious -to wrestle with Shepherd Paul." "I'm the man you name; come along and -let us wrestle," exclaimed Paul. And thereupon he seized Tree-Comber and -threw him to the ground with such force that he sunk into the ground as -far as his knees. But he soon recovered, jumped up, seized Paul, and -threw him to the ground, so that he went in as far as his waist; and -then Paul again caught him, and put him in as far as his neck. "That -will do!" called out Tree-Comber; "I can see that you are a smart -fellow, and should be glad to become your ally." "Well and good," said -Paul, and they continued their journey together. - -They went on and soon after found a man who was crushing stones to -powder with his hands, as if they were clods. "Good day," said Paul; -"you must be a strong chap, my Koma." "I am Stone-Crusher, and should -like to wrestle with Shepherd Paul." Thereupon Paul wrestled with him -too, and defeated him the same way as he had done Tree-Comber; and he -too became an ally, and all three continued their journey. After a short -time, they came across a man who was kneading hard iron, as if it were -dough. "Good day," said Paul; "you must have the strength of a devil, -Koma." "I am Iron-Kneader, and should like to fight Shepherd Paul," -answered this man. Paul wrestled with him and defeated him, and they all -four became allies, and continued their journey. About noon they settled -down in a forest, and Paul thus addressed his mates: "We three are going -to look for some game, and you, Koma Tree-Comber, will stop here in the -meantime and prepare a good supper for us." The three went hunting, and -Tree-Comber in the meantime commenced to boil and roast, until he had -nearly got the meal ready, when a little dwarf with a pointed beard -came to the place, and said, "What are you cooking, countryman? Give me -some of it." "I'll give you some on your back if you like," replied -Tree-Comber. The little dwarf made no reply, but waited till the -sauerkraut was done, and then, suddenly seizing Tree-Comber by the neck -and pulling him on his back, he placed the saucepan on his belly, ate -the sauerkraut, and disappeared. Tree-Comber was rather ashamed of this, -and in order to hide the real facts from his friends, commenced working -afresh; however, the vegetable was not done by the time his mates -returned, but he did not tell them the cause of it. - -Next day, Stone-Crusher remained behind, while the others went hunting; -he fared like Tree-Comber with the dwarf with the pointed beard, and the -same thing happened to Iron-Kneader on the third day. Thereupon, Paul -spoke thus: "Well, my Komas, there must be something behind all this, I -think; none of you have been able to do the work while the rest of us -were hunting. I propose that you three go hunting, while I remain and -prepare the food." They went in high glee, chuckling that the little -dwarf would teach Shepherd Paul a lesson also. Paul hurried on with the -cooking, and had nearly finished, when the little fellow with the -pointed beard came and asked for something to eat. "Be off," shouted -Paul, and picked up the saucepan, so that the little fellow could not -get it. The dwarf tried to get hold of his collar, but Paul swiftly -seized him by his beard and tied him to a big tree, so that he could not -move. The three mates returned early from their hunting, but Paul had -the supper ready, and thus spoke to the three astonished men: "You, my -Komas, are a fraud, you weren't able even to outwit that little dwarf -with the pointed beard. Now let us have our supper at once, and then I -will show you what I have done with him." When they finished, Paul took -his mates to the place where he had fastened the dwarf, but he was gone, -and so was the tree, as he had pulled it up by its roots and run away. -The four fellows thereupon decided to give chase to him, and they -followed the track made by the tree, and thus arrived at a deep hole, -and as the track of the tree stopped here they came to the conclusion -that the dwarf must have for a certainty got down into the deep hole. -They held a short consultation and came to the resolution that they -would lower Paul in a basket, and that they would remain above until -Paul should pull the rope, and thus give them a signal to haul him up -with all haste. So they lowered Paul, and deep below in the earth among -beautiful valleys he found a splendid castle, into which he at once -entered. In the castle he found a beautiful girl who at once warned him -to run away as fast as possible if he valued his life, because the -castle belonged to a dragon with six heads, who had kidnapped her from -earth, taken her to this underground place, and made her his wife; but -Paul decided to await the dragon's return, as he was desirous of -liberating the pretty girl. The monster with six heads soon arrived and -angrily gnashed his teeth at the foolhardy Paul, who thus addressed him, -"I am the famous Shepherd Paul, and I've come to fight you." "Well -done," replied the dragon; "so, at least, I shall have something for -supper, but first, let's have something to whet our appetites." -Whereupon he commenced to devour a few hundredweights of huge round -boulders, and, after he had satisfied his hunger, offered Paul one. Paul -took a wooden knife and cut in two the stone offered to him, which -weighed one hundredweight, and took up both halves and launched them -with such power at the dragon that two of his heads were smashed to -pulp. The dragon thereupon got into an awful rage, and made a furious -onslaught on Paul, but he with a clever sword-cut slashed off two more -of the monster's heads, and took him round the waist, and dashed him -against the rock with such force, that the brains splashed out of the -remaining two heads. The pretty girl thereupon with tears in her eyes -thanked Paul for his services, for having liberated her from her ugly -tormentor, but at the same time informed him, that two younger sisters -of hers were languishing in the possession of two more powerful -dragons. - -Paul thereupon at once made up his mind to liberate the other two, and -to take the girl with him. The girl handed him a golden rod, with which -he struck the castle; and it became a golden apple, which he put in his -pocket and went on. Not far off in a gorgeous castle he found the second -girl, whose husband and tormentor was a dragon with twelve heads. This -girl gave Paul a silk shirt in order to make him more fit for the -struggle with her husband. The shirt made Paul twice as strong. He had -dinner with the twelve-headed dragon, and after a long struggle -succeeded in defeating him, and took away all his twelve heads; he then -transformed the castle with a golden rod into a golden apple, and -continued his way with the two girls. Not far off in a castle they found -the third girl, who was the youngest and the prettiest, and whose -husband was a dragon with eighteen heads, who, however, assumed the -shape of a little dwarf with a pointed beard whenever he went on his -expeditions on the surface of the earth. - -Paul longed more than ever to be at him, and in order the better to -fortify him for the struggle with the awful monster, the pretty girl -dressed him in a silk shirt which made him ten times stronger, and she -also gave him some wine which doubled his power again. When the huge -dragon with the eighteen heads arrived, Paul at once accosted him, -saying, "Well, my Koma, I'm Shepherd Paul, and I've come to wrestle with -you, and to liberate that pretty girl from your claws." "I'm glad I've -met you," replied the dragon, "it's you who killed my two brothers, and -you'll have to pay for that with your life, for it is only your blood -that can repay me for the loss." Thereupon the monster went into the -next room, to put on the fortifying shirt, and to drink the -strengthening wine; but there was no shirt, and no wine in the cask, -because the pretty girl had allowed what Paul could not drink to run -out. The dragon became very angry and began to pace up and down, being -rather nervous as to the issue. But Paul was not long before he set at -him, and with one stroke slashed off six of his heads, and, after a -short struggle, either broke or cut off the rest; and having thus -liberated the third girl, he transformed the castle, like the previous -two, into a golden apple, hid it in his pocket, and started with the -three girls towards the opening at the top of which his mates awaited -him. - -Having got there, as there was no room for all four in the basket, Paul -bade the three girls to get in, and pulled the rope, whereupon his three -mates hastily drew up the basket. Seeing the three pretty girls, they -forgot all about hauling up Paul; each chose a girl and hastily left the -forest, and settled down with them beyond the seventh country. Paul -seeing that he was deceived by his faithless friends, began to swear in -his rage, and vowed by heaven and earth that so soon as he should get -out he would take bloody revenge on his deceitful mates, even if they -had hidden themselves at the end of the world. Thereupon, he walked -about aimlessly underground, and cogitated how to get out. After long -wanderings he came to the nest of the huge griffin, in which he found -several small griffins, and as the old bird was away, and it was hailing -fire, he covered the nest with his cloak, and thus saved the little -griffins. The old bird, in order to reward him, took him upon its back -to carry him up to the surface. It took with it some provisions for the -way, which consisted of a roast bullock hanging on one side, and a cask -of wine on the other, and gave Paul directions that whenever it turned -its head to the bullock he was to cut off a piece, and put it in its -mouth, and whenever it turned its head to the cask, to pour a pint of -wine down its throat. The griffin started off with Paul on its back, and -flew three days and three nights, and on the morning of the fourth day -it alighted with Paul outside the very town where his three faithless -mates lived, put him down, and returned to its nest. Paul, as soon as he -had rested from his fatigues, started off in search of his three mates, -who were dreadfully frightened when they saw Shepherd Paul appear, who -they thought was dead long ago. Paul gave them a severe scolding for -their faithlessness, and then quietly killed all three. He placed the -three apples in the prettiest part of the town, side by side, tapped -them with the golden rod, and they became three splendid castles. He -placed the three girls in them, married the youngest, and lives with her -still in the middle castle, if he hasn't died since! - - - - -THE PELICAN. - - -There was once, I don't know where, there was in the world an old king; -one of whose eyes always wept, and the other always smiled. He had three -sons. The youngest was twelve, the eldest twenty, and the middle one -sixteen. These three sons got talking together one spring morning about -different things: the eldest of his sweetheart, the middle one of his -saddle-horse, and the youngest one of his birds. Their conversation at -last turned upon more serious matters, and they wished to know why their -father's one eye always wept and why the other always smiled; so they -decided to go and ask him the reason at once. The father was at -luncheon. The eldest son knocked; and, after greeting his father, kissed -his hand, and asked him why the one eye always wept and the other always -smiled? The father looked very angrily at his son, and beckoned him to -go. The boy became very frightened at seeing his father grow angry so -suddenly, and ran away. Just as he ran through the door he heard a noise -at his heels, and found that his father had thrown his knife and fork -after him. The terrified lad brought the disappointing news to his -brothers. "Then I'll ask him, if no one else will," said the middle son, -who, for his chivalrous deeds, was his father's favourite. The king -still sat at lunch, and the second son, like his elder brother, also -asked his father why one eye always wept, whilst the other always -smiled. The father then threw knife and fork after him, and the fork -stuck fast in the heel of the lad's shoe. The lad was very frightened, -and told his brothers what had happened, at which they were much -disappointed, as they had every confidence in him. "It is of no use your -going," said the second eldest to the youngest, "because our royal -father dislikes you on account of your bird-catching habits." - -But still the little boy went in, and in a trembling but confident voice -asked his father why one eye always wept, whilst the other always -smiled. The king, who had just finished his lunch, no sooner heard the -boy's question than he threw his knives and forks at him, and the blade -of one knife lodged in the boy's thigh, so that the blood spurted out; -but the little boy was not frightened, and, amid his tears, drew the -knife out from his thigh, and having wiped it, took it back to his -father, and repeated his question. The father lovingly stroked the -little fellow's hair and bade him sit on a low chair, and told him the -secret, saying: "One eye always laughs because you three boys are very -handsome children; and when I die you will make three brave kings for -any three countries. My other eye always weeps because once upon a time -I had a beautiful pelican, whose song was so charming, that whosoever -heard it was at once transformed into a youth seventeen years of age. -That bird was stolen from me by two men dressed in black. That is the -reason why one eye always weeps, and why my soul is vexed within me." -The little fellow kissed his father's hand and hurried off to his -brothers, who received him with a mocking smile, but soon felt ashamed -of themselves, when the child, with his wounded thigh, brought the reply -to their question. "We will try to console our father, and make him -young again," said the three brothers all together; "We will endeavour -to find that pelican, if it be yet alive, whether it be on land or sea." -Having thus spoken, they at once got ready for the journey. - -The eldest and the middle sons went to their father's stables, saddled -the finest horses, and put a great deal of treasure in their -sabretaches, and set forth: so that the youngest son was left without a -horse, as his elder brothers had taken away the horses that would have -suited him. - -When they came to the end of the village, an old beggar met them, and -asked them for a coin or a bit of bread: the two elder lads took no -notice of him, but galloped on, the beggar shouting mocking words after -them. The youngest lad arrived half an hour later, and shared half his -cake with the beggar. "As you have helped me, prince," said the beggar, -"I will help you. I know where you are going, and what you are seeking. -You would need the lives of three men if you went on foot, or on the -back of an ordinary horse, for the church in which your pelican sings -now is beyond the Operencian Sea. The saddle-horse which can go there -must have been brought up on dragon's milk, to prevent its hoofs being -worn away on the long journey; but for a good deed you may expect a good -one in return. You have helped me, and I will help you, with my advice -at least, and that is all a poor beggar can offer. Five miles from this -bridge where we stand lives an old witch who has two horses. If you -serve her for a year (her year has three days) she will give you as much -money as you ask for; but if you do not serve your whole year she will -chop off your head. The man has not yet been found who can serve her a -whole year, for her horses are her two daughters, and so soon as the -groom falls asleep, they either disappear into the clouds or the sea; or -slip under ground, and do not reappear until the groom's head is -impaled. But I trust that you will be able to take care of them. Take -this whistle; it has three holes. If you open the first hole the King of -the Gnats will appear at your command; if the second, the King of the -Fishes; if the third, the King of the Mice. Take great care of this -whistle, and when you have done your year, don't ask for money, cattle, -clothes, lands, or suchlike things (the old witch will offer you all -these), but ask for the half-rotten foal which lies buried seven fathoms -deep in the dung-heap. There is a hen-coop, and on the top of it a -saddle and a bridle; put these on the foal just after you have dug it -out. It will be too weak to walk, therefore you must take it on your -back, and carry it to the end of the village. There you will find a -bridge. Place it under the bridge, in the water, for one hour, and then -wash it. I won't tell you any more." - -The same evening, just after the cows had been driven home, the lad was -to be seen sitting on the threshold of the witch's door. The old witch -was at the same hour driving her horses home from the field. Sometimes -they jumped about on the ground; sometimes they flew in the air; but the -old witch was after them everywhere, riding a-straddle on a saddled -mopstick. "Good evening, my dear old mother," said the lad, in a -confidential voice. "Good fortune has brought you, my dear son," -commenced the witch, "it's lucky that you called me your mother, for -see! there are ninety-nine human heads impaled, and yours would have -been the hundredth. What's your errand, my dear son?" "I'm looking for a -situation, my dear old mother!" "Good fortune has brought you, my dear -son; the year lasts three days with me, and during that time you will -have to take care of my two horses. Your wages will be whatever you ask, -and as much as you desire. But if you don't take care of those two -horses, you must die!" "The Lord will help me." "Come in to supper, for -you will have to take the horses out into the Silken Meadow for the -night." The prince went in, and after supper the witch poured a sleeping -draught into the new groom's drinking-cup. Supper over the prince went -into the stables and stroked the horses. He then prepared two halters -from a piece of rope that the beggar had given him, threw them over -their heads, and jumped on the back of the finer horse. The horse, which -had become quite tame with the unusual halter, walked along peaceably -with the prince on its back, to the great surprise of the witch. "Well, -that fellow must know a thing or two!" sighed the old witch as she -looked after him, and slammed the door behind her. As soon as the prince -arrived in the Silken Meadow with the horses a heavy sleep seized him, -and he slept soundly all night. The sun was high in the heavens when he -woke, rubbing his sleepy eyes, and began to call for his horses, which -would not come. He was in great despair until, fumbling in his pockets, -he found the little whistle, which he immediately blew, leaving the -first hole open. The King of the Gnats appeared! "We wait your orders," -said a huge gnat: "speak and tell us what you require. If it be anything -in the air we will find it for you." "I had to take care of two horses, -and I cannot find them. If I do not take them home, death will be my -doom." Gnats went flying forth in all directions at their king's -singing, and in less than half an hour two griffins alighted in front of -the lad. He struck them on the heads with a halter, and they became -horses, and the little groom went home in great joy. "So you have -brought them home safely, my son; your breakfast is ready; eat it and -then go to sleep. By-and-by your dinner will be ready. You have nothing -else to do to-day." So saying, the old witch gave her horses a sound -thrashing with a peel, and then, giving them some burning cinders to -eat, went back to the house, and, sitting in a corner, threaded beads -until noon. - -In the evening the old woman again mixed some sleeping draught into the -little groom's drink, making it stronger than before. He took out his -horses, and when he had gone a little way on the road he fell off the -saddle, and slept till noon the next day. When he awoke his horses were -gone, and so he blew his whistle, leaving the second hole open, and the -King of the Fishes appeared. "We wait your orders," said a mighty whale; -"speak and tell us. If it is to be found in or above the ocean we will -find it." "I had to guard two horses, and I can't find them anywhere, -and if I don't take them back I must die." Fishes swam forth in every -river and sea at the command of their king, and in an hour they drove a -big pike to shore, which had two little gold fish in its inside. The -whale ordered a sword-fish to rip open the pike's belly. The little lad -struck the gold fishes on the head with his halter, and they became -horses once more. Late in the afternoon the little groom arrived in the -courtyard with the horses. "Go inside, my son, and have something to -eat, you have nothing more to do until the evening," said the witch, who -then thrashed her horses with a huge poker, and, having given them some -burning cinders to eat, hobbled back into the house and began to count -her gold coins. The prince had to spend another night with the horses; -and in the evening the old witch went to the horses, and, having scolded -them well, declared that if they would not hide themselves properly this -time she would punish them horribly. She gave her little groom drink -until he was half drunk, and also three pillows which were stuffed with -owl's feathers, which would make him sleep sounder. And he did go to -sleep until the midday sun awoke him next day in the Silken Meadow. But -the little whistle again came to his aid; he opened the lowest hole and -blew the whistle, and the King of all the Mice appeared. "We wait your -orders," said a rat with a big moustache. "Whatever is to be found on -earth or under its crust we will bring to you, if you order us to do -so." "I had to guard two horses and can't find any trace of them; if I -don't take them home I must die." The mice came forth from every wall -and every hole in the ground at the squeak of their king. After an hour -and a half they drove two rats from a granary to the lad, who struck -them on the head with his halter, and changed them back into his horses. - -On his arrival at home the witch said to the prince, "So you have -guarded them well, my dear son. Your year of service is over. Ask what -you like. Here are three keys, one of which opens a cellar where there -are vats full of gold and silver, take as much as you like. The second -key opens a wardrobe, from which you may choose either royal dresses, or -if you like magic garments, which will change into anything you like. -The third key opens the stables, where you will find horses with golden -or silver hair; take which you like best, and as many as you like, it is -all the same to me." The prince looked at the treasures, clothes, and -horses, but chose none of them, and returned the keys, looking very -downcast. - -"My father the king has horses, costly garments, and gold; I have no -need for any of these things." - -"Ask, then, whatever you like; ask my life, because whosoever has served -a year with me well deserves his wages." - -"I don't want your life or your death, my dear old mother; but under -your dung-heap there lies buried seven fathoms deep a wretched foal, and -on the top of your hen-coop there's a worn-out old saddle very much -soiled. These are the things I want; give them to me." - -"You're in league with the devil, my dear son, take care that you don't -get into hell." - -The witch tried to put him off, and made all manner of excuses, but at -last she brought a golden spade and traced a triangle on the dung-heap -which pointed to where, without fail, the wretched foal was to be found. -The prince dug without ceasing for seven days and seven nights, and on -the dawn which followed the eighth night the ground began to move under -his spade and the Tatos foal showed its hoofs. The prince dug it out, -scraped the dirt from it, and, having fetched the saddle from the -hen-coop, put it on the foal; and having taken leave of his witch -mistress he took the foal on his back and carried it as far as the -bridge. While the foal was soaking in the water the old beggar appeared -on the bridge and received a piece of bread from the prince. - -"Prince, when you sit on your horse's back," said the beggar, "take care -of yourself. It will carry you through clouds and over waters; it knows -well the way to the country where the pelican lives, so let it go -wherever it pleases. When you arrive at the shore of the Operencian Sea -leave your horse there, for you will have to walk three hundred miles -further. On your way go into every house and make inquiries. A man who -knows how to use his tongue can get far, and one question is worth more -than a hundred bad guesses. On the shore of the Operencian Sea there are -two trees, one on this side and one on the opposite shore; you cannot -get over the sea unless you climb the trees when they kiss each other, -and this only happens twice a year, at the end of the summer and at the -beginning of spring. More I will not tell you. Good-bye." - -Their conversation had lasted a whole hour, and behold! the wretched -foal had become such a beautiful horse with golden hair and three legs, -that one could not find another to match it. - -The little prince got into the saddle, which had also become gold, and -rode leisurely over the bridge. At the other end his steed spoke thus: -"I shall now be able to see, my little master, whether we can start at -once;" and thereupon darted into the clouds; from thence to the moon; -from thence to the sun; and from the sun to the "hen and chickens" (the -Pleiades); and from thence back to the bridge. - -"I have lived for many a thousand years, but such a rider as you has not -sat on my back before." And again it darted off over seven times seven -countries, and in half an hour the prince reached his brothers, who had -been galloping for the last three days and three nights. They rode -together for a little while when the eldest thus spoke: "My younger -brothers, if we all three keep together we shall never be able to find -the pelican. The road divides into three branches here. Let each of us -go into a different country, and let us mark this finger-post, and in -one year's time meet here again. Should blood ooze out of the post it -will be a sign that the brother who is absent is in misery or captivity; -but if milk flow out of it, then he is well." This proposal was -accepted. The two eldest took the roads on the right and the youngest -the one on the left. But the two eldest were wicked. They did not look -for the pelican but got into bad habits and spent their time in making -love to young ladies. They did not trouble themselves very much about -their father's rejuvenescence. The youngest prince went on steadily and -covered a thousand miles a day; till at last he reached the Operencian -Sea. The two trees which stood on its shores were just then kissing each -other. The prince slackened the girth of his horse, jumped on the tree, -ran along its upper branches, which touched the tree on the other side -of the sea, and in an hour gained the opposite shore. He had left his -horse in a silken meadow, the grass standing as high as the horse's -knees. His horse neighed after him and urged him to make haste. - -On the opposite shore of the sea there was a golden forest. He had a -small hand-adze with him and with it he notched the stems of the trees -so that he might not miss his road upon his return. Beyond the golden -forest there stood a small cottage where an aged woman a hundred years -old lived. - -"Good day, my dear old mother." - -"Good fortune has brought you, my dear son. What are you doing here, -whither not even a bird ever comes? What do you want here, my dear son?" - -"I am trying to find the pelican, my dear old mother." - -"Well, my son, I do not know where it is, but I have heard of it. Go a -hundred miles beyond yonder silver forest, and ask my grandmother. If -she does not know anything about it, nobody does. On your way back with -your bird come and see me, my dear son, and I will give you a present. -Life is worth living." - -The old woman sent her cat with the prince, which accompanied him as far -as the right road, mewed once, and turned back. The wandering prince, -after a journey which lasted for weeks, got through the silver forest -and found a cottage where the old woman lived, who was so much bent from -age that her nose touched the ground. - -"Good evening, my grandmother." - -"Good fortune has brought you, my dear son. What are you doing here, -whither not even a bird ever comes? What do you want, my dear son?" - -"I seek the pelican, my dear mother, whose song makes old people young -again. The Jesuits have stolen it from my father." - -"Well, my son, I know nothing of it. But fifty miles beyond yonder -copper-forest lives my mother, and if she knows nothing about your bird, -then nobody does. On your way back with the bird call upon me, my dear -son, and I will give you a good present for your trouble. Life is still -very pleasant, even to me." - -The prince again continued his journey in company with a red cock, which -took him as far as the right road. There it crowed once, and flew back. -After a journey of days and weeks the prince discovered on the borders -of the copper-forest a little cottage, in which the old woman sat, whose -eyelids were quite covered with moss. "Good day, my dear old mother!" -"Good fortune has brought you, my dear son. What do you want?" - -"I am looking for the pelican." "You are on the right spot, my dear son. -Though I have never seen it; because when it was brought hither I could -use my legs no longer. Step across the threshold, and within a gun-shot -you will see an old tumble-down church; the pelican is kept in there. -By the side of the church there is a beautiful mansion, in it live the -two old Jesuits who brought the bird from some foreign land; but the -bird will not sing to them. Go and tell them that you think you will be -able to make the bird sing, as perhaps it will sing to you as you come -from a foreign land." - -The prince, however, didn't dare to go to see the friars, but waited for -the evening or the morning bell to be rung, and then stole into the -church. He had to wait for seven days, and still he did not succeed in -hearing the pelican sing, as on each occasion a deep sleep overcame -him. The two friars had become youths of seventeen years of age during -the last two days. - -No one knew why the bird did sing on the third day. On this day, the -prince, as soon as he had stepped into the church, made his nose bleed, -and this kept him awake, and he heard the bird's song, and saw the -friars caper round the cage and throw sugar into it. The prince hid -himself under a chair, and when every one had retired to rest after -evening prayers he let the bird out of its cage, hid it under his cloak, -and went back to the first old woman and made her young again. The old -woman jumped with delight, and gave him as much gold and silver as he -liked. In a few weeks he got back to the other old women who lived in -the gold and silver forests, and they regaled him in a royal manner. - -When he reached the sea-shore the two trees were kissing again, so he -ran across them with the bird and appeared by the side of his horse, -which had eaten so much of the fine grass that it had become so fat that -the girth had quite cut into its belly. He made the horse young too, and -sat on its back, and in a short time returned to the post where he had -left his brothers. Lo! blood was flowing on that side on which his -brothers had gone. His sensitive heart was quite overcome with sorrow, -because his brothers were either in danger or misery. So he went on the -same road on which the poor fellows had departed. He had not gone more -than a couple of miles before he came to an inn. Adjoining the inn was a -garden, where his two brothers were working in irons, because they had -squandered their all, including their horses, and had got into debt for -drink. After scolding the innkeeper the little prince bought his -brothers off and repurchased their horses. - -They then started home all together, and he related all his adventures, -and how he had got possession of the favorite pelican. At last they came -to the outskirts of a forest about three miles from home, and at this -place the two elder brothers attacked him from behind, cut off his hands -and feet, took his little bird from him, and hurried home in order to -lengthen their father's life by means of the song of the dear bird that -had been brought back from so far off. The poor little prince began to -cry bitterly with pain and fear. His cries were heard by a swine-herd -who was tending his herd in the same forest in which the wicked brothers -had maimed the little prince. - -The swine-herd picked up the poor boy without hands and feet and carried -him to his hut. "He will do to take care of the hut," said the -swine-herd, "poor wretch!" In the evening, the little crippled boy -related all about his brothers' cruelty, and the poor swine-herd's heart -was filled with pity for the boy's misfortune. Next morning just as he -was going to look after his hogs the little prince called him back with -fearful screams, and to his surprise he saw something that looked like a -human skull wriggle out of the ground. He quickly knocked off the top of -the skull with his hatchet, and the remainder slipped back into the -ground. From the part cut off, blood flowed on to the ground. Somehow or -other his maimed finger came in contact with the mud formed out of the -blood and the dust and to his astonishment it was healed. Great was the -simple swine-herd's joy! He rubbed the boy's stumps with the mud, and -lo! his hands and feet grew again! - -As soon as the news had spread in the royal town that the pelican had -come back all the old men gathered together and many brought presents to -the princes, and took out their horses and dragged their carriage along -the streets. At ten o'clock the next morning the church was crowded, and -the pelican was reinstalled in its old place. The organ began to play -but the bird would not sing. The king had it proclaimed through the -length and breadth of his kingdom that any one who could make the -pelican sing should have half his realm. The swine-herd heard the news -and told it to his helpmate. "Take me, my brother, under your cloak," -said the little prince, "as I do not wish my brothers to see me, lest -they kill me. Let us then go into the town, and, as you are very old, I -will induce the pelican to sing and make you young." So they set off -together and the swine-herd sent word into the crowded meeting that he -had confidence in the Lord, and thought he would be able to make the -bird sing. The people crowded round the swine-herd, who had a handsome, -well-built boy hidden under his cloak. They conducted him into the -church, where he at once took off his great cloak, and no sooner did the -pelican see its liberator than it at once began to sing most -beautifully, and all the old men who were there assembled in great -numbers became seventeen years old. The king recognised his son and made -him tell all about his journey. When he came to the incident of the -savage attack by his brothers the people began to hiss and groan, and -resolved to draw and quarter the two villains, to tie them to horses' -tails, drag them over the town, and hang them on the four corners of the -fortress. The resolution was at once carried into effect. In vain did -the kind-hearted lad beg for their lives. They had to die. The old king -gave half of the realm to the young prince. The swine-herd was dressed -up in velvet and purple, and they all are alive to this day, if they -have not died since. - - - - -THE GIRL WITH THE GOLDEN HAIR. - - -There was once, I do not know where, in the world an old man who had -twelve sons; the eldest of whom served the king for twenty-four years. -One day the old man took it into his head that all his sons should get -married, and they all were willing to comply with their father's wish, -with the exception of the eldest son, who could not on any account be -coaxed into matrimony. However the old man would not give in, and said, -"Do you hear me, my son? the eldest of you must marry at the same time -as the youngest; I want you all to get married at the same time." - -So the old man had a pair of boots made for himself with iron soles and -went in search of wives for his twelve sons. He wandered hither and -thither over several countries until the iron soles of his boots were -worn into holes; at last, however, he found at a house twelve girls, -who, he thought, would do. - -The eleven younger lads made great preparations and went to the fair to -buy themselves saddle-horses; but the eldest, who was serving the king, -did not concern himself about anything, and turned out the king's horses -to grass as usual. Among the animals there was a mare with a foal, and -Jack--this was the name of the eldest lad--always bestowed the greatest -care upon the mare. One day, as the whole stud were grazing in the -fields, the mare neighed and said to the lad, "I say, Jack, I hear that -you are thinking of getting married; your eleven brothers have already -gone to the fair to purchase riding-horses for the wedding; they are -buying the finest animals they can get; but don't you go and purchase -anything: there is a foal of mine that was foaled last year, go and beg -the king to let you have it, you will have no cause to repent your -choice. The king will try to palm off some other animal on you, but -don't you take it. Choose the foal as I tell you." - -So it happened Jack went up stairs and saw the king and spoke to him -thus: "Most gracious Majesty! I have now served you for twenty-four -years and should like to leave this place, because my eleven brothers -are already on their way to get themselves wives; the tips of my -moustache too reach already to my ears, the days fly fast, and it is -high time for me to find a wife too; I should be much obliged if you -would pay me my wages." "You are perfectly right, my dear son, Jack," -replied the king, "it is high time that you too get married; and, as you -have so faithfully served me, I will give orders for your wedding to be -celebrated with the greatest pomp. Let me know your wishes! would you -like to have so much silver as you can carry, or would you prefer as -much gold?" "Most gracious Majesty, I have only one desire, and that is -to be allowed to take with me from your stud a certain foal that belongs -to a certain mare that is with foal again this year." "Surely you don't -want to make an exhibition of yourself on that wretched creature?" "Aye, -but I do, your Majesty, and I do not want anything else." - -Our Jack was still fast asleep when his eleven brothers set out on the -finest horses to fetch their girls. Jack did not get up till noon, at -which hour the king ordered out a coach and six, together with a couple -of outriders, and thus addressed the lad: "Well, Jack, my boy, I have no -objection, you can take your foal, but don't reproach me hereafter." -Jack thereupon had plenty to eat and drink, and even took out a -bucketful of wine to his foal and made it drink the whole. He then took -his goods and chattels and sat in the coach, but the king would not -allow the foal to run along with the coach, and said: "Not that way, if -I know it; put the ugly creature up on the box! I should feel ashamed if -anybody saw the ugly brute running alongside my coach." So the foal was -tied up to the box, and they set off till they reached the outskirts of -the town. By this time the foal, which was in a most uncomfortable -position, presented a most pitiful sight; for by rubbing against the box -the whole of one of its sides had become raw. So they stopped, and it -was taken down and placed on the ground. Jack got out, and, the coach -having set out for home, he sat on the foal's back, his feet touching -the ground. The foal gazed round to see whether anybody was looking on, -and, not seeing a soul, it flew up high into the air and thus addressed -the lad: "Well, my dear master, at what speed shall we proceed? Shall we -go like the hurricane or like a flash of thought?" "As quick as you can, -my dear horse," was his reply. - -They flew along for a while, when the foal again spoke, asking: "Is your -hat tied on, my dear master?" - -"Yes, it is, my dear horse." - -Again they flew along, and again the little foal said: "Well, my dear -master, your hat that you have bought for your wedding is gone. You have -lost it. We have left it some seven miles behind, but we will go back to -fetch it; nobody has as yet picked it up." So they returned and picked -up the hat, and the little foal again flew high up into the air. After -proceeding for three hours they reached the inn where his brothers had -decided to take up their night's lodgings. The other lads had started at -dawn, he not till noon, after his midday meal, and still he left them -behind. Having got within a short distance of the inn, the foal alighted -on the ground with Jack, and addressed him in these words: "Well, my -dear master, get off here and turn me out on to that heap of rubbish and -weeds yonder, then walk into the inn and have plenty to eat and drink; -your eleven younger brothers will also arrive here shortly." So Jack -entered the inn, ordered a bottle of wine, made a hearty meal, and -enjoyed himself heartily. He took out a bucketful of wine to his foal -and gave it to drink; time passed on ... when, at last his brothers -arrived. They were still at some distance when the youngest caught sight -of the foal, and exclaimed: "Oh, look at that miserable screw! Surely it -is our eldest brother's steed." "So it is! So it is!" exclaimed all the -others, but at the same time they all stared at each other, and could -not explain how it came to pass that, although they had started much -earlier than their brother, they had been outdistanced by him, -notwithstanding the fact that his animal could not be compared with -their own horses. The brothers put their steeds into the stables and -placed plenty of hay and corn before them, then they walked into the -tap-room and found Jack already enjoying himself. - -"So you have got here, brother," they remarked. "As you behold, -youngsters, though I had not left home when the clock struck twelve." -"Certainly it is a mystery how you have got here on that thorough-bred -of yours, a wolf could swallow the creature at a bite." - -They sat down and ate and drank; so soon as it became dark, the lads -went out to look after the horses. - -"Well then, where will you put your horse over night?" they inquired of -the eldest. - -"I will put it into the same stables with yours." - -"You don't mean that, it will barely reach to the bellies of our horses, -the stables are too big for that steed of yours." - -But Jack took his foal into the stables and threw his cloak over its -back. In the meantime his brothers had returned to the tap-room and were -holding council as to what was to be done with their eldest brother. - -"What shall we do with him? what indeed? what can we do under the -circumstances but kill him? It will never do to take him with us to the -girls, they will laugh at us and drive us off in disgrace." - -At this the foal began to speak, and said: "I say, dear master, tie me -near the wall, your brothers will come to kill you, but don't do -anything in the matter, leave it to me; join them, eat and drink, and -then come back and lie down at my feet, I will do the rest." - -Jack did as he was told; upon leaving the tap-room he returned to the -stables and lay down at the feet of his foal, and as the wine had made -him a bit drowsy he soon fell asleep. Ere long his brothers arrived with -their hatchet-sticks which they had purchased for the wedding. - -"Gee-up, you jackass," they shouted, and all eleven were about to attack -the poor little foal, when it kicked out with such force that it sent -the youngest flying against the wall. - -"Get up, dear master, they have come." Jack thereupon woke, and his -little foal asked him, "What shall I do with them?" - -"Oh! knock them all against the wall." - -The foal did as it was told, and the lads dropped about like -crab-apples. It collected them all into a heap, when Jack, seeing their -condition, became frightened, so he hurriedly picked up a bucket, ran to -the well, fetched some water and poured it over the eleven. They -managed, with some difficulty, to get on to their feet and then showered -reproaches upon him, complaining bitterly about his unbrotherly conduct -in ordering his foal to handle them so roughly as it had done. - -The eleven then left the inn without a moment's delay, and toiled along -the whole night and the next day, until at last, on the following -evening, they reached the home of the twelve girls. But to get in was -not such an easy task, for the place was fenced round with strong iron -rails, the gate was also very strong and made of iron, and the latch was -so heavy that it took more than six powerful men to lift it. The eleven -brothers made their horses prance about and bade them to kick against -the latch, but all their manoeuvres were of no avail--they could not -move the latch. - -But what has become of Jack? where did he tarry? His foal knew only too -well where the girls could be found, and how they could be got at; so he -did not budge from the inn until late in the afternoon, and spent his -time eating and drinking. His brothers were still busily engaged with -the latch, hammering at it and kicking, when at last, just when the -people were lighting the candles at dusk, the brothers discovered Jack -approaching high up in the air on his foal. As soon as he reached the -gate he wheeled round, the foal gave a tremendous kick at the latch, -whereupon the gate, and with it a portion of the railing, heeled over -into the dust. The landlady, a diabolical old witch, then came running -to the gate with a lamp in her hand, and said: "I knew Jack that you -had arrived, and I have come and opened the gate." This statement was of -course not true. - -The lads entered the house, where they found the twelve girls all -standing in a row. With regard to the age of the maidens they -corresponded to those of the lads; and when it came to choice, the -eldest lad fell in love with the eldest girl, the youngest lad with the -youngest maid, and so on, every lad with the girl of his own age. They -sat down to supper, each girl by the side of her beau; they ate and -drank, enjoyed themselves, and the kissing had no end. At last they -exchanged handkerchiefs. As it was getting late, and the young folks -became sleepy, they all retired to rest. Beds were prepared for all -twenty-four in a huge room; on one side stood the beds for the girls, on -the other those for the lads. Just then the mischievous old witch, who -was the girls' mother, walked out of the house, and muttered to herself: - -"Now I have got you all in my net, you wretched crew, we shall see which -of you will leave this place alive!" - -It so happened that Jack went out to look after his foal; he took a -bucketful of wine with him and gave his animal a drink, whereupon the -foal spoke to him thus: - -"I say, dear master! we have come to an awful place; that old witch -intends to kill you all. At the same time don't be frightened, but do -what I am about to tell you. After everybody has gone to bed, come out -again and lead us horses out from these stables, and tie twelve horses -belonging to the old witch in our places. With regard to yourselves, -place your hats on to the girls' heads, and the old witch will mistake -the maids, and slay them in your stead. I will send such a deep slumber -over them that even a noise seven times as loud as you will make cannot -wake them." - -In conformity with the advice thus received, Jack re-entered the -bedchamber, placed the twelve men's hats on to the heads of the girls; -he then exchanged the horses, and went back to bed. Soon after the old -witch commenced to whet a huge knife, which sent forth a shower of vivid -sparks: she then approached the beds, groped about, and as soon as she -discovered a hat, snap! off went a head, and so she went on until she -had cut off all the girls' heads. Then she left the house, fetched a -broad axe, sharpened it and went into the stables. Snap! off came the -head of the first horse, then the next, till she had killed all twelve. - -The foal then stamped upon the ground, whereupon Jack went out, and was -thus spoken to by his foal: - -"Now then, dear master! rouse up all your brothers, and tell them to -saddle their horses! and let them get away from this place without a -moment's delay. Don't let dawn overtake them here, or they are lost. You -yourself can go back and finish your sleep." - -Jack rushed in and with great difficulty roused them; and then informed -them of the dangerous position they were in. After a great deal of -trouble, they got up and left the place. Jack himself laid down and had -a sound sleep. As soon as the first streaks of dawn appeared, the foal -again stamped; Jack went out, sat upon it, and as they flew through the -gate the foal gave the railing such a powerful kick that even the house -tottered and fell. The old witch hereupon jumped up in great hurry, sat -a-straddle an iron pole, and rode in pursuit of Jack. - -"Stop Jack, you deceitful lad!" she shouted; "you have killed my twelve -daughters, and destroyed my twelve horses. I am not sure whether you -will be able to come again hither or not!" - -"If I do, I shall be here; if not, then I shan't." - -Poor Jack got weary of his life, not having been able to get himself a -wife. He did not return to his native town, but went into the wide, -wide world. As he and his foal were proceeding on their journey, the -steed said to him: "Look, dear master! I have stept on a hair of real -gold; it is here under my hoof. It would bring ill luck if we picked it -up, but it would equally be unlucky to leave it; so you had better take -it with you." Jack picked up the golden hair, and re-mounted his foal, -and continued his journey. After a while the foal again spoke, saying: -"My dear master! now I have stept on a half horse-shoe of pure gold, it -is here under my hoof. It would be unlucky to take it with us, but we -should not fare better if we left it; so you had better take it." Jack -picked up the half horse-shoe of pure gold, put it into his bag, and -they again flew like lightning. They reached a town just as the evening -bell rang, and stopped in front of an hostelry; Jack got off, walked in -and asked the innkeeper: - -"Well, my dear host, what is the news in this town?" - -"Nothing else, my kinsman, but that the king's coachman, who drove his -state-coach, is lying on his death-bed; if you care for the situation, -you had better take it." - -So Jack at once made up his mind, and went to see the king--who was then -still a bachelor--and was at once engaged by him to drive the -state-coach. He did not ask for any wages, but only stipulated that his -foal should be allowed to feed with the coach-horses from the same -manger. To this the king agreed, and Jack at once proceeded to the -stables. In the evening the other grooms (there were some fifty or sixty -of them) raised a great cry, and all asked for candles from the woman -who served out the stores. But Jack did not want any, so he did not ask -for any, and still his horses were in better condition, and were better -groomed than the rest. All the other grooms used a whole candle a head -every night. This set the storekeeper woman thinking; she could not -imagine how it could be that, whereas all the other men wanted a whole -candle a head every blessed night, the man who drove the state-coach -did not want any, and still his horses looked a hundred times better -than the others. She told the strange discovery to the king, who -immediately sent for all the men with the exception of Jack. - -"Well, my sons, tell me this: How is it that every one of you burns a -whole candle every night, whereas my state-coachman has never asked for -any, and still his horses look seven times better than yours?" - -"Oh, your majesty, he has no need to ask for any; we could do without -them, if we were in his position." - -"How is that, explain yourselves." - -"Because, sir, he does his work one morning by the light of a golden -hair, and every other morning by the rays of half a horse-shoe of pure -gold." - -The king dismissed the grooms, and the next day at dawn concealed -himself, and watched Jack, and satisfied himself with his own eyes that -his men had spoken the truth. So soon as he got back into his rooms, he -sent for Jack, and addressed him thus: - -"I say, my boy, you were working this morning by the light of a hair of -real gold." - -"That is not true, your majesty; where on earth could I get a hair of -real gold?" - -"Don't let us waste any words! I saw it with my own eyes this morning. -If the girl to whom that golden hair belonged is not here by to-morrow -morning you forfeit your life! I'll hang you!" - -Poor Jack returned to the stables and wept like a child. "What is the -matter?" inquired his foal; "Why do I see those tears? what makes you -cry?" - -"How could I help crying and weeping? the king has just sent for me and -told me that if I can't produce the girl to whom the golden hair -belonged he will hang me." - -"This is indeed a very serious look-out, my dear master, because you -must know that the old witch whose twelve girls we have slain has yet -another most beautiful daughter; the girl has not yet been allowed to -see daylight, she is always kept in a special room which she has never -yet left, and in which six candles are kept burning day and night--that -is the girl to whom that golden hair once belonged. But never mind, eat -and drink to your heart's content, we will go and fetch her. But be -cautious when you enter the house where the daughter of the old witch is -guarded, because there are a dozen bells over the door, and they may -betray you." - -Jack therefore ate and drank, and took a bucketful of wine to his foal -too, and gave it a drink. Then they started and went and went, until -after a while they reached the dwelling of the old witch. Jack -dismounted, cautiously approached the door, carefully muffled the dozen -bells, and gently opened the door without making the slightest noise. -And lo! inside he beheld the girl with the golden tresses, such a -wonderfully pretty creature the like of which he had not set his eyes -upon before during all his eventful life. He stole up to her bedside on -tiptoe, grasped the girl round the waist, and in another second was -again out of the house, carrying her off with him. He ran as fast as he -could and mounted his steed. The foal gave a parting kick to the house -that made the roof tumble in, and the next moment was off, high up in -the air like a swift bird. But the old witch was not slow either, the -moment she was roused she mounted a long fir-pole and tore after Jack -like forked lightning. - -"It is you, Jack, you good-for-nothing, deceitful fellow! My twelve -daughters have perished by your hand, and now you carry off my -thirteenth! You may have been here before, but I'll take care that you -don't come again." - -"If I do, I do; if I don't, I don't." - -Jack went and went, and by dawn had already reached home; he conducted -the girl into the king's presence, and lo! no sooner had the monarch -caught sight of her than he rushed forward and embraced her, saying: -"Oh, my darling, my pretty love, you are mine and I am yours!" But the -girl would not utter a single word, not for the whole world. This made -the king question her: "What is the matter, my love? Why are you so -sad?" - -"How can I help being sad? Nobody can have me until some one brings -hither all my goods and chattels, my spinning-wheel and distaff, nay, -the very dust in my room." - -The king at once sent for Jack. - -"Well, my boy, if the golden-haired girl's goods and chattels, -spinning-wheel, distaff, and the very dust in her room, are not here by -to-morrow morning, I will hang you." - -Jack was very much downcast and began to cry. When he reached the -stables his foal again asked him: "What's the matter with you, my dear -master? Why all this sorrow?" - -"How can I help weeping and crying, my dear horse; the king has sent for -me and threatened to hang me if the golden-haired girl's goods and -chattels, nay, the very dust of her room, be not here by to-morrow -morning." - -"Don't fret, my dear master, we will go and fetch them too. Get a -table-cloth somewhere, and when you enter her room spread out the cloth -on the floor and sweep all her paraphernalia into it." - -Jack got ready and started on his errand. Within a short time he reached -the dwelling of the old witch, entered the room, and spread out his -cloth. But, would anybody believe it, the glare of the place very nearly -blinded him; the very dust on the floor was pure gold. He swept -everything he could find into the table-cloth, swung the bundle on his -back, and ran out; having got outside, the foal at his bidding gave the -building a powerful kick that demolished its very foundations. This woke -the old witch, who immediately mounted a red-hot broom and tore after -him like a whirlwind. - -"Confound you, deceitful Jack! after you have robbed me of all my -thirteen daughters, you now come and steal the chattels of the youngest -girl. I warrant that you won't return hither any more." - -"If I do, I do; if I don't, I don't." - -Jack went home with the luggage and handed it to the king. - -"Well, my darling, my pretty love! your wish is now fulfilled, and -nothing can prevent you from becoming mine." - -"You shall have me, but only on one condition. Somebody must go for my -stud with golden hair, which is to be found beyond the Red Sea. Until -all my horses are here nobody can have me." - -The king again sent for Jack. - -"Listen to this, my boy; the girl with the golden hair has a -golden-haired stud beyond the Red Sea; if you don't go at once to fetch -them, you forfeit your life." - -Jack went down stairs in great trouble, bent over his foal, buried his -face in his hands, and wept most bitterly, and as he sobbed and moaned -the little foal asked: "What are you crying about now?" Jack told the -foal what the king had ordered him to do, and what the punishment would -be if the order were not obeyed. - -"Don't weep, dear master, don't fret; the thing can be done if you -follow my directions. Go up stairs to the king and beg of him twelve -buffalo-hides, twelve balls of twine, a grubbing-hoe, and an ordinary -hoe, besides a stout awl to sew the buffalo-hides together with." - -Jack went to the king and declared himself willing to carry out his -order if he would let him have these things, to which the king replied: -"Go and take anything that you may require, there must be some sixty -buffalo-hides still left hanging in the loft." - -Jack went up to the loft and took what he wanted; then he ate and drank, -gave his foal a bucketful of wine, and set out in search of the horses -with the golden hair. - -He journeyed on till, after a short lapse of time, he reached the Red -Sea, which he crossed on the back of his foal. As soon as they emerged -from the water and gained the opposite shore, the foal said: "Look, my -dear master; can you see the pear-tree on that hill yonder? Let's go up -on the hill, take your hoe and dig a hole big enough to hold me; and as -soon as you have dug the hole sew the twelve buffalo-hides together and -wrap them round me, as it would not be advisable for me to get into the -hole without them. As soon as I have got in, blow this whistle and the -stallion will appear; and the moment you see it touching the buffalo -skins, throw a halter over its head." - -Jack tucked up his shirt-sleeves, dug the hole, sewed the twelve -buffalo-hides on to the foal, and his steed got into the hole. Then he -blew the whistle, and lo! a fine stallion, with golden hair, and almost -entirely covered with golden froth, jumped out of the ground; it pranced -about, and kicked out in all directions, whereupon Jack's foal said: -"Now then, my dear master, throw that halter over its head and jump on -its back." Jack did as he was told; when, no sooner was he on its back, -than the stallion gave a tremendous neigh that rent all the mountains -asunder. At its call a vast number of golden-haired horses appeared; so -many, that Jack was not able to count them. The whole herd immediately -took to their heels, and galloped off with the speed of lightning. The -king had not yet finished dressing in the morning when the whole stud -with golden hair stood arrayed in his courtyard. So soon as he caught -sight of them he rushed off to the girl with the golden hair and -exclaimed: "Well, my love, the golden horses are all here, and now you -are mine." "Oh, no! I shan't be yours. I won't touch either food or -drink until the lad who has fetched my animals milks the mares." - -The king sent for Jack. - -"I say, my boy, if you do not at once milk the mares, I'll play the -hangman with you." - -"How can I milk them, sir? Even as they are, I find it difficult to save -myself from being trampled to death." - -"Do not let us waste any words; it must be done!" - -Jack returned to the stables, and looked very sad; he would not touch -any food or drink. His foal again addressed him and asked: "Why all this -sorrow, dear master?" - -"How could I help being sad? The king has ordered me to milk the mares -no matter what happens, whether I get over it dead or alive." - -"Don't fret. Ask him to lend you the tub up in the loft, and milk the -mares. They won't do you the least harm." - -And so it happened. Jack fetched the tub and milked the mares. They -stood all the time as quietly as the most patient milch-cows. The king -then said to the girl with the golden hair, "Well, my darling; your wish -is fulfilled, and you are mine." - -"I shan't be yours until the lad who milked the mares has bathed in the -milk." - -The king sent for Jack. - -"Well, my boy, as you have milked the mares, you had better bathe in the -milk." - -"Gracious majesty! How could I do that? The milk is boiling hot, and -throws up bubbles as high as a man." - -"Don't talk; you have to bathe in the milk or you forfeit your life." - -Jack went down and cried, and gave up all hope of life; he was sure of -death on the gallows. His foal again spoke, and said: "Don't cry, dear -master, but tell me what is the matter with you." Jack told him what he -had to do under penalty of death. - -"Don't fret, my dear master; but go to the king and ask his permission -to allow you to lead me to the tub, and be present when you take your -bath. I will draw out all the heat, and you can bathe in the milk -without any fear." - -So Jack went to the king, and said, "Well, gracious majesty, at least -grant me the favour of allowing my foal to be present when I am having -my bath, so that it may see me give up the ghost." - -"I don't care if there be a hundred foals present." - -Jack returned to the stables, led his foal to the tub, who began to -sniff. At last it took a deep breath, and beckoned to Jack not to jump -in yet. Then it continued drawing in its breath, and suddenly at a sign -Jack jumped into the tub, and had his bath. When he finished and got out -of the tub he was three times more handsome than before; although he was -a very handsome lad then. When the king saw this he said to the lad: -"Well, Jack, you see you would not have the bath at first. I'm going to -have one myself." The king jumped in, but in the meantime the foal had -sent all the heat into the milk back again, and the tyrant was scalded -to death. The heat was so intense that nothing was left of his body -except a few bits of bone, as big as my little finger, which were every -now and then brought up by the bubbles. Jack lost not a moment, but -rushed up to the girl with the golden hair, embraced and kissed her, and -said: "Well, my pretty darling, love of my heart, you are now mine, and -I am yours; not even the spade and the hoe shall separate us one from -another." To which she replied: "Oh, my love, Jackie, for a long time -this has been one of my fondest wishes, as I knew that you were a brave -lad." - -The wedding was celebrated with great pomp, that gave people something -to talk about over seven countries. I, too, was present at the banquet, -and kept on shouting: "Chef! Cook! let me have a bone," till, at last, -he did take up a bone and threw it at me. It hit me, and made my side -ache ever since. - - - - -THE LOVER'S GHOST. - - -Somewhere, I don't know where, even beyond the Operencian Seas, there -was once a maid. She had lost her father and mother, but she loved the -handsomest lad in the village where she lived. They were as happy -together as a pair of turtle-doves in the wood. They fixed the day of -the wedding at a not very distant date, and invited their most intimate -friends to it; the girl, her godmother--the lad, a dear old friend of -his. - -Time went on, and the wedding would have taken place in another week, -but in the meantime war broke out in the country. The king called out -all his fighting-men to march against the enemy. The sabres were -sharpened, and gallant fellows, on fine, gaily-caparisoned horses, -swarmed to the banners of the king, like bees. John, our hero, too, took -leave of his pretty _fiancee_; he led out his grey charger, mounted, and -said to his young bride: "I shall be back in three years, my dove; wait -until then, and don't be afraid; I promise to bring you back my love and -remain faithful to you, even were I tempted by the beauty of a thousand -other girls." The lass accompanied him as far as the frontier, and -before parting solemnly promised to him, amidst a shower of tears, that -all the treasures of the whole world should not tempt her to marry -another, even if she had to wait ten years for her John. - -The war lasted two years, and then peace was concluded between the -belligerents. The girl was highly pleased with the news, because she -expected to see her lover return with the others. She grew impatient, -and would sally forth on the road by which he was expected to return, to -meet him. She would go out often ten times a day, but as yet she had no -tidings of her John. Three years elapsed; four years had gone by, and -the bridegroom had not yet returned. The girl could not wait any longer, -but went to see her godmother, and asked for her advice, who (I must -tell you, between ourselves) was a witch. The old hag received her well, -and gave her the following direction: "As it will be full moon to-morrow -night, go into the cemetery, my dear girl, and ask the gravedigger to -give you a human skull. If he should refuse, tell him that it is I who -sent you. Then bring the skull home to me, and we shall place it in a -huge earthenware pot, and boil it with some millet, for, say, two hours. -You may be sure it will let you know whether your lover is alive yet or -dead, and perchance it will entice him here." The girl thanked her for -her good advice, and went to the cemetery next night. She found the -gravedigger enjoying his pipe in front of the gate. - -"Good evening to you, dear old father." - -"Good evening, my lass! What are you doing here at this hour of the -night?" - -"I have come to you to ask you to grant me a favour." - -"Let me hear what it is; and, if I can, I will comply with your -request." - -"Well, then, give me a human skull!" - -"With pleasure; but what do you intend to do with it?" - -"I don't know exactly, myself; my godmother has sent me for it." - -"Well and good; here is one, take it." - -The girl carefully wrapped up the skull, and ran home with it. Having -arrived at home, she put it in a huge earthenware pot with some millet, -and at once placed it on the fire. The millet soon began to boil and -throw up bubbles as big as two fists. The girl was eagerly watching it -and wondering what would happen. When, all of a sudden, a huge bubble -formed on the surface of the boiling mass, and went off with a loud -report like a musket. The next moment the girl saw the skull balanced on -the rim of the pot. "He has started," it said, in a vicious tone. The -girl waited a little longer, when two more loud reports came from the -pot, and the skull said, "He has got halfway." Another few moments -elapsed, when the pot gave three very loud reports, and the skull was -heard to say, "He has arrived outside in the yard." The maid thereupon -rushed out, and found her lover standing close to the threshold. His -charger was snow-white, and he himself was clad entirely in white, -including his helmet and boots. As soon as he caught sight of the girl, -he asked: "Will you come to the country where I dwell?" "To be sure, my -dear Jack; to the very end of the world." "Then come up into my saddle." - -The girl mounted into the saddle, and they embraced and kissed one -another ever so many times. - -"And is the country where you live very far from here?" - -"Yes, my love, it is very far; but in spite of the distance it will not -take us long to get there." - -Then they started on their journey. When they got outside the village, -they saw ten mounted men rush past, all clad in spotless white, like to -the finest wheat flour. As soon as they vanished, another ten appeared, -and could be very well seen in the moonlight, when suddenly John said: - - - "How beautifully shines the moon, the moon; - "How beautifully march past the dead. - "Are you afraid, my love, my little Judith?" - - -"I am not afraid while I can see you, my dear Jack." - -As they proceeded, the girl saw a hundred mounted men; they rode past in -beautiful military order, like soldiers. So soon as the hundred vanished -another hundred appeared and followed the others. Again her lover said: - - - "How beautifully shines the moon, the moon; - "How beautifully march past the dead. - "Are you afraid, my love, my little Judith?" - - -"I am not afraid while I can see you, my darling Jack." - -And as they proceeded the mounted men appeared in fast increasing -numbers, so that she could not count them; some rode past so close that -they nearly brushed against her. Again her lover said: - - - "How beautifully shines the moon, the moon; - "How beautifully march past the dead. - "Are you afraid, my love, my little Judith?" - - -"I am not afraid while I see you, Jack, my darling." - -"You are a brave and good girl, my dove; I see that you would do -anything for me. As a reward, you shall have everything that your heart -can wish when we get to my new country." - -They went along till they came to an old burial-ground, which was -inclosed by a black wall. John stopped here and said to his sweetheart: -"This is our country, my little Judith, we shall soon come to our -house." The house to which John alluded was an open grave, at the bottom -of which an empty coffin could be seen with the lid off. "Go in, my -darling," said the lad. "You had better go first, my love Jack," replied -the girl, "you know the way." Thereupon the lad descended into the grave -and laid down in the coffin; but the lass, instead of following him, ran -away as fast as her feet would carry her, and took refuge in a mansion -that was situated a couple of miles from the cemetery. When she had -reached the mansion she shook every door, but none of them would open to -her entreaties, except one that led to a long corridor, at the end of -which there was a dead body laid out in state in a coffin. The lass -secreted herself in a dark corner of the fire-place. - -As soon as John discovered that his bride had run away he jumped out of -the grave and pursued the lass, but in spite of all his exertions could -not overtake her. When he reached the door at the end of the corridor he -knocked and exclaimed: "Dead man, open the door to a fellow dead man." -The corpse inside began to tremble at the sound of these words. Again -said Jack, "Dead man, open the door to a fellow dead man." Now the -corpse sat up in the coffin, and as Jack repeated a third time the words -"Dead man, open the door to a fellow dead man," the corpse walked to the -door and opened it. - -"Is my bride here?" - -"Yes, there she is, hiding in the corner of the fire-place." - -"Come and let us tear her in pieces." And with this intention they both -approached the girl, but just as they were about to lay hands upon her -the cock in the loft began to crow, and announced daybreak, and the two -dead men disappeared. - -The next moment a most richly attired gentleman entered from one of the -neighbouring rooms. Judging by his appearance one would have believed it -was the king himself, who at once approached the girl and overwhelmed -her with his embraces and kisses. - -"Thank you so much. The corpse that you saw here laid out in state was -my brother. I have already had him buried three hundred and sixty-five -times with the greatest pomp, but he has returned each time. As you have -relieved me of him, my sweet, pretty darling, you shall become mine and -I yours; not even the hoe and the spade shall separate us from one -another!" - -The girl consented to the proposal of the rich gentleman, and they got -married and celebrated their wedding-feast during the same winter. - -This is how far the tale goes. This is the end of it. - - - - -SNAKE SKIN. - - -Far, very far, there was once, I do not know where, even beyond the -frozen Operencian Sea, a poplar-tree, on the top of which there was a -very old, tattered petticoat. In the tucks of this old petticoat I found -the following tale. Whosoever listens to it will not see the kingdom of -heaven. - -There was in the world a poor man and this poor man had twelve sons. The -man was so poor that sometimes he had not even enough wood to make a -fire with. So he had frequently to go into the forest and would pick up -there what he could find. One day, as he could not come across anything -else, he was just getting ready to cut up a huge tree-stump, and, in -fact, had already driven his axe into it, when an immense, -dread-inspiring serpent, as big as a grown-up lad, crept out of the -stump. The poor man began to ponder whether to leave it or to take it -home with him; it might bring him luck or turn out a disastrous venture. -At last he made up his mind that after all was said and done he would -take it home with him. And so it happened, he picked up the creature and -carried it home. His wife was not a little astonished at seeing him -arrive with his burden, and said, "What on earth induced you, master, to -bring that ugly creature home? It will frighten all the children to -death." - -"No fear, wife," replied the man; "they won't be afraid of it; on the -contrary, they will be glad to have it to play with." - -As it was just meal-time, the poor woman dished out the food and placed -it on the table. The twelve children were soon seated and busily engaged -with their spoons, when suddenly the serpent began to talk from -underneath the table, and said, "Mother, dear, let me have some of that -soup." - -They were all not a little astonished at hearing a serpent talk; and the -woman ladled out a plateful of soup and placed it under the bench. The -snake crept to the plate and in another minute had drunk up the soup, -and said: "I say, father, will you go into the larder and fetch me a -loaf of bread?" - -"Alas! my son," replied the poor man, "it is long--very long--since -there was any bread in the larder. I was wealthy then; but now the very -walls of the larder are coming down." - -"Just try, father, and fetch me a loaf from there." - -"What's the good of my going, when there is nothing to be found there?" - -"Just go and see." - -After a good deal of pressing the poor man went to the larder when--oh, -joy!--he was nearly blinded by the sight of the mass of gold, silver, -and other treasure; it glittered on all sides. Moreover, bacon and hams -were hanging from the roof, casks filled with honey, milk, &c., standing -on the floor; the bins were full of flour; in a word, there were to be -seen all imaginable things to bake and roast. The poor man rushed back -and fetched the family to see the miracle, and they were all astounded, -but did not dare to touch anything. - -Then the serpent again spoke and said "Listen to me, mother dear. Go up -to the king and ask him to give me his daughter in marriage." - -"Oh, my dear son, how can you ask me to do that? You must know that the -king is a great man, and he would not even listen to a pauper like -myself." - -"Just go and try." - -So the poor woman went to the king's palace, knocked at the door, and, -entering, greeted the king, and said: "May the Lord grant you a happy -good day, gracious king!" - -"May the Lord grant the same to you, my good woman. What have you -brought? What can I do for you?" - -"Hum! most gracious king, I hardly dare to speak ... but still I will -tell you.... My son has sent me to request your majesty to give him your -youngest daughter in marriage." - -"I will grant him the request, good woman, on one condition. If your son -will fill with gold a sack of the size of a full-grown man, and send it -here, he can have the princess at any minute." - -The poor woman was greatly pleased at hearing this; returned home and -delivered the message. - -"That can easily be done, dear mother. Let's have a wagon, and the king -shall have the gold to a grain." - -And so it happened. They borrowed a wagon of the king, the serpent -filled a sack of the required size full of gold, and put a heap of gold -and diamonds loose in the wagon besides. The king was not a little -astonished, and exclaimed, "Well! upon my word, although I am a king I -do not possess so much gold as this lad." And the princess was -accordingly given away. - -It happened that the two elder princesses were also to be married -shortly, and orders were issued by the king that the wedding of his -youngest daughter should take place at the same time. The state carriage -was therefore wheeled out of the shed, six fine horses were put to it, -the youngest princess sat in it and drove straight to the poor man's -cottage to fetch her bridegroom. But the poor girl very nearly jumped -out of the coach when she saw the snake approaching. But the snake tried -to allay her fears and said, "Don't shrink from me, I am your -bridegroom," and with this crept into the carriage. The bride--poor -thing, what could she do?--put her arm round the snake and covered him -with her shawl, as she did not wish to let the whole town know her -misfortune. Then they drove to church. The priest threw up his arms in -amazement when he saw the bridegroom approach the altar. From church -they drove to the castle. There kings, princes, dukes, barons, and -deputy-lieutenants of the counties were assembled at the festival and -enjoying themselves; they were all dancing their legs off in true Magyar -style, and very nearly kicked out the sides of the dancing-room, when -suddenly the youngest princess entered, followed by her bridegroom, who -crept everywhere after her. The king upon seeing this grew very angry, -and exclaimed, "Get out of my sight! A girl who will marry such a -husband does not deserve to stay under the same roof with me, and I will -take care that you two do not remain here. Body-guards, conduct this -woman with her snake-husband down into the poultry-yard, and lock them -up in the darkest poultry-house among the geese. Let them stay there, -and don't allow them to come here to shock my guests with their -presence." - -And so it happened. The poor couple were locked up with the geese; there -they were left crying and weeping, and lived in great sorrow until the -day when the curse expired, and the snake--who was a bewitched -prince--became a very handsome young man, whose very hair was of pure -gold. And, as you may imagine, great was the bride's joy when she saw -the change. - -"I say, love," spoke her prince, "I will go home to my father's and -fetch some clothes and other things; in the meantime, stay here; don't -be afraid. I shall be back ere long without fail." - -Then the prince shook himself and became a white pigeon, and flew away. -Having arrived at his father's place he said to his parent, "My dear -father, let me have back my former horse, my saddle, sword, gun, and all -my other goods and chattels. The power of the curse has now passed away, -and I have taken a wife to myself." - -"The horse is in the stables, my son, and all your other things are up -in the loft." - -The prince led out his horse, fetched down his things from the loft, put -on his rich uniform all glittering with gold, mounted his charger, and -flew up into the air. He was yet at a good distance from the castle -where the festivities were still going on, when all the loveliest -princesses turned out and crowded the balconies to see who the great -swell was whom they saw coming. He did not pass under the crossbeam of -the gate, but flew over it like a bird. He tied his charger to a tree in -the yard, and then entered the castle and walked among the dancers. The -dance was immediately stopped, everybody gazed upon him and admired him, -and tried to get into his favour. For amusement several of the guests -did various tricks; at last his turn came, and by Jove! he did show them -things that made the guests open their mouths and eyes in astonishment. -He could transform himself into a wild duck, a pigeon, a quail, and so -on, into anything one could conceive of. - -After the conjuring was over he went into the poultry-yard to fetch his -bride. He made her a hundred times prettier than she already was, and -dressed her up in rich garments of pure silver and gold. The assembled -guests were very sorry that the handsome youth in rich attire, who had -shown them such amusing and clever tricks, had so soon left them. - -All at once the king remembered the newly-married couple and thought he -would go to see what the young folks were doing in the poultry-yard. He -sent down a few of his friends, who were nearly overpowered by the shine -and glitter on looking into the poultry-house. They at once unlocked the -door, and led the bride and bridegroom into their royal father's -presence. When they entered the castle, every one was struck with wonder -at discovering that the bridegroom was no one else than the youth who -had amused them shortly before. - -Then the bridegroom walked up to the king and said: "Gracious majesty, -my father and king, for the past twelve years I lay under a curse and -was compelled to wear a serpent's skin. When I entered, not long ago, -your castle in my former plight, I was the laughing-stock of everybody, -all present mocked me. But now, as my time of curse has passed, let me -see the man who can put himself against me." - -"There is, indeed, nobody, no man living," replied the king. - -The bridegroom then led off his bride to the dance, and celebrated such -a fine wedding, that it was talked of over seven countries. - - - - -THE FAIRIES' WELL. - - -Tale, tale, mate; a black little bird flew on the tree; it broke one of -its legs; a new cloak, a shabby old cloak; it put it on. - -Well, to commence! there was in the world a king, who was called the -"Green King," and who had three daughters. He did not like them at all; -he would have very much preferred if they had been boys. He continually -scolded and abused them, and one day, in a fit of passion, the words -slipped from his lips: "What _is_ the good of all these wenches? I wish -the devil would come and fetch them all three!" The devil wasn't slow; -he took the king at his word and ran away with all three girls at once. -The king's fondest wish was hereafter fulfilled; his wife bore him three -sons, and he was very fond of them. - -But the king grew old; his hair turned quite grey. So his sons set out -for the fairies' well to fetch their father some youth-giving water. -They wandered along till they came to a small road-side inn, where they -had something to eat and drink, and gave their horses hay and corn. They -tippled for some time, until the two elder princes got jolly, and -commenced to dance in true style. The youngest one every now and then -reminded them that it was time to continue the journey, but they would -not listen to him. "Don't talk so much," they said, "if you are so very -anxious to be off you had better leave us and go alone." - -So the youngest saddled his horse and left his two brothers. He -travelled along until all of a sudden he discovered that he had lost his -way and found himself in a vast forest. In wandering hither and thither, -he came to a small hut in which an old hermit dwelt. He at once went to -it, knocked and entered, and greeted the old man, saying, "May the Lord -grant you a happy good day, my father." - -"The Lord bless you, my son! where are you going?" - -"Well, old father, I intend to go to the fairies' well for some -youth-giving water, if I can the way thither." - -"May the Lord help you, my son! I don't believe that you will be able to -get there unaided, because it is a difficult journey. But I will tell -you something. I have a piebald horse, that will carry you without -mishap to the fairies' well. I will let you have it if you promise to -bring me back some youth-giving water." - -"I will bring you some with pleasure, old father. You are quite welcome -to it." - -"Very well, my son! Get on the piebald, and be off in the name of -Heaven!" - -The piebald horse was led out and saddled, the prince mounted, and in -another second they were high up in the air, like birds, because the -piebald was a magic horse that at all times grazed on the silken meadow, -the meadow of the fairies. On they travelled, till all at once the -piebald said: - -"I say, dear master, I suppose you know that once you had three sisters, -and that all three were carried off by the devil. We will go and pay a -visit to the eldest. It is true, your brother-in-law is at this moment -out rabbiting, but he will be back soon if I go to fetch him. He will -ask you to bring him, also, some youth-giving water. I'll tell you what -to do. He has a plaid which has the power of making the wearer -invisible. If you put it on, nobody on this earth can see you. If he -will give you that plaid you can promise him as much water as he likes; -a whole tub full, if he wants it." - -When they reached the house, the prince walked in; and the piebald horse -immediately hurried off to the fields, and began to drive the devil so -that his eyes sparkled. As the devil ran homewards, he passed a pair of -gallows with a man hanging upon them; he lifted off the corpse, and ran -away with it. Having arrived at home, he called from the yard through -the window: "Take this, wife! half of him roasted, the other half -boiled, for my meal. Be sure to have him ready by the time I get -inside." Thereupon he pitched the dead man through the window; the meal -was ready in a minute and the devil walked in, sat down and ate him. -Having finished, he happened to look towards the oven and caught sight -of the prince. - -"Halloo! is it you, brother-in-law? Why did you not speak? What a pity -that I did not notice you sooner? You are just too late; you could have -had a bit or two of my bonne-bouche." - -"Thank you, brother-in-law. I don't care for your dainties." - -"Well, then get him some wine, wife! perhaps he will have some of that?" - -The wife brought in the wine and placed it on the table, and the two set -to drinking. - -"May I ask, what are you looking for in this strange part of the world?" -inquired the devil. - -"I am going to the fairies' well for some youth-giving water." - -"Look here, my good man, I am a bit of a smart fellow myself, something -better than you, and still I could not accomplish that journey. I can -get to within about fourteen miles of the place, but even there the heat -is so great that it shrivels me up like bacon-rind." - -"Well, I will go all the same, if Heaven will help me!" - -"And I will give you as much gold and silver as you can carry, if you -will bring me back a gourdful of that water." - -"I'll bring you back some, but for nothing less than for the plaid -hanging on that peg. If you will give that to me you shall have the -water." - -At first the devil would not part with the plaid on any account; but the -prince begged so hard that the devil at last yielded. - -"Well, brother-in-law! This is such a plaid, that if you put it on -nobody can see you." - -The prince was just going when the devil asked him, "Have you any money -for the journey, brother?" - -"I had a little, but I have spent it all." - -"Then you had better have some more." Whereupon he emptied a whole -dishful of copper coins into the prince's bag. The prince went out into -the yard and shook the bridle; the piebald horse at once appeared, and -the prince mounted. The devil no sooner caught sight of the piebald than -he exclaimed, addressing the prince, "Oh, you rascally fellow! Then you -travel on that villainous creature--the persecutor and murderer of our -kinsfolk? Give me back at once my plaid and my gourd, I don't want any -of your youth-giving water!" - -But the prince was not such a fool as to give him back the plaid. In a -minute the piebald was high up in the air and flew off like a bird. They -travelled along until the horse again spoke and said, "Well then, dear -master, we will now go and look up your second sister. True, your -brother-in-law is out rabbiting, but he will soon be back if I go for -him. He, too, will offer you all sorts of things in return for getting -him some youth-giving water. Don't ask for anything else but for a ring -on the window sill, which has this virtue, that it will squeeze your -finger and wake you in case of need." - -The prince went into the house and the piebald fetched the devil. -Everything happened as at the previous house. The devil had his meal, -recognised his brother-in-law, sent for wine, and asked the prince: - -"Well, what are you doing in this neighbourhood?" - -"I am going to the fairies' well for some youth-giving water." - -"You don't mean that! You have undertaken a very difficult task. I am as -good a man as a hundred of your stamp put together, and still I can't go -there. The heat there is so great that it would shrivel me up like -bacon-rind at a distance of fourteen miles. They boil lead there as we -boil water here." - -"Still I intend to go, by the help of Heaven." - -"Very well, brother-in-law. I will give you so much treasure that you -can fill several wagons with it, if you will bring me a gourd full of -that youth-giving water." - -"I don't want anything, brother-in-law, but that ring in the window -yonder." - -"Of what use would it be to you?" - -"Oh! I don't know; let me have it." - -So after a good deal of pressing the devil gave him the ring and said: - -"Well, brother-in-law, this is such a ring that it will squeeze your -finger and wake you, no matter how sound you may be asleep." - -By this time the prince had already reached the courtyard, and was ready -to start, when the devil stopped him and said: - -"Stop a bit, brother-in-law, have you any money for the journey?" - -"I had a little, but it is all gone," replied the prince. - -"Then you had better have some." Whereupon the devil emptied a dishful -of silver money into the prince's bag. The prince then shook the bridle -and the piebald horse at once appeared, which nearly frightened the -devil into a fit. - -"Oh, you rascally fellow!" he exclaimed. "Then you are in league with -the persecutor of our kinsfolk? Stop! Give me back that ring and gourd -at once. I don't want any of your youth-giving water!" - -But the Green Prince took no notice of the devil's shouting and flew -away on his piebald like a bird. They had been travelling for some -distance when the horse said: "We shall now go to see your youngest -sister. Her husband, too, is out at present rabbiting, but I shall fetch -him in, in no time. He, also, will beseech you to get him some -youth-giving water, but don't you yield, no matter how much wealth he -promises you, until he gives you his sword that hangs on the wall. It is -such a weapon that at your command it will slay the populations of seven -countries." - -In the meantime they reached the house. The Green Prince walked in and -the piebald went to look for the third devil. Everything happened as on -the two previous occasions, and the devil asked his wife to send him in -three casks of wine, and they commenced drinking. All of a sudden the -devil asked, "Where are you going?" - -"I am going to the fairies' well for some youth-giving water. My father -has grown very old and requires some of the water to give him back his -youth." - -The devil replied that it was impossible to get there on account of the -great heat. To which the prince said, that he was determined to go, no -matter what might happen. - -"Very well," continued the devil. "I will give you as much gold and -silver as your heart can wish or your mouth name if you will bring me -back a gourd full of the water." - -"The gold is of no use to me; I have plenty of it at home; as much as I -need. But if you will give me that sword on the wall, I will bring you -some water from the fairies' well, with pleasure." - -"Of what use would that sword be to you? You can't do anything with it." - -"No matter. Let me have it." - -The devil, at first, would not part with the sword; but, at last, he -gave in. The Green Prince went into the yard, and was about to start, -when the devil asked: - -"Brother-in-law, have you any money left for the journey?" - -"I had some; but it's nearly gone." - -"Then you had better have some." And with this the devil put a plateful -of gold coins into the prince's bag. The latter shook the bridle and his -piebald appeared. The devil was very much alarmed at the sight, and -exclaimed: "You rascal, then you associate with our arch-persecutor. Let -me have back my sword and the gourd, I don't want any of your water." -But the prince did not listen to him; in fact he had no time to heed the -devil's words even if he had any intention of doing so, as he was -already high up in the air, and the piebald now questioned him: "How -shall we go, dear master? shall we fly as fast as the whirlwind, or like -a flash of thought?" "Just as you please, my dear horse." - -And the piebald flew away, with the prince on its back, in the direction -of the fairies' well. Soon they reached their goal, and alighted on the -ground, whereupon the horse said: "Well, my dear master, we have reached -our destination. Put on the plaid that the first devil gave you and walk -into the fairy queen's palace. The queen has just sat down to supper. -Eat, drink, and enjoy yourself. Don't be afraid, nobody will know that -you are there. In the meantime I will go into the silken meadow and -graze with the horses of the fairy over night. I shall return in the -morning and we will then fill our gourd." - -And so it happened. The Green Prince put on the plaid and walked into -the fairy queen's dining-room, sat down and supped, and for every glass -of wine consumed by the fairy he drank two. The supper over they enjoyed -themselves. Suddenly the fairy queen felt a sensation as if she were -touched by a man, although she could not see anybody. She thereupon -exclaimed to her fairies: "Fairies, fairies, keep the bellows going -under the boiling lead. Some calamity will befall us to-night." - -In the morning the piebald appeared before the castle; the Green Prince -was still fast asleep, but luckily the ring squeezed his finger and he -awoke and so was saved. He lost no time in going down to his horse. - -"I am glad to tell you, my dear master, that all is well. They have not -yet been able to see you. Let us go and get the water at once. This is -how you must proceed. Stick the gourd on the point of your sword and -then dip it under. But, be careful; the gourd must touch the water -before my feet get wet, or else we must pay with our lives for our -audacity." - -The Green Prince did as he was told. He stuck the gourd on the point of -the sword and dipped it into the well, before the piebald's hoofs -touched the surface of the water. - -"Well, my dear master, this has gone off without mishap. Let us at once -go and liberate your sisters." First they visited the youngest. The -Green Prince put on the plaid, and brought her away unnoticed. Then he -rescued the second princess; and at last the eldest, by the aid of his -plaid. And their diabolic husbands never noticed that they had been -stolen. Having thus liberated his three sisters, he returned without -delay to the hermit's hut. - -"Well done, my son! Have you brought back any youth-giving water?" -exclaimed the hermit, as he saw the prince approaching in the distance. - -"To be sure, old father; I have brought plenty." - -With these words the Green Prince approached the hermit, and allowed -just one drop of the magic water drop on to the old man's hand; and oh, -wonder! immediately a change came over him, and the old man instantly -became young, and looked like a lad of sixteen. - -"Well, my son; you have not made your journey in vain. You have secured -the prize that you have striven for; and I shall always be deeply -grateful to you until the end of my days. I won't take back the piebald -from you, as I have another one exactly like it hidden away somewhere. -True, it is only a little foal; but it will grow, and will then be good -enough for me." - -Then they parted, and the prince bent his way homewards. Having arrived -at home he allowed a drop of the magic water drop on to his father's -hand, and the old king immediately became a youth of sixteen. And he not -only got younger, but also grew handsomer; and a hundred times better -looking than he ever was before. - -But the Green Prince had been away for such a length of time on his -journey to the fairies' well that not even his father could remember -him. The king had completely forgotten that the prince was ever born. -What was he to do? Nobody knew him at his father's palace, or would -recognise him as his father's son; so he conceived the strange idea of -accepting a situation as swineherd in his father's service. He found -stables for the piebald in a cellar at the end of the town. - -While he tended his father's pigs, and went through his duties as -swineherd, the fairies travelled all over the world and searched every -nook and corner for the father of the child of their queen. Among other -places they also came to the town of the Green King, and declared that -it was their intention to examine every prince, as the person for whom -they searched could only be a prince. The Green King then suddenly -remembered that he had once another son but did not know his -whereabouts. Something or other, however, recalled to his mind the -swineherd, so he at once took pen and paper and wrote a note to the -swineherd. The purport of the writing was that the king was the real -father of the swineherd, and that the prince should come home with the -least possible delay. The Green King sealed the letter and handed it to -a gipsy with strict instructions to at once deliver it to the swineherd. -The gipsy went, and the swineherd read the note and handed it back to -the messenger, saying: - -"My good man, take the note back. They have sent you on a fool's errand. -I am not the son of the Green King." - -The gipsy took the letter back in great anger. The swineherd, again, ran -as fast as his legs would carry him to the stables in the cellar at the -outskirts of the town, saddled his piebald, and rode _ventre a terre_ to -the centre of the town, and pulled up in front of the king's palace. -There was such a sight to be seen. A great number of wonderfully pretty -fairies had congregated, and were fanning the fire under a huge cauldron -of boiling lead, which emitted such a heat that nobody could approach. -The eldest prince came out and was about to try his fortune; he was -gorgeously dressed, his garments glittering like a mass of gold. As he -approached the cauldron full of boiling lead, a pretty fairy called out -to him: - -"Son of the Green King! are you the father of the child of the queen of -fairies?" - -"I am." - -"Then jump into this seething mass of boiling lead." - -He jumped in and was burnt, shrivelling up to the size of a crab-apple. - -"You won't do," said the fairy. - -Then the second prince stepped forth; his dress, too, was one mass of -sparkling gold. As he approached the cauldron a fairy exclaimed: - -"Son of the Green King! are you the father of the child of the queen of -fairies?" - -"I am." - -"Then jump into this seething mass of boiling lead." - -He jumped in and fared no better than his elder brother. - -Now the swineherd rode forth on his piebald horse. His clothes were one -mass of dirt and grease. To him, too, the fairy called out: - -"Are you the father of the child of the queen of fairies?" - -"I am." - -"Then jump into this seething mass of boiling lead like the rest." - -And, behold! he spurred the piebald horse, pulled tight the bridle, and -again slackened it. The piebald shot up into the air like an arrow; and, -having reached a good height, it came down with the swineherd on its -back in one bold swoop, and jumped into the cauldron full of boiling -lead without a single hair of him getting hurt. Seeing this, the fairies -at once lifted him out, tore his dirty clothes from him, and dressed him -up in garments becoming a king. - -He married the queen of fairies and a sumptuous wedding-feast was -celebrated. - -This is the end of my tale. - - - - -THE CROW'S NEST. - - -There was once in the world a poor man who had a wife and two children, -the elder a girl, the younger a boy. The poor man went out one day -ploughing with two wretched little oxen, his only property; his wife -remained at home to do the cooking. The girl, being the older of the two -children, was often sent out on short errands; upon the present -occasion, too, she was away from the house, her mother having sent her -out to borrow a peel, the dough for the bread being very nearly spoilt -for having been kept too long in the trough. - -Availing herself of the girl's absence, the mother killed the poor -little boy and hid him in a pot of stewed cabbage. By the time that the -girl returned her dear little brother was half stewed. When the mess was -quite done, the woman poured it into a smaller pot, placed the small pot -into a sling, and sent the food by her daughter to her husband who was -in the field. The man liked the dish very much, and asked the girl: - -"What kind of meat is this? It is very nice." - -"I believe, dear father, mother had to kill a small lamb last night, and -no doubt she cooked it for you," replied the girl. - -But somehow or other the girl learned the true state of things, and the -news nearly broke her heart. She immediately went back to the field, -gathered up the bones of her little brother, carefully wrapped them into -a beautiful piece of new white linen and took them into the nearest -forest, where she hid them in a hollow tree. Nobody can foretell what -will happen, and so it came to pass that the bones did not remain very -long in the hollow of the tree. Next spring a crow came and hatched -them, and they became exactly such a boy as they were before. The boy -would sometimes perch on the edge of the hollow, and sing to a beautiful -tune the following words:-- - - - "My mother killed me, - "My father ate me, - "My sister gathered up my bones, - "She wrapped them in clean white linen, - "She placed them in a hollow tree, - "And now, behold, I'm a young crow." - - -Upon one occasion, just as he was singing this song, a man with a cloak -strolled by. - -"Go on, my son," he said, "repeat that pretty song for me! I live in a -big village, and have travelled a good deal in my lifetime, but I have -never heard such a pretty song." - -So the boy again commenced to sing:-- - - - "My mother killed me, - "My father ate me, - "My sister gathered up my bones, - "She wrapped them in clean white linen, - "She placed them in a hollow tree, - "And now, behold, I'm a young crow." - - -The man with the cloak liked the song very much, and made the boy a -present of his cloak; Then a man with a crutch-stick hobbled by. "Well, -my boy," he said, "sing me that song again. I live in a big village, -have travelled far, but have never heard such a pretty tune." And the -boy again commenced to sing:-- - - - "My mother killed me, - "My father ate me, - "My sister gathered up my bones, - "She wrapped them in clean white linen, - "She placed them in a hollow tree, - "And now behold I'm a young crow." - - -The man with the crutch-stick, too, liked the song immensely, and gave -the boy his crutch-stick. The next one to pass was a miller. He also -asked the boy to repeat the pretty tune, and as the boy complied with -his request the miller presented him with a millstone. - -Then a sudden thought flashed across the boy's head and he flew to his -father's house, settled on the roof, and commenced to sing:-- - - - "My mother killed me, - "My father ate me, - "My sister gathered up my bones, - "She wrapped them in clean white linen, - "She placed them in a hollow tree, - "And now behold I'm a young crow." - - -The woman was terrified, and said to her daughter, "Go and drive away -that bird, I don't like its croaking." The girl went out and tried to -drive away the bird, but instead of flying away the young crow continued -to sing the same song, and threw down the cloak to his sister. The girl -was much pleased with the present, ran into the house and exclaimed: -"Look here what a nice present that ugly bird has given to me!" - -"Very nice indeed; very nice indeed. I will go out too," said her -father. So he went out, and the bird threw down to him the crutch-stick. -The old man was highly delighted with the gift; he was getting very -weak, and the crutch-stick came in useful to him as a support. - -"Look here what a strong crutch-stick he has given to me! It will be a -great help to me in my old age." - -Then his mother jumped up from behind the oven and said, "I must go out -too; if presents won't shower at least a few might drivel to me." - -So she went out and looked up to the roof, and the boy gave her a -present for which she had not bargained. He threw the millstone at her, -which killed her on the spot. - -Thus far goes our tale. Here it ends. - - - - -WOMAN'S CURIOSITY. - - -A shepherd saved the life of the daughter of the king of snakes, the -princess narrowly escaping being burnt to death. To show him her -gratitude she taught him the language of animals, and he was able to -understand them. One day his donkey said something that made him smile; -whereupon his wife commenced to tease him, and wanted to know the joke, -but the shepherd was unable to gratify her wish, as his betraying the -secret would have immediately been followed by the penalty of sudden -death. However the wife would not give in and leave him in peace, but -continued to torment her husband with so many questions that he at last -determined to die rather than to bear his wife's ill-temper any longer. -With this view he had his coffin made and brought to his house; he laid -down in the coffin quite prepared for death and ready to divulge the -secret. His faithful dog sat mournfully by his side watching, while the -cock belonging to the house merrily hopped about in the room. The dog -remonstrated with the cock and said that this was not the time for -merriment, seeing how near their master was to death. But the cock -replied quite curtly, "It's master's own fault! why is he such a great -fool and coward? Look at me! I have fifty wives, and they all do as I -tell them to do! If I can get on with so many, surely he ought to be -able to manage one!" Hearing this the shepherd jumped out of the coffin, -seized a wet rope-end and gave the woman a sound thrashing. - -Peace was restored, and they lived happily together ever after. - - -END OF THE TALES. - - - - -NOTES TO THE FOLK-TALES. - - - - -PRINCE CSIHAN. Kriza xvii. - - -In this tale and some others (_e.g._ "Fairy Elisabeth") it is said that -in order to celebrate a wedding the clergyman and the _executioner_ were -sent for. Several of the clergy who live among the Szekely people on the -very spot have been applied to for an explanation of the perplexing -word, but they were unable to furnish any clue. The word is not given in -Kriza's Glossary. It appears to be one of those curiosities of popular -nomenclature so often found in Hungary, and may be a fanciful name for -"sacristan," or sexton. One of the many names of this official is -"harangozo," _i. e._ the bellringer; hence the individual who holds the -corresponding office among the Jews is in small villages sometimes -called "the Jewish bellringer," a clear case of _lucus a non lucendo_. A -friend of the editors (who is a Szekely) says that "hoher" in his part -means any one who torments, maltreats, or brutalises another. It is also -made into a verb thus, "hoherholja a lovat," "he maltreats the horse." -He says that the hoher is nearly always mentioned in fairy tales in -connection with the priest, who was generally accompanied by him: but he -does not think the word has any special significance in Folk-Lore. - -_Page 5._ "Vasfogu Baba." Baba, in Magyar, as in Japanese, means a -midwife: in Slavonic, an old woman. See Ralston's _Russian Folk Tales_: -note, p. 137. "The French are coming." This must be unique. The usual -exclamations are, "The Turks are coming," or "The Tartars are coming." -The nurse will frighten a naughty child with Turks or Tartars. For the -heroic deeds of a popular hero against the French, cf. "_Le Chevalier -Jean_, Conte Magyar, par Alex. Petoefi ...traduit par A. Dozon." Paris. -18^o. - -The present story is one of a host wherein the gratitude of beasts is -compared with the ingratitude of man; and is a more perfect version of -the well-known Puss in Boots. Cf. Schiefner, _Avar Tales_. There is a -variant, "Madon linna" ("The Snake's Castle"), collected in Russian -Karelia, where the hero is the only son of an old couple, the mother -when dying tells her son not to be downhearted, as he still has his -father to help him; soon after the father fell sick. "What shall I do, -dear father, when you die?" asked the lad. "Go to the forest," replied -the father, "and there you will find three traps, bring home alive -whatever you find." Soon the father died, and the lad was left alone in -his sorrow; after many days he suddenly remembered what his father had -said, and set off to the forest, where he found the traps. In the first -and second there was nothing, but in the third was a brown fox, which he -brought home alive, thinking to himself, "There's not much to be got out -of this beast; I shall soon die of hunger." When he got home, he put the -fox on a bench and sat down, when, lo! the fox said, "Look here, Jussi -Juholainen, wouldn't you like to get married?" The lad replied, "Why -should I marry, poor fox? I couldn't live with a poor woman, and a rich -one wouldn't have me." "Marry one of the royal family, and then you'll -be rich." The lad said that it was all nonsense; but the fox declared he -could do it, and then the story goes on very much like Prince Csihan, -shewing the king how rich the suitor for his daughter's hand was, and -frightening the dependents of the snake into declaring that they -belonged to Jussi Juholainen. At last they reach the snake's castle, -"the like of which is not in the whole country, nay, not in the wide -world. An oak was growing by the wayside, and a holly tree in the -courtyard, all the leaves were golden coloured, and golden feathered -birds sang among the branches; and in the park was a magnificent elk -with gold and silver hairs." - -The fox frightens the snake by telling of the coming of a great king, -saying, "O poor snake, the king is coming to destroy your house, and -kill you." The snake at once hurried off to the store-house[1] where the -linen was kept, and hid there, and in due course was burnt up with the -stores, by the fox, who set fire to the whole. The king was "giddy" with -delight at his son-in-law's wealth, and stayed many days. When he -prepared to return home, the fox proposed that Jussi Juholainen and his -man should now visit the king, much to the king's chagrin, who tried to -make excuses; but as this failed, calves and dog-like creatures, and so -forth, were made to jump about the wayside, and in the courtyard, so as -to be something like the palace of his son-in-law. But all failed; and -the fox, having shown how much greater and wealthier a man Jussi -Juholainen was, disappeared. See _Suomen Kansan Satuja ja Tarinoita_. -Part ii. Helsingissae, 1873:[2] where, under head "Kettu kosiomiehenae" -(the fox as wooer for some one), page 36, another variant (Kehnon koti), -"the Evil One's home," is given. - -In the Karelian story, "Awaimetoin Wakka" (the Keyless Chest), _S. ja -T._ i. p. 151, a lad, when walking in the wood one day, heard his dog -barking, and saw that it was a wood-grouse it had found. He drew his bow -and was about to shoot when the bird begged him not to do so, and -promised to reward him. The lad kept the bird for three years, and at -the end of each year a feather fell from the bird's tail, first a copper -one, then a silver one, and lastly a gold one; which feathers in the end -brought wealth and greatness. - -In the Finnish story of "the Golden Bird," a story very much like -"Cinder Jack" (in this collection), p. 149, a wolf brings fortune and -power to the hero because he fed her and her young ones. - -In another Finnish story, "Oriiksi muutettu poika" (The Enchanted -Steed), in _Suomalaisia Kansansatuja_, i. (Helsingissae, 1881), a fox -assists the fugitives to defeat the devil, who pursues them. This tale -is very much like the latter part of "Handsome Paul," p. 33. Compare -also a variant from near Wiborg in _Tidskriften Suomi_, ii. 13, p. 120. - -In a Lapp story a little bird helps. See "Jaetten og Veslegutten," from -Hammerfest. _Lappiske Eventyr og Folkesagn ved. Prof. Friis, -Christiania_, 1871,[3] p. 52, &c. - -It is a cat in "Jaetten, Katten og Gutten," from Alten, _Friis_, 63; and -a fox in "Bondesonnen, Kongesonnen og Solens Soster," from Tanen, -_Friis_, 140. - -Mr. Quigstad reports another variant from Lyngen, in which also a cat -helps the hero. - -See also Steere's _Swahili Tales_: "Sultan Darai"; Dasent's _Tales from -the Norse_: "Lord Peter," and "Well done, and ill-paid." - -_Old Deccan Days_: "The Brahman." "The Tiger and the Six Judges." - -Mitford's _Tales of Old Japan_: "The Grateful Foxes." "The Adventures of -little Peachling"; and a Bohemian story of the Dog and the Yellow-hammer -in Vernaleken's _In the Land of Marvels_. - -Ralston's _Puss in Boots_ in _XIXth Century, January_, 1883. A most -interesting and exhaustive article. - -Ralston's _Russian Folk Tales_: "The water King and Vasilissa the Wise." -A story which in the beginning is very like "The Keyless Chest." - -Benfey's _Pantschatantra_, i. 208, and _passim_. - -Kletke, _Maerchensaal aller Voelker_: "Gagliuso." - -Perrault, _Contes des Fees_: "Le maitre chat." - -Hylten-Cavallius and Stephens. _Svenska Folksagor_, i. _Stockholm_, -1844: "Slottet som stod pa Guldstolpar." - -Gubernatis, _Zoological Mythology_, vol. i. 193; vol. ii. 134, 157. - -Grimm's _Household Tales_, Bohn's ed. vol. i. "the Golden Bird," p. 227; -vol. ii. pp. 46, 154, 323, 427, 527. - -_Mentone Stories_, in the _Folk-Lore Record_, vol. iii. part 1, 43. - -Denton's _Serbian Folk-Lore_, 51, 296. - -Naake's _Slavonic Tales_: "Golden Hair," p. 133, a Bohemian Tale. - -Stokes's _Indian Fairy Tales_: "The Demon and the King's Son," 180. - -Payne's _The Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night_, "Abou -Mohammed," vol. iv. p. 10.[4] - - - - -STEPHEN THE MURDERER. Kriza, xviii. - - -The Hungarians have had a Dr. Faust in the person of Professor Hatvani, -but in his case he got the best of the bargain; see _A Magyar Fauszt_, -by Maurus Jokai. The Hungarian professor is an historical personage, and -only resembles Dr. Faust in having a compact with the devil. - -Lad. Arany traces a resemblance between this tale and one in Benfey's -_Pantschatantra_, where it is related how a poor Brahmin, in reward for -his long penitence, has his bones thrown into the sacred waters of the -Ganges. - -There is a curious Finnish story which resembles this tale, -"Ennustukset" (Predictions), from Ilomantsi in _S. ja T._ ii. 64-72. Two -wise men (seers) were out walking, and came near a house where a ewe was -just in the throes of parturition. The younger man wished the elder (and -chief) to help it. "Why should I?" replied he, "a wolf will eat the -lamb." "It is very sad; but still we ought to help the poor sheep." In a -moment the lamb was born. Just then the cries of the mistress of the -house were heard, for she was in travail. The young man again begged his -companion to use his power. "Well! I will help her," said the old seer; -"but would it be kind, for the boy, when born, will murder his father?" -He gave his assistance, and in a moment the child was born. The master -of the house, however, had overheard the conversation, and told it to -his wife, who was horrified at the news. Upon talking it over, they -decided to let the lamb and child live, as the men's words were most -likely of no importance. In the autumn, at the feast of Keyri (the -cattle-god), the lamb was slain and made into Keyri soup, according to -the old custom. The broth was put on the table, and the meat in the -window to cool;[5] and the couple laughed at the words of the men. After -the broth was finished they went for the meat, and lo! it was all -scattered on the ground, and a wolf was devouring the last pieces at its -leisure. - -They were terrified, and cried, "Well, then! the men's words were true." -The man then snatched the child out of its cradle, and was about to cut -its throat, when the woman cried, "Do not kill our own child! Let us -fasten it on a plank, and put it to sea, so that it may die in that -way." And so they did. Tossed by wind and waves, the child chanced to -come to the shore near a monastery, where a peasant found him and took -him to the abbot, who brought him up. When he had grown up, he got tired -of living there, and was sent to the mainland. He wandered on and on -till he came to a house. The mistress only was in, the master being in -the wood. Here the lad was engaged to go and look after the turnips, as -some thieves had been stealing them; and the mistress gave him a bow and -arrows, with strict orders to shoot any one who came. This just suited -the lad, who went and hid himself behind a large stone in the middle of -the field. Before long a man came over the fence and filled his arms -with turnips. The lad drew his bow and shot, and the man fell. The lad -returned home, and told what he had done; and the mistress said that she -was glad that the thief had perished. They then waited for the master's -return, but as he did not come, they went to look for him, and found -that the lad had killed him. The lad stayed with the woman, and after a -time married her, and all went well till one day they went to the -bath[6] together; then she saw a red stripe on the man's chest, and -asked, "What is this?" "I don't know," replied he, "I've had it ever -since I was born." "Where were you born?" asked the woman. He then told -her all he knew; and, to their horror, i they found out they were mother -and son. The man at once set off to the wise men, to know what to do, -and how to be forgiven. On the way he met a monk, with a book under his -arm, and said, "I've killed my father, and married my mother! How can I -be forgiven?" The monk looked through his book and said, "Poor man! your -sins can never be forgiven; they are too awful." The man could not -contain himself when he heard this, and struck the monk such a blow that -he died. - -He then went on and met an older monk and told him all. He looked -through his book and said "There is no forgiveness." He then killed this -monk also. Going on he met a third monk with books under his arms, and -cried, "I've killed my father, and married my mother, and murdered two -old men who said there was no forgiveness. What do you think?" The old -man looked through his books, thought a little, and said, "There is no -crime so great but that it can be forgiven when man truly repents. You -must go to a rock and dig a well in it. Wait till the water rises. And -your mother must sit beside it with a black sheep in her arms until its -wool becomes white." When the man heard this he thanked the monk, and -returned and told his mother all. So they went to a rock, and the man -began to dig with a chisel; and the woman sat beside him with the sheep -in her arms. He worked for a long time, but with no success. Now the -rock was close to the road, and good and bad passed by. One day a -gentleman drove past gaily, the horse-bells tinkling as he went; he -asked the man what he was doing, and was told all. "Who and what are -you?" said the man. "O! I am a very clever man," replied the other. "I -can make wrong right, and right wrong. I am going to the assizes, where -I will help you if you pay me." This enraged the man, because he had to -work so hard, whilst the other lived by trickery. Whilst he grumbled his -old anger flared up, and he struck the gentleman in the forehead with -his chisel and killed him. In a moment the rock opened and there was a -well, and the black sheep became white. This they were exceedingly glad -to see, but the man did not know what to do about killing the gentleman. -So he went to the old monk again and told him all. "Well!" said the -monk, "that's better. He has sinned much more against God than you; -therefore your time of repentance has been shortened. Go in peace." Thus -the sinners escaped judgment and continued to live together in peace. -The one as mother, the other as son. So much for that! (The ordinary -ending of Finnish tales.) - -Another Finnish story, "Antti Puuhaara" (Andrew Tree Twig), _S. ja. T._ -ii. 100, begins much in the same way, only in that case the child is to -be heir of a rich merchant who happened to be in the house at the time -and overheard all. He does his best to prevent the prediction coming -true; which, however, spite of all, is fulfilled. Cf. _Magyarische -Sagen_ von Mailath. "Die Brueder." Also "_Die Thaten des Bogda Gesser -Chans_," _eine ostasiatische Heldensage aus dem mongolischen uebersetzt -von J. J. Schmidt_, _Petersburg_ 1839. And _Folk-lifvet i Skytts haerad i -Skane wid boerjan af detta arhundrade, Barndomsminnen utgifna af -Nicolovius_, _Lund_. 1847. "Rike Pehr Kraemare." Also _Dasent_, "Rich -Peter the Pedlar"; _Grimm_, "The Devil with the Three Golden Hairs"; and -_Sagas from the Far East_, in which the king fears when he hears the -hermit's prophecy of his son's future, p. 268. - -The bed that the devils so much dreaded occurs in the Polish tale, -"Madey," Naake's _Slavonic Tales_, p. 220. A merchant being lost in a -wood promises an evil spirit that he will give him something that he had -not seen in his house if he will set him in the right road. This -something turns out to be a son born in the merchant's absence. When the -boy grows up he sets out to get the bond from the devil that his father -gave when lost in the wood. As the lad goes on his journey he comes to -the hut of a robber of the name of Madey. He had murdered his father, -and only spared his mother to prepare his food. Here, as in the Magyar -story, the lad is spared on condition that he finds out what sort of bed -is prepared for the robber in hell. The lad enters hell by means of holy -water and incense, and the lame demon Twardowski[7] is threatened with -Madey's bed if he does not give up the bond, which he is loth to do. -This at once produces the desired effect, and Madey was so horrified at -the lad's account of the bed that he struck his murderous club into the -ground, and vowed he would wait till the lad returned as a bishop. Years -afterwards, when the little boy had become a bishop, he found a -beautiful apple tree and an old man kneeling at its foot. The tree was -the robber's club, the old man Madey. As Madey makes his confession -apple after apple becomes a dove and flies heavenward, till at last he -confesses his father's murder, and then the last disappears; and, as the -bishop pronounces the absolution, Madey crumbles to dust. - -See, also, _Svenska Folksaegner_, _af H. Hofberg_, _Stockholm_, 1882, p. -48. "Ebbe Skammelsson was a knight who was engaged to the beauteous -Malfrid of Tiraholm. As they both were yet young, the knight set out for -the Holy Land, promising to return in seven years. Soon after Ebbe's -departure Malfrid's father died, and the maid remained with her mother. -Years rolled on, but Ebbe did not return; and as the maid began to fade -away, her mother promised her to another, thinking Ebbe must be dead. -There was a splendid wedding; and just as the guests sat down to the -table, a knight in golden armour galloped up to the house. The bride -turned pale beneath her crown, and the mother, who recognised Ebbe, -rushed out and reminded him that the seven years were past, and he was -too late. In wild rage he struck off the lady's head; and then, dashing -into the wedding hall, slew the bride and bridegroom. Filled with horror -and remorse at his own deeds, he vaulted on to his horse, and rode into -the wild woods. There he roamed in agony and despair. The pope's -indulgence was obtained at the holy father's feet, but not peace; so, -returning to the home of his old love, he begged the judge to sentence -him to the severest punishment. After long deliberation the council -determined that he should be loaded with the heaviest irons, and should -pass a day and a night on each of the three hundred and sixty-five -islands in Bolmen. This was carried out; and in his little boat he -dragged himself from isle to isle. At length he reached the last, and -crawled into a barn. His sad fate had made a deep impression on the -people, and a minstrel wrote a song, which, a witch said, so soon as -Ebbe heard, his irons would fall off and he would die. As he lay in the -barn, a servant, who went to milk the cows, began to sing, 'Knight -Ebbe's Song.' He listened with breathless attention, and then cried out: -'One part is true, one part is false.' The girl fled in terror. Soon the -villagers gathered round to know who he was. He dragged himself to the -hill, and, telling who he was, begged to be taken to the churchyard. -Now, between the village of Angelstad and the church there is a large -stone: mounting this, Ebbe cried, 'Am I worthy to rest in consecrated -ground? If so, let it be....' At that moment the irons dropped off, and -he died. The people buried him in the path, outside the north wall of -the church; but the wall fell down each night, until it was so built as -to include the outlaw's grave. The crosses on the roof of the parish -church are said to be made of Ebbe's fetters, which for a long time hung -inside the sacred building." Cf. J. Allvin, _Beskrifning oefver Vestbo -haerad_, p. 147. The same story, with some slight difference, is current -in Halland.[8] A comparison between this and the wild Finnish story is -not without interest, as shewing the humanising influence which has -toned down the rude and rugged teaching of the early ages. - -Cf. Campbell, _Tales of the Western Highlands_, p. 19: "The -Inheritance." - -Baring Gould, _Curious Myths of the Middle Ages_. "The Mountain of -Venus," p. 213. - -_Grimm_, vol. ii. p. 366. "The Three Green Twigs." - -Merenyi, _Tales from the Banks of the Danube_, vol. ii. p. 7, in -Hungarian. - -There is an interesting Lapp variant, "Fattiggutten, Fanden og -Guldbyen." _Friis_, p. 161. - - - - -THE LAMB WITH THE GOLDEN FLEECE. Kriza, ix. - - -Cf. _Round the Yule Log._ "Hans, who made the Princess laugh," p. 269. - -_Grimm_, vol. ii. "The Jew among the Thorns," p. 97 and Notes, p. 410, -in which the Jew is compelled to dance to the sound of the fiddler. - -Engel's _Musical Myths_, vol. ii. "The Indefatigable Fiddler," p. 29, -and the "Ratcatcher of Hamelin," p. 37. (Also, _Baring Gould's Curious -Myths_, p. 417.) - -_Griechische und Albanische Maerchen, von J. G. von Hahn, Leipzig_, 1864, -vol. i. p. 222, and vol. ii. p. 240.--_Ladislaus Arany._ "The Sad -Princess" (in Hungarian).--_Gaal_, vol. iii. "The Powerful Whistle." - - - - -FISHER JOE. Kriza, xvi. - - -_Page 16. Grimm_, vol. i, "The Gold Children," p. 331, where a man draws -a gold fish out of the water, which tells him if he will throw it back -into the water he shall have a splendid castle. He throws it back, and -all comes as the fish said. The fisher must not reveal how it has come -about; but his wife's curiosity makes him break his word, and all -disappears.[9] The man catches the fish once more, and the same things -happen, wealth and destitution; and then the fish is caught a third -time. This time the fish is cut into six pieces, two of which are put in -the ground, and grow up as golden cities; two are given to the man's -horse, which has two golden foals; and two to the man's wife, who bears -two golden children. See _Grimm's_ notes, p. 453. _Gubernatis_, vol. i. -p. 249 (as to Phallic Significance), and vol. ii. sub. art. "Fish," p. -330. Also Caballero's (Spanish) _Fairy Tales_, "The Bird of Truth," p. -1, and the "Knights of the Fish," p. 29, where a poor cobbler, with no -work, goes a-fishing as a last resource, catches a fish, and cuts it -into six, with the same result as in the above tale. And _Portuguese -Folk-Tales, Folk-Lore Society_, 1882; "The Baker's Idle Son," p. 72; -Payne's _Arabian Nights_, vol. i. pp. 33-51. - -Just as Fisher Joe lays his head on his wife's knee, and sleeps while -wonders happen, so does the drummer rest, while the maiden does his -tasks for him, in the story of the "Drummer," in _Grimm_, ii. 335. - -Cf. also Dasent's _Tales from the Norse_. "The Mastermaid," p. 84, and -Denton's _Serbian Folk-Lore_. "The Golden Fleeced Ram," p. 71. - -_Page 18._ The trouble that comes from the king (or lord) seeing the -hero's wife, or bride, is a common incident in Folk-Tales. - -See the Finnish "Leppaepoelkky" (Alder Block). _S. ja T._ ii. p. 2, where -the hero, after infinite trouble, secures the lovely Katherine, who is -said to be so beautiful that-- - - - "One can see her skin through her clothes, - Her flesh through her skin, - Her bones through her flesh, - Her marrow through her bones!" - - -When he arrived at home with his lovely prize, the king wished to know -the whole of his adventures. Now it so happened that Alder Block had -during his travels changed himself to an ermine, and had heard -Syoejaetaer--who was the mother of the snakes he and his comrades had -killed--tell what plans she had for destroying her children's murderer, -as in the Magyar tale of "The three Princes, the three Dragons, and the -Old Woman with the Iron Nose," p. 202 of this collection. Syoejaetaer -declared at the same time that whoever dared to repeat her words[10] -would be changed into a blue cross. Alder Block saved his comrades from -the snares till the last one, which took the form "of beds with feather -pillows;" and this time his companions, before he could stop them, threw -themselves down, and were caught. The king ordered him to explain why -his companions were not with him; and as Alder Block did so, he changed -into a blue cross, standing in the churchyard. The whole story is a most -interesting one, weaving in materials that are ordinarily to be found, -not in one, but in many folk tales. The end of all is, the king got the -lovely Katherine, and "took her to his castle, where they still live -to-day, and perhaps to-morrow also; and there came good sons and -beautiful daughters. I was also at the wedding. They gave me a wax -horse. The saddle was made of turnip and the whip of peas. The feast -lasted for many days; and when I came from it I came to Riettilae's corn -kiln.[11] The kiln began to burn, and I to extinguish it. In the heat my -horse began to melt, my saddle to roast, and the village's illegitimate -children to eat it up. I began to drive them away, but the dogs were set -at me; and when I began to whip them, they bit my whip to pieces. So all -my things were destroyed, and poor me fell down. Perhaps I shall never -be well again, it was so long." Compare this characteristic ending with -that of the Magyar tales. - -In the Finnish "Ei-niin-mitae" (Just nothing), _S. ja T._ ii. 53, a man -catches a swan-maiden of great beauty. The king, so soon as he hears of -her, determines to have her for his son, and the courtiers advise him to -make the man procure--1st, "A table, on which is painted the moon and -stars;" this his wife gets her husband while he is asleep; 2nd, "he was -to go nowhere and fetch nothing." His wife again helps him, by sending -him to a house where an old woman summons all her servants (Cf. "Fairy -Elizabeth," p. 106). This time it is a frog who takes the man, and he at -length comes to a palace; and as he paces the floor at night, he mutters -to himself, "Just nothing." "Beg your pardon," says a voice; and he -finds that he has an invisible companion, who obeys all his commands, -and answers to the name of "Just Nothing." When he returns to the king, -he finds they are just celebrating the wedding of the king's son with -his own wife, who does not recognise him till he drops a ring into the -empty goblet out of which he has drunk the corn brandy the bride had -given him. By his new powers he soon upsets the bad king and his host, -and then all is joy and happiness. Cf. _Musaeus_, _Volksmaerchen der -Deutschen von J. L. Klee_. _Leipzig_, 1842. "Der geraubte Schleier"; -_Walachische Maerchen von A. und A. Schott_. _Stuttgart_, 1845. "Der -verstossene Sohn." Weil, _Tausend und eine Nacht_, vol. iv. "Geschichte -des Prinzen Ojanschach;" _Irische Elfenmaerchen, von Grimm_. _Leipzig_, -1826. "Die Flasche." - -Kletke, _Maerchensaal aller Voelker, fuer Jung und Alt_. _Berlin_ 1845, -vol. iii. "Der Wundermann." - -Cf. "Bondesonnen, Kongesonnen og Solens Soster," _Friis_, p. 140; where -the hero, by means of a fox, rescues the Sun's sister's sister, "Evening -Red," from the giants who had stolen her, and who were turned into -pillars of stone as soon as they caught sight of the Sun's sister, Dawn. -So soon as the king heard of her, he determined to have her for his -son's wife, and set heavy tasks for the hero to perform, which he does -by means of his wife's power. - -In another tale from Tanen, "Baeive Kongens eller Sol Kongens Datter," -_Friis_, p. 152, the hero will insist upon the king knowing that he is -going home with the Sun King's daughter, whom he has caught by stealing -her swan dress, and so gets into trouble, as the king does all he can to -get possession of the girl. - -In "Gutten, som tjente hos Kongen," _Friis_, p. 167, from Tanen, the -hero is to have the king's daughter in return for faithful service but -at the last moment the king demands certain labours before he will allow -the marriage to take place. In this case it is the Gieddegaes old -woman, that is, a wise or troll woman, who helps the hero. - -A magic ship that can sail over land and sea is a favourite in Lapp -stories, and is often one of the tasks set. Cf. "Ruobba[12] Jaetten og -Fanden," _Friis_, p. 67. Here the third son feeds axes, augurs, planes, -and all sorts of tools,[13] which come and beg for food, and by their -means builds the ship. See Finnish "Maan, meren, kulkija laiwa" ("The -Ship that can Sail on Land and Sea"), from Ilomantsi. _S. ja T._ ii. p. -22. - -Somewhat similar incidents occur in the tale "Seppo Ilmarisen kosinta" -("Smith Ilmarinen's Courtship"). _S. ja T._ i. p. 1, wherein Ilmarinen -goes to woo fair Katherine, the Hiihto king's daughter. The first task -was to plough the king's snake-field--where the snakes were crawling -two yards deep--in bare feet and bare skin. Then he sang a lake full of -fishes into the courtyard. Next he went to bring a chest which had been -covered for a long time, and which the old man, Untamoinen, had. When -Ilmarinen asked for the beautiful Katherine's wedding chest the old man -replied, "If you can stand on my tongue, jump and dance, then I will -give it to you." The smith jumped on to his tongue, but the old man's -mouth was so wide he swallowed Ilmarinen. The smith did not mind that; -he made a smithy of his shirt, bellows of his trousers, used his left -knee for an anvil, and his left hand for tongs. Of the copper buckle of -his skirt he made a bird with claws of iron and bill of steel. He then -sang a song and the bird became alive, and by its means he dug his way -out of Untamoinen's stomach, got the chest, and after a great many -troubles with fair Katherine at last got home. - -In the latter part of the tale one is reminded of such stories as -_Household Stories from the Land of Hofer_, "St. Peter's Three Loaves," -p. 265; _Grimm_, vol. ii., "The Rich Man and the Poor Man," p. 1, and -Notes, p. 373; Stokes's _Indian Tales_, "Rajah Harichand's Punishment," -p. 224. - - - - -LUCK AND BLISS. Kriza, xii. - - -Cf. Caballero's _Spanish Tales_, "Dame Fortune and Don Money," p. 190, -and "Fortune and Misfortune," p. 147. - -_Naake_, "Wisdom and Fortune," p. 243, a Bohemian tale. - - - - -THE LAZY CAT. Kriza, xi. - - -This tale does not call for any special remark. - - - - -HANDSOME PAUL. Kriza, i. - - -_Page 25_. Old men in Hungary are always addressed as "my father," or -"my elder brother," and in turn address their juniors as "my son," or -"my younger brother." Women are also addressed as "mother," "daughter," -"elder sister," or "younger sister." Cf. the "little father," in modern -Russian; also _Reynard the Fox in South Africa_, by Dr. Bleek, "The Lion -who took a Woman's Shape," p. 50, where the lion calls a woman "my -mother" and "my aunt," and she calls him "my uncle." - -Fisk, _Myths and Myth-Makers_, pp. 166, 167, Zulu Uthlakanyana meets a -cannibal, whom he calls "uncle," and is called "child of my sister." The -Yakuts in Siberia call the bear "beloved uncle." - -Tylor's _Primitive Culture_, vol. ii. p. 231. - -Tylor's _Early History of Mankind_. pp. 130-49; 288-91. - -Ibn Batuta, the Moorish traveller, mentions that in his time--about -1347--old men in Cansai, the modern Hangchenfu, were commonly addressed -as "Atha," _i. e._ "Father" in Turkish. Cf. _The Travels of Friar -Odoric_ (Hakluyt Soc.), iv. p. 288. - -_Vide_ Giants in the Introduction to this collection. - -The incident of finding the giant occurs in many stories, _e.g._ a -Finnish tale relates how some sailors sailing along the coast near -Wiborg saw a fire lighted on the shore, and, as they were nearly frozen, -landed, and found to their horror a giant laid round it with his feet -under his head (cf. Giant in "Fairy Elizabeth," p. 99 of this vol.) The -giant awakes and asks where they are from, and hearing that they were -from Wiborg, tells them he knows it well, and drinks with great gusto a -tun of tar, remarking, "Ah! that's the old Wiborg drink!" Topelius, -_Boken om vart Land. Helsingfors_, 1875, p. 153. - -See also a similar tale, "Glosheds Altare," from Bohuslaen, _Hofberg_, p. -81. It is commonly reported in Bohuslaen and Dal that the giants withdrew -to Dovre in Norway, or else to some uninhabited island in the North Sea, -and that they most anxiously inquired of any travellers they came across -how things were going on in their native land. They are said to have -left their homes "when modern mankind began to exist," in the Swedish -stories. They often declare it was on account of the continued ringing -that they left the land. - -In "Ulfgrytstenarna," from Naerike, the giant hearing the bells for the -first time tells his wife to put a stone in her garter and sling it at -the grey cow which is tinkling near Hjelmar, meaning the newly-built -church at Oerebro. The giantess threw the stone thirteen miles too far. -The giant threw and missed, and the bells sounded with wondrous -clearness. The giant then seized two enormous rocks, and set off to -crush the church; on the way an old man who had set out to stop him, -showed him a pile of shoes worn out by his journey from Oerebro. The -giant threw the rocks down and went home. _Hofberg_, p. 132. - -See also the story about the old man and Ragnar Lodbrok, who is said to -have delivered Rome from the Norse men, by showing their worn-out iron -shoes. Also Gibeonites and Joshua; Joshua, ix. 5. - -Giants sometimes built instead of destroying religious houses. See -_Afzelius, Svenska Folkets Sagohaefder_, v. p. 31, where the giant Rise -is said to have built Riseberg Monastery and given it his own name; also -"Skaluda-Jaetten," a story from Vestergoetland. - -For a giant's appetite, _p. 26_, see "Vas Peter," a tale quoted by -Kozma, in which Glutton eats 366 fat oxen in six hours, and Drunkard -empties 366 casks of wine, each holding one hundred buckets, in the same -time. - -Big Mouth, in "Hidatsa," an Indian tale, drinks enormous draughts. -_Folk-Lore Record_, vol. i. p. 140. - -The horse in "Prince Mirko," p. 65, like the giant in this tale, asks -the hero what he sees, and then tells him to shut his eyes, whilst they -go on. - -_Page 27_. The king's daughter falling in love with one who acts as -servant is a common incident in Finnish and Lapp tales. Generally, the -hero is one who by wearing a cap on the pretext of having a sore head -conceals his beauty, which the king's daughter by chance happens to see -when the cap is off. - -Cf. "Tuhkamo" from Sodan Kyla in North Finland, _S. ja T._ i. p. 35, -where the hero is told to fell all the trees near a bay, and is assisted -by his bride. The whip as a mode of summoning assistance is mentioned in -"Fisher Joe," _supra_, p. 16. - -For difficult tasks vide "Fisher Joe," _supra_, p. 18; "The Three -Brothers," p. 153; "The King and the Devil," p. 192; "The Widower and -his Daughter," p. 208; "The Girl with the Golden Hair," p. 271. - -Cf. also _Malagasy Isulakolona_, in _Folk-Lore Journal_, 1884, p. 130. - -Also _Verhandlungen der gelehrten Estnischen Gesellschaft zu Dorpat. -Zweiter Band, drittes Heft_, p. 76. "Der dankbare Fuerstensohn." - -Stier, _Ungarische Maerchen_, "Das kleine Zauberpferd."--Kletke, -_Maerchensaal aller Voelker_, "Die glaeserne Hacke"; "Kojata"; "Der -Orangenbaum und die Biene." - -_Polnische Volksagen und Maerchen_, by Woycicki, translated by Levestam, -"Die Flucht." - -Hylten-Cavallius och Steffens. _Svenska Folksagor_. "Hafs-Firum." - -_Samlade Smaerre Beraettelser_, af C. F. Ridderstad, _Linkoeping_, 1849. -"Agnete lille Dei." - -Winter, _Danske Folkeventyr_: "Prindsen och Havmanden." - -The reader need not be surprised to hear that the simple Magyar peasant -uses classical names like Pluto, Furuzsina (Euphrosine); for until 1848 -Latin was the official language, and many of the scientific works were -written in it, and so a great many words found their way into the vulgar -tongue, such as: penna, calamus, bugyellaris (pugillares), jus, &c. - -_Page 32_. The chase after the fugitives is a well-known folk-tale -incident. See several instances in this collection. Generally the -pursuer is stopped by something thrown down by the pursued. See "The -Little Magic Pony," p. 160, and notes _infra_. - -In other stories such as the present and "The King and the Devil," p. -193, the pursued change into all manner of wonderful things. Cf. -_Grimm_, vol. i. "Fundevogel," p. 202, and "The Two King's Children," -vol. ii. p. 113. - -In a Portuguese Folk-Tale, "The Daughter of the Witch," F.L.S. 1882, p. -15, the boy becomes a public road, and the girl an old man with a sack -on his back; then the boy becomes a hermitage and the girl a hermit; and -lastly, when the mother comes, who, as usual, is the keenest witted, the -lad becomes a river, and the girl an eel. The mother, as she cannot -catch the eel, pronounces the curse of forgetfulness in case any one -should kiss the hero, which one of his sisters does, while he sleeps. -See also in the same collection, "May you vanish like the wind," p. 20. - -In "Fairy Helena," a story quoted by Kozma in his paper read before the -Hungarian Academy, the fairy's father blows across a wide river, and at -once it is spanned by a golden bridge. The fairy then strikes a rusty -table-fork with a _kourbash_, and it at once becomes a golden steed, -upon which the lovers flee into Italy. When they discover that they are -followed, Helena spits on the floor, the door-latch, and the hinge of -the door, and each expectoration speaks, and so deludes the king's -messengers, and allows the fugitives more time (Cf. Ralston's _Russian -Tales_, p. 142; _Grimm_, i.: "Sweetheart Roland," p. 225, where one -change of Roland is to a fiddler, who makes the witch dance till dead.) -The king following in the form of a gigantic eagle, the tips of whose -wings touch heaven and earth, reminds of such stories as the Lapp -"Jaetten og Veslegutten," from Hammerfest, _Friis_. p. 49, where the -giant is heard coming like a gust of wind; and in "Jaetten og Drengen -hans," from Tanen, _id_. p. 58, where the giant and his wife pursue the -lad, as he walks away, with his bag of silver coins. - -See also Finnish "Oriiksi muntettu poika," _S. ja. T._ i. 142, and -variants there given, in which the devil follows in the form of a -storm-cloud. - -Wonderful transformations of a like sort occur in Indian stories, -_e.g._, "The Phulmati Rani's arms and legs grew into four houses, her -chest became a tank, and her head a house in the middle of the tank; her -eyes turned into two little doves; and these five houses, the tank, and -the doves, were transported to the jungle. The little doves lived in the -house that stood in the middle of the tank. The other houses stood round -the tank." Stokes' _Indian Tales_, "Phulmati Rani," p. 5, and "The Bel -Princess," p. 148, where we read, "Then the girl took a knife in her own -hand, and cut out her two eyes; and one eye became a parrot, and the -other a _maina_ (a kind of starling). Then she cut out her heart, and it -became a great tank. Her body became a splendid palace and garden; her -arms and legs became the pillars that supported the verandah roof; and -her head the dome on the top of the palace." - -_Page 34_. For the curse of oblivion see Panch-Phul Ranee, _Old Deccan -Days_, p. 143, where the conjurors throw some powder in the rice and -fire, and no sooner did the rajah receive them than he forgot his wife, -child, and all that had ever happened to him. In "Chandra's Vengeance," -p. 260, forgetfulness is brought about by enchanted drink. Cf. _Grimm_, -ii. "The Drummer," p. 338. - -In the romance of _Ogier le Danois_, Morgue la Faye, who had kissed -Ogier at his birth, but had been forgotten by him, meets him when he is -a hundred years old, and by means of a ring restores him to youth and -beauty. When Ogier drew near to the castle of Avalon he was met by -singing fays, and a glorious crown placed on his head, whereupon he -instantly forgot all the past, and had no thought "ni de la dame -Clarice, qui tant estoit belle et noble ... ne de creature vivante." See -Keightley's _Fairy Mythology, Bohn's Library_, p. 48. - -The Irish tale of "Grey Norris" from Warland, tells how a little dog -jumps up and kisses the hero, and at once he forgets the poor princess -who waits outside. _Folk-Lore Journal_, 1883, p. 323. - -The Polish tale "Prince Unexpected," contains a similar incident. _Id_. -1884, p. 16. - - - - -THE TRAVELS OF TRUTH AND FALSEHOOD. Kriza, ii. - - -In another version three crows discuss the healing powers of the dew. -Cf. also another version communicated by Kriza in the _Szepirodalmi -Figyeloe_. The tale is also found in Hungary Proper. Cf. Gaal, _Maerchen -der Magyaren_, "Die dankbaren Thiere." - -Cf. Cruelty of sister or others: in "Envious Sisters," p. 50, "The Three -Brothers," p. 152, and "The Girl without Hands," p. 182. - -Steere's _Swahili Tales_, "Blessing or Property," p. 397. - -Also Wagner's _Asgard and the Gods_, p. 113, where Holda's Quick-born -(fountain of life) restores the crippled and aged. Spanish peasants -believe in a mysterious herb, _pito-real_, invisible to men, and known -to swallows only, which restores eyesight. See _Folk-Lore Record_, p. -295. 1883. - -_Page 37_. Obtaining useful knowledge in secret. Cf. _Sagas from Far -East_, xiv. "The Avaricious Brother," p. 151, in which the poor brother -obtained precious gifts, which he saw the Dakinis (female genii) use; -the rich brother when he heard of it went to see what he could get, and -was seized by the enraged spirits, and after due consultation punished, -by having his nose pulled out five ells long, and nine knots tied in it. - -In _Old Deccan Days_, "The Learned Owl," p. 74, tells how the birds in -the tree tell secrets. In "The Wanderings of Vicram Maharajah," p. 121, -it is two cobras, and in "Panch-Phul Ranee," p. 139, two jackals. - -See also _Stories from Mentone_, "The Charcoal Burners," p. 41. -_Folk-Lore Record_, vol. iii.; and Stokes' _Indian Tales_, "The Fair -Prince," p. 198. - -Cf. Finnish "Totuus ja walhe" (Truth and falsehood), and "Riuta ja -Rauta;" under section 10 of _S. ja T._ ii. pp. 134-146, entitled "Paha -on pettaejaen perintoe" (The Deceiver's part is a bad one). - -_Magyarische Sagen_, by Mailath, i. "Die Brueder," p. 169. - -Gerle, _Volksmaerchen der Boehmen_. _Prag._ 1819. "St. Walburgisnachttraum -oder die drei Gesellen." - -_Volkslieder und Sagen der Wenden_, von Haupt und Schmaler, _Grimma_ -1843. "Recht bleibt immer Recht." - -_Old Deccan Days_, "Truth's Triumph," p. 50. - -_Serbian Folk-Lore:_ "Justice or Injustice--which is best?" p. 83. Where -the heroes are king's sons, and the just one is helped by fairies who -come to the spring to bathe. - -In "The two Travellers," _Grimm_, vol. ii. p. 81, the heroes are a -sour-tempered shoemaker and a merry tailor. Two sinners hanging on the -gallows talk, and thus the sightless tailor learns many secrets. So soon -as he recovers his sight, he sets off, and arrives at the very town -where the shoemaker has gone, who persuades the king to set the tailor -terrible tasks to perform, which he does, by the aid of grateful -animals, whose lives he spared. The cobbler has his eyes picked out by -the crows that sit on the heads of the two hanged men. See notes, p. -408, and a fragmentary story of "The Men on the Gallows," p. 466, in the -same volume. - -In Naake's _Slavonic Tales_, "Right and Wrong," from the Servian, the -Vilas, beings peculiar to Servia, female genii, come to the spring where -the blind brother is, and talk. - -Also Dasent's _Tales from the Norse_, "True and Untrue," p. 1. - -_Undvalgte Eventyr og Fortoellinger_ ved C. Molbech, _Kjoebenhavn_, -1843. "Godtro og utro, et Skaansk Folkesagn." - -_Sagen, Maerchen und Lieder der Herzogthuemer Schleswig--Holstein and -Lauenburg_ vom R. Muellenhoff. _Kiel_, 1845. "Vom Bauernsohn der Koenig -ward." - -_Portuguese Stories_. "Unless the Lord build the house, they labour in -vain who build it." _Folk-Lore Record_, 1881, p. 157. The driver hears -the devils talking on the top of the cave, where he shelters, and by -means of which he obtains riches and honour. In this case, the gouging -out of the eyes is omitted, and the whole story modified, and, if one -may so say, Christianised. - - - - -THE HUNTING PRINCES. Kriza, iii. - - -Steel, flint, and tinder, form to this day the "Smoker's companion" in -the rural districts of Hungary, although matches were invented more than -half a century ago by a Hungarian. - -_Page 39_. The youngest son in the Finnish story, "Ihmeellinen Sauwa," -(The Wonderful Stick,) _S. ja T._ i. p. 158, is told to shoot at an oak, -and if he hits it (which he does) he would find his mother who had been -carried off one day whilst walking in the garden years before. - -For other versions see "A Year Hence" in Gaal, vol. ii.; also "The Three -Princes" in the present vol. p. 110, and "The Prince who tied the Dawn" -in another collection of Erdelyi, entitled "_Magyar Nepmesek_." - -Dragons[14] appear at every turn in folk-lore, and therefore we can give -but a short selection of comparisons out of the countless hosts of -legends and tales. "At Lueska there is a dark cavern called the -Dragon's Den, which was the terror of the country, and its legend is an -interesting example of how old folk-tales are modified, as time rolls -on; in this case, the burghers of the town can't tell what to do, and a -little dwarf tinker declares he can kill the monster, but that he will -claim as his reward the hand of the burgomaster's daughter. The -burgomaster is mightily indignant, but is obliged to give way to the -force of popular opinion; and is surprised to find his daughter quite -willing to make the sacrifice for the sake of her neighbours. The tinker -confesses and communicates. He then sets off and gathers a herb called -dragon's bane--a powerful narcotic--and makes a strong infusion of it. -With this he sets out, driving two calves before him, and taking some of -his tools, and his fire-pan full of hot embers. The dragon soon scents -the cattle, and rushing out devours them. Meanwhile, the tinker views -all from a tree. Soon the dragon rolls over and falls asleep. The tinker -then pours a goatskin full of his infusion over the monster's head, who -falls into a deep sleep. Down comes the tinker and settles him, cuts off -his head, and carries it in triumph to the town, where the joyous crowd -carry him shoulder-high to the burgomaster's. There the tinker declares -that he will not accept the maiden's hand unless she accepts him freely -and willingly. The young girl, won by his magnanimous conduct, declares -he has won her heart. Whereat he flings off his disguise, and lo! the -lord of Csicso, who confesses that he has long loved the beautiful maid. -General happiness and joy. Curtain!" _Pictures of Hungarian Life_, p. -28. - -Cf. "Grendel" in the "Lay of Beowulf"; "The Lambton Worm," in Surtees' -_History of Durham_, ii. p. 173; Hardwick's _Traditions_, p. 40, and -Henderson's _Folk-Lore of Northern Counties_, F.L.S., under "Worms." -Nork, _Mythologie der Volksagen_, says, the dragon was sacred to Wodin, -and that its image was placed over houses, &c. to keep away evil -influences. - -In _Tales from Hofer's Land_, "The Three Black Dogs," p. 214, the dogs -kill the dragon, and Joessl marries the princess; in "Zovanin Senza -Paura," p. 348, fearless Johnny kills the dragon that has taken -possession of the fountains. - -Baring Gould's _Curious Myths_. "St. George," and Brady's _Clavis -Calendaria_, vol. i. p. 310. - -In Denton's _Serbian Folk-Lore_, "True-steel," p. 146, an alligator -replaces the dragon; the incidents are very like those in the Magyar -tale, but the tale is longer, beginning with three sisters, as well as -the brothers. The sisters are carried off, much the same as in the -Russian story "Marya-Morevna" (_Ralston_, p. 85); and, in seeking for -the sisters, the Magyar incidents come in. The story continues to tell -of the youngest son's entering the forbidden chamber, and letting loose -a man, True-steel, who was confined there (cf. Payne's _Arabian Nights_, -vol. i. p. 141, "Story of the Third Calender"), who runs away with his -wife. His labours to regain her occupy the rest of the tale. True-steel -is killed in the end, by the secret of his strength being destroyed, as -in "Punchkin." - -The tying up of Midnight and Dawn is a piece of primitive science that -in one shape or other is to be found in many stories. Cf. Lapp stories, -where "Evening Red," and the "Sun's Sister" are girls; _Friis_, No. 44; -and in No. 45 Ashiepattle goes for a golden lasso, and has to go till -the sunlight ceases; and then till the moonlight ceases; and then till -starlight ceases. When he arrives in the regions of darkness he finds -the golden lasso. The tale appears to be imperfect, and no use is made -of the lasso. Guns and cannons appear beyond the land of the moonlight! - -The Finnish "Leppaepoelkky" tells how Alder Block goes to a castle, and is -told "that a wicked one cursed the sunlight, and so a snake with nine -heads has taken it; and when the snake goes to the sea, he takes the sun -with him. When he is in the country it is day, when he is in the sea it -is night. A wicked one has cursed the moonshine, and a snake with six -heads has taken the moonshine. When he is on the land, it is light; but -when he is in the sea, it is dark. The wicked one has also cursed the -dawn, because it began to shine too soon, and he could not sleep; so the -snake with three heads has taken the dawn. When he is on the land we -have dawn, but when he is at sea we have no dawn." The heroes in turn -destroy the snakes; and dawn, the moon, and the sun escape; and as each -shines over the land, the people pray for blessings on the man's head, -who has delivered the dawn, moon, and sun. This appears to be pretty -clearly an attempt of early man to describe natural phenomena. The story -goes on to tell how the king offered his daughters to the heroes, but -they declined them, only asking for a little corn. - -There is a most interesting myth of Dawn and Twilight, well worthy of -notice, in the Esthonian "Koit ja Aemarik" (Dawn and Twilight). In old -times a mother had two daughters named Videvik (twilight) and Aemarik -(evening twilight). Both were charming and beautiful in appearance, and -in behaviour just as the song says: - - - "Pea valge, posld punased - Sitik mustad silmakulmud." - - "Eyes white, cheeks red, - Eyebrows black as a dung beetle." - - -When the sun went to its Creator (set), the elder sister came from the -plough with two oxen, and led them, as an intelligent being ought, to -the river's brink to drink. But, just as now, beauty is the first thing -among girls, and the good-looking ones often gaze into the -looking-glass. So, also, did she, the handsome Videvik. She let her oxen -be oxen, and went to the river's edge; and lo! there on the silver -looking-glass of the water lay reflected the eyebrows black as dung -beetles, and the charming gold-coloured cheeks, and her heart was glad. -The moon, who in accord with the Creator's command and ordinance, was -going to light the land, in place of the sun, who had sunk to rest, -forgot to attend to his duty, and threw himself, like an arrow, with -loving desire into the earth's deep bosom, down to the bottom of the -river; and there, mouth to mouth, and lip to lip, he sealed his -betrothal to Videvik with a kiss, and claimed her as his bride. But, -during this he had quite forgotten his duties; and, see! deep darkness -covered the land whilst he lay on Videvik's bosom. Then occurred a sad -misfortune. The forest robber, Wolf, who now had all his own way, as no -one could see him, tore one of Videvik's oxen, which had gone to the -forest to feed, and seized it as food for himself. Although the shrill -nightingale was heard, and its clear song from the forest rang through -the darkness: - - - "Lazy girl! lazy girl! the long night! the striped ox! - To the furrows! to the furrows! fetch the whip! fetch the nag! - Tsaet! Tsaet!" - - "Laisk tuedruk, laisk tuedruk, oeoepik! kirikueuet! - Raule, raule, too puets, too puets! - Tsaet! Tsaet!" - - -Yet Videvik heard not: she forgot all but love. Blind, deaf, and without -understanding is love. Of the five senses but feeling is left! When -Videvik at last woke from her love, and saw the Wolf's deed, she wept -bitterly, and her tears became a sea. The innocent tears did not fall -unobserved by Vana-isa (the old father). He stepped down from his golden -heaven to punish the evil-doers, and to set a watch over those who had -broken his commands. He scolded the wicked Wolf, and the Moon received -Videvik to wife. To this day Videvik's mild face shines by the Moon's -side, longingly looking at the water where she tasted for the first time -her husband's love. Then Vana-isa said, "In order that there may be no -more carelessness about the light, and lest darkness grows in power, I -command you, guardians, go each one to your place. And you, Moon and -Videvik, take charge of the light by night. Koit and Aemarik I put -daylight into your hands. Do your duty honestly. Daughter Aemarik in your -care I place the setting sun. See that in the evening every spark be put -out, so that no accident happen, and that all men be in peace! And you -my son Koit take care when you light the new light of the new day that -every place has its light." Both the Sun's servants honestly attended to -their duty, so that he was never missing, even for a single day, from -the heavens. The short summer nights now drew near, when Koit and Aemarik -stretched hand and mouth to each other: the time when the whole world -rejoices, and the little birds make the forests ring with their songs in -their own language; when plants begin to bloom, and shoot forth in their -beauty; when Vana-isa stepped down from his golden throne to keep -Lijon's festival. He found all in order, and rejoiced greatly over his -creation, and said to Koit and Aemarik, "I am pleased with your -watchfulness, and wish you continued happiness! You may now become man -and wife." But they both replied together, "Father, perplex us not. We -are satisfied as we are, and wish to remain lovers: for in this we have -found a happiness which never grows old, but is ever young." Vana-isa -granted their wish, and returned to his golden heaven. - -Cf. Castren, _Finsk Mytologi_, p. 66, and "Kalevala," Run. 17, line 478. -The Rev. Dr. Taylor kindly points out Dr. Donner's observation in his -_Lieder der Lappen_, p. 55: "Diese Anschauung ist doch bekanntlich auch -unter den arischen Voelkern vielfach verbreitet." - -For the discovery of the hero by his shooting, and the rest of the -incidents of the story, cf. _Grimm_, ii. "The Skilful Huntsman," p. 103, -and notes, p. 412: and the marshal in "The Two Brothers," _Grimm_, i. p. -252. In the Lapp. _Friis_, No. 18, the Vesle boy compels the nobles who -go out shooting with him to give him the rings they had received from -the princesses they are betrothed to, before he will give them some -ptarmigan he had shot, and which they are anxious to have, as they had -been unsuccessful in their search for game; and this in order to prevent -false boasting on the part of the nobles, as we find in other variants. -Juanillo, in the Spanish tale, makes each of his brothers give him a -golden pear, and then one of their ears; and next insists upon branding -them on the shoulder, as if they were his slaves: and so in the end -proves their treacherous conduct; see _Patranas_, "Simple Johnny," p. -38. - -In "Gutten, Havfruen, og Ridder Rod," from Lyngen, _Friis_, p. 131, -Knight Red[15] acts the part of a traitor, and is shown to be so by the -hero, who exhibits part of a ring, the other part of which the princess -has, and which they broke when the lad entered the princess' tower to -fetch the king's sword, which was hidden there. The reward for bringing -it to the battle-field being the princess' hand. - -See also Ritter Red in "Shortshanks," and the "Big Bird Dan," pp. 155, -443, in Dasent's _Tales from the Norse_. - -In a Russian tale (_Afanassieff_, vi. 52), Ivan, by the help of his -animals, kills the twelve-headed serpent that is killing all his people, -and then goes to sleep on the princess's knees. A water-carrier passing -cuts off Ivan's head, and presents himself as the hero. The beasts -return, and find a crow upon Ivan's body, which they spare on condition -that it brings the water of life and death. (This incident occurs in the -Finnish "Golden Bird" a raven coming with its young ones to eat the -corpse.) Ivan is resuscitated, and the water-carrier punished. -_Gubernatis_, vol. i. 216. Dogs restore the dead hero to life in the -story of "John and the Amulet." _Folk-Lore Record_, 1884, p. 197. The -candle at the princesses' heads suggests the Indian stories which tell -of sticks placed at the head or feet, and whilst they are there the girl -cannot move. _Stokes_, pp. 54, 186. - - - - -THE LAZY SPINNING GIRL WHO BECAME A QUEEN. Kriza, iv. - - -The story of the mannikin who is clever at spinning or weaving is -widespread. Thus, in a rubric of the "Catalan" map of the world, in the -National Library at Paris, the date of which map has been fixed at A.D. -1375, we read, "Here [N.W. of Catayo] grow little men who are but five -palms in length; and though they be little, and not fit for weighty -matters, yet they be brave and _clever at weaving_, and at keeping -cattle...." (Col. Yule's translation in _Cathay, and the Way Thither_.) - -A Swedish story tells how a young newly-married girl is terribly upset -by the constant calls of household work; and one morning, in despair at -the many things to be done, she shut herself in the room, and, throwing -herself on the couch, wept bitterly, saying, "Oh, unhappy me! Is there -no one to help me, or comfort a poor woman?" "I can," said a voice; and -lo! there was the old man of Hoberg, a good sprite, who had been a -friend to the family for generations. - -"You bewail your slave life," said the old man, "but that comes from -your want of practice in real work. I will give you ten obedient -servants who will faithfully assist you in all your doings." Just then -he shook his coat, and ten droll little creatures sprang out, and began -to put the room in order. "Stretch forth your hands to me," said the old -man. Elsa tremblingly put out her hands to the old man, who said-- - - - "Tummetott, Hjertehand - Slikepott, Lille Per Roligman." - Langestang,[16] - - -"Be quick and take your places!" In a moment the ministering spirits -disappeared into Elsa's fingers, and the old man vanished. - -The young wife sat staring at her hands for a time, but soon felt a -strange desire to work. - -"Here am I sitting dreaming," said she, with unwonted cheerfulness, "and -it's already seven o'clock. Everyone is waiting for me," she continued; -and, hurrying out, she began her work. From that time she was the model -housewife of the district; see _Hofberg_, p. 58. "De tio tjenstandarna," -from Smaland.[17] - -Cf. the mannikin called "Panczimanczi," in Lad. Arany's "_Eredeti -Nepmesek_," p. 277. His height is half an ell, his moustache two ells, -his beard three ells long. He is seen leaping merrily over a fire, and -heard singing the following: "I am Panczimanczi; no one knows my name; I -roast, I cook, I boil; the day after to-morrow I shall fetch my pretty -bride home." - -In Kriza's tale his name is Dancing Vargaluska. "How the name is held to -be part of the very being of the man who bears it, so that by it his -personality may be carried away, and, so to speak, grafted elsewhere, -appears in the way in which the sorcerer uses it as a means of putting -the life of his victim into the image upon which he practises;" _e.g._ -the widespread making of wax images to represent certain persons, and -then melting them, that the persons named may waste away. Magyar -peasants say, that hair combings must not be thrown away, lest the birds -get them, and build them in their nests; for whilst they are doing so, -you will have headache; and again, if a young girl wishes to compel a -young man to marry her she must steal something from the young man, and -take it to a witch, who adds to it three beans, three bulbs of garlic, a -few pieces of dry coal, and a dead frog. These are all put into an -earthenware pot, and placed under the threshold, with the words, "Lord -of the infernal regions and of the devils, and possessor of the hidden -treasure, give to N. or M. some incurable illness (or inflame him with -unquenchable love for N. or M.), and I will join you." - -See also "The two Orphans," where the witch's daughter steals a lock of -the queen's hair, p. 222. Cf. the Finnish method of curing "knarr" -(German "Knirrband"), a complaint that is common at harvest-time among -those who are not used to the reaping-hook. Amongst its symptoms are -curious crackings of the wrist. The sick one asks someone who is well -"to chop his knarr" for him, which is done as follows. The patient lays -his sick hand upon a chopping block, and three pieces of three-jointed -straw are so laid, side by side, as to correspond joint for joint. The -"doctor" then takes an axe, and chops with all his strength into the -block through the first joint. "What are you chopping?" asks the sick -one. "I'm chopping the 'knarr' out of your joint into the wood." The -same question and answer is repeated after second blow; after the last -blow the chopper cries "Now he's gone!" In North Germany the ceremony is -performed on the threshold, and ends with the sign of the cross. Cf. -_Finnish Folk-Lore_ in "_Notes and Queries_," 6th S. xi. p. 23. Also, -_Suomen Muinaismuisto-Yhdistyksen Aikakauskirja_, v. p. 103. - -Algerian peasants have a great objection to their portraits being taken; -and Holderness folks rub warts with stolen beef, &c., and let it rot, -saying the warts will disappear with the decaying of the meat, &c., &c. -"A similar train of thought shows itself in the belief that the -utterance of the name of a deity gives to man a means of direct -communication with the being who owns it, or even places in his hands -the supernatural power of that being, to be used at his will." Tylor's -_Early History of Mankind_, pp. 124, 129, and Lubbock's _Origin of -Civilisation_, p. 245. - -Cf. Swedish "Jaetten Finn och Lunds domkyrka." _Hofberg_, p. 12. The -giant promises to build a church for the white Christ if Laurentius can -find out his name, and if not he must forfeit his eyes-- - - - "Helt visst - Aer hvite krist - En gud, som sitt temple aer vaerdig. - Jag bygger det jag, om du saeger mig blott - Hvad namn jag fatt, - Se'n kyrkan aer murad och faerdig. - Men kan du ej saega mitt namn, vaelan, - Du vise man! - Gif akt pa hvad vite jag saetter: - Da maste du ge mig at mina sma - De facklor tva, - Som vandra pa himmelens slaetter."[18] - - -Laurentius found out that the giant's name was "Finn" by hearing the -giantess hush her crying child. - -Similar tales are told of many churches. _E.g._ Drontheim Cathedral, -where the giant is called "Skalle"; see Sjoeborg, _Collections_, Part ii. -p. 182. Of Eskilssaeter's Church, where the giant's name was "Kinn," see -Fernow, _Verml. Beskr_, i. p. 318. - -Also of a church in Norrland, where St. Olaf found out the troll's name, -"Wind and Weather," see _Iduna_, vol. iii. p. 60; and about Kallundborgs -Church, in Sjaelland, cf. Thiele, _Danske Folkesagn_, i. p. 43. - -_Tales from the Land of Hofer_, "The Wild Jaeger and the Baroness"; -secret name, "Buzinigala," p. 110. - -In the _Land of Marvels_, Vernaleken, "Winterkolble," p. 24; and -"Kruzimuegeli," p. 28. - -_Grimm_. vol. i. "Rumpelstiltskin," pp. 221, 412.[19] - -The tale appears to be confused towards the end, the three deformed -beggars being the three aunts of the Norse; see _Dasent_, p. 222. The -ordinary story has no dwarf or secret name in it; cf. Spanish tale of -"Guardian Spirits," in _Caballero_, p. 64. - -Also, _Patranas_, "What Anna saw in the Sunbeam," p. 193. - -And in _Portuguese Folk-Tales_. "The Aunts." _Folk-Lore Soc_. p. 79. - -On the other hand, in the Swedish story from Upland the girl who could -spin gold from clay and long straw was helped by a dwarf whose name -turned out to be "Titteli Ture!". See Thorpe's _Yule Tales_, p. 168. - -See also, _Grimm_, ii. p. 163, "The Lazy Spinner," in which the woman by -her wit contrives to evade her spinning; notes, p. 428. The Finnish -story of "The Old Woman's Loom," from Korpo, is almost identical with -Grimm's. - - - - -THE ENVIOUS SISTERS. Kriza, v. - - -Cf. the beginning of the tale "The Three Princesses," in the present -volume, p. 144. The tale is frequently found in Hungary, also amongst -the Germans and Servians. - -For cruelty towards the best (generally the youngest), cf. pp. 36, 152, -182 in this collection; _Chaucer_ and _Boccacio_; _Grimm_, i. "The Girl -without Hands," p. 127, and Notes, p. 378. The Finnish variant tells how -there was once a brother and sister, and when the father was dying he -said to his son, "Treat your sister well." All went on comfortably until -the brother married a girl who was "the devil's wife's daughter," and -before long, owing to her slanders, the sister was turned out. The girl -then went to the king's castle, and lived there as a beggar. In the -spring the king's son went to sow his field, and said: "Who first eats -of these peas, she shall be my wife." This he said in a joke to the -others. But the girl was there, behind the fence, and she heard and -remembered it all. - -Summer came--the peas were ripe. Then the girl dug a hole under the -fence, and went and ate some peas. Suddenly the king's son remembered -his pea-field, and thought, "I will go and see how the peas are getting -on." He went and saw some one had been eating them, and so he watched for -some time, and lo! a girl came cautiously through a hole and began to -eat the peas. The king's son seized her and carried her home in a sheet. -Then he dressed her in a royal dress, and made her ready to be his wife, -as a king's bride ought to be. They lived together till the king's son -made his wife pregnant, then he was obliged to go to the war, and he -said to his wife, "If you have a boy send me a letter, and I will come -back: if it is a girl, send me a letter, and I will come back when I -can." Well! the wife had a son. She sent a letter asking her husband to -come home at once, and sent a slave with it. The slave went to spend the -night in the girl's home. When he had been there a little time the -mistress said, "Would you like to sleep here?" "Yes," answered the -messenger, and began to bathe; but the devil's daughter, in the -meantime, opened his bag and changed the letter's meaning, and put "a -female child is born." The slave knew nothing of it, but set off with -the letter to the king's son. When he read it he sent the same slave -back with the answer, "I will come when I have time," and the slave -returned. On his way he came to the same house, and the mistress in the -same way sent him to the bath and opened the bag and changed the letter, -"As the child is born, the woman must put off the royal dress and put on -her own rags, and she may, with her child, go where she likes." The -slave brought the letter to the wife, who did as the letter said, and -set off begging and moaning. She began to be thirsty, and sought for -water in the wood. In a little time she found a well, where there was -wonderfully clear water and a beautiful golden ladle. She put down her -child, and went a little way from the well. When the child was alone it -stretched out to the ladle and fell head first into the well. The mother -rushed to help him and got her child out before he was drowned. Wherever -the water touched her she became much more beautiful and white. The -child also became like no other in the world. The woman set off with her -child, and at last came to her own home, where her brother was still -living with his wife. She was not recognised, and asked for a night's -lodging. The mistress shouted, "Outside the door is a good place for -you." "Very well," said the woman, and stayed there with her child all -night. - -She sat there all night, and the king with his soldiers from the war -came there. As the king walked in his room, the woman let her child -crawl on the floor. It crawled to the king, who took it and said, "Who -are you, poor woman, who are so beautiful, and have so handsome a -child?" "I have been in this house before, but my sister-in-law hated -me." "Hold your noise, you blackguard," shouted the woman, and wished -to stop her. But the other went on, "My sister-in-law hated me, and -thrashed me, and drove me away almost dead. I then went to the king's -castle, and became the king's son's wife. When I was pregnant the king's -son went to war, and I sent him a letter that I had got a boy; but he -was so angry, that he ordered me and my child out; and so I had to leave -a good home." "Hold your noise!" shouted the brother's wife again. But -the king said, "I am lord here;" and the woman continued and explained -all. The brother's wife again shouted, "Hold your noise, you -good-for-nothing!" Then the king seized her by the hair, and hanged her -from the gutter, and took his wife and boy home, and they lived happily. -If they are yet alive, I don't know. "Neitonen Hernemaassa."--"The maid -in the pea-field," _S. ja T._ 1, p. 116.--Cf. "Neitonen Kuninkaan -Sadussa," ("The maid in the king's garden,") _id_. 108; "Pigen uden -Haender," in _Udwalgte Eventyr og Fortaellinger, en Laesebog for Folket -og for den barnlige Werden_, (Copenhagen, 1843). No. 48, p. 258; "The -Girl without Hands," p. 182, in this collection; and Steere's _Swahili -Tales_. "Blessing and Property," p. 403. - -The Finnish tale, "Tynnyrissae kaswanut Poika," ("The boy who grew in a -barrel,") _S. ja T._ 1, 105, tells how a king's son heard the three -daughters of a peasant woman talking. The eldest said, "I would like to -make all sorts of foods and drinks out of one corn;" the middle one, "I -would like to make all sorts of clothes out of one flax thread;" the -youngest said, "I don't like work, but will bear children three times, -and have three sons each time, who shall have: - - - "Kun kupeesta kuumottawi, - Paeiwyt ompi paeaela' ella, - Kaeet on kultaa kalwoisesta, - Jal'at hopeiset polwista." - - "The moon shining in the temples, - The sun on the top of the head, - Hands of gold to the wrist, - Feet of silver from the knees." - - -The king's son marries the youngest girl and, when she is pregnant, goes -to war. She bears three sons, which the midwife exchanges for three -whelps; the same thing happens a second time; and also a third time, -when the wife manages to save one son. The people insist upon her being -sent away; and so she and her child (which she takes secretly in her -bosom) are put in a barrel and thrown into the sea. The barrel grows too -small, so the lad kicks the bottom out, and they land, and live in a -hut, where the woman makes nine cakes of her milk, and finds her other -eight boys. The king's son soon discovers them, and all goes well. The -changed letter also occurs in Antti Puuhaara. - -Cf. Hahn, _Griechische Maerchen_; "Sun, Moon, and Morning Star;" in which -the king's son marries all the three girls. - -_Deccan Days_, "Truth's Triumph," p. 54, where Guzra Bai had one hundred -and one children, which the nurse threw out of the palace on the -dust-heap, and substituted stones for them. - -_In the Land of Marvels_, "The Blackbird," p. 34. - -Stokes' _Indian Tales_. "The boy who had a moon on his forehead, and a -star on his chin:" also Phulmati Rani who had on her head the sun; on -her hands, moons; and her face was covered with stars. - -Gonzenbach, _Sicilianische Maerchen_, vol. i. p. 19. - -Stier, _Ungarische Volksmaerchen_: "Die verwandelten Kinder." - -Stier, _Ungarische Sagen_: "Die beiden juengsten Koenigskinder." - -Schott, _Wallachische Maerchen_: "Die goldenen Kinder." - -_Gubernatis_, vol. i p. 412, says, "In the European story, when the -beautiful princess, in the absence of the prince, her husband, gives -birth to two beautiful sons, the witch induces the absent prince to -believe that, instead of real sons, his young wife has given birth to -pups. In the seventh story of the third book of Afanassieff, the young -queen gives birth, during the king's absence, to two sons, of whom one -has the moon on his forehead, and the other a star on the nape of his -neck (the Acvinau). The wicked sister of the young queen buries the -children. Where they were buried a golden sprout and a silver one sprung -up. A sheep feeds upon these plants, and gives birth to two lambs, -having, the one the sun on its head, the other a star on its neck. The -wicked sister, who has meanwhile been married to the king, orders them -to be torn in pieces, and their intestines to be thrown out into the -road. The good lawful queen has them cooked, eats them, and again gives -birth to her two sons, who grow up hardy and strong, and who, when -interrogated by the king, narrate to him the story of their origin: -their mother is recognised, and becomes once more the king's wife. The -wicked sister is put to death." In vol. ii. p. 30, another story of -Afanassieff, bk. iii. 13, is quoted, which resembles the "Envious -Sisters"; also a Servian story, p. 31, where the cut-off hands are -replaced by golden ones, by means of the ashes of three burned hairs -from the tails of a black stallion and a white mare. Reference is also -made to _Pentamerone_, bk. iii. No. 2; _Afanassieff_, bk. iii. No. 6; -_the Mediaeval Legends of St. Uliva_, by Prof. A. d'Ancona, Pisa, Nistri, -1863; and, _Figlia del Re di Dacia_, by Prof. A. Wesselofski, Pisa, -Nistri, 1866. - -Cf. Notes in _Stokes_, pp. 242, 250; _Grimm_, vol. i.: "The Gold -Children," p. 333. - -_Portuguese Tales_, by Pedroso: "The Maiden with the Rose on her -Forehead," _F.L.S._ p. 65. - - - - -KNIGHT ROSE. Kriza vi. - - -In folk-stories we often find the heroes erecting some post or pole, or -leaving some article behind them, which will tell of their danger. Cf. -"The Three Princes," p. 111 of this volume. In "The Two Brothers," -(_Grimm_, vol. i. p. 244,) the foster-father gave to each of the boys a -bright knife, and said, "If ever you separate, stick this knife into a -tree at the place where you part, and then when one of you goes back, he -will be able to see how his absent brother is faring, for the side of -the knife which is turned in the direction by which he went will rust if -he dies, but will remain bright as long as he lives." Cf. "The Gold -Children," where death is shown by the drooping of the brother's gold -lily: and notes, _ib._ p. 453. - -In the Russian story "Ivan Popyalof" (_Afanassieff_, ii. 30), Ivan hung -up his gloves, and said to his brothers, "Should blood drop from my -gloves, make haste to help me." - -In "Marya-Morevna" (_Afanassieff_ viii. No. 8), the silver left by -Prince Ivan turned black when evil befell him. - -In "Koschei, the Deathless" (_Afanassieff_, ii. 24), Prince Ivan let -some drops of blood run from his little finger into a glass, gave it to -his brothers, and said "If the blood in this glass turns black, tarry -here no longer; that will mean I am about to die." - -See Ralston's _Russian Folk-Tales_, pp. 67, 88, 102.--The Serbian story -of "The Three Brothers" tells how the brothers stuck their knives into -an oak tree, and when a knife fell out it was a sign that the owner was -dead. Vide _Denton_, p. 273. - -In "Five to One," _Sagas from the Far East_, p. 107, six youths set out -and travelled till they came to where six streams met, and each planted -a tree at the head of the stream he chose, and if any tree withered away -it was a sign evil had befallen its planter. - -In the Greek story, "Sun, Moon, and Morning Star," (Hahn, _Griechische -Maerchen_,) the brothers give their sisters two shirts, and if they -become black it means misfortune.--Cf. also _Folk-Lore Record_, vol. i. -p. 207. - -In the curious Egyptian story of the "Two Brothers," the younger brother -says to the elder one, "When thou shalt take a jug of beer into thy hand -and it turns into froth, then delay not; for to thee of a certainty is -the issue coming to pass." _Records of the Past_, vol. ii. p. 144. - -See also Isilakolona in "Malagasy Folk-Tales," _Folk-Lore Journal_, -1884, p. 130. - -In folk-stories the giants were gifted with a keen sense of smell; and -no sooner did they enter the room where a man was than they knew of his -being there. The Norwegians and Swedes have stories of beings, which are -called "Trynetyrk," or "Hundetyrk," and so have the Lapps and Finns. The -Lapps call them "Baednag-njudne," _i.e._, dog's nose; and the Finns, -"Koiran-Kuonalanien," which means the same. These monsters were men who -had noses like dogs, and so could track men by their scent. They were -said to be enormously large, and to have had one eye in the middle of -their forehead; and were much dreaded on account of their being -cannibals. A Lapp story tells how once a Lapp girl got lost, and came to -a Baednag-njudne's house. He was not at home, but his wife was. The girl -was little, poor, and quite benumbed by the cold, and looked so -terrified that the wife thought it would be a sin for Baednag-njudne to -eat her when he came home. So she took her and hid her under her gown. -When Baednag-njudne came home, he at once began to sniff about, and said, -"I smell some one." His wife said all sorts of things to make him -believe it was not so; and, when she did not dare to conceal the girl -any longer, she let her out of the house secretly, and told her to fly -for her life. Meanwhile, Baednag-njudne was long sniffing about the -house; and when he could not find anyone inside he went outside, and -soon found the footprints. So soon as the girl saw the monster was after -her, in her terror she sprang from a bridge and hid herself under it. So -the monster lost the track, and the girl was saved. _Friis_, p. 43.--Cf. -"Jack the Giant Killer," where the giant says, - - - "Fa, fe, fi, fo, fum, - I smell the blood of an Englishman; - Be he alive, or be he dead, - I'll grind his bones to make my bread." - _Grimm_, vol. ii. p. 504. - - -In the northern ballad we are told how a girl is carried off by the -fairies. Two of her brothers set off to rescue her, but fail, because -they do not carry out Merlin's instructions. The third one succeeds; -and, while he sits talking to his sister, the hall doors fly open and -the elf king comes in shouting: - - - "With _fi_, _fe_, _fa_, and _fum_, - I smell the blood of a Christian man, - Be he dead, be he living, with my brand, - I'll clash his harns frae his harn pan." - - -See Dr. Jamieson's _Illustrations of Northern Antiquities_. - -In the Eskimo story of "The Girl who fled to the Inlanders," (_Rink_, p. -218,) the inlanders know a coast woman has come, by the smell: In -"Inuarutligak," we are told of singular people, whose upper parts are -human, and lower little dogs: and are endowed with a keen sense of -smell.--Cf. p. 199, in this collection. - -The cutting up of the hero's body reminds us of the Egyptian story of -Typhon cutting up Osiris, who is restored to life by Horus; see _Uarda_, -note to cap. viii. Cf. also _Sagas from the Far East_, tale v. p. 75, -and _Vernaleken_, "The Three White Doves," p. 269. - -In the Eskimo stories the heroes are restored to life by the singing of -certain mystic songs. - -In the legend of Guru Gugga, the bullocks are restored to life by the -singing of charms; Temple's _Legends of the Punjab_, p. 124. Cf. -_Grimm_, vol. ii. "Water of Life," and note, p. 399; Ralston's _Russian -Tales_, p. 236. - -The "wound-healing grass"[20] is in all probability flixweed -(_Sisymbrium Sophia_), the Magyar name for which signifies -"wound-healing leaf;" see article on Szekely Folk-Medicine in _Folk-Lore -Record_, April, 1884, p. 98, and the Finnish story of "Golden Bird." - -With regard to the passage "Rose ... was so beautiful that though you -could look at the sun you could not look at him," cf. the reply of -Curidach to Attila, as related by Priscus. "He, (Attila,) then invited -Curidach, chieftain of the Akatziri, to come and celebrate their joint -triumph at his court, but that chieftain, suspecting that his -benefactor's kindness was of the same nature as the promised boon of -Polyphemus to Ulysses, courteously declined, saying, 'It is hard for a -man to come into the presence of a god, and if it be not possible to -look fixedly even at the orb of the sun, how shall Curidach gaze -undistressed upon the greatest of God's' (_i.e._ Attila)." _Italy and -her Invaders_, by T. Hodgkin, London, 1880, vol. ii. p. 84. - -The story of a girl assuming a snake's skin reminds us of the daughter -of Ypocras, who dwelt at Lango, in the form of a great dragon; see _The -Voyages and Travels of Sir John Maundeville_, cap. iv. See also, -"Snake-skin," in this collection, p. 283.--A Snake Friend occurs in the -Swahili "Blessing or Property," (_Steere_, p. 405); in the Finnish -"Haastelewat Kuuset," ("The Talking Pines,"); in "Melusina," B. Gould's -_Curious Myths_, p. 471, and in Keightley's _Fairy Mythology_, p. -480.--In the Norse story of the "Three Princesses of Whiteland," -(_Dasent_, p. 210,) the princesses gradually rise out of the earth as -the lad destroys the trolls. See also _Vernaleken_, "The Fisher's Son," -p. 250. - -In the Serbian tale of "The Three Brothers," _Denton_, p. 275, the witch -destroys two of the brothers, having first persuaded them to throw one -of her hairs on their animals. The third brother resuscitates them, and -all goes well. Cf. "The Enchanted Doe," in _Pentamerone_.[21] - -Cf. "To Lappepiger gifte sig med Stall," _Friis_, 106, and "Ivan, -Kupiskas Son," _Friis_, p. 170. Cf. exhaustive note in Stokes's _Indian -Tales_, pp. 163, 268; and the Portuguese tale, "Slices of Fish," in -_Pedroso: Folk-Lore Society_, p. 102. For animals that help, cf. "The -Three Princes," p. 113 of this volume. - -To defeat a witch by drawing her blood is well known in the lore of the -people. - -Cf. Lapp stories, "Ulta Pigen," where the lad catches an Ulta girl by -pricking her in the hand with a pin, so as to draw blood. A similar -incident occurs in "Goveiter Pige," from Naesseby. In "Bondesonnen, -Kongesonnen og Solens Soster," from Tanen, the herd is told to prick his -bride (who has gone from him on account of his looking behind) in her -hand till blood comes, and then suck the drop off. He did so and secured -his bride. _Friis_, pp. 23, 39, 140. - -The same superstition is well known in the North of England. In -Lincolnshire there is a tale still told (1888) of a farmer who could not -get his horses to go past a certain cottage until he got down and -thrashed the old woman, who lived there, till the blood came. Whereupon -the horses went past without further ado. In Sykes's _Local Records_ of -Newcastle-upon-Tyne, under March 26th, 1649, we are told how it was -decided that certain women were witches, because blood did not come when -they were pricked with pins by the "witch-finder." See also _Witch -Stories_ by L. Linton, p. 260, &c. - -We must not feel surprised when we learn that it is still customary -among the Servians and other half-civilised nations to subject women who -are suspected as witches to the trial by water, since there are still -many persons living who can remember the same thing having been done in -the Netherlands and Germany. Thus, in 1823, it went through all the -papers that a middle-aged woman at Delten, in Guelderland, being -suspected of being a witch, volunteered herself to prove her innocence -by the trial of water, that the trial actually took place in broad -daylight before a crowd of people in a neighbouring canal, and that the -result of the trial turned out in her favour. The following case is more -horrible. It happened about thirteen years after the above date on the -Peninsula Hela, near Dantzic. A man living in the Cassubian village -Ceynowa was taken ill with dropsy, and a quack pointed out a poor widow -fifty-one years old, and mother of five young children, as the witch who -had caused the man's illness. In order to force her to undo the charm, -the quack beat her and jumped on her in a most brutal manner, and she -was led to the bed of the patient, who beat her with a stick until she -was covered with blood. Not content with this, the quack and some -fishermen took her into a boat and rowed out to sea twice; they tied her -hands and threw her into the water. On the second occasion they towed -her after the boat so long that the poor creature was drowned. The -further particulars are so revolting that one is apt to think that one -reads a description of a punishment among the cannibals. And this -happened in the Prussian State in the month of August of the year -1836!--From _Die Gartenlaube_, December 1884. - -See also _Folk-Lore Record_, vol. v. p. 156, and Feb. 1883, p. 58; and -Henderson's _Folk-Lore of Northern Counties_, p. 181, and notes, which -says, "In Brittany, if the lycanthropist be scratched above the nose, so -that three drops of blood are extracted, the charm is broken. In -Germany, the werewolf has to be stabbed with knife or pitchfork thrice -on the brows before it can be disenchanted." - -_Restoration to Life_. Cf. "Marya Morevna," _Ralston_, p. 91; Panch-Phul -Ranee, _Frere_, p. 140; "Loving Laili," _Stokes_, p. 83, where Majnun is -restored to life by Laili cutting her little finger inside her hand -straight down from the top of her nail to her palm, out of which the -blood gushed like healing medicine; and the Bel-Princess, where the -blood of the little finger again comes in. Also "Golden Hair," _Nauke_, -p. 108, and the Lapp story "Ivan," _Friis_, p. 176. Mr. Quigstad, of -Tromso, to whose courtesy and learning I am deeply indebted, says he has -heard a similar incident in a Lapp story from Lyngen. - - - - -PRINCE MIRKO. Kriza, xiii. - - -_Page 59_. In the Finnish "Leppaepoelkky" ("Alder Block"), _S. ja T_. ii. -p. 2, one half of the castle laughs and one half cries. The crying being -on account of a great three-headed snake which arose from the sea, and -would devour half the castle, half the men, and half the precious stones -if the king did not give his eldest daughter in their stead. - -_Page 63_. The Tatos is a mythic horse possessed of the most marvellous -powers. It is generally represented (as in the present tale) as being a -most wretched creature to begin with. Cf. "The Little Magic Pony," p. -157; "The Three Princes, &c.," p. 197, where it is hatched from a -five-cornered black egg; "the wretched foal which lies seven fathoms -deep in the dung-heap," in "The Pelican," p. 256; the ugly creature in -"The Girl with the Golden Hair," p. 264; and the piebald in the -"Fairies' Well," p. 289. It feeds on burning cinders, and its breath -changes the most wretched things into the most glorious. Sometimes, -however, the first breath has an extraordinary effect, as _e.g._ p. 198, -where Ambrose becomes like "a diseased sucking pig." The name is still a -favourite one among the peasants for their horses. The word Tatos also -meant a priest in the old pagan days, but it never has this meaning in -the folk-tales. - - -The Tatos also appears in "Die Koenigstoechter," in Mailath's _Magyarische -Sagen_, vol. i. p. 61. See also "Zauberhelene," vol. ii. of the same -collection, where we are told "Taigarot war ein wunderbares Pferd; es -verstand die Reden der Menschen, antwortete auch und hatte neun Fuesze." -The whole story tells how Argilus carries off his wife, Helen, from the -power of Holofernes, the fire-king, who has got her in his underground -home. Taigarot belongs to Holofernes, and tells him where Helen is -carried off, and so he recovers her. Argilus hears that the magic horse -has a younger brother still more powerful although possessing but four -legs. This horse belongs to one Iron nose, a witch, and so Argilus -enters her service in order to obtain it. His duties are, first to -control the witch's stud of brazen horses; next to look after her -twelve black mares, who are her daughters, and then to milk them, and -make a bath of their milk. He manages to do all by means of a magic -staff, and so obtains the horse; whilst the witch is burnt to death in -the bath which she thinks will make her young. The horse tells Argilus -to wash it in the bath, and it at once becomes the colour of gold, and -from every hair hangs a golden bell. With this horse Argilus carries off -his wife. Holofernes follows on Taigarot, and not being able to overtake -them, digs his spurs into Taigarot, who in his indignation at such -treatment kicks Holofernes off, and so breaks his neck. - -For magic horses in other lands cf. the following tales:--the Finnish -"Oriiksi Muntettu Poika;" "The Little White Horse" in "Ferdinand the -Faithful," _Grimm_, ii. p. 156; Katar, in "The Bay with a Moon and -Star," _Stokes_, p. 131, which becomes changed by twisting his right -ear; "Weisnittle," in Stier's _Ungarische Volksmaerchen_, p. 61; -Sleipnir, Odin's eight-legged horse that used to carry the father of the -gods as swift as the wind over land and sea, in Wagner's _Asgard and the -Gods;_ and "Bayard, Faithful Bayard!" the good steed in the Carolingian -Legends in Wagner's _Epics and Romances of the Middle Ages_, pp. -367-396; "the shaggy dun filly" in "The Young King of Easaidh Ruadh," in -_Campbell's Tales of the Western Highlands_, vol. i. p. 4; and the -"steed," in "The Rider of Grianaig," vol iii. p. 14 of the same book. - -A magic horse appears in the Lapp story "Jaetten og Veslegutten," (The -Giant and the Vesle Boy), from Hammerfest; _Friis_, p. 48. In this case -it assists the boy to escape from the giant, and to marry a king's -daughter; and finally becomes a prince when its head is cut off. "A -winged horse" appears in "Ivan, Kupiskas Son," a story from Akkala, in -Russian Finland; _Friis_, p. 170. In "Jaetten Katten og Gutten" (the -Giant, the Cat, and the Boy), from Alten, _Friis_, p. 63, the boy saves -the giant's son from a troll cat, and is told by the lad he saves, that -his father will offer him a gold horse and "a miserable one," and he is -to be sure and choose the miserable one; and in like manner he was to -choose a miserable box, and a miserable flute, in preference to golden -ones, which would be offered to him. There is a somewhat similar Finnish -story, "Paholaisen antamat Soittoneuwot" (Musical Instruments Given by -the Devil), _S. ja T._, vol. i. p. 181, where the hero, when in the -woods, sees the devil[22] running for his life, with a pack of wolves at -his heels. The lad shoots into the pack, killing one wolf, and thus -terrifying the rest. The grateful devil promises the lad whatever he -wishes. Acting on the advice of a maid in the devil's house, he asks -"for the mare which is in the third stall, on the right-hand side of the -stable." The devil is very loath to give this, but is obliged to do so, -and gives the boy a kantele, a fiddle, and a flute besides. The mare -acts the part of a Tatos for part of the tale, and then changes into a -woman, being the wife of the king, who appears at the latter part of the -story, and who orders the hero to perform difficult tasks. The kantele -is like the fiddle in the "Jew in a thicket" (_Musical Myths_, vol. ii. -p. 122; _Grimm_, vol. ii. p. 97), it makes every one dance that hears -it. The woman drops out of the story, and the persecuting king is kicked -up into the clouds by the irate devil who comes to help the hero, and is -never heard of again. - -A horse that can talk plays a prominent part in another Finnish tale, -"The Golden Bird."--"Dapplegrim" is the magic foal in the Norse; see -_Dasent_, pp. 313 and 367. See also the "brown foal" in _Grimm_, "Two -Brothers," No. 107, and the "white horse," in "Ferdinand the Faithful," -No. 126, and _note_. - -Note also horses in "Der goldne Vogel," "Das Zauberross," and "Der Knabe -und der Schlange," in Haltrich's, _Siebenbuergische Maerchen_; "La Belle -aux cheveux d'or," in _Contes des Fees_, par Mme. D'Aulnoy; "Schoenchen -Goldhaar," _Maerchensaal aller Voelker fuer Jung und Alt_, Dr. Kletke, i. -p. 344; "Der goldne Apfelbaum," in Kaiadschitsch, _Volksmaerchen der -Serben_, p. 33; and Denton, p. 43. Enchanted horses play a prominent -part in "Simple Johnny," p. 36, and "The Black Charger of Hernando," p. -292, in _Patranas or Spanish Stories_.--Cf. "The little Mare" from -Mentone, _F. L. Record_, vol. iii. p. 44. The Russians tell of "a sorry -colt rolling in the muck," which possesses marvellous powers in "Marya -Morevna," _Ralston_, p. 94; and in "Koshchei, the Deathless," there is -an heroic steed, _ibidem_, p. 101. See also "Ivan Kruchina," _Naake_, p. -124. "The marvellous white horse" appears also in Austria; see _Land of -Marvels_, pp. 48, 256, 260, 272, 342. - -In the story of the third royal mendicant, in the _Arabian Nights_, Agib -mounts a black horse and flies through the air. Similar incidents will -be found in Nos. 1, 2, 4, 10, 17 of Dietrich's _Runische Volksmaerchen_. -Several variants, together with the author's view of their significance, -are to be found in _Gubernatis_, vol. i., chap. ii. - -The following, quoted from Stokes's _Fairy Tales_, p. 278, is worthy of -notice:-- - -"On the morning of the day which was to see his last fight, Cuchulainn -ordered his charioteer, Loeg, to harness the Gray to his chariot. 'I -swear to God what my people swears' said Loeg, 'though the men of -Conchobar's fifth (Ulster) were around the Gray of Macha, they could not -bring him to the chariot.... If thou wilt, come thou, and speak with the -Gray himself.' Cuchulainn went to him. And thrice did the horse turn his -left side to his master.... Then Cuchulainn reproached his horse, saying -that he was not wont to deal thus with his master. Thereat the Gray of -Macha came and let his big round tears of blood fall on Cuchulainn's -feet. The hero then leaps into his chariot and goes to battle. At last -the Gray is sore wounded, and he and Cuchulainn bid each other farewell. -The Gray leaves his master; but when Cuchulainn, wounded to death, has -tied himself to a stone pillar to die standing, then came the Gray of -Macha to Cuchulainn to protect him so long as his soul abode in him, and -the 'hero's light' out of his forehead remained. Then the Gray of Macha -wrought the three red routs all around him. And fifty fell by his teeth -and thirty by each of his hooves. This is what he slew of the host. And -hence is (the saying) 'Not keener were the victorious courses of the -Gray of Macha after Cuchulainn's slaughter.' Then Lugaid and his men cut -off the hero's head and right hand and set off, driving the Gray before -them. They met Conall the Victorious, who knew what had happened when -he saw his friend's horse. And he and the Gray of Macha sought -Cuchulainn at the pillar-stone. Then went the Gray of Macha and laid his -head on Cuchulainn's breast. And Conall said, 'A heavy care to the Gray -of Macha is that corpse.' Conall himself, in the fight he has with -Lugaid, to avenge his friend's slaughter, is helped by his own horse, -the Dewy-Red. When Conall found that he prevailed not, he saw his steed, -the Dewy-Red, by Lugaid. And the steed came to Lugaid and tore a piece -out of his side." - -("Cuchulainn's Death," abridged from the "Book of Leinster," in _Revue -Celtique_, Juin, 1877, pp. 175, 176, 180, 182, 183, 185). - -See also, Grimm's _Teutonic Mythology_, Stallybrass, vol. i. pp. 328, -392; McGregor's _Folk-Lore of the North-East of Scotland_, p. 131; and -Belludo, the goblin horse of Alhambra. Nor must we forget "Phooka," the -wild horse of Erin's isle. - -Note also the "Iliad"; cf. book ii. 760, book viii. 157, book x. 338, -473; specially Xanthus and Balius who talk, book xix. 440; and, -Martial's splendid epigram, beginning "Phosphore redde diem, cur gaudia -nostra moraris?" - -Thus on every side we find this noble creature entwined in the lore of -the people, from the peasants' dull superstition to great Milton's -song,-- - - - "Of the wondrous horse of brass, - On which the Tartar king did ride." - - -The horse still plays an important part in the folk-lore. Thus _e.g._ -Yorkshire people say, that if you see a piebald horse, and do not look -at his tail, or think of a fox, whatever you wish for will be granted; -also, that you must spit over your finger for luck when you see a white -horse. The four black horses and chariot still rush through Penzance -streets in the night, according to some, and the white horse is carried -by the Christmas mummers in various parts of England and Germany. In the -Midlands a horse's head and skin is dragged about on Christmas eve; a -simulacrum, as some think, of Odin's heroic steed. Cf. _Henderson_, p. -70, also F. Finn and Magyar Songs on St. Stephen's Day. _Academy_ 1884. -pp. 150, 315. - -_Page 63_. For breathing on old things and causing them to change, see -p. 92, where the baa-lambs restore the lad's body by blowing; and a -Finnish tale tells how a snake commands the hero to create with his -clean breath a copper battlefield that they may fight, and is told by -the man to create an iron one with his heathen breath, which he does; -and other snakes come in the story who in turn create copper and silver -battlefields, see Leppaepoelkky, _S. ja T._ 2. - -Sometimes the change is effected by a bath, as in "Fairy Elizabeth," p. -110, _supra_. - -Cf. _Grimm_, "Iron John," vol. ii. p. 195. - -_Page 65._ A glass mountain appears in the "Iron Stove," _Grimm_, vol. -ii. p. 161; "the princess on the glass mountain" in Thorpe's _Yule-Tide -Stories_, p.86; and "The crystal mountain" in _Vernaleken_ p. 276. It -occurs also in a Lincolnshire story, where the forsaken wife sits at her -husband's door and sings: - - - "Bare bull of orange return to me, - For three fine babes I bore to thee, - And climbed a glass hill for thee, - Bare bull of orange return to me." - _Folk-Lore Journal_, 1885, p. 188.[23] - - -See also notes to "The Little Magic Pony," _infra_. - -The giant in "Handsome Paul," p. 26, like the Tatos in the present tale, -tells his friend to shut his eyes and open them at intervals on account -of the great speed they are going at; just as in the Finnish "Golden -Bird," the young man on the wolf's back is obliged to rub his eyes with -his handkerchief because the pace they are going at makes them water. In -the hurry he drops it and asks the wolf to stop a minute to pick it up -and is told it is already 1,000 miles behind them. - -_Page 66._ Knight Mezey's wonderful sword is one of a numberless group -of incidents wherein the sword plays an important part; in this story -Mirko ordered out his magic sword to protect him while he slept, and -then to join with Knight Mezey's in mowing down the enemies. When he met -Doghead (p. 73), their swords in like manner flew out of the scabbards -and fought their masters' battles; and in the "Secret-keeping little -Boy," p. 233, in this collection, the hero is born with a scabbard at -his side, whilst a sword point appeared in the garden and grew as the -scabbard grew; this sword cut up into pulp any one who came near its -master on mischief bent. Alderblock's sword in the Finnish story in like -manner flew out and cut Syoejaetaer into mincemeat. The Greeks told of -"Harpe," the sword Hermes lent to Perseus, and of the honoured swords of -Ulysses and Achilles. - -Norse legends tell of wondrous swords, such as Odin's "Gram" that he -drove into an ash tree there to remain till the man should be found -strong enough to draw it out.[24] Cheru's sword, forged by the dwarfs, -"shone every morning on the high place of the sanctuary, sending forth -its light afar when dawn arose like a flame of fire;" then there is -Heimdal, born of nine mothers, the sword "Ase" of the Edda, who with his -mighty sword made even cunning Loki cry for mercy. - -In the Niebelungen there is "Balmung," craftily made by the dwarfs and -tempered in dragons' blood, wherewith Siegfried smote the giants, and -did mighty wonders, yea, even after its master's death slaying his -enemies, till at last it rested on his grave by Brunhild's side. Roland -wielded his good sword "Durindart," the gift of an angel, against the -Paynim foe and did great wonders. - -Dietrich in terrible conflict won "Eche-sax": Flammberg and the good -horse Bayard wrought wonders in the days of Haymon and his children: -Hunford's token of reconciliation to Beowulf, was the gift of "Hrunting" -hardened in dragon's blood: Naegling, Nagelring, and Rosen, too, smote -their worms, whilst "Mimung," good trusty Mimung, in the hands of -heroes, did mighty wonders, even splitting asunder a floating pack of -wool; and was so keen that Amilias did not know that Mimung had cut him -in two till he shook himself; and lo! he fell into two pieces. Wayland -Smith laboured in our own land, and brought forth a wondrous sword. - - - "Bitterfer, the sword hight, - Better swerde bar never knight. - Horn, to thee ich it thought, - - Is nought a knight in Inglond - Schal sitten a dint of thine hand; - Forsake thou it nought." - - -Charlemagne had his "Joyeuse"; Roland his "Durendal"; Arthur his -"Excalibur"-- - - - "All the haft twinkled with diamond sparks, - Myriads of topaz-lights, and jacinth work - Of subtlest jewellery." - - -A wondrous thing that "rose up out of the bosom of the lake," held by an -arm "clothed in white samite, mystic and wonderful;" and when the sword -was thrown back to the lake (its master's life being well nigh run) by -the bold Sir Bedivere-- - - - "behold an arm - Clothed in white samite, mystic and wonderful, - That caught him by the hilt, and brandish'd him - Three times, and drew him under in the mere." - - -Cf. Wagner's _Epics and Romance; Asgard and the Gods; Morte d'Arthur_, -book 1, cap. xxiii. and book 21, cap. v.; _Mythical and Mediaeval -Swords_, by Lady Verney, in _Contemporary Review_, October, 1880; _The -Seven Champions of Christendom;_ and Payne's _Arabian Nights_, vol. xi. -pp. 129, 164. - -In the Finnish "Oriiksi muutettu poika," the devil has a wonderful -sword, which the hero obtains by the help of the horse: see also "The -Water Smith," Keightley's _Fairy Mythology_, p. 260.--"Shortshanks," in -_Dasent_, p. 153, gets possession of the only eye an old hag had, and so -obtained "a sword, such a sword! It would put a whole army to flight, be -it ever so great;" and certainly it chopped up sundry ogres later on in -the tale; cf. p. 188 in the same collection. - -The trap-door by which Mirko entered the nether world appears in many -stories, such as "St. Patrick's Purgatory"; see Baring Gould's _Curious -Myths_, p. 230, and note to "Shepherd Paul" in this collection, _infra_. - -_Page 68._ In the Lapp stories it is said that if Stallo's[25] dog is -not killed as well as the monster himself, that it will lick its -master's blood and then Stallo will come to life again, just as the -witch in this story is evolved out of the morsels of unburnt ribs. See -"Stallo" and "Fogden i Vadso, som gjorde sig til en Stallo," in _Friis_, -pp. 74, 97. - -_Page 71._ The flashing eyes of the princess remind us of the Gorgons. -Her repentance is like that of the queen in the Russian story, who slays -and restores the hero; _Ralston_, p. 235. - -The "strength-giving fluid" occurs in numerous stories, _e.g._, in the -Finnish stories, "Alder Block," _S. ja T._, ii., p. 2, and the -"Enchanted Horse," where the hero cannot move an immense sword until he -wets his head with the blood that is in a tub in the middle of the -forbidden room in the devil's house. Cf. also _Ralston_, p. 237; -_Dasent_, "The big bird Dan," pp. 445, 459; _Folk-Lore Record_, 1879, p. -99; and, "Irish Folk-Tales," _ibidem_, 1883, p. 55. - -Sometimes it is a belt or ointment that gives strength, as in "The Blue -Belt" and "The Three Princesses of Whiteland," in _Dasent_, pp. 178, -209. Cf. _ante_, p. 248. - -A daughter explains to the hero how to conquer her father, in Brockhaus, -_Maerchensammlung des Somadeva Bhatta_, vol. i., p. 110. - -_Page 72._ In the Karelian story "Awaimetoin Wakka," _S. ja T._ i., p. -151, the lad threw a great iron pole against Vaeaeraepyaerae's castle, in -order to let the inmates know he was coming. In the Finnish "Alder -Block," _S. ja T._ ii. p. 2, the hero throws or kicks off one of his -shoes, and it flies to his comrades, and they come and help him. - -In "The History of Gherib and his brother Agib," Terkenan threw an iron -mace at his son with such power that it smote three stones out of a -buttress of the palace; Payne's _Arabian Nights_, vol. vi., p. 152. See -also "Story of Vasilisa" in Naake's _Slavonic Tales_, p. 57; and "Sir -Peppercorn," in Denton's _Serbian Folk-Lore_, p. 128: where Peppercorn -hurls the giant's mace back to him just as Mirko did; and _Roumanian -Fairy Tales_, p. 64. - -As to the name "Doghead," see Notes to "The Three Dreams," _infra_, p. -377. - -_Page 74._ The castle that collapses into an apple also appears in "The -Three Princes," p. 206, in this collection. - -For a variant of Knight Mezey cf. "Zoeldike," a Magyar tale, in _Gaal_, -vol. iii., in which the beautiful meadow, the tent, the sleeping knight, -and the witch weaving soldiers, all occur. - - - - -THE STUDENT WHO WAS FORCIBLY MADE KING. Kriza vii. - - -_Page 77._ Heroes of folk-tales often attain wealth, &c., by picking up -some apparently useless thing on the road. See Halliwell, _Nursery -Rhymes_, "The Three Questions;" "The Princess of Canterbury," pp. -153-155. - -Oriental writers, Indian and Persian, as well as Arab, lay great stress -upon the extreme delicacy of the skin of the fair ones celebrated in -their works, constantly attributing to their heroines, bodies so -sensitive as to brook with difficulty the contact of the finest shift, -and we may fairly assume that the skin of an Eastern beauty, under the -influence of constant seclusion and the unremitting use of cosmetics and -the bath, would in time attain a pitch of delicacy and sensitiveness -such as would in some measure justify the seemingly extravagant -statements of their poetical admirers, of which the following anecdote -(quoted by Ibn Khellikan from the historian Et Teberi) is a fair -specimen. Ardeshir Ibn Babek (Artaxerxes I.), the first Sassanian King -of Persia (A.D. 226-242), having long unsuccessfully beseiged El Hedr, a -strong city of Mesopotamia, belonging to the petty king Es Satiroun, at -last obtained possession of it by the treachery of the owner's daughter, -Nezireh, and married the latter, this having been the price stipulated -by her for the betrayal of the place to him. It happened afterwards -that one night as she was unable to sleep and turned from side to side -in the bed, Ardeshir asked her what prevented her from sleeping. She -replied, 'I never yet slept in a rougher bed than this; I feel something -irk me.' He ordered the bed to be changed, but she was still unable to -sleep. Next morning she complained of her side, and on examination a -myrtle leaf was found adhering to a fold of the skin, from which it had -drawn blood. Astonished at this circumstance, Ardeshir asked if it was -this that had kept her awake, and she replied in the affirmative. 'How, -then,' asked he, 'did your father bring you up?' She answered, 'He -spread me a bed of satin, and clad me in silk, and fed me with marrow -and cream and the honey of virgin bees, and gave me pure wine to -drink.'--Payne's _Arabian Nights_, vol. ix., note to p. 148. Cf. "the -Tale of the Dragon," in Geldart, _Folk-Lore of Modern Greece_, p. 142. - -The same idea is the theme of _Andersen's_ "The Princess and the -Pea."--Cf. Finnish verse about the lovely Katherine, p. 314. - -_Page 78._ The castle turns round upon the approach of the dragon in the -story of "Vasilisa," in _Naake_, p. 51; see also _Ralston_, p. 66. - - - - -THE CHILDREN OF TWO RICH MEN. Kriza viii. - - -For another variant cf. the Magyar tale "The Poor Man and His Child's -Godfather" in Merenyi's _Eredeti Nepmesek_, vol. i. See also the Finnish -story, "Lehmaeae wuohena myoejae," ("The Man who sold his Cow as a Goat") -from Tavastland and Karelia, _S. ja T._ ii. p. 126, which tells of a man -being fooled into the belief that his cow was a goat, but in the end he -overreaches the sharpers. - -Cf. Dasent's _Tales from the Norse:_ "Gudbrand on the Hill Side," p. -172; "Not a Pin to choose between them," p. 198; and "Big Peter and -Little Peter," p. 387. - -_Grimm_, "Wise Folks," vol. ii. p. 73; "Hans in Luck," vol. i. p. 325. - -Ralston, _Russian Folk-Tales_, "The Fool and the Birch Tree" -(Afanassieff V. No. 52), p. 49. Also the latter part of the "Bad wife," -_ib._ i. No. 9. - -_Gubernatis_, vol. i. pp. 44, 200, and 388. - -_Dublin Magazine_ 1868, p. 707, "Bardiello." - -Payne's _Arabian Nights_, vol. iv. p. 223, "The Simpleton and the -Sharper." - -_Udvalgte Eventyr og Fortoellinger_ ved C. Molbech. _Kjoebenhavn_, -1843, p. 317, "Loen som forskyldt, et jydsk eventyr." - -Myllenhoff, _Sagen, Maerchen und Lieder der Herzogthuemer Schleswig -Holstein und Lauenburg_. (Kiel, 1845.) "Die reichen Bauern." - -J. W. Wolff (Leipzig, 1845), _Deutsche Maerchen und Sagen_, ii. p. 52, -"Die betrogenen Schelme." - -Kletke, _Maerchensaal aller Voelker_, i. p. 98, "Herr Scarpacifico." - -_Il Pentamerone_, ii. 10, "Lo compare." - -_Grimm_, vol. i. "Clever Elsie," p. 138; Stokes, _Indian Fairy Tales_; -"Foolish Sachuli," pp. 27, 257; _Folk-Lore Record_, 1884, p. 40, Variant -of "The Three Noodles." See also Halliwell's _Nursery Rhymes_, "Mr. -Vinegar," p. 149, and the well-known verses about the pedlar called -Stout, and "The Wise Men of Gotham," pp. 24, 56. - -Amongst the numerous other simpleton stories we may note those where -people harrow up their feelings about that which might happen to as yet -unborn children. - -The following are Magyar simpleton tales:-- - -The people in one village tried to carry a ladder through a forest -_across_ their shoulders and cut all the trees down so as to get -through. - -_In another_: A stork soiled the new gold nob on the spire and they shot -it so awkwardly that it hung there and disfigured the place worse than -ever. - -_In another_: Some grass was growing upon an old church: so, instead of -cutting it and throwing it down, they erected an elaborate scaffold and -pulled a bull up by a rope tied round his neck. The poor brute, half -strangled, put out his tongue, whereupon they said, "See, he wants it -already." - -_In another_: When the Turks were coming they put a foal in a little -grotto, and when it grew they could not get it out. - -_In another_: By mistake they made it out that they ate the _same_ -lentils twice, which is still a joke against them. - -In Finland there are many such tales current, of which the following are -specimens. There is a village called Hoelmoela, the inhabitants of which -are said to be very cautious, and who always considered well before -doing anything, lest they might get into trouble by overmuch haste. For -instance, when they are going to cut their rye, they always take seven -persons, one bent the rye-stalk down; another held a piece of wood under -it; the third cut the straw off; the fourth carried it to the sheaf; the -fifth bound the sheaf; the sixth piled the sheaves together; and the -seventh ricked them. Matti chanced to see them one day, and was struck -with their manner of working. When evening came there was but a quarter -of the field cut; so he thought he would do them a good turn, and set to -work to cut and bind the rest. When he had finished he laid his sickle -on the last shock and went to sleep. Next morning, when the Hoelmoela -people came, they found all cut, and the sickle lying on the shock. They -were all astounded, and came to the conclusion that work done in such -hurry must have been done by witchcraft, and that the sickle was the -wizard who had transformed himself into that shape, and concluded that -he ought to be drowned in order to prevent him interfering with honest -folks' work for the future. As it was not deemed wise to touch such a -creature, they fished it down by means of a long pole with a loop at the -end, and dragged it to the shore, although it was very troublesome, as -it would stick into the stubble and ditches, and try to prevent them -dragging it along. At last it was got into a boat, and rowed off into -the middle of the lake. They then tied a large stone to the handle with -a strong rope, so that it might not float, and then with joyous shout -threw it into the water. Unfortunately the sickle caught the bulwark of -the boat; and, being weighted with a heavy stone, the boat canted over, -and the good folks barely escaped with their lives from the wicked wiles -of the wizard.[26] - -Once they built a hut, and did it so thoroughly that they forgot the -windows. When it was done, it was very dark, and so they sat down to -consider how to get the light in. At last they hit upon a plan: the -light was to be brought in a sack! So they opened the bag wide in the -sunlight, and then, when it was full, tied it carefully up, and brought -it in; but alas! the darkness was not enlightened. They were very much -cast down at this; and while they pondered over it Matti passed by, and, -hearing of their trouble, offered to get them the needed light for one -hundred marks; and they were delighted to get it for so little. Matti -cut a hole in the wall, and lo! the hut was flooded with light. The -people were so delighted that they decided to take the whole wall down. -Now they had light enough, but unfortunately, just then the hut fell -down. - -The writer of this has often heard in Holderness of a man who could not -get into his trousers, and used to get up hours before his comrade, and -get into his trousers by setting them up by a chair and jumping into -them; till at last he was told to sit down, and put on first one leg and -then the other. This was a great revelation to him. Another man took his -wheelbarrow to wheel daylight in, and worked away till he was told to -open his shutters, and it would _come_ in. One day another brilliant saw -some grass in a church steeple, and was just going to hoist his cow up -to it, when a friend pointed out to him that it was easier for _him_ to -go up and bring it down. When at school at Newcastle-on-Tyne, some -twenty years ago, we were very fond of the story of a Dutchman, who, -with his comrades, went out walking one night; saw the moon's reflection -in the water, and thought it was a Dutch cheese. He determined that the -best way to get it was to go on to the bridge, and by taking hold of -each other's feet to form a chain, and so reach the cheese. The Dutchman -was top man, and held on to the bridge. Just when the bottom man was -about to seize the cheese, the Dutchman hollowed out, "Hold on a minute, -till I spit on my hands!" and so they all fell into the water, and -destroyed the cheese, besides other calamities![27] - -Amongst the Lapps, it is the Giants, and Stallo who are fooled, _e.g._: -"Patto-Poadnje haevner sig paa Stallo," "En Askelad narrer Stallo," and -an amusing story of how a dressed-up log was palmed off as a Lapp girl -("Stallobruden"). _Friis_, pp. 78, 90 and 98. - -See also "Den listige Lappen," Hofberg, _Svenska Saegner_, p. 195; and a -Russian variant given in _Ralston_, p. 53. - -Forgetting to put the spigot into the vessel, and so losing all the -wine, occurs in "The Husband who had to mind the House," _Dasent_, p. -310, and in _Grimm_, vol. i.; cf. also note to "Frederick and -Catherine," p. 238; and "Clever Hans," p. 381. - -_Page 82._ In _S. ja T._ ii. pp. 113-126, under head "Kuolema Kummina" -("Death as Godfather"), two stories are given which resemble this part -of the Magyar tale. In "Taiwaan wuohen synty" ("Heaven's Goat's Origin") -from Karelia, a poor man has a child, and goes to look for a godfather. -He meets a stranger, who turns out to be God; but the poor man will not -have him, as he makes one poor and another rich. Soon after he meets -Death, and him he accepts, for with him there are no favourites. Death -gives his godchild three gifts: a chair that whoever sits down on it -cannot get up without leave; a bag that is never empty; and the power to -know whether a person will recover, by noticing whether Death stands at -the head or foot of the bed. The man lived to be over three hundred -years old by tricking Death; and when he died he was not admitted into -heaven because he called God a deceiver, and so he still goes wailing in -mid-air: and this was the origin of the Snipe. In the other story, -"Taiwaasen menijae," (Going to Heaven,) from Kivigari in Tavastland, -Death gives the man an ointment, as a christening present, to heal all, -providing the man sees him standing at the foot of the patient's bed. -Death is grossly deceived, and when the man does die, he only gets into -heaven by a fluke. A variant of the whole story is "Gambling Hansel," -_Grimm_, No. 81. See also: _Grimm_, vol. i. "The Godfather," p. 168; -"Godfather Death," p. 171, and note, p. 391; and "Brother Lustig," p. -312. Grimm, _Deutsche Mythologie_, ii. p. 951; _Dasent_, "The Master -Smith," p. 120; C. Molbech, _Udvalgte Eventyr_, No. 70: "Doeden og hans -Gudsoen," and "Brave Petrus en zign Zak," a Flemish Tale in _Volkskunde_. -Tijdschrift voor Nederlandsche Folklore onder redactie van Prof. A. -Gittee 3^e Aflevering 1888, may be quoted as further instances. - -Mistress Death appears in "Starving John, the Doctor," in _Patranas_, p. -125; and in _Vernaleken_, "Hans with the Goitre," p. 238, it is a -skeleton. - -In a Wendish Story, St. Hedwige stands as godmother; see _Dublin -Magazine_, 1861, p. 355. - -In the Russian Story, "The Bad Wife," _Afanassieff_, i. No. 9, quoted in -_Ralston_, p. 39, the devil flies out of Tartarus, to get out of the bad -wife's way, and assists her husband to become a great doctor. See also a -Lapp variant, from Utsjok, "Kjaerringen og Fanden," in _Friis_, p. 138. - - - - -THE HUSSAR AND THE SERVANT GIRL. Kriza xix. - - -Cf. _Dasent_, "The Dancing Gang," p. 507; and the "Drop of Honey," in -Payne's _Arabian Nights_, vol. v. p. 275, where, we are told, "a certain -man used to hunt the wild beasts in the desert, and one day he came upon -a grotto in the mountains, where he found a hollow full of bees' honey. -So he took somewhat thereof in a water-skin he had with him, and, -throwing it over his shoulder, carried it to the city, followed by a -hunting dog which was dear to him. He stopped at the shop of an oilman, -and offered him the honey for sale, and he bought it. Then he emptied it -out of the skin, that he might see it, and in the act a drop fell to the -ground; whereupon the flies flocked to it, and a bird swooped down upon -the flies. Now, the oilman had a cat, which pounced upon the bird, and -the huntsman's dog, seeing the cat, sprang upon it and killed it; -whereupon the oilman ran at the dog and killed it; and the huntsman in -turn leapt upon the oilman and killed him. Now the oilman was of one -village and the huntsman of another; and when the people of the two -places heard what had passed, they took up arms and rose on one another -in anger, and there befel a sore battle; nor did the sword cease to play -amongst them till there died of them much people; none knoweth their -number save God the Most High." See also, "_The Book of Sindibad_," -Folk-Lore Society, 1882, p. 133. - - - - -MY FATHER'S WEDDING. Kriza x. - - -Cf. Halliwell, _Nursery Rhymes:_ "Sir Gammer Vans," p. 147. - -_Grimm_, vol. ii., "The story of Schlauraffen land," p. 229; "No-beard -and the Boy," p. 518; "The Turnip," p. 213, and notes, pp. 413, 442, -452. - -_Vernaleken_, "The King does not believe Everything," p. 241. - -Caballero, _Fairy Tales_, "A tale of Taradiddles," p. 80. - -Denton, _Serbian Folk-Lore_, "Lying for a Wager," p. 107. - -Stokes, _Indian Fairy Tales_, Nos. 4, 8, and 17. - -Ralston, _Russian Folk-Tales_, p. 295. - -Mr. Quigstad has kindly sent the following Lapp variants collected at -Lyngen. There was once a pot so large that when cooking was going on at -one end, little boys were skating at the other. One of the men to whom -the pot belonged set to work to make his comrade a pair of shoes, and -used up seven ox-hides on the job. One of them got a bit of dust in his -eye, and the other sought for it with an anchor, and found during his -search a three-masted ship, which was so large that a little boy who -went aloft was a white-haired old man when he got back again. There were -seven parishes in that ship! - -"Luegenmaerchen" are common in Finland, and generally turn on a big fish, -or a big turnip, and a big kettle to boil it in, giant potatoes, huge -mushrooms, and so on. A schoolboy's story in Newcastle-on-Tyne relates -how one man told his comrade of a remarkable dream he had had of an -enormous turnip; whereat his comrade replied he had dreamt about an -enormous kettle which was to boil the turnip in. - -The other day a Boston friend told the writer a Lincolnshire story of a -man who grew such splendid turnips that there were only three in a -ten-acre field, and one grew so big it pushed the other two out. This -man had a mate who made such a big kettle, that the man at one side -could not hear the rivetting at the other! I am told by my friend Prof. -Gittee that similar tales are current in Flanders. - -Another north country yarn tells of a naked blind man going out to -shoot, and seeing six crows, he shot them, and put them in his pocket. - -_Page 88._ The river Olt rises in Transylvania, and flows into the -Danube in Wallachia, in which country it is called the Aluta. - - - - -THE BAA-LAMBS. Kriza xiv. - - -Cf. "Saint Peter's Goddaughter," in _Portuguese Folk-Tales_. Folk-Lore -Society, 1882, p. 54. - -Dasent, _Tales from the Norse_, "The Seven Foals," p. 349. - -Naake, _Slavonic Tales:_ "The Three Brothers", p. 254. - -Stokes, _Indian Fairy Tales_, "The King's Son," p. 234; and the Servian -tale quoted on p. 294. - -_Page 93._ Kriza notes that the "rotting, dead dog's head" occurs in the -"Historiae Tripartitae ex Socrate, Sozomeno et Theodorico in unum -collectae," by Cassiodorus; ii. 12. The first edition appeared in 1472. - - - - -FAIRY ELIZABETH. Kriza xv. - - -Cf. Vernaleken, _In the Land of Marvels_, "The Outcast Son," p. 151. - -_Page 98._ The Judas she-devil's service lasted for three days in "The -Three White Doves," _Vernaleken_, p. 269. - -Amongst the many stories in which time passes rapidly, see Gilmour, -_Among the Mongols_, "The Wizard," p. 344; Ralston, _Russian -Folk-Tales_, p. 304; Baring-Gould, _Curious Myths_, "The Seven -Sleepers," p. 93; and _Friis_, "Troldkjaerringen og Jes," from Swedish -Lapmark, p. 38. - -In the Lapp tale, _Friis_, No. 45, swan-maids come and steal the corn, -and the two elder sons fail to catch the thieves, Gudnavirus -(Ashiepattle) the youngest, succeeding in doing so. - -_Page 99._ Concerning the bird enticing the boy, cf. the bird that -steals the jewel in "Kemerezzam and Budour," in Payne's _Arabian -Nights_, vol. iii. p. 157. - -Cf. also Rink, _Tales of the Eskimo_, "The Sun and the Moon," p. 236; -_S. ja T._, i., "Lippo ja Tapio," from Ilomantsi, p. 6; and _Friis_, -Nos. 44 and 45. - -In some other Magyar tales a lame wolf or a lame eagle takes the -woodpecker's place. Cf. Gaal, "Toebbsinsckiralyfi" ("Prince Non-such"). -In a Bohemian story it is a limping cock-pigeon, see _Vernaleken_, p. -359. - -_Page 101._ Numerous incidents in folk-tales bear on the widespread -superstition against looking (or going) back after setting out on a -journey. - -Cf. _Friis_, "Ulta-Pigen," where a lad is returning home with his bride; -the girl warns him not to look back but he does, and lo! there is a -great herd of beasts his wife's parents have given him. The moment he -turned all those outside of the gate vanished; in "Jaetten og -Veslegutten," the lad fools the giant, because he dare not look back; -and in "Bondesonnen og Solens Soster," the hero stumbles and falls and -so sees behind him and in a moment the king's town and palaces -disappear. - -See also Rink, _Tales of the Eskimo_, "The Revived who came to the -underground people," p. 300; Hofberg, _Svenska Saegner_, "Soasafrun"; -Stokes, _Indian Fairy Tales_, "The Bel Princess," pp. 140, 283; and -Gregor, _Folk-Lore of North-East Scotland_, Folk-Lore Society, 1881, p. -91. - -A Lincolnshire labouring man, when I lived in the north of the county, -told me he knew a wizard who wished to mend the road that led to his -house across a field. He ordered one of his men to take a cartful of -stones and a rake and to set off to mend the road, which was to be done -as follows. The cart was to be taken to the far side of the field, and -driven slowly along the road that needed mending, but the man was under -no circumstances to look back. He did as he was ordered, but there was -such a noise behind him that when he had got nearly over the field he -looked round, and lo! there were thousands of devils at work, who -disappeared the moment he looked round, and the road is not done yet. - -In the same part of Lincolnshire, one day when a lady had gone out with -a child to be baptized she turned back as she had forgotten something; -when she entered the house one of the servants begged her to sit down -before she went out again or something terrible would happen. The same -superstition exists in Holderness, Finland, Hungary, Algeria, and -Sweden. - -_Page 101._ Amongst the numberless examples of swan-maidens, cf. the -following: - -_Friis_, "Pigen fra Havet," p. 27; "Baeivekongens eller Solkongens -Datter," p. 152; and "Goveiter-Pige," p. 39, where the girls appear in -gorgeous dresses. - -_S. ja T._ i. p. 35, "Tuhkamo"; and ii. p. 53, "Ei-niin-mitae." - -Hofberg, _Svenska Saegner_: "Jungfrun i Svanhamn," p. 27. - -A story is current in Smaland of a clergyman's son who assisted his -father as curate. One morning when the young man awoke he saw the -sun-beams coming in through a knot-hole in the floor, and suddenly a -woman of marvellous beauty came floating in on the light and stood -before him. He sprang up and threw his cloak over her and took her to -his parents. She became his wife and lived happily with him for many -years. One day he chanced to say how strange her coming was, and in -order to emphasize his words he took the knot out of the hole in the -floor, and in a moment she was gone! - -In a Lapp story, _Friis_, No. 7, the girl tells her husband to drive a -nail into the threshold to prevent her going away. See also "Lappen i -Skathamn." _Hofberg_, p. 174.[28] - -Other examples of the swan-maiden kind are to be found in:-- - -Rink, _Tales of the Eskimo_, "The Man who mated himself with a -Sea-fowl," p. 146. - -Keightley's _Fairy Mythology_, "The Peri Wife," p. 20; also p. 163, -where seals are said to put off their skins; and "The Mermaid Wife," p. -169. - -_Legends of the Wigwam_, "Son of the Evening Star," p. 81. - -Stokes, _Indian Fairy Tales_, "Phulmati Rani," p. 6. - -Steere, _Swahili Tales_, "Hasseebu Kareem Ed Deed," p. 355. - -_Household Stories from the Land of Hofer_, "The Dove Maiden," p. 368. - -Vernaleken, _In the Land of Marvels_, "The Three White Doves," p. 263; -"The Maiden on the Crystal Mountain," p. 274; "How Hans finds his Wife," -p. 281; and "The Drummer," p. 288. - -_Grimm_, vol. ii. "The Drummer," p. 333. - -Ralston, _Russian Folk-Tales_, p. 120. - -Croker, _Fairy Legends of the South of Ireland_, "The Lady of Gollerus," -p. 177. - -_Sagas from the Far East_, pp. 29, 91. - -Payne's _Arabian Nights_, "The Story of Janshah," vol. v. p. 98; - -"Hassan of Bassora," and the "King's Daughter of the Jinn," vol. vii. p. -145. - -_Portuguese Folk-Tales_, Folk-Lore Society 1882, "The Spell-bound -Giant," p. 35. - -_Folk-Lore Record_, 1879, p. 12; 1883, pp. 203, 250, 284, 320; and 1884, -p. 11. - -Waegner's _Epics and Romances_, p. 280, see "Valkyrs"; _Asgard and the -Gods_, sub voce "Walkyries." - -Baring Gould, _Curious Myths_, sub "Swan-maidens." - -_Page 103._ Anent the wedding here mentioned, it may be interesting to -note some ceremonies connected with Magyar weddings in olden times. -Love-making was very simple: there was no long courtship before the -betrothal, and one meeting of the couple was often deemed quite -sufficient.[29] The young folks did not choose their future companions, -that being the parents' prerogative; and very often the match was -arranged when they were in their cradles. It was not considered -desirable to make connections with foreign families, and in case a girl -was given away to a foreigner, one of the conditions insisted upon was -that the husband should learn the language of the country. Francis Csaky -was thrown into prison by his father because he would not marry Miss -Homonmay, who had been selected as his wife. Occasionally, however, some -choice was allowed; thus, for instance, Nicholas Bethlen was allowed to -choose his wife from among the daughters of Paul Beldy and Stephen Kun. -It was considered an offence if a young man, not being a relative, paid -a visit to a house where marriageable girls[30] were, as he was -suspected of courting the young ladies on the sly; if the young man was -one whom the parents approved, a day was fixed for him to come and "see" -the girls. On the appointed day the young man started on his journey -with great pomp, and generally arranged to arrive about supper time (7 -to 8 p.m.); if the sight was satisfactory, the girl's hand was at once -asked for.[31] During supper the young couple sat opposite to each -other, and after supper there was a dance. Some parents left it to their -daughters to decide, while others endeavoured "to enlighten them." If -the father was dead the widow sought the advice of her eldest son, or of -the children's guardian. If the young man was refused[32] he left the -place, sometimes carrying the young lady off by force, as John Mikes did -Sarah Tarnoczy. The asking for the young lady's hand was performed by -that member of the family who had the greatest authority; if the offer -was accepted the bridegroom fixed a day for the betrothal. Then came the -interchange of rings. The betrothal ring was not a plain hoop, but one -enamelled and set with diamonds or rubies. From the day of the betrothal -they were considered engaged, and henceforth called each other "my -younger sister" (hugom), and "my elder brother" (batyam),[33] and the -young man was allowed to make his offerings of gold and silver. The -betrothal--called in Magyar "the clasping of hands"--and interchange of -rings was considered binding on both parties, and a breach of promise -was considered the greatest insult. Sometimes a sort of preliminary -wedding was celebrated, thus Nicholas Bethlen went through the marriage -ceremony soon after the interchange of rings, but a whole year elapsed -before, he took his bride to his house.[34] - -Sometimes an agreement was drawn up; and the wedding-day having been -fixed by the bridegroom, it was communicated to the bride's father, so -as to allow him to make his preparations. The number of the wedding -guests often amounted to several hundreds. At the wedding of Barbara -Thurzo, in 1612, seventy Magyar nobles of the highest rank appeared -personally, besides several from the Austrian dominions. The king of -Poland sent his sons and several ambassadors, the number of the guests' -horses being 4324.[35] The wedding-feast was sometimes utilized for the -discussion of politics. All the inhabitants of the village were invited, -bullocks with gilt horns were roasted, and a goodly number of knives -stuck into them for the use of the people. The bread was exposed in -troughs, and the wine in vats. Amongst people of modest means the forms -were the same, the supplies being smaller. The expenses of the wedding -were borne by the serfs. - -The bridegroom chose his best man from among his near relations, the -groomsmen were young friends. A widower had neither best man nor groom's -men. The bride had a matron[36] who gave her away, and who, together -with the bridesmaids were chosen from near relatives. There was -generally also "a host" chosen from the higher nobility, and he carried -a gold stick in his hand; the deputy host carried a stick painted green; -these two walked about and looked after the guests. A few days before -the wedding the guests met at the bridegroom's house, and on the night -previous to starting a weeping soiree was held, when the bridegroom took -leave of his bachelorship.[37] On the night previous to the wedding the -bridegroom and his guests journeyed to a village near the bride's -residence, and slept there. So far the bridegroom had come on horseback; -but now he took his seat in a carriage, and in front of him rode two -young nobles clad in wild animals' skins,[38] who were called -"fore-greeters" (eloelkoeszoentoek). These were followed by pipers, -drummers, and buglers. In the bridegroom's carriage the best man sat by -his side, his groomsmen in the opposite seat. The "matron of the -bedchamber" (nyoszolyo asszony) followed in another carriage preceded by -two young nobles dressed in skins and on horseback. The procession was -closed by the servants, leading gaily caparisoned horses. The two -"fore-greeters" saluted the chief host of the bride, who returned the -greeting, and sent a message saying that the master would be heartily -welcome: this was conveyed to the assembled guests, who thereupon -proceeded to the bride's residence. When they arrived at the outskirts -of the village, the bride's chief host sent a gold ring and some saddled -horses, and a horse-race was at once got up,[39] the prize being the -gold ring. Then the bridegroom sent his presents to the bride; the -guests, too, sent their presents; as did also the representatives of the -united towns and counties. - -If the wedding was kept in a fortified town the guests were saluted by -the firing of guns. The best man greeted the family of the bride, to -which the chief host replied: thereupon the best man asked for the -bride[40] and the chief host replied, endeavouring to pass a joke on the -bridegroom and his best man, to which the latter replied as best he -could. Then the chief host delivered up the bride, and, with a long -speech, invited the guests to the midday meal.[41] The meal was a -sumptuous feast; musicians discoursing sweet music as it proceeded. The -chief host assigned the proper places to the guests. The bride was not -expected to eat, but to weep. The banquet over, dancing began. The first -dance was danced by the best man and matron, who were followed by the -bride and bridegroom; the former simply walking through her dances: -several other dances followed. The bride appeared in three different -dresses on the wedding-day;[42] the bridegroom in three different -dresses on the three days of the wedding. When the bride appeared they -played the "bride's dance." During the parting ceremony the bride went -down upon her knees before her parents, and was handed over to the -bridegroom, who unsheathed his sword and cut off the wedding wreath.[43] -This ceremony was called "taking possession of the girl." The fortress -guns thundered out to let the world know when it took place. The young -couple remained with the bride's parents till the third day, when she -distributed her presents, and then set off to her new home.[44] - -See also an account of the Palocz wedding customs in the Notes to the -"Girl with the Golden Hair," _infra_. - -There is a host of wedding and love songs, especially in cases where -the ardent lover had to go far to meet his beloved, as for instance, the -Lapps had to do. Two are given in Nos. 366 and 406 of the _Spectator_. -The following[45] I do not think has ever been translated before: - - - No, not under the wide spreading heaven - Is there so sweet and rich a flower - As my own, dear, sweet, beloved one, she has all my poor heart. - - When I travel over the windy Alps - I remember my own belov'd one, - And in a moment it's calm and warm, as after Midsummer. - - -The tune is very sweet and plaintiff, like so many of the folk-songs, -the translation conveys no idea of the sweet and liquid music that even -the words of the original are brimful of.[46] - -"_Six-ox farmers._"--To say that a farmer ploughs his land with six oxen -yoked to his plough means that he is very wealthy. - -_Page 104._ The giant in an Austrian story (_Vernaleken_, p. 95) draws -circles in the sand and a fowl appears; and in the Lapp story -("Ulta-Pigen." _Friis_, No. 7) the lad marks out on the ground the plan -of a house, &c., at night, and in the morning all is found complete. - -"My lad, it is a _burial_ feast." Halotti tors or burial-feasts are -still very common among the Magyar rural population. - -_Page 105._ The trouble that comes from those at home[47] occurs over -and over in all manner of folk-tales, _e.g._, in the Lapp story -["Fattiggutten, Fanden og Guldbyen"] the lad, after meeting a beautiful -girl who becomes his bride, insists upon going home to tell of his good -luck, and when there wishes for his bride and her attendants to appear, -to prove that his story is true. They come, but vanish almost at once, -and then comes the numerous troubles before the lost bride can be found. -_Friis_, p. 161. In another, the son of the swan-maiden shows his mother -her dress, which she at once puts on and vanishes, "Pigen fra Havet," -_id._ p. 27, with which Cf. _Dasent_. "Soria Moria Castle," p. 466. - -_Vernaleken._ "The Drummer," p. 289. - -Payne, _Arabian Nights_, "The Story of Janshah," vol. v. p. 109, and -"Hassan of Bassoria," vol. vii. p. 175. - -_Page 105, "Johara."_ There is no town of _Johara_ in Hungary, but there -is in Russia a province of the name of _Jugaria_ or _Juharia_--according -to Lehrberg the Jugra or Ugra, of old Russian records--whence "the -Hungarians (_sic!_) proceeded when they took possession of Pannonia -[their modern home] and subdued many provinces of Europe under their -leader Attila."[48] According to Lehrberg,[49] it comprised the greater -parts of the governments of Perm and Tobolsk of our days. It was said -in Herberstein's time--his journeys were made in 1517 and 1526--that -"the Juhari ... use the same dialect as the Hungarians, but whether this -be true, I cannot say from my own knowledge; for though I have made -diligent search I have been unable to find any man of that country with -whom my servant, who is skilled in the Hungarian language, might have an -opportunity of conversing."[50] Since Ivan the Terrible, the province -gives a title to the Emperors of Russia.[51] - -Cf. Payne, _Arabian Nights_, vol. v. p. 121, wherein the maid flies to -"the Castle of Jewels." The man only gets there by the aid of birds and -beasts, and it is the _third_ and most skilful magician alone who -summons a bird, which is the only one who knows the far-off place. In -another story, vol. vii., p. 176, the maiden flies to the "islands of -Wac." - -_Dasent_, p. 212, it is "Whiteland," and an old pike knows where it is. - -_Vernaleken_, p. 251, Moon and Sun do not know where the mysterious -place is, but the wind does. See also "the Drummer," p. 289, where the -bride flies to the "Crystal Mountain." - -In the Lapp stories we find "Banka Castle" and "Baeive-kingdom," and in -an Irish tale, "Grey Horn's Kingdom," as the mysterious land. - -The three men (or women) to whom the forsaken husband goes occurs in the -Lapp stories, "Bondesonnen," "Baeive Kongens Datter," and "Fattiggutten," -Nos. 44, 45, and 46, _Friis_. - -Finnish, _S. ja T._ "Tuhkamo," i. p. 35, and "Ei-niin-mitae," ii. p. 53. - -_Vernaleken_, "The Judas She-Devil," p. 255. "The Three White Doves," p. -264. "The Maiden of the Crystal Mountain," p. 275. - -_Folk-Lore Record_, 1883, p. 319. - -_Portuguese Stories_, F. L. Soc., 1882, p. 108, "The Prince who had the -head of a Horse." - -_Grimm_, vol. ii. pp. 381, 399. - -The Whistle and Whip as a mode of summoning in common, see "Fisher Joe," -p. 16, _ante_. - -_Page 108._ "The Lame Woodpecker" reminds us of the lame devil in -"Stephen the Murderer," p. 10; in _Vernaleken_, there is "a limper," p. -265, and a "lame hare," p. 275, the reluctance of the birds to take the -man to Johara, &c., occurs in the Finnish and Lapp stories referred to. - -_Page 109._ "Youth-giving water." Cf. "The Fairies Well," in present -collection, p. 295. In Hungary snow-water collected in March is said to -possess the same virtue. - -Cf. also _Finnish_, "Tuhkamo." _S. ja T._ i. p. 43, where Ashiepattle -washes in a well and becomes marvellously beautiful. - -_Lapp_, "Baeivekongen.". _Friis_, p. 152. Where the lad dips his sore -head into a kettle and becomes beautiful and golden haired. See also -_Folk-Lore Record_, 1879. "Old Ballad Folk-Lore," p. 100. In "The Jewel -in the Cock's Head," an Italian story, quoted in the _Dublin Magazine_, -1868, p. 706, the hero at once becomes young and handsome by the virtues -of the jewel, and in a Finnish story, "The Enchanted Ship," the same end -is attained by eating some berries. Cf. the effect of the Tatos and -baa-lambs breathing on anything, pp. 63 and 92 _ante_; also _Dasent_, p. -362; and such stories as "The Old Man made Young," _Grimm_, vol. ii., p. -215, and note, p. 444. - -There are numerous springs and wells whose waters are said to possess -marvellous powers, such as St. Winifred's in Flintshire, St. Keyne's in -Cornwall, St. Bede's at Jarrow, &c. See Chambers' _Book of Days_, sub -voce "Wells"; _Henderson's_ "Wells"; Hardwick, _Traditions, -Superstitions, and Folk-Lore_, p. 267; and Aubrey, _Remains of -Gentilisme_, F.L.S., 1880, pp. 121. - - - - -THE THREE PRINCES. Erdelyi, i. 1. - - -Cf. _Grimm_, vol. i. "The Gold Children," and note; vol. ii. "The Two -Brothers," p. 244, and notes, p. 418; in "Ivan Kupiskas Son." _Friis_, -p. 170, a bear, a wolf, and a dog help the hero. - -See also _Dasent_, "The Blue Belt"; and Denton, _Serbian Folk-Lore_, -"The Three Brothers." - -_Page 111._ In explanation of the fact that the wolf, lion, and bear -are sometimes called "dogs," and other times "servants," we may mention -that is quite common in Hungary to address a dog as "my servant;" and -the three brutes in the story are supposed to follow their masters like -dogs. For animals and birds that help, cf. _Ralston_, "The Water King," -p. 120. _Old Deccan Days_, "Punchkin," p. 14. _Vernaleken_, "The Three -White Doves," p. 269, and "The Enchanted Sleep," p. 312. _Sagas from the -Far East_, p. 137. _Friis_, "Jaetten Os Veslegutten." _Uncle Remus_, No. -xxii. and notes to Prince Csihan. - -The sticking of knives into a tree to tell of the fortune or misfortune -of the owner occurs also in "Knight Rose," see notes there, and p. 257. - -A town draped in black cloth appears in _Grimm_, vol. i. note, p. 421. -_Dasent_, "Shortshanks," p. 160. _Vernaleken_, "The Cobblers Two Sons," -p. 197. - -The dragon that devours a virgin every week reminds us of St. George, -see Baring Gould, _Curious Myths_, "St. George," and _The Seven -Champions of Christendom_. Cf. _Grimm. Stories from the Land of Hofer_, -"The Three Black Dogs," p. 214. _Friis_, Bondesonnen and _Dasent_, p. -158. - -_Page 112._ "The healing weed;" see note to "Knight Rose," p. 342. - -The dragon in _No. 7, Pentamerone_, when one of its heads is cut off, -rubs itself against a certain leaf and the head is at once fastened on -again. - -The treachery of the Red Knight which appears in this story has already -been noticed in the notes to "The Hunting Princes." Cf. _Dasent_, "Big -Bird Dan." - -_Page 113._ Animals restore their master to life in _Grimm_, vol. i. p. -253. _Friis_, "Ivan," p. 170. _Ralston_, p. 231. _S. ja T._ i. "Haer'aen -korwista syntyneet Koirat siw" (The Dogs who grew from the Ears of a -Bull), p. 138; in another Finnish story, "The Golden Bird," the hero is -restored to life by a wolf, after being slain by his treacherous -brothers. In the Kalevala it is a bee that brings the honey which -restores Lemminkaeinen; Rune 15, 530. - -The prince thinks he has been asleep, just as Lemminkaeinen does in -Kalevala, Song 15, 559. Cf. "Golden Hair," _Naake_, p. 108; -"Marya-Morevna," _Ralston_, p. 91. - -_Page 114._ "Henczida to Bonczida," names of villages, the former in the -county of Bihar, the latter in Kolozs. - -_Page 115._ The witch throwing down a rod or hair; see also "Knight -Rose," cf. _Portuguese Folk-Tales_, Folk-Lore Society, 1882, "The Tower -of Ill-Luck," p. 49. Basile, _Pentamerone_, No. 7, where a fairy binds -Cienzo by her hair. Denton, _Serbian Folk-Lore_, "The Three Brothers," -p. 275. - -It is curious the part hair plays in popular lore.[52] According to the -old idea that any part of a person, such as his hair, nail clippings, -&c. was to all intents and purposes himself (see notes to "The Lazy -Spinning Girl"[53]); so it appears here the witch's power would be -conveyed by one of her hairs, just as the witch in the "World's -Beautiful Woman" spits on the child's face with the hope of conveying -her enchantment, p. 166. See _Henderson_, _sub voce_, "Hair." Black, -_Folk Medicine in Waes_. - -_Page 116._ The unsheathed sword in bed occurs in the story of Siegfried -and Brunhild. Cf. also _Dasent_, "The Big Bird Dan," p. 450; Payne's -_Arabian Nights_, "The Story of Prince Seif el Mulouk," vol. vii. p. 94; -_Pentamerone_, i. 9; and _Gubernatis_, vol. i. 330. - - - - -THE THREE DREAMS. Erdelyi, i. 2. - - -Cf. "The Secret-keeping Little Boy," p. 233, in this collection. - -According to Ladislaus Arany,[54] an almost exact version of the tale is -given in Schott's _Wallachische Maerchen_ (No. 9). Schott calls attention -to the resemblance of this tale to the story of Joseph, in the Old -Testament, who is released from prison and exalted for the successful -solution of dreams. See also two stories from Radloff, _Proben der -Volkslitteratur der Tuerkischen Staemme Sued-Siberiens_, quoted in -_Gubernatis_, vol. i. pp. 139-142. - -The "Operenczias Tenger," is the mythical sea of Hungarian folk-tales. -With regard to the etymology of the word, it is said by some to come -from the expression "ober der Enns," in the German name of the Duchy of -Upper Austria. The etymology is given for what it is worth. As to the -cosmology of the story-tellers, all we can say is, that they appear to -uphold the Zetetic school. The earth is flat, and surrounded by the -Operenczian sea: beyond that is fairyland. - -The Magyar peasants think much of dreams, as may be seen in their -wonderful dream-book, "_A legregibb es legnagyobb Egyiptomi -Almoskoenyv_," a work something in the same style as the dream-books that -are still common in country places in England. - -The significance of dreams is noticed in _Uarda_, cap. xv. Cf. _Denton_, -"The Dream of the King's Son." _Horace_, c. _iii_. _xxvii_. 41; S. i. x. -33. _Homer_ says that dreams of falsehood passed through an ivory gate -in the lower world: true ones through a gate of horn. - -See also Tylor, _Early History of Mankind_, pp. 5-10; and _Primitive -Culture_, "Dreams." - -There are many stories of dreams which foretold wealth and power, or -were the means of the dreamer attaining them, _e.g._ "Gontram the good -King of Burgundy," Claud Paradin, _Symbola Heroica_. Also Chambers's -_Book of Days_, vol. i. pp. 276, 394, 617; vol. ii. p. 188. The writer -remembers hearing an almost precisely similar story to the last, when -the ill-fated "Lifeguard" was lost on her way from Newcastle to London. - -The Indians pay great attention to their dreams during the long fast at -the beginning of manhood: see _Legends of the Wigwam_, p. 99. In some -stories one of the chief characters pretends to dream that she may -obtain certain information, such as "Luxhale's wives:" _Stories from the -Land of Hofer_, p. 317. - -It is a common superstition in Holderness that a morning dream is sure -to come true, but if it is told to anyone before breakfast, it will not. - -_Page 118_. "Immured alive": see a Magyar folk-song, "Clement the -Mason," in the _Academy_, July 31, 1886. Cf. a paper read by Oscar -Mailand before the Historical and Antiquarian Society of the County of -Hunyad (April 29, 1885) on the legend of the building of the Monastery -at Arges in Roumania. The story is nearly the same as in the song of -"Clement the Mason." Manuli, the master builder, has a dream, wherein he -is recommended to immure the first woman that appears on the scene; the -victim is Manuli's wife. During the discussion that followed, the -president, Count Geza Kuun, mentioned that the same tale is told of the -castle of Deven in the county of Nograd; the fortress of Deveny near -Pozsony (Pressburg); and of another fortress in the Trans-danubian -division, and that the legend is of Slavonic origin. - -_Grimm_, ii. "Maid Maleen," p. 350. - -_Livius_, viii. c. 15, "Virgo Vestalis damnati incesti, viva deforsa -est." - -The king vows to slaughter thirty Muslims at the gate of his palace, -when complete, in "Ali Noureddin." Payne's _Arabian Nights_, vol. viii. -p. 141. - -_Folk-Lore Journal_, 1880, p. 282; January 1883, "A Bewildering -Superstition." - -Cf. also the incident in "Secret-keeping Little Boy", p. 238. - -"_Dog-Headed Tartars_." Our story-tellers almost invariably use the -epithet "dog-headed" when speaking of their old enemies, the Tartars. -Medieval travellers, who wrote in Latin, speak of the Great Khan of -Tartary as "Magnus Canis." Cf. _The Travels of Friar Odoric_, in _Cathay -and the way Thither_ (Hakluyt Soc. 1866). The learned editor remarks (p. -128, note): "I am not sure that a faithful version should not render -'Magnus Canis' as the 'Great Dog,' for in most copies the word is -regularly declined 'Canis,' 'Cani,' 'Canem,' as if he were really a -bow-wow. According to Ludolf, an old German translation of Mandeville -does introduce the mighty prince as 'Der grosse Hund.'" - -The irruption into Hungary of the Tartars under Batu Khan, in the -thirteenth century, and their frightful slaughter and terrible -devastations are sufficiently known, and need not further be enlarged -upon here. - -With regard to dog-headed people (cf. the Kynokephaloi of Ktesias), such -people are often mentioned in ancient travels; thus, Odoric of Pordenone -says: "[L'Isola che si chiama] Nichovera ... nella quale tutti gli -nomini [h]anno il capo a modo d'un cane." From an old Italian MS. text -in the Bibl. Palatina at Florence, printed in _Cathay and the Way -Thither_, p. 51. - -The womankind of dog-headed people are always described as beautiful. -Cf. the travels of Friar Jordanus, Odoric of Pordenone, Ibn Batuta. Cf. -also the lovely wife of old Doghead in "Prince Mirko" in this volume; -and _Gubernatis_, vol. i. Preface, xix. - -_Page 120._ "Born with a caul." - -In Holderness and North Lincolnshire, a caul is said to prevent the -owner from drowning. I have heard others say, that you can tell by its -condition what the state of its owner's (the one who was born with it) -health is, even if he (or she) is in a distant land. So long as it keeps -as it is he is well, but if it "snerkles up" he is dead.[55] It is -commonly called a "sillyhood" in the North. - -Cf. _Henderson_, pp. 22, 23. _Aubrey, Remaines of Gentilisme_, p. 113. - -Gregor, _Folk-Lore of North-East of Scotland_, p. 25. - -_Grimm_, i. Hans in Luck. "I must have been born with a caul," p. 329. - -Napier, _Folk-Lore_, p. 32. - -Babies born with teeth are said by the Magyar peasants to be the -children of witches; see Varga Janos, _A babonak Koenyve_, Arad, 1877, p. -70. - -Babies born with teeth are regarded as different to other children, in -some parts of England, but the superstition is vague. A friend had a -servant who was born with a grey lock, and the writer has often seen the -girl; it was regarded as somewhat uncanny. Francisque Michel mentions in -his _Histoire des Races Maudites_, that in the Valley of Argeles old -women, when quarrelling with a cagot, shew their tongue "ou derrier -l'oreille"; this is to remind the poor man of the wisp of hair on his -ear, which is considered uncanny. - -_Page 120_. The incident of the lad disguising himself so as to be -exactly like his comrades occurs also at p. 241, in "The Secret-Keeping -Little Boy." To be able to select the right person from several is -looked upon as a test of the magic power of the person tried as in this -case. - -Cf. _Naake_. "Golden Hair," p. 107. - -_Vernaleken_. "How Hans finds his Wife," p. 284. - -_Folk-Lore Record_, 1883. Ananci Stories, p. 284; and the Polish story, -"Prince Unexpected," _ib._ 1884, p. 13. - -_S. ja T._ i. "Kulta-orit," p. 187. - -Cf. _Folk-Lore Record_, 1880, "Mons Tro," p. 220. - -_Page 121._ In the Lapp story, "Patto-Poadnje." _Friis_, p. 78, the -Stallo's wife suspects there is something wrong with the soup, which is -in reality made of her late husband, but the man fools her by saying he -cut his finger while making it. - -In the Finnish story, "Tynnyrissae kaswanut Poika," ("The Boy who grows -in a Barrel"), _S. ja T._ i., p. 105, there are nine cakes made of a -woman's milk. Cf. "How the widow saved her son's life," _Sagas from the -Far East_, p. 207. - -We may here note the constant difficulties that appear in the -folk-tales, and thwart the love-making of the heroes and heroines. -Commonly it is the king who does all he can to prevent the lovers being -happy, or it is some one at home who causes infinite trouble. For -examples of the tasks that the lover or husband has to accomplish, see -the tales "Fisher Joe," "Handsome Paul," "Fairy Elizabeth," "The Three -Brothers," "The Girl with the Golden Hair," &c., in this volume. - -Cf. also _Friis_. "Ruobba. Jaetten og Fanden," p. 67; "Bondesonnen. -Kongesonnen og Solens Soster," p. 140; "Solkongens Datter," p. 152; -"Gutten, som tjente hos Kongen," p. 167. - -_S. ja T._ ii. "Leppaepoelkky" ("Alder Block"), p. 2; "Maan, meren kulkija -laiwa" ("The Ship that sails over Land and Sea"), p. 22; "Kaikkia, -matkalla karwitaan" (All is useful in a Voyage), p. 29; and "Lakwan -tekijaet," (Ship Builders), p. 33. - -Basile. _Pentamerone_. No. 23. - -Schott. _Wallachische Maerchen_, No. 24. - -_Ralston_. "The Water King," p. 120. - -_Sagas from the Far East._ "How Shanggasba buried his Father," p. 189. - -See also the troubles in getting to Johara in Notes to "Fairy -Elizabeth," _ante_. - - - - -CSABOR UR. Erdelyi, i. 3. - - -According to some writers this story refers to King Matthias and his -black troop. It is a Csango tale.[56] - -These traditional stories, as specimens of folk-history, are of great -interest, showing how the kindness or tyranny of some lord or lady -clings to the popular mind, and how all manner of stories attach -themselves to great names. - -Cf. "Herrn till Rosendal," in Hofberg, _Svenska Saegner_, p. 14; -"Herrskapet pa Ugerup," p. 17, where Arild dupes the Danish king by -obtaining leave of absence until he reaps his harvest, he having sown -fir-cones. (A variant of which the writer has heard amongst the peasants -of the Eastern counties) and "Elestorps skog," p. 71, where the whole -forest seems on the move as in _Macbeth_, act v. scene v. See also "An -ancient Arabian parallel," by Dr. Redhouse, in the _Academy_, July, 24, -1886. See also "Snapphane-grafven," _ib_. p. 75, a story of a heap of -stones,[57] now known as the "freebooter's grave," that tells how a -brave peasant slew the chief of the plundering band and so dispersed -them. - -"Grefvinnan pa Hoejentorp," _ib_. p. 97, which is a good example of how -historic incident is moulded and blended in the popular lore, and it may -be of interest to give it here. Shortly after Charles XI. had seized the -greater part of his nobles' property, he went to see his aunt Maria -Eufrosyna and was saluted with a sound box on the ear, and upon asking -why she did it was told he got it for taking all her property from her. -They entered the house where a herring tail and an oat cake was set -before the king, and he was told as he had made his bed so must he lie -on it. The king then asked his aunt if he might take care of her riches -for her, but was saluted with such a box on the ear that he fled and -left her to enjoy her estates in peace. - -"Fru Barbro pa Brokind," _ib_. p. 112, is an example of how the memory -of a tyrant lives. - -"Qvick i jord," _ib_. p. 122, tells of a terrible outbreak of plague, -and how a Finn advised the people to bury a live cock, but as the plague -raged as fiercely as ever a live goat was buried, and then a living -boy.[58] - -"Jonas Spets," p. 123, tells how the king found an old soldier -sharpening (putting a point to) his sword and was warned to use it well -on the morrow. After the battle the king ordered him to show his sword, -and lo! it was dripping with blood. "Well done," said the king, "I will -gild the point for you," and so he ennobled the soldier and changed his -name to "Gyllenspets" (Golden-Point). This, according to the popular -story, is the way the family of Gyllenspets in Vermland became nobles. - -The writer heard the following from old men in North Lincolnshire. - -LIMBER.--There have been great wars and battles all over here and most -of them are attributed to Cromwell. At Riby there was a fearful fight, -the blood ran as deep as the horses' bellies, and to this day there is -an opening in the hedge, where nothing will ever grow, known as Riby -Gap, and there the blood flowed deepest.[59] - -THORNTON ABBEY.--There was a great battle there and the soldiers knocked -the church down and the town that used to be near it. - -YARBOROUGH CAMP[60]--according to popular belief--was made by Cromwell's -soldiers, who are said to have sat behind the entrenchment when firing -at their enemies. - -MELTON ROSS.--Perhaps the most curious is the tale told by an old groom -about the gallows at Melton Ross:-- - -Some hundred years ago or so three or four boys were playing at hanging, -and seeing who could hang the longest on a tree, when a three-legged -hare (the devil, sir), came limping past; off ran the lads who were on -the ground after him and forgot their comrade, who when they came back -was dead. The gallows was put up in memory of that. The true story is -that there was a rivalry between the Ross family and the Tyrwhits, and -to such a pitch had it grown among their dependants that the two parties -meeting on a hunting excursion got to blows and many were killed. James -I. being in Lincolnshire shortly after, and hearing of it, ordered a -gallows to be erected where the fight occurred, and enacted that in the -future any persons slain in an encounter of this kind should be deemed -murdered, and the perpetrators of the crime hanged. A gallows is always -kept on the spot and when the old one falls to decay a new one is -erected.[61] - -_Page 125_. _Permanent blood stains._ Cf. those of Rizzio in Holyrood -Palace; those in the Carmelite convent in Paris, said to have been made -by murdered priests in the revolution; those at Cottele, on the banks of -the Tamar, blood of the warder slain by the Lord of the Manor; those in -Sta. Sophia, at Constantinople, &c. - - - - -THE DEVIL AND THE THREE SLOVAK LADS. Erdelyi, ii. 1. - - -Cf. _Grimm_, vol. ii. "The Three Apprentices," pp. 132, 418. _Stier_, -No. 25. - -A similar story used to be current among the schoolboys in -Northumberland. - - - - -THE COUNT'S DAUGHTER. Erdelyi, ii. 2. - - -The writer of this remembers his grandmother telling him this story when -he was a boy in Newcastle on Tyne. - -Cf. _Grimm_, i. "The Robber Bridegroom," pp. 164, 389. - -Chambers, _Book of Days_, vol. i. p. 291, "Mr. Fox." - -Halliwell, _Nursery Rhymes_, p. 164, "The Story of Mr. Fox"; and -Benedict, in "Much Ado About Nothing," act i. scene i.[62] - -Cf. _Hofberg_, p. 14, "Herrn till Rosendal," where the horrors of the -lord's house drives his betrothed away; and the "Iron Virgin," of -Munich, who was said to clasp the doomed in her arms and pierce them -with spikes. _Fraser's Magazine_, 1872, p. 354. - -The story reminds us strongly of Blue Beard. Cf. _Notes and Queries_, -7th S. ii. p. 321. - - - - -THE SPEAKING GRAPES. Erdelyi, ii. 3. - - -Cf. Thorpe. _Yule-Tide Stories_. "Prince Hatt under the Earth," p. 15. -Stokes' _Indian Fairy Tales_, "The Fan Prince," p. 195. _Grimm_, vol. -ii. "The Singing, Soaring Lark," p. 5, and Variants given on pp. 378, -382. _Gubernatis_, vol. ii. Story from Piedmont, p. 381, and a Tuscan -tale, p. 382. In the latter, the father, who has promised his daughter a -rose, forgets it, and his ship refuses to move on the homeward journey, -and so he goes to a garden to get the rose, which is given to him by a -hideous magician. This reminds us of the Finnish story, "Jykeae Lipas" -(The Heavy Chest), _S. ja T._ ii. p. 146, where a man who was ploughing -near a lake, went down to the strand to drink. When he had done drinking -he tried to raise his head but could not, as a sea-troll had got hold of -his beard,[63] and although the man repeated all manner of magic -sentences he could not get away. The man at last had to promise his -daughter, and so was set free: the story then turns on the forbidden -chamber. In another, "Awaimetoim Wakka" (The Keyless Chest), _S. ja T._ -i. p. 151, a man was lost and wanted to get home, when a being appeared -and promised to take him if he would give him what he had at home, which -turns out to be a beautiful child. Cf. "The King and the Devil," p. 189, -in this collection. In Lapp stories the devil comes in. Cf. -"Fattiggutten, Fanden og Guldbyen;" _Friis_, p. 161, where he promises -plenty of fish to a poor man if he will promise what his wife "carries -under her heart;" in another, "Gutten, Havfruen og Ridder Rod," _Friis_, -p. 131,[64] a mermaid stops the king's ship and won't let it go till the -king promises what his wife is bringing into the world. The latter part -of the Finnish and Lapp stories is not like the Magyar, but rather -reminds us of "Stephen the Murderer," and the latter part of "Shepherd -Paul." - -The "Dirty, filthy pig," that helps, is a variant of the huge frog that -will not allow the girl to draw water from the well until she gives it -her ring. Cf. "The wonderful frog," p. 224, and notes. - -For the youngest daughter who wishes for such out-of-the-way, and in -many cases utterly incomprehensible objects, Cf. Stokes' _Indian Tales_, -"The Fan Prince," where the girl wants "Sabr," p. 195; and "The Raja's -Son," where the young man hears some parrots talk about the Princess -Labam, whom he determines to find, p. 154; and the "Bel Princess," p. -138. Mr. Ralston also notes _Afanassieff_, vol. i. No. 14, and vol. vii. -No. 6. - -_Page 131._ The king tries to deceive the pig, in the same way as he, -the king, on p. 191 tries to deceive the devil. - -Usually, there is a long series of troubles between the enchanted one -appearing in some loathsome form and the revelation of the prince in all -his beauty, as in the well-known story of "Beauty and the Beast."[65] -Cf. "Prince Wolf," _Folk-Lore Record_, 1880, p. 227. "Prince Jalma," -_ib._ 1885, p. 293. On the subject of "Husks," or glorious beings -occurring under lowly forms, see in this collection the snake in "Knight -Rose," "The Wonderful Frog," "Snake Skin," the youngest daughter in "The -Three Princesses," and notes to "The Three Oranges," "Cinder Jack," and -"The Widower and his Daughter." - -Cf. also: The boy in the Lapp stories that wears a hat to hide his -golden helmet. _Friis_, "Jaetten og Veslegutten." _Stokes_, "The Monkey -Prince," and "The Boy who had a Moon on his Forehead, and a Star on his -Chin," pp. 126, 130, and note, p. 280. _Old Deccan Days_, "The -wanderings of Vicram Maharajah," p. 119, "The Jackal, the Barber, and -the Brahmin," p. 167, and "Muchie Lal," P. 221.[66] _Dasent:_ Hacan -Grizzlebeard. Also, "The twelve wild ducks" in the same collection, -where the brothers appear under the form of ducks. Cf. the Finnish -"Weljiaensae-etsijaet ja Joutsenina lentaejaet" (one who seeks brothers -flying as swans): "Saaressa elaejaet" (living on an island). "Tynnyrissae -kaswanut poika" (a boy grown in a barrel); _S. ja T._ i. _Maerchensaal -aller Voelker von Kletke_, No. 2. "Die Drei Koenigskinder." _Household -Stories from the Land of Hofer_, "The grave Prince and the beneficent -Cat." _Grimm_ ii. "The Donkey." "The Goose-girl at the Well," and note, -p. 441. _Sagas from the Far East_, pp. 28, 92, 222, 244, and 274. - - - - -THE THREE ORANGES. Erdelyi, ii. 4. - - -_Page 133._ In "Loving Laili." _Stokes_, p. 81, the prince is commanded -to open the fruit when he is alone, as Laili will be inside quite naked. -See also _ib._ pp. 251, 284, and _Grimm_ ii. p. 496. _Pentamerone_, "The -Three Citrons." _Portuguese Folk Tales_, p. 10, F. L. S. 1882; also -_Dasent_, p. 437, "The Cock and Hen a-nutting." - -_Page 134._ The changed bride occurs in the Finnish "Merestaenousija -Neito." (The Sea-Maid.) _S. ja T._ i. p. 77, and "Ihmeellinen Koiwu" -(The wonderful Birch) _S. ja T._ i. p. 59. _Portuguese Folk-Tales_, "The -Maid and the Negress," F. L. S. 1882. _Stokes, Indian Fairy Tales_, pp. -xxiii. xxv. 3, 143, 284. _Dasent_, "The lassie and her Godmother," p. -219, and the "Bushy Bride," p. 376. _Grimm_, ii. "The Goose-girl;" "The -White Bride and the Black one," and "The Maid Maleen," pp. 508, 525. -_Friis_, Lappiske Eventyr, "Haccis-aedne," see "N. and Q." 7th Series, -ii. p. 104. _Pentamerone_, "The Three Citrons." Geldart, _Folk-Lore of -Modern Greece_, "The Knife of Slaughter," p. 63. _Folk-Lore Record_, -1884, p. 242, _ib._ 1885, p. 292. _Gubernatis_, vol. ii. p. 242. Thorpe, -_Yule-Tide Stories_, pp. 47, 54, 62. Gerle, _Volksmaerchen der Boehmen_ -No. 5. "Die Goldene Ente." Hylten-Cavallius. _Svenska Folk Sagor_, No. -7, "Prinsessan som gick upp ur hafvet." Cf. also Steere, _Swahili -Tales_, p. 398. Rink, _Eskimo Tales_, p. 310; and Denton, _Serbian -Tales_, p. 191; also pp. 214 and 222, in this collection. - -_Page 135._ The feigned illness occurs in numerous stories, _e.g._: -_Deccan Days_, "Punchkin," p. 5. _Dasent_, "Katie Woodencloak," p. 413. -_Payne_, vol. i. "The first old man's story," p. 21. _Stokes_, "The -Pomegranate King," p. 9. _Records of the Past_, vol. ii. "Tale of the -Two Brothers," p. 149. _Friis_, "Ivan, Kupiskas Son," p. 170. - -_Page 136._ House tidying incident. Cf. _Grimm_, vol. i. p. 226. -"Sweetheart Roland." - - - - -THE YOUNGEST PRINCE, AND THE YOUNGEST PRINCESS. Erdelyi, ii. 5. - - -_Page 137._ Good luck coming from being under a tree. Cf. p. 323 in this -collection; and Rink, _Eskimo Tales_, "Kagsagsuk," p. 101. Stokes, -_Indian Tales_, "The Fan Prince," p. 198, and "The Bed," p. 204. -_Pentamerone_, "The Raven." - -_Page 138._ Old one who helps. Vernaleken, _In the Land of Marvels_, -"The Three Tasks," p. 226, and "Piping Hans," p. 221. _S. ja T._ "Maan, -meren kulkija laiwa" (a ship which can sail on land and sea), vol. ii. -p. 22, and "Ihmeellinen Sauwa" (the wonderful stick), _ib._ vol. i. p. -158. In Vicram Maharajah, _Old Deccan Days_, p. 101, the parents of Anar -Ranee caused her garden to be hedged round with seven hedges made of -bayonets, so that none could go in or out, and published a decree that -none should marry her but he who could enter the garden and gather the -three pomegranates in which she and her maids slept. - -_Page 139._ The horse incident. Cf. Trojan horse, also _Gubernatis_, -vol. i. p. 336. Geldart, _Folk-Lore of Modern Greece_, "The Golden -Steed," p. 98. - -_Page 140._ The marks of moon and stars. In _Payne_, vol. ii. p. 163, we -read, that an old woman was taken "for a man of the flower of God's -servants, and the most excellent of devotees, more by token of the -_shining of her forehead_ for the ointment with which she had anointed -it." _S. ja T._ vol. i. p. 105, "Tynnyrissae kaswanut Poika" (a boy who -grew in a barrel) p. 337, _ante_. Stokes _Indian Fairy Tales_, "a boy -who had a moon on his forehead, and a star on his chin," p. 119. Denton, -_Serbian Folk Lore_, "The Shepherd and the King's daughter," p. 173. - - - - -THE INVISIBLE SHEPHERD LAD. Erdelyi, ii. 6. - - -There is a similar tale in Erdelyi, iii. 5. See also _Grimm_, vol. ii. -"The shoes that were danced to pieces," and notes, p. 430. _Roumanian -Fairy Tales_, London, 1881, "The Slippers of the Twelve Princesses." A -sleeping draught is given to the prince in the story of the Enchanted -Youth. _Payne_, vol. i. p. 59. - -_Page 142._ A copper forest occurs in the Lapp story, "Jaetten og -Veslegutten." _Friis_, No. 18. Also in _Dasent_, "Katie Woodencloak," -p. 414. - - - - -THE THREE PRINCESSES. Erdelyi, ii. 7. - - -_Page 144._ A girl finds her way back in a similar way in the Lapp -stories. "Stallo og Lappe brodrene Sodno." _Friis_, p. 85, and -"Stallo-vagge," _ib._ p. 106. Cf. also _Roumanian Fairy Tales_, -"Handsome is as Handsome does," p. 81. _Pentamerone_, "Nennillo and -Nennella." _Serbian Folk-Lore_. Denton, "The wicked stepmother." -_Grimm_, vol. i. "Haensel and Grethel," and note p. 355. - -In the Swedish legend, "Tibble Castle, and Klinta Well." (Hofberg. -_Svenska Saegner_, p. 146,) the princess coming to meet her lover is -carried off by the Mountain King, and leaves her crown hanging on a fir -tree, to show her lover what has happened. - -_Page 146._ The acorn's rapid growth reminds one of Jack and the Bean -Stalk. - -For Magyar idea of giants and giantesses, see the Introduction,[67] The -one-eyed monster occurs in the Lapp, "Ruobba, Jaetten og Fanden," -_Friis_, p. 67, and in the Finnish "Leppaepoelkky." (_S. ja T._ ii. p. 2) -nine daughters fall into Syoejaetaer's power, and are only allowed one eye -amongst them. See also _Round the Yule Log_. - -The Lapps tell of monsters which they call Baednag-njudne[68] who had -dog's noses, and one eye in the middle of their forehead. - -Page 147. Cannibalism. Cf. the Lapp Stories, "Baednag-njudne," "Stallo og -Fiskerlappen," "En Datter af Stalloslaegten flygter fra sine Foraeldre og -gifter sig med en Lapp," "To Lappepiger gifte sig med Stallo," &c. in -_Friis_. Rink, _Eskimo Tales_, "The Brothers visit their Sister," p. -128. _Old Deccan Days_, "Brave Seventee Bai," p. 28. Payne, _Arabian -Nights_, The History of Gherib and his brother Agib, vol. vi. p. 112. - -_Page 148._ A monster is fooled in a similar way, in "The two Children -and the Witch," p. 60. _Portuguese Folk-Tales_, F.L.S. 1882. See also -_Grimm_, vol. i. Hansel and Grethel, p. 67. _Dasent_, "Buttercup," p. -146, and "Boots and the Troll," p. 253. Also other parallels noted in -Ralston _Russian Tales_, p. 168. - -The hair combing is a favorite incident in numerous Lapp stories. - -The latter part of the story seems to be a compressed edition of the -Cinderella incident. - - - - -CINDER JACK. Erdelyi, ii. 11. - - -The Magyar title of this tale is: "Hamupipoeke," and as there are no -genders in the Magyar language, the name may stand either for a male or -a female. - -Sports similar to those mentioned in the tale (but of course on a very -much reduced scale, so as to suit ordinary mortals) formed part of the -wedding festivities in Hungary in days gone by. Cf. Baron Radvanszky's -work on _Magyar Family Life in the 15th and 16th Centuries_. 3 vols. (In -Magyar). - -For the whole story, Cf. the Finnish "Maan, meren kulkija laiwa" (_S. -ja T._ ii. p. 22), a story from Ilomantsi, which tells of a king with an -only daughter, whom he does not wish to marry, as he cannot bear the -thought of parting from her, and so set as a task for any one who wished -to marry her, the building of a ship that could sail over land and sea. -Three brothers, who were merchants, lived in the land: the youngest was -called Tuhkamo (Ashiepattle): these determined to try their luck; but -the elder failed, because they rejected the offer of help from an old -man; Ashiepattle secured the old man's good will, and so won the day. -The latter part of the tale is something like that of Shepherd Paul in -this collection. - -A Karelian story, entitled "Tuhkamo" turns upon three brothers, whose -father before he died bade them come and pray for him by his grave: only -the youngest did so. He was rewarded, and by means of a wonderful horse, -achieved marvellous feats of jumping, and so won the princess. Another -story from North Finland: "Tuhkamo," relates how a dead father came to -his three sons in their dreams, and ordered them to watch on the -sea-shore; the youngest alone did so, and caught a swan maiden, whose -father set him three tasks; viz. to fell all the trees near a bay; to -set them up again; and to bring a golden chain from heaven. He managed -all that by the help of his bride, but got into trouble over the last, -as when he rode up to it, on his wondrous steed, and seized it, it was -so heavy that he fell down to the earth, and was completely buried in -the ground, except a little hair, which remained above ground; a duck -made her nest on his head, and laid her eggs in it, and by means of a -fox and other animals which came to eat the eggs Tuhkamo got out of his -difficulty; he next fooled two men who were quarrelling over three -precious gifts; he then went on to three houses asking for his bride; -all the animals, &c. were summoned, and at last an eagle took him to his -lost bride, who recognised him by a piece of the golden chain he put in -the water the princess's servants drew. - -In another Finnish tale, "The Golden Bird," the third son is the only -one who can watch all night, and so finds out what it is that steals -fruit from his father's favourite tree. - -The Lapp story, "Ruobba,[69] Jaetten og Fanden," _Friis_, p. 67, tells of -_tools_ of all sorts, axes and planes, &c. coming and asking the sons -to give them some food; the eldest refuse, but the youngest gives them -food, and so succeeds in finding out the robber. - -Another tale, "Solkongens Datter," _Friis_, p. 152, relates how a man -has a barn full of corn from which some one steals every night. The -man's two elder sons try to watch and fail; but Gudnavirus (_i.e._ -Ashiepattle) succeeds in finding the robbers--three swan-maidens--and -securing one of them. - -Cf. also Rink, _Eskimo Legends_, "Kagsagsuk," and "The Child Monster," -where ill treated ones suddenly develope vast power. Dasent, _Tales from -the Norse_, "The Princess on the glass hill." _Old Deccan Days_, "The -Raksha's Palace," p. 205. Stokes' _Indian Fairy Tales_, "The boy who had -a moon on his forehead," p. 126, &c. and p. 280. Mitford, _Tales of Old -Japan_, "The story of the Old Man who made withered trees to blossom." -Vernaleken, _In the Land of Marvels_, "Hondiddledo and his Fiddle," and -"Mr. Chick," p. 228. _Roumanian Fairy Tales_, "The Hermit's Foundling." -Geldart, _Folk-Lore of Modern Greece_, "The Scab Pate." Steere, _Swahili -Tales_, "Sultan Majnun." Ralston, _Russian Folk Tales_, "The Norka," p. -73. Denton, _Serbian Folk-Lore_, "The Golden Apple Tree and the nine -Peahens." "Who asks much gets little." _Grimm_, vol. i. "The Golden -Bird," "The Three feathers." _Ibidem_, vol. ii. "Iron John," and notes, -p. 434. _Gubernatis_, vol. i. pp. 25, 177, and 293, &c. where Russian -variants are given. Thorpe, _Yule-Tide Stories_ "The Millet Thief." -_Polnische Volkssagen und Maerchen_, Aus dem Polnischen des K. B. -Woycicki von F. H. Levestam, "Der Glasberg." _Deutches Maerchenbuch_, von -L. Bechstein, "Hirsedieb." _Sagen Maerchen und Gebraeuche aus Sachsen und -Thueringen_, Gesammelt von Emil Sommer, "Der Dumme Wirrschopf." _Svenska -Folk Sagor_, Hylten-Cavallius och G. Steffens, "Prinsessan uppa -Glasberget." - - - - -THE THREE BROTHERS. Erdelyi, ii. 8. - - -The beginning of the tale reminds us of "The travels of Truth and -Falsehood," p. 36 in this collection. - -_Healing Mud_, p. 152. Cf. pp. 36, 53, 323, and 336, in this collection. -Also, "Right is always right," a Wendish story, quoted in the _Dublin -Magazine_, 1868, p. 356, and _Vernaleken_, "The Accursed Garden," p. -308. - -In Tuscany, the peasants believe that whoever washes his face in the dew -before the sun rises on St. John's Day will have no illness all the year -following. See _Gubernatis_, vol. i. p. 219. Cf. also Payne, _Arabian -Nights_, vol. v. pp. 279, 281. A magic whistle appears in the Finnish -story, _e.g._ "The ship that can sail on land and sea," _S. ja T._ ii. -p. 22. See also in this collection, p. 192, and _Gubernatis_, vol. i. p. -289. - -The envious brothers (or fellow-servants) appear in numerous stories, -such as "Kulta-orit, Kulta-nuotta, wasta ja pilli (the golden stallion, -golden drag net, broom and flute)," _S. ja T._ i. p. 187, and _Dasent_, -"Boots and the Troll." - -The tasks set are somewhat like those in "Fisher Joe." - -In the Lapp story, "Gutten, som tjente hos Kongen" (_Friis_, p. 167), -the hero is ordered to bring all the wild beasts of the forest into the -King's courtyard. Animals help Hans in the "Maiden on the Crystal -Mountain;" _Vernaleken_, p. 276. Cf. also notes to "Fisher Joe" and -"Handsome Paul." - - - - -THE THREE VALUABLE THINGS. Erdelyi, ii. 9. - - -Cf. Naake, _Slavonic Fairy Tales_, "The wise judgment." Caballero, -_Spanish Fairy Tales_, "A girl who wanted three husbands." _Sagas from -the far East_: "Five to one," p. 112; and "Who invented Woman," p. 298. -Denton, _Serbian Folk-Lore_, "The three Suitors." Geldart, _Folk-Lore of -Modern Greece_, "The Golden Casket," pp. 112 and 115, and _Arabian -Nights_, "Prince Ahmed and the Fairy Banou." - - - - -THE LITTLE MAGIC PONY. Erdelyi, ii. 10. - - -A curious story of a magic horse is still told in Lincolnshire, which I -heard the other day in Boston. This is _verbatim_. "Near Lincoln is a -place called Biard's Leap; near there an old witch lived in a cave, who -enticed people in and eat them. One day a man offered to go and kill -her. He had his choice of a dozen horses, so he took them all to a pond, -where he threw a stone into the water, and then led the horses to have a -drink, and the one which lifted its head first he chose. It was blind. -He got on its back, and, taking his sword, set off. When he got to the -cave's mouth, he shouted to the witch to come out. - - - "Wait till I've buckled my shoe, - And suckled my cubs," - - -cried the witch. She then rushed out, and jumping on to the horse stuck -her claws into its rump, which made it jump over thirty feet (the -so-called Biard's leap). The man struck behind him with his sword, which -entered the old woman's left breast, and killed her." - -The legend is given in a curious little tract, entitled "The existing -remains of the Ancient Britons within a small district lying between -Lincoln and Sleaford, by the Rev. G. Oliver, D.D. London, 1846." The man -of the above version is replaced by a knight, who "cast a large stone -into the lake, accompanied by a secret petition to the gods, that the -chosen steed might raise his head from the water;" Biard rises, and they -go to meet the witch, who has her left breast cut off by the first blow -of the knight's sword; the second blow she evades by springing on to -Biard's flank, where she fixes her talons, so that the horse took a -series of prodigious leaps, three of which are at least sixty yards -asunder, and are still marked by the impressions of his feet. The witch -died from her wound, and was buried under a huge stone at the cross -roads, and a stake driven through her body. _Gubernatis_, i. p. 338. Cf. -Notes to Prince Mirko. - -_Page 160. Obstructions placed in the way of the witch or giant who -follows._ - -Cf. Finnish, "Awaimetoin Wakka" (the Keyless Chest), _S. ja T._ i. p. -151, and "Oriiksi muutettu poika" (the enchanted horse), _ib_. p. 142. -Lapp. "Jaetten og Veslegutten." _Friis_, p. 49, and "Jaetten og Drengen -hans," _ib._ p. 58. Rink, _Eskimo Tales_, "A tale about Two Girls," and -"Giviok." Naake, _Slavonic Tales_, "The wonderful hair," and "Ivan -Kruchina." _Legends of the Wigwam_, "Exploits of Grasshopper," p. 61. -_Old Deccan Days_, "Truth's Triumph," p. 63. _Portuguese Folk Tales_, F. -L. S. 1882, "The Maid and the Negress," and "St. Peter's Goddaughter." -Ralston, _Russian Folk-Tales_, "Marya Morevna," p. 95: "the Baba Yaga," -p. 141, and "the Witch and the Sun's Sister," p. 173. Dasent, _Norse -Tales_, "The Mastermaid," p. 91; "Farmer Weathersky," p. 334, and "The -Widow's Son," p. 363. _Grimm_, vol. i. "The Water Nix." Geldart, _Greek -Tales_, "Starbright and Birdie," "The Golden Casket," p. 123, and "The -Scab Pate," p. 164. _Vernaleken_, "The Two Sisters," p. 157. -_Pentamerone_, "The Flea," and "Petrosinella." _Records of the Past_, -vol. ii. "Tale of the Two Brothers," p. 142. _Gubernatis_, vol. i. pp. -166, 175. _Folk-Lore Journal_, 1883, "The Three Sisters and Itrimobe," -p. 235. A Malagasky tale. Ananci Stories, _ib._ p. 286. Irish -Folk-Tales, _ib._ p. 323. _Ibid._ 1884. "Prince Unexpected," p. 15, a -Polish tale, and "Isilakolona," _ib._ p. 31, a Malagasy tale. - - - - -THE BEGGAR'S PRESENTS. Erdelyi, ii. 12. - - -Cf. the wonderful gifts in: "Taiwaasen menijae" (one who goes to heaven) -_S. ja T._ ii. p. 113, and "Ei-niin-mitae" (just nothing) _ib._ p. 53. -"Bondesonnen, Kongesonnem og Solens Soster." _Friis_, p. 140. _Dasent_, -"The Best Wish," p. 294, and "Katie Woodencloak," _ib._ p. 412. _Old -Deccan Days_, "The Jackal, the Barber, and the Brahman." Stokes' _Indian -Fairy Tales_, "The Story of Foolish Sachuli." _Sagas from the Far East_, -"The Avaricious Brother," p. 23. _Vernaleken, In the Land of Marvels_, -"The Wishing Rag," "The Magic Pot." _Patranas_, "Matanzas." Caballero, -_Spanish Folk-Tales_, "Uncle Curro and his Cudgel." _Pentamerone_, "The -Months." _Grimm_, vol. i. "The Wishing Table, the Gold Ass, and the -Cudgel in the Sack," and notes, p. 387. Also "The Knapsack, the Hat, -&c." and notes, p. 409. Crofton Croker, _Irish Fairy Legends_, "The -Legend of Bottle Hill." Payne, _Arabian Nights_, vol. vi. Jouder and his -Brothers. _Folk-Lore Record_, 1878, "Some Italian Folk-Lore," p. 202. -_Gubernatis_, vol. i. pp. 127, 154, 161; and Nordlander, _Sagor, Saegner -och Viso_ No. 4. - - - - -THE WORLD'S BEAUTIFUL WOMAN. Erdelyi, iii. 1. - - -Arany gives the following variants of this tale: _Mailath_ 2, -_Grimm_[70] 53, and _Schott_, Wallachische Maerchen 5. See also in -Russian poetry by Pushkin, in Bodenstedt's translation i. p. 100. In the -German variants, twelve pigmies take the place of the twelve robbers in -the Hungarian tale; and the queen thus addresses her mirror: - - - "Spieglein, spieglein an der Wand - Wer ist die schoenste im ganzen Land?" - - -And receives the reply-- - - - "Frau Koenigin. Thr seid die Schoenste hier - Aber Schneewitchen ist thausendmal schoener. - Als Thr." - - -Cf. Pedroso _Portuguese Folk-Tales_, F.L.S. 1882. "The Vain Queen," and -"The Maiden with the Rose on her Forehead." - -_Page 164._ The love-stricken ones is a touch of the Oriental method of -describing the power of love. See numberless examples in Payne's -_Arabian Knights_. - -_Page 165._ There is an Indian superstition noted in Temple's _Legends -of the Punjab_, p. 51, where we read, "he wore some coarse clothes over -his own, so that her perspiration should not injure him," and in the -footnote: "the woman's perspiration would take his 'virtue' out of him." - -_Page 165._ Magic Mirror. Besides the variants at the beginning of the -notes, we may compare the Magic Mirror in the Norse Saga, "King Gram" -and the Hanoverian tale, in _Grimm_, vol. ii. p. 379. - -For spitting as a mode of enchantment, see numerous examples in _Arabian -Nights_. - -_Page 172._ "The Pin, &c. which prevents the girl from moving." Cf. -Stokes, _Indian Fairy Tales_, p. xiii., "The Pomegranate King," - -p. 14, "The princess who loved her father like salt," p. 165; and notes -on pp. 248, &c. - -In the Finnish tale, "Haer' aen Korwista syntyneet Koirat siw" (Dogs which -sprang from the ears of a bull), in _S. ja T._ 1, a girl scratches her -brother's head with a devil's tusk, and so kills him; but his faithful -dogs lick the wound, and so restore him to life. - -In a Lapp story, "Bondesonnen" (_Friis_, No. 44) the son's sister -awakes, when the hero pricks her hand, and sucks the drop of blood off. - -Cf. Schott, _Wallachische Maerchen_, p. 251. Pedroso, _Portuguese Tales_, -F.L.S. 1882, "The Maid and the Negress." _Irish Folk Tales_, Folk-Lore -Record. 1884, p. 197, "The Story of John and the Amulet." Halliwell, -_Nursery Rhymes and Tales_, "The Red Bull of Norroway," p. 169. Thorpe, -_Yule-Tide Stories_, p. 40, "The Princess that came out of the water." -Payne, _Arabian Nights_, vol. i. p. 375. _Gubernatis_, vol. ii. p. 15, -and a story from near Leghorn, p. 242, where it states that similar -stories are to be found in Piedmont, in other parts of Tuscany, in -Calabria, &c. and in the _Tuti-Name_. _Grimm_, vol. ii. p. 243, "The -Glass Coffin." _Pentamerone_, "Sun, Moon, and Talia," and "The Three -Citrons." Gonzenbach, _Sicilianiasches Maerchen_, vol. i. p. 82.[71] _Old -Deccan Days_, "Little Surya Bai," p. 83; "Chundun Rajah," p. 233; -"Sodewa Bai," p. 240. In the two last, we also have examples of bodies -remaining undecayed for months after death. Sodewa Bai looked as lovely -a month after her death as on the night she died; cf. also the -well-known "Sleeping Beauty." - -The prince in the Greek story weeps and groans over a picture, just as -this prince does over his dead princess. See _Geldart_, p. 95, "The -Golden Steed." - -_Page 180._ For a fuller note on witches see the Introduction. - - - - -THE GIRL WITHOUT HANDS. Erdelyi, iii. 2. - - -Cf. "Neitonen kuninkaan Sadussa" (The Maid in the King's Garden), and -"Neitonen Hernemaassa"[72] (The Maid in the Pea-field). _S. ja T._ i. -pp. 108-119. _Grimm_, vol. i. "The Girl without Arms," and note, p. 378. -Molbech, _Udvalgte Eventyr og Fortaellinger_, "Pigen uden Haender." - - - - -THE KING AND THE DEVIL. Erdelyi, iii 3. - - -Cf. _Some Italian Folk-Lore_, "Lion Bruno," _Folk-Lore Record_, 1878, p. -209. _Portuguese Stories_, "The Story of a Turner," _Folk-Lore Record_, -1881, p. 152. _Irish Stories, Folk-Lore Journal_, 1884, p. 39. _Grimm_, -vol. ii. "The King of the Golden Mountain," and "The Nix of the Mill -Pond." Thorpe, _Yule-Tide Stories_, "The Gold Ring and the Frog," "The -King's Son and Messeria," and "Goldmaria and Goldfeather." _Vernaleken, -In the Land of Marvels_, "The Fisher's Son," and "The Stolen Princess." - -_S. ja T._ i. "Awaimetoin Wakka," and _S. ja T._ ii. p. 146, "Jykeae -Lipas" (the Heavy Chest). _Friis_, "Gutten, Havfruen og Ridder Rod," and -"Fattiggutten, Fanden og Guldbyen." Ralston, _Russian Folk-Tales_ p. -362-366, 124, 133. - -Steere, _Swahili Tales_, "The Spirit who was cheated by the Sultan's -Son." _Gubernatis_, ii. p. 382. One may also compare the Viennese -Legends of the "Stock-im-Eisen," and of the "Baren-Haeuter," for which -_vide Pictures of Hungarian Life_, pp. 172 and 387. Cf. also the Swedish -Legend, "Friskytten," in Hofberg's _Svenska Folksaegner_, and the -well-known stories of Faust and Der Freischuetz. See also p. 130 _ante_. - -_Page 191._ The attempts to deceive the devil are found in numerous -tales, e.g. _Friis_, "Stallobruden." _Grimm_ ii., "The Iron Stone," p. -158. Lindholm, _Lappboender_, "De bedragne jaetten and; Quigstad og," -Sandberg _Lappiske eventyr og folkesagn_, "Stallo og lappepigen." - -_Page 191._ "Owl's Feathers." Pillows of the same sort appear in "The -Pelican," p. 255, and remind us of the superstitions connected with wild -birds' feathers. In many parts of Lincolnshire, it is said, that it is -impossible to die on a bed that contains them. I know of one old lady in -Yorkshire, who when _in extremis_ begged to be moved off her bed, as she -was sure she could not die on it, as it had some bad feathers in it. In -some places it is pigeon's feathers that the people particularly -dislike. See also Henderson's _Folk-Lore of the Northern Counties_, p. -60. - -_Page 192._ For different tasks, such as the millet cleaning, see also: -_S. ja T._ i. "Ihmeellinen Koiwu" (The wonderful Birch). Stokes, _Indian -Fairy Tales_, "The Raja's Son," p. 163, and p. 180. Temple, _Legends of -the Punjab_, "Raja Rasalu," p. 43. Thorpe, _Yule-Tide Stories_. "Svend's -Exploits," p. 353. Geldart, _Folk-Lore of Modern Greece_, "The Snake, -the Dog, and the Cat," p. 44. _Pentamerone_, "The Dove." _Folk-Lore -Journal_, 1884, "Prince Unexpected," p. 13. _Gubernatis_, Vol. i. p. 38. -Ralston, _Russian Folk Tales_, "The Water King," p. 126; also pp. 18, -153, 208 in this work. - -The hairs that became serpents remind us of Medusa. - -_Page 193._ The changes of the pursued, in order to avoid capture, occur -in numerous tales, _e.g._ "Handsome Paul," and note 320 _ante_. Also _S. -ja T._ i. "Oriiksi muutettu poika," and "Awaimetoin Wakka." _Friis_, -"Jaetten og Veslegutten," and "Jaetten og Drengen hans." _Household -Stories from the Land of Hofer_, "The Dove Maiden," p. 384. _Vernaleken, -In the Land of Marvels_, "How Hans finds his Wife," p. 284, and "The -Drummer," p. 292. _Folk-Lore Journal_, 1884, "Prince Unexpected," p. 15, -and Malagasy Folk-Tales, "Isilakolona," p. 131. Campbell, _Popular Tales -of the Western Highlands_, "The Battle of the Birds." - -_Page 194._ The devil's limping and the woodpeckers and hares in other -stories,[73] reminds us of an old Yorkshire saw, "Beware of those whom -God has marked," and I know cases of people who regard any external -deformity as the expression of internal malformation. - -_Page 195._ In the Lapp stories, the giants swallow so much water that -they burst. - -With the moral tacked on to this tale, cf. _Vernaleken_, "The Nine -Birds." - - - - -THE THREE PRINCES, THE THREE DRAGONS, AND THE OLD WOMAN WITH THE IRON -NOSE. Erdelyi, iii. 4. - - -_Page 197._ Tatos. Cf. notes, p. 345, also _Roumanian Fairy-Tales_, "The -Hermit's Foundling" and "Vasilica the Brave." _Pentamerone_, "Corvetto" -and Geldart, _Folk-Lore of Modern Greece_, "The Golden Steed," and "The -Scab Pate." - -The dragon vomiting out those it has eaten. Cf. The queen swallowed by -the whale, in the story of the "Two Orphans," p. 223. Also Red Riding -Hood. _Grimm_, i. "The Wolf and the Seven little Kids." Cf. old Greek -legend of Kronos devouring his children. - -_Page 199._ The bridge seems to suggest the bridge in the Koran. See -also the bridge in _Pentamerone_, "The golden root." - -This part of the story somewhat resembles that of "the Accursed Garden," -in _Vernaleken_. - -_Page 201._ The transformation of Ambrose and the Dragon. Cf. _Roumanian -Fairy Tales_, "Vasilica the Brave," p. 73. - -In the Lapp stories the hero calls for help to his gods. See _Friis_. -"Stallo og Patto Poadnje," and "Stallo og Fiskerlappen." - -_Page 202._ In the Finnish story, Alderblock turns himself into an -ermine. See _S. ja T._ 2, "Leppaepoelkky," a story which is very much like -the Magyar in this part. Ralston, _Russian Folk-Tales_, "Ivan Popyalof," -p. 69. Also _ib._ pp. 71 and 72. In the Finnish tale (_S. ja T._ i.) -"Weljiaensae-etsijaet Tyttoe"--a little dog prevents the girl from bathing -in water which would transform her. Cf. Pedroso, _Portuguese -Folk-Tales_, "Pedro and the Prince," p. 26. _Gubernatis_, i. p. 191. - -_Page 203._ Ambrose sticks to the axle as the people did to the lamb, p. -14, _ante_. Cf. Story of Loki and the Eagle. - -_Page 204._ The witch in the lower world reminds us of the Egyptian -Legend of Ishtar, _Records of the Past_, vol. i. p. 144. - -_Page 205._ The folk-tale-teller was ever fond of having a sly rap at -the clergy. Cf. Lapp tale, where the priest wants to marry the goveiter -girl himself, because she has a costly silver girdle; _Friis_, -"Goveiter-Pige." Also Ralston, _Russian Folk Tales_, p. 27. - -_Page 205._ Worming secrets out of witch, &c. by flattery. Cf. _S. ja -T._ ii. "Antti Puuhaara," and _Friis_, "Stallo og Lappebrodrene Sodno." - -_Ib._ Concealed Life. Cf. _Friis_, "Jaetten, som havde skjult sit Liv i -et Honseaeg," and "Jaetten og Veslegutten," where the giant has hid his -life in the middle of a cow's heart. Rink, _Eskimo Tales_, "The girl who -fled to the Inlanders," p. 220. _Old Deccan Days_, "Punchkin," p. 13. -Stokes, _Indian Tales_. "Brave Hiralalbasa," p. 58; "The Demon and the -King's Son," p. 187, and note, p. 261. Dasent, _Tales from the Norse_, -"The giant who had no heart in his body," p. 75. - -_Sagas from the Far East_, "Child Intellect," p. 133. Steere, _Swahili -Tales_, "Story of the Washerwoman's Donkey," p. 5. Ralston, _Russian -Folk Tales_. "Koschei the Deathless," p. 103, and pp. 113--115. Mr. -Ralston also gives _Asbjoernsen_, "New Series," No. 70, p. 39. Haltrich, -_Deutsche Volksmaerchen ausdem Sachsenlande in Siebenbuergen_, p. 188. -Wenzig, _Westabauischer Maerchenschatz_, No. 37, p. 190. _Hahn_, No. 26, -i. 187, and ii. pp. 215, 294--5, _Vuk Karajich_, No. 8. Cf. _Records of -the Past_, vol. ii. "Tale of the Two Brothers," p. 149. Geldart, _Greek -Folk-Tales_, "The little Brother who saved his Sister from the Dragon," -p. 56. _Pentamerone_, "The Dragon." Campbell, "Tales of the Western -Highlands," vol. i. p. 81. _Grimm_, vol. ii. p. 564. Denton, _Serbian -Folk-Lore_. "Bash-chalek," p. 172. Payne, _Arabian Nights_, vol. i. p. -118, and vol. vii. p. 91. Engel, _Musical Myths_, vol. i. p. 201. -_Folk-Lore Journal_, 1884, "The Philosophy of Punchkin." Tylor, -_Primitive Culture_, pp. 152, 153. _Gubernatis_, vol. i. pp. 131, 140, -269, and 412. Thorpe, _Yule-Tide Stories_. "The Man without a Heart." -Black, _Folk-Medecine_, p. 32. _Gesta Romanorum_, "The Knight and the -Necromancer." Castren, _Ethnologische Vorlesungen ueber die Altaischen -Voelker_, p. 174. _Page 206._ A wonderful chest in the Finnish story, -"Awaimetoin Wakka" (_S. ja T._ i.) opens as the golden apple in the -Magyar tale, and out of it comes castle, servants, &c. See also Prince -Mirko, p. 74, _ante_. - - - - -THE WIDOWER AND HIS DAUGHTER. Erdelyi iii. 7. - - -There are some wild variants of this tale to be found amongst the -Finnish Folk-Tales. See "Ihmeelinen Koiwu," the wonderful birch, -"Kummallinen Tammi," the marvellous oak, and "Kolmet Sisaerykset," the -three sisters. _S. ja T._ i. pp. 59-77, also "Awannolla kehraeaejaet," the -spinner beside the ice-hole, and "Sisaerpuolet," the half-sisters. _S. ja -T._ ii. pp. 161-172. Winther, _Danske Folkeeventyr_, "Den onde -Skemoder," Asbjoernsen og Moe, _Norske Folkeeventyr_, "Manddattern og -Kjaerringdattern." _Deutsches Maerchenbuch von L. Bechstein_, "Die -Goldmaria und Pechmaria." Kuhn und Schwartz, _Norddeutsche Sagen_, "Das -Maedchen im Paradis." Hylten-Cavallius, _Svenska Folksagor_. "De twa -Skrinen," Geldart, _Folk Lore of Modern Greece_. "Little Saddleslut" and -the "Goat Girl," _Sagas from the Far East_, p. 180. Ralston's _Russian -Folk Tales_, "The Dead Mother," and p. 260, where a Serbian variant is -quoted, which apparently bears a strong resemblance to some of the -Finnish. Denton's _Serbian Folk-Lore_, "Papalluga." Vernaleken, _In the -Land of Marvels_, "The Blackbird," and p. 84. _Pentamerone_, "La Gatta -Cenerentola." - -_Gubernatis_, vol. i., pp. 31, 182, 195, 208, 241, 291, 293. Thorpe's -_Yule-tide Stories_. "The Little Gold Shoe" and "The Girl clad in -Mouseskin." _Grimm_, vol. 1, "Cinderella," "Allerleirauh," and notes, -pp. 364, 416, 420. _Household Stories from the Land of Hofer_. -"Klein-Else." _Folk-Lore Record_ 1878. "Some Italian Folk-Lore," p. 188: -_ib._ 1880. "The Icelandic story of Cinderella." _Portuguese -Folk-Tales_, F. L. S. pp. 68 and 97: _Folk-Lore Record_ 1884; Folk Tales -of the Malagasy, p. 74, _ib._ Chilian Popular Tales, "Maria the Cinder -Maiden." _Tasks imposed_, p. 208; see _ante_, p. 398. The gold rose -stuck into the gate-post (p. 211) occurs in one of the Finnish variants. - -_Page 214_. The gipsy woman incident. Cf. _ante_, p. 386. - -_Page 215_. The "feather picking" refers to gatherings of country girls -held during the winter, to dress feathers collected during the year for -bedding. - -_Ib_. The golden duck incident is an exceedingly common one. Cf. _Old -Deccan Days_, pp. 85 and 223. _Portuguese Folk-Tales_: F.L.S. p. 12. -Stokes' _Indian Tales_, p. 284. - - - - -THE WISHES. Erdelyi iii. 11. - - -Cf. _Payne_, vol. v. "The man who saw the night of power." _Caballero's_ -Fairy Tales, "The three wishes." _Grimm_, "The poor man and the rich -man," and notes; and a fragment in _Notes and Queries_. Finnish -Folk-Lore, 6th S. viii., p. 201, also _Lewins_ "A fly on the wheel," p. -81, where a Hindustani variant is given. - - - - -THE TWO ORPHANS. Erdelyi iii. 9. - - -In a Finnish Tale, "Weljiaensae-etsijaet Tyttoe," _S. ja T_. i. p. 119, -the girl who seeks her brothers, the girl is warned by a faithful dog, -from going near or touching water which a witch wishes her to do, and -which entails misery on her; as also in another, "Leppapoelky," where -the witch tempts the heroes in like manner. Cf. Geldart's _Folk-Lore of -Modern Greece_. "Starbright and Birdie," p. 33. _Grimm_, "Brother and -Sister." _Gubernatis_, vol. i., pp. 175, 354, and 390. - -_P. 221_. The cutting off of the lock of hair reminds us of the -widespread superstitions connected with hair, or any other part of a -person. Cf. _ante_ pp. 332 and 374. _Archaeology_, "The Physicians of -Myddfai," p. 113. I have also often heard the following in Yorkshire and -Lincolnshire. That you must not give a lock of hair to anyone, or else -you will quarrel with that person; that you must not keep the hair of a -dead person unless it is "made up," or you will have ill-luck; and that -all hair cuttings and nail parings ought to be saved and placed in the -coffin, so that the person may "enter heaven perfect!" A baby's hair and -nails must not be cut until it is a year old, or else it will be a -thief. Hair must not be cut when the moon is waning. It is also said -that ague can be cured by hanging a lock of hair on a willow tree.[74] - -_Page 223._ The witch wishes to get rid of the deer, in the same way -that the gipsy does the golden duck, _ante_ p. 215. Cf. Stokes's _Indian -Fairy Tales:_ "The Pomegranate King," p. 10; "Phulmati Rani," p. 4; "The -Jackal and the Kite," p. 22; "The Bel-Princess," p. 144; and Notes, pp. -245-253. _Gubernatis_, vol. i., p. 412, and vol. ii., p. 31. - -_Page 223._ In the Lapp Story, "Pigen fra Havet," _Friis_, No. 8,[75] a -child is brought down to the sea-shore to bring mother back; and in the -Finnish story, "Ihmeelinen Koiwu," The wonderful Birch, the child's cry -brings mother back, just as the little deer's lament in this tale -reaches the sister's ears at the bottom of the well. - -In this Finnish tale the mother replies, and says to the reindeer, which -are feeding near: - - - "Reindeer! Reindeer! feeding in the swamp, - Come and take care of your child! - Come and see the child you have borne! - For the witch's daughter has neither food nor drink, - And cannot quiet its cries." - - -See also _Finnish_, "Maid who rose out of the sea." - -_Grimm_, "The lambkin and the little fish," and notes. - -_Pentamerone_, "The two cakes." Theal, _Kaffir Folk-Lore_, "The story of -Tangalimlibo," p. 61. - -_Page 223._ Creatures inside others. - -Cf. Theal, _Kaffir Folk-Lore_, "The story of the cannibal mother," p. -142; "The story of the glutton," p. 175; "The great chief of the -animals," p. 177; and the Finnish story, "Seppo Ilmarisen Kosinta" -(Smith Ilmarinen's courtship), where the smith, after being swallowed by -Untamoinen, cuts his way out. - -Stokes's _Indian Fairy Tales_, "Loving Laili," p. 76. - - - - -THE WONDERFUL FROG. Erdelyi, iii. 15. - - -My friend, Prof. Aug. Gittee, has kindly forwarded me a Flemish variant, -"Van het Meisje dat met een Puits trouwde." "The tale of a girl who -married a frog." See _Volskunde Tijdschrift voor Nederlandsche -Folklore_, 1888, p. 48. Cf. _Grimm_. "The Frog King" and notes. Stokes, -_Indian Folk Tales_, p. xvi. and "The Monkey Prince." _Gubernatis_. "The -Frog." Max Mueller, _Chips from a German Workshop_, vol. ii. p. 249. Cox. -_Mythology of the Aryan Nations_. "Frog." Halliwell. _Nursery Rhymes and -Tales_. "The maiden and the frog."[76] Dasent. _Tales from the Norse_. -"Bushy Bride." - - - - -THE DEVIL AND THE RED CAP. Erdelyi, iii. 19. - - -Cf. Ralston, _Russian Folk-Tales_, "The Soldier and the Vampire," p. -314. Vernaleken. _In the Land of Marvels._ "How a Shepherd became rich." - - - - -JACK DREADNOUGHT. Erdelyi, iii. 16. - - -Cf. _Grimm_, "The Story of the youth who went to learn what fear was," -and notes: _ib._ "The King's son who feared nothing," and notes. -_Household Stories from the Land of Hofer._ "Fearless Johnny." -_Afanassieff_, v. 46. - -_Page 232._ The secret treasures guarded by ghosts, &c. is a world-wide -tradition. Cf. Hofberg, _Svenska Folksaegner_. "Skatten i Saebybaecken," -Where a carriage full of gold and silver is said to be sunk mid-stream, -over which a weird light flickers. Many attempts, we are told, have been -made to rescue it, but each time some one has spoken, or else the -bull-calves--which are not to have a single black hair on them, and were -to be fed for three years on unskimmed milk--were not strong enough; and -so the attempts have ever failed. See also, in the same work -"Skattgraefvarna," where the searchers were frightened away by the Demon -guardians of the hidden store. In Lincolnshire I have heard of a field -where, tradition says, countless barrels of beer, and a fender and -fireirons of silver, are buried, and in my own parish I have collected -three similar tales told of places here, and the other day a Negro from -South Carolina told me another. Cf. Hardwick, _Traditions, -Superstitions, and Folk-Lore_ (chiefly Lancashire and the north of -England), pp. 41, 46, 195, and 252. Cf. Baring Gould. _Curious Myths_. -"The Divining Rod."[77] - - - - -THE SECRET-KEEPING LITTLE BOY AND HIS LITTLE SWORD. Erdelyi, iii. 8. - - -Cf. _Grimm_, vol. i., "Faithful John" and note. See _ante_, p. 350. - -With regard to the sword growing in the garden, Cf. the Hunnish -superstition mentioned by Priscus. "He (Attila) believes also that there -will be before long some noteable increase of his power; and that the -gods have signified this by revealing to him the sword of Mars, a sacred -relic much venerated by the Huns, for many years hidden from their eyes, -but quite lately re-discovered by the trail of the blood of an ox which -had wounded its hoof against it, as it stuck upright in the long grass." -_Italy and her defenders_, by T. Hodgkin, vol. ii. p. 92. No doubt -Priscus makes use of the name of Mars to designate the Hunnish deity in -the same way as Tacitus when he speaks of the Teutonic god of war. A -naked sabre, fixed hilt downwards in the earth, was worshipped by the -Alani. Cf. p. 33 of the above-mentioned work. - -_Payne_, vol. vi. "Jouder and his brothers," pp. 129, 152, 164. - -See also, Geldart, _Folk-Lore of Modern Greece_, "The Scab Pate." Payne, -_Tales from the Arabic_, vol. i., "The story of the King who knew the -quintessence of things." - -"The Three Dreams," p. 117, in this collection, and notes, p. 375. - -_Page 236._ The execution. The last ceremony with a condemned man when -he is pinioned is to read once more his sentence to him. This is done by -the sheriff, and concludes with "Hangman, do your duty!" After the -execution is over, the military present are commanded to prayer; the -helmet is taken off, the musket taken in the left hand and grounded, and -every soldier kneels on his left knee, and remains so for a few minutes -till order is given "From prayer." - -In olden times the sheriff, after he read the sentence, broke his -judicial staff in twain, and threw the pieces at the culprit's feet: -hence the Hungarian saying, "to break the staff near anyone," is -equivalent to pronouncing sentence: _e.g._, "I have done this, but don't -break a staff over my action," _i.e._, do not condemn my action. - -_Page 238._ "Immuring alive." Cf. Roumanian legend "Manuli," and notes -in this collection, p. 376. - -_Page 243._ In the Finnish tale, "Alderblock," there is a sword, which -cuts the enemy into fragments. - - - - -SHEPHERD PAUL. Erdelyi, iii. 17. - - -Cf. Finnish stories, "Lappaepoelkky," _S. ja T._ 2; where Alderblock has -five companions who assist him in his labours; also "Mikko Metsolainen" -and "Mikko Miehelaeinen," _S. ja T._ i.; stories very much like the -Magyar one. Also, "Maan, meren kulkija laiwa." In a Lapp story we find -companions helping the hero. _Friis_. "Ruobba, Jaetten og Fanden." - -_Grimm._ "How six men got on in the world," and notes; "The six -servants," and notes; "Strong Hans," and notes. - -Muellenhoff, _Maerchen und Lieder der Hertzogenthuemer Schleswig Holstein -und Lauenberg_, "Rinroth." Molbech, _Udwalgte Eventyr_, "De fer -Tienere." Cavallius och Stefens, _Svenska Folksagor_, "De begge -Fosterbroederne," and "Halftrollet eller de Tre Swaerden." - -Bechstein. _Deutsches Maerchenbuch_. "Der Hafenhueter." - -Denton. _Serbian Folk-Lore_. "Sir Peppercorn." - -_Patranas._ "The ill-tempered Princess." "A tale of fourteen men," a -Flemish tale; see _Magazin fuer die Literatur des Auslandes_, 1844. -Caballero, _Spanish Tales_, "Lucifer's ear." Geldart, _Folk-Lore of -Modern Greece_, "The Golden Casket" and "Little John, the widow's son." -_Pentamerone_, "The Flea" and "The Booby." - -_Folk-Lore Record_, 1881, p. 142. "The story of Mamma-na-Bura," a -Portuguese tale: _ib._ 1883, p. 254, "Folk-Lore of Yucatan." - -_Page 246._ The latter portion of the tale is to be met with in many -tales, _e.g._, "Awannolla Kehraeajaet," where the girl goes through a hole -in the ice, and finds a beautiful world there. - -Dasent. _Tales from the Norse._ "The two step-sisters," p. 129; -"Shortshanks," p. 166; and "The Big Bird Dan," p. 449. - -Vernaleken. _In the Land of Marvels._ "The Taylor and the Hunter," "The -Accursed Garden," and "The Three Princesses." - -Denton. _Serbian Folk-Lore._ "The wonderful Kiosk." - -_Patranas_, "Simple Johnny and the spell-bound Princesses." _Grimm_, -"The Elves," and notes. _Sagas from the Far East_, "How the Schimnu-Khan -was slain." Ralston, _Russian Folk-Tales_, "The Norka," and variants -there given on p. 80. - -Geldart, _Folk-Lore of Modern Greece,_ "The Prince and the Fairy." -Steere, _Shahili Tales_, "Hasseebu Kareem ed Deen," p. 337. - -_Arabian Nights._ "Ahmed and Pari-Banou," and numerous other examples of -underground palaces, where distressed princesses lie awaiting -deliverance. - -_Gubernatis_, vol. i. pp. 25, 129, 193, 194; vol. 187, &c. - -Rink. _Tales of Traditions of the Esquimaux._ "The woman who got -connected with the Ingersuit or under-world people." There are numerous -stories about the under-world and its people in Lapp stories, _e.g._, -_Friis_, "Cacce-haldek eller Havfolk," where a boy rows to the -under-world. (_Notes and Queries_, 7th s. v. p. 381; cf. _ib._ 7th s. v. -p. 501.) "Baeivekongens Datter," "Goveiter." There is also a tribe of -underground people called Kadnihak, who are said to dress in red -clothes, and have long flaxen hair reaching to their waists. Some people -are said to have learned their songs, which are called "Kadniha-Vuolee." -Cf. Baring Gould, _Curious Myths of the Middle Ages_, "St. Patrick's -Purgatory." _Deutsche Maerchen und Sagen_, Gesammelt und mit Anmerkungen -herausgegeben von J. W. Wolff, "Der Kuehne Sergeant." _Polnische -Volksagen_, Aus dem Polnischen des K. W. Woycicki von F. Levestam, "Die -drei Brueder." - -See also, Friis, _Lappisk Mythologi._ "Under jordiske Guder." - -_Page 248._ The Lapp tales say that the Stallos used to wear an iron -shirt. See _Friis_, No. 26. Laestadius believes them to have been old -Vikings. - - - - -THE PELICAN. Erdelyi, iii. 6. - - -Pelicans may occasionally be seen in the South of Hungary, but upon the -whole the bird is unknown to the common people. The story-teller -represents it as a little bird that sings most beautifully. - -The hypercritical reader may be shocked at another natural historical -blunder, viz., when the whale is described as "the king of fishes." But -then we must remember that our own Sir Walter Scott speaks of the phoca -as a fish in the last sentence of chapter xxxvii. of _The Antiquary_. - -The Emperor Joseph II.'s edict expelling the Jesuits is still valid, we -believe, but is not enforced. The Order has one or two houses in the -country, and nobody disturbs them. - -In a Finnish tale one half of a castle weeps while the other half -laughs. Cf. also another Finnish story "The Golden Bird," where a king's -son goes in search of a splendid bird which his father longs for. The -hero is assisted by a wolf, which, amongst many other strange things, by -rolling three times on the ground on its back, becomes a shop full of -precious goods.[78] After many trials, chiefly due to the perfidy of his -brothers, the hero, by the assistance of the wolf, wins the golden bird -and a lovely princess. The golden bird will not sing till the youngest -prince appears, just as in the present tale. - -_Page 251._ "The old Beggar." This incident is common in folk-tales. - -_Page 252._ "Dragon's milk," a favourite compound of mighty power in the -magic formulae of Finnish and Magyar folk-medicine. - -_Page 255._ "Owls' feathers." _Vide_ p. 398, _ante_, and _Notes and -Queries_, 6th S. X. p. 401. - -_Page 256._ "Traced triangle," _ante_, p. 370. - -_Page 257._ "Pleiades." Stars and their lore is one of the most -interesting branches of Folk-Lore. Space forbids more than passing -allusion to it here. In a note sent by Mr. Haliburton, he points out the -important part this group of stars plays in the history of Primitive -Man. There appears to be a mass of primitive traditions amongst savages, -as to a primaeval paradise with its Tree of Life and Knowledge being -situated in the Pleiades. See also legends current amongst the -Polynesians, Kiowas of the Prairies, the Abipones of the Pampas, Dyaks, -&c. We may also compare the Cabeiric brethren in Phoenician tradition. - -In the seventh star, say the Finns, is the sign of the slave; the -ancient Finns having regulated their rising by the seven stars. A -Finnish friend, Mr. K. Krohn, says he has obtained some forty old -Finnish star names from an old woman, and hopes, by comparison of the -same with the Arabic names, to obtain valuable results. - -See also _Sagas from the East_, p. 53, and _Gubernatis_, vol. i., p. -228. Cox, _Mythology of the Aryan Nations_, "Pleiades." - -_Page 258._ Just as the hero here goes to seek in an unknown land for -what he needs, so does the hero in the Finnish tale, "Antti Puuhaara"; -_S. ja T._ 2, go to Pohjola. (Darkness, _i.e._ the Northern Part). Cf. -also Dasent's _Tales from the Norse_ "Rich Peter the Pedlar," p. 236. -Vernaleken, _In the Land of Marvels_, "For one Kreuzer a hundred." -_Pentamerone_, "The Seven Doves," &c. and pp. 107 and 371 in this work. - -_Page 259._ The threshold is a most interesting object in the lore and -tales of the people. In Finland it is regarded as unlucky if a clergyman -steps on the threshold when he comes to preach at a church. A Finnish -friend told me of one of his relations going to preach at a church a few -years ago, he being a candidate for the vacant living, and that the -people most anxiously watched if he stepped on the threshold as he came -in. Had he done so, I fear a sermon never so eloquent would have -counted but little against so dire an omen.[79] In the Lapp tales the -same idea appears, see _Friis_, "Ulta-Pigen," the lad returning from a -visit to his wife's parents (who are fairy folk) is ordered to step -quickly over the threshold, and so saves his life. In the same story we -read that a nail driven into the threshold will prevent a fairy wife -from running away. - -Ralston, _Russian Folk-Tales_, "The Fiend." Here Marusia gets entangled -with the evil one, and death comes into her family; in terror she asks -her granny what she is to do, and is told, "Go quickly to the priest and -ask him this favour--that if you die your body shall not be taken out of -the house through the doorway, but that the ground shall be dug away -from under the threshold, and that you shall be dragged out through that -opening." Rink, _Eskimo Tales_, "The Angakok from Kakortok," p. 391. -Napier, _Folk-Lore from West Scotland_, p. 46, where, in the description -of marriage ceremonies, we read "The threshold of the house was -disenchanted by charms, and by anointing it with certain unctuous -perfumes, but as it was considered unlucky for the new-made wife to -tread upon the threshold on first entering her house, she was lifted -over it and seated upon a piece of wood, a symbol of domestic industry." - -Cf. 1 Samuel, v. 5, "Therefore neither the priests, nor any that come -into Dagon's house, _tread on the threshold_ of Dagon in Ashdod unto -this day." Priests and dervishes in India still leap over the threshold -of their temples, as they are considered too sacred to be trodden -upon.[80] - -_Page 261._ "The Organ Playing." Cf. a similar incident in the Finnish -story of the Golden Bird. - -_Page 262._ In the Finnish "Alder Block," the hero's father and mother -have their age at once reduced by one-half, when the lovely Catherine -embraces them. In the romance of Ogier le Danois sweet singing banishes -all care and sorrow. "Et quand Morgue approcha du dit chasteau, les Faes -vindrent au devant dogier, chantant les plus melodieusement quon -scauroit jamais ouir, si entra dedans la salle pour se deduire -totallement," and so time is destroyed. "Tant de joyeulx passetemps lui -faisoient les dames Faees, quil nest creature en ce monde quil le sceust -imaginer se penser, car les ouir si doulcement chanter il lui sembloit -proprement quil fut en Paradis, si passoit temps de jour en jour, de -sepmaine en sepmaine, tellement que ung an ne lui duroit par ung mois." - - - - -THE GIRL WITH THE GOLDEN HAIR. - - -This story, with the four that follows, viz., "The Lover's Ghost," -"Snake Skin," "The Fairies' Well," and "The Crow's Nest," are Palocz -Folk-Tales, _vide Palocz Folk-Poetry_, by Julius Pap, Sarospatak, 1865. - -The hatchet-stick (in Magyar "fokos") mentioned in the tale is an -ordinary walking-stick with an axe-shaped brass or steel implement at -the end. It is nothing else than the old Scandinavian "paalstaf," the -"palstave" or "winged celt" of English antiquaries. It forms part of the -national costume of the Magyars, and was carried by nearly everybody -before 1867. - -The ceremony of exchanging handkerchiefs alluded to in the tale requires -some explanation, and we avail ourselves of this opportunity to give a -few details of the marriage customs among the Palocz people as related -by Pap. - -On the first morning in May the lad erects a May-pole outside of the -window of his lady-love, the higher the pole the more it pleases the -girl, because the length is understood to be in direct proportion to the -intensity of her lover's passion. On Whitsunday a pilgrimage to the Holy -Well adjoining the monastery at the village of Verebely is arranged, and -here the girl buys a nosegay made of artificial flowers for her lover, -in return for the maypole, which nosegay is worn by the lad until next -May-Day, or until the wedding. In the meantime the lover visits the girl -secretly once or twice at the house of her parents under the cover of -night, and later on introduces himself to her parents. If he be well -received he sends some friends to ask for the girl's hand, who state -their request generally in very flowery language. If the lad's proposal -be accepted, the ceremony of exchanging handkerchiefs takes place soon -after, the lovers presenting handkerchiefs to one another in which they -wrap apples or nuts. From this moment they are considered to be engaged. - -The wedding is generally held after the vintage. On the day before the -wedding a man, whom we shall call the master of ceremonies, perambulates -the village and invites the guests to the festival. On the day itself -the guests congregate at a place appointed by the M.C., and the whole -company start in procession, headed by a band, to the house of the -bride. They all stop outside the gate, and only the bridegroom's best -man enters the house and invites the bride to start. The girl then, -accompanied by her relations and bridesmaids, and a married woman, whom -we shall call the Mistress of the Bedchamber, leaves the house and joins -the procession, and they all proceed straight to the church. After -church the young woman returns with the whole procession to her own -house, and a light breakfast is served, at the end of which all the -people adjourn to the bridegroom's house, leaving however the bride -behind, until after lengthy coaxing, begging, and some elaborate -ceremonies, she consents to go, and is led in triumph to her husband's -house, where she is received by the father-in-law at the gate, who -nearly overwhelms her with kind words, flattery, and congratulations, -and holding her hand leads her into the house and introduces her to his -wife, children, and relations. The rejoicing has now reached its climax, -and the wedding banquet is at once commenced, to which each invited -guest contributes a share according to his or her means. - -During the banquet the bridegroom's best man waits at table, and ushers -in the various courses reciting a verse for each _plat_, setting forth -in most flowery language the various good points of the dish. - -After supper the bridegroom's best man takes three lighted candles into -his left hand and escorts the bride into her bedchamber, where he -removes the "parta,"[81] and confides her to the care of the Mistress of -the Bedchamber. The best man lifts the parta high up in the air at the -end of his palstave, and invites the company to bid for it, and then -recites the so-called slumber-verses, which are attentively listened to -by everyone present. - -Next morning two married women from among the bride's friends arrive "to -wake the bride," who awaits them sitting in a corner. The two females -place the cap worn by married women only, on her head, and present the -young couple with cakes and a mixture of spirit and honey. - -In the meantime another procession has arrived from the bride's house -with the wedding presents, and the people inquire of the Master of the -Ceremonies whether he has not seen a "pretty little golden lamb that -strayed from home and must have come here." The Master of the Ceremonies -replies in the affirmative, but before producing the "lamb" requires a -description of the stray one, and then produces some very old person -bent with age and her face covered with wrinkles, and wants to know -whether this is the lamb they seek for; of course they reply in the -negative, and add that the missing one is young and pretty. The bride is -then produced and shakes hands all round and receives presents from all -present. - -In some places the wedding lasts on and off a whole week, and sometimes -ends with another ceremony of "searching for the lamb," similar to the -one just described. - -Such complicated wedding ceremonies are to be found all over Hungary, -and in order to facilitate matters, the rules and verses for the -occasion are printed and sold at all country fairs, the title-page -generally representing the Master of the Ceremonies and the bridegroom's -best man in their full festive attire.[82] - -Cf. Finnish, "Kulta-orit, Kulta-nuotta, wasta ja pilli." "The golden -Stallion, golden Drag-net, broom and flute." _S. ja T._ i. and "Meresta -nousija Neito," "The Sea Maid." Dasent, _Tales from the Norse_, "Bushy -Bride," p. 374. - -Payne, _Arabian Nights_, vii. pp. 70, 114, and ix. p. 23. - -Payne, _Arabic Tales_, iii. p. 61. - -_Grimm_, "The White Bride and the Black one." - -In the Lapp Story "Bondesonnen, Kongesonnen og Solens Soster." _Friis_. -It is the tail feather of a golden hen, that causes all the troubles. -The beautiful girl, who is the Sun's sister, shone like a star, and -whenever she entered a house it became as light as the brightest day, -even if before it had been pitch dark. The whole tale is a most -interesting one; the Sun's sister's sister, "Evening Red," being stolen -by giants, who are turned into stone by looking at the Sun's sister, -"Dawn." Cf. Princess Labam in "The Raja's Son," Stokes's _Indian Fairy -Tales_, p. 158. Also, pp. 43, 50, 54, 69, and 93. - -_Grimm_, "The Devil with the three golden hairs," and notes. _Dublin -Magazine_, 1868, Fireside Lore of Italy, "Corvetto." _Folk-Lore Record_, -1880. Danish Popular Tales, p. 217. "Mons Tro." Naake, _Slavonic Fairy -Tales_, "Golden Hair," from the Bohemian.[83] _Old Deccan Days_, "Brase -Seventee Bai," p. 35; Panch-Phul Ranee, p. 141. - -Haltrich, _Siebenbuergische Maerchen_, pp. 61 and 171. - -Mr. Ralston, in his notes in Stokes also gives the following examples of -shining and glorious beings. _Indian Antiquary_, vol. iv. p. 54; _ib._ -Jan. 1875, p. 10. - -Schott, _Wallachische Maerchen_, p. 125. - -_Mabinogion_, vol. ii. p. 310; and Thorpe, _Northern Mythology_, vol. i. -p. 47. Cf. Mailath, _Magyarische Sagen_, "Die Brueder," and "Die Gaben." -Cavallius and Stephens, _Svenska Folksagor_, No. 7. - -_Records of the Past_, vol. ii. "Tales of the two Brothers," a fragrant -lock is found in the water, which is said to belong to the daughter of -the Sun God. - -_Page 273._ In the Lapp story of the Sun's Sister the King will not -allow the lad to marry his bride until he has done certain tasks. So -also in the Finnish stories of the Golden Bird and the Golden Stallion. - -_Page 273._ In the Finnish Tale "Totuus ja walte," the King's daughter -is cured by being washed with dew. See also Notes to Fairy Elizabeth and -the Fairies' Well in this collection. - - - - -THE LOVER'S GHOST. - - -As pointed by Lad. Arany, the plot of this tale is, with the exception -of the happy ending, essentially the same as in Buerger's beautiful poem, -"Leonore," in which the bridegroom's ghost repeats three times the -question-- - - - "Graut Liebchen auch? Der Mond scheint hell! - Hurrah! Die Todten reiten schnell! - Graut Liebchen auch vor Todten?" - - -to which the girl each time replies-- - - - "Ach! lass sie ruh'n, die Todten." - - -Arany mentions a Dutch and a Norwegian version of the same tale. Cf. -_Grimm_, vol. iii. p. 75. - -It cannot be supposed that the good Palocz folk have read Buerger, either -in the original or in translation. They only read two kinds of -literature, the prayer-book and politics. Pap relates an incident that -is characteristic. He had to superintend some farm-work; and, in order -to while away the time, was reading a book, which made an old Palocz -remark that he would go straight to heaven if he read his prayer-book -all day, as he did. - -Cf. The old ballad quoted in Old Ballad Lore. _Folk-Lore Record_, 1879, -pp. 111, 112. - -_Page 279._ The charm given by the witch is one of the innumerable -superstitions of a like class. Vide _Magyar Folk-Tales. Notes and -Queries_, 6th s. ix. pp. 501 and 502. - -_Finska Fornminnesforeningens Tidskrift_ v. p. 106, "Folkstroe och -plaegseder i Mellersta Oesterbotten," and _Notes and Queries_, 6th s. x. -p. 404, and _ib._ 6th s. xi. p. 22. - -Cf. "The churchyard mould," in McGregor, _Folk-Lore of the North-East of -Scotland_, p. 216. - -_Page 280._ The ghostly horsemen recalls a strange story an old woman -(nearly 80) told me some time ago, and which it is averred happened in -Lincolnshire. One fine frosty night, as the Winterton carrier was going -along the road, he met a pale man on horseback, who said, "It's a hard -winter, and there's going to be a hard time: twenty years' disease -amongst vegetables, twenty years' disease amongst cattle, and twenty -years' disease amongst men, and this will happen as surely as you have a -dead man in your cart." The carrier angrily declared that there was no -dead man in his cart. "But there is," said the horseman. Then the -carrier went and looked, and found that a man he had taken up to give a -ride was dead. Turning round he found the horseman had disappeared. The -potato disease, cattle disease, and cholera followed, said the old dame. -This pale horseman is said to have ridden through the county, and I have -heard of him at various places. - - - - -SNAKE SKIN. - - -In the Finnish Story, "Haastelewat Kuuset," the talking Pines, _S. ja -T._ 2: a hunter is rewarded for helping a snake. See notes to "Woman's -Curiosity," in this collection. - -_Pentamerone_, "The Serpent." - -_Folk-Lore Record_, 1883. "The good Serpent," a Chilian tale. - -The king in this tale is angry at his daughter marrying such a husband, -just as he is in the Finnish "Hueri Morsiamena," where the bride is a -mouse. - -Cf. _Grimm_, "The three Feathers;" "The poor Miller's Boy and the Cat;" -and notes thereto. - -Kahn und Schwartz, _Norddentsche Sagen_, "Das weisze Kaetschen." - -Asbjoernsen og Moe, _Norske Folke eventyr_, "Dukken i Graesset." - -Hylten-Cavallius och Stephens, _Svenska Folksagor_, "Den foertrollade -goodan," and "Den foertrollade faestemoen." - -_Contes des fees par Mdme d'Aulnoy_, "La chatte blanche." - -_Polnische Sagen und Maerchen des K. Woycicki._ "Die Kroete." - -Cf. also an interesting article by Mr. Ralston, on "Beauty and the -Beast." _Nineteenth Century._ December, 1878. - - - - -THE FAIRIES' WELL. - - -The chief points in this tale have already been noted in others. We may, -however, note the following: The Devil in Stephen the Murderer, p. 7, in -this collection, at once appears, when summoned, as in this tale. - -_Page 290._ With regard to the _menu_ of the devil, cf. - - - "Here lies the carcass of a cursed sinner - Doomed to be roasted for the devil's dinner." - Poems of Robert Wilde. Strahan, 1870. - - -_Page 296._ There is a hunt for the father of a child in the Lapp. -"Jaetten, Katten og Gutten." _Friis_. Cf. Payne, _Arabian Nights_, vii. -p. 227. - -_Page 297._ Hot Bath, see p. 276, in this collection; and _Afanassieff_, -v. 23. - - - - -THE CROW'S NEST. - - -The following version is still known to old nurses in Holderness, where -I collected it. It is called "Orange and Lemon": "There were once a -mother and a father who had two daughters, Orange and Lemon. The mother -liked Lemon best, and the father Orange. The mother used to make Orange -do all the dirty work, as soon as the father had turned his back. One -day she sent her to fetch the milk, and said, 'If you break the pitcher -I'll kill you.' As Orange returned she fell down and broke the pitcher, -and so when she came home she hid herself in the passage. When the -mother came out she saw the broken pitcher and the girl, and took her -into the house, when the girl cried 'Oh, mother! Oh, mother! Don't kill -me!' - -The mother said, 'Close the shutters in.' - -'Oh, mother! Oh, mother! Don't kill me!' - -'Light the candle.' - -'Oh, mother! Oh, mother! Don't kill me!' - -'Put the pan on.' - -'Oh, mother! Oh, mother! Don't kill me!' - -'Fetch the block we chop the wood on.' - -'Oh, mother! Oh, mother! Don't kill me!' - -'Bring the axe.' - -'Oh, mother! Oh, mother! Don't kill me!' - -'Put your head on the block.' - -'Oh, mother! Oh, mother! Don't kill me!' - -But the mother chopped off her head, and cooked it for dinner. When the -father came home, he asked what there was for dinner. - -'Sheep's head,' replied the mother. - -'Where's Orange?' - -'Not come from school yet.' - -'I don't believe you,' said the father. Then he went upstairs and found -fingers in a box; whereupon he was so overcome that he fainted. Orange's -spirit flew away to a jeweller's shop and said-- - - - 'My mother chopped my head off, - My father picked my bones, - My little sister buried me - Beneath the cold marble stones.' - - -They said, 'If you say that again we will give you a gold watch.' So -she said it again, and they gave her a gold watch. Then she went off to -a boot shop and said-- - - - 'My mother, &c., &c., &c.' - - -And they said, 'If you say it again we will give you a pair of boots.' -So she said it again, and they gave her a pair of boots. Then she went -to the stonemason's and said-- - - - 'My mother, &c., &c., &c.' - - -And they said, 'If you say it again we will give you a piece of marble -as big as your head.' So she said it again, and they gave her a piece of -marble as big as her head. - -She took the things, and flew home, and sat at the top of the chimney, -and shouted down-- - - - 'Father! Father! come to me, - And I will show thee what I've got for thee.' - - -So he came, and she gave him a gold watch. - -Then she shouted down-- - - - 'Sister! Sister! come to me, - And I will show thee what I've got for thee.' - - -So she came, and she gave her a pair of boots. - -Then she shouted down-- - - - 'Mother! Mother! come to me, - And I will show thee what I've got for thee.' - - -The mother, who thought the others had got such nice things, put her -head right up the chimney, when the big block of marble came down and -killed her. - -Then Orange came down and lived with her father and Lemon happily ever -after." - -Cf. The story of the child that was murdered at Lincoln by a Jewess. See -a fragment of it quoted in Halliwell, _Nursery Rhymes_, p. 276[84]. -Shouting down the chimney occurs in several Lapp stories; also in the -Finnish stories of the "Wonderful Birch" and "The Girl who seeks her -Brothers," where songs somewhat like the above-mentioned occur. Also Cf. -_Vernaleken_, "Moriandle and Sugarkandle," and Naake, _Slavonic Tales_, -"Story of the little Simpleton." A story of a somewhat similar kind is -current in Sweden. See Hofberg. _Svsnska Folksaegner_, "Mylingen"[85] and -Hylten-Cavallius _Vaerend och Virdarne_, ii. p. 1. - -Also _Grimm_, vol. i. "The Juniper Tree" and notes, and _ib._ "The -Brother and Sister" and notes; _ib._ vol. ii. "The Lambkin and the -Little Fish," and notes. - - - - -WOMAN'S CURIOSITY. Merenyi.[86] - - -Cf. _S. ja T._ ii. p. 73, "Haastelewat Kuuset" (the Talking Pines), -which is very like the whole story. - -_Payne_, i. p. 14. Dasent, _Tales from the Norse_, ii. p. 4. Denton, -_Serbian Folk-Lore_, "The Snake's Gift." Naake, _Slavonic Tales_, "The -Language of Animals" (from the Servian), and _Grimm_, vol. ii. p. 541. -The power to understand the language of animals is often referred to in -folk-tales, _e.g. Grimm_, vol. i. "The White Snake" and note, and _ib._ -vol. ii. p. 541, _et seq._ - -_Gubernatis_, vol. i. p. 152. - -_Tales of the Alhambra_, "Legend of Prince Ahmed al Kamel." - -Tylor, _Primitive Culture_, vol. i. pp. 190, 469. - -The power of animals to speak still remains amongst the superstitions of -the people. In Neudorf, near Schaersburg, there is a prevalent -superstition that on new year's night--at midnight--the cattle speak, -but in a language which man may not hear, if he does so he dies. See -Boner, _Transylvania_, p. 372; and I have heard a similar story as to -their speaking (or kneeling) on Christmas Eve in Lincolnshire. Curious -remnants, too, are to be found in the doggrel rhymes of the people, -_e.g._, a few years ago I heard a woman in North Lincolnshire say, - -"What do doves say? - -"Croo! pee! croo! - -"Gillivirens and Jackdaws lay eight or ten eggs to my poor two." - -It is very interesting to compare a Finnish fragment entitled "The -Dove's Cooing" with the foregoing. A dove and a hen had each a nest, but -the dove had ten eggs and the hen only two. Then the hen began to try -and make the dove change with her. At last the dove consented, and gave -the hen her ten eggs and took her two. Soon the dove saw she had lost, -and began to repent her foolish bargain, and she still laments it, for -as soon as you hear her voice you hear her sad song, - - - "Kyy, Kyy, Kymmenen munaa minae, - waiwainen waihdoin tanan, kahteen munaan." - - "I've foolishly bartered my ten eggs - For the hen's two!" [87] - - -[1] Cf. _Finska Kranier jaemte nagra natur och literatur-studier inom -andra omraden af Finsk Antropologi_ Skildrade af Prof. G. Retzius, -Stockholm, 1878, p. 121. A most valuable and interesting work which -ought to be known to all students of anthropology. See also Du Chaillu's -_Land of the Midnight Sun_, vol. ii. p. 277. - -[2] Hereafter quoted as _S. ja T._ - -[3] This valuable collection will hereafter be quoted as _Friis_. - -[4] Villon Society. London, 1884; and hereafter quoted as Payne's -_Arabian Nights_. - -[5] Such a window as they had in old times: a hole with sliding door or -shutter. _Vide_ Retzius, p. 110. - -[6] The bath-house is a separate building with a stove in the corner -covered with large stones which become red hot and then water is thrown -upon them which fills the house with steam. Round the sides are shelves -where the bathers (both sexes) recline, and whip themselves with -branches of birch on which the leaves have been left to die. _Retzius_, -p. 119. Cf. also _Land of the Midnight Sun_, vol. ii. p. 207. - -[7] A John Twardowski is said to have been a doctor of medicine in the -university of Cracow, who, like Dr. Faust, signed a contract in his own -blood with the devil. He is said to have been wont to perform his -incantations on the mountains of Krzemionki, or on the tumulus of -Krakus, the mythic founder of Cracow. The demon was to do all the -magician bade him and to have no power over him until he met him at -Rome, where he took good care not to go. Whether this gentleman is -supposed to have ultimately become the lame fiend I know not. See -_Slavonic Folk-Lore_, by Rev. W. S. Lach-Szyrma, in _Folk-Lore Record_, -vol. iv. p. 62. - -[8] A division of South Sweden washed by the Skaggerack and Kattegat. - -[9] Cf. "Haastelewat Kuuset" (The Talking Pines), _S. ja T._ ii. p. 73, -where the man is about to reveal to his wife, who has been plaguing him -to tell her, why he laughed when he heard some birds twittering, and, as -this means death, he puts on all his clothes and lays himself out on a -bench. Just then the hens are let loose, and as they run about the floor -of the chamber where the man is the cock struts about and says, "Cock, -cocko, cock, cocko! See, I have fifty wives and govern them all; the -master has only one and can't manage her, therefore the fool is going to -die." The man heard that, got up and kept his secret. Animals' language -must not be revealed. Cf. Benfey, _Ein Maerchen von der Thiersprachen_ in -_Orient und Occident_. Naake's _Slavonic Tales_, Servian story of the -Language of Animals, 71-99; and "Woman's Curiosity," p. 301, in the -present volume. - -[10] _Old Deccan Days_, "Rama and Luxman," p. 66.--Thorpe's _Yule-Tide -Stories_, "Svend's Exploits," p. 343.--_Grimm_, "Faithful John," vol. i. -p. 33, and Notes, p. 348.--"Secret-Keeping Little Boy," p. 233, in this -volume. - -[11] Near the bath-house (_vide supra_, p. 308) is the kiln to dry corn, -a most important building in the Finnish farmstead. It is built of wood -like the bath-house. On one side of the doorway is a stove (built of -stones, see _Land of the Midnight Sun_, vol. ii. p. 274, where there are -illustrations of somewhat similar stoves or ovens), that gives out a -great heat and _smoke_, which fills the inside of the building, -especially the upper part. This "ria" or kiln is used to dry the corn -in. All Finnish rye is dried in this way. _Retzius_, p. 120. - -[12] Ruobba, scurfy skull, or Gudnavirus, _i.e._ Ashiepattle. - -[13] Cf. _Dasent_: "Boots and His Brothers," p. 382, where Boots finds -an axe hewing away at a fir tree, and a spade digging and delving by -itself, and by their means he got the princess and half the kingdom. - -[14] Wagner's _Asgard_, p. 208. Roman intruders are called "the Roman -dragon, the bane of Asgard." Wagner's _Epics and Romances_, "the -Nibelung," p. 3; "the Dragonstone," p. 243. Henderson's _Folk-Lore of -the Northern Counties_, p. 283. - -[15] Professor Ebers says: "Red was the colour of Seth and Typhon. The -Evil One is named the Red, as, for instance, in the papyrus of Ebers -red-haired men were _typhonic_." See "Uarda," note on p. 58. Red-haired -people are still in some parts looked on as unlucky to meet when going -to sea, or as "first foot." See also Black's _Folk-Medicine_, pp. -111-113. According to a Magyar jingle: - - - "A red dog; a red nag; a red man; none is good!" - - - - -[16] A finger song, common, with slight variations, in Sweden, Norway, -and Denmark, and Swedish speaking people in Finland. Cf. Yorkshire-- - - - Tom Thumbkins, Bill Wilkins, - Long Daniel, Bessy Bobtail, - And Little Dick. - - -See Halliwell's _Nursery Rhymes_, p. 206. - -[17] It is interesting to note the finger-lore of the people, _e.g._ -_Gubernatis_, vol. i. 166, says: "The little finger, although the -smallest, is the most privileged of the five." It is the one that knows -everything; in Piedmont, when the mothers wish to make the children -believe that they are in communication with a mysterious spy, who sees -everything that they do, they are accustomed to awe them by the words, -"my little finger tells me everything." See also vol. ii. p. 151. - -In Holderness, Yorkshire, it is a common superstition that if you pinch -anyone's little finger when they are asleep, they will tell you their -secrets; or, as some say, "if you can bear your little finger pinching -you can keep a secret." If you see a white horse, spit over your little -finger for luck. Schoolboys make their bargains irrevocable by spitting -over their little fingers.[A] In Petalaks (a parish in East Bothnia, -about twenty miles from Wasa) every one believes in a "bjero"[B] or -"mjero," which is one respect resembles Sampo in Kalevala, insomuch as -he brings good luck to his possessor. Sometimes he looks like a ball of -yarn, but more often like a hare. The way he is manufactured is as -follows:--A wafer spared from the Communion, some wool stolen from seven -cow-houses on Maundy Thursday, and a drop of blood from the _little -finger_ of the left hand. During the performance the manufacturer must -curse and swear without ceasing. The wool is to be spun on Easter morn -when the sun dances; the thread to be wrapped round the wafer, and the -whole put in the churn. Whilst churning, the spellmaker sings, "Milk and -butter thou must bring to me; I shall burn in hell-fire for thee." After -a time the "bjero" springs out, and asks, "What will you give me to -eat?" "Raisins and almonds," is the reply. And all is complete. See -_Suomen Muinaismusto-yhtioen Aikakauskirja_, ii.; _Helsingissa_, 1877, p. -133; _Vidskepelser insamlade bland allmogan i Petalaks_, 1874; _Skrock -och vidskepliga bruk hos svenska allmogen i Vasabygden_. Af. Prof. -Freudenthal, _Helsingfors_, 1883, p. 8; and Rink's _Tales and Traditions -of the Eskimo_, p. 440. - -[A] Cf. Tylor's Primitive Culture, vol. i. p. 103; vol. ii. p. 439-441. - -[B] _Nagra akerbruksplaegseder bland svenskarne i Finland_, af. dr. J. -Oscar Rancken, pp. 17, 24, 32. - -[18] Tegner: Prologen till Gerda. - -[19] See variants given in _Henderson's Folk-Lore of the Northern -Counties_, pp. 258, 262. - -Cf. Riddle set to three soldiers by the devil, and found out by the help -of his grandmother. _Grimm_, vol. ii. pp. 152, 425. Also, _Vernaleken_, -p. 206. - -[20] A similar plant occurs in "The Merchant," in the _Pentamerone_. - -[21] Taylor's Edition. London. 1848. - -[22] Of the word "devil" one cannot do better than quote Mr. Ralston's -words: "The demon rabble of 'popular tales' are merely the lubber fiends -of heathen mythology, being endowed with supernatural might, but -scantily provided with mental power; all of terrific manual clutch, but -of weak intellectual grasp." Cf. _Castren, Finsk Mytologi_, p. 163. - -[23] A similar tale still exists in Holderness under the name of "The -Glass Stairs." - -[24] _Morte d'Arthur_, book I, cap. iii. tells how "in the greatest -church in London, there was seen in the churchyard a great stone -foursquare, and in the midst thereof was like an anvil of steel a foot -on high, and therein stuck a fair sword naked by the point, and letters -there were written in gold about the sword that said thus: whoso pulleth -out this sword of this stone and anvil is rightwise king born of all -England." Which sword was drawn out by Sir Arthur. Cf. book 2, cap. i. -where a maiden comes girt with a sword, that no one could pull out but -the poor knight Balin. - -[25] This man-eating being was said to be something like a very big and -mighty man, and was to be found in waste places. He was generally -dressed in a white coat, with a silver belt round his waist, from which -hung a silver-hafted knife, and a great many silver ornaments. He was -exceedingly stupid, and the butt of Gudnavirucak. (Ashiepattle) They -were probably nothing more than the old Vikings, and Stallo is thought -to be derived from "Staalmanden," or men dressed in steel (Lapp, -_staale_ = steel). - -[26] Cf. _Grimm_, "The Three Sons of Fortune," i. p. 291. - -[27] I have heard similar stories amongst the peasants in Flanders. - -[28] The magpie is an important bird in folk-belief, and Swedish -peasants say you must not kill it lest it be a troll in disguise as in -this story. If they build in a house it is a sign of luck; if in the -fields and come to the house and laugh, woe be to the house. - -[29] Cf. Amelia Ferrier, _A Winter in Morocco_, p. 172, _et seq_. - -[30] It is curious that the Magyar word for a marriageable girl, "elado -leany," also means "a girl for sale." - -[31] In old times in Finland, a "spokesman" used to go beforehand to the -girl, in order to find out whether the young man was likely to be -acceptable. Cf. Scheffer, _The History of Lapland_. London, 1751, p. 71; -and Boner, _Transylvania_, p. 488. - -[32] "Given the basket:" in Finland the same phrase is used. Cf. the -English phrase, "to give the sack." - -[33] Cf. Note to "Handsome Paul," p. 317, _ante_. - -[34] In the Russian Church there are two distinct services, which are -performed at the same time, the "betrothal" when rings are given and -exchanged, and the "coronation." Lansdell, _Through Siberia_, vol. i. p. -168. - -[35] Cf. Denton, _Serbian Folk-Lore_, p. 205. - -[36] Cf. this with the Finnish "bride-dresser," who looked after the -bride's toilette, even providing the necessary dresses if the girl did -not possess them. - -[37] See Scotch "feetwashing," _Folk-Lore of North-East Scotland_; -Folk-Lore Society, p. 89. In Finland, before a wedding, the friends of -the bridegroom-elect invite to a party, which is called the "bachelor's -funeral," at which he is oftentimes carried on a sofa shoulder-high as a -mock funeral. - -[38] The royal Hungarian bodyguard wear leopard-skins clasped with -silver buckles. - -[39] I have heard of racing for ribbons, &c., at weddings in Yorkshire; -and of young men racing home from the church to tell the good folk at -home that the marriage was _un fait accompli_. Cf. Napier, _Folk-Lore_, -p. 49, and _Henderson_, p. 37. - -[40] A remain of the marriage by force. Vambery notes the existence of -this amongst the Turkomans. The bride's door in Transylvania is often -locked, and the bridegroom has to climb over; or sometimes he has to -chase her, and catch her: _Boner_, p. 491. Cf. also _Tissot_, vol. i. p. -94; _Scheffer_, p. 75; Gilmour, _Among the Mongols_, p. 259; _Napier_, -p. 50. - -[41] For accounts of English wedding-feasts in the north, see Sykes' -_Local Records_, Newcastle-on-Tyne, 1833, vol. i. pp. 194, 205, 209. - -[42] The vizier's daughter is displayed in seven dresses in the story of -"Noureddin Ali of Cairo, and his son Bedreddin Hassan": Payne's _Arabian -Nights_, vol. i. pp. 192-194. And in old times the brides in Japan -changed their dress three to five times during the ceremony: Mitford, -_Tales of Old Japan_, p. 370. - -[43] Cf. _Lappboender, Skildringar Saegner och sagor fran Soedra -Lappland_. af. P. A. Lindholm, p. 89. - -_Fra Finmarken. Friis_, ("Laila" in S.P.C.K. translation), cap. xi. - -Dancing the crown off the bride in Finland. See "A Finnish wedding in -the olden times." _Notes and Queries_, 6th s. x. p. 489. - -They cut the long hair off the Saxon brides in Transylvania; and in -Spain, when the bride goes to her bedroom, the young unmarried men -unloose her garter. - -Just as in our land old shoes are thrown after the bride when she leaves -home, and never matter how they fall, or how young relatives batter the -backs of bride and bridegroom with aged slippers, you must not _look -back_: so they say in Holderness, at least. The sumptuary laws of -Hamburg of 1291, enacted that the bridegroom should present his bride -with a pair of shoes. According to Grimm, when the bride put the shoe on -her foot it was a sign of her subjection. (Boner, _Transylvania_, p. -491). See old Jewish custom, _Rath_. iv. 7. - -See also _Napier_, p. 53, where he refers to the Grecian custom of -removing the bride's coronet and putting her to bed. - -Henderson, _Folk-Lore of Northern Counties_, pp. 36, 37, 42. - -Aubrey, _Remains of Gentilisme_, Folk-Lore Society, p. 173. - -Gregor, _Folk-Lore of North-East of Scotland_, pp. 96, 100. - -[44] From a paper read before the Hungarian Historical Society, by Baron -Bela Radvanszky, on Feb. 1st, 1883; Cf. _A magyar csaladi elet a_ xv. -_es_ xvi. _szazadban_, by the same author. - -Cf. Tissot, _Unknown Hungary_, vol. i. p. 227. - -Boner, _Transylvania_, pp. 488-495. - -Fagerlund, _Anteckningar om Korpo och Houtskaers Socknar_, Helsingfors, -1878, p. 42. - -_Lindholm_, "Ett bondbroellop," p. 86; and "Ett lappbroellop," p. 91. - -[45] Laulu Lapista. - -[46] See also Swedish Songs in Du Chaillu, _Land of the Midnight Sun_, -vol. ii. p. 424. - -[47] Cf. another group of stories, where trouble comes from the advice -of those at home, such as _Dasent_, "East o' the Sun, and West o' the -Moon," p. 29; _Afanassieff_, vol. vii. No. 15, and "Cupid and Psyche," -see also notes to "The Speaking Grapes, &c." in this collection. - -[48] Cf. _Rerum Moscoviticarum Commentarii_ by the Baron Sigismund von -Herberstein. London, 1852. (Hakluyt Soc.) vol. ii. pp. 46 _et seq_. - -[49] _Untersuchungen zur Erlaeuterung der aeltesten Geschichte Russlands._ -St. Petersburg. 1806. - -[50] Loc. cit. - -[51] Cf. Hunfalvy Pal, _Magyarorszag Ethnographiaja_. Budapest. 1876. -chap. 41. - -[52] _Notes and Queries_, 7th S. ii. pp. 110, 111. - -[53] Cf. also, _Folk-Lore Record_. 1879, p. 121; _Gesta Romanorum_, "The -Knight and the Necromancer;" _Records of the Past_, vol. i. p. 136. -"Tablet V."; Rink, _Tales and Traditions of the Eskimo_, p. 302; and -Leland, _The Gipsies_, p. 159, where we are told gipsies object to -having their photographs taken unless you give them a shoe-string. - -[54] _Magyar Nepmeseinkroel_ in the _Kisfaludy Tarsasag evlapjai_. New -Series iv. p. 146. - -[55] A Worcestershire woman told the writer that she had a nephew born -with a caul, and when he was at the point of death it became quite -moist. - -[56] The Csangos are Magyar settlers in Moldavia; they are now assisted -to return to Hungary by the Government. This story is told of the feud -between two races. There are others which strike off the characteristics -of neighbouring races, such as the story of the angels, current in -Hungary, which is as follows:-- - -When Adam and Eve fell, God sent Gabriel, the Magyar angel, to turn them -out of the garden of Eden. Adam and his wife received him most -courteously, and most hospitably offered him food and drink. Gabriel had -a kind heart, and took pity on them. He was too proud to accept any -hospitality from them, as he did not consider it quite the right thing. -So he returned to the Deity, and begged that somebody else should be -sent to evict the poor couple, as he had not the heart to do it. -Whereupon Raphael, the Roumanian angel, was sent, who was received and -treated by Adam and Eve in like manner. He, however, was not above a -good dinner, and having finished, he informed the couple of the purpose -of his coming. The two thereupon began to cry, which so mollified -Raphael that he returned to his Master, and begged Him to send some one -else, as he could not very well turn them out after having enjoyed their -hospitality. So Michael, the German angel, was sent, and was treated as -the others. He sat down to a sumptuous meal, and when the last morsel of -food had disappeared, and the last drop of liquor was drained, he rose -from the table, and, addressing the host and hostess said, "Now then, -out you go!" and the poor couple, though they cried most pitifully and -begged hard to be allowed to remain, were cruelly turned out of the -garden of Eden. See Arany's collection. - -[57] The mound was opened in 1870, and found to contain bones. - -[58] As late as 1875, a farmer near Mariestad buried a cow alive, upon -disease breaking out in his herd. See also _Contemporary Review_, Feb. -1878, "Field and Forest Myths," p. 528, "Within the last few years, at -least one Russian peasant has been known to sacrifice a poor relation in -hopes of staying an epidemic." - -[59] I heard this story again the other day in South Lincolnshire. - -[60] Remains of a Roman camp near Brocklesby. - -[61] Vide _A History of the County of Lincoln_. By the author of _The -Histories of London, Yorkshire, Lambeth, &c. &c._ London and Lincoln: -John Saunders gent., 1834. - -[62] Boswell's _Variorum Edition of Shakespeare_, vii. pp. 162, 163. - -[63] "Prince Unexpected." _Folk Lore Record_, 1884, p. 10. - -[64] Cf. Lion Bruno. _Folk Lore Record_, 1878, p. 209. - -[65] See Ralston's "Beauty and the Beast" in _The 19th Century_, -December, 1878. - -[66] In "The Raksha's Palace" in the same work, p. 203, the young -princess found "the skeleton of a poor old beggar-woman, who had -evidently died from want and poverty. The princess took the skin and -washed it, and drew it over her own lovely face and neck, as one draws a -glove on one's hand." - -[67] The giant who demands human flesh of his wife, and the giantess who -has only one eye in the middle of her forehead, are proofs of the -foreign origin of this tale. - -[68] See p. 340 _ante_. - -[69] Ruobba, or Gudnavirus, _i. e._ scurfy skull, is the Lapp for -Ashiepattle. See "Jaetten og Veslegutten," _Friis_. - -[70] See note, vol. i. p. 407. - -[71] _The Death of Dermid_, by Ferguson, may also be compared. Where the -hero is slain by the envenomed bristle piercing his foot. For this part -of the poem, vide _Dublin Magazine_, 1868, p. 594. - -[72] See p. 335, _ante_. - -[73] The witch's daughter in the "Two Orphans" is lame of one foot. See -p. 221. - -[74] There is a curious tale of a relation of my own who was popularly -said to be able to cure people of ague by going to a thorn and shaking -while she said: "Shake, good tree, shake for So-and-so," and then the -disease fled. I have heard that the good old dame was herself always -very ill after this operation. The hanging of a lock of hair on a tree, -I presume, was understood to be the same as taking the afflicted person -to the tree. - -[75] See also another Lapp tale, "Haccis AEdne." _Notes and Queries_, 7th -s. ii. Aug. 7, 1886. - -[76] I have often had this tale told to me by my nurse when a child, and -heard the following version a short time ago in Holderness, and was -informed it had been told thus for ages: "There was a stepmother who was -very unkind to her stepdaughter and very kind to her own daughter; and -used to send her stepdaughter to do all the dirty work. One day she sent -her to the pump for some water when a little frog came up through the -sink and asked her not to pour dirty water down, as his drawing-room was -there. So she did not, and as a reward he said pearls and diamonds -should drop from her mouth when she spoke. When she returned home it -happened as he said; and the step-mother, learning how it had come -about, sent her own daughter to the pump. When she got there the little -frog spoke to her and asked her not to throw dirty water down, and she -replied "Oh! you nasty, dirty little thing, I won't do as you ask me." -Then the frog said "Whenever you speak frogs, and toads, and snakes -shall drop from your mouth." She went home and it happened as the frog -had said. At night when they were sitting at the table a little voice -was heard singing outside-- - - - "Come bring me my supper,[A] - My own sweet, sweet one." - - -When the step-daughter went to the door there was the little frog. She -brought him in in spite of her step-mother; took him on her knee and fed -him with bits from her plate. After a while he sang - - - "Come, let us go to bed, - My own sweet, sweet one." - - -So, unknown to her step-mother, she laid him at the foot of her bed, as -she said he was a poor, harmless thing. Then she fell asleep and forgot -all about him. Next morning there stood a beautiful prince, who said he -had been enchanted by a wicked fairy and was to be a frog till a girl -would let him sleep with her. They were married, and lived happily in -his beautiful castle ever after." This is one of the few folk-stories I -have been able to collect from the lips of a living story-teller in -England. - -[A] There is a traditional air to which these lines are always sung. - -[77] See also notes in the Introduction. - -[78] There is a similar incident in _Grimm_, "The Sea Hare," where a fox -changes himself by dipping in a spring. - -[79] In Finland they say that if two persons shake hands across the -threshold they will quarrel. In East Bothnia, when the cows are taken -out of their winter quarters for the first time, an iron bar is laid -before the threshold, over which all the cows must pass, for if they do -not, there will be nothing but trouble with them all the following -summer. Cf. _Suomen Muinaismuisto Yhdistyksen Aikakauskirja_, v. p. 99. - -[80] On entering a house, especially a royal house, it is improper to -use the _left_ foot on first stepping into it; one must "put one's best -(or right) foot foremost." Malagasy Folk-Lore, p. 37. _Folk-Lore Record_ -1879. - -[81] The "parta" is a head-dress worn by unmarried women only, in the -shape of a "diadem" of the ancients in silk, satin, or velvet, and -generally embroidered - -[82] Cf. p. 365 _ante_. - -[83] Cf. Gerll, Volksmaerchen der Boehmen, "Die Goldene Ente." - -[84] See also _Folk-Lore Record_, 1879, "Old Ballad Folk-Lore," pp. 110, -111. - -[85] Myling, myring, or myrding generally means the ghost of a murdered -person. - -[86] Arany says he dare not accept the collection from which this story -is taken for scientific purposes, as Merenyi has drawn very liberally on -his own imagination. - -[87] _S. ja T._ iii. "Pienempiae Elaein-jutun katkelmia," p. 37. The whole -of the Finnish beast stories are most interesting, and the resemblance -in many cases to the negro variants in _Uncle Remus_ very striking. - - - - -INDEX. - - -Acorn, magic growth of [Jack and the Beanstalk incident], 146, 388 - -Age of giants, xxix. - -----, hero grows old in his travels, 107 - -Agricultural, xli., see "plough" - -Agriculture, giants' dislike of, xxviii. - -Ague, cure for, 403 - -Allegorical story, 91-95 - -Alligator in Serbian folk-lore, 325 - -American Indians, folk-tales quoted, 364 - ----- notions of, as to dreams, 376 - -Ananci folk-tales, quoted, 379, 394 - -Angels, allegory of, 93 - -Animal superstitions, lx-lxiii. - -Animals, grateful, assistance by, 158, 160, 249, 303-306, 323, 342, 371, -373, 374, 384, 392, 409 - -----, king of the, 106-107, 108 - -----, language of, 301, 421-422 - -----, magic, in service of fairies, xxxiii. - -----, marriage of, with human beings, 225 - -----, sacrifice of, to stay the plague, 381 - ----- servants, 111 - ----- skins of, worn at Magyar weddings, 367 - -----, witch's life contained in, 205 - -----, &c., transformation of, into human beings, see "boy," "eagles," -"falcon," "fish," "horses," "mares," "pig," "pigeons," "oranges," -"snake" - -Anthony's (St.) fire, cure for, xlix. - -Apple, castle transformed into, 74, 247, 248, 353 - ----- smiling, 130 - -Apple tree, miraculous growth of, 11 - -Apricot, tinkling, 130 - -Arabian folk-tales, quoted, 381 - -_Arabian Nights_, quoted, 347, 352, 353, 355, 360, 362, 364, 368, 371, -375, 377, 389, 392, 395, 396, 400, 402, 406, 408, 415, 418 - -Argilus and Helen, story of, 345 - -Arpad, the founder of modern Hungary, viii. - -Arrow, shooting of, as test of strength, 120 - -_Arthur, morte d'_, quoted, 351, 352 - -Ashes, strewed, used for finding way through forest, 145 - ----- (house), youngest brother sits among, 97 - -Asia, migration from, into Europe, viii. - -Assembly of the giants, xxix. - -Astronomy superstitions, lxiv. - -Attila, conquest of Hungary by, vii. - -----, story of, quoted, 342 - -Austrian folk-tales quoted, 370 - -Avaricious, allegory of the, 94 - -Avars, ethnology of, x. - - -Baa-lambs (the), story-title, 90-95 - -Bachelors' funeral at Magyar weddings, 367 - -Baednag-njudne, giant beings, Lapp, 340 - -Bag which never gets full, 141 - -Baptism, allegory of unbaptised children, 94 - -Basket, to give the, that is to dismiss, Magyar, 366 - -Bath used to produce youthfulness, 110, 349 - -Bathing custom in Hungary, 308 - -Bathing in mare's milk, task set hero, 276 - -Bathing of fairy maidens, 101 - -Battlefields, silver and copper, created for fighting, 349 - -Battles, legends of, in Lincolnshire, 382 - -Beanstalk (Jack) parallel incident, 146, 388 - -Beating of wife, story incident, 23 - -Beauty, delicate skin a feature of, 354 - -Beauty and beast stories, 385 - -Bed, Madeys, devils dread, Slavonic tale, 310 - -Bede (St.), well of, at Jarrow, 373 - -Bees, assistance of, to hero, 153 - -----, honey brought by, restores life, 374 - -Beetles, witch's life and power contained in, 205 - -Beggar character in story helps hero, 251 - -Beggar's presents, story of, 161-163 - -Bells, church, ringing of, a hero-task, 228-229 - -Bells, magic, in giant assemblies, xxix. - -Belt, strength-giving, 353 - -Berries, youth-giving qualities of, 373 - -Betrothal in Magyar marriage, 366 - -Bible quoted, 375, 411 - -Biblical characters, see "God," "Joseph," "Peter" - -Birds having power to restore youth, 251 - -----, hero transforms himself into, 286 - -----, iron, made alive by hero's singing, 317 - -----, leading of hero by, 99; carrying of hero by, 108-109 - -----, enticing of boys by, 362 - -----, hero assisted by, 201, 249 - -----, moral rebuke by, 20 - -Birth, signs of luck at, 120 - -Black, colour of the giants, xxx. - ----- cloth, town draped in, 374 - -Blindness, cure for, in story incident, 37; by mud from well, 152 - -Blood flowing from finger post sign of disaster, 257 - -----, human, wine mixed with, 121 - ----- letting for restoration to life, 344 - ----- stains, indelible, 125, 382 - -Blood feud, incident, Arabian nights, 360 - -Blowing upon wound to heal, 95 - -Blue Beard incidents, 129, 383 - -Blue cross, hero changed to, on divulging secret, 314 - -Bohemian folk-tales, quoted, 323 - -Boiling skull with millet seed used as omen, 279 - -Bones, human, hatched by crow, 299 - ----- of boy collected by sister, 299 - -----, skeleton, miraculous joining of scattered, 12 - -Boy killed for dinner by mother, 298 - -Boy who could not shiver nor shake, type story, 228-232 - -Bramble, dragon's wife takes form of, 202 - -Bread, operation of making, used as story incident, 79 - -Breathing on old things, causes change, 349 - -Bridal customs, Magyar, 365 - -Bride, false, given to prince, 214 - -----, gipsy personates, 214 - -Bride-capture, evidence of, Magyar, 366, 368; Palocz, 413, 414 - ----- and pursuit, story incident, 32-35 - -----, symbolic customs representing, 369 - -Bride purchase, evidence of, Magyar, 365 - -Bridges, fights between hero and dragon, on, 199-201 - -----, in folk-tales, 399 - ----- of copper, silver, and gold, 64, 196; of gold, 74 - -Britain, Teutonic conquest of, xi. - -Britanny, were-wolves, 344 - -Brocklesby, Roman camp near, Lincolnshire, 382 - -Broom, red hot, ridden by witch to pursue hero, 273 - ----- seller, story character, 22 - -Brothers, elder, separate from hero on journey, 257 - -Brothers, three, story title, 152-154 - -Brothers and sisters, marriage of, 137 - -Brush, used as obstacle to pursuit of hero, 160 - -Building, immuration during, 376-377 - -Building legends, 333-334 - -Bulgarians, origin of, xiii. - -Bullet, magic, to kill a giant, xxx. - -Bullocks with gilt horns, roasted at Magyar weddings, 367 - -Bulls used for rescuing treasure, 405 - -Burial feasts, 370 - - -Cake, hero shares with beggar, 252 - -----, millet, used in story incident, 28-29 - -Cakes made with woman's milk, 379 - -Cannibalism, 25, 352, 388-389, 403 - -Cannibal-giant story character, 25 - -Cannibal-man in Lapp stories, 352 - -Castle built by magical command, 16 - ----- built and inhabited by fairies, xxxv.-xxxvi. - ----- built by giants, xxvii. - ----- turned into golden apple, 206, 247 - ----- weeping and laughing, 409 - -Cat, accompanies hero, 258 - -----, a servant of fairies, xxxiii. - -Cat, the lazy, story title, 23-25, 317 - -----, troll, 346 - -----, witches assume the shape of xli. - -Cataract, cure for, xlviii. - -Cats, witch's carriage drawn by, 204 - -Caul, superstition as to being born with, 378 - -Caves as the haunts of fairies, xxxvii. - -Caves, the three, riddle solved by hero, 259 - -Changed bride incident in folk tales, 386 - -Chap-books, xx. - -Chapel and hermit, pursued heroine and hero turn themselves into, 33 - -Charitable (the) allegory of, 94 - -Charles XI., legend of, 381 - -Charming, fairy means of, xxxiii. - -Charms, singing, used for restoration of life, 341 - -Chest, magic, incident in folk-tales, 401 - -Child, first-born, dedication to devil, 7, 189, 384 - -Child-marriage incident, 80 - -"Child born to be a King" type stories, 307-309 - -Children, substitution of, xlv., 52 - -Children's rhymes, Cumanian, xvi. - -Chopping, symbolic action of, for cure of wrist disease, 332 - -Christ, _see_ "God." - -Christianity, influence of, on folk-tales, xx., xl. - -Christmas customs, li. - -Church building legends, 333-334 - -Church to be built in one night task set heroine, 193 - -Church, heroine takes form of, 194 - -----, youth-giving bird kept in, 259 - -Church bells, ringing of, task of hero, 228-229 - -Church marriage, 4, 7 - -Cinder Jack, story title, 149-152 - -Cinderella incident occurring with hero, 97, 150; with heroine, 148; in -folk-tales, 207-216, 389 - -Cinders, burning, drop from devil's hair, 192 - -Clan feuds, Lincolnshire, 382 - -Cloak given to hero for singing, 299 - -----, giving power of invisibility to its wearer, 141 - -----, giving power to transport wearer to any place, 156 - -Cloth, magic, provides food, 161 - -Clothes, stealing of fairy maiden's, 101 - -Club, used by giant for killing, 11 - -----, magic fighting, 162 - -Coachman, King's, hero takes service as, 270 - -Cock, a servant of fairies, xxxiii. - -----, crowing of, good omen, 213 - -----, iron, on spire, in story incident, 42 - -----, lesson taught by, 301 - -----, red, accompanies hero, 259 - -Cock-crow, devils disappear at, 37 - -----, means of getting rid of ghost, 282 - -College, hero's attendance at, 7, 59 - -Constantinople, St. Sophia, blood stains at, 382 - -Cooking, methods alluded to, 30 - -Copper bridge, dragon's home near, 196, 199 - ----- forest, 388 - ----- objects used in story incidents, 2, 28, 31, 40, 61, 78, 142, 150 - -Corn, Finnish method of drying, 315. - -Cornish folk-lore, 349 - ----- wells, 373 - -Corpse assists ghost to find bride, 282 - -Cosmogony, tales dealing with, 375-376 - -Cottele on the Tamar, blood-stains at, 382 - -Cotton as a clew to find way out of thicket, 144 - -Count's daughter, the, story-title, 127-130 - -Country inhabited by lions and wolves, 189, 195 - -Cramp, cure for, xlix. - -Cray-fish in story incident, 84 - -Cripple, cure for, in story incident, 37 - -Cromwell, battles attributed to, 382 - -Crow assists hero in fight with dragon, 201 - ----- hatches bones of boy, 299 - -Crow's nest, story title, 298-301 - -Crutch sticks given to hero for singing, 300 - -Csabor Ur, story title, 123-125 - -Csangos, Magyar settlers in Moldavia, 380 - -----, origin of the, xv. - -Csihan, Prince, story title, 1-6; notes to story, 303-306 - -Cuchulaiun, story of, quoted, 348 - -Cumanians, origin of the, xv.-xvi. - -Cumberland wells, 373 - -Curry-comb, used as obstacle to pursuit of hero, 160 - -Curse of oblivion, 321-322 - - -Dances, wedding, 104-105 - -Dancing, caused by flute, 13-15 - ----- fairy, xxxiv. 143 - -Danish folk-tales quoted, 306, 324, 334, 355, 401 - -Daughters, king ill-using, 288 - ----- of witch, mares till nightfall, 159 - -Dawn, as story character, 42 - -Dawn and night, tying up of, in folk-tales, 326 - -Days of the week, xlix. - -Death cured by magic orange, 156 - ----- in equalled with sleep, 374 - ----- personification of, as story character, 82 - ----- sign of, to three brothers on adventure, 55; superstition, 403 - ----- (sudden) penalty for telling secret, 301 - -Death superstitions, xlix. - -Deception as to birth of prince during king's absence, 335-338 - -Deer, brother of heroine transformed into, 221 - -Devil and the Red Cap, story title, 226-228 - ----- and the Three Slovac lads, story title, 126-127 - ----- and the King, story title, 188-195 - -"Devil with three golden hairs," Finnish variant of, 310 - -Devil carries off corpse from gallows, 289 - ----- carries off girls, 288 - ----- construction of road by, xxxvi. - ----- conversations of, overheard, story incident, 37 - ----- dedication of first child to, 7, 189, 384 - ----- helps king to find game, 189 - ----- personates hero, 226 - ----- use of the word 346 - ----- son of, helps heroine to escape devil, 192 - -Devils marry sisters of hero, 288 - ----- used for carrying out magical commands, 27 - -Devonshire, Cottele on the Tamar, blood-stains at, 382 - -Dew, at Friday's new moon, used for cure of blindness, 37 - -Dew, healing powers of, 322, 416 - ----- St. John's Day, properties of, 392 - -Diamond, brought by fox to hero, 2 - ----- castle, the light of Hades, 68; abode of giant, 71 - ----- horse-shoe nails, used by hero, 68 - -Dissemination of folk-tales, causes of, xxi. - -Doctor, successful, story incident, 83, 138 - -Dog, faithful, in folk-tales, 402 - -----, kissing of hero by, causes oblivion, 322 - ----- lungs and liver of, given instead of heroine's, 182 - -Doghead, story character, 70 - -Dogheaded Tartars, 118 - ----- people, xx., 377-378 - -Dragon, sacrifice of virgin to, 112, 374 - ----- milk of, 409; horse fed on, 252 - -Dragons devouring human beings, 196 - -----, pursuing devils take form of, 195 - -----, slain by three princes, story incident, 41, 199-201 247, 248 - -----, used for carrying out magical commands, 16, 78 - -----, when defeated vomiting lads they had swallowed, 197 - -Drawing of object on the ground, magic powers of, 370 - -Dream of hero _raison d'etre_ of story, 233 - -Dream-books, 376 - -Dreams obviate the curse of forgetfulness, 35; importance of in -misfortune, 120 - -Dreams, three, story title 117-123 - -Dress, fairy, stealing of, to secure bride, 101; losing of, gives power -of escape to fairy bride, 105 - -Dresses, wedding, among the Magyars, 368 - -Drink, enchanted, causes oblivion, 321 - ----- customs, lxviii. - -Drowning of devils when pursuing heroine, 195 - -Drugging hero's wine by witch, 253, 254, 255 - -Duck, gold, heroine transformed into, 214, 402 - ----- silver, devil's son takes form of, 195 - -Dust, figures drawn in, come to life, 103, 104 - -Dutch witchcraft, 343 - -Dwarf, assistance to heroine by, 47 - ----- outwits strong men, 245, 246 - - -Eagle, pursuing-father takes the form of, 32, 33 - -Earthenware pot, skull boiled in, used to obtain news of lover, 279 - -Eating taboo, 9 - -Egg (black) presented to hero by fairy godmother, 197 - -Egyptian story quoted, 340, 341, 400 - -Eldest brother hero of tale, 262-277 - -Elk, coffin of heroine, carried about by, 174 - ----- with gold and silver hairs in Russian story, 304 - -Embroidery, an occupation of the fairies, xxxiv. - -Enchantment by spitting, 395 - -English folk-tales, quoted, 354, 356, 360, 383, 396, 404, 406 - -Envious sisters, story title, 49-54 - -Epilepsy, cures for, xlviii. - -Eskimo folk-tales quoted, 331, 341, 362, 363, 364, 375, 386, 387, 389, -391, 393, 400, 408, 411 - -Esthonian folk-tales quoted, 326 - -Ethnology of giants in Magyar folk-lore, xxvi., xxviii. - ----- of Hungary, viii. - -Ewe, hero suckled by, 244 - -Executioner, functionary at a wedding, 303 - -Eye in forehead, giantess with, 146 - -Eye, one, monster, 388 - -Eyes, affection of, story incident, 59 - -Eyes of King unlike each other, _raison d'etre_ of story, 250 - -Eye-sight restored by herb, 322 - - -Fairies in Magyar folk-lore, xxxii-xl. - -Fairies, marriage of, with the giants, xxix. - -----, descent of witches from, xli. - -Fairies' well, youth-giving water from, 289 - -Fairies' well, story title, 288 - -Fairy dancing, 142 - -Fairy Elizabeth, story title, 95-110 - -Fairy godmother, present from, to hero, 197 - -Fairy, house, origin of, 136 - -"Faithful John," variants of, 313-315 - -Falcon, shooting at, story incident, 40 - -Falcon, pursuing mother takes the form of, 33 - -False champion, story character, 43, 112 - -Falsehood, personification of, story character, 36 - -Family feuds, Lincolnshire, 382 - -Family life of the fairies, xxxvii. - -Farmer, story character, 7 - -Farming life in story incident, 80 - -Father eats flesh of his boy, 298 - ----- murdered by son in Finnish story, 307 - ----- throws knives and forks to frighten hero, 251 - -Father's (my) wedding, story title, 86-90 - -Faust type stories, 306-312 - -Fays, kissing by, causes oblivion, 322 - -Fear, hero unable to learn, 228 - -----, shown by pillows dropping from the seat, 45, 114 - -Feather picking festival, 215 - ----- picking, peasant occupation, 402 - -Feathers, copper, gold and silver, from tail of wood grouse in Karelian -story, 305 - -Feet, silver, child born with, 337 - ----- washing at weddings in Scotland, 367 - -Feet and hands of hero renewed by rubbing with blood and dust, 261 - -Feuds, clan or family, Lincolnshire, 382 - -Fight between hero and dragons, 199, 200, 201, 247, 248 - -Finger-lore, 331 - -Finger-post as trysting place for hero and brothers, 257 - -Finger songs, 330 - -Finn giant beings, 340 - -Finnish folk-tales, quoted, 307, 314-315, 318, 321, 323, 324, 326, 328, -329, 331, 332, 334, 335, 337, 342, 346, 347, 349, 350, 352, 353, 355, -356, 372, 373, 374, 379, 384, 385, 386, 389-390, 392, 393, 396, 399, -401, 402, 403, 404, 407, 409, 410, 411, 414, 416, 421 - ----- marriage custom, 365, 369 - ----- names for stars, 410 - -Fire, ever-burning, story incident, 41 - -Fire camp, in story incident, 99 - ----- customs, liv., lviii., see "hearth" - -Fire, obtained by youngest brother, 40 - -Firpole ridden by witch to pursue hero, 272 - -Fish, gold, princess turns into, when pushed into well, 135 - -----, king of, assists hero in task, 252, 254 - -----sung out of lake by hero, 316 - -----, transformation of, into lovely girl, 16 - -----, witch's daughters change to, 254 - -Fisher Joe, notes to, 313 - ----- story title, 15-22 - -Fishing, story incident, 16 - -Flame, red, dragon takes form of, 201 - -Flame, white, hero takes form of, 201 - -Flattery, applied to witches, 400 - -Flint, falling from falcons' rock, story incident, 40 - -Flint hoop, dragon takes form of, 201 - -Flintshire wells, 373 - -Flower gardens belonging to the fairies, xxxvii. - -Fluid, strength-giving, 353 - -Flute, powers of, to compel dancing, 13-15 - -Flying, power of, by giants, xxx. - -Foal, half rotten, of hero, demands for wages for performing tasks, 252 - -----, magic power of, 263; helps hero, 263-277 - -Foals, the three, riddle solved by hero, 240 - -Folk-tales, origin of, xix. - -Food, enchanted, causes oblivion, 321 - -----, magic supply of, 284 - -Forbidden chamber stories, 326, 384 - -Forest, filling of, by devils, 28; clearing of, for ploughing, 96 - -Forgetfulness, curse of, story incident, 34 - -Formulae, conjuring, of the fairies, xxxiv. - -Fortunatus' story, 141 - -Foundation sacrifice, 376-377 - -Foundling child becomes hero of tale, 244 - -Fox, a story character, 1, 316 - ----- in Russian Puss-in-Boots story, 304; in Finnish story, 305 - -French folk-tales quoted, 306, 347, 418 - ----- invasion appearing in folk-tales, xx., 5 - -Friar, ghost, in shape of, guardian of buried treasure, 231 - -Friday, efficacy of, in folk-medicine, 37 - -Frisian variants of Fisher Joe, 316 - -Frog, grateful, for hero's kindness, assists him, 150 - -----, the wonderful, story of, 224-226 - -Frog prince story, Lincolnshire, 404-405 - -Frogs, witches assume the shape of, xli. - -Fruit, fairy maiden concealed in, 386 - -Funeral of heroine, 171, 173 - - -Gallows, devil carries off man hanging from, 289 - -----, legend of, 382 - -----, resort of devils at night, 37 - -----, secrets heard under, 323 - -Gangrene, cures for, xlviii. - -Garter, unloosing of, at weddings, 369 - -George (St.) legend of, quoted, 374 - -Gepidae, Ardaric King of, vii. - -German folk-tales quoted, 306, 312, 321, 323, 324, 339, 341, 346, 347, -349, 350, 355, 356, 357, 358, 359, 360, 364, 372, 373, 374, 377, 378, -383, 385, 386, 387, 388, 389, 391, 394, 395, 397, 399, 400, 401, 402, -403, 405, 406, 407, 408, 415, 416 417, 421 - ----- wedding customs, 369 - ----- witchcraft, 343 - -_Gesta Romanorum_ quoted, 375 - -Ghost, story character, 142 - -----, wishing to marry bride, 282 - -Ghost lovers, story title, 278-282, 417 - -Ghosts, xlv; guard buried treasure, 232 - -Giant objects in folk-tales, 361 - ----- story, xxvi.-xxvii. - -Giants, northern, 340 - -----, identified with Huns, x. - -----, origin of, as sons of witch, 57 - -----, story characters, 9, 25, 55, 72, 101, 147 - ----- in Magyar folk-lore, xxiv.-xxxi. - ----- and giantesses, 388 - -Giantess, cannibal story characters, 146 - -Gift to hero by fairy godmother, 197 - -Gifts, wonderful, 394 - -Gipsy tales quoted, 375 - -Gipsy women in folk-tale, 213 - -Girl with the golden hair, story-title, 262-277 - ----- without hands, story of, 182-188 - -Girls assist hero, 248 - -----, captive, rescued by hero, 247, 248 - ----- under form of mares in daytime, 159 - -Glass mountains in folk-tales, 350 - -Glass rock, hero taken over by magic horse, 65 - -Gnats, assists hero in task, 252, 254 - -Goats, guardians of giant's treasure, xxxi. - -Goblet of dazzling brightness, story incident, 19 - -Goblins, xlv.-xlvi. - -God, or Christ, descent of, to earth, story incident, 20, 82 - -Gold bridge, dragon's home near, 196, 201 - ----- children, variant of story, 313 - ----- duck, heroine transformed into, 214 - ----- hair picked up by hero, 269 - ----- horses, fetched by hero as task, 274 - ----- objects used in story incidents, 2, 28, 63-64, 65, 71, 74, 130, -143, 150 - -Golden apple, castle contained in, 206 - ----- coffin of heroine carried about by elk, 173 - ----- forest, 258 - ----- haired children born to heroine, 177, 184 - ----- haired stud of horses, 62 - ----- hair, girl with, story title, 262-277 - ----- girl married to hero, 159 - ----- hair, Tatos horse with, 198 - ----- horned bullocks roasted at Magyar weddings, 367 - ----- spade used to dig up Tatos foal, 251 - -Goods of heroine fetched by hero in table cloth, 273 - -Goose's egg, copper fortress swivelling on, 78 - -Gorgons, parallels to, 353 - -Gothamite stories quoted, 356, see "noodle" - -Grapes, speaking, smiling apple, and tinkling apricot, story title, -130-132 - -Grateful beasts, story incident, 2, [150], 153, 158, 160, 249, 303-306 - -Grave stone and mound, story about, 381 - -Greek folk-tales, quoted, 338, 340, 350, 355, 386, 387, 391, 392, 394, -396, 398, 399, 400, 401, 402, 406, 407, 408 - -Green king, character in story, 288 - -Greyhound, guardian of giant's treasure, xxxi. - -Griffin helps hero to escape from underground world, 249 - -Griffins, witch's daughter changed to, 254 - -Guns fired at weddings, Magyar, 368 - -Gyllenspets, family of, legends as to ennobling, 381 - - -Hair combing in folk-tales, 389 - -----, not to be thrown away, 332 - -----, cutting of, punishment, 216 - -----, at wedding, 369 - -----, folk-lore of, 374-375, 402 - ----- of heroine used as means to bewitch her, 222 - -----, gold, of heroine, used by her to give light, 270 - -Hair-pin, poisonous, used by witch for destroying heroine, 172 - -Hairs, transformed into serpents, 398 - -Handkerchiefs, exchange of, mode of engagements, Palocz, 413 - -Hands, girl without, story of, 182-188 - -----, gold, child born with, 337 - -Hands and feet of hero cut off by his brothers, 260; renewed by rubbing -with blood, 261 - -----, cutting off of heroine's, by eldest sisters, 50 - -Handsome Paul, story title, 25-35; variants of, 317 - -Hanging, ceremonial at, 406-407 - -Harvesting customs, 98 - -Head-dress worn by maidens, Palocz, 414 - -Healing-grass, restoration of life by, 58 - -Healing-mud, 391 - -Healing-plants, 374 - -Hearth custom, mourning behind the oven, 15, see "ashes" - -Heat, great, round fairies' well, 291 - -Heaven, journey to, story incident, 20; allegory of, 94 - -Helen and Argilus, story of, 345 - -Hell, hero marries witch in, 204 - ----- voyage to, 8-10, 67 - -Hermit character in tale, helps hero, 288; hero restores him to youth, -295 - -Hero maimed by elder brothers, 260 - -----, limbs of, restored by using magic mud, 261 - ----- suckled by ewe, 244 - ----- swallowed by king, 317 - -Hero transformed by Tatos horse, 198 - ----- unable to learn to fear, 228 - -Heroine marries devil's son, 195 - -History in folk-tales, 380-382 - -Holofernes, the fire-king, story of, 345 - -Holly tree with gold leaves in Russian story, 304 - -Holyrood, blood-stains at, 382 - -Home, troubles arising from bringing bride to the, 370-371 - -Homer quoted, 376 - -Horace quoted, 376 - -Horn, magic, in story incident, 61 - -Horse fed on dragon's milk for strength, 252 - -----, magic, story incident, 20, 62, 105, 144, 158, 160, 197, 387, 390, -392-393 - -----, old, made young by hero, 260 - -----, piebald, assists hero, 289 - ----- racing at weddings, Magyar, 368 - ----- (stallion) guardian of giant's treasure, xxxi. - ----- with five legs produced from egg, 197 - -Horse-shoe, gold, picked up by hero, 270 - -Horses, age of, tested, 119 - -----, hero's task to take charge of, 253 - -----, mythic, called Tatos, 345-349 - -----, transformation of human beings into, 31 - -----, witch's daughters in shape of, 252 - -----, witches assume the shape of, xli. - -House, folk-lore of the threshold, 410-411 - ----- tidying incident in folk-tales, 386 - -House-fairy, origin of, 136 - -Human sacrifice in story incident, 112 - ----- to stay the plague, 381 - -Hundetyrk, giant beings, Swedish, 340 - -Hunes, a tribe who came over with Saxons to Britain, xi. - -Hungarian Faust story, 312 - ----- folk-tales, collections of, xxii.-xxiii. - -Hungarians, origin of, vii.-viii. - -Hungary, bathing customs in, 308 - -----, the happy land, 126 - -Huns, origin of the, vii., x. - -Hunting princes, story title, 39-46 - -----, story incident, 1, 39, 54, 186, 188 - -Husks in folk-tales, 385 - -Hussar and the servant girl, story-title, 83-85 - -Hydrophobia, cures for, xlviii. - - -_Iliad_, quoted, 349 - -Illness, feigned, incident in folk-tales, 386 - -Images, wax, used in sorcery, 332 - -Immuration of human beings, 376-377, 407 - -----, punishment by, 114 - -Incantation, witch, xliii. - -Indian tales quoted, 306, 307, 314, 321, 323, 338, 339, 341, 342, 344, -346, 356, 361, 362, 363, 364, 373, 383, 384, 385, 386, 387, 389, 391, -394, 395, 396, 398, 400, 402, 403, 404, 415 - -Invisible cap given by devil, 227 - ----- shepherd lad, story title, 141-144 - -Ishtar, legend of, quoted, 400 - -Italian folk-tales quoted, 356, 383, 384, 396-398, 400, 401, 408. 421 - -Irish folk-tales quoted, 322, 348, 353, 355, 364, 372, 394, 396, 397 - -Iron age, giants connected with, xxvi. - ----- kneader, character in story, 245, 246 - ----- nose, woman with, 159, 203, 243 - ----- pole, witch rides on, to pursue hero, 269 - ----- railing round witch's house, 267 - ----- teeth, witch possessing, 221 - -Irons, brothers of hero working in, for debt, 260 - - -Jack and the Bean Stalk incident, 146, 388 - -Jack Dreadnought, story title, 228-232 - -Jack the Giant Killer, 341 - -James I., legend of, 382 - -Japan marriage customs, 368 - -Japanese folk-tales quoted, 306, 391 - -Jaundice, cures for, xlvi. - -Jazyges, origin of the, xvii. - -Jesuits in Hungary, 409 - -Jewel, youth-giving qualities of, 373 - -Jewish wedding customs, 369 - -Jikil, a people of Hungary, xiii. - -Johara, Juharia, province of, recorded in folk-tales, 371 - -Joseph, Biblical story of, quoted, 375 - - -Kaffir folk-tales, 403 - -_Kalevala_, quoted, 331, 374 - -Karelian story quoted, 353, 359, 390 - -Keyne, St., well of, in Cornwall, 373 - -King adopts hero as his son, 234 - ----- and the devil, story of, 188-195 - -----, child born to be, type story, 233-244 - ----- made young again by magic water, 295 - ----- marrying most beautiful woman, 163 - ----- with eyes that weep and laugh, 251 - -King's daughter, story character, 4, 15, 234, 238 - ----- youngest daughter, story character, 27 - -Kissing by fays and by dog, causes oblivion, 322 - -Knife, non-use of, for killing, 11 - -----, wooden, stone cut by, 247 - -Knives stuck in a tree for life index, 374 - -Knot-holes in wood, folk-tale connected with, 364 - -Knowledge, obtaining of secret, 322-324 - -Koiran-Kuonalanien, giant beings, Finn, 340 - -Kronos, legend of, quoted, 399 - -Kuns, origin of the, xv.-xvi. - - -Ladybird rhyme, xx. - -Lake, magic, power of restoring limbs possessed by, 185 - -----, silver, heroine takes form of, 195 - -Lamb, possessing power to rain gold, 162 - ----- with golden fleece, story title, 13-15; variants of, 312 - -Lamb and shepherd, pursued heroine and hero become, 33 - -Lameness of characters in folk-tales, 372 - -----, superstition about, 398 - -Language of animals, see "animals" Languages of Hungary, xviii., xix. - -Lapp folk-tales quoted, 305, 312, 321, 326, 328, 329, 343, 344, 346, -352, 358, 359, 361, 362, 364, 370, 372, 373, 379, 384, 385, 386, 388, -389, 390, 392, 393, 396, 397, 399, 400, 403, 408, 410, 415, 418, 420 - -Lapp giant beings, 340 - ----- wedding customs, 369 - -Laughing, cure of illness by, 15 - -Lazy cat, 23-25; note to, 317 - -Lead, boiling, ordeal of truth by jumping in, 297 - ----- used as punishment by fairies, 294 - -Letter forged by witch, 178, 185 - -Letter intercepted, story incident, 52, 185 - -Life, allegory of, 92-94 - ----- concealed away from the body, 400 - ----- restoration to, 329, 341, 342, 344; by animals, 374, 396; by snake, -55; by healing grass, 58, 113 - -Life or soul, witch's, contained in animals, 205 - -Life index incidents, 339, 340, 374, 378 - -Light extinguished by animal bridegroom, 226 - -Limber, Lincolnshire, battle legends in, 382 - -Lincolnshire folk-lore, 343, 350, 363, 376, 378, 382, 398 - ----- folk-tales quoted, 358, 392, 393, 404, 405, 417, 418-420, 421 - ----- Mumby Hill, treasure legend, xxxi. - ----- superstitions, 402 - ----- treasure legend, 406 - ----- wedding customs, 369 - ----- witchcraft, xliii. - -Lions, country inhabited by, 188, 195 - -Literature, mediaeval, influence on folk-tales, xx., xxi. - -Livy quoted, 377 - -Loaf, baked seven times with other loaves, used as charm against dragon, -79 - -Local influences on folk-tales, xx. - -Lodging, hero's, at a cottage held by a murderer, 9 - -London, legend relating to, quoted, 351 - -Looking back, misfortune from, 101 - -----, superstition against, in folk-tales, 362-363 - -----, unlucky at weddings, 369 - -Looking-glass, magic, power of speaking possessed by, 165 - -Lord of the manor, story character, 17 - -Love of the fairies, xxxiv.-xxxv. - -Lover's ghost, story title, 278-282 - -Luck and bliss, story title, 22, 23; variants of, 317 - -Lungs and liver eaten by would-be murderer, 183 - - -Mace, sent as sign of recognition, 106 - ----- used by devil as weapon, 194 - -Mace-throwing, 353 - -Magic pony, little, story of, 157-160 - ----- powers of giants, xxix. - ----- queen of, 78 - ----- woman, godmother to heroine, 144 - -Magpie in Swedish folk-lore, 364 - -Magyars, origin of, viii., xiii. - -Maiming of slain enemies, story incident, 43 - -Malagasy folk-tales quoted, 340, 394, 398, 401 - ----- superstition as to the threshold, 411 - -Man, hanged, eaten by devil, 290 - -Manners of Magyars, lxvii. - -Maerchen, origin of, xix. - -Mare, power of talking possessed by, 263 - -Mares, milking, task set hero, 275 - -Mares, witch's daughter in story, 159 - -Market operations in noodle story, 81 - -Marriage by guessing of bride's secret marks, 141 - ----- by taking down objects from high pole, 151 - -----, child, 80 - -----, church, 4, 7 - ----- customs, Magyar, liv., 365; Paloczy, 412-414 - ----- festivals, Magyar, 389 - ----- in folk-tales, 328 - ----- of hero to queen of the fairies, 298 - ----- of hero with witch, 204 - ----- of heroine with frog, 225 - ----- of most beautiful girl, 163 - ----- of twelve brothers to twelve sisters, 159 - ----- to slayer of king's enemies, 44 - ----- by capture, see "bride-capture." - -Maundeville's travels quoted, 342 - -May-pole, used in marriage custom, Paloczy, 412 - -Meadow, silken, of enemies, 67 - -Medicine folk, xlvi.-xlix., 403, 409; in story incident, 37 - -Melton Ross, Lincolnshire, gallows legend at, 382 - -Merlin, tradition of, 341 - -Message stick, story incident, 106 - -Messenger, intercepted, story incident, 52 - -Mezey, knight, story character, 66 - -Mice, king of, assists hero in task, 252, 255 - -Midnight, a story character, 42 - -Migration of a people, probable reference to, in folk-tales, 371 - -Milk, adulteration of, allegory of, 94 - -Milk, bathing in, task set hero, 276 - -Milk flowing from finger-post a sign of prosperity, 257 - -Milk-jug, lid of, formed from remains of murdered princes, 136 - -Milk lake and golden duck, pursued heroine and hero become, 34 - -Milk, woman's, bread made with, 121 - -Milking mares, task set hero, 274 - -Miller, a story character, 1 - -Millet-cake, story incident, 29, 30 - -Millet-field, heroine takes form of, 32, 193 - -Millet-seed, skull boiled with, as means of divination, 279 - ----- to cleanse, task set heroine, 192 - -Millstone given to hero for singing, 300 - -Mirko, Prince, story title, 59-76 - -Mirror, magic, 395 - -Mohammedanism, influence of, on folk-tales, xx., xl. - -Moldavia, Hungarian settlers in, xv. - -----, Magyar settlers in, 380 - -Money given to hero by devil to aid him on his journeys, 290, 292, 293 - -Mongolian marriage customs, 368 - -Monk, devil's son takes form of, 194 - -Moon, on forehead of twin son, 52, 337; on hero's forehead, 387; on -right breast of king's daughter, 140 - -----, myth of, in folk-tales, 327 - -----, new, efficacy of, in folk-medicine, 37 - ----- superstition, 403 - -Moonlight in the water, 358 - -Mopstick, witch riding on, 253 - -Moss, eyelids covered with, sign of old age, 259 - -Mother marrying son, in Finnish story, 308 - ----- of heroine, her enemy, 183 - -Mountain adventures, story incident, 39, 54 - -Mountains built by giants, xxvii. - -Mouse, assistance of, to hero, 153 - -Murder, crime of, committed and punished, 9-13 - -Murder of father by son in Finnish story, 307 - -Murders of the Blue Beard type, 129 - -Music, folk-, 370 - -Musical air to rhymes, 405 - -Musical myths, quoted, 347, 400 - -Mysterious land in folk-tales, 371-372 - -Myth, saints' legends develop into, x. - - -Nail-pairing superstitions, 402 - -Name, taboo in story incident, 47, 330-344 - -Names of fairies, xxxvi. xxxviii. - -Negro legend of treasure, 406 - -Nettles, Prince Czihan, story title, 1-6 - -New Year's Day, liii. - -_Niebelungen_ quoted, 351 - -Night and dawn, tying up of, in folk-tales, 326 - -Nimrod, giant legend of, viii. - -Noodle stories, 80, 83, 86, 356-359, 361; parallels between, xix. - -Norse tales quoted, 322, 323, 329, 342, 346, 350, 352, 353, 355, 358, -359, 360, 361, 370, 371, 372, 373, 375, 383, 385, 386, 389, 391, 392, -394, 396, 397, 398, 400, 404, 408, 410, 415, 421 - -Northumberland folk-lore, 343, 383 - -Norwegian giant beings, 340 - -Nose, sausage grows to man's, 219 - -Nothing, character in Finnish story, 315 - -Numbers, lix. - -Nutshell, fairy bride's dress placed in, 102 - - -Oak tree with golden leaves in Russian story, 304 - -Oblivion curse of, 321-322 - -Obstacles to pursuit in folk-tale, xxxiii., 32-35, 160, 393-394 - -Occupations of the fairies, xxxiv. - -Ointment, strength-giving, 353 - -Operencian Sea, magic trees on shores of, 256 - -Orange, cure of dead by, 156 - -Oranges, three, story title, princesses spring from, 133-136 - -Orphans, the two, story of, 220-224 - -Oven, retirement behind, as mourning, 15 - -Owls' feathers, 409 - -----, pillow stuffed with, 191, 255, 398 - -Oxen, ploughing with, in tale, 298 - - -Palaces of the fairies, xxxviii. - -Palm Sunday, descent of God to earth on, 21 - -Palocz, origin of the, xviii. - -----, folk-tales, 412 - -Palstave, used by Magyars, 412 - -Pannonia conquest of by Romans, vii. - -Paris, Carmelite convent, blood stains at, 382 - -Pear-tree, poisonous, dragon's wife takes form of, 202 - -Pears, stolen from tree, incident in tale, 183 - -Peas in open field, picked up by hero, 76 - -Peel borrowed by mother in tale, 298 - -Pelican, the, story title, 250-262 - -Pelicans, unknown in Hungary, 409 - -_Pentamerone_ quoted, 339, 342, 374, 375, 379, 386, 387, 388, 394, 396, -398, 399, 400, 401, 403, 407, 410, 417 - -Perspiration, superstition about, Indian, 395 - -Peter (St.), appearance of, to hero, 141 - -----, descent of, to the earth with God, 20 - -Petticoat, tale said to be in tucks of, 282 - -Phooka, the wild horse of Ireland, 349 - -Picture in folk-tales, 396 - -Piebald horse, magic horse, 289; assists hero, 289; enemy of devils, -291, 292, 293 - -Pig, prince in form of, 131, 132 - -Pig-driving, in story incident, 80 - -Pigeon, hero transforms himself into, 286 - -Pigeons, transformation of, into girls, 101 - -Pigeons help heroine in task, 208 - -Pillow stuffed with owls' feathers in devil's house, 191 - -Pin, in folk-tales, 395-396 - -----, poisonous, used by witch to destroy heroine, 170 - -Pistols, used by hero, 63 - -Plaid, possessing power of making wearer invisible, 289 - -Plague, animal sacrifice at, 381; witch sacrifice, xliv. - -Plants, wound-healing, 341 - -----, superstitions, lxiii-lxiv. - -----, see "apples," "apricot," "bramble," "oak," "pear" Pleurisy, cures -for, xlvii. - -Plough, six-ox, yoking of, 370 - -Ploughing task, story incident, 28, 96 - -Pluto, story character, 29 - -Poker changed into horse by witch, 160 - -Polish folk-tales quoted, 322, 379, 418 - -Pony, magic, story of, 157-160 - -Pope, hero becomes, 12 - -Portraits, superstition against, 333 - -Portuguese folk-tales quoted, 324, 334, 339, 342, 361, 365, 372, 374, -386, 389, 394, 395, 396, 397, 399, 400, 401, 402 - -Post (finger) oozing blood, sign of misfortune to hero, 257 - ----- used as trysting place, 257 - -Poultry yard, hero and heroine locked in, 286 - -Presents, the beggar's, story of, 161-163 - -Priest, name for Tatos, also name for mythic horse, 345 - -Priests and their sermons, allegory of, 94 - -----, folk-tale allusion to, 205, 400 - -Princes, the three, story title, 110-117 - -Princess who never laughed, type story, 312 - -Princesses, the three, story title, 144-149 - -Property, obtaining of, by descent, 16, 34, 137; by force, 6; by -marriage, 7, 46, 53, 153 - -Proverbial sayings, Szekely, ix. - -Punchkin, incident in folk-tales, 205, 400 - -Punishment by immuration, 114 - -Punishment of false knight, story incident, 45 - -Puppies supposed to be born of heroine, 178, 185 - -Purse which never gets full, see "bag" - -Pursuit obstacles, in story incident, 32-35, 160, 393-394 - -Puss in Boots, type story, 1-6, 303, 306 - -Pygmy race, 330 - - -Queen of the faires, 294 - -Quinsy, cure for, xlix. - - -Rabbit, hero takes form of, 202 - -Races, stories indicating old feuds between, 380 - -Rats, witch's daughters changed to, 255 - -Raven, shooting at, story incident, 39 - -Red cap, devil and the, story of, 226-228 - -Red-haired people, unluck of meeting, 329 - -Red Knight, a false champion, 43, 114 - -Relations, quarrels of, allegory of, 94 - -Rhymes, children's, Cumanian, xvi. - -Rich men, children of two, story title, 80-83 - -Riddles in folk-tales, 239, 240, 334 - -Ring, betrothal, in Magyar marriage, 366 - -----, poisonous, used by witch to kill heroine, 168 - ----- possessing power of waking wearer in case of need, 291 - -Ring, wedding, 3, 7 - -----, wife's means of recognising husband, 315 - -Rivers, fairy origin of, xxxix. - -Robbers, twenty-four, story characters, 42 - -----, heroine protected by, 167 - -Rod, growth of, put as a test, 119 - -----, growth, magic, 71 - -Rose, gold, means of identifying heroine, 211-213 - -Rose, knight, story title, 54-58 - -Roumanian folk-tales quoted, 353, 387, 388, 391, 399, 407 - -Roumanian intrigues with Turkey alluded to, 124 - -Rug, used as obstacle in pursuit of hero, 160 - -Russian folk-tales quoted, 304, 306, 321, 325, 329, 338, 339, 341, 344, -347, 353, 355, 358, 359, 361, 362, 364, 373, 374, 379, 381, 389, 391, -392, 393, 394, 397, 398, 399, 400, 401, 404, 408, 411, 415, 420, 421 - -Russian marriage ceremony, 366 - - -Sacrifice, human, in story incident, 112, 344 - -----, to stay the plague, 381 - -Saddle, magic, for magic horse, 63 - -----, old, used on Tatos horse, 198 - -Saddle and bridle demanded by hero for wages, 252 - -Sale at markets, used as story incident, 22 - -Saints' legends, place of, in mythology, x. - ----- quoted, 339 - -Saints' Days, customs, l.-lix. - -Sausage, magic, 219 - -Scab, cure for, xlix. - -Scabbard growing on hero's side, 233 - -Scandinavian Huns, xi. - -School, hero's attendance at, 7 - -Scottish folk-lore, 363, 368, 411 - ----- folk-tales quoted, 312, 346, 349, 398, 400 - ----- wedding custom, 369 - -Scurvy, cures for, xlvii. - -Sea, mythical, in Hungarian folk-tales, 375-376 - -Secret, hero's life depends on keeping, 233, 244 - -Secret-keeping little boy and his little sword, story title, 233-244, -314 - -Secrets, transformation of hero on divulging, 314 - -Selection, magic powers in, 378 - -Serbian folk-tales quoted, 306, 323, 325, 339, 342, 347, 353, 361, 362, -373, 374, 386, 387, 388, 391, 392, 400, 401, 407, 408, 421 - -Serpents, hairs from devil's beard become, 192 - -Servants, animals so-called, 373 - -Servian witchcraft, 343 - -Service of hero with king, 263 - -Seventh son superstition, xxx. - -Shepherd, story character, 13, 91, 141 - -Shepherd Paul, story title, 244-249 - -Shepherd's daughter given to devil instead of heroine, 191 - -Ship that sails over land and sea, 316 - -Shirt, silk, given to hero to increase strength, 248 - -Shoe, Cinderella's, 149 - -Shoes, in folk-tales, 387 - -Shoes thrown after the bride, 369 - -Shooting incidents in folk-tales, 329 - -Sicilian folk-tales quoted, 338 - -Siculus, people of Szekely, ix., xiii., xiv. - -Sillyhood, name for the caul, 378 - -Silver bridge, dragon's house near, 196, 200 - ----- of dazzling brightness, story incident, 20 - -Silver horse, concealment in, 139 - -Silver objects mentioned in story incidents, 61, 130, 143, 150 - -_Sindibad_, book of, quoted, 360 - -Sins, washing away of, allegory of, 93 - -Sisters, twelve, marry twelve brothers, story incident, 159 - -Skin, delicacy of heroines, 354 - -Skin, assumption of snake's, 342 - -Skull, boiling of, used in divination to get news of absent lover, 279 - -Slavonic folk-tales quoted, 323, 306 - -Sleep, magic, falls on watchers of heroine, 183 - -----, mode of, as a test of princely origin, 77 - -Sleeping beauty incidents in folk-tales, 396 - -Smell, giants sense of, 340 - -Smithy, hero takes refuge at, 203 - -Snake in Russian Puss in Boots story, 304 - -----, prince in form of, 283; proposes to marry king's daughter, 284 - ----- teaches hero language of animals, 301 - -----, three-headed, sacrifice of king's daughter to, 344 - ----- with girl's head, restores life to hero, 55 - ----- field, task of hero's to clean, 316 - ----- friends, 342 - -Snake-skin, story title 282-287, 417 - -Snakes-skin, assumption of, by heroine, 342 - -Snipe, origin of, 359 - -Snow-water collected in March, youth-giving qualities of, 372 - -Social organisation of the fairies, xxxvii. - -Son marrying mother in Finnish story, 308 - -Song, singing a, means of discovering truth, 299 - -Songs, mystic, for restoration of life, 341 - -----, wedding and love, 370 - -Spade, golden, used to dig up Tatos foal, 256 - -Spanish belief in herb to restore eyesight, 322 - -Spanish folk-tales quoted, 313, 329, 334, 347, 360, 392, 394, 402, 407, -408 - -Spanish wedding customs, 369 - -_Spectator_, wedding songs quoted from, 370 - -Spinning in folk-tales, 330 - -Spinning-girl (the lazy) who became queen, story-title, 46-49 - -Spitting, enchantment by, 395 - -Spittle, fairy, makes objects speak, xxxiii. - ----- speaking of, to delude pursuers, 321 - ----- used by witch to disfigure heroine, 166 - -Sports at weddings, Magyar, 389 - -Spring of poisonous water, dragon's wife takes form of, 202 - -Sprites, xlv. - -Squirrel, shooting at, story incident, 40 - -Staff broken at hanging ceremony, 407 - -Stag, means of finding heroine, 186 - -Star, morning, horse similar to, 63 - ----- superstitions, 410 - -Stars, child born with, on his face, 338 - -----, marks of, on hero's forehead, 387 - -----, three, on left breast of king's daughter, 140 - -----, kicking of, by high-stepping horses, 130 - -Steel dropping from raven's back, story incident, 39 - ----- hoop, hero takes form of, 201 - -Stepsister, heroine of tale, 207 - -Stephen the murderer, story title, 7-13; variants of, 306-312 - -Stone cut with wooden knife by hero, 247 - -Stone, giants turned to pillars of, 316 - ----- hero turned into, 71; hero's animal servants turned into, 115 - -Stone-boulders eaten by giants for food, 247 - -Stone-column, removal of, as task for hero, 18 - -Stone-crusher, character in story, 245, 246 - -Stonemasons, story characters, 18 - -Stones, with imprint of giant's heel, xxv; of fairies xxxiv.-xxxv. -xxxix. - -Stones, (precious) superstitions, lxiv. - -Strength of giant kept apart from his body, 71 - -----, secret of, revealed in order to kill hero, 326 - -Strength-giving substances, 353 - -Student who was forcibly made king, story-title, 76 - -Students' careers alluded to, see "college" "school" - -Subterfuge for gaining a wife, 4 - -Subterranean houses of the fairies, xxxviii. - -Summons by whistle and whip, 372 - -Sun, child born with, on top of head, 337 - -----, on forehead of twin son, 52; of king's daughter, 140 - -----, comparison of hero with, 342 - -----, hero's beauty like the, 56 - -----, myth of, in folk-tale, 328 - -----, stoppage of, to admire heroine's beauty 112 - -Sunbeams, woman appearing on, 364 - -Swahili folk-tales quoted, 306, 322, 342, 364, 386, 391, 397, 400, 408 - -Swallow, herb known to, will restore eyesight 322 - -Swan-maiden incident, 101, 363-365, 315 390 - -Swedish folk-tales quoted, 306, 330, 333, 334, 362, 386, 388, 391, 397, -401, 405,415 - -Swedish giant beings, 340 - -Swedish wedding songs, 370 - -Swineherd helps hero of tale, 261 - -Swineherd hero-prince takes situation as, 296 - -Swineherd's daughter given to devil instead of heroine, 190 - -Sword, clanking of hero's, denoting approbation, 235, 241 - -Sword possessing power of slaying numbers, 293 - -Sword, unsheathed, placed between wife and husband's substitute, 116, -375 - ----- used by hero, 63, 66; growing in garden, 233; kills hero's enemies, -243 - -Swords, magic, in folk-tales, 350, 406 - -Szekely folk-medicine quoted, 342 - -----, origin of the, ix., xii.-xv. - - -Table-cloth, magic, 162 - ----- used by hero to carry goods, 273 - -Tartar conquest alluded to, 118-119, 124 - -Tartars, dog-headed, 377 - -Tasks in folk-tales, 18, 27, 47, 153, 192-193, 273-275, 313, 315, 379, -390, 392, 393, 415 - -Tatos, giant's horse, xxv., 197, 345 - -Teeth, children born with, 378 - -Telescope, wonderful, bought by prince to win a bride, 156 - -Thorn-tree, cure for ague by shaking, 403 - -Thornton Abbey, Lincolnshire, battle legend about, 382 - -Three, significance of the number, 101 - ----- canes, riddle of, solved by hero, 239 - ----- foals, riddle of, solved by hero, 240 - ----- legs, foal with, 257 - ----- Princes, Three Dragons, and the Old Woman with the Iron Nose, -story of, 196-206 - ----- sisters in tale, 224 - ----- sons, hero youngest of, 250 - ----- wishes type story, 217-219 - -Threshold, ceremonies at, 332, 333 - -----, folk-lore of, 410-411 - -Tinder, shot from squirrel's tree, story incident, 40 - -Time, rapid passing of, in folk-tales, see "age," "year" - -----, stopping of, story incident, 42, 362 - -Toad used as means to bewitch heroine, 222 - -Tools, assistance by, to youngest son, 390 - ----- work by themselves, Frisian, 316 - -Toothache of king ceasing only with granting hero's wishes, 197 - -Tower, hero immured in, 240 - -Town draped in black cloth, 374 - -Trance, heroine falls into, through treachery, 172, 174 - -Transformation of hero and heroine to avoid pursuit, 321 - -Transylvania, wedding customs, 369 - -----, races occupying, ix. - -Travelling, speed of, in folk-tales, xxiv.-xxv., 26, 350 - ----- with magic wings, 142 - -Treasure, buried, ghosts as guards of, 231, 232, 405 - -----, buried, legends, xxix., xxx. - -Treasures, offered by witch as reward refused by hero, 255 - -Tree, good luck coming from being under, 387 - -----, grown from remains of murdered princes, 135 - -----, heroine and her children take refuge in, 179 - -----, heroine placed amongst branches of, 213 - -----, magic growth of, 146 - -----, sap of, used for cure of illness, 138 - -----, witch seated in, 57, 115 - -Tree-comber, character in story, 244 - -Trees, magic, on borders of Operencian Sea, 256 - -----, kissing each other means of hero crossing water, 258 - -----, notched by hero to guide his path, 258 - -Triangle traced by witch, 256 - -Tribal blood feud incident, _Arabian Nights_, 360 - -Trolls, assume shape of magpies, in Sweden, 364 - -Truth and falsehood, travels of, story title, 36-39 - -Trynetyrk, giant beings, Norwegian, 340 - -Tumuli, called giants graves, x. - -Turkish sultan in folk-tales, xx. - -Twelve brothers marry twelve sisters, 159, 263, 267 - -Twins, golden-haired, born to heroine, 184 - -Twilight, myth of, in folk-tales, 327 - - -Uliva (St.) legend of, quoted, 339 - -Underground people, in folk-tales, 408 - -Useless article found on road, source of wealth to finder, 354 - - -Valuable, three things, story title, 155-157 - -Vargaluska (dancing), concealed name of dwarf, 48 - -Vasfogu, Baba, story character, 5 - -Vikings, probable legend of, quoted, 352 - -Vine-growing as task for hero, 18 - -Vomiting of persons eaten, incident in folk-tales, 399 - - -Walachian folk-tales, quoted, 338, 395, 396 - -Watching, youngest son successful in, 390 - -Water, foal washed in to gain strength, 256 - ----- immersion, cure of maiming by, story incident, 53 - ----- possessing power of transforming human being into animal, 220 - -----, reflection of heroine's face in, 135 - -----, want of, causes death of princesses who were cut from oranges, 133 - -----, youth-giving, from fairies' well, 289, 293, 295 - ----- of life, allegory of, 93, 250-262 - -Water-spring, blocking up by devils, story incident, 37 - -----, magic origin of, 72 - -Wayland Smith, legend quoted, 351 - -Weaving in folk-tales, 330 - -----, soldiers produced by, 68 - -Wedding customs, Magyar, 365 - ----- festivities, 104-105 - ----- party, greeting to, 80 - -Weeding operations in story incident, 81 - -Well, frog residing in, 224 - -----, holy, flowers from, used at marriages, Palocz, 412 - -----, mud from, cures blindness, 152 - ----- worship, xxxii. - -Wells, marvellous powers of water, 373 - -Wend, folk-tales quoted, 359 - -Were-wolves, 344 - -Whale, heroine devoured by, 222 - -Wheat, dirty, heroine set task of cleaning, 208, 209, 211 - -Whip, magical, 16, 27, 107 - -Whistle, magic, 392 - ----- given by grateful animals for summons, 153 - ----- commanding obedience from insects, fish, or mice, 252, 253 - -Whistle and whip, a method of summons, 372 - -Widower and his daughter, story of, 207-216 - -Wife, lord's power over vassals, alluded to, 18 - -Wife of hero desired by king, 314 - -Wife-beating of, story incident, 23 - -Wife's kindred, interposition of, 24 - -Wine taken by hero to renew strength, 201, 248 - ----- drank by foal for food, 265 - -Wings, magic, for travelling, 142 - -Winifred, St., well of, in Flintshire, 373 - -Wishes, the, story of, 217-219 - -Witches, assist youngest son, hero, 61 - ----- burning of, 181 - ----- changes into pigeon, story incident, 160 - -----, children of, born with teeth, 378 - ----- drugs hero, 253, 254, 255 - -----, fear of, for animals, 57, 115 - -----, giants supposed to be, xxiv. - ----- guardian of castle in Hades, 68 - ----- in Magyar folk-lore, xli.-xliv. - ----- kills her own children by ruse, 159, 268 - -----, magical powers of, xlii. - -----, method of seeing, xli. - -----, mother of giants, 57 - ----- with iron nose, 241, 243 - ----- year consists of three days, 252 - -Witch's daughter personates heroine, 221 - ----- daughters in shape of horses, 252 - ----- maid helps hero, 204 - -Witchcraft defeated by the drawing of blood, 343 - -Wives, dragon's, destroyed by hero, 203 - -Wodin, dragon sacred to, 325 - -Wolf, assistance of, to hero, 153 - -Wolf, in Finnish grateful animal story, 305 - -Wolves, country inhabited by, 188, 195 - -Woman's curiosity, story title, 301-302, 313 - -Woman, old, made young by hero, 260 - -Women, aged, direct hero in quest, 258 - -Wood-grouse in Karelian grateful animal story, 305 - -Woodpecker in folk-tales, 362, 372 - -----, influence of, on hero's actions, 99, 108-109 - -Worcestershire folk-lore, 378 - -Words, story turning on similarity of, 84 - -World, underground, visited by hero, 247 - -World's beautiful woman, story of, 163 - -Wrestling of hero with strong men, 245 - - -Yarborough Camp, Lincolnshire, legend concerning, 382 - -Year of service given by hero, 157 - ----- of three days duration, 98 - -Yellow Hammer, King, story character, 2 - -Yorkshire finger-lore, 330, 331 - ----- folk-lore, 349, 398 - ----- superstitions, 402 - -Youngest, success of, 389-391 - -Youngest brother, story hero, 40, 55, 60, 92, 97, 116, 153, 157, 203 - ----- daughter, story heroine, 27, 43, 49, 159 - ----- prince successful in quest, 288 - ----- prince and youngest princess, story title, 137-141 - ----- sister heroine of tale, 207, 224-226 - ----- son successful, 150, 196, 250 - -Youth, allegory of, 93 - ----- giving plants, 109 - ----- giving water, 288, 372-373 - -----, power to restore, possessed by pelican, 251, 258, 262 - - -WESTMINSTER: PRINTED BY NICHOLS AND SONS, 25, PARLIAMENT STREET. - - - - - * * * * * * - - - - -Transcriber's note: - -All obvious printer errors were corrected. - -Some spelling was corrected for consistency. - -Cyrillic text was romanised as Jugra and Ugra (p. 371) - - - - -***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE FOLK-TALES OF THE MAGYARS*** - - -******* This file should be named 42981.txt or 42981.zip ******* - - -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: -http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/4/2/9/8/42981 - - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions -will be renamed. - -Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no -one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation -(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without -permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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