The Fairy Ring

d, and the Baron Kerver was too noble a knight to take leave of his brave Bretons until they had

rest, and loaded with fruit and flowers, to say nothing of the roast hares and the peacocks smoking beneath their plumage. At this table the bridal pair were to have been seated in full sight in order that nothing

the seat at his left vacant, and, calling a page, "Child," said he, "run to the house of the stranger lady who obliged us only too much this morning. It was not

eloved, the page bent one knee to the ground, and, in the Baron's name, inv

rl proudly, "and tell him that if he is too noble

aster the Baron Kerver struck the table suc

or the first time, I own myself beaten. Quick, saddle my du

for her, and seated her behind him on his own horse, neither more nor less than a duchess in person. Through respect he did not speak a

Judging from her costume she was a foreigner; could she be the Duchess of Normandy or the Queen of France? The steward, the bailiff, and the seneschal were appealed to. The s

saw but did not know her. He cast an indifferent glance at her, then began ag

st hope. While talking with the Baron, who was charmed with her wi

let, precio

f it be th

it became a goblet of chased gold, the most beauti

ind her, she said in her gentlest tones, "My good seneschal, I entreat you to offer this goblet

nk the wine, and, setting the cup on the table before him, turned to the fair-haired lady who occupied all his thoughts. The lady seemed an

er head and began t

glasses. Let us all drink to the noble stranger who honors us

his goblet to a level with his eyes. Suddenly he started and stood

m along; both embarking in the ship that saved them; both landing on the shore of Brittany; he quitting her for an instant; s

if he were drunk, he rose and looked around him with haggard eyes. At the sight of Finette he clasped his

Before evening Finette was seated by th

e castle walls, chased by the dogs; and it was the common opinion among the Kervers that the fair-haired lady was none other than the witch, the godmother of the giant. I

ALWAYS . . . LO

t anyone thinking of resting. The steward's arms were a little heavy, the bailiff rubbed his back at times, and the seneschal felt a sort of weariness in his limbs, but all three had a weight on their consciences which they could not shake off, and which made them tremble and flutter, till finally they fell on the ground an

ne with Go

fine, and falling in long waves down to her very feet. She wore them always thus, loose and flowing, surmounted with a wreath of flowers; and though such long hair w

page-more than a hundred horses and a hundred footmen-in order to bring back to him the Fair One with Golden Locks, who, he never doubted, would be only too happy to become his queen. Indeed, he felt so sure of her that he refurnished the whole palace, and had made, by all the dressmakers of the city, dresses enough to last a lady for a lifetime. But, alas! when the ambassador arrived and delivered his message, either the

"If the King had sent me to fetch the Fair One with Golden Locks, I know she would have come back with me," repeated the saying in such a manner that it appeared as if Avenant thought overmuch of himself and his beauty, and felt sure the Princess would have followed him all over the world; which, when it came to the ears of the King, as it was meant to do, irritated him so much that he commanded Avenant to be imprisoned in a high tower, and left to die there of hunger. The guards

he had once so much regarded. In spite of all the courtiers could do to prevent him, he stopped to listen, and overheard these words. The tears rushed

done that you should

I had sent you to fetch the Fair One with Golden Lock

told her so much about your majesty and your various high qualities, which no on

e who had spoken ill of his favorite; he then gave Avenan

tted him to a private audience and said: "I am as much in love as ever with the Fair One wi

ty," replied Avenant cheerful

ent equipage and suite than the first ambassador, but Avenant refused to take anything except a good horse to

reak of day, he came to a great meadow with a stream running through it, along which were planted willows and poplars. It was such a pleasant, rippling stream that he dismounted and sat down on its banks. There he perceived, gasping on the grass, a large golden carp, which, in leaping too far after gnats, had thrown itself quite out of the water, and now lay dying o

d. I was dying, and you have saved me.

the bottom of the stream, according to the habit of car

time. "See," thought Avenant, "how the stronger oppress the weaker! What right has an eagle to eat up a raven?" So taking his b

he world; "you have generously succored me, a poor miserable r

d Avenant, and c

the nets spread by birdcatchers to entrap finches, larks, and other small birds. "What a pity," thought Avenant, "that men must always torment poor birds and beasts who have done

have been here, and I should have been caught and killed.

of scarlet and white. He threw over all a rich mantle, and carried a little basket in which was a lovely little dog, an offering of respect to the Princess. With this he presented himself at the palace gates, where, even though he came alo

ss. "That is a pretty name; pe

"that while he stood under the palace wi

dorn it with the freshest garland of flowers, to give her her high-heeled shoes, and her fan. "Also," added she, "take care that my

rders for her musicians to play, but softly, so as not to disturb conversa

could not speak; then he began and

r arguments are very strong, and I am inclined to listen to them; but you must first find for me a ring whic

and the little dog Cabriole, which she refused to accept. All night long he sat sighing to himself: "H

impossibility to one so young and charming as

with grief, he slept. Before dawn Cabriole wakened him, s

d and his head bent, but saw nothing. At last he hear

er believe me again, master, if it is no

ch the Princess has lost. You saved my life in the w

reat glee. Craving an audience, he presented the Princess with her ring, and begged her to accompan

assisted you, fortun

te only in my desire

as tall as a tower, who eats a man as a monkey eats a nut. He puts cannons into his pockets instead of pistols, an

"Very well, madam. I shall certainly perish, but I will perish lik

rying his little dog in its basket. Cabriole was the only creature that gave him consolation: "Courage, master! While you attack the giant, I will bite

h bones and carcasses of men. Soon he saw the giant walking. His he

babies t

ore-mo

men, tende

rld holds

t replied, imit

you her

me to pu

nder, be

e, giant, h

ld have slain him on the spot, had not a raven, sitting on a tree close by, suddenly flown down upon him and pi

me. I promised to recompense you, and

hanging the frightful head to his saddle bow, he mounted his ho

rincess, hearing the noise, and fearing it was Avenant himself who was killed, appeared, all trembling

is dead, so I trust you will acce

agons. Within it is a pit, full of scorpions, lizards, and serpents, and at the bottom of this place flows the Fountain of Beauty and Health. All who wash in it become, if ugly, beautif

require it not; but I am an unfortunate ambassador whose death

m looked at him compassionately, pitying so pretty a youth bound on such a hopeless errand. But, h

ees nothing. At last he perceived a rock as black as ink, whence came a thick smoke; and in a moment appeared one of the two dragons, breathing out flames. It had a yellow-and-green body, claws, and a long tail

y blood and carry it to the Fair One with Golden Locks, and afterwards

e. Said the owl: "You cut the net in which I was caught, and I vowed to recompense you. Now is the time.

tto, and in less than half an hour reappeared, bringing it quite full and well corked. A

self had he chosen; but he would not have been false to his master for all the beauties under the sun. At length they arrived at the King's city, and the Fair One with Golden Locks became his spouse and queen. But she still loved Avenant in

e slightest cause of offense, he shut him up in the same high tower once more-but with irons on his hands and feet,

then, throwing herself at his knees, implored that Avenant might be set free. But the King only said,

h; and that if he could wash his face with her water of beauty, it would make her love him

vial. This she fetched and put in the place of the other one, in which was the water of beauty. But the King's vial contained the water of death. It was a poison, used to destroy great criminals-that is, noblemen, gentlemen, and such like. Instead of hanging them or cutting t

ed to do so, the sight of his little dog would have been enough to remind her of him-his many sufferings and his great fidelity. She rose up, without speaking to anybody, and went straight to the tow

nd scepter, and ruled her kingdom like a king. All the people were delighted to have him as their sovereign. The marriage was cel

tle Goo

n the next kingdom everything was as different as it could possibly be. The King was sulky and savage, and never enjoyed himself at all. He looked so ugly and cross that all his subjects feared him, and he hated the very sight of a cheerful face; so if he ever caught anyone smiling he had his head cut off that very minute. This kingdom was very appropriately called the Land of Tears. Now when this wi

King a

rave for that. It is better

farewell, he mounted his splendid horse and rode away. When he was lost

of me and of my little daughter?" and she was s

, one morning, as she looked out of the palace wi

hat news?" cried the Q

ing is dead, and in another m

. Then her ladies put the little Princess into her arms, and covered her up, head and all, in the bedclothes, and ran for their lives, and the poor Queen lay there shaking and hoping she would not be found. But very soon the wicked King clattered into the room, and in a fury because the Q

amused him, and so mounted his great black horse, and rode back to his own country. When he got there he declared that he would have the Queen and the little P

a very hard bed upon the floor. Then he sent for a fairy who lived near his kingdom, and after receiving her with more politeness than he generally showed, and ent

I think I see a

take pity upon the poor little Princess, who had met with such a sudden reverse of fort

am. I brought you here to tell me if the

e, and the old King growled to the Queen that it was lucky for her that it was so, as they would certainly have bee

ittle dwarf, the King's son," she said to herself, "and yet, if she is ugly we shall both be

ner, for their hard-hearted jailer gave them every day only three boiled pea

King was so avaricious that she was made to work day and night-she

or here? I have only three peas for my day's provisio

it her last pea, which she was keeping for her supper, saying: "Here, little one, eat it up; I have no

er with great satisfaction, and then the Queen gave what was left to the little mouse, who danced better than ever afterwards. The next morning came the jailer with the Queen's allowance of three peas, which he brought in upo

th all sorts of nice things to eat, and the Queen made a very good dinner and was gayer than usual over it. But afterwards as she sat at her spinn

nly think of some

g in a corner with some long straws. The Que

with them, and let my baby down in it from the wind

supper time the Queen gave it the three peas and the bit of black bread, and always found something good in the dish in their place. She really could not imagine where all the nice things came from. At last one day when the basket was

e, madam. If you li

e at the time that I will appoint, and I will let down my poor little baby in a basket. I

about what I eat, and if there is one thing that I fancy above all others, it is a plump, tender little mouse. If there is such a

t made no answer, and the old woman after wait

his garret, and that is such a dear, pretty little t

your own baby? Good-by, madam! I leave you to enjoy its company, and for my own part I

ing in its merriest mood, she could do nothing but cry. That night when her baby was fast asleep she packed it into the basket, and wrote on a slip of paper, "This unhappy

whether my Delicia is being taken care of or not? Anyone else would have let the greedy old

you will never repen

w its little sharp nose turn to a beautiful face, and its paws to hands and feet; then it sudde

at her astonish

ng a real friendship for me, for you see we fairies are ri

want for friends, you charming cre

or little mouse you could not have known there was anything to be gained by it, and to try you further I took the form of the old woman whom you talked t

an your father, and shall live a hundred years, always

o do, and then they shut the basket and lowered it carefully, baby and all, to the ground at the foot of the tower. The fairy then changed herself back into the form

or she ran up again

he is a cruel fairy who hates me, and as she is older than I am and has more power,

in came the jailer, and when he missed the little Princess he at once told the King, who came in a great fury, asking what the Queen had done with her. She ans

ad made herself invisible and followed them, gave him a sudden push, which made him lose his footing and fall to the ground with a crash and break four of his teeth, and while he was trying to mend them the fairy carried the Queen off in her flying chario

eys, and that she had refused him; the wedding dresses had been made, nevertheless, and the festivities were to be so splendid that all the people for leagues round were flocking in to be pr

t her feet was all strewn with robes of gold and silver, ribbons and laces, diamonds and pearls, over which the turkeys were stalking to a

maiden answ

like your cruel father. Leave me in peace with my tur

was as beautiful as the spring; and as soon as the wicked Prince

ne! you have a fine fl

rned her gentle eyes upon

to become a miserable queen! Wha

s a very pretty thing, but you know ne

e little maiden, "though I don't know who was my father o

ingdoms," said the wise fairy. "But tell me, child, how came you

ld bear it no longer, and ran away from her without knowing where I was going, and as I came through a wood the wicked Prince met me and offered to give me char

vinced that the little turkey maiden w

ame, my little

ia, if it please y

d the Princess's neck, and nearly

last; but you might look nicer than you do in that old gown, which is only fit for

from the nearest spring till her cheeks were like roses, and when she was adorned with the diamonds and the splendid r

to look, Delicia. What do y

icia an

re the daughter of

glad if you were

should," a

, "to-morrow I may have so

tle, where the Queen sat busy

and your golden needle that I am bringing

he jolly King and the loss of my Delicia, all t

her equal for beauty. She might be a queen to-morrow if she chose"; and then she told all that had happened, and th

arry the wicked King's son," she said.

, had sat himself down under a tree, and cried and howled with rag

you, that you are makin

ERE THE DAUGHTER

ince r

our turkey maiden

e called his guards and told them to go and fetch Delicia. "See if I don't

licia, who, with her splendid dress and her crown of diamonds, looked such a lovely

hat you are loo

re sent for an insignificant

at is my name. What c

k ropes, for fear she might run away, and broug

the wicked King only laughed and mocked at her, and cried: "Well, little fright, little toad! why don't you love my son, who

ss, shaking with terror, we

uncomfortable. Let me have two or three days to make u

ungeon. It was just at this moment that the Queen and the fairy arrived in the flying chariot, and the Queen was dreadfully distressed at

she, nodding her head with a

eping up on to his pillow nibbled his ear so that he squealed out quite loudly and turned over on his other side; but that

obody, for the little mouse had run off to the Prince's room and was serving him in exactly the same way. All night long she ran

! I am purs

fter the King, and they had not gone far when they b

; but they had to go through forty before they came to the Princess, who was sitting on the floor looking very dejected. But when the Queen rushed in and kissed her twenty times in a minut

time; we must go and

ls long. Behind her came the Queen wearing a blue velvet robe embroidered with gold and a diamond crown that was br

s of all they met, great or small, and all the people turned

a suitable husband for her, and would promise that during their reign there should be nothing but rejoicing and merrymaking, and all dismal things should be entirely banished. Upon this the people cried wit

ing chariot the most handsome and good-tempered Prince she could find anywhere. He was so charming that Delicia loved him from the moment their eyes met, and as for him, of course he

f Blanche a

The elder was called "Blanche" and the younger "Vermilion." They had received these names because one o

the assistance of her stick. "You appear to be very much tired, my good woman," said the widow; "sit down here and rest yourself awhile"; and s

f you could give me a bit of something nice." "You shall be welcome to anything that I have," said the good widow; "but, as I am poor, it will be not

daughter, "have no fruit to give to this good dame, for your grapes are not ripe." "That's true," said Vermilion; "but I hear my hen cackling, so she must have laid an egg, and if the gentlewoman would like a new-laid egg she is very welcome to it"; and without waiting for any answer from the old woman, she ran off to seek her egg. The moment she presented it, however, the old woman disappeared and was replaced by a beautiful lady who said to the mother: "I am a

as in a looking-glass. The bedding was of Irish linen, as white as snow. In the pens were sheep; four oxen and the like number of cows were in the cowhouses, and the yard was

oor to see the party pass, she appeared so beautiful to the King that he resolved to marry her, and did so accordingly. Blanche, when she was become a queen, said to her sister Vermilion: "I do not wish that you should marr

ed her; on the contrary, she was very discontented. All the ladies of the court showed her great respect when they were in her presence; but she knew that they did not like her, and that they said to each other behind her back, "See how this peasant girl plays the fine lady! The Ki

ed no salt in her soup, she was forbidden to quit the house when she felt inclined to take a walk-in a word, she was contradicted from morning till night. Governesses were engaged for her children, who brought them up in direct opposition to her wishes; yet she was not permitted to find fault. Poor Queen Blanche was dying with sorrow, and she grew so thin that it was pitiable to see her. She had not seen her sister once during the three years that she had been a queen, because she thought it would be demeaning her high rank to pay a visit to a farmer's wife; but when she was quite oppressed with melancholy, she came to the resolution of spending a few days in the count

ed her corn, wine, and oil. Her herds furnished her with milk, with which she made butter and cheese. She spun the wool supplied by her sheep into the materials of clothes for herself, her husband, and her two children. They all enjoyed excellent health, and in the evening, when the period of working had passed, they diverted themselves with all sorts of pastimes. "Alas!" cried the Queen, "the fairy made me a very evil present when she gave me a crown. Contentment is not to be found in magnificent palac

, in his name, never to return to his court." It came to pass exactly as the fairy had foretold. Blanche passed the remainder of her days with her sister Vermilion

e and Prince

er to crush the cat's tail than to fail in treading on it. He hastened to his mistress's palace; Master Puss came to meet him, very consequentially, as was his wont; the King lifted up his foot, but when he thought to have put it on the cat's tail, Puss turned round so quickly that he trod on nothing but the floor. He was a week trying to tread on this fatal tail, which appeared to be full of quicksilver, for it was continually moving. But, at last, the King had the good fortune to surprise Master Puss while he was

RYING TO TREAD O

the nose was not so large as it appeared to her to be; that it was a Roman nose, and that history averred that all heroes had large noses. The Queen, who loved her son to excess, was charmed with this discourse; and, by continually looking at Desire, his nose no longer appeared to be so very long. The Prince was brought up very carefully; and, as soon as he could speak, all kinds of shocking stories were told him of people who had short noses. No one was allowed to remain near him whose nose did not a little resemble his own; and the courtiers, to show their respect to the Queen and her son, pulled their children's noses several times a day, with a view of lengthening them. They had, however, a difficult task; for their sons appeared to have hardly any nose at all compared

who dared to make insinuations against Mignonetta's nose. The others, warned by their fate, were more cautious; and there was one who said to the Prince, that, in truth, a man could not be amiable who had not a large nose, but that it was not the same in respect to woman; for a wise man, who spoke Greek, had informed him that he had read in an old manuscript that the fair Cleopatra had the end of her nose turned up

Both horse and rider were ready to die with hunger; at last, as night was about to set in, they discovered a cave in which a light was burning. Desire entered, and saw a little old woman, who appeared to be more than a hundred years old. She put on her spectacles to look at the Prince; but she was a long time adjusting them, for her nose was too

thing to-day." "The poor child is right," said the fairy; "I did not think of that. I will prepare your supper; and, while you are eating, I will tell you my history in a few words; for I do not like long tales. A long tongue is still more insufferable than a large nose; and I remember, when I was young, that I was admired for not being a great talker; the Queen, my mother, used frequently to have it mentioned to her; for, such as you see me, I am a great king's daughter. My father-" "Your father ate when he was hungry," said the Prince, interrupting her. "Yes, he did, doubtless," said the fairy, "and you also will have your supper in a moment: I was merely going to tell you that my father-" "But I will not listen to a word until I have something to eat," said the Prince, growing angry. He checked himself, however, for he want

who had praised his nose had ridiculed it in their hearts, as the waiting woman was ridiculing the fairy; for the Prince observed that she turned her head aside every now and then to laugh. With regard to himself, he did not say a word, but ate away as fast as he could. "Prince," said the fairy to him, when he began to be satisfied, "move a little I entreat you; your nose makes so large a shadow that it prevents me from seeing what is on my plate. By the way, with regard to your father: I went to his court when he was quite a child; but it is forty years since I first retired into this solitude. Tell me a little how things are going on at court now; are the ladies still as fond of running about? In my time they used to go on the same day to the

the cavern. He continued his journey; and wherever he went, he thought that everybody was mad, for everybody talked about his nose; nevertheless

, he could not place his mouth near it, his nose constantly preventing him. He then perceived for the first time its extraordinary length, and feeling all over it with his hand, "I must confess," said he, "that my nose is too large." At the moment he pronounced those words, the crystal palace vanished, and the fairy appeared leading Mignonetta by the hand, and saying: "Confess that you are greatly obliged to me. I vainly wished to speak to you about your nose; but you woul

ellow

een several other children, you must know, but one by one they had

nd more lovely, and, to tell the truth, she not only

r was so charming that she had won the hearts of twenty no

s. There was not a man living, be he king or peasant

eir hats at once, and set off in a body to search for brides

, was so much in love with All-fair, that he stayed

see All-fair safely married and settled down before I die. I must go and visit the Desert

she was guarded by two fierce and terrible lions. The only way to get past the anim

she prepared one of these cakes; then she placed it i

as heavy, and before long the Queen w

he looked round for her cake to throw to the

ried the poor Queen in terro

and the Queen looked all around

e yellow man. He was just half a yard high, and he was eating oranges as quickly as ever he could;

way by which you can escape the lions, and

to tell him so when again she heard the dreadful roaring of the lions. "Be quick and make up your mind!" cried the Yellow Dwarf. (He was called the Yellow Dwarf, you know,

to give her consent to a marriage between t

an to feel very drowsy, and the next minute the Q

her promise to the dwarf that a fit of deep gloom

r; so in the end she, too, made up her mind to visit the Desert Fairy

codiles' eggs, millet, and sugar candy, and when it wa

ooked so very tempting that All-fair laid her cake upon

All-fair looked for her cake to throw to them. Alas

" cried a voice, and, looking up

sert Fairy," went on the dwarf, "for

ou will tell me at once,

our fault," said

ngs!" cried the Princess.

ith a grin. "Your mother is sorry now t

e to a fright like you," cried the ang

Dwarf; "but if you don't marry me you will

the lions began to r

cried poor All-fair, "I

ow," said the dwarf, w

l-fair, "or I shall be tor

d the Yellow Dwarf. "But don't suppose th

the next minute she was back again at the palace, and on her finge

d, for she feared that the

se of her sadness, and they a

sk the Princess once more if she would marry, for they thought the ex

olden Mines had his reward for waiting so long, for the Princess chose him as her husband. He was very rich and p

e on their way to the church they saw a big box moving

ou made to my friend, the Yellow Dwarf? I am the Desert Fairy, and if Al

the Golden Mines so angry that he

will take yo

the top of the box, and out came the Yello

ath upon the Desert Fairy. I claim the Princess for my bride, and in token of h

e Golden Mines, and he made a dash,

drew his sword also, and he r

t able to overcome the dwarf because he was protected by

eath of big, curling snakes. Raising her lance, she struck the Prin

en Mines, and he rushed to the aid of h

er mother's arms, lifted her on to his Spanish cat, and the n

d the clouds and wonder what would happen next. Suddenly a mist gathered

with the King of the Golden Mines, and she had made up her mind that he sh

gloomy cave. Then the fairy set him down, and

," she cried to herself, "now that

y that the King only looked the other way the w

m of a beautiful maiden, and placed the King in a

n, and together they sai

ugh the fairy could change her form at will, her feet always remained the same, and the King caught sight of two ugly webbed feet, tha

nward. There he saw a castle built of bright polished stee

. Although it passed along very quickly, she could see the King seated inside with a lov

palace, shut in by a wall of emerald

s around the place, and made up

said to himself; and he

lattered her so much that she began to treat him very kindly indeed. She

e beach he was surprised to see a cha

wer to set you free. I can also restore your Princess All-fair to you onc

set himself upon her tail, and away they sailed at full

kept a prisoner by the Yellow Dwarf. She is in a bright s

d at length the mermaid set th

to fight before you reach the Princess. But," she added, "I will present you with this m

the mermaid again and again, and then

chance of being torn to pieces by their long claws. Just in time, however, he remembered his magic swor

er to cut off their heads, and

KING OF THE GOLDEN MI

les like cast iron. But by means of his magic sword the King was abl

twenty-four nymphs, all lovely as the

le. If we let you pass, all our lives will be sacrificed. We have done

seemed a pity to destroy such lovely creatur

oice loudly, "or you will l

wenty-four of them, and at that mome

s she had been when he passed through

"your faithful lover

were not faithful when I saw you being carried t

ou saw was the wicked Desert Fairy. She carried me off to an island

t; but, unfortunately, he managed to

hind a big cabbage, where he was hiding,

what a treasure the sword was, just uttered two magic words, with the weapon in his hand, and th

is in my power. If he will consent to your b

the King of t

low Dwarf, and he buried the magi

with sorrow at the loss of he

y slaying my lover, for I will never marr

sword and plunged it

what had taken place, but as her only power lay i

ime the soft breezes blew, their branches caressed and kissed each other,

a and P

er. She was so graceful and pretty and clever that she was called Gracios

e was Grumbly. She was more frightful than tongue can tell; her hair was red as fire, and she had but one eye, and that not a pretty one! Her face was as broad as a full moon, and her mouth was so large that everybody who met her would have been afraid they were going to be eaten up, only she had no teeth.

I have more beauty in my little fin

ut himself up in his palace. At last his physicians, fearing that he would fall ill, ordered that he should go out and amuse himself; so a hunting p

the cellar was the coolest place in the whole castle if he would condescend to come down into it. So down they went together, and the

be most happy to let you taste some of it. Which do you like,

u are so kind as to ask me, I pr

ammer and tapped upon the cask twice, a

ing of this?" sa

xt cask, and out came

at all," said the Duchess

, and out came such a stream of diamonds and

omprehension, sire. Some one must have stolen my

y?" cried the King. "Rubbish! why ther

ose casks are full of gold and jewels, and i

e than anything else in the

th all my heart! to

chess; "I must have entire control of y

our own way; let us shake hands

ellar of treasure together, and the Duchess

e Graciosa ran out to meet him, a

ht a dove,"

the Princess, "and I will k

eak more plainly, I mean that I met the Duch

ied the Princess. "I should h

you to behave prettily to her. So now go and make yourse

to her own room, and her nurse, seeing

he King intends to marry again, and has chosen for h

and are expected to set a good example in making the best of whatever happen

rse showed her so many good reasons for it that in

combed out her long fair hair till it floated round her like a golden man

have been prettier, but she st

a cunningly made glass eye in the place of the one she had lost. She dyed her red hair black, and painted her face. Then she put on a gorgeous robe of lilac satin lined with blue,

hink. And her thoughts were so doleful that very soon she began to cry, and she cried and cried, and forgot all about going back to the palace, until she suddenly saw a handsome page s

the King

at the appearance of this charming page, whom she could not remember to have s

ou been one of t

of the King, madam," an

great surprise. "Then how is it

e resolved to tell you at once how much I love you already, and I trust that in time I may win your regard. I am Prince Percinet, of whose riches you m

ften heard of you and wished to see you. If you will indeed be my

s so pretty that it was a real pleasure to look at her. When the horse which the Duchess was to ride appeared beside Graciosa's, it looked no better than an old cart horse, and as to their trappings, there was simply no comparison between them, as the Princess's saddle and bridle were one glit

ain to look dignified. The King and the Princess saluted her, and her horse was

l go back to my own castle this very minute. What is the

cess obeyed in silence, and the Duchess, without looking at her or thanking her, scrambled up upon the beautiful hors

was still grumbling and muttering,

d lead the horse, as he did when Grac

nded, and the procession started in great pomp. The Duchess was greatly elated, and as she sat there in state would not have wished to change places even with Graciosa. Bu

and her shoes there, her face was scratched, and her fine clothes were covered with mud. Never was a bride seen in such a dismal plight. They carried her back to the palace and put her to bed, but as soon as she recovered enough to be able to speak, she be

lose all those barrels of gold and jewels. So he hastened to appease the

from her bed to beat the Princess without mercy. Poor Graciosa wished miserably that Percinet could only know what was happening and come to rescue her. But no sooner did they begin to beat her than she found, to her great relief, that the rods had changed to bundles of peacocks' feathers, and though the Duchess's women went on till they were so tired that they could no longer raise their arms from their sides, yet she was not hurt in the least. However, the Duchess thought she must be black and blue after such a beating; so Graciosa, when she

great magnificence. Now as the King knew that, above all other things, the Queen loved to be told that she was beautiful, he ordered that her portrait should be painted, and

aciosa had to stand up behind her, where her loveliness was so conspicuous that the combatants could not keep their eyes off her. But the Queen was so vain that she thought a

rait, inclosed in a box incrusted with diamonds, and he declared himself willing to maintain against them all, that t

hem, he would show them the portrait of his queen of beauty, and when he did so, everyone recognized the Princess Graciosa. The unknown knight

could hardly speak; but she soon recovered her voice,

of beauty, and expect me to endure this insult to my knights?

I had nothing to do with it and am quite willi

popinjay!" said the Queen, "

pened, and how the Princess was in terr

s she pleases. Graci

ears, and wolves that nobody dared pass through it even by daylight, and here they set down the unhappy Princess in the middle of the black night, and left her in spite of all her tears and entreaties. The Princess stood quite still at first from sheer bewilderment, but when the last sound of the retreating carriage died

re you? Have you for

as clearer than moonlight and softer than daylight, and at the end of a long avenue of trees opposite to her the Princess saw a palace of

ew them swiftly to the wonderful palace, where the Queen received her with the greatest kindness, and a splendid banquet was served at once. Graciosa was so happy to have found Percinet, and to have escaped from the gloomy forest and all its terrors, that she was very hungry and

iligent," she said, pointing ou

ill not have anything forgotten

in a charming robe which the Queen had sent for her, and in which she looked prettier than ever, Prince Percinet came to see her, and was bitterly disappointed when she told him what she had been thinking. He begged her to consider again how unhappy the wicked Queen would make her, and how, if she would but marry him, all the fairy palace would be hers, and his one thought would be to please her. But, in spite of everything he could say, the Princess was quite determined to

a quicker way of

ercinet, "you shall

ry high tower, which, like the rest of the

and look toward the town, and immediately she saw the wicked Queen go to the King, and heard her say to him:

people murmured that the Queen had killed Graciosa with her cruelties, and that she ought to have her head cut off. Wh

ke me back quickl

to at all, he was obliged to pr

do not love me well enough; but I foresee that you will more than onc

brought the little sledge with the stags and she mounted beside him. But they had hardly gone twenty yards when a tremendous noise behi

ed, "what has happene

g of the past; you will see it again, bu

a in her most coaxing voice, "though afte

and they were as happy as possible. But some one had by this time told the wicked Queen that Graciosa had come back, and was at supper with the King, and in she flew in a terrible fury. The poor old King quite trembled before her, and when she declared that Graciosa was not the Princess at all, but a wicked impostor, and that if the King did not give her up at once she would go back to her own castle and never see him again, he had not a word to say, and really seemed to believe that it was not Graciosa after all. So the Queen in great triumph sent for her

for an old fairy, as maliciou

ble to say that I am unjust." So the old fairy said she would think it over, and come again the next day. When she returned she brought with her a skein of threa

for Graciosa, a

it disentangled by sunset, and if you break a single thread it will be the wors

turn it over to see where to begin, she broke a thousand threads, and not one c

be the death of me if you will no

et as easily as if he had all

r at your service," said he, "though

wound itself smoothly off in the most surprising manner, and the Prince, turning to Graciosa, asked if there was nothin

rcinet," she said. "I am un

?" cried he. "Only come with me and we shal

get tired of me

his want of confidence that he

un would never set; and indeed it was before the appointed time that she came

not done anything at all-she prefers to sit

nd, and could only pretend to discover that it was soiled, for which imaginary fault she gave Graciosa a blow on each cheek

iously. "Don't make such a mistake again; find me something

ches, bustards, peacocks, larks, partridges, and every sort that you can think of. These feathers were all mixed up in such confusion that the birds themselves could not have chosen out their own. "Here," said the f

same threats as before locked her up with the three keys, ordering that all the feathers should be sorted by sunset. Graciosa set

e I must. I cannot ask Percinet to help me again, for if he really lov

out of the barrel, where he had been hiding. "How ca

, and all the feathers flew out in a cloud and settled

t quite make up her mind to go with him and leave her father's kingdom forever; so she beg

s were badly arranged, and for that the Princess was beaten and sent back to her garret. Then the Queen sent for the fairy once more, and s

ays she came again, b

ccount to open it. She will not be able to help doing so, and then you will

on the table in my own room. But I forbid you

ndered who she could be. She had not gone far before the heat of the sun and the weight of the box tired her so much that she sat down to rest in the shade o

aid to herself. "I should not take anything

er hesitation she

s delighted and watched them with much amusement. But presently, when she was rested and wished to go on her way, she found that, do what she would, she could not get them back into their box. If she chase

d terrified, she

net, if you can still care for such an impru

Percinet sto

or the wicked Queen I fear you

o ungrateful as you think. Only wait a little

e willful little people to come back to their places in the box, and then rend

id that the Queen had ordered her to place the box in h

"that is not the place for you. No wooden

g for her, and they set out together for the palace. You may imagine that they did not go the shortest way, but the Princess did not find it too long, and before the

e Princess presented the letter and the box she threw them both upon the fire without opening them, and looked very much as if she would like to throw the Princess after them. However, what she really di

sure lies under that stone:

fted high enough, she gave the Princess a push which sent her down to the bottom of the well, and then the stone was let fall again, and there

knew how I am suffering for my want of trust in you! But how could I be sure that you

ng garden. Flowers and fruit grew on every side, fountains plashed, and birds sang in the branches overhead, and when she reached a great avenue of trees and looked u

in suspense any longer. You little guess the anxiety he has s

to do as she wished in everything, and holding

ad been buried? I wonder if you guessed that when that happened, I should tel

the Princess should change her mind, the wedding was held at once with

the

aillac one who appeared worthy of his choice. All the young girls had some known fault, not to mention those which were not known. At length he was told of a young lady of Lavaur, endowed with innumerable good qualities and a dowry of twenty thousand crowns. This sum was exactly that required by Michael to establish himself in business; so he instantly fell in love with the young

f wine and several slices of almond cake, in order to have something at hand to keep his courage up. For in reality now that the day had come he was in a very anxious state, and when he saw in the distance the church of Lavaur he felt quite taken aback. He slackened the pace of his horse, then dismounted, and in order to reflect upon what he should do at the ball he entered a little wood and sat down on the turf

tsteps trampling the grass in tune to the music of a flute and cymbals. Astonished, he turned around, and by the light of the first stars, he perceived a troop of

tle eyes fixed upon the cake he began to crumble and throw it to them as one would to the birds. In spite of their numbers, each one had his crumb with the exception of Drak, who arrived when ev

he to the fairy. "For those who arrive

r what you have just sai

ically. "Do you think, now, you ar

and Michael, after taking leave of T

ound himself thrown in the middle of the rivulet. He got out again in a very bad humor, and fell the third time over the pebbles in the road, hurting himself so much that he could hardly proceed. He began to think if he persisted in riding in the saddle he would b

chael; "is it very marvelous that a man should

ange his traveling clothes. Having obtained a chamber, he proceeded with much care t

ished that side he saw that an invisible hand had powdered the other side yellow, so that his head had the appearance of a half-peeled lemon. Michael, stupefied, hastened to mix the powder with the comb, and finding himself too pres

. . . CONTEMPLATING WITH A FRIG

twenty times his impatient hands missed it. One would have said he looked like a kitten playing with a

t buckle fell to the ground. He replaced it, but no sooner had he done so than the left followed suit. He had hardly put that right before the other o

t to take his velvet breeches, when, immediately he approached the b

ance. But you may guess how he looked when he saw the vest, coat, and hat join the breeches at their respecti

ent the Michaelesque figure turned toward him, and he saw

uttere

ke you repent of your insolence if you

rcase. Michael pursued him angrily up four flights of stairs till they arrived at the garret, where the fairy dodged him round and round, and then skipped out of the window. Michael, exasperated, took the same route. The malicious fairy led him from roof to roof, d

Michael, who was out of br

ball dress; but, happily, I see underneath me the copper

hook the velvet breeche

doing, rascal?

dress to the wash

at, and hat followed the br

roof with a cry of despair; but risi

o the ball in my

terrupted

and could not restrain a cry. It was the hour designated by the parents when they would proclaim to the suitor

"When I arrive all will be over; sh

o arrive late, there remains nothing but regret.' This will serve you, I hope, as a lesson, and prevent you another tim

ll and H

he was half as tall as a gray goose he had saved a hundred dollars in gold. The King of the country, who never did anything but spend money, heard that Drakesbill had some gold pieces, and he made has

y Drakesbill the interest, and the little fellow was very uneasy lest he should lose all his money. At last

oung robin, went down the highroad toward the King's palace,

t friend Fox coming home from

," said friend Fox; "where are

ing to ask him to pa

ke me w

will take you; but you walk on four legs, and you will soon get tired. So make y

ade himself very small, and was out o

esh as a spring morning, and still singing, "Qua

against her wall. "Good morning, ducky darling," said the lad

ing to ask him to pa

ke me w

ll take you; but you have such long wooden legs that you will soon get tired. So mak

erself very small, and went to

as any dapper little dandy, and singing, "Quac

his sweetheart, laughing River,

id, "whither do you go, so happy and

know, for he owes me money, a

ke me w

ll take you; but you always sleep while you run, and you will soon get tired. So mak

n, glou! glou! glou! she went to take her

esh as a busy bee, and singing, "Quack, qua

ighbor Wasp-nest, taking his

Wasp-nest; "whither do we run, so

e money? And I am going down to see him

ke us w

ill take you; but there are so many of you that you will soon get tired. So make yo

z, buzz, file right! march! There wasn't much more room, but b

kesbill went

and as he marched straight up High Street, he sang as loud as he

ed up the step; and then he stood on tipto

e doorkeeper, looking o

ll. I want to spe

is easier said than done. The King is

o," said Drakesbill. "Tell him I am he

ng. But he was not there; he was in the kitchen, just si

w the rascal. Fetch him in and put

er went back

in,

self. "Now I can see how the f

e doorkeeper. "Now step throu

poultry yard

ittle fellow wa

ll show them a thing or two. Quack, quack

deal better than other folks. When they saw what a funny little fellow had come amon

What is he

t him they would have pecked him to death in no time. But, as good

Fox, from you

or sad will

he threw himself on the wicked fowls, and snip, snap! crish, crash! he tore them in pieces; and at the end of five minutes not one of t

d into the kitchen where he was eating and told him what had happened. He ordered them to se

he fell fluttering down into the deep, dark

hink of his lady frie

er, from bene

soon my song

tick; and she stood with her feet at the bottom of the well and her two arms resting upon the top; and Drakesbill climbed nimbly on

, heard him singing, and the song ma

ake that fellow

e, and, when it was hot, to throw Drakesbill

eetheart River. Just when the flames were the highest, and the cap

iver, out

he fire I

the fire, and drowned all the people that had kindled it; and, glou! glou! glou! she flowed into the King's palace and stood four feet deep in

ver been before; and when he saw Drakesbill swimming about so coolly, while h

finish him with the carving knife

as standing with drawn carving knife. The King's brave men with swords in their hands were all aro

t of his neighbor Wasp-

Wasp-nest,

l soon will

or these words, began to wake up his w

emselves upon the King and his brave men, and stung them so badly that they ran an

he remembered his money, and began to sing as before. Then, as the house was very still, he thought tha

orners and opened all the drawers. There was not a

the King's throne stood, and as he was very tired he

would never come back. So they crowded into the palace to see what was the matter. And the only pe

dead! long

be to be ruled

's head and hailed him as King. And Drakesbill, who had made up his mind not to

ellows; but they were soon driven out of the hall and made

d some who had known him before said: "A Drakesbill is bette

rowned, and the people had finished shouting, he made a speech from the throne

with

by virtue of the gift she had bestowed upon him, he would be able to impart equal intelligence to the one whom he loved best. All this was some consolation to the poor Queen, who was much distressed at having brought so ugly a little monkey into the world. It is true that the child was no sooner able to

was present upon this occasion, and in order to moderate the joy of the Queen she told her that this little Princess would have no gifts of mind at all, and that she would be as stupid as she was beautiful. The Queen was greatly mortified on hearing this, but shortly after, she wa

gence of the younger. It is true that their defects also greatly increased with their years. The younger became uglier every moment, and the elder more stupid every day. She either made no answer when she was spoken to, or else said something foolish. With this she was so clumsy that she could not even place four pieces of china on a mantel shelf without breaking one of them, or drink a glass of water without spilling half of it on her dress. Notwithstanding the attraction of beauty, the younger, in whatever society they might be, nearly always bore away the palm from her sister. At first e

e sent all over the world, had left his father's kingdom that he might have the pleasure of beholding her and speaking to her. Enchanted at meeting her thus alone, he addressed her with all the respect and politeness imaginable. Having remarked, after paying her the usual compliments, that she was ve

, sir," replied the Prince

it ought to take the place of every other, and, possessed

ly as you are and have intelligence, than poss

ief that we have it not; it is the nature of that gift, that th

"but I know well enough that I am very stupid, and

es you, madam, I can easily

you do so?" sai

sess to the person whom I love best; as you, madam, are that person, it will depend entirely upon yourself w

n dumb with astonishment

proposal troubles you, and I am not surprised,

pleased, with a readiness past belief, and to say it in a clever, but easy and natural manner. She immediately began a sprightly and well-sustained conversation with Riquet with the Tuft, and was so brilliant in her talk that the Prince began to think he had given her more wit than he had reserved for himself. On her return to the palace, the whole court was puzzled to account for a change so sudden and extraordi

rs was spread abroad, and all the young princes of the neighboring kingdoms exerted themselves to gain her affection, and nearly all of them asked he

this, told her that he left her at perfect liberty to choose a husband for herself, and that she had only to make known her decision. As the more intelligence we pos

d more attentively she heard one say, "Bring me that saucepan"; another, "Give me that kettle"; another, "Put some wood on the fire." At the same moment the ground opened, and she saw beneath her what appeared to be a large kitchen, full of cooks, scullions, and all sorts of servants necessary for the prepa

this sight, asked the men

ecting that it was just a twelvemonth from the day on which she had promised to marry Prince Riquet with the Tuft, was overcome with trouble and amazement. The reason of her not having rememb

dly attired, like a prince about to be married. "You see, madam," said he, "I keep my word punctually, and I dou

have not yet made up my mind on that matter, and that I d

madam," said Riq

person to whom I speak is, of all men in the world, the one of greatest sense and understanding, I am certain he will listen to reason. You know that, when I was no better than a fool, I nevertheless could not decide to marry you-how can you expect, now that I have the mind which yo

ve less consideration in a matter which affects the entire happiness of my life? Is it reasonable that persons of intellect should be in a worse position than those that have none? Can you assert this-you who have so much, and who s

e Princess; "I admire in you e

"I shall soon be happy, as you have it in your p

be done?" aske

uld have no doubt about it, know that the same fairy who, on the day I was born, endowed me with the power to give intelligence to the

that you should become the handsomest and most lovable Prince in the w

or the ugliness of his features; that his hump appeared to her nothing more than a good-natured shrug of his shoulders, and that instead of noticing, as she had done, how badly he limped, she saw in him only a certain lounging air, which charmed her. They say also that his eyes, which squinted, only seemed to her the more brilliant for this; and that the crookedness of his glance was to her merely expressive of his great love; and, finally, that his great red nose had in it, to her mind, som

o talent, ha

charm discern'

Whit

to a private audience, he conversed with them kindly, and said: "You must be sensible, my dear children, that my great age prevents me from attending as closely as I have hitherto done to state affairs. I fear this may be injurious to my subjects; I therefore desire to place my crown on the head of one of you; but it is no more than just that, in return for su

roposition with pleasure; and accordingly, after taking leave of the King, who presented them with abundan

ut of town, where they mutually agreed to meet in the same place on that day twelvemonth, and go all

rceived a light, which made him suppose that he was not far from some house. He accordingly pursued his way toward it, and in a short time found himself at the gates of the most magnificent palace he had ever beheld. The entrance door was of gold, covered with sapphires, which shone so that scarcely could the strongest eyesight bear to look at it. This was the light the Prince had seen from the forest. The walls were of transparent porcelain, variously colored, and represented the history of all the fairies that had existed from the beginning of the world. The Prince, coming back to the golden door, observed a deer's foot fastened to a chain of diamonds; he could not help wondering at the magnificence he be

rince, no d

love atten

break the

beauteous

rince, no d

love atten

ichly adorned with paintings and jewels, and so resplendently lighted with thousands of lamps, girandoles, and lusters, that he imagined he must be in an enchanted palace. When he had passed through sixty apartments, all equally splendid, he was stopped by the hands, and a lar

ilet was complete, they conducted him to an apartment he had not yet seen, and which also was magnificently furnished. There was a table spread for supper, and everything upon it was of the purest gold adorned with jewels. The Prince observed there were two covers set, and was wondering who was to be his companion, when his attention was

veil, he beheld a most beautiful white cat. She seemed young and melancholy, and addressing herse

p observing that you must be an extraordinary creature to possess, with your pr

t, Prince, I am not fond of talking, and least of all do

embled himself! He thought there was something most extraordinary in all this; yet, as the White Cat sighed and looked very sorrowful, he did not venture to ask any questions. He conversed with her on different subjects, and found her extremely well versed in everything that was passing in the world. When night was far advanced, his hostess wished him a good night, and he was conducted by the hands to his bedchamber, which was different still from anything he had seen in the palace, being hung with the wings of butterflies mixed with the most curious feathers. His bed was of gauze, festooned with bunches of the gayest ribbons, and the looking-glasses reached from the floor to the ceiling. The Prince was undressed and put into bed by the hands without speakin

, to the nests of the young eagles. When the chase was over, the whole retinue returned to the palace. The White Cat immediately exchanged her dragoon's cap for the veil, and sat down to supper with the Prince, who, being very hungry, ate heartily, and afterwards partook with her of the most delicious wines. He then was conducted to his chamber as before, and wakened in the morning to renew t

ve you, whom I love so much! Either make yourself a lady or make

t three days longer to look for a perfect little dog. The Prince, astonished at his own forgetfulness, began to afflict himself, when the cat told him not to be

owing him an acorn, "this

le dog. Transported with joy, he thanked the cat a thousand times, a

, and so curiously wrapped around with embroidered quilts that one would scarcely venture to touch them. The youngest produced his cur, and all wondered how the Prince could hope to receive a crown for such a shabby present. The King examined the two little dogs of the elder Princes, and declared he thought them so equally beautiful that he knew not to which, with justice, he could give the preference. They accordingly began to dispute, when the youngest Prince, taking his acorn from his pocket, soon ended their contention; for a little dog appea

short time arrived at the palace of his beloved White Cat, who received him with the greatest joy, while the trunkless hands helped him to dismount and provided him with immediate refre

ect adepts in making such cambric as the King requires; so you have nothing to do but to give me t

return. As the White Cat frequently gave proofs of an excellent understanding, the Prince was by no means tired of her company; she talked with him of state affairs, of theaters, of fashions-in short, she was at a loss on no

superb car, ornamented all over with gold, silver, pearls, and diamonds, drawn by twelve horses as white as snow, and harnessed in the most sumptuous trappings; and behind the car a thousand guards, richly appareled, were waiting to attend on the Prince's person. She then p

it failed but very little. Then came the second Prince, who made as sure of obtaining the crown as his brother had done, but, alas! with no better success; for though his piece of cambric was exquisitely fine, yet it could not be drawn through the eye of the needle. It was now the turn of the youngest Prince, who accordingly advanced, and opening an elegant little box inlaid with jewels, took out a walnut and cracked the shell, imagining he should immediately perceive his piece of cambric; but what was his astonishment to see nothing but a filbert! He did not, however, lose his hopes; he cracked the filbert, and it presented him with a cherry stone. The lords of the court, who had assembled to witness this extraordinary trial, could not, any

e crown to his youngest son, he sighed deeply, and it was

e, that I cannot refuse myself the satisfaction of requiring of you one thing more. You must undertake another expediti

nd of another year. At length only one day remained of the year, when the White Cat thus addressed him: "To-morrow, my Prince, you must present yourself at the palace of your father and give him a proof of your obedience. It depends onl

and tail! You surely mean to try my affection, w

wish to see me in any other form than that of a cat you must consent to do as I desir

, and threw them into the fire. No sooner was this done than the most beautiful lady his eyes had ever seen stood before him, and ere he had sufficiently recovered from his surprise to speak to her, a long train of attendants, who at the same mome

th the most delicious fruits, she had so strong a desire to eat some of them that she set out for the country where they lived. She arrived at their abode, which she found to be a magnificent palace, glittering on all sides with gold and precious stones. She knocked a long time at the gates, but no one came, nor could she perceive the least sign that it had any inhabitant. The dif

magined she would die of disappointment. All this time the Queen said nothing to my father of the promise she had made to give her daughter to the fairies, so that when the time was come that she expected my birth she grew very melancholy; till at length, being pressed by the King, she declared to him the truth. Nothing could exceed his affliction when he heard that his only child, when born, was to be given to the fairies. He bore it, however, as well as he could for fear of adding to my mother's grief, and also believing he should find some means of keeping me in a place of safety, which the fairies would not be able to approach. As soon, therefore, as I was born, he had me conveyed to a tower in the palace, to which there were twenty flights of stairs and a door to each, of which my father kept the key, so that none came near me without his consent. When the fairies heard of what had been done, they sent first to demand me, and on my father's refusal, they let loose a monstrous dragon, which devoured men, women, and children, and which, by the breath of its nostrils, destroyed everything it came near, so that even the trees and plants began to die. The grief of the King was excessive, and, finding that his whole kingdom would in a short time be reduced to famine, he consented to give me into their hands. I was accordingly laid in a cradle of mother-of-pearl, ornamented with gold and jewels, and carried to their palace, when the

y, when all at once the window opened, and the Fairy Violent, mounted on the dragon's back, rushed into the tower. My beloved Prince thought of nothing but how to defend me from their fury, for I had had time to relate to him my story previous to this cruel interruption, but their numbers overpowered him, and the Fairy Violent had the barbarity to command the dragon to devour my lover before my eyes. In my despair I would have thrown myself also into the mouth of the horrible monster, but this they took care to prevent, saying my life should be preserved for greater punishment. The fairy then touched me with her wand and I instantly became a white cat. She next conducted

s. The King, hearing that each of his sons had succeeded in finding what he had required, again began to think of some new expedient to delay the time of his resigning the crown; but when the wh

rmit me to bestow one on each of the eldest princes, and to enjoy the remaining four in the society of the youngest. And may it please your majesty to keep your own

ess embraced the King, and next their brothers and sisters. The three weddings i

ce C

been half killed by his hounds, leaped right into his majesty's arms. Said he, caressing it: "This poor creature has put itself under my protection, and I will allow no one

or brocade, but her flowing robes were white as snow, and she wore a garland of white roses on her head. The Good King was greatly aston

myself into a white rabbit, and took refuge in your arms. You saved me and now I know that those who are merciful to dumb beasts will be ten times more so to human beings. You merit the name your subje

y telling you the wish of my heart. I have one well-beloved son, Prince

handsomest, richest, or most powerful prince in

be good-the best prince in the whole world. Of what use woul

ernal fortunes; for his personal character the utmost I can promise is to give him good counsel, reprove him for

t the kindness of a fairy was something gained for h

ngdoms and treasures to keep him in life a little longer. Two days after the Good King was no more,

small gold ring upon his finger. "Poor as it looks, it is more precious than diamonds, for whenever you do ill it will prick yo

such amazement that he would have believed it

m so much that he showed his ill temper by his looks and ways. He fancied his ring felt very tight and uncomfortable, but as it did not prick him he took no heed of this, until, re?ntering his palace, his little pet dog, Bibi, jumped up upon him, an

making game of me. Why, what great evil have I done! I,

evil. I-a fairy-am as much above you as you are above your dog. I might punish you, kill you, if I chose; but I prefer lea

and made him angry. His ring began to prick him so often that his little finger was continually bleeding. He disliked this, as was natural, and soon began to consider whether it would not be easier to throw the ring away altogether than to be constantly annoyed by it. It was such a queer thing for

termined to espouse her. He never doubted that she would be only too glad to be made a queen, for she was ver

ce, into whose mind it had never ent

ery handsome, very charming; but you are not like your father the G

guards to convey Zelia to a prison near the palace, and then took counsel with his

and water till she comes to her senses, and if she still refuses you, let her die in torment, as a warning to your other subjec

l I not be disgraced if I harm a

he courtier bowing; "and it is better to commit an injustice than

ccuse, for he had kept the key in his pocket the whole time. At last the foster brother suggested that the escape of Zelia might have been contrived by an old man, Suliman by name, the Prince's former tutor, who was the only one who now ventured to blame him for anything that he did.

counsels were forgotten, my punishments despised. Under the figure of a man you have been no better than the beasts you chase. Like a lion in

e with the head of a lion, the horns of a bull, the feet of a wolf, and the tail of a serpent. At the same time he felt himself transported

thy soul has become a thousand t

age would have sprung upon her and devoured her; but

to conquer thy pride by being in

when he tumbled into a pitfall that was laid to catch bears; the bear hunters, descending from some trees hard by, caught him, chaine

his subjects, had just been struck dead by a thunderbolt-just punishment of all his crimes. Four courtiers, his wicked companions, had wished to divide

he populace by representing to them that it was not certain Prince Cherry was dead; that he might retu

ed, but not corrupt. If alive, he may yet reform, and be all his fathe

carried him about, became gentle as a lamb, and suffered himself to be taken quietly to a menagerie, where were kept all sorts of s

ager to devour him. Cherry at first felt a thrill of pleasure at the thought of being revenged; then, seeing how helpless the man was, he wished himself free, that he might defend him. Immediately the doors of his cage opened. The keeper, waking up, saw the strange beast leap out, and imagined, of course, that he was going to be sla

e the charming little dog, and Cherry would have been exceedingly happy could he have forgotten that he was originally a man and a King. He was lodged most elegantly, had the richest of collars to adorn his neck, and heard himself praised continually. But h

e glittering with gold and precious stones. Entering the doors was a crowd of men and women magnificently dressed, and within there was singing and dancing and good cheer of all sorts. Yet, however grandly and gayly the people went in, Cherry noticed that those who came out were pa

said he to himself; "I know what it is to be hungry, and I want my breakfast badly enough; but stil

irl dragged by four men to the door of the palace, which they were trying to compel her to enter. Oh, how he wished himself a monster again, as when he slew the tiger!-for the young girl was no other than his beloved Zelia. Alas! what could a poo

y, and did I not do the same myself? Did I not cast her into prison and intend to sell her as a slave? Who knows

of it a bit of dainty meat. Cherry, who felt hungry enough by this time, was just abo

him, "every bit of food in that palace i

erry found himself changed into a beautiful little white pigeon. He remembered with joy that whi

up to the palace windows, and, finding one of them open, entered and sought everywhere, but he could not f

rt, sitting beside an old hermit in his cave and partaking with him his frugal repast, Cherry saw a poor peasant girl, and recogniz

essed it in her turn, and promised it that, if

natural form. "Your enchantment ended, Prince, when Zelia promised to love you. Indeed, she has loved you always, but your many faults const

o change. His soiled garments became of dazzling whiteness, and his long beard and w

sport you to your palace, and restore to Prince Ch

of Suliman, who, delighted to find again his beloved pupil and master, wi

er was so blameless and strict in all his duties that though he constantly wore the ring

Wild

a sat on a little stool of plate glass, and had a book full of pictures which had cost as much as half a kingdom. Oh, these children were indeed happy, but they were not to remain so always. Their father, who was King of the country, married a very wicked Queen who did not love the poor children at all. They knew this from the very first day after the wedding. In the palace there were great festivitie

s rustled through the leaves of the rosebush, and would whisper to the roses, "Who can be more beautiful than you?" But the roses would shake their heads and say, "Eliza is." And when the old woman sat at the cottage door on Sunday and read her hymn book, the wind would flutter the leaves and say to the book, "Who can be more pious than you?" and then the hymn book would answer, "Eliza." And the roses and the hymn book told the real truth. At fifteen she returned home, but when the Queen saw how beautiful she was, she became full of spite and hatred toward her. Willingly would she have turned her into a swan, like her brothers, but she did not dare to do so yet, because the King wished to see his daughter. Early one morning the Queen went into the bathroom; it was built of marble, and had soft cushions trimmed with the most beautiful tapestry. She took three toads with her and kissed them, and said to one: "When Eliza comes to the bath, seat yourself upon her head, that she may become as stupid as you are." Then she said to another: "Place yourself on her forehead, that she may

till she came to the great forest. She knew not in what direction to go; but she was so unhappy and longed so for her brothers who had been, like herself, driven out into the world, that she was determined to seek them. She had been but a short time in the wood when night came on, and she quite lost the path; so she laid herself down on the soft moss, o

ch had cost half a kingdom. They were not writing lines and letters, as they used to do, but descriptions of the noble deeds they had performed, and of all they had discovered and seen. In the picture book, too,

reflected in the water, whether it stood in the shade or the sunshine. As soon as Eliza saw her own face, she was quite terrified at finding it so brown and ugly; but when she wetted her little hand and rubbed her eyes and forehead the white skin gleamed forth once more; and, after she had undressed and dipped herself in the fresh water, a more beautiful king's daughter could not be found in the wide world. As soon as she had dressed herself again, and braided her long hair, she went to the bubbling spring and drank some water out of the hollow of her hand. Then she wandered far into the forest, not knowing whither she went. She thought of her brothers, and felt sure that God would not forsake her. It is God who makes the wild apples grow in

upon her from heaven. When she awoke in the morning, she knew not whether she had dreamed this or if it had really been so. Then she continued her wandering, but she had not go

, for the ever-moving sea showed more changes in a few hours than the most varying lake could produce during a whole year. If a black heavy cloud arose, it was as if the sea said, "I can look dark and angry too"; and then the wind blew, and the waves turned to white foam as they rolled. When the wind slept and the clouds glowed with the red sunlight, then the sea looked like a rose leaf. But however quietly its white glassy surface rested, there was still a motion on the shore, as its waves rose and fell like the breast of a sleeping child. When the sun was about to set, Eliza saw eleven white swans with golden crowns on their heads flying toward the land, one behind the other, like a long white ribbon. Then Eliza went down the slope from the shore and hid herself behind the bushes. The swans alighted quite close to her, and flapped their great white wings. As soon as the sun had disappeared under the water, the feathers of the swans fell off, and eleven beautiful princes, Eliza's brothers, stood near her. She uttered a loud cry, for, although they were very much changed, she knew them immediately. She sprang into their arms and called them each by name. Then, how happy the princes were at meeting their little sister again! for they recognized her, although she had grown so tall and beautiful. They laughed and they wept, and very soon understood how wickedly their mother had acted to them all. "We brothers," said the eldest, "fly about as wild swans so long as the sun is in the sky, but as soon as it sinks behind the hills, w

nd wider till they were far away; but one of them, the youngest swan, remained behind and laid his head in his sister's lap, while she stroked his wings, and they remained together the whole day. Toward evening the rest came back, and as the sun went down they resumed their natural for

an was not yet in sight. It appeared to her as if the swans were making great efforts with their wings. Alas! she was the cause of their not advancing more quickly. When the sun set they would change to men, fall into the sea, and be drowned. Then she offered a prayer from her inmost heart, but still no appearance of the rock. Dark clouds came nearer, the gusts of wind told of a coming storm, while from a thick, heavy mass of clouds the lightning burst forth flash after flash. The sun had reached the edge of the sea, when the swans darted down so swiftly that Eliza's head trembled; she believed they were falling, but they again soared onward. Presently she caught sight of the rock just below them, and by this time the sun was half hidden by the waves. The rock did not appear larger than a seal's head thrust out of the water. They sank so rapidly that at the moment their feet touched the rock the sun shone only like a star, and at last disappeared like the last spark in a piece of burned paper. Then she saw her brothers standing closely around her with their arms linked together. There was but just room enough for them, and not the smallest space to spare. The sea dashed against the rock and covered them with spray. The heavens were lighted up with continual flashes, and peal after peal of thunder rolled. But the sister and brothers sat holding each other's hands and singing hymns, from which they gained hope and courage. In the early dawn the air became calm and still, and at sunrise the swans flew away from the rock with Eliza. The sea was still rough, and from their high position in the a

ly courage and perseverance. True, water is softer than your own delicate hands, and yet it polishes stones into shapes; it feels no pain as your fingers would feel, it has no soul, and cannot suffer such agony and torment as you will have to endure. Do you see the stinging nettle which I hold in my hand? Quantities of the same sort grow around the cave in which you sleep, but none will be of any use to you unless they grow upon the graves in a churchyard. These you must gather even while they burn blisters on your hands. Break them to pieces with your hands and feet, and th

b. They believed it to be some new sorcery of their wicked stepmother. But when they saw her hands they understood what she was doing on their behalf, and the youngest brother wept, and where his tears fell the pain ceased and the burning blisters vanished. She kept at her work all night, for she could not rest till she had released her dear brothers. During the whole of the following day, while her brothers were absent, she sat in solitude, but never before had the time flown so quickly. One coat was already finished and she had begun the second when she heard

She dared not speak, at the cost of her brothers' lives. And she hid her ha

s where large fountains played, and where the walls and the ceilings were covered with rich paintings. But she had no eyes for all these glorious sights; she could only mourn and weep. Patiently she allowed the women to array her in royal robes, to weave pearls in her hair, and draw soft gloves over her blistered fingers. As she stood before them in all her rich dress, she looked so dazzlingly beautiful that the court bowed low in her presence. Then the King declared his intention of making her his bride, but the archbishop shook his head, and whispered that the fair young maiden was only a witch who had blinded the King's eyes and enchanted his heart. But the Ki

id the King; "here is the work with which you employed yourself. It will

id everything to make her happy, more and more each day; she loved him with her whole heart, and her eyes beamed with the love she dared not speak. Oh, if she had only been able to confide in him and tell him of her grief! But dumb she must remain till her task was finished. Therefore at night she crept away into her little chamber, which had been decked out to look like the cave, and quickly wove one coat after another. But when she began the seventh she found she had no more flax. She knew that the nettles she wanted to use grew in the churchyard, and that she must pluck them herself. How should she get out there? "Oh, what is the pain in my fingers to the torment which my heart endures?" said she. "I must venture; I shall not be denied help from heaven." Then with a trembling heart, as if she were about to perform a wicked deed, she crept into the garden in the broad moonlight, and passed through the narrow walks and the de

terror of the solitary walk, and of the horrible ghouls, but her will was firm, as well as her trust in Providence. Eliza went, and the King and the archbishop followed her. They saw her vanish through the wicket gate into the churchyard, and when they came nearer they saw the ghouls sitting on the tombstone as Eliza had seen them, and the King turned away his head, for he thought she was with them-she whose head had rested on his breast that very evening. "The people must condemn her," said he, and she was very quickly condemned by everyone to suffer death by fire. Away from the gorgeous regal halls was she led to a dark, dreary cell, where the wind whistled through the iron bars. Instead of the velvet and silk dresses, they gave her the coats of mail which she had woven to cover her, and the bundle of nettles for a pillow; but nothing they could give her would have pleased her more. She continued

E KING AND THE ARCH

p as well as they could, and the thrush sat outside the grating of the window and

d it could not be, it was yet almost night, and as the King slept they dared not disturb him. They threatened, they entreated. Then the guard appeared, and even the

oose on her shoulders, her cheeks were deadly pale, her lips moved silently, while her fingers still worked at the green flax. Even on the way to death she would not give up her task. The ten coats of mail lay at her f

but at the same moment eleven wild swans flew over her and alighted on the car

innocent," whispered many of them, b

coats of mail over the swans, and they immediately became eleven handsome princes; but the youngest

!" she exclaimed

as before a saint, but she sank lifeless in her broth

thrown out branches, and appeared a thick hedge, large and high, covered with roses, while above all bloomed a white and shining blossom that glittered like a star. This flower the King plucked and placed in Eliza's bosom, when

ry of C

his misshapen creature had but one eye, one wing, and one leg in good condition; it might have been thought that Solomon had executed his memorable sentence on Coquerico, for that was the name of the wretched chicken, and cut him in two with his famous sword. When a person is one-eyed, lame, and one-armed, he may reasonably be expected to be modest; but our Castilian ragamuffin was prouder than his father, the best spurred, most elegant, b

e resolved no longer to remain in such a narrow sphere, but t

tired of Spain; I am going to Rom

e are the honor of our race, and are proud of our genealogy. Where will you find a poultry yard like this-mulberry trees to shade you, a whitewashed hen roost, a magnificent dunghill, wo

unted worthy of admiration by him who has never quitted his dunghill. But I have wit enough to see that my brothers have no idea

at you lack an eye, a leg, and a wing? To make your fortune, you need the eyes of a fox, th

it run to the water. You know me no better. It is my nature to succeed by my wit and talent. I must

n they crow. Shun, moreover, certain personages called cooks and scullions; you will know them by their paper caps, their tucked-up sleeves, and the great knives which they wear at their sides. They are licensed assassins,

, who bristled his plumage and seemed about to call him back. Without caring for those whom he left behind, he glided through t

n dried up by the sun. In the middle of the sands, however, still trickled a tiny thread

leaves which obstruct my passage, much less to make a circuit, so completely am I exhausted. With a stroke of your beak you can restore me to life. I

usiness it is to sweep the brooks? Apply to those of your own

it," murmured the Brook, but with so feebl

erico saw the Wind lying

slain by the dog star. I suffered myself to be lulled to sleep by the perfume of the roses with which I was playing; and lo! here I am, stretched almost lifeless upon the ground. If you will raise me a couple of inches with your beak an

ted himself by opening my tail like a fan and covering me with confusion in the face of nations. Have patience, therefore, my worthy friend; mockers always have their turn; it does them good to repent, and t

der to burn them. Coquerico approached a smoking heap, hoping to find some stray kernels of corn,

want of air. I cannot imagine what has become of my cousin, the Wind, who cares for nothing but his own

d behold! he leaped on the heap of dried weeds, and trampled it down till he smothered both Flame and smoke; after

to the great church of St. Peter. Grand and beautiful as it was, he did not stop to admire it, but, planting himself in front of the main entrance, where he l

ed to hear him, laid hands on the insolent wretch who dared thus to in

ng the house, "give me some boiling wa

"O good and gentle Water, the best and purest

answered the Water, boiling with indignation. And with a single gush it

all his feathers, the soldier took

rilliant Fire, the brother of the Sun and the cousin of the Diamond, spare an

teful wretch?" answered the Fire, and, fiercely blazing

, took him by the leg and threw him out of the window. The Wind bo

kindly zephyr, protecting breeze, behold me cured of

w I treat ingrates." And with one blast it sent him so high in

high placed he may be, all despise him because he turns with the slightest wind; black, dried up, stripped of his feathers, and beaten by the

rd-Cag

ving by making cages for birds, and taking them round to sell at the neighboring villages. But his trade was a poor one, a

t a beautiful child crowned with roses, in a chariot covered with white satin, and ornamented with acacia and myrtle. This procession was in honor of Maya, the personification of Spring, and took place to announce the

ir money into these platters just because these children come in procession to announce to them that it is the month of May, as though they

ard within him-these were hunger and thirst: the one clamored for food and the other for drink. Bartolo had nothing i

sed by hunger Bartolo, taking his cap off respectfully, approached and said: "Excuse me, sir, b

th a good, healthy appearance, to be demanding charity of people? Does it not

ost people like to see the birds flying about free rather than in c

count of his work and the small profits he derived, that he became interested and sympathized w

or you. As I cannot find customers for your cages, I will afford

lying before him a bird blue as the sky,

rom this day forward you have only to formulate a wish and say slowly and distinc

try it at once. For the last twenty years I have wishe

t fit for a prince, laid on a service of exquisite silver and glass and the whitest of cloths. Bartolo,

stile. Sit down and eat without fear. Take advantage

n who had feasted in such an elegant manner ought to have other, better clothing than his well-worn working suit; and, lifting his staff, he cried to the bird: "Bluest of blue birds, do your duty!" In an ins

e the cage with the blue bird, leaped on the horse, and w

feast was taking place within. The guests were all seated under a shady bower, de

r, and, after elegantly saluting the lord and l

s to such a distinguished company of rank and beauty, I

" cried all the ladies, w

irds, do your dut

any feet, and a troop of musicians with their instr

desired him to open the ball with his eldest da

songs, which were very much admired. Games of chance followed, and Bartolo, taking advantage of his good fortune, distributed among the ladies pearls, bracel

inordinately avaricious nature, thought he might do a fine stroke of business were he to buy the creature. Hence,

give me my price,

tle with its nine forests,"

not e

add my olive planta

insufficient!

orchards, gard

somethin

hy, man, you must wa

very moment. I want your daughter with who

ecstasy of joy; "by my faith, we shall soon conc

the engagement he had entered into. But hi

wicked elf, and all h

nging from your neck; it is an

f he be Sat

andle, and he will have no power over

he bluest of birds, he watched the retreating forms of the pair as the horse carried them away swifter than the wind, and when out of sight, he procee

han ever he did. I have given him my daughter to wed in exchange for the bird, and this blue bird wi

all, but a large gray bird, which turned to stare at him in an insolent manner, gave a fierce peck at th

ts broke out in peals of laughter at his discomfiture and the well-deserved punishmen

lf utterly penniless. He had not calculated that in parting with the bird he had parted with his luck, and therefore as soon as he dismounted the horse disappeared and his elegant dress became changed for the shabby one he had worn before he

old life of making cages an

welve

ter, but she hated Dobrunka, simply because she was as beautiful as her sister was ugly. Dobrunka did not even know that she was pretty, and she could not understand why her stepmother flew into a rage at the mere sight o

ded to the beauty of the elder sister and the ugliness of the younger. "They are growing up," thought the mother, "and suitors will soon appear who

. She called Dobrunka and said: "Go to the forest and bring me a bunch

wered Dobrunka; "as if there we

go to the forest and bring me back a bunch of violets, I will beat you to a jelly." Upon t

here was not even a footpath. She lost her way, and wandered about till, famishing with

and on each stone sat a motionless figure, wrapped in a large mantle, his head covered with a hood which fell over his eyes. Three of these mantles were white like the snow, three were green like the grass

ED THE FIRE WITH THE STAFF, WH

n his hand. The poor girl was terribly frightened. She drew near, saying, in a timid

ve you come here, my child?" he

or violets," re

ere are no violets in the time of sn

mother will beat me to a jelly if I do not bring them so

a green mantle, put his staff in his hand, and sa

, the snow melted, the buds put forth on the trees, the grass turned green under the

d, and gather your v

oyfully ran home. You can imagine the astonishment of Katinka and t

fine things?" asked Kati

red her sister. "It looked like a

n her bosom, and did not

, as she sat idling by the stove,

ing me some strawberries

! as if there were any st

. If you don't go to the forest and bring me back a

he arm, put her out of the do

the light that she had seen the day before. She was fortunate enou

re in their places,

ease let me warm myself by your fi

?" asked January. "Wha

or strawberries

urned January, in his gruff voice; "th

sister will beat me to a jelly if I do not bring them so

golden mantle, he put his staff in his hand,

reen, the trees were covered with leaves, the birds sang, and the flowers opened-it was summer. Thousands of little wh

, and gather your str

ran home. You may imagine the astonishment of Katinka and the ste

fine things?" asked Kati

sister; "there were so many of them that t

red the strawberries without

he same insults, and the same violence followed. Dobrunka ran to the mountain, and wa

the fire. Dobrunka told him, with tears, how, if she did not bring

ore. "Brother September," said he to a gray-bearde

e trees put forth a few yellow leaves, which fell one by one before the wind-it was autumn. The only flowers

ild; shake the tre

fell; she shook it again, a

e haste home!" cried Septe

and joyfully ran home. You may imagine the

nuary! Where did you get th

is a tree there that is as red w

only two? You ate t

I was only permitted to shake the t

d Katinka, striking her si

er eaten anything so delicious in her life, neither h

he forest and find the tree, and, whether I am permitted or n

to nothing. Katinka wrapped herself in her fur cloak,

de and covetousness. She spied a light in the distance. She climbed and climbed till she reached the place, and found th

do you want? Where are you goi

twinkling of an eye the sky was overcast, the fire went out, the snow fell, and the wind blew. Katinka could not see the way before her. She lost herself, and vainly tried to retrace her steps. The snow fell and the

w to the door, and from the door to the window

hastened to the mountain. Everything was covered with snow; there was not even a footpath. She plunged into the forest, calling her daughter. Th

still no news. "What can have happened?" said the good girl, weeping. The sun was shining through an icy mist, and the ground was covered with sn

window, the next thing that follows is a young farmer, who offers her his heart and hand. Dobrunka was soon married. The Twelve Months did not abandon their child. More than once, when

having, according to the proverb, winter at the door, summe

rp, the Mouse,

times came down on them, and the crops failed, and poverty looked in at the door, and things got so sore against the poor widow that for want of money and for

he middle of them he saw a man with a wee, wee harp, a mouse, and a bum-clock,[A] and a bee to play the harp. And when the man put them down on the ground and whistled, the bee began to play the harp, and the mouse and the bum-clock stood up on their hind legs and took hold of each other and began to waltz.

put them into his pocket, and the men and women, Jack and the cow, the pots and pans, wheels and reels that had hopped and jigged now stopped, and e

ck, "I should

n, "how will you and me m

o money,"

ys the man. "I will give you

t home is very sad and sorrowful entirely, and I

n. "For when she sees the bee play the harp, she w

k, says he, "tha

started home with the bee and the harp in his pocket

she, "I see you h

ne that,"

well?" say

and very well

u get for her?"

or money at all I sold her,

says she, "what

ther," says he, "and you wil

id this the bee began to play the harp, and the mother she looked at them and let a big, great laugh out of her, and she and Jack b

ngry entirely with Jack, and she told him he was a silly, foolish fellow, that there was neither food nor money in the house, and now he had lost one of he

il he was in the fair. When he came into the fair he saw a big crowd gathered in

d got hold of each other and began to dance there and jig, and as they did there was not a man or woman in the street who didn't begin to jig also, and Jack and the black cow, and the wheels and the

ncing and settled down, and everybody laughed right hearty. The man turned to Jack.

have them," says Jack,

t you?" sa

mother is very downhearted. She sent me to the fair to

sell you the mouse, and when you set the bee to play the harp and the mouse t

" says Jack, says he,

e man, says he, "I will

hought it was a grand bargain entirely, and he gave the man his cow and took th

, "I see you hav

hat," sa

ll her well

deed," says J

did you ge

ney," says he, "

says she, "wha

s hind legs and began to dance and jig, and the mother gave such a hearty laugh as she never laughed in her life before. To dancing and jigging herself and Jack fell, and the pots and pans and the wheels and reels be

or-nothing fellow. We have neither money nor meat in the house, and here you have lost two of my good cows, and I have only one left now.

to his bed, and early in the morning he was up an

t the bum-clock on the ground he whistled, and the bum-clock began to dance; and the men, women, and children in the street, and Jack and the spotty cow began to dance and jig also, and everything on the street and about it-the wheels and reels

ver be right fixed until you have this bum-

Jack, says he, "

e man; "you have a cow, and t

downhearted at home, and she sent me to the fair to s

eart, for when you put down your harp and bee and mouse on the floor, and put the

ays Jack, says he, "and I thin

elf, and started for home. His mother was glad to see Jack

t, mother,

er well, Jack?"

ndeed, mothe

u get for her?"

tle, and the bee began to play the harp and the mouse and the bum-clock stood up on their hind legs and began to dance, and Jack's mother laughed very hearty, and every

hile. But after a while, when she came to herself and saw what Jack had done and how they were now without either

l I now do for my poor mother?" He went out along the road, thinking and thinking, and he met a wee woman who

ou mean?"

daughter who hasn't laughed for seven years, and he has promised to give her in marriage

Jack, says he, "it is

the bum-clock, and putting them into his pocket he bade his mother good-by, and

ing of spikes all around the castle and

e?" Jack asked one o

ils to make her laugh three times loses his head and has it stuck

k sent word to tell the King's daughter and the Ki

to be brought in until he should have his trial. Jack, before he went, took out of his pocket the bee, the harp, the mouse, and the bum-clock, and he gave the harp to the bee, and

string they set up one roar of laughter that was long and loud enough, and when the King's daughter herself lifted her head and looked to

d said: "Thank you, my lady; I have

nd the King and the King's court and Jack himself began to dance and jig, and everything about the King's castle-pots and pans, wheels and reels, and the castle itself began to dance also. And the King's daughter, when she

came to Jack's help and wheeled round upon its heel, and as it did so its tail swept into the bum-clock's mouth, and the bum-clock began to cough and cough and cough. And when the King's daughter saw this she

ssed in a suit of silk and satin, with all kinds of gold and silver ornaments, and then was led before the King's daughter. And

ts, every night better than the other. All the lords and ladies and gentry of Ireland were at the wedd

TNO

Cock

ng Lea

would want, for he had left her a long leather bag filled with gold and silver. But he was not long dead, when an old Hag came begging to

daughters were poor, and she had a hard strugg

man now, and it's a shame for me to be here doing nothing to help you or myse

would have half of it with her blessing, or the whole of

s not back in a year and a day from that, then they w

uld tell me, until she came into a strange country, and going up to a little house, she found an old

you like to stay here wit

I have to d

eep the hearth clean; but on the peril of your

," she agr

thought it would do no harm to have one wee look up the chimney. And there, what did she see but her own mother's long leather

g in a field, and when he saw her he said: "Rub me!

a stick she had in her hand,

a sheep, who said: "Oh, shear me! Shear me!

eep, and sent it scur

hered, and he said: "Oh, change my tether! Change my

a stone at him

aid: "Oh, clean me! Clean me! for I h

cowled at it,

it she met a co

for I haven't been mi

cow out of her

id: "Oh, turn me! Turn me! for I hav

in and lay down behind the mill door, with

the chimney and looked up to see if she had carried off the bag. She fl

of mine, did you see this maid of mine, with my tig, with my tag, with my lon

e, "it is not long s

sheep of mine, did you see this maid of mine, with my tig, with my tag, with my

p, "it is not long s

, goat of mine, did you see this maid of mine, with my tig, with my tag, with my

, "it is not long si

ln, limekiln of mine, did you see this maid of mine, with my tig, with my tag, with my

iln, "it is not long

cow of mine, did you see this maid of mine, with my tig, with my tag, with my

"it is not long sin

, mill of mine, did you see this maid of mine, with my tig, with my tag, with my

"Yes, she is sleepi

urned her into a stone. She then took the bag of g

t up, and she said: "My sister must be doing well and making her fortune, and isn't it a shame for me to be sitting here doing not

ld she have half the bannock with her

d: "If I am not back here in a year and a day, you may be sure th

ould tell me, until she came into a strange country, and going up to a little house, she found an old

you like to stay here wit

I have to d

ep the hearth clean; and on the peril of your

," she agr

ught it would do no harm to have one wee look up the chimney. And there, what did she see but her own mother's long leather b

g in a field, and when he saw her he said: "Rub me!

a stick she had in her hand

the sheep, who said: "Oh, shear me! Shear m

heep and sent it scu

ethered, and he said: "Oh, change my tether! Change m

a stone at h

said: "Oh, clean me! Clean me! for I h

cowled at it a

id: "Oh, milk me! Milk me! for I ha

cow out of her

said: "Oh, turn me! Turn me! for I h

in and lay down behind the mill door, with

the chimney and looked up to see if she had carried off the bag. She flew

of mine, did you see this maid of mine, with my tig, with my tag, with my lon

e, "it is not long s

ep, sheep of mine, did you see this maid of mine, with my tig, with my tag, with m

p, "it is not long s

oat of mine, did you see this maid of mine, with my tig, with my tag, with my l

, "it is not long si

kiln, limekiln of mine, did you see this maid of mine, with my tig, with my tag, wit

iln, "it is not long

cow of mine, did you see this maid of mine, with my tig, with my tag, with my

"it is not long sin

, mill of mine, did you see this maid of mine, with my tig, with my tag, with my

"Yes, she is sleepi

d turned her into a stone. She then took the ba

t be doing very well indeed, and making great fortunes when they are not coming back, and it's a shame for me to be sitting here

d she have half of the bannock with her

half of the bannock wit

blessing and half a ba

could tell me, until she came into a strange country, and going up to a little house, she found an ol

you like to stay here wit

I have to d

ep the hearth clean; and on the peril of your

," she agr

ght it would do no harm to have one wee look up the chimney, and there, what did she see but her own mother's long leather ba

e said: "Rub me! Rub me! for I have

id, "I'll surely do that." And she l

met the sheep, who said: "Oh, shear me! Shear

d, "I'll surely do that," and she lai

"Oh, change my tether! Change my tether! f

I'll surely do that," and she laid down

The limekiln said: "Oh, clean me! Clean me!

said, "I'll surely do that," and she lai

cow said: "Oh, milk me! Milk me! for I

, "I'll surely do that," and she l

l said: "Oh, turn me! Turn me! for I

he said, "I'll surely do that

ent in and lay down behin

an to the chimney to see if she had carried off the bag. She flew i

e of mine, did you see this maid of mine, with my tig, with my tag, with my lo

to do but watch your maids for you? You may

en this maid of mine, with my tig, with my tag, with my long leather

to do but watch your maids for you? You may

you seen this maid of mine, with my tig, with my tag, with my long lea

to do but watch your maids for you? You can

mine, did you see this maid of mine, with my tig, with my tag, with my long

ng to do but watch your maids for you? You ma

maid of mine, with my tig, with my tag, with my long leather bag

to do but watch your maids for you? You may

his maid of mine, with my tig, with my tag, with my long leather b

"Come nearer an

mill, and the mill dragged her u

rod and strike two stones behind the mill door. She did that, and her two sisters stood up. She hoisted t

ey were away, and was now ever so glad to see th

dow's

rown to be a young woman, she was both thriftless and useless, fit only to sit with her heels in the ashes and croon to the cat the day long. Her mother was annoyed with

ng within. So he drew rein, and at the top of his voice shouted to know what was the matter. The widow came to the door, courtesying when she saw who he was. Not wishing to give out a bad name on her dau

ur daughter do?"

and do every work that ever a

ll Ireland to find him a woman who could perform all a woman's duties, including the three accomplishments the widow named-spinning, that is, weaving and sewing. But all the candidates whom the

, through all parts of my mother's kingdom, search was being made for just

e King's son helped Nabla to a seat behind him on the

Queen asked what Nabla could do, and he replied that she could spin, weave, and sew, and do everything else a woman should; and, moreover, she was so eager for work

nd a golden wheel, and told her she must have all the silk s

at length she began to cry, for she had not spun a yard of thread in all her life. As

u crying for

aid, "I'll spin the silk for yo

sat down to the wheel, and working it with he

good." Then she brought in a golden loom and told Nabla

ad not in all her life even thrown a shuttle. At length she put her face in her hands and began to cry. There now appeared to her an

you if you'll give me the

n sat down to the golden loom, and very

d then she gave Nabla a golden needle and thimble and said that in twenty-

in all her life, sat for a while looking at the needle and thimble and look

ith a monstrously big nose c

do yo

told her, the u

into shirts for the Prince if

bla said, "and a t

and thimble, sat down, and in a short time had m

found all the silk made up in shirt

y son, for he'll never want a

d knock at the door. A servant opened it and there came in an ugly old woman with one foot as big as a bolster who, amid the loud laughter of the company, hobbled along the floor and took a seat at the table. She was asked of which p

en all my life at the wheel, and

g the table a great blow, "my wife shall not

gave her body a great lean over, so that as she hobbled along the floor the company at the table lay back, laughing and clapping their hands at the funny sight. This woman, taking a seat at

laved at the shuttle all my li

undering blow, "by my word, my wife shall never

admit an ugly old woman with the most monstrous nose ever beheld. This woman likewise took a chair at the table. She was then asked who had invited he

ITH THE MOST MONSTRO

bending my head over sewing, so that every drop of bl

e table a blow that made

r put a needle in cloth again, or do any other so

try and catch Nabla spinning, weaving, or sewing, or doing any other so

, but, taking her old mother to stay in the castle with her, live

r and M

spberries, and as many as Munachar used to pick Manachar used to eat. Munachar said he must go look for a rod to make a gad to hang Manachar, who ate his raspberries every one; and he cam

at news to-day?" said the ax. "It's my own news I'm seeking. Going looking for an ax, an ax

ws to-day?" says the flag. "It's my own news I'm seeking. Going looking for a flag, flag to edge ax,

-day?" says the water. "It's my own news I'm seeking. Going looking for water, water to wet flag, flag to

day?" says the deer. "It's my own news I'm seeking. Going looking for a deer, deer to swim water, water to wet flag

says the hound. "It's my own news I'm seeking. Going looking for a hound, hound to hunt deer, deer to swim water, water to

s the butter. "It's my own news I'm seeking. Going looking for butter, butter to go in claw of hound, hound to hunt deer, deer to swim w

t's my own news I'm seeking. Going looking for a cat, cat to scrape butter, butter to go in claw of hound, hound to hunt deer, deer to swim

'm seeking. Going looking for a cow, cow to give me milk, milk I will give to the cat, cat to scrape butter, butter to go in claw of hound, hound to hunt d

"It's my own news I'm seeking. Going looking for a whisp of straw to give to the cow, the cow to give me milk, milk I will give to the cat, cat to scrape butter, butter to go in claw

eeking. Going looking for the makings of a cake which I will give the threshers, the threshers to give me a whisp of straw, the whisp of straw I will give to the cow, the cow to give me milk, milk I will give to the cat, c

" said the miller, "till you bring me the full o

the good advice you have"; and he took the red clay and the daub that was by the brink, and he rubbed it to the bottom of the sieve, until all the holes were filled, and then the sieve held the water, and he brought the water to the miller, and the miller gave him the makings of a cake, and he gave the makings of the cake to the threshers, and the threshers gave him a whisp of straw, an

ad to

a great distance, a very high hill, on the top of which stood a beautiful castle, which sparkled

it," said on

ut how can we walk so far?" retort

ly," replied a clea

ceived a beautiful fairy standing on a large ball, which r

. Look, she can get forward without moving a limb,"

ng to reflect, he started off after the fairy as fast as he could ru

f thou reachest it before midnight, I will receive thee as a friend; but rememb

he hand of the young man, and went off so quick

d told him all that had happened, adding: "I inten

d a good horse I should not mind the journey, but as for

ade, who started off at a brisk pa

hed himself on the grass and fell fast asleep; not, however, before he had cast a longing glance at the beautiful castle on the hill. After sleeping some time he felt as though there were a warm wind blowing on his ea

himself into the saddle, and the steed galloped off with him as swift as the wind. Thus mounted, our lazy friend very soon overtook his industrious companion, a

refreshment-for happily he had a good supply of bread and sausage in his pocket, and a pleasant drink in his flask. As soon as the youth had satisfied his appetite, he began to feel rather drowsy, and, as is usual with indolent people, he gave full vent to the inclination, stretched himself on the moss, and fell into a sound sleep. Never had man a more pleasant sleep, nor accompanied with more delightful dreams. He i

limbs and s

raveler on

is eyes, he perceived that the setting sun was fast sinking behind the castle, and heard the vo

l around, was an old gray donkey, grazing on the top of a hill at some distance. He shouted and whistled with all his might, but the horse was gone quite out of hearing, and the old donkey did not seem to pay the least

ay to partake of his feelings, but continued on at even a slower pace than before. At length it became quite dark, and the donkey, after going slower and slower, came to a dead stand in the midst of a thick wood. All his entreaties were of no use, nor were threats and kicks of more avail-the donkey would not move. At last the rider became so exasperated that he struck it with his fist; but this did not much improve our lazy friend's condition, for the obstinate brute instantly flung up its

is dismal wood, which every now and then resounded with dreary howls, sounding very much as though they proceeded from the throats of hungry wolves. At last, when quite bewildered with fear, he suddenly stumbled against something soft and slimy; he knew by the touch that it was not the donkey, but fancying it to be in the form of a saddle, he was about to bestride it at once; yet he found it so cold and damp to the touch that he quite shuddered at the thought. He was still hesitating when the castle clock struck, an

cold as death, and his hair stood on end with fright! But there was now no time for fear, for the castle clock had already made the woods resound with the first stroke of the midnight hour, just as his steed crawled out from the wood. Then how great was the young man's astonishment when he beheld the castle of Fortune in all its grandeur! Hitherto he had sat quietly on the snail, without hastening it, or in any way interfering with its pace; at the sight of the castle, however, he dashed both

stroke when the creature whereon he sat began to move slowly; then went the fifth and sixth strokes, and it began to advance a little at a very awkward pace; at the seventh, the creature began to move, first sideways and then went backward! To his great horror and surprise the rider found that he could not throw himself off, though he struggled with all his might. By a passing ray of the moon, he discovered that the new steed on which he was riding was a horrid monster with ten legs, and from either side there extended a large claw with which it held him fast by the arms. The youth screamed loudly for help, but all to no purpose; the animal still kept receding farther and fart

olden

er fishes, he caught a golden crab. When he came home he put all the fishes together into a great dish, but he kept the crab separate because it shone so beautifully, and placed it upon

let down th

thy feet

e, and then she saw the litt

she said, for she was not quite pleased at the crab's

They were all very much surprised, but they gave him something to eat. When the old man came to take away the plate which had co

's wife: "Go to the King and tell him

, because he was a prudent monarch and knew that the crab was likely to be a prince in disguise. He said, therefore, to the fisherman's wife: "Go, old woman, and tell the crab I w

ife went home and

th this rod three times upon the ground on the place which the

did so and w

do you think he saw? The wall stood there be

e King and said to him: "Your maje

there stands in front of my palace a garden in which there are three fountains,

th the rod, and the next morning the garden was there. The King now

said to the

'Your master, the King, has sent me to tell you that you must send him his golden garment that is like the sun.' Make him give you, besides, th

nd how he was enchanted, so that he became a crab by day and was a man only at night and he could also change himself into an eagle as often as he wished. No sooner had he said this than he shook himself and immediately became a handsome youth; but the next morning he was forced to creep back again into his crabshell. And the same thing happened every day. But the Princess's affection for the crab and the polite attention with which she behaved to him

FISHERMAN CARRIED

the crab, and him

our honor and I will invite all the princes in the world to

n a black man will come out and say to you, 'Why have you called me and what do you require of me?' Answer him thus: 'Your maste

so and brought hi

t I am the crab. For if you do this evil will come of it. Place yourself at the window with your sisters; I will ride by and throw you the silver app

apple up to her. She caught it in her hand and went with it to her room, and by and by her husband came back to her. But her

ple which she received from the black man was of gold. But before the Prince wen

ld not tell who he was. He then r

isters, was standing at the window, the Prince suddenly g

her a box on the ear, and cried out: "Does

right exclaimed: "Tha

er's room where the crab shell was still lying, took it up and threw it into the fire. Th

lf above a staircase, which he descended. Then he saw before him a stately palace, and entering, he found in a large hall a table set for twelve persons. He hid himself in the hall behind a great picture, that he might see what would happen. At noon he heard a great noise, so that he trembled with fear. When he took courage to look out from behind the picture he saw twelve eagles flying in. At this

to my de

she live

e on the c

d my gold

from the table, went back to the great stone fountai

t did her good was having stories told to her. He therefore went to the royal castle, obtained an audience of the Princess, and told her about the str

ainly," he

he placed himself behind the picture also. Presently the eagles came flying in and changed themselves into young men, and in a moment the Princess recognized her husband among them a

to my de

she live

e on the c

d my gold

, but ran forward and threw her arms around her hu

I spoke the truth. But all that evil time is past. Now listen to me: I must still re

to the old man: "Go back to the castle an

e months of the Prince's enchantment were over he ceased to be an eagle and became once more a man, and

the Ass, an

gh for all, had to feed well every day. The sons had to lead it to pasture in turns, and one morning, when it was the turn of the eldest,

ve you ea

Goat a

enough is as g

ough for a wise

nd he led the Goat home by its halter, an

Tailor, "has the

much as it can,"

sure; so he went into the stab

ve you ea

ed Goat

I have ea

where the

g found to

boy! you told me the Goat had eaten well, and I find him shivering in the stable almost f

grew some fine rich grass, which the Goat was not long in eating up completely. When the evening came, a

enough is as g

ough for a wise

k it to the stable and tied it up. When he went

Goat ea

much as it can,"

nd nothing would satisfy him but that he shoul

I have ea

l day along

g found to

ed the

or, running back to the house and catching up his yard measure. Th

there was some lovely young grass; and when it was time to go home

enough is as g

ough for a wise

it in the stable; and soon the Tailor c

replied

ould go and make

I have ea

l day among

g found to

icked Goa

the others, and out he shall go!" and he drove the poor

to look after the Goat, and ne

ook it to the lettuce bed, and there it fed all day. When night came

enough is as g

ough for a wise

it in the stable; but as he

ve you ea

the moment to whom he was replying

I have ea

isked abo

g found to

saw at once how things had stood all the time, and th

driven out; and I will take care that you ne

the yard measure was too good to use upon him, he fetched his whip and gave the Goat such a sound thrash

ome with sorrow for the three sons whom he had drive

ter gave him a table, which, though it looked only like an ordinary common wooden one, yet if its owner stood before it and said, "Table, T

he went on journeying merrily, never troubling himself whether his

in a wood, and there he would put down his table and cry, "Table, Table, spread yourself,"

ave died down by then, and they could live very comfortably together with his lucky table. It happene

ss you consent to be my g

le in their midst, and saw that at his command, "Table, Table, spread yourself," it at once covered itself with all sort

and the people, seeing he really meant it, sat down at o

e innkeeper, who was looking on, said to himself, "My friend, you could do very well with such a table as that in your own kitchen"; but he kept h

veted as two pins. Breathlessly and very cautiously he made his way to the garret and fetched it, and put it beside the lad's bed in place of the lucky table, which he carried away and hid in a safe place. Th

he old man, "what have you

ticed to a carpente

too; and what have you

ever set eyes on," said his

ks a very common piece of furniture," sa

ad yourself,' it is at once covered with good things, which will make your mout

takes no notice when you speak to it; and the poor lad saw at once that somebody had robbed him. Of course the guests thought he was an impostor and laughed at him, and went home without

ervice with a miller, and when he ha

give you this ass, which, though it can neither

do, then?"

it,' gold will drop out of its mouth like

ad to say "Bricklebit" and a torrent of gold pieces came out of the ass's mouth, and were there for the picking u

me and see his father, whose anger had, no doubt, died down by this time; or, if

s table, and when the landlord came out and offered to take the animal to the

s, and ordered the best the house contained. The landlord was very much astonished indeed, and ran and fetched him the best of everything. When he had eaten his fill the bo

etch some gold," he said carelessly, an

table door was bolted carefully, the landlord had to glue his eye to a hole in the wall. Then he saw the boy spread out t

, "did one ever see the like of this! Why, that is the finest and fatte

hen he was well asleep, the wicked landlord crept into the stable

changed, and arrived at midday at his father's house. His father was delighted to see

rought home with you

ss," repli

have brought a goat. We have

o. I have only to say 'Bricklebit' and gold drops out of his mouth in heap

t you say is true, I shall never need to do any more tailo

ure, and the youth bade them stand in a circle w

, "listen to me," and

ass could not coin gold after all; for it i

bbed him, and he was obliged to apologize to the guests, who on

more and stitch away as fast as ever, and t

be a turner, and he was still with his master when his brothers sent a message to tell him how t

everything, and he took leave of his

ack lies

h, "for it will be handy. But of what use is

d the stick will slip out of the sack and lay about your enemy's shoulders in such a lively fashion that he will be as

ly had to cry, "Come forth, Stick!" and out it came and gave them a sound thrashing, unt

had been deceived, and putting his sack on the table,

ing. But that is not all, for I have seen an ass which coins gold, and scores of other wonderful

pened his roun

recious stones. I must get hold of it, for all good luck runs in threes, and

and when the landlord thought he was fast asleep he came creeping softly to his side and pulled eve

denly he called out, "Come forth, Stick!" Immediate

he Stick only hit the faster, till a

to its bag, "if you do not deliver up to me the magic

ed man. "I will give them u

our word," said the youth; "but

the table to his father's house. When he arrived his father was

e said, "I have

ade. And what have you

nd a very valuable sti

. "A stick! Why, you can

d injure me, so that he has to cry for mercy. By the aid of my stick I have got back the magic table and lucky ass which the thief of a landlord

he was told. Then the youth spread a cloth on the floor a

he gold pieces began dropping out on to the floor in s

once it was covered with all sorts of dainties. Then they had such a feast as t

needles and thread and measures and goose and put them

s shaven head that it crept into a fox's hole to hide itself. When the Fox came home he saw two great eyes glittering out o

Brother Fox, to make

is a fearful monster that

terrified at the glittering eyes and took to flight. He soon met a bee, and seeing

mn, Mr. Bear. What

r is a fearful monster which rolls flaming

d I believe I can help, though I am such a little creat

is bald head, stung him so terribly that the poor Goat

e Brother

ce morsel. Come, let us wander forth into the wide world." So the whole day long they traveled over meadows, fields, and stony roads, and when it rained the Sister said, "It is Heaven crying in sympathy." By evening they came into a large forest, and were so wearied with grief, hunger, and their long walk that they laid themselves down in a hollow tree and we

parture of the two children; so sneaking after them secretly, as is t

"I will wait till the next brook." As they came to the second the Sister heard it say, "Who drinks of me becomes a wolf!" The Sister ran up crying: "Brother, do not, pray do not, drink, or you will become a wolf and eat me up!" Then the Brother did not drink, saying: "I will wait until we come to the next spring, but then I must drink, you may say what you will; my thirst is much too g

er hand she led him away, and they traveled deeper and deeper into the forest. After they had walked a long distance they came to a little hut, and the maiden, peeping in, found it empty, and thought, "Here we can stay and dwell." Then she looked for leaves and moss to make a soft couch for the Fawn, and every morning she went out and collected roots and berries an

had said this, the little Fawn sprang off, quite glad and merry in the fresh breeze. The King and his huntsmen perceived the beautiful animal, and pursued him; but they could not catch him, and when they thought they had him for certain he sprang away over the bushes and got out of sight. Just as it was getting dark he ran up to the hut, and, knocking, said, "Sister mine, let me in." Then she undid the little door, and he went in and rested all night long upon his soft couch. The next morning the hunt was commenced again, and as soon as the little Fawn heard the horns and the tallyho of the sportsmen he could not rest, and said, "Sister, dear, open the door, I must be off." The Sister opened it

t the wound may heal." It was so slight that the next morning he felt nothing of it, and when he heard the hunting cries outside he exclaimed: "I cannot stop away-I must be there, and none sh

the sun had set, the King asked his huntsmen to show him the hut; and as they came to it, he knocked at the door and said, "Let me in, dear Sister." Then the door was opened, and stepping in the King saw a maiden more beautiful than he had ever before seen. She was frightened when she saw not her Fawn, but a man step in who had a golden crown upon his head. But the King, looking at her with a friendly glance,

account the children had wandered forth into the world, supposed that long ago the Sister had been torn in pieces by the wild beasts, and the little Brother hunted to death in his Fawn's shape by the hunters. As soon, therefore, as she heard how happy they had become, and how everything prospered with them,

t hunting, the old witch took the form of a chambermaid, and got into the room where the Queen was lying, and said to her: "The bath is ready which will restore you and give you fresh strength; be quick, before it gets cold." Her daughte

, and so that the King might not notice it, she turned upon that side where there was no eye. When he came home at evening and heard that a son was born to him, he was much delighted, and prepared to go to his wife's bedside to see how she

w, laid it down in its cradle and covered it over again. She did not forget the Fawn either, but going to the corner where he was, stroked his back, and then went silently out at the door. The nurse asked in the morning of the guards if anyone had

away, the Queen one nigh

child, how f

ll I come, bu

King exclaimed: "Oh, heavens! what does this mean? The next night I will watch myself by the

child, how f

l I come, but

then disappeared. The King dared not speak, but he

child, how f

e I come, but

l and charming as ever. She told the King the fraud which the witch and her daughter had practiced upon him, and he had them both tried and sentence pronounced against them. The daughter was taken into the forest, where the wild beasts tore her in p

ld Gr

the same with him as with Hele. The little Iron Man met him very soon, and asked him what he had in the basket, and Saeme said, "Sow-thistles"; and the Little Man said, "Well, so it shall be and remain." When he arrived at the King's castle, and said he had apples with which the King's daughter could eat herself well, they would not let him in, and told him there had already been one who had made fools of them. But Saeme insisted he had really such apples; they should only let him in. At last they believed him and took him before the King; but when he opened the basket he had nothing but sow-thistles. That annoyed the King most dreadfully, so that he had Saeme whipped out of the castle. When he got home he told them what had happened to him, and then came the youngest boy, whom they had always called Stupid Jack, and asked the father whether he, too, might go with apples. "Yes," said the father, "you are just the right sort of fellow; if the clever ones can't succeed, what will you be able to do?" The boy did not believe it. "Well, father, I will go too." "Get away, you stupid chap!" said the father; "you must wait till you grow wiser"; and then he turned his back upon him; but the boy tugged at his smock frock behind and said, "Now, father, I will go too." "Well, just as you like; go-you will be sure to come back," he answered in a spiteful way. The boy was beyond measure delighted, and jumped for joy. "Aye, there! act like a fool! You get stupider from one day to the next," said th

e water," he answered, "and that when he had done it he should marry the King's daughter." "Well," said the Little Man, "such an one it shall be and remain." In the evening when the sun was setting like a ball of gold, Jack made ready his boat and all things belonging to it, and rowed toward the castle; but the boat went as fast as the wind. The King saw it a long way off, but would not give Jack his daughter yet, and said he must first take a hundred hares out grazing from early morning to late in the evening, and if one were missing he should not have his daughter. Jack was quite contented, and the next day went out with his herd to the meadow, and kept a sharp lookout that none should stray away. Not many hours had passed when a maid came from the castle, and said Jack was to give her a hare directly, as some visitors had arrived. But Jack saw through that well enough, and said he would not give her one; the King might treat his visitors to hare pepper. But the maid would not heed him, and at last set to scolding. So Jac

N WAS SNORING AWAY LUSTILY, JACK REACHED

"Yes, to be sure," said Jack; "goodness gracious! yes, willingly!" The man then took him up on his shoulder and carried him over. At last Jack arrived at the Old Griffin's house, and only found the wife at home, not Old Griffin. The woman asked him what he wanted, so he told her he must have a feather from Old Griffin's tail; and that in a castle they had lost the key to the money chest, and he was to ask the Griffin where it was; and then, in another castle, the daughter was ill, and he was to know what would make her well again; then not far from there were the water and the man who was obliged to carry everybody over, and he should very much like to know why the man was obliged to carry everybody over. "But," said the woman, "look you, my good friend, no Christian can speak with a Griffin; he eats them all up; but, if you like, you can lie there under his bed, and at night when he is fast asleep you can reach up and pull a feather out of his tail; and as to those things that you want to know, I will ask him myself." Jack was quite satisfied with the arrangement, and got under the bed. In the evening Old Griffin came home, and when he stepped into the room he said, "Wife, I smell a Christian!"

d then he would tell him. So he carried him over, and when they got there Jack told him he had only to put somebody into the middle and then he need carry no more. The man was delighted beyond measure, and told Jack that out of gratitude he should like to carry him over and back once more. But Jack said nay, he would save him the trouble; he was quite contented with him already, and then went on. Next he arrived at the castle wher

door under the log of wood, and took it to the master. He was not a little pleased, and gave Jack in retur

ack said the Old Griffin would give one as much as one liked. The King thought he could find a use for that kind of gifts himself, and so started off to the Griffin; but wh

he King's daughte

ree Fe

whom were bright youths, but the youngest never had anything to

rowing old, and he thought it was time to

carpet should be his heir, and, lest they should all want to go in the same direction and q

thither shal

y, and then fell suddenly to the ground. So one brother went east, and another west, and poor Dummling was

gdom was at an end for him, when he discovered that all the time he was staring at a trapdoor in the ground. He lifted

he heard a v

og, so gre

e open a

that knock

in the middle of a circle of little ones. The big one b

eturning the bow, "I want to know if you can help

nute, and then, turning to one of

" and the little frog hopped away,

her neck on a chain, and opened the box and drew

king her very heartily, he hurried up th

that Dummling was clever enough to find an

easant woman we meet. That should be

t opportunity, and took it home to the palace

s were spread out before him and he saw

IDEN SPRANG LIGHTLY AND GR

"should by rights belo

worried their father so much, that for v

t beautiful ring should be King when he died, and he blew

d as it did the first time, and fell to earth just by the tr

that fairly blazed with diamonds and other jewels, and finer than the finest workmanship that could be obtained. You may imagine Dummling thanked her very warmly for the ring, and hurried off back to the palace as fast a

dom belon

he land. So they worried the father at last to make just one more condition; and this time he said that whoever should bring home the most

up his trapdoor and went down into the presence of the old Frog, and tol

for you, nevertheless. But first take this," and she gave Dummling a little toy

doubtfully, and asked the mother

ake one of my little frog atten

seated than she changed into a beautiful maiden, and the carrot and the mice into a grand chariot drawn by six prancing hors

tever, and at the moment Dummling drove up in his glory the

ngest son, and, of course, the elder brothers still grumbled, and made su

d that they should all jump through a hoop in the hall,

mped, but were so plump that they fell heavily and broke their arms and legs. Then Dummling's lo

and in time Dummling came to the throne and

se in t

ne morning, when he went out to his usual work, he said to his Wife: "Let my dinner be brought by our eldest Daughter, I shal

began to rustle in the darkness, the owls to hoot, and the girl began to feel frightened. All at once she perceived a light shining at a distance among the trees. "People must dwell there," she thought, "who will keep me during the night"; and she walked toward the light. In a short time she came to a cottage where the windows were all lighted up, and when she knocked at the d

Hen, pre

ty brind

you to say

ied, the Old Man said to the Maiden: "Here is abundance, and

had finished she carried a full dish into the room, and, sitting down opposite the Old Man, ate till she had satisfied her h

e eaten

runk, too,

have not t

ay pass the

myself." The Maiden stepped down the stair, and as soon as she had shaken up the beds and covered them afresh, she laid herself down in one bed, without waiting for the Old Man. But after so

t, and desired that the second Daughter should bring him his meal this time. "I will take a bag of peas," he said; "they are larger than corn seed, and the girl will therefore see them better and not lose my track." At noonday, accordingly, the girl set out with her father's dinner; but the peas had all disappeared,

en, and p

ty brind

you to say

previous day. The girl cooked a good meal, ate and drank with the Old Man, but ne

e eaten

runk, too,

have not t

ay pass the

me, and, after looking at her and shaking his h

youngest child with his dinner: "For," said he, "she is always obedient and good; sh

and said: "Shall I los

she is too steady and prudent; but for more precaution I will take beans t

, and thought with grief how her Father would want his dinner and how her dear Mother would grieve when she did not return. At length, when it became quite dark, she also

Hen, pre

ty brind

you to say

There is an abundance in the kitchen, I will serve them first." Thus thinking she went and fetched some corn and strewed it before the fowls, and then she brought an armful of hay and gave it to the Cow. "Now, eat away, you good creatures," said she to them, "and when you are thirsty you shall have a nice fresh draught." So saying she brought in a pailful of water; and the Hen and Cock perched themselves on its edge, put

Hen, pre

ty brind

you to say

replied the an

e eaten

drunk, to

ought of us

you a good n

en they were ready the Old Man came and lay down in one, with his white beard stretching down to h

l pomp. On the walls were represented gold flowers growing on a green silk ground; the bed was of ivory, and the curtains of red velvet, and on a stool close by was placed a pair of slippers ornamented with pearls. The Maiden thought it was all a dream; but presently in came three servants dressed in rich liveries, who asked her what were her commands. "Leave me," replied the Maiden; "I will get up at once and cook some breakfast for the Old Man, and also feed the pretty Hen, the pretty Cock, and the brindled Cow." She spoke thus because she thought the Old Man was already up; but when she looked round at his bed, she saw a stranger to her lying aslee

told his three servants to fetch to the palace the Father an

e they must remain till to-morrow morning, when they shall be led into the forest, and bound as servants

pu

eir wish. There was a little window at the back of their house, which overlooked a beautiful garden, full of lovely flowers and shrubs. It

resh and green that it made her long to eat some of it. This longing increased every day, and as she knew it could never be satisfi

any of the corn salad from the garden

en, hastily picked a handful of corn salad, and took it back to his wife. She immediately dressed it, and ate it up very eagerly. It was so very, very nice that the next day her longing for it inc

ief, and steal my corn salad?" she said, wi

ty. My wife sees your corn salad from the window, and she has such a

condition. You must give me the child which your wife is about to bring into the world. I will care for it like a mother, and all will be well with it." In

up in a tower which stood in a wood. It had neither staircase nor doors, and only a little window qui

punzel, let d

e voice of the Witch she unfastened her plaits and twisted them around a hook

e heard a song so lovely that he stopped to listen. It was Rapunzel, who in her loneliness made her sweet voice resound to

went into the forest every day to listen to it. Once, when he was h

punzel, let d

r plaits of hair and the

l try my luck myself." And the next day, when it b

punzel, let d

once, and the King's

zel lost her fear, and when he asked if she would have him for her husband, and she saw that he was young and handsome, she thought, "He will love me better than old Mother Gothel." So she said, "Yes," and laid her hand in his. She said: "I will gladly go wit

d come and see her every evening, f

"Tell me, Mother Gothel, how can it be that you are so much heav

ed Rapunzel's beautiful hair, twisted it twice around her left hand, snatched up a pair of shears and cut off the plaits, which fell to the g

ook by the window, and when the Prince came and called, "Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your hair!" she lowered the hair. The

no longer in her nest; and she can sing no more, for the cat has seized her, and it wil

He wandered about blind in the wood, and had nothing but roots and berries to eat. He did nothing but weep and lament over the loss of his beloved wife Rapunzel. In this way he

Rapunzel's, and she knew him at once, and fell weeping upon his neck. Two of her tears fe

he was received with joy, and th

Quee

search of adventure, and, falling into a wil

But when at last he found them, they mocked him for thinking of making his way in th

t heap. The two elder princes wanted to disturb it, to

he little creatures alone; I wil

ake in which a great many ducks were swimming a

it, and said: "Leave the creatur

taining such a quantity of honey that

re to the tree and suffocate the

n, and said: "Leave the creatures a

ul was to be seen. They went through all the rooms till they came to a door quite at the end, fastened

Finally, when they had called him the third time, he stood up and opened the door and came out. He said not a

koned, and led him to a stone tablet whereon were inscribed three t

's pearls, a thousand in number. These had all to be found, and if at

ing came, he had only found the first hundred, and it hap

but he fared no better than the first, for he found o

earched in the moss, but the pearls wer

g, whose life he had saved, came up with five thousand ants, and it was not lo

get the key of the Prince

ucks, which he had once saved, swam up, di

had to find out which was the youngest and pret

t before going to sleep each had eaten a different kind of sweet. The eldest a

e and tried the lips of all three. Finally, she settled on the mouth of th

the castle was set free, and those who had

Princess, and became King after her father's death

-Furred

that she fell ill, and when she felt that she must soon die she sent for the King and said: "If you want to marry after my death, make no one queen unless

gain, so that we may have a Queen." So messengers were sent far and wide to seek for a bride equal to the late Queen in beauty. But there was no one in

e Queen, for she is exactly like her dead mother, and when I die her husband shall be King." But when the Princess heard of her father's decision she was not at all pleased and said to him: "Before I do your bidding I must have three dresses; one as golden as the sun, one as silver as the moo

ars; and he gave orders to all his huntsmen to catch one of every kind of beast in the kingdom and to get a bit of its skin to make the cloak of a thousand pieces of fur. At last, when all was ready, the King commanded the cloak

he put the sun, moon, and star dresses in a nut shell, drew on the cloak of many skins, and made her face and hands black with soot. Then she commended herself t

nd it, barking. The King said to the huntsmen: "See what sort of a wild beast is in there." The huntsmen went in and then came back and said: "In the hollow tree there lies a wonderful animal that we don't know, and

re, you can work in the kitchen. Come with us and sweep the ashes together." So they put her in the cart and went back to the palace. There they showed her a tiny room under the stairs, where no daylight came, and said to h

g time in great poverty. Ah, beautiful king

washed off the soot from her face and hands, so that her beauty shone forth, and it was as if one sunbeam after another were coming out of a black cloud. Then she opened the nut and took out the dress as golden as the sun. And when she had done this she went up to the feast, and everyone stepped out of her way, for nobody knew her, and they thought she must be a king'

the cook said to her: "Let that wait till to-morrow, and just cook the King's soup for me. I want to have a little peep at the company upstairs. But be sure that you do not let a hair fall into it, otherwise you will get nothing to eat in future!" So the c

ame to the bottom of the dish he saw a gold ring lying there, and he could not imagine how it got in. Then he commanded the cook to be brought before him. The cook w

aid: "That's not true, for it was quite different and much better soup than you have ever cooked." Then the cook said:

hat do you do in my palace?" "I am of no use except to have boots thrown at my head." "How did you get the ring which was in the soup?

likes so much." So she ran away to her little room, washed herself quickly, took out of the nut the dress as silver as the moon and put it on. Then she went upstairs looking just like a king's daughter, and the K

n the dish, so that the soup was poured over it. It was brought to the King, who ate it and liked it as much as the last time. He had the cook sent to him, and again he had to confess that the Many-furred Creature h

ny-furred Creature, for you always put something in the soup, so that it is much better and tastes nicer to the King than any that I cook." But

sual. When it was finished he wanted to keep her hands in his, but she broke from him and sprang so quickly away among the people that she vanished from his sight. She ran as fast as she could to her little room under the stairs, but

ut on her hand in the dance. Then he took her hand and held her tightly, and as she was trying to get away she undid the fur cloak a little bit and the star dress shone out. The King seized the cloak and tore it off her. Her golden hair came down, and she stood there in her full splendor and could

ite and

nd in hand, whenever they went out together, and when Snow-white said, "We will never desert each other," Rose-red answered, "No, not as long as we live"; and the mother added: "Whatever one gets she shall share with the other." They often roamed about in the woods gathering berries, and no beast offered to hurt them; on the contrary, they came up to them in the most confiding manner; the little hare would eat a cabbage leaf from their hands, the deer grazed beside them, the stag would bound past them merrily, and the birds remained on the branches and sang to them with all their might. No evil ever befell them; if they tarried late in the wood and night overtook them, they lay down together on the mo

from each tree. In winter Snow-white lit the fire and put on the kettle, which was made of brass, but so beautifully polished that it shone like gold. In the evening when the snowflakes fell, their mother said, "Snow-white, go and close the shutters"; and they d

bear began to speak, and said: "Don't be afraid; I won't hurt you. I am half frozen, and only wish to warm myself a little." "My poor bear," said the mother, "lie down by the fire, only take care you don't burn your fur." Then she called out: "Snow-white and Rose-red, come out; the bear will do you no harm; he is a good, honest creature." So they both came out of their hiding places, and gradually the lamb and dove drew near too, and they all forgot their fear. The bear asked the children to beat the snow a little out of his fur, and they fetched a

hite and

t your lo

cold and wet." As soon as day dawned the children let him out, and he trotted over the snow into the wood. From this time on the bear came every evening at the same hour, and lay down

re obliged to remain underground, for they can't work their way through; but now, when the sun has thawed and warmed the ground, they break through and come up above to spy the land and steal what they can. What once falls into their hands and into their caves is not easily brought back to light." Snow-white was quite

in their wanderings upon a big tree which lay felled on the ground, and on the trunk among the l

't you come and help me?" "What were you doing, little man?" asked Rose-red. "You stupid, inquisitive goose!" replied the dwarf; "I wanted to split the tree in order to get little chips of wood for our kitchen fire; those thick logs that serve to make fires for coarse, greedy people like yourselves quite burn up all the little food we need. I had succe

for me. Does nothing better occur to you than that?" "Don't be so impatient," said Snow-white. "I'll see you get help." And taking her scissors out of her pocket she cut the end off his beard. As soon as the dwarf felt himself free he seized a bagful of gold wh

dwarf. "Don't you see that horrid fish is trying to drag me in?" The little man had been sitting on the bank fishing, when unfortunately the wind had entangled his beard in the line; and when immediately afterwards a big fish bit, the feeble little creature had no strength to pull it out. The fish had the upper fin and dragged the dwarf toward him. He clung on with all his might to every rush and blade of gra

that you shortened my beard before, but you must now needs cut off the best of it. I can't appear like this before my own people. I wish you'd been at Jer

ING THERE GAPING FOR

oice: "Couldn't you have treated me more carefully? You have torn my thin little coat all to shreds, useless, awkward hussies that you are!" Then he took a bag of precious stones and vanished under the rocks into his cave. The girls were accustomed to his ingratitude, and went on their way and did their business in town. On their way home, as they were again passing the heath, they surprised the dwarf pouring out his precious stones on an open space, for he had thought no one would pass by at so late an hour. The evening sun shone on the glittering stones, and they glanced and gleamed so beautifully that the children stood still and gazed on them. "What are you standing there gaping for?" screamed the dwarf, and his ashen-gray face became scarlet with rage.

d when the bear was quite close to them his skin suddenly fell off, and a beautiful man stood beside them, all dressed in gold. "I am a king's son," he said, "and have been doomed

is cave between them. The old mother lived for many years peacefully with her children; and she carried the two r

rog P

a deep well. When the day was very hot, the King's daughter used to go to the wood and seat herself at the edge of the cool well; and when she became wearied she would take a golden ball, throw it up in the air, and catch it again. This was her favorite amusement. Once it happened that her golden ball, instead of falling back into the littl

What is the matter with you, King's daughter? You weep

oice came, and saw a frog stretching

aid she. "I am crying for my golden b

can give you some good advice; but what will yo

she, "my clothes, my pearls, and je

me be your companion and playfellow; sit near you at your little table, eat from your little golden plate, drink from your little cu

you everything, if you will on

silly Frog talks! He sits in the water with the other

In a little while up he came again with the ball in his mouth, and threw it on the grass. The King'

og; "take me with you. I c

d. She would not listen to him, but hastened home, and soon forgot th

le golden plate, there came a sound of something creeping up the marble staircase-splish, splash; and

ily to again, and sat down at table, feeling very, very uncomfortable. The King saw that her heart was beating v

od near the well, fetched my golden ball out of the water. For this I promised him he should be my com

me there was a knock

t King's

n t

u what

romis

cool

King's

to

d cried out: "Lift me up to you on the table." She refused, till the King, her father commanded her to do it. When the Frog was on the table he said: "Now push your little golden plate nearer to me that we may

rry me to your little room, and make your little silken be

eep, for she was afraid of the cold frog, w

said again: "What you have promised you

ked him up with two fingers, hating him bitterly the while, and carried him upstairs. But when she got into bed, instead of liftin

came, by her own promise and her father's will, her dear companion and husband. He told her how he had been cursed by a wicked

ved when his master was changed into a frog, that he had been compelled to have three iron bands fastened around his heart, lest it should break. Now the carriage came to convey the Prince to his kingdom, so the Faithful Henry lifted in the brid

ds from my heart with which I was forced to bind it up, or it would hav

breaking; but it was only the bands breaking off from the heart of the F

Goos

er her. When she grew up she was betrothed to a prince who lived a great way off; and as the time drew near for her to be married she made ready to set off on her journey to his country. Then the Queen, her mother, packed up a great many costly things; jewels and gold and silver; trinket

o the Princess, and said: "Take care of it, dear child; for it is a charm that may be of use to you on the road." Then they all took a sorrowfu

yonder brook, for I want to drink." "Nay," said the maid, "if you are thirsty, get off yourself and stoop down by the water and drink; I shall not be your waiting maid any lon

f me?" And the lock of ha

! if thy mo

ly would s

k, so she said nothing to her maid's ill

speech, and said: "Pray get down and fetch me some water to drink in my golden cup." But the maid answered her, and spoke even more haughtily than before: "Drink if you will, but I shall not be your waiting

! if thy mo

ly would s

for she knew the charm; and she saw that the poor bride would be in her power, now that she had lost the hair. So when the bride had done drinking, and would have got upon Falada again, the mai

erous servant threatened to kill her mistress if she ever told a

the royal court. There was great joy at their coming, and the Prince flew to meet them, and lifted the maid from her horse, thinking she w

to the royal chamber to ask the bride who it was she had brought with her, that was thus left standing in the court below. "I brought her with me for the sake of her company on the road," said she; "pray give the girl some work to do, that she may not be idle

the truth was, she was very much afraid lest Falada should some day or other speak and tell all she had done to the Princess. She carried her point, and the faithful Falada was killed; but when the true Princess heard of it she wept, and begged the man to nail up F

and Curdken went out through

ADA, THERE T

DE, THERE T

ada, there t

head a

de, there t

if thy mot

ly would s

upon a bank there, and let down her waving locks of hair, which were all of pure silver; and when Cu

breezes

dken's

breeze

m afte

s, dales,

e it w

e silve

omb'd and

er it, till, by the time he came back, she had done combing and curling her hair, and had put it up safe again. Then he was very angry

through the dark gate, the poor girl

ada, there t

t ans

de, there t

if thy mot

ly would s

and began to comb out her hair as before; and Curdken ran up to

breezes

dken's

breeze

m afte

s, dales,

e it w

e silve

omb'd and

s and far away, so that he had to run after it; and when he came back she had boun

" said the King. "Because, instead of doing any good, she does nothing but tease me all day long." Then the King made him tell what had happened. And Curdken

ada, there t

head a

de, there t

if thy mot

ly would s

old King told the boy to go out again the next day. And when morning came, he placed himself behind the dark gate, and heard how she spoke to Falada, and how Falada answered. Then he went into the field, and hid

breezes

dken's

breeze

m afte

s, dales,

e it w

e silve

omb'd and

hair. All this the old King saw. So he went home without being seen, and when the little goose girl came back in the evening he called her

called his son, and told him that he had only the false bride; for that she was merely a waiting maid while the true bride stood by. And the young King rejoiced when he saw her beauty, and heard how meek and patient she had been; and without saying anything to the false bride, the King ordered a great feas

ght to be done to anyone who would behave thus. "Nothing better," said this false bride, "than that she should be banished to the depths of the dark woods and live there forever." "Thou art she!" said the old King; "and as thou hast judged thyse

ar

ueen, who said every day, "If only we had

he water on to the land and said to her: "Your wish shall be fulfilled

He invited not only his relations, friends, and acquaintances, but the fairies, in order that they might be favorably and kindly disposed toward the chi

l presented the child with a magic gift. One gave her virtue, another beauty, a

een invited. Without greeting anyone, or even glancing at the company, she called out in a loud voice, "The Princess shall pric

forward. She could not cancel the curse, but could only soften it, so she said: "It shall

m the misfortune that he sent out a command that al

es of the fair

y from home, and the Princess was left quite alone in the castle. She wandered about over the whole place, looking at rooms and halls as she pleased, and at last she came to an old tower. She ascended a na

said the Princess; "

id the old woman, a

merrily?" asked the Princess; and she

finger with the spindle. The instant she felt the prick she fell upon the bed which

yard, the doves on the roof, the flies on the wall; yes, even the fire flickering on the hearth grew still and went to sleep, and the roast meat stopped crackling; and the cook,

year it grew higher, till at last it surrounded the whole castle s

nces came and tried to force a way through the hedge into the castle. But they found it impossible, for the thorns, as though they ha

autiful maiden called Brier Rose had been asleep for the last hundred years, and with her slept the King, Queen, and all her courtiers. He knew also, fr

ot afraid; I am determined to go an

ower to dissuade him, but the Pri

n the Prince approached the brier hedge it was in blossom, and was covered with beautiful large flowers which m

HE TOWER . . . WHERE

en he went into the house the flies were asleep on the walls, and near the throne lay the King and Queen; in the kitchen was the cook, w

him. Then they went down together; and the King and the Queen and all the courtiers woke up, and looked at each other with astonished eyes. The horses in the stable stood up and shook themselves, the hounds leaped about and wagged their tails, the doves on the roof lifted their heads from under their wings, looked around, and flew into the fields; the flies on t

Iron

und for nine days, and she came at last to the iron stove. A voice came from within and asked her: "Where do you come from and where do you want to go?" She answered: "I have lost my way to my father's kingdom, and I shall never get home again." Then the voice from the iron stove said: "I will help you to find your home again, and that in a very short time, if you

ome home again out of the great wildwood if I had not come to an iron stove, and I have had to promise that I will go back to free him and marry him!" The old King was so frightened that he nearly fainted, for she was his only daughter. So they consulted together and determined that the miller's daughter, who was very beautiful, should take h

r! Then go away at once and te

er word. She took leave of her father, put a knife in her belt, and went to the iron stove in the wood. As soon as she reached it she began to scrape and the iron gave way, and before two hours had passed she had made a little hole. Then she peeped in and saw such a beautiful youth all shining with gold and precious stones that she fell in love with him on the spot. So she scraped away harder than ever, and made the hole so large that he could get out. Then he said: "You are mine and I am thine; you are my bride and have set me free!" He wanted to take her with him to his kingdom, but she begged him just to let her go once more to her father; and the Prince let her go, but told her not to say more than three words to her father, then to come back again. So she went home, but, alas! she said more than three words; and immediately the iron stove vanished and went away over a mountain of glass and sharp swords. But the Prince was free and was no longer shut up in it. The

toad with le

the door

the latch t

and what she wanted. Then she told everything that had happened to her, and how, because she had exceeded her permission only to speak three words,

e old t

toad whose l

orner of wh

me the larg

huge chest to take with her. She would have need of them, for she had to cross a high glass mountain, three cutting swords, and a great lake. When she had passed these she would find her lover again. So she was given three large needles, a plow wheel, and three nuts, wh

castle. She went in and gave herself out as a servant, a poor maid who would gladly be engaged. But she knew that the Prince whom she had freed from the iron stove in the grea

l dress inside it. When the bride heard of this she came and begged for the dress and wanted to buy it, saying that it was not a dress for a serving maid. Then she said she would not sell it unless she was granted one favor-

she could not wake him. The maid wept all night long and said: "I freed you in the wildwood out of the iron stove. I have sought you and have crossed a glassy mountain, three sha

ey told their master. And when she had washed up on the third night she bit the third nut, and there was a still more beautiful dress inside that was made of pure gold. When the bride saw it she wanted to have it, but the maid would only give it her on condition that she should sleep for the third time by the Prince's door. But the Prince took care not to drink the sleeping draught. When she began to weep and to say, "Dearest sweetheart, I freed you in the horrible wildwood and from an iron stove," he jumped up and said: "Thou art right. Thou art mine and I am thine." Though it was still night, he got into a carriage with her, and they took the false bride's clo

use h

ory's

l-sti

f the land, who used to come and hunt in the wood, that his daughter could spin gold out of straw. Now this King was very fond of money, and when he heard the miller's boast his greediness was roused, and he sent for the girl to be brought before him. Then he led her to a chamber in his palace where there was a great heap

"Good morrow to you, my good lass; what are you weeping for?" "Alas!" said she, "I must spin this straw into gold, and I know not how." "What will you give m

bout, ro

nd b

ay, ree

into

rily; the work was quickly done, a

ughter again with a fresh task. Then she knew not what to do, and sat down once more to weep; but the dwarf soon opened the door and said: "What will you g

bout, ro

nd b

ay, ree

into

re morning, all

ll you give me to spin gold for you this third time?" "I have nothing left," said she. "Then say you will give me," said the little man, "the first little child that you may have when you are Queen." "That may never be," thought the miller's daughter, and as she knew no other way to get her t

with her baby, and put her in mind of it. Then she grieved sorely at her misfortune, and said she would give him all the wealth of the kingdom if he would let her off, b

l over the land to find out new ones. The next day the little man came, and she began with Timothy, Ichabod, Benjami

f, Bandy Legs, Hunchback, Crook Shanks, and so on; but the little ge

as I was climbing a high hill, among the trees of the forest where the fox and the hare bid each other good night, I saw a lit

the feast

brew, to-m

'll dance

y will a st

oes my l

lts-ken is

Then the little man began to chuckle at the thoughts of having the poor child to take home with him to his hut in the woods, and he cried out: "Now, lady, what is my name?" "Is it John?" asked she. "No, madam!" "Is it Tom?" "No, madam!" "Is it Jemmy?" "It is not.

; and all the court jeered at him for having had so much trouble for nothing, and

hn, the Kin

is heir, his son, who was a headstrong and willful youth, not yet come to years of wisdom. He called

gh position, and will have no other guidance but yours. Be his guardian and counse

red faithful John, "eve

in. But one room he must never enter, the last room in the long corridor, for there hangs the portrait of the daughter of the King of the Golden Palace, and she is so beau

promised to do his commands, and soon afterward

told the young King of the commands his father had laid up

the castle, up into the towers and down into the vaults, and saw all the great treasure the old King had collected; and they went into

hey always passed this

ere that it is dangero

thing else that I possess, and you must not

obstinate King even made an effort to force the door open, and declared th

hurried in, hoping to cover over the portrait before the King saw it; but he was close on his heels, and John was too late to prevent the catastroph

rtune that had come upon them, and by dint of forcing wine down his t

dy of the beau

the King of the Golden

m filled with so great a love for her that if all the lea

e matter, for it was very difficult to reach the presence of the beau

e gold-chairs, tables, dishes, pots and pans, all are fashioned of gold. There are five tons of gold bars in your cellars; you

o most wonderful and beautiful forms of the finest workmanship. Then they took them all aboard a great ship and set

board and have all things in readiness, the treasures displayed and all in order, lest he should bring t

well. When they were full she turned, and, perceiving the stranger, demanded his business. So he unti

y the hand and led him to the King's daughter. The Princess was even more beautiful than report had made her, and John was

ich merchant who has even more beautif

hither," replied the

vast, and even if they were all brought hither there is no

was very much excited b

ship, and I wil

r beauty that he could hardly help her aboard, but he managed to control the violent beatings of his heart, and led her down into the cabin. John

and several hours passed before she bethought her that it was time to go ashore. So she went on deck pr

am entrapped by a strange merchant. I w

urself. I have carried you off because my love for you is so great that I cannot live without you. You mus

fear disappeared, and love grew in its p

hree crows flew over the ship, talking hard all the time. Jo

nd. "But she is with him in the ship," said the third. "What matters that?" began the first again; "when they land there will come a beaut

ay to save him?" t

holsters and shoots the fox-colored horse, then the King will be saved. But nobody

cond crow s

he castle a bridal shirt will be brought to him on a dish, looking as though it were made of silver and go

to save him?" ask

efore the King touches it, he will be saved. But what matter? for no one knows that, and

hird crow

ng, the Queen will turn pale and fall in a faint; and if some one does not raise her up and take three drops of blood from her little finger and th

t he knew, misfortune would fall upon his master, and if he told, he must lose his

d said, and a beautiful fox-colored horse appeare

ry us to the castle." And

s, shot the horse dead. The other servants who were

ovely animal, which was

e King

ful servant and I trust him. Who

utiful bridal shirt was brought to the King. He was just about to pick it up and put it on when

er servants s

See, he has burne

silenced th

nd I trust him. Who knows

nd drawing three drops of blood from her little finger he threw them away. Soon the Queen stirred, and then sat up, quite herself again. But the King had watched all this, and this time he was furiously angry with faithful John, and ordered him to be thrown i

e against you, and have al

s saying at sea; and how he had done al

don, pardon, my faithful

ad spoken John had fallen

, and they had the statue raised and taken to their chamber and

could I but bring you

healthy boys. One day the Queen was at church and the King was at hom

n, what would I not do to

the statue answe

t is dearest to you, you c

world for you, only tell

statue sp

n, and sprinkle me with their bloo

as to kill his own children? But he thought of all John had done for him, and how muc

he little princes, faithful J

Your faith in me is re

sant surprise; so when he heard her coming he hid faithful John and the twins in

have been thinking of poor J

he Kin

ife again, but we must s

ought of how it was their fault that John had suffered, and she s

n the cupboard door and disclosed, not only the twins, but faithful John al

Shuttle,

ed all alone in a little cottage at the far end of the village, and there she earned her living by spinning, weaving,

said: "My dear daughter, I feel that my end is near. I leave you my cottage, which will, at least,

l will go well with you." With that she closed her eyes for the last time, and when she was carrie

ng seemed to prosper all she did. The flax seemed to spread and increase; and when she wove a carpet or a piece of linen, or made a shirt

a tour through the entire country to look out for a bride. He

id he, "who is at once the

who the poorest woman in it. The richest was named first; the poorest, he was told,

the King's son came near she got up, went to meet him, and made him a

ork in her room. The Prince reined in his horse, looked in at the window through which

E END OF THE GOLDEN THREAD

ead was quite as even as usual I really cannot say, but she went on spinning till the King's son had ridden off. Then she stepped to the w

did so an old saying, which she had often heard her godmother

spindle,

e will co

had sufficiently recovered from her surprise to look after it she saw it dancing merrily

at her loom, began to weave. Meantime the spindle danced on and on, and ju

ish to point out the way to me." So he turned his h

girl sat weav

eave both w

ove beneat

bloomed on both sides, and in the center a thicket seemed to grow with rabbits and hares running through it, stags and fawns peeping through the branches, while on the topmos

the girl sat down to sew.

needle, s

amber brig

time the table and benches were covered with green cloth, the chairs with velvet, and elegant silk curtains hung before the windows. The needle had barely put in

red the room there stood the girl blushing like any rose. "You are the po

nd led her out, lifted her on his horse, and took her to his roy

ere carefully placed in the treasury and w

Magi

tsa a little shrew mouse. They had a field all to themselves, which they sowed with wheat, and when the w

me ha

e lark

t me ha

be done?" t

y had no parents or kinsmen-nobody at all to whom they cou

let me have th

her, and so the war began. Whenever the beasts came rushing out of the wood to tear the birds to pieces, the birds flew up into the trees; but the birds kept in the air, and hacked and pecked the beasts wherever they could. Thus they fought the whole day, and in the evening they lay down to rest. Now

light enough to see by,

, my wa

the Czar. But there was one eagle who saw there was something wrong, so he did not try to fly, but remained sitting on the tree. An

nd I'll be of grea

time, but the eagle besoug

me, and thou shalt see that

third time, but the eagle bega

with thee, and thou shalt see what

up the tree, took the eagle down, and car

ed me with flesh till my

led and cut up one of the cows for the eagle. The eagle fed

ly. I see that my wings

gle flew around and around, he flew about for half

ttle strength in me,

for yet another year. Again the eagle flew around and around in the air. He flew a

I have still but little strengt

an thought

hall I slay it, or

st he

fore, so let this go too!" and he took t

nd after that he took to flight, and flew high up right to the

at thou hast been the saving o

he man, "what if s

I say!" crie

r sat down u

him fall. Down plumped the man; but the eagle did not let him fall to t

t thou f

e man, "as if I h

e eagle

elt when thou didst ai

e said

my bac

uite as high as the big clouds, and shook him off, and down he fell headlong till he was about two fa

st thou

e man

ll my bones were alr

ake aim at me the second time," replied th

then he shook him off, and down he fell headlong; but when he was but a hand's bread

t thou f

e rep

no longer belong

But now," continued the bird, "thou art guilty no more. We are quits. I owe thee naught,

ll they came to the eagle's uncle

ou not seen our poor child?' reply, 'Give me the

house, and there

e ears, or seen him with thine eyes, and has

e ans

me hither

they

? for it is three years now since he went to the wa

e ans

and I'll bring him strai

hey re

aw him than that we shoul

ck to the eagle

never saw him than that we sh

eagle a

fly on f

just the same to him as he had said to the eagle's uncle, and still he didn't

for me, say that thou hast seen me

o the hut, and

thee with our eyes, but hast thou come hither o

archer a

hither of my

hey as

we have not had news of him. He went off to th

answere

ilt give me the magic egg, I wi

le's father

ng do thee? We had better

e ans

lucky penny, give

!" said he, "and t

he eagle's father rejoiced and

d, and when thou gettest home, hedge it around and bu

o drink he stumbled and the magic egg was broken. Then he perceived that an ox had come out of the egg and was rolling away. He gave chase

thing with it

ld she dragon came

an, if I chase this ox back

archer

can I

gon sai

hast at home withou

said the

ily, and gave it into the man's hand. Then the archer went home, and when he

she dragon, dad? But never mind, I'

for a time, but what could he do?

going to the dragon, and

ree tasks, and if thou dost

ge meadow stretching as far as the eye

heat and store it, all in this very night; and thou must bake me a roll out of this

roubled. Now near to him there was a post, and on this post was the dragon's

e dost th

bidden me do something I can never, never do; and wha

ked the dragon's daugh

she. "Promise to take me to wife, an

nd then she sa

that thou art up early in the

d it of weeds and harrowed it and sown it with wheat, and by dawn she h

her hut and put

was amazed at the sight of the field, which was now all

rk well. But now, see that

e him her se

ehouse, and in the storehouse stack the wheat that thou hast reaped, and sell this wheat to the m

he fence and wept, and

he told her all that the s

ere are the berries? Go and lie d

es rose up, and then she came and woke him that he might go and sell the wheat to the merchant barques that sailed by that way, an

e him her th

the golden hare, and bring i

nce and fell a-weeping.

t thou

as ordered me to catch

ly her father knows how to catch such a hare as that. Nevertheless, I'll go

rocky place together,

le, and thou catch him as he comes out; but mind, whatever co

ce out came a snake and hissed, and he let it g

s nothing

ake, and I was afraid it wo

ow!" said she, "I'll go in again, and if anyone comes out and tells you

began to beat for game, and out cam

u poking abou

her: "For the

ke's hole," and when she had said this she went awa

got the hare? Did not

me what I was seeking, and I told her the golden ha

ever wilt catch it unless I turn myself into a hare and thou take and lay me on the table, and give me into my moth

, and he took and laid her on the

for thee, and no

him: "Very w

set about chasing after them and destroying them both, for the daughter had made haste in the meantime to join Ivan. But as the she dragon couldn't run herself, she s

old man guarding me, and if he ask thee, 'Hast thou seen a lad and a lass pass by

rds the she dragon's h

lass passed by t

d the old man

?" asked the she

heat was being sown,

at is ready for the sickle; they cou

back into a maiden and the old man into a youth, and off they set

t caught them or me

I asked the old man if he had seen a lad and a lass pass by that way, and he said, 'Yes, while this wheat wa

es?" cried the she dragon; "it was they! Be off after them

ey heard him coming from afar, for the earth t

pieces, and I'll change thee into an old black monk at the gate, and when he comes up and asks, 'Hast thou seen

past, and asked the monk: "Hast thou

m what time the holy fathers

hat he turned him back. When he got home he said to the she dragon, his wife: "I met a black monk who serves in a monastery and I asked him about them, and he told me

pull down the monastery? for 'twas they. But I see I

she was coming, for the earth quaked and yaw

g herself! Look now, I'll change thee into

she dragon came up a

u wouldst run a

ed its prickly fins toward her, so that she could not catch hold of it. So she kept on chasing it and chasing it,

come a fish said to the yo

house and see them, and kiss them all except the daughter of thy uncle, for if

ed them all, and as he di

ghter like the rest of them? Why, they

nt he did so he forgot all abo

he one who herself was the she dragon's daughter. Now the evening before the wedding they heard a young damsel crying shishki[B] in the streets. They called to the young damsel to go away, or say who she was, for nobody kne

ee, and sowed it with wheat, and thou mad'st a roll

ock dove

ten! fo

said to h

the Dnieper flow by it that the merchant barques might come to thy stor

cock dov

ten! fo

dove said t

together in search of the golden hare?

k dove answ

ten! fo

that had made the doves, and he took her to his arms and

TNO

es of the shape

row and

flew down upon

ve good little s

h. Then the sparrow was angry,

h, bush won't give good

!" said

ow went to the

n't nibble bush, bush won't gi

!" said

w went to the p

t goat, goat won't nibble bush, bush w

!" said t

rrow went to

wolf won't eat goat, goat won't nibble bush, bush won't

he people!" and

the wolf!" an

he goat!" and

the bush!" and

he good little

the people won't kill the wolf, and the wolf won't eat the goat, and the goat

fire a

e all alike)-"go to

went to the w

slay people, people won't kill wolf, wolf won't eat goat, goat

water al

e sparrow went t

s, Tartars won't slay people, people won't kill wolf, wolf won't eat

t!" sai

w went to the p

e won't burn Tartars, Tartars won't slay people, people won't kill wolf, wolf

" said th

went to the w

quench fire, fire won't burn Tartars, Tartars won't slay people, people won't kill wol

!" said t

ow went to the

water won't quench fire, fire won't burn Tartars, Tartars won't slay people, people won't ki

sparrow hawk, he ought to give the first

ent to the sparr

on't drink water, water won't quench fire, fire won't burn Tartars, Tartars won't slay people, people

the ox, the ox began to drink the water, the water began to quench the fire, the fire began to burn the Tartars, the Tartars began to sla

swing away, s

arrow, have you

TNO

ns both sparrow

Iron

e years and upward, he came to the parson and said: "Let us now settle our accounts, master, and pay me what th

home, and when thou gettest there, make to thyself a cattle pen, and make it strong; then break the egg in the middle of thy ca

omeward way. He went on and on,

t of it came all sorts of cattle in such numbers that the open steppe became

ese cattle back again?" He had scarcely uttered the wo

egg up so that it will become quite whole. But in return for that," continued the Iro

to eat me, and in the meantime I shall get all these cattle. Agreed, then," said he. So the Iron Wolf immediately col

k to farming and cattle-breeding, and he became so rich that in the whole wide world there was none richer than he. He kept to himself, and his goods increased and multiplied exceedingly; the only thing wanting to

I'll give you my daughter

as ever I sit down on the bridal bench the Iron Wolf will come

to make great preparations for the bridal banquet. Everything went off exceedingly well, and they made merry till the time came when bride and bridegroom were to sit down together on the bridal bench. Then the general placed his men in three strong rows all around the house so as not to let the Iron Wolf get in; and no sooner had the young peopl

last, toward evening, the man stopped and looked about him, and saw that he was in a lone forest, and before him

st a little while wi

means!"

ple," said he, "don't let the Iron Wol

have a dog called Chutko[E] who can hear a wolf co

t dropping off when Chutko began to bark.

! for the Iron

, and a wheaten hearth ca

then he perceived another hut in another forest. He went up to that hut, and in front

e care that the Iron

We have a dog here called Vazhko,[F]

ust before dawn Vazhko began to

ey, "the Iron W

ision by the way. So he took the hearth cake, sat him on hi

about him, and he saw that he was in another forest, and another little hut stood

od people?" said he. "Only take care tha

og called Bary, who can hear a wolf com

rning Bary let them know that the Iron Wolf

for you to be

n by the way. He took the hearth cake, sat him on his horse, and of

and his dogs lay down also-Chutko on the threshold of the room door, Vazhko at the threshold of the house door, and Bary at the threshold of the ou

l dogs around him, mounted his ho

TNO

d with white cloth on which the bri

Hear

eavys

ateful

d her majesty very much; and sometimes when the dog had gone away to its dinner, the Ranee used to put the two puppies (her children) into the kennel, and carry away the dog's two little girls to the palace. Then the poor dog grew very unhappy, and said: "They never will leave my two little children alone. I must take them away into the jungle, or their lives will be worried out." So one nigh

h said: "Look, the dog is muddy: he must have found water; follow him, and see where he goes." The attendants followed the dog, and saw him go to the stream at the mouth of the cave where the two children were; and the two children also saw them, and were very much frightened and ran inside the cave. Then the attendants returned to the two princes and said: "We have found clear, sparkling water flowing past a cave, and, what is more, within the cave are two of the most lovely young ladies that ey

kind, and it is a great joy to me to see you again, but I must not stay; I will first go and see your younger sister, and then return." The Ranee answered: "Do not do so, dear mother; rest here to-day; to-morrow I will send and let my sister know, and she, too, will come and see you." But the poor, silly dog would not stay, but ran to the house of her second daughter. Now the second daughter was looking out of the window when the unfortunate creature came to the door, and seeing the dog she said to herself: "That must be my mother. What will my husband think if he learns that this wretched, ugly, miserable-looking dog is my mother?" So she ordered her servants to go

and behold! there lay the statue of a dog, life-size, composed entirely of diamonds, emeralds, and other precious stones, set in gold! So he called out to his wife, and said: "Where did you get this beautiful do

she got into for no

but really she had determined to kill herself, and so get out of her difficulties. Away she went; and when she had gone some distance in her palanquin, she saw a large white ants' nest, over which hung a cobra, with his mouth wide open; then the Ranee thought: "I will go to that cobra and put my finger in his mouth, that he may bite me, and so I shall die." So she ordered the palkee bearers to wait, and said she would be back in a while, and got out, and ran to the ants' nest, and put her finger in the cobra's mouth. Now a large thorn had run, a short time before, into the cobra's throat, and hurt him very much; and the Ranee, by putt

magnificent old Rajah and Ranee, who introduced themselves to the young Rajah as his papa- and mamma-in-law. The Rajah and Ranee stayed at the palace six months, and were entertained the whole of that time with feasting and music; and they left for their own home loaded with presents. Before they started, however, the Ranee went to her friend, the cobra, and said: "You have conjured up all these beautiful things to get me out of my difficulties, but my husband, the Rajah has enjoyed his visit so much that he will certainly want to come here again.

over the sad fate o

s brother went home to his wife very discontented, and asked her why she had never told him of her parents, and taken him to see them, whereby he might have received rich gifts as well as his brothe

s she told he

the cobra, and get presents too." The Rane

, and prepare them for a visit from him. When she reached the ants' nest she saw the cobra

Magi

he only left his widow and son two hundred florins. The old woman determined to put by the money for a rainy day, but, alas! the rainy day was close at hand, for their meal was all consumed, and who is prepare

e of angry voices and barking of dogs. Mixing in the crowd, he noticed a stag hound which the butchers had caught and ti

you beating the po

im," they replied. "He has jus

," said Martin, "and s

ers derisively; "but for such a treasure we wo

not take less"; and taking the money out of his pocket he ha

e his mother met hi

at have y

re was scarcely a handful of meal in the house, to have spent the money on a useless brute like that. On the following day she sent him back to the town, saying: "Here, take

ooking peasant who was dragging a cat after him by a

. "Where are you dra

rown it," wa

he poor beast do

led a goose," re

ll it to me instea

ndred florins,"

he money." And so saying he handed him the one hundred florins, which the pea

me his mother greeted

have you b

this cat, Waska,

hat be

to buy anything else

read among strangers," And as Martin did not dare to contradict her, he called Schurka and Waska and started off wit

rk as a day labor

my laborers without wages. If you serve me faithfully

y, not sparing himself in any way. When the day of reckoning had come the peasant led hi

rowing the sack over his shoulders he started out into the world in search of fresh work. On and on he walked, and at last he reached a great gloomy wood. In the middle of the wood he came upon a me

fe. Extinguish the flames with the sand that y

a weight it is." And forthwith he lowered the sack from his shoulders and emptied its contents on the flames, and instantly the fire was extinguished; but at

here, remember this-he will offer you gold and silver and dazzling gems, but do not touch them. Ask him, instead, for the ring which he wears on his little finger, for in that ring lies

the lovely damsel. Pointing to the rock, she showed him an opening just big enough for a man to wriggle through. Passing into it, they entered a long underground passage which led out on to a wide field above which spread a blue sky. In the middl

ere received by the King with great ki

e hope of ever seeing you again. Wh

we my life to this youth, who

"I will reward your courage by granting you whatever your heart de

ious stones; yet if you will grant me a favor, give me, I beg, the ring from off the little finger of your royal hand.

ood youth; but with it I make one condition-you are never to confide to anyone that

g in the old house where he had left her, they settled down together very happily. So uneventful was their life that it almost seemed as if it would go on in this way always without let or hindrance. But one day it suddenly came

to her, "and demand the hand of his

? That would be far more fitting than to send a poor old woman like me a-wooing to the King's court for the hand of a princess.

Trust me; all will be well. But see that you do

those steps. But their stern words and forbidding gestures made no impression whatever on the old woman, and she resolutely continued to climb the stairs, bent on carrying out her son's orders. Upon this some of the courtiers seized her by the arms and held her back by sheer force, at which she set up such a yell that the King himself heard it and stepped out on to the balcony to see what was the matter. When he beheld the o

me, what can I do for

her-"and your majesty must not be a

er mind?" said the Kin

ut of my mind. You, O King, have a lovely daughter to give in marriage. I have a son-a wooer-as clever a youth and as good a son-in-law as you will

ght to himself: "Is it worth while that I, the King, should be angry with this poor old fool?" And all the courtiers and counselors were amazed when they

ridge there must be growing trees, having golden and silver apples and with birds of paradise among the branches. At the right of the bridge there must be a church with five golden cupolas. In this church your son shall be wedded to my daughter, and we will keep the wedding festivit

t of the old woman's folly, and praised the King's wise device and said to each other: "What a joke it will be when we see the pair of t

s mortally afraid, and in

will, O King? Must I take

my order he shall be rewarded with my daughter; but if he

ter tears, and when she saw Martin she told

this day if you had. As I told you, my going to court has been as much as our lives are worth, and now we will

n. "Trust me, and you will see all will be

hich twelve youths instantly appeared and demanded what he wanted them to do. Then he told them the King's

to his amazement he beheld a magnificent castle, just opposit

if they would summon people from all corners of the earth to come and behold the wonder. Now, though the King would much rather have seen his future son-in-law tarred, feathered, and burned at the stake, he remembered his royal oath and had to mak

o coax him to tell her how he was so clever that there was nothing in the world that he could not do. At first he would tell her nothing; but once, when he was in a yielding mood, she approached him with a winning smile on her lovely face, and speaking flattering words to him she gave him a potion to drink, with a sweet, strong taste. And when he had drunk it Martin's lips were unsealed, and he told her that all his power lay in the magic ring that he wore on his finger, and he described to her how to use it, and still speaking he fell into a deep sleep. And when she saw that the potion had worked and that he was sound asleep, the Princess took the magic

ning when the King woke and looked out of his window he beheld to his amazement that the palace, bridge, c

word. Then the King was very angry, and calling a council together, he charged Martin with having been guilty of witchcraft, and of having deceived the King, a

ces; but Waska purred meditatively, scratched the back of her ear with a velvet paw, and remained lost in thought. At the end of a few minutes she had made up her mind, and turning to Schurka, said: "Let us go together into the town, and the moment we meet a baker you must make a rush between his leg

olls, sw

ead of e

buy, come

find it to

hurka, Waska managed to drag the rolls out of sight behind a bush. And when a moment later Schurka joined her, they set off at full tilt to the stone tower wh

alive,

ed Martin in a weak voice. "I little thought it

l, and then another and another till she had brought him the whole tray load. Upon which she said: "Dear master, Schurka and I are going off to

had borne the Princess, was not very far off. And one day they reached that distant kingdom, and going at once to the palace they began to make friends with all the dogs and cats in the place and to question them about the Princess and the magic ring; but no one could tell them much about either. Now, one day it chanced that Waska had gone down to the palace cellar to hunt for mice and rats,

here lives a princess, the wicked wife of my dear master. She has stolen away his magic ring. You must get it

own and gray, assembled and formed a circle around their king, who was a prisoner under Waska's claws. Turning to them he said: "Dear and faithful subjects, whoev

I have noticed that she has a ring which she treasures as the apple of her eye. All day she wears it on h

hers and threw them under the Princess's nose. And the fluff flew into the Princess's nose and into her mouth, and starting up she sneezed and coughed, and the ring fell out of her mouth on to the coverlet. In a flash the tiny mouse had seized it

master, are yo

you?" replied a weak voice. "I am dying of h

ut happiness and prosperity. If this were a moment to trouble you with riddles, I would make

red happily, while below Schurka bounded in the air and barked joyfully. Then Martin took the ring and thre

uickly as possible; and after that bring musici

aking merry to the sound of music and to the clatter of plates and glass and knives and forks; and the music was so enchantingly sweet that all the passers-by stood still to listen to it. On this the King sent at once a messenger to Starvation Tower,

e trees with the golden and silver apples and with the birds of paradise in the branches, and put back the church with the five cupolas, and let the bells

him into the new palace, where the Princess sat in fear and trembling awaiting her death. And Martin spoke to the King,

aw, if you love me, let your anger be turned to grace-for

ver after. And his old mother came and lived with them, and he never parted with Schurka a

fo

ugar cane on the other side of the river. If you will take me across, I'll show you the place. This plan will suit me as well as you. You w

ack. When they reached the other side, the Camel went to eating the sugar cane, and the Jackal

d eaten more than two or three mouthfuls; and no sooner had he finished his dinner tha

nts." And they all went down to the place to drive him away. But when they got there they found to their surprise not only a jackal, but a camel who was ea

"We had better go home." And the Camel said: "Ve

ch you have treated me, friend Jackal. No sooner had you finished your own dinner than you must go yelping about the place loud enough to arouse the whole village, and

"It is a habit I have. I always l

he said, "I feel very anxious to roll." "Oh, pray don't; why do you wish to do so?" asked the Jackal. "I don't know," answered the Camel. "It is a habit I have. I always like

he Tiger, and

e road, came upon an iron cage, in which a great tig

ve pity on me, and let me out of this cage for one minute only to drink a little water, for I am dyin

ok pity on him and opened the cage door; but no sooner had he done so than the Tiger, jumping out, said: "Now, I will eat you first and drink the water afterwards." But the Brahm

"it shall be as you say; we wil

ent." "On what must I give judgment?" asked the Banyan Tree. "This Tiger," said the Brahman, "begged me to let him out of his cage to drink a litt

om the scorching rays of the sun; but when they have rested, they cut and break my pretty bran

," cried the Brahman, "hear and give judgment." "On what shall I give judgment?" asked the Camel. And the Brahman related how the Tiger had begged him to open the cage door, and promised not to eat him if he did so; and how he had afterwards determined to break his word, and asked if that were just or not. The

man, but the latter said: "Stop, Tiger, f

ahman answered: "I found this Tiger in a cage, and he prayed me to open the door and let him out to drink a little water, and promised not to kill me if I did so; but when I had let him out he resolved to put me to death. Is it fair that he shou

nst the Brahman, but still he did not lose a

t must I give judgment?" asked the Eagle. The Brahman stated the case, and the Eagle answered: "Whenever men see me they try to s

must first be asked." After this they saw an alligator, and the Brahman related the matter to him, hoping for a more favorable verdict. But the Alligator

ispute began. Show me the place." So the Brahman and the Tiger returned to the place where they first met, and the Jackal went with them. When they got there, the Jackal said: "Now Brahman, show me exactly where you stood." "Here," said the Brahman, standing by the iron tiger cage. "Exactly there, was it?" asked the Jackal. "Exactly here," replied the Brahman. "Where was the Tiger, then?" asked the Jackal. "In the c

d your cage door, is to eat him the only return you would make? Stay there, then, for the rest of your days, for n

ne direction, and the Brahman went

hie

fish and put him in a basin of water. Shortly afterwards the Ranee saw him, and, thinking him very pretty, kept him as a pet; and because she had no children she lavished all her affection on the fish and loved him as a son; and the people called him Muchie Rajah (the Fish Prince). In a little while Muchie Rajah had grown too long to live in the small basin, so they put him in a larger one, and then when he grew too long for that

not you get me a wife?" The Ranee promised to try, and sent messengers to all the people she knew to ask if they would allow one of their children to marry her son, the Fish Princ

en she heard of the errand on which the messengers had come, she sent for them when the Fakir was out, and said to them: "Give me the bag of gold mohurs, and you shall take my little daughter to marry the Muchie Rajah." ("For," she thought to herself, "the great fish will certainly eat the girl, and she will thus trouble us no more.") Then, turning to her stepdaughter, she said: "Go down to the river and wash your saree, that you may be fit to go with these people, who will take you to the Ranee's court." At these words the poor girl went down to the river very sorrowful, for she saw no hope of escape, as her father was from home. As she knelt by the riverside, washing her saree and crying bitterly, some of her tears fell into the hole of an old seven-headed cobra, who lived on the river bank. This Cobra was a very wise animal, and seeing the maiden, he put his head out of his hole and said to her, "Little girl, why do you cry?" "Oh, sir," she answered, "I am very unhappy, for my father is from home, and my stepmother has sold me to the Ranee's people to be the wife of the Muchie R

room which had been prepared for her. When the Fakir's daughter got there, she thought she had never seen such a pretty place in her life, for the Ranee had caused the little room to be very nicely decorated for the wife of her favorite;

he sank to the bottom of the tank; a second time he rose and came toward her, and she threw the second stone at him, and he again sank down; a third time he came more fiercely than before, when, seizing the third stone, she threw it with all her force. No sooner did it touch him than the spell was broken, and there, instead of a fish, stood a handsome young prince. The

, 'THIS IS A DE

down came all their attendants and dragged Muchie Rajah and the Fakir's daughter up the side of the tank in a basket; and when they heard their story there were great and unparalleled rejoicings. The Ranee said: "So I have indeed found a son at last!" And the people were so delighted, so happy and so proud of the new Prince and Pr

to visit my native village and see him again." "Very well," he replied, "you may go. But do not stay away long, for there can be no happiness for me till you return." So she went, and her father was delighted to see her; but her stepmother, though she pretended to be very kind, was, in reality, only glad to think she had got the Ranee into her power, and determined, if possible, never to allow her to return to the palace again. One day therefore she sai

in which the Cobra and his wife and all his little ones lived had two entrances-the one under the water and leading to the river, and the other above water, leading out into the open fields. To this upper end of his hole the Cobra took the Muchie Ranee, where he and his wife took care of her; and there she lived with them for some time. Meanwhile, the wicked Fakir's wife, having dressed up her own daughter in all the Ranee's jewels, took her to the palace, and said to the Muchie Rajah: "See, I have brought your wife, my dear daughter, back safe and well." The Rajah looked at her, and thought, "This does not look like my wife." However, the room was dark and the girl was cleverly disguised, and he thought he might be mistaken. Next day he said again: "My wife must be sadly changed or this cannot be she, for she was always bright and

hen he was about three years old a bangle seller came by that way, and the Muchie Ranee bought some bangles from him and put them on her boy's wrists and ankles; but by the next day, in playing, he had broken them all. Then, seeing the bangle seller, the Ranee called him again and bought some more, and so on every day until the bangle seller got quite rich from selling so many bangles for the Muchie Lal-for the Cobra's hole was

obliged to stay

he bangle seller, "a woman and a child. The child is the most beautiful I ever saw. He is about three years old, and of course, running about, is always breaking his bangles, and his mother buys him new ones every day." "Do you know what the child's name is?" said the Rajah. "Yes," answered the bangle seller carelessly, "for the lady always calls him her Muchie Lal." "Ah," thought the Muchie Rajah, "this must be my wife." Then he said to him again: "Good bangle seller, I would see these strange people of whom you speak; cannot you take me there?" "Not to-night," replied the bangle seller; "daylight has gone, and we should o

how the good Cobra had saved her life and taken care of her and her child. Then he said, "And will you now come home with me?" And she told him how the Cobra would never let her go, and said: "I will first tell him of your coming; for he has been as a father to me." So she called out: "Father Cobra, father Cobra, my husband has come to fetch me; will you let me go?" "Yes," he said, "if your husband has come to fetch you,

TNO

mohurs is equal

tle Rub

ant Chat

s in the roof, and as she did so she kept saying to herself: "Oh, dear! oh, dear! how tiresome this is! I'm sure the roof will come down! If an elephant, or a lion, or a tiger were to walk in, he wouldn't frighten me half so much as this perpetual dripping." And then she would begin dragging the bed and all the other things in the room about again, to get them out of the way of the wet. The tiger, who was crouching down just outside, hea

being very cold, he had, truth to say, taken a little more toddy than was good for him, and seeing, by the glare of a fla

uring rain and on such a dark night as this? Get up instantly or I'll break every bone in your body"; so he went on scolding and thumping the tiger with his utmost power, for he had worked himself up into a terrible rage. The tiger did not know what to ma

ting him the whole way, for all this time he fancied he was on his donkey; and then he tied his forefeet and his

nd running to her husband, awoke him, saying: "Do you know what animal you fetched home last night?" "Yes, the donkey, to be sure," he answered. "Come and see," said she, and she showed him the great tiger tied to the post. The Chatteemak

w he had caught the tiger and tied it to the post; and this they thought so wonderful that they sent a deputation to the Ra

nd see this astonishing sight. So he sent for his horses and carriages, his lords and atten

inary; and all this being represented to the Rajah, he determined to confer all possible honor on the valiant Chatteemaker. So he gave him ho

his intention of going instantly to war with him; and tidings were brought at the same time that the Rajah who sent the

new not whom to appoint in their stead. Then some of his people said to him: "You have lately given the command of ten thousand horse to the valiant Chatteemaker who caught the tiger. Why not make him commander-in-chief? A man who could catch a tiger and tie him to a post, must surely be more courageous and clever than most." "Very well," said the Rajah, "I will make h

I shall have to ride at the head of all the army, and you know I never was on a horse in my life. But I have succeeded in gaining a little delay, as the Rajah has given m

erful and spirited, and he felt sure that even if he ever got on it, he should very soon tumble off; however, he did not dare to refuse it, for fear of offending the Rajah by not accepting his present. So he sent back to him a message of thanks, and said to his wife: "I cannot go on the pony,

one great jump he jumped into the saddle, but with his face toward the horse's tail. "This won't do at all," said his wife as she helped him down again; "try getting on without jumping." "I never can remember," he continued, "when I have got my left foot in the stirrup, what to do with my right foot or where to put it." "That must go in the other stirrup," she answered; "let me help you." So after many trials in which he tumbled down very often, for the horse

across country. "Wife, wife!" cried the Chatteemaker, "you forgot to tie my hands." "Never mind," said she, "hold on by the mane." So he caught hold of the horse's mane as firmly as he could. Then away went horse, away wen

free, and stretching out his hand as the horse shot past a young banyan tree, seized hold of it with all his might, hoping that the resistance it offered might cause the ropes that tied him to break. But the horse was going at his

the very trees in their rage; we can oppose men, but not monsters such as these." These were followed by others, who said: "It is all true," for by this time the Chatteemaker had got pretty near the camp; "they're coming! they're coming! let us fly! let us fly-fly, fly for your lives!" And the whole panic-stricken multitude fled from the camp, those who had seen no cause for alarm going because the others did, or because they did not care to stay by themselves, after having obliged their Rajah to write a letter to the one whose country he was about to invade, to say that he would not do so, and to propose terms of peace, and to sign it and seal it with his seal. Sc

many wonderful and terrible adventures. But never mind that now: send this letter quickly to the Rajah by a messenger, and send the horse also that he sent for me to ride. He will then see, by the horse looking so tired, what a long ride I've had; and if he is sent on beforehand, I shall not be obliged to ride him up to the palace door to-morrow morning, as I otherwise should, and that would be very tiresome, for most likely I should tumble off." So his wife sent the horse and t

reed upon between the two countries, and the Chatteemaker was rewarded for all he had done, by being g

E

TNO

Po

riber'

tuation erro

indicated by dotted lines under the corrections. Scroll t

hanged to "The"

ded to text. Original r

nged to "are" (if

, "MICHEAL" changed to "MICHA

hanged to "perseverance" (

hanged to "passed"