_A FRENCH PUCK_
AMONG the mountain pastures and valleys that lie in the centre of France
there dwelt a mischievous kind of spirit, whose delight it was to play
tricks on everybody, and particularly on the shepherds and the cowboys.
They never knew when they were safe from him, as he could change himself
into a man, woman or child, a stick, a goat, a ploughshare. Indeed,
there was only one thing whose shape he could not take, and that was a
needle. At least, he _could_ transform himself into a needle, but try as
he might he never was able to imitate the hole, so every woman would
have found him out at once, and this he knew.
Now the hour oftenest chosen by this naughty sprite (whom we will call
Puck) for performing his pranks was about midnight, just when the
shepherds and cowherds, tired out with their long day's work, were sound
asleep. Then he would go into the cowsheds and unfasten the chains that
fixed each beast in its own stall, and let them fall with a heavy clang
to the ground. The noise was so loud that it was certain to awaken the
cowboys, however fatigued they might be, and they dragged themselves
wearily to the stable to put back the chains. But no sooner had they
returned to their beds than the same thing happened again, and so on
till the morning. Or perhaps Puck would spend his night in plaiting
together the manes and tails of two of the horses, so that it would take
the grooms hours of labour to get them right in the morning, while Puck,
hidden among the hay in the loft, would peep out to watch them,
enjoying himself amazingly all the time.
* * * * *
One evening more than eighty years ago a man named William was passing
along the bank of a stream when he noticed a sheep who was bleating
loudly. William thought it must have strayed from the flock, and that he
had better take it home with him till he could discover its owner. So he
went up to where it was standing, and as it seemed so tired that it
could hardly walk, he hoisted it on his shoulders and continued on his
way. The sheep was pretty heavy, but the good man was merciful and
staggered along as best he could under his load.
'It is not much further,' he thought to himself as he reached an avenue
of walnut trees, when suddenly a voice spoke out from over his head, and
made him jump.
'Where are you?' said the voice, and the sheep answered:
'Here on the shoulders of a donkey.'
In another moment the sheep was standing on the ground and William was
running towards home as fast as his legs would carry him. But as he
went, a laugh, which yet was something of a bleat, rang in his ears, and
though he tried not to hear, the words reached him, 'Oh, dear! What fun
I have had, to be sure!'
* * * * *
Puck was careful not always to play his tricks in the same place, but
visited one village after another, so that everyone trembled lest he
should be the next victim. After a bit he grew tired of cowboys and
shepherds, and wondered if there was no one else to give him some sport.
At length he was told of a young couple who were going to the nearest
town to buy all that they needed for setting up house. Quite certain
that they would forget something which they could not do without, Puck
waited patiently till they were jogging along in their cart on their
return journey, and changed himself into a fly in order to overhear
their conversation.
For a long time it was very dull--all about their wedding day next
month, and who were to be invited. This led the bride to her wedding
dress, and she gave a little scream.
'Just think! Oh! how _could_ I be so stupid! I have forgotten to buy the
different coloured reels of cotton to match my clothes!'
'Dear, dear!' exclaimed the young man. 'That _is_ unlucky; and didn't
you tell me that the dressmaker was coming in to-morrow?'
'Yes, I did,' and then suddenly she gave another little scream, which
had quite a different sound from the first. 'Look! Look!'
The bridegroom looked, and on one side of the road he saw a large ball
of thread of all colours--of all the colours, that is, of the dresses
that were tied on to the back of the cart.
'Well, that is a wonderful piece of good fortune,' cried he, as he
sprang out to get it. 'One would think a fairy had put it there on
purpose.'
'Perhaps she has,' laughed the girl, and as she spoke she seemed to hear
an echo of her laughter coming from the horse, but of course that was
nonsense.
* * * * *
The dressmaker was delighted with the thread that was given her. It
matched the stuffs so perfectly, and never tied itself in knots, or
broke perpetually, as most thread did. She finished her work much
quicker than she expected, and the bride said she was to be sure to come
to the church and see her in her wedding dress.
There was a great crowd assembled to witness the ceremony, for the young
people were immense favourites in the neighbourhood, and their parents
were very rich. The doors were open, and the bride could be seen from
afar, walking under the chestnut avenue.
'What a beautiful girl!' exclaimed the men. 'What a lovely dress!'
whispered the women. But just as she entered the church and took the
hand of the bridegroom, who was waiting for her, a loud noise was heard.
'Crick! crack! Crick! crack!' and the wedding garments fell to the
ground, to the great confusion of the wearer.
Not that the ceremony was put off for a little thing like that. Cloaks
in profusion were instantly offered to the young bride, but she was so
upset that she could hardly keep from tears. One of the guests, more
curious than the rest, stayed behind to examine the dress, determined,
if she could, to find out the cause of the disaster.
'The thread _must_ have been rotten,' she said to herself. 'I will see
if I can break it.' But search as she would she could find none.
The thread had vanished.
From 'Littérature Orale de l'Auvergne,' par Paul Sébillot.
_THE THREE CROWNS_
THERE was once a king who had three daughters. The two eldest were very
proud and quarrelsome, but the youngest was as good as they were bad.
Well, three princes came to court them, and two of them were exactly
like the eldest ladies, and one was just as lovable as the youngest. One
day they were all walking down to a lake that lay at the bottom of the
lawn when they met a poor beggar. The king wouldn't give him anything,
and the eldest princesses wouldn't give him anything, nor their
sweethearts; but the youngest daughter and her true love did give him
something, and kind words along with it, and that was better than all.
When they got to the edge of the lake what did they find but the
beautifullest boat you ever saw in your life; and says the eldest, 'I'll
take a sail in this fine boat'; and says the second eldest, 'I'll take a
sail in this fine boat'; and says the youngest, 'I won't take a sail in
that fine boat, for I am afraid it's an enchanted one.' But the others
persuaded her to go in, and her father was just going in after her, when
up sprung on the deck a little man only seven inches high, and ordered
him to stand back. Well, all the men put their hands to their swords;
and if the same swords were only playthings, they weren't able to draw
them, for all strength that was left their arms. _Seven Inches_ loosened
the silver chain that fastened the boat, and pushed away, and after
grinning at the four men, says he to them, 'Bid your daughters and your
brides farewell for awhile. You,' says he to the youngest, 'needn't
fear, you'll recover your princess all in good time, and you and she
will be as happy as the day is long. Bad people, if they were rolling
stark naked in gold, would not be rich. Good-bye.' Away they sailed, and
the ladies stretched out their hands, but weren't able to say a word.
Well, they weren't crossing the lake while a cat 'ud be lickin' her ear,
and the poor men couldn't stir hand or foot to follow them. They saw
_Seven Inches_ handing the three princesses out of the boat, and letting
them down by a basket into a draw-well, but king nor princes ever saw an
opening before in the same place. When the last lady was out of sight,
the men found the strength in their arms and legs again. Round the lake
they ran, and never drew rein till they came to the well and windlass;
and there was the silk rope rolled on the axle, and the nice white
basket hanging to it. 'Let me down,' says the youngest prince. 'I'll die
or recover them again.' 'No,' says the second daughter's sweetheart, 'it
is my turn first.' And says the other, 'I am the eldest.' So they gave
way to him, and in he got into the basket, and down they let him. First
they lost sight of him, and then, after winding off a hundred perches of
the silk rope, it slackened, and they stopped turning. They waited two
hours, and then they went to dinner, because there was no pull made at
the rope.
[Illustration: SEVEN INCHES CARRIES AWAY THE PRINCESSES]
[Illustration: IN CAME SEVEN INCHES HAND IN HAND WITH THE YOUNGEST
SISTER]
Guards were set till next morning, and then down went the second prince,
and sure enough, the youngest of all got himself let down on the third
day. He went down perches and perches, while it was as dark about him as
if he was in a big pot with a cover on. At last he saw a glimmer far
down, and in a short time he felt the ground. Out he came from the big
lime-kiln, and, lo! and behold you, there was a wood, and green fields,
and a castle in a lawn, and a bright sky over all. 'It's in Tir-na-n-Oge
I am,' says he. 'Let's see what sort of people are in the castle.' On
he walked, across fields and lawn, and no one was there to keep him out
or let him into the castle; but the big hall-door was wide open. He went
from one fine room to another that was finer, and at last he reached the
handsomest of all, with a table in the middle. And such a dinner as was
laid upon it! The prince was hungry enough, but he was too mannerly to
eat without being invited. So he sat by the fire, and he did not wait
long till he heard steps, and in came _Seven Inches_ with the youngest
sister by the hand. Well, prince and princess flew into one another's
arms, and says the little man, says he, 'Why aren't you eating?' 'I
think, sir,' says the prince, 'it was only good manners to wait to be
asked.' 'The other princes didn't think so,' says he. 'Each o' them fell
to without leave, and only gave me the rough words when I told them they
were making more free than welcome. Well, I don't think they feel much
hunger now. There they are, good _marble_ instead of flesh and blood,'
says he, pointing to two statues, one in one corner, and the other in
the other corner of the room. The prince was frightened, but he was
afraid to say anything, and _Seven Inches_ made him sit down to dinner
between himself and his bride; and he'd be as happy as the day is long,
only for the sight of the stone men in the corner. Well, that day went
by, and when the next came, says _Seven Inches_ to him, 'Now, you'll
have to set out that way,' pointing to the sun, 'and you'll find the
second princess in a giant's castle this evening, when you'll be tired
and hungry, and the eldest princess to-morrow evening; and you may as
well bring them here with you. You need not ask leave of their masters;
and perhaps if they ever get home, they'll look on poor people as if
they were flesh and blood like themselves.'
Away went the prince, and bedad! it's tired and hungry he was when he
reached the first castle, at sunset. Oh, wasn't the second princess glad
to see him! and what a good supper she gave him. But she heard the giant
at the gate, and she hid the prince in a closet. Well, when he came in,
he snuffed, an' he snuffed, and says he, '_By_ the life, I smell fresh
meat.' 'Oh,' says the princess, 'it's only the calf I got killed
to-day.' 'Ay, ay,' says he, 'is supper ready?' 'It is,' says she; and
before he rose from the table he ate three-quarters of a calf, and a
flask of wine. 'I think,' says he, when all was done, 'I smell fresh
meat still.' 'It's sleepy you are,' says she; 'go to bed.' 'When will
you marry me?' says the giant. 'You're putting me off too long.' 'St.
Tibb's Eve,' says she. 'I wish I knew how far off that is,' says he; and
he fell asleep, with his head in the dish.
Next day, he went out after breakfast, and she sent the prince to the
castle where the eldest sister was. The same thing happened there; but
when the giant was snoring, the princess wakened up the prince, and they
saddled two steeds in the stables and rode into the field on them. But
the horses' heels struck the stones outside the gate, and up got the
giant and strode after them. He roared and he shouted, and the more he
shouted, the faster ran the horses, and just as the day was breaking he
was only twenty perches behind. But the prince didn't leave the castle
of _Seven Inches_ without being provided with something good. He reined
in his steed, and flung a short, sharp knife over his shoulder, and up
sprung a thick wood between the giant and themselves. They caught the
wind that blew before them, and the wind that blew behind them did not
catch them. At last they were near the castle where the other sister
lived; and there she was, waiting for them under a high hedge, and a
fine steed under her.
But the giant was now in sight, roaring like a hundred lions, and the
other giant was out in a moment, and the chase kept on. For every two
springs the horses gave, the giants gave three, and at last they were
only seventy perches off. Then the prince stopped again, and flung the
second knife behind him. Down went all the flat field, till there was a
quarry between them a quarter of a mile deep, and the bottom filled with
black water; and before the giants could get round it, the prince and
princesses were inside the kingdom of the great magician, where the high
thorny hedge opened of itself to everyone that he chose to let in.
There was joy enough between the three sisters, till the two eldest saw
their lovers turned into stone. But while they were shedding tears for
them, _Seven Inches_ came in, and touched them with his rod. So they
were flesh, and blood, and life once more, and there was great hugging
and kissing, and all sat down to breakfast, and _Seven Inches_ sat at
the head of the table.
When breakfast was over, he took them into another room, where there was
nothing but heaps of gold, and silver, and diamonds, and silks, and
satins; and on a table there was lying three sets of crowns: a gold
crown was in a silver crown, and that was lying in a copper crown. He
took up one set of crowns, and gave it to the eldest princess; and
another set, and gave it to the second youngest princess; and another,
and gave it to the youngest of all; and says he, 'Now you may all go to
the bottom of the pit, and you have nothing to do but stir the basket,
and the people that are watching above will draw you up. But remember,
ladies, you are to keep your crowns safe, and be married in them, all
the same day. If you be married separately, or if you be married without
your crowns, a curse will follow--mind what I say.'
So they took leave of him with great respect, and walked arm-in-arm to
the bottom of the draw-well. There was a sky and a sun over them, and a
great high wall, covered with ivy, rose before them, and was so high
they could not see to the top of it; and there was an arch in this wall,
and the bottom of the draw-well was inside the arch. The youngest pair
went last; and says the princess to the prince, 'I'm sure the two
princes don't mean any good to you. Keep these crowns under your cloak,
and if you are obliged to stay last, don't get into the basket, but put
a big stone, or any heavy thing inside, and see what will happen.'
As soon as they were inside the dark cave, they put in the eldest
princess first, and stirred the basket, and up she went. Then the basket
was let down again, and up went the second princess, and then up went
the youngest; but first she put her arms round her prince's neck, and
kissed him, and cried a little. At last it came to the turn of the
youngest prince, and instead of going into the basket he put in a big
stone. He drew on one side and listened, and after the basket was drawn
up about twenty perches, down came it and the stone like thunder, and
the stone was broken into little bits.
Well, the poor prince had nothing for it but to walk back to the castle;
and through it and round it he walked, and the finest of eating and
drinking he got, and a bed of bog-down to sleep on, and long walks he
took through gardens and lawns, but not a sight could he get, high or
low, of _Seven Inches_. He, before a week, got tired of it, he was so
lonesome for his true love; and at the end of a month he didn't know
what to do with himself.
One morning he went into the treasure room, and took notice of a
beautiful snuff-box on the table that he didn't remember seeing there
before. He took it in his hands and opened it, and out _Seven Inches_
walked on the table. 'I think, prince,' says he, 'you're getting a
little tired of my castle?' 'Ah!' says the other, 'if I had my princess
here, and could see you now and then, I'd never know a dismal day.'
'Well, you're long enough here now, and you're wanted there above. Keep
your bride's crowns safe, and whenever you want my help, open this
snuff-box. Now take a walk down the garden, and come back when you're
tired.'
The prince was going down a gravel walk with a quick-set hedge on each
side, and his eyes on the ground, and he was thinking of one thing and
another. At last he lifted his eyes, and there he was outside of a
smith's gate, that he often passed before, about a mile away from the
palace of his betrothed princess. The clothes he had on him were as
ragged as you please, but he had his crowns safe under his old cloak.
Then the smith came out, and says he, 'It's a shame for a strong, big
fellow like you to be lazy, and so much work to be done. Are you any
good with hammer and tongs? Come in and bear a hand, an I'll give you
diet and lodging, and a few pence when you earn them.' 'Never say't
twice,' says the prince. 'I want nothing but to be busy.' So he took the
hammer, and pounded away at the red-hot bar that the smith was turning
on the anvil to make into a set of horse-shoes.
They hadn't been long at work when a tailor came in, and he sat down and
began to talk. 'You all heard how the two princesses were loth to be
married till the youngest would be ready with her crowns and her
sweetheart. But after the windlass loosened _accidentally_ when they
were pulling up her bridegroom that was to be, there was no more sign of
a well, or a rope, or a windlass, than there is on the palm of your
hand. So the princes that were courting the eldest ladies wouldn't give
peace or ease to their lovers nor the king till they got consent to the
marriage, and it was to take place this morning. Myself went down out o'
curiosity, and to be sure I was delighted with the grand dresses of the
two brides, and the three crowns on their heads--gold, silver, and
copper, one inside the other. The youngest was standing by mournful
enough, and all was ready. The two bridegrooms came in as proud and
grand as you please, and up they were walking to the altar rails, when
the boards opened two yards wide under their feet and down they went
among the dead men and the coffins in the vaults. Oh, such shrieks as
the ladies gave! and such running and racing and peeping down as there
was! but the clerk soon opened the door of the vault, and up came the
two princes, their fine clothes covered an inch thick with cobwebs and
mould.
[Illustration: DOWN WENT THE TWO BRIDEGROOMS]
So the king said they should put off the marriage. 'For,' says he, 'I
see there is no use in thinking of it till the youngest gets her three
crowns, and is married with the others. I'll give my youngest daughter
for a wife to whoever brings three crowns to me like the others; and if
he doesn't care to be married, some other one will, and I'll make his
fortune.'
'I wish,' says the smith, 'I could do it; but I was looking at the
crowns after the princesses got home, and I don't think there's a black
or a white smith on the face of the earth that could imitate them.'
'Faint heart never won fair lady,' says the prince. 'Go to the palace
and ask for a quarter of a pound of gold, a quarter of a pound of
silver, and a quarter of a pound of copper. Get one crown for a pattern,
and my head for a pledge, I'll give you out the very things that are
wanted in the morning.' 'Are you in earnest?' says the smith. 'Faith, I
am so,' says he. 'Go! you can't do worse than lose.'
To make a long story short, the smith got the quarter of a pound of
gold, and the quarter of a pound of silver, and the quarter of a pound
of copper, and gave them and the pattern crown to the prince. He shut
the forge door at nightfall, and the neighbours all gathered in the
yard, and they heard him hammering, hammering, hammering, from that to
day-break; and every now and then he'd throw out through the window bits
of gold, silver, and copper; and the idlers scrambled for them, and
cursed one another, and prayed for the good luck of the workman.
Well, just as the sun was thinking to rise, he opened the door, and
brought out the three crowns he got from his true love, and such
shouting and huzzaing as there was! The smith asked him to go along with
him to the palace, but he refused; so off set the smith, and the whole
townland with him; and wasn't the king rejoiced when he saw the crowns!
'Well,' says he to the smith, 'you're a married man. What's to be
done?' 'Faith, your majesty, I didn't make them crowns at all. It was a
big fellow that took service with me yesterday.' 'Well, daughter, will
you marry the fellow that made these crowns?' 'Let me see them first,
father,' said she; but when she examined them she knew them right well,
and guessed it was her true love that sent them. 'I will marry the man
that these crowns came from,' says she.
'Well,' says the king to the eldest of the two princes, 'go up to the
smith's forge, take my best coaches, and bring home the bridegroom.' He
did not like doing this, he was so proud, but he could not refuse. When
he came to the forge he saw the prince standing at the door, and
beckoned him over to the coach. 'Are you the fellow,' says he, 'that
made these crowns?' 'Yes,' says the other. 'Then,' says he, 'maybe you'd
give yourself a brushing, and get into that coach; the king wants to see
you. I pity the princess.' The young prince got into the carriage, and
while they were on the way he opened the snuff-box, and out walked
_Seven Inches_, and stood on his thigh. 'Well,' says he, 'what trouble
is on you now?' 'Master,' says the other, 'please let me go back to my
forge, and let this carriage be filled with paving stones.' No sooner
said than done. The prince was sitting in his forge, and the horses
wondered what was after happening to the carriage.
When they came into the palace yard, the king himself opened the
carriage door, for respect to his new son-in-law. As soon as he turned
the handle, a shower of small stones fell on his powdered wig and his
silk coat, and down he fell under them. There was great fright and some
laughter, and the king, after he wiped the blood from his forehead,
looked very cross at the eldest prince. 'My lord,' says he, 'I'm very
sorry for this _accident_, but I'm not to blame. I saw the young smith
get into the carriage, and we never stopped a minute since.' 'It's
uncivil you were to him. Go,' says he to the other prince, 'and bring
the young smith here, and be polite.' 'Never fear,' says he.
But there's some people that couldn't be good-natured if they tried, and
not a bit civiller was the new messenger than the old, and when the king
opened the carriage door a second time, it's a shower of mud that came
down on him. 'There's no use,' says he, 'going on this way. The fox
never got a better messenger than himself.'
So he changed his clothes, and washed himself, and out he set to the
prince's forge and asked him to sit along with himself. The prince
begged to be allowed to sit in the other carriage, and when they were
half-way he opened his snuff-box. 'Master,' says he, 'I'd wish to be
dressed now according to my rank.' 'You shall be that,' says _Seven
Inches_. 'And now I'll bid you farewell. Continue as good and kind as
you always were; love your wife; and that's all the advice I'll give
you.' So _Seven Inches_ vanished; and when the carriage door was opened
in the yard, out walks the prince as fine as hands could make him, and
the first thing he did was to run over to his bride and embrace her.
Every one was full of joy but the two other princes. There was not much
delay about the marriages, and they were all celebrated on the one day.
Soon after, the two elder couples went to their own courts, but the
youngest pair stayed with the old king, and they were as happy as the
happiest married couple you ever heard of in a story.