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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/8653-h.zip b/8653-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..2157d17 --- /dev/null +++ b/8653-h.zip diff --git a/8653-h/8653-h.htm b/8653-h/8653-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..04081ad --- /dev/null +++ b/8653-h/8653-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,5801 @@ +<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"> +<html> + <head> + <meta content= + "HTML Tidy for Linux/x86 (vers 1st January 2003), see www.w3.org" + name="generator"> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content= + "text/html; charset=us-ascii"> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of East O' the Sun and West O' + the Moon, by Gudrun Thorne-Thomsen. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> + <!-- + * { font-family: Times;} + P { text-indent: 1em; + margin-top: .75em; + font-size: 14pt; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; } + P.drop { text-indent: 0; + margin-left: 0; } + P.drop:first-letter { font-size: 200%; + font-weight: bold; + float: left; + margin-right: 3px; + padding-left: 3px; + padding-right: 3px; + background: #444444; + color: white; + } + H1,H2,H3,H4,H5,H6 { text-align: center; } + HR { width: 33%; } + // --> + </style> + </head> + <body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of East O' the Sun and West O' the Moon, by +Gudrun Thorne-Thomsen + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most +other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions +whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of +the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at +www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have +to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. + +Title: East O' the Sun and West O' the Moon + +Author: Gudrun Thorne-Thomsen + +Illustrator: Frederick Richardson + +Posting Date: February 5, 2015 [EBook #8653] +Release Date: August, 2005 +First Posted: July 30, 2003 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK EAST O' THE SUN AND WEST O' THE MOON *** + + + + +Produced by David Garcia, Juliet Sutherland, Charles Franks +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team. + + + + + + +</pre> + + + <p> + + </p> + <p> + + </p> + <p> + + </p> + <p> + + </p> + <p> + + </p> + <p> + + </p> + <p> + + </p> + <p> + + </p> + <h1> + East o' the Sun and West o' the Moon + </h1> + <center> + <b>with<br> + Other Norwegian Folk Tales</b> + <p> + + </p><br> + <b>Retold by<br> + Gudrun Thorne-Thomsen<br> + <br> + Illustrated by<br> + Frederick Richardson</b> + </center> + <p> + + </p> + <p> + + </p> + <p> + + </p> + <p> + + </p> + <p> + + </p> + <p> + + </p> + <h2> + Foreword + </h2> + <p> + In recent years there has been a wholesome revival of the + ancient art of story-telling. The most thoughtful, + progressive educators have come to recognize the culture + value of folk and fairy stories, fables and legends, not only + as means of fostering and directing the power of the child's + imagination, but as a basis for literary interpretation and + appreciation throughout life. + </p> + <p> + This condition has given rise to a demand for the best + material in each of these several lines. Some editors have + gleaned from one field; some from several. It is the aim of + this little book to bring together only the very best from + the rich stores of Norwegian folk-lore. All these stories + have been told many times by the editor to varied audiences + of children and to those who are "older grown." Each has + proved its power to make the universal appeal. + </p> + <p> + In preparing the stories for publication, the aim has been to + preserve, as much as possible, in vocabulary and idiom, the + original folk-lore language, and to retain the conversational + style of the teller of tales, in order that the sympathetic + young reader may, in greater or less degree, be translated + into the atmosphere of the old-time story-hour. + </p> + <p style="text-align: right;"> + GUDRUN THORNE-THOMSEN. + </p> + <p> + + </p> + <p> + + </p> + <p> + + </p> + <p> + + </p> + <p> + + </p> + <p> + + </p> + <h2> + Contents + </h2> + <p> + <a href="#01">East o' the Sun and West o' the Moon</a> + </p> + <p> + <a href="#02">The Three Billy Goats Gruff</a> + </p> + <p> + <a href="#03">Taper Tom</a> + </p> + <p> + <a href="#04">Why the Bear is Stumpy-Tailed</a> + </p> + <p> + <a href="#05">Reynard and the Cock</a> + </p> + <p> + <a href="#06">Bruin and Reynard Partners</a> + </p> + <p> + <a href="#07">Boots and His Brothers</a> + </p> + <p> + <a href="#08">The Lad Who Went to the North Wind</a> + </p> + <p> + <a href="#09">The Giant Who Had No Heart in His Body</a> + </p> + <p> + <a href="#10">The Sheep and the Pig Who Set Up + Housekeeping</a> + </p> + <p> + <a href="#11">The Parson and the Clerk</a> + </p> + <p> + <a href="#12">Father Bruin</a> + </p> + <p> + <a href="#13">The Pancake</a> + </p> + <p> + <a href="#14">Why the Sea is Salt</a> + </p> + <p> + <a href="#15">The Squire's Bride</a> + </p> + <p> + <a href="#16">Peik</a> + </p> + <p> + <a href="#17">The Princess Who Could Not Be Silenced</a> + </p> + <p> + <a href="#18">The Twelve Wild Ducks</a> + </p> + <p> + <a href="#19">Gudbrand-on-the-Hillside</a> + </p> + <p> + <a href="#20">The Princess on the Glass Hill</a> + </p> + <p> + <a href="#21">The Husband Who Was to Mind the House</a> + </p> + <p> + <a href="#22">Little Freddy with His Fiddle</a> + </p> + <p> + + </p> + <p> + + </p> + <p> + + </p> + <p> + + </p> + <p> + + </p> + <p> + + </p> + <center> + <img src="images/ew_001.jpg" alt="Are you afraid?" height="752" + width="480"> + </center> + <p> + + </p> + <p> + + </p> + <p> + + </p> + <p> + + </p> + <p> + + </p> + <p> + + </p><a name="01"></a> + <h2> + East o' the Sun and West o' the Moon + </h2> + <p class="drop"> + Once on a time there was a poor woodcutter who had so many + children that he had not much of either food or clothing to + give them. Pretty children they all were, but the prettiest + was the youngest daughter, who was so lovely there was no end + to her loveliness. + </p> + <p> + It was on a Thursday evening late in the fall of the year. + The weather was wild and rough outside, and it was cruelly + dark. The rain fell and the wind blew till the walls of the + cottage shook. There they all sat round the fire busy with + this thing and that. Just then, all at once, something gave + three taps at the window pane. Then the father went out to + see what was the matter, and, when he got out of doors, what + should he see but a great White Bear. + </p> + <p> + "Good evening to you!" said the White Bear. + </p> + <p> + "The same to you," said the man. + </p> + <p> + "Will you give me your youngest daughter? If you will, I'll + make you as rich as you are now poor," said the Bear. + </p> + <p> + Well, the man would not be at all sorry to be so + rich;—but give him his prettiest lassie, no, that he + couldn't do, so he said "No" outright and closed the door + both tight and well. But the Bear called out, "I'll give you + time to think; next Thursday night I'll come for your + answer." + </p> + <p> + Now, the lassie had heard every word that the Bear had said, + and before the next Thursday evening came, she had washed and + mended her rags, made herself as neat as she could, and was + ready to start. I can't say her packing gave her much + trouble. + </p> + <p> + Next Thursday evening came the White Bear to fetch her, and + she got upon his back with her bundle, and off they went. So + when they had gone a bit of the way, the White Bear said, + "Are you afraid?" + </p> + <p> + "No, not at all," said the lassie. + </p> + <p> + "Well! mind and hold tight by my shaggy coat, and then + there's nothing to fear," added the Bear. + </p> + <p> + So she rode a long, long way, till they came to a great steep + hill. There on the face of it the White Bear gave a knock, + and a door opened, and they came into a castle, where there + were many rooms all lit up, gleaming with silver and gold, + and there too was a table ready laid, and it was all as grand + as grand could be. Then the White Bear gave her a silver + bell. When she wanted anything she had only to ring it, and + she would get what she wanted at once. + </p> + <p> + Well, when she had had supper and evening wore on, she became + sleepy because of her journey. She thought she would like to + go to bed, so she rang the bell. She had scarce taken hold of + it before she came into a chamber where there were two beds + as fair and white as any one would wish to sleep in. But when + she had put out the light and gone to bed some one came into + the room and lay down in the other bed. Now this happened + every night, but she never saw who it was, for he always came + after she had put out the light; and, before the day dawned, + he was up and off again. + </p> + <p> + So things went on for a while, the lassie having everything + she wanted. But you must know, that no human being did she + see from morning till night, only the White Bear could she + talk to, and she did not know what man or monster it might be + who came to sleep in her room by night. At last she began to + be silent and sorrowful and would neither eat nor drink. + </p> + <p> + One day the White Bear came to her and said: "Lassie, why are + you so sorrowful? This castle and all that is in it are + yours, the silver bell will give you anything that you wish. + I only beg one thing of you—ask no questions, trust me + and nothing shall harm you. So now be happy again." But still + the lassie had no peace of mind, for one thing she wished to + know: Who it was who came in the night and slept in her room? + All day long and all night long she wondered and longed to + know, and she fretted and pined away. + </p> + <p> + So one night, when she could not stand it any longer and she + heard that he slept, she got up, lit a bit of a candle, and + let the light shine on him. Then she saw that he was the + loveliest Prince one ever set eyes on, and she bent over and + kissed him. But, as she kissed him, she dropped three drops + of hot tallow on his shirt, and he woke up. + </p> + <p> + "What have you done?" he cried; "now you have made us both + unlucky, for had you held out only this one year, I had been + freed. For I am the White Bear by day and a man by night. It + is a wicked witch who has bewitched me; and now I must set + off from you to her. She lives in a castle which stands East + o' the Sun and West o' the Moon, and there are many trolls + and witches there and one of those is the wife I must now + have." + </p> + <p> + She wept, but there was no help for it; go he must. + </p> + <p> + Then she asked if she mightn't go with him? + </p> + <p> + No, she mightn't. + </p> + <p> + "Tell me the way then," she said, "and I'll search you out; + that, surely, I may get leave to do." + </p> + <p> + "Yes, you may do that," he said, "but there is no way to that + place. It lies East o' the Sun and West o' the Moon and + thither you can never find your way." And at that very moment + both Prince and castle were gone, and she lay on a little + green patch in the midst of the gloomy thick wood, and by her + side lay the same bundle of rags she had brought with her + from home. + </p> + <p> + Then she wept and wept till she was tired, and all the while + she thought of the lovely Prince and how she should find him. + </p> + <p> + So at last she set out on her way and walked many, many days + and whomever she met she asked: "Can you tell me the way to + the castle that lies East o' the Sun and West o' the Moon?" + But no one could tell her. + </p> + <p> + And on she went a weary time. Both hungry and tired was she + when she got to the East Wind's house one morning. There she + asked the East Wind if he could tell her the way to the + Prince who dwelt East o' the Sun and West o' the Moon. Yes, + the East Wind had often heard tell of it, the Prince, and the + castle, but he couldn't tell the way, for he had never blown + so far. + </p> + <p> + "But, if you will, I'll go with you to my brother the West + Wind. Maybe he knows, for he's much stronger. So, if you will + just get on my back, I'll carry you thither." + </p> + <p> + Yes, she got on his back, and I can tell you they went + briskly along. + </p> + <p> + So when they got there, they went into the West Wind's house, + and the East Wind said that the lassie he had brought was the + one who ought to marry the Prince who lived in the castle + East o' the Sun and West o' the Moon; and that she had set + out to seek him, and would be glad to know if the West Wind + knew how to get to the castle. + </p> + <p> + "Nay," said the West Wind, "so far I've never blown; but if + you will, I'll go with you to our brother the South Wind, for + he is much stronger than either of us, and he has flapped his + wings far and wide. Maybe he'll tell you. You can get on my + back and I'll carry you to him." + </p> + <p> + Yes, she got on his back, and so they travelled to the South + Wind, and were not long on the way, either. + </p> + <p> + When they got there, the West Wind asked him if he could tell + her the way to the castle that lay East o' the Sun and West + o' the Moon, for it was she who ought to marry the Prince who + lived there. + </p> + <p> + "You don't say so. That's she, is it?" said the South Wind. + </p> + <p> + "Well, I have blustered about in most places in my time, but + that far I have never blown; however, if you will, I'll take + you to my brother the North Wind; he is the oldest and + strongest of all of us, and if he doesn't know where it is, + you'll never find anyone in the world to tell you. You can + get on my back and I'll carry you thither." + </p> + <p> + Yes, she got on his back, and away he went from his house at + a fine rate. And this time, too, she was not long on the way. + When they got near the North Wind's house he was so wild and + cross that cold puffs came from him. + </p> + <p> + "Heigh, there, what do you want?" he bawled out to them ever + so far off, so that it struck them with an icy shiver. + </p> + <p> + "Well," said the South Wind, "you needn't be so put out, for + here I am your brother, the South Wind, and here is the + lassie who ought to marry the Prince who dwells in the castle + that lies East o' the Sun and West o' the Moon. She wants to + ask you, if you ever were there, and can tell her the way, + for she would be so glad to find him again." + </p> + <p> + "Yes, I know well enough where it is," said the North Wind. + "Once in my life I blew an aspen leaf thither, but I was so + tired I couldn't blow a puff for ever so many days after it. + But if you really wish to go thither, and aren't afraid to + come along with me, I'll take you on my back and see if I can + blow you there." + </p> + <p> + "Yes! and thank you," she said, for she must and would get + thither if it were possible in any way; and as for fear, + however madly he went, she wouldn't be at all afraid. + </p> + <p> + "Very well then," said the North Wind, "but you must sleep + here to-night, for we must have the whole day before us if + we're to get thither at all." + </p> + <p> + Early next morning the North Wind woke her, and puffed + himself up, and blew himself out, and made himself so stout + and big, it was gruesome to look at him. And so off she went, + high on the back of the North Wind up through the air, as if + they would never stop till they got to the world's end. + </p> + <p> + Down here below there was a terrible storm; it threw down + long tracts of woodland and many houses, and when it swept + over the great sea ships foundered by hundreds. + </p> + <p> + So they tore on and on,—no one can believe how far they + went,—and all the while they still went over the sea, + and the North Wind got more and more weary, and so out of + breath he could scarce bring out a puff, and his wings + drooped and drooped, till at last he sunk so low that the + crests of the waves lashed over her heels. + </p> + <p> + "Are you afraid?" said the North Wind. + </p> + <p> + She wasn't. + </p> + <p> + But they were not very far from land; and the North Wind had + still so much strength left in him that he managed to throw + her up on shore close by the castle which lay East o' the Sun + and West o' the Moon; but then he was so weak and worn out, + that he had to stay there and rest many days before he could + get home again. + </p> + <p> + And now the lassie began to look about her and to think of + how she might free the Prince, but nowhere did she see a sign + of life. + </p> + <p> + Then she sat herself down right under the castle windows, and + as soon as the sun went down, out they came, trolls and + witches, red-eyed, long-nosed, hunch-backed hags, tumbling + over each other, scolding, hurrying and scurrying hither and + thither. + </p> + <p> + At first they almost frightened the life out of her, but when + she had watched them awhile and they had not noticed her, she + took courage and walked up to one of them and said: "Pray + tell me what goes on here to-night that you are all so busy, + and could I perhaps get something to do for a night's lodging + and a bit of food?" + </p> + <p> + "Ha, ha, ha!" laughed the horrid witch, "and where do you + come from that you do not know that it is to-night that the + Prince chooses his bride. When the moon stands high over the + tree tops yonder we meet in the clearing by the old oak. + There the caldrons are ready with boiling lye, for don't you + know?—he's going to choose for his bride the one who + can wash three spots of tallow from his shirt, Ha, ha, ha!" + </p> + <p> + And the wicked witch hurried off again, laughing such a + horrible laugh that it made the lassie's blood run cold. + </p> + <p> + But now the trolls and witches came trooping out of the very + earth, it seemed, and all turned their steps toward the + clearing in the woods. + </p> + <p> + So the lassie went too, and found a place among the rest. Now + the moon stood high above the tree tops, and there was the + caldron in the middle and round about sat the trolls and + witches;—such gruesome company I'm sure you were never + in. Then came the Prince; he looked about from one to the + other, and he saw the lassie, and his face grew white, but he + said nothing. + </p> + <p> + "Now, let's begin," said a witch with a nose three ells long. + She was sure she was going to have the Prince, and she began + to wash away as hard as she could, but the more she rubbed + and scrubbed, the bigger the spots grew. + </p> + <p> + "Ah!" said an old hag, "you can't wash, let me try." + </p> + <p> + But she hadn't long taken the shirt in hand, before it was + far worse than ever, and with all her rubbing and scrubbing + and wringing, the spots grew bigger and blacker, and the + darker and uglier was the shirt. + </p> + <p> + Then all the other trolls began to wash, but the longer it + lasted, the blacker and uglier the shirt grew, till at last + it was as black all over as if it had been up the chimney. + </p> + <p> + "Ah!" said the Prince, "you're none of you worth a straw, you + can't wash. Why there sits a beggar lassie, I'll be bound she + knows how to wash better than the whole lot of you. Come + here, lassie," he shouted. + </p> + <p> + "Can you wash the shirt clean, lassie?" said he. + </p> + <p> + "I don't know," she said, "but I think I can." + </p> + <p> + And almost before she had taken it and dipped it in the + water, it was as white as snow, and whiter still. + </p> + <p> + "Yes; you are the lassie for me," said the Prince. + </p> + <p> + At that moment the sun rose and the whole pack of trolls + turned to stone. + </p> + <p> + There you may see them to this very day sitting around in a + circle, big ones and little ones, all hard, cold stone. + </p> + <p> + But the Prince took the lassie by the hand and they flitted + away as far as they could from the castle that lay East o' + the Sun and West o' the Moon. + </p> + <p> + + </p> + <p> + + </p> + <p> + + </p> + <p> + + </p> + <p> + + </p> + <p> + + </p><a name="02"></a> + <h2> + The Three Billy Goats Gruff + </h2> + <p class="drop"> + Once on a time there were three Billy Goats, who were to go + up to the hillside to make themselves fat, and the family + name of the goats was "Gruff." + </p> + <p> + On the way up was a bridge, over a river which they had to + cross, and under the bridge lived a great ugly Troll with + eyes as big as saucers, and a nose as long as a poker. + </p> + <p> + First of all came the youngest Billy Goat Gruff to cross the + bridge. "Trip, trap; trip, trap!" went the bridge. + </p> + <p> + "<i>Who's that tripping over my bridge?</i>" roared the + Troll. + </p> + <p> + "Oh, it is only I, the tiniest Billy Goat Gruff, and I'm + going up to the hillside to make myself fat," said the Billy + Goat, with such a small voice. + </p> + <p> + "Now, I'm coming to gobble you up," said the Troll. + </p> + <p> + "Oh, no! pray do not take me, I'm too little, that I am," + said the Billy Goat; "wait a bit till the second Billy Goat + Gruff comes, he's much bigger." + </p> + <p> + "Well! be off with you," said the Troll. + </p> + <p> + A little while after came the second Billy Goat Gruff across + the bridge. + </p> + <p> + "Trip, trap! trip, trap! trip, trap!" went the bridge. + </p> + <p> + "<i>Who is that tripping over my bridge</i>?" roared the + Troll. + </p> + <p> + "Oh, it's the second Billy Goat Gruff, and I'm going up to + the hillside to make myself fat," said the Billy Goat. Nor + had he such a small voice, either. + </p> + <p> + "Now, I'm coming to gobble you up!" said the Troll. + </p> + <p> + "Oh, no! don't take me, wait a little till the big Billy Goat + comes, he's much bigger." + </p> + <p> + "Very well! be off with you," said the Troll. + </p> + <p> + But just then up came the big Billy Goat Gruff. + </p> + <p> + "Trip, trap! trip, trap! trip, trap!" went the bridge, for + the Billy Goat was so heavy that the bridge creaked and + groaned under him. + </p> + <p> + "<i>Who's that tramping on my bridge?</i>" roared the Troll. + </p> + <p> + "It's I! the big Billy Goat Gruff," said the Billy Goat, and + he had a big hoarse voice. + </p> + <p> + "Now, I'm coming to gobble you up!" roared the troll. + </p> + <p> + <br> + "<i>Well come! I have two spears so stout,<br> + With them I'll thrust your eyeballs out;<br> + I have besides two great big stones,<br> + With them I'll crush you body and bones!</i>" + </p> + <p> + That was what the big Billy Goat said; so he flew at the + Troll, and thrust him with his horns, and crushed him to + bits, body and bones, and tossed him out into the river, and + after that he went up to the hillside. + </p> + <p> + There the Billy Goats got so fat that they were scarcely able + to walk home again, and if they haven't grown thinner, why + they're still fat; and so,— + </p> + <p> + <br> + "Snip, snap, stout.<br> + This tale's told out." + </p> + <p> + + </p> + <p> + + </p> + <p> + + </p> + <p> + + </p> + <p> + + </p> + <p> + + </p><a name="03"></a> + <h2> + Taper Tom + </h2> + <p class="drop"> + Once on a time there was a King who had a daughter, and she + was so lovely that her good looks were well known far and + near. But she was so sad and serious she could never be got + to laugh, and besides, she was so high and mighty that she + said "No" to all who came to woo her. She would have none of + them, were they ever so grand—lords or + princes,—it was all the same. + </p> + <p> + The King had long ago become tired of this, for he thought + she might just as well marry; she, too, like all other + people. There was no use in waiting; she was quite old + enough, nor would she be any richer, for she was to have half + the kingdom,—that came to her as her mother's heir. + </p> + <p> + So he had word sent throughout the kingdom, that anyone who + could get his daughter to laugh should have her for his wife + and half the kingdom besides. But, if there was anyone who + tried and could not, he was to have a sound thrashing. And + sure it was that there were many sore backs in that kingdom, + for lovers and wooers came from north and south, and east and + west, thinking it nothing at all to make a King's daughter + laugh. And gay fellows they were, some of them too, but for + all their tricks and capers there sat the Princess, just as + sad and serious as she had been before. + </p> + <p> + Now, not far from the palace lived a man who had three sons, + and they, too, had heard how the King had given it out that + the man who could make the Princess laugh was to have her to + wife and half the kingdom. + </p> + <p> + The eldest was for setting off first. So he strode off, and + when he came to the King's grange, he told the King he would + be glad to try to make the Princess laugh. + </p> + <p> + "All very well, my man," said the King, "but it's sure to be + of no use, for so many have been here and tried. My daughter + is so sorrowful it's no use trying, and it's not my wish that + anyone should come to grief." + </p> + <p> + But the lad thought he would like to try. It couldn't be such + a very hard thing for him to get the Princess to laugh, for + so many had laughed at him, both gentle and simple, when he + enlisted for a soldier and was drilled by Corporal Jack. + </p> + <p> + So he went off to the courtyard, under the Princess's window, + and began to go through his drill as Corporal Jack had taught + him. But it was no good, the Princess was just as sad and + serious and did not so much as smile at him once. So they + took him and thrashed him well, and sent him home again. + </p> + <p> + Well, he had hardly got home before his second brother wanted + to set off. He was a schoolmaster, and the funniest figure + one ever laid eyes upon; he was lopsided, for he had one leg + shorter than the other, and one moment he was as little as a + boy, and in another, when he stood on his long leg, he was as + tall and long as a Troll. Besides this he was a powerful + preacher. + </p> + <p> + So when he came to the king's palace, and said he wished to + make the Princess laugh, the King thought it might not be so + unlikely after all. "But mercy on you," he said, "if you + don't make her laugh. We are for laying it on harder and + harder for every one that fails." + </p> + <p> + Then the schoolmaster strode off to the courtyard, and put + himself before the Princess's window, and read and preached + like seven parsons, and sang and chanted like seven clerks, + as loud as all the parsons and clerks in the country round. + </p> + <p> + The King laughed loud at him, and the Princess almost smiled + a little, but then became as sad and serious as ever, and so + it fared no better with Paul, the schoolmaster, than with + Peter the soldier—for you must know one was called + Peter and the other Paul. So they took him and flogged him + well, and then they sent him home again. + </p> + <p> + Then the youngest, whose name was Taper Tom, was all for + setting out. But his brothers laughed and jeered at him, and + showed him their sore backs, and his father said it was no + use for him to go for he had no sense. Was it not true that + he neither knew anything nor could do anything? There he sat + in the hearth, like a cat, and grubbed in the ashes and split + tapers. That was why they called him "Taper Tom." But Taper + Tom would not give in, and so they got tired of his growling; + and at last he, too, got leave to go to the king's palace to + try his luck. + </p> + <p> + When he got there he did not say that he wished to try to + make the Princess laugh, but asked if he could get work + there. No, they had no place for him, but for all that Taper + Tom would not give up. In such a big palace they must want + someone to carry wood and water for the kitchen + maid,—that was what he said. And the king thought it + might very well be, for he, too, got tired of his teasing. In + the end Taper Tom stayed there to carry wood and water for + the kitchen maid. + </p> + <p> + So one day, when he was going to fetch water from the brook, + he set eyes upon a big fish which lay under an old fir stump, + where the water had eaten into the bank, and he put his + bucket softly under the fish and caught it. But as he was + gong home to the grange he met an old woman who led a golden + goose by a string. + </p> + <p> + "Good-day, godmother," said Taper Tom, "that's a pretty bird + you have, and what fine feathers! If one only had such + feathers one might leave off splitting fir tapers." + </p> + <p> + The goody was just as pleased with the fish Tom had in his + bucket and said, if he would give her the fish, he might have + the golden goose. And it was such a curious goose. When any + one touched it he stuck fast to it, if Tom only said, "If you + want to come along, hang on." Of course, Taper Tom was + willing enough to make the exchange. "A bird is as good as a + fish any day," he said to himself, "and, if it's such a bird + as you say, I can use it as a fish hook." That was what he + said to the goody, and he was much pleased with the goose. + </p> + <p> + Now, he had not gone far before he met another old woman. As + soon as she saw the lovely golden goose she spoke prettily, + and coaxed and begged Tom to give her leave to stroke his + lovely golden goose. + </p> + <p> + "With all my heart," said Taper Tom, and just as she stroked + the goose he said, "If you want to come along, hang on." + </p> + <p> + The goody pulled and tore, but she was forced to hang on + whether she would or not, and Taper Tom went on as though he + alone were with the golden goose. + </p> + <p> + When he had gone a bit farther, he met a man who had had a + quarrel with the old woman for a trick she had played him. + So, when he saw how hard she struggled and strove to get + free, and how fast she stuck, he thought he would just pay + her off the old grudge, and so he gave her a kick with his + foot. + </p> + <p> + "If you want to come along, hang on!" called out Tom, and + then the old man had to hop along on one leg, whether he + would or not. When he tore and tugged and tried to get + loose—it was still worse for him, for he all but fell + flat on his back every step he took. + </p> + <p> + In this way they went on a good bit till they had nearly + reached the King's palace. + </p> + <p> + There they met the King's smith, who was going to the smithy, + and had a great pair of tongs in his hand. Now you must know + this smith was a merry fellow, full of both tricks and + pranks, and when he saw this string come hobbling and limping + along, he laughed so that he was almost bent double. Then he + bawled out, "Surely this is a new flock of geese the Princess + is going to have—Ah, here is the gander that toddles in + front. Goosey! goosey! goosey!" he called, and with that he + threw his hands about as though he were scattering corn for + the geese. + </p> + <p> + But the flock never stopped—on it went and all that the + goody and the man did was to look daggers at the smith for + making fun of them. Then the smith went on: + </p> + <p> + "It would be fine fun to see if I could hold the whole flock, + so many as they are," for he was a stout strong fellow. So he + took hold with his big tongs by the old man's coat tail, and + the man all the while screeched and wriggled. But Taper Tom + only said: + </p> + <p> + "If you want to come along, hang on!" So the smith had to go + along too. He bent his back and stuck his heels into the + ground and tried to get loose, but it was all no good. He + stuck fast, as though he had been screwed tight with his own + vise, and whether he would or not, he had to dance along with + the rest. + </p> + <p> + So, when they came near to the King's palace, the dog ran out + and began to bark as though they were wolves and beggars. And + when the Princess, looking out of the window to see what was + the matter, set eyes on this strange pack, she laughed softly + to herself. But Taper Tom was not content with that: + </p> + <p> + "Bide a bit," he said, "she will soon have to make a noise." + And as he said that he turned off with his band to the back + of the palace. + </p> + <p> + When they passed by the kitchen the door stood open, and the + cook was just stirring the porridge. But when she saw Taper + Tom and his pack she came running out at the door, with her + broom in one hand and a ladle full of smoking porridge in the + other, and she laughed as though her sides would split. And + when she saw the smith there too, she bent double and went + off again in a loud peal of laughter. But when she had had + her laugh out, she too thought the golden goose so lovely she + must just stroke it. + </p> + <p> + "Taper Tom! Taper Tom!" she called out, and came running out + with the ladle of porridge in her fist, "Give me leave to pet + that pretty bird of yours'?" + </p> + <p> + "Better come and pet me," said the smith. But when the cook + heard that she got angry. + </p> + <p> + "What is that you say?" she cried and gave the smith a box on + his ears with the ladle. + </p> + <p> + "If you want to come along, hang on," said Taper Tom. So she + stuck fast too, and for all her kicks and plunges, and all + her scolding and screaming, and all her riving and striving, + she too had to limp along with them. + </p> + <center> + <img src="images/ew_002.jpg" height="749" width="480" alt= + "She opened her mouth wide and laughed"> + </center> + <p> + Soon the whole company came under the Princess's window. + There she stood waiting for them. And when she saw they had + taken the cook too, with her ladle and broom, she opened her + mouth wide, and laughed so loud that the King had to hold her + upright. + </p> + <p> + So Taper Tom got the Princess and half the kingdom, and they + say he kept her in high spirits with his tricks and pranks + till the end of her days. + </p> + <p> + + </p> + <p> + + </p> + <p> + + </p> + <p> + + </p> + <p> + + </p> + <p> + + </p><a name="04"></a> + <h2> + Why the Bear Is Stumpy-Tailed + </h2> + <p class="drop"> + One day the Bear met the Fox, who came slinking along with a + string of fish he had stolen. + </p> + <p> + "Where did you get those?" asked the Bear. + </p> + <p> + "Oh! my Lord Bruin, I've been out fishing and caught them," + said the Fox. + </p> + <p> + So the Bear had a mind to learn to fish too, and bade the Fox + tell him how he was to set about it. + </p> + <p> + "Oh! it is an easy craft for you," answered the Fox, "and + soon learned. You've only to go upon the ice, cut a hole, + stick your tail down into it, and hold it there as long as + you can. You're not to mind if your tail smarts a little; + that's when the fish bite. The longer you hold it there the + more fish you'll get; and then all at once out with it, with + a cross pull sideways, and with a strong pull too." + </p> + <p> + Yes, the Bear did as the Fox had said, and held his tail a + long, long time down in the hole, till it was frozen in fast. + Then he pulled it out with a cross pull, and it snapped short + off. That's why Bruin goes about with a stumpy tail to this + very day. + </p> + <p> + + </p> + <p> + + </p> + <p> + + </p> + <p> + + </p> + <p> + + </p> + <p> + + </p><a name="05"></a> + <h2> + Reynard and the Cock + </h2> + <p class="drop"> + Once on a time there was a cock who stood on the barnyard + fence and crowed and flapped his wings. Then the fox came by. + </p> + <p> + "Good-day," said Reynard. "I have heard you crowing so + nicely, but can you stand on one leg and crow, and wink your + eyes?" + </p> + <p> + "Oh, yes," said the cock, "I can do that very well." So he + stood on one leg and crowed, but he winked only with one eye, + and when he had done that he made himself big and flapped his + wings, as though he had done a great thing. + </p> + <p> + "Very pretty, to be sure," said Reynard. "Almost as pretty as + when the parson preaches in church, but can you stand on one + leg and wink both your eyes at once? I hardly think you can." + </p> + <p> + "Can't I though!" said the cock, and stood on one leg, and + winked both his eyes and crowed. But Reynard caught hold of + him, took him by the throat, and threw him on his back, so + that he was off to the wood before he had crowed his crow + out, as fast as Reynard could lay legs to the ground. + </p> + <p> + When they had come under an old spruce fir, Reynard threw the + cock on the ground, and set his paw on his breast, and was + going to take a bite: "You are a heathen, Reynard!" said the + cock. "Good Christians say grace before they eat." + </p> + <p> + But Reynard would be no heathen, no indeed. So he let go his + hold, and was about to fold his paws over his breast, and say + grace—but pop! up flew the cock into a tree. + </p> + <p> + "You shan't get off for all that," said Reynard to himself. + So he went away, and came again with a few chips which the + woodcutters had left. The cock peeped and peered to see what + they could be. + </p> + <p> + "What is that you have there?" he asked. + </p> + <p> + "These are letters I have just got," said Reynard, "won't you + help me to read them, for I don't know how to read writing." + </p> + <p> + "I'd be so happy, but I dare not read them now," said the + cock, "for here comes a hunter—I see him, I see him + with his pouch and gun." + </p> + <p> + When Reynard heard the cock chattering about a hunter, he + took to his heels as fast as he could. + </p> + <p> + + </p> + <p> + + </p> + <p> + + </p> + <p> + + </p> + <p> + + </p> + <p> + + </p><a name="06"></a> + <h2> + Bruin and Reynard Partners + </h2> + <p class="drop"> + Once on a time Bruin and Reynard owned a field in common. + They had a little clearing up in the wood, and the first year + they sowed rye. + </p> + <p> + "Now we must share the crop as is fair and right," said + Reynard. "If you like to have the root, I'll take the top." + </p> + <p> + Yes, Bruin was ready to do that; but when they had threshed + out the crop, Reynard got all the corn, but Bruin got nothing + but roots and rubbish. He did not like that at all; but + Reynard said that was how they had agreed to share it. + </p> + <p> + "This year I have the gain," said Reynard, "next year it will + be your turn. Then you shall have the top, and I shall have + to put up with the root." + </p> + <p> + But when spring came, and it was time to sow, Reynard asked + Bruin what he thought of turnips. + </p> + <p> + "Aye, aye!" said Bruin, "that's better food than rye," and so + Reynard thought also. But when harvest time came Reynard got + the roots, while Bruin got the turnip-tops. And then Bruin + was so angry with Reynard that he put an end at once to his + partnership with him. + </p> + <p> + + </p> + <p> + + </p> + <p> + + </p> + <p> + + </p> + <p> + + </p> + <p> + + </p><a name="07"></a> + <h2> + Boots and His Brothers + </h2> + <p class="drop"> + Once on a time there was a man who had three sons, Peter, + Paul and Espen. Espen was Boots, of course, because he was + the youngest. I can't say the man had anything except these + three sons, for he did not possess one penny to rub against + another; and so he told his sons over and over again they + must go out into the world to seek their fortune, for at home + there was nothing to be expected but to starve to death. + </p> + <p> + Now, a short way from the man's cottage was the King's + palace, and you must know, just against the King's windows a + great oak had sprung up, which was so stout and big that it + took away all the light from the king's palace. The King had + said he would give much gold to any man who could fell the + oak, but no one was man enough to do it, for as soon as one + chip of the oak's trunk flew off, two grew in its stead. The + King wished also to have a well dug which was to hold water + for the whole year. All his neighbors had wells, but he had + none, and he thought that a shame. + </p> + <p> + So the King said he would give to any one who could dig him + such a well as would hold water for the whole year round, + both money and goods, but no one could do it, for the King's + palace lay high, high up on a hill, and they could dig but a + few inches before they would come upon rock. + </p> + <p> + But as the King had set his heart on having these two things + done, he had it given out in all the churches of his kingdom + far and wide, that he who could fell the big oak in the + King's courtyard, and dig him a well that would hold water + the whole year round, should have the Princess and half the + kingdom. Well! you may easily know there was many a man who + came to try his luck; but all their hacking and hewing, and + all their digging and delving were useless. The oak got + bigger and stouter at every stroke, and the rock grew no + softer either. + </p> + <p> + One day the three brothers thought they, too, would set off + and try it. Their father had not a word to say against it; + for even if they did not get the Princess and half the + kingdom, it might happen they would get a place somewhere + with a good master and that was all he wanted. So when the + brothers asked his permission, he consented at once, and + Peter, Paul and Espen set forth. + </p> + <p> + Well, they had not gone far before they came to a fir wood + where at one side there rose a steep hill, and as they went + along they heard something hewing and hacking away up on the + hill among the trees. + </p> + <p> + "I wonder now what it is that is hewing away up yonder," said + Boots. + </p> + <p> + "You're always so clever with your wondering," laughed Peter + and Paul both at once. "What wonder is it, pray, that a wood + cutter should stand and hack up on a hillside?" + </p> + <p> + "Still, I'd like to see what it is, after all," said Boots, + and up he went. + </p> + <p> + "Oh, if you're such a child, 'twill do you good to go and + take a lesson," called out his brothers after him. + </p> + <p> + But Boots didn't care for what they said; he climbed the + steep hillside towards the spot whence the noise came, and + when he reached the place, what do you think he saw? Why, an + axe that stood there hacking and hewing, all of itself, at + the trunk of a fir tree. + </p> + <p> + "Good-day," said Boots. "So you stand here all alone and hew, + do you?" + </p> + <p> + "Yes, here I've stood and hewed and hacked for hundreds of + years, waiting for you," said the axe. + </p> + <p> + "Well, here I am at last," said Boots, as he took the axe, + pulled it off its haft, and stuffed both head and haft into + his wallet. + </p> + <p> + When he got down again to his brothers, they began to jeer + and laugh at him. + </p> + <p> + "And now, what strange thing was it you saw up yonder on the + hillside?" they asked. + </p> + <p> + "Oh, it was only an axe we heard," said Boots. + </p> + <p> + When they had gone on a bit farther, their road passed under + a steep spur of rock, where they heard something digging and + shovelling. + </p> + <center> + <img src="images/ew_003.jpg" height="749" width="480" alt= + "A spade that stood digging and delving"> + </center> + <p> + "I wonder now," said Boots, "what is digging and shovelling + up yonder at the top of the rock." + </p> + <p> + "Ah, you're always so clever with your wondering," laughed + Peter and Paul again, "as if you'd never heard a woodpecker + hacking and pecking at a hollow tree." + </p> + <p> + "Well, well," said Boots, "I just think it would be fun to + see what it really is." + </p> + <p> + And so off he set to climb the rock, while the others laughed + and made fun of him. But he did not care a bit for that; up + he climbed, and when he got near the top, what do you think + he saw? Why, a spade that stood there digging and delving. + </p> + <p> + "Good-day!" said Boots. "So you stand here all alone, and dig + and delve, do you?" + </p> + <p> + "Yes, that's what I do," said the spade, "and that's what + I've done these hundreds of years, waiting for you, Boots." + </p> + <p> + "Well, here I am," said Boots again, as he took the spade and + knocked it off the handle, and put it into his + wallet,—and then returned to his brothers. + </p> + <p> + "Well, what was it, so rare and strange," said Peter and + Paul, "that you saw up there at the top of the rock?" + </p> + <p> + "Oh," said Boots, "nothing more than a spade; that was what + we heard." + </p> + <p> + So they went on again a good bit until they came to a brook. + They were thirsty, all three, after their long walk, and so + they lay down beside the brook to have a drink. + </p> + <p> + "I wonder now," said Boots, "where all this water comes + from." + </p> + <p> + "I wonder if you've lost the little sense you had," said + Peter and Paul in one breath. "Where the brook comes from + indeed! Have you never heard how water rises from a spring in + the earth?" + </p> + <p> + "Yes! but still I've a great fancy to see where this brook + comes from," said Boots. + </p> + <p> + So along beside the brook he went, in spite of all that his + brothers cried after him. Nothing could stop him. On he went, + up and up, and the brook got smaller and smaller, and at + last, a little way farther on, what do you think he saw? Why, + a great walnut, and out of that the water trickled. + </p> + <p> + "Good-day!" said Boots again. "So you lie here, and trickle + and run down all alone?" + </p> + <p> + "Yes, I do," said the walnut, "and here have I trickled and + run these hundreds of years, waiting for you, Boots." + </p> + <p> + "Well, here I am," said Boots, as he took up a lump of moss, + and plugged up the hole, that the water might not run out. + Then he put the walnut into his wallet, and ran down to his + brothers. + </p> + <p> + "Well, now," said Peter and Paul, "have you found out where + the water comes from? A rare sight it must have been!" + </p> + <p> + "Oh, after all, it was only a hole it ran out of," said + Boots; and so the others laughed and made fun of him again, + but Boots didn't mind that a bit. + </p> + <p> + "After all, I had the fun of seeing it," said he. + </p> + <p> + So when they had gone a bit farther, they came to the King's + palace; but as every one in the kingdom had heard how he + might win the Princess and half the realm, if he could only + fell the big oak and dig the King's well, so many had come to + try their luck that the oak was now twice as stout and big as + it had been at first; for two chips grew for every one they + hewed out with their axes, as I dare say you remember I told + you. So the King had now laid down as a punishment, that if + any one tried and could not fell the oak, he should be put on + a barren island, much like a prison. + </p> + <p> + The two brothers did not let themselves be scared by that, + however, for they were quite sure they could fell the oak, + and Peter, as he was the eldest, was to try his hand first. + But it went with him as with all the rest who had hewn at the + oak. For every chip he had cut out, two grew in its place. So + the King's men seized him, bound him hand and foot, and put + him out on the island. + </p> + <p> + Now, Paul was to try his luck, but he fared just the same; + when he had hewn two or three strokes, they began to see the + oak grow, and so the King's men seized him too, bound him + hand and foot, and put him out on the island. + </p> + <p> + And now Boots was to try. + </p> + <p> + "You can save yourself the trouble, we'll bind you and send + you off after your brothers just as well first as last," + laughed the King's men. + </p> + <p> + "Well, I'd just like to try first," said Boots, and so he got + leave. Then he took his axe out of his wallet and fitted it + to its haft. + </p> + <p> + "Hew away!" said he to his axe; and away it hewed, making the + chips fly, so that it wasn't long before down came the oak. + </p> + <p> + When that was done Boots pulled out his spade and fitted it + to its handle. + </p> + <p> + "Dig away!" said he to the spade; and the spade began to dig + and delve till the earth and rock flew out in splinters, and + he had the well soon dug out, as you may believe. + </p> + <p> + And when he had got it as big and deep as he chose, Boots + took out his walnut and laid it in one corner of the well, + and pulled the plug of moss out. + </p> + <p> + "Trickle and run," said Boots; and so the water trickled and + ran, till it gushed out of the hole in a stream, and in a + short time the well was brimful. + </p> + <p> + Then Boots had felled the oak which shaded the King's palace, + and dug a well that held water all the year around, and so he + got the princess and half the kingdom, as the King had said. + And it was lucky for Peter and Paul that they were on the + barren island, else they had heard each day and hour how + every one said: "Well, after all, Boots did not wonder about + things for nothing." + </p> + <p> + + </p> + <p> + + </p> + <p> + + </p> + <p> + + </p> + <p> + + </p> + <p> + + </p><a name="08"></a> + <h2> + The Lad Who Went to the North Wind + </h2> + <p class="drop"> + Once on a time there was an old widow who had one son, and as + she was feeble and weak, she asked her son to go out to the + storehouse and fetch meal for cooking. But when he got + outside the storehouse, and was just going down the steps, + there came the North Wind, puffing and blowing, caught up the + meal, and away with it through the air. Then the lad went + back into the storehouse for more; but when he came out again + on the steps, the North Wind came again and carried off the + meal with a puff; and more than that, he did it the third + time. At this the lad got very angry; and as it seemed hard + that the North Wind should behave so, he thought he would go + in search of him and ask him to give up his meal. + </p> + <p> + So off he went, but the way was long, and he walked and + walked. At last he came to the North Wind's house. + </p> + <p> + "Good-day!" said the lad, "and thank you for coming to see + us." + </p> + <p> + "Good-day," answered the North Wind, and his voice was loud + and gruff, "and thanks for coming to see me. What do you + want?" + </p> + <p> + "Oh," answered the lad, "I only wished to ask you to be so + good as to let me have back the meal you took from me on the + storehouse steps, for we haven't much to live on; and if + you're to go on snapping up the morsel we have, there'll be + nothing for it but to starve." + </p> + <p> + "I haven't your meal," said the North Wind; "but since you + are in such need, I'll give you a table cloth which will get + you everything you want. You need only say, 'Cloth, spread + yourself, and serve up all kinds of good dishes!'" + </p> + <p> + With this the lad was well content. But, as the way was long + he could not get home in one day, so he turned into an inn on + the way; and when they were going to sit down to supper he + laid the cloth on the table which stood in the corner, and + said,— + </p> + <p> + "Cloth, spread yourself, and serve up all kinds of good + dishes." + </p> + <p> + He had scarcely said this before the cloth did as it was bid, + and all who stood by thought it a fine thing, but most of all + the landlord. So, when all were fast asleep, at dead of + night, he took the lad's cloth, and put another like it in + its stead. But this could not so much as serve up a bit of + dry bread. + </p> + <p> + When the lad woke he took the cloth and went off with it, and + that day he got home to his mother. + </p> + <p> + "Now," said he, "I've been to the North Wind's house, and a + good fellow he is, for he gave me this cloth and when I only + say to it, 'Cloth, spread yourself, and serve up all kinds of + good dishes,' I get every sort of food I please." + </p> + <p> + "All very true, I dare say," said the mother, "but seeing is + believing." + </p> + <p> + So the lad made haste, drew out a table, laid the cloth on + it, and said,— + </p> + <p> + "Cloth, spread yourself, and serve up all kinds of good + dishes." + </p> + <p> + But not even a bit of dry bread did the cloth serve up. + </p> + <p> + "Well!" said the lad, "there's no help for it but to go to + the North Wind again," and away he went. + </p> + <p> + So, late in the afternoon, he came to where the North Wind + lived. + </p> + <p> + "Good evening!" said the lad. + </p> + <p> + "Good evening!" said the North Wind. + </p> + <p> + "I want my rights for that meal of ours which you took," said + the lad, "for, as for that cloth I got, it isn't worth a + penny." + </p> + <p> + "I have no meal," said the North Wind; "but you may have the + ram yonder which will coin gold ducats when you say to + it,— + </p> + <p> + "Ram, ram! make money!" + </p> + <p> + The lad thought this a fine thing; but as it was too far to + get home that day, he turned in for the night to the same inn + where he had slept the first time. + </p> + <p> + Before he called for anything, he tried what the North Wind + had said of the ram, and found it all true. When the landlord + saw this, he thought it a fine ram, and when the lad had + fallen asleep, he took another which could not coin even a + penny, and exchanged the two. + </p> + <p> + Next morning off went the lad, and when he got home to his + mother, he said,— + </p> + <p> + "After all, the North Wind is a jolly fellow, for now he has + given me a ram, which will coin golden ducats if I only say, + 'Ram, ram! make money!'" + </p> + <p> + "All very true, I dare say," said his mother, "but I shan't + believe it until I see the ducats made." + </p> + <p> + "Ram, ram! make money!" said the lad; but not even a penny + did the ram coin. + </p> + <p> + So the lad went back to the North Wind and scolded him, and + said the ram was worth nothing, and he must have his rights + for the meal. + </p> + <p> + "Well!" said the North Wind, "I've nothing else to give you + but that old stick in the corner yonder; but it's a stick of + such a kind that if you say, 'Stick, stick! lay on! it lays + on till you say,—'Stick, stick! now stop!'" + </p> + <p> + So the lad thanked the North Wind and went his way, and as + the road was long, he turned in this night also to the + landlord; but as he could guess pretty well how things stood + as to the cloth and the ram, he lay down at once on the bench + and began to snore, as if he were asleep. Now the landlord + who thought surely the stick must be worth something, hunted + up one which was like it, and when he heard the lad snore he + was going to exchange the two; but, just as the landlord was + about to take it, the lad called out,— + </p> + <p> + "Stick, stick! lay on!" + </p> + <p> + So the stick began to beat the landlord, till he jumped over + chairs and tables and benches, and yelled and roared,— + </p> + <p> + "Oh my, oh my! bid the stick be still, else it will beat me + to death. You shall have back both your cloth and your ram." + </p> + <p> + When the lad thought the landlord had had enough, he said, + "Stick, stick! now stop!" + </p> + <p> + Then he took the cloth and put it into his pocket, and went + home with his stick in his hand, leading the ram by a cord + tied around its horns; and so he got his rights for the meal + he had lost. + </p> + <p> + + </p> + <p> + + </p> + <p> + + </p> + <p> + + </p> + <p> + + </p> + <p> + + </p><a name="09"></a> + <h2> + The Giant Who Had No Heart in His Body + </h2> + <p class="drop"> + Once on a time there was a King who had seven sons. Six of + them were stout, brave lads, but the youngest was the + cinderlad, you must know; and he went about by himself + neither saying nor doing much. Best of all he liked to sit by + the hearth and watch the glowing cinders, so they called him + Boots, and thought little of him. + </p> + <p> + Now, when the Princes were grown up, the six were to set off + to fetch brides for themselves. As for Boots, they would not + be seen with him, so he was to stay at home; but the others + were to bring back a bride for him, if any could be found + willing to marry such a one. The King gave the six the finest + clothes you ever set eyes upon, so fine that the light + gleamed from them a long way off; and each had his horse, + which cost many, many hundred dollars, and so they set off. + Now, when they had been to many palaces, and seen many + princesses, they came to a king who had six daughters. Such + lovely king's daughters they had never seen, and so they + asked them to be their brides, and when they had got them, + they set off home again. But they quite forgot that they were + to bring back a bride for Boots, their brother, who was + staying at home. + </p> + <p> + When they had gone a good bit on their way, they passed close + by a steep hillside, like a wall, where was a giant's house. + Out came the giant and set his eyes upon them, and turned + them all into stone, princes, princesses and all. Now, the + king waited and waited for his six sons, but so long as he + waited so long they stayed away; so he fell into great grief, + and said he would never know what it was to be happy again. + </p> + <p> + One day Boots said to the King,— + </p> + <p> + "I've been thinking to ask your leave to set out and find my + brothers." + </p> + <p> + "Nay, nay!" said his father, "that would be of no use, for + you are not clever enough. Better stay and dig in the ashes + all your life." + </p> + <p> + But Boots had set his heart upon it. Go he would; and he + begged and pleaded so long that the King was forced to let + him go. He gave Boots an old broken-down nag; but Boots did + not care a pin for that, he sprang up on his sorry old steed. + </p> + <p> + "Farewell, Father," he said, "I'll come back, never fear, and + likely enough I shall bring my six brothers back with me," + and with that he rode off. + </p> + <p> + When he had ridden a while he came to a raven, which lay in + the road and flapped its wings, and was not able to get out + of the way, it was so starved. + </p> + <p> + "Oh, dear friend," said the raven, "give me a little food, + and I'll help you again at your utmost need." + </p> + <p> + "I haven't much food," said the Prince, "and I don't see how + you'll ever be able to help me; but still I can spare you a + little. I see you need it." + </p> + <p> + So he gave the raven some of the food he had brought with + him. + </p> + <p> + Now, when he had gone a little farther, he came to a brook, + and in the brook lay a great salmon which had got upon a dry + place and dashed itself about, and could not get into the + water again. + </p> + <p> + "Oh, dear friend," said the salmon to the Prince; "help me + out into the water again, and I'll help you at your utmost + need." + </p> + <p> + "Well!" said the Prince, "the help you'll give me will not be + great, I daresay, but it's a pity you should be there and + choke;" and with that he shot the fish out into the stream + again. + </p> + <p> + After that he went on a long, long way, and there met him a + wolf, which was so famished that it lay and crawled along the + road. + </p> + <p> + "Dear friend, do let me have some food," said the wolf, "I'm + so hungry that the wind whistles through my ribs. I've had + nothing to eat these two years. When I have eaten, you can + ride upon my back, and I'll help you again in your utmost + need." + </p> + <p> + "Well, the help I shall get from you will not be great, I'll + be bound," said the Prince; "but you may take all I have, + since you are in such great need." + </p> + <center> + <img src="images/ew_004.jpg" height="747" width="480" alt= + "Never had the prince had such a ride in his life"> + </center> + <p> + So when the wolf had eaten the food. Boots took the bit and + put it between the wolf's jaws, and laid the saddle on his + back; and away they went like the wind. Never had the Prince + had such a ride before. + </p> + <p> + "When we have gone still farther," said Graylegs, "I'll show + you the Giant's house." + </p> + <p> + And after a while they came to it. + </p> + <p> + "See, here is the Giant's house," said the Wolf; "and see, + here are your six brothers whom the Giant has turned to + stone; and see, here are their six brides. Yonder is the + door, and in at that door you must go. When you get in you'll + find a princess, and she'll tell you what to do to make an + end of the Giant. Only mind you do as she bids you." + </p> + <p> + Well! Boots went in, but, truth to say, he was very much + afraid. The Giant was away, but in one of the rooms sat the + Princess, just as the wolf had said, and so lovely a princess + Boots had never set eyes upon. + </p> + <p> + "Oh, heaven help you! whence have you come?" said the + Princess, as she saw him; "it will surely be your death. No + one can make an end of the Giant who lives here. He is a most + cruel monster, and he has no heart in his body." + </p> + <p> + "Well! well!" said Boots; "but now that I am here, I may as + well try what I can do with him, and I will see if I can't + free my brothers, who have been turned to stone; and you, + too, I will try to save, that I will." + </p> + <p> + "Well, if you must, you must," said the Princess; "so let us + see if we can't hit upon a plan. Just creep under the bed + yonder, and mind you listen to what he and I talk about. But, + pray, do lie as still as a mouse." + </p> + <p> + So he crept under the bed, and he had scarce got well + underneath, before the Giant came. + </p> + <p> + "Ha!" roared the Giant, "what a smell of Christian blood + there is in the house." + </p> + <p> + "Yes, I know there is," said the Princess, "for there came a + crow flying with a man's bone, and let it fall down the + chimney. I made all the haste I could to get it out, but all + one can do the smell doesn't go so soon." + </p> + <p> + So the Giant said no more about it, and when night came they + went to bed. After they had lain a while the Princess said, + "There is one thing I'd be glad to ask you about, if I only + dared." + </p> + <p> + "What thing is that?" asked the Giant. + </p> + <p> + "Only this, where do you keep your heart, since you don't + carry it about you," said the Princess. + </p> + <p> + "Ah! that's a thing you've no business to ask about: but if + you must know, it lies under the door sill." said the Giant. + </p> + <p> + "Ho, ho!" said Boots to himself under the bed. "Then we'll + soon see if we can't find it." + </p> + <p> + Next morning the Giant got up very early, and strode off to + the wood; but he was hardly out of the house before Boots and + the Princess set to work to look under the door sill for this + heart; but the more they dug and the more they hunted the + more they couldn't find it. + </p> + <p> + "He has balked us this time," said the Princess, "but we'll + try him once more." + </p> + <p> + So she picked all the prettiest flowers she could find, and + strewed them over the door sill, which they had laid in its + right place again; and when the time came for the Giant to + come home, Boots crept under the bed. Just as he was well + under back came the Giant. + </p> + <p> + Snuff-snuff went the Giant's nose. "My eyes and limbs, what a + smell of Christian blood there is in here," said he. + </p> + <p> + "I know there is," said the Princess, "for there came a crow + flying with a man's bone in his bill, and let it fall down + the chimney. I made as much haste as I could to get it out, + but I dare say it's that you smell." + </p> + <p> + So the Giant held his peace and said no more about it. A + little while after, he asked who it was that had strewed + flowers about the door sill. + </p> + <p> + "Oh, I, of course," said the Princess. + </p> + <p> + "And, pray, what is the meaning of all this? said the Giant. + </p> + <p> + "Ah!" said the Princess, "I strewed them there when I knew + your heart lay under there." + </p> + <p> + "You don't say so," said the Giant; "but after all it doesn't + lie there at all." + </p> + <p> + So when they went to bed in the evening, the Princess asked + the Giant again where his heart was, for she said she would + so much like to know. + </p> + <p> + "Well," said the Giant, "if you must know, it lies away + yonder in the cupboard against the wall." + </p> + <p> + "So, so!" thought Boots and the Princess; "then we will soon + find it." + </p> + <p> + Next morning the Giant was away early, and strode off to the + wood. As soon as he was gone, Boots and the Princess were in + the cupboard hunting for the heart, but the more they looked + for it the less they found it. + </p> + <p> + "Well," said the Princess, "we'll just try him once more." + </p> + <p> + So she decked the cupboard with flowers and garlands, and + when the time came for the Giant to come home, Boots crept + under the bed again. + </p> + <p> + Then back came the Giant. + </p> + <p> + Snuff-snuff! "My eyes and limbs, what a smell of Christian + blood there is in here!" + </p> + <p> + "I know there is," said the Princess, "for a little while + since there came a crow flying with a man's bone in his bill, + and let it fall down the chimney. I made all the haste I + could to get it out of the house; but after all my pains I + dare say it's that you smell." + </p> + <p> + When the Giant heard that he said no more about it, but after + a while he saw how the cupboard was all decked about with + flowers and garlands; and he asked who it was that had done + that. Who could it be but the Princess? + </p> + <p> + "And, pray what's the meaning of all this foolishness?" asked + the Giant. + </p> + <p> + "Oh, I couldn't help doing it when I knew your heart lay + there," said the Princess. + </p> + <p> + "How can you be so silly as to believe any such thing?" said + the Giant. + </p> + <p> + "How can I help believing it, when you say it?" said the + Princess. + </p> + <p> + "You're a goose," said the Giant; "where my heart is, you + will never come." + </p> + <p> + "Yet for all that," said the Princess, "it would be such a + pleasure to know where it really lies." + </p> + <p> + Then the poor Giant could hold out no longer, but + said,— + </p> + <p> + "Far, far away in a lake lies an island; on that island + stands a church; in that church is a well; in that well swims + a duck; in that duck there is an egg, and in that egg there + lies my heart." + </p> + <p> + In the morning early, while it was still gray dawn, the Giant + strode off to the wood. + </p> + <p> + "Now I must set off too," said Boots; "if I only knew how to + find the way." He took a long farewell of the Princess, and + when he slipped out of the Giant's door, there stood the Wolf + waiting for him. Boots told him all that had happened, and + said now he wished to ride to the well inside the church, if + only he knew the way. The Wolf bade him jump on his back, and + away they went, over hill and dale, over hedge and field, + till the wind whistled after them. After they had travelled + many, many days, they came at last to the lake. Then the + Prince did not know how to get across, but the Wolf bade him + not to be afraid, but to hold fast. So he jumped into the + lake with the Prince on his back, and swam over to the + island. When they came to the church, the church keys hung + high, high up on the top of the tower, and the Prince knew + not how to get them down. + </p> + <p> + "Call upon the raven," said the Wolf. + </p> + <p> + So the Prince called upon the raven, and immediately the + raven came, and flew up and fetched the keys, and so the + Prince got into the church. When he came to the well, there + was the duck, which swam about forward and backward, just as + the Giant had said. So the Prince stood and coaxed it and + coaxed it, till finally it came to him, and he grasped it in + his hand; but just as he lifted it up from the water the duck + dropped the egg in the well, and then Boots was beside + himself to know how to get it out again. + </p> + <p> + "Now call upon the salmon," said the Wolf, and Boots called + upon the salmon, and the salmon came and fetched up the egg + from the bottom of the well. + </p> + <p> + Then the Wolf told him to squeeze the egg, and as soon as he + squeezed the egg, the Giant screamed and begged and prayed to + be spared, saying he would do all that the Prince wished if + he would only not squeeze his heart in two. + </p> + <p> + "Tell him to restore to life again your six brothers and + their brides, whom he has turned to stone," said the Wolf. + Yes, the Giant was ready to do that, and he turned the six + brothers into king's sons again, and their brides into king's + daughters. + </p> + <p> + Then Boots left the Giant's heart on the altar of the church. + That took all the evil power from the cruel Giant, and I have + never heard of him since. + </p> + <p> + And now, Boots rode back again on the Wolf to the Giant's + house, and there stood all his six brothers alive and merry + with their brides. Then Boots went into the hillside after + his bride, and they all set off home again to their father's + house. And you may fancy how glad the old King was when he + saw his seven sons come back, each with his bride;—"But + the loveliest bride is the bride of Boots, after all," said + the King, "and he shall sit highest at the table, with her by + his side." + </p> + <p> + So they had a great wedding feast, and the mirth was both + loud and long, and if they have not done feasting, why they + are at it still. + </p> + <p> + + </p> + <p> + + </p> + <p> + + </p> + <p> + + </p> + <p> + + </p> + <p> + + </p><a name="10"></a> + <h2> + The Sheep and the Pig Who Set Up Housekeeping + </h2> + <p class="drop"> + Once on a time there was a sheep who stood in the pen to be + fattened. + </p> + <p> + So he lived well and was stuffed and crammed with everything + that was good, till one day the dairymaid came to give him + still more food. Then she said, "Eat away, sheep, you won't + be here much longer, we are going to kill you to-morrow." + </p> + <p> + The sheep thought over this for a while, and then he ate till + he was ready to burst; and when he was crammed full, he + butted out the door of the pen, and took his way to the + neighboring farm. There he went to see a pig whom he had + known out on the common, and with whom he had always been + very friendly. + </p> + <p> + "Good-day," said the sheep, "do you know why it is you are so + well off, and why it is they fatten you and take such pains + with you?" + </p> + <p> + "No, I don't," said the pig. + </p> + <p> + "Well, I know; they are going to kill and eat you," said the + sheep. + </p> + <p> + "Are they?" said the pig, "and what is there to be done about + it?" + </p> + <p> + "If you will do as I do," said the sheep, "we'll go off to + the wood, build us a house, and set up for ourselves." + </p> + <p> + Yes, the pig was willing enough. "Good company is such a + comfort," he said, and so the two set off. + </p> + <p> + When they had gone a bit they met a goose. + </p> + <p> + "Good-day, good sirs, and whither away so fast to-day?" said + the goose. + </p> + <p> + "Good-day, good-day," said the sheep, "we are going to set up + for ourselves in the wood, for you know every man's house is + his castle." + </p> + <p> + "Well," said the goose, "I should so much like a home of my + own, too. May I go with you?" + </p> + <p> + "With gossip and gabble is built neither house nor stable," + said the pig, "let us know what you can do." + </p> + <p> + "I can pluck moss and stuff it into the seams between the + planks, and the house will be tight and warm." + </p> + <p> + Yes, they would give him leave, for, above all things, piggy + wished to be warm and comfortable. + </p> + <p> + So, when they had gone a bit farther—the goose had hard + work to walk so fast—they met a hare, who came frisking + out of the wood. + </p> + <p> + "Good-day, good sirs," she said, "how far are you trotting + to-day?" + </p> + <p> + "Good-day, good-day," said the sheep, "we're going to the + wood to build us a house and set up for ourselves, for, you + know, try all the world around, there's nothing like home." + </p> + <p> + "As for that," said the hare, "I have a house in every bush, + but yet, I have often said in winter, 'If I only live till + summer I'll build me a house,' and so I have half a mind to + go with you and build one, after all." + </p> + <p> + "Yes," said the pig, "if we ever get into trouble we might + use you to scare away the dogs, for I don't fancy you could + help us in house-building." + </p> + <p> + "Don't make fun of me. I have teeth to gnaw pegs and paws to + drive them into the wall, so I can very well set up to be + carpenter," said the hare. + </p> + <p> + So he too got leave to go with them and help to build their + house, and there was nothing more to be said about it. + </p> + <p> + When they had gone a bit farther they met a cock. + </p> + <p> + "Good-day, good sirs," said the cock, "whither are you going + to-day, gentlemen?" + </p> + <p> + "Good-day, good-day," said the sheep, "we are going off to + the wood to build a house and set up for ourselves, for you + know, ''Tis good to travel east and west, but after all a + home is best.'" + </p> + <p> + "Well," said the cock, "if I might have leave to join such a + gallant company, I also would like to go to the wood and + build a house." + </p> + <p> + "Ay, ay!" said the pig, "but how can you help us build a + house?" + </p> + <p> + "Oh," said the cock, "what would you do without a cock? I am + up early, and I wake every one." + </p> + <p> + "Very true," said the pig, "let him come with us. Sleep is + the biggest thief," he said, "he thinks nothing of stealing + half one's life." + </p> + <p> + So they all set off to the wood together, and built a house. + </p> + <p> + The pig hewed the timber, and the sheep drew it home; the + hare was carpenter, and gnawed pegs and bolts and hammered + them into the walls and roof; the goose plucked moss and + stuffed it into the seams; the cock crew, and looked out that + they did not oversleep themselves in the morning; and when + the house was ready, and the roof lined with birch bark and + thatched with turf, there they lived by themselves and were + merry and well. + </p> + <p> + But you must know that a bit farther on in the wood was a + wolf's den, and there lived two graylegs. When they saw that + a new house had been built near by, they wanted to become + acquainted with their neighbors. One of them made up an + errand and went into the new house and asked for a light for + his pipe. But as soon as he got inside the door the sheep + gave him such a butt that he fell head foremost into the + hearth. Then the pig began to bite him, and the goose to nip + and peck him, and the cock upon the roost to crow and + chatter, and as for the hare, he was so frightened that he + ran about aloft and on the floor and scratched and scrambled + in every corner of the house. + </p> + <p> + So after a time the wolf came out. + </p> + <p> + "Well," said the one who waited for him outside, "you must + have been well received since you stayed so long. But what + became of the light? You have neither pipe nor smoke." + </p> + <p> + "Yes, yes," said the other, "a pleasant company indeed. As + soon as I got inside the door, the shoemaker began to beat me + with his last, so that I fell head foremost into the open + fire, and there sat two smiths who blew the bellows, and made + the sparks fly, and struck and punched me with red-hot tongs + and pincers. As for the hunter, he went scrambling about + looking for his gun, and it was good luck he did not find it. + And all the while there was another who sat up under the roof + and slapped his arms and cried out, 'Drag him hither, drag + him hither!' That was what he screamed, and if he had only + got hold of me, I should never have come out alive." + </p> + <p> + The wolves never went calling on their neighbors any more. + </p> + <p> + + </p> + <p> + + </p> + <p> + + </p> + <p> + + </p> + <p> + + </p> + <p> + + </p><a name="11"></a> + <h2> + The Parson and the Clerk + </h2> + <p class="drop"> + There was once a parson who was such a bully that whenever he + met anyone driving on the king's highway, he called out, ever + so far off—"Out of the way! Out of the way! Here comes + the parson!" + </p> + <p> + One day when he was driving along and behaving so, he met the + king. "Out of the way! Out of the way!" he bawled a long way + off. But the king drove on and held his own; so it was the + parson who had to turn his horse aside that time, and when + the king came up beside him, he said, "To-morrow you shall + come to me at the palace, and if you can't answer three + questions which I shall ask you, you shall lose your office + for your pride's sake." + </p> + <p> + This was something quite different from what the parson was + wont to hear. He could bawl and bully, shout and scold. All + that he could do, but question and answer were not in his + line. So he set off to the clerk, who was said to be worth + more than the parson, and told him he had no mind to go to + the king. "For one fool can ask more than ten wise men can + answer;" and the end was, he got the clerk to go in his + place. + </p> + <p> + Yes, the clerk set off and came to the palace in the parson's + clothes. There the king met him out on the porch with crown + and sceptre, and he was so grand he fairly glittered and + gleamed. "Well, are you there?" said the king. + </p> + <p> + "Tell me first," said the king, "how far the east is from the + west?" + </p> + <p> + "Just a day's journey," said the clerk. + </p> + <p> + "How is that?" asked the king. + </p> + <p> + "Don't you know," said the clerk, "that the sun rises in the + east and sets in the west, and he does it just nicely in a + day?" + </p> + <p> + "Very well!" said the king, "but tell me now what you think I + am worth, as you see me stand here?" + </p> + <p> + "Well," said the clerk, "our Lord was valued at thirty pieces + of silver, so I don't think I can set your price higher than + twenty-nine." + </p> + <p> + "All very fine!" said the king, "but, as you are so wise, + perhaps you can tell me what I am thinking about now?" + </p> + <p> + "Oh!" said the clerk, "you are thinking it's the parson who + stands before you, but there's where you are mistaken, for I + am the clerk." + </p> + <p> + "Be off home with you," said the king, "and be you parson, + and let him be clerk." And so it was. + </p> + <p> + + </p> + <p> + + </p> + <p> + + </p> + <p> + + </p> + <p> + + </p> + <p> + + </p><a name="12"></a> + <h2> + Father Bruin + </h2> + <p class="drop"> + Once on a time there was a man who lived far, far away in the + wood. He had many, many goats and sheep, but never a one + could he keep because of Greylegs, the wolf. + </p> + <p> + At last he said, "I'll soon trap Greyboots," and so he set to + work to dig a pitfall. When he had dug it deep enough, he put + a pole down in the midst of the pit, and on the top of the + pole he set a board, and on the board he put a little dog. + Over the pit itself he spread boughs and branches and leaves, + and other rubbish, and a-top of all he strewed snow, so that + Greylegs might not see that there was a pit underneath. + </p> + <p> + So when night came on, the little dog grew weary of sitting + there: "Bow-wow, bow-wow," he said, and bayed at the moon. + Just then up came a fox, prowling and sneaking, and thought + here was a fine time for marketing, and with that gave a + jump,—head over heels down into the pitfall. + </p> + <p> + And when it got a little farther on in the night, the little + dog grew so weary and so hungry, and it fell to yelping and + howling: "Bow-wow, bow-wow," he cried out. Just at that very + moment up came Greylegs, trotting and trotting. He, too, + thought he should get a fat steak, and he, too, made a + spring—head over heels down into the pitfall. + </p> + <p> + When it was getting on towards grey dawn in the morning, down + fell the snow, with a north wind, and it grew so cold that + the little dog stood and shivered and shook, he was so weary + and hungry, "Bow-wow, bow-wow, bow-wow," he called out, and + barked and yelped and howled. Then up came a bear, tramping + and tramping along, and thought to himself how he could get a + morsel for breakfast at the very top of the morning, and so + he thought and thought among the boughs and branches, till + he, too, went bump—head over heels down into the + pitfall. + </p> + <p> + So when it got a little farther on in the morning, an old + beggar wife came walking by, who toddled from farm to farm + with a bag on her back. When she set eyes on the little dog + that stood there and howled, she could not help going near to + look and see if any wild beasts had fallen into the pit + during the night. So she crawled up on her knees and peeped + down into it. + </p> + <p> + "Art thou come into the pit at last, Reynard?" she said to + the fox, for he was the first she saw; "a very good place, + too, for such a hen-roost robber as thou; and thou, too, + Grey-paw," she said to the wolf; "many a goat and sheep hast + thou torn and rent, and now thou shalt be plagued and + punished to death. Bless my heart! Thou, too, Bruin! Art + thou, too, sitting in this room, thou horse killer? Thee, + too, will we strip, and thee shall we flay, and thy skull + shall be nailed up on the wall." All this the old lass + screeched out as she bent over towards the bear. But just + then her bag fell over her ears and dragged her down, and + slap! down went the old woman—head over heels into the + pitfall. + </p> + <p> + So there they all four sat and glared at one another, each in + a corner—Reynard in one, Greylegs in another, Bruin in + a third, and the old woman in a fourth. + </p> + <p> + But as soon as it was broad daylight, Reynard began to peep + and peer, and to twist and turn about, for he thought he + might as well try to get out. + </p> + <p> + But the old lass cried out, "Canst thou not sit still, thou + whirligig thief, and not go twisting and turning? Only look + at Father Bruin himself in the corner, how he sits as grave + as a judge," for now she thought she might as well make + friends with the bear. + </p> + <p> + But just then up came the man who owned the pitfall. + </p> + <p> + First he drew up the old woman, and after that he slew all + the beasts, and neither spared Father Bruin himself in the + corner, nor Grey-legs, nor Reynard the whirligig thief. That + night, at least, he thought he had made a good haul. + </p> + <p> + + </p> + <p> + + </p> + <p> + + </p> + <p> + + </p> + <p> + + </p> + <p> + + </p><a name="13"></a> + <h2> + The Pancake + </h2> + <p class="drop"> + Once on a time there was a woman who had seven hungry + children, and she was frying a pancake for them. It was a + sweet milk pancake, and there it lay in the pan, bubbling and + frizzling so thick and good, it was a delight to look at it. + And the children stood round about, and the old father sat by + and looked on. + </p> + <p> + "Oh, give me a bit of pancake, mother, dear, I am so hungry," + said one child. + </p> + <p> + "Oh, darling mother," said the second. + </p> + <p> + "Oh, darling, good mother," said the third. + </p> + <p> + "Oh, darling, good, sweet mother," said the fourth. + </p> + <p> + "Oh, darling, pretty, good, sweet mother," said the fifth. + </p> + <p> + "Oh, darling, pretty, good, sweet, clever mother," said the + sixth. + </p> + <p> + "Oh, darling, pretty, good, sweet, clever, kindest little + mother," said the seventh. + </p> + <p> + So they begged for the pancake all around, the one more + prettily than the other, for they were so hungry and so good. + </p> + <p> + "Yes, yes, children, only bide a bit till it turns + itself"—she ought to have said, 'till I can get it + turned,'—"and then you shall have some lovely sweet + milk pancake. Only look how fat and happy it lies there." + </p> + <p> + When the pancake heard all this it became afraid, and in a + trice it turned itself and tried to jump out of the pan, but + it fell back into it again, the other side up. When it had + been fried a little on the other side too, till it got firm + and stiff, it jumped out of the pan to the floor and rolled + off like a wheel through the door and down the hill. + </p> + <p> + "Holloa! Stop, pancake!" and away ran the mother after it, + with the frying pan in one hand and the ladle in the other, + as fast as she could, and all the children behind her, while + the old father on crutches limped after them last of all. + </p> + <p> + "Hi! Won't you stop? Catch it! Stop, pancake!" they all + screamed out, one after another, and tried to catch it on the + run and hold it. But the pancake rolled on and on, and in a + twinkling of an eye it was so far ahead that they couldn't + see it. + </p> + <p> + So when it had rolled awhile it met a man. + </p> + <p> + "Good-day, pancake," said the man. + </p> + <p> + "Good-day, Manny Panny!" said the pancake. + </p> + <p> + "Dear pancake," said the man, "don't roll so fast; stop a + little and let me eat you." + </p> + <p> + "No, no; I have run away from the mother, and the father, and + seven hungry children. I'll run away from you, Manny Panny," + said the pancake, and it rolled and rolled till it met a hen. + </p> + <p> + "Good-day, pancake," said the hen. + </p> + <p> + "The same to you, Henny Penny," said the pancake. + </p> + <p> + "Pancake, dear, don't roll so fast. Bide a bit and let me eat + you up," said the hen. + </p> + <p> + "No, no; I have run away from the mother, and the father, and + seven hungry children, and Manny Panny. I'll run away from + you, too, Henny Penny," said the pancake, and it rolled on + like a wheel down the road. + </p> + <p> + Just then it met a cock. + </p> + <p> + "Good-day, pancake," said the cock. + </p> + <p> + "The same to you, Cocky Locky," said the pancake. + </p> + <p> + "Pancake, dear, don't roll so fast, but bide a bit and let me + eat you up." + </p> + <p> + "No, no; I have run away from the mother, and the father, + seven hungry children, Manny Panny, and Henny Penny. I'll run + away from you too, Cocky Locky," said the pancake, and it + rolled and rolled as fast as it could. Bye and bye it met a + duck. + </p> + <p> + "Good-day, pancake," said the duck. + </p> + <p> + "The same to you, Ducky Lucky." + </p> + <p> + "Pancake, dear, don't roll away so fast; bide a bit and let + me eat you up." + </p> + <p> + "No, no; I have run away from the mother, and the father, and + seven hungry children, Manny Panny, Henny Penny, and Cocky + Locky. I'll run away from you, too, Ducky Lucky," said the + pancake, and with that it took to rolling and rolling faster + than ever; and when it had rolled a long, long while, it met + a goose. + </p> + <p> + "Good-day, pancake," said the goose. + </p> + <p> + "The same to you, Goosey Poosey." + </p> + <p> + "Pancake, dear, don't roll so fast; bide a bit and let me eat + you up." + </p> + <p> + "No, no; I have run away from the mother, the father, seven + hungry children, Manny Panny, Henny Penny, Cocky Locky, and + Ducky Lucky. I'll run away from you, too, Goosey Poosey," + said the pancake, and off it rolled. + </p> + <p> + So when it had rolled a long way off, it met a gander. + </p> + <p> + "Good-day, pancake," said the gander. + </p> + <p> + "The same to you, Gander Pander," said the pancake. + </p> + <p> + "Pancake, dear, don't roll so fast; bide a bit and let me + have a bite." + </p> + <p> + "No, no; I've run away from the mother, the father, seven + hungry children, Manny Panny, Henny Penny, Cocky Locky, Ducky + Lucky, and Goosey Poosey. I'll run away from you, too, Gander + Pander," said the pancake, and it rolled and rolled as fast + as ever. + </p> + <p> + So when it had rolled a long, long time, it met a pig. + </p> + <p> + "Good-day, pancake," said the pig. + </p> + <p> + "The same to you, Piggy Wiggy," said the pancake, and without + a word more it began to roll and roll for dear life. + </p> + <p> + "Nay, nay," said the pig, "you needn't be in such a hurry; we + two can go side by side through the wood; they say it is not + too safe in there." + </p> + <p> + The pancake thought there might be something in that, and so + they kept company. But when they had gone a while, they came + to a brook. As for Piggy, he was so fat he could swim across. + It was nothing for him, but the poor pancake could not get + over. + </p> + <p> + "Seat yourself on my snout," said the pig, "and I'll carry + you over." + </p> + <p> + So the pancake did that. + </p> + <p> + "Ouf, ouf," said the pig, and swallowed the pancake at one + gulp, and then, as the poor pancake could go no farther, + why—this story can go no farther either. + </p> + <p> + + </p> + <p> + + </p> + <p> + + </p> + <p> + + </p> + <p> + + </p> + <p> + + </p><a name="14"></a> + <h2> + Why the Sea is Salt + </h2> + <p class="drop"> + Once on a time, but it was a long, long time ago, there were + two brothers, one rich and one poor. + </p> + <p> + Now, one Christmas eve, the poor one had not so much as a + crumb in the house, either of meat or bread, so he went to + his brother to ask him for something with which to keep + Christmas. It was not the first time his brother had been + forced to help him, and, as he was always stingy, he was not + very glad to see him this time, but he said, "I'll give you a + whole piece of bacon, two loaves of bread, and candles into + the bargain, if you'll never bother me again—but mind + you don't set foot in my house from this day on." + </p> + <p> + The poor brother said he wouldn't, thanked his brother for + the help he had given him, and started on his way home. + </p> + <p> + He hadn't gone far before he met an old, old man with a white + beard, who looked so thin and worn and hungry that it was + pitiful to see him. + </p> + <p> + "In heaven's name give a poor man a morsel to eat," said the + old man. + </p> + <p> + "Now, indeed, I have been begging myself," said the poor + brother, "but I'm not so poor that I can't give you something + on the blessed Christmas eve." And with that he handed the + old man a candle, a loaf of bread, and he was just going to + cut off a slice of bacon, when the old man stopped + him—"That is enough and to spare," said he. "And now, + I'll tell you something. Not far from here is the entrance to + the home of the underground folks. They have a mill there + which can grind out anything they wish for except bacon; now + mind you go there. When you get inside they will all want to + buy your bacon, but don't sell it unless you get in return + the mill which stands behind the door. When you come out I'll + teach you how to handle the mill." + </p> + <p> + So the man with the bacon thanked the other for his good + advice and followed the directions which the old man had + given him, and soon he stood outside the door of the + hillfolk's home. + </p> + <p> + When he got in, everything went just as the old man had said. + All the hillfolk, great and small, came swarming up to him, + like ants around an ant-hill, and each tried to outbid the + other for the bacon. + </p> + <p> + "Well!" said the man, "by rights, my old dame and I ought to + have this bacon for our Christmas dinner; but, since you have + all set your hearts on it, I suppose I must give it up to + you. Now, if I sell it at all, I'll have for it that mill + behind the door yonder." + </p> + <p> + At first the hillfolk wouldn't hear of such a bargain and + higgled and haggled with the man, but he stuck to what he + said, and at last they gave up the mill for the bacon. + </p> + <p> + When the man got out of the cave and into the woods again, he + met the same old beggar and asked him how to handle the mill. + After he had learned how to use it, he thanked the old man + and went off home as fast as he could; but still the clock + had struck twelve on Christmas eve before he reached his own + door. + </p> + <p> + "Wherever in the world have you been?" said his old dame. + "Here have I sat hour after hour, waiting and watching, + without so much as two sticks to lay together under the + Christmas porridge." + </p> + <p> + "Oh!" said the man, "I could not get back before, for I had + to go a long way first for one thing and then for another; + but now you shall see what you shall see." + </p> + <p> + So he put the mill on the table, and bade it first of all + grind lights, then a tablecloth, then meat, then ale, and so + on till they had everything that was nice for Christmas fare. + He had only to speak the word and the mill ground out + whatever he wanted. The old dame stood by blessing her stars, + and kept on asking where he had got this wonderful mill, but + he wouldn't tell her. + </p> + <p> + "It's all the same where I got it. You see the mill is a good + one, and the mill stream never freezes. That's enough." + </p> + <p> + So he ground meat and drink and all good things to last out + the whole of Christmas holidays, and on the third day he + asked all his friends and kin to his house and gave them a + great feast. Now, when his rich brother saw all that was on + the table and all that was in the cupboards, he grew quite + wild with anger, for he could not bear that his brother + should have anything. + </p> + <p> + "'Twas only on Christmas eve," he said to the rest, "he was + so poorly off that he came and begged for a morsel of food, + and now he gives a feast as if he were count or a king." and + he turned to his brother and said, "But where in the world + did you get all this wealth?" + </p> + <p> + "From behind the door," answered the owner of the mill, for + he did not care to tell his brother much about it. But later + in the evening, when he had gotten a little too merry, he + could keep his secret no longer, and he brought out the mill + and said: + </p> + <p> + "There you see what has gotten me all this wealth," and so he + made the mill grind all kinds of things. + </p> + <p> + When his brother saw it, he set his heart on having the mill, + and, after some talk, it was agreed that the rich brother was + to get it at hay-harvest time, when he was to pay three + hundred dollars for it. Now, you may fancy the mill did not + grow rusty for want of work, for while he had it the poor + brother made it grind meat and drink that would last for + years. When hay-harvest came, the rich brother got it, but he + was in such a hurry to make it grind that he forgot to learn + how to handle it. + </p> + <p> + It was evening when the rich brother got the mill home, and + next morning he told his wife to go out into the hayfield and + toss hay while the mowers cut the grass, and he would stay at + home and get the dinner ready. So, when dinner time drew + near, he put the mill on the kitchen table and said: + </p> + <p> + "Grind herrings and broth, and grind them good and fast." + </p> + <p> + And the mill began to grind herrings and broth; first of all + the dishes full, then all the tubs full, and so on till the + kitchen floor was quite covered. The man twisted and twirled + at the mill to get it to stop, but for all his fiddling and + fumbling the mill went on grinding, and in a little while the + broth rose so high that the man was nearly drowning. So he + threw open the kitchen door and ran into the parlor, but it + was not long before the mill had ground the parlor full too, + and it was only at the risk of his life that the man could + get hold of the latch of the house door through the stream of + broth. When he got the door open, he ran out and set off down + the road, with the stream of herrings and broth at his heels, + roaring like a waterfall over the whole farm. + </p> + <p> + Now, his old dame, who was in the field tossing hay, thought + it a long time to dinner, and at last she said: + </p> + <p> + "Well! though the master doesn't call us home, we may as well + go. Maybe he finds it hard work to boil the broth, and will + be glad of my help." + </p> + <p> + The men were willing enough, so they sauntered homewards. But + just as they had got a little way up the hill, what should + they meet but herrings and broth, all running and dashing and + splashing together in a stream, and the master himself + running before them for his life, and as he passed them he + called out: "Eat, drink! eat, drink! but take care you're not + drowned in the broth." + </p> + <p> + Away he ran as fast as his legs would carry him to his + brother's house, and begged him in heaven's name to take back + the mill, and that at once, for, said he, "If it grinds only + one hour more, the whole parish will be swallowed up by + herrings and broth." + </p> + <p> + So the poor brother took back the mill, and it wasn't long + before it stopped grinding herrings and broth. + </p> + <center> + <img src="images/ew_005.jpg" height="744" width="480" alt= + "With the herrings and broth at his heels"> + </center> + <p> + And now he set up a farmhouse far finer than the one in which + his brother lived, and with the mill he ground so much gold + that he covered it with plates of gold. And, as the farm lay + by the seaside, the golden house gleamed and glistened far + away over the sea. All who sailed by put ashore to see the + rich man in the golden house, and to see the wonderful mill + the fame of which spread far and wide, till there was nobody + who hadn't heard of it. + </p> + <p> + So one day there came a skipper who wanted to see the mill, + and the first thing he asked was if it could grind salt. + </p> + <p> + "Grind salt!" said the owner, "I should just think it could. + It can grind anything." + </p> + <p> + When the skipper heard that, he said he must have the mill, + for if he only had it, he thought, he need not take his long + voyages across stormy seas for a lading of salt. He much + preferred sitting at home with a pipe and a glass. Well, the + man let him have it, but the skipper was in such a hurry to + get away with it that he had no time to ask how to handle the + mill. He got on board his ship as fast as he could and set + sail. When he had sailed a good way off, he brought the mill + on deck and said, "Grind salt, and grind both good and fast." + </p> + <p> + And the mill began to grind salt so that it poured out like + water, and when the skipper had got the ship full he wished + to stop the mill, but whichever way he turned it, and however + much he tried, it did no good; the mill kept on grinding, and + the heap of salt grew higher and higher, and at last down + sank the ship. + </p> + <p> + There lies the mill at the bottom of the sea, and grinds away + to this very day, and that is the reason why the sea is + salt—so some folks say. + </p> + <p> + + </p> + <p> + + </p> + <p> + + </p> + <p> + + </p> + <p> + + </p> + <p> + + </p><a name="15"></a> + <h2> + The Squire's Bride + </h2> + <p class="drop"> + There was once a very rich squire who owned a large farm, had + plenty of silver at the bottom of his chest, and money in the + bank besides; but there was something he had not, and that + was a wife. + </p> + <p> + One day a neighbor's daughter was working for him in the + hayfield. The squire liked her very much and, as she was a + poor man's daughter, he thought that if he only mentioned + marriage she would be more than glad to take him at once. So + he said to her, "I've been thinking I want to marry." + </p> + <p> + "Well, one may think of many things," said the lassie, as she + stood there and smiled slyly. She really thought the old + fellow ought to be thinking of something that behooved him + better than getting married at his time of life. + </p> + <p> + "Now, you see," he said, "I was thinking that you should be + my wife!" + </p> + <p> + "No, thank you," said she, "and much obliged for the honor." + </p> + <p> + The squire was not used to being gainsaid, and the more she + refused him the more he wanted her. But the lassie would not + listen to him at all. So the old man sent for her father and + told him that, if he could talk his daughter over and arrange + the whole matter for him, he would forgive him the money he + had lent him, and would give him the piece of land which lay + close to his meadow into the bargain. + </p> + <p> + "Yes, yes, be sure I'll bring the lass to her senses," said + the father. "She is only a child and does not know what is + best for her." + </p> + <p> + But all his coaxing, all his threats and all his talking, + went for naught. She would not have the old miser, if he sat + buried in gold up to his ears, she said. + </p> + <p> + The squire waited and waited, but at last he got angry and + told the father that he had to settle the matter at once if + he expected him to stand by his bargain, for now he would + wait no longer. + </p> + <p> + The man knew no other way out of it, but to let the squire + get everything ready for the wedding; then, when the parson + and the wedding guests had arrived, the squire would send for + the lassie as if she were wanted for some work on the farm. + When she got there they would marry her right away, in such a + hurry that she would have no time to think it over. + </p> + <p> + When the guests had arrived the squire called one of his farm + lads, told him to run down to his neighbor and ask him to + send up immediately what he had promised. + </p> + <p> + "But if you are not back with her in a twinkling," he said, + shaking his fist at him, "I'll——" + </p> + <p> + He did not finish, for the lad ran off as if he had been shot + at. + </p> + <p> + "My master has sent me to ask for that which you promised + him," said the lad, when he got to the neighbor, "but, pray, + lose no time, for master is terribly busy to-day." + </p> + <p> + "Yes, yes! Run down in the meadow and take her with + you—there she goes," answered the neighbor. + </p> + <p> + The lad ran off and when he came to the meadow he found the + daughter there raking the hay. + </p> + <p> + "I am to fetch what your father has promised my master," said + the lad. + </p> + <p> + "Ah, ha!" thought she, "is that what they are up to?" And + with a wicked twinkle of the eye, she said, "Oh, yes, it's + that little bay mare of ours, I suppose. You had better go + and take her. She stands tethered on the other side of the + pea field." + </p> + <p> + The boy jumped on the back of the bay mare and rode home at + full gallop. + </p> + <p> + "Have you got her with you?" asked the squire. + </p> + <p> + "She is down at the door," said the lad. + </p> + <p> + "Take her up to the room my mother had," said the squire. + </p> + <p> + "But, master, how can I?" said the lad. + </p> + <p> + "Do as I tell you," said the squire. "And if you can't manage + her alone, get the men to help you," for he thought the + lassie might be stubborn. + </p> + <p> + When the lad saw his master's face he knew it would be no use + to argue. So he went and got all the farm hands together to + help him. Some pulled at the head and the forelegs of the + mare and others pushed from behind, and at last they got her + upstairs and into the room. There lay all the wedding finery + ready. + </p> + <p> + "Well, that's done, master!" said the lad, while he wiped his + wet brow, "but it was the worst job I have ever had here on + the farm." + </p> + <p> + "Never mind, never mind, you shall not have done it for + nothing," said his master, and he pulled a bright silver coin + out of his pocket and gave it to the lad. "Now send the women + up to dress her." + </p> + <p> + "But, I say—master!—" + </p> + <p> + "None of your talk!" cried the squire. "Tell them to hold her + while they dress her, and mind not to forget either wreath or + crown." + </p> + <p> + The lad ran into the kitchen: + </p> + <p> + "Listen, here, lasses," he called out, "you are to go + upstairs and dress up the bay mare as a bride—I suppose + master wants to play a joke on his guests." + </p> + <p> + The women laughed and laughed, but ran upstairs and dressed + the bay mare in everything that was there. And then the lad + went and told his master that now she was all ready, with + wreath and crown and all. + </p> + <p> + "Very well, bring her down. I will receive her at the door + myself," said the squire. + </p> + <p> + There was a clatter and a thumping on the stairs, for that + bride, you know, had no silken slippers on. + </p> + <p> + When the door was opened and the squire's bride entered the + room, you can imagine there was laughing and tittering and + grinning enough. + </p> + <p> + And as for the squire, they say he never went courting again. + </p> + <p> + + </p> + <p> + + </p> + <p> + + </p> + <p> + + </p> + <p> + + </p> + <p> + + </p><a name="16"></a> + <h2> + Peik + </h2> + <p class="drop"> + Once on a time there was a man, and he had a wife. They had a + son and a daughter who were twins, and these were so alike + that no one could tell one from the other except by their + clothing. The boy they called Peik. He was of little use + while his father and mother lived, for he cared to do naught + else than to befool folk, and he was so full of tricks and + pranks that no one was left in peace. When the parents died, + matters grew still worse and worse. He would not turn his + hand to anything. All he would do was to squander what they + left behind them. + </p> + <p> + His sister toiled and moiled all she could, but it helped + little; so at last she told him how silly it was to do naught + for the house. + </p> + <p> + "What shall we have to live on when you have wasted + everything?" she said. + </p> + <p> + "Oh, I'll go out and befool somebody," said Peik. + </p> + <p> + "Yes, Peik, I'll be bound you'll do that soon enough," said + the sister. + </p> + <p> + "Well, I'll try," said Peik. + </p> + <p> + At last they had indeed nothing more. There was an end of + everything; and Peik started off, and walked and walked till + he came to the King's palace. + </p> + <p> + Now, I must tell you, this King and his queen and eldest + daughter were little better than trolls,—mean and + hateful and very foolish,—so there was no love lost + between them and the people. + </p> + <p> + When Peik came to the King's palace, there stood the King in + the porch, and as soon as he set eyes on the lad he said, + </p> + <p> + "Whither away, to-day, Peik?" + </p> + <p> + "Oh, I was going out to see if I could befool anybody," said + Peik. + </p> + <p> + "Can't you befool me now?" said the King. + </p> + <p> + "No, I'm sure I can't," said Peik, "for I've forgotten my + fooling rods." + </p> + <p> + "Can't you go home and fetch them?" said the King, "I should + be very glad to see if you are such a trickster as folks + say." + </p> + <p> + "I've no strength to walk," said Peik. + </p> + <p> + "I'll lend you a horse and saddle," said the King + </p> + <p> + "But I can't ride either," said Peik. + </p> + <p> + "We'll lift you up," said the King, "then you'll be able to + stick on." + </p> + <p> + Well, Peik stood and scratched his head as though he would + pull the hair off, and he let them lift him up into the + saddle. There he sat, swinging this side and that, so long as + the King could see him, and the King laughed till the tears + came into his eyes, for such a tailor on horseback he had + never seen. But when Peik was come well into the wood behind + the hill, so that he was out of the King's sight, he sat as + though he were tied to the horse, and off he rode as fast as + the horse could carry him. But when he got to the town he + sold both horse and saddle. + </p> + <p> + All the while the King walked up and down, and loitered, and + waited for Peik to come tottering back again with his fooling + rods. And every now and then he laughed when he called to + mind how wretched the lad looked as he sat swinging about on + the horse like a sack of corn, not knowing on which side to + fall off. This lasted for seven lengths and seven breaths, + but no Peik came, and so at last the King saw that he was + fooled and cheated out of his horse and saddle, even though + Peik had not had his fooling rods with him. Then there was + another story, for the King got wroth, and was all for + setting off to kill Peik. + </p> + <p> + But Peik had found out the day he was coming, and told his + sister she must put on the big boiling-pot with a little + water in it. Just as the King came in, Peik dragged the pot + off the fire and ran off with it to the chopping-block, and + so boiled the porridge on the block. + </p> + <p> + The King wondered at that, and wondered on and on, so much + that he quite forgot what brought him there. + </p> + <p> + "What do you want for that pot?" said he. + </p> + <p> + "I can't spare it," said Peik. + </p> + <p> + "Why not?" said the King; "I'll pay what you ask." + </p> + <p> + "No, no!" said Peik. "It saves me time and money, wood hire + and chopping hire, carting and carrying." + </p> + <p> + "Never mind," said the King, "I'll give you a hundred + dollars. It's true you've fooled me out of a horse and + saddle, and bridle besides, but all that shall go for nothing + if I can only get the pot." + </p> + <p> + "Well, if you must have it, you must," said Peik. + </p> + <p> + When the King got home he asked guests and made a feast, but + the meat was to be boiled in the new pot, and so he took it + up and set it in the middle of the floor. The guests thought + the King had lost his wits, and went about elbowing one + another, and laughing at him. But he walked round and round + the pot and cackled and chattered, saying all in a + breath— + </p> + <p> + "Well, well! bide a bit, bide a bit! 'Twill boil in a + minute." + </p> + <p> + But there was no boiling. So he saw that Peik had been out + with his fooling rods and had cheated him again, and now he + would set off at once and slay him. + </p> + <p> + When the King came, Peik stood out by the barn door. + "Wouldn't it boil?" he asked. + </p> + <p> + "No, it would not, and you shall smart for it," said the + King, about to unsheath his knife. + </p> + <p> + "I can well believe that," said Peik, "for you did not take + the block, too." + </p> + <p> + "I wish I thought," said the King, "you weren't telling me a + pack of lies." + </p> + <p> + "I tell you it's because of the block it stands on; it won't + boil without it," said Peik. + </p> + <p> + "Well, what do you want for it?" + </p> + <p> + It was well worth three hundred dollars; but for the King's + sake it should go for two. So the King got the block and + traveled home with it. He bade guests again, made a feast, + and set the pot on the chopping-block in the middle of the + room. The guests thought he was both daft and mad, and they + went about making game of him, while he cackled and chattered + around the pot, calling out, "Bide a bit! Now it boils, now + it boils in a trice." + </p> + <p> + But it wouldn't boil a bit more on the block than on the bare + floor. So he saw that Peik had been out with his fooling rods + this time, too. Then he fell a-tearing his hair, and said he + would set off at once and slay the lad. He wouldn't spare him + this time, whether or no. + </p> + <p> + But Peik was ready for him. He had filled a leather bag with + blood and stuffed it into his sister's bosom, and told her + what to say and do. + </p> + <p> + "Where's Peik?" screamed out the King. He was in such a rage + that he stuttered and stammered. + </p> + <p> + "He is so poorly that he can't stir hand or foot," she said, + "and now he's trying to get a nap." + </p> + <p> + "Wake him up!" said the King. + </p> + <p> + "Nay, I daren't, he will be so angry," said the sister. + </p> + <p> + "Well, I am angrier still," said the King, "and if you don't + wake him, I will," and with that he tapped his side where his + knife hung. + </p> + <p> + "Well, she would go and wake him," but Peik turned hastily in + his bed, drew out a knife and ripped open the leather bag in + her bosom, so that the blood gushed out, and down she fell on + the floor as though she were dead. + </p> + <p> + "What an awful fellow you are, Peik," said the King; "you + have killed your sister right before my eyes!" + </p> + <p> + "Oh, there's no trouble with her so long as there's breath in + my nostrils," said Peik, and with that he pulled out a ram's + horn and began to toot on it. + </p> + <p> + "Toot-e-too-too," he blew, with one end of the horn to her + body, and up she rose as though there was nothing the matter + with her. + </p> + <p> + "Dear me, Peik! Can you kill folk and blow life into them + again? Can you do that?" said the King. + </p> + <p> + "Why!" said Peik, "how could I get on at all if I couldn't? I + am always killing every one I come near; don't you know I + have a terrible temper?" + </p> + <p> + "I am hot-tempered, too," said the King, "and that horn I + must have. I'll give you a hundred dollars for it, and + besides I'll forgive you for cheating me out of my horse and + for fooling me about the pot and the block, and all else." + </p> + <p> + Peik was loth to part with it, but for his sake he would let + him have it. And so the King went off home with it, and he + hardly got back before he must try it. + </p> + <p> + So he fell a-wrangling and quarreling with the queen and his + eldest daughter, and they paid him back in the same coin; but + before they knew what was happening he had whipped out his + knife and cut their throats. They fell down stone dead and + the other two daughters ran from the house, they were so + afraid. + </p> + <p> + The King walked about the floor for a while and kept + chattering that there was no harm done so long as there was + breath in him, and then he pulled out the horn and began to + blow "Toot-e-too-too! Toot-e-too-too!" but, though he blew + and tooted as hard as he could all that day and the next, + too, he could not blow life into them again. Dead they were, + and dead they stayed. But the people in the kingdom were only + glad to get rid of such troll-folk, and were wishing some one + might make an end of the King, too, so that they might have a + good King in his place. + </p> + <p> + But the King was now angrier than ever, and must go right off + to kill Peik. + </p> + <p> + But Peik knew that he was coming and then he said to his + sister— + </p> + <p> + "Now, you must change clothes with me and set off. If you + will do that, you may have all we own." + </p> + <p> + So, she changed clothes with him, packed up and started off + as fast as she could; but Peik sat all alone in his sister's + clothes. + </p> + <p> + "Where is that Peik?" roared the King, as as he came, in a + towering rage, through the door. + </p> + <p> + "He has run away," said Peik. "He knew that your Majesty was + coming, so he left me all alone without a morsel of bread or + a penny in my purse," and he made himself as gentle and sweet + as a young lady. + </p> + <p> + "Come along, then, to the King's palace, and you shall have + enough to live on. There's no good sitting here and starving + in this cabin by yourself," said the King. + </p> + <p> + So Peik went home with the King, and there he was treated as + the King's own daughter, for Miss Peik sewed and stitched and + sang and played with the others, and was with them early and + late. + </p> + <p> + But one day a man came to the King and told him that Peik's + sister was at a farm in the neighborhood, and that it was + Peik he had brought up in his own house. Now, Peik had heard + all that the man told the King, so he ran away from the + King's palace, out into the wide world. + </p> + <p> + The King got into a terrible rage then, and called for Peik, + but he was nowhere to be found. Then he mounted his horse to + go out to look for Peik. + </p> + <p> + He had not gone far before he came to a ploughed field and + there sat Peik on a stone, playing on a mouth organ. + </p> + <p> + "What! Are you sitting there, Peik?" said the King. + </p> + <p> + "Here I sit, sure enough," said Peik; "where else should I + sit?" + </p> + <p> + "You have cheated me foully time after time," said the King, + "but now you must come along home with me, and I'll kill + you." + </p> + <p> + "Well, well," said Peik, "if it can't be helped, it can't; I + suppose I must go along with you." + </p> + <p> + When they got home to the King's palace they got ready a + barrel which Peik was to be put in, and when it was ready + they carted it up a high mountain. There he was to lie three + days, thinking on all the evil he had done, then they were to + roll him down the mountain into the sea. + </p> + <p> + The third day a rich man passed by and when he heard Peik's + story he was ready to help him out of his trouble. + </p> + <p> + They made a stuffed man and put him with some stones into the + barrel—but the rich man gave Peik horses and cows, + sheep and swine, and money beside. + </p> + <p> + Now, the King came to roll Peik down the mountain. "A happy + journey!" said the King, "and now it is all over with you and + your fooling rods." + </p> + <p> + Before the barrel was halfway down the mountain there was not + a whole stave of it left, nor would there have been a whole + limb on Peik, had he been there. But when the King came back + to the palace, Peik was there before him, and sat in the + court-yard playing on his mouth organ. + </p> + <p> + "What! You sitting here, you, Peik?" + </p> + <p> + "Yes! Here I sit, sure enough. Where else should I sit?" said + Peik. "Maybe I can get room here for all my horses and sheep + and money." + </p> + <p> + "But whither was it that I rolled you that you got all this + wealth?" asked the King. + </p> + <p> + "Oh, you rolled me into the sea," said Peik, "and when I got + to the bottom there was more than enough and to spare, both + of horses and sheep, and of gold and silver. The cattle went + about in great flocks, and the gold and silver lay in large + heaps as big as houses." + </p> + <p> + "What will you take to roll me down the same way?" asked the + King. + </p> + <p> + "Oh," said Peik, "it costs little or nothing to do it. + Besides, you took nothing from me, and so I'll take nothing + from you either." + </p> + <p> + So he stuffed the King into a barrel and rolled him over, and + when he had given him a ride down to the sea for nothing, he + went home to the King's palace. + </p> + <center> + <img src="images/ew_006.jpg" height="744" width="480" alt= + "So he stuffed the King into the barrel and rolled him over"> + </center> + <p> + Then he began to hold his bridal feast with the youngest + princess, and afterwards he ruled the land both well and + long. But he kept his fooling rods to himself, and kept them + so well that nothing was ever heard of Peik and his tricks, + but only of "Ourself the King." + </p> + <p> + + </p> + <p> + + </p> + <p> + + </p> + <p> + + </p> + <p> + + </p> + <p> + + </p><a name="17"></a> + <h2> + The Princess Who Could Not Be Silenced + </h2> + <p class="drop"> + There was once a King, and he had a daughter who was so cross + and crooked in her words that no one could silence her, and + so he gave it out that he who could do it should marry the + princess and have half the kingdom, too. There were plenty of + those who wanted to try it, I can tell you, for it is not + every day that you can get a princess and half a kingdom. The + gate to the King's palace did not stand still a minute. They + came in great crowds from the East and the West, both riding + and walking. But there was not one of them who could silence + the princess. + </p> + <p> + At last the king had it given out that those who tried, and + failed, should have both ears marked with the big redhot iron + with which he marked his sheep. He was not going to have all + that flurry and worry for nothing. + </p> + <p> + Well, there were three brothers, who had heard about the + princess, and, as they did not fare very well at home, they + thought they had better set out to try their luck and see if + they could not win the princess and half the kingdom. They + were friends and good fellows, all three of them, and they + set off together. + </p> + <p> + When they had walked a bit of the way, Boots picked up + something. + </p> + <p> + "I've found—I've found something!" he cried. + </p> + <p> + "What did you find!" asked the brothers. + </p> + <p> + "I found a dead crow," said he. + </p> + <p> + "Ugh! Throw it away! What would you do with that?" said the + brothers, who always thought they knew a great deal. + </p> + <p> + "Oh, I haven't much to carry, I might as well carry this," + said Boots. + </p> + <p> + So when they had walked on a bit, Boots again picked up + something. + </p> + <p> + "I've found—I've found something!" he cried. + </p> + <p> + "What have you found now?" said the brothers. + </p> + <p> + "I found a willow twig," said he. + </p> + <p> + "Dear, what do you want with that? Throw it away!" said they. + </p> + <p> + "Oh, I haven't much to carry, I might as well carry that," + said Boots. + </p> + <p> + So when they had walked a bit, Boots picked up something + again. "Oh, lads, I've found—I've found something!" he + cried. + </p> + <p> + "Well, well, what did you find this time?" asked the + brothers. + </p> + <p> + "A piece of a broken saucer," said he. + </p> + <p> + "Oh, what is the use of that? Throw it away!" said they. + </p> + <p> + "Oh, I haven't much to carry, I might as well carry that," + said Boots. + </p> + <p> + And when they had walked a bit further, Boots stooped down + again and picked up something else. + </p> + <p> + "I've found—I've found something, lads!" he cried. + </p> + <p> + "And what is it now?" said they. + </p> + <p> + "Two goat horns," said Boots. + </p> + <p> + "Oh! Throw them away. What could you do with them?" said + they. + </p> + <p> + "Oh, I haven't much to carry, I might as well carry them," + said Boots. + </p> + <p> + In a little while he found something again. + </p> + <p> + "Oh, lads, see, I've found—I've found something," he + cried. + </p> + <p> + "Dear, dear, what wonderful things you do find! What is it + now?" said the brothers. + </p> + <p> + "I've found a wedge," said he. + </p> + <p> + "Oh, throw it away. What do you want with that?" said they. + </p> + <p> + "Oh, I haven't much to carry, I might as well carry that," + said Boots. + </p> + <p> + And now, as they walked over the fields close up to the + King's palace, Boots bent down again and held something in + his fingers. + </p> + <p> + "Oh, lads, lads, see what I've found!" he cried. + </p> + <p> + "If you only found a little common sense, it would be good + for you," said they. "Well, let's see what it is now." + </p> + <p> + "A worn-out shoe sole," said he. + </p> + <p> + "Pshaw! Well, that was something to pick up! Throw it away! + What do you want with that?" said the brothers. + </p> + <p> + "Oh, I haven't much to carry, I might as well carry that, if + I am to win the princess and half the kingdom," said Boots. + </p> + <p> + "Yes, you are likely to do that—you," said they. + </p> + <p> + And now they came to the King's palace. The eldest one went + in first. + </p> + <p> + "Good-day," said he. + </p> + <p> + "Good-day to you," said the princess, and she twisted and + turned. + </p> + <p> + "It's awfully hot here," said he. + </p> + <p> + "It is hotter over there in the hearth," said the princess. + There lay the red-hot iron ready awaiting. When he saw that + he forgot every word he was going to say, and so it was all + over with him. + </p> + <p> + And now came the next oldest one. + </p> + <p> + "Good-day," said he. + </p> + <p> + "Good-day to you," said she, and she turned and twisted + herself. + </p> + <p> + "It's awfully hot here," said he. + </p> + <p> + "It's hotter over there in the hearth," said she. And when he + looked at the red-hot iron he, too, couldn't get a word out, + and so they marked his ears and sent him home again. + </p> + <p> + Then it was Boots' turn. + </p> + <p> + "Good-day," said he. + </p> + <p> + "Good-day to you," said she, and she twisted and turned + again. + </p> + <p> + "It's nice and warm in here," said Boots. + </p> + <p> + "It's hotter in the hearth," said she, and she was no + sweeter, now the third one had come. + </p> + <p> + "That's good, I may bake my crow there, then?" asked he. + </p> + <p> + "I'm afraid she'll burst," said the princess. + </p> + <p> + "There's no danger; I'll wind this willow twig around," said + the lad. + </p> + <p> + "It's too loose," said she. + </p> + <p> + "I'll stick this wedge in," said the lad, and took out the + wedge. + </p> + <p> + "The fat will drop off," said the princess. + </p> + <p> + "I'll hold this under," said the lad, and pulled out the + broken bit of the saucer. + </p> + <p> + "You are crooked in your words, that you are," said the + princess. + </p> + <p> + "No, I'm not crooked, but this is crooked," said the lad, and + he showed her the goat's horn. + </p> + <p> + "Well, I never saw the equal to that!" cried the princess. + </p> + <p> + "Oh, here is the equal to it," said he, and pulled out the + other. + </p> + <p> + "Now, you think you'll wear out my soul, don't you?" said + she. + </p> + <p> + "No, I won't wear out your soul, for I have a sole that's + worn out already," said the lad, and pulled out the shoe + sole. + </p> + <p> + Then the princess hadn't a word to say. + </p> + <p> + "Now, you're mine," said Boots. + </p> + <p> + And so she was. + </p> + <p> + + </p> + <p> + + </p> + <p> + + </p> + <p> + + </p> + <p> + + </p> + <p> + + </p><a name="18"></a> + <h2> + The Twelve Wild Ducks + </h2> + <p class="drop"> + Once on a time there was a Queen who had twelve sons but no + daughter. + </p> + <p> + One day she was out driving in the woods and met the + prettiest little lassie one ever did see, and so the Queen + stopped her horses, lifted the child up in her arms, kissed + her on both cheeks, all the while thinking: + </p> + <p> + "I wish I had a little girl of my own, oh, how long I've + waited and wished for one." + </p> + <p> + Just then an old witch of the trolls came up to her, but you + wouldn't have known it was a witch at all, she looked so kind + and good. + </p> + <p> + "A daughter you shall have," she said, "and she shall be the + prettiest child in twelve kingdoms, if you will give to me + what ever comes to meet you at the bridge." + </p> + <p> + Now the Queen had a little snow white dog of which she was + very fond, and it always ran to meet her when she had been + away. She thought, of course, it was the dog the old dame + wanted, so the Queen said, "Yes, you may have what comes to + meet me on the bridge." With that she hurried home as fast as + she could. + </p> + <p> + But, who should come to meet her on the bridge but her twelve + sons; and before the mother could cry out to them the wicked + witch threw her spell upon them and turned them into twelve + ducks which flapped their wings and flew away. Away they went + and away they stayed. + </p> + <p> + But the Queen had a daughter, and she was the loveliest child + one ever set eyes upon. The Princess grew up, and she was + both tall and fair, but she was often quiet and sorrowful, + and no one could understand what it was that ailed her. The + Queen, too, was often sorrowful, as you may believe, for she + had many strange fears when she thought of her sons. And one + day she said to her daughter, "Why are you so sorrowful, + lassie mine? Is there anything you want? If so, only say the + word, and you shall have it." + </p> + <p> + "Oh, it seems so dull and lonely here," said the daughter, + "every one else has brothers and sisters, but I am all alone; + I have none. That's why I'm so sorrowful." + </p> + <p> + "But you had brothers, my daughter," said the Queen; "I had + twelve sons, stout, brave lads, but I lost them all when you + came;" and so she told her the whole story. + </p> + <p> + When the Princess heard that she had no rest; for she thought + it was all her fault, and in spite of all the Queen could say + or do, though she wept and prayed, the lassie would set off + to seek her brothers. On and on she walked into the wide + world, so far you would never have thought her small feet + could have had strength to carry her so far. + </p> + <p> + Finally, one day, when she was walking through a great, great + wood, she felt tired, and sat down on a mossy tuft and fell + asleep. Then she dreamt that she went deeper and deeper into + the wood, till she came to a little wooden hut, and there she + found her brothers. Just then she awoke, and straight before + her she saw a worn path in the green moss. This path went + deeper into the wood, so she followed it, and after a long + time she came to just such a little wooden house as that she + had seen in her dream. + </p> + <p> + Now, when she went into the room there was no one at home, + but there were twelve beds, and twelve chairs, and twelve + spoons,—in short, a dozen of everything. When she saw + that she was very glad; she had not been so glad for many a + long year, for she could guess at once that her brothers + lived there, and that they owned the beds and chairs and + spoons. So she began to make up the fire, and sweep the room + and make the beds and cook the dinner, and to make the house + as tidy as she could. + </p> + <p> + And when she had done all the work and the dinner was on the + table she suddenly heard something flapping and whirling in + the air, and she slipped behind the door. Then all the twelve + ducks came sweeping in; but as soon as ever they crossed the + threshold they became Princes. + </p> + <p> + "Oh, how nice and warm it is here," they said, "Heaven bless + him who made up the fire and cooked such a nice dinner for + us." + </p> + <p> + "But who can it be?" said the youngest Prince, and they all + hunted both high and low until they found the lassie behind + the door. And she threw her arms around their necks and said, + "I'm your sister; I've gone about seeking you these three + years, and if I could set you free, I'd willingly give my + life." + </p> + <p> + Then all the brothers looked sorrowfully, one at the other, + and they shook their heads. + </p> + <p> + "No, it's too hard," said the eldest Prince, looking at the + pretty young Princess, "it's too hard," and again they sighed + and shook their heads. + </p> + <p> + "Oh, tell me, only tell me," said the Princess, "how can it + be done, and I'll do it, whatever it be." And as she begged + and pleaded for them to tell her, the youngest brother said + at last, "You must pick thistledown, and you must card it, + and spin it, and weave it. After you have done that, you must + cut out and make twelve shirts, one for each of us, and while + you do that, you must neither talk, nor laugh, nor weep. If + you can do that we are free." + </p> + <p> + "But where shall I ever get thistledown enough for so many + shirts?" asked the sister. + </p> + <p> + "Well, that is the hardest thing of all," said the eldest + brother. "You must go to the witches' moor at midnight and + gather it there," and big tears stood in his eyes, "and you + must go alone, all alone." + </p> + <p> + But the sister smiled and nodded her head, and when midnight + came, and the moon was high in the sky she said good-bye to + her brothers, and went to the great, wide moor, where the + witches lived. There stood a great crop of thistles, all + nodding and nodding in the breeze, while the down floated and + glistened like gossamer through the air in the moonbeams. The + Princess began to pluck and gather it as fast as she could, + but she saw long skinny arms outstretched toward her, and, + among the thistles, she saw a host of wicked faces all + looking at her. Her heart stood still then and she grew icy + cold, but never a sound did she utter, only plucked and + gathered until her bag was full; and when she got home at + break of day she set to work carding and spinning yarn from + the down. + </p> + <center> + <img src="images/ew_007.jpg" height="747" width="480" alt= + "The Princess began to pluck and gather as fast as she could"> + </center> + <p> + So she went on a long, long time picking down on the witches' + moor, carding and spinning, and all the while keeping the + house of the Princes, cooking, and making their beds. But she + never talked, nor laughed, nor wept. + </p> + <p> + At evening home the brothers came, flapping and whirring like + wild ducks, and all night they were Princes, but in the + morning off they flew again, and were wild ducks the whole + day. + </p> + <p> + But, it happened one night when she was out on the moor + picking thistledown, that the young King who ruled that land + was out hunting, and had lost his way. He had become + separated from his companions, and now, as he came riding + across the moor, he saw her. He stopped and wondered who the + lovely lady could be that walked alone on the moor picking + thistledown in the dead of the night; and he asked her name. + Getting no answer, he was still more astonished, but he liked + her so much, that at last nothing would do but he must take + her home to his castle and marry her. So he took her and put + her upon his horse. The Princess wrung her hands, and made + signs to him, and pointed to the bags in which her work was, + and when the King saw she wished to have them with her he + took the bags and placed them behind them. + </p> + <p> + When that was done the Princess, little by little, came to + herself, for the King was both a wise man and a handsome man, + and he was as gentle and kind to her as a mother. But when + they reached the palace an old woman met them. She was the + King's guardian, and when she set eyes on the Princess she + became so cross and jealous of her, because she was so + lovely, that she said to the King: + </p> + <p> + "Can't you see now, that this thing whom you have picked up, + and whom you are going to marry, is a witch? Why, she can + neither talk nor laugh nor weep!" + </p> + <p> + But the King did not care a straw for what she said. He held + to the wedding and married the Princess, and they lived in + great joy and glory. But the Princess didn't forget to go on + working on her shirts, and she neither talked nor laughed nor + wept. However, when she had spun and woven and cut, she found + that she still had not enough cloth for the twelve shirts, + and she needs must go to the witches' moor again. + </p> + <p> + So that night while all the palace slept she quietly slipped + out and walked off to pick her thistledown, but the old woman + who was the King's guardian saw her, and she knew well where + the young Queen was going, for I must tell you she was the + same wicked witch who had changed the twelve Princes into + wild ducks. She hurried to the King's chamber, woke him and + said, "Now, come with me and I'll prove to you that your + lovely Queen is a witch, who joins the wicked company on the + moor at midnight." The King would not listen to her at first, + but when he saw that the Queen's bed was empty, he got up and + went with the old woman. + </p> + <p> + And there upon the edge of the moor they stopped, but in the + clear moonlight they could see the Queen among the horrid + hags and trolls. The King turned away sadly and said not a + word, for he loved his quiet Queen very much. + </p> + <p> + But the wicked old woman began to whisper and tell abroad + about the Queen's nightly visit to the moor, and at last the + King's best men came to him and said, "We will not have a + Queen who is a witch; the people demand of you that she be + burnt alive." + </p> + <p> + Then the King was so sad that there was no end to his + sadness, for now he saw that he could not save her. He was + obliged to order her to be burnt alive on a pile of wood. + When the pile was all ablaze, and they were about to put her + on it, she made signs to them to take twelve boards and lay + them around the pile. + </p> + <p> + On these she laid the shirts for her brothers all completed + but that for the youngest, which lacked its left sleeve; she + had not had time to finish it. And as soon as ever she had + done that, they heard a flapping and whirring in the air, and + down came twelve wild ducks from over the forest, and each + snapped up his shirt in his bill and flew off with it. + </p> + <p> + "See now!" said the old woman to the King, "wasn't I right + when I told you she was a witch! Make haste and burn her + before the pile burns low." + </p> + <p> + "Oh!" said the King, "we've wood enough and to spare, and so + I'll wait a bit, for I have a mind to see what the end of + this will be." + </p> + <p> + As he spoke up came the twelve Princes riding along, as + handsome well-grown lads as you'd wish to see; but the + youngest Prince had a wild duck's wing instead of his left + arm. "What's all this about?" asked the Princes. + </p> + <p> + "My Queen is to be burnt," said the King, "because she is a + witch, so the people say, and I can't save her." + </p> + <p> + "Speak now, sister," said the Princes, "you have set us free + and saved us, now save yourself." + </p> + <p> + Then the young Queen spoke and told the whole story, and the + King and all the people listened with wonder and joy. Only + the wicked old woman stood trembling with fear. And when the + Queen had finished her story, the people took the old witch + and bound her and burned her on the pile. + </p> + <p> + But the King took his wife and the twelve Princes and went + home with them to their father and mother, and told all that + had befallen them. Then there was joy and gladness over the + whole kingdom, because the wicked witch was dead and the + Princes saved and set free, and because the lovely Princess + had set free her twelve brothers. + </p> + <p> + + </p> + <p> + + </p> + <p> + + </p> + <p> + + </p> + <p> + + </p> + <p> + + </p><a name="19"></a> + <h2> + Gudbrand-on-the-Hillside + </h2> + <p class="drop"> + Once upon a time there was a man whose name was Gudbrand. He + had a farm which lay far, far away upon a hillside, and so + they called him Gudbrand-on-the-Hillside. + </p> + <p> + Now, you must know this man and his good wife lived so + happily together, and understood one another so well, that + all the husband did the wife thought so well done there was + nothing like it in the world, and she was always pleased at + whatever he turned his hand to. The farm was their own land, + and they had a hundred dollars lying at the bottom of their + chest and two cows tethered up in a stall in their farmyard. + </p> + <p> + So one day his wife said to Gudbrand, "Do you know, dear, I + think we ought to take one of our cows into town and sell it; + that's what I think; for then we shall have some money in + hand, and such well-to-do people as we ought to have ready + money as other folks have. As for the hundred dollars in the + chest yonder, we can't make a hole in our savings, and I'm + sure I don't know what we want with more than one cow. + </p> + <p> + "Besides, we shall gain a little in another way, for then I + shall get off with only looking after one cow, instead of + having, as now, to feed and litter and water two." + </p> + <p> + Well, Gudbrand thought his wife talked right good sense, so + he set off at once with the cow on the way to town to sell + her; but when he got to the town, there was no one who would + buy his cow. + </p> + <p> + "Well, well, never mind," said Gudbrand, "at the worst, I can + only go back home with my cow. I've both stable and tether + for her, and the road is no farther out than in." And with + that he began to toddle home with his cow. + </p> + <p> + But when he had gone a bit of the way, a man met him who had + a horse to sell. Gudbrand thought 'twas better to have a + horse than a cow, so he traded with the man. A little farther + on he met a man walking along and driving a fat pig before + him, and he thought it better to have a fat pig than a horse, + so he traded with the man. After that he went a little + farther, and a man met him with a goat, so he thought it + better to have a goat than a pig, and he traded with the man + who owned the goat. Then he went on a good bit till he met a + man who had a sheep, and he traded with him too, for he + thought it always better to have a sheep than a goat. After a + while he met a man with a goose, and he traded away the sheep + for the goose; and when he had walked a long, long time, he + met a man with a cock, and he traded with him, for he thought + in this wise, "Tis surely better to have a cock than a + goose." + </p> + <p> + Then he went on till the day was far spent, and he began to + get very hungry, so he sold the cock for a shilling, and + bought food with the money, for, thought + Gudbrand-on-the-Hillside, "Tis always better to save one's + life than to have a cock." + </p> + <p> + After that he went on homeward till he reached his nearest + neighbor's house, where he turned in. + </p> + <p> + "Well," said the owner of the house, "how did things go with + you in town?" + </p> + <p> + "Rather so-so," said Gudbrand, "I can't praise my luck, nor + do I blame it either," and with that he told the whole story + from first to last. + </p> + <p> + "Ah!" said his friend, "you'll get nicely hauled over the + coals, when you go home to your wife. Heaven help you, I + wouldn't stand in your shoes for anything." + </p> + <p> + "Well," said Gudbrand-on-the-Hillside, "I think things might + have gone much worse with me; but now, whether I have done + wrong or not, I have so kind a good wife she never has a word + to say against anything that I do." + </p> + <p> + "Oh!" answered his neighbor, "I hear what you say, but I + don't believe it for all that." + </p> + <p> + "And so you doubt it?" asked Gudbrand-on-the-Hillside. + </p> + <p> + "Yes," said the friend, "I have a hundred crowns, at the + bottom of my chest at home, I will give you if you can prove + what you say." + </p> + <p> + So Gudbrand stayed there till evening, when it began to get + dark, and then they went together to his house, and the + neighbor was to stand outside the door and listen, while the + man went in to his wife. + </p> + <p> + "Good evening!" said Gudbrand-on-the Hillside. + </p> + <p> + "Good evening!" said the good wife. "Oh! is that you? Now, I + am happy." + </p> + <p> + Then the wife asked how things had gone with him in town. + </p> + <p> + "Oh, only so-so," answered Gudbrand; "not much to brag of. + When I got to town there was no one who would buy the cow, so + you must know I traded it away for a horse." + </p> + <p> + "For a horse," said his wife; "well that is good of you; + thanks with all my heart. We are so well to do that we may + drive to church, just as well as other people, and if we + choose to keep a horse we have a right to get one, I should + think." So, turning to her child she said, "Run out, deary, + and put up the horse." + </p> + <p> + "Ah!" said Gudbrand, "but you see I have not the horse after + all, for when I got a bit farther on the road, I traded it + for a pig." + </p> + <p> + "Think of that, now!" said the wife. "You did just as I + should have done myself; a thousand thanks! Now I can have a + bit of bacon in the house to set before people when they come + to see me, that I can. What do we want with a horse? People + would only say we had got so proud that we couldn't walk to + church. Go out, child, and put up the pig in the sty." + </p> + <p> + "But I have not the pig either," said Gudbrand, "for when I + got a little farther on, I traded it for a goat." + </p> + <p> + "Dear me!" cried the wife, "how well you manage everything! + Now I think it over, what should I do with a pig? People + would only point at us and say 'Yonder they eat up all they + have.' No, now I have a goat, and I shall have milk and + cheese, and keep the goat too. Run out, child, and put up the + goat." + </p> + <p> + "Nay, but I haven't the goat either," said Gudbrand, "for a + little farther on I traded it away and got a fine sheep + instead!" + </p> + <p> + "You don't say so!" cried his wife, "why, you do everything + to please me, just as if I had been with you. What do we want + with a goat? If I had it I should lose half my time in + climbing up the hills to get it down. No, if I have a sheep, + I shall have both wool and clothing, and fresh meat in the + house. Run out, child, and put up the sheep." + </p> + <p> + "But I haven't the sheep any more than the rest," said + Gudbrand, "for when I got a bit farther, I traded it away for + a goose." + </p> + <p> + "Thank you, thank you, with all my heart," cried his wife, + "what should I do with a sheep? I have no spinning wheel or + carding comb, nor should I care to worry myself with cutting, + and shaping, and sewing clothes. We can buy clothes now as we + have always done; and now I shall have roast goose, which I + have longed for so often; and, besides, down with which to + stuff my little pillow. Run out, child, and put up the goose. + </p> + <p> + "Well!" said Gudbrand, "I haven't the goose either; for when + I had gone a bit farther I traded it for a cock." + </p> + <p> + "Dear me!" cried his wife, "how you think of everything! just + as I should have done myself. A cock! think of that! Why it's + as good as an eight day clock, for every day the cock crows + at four o'clock, and we shall be able to stir our stiff legs + in good time. What should we do with a goose? I don't know + how to cook it; and as for my pillow, I can stuff it with + cotton grass. Run out, child, and put up the cock." + </p> + <p> + "But after all, I haven't the cock either," said Gudbrand, + "for when I had gone a bit farther, I became as hungry as a + hunter, so I was forced to sell the cock for a shilling, for + fear I should starve." + </p> + <p> + "Now, God be praised that you did so!" cried his wife, + "whatever you do, you do it always just after my own heart. + What should we do with the cock? We are our own masters, I + should think, and can lie abed in the morning as long as we + like. Heaven be thanked that I have you safe back again; you + who do everything so well, that I want neither cock nor + goose; neither pigs nor kine." + </p> + <p> + Then Gudbrand opened the door and said,— + </p> + <p> + "Well, what do you say now? Have I won the hundred crowns?" + and his neighbor was forced to admit that he had. + </p> + <p> + + </p> + <p> + + </p> + <p> + + </p> + <p> + + </p> + <p> + + </p> + <p> + + </p><a name="20"></a> + <h2> + The Princess on the Glass Hill + </h2> + <p class="drop"> + Once on a time, there was a man who had a meadow, which lay + high upon the hillside, and in the meadow was a barn, which + he had built to keep his hay in. Now, I must tell you there + hadn't been much in the barn for the last year or two, for + every St. John's night, when the grass stood greenest and + deepest, the meadow was eaten down to the very ground the + next morning, just as if a whole drove of sheep had been + there feeding on it over night. This happened once, and it + happened twice; so at last the man grew weary of losing his + crop of hay, and said to his sons—for he had three of + them, and the youngest was nicknamed Boots, of + course—that now one of them must just go and sleep in + the barn in the outlying field when St. John's night came, + for it was no joke that his grass should be eaten, root and + blade, this year, as it had been the last two years. So + whichever of them went must keep a sharp look-out; that was + what their father said. + </p> + <p> + Well, the eldest son was ready to go and watch the meadow; + trust him for looking after the grass. So, when evening came, + he set off to the barn, and lay down to sleep. But a little + on in the night came such a clatter, and such an earthquake, + that walls and roof shook, and groaned, and creaked. Then up + jumped the lad, and took to his heels as fast as ever he + could; nor dared he once look around until he reached home; + and as for the hay, why it was eaten up this year just as it + had been twice before. + </p> + <p> + The next St. John's night, the man said again it would never + do to lose all the grass in the outlying field year after + year in this way, so one of his sons must just trudge off to + watch it, and watch it well too. Well, the next oldest son + was ready to try his luck, so he set off and sat down to + watch in the barn as his brother had done before him. But as + the night wore on, there came on a rumbling and quaking of + the earth, worse even than on the last St. John's night, and + when the lad heard it, he got frightened, and took to his + heels as though he were running a race. + </p> + <p> + Next year the turn came to Boots; but when he made ready to + go the other two began to laugh and to make game of him, + saying,— + </p> + <p> + "You're just the man to watch the hay, that you are; you, who + have done nothing all your life but sit in the ashes and + toast yourself by the fire." + </p> + <p> + But Boots did not care a pin for their chattering, and as + evening drew on, he walked up the hillside to the outlying + field. There he went inside the barn and sat down; but in + about an hour's time the barn began to groan and creak, so + that it was dreadful to hear. + </p> + <p> + "Well," said Boots to himself, "if it isn't worse than this, + I can stand it well enough." + </p> + <p> + A little while after came another creak and an earthquake, so + that the litter in the barn flew about the lad's ears. + </p> + <p> + "Oh!" said Boots to himself, "if it isn't worse than this, I + daresay I can stand it out." + </p> + <p> + But just then came a third rumbling and a third earthquake, + so that the lad thought walls and roof were coming down on + his head; but it passed off, and all was still as death about + him. + </p> + <p> + "It'll come again, I'll be bound," thought Boots; but no, it + didn't come again; still it was, and still it stayed. But + after he had sat a little while, he heard a noise as if a + horse were standing just outside the barn door, and feeding + on the grass. He stole to the door, and peeped through a + chink, and there stood a horse feeding away. So big, and fat, + and grand a horse, Boots had never set eyes on. By his side + on the grass lay a saddle and bridle, and a full set of armor + for a knight, all of brass, so bright that the light gleamed + from it. + </p> + <p> + "Ho, ho!" thought the lad; "it's you, is it, that eats up our + hay?" + </p> + <p> + So he lost no time, but took the steel out of his tinder box + and threw it over the horse; then it had no power to stir + from the spot, and became so tame that the lad could do what + he liked with it. Then he got on its back, and rode off with + it to a place which no one knew of, and there he put up the + horse. When he got home, his brothers laughed, and asked how + he had fared. + </p> + <p> + "You didn't sit long in the barn, even if you had the heart + to go as far as the field." + </p> + <p> + "Well," said Boots, "all I can say is, I sat in the barn till + the sun rose." + </p> + <p> + "A pretty story," said his brothers; "but we'll soon see how + you have watched the meadow;" so they set off; but when they + reached it, there stood the grass as deep and thick as it had + been over night. + </p> + <p> + Well, the next St. John's eve it was the same story over + again; neither of the elder brothers dared to go out to the + outlying field to watch the crop; but Boots, he had the heart + to go, and everything happened just as it had the year + before. First a clatter and an earthquake, then a greater + clatter and another earthquake, and so on a third time; only + this year the earthquakes were far worse than the year + before. Then all at once everything was still as death, and + the lad heard how something was cropping the grass outside + the barn door, so he stole to the door, and peeped through a + chink; and what do you think he saw? Why, another horse + standing right up against the wall, and chewing and champing + with might and main. It was far larger and finer than that + which came the year before, and it had a saddle on its back, + and a bridle on its head, and a full suit of mail for a + knight lay by its side, all of silver, and as splendid as you + would wish to see. + </p> + <p> + "Ho, ho!" said Boots to himself; "it's you that gobbles up + our hay, is it?" And with that he took the steel out of his + tinder box, and threw it over the horse's crest; then it + stood as still as a lamb. Well, the lad rode this horse, too, + to the hiding place where he kept the other one, and after + that, he went home. + </p> + <p> + "I suppose you'll tell us," said one of his brothers, + "there's a fine crop this year too, up in the hay field." + </p> + <p> + "Well, so there is," said Boots; and off ran the others to + see, and there stood the grass thick and deep, as it was the + year before; but they didn't give Boots softer words for all + that. + </p> + <p> + Now, when the third St. John's eve came, the two elder still + hadn't the heart to sit out in the barn and watch the grass, + for they had got so scared at heart the night they sat there + before, that they couldn't get over the fright. But Boots + dared to go; and the very same thing happened this time that + had happened twice before. Three earthquakes came, one after + the other, each worse than the one which went before, and + when the last came, the lad danced about with the shock from + one barn wall to the other; and after that, all at once, it + was still as death. Now, when he had sat a little while, he + heard something cropping away at the grass outside the barn, + so he stole again to the door chink, and peeped out, and + there stood a horse outside—far, far bigger and more + beautiful than the two he had taken before. It had a saddle + on its back, a bridle on its head, and a full suit of mail + for a knight lay by its side—all of gold, all more + splendid than anything you ever saw. + </p> + <center> + <img src="images/ew_008.jpg" height="746" width="480" alt= + "So he caught up the steel and threw it over the horse"> + </center> + <p> + "Ho, ho!" said the lad to himself, "it's you, is it, that + comes here eating up our hay? I'll soon stop that." So he + caught up his steel, and threw it over the horse's neck, and + in a trice it stood as if it were nailed to the ground, and + Boots could do as he pleased with it. Then he rode off with + it to the hiding place, where he kept the other two, and then + went home. When he got home, his two brothers made game of + him as they had done before, saying, they could see he had + watched the grass well, for he looked for all the world as if + he were walking in his sleep, and many other spiteful things + they said, but Boots gave no heed to them, only asking them + to go and see for themselves; and when they went, there stood + the grass as fine and deep this time as it had been twice + before. + </p> + <p> + Now you must know that the king of the country where Boots + lived had a daughter, whom he would only give to the man who + could ride up over the hill of glass, for there was a high, + high hill, all of glass, as smooth and slippery as ice, close + by the king's palace. Upon the tip top of the hill the king's + daughter was to sit, with three golden apples in her lap, and + the man who could ride up and carry off the three golden + apples was to have half the kingdom, and the Princess to + wife. This offer the king had posted on all the church doors + in his realm; and had given it out in many other kingdoms + besides. Now, this Princess was so lovely, that all who set + eyes on her loved her. So I needn't tell you how all the + princes and knights who heard of her were eager to win her to + wife, and half the kingdom besides; and how they came riding + from all parts of the world on high prancing horses, and clad + in the grandest clothes, for there wasn't one of them who + hadn't made up his mind that he, and he alone, was to win the + Princess. + </p> + <p> + So when the day of trial came, which the king had fixed, + there was such a crowd of princes and knights under the glass + hill, that it made one's head whirl to look at them; and + every one in the country who could even crawl along was off + to the hill, for they all were eager to see the man who was + to win the Princess. Thus the two elder brothers set off with + the rest; but as for Boots, they said outright he shouldn't + go with them, for if they were seen with such a dirty fellow, + all begrimed with smut from cleaning their shoes, and sifting + cinders in the dust-hole, they said folk would make game of + them. + </p> + <p> + "Very well," said Boots; "it's all one to me. I can go + alone." + </p> + <p> + Now, when the two brothers came to the hill of glass, the + knights and princes were all hard at it, riding their horses + till they were all in a foam; but it was no good; for as soon + as ever the horses set foot on the hill, down they slipped, + and there wasn't one who could get a yard or two up; and no + wonder, for the hill was as smooth as a sheet of glass, and + as steep as a house-wall. But all were eager to have the + Princess and half the kingdom. So they rode and slipped, and + slipped and rode, and still it was the same story over again. + At last all their horses were so weary that they could scarce + lift a leg, and so the knights had to give up trying any + more. + </p> + <p> + The king was just thinking that he would proclaim a new trial + for the next day, to see if they would have better luck, when + all at once a knight came riding up on so brave a steed, that + no one had ever seen the like of it in his born days, and the + knight had a mail of brass, and the horse a brass bit in his + mouth, so bright that the sunbeams shone from it. Then all + the others called out to him that he might just as well spare + himself the trouble of riding at the hill, for it would lead + to no good; but he gave no heed to them, and put his horse at + the hill, and went up it for a good way, about a third of the + height; and when he had got so far, he turned his horse round + and rode down again. So lovely a knight the Princess thought + she had never yet seen; and while he was riding, she sat and + thought to herself,— + </p> + <p> + "Ah, how I wish that he might come up and go down the other + side." + </p> + <p> + And when she saw him turning back, she threw down one of the + golden apples after him, and it rolled down into his shoe. + But when he got to the bottom of the hill he rode off so fast + that no one could tell what had become of him. That evening + all the knights and princes were to go before the king, that + he who had ridden so far up the hill might show the apple + which the Princess had thrown, but there was no one who had + anything to show. One after the other they all came, but not + a man of them could show the apple. + </p> + <p> + The next day, all the princes and knights began to ride + again, and you may fancy they had taken care to shoe their + horses well; but it was no use,—they rode and slipped, + and slipped and rode, just as they had done the day before; + and there was not one who could get so far as a yard up the + hill. And when they had worn out their horses, so that they + could not stir a leg, they were all forced to give it up. So + the king thought he might as well proclaim that the riding + should take place the day after for the last time, just to + give them one chance more; but all at once it came across his + mind that he might as well wait a little longer, to see if + the knight in brass mail would come this day too. Well! they + saw nothing of him; but all at once came one riding on a + steed, far, far braver and finer than that on which the + knight in brass had ridden, and he had silver mail, and a + silver saddle and bridle, all so bright that the sunbeams + gleamed and glanced from them far away. Then the others + shouted out to him again, saying he might as well stop, and + not try to ride up the hill, for all his trouble would be + thrown away. But the knight paid no heed to them, and rode + straight at the hill, and right up it, till he had gone + two-thirds of the way, and then he wheeled his horse around + and rode down again. To tell the truth, the Princess liked + him still better than the knight in brass, and she sat and + wished he might be able to come right up to the top, and down + the other side; but when she saw him turning back, she threw + the second apple after him, and it rolled down and fell into + his shoe. But as soon as ever he had come down the hill of + glass, he rode off so fast that no one could see what became + of him. + </p> + <p> + At even, all were to go in before the king and the Princess, + that he who had the golden apple might show it. In they went, + one after the other, but there was no one who had any apple + to show. + </p> + <p> + The third day everything happened as it had happened the two + days before. There was no one who could get so much as a yard + up the hill; and now all waited for the knight in silver + mail, but they neither saw nor heard of him. At last came one + riding on a steed, so brave that no one had ever seen his + match; and the knight had a suit of golden mail, and a golden + saddle and bridle, so wondrous bright that the sunbeams + gleamed from them a mile off. The other knights and princes + could not find time to call out to him not to try his luck, + for they were amazed to see how grand he was. So he rode at + the hill, and tore up it like nothing, so that the Princess + hadn't even time to wish that he might get up the whole way. + As soon as ever he reached the top, he took the third golden + apple from the Princess's lap, and then turned his horse and + rode down again. As soon as he got down he rode off at full + speed, and was out of sight in no time. + </p> + <p> + Now, when the two brothers got home at even, you may fancy + what long stories they told, how the riding had gone off that + day; and amongst other things, they had a deal to say about + the knight in golden mail. + </p> + <p> + "He just was a chap to ride," they said; "so grand a knight + isn't to be found in this wide world." + </p> + <p> + Next day all the knights and princes were to pass before the + king and the Princess—that he who had the gold apple + might bring it forth; but one came after another, first the + princes, then the knights, and still no one could show the + gold apple. + </p> + <p> + "Well," said the king, "some one must have it, for it was + something that we all saw with our own eyes, how a man came + and rode up and bore it off." + </p> + <p> + So he commanded that everyone who was in the kingdom should + come up to the palace and see if he could show the apple. + Well, they all came one after another, but no one had the + golden apple, and after a long time the two brothers of Boots + came. They were the last of all, so the king asked them if + there was no one else in the kingdom who hadn't come. + </p> + <p> + "Oh, yes," said they; "we have a brother, but he never + carried off the golden apple. He hasn't stirred out of the + dust-hole on any of the three days." + </p> + <p> + "Never mind that," said the king; "he may as well come up to + the palace like the rest." So he came. + </p> + <p> + "How, now," said the king; "have you the golden apple? Speak + out." + </p> + <p> + "Yes, I have," said Boots; "here is the first, and here is + the second, and here is the third, too;" and with that he + pulled all three golden apples out of his pocket, and at the + same time threw off his sooty rags, and stood before them in + his gleaming golden mail. + </p> + <p> + "Yes," said the king; "you shall have my daughter, and half + my kingdom, for you well deserve both her and it." + </p> + <p> + So they got ready for the wedding, and Boots got the Princess + to wife, and there was great merry-making at the + bridal-feast, you may fancy, for they could all be merry + though they couldn't ride up the hill of glass; and all I can + say is, if they haven't left off their merry-making yet, why, + they're still at it. + </p> + <p> + + </p> + <p> + + </p> + <p> + + </p> + <p> + + </p> + <p> + + </p> + <p> + + </p><a name="21"></a> + <h2> + The Husband Who Was to Mind the House + </h2> + <p class="drop"> + Once on a time there was a man so mean and cross that he + never thought his wife did anything right in the house. So + one evening in hay-making time he came home scolding and + tearing, and showing his teeth and making a fuss. + </p> + <p> + "Dear love, don't be so angry; there's a good man," said his + goody; "to-morrow let's change our work. I'll go out with the + mowers and mow, and you shall mind the house at home." + </p> + <p> + The husband thought that would do very well. He was quite + willing, he said. + </p> + <p> + So, early next morning his goody took a scythe on her + shoulders, and went out into the hayfield with the mowers, + and began to mow; but the man was to mind the house and do + the work at home. + </p> + <p> + First of all he wanted to churn the butter; but when he had + churned a while, he grew thirsty and went down to the cellar + to tap a barrel of ale. So, just when he was putting the tap + into the cask, he heard overhead the pig come into the + kitchen. Then off he ran up the cellar steps, with the tap in + his hand, as fast as he could to look after the pig, lest it + should upset the churn. But when he got up, and saw the pig + had already knocked the churn over and stood there grunting + and rooting in the cream which was running all over the + floor, he became so wild with rage, that he quite forgot the + ale barrel, and ran at the pig as hard as he could. + </p> + <p> + He caught it, too, just as it ran out of doors, and gave it + such a kick that piggy died on the spot. Then all at once he + remembered he had the tap in his hand; but when he got down + to the cellar, every drop of ale had run out of the cask. + </p> + <p> + Then he went into the dairy and found enough cream left to + fill the churn again, and so he began to churn, for butter + they must have at dinner. When he had churned a bit, he + remembered that their milking cow was still shut up in its + stall, and had not had a mouthful to eat or a drop to drink + all the morning, though the sun was high. Then he thought it + was too far to take her down to the meadow, so he'd just get + her up on the house top, for the house, you must know, was + thatched with sods, and a fine crop of grass was growing + there. Now their house lay close up against a steep rock, and + he thought if he laid a plank across to the roof at the back, + he'd easily get the cow up. + </p> + <p> + But still he could not leave the churn, for there was their + little babe crawling about the floor, and, "If I leave it," + he thought, "the child is sure to upset it." + </p> + <p> + So he took the churn on his back and went out with it. Then + he thought he'd better water the cow before he turned her out + on the thatch, and he took up a bucket to draw water out of + the well. But, as he stooped down at the brink of the well, + all the cream ran out of the churn over his shoulders, about + his neck, and down into the well. + </p> + <p> + Now it was near dinner time, and he had not even got butter + yet. So he thought he'd best boil the porridge, and he filled + the pot with water, and hung it over the fire. When he had + done that, he thought the cow might perhaps fall off the + thatch and break her legs or her neck. So he got up on the + house to tie her up. One end of the rope he made fast to the + cow's neck, and the other he slipped down the chimney and + tied round his own waist. He had to make haste, for the water + now began to boil in the pot, and he had still to grind the + oatmeal. + </p> + <p> + So he began to grind away; but while he was hard at it, down + fell the cow off the housetop after all, and as she fell she + dragged the man up the chimney by the rope. There he stuck + fast. And as for the cow, she hung halfway down the wall, + swinging between heaven and earth, for she could neither get + down nor up. + </p> + <p> + And now the goody had waited seven lengths and seven breadths + for her husband to come and call them home to dinner, but + never a call they had. At last she thought she'd waited long + enough and went home. + </p> + <p> + When she got there and saw the cow hanging in such an ugly + place, she ran up and cut the rope in two with her scythe. + But as she did this, down came her husband out of the + chimney, and so when his old dame came inside the kitchen, + there she found him standing on his head in the porridge pot. + </p> + <p> + + </p> + <p> + + </p> + <p> + + </p> + <p> + + </p> + <p> + + </p> + <p> + + </p><a name="22"></a> + <h2> + Little Freddy with His Fiddle + </h2> + <p class="drop"> + Once there was a farmer who had an only son. The lad had had + very poor health so he could not go out to work in the field. + </p> + <p> + His name was Freddy, but, since he remained such a wee bit of + a fellow, they called him Little Freddy. At home there was + but little to eat and nothing at all to burn, so his father + went about the country trying to get the boy a place as + cowherd or errand boy; but there was no one who would take + the weakly little lad till they came to the sheriff. He was + ready to take him, for he had just sent off his errand boy, + and there was no one who would fill his place, for everybody + knew the sheriff was a great miser. + </p> + <p> + But the farmer thought it was better there than nowhere; he + would get his food, for all the pay he was to get was his + board—there was nothing said about wages or clothes. + When the lad had served three years he wanted to leave, and + the sheriff gave him all his wages at one time. He was to + have a penny a year. "It couldn't well be less," said the + sheriff. And so he got three pence in all. + </p> + <p> + As for Little Freddy, he thought it was a great sum, for he + had never owned so much; but, for all that, he asked if he + wasn't to have anything for clothes, for those he had on were + worn to rags. He had not had any new ones since he came to + the sheriff's three years ago. + </p> + <p> + "You have what we agreed on," said the sheriff, "and three + whole pennies besides. I have nothing more to do with you. Be + off!" + </p> + <p> + So Little Freddy went into the kitchen and got a little food + in his knapsack, and after that he set off on the road to buy + himself more clothes. He was both merry and glad, for he had + never seen a penny before, and every now and then he felt in + his pockets as he went along to see if he had them all three. + So, when he had gone far and farther than far, he got up on + top of the mountains. He was not strong on his legs, and had + to rest every now and then, and then he counted and counted + how many pennies he had. And now he came to a great plain + overgrown with moss. There he sat down and began to see if + his money was all right. Suddenly a beggarman appeared before + him, so tall and big that when he got a good look at him and + saw his height and length, the lad began to scream and + screech. + </p> + <p> + "Don't you be afraid," said the beggarman, "I'll do you no + harm, I came only to beg you for a penny." + </p> + <p> + "Dear me!" said the lad, "I have only three pennies, and with + them I was going to town to buy clothes." + </p> + <p> + "It is worse for me than for you," said the beggarman, "I + have not one penny, and I am still more ragged than you." + </p> + <p> + "Well, that is so; you shall have it," said the lad. + </p> + <p> + When he had walked on a while, he grew weary again, and sat + down to rest. Suddenly another beggarman stood before him, + and this one was still taller and uglier than the first. When + the lad saw how very tall and ugly and long he was, he began + to scream again. + </p> + <p> + "Now, don't you be afraid of me," said the beggar, "I'll do + you no harm. I came only to beg for a penny." + </p> + <p> + "Oh dear, oh dear!" said the lad. "I have only two pennies, + and with them I was going to the town to buy clothes. If I + had only met you sooner, then—" + </p> + <p> + "It's worse for me than for you," said the beggarman. "I have + no penny, and a bigger body and less clothing." + </p> + <p> + "Well, you may have it," said the lad. So he went away + farther, till he got weary, and then he sat down to rest; but + he had scarcely sat down when a third beggarman came to him. + This one was so tall and ugly and long that the lad had to + look up and up, right up to the sky. And when he took him all + in with his eyes, and saw how very, very tall and ugly and + ragged he was, he fell a-screeching and screaming again. + </p> + <center> + <img src="images/ew_009.jpg" height="748" width="480" alt= + "The lad had to look up, right up into the sky"> + </center> + <p> + "Now, don't you be afraid of me, my lad," said the beggarman, + "I'll do you no harm, for I am only a beggarman, who begs you + for a penny." + </p> + <p> + "Oh dear, oh dear!" said the lad. "I have only one penny + left, and with it I was going to the town to buy clothes. If + I had only met you sooner, then—" + </p> + <p> + "As for that," said the beggarman, "I have no penny at all, + that I haven't, and a bigger body and less clothes, so it is + worse for me than for you." + </p> + <p> + "Yes," said Little Freddy, "he must have the penny + then—there was no help for it; for so each beggarman + would have one penny, and he would have nothing." + </p> + <p> + "Well," said the beggarman, "since you have such a good heart + that you gave away all that you had in the world, I will give + you a wish for each penny." For you must know it was the same + beggarman who had got them all three; he had only changed his + shape each time, that the lad might not know him again. + </p> + <p> + "I have always had such a longing to hear a fiddle go, and + see folk so merry and glad that they couldn't help dancing," + said the lad; "and so if I may wish what I choose, I will + wish myself such a fiddle, that everything that has life must + dance to its tune." + </p> + <p> + "That you may have," said the beggarman, "but it is a sorry + wish. You must wish something better for the other two + pennies." + </p> + <p> + "I have always had such a love for hunting and shooting," + said Little Freddy; "so if I may wish what I choose, I will + wish myself such a gun that I shall hit everything I aim at, + were it ever so far off." + </p> + <p> + "That you may have," said the beggarman, "but it is a sorry + wish too. You must wish better for the last penny." + </p> + <p> + "I have always had a longing to be in company with folks who + were kind and good," said Little Freddy; "and so, if I could + get what I wish, I would wish it to be so that no one can say + 'Nay' to the first thing I ask." + </p> + <p> + "That wish is not so sorry," said the beggarman; and off he + strode between the hills, and Freddy saw him no more. + </p> + <p> + So the lad lay down to sleep, and the next day he came down + from the mountain with his fiddle and his gun. First he went + to the storekeeper and asked for clothes. Next at a farm he + asked for a horse, and at a second for a sleigh; and at + another place he asked for a fur coat. No one said him + "Nay"—even the stingiest folk were all forced to give + him what he asked for. At last he went through the country as + a fine gentleman, and had his horse and his sleigh. When he + had gone a bit he met the sheriff whose servant he had been. + </p> + <p> + "Good day, master," said Little Freddy, as he pulled up and + took off his hat. + </p> + <p> + "Good day," said the sheriff, "but when was I ever your + master?" + </p> + <p> + "Oh yes," said Little Freddy, "don't you remember how I + served you three years for three pence?" + </p> + <p> + "My goodness, now!" said the sheriff, "you have grown rich in + a hurry, and pray, how was it that you got to be such a fine + gentleman?" + </p> + <p> + "Oh, that is a long story," said Little Freddy. + </p> + <p> + "And are you so full of fun that you carry a fiddle about + with you?" asked the sheriff. + </p> + <p> + "Yes, yes," said Freddy. "I have always had such a longing to + get folk to dance. But the funniest thing of all is this gun, + for it brings down almost anything that I aim at, however far + it may be off. Do you see that magpie yonder, sitting in the + spruce fir? What will you give me if I hit it as we stand + here?" + </p> + <p> + "Well," said the sheriff, and he laughed when he said it, + "I'll give you all the money I have in my pocket, and I'll go + and fetch it when it falls," for he never thought it possible + for any gun to carry so far. + </p> + <p> + But as the gun went off down fell the magpie, and into a + great bramble thicket; and away went the sheriff up into the + bramble after it, and he picked it up and held it up high for + the lad to see. But just then Little Freddy began to play his + fiddle, and the sheriff began to dance, and the thorns to + tear him; but still the lad played on, and the sheriff + danced, and cried, and begged, till his clothes flew to + tatters, and he scarce had a thread to his back. + </p> + <p> + "Yes," said Little Freddy, "now I think you're about as + ragged as I was when I left your service; so now you may get + off with what you have." + </p> + <p> + But first the sheriff had to pay him all the money that he + had in his pocket. + </p> + <p> + So when the lad came to town he turned into an inn, and there + he began to play, and all who came danced and laughed and + were merry, and so the lad lived without any care, for all + the folks liked him and no one would say "Nay" to anything he + asked. + </p> + <p> + But one evening just as they were all in the midst of their + fun, up came the watchmen to drag the lad off to the town + hall; for the sheriff had laid a charge against him, and said + he had waylaid him and robbed him and nearly taken his life. + And now he was to be hanged. The people would hear of nothing + else. But Little Freddy had a cure for all trouble, and that + was his fiddle. He began to play on it, and the watchmen fell + a-dancing and they danced and they laughed till they gasped + for breath. + </p> + <p> + So soldiers and the guard were sent to take him, but it was + no better with them than with the watchmen. When Little + Freddy played his fiddle, they were all bound to dance; and + dance as long as he could lift a finger to play a tune; but + they were half dead long before he was tired. + </p> + <p> + At last they stole a march on him, and took him while he lay + asleep by night. Now that they had caught him they could + condemn him to be hanged on the spot, and away they hurried + him to the gallows tree. + </p> + <p> + There a great crowd of people flocked together to see this + wonder, and the sheriff too was there. He was glad to get + even at last for the money and the clothes he had lost, and + to see the lad hanged with his own eyes. + </p> + <p> + And here came Little Freddy, carrying his fiddle and his gun. + Slowly he mounted the steps of the gallows,—and when he + got to the top he sat down, and asked if they could deny him + a wish, and if he might have leave to do one thing? He had + such a longing, he said, to scrape a tune and play a bar on + his fiddle before they hanged him. + </p> + <p> + "No, no," they said; "it were sin and shame to deny him + that." For you know, no one could say "Nay" to what he asked. + </p> + <p> + But the sheriff begged them not to let him have leave to + touch a string, else it would be all over with them + altogether. If the lad leave, he begged them to bind him to + the birch that stood there. + </p> + <p> + Little Freddy was not slow in getting his fiddle to speak, + and all that were there fell a-dancing at once, those who + went on two legs, and those who went on four. Both the dean + and the parson, the lawyer and the sheriff, masters and men, + dogs and pigs—they all danced and laughed and barked + and squealed at one another. Some danced till they lay down + and gasped, some danced till they fell in a swoon. It went + badly with all of them, but worst of all with the sheriff; + for there he stood bound to the birch, and he danced till he + scraped the clothes off his back. I dare say it was a sorry + looking sight and a sore back. + </p> + <p> + But there was not one of them who thought of doing anything + to Little Freddy, and away he went with his fiddle and his + gun, whither he chose, and he lived merrily and happily all + his days, for there was no one who could say "Nay" to the + first thing he asked for. + </p> + <p> + + </p> + <p> + + </p> + <p> + + </p> + <p> + + </p> + <p> + + </p> + <p> + + </p> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of East O' the Sun and West O' the Moon, by +Gudrun Thorne-Thomsen + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK EAST O' THE SUN AND WEST O' THE MOON *** + +***** This file should be named 8653-h.htm or 8653-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/8/6/5/8653/ + +Produced by David Garcia, Juliet Sutherland, Charles Franks +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team. + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will +be renamed. + +Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright +law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, +so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United +States without permission and without paying copyright +royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of +the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at +www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have +to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. + +Title: East O' the Sun and West O' the Moon + +Author: Gudrun Thorne-Thomsen + +Illustrator: Frederick Richardson + +Posting Date: February 5, 2015 [EBook #8653] +Release Date: August, 2005 +First Posted: July 30, 2003 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK EAST O' THE SUN AND WEST O' THE MOON *** + + + + +Produced by David Garcia, Juliet Sutherland, Charles Franks +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team. + + + + + + + + + + +EAST O' THE SUN AND WEST O' THE MOON +with +OTHER NORWEGIAN FOLK TALES + + +Retold by Gudrun Thorne-Thomsen + +Illustrated by Frederick Richardson + + + + +FOREWORD + + +In recent years there has been a wholesome revival of the ancient art +of story-telling. The most thoughtful, progressive educators have come +to recognize the culture value of folk and fairy stories, fables and +legends, not only as means of fostering and directing the power of the +child's imagination, but as a basis for literary interpretation and +appreciation throughout life. + +This condition has given rise to a demand for the best material in each +of these several lines. Some editors have gleaned from one field; some +from several. It is the aim of this little book to bring together only +the very best from the rich stores of Norwegian folk-lore. All these +stories have been told many times by the editor to varied audiences of +children and to those who are "older grown." Each has proved its power +to make the universal appeal. + +In preparing the stories for publication, the aim has been to preserve, +as much as possible, in vocabulary and idiom, the original folk-lore +language, and to retain the conversational style of the teller of tales, +in order that the sympathetic young reader may, in greater or less +degree, be translated into the atmosphere of the old-time story-hour. + +GUDRUN THORNE-THOMSEN. + + + + +CONTENTS + + +East o' the Sun and West o' the Moon + +The Three Billy Goats Gruff + +Taper Tom + +Why the Bear is Stumpy-Tailed + +Reynard and the Cock + +Bruin and Reynard Partners + +Boots and His Brothers + +The Lad Who Went to the North Wind + +The Giant Who Had No Heart in His Body + +The Sheep and the Pig Who Set Up Housekeeping + +The Parson and the Clerk + +Father Bruin + +The Pancake + +Why the Sea is Salt + +The Squire's Bride + +Peik + +The Princess Who Could Not Be Silenced + +The Twelve Wild Ducks + +Gudbrand-on-the-Hillside + +The Princess on the Glass Hill + +The Husband Who Was to Mind the House + +Little Freddy with His Fiddle + + + + +[Illustration: "Are you afraid?"] + + + + +EAST O' THE SUN AND WEST O' THE MOON + + +Once on a time there was a poor woodcutter who had so many children that +he had not much of either food or clothing to give them. Pretty children +they all were, but the prettiest was the youngest daughter, who was so +lovely there was no end to her loveliness. + +It was on a Thursday evening late in the fall of the year. The weather +was wild and rough outside, and it was cruelly dark. The rain fell and +the wind blew till the walls of the cottage shook. There they all sat +round the fire busy with this thing and that. Just then, all at once, +something gave three taps at the window pane. Then the father went out +to see what was the matter, and, when he got out of doors, what should +he see but a great White Bear. + +"Good evening to you!" said the White Bear. + +"The same to you," said the man. + +"Will you give me your youngest daughter? If you will, I'll make you as +rich as you are now poor," said the Bear. + +Well, the man would not be at all sorry to be so rich;--but give him his +prettiest lassie, no, that he couldn't do, so he said "No" outright and +closed the door both tight and well. But the Bear called out, "I'll give +you time to think; next Thursday night I'll come for your answer." + +Now, the lassie had heard every word that the Bear had said, and before +the next Thursday evening came, she had washed and mended her rags, made +herself as neat as she could, and was ready to start. I can't say her +packing gave her much trouble. + +Next Thursday evening came the White Bear to fetch her, and she got upon +his back with her bundle, and off they went. So when they had gone a bit +of the way, the White Bear said, "Are you afraid?" + +"No, not at all," said the lassie. + +"Well! mind and hold tight by my shaggy coat, and then there's nothing +to fear," added the Bear. + +So she rode a long, long way, till they came to a great steep hill. +There on the face of it the White Bear gave a knock, and a door opened, +and they came into a castle, where there were many rooms all lit up, +gleaming with silver and gold, and there too was a table ready laid, and +it was all as grand as grand could be. Then the White Bear gave her a +silver bell. When she wanted anything she had only to ring it, and she +would get what she wanted at once. + +Well, when she had had supper and evening wore on, she became sleepy +because of her journey. She thought she would like to go to bed, so she +rang the bell. She had scarce taken hold of it before she came into a +chamber where there were two beds as fair and white as any one would +wish to sleep in. But when she had put out the light and gone to bed +some one came into the room and lay down in the other bed. Now this +happened every night, but she never saw who it was, for he always came +after she had put out the light; and, before the day dawned, he was up +and off again. + +So things went on for a while, the lassie having everything she wanted. +But you must know, that no human being did she see from morning till +night, only the White Bear could she talk to, and she did not know what +man or monster it might be who came to sleep in her room by night. At +last she began to be silent and sorrowful and would neither eat nor +drink. + +One day the White Bear came to her and said: "Lassie, why are you so +sorrowful? This castle and all that is in it are yours, the silver bell +will give you anything that you wish. I only beg one thing of you--ask +no questions, trust me and nothing shall harm you. So now be happy +again." But still the lassie had no peace of mind, for one thing she +wished to know: Who it was who came in the night and slept in her room? +All day long and all night long she wondered and longed to know, and she +fretted and pined away. + +So one night, when she could not stand it any longer and she heard that +he slept, she got up, lit a bit of a candle, and let the light shine on +him. Then she saw that he was the loveliest Prince one ever set eyes on, +and she bent over and kissed him. But, as she kissed him, she dropped +three drops of hot tallow on his shirt, and he woke up. + +"What have you done?" he cried; "now you have made us both unlucky, for +had you held out only this one year, I had been freed. For I am the +White Bear by day and a man by night. It is a wicked witch who has +bewitched me; and now I must set off from you to her. She lives in a +castle which stands East o' the Sun and West o' the Moon, and there are +many trolls and witches there and one of those is the wife I must now +have." + +She wept, but there was no help for it; go he must. + +Then she asked if she mightn't go with him? + +No, she mightn't. + +"Tell me the way then," she said, "and I'll search you out; that, +surely, I may get leave to do." + +"Yes, you may do that," he said, "but there is no way to that place. It +lies East o' the Sun and West o' the Moon and thither you can never find +your way." And at that very moment both Prince and castle were gone, and +she lay on a little green patch in the midst of the gloomy thick wood, +and by her side lay the same bundle of rags she had brought with her +from home. + +Then she wept and wept till she was tired, and all the while she thought +of the lovely Prince and how she should find him. + +So at last she set out on her way and walked many, many days and +whomever she met she asked: "Can you tell me the way to the castle that +lies East o' the Sun and West o' the Moon?" But no one could tell her. + +And on she went a weary time. Both hungry and tired was she when she got +to the East Wind's house one morning. There she asked the East Wind if +he could tell her the way to the Prince who dwelt East o' the Sun and +West o' the Moon. Yes, the East Wind had often heard tell of it, the +Prince, and the castle, but he couldn't tell the way, for he had never +blown so far. + +"But, if you will, I'll go with you to my brother the West Wind. Maybe +he knows, for he's much stronger. So, if you will just get on my back, +I'll carry you thither." + +Yes, she got on his back, and I can tell you they went briskly along. + +So when they got there, they went into the West Wind's house, and the +East Wind said that the lassie he had brought was the one who ought to +marry the Prince who lived in the castle East o' the Sun and West o' the +Moon; and that she had set out to seek him, and would be glad to know if +the West Wind knew how to get to the castle. + +"Nay," said the West Wind, "so far I've never blown; but if you will, +I'll go with you to our brother the South Wind, for he is much stronger +than either of us, and he has flapped his wings far and wide. Maybe +he'll tell you. You can get on my back and I'll carry you to him." + +Yes, she got on his back, and so they travelled to the South Wind, and +were not long on the way, either. + +When they got there, the West Wind asked him if he could tell her the +way to the castle that lay East o' the Sun and West o' the Moon, for it +was she who ought to marry the Prince who lived there. + +"You don't say so. That's she, is it?" said the South Wind. + +"Well, I have blustered about in most places in my time, but that far I +have never blown; however, if you will, I'll take you to my brother the +North Wind; he is the oldest and strongest of all of us, and if he +doesn't know where it is, you'll never find anyone in the world to tell +you. You can get on my back and I'll carry you thither." + +Yes, she got on his back, and away he went from his house at a fine +rate. And this time, too, she was not long on the way. When they got +near the North Wind's house he was so wild and cross that cold puffs +came from him. + +"Heigh, there, what do you want?" he bawled out to them ever so far off, +so that it struck them with an icy shiver. + +"Well," said the South Wind, "you needn't be so put out, for here I am +your brother, the South Wind, and here is the lassie who ought to marry +the Prince who dwells in the castle that lies East o' the Sun and West +o' the Moon. She wants to ask you, if you ever were there, and can tell +her the way, for she would be so glad to find him again." + +"Yes, I know well enough where it is," said the North Wind. "Once in my +life I blew an aspen leaf thither, but I was so tired I couldn't blow a +puff for ever so many days after it. But if you really wish to go +thither, and aren't afraid to come along with me, I'll take you on my +back and see if I can blow you there." + +"Yes! and thank you," she said, for she must and would get thither if it +were possible in any way; and as for fear, however madly he went, she +wouldn't be at all afraid. + +"Very well then," said the North Wind, "but you must sleep here +to-night, for we must have the whole day before us if we're to get +thither at all." + +Early next morning the North Wind woke her, and puffed himself up, and +blew himself out, and made himself so stout and big, it was gruesome to +look at him. And so off she went, high on the back of the North Wind up +through the air, as if they would never stop till they got to the +world's end. + +Down here below there was a terrible storm; it threw down long tracts of +woodland and many houses, and when it swept over the great sea ships +foundered by hundreds. + +So they tore on and on,--no one can believe how far they went,--and all +the while they still went over the sea, and the North Wind got more and +more weary, and so out of breath he could scarce bring out a puff, and +his wings drooped and drooped, till at last he sunk so low that the +crests of the waves lashed over her heels. + +"Are you afraid?" said the North Wind. + +She wasn't. + +But they were not very far from land; and the North Wind had still so +much strength left in him that he managed to throw her up on shore close +by the castle which lay East o' the Sun and West o' the Moon; but then +he was so weak and worn out, that he had to stay there and rest many +days before he could get home again. + +And now the lassie began to look about her and to think of how she might +free the Prince, but nowhere did she see a sign of life. + +Then she sat herself down right under the castle windows, and as soon as +the sun went down, out they came, trolls and witches, red-eyed, +long-nosed, hunch-backed hags, tumbling over each other, scolding, +hurrying and scurrying hither and thither. + +At first they almost frightened the life out of her, but when she had +watched them awhile and they had not noticed her, she took courage and +walked up to one of them and said: "Pray tell me what goes on here +to-night that you are all so busy, and could I perhaps get something to +do for a night's lodging and a bit of food?" + +"Ha, ha, ha!" laughed the horrid witch, "and where do you come from that +you do not know that it is to-night that the Prince chooses his bride. +When the moon stands high over the tree tops yonder we meet in the +clearing by the old oak. There the caldrons are ready with boiling lye, +for don't you know?--he's going to choose for his bride the one who can +wash three spots of tallow from his shirt, Ha, ha, ha!" + +And the wicked witch hurried off again, laughing such a horrible laugh +that it made the lassie's blood run cold. + +But now the trolls and witches came trooping out of the very earth, it +seemed, and all turned their steps toward the clearing in the woods. + +So the lassie went too, and found a place among the rest. Now the moon +stood high above the tree tops, and there was the caldron in the middle +and round about sat the trolls and witches;--such gruesome company I'm +sure you were never in. Then came the Prince; he looked about from one +to the other, and he saw the lassie, and his face grew white, but he +said nothing. + +"Now, let's begin," said a witch with a nose three ells long. She was +sure she was going to have the Prince, and she began to wash away as +hard as she could, but the more she rubbed and scrubbed, the bigger the +spots grew. + +"Ah!" said an old hag, "you can't wash, let me try." + +But she hadn't long taken the shirt in hand, before it was far worse +than ever, and with all her rubbing and scrubbing and wringing, the +spots grew bigger and blacker, and the darker and uglier was the shirt. + +Then all the other trolls began to wash, but the longer it lasted, the +blacker and uglier the shirt grew, till at last it was as black all over +as if it had been up the chimney. + +"Ah!" said the Prince, "you're none of you worth a straw, you can't +wash. Why there sits a beggar lassie, I'll be bound she knows how to +wash better than the whole lot of you. Come here, lassie," he shouted. + +"Can you wash the shirt clean, lassie?" said he. + +"I don't know," she said, "but I think I can." + +And almost before she had taken it and dipped it in the water, it was as +white as snow, and whiter still. + +"Yes; you are the lassie for me," said the Prince. + +At that moment the sun rose and the whole pack of trolls turned to +stone. + +There you may see them to this very day sitting around in a circle, big +ones and little ones, all hard, cold stone. + +But the Prince took the lassie by the hand and they flitted away as far +as they could from the castle that lay East o' the Sun and West o' the +Moon. + + + + +THE THREE BILLY GOATS GRUFF + + +Once on a time there were three Billy Goats, who were to go up to the +hillside to make themselves fat, and the family name of the goats was +"Gruff." + +On the way up was a bridge, over a river which they had to cross, and +under the bridge lived a great ugly Troll with eyes as big as saucers, +and a nose as long as a poker. + +First of all came the youngest Billy Goat Gruff to cross the bridge. +"Trip, trap; trip, trap!" went the bridge. + +"_Who's that tripping over my bridge?_" roared the Troll. + +"Oh, it is only I, the tiniest Billy Goat Gruff, and I'm going up to the +hillside to make myself fat," said the Billy Goat, with such a small +voice. + +"Now, I'm coming to gobble you up," said the Troll. + +"Oh, no! pray do not take me, I'm too little, that I am," said the Billy +Goat; "wait a bit till the second Billy Goat Gruff comes, he's much +bigger." + +"Well! be off with you," said the Troll. + +A little while after came the second Billy Goat Gruff across the bridge. + +"Trip, trap! trip, trap! trip, trap!" went the bridge. + +"_Who is that tripping over my bridge_?" roared the Troll. + +"Oh, it's the second Billy Goat Gruff, and I'm going up to the hillside +to make myself fat," said the Billy Goat. Nor had he such a small voice, +either. + +"Now, I'm coming to gobble you up!" said the Troll. + +"Oh, no! don't take me, wait a little till the big Billy Goat comes, +he's much bigger." + +"Very well! be off with you," said the Troll. + +But just then up came the big Billy Goat Gruff. + +"Trip, trap! trip, trap! trip, trap!" went the bridge, for the Billy +Goat was so heavy that the bridge creaked and groaned under him. + +"_Who's that tramping on my bridge?_" roared the Troll. + +"It's I! the big Billy Goat Gruff," said the Billy Goat, and he had a +big hoarse voice. + +"Now, I'm coming to gobble you up!" roared the troll. + + "_Well come! I have two spears so stout, + With them I'll thrust your eyeballs out; + I have besides two great big stones, + With them I'll crush you body and bones!_" + +That was what the big Billy Goat said; so he flew at the Troll, and +thrust him with his horns, and crushed him to bits, body and bones, and +tossed him out into the river, and after that he went up to the +hillside. + +There the Billy Goats got so fat that they were scarcely able to walk +home again, and if they haven't grown thinner, why they're still fat; +and so,-- + + "Snip, snap, stout. + This tale's told out." + + + + +TAPER TOM + + +Once on a time there was a King who had a daughter, and she was so +lovely that her good looks were well known far and near. But she was so +sad and serious she could never be got to laugh, and besides, she was so +high and mighty that she said "No" to all who came to woo her. She would +have none of them, were they ever so grand--lords or princes,--it was +all the same. + +The King had long ago become tired of this, for he thought she might +just as well marry; she, too, like all other people. There was no use in +waiting; she was quite old enough, nor would she be any richer, for she +was to have half the kingdom,--that came to her as her mother's heir. + +So he had word sent throughout the kingdom, that anyone who could get +his daughter to laugh should have her for his wife and half the kingdom +besides. But, if there was anyone who tried and could not, he was to +have a sound thrashing. And sure it was that there were many sore backs +in that kingdom, for lovers and wooers came from north and south, and +east and west, thinking it nothing at all to make a King's daughter +laugh. And gay fellows they were, some of them too, but for all their +tricks and capers there sat the Princess, just as sad and serious as she +had been before. + +Now, not far from the palace lived a man who had three sons, and they, +too, had heard how the King had given it out that the man who could make +the Princess laugh was to have her to wife and half the kingdom. + +The eldest was for setting off first. So he strode off, and when he came +to the King's grange, he told the King he would be glad to try to make +the Princess laugh. + +"All very well, my man," said the King, "but it's sure to be of no use, +for so many have been here and tried. My daughter is so sorrowful it's +no use trying, and it's not my wish that anyone should come to grief." + +But the lad thought he would like to try. It couldn't be such a very +hard thing for him to get the Princess to laugh, for so many had laughed +at him, both gentle and simple, when he enlisted for a soldier and was +drilled by Corporal Jack. + +So he went off to the courtyard, under the Princess's window, and began +to go through his drill as Corporal Jack had taught him. But it was no +good, the Princess was just as sad and serious and did not so much as +smile at him once. So they took him and thrashed him well, and sent him +home again. + +Well, he had hardly got home before his second brother wanted to set +off. He was a schoolmaster, and the funniest figure one ever laid eyes +upon; he was lopsided, for he had one leg shorter than the other, and +one moment he was as little as a boy, and in another, when he stood on +his long leg, he was as tall and long as a Troll. Besides this he was a +powerful preacher. + +So when he came to the king's palace, and said he wished to make the +Princess laugh, the King thought it might not be so unlikely after all. +"But mercy on you," he said, "if you don't make her laugh. We are for +laying it on harder and harder for every one that fails." + +Then the schoolmaster strode off to the courtyard, and put himself +before the Princess's window, and read and preached like seven parsons, +and sang and chanted like seven clerks, as loud as all the parsons and +clerks in the country round. + +The King laughed loud at him, and the Princess almost smiled a little, +but then became as sad and serious as ever, and so it fared no better +with Paul, the schoolmaster, than with Peter the soldier--for you must +know one was called Peter and the other Paul. So they took him and +flogged him well, and then they sent him home again. + +Then the youngest, whose name was Taper Tom, was all for setting out. +But his brothers laughed and jeered at him, and showed him their sore +backs, and his father said it was no use for him to go for he had no +sense. Was it not true that he neither knew anything nor could do +anything? There he sat in the hearth, like a cat, and grubbed in the +ashes and split tapers. That was why they called him "Taper Tom." But +Taper Tom would not give in, and so they got tired of his growling; and +at last he, too, got leave to go to the king's palace to try his luck. + +When he got there he did not say that he wished to try to make the +Princess laugh, but asked if he could get work there. No, they had no +place for him, but for all that Taper Tom would not give up. In such a +big palace they must want someone to carry wood and water for the +kitchen maid,--that was what he said. And the king thought it might very +well be, for he, too, got tired of his teasing. In the end Taper Tom +stayed there to carry wood and water for the kitchen maid. + +So one day, when he was going to fetch water from the brook, he set eyes +upon a big fish which lay under an old fir stump, where the water had +eaten into the bank, and he put his bucket softly under the fish and +caught it. But as he was gong home to the grange he met an old woman who +led a golden goose by a string. + +"Good-day, godmother," said Taper Tom, "that's a pretty bird you have, +and what fine feathers! If one only had such feathers one might leave +off splitting fir tapers." + +The goody was just as pleased with the fish Tom had in his bucket and +said, if he would give her the fish, he might have the golden goose. And +it was such a curious goose. When any one touched it he stuck fast to +it, if Tom only said, "If you want to come along, hang on." Of course, +Taper Tom was willing enough to make the exchange. "A bird is as good as +a fish any day," he said to himself, "and, if it's such a bird as you +say, I can use it as a fish hook." That was what he said to the goody, +and he was much pleased with the goose. + +Now, he had not gone far before he met another old woman. As soon as she +saw the lovely golden goose she spoke prettily, and coaxed and begged +Tom to give her leave to stroke his lovely golden goose. + +"With all my heart," said Taper Tom, and just as she stroked the goose +he said, "If you want to come along, hang on." + +The goody pulled and tore, but she was forced to hang on whether she +would or not, and Taper Tom went on as though he alone were with the +golden goose. + +When he had gone a bit farther, he met a man who had had a quarrel with +the old woman for a trick she had played him. So, when he saw how hard +she struggled and strove to get free, and how fast she stuck, he thought +he would just pay her off the old grudge, and so he gave her a kick with +his foot. + +"If you want to come along, hang on!" called out Tom, and then the old +man had to hop along on one leg, whether he would or not. When he tore +and tugged and tried to get loose--it was still worse for him, for he +all but fell flat on his back every step he took. + +In this way they went on a good bit till they had nearly reached the +King's palace. + +There they met the King's smith, who was going to the smithy, and had a +great pair of tongs in his hand. Now you must know this smith was a +merry fellow, full of both tricks and pranks, and when he saw this +string come hobbling and limping along, he laughed so that he was almost +bent double. Then he bawled out, "Surely this is a new flock of geese +the Princess is going to have--Ah, here is the gander that toddles in +front. Goosey! goosey! goosey!" he called, and with that he threw his +hands about as though he were scattering corn for the geese. + +But the flock never stopped--on it went and all that the goody and the +man did was to look daggers at the smith for making fun of them. Then +the smith went on: + +"It would be fine fun to see if I could hold the whole flock, so many as +they are," for he was a stout strong fellow. So he took hold with his +big tongs by the old man's coat tail, and the man all the while +screeched and wriggled. But Taper Tom only said: + +"If you want to come along, hang on!" So the smith had to go along too. +He bent his back and stuck his heels into the ground and tried to get +loose, but it was all no good. He stuck fast, as though he had been +screwed tight with his own vise, and whether he would or not, he had to +dance along with the rest. + +So, when they came near to the King's palace, the dog ran out and began +to bark as though they were wolves and beggars. And when the Princess, +looking out of the window to see what was the matter, set eyes on this +strange pack, she laughed softly to herself. But Taper Tom was not +content with that: + +"Bide a bit," he said, "she will soon have to make a noise." And as he +said that he turned off with his band to the back of the palace. + +When they passed by the kitchen the door stood open, and the cook was +just stirring the porridge. But when she saw Taper Tom and his pack she +came running out at the door, with her broom in one hand and a ladle +full of smoking porridge in the other, and she laughed as though her +sides would split. And when she saw the smith there too, she bent double +and went off again in a loud peal of laughter. But when she had had her +laugh out, she too thought the golden goose so lovely she must just +stroke it. + +"Taper Tom! Taper Tom!" she called out, and came running out with the +ladle of porridge in her fist, "Give me leave to pet that pretty bird of +yours'?" + +"Better come and pet me," said the smith. But when the cook heard that +she got angry. + +"What is that you say?" she cried and gave the smith a box on his ears +with the ladle. + +"If you want to come along, hang on," said Taper Tom. So she stuck fast +too, and for all her kicks and plunges, and all her scolding and +screaming, and all her riving and striving, she too had to limp along +with them. + +[Illustration: She opened her mouth wide and laughed] + +Soon the whole company came under the Princess's window. There she stood +waiting for them. And when she saw they had taken the cook too, with her +ladle and broom, she opened her mouth wide, and laughed so loud that the +King had to hold her upright. + +So Taper Tom got the Princess and half the kingdom, and they say he kept +her in high spirits with his tricks and pranks till the end of her days. + + + + +WHY THE BEAR IS STUMPY-TAILED + + +One day the Bear met the Fox, who came slinking along with a string of +fish he had stolen. + +"Where did you get those?" asked the Bear. + +"Oh! my Lord Bruin, I've been out fishing and caught them," said the +Fox. + +So the Bear had a mind to learn to fish too, and bade the Fox tell him +how he was to set about it. + +"Oh! it is an easy craft for you," answered the Fox, "and soon learned. +You've only to go upon the ice, cut a hole, stick your tail down into +it, and hold it there as long as you can. You're not to mind if your +tail smarts a little; that's when the fish bite. The longer you hold it +there the more fish you'll get; and then all at once out with it, with a +cross pull sideways, and with a strong pull too." + +Yes, the Bear did as the Fox had said, and held his tail a long, long +time down in the hole, till it was frozen in fast. Then he pulled it out +with a cross pull, and it snapped short off. That's why Bruin goes about +with a stumpy tail to this very day. + + + + +REYNARD AND THE COCK + + +Once on a time there was a cock who stood on the barnyard fence and +crowed and flapped his wings. Then the fox came by. + +"Good-day," said Reynard. "I have heard you crowing so nicely, but can +you stand on one leg and crow, and wink your eyes?" + +"Oh, yes," said the cock, "I can do that very well." So he stood on one +leg and crowed, but he winked only with one eye, and when he had done +that he made himself big and flapped his wings, as though he had done a +great thing. + +"Very pretty, to be sure," said Reynard. "Almost as pretty as when the +parson preaches in church, but can you stand on one leg and wink both +your eyes at once? I hardly think you can." + +"Can't I though!" said the cock, and stood on one leg, and winked both +his eyes and crowed. But Reynard caught hold of him, took him by the +throat, and threw him on his back, so that he was off to the wood before +he had crowed his crow out, as fast as Reynard could lay legs to the +ground. + +When they had come under an old spruce fir, Reynard threw the cock on +the ground, and set his paw on his breast, and was going to take a bite: +"You are a heathen, Reynard!" said the cock. "Good Christians say grace +before they eat." + +But Reynard would be no heathen, no indeed. So he let go his hold, and +was about to fold his paws over his breast, and say grace--but pop! up +flew the cock into a tree. + +"You shan't get off for all that," said Reynard to himself. So he went +away, and came again with a few chips which the woodcutters had left. +The cock peeped and peered to see what they could be. + +"What is that you have there?" he asked. + +"These are letters I have just got," said Reynard, "won't you help me to +read them, for I don't know how to read writing." + +"I'd be so happy, but I dare not read them now," said the cock, "for +here comes a hunter--I see him, I see him with his pouch and gun." + +When Reynard heard the cock chattering about a hunter, he took to his +heels as fast as he could. + + + + +BRUIN AND REYNARD PARTNERS + + +Once on a time Bruin and Reynard owned a field in common. They had +a little clearing up in the wood, and the first year they sowed rye. + +"Now we must share the crop as is fair and right," said Reynard. +"If you like to have the root, I'll take the top." + +Yes, Bruin was ready to do that; but when they had threshed out the +crop, Reynard got all the corn, but Bruin got nothing but roots and +rubbish. He did not like that at all; but Reynard said that was how +they had agreed to share it. + +"This year I have the gain," said Reynard, "next year it will be your +turn. Then you shall have the top, and I shall have to put up with the +root." + +But when spring came, and it was time to sow, Reynard asked Bruin what +he thought of turnips. + +"Aye, aye!" said Bruin, "that's better food than rye," and so Reynard +thought also. But when harvest time came Reynard got the roots, while +Bruin got the turnip-tops. And then Bruin was so angry with Reynard +that he put an end at once to his partnership with him. + + + + +BOOTS AND HIS BROTHERS + + +Once on a time there was a man who had three sons, Peter, Paul and +Espen. Espen was Boots, of course, because he was the youngest. I can't +say the man had anything except these three sons, for he did not possess +one penny to rub against another; and so he told his sons over and over +again they must go out into the world to seek their fortune, for at home +there was nothing to be expected but to starve to death. + +Now, a short way from the man's cottage was the King's palace, and you +must know, just against the King's windows a great oak had sprung up, +which was so stout and big that it took away all the light from the +king's palace. The King had said he would give much gold to any man who +could fell the oak, but no one was man enough to do it, for as soon as +one chip of the oak's trunk flew off, two grew in its stead. The King +wished also to have a well dug which was to hold water for the whole +year. All his neighbors had wells, but he had none, and he thought that +a shame. + +So the King said he would give to any one who could dig him such a well +as would hold water for the whole year round, both money and goods, but +no one could do it, for the King's palace lay high, high up on a hill, +and they could dig but a few inches before they would come upon rock. + +But as the King had set his heart on having these two things done, he +had it given out in all the churches of his kingdom far and wide, that +he who could fell the big oak in the King's courtyard, and dig him a +well that would hold water the whole year round, should have the +Princess and half the kingdom. Well! you may easily know there was many +a man who came to try his luck; but all their hacking and hewing, and +all their digging and delving were useless. The oak got bigger and +stouter at every stroke, and the rock grew no softer either. + +One day the three brothers thought they, too, would set off and try it. +Their father had not a word to say against it; for even if they did not +get the Princess and half the kingdom, it might happen they would get a +place somewhere with a good master and that was all he wanted. So when +the brothers asked his permission, he consented at once, and Peter, Paul +and Espen set forth. + +Well, they had not gone far before they came to a fir wood where at one +side there rose a steep hill, and as they went along they heard +something hewing and hacking away up on the hill among the trees. + +"I wonder now what it is that is hewing away up yonder," said Boots. + +"You're always so clever with your wondering," laughed Peter and Paul +both at once. "What wonder is it, pray, that a wood cutter should stand +and hack up on a hillside?" + +"Still, I'd like to see what it is, after all," said Boots, and up he +went. + +"Oh, if you're such a child, 'twill do you good to go and take a +lesson," called out his brothers after him. + +But Boots didn't care for what they said; he climbed the steep hillside +towards the spot whence the noise came, and when he reached the place, +what do you think he saw? Why, an axe that stood there hacking and +hewing, all of itself, at the trunk of a fir tree. + +"Good-day," said Boots. "So you stand here all alone and hew, do you?" + +"Yes, here I've stood and hewed and hacked for hundreds of years, +waiting for you," said the axe. + +"Well, here I am at last," said Boots, as he took the axe, pulled it off +its haft, and stuffed both head and haft into his wallet. + +When he got down again to his brothers, they began to jeer and laugh at +him. + +"And now, what strange thing was it you saw up yonder on the hillside?" +they asked. + +"Oh, it was only an axe we heard," said Boots. + +When they had gone on a bit farther, their road passed under a steep +spur of rock, where they heard something digging and shovelling. + +[Illustration: A spade that stood digging and delving] + +"I wonder now," said Boots, "what is digging and shovelling up yonder at +the top of the rock." + +"Ah, you're always so clever with your wondering," laughed Peter and +Paul again, "as if you'd never heard a woodpecker hacking and pecking at +a hollow tree." + +"Well, well," said Boots, "I just think it would be fun to see what it +really is." + +And so off he set to climb the rock, while the others laughed and made +fun of him. But he did not care a bit for that; up he climbed, and when +he got near the top, what do you think he saw? Why, a spade that stood +there digging and delving. + +"Good-day!" said Boots. "So you stand here all alone, and dig and delve, +do you?" + +"Yes, that's what I do," said the spade, "and that's what I've done +these hundreds of years, waiting for you, Boots." + +"Well, here I am," said Boots again, as he took the spade and knocked it +off the handle, and put it into his wallet,--and then returned to his +brothers. + +"Well, what was it, so rare and strange," said Peter and Paul, "that you +saw up there at the top of the rock?" + +"Oh," said Boots, "nothing more than a spade; that was what we heard." + +So they went on again a good bit until they came to a brook. They were +thirsty, all three, after their long walk, and so they lay down beside +the brook to have a drink. + +"I wonder now," said Boots, "where all this water comes from." + +"I wonder if you've lost the little sense you had," said Peter and Paul +in one breath. "Where the brook comes from indeed! Have you never heard +how water rises from a spring in the earth?" + +"Yes! but still I've a great fancy to see where this brook comes from," +said Boots. + +So along beside the brook he went, in spite of all that his brothers +cried after him. Nothing could stop him. On he went, up and up, and the +brook got smaller and smaller, and at last, a little way farther on, +what do you think he saw? Why, a great walnut, and out of that the water +trickled. + +"Good-day!" said Boots again. "So you lie here, and trickle and run down +all alone?" + +"Yes, I do," said the walnut, "and here have I trickled and run these +hundreds of years, waiting for you, Boots." + +"Well, here I am," said Boots, as he took up a lump of moss, and plugged +up the hole, that the water might not run out. Then he put the walnut +into his wallet, and ran down to his brothers. + +"Well, now," said Peter and Paul, "have you found out where the water +comes from? A rare sight it must have been!" + +"Oh, after all, it was only a hole it ran out of," said Boots; and so +the others laughed and made fun of him again, but Boots didn't mind that +a bit. + +"After all, I had the fun of seeing it," said he. + +So when they had gone a bit farther, they came to the King's palace; but +as every one in the kingdom had heard how he might win the Princess and +half the realm, if he could only fell the big oak and dig the King's +well, so many had come to try their luck that the oak was now twice as +stout and big as it had been at first; for two chips grew for every one +they hewed out with their axes, as I dare say you remember I told you. +So the King had now laid down as a punishment, that if any one tried and +could not fell the oak, he should be put on a barren island, much like a +prison. + +The two brothers did not let themselves be scared by that, however, for +they were quite sure they could fell the oak, and Peter, as he was the +eldest, was to try his hand first. But it went with him as with all the +rest who had hewn at the oak. For every chip he had cut out, two grew in +its place. So the King's men seized him, bound him hand and foot, and +put him out on the island. + +Now, Paul was to try his luck, but he fared just the same; when he had +hewn two or three strokes, they began to see the oak grow, and so the +King's men seized him too, bound him hand and foot, and put him out on +the island. + +And now Boots was to try. + +"You can save yourself the trouble, we'll bind you and send you off +after your brothers just as well first as last," laughed the King's men. + +"Well, I'd just like to try first," said Boots, and so he got leave. +Then he took his axe out of his wallet and fitted it to its haft. + +"Hew away!" said he to his axe; and away it hewed, making the chips fly, +so that it wasn't long before down came the oak. + +When that was done Boots pulled out his spade and fitted it to its +handle. + +"Dig away!" said he to the spade; and the spade began to dig and delve +till the earth and rock flew out in splinters, and he had the well soon +dug out, as you may believe. + +And when he had got it as big and deep as he chose, Boots took out his +walnut and laid it in one corner of the well, and pulled the plug of +moss out. + +"Trickle and run," said Boots; and so the water trickled and ran, till +it gushed out of the hole in a stream, and in a short time the well was +brimful. + +Then Boots had felled the oak which shaded the King's palace, and dug a +well that held water all the year around, and so he got the princess and +half the kingdom, as the King had said. And it was lucky for Peter and +Paul that they were on the barren island, else they had heard each day +and hour how every one said: "Well, after all, Boots did not wonder +about things for nothing." + + + + +THE LAD WHO WENT TO THE NORTH WIND + + +Once on a time there was an old widow who had one son, and as she was +feeble and weak, she asked her son to go out to the storehouse and fetch +meal for cooking. But when he got outside the storehouse, and was just +going down the steps, there came the North Wind, puffing and blowing, +caught up the meal, and away with it through the air. Then the lad went +back into the storehouse for more; but when he came out again on the +steps, the North Wind came again and carried off the meal with a puff; +and more than that, he did it the third time. At this the lad got very +angry; and as it seemed hard that the North Wind should behave so, he +thought he would go in search of him and ask him to give up his meal. + +So off he went, but the way was long, and he walked and walked. At last +he came to the North Wind's house. + +"Good-day!" said the lad, "and thank you for coming to see us." + +"Good-day," answered the North Wind, and his voice was loud and gruff, +"and thanks for coming to see me. What do you want?" + +"Oh," answered the lad, "I only wished to ask you to be so good as to +let me have back the meal you took from me on the storehouse steps, for +we haven't much to live on; and if you're to go on snapping up the +morsel we have, there'll be nothing for it but to starve." + +"I haven't your meal," said the North Wind; "but since you are in such +need, I'll give you a table cloth which will get you everything you +want. You need only say, 'Cloth, spread yourself, and serve up all kinds +of good dishes!'" + +With this the lad was well content. But, as the way was long he could +not get home in one day, so he turned into an inn on the way; and when +they were going to sit down to supper he laid the cloth on the table +which stood in the corner, and said,-- + +"Cloth, spread yourself, and serve up all kinds of good dishes." + +He had scarcely said this before the cloth did as it was bid, and all +who stood by thought it a fine thing, but most of all the landlord. So, +when all were fast asleep, at dead of night, he took the lad's cloth, +and put another like it in its stead. But this could not so much as +serve up a bit of dry bread. + +When the lad woke he took the cloth and went off with it, and that day +he got home to his mother. + +"Now," said he, "I've been to the North Wind's house, and a good fellow +he is, for he gave me this cloth and when I only say to it, 'Cloth, +spread yourself, and serve up all kinds of good dishes,' I get every +sort of food I please." + +"All very true, I dare say," said the mother, "but seeing is believing." + +So the lad made haste, drew out a table, laid the cloth on it, and +said,-- + +"Cloth, spread yourself, and serve up all kinds of good dishes." + +But not even a bit of dry bread did the cloth serve up. + +"Well!" said the lad, "there's no help for it but to go to the North +Wind again," and away he went. + +So, late in the afternoon, he came to where the North Wind lived. + +"Good evening!" said the lad. + +"Good evening!" said the North Wind. + +"I want my rights for that meal of ours which you took," said the lad, +"for, as for that cloth I got, it isn't worth a penny." + +"I have no meal," said the North Wind; "but you may have the ram yonder +which will coin gold ducats when you say to it,-- + +"Ram, ram! make money!" + +The lad thought this a fine thing; but as it was too far to get home +that day, he turned in for the night to the same inn where he had slept +the first time. + +Before he called for anything, he tried what the North Wind had said of +the ram, and found it all true. When the landlord saw this, he thought +it a fine ram, and when the lad had fallen asleep, he took another which +could not coin even a penny, and exchanged the two. + +Next morning off went the lad, and when he got home to his mother, he +said,-- + +"After all, the North Wind is a jolly fellow, for now he has given me a +ram, which will coin golden ducats if I only say, 'Ram, ram! make +money!'" + +"All very true, I dare say," said his mother, "but I shan't believe it +until I see the ducats made." + +"Ram, ram! make money!" said the lad; but not even a penny did the ram +coin. + +So the lad went back to the North Wind and scolded him, and said the ram +was worth nothing, and he must have his rights for the meal. + +"Well!" said the North Wind, "I've nothing else to give you but that old +stick in the corner yonder; but it's a stick of such a kind that if you +say, 'Stick, stick! lay on! it lays on till you say,--'Stick, stick! now +stop!'" + +So the lad thanked the North Wind and went his way, and as the road was +long, he turned in this night also to the landlord; but as he could +guess pretty well how things stood as to the cloth and the ram, he lay +down at once on the bench and began to snore, as if he were asleep. Now +the landlord who thought surely the stick must be worth something, +hunted up one which was like it, and when he heard the lad snore he was +going to exchange the two; but, just as the landlord was about to take +it, the lad called out,-- + +"Stick, stick! lay on!" + +So the stick began to beat the landlord, till he jumped over chairs and +tables and benches, and yelled and roared,-- + +"Oh my, oh my! bid the stick be still, else it will beat me to death. +You shall have back both your cloth and your ram." + +When the lad thought the landlord had had enough, he said, "Stick, +stick! now stop!" + +Then he took the cloth and put it into his pocket, and went home with +his stick in his hand, leading the ram by a cord tied around its horns; +and so he got his rights for the meal he had lost. + + + + +THE GIANT WHO HAD NO HEART IN HIS BODY + + +Once on a time there was a King who had seven sons. Six of them were +stout, brave lads, but the youngest was the cinderlad, you must know; +and he went about by himself neither saying nor doing much. Best of all +he liked to sit by the hearth and watch the glowing cinders, so they +called him Boots, and thought little of him. + +Now, when the Princes were grown up, the six were to set off to fetch +brides for themselves. As for Boots, they would not be seen with him, so +he was to stay at home; but the others were to bring back a bride for +him, if any could be found willing to marry such a one. The King gave +the six the finest clothes you ever set eyes upon, so fine that the +light gleamed from them a long way off; and each had his horse, which +cost many, many hundred dollars, and so they set off. Now, when they had +been to many palaces, and seen many princesses, they came to a king who +had six daughters. Such lovely king's daughters they had never seen, and +so they asked them to be their brides, and when they had got them, they +set off home again. But they quite forgot that they were to bring back a +bride for Boots, their brother, who was staying at home. + +When they had gone a good bit on their way, they passed close by a steep +hillside, like a wall, where was a giant's house. Out came the giant and +set his eyes upon them, and turned them all into stone, princes, +princesses and all. Now, the king waited and waited for his six sons, +but so long as he waited so long they stayed away; so he fell into great +grief, and said he would never know what it was to be happy again. + +One day Boots said to the King,-- + +"I've been thinking to ask your leave to set out and find my brothers." + +"Nay, nay!" said his father, "that would be of no use, for you are not +clever enough. Better stay and dig in the ashes all your life." + +But Boots had set his heart upon it. Go he would; and he begged and +pleaded so long that the King was forced to let him go. He gave Boots an +old broken-down nag; but Boots did not care a pin for that, he sprang up +on his sorry old steed. + +"Farewell, Father," he said, "I'll come back, never fear, and likely +enough I shall bring my six brothers back with me," and with that he +rode off. + +When he had ridden a while he came to a raven, which lay in the road and +flapped its wings, and was not able to get out of the way, it was so +starved. + +"Oh, dear friend," said the raven, "give me a little food, and I'll help +you again at your utmost need." + +"I haven't much food," said the Prince, "and I don't see how you'll ever +be able to help me; but still I can spare you a little. I see you need +it." + +So he gave the raven some of the food he had brought with him. + +Now, when he had gone a little farther, he came to a brook, and in the +brook lay a great salmon which had got upon a dry place and dashed +itself about, and could not get into the water again. + +"Oh, dear friend," said the salmon to the Prince; "help me out into the +water again, and I'll help you at your utmost need." + +"Well!" said the Prince, "the help you'll give me will not be great, I +daresay, but it's a pity you should be there and choke;" and with that +he shot the fish out into the stream again. + +After that he went on a long, long way, and there met him a wolf, which +was so famished that it lay and crawled along the road. + +"Dear friend, do let me have some food," said the wolf, "I'm so hungry +that the wind whistles through my ribs. I've had nothing to eat these +two years. When I have eaten, you can ride upon my back, and I'll help +you again in your utmost need." + +"Well, the help I shall get from you will not be great, I'll be bound," +said the Prince; "but you may take all I have, since you are in such +great need." + +[Illustration: Never had the prince had such a ride in his life] + +So when the wolf had eaten the food. Boots took the bit and put it +between the wolf's jaws, and laid the saddle on his back; and away they +went like the wind. Never had the Prince had such a ride before. + +"When we have gone still farther," said Graylegs, "I'll show you the +Giant's house." + +And after a while they came to it. + +"See, here is the Giant's house," said the Wolf; "and see, here are your +six brothers whom the Giant has turned to stone; and see, here are their +six brides. Yonder is the door, and in at that door you must go. When +you get in you'll find a princess, and she'll tell you what to do to +make an end of the Giant. Only mind you do as she bids you." + +Well! Boots went in, but, truth to say, he was very much afraid. The +Giant was away, but in one of the rooms sat the Princess, just as the +wolf had said, and so lovely a princess Boots had never set eyes upon. + +"Oh, heaven help you! whence have you come?" said the Princess, as she +saw him; "it will surely be your death. No one can make an end of the +Giant who lives here. He is a most cruel monster, and he has no heart in +his body." + +"Well! well!" said Boots; "but now that I am here, I may as well try +what I can do with him, and I will see if I can't free my brothers, who +have been turned to stone; and you, too, I will try to save, that I +will." + +"Well, if you must, you must," said the Princess; "so let us see if we +can't hit upon a plan. Just creep under the bed yonder, and mind you +listen to what he and I talk about. But, pray, do lie as still as a +mouse." + +So he crept under the bed, and he had scarce got well underneath, before +the Giant came. + +"Ha!" roared the Giant, "what a smell of Christian blood there is in the +house." + +"Yes, I know there is," said the Princess, "for there came a crow flying +with a man's bone, and let it fall down the chimney. I made all the +haste I could to get it out, but all one can do the smell doesn't go so +soon." + +So the Giant said no more about it, and when night came they went to +bed. After they had lain a while the Princess said, "There is one thing +I'd be glad to ask you about, if I only dared." + +"What thing is that?" asked the Giant. + +"Only this, where do you keep your heart, since you don't carry it about +you," said the Princess. + +"Ah! that's a thing you've no business to ask about: but if you must +know, it lies under the door sill." said the Giant. + +"Ho, ho!" said Boots to himself under the bed. "Then we'll soon see if +we can't find it." + +Next morning the Giant got up very early, and strode off to the wood; +but he was hardly out of the house before Boots and the Princess set to +work to look under the door sill for this heart; but the more they dug +and the more they hunted the more they couldn't find it. + +"He has balked us this time," said the Princess, "but we'll try him once +more." + +So she picked all the prettiest flowers she could find, and strewed them +over the door sill, which they had laid in its right place again; and +when the time came for the Giant to come home, Boots crept under the +bed. Just as he was well under back came the Giant. + +Snuff-snuff went the Giant's nose. "My eyes and limbs, what a smell of +Christian blood there is in here," said he. + +"I know there is," said the Princess, "for there came a crow flying with +a man's bone in his bill, and let it fall down the chimney. I made as +much haste as I could to get it out, but I dare say it's that you +smell." + +So the Giant held his peace and said no more about it. A little while +after, he asked who it was that had strewed flowers about the door sill. + +"Oh, I, of course," said the Princess. + +"And, pray, what is the meaning of all this? said the Giant. + +"Ah!" said the Princess, "I strewed them there when I knew your heart +lay under there." + +"You don't say so," said the Giant; "but after all it doesn't lie there +at all." + +So when they went to bed in the evening, the Princess asked the Giant +again where his heart was, for she said she would so much like to know. + +"Well," said the Giant, "if you must know, it lies away yonder in the +cupboard against the wall." + +"So, so!" thought Boots and the Princess; "then we will soon find it." + +Next morning the Giant was away early, and strode off to the wood. As +soon as he was gone, Boots and the Princess were in the cupboard hunting +for the heart, but the more they looked for it the less they found it. + +"Well," said the Princess, "we'll just try him once more." + +So she decked the cupboard with flowers and garlands, and when the time +came for the Giant to come home, Boots crept under the bed again. + +Then back came the Giant. + +Snuff-snuff! "My eyes and limbs, what a smell of Christian blood there +is in here!" + +"I know there is," said the Princess, "for a little while since there +came a crow flying with a man's bone in his bill, and let it fall down +the chimney. I made all the haste I could to get it out of the house; +but after all my pains I dare say it's that you smell." + +When the Giant heard that he said no more about it, but after a while he +saw how the cupboard was all decked about with flowers and garlands; and +he asked who it was that had done that. Who could it be but the +Princess? + +"And, pray what's the meaning of all this foolishness?" asked the Giant. + +"Oh, I couldn't help doing it when I knew your heart lay there," said +the Princess. + +"How can you be so silly as to believe any such thing?" said the Giant. + +"How can I help believing it, when you say it?" said the Princess. + +"You're a goose," said the Giant; "where my heart is, you will never +come." + +"Yet for all that," said the Princess, "it would be such a pleasure to +know where it really lies." + +Then the poor Giant could hold out no longer, but said,-- + +"Far, far away in a lake lies an island; on that island stands a church; +in that church is a well; in that well swims a duck; in that duck there +is an egg, and in that egg there lies my heart." + +In the morning early, while it was still gray dawn, the Giant strode off +to the wood. + +"Now I must set off too," said Boots; "if I only knew how to find the +way." He took a long farewell of the Princess, and when he slipped out +of the Giant's door, there stood the Wolf waiting for him. Boots told +him all that had happened, and said now he wished to ride to the well +inside the church, if only he knew the way. The Wolf bade him jump on +his back, and away they went, over hill and dale, over hedge and field, +till the wind whistled after them. After they had travelled many, many +days, they came at last to the lake. Then the Prince did not know how to +get across, but the Wolf bade him not to be afraid, but to hold fast. So +he jumped into the lake with the Prince on his back, and swam over to +the island. When they came to the church, the church keys hung high, +high up on the top of the tower, and the Prince knew not how to get them +down. + +"Call upon the raven," said the Wolf. + +So the Prince called upon the raven, and immediately the raven came, and +flew up and fetched the keys, and so the Prince got into the church. +When he came to the well, there was the duck, which swam about forward +and backward, just as the Giant had said. So the Prince stood and coaxed +it and coaxed it, till finally it came to him, and he grasped it in his +hand; but just as he lifted it up from the water the duck dropped the +egg in the well, and then Boots was beside himself to know how to get it +out again. + +"Now call upon the salmon," said the Wolf, and Boots called upon the +salmon, and the salmon came and fetched up the egg from the bottom of +the well. + +Then the Wolf told him to squeeze the egg, and as soon as he squeezed +the egg, the Giant screamed and begged and prayed to be spared, saying +he would do all that the Prince wished if he would only not squeeze his +heart in two. + +"Tell him to restore to life again your six brothers and their brides, +whom he has turned to stone," said the Wolf. Yes, the Giant was ready to +do that, and he turned the six brothers into king's sons again, and +their brides into king's daughters. + +Then Boots left the Giant's heart on the altar of the church. That took +all the evil power from the cruel Giant, and I have never heard of him +since. + +And now, Boots rode back again on the Wolf to the Giant's house, and +there stood all his six brothers alive and merry with their brides. Then +Boots went into the hillside after his bride, and they all set off home +again to their father's house. And you may fancy how glad the old King +was when he saw his seven sons come back, each with his bride;--"But the +loveliest bride is the bride of Boots, after all," said the King, "and +he shall sit highest at the table, with her by his side." + +So they had a great wedding feast, and the mirth was both loud and long, +and if they have not done feasting, why they are at it still. + + + + +THE SHEEP AND THE PIG WHO SET UP HOUSEKEEPING + + +Once on a time there was a sheep who stood in the pen to be fattened. + +So he lived well and was stuffed and crammed with everything that was +good, till one day the dairymaid came to give him still more food. Then +she said, "Eat away, sheep, you won't be here much longer, we are going +to kill you to-morrow." + +The sheep thought over this for a while, and then he ate till he was +ready to burst; and when he was crammed full, he butted out the door of +the pen, and took his way to the neighboring farm. There he went to see +a pig whom he had known out on the common, and with whom he had always +been very friendly. + +"Good-day," said the sheep, "do you know why it is you are so well off, +and why it is they fatten you and take such pains with you?" + +"No, I don't," said the pig. + +"Well, I know; they are going to kill and eat you," said the sheep. + +"Are they?" said the pig, "and what is there to be done about it?" + +"If you will do as I do," said the sheep, "we'll go off to the wood, +build us a house, and set up for ourselves." + +Yes, the pig was willing enough. "Good company is such a comfort," he +said, and so the two set off. + +When they had gone a bit they met a goose. + +"Good-day, good sirs, and whither away so fast to-day?" said the goose. + +"Good-day, good-day," said the sheep, "we are going to set up for +ourselves in the wood, for you know every man's house is his castle." + +"Well," said the goose, "I should so much like a home of my own, too. +May I go with you?" + +"With gossip and gabble is built neither house nor stable," said the +pig, "let us know what you can do." + +"I can pluck moss and stuff it into the seams between the planks, and +the house will be tight and warm." + +Yes, they would give him leave, for, above all things, piggy wished to +be warm and comfortable. + +So, when they had gone a bit farther--the goose had hard work to walk so +fast--they met a hare, who came frisking out of the wood. + +"Good-day, good sirs," she said, "how far are you trotting to-day?" + +"Good-day, good-day," said the sheep, "we're going to the wood to build +us a house and set up for ourselves, for, you know, try all the world +around, there's nothing like home." + +"As for that," said the hare, "I have a house in every bush, but yet, I +have often said in winter, 'If I only live till summer I'll build me a +house,' and so I have half a mind to go with you and build one, after +all." + +"Yes," said the pig, "if we ever get into trouble we might use you to +scare away the dogs, for I don't fancy you could help us in +house-building." + +"Don't make fun of me. I have teeth to gnaw pegs and paws to drive them +into the wall, so I can very well set up to be carpenter," said the +hare. + +So he too got leave to go with them and help to build their house, and +there was nothing more to be said about it. + +When they had gone a bit farther they met a cock. + +"Good-day, good sirs," said the cock, "whither are you going to-day, +gentlemen?" + +"Good-day, good-day," said the sheep, "we are going off to the wood to +build a house and set up for ourselves, for you know, ''Tis good to +travel east and west, but after all a home is best.'" + +"Well," said the cock, "if I might have leave to join such a gallant +company, I also would like to go to the wood and build a house." + +"Ay, ay!" said the pig, "but how can you help us build a house?" + +"Oh," said the cock, "what would you do without a cock? I am up early, +and I wake every one." + +"Very true," said the pig, "let him come with us. Sleep is the biggest +thief," he said, "he thinks nothing of stealing half one's life." + +So they all set off to the wood together, and built a house. + +The pig hewed the timber, and the sheep drew it home; the hare was +carpenter, and gnawed pegs and bolts and hammered them into the walls +and roof; the goose plucked moss and stuffed it into the seams; the cock +crew, and looked out that they did not oversleep themselves in the +morning; and when the house was ready, and the roof lined with birch +bark and thatched with turf, there they lived by themselves and were +merry and well. + +But you must know that a bit farther on in the wood was a wolf's den, +and there lived two graylegs. When they saw that a new house had been +built near by, they wanted to become acquainted with their neighbors. +One of them made up an errand and went into the new house and asked for +a light for his pipe. But as soon as he got inside the door the sheep +gave him such a butt that he fell head foremost into the hearth. Then +the pig began to bite him, and the goose to nip and peck him, and the +cock upon the roost to crow and chatter, and as for the hare, he was so +frightened that he ran about aloft and on the floor and scratched and +scrambled in every corner of the house. + +So after a time the wolf came out. + +"Well," said the one who waited for him outside, "you must have been +well received since you stayed so long. But what became of the light? +You have neither pipe nor smoke." + +"Yes, yes," said the other, "a pleasant company indeed. As soon as I got +inside the door, the shoemaker began to beat me with his last, so that I +fell head foremost into the open fire, and there sat two smiths who blew +the bellows, and made the sparks fly, and struck and punched me with +red-hot tongs and pincers. As for the hunter, he went scrambling about +looking for his gun, and it was good luck he did not find it. And all +the while there was another who sat up under the roof and slapped his +arms and cried out, 'Drag him hither, drag him hither!' That was what he +screamed, and if he had only got hold of me, I should never have come +out alive." + +The wolves never went calling on their neighbors any more. + + + + +THE PARSON AND THE CLERK + + +There was once a parson who was such a bully that whenever he met anyone +driving on the king's highway, he called out, ever so far off--"Out of +the way! Out of the way! Here comes the parson!" + +One day when he was driving along and behaving so, he met the king. "Out +of the way! Out of the way!" he bawled a long way off. But the king +drove on and held his own; so it was the parson who had to turn his +horse aside that time, and when the king came up beside him, he said, +"To-morrow you shall come to me at the palace, and if you can't answer +three questions which I shall ask you, you shall lose your office for +your pride's sake." + +This was something quite different from what the parson was wont to +hear. He could bawl and bully, shout and scold. All that he could do, +but question and answer were not in his line. So he set off to the +clerk, who was said to be worth more than the parson, and told him he +had no mind to go to the king. "For one fool can ask more than ten wise +men can answer;" and the end was, he got the clerk to go in his place. + +Yes, the clerk set off and came to the palace in the parson's clothes. +There the king met him out on the porch with crown and sceptre, and he +was so grand he fairly glittered and gleamed. "Well, are you there?" +said the king. + +"Tell me first," said the king, "how far the east is from the west?" + +"Just a day's journey," said the clerk. + +"How is that?" asked the king. + +"Don't you know," said the clerk, "that the sun rises in the east and +sets in the west, and he does it just nicely in a day?" + +"Very well!" said the king, "but tell me now what you think I am worth, +as you see me stand here?" + +"Well," said the clerk, "our Lord was valued at thirty pieces of silver, +so I don't think I can set your price higher than twenty-nine." + +"All very fine!" said the king, "but, as you are so wise, perhaps you +can tell me what I am thinking about now?" + +"Oh!" said the clerk, "you are thinking it's the parson who stands +before you, but there's where you are mistaken, for I am the clerk." + +"Be off home with you," said the king, "and be you parson, and let him +be clerk." And so it was. + + + + +FATHER BRUIN + + +Once on a time there was a man who lived far, far away in the wood. He +had many, many goats and sheep, but never a one could he keep because of +Greylegs, the wolf. + +At last he said, "I'll soon trap Greyboots," and so he set to work to +dig a pitfall. When he had dug it deep enough, he put a pole down in the +midst of the pit, and on the top of the pole he set a board, and on the +board he put a little dog. Over the pit itself he spread boughs and +branches and leaves, and other rubbish, and a-top of all he strewed +snow, so that Greylegs might not see that there was a pit underneath. + +So when night came on, the little dog grew weary of sitting there: +"Bow-wow, bow-wow," he said, and bayed at the moon. Just then up came a +fox, prowling and sneaking, and thought here was a fine time for +marketing, and with that gave a jump,--head over heels down into the +pitfall. + +And when it got a little farther on in the night, the little dog grew so +weary and so hungry, and it fell to yelping and howling: "Bow-wow, +bow-wow," he cried out. Just at that very moment up came Greylegs, +trotting and trotting. He, too, thought he should get a fat steak, and +he, too, made a spring--head over heels down into the pitfall. + +When it was getting on towards grey dawn in the morning, down fell the +snow, with a north wind, and it grew so cold that the little dog stood +and shivered and shook, he was so weary and hungry, "Bow-wow, bow-wow, +bow-wow," he called out, and barked and yelped and howled. Then up came +a bear, tramping and tramping along, and thought to himself how he could +get a morsel for breakfast at the very top of the morning, and so he +thought and thought among the boughs and branches, till he, too, went +bump--head over heels down into the pitfall. + +So when it got a little farther on in the morning, an old beggar wife +came walking by, who toddled from farm to farm with a bag on her back. +When she set eyes on the little dog that stood there and howled, she +could not help going near to look and see if any wild beasts had fallen +into the pit during the night. So she crawled up on her knees and peeped +down into it. + +"Art thou come into the pit at last, Reynard?" she said to the fox, for +he was the first she saw; "a very good place, too, for such a hen-roost +robber as thou; and thou, too, Grey-paw," she said to the wolf; "many a +goat and sheep hast thou torn and rent, and now thou shalt be plagued +and punished to death. Bless my heart! Thou, too, Bruin! Art thou, too, +sitting in this room, thou horse killer? Thee, too, will we strip, and +thee shall we flay, and thy skull shall be nailed up on the wall." All +this the old lass screeched out as she bent over towards the bear. But +just then her bag fell over her ears and dragged her down, and slap! +down went the old woman--head over heels into the pitfall. + +So there they all four sat and glared at one another, each in a +corner--Reynard in one, Greylegs in another, Bruin in a third, and the +old woman in a fourth. + +But as soon as it was broad daylight, Reynard began to peep and peer, +and to twist and turn about, for he thought he might as well try to get +out. + +But the old lass cried out, "Canst thou not sit still, thou whirligig +thief, and not go twisting and turning? Only look at Father Bruin +himself in the corner, how he sits as grave as a judge," for now she +thought she might as well make friends with the bear. + +But just then up came the man who owned the pitfall. + +First he drew up the old woman, and after that he slew all the beasts, +and neither spared Father Bruin himself in the corner, nor Grey-legs, +nor Reynard the whirligig thief. That night, at least, he thought he had +made a good haul. + + + + +THE PANCAKE + + +Once on a time there was a woman who had seven hungry children, and she +was frying a pancake for them. It was a sweet milk pancake, and there it +lay in the pan, bubbling and frizzling so thick and good, it was a +delight to look at it. And the children stood round about, and the old +father sat by and looked on. + +"Oh, give me a bit of pancake, mother, dear, I am so hungry," said one +child. + +"Oh, darling mother," said the second. + +"Oh, darling, good mother," said the third. + +"Oh, darling, good, sweet mother," said the fourth. + +"Oh, darling, pretty, good, sweet mother," said the fifth. + +"Oh, darling, pretty, good, sweet, clever mother," said the sixth. + +"Oh, darling, pretty, good, sweet, clever, kindest little mother," said +the seventh. + +So they begged for the pancake all around, the one more prettily than +the other, for they were so hungry and so good. + +"Yes, yes, children, only bide a bit till it turns itself"--she ought to +have said, 'till I can get it turned,'--"and then you shall have some +lovely sweet milk pancake. Only look how fat and happy it lies there." + +When the pancake heard all this it became afraid, and in a trice it +turned itself and tried to jump out of the pan, but it fell back into it +again, the other side up. When it had been fried a little on the other +side too, till it got firm and stiff, it jumped out of the pan to the +floor and rolled off like a wheel through the door and down the hill. + +"Holloa! Stop, pancake!" and away ran the mother after it, with the +frying pan in one hand and the ladle in the other, as fast as she could, +and all the children behind her, while the old father on crutches limped +after them last of all. + +"Hi! Won't you stop? Catch it! Stop, pancake!" they all screamed out, +one after another, and tried to catch it on the run and hold it. But the +pancake rolled on and on, and in a twinkling of an eye it was so far +ahead that they couldn't see it. + +So when it had rolled awhile it met a man. + +"Good-day, pancake," said the man. + +"Good-day, Manny Panny!" said the pancake. + +"Dear pancake," said the man, "don't roll so fast; stop a little and let +me eat you." + +"No, no; I have run away from the mother, and the father, and seven +hungry children. I'll run away from you, Manny Panny," said the pancake, +and it rolled and rolled till it met a hen. + +"Good-day, pancake," said the hen. + +"The same to you, Henny Penny," said the pancake. + +"Pancake, dear, don't roll so fast. Bide a bit and let me eat you up," +said the hen. + +"No, no; I have run away from the mother, and the father, and seven +hungry children, and Manny Panny. I'll run away from you, too, Henny +Penny," said the pancake, and it rolled on like a wheel down the road. + +Just then it met a cock. + +"Good-day, pancake," said the cock. + +"The same to you, Cocky Locky," said the pancake. + +"Pancake, dear, don't roll so fast, but bide a bit and let me eat you +up." + +"No, no; I have run away from the mother, and the father, seven hungry +children, Manny Panny, and Henny Penny. I'll run away from you too, +Cocky Locky," said the pancake, and it rolled and rolled as fast as it +could. Bye and bye it met a duck. + +"Good-day, pancake," said the duck. + +"The same to you, Ducky Lucky." + +"Pancake, dear, don't roll away so fast; bide a bit and let me eat you +up." + +"No, no; I have run away from the mother, and the father, and seven +hungry children, Manny Panny, Henny Penny, and Cocky Locky. I'll run +away from you, too, Ducky Lucky," said the pancake, and with that it +took to rolling and rolling faster than ever; and when it had rolled a +long, long while, it met a goose. + +"Good-day, pancake," said the goose. + +"The same to you, Goosey Poosey." + +"Pancake, dear, don't roll so fast; bide a bit and let me eat you up." + +"No, no; I have run away from the mother, the father, seven hungry +children, Manny Panny, Henny Penny, Cocky Locky, and Ducky Lucky. I'll +run away from you, too, Goosey Poosey," said the pancake, and off it +rolled. + +So when it had rolled a long way off, it met a gander. + +"Good-day, pancake," said the gander. + +"The same to you, Gander Pander," said the pancake. + +"Pancake, dear, don't roll so fast; bide a bit and let me have a bite." + +"No, no; I've run away from the mother, the father, seven hungry +children, Manny Panny, Henny Penny, Cocky Locky, Ducky Lucky, and Goosey +Poosey. I'll run away from you, too, Gander Pander," said the pancake, +and it rolled and rolled as fast as ever. + +So when it had rolled a long, long time, it met a pig. + +"Good-day, pancake," said the pig. + +"The same to you, Piggy Wiggy," said the pancake, and without a word +more it began to roll and roll for dear life. + +"Nay, nay," said the pig, "you needn't be in such a hurry; we two can go +side by side through the wood; they say it is not too safe in there." + +The pancake thought there might be something in that, and so they kept +company. But when they had gone a while, they came to a brook. As for +Piggy, he was so fat he could swim across. It was nothing for him, but +the poor pancake could not get over. + +"Seat yourself on my snout," said the pig, "and I'll carry you over." + +So the pancake did that. + +"Ouf, ouf," said the pig, and swallowed the pancake at one gulp, and +then, as the poor pancake could go no farther, why--this story can go no +farther either. + + + + +WHY THE SEA IS SALT + + +Once on a time, but it was a long, long time ago, there were two +brothers, one rich and one poor. + +Now, one Christmas eve, the poor one had not so much as a crumb in the +house, either of meat or bread, so he went to his brother to ask him for +something with which to keep Christmas. It was not the first time his +brother had been forced to help him, and, as he was always stingy, he +was not very glad to see him this time, but he said, "I'll give you a +whole piece of bacon, two loaves of bread, and candles into the bargain, +if you'll never bother me again--but mind you don't set foot in my house +from this day on." + +The poor brother said he wouldn't, thanked his brother for the help he +had given him, and started on his way home. + +He hadn't gone far before he met an old, old man with a white beard, who +looked so thin and worn and hungry that it was pitiful to see him. + +"In heaven's name give a poor man a morsel to eat," said the old man. + +"Now, indeed, I have been begging myself," said the poor brother, "but +I'm not so poor that I can't give you something on the blessed Christmas +eve." And with that he handed the old man a candle, a loaf of bread, and +he was just going to cut off a slice of bacon, when the old man stopped +him--"That is enough and to spare," said he. "And now, I'll tell you +something. Not far from here is the entrance to the home of the +underground folks. They have a mill there which can grind out anything +they wish for except bacon; now mind you go there. When you get inside +they will all want to buy your bacon, but don't sell it unless you get +in return the mill which stands behind the door. When you come out I'll +teach you how to handle the mill." + +So the man with the bacon thanked the other for his good advice and +followed the directions which the old man had given him, and soon he +stood outside the door of the hillfolk's home. + +When he got in, everything went just as the old man had said. All the +hillfolk, great and small, came swarming up to him, like ants around an +ant-hill, and each tried to outbid the other for the bacon. + +"Well!" said the man, "by rights, my old dame and I ought to have this +bacon for our Christmas dinner; but, since you have all set your hearts +on it, I suppose I must give it up to you. Now, if I sell it at all, +I'll have for it that mill behind the door yonder." + +At first the hillfolk wouldn't hear of such a bargain and higgled and +haggled with the man, but he stuck to what he said, and at last they +gave up the mill for the bacon. + +When the man got out of the cave and into the woods again, he met the +same old beggar and asked him how to handle the mill. After he had +learned how to use it, he thanked the old man and went off home as fast +as he could; but still the clock had struck twelve on Christmas eve +before he reached his own door. + +"Wherever in the world have you been?" said his old dame. "Here have I +sat hour after hour, waiting and watching, without so much as two sticks +to lay together under the Christmas porridge." + +"Oh!" said the man, "I could not get back before, for I had to go a long +way first for one thing and then for another; but now you shall see what +you shall see." + +So he put the mill on the table, and bade it first of all grind lights, +then a tablecloth, then meat, then ale, and so on till they had +everything that was nice for Christmas fare. He had only to speak the +word and the mill ground out whatever he wanted. The old dame stood by +blessing her stars, and kept on asking where he had got this wonderful +mill, but he wouldn't tell her. + +"It's all the same where I got it. You see the mill is a good one, and +the mill stream never freezes. That's enough." + +So he ground meat and drink and all good things to last out the whole of +Christmas holidays, and on the third day he asked all his friends and +kin to his house and gave them a great feast. Now, when his rich brother +saw all that was on the table and all that was in the cupboards, he grew +quite wild with anger, for he could not bear that his brother should +have anything. + +"'Twas only on Christmas eve," he said to the rest, "he was so poorly +off that he came and begged for a morsel of food, and now he gives a +feast as if he were count or a king." and he turned to his brother and +said, "But where in the world did you get all this wealth?" + +"From behind the door," answered the owner of the mill, for he did not +care to tell his brother much about it. But later in the evening, when +he had gotten a little too merry, he could keep his secret no longer, +and he brought out the mill and said: + +"There you see what has gotten me all this wealth," and so he made the +mill grind all kinds of things. + +When his brother saw it, he set his heart on having the mill, and, after +some talk, it was agreed that the rich brother was to get it at +hay-harvest time, when he was to pay three hundred dollars for it. Now, +you may fancy the mill did not grow rusty for want of work, for while he +had it the poor brother made it grind meat and drink that would last for +years. When hay-harvest came, the rich brother got it, but he was in +such a hurry to make it grind that he forgot to learn how to handle it. + +It was evening when the rich brother got the mill home, and next morning +he told his wife to go out into the hayfield and toss hay while the +mowers cut the grass, and he would stay at home and get the dinner +ready. So, when dinner time drew near, he put the mill on the kitchen +table and said: + +"Grind herrings and broth, and grind them good and fast." + +And the mill began to grind herrings and broth; first of all the dishes +full, then all the tubs full, and so on till the kitchen floor was quite +covered. The man twisted and twirled at the mill to get it to stop, but +for all his fiddling and fumbling the mill went on grinding, and in a +little while the broth rose so high that the man was nearly drowning. So +he threw open the kitchen door and ran into the parlor, but it was not +long before the mill had ground the parlor full too, and it was only at +the risk of his life that the man could get hold of the latch of the +house door through the stream of broth. When he got the door open, he +ran out and set off down the road, with the stream of herrings and broth +at his heels, roaring like a waterfall over the whole farm. + +Now, his old dame, who was in the field tossing hay, thought it a long +time to dinner, and at last she said: + +"Well! though the master doesn't call us home, we may as well go. Maybe +he finds it hard work to boil the broth, and will be glad of my help." + +The men were willing enough, so they sauntered homewards. But just as +they had got a little way up the hill, what should they meet but +herrings and broth, all running and dashing and splashing together in a +stream, and the master himself running before them for his life, and as +he passed them he called out: "Eat, drink! eat, drink! but take care +you're not drowned in the broth." + +Away he ran as fast as his legs would carry him to his brother's house, +and begged him in heaven's name to take back the mill, and that at once, +for, said he, "If it grinds only one hour more, the whole parish will be +swallowed up by herrings and broth." + +So the poor brother took back the mill, and it wasn't long before it +stopped grinding herrings and broth. + +[Illustration: With the herrings and broth at his heels] + +And now he set up a farmhouse far finer than the one in which his +brother lived, and with the mill he ground so much gold that he covered +it with plates of gold. And, as the farm lay by the seaside, the golden +house gleamed and glistened far away over the sea. All who sailed by put +ashore to see the rich man in the golden house, and to see the wonderful +mill the fame of which spread far and wide, till there was nobody who +hadn't heard of it. + +So one day there came a skipper who wanted to see the mill, and the +first thing he asked was if it could grind salt. + +"Grind salt!" said the owner, "I should just think it could. It can +grind anything." + +When the skipper heard that, he said he must have the mill, for if he +only had it, he thought, he need not take his long voyages across stormy +seas for a lading of salt. He much preferred sitting at home with a pipe +and a glass. Well, the man let him have it, but the skipper was in such +a hurry to get away with it that he had no time to ask how to handle the +mill. He got on board his ship as fast as he could and set sail. When he +had sailed a good way off, he brought the mill on deck and said, "Grind +salt, and grind both good and fast." + +And the mill began to grind salt so that it poured out like water, and +when the skipper had got the ship full he wished to stop the mill, but +whichever way he turned it, and however much he tried, it did no good; +the mill kept on grinding, and the heap of salt grew higher and higher, +and at last down sank the ship. + +There lies the mill at the bottom of the sea, and grinds away to this +very day, and that is the reason why the sea is salt--so some folks say. + + + + +THE SQUIRE'S BRIDE + + +There was once a very rich squire who owned a large farm, had plenty of +silver at the bottom of his chest, and money in the bank besides; but +there was something he had not, and that was a wife. + +One day a neighbor's daughter was working for him in the hayfield. The +squire liked her very much and, as she was a poor man's daughter, he +thought that if he only mentioned marriage she would be more than glad +to take him at once. So he said to her, "I've been thinking I want to +marry." + +"Well, one may think of many things," said the lassie, as she stood +there and smiled slyly. She really thought the old fellow ought to be +thinking of something that behooved him better than getting married at +his time of life. + +"Now, you see," he said, "I was thinking that you should be my wife!" + +"No, thank you," said she, "and much obliged for the honor." + +The squire was not used to being gainsaid, and the more she refused him +the more he wanted her. But the lassie would not listen to him at all. +So the old man sent for her father and told him that, if he could talk +his daughter over and arrange the whole matter for him, he would forgive +him the money he had lent him, and would give him the piece of land +which lay close to his meadow into the bargain. + +"Yes, yes, be sure I'll bring the lass to her senses," said the father. +"She is only a child and does not know what is best for her." + +But all his coaxing, all his threats and all his talking, went for +naught. She would not have the old miser, if he sat buried in gold up to +his ears, she said. + +The squire waited and waited, but at last he got angry and told the +father that he had to settle the matter at once if he expected him to +stand by his bargain, for now he would wait no longer. + +The man knew no other way out of it, but to let the squire get +everything ready for the wedding; then, when the parson and the wedding +guests had arrived, the squire would send for the lassie as if she were +wanted for some work on the farm. When she got there they would marry +her right away, in such a hurry that she would have no time to think it +over. + +When the guests had arrived the squire called one of his farm lads, told +him to run down to his neighbor and ask him to send up immediately what +he had promised. + +"But if you are not back with her in a twinkling," he said, shaking his +fist at him, "I'll----" + +He did not finish, for the lad ran off as if he had been shot at. + +"My master has sent me to ask for that which you promised him," said the +lad, when he got to the neighbor, "but, pray, lose no time, for master +is terribly busy to-day." + +"Yes, yes! Run down in the meadow and take her with you--there she +goes," answered the neighbor. + +The lad ran off and when he came to the meadow he found the daughter +there raking the hay. + +"I am to fetch what your father has promised my master," said the lad. + +"Ah, ha!" thought she, "is that what they are up to?" And with a wicked +twinkle of the eye, she said, "Oh, yes, it's that little bay mare of +ours, I suppose. You had better go and take her. She stands tethered on +the other side of the pea field." + +The boy jumped on the back of the bay mare and rode home at full gallop. + +"Have you got her with you?" asked the squire. + +"She is down at the door," said the lad. + +"Take her up to the room my mother had," said the squire. + +"But, master, how can I?" said the lad. + +"Do as I tell you," said the squire. "And if you can't manage her alone, +get the men to help you," for he thought the lassie might be stubborn. + +When the lad saw his master's face he knew it would be no use to argue. +So he went and got all the farm hands together to help him. Some pulled +at the head and the forelegs of the mare and others pushed from behind, +and at last they got her upstairs and into the room. There lay all the +wedding finery ready. + +"Well, that's done, master!" said the lad, while he wiped his wet brow, +"but it was the worst job I have ever had here on the farm." + +"Never mind, never mind, you shall not have done it for nothing," said +his master, and he pulled a bright silver coin out of his pocket and +gave it to the lad. "Now send the women up to dress her." + +"But, I say--master!--" + +"None of your talk!" cried the squire. "Tell them to hold her while they +dress her, and mind not to forget either wreath or crown." + +The lad ran into the kitchen: + +"Listen, here, lasses," he called out, "you are to go upstairs and dress +up the bay mare as a bride--I suppose master wants to play a joke on his +guests." + +The women laughed and laughed, but ran upstairs and dressed the bay mare +in everything that was there. And then the lad went and told his master +that now she was all ready, with wreath and crown and all. + +"Very well, bring her down. I will receive her at the door myself," said +the squire. + +There was a clatter and a thumping on the stairs, for that bride, you +know, had no silken slippers on. + +When the door was opened and the squire's bride entered the room, you +can imagine there was laughing and tittering and grinning enough. + +And as for the squire, they say he never went courting again. + + + + +PEIK + + +Once on a time there was a man, and he had a wife. They had a son and a +daughter who were twins, and these were so alike that no one could tell +one from the other except by their clothing. The boy they called Peik. +He was of little use while his father and mother lived, for he cared to +do naught else than to befool folk, and he was so full of tricks and +pranks that no one was left in peace. When the parents died, matters +grew still worse and worse. He would not turn his hand to anything. All +he would do was to squander what they left behind them. + +His sister toiled and moiled all she could, but it helped little; so at +last she told him how silly it was to do naught for the house. + +"What shall we have to live on when you have wasted everything?" +she said. + +"Oh, I'll go out and befool somebody," said Peik. + +"Yes, Peik, I'll be bound you'll do that soon enough," said the sister. + +"Well, I'll try," said Peik. + +At last they had indeed nothing more. There was an end of everything; +and Peik started off, and walked and walked till he came to the King's +palace. + +Now, I must tell you, this King and his queen and eldest daughter were +little better than trolls,--mean and hateful and very foolish,--so there +was no love lost between them and the people. + +When Peik came to the King's palace, there stood the King in the porch, +and as soon as he set eyes on the lad he said, + +"Whither away, to-day, Peik?" + +"Oh, I was going out to see if I could befool anybody," said Peik. + +"Can't you befool me now?" said the King. + +"No, I'm sure I can't," said Peik, "for I've forgotten my fooling rods." + +"Can't you go home and fetch them?" said the King, "I should be very +glad to see if you are such a trickster as folks say." + +"I've no strength to walk," said Peik. + +"I'll lend you a horse and saddle," said the King + +"But I can't ride either," said Peik. + +"We'll lift you up," said the King, "then you'll be able to stick on." + +Well, Peik stood and scratched his head as though he would pull the hair +off, and he let them lift him up into the saddle. There he sat, swinging +this side and that, so long as the King could see him, and the King +laughed till the tears came into his eyes, for such a tailor on +horseback he had never seen. But when Peik was come well into the wood +behind the hill, so that he was out of the King's sight, he sat as +though he were tied to the horse, and off he rode as fast as the horse +could carry him. But when he got to the town he sold both horse and +saddle. + +All the while the King walked up and down, and loitered, and waited for +Peik to come tottering back again with his fooling rods. And every now +and then he laughed when he called to mind how wretched the lad looked +as he sat swinging about on the horse like a sack of corn, not knowing +on which side to fall off. This lasted for seven lengths and seven +breaths, but no Peik came, and so at last the King saw that he was +fooled and cheated out of his horse and saddle, even though Peik had not +had his fooling rods with him. Then there was another story, for the +King got wroth, and was all for setting off to kill Peik. + +But Peik had found out the day he was coming, and told his sister she +must put on the big boiling-pot with a little water in it. Just as the +King came in, Peik dragged the pot off the fire and ran off with it to +the chopping-block, and so boiled the porridge on the block. + +The King wondered at that, and wondered on and on, so much that he quite +forgot what brought him there. + +"What do you want for that pot?" said he. + +"I can't spare it," said Peik. + +"Why not?" said the King; "I'll pay what you ask." + +"No, no!" said Peik. "It saves me time and money, wood hire and chopping +hire, carting and carrying." + +"Never mind," said the King, "I'll give you a hundred dollars. It's true +you've fooled me out of a horse and saddle, and bridle besides, but all +that shall go for nothing if I can only get the pot." + +"Well, if you must have it, you must," said Peik. + +When the King got home he asked guests and made a feast, but the meat +was to be boiled in the new pot, and so he took it up and set it in the +middle of the floor. The guests thought the King had lost his wits, and +went about elbowing one another, and laughing at him. But he walked +round and round the pot and cackled and chattered, saying all in a +breath-- + +"Well, well! bide a bit, bide a bit! 'Twill boil in a minute." + +But there was no boiling. So he saw that Peik had been out with his +fooling rods and had cheated him again, and now he would set off at once +and slay him. + +When the King came, Peik stood out by the barn door. "Wouldn't it boil?" +he asked. + +"No, it would not, and you shall smart for it," said the King, about to +unsheath his knife. + +"I can well believe that," said Peik, "for you did not take the block, +too." + +"I wish I thought," said the King, "you weren't telling me a pack of +lies." + +"I tell you it's because of the block it stands on; it won't boil +without it," said Peik. + +"Well, what do you want for it?" + +It was well worth three hundred dollars; but for the King's sake it +should go for two. So the King got the block and traveled home with it. +He bade guests again, made a feast, and set the pot on the +chopping-block in the middle of the room. The guests thought he was both +daft and mad, and they went about making game of him, while he cackled +and chattered around the pot, calling out, "Bide a bit! Now it boils, +now it boils in a trice." + +But it wouldn't boil a bit more on the block than on the bare floor. So +he saw that Peik had been out with his fooling rods this time, too. Then +he fell a-tearing his hair, and said he would set off at once and slay +the lad. He wouldn't spare him this time, whether or no. + +But Peik was ready for him. He had filled a leather bag with blood and +stuffed it into his sister's bosom, and told her what to say and do. + +"Where's Peik?" screamed out the King. He was in such a rage that he +stuttered and stammered. + +"He is so poorly that he can't stir hand or foot," she said, "and now +he's trying to get a nap." + +"Wake him up!" said the King. + +"Nay, I daren't, he will be so angry," said the sister. + +"Well, I am angrier still," said the King, "and if you don't wake him, I +will," and with that he tapped his side where his knife hung. + +"Well, she would go and wake him," but Peik turned hastily in his bed, +drew out a knife and ripped open the leather bag in her bosom, so that +the blood gushed out, and down she fell on the floor as though she were +dead. + +"What an awful fellow you are, Peik," said the King; "you have killed +your sister right before my eyes!" + +"Oh, there's no trouble with her so long as there's breath in my +nostrils," said Peik, and with that he pulled out a ram's horn and began +to toot on it. + +"Toot-e-too-too," he blew, with one end of the horn to her body, and up +she rose as though there was nothing the matter with her. + +"Dear me, Peik! Can you kill folk and blow life into them again? Can you +do that?" said the King. + +"Why!" said Peik, "how could I get on at all if I couldn't? I am always +killing every one I come near; don't you know I have a terrible temper?" + +"I am hot-tempered, too," said the King, "and that horn I must have. +I'll give you a hundred dollars for it, and besides I'll forgive you for +cheating me out of my horse and for fooling me about the pot and the +block, and all else." + +Peik was loth to part with it, but for his sake he would let him have +it. And so the King went off home with it, and he hardly got back before +he must try it. + +So he fell a-wrangling and quarreling with the queen and his eldest +daughter, and they paid him back in the same coin; but before they knew +what was happening he had whipped out his knife and cut their throats. +They fell down stone dead and the other two daughters ran from the +house, they were so afraid. + +The King walked about the floor for a while and kept chattering that +there was no harm done so long as there was breath in him, and then he +pulled out the horn and began to blow "Toot-e-too-too! Toot-e-too-too!" +but, though he blew and tooted as hard as he could all that day and the +next, too, he could not blow life into them again. Dead they were, and +dead they stayed. But the people in the kingdom were only glad to get +rid of such troll-folk, and were wishing some one might make an end of +the King, too, so that they might have a good King in his place. + +But the King was now angrier than ever, and must go right off to kill +Peik. + +But Peik knew that he was coming and then he said to his sister-- + +"Now, you must change clothes with me and set off. If you will do that, +you may have all we own." + +So, she changed clothes with him, packed up and started off as fast as +she could; but Peik sat all alone in his sister's clothes. + +"Where is that Peik?" roared the King, as as he came, in a towering +rage, through the door. + +"He has run away," said Peik. "He knew that your Majesty was coming, so +he left me all alone without a morsel of bread or a penny in my purse," +and he made himself as gentle and sweet as a young lady. + +"Come along, then, to the King's palace, and you shall have enough to +live on. There's no good sitting here and starving in this cabin by +yourself," said the King. + +So Peik went home with the King, and there he was treated as the King's +own daughter, for Miss Peik sewed and stitched and sang and played with +the others, and was with them early and late. + +But one day a man came to the King and told him that Peik's sister was +at a farm in the neighborhood, and that it was Peik he had brought up in +his own house. Now, Peik had heard all that the man told the King, so he +ran away from the King's palace, out into the wide world. + +The King got into a terrible rage then, and called for Peik, but he was +nowhere to be found. Then he mounted his horse to go out to look for +Peik. + +He had not gone far before he came to a ploughed field and there sat +Peik on a stone, playing on a mouth organ. + +"What! Are you sitting there, Peik?" said the King. + +"Here I sit, sure enough," said Peik; "where else should I sit?" + +"You have cheated me foully time after time," said the King, "but now +you must come along home with me, and I'll kill you." + +"Well, well," said Peik, "if it can't be helped, it can't; I suppose I +must go along with you." + +When they got home to the King's palace they got ready a barrel which +Peik was to be put in, and when it was ready they carted it up a high +mountain. There he was to lie three days, thinking on all the evil he +had done, then they were to roll him down the mountain into the sea. + +The third day a rich man passed by and when he heard Peik's story he was +ready to help him out of his trouble. + +They made a stuffed man and put him with some stones into the +barrel--but the rich man gave Peik horses and cows, sheep and swine, and +money beside. + +Now, the King came to roll Peik down the mountain. "A happy journey!" +said the King, "and now it is all over with you and your fooling rods." + +Before the barrel was halfway down the mountain there was not a whole +stave of it left, nor would there have been a whole limb on Peik, had he +been there. But when the King came back to the palace, Peik was there +before him, and sat in the court-yard playing on his mouth organ. + +"What! You sitting here, you, Peik?" + +"Yes! Here I sit, sure enough. Where else should I sit?" said Peik. +"Maybe I can get room here for all my horses and sheep and money." + +"But whither was it that I rolled you that you got all this wealth?" +asked the King. + +"Oh, you rolled me into the sea," said Peik, "and when I got to the +bottom there was more than enough and to spare, both of horses and +sheep, and of gold and silver. The cattle went about in great flocks, +and the gold and silver lay in large heaps as big as houses." + +"What will you take to roll me down the same way?" asked the King. + +"Oh," said Peik, "it costs little or nothing to do it. Besides, you took +nothing from me, and so I'll take nothing from you either." + +So he stuffed the King into a barrel and rolled him over, and when he +had given him a ride down to the sea for nothing, he went home to the +King's palace. + +[Illustration: So he stuffed the King into the barrel and rolled him over] + +Then he began to hold his bridal feast with the youngest princess, and +afterwards he ruled the land both well and long. But he kept his fooling +rods to himself, and kept them so well that nothing was ever heard of +Peik and his tricks, but only of "Ourself the King." + + + + +THE PRINCESS WHO COULD NOT BE SILENCED + + +There was once a King, and he had a daughter who was so cross and +crooked in her words that no one could silence her, and so he gave it +out that he who could do it should marry the princess and have half the +kingdom, too. There were plenty of those who wanted to try it, I can +tell you, for it is not every day that you can get a princess and half a +kingdom. The gate to the King's palace did not stand still a minute. +They came in great crowds from the East and the West, both riding and +walking. But there was not one of them who could silence the princess. + +At last the king had it given out that those who tried, and failed, +should have both ears marked with the big redhot iron with which he +marked his sheep. He was not going to have all that flurry and worry for +nothing. + +Well, there were three brothers, who had heard about the princess, and, +as they did not fare very well at home, they thought they had better set +out to try their luck and see if they could not win the princess and +half the kingdom. They were friends and good fellows, all three of them, +and they set off together. + +When they had walked a bit of the way, Boots picked up something. + +"I've found--I've found something!" he cried. + +"What did you find!" asked the brothers. + +"I found a dead crow," said he. + +"Ugh! Throw it away! What would you do with that?" said the brothers, +who always thought they knew a great deal. + +"Oh, I haven't much to carry, I might as well carry this," said Boots. + +So when they had walked on a bit, Boots again picked up something. + +"I've found--I've found something!" he cried. + +"What have you found now?" said the brothers. + +"I found a willow twig," said he. + +"Dear, what do you want with that? Throw it away!" said they. + +"Oh, I haven't much to carry, I might as well carry that," said Boots. + +So when they had walked a bit, Boots picked up something again. "Oh, +lads, I've found--I've found something!" he cried. + +"Well, well, what did you find this time?" asked the brothers. + +"A piece of a broken saucer," said he. + +"Oh, what is the use of that? Throw it away!" said they. + +"Oh, I haven't much to carry, I might as well carry that," said Boots. + +And when they had walked a bit further, Boots stooped down again and +picked up something else. + +"I've found--I've found something, lads!" he cried. + +"And what is it now?" said they. + +"Two goat horns," said Boots. + +"Oh! Throw them away. What could you do with them?" said they. + +"Oh, I haven't much to carry, I might as well carry them," said Boots. + +In a little while he found something again. + +"Oh, lads, see, I've found--I've found something," he cried. + +"Dear, dear, what wonderful things you do find! What is it now?" said +the brothers. + +"I've found a wedge," said he. + +"Oh, throw it away. What do you want with that?" said they. + +"Oh, I haven't much to carry, I might as well carry that," said Boots. + +And now, as they walked over the fields close up to the King's palace, +Boots bent down again and held something in his fingers. + +"Oh, lads, lads, see what I've found!" he cried. + +"If you only found a little common sense, it would be good for you," +said they. "Well, let's see what it is now." + +"A worn-out shoe sole," said he. + +"Pshaw! Well, that was something to pick up! Throw it away! What do you +want with that?" said the brothers. + +"Oh, I haven't much to carry, I might as well carry that, if I am to win +the princess and half the kingdom," said Boots. + +"Yes, you are likely to do that--you," said they. + +And now they came to the King's palace. The eldest one went in first. + +"Good-day," said he. + +"Good-day to you," said the princess, and she twisted and turned. + +"It's awfully hot here," said he. + +"It is hotter over there in the hearth," said the princess. There lay +the red-hot iron ready awaiting. When he saw that he forgot every word +he was going to say, and so it was all over with him. + +And now came the next oldest one. + +"Good-day," said he. + +"Good-day to you," said she, and she turned and twisted herself. + +"It's awfully hot here," said he. + +"It's hotter over there in the hearth," said she. And when he looked at +the red-hot iron he, too, couldn't get a word out, and so they marked +his ears and sent him home again. + +Then it was Boots' turn. + +"Good-day," said he. + +"Good-day to you," said she, and she twisted and turned again. + +"It's nice and warm in here," said Boots. + +"It's hotter in the hearth," said she, and she was no sweeter, now the +third one had come. + +"That's good, I may bake my crow there, then?" asked he. + +"I'm afraid she'll burst," said the princess. + +"There's no danger; I'll wind this willow twig around," said the lad. + +"It's too loose," said she. + +"I'll stick this wedge in," said the lad, and took out the wedge. + +"The fat will drop off," said the princess. + +"I'll hold this under," said the lad, and pulled out the broken bit of +the saucer. + +"You are crooked in your words, that you are," said the princess. + +"No, I'm not crooked, but this is crooked," said the lad, and he showed +her the goat's horn. + +"Well, I never saw the equal to that!" cried the princess. + +"Oh, here is the equal to it," said he, and pulled out the other. + +"Now, you think you'll wear out my soul, don't you?" said she. + +"No, I won't wear out your soul, for I have a sole that's worn out +already," said the lad, and pulled out the shoe sole. + +Then the princess hadn't a word to say. + +"Now, you're mine," said Boots. + +And so she was. + + + + +THE TWELVE WILD DUCKS + + +Once on a time there was a Queen who had twelve sons but no daughter. + +One day she was out driving in the woods and met the prettiest little +lassie one ever did see, and so the Queen stopped her horses, lifted the +child up in her arms, kissed her on both cheeks, all the while thinking: + +"I wish I had a little girl of my own, oh, how long I've waited and +wished for one." + +Just then an old witch of the trolls came up to her, but you wouldn't +have known it was a witch at all, she looked so kind and good. + +"A daughter you shall have," she said, "and she shall be the prettiest +child in twelve kingdoms, if you will give to me what ever comes to meet +you at the bridge." + +Now the Queen had a little snow white dog of which she was very fond, +and it always ran to meet her when she had been away. She thought, of +course, it was the dog the old dame wanted, so the Queen said, "Yes, you +may have what comes to meet me on the bridge." With that she hurried +home as fast as she could. + +But, who should come to meet her on the bridge but her twelve sons; and +before the mother could cry out to them the wicked witch threw her spell +upon them and turned them into twelve ducks which flapped their wings +and flew away. Away they went and away they stayed. + +But the Queen had a daughter, and she was the loveliest child one ever +set eyes upon. The Princess grew up, and she was both tall and fair, but +she was often quiet and sorrowful, and no one could understand what it +was that ailed her. The Queen, too, was often sorrowful, as you may +believe, for she had many strange fears when she thought of her sons. +And one day she said to her daughter, "Why are you so sorrowful, lassie +mine? Is there anything you want? If so, only say the word, and you +shall have it." + +"Oh, it seems so dull and lonely here," said the daughter, "every one +else has brothers and sisters, but I am all alone; I have none. That's +why I'm so sorrowful." + +"But you had brothers, my daughter," said the Queen; "I had twelve sons, +stout, brave lads, but I lost them all when you came;" and so she told +her the whole story. + +When the Princess heard that she had no rest; for she thought it was all +her fault, and in spite of all the Queen could say or do, though she +wept and prayed, the lassie would set off to seek her brothers. On and +on she walked into the wide world, so far you would never have thought +her small feet could have had strength to carry her so far. + +Finally, one day, when she was walking through a great, great wood, she +felt tired, and sat down on a mossy tuft and fell asleep. Then she +dreamt that she went deeper and deeper into the wood, till she came to a +little wooden hut, and there she found her brothers. Just then she +awoke, and straight before her she saw a worn path in the green moss. +This path went deeper into the wood, so she followed it, and after a +long time she came to just such a little wooden house as that she had +seen in her dream. + +Now, when she went into the room there was no one at home, but there +were twelve beds, and twelve chairs, and twelve spoons,--in short, a +dozen of everything. When she saw that she was very glad; she had not +been so glad for many a long year, for she could guess at once that her +brothers lived there, and that they owned the beds and chairs and +spoons. So she began to make up the fire, and sweep the room and make +the beds and cook the dinner, and to make the house as tidy as she +could. + +And when she had done all the work and the dinner was on the table she +suddenly heard something flapping and whirling in the air, and she +slipped behind the door. Then all the twelve ducks came sweeping in; but +as soon as ever they crossed the threshold they became Princes. + +"Oh, how nice and warm it is here," they said, "Heaven bless him who +made up the fire and cooked such a nice dinner for us." + +"But who can it be?" said the youngest Prince, and they all hunted both +high and low until they found the lassie behind the door. And she threw +her arms around their necks and said, "I'm your sister; I've gone about +seeking you these three years, and if I could set you free, I'd +willingly give my life." + +Then all the brothers looked sorrowfully, one at the other, and they +shook their heads. + +"No, it's too hard," said the eldest Prince, looking at the pretty young +Princess, "it's too hard," and again they sighed and shook their heads. + +"Oh, tell me, only tell me," said the Princess, "how can it be done, and +I'll do it, whatever it be." And as she begged and pleaded for them to +tell her, the youngest brother said at last, "You must pick thistledown, +and you must card it, and spin it, and weave it. After you have done +that, you must cut out and make twelve shirts, one for each of us, and +while you do that, you must neither talk, nor laugh, nor weep. If you +can do that we are free." + +"But where shall I ever get thistledown enough for so many shirts?" +asked the sister. + +"Well, that is the hardest thing of all," said the eldest brother. "You +must go to the witches' moor at midnight and gather it there," and big +tears stood in his eyes, "and you must go alone, all alone." + +But the sister smiled and nodded her head, and when midnight came, and +the moon was high in the sky she said good-bye to her brothers, and went +to the great, wide moor, where the witches lived. There stood a great +crop of thistles, all nodding and nodding in the breeze, while the down +floated and glistened like gossamer through the air in the moonbeams. +The Princess began to pluck and gather it as fast as she could, but she +saw long skinny arms outstretched toward her, and, among the thistles, +she saw a host of wicked faces all looking at her. Her heart stood still +then and she grew icy cold, but never a sound did she utter, only +plucked and gathered until her bag was full; and when she got home at +break of day she set to work carding and spinning yarn from the down. + +[Illustration: The Princess began to pluck and gather as fast as she +could] + +So she went on a long, long time picking down on the witches' moor, +carding and spinning, and all the while keeping the house of the +Princes, cooking, and making their beds. But she never talked, nor +laughed, nor wept. + +At evening home the brothers came, flapping and whirring like wild +ducks, and all night they were Princes, but in the morning off they flew +again, and were wild ducks the whole day. + +But, it happened one night when she was out on the moor picking +thistledown, that the young King who ruled that land was out hunting, +and had lost his way. He had become separated from his companions, and +now, as he came riding across the moor, he saw her. He stopped and +wondered who the lovely lady could be that walked alone on the moor +picking thistledown in the dead of the night; and he asked her name. +Getting no answer, he was still more astonished, but he liked her so +much, that at last nothing would do but he must take her home to his +castle and marry her. So he took her and put her upon his horse. The +Princess wrung her hands, and made signs to him, and pointed to the bags +in which her work was, and when the King saw she wished to have them +with her he took the bags and placed them behind them. + +When that was done the Princess, little by little, came to herself, for +the King was both a wise man and a handsome man, and he was as gentle +and kind to her as a mother. But when they reached the palace an old +woman met them. She was the King's guardian, and when she set eyes on +the Princess she became so cross and jealous of her, because she was so +lovely, that she said to the King: + +"Can't you see now, that this thing whom you have picked up, and whom +you are going to marry, is a witch? Why, she can neither talk nor laugh +nor weep!" + +But the King did not care a straw for what she said. He held to the +wedding and married the Princess, and they lived in great joy and glory. +But the Princess didn't forget to go on working on her shirts, and she +neither talked nor laughed nor wept. However, when she had spun and +woven and cut, she found that she still had not enough cloth for the +twelve shirts, and she needs must go to the witches' moor again. + +So that night while all the palace slept she quietly slipped out and +walked off to pick her thistledown, but the old woman who was the King's +guardian saw her, and she knew well where the young Queen was going, for +I must tell you she was the same wicked witch who had changed the twelve +Princes into wild ducks. She hurried to the King's chamber, woke him and +said, "Now, come with me and I'll prove to you that your lovely Queen is +a witch, who joins the wicked company on the moor at midnight." The King +would not listen to her at first, but when he saw that the Queen's bed +was empty, he got up and went with the old woman. + +And there upon the edge of the moor they stopped, but in the clear +moonlight they could see the Queen among the horrid hags and trolls. The +King turned away sadly and said not a word, for he loved his quiet Queen +very much. + +But the wicked old woman began to whisper and tell abroad about the +Queen's nightly visit to the moor, and at last the King's best men came +to him and said, "We will not have a Queen who is a witch; the people +demand of you that she be burnt alive." + +Then the King was so sad that there was no end to his sadness, for now +he saw that he could not save her. He was obliged to order her to be +burnt alive on a pile of wood. When the pile was all ablaze, and they +were about to put her on it, she made signs to them to take twelve +boards and lay them around the pile. + +On these she laid the shirts for her brothers all completed but that for +the youngest, which lacked its left sleeve; she had not had time to +finish it. And as soon as ever she had done that, they heard a flapping +and whirring in the air, and down came twelve wild ducks from over the +forest, and each snapped up his shirt in his bill and flew off with it. + +"See now!" said the old woman to the King, "wasn't I right when I told +you she was a witch! Make haste and burn her before the pile burns low." + +"Oh!" said the King, "we've wood enough and to spare, and so I'll wait a +bit, for I have a mind to see what the end of this will be." + +As he spoke up came the twelve Princes riding along, as handsome +well-grown lads as you'd wish to see; but the youngest Prince had a wild +duck's wing instead of his left arm. "What's all this about?" asked the +Princes. + +"My Queen is to be burnt," said the King, "because she is a witch, so +the people say, and I can't save her." + +"Speak now, sister," said the Princes, "you have set us free and saved +us, now save yourself." + +Then the young Queen spoke and told the whole story, and the King and +all the people listened with wonder and joy. Only the wicked old woman +stood trembling with fear. And when the Queen had finished her story, +the people took the old witch and bound her and burned her on the pile. + +But the King took his wife and the twelve Princes and went home with +them to their father and mother, and told all that had befallen them. +Then there was joy and gladness over the whole kingdom, because the +wicked witch was dead and the Princes saved and set free, and because +the lovely Princess had set free her twelve brothers. + + + + +GUDBRAND-ON-THE-HILLSIDE + + +Once upon a time there was a man whose name was Gudbrand. He had a farm +which lay far, far away upon a hillside, and so they called him +Gudbrand-on-the-Hillside. + +Now, you must know this man and his good wife lived so happily together, +and understood one another so well, that all the husband did the wife +thought so well done there was nothing like it in the world, and she was +always pleased at whatever he turned his hand to. The farm was their own +land, and they had a hundred dollars lying at the bottom of their chest +and two cows tethered up in a stall in their farmyard. + +So one day his wife said to Gudbrand, "Do you know, dear, I think we +ought to take one of our cows into town and sell it; that's what I +think; for then we shall have some money in hand, and such well-to-do +people as we ought to have ready money as other folks have. As for the +hundred dollars in the chest yonder, we can't make a hole in our +savings, and I'm sure I don't know what we want with more than one cow. + +"Besides, we shall gain a little in another way, for then I shall get +off with only looking after one cow, instead of having, as now, to feed +and litter and water two." + +Well, Gudbrand thought his wife talked right good sense, so he set off +at once with the cow on the way to town to sell her; but when he got to +the town, there was no one who would buy his cow. + +"Well, well, never mind," said Gudbrand, "at the worst, I can only go +back home with my cow. I've both stable and tether for her, and the road +is no farther out than in." And with that he began to toddle home with +his cow. + +But when he had gone a bit of the way, a man met him who had a horse to +sell. Gudbrand thought 'twas better to have a horse than a cow, so he +traded with the man. A little farther on he met a man walking along and +driving a fat pig before him, and he thought it better to have a fat pig +than a horse, so he traded with the man. After that he went a little +farther, and a man met him with a goat, so he thought it better to have +a goat than a pig, and he traded with the man who owned the goat. Then +he went on a good bit till he met a man who had a sheep, and he traded +with him too, for he thought it always better to have a sheep than a +goat. After a while he met a man with a goose, and he traded away the +sheep for the goose; and when he had walked a long, long time, he met a +man with a cock, and he traded with him, for he thought in this wise, +"Tis surely better to have a cock than a goose." + +Then he went on till the day was far spent, and he began to get very +hungry, so he sold the cock for a shilling, and bought food with the +money, for, thought Gudbrand-on-the-Hillside, "Tis always better to save +one's life than to have a cock." + +After that he went on homeward till he reached his nearest neighbor's +house, where he turned in. + +"Well," said the owner of the house, "how did things go with you in +town?" + +"Rather so-so," said Gudbrand, "I can't praise my luck, nor do I blame +it either," and with that he told the whole story from first to last. + +"Ah!" said his friend, "you'll get nicely hauled over the coals, when +you go home to your wife. Heaven help you, I wouldn't stand in your +shoes for anything." + +"Well," said Gudbrand-on-the-Hillside, "I think things might have gone +much worse with me; but now, whether I have done wrong or not, I have so +kind a good wife she never has a word to say against anything that I +do." + +"Oh!" answered his neighbor, "I hear what you say, but I don't believe +it for all that." + +"And so you doubt it?" asked Gudbrand-on-the-Hillside. + +"Yes," said the friend, "I have a hundred crowns, at the bottom of my +chest at home, I will give you if you can prove what you say." + +So Gudbrand stayed there till evening, when it began to get dark, and +then they went together to his house, and the neighbor was to stand +outside the door and listen, while the man went in to his wife. + +"Good evening!" said Gudbrand-on-the Hillside. + +"Good evening!" said the good wife. "Oh! is that you? Now, I am happy." + +Then the wife asked how things had gone with him in town. + +"Oh, only so-so," answered Gudbrand; "not much to brag of. When I got to +town there was no one who would buy the cow, so you must know I traded +it away for a horse." + +"For a horse," said his wife; "well that is good of you; thanks with all +my heart. We are so well to do that we may drive to church, just as well +as other people, and if we choose to keep a horse we have a right to get +one, I should think." So, turning to her child she said, "Run out, +deary, and put up the horse." + +"Ah!" said Gudbrand, "but you see I have not the horse after all, for +when I got a bit farther on the road, I traded it for a pig." + +"Think of that, now!" said the wife. "You did just as I should have done +myself; a thousand thanks! Now I can have a bit of bacon in the house to +set before people when they come to see me, that I can. What do we want +with a horse? People would only say we had got so proud that we couldn't +walk to church. Go out, child, and put up the pig in the sty." + +"But I have not the pig either," said Gudbrand, "for when I got a little +farther on, I traded it for a goat." + +"Dear me!" cried the wife, "how well you manage everything! Now I think +it over, what should I do with a pig? People would only point at us and +say 'Yonder they eat up all they have.' No, now I have a goat, and I +shall have milk and cheese, and keep the goat too. Run out, child, and +put up the goat." + +"Nay, but I haven't the goat either," said Gudbrand, "for a little +farther on I traded it away and got a fine sheep instead!" + +"You don't say so!" cried his wife, "why, you do everything to please +me, just as if I had been with you. What do we want with a goat? If I +had it I should lose half my time in climbing up the hills to get it +down. No, if I have a sheep, I shall have both wool and clothing, and +fresh meat in the house. Run out, child, and put up the sheep." + +"But I haven't the sheep any more than the rest," said Gudbrand, "for +when I got a bit farther, I traded it away for a goose." + +"Thank you, thank you, with all my heart," cried his wife, "what should +I do with a sheep? I have no spinning wheel or carding comb, nor should +I care to worry myself with cutting, and shaping, and sewing clothes. We +can buy clothes now as we have always done; and now I shall have roast +goose, which I have longed for so often; and, besides, down with which +to stuff my little pillow. Run out, child, and put up the goose. + +"Well!" said Gudbrand, "I haven't the goose either; for when I had gone +a bit farther I traded it for a cock." + +"Dear me!" cried his wife, "how you think of everything! just as I +should have done myself. A cock! think of that! Why it's as good as an +eight day clock, for every day the cock crows at four o'clock, and we +shall be able to stir our stiff legs in good time. What should we do +with a goose? I don't know how to cook it; and as for my pillow, I can +stuff it with cotton grass. Run out, child, and put up the cock." + +"But after all, I haven't the cock either," said Gudbrand, "for when I +had gone a bit farther, I became as hungry as a hunter, so I was forced +to sell the cock for a shilling, for fear I should starve." + +"Now, God be praised that you did so!" cried his wife, "whatever you do, +you do it always just after my own heart. What should we do with the +cock? We are our own masters, I should think, and can lie abed in the +morning as long as we like. Heaven be thanked that I have you safe back +again; you who do everything so well, that I want neither cock nor +goose; neither pigs nor kine." + +Then Gudbrand opened the door and said,-- + +"Well, what do you say now? Have I won the hundred crowns?" and his +neighbor was forced to admit that he had. + + + + +THE PRINCESS ON THE GLASS HILL + + +Once on a time, there was a man who had a meadow, which lay high upon +the hillside, and in the meadow was a barn, which he had built to keep +his hay in. Now, I must tell you there hadn't been much in the barn for +the last year or two, for every St. John's night, when the grass stood +greenest and deepest, the meadow was eaten down to the very ground the +next morning, just as if a whole drove of sheep had been there feeding +on it over night. This happened once, and it happened twice; so at last +the man grew weary of losing his crop of hay, and said to his sons--for +he had three of them, and the youngest was nicknamed Boots, of +course--that now one of them must just go and sleep in the barn in the +outlying field when St. John's night came, for it was no joke that his +grass should be eaten, root and blade, this year, as it had been the +last two years. So whichever of them went must keep a sharp look-out; +that was what their father said. + +Well, the eldest son was ready to go and watch the meadow; trust him for +looking after the grass. So, when evening came, he set off to the barn, +and lay down to sleep. But a little on in the night came such a clatter, +and such an earthquake, that walls and roof shook, and groaned, and +creaked. Then up jumped the lad, and took to his heels as fast as ever +he could; nor dared he once look around until he reached home; and as +for the hay, why it was eaten up this year just as it had been twice +before. + +The next St. John's night, the man said again it would never do to lose +all the grass in the outlying field year after year in this way, so one +of his sons must just trudge off to watch it, and watch it well too. +Well, the next oldest son was ready to try his luck, so he set off and +sat down to watch in the barn as his brother had done before him. But as +the night wore on, there came on a rumbling and quaking of the earth, +worse even than on the last St. John's night, and when the lad heard it, +he got frightened, and took to his heels as though he were running a +race. + +Next year the turn came to Boots; but when he made ready to go the other +two began to laugh and to make game of him, saying,-- + +"You're just the man to watch the hay, that you are; you, who have done +nothing all your life but sit in the ashes and toast yourself by the +fire." + +But Boots did not care a pin for their chattering, and as evening drew +on, he walked up the hillside to the outlying field. There he went +inside the barn and sat down; but in about an hour's time the barn began +to groan and creak, so that it was dreadful to hear. + +"Well," said Boots to himself, "if it isn't worse than this, I can stand +it well enough." + +A little while after came another creak and an earthquake, so that the +litter in the barn flew about the lad's ears. + +"Oh!" said Boots to himself, "if it isn't worse than this, I daresay I +can stand it out." + +But just then came a third rumbling and a third earthquake, so that the +lad thought walls and roof were coming down on his head; but it passed +off, and all was still as death about him. + +"It'll come again, I'll be bound," thought Boots; but no, it didn't come +again; still it was, and still it stayed. But after he had sat a little +while, he heard a noise as if a horse were standing just outside the +barn door, and feeding on the grass. He stole to the door, and peeped +through a chink, and there stood a horse feeding away. So big, and fat, +and grand a horse, Boots had never set eyes on. By his side on the grass +lay a saddle and bridle, and a full set of armor for a knight, all of +brass, so bright that the light gleamed from it. + +"Ho, ho!" thought the lad; "it's you, is it, that eats up our hay?" + +So he lost no time, but took the steel out of his tinder box and threw +it over the horse; then it had no power to stir from the spot, and +became so tame that the lad could do what he liked with it. Then he got +on its back, and rode off with it to a place which no one knew of, and +there he put up the horse. When he got home, his brothers laughed, and +asked how he had fared. + +"You didn't sit long in the barn, even if you had the heart to go as far +as the field." + +"Well," said Boots, "all I can say is, I sat in the barn till the sun +rose." + +"A pretty story," said his brothers; "but we'll soon see how you have +watched the meadow;" so they set off; but when they reached it, there +stood the grass as deep and thick as it had been over night. + +Well, the next St. John's eve it was the same story over again; neither +of the elder brothers dared to go out to the outlying field to watch the +crop; but Boots, he had the heart to go, and everything happened just as +it had the year before. First a clatter and an earthquake, then a +greater clatter and another earthquake, and so on a third time; only +this year the earthquakes were far worse than the year before. Then all +at once everything was still as death, and the lad heard how something +was cropping the grass outside the barn door, so he stole to the door, +and peeped through a chink; and what do you think he saw? Why, another +horse standing right up against the wall, and chewing and champing with +might and main. It was far larger and finer than that which came the +year before, and it had a saddle on its back, and a bridle on its head, +and a full suit of mail for a knight lay by its side, all of silver, and +as splendid as you would wish to see. + +"Ho, ho!" said Boots to himself; "it's you that gobbles up our hay, is +it?" And with that he took the steel out of his tinder box, and threw it +over the horse's crest; then it stood as still as a lamb. Well, the lad +rode this horse, too, to the hiding place where he kept the other one, +and after that, he went home. + +"I suppose you'll tell us," said one of his brothers, "there's a fine +crop this year too, up in the hay field." + +"Well, so there is," said Boots; and off ran the others to see, and +there stood the grass thick and deep, as it was the year before; but +they didn't give Boots softer words for all that. + +Now, when the third St. John's eve came, the two elder still hadn't the +heart to sit out in the barn and watch the grass, for they had got so +scared at heart the night they sat there before, that they couldn't get +over the fright. But Boots dared to go; and the very same thing happened +this time that had happened twice before. Three earthquakes came, one +after the other, each worse than the one which went before, and when the +last came, the lad danced about with the shock from one barn wall to the +other; and after that, all at once, it was still as death. Now, when he +had sat a little while, he heard something cropping away at the grass +outside the barn, so he stole again to the door chink, and peeped out, +and there stood a horse outside--far, far bigger and more beautiful than +the two he had taken before. It had a saddle on its back, a bridle on +its head, and a full suit of mail for a knight lay by its side--all of +gold, all more splendid than anything you ever saw. + +[Illustration: So he caught up the steel and threw it over the horse] + +"Ho, ho!" said the lad to himself, "it's you, is it, that comes here +eating up our hay? I'll soon stop that." So he caught up his steel, and +threw it over the horse's neck, and in a trice it stood as if it were +nailed to the ground, and Boots could do as he pleased with it. Then he +rode off with it to the hiding place, where he kept the other two, and +then went home. When he got home, his two brothers made game of him as +they had done before, saying, they could see he had watched the grass +well, for he looked for all the world as if he were walking in his +sleep, and many other spiteful things they said, but Boots gave no heed +to them, only asking them to go and see for themselves; and when they +went, there stood the grass as fine and deep this time as it had been +twice before. + + * * * * * + +Now you must know that the king of the country where Boots lived had a +daughter, whom he would only give to the man who could ride up over the +hill of glass, for there was a high, high hill, all of glass, as smooth +and slippery as ice, close by the king's palace. Upon the tip top of the +hill the king's daughter was to sit, with three golden apples in her +lap, and the man who could ride up and carry off the three golden apples +was to have half the kingdom, and the Princess to wife. This offer the +king had posted on all the church doors in his realm; and had given it +out in many other kingdoms besides. Now, this Princess was so lovely, +that all who set eyes on her loved her. So I needn't tell you how all +the princes and knights who heard of her were eager to win her to wife, +and half the kingdom besides; and how they came riding from all parts of +the world on high prancing horses, and clad in the grandest clothes, for +there wasn't one of them who hadn't made up his mind that he, and he +alone, was to win the Princess. + +So when the day of trial came, which the king had fixed, there was such +a crowd of princes and knights under the glass hill, that it made one's +head whirl to look at them; and every one in the country who could even +crawl along was off to the hill, for they all were eager to see the man +who was to win the Princess. Thus the two elder brothers set off with +the rest; but as for Boots, they said outright he shouldn't go with +them, for if they were seen with such a dirty fellow, all begrimed with +smut from cleaning their shoes, and sifting cinders in the dust-hole, +they said folk would make game of them. + +"Very well," said Boots; "it's all one to me. I can go alone." + +Now, when the two brothers came to the hill of glass, the knights and +princes were all hard at it, riding their horses till they were all in a +foam; but it was no good; for as soon as ever the horses set foot on the +hill, down they slipped, and there wasn't one who could get a yard or +two up; and no wonder, for the hill was as smooth as a sheet of glass, +and as steep as a house-wall. But all were eager to have the Princess +and half the kingdom. So they rode and slipped, and slipped and rode, +and still it was the same story over again. At last all their horses +were so weary that they could scarce lift a leg, and so the knights had +to give up trying any more. + +The king was just thinking that he would proclaim a new trial for the +next day, to see if they would have better luck, when all at once a +knight came riding up on so brave a steed, that no one had ever seen the +like of it in his born days, and the knight had a mail of brass, and the +horse a brass bit in his mouth, so bright that the sunbeams shone from +it. Then all the others called out to him that he might just as well +spare himself the trouble of riding at the hill, for it would lead to no +good; but he gave no heed to them, and put his horse at the hill, and +went up it for a good way, about a third of the height; and when he had +got so far, he turned his horse round and rode down again. So lovely a +knight the Princess thought she had never yet seen; and while he was +riding, she sat and thought to herself,-- + +"Ah, how I wish that he might come up and go down the other side." + +And when she saw him turning back, she threw down one of the golden +apples after him, and it rolled down into his shoe. But when he got to +the bottom of the hill he rode off so fast that no one could tell what +had become of him. That evening all the knights and princes were to go +before the king, that he who had ridden so far up the hill might show +the apple which the Princess had thrown, but there was no one who had +anything to show. One after the other they all came, but not a man of +them could show the apple. + +The next day, all the princes and knights began to ride again, and you +may fancy they had taken care to shoe their horses well; but it was no +use,--they rode and slipped, and slipped and rode, just as they had done +the day before; and there was not one who could get so far as a yard up +the hill. And when they had worn out their horses, so that they could +not stir a leg, they were all forced to give it up. So the king thought +he might as well proclaim that the riding should take place the day +after for the last time, just to give them one chance more; but all at +once it came across his mind that he might as well wait a little longer, +to see if the knight in brass mail would come this day too. Well! they +saw nothing of him; but all at once came one riding on a steed, far, far +braver and finer than that on which the knight in brass had ridden, and +he had silver mail, and a silver saddle and bridle, all so bright that +the sunbeams gleamed and glanced from them far away. Then the others +shouted out to him again, saying he might as well stop, and not try to +ride up the hill, for all his trouble would be thrown away. But the +knight paid no heed to them, and rode straight at the hill, and right up +it, till he had gone two-thirds of the way, and then he wheeled his +horse around and rode down again. To tell the truth, the Princess liked +him still better than the knight in brass, and she sat and wished he +might be able to come right up to the top, and down the other side; but +when she saw him turning back, she threw the second apple after him, and +it rolled down and fell into his shoe. But as soon as ever he had come +down the hill of glass, he rode off so fast that no one could see what +became of him. + +At even, all were to go in before the king and the Princess, that he who +had the golden apple might show it. In they went, one after the other, +but there was no one who had any apple to show. + +The third day everything happened as it had happened the two days +before. There was no one who could get so much as a yard up the hill; +and now all waited for the knight in silver mail, but they neither saw +nor heard of him. At last came one riding on a steed, so brave that no +one had ever seen his match; and the knight had a suit of golden mail, +and a golden saddle and bridle, so wondrous bright that the sunbeams +gleamed from them a mile off. The other knights and princes could not +find time to call out to him not to try his luck, for they were amazed +to see how grand he was. So he rode at the hill, and tore up it like +nothing, so that the Princess hadn't even time to wish that he might get +up the whole way. As soon as ever he reached the top, he took the third +golden apple from the Princess's lap, and then turned his horse and rode +down again. As soon as he got down he rode off at full speed, and was +out of sight in no time. + +Now, when the two brothers got home at even, you may fancy what long +stories they told, how the riding had gone off that day; and amongst +other things, they had a deal to say about the knight in golden mail. + +"He just was a chap to ride," they said; "so grand a knight isn't to be +found in this wide world." + +Next day all the knights and princes were to pass before the king and +the Princess--that he who had the gold apple might bring it forth; but +one came after another, first the princes, then the knights, and still +no one could show the gold apple. + +"Well," said the king, "some one must have it, for it was something that +we all saw with our own eyes, how a man came and rode up and bore it +off." + +So he commanded that everyone who was in the kingdom should come up to +the palace and see if he could show the apple. Well, they all came one +after another, but no one had the golden apple, and after a long time +the two brothers of Boots came. They were the last of all, so the king +asked them if there was no one else in the kingdom who hadn't come. + +"Oh, yes," said they; "we have a brother, but he never carried off the +golden apple. He hasn't stirred out of the dust-hole on any of the three +days." + +"Never mind that," said the king; "he may as well come up to the palace +like the rest." So he came. + +"How, now," said the king; "have you the golden apple? Speak out." + +"Yes, I have," said Boots; "here is the first, and here is the second, +and here is the third, too;" and with that he pulled all three golden +apples out of his pocket, and at the same time threw off his sooty rags, +and stood before them in his gleaming golden mail. + +"Yes," said the king; "you shall have my daughter, and half my kingdom, +for you well deserve both her and it." + +So they got ready for the wedding, and Boots got the Princess to wife, +and there was great merry-making at the bridal-feast, you may fancy, for +they could all be merry though they couldn't ride up the hill of glass; +and all I can say is, if they haven't left off their merry-making yet, +why, they're still at it. + + + + +THE HUSBAND WHO WAS TO MIND THE HOUSE + + +Once on a time there was a man so mean and cross that he never thought +his wife did anything right in the house. So one evening in hay-making +time he came home scolding and tearing, and showing his teeth and making +a fuss. + +"Dear love, don't be so angry; there's a good man," said his goody; +"to-morrow let's change our work. I'll go out with the mowers and mow, +and you shall mind the house at home." + +The husband thought that would do very well. He was quite willing, he +said. + +So, early next morning his goody took a scythe on her shoulders, and +went out into the hayfield with the mowers, and began to mow; but the +man was to mind the house and do the work at home. + +First of all he wanted to churn the butter; but when he had churned a +while, he grew thirsty and went down to the cellar to tap a barrel of +ale. So, just when he was putting the tap into the cask, he heard +overhead the pig come into the kitchen. Then off he ran up the cellar +steps, with the tap in his hand, as fast as he could to look after the +pig, lest it should upset the churn. But when he got up, and saw the pig +had already knocked the churn over and stood there grunting and rooting +in the cream which was running all over the floor, he became so wild +with rage, that he quite forgot the ale barrel, and ran at the pig as +hard as he could. + +He caught it, too, just as it ran out of doors, and gave it such a kick +that piggy died on the spot. Then all at once he remembered he had the +tap in his hand; but when he got down to the cellar, every drop of ale +had run out of the cask. + +Then he went into the dairy and found enough cream left to fill the +churn again, and so he began to churn, for butter they must have at +dinner. When he had churned a bit, he remembered that their milking cow +was still shut up in its stall, and had not had a mouthful to eat or a +drop to drink all the morning, though the sun was high. Then he thought +it was too far to take her down to the meadow, so he'd just get her up +on the house top, for the house, you must know, was thatched with sods, +and a fine crop of grass was growing there. Now their house lay close up +against a steep rock, and he thought if he laid a plank across to the +roof at the back, he'd easily get the cow up. + +But still he could not leave the churn, for there was their little babe +crawling about the floor, and, "If I leave it," he thought, "the child +is sure to upset it." + +So he took the churn on his back and went out with it. Then he thought +he'd better water the cow before he turned her out on the thatch, and he +took up a bucket to draw water out of the well. But, as he stooped down +at the brink of the well, all the cream ran out of the churn over his +shoulders, about his neck, and down into the well. + +Now it was near dinner time, and he had not even got butter yet. So he +thought he'd best boil the porridge, and he filled the pot with water, +and hung it over the fire. When he had done that, he thought the cow +might perhaps fall off the thatch and break her legs or her neck. So he +got up on the house to tie her up. One end of the rope he made fast to +the cow's neck, and the other he slipped down the chimney and tied round +his own waist. He had to make haste, for the water now began to boil in +the pot, and he had still to grind the oatmeal. + +So he began to grind away; but while he was hard at it, down fell the +cow off the housetop after all, and as she fell she dragged the man up +the chimney by the rope. There he stuck fast. And as for the cow, she +hung halfway down the wall, swinging between heaven and earth, for she +could neither get down nor up. + +And now the goody had waited seven lengths and seven breadths for her +husband to come and call them home to dinner, but never a call they had. +At last she thought she'd waited long enough and went home. + +When she got there and saw the cow hanging in such an ugly place, she +ran up and cut the rope in two with her scythe. But as she did this, +down came her husband out of the chimney, and so when his old dame came +inside the kitchen, there she found him standing on his head in the +porridge pot. + + + + +LITTLE FREDDY WITH HIS FIDDLE + + +Once there was a farmer who had an only son. The lad had had very poor +health so he could not go out to work in the field. + +His name was Freddy, but, since he remained such a wee bit of a fellow, +they called him Little Freddy. At home there was but little to eat and +nothing at all to burn, so his father went about the country trying to +get the boy a place as cowherd or errand boy; but there was no one who +would take the weakly little lad till they came to the sheriff. He was +ready to take him, for he had just sent off his errand boy, and there +was no one who would fill his place, for everybody knew the sheriff was +a great miser. + +But the farmer thought it was better there than nowhere; he would get +his food, for all the pay he was to get was his board--there was nothing +said about wages or clothes. When the lad had served three years he +wanted to leave, and the sheriff gave him all his wages at one time. He +was to have a penny a year. "It couldn't well be less," said the +sheriff. And so he got three pence in all. + +As for Little Freddy, he thought it was a great sum, for he had never +owned so much; but, for all that, he asked if he wasn't to have anything +for clothes, for those he had on were worn to rags. He had not had any +new ones since he came to the sheriff's three years ago. + +"You have what we agreed on," said the sheriff, "and three whole pennies +besides. I have nothing more to do with you. Be off!" + +So Little Freddy went into the kitchen and got a little food in his +knapsack, and after that he set off on the road to buy himself more +clothes. He was both merry and glad, for he had never seen a penny +before, and every now and then he felt in his pockets as he went along +to see if he had them all three. So, when he had gone far and farther +than far, he got up on top of the mountains. He was not strong on his +legs, and had to rest every now and then, and then he counted and +counted how many pennies he had. And now he came to a great plain +overgrown with moss. There he sat down and began to see if his money was +all right. Suddenly a beggarman appeared before him, so tall and big +that when he got a good look at him and saw his height and length, the +lad began to scream and screech. + +"Don't you be afraid," said the beggarman, "I'll do you no harm, I came +only to beg you for a penny." + +"Dear me!" said the lad, "I have only three pennies, and with them I was +going to town to buy clothes." + +"It is worse for me than for you," said the beggarman, "I have not one +penny, and I am still more ragged than you." + +"Well, that is so; you shall have it," said the lad. + +When he had walked on a while, he grew weary again, and sat down to +rest. Suddenly another beggarman stood before him, and this one was +still taller and uglier than the first. When the lad saw how very tall +and ugly and long he was, he began to scream again. + +"Now, don't you be afraid of me," said the beggar, "I'll do you no harm. +I came only to beg for a penny." + +"Oh dear, oh dear!" said the lad. "I have only two pennies, and with +them I was going to the town to buy clothes. If I had only met you +sooner, then--" + +"It's worse for me than for you," said the beggarman. "I have no penny, +and a bigger body and less clothing." + +"Well, you may have it," said the lad. So he went away farther, till he +got weary, and then he sat down to rest; but he had scarcely sat down +when a third beggarman came to him. This one was so tall and ugly and +long that the lad had to look up and up, right up to the sky. And when +he took him all in with his eyes, and saw how very, very tall and ugly +and ragged he was, he fell a-screeching and screaming again. + +[Illustration: The lad had to look up, right up into the sky] + +"Now, don't you be afraid of me, my lad," said the beggarman, "I'll do +you no harm, for I am only a beggarman, who begs you for a penny." + +"Oh dear, oh dear!" said the lad. "I have only one penny left, and with +it I was going to the town to buy clothes. If I had only met you sooner, +then--" + +"As for that," said the beggarman, "I have no penny at all, that I +haven't, and a bigger body and less clothes, so it is worse for me than +for you." + +"Yes," said Little Freddy, "he must have the penny then--there was no +help for it; for so each beggarman would have one penny, and he would +have nothing." + +"Well," said the beggarman, "since you have such a good heart that you +gave away all that you had in the world, I will give you a wish for each +penny." For you must know it was the same beggarman who had got them all +three; he had only changed his shape each time, that the lad might not +know him again. + +"I have always had such a longing to hear a fiddle go, and see folk so +merry and glad that they couldn't help dancing," said the lad; "and so +if I may wish what I choose, I will wish myself such a fiddle, that +everything that has life must dance to its tune." + +"That you may have," said the beggarman, "but it is a sorry wish. You +must wish something better for the other two pennies." + +"I have always had such a love for hunting and shooting," said Little +Freddy; "so if I may wish what I choose, I will wish myself such a gun +that I shall hit everything I aim at, were it ever so far off." + +"That you may have," said the beggarman, "but it is a sorry wish too. +You must wish better for the last penny." + +"I have always had a longing to be in company with folks who were kind +and good," said Little Freddy; "and so, if I could get what I wish, I +would wish it to be so that no one can say 'Nay' to the first thing I +ask." + +"That wish is not so sorry," said the beggarman; and off he strode +between the hills, and Freddy saw him no more. + +So the lad lay down to sleep, and the next day he came down from the +mountain with his fiddle and his gun. First he went to the storekeeper +and asked for clothes. Next at a farm he asked for a horse, and at a +second for a sleigh; and at another place he asked for a fur coat. No +one said him "Nay"--even the stingiest folk were all forced to give him +what he asked for. At last he went through the country as a fine +gentleman, and had his horse and his sleigh. When he had gone a bit he +met the sheriff whose servant he had been. + +"Good day, master," said Little Freddy, as he pulled up and took off his +hat. + +"Good day," said the sheriff, "but when was I ever your master?" + +"Oh yes," said Little Freddy, "don't you remember how I served you three +years for three pence?" + +"My goodness, now!" said the sheriff, "you have grown rich in a hurry, +and pray, how was it that you got to be such a fine gentleman?" + +"Oh, that is a long story," said Little Freddy. + +"And are you so full of fun that you carry a fiddle about with you?" +asked the sheriff. + +"Yes, yes," said Freddy. "I have always had such a longing to get folk +to dance. But the funniest thing of all is this gun, for it brings down +almost anything that I aim at, however far it may be off. Do you see +that magpie yonder, sitting in the spruce fir? What will you give me if +I hit it as we stand here?" + +"Well," said the sheriff, and he laughed when he said it, "I'll give you +all the money I have in my pocket, and I'll go and fetch it when it +falls," for he never thought it possible for any gun to carry so far. + +But as the gun went off down fell the magpie, and into a great bramble +thicket; and away went the sheriff up into the bramble after it, and he +picked it up and held it up high for the lad to see. But just then +Little Freddy began to play his fiddle, and the sheriff began to dance, +and the thorns to tear him; but still the lad played on, and the sheriff +danced, and cried, and begged, till his clothes flew to tatters, and he +scarce had a thread to his back. + +"Yes," said Little Freddy, "now I think you're about as ragged as I was +when I left your service; so now you may get off with what you have." + +But first the sheriff had to pay him all the money that he had in his +pocket. + +So when the lad came to town he turned into an inn, and there he began +to play, and all who came danced and laughed and were merry, and so the +lad lived without any care, for all the folks liked him and no one would +say "Nay" to anything he asked. + +But one evening just as they were all in the midst of their fun, up came +the watchmen to drag the lad off to the town hall; for the sheriff had +laid a charge against him, and said he had waylaid him and robbed him +and nearly taken his life. And now he was to be hanged. The people would +hear of nothing else. But Little Freddy had a cure for all trouble, and +that was his fiddle. He began to play on it, and the watchmen fell +a-dancing and they danced and they laughed till they gasped for breath. + +So soldiers and the guard were sent to take him, but it was no better +with them than with the watchmen. When Little Freddy played his fiddle, +they were all bound to dance; and dance as long as he could lift a +finger to play a tune; but they were half dead long before he was tired. + +At last they stole a march on him, and took him while he lay asleep by +night. Now that they had caught him they could condemn him to be hanged +on the spot, and away they hurried him to the gallows tree. + +There a great crowd of people flocked together to see this wonder, and +the sheriff too was there. He was glad to get even at last for the money +and the clothes he had lost, and to see the lad hanged with his own +eyes. + +And here came Little Freddy, carrying his fiddle and his gun. Slowly he +mounted the steps of the gallows,--and when he got to the top he sat +down, and asked if they could deny him a wish, and if he might have +leave to do one thing? He had such a longing, he said, to scrape a tune +and play a bar on his fiddle before they hanged him. + +"No, no," they said; "it were sin and shame to deny him that." For you +know, no one could say "Nay" to what he asked. + +But the sheriff begged them not to let him have leave to touch a string, +else it would be all over with them altogether. If the lad leave, he +begged them to bind him to the birch that stood there. + +Little Freddy was not slow in getting his fiddle to speak, and all that +were there fell a-dancing at once, those who went on two legs, and those +who went on four. Both the dean and the parson, the lawyer and the +sheriff, masters and men, dogs and pigs--they all danced and laughed and +barked and squealed at one another. Some danced till they lay down and +gasped, some danced till they fell in a swoon. It went badly with all of +them, but worst of all with the sheriff; for there he stood bound to the +birch, and he danced till he scraped the clothes off his back. I dare +say it was a sorry looking sight and a sore back. + +But there was not one of them who thought of doing anything to Little +Freddy, and away he went with his fiddle and his gun, whither he chose, +and he lived merrily and happily all his days, for there was no one who +could say "Nay" to the first thing he asked for. + + + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of East O' the Sun and West O' the Moon, by +Gudrun Thorne-Thomsen + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK EAST O' THE SUN AND WEST O' THE MOON *** + +***** This file should be named 8653.txt or 8653.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/8/6/5/8653/ + +Produced by David Garcia, Juliet Sutherland, Charles Franks +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team. + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will +be renamed. + +Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright +law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, +so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United +States without permission and without paying copyright +royalties. 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You can also find out about how to make a +donation to Project Gutenberg, and how to get involved. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**eBooks Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*****These eBooks Were Prepared By Thousands of Volunteers!***** + + +Title: East O' the Sun and West O' the Moon + +Author: Gudrun Thorne-Thomsen + +Release Date: August, 2005 [EBook #8653] +[Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule] +[This file was first posted on July 30, 2003] + +Edition: 10 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK EAST O' THE SUN *** + + + + +Produced by David Garcia, Juliet Sutherland, Charles Franks +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team. + + + + +EAST O' THE SUN AND WEST O' THE MOON +with +OTHER NORWEGIAN FOLK TALES + + +Retold by Gudrun Thorne-Thomsen + +Illustrated by Frederick Richardson + + + + +FOREWORD + + +In recent years there has been a wholesome revival of the ancient art +of story-telling. The most thoughtful, progressive educators have come +to recognize the culture value of folk and fairy stories, fables and +legends, not only as means of fostering and directing the power of the +child's imagination, but as a basis for literary interpretation and +appreciation throughout life. + +This condition has given rise to a demand for the best material in each +of these several lines. Some editors have gleaned from one field; some +from several. It is the aim of this little book to bring together only +the very best from the rich stores of Norwegian folk-lore. All these +stories have been told many times by the editor to varied audiences of +children and to those who are "older grown." Each has proved its power +to make the universal appeal. + +In preparing the stories for publication, the aim has been to preserve, +as much as possible, in vocabulary and idiom, the original folk-lore +language, and to retain the conversational style of the teller of tales, +in order that the sympathetic young reader may, in greater or less +degree, be translated into the atmosphere of the old-time story-hour. + +GUDRUN THORNE-THOMSEN. + + + + +CONTENTS + + +East o' the Sun and West o' the Moon + +The Three Billy Goats Gruff + +Taper Tom + +Why the Bear is Stumpy-Tailed + +Reynard and the Cock + +Bruin and Reynard Partners + +Boots and His Brothers + +The Lad Who Went to the North Wind + +The Giant Who Had No Heart in His Body + +The Sheep and the Pig Who Set Up Housekeeping + +The Parson and the Clerk + +Father Bruin + +The Pancake + +Why the Sea is Salt + +The Squire's Bride + +Peik + +The Princess Who Could Not Be Silenced + +The Twelve Wild Ducks + +Gudbrand-on-the-Hillside + +The Princess on the Glass Hill + +The Husband Who Was to Mind the House + +Little Freddy with His Fiddle + + + + +[Illustration: "Are you afraid?"] + + + + +EAST O' THE SUN AND WEST O' THE MOON + + +Once on a time there was a poor woodcutter who had so many children that +he had not much of either food or clothing to give them. Pretty children +they all were, but the prettiest was the youngest daughter, who was so +lovely there was no end to her loveliness. + +It was on a Thursday evening late in the fall of the year. The weather +was wild and rough outside, and it was cruelly dark. The rain fell and +the wind blew till the walls of the cottage shook. There they all sat +round the fire busy with this thing and that. Just then, all at once, +something gave three taps at the window pane. Then the father went out +to see what was the matter, and, when he got out of doors, what should +he see but a great White Bear. + +"Good evening to you!" said the White Bear. + +"The same to you," said the man. + +"Will you give me your youngest daughter? If you will, I'll make you as +rich as you are now poor," said the Bear. + +Well, the man would not be at all sorry to be so rich;--but give him his +prettiest lassie, no, that he couldn't do, so he said "No" outright and +closed the door both tight and well. But the Bear called out, "I'll give +you time to think; next Thursday night I'll come for your answer." + +Now, the lassie had heard every word that the Bear had said, and before +the next Thursday evening came, she had washed and mended her rags, made +herself as neat as she could, and was ready to start. I can't say her +packing gave her much trouble. + +Next Thursday evening came the White Bear to fetch her, and she got upon +his back with her bundle, and off they went. So when they had gone a bit +of the way, the White Bear said, "Are you afraid?" + +"No, not at all," said the lassie. + +"Well! mind and hold tight by my shaggy coat, and then there's nothing +to fear," added the Bear. + +So she rode a long, long way, till they came to a great steep hill. +There on the face of it the White Bear gave a knock, and a door opened, +and they came into a castle, where there were many rooms all lit up, +gleaming with silver and gold, and there too was a table ready laid, and +it was all as grand as grand could be. Then the White Bear gave her a +silver bell. When she wanted anything she had only to ring it, and she +would get what she wanted at once. + +Well, when she had had supper and evening wore on, she became sleepy +because of her journey. She thought she would like to go to bed, so she +rang the bell. She had scarce taken hold of it before she came into a +chamber where there were two beds as fair and white as any one would +wish to sleep in. But when she had put out the light and gone to bed +some one came into the room and lay down in the other bed. Now this +happened every night, but she never saw who it was, for he always came +after she had put out the light; and, before the day dawned, he was up +and off again. + +So things went on for a while, the lassie having everything she wanted. +But you must know, that no human being did she see from morning till +night, only the White Bear could she talk to, and she did not know what +man or monster it might be who came to sleep in her room by night. At +last she began to be silent and sorrowful and would neither eat nor +drink. + +One day the White Bear came to her and said: "Lassie, why are you so +sorrowful? This castle and all that is in it are yours, the silver bell +will give you anything that you wish. I only beg one thing of you--ask +no questions, trust me and nothing shall harm you. So now be happy +again." But still the lassie had no peace of mind, for one thing she +wished to know: Who it was who came in the night and slept in her room? +All day long and all night long she wondered and longed to know, and she +fretted and pined away. + +So one night, when she could not stand it any longer and she heard that +he slept, she got up, lit a bit of a candle, and let the light shine on +him. Then she saw that he was the loveliest Prince one ever set eyes on, +and she bent over and kissed him. But, as she kissed him, she dropped +three drops of hot tallow on his shirt, and he woke up. + +"What have you done?" he cried; "now you have made us both unlucky, for +had you held out only this one year, I had been freed. For I am the +White Bear by day and a man by night. It is a wicked witch who has +bewitched me; and now I must set off from you to her. She lives in a +castle which stands East o' the Sun and West o' the Moon, and there are +many trolls and witches there and one of those is the wife I must now +have." + +She wept, but there was no help for it; go he must. + +Then she asked if she mightn't go with him? + +No, she mightn't. + +"Tell me the way then," she said, "and I'll search you out; that, +surely, I may get leave to do." + +"Yes, you may do that," he said, "but there is no way to that place. It +lies East o' the Sun and West o' the Moon and thither you can never find +your way." And at that very moment both Prince and castle were gone, and +she lay on a little green patch in the midst of the gloomy thick wood, +and by her side lay the same bundle of rags she had brought with her +from home. + +Then she wept and wept till she was tired, and all the while she thought +of the lovely Prince and how she should find him. + +So at last she set out on her way and walked many, many days and +whomever she met she asked: "Can you tell me the way to the castle that +lies East o' the Sun and West o' the Moon?" But no one could tell her. + +And on she went a weary time. Both hungry and tired was she when she got +to the East Wind's house one morning. There she asked the East Wind if +he could tell her the way to the Prince who dwelt East o' the Sun and +West o' the Moon. Yes, the East Wind had often heard tell of it, the +Prince, and the castle, but he couldn't tell the way, for he had never +blown so far. + +"But, if you will, I'll go with you to my brother the West Wind. Maybe +he knows, for he's much stronger. So, if you will just get on my back, +I'll carry you thither." + +Yes, she got on his back, and I can tell you they went briskly along. + +So when they got there, they went into the West Wind's house, and the +East Wind said that the lassie he had brought was the one who ought to +marry the Prince who lived in the castle East o' the Sun and West o' the +Moon; and that she had set out to seek him, and would be glad to know if +the West Wind knew how to get to the castle. + +"Nay," said the West Wind, "so far I've never blown; but if you will, +I'll go with you to our brother the South Wind, for he is much stronger +than either of us, and he has flapped his wings far and wide. Maybe +he'll tell you. You can get on my back and I'll carry you to him." + +Yes, she got on his back, and so they travelled to the South Wind, and +were not long on the way, either. + +When they got there, the West Wind asked him if he could tell her the +way to the castle that lay East o' the Sun and West o' the Moon, for it +was she who ought to marry the Prince who lived there. + +"You don't say so. That's she, is it?" said the South Wind. + +"Well, I have blustered about in most places in my time, but that far I +have never blown; however, if you will, I'll take you to my brother the +North Wind; he is the oldest and strongest of all of us, and if he +doesn't know where it is, you'll never find anyone in the world to tell +you. You can get on my back and I'll carry you thither." + +Yes, she got on his back, and away he went from his house at a fine +rate. And this time, too, she was not long on the way. When they got +near the North Wind's house he was so wild and cross that cold puffs +came from him. + +"Heigh, there, what do you want?" he bawled out to them ever so far off, +so that it struck them with an icy shiver. + +"Well," said the South Wind, "you needn't be so put out, for here I am +your brother, the South Wind, and here is the lassie who ought to marry +the Prince who dwells in the castle that lies East o' the Sun and West +o' the Moon. She wants to ask you, if you ever were there, and can tell +her the way, for she would be so glad to find him again." + +"Yes, I know well enough where it is," said the North Wind. "Once in my +life I blew an aspen leaf thither, but I was so tired I couldn't blow a +puff for ever so many days after it. But if you really wish to go +thither, and aren't afraid to come along with me, I'll take you on my +back and see if I can blow you there." + +"Yes! and thank you," she said, for she must and would get thither if it +were possible in any way; and as for fear, however madly he went, she +wouldn't be at all afraid. + +"Very well then," said the North Wind, "but you must sleep here +to-night, for we must have the whole day before us if we're to get +thither at all." + +Early next morning the North Wind woke her, and puffed himself up, and +blew himself out, and made himself so stout and big, it was gruesome to +look at him. And so off she went, high on the back of the North Wind up +through the air, as if they would never stop till they got to the +world's end. + +Down here below there was a terrible storm; it threw down long tracts of +woodland and many houses, and when it swept over the great sea ships +foundered by hundreds. + +So they tore on and on,--no one can believe how far they went,--and all +the while they still went over the sea, and the North Wind got more and +more weary, and so out of breath he could scarce bring out a puff, and +his wings drooped and drooped, till at last he sunk so low that the +crests of the waves lashed over her heels. + +"Are you afraid?" said the North Wind. + +She wasn't. + +But they were not very far from land; and the North Wind had still so +much strength left in him that he managed to throw her up on shore close +by the castle which lay East o' the Sun and West o' the Moon; but then +he was so weak and worn out, that he had to stay there and rest many +days before he could get home again. + +And now the lassie began to look about her and to think of how she might +free the Prince, but nowhere did she see a sign of life. + +Then she sat herself down right under the castle windows, and as soon as +the sun went down, out they came, trolls and witches, red-eyed, +long-nosed, hunch-backed hags, tumbling over each other, scolding, +hurrying and scurrying hither and thither. + +At first they almost frightened the life out of her, but when she had +watched them awhile and they had not noticed her, she took courage and +walked up to one of them and said: "Pray tell me what goes on here +to-night that you are all so busy, and could I perhaps get something to +do for a night's lodging and a bit of food?" + +"Ha, ha, ha!" laughed the horrid witch, "and where do you come from that +you do not know that it is to-night that the Prince chooses his bride. +When the moon stands high over the tree tops yonder we meet in the +clearing by the old oak. There the caldrons are ready with boiling lye, +for don't you know?--he's going to choose for his bride the one who can +wash three spots of tallow from his shirt, Ha, ha, ha!" + +And the wicked witch hurried off again, laughing such a horrible laugh +that it made the lassie's blood run cold. + +But now the trolls and witches came trooping out of the very earth, it +seemed, and all turned their steps toward the clearing in the woods. + +So the lassie went too, and found a place among the rest. Now the moon +stood high above the tree tops, and there was the caldron in the middle +and round about sat the trolls and witches;--such gruesome company I'm +sure you were never in. Then came the Prince; he looked about from one +to the other, and he saw the lassie, and his face grew white, but he +said nothing. + +"Now, let's begin," said a witch with a nose three ells long. She was +sure she was going to have the Prince, and she began to wash away as +hard as she could, but the more she rubbed and scrubbed, the bigger the +spots grew. + +"Ah!" said an old hag, "you can't wash, let me try." + +But she hadn't long taken the shirt in hand, before it was far worse +than ever, and with all her rubbing and scrubbing and wringing, the +spots grew bigger and blacker, and the darker and uglier was the shirt. + +Then all the other trolls began to wash, but the longer it lasted, the +blacker and uglier the shirt grew, till at last it was as black all over +as if it had been up the chimney. + +"Ah!" said the Prince, "you're none of you worth a straw, you can't +wash. Why there sits a beggar lassie, I'll be bound she knows how to +wash better than the whole lot of you. Come here, lassie," he shouted. + +"Can you wash the shirt clean, lassie?" said he. + +"I don't know," she said, "but I think I can." + +And almost before she had taken it and dipped it in the water, it was as +white as snow, and whiter still. + +"Yes; you are the lassie for me," said the Prince. + +At that moment the sun rose and the whole pack of trolls turned to +stone. + +There you may see them to this very day sitting around in a circle, big +ones and little ones, all hard, cold stone. + +But the Prince took the lassie by the hand and they flitted away as far +as they could from the castle that lay East o' the Sun and West o' the +Moon. + + + + +THE THREE BILLY GOATS GRUFF + + +Once on a time there were three Billy Goats, who were to go up to the +hillside to make themselves fat, and the family name of the goats was +"Gruff." + +On the way up was a bridge, over a river which they had to cross, and +under the bridge lived a great ugly Troll with eyes as big as saucers, +and a nose as long as a poker. + +First of all came the youngest Billy Goat Gruff to cross the bridge. +"Trip, trap; trip, trap!" went the bridge. + +"_Who's that tripping over my bridge?_" roared the Troll. + +"Oh, it is only I, the tiniest Billy Goat Gruff, and I'm going up to the +hillside to make myself fat," said the Billy Goat, with such a small +voice. + +"Now, I'm coming to gobble you up," said the Troll. + +"Oh, no! pray do not take me, I'm too little, that I am," said the Billy +Goat; "wait a bit till the second Billy Goat Gruff comes, he's much +bigger." + +"Well! be off with you," said the Troll. + +A little while after came the second Billy Goat Gruff across the bridge. + +"Trip, trap! trip, trap! trip, trap!" went the bridge. + +"_Who is that tripping over my bridge_?" roared the Troll. + +"Oh, it's the second Billy Goat Gruff, and I'm going up to the hillside +to make myself fat," said the Billy Goat. Nor had he such a small voice, +either. + +"Now, I'm coming to gobble you up!" said the Troll. + +"Oh, no! don't take me, wait a little till the big Billy Goat comes, +he's much bigger." + +"Very well! be off with you," said the Troll. + +But just then up came the big Billy Goat Gruff. + +"Trip, trap! trip, trap! trip, trap!" went the bridge, for the Billy +Goat was so heavy that the bridge creaked and groaned under him. + +"_Who's that tramping on my bridge?_" roared the Troll. + +"It's I! the big Billy Goat Gruff," said the Billy Goat, and he had a +big hoarse voice. + +"Now, I'm coming to gobble you up!" roared the troll. + + "_Well come! I have two spears so stout, + With them I'll thrust your eyeballs out; + I have besides two great big stones, + With them I'll crush you body and bones!_" + +That was what the big Billy Goat said; so he flew at the Troll, and +thrust him with his horns, and crushed him to bits, body and bones, and +tossed him out into the river, and after that he went up to the +hillside. + +There the Billy Goats got so fat that they were scarcely able to walk +home again, and if they haven't grown thinner, why they're still fat; +and so,-- + + "Snip, snap, stout. + This tale's told out." + + + + +TAPER TOM + + +Once on a time there was a King who had a daughter, and she was so +lovely that her good looks were well known far and near. But she was so +sad and serious she could never be got to laugh, and besides, she was so +high and mighty that she said "No" to all who came to woo her. She would +have none of them, were they ever so grand--lords or princes,--it was +all the same. + +The King had long ago become tired of this, for he thought she might +just as well marry; she, too, like all other people. There was no use in +waiting; she was quite old enough, nor would she be any richer, for she +was to have half the kingdom,--that came to her as her mother's heir. + +So he had word sent throughout the kingdom, that anyone who could get +his daughter to laugh should have her for his wife and half the kingdom +besides. But, if there was anyone who tried and could not, he was to +have a sound thrashing. And sure it was that there were many sore backs +in that kingdom, for lovers and wooers came from north and south, and +east and west, thinking it nothing at all to make a King's daughter +laugh. And gay fellows they were, some of them too, but for all their +tricks and capers there sat the Princess, just as sad and serious as she +had been before. + +Now, not far from the palace lived a man who had three sons, and they, +too, had heard how the King had given it out that the man who could make +the Princess laugh was to have her to wife and half the kingdom. + +The eldest was for setting off first. So he strode off, and when he came +to the King's grange, he told the King he would be glad to try to make +the Princess laugh. + +"All very well, my man," said the King, "but it's sure to be of no use, +for so many have been here and tried. My daughter is so sorrowful it's +no use trying, and it's not my wish that anyone should come to grief." + +But the lad thought he would like to try. It couldn't be such a very +hard thing for him to get the Princess to laugh, for so many had laughed +at him, both gentle and simple, when he enlisted for a soldier and was +drilled by Corporal Jack. + +So he went off to the courtyard, under the Princess's window, and began +to go through his drill as Corporal Jack had taught him. But it was no +good, the Princess was just as sad and serious and did not so much as +smile at him once. So they took him and thrashed him well, and sent him +home again. + +Well, he had hardly got home before his second brother wanted to set +off. He was a schoolmaster, and the funniest figure one ever laid eyes +upon; he was lopsided, for he had one leg shorter than the other, and +one moment he was as little as a boy, and in another, when he stood on +his long leg, he was as tall and long as a Troll. Besides this he was a +powerful preacher. + +So when he came to the king's palace, and said he wished to make the +Princess laugh, the King thought it might not be so unlikely after all. +"But mercy on you," he said, "if you don't make her laugh. We are for +laying it on harder and harder for every one that fails." + +Then the schoolmaster strode off to the courtyard, and put himself +before the Princess's window, and read and preached like seven parsons, +and sang and chanted like seven clerks, as loud as all the parsons and +clerks in the country round. + +The King laughed loud at him, and the Princess almost smiled a little, +but then became as sad and serious as ever, and so it fared no better +with Paul, the schoolmaster, than with Peter the soldier--for you must +know one was called Peter and the other Paul. So they took him and +flogged him well, and then they sent him home again. + +Then the youngest, whose name was Taper Tom, was all for setting out. +But his brothers laughed and jeered at him, and showed him their sore +backs, and his father said it was no use for him to go for he had no +sense. Was it not true that he neither knew anything nor could do +anything? There he sat in the hearth, like a cat, and grubbed in the +ashes and split tapers. That was why they called him "Taper Tom." But +Taper Tom would not give in, and so they got tired of his growling; and +at last he, too, got leave to go to the king's palace to try his luck. + +When he got there he did not say that he wished to try to make the +Princess laugh, but asked if he could get work there. No, they had no +place for him, but for all that Taper Tom would not give up. In such a +big palace they must want someone to carry wood and water for the +kitchen maid,--that was what he said. And the king thought it might very +well be, for he, too, got tired of his teasing. In the end Taper Tom +stayed there to carry wood and water for the kitchen maid. + +So one day, when he was going to fetch water from the brook, he set eyes +upon a big fish which lay under an old fir stump, where the water had +eaten into the bank, and he put his bucket softly under the fish and +caught it. But as he was gong home to the grange he met an old woman who +led a golden goose by a string. + +"Good-day, godmother," said Taper Tom, "that's a pretty bird you have, +and what fine feathers! If one only had such feathers one might leave +off splitting fir tapers." + +The goody was just as pleased with the fish Tom had in his bucket and +said, if he would give her the fish, he might have the golden goose. And +it was such a curious goose. When any one touched it he stuck fast to +it, if Tom only said, "If you want to come along, hang on." Of course, +Taper Tom was willing enough to make the exchange. "A bird is as good as +a fish any day," he said to himself, "and, if it's such a bird as you +say, I can use it as a fish hook." That was what he said to the goody, +and he was much pleased with the goose. + +Now, he had not gone far before he met another old woman. As soon as she +saw the lovely golden goose she spoke prettily, and coaxed and begged +Tom to give her leave to stroke his lovely golden goose. + +"With all my heart," said Taper Tom, and just as she stroked the goose +he said, "If you want to come along, hang on." + +The goody pulled and tore, but she was forced to hang on whether she +would or not, and Taper Tom went on as though he alone were with the +golden goose. + +When he had gone a bit farther, he met a man who had had a quarrel with +the old woman for a trick she had played him. So, when he saw how hard +she struggled and strove to get free, and how fast she stuck, he thought +he would just pay her off the old grudge, and so he gave her a kick with +his foot. + +"If you want to come along, hang on!" called out Tom, and then the old +man had to hop along on one leg, whether he would or not. When he tore +and tugged and tried to get loose--it was still worse for him, for he +all but fell flat on his back every step he took. + +In this way they went on a good bit till they had nearly reached the +King's palace. + +There they met the King's smith, who was going to the smithy, and had a +great pair of tongs in his hand. Now you must know this smith was a +merry fellow, full of both tricks and pranks, and when he saw this +string come hobbling and limping along, he laughed so that he was almost +bent double. Then he bawled out, "Surely this is a new flock of geese +the Princess is going to have--Ah, here is the gander that toddles in +front. Goosey! goosey! goosey!" he called, and with that he threw his +hands about as though he were scattering corn for the geese. + +But the flock never stopped--on it went and all that the goody and the +man did was to look daggers at the smith for making fun of them. Then +the smith went on: + +"It would be fine fun to see if I could hold the whole flock, so many as +they are," for he was a stout strong fellow. So he took hold with his +big tongs by the old man's coat tail, and the man all the while +screeched and wriggled. But Taper Tom only said: + +"If you want to come along, hang on!" So the smith had to go along too. +He bent his back and stuck his heels into the ground and tried to get +loose, but it was all no good. He stuck fast, as though he had been +screwed tight with his own vise, and whether he would or not, he had to +dance along with the rest. + +So, when they came near to the King's palace, the dog ran out and began +to bark as though they were wolves and beggars. And when the Princess, +looking out of the window to see what was the matter, set eyes on this +strange pack, she laughed softly to herself. But Taper Tom was not +content with that: + +"Bide a bit," he said, "she will soon have to make a noise." And as he +said that he turned off with his band to the back of the palace. + +When they passed by the kitchen the door stood open, and the cook was +just stirring the porridge. But when she saw Taper Tom and his pack she +came running out at the door, with her broom in one hand and a ladle +full of smoking porridge in the other, and she laughed as though her +sides would split. And when she saw the smith there too, she bent double +and went off again in a loud peal of laughter. But when she had had her +laugh out, she too thought the golden goose so lovely she must just +stroke it. + +"Taper Tom! Taper Tom!" she called out, and came running out with the +ladle of porridge in her fist, "Give me leave to pet that pretty bird of +yours'?" + +"Better come and pet me," said the smith. But when the cook heard that +she got angry. + +"What is that you say?" she cried and gave the smith a box on his ears +with the ladle. + +"If you want to come along, hang on," said Taper Tom. So she stuck fast +too, and for all her kicks and plunges, and all her scolding and +screaming, and all her riving and striving, she too had to limp along +with them. + +[Illustration: She opened her mouth wide and laughed] + +Soon the whole company came under the Princess's window. There she stood +waiting for them. And when she saw they had taken the cook too, with her +ladle and broom, she opened her mouth wide, and laughed so loud that the +King had to hold her upright. + +So Taper Tom got the Princess and half the kingdom, and they say he kept +her in high spirits with his tricks and pranks till the end of her days. + + + + +WHY THE BEAR IS STUMPY-TAILED + + +One day the Bear met the Fox, who came slinking along with a string of +fish he had stolen. + +"Where did you get those?" asked the Bear. + +"Oh! my Lord Bruin, I've been out fishing and caught them," said the +Fox. + +So the Bear had a mind to learn to fish too, and bade the Fox tell him +how he was to set about it. + +"Oh! it is an easy craft for you," answered the Fox, "and soon learned. +You've only to go upon the ice, cut a hole, stick your tail down into +it, and hold it there as long as you can. You're not to mind if your +tail smarts a little; that's when the fish bite. The longer you hold it +there the more fish you'll get; and then all at once out with it, with a +cross pull sideways, and with a strong pull too." + +Yes, the Bear did as the Fox had said, and held his tail a long, long +time down in the hole, till it was frozen in fast. Then he pulled it out +with a cross pull, and it snapped short off. That's why Bruin goes about +with a stumpy tail to this very day. + + + + +REYNARD AND THE COCK + + +Once on a time there was a cock who stood on the barnyard fence and +crowed and flapped his wings. Then the fox came by. + +"Good-day," said Reynard. "I have heard you crowing so nicely, but can +you stand on one leg and crow, and wink your eyes?" + +"Oh, yes," said the cock, "I can do that very well." So he stood on one +leg and crowed, but he winked only with one eye, and when he had done +that he made himself big and flapped his wings, as though he had done a +great thing. + +"Very pretty, to be sure," said Reynard. "Almost as pretty as when the +parson preaches in church, but can you stand on one leg and wink both +your eyes at once? I hardly think you can." + +"Can't I though!" said the cock, and stood on one leg, and winked both +his eyes and crowed. But Reynard caught hold of him, took him by the +throat, and threw him on his back, so that he was off to the wood before +he had crowed his crow out, as fast as Reynard could lay legs to the +ground. + +When they had come under an old spruce fir, Reynard threw the cock on +the ground, and set his paw on his breast, and was going to take a bite: +"You are a heathen, Reynard!" said the cock. "Good Christians say grace +before they eat." + +But Reynard would be no heathen, no indeed. So he let go his hold, and +was about to fold his paws over his breast, and say grace--but pop! up +flew the cock into a tree. + +"You shan't get off for all that," said Reynard to himself. So he went +away, and came again with a few chips which the woodcutters had left. +The cock peeped and peered to see what they could be. + +"What is that you have there?" he asked. + +"These are letters I have just got," said Reynard, "won't you help me to +read them, for I don't know how to read writing." + +"I'd be so happy, but I dare not read them now," said the cock, "for +here comes a hunter--I see him, I see him with his pouch and gun." + +When Reynard heard the cock chattering about a hunter, he took to his +heels as fast as he could. + + + + +BRUIN AND REYNARD PARTNERS + + +Once on a time Bruin and Reynard owned a field in common. They had +a little clearing up in the wood, and the first year they sowed rye. + +"Now we must share the crop as is fair and right," said Reynard. +"If you like to have the root, I'll take the top." + +Yes, Bruin was ready to do that; but when they had threshed out the +crop, Reynard got all the corn, but Bruin got nothing but roots and +rubbish. He did not like that at all; but Reynard said that was how +they had agreed to share it. + +"This year I have the gain," said Reynard, "next year it will be your +turn. Then you shall have the top, and I shall have to put up with the +root." + +But when spring came, and it was time to sow, Reynard asked Bruin what +he thought of turnips. + +"Aye, aye!" said Bruin, "that's better food than rye," and so Reynard +thought also. But when harvest time came Reynard got the roots, while +Bruin got the turnip-tops. And then Bruin was so angry with Reynard +that he put an end at once to his partnership with him. + + + + +BOOTS AND HIS BROTHERS + + +Once on a time there was a man who had three sons, Peter, Paul and +Espen. Espen was Boots, of course, because he was the youngest. I can't +say the man had anything except these three sons, for he did not possess +one penny to rub against another; and so he told his sons over and over +again they must go out into the world to seek their fortune, for at home +there was nothing to be expected but to starve to death. + +Now, a short way from the man's cottage was the King's palace, and you +must know, just against the King's windows a great oak had sprung up, +which was so stout and big that it took away all the light from the +king's palace. The King had said he would give much gold to any man who +could fell the oak, but no one was man enough to do it, for as soon as +one chip of the oak's trunk flew off, two grew in its stead. The King +wished also to have a well dug which was to hold water for the whole +year. All his neighbors had wells, but he had none, and he thought that +a shame. + +So the King said he would give to any one who could dig him such a well +as would hold water for the whole year round, both money and goods, but +no one could do it, for the King's palace lay high, high up on a hill, +and they could dig but a few inches before they would come upon rock. + +But as the King had set his heart on having these two things done, he +had it given out in all the churches of his kingdom far and wide, that +he who could fell the big oak in the King's courtyard, and dig him a +well that would hold water the whole year round, should have the +Princess and half the kingdom. Well! you may easily know there was many +a man who came to try his luck; but all their hacking and hewing, and +all their digging and delving were useless. The oak got bigger and +stouter at every stroke, and the rock grew no softer either. + +One day the three brothers thought they, too, would set off and try it. +Their father had not a word to say against it; for even if they did not +get the Princess and half the kingdom, it might happen they would get a +place somewhere with a good master and that was all he wanted. So when +the brothers asked his permission, he consented at once, and Peter, Paul +and Espen set forth. + +Well, they had not gone far before they came to a fir wood where at one +side there rose a steep hill, and as they went along they heard +something hewing and hacking away up on the hill among the trees. + +"I wonder now what it is that is hewing away up yonder," said Boots. + +"You're always so clever with your wondering," laughed Peter and Paul +both at once. "What wonder is it, pray, that a wood cutter should stand +and hack up on a hillside?" + +"Still, I'd like to see what it is, after all," said Boots, and up he +went. + +"Oh, if you're such a child, 'twill do you good to go and take a +lesson," called out his brothers after him. + +But Boots didn't care for what they said; he climbed the steep hillside +towards the spot whence the noise came, and when he reached the place, +what do you think he saw? Why, an axe that stood there hacking and +hewing, all of itself, at the trunk of a fir tree. + +"Good-day," said Boots. "So you stand here all alone and hew, do you?" + +"Yes, here I've stood and hewed and hacked for hundreds of years, +waiting for you," said the axe. + +"Well, here I am at last," said Boots, as he took the axe, pulled it off +its haft, and stuffed both head and haft into his wallet. + +When he got down again to his brothers, they began to jeer and laugh at +him. + +"And now, what strange thing was it you saw up yonder on the hillside?" +they asked. + +"Oh, it was only an axe we heard," said Boots. + +When they had gone on a bit farther, their road passed under a steep +spur of rock, where they heard something digging and shovelling. + +[Illustration: A spade that stood digging and delving] + +"I wonder now," said Boots, "what is digging and shovelling up yonder at +the top of the rock." + +"Ah, you're always so clever with your wondering," laughed Peter and +Paul again, "as if you'd never heard a woodpecker hacking and pecking at +a hollow tree." + +"Well, well," said Boots, "I just think it would be fun to see what it +really is." + +And so off he set to climb the rock, while the others laughed and made +fun of him. But he did not care a bit for that; up he climbed, and when +he got near the top, what do you think he saw? Why, a spade that stood +there digging and delving. + +"Good-day!" said Boots. "So you stand here all alone, and dig and delve, +do you?" + +"Yes, that's what I do," said the spade, "and that's what I've done +these hundreds of years, waiting for you, Boots." + +"Well, here I am," said Boots again, as he took the spade and knocked it +off the handle, and put it into his wallet,--and then returned to his +brothers. + +"Well, what was it, so rare and strange," said Peter and Paul, "that you +saw up there at the top of the rock?" + +"Oh," said Boots, "nothing more than a spade; that was what we heard." + +So they went on again a good bit until they came to a brook. They were +thirsty, all three, after their long walk, and so they lay down beside +the brook to have a drink. + +"I wonder now," said Boots, "where all this water comes from." + +"I wonder if you've lost the little sense you had," said Peter and Paul +in one breath. "Where the brook comes from indeed! Have you never heard +how water rises from a spring in the earth?" + +"Yes! but still I've a great fancy to see where this brook comes from," +said Boots. + +So along beside the brook he went, in spite of all that his brothers +cried after him. Nothing could stop him. On he went, up and up, and the +brook got smaller and smaller, and at last, a little way farther on, +what do you think he saw? Why, a great walnut, and out of that the water +trickled. + +"Good-day!" said Boots again. "So you lie here, and trickle and run down +all alone?" + +"Yes, I do," said the walnut, "and here have I trickled and run these +hundreds of years, waiting for you, Boots." + +"Well, here I am," said Boots, as he took up a lump of moss, and plugged +up the hole, that the water might not run out. Then he put the walnut +into his wallet, and ran down to his brothers. + +"Well, now," said Peter and Paul, "have you found out where the water +comes from? A rare sight it must have been!" + +"Oh, after all, it was only a hole it ran out of," said Boots; and so +the others laughed and made fun of him again, but Boots didn't mind that +a bit. + +"After all, I had the fun of seeing it," said he. + +So when they had gone a bit farther, they came to the King's palace; but +as every one in the kingdom had heard how he might win the Princess and +half the realm, if he could only fell the big oak and dig the King's +well, so many had come to try their luck that the oak was now twice as +stout and big as it had been at first; for two chips grew for every one +they hewed out with their axes, as I dare say you remember I told you. +So the King had now laid down as a punishment, that if any one tried and +could not fell the oak, he should be put on a barren island, much like a +prison. + +The two brothers did not let themselves be scared by that, however, for +they were quite sure they could fell the oak, and Peter, as he was the +eldest, was to try his hand first. But it went with him as with all the +rest who had hewn at the oak. For every chip he had cut out, two grew in +its place. So the King's men seized him, bound him hand and foot, and +put him out on the island. + +Now, Paul was to try his luck, but he fared just the same; when he had +hewn two or three strokes, they began to see the oak grow, and so the +King's men seized him too, bound him hand and foot, and put him out on +the island, + +And now Boots was to try. + +"You can save yourself the trouble, we'll bind you and send you off +after your brothers just as well first as last," laughed the King's men. + +"Well, I'd just like to try first," said Boots, and so he got leave. +Then he took his axe out of his wallet and fitted it to its haft. + +"Hew away!" said he to his axe; and away it hewed, making the chips fly, +so that it wasn't long before down came the oak. + +When that was done Boots pulled out his spade and fitted it to its +handle. + +"Dig away!" said he to the spade; and the spade began to dig and delve +till the earth and rock flew out in splinters, and he had the well soon +dug out, as you may believe. + +And when he had got it as big and deep as he chose, Boots took out his +walnut and laid it in one corner of the well, and pulled the plug of +moss out. + +"Trickle and run," said Boots; and so the water trickled and ran, till +it gushed out of the hole in a stream, and in a short time the well was +brimful. + +Then Boots had felled the oak which shaded the King's palace, and dug a +well that held water all the year around, and so he got the princess and +half the kingdom, as the King had said. And it was lucky for Peter and +Paul that they were on the barren island, else they had heard each day +and hour how every one said: "Well, after all, Boots did not wonder +about things for nothing." + + + + +THE LAD WHO WENT TO THE NORTH WIND + + +Once on a time there was an old widow who had one son, and as she was +feeble and weak, she asked her son to go out to the storehouse and fetch +meal for cooking. But when he got outside the storehouse, and was just +going down the steps, there came the North Wind, puffing and blowing, +caught up the meal, and away with it through the air. Then the lad went +back into the storehouse for more; but when he came out again on the +steps, the North Wind came again and carried off the meal with a puff; +and more than that, he did it the third time. At this the lad got very +angry; and as it seemed hard that the North Wind should behave so, he +thought he would go in search of him and ask him to give up his meal. + +So off he went, but the way was long, and he walked and walked. At last +he came to the North Wind's house. + +"Good-day!" said the lad, "and thank you for coming to see us." + +"Good-day," answered the North Wind, and his voice was loud and gruff, +"and thanks for coming to see me. What do you want?" + +"Oh," answered the lad, "I only wished to ask you to be so good as to +let me have back the meal you took from me on the storehouse steps, for +we haven't much to live on; and if you're to go on snapping up the +morsel we have, there'll be nothing for it but to starve." + +"I haven't your meal," said the North Wind; "but since you are in such +need, I'll give you a table cloth which will get you everything you +want. You need only say, 'Cloth, spread yourself, and serve up all kinds +of good dishes!'" + +With this the lad was well content. But, as the way was long he could +not get home in one day, so he turned into an inn on the way; and when +they were going to sit down to supper he laid the cloth on the table +which stood in the corner, and said,-- + +"Cloth, spread yourself, and serve up all kinds of good dishes." + +He had scarcely said this before the cloth did as it was bid, and all +who stood by thought it a fine thing, but most of all the landlord. So, +when all were fast asleep, at dead of night, he took the lad's cloth, +and put another like it in its stead. But this could not so much as +serve up a bit of dry bread. + +When the lad woke he took the cloth and went off with it, and that day +he got home to his mother. + +"Now," said he, "I've been to the North Wind's house, and a good fellow +he is, for he gave me this cloth and when I only say to it, 'Cloth, +spread yourself, and serve up all kinds of good dishes,' I get every +sort of food I please." + +"All very true, I dare say," said the mother, "but seeing is believing." + +So the lad made haste, drew out a table, laid the cloth on it, and +said,-- + +"Cloth, spread yourself, and serve up all kinds of good dishes." + +But not even a bit of dry bread did the cloth serve up. + +"Well!" said the lad, "there's no help for it but to go to the North +Wind again," and away he went. + +So, late in the afternoon, he came to where the North Wind lived. + +"Good evening!" said the lad. + +"Good evening!" said the North Wind. + +"I want my rights for that meal of ours which you took," said the lad, +"for, as for that cloth I got, it isn't worth a penny." + +"I have no meal," said the North Wind; "but you may have the ram yonder +which will coin gold ducats when you say to it,-- + +"Ram, ram! make money!" + +The lad thought this a fine thing; but as it was too far to get home +that day, he turned in for the night to the same inn where he had slept +the first time. + +Before he called for anything, he tried what the North Wind had said of +the ram, and found it all true. When the landlord saw this, he thought +it a fine ram, and when the lad had fallen asleep, he took another which +could not coin even a penny, and exchanged the two. + +Next morning off went the lad, and when he got home to his mother, he +said,-- + +"After all, the North Wind is a jolly fellow, for now he has given me a +ram, which will coin golden ducats if I only say, 'Ram, ram! make +money!'" + +"All very true, I dare say," said his mother, "but I shan't believe it +until I see the ducats made." + +"Ram, ram! make money!" said the lad; but not even a penny did the ram +coin. + +So the lad went back to the North Wind and scolded him, and said the ram +was worth nothing, and he must have his rights for the meal. + +"Well!" said the North Wind, "I've nothing else to give you but that old +stick in the corner yonder; but it's a stick of such a kind that if you +say, 'Stick, stick! lay on! it lays on till you say,--'Stick, stick! now +stop!'" + +So the lad thanked the North Wind and went his way, and as the road was +long, he turned in this night also to the landlord; but as he could +guess pretty well how things stood as to the cloth and the ram, he lay +down at once on the bench and began to snore, as if he were asleep. Now +the landlord who thought surely the stick must be worth something, +hunted up one which was like it, and when he heard the lad snore he was +going to exchange the two; but, just as the landlord was about to take +it, the lad called out,-- + +"Stick, stick! lay on!" + +So the stick began to beat the landlord, till he jumped over chairs and +tables and benches, and yelled and roared,-- + +"Oh my, oh my! bid the stick be still, else it will beat me to death. +You shall have back both your cloth and your ram." + +When the lad thought the landlord had had enough, he said, "Stick, +stick! now stop!" + +Then he took the cloth and put it into his pocket, and went home with +his stick in his hand, leading the ram by a cord tied around its horns; +and so he got his rights for the meal he had lost. + + + + +THE GIANT WHO HAD NO HEART IN HIS BODY + + +Once on a time there was a King who had seven sons. Six of them were +stout, brave lads, but the youngest was the cinderlad, you must know; +and he went about by himself neither saying nor doing much. Best of all +he liked to sit by the hearth and watch the glowing cinders, so they +called him Boots, and thought little of him. + +Now, when the Princes were grown up, the six were to set off to fetch +brides for themselves. As for Boots, they would not be seen with him, so +he was to stay at home; but the others were to bring back a bride for +him, if any could be found willing to marry such a one. The King gave +the six the finest clothes you ever set eyes upon, so fine that the +light gleamed from them a long way off; and each had his horse, which +cost many, many hundred dollars, and so they set off. Now, when they had +been to many palaces, and seen many princesses, they came to a king who +had six daughters. Such lovely king's daughters they had never seen, and +so they asked them to be their brides, and when they had got them, they +set off home again. But they quite forgot that they were to bring back a +bride for Boots, their brother, who was staying at home. + +When they had gone a good bit on their way, they passed close by a steep +hillside, like a wall, where was a giant's house. Out came the giant and +set his eyes upon them, and turned them all into stone, princes, +princesses and all. Now, the king waited and waited for his six sons, +but so long as he waited so long they stayed away; so he fell into great +grief, and said he would never know what it was to be happy again. + +One day Boots said to the King,-- + +"I've been thinking to ask your leave to set out and find my brothers." + +"Nay, nay!" said his father, "that would be of no use, for you are not +clever enough. Better stay and dig in the ashes all your life." + +But Boots had set his heart upon it. Go he would; and he begged and +pleaded so long that the King was forced to let him go. He gave Boots an +old broken-down nag; but Boots did not care a pin for that, he sprang up +on his sorry old steed. + +"Farewell, Father," he said, "I'll come back, never fear, and likely +enough I shall bring my six brothers back with me," and with that he +rode off. + +When he had ridden a while he came to a raven, which lay in the road and +flapped its wings, and was not able to get out of the way, it was so +starved. + +"Oh, dear friend," said the raven, "give me a little food, and I'll help +you again at your utmost need." + +"I haven't much food," said the Prince, "and I don't see how you'll ever +be able to help me; but still I can spare you a little. I see you need +it." + +So he gave the raven some of the food he had brought with him. + +Now, when he had gone a little farther, he came to a brook, and in the +brook lay a great salmon which had got upon a dry place and dashed +itself about, and could not get into the water again. + +"Oh, dear friend," said the salmon to the Prince; "help me out into the +water again, and I'll help you at your utmost need." + +"Well!" said the Prince, "the help you'll give me will not be great, I +daresay, but it's a pity you should be there and choke;" and with that +he shot the fish out into the stream again. + +After that he went on a long, long way, and there met him a wolf, which +was so famished that it lay and crawled along the road. + +"Dear friend, do let me have some food," said the wolf, "I'm so hungry +that the wind whistles through my ribs. I've had nothing to eat these +two years. When I have eaten, you can ride upon my back, and I'll help +you again in your utmost need." + +"Well, the help I shall get from you will not be great, I'll be bound," +said the Prince; "but you may take all I have, since you are in such +great need." + +[Illustration: Never had the prince had such a ride in his life] + +So when the wolf had eaten the food. Boots took the bit and put it +between the wolf's jaws, and laid the saddle on his back; and away they +went like the wind. Never had the Prince had such a ride before. + +"When we have gone still farther," said Graylegs, "I'll show you the +Giant's house." + +And after a while they came to it. + +"See, here is the Giant's house," said the Wolf; "and see, here are your +six brothers whom the Giant has turned to stone; and see, here are their +six brides. Yonder is the door, and in at that door you must go. When +you get in you'll find a princess, and she'll tell you what to do to +make an end of the Giant. Only mind you do as she bids you." + +Well! Boots went in, but, truth to say, he was very much afraid. The +Giant was away, but in one of the rooms sat the Princess, just as the +wolf had said, and so lovely a princess Boots had never set eyes upon. + +"Oh, heaven help you! whence have you come?" said the Princess, as she +saw him; "it will surely be your death. No one can make an end of the +Giant who lives here. He is a most cruel monster, and he has no heart in +his body." + +"Well! well!" said Boots; "but now that I am here, I may as well try +what I can do with him, and I will see if I can't free my brothers, who +have been turned to stone; and you, too, I will try to save, that I +will." + +"Well, if you must, you must," said the Princess; "so let us see if we +can't hit upon a plan. Just creep under the bed yonder, and mind you +listen to what he and I talk about. But, pray, do lie as still as a +mouse." + +So he crept under the bed, and he had scarce got well underneath, before +the Giant came. + +"Ha!" roared the Giant, "what a smell of Christian blood there is in the +house." + +"Yes, I know there is," said the Princess, "for there came a crow flying +with a man's bone, and let it fall down the chimney. I made all the +haste I could to get it out, but all one can do the smell doesn't go so +soon." + +So the Giant said no more about it, and when night came they went to +bed. After they had lain a while the Princess said, "There is one thing +I'd be glad to ask you about, if I only dared." + +"What thing is that?" asked the Giant. + +"Only this, where do you keep your heart, since you don't carry it about +you," said the Princess. + +"Ah! that's a thing you've no business to ask about: but if you must +know, it lies under the door sill." said the Giant. + +"Ho, ho!" said Boots to himself under the bed. "Then we'll soon see if +we can't find it." + +Next morning the Giant got up very early, and strode off to the wood; +but he was hardly out of the house before Boots and the Princess set to +work to look under the door sill for this heart; but the more they dug +and the more they hunted the more they couldn't find it. + +"He has balked us this time," said the Princess, "but we'll try him once +more." + +So she picked all the prettiest flowers she could find, and strewed them +over the door sill, which they had laid in its right place again; and +when the time came for the Giant to come home, Boots crept under the +bed. Just as he was well under back came the Giant. + +Snuff-snuff went the Giant's nose. "My eyes and limbs, what a smell of +Christian blood there is in here," said he. + +"I know there is," said the Princess, "for there came a crow flying with +a man's bone in his bill, and let it fall down the chimney. I made as +much haste as I could to get it out, but I dare say it's that you +smell." + +So the Giant held his peace and said no more about it. A little while +after, he asked who it was that had strewed flowers about the door sill. + +"Oh, I, of course," said the Princess. + +"And, pray, what is the meaning of all this? said the Giant. + +"Ah!" said the Princess, "I strewed them there when I knew your heart +lay under there." + +"You don't say so," said the Giant; "but after all it doesn't lie there +at all." + +So when they went to bed in the evening, the Princess asked the Giant +again where his heart was, for she said she would so much like to know. + +"Well," said the Giant, "if you must know, it lies away yonder in the +cupboard against the wall." + +"So, so!" thought Boots and the Princess; "then we will soon find it." + +Next morning the Giant was away early, and strode off to the wood. As +soon as he was gone, Boots and the Princess were in the cupboard hunting +for the heart, but the more they looked for it the less they found it. + +"Well," said the Princess, "we'll just try him once more." + +So she decked the cupboard with flowers and garlands, and when the time +came for the Giant to come home, Boots crept under the bed again. + +Then back came the Giant. + +Snuff-snuff! "My eyes and limbs, what a smell of Christian blood there +is in here!" + +"I know there is," said the Princess, "for a little while since there +came a crow flying with a man's bone in his bill, and let it fall down +the chimney. I made all the haste I could to get it out of the house; +but after all my pains I dare say it's that you smell." + +When the Giant heard that he said no more about it, but after a while he +saw how the cupboard was all decked about with flowers and garlands; and +he asked who it was that had done that. Who could it be but the +Princess? + +"And, pray what's the meaning of all this foolishness?" asked the Giant. + +"Oh, I couldn't help doing it when I knew your heart lay there," said +the Princess. + +"How can you be so silly as to believe any such thing?" said the Giant. + +"How can I help believing it, when you say it?" said the Princess. + +"You're a goose," said the Giant; "where my heart is, you will never +come." + +"Yet for all that," said the Princess, "it would be such a pleasure to +know where it really lies." + +Then the poor Giant could hold out no longer, but said,-- + +"Far, far away in a lake lies an island; on that island stands a church; +in that church is a well; in that well swims a duck; in that duck there +is an egg, and in that egg there lies my heart." + +In the morning early, while it was still gray dawn, the Giant strode off +to the wood. + +"Now I must set off too," said Boots; "if I only knew how to find the +way." He took a long farewell of the Princess, and when he slipped out +of the Giant's door, there stood the Wolf waiting for him. Boots told +him all that had happened, and said now he wished to ride to the well +inside the church, if only he knew the way. The Wolf bade him jump on +his back, and away they went, over hill and dale, over hedge and field, +till the wind whistled after them. After they had travelled many, many +days, they came at last to the lake. Then the Prince did not know how to +get across, but the Wolf bade him not to be afraid, but to hold fast. So +he jumped into the lake with the Prince on his back, and swam over to +the island. When they came to the church, the church keys hung high, +high up on the top of the tower, and the Prince knew not how to get them +down. + +"Call upon the raven," said the Wolf. + +So the Prince called upon the raven, and immediately the raven came, and +flew up and fetched the keys, and so the Prince got into the church. +When he came to the well, there was the duck, which swam about forward +and backward, just as the Giant had said. So the Prince stood and coaxed +it and coaxed it, till finally it came to him, and he grasped it in his +hand; but just as he lifted it up from the water the duck dropped the +egg in the well, and then Boots was beside himself to know how to get it +out again. + +"Now call upon the salmon," said the Wolf, and Boots called upon the +salmon, and the salmon came and fetched up the egg from the bottom of +the well. + +Then the Wolf told him to squeeze the egg, and as soon as he squeezed +the egg, the Giant screamed and begged and prayed to be spared, saying +he would do all that the Prince wished if he would only not squeeze his +heart in two. + +"Tell him to restore to life again your six brothers and their brides, +whom he has turned to stone," said the Wolf. Yes, the Giant was ready to +do that, and he turned the six brothers into king's sons again, and +their brides into king's daughters. + +Then Boots left the Giant's heart on the altar of the church. That took +all the evil power from the cruel Giant, and I have never heard of him +since. + +And now, Boots rode back again on the Wolf to the Giant's house, and +there stood all his six brothers alive and merry with their brides. Then +Boots went into the hillside after his bride, and they all set off home +again to their father's house. And you may fancy how glad the old King +was when he saw his seven sons come back, each with his bride;--"But the +loveliest bride is the bride of Boots, after all," said the King, "and +he shall sit highest at the table, with her by his side." + +So they had a great wedding feast, and the mirth was both loud and long, +and if they have not done feasting, why they are at it still. + + + + +THE SHEEP AND THE PIG WHO SET UP HOUSEKEEPING + + +Once on a time there was a sheep who stood in the pen to be fattened. + +So he lived well and was stuffed and crammed with everything that was +good, till one day the dairymaid came to give him still more food. Then +she said, "Eat away, sheep, you won't be here much longer, we are going +to kill you to-morrow." + +The sheep thought over this for a while, and then he ate till he was +ready to burst; and when he was crammed full, he butted out the door of +the pen, and took his way to the neighboring farm. There he went to see +a pig whom he had known out on the common, and with whom he had always +been very friendly. + +"Good-day," said the sheep, "do you know why it is you are so well off, +and why it is they fatten you and take such pains with you?" + +"No, I don't," said the pig. + +"Well, I know; they are going to kill and eat you," said the sheep. + +"Are they?" said the pig, "and what is there to be done about it?" + +"If you will do as I do," said the sheep, "we'll go off to the wood, +build us a house, and set up for ourselves." + +Yes, the pig was willing enough. "Good company is such a comfort," he +said, and so the two set off. + +When they had gone a bit they met a goose. + +"Good-day, good sirs, and whither away so fast to-day?" said the goose. + +"Good-day, good-day," said the sheep, "we are going to set up for +ourselves in the wood, for you know every man's house is his castle." + +"Well," said the goose, "I should so much like a home of my own, too. +May I go with you?" + +"With gossip and gabble is built neither house nor stable," said the +pig, "let us know what you can do." + +"I can pluck moss and stuff it into the seams between the planks, and +the house will be tight and warm." + +Yes, they would give him leave, for, above all things, piggy wished to +be warm and comfortable. + +So, when they had gone a bit farther--the goose had hard work to walk so +fast--they met a hare, who came frisking out of the wood. + +"Good-day, good sirs," she said, "how far are you trotting to-day?" + +"Good-day, good-day," said the sheep, "we're going to the wood to build +us a house and set up for ourselves, for, you know, try all the world +around, there's nothing like home." + +"As for that," said the hare, "I have a house in every bush, but yet, I +have often said in winter, 'If I only live till summer I'll build me a +house,' and so I have half a mind to go with you and build one, after +all." + +"Yes," said the pig, "if we ever get into trouble we might use you to +scare away the dogs, for I don't fancy you could help us in +house-building." + +"Don't make fun of me. I have teeth to gnaw pegs and paws to drive them +into the wall, so I can very well set up to be carpenter," said the +hare. + +So he too got leave to go with them and help to build their house, and +there was nothing more to be said about it. + +When they had gone a bit farther they met a cock. + +"Good-day, good sirs," said the cock, "whither are you going to-day, +gentlemen?" + +"Good-day, good-day," said the sheep, "we are going off to the wood to +build a house and set up for ourselves, for you know, ''Tis good to +travel east and west, but after all a home is best.'" + +"Well," said the cock, "if I might have leave to join such a gallant +company, I also would like to go to the wood and build a house." + +"Ay, ay!" said the pig, "but how can you help us build a house?" + +"Oh," said the cock, "what would you do without a cock? I am up early, +and I wake every one." + +"Very true," said the pig, "let him come with us. Sleep is the biggest +thief," he said, "he thinks nothing of stealing half one's life." + +So they all set off to the wood together, and built a house. + +The pig hewed the timber, and the sheep drew it home; the hare was +carpenter, and gnawed pegs and bolts and hammered them into the walls +and roof; the goose plucked moss and stuffed it into the seams; the cock +crew, and looked out that they did not oversleep themselves in the +morning; and when the house was ready, and the roof lined with birch +bark and thatched with turf, there they lived by themselves and were +merry and well. + +But you must know that a bit farther on in the wood was a wolf's den, +and there lived two graylegs. When they saw that a new house had been +built near by, they wanted to become acquainted with their neighbors. +One of them made up an errand and went into the new house and asked for +a light for his pipe. But as soon as he got inside the door the sheep +gave him such a butt that he fell head foremost into the hearth. Then +the pig began to bite him, and the goose to nip and peck him, and the +cock upon the roost to crow and chatter, and as for the hare, he was so +frightened that he ran about aloft and on the floor and scratched and +scrambled in every corner of the house. + +So after a time the wolf came out. + +"Well," said the one who waited for him outside, "you must have been +well received since you stayed so long. But what became of the light? +You have neither pipe nor smoke." + +"Yes, yes," said the other, "a pleasant company indeed. As soon as I got +inside the door, the shoemaker began to beat me with his last, so that I +fell head foremost into the open fire, and there sat two smiths who blew +the bellows, and made the sparks fly, and struck and punched me with +red-hot tongs and pincers. As for the hunter, he went scrambling about +looking for his gun, and it was good luck he did not find it. And all +the while there was another who sat up under the roof and slapped his +arms and cried out, 'Drag him hither, drag him hither!' That was what he +screamed, and if he had only got hold of me, I should never have come +out alive." + +The wolves never went calling on their neighbors any more. + + + + +THE PARSON AND THE CLERK + + +There was once a parson who was such a bully that whenever he met anyone +driving on the king's highway, he called out, ever so far off--"Out of +the way! Out of the way! Here comes the parson!" + +One day when he was driving along and behaving so, he met the king. "Out +of the way! Out of the way!" he bawled a long way off. But the king +drove on and held his own; so it was the parson who had to turn his +horse aside that time, and when the king came up beside him, he said, +"To-morrow you shall come to me at the palace, and if you can't answer +three questions which I shall ask you, you shall lose your office for +your pride's sake." + +This was something quite different from what the parson was wont to +hear. He could bawl and bully, shout and scold. All that he could do, +but question and answer were not in his line. So he set off to the +clerk, who was said to be worth more than the parson, and told him he +had no mind to go to the king. "For one fool can ask more than ten wise +men can answer;" and the end was, he got the clerk to go in his place. + +Yes, the clerk set off and came to the palace in the parson's clothes. +There the king met him out on the porch with crown and sceptre, and he +was so grand he fairly glittered and gleamed. "Well, are you there?" +said the king. + +"Tell me first," said the king, "how far the east is from the west?" + +"Just a day's journey," said the clerk. + +"How is that?" asked the king. + +"Don't you know," said the clerk, "that the sun rises in the east and +sets in the west, and he does it just nicely in a day?" + +"Very well!" said the king, "but tell me now what you think I am worth, +as you see me stand here?" + +"Well," said the clerk, "our Lord was valued at thirty pieces of silver, +so I don't think I can set your price higher than twenty-nine." + +"All very fine!" said the king, "but, as you are so wise, perhaps you +can tell me what I am thinking about now?" + +"Oh!" said the clerk, "you are thinking it's the parson who stands +before you, but there's where you are mistaken, for I am the clerk." + +"Be off home with you," said the king, "and be you parson, and let him +be clerk." And so it was. + + + + +FATHER BRUIN + + +Once on a time there was a man who lived far, far away in the wood. He +had many, many goats and sheep, but never a one could he keep because of +Greylegs, the wolf. + +At last he said, "I'll soon trap Greyboots," and so he set to work to +dig a pitfall. When he had dug it deep enough, he put a pole down in the +midst of the pit, and on the top of the pole he set a board, and on the +board he put a little dog. Over the pit itself he spread boughs and +branches and leaves, and other rubbish, and a-top of all he strewed +snow, so that Greylegs might not see that there was a pit underneath. + +So when night came on, the little dog grew weary of sitting there: +"Bow-wow, bow-wow," he said, and bayed at the moon. Just then up came a +fox, prowling and sneaking, and thought here was a fine time for +marketing, and with that gave a jump,--head over heels down into the +pitfall. + +And when it got a little farther on in the night, the little dog grew so +weary and so hungry, and it fell to yelping and howling: "Bow-wow, +bow-wow," he cried out. Just at that very moment up came Greylegs, +trotting and trotting. He, too, thought he should get a fat steak, and +he, too, made a spring--head over heels down into the pitfall. + +When it was getting on towards grey dawn in the morning, down fell the +snow, with a north wind, and it grew so cold that the little dog stood +and shivered and shook, he was so weary and hungry, "Bow-wow, bow-wow, +bow-wow," he called out, and barked and yelped and howled. Then up came +a bear, tramping and tramping along, and thought to himself how he could +get a morsel for breakfast at the very top of the morning, and so he +thought and thought among the boughs and branches, till he, too, went +bump--head over heels down into the pitfall. + +So when it got a little farther on in the morning, an old beggar wife +came walking by, who toddled from farm to farm with a bag on her back. +When she set eyes on the little dog that stood there and howled, she +could not help going near to look and see if any wild beasts had fallen +into the pit during the night. So she crawled up on her knees and peeped +down into it. + +"Art thou come into the pit at last, Reynard?" she said to the fox, for +he was the first she saw; "a very good place, too, for such a hen-roost +robber as thou; and thou, too, Grey-paw," she said to the wolf; "many a +goat and sheep hast thou torn and rent, and now thou shalt be plagued +and punished to death. Bless my heart! Thou, too, Bruin! Art thou, too, +sitting in this room, thou horse killer? Thee, too, will we strip, and +thee shall we flay, and thy skull shall be nailed up on the wall." All +this the old lass screeched out as she bent over towards the bear. But +just then her bag fell over her ears and dragged her down, and slap! +down went the old woman--head over heels into the pitfall. + +So there they all four sat and glared at one another, each in a +corner--Reynard in one, Greylegs in another, Bruin in a third, and the +old woman in a fourth. + +But as soon as it was broad daylight, Reynard began to peep and peer, +and to twist and turn about, for he thought he might as well try to get +out. + +But the old lass cried out, "Canst thou not sit still, thou whirligig +thief, and not go twisting and turning? Only look at Father Bruin +himself in the corner, how he sits as grave as a judge," for now she +thought she might as well make friends with the bear. + +But just then up came the man who owned the pitfall. + +First he drew up the old woman, and after that he slew all the beasts, +and neither spared Father Bruin himself in the corner, nor Grey-legs, +nor Reynard the whirligig thief. That night, at least, he thought he had +made a good haul. + + + + +THE PANCAKE + + +Once on a time there was a woman who had seven hungry children, and she +was frying a pancake for them. It was a sweet milk pancake, and there it +lay in the pan, bubbling and frizzling so thick and good, it was a +delight to look at it. And the children stood round about, and the old +father sat by and looked on. + +"Oh, give me a bit of pancake, mother, dear, I am so hungry," said one +child. + +"Oh, darling mother," said the second. + +"Oh, darling, good mother," said the third. + +"Oh, darling, good, sweet mother," said the fourth. + +"Oh, darling, pretty, good, sweet mother," said the fifth. + +"Oh, darling, pretty, good, sweet, clever mother," said the sixth. + +"Oh, darling, pretty, good, sweet, clever, kindest little mother," said +the seventh. + +So they begged for the pancake all around, the one more prettily than +the other, for they were so hungry and so good. + +"Yes, yes, children, only bide a bit till it turns itself"--she ought to +have said, 'till I can get it turned,'--"and then you shall have some +lovely sweet milk pancake. Only look how fat and happy it lies there." + +When the pancake heard all this it became afraid, and in a trice it +turned itself and tried to jump out of the pan, but it fell back into it +again, the other side up. When it had been fried a little on the other +side too, till it got firm and stiff, it jumped out of the pan to the +floor and rolled off like a wheel through the door and down the hill. + +"Holloa! Stop, pancake!" and away ran the mother after it, with the +frying pan in one hand and the ladle in the other, as fast as she could, +and all the children behind her, while the old father on crutches limped +after them last of all. + +"Hi! Won't you stop? Catch it! Stop, pancake!" they all screamed out, +one after another, and tried to catch it on the run and hold it. But the +pancake rolled on and on, and in a twinkling of an eye it was so far +ahead that they couldn't see it. + +So when it had rolled awhile it met a man. + +"Good-day, pancake," said the man. + +"Good-day, Manny Panny!" said the pancake. + +"Dear pancake," said the man, "don't roll so fast; stop a little and let +me eat you." + +"No, no; I have run away from the mother, and the father, and seven +hungry children. I'll run away from you, Manny Panny," said the pancake, +and it rolled and rolled till it met a hen. + +"Good-day, pancake," said the hen. + +"The same to you, Henny Penny," said the pancake. + +"Pancake, dear, don't roll so fast. Bide a bit and let me eat you up," +said the hen. + +"No, no; I have run away from the mother, and the father, and seven +hungry children, and Manny Panny. I'll run away from you, too, Henny +Penny," said the pancake, and it rolled on like a wheel down the road. + +Just then it met a cock. + +"Good-day, pancake," said the cock. + +"The same to you, Cocky Locky," said the pancake. + +"Pancake, dear, don't roll so fast, but bide a bit and let me eat you +up." + +"No, no; I have run away from the mother, and the father, seven hungry +children, Manny Panny, and Henny Penny. I'll run away from you too, +Cocky Locky," said the pancake, and it rolled and rolled as fast as it +could. Bye and bye it met a duck. + +"Good-day, pancake," said the duck. + +"The same to you, Ducky Lucky." + +"Pancake, dear, don't roll away so fast; bide a bit and let me eat you +up." + +"No, no; I have run away from the mother, and the father, and seven +hungry children, Manny Panny, Henny Penny, and Cocky Locky. I'll run +away from you, too, Ducky Lucky," said the pancake, and with that it +took to rolling and rolling faster than ever; and when it had rolled a +long, long while, it met a goose. + +"Good-day, pancake," said the goose. + +"The same to you, Goosey Poosey." + +"Pancake, dear, don't roll so fast; bide a bit and let me eat you up." + +"No, no; I have run away from the mother, the father, seven hungry +children, Manny Panny, Henny Penny, Cocky Locky, and Ducky Lucky. I'll +run away from you, too, Goosey Poosey," said the pancake, and off it +rolled. + +So when it had rolled a long way off, it met a gander. + +"Good-day, pancake," said the gander. + +"The same to you, Gander Pander," said the pancake. + +"Pancake, dear, don't roll so fast; bide a bit and let me have a bite." + +"No, no; I've run away from the mother, the father, seven hungry +children, Manny Panny, Henny Penny, Cocky Locky, Ducky Lucky, and Goosey +Poosey. I'll run away from you, too, Gander Pander," said the pancake, +and it rolled and rolled as fast as ever. + +So when it had rolled a long, long time, it met a pig. + +"Good-day, pancake," said the pig. + +"The same to you, Piggy Wiggy," said the pancake, and without a word +more it began to roll and roll for dear life. + +"Nay, nay," said the pig, "you needn't be in such a hurry; we two can go +side by side through the wood; they say it is not too safe in there." + +The pancake thought there might be something in that, and so they kept +company. But when they had gone a while, they came to a brook. As for +Piggy, he was so fat he could swim across. It was nothing for him, but +the poor pancake could not get over. + +"Seat yourself on my snout," said the pig, "and I'll carry you over." + +So the pancake did that. + +"Ouf, ouf," said the pig, and swallowed the pancake at one gulp, and +then, as the poor pancake could go no farther, why--this story can go no +farther either. + + + + +WHY THE SEA IS SALT + + +Once on a time, but it was a long, long time ago, there were two +brothers, one rich and one poor. + +Now, one Christmas eve, the poor one had not so much as a crumb in the +house, either of meat or bread, so he went to his brother to ask him for +something with which to keep Christmas. It was not the first time his +brother had been forced to help him, and, as he was always stingy, he +was not very glad to see him this time, but he said, "I'll give you a +whole piece of bacon, two loaves of bread, and candles into the bargain, +if you'll never bother me again--but mind you don't set foot in my house +from this day on." + +The poor brother said he wouldn't, thanked his brother for the help he +had given him, and started on his way home. + +He hadn't gone far before he met an old, old man with a white beard, who +looked so thin and worn and hungry that it was pitiful to see him. + +"In heaven's name give a poor man a morsel to eat," said the old man. + +"Now, indeed, I have been begging myself," said the poor brother, "but +I'm not so poor that I can't give you something on the blessed Christmas +eve." And with that he handed the old man a candle, a loaf of bread, and +he was just going to cut off a slice of bacon, when the old man stopped +him--"That is enough and to spare," said he. "And now, I'll tell you +something. Not far from here is the entrance to the home of the +underground folks. They have a mill there which can grind out anything +they wish for except bacon; now mind you go there. When you get inside +they will all want to buy your bacon, but don't sell it unless you get +in return the mill which stands behind the door. When you come out I'll +teach you how to handle the mill." + +So the man with the bacon thanked the other for his good advice and +followed the directions which the old man had given him, and soon he +stood outside the door of the hillfolk's home. + +When he got in, everything went just as the old man had said. All the +hillfolk, great and small, came swarming up to him, like ants around an +ant-hill, and each tried to outbid the other for the bacon. + +"Well!" said the man, "by rights, my old dame and I ought to have this +bacon for our Christmas dinner; but, since you have all set your hearts +on it, I suppose I must give it up to you. Now, if I sell it at all, +I'll have for it that mill behind the door yonder." + +At first the hillfolk wouldn't hear of such a bargain and higgled and +haggled with the man, but he stuck to what he said, and at last they +gave up the mill for the bacon. + +When the man got out of the cave and into the woods again, he met the +same old beggar and asked him how to handle the mill. After he had +learned how to use it, he thanked the old man and went off home as fast +as he could; but still the clock had struck twelve on Christmas eve +before he reached his own door. + +"Wherever in the world have you been?" said his old dame. "Here have I +sat hour after hour, waiting and watching, without so much as two sticks +to lay together under the Christmas porridge." + +"Oh!" said the man, "I could not get back before, for I had to go a long +way first for one thing and then for another; but now you shall see what +you shall see." + +So he put the mill on the table, and bade it first of all grind lights, +then a tablecloth, then meat, then ale, and so on till they had +everything that was nice for Christmas fare. He had only to speak the +word and the mill ground out whatever he wanted. The old dame stood by +blessing her stars, and kept on asking where he had got this wonderful +mill, but he wouldn't tell her. + +"It's all the same where I got it. You see the mill is a good one, and +the mill stream never freezes. That's enough." + +So he ground meat and drink and all good things to last out the whole of +Christmas holidays, and on the third day he asked all his friends and +kin to his house and gave them a great feast. Now, when his rich brother +saw all that was on the table and all that was in the cupboards, he grew +quite wild with anger, for he could not bear that his brother should +have anything. + +"'Twas only on Christmas eve," he said to the rest, "he was so poorly +off that he came and begged for a morsel of food, and now he gives a +feast as if he were count or a king." and he turned to his brother and +said, "But where in the world did you get all this wealth?" + +"From behind the door," answered the owner of the mill, for he did not +care to tell his brother much about it. But later in the evening, when +he had gotten a little too merry, he could keep his secret no longer, +and he brought out the mill and said: + +"There you see what has gotten me all this wealth," and so he made the +mill grind all kinds of things. + +When his brother saw it, he set his heart on having the mill, and, after +some talk, it was agreed that the rich brother was to get it at +hay-harvest time, when he was to pay three hundred dollars for it. Now, +you may fancy the mill did not grow rusty for want of work, for while he +had it the poor brother made it grind meat and drink that would last for +years. When hay-harvest came, the rich brother got it, but he was in +such a hurry to make it grind that he forgot to learn how to handle it. + +It was evening when the rich brother got the mill home, and next morning +he told his wife to go out into the hayfield and toss hay while the +mowers cut the grass, and he would stay at home and get the dinner +ready. So, when dinner time drew near, he put the mill on the kitchen +table and said: + +"Grind herrings and broth, and grind them good and fast." + +And the mill began to grind herrings and broth; first of all the dishes +full, then all the tubs full, and so on till the kitchen floor was quite +covered. The man twisted and twirled at the mill to get it to stop, but +for all his fiddling and fumbling the mill went on grinding, and in a +little while the broth rose so high that the man was nearly drowning. So +he threw open the kitchen door and ran into the parlor, but it was not +long before the mill had ground the parlor full too, and it was only at +the risk of his life that the man could get hold of the latch of the +house door through the stream of broth. When he got the door open, he +ran out and set off down the road, with the stream of herrings and broth +at his heels, roaring like a waterfall over the whole farm. + +Now, his old dame, who was in the field tossing hay, thought it a long +time to dinner, and at last she said: + +"Well! though the master doesn't call us home, we may as well go. Maybe +he finds it hard work to boil the broth, and will be glad of my help." + +The men were willing enough, so they sauntered homewards. But just as +they had got a little way up the hill, what should they meet but +herrings and broth, all running and dashing and splashing together in a +stream, and the master himself running before them for his life, and as +he passed them he called out: "Eat, drink! eat, drink! but take care +you're not drowned in the broth." + +Away he ran as fast as his legs would carry him to his brother's house, +and begged him in heaven's name to take back the mill, and that at once, +for, said he, "If it grinds only one hour more, the whole parish will be +swallowed up by herrings and broth." + +So the poor brother took back the mill, and it wasn't long before it +stopped grinding herrings and broth. + +[Illustration: With the herrings and broth at his heels] + +And now he set up a farmhouse far finer than the one in which his +brother lived, and with the mill he ground so much gold that he covered +it with plates of gold. And, as the farm lay by the seaside, the golden +house gleamed and glistened far away over the sea. All who sailed by put +ashore to see the rich man in the golden house, and to see the wonderful +mill the fame of which spread far and wide, till there was nobody who +hadn't heard of it. + +So one day there came a skipper who wanted to see the mill, and the +first thing he asked was if it could grind salt. + +"Grind salt!" said the owner, "I should just think it could. It can +grind anything." + +When the skipper heard that, he said he must have the mill, for if he +only had it, he thought, he need not take his long voyages across stormy +seas for a lading of salt. He much preferred sitting at home with a pipe +and a glass. Well, the man let him have it, but the skipper was in such +a hurry to get away with it that he had no time to ask how to handle the +mill. He got on board his ship as fast as he could and set sail. When he +had sailed a good way off, he brought the mill on deck and said, "Grind +salt, and grind both good and fast." + +And the mill began to grind salt so that it poured out like water, and +when the skipper had got the ship full he wished to stop the mill, but +whichever way he turned it, and however much he tried, it did no good; +the mill kept on grinding, and the heap of salt grew higher and higher, +and at last down sank the ship. + +There lies the mill at the bottom of the sea, and grinds away to this +very day, and that is the reason why the sea is salt--so some folks say. + + + + +THE SQUIRE'S BRIDE + + +There was once a very rich squire who owned a large farm, had plenty of +silver at the bottom of his chest, and money in the bank besides; but +there was something he had not, and that was a wife. + +One day a neighbor's daughter was working for him in the hayfield. The +squire liked her very much and, as she was a poor man's daughter, he +thought that if he only mentioned marriage she would be more than glad +to take him at once. So he said to her, "I've been thinking I want to +marry." + +"Well, one may think of many things," said the lassie, as she stood +there and smiled slyly. She really thought the old fellow ought to be +thinking of something that behooved him better than getting married at +his time of life. + +"Now, you see," he said, "I was thinking that you should be my wife!" + +"No, thank you," said she, "and much obliged for the honor." + +The squire was not used to being gainsaid, and the more she refused him +the more he wanted her. But the lassie would not listen to him at all. +So the old man sent for her father and told him that, if he could talk +his daughter over and arrange the whole matter for him, he would forgive +him the money he had lent him, and would give him the piece of land +which lay close to his meadow into the bargain. + +"Yes, yes, be sure I'll bring the lass to her senses," said the father. +"She is only a child and does not know what is best for her." + +But all his coaxing, all his threats and all his talking, went for +naught. She would not have the old miser, if he sat buried in gold up to +his ears, she said. + +The squire waited and waited, but at last he got angry and told the +father that he had to settle the matter at once if he expected him to +stand by his bargain, for now he would wait no longer. + +The man knew no other way out of it, but to let the squire get +everything ready for the wedding; then, when the parson and the wedding +guests had arrived, the squire would send for the lassie as if she were +wanted for some work on the farm. When she got there they would marry +her right away, in such a hurry that she would have no time to think it +over. + +When the guests had arrived the squire called one of his farm lads, told +him to run down to his neighbor and ask him to send up immediately what +he had promised. + +"But if you are not back with her in a twinkling," he said, shaking his +fist at him, "I'll----" + +He did not finish, for the lad ran off as if he had been shot at. + +"My master has sent me to ask for that which you promised him," said the +lad, when he got to the neighbor, "but, pray, lose no time, for master +is terribly busy to-day." + +"Yes, yes! Run down in the meadow and take her with you--there she +goes," answered the neighbor. + +The lad ran off and when he came to the meadow he found the daughter +there raking the hay. + +"I am to fetch what your father has promised my master," said the lad. + +"Ah, ha!" thought she, "is that what they are up to?" And with a wicked +twinkle of the eye, she said, "Oh, yes, it's that little bay mare of +ours, I suppose. You had better go and take her. She stands tethered on +the other side of the pea field." + +The boy jumped on the back of the bay mare and rode home at full gallop. + +"Have you got her with you?" asked the squire. + +"She is down at the door," said the lad. + +"Take her up to the room my mother had," said the squire. + +"But, master, how can I?" said the lad. + +"Do as I tell you," said the squire. "And if you can't manage her alone, +get the men to help you," for he thought the lassie might be stubborn. + +When the lad saw his master's face he knew it would be no use to argue. +So he went and got all the farm hands together to help him. Some pulled +at the head and the forelegs of the mare and others pushed from behind, +and at last they got her upstairs and into the room. There lay all the +wedding finery ready. + +"Well, that's done, master!" said the lad, while he wiped his wet brow, +"but it was the worst job I have ever had here on the farm." + +"Never mind, never mind, you shall not have done it for nothing," said +his master, and he pulled a bright silver coin out of his pocket and +gave it to the lad. "Now send the women up to dress her." + +"But, I say--master!--" + +"None of your talk!" cried the squire. "Tell them to hold her while they +dress her, and mind not to forget either wreath or crown." + +The lad ran into the kitchen: + +"Listen, here, lasses," he called out, "you are to go upstairs and dress +up the bay mare as a bride--I suppose master wants to play a joke on his +guests." + +The women laughed and laughed, but ran upstairs and dressed the bay mare +in everything that was there. And then the lad went and told his master +that now she was all ready, with wreath and crown and all. + +"Very well, bring her down. I will receive her at the door myself," said +the squire. + +There was a clatter and a thumping on the stairs, for that bride, you +know, had no silken slippers on. + +When the door was opened and the squire's bride entered the room, you +can imagine there was laughing and tittering and grinning enough. + +And as for the squire, they say he never went courting again. + + + + +PEIK + + +Once on a time there was a man, and he had a wife. They had a son and a +daughter who were twins, and these were so alike that no one could tell +one from the other except by their clothing. The boy they called Peik. +He was of little use while his father and mother lived, for he cared to +do naught else than to befool folk, and he was so full of tricks and +pranks that no one was left in peace. When the parents died, matters +grew still worse and worse. He would not turn his hand to anything. All +he would do was to squander what they left behind them. + +His sister toiled and moiled all she could, but it helped little; so at +last she told him how silly it was to do naught for the house. + +"What shall we have to live on when you have wasted everything?" +she said. + +"Oh, I'll go out and befool somebody," said Peik. + +"Yes, Peik, I'll be bound you'll do that soon enough," said the sister. + +"Well, I'll try," said Peik. + +At last they had indeed nothing more. There was an end of everything; +and Peik started off, and walked and walked till he came to the King's +palace. + +Now, I must tell you, this King and his queen and eldest daughter were +little better than trolls,--mean and hateful and very foolish,--so there +was no love lost between them and the people. + +When Peik came to the King's palace, there stood the King in the porch, +and as soon as he set eyes on the lad he said, + +"Whither away, to-day, Peik?" + +"Oh, I was going out to see if I could befool anybody," said Peik. + +"Can't you befool me now?" said the King. + +"No, I'm sure I can't," said Peik, "for I've forgotten my fooling rods." + +"Can't you go home and fetch them?" said the King, "I should be very +glad to see if you are such a trickster as folks say." + +"I've no strength to walk," said Peik. + +"I'll lend you a horse and saddle," said the King + +"But I can't ride either," said Peik. + +"We'll lift you up," said the King, "then you'll be able to stick on." + +Well, Peik stood and scratched his head as though he would pull the hair +off, and he let them lift him up into the saddle. There he sat, swinging +this side and that, so long as the King could see him, and the King +laughed till the tears came into his eyes, for such a tailor on +horseback he had never seen. But when Peik was come well into the wood +behind the hill, so that he was out of the King's sight, he sat as +though he were tied to the horse, and off he rode as fast as the horse +could carry him. But when he got to the town he sold both horse and +saddle. + +All the while the King walked up and down, and loitered, and waited for +Peik to come tottering back again with his fooling rods. And every now +and then he laughed when he called to mind how wretched the lad looked +as he sat swinging about on the horse like a sack of corn, not knowing +on which side to fall off. This lasted for seven lengths and seven +breaths, but no Peik came, and so at last the King saw that he was +fooled and cheated out of his horse and saddle, even though Peik had not +had his fooling rods with him. Then there was another story, for the +King got wroth, and was all for setting off to kill Peik. + +But Peik had found out the day he was coming, and told his sister she +must put on the big boiling-pot with a little water in it. Just as the +King came in, Peik dragged the pot off the fire and ran off with it to +the chopping-block, and so boiled the porridge on the block. + +The King wondered at that, and wondered on and on, so much that he quite +forgot what brought him there. + +"What do you want for that pot?" said he. + +"I can't spare it," said Peik. + +"Why not?" said the King; "I'll pay what you ask." + +"No, no!" said Peik. "It saves me time and money, wood hire and chopping +hire, carting and carrying." + +"Never mind," said the King, "I'll give you a hundred dollars. It's true +you've fooled me out of a horse and saddle, and bridle besides, but all +that shall go for nothing if I can only get the pot." + +"Well, if you must have it, you must," said Peik. + +When the King got home he asked guests and made a feast, but the meat +was to be boiled in the new pot, and so he took it up and set it in the +middle of the floor. The guests thought the King had lost his wits, and +went about elbowing one another, and laughing at him. But he walked +round and round the pot and cackled and chattered, saying all in a +breath-- + +"Well, well! bide a bit, bide a bit! 'Twill boil in a minute." + +But there was no boiling. So he saw that Peik had been out with his +fooling rods and had cheated him again, and now he would set off at once +and slay him. + +When the King came, Peik stood out by the barn door. "Wouldn't it boil?" +he asked. + +"No, it would not, and you shall smart for it," said the King, about to +unsheath his knife. + +"I can well believe that," said Peik, "for you did not take the block, +too." + +"I wish I thought," said the King, "you weren't telling me a pack of +lies." + +"I tell you it's because of the block it stands on; it won't boil +without it," said Peik. + +"Well, what do you want for it?" + +It was well worth three hundred dollars; but for the King's sake it +should go for two. So the King got the block and traveled home with it. +He bade guests again, made a feast, and set the pot on the +chopping-block in the middle of the room. The guests thought he was both +daft and mad, and they went about making game of him, while he cackled +and chattered around the pot, calling out, "Bide a bit! Now it boils, +now it boils in a trice." + +But it wouldn't boil a bit more on the block than on the bare floor. So +he saw that Peik had been out with his fooling rods this time, too. Then +he fell a-tearing his hair, and said he would set off at once and slay +the lad. He wouldn't spare him this time, whether or no. + +But Peik was ready for him. He had filled a leather bag with blood and +stuffed it into his sister's bosom, and told her what to say and do. + +"Where's Peik?" screamed out the King. He was in such a rage that he +stuttered and stammered. + +"He is so poorly that he can't stir hand or foot," she said, "and now +he's trying to get a nap." + +"Wake him up!" said the King. + +"Nay, I daren't, he will be so angry," said the sister. + +"Well, I am angrier still," said the King, "and if you don't wake him, I +will," and with that he tapped his side where his knife hung. + +"Well, she would go and wake him," but Peik turned hastily in his bed, +drew out a knife and ripped open the leather bag in her bosom, so that +the blood gushed out, and down she fell on the floor as though she were +dead. + +"What an awful fellow you are, Peik," said the King; "you have killed +your sister right before my eyes!" + +"Oh, there's no trouble with her so long as there's breath in my +nostrils," said Peik, and with that he pulled out a ram's horn and began +to toot on it. + +"Toot-e-too-too," he blew, with one end of the horn to her body, and up +she rose as though there was nothing the matter with her. + +"Dear me, Peik! Can you kill folk and blow life into them again? Can you +do that?" said the King. + +"Why!" said Peik, "how could I get on at all if I couldn't? I am always +killing every one I come near; don't you know I have a terrible temper?" + +"I am hot-tempered, too," said the King, "and that horn I must have. +I'll give you a hundred dollars for it, and besides I'll forgive you for +cheating me out of my horse and for fooling me about the pot and the +block, and all else." + +Peik was loth to part with it, but for his sake he would let him have +it. And so the King went off home with it, and he hardly got back before +he must try it. + +So he fell a-wrangling and quarreling with the queen and his eldest +daughter, and they paid him back in the same coin; but before they knew +what was happening he had whipped out his knife and cut their throats. +They fell down stone dead and the other two daughters ran from the +house, they were so afraid. + +The King walked about the floor for a while and kept chattering that +there was no harm done so long as there was breath in him, and then he +pulled out the horn and began to blow "Toot-e-too-too! Toot-e-too-too!" +but, though he blew and tooted as hard as he could all that day and the +next, too, he could not blow life into them again. Dead they were, and +dead they stayed. But the people in the kingdom were only glad to get +rid of such troll-folk, and were wishing some one might make an end of +the King, too, so that they might have a good King in his place. + +But the King was now angrier than ever, and must go right off to kill +Peik. + +But Peik knew that he was coming and then he said to his sister-- + +"Now, you must change clothes with me and set off. If you will do that, +you may have all we own." + +So, she changed clothes with him, packed up and started off as fast as +she could; but Peik sat all alone in his sister's clothes. + +"Where is that Peik?" roared the King, as as he came, in a towering +rage, through the door. + +"He has run away," said Peik. "He knew that your Majesty was coming, so +he left me all alone without a morsel of bread or a penny in my purse," +and he made himself as gentle and sweet as a young lady. + +"Come along, then, to the King's palace, and you shall have enough to +live on. There's no good sitting here and starving in this cabin by +yourself," said the King. + +So Peik went home with the King, and there he was treated as the King's +own daughter, for Miss Peik sewed and stitched and sang and played with +the others, and was with them early and late. + +But one day a man came to the King and told him that Peik's sister was +at a farm in the neighborhood, and that it was Peik he had brought up in +his own house. Now, Peik had heard all that the man told the King, so he +ran away from the King's palace, out into the wide world. + +The King got into a terrible rage then, and called for Peik, but he was +nowhere to be found. Then he mounted his horse to go out to look for +Peik. + +He had not gone far before he came to a ploughed field and there sat +Peik on a stone, playing on a mouth organ. + +"What! Are you sitting there, Peik?" said the King. + +"Here I sit, sure enough," said Peik; "where else should I sit?" + +"You have cheated me foully time after time," said the King, "but now +you must come along home with me, and I'll kill you." + +"Well, well," said Peik, "if it can't be helped, it can't; I suppose I +must go along with you." + +When they got home to the King's palace they got ready a barrel which +Peik was to be put in, and when it was ready they carted it up a high +mountain. There he was to lie three days, thinking on all the evil he +had done, then they were to roll him down the mountain into the sea. + +The third day a rich man passed by and when he heard Peik's story he was +ready to help him out of his trouble. + +They made a stuffed man and put him with some stones into the +barrel--but the rich man gave Peik horses and cows, sheep and swine, and +money beside. + +Now, the King came to roll Peik down the mountain. "A happy journey!" +said the King, "and now it is all over with you and your fooling rods." + +Before the barrel was halfway down the mountain there was not a whole +stave of it left, nor would there have been a whole limb on Peik, had he +been there. But when the King came back to the palace, Peik was there +before him, and sat in the court-yard playing on his mouth organ. + +"What! You sitting here, you, Peik?" + +"Yes! Here I sit, sure enough. Where else should I sit?" said Peik. +"Maybe I can get room here for all my horses and sheep and money." + +"But whither was it that I rolled you that you got all this wealth?" +asked the King. + +"Oh, you rolled me into the sea," said Peik, "and when I got to the +bottom there was more than enough and to spare, both of horses and +sheep, and of gold and silver. The cattle went about in great flocks, +and the gold and silver lay in large heaps as big as houses." + +"What will you take to roll me down the same way?" asked the King. + +"Oh," said Peik, "it costs little or nothing to do it. Besides, you took +nothing from me, and so I'll take nothing from you either." + +So he stuffed the King into a barrel and rolled him over, and when he +had given him a ride down to the sea for nothing, he went home to the +King's palace. + +[Illustration: So he stuffed the King into the barrel and rolled him over] + +Then he began to hold his bridal feast with the youngest princess, and +afterwards he ruled the land both well and long. But he kept his fooling +rods to himself, and kept them so well that nothing was ever heard of +Peik and his tricks, but only of "Ourself the King." + + + + +THE PRINCESS WHO COULD NOT BE SILENCED + + +There was once a King, and he had a daughter who was so cross and +crooked in her words that no one could silence her, and so he gave it +out that he who could do it should marry the princess and have half the +kingdom, too. There were plenty of those who wanted to try it, I can +tell you, for it is not every day that you can get a princess and half a +kingdom. The gate to the King's palace did not stand still a minute. +They came in great crowds from the East and the West, both riding and +walking. But there was not one of them who could silence the princess. + +At last the king had it given out that those who tried, and failed, +should have both ears marked with the big redhot iron with which he +marked his sheep. He was not going to have all that flurry and worry for +nothing. + +Well, there were three brothers, who had heard about the princess, and, +as they did not fare very well at home, they thought they had better set +out to try their luck and see if they could not win the princess and +half the kingdom. They were friends and good fellows, all three of them, +and they set off together. + +When they had walked a bit of the way, Boots picked up something. + +"I've found--I've found something!" he cried. + +"What did you find!" asked the brothers. + +"I found a dead crow," said he. + +"Ugh! Throw it away! What would you do with that?" said the brothers, +who always thought they knew a great deal. + +"Oh, I haven't much to carry, I might as well carry this," said Boots. + +So when they had walked on a bit, Boots again picked up something. + +"I've found--I've found something!" he cried. + +"What have you found now?" said the brothers. + +"I found a willow twig," said he. + +"Dear, what do you want with that? Throw it away!" said they. + +"Oh, I haven't much to carry, I might as well carry that," said Boots. + +So when they had walked a bit, Boots picked up something again. "Oh, +lads, I've found--I've found something!" he cried. + +"Well, well, what did you find this time?" asked the brothers. + +"A piece of a broken saucer," said he. + +"Oh, what is the use of that? Throw it away!" said they. + +"Oh, I haven't much to carry, I might as well carry that," said Boots. + +And when they had walked a bit further, Boots stooped down again and +picked up something else. + +"I've found--I've found something, lads!" he cried. + +"And what is it now?" said they. + +"Two goat horns," said Boots. + +"Oh! Throw them away. What could you do with them?" said they. + +"Oh, I haven't much to carry, I might as well carry them," said Boots. + +In a little while he found something again. + +"Oh, lads, see, I've found--I've found something," he cried. + +"Dear, dear, what wonderful things you do find! What is it now?" said +the brothers. + +"I've found a wedge," said he. + +"Oh, throw it away. What do you want with that?" said they. + +"Oh, I haven't much to carry, I might as well carry that," said Boots. + +And now, as they walked over the fields close up to the King's palace, +Boots bent down again and held something in his fingers. + +"Oh, lads, lads, see what I've found!" he cried. + +"If you only found a little common sense, it would be good for you," +said they. "Well, let's see what it is now." + +"A worn-out shoe sole," said he. + +"Pshaw! Well, that was something to pick up! Throw it away! What do you +want with that?" said the brothers. + +"Oh, I haven't much to carry, I might as well carry that, if I am to win +the princess and half the kingdom," said Boots. + +"Yes, you are likely to do that--you," said they. + +And now they came to the King's palace. The eldest one went in first. + +"Good-day," said he. + +"Good-day to you," said the princess, and she twisted and turned. + +"It's awfully hot here," said he. + +"It is hotter over there in the hearth," said the princess. There lay +the red-hot iron ready awaiting. When he saw that he forgot every word +he was going to say, and so it was all over with him. + +And now came the next oldest one. + +"Good-day," said he. + +"Good-day to you," said she, and she turned and twisted herself. + +"It's awfully hot here," said he. + +"It's hotter over there in the hearth," said she. And when he looked at +the red-hot iron he, too, couldn't get a word out, and so they marked +his ears and sent him home again. + +Then it was Boots' turn. + +"Good-day," said he. + +"Good-day to you," said she, and she twisted and turned again. + +"It's nice and warm in here," said Boots. + +"It's hotter in the hearth," said she, and she was no sweeter, now the +third one had come. + +"That's good, I may bake my crow there, then?" asked he. + +"I'm afraid she'll burst," said the princess. + +"There's no danger; I'll wind this willow twig around," said the lad. + +"It's too loose," said she. + +"I'll stick this wedge in," said the lad, and took out the wedge. + +"The fat will drop off," said the princess. + +"I'll hold this under," said the lad, and pulled out the broken bit of +the saucer. + +"You are crooked in your words, that you are," said the princess. + +"No, I'm not crooked, but this is crooked," said the lad, and he showed +her the goat's horn. + +"Well, I never saw the equal to that!" cried the princess. + +"Oh, here is the equal to it," said he, and pulled out the other. + +"Now, you think you'll wear out my soul, don't you?" said she. + +"No, I won't wear out your soul, for I have a sole that's worn out +already," said the lad, and pulled out the shoe sole. + +Then the princess hadn't a word to say. + +"Now, you're mine," said Boots. + +And so she was. + + + + +THE TWELVE WILD DUCKS + + +Once on a time there was a Queen who had twelve sons but no daughter. + +One day she was out driving in the woods and met the prettiest little +lassie one ever did see, and so the Queen stopped her horses, lifted the +child up in her arms, kissed her on both cheeks, all the while thinking: + +"I wish I had a little girl of my own, oh, how long I've waited and +wished for one." + +Just then an old witch of the trolls came up to her, but you wouldn't +have known it was a witch at all, she looked so kind and good. + +"A daughter you shall have," she said, "and she shall be the prettiest +child in twelve kingdoms, if you will give to me what ever comes to meet +you at the bridge." + +Now the Queen had a little snow white dog of which she was very fond, +and it always ran to meet her when she had been away. She thought, of +course, it was the dog the old dame wanted, so the Queen said, "Yes, you +may have what comes to meet me on the bridge." With that she hurried +home as fast as she could. + +But, who should come to meet her on the bridge but her twelve sons; and +before the mother could cry out to them the wicked witch threw her spell +upon them and turned them into twelve ducks which flapped their wings +and flew away. Away they went and away they stayed. + +But the Queen had a daughter, and she was the loveliest child one ever +set eyes upon. The Princess grew up, and she was both tall and fair, but +she was often quiet and sorrowful, and no one could understand what it +was that ailed her. The Queen, too, was often sorrowful, as you may +believe, for she had many strange fears when she thought of her sons. +And one day she said to her daughter, "Why are you so sorrowful, lassie +mine? Is there anything you want? If so, only say the word, and you +shall have it." + +"Oh, it seems so dull and lonely here," said the daughter, "every one +else has brothers and sisters, but I am all alone; I have none. That's +why I'm so sorrowful." + +"But you had brothers, my daughter," said the Queen; "I had twelve sons, +stout, brave lads, but I lost them all when you came;" and so she told +her the whole story. + +When the Princess heard that she had no rest; for she thought it was all +her fault, and in spite of all the Queen could say or do, though she +wept and prayed, the lassie would set off to seek her brothers. On and +on she walked into the wide world, so far you would never have thought +her small feet could have had strength to carry her so far. + +Finally, one day, when she was walking through a great, great wood, she +felt tired, and sat down on a mossy tuft and fell asleep. Then she +dreamt that she went deeper and deeper into the wood, till she came to a +little wooden hut, and there she found her brothers. Just then she +awoke, and straight before her she saw a worn path in the green moss. +This path went deeper into the wood, so she followed it, and after a +long time she came to just such a little wooden house as that she had +seen in her dream. + +Now, when she went into the room there was no one at home, but there +were twelve beds, and twelve chairs, and twelve spoons,--in short, a +dozen of everything. When she saw that she was very glad; she had not +been so glad for many a long year, for she could guess at once that her +brothers lived there, and that they owned the beds and chairs and +spoons. So she began to make up the fire, and sweep the room and make +the beds and cook the dinner, and to make the house as tidy as she +could. + +And when she had done all the work and the dinner was on the table she +suddenly heard something flapping and whirling in the air, and she +slipped behind the door. Then all the twelve ducks came sweeping in; but +as soon as ever they crossed the threshold they became Princes. + +"Oh, how nice and warm it is here," they said, "Heaven bless him who +made up the fire and cooked such a nice dinner for us." + +"But who can it be?" said the youngest Prince, and they all hunted both +high and low until they found the lassie behind the door. And she threw +her arms around their necks and said, "I'm your sister; I've gone about +seeking you these three years, and if I could set you free, I'd +willingly give my life." + +Then all the brothers looked sorrowfully, one at the other, and they +shook their heads. + +"No, it's too hard," said the eldest Prince, looking at the pretty young +Princess, "it's too hard," and again they sighed and shook their heads. + +"Oh, tell me, only tell me," said the Princess, "how can it be done, and +I'll do it, whatever it be." And as she begged and pleaded for them to +tell her, the youngest brother said at last, "You must pick thistledown, +and you must card it, and spin it, and weave it. After you have done +that, you must cut out and make twelve shirts, one for each of us, and +while you do that, you must neither talk, nor laugh, nor weep. If you +can do that we are free." + +"But where shall I ever get thistledown enough for so many shirts?" +asked the sister. + +"Well, that is the hardest thing of all," said the eldest brother. "You +must go to the witches' moor at midnight and gather it there," and big +tears stood in his eyes, "and you must go alone, all alone." + +But the sister smiled and nodded her head, and when midnight came, and +the moon was high in the sky she said good-bye to her brothers, and went +to the great, wide moor, where the witches lived. There stood a great +crop of thistles, all nodding and nodding in the breeze, while the down +floated and glistened like gossamer through the air in the moonbeams. +The Princess began to pluck and gather it as fast as she could, but she +saw long skinny arms outstretched toward her, and, among the thistles, +she saw a host of wicked faces all looking at her. Her heart stood still +then and she grew icy cold, but never a sound did she utter, only +plucked and gathered until her bag was full; and when she got home at +break of day she set to work carding and spinning yarn from the down. + +[Illustration: The Princess began to pluck and gather as fast as she +could] + +So she went on a long, long time picking down on the witches' moor, +carding and spinning, and all the while keeping the house of the +Princes, cooking, and making their beds. But she never talked, nor +laughed, nor wept. + +At evening home the brothers came, flapping and whirring like wild +ducks, and all night they were Princes, but in the morning off they flew +again, and were wild ducks the whole day. + +But, it happened one night when she was out on the moor picking +thistledown, that the young King who ruled that land was out hunting, +and had lost his way. He had become separated from his companions, and +now, as he came riding across the moor, he saw her. He stopped and +wondered who the lovely lady could be that walked alone on the moor +picking thistledown in the dead of the night; and he asked her name. +Getting no answer, he was still more astonished, but he liked her so +much, that at last nothing would do but he must take her home to his +castle and marry her. So he took her and put her upon his horse. The +Princess wrung her hands, and made signs to him, and pointed to the bags +in which her work was, and when the King saw she wished to have them +with her he took the bags and placed them behind them. + +When that was done the Princess, little by little, came to herself, for +the King was both a wise man and a handsome man, and he was as gentle +and kind to her as a mother. But when they reached the palace an old +woman met them. She was the King's guardian, and when she set eyes on +the Princess she became so cross and jealous of her, because she was so +lovely, that she said to the King: + +"Can't you see now, that this thing whom you have picked up, and whom +you are going to marry, is a witch? Why, she can neither talk nor laugh +nor weep!" + +But the King did not care a straw for what she said. He held to the +wedding and married the Princess, and they lived in great joy and glory. +But the Princess didn't forget to go on working on her shirts, and she +neither talked nor laughed nor wept. However, when she had spun and +woven and cut, she found that she still had not enough cloth for the +twelve shirts, and she needs must go to the witches' moor again. + +So that night while all the palace slept she quietly slipped out and +walked off to pick her thistledown, but the old woman who was the King's +guardian saw her, and she knew well where the young Queen was going, for +I must tell you she was the same wicked witch who had changed the twelve +Princes into wild ducks. She hurried to the King's chamber, woke him and +said, "Now, come with me and I'll prove to you that your lovely Queen is +a witch, who joins the wicked company on the moor at midnight." The King +would not listen to her at first, but when he saw that the Queen's bed +was empty, he got up and went with the old woman. + +And there upon the edge of the moor they stopped, but in the clear +moonlight they could see the Queen among the horrid hags and trolls. The +King turned away sadly and said not a word, for he loved his quiet Queen +very much. + +But the wicked old woman began to whisper and tell abroad about the +Queen's nightly visit to the moor, and at last the King's best men came +to him and said, "We will not have a Queen who is a witch; the people +demand of you that she be burnt alive." + +Then the King was so sad that there was no end to his sadness, for now +he saw that he could not save her. He was obliged to order her to be +burnt alive on a pile of wood. When the pile was all ablaze, and they +were about to put her on it, she made signs to them to take twelve +boards and lay them around the pile. + +On these she laid the shirts for her brothers all completed but that for +the youngest, which lacked its left sleeve; she had not had time to +finish it. And as soon as ever she had done that, they heard a flapping +and whirring in the air, and down came twelve wild ducks from over the +forest, and each snapped up his shirt in his bill and flew off with it. + +"See now!" said the old woman to the King, "wasn't I right when I told +you she was a witch! Make haste and burn her before the pile burns low." + +"Oh!" said the King, "we've wood enough and to spare, and so I'll wait a +bit, for I have a mind to see what the end of this will be." + +As he spoke up came the twelve Princes riding along, as handsome +well-grown lads as you'd wish to see; but the youngest Prince had a wild +duck's wing instead of his left arm. "What's all this about?" asked the +Princes. + +"My Queen is to be burnt," said the King, "because she is a witch, so +the people say, and I can't save her." + +"Speak now, sister," said the Princes, "you have set us free and saved +us, now save yourself." + +Then the young Queen spoke and told the whole story, and the King and +all the people listened with wonder and joy. Only the wicked old woman +stood trembling with fear. And when the Queen had finished her story, +the people took the old witch and bound her and burned her on the pile. + +But the King took his wife and the twelve Princes and went home with +them to their father and mother, and told all that had befallen them. +Then there was joy and gladness over the whole kingdom, because the +wicked witch was dead and the Princes saved and set free, and because +the lovely Princess had set free her twelve brothers. + + + + +GUDBRAND-ON-THE-HILLSIDE + + +Once upon a time there was a man whose name was Gudbrand. He had a farm +which lay far, far away upon a hillside, and so they called him +Gudbrand-on-the-Hillside. + +Now, you must know this man and his good wife lived so happily together, +and understood one another so well, that all the husband did the wife +thought so well done there was nothing like it in the world, and she was +always pleased at whatever he turned his hand to. The farm was their own +land, and they had a hundred dollars lying at the bottom of their chest +and two cows tethered up in a stall in their farmyard. + +So one day his wife said to Gudbrand, "Do you know, dear, I think we +ought to take one of our cows into town and sell it; that's what I +think; for then we shall have some money in hand, and such well-to-do +people as we ought to have ready money as other folks have. As for the +hundred dollars in the chest yonder, we can't make a hole in our +savings, and I'm sure I don't know what we want with more than one cow. + +"Besides, we shall gain a little in another way, for then I shall get +off with only looking after one cow, instead of having, as now, to feed +and litter and water two." + +Well, Gudbrand thought his wife talked right good sense, so he set off +at once with the cow on the way to town to sell her; but when he got to +the town, there was no one who would buy his cow. + +"Well, well, never mind," said Gudbrand, "at the worst, I can only go +back home with my cow. I've both stable and tether for her, and the road +is no farther out than in." And with that he began to toddle home with +his cow. + +But when he had gone a bit of the way, a man met him who had a horse to +sell. Gudbrand thought 'twas better to have a horse than a cow, so he +traded with the man. A little farther on he met a man walking along and +driving a fat pig before him, and he thought it better to have a fat pig +than a horse, so he traded with the man. After that he went a little +farther, and a man met him with a goat, so he thought it better to have +a goat than a pig, and he traded with the man who owned the goat. Then +he went on a good bit till he met a man who had a sheep, and he traded +with him too, for he thought it always better to have a sheep than a +goat. After a while he met a man with a goose, and he traded away the +sheep for the goose; and when he had walked a long, long time, he met a +man with a cock, and he traded with him, for he thought in this wise, +"Tis surely better to have a cock than a goose." + +Then he went on till the day was far spent, and he began to get very +hungry, so he sold the cock for a shilling, and bought food with the +money, for, thought Gudbrand-on-the-Hillside, "Tis always better to save +one's life than to have a cock." + +After that he went on homeward till he reached his nearest neighbor's +house, where he turned in. + +"Well," said the owner of the house, "how did things go with you in +town?" + +"Rather so-so," said Gudbrand, "I can't praise my luck, nor do I blame +it either," and with that he told the whole story from first to last. + +"Ah!" said his friend, "you'll get nicely hauled over the coals, when +you go home to your wife. Heaven help you, I wouldn't stand in your +shoes for anything." + +"Well," said Gudbrand-on-the-Hillside, "I think things might have gone +much worse with me; but now, whether I have done wrong or not, I have so +kind a good wife she never has a word to say against anything that I +do." + +"Oh!" answered his neighbor, "I hear what you say, but I don't believe +it for all that." + +"And so you doubt it?" asked Gudbrand-on-the-Hillside. + +"Yes," said the friend, "I have a hundred crowns, at the bottom of my +chest at home, I will give you if you can prove what you say." + +So Gudbrand stayed there till evening, when it began to get dark, and +then they went together to his house, and the neighbor was to stand +outside the door and listen, while the man went in to his wife. + +"Good evening!" said Gudbrand-on-the Hillside. + +"Good evening!" said the good wife. "Oh! is that you? Now, I am happy." + +Then the wife asked how things had gone with him in town. + +"Oh, only so-so," answered Gudbrand; "not much to brag of. When I got to +town there was no one who would buy the cow, so you must know I traded +it away for a horse." + +"For a horse," said his wife; "well that is good of you; thanks with all +my heart. We are so well to do that we may drive to church, just as well +as other people, and if we choose to keep a horse we have a right to get +one, I should think." So, turning to her child she said, "Run out, +deary, and put up the horse." + +"Ah!" said Gudbrand, "but you see I have not the horse after all, for +when I got a bit farther on the road, I traded it for a pig." + +"Think of that, now!" said the wife. "You did just as I should have done +myself; a thousand thanks! Now I can have a bit of bacon in the house to +set before people when they come to see me, that I can. What do we want +with a horse? People would only say we had got so proud that we couldn't +walk to church. Go out, child, and put up the pig in the sty." + +"But I have not the pig either," said Gudbrand, "for when I got a little +farther on, I traded it for a goat." + +"Dear me!" cried the wife, "how well you manage everything! Now I think +it over, what should I do with a pig? People would only point at us and +say 'Yonder they eat up all they have.' No, now I have a goat, and I +shall have milk and cheese, and keep the goat too. Run out, child, and +put up the goat." + +"Nay, but I haven't the goat either," said Gudbrand, "for a little +farther on I traded it away and got a fine sheep instead!" + +"You don't say so!" cried his wife, "why, you do everything to please +me, just as if I had been with you. What do we want with a goat? If I +had it I should lose half my time in climbing up the hills to get it +down. No, if I have a sheep, I shall have both wool and clothing, and +fresh meat in the house. Run out, child, and put up the sheep." + +"But I haven't the sheep any more than the rest," said Gudbrand, "for +when I got a bit farther, I traded it away for a goose." + +"Thank you, thank you, with all my heart," cried his wife, "what should +I do with a sheep? I have no spinning wheel or carding comb, nor should +I care to worry myself with cutting, and shaping, and sewing clothes. We +can buy clothes now as we have always done; and now I shall have roast +goose, which I have longed for so often; and, besides, down with which +to stuff my little pillow. Run out, child, and put up the goose. + +"Well!" said Gudbrand, "I haven't the goose either; for when I had gone +a bit farther I traded it for a cock." + +"Dear me!" cried his wife, "how you think of everything! just as I +should have done myself. A cock! think of that! Why it's as good as an +eight day clock, for every day the cock crows at four o'clock, and we +shall be able to stir our stiff legs in good time. What should we do +with a goose? I don't know how to cook it; and as for my pillow, I can +stuff it with cotton grass. Run out, child, and put up the cock." + +"But after all, I haven't the cock either," said Gudbrand, "for when I +had gone a bit farther, I became as hungry as a hunter, so I was forced +to sell the cock for a shilling, for fear I should starve." + +"Now, God be praised that you did so!" cried his wife, "whatever you do, +you do it always just after my own heart. What should we do with the +cock? We are our own masters, I should think, and can lie abed in the +morning as long as we like. Heaven be thanked that I have you safe back +again; you who do everything so well, that I want neither cock nor +goose; neither pigs nor kine." + +Then Gudbrand opened the door and said,-- + +"Well, what do you say now? Have I won the hundred crowns?" and his +neighbor was forced to admit that he had. + + + + +THE PRINCESS ON THE GLASS HILL + + +Once on a time, there was a man who had a meadow, which lay high upon +the hillside, and in the meadow was a barn, which he had built to keep +his hay in. Now, I must tell you there hadn't been much in the barn for +the last year or two, for every St. John's night, when the grass stood +greenest and deepest, the meadow was eaten down to the very ground the +next morning, just as if a whole drove of sheep had been there feeding +on it over night. This happened once, and it happened twice; so at last +the man grew weary of losing his crop of hay, and said to his sons--for +he had three of them, and the youngest was nicknamed Boots, of +course--that now one of them must just go and sleep in the barn in the +outlying field when St. John's night came, for it was no joke that his +grass should be eaten, root and blade, this year, as it had been the +last two years. So whichever of them went must keep a sharp look-out; +that was what their father said. + +Well, the eldest son was ready to go and watch the meadow; trust him for +looking after the grass. So, when evening came, he set off to the barn, +and lay down to sleep. But a little on in the night came such a clatter, +and such an earthquake, that walls and roof shook, and groaned, and +creaked. Then up jumped the lad, and took to his heels as fast as ever +he could; nor dared he once look around until he reached home; and as +for the hay, why it was eaten up this year just as it had been twice +before. + +The next St. John's night, the man said again it would never do to lose +all the grass in the outlying field year after year in this way, so one +of his sons must just trudge off to watch it, and watch it well too. +Well, the next oldest son was ready to try his luck, so he set off and +sat down to watch in the barn as his brother had done before him. But as +the night wore on, there came on a rumbling and quaking of the earth, +worse even than on the last St. John's night, and when the lad heard it, +he got frightened, and took to his heels as though he were running a +race. + +Next year the turn came to Boots; but when he made ready to go the other +two began to laugh and to make game of him, saying,-- + +"You're just the man to watch the hay, that you are; you, who have done +nothing all your life but sit in the ashes and toast yourself by the +fire." + +But Boots did not care a pin for their chattering, and as evening drew +on, he walked up the hillside to the outlying field. There he went +inside the barn and sat down; but in about an hour's time the barn began +to groan and creak, so that it was dreadful to hear. + +"Well," said Boots to himself, "if it isn't worse than this, I can stand +it well enough." + +A little while after came another creak and an earthquake, so that the +litter in the barn flew about the lad's ears. + +"Oh!" said Boots to himself, "if it isn't worse than this, I daresay I +can stand it out." + +But just then came a third rumbling and a third earthquake, so that the +lad thought walls and roof were coming down on his head; but it passed +off, and all was still as death about him. + +"It'll come again, I'll be bound," thought Boots; but no, it didn't come +again; still it was, and still it stayed. But after he had sat a little +while, he heard a noise as if a horse were standing just outside the +barn door, and feeding on the grass. He stole to the door, and peeped +through a chink, and there stood a horse feeding away. So big, and fat, +and grand a horse, Boots had never set eyes on. By his side on the grass +lay a saddle and bridle, and a full set of armor for a knight, all of +brass, so bright that the light gleamed from it. + +"Ho, ho!" thought the lad; "it's you, is it, that eats up our hay?" + +So he lost no time, but took the steel out of his tinder box and threw +it over the horse; then it had no power to stir from the spot, and +became so tame that the lad could do what he liked with it. Then he got +on its back, and rode off with it to a place which no one knew of, and +there he put up the horse. When he got home, his brothers laughed, and +asked how he had fared. + +"You didn't sit long in the barn, even if you had the heart to go as far +as the field." + +"Well," said Boots, "all I can say is, I sat in the barn till the sun +rose." + +"A pretty story," said his brothers; "but we'll soon see how you have +watched the meadow;" so they set off; but when they reached it, there +stood the grass as deep and thick as it had been over night. + +Well, the next St. John's eve it was the same story over again; neither +of the elder brothers dared to go out to the outlying field to watch the +crop; but Boots, he had the heart to go, and everything happened just as +it had the year before. First a clatter and an earthquake, then a +greater clatter and another earthquake, and so on a third time; only +this year the earthquakes were far worse than the year before. Then all +at once everything was still as death, and the lad heard how something +was cropping the grass outside the barn door, so he stole to the door, +and peeped through a chink; and what do you think he saw? Why, another +horse standing right up against the wall, and chewing and champing with +might and main. It was far larger and finer than that which came the +year before, and it had a saddle on its back, and a bridle on its head, +and a full suit of mail for a knight lay by its side, all of silver, and +as splendid as you would wish to see. + +"Ho, ho!" said Boots to himself; "it's you that gobbles up our hay, is +it?" And with that he took the steel out of his tinder box, and threw it +over the horse's crest; then it stood as still as a lamb. Well, the lad +rode this horse, too, to the hiding place where he kept the other one, +and after that, he went home. + +"I suppose you'll tell us," said one of his brothers, "there's a fine +crop this year too, up in the hay field." + +"Well, so there is," said Boots; and off ran the others to see, and +there stood the grass thick and deep, as it was the year before; but +they didn't give Boots softer words for all that. + +Now, when the third St. John's eve came, the two elder still hadn't the +heart to sit out in the barn and watch the grass, for they had got so +scared at heart the night they sat there before, that they couldn't get +over the fright. But Boots dared to go; and the very same thing happened +this time that had happened twice before. Three earthquakes came, one +after the other, each worse than the one which went before, and when the +last came, the lad danced about with the shock from one barn wall to the +other; and after that, all at once, it was still as death. Now, when he +had sat a little while, he heard something cropping away at the grass +outside the barn, so he stole again to the door chink, and peeped out, +and there stood a horse outside--far, far bigger and more beautiful than +the two he had taken before. It had a saddle on its back, a bridle on +its head, and a full suit of mail for a knight lay by its side--all of +gold, all more splendid than anything you ever saw. + +[Illustration: So he caught up the steel and threw it over the horse] + +"Ho, ho!" said the lad to himself, "it's you, is it, that comes here +eating up our hay? I'll soon stop that." So he caught up his steel, and +threw it over the horse's neck, and in a trice it stood as if it were +nailed to the ground, and Boots could do as he pleased with it. Then he +rode off with it to the hiding place, where he kept the other two, and +then went home. When he got home, his two brothers made game of him as +they had done before, saying, they could see he had watched the grass +well, for he looked for all the world as if he were walking in his +sleep, and many other spiteful things they said, but Boots gave no heed +to them, only asking them to go and see for themselves; and when they +went, there stood the grass as fine and deep this time as it had been +twice before. + + * * * * * + +Now you must know that the king of the country where Boots lived had a +daughter, whom he would only give to the man who could ride up over the +hill of glass, for there was a high, high hill, all of glass, as smooth +and slippery as ice, close by the king's palace. Upon the tip top of the +hill the king's daughter was to sit, with three golden apples in her +lap, and the man who could ride up and carry off the three golden apples +was to have half the kingdom, and the Princess to wife. This offer the +king had posted on all the church doors in his realm; and had given it +out in many other kingdoms besides. Now, this Princess was so lovely, +that all who set eyes on her loved her. So I needn't tell you how all +the princes and knights who heard of her were eager to win her to wife, +and half the kingdom besides; and how they came riding from all parts of +the world on high prancing horses, and clad in the grandest clothes, for +there wasn't one of them who hadn't made up his mind that he, and he +alone, was to win the Princess. + +So when the day of trial came, which the king had fixed, there was such +a crowd of princes and knights under the glass hill, that it made one's +head whirl to look at them; and every one in the country who could even +crawl along was off to the hill, for they all were eager to see the man +who was to win the Princess. Thus the two elder brothers set off with +the rest; but as for Boots, they said outright he shouldn't go with +them, for if they were seen with such a dirty fellow, all begrimed with +smut from cleaning their shoes, and sifting cinders in the dust-hole, +they said folk would make game of them. + +"Very well," said Boots; "it's all one to me. I can go alone." + +Now, when the two brothers came to the hill of glass, the knights and +princes were all hard at it, riding their horses till they were all in a +foam; but it was no good; for as soon as ever the horses set foot on the +hill, down they slipped, and there wasn't one who could get a yard or +two up; and no wonder, for the hill was as smooth as a sheet of glass, +and as steep as a house-wall. But all were eager to have the Princess +and half the kingdom. So they rode and slipped, and slipped and rode, +and still it was the same story over again. At last all their horses +were so weary that they could scarce lift a leg, and so the knights had +to give up trying any more. + +The king was just thinking that he would proclaim a new trial for the +next day, to see if they would have better luck, when all at once a +knight came riding up on so brave a steed, that no one had ever seen the +like of it in his born days, and the knight had a mail of brass, and the +horse a brass bit in his mouth, so bright that the sunbeams shone from +it. Then all the others called out to him that he might just as well +spare himself the trouble of riding at the hill, for it would lead to no +good; but he gave no heed to them, and put his horse at the hill, and +went up it for a good way, about a third of the height; and when he had +got so far, he turned his horse round and rode down again. So lovely a +knight the Princess thought she had never yet seen; and while he was +riding, she sat and thought to herself,-- + +"Ah, how I wish that he might come up and go down the other side." + +And when she saw him turning back, she threw down one of the golden +apples after him, and it rolled down into his shoe. But when he got to +the bottom of the hill he rode off so fast that no one could tell what +had become of him. That evening all the knights and princes were to go +before the king, that he who had ridden so far up the hill might show +the apple which the Princess had thrown, but there was no one who had +anything to show. One after the other they all came, but not a man of +them could show the apple. + +The next day, all the princes and knights began to ride again, and you +may fancy they had taken care to shoe their horses well; but it was no +use,--they rode and slipped, and slipped and rode, just as they had done +the day before; and there was not one who could get so far as a yard up +the hill. And when they had worn out their horses, so that they could +not stir a leg, they were all forced to give it up. So the king thought +he might as well proclaim that the riding should take place the day +after for the last time, just to give them one chance more; but all at +once it came across his mind that he might as well wait a little longer, +to see if the knight in brass mail would come this day too. Well! they +saw nothing of him; but all at once came one riding on a steed, far, far +braver and finer than that on which the knight in brass had ridden, and +he had silver mail, and a silver saddle and bridle, all so bright that +the sunbeams gleamed and glanced from them far away. Then the others +shouted out to him again, saying he might as well stop, and not try to +ride up the hill, for all his trouble would be thrown away. But the +knight paid no heed to them, and rode straight at the hill, and right up +it, till he had gone two-thirds of the way, and then he wheeled his +horse around and rode down again. To tell the truth, the Princess liked +him still better than the knight in brass, and she sat and wished he +might be able to come right up to the top, and down the other side; but +when she saw him turning back, she threw the second apple after him, and +it rolled down and fell into his shoe. But as soon as ever he had come +down the hill of glass, he rode off so fast that no one could see what +became of him. + +At even, all were to go in before the king and the Princess, that he who +had the golden apple might show it. In they went, one after the other, +but there was no one who had any apple to show. + +The third day everything happened as it had happened the two days +before. There was no one who could get so much as a yard up the hill; +and now all waited for the knight in silver mail, but they neither saw +nor heard of him. At last came one riding on a steed, so brave that no +one had ever seen his match; and the knight had a suit of golden mail, +and a golden saddle and bridle, so wondrous bright that the sunbeams +gleamed from them a mile off. The other knights and princes could not +find time to call out to him not to try his luck, for they were amazed +to see how grand he was. So he rode at the hill, and tore up it like +nothing, so that the Princess hadn't even time to wish that he might get +up the whole way. As soon as ever he reached the top, he took the third +golden apple from the Princess's lap, and then turned his horse and rode +down again. As soon as he got down he rode off at full speed, and was +out of sight in no time. + +Now, when the two brothers got home at even, you may fancy what long +stories they told, how the riding had gone off that day; and amongst +other things, they had a deal to say about the knight in golden mail. + +"He just was a chap to ride," they said; "so grand a knight isn't to be +found in this wide world." + +Next day all the knights and princes were to pass before the king and +the Princess--that he who had the gold apple might bring it forth; but +one came after another, first the princes, then the knights, and still +no one could show the gold apple. + +"Well," said the king, "some one must have it, for it was something that +we all saw with our own eyes, how a man came and rode up and bore it +off." + +So he commanded that everyone who was in the kingdom should come up to +the palace and see if he could show the apple. Well, they all came one +after another, but no one had the golden apple, and after a long time +the two brothers of Boots came. They were the last of all, so the king +asked them if there was no one else in the kingdom who hadn't come. + +"Oh, yes," said they; "we have a brother, but he never carried off the +golden apple. He hasn't stirred out of the dust-hole on any of the three +days." + +"Never mind that," said the king; "he may as well come up to the palace +like the rest." So he came. + +"How, now," said the king; "have you the golden apple? Speak out." + +"Yes, I have," said Boots; "here is the first, and here is the second, +and here is the third, too;" and with that he pulled all three golden +apples out of his pocket, and at the same time threw off his sooty rags, +and stood before them in his gleaming golden mail. + +"Yes," said the king; "you shall have my daughter, and half my kingdom, +for you well deserve both her and it." + +So they got ready for the wedding, and Boots got the Princess to wife, +and there was great merry-making at the bridal-feast, you may fancy, for +they could all be merry though they couldn't ride up the hill of glass; +and all I can say is, if they haven't left off their merry-making yet, +why, they're still at it. + + + + +THE HUSBAND WHO WAS TO MIND THE HOUSE + + +Once on a time there was a man so mean and cross that he never thought +his wife did anything right in the house. So one evening in hay-making +time he came home scolding and tearing, and showing his teeth and making +a fuss. + +"Dear love, don't be so angry; there's a good man," said his goody; +"to-morrow let's change our work. I'll go out with the mowers and mow, +and you shall mind the house at home." + +The husband thought that would do very well. He was quite willing, he +said. + +So, early next morning his goody took a scythe on her shoulders, and +went out into the hayfield with the mowers, and began to mow; but the +man was to mind the house and do the work at home. + +First of all he wanted to churn the butter; but when he had churned a +while, he grew thirsty and went down to the cellar to tap a barrel of +ale. So, just when he was putting the tap into the cask, he heard +overhead the pig come into the kitchen. Then off he ran up the cellar +steps, with the tap in his hand, as fast as he could to look after the +pig, lest it should upset the churn. But when he got up, and saw the pig +had already knocked the churn over and stood there grunting and rooting +in the cream which was running all over the floor, he became so wild +with rage, that he quite forgot the ale barrel, and ran at the pig as +hard as he could. + +He caught it, too, just as it ran out of doors, and gave it such a kick +that piggy died on the spot. Then all at once he remembered he had the +tap in his hand; but when he got down to the cellar, every drop of ale +had run out of the cask. + +Then he went into the dairy and found enough cream left to fill the +churn again, and so he began to churn, for butter they must have at +dinner. When he had churned a bit, he remembered that their milking cow +was still shut up in its stall, and had not had a mouthful to eat or a +drop to drink all the morning, though the sun was high. Then he thought +it was too far to take her down to the meadow, so he'd just get her up +on the house top, for the house, you must know, was thatched with sods, +and a fine crop of grass was growing there. Now their house lay close up +against a steep rock, and he thought if he laid a plank across to the +roof at the back, he'd easily get the cow up. + +But still he could not leave the churn, for there was their little babe +crawling about the floor, and, "If I leave it," he thought, "the child +is sure to upset it." + +So he took the churn on his back and went out with it. Then he thought +he'd better water the cow before he turned her out on the thatch, and he +took up a bucket to draw water out of the well. But, as he stooped down +at the brink of the well, all the cream ran out of the churn over his +shoulders, about his neck, and down into the well. + +Now it was near dinner time, and he had not even got butter yet. So he +thought he'd best boil the porridge, and he filled the pot with water, +and hung it over the fire. When he had done that, he thought the cow +might perhaps fall off the thatch and break her legs or her neck. So he +got up on the house to tie her up. One end of the rope he made fast to +the cow's neck, and the other he slipped down the chimney and tied round +his own waist. He had to make haste, for the water now began to boil in +the pot, and he had still to grind the oatmeal. + +So he began to grind away; but while he was hard at it, down fell the +cow off the housetop after all, and as she fell she dragged the man up +the chimney by the rope. There he stuck fast. And as for the cow, she +hung halfway down the wall, swinging between heaven and earth, for she +could neither get down nor up. + +And now the goody had waited seven lengths and seven breadths for her +husband to come and call them home to dinner, but never a call they had. +At last she thought she'd waited long enough and went home. + +When she got there and saw the cow hanging in such an ugly place, she +ran up and cut the rope in two with her scythe. But as she did this, +down came her husband out of the chimney, and so when his old dame came +inside the kitchen, there she found him standing on his head in the +porridge pot. + + + + +LITTLE FREDDY WITH HIS FIDDLE + + +Once there was a farmer who had an only son. The lad had had very poor +health so he could not go out to work in the field. + +His name was Freddy, but, since he remained such a wee bit of a fellow, +they called him Little Freddy. At home there was but little to eat and +nothing at all to burn, so his father went about the country trying to +get the boy a place as cowherd or errand boy; but there was no one who +would take the weakly little lad till they came to the sheriff. He was +ready to take him, for he had just sent off his errand boy, and there +was no one who would fill his place, for everybody knew the sheriff was +a great miser. + +But the farmer thought it was better there than nowhere; he would get +his food, for all the pay he was to get was his board--there was nothing +said about wages or clothes. When the lad had served three years he +wanted to leave, and the sheriff gave him all his wages at one time. He +was to have a penny a year. "It couldn't well be less," said the +sheriff. And so he got three pence in all. + +As for Little Freddy, he thought it was a great sum, for he had never +owned so much; but, for all that, he asked if he wasn't to have anything +for clothes, for those he had on were worn to rags. He had not had any +new ones since he came to the sheriff's three years ago. + +"You have what we agreed on," said the sheriff, "and three whole pennies +besides. I have nothing more to do with you. Be off!" + +So Little Freddy went into the kitchen and got a little food in his +knapsack, and after that he set off on the road to buy himself more +clothes. He was both merry and glad, for he had never seen a penny +before, and every now and then he felt in his pockets as he went along +to see if he had them all three. So, when he had gone far and farther +than far, he got up on top of the mountains. He was not strong on his +legs, and had to rest every now and then, and then he counted and +counted how many pennies he had. And now he came to a great plain +overgrown with moss. There he sat down and began to see if his money was +all right. Suddenly a beggarman appeared before him, so tall and big +that when he got a good look at him and saw his height and length, the +lad began to scream and screech. + +"Don't you be afraid," said the beggarman, "I'll do you no harm, I came +only to beg you for a penny." + +"Dear me!" said the lad, "I have only three pennies, and with them I was +going to town to buy clothes." + +"It is worse for me than for you," said the beggarman, "I have not one +penny, and I am still more ragged than you." + +"Well, that is so; you shall have it," said the lad. + +When he had walked on a while, he grew weary again, and sat down to +rest. Suddenly another beggarman stood before him, and this one was +still taller and uglier than the first. When the lad saw how very tall +and ugly and long he was, he began to scream again. + +"Now, don't you be afraid of me," said the beggar, "I'll do you no harm. +I came only to beg for a penny." + +"Oh dear, oh dear!" said the lad. "I have only two pennies, and with +them I was going to the town to buy clothes. If I had only met you +sooner, then--" + +"It's worse for me than for you," said the beggarman. "I have no penny, +and a bigger body and less clothing." + +"Well, you may have it," said the lad. So he went away farther, till he +got weary, and then he sat down to rest; but he had scarcely sat down +when a third beggarman came to him. This one was so tall and ugly and +long that the lad had to look up and up, right up to the sky. And when +he took him all in with his eyes, and saw how very, very tall and ugly +and ragged he was, he fell a-screeching and screaming again. + +[Illustration: The lad had to look up, right up into the sky] + +"Now, don't you be afraid of me, my lad," said the beggarman, "I'll do +you no harm, for I am only a beggarman, who begs you for a penny." + +"Oh dear, oh dear!" said the lad. "I have only one penny left, and with +it I was going to the town to buy clothes. If I had only met you sooner, +then--" + +"As for that," said the beggarman, "I have no penny at all, that I +haven't, and a bigger body and less clothes, so it is worse for me than +for you." + +"Yes," said Little Freddy, "he must have the penny then--there was no +help for it; for so each beggarman would have one penny, and he would +have nothing." + +"Well," said the beggarman, "since you have such a good heart that you +gave away all that you had in the world, I will give you a wish for each +penny." For you must know it was the same beggarman who had got them all +three; he had only changed his shape each time, that the lad might not +know him again. + +"I have always had such a longing to hear a fiddle go, and see folk so +merry and glad that they couldn't help dancing," said the lad; "and so +if I may wish what I choose, I will wish myself such a fiddle, that +everything that has life must dance to its tune." + +"That you may have," said the beggarman, "but it is a sorry wish. You +must wish something better for the other two pennies." + +"I have always had such a love for hunting and shooting," said Little +Freddy; "so if I may wish what I choose, I will wish myself such a gun +that I shall hit everything I aim at, were it ever so far off." + +"That you may have," said the beggarman, "but it is a sorry wish too. +You must wish better for the last penny." + +"I have always had a longing to be in company with folks who were kind +and good," said Little Freddy; "and so, if I could get what I wish, I +would wish it to be so that no one can say 'Nay' to the first thing I +ask." + +"That wish is not so sorry," said the beggarman; and off he strode +between the hills, and Freddy saw him no more. + +So the lad lay down to sleep, and the next day he came down from the +mountain with his fiddle and his gun. First he went to the storekeeper +and asked for clothes. Next at a farm he asked for a horse, and at a +second for a sleigh; and at another place he asked for a fur coat. No +one said him "Nay"--even the stingiest folk were all forced to give him +what he asked for. At last he went through the country as a fine +gentleman, and had his horse and his sleigh. When he had gone a bit he +met the sheriff whose servant he had been. + +"Good day, master," said Little Freddy, as he pulled up and took off his +hat. + +"Good day," said the sheriff, "but when was I ever your master?" + +"Oh yes," said Little Freddy, "don't you remember how I served you three +years for three pence?" + +"My goodness, now!" said the sheriff, "you have grown rich in a hurry, +and pray, how was it that you got to be such a fine gentleman?" + +"Oh, that is a long story," said Little Freddy. + +"And are you so full of fun that you carry a fiddle about with you?" +asked the sheriff. + +"Yes, yes," said Freddy. "I have always had such a longing to get folk +to dance. But the funniest thing of all is this gun, for it brings down +almost anything that I aim at, however far it may be off. Do you see +that magpie yonder, sitting in the spruce fir? What will you give me if +I hit it as we stand here?" + +"Well," said the sheriff, and he laughed when he said it, "I'll give you +all the money I have in my pocket, and I'll go and fetch it when it +falls," for he never thought it possible for any gun to carry so far. + +But as the gun went off down fell the magpie, and into a great bramble +thicket; and away went the sheriff up into the bramble after it, and he +picked it up and held it up high for the lad to see. But just then +Little Freddy began to play his fiddle, and the sheriff began to dance, +and the thorns to tear him; but still the lad played on, and the sheriff +danced, and cried, and begged, till his clothes flew to tatters, and he +scarce had a thread to his back. + +"Yes," said Little Freddy, "now I think you're about as ragged as I was +when I left your service; so now you may get off with what you have." + +But first the sheriff had to pay him all the money that he had in his +pocket. + +So when the lad came to town he turned into an inn, and there he began +to play, and all who came danced and laughed and were merry, and so the +lad lived without any care, for all the folks liked him and no one would +say "Nay" to anything he asked. + +But one evening just as they were all in the midst of their fun, up came +the watchmen to drag the lad off to the town hall; for the sheriff had +laid a charge against him, and said he had waylaid him and robbed him +and nearly taken his life. And now he was to be hanged. The people would +hear of nothing else. But Little Freddy had a cure for all trouble, and +that was his fiddle. He began to play on it, and the watchmen fell +a-dancing and they danced and they laughed till they gasped for breath. + +So soldiers and the guard were sent to take him, but it was no better +with them than with the watchmen. When Little Freddy played his fiddle, +they were all bound to dance; and dance as long as he could lift a +finger to play a tune; but they were half dead long before he was tired. + +At last they stole a march on him, and took him while he lay asleep by +night. Now that they had caught him they could condemn him to be hanged +on the spot, and away they hurried him to the gallows tree. + +There a great crowd of people flocked together to see this wonder, and +the sheriff too was there. He was glad to get even at last for the money +and the clothes he had lost, and to see the lad hanged with his own +eyes. + +And here came Little Freddy, carrying his fiddle and his gun. Slowly he +mounted the steps of the gallows,--and when he got to the top he sat +down, and asked if they could deny him a wish, and if he might have +leave to do one thing? He had such a longing, he said, to scrape a tune +and play a bar on his fiddle before they hanged him. + +"No, no," they said; "it were sin and shame to deny him that." For you +know, no one could say "Nay" to what he asked. + +But the sheriff begged them not to let him have leave to touch a string, +else it would be all over with them altogether. If the lad leave, he +begged them to bind him to the birch that stood there. + +Little Freddy was not slow in getting his fiddle to speak, and all that +were there fell a-dancing at once, those who went on two legs, and those +who went on four. Both the dean and the parson, the lawyer and the +sheriff, masters and men, dogs and pigs--they all danced and laughed and +barked and squealed at one another. Some danced till they lay down and +gasped, some danced till they fell in a swoon. It went badly with all of +them, but worst of all with the sheriff; for there he stood bound to the +birch, and he danced till he scraped the clothes off his back. I dare +say it was a sorry looking sight and a sore back. + +But there was not one of them who thought of doing anything to Little +Freddy, and away he went with his fiddle and his gun, whither he chose, +and he lived merrily and happily all his days, for there was no one who +could say "Nay" to the first thing he asked for. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of East O' the Sun and West O' the Moon +by Gudrun Thorne-Thomsen + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK EAST O' THE SUN *** + +This file should be named eandw10.txt or eandw10.zip +Corrected EDITIONS of our eBooks get a new NUMBER, eandw11.txt +VERSIONS based on separate sources get new LETTER, eandw10a.txt + +Produced by David Garcia, Juliet Sutherland, Charles Franks +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team. + +Project Gutenberg eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the US +unless a copyright notice is included. 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