He could hear that she really was coming to open the door to him, only

she was so very long about it. First she chased away her cat, lest it

should run away when the door was opened, then he heard her talking to

herself and made out that her lamp wanted trimming, that she might see

better who it was that knocked, and then that it lacked fresh oil, and

she must refill it. So what with one thing and another she was an

immense time trotting to and fro, and all the while she now and again

bade the Prince have patience. When at last he stood within the little

hut he saw with despair that it was a picture of poverty, and that not a

crumb of anything eatable was to be seen, and when he explained to the

old woman that he was dying of hunger and fatigue she only answered

tranquilly that he must have patience. However, she presently showed him

a bundle of straw on which he could sleep.

'But what can I have to eat?' cried Prince Vivien sharply.

'Wait a little, wait a little,' she replied. 'If you will only have

patience I am just going out into the garden to gather some peas: we

will shell them at our leisure, then I will light a fire and cook them,

and when they are thoroughly done, we can enjoy them peaceably; there is

no hurry.'

'I shall have died of starvation by the time all that is done,' said the

Prince ruefully.

'Patience, patience,' said the old woman looking at him with her slow

gentle smile, 'I can't be hurried. "All things come at last to him who

waits;" you must have heard that often.'

Prince Vivien was wild with aggravation, but there was nothing to be

done.

'Come then,' said the old woman, 'you shall hold the lamp to light me

while I pick the peas.'

The Prince in his haste snatched it up so quickly that it went out, and

it took him a long time to light it again with two little bits of

glowing charcoal which he had to dig out from the pile of ashes upon the

hearth. However, at last the peas were gathered and shelled, and the

fire lighted, but then they had to be carefully counted, since the old

woman declared that she would cook fifty-four, and no more. In vain did

the Prince represent to her that he was famished--that fifty-four peas

would go no way towards satisfying his hunger--that a few peas, more or

less, surely could not matter. It was quite useless, in the end he had

to count out the fifty-four, and worse than that, because he dropped one

or two in his hurry, he had to begin again from the very first, to be

sure the number was complete. As soon as they were cooked the old dame

took a pair of scales and a morsel of bread from the cupboard, and was

just about to divide it when Prince Vivien, who really could wait no

longer, seized the whole piece and ate it up, saying in his turn,

'Patience.'

'You mean that for a joke,' said the old woman, as gently as ever, 'but

that is really my name, and some day you will know more about me.'

Then they each ate their twenty-seven peas, and the Prince was surprised

to find that he wanted nothing more, and he slept as sweetly upon his

bed of straw as he had ever done in his palace.

In the morning the old woman gave him milk and bread for his breakfast,

which he ate contentedly, rejoicing that there was nothing to be

gathered, or counted, or cooked, and when he had finished he begged her

to tell him who she was.

'That I will, with pleasure,' she replied. 'But it will be a long

story.'

'Oh! if it's long, I can't listen,' cried the Prince.

'But,' said she, 'at your age, you should attend to what old people say,

and learn to have patience.'

'But, but,' said the Prince, in his most impatient tone, 'old people

should not be so long-winded! Tell me what country I have got into, and

nothing else.'

'With all my heart,' said she. 'You are in the Forest of the Black Bird;

it is here that he utters his oracles.'

'An Oracle,' cried the Prince. 'Oh! I must go and consult him.'

Thereupon he drew a handful of gold from his pocket, and offered it to

the old woman, and when she would not take it, he threw it down upon the

table and was off like a flash of lightning, without even staying to ask

the way. He took the first path that presented itself and followed it at

the top of his speed, often losing his way, or stumbling over some

stone, or running up against a tree, and leaving behind him without

regret the cottage which had been as little to his taste as the

character of its possessor. After some time he saw in the distance a

huge black castle which commanded a view of the whole forest. The Prince

felt certain that this must be the abode of the Oracle, and just as the

sun was setting he reached its outermost gates. The whole castle was

surrounded by a deep moat, and the drawbridge and the gates, and even

the water in the moat, were all of the same sombre hue as the walls and

towers. Upon the gate hung a huge bell, upon which was written in red

letters:

'Mortal, if thou art curious to know thy fate, strike this bell, and

submit to what shall befall thee.'

The Prince, without the smallest hesitation, snatched up a great stone,

and hammered vigorously upon the bell, which gave forth a deep and

terrible sound, the gate flew open, and closed again with a thundering

clang the moment the Prince had passed through it, while from every

tower and battlement rose a wheeling, screaming crowd of bats which

darkened the whole sky with their multitudes. Anyone but Prince Vivien

would have been terrified by such an uncanny sight, but he strode

stoutly forward till he reached the second gate, which was opened to him

by sixty black slaves covered from head to foot in long mantles.

[Illustration]

He wished to speak to them, but soon discovered that they spoke an

utterly unknown language, and did not seem to understand a word he said.

This was a great aggravation to the Prince, who was not accustomed to

keep his ideas to himself, and he positively found himself wishing for

his old friend Patience. However, he had to follow his guides in

silence, and they led him into a magnificent hall; the floor was of

ebony, the walls of jet, and all the hangings were of black velvet, but

the Prince looked round it in vain for something to eat, and then made

signs that he was hungry. In the same manner he was respectfully given

to understand that he must wait, and after several hours the sixty

hooded and shrouded figures re-appeared, and conducted him with great

ceremony, and also very very slowly, to a banqueting hall, where they

all placed themselves at a long table. The dishes were arranged down the

centre of it, and with his usual impetuosity the Prince seized the one

that stood in front of him to draw it nearer, but soon found that it was

firmly fixed in its place. Then he looked at his solemn and lugubrious

neighbours, and saw that each one was supplied with a long hollow reed

through which he slowly sucked up his portion, and the Prince was

obliged to do the same, though he found it a frightfully tedious

process. After supper, they returned as they had come to the ebony room,

where he was compelled to look on while his companions played

interminable games of chess, and not until he was nearly dying of

weariness did they, slowly and ceremoniously as before, conduct him to

his sleeping apartment. The hope of consulting the Oracle woke him very

early the next morning, and his first demand was to be allowed to

present himself before it, but, without replying, his attendants

conducted him to a huge marble bath, very shallow at one end, and quite

deep at the other, and gave him to understand that he was to go into it.

The Prince, nothing loth, was for springing at once into deep water, but

he was gently but forcibly held back and only allowed to stand where it

was about an inch deep, and he was nearly wild with impatience when he

found that this process was to be repeated every day in spite of all he

could say or do, the water rising higher and higher by inches, so that

for sixty days he had to live in perpetual silence, ceremoniously

conducted to and fro, supping all his meals through the long reed, and

looking on at innumerable games of chess, the game of all others which

he detested most. But at last the water rose as high as his chin, and

his bath was complete. And that day the slaves in their black robes, and

each having a large bat perched upon his head, marched in slow

procession with the Prince in their midst, chanting a melancholy song,

to the iron gate that led into a kind of Temple. At the sound of their

chanting, another band of slaves appeared, and took possession of the

unhappy Vivien.

They looked to him exactly like the ones he had left, except that they

moved more slowly still, and each one held a raven upon his wrist, and

their harsh croakings re-echoed through the dismal place. Holding the

Prince by the arms, not so much to do him honour as to restrain his

impatience, they proceeded by slow degrees up the steps of the Temple,

and when they at last reached the top he thought his long waiting must

be at an end. But on the contrary, after slowly enshrouding him in a

long black robe like their own, they led him into the Temple itself,

where he was forced to witness numbers of lengthy rites and ceremonies.

By this time Vivien's active impatience had subsided into passive

weariness, his yawns were continual and scandalous, but nobody heeded

him, he stared hopelessly at the thick black curtain which hung down

straight in front of him, and could hardly believe his eyes when it

presently began to slide back, and he saw before him the Black Bird. It

was of enormous size, and was perched upon a thick bar of iron which ran

across from one side of the Temple to the other. At the sight of it all

the slaves fell upon their knees and hid their faces, and when it had

three times flapped its mighty wings it uttered distinctly in Prince

Vivien's own language the words:

'Prince, your only chance of happiness depends upon that which is most

opposed to your own nature.'

Then the curtain fell before it once more, and the Prince, after many

ceremonies, was presented with a raven which perched upon his wrist, and

was conducted slowly back to the iron gate. Here the raven left him and

he was handed over once more to the care of the first band of slaves,

while a large bat flickered down and settled upon his head of its own

accord, and so he was taken back to the marble bath, and had to go

through the whole process again, only this time he began in deep water

which receded daily inch by inch. When this was over the slaves escorted

him to the outer gate, and took leave of him with every mark of esteem

and politeness, to which it is to be feared he responded but

indifferently, since the gate was no sooner opened than he took to his

heels, and fled away with all his might, his one idea being to put as

much space as possible between himself and the dreary place into which

he had ventured so rashly, just to consult a tedious Oracle who after

all had told him nothing. He actually reflected for about five seconds

on his folly, and came to the conclusion that it might sometimes be

advisable to think before one acted.

After wandering about for several days until he was weary and hungry, he

at last succeeded in finding a way out of the forest, and soon came to a

wide and rapid river, which he followed, hoping to find some means of

crossing it, and it happened that as the sun rose the next morning he

saw something of a dazzling whiteness moored out in the middle of the

stream. Upon looking more attentively at it he found that it was one of

the prettiest little ships he had ever seen, and the boat that belonged

to it was made fast to the bank quite close to him. The Prince was

immediately seized with the most ardent desire to go on board the ship,

and shouted loudly to attract the notice of her crew, but no one

answered. So he sprang into the little boat and rowed away without

finding it at all hard work, for the boat was made all of white paper

and was as light as a rose leaf. The ship was made of white paper too,

as the Prince presently discovered when he reached it. He found not a

soul on board, but there was a very cosy little bed in the cabin, and an

ample supply of all sorts of good things to eat and drink, which he made

up his mind to enjoy until something new happened. Having been

thoroughly well brought up at the court of King Gridelin, of course he

understood the art of navigation, but when once he had started, the

current carried the vessel down at such a pace that before he knew where

he was the Prince found himself out at sea, and a wind springing up

behind him just at this moment soon drove him out of sight of land. By

this time he was somewhat alarmed, and did his best to put the ship

about and get back to the river, but wind and tide were too strong for

him, and he began to think of the number of times, from his childhood

up, that he had been warned not to meddle with water. But it was too

late now to do anything but wish vainly that he had stayed on shore, and

to grow heartily weary of the boat and the sea and everything connected

with it. These two things, however, he did most thoroughly. To put the

finishing touch to his misfortunes he presently found himself becalmed

in mid-ocean, a state of affairs which would be considered trying by the

most patient of men, so you may imagine how it affected Prince Vivien!

He even came to wishing himself back at the Castle of the Black Bird,

for there at least he saw some living beings, whereas on board the

white-paper ship he was absolutely alone, and could not imagine how he

was ever to get away from his wearisome prison. However, after a very

long time, he did see land, and his impatience to be on shore was so

great that he at once flung himself over the ship's side that he might

reach it sooner by swimming. But this was quite useless, for spring as

far as he might from the vessel, it was always under his feet again

before he reached the water, and he had to resign himself to his fate,

and wait with what patience he could muster until the winds and waves

carried the ship into a kind of natural harbour which ran far into the

land. After his long imprisonment at sea the Prince was delighted with

the sight of the great trees which grew down to the very edge of the

water, and leaping lightly on shore he speedily lost himself in the

thick forest. When he had wandered a long way he stopped to rest beside

a clear spring of water, but scarcely had he thrown himself down upon

the mossy bank when there was a great rustling in the bushes close by,

and out sprang a pretty little gazelle panting and exhausted, which fell

at his feet gasping out--

'Oh! Vivien, save me!'

The Prince in great astonishment leapt to his feet, and had just time to

draw his sword before he found himself face to face with a large green

lion which had been hotly pursuing the poor little gazelle. Prince

Vivien attacked it gallantly and a fierce combat ensued, which, however,

ended before long in the Prince's dealing his adversary a terrific blow

which felled him to the earth. As he fell the lion whistled loudly

three times with such force that the forest rang again, and the sound

must have been heard for more than two leagues round, after which having

apparently nothing more to do in the world he rolled over on his side

and died. The Prince without paying any further heed to him or to his

whistling returned to the pretty gazelle, saying:

'Well! are you satisfied now? Since you can talk, pray tell me instantly

what all this is about, and how you happen to know my name.'

'Oh, I must rest for a long time before I can talk,' she replied, 'and

beside, I very much doubt if you will have leisure to listen, for the

affair is by no means finished. In fact,' she continued in the same

languid tone, 'you had better look behind you now.'

The Prince turned sharply round and to his horror saw a huge Giant

approaching with mighty strides, crying fiercely--

'Who has made my lion whistle I should like to know?'

'I have,' replied Prince Vivien boldly, 'but I can answer for it that he

will not do it again!'

At these words the Giant began to howl and lament.

'Alas, my poor Tiny, my sweet little pet,' he cried, 'but at least I can

avenge thy death.'

Thereupon he rushed at the Prince, brandishing an immense serpent which

was coiled about his wrist. Vivien, without losing his coolness, aimed a

terrific blow at it with his sword, but no sooner did he touch the snake

than it changed into a Giant and the Giant into a snake, with such

rapidity that the Prince felt perfectly giddy, and this happened at

least half-a-dozen times, until at last with a fortunate stroke he cut

the serpent in halves, and picking up one morsel flung it with all his

force at the nose of the Giant, who fell insensible on top of the lion,

and in an instant a thick black cloud rolled up which hid them from

view, and when it cleared away they had all disappeared.

Then the Prince, without even waiting to sheathe his sword, rushed back

to the gazelle, crying:

'Now you have had plenty of time to recover your wits, and you have

nothing more to fear, so tell me who you are, and what this horrible

Giant, with his lion and his serpent, have to do with you, and for

pity's sake be quick about it.'

[Illustration]

'I will tell you with pleasure,' she answered, 'but where is the hurry?

I want you to come back with me to the Green Castle, but I don't want to

walk there, it is so far, and walking is so fatiguing.'

'Let us set out at once then,' replied the Prince severely, 'or else

really I shall have to leave you where you are. Surely a young and

active gazelle like you ought to be ashamed of not being able to walk a

few steps. The further off this castle is the faster we ought to walk,

but as you don't appear to enjoy that, I will promise that we will go

gently, and we can talk by the way.'

[Illustration]

'It would be better still if you would carry me,' said she sweetly, 'but

as I don't like to see people giving themselves trouble, you may carry

me, and make that snail carry you.' So saying, she pointed languidly

with one tiny foot at what the Prince had taken for a block of stone,

but now he saw that it was a huge snail.

'What! I ride a snail!' cried the Prince; 'you are laughing at me, and

beside we should not get there for a year.'

'Oh! well then don't do it,' replied the gazelle, 'I am quite willing to

stay here. The grass is green, and the water clear. But if I were you I

should take the advice that was given me and ride the snail.'

So, though it did not please him at all, the Prince took the gazelle in

his arms, and mounted upon the back of the snail, which glided along

very peaceably, entirely declining to be hurried by frequent blows from

the Prince's heels. In vain did the gazelle represent to him that she

was enjoying herself very much, and that this was the easiest mode of

conveyance she had ever discovered. Prince Vivien was wild with

impatience, and thought that the Green Castle would never be reached.

However, at last, they did get there, and everyone who was in it ran to

see the Prince dismount from his singular steed.

But what was his surprise, when having at her request set the gazelle

gently down upon the steps which led up to the castle, he saw her

suddenly change into a charming Princess, and recognised in her his

pretty cousin Placida, who greeted him with her usual tranquil

sweetness. His delight knew no bounds, and he followed her eagerly up

into the castle, impatient to know what strange events had brought her

there. But after all he had to wait for the Princess's story, for the

inhabitants of the Green Lands, hearing that the Giant was dead, ran to

offer the kingdom to his vanquisher, and Prince Vivien had to listen to

various complimentary harangues, which took a great deal of time, though

he cut them as short as politeness allowed--if not shorter. But at last

he was free to rejoin Placida, who at once began the story of her

adventures.

'After you had gone away,' said she, 'they tried to make me learn how to

govern the kingdom, which wearied me to death, so that I begged and

prayed Lolotte to take me away with her, and this she presently did, but

very reluctantly. However, having been transported to her grotto upon my

favourite couch, I spent several delicious days, soothed by the soft

green light, which was like a beech wood in the spring, and by the

murmuring of bees and the tinkle of falling water. But alas! Lolotte was

forced to go away to a general assembly of the Fairies, and she came

back in great dismay, telling me that her indulgence to me had cost her

dear, for she had been severely reprimanded and ordered to hand me over

to the Fairy Mirlifiche, who was already taking charge of you, and who

had been much commended for her management of you.'

'Fine management, indeed,' interrupted the Prince, 'if it is to her I

owe all the adventures I have met with! But go on with your story, my

cousin. I can tell you all about my doings afterwards, and then you can

judge for yourself.'

'At first I was grieved to see Lolotte cry,' resumed the Princess, 'but

I soon found that grieving was very troublesome, so I thought it better

to be calm, and very soon afterwards I saw the Fairy Mirlifiche arrive,

mounted upon her great unicorn. She stopped before the grotto and bade

Lolotte bring me out to her, at which she cried worse than ever, and

kissed me a dozen times, but she dared not refuse. I was lifted up on to

the unicorn, behind Mirlifiche, who said to me--

'"Hold on tight, little girl, if you don't want to break your neck."

'And, indeed, I had to hold on with all my might, for her horrible steed

trotted so violently that it positively took my breath away. However, at

last we stopped at a large farm, and the farmer and his wife ran out as

soon as they saw the Fairy, and helped us to dismount.

'I knew that they were really a King and Queen, whom the Fairies were

punishing for their ignorance and idleness. You may imagine that I was

by this time half dead with fatigue, but Mirlifiche insisted upon my

feeding her unicorn before I did anything else. To accomplish this I had

to climb up a long ladder into the hayloft, and bring down, one after

another, twenty-four handfuls of hay. Never, never before, did I have

such a wearisome task! It makes me shudder to think of it now, and that

was not all. In the same way I had to carry the twenty-four handfuls of

hay to the stable, and then it was supper time, and I had to wait upon

all the others. After that I really thought I should be allowed to go

peaceably to my little bed, but, oh dear no! First of all I had to make

it, for it was all in confusion, and then I had to make one for the

Fairy, and tuck her in, and draw the curtains round her, beside

rendering her a dozen little services which I was not at all accustomed

to. Finally, when I was perfectly exhausted by all this toil, I was free

to go to bed myself, but as I had never before undressed myself, and

really did not know how to begin, I lay down as I was. Unfortunately,

the Fairy found this out, and just as I was falling into a sweet

slumber, she made me get up once more, but even then I managed to escape

her vigilance, and only took off my upper robe. Indeed, I may tell you

in confidence, that I always find disobedience answer very well. One is

often scolded, it is true, but then one has been saved some trouble.

'At the earliest dawn of day Mirlifiche woke me, and made me take many

journeys to the stable to bring her word how her unicorn had slept, and

how much hay he had eaten, and then to find out what time it was, and if

it was a fine day. I was so slow, and did my errands so badly, that

before she left she called the King and Queen and said to them:

'"I am much more pleased with you this year. Continue to make the best

of your farm, if you wish to get back to your kingdom, and also take

care of this little Princess for me, and teach her to be useful, that

when I come I may find her cured of her faults. If she is not----"

'Here she broke off with a significant look, and mounting my enemy the

unicorn, speedily disappeared.

'Then the King and Queen, turning to me, asked me what I could do.

'"Nothing at all, I assure you," I replied in a tone which really ought

to have convinced them, but they went on to describe various

employments, and tried to discover which of them would be most to my

taste. However, at last I persuaded them that to do nothing whatever

would be the only thing that would suit me, and that if they really

wanted to be kind to me, they would let me go to bed and to sleep, and

not tease me about doing anything. To my great joy, they not only

permitted this, but actually, when they had their own meals, the Queen

brought my portion up to me. But early the next morning she appeared at

my bedside, saying, with an apologetic air:

'"My pretty child, I am afraid you must really make up your mind to get

up to-day. I know quite well how delightful it is to be thoroughly idle,

for when my husband and I were King and Queen we did nothing at all from

morning to night, and I sincerely hope that it will not be long before

those happy days will come again for us. But at present we have not

reached them, nor have you, and you know from what the Fairy said that

perhaps worse things may happen to us if she is not obeyed. Make haste,

I beg of you, and come down to breakfast, for I have put by some

delicious cream for you."

'It was really very tiresome, but as there was no help for it I went

down!

'But the instant breakfast was over they began again their cuckoo-cry of

"What will you do?" In vain did I answer--

'"Nothing at all, if it please you, madam."

'The Queen at last gave me a spindle and about four pounds of hemp upon

a distaff, and sent me out to keep the sheep, assuring me that there

could not be a pleasanter occupation, and that I could take my ease as

much as I pleased. I was forced to set out, very unwillingly, as you may

imagine, but I had not walked far before I came to a shady bank in what

seemed to me a charming place. I stretched myself cosily upon the soft

grass, and with the bundle of hemp for a pillow slept as tranquilly as

if there were no such things as sheep in the world, while they for their

part wandered hither and thither at their own sweet will, as if there

were no such thing as a shepherdess, invading every field, and browsing

upon every kind of forbidden dainty, until the peasants, alarmed by the

havoc they were making, raised a clamour, which at last reached the ears

of the King and Queen, who ran out, and seeing the cause of the

commotion, hastily collected their flock. And, indeed, the sooner the

better, since they had to pay for all the damage they had done. As for

me I lay still and watched them run, for I was very comfortable, and

there I might be still if they had not come up, all panting and

breathless, and compelled me to get up and follow them; they also

reproached me bitterly, but I need hardly tell you that they did not

again entrust me with the flock.

'But whatever they found for me to do it was always the same thing, I

spoilt and mismanaged it all, and was so successful in provoking even

the most patient people, that one day I ran away from the farm, for I

was really afraid the Queen would be obliged to beat me. When I came to

the little river in which the King used to fish, I found the boat tied

to a tree, and stepping in I unfastened it, and floated gently down with

the current. The gliding of the boat was so soothing that I did not

trouble myself in the least when the Queen caught sight of me and ran

along the bank, crying--

'"My boat, my boat! Husband, come and catch the little Princess who is

running away with my boat!"

'The current soon carried me out of hearing of her cries, and I dreamed

to the song of the ripples and the whisper of the trees, until the boat

suddenly stopped, and I found it was stuck fast beside a fresh green

meadow, and that the sun was rising. In the distance I saw some little

houses which seemed to be built in a most singular fashion, but as I was

by this time very hungry I set out towards them, but before I had walked

many steps, I saw that the air was full of shining objects which seemed

to be fixed, and yet I could not see what they hung from.

'I went nearer, and saw a silken cord hanging down to the ground, and

pulled it just because it was so close to my hand. Instantly the whole

meadow resounded to the melodious chiming of a peal of silver bells, and

they sounded so pretty that I sat down to listen, and to watch them as

they swung shining in the sunbeams. Before they ceased to sound, came a

great flight of birds, and each one perching upon a bell added its

charming song to the concert. As they ended, I looked up and saw a tall

and stately dame advancing towards me, surrounded and followed by a

vast flock of every kind of bird.

[Illustration]

'"Who are you, little girl," said she, "who dares to come where I allow

no mortal to live, lest my birds should be disturbed? Still, if you are

clever at anything," she added, "I might be able to put up with your

presence."

'"Madam," I answered, rising, "you may be very sure that I shall not do

anything to alarm your birds. I only beg you, for pity's sake, to give

me something to eat."

'"I will do that," she replied, "before I send you where you deserve to

go."

'And thereupon she despatched six jays, who were her pages, to fetch me

all sorts of biscuits, while some of the other birds brought ripe

fruits. In fact, I had a delicious breakfast, though I do not like to be

waited upon so quickly. It is so disagreeable to be hurried. I began to

think I should like very well to stay in this pleasant country, and I

said so to the stately lady, but she answered with the greatest disdain:

'"Do you think I would keep you here? _You!_ Why what do you suppose

would be the good of you in this country, where everybody is wide-awake

and busy? No, no, I have shown you all the hospitality you will get from

me."

'With these words she turned and gave a vigorous pull to the silken rope

which I mentioned before, but instead of a melodious chime, there arose

a hideous clanging which quite terrified me, and in an instant a huge

Black Bird appeared, which alighted at the Fairy's feet, saying in a

frightful voice--

'"What do you want of me, my sister?"

'"I wish you to take this little Princess to my cousin, the Giant of the

Green Castle, at once," she replied, "and beg him from me to make her

work day and night upon his beautiful tapestry."

'At these words the great Bird snatched me up, regardless of my cries,

and flew off at a terrific pace----'

'Oh! you are joking, cousin,' interrupted Prince Vivien; 'you mean as

slowly as possible. I know that horrible Black Bird, and the lengthiness

of all his proceedings and surroundings.'

'Have it your own way,' replied Placida, tranquilly. 'I cannot bear

arguing. Perhaps, this was not even the same bird. At any rate, he

carried me off at a prodigious speed, and set me gently down in this

very castle of which you are now the master. We entered by one of the

windows, and when the Bird had handed me over to the Giant from whom you

have been good enough to deliver me, and given the Fairy's message, it

departed.

'Then the Giant turned to me, saying,

'"So you are an idler! Ah! well, we must teach you to work. You won't be

the first we have cured of laziness. See how busy all my guests are."

'I looked up as he spoke, and saw that an immense gallery ran all round

the hall, in which were tapestry frames, spindles, skeins of wool,

patterns, and all necessary things. Before each frame about a dozen

people were sitting, hard at work, at which terrible sight I fainted

away, and as soon as I recovered they began to ask me what I could do.

'It was in vain that I replied as before, and with the strongest desire

to be taken at my word, "Nothing at all."

'The Giant only said,

'"Then you must learn to do something; in this world there is enough

work for everybody."

'It appeared that they were working into the tapestry all the stories

the Fairies liked best, and they began to try and teach me to help them,

but from the first class, where they tried me to begin with, I sank

lower and lower, and not even the most simple stitches could I learn.

'In vain they punished me by all the usual methods. In vain the Giant

showed me his menagerie, which was entirely composed of children who

would not work! Nothing did me any good, and at last I was reduced to

drawing water for the dyeing of the wools, and even over that I was so

slow that this morning the Giant flew into a rage and changed me into a

gazelle. He was just putting me into the menagerie when I happened to

catch sight of a dog, and was seized with such terror that I fled away

at my utmost speed, and escaped through the outer court of the castle.

The Giant, fearing that I should be lost altogether, sent his green lion

after me, with orders to bring me back, cost what it might, and I should

certainly have let myself be caught, or eaten up, or anything, rather

than run any further, if I had not luckily met you by the fountain. And

oh!' concluded the Princess, 'how delightful it is once more to be able

to sit still in peace. I was so tired of trying to learn things.'

Prince Vivien said that, for his part, he had been kept a great deal too

still, and had not found it at all amusing, and then he recounted all

his adventures with breathless rapidity. How he had taken shelter with

Dame Patience, and consulted the Oracle, and voyaged in the paper ship.

Then they went hand in hand to release all the prisoners in the castle,

and all the Princes and Princesses who were in cages in the menagerie,

for the instant the Green Giant was dead they had resumed their natural

forms. As you may imagine, they were all very grateful, and Princess

Placida entreated them never, never to do another stitch of work so long

as they lived, and they promptly made a great bonfire in the courtyard,

and solemnly burnt all the embroidery frames and spinning wheels. Then

the Princess gave them splendid presents, or rather sat by while Prince

Vivien gave them, and there were great rejoicings in the Green Castle,

and everyone did his best to please the Prince and Princess. But with

all their good intentions, they often made mistakes, for Vivien and

Placida were never of one mind about their plans, so it was very

confusing, and they frequently found themselves obeying the Prince's

orders, very, very slowly, and rushing off with lightning speed to do

something that the Princess did not wish to have done at all, until,

by-and-by, the two cousins took to consulting with, and consoling one

another in all these little vexations, and at last came to be so fond of

each other that for Placida's sake Vivien became quite patient, and for

Vivien's sake Placida made the most unheard-of exertions. But now the

Fairies who had been watching all these proceedings with interest,

thought it was time to interfere, and ascertain by further trials if

this improvement was likely to continue, and if they really loved one

another. So they caused Placida to seem to have a violent fever, and

Vivien to languish and grow dull, and made each of them very uneasy

about the other, and then, finding a moment when they were apart, the

Fairy Mirlifiche suddenly appeared to Placida, and said--

'I have just seen Prince Vivien, and he seemed to me to be very ill.'

'Alas! yes, madam,' she answered, 'and if you will but cure him, you may

take me back to the farm, or bring the Green Giant to life again, and

you shall see how obedient I will be.'

'If you really wish him to recover,' said the Fairy, 'you have only to

catch the Trotting Mouse and the Chaffinch-on-the-Wing and bring them to

me. Only remember that time presses!'

She had hardly finished speaking before the Princess was rushing

headlong out of the castle gate, and the Fairy after watching her till

she was lost to sight, gave a little chuckle and went in search of the

Prince, who begged her earnestly to send him back to the Black Castle,

or to the paper boat if she would but save Placida's life. The Fairy

shook her head, and looked very grave. She quite agreed with him, the

Princess was in a bad way--'But,' said she, 'if you can find the Rosy

Mole, and give him to her she will recover.' So now it was the Prince's

turn to set off in a vast hurry, only as soon as he left the Castle he

happened to go in exactly the opposite direction to the one Placida had

taken. Now you can imagine these two devoted lovers hunting night and

day. The Princess in the woods, always running, always listening,

pursuing hotly after two creatures which seemed to her very hard to

catch, which she yet never ceased from pursuing. The Prince on the other

hand wandering continually across the meadows, his eyes fixed upon the

ground, attentive to every movement among the moles. He was forced to

walk slowly--slowly upon tip-toe, hardly venturing to breathe. Often he

stood for hours motionless as a statue, and if the desire to succeed

could have helped him he would soon have possessed the Rosy Mole. But

alas! all that he caught were black and ordinary, though strange to say

he never grew impatient, but always seemed ready to begin the tedious

hunt again. But this changing of character is one of the most ordinary

miracles which love works. Neither the Prince nor the Princess gave a

thought to anything but their quest. It never even occurred to them to

wonder what country they had reached. So you may guess how astonished

they were one day, when having at last been successful after their long

and weary chase, they cried aloud at the same instant: 'At last I have

saved my beloved,' and then recognising each other's voice looked up,

and rushed to meet one another with the wildest joy. Surprise kept them

silent while for one delicious moment they gazed into each other's eyes,

and just then who should come up but King Gridelin, for it was into his

kingdom they had accidentally strayed. He recognised them in his turn

and greeted them joyfully, but when they turned afterwards to look for

the Rosy Mole, the Chaffinch, and the Trotting-Mouse, they had vanished,

and in their places stood a lovely lady whom they did not know, the

Black Bird, and the Green Giant. King Gridelin had no sooner set eyes

upon the lady than with a cry of joy he clasped her in his arms, for it

was no other than his long-lost wife, Santorina, about whose

imprisonment in Fairyland you may perhaps read some day.

[Illustration]

Then the Black Bird and the Green Giant resumed their natural form, for

they were enchanters, and up flew Lolotte and Mirlifiche in their

chariots, and then there was a great kissing and congratulating, for

everybody had regained someone he loved, including the enchanters, who

loved their natural forms dearly. After this they repaired to the

Palace, and the wedding of Prince Vivien and Princess Placida was held

at once with all the splendour imaginable.

King Gridelin and Queen Santorina, after all their experiences, had no

further desire to reign, so they retired happily to a peaceful place,

leaving their kingdom to the Prince and Princess, who were beloved by

all their subjects, and found their greatest happiness all their lives

long in making other people happy.

_Nonchalante et Papillon._

_LITTLE ONE-EYE, LITTLE TWO-EYES, AND LITTLE THREE-EYES_

There was once a woman who had three daughters, of whom the eldest was

called Little One-eye, because she had only one eye in the middle of her

forehead; and the second, Little Two-eyes, because she had two eyes like

other people; and the youngest, Little Three-eyes, because she had three

eyes, and _her_ third eye was also in the middle of her forehead. But

because Little Two-eyes did not look any different from other children,

her sisters and mother could not bear her. They would say to her, 'You

with your two eyes are no better than common folk; you don't belong to

us.' They pushed her here, and threw her wretched clothes there, and

gave her to eat only what they left, and they were as unkind to her as

ever they could be.

It happened one day that Little Two-eyes had to go out into the fields

to take care of the goat, but she was still quite hungry because her

sisters had given her so little to eat. So she sat down in the meadow

and began to cry, and she cried so much that two little brooks ran out

of her eyes. But when she looked up once in her grief there stood a

woman beside her who asked, 'Little Two-eyes, what are you crying for?'

Little Two-eyes answered, 'Have I not reason to cry? Because I have two

eyes like other people, my sisters and my mother cannot bear me; they

push me out of one corner into another, and give me nothing to eat

except what they leave. To-day they have given me so little that I am

still quite hungry.' Then the wise woman said, 'Little Two-eyes, dry

your eyes, and I will tell you something so that you need never be

hungry again. Only say to your goat,

"Little goat, bleat,

Little table, appear,"

and a beautifully spread table will stand before you, with the most

delicious food on it, so that you can eat as much as you want. And when

you have had enough and don't want the little table any more, you have

only to say,

"Little goat, bleat,

Little table, away,"

and then it will vanish.' Then the wise woman went away.

But Little Two-eyes thought, 'I must try at once if what she has told me

is true, for I am more hungry than ever'; and she said,

'Little goat, bleat,

Little table appear,'

and scarcely had she uttered the words, when there stood a little table

before her covered with a white cloth, on which were arranged a plate,

with a knife and fork and a silver spoon, and the most beautiful dishes,

which were smoking hot, as if they had just come out of the kitchen.

Then Little Two-eyes said the shortest grace she knew, and set to work

and made a good dinner. And when she had had enough, she said, as the

wise woman had told her,

'Little goat, bleat,

Little table, away,'

and immediately the table and all that was on it disappeared again.

'That is a splendid way of housekeeping,' thought Little Two-eyes, and

she was quite happy and contented.

In the evening, when she went home with her goat, she found a little

earthenware dish with the food that her sisters had thrown to her, but

she did not touch it. The next day she went out again with her goat, and

left the few scraps which were given her. The first and second times her

sisters did not notice this, but when it happened continually, they

remarked it and said, 'Something is the matter with Little Two-eyes, for

she always leaves her food now, and she used to gobble up all that was

given her. She must have found other means of getting food.' So in order

to get at the truth, Little One-eye was told to go out with Little

Two-eyes when she drove the goat to pasture, and to notice particularly

what she got there, and whether anyone brought her food and drink.

Now when Little Two-eyes was setting out, Little One-eye came up to her

and said, 'I will go into the field with you and see if you take good

care of the goat, and if you drive him properly to get grass.' But

Little Two-eyes saw what Little One-eye had in her mind, and she drove

the goat into the long grass and said, 'Come, Little One-eye, we will

sit down here, and I will sing you something.' Little One-eye sat down,

and as she was very much tired by the long walk to which she was not

used, and by the hot day, and as Little Two-eyes went on singing

'Little One-eye, are you awake?

Little One-eye, are you asleep?'

she shut her one eye and fell asleep. When Little Two-eyes saw that

Little One-eye was asleep and could find out nothing, she said,

'Little goat, bleat,

Little table, appear,'

and sat down at her table and ate and drank as much as she wanted. Then

she said again,

'Little goat, bleat,

Little table, away.'

and in the twinkling of an eye all had vanished.

Little Two-eyes then woke Little One-eye and said, 'Little One-eye, you

meant to watch, and, instead, you went to sleep; in the meantime the

goat might have run far and wide. Come, we will go home.' So they went

home, and Little Two-eyes again left her little dish untouched, and

Little One-eye could not tell her mother why she would not eat, and said

as an excuse, 'I was so sleepy out-of-doors.'

The next day the mother said to Little Three-eyes, 'This time you shall

go with Little Two-eyes and watch whether she eats anything out in the

fields, and whether anyone brings her food and drink, for eat and drink

she must secretly.' So Little Three-eyes went to Little Two-eyes and

said, 'I will go with you and see if you take good care of the goat, and

if you drive him properly to get grass.' But little Two-eyes knew what

Little Three-eyes had in her mind, and she drove the goat out into the

tall grass and said, 'We will sit down here, Little Three-eyes, and I

will sing you something.' Little Three-eyes sat down; she was tired by

the walk and the hot day, and Little Two-eyes sang the same little song

again;

'Little Three-eyes, are you awake?'

but instead of singing as she ought to have done,

'Little Three-eyes, are you asleep?'

she sang, without thinking,

'Little _Two-eyes_, are you asleep?'

She went on singing,

'Little Three-eyes, are you awake?

Little _Two-eyes_, are you asleep?'

so that the two eyes of Little Three-eyes fell asleep, but the third,

which was not spoken to in the little rhyme, did not fall asleep. Of

course Little Three-eyes shut that eye also out of cunning, to look as

if she were asleep, but it was blinking and could see everything quite

well.

[Illustration]

And when Little Two-eyes thought that Little Three-eyes was sound

asleep, she said her rhyme,

'Little goat, bleat,

Little table, appear,'

and ate and drank to her heart's content, and then made the table go

away again, by saying,

'Little goat, bleat,

Little table, away.'

But Little Three-eyes had seen everything. Then Little Two-eyes came to

her, and woke her and said, 'Well, Little Three-eyes, have you been

asleep? You watch well! Come, we will go home.' When they reached home,

Little Two-eyes did not eat again, and Little Three-eyes said to the

mother, 'I know now why that proud thing eats nothing. When she says to

the goat in the field,

"Little goat, bleat,

Little table, appear,"

a table stands before her, spread with the best food, much better than

we have; and when she has had enough, she says,

"Little goat, bleat,

Little table, away,"

and everything disappears again. I saw it all exactly. She made two of

my eyes go to sleep with a little rhyme, but the one in my forehead

remained awake, luckily!'

Then the envious mother cried out, 'Will you fare better than we do? you

shall not have the chance to do so again!' and she fetched a knife, and

killed the goat.

When Little Two-eyes saw this, she went out full of grief, and sat down

in the meadow and wept bitter tears. Then again the wise woman stood

before her, and said, 'Little Two-eyes, what are you crying for?' 'Have

I not reason to cry?' she answered, 'the goat, which when I said the

little rhyme, spread the table so beautifully, my mother has killed, and

now I must suffer hunger and want again.' The wise woman said, 'Little

Two-eyes, I will give you a good piece of advice. Ask your sisters to

give you the heart of the dead goat, and bury it in the earth before the

house-door; that will bring you good luck.' Then she disappeared, and

Little Two-eyes went home, and said to her sisters, 'Dear sisters, do

give me something of my goat; I ask nothing better than its heart.' Then

they laughed and said, 'You can have that if you want nothing more.' And

Little Two-eyes took the heart and buried it in the evening when all was

quiet, as the wise woman had told her, before the house-door. The next

morning when they all awoke and came to the house-door, there stood a

most wonderful tree, which had leaves of silver and fruit of gold

growing on it--you never saw anything more lovely and gorgeous in your

life! But they did not know how the tree had grown up in the night; only

Little Two-eyes knew that it had sprung from the heart of the goat, for

it was standing just where she had buried it in the ground. Then the

mother said to Little One-eye, 'Climb up, my child, and break us off the

fruit from the tree.' Little One-eye climbed up, but just when she was

going to take hold of one of the golden apples the bough sprang out of

her hands; and this happened every time, so that she could not break off

a single apple, however hard she tried. Then the mother said, 'Little

Three-eyes, do you climb up; you with your three eyes can see round

better than Little One-eye.' So Little One-eye slid down, and Little

Three-eyes climbed up; but she was not any more successful; look round

as she might, the golden apples bent themselves back. At last the mother

got impatient and climbed up herself, but she was even less

successful than Little One-eye and Little Three-eyes in catching hold of

the fruit, and only grasped at the empty air. Then Little Two-eyes said,

'I will just try once, perhaps I shall succeed better.' The sisters

called out, 'You with your two eyes will no doubt succeed!' But Little

Two-eyes climbed up, and the golden apples did not jump away from her,

but behaved quite properly, so that she could pluck them off, one after

the other, and brought a whole apron-full down with her. The mother took

them from her, and, instead of behaving better to poor Little Two-eyes,

as they ought to have done, they were jealous that she only could reach

the fruit and behaved still more unkindly to her.

[Illustration]

It happened one day that when they were all standing together by the

tree that a young knight came riding along. 'Be quick, Little Two-eyes,'

cried the two sisters, 'creep under this, so that you shall not disgrace

us,' and they put over poor Little Two-eyes as quickly as possible an

empty cask, which was standing close to the tree, and they pushed the

golden apples which she had broken off under with her. When the knight,

who was a very handsome young man, rode up, he wondered to see the

marvellous tree of gold and silver, and said to the two sisters, 'Whose

is this beautiful tree? Whoever will give me a twig of it shall have

whatever she wants.' Then Little One-eye and Little Three-eyes answered

that the tree belonged to them, and that they would certainly break him

off a twig. They gave themselves a great deal of trouble, but in vain;

the twigs and fruit bent back every time from their hands. Then the

knight said, 'It is very strange that the tree should belong to you, and

yet that you have not the power to break anything from it!' But they

would have that the tree was theirs; and while they were saying this,

Little Two-eyes rolled a couple of golden apples from under the cask, so

that they lay at the knight's feet, for she was angry with Little

One-eye and Little Three-eyes for not speaking the truth. When the

knight saw the apples he was astonished, and asked where they came from.

Little One-eye and Little Three-eyes answered that they had another

sister, but she could not be seen because she had only two eyes, like

ordinary people. But the knight demanded to see her, and called out,

'Little Two-eyes, come forth.' Then Little Two-eyes came out from under

the cask quite happily, and the knight was astonished at her great

beauty, and said, 'Little Two-eyes, I am sure you can break me off a

twig from the tree.' 'Yes,' answered Little Two-eyes, 'I can, for the

tree is mine.' So she climbed up and broke off a small branch with its

silver leaves and golden fruit without any trouble, and gave it to the

knight. Then he said, 'Little Two-eyes, what shall I give you for this?'

'Ah,' answered Little Two-eyes, 'I suffer hunger and thirst, want and

sorrow, from early morning till late in the evening; if you would take

me with you, and free me from this, I should be happy!' Then the knight

lifted Little Two-eyes on his horse, and took her home to his father's

castle. There he gave her beautiful clothes, and food and drink, and

because he loved her so much he married her, and the wedding was

celebrated with great joy.

When the handsome knight carried Little Two-eyes away with him, the two

sisters envied her good luck at first. 'But the wonderful tree is still

with us, after all,' they thought, 'and although we cannot break any

fruit from it, everyone will stop and look at it, and will come to us

and praise it; who knows whether _we_ may not reap a harvest from it?'

But the next morning the tree had flown, and their hopes with it; and

when Little Two-eyes looked out of her window there it stood underneath,

to her great delight. Little Two-eyes lived happily for a long time.

Once two poor women came to the castle to beg alms. Then Little Two-eyes

looked at them and recognised both her sisters, Little One-eye and

Little Three-eyes, who had become so poor that they came to beg bread at

her door. But Little Two-eyes bade them welcome, and was so good to them

that they both repented from their hearts of having been so unkind to

their sister.

Grimm.

_JORINDE AND JORINGEL_

There was once upon a time a castle in the middle of a thick wood where

lived an old woman quite alone, for she was an enchantress. In the

day-time she changed herself into a cat or a night-owl, but in the

evening she became like an ordinary woman again. She could entice

animals and birds to come to her, and then she would kill and cook them.

If any youth came within a hundred paces of the castle, he was obliged

to stand still, and could not stir from the spot till she set him free;

but if a pretty girl came within this boundary, the old enchantress

changed her into a bird, and shut her up in a wicker cage, which she put

in one of the rooms in the castle. She had quite seven thousand of such

cages in the castle with very rare birds in them.

Now, there was once a maiden called Jorinde, who was more beautiful than

other maidens. She and a youth named Joringel, who was just as

good-looking as she was, were betrothed to one another. Their greatest

delight was to be together, and so that they might get a good long talk,

they went one evening for a walk in the wood. 'Take care,' said

Joringel, 'not to come too close to the castle.' It was a beautiful

evening; the sun shone brightly between the stems of the trees among the

dark green leaves of the forest, and the turtle-dove sang clearly on the

old may bushes.

Jorinde wept from time to time, and she sat herself down in the sunshine

and lamented, and Joringel lamented too. They felt as sad as if they had

been condemned to die; they looked round and got quite confused, and did

not remember which was their way home. Half the sun was still above the

mountain and half was behind it when Joringel looked through the trees

and saw the old wall of the castle quite near them. He was terrified and

half dead with fright. Jorinde sang:

'My little bird with throat so red

Sings sorrow, sorrow, sorrow;

He sings to the little dove that's dead,

Sings sorrow, sor----jug, jug, jug.'

Joringel looked up at Jorinde. She had been changed into a nightingale,

who was singing 'jug, jug.' A night-owl with glowing eyes flew three

times round her, and screeched three times 'tu-whit, tu-whit, tu-whoo.'

Joringel could not stir; he stood there like a stone; he could not weep,

or speak, or move hand or foot. Now the sun set; the owl flew into a

bush, and immediately an old, bent woman came out of it; she was

yellow-skinned and thin, and had large red eyes and a hooked nose, which

met her chin. She muttered to herself, caught the nightingale, and

carried her away in her hand. Joringel could say nothing; he could not

move from the spot, and the nightingale was gone. At last the woman came

back again, and said in a gruff voice, 'Good evening, Zachiel; when the

young moon shines in the basket, you are freed early, Zachiel.' Then

Joringel was free. He fell on his knees before the old woman and

implored her to give him back his Jorinde, but she said he should never

have her again, and then went away. He called after her, he wept and

lamented, but all in vain. 'What is to become of me!' he thought. Then

he went away, and came at last to a strange village, where he kept sheep

for a long time. He often went round the castle while he was there, but

never too close. At last he dreamt one night that he had found a

blood-red flower, which had in its centre a beautiful large pearl. He

plucked this flower and went with it to the castle; and there everything

which he touched with the flower was freed from the enchantment, and he

got his Jorinde back again through it. When he awoke in the morning he

began to seek mountain and valley to find such a flower. He sought it

for eight days, and on the ninth early in the morning he found the

blood-red flower. In its centre was a large dew-drop, as big as the most

lovely pearl. He travelled day and night with this flower till he

arrived at the castle. When he came within a hundred paces of it he did

not cease to be able to move, but he went on till he reached the gate.

He was delighted at his success, touched the great gate with the flower,

and it sprung open. He entered, passed through the courtyard, and then

stopped to listen for the singing of the birds; at last he heard it. He

went in and found the hall in which was the enchantress, and with her

seven thousand birds in their wicker cages. When she saw Joringel she

was furious, and breathed out poison and gall at him, but she could not

move a step towards him. He took no notice of her, and went and looked

over the cages of birds; but there were many hundred nightingales, and

how was he to find his Jorinde from among them? Whilst he was

considering, he observed the old witch take up a cage secretly and go

with it towards the door. Instantly he sprang after her, touched the

cage with the flower, and the old woman as well. Now she could no longer

work enchantments, and there stood Jorinde before him, with her arms

round his neck, and more beautiful than ever. Then he turned all the

other birds again into maidens, and he went home with his Jorinde, and

they lived a long and happy life.

[Illustration]

Grimm.

_ALLERLEIRAUH; OR, THE MANY-FURRED CREATURE_

There was once upon a time a King who had a wife with golden hair, and

she was so beautiful that you couldn't find anyone like her in the

world. It happened that she fell ill, and when she felt that she must

soon die, she sent for the King, and said, 'If you want to marry after

my death, make no one queen unless she is just as beautiful as I am, and

has just such golden hair as I have. Promise me this.' After the King

had promised her this, she closed her eyes and died.

For a long time the King was not to be comforted, and he did not even

think of taking a second wife. At last his councillors said, 'The King

_must_ marry again, so that we may have a queen.' So messengers were

sent far and wide to seek for a bride equal to the late Queen in beauty.

But there was no one in the wide world, and if there had been she could

not have had such golden hair. Then the messengers came home again, not

having been able to find a queen.

Now, the King had a daughter, who was just as beautiful as her dead

mother, and had just such golden hair. One day when she had grown up,

her father looked at her, and saw that she was exactly like her mother,

so he said to his councillors, 'I will marry my daughter to one of you,

and she shall be queen, for she is exactly like her dead mother, and

when I die her husband shall be king.' But when the Princess heard of

her father's decision, she was not at all pleased, and said to him,

'Before I do your bidding, I must have three dresses; one as golden as

the sun, one as silver as the moon, and one as shining as the stars.

Besides these, I want a cloak made of a thousand different kinds of

skin; every animal in your kingdom must give a bit of his skin to it.'

But she thought to herself, 'This will be quite impossible, and I shall

not have to marry someone I do not care for.' The King, however, was not

to be turned from his purpose, and he commanded the most skilled maidens

in his kingdom to weave the three dresses, one as golden as the sun, and

one as silver as the moon, and one as shining as the stars; and he gave

orders to all his huntsmen to catch one of every kind of beast in the

kingdom, and to get a bit of its skin to make the cloak of a thousand

pieces of fur. At last, when all was ready, the King commanded the cloak

to be brought to him, and he spread it out before the Princess, and

said, 'To-morrow shall be your wedding-day.' When the Princess saw that

there was no more hope of changing her father's resolution, she

determined to flee away. In the night, when everyone else was sleeping,

she got up and took three things from her treasures, a gold ring, a

little gold spinning-wheel, and a gold reel; she put the sun, moon, and

star dresses in a nutshell, drew on the cloak of many skins, and made

her face and hands black with soot. Then she commended herself to God,

and went out and travelled the whole night till she came to a large

forest. And as she was very much tired she sat down inside a hollow tree

and fell asleep.

The sun rose and she still slept on and on, although it was nearly noon.

Now, it happened that the king to whom this wood belonged was hunting in

it. When his dogs came to the tree, they sniffed, and ran round and

round it, barking. The King said to the huntsmen, 'See what sort of a

wild beast is in there.' The huntsmen went in, and then came back and

said, 'In the hollow tree there lies a wonderful animal that we don't

know, and we have never seen one like it; its skin is made of a thousand

pieces of fur; but it is lying down asleep.' The King said, 'See if you

can catch it alive, and then fasten it to the cart, and we will take it

with us.' When the huntsmen seized the maiden, she awoke and was

frightened, and cried out to them, 'I am a poor child, forsaken by

father and mother; take pity on me, and let me go with you.' Then they

said to her, 'Many-furred Creature, you can work in the kitchen; come

with us and sweep the ashes together.' So they put her in the cart and

they went back to the palace. There they showed her a tiny room under

the stairs, where no daylight came, and said to her, 'Many-furred

Creature, you can live and sleep here.' Then she was sent into the

kitchen, where she carried wood and water, poked the fire, washed

vegetables, plucked fowls, swept up the ashes, and did all the dirty

work.

So the Many-furred Creature lived for a long time in great poverty. Ah,

beautiful King's daughter, what is going to befall you now?

[Illustration]

It happened once when a great feast was being held in the palace, that

she said to the cook, 'Can I go upstairs for a little bit and look on?

I will stand outside the doors.' The cook replied, 'Yes, you can go up,

but in half-an-hour you must be back here to sweep up the ashes.' Then

she took her little oil-lamp, and went into her little room, drew off

her fur cloak, and washed off the soot from her face and hands, so that

her beauty shone forth, and it was as if one sunbeam after another were

coming out of a black cloud. Then she opened the nut, and took out the

dress as golden as the sun. And when she had done this, she went up to

the feast, and everyone stepped out of her way, for nobody knew her, and

they thought she must be a King's daughter. But the King came towards

her and gave her his hand, and danced with her, thinking to himself, 'My

eyes have never beheld anyone so fair!' When the dance was ended, she

curtseyed to him, and when the King looked round she had disappeared, no

one knew whither. The guards who were standing before the palace were

called and questioned, but no one had seen her.

She had run to her little room and had quickly taken off her dress, made

her face and hands black, put on the fur cloak, and was once more the

Many-furred Creature. When she came into the kitchen and was setting

about her work of sweeping the ashes together, the cook said to her,

'Let that wait till to-morrow, and just cook the King's soup for me; I

want to have a little peep at the company upstairs; but be sure that you

do not let a hair fall into it, otherwise you will get nothing to eat in

future!' So the cook went away, and the Many-furred Creature cooked the

soup for the King. She made a bread-soup as well as she possibly could,

and when it was done, she fetched her gold ring from her little room,

and laid it in the tureen in which the soup was to be served up.

When the dance was ended, the King had his soup brought to him and ate

it, and it was so good that he thought he had never tasted such soup in

his life. But when he came to the bottom of the dish he saw a gold ring

lying there, and he could not imagine how it got in. Then he commanded

the cook to be brought before him. The cook was terrified when he heard

the command, and said to the Many-furred Creature, 'You must have let a

hair fall into the soup, and if you have you deserve a good beating!'

When he came before the King, the King asked who had cooked the soup.

The cook answered, 'I cooked it.' But the King said, 'That's not true,

for it was quite different and much better soup than you have ever

cooked.' Then the cook said, 'I must confess; _I_ did not cook the soup;

the Many-furred Creature did.' 'Let her be brought before me,' said the

King. When the Many-furred Creature came, the King asked her who she

was. 'I am a poor child without father or mother.' Then he asked her,

'What do you do in my palace?' 'I am of no use except to have boots

thrown at my head.' 'How did you get the ring which was in the soup?' he

asked. 'I know nothing at all about the ring,' she answered. So the King

could find out nothing, and was obliged to send her away.

After a time there was another feast, and the Many-furred Creature

begged the cook as at the last one to let her go and look on. He

answered, 'Yes, but come back again in half-an-hour and cook the King

the bread-soup that he likes so much.' So she ran away to her little

room, washed herself quickly, took out of the nut the dress as silver as

the moon and put it on. Then she went upstairs looking just like a

King's daughter, and the King came towards her, delighted to see her

again, and as the dance had just begun, they danced together. But when

the dance was ended, she disappeared again so quickly that the King

could not see which way she went. She ran to her little room and changed

herself once more into the Many-furred Creature, and went into the

kitchen to cook the bread-soup. When the cook was upstairs, she fetched

the golden spinning-wheel and put it in the dish so that the soup was

poured over it. It was brought to the King, who ate it, and liked it as

much as the last time. He had the cook sent to him, and again he had to

confess that the Many-furred Creature had cooked the soup. Then the

Many-furred Creature came before the King, but she said again that she

was of no use except to have boots thrown at her head, and that she knew

nothing at all of the golden spinning-wheel.

When the King had a feast for the third time, things did not turn out

quite the same as at the other two. The cook said, 'You must be a witch,

Many-furred Creature, for you always put something in the soup, so that

it is much better and tastes nicer to the King than any that I cook.'

But because she begged hard, he let her go up for the usual time. Now

she put on the dress as shining as the stars, and stepped into the hall

in it.

The King danced again with the beautiful maiden, and thought she had

never looked so beautiful. And while he was dancing, he put a gold ring

on her finger without her seeing it, and he commanded that the dance

should last longer than usual. When it was finished he wanted to keep

her hands in his, but she broke from him, and sprang so quickly away

among the people that she vanished from his sight. She ran as fast as

she could to her little room under the stairs, but because she had

stayed too long beyond the half-hour, she could not stop to take off the

beautiful dress, but only threw the fur cloak over it, and in her haste

she did not make herself quite black with the soot, one finger remaining

white. The Many-furred Creature now ran into the kitchen, cooked the

King's bread-soup, and when the cook had gone, she laid the gold reel in

the dish. When the King found the reel at the bottom, he had the

Many-furred Creature brought to him, and then he saw the white finger,

and the ring which he had put on her hand in the dance. Then he took her

hand and held her tightly, and as she was trying to get away, she undid

the fur-cloak a little bit and the star-dress shone out. The King seized

the cloak and tore it off her. Her golden hair came down, and she stood

there in her full splendour, and could not hide herself away any more.

And when the soot and ashes had been washed from her face, she looked

more beautiful than anyone in the world. But the King said, 'You are my

dear bride, and we will never be separated from one another.' So the

wedding was celebrated and they lived happily ever after.

[Illustration]

Grimm.

_THE TWELVE HUNTSMEN_

Once upon a time there was a King's son who was engaged to a Princess

whom he dearly loved. One day as he sat by her side feeling very happy,

he received news that his father was lying at the point of death, and

desired to see him before his end. So he said to his love: 'Alas! I must

go off and leave you, but take this ring and wear it as a remembrance of

me, and when I am King I will return and fetch you home.'

Then he rode off, and when he reached his father he found him mortally

ill and very near death.

The King said: 'Dearest son, I have desired to see you again before my

end. Promise me, I beg of you, that you will marry according to my

wishes'; and he then named the daughter of a neighbouring King who he

was anxious should be his son's wife. The Prince was so overwhelmed with

grief that he could think of nothing but his father, and exclaimed:

'Yes, yes, dear father, whatever you desire shall be done.' Thereupon

the King closed his eyes and died.

After the Prince had been proclaimed King, and the usual time of

mourning had elapsed, he felt that he must keep the promise he had made

to his father, so he sent to ask for the hand of the King's daughter,

which was granted to him at once.

Now, his first love heard of this, and the thought of her lover's

desertion grieved her so sadly that she pined away and nearly died. Her

father said to her: 'My dearest child, why are you so unhappy? If there

is anything you wish for, say so, and you shall have it.'

His daughter reflected for a moment, and then said: 'Dear father, I wish

for eleven girls as nearly as possible of the same height, age, and

appearance as myself.'

Said the King: 'If the thing is possible your wish shall be fulfilled';

and he had his kingdom searched till he found eleven maidens of the same

height, size, and appearance as his daughter.

Then the Princess desired twelve complete huntsmen's suits to be made,

all exactly alike, and the eleven maidens had to dress themselves in

eleven of the suits, while she herself put on the twelfth. After this

she took leave of her father, and rode off with her girls to the court

of her former lover.

Here she enquired whether the King did not want some huntsmen, and if he

would not take them all into his service. The King saw her but did not

recognise her, and as he thought them very good-looking young people, he

said, 'Yes, he would gladly engage them all.' So they became the twelve

royal huntsmen.

Now, the King had a most remarkable Lion, for it knew every hidden or

secret thing.

One evening the Lion said to the King: 'So you think you have got twelve

huntsmen, do you?'

'Yes, certainly,' said the King, 'they _are_ twelve huntsmen.'

'There you are mistaken,' said the Lion; 'they are twelve maidens.'

'That cannot possibly be,' replied the King; 'how do you mean to prove

that?'

'Just have a number of peas strewed over the floor of your

ante-chamber,' said the Lion, 'and you will soon see. Men have a strong,

firm tread, so that if they happen to walk over peas not one will stir,

but girls trip, and slip, and slide, so that the peas roll all about.'

The King was pleased with the Lion's advice, and ordered the peas to be

strewn in his ante-room.

Fortunately one of the King's servants had become very partial to the

young huntsmen, and hearing of the trial they were to be put to, he went

to them and said: 'The Lion wants to persuade the King that you are only

girls'; and then told them all the plot.

The King's daughter thanked him for the hint, and after he was gone she

said to her maidens: 'Now make every effort to tread firmly on the

peas.'

Next morning, when the King sent for his twelve huntsmen, and they

passed through the ante-room which was plentifully strewn with peas,

they trod so firmly and walked with such a steady, strong step that not

a single pea rolled away or even so much as stirred. After they were

gone the King said to the Lion: 'There now--you have been telling

lies--you see yourself they walk like men.'

'Because they knew they were being put to the test,' answered the Lion;

'and so they made an effort; but just have a dozen spinning-wheels

placed in the ante-room. When they pass through you'll see how pleased

they will be, quite unlike any man.'

[Illustration]

The King was pleased with the advice, and desired twelve

spinning-wheels to be placed in his ante-chamber.

But the good-natured servant went to the huntsmen and told them all

about this fresh plot. Then, as soon as the King's daughter was alone

with her maidens, she exclaimed: 'Now, pray make a great effort and

don't even _look_ at those spinning-wheels.'

When the King sent for his twelve huntsmen next morning they walked

through the ante-room without even casting a glance at the

spinning-wheels.'

Then the King said once more to the Lion: 'You have deceived me again;

they _are_ men, for they never once looked at the spinning-wheels.'

The Lion replied: 'They knew they were being tried, and they did

violence to their feelings.' But the King declined to believe in the

Lion any longer.

So the twelve huntsmen continued to follow the King, and he grew daily

fonder of them. One day whilst they were all out hunting it so happened

that news was brought that the King's intended bride was on her way and

might soon be expected. When the true bride heard of this she felt as

though a knife had pierced her heart, and she fell fainting to the

ground. The King, fearing something had happened to his dear huntsman,

ran up to help, and began drawing off his gloves. Then he saw the ring

which he had given to his first love, and as he gazed into her face he

knew her again, and his heart was so touched that he kissed her, and as

she opened her eyes, he cried: 'I am thine and thou art mine, and no

power on earth can alter that.'

To the other Princess he despatched a messenger to beg her to return to

her own kingdom with all speed. 'For,' said he, 'I have got a wife, and

he who finds an old key again does not require a new one.'

Thereupon the wedding was celebrated with great pomp, and the Lion was

restored to the royal favour, for after all he had told the truth.

Grimm.

_SPINDLE, SHUTTLE, AND NEEDLE_

Once upon a time there lived a girl who lost her father and mother when

she was quite a tiny child. Her godmother lived all alone in a little

cottage at the far end of the village, and there she earned her living

by spinning, weaving, and sewing. The old woman took the little orphan

home with her and brought her up in good, pious, industrious habits.

When the girl was fifteen years old, her godmother fell ill, and,

calling the child to her bedside, she said: 'My dear daughter, I feel

that my end is near. I leave you my cottage, which will, at least,

shelter you, and also my spindle, my weaver's shuttle, and my needle,

with which to earn your bread.'

Then she laid her hands on the girl's head, blessed her, and added:

'Mind and be good, and then all will go well with you.' With that she

closed her eyes for the last time, and when she was carried to her grave

the girl walked behind her coffin weeping bitterly, and paid her all the

last honours.

After this the girl lived all alone in the little cottage. She worked

hard, spinning, weaving, and sewing, and her old godmother's blessing

seemed to prosper all she did. The flax seemed to spread and increase;

and when she wove a carpet or a piece of linen, or made a shirt, she was

sure to find a customer who paid her well, so that not only did she feel

no want herself, but she was able to help those who did.

Now, it happened that about this time the King's son was making a tour

through the entire country to look out for a bride. He could not marry a

poor woman, and he did not wish for a rich one.

'She shall be my wife,' said he, 'who is at once the poorest and the

richest.'

When he reached the village where the girl lived, he inquired who was

the richest and who the poorest woman in it. The richest was named

first; the poorest, he was told, was a young girl who lived alone in a

little cottage at the far end of the village.

The rich girl sat at her door dressed out in all her best clothes, and

when the King's son came near she got up, went to meet him, and made him

a low curtsey. He looked well at her, said nothing, but rode on

further.

When he reached the poor girl's house he did not find her at her door,

for she was at work in her room. The Prince reined in his horse, looked

in at the window through which the sun was shining brightly, and saw the

girl sitting at her wheel busily spinning away.

She looked up, and when she saw the King's son gazing in at her, she

blushed red all over, cast down her eyes and span on. Whether the thread

was quite as even as usual I really cannot say, but she went on spinning

till the King's son had ridden off. Then she stepped to the window and

opened the lattice, saying, 'The room is so hot,' but she looked after

him as long as she could see the white plumes in his hat.

Then she sat down to her work once more and span on, and as she did so

an old saying which, she had often heard her godmother repeat whilst at

work, came into her head, and she began to sing:

'Spindle, spindle, go and see,

If my love will come to me.'

Lo, and behold! the spindle leapt from her hand and rushed out of the

room, and when she had sufficiently recovered from her surprise to look

after it she saw it dancing merrily through the fields, dragging a long

golden thread after it, and soon it was lost to sight.

The girl, having lost her spindle, took up the shuttle and, seating

herself at her loom, began to weave. Meantime the spindle danced on and

on, and just as it had come to the end of the golden thread, it reached

the King's son.

'What do I see?' he cried; 'this spindle seems to wish to point out the

way to me.' So he turned his horse's head and rode back beside the

golden thread.

Meantime the girl sat weaving, and sang:

'Shuttle, weave both web and woof,

Bring my love beneath my roof.'

The shuttle instantly escaped from her hand, and with one bound was out

at the door. On the threshold it began weaving the loveliest carpet that

was ever seen. Roses and lilies bloomed on both sides, and in the centre

a thicket seemed to grow with rabbits and hares running through it,

stags and fawns peeping through the branches, whilst on the topmost

boughs sat birds of brilliant plumage and so life-like one almost

expected to hear them sing. The shuttle flew from side to side and the

carpet seemed almost to grow of itself.

[Illustration]

As the shuttle had run away the girl sat down to sew. She took her

needle and sang:

'Needle, needle, stitch away,

Make my chamber bright and gay,'

and the needle promptly slipped from her fingers and flew about the room

like lightning. You would have thought invisible spirits were at work,

for in next to no time the table and benches were covered with green

cloth, the chairs with velvet, and elegant silk curtains hung before the

windows. The needle had barely put in its last stitch when the girl,

glancing at the window, spied the white plumed hat of the King's son who

was being led back by the spindle with the golden thread.

He dismounted and walked over the carpet into the house, and when he

entered the room there stood the girl blushing like any rose. 'You are

the poorest and yet the richest,' said he: 'come with me, you shall be

my bride.'

She said nothing, but she held out her hand. Then he kissed her, and led

her out, lifted her on his horse and took her to his royal palace, where

the wedding was celebrated with great rejoicings.

The spindle, the shuttle, and the needle were carefully placed in the

treasury, and were always held in the very highest honour.

Grimm.

_THE CRYSTAL COFFIN_

Now let no one say that a poor tailor can't get on in the world, and,

indeed, even attain to very high honour. Nothing is required but to set

the right way to work, but of course the really important thing is to

succeed.

A very bright active young tailor once set off on his travels, which led

him into a wood, and as he did not know the way he soon lost himself.

Night came on, and there seemed to be nothing for it but to seek out the

best resting-place he could find. He could have made himself quite

comfortable with a bed of soft moss, but the fear of wild beasts

disturbed his mind, and at last he determined to spend the night in a

tree.

He sought out a tall oak tree, climbed up to the top, and felt devoutly

thankful that his big smoothing-iron was in his pocket, for the wind in

the tree-tops was so high that he might easily have been blown away

altogether.

After passing some hours of the night, not without considerable fear and

trembling, he noticed a light shining at a little distance, and hoping

it might proceed from some house where he could find a better shelter

than in the top of the tree, he cautiously descended and went towards

the light. It led him to a little hut all woven together of reeds and

rushes. He knocked bravely at the door, which opened, and by the light

which shone from within he saw an old grey-haired man dressed in a coat

made of bright-coloured patches. 'Who are you, and what do you want?'

asked the old man roughly.

'I am a poor tailor,' replied the youth. 'I have been benighted in the

forest, and I entreat you to let me take shelter in your hut till

morning.'

'Go your way,' said the old man in a sulky tone, 'I'll have nothing to

do with tramps. You must just go elsewhere.'

With these words he tried to slip back into his house, but the tailor

laid hold of his coat-tails, and begged so hard to be allowed to stay

that the old fellow, who was by no means as cross as he appeared, was at

length touched by his entreaties, let him come in, and after giving him

some food, showed him quite a nice bed in one corner of the room. The

weary tailor required no rocking to rest, but slept sound till early

morning, when he was roused from his slumbers by a tremendous noise.

Loud screams and shouts pierced the thin walls of the little hut. The

tailor, with new-born courage, sprang up, threw on his clothes with all

speed and hurried out. There he saw a huge black bull engaged in a

terrible fight with a fine large stag. They rushed at each other with

such fury that the ground seemed to tremble under them and the whole air

to be filled with their cries. For some time it appeared quite uncertain

which would be the victor, but at length the stag drove his antlers with

such force into his opponent's body that the bull fell to the ground

with a terrific roar, and a few more strokes finished him.

The tailor, who had been watching the fight with amazement, was still

standing motionless when the stag bounded up to him, and before he had

time to escape forked him up with its great antlers, and set off at full

gallop over hedges and ditches, hill and dale, through wood and water.

The tailor could do nothing but hold on tight with both hands to the

stag's horns and resign himself to his fate. He felt as if he were

flying along. At length the stag paused before a steep rock and gently

let the tailor down to the ground.

Feeling more dead than alive, he paused for a while to collect his

scattered senses, but when he seemed somewhat restored the stag struck

such a blow on a door in the rock that it flew open. Flames of fire

rushed forth, and such clouds of steam followed that the stag had to

avert its eyes. The tailor could not think what to do or which way to

turn to get away from this awful wilderness, and to find his way back

amongst human beings once more.

As he stood hesitating, a voice from the rock cried to him: 'Step in

without fear, no harm shall befall you.'

He still lingered, but some mysterious power seemed to impel him, and

passing through the door he found himself in a spacious hall, whose

ceiling, walls, and floor were covered with polished tiles carved all

over with unknown figures. He gazed about, full of wonder, and was just

preparing to walk out again when the same voice bade him: 'Tread on the

stone in the middle of the hall, and good luck will attend you.'

By this time he had grown so courageous that he did not hesitate to obey

the order, and hardly had he stepped on the stone than it began to sink

gently with him into the depths below. On reaching firm ground he found

himself in a hall of much the same size as the upper one, but with much

more in it to wonder at and admire. Round the walls were several niches,

in each of which stood glass vessels filled with some bright-coloured

spirit or bluish smoke. On the floor stood two large crystal boxes

opposite each other, and these attracted his curiosity at once.

[Illustration]

Stepping up to one of them, he saw within it what looked like a model in

miniature of a fine castle surrounded by farms, barns, stables, and a

number of other buildings. Everything was quite tiny, but so beautifully

and carefully finished that it might have been the work of an

accomplished artist. He would have continued gazing much longer at this

remarkable curiosity had not the voice desired him to turn round and

look at the crystal coffin which stood opposite.

What was his amazement at seeing a girl of surpassing loveliness lying

in it! She lay as though sleeping, and her long, fair hair seemed to

wrap her round like some costly mantle. Her eyes were closed, but the

bright colour in her face, and the movement of a ribbon, which rose and

fell with her breath, left no doubt as to her being alive.

As the tailor stood gazing at her with a beating heart, the maiden

suddenly opened her eyes, and started with delighted surprise.

'Great heavens!' she cried, 'my deliverance approaches! Quick, quick,

help me out of my prison; only push back the bolt of this coffin and I

am free.'

The tailor promptly obeyed, when she quickly pushed back the crystal

lid, stepped out of the coffin and hurried to a corner of the hall, when

she proceeded to wrap herself in a large cloak. Then she sat down on a

stone, desired the young man to come near, and, giving him an

affectionate kiss, she said, 'My long-hoped-for deliverer, kind heaven

has led you to me, and has at length put an end to all my sufferings.

You are my destined husband, and, beloved by me, and endowed with every

kind of riches and power, you shall spend the remainder of your life in

peace and happiness. Now sit down and hear my story. I am the daughter

of a wealthy nobleman. My parents died when I was very young, and they

left me to the care of my eldest brother, by whom I was carefully

educated. We loved each other so tenderly, and our tastes and interests

were so much alike that we determined never to marry, but to spend our

entire lives together. There was no lack of society at our home. Friends

and neighbours paid us frequent visits, and we kept open house for all.

Thus it happened that one evening a stranger rode up to the castle and

asked for hospitality, as he could not reach the nearest town that

night. We granted his request with ready courtesy, and during supper he

entertained us with most agreeable conversation, mingled with amusing

anecdotes. My brother took such a fancy to him that he pressed him to

spend a couple of days with us, which, after a little hesitation, the

stranger consented to do. We rose late from table, and whilst my brother

was showing our guest to his room I hurried to mine, for I was very

tired and longed to get to bed. I had hardly dropped off to sleep when I

was roused by the sound of some soft and charming music. Wondering

whence it could come, I was about to call to my maid who slept in the

room next mine, when, to my surprise, I felt as if some heavy weight on

my chest had taken all power from me, and I lay there unable to utter

the slightest sound. Meantime, by the light of the night lamp, I saw the

stranger enter my room, though the double doors had been securely

locked. He drew near and told me that through the power of his magic

arts he had caused the soft music to waken me, and had made his way

through bolts and bars to offer me his hand and heart. My repugnance to

his magic was so great that I would not condescend to give any answer.

He waited motionless for some time, hoping no doubt for a favourable

reply, but as I continued silent he angrily declared that he would find

means to punish my pride, and therewith he left the room in a rage.

'I spent the night in the greatest agitation, and only fell into a doze

towards morning. As soon as I awoke I jumped up, and hurried to tell my

brother all that had happened, but he had left his room, and his servant

told me that he had gone out at daybreak to hunt with the stranger.

'My mind misgave me. I dressed in all haste, had my palfrey saddled, and

rode of at full gallop towards the forest, attended by one servant only.

I pushed on without pausing, and ere long I saw the stranger coming

towards me, and leading a fine stag. I asked him where he had left my

brother, and how he had got the stag, whose great eyes were overflowing

with tears. Instead of answering he began to laugh, and I flew into such

a rage that I drew a pistol and fired at him; but the bullet rebounded

from his breast and struck my horse in the forehead. I fell to the

ground, and the stranger muttered some words, which robbed me of my

senses.

'When I came to myself I was lying in a crystal coffin in this

subterranean vault. The Magician appeared again, and told me that he had

transformed my brother into a stag, had reduced our castle and all its

defences to miniature and locked them up in a glass box, and after

turning all our household into different vapours had banished them into

glass phials. If I would only yield to his wishes he could easily open

these vessels, and all would then resume their former shapes.

'I would not say a word more than I had done previously, and he

vanished, leaving me in my prison, where a deep sleep soon fell on me.

Amongst the many dreams which floated through my brain was a cheering

one of a young man who was to come and release me, and to-day, when I

opened my eyes, I recognised you and saw that my dream was fulfilled.

Now help me to carry out the rest of my vision. The first thing is to

place the glass box which contains my castle on this large stone.'

[Illustration]

As soon as this was done the stone gently rose through the air and

transported them into the upper hall, whence they easily carried the box

into the outer air. The lady then removed the lid, and it was marvellous

to watch the castle, houses, and farmyards begin to grow and spread

themselves till they had regained their proper size. Then the young

couple returned by means of the movable stone, and brought up all the

glass vessels filled with smoke. No sooner were they uncorked than the

blue vapours poured out and became transformed to living people, in whom

the lady joyfully recognised her many servants and attendants.

Her delight was complete when her brother (who had killed the Magician

under the form of a bull) was seen coming from the forest in his proper

shape, and that very day, according to her promise, she gave her hand in

marriage to the happy young tailor.

Grimm.

_THE THREE SNAKE-LEAVES_

There was once a poor man who could no longer afford to keep his only

son at home. So the son said to him, 'Dear father, you are so poor that

I am only a burden to you; I would rather go out into the world and see

if I can earn my own living.' The father gave him his blessing and took

leave of him with much sorrow. About this time the King of a very

powerful kingdom was carrying on a war; the youth therefore took service

under him and went on the campaign. When they came before the enemy, a

battle took place, there was some hot fighting, and it rained bullets so

thickly that his comrades fell around him on all sides. And when their

leader fell too the rest wished to take to flight; but the youth stepped

forward and encouraged them and called out, 'We must not let our country

be ruined!' Then others followed him, and he pressed on and defeated the

enemy. When the King heard that he had to thank him alone for the

victory, he raised him higher than anyone else in rank, gave him great

treasures and made him the first in the kingdom.

The King had a daughter who was very beautiful, but she was also very

capricious. She had made a vow to marry no one who would not promise her

that if she died first, he would allow himself to be buried alive with

her. 'If he loves me truly,' she used to say, 'what use would life be to

him then?' At the same time she was willing to do the same, and if he

died first to be buried with him. This curious vow had up to this time

frightened away all suitors, but the young man was so captivated by her

beauty, that he hesitated at nothing and asked her hand of her father.

'Do you know,' asked the King, 'what you have to promise?' 'I shall have

to go into her grave with her,' he answered, 'if I outlive her, but my

love is so great that I do not think of the risk.' So the King

consented, and the wedding was celebrated with great splendour.

Now, they lived for a long time very happily with one another, but then

it came to pass that the young Queen fell seriously ill, and no doctor

could save her. And when she lay dead, the young King remembered what he

had promised, and it made him shudder to think of lying in her grave

alive, but there was no escape. The King had set guards before all the

gates, and it was not possible to avoid his fate.

When the day arrived on which the corpse was to be laid in the royal

vault, he was led thither, then the entrance was bolted and closed up.

Near the coffin stood a table on which were placed four candles, four

loaves of bread, and four bottles of wine. As soon as this provision

came to an end he would have to die. So he sat there full of grief and

misery, eating every day only a tiny bit of bread, and drinking only a

mouthful of wine, and he watched death creeping nearer and nearer to

him. One day as he was sitting staring moodily in front of him, he saw a

snake creep out of the corner towards the corpse. Thinking it was going

to touch it, he drew his sword and saying, 'As long as I am alive you

shall not harm her,' he cut it in three pieces. After a little time a

second snake crept out of the corner, but when it saw the first one

lying dead and in pieces it went back and came again soon, holding three

green leaves in its mouth. Then it took the three bits of the snake and

laid them in order, and put one of the leaves on each wound. Immediately

the pieces joined together, the snake moved itself and became alive and

then both hurried away. The leaves remained lying on the ground, and it

suddenly occurred to the unfortunate man who had seen everything, that

the wonderful power of the leaves might also be exercised upon a human

being.

So he picked up the leaves and laid one of them on the mouth and the

other two on the eyes of the dead woman. And scarcely had he done this,

before the blood began to circulate in her veins, then it mounted and

brought colour back to her white face. Then she drew her breath, opened

her eyes, and said, 'Ah! where am I?' 'You are with me, dear lady,' he

answered, and told her all that had happened, and how he had brought her

to life again. He then gave her some wine and bread, and when all her

strength had returned she got up, and they went to the door and knocked

and called so loudly that the guards heard them, and told the King. The

King came himself to open the door, and there he found both happy and

well, and he rejoiced with them that now all trouble was over. But the

young King gave the three snake-leaves to a servant, saying to him,

'Keep them carefully for me, and always carry them with you; who knows

but that they may help us in a time of need!'

[Illustration]

It seemed, however, as if a change had come over the young Queen after

she had been restored to life, and as if all her love for her husband

had faded from her heart. Some time afterwards, when he wanted to take a

journey over the sea to his old father, and they were on board the ship,

she forgot the great love and faithfulness he had shown her and how he

had saved her from death, and fell in love with the captain. And one day

when the young King was lying asleep, she called the captain to her, and

seized the head of the sleeping King and made him take his feet, and

together they threw him into the sea. When they had done this wicked

deed, she said to him, 'Now let us go home and say that he died on the

journey. I will praise you so much to my father that he will marry me to

you and make you the heir to the throne.' But the faithful servant, who

had seen everything, let down a little boat into the sea, unobserved by

them, and rowed after his master while the traitors sailed on. He took

the drowned man out of the water, and with the help of the three

snake-leaves which he carried with him, placing them on his mouth and

eyes, he brought him to life again.

They both rowed as hard as they could night and day, and their little

boat went so quickly that they reached the old King before the other two

did. He was much astonished to see them come back alone, and asked what

had happened to them. When he heard the wickedness of his daughter, he

said, 'I cannot believe that she has acted so wrongly, but the truth

will soon come to light.' He made them both go into a secret chamber,

and let no one see them.

Soon after this the large ship came in, and the wicked lady appeared

before her father with a very sad face. He said to her, 'Why have you

come back alone? Where is your husband?'

'Ah, dear father,' she replied, 'I have come home in great grief; my

husband fell ill on the voyage quite suddenly, and died, and if the good

captain had not given me help, I should have died too. He was at his

death-bed and can tell you everything.'

The King said, 'I will bring the dead to life again,' and he opened the

door of the room and called them both out. The lady was as if

thunderstruck when she caught sight of her husband; she fell on her

knees and begged for mercy. But the King said, 'You shall have no mercy.

He was ready to die with you, and restored you to life again; but you

killed him when he was sleeping, and shall receive your deserts.'

So she and her accomplice were put in a ship which was bored through

with holes, and were drawn out into the sea, where they soon perished in

the waves.

Grimm.

_THE RIDDLE_

A King's son once had a great desire to travel through the world, so he

started off, taking no one with him but one trusty servant. One day he

came to a great forest, and as evening drew on he could find no shelter,

and could not think where to spend the night. All of a sudden he saw a

girl going towards a little house, and as he drew nearer he remarked

that she was both young and pretty. He spoke to her, and said, 'Dear

child, could I and my servant spend the night in this house?'

'Oh yes,' said the girl in a sad tone, 'you can if you like, but I

should not advise you to do so. Better not go in.'

'Why not?' asked the King's son.

The girl sighed and answered, 'My stepmother deals in black arts, and

she is not very friendly to strangers.'

The Prince guessed easily that he had fallen on a witch's house, but as

by this time it was quite dark and he could go no further, and as

moreover he was not at all afraid, he stepped in.

An old woman sat in an arm-chair near the fire, and as the strangers

entered she turned her red eyes on them. 'Good evening,' she muttered,

and pretending to be quite friendly. 'Won't you sit down?'

She blew up the fire on which she was cooking something in a little pot,

and her daughter secretly warned the travellers to be very careful not

to eat or drink anything, as the old woman's brews were apt to be

dangerous.

They went to bed, and slept soundly till morning. When they were ready

to start and the King's son had already mounted his horse the old woman

said: 'Wait a minute, I must give you a stirrup cup.' Whilst she went to

fetch it the King's son rode off, and the servant who had waited to

tighten his saddle-girths was alone when the witch returned.

'Take that to your master,' she said; but as she spoke the glass cracked

and the poison spurted over the horse, and it was so powerful that the

poor creature sank down dead. The servant ran after his master and told

him what had happened, and then, not wishing to lose the saddle as well

as the horse, he went back to fetch it. When he got to the spot he saw

that a raven had perched on the carcase and was pecking at it. 'Who

knows whether we shall get anything better to eat to-day!' said the

servant, and he shot the raven and carried it off.

[Illustration]

Then they rode on all day through the forest without coming to the end.

At night-fall they reached an inn, which they entered, and the servant

gave the landlord the raven to dress for their supper. Now, as it

happened, this inn was a regular resort of a band of murderers, and the

old witch too was in the habit of frequenting it.

As soon as it was dark twelve murderers arrived, with the full intention

of killing and robbing the strangers. Before they set to work, however,

they sat down to table, and the landlord and the old witch joined them,

and they all ate some broth in which the flesh of the raven had been

stewed down. They had hardly taken a couple of spoonfuls when they all

fell down dead, for the poison had passed from the horse to the raven

and so into the broth. So there was no one left belonging to the house

but the landlord's daughter, who was a good, well-meaning girl, and had

taken no part in all the evil doings.

She opened all the doors, and showed the strangers the treasures the

robbers had gathered together; but the Prince bade her keep them all for

herself, as he wanted none of them, and so he rode further with his

servant.

After travelling about for some length of time they reached a town where

lived a lovely but most arrogant Princess. She had given out that anyone

who asked her a riddle which she found herself unable to guess should be

her husband, but should she guess it he must forfeit his head. She

claimed three days in which to think over the riddles, but she was so

very clever that she invariably guessed them in a much shorter time.

Nine suitors had already lost their lives when the King's son arrived,

and, dazzled by her beauty, determined to risk his life in hopes of

winning her.

So he came before her and propounded his riddle. 'What is this?' he

asked. 'One slew none and yet killed twelve.'

She could not think what it was! She thought, and thought, and looked

through all her books of riddles and puzzles, but she found nothing to

help her, and could not guess; in fact, she was at her wits' end. As she

could think of no way to guess the riddle, she ordered her maid to steal

at night into the Prince's bedroom and to listen, for she thought that

he might perhaps talk aloud in his dreams and so betray the secret. But

the clever servant had taken his master's place, and when the maid came

he tore off the cloak she had wrapped herself in and hunted her off with

a whip.

On the second night the Princess sent her lady-in-waiting, hoping that

she might succeed better, but the servant took away her mantle and

chased her away also.

On the third night the King's son thought he really might feel safe, so

he went to bed. But in the middle of the night the Princess came

herself, all huddled up in a misty grey mantle, and sat down near him.

When she thought he was fast asleep, she spoke to him, hoping he would

answer in the midst of his dreams, as many people do; but he was wide

awake all the time, and heard and understood everything very well.

Then she asked: 'One slew none--what is that?' and he answered: 'A raven

which fed on the carcase of a poisoned horse.'

She went on: 'And yet killed twelve--what is that?' 'Those are twelve

murderers who ate the raven and died of it.'

As soon as she knew the riddle she tried to slip away, but he held her

mantle so tightly that she was obliged to leave it behind.

Next morning the Princess announced that she had guessed the riddle, and

sent for the twelve judges, before whom she declared it. But the young

man begged to be heard, too, and said: 'She came by night to question

me, otherwise she never could have guessed it.'

The judges said: 'Bring us some proof.' So the servant brought out the

three cloaks, and when the judges saw the grey one, which the Princess

was in the habit of wearing, they said: 'Let it be embroidered with gold

and silver; it shall be your wedding mantle.'

Grimm.

_JACK MY HEDGEHOG_

There was once a farmer who lived in great comfort. He had both lands

and money, but, though he was so well off, one thing was wanting to

complete his happiness; he had no children. Many and many a time, when

he met other farmers at the nearest market town, they would teaze him,

asking how it came about that he was childless. At length he grew so

angry that he exclaimed: 'I must and will have a child of some sort or

kind, even should it only be a hedgehog!'

Not long after this his wife gave birth to a child, but though the lower

half of the little creature was a fine boy, from the waist upwards it

was a hedgehog, so that when his mother first saw him she was quite

frightened, and said to her husband, 'There now, you have cursed the

child yourself.' The farmer said, 'What's the use of making a fuss? I

suppose the creature must be christened, but I don't see how we are to

ask anyone to be sponsor to him, and what are we to call him?'

'There is nothing we can possibly call him but Jack my Hedgehog,'

replied the wife.

So they took him to be christened, and the parson said: You'll never be

able to put that child in a decent bed on account of his prickles.'

Which was true, but they shook down some straw for him behind the stove,

and there he lay for eight years. His father grew very tired of him and

often wished him dead, but he did not die, but lay on there year after

year.

Now one day there was a big fair at the market town to which the farmer

meant to go, so he asked his wife what he should bring her from it.

'Some meat and a couple of big loaves for the house,' said she. Then he

asked the maid what she wanted, and she said a pair of slippers and some

stockings. Lastly he said, 'Well, Jack my Hedgehog, and what shall I

bring you?'

'Daddy,' said he, 'do bring me a bagpipe.' When the farmer came home he

gave his wife and the maid the things they had asked for, and then he

went behind the stove and gave Jack my Hedgehog the bagpipes.

When Jack had got his bagpipes he said, 'Daddy, do go to the smithy and

have the house cock shod for me; then I'll ride off and trouble you no

more.' His father, who was delighted at the prospect of getting rid of

him, had the cock shod, and when it was ready Jack my Hedgehog mounted

on its back and rode off to the forest, followed by all the pigs and

asses which he had promised to look after.

[Illustration]

Having reached the forest he made the cock fly up to the top of a very

tall tree with him, and there he sat looking after his pigs and donkeys,

and he sat on and on for several years till he had quite a big herd; but

all this time his father knew nothing about him.

As he sat up in his tree he played away on his pipes and drew the

loveliest music from them. As he was playing one day a King, who had

lost his way, happened to pass close by, and hearing the music he was

much surprised, and sent one of his servants to find out where it came

from. The man peered about, but he could see nothing but a little

creature which looked like a cock with a hedgehog sitting on it, perched

up in a tree. The King desired the servant to ask the strange creature

why it sat there, and if it knew the shortest way to his kingdom.

On this Jack my Hedgehog stepped down from his tree and said he would

undertake to show the King his way home if the King on his part would

give him his written promise to let him have whatever first met him on

his return.

The King thought to himself, 'That's easy enough to promise. The

creature won't understand a word about it, so I can just write what I

choose.'

[Illustration]

So he took pen and ink and wrote something, and when he had done Jack my

Hedgehog pointed out the way and the King got safely home.

Now when the King's daughter saw her father returning in the distance

she was so delighted that she ran to meet him and threw herself into his

arms. Then the King remembered Jack my Hedgehog, and he told his

daughter how he had been obliged to give a written promise to bestow

whatever he first met when he got home on an extraordinary creature

which had shown him the way. The creature, said he, rode on a cock as

though it had been a horse, and it made lovely music, but as it

certainly could not read he had just written that he would _not_ give it

anything at all. At this the Princess was quite pleased, and said how

cleverly her father had managed, for that of course nothing would induce

her to have gone off with Jack my Hedgehog.

Meantime Jack minded his asses and pigs, sat aloft in his tree, played

his bagpipes, and was always merry and cheery. After a time it so

happened that another King, having lost his way, passed by with his

servants and escort, wondering how he could find his way home, for the

forest was very vast. He too heard the music, and told one of his men to

find out whence it came. The man came under the tree, and looking up to

the top there he saw Jack my Hedgehog astride on the cock.

The servant asked Jack what he was doing up there. 'I'm minding my pigs

and donkeys; but what do you want?' was the reply. Then the servant told

him they had lost their way, and wanted some one to show it them. Down

came Jack my Hedgehog with his cock, and told the old King he would show

him the right way if he would solemnly promise to give him the first

thing he met in front of his royal castle.

The King said 'Yes,' and gave Jack a written promise to that effect.

Then Jack rode on in front pointing out the way, and the King reached

his own country in safety.

Now he had an only daughter who was extremely beautiful, and who,

delighted at her father's return, ran to meet him, threw her arms round

his neck and kissed him heartily. Then she asked where he had been

wandering so long, and he told her how he had lost his way and might

never have reached home at all but for a strange creature, half-man,

half-hedgehog, which rode a cock and sat up in a tree making lovely

music, and which had shown him the right way. He also told her how he

had been obliged to pledge his word to give the creature the first thing

which met him outside his castle gate, and he felt very sad at the

thought that she had been the first thing to meet him.

But the Princess comforted him, and said she should be quite willing to

go with Jack my Hedgehog whenever he came to fetch her, because of the

great love she bore to her dear old father.

Jack my Hedgehog continued to herd his pigs, and they increased in

number till there were so many that the forest seemed full of them. So

he made up his mind to live there no longer, and sent a message to his

father telling him to have all the stables and outhouses in the village

cleared, as he was going to bring such an enormous herd that all who

would might kill what they chose. His father was much vexed at this

news, for he thought Jack had died long ago. Jack my Hedgehog mounted

his cock, and driving his pigs before him into the village, he let every

one kill as many as they chose, and such a hacking and hewing of pork

went on as you might have heard for miles off.

Then said Jack, 'Daddy, let the blacksmith shoe my cock once more; then

I'll ride off, and I promise you I'll never come back again as long as I

live.' So the father had the cock shod, and rejoiced at the idea of

getting rid of his son.

Then Jack my Hedgehog set off for the first kingdom, and there the King

had given strict orders that if anyone should be seen riding a cock and

carrying a bagpipe he was to be chased away and shot at, and on no

account to be allowed to enter the palace. So when Jack my Hedgehog rode

up the guards charged him with their bayonets, but he put spurs to his

cock, flew up over the gate right to the King's windows, let himself

down on the sill, and called out that if he was not given what had been

promised him, both the King and his daughter should pay for it with

their lives. Then the King coaxed and entreated his daughter to go with

Jack and so save both their lives.

The Princess dressed herself all in white, and her father gave her a

coach with six horses and servants in gorgeous liveries and quantities

of money. She stepped into the coach, and Jack my Hedgehog with his cock

and pipes took his place beside her. They both took leave, and the King

fully expected never to set eyes on them again. But matters turned out

very differently from what he had expected, for when they had got a

certain distance from the town Jack tore all the Princess's smart

clothes off her, and pricked her all over with his bristles, saying:

'That's what you get for treachery. Now go back, I'll have no more to

say to you.' And with that he hunted her home, and she felt she had been

disgraced and put to shame till her life's end.

Then Jack my Hedgehog rode on with his cock and bagpipes to the country

of the second King to whom he had shown the way. Now this King had given

orders that, in the event of Jack's coming the guards were to present

arms, the people to cheer, and he was to be conducted in triumph to the

royal palace.

When the King's daughter saw Jack my Hedgehog, she was a good deal

startled, for he certainly was very peculiar looking; but after all she

considered that she had given her word and it couldn't be helped. So she

made Jack welcome and they were betrothed to each other, and at dinner

he sat next her at the royal table, and they ate and drank together.

[Illustration]

When they retired to rest the Princess feared lest Jack should kiss her

because of his prickles, but he told her not to be alarmed as no harm

should befall her. Then he begged the old King to place a watch of four

men just outside his bedroom door, and to desire them to make a big

fire. When he was about to lie down in bed he would creep out of his

hedgehog skin, and leave it lying at the bedside; then the men must rush

in, throw the skin into the fire, and stand by till it was entirely

burnt up.

And so it was, for when it struck eleven, Jack my Hedgehog went to his

room, took off his skin and left it at the foot of the bed. The men

rushed in, quickly seized the skin and threw it on the fire, and

directly it was all burnt Jack was released from his enchantment and lay

in his bed a man from head to foot, but quite black as though he had

been severely scorched.

The King sent off for his physician in ordinary, who washed Jack all

over with various essences and salves, so that he became white and was a

remarkably handsome young man. When the King's daughter saw him she was

greatly pleased, and next day the marriage ceremony was performed, and

the old King bestowed his kingdom on Jack my Hedgehog.

After some years Jack and his wife went to visit his father, but the

farmer did not recognise him, and declared he had no son; he had had

one, but that one was born with bristles like a hedgehog, and had gone

off into the wide world. Then Jack told his story, and his old father

rejoiced and returned to live with him in his kingdom.

Grimm.

_THE GOLDEN LADS_

A poor man and his wife lived in a little cottage, where they supported

themselves by catching fish in the nearest river, and got on as best

they could, living from hand to mouth. One day it happened that when the

fisherman drew in his net he found in it a remarkable fish, for it was

entirely of gold. As he was inspecting it with some surprise, the fish

opened its mouth and said: 'Listen to me, fisher; if you will just throw

me back into the water I'll turn your poor little cottage into a

splendid castle.'

The fisher replied: 'What good, pray, will a castle be to me if I have

nothing to eat in it?'

'Oh,' said the gold fish, 'I'll take care of that. There will be a

cupboard in the castle, in which you will find dishes of every kind of

food you can wish for most.'

'If that's the case,' said the man, 'I've no objection to oblige you.'

'Yes,' observed the fish, 'but there is one condition attached to my

offer, and that is that you are not to reveal to a soul where your good

fortune comes from. If you say a word about it, it will all vanish.'

The man threw the fish back into the water, and went home. But on the

spot where his cottage used to stand he found a spacious castle. He

opened his eyes wide, went in and found his wife dressed out in smart

clothes, sitting in a splendidly furnished drawing-room. She was in high

spirits, and cried out: 'Oh husband! how can this all have happened? I

am so pleased!'

'Yes,' said her husband, 'so am I pleased; but I'm uncommonly hungry,

and I want something to eat at once.'

Said his wife, 'I've got nothing, and I don't know where anything is in

this new house.'

'Never mind,' replied the man. 'I see a big cupboard there. Suppose you

unlock it.'

When the cupboard was opened they found meat, cakes, fruit, and wine,

all spread out in the most tempting fashions. The wife clapped her hands

with joy, and cried: 'Dear heart! what more can one wish for?' and they

sat down and ate and drank.

When they had finished the wife asked, 'But husband, where do all these

riches come from?'

[Illustration]

'Ah!' said he, 'don't ask me. I dare not tell you. If I reveal the

secret to anyone, it will be all up with us.'

'Very well,' she replied, 'if I'm not to be told, of course I don't want

to know anything about it.'

But she was not really in earnest, for her curiosity never left her a

moment's peace by day or night, and she teazed and worried her husband

to such a pitch, that at length he quite lost patience and blurted out

that it all came from a wonderful golden fish which he had caught and

set free again. Hardly were the words well out of his mouth, when

castle, cupboard, and all vanished, and there they were sitting in their

poor little fishing hut once more.

The man had to betake himself to his former trade, and set to fishing

again. As luck would have it, he caught the golden fish a second time.

'Now listen,' said the fish, 'if you'll throw me back into the water,

I'll give you back the castle and the cupboard with all its good things;

but now take care, and don't for your life betray where you got them, or

you'll just lose them again.'

'I'll be very careful,' promised the fisher, and threw the fish back

into the water. When he went home he found all their former splendour

restored, and his wife overjoyed at their good fortune. But her

curiosity still continued to torment her, and after restraining it with

a great effort for a couple of days, she began questioning her husband

again, as to what had happened, and how he had managed.

The man kept silence for some time, but at last she irritated him so

much that he burst out with the secret, and in one moment the castle was

gone, and they sat once more in their wretched old hut.

'There!' exclaimed the man, 'you _would_ have it--now we may just go on

short commons.'

'Ah!' said his wife, 'after all I'd rather not have all the riches in

the world if I can't know where they come from--I shall not have a

moment's peace.'

The man took to his fishing again, and one day fate brought the gold

fish into his net for the third time. 'Well,' said the fish, 'I see that

I am evidently destined to fall into your hands. Now take me home, and

cut me into six pieces. Give two bits to your wife to eat, two to your

horse, and plant the remaining two in your garden, and they will bring

you a blessing.'

The man carried the fish home, and did exactly as he had been told.

After a time, it came to pass that from the two pieces he had planted in

the garden two golden lilies grew up, and that his horse had two golden

foals, whilst his wife gave birth to twin boys who were all golden.

The children grew up both tall and handsome, and the foals and the

lilies grew with them.

One day the children came to their father and said, 'Father, we want to

mount on golden steeds, and ride forth to see the world.'

Their father answered sadly, 'How can I bear it if, when you are far

away, I know nothing about you?' and they said, 'The golden lilies will

tell you all about us if you look at them. If they seem to droop, you

will know we are ill, and if they fall down and fade away, it will be a

sign we are dead.'

So off they rode, and came to an inn where were a number of people who,

as soon as they saw the two golden lads, began to laugh and jeer at

them. When one of them heard this, his heart failed him, and he thought

he would go no further into the world, so he turned back and rode home

to his father, but his brother rode on till he reached the outskirts of

a huge forest. Here he was told, 'It will never do for you to ride

through the forest, it is full of robbers, and you're sure to come to

grief, especially when they see that you and your horse are golden. They

will certainly fall on you and kill you.' However, he was not to be

intimidated, but said, 'I must and will ride on.'

So he procured some bears' skins, and covered himself and his horse with

them, so that not a particle of gold could be seen, and then rode

bravely on into the heart of the forest.

When he had got some way he heard a rustling through the bushes and

presently a sound of voices. Someone whispered on one side of him:

'There goes someone,' and was answered from the other side: 'Oh, let him

pass. He's only a bear-keeper, and as poor as any church mouse.' So

golden lad rode through the forest and no harm befell him.

One day he came to a village, where he saw a girl who struck him as

being the loveliest creature in the whole world, and as he felt a great

love for her, he went up to her and said: 'I love you with all my heart;

will you be my wife?' And the girl liked him so much that she put her

hand in his and replied: 'Yes, I will be your wife, and will be true to

you as long as I live.'

So they were married, and in the middle of all the festivities and

rejoicings the bride's father came home and was not a little surprised

at finding his daughter celebrating her wedding. He enquired: 'And who

is the bridegroom?'

Then someone pointed out to him the golden lad, who was still wrapped up

in the bear's skin, and the father exclaimed angrily: 'Never shall a

mere bear-keeper have my daughter,' and tried to rush at him and kill

him. But the bride did all she could to pacify him, and begged hard,

saying: 'After all he is my husband, and I love him with all my heart,'

so that at length he gave in.

[Illustration]

However, he could not dismiss the thought from his mind, and next

morning he rose very early, for he felt he must go and look at his

daughter's husband and see whether he really was nothing better than a

mere ragged beggar. So he went to his son-in-law's room, and who should

he see lying in the bed but a splendid golden man, and the rough

bearskin thrown on the ground close by. Then he slipped quietly away,

and thought to himself, 'How lucky that I managed to control my rage! I

should certainly have committed a great crime.'

Meantime the golden lad dreamt that he was out hunting and was giving

chase to a noble stag, and when he woke he said to his bride: 'I must go

off and hunt.' She felt very anxious, and begged he would stay at home,

adding: 'Some mishap might so easily befall you,' but he answered, 'I

must and will go.'

So he went off into the forest, and before long a fine stag, such as he

had seen in his dream, stopped just in front of him. He took aim, and

was about to fire when the stag bounded away. Then he started off in

pursuit, making his way through bushes and briars, and never stopped all

day; but in the evening the stag entirely disappeared, and when golden

lad came to look about him he found himself just opposite a hut in which

lived a witch. He knocked at the door, which was opened by a little old

woman who asked, 'What do you want at this late hour in the midst of

this great forest?'