Grimm 1900

8/13/2019 Grimm 1900

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ARRANGED AS FOLLOWS:

T H E S L E E P I N G B E A U T Y .

T H E G O L D E N G O O S E .

T H E W E D D I N G , O F M R S . F O X .

T H E Q U E E N B E E .

R U M P E L S T I L T S K I N .

T H E T W E L V E H U N T E R S ,

S N O W W H I T E ,

T H E S I X S W A N S .

J O R I N D E A N D J O R I N G E L .

T H E T H R E E B R O T H E R S .

T H E A L M O N D T R E E .

T H E R O B B E R B R I D E G R O O M .

T H E E L V E S .

M O T H E R H U L D A .

T H E W H I T E S N A K E .

T H E O L D W O M A N I N T H E W O O D .

T H E T H R E E S P I N S T E R S .

R A P U N Z E L .

F A I T H F U L J O H N .

T H E W O N D E R F U L M U S I C I A N .

T H E S H O ES W H I C H W E R E D A N C E D T O P I E C E S

T H E G O O S E G I R L .

T H E G O L D E N B I R D .

T H E F O X ' S B R U S H . '

T H E E L V E S A N D T H E C O B B L E R .

T H E W O N D E R F U L M U S I C I A N .

F L O R I N D A A N D F L O R I N D E L .

T H E J E W I N T H E B U S H .

CONTENTS

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Gift of

M r s . E m i l y W . E p s t e e n

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285731

THE SLEEPING BEAUTY

IN times past the re l ived a king and queen , who said t o eachothe r every day of the ir l ives, " W ou ld tha t we had a child "

and yet they had none. But i t happe ned once that when thequeen was bathing, there came a frog out of the water, and hesquatted on the ground, and said to her :

" T hy wish shall be fulfil led; before a ye ar has go ne bythou shalt bring a daughter into the world."

An d as the frog foretold, so i t ha pp en ed ; an d the queen bore a dau gh terso beautiful th at the kin g could not contain himself for joy, and he ord aine d agreat feast. N o t only did he bid to it his relation s, friends, and ac qu ainta nc es,but also the wise wom en, tha t they migh t be kind and favorable to the child.Th ere were thirteen of them in his kingdo m , bu t as he had only prov ided

twelve golden plate s for them to eat from, o ne of the m h ad to be left ou t.However, the feast was celebrated with all splendor; and as i t drew to

an end, the wise women stood forward t o pre sen t to the child their wo nderful gifts: one bestowed virtue, one beauty, a third riches, and so on, whateverthe re is in the world to wish for. A nd wh en eleven of them had said theirsay, in came the uninvited thirtee nth, burnin g to rev eng e herself, and, withoutgreeting or respect, she cried with a loud voice :

" In the fifteenth ye ar of he r age , th e prince ss shall prick herself with aspindle and shall fall down dead."

A nd witho ut spea king one m ore word, she turn ed away and left the hall .

Eve ry one was terrified at her saying . T he n th e twelfth came forward, forshe had not ye t bestowed he r gift , and tho ug h she could not do awa y with t h eevil prophecy, yet sne could soften it, so she said:

" T h e princess shall not die, bu t fall into a dee p sleep for a hun dre d y ea rs."Now the king, being desirous of saving his child even from this misfortune,

gave commandment that all the spindles in his kingdom should be burnt up.T h e maiden grew up, adorne d with all the gifts of the wise wom en ; and

she was so lovely, modest, sweet, and kind and clever, that no one who saw hercould help loving her.

It happ ened one day, she bein g already fifteen yea rs old, that th e king and

queen, rod e abroad , and the m aiden was left be hind alone in the castle. S hewandered abo ut into all the nooks and corners, and into all the cha m bers

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a n d p a r lo r s , as the fancy took her, ti l l at las t she c a m e to an old t o w e r . She

c l i m b e d the n a r ro w w in d in g s t a i r wh ic h led to a l i t t l e door , w i th a r u s t y key

s t i c k i n g out of the l o c k ; she t u r n e d the key, and the d o o r o p e n e d , and t h e r e in

t h e l i t t l e ro o m sat an old w o m a n w i t h a sp ind le , d i l igen t ly sp inn ing her flax." G o o d - d a y , m o t h e r , " s a i d the p r in c e s s, " w h a t are you d o i n g ? "" I am s p i n n i n g , " a n s w e r e d the old w o m a n , n o d d i n g her head." W h a t t h i n g is t h a t t h a t t w i s t s r o u n d so b r i sk ly ? " a sk e d the m a i d e n , and

t a k i n g the sp in d le in to her h a n d she b e g a n to spin ; but no s o o n e r had she

t o u c h e d it t h a n the e v i l p r o p h e c y was fulfilled, and she p r i c k e d her f inger w ithit. In t h a t v e r y m o m e n t she fel l ba ck up on the bed th a t s to o d th e re , and lay

in a deep s leep .

A nd th is s leep fell u po n the w h o l e c a s t l e ; the k i n g and q u e e n , who had

r e t u r n e d and w e r e in the gr ea t hal l , fe ll fas t as lee p, and wi th th e m the wh o lec o u r t . The h o r s e s in the i r s ta l l s , the d o g s in the y a rd , the p i g e o n s on the roof,

the flies on the wall , the very f i re that f l ickered on the hear th , became s t i l l , and

s lep t l ike the r e s t ; and the m e a t on the sp i t ceased roas t ing , and the cook , who

w a s g o i n g to pu l l the scu l l ion ' s h a i r for s o m e m i s t a k e he had m a d e , let him go,

a n d w e n t to s leep . And the win d c e a se d , and not a leaf fell from the t r e e sa b o u t the castle.

T h e n r o u n d a b o u t t h a t p l a c e t h e r e g r e w a h e d g e of th o rn s th i c k e r e v e ryyear , un t i l at las t the wh o le c a s t l e was h id d e n f rom v ie w, and n o t h i n g of it cou ldbe seen but the v a n e on the roof.

A n d a r u m o r w e n t a b r o a d in all t h a t c o u n t r y of the b e a u t ifu l s l e e p in g R o sa m o n d , for so was the p r incess ca l led ; and f ro m t ime to t ime ma n y k in g s ' so n s

c a m e and t r i e d to fo rce the i r way t h r o u g h the h e d g e ; but it was imposs ib le fort h e m to do so, for the th o rn s h e ld f as t t o g e th e r li k e s t ro n g h a n d s , and the

y o u n g men w e r e c a u g h t by t h e m , and not b e in g a b le to get free , there died a

l a m e n t a b l e d e a t h .

M a n y a lo n g y e a r a f t e rwa rd s th e re c a me a k in g ' s son in to th a t c o u n t ry , and

h e a r d an old man te l l how t h e r e s h o u l d be a c a s t l e s t a n d in g b e h in d the h e d g eof thorns , and t h a t t h e r e a b e a u t i fu l e n c h a n te d p r in c e s s n a me d R o sa m o n d had

s l e p t for a h u n d r e d y e a r s , and w i t h her the k i n g and q u e e n , and the wh o lecour t .

T h e old man had b e e n to ld by his g ra n d fa th e r t h a t m a n y k in g s ' so n s had

s o u g h t to p a s s the t h o r n - h e d g e , but had b e e n c a u g h t and p i e r c e d by the th o rn s ,a n d had d ied a mise ra b le d e a th . T h e n s a id the y o u n g man, " N e v e r t h e l e s s , I

d o not fear to try ; I shal l win t h r o u g h and see the lo v e ly R o sa mo n d . ' The

g o o d old man t r i e d to d i s s u a d e him, but he wo u ld not l is ten to his w ords .

F o r now the h u n d r e d y e a r s w e r e at an end, and the day had come whenR o s a m o n d s h o u l d be a wa k e n e d .

W h e n the p r in c e d re w n e a r the h e d g e of t h o r n s , it was c h a n g e d in to a

h e d g e of beau t i fu l la rge f lowers, which pa r te d and b e n t a s id e to let him pass,a n d th e n c lo se d b e h in d him in a t h i c k h e d g e . W h e n he r e a c h e d the castle-y a rd , he saw the h o r s e s and b r in d le d h u n t in g -d o g s ly in g a s l e e p , and on the :ooi

t h e p ig e o n s we re s i t t i n g w i th th e i r h e a d s u n d e r t h e i r w in g s . And

w h e n he

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THESLEEPING

BE UTY

AT LAST HE CAME TO THETOWER & OPENED THE DOOROF THE LITTLE ROOM WHERE

ROSAMOND LAY

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ready to pluck. T he n he m oun ted higher, and saw in th e hall the

queen. An d still he w ent farther, and all was so quiet tha t he could h ea r

A nd when he saw he r look ing so lovely in h er sleep, he could no t tu rnhis eyes ; and prese ntly he stoop ed and kissed her, and she awaked, a nd

ed her eyes, and looked very kindly on him. A nd she rose, and they w enth together, and t he king and the quee n and w hole court waked up. and gazed

And the horses in the yard got up and shook themselves, the houndsan g up and wagged the ir tails, th e pigeo ns on th e roof dre w their he ads

om un de r the ir wings, looke d rou nd, and flew into the field, th e flies on thel crep t on a lit t le farther, th e kitchen fire leap t up and blazed, and cooke d

Th en th e wedding of the prince and Ro sam ond was held with al l splendor,d they lived very happily together until their lives' end.

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THE GOLDEN GOOSE

T H E R E w a s a m a n w h o h a d t h r e e s o n s , t h e y o u n g e s t o f w h o mw as ca l led the S im p le ton , an d w as desp i sed , l au gh ed a t , andneg lec ted , on eve ry occas ion . I t ha pp en ed on e day th a t t hee lde s t son w ished to go in to the fores t to cut wo od, and befo rehe w en t , h i s m oth e r ga ve h im a de l i c ious pa nc ak e an d a fla skof w ine , t h a t he m igh t no t su ffer from hu ng er o r th i r s t . W h e nhe ca m e in to th e fores t, a l i t t le o ld gra y m an m et h im , w ho

w ishe d h im goo d day , and sa id :

" G ive m e a b i t of c ak e ou t of yo ur po ck et , an d le t m e ha ve a dr in k ofy o u r w i n e ; I a m s o h u n g r y a n d t h i r s t y . "

B u t t h e p r u d e n t y o u t h a n s w e r e d :

" G ive yo u my cak e and m y w ine ? I ha ve n ' t go t an y ; be off w i th y ou ."A nd l eav in g th e l i t t le m an s t a nd in g the re , he w en t off. T h e n he be ga n to

fell a t ree , b u t he ha d no t be en a t i t lon g before th e ha t ch et h i t h im ia the a rm ,so tha t he w as ob l iged to go hom e and ge t i t bound up .

T h e s e c o n d s o n w e n t i n t o t h e w o o d , a n d t h e m o t h e r g a v e t o h i m a p a n c a k ean d a f lask of win e . T h e l i t t le o ld gr ay m an m et h im a lso , an d be g ge d for al i t t l e b i t of cak e an d a d r ink o f w ine . B u t th e seco nd son sp ok e ou t p l a in ly ,say ing :

" W h a t I g ive you I l ose myself, so be off with you."

A n d l e a v i n g t h e l i tt l e m a n s t a n d i n g t h e r e , h e w e n t off. T h e p u n i s h m e n tfol lowed ; as h e w as ch op pi ng aw ay a t th e t ree , h e h i t h imsel f in th e leg soseve re ly tha t he had to be ca r r i ed hom e .

Th en^ sa id th e S im p le ton : " Fa the r , l e t m e go fo r onc e in to the fo res t t oc u t w o o d . " A n d t h e f a t h e r a n s w e r e d , " Y o u r b r o t h e r s h a v e h u r t t h e m s e l v e s b ys o d o i n g ; g i v e i t u p , y o u u n d e r s t a n d n o t h i n g a b o u t i t. "

B u t th e S im ple to n w en t on b eg g i ng so long , th a t t h e f a the r sa id a t l a s t," Wel l , be of f wi th you ; you wi l l only learn by exper ience . "

T h e m o t h e r g a v e h i m a c a k e ( i t w a s o n l y m a d e w i t h w a t e r , a n d b a k e d inth e ash es) , an d w i th i t a flask of so ur bee r . W h e n he ca m e in t o th e fores t , th e

l i t t l e o ld g ray m an m e t h im , and g r ee ted h im , say in g : " G ive m e a b i t of yo urcake and a dr ink f rom your f lask ; I am so hungry and th i rs ty . "

A nd th e S im ple ton answ ered : " I ha ve on ly a flour a nd w a te r cake an dsour bee r ; bu t i f t ha t i s good enough fo r you , l e t us s i t dow n toge the r and eat.

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he n they sa t dow n, and as th e S im ple ton to ok ou t h i s f lour an d w a te r cake , i t

" A s you hav e such a k ind hea r t , an d sha re w ha t y ou ha ve so w i l l ing ly , Ill bes tow go od luck up on you . Y on de r s t an ds an o ld t r e e ; cu t i t dow n, a ndi ts roo t s you w il l find som eth in g . " A n d the reu po n th e l i t t l e m an w en t aw ay .

T h e Sim ple to n hew ed aw ay a t t h e t re e , an d w hen i t fe ll , he saw, s i t t in gon g the roots , a go os e w i th fea thers of pu re gold . H e l if ted i t ou t an d to ok

t w i th h im to an inn w he re he in t en ded to s t ay th e n igh t . T h e l and lo rd ha de dau gh te r s , w ho , w h en th ey saw t he goo se , l ong ed fo r on e of i ts go lde nher s . T h e e ldes t t ho ug h t , " I w i ll w a i t fo r a go od op po r tu n i ty , and th en

I wi ll pul l ou t on e of i t s fea the rs for mysel f ; " an d so , w he n th e Sim ple ton w ase ou t , she se i zed the go ose by i t s w ing — bu t the r e he r ha nd he ld fa s t. T h e n

L a s t l y c a m e t h e t h i r d w i t h t h e s a m e i n t e n t i o n s ; a n d w h e n s h e r e a c h e ds i st e r s, t he re she s top ped , ha ng ing on w i th th em . A nd so the y had to s t ay

l n i g ht . T h e n e x t m o r n i n g t h e S i m p l e t o n t o o k t h e g o o s e u n d e r h i s a r m a n dw ent aw ay , unm indfu l of the th r ee g i r l s t h a t h un g on to i t. T h e th re e ha d

to run af ter h im , le ft an d r igh t , w he rev er h is leg s car r ie d h im . In th eof th e f ie lds the y m et th e pars on , w ho , w he n h e saw th e proces s ion , sa id :

" Sh am e on you, g i r l s , ru nn in g af ter a y ou ng fe llow th ro ug h t he f ie lds l ike and fo r thw i th he se i zed ho ld of th e y ou ng es t by th e h an d to d r ag he r

y , bu t ha rd ly had he tou che d he r w hen he to o w as ob l iged to run a f t e r

himself. N o t lon g a f te r , t h e sex ton cam e th a t w ay , and s ee in g th e

" H o , y o u r r e v e r e n c e , w h i t h e r a w a y s o q u i c k l y ? " a n d h e s e i z e d h o l d ofm by h i s gow n ; bu t no soo ner had he tou ch ed h im th an he w a s ob l iged tol low on too . A s the f ive t r a m pe d on , on e a f te r an o th e r , tw o pe asa n t s w i th

i r ho es cam e up f rom th e fie lds, an d th e pa r son c r i ed ou t to the m to com es e t h im a n d t h e s e x t o n f r e e ; b u t n o s o o n e r h a d t h e y t o u c h e d t h e s e x t o n

B y and by the y cam e to a tow n w he re a K in g re ign ed , w h o ha d an on lyu g h t e r w h o w a s s o s e r i o u s t h a t n o o n e c o u l d m a k e h e r l a u g h ; t h e r e f o r e t h e

g i v e n o u t t h a t w h o e v e r s h o u l d m a k e h e r l a u g h s h o u l d h a v e h e r i nT h e S im ple ton , w h en he hea r d th i s , w en t w i th h i s go os e and h i sin to th e p rese nce of th e K ing ' s da ug h te r , an d as soon as sh e saw th e

n peop le fo l low ing a lw ays on e a f t e r t h e o th e r , she bu r s t ou t l aug h ing , an ded as if she cou ld ne ve r s top . A nd so the S im ple ton ea r ne d a r igh t t o

r as h is br i de ; bu t th e Ki n g did no t l ike h im for a son- in- law, an d sa id h erst b r in g a m an wh o could dr in k u p a w ho le ce l la r of win e . T h e Sim th ou gh t tha t t h e l it t l e g ra y m a n w o uld be ab le to he lp h im , an d w en t o u t

o th e fo rest , and the re he saw a m an s i t t i n g w i th a ve ry sad cou n te nan ce .

" I ha ve a g r ea t t h i r s t , w h ich I can no t quen ch . I hav e ind eed d r un k u pw hole cask of wine , b u t w ha t go od i s a dro p l ike th a t ? "

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T h e n sa id t he S im ple to n , " C om e wi th me , an d you sha l l hav e eno ug h . "H e too k h im s t r a igh t t o t h e K in g ' s ce l la r , an d th e m an sa t h imse l f dow n

before t h e b ig va t s , an d d ra nk , and d ran k , un t i l he h ad d ru nk up the wh olece ll ar -fu ll . T h e S im ple ton aga in a sk ed fo r h i s b r ide , bu t t he K in g m ad e new

con di t i ons . H e wa s to p ro du ce a ma n wh o cou ld ea t up a mo unta in of b read .T h e S imp le ton r an q u ick ly off t o t h e fo rest , and th e r e sa t a ma n who ha d f as t en ed a s t r ap r ou nd h i s b ody , m ak ing a ve ry p i t e ou s f ace , and say ing :

" I ha ve ea te n a w ho le b ak eh o us e ful l of ro l l s , b u t w ha t is the use of th a twh en on e is so hun gr y as I am ? "

T h e S im ple to n sa id , " C om e a lon g wi th m e , an d you sha ll hav e eno ug h . "H e l ed h im s t r a igh t t o t h e King ' s cou r tya rd , wh ere a ll t h e mea l i n t h e

k i n g d o m h a d b e e n c o l le c te d a n d b a k e d i n t o a m o u n t a i n of b r e a d . T h e m a nse t t l e d h imse l f dow n be fore i t , and in one day he a t e t h e wh ole mo unta in .

T h e n th e S im ple ton aske d fo r h i s b r id e a t h i rd t ime . T h e King , however ,sa id he m us t ha ve a ship t h a t sho uld b e ab le to sa i l on land or on wa ter .

The S imple ton went s t r a igh t t o t he fo res t , and the re sa t t he l i t t l e o ld g raym a n w i t h w h o m h e h a d s h a r e d h i s c a k e , a n d h e s a i d :

" I ha ve ea ten for yo u, and I ha ve dr un k for you ; I wi ll a l so give you th esh ip ; and a l l be ca use you w er e kin d to m e a t th e f ir s t. "

T h e n he g av e him the ship th a t could sa il on land an d on wa ter , an d theK i n g c o u l d n o l o n g e r w i t h h o l d h i s d a u g h t e r .

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T H E W E D D I N G O F M R S . F O X .

T H E R E was once upon a time a Fox w ith nine ta ils , who thoughthis wife was not faithful to him, and dete rm ined to p ut it t othe proof. So he stretched himself alo ng und er a bench, andkeeping his legs perfectly still, he appeared as if quite dead.Mrs. Fox, meanwhile, had ascended to her room, and shut herself i n ; and h er maid, the yo un g Cat, stoo d near th e h ea rth

As soon as it was know n tha t M r. F o x was dead, several suito rs came t oy their respects to his widow. T h e maid, hearin g som e on e kno cking at the

" How do you do, Miss Kitten ?Is she asleep or awake ?' '

" I neither sleep nor wake ;Would you know my business ?

Beer and butter both I make;Come and be my guest."

I am obliged. Miss K it ten," sa id the y ou ng F o x ; " b u t how is Mrsx ? "

" She sits in her chamber,Weeping so sore;

Her eyes red with crying—Mr. Fox is no more."

"T e ll her, then, my maiden, tha t a you ng Fo x is here, wh o wishes t oher," said he. So the cat went pit-pat, pit-a-pat up th e sta irs, and

ped gen tly at the door, saying, " A re you there , Madam F o x ? "" Yes, my good little Cat," was the reply." There is a suitor below."" What does he look like ? " asked-her mistress. "H a s he nine as beauti

tails as my late husband ?"Oh, no," answered the maid, " he h as only on e."

"Then I will not have him," said the mistress.T he youn g Cat went down and sent away the su i to r ; and soon after there

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T H E W E D D I N G O F M R S . F O X .

came a second knock at the door from an oth er Fo x, with two tails, who wisheto m arry th e widow ; he fared, how ever, no bet ter th an the former one.

Afterwards came six more, one after the other, each having one tail morthan he who preceded him ; but these were all turned away.

At last there arrived a Fox with nine tails, l ike the deceased husband; anw he n th e wido w he ard of it, she said, full of joy, to th e Cat, " No w you maopen all the windows and doors, and throw the old Fox out of the house."

Bu t ju st as the we dding was abo ut to be celebrated, the old Fo x rousehimself from his sleep beneath the bench, and drubbed the whole rabble

together with his wife, out of the house, and hunted them far away.

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THE QUEEN BEE

TWO king ' s sons once s t a r t ed to seek ad ve n tu res , an d fe ll i n to a

wi ld , r eck les s wa y of l i v ing , and ga ve up a ll t h o ug h t s of g o i ngh o m e a g a i n . T h e i r t h i r d a n d y o u n g e s t b r o t h e r , w h o w a s c a l le dW i t l i ng , and ha d r em ain ed beh ind , s t a r t ed off t o see k the m ;and wh en a t l a s t he found them , t h ey j ee r ed a t h i s s impl i c i t yin t h ink ing th a t h e cou ld ma ke h i s wa y in t h e wo r ld , wh i l ethe y wh o we re so muc h c l ev e re r we re unsuccess fu l. Bu t t he y

th ree wen t on tog e th e r un t i l t he y cam e to an an t -h i l l, which the two e lde s t

and car ry off the i r egg s , bu t W i t l in g sa id ,

" Leave the l it t l e c r ea tu re s a l o n e ; I w i ll no t su ff er t h em to be d i s tu rbed . "

And th ey we nt on f a r the r un t i l t h ey cam e to a l ak e , w he re a nu m be r ofs were swim ming ab ou t . T h e two e ldes t b ro the r s w an ted to ca t ch a co up lecook them, bu t W i t l i n g wo uld no t a l low it , and sa id , " L ea ve th e c re a tu res

And then the y cam e to a bees ' -nes t i n a t r ee , and th e re was so m uc h ho ne ytha t it ove r flowed and r an dow n the t run k . T h e two e ldes t b ro t he r s t h ened to m ake a f ire b en ea th th e t re e , th a t th e be es m igh t be s t if led by th ee , and then the y cou ld ge t a t t he hon ey . Bu t W i t l i n g p re ve n te d the m ,

ng, " Le av e th e l i t t le c re a tu re s a lo n e ; I wi ll no t suffer the m to be s t if led ."At l a st t he t h r ee b ro the r s cam e to a cas t l e w he re t h e r e we re in t h e s t a b l es

hor ses s t and ing , a ll of s to ne , and th e b ro the r s wen t t h ro ug h a ll t he roo m s

door a sma l l op en ing th ro ug h wh ich the y cou ld look in to t he room . A n dsaw a l i t tl e gra y-h ai re d m an s i t t in g a t a tab le . T h e y ca l led ou t to h imtwice , and he did n ot hea r , bu t a t th e th i r d t im e he g o t u p, un did th e

s , and came ou t . W i th ou t sp ea k in g a wo rd he l ed th em to a t ab l e l oade dall sor t s of go od th in gs , and wh en th ey ha d ea te n an d dr un k h e show ed toh is bed-chamber . T h e nex t m orn ing th e l i tt l e g r ay m an cam e to t he e ldes t

r , and bec ko nin g him, b ro ug h t h im to a tab le of s ton e , on wh ich w ere

nchan tment . T h e fir st t h in g was , t h a t i n t he wo od und er t h e m oss l ay ther ls b e l o n g in g t o t h e p r i n c e s s — a t h o u s a n d in n u m b e r — a n d t h e y w e r e t o b e

t for and col lec ted, an d if h e w ho sh ou ld u n d er ta k e th e ta sk ha d no t fin

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T H E Q U E E N B E E .

i shed i t by sunse t ,—if bu t one pea r l were mis s ing ,—he mus t be tu rned to s tonSo th e e lde s t bro th er w en t out , an d sea rch ed a l l day, bu t a t th e end of i t he honly found o ne hu nd red ; jus t a s was sa id on th e t ab le of s ton e cam e to pa

a nd he wa s t u r n e d i n to s t one . T h e s e c ond b r o the r un de r t oo k t he a dve n tunext day, but i t fa red with him no bet ter than with the f i r s t .

A nd so a t l a s t i t was W i t l in g ' s tu rn , and he b eg an to sea rch in th e mo sb u t i t wa s a ve ry te di ou s bus in ess to f ind th e pear ls , and h e grew so ou t of h e ath a t he sa t down on a s ton e and be gan to wee p . A s he was s i t t ing thu s , ucam e th e an t -k in g wi th five tho us an d a n t s , w hos e l ives had been saved th ro ugWit l ing 's p i ty , and they col lec ted a l l the pear ls and put them in a heap.

N ow th e second th ing ord e red by the t ab le of s ton e was to ge t the ke y the p r incess ' s s l eep ing chamber ou t o f the l ake .

A n d when W i t l in g cam e to the lake , th e du cks wh ose l ives he ha d savcam e an d br ou gh t up th e k ey f rom the bo t tom . T h e th i rd th i ng was th e modiff icult , an d th a t was to cho ose ou t th e yo un ge s t of th e th re e pr ince sses , th ey lay s leep ing. A l l bo re a per fec t rese m bla nc e each to th e othe r , an d onldif fered in th is , th a t befo re th ey w en t to s leep each on e had ea te n a di fferensw ee tm ea t ,— the e ldes t a p iece of sugar , th e second a l i t tl e syrup , and th e th i ra spoonfu l of hon ey . N ow th e Q ue en bee of tho se bees th a t W i t l in g had prte c t ed f rom th e fire cam e, an d t ry in g th e l ips of a ll three , se t t le d on th os e th e on e th a t ha d ea ten hon ey , and so the k ing ' s son knew which to chooT h e n th e spe l l was b ro ken ; eve ry one aw oke f rom s ton y s leep , and too k the

r igh t fo rm.And Wi t l i ng m a r r i e d t he younge s t p r i nc e s s , a nd be c a m e k ing .

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RUMPELSTILTSKIN

T H E R E was once a mi l l e r wh o was poo r , bu t he ha d one beauti fu l da ug h te r . I t ha pp en ed one day th a t he cam e to spe akwi th the K ing , and , to g iv e h imse l f con seq uen ce , he to ld h imtha t he had a d au gh te r w ho cou ld sp in go ld ou t o f s t r aw .T h e K in g sa id to the mi l l e r :

" T h a t is an a r t tha t p lea se s me w e l l ; if t hy d au gh te r is a sc leve r a s yo u say , b r in g he r to m y cas t l e to -m or row , th a t I m ay

proof."

W he n the g i r l was b r ou gh t to h im, he l ed he r in to a ro om th a t wa s qu i t e

" Now se t to work , and if by th e ea r ly m or n i ng th ou ha s t no t sp un th i sw to go ld tho u sha l l d i e . " A n d h e sh u t th e do or himself, an d le f t h er

An d so th e po or mi l l e r ' s d au g h t e r w as le ft t h e r e s i t t ing , an d cou ld n o twh at to do for he r l i f e : she ha d no n ot i on ho w to se t to w ork to sp in

d f rom s traw , and he r d i s t re ss g re w so g r ea t th a t she beg an to w eep . T h e n

" Goo d even ing , mi l l e r 's da ug h t e r ; why a r e you c ry in g ? "O h " a n sw e r e d t h e g i r l , " I h a v e g o t t o sp i n g o l d o u t o f s t r a w , a n d I

und e rs t an d th e bus iness . "

Then the l i t t le man sa id :" What wil l you give me if I spin i t for you ?"" My necklace ," sa id the g i r l .

T h e l i t tl e m an took th e neck lace , sea ted h imse l f be f o re th e wh ee l , an dr r, wh i r r , wh i r r th r ee t imes roun d , and th e bo bb in wa s full . T h e n he to okano the r , and whi r r , wh i r r , wh i r r th re e t im es rou nd , an d th a t w as ful l. A n dhe wen t on t il l th e m orn ing , w he n al l th e s t ra w ha d be en spun , an d a l l th e

we re fu ll o f gold . A t s un r ise cam e th e K in g , an d w he n h e saw th ed he was as ton ish ed a nd ve ry m uc h re jo iced , for h e w as v er y ava r ic iou s .

tha n th e las t , an d to ld h er th a t as s he va lue d h er l ife sh e m us t sp in i tin o ne n igh t . T h e g i r l d id no t k no w w ha t to do , so sh e be ga n to c ry , and

t he do or opene d , an d th e l i t t le m an a pp ea red and sa id :

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" The r ing f rom my f inger ," answered the g i r l .So th e l i t tl e m an too k th e r ing , and bega n aga in to send th e whe e l wh i r

r in g roun d , and by th e nex t m or n i ng a l l t h e s t raw was sp un in to g l i s t en in

go ld . T h e k i ng was re jo iced be yo nd m eas ure a t th e s igh t , bu t a s he cou ld nevehav e en ou gh of go ld , he had the m i l l e r 's da ug h t e r t a ken in to a s ti ll l a rg e r ro omfull of straw, and said :

" T h is , too , m us t be spu n in on e n igh t , and if you accom pl ish it you shab e m y wi fe. " F o r he t h o u g h t : " A l th ou gh sh e i s bu t a mi l l e r 's dau gh te r , I amnot l ike ly to f ind any one r icher in the whole world ."

A s soon as th e g i r l was lef t a lo ne , t h e l i t t le m an ap pe are d for th e th i rd t imand said :

" W h a t wi ll you g iv e m e if I sp in th e s t raw for you th is t im e ? "" I have noth ing le f t to g ive ," answered the g i r l .

" Then you must promise me the f i rs t ch i ld you have a f te r you a re Queensa id the l i t t le man.

" B u t who kn ow s wh e th e r th a t w i ll hap pe n ? " tho ug h t th e g i r l ; bu t ashe d id no t kn ow wh at e lse to do in he r necess i ty , she pro m ised th e l i t tm an w ha t he des i red , up on which he be ga n to sp in unt i l a ll th e s t raw was golA n d wh en in th e m or n i ng th e k ing cam e and found a ll do ne accord ing to h iwish , he c aus ed th e w ed di ng to be he ld a t once , a nd th e mi l le r ' s p re t td a u g h t e r b e c a m e a Q u e e n .

In a ye ar ' s t im e sh e br ou g ht a fine ch i ld in to t he world , and t ho ug ht n

more o f the l i t t l e man ; bu t one day he came sudden ly in to he r room and sa id" N o w g i v e m e w h a t y o u p r o m i se d m e . "The Queen was te r r i f ied grea t ly , and offe red the l i t t le man a l l the r iches o

the k ingdom i f he would only leave the ch i ld ; bu t the l i t t le man sa id :" N o , I wou ld ra th e r ha ve so m e th ing l iv ing tha n a l l t h e t r ea su re s o f t h

wor ld . "T he n th e Q ue en be ga n to l am en t and to wee p , so tha t the l i tt l e m an ha

p i ty upon he r ." I wi ll g ive you th re e da ys , " sa id he , " and if a t th e end of tha t t im e y o

canno t t e l l my name , you mus t g ive up the ch i ld to me ."

T h en th e Q ue en sp en t the who le n ig h t in th ink ing ove r a ll t he nam es thshe had eve r hea rd , an d sen t a m ess eng e r th ro ug h the l and to a sk far and w idfor a l l th e na m es tha t could be found. A n d wh en th e l i t t le m an cam e nex t d a(beg inn ing wi th C aspa r , M e lch io r , B a l th az a r ) she repe a ted a ll she knew, anwen t th rough the who le l i s t , bu t a f t e r each the l i t t l e man sa id :

" T h a t is n o t m y n a m e . "T h e second day th e Q ue en sen t to inq u i re o f al l t h e ne igh bors wh a t th

se r va n t s we re ca l led , an d to ld th e l i t t l e m an a l l t h e m os t unu sua l and s ingu lan a m e s , s a y i n g :

" P e r h a p s y o u a r e c a l le d R o a s t - r i b s , o r S h e e p sh a n k s , o r S p i n d l e sh a n k sB u t h e a n sw e r e d n o t h i n g b u t :

" T h a t is n o t m y n a m e . "T h e t h i r d d a y t h e m e sse n g e r c a m e b a c k a g a i n a n d s a i d :

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" I have not been able to find on e single new n a m e ; bu t as I passed thro ug hwoods I came to a high hill, and nea r it was a little hou se, and before

" ' To-da y do I bake, to-morrow I brew,The day after that the Queen's child comes in ;And oh I am glad that nobody knewTh at the name I am called is Rum pelstiltskin ' "

You cannot think how pleased the Queen was to hear that name, and soonwhen the little man walked in and said : " Now , M rs. Q uee n, wh at ? " she said at first:

" Are you called Jack ? "

" No," answered he." Are you called Harry ? " she. aske d again ." No ," answered he. A nd then she sa id:"T h en perhaps your name is Rum pelsti ltskin "" T h e devil to ld you th a t T h e devi l to ld you th a t " cried the l i tt le ma n,in his ang er he stam ped with his righ t foot so har d tha t it w ent into th e

above his kn ee ; then he seized his left foot w ith bo th h is ha nd s in such that he split in two, and there was an end of him.

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T H E T W E L V E H U N T E R S .

A C E R T A I N K i n g ' s s o n, u n k n o w n t o h is f ath er , w a s b e t r o t h e d

to a M aid en w ho m h e loved v ery much, and he sa id to he r : " wi ll g ive yo u th is r in g for a m em oria l . W h e n I bec om e K ing ,I wi ll re tu rn an d tak e you h om e wi th me." Bu t h is fa ther m ad eh im p rom ise tha t he wou ld m ar ry a ce r t a in P r incess , and the nth e o ld K in g d ied and th e son was be t ro the d to the Pr incesT h e M a iden hea rd of th i s , and g r i eved so m uch tha t she f a s

faded away. T h e n h er fa th er sa id to he r : " W h y are you sad ? w hat eve r yowish for you sha l l ha ve ." I

A n d sh e said : " I wish for e lev en M ai de ns exa ctly l ike myself in f igure ands t a t u r e . "

H e r fa the r o r de red a sea rch to be m ade un t i l e l even m a iden s we re foundre sem bl ing exac t ly h i s da ug h t e r in f igu re and s t a tu re . W he n they came to th eM aide n , she h ad tw elv e hu nt e r s ' d re sse s ma de a ll exac t ly a l ike , and each put o no n e . T h e n sh e too k l eave of he r f a the r , and rode away wi th he r com pan io ns toc o u r t , a n d t h e y b e c a m e t h e t w e l v e r o y a l H u n t sm e n o f t h e y o u n g K i n g .

T h e Ki ng , h owev e r , posse ssed a L ion who was such a wonde r fu l beas t th a the kn ew a ll h id de n an d sec re t a f fa irs . So one ev en ing he sa id to th e K in g" D o y o u su p p o s e t h a t y o u h a v e g o t t w e lv e H u n t sm e n ? Y o u a r e m i s t a k e n ; t h e ya re twe lve m a iden s . "

" T h a t can ne ve r be t rue , " sa id th e K ing ; "h ow will you p rove i t t o m e ? "" O rd e r so m e pe as to be s t rewn in yo ur an te - room ," sa id the L ion , " and

you wi ll see ; for m en ha ve a f irm t re ad wh en w alk in g on pea s ; bu t M aide nst r i p a n d s t u m b l e . "

T h i s adv ice p lea se d the K ing , and he o rd e red pe as to be s t rewn .No w, the re was a se rv an t of the K ing ' s wh o was k ind to t he Hu n t sm en ;

an d he w en t an d to ld them , and the y t ro d f irmly upo n the peasT h e n th e L ion sa id : " L e t twe lve sp inn ing-wh ee l s be now b r ou gh t in to th e

room, and th ey wil l be p lea sed a t the s igh t ther eof as no man w ould be ."B u t th e se r va n t w en t and to ld them , an d the y too k no no t i ce o f th e sp in

n ing-whee ls .N ow i t ha pp en ed a s the y were go ing ou t to hun t , news came tha t th ePrincess wa s on he r w ay to h i s cour t . A s soon a s the t ru e be t ro th ed hea r d

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T H E T W E L V E H U N T E R S .

all he r str en gth forsook her, and she fell heavily to the gro un d. T h e Kin g

love, and as he looked in th e face of th e supp osed H un tsm an , he reco gd her. A t th e sight, his he ar t was so touc hed th at he kissed her, and as opened her eyes, he said : " You are m ine, and I am thin e, a nd no pow er on

shall make it other w ise."Th e King then sent a m essenger to the Princess, beg ging her to retu rn t o

own country, for he had alread y a brid e.

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SNOW-WHITE

IT wa s th e m iddle of winter, and th e quee n sat at her windovwo rking, and he r em broid ery frame was of ebony. A nd as shworked , she pricked he r finger, and the re fell thre e dr op s oblood on th e snow. A nd she said to herself, " Oh th at I had child as w hite as snow, as red as blood, and as black as thwood of the embroidery frame "

N ot ver y lon g after she had a dau ghte r, with a skin as whias snow, lips as red as blood, and hair as black as ebony, and she was nam edSnow -white. A nd when she was born the queen died.

T he n the kin g too k ano ther wife, a beautiful wom an, but proud. Sh e haa magic looking glass, and she used to stand before it, and say :

" Looking-glass upon the wall,Who is fairest of us all ?"

and the looking-glass would answer :

" You are fairest of them all."

W h en Snow -white was seven yea rs old, she w as m ore beautiful tha n thque en. So one day when the quee n wen t to the mirror, i t sai d:

" Queen, you are full fair, 'tis true,

But Snow-white fairer is than you."

Fro m that ho ur her heart turned against Snow-white. She sent for hun tsm an, and said, " T ak e th e child out into the woods, and pu t her tdeath ."

The huntsman led her away; but when he drew his cutlass to kill her, shbegan to weep, and to say, " Oh, dear huntsman, do not take my life ; I will gaway into the wild wood, and never come home again."

An d the hun tsm an had pity on her, and said, " Aw ay with you then, poochild."

Now , when th e po or child found herself q uite alone in the wild woods, shdid no t know w hat to do for fright. S he ran as lo ng as he r feet could carrh e r ; and when t he evening drew near she came to a l i tt le hou se, and wen

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S N O W - W H I T E .

ide to res t . E ve ry th in g th er e wa s ver y sma l l , b u t as p re t t y an d c lean as p o se . T h er e s tood th e l i t t le tab le w i th seve n l i t t le p la te s , an d sev en kniv es

d forks, and dr inking -cups . By th e wal l s to od sev en l i t t le be ds . Sno w-, be in g ve ry h un gr y and th i r s ty , a t e f rom each p la te a l i t t le po r r id ge

d bread , and dra nk ou t of ea ch l i t t le cup . A fte r th a t sh e lay down on on ethe beds , bu t i t d id n o t seem to su i t h e r ; on e wa s to o long , an o t he r to o

bu t a t la s t the se ven th was qu i t e r ig h t ; and so she l ay down upo n i t, a nd asleep.

W h e n it w a s q u i t e d a r k , t h e m a s t e r s of t h e h o u se c a m e h o m e . T h e y w e r e dwarfs, wh ose o ccu pa t io n was to d ig for gold . W h e n the y had l ig ht ed

seven cand le s , and i t wa s qu i t e l igh t in t h e l i t t l e hous e , th ey saw tha tone m us t ha ve be en in . T h e f irst sa id , " W h o ha s be en s i t t in g in m y chair ? "

T he second sa id , " W h o ha s be en ea t in g f rom m y l it t l e p la t e ? "T h e th i rd sa id , " W h o h as been t ak in g m y l i t t le loaf ? "T h e fou r th sa id, " W h o ha s be en t a s t ing m y por r id ge ? "T h e fifth sa id , " W h o h as bee n usin g my l i t t le fork ? "T h e s ix th sa id , " W h o h as bee n cu t t in g wi th m y l i t t le kni fe ? "T h e s e v e n t h s a id , " W h o h a s b e e n d r i n k i n g fr om m y l i tt l e c u p ? "T he n t he f i rs t one sa id , " W h o has be en ly ing on m y bed ? "A n d t h e o t h e r s c a m e r u n n i n g , a n d c r ie d , " S o m e o n e h a s b e e n o n o u r b e d s

But w hen th e sev en th loo ked a t h i s be d , he saw l i t t le Sn ow -wh i te

" O go od ne ss O gra c io us " c r ied the y a ll , " w ha t beau t i fu l ch i ld is th is ?"they l e t he r s l eep on . A n d th e sev en th dwar f s l ep t w i th h i s com rade s , an

r a t a t im e wi th each , unt i l the n igh t had pass ed .W he n i t was m orn ing , an d Snow -whi te awok e an d saw th e seven dwar f s ,was ve r y f r igh ten ed ; bu t the y see m ed qu i t e f r iend ly , an d she to ld th emt he r n am e was, and how she cam e to be in the i r hou se . T h e n th e d wa rfs " If you wi ll ke ep ou r ho us e fo r u s , and cook , an d wash , an d m ak e th e

s , and sew and kn i t , an d kee p eve ry th in g t id y and c lean , yo u ma y s ta y w i thu sha l l lack no th in g ."

" W i t h a ll m y hea r t , " s a id Snow-w hi te ; and so sh e s t aye d , and ke p t. In th e m or ni ng th e d warfs w en t to d ig for go ld ; in th e ev en in g th eyhom e . A l l th e day lon g the m a ide n was l ef t a lone , an d th e g o o d l i t t l e

fs w arn ed her , say ing , " L e t no one in to the h ou se ."No w th e quee n cam e to he r mi r ro r , and sa id ,

" Looking-glass upon the wall,Who is fairest of us all ?"

A n d t h e g l a s s a n sw e r e d ,

Queen, thou art of beauty rare, With the seven little men

But Snow-white living in the glen Is a thousand times more fair;

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T h e n sh e wa s v e ry a n g ry , a n d sh e k n e w th a t t h e h u n t sm a n mu s t ha vedece ived her , and th a t Sno w-w hi te m us t s t il l be l iv ing . A nd she th ou gh t andth ou gh t how she cou ld m an ag e to m ak e an end of he r . A t las t she pa in ted he

face an d dre sse d herself l ike an old pe dd le r w om an , and w ent to the ho us e of thesev en l i t t l e dwarfs , and kn ock ed a t t h e do or and c r ied , " F i ne wa res to se llfine wares to sell "

" I need no t be a f ra id o f le t t ing in th is good woman," thought Snow-whi tea n d sh e u n b a r r e d th e d o o r a n d b o u g h t so me p re t ty l a c e .

Snow -whi te , sus pec t ing no t h in g , s tood up before her, and le t he r lace herw i th the ne w lace ; bu t th e o ld w om an laced so qu ick and t ig h t th a t i t tooSnow-whi te ' s b rea th away , and she fe l l down as dead .

" N ow you hav e d on e wi th be ing th e fa i res t ," sa id th e o ld wo ma n as shh a s t e n e d a wa y .

T h e seven dwarfs cam e ho m e an d ra ised he r up , and cu t the lace in twothe n l it t l e by li t t l e she re t u rn ed to l ife. W h e n th e dwarfs hea rd wh a t had happen ed , they sa id , " T h e o ld pe dd le r wo m an was the wicked quee n ; you musbew are of le t t in g any one in wh en we a re no t he re "

And when the wicked woman go t home she went to her g lass and sa id :

" Looking-glass against the wall,Who is fairest of us all ?"

And i t answered as before :

" Queen, thou art of beauty rare,But Snow-white living in the glen With the seven little menIs a thousand times more fair."

W h e n sh e he ard tha t , she kn ew th a t Snow -whi te m us t be s t il l l iv ing . T h e nsh e ma de a po iso ned c om b, and she d res sed herse lf u p to look l ike an o th er so rof o ld wo m an, and w ent to th e ho use of the seve n dwarfs , and kno cke d a t thdo or and c ried , " G oo d wa res to se l l goo d wa res to sel l "

Sn ow -w hi te looked ou t and sa id , " G o aw ay I m us t no t le t any bod y in . "But you a re no t fo rb idd en to look ," sa id the o ld wo man , tak ing ou t th

po iso ned com b. I t p leas ed th e po or ch i ld so mu ch th a t sh e ope ned th e do orT h e n th e o ld wo ma n sa id :

" Now, fo r once your ha i r sha l l be p roper ly combed ."Po or Snow -whi te , th i nk in g n o harm , le t th e o ld wo m an do as she wo uld

but no sooner w as the comb p ut in her hair than the poor girl fell down senseless

" No w, you pa rag on of be au ty , " sa id t he wicked woma n, " th is is the enof yo u," an d w en t off. W h e n the seve n l i t t le dw arfs came hom e and sawSnow -wh i te ly ing on th e g ro un d as dead , the y th ou gh t d i rec t ly tha t i t was ths t e p -m o th e r ' s d o in g . T h e y fo u n d th e p o i so n e d c o m b , a n d n o so o n e r h a d th edrawn i t ou t o f he r ha i r than Snow-whi te came to herself, and re la ted ath a t h a d p a s s e d T h e n th e y w a rn e d h e r n e v e r a g a in to l e t a n y o n e in a t t h

door

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And the queen went home and stood before the looking-glass and said:

' ' Looking-glass against the wal l ,

W h o is faires t of us all ? "

And the looking-glass answered as before,

" Queen thou art of beauty rare,But Snow-white living in the glen

With the seven little menIs a thousan d times more fair.'

W h e n sh e h e a r d t h e l o o k i n g - g la s s sp e a k t h u s , sh e sh o o k w i t h a n g e r . T h e nade a po i son -app le , beau t i fu l to look up on , be in g wh i te w i th red ch eek s .

n she p a in te d he r f ace, and c lo thed he rse l f l ike a pe as an t w om an , an dn t t o w h e r e t h e s e v e n d w a rf s li v ed . A n d w h e n sh e k n o c k e d a t t h e d o o r

w-white pu t he r he ad ou t of th e w ind ow and sa id , " I da re no t l e t a ny bo dy

" Al l r igh t , " answ ered th e wom an ; " I c an ea s i ly ge t r id o f m y ap p le s e l se ere. T h e re , I wil l gi ve yo u on e."

" N o , " a n sw e r e d S n o w - w h i t e , " I d a r e n o t t a k e a n y t h i n g . "" A re you a fra id of po ison ?" sa id th e w o m a n ; " loo k her e , I wi l l cu t

app le in two p ie ce s ; you sha l l h av e th e red s id e ; I w i l l hav e th e w h i t e

F or a ll th e pois on wa s in th e ros y ha l f of i t. Sn ow -w hi te lon ge d for

beau ti ful app le , and a s sh e saw th e pe as an t w om an ea t in g a p iece o f i t , half. B u t no s oo ne r ha d she t ak en a m orse l of i t i n tomo uth tha n she fell t o th e ea r th a s dea d . A n d th e qu een l au gh ed a lou d

ed , " T h i s t im e th e dw ar f s w i ll no t b e ab le to b r ing you to l if e ag a in . "when she w en t hom e an d qu es t i on ed th e look in g-g la ss a s be fo re , i t an d : " Y ou ar e the f a irest no w of a l l ."

T he n he r env iou s h ea r t ha d peace , a s m uch a s an env iou s he a r t c an

T h e dwar f s found Snow -whi te dead . T h e y cu t he r l a ce s , com bed he r, wash ed he r w i th w a te r an d wine , b u t a ll wa s o f no ava i l. T h e n th ey

n a b ie r , an d sa t a l l seven of th em ro un d i t, an d w ep t th re e w ho le A nd th ey ha d m ad e a coffin of g lass , an d th ey la id he r in i t, an d wr ot e

golden le t te r s up on i t he r na m e. T h e n th ey se t th e coffin o ut up on th e

Now, for a lon g wh i le , Sn ow -w hi te lay in th e coffin an d ne ve r cha ng ed ,look ed as if she we re as lee p, for s he w as st i l l as wh ite a s snow , as re d

b lood , and he r ha i r was a s b lack a s ebo ny . I t ha pp en ed , how eve r , th a t day a k ing ' s son rod e th ro ug h th e wo od and u p to the dwar f s ' ho use ,

ch was ne ar i t. H e saw on th e m ou nt a i n th e coff in , an d beau t i fu l Sno w -

ite w i th in i t, an d he read w ha t was w r i t t en in go lde n l e t t e r s up on it . T h e nsa id to th e dw arfs , " L e t m e ha ve th e coffin, an d I wi ll g iv e yo u w ha te ve r like to as k for it ."

Bu t the dwa rfs to ld h im th a t th ey could no t p ar t w i th i t for a l l th e go ld

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w i t h ou t l ook i ng up on S no w - w hi t e ; if you co ns en t I w ill b r i n g you t o g reatho no r , and c are for you as if yo u w ere my b re thr en ."

W h e n he s o s po ke t h e good l i t t le dwar f s had p i t y upo n h i m an d gavehim t h e coffin , an d the k ing ' s son ca l l ed h i s se rva nt s and b id them car ry it

aw ay on t he i r s hou l de r s . N ow i t ha pp en ed t ha t a s t hey wer e go i ng a l ong ,t he y s t um bl e d o ve r a bus h , and w i t h t he s hak i ng , t he b i t of po i s one d ap p l e f lewou t o f he r t h r oa t . I t was no t l ong be f o r e s he op en ed he r eyes , t h r ew up t h ecover of the coff in, and sat up, al ive and wel l .

" O h, d e a r w he re am I ? " c r i ed she . T h e k ing ' s son answ ered , fu ll ofj o y : " Yo u a r e ne a r m e , " and , r e l a t i n g a l l t ha t ha d happ ene d , he s a id : " I w ou l dr a t h e r h a v e y o u t h a n a n y t h i n g in t h e w o r l d ; c o m e w i t h m e t o m y fa t h e r ' scas t l e and you sha l l be my br ide ."

A nd Sno w- w hi t e wa s k i nd , and wen t w i t h h i m , and t he i r w ed d i ng was he l dw i t h p o m p a n d g r e a t s p l e n d o r .

B u t Snow - whi t e ' s w i cked s t ep - m ot h e r was a l s o b i dd en t o t h e f eas t, an dw he n she ha d dre sse d her se lf in bea ut i fu l c lo thes , she w en t to he r lookin g-g las sa n d s a i d :

" Looking-glass upon the wall,Who is fairest of us all ? "

T h e l o o k i n g - g la s s a n s w e r e d :

" O Queen, although you are of beauty rare,The young bride is a thousand times more fair."

T h e n s h e r a i l ed an d cu r s ed , and wa s bes i de he r s e lf w i t h d i s ap po i n t m en ta n d a n g e r . F i r s t s h e t h o u g h t s h e w o u l d n o t g o t o t h e w e d d i n g ; b u t t h e n s h ef e lt s he s hou l d ha ve n o pea ce un t i l s he we n t and s aw t he b r i de . A nd w he nsh e saw her , sh e kn ew h er for Sno w-w hi te , an d could n ot s t ir f rom t h e p lace foran g e r an d t e r r o r . A n d t he y had r ea dy red - h o t i r on s hoes , i n wh i ch s he had t odance unt i l she fe l l down dead.

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THE SIX SWANS

ONCE on a t ime a king was hu ntin g in a g rea t wood, and hepursued a wild animal so eagerly that none of his people could

follow him. W he n e ven ing came he found tha t he had losthis way. T he n all at once he saw an old wom an with a nodding head coming up to him ; and it was a witch.

" My good wom an," said he, " can you show m e th e wa yout of the wood ? "

" Oh , yes," answ ered she, " certainly I c a n ; if you will take m y da ug hte r

The king consented, and the old woman led him into her l i t t le house, andhere her daughter was sit t ing by the fire.

Sh e received the king just as if she had be en exp ectin g him, and th ou gh h e

aw tha t she was very beautiful, she did no t please him, and he could no t lookat her without an inward shudd er. Ne verthe less, he took the ma iden beforehim on his horse, and the old woman showed him the way, and soon he was inhis royal castle again, where the wedding was held.

The king had been married before, and his first wife had left seven children, six boys and one girl , whom he loved better than all the world, and as hewas afraid the step-mother m ight not beh av e well to them , he took them to alonely castle standing in a wood. T h e road to i t was so hard to find tha t theking himself could not hav e found it, ha d it no t be en for a clew of yarn, which,when he threw it down before him , unrolled itself and showed him th e w ay.

An d th e k ing we nt so often to see his de ar children, th at th e que en bec am ecurious and wan ted to know wh at he wen t ou t into th e wood for so often. Sh ebribed his servants, and the y told her of the clew of yarn . T he n she ma de som elit tle white silk shirts, and sewed a charm in each. W he n the king had riddento the hunt, she took the l it t le shirts and went into the wood, and th e clew ofyarn showed her the way. T h e boy s tho ug ht i t was their dea r father com ingto see them , and cam e with joy to m eet him. T he n the wicked que en threwover each one of the l i t t le shirts, and they were changed into swans, and flewaway throu gh the wood. So the qu een went hom e very pleased to think shehad g ot rid of he r step-children ; bu t t he maide n had no t run out with h er

brothers, and so the queen knew noth ing abou t her . T h e next day th e k ingwent to see his children, but he found nobody but his daughter.

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Then she to ld h im how she had seen her bro ther s in the gui se of swans f lya w a y t h r o u g h t h e w o o d . T h e k i n g w a s g r i e v e d , b u t h e n e v e r d r e a m t t h a t ifw as t h e qu ee n who had do ne t h is , an d a s he f ea red l e s t t h e ma i den s hou l d a l sobe s to le n aw ay, he w ished to t a k e her aw ay wi th h im. Bu t she w as af ra id of

t h e s t e p - m o t h e r , a n d b e g g e d t h e k i n g t o l e t h e r r e m a i n o n e m o r e n i g h t .T h e n s h e s a i d t o herself, " I m us t go and s eek fo r my b r o t he r s . "A n d w he n t h e n i g h t cam e , s he fled away i n t o t he wood . Sh e w en t on

un t i l sh e cou ld g o no lo ng er for w ear in ess . A t l as t she saw a rud e hut , and s hew en t i n . W h e n i t was nea r t he t i m e of s un - s e t t i ng s he hea r d a r us t l i ng s ou nd ,a n d s aw s i x s wa ns com e f ly ing in a t t h e w i ndo w. T h ey b l ew a t o ne an o t he run t i l th ey h ad b low n a l l the i r f ea the r s off, and th en th ey s t r ipp ed off the i r swa ns k i n a s if i t ha d bee n a s h i r t . A nd t h e m a i de n knew t hem f or he r b r o t h e r s .

" Y ou m us t no t s t ay he r e , " s a i d t he y t o h e r ; " t h i s is a r obbe r s ' hau n t , an di f they were to come and f ind you here , they would k i l l you."

" An d ca nn o t y ou de f en d m e ? " a s k ed t he l i t t l e s i st e r . ," N o ," an sw er ed the y , " for we can o nly ge t r id of o ur swan-skins ev ery

ev en i n g f o r a qu a r t e r of an hou r , and t he n we m us t be cha nge d a ga i n i n t o s wa ns . "T h e i r s i s t e r we p t , an d sa i d , " Ca n no t h i ng be done t o s e t you f ree? "" O h n o , " a n s w e r e d t h e y , " t h e w o r k w o u l d b e t o o h a r d f or y o u. F o r s ix

w h o l e y e a r s y o u w o u l d b e o b l i g e d n e v e r t o s p e a k o r l au g h , a n d m a k e d u r i n gth a t t im e s ix l i t t le sh i r ts o u t of as ter - f low ers . If you w ere to let fal l a s in g lewor d be f o r e t he wor k i s ended , a l l wou l d be o f no good . "

A nd t he n t h e qu a r t e r of an ho ur cam e t o an en d , and t h ey ch ang ed i n t oswans and f l ew out of the window.

Bu t t h e m a i d en m ad e up he r m i nd t o s e t he r b r o t he r s f ree . Sh e we n t i n t ot h e m i dd l e o f t he woo d , an d c l i m bed a t r ee , and t he r e pas s ed t he n i gh t . T h en e x t m o r n i n g s h e g a t h e r e d a s t e r s a n d b e g a n s e w i n g t h e m t o g e t h e r ; a s f ors pe ak i ng , t he r e was no on e t o s peak t o , an d a s f o r l aug h i n g s he had no m i nd t oi t ; s o s he l oo ke d a t no t h i ng bu t he r wor k . I t ha pp en ed t ha t t he k i n g o f t h a tco un t r y w en t a - h un t i ng i n t he wo od , and s om e of h i s hu n t s m en came up t o t h et r e e i n wh i ch t h e m a i de n sa t . T h e y ca ll ed ou t t o he r , bu t s he gav e no ans we r ." C om e dow n, " c r i ed t h ey ; " w e wi ll do t he e no ha r m ." Bu t s he on l y s ho okh e r h e a d . A n d w h e n t h e y t o r m e n t e d h e r w i t h q u e s t i o n s s h e t h r e w d o w n t ot hem he r go l d neck l ace , ho p i n g t he y wo u l d be con t e n t w i t h t ha t . Bu t t h ey

would not l eave of f , so she threw down to them her g i rd le , her gar t er s , and onea f t e r an o t he r ev e r y t h i n g s he ha d on bu t he r s moc k . Bu t a ll was no good , t h ehu n t s m en wo u l d no t b e pu t o ff any l onge r , and t he y c l i mbed t he t r ee , ca r r i edt h e ma i de n off, an d b r o ug h t he r t o t he k i ng . T h e k i ng a s ked , " W h o a r t t ho u ?W h a t w e r t t h o u d o i n g in t h e t r e e ? " B u t s h e a n s w e r e d n o t h i n g . H e s p o k et o he r i n a l l t h e l an gu ag es he knew , bu t s he r em a i ne d du m b : bu t , be i ng ve r ybea ut i fu l , h e f e l t a g re a t love r ise up in h i s h ea r t tow ard s her ; and cas t in g h i sm a n t l e r o u n d h e r , h e b r o u g h t h e r t o h i s c a s t le . T h e n h e c a u s e d r i ch c l o t h i n gt o be pu t upon he r , and he s a i d :

" T h i s m aid en I ch oo se for wi fe , an d no o t he r in a ll the w or ld ," an d ac

co r d i n g l y a f t e r a few days t h ey wer e ma r r i ed .

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But the king had a wicked mother, who was displeased with the marriage." Who knows where the maid can have come from ? " said she, " an d no t

to speak a word Sh e is not w orthy of a king "After a yea r ha d passed, and the quee n br ou gh t h er first child into th ed, the old wom an carried it away, and m arke d the qu een 's mou th with

lay sleeping. T he n she wen t to the kin g and declared th at his

The next time that a fine boy was born, the wicked step-mother used the

When for the third time the old woman stole away the new-born child andd the queen , the king could do no oth er bu t give he r up to justice, and

T h e day on which her senten ce was to be carried out w as the v ery last on ethe sixth year dur ing which sh e had neith er spok en nor laugh ed. T h e six

were ready, all excep t one which wa nted the left sleeve. A nd wh en she

ng thro ug h th e air. T h e swans came close up to h er, so th at she could

ey kissed each other, and the queen went u p to the king and said :" D ear est husband, now I m ay da re to speak and tell you tha t I am inno

A nd she told him how his m oth er had tak en away th e thr ee childrenhidden them. T h e wicked wom an was bu rnt to ashes. A nd the king and

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IN a cas t le in th e m ids t of a wo od th er e l ived an o ld W it c h a l lb y herself. By da y sh e ch an ge d herse l f in to a ca t or an ow l ;bu t in th e eve n in g she re su m ed he r r igh t fo rm. Sh e was ablea lso to a l lur e to h er th e wi ld an im als and b i rds , w ho m shek i ll ed , cooke d , and a te , and w ho eve r ve n tu red wi th in a hund redsteps of her cast le was obliged to stand st i l l , and could not st i r

f rom th e sp ot un t i l she a l lowed i t ; bu t if a pr e t ty ma iden cam e in to t he c i rc leth e W i tch ch an ge d he r in to a b i rd , and th en pu t he r in to a ba ske t , wh ich shecarr ie d in to o ne of th e roo m s in the cas t le ; an d in th is roo m w ere a l ready

many thousand such baske t s o f r a re b i rds .No w th e r e was a yo un g ma iden ca l l ed Jo r ind e , who was exceed ing ly p re t ty ,

and sh e was be t r o t he d to a yo u th nam ed Jo r ing e l , and one day the y wen tin to th e fo re s t fo r a wa lk and go t lo s t. T h e n Jo r in de san g ,—

u My little bird, with his ring so red, Fo r the turtle-dove soon will be dead,

Sings sorrow, and sorrow and woe ; Oh sorrow, and sorrow— jug, jug, jug. *

Jo r in ge l l if ted up h i s head , and saw Jo r in de w as chan ged in to a n igh t inga le ,which was s ingin g , " Ju g , jug , ju g ," a n d pr es en t ly an owl flew roun d thr ice , c rying , " T u wi t , tu w oo ." Jo r in ge l could n ot s t i r ; th er e he s to od l ike a s tone .

M ean w hi le th e sun se t , and , th e ow l f ly ing in to a bu sh , ou t cam e an ugly o ldwo m an . Sh e m ut te red , an d se ized th e n igh t inga le , and ca r r i ed i t away , wh i leJo r ing e l r em a ine d the re . A t l a s t the W i tc h re tu rne d , and sa id w i th a ho llowvoic e , " G re e t you , Z ac hi e l if th e m oo n sh i nes on yo ur s ide re lease th is one a to n c e . " T h e n Jo r in ge l be ca m e free, an d fel l dow n on h is kn ees before theWi tch , and begged he r to g ive h im back Jo r inde ; bu t she re fused , and sa id hesho u ld nev e r aga in ha ve he r , and we n t away . H e w ep t , and g roa ned , bu t allto no pu r po se ; an d a t l e ng th h e rose and we n t in to a s t r an ge v i l l age , wh e re forsom e t im e he t en de d shee p . H e o f ten we n t rou nd abo u t the enc han ted ca s tl e,bu t nev er too near , an d on e n ig ht h e dr ea m t he found a b loo d-red f lower , ia

th e m idd le of wh ich lay a f ine pear l , and h e th ou g ht a l l he touc he d wi th i t wasf re e f ro m e n c h a n t m e n t .

T h e ne xt m or ni ng h e be ga n h is sear ch to f ind such a flower , and a t lengthb e d isc ov ered i t, an d in i t s m idd le wa s a la rg e dew -drop . T h e n he cam e to the

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and tou ch ing th e do or w i th h i s flow er i t flew op en . H e en te r ed , andr e w a s t h e E n c h a n t r e s s f e e d i n g t h e b i r d s in t h e b a s k e t s . A s s o o n a s s h e

Jor ing e l , she b eca m e f r igh t fu l ly e n ra ge d , an d spa t ou t po i son a t h im , bu the da red no t com e too c lose . B u t a l a s th e r e w e re m an y hu nd re ds of n igh t

i n g al e s, a n d h o w w a s h e t o k n o w h i s J o r i n d e ? W h i l e h e w a s e x a m i n i n g t h e m ,w the o ld w om an t ak in g aw ay on e o f th e ba ske t s , an d s l ipp in g ou t o f

e door . Jo r in ge l touc he d the ba sk e t w i th h i s flow er, an d a t onc e Jo r in ded be fo re h im , an d fell up on h is neck , a s beau t i fu l a s eve r . A f te rw ard s he

i s e n c h a n t e d a ll t h e o t h e r b i r d s , a n d t h e n r e t u r n e d h o m e w i t h h i s J o r i n d e a n dm a n y y e a r s t h e y l iv e d h a p p i l y a n d c o n t e n t e d l y .

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T H E R E was once a M an wh ose family consisted of thr ee sons,and his pr op erty only of th e hou se in which he dwelt. Now,each of the sons wished to have the house at the death of theirfather; but they were all so dear to him that he knew not whatto do for fear of offending th e one or th e other. H e would havesold the house and shared the money, but it had been so long inhis family he did not like to do tha t. All at once he tho ug ht of

a plan, and said to his sons, " Go into the world, and each of you learn a trade,and h e who m akes the best m asterpiece shall have my house."

W ith this plan the sons were contented, and the eldest became a Farrier,the second a Barber, and the third a Fencing -ma ster. T he y app ointed a t imewhen they should all retu rn, an d w ent away ; and it so chanc ed th at each happen ed w ith a clever m aster, w ith whom he could learn his trad e in the best manner. T h e Smith had to shoe the King 's horses, and tho ug ht he must undoubtedly receive the house. T h e Barber shaved many distinguished lords, and m adesure of ge tt ing th e hou se on th at account. T h e Fencing-m aster got many ablow, but he bit his lip and showed no concern ; for he feared if he flinched atany stroke the house would never becom e his. By-and-by the t ime came roundwhen they returned hom e to their father ; bu t they none of them knew howth ey sho uld find occasion t o sho w th eir proficiency, and so they all consu ltedtog ethe r. W hile the y sat in consu ltation, a har e came run nin g across the fieldwh ere they were. " A h he com es as if he were called " cried the B ar be r; and,tak ing his soap and basin, he mad e a lather ; and as soon as the hare came uphe seized him, and shaved off his m ustach es as he ran along, w ithout cuttinghim in th e least, or tak ing off any unnec essary hairs. " T h at pleases me verywell " said the father ; " and if the o ther s do no t do better, the h ouse is yours."In a ve ry sh ort tim e a carria ge, with a trav ele r in it, came rolling by at fullspeed. " No w you shall see, father, w hat I can do " cried the Farrier; and,

seizing th e ho rse's feet as he gallop ed along , he pulled off the shoes, and shodhim again w ithou t sto pp ing him. " You are a clever fellow " cried the fatheryou h ave don e your wo rk qu ite as well as your b rother, and 1 shall no t know to

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whom to give the house." " L et m e show you som ething " said the thirdbr oth er; and, as i t just th en luckily began to rain, he drew h is sword and wa vedit so quickly above his head tha t n ot a dro p fell upo n him . A s soon as thefather saw this he was astonished, and said to his son, "Y o u hav e perform edthe best masterpiece, the house is yours."

T h e two o the r bro thers we re conte nted with this dec ision; and, beca usethey all loved one ano ther, the y all th ree rem ained in th e house drivin g theirseveral trade s ; and as the y we re so clever, and we re so advan ced in the ir arts,

they earned much m oney. T hu s the y l ived happily tog eth er t il l their oldage, and when o ne fell sick an d died, his br oth er s g rieve d so for his loss, thatthey fell sick also and died.

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THEALMONDTREE

A L O N G t i m e a g o , t h e r e w a s a r ic h m a n , a n d h e h a d a b e a u t i f u lan d p iou s w i fe , and the y loved each o the r ve r y much , and theyhad no ch i ld ren , though they wished g rea t ly fo r some , and thewi fe p r ay ed for one da y and n igh t . Now , in th e co ur ty a rds too d an a lm ond t r e e ; and one day in w in te r th e w ife wass ta nd ing be ne a th i t, pa r in g an app le , an d she cu t he r f inger ,an d th e b lo od fel l up on t he sn ow .

" A h ," sa id th e wom an , s ig h in g deep ly , an d look ing down a t th e b lood , " ifon ly I cou ld hav e a ch i ld a s red a s b lood , and a s wh i t e a s s n o w "

A nd a s she sa id th e se wo rds , he r h ea r t sud den ly g r ew l igh t , an d she fe lt

su re she shou ld have he r w ish .A n d w h e n t h e sn o w w a s g o n e a n d t h e a l m o n d t r e e h a d b lo s so m e d a n d

b o rn e f ru it , she bo re a ch i ld a s whi te as sn ow an d as re d as b loo d, an d w he nsh e saw it he r joy w as so g r ea t tha t sh e d ied .

H e r h u sb a n d b u r i e d h e r u n d e r t h e a l m o n d tr e e , a n d h e w e p t so r e ; t i m epas sed , an d he bec am e less sad ; and a f te r he ha d gr ie ve d a l i t t le m or e he le ftoff, an d the n h e to ok an o th er wife.

H i s s e c o n d w i fe b o r e h i m a d a u g h t e r . W h e n e v e r t h e w i f e l o o k e d a t h e rdaugh te r she fe l t g rea t love fo r he r , bu t wheneve r she looked a t the l i t t l e boy ,ev i l th ou gh t s cam e in to he r hea r t , of how sh e cou ld ge t al l he r hu sb an d ' s mo neyfor he r da ug h te r , and how th e boy s t oo d in the way . A n d so she too k g re a tha t re d to h im, and d ro ve h im from on e co rne r to ano the r , and gav e h im a buf-

fe t he re and a cuff the re , so th a t th e po or ch i ld was a lways in d i s g ra ce . W h enhe cam e back a f t e r sch oo l hou rs the r e wa s no pea ce fo r h im.

On ce , wh en th e w i fe w en t in to th e ro om ups ta i r s , he r l i t t l e da ug h t e r fo llowed he r , an d sa id , " M oth e r , g ive me an app le . "

" Y es , m y ch i ld , " sa id th e m oth e r , an d ga ve he r a f ine app le ou t o f th eches t , and th e ch es t had a g rea t hea vy l id w i th a s t r on g i ron lock .

" M oth e r , " sa id th e l i t t le g i r l , " sh a l l no t m y b r o t he r ha ve on e too "

T h a t w a s w h a t t h e m o t h e r e x p e c t e d , a n d sh e s a i d :" Yes , when he comes back f rom schoo l . "A n d wh en she saw f rom the w ind ow th a t he w as com ing , an ev i l tho ug h t

c ros sed he r mind , and she sna tc hed th e app le , and too k it f rom he r l i t t le dau gh te r .

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" M y son, wil l you ha ve a n ap pl e ? "

" M oth er ," sa id th e boy, " how te r r ib le yo u loo k yes , g i ve m e an ap ple "T he n she spo ke as k ind ly as before , ho ld i ng u p th e cov er of the chest , yourself."

A nd a s the boy was s toop ing o ve r the ope n ches t , c ra sh w en t the l id dow n ,tha t h is hea d f lew off am on g th e red apples . B ut th en th e w om an fe l t g re a t

and w on de r ed how she cou ld e scap e the b lame . A nd she we n t to th eof d raw ers in he r be d ro om and to ok a w h i t e handke rch ie f ou t of th e

d rawer , and f i tt ing the hea d to the neck , she bo un d them wi th th eef , so th a t no th in g sho uld be seen , an d se t h im on a cha i r befo re th e

T h e n c a m e l i tt le M a r j o r y i n t o t h e k i t c h e n t o h e r m o t h e r , w h o w a s s t a n d i n g

" M othe r , " sa id M ar jo ry , " my b r o t he r i s s i t t in g be fo re th e door , and h e ha sapp le in h i s hand , an d looks ve ry pa le ; I a sk ed h im to g iv e m e th e app le ,

t he d id not an sw er m e ; i t see m s ver y s t ra ng e ."" Go aga in to h im ," sa id th e m oth e r , " a n d if he w i ll no t ans we r you , g i ve

So M ar jo ry w en t aga in an d sa id , " B r o th e r , g iv e m e th e app le . "Bu t as he too k no not ice , she gav e h im a bo x on the ear , an d h is he ad fel l

, a t wh ich s he was gre at ly terr if ied, an d ra n to h e r m ot he r, an d said : " O

he r I have kno cke d my b ro the r ' s hea d off " and c r i ed an d sc ream ed ,

" O Ma r j o r y " sa id h e r m othe r , " w ha t ha ve you do ne ? bu t ke ep qu ie t ,t no one m ay see the re is an y th ing th e m a t t e r ; i t c an ' t be he lped now ."

W he n th e fa the r cam e home a nd sa t down , he said , " W h e re i s my son ? "B ut th e m ot he r w as fi ll ing a gr ea t d ish fu ll o f b lack b ro th , an d M arjo ryc ry ing b i t t e r ly . T h en th e fa the r sa id aga in , " W h e re is my son ? "

" O h," sa id the mo the r , " he is go ne in to th e cou ntr y to h is gre a t -un c le ' s ."" W h a t shou ld he go fo r ? " sa id th e fa the r , " an d w i tho u t b id d in g m e

-bye , to o "" Oh , he wan ted to go so much , and he a sked me to l e t h im s t ay the re s ix

" D ea r m e ," sa id the fa the r , " I am qu i t e sad ab ou t i t ; i t wa s no t r ig h t of

W i t h th a t h e beg an to ea t , say ing , " M ar jo ry , w ha t a r e you c ry in g fo r . "Afte r a whi le he sa id , " T h e food is ve ry go od ; g ive m e som e mo re ."And the more he a t e the more he wan ted , un t i l he had ea ten i t a l l up , and

th rew the bon es un de r the t ab le . T h e n M ar jo ry wen t to he r ch es t of d raw ers ,k o ne of he r be s t handk e rch ie f s , and p icked up a ll t h e bo nes f rom

de r the t ab le and t i ed them up in he r handke rch ie f , and we n t ou t a t the doo rb i t t e r ly . Sh e l a id the m in the g ree n g ra s s un de r th e a lm on d t ree , an d

ed ia te ly he r he a r t g rew l igh t aga in , and she we p t no m ore . T h e n th eon d t re e beg an to wave to and f ro , the n a c loud rose f rom t h e t r ee , an d in

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t h e m i d s t of the c l o u d t h e r e b u r n e d a fire, and out of the fire a bea utifu l birda r o s e , and, s ing ing m o s t sw ee t ly , soa red h igh in to the air. And w h e n he had

flown away, the a l m o n d t r e e r e m a i n e d as it was before , but the ha nd ke rch ief full

o f b o n e s was gone . M ar jo ry f el t qu i t e g l ad and l igh t -hea r t ed , j us t as if herbr o t he r w e re s t il l a live . So she w e n t back in to the h o u s e and had her d inner .T h e b i r d , w h e n it f lew away, perched on the roof of a g o l d s m i t h ' s h o u s e .

a n d b e g a n to s i n g :

"I t was my m o t h e r who m u r d e r e d me ;

I t was my fa ther who ate of me ;

I t was my sister M arjoryW h o all my b o n e s in pieces found ;

T h e m in a handkerch i e f she b o u n d ,And l a id t hem under the a lmond t ree .Kywit t , kywit t , kywit t , I cry,

Oh, what a beaut iful bird am I "

T h e g o l d s m i t h was s i t t i n g in his s h o p m a k i n g a go lden cha in , and w h e n he

h e a r d the b i rd , who was s i t t i ng on his roof and s ing ing , he s t a r t e d up to go and

l ook , and as he p a s s e d o v e r his t h r e s h o l d he lost one of his s l ippe r s . And he w e n ti n t o the m i d d l e of the s t r ee t w i th a s l i p p e r on one foot and on ly a sock on the

o the r , w i th his a p r o n on, and the go ld cha in in one h a n d and the p ince r s in the

o t h e r ; and so he s t o o d in the s u n s h i n e l o o k i n g up at the bird.

" Bird," said he, " how beau t i fu l you s ing Do s ing tha t p iece over again . "" No," said the b i rd , " I do not s i n g for no th ing tw ice . "" V e r y w e l l , " s a i d the g o l d s m i t h , " h e r e is the gold chain . " .D o w n c a m e the b i rd and t o o k the go ld cha in in his r ight claw, and p e r c h e d

in f ront of the g o l d s m i t h and sang,

" It was my m o t h e r who m u r d e r e d me ;

I t was my fa ther who ate of me ;I t was my sister M arjoryW h o all my b o n e s in pieces found ;

T h e m in a handkerch i e f she b o u n d ,

And l a id t hem under the a lmond t ree .Kywi t t , kywi t t , kywi t t , I cry,

Oh, wha t a beaut iful bird am I "

T h e n the bird flew to a s h o e m a k e r ' s , and p e r c h e d on his roof, and s a n g the

s a m e s o n g .W h e n the s h o e m a k e r h e a r d , he ran out of his d o o r in his shi r t s leeves and

l o o k e d up at the roof of his h o u s e , h o l d i n g his h a n d to s h a d e his eyes from the

s u n . " Bird , " sa id he, " how beau t i fu l you s i n g '"

T h e n he ca l led in at his d o o r :

" Wi fe , com e out d i r ec t ly ; h e r e is a b i rd s ing ing beau t i fu l ly ; only l i s ten . "

T h e n he ca l led his d a u g h t e r , all his ch i ld ren and a c q u a i n t a n c e , b o t h y o u n gm e n and m a i d e n s , and t h e y c a m e up the s t r e e t and g a z e d on the b i rd , and saw

how beau t i fu l it was w i th red and g re en f ea the r s , and r o u n d its t h r o a t was as it

w e r e g o l d , and its eyes tw ink led in its head l ike s ta rs ." Bird," said the s h o e m a k e r , " do s ing tha t p i ece ove r aga in . "" No," said the b i rd , " I may not s i n g for no th ing tw ice . "" Wife , " sa id the man, "go i n t o the s h o p ; on the top shelf s t an d s a p a i r of

r e d s h o e s , b r i n g t h e m h e r e . "S o the wife went and b r o u g h t the red shoes ." Now, b i rd , " sa id the man, " s ing us tha t p i ece aga in . "

A n d the b i r d c a m e d o w n and t o o k the s h o e s in his left claw, and flew up

a g a i n to the roof, and s a n g :

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IT was my mother who murdered m e ;

It was my sister Marjory

Who all my bones in pieces found;

Them in a handkerchief she bound."

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T H E A L M O N D T R E E

Them in a handkerchief she bound,And laid them under the almond tree.Kywitt, kywitt, kywitt, I cry,Oh, what a beautiful bird am I "

A nd when he had finished he flew away, with the chain in his righ t clawan d th e shoes in his left claw, and he flew till he reache d a mill, and the millw en t "clip -cla p, clip-clap, clip-clap." A nd in th e m ill sat twe nty m illers 'm enhewing a millstone— "hick -hac k, hick-hack, hick-hack." An d th e bird sangth e sam e words. A t the first line one of the men looked u p.

At the second two more looked up and listened.At the third line four more looked up.A nd the y listen ed on e after th e o ther, till at len gth th e last one left off, and

he only heard the end.

" Bird," said he, " how beautifully you s in g let m e he ar it all."" No," said the bird, " I may not sing it twice for nothing ; if you will giveme the millstone I will sing it again."

" Indeed," said the man, " if i t belonged to me alone you should have it ."" All right," said the others, " if he sings again he shall have it."T he n the bird came down, and all the twe nty millers heav ed up the stone

with poles— " yo heave-ho y o heave-ho " and the bird stuck his head thro ughthe hole in the m iddle, an d with th e millstone roun d his neck he sang it allthrough again.

And when he had finished, he spread his wings, having in his right claw

th e chain, an d in the left claw the shoes, and rou nd his neck the m illstone, andhe flew away to his father's house.In the p arlor sat the father, the m other , and M arjory at the table. T h e

fath er said : " H ow ligh t-he arte d and cheerful I feel "" N ay," said the mo the r, " I feel ver y low, jus t as if a gre at storm we re

com ing." Bu t M arjory sat wee ping." Oh," said the father, " I feel so joyful, and the sun is shining so bright;

it is as if I were goi ng to m eet with an old friend."" Nay," said the wife, " I am terrified ; my teeth chatter, and there is fire in

m y veins." An d Marjory sat in the corner and wept. Th en the bird sa n g:

" It was my mother who murdered me ; "And the mother stopped her ears and hid her eyes, and would neither see

nor hear; nevertheless, the noise of the fearful storm was in her ears.

" It was my father who ate of me ; "

" O h " said t he father, " the re is a beautiful b ird singing so finely, and th esun shines, and everything smells as sweet as cinnamon."

" It was my sister MarjoryWh o all my bone s in pieces found ;"

Marjory hid her face in her lap, and wept, and the father said:

" I must go out to see the bird."Oh do not g o " said th e wife, " I feel as if th e ho use we re on fire"

" It was my mother who murdered me ;It was my father who ate of me ;It was my sister MarjoryWho all my bones in pieces found ;

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But the man went ou t and looked a t the b i rd .

" Th em in a hand kerch ief she bou nd,An d laid them u nd er the alm ond t ree .

Kywitt , kywitt , kywitt , I cry,O h wh at a beau tiful bird am I "

W ith th at th e bi rd le t fal l th e go ld chain up on his fa the r ' s n eck, an d i t f i t tedm exac t ly . So he w en t ind oo rs an d sa id :

" Look what a beaut i fu l cha in the b i rd has g iven me."T h e n his wife wa s so terr i f ied th at sh e fell on th e f loor. T h e n the bi rd

" I t was my moth er who m urd ere d m e ; "

" O h , " g r o a n e d t h e m o t h e r , " t h a t I w e r e a t h o u s a n d f a t h o m s u n d e run d, so as no t to be obl ig ed to he ar i t ."

" It was my father who ate of me ;"

Then the woman lay as i f she were dead .

" It was my sister Marjory "

" O h, " said Ma rjory , " I wi ll go out , too , an d se e if th e bi rd wi l l gi ve meing ." A nd so she we nt .

" Who al l my bones in p ieces found ;Th em in a handkerch ie f she b ou nd , "

Then he t h r ew t he shoes down t o he r .

" And la id them under the almond t ree.Kywit t , kywi t t , kywi t t , I cry ,

Oh what a beaut i fu l b i rd am I "

A nd poo r M ar jo ry a ll a t once fe lt ha pp y and joyfu l, an d p ut on h er red

" O h dea r ," sa id she, " I fe lt so sad befo re I w en t ou ts id e, an d now myar t is so l i g h t H e i s a cha rm ing b i rd to hav e g iv en me a pa i r of red

But the mother ' s ha i r s tood on end , and looked l ike f l ame, and she sa id :" Even i f the world is coming to an end, I must go out for a l i t t le relief."

Jus t as she cam e ou t s ide th e doo r , c rash w en t th e m i l l s tone on h er head ,and c rushed her fla t. T h e fa ther an d da ug h te r rus he d out , an d saw sm ok e and

of fire r i se u p ; bu t wh en t ha t h ad g on e by , th ere s t oo d th e l i t t le b ro ther ,And he took h i s fa ther and M ar jory by the ha nd , and the y fe lt ve ry ha pp y and

and w ent indoo rs , and sa t to the t ab le , an d had th e i r d in ner .

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THE ROBBER BRIDEGROOM

T H E R E was on ce a m i l l e r w ho had a beaut i fu l da ug hte r , an dw hen she was g ro w n up he beca m e anx i ou s t ha t she shou l d bewe l l mar r i ed and t aken ca r e o f ; so he t hough t —

" I f a decent sor t o f man comes and asks her in mar r iage , Iwi l l give her to him."

So on a f te r a su i to r ca m e forward w ho seem ed very wel l tod o , and a s t he mi l l er knew no t h i ng t o h i s d i s adv an t age , he -

p rom i sed h i m h i s da ug h t e r . Bu t t h e g i r l d i d no t s eem t o l ove h i m a s a b r i desho uld love her b r i d e g ro o m ; s he had n o conf idence in h im ; as of ten a s she sawhim or th o u g h t ab ou t h im , she fe lt a ch il l a t h er h ear t . O ne day he sa id toher :

" Yo u a r e t o be m y b r i de , and ye t you hav e nev e r been t o s ee me . "The g i r l answered :" I do no t know where your house i s . "T h en he s a i d :

" My house i s a long way in the wood."S he beg an to ma ke ex cuses , and sa id sh e could not f ind th e w ay to i t ; bu t

t h e b r i d e g r o o m s a i d :" Y ou m us t com e and pa y me a v i s it nex t Su nd ay ; I have a l r eady i nv i t ed

company, and I wi l l s t rew ashes on the pa th th rough the wood, so tha t you wi l lbe sure to f ind i t ."

W h e n S un da y came , an d th e g i r l se t ou t on her way, she fe lt ve ry u neas yw i tho ut kn ow in g exa c t ly why ; an d she f illed bo th po ck e t s fu ll of pea s and lent i ls . T he re we re a shes s t r ew ed on t he pa t h t h r o ug h t he wood , bu t , neve r t he l e s sat each s te p she cast to th e r ig ht an d lef t a few pe as on th e gr ou nd . So shewent on the whole day unt i l she came to the middle of the wood, where i t wasth e darke s t , a nd th er e s too d a lone ly ho use , no t p lea san t in he r eyes , for i t wasd i sm a l and un ho m e l i k e . S he wa l ked i n, bu t t he r e was no on e t he r e , an d t h eg r ea t e s t s t i ll ne s s r e i gned . Su dd en l y she hea r d a vo i ce c ry :

" Turn back, turn back, thou pretty bride,

Within this house thou must not bide.For here do evil things betide."

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T H EROBBER

BRIDEGROOM

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THE R O B B E R B R I D E G R O O M .

The girl glanced round, and perceived that the voice came from a bird whos han gin g in a cage by th e wall. A nd a gain it cried :

" Turn back, turn back, thou pretty bride,Within this house thou must not bide,For here do evil things betide."

Then the pre tty bride w ent on from one room into anoth er thro ug n th e

A t last she reached the cellar, and the re sat a very old wom an no ddin g

" Can you tell me," said the bride, " if my bridegroom lives here?"" Oh, poor child," answ ered th e old wom en, " do you know what has hap

you ? You are in a place of cut-throa ts. Yo u tho ug ht y ou were ade, and soon to be ma rried, bu t d eath will be yo ur spou se. Lo ok here , Igre at kettle of w ater to set on, and when once the y have you in their

cannibals. U nles s I hav e pity on yo u, and sav e you , all is ov er w ith you "Then the old woman hid her behind a great cask, where she could not be

" Be as still as a mo use ," said she ; " do n ot m ov e or go away, or else youlost. A t nig ht when th e rob ber s are asleep, we will escape. I ha ve been

N o sooner was i t sett led than the w icked g an g en tered the ho use. T he yanother you ng woman with them , drag ging her along, and they were

and would n ot listen to he r cries and gro ans . T h ey gav e he r wine to

they cut her in pieces. T h e p oo r bride all the while shak ing and trem b

O ne of them noticed on the little finger of the ir victim a golden ring, andhe could no t draw it off easily, he too k an ax e a nd cho ppe d it off, b ut th e

nger jum ped away, and fell behin d t he cask on th e br ide's lap. T h e rob berup a light to look for it, bu t h e co uld no t find it. T h en said on e of th e

" Have you looked behind the great cask?"But the old woman cried," Com e to supp er, and leave off loo kin g till t o- m or ro w ; the finger cann ot

Then the robbers said the old woman was right, and they left off searching,sat down to eat, and th e old wom an drop ped som e sleeping stuff into the ir,, so tha t before lo ng the y stretc hed them selves on the cellar floor, slee pin g'

W he n the brid e heard that, she came from beh ind th e cask, and had toher way am ong the sleepers lying all abo ut the gro und , and she felt v eryafraid lest she mig ht aw aken any of them . Bu t by go od luck she passed

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T H E R O B B E R B R I D E G R O O M .

t h r o u g h , a n d t h e o ld w o m a n w i t h h e r , a n d t h e y o p e n e d th e d o o r , a n d theym a d e a l l h a s t e t o l e a v e t h a t h o u s e o f m u r d e r e r s .

T h e w i n d h a d c a r r i e d a w a y t h e a s h e s f ro m t h e p a t h , b u t t h e p e a s a n d

l e n t i l s h a d b u d d e d a n d s p r u n g u p , a n d t h e m o o n s h i n e u p o n t h e m s h o w e d t h ew a y . A n d t h e y w e n t o n t h r o u g h t h e n i g h t t il l in t h e m o r n i n g t h e y r e a c h e dth e m i l l. T h e n th e g i r l r e l a t ed to he r f a the r a ll t h a t ha d ha pp en ed to he r .

W h e n t h e w e d d i n g - d a y c a m e , t h e f ri e n d s a n d n e i g h b o r s a s s e m b l e d , t h em i l l er h a v i n g i n v i t e d t h e m , a n d t h e b r i d e g r o o m a l s o a p p e a r e d . W h e n t h e yw er e a l l se a te d a t tab le , ea ch on e ha d to te l l a s tory . Bu t the br i de sa t s t il l,an d sa id no th in g , ti ll a t l a s t t h e b r ide gro om s a id to h e r :

" N o w , s w e e t h e a r t , d o y o u k n o w n o s t o r y ? T e l l u s s o m e t h i n g . "S h e a n s w e r e d :" I w i l l t e l l yo u m y d r ea m . I w as go in g a lone th ro ug h a w o od , an d I

ca m e a t las t to a ho us e in w hich th er e wa s no l iv ing soul , bu t by the wall was abi rd in a cage , who cr ied :

" 'Turn back, turn back, thou pretty bride.Within this house thou must not bide,For evil things do here betide.'

" A n d the n aga in i t s a id i t. Sw ee th ea r t , t h e d re am i s no t end ed . T h e n Iw en t th ro u g h a l l t h e room s , an d th ey w ere a ll em pty , an d i t w as so lone ly an dw re tch ed . A t l a s t I w en t dow n in to th e ce l la r , and the re sa t an o ld w om an ,n o d d i n g h e r h e a d . I a s k e d h e r if m y b r i d e g r o o m l iv e d in t h a t h o u s e , a n d s h e

answ ered , ' A h , po or ch i ld , you ha ve co m e in to a p l ace of cu t - th ro a t s ; you rbr id eg ro om d oe s l ive he re , b ut he wi ll k i ll yo u and cut y ou in p ieces , and the ncoo k an d ea t you . ' Sw ee the a r t , t h e d r ea m is no t ended . B u t the o ld w om anhid m e be h in d a g r ea t cask , an d no so on er ha d she do ne so tha n th e robb er sc a m e h o m e , d r a g g i n g w i t h t h e m a y o u n g w o m a n , a n d t h e y g a v e h e r t o d r in kw ine th r i ce , w h i t e , r ed , an d ye l low . Sw ee t he a r t , t h e d re am is no t ye t en ded .A n d th en the y k i l led he r , an d cu t he r in p i eces . Sw ee th ea r t , m y d ream is no tye t end ed . A n d on e o f th e rob be r s saw a go ld r in g on the finger of th e you ngw om an , an d as i t w as diff icul t to g et off, h e to ok an ax e a n d ch op pe d off th efinge r, w h ich ju m pe d up w ard s , an d th en fe ll be h in d th e g r ea t cask on m y l ap .

A n d he re is t h e f inge r w i th th e r ing "A t thes e w ord s she d rew i t fo r th , an d show ed i t t o the com pan y .T h e r o b b e r , w h o d u r i n g t h e s t o r y h a d g r o w n d e a d l y w h i t e , s p r a n g u p , and

w o uld hav e e scaped , b u t th e fo lks he ld h im fas t, and de l ive red h im up to jus t i ce .A n d h e a n d h i s w h o l e g a n g w e r e , f or t h e i r ev i l d e e d s , c o n d e m n e d a n d e x e c u t e d .

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T H E E L V E S

I.

T H E R E was once a shoem aker, wh o, th rou gh no fault of hisown, became so poor that at last he had nothing left but justenough leather to m ake one pair of shoes. H e cut out theshoes at night, so as to set to work up on them nex t m ornin g ;and he laid himself qu ietly dow n in his be d and fell aslee p. Inthe morning he found the pair of shoes made and finished, andstanding on his table.

Soon after a purch aser ente red, and as t h e shoes fitted him well, he gave

buy leather for two m ore pairs of shoes. H e cut the m ou t at night, and

or four new pairs. E ar ly n ex t m or ni ng he found th e four pa irs also finished ,d so it always happen ed, w ha tev er h e cut ou t in th e eve ning was worked

O ne nigh t he said to h is wife : " H ow wo uld it be if we w ere to sit up to ? "

H is wife agreed, and se t a light to bur n. T h e n the y bo th hid in a cor

of the room, behind some coats tha t were han ging up, and began toh. A s soon as it was m idnigh t, the y saw com e in two nea tly formedlittle men, who to ok up th e w ork, an d beg an to stitch, to p ierce, and

er, cleverly and quickly. A nd the y nev er left off until eve ryth ing was

T he next m orning th e wife said to her husband : " T he y mu st be veryld; I will make little shirts, coats, wa istcoats, and bree che s for them , and

T he husband consented, and at night they laid th e gifts on th e table, in

of the cu t-ou t work, and placed them selves s o th at the y could obs ervew the little men would behav e. A t m idnigh t the y rush ed in, rea dy to set to

k, but when they found, instead of th e pieces of pre pa red leather, the n eattle garm en ts pu t ready for them , they stood a m om ent in surprise, and t he n

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T H E E L V E S .

th ey t e s ti f ied t h e g r ea t e s t de l i gh t . W i t h t h e g r e a t e s t sw i f tne s s t he y t oo k u pt h e p r e t t y g a r m e n t s a n d s l i p p e d t h e m o n , s i n g i n g :

" What spruce and dandy boys are weNo longer cobblers we will be."

T h e n t h e y h o p p e d a n d d a n c e d a b o u t , j u m p i n g o v e r t h e c h a i r s a n d t ab l e sand a t l a s t t hey danced ou t a t t he doo r .

F ro m tha t t im e they we re neve r s een aga in ; bu t it a lways w en t wel l w i ththe shoemake r a s l ong a s he l i ved , and wha teve r he t ook in hand p rospe red .

II.T H E R E was on ce a p oo r s e rv an t ma id , who swep t down the

hou se ev e ry day , and pu t t h e swe ep ings on a g r e a t h ea p by t hedoo r . O n e m or n i ng s he foun d a le t te r , and i t was an inv i ta t i on f rom th e e lve s t o com e and s t and go dm ot he r t o one ofthe i r ch i ld ren . A s she was to ld th a t no one ou gh t to refuseth e e lve s an y th ing , she m ad e up he r m ind to go . So the recame th r ee l i t t l e e lve s , who conduc t ed he r i n to t he midd le

of a h igh m oun ta in , wh e re t he l i t tl e peop le l i ved . H e r e eve ry th in g was of

a ve ry smal l s ize , b u t m or e fine an d e leg an t tha n can b e to ld . So thema id s tood go dm oth e r , and was t hen fo r go ing hom e , bu t t he e lve s be gg ed he rto s tay a t l eas t th ree more days wi th them ; and so she consen ted , and spen t thet im e in m ir th and jo l l i ty . T h e n they fi lled he r po ck e ts full of go ld , and led herback aga in o u t of t he m ou n ta in . W h e n she go t back t o t h e hou se she wasgo ing t o beg in w ork ing aga in , and t oo k he r b ro om in he r han d— i t was s til ls t a nd ing i n t he co rne r w he r e she ha d l ef t i t— an d be gan to sweep . T h en cameup som e s t r a ng e r s and a ske d he r wh o sh e was , and wh a t she was do ing . Andsh e found th a t in s tea d of th re e days she had bee n seven years wi th th e e lves int h e m o u n t a i n , a n d d u r i n g t h a t t i m e h e r m a s t e r a n d m i s t r e s s h a d d i e d .

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MOTHER HULDA

W I D O W h a d t w o d a u g h t e r s ; o n e w a s p r e t t y a n d i n d u s tr i o u s

t he o t h e r w as ug l y and l azy . A s t he ug l y on e was he r ow ndau gh t e r , t h e p r e t t y one was m ad e t o do a ll t he wo r k . E v e r yday th e po or g i r l ha d to s i t by a wel l and sp in un t i l h e rfingers b led . A s th e sp in dle w as b lood y, she d ip ped i tin to th e wel l to wa sh i t ; bu t i t s l ipp ed o ut of he r ha nd and .f ell i n. H e r s t ep -m ot he r s co l ded he r w i t ho u t mercy .

Then t he g i r l wen t back aga i n , and i n de spa i r j umped down i n t o t he we l l .n o t h i n g ; and wh en she cam e t o he r se l f she was i n a

i fu l me adow . A nd she wa l ked on t h r ou gh t he m ead ow un t i l sh e cam e t c

" O h , t a k e m e o u t , t a k e m e o u t ; I a m b a k e d e n o u g h a l r e a d y "T h e n she t ook ou t a l l t he l oaves one a f t e r t h e o t he r . A n d sh e w en t o a

l l she cam e to a t ree w eigh ed dow n wi th ap ples , and i t ca l l ed ou t to he r , " O h ,ke m e, sha ke me , we apples a re a ll o f us r ipe "

T h e n she sh ook t he t r ee un t i l t he r e we re no m ore ap p l e s t o f all ; an dt he r ed t h em i n a heap , and w en t on f u r t he r . A t l a s t she cam e t o a l i t t l e

and an o l d wo ma n wa s p ee p i n g ou t of i t, bu t s he had such g r e a t t e e t h

" C om e an d l ive wi th m e , an d if yo u do th e hou se-w ork wel l , th in gs sha l lwi th you . Y ou m us t m ak e my be d wel l , an d sh ak e it up so th a t th e

A s t he o l d w om an spo ke so k i nd l y , t he g i r l t oo k cou rage , and w en t t o h e rSh e d i d ev e ry t h i n g t o t he o l d wo m an ' s s a t is f ac ti on , an d shoo k t h e be d

a wi l l th at th e fea the rs flew ab ou t l ike snow -f lakes ; an d so sh e led aod life, ha d ne ve r a c ross w ord , bu t bo i led and roas t m ea t eve ry day . W h e n

had l ived a l ong t i me wi t h M ot he r Hu l da , she bec am e h om es i ck , a l t h ou gh

So M ot h e r H u l da t ook he r by t he hand and led he r t o a l a rge do or s t and

" Al l t h i s is yo u r s becaus e you ha ve bee n so i ndu s t r i ous , " s a i d M o t h e ru ld a A n d then the do or was shut aga in , an d th e g i r l found herse l f no t farom he r m oth er ' s hou se ; an d as sh e pas sed th ro ug h th e yard th e cock c ried.

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M O T H E R H U L D A .

Cock-a doodle doo Our golden girl has come home t o o "

A s she had r e tu rned covered w i th go ld she w as w e l l r ece ived .So th e g i r l t o ld w h a t ha d ha pp en ed to he r , and w h en the m ot he r hea rd i t

sh e be ga n to w i sh th a t h e r id l e da ug h t e r m ig h t ha ve th e sam e good fo r tune .S o sh e sen t he r to s i t by the wel l and spin ; an d she threw th e spin dle in to th ew e l l , and jum ped in herself. Sh e found herself, l ike her s is ter , in the beautifulm eadow , and w hen she cam e to the bake r ' s oven , the b read c r i ed ou t :

" O h , t ak e m e ou t , t a ke m e ou t , o r I sha l l bu rn ; I am qu i t e don e a l r e ad y? "B u t th e l azy bo ne s answ ered : " I hav e no des i r e to b l ack m y hand s , " an d

w en t on f a r the r . So on she cam e to the app le t r ee , w ho ca ll ed o u t :" O h, sha ke me, sh ak e me, we app les are a ll of us r ipe "B u t she answ ered , " Su pp os e one of you shou ld f all on m y head . " W h e n

she cam e to Mothe r H ulda ' s house she d id no t f ee l a f r a id , a s she knew be fo re

ha nd of he r g re a t te e th , an d en te re d in to he r service a t once . T h e firs t days h e d i d e v e r y t h i n g M o t h e r H u l d a b a d e h e r , b e c a u s e of t h e g o l d s h e e x p e c t e d ;b u t t h e sec on d da y she be ga n to be id le , an d th e th i r d da y s t il l mo re so , sot h a t s h e w o u l d n o t g e t u p i n t h e m o r n i n g . N e i t h e r d i d s h e m a k e M o t h e rH ul da ' s bed a s it ou gh t to hav e bee n m ade , and d id no t sh ake it fo r the f ea the r sto fly abo u t . So tha t M ot he r H u ld a soon g re w t i r ed of he r , and ga ve h e rw a rn in g , a t w h ich th e l azy th in g w as w e l l p l eased , an d th ou gh t tha t now theshow er o f go ld w as com ing ; so Mothe r H ulda l ed he r to the door , and ins t eadof the shower of gold a grea t ke t t le of p i tch was empt ied over her .

So the lazy g i r l came home a l l covered wi th p i tch , and the cock cr ied :

~ " Cock-a-doodle doo Ou r dirty girl has come home too "

And the p i tch remained s t icking to her fas t , and never could i t be got of f .

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THE

W H I T E S N A K E

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THE W HITE S N A K E

A LONG time ago there l ived a king whose wisdom was noisedabroad in all the country. N oth ing remained lon g unknow n

to him, and it was as if th e kno wled ge of hidde n thin gs wa sbrou ght to him in the air. How ever, he had one curiouscustom. E ve ry day at dinner, after th e table had been clearedand every one go ne away, a trus ty servan t had to bri ngin one oth er dish. But it was covered up , and th e serv ant

mself d id no t know w hat was in it, and no one else knew, for th e kin g w aitedl he was qu ite alone before he unco vered it. T hi s had go ne on a lon g time ,at last th ere came a day when the serv ant could restrain his curiosity nor, bu t as he was carrying the dish away he took it into his own room . A s

white snake lying on the dish. After seeing it he could no t resist th e des iretaste it, and so he cu t off a small piece an d pu t it in his m ou th. A s soon a stouched his ton gu e he hea rd outside his window a stra ng e cho rus of delica teces. H e wen t and listened, and found th at it was th e sparrow s talk ing

and telling each oth er all the y had seen in th e fields and wood s. T h e

Now it happened one day that the queen lost her most splendid r ing, andcion fell upon t he tru sty s ervan t, who had t he gen eral s upe rintend ence, an d

was accused of stealing it. T h e kin g sum mo ned him to his presence, ander m any repro ache s told him th at if by th e next day he was no t able to nam e

e thief, he should be considered gu ilty, and punished . It was in vain tha t hested his innocence ; he could get no be tte r senten ce. In his uneas inesshe went out into th e courtyard, and began to consider what he

ld do in so grea t a necessity. T h er e sat the ducks by the runn ing waterrested themselves, and plum ed them selve s with the ir flat bills, and held a

table chat. T h e servant stayed w here he was and listened to th em .he y told how they had waddled abou t all yesterda y mo rning and found goo d

; and then one of them said pitifully :

" So m ethin g lies very h eavy in my craw,— it is th e rin g th at w as lying

Th en the servant seized her by the neck, too k he r into the kitch en. and

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"Y es , " sa id the cook , w e igh ing i t i n he r hand , " t he re w i l l be no t roub le o ff a t t e n i n g t h i s o n e — i t h a s b e e n r e a d y e v e r s o l o n g . "

S h e t he n s l it up i t s neck , and w hen i t w as op en ed th e qu een ' s r ing w as

found in i t s c raw . T h e se rv an t cou ld now c lea r ly p ro ve h i s innoc enc e , and inor de r to m ak e up fo r the in jus t i ce he had su f fered th e k in g pe rm i t t e d h im toask som e favor fo r himself, and a l so p ro m ised h im th e p lace o f g re a te s t hono rin the roya l househo ld .

B u t the s e rv an t r e fused i t, an d on ly a sk ed fo r a ho r se an d m on ey fo rt ra ve l in g , for he ha d a fancy to see th e wo r ld , an d loo k ab ou t h im a l i t t le . S oh i s r eq ue s t w as g r an ted , an d he se t ou t on h i s w a y ; an d one day he cam e to apo o l o f w a te r , by w hich h e saw th re e f ishes w ho h ad g o t en tan g le d in th e rush es ,a n d w e r e p a n t i n g f o r w a t e r . A l t h o u g h f is h es a r e u s u a l l y c o n s i d e r e d d u m bcrea tu re s , he und er s too d v e ry w e l l t he i r l am en t th a t t he y w ere to pe r i sh so m is

e rab ly ; an d as he h ad a com pa ss io na te he a r t h e d i sm ou nted f rom h i s hor se ,an d p u t the th r ee f ishes back aga in in to the w a te r . T h e y qu iv e red a ll ove rw i th joy , s t r e t ched ou t the i r heads , and ca l l ed ou t to h im :

" W e w i ll r e m e m b e r a n d r e w a r d t h e e , b e c a u s e t h o u h a s t d e l i v e r e d u s . " H erode on , and a f t e r a w hi l e he hea rd a sm a l l vo ice com e up f rom the sand under ne a t h h i s ho r se ' s f ee t. H e l i s t ened , an d he a rd an an t -k ing com pla in :

" I f on ly the se m e n w ould kee p off, w i th the i r g r ea t aw kw ard bea s t sH e r e c o m e s t h i s s t u p i d h o r s e t r e a d i n g d o w n m y p e o p l e w i t h h i s h a r d h o o fs "

T h e m a n t h e n t u r n e d h i s h o r s e t o t h e s id e - p a t h , a n d t h e a n t - k i n g c a ll ed o u tt o h i m : " W e w ill r e m e m b e r a n d r e w a r d t h e e . "

T h e pa th l ed h im th ro ug h a w o od , an d th e r e he saw a f a the r - r aven andm o t h e r - r a v e n s t a n d i n g b y t h e i r n e s t s a n d t h r o w i n g t h e i r y o u n g o n e s o u t .

" O f f w i t h y o u y o u n g g a l l o w s b i r d s " c r i e d t h e y ; " w e c a n n o t stu ff y o ua n y m o r e ; y o u a r e b i g e n o u g h t o f e nd f or y o u r s e l v e s " T h e p o o r y o u n gr a v e n s l a y o n t h e g r o u n d , f l u t t e ri n g , a n d c r y i n g :

" W e a re poor , he lp le s s th ing s , w e can no t f end fo r our se lves , w e can no teven f ly w e c a n o n l y d i e o f h u n g e r "

T h e n t h e k i n d y o u n g m a n d i s m o u n t e d , k i ll e d h i s h o r s e w i t h h i s d a g g e r ,an d l ef t i t t o th e y ou n g rav en s fo r food . T h e y cam e ho pp in g up , f eas t ed aw aya t it , an d c r i e d : " W e w il l r e m em be r and rew a rd th ee "

So now he ha d to use h i s ow n l egs , an d w h en he had go ne a lon g w ay hec a m e t o a g r e a t t o w n . T h e r e w a s m u c h n o i s e a n d t h r o n g i n g in t h e s t r e e t s , a n dt h e r e c a m e a m a n o n a h o r s e , w h o p r o c l a i m e d : " T h e K i n g ' s d a u g h t e r s e e k s ahu sb an d, bu t h e w ho w ishe s t o m ar ry h er m us t per form a d i ff icult task , and ifhe cannot car ry i t through successful ly he must lose h is l i fe . "

M an y ha d a l r ea dy tr i ed , bu t ha d los t t he i r l i ves in va in . T h e y ou n g m an ,w h e n h e s a w t h e K i n g ' s d a u g h t e r , w a s s o d a z z l e d b y h e r g r e a t b e a u t y t h a t h eforg ot a l l da ng er , w en t to th e K in g, an d offered h imsel f as a woo er .

Then he w as l ed to the sea - s ide , and a go ld r ing w as th row n in to the w a te r

be fo re h i s eyes . T h e n the K i ng to ld h im th a t he m us t fe t ch the r ing up aga inf rom th e bo t to m of th e sea , s a y in g : " If you com e bac k w i tho u t i t, you sha llb e p u t u n d e r t h e w a v e s a g a i n a n d a g a i n , u n t i l y o u a r e d r o w n e d . "

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A s he was standin g on the. shore and thinking of w hat he should do t he rethe th re e fishes whom he had set free. O ne had a mu ssel in his m ou th,

he laid it at the y ou ng m an's fe et ; and when he too k it up there was the

d ring ins ide Full of joy, he carried it to th e K i n g ; b ut th e King's,ter, prou d of he r high birth, despised him. Sh e went into the ga rde n

" By the time the sun rises in the m orn ing you m ust h ave picked up all ; " and not a grain must be wa nting."

The young man sat down in the garden, feeling very sorrowful, and expectto be led to dea th at brea k of day. B ut the an t-k ing arrived in th e nig ht

his thou san ds of an ts, and the grateful cre ature s picked up all t he m illetd and fil led the sacks. T h e K ing's da ug hter came into the gard en and saw

with asto nish m ent. B ut she said :

"Al though he has completed the two tasks , he shal l not be my bride

T he youn g m an did no t know wh ere th e t re e of life was to be found, b u tset out and went on and on. W he n he had gon e throu gh thre e kingdoms.

he he ard a ru stling in the boug hs, and a go lden app le fell into his ha nd.ediately three raven s flew tow ards him, perch ed on his knee , and sa id :" W e are the three youn g raven s tha t you delivered from starving ; wh en

grew big, and hea rd th at you we re see king th e gold en a pple, we flew ove re of life, and we fetched th e a pple."

Full of joy, the young man brought the golden apple to the King's beauti

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O N C E up on a t im e a po or Se rv an t G i r l w as t r av e l ing w i th he rbox es th ro ug h a w ood , an d a ban d of rob ber s sp ran g ou t of thebru shw oo d ; bu t she ju m pe d ou t of h e r ca r t and h id he r se lf be

h ind a t r e e . A s soon as th e rob ber s ha d d i sa pp ea r ed w i th the i rbo oty , sh e be ga n to cry b i t te r ly , an d sa id to herse l f : " W h a tshal l I d o no w ? I ca nn ot f ind m y w ay o ut of th e w ood , and I

m u s t p e r i s h w i t h h u n g e r " W h e n e v e n i n g c a m e , s h e s a t d o w n u n d e r a t r e e .T h e n a l i t t l e W h i t e P ig eo n cam e f ly ing to w ard s he r , ca r ry in g in h is bea k asm al l go lde n key . T h e b i rd pu t th e key in to he r han d , and sa id , " D o you seey on gre a t t re e ? w i th in i t i s a cu pb oa rd , an d t h er e yo u wi ll f ind food en ou gh ."T h e g i r l w en t to the t r ee , and un loc k in g i t, found pu re m i lk in a jug , and w h i t eb r ea d , an d of the se she m ad e a go od m ea l . W h e n she had f in i shed , she sa id toherself, " I am so t i r ed I sho u ld l ike to g o to bed . " In a m om en t the P ig eon

flew u p , b r in g in g an o t he r go ld key , and sa id : " D o you see yo n t r e e ? ope n i tand you wil l f ind a bed " S he ope ne d it , an d the re s to od th e l i t t le w hi te bed ;an d , a f t e r s ay in g he r p ray e r s , sh e w en t to s l eep . In the m or n in g th e P igeoncam e b r ing ing an o th e r key , w i th w hich he to ld the g i r l t o ope n a ce r t a in t r ee .W h e n she d id so , she foun d d re sses o f a l l k inds , a s beau t i fu l a s any p r incessc o u l d d e s i r e . A n d t h e P i g e o n e v e r y d a y b r o u g h t h e r w h a t s h e n e e d e d .

O n e d a y , h o w e v e r , t h e P i g e o n c a m e a n d a s k e d t h e M a i d e n w h e t h e r s h ew ou ld do an a c t of love for h im. " W it h a l l m y he ar t " w as h er r ep ly. " Iw i sh you then , " sa id th e P igeo n , " t o com e w i th m e to a li t t le co t t age , and in i t,o n the hea r th , you w i ll s ee an o ld W om an , w ho w i ll s ay , ' G oo d-d ay ' B u t fo r

m y sake , g ive he r n o a n sw er ; bu t go pa s t he r r igh t han d , and in to a room ,w he re up on a t ab le w i ll l i e a nu m be r of r in gs , and am on g th em seve ra l w i thg l i t t e r in g s ton es ; bu t l eav e th em a lone , and look ou t a p l a in one w hich w i ll bethere , and br ing i t to me as quickly as poss ib le . "

T h e M a i d e n t h e r e u p o n w e n t t o t h e c o t t a g e , a n d s t e p p e d i n ; a n d t h e r e s a tan o ld W o m a n w h o m a de a g r ea t f ace w h en she saw he r , bu t sa id , " G ood-day ,m y c h i l d " T h e M a i d e n m a d e n o a n s w e r , b u t w e n t t o w a r d s t h e do o r." W h i t h e r a r e y o u g o i n g ? " c r ie d t h e o l d W o m a n , a n d s h e t r i e d t o d e t a i n t h eM aid en . B u t she w en t in to th e room an d saw th e he ap of r ings upo n theta bl e . S h e search ed, for th e p la in r ing , b u t cou ld no t find i t ; an d whi le she

sea rch ed , sh e saw th e o ld W o m a n s l ip in and t ak e up a b i rd -cage , w i th w hichs h e m ad e off. So th e M aid p ur su ed he r , an d saw th e r in g in th e b i l l of the

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bird. She took th e r ing and ran back. Sh e leaned herself back agains t h erand waited for the Pigeon ; bu t pre sen tly th e tree becam e, as it were, w eakyielding, and its branches b egan to droop . All at once the bo ugh s b en t

som e man, who em braced and k issed her, saying, " Yo u ha ved me ou t of the power of the old W om an , wh o is an evil witch. Sh e

me into a tree a long while ago, and every day I became a W hi tePigeon for two h o u rs ; bu t so long as she had possession of the ring , I could no tregain my hum an form." A nd his serv ants and horses recove red also, for th ey

likewise had been changed into trees ; and they accompanied their m aster tokingdom (for he was a K ing's son), and there he ma rried th e Maiden, and

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R A P U N Z E L

T H E R E onc e l ived a ma n an d his wife , who had lon g wished fora chi ld , bu t in va in . N ow t he re wa s a t the ba ck of t he i rho us e a l i t t le w indo w which ov er lo ok ed a beaut i fu l g ard en ful lof th e f ines t v eg eta bl es an d f lowers ; bu t the re w as a h igh w al la l l ro un d it , an d no on e ve nt ur ed in to i t, for i t be lon ge d to aw i tch of gre a t m igh t , an d of wh om all the w or ld w as af ra id .

O ne day tha t t he w i fe w as s t and ing a t t he w indow , and lookin g in to th e ga rd en , she saw a be d fi lled wi th th e f ines t ra m p io n ; an d it loo ke ds o f re s h a n d g r e e n t h a t s h e b e g a n t o w i s h f o r s o m e ; a n d a t l e n g t h s h e l o n g e dfor i t grea t ly .

T h i s w en t on for days , and as she kne w she cou ld no t ge t t he r am pion , sh ep in ed aw ay , an d g rew pa le and m ise rab le . T h en th e m a n w as uneasy , and ask ed :

" W h a t i s t he m a t t e r , d ea r w i fe ?"

" O h , " answ ered she , " I sha l l d i e un les s I can have som e o f tha t r am pion toea t t h a t g ro w s in th e ga rd en a t t he bac k o f our ho us e . " T h e m an , w h o lovedher ve ry m uch , though t to h im se l f :

" Rather than lose my wife I wi l l ge t some rampion, cos t what i t wi l l . "So in the twi l ight , he c l imbed over the wal l in to the wi tch ' s garden, p lucked

ha s t i ly a hand fu l o f r am pio n an d b r ou gh t i t t o h i s w i fe . Sh e m ade a sa l ad o fi t a t once , an d a te of i t to he r he ar t ' s co nt en t . Bu t she l iked i t so mu ch, and i t

t a s t e d so goo d , th a t t he ne x t day she lon ged fo r i t t h r i ce a s m u ch as she haddo ne be fo re ; if she w as to have an y re s t t he m an m us t c l im b ove r th e w a ll onc em or e . So he w en t in th e tw i l ight again ; an d as he w as c l im bing back, he saw,a l l a t onc e , t h e w i t ch s t a nd in g b e fo re h im , and w a s t e r r ib ly f r igh ten ed , a s shec r i ed , w i th angry eyes :

" H o w d a re you c lim b ove r in to m y ga rd en l ike a thief, a n d s t e a l m y r a m p i o n I t sha l l be th e w ors e for you "

" O h , " answ ered he , " b e m erc i fu l r a th e r tha n jus t . I hav e on ly do ne i tt h ro u gh nece ss i ty ; fo r m y w i fe saw yo ur r am pio n ou t o f the w indow , and be ca m e posse ssed w i th so g r ea t a long ing , tha t she w o uld have d ied if she cou ldn o t ha ve had som e to ea t . " T h e n th e w i t ch s i id :

" I f i t i s a l l as yo u say you m ay ha ve as much ram pio n as you l ike , on o n e

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R A P U N Z E L .

di t ion — the ch i ld th a t wi ll com e in to th e wor ld m us t be g iv en to m e . I t

I n h i s d i s t r e s s of m i nd t he m an p rom i sed ev e r y t h i ng ; an d w hen t h e t i mew hen th e ch ild wa s born , t he wi tch a pp eare d , and , g iv ing th e ch i ld th e

f Ra pu nz e l (w hich i s the sam e as ram pio n) , she took i t aw ay w i th h er .

R apu nze l was th e m os t beaut i fu l ch i ld in the wor ld . W h e n she wa s twe lveold, th e wi tch shu t he r up in a tow er in th e m ids t of a wo od, an d i t ha d

s teps nor door , on ly a smal l win dow abo ve . W h e n th e wi tch wish ed tole t in, she w ould s tan d be low an d w ould c ry :

" Ra pun ze l , Ra pu nze l l e t down yo ur ha i r "Ra pun ze l had l ong , beau t if u l h a i r t ha t sho ne l ike go l d . W h e n sh e he a rd

e pla i ts of he r hai r , an d le t i t dow n tw en ty e l ls below , an d t h e w i tch

Af te r they ha d l ived th us a few y ears i t ha pp en ed th a t as th e K ing ' s sonr i d i ng t h r ou gh t he w ood , he cam e t o t h e t o w er ; an d a s he d r ew ne a r h e

a voice s ing ing so swee t ly t h a t he s tood s t il l and l i s t ened . I t waspunz e l , in he r lone l iness t ry in g to pa ss aw ay th e t im e in sw ee t song s . T h e

ing 's son wish ed to go in to her , an d so ug ht to f ind a do or in th e tow er , b utwas none . So he rode hom e , bu t t h e so ng had en t e r ed i n t o h i s h ea r t ,

day he w ent in to the wo od and l i s t ened to i t. O nc e , as he wa s s tand the re und er a t ree , he saw th e wi tch co m e up , an d l i s t ened wh i le sh e ca l l ed

" O R a p u n z e l , R a p u n z e l l e t d o w n y o u r h a i r. "

T he n he s aw how R ap un ze l l e t down he r l on g t r e s se s , and how t h e wi t ch

" S ince th a t i s th e ladd er , I wi ll c l imb i t, an d seek m y for tu ne ." A n d th e

" O R a p u n z e l , R a p u n z e l l e t d o w n y o u r h a ir . "A nd sh e l e t dow n he r ha i r , and th e K ing ' s son c l imb ed up by i t.R apu nze l was grea t ly t e r r if i ed w he n she saw th a t a m an ha d com e in tof or she had neve r s een on e b e f o r e ; bu t t h e Ki n g ' s son beg an speak i n g so

to her , and to ld h ow h er s ing ing ha d en te r ed in to h i s h ear t , so tha t he himself.

T he n Rap unz e l f o rgo t he r t e r ro r , an d wh en he a sked he r t o t ake h i m fo rhusb and , and she s aw t ha t he was yo un g and beau t if u l , she t h ou gh t t o he r

" I c e r t a i n ly l ike h i m mu ch be t t e r t ha n o l d mo t h e r G o t h e l , " and she pu t

" I wo uld wi l l ing ly g o w i th the e , bu t I do no t kn ow ho w I sha l l ge t ou t .h e n tho u com es t , b r in g each t im e a s i lken rope , an d I wi ll m ak e a l adder , an den i t is qu i te read y, I wi l l ge t do w n b y i t ou t of th e tow er , an d th ou sh al t ta k eaway on t hy ho r se . " T he y ag ree d t ha t he sh ou l d com e t o he r eve ry even as th e o ld w om an came in th e day - t ime . S o th e w i tch kn ew no th in g of a l l

un t i l once R ap un ze l sa id to her unw i t t ing ly :

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R A P U N Z E L .

" O , R A P U N Z E L , let down your hair;

From the window let it fall;

Then by the tresses strong and fair,

I can climb the castle wall.

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R A P U N Z E L .

" M o t h e r G o t he l , how is i t t ha t you c li mb up he r e so s lowl y , and t h e K i n g ' son is wi th m e in a m om en t ? "

" O wicke d ch i ld ," c r i ed t he wi tch , " w ha t is th i s I he ar I th o u g h t I h ad

n the e f rom a ll the wor ld , and tho u has t be t ra ye d m e "In he r ang er , she se ized Ra pu nz e l by he r be aut i fu l ha i r , s t ru ck he r seve ra l

mes wi th he r l ef t han d , and th en gr as p i ng a pa i r of she ars in her r ig h t — sn ip ,ap - - t h e beau t if u l l ocks l ay on t he g r o un d .

An d she was so ha r d -h ea r t e d t ha t she t oo k R apu nze l an d pu t he r i n a

T h e s am e day on wh i ch she t ook R apu nze l away , she we n t bac k t o t h ein th e ev en ing an d m ad e fas t th e sev era l lock s of h a i r to th e w indo w

and the King ' s son came and c r ied :

" R a p u n z e l , R a p u n z e l l e t d o w n y o u r h a i r. "T h e n sh e l e t th e ha i r do w n, an d th e k ing ' s son c l imb ed up , bu t ins teac of

s dea r e s t Ra pun ze l he found t he wi t ch l ook i ng a t h i m wi t h wi cked g l i t t e r i ng

" A h a " c r i ed she , m oc kin g h im , " you cam e for yo ur dar l ing , b u t t h eweet b i rd s i t s n o lon ge r in th e nes t , an d s ings no m o re ; t he ca t ha s g o t h er ,

wi ll sc ra tch ou t yo ur eye s as w el l R ap un ze l is los t to yo u ; you wi ll se e

T h e Ki ng ' s son w as be s i de h i mse lf wi t h grief, and i n h i s agony he sp r angom the tow er . H e escap ed wi th l if e, bu t th e th or ns on which he fe ll p u t o u t

T h e n h e w a n d e r e d b l in d t h r o u g h t h e w o o d , e a t i n g n o t h i n g b u t r o o t s a n dand do ing no th in g b ut l a m en t an d w eep for th e loss of h i s de are s t

So he w an de red severa l yea rs in m isery , un t i l a t l as t he cam e to th e

A t f irs t he hea rd a vo i ce t ha t he t h ou gh t he knew , and w hen he r ea che dom which i t seem ed to com e R ap un ze l , k ne w h im, and fell on h i s

and wep t . A nd when he r t e a r s t ouc hed h i s eyes t he y bec am e c l ea r aga i n ,

d he cou ld see w i th th em as wel l as ev er .T he n he t ook he r t o h i s k i ngd om , w he re he was r ece i ved wi t h g r ea t joy ,

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THE T H R E E S P I N S T E R S

could hear her cries.The woman was ashamed to tell of her daughter 's laziness, so she said :" I cannot stop her from spinning ; she is for ever at it, and I am poor and

cannot furnish her with flax enough."Then the Queen answered :" I like noth in g be tte r than th e so und of th e spinning-wheel, and always

feel happ y when I hea r i ts hu m m in g; let me tak e yo ur da ugh ter with me toth e castle. I ha ve plenty of flax, she shall spin the re to her heart 's con tent."

T h e m oth er was only too g lad of th e offer, and the Q ueen took th e girl withher. W he n they reached the castle , the Queen showed her three rooms whichwere filled with the finest flax as full as they could hold.

" N ow yo u can spin m e this flax," said s he , " and w hen you can show it meall do ne you shall hav e my eldest son for brideg room . Yo u may be poor, but Im ake noth ing of that— yo ur industry is dowry eno ugh."

T h e girl was terrified, for she co uld no t ha ve sp un t he flax even if she wereto live to be a hundred years old, and were to sit spinning every day of her lifefrom m orn ing to evening . A nd when she found herself alone, she began toweep, and sat so for th ree days w ithou t pu tti ng her hand to it. On the thirdday th e Q uee n came, and w hen she saw that no thi ng had been don e of the spin-'ning, she was much surprised ; but the girl excused herself by saying that shehad not been able to begin becaus e of th e distress she was in at leaving herho m e and he r m other. T h e excuse con tente d the Qu een, who said, however, asshe went away : " To-m orrow you m ust begin to wo rk."

W h en th e girl found herself alone again, she wen t and gazed out of thewindow. T h er e she saw thr ee wom en passin g by, and th e first of them had abro ad flat foot, t he seco nd had a big under-lip th at hu ng down over her chin, and

T H E R E was on ce a girl wh o was lazy and would not spinand he r moth er could not p ersuad e her to i t, do what she

would. A t last the m other became angry, and gave her agoo d beatin g, so tha t she cried out loudly. A t th at mo men tth e Qu een was go ing by. A s she heard the crying she stopped,and, going into the house, she asked the mo ther why shewas beatin g her dau gh ter so tha t every one o utside in the street

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T H E T H R E E S P I N S T E R S .

t he t h i rd had a r em ark ab ly b road t h u m b . T h e y al l s t o pp ed in f ront of t he w in dow, and ca l led ou t to kn ow w ha t i t wa s th e g i r l w an ted . Sh e to ld th em a l lher need , and they promised her the i r he lp , and sa id :

" T he n you wil l inv i te us to yo ur wed din g , an d no t be ash am ed of us ; a nd

call us yo ur c ousin s , an d le t us s i t a t yo ur tab le ; if yo u w ill pro m ise this , w e willfinish off y o u r flax-spinning in a v er y sh o rt tim e. "

" W i t h a ll my hear t , " sa id th e g i r l ; " on ly com e in an d beg in a t onc e ."Then these same women came in , and she c lea red a space in the f i r s t room

for t he m to sp in . T h e fir st one d r ew ou t t h e t h r ea d and m ove d the t r e a d l e t ha tt u r n e d t h e w h e e l ; t h e s e c o n d m o i s t e n e d t h e t h r e a d ; t h e t h i r d t w i s t e d it a n drap pe d wi th he r f inger on th e tab le , and as o f ten as she rap pe d , a he ap of ya rnfe ll to th e gro un d , and it wa s m os t beau t i fu l ly spun . Bu t the g i r l h id th ethr ee sp ins te rs ou t o f th e Q ue en ' s s igh t , and on ly show ed he r th e heap s of wel l -spun y a rn ; and t he re was no end to t h e p r a i s e s she rece ived . W h e n th e first

room was em p ty , t hey w en t on t o t he s econd , and t hen t o t he t h i rd , so t ha t a tlas t a l l was fin ished. T h e n th e th re e wo m en t oo k the i r l eave , say ing to th e g i r l :" D o no t fo rge t w ha t you have p rom ised . "

So wh en the g i r l show ed the Qu ee n the g r e a t hea ps o f ya rn , t he w ed d in gwas a t once a r r an ged , and t h e b r id eg r oo m re jo i ced t ha t he shou ld ha ve so d i l igent a wife .

" I have t h r e e cous in s , " s a id t he g i r l, " a n d a s t he y ha ve show n me a g r e a tdea l o f k in dn ess I wo uld no t wish to fo rg e t th em ; m ay I be a l lowed to inv i tethem to t he wedd ing , and t o a sk t hem to s i t a t t he t ab l e w i th u s ? "

T h e Q u e e n a n d t h e b r i d e g r o o m c o n s e n t e d a t o n c e .

So wh en the f eas t beg an , i n c am e th e t h r e e sp in s t e r s i n s t r an ge gu i s e , andth e b r ide s a id : " D ea r cous in s , you a r e we lco me ."

' ' Oh , " s aid t he b r ideg room , " how cam e yo u to ha ve such u g ly r e l a t i ons ? "A nd then he w ent up to th e firs t s p in s te r an d sa id : " H o w i s i t th a t you

ha ve such a b ro ad fla t f oo t ? " " W i t h t r e a d in g , " ans we red sh e , " w i th t r e ad ing . "T h en he we n t up t o t he s econd and s aid : " H o w is i t t h a t you hav e such

a g re a t han g in g l ip ? " " W i t h l i ck ing , ' ' an sw ered she , " w i th l i ck ing . "T he n he a sked the t h i rd : " H ow i s i t t ha t you hav e such a b ro ad t h u m b ? "

" W i t h t w i s t i n g t h r e a d , " a n s w e r e d s h e , " w i t h t w i s t i n g t h r e a d . "T h e n the b r id eg r oo m sa id t h a t f rom th a t t im e fo rward h i s beau t i fu l b r ide

shou ld neve r t ouch a sp inn ing whee l .

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FAITHFUL JOHN

T H E R E w as once an o ld K ing , wh o, hav ing fa llen s ick , tho ug htto h imsel f : " T h is i s ve ry l ike ly m y de ath -be d on wh ich I am

lying."T h e n he sa id : " L e t Fa i th fu l Jo hn be sen t fo r. "Fa i th fu l John w as h i s bes t -be loved se rvan t , and w as so ca l l ed

be ca us e he ha d serv ed t he k in g fai thful ly al l his l ife long .W h e n h e cam e ne a r the bed , t h e K ing sa id to h im :

"F a i th fu l Jo hn , I f ee l m y end d ra w ing nea r , and m y on ly ca re is fo r m yson ; he i s ye t of te nd er yea rs , an d do es n ot a lway s kn ow h ow to sh ap e h iscon du ct , and unle ss yo u prom ise me to ins t ru c t h im in a l l h is ac t io ns an d be at rue fos ter - fa ther to h im, I sha l l not be able to c lose my eyes in peace . "

T h e n ans w ered Fa i th fu l Jo hn : " I w il l ne ve r fo r sake h im , and w i ll s e rve

him fai thful ly, e ve n th o u g h i t sh ou ld cost m e m y l i fe ."A n d the o ld K in g sa id : " T h e n I d ie , be ing of g oo d che er and a t peace .*A nd he w e n t on to s a y : " A f te r m y de a th you m u s t l ead h im th r ou gh the

wh ole cas t le , in to a l l th e cha m be rs , ha l l s , an d vau l t s , and sh ow him th e t reasu resth a t in th em l ie ; bu t the las t ch am be r in th e lon g gal le ry , in which lies h iddenth e p ic tur e of the Pr ince ss of th e G old en Palace , you m ust no t show him. Ifhe w ere to sea th a t p ic t ure , he w ould d i rec t ly fal l in to so gr ea t a love for herth a t he wo uld fa in t w i th t h e s t re ng th of i t, an d af terw ards , for her sak e , runin to g r ea t d an ge r s ; so you m us t gua rd h im w e l l ."

A nd as Fa i th fu l Jo hn ga ve h im h i s han d upo n i t, t he o ld K in g becam e

sti l l and si lent , la id his head upon the pi l low, and died.W h en the o ld K in g w as la id in the g rave , Fa i th fu l Jo hn to ld the yo ung

K in g w hat h e ha d pr om ise d to h is fa the r on h is dea th-bed , and sa id : " I willcer ta in ly hold to m y pro m ise , an d be fa ithful to you, as I w as fa ithful to h im,even though i t should cos t me my l i fe . "

W h e n the days o f m o ur n in g w ere a t an end , Fa i th fu l Jo hn sa id to thePr ince :

" I t i s now t im e tha t you shou ld see your inhe r i t ance . "T h e n he led h im o ve r a l l th e p lace , up s ta i r s and do wn sta i rs , and showed

him a l l t he t r easures and the sp lend id cham bers ; one cham ber on ly he d id not

open , th a t in w hich the pe r i lou s p ic tu re hu ng . N ow the p ic tu re w as so p lacedth a t w he n th e do or op en ed, i t w as th e f ir st th in g to be seen, and was so won-

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fu lly pa in te d tna t i t s ee m ed to b re a t h e an d m ove , an d in th e w ho le w or ldt h e r e n o t h i n g m o r e lo v e l y o r m o r e b e a u t if u l . T h e y o u n g K i n g n o t i c e d h o w

t hf u l J o h n a l w a y s p a s s e d b y t h i s o n e d o o r , a n d a s k e d : " W h y d o y o u n o t

th is do or ? "" T h er e is so m eth ing ins ide th a t w o u ld t e r r i fy you , " answ ered he . B u t th e

ing answ ered : " I have seen th e w ho le cas t le , an d I wil l kn ow w ha t is in h er eo . " A n d he w en t forward and t r ied to op en th e door .

T h e n F a i th fu l Jo h n ca l led h im bac k an d sa id : " I p ro m ise d yo ur f a the r o ns dea th -be d t ha t you shou ld n o t see w ha t is i n th a t ro om ; i t m igh t b r ing

B ut the yo un g K in g ans w e red : " I sha l l ha ve no peac e day o r n ig h t un t i lhav e seen i t, and I wi ll no t mov e f rom th is p lac e unt i l yo u hav e un lock ed i t . "

T h en fa ithfu l Jo hn saw th a t t he re w a s no he lp fo r i t, an d h e op en ed th e

H e w a lked in f ir st , an d th o ug h t th a t b y s t a nd ing in f ron t o f th e K in gm igh t h id e th e p ic tu r e f rom h im , bu t th e K in g s too d on t ip toe an d looke d

h i s shou lde r . A nd w hen he saw th e im age o f th e l ad y th a t w as so w o nful ly beaut i fu l , he fel l on th e g ro un d pow er less . Fa i thfu l J o h n he lpe d h im

p, took h im to h i s bed , and tho u gh t w i th so r row : " A h m e th e ev i l has c om e ? "

W h e n t h e K i n g c a m e t o himself, the f i r s t words he sa id were :" O h the beau t i fu l p i c tu r e w hose po r t r a i t is i t ? "" I t i s t h e po r t r a i t o f th e Pr in cess o f the G o lde n Pa la ce , " ans w ered Fa i th

T h e n the K in g sa id , " M y love for he r i s so g re a t th a t if a l l th e leav es ofe fo rest w ere ton gu es , t he y cou ld no t u t t e r i t I s t ak e m y lif e on th e ch an ce

T h e fa ith fu l s e r va n t con s ide red fo r a lon g t im e how the bus in ess sho u ld b egu n ; i t se em ed to h im th a t i t w ould be a d i ff icult m at te r to co m e on ly a t a

t of th e Pr inces s . A t l a s t he th ou g h t ou t a w ay , and sa id to th e K i n g :" A l l t ha t s he ha s abo u t he r is o f go ld— tab les , cha i r s , d i shes , d r ink ing-cu ps ,

and a ll t h e ho use ho ld fu rn i tu re . In yo ur t r eas ury a re five ton s o f g o ld ; l e tgo ldsm i ths o f yo ur k ing do m w o rk i t u p in to a ll k in ds o f vesse l s an d im ple

ents , in to a l l k in ds of b i rds , an d wi ld cre a tu res , an d w ond erful be as t s , suc h asy p lea se he r ; the n we wi ll car ry th em off w i th us , an d go an d se ek o u r for

T h e K i n g h a d a ll t h e g o l d s m i t h s f e tc h e d , a n d t h e y w o r k e d d a y a n d n i g h t ,a t l a s t som e sp len d id th ing s w ere go t r eady . W h e n a sh ip ha d been

ed w i th them , Fa i th fu l Jo hn pu t on the ga r b of a m e rcha n t , and so d ide K i n g , s o a s t h e m o r e c o m p l e t e l y t o d i s g u i s e t h e m s e l v e s . T h e n t h e y j o u r

and a t l as t t he y cam e to th e c i ty w here th e Pr ince ss o f th e

Fa i th fu l Jo hn to ld th e K in g to s t ay in th e sh ip , an d to w a i t fo r h im .

ap s , " sa id he , " I sha l l b r in g th e Pr inc ess bac k w i th m e , so t a ke ca re th a te r y t h i n g i s i n o r d e r . "

T h e n h e g a t h e r e d t o g e t h e r s o m e of t h e g o l d t h i n g s , o n e o f e a c h k i n d , a n d

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w en t up to th e roya l cas t l e . A n d th e r e s too d by th e w e l l a p r e t ty m a iden , w hohad tw o go ld en pa i ls i n he r hand , and she w as d ra w in g w a te r w i th the m ; andas she tu r ne d roun d , she saw th e s t r an ge m an , and asked h im w h o he w as . H e

a n s w e r e d :" I am a m erchan t , " and opened h i s ap ron , and l e t he r look w i th in i t ." A h , w ha t beau t i fu l t h in gs " c ri ed sh e , an d se t t i ng d ow n he r pa i l s, she

t u r n e d t h e g o l d e n t o y s o v e r , a n d l o o k e d a t t h e m o n e a f te r a n o t h e r ; t h e n s h esa id : " T h e Pr in cess m u s t see these ; she t ak es so m uch p leasure in go ld th ingstha t she wi l l buy them a l l f rom you."

T h e n s h e t o o k h i m b y t h e h a n d a n d l e d h i m i n . W h e n t h e P r i n c e s s s awth e go lde n w ares she w a s ve ry p leased , and sa id :

" These are so f ine tha t I should l ike to buy them of you."B ut Fa i thfu l Jo h n sa id : " I am only th e s erv an t of a r ich m erc ha nt , and

w ha t I have he re i s no th ing to w ha t m y m as te r has in the sh ip . "T h e Pr inc ess the n w a n t ed i t a ll t o be b r ou gh t to he r ; bu t he sa id : " Th a tw ould t a ke up m an y day s ; so g r ea t i s t h e n um be r tha t t he re w ould no t besn ou gh roo m fo r the m in yo ur house . "

B ut the P r inc ess ' s cur io s i ty grew so muc h tha t a t las t sh e sa id :" L ea d m e to th e sh ip ; I w i ll g o and se e yo ur m a s te r ' s t r e asu res . "T h e n Fa i th fu l Jo hn l ed he r to th e sh ip joyfu l ly , and the K in g saw tha t her

be au ty w as even g r ea te r th an th e p ic tu re ha d se t fo r th . T h e n she c l im bed upin to th e sh ip , and th e K in g rece ived he r . Fa i th fu l Jo hn ga ve o rd e r s fo r thesh ip to pu sh off, say ing , " S p re a d al l sai l , th a t sh e m a y f ly l ike a bir d in the

air.So th e K in g show ed he r a ll t h e go lden th ings , t h e d i shes , t he bow ls , t ne

b i r d s , and th e w o nder fu l bea s t s . In he r p l eas ure th e Pr incess neve r no t i ced tha tt h e s h i p w a s m o v i n g o n w a r d s . W h e n s h e h a d e x a m i n e \ th e las t, she thanke dt h e m e r c h a n t , a n d p r e p a r e d t o r e t u r n h o m e ; b u t w h e n s h e c a m e t o t h e s h ip 'ss ide , she saw tha t they were far f rom land, and speeding on under fu l l sa i l .

" A h " cr ied s he , ful l of ter ro r , " I am b e tr a y ed an d car r ied off by thism erc han t . O h , th a t I had d ied r a th e r tha n f al len in to h i s pow er "

B u t th e K in g took ho ld of he r ha nd and sa id : " N o m erc han t am I , bu t aKing ; i t i s because of my love for thee tha t I have car r ied thee of f by cunning.

The f i r s t t ime I saw thy p ic ture , I fe l l fa in t ing to the ear th . "W h e n th e Pr in cess of the G old en Pa la ce hea r d th i s , she beca m e m ore

t rus t fu l , and she wi l l ingly consented to become his wife .I t h ap pe ne d tha t Fa i th fu l Jo hn , a s he sa t i n th e fo re pa r t of the sh ip , caugh t

s ig ht of th re e rav en s fly ing ove rhe ad . A n d he l i s ten ed to w hat the y sa id to onean ot he r . T h e fi rs t on e cr ied : " A y, th er e go es th e Pr ince ss of th e G old en Palace ."

" Y es , " answ ered the sec ond ; " bu t he has no t go t he r safe y e t . "A n d th e th i rd sa id , " H e ha s he r th ou gh ; sh e si t s bes id e h im in the sh ip ."" W h a t do es th a t avai l h im ? " sa id th e f ir st . " W h e n the y com e on land

a fox-red h or s e w il l sp r in g tow ard s the m ; t he n w i ll t h e K i ng t ry to m o unt h im

an d if he does , th e ho rs e wi ll r i se w i th h im in t o t he a i r , so th a t he wi ll nev er seeh i s b r ide aga in . "

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F A I T H F U L J O H N ,

T h e second r ave n a s ked : " I s t he r e no r eme dy ? "" Oh , yes ; if an ot he r m an mo un ts quickly , an d t ake s th e p i s to l ou t of th e

and sho ot s th e horse de ad wi th it , he wi ll s ave the yo un g K ing . Bu t hekno ws i t an d doe s i t wil l bec om e s to ne from toe to kn ee ." T h e n sa id th e

" I know fur ther , tha t if the ho rse should be k i l led , the yo u ng K in g wi l lthe n be sure of h i s br ide , W h e n they ar r ive a t the cas t l e , th ere wil l

e a w ro ug ht b r id e-s hi r t in a dish, an d i t wi ll see m al l w ov en of go ld a nd s i lv er ;t i t i s real ly of sul ph ur an d pi tch , an d if he pu ts i t on i t wi ll bu rn him t o

m ar ro w of h i s bo nes ." T h e th i rd r ave n sa id : " I s th er e no rem ed y ? "

" Oh, yes , " answ ered the second ; " if an ot he r ma n wi th g lov es on p icks upshi r t , and thro w s i t in to th e f ir e, the n i s th e K in g de l ive red . B ut he w h o

s i t wi ll be tu rn ed in to s to ne from his he ar t to his kn ee ." T h e th i rd said :" I know yet m ore , th a t eve n wh en the br ide- s hi r t i s bu rn t up , the K in g i s

sure of h i s br ide . W h en , a t th e we ddin g, the yo un g Qu ee n dan ces , she wil l

en ly fa ll to th e e ar th as if she w ere dead , an d unles s som e 'on e t ak ese dro ps of b lood from he r r igh t bre as t , she wil l d ie . Bu t he th a t kn ow s th i sdo es this wi ll bec om e s to n e f rom th e crow n of his he ad to th e sole of h is

T h en the r av en s flew away. Fa i thfu l Joh n ha d un de rs to od i t a l l, an d f romt t ime he rem aine d quie t an d sad , for he th ou g ht to h imsel f th a t w er e he to-

wh at he had he ard f rom hi s ma s ter , mis fo r tune wo uld befa l l ; and w er edisc ov er i t, his own l ife w ou ld b e sacr i ficed. A t las t , ho w ev er , he sa id himself, " I wi ll s ave m y m as ter , th o ug h I mysel f shou ld per i sh "

So wh en the y cam e on l and, i t ha pp en ed jus t as the r av en s ha d fore to ld ,

r e sp ran g forward a sp lend id fox-red ho rse ." C om e on," sa id th e K ing , " he sha l l car r y m e to th e cas t l e , " an d w asg t o mo un t , wh en F a i t h f u l J oh n pas s ed be f o r e h i m an d m ou n t e d qu i ck ly ,

the p i s to l ou t of th e hol s t er , an d sh ot the ho rse dead . T h e n t he o t he rant s c r ied ou t ( for the y d id not wish wel l to Fa i thfu l Jo h n ) , " H o w sham eful

k il l th a t beaut i fu l an ima l . " Bu t th e K in g sa id : " H ol d yo ur to ng ue s : he isy Fai thfu l Jo hn ; he know s w ha t i s th e go od of it ."

T h e n the y we nt up to the cas t l e , and t he re s too d in th e ha l l a d ish , an d t h erou gh t br ide- shi r t th a t l ay on i t s ee m ed as if of gold and s i lver . T h e y o u n gin g was go in g to pu t i t on , bu t Fa i thfu l Jo h n push ed h im away, p ick ed i t u p

hi s g lov ed hand s , thre w i t quick ly on th e fire , and the re l e t it b urn . T h ee r s e r van t s beg an t he i r g r u m bl i n g aga i n , and s a i d :

" Look , he is even b ur n i ng up t he K i n g ' s b r ida l s h ir t " Bu t t he K i n g: " T h e re ma y be a go od reas on for i t H e is my Fai thfu l J oh n. "T h en the br id e l ed th e danc e , an d fe ll dow n as if she w ere de ad . T h e n

we n t qu i ck l y t o he r , and ca r r i ed he r i n t o a ch am be r ha r d by , an d t oo k t h r e eof b l ood f rom h e r r i gh t b r eas t . I m m edi a t e l y she d r ew b r e a t h aga i n

r a i sed he r se l f up . Bu t t he yo un g Ki n g g r ew ve r y angr y .

T h e nex t m or n i ng Fa i t h f u l J oh n was co nd em ned t o dea t h and l ed t o t h ehe s too d there , he sa id : " H e who is ab ou t to d ie i s pe rm i t t e d

once- before h i s e n d I ha ve bee n co nd em ne d unjus t ly , for I h a v e

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a lw a y s b e e n f a i th fu l ," a n d h e r e l a t e d h o w h e h a d h e a rd o n th e s e a v o y a g e th et a l k of t h e r a v e n s , a n d h o w h e h a d d o n e e v e ry th in g in o rd e r t o s a v e h i s ma s te r .

T h e n c r i e d th e K in g : " O , m y F a i th fu l Jo h n , p a rd o n l e a d h im d o w n "But Fa i th fu l John , as he spoke the las t words , fe l l l i fe less , and became s tone .

A n d th e K in g c a u se d th e s to n e im a g e to b e l if te d u p a n d p u t t o s t a n d b yth e s ide of h is bed . A n d as o f ten as he saw i t he w ept .

A f t e r s o m e t i m e t h e Q u e e n b o r e t w i n s — t w o l i tt l e s o n s — t h a t g r e w a n dth r iv e d , a n d we re th e jo y o f t h e i r p a re n t s . O n e d a y th e y o u n g K in g g a z e d a tth e s to ne im ag e ful l o f sad nes s , an d c r ied : " O h , th a t I cou ld b r in g th ee backt o l ife , Fa i th fu l Jo h n " T h e n th e s to ne be ga n to speak , and sa id :

" Y es , th ou can s t b r i ng m e bac k to li fe aga in , if th ou wi l t b es to w there forth y bes t be lo ved ." T h e n c r ied th e K in g : " Al l th a t I ha ve in th e w or ld will Ig iv e u p fo r t h e e " T h e s to n e w e n t o n to s a y :

" I f thou wi l t cu t o f f the heads o f thy two ch i ld ren wi th thy own hand , andbesmear me wi th the i r b lood , I sha l l rece ive l i fe aga in . "

T h e K i n g w a s h o r r o r - s t r u c k a t t h e t h o u g h t t h a t h e m u s t p u t h i s b e l ov e dc h i ld re n to d e a th , b u t h e r e m e m b e re d a l l Jo h n ' s f a i th fu ln es s , a n d h o w h e h a dd i ed fo r h im , an d h e d rew h is sw ord a nd cu t off h is ch i ld re n ' s hea ds . A ndw h e n h e h a d b e sm e a re d th e s to n e wi th th e i r b lo o d , lif e r e tu rn e d to it, a n dF a i th fu l Jo h n s to o d a l iv e a n d we ll b e fo re h im ; a n d h e s a id to th e K in g :

" T h y f a i th fu ln e ss sh a l l n o t b e u n re w a rd e d , " a n d t a k in g u p th e h e a d s ofth e c h i ld re n h e s e t t h e m o n a g a in , a n d in a m o m e n t th e y we re wh o le a g a in .

N o w w a s th e K in g fu ll o f j o y ; a n d wh e n h e s a w th e Qu e e n c o m in g h e p u tF a i th fu l Jo h n a n d th e two c h i ld re n in a g re a t c h e s t . W h e n sh e c a me in , h e

sa id to h e r : " D e a r wife, -we can g iv e Fa i th fu l Jo hn l i fe aga in , bu t i t wi ll costus bo th our l i t t l e sons , whom we mus t sac r i f ice . "

T h e Qu e e n g re w p a le a n d s i c k a t h e a r t , b u t s a id :" W e owe i t h im , bec aus e o f h is g re a t fa i th fu lness . "T h e n th e Kin g r e jo i c e d b e c a u se sh e th o u g h t a s h e d id , a n d h e we n t a n d

u n l o c k e d t h e c h e s t a n d t o o k o u t t h e c h i l d r e n a n d F a i t h f u l J o h n .

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THE WONDERFUL MUSICIAN

T H E R E wa s o n c e a w o n d e r fu l m u s ic i a n , a n d h e wa s one day

wa lk in g th ro u g h a wo o d a ll a lo n e , t h in k in g of t h i s a n d t h a t ;and wh en he ha d no th in g m or e lef t to th i nk about , he sa id tohimself :

" I sh al l gr ow t i re d of bei ng in th i s wo od, so I wil l b r i ng outa g o o d c o mp a n io n . "

So he took the f idd le tha t hung a t h is back , and f idd led s ot h a t t h e wo o d e c h o e d . B e fo re lo n g a wo lf c a me th ro u g h th e th i c k e t a n d t ro t t e dup to him.

" O h , he re com es a wolf I had n o par t icu la r wish fo r such co m pa ny ," sa idth e mus ic ian . Bu t the wolf d rew n eare r , and sa id to h im :

" Ho, you musician ; how f inely you play I mu s t l e a rn h o w to p l a y to o . "" T h a t i s eas i ly don e , " answ ered th e m us ic ian ; " y o u ha ve on ly to do exac t ly

as I te l l you."

" O, m usicia n " sa id the wolf, " I wil l o be y you , as a scho la r do es hisma s te r . "

T h e m u s ic ia n to ld h im t o c o me wi th h im. A s th e y w e n t a p a r t of th ewa y to g e th e r t h e y c a me to a n o ld o a k t r e e , wh ic h wa s h o l lo w wi th in a n d cleftt h ro u g h th e mid d le .

" L o ok he re , " sa id the m usic ian ; " if you w an t to learn ho w to f iddle , y o umust put your fore feet in th is c lef t ."

T h e wo lf o b e y e d ; b u t t h e mu s ic i a n t o o k u p a s to n e a n d q u ic k ly w e d g e dbo th h is paw s wi th one s t ro ke , so fas t, th a t th e wolf wa s a p r i s one r and thereobl iged to s top .

" S t a y th e re u n t i l I c o m e b a c k a g a in , " s a id th e mu s ic i a n , a n d w e n t hisway.

Af te r a whi le he sa id aga in to himself:

" I sha l l g row weary he re in th is wood ; I wi ll b r in g ou t an o t he r c om pan ion ."A nd he too k h is f idd le and fidd led aw ay in th e w ood . Before long a fox c a m es l in k in g th ro u g h th e t r e e s .

" Oh , he re comes a fox " sa id th e m us ic ian ; " I had no pa r t ic u la r wish forsuch c o mp a n y . "

T h e fox came up to h im and sa id :

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T H E W O N D E R F U L M U S IC I A N .

" O, my dea r mu s ic ian how f inely you p lay I m us t l earn ho w to p laytoo .

" T h a t i s e a si ly d o n e , " sa i d t h e m u s i c i a n ; " y o u h a v e o n l y t o d o e x a c t lyas I te l l you."

" O , m usicia n " a ns w ere d th e fox, " I wi l l ob ey you, as a sch ola r d oe s h ismas t e r . "

" Fo l low me ," sa id th e m us i c ia n; an d as they w en t a pa r t of th e w ayt og e t he r , t he y cam e t o a f oo t pa t h w i t h a h i gh he dg e on each s i de . T h en t h emu s ic ian s top ped , an d t ak in g hold of a haze l -branc h, be nt i t dow n to th e ear th ,an d put h i s foot on th e en d of it ; t he n he be nt down a bra nc h f rom the o th ers id e , an d said : " C om e on, l i t t le fox if you wish to lea rn som eth in g, reach m eyour left fore foot ."

The fox obeyed, and the mus ic ian bound the foot to the l e f t -hand branch." N o w , l i t tl e f ox ," s a id he , " r e ac h m e t he r i gh t one ; " t hen he bou nd it t o

t h e r i gh t - hand b r an ch . A nd when he ha d s een t ha t t he kn o t s we r e f as t eno ughhe l e t go , and th e bran ch es flew bac k and cau gh t up th e fox , sh ak in g and s t ruggl ing, in the ai r .

" W a i t th er e ti ll I come bac k again ," sa id th e mu s ic ian , and w en t h i sway .

By and by he sa id to himself, " I shall g ro w we ary in th is w oo d ; I willb r i n g o u t a n o t h e r c o m p a n i o n . "

So he too k h i s fiddle , an d the so un d ech oed th ro ug h th e wo od. T he n aha r e s p r an g ou t be f o r e h i m .

" O h, he re com es a ha re " sa id he , " th a t ' s no t w ha t I want . "

" A h , m y de ar m us ic ia n ," sa id th e ha re , " how finely you p lay I shouldl ike to l earn how to p lay too ."

" T h a t i s s oon do ne ;" s a i d t h e mu s i c i an ; " o n l y you m us t do wha t eve r It e l l you."

" O, m usicia n " a nsw ere d th e h ar e, " I wi l l ob ey yo u, as a scho lar doe sh i s mas t e r . "

So the y we nt a pa r t of th e wa y tog eth er , un t i l th ey cam e to a c lear p l ace i n t he woo d wh er e t h e r e s t ood an a s pen t r ee . T h e mus i c i an ti ed a l ong6t r ing ro un d the neck of th e ha re , an d kn ot te d th e o t he r end of i t to the t ree ,

" N ow then , cou rag e , l i t t le ha re run tw en ty t ime s rou nd th e t r ee ," c r ied

t h e mus i c i an , and t he ha r e obe yed . A s he r an r ou nd t he t we n t i e t h t ime t hes t r i n g h ad w ou nd t we n t y t i mes r oun d t he t r ee t r u nk and t he ha r e was i mpr ison ed , an d pul l and t u g as he would , h e only cut h i s t en de r nec k w i th the s t ring .

" W a i t th er e un t i l I com e ba ck ag ain ," sa id th e mu s ic ian , an d walked on.T h e wolf m ean w hi le had s t ru gg led , an d pul l ed , and b i t t e n a t the stone ,

an d wor ke d a wa y so long, th a t a t l as t he m ad e h i s paw s free and go t h im-self ou t of th e cleft . Fu l l of an g er an d fury h e has te ne d af ter th e musicianto t ea r h im to p ieces . W h e n the fox saw him run by he be ga n groa ning , andcr ied out wi th a l l h i s might :

B r o t h e r wolf, com e and he l p me t h e mus i c i an has be t r ay ed m e . " T he

wol f t he n pu l l ed t h e b r a nch es dow n, b i t t h e kn o t s i n t wo , an d s e t t he f

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285731T H E W O N D E R F U L M U S IC I A N

free, and he went with him to t ak e v eng ean ce on the musician, 'l'hey roundthe im prisoned ha re, an d set him likewise free, an d th en the y all w ent ontogether to seek their enemy.

T he musician had once m ore played his fiddle, and this t ime he had be enm ore fortunate. T h e sound ha d reached the ears of a poo r wo odcu tter, whoimm ediately, and in spite of himself, left his wo rk, and, with his axe un de r hisarm, came to l isten to the music.

" A t last here comes the right sort of compa nion," said the musician ; " i t wasa man I wanted, and no t wild anim als." A nd then he began to play so sweetlytha t the po or man stoo d as if enchanted, and his he art was filled with joy. A ndas he was standing there up came the wolf, th e fox, an d the ha re, and he couldeasily see tha t they m ean t mischief. T he n he raised his shinin g axe, and stoodin front of the musician, as if to say :

" Whoever means harm to him had better take care of himself, for he will

have to do with me "T he n th e anim als were frightened, and ran back into the wood, and the

musician, when h e had played once m ore to the m an to show his gra ti tud e, wenton his way.

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T H E S H O E S W H I C H W E R E D A N C E D T O P I E C E S ,

T H E R E w a s o n c e a K i n g w h o h a d t w e lv e d a u g h t e r s . T h e i r b e dsal l s to od in a row, an d in the ev enin g, as soo n as th ey w erego ne t o s l eep , t h e K i n g s hu t t he doo r and bo l t ed i t. O ne m or ni ng , wh en he o pen ed t h e door , he pe r ce i ved t h a t t he i r s hoesw ere da nc ed to p ieces , an d no bo dy could t e l l how it hap pen ed.

T h e K i ng s a id t ha t w ho eve r cou l d d i s cove r wh er e t hey dancedin th e n igh t , sho uld hav e on e of the m to wi fe , and bec om e Ki n g a t h i s d ea th ;but w ho ev er sho uld a t t e m pt to do i t, an d aft e r thr ee n ig ht s and days fa il,m ust lose his l ife . In a sh or t t im e a Pr inc e ca m e and offered himself to unde r t ak e t he t a s k . H e was l ed t o a r oom whi ch ad j o i ned t he bed- cha mbe r , b u the we n t t o s l e ep ; and when h e awoke i n t he m or n i ng he found t he i r s hoesthe re wi th holes in th e so les . T h e secon d an d th i rd n ig ht i t ha pp en ed jus tthe s am e ; an d on the m or ro w th e Pr in ce los t h i s hea d wi th ou t me rcy . Af terward came many more and a t t empted the t ask , but they a l l los t the i r l ives .

O n e d ay i t cha nce d th a t a po or So ld ie r cam e u po n th e road which l ed to

th e c i ty . T h e re he m et an o ld wo m an, wh o a sked h im w hi th er he was going .I had an idea of going to the p lace where the Pr incesses dance the i r shoes to

piec es , to f ind ou t th e m ys tery , an d so be co m e Ki ng ." " T h a t is not di ff icult ,"sa id the o ld wo m an, " if you do no t dr in k t he wine w hich wi ll be br ou gh t to youin th e eve ning , bu t f e ign to be as leep ." W i t h the se w ord s she gav e h im ac loak , and to ld h im th a t if h e p ut i t on h i s sh ou lde r s he w ould bec om e invis ib le an d be able to fo llow th e Pr inc esses . So the So ld ier pres en ted h imselfbe f o r e t he K i n g a s a s u i t o r . W h e n e ven i ng came , t he e l des t P r i ncess came andbr ou gh t h i m a cup of w i ne , b u t he d r a nk non e .

T h e n he la id h imsel i dow n, and in a sho r t t ime b eg an to snore as if he

we re in a de ep s l eep , wh i le th e twe lve s i s t e r s l aug he d to one an oth er , s aying ," H e m i gh t have s pa r ed h i ms e lf t he t r o ub l e " T h e n t he e l des t s i st e r knock i ngon he r bed i t s ank dow n in th e gro un d, and th e twelv e Pr incesse s fo llowed i tth ro ug h th e op enin g , th e e lde s t one go ing first. T h e Sold ier pu t on h i s invis ib le c loak an d de sce nd ed wi th th e yo un ge s t s i s te r . So they w ent down, andat th e bo t to m was a won der fu l av en ue of t r ees , wh ose l eave s we re a ll s ilver.Then t hey pas s ed i n t o ano t he r avenue wher e t he l eaves wer e o f go l d , and t heni n t o a f u r t he r one w he r e t hey s ho ne l ike d i am ond s . I n each ave nu e he b r okeoff a twig . T h e n th ey cam e to a l ake , on wh ich we re twe lve l i tt l e boa t s , andin each boa t a ha nd so m e Pr ince , wh o each too k on e s i s te r , and th e o ld Sold iers a t dow n i n t h e bo a t w he r e t he yo un ge s t one was . O n t h e o t he r s i de of t h i swater s tood a noble cas t l e , and here they danced t i l l t he i r shoes were in holes ,

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THE GOOSE GIRL.

T H E R E l i ve d onc e a n o ld Q u e e n , w h os e hu s ba nd ha d be e nde a d m a n y ye a r s . Sh e ha d a be a u t i fu l da u gh t e r w ho w a spro m ised in ma rr i ag e to a K in g ' s son l iving a gr ea t way off.W h e n t he w e dd ing d r e w ne a r , s he go t t o ge the r f u r n i t u r e a ndcup s an d jew e ls an d a do rn m en ts , bo th of go ld and s ilve r,ev e ry th in g pr op e r for the d ow ry of a roya l Pr incess , for shelove d he r da ug h t e r de a r ly . S h e p -ave he r a l s o a w a i t i ng ge n

t l e w om a n ; a nd t he y w e r e e a c h t o ha v e a ho r s e f o r t he j ou r n e y , a nd t he P r in cess ' s ho rse was na m ed Fa lad a , an d he could speak . W h en t he t ime for pa r t ingc a m e , t h e o ld Q u e e n c u t he r ow n f inge r so t ha t i t b l e d ; a nd s he he ld be n e a th i ta wh i te nap kin , and on i t f ell th re e dro ps of b lo o d ; and she ga ve i t to h e rda ug hte r , b id din g he r t ak e ca re of it , fo r it wo uld be needfu l to he r on th e way.Then th ey to ok leave of each o the r , and th e Pr inc ess pu t th e nap kin in he f

bos om , go t on he r h o r s e , a nd s e t ou t t o go t o t he b r i de g r oom . A f t e r s he ha dr idde n a n hour s he f e l t ve r y t h i r s t y , a nd s he s a id t o t he w a i t i ng - w om a n :

" G e t do wn , and fill my cup th a t you ca r ry wi th wa te r f rom t he bro ok . "

" G e t dow n yourself," sa id the wa i t ing-w om an, " an d if y ou a re th i r s tys toop down and dr ink ; I w i l l no t be your s lave . "

A nd t h e P r inc e s s ha d t o ge t dow n a nd d r i nk , a nd c ou ld no t ha v e he r go ldc up . " O h de a r " sa id she . A n d the th re e dr op s of b lo od he a r d he r , an d sa id :

" If y ou r m ot he r kn ew of th i s i t wo uld brea k he r hea r t . "So t he y r o de on s o m e m i l e s f a r t he r ; t h e da y w a s w a r m , t he s un s hon e ho t ,

a nd t h e P r inc e s s g r e w th i r s t y onc e m or e . A n d w h e n t he y c a m e to a w a t e rcou rse she ca l led aga in to th e w a i t ing-wo man , an d sa id : " G e t dow n and g ivem e to dr ink o ut of my gold en cup . "

B ut th e wa i t ing -w om an spo ke s t il l m or e scornfu l ly , a nd sa id : " If youw a n t a d r i n k you m a y ge t i t yourself; I am not go ing to be your s lave . "

So th e Pr in cess had to g e t off he r ho rse to dr ink , and a s she s too ped shew e p t a nd s aid , " O h de a r " A nd t he t h r e e d r o ps o f b lood he a r d he r a nda ns w e r e d : " I f y ou r m o th e r kne w th i s i t w o u ld b r e a k he r he a r t . "

A n d t h e nap kin on which we re th e thr ee dro ps of b lood fel l ou t of he rbos o m a nd f loa t ed dow n the s tr e a m , a nd s he ne v e r no t i c e d i t ; no t s o t h e w a it

i ng - w om a n , w ho r e jo i c e d be c a us e s he s hou ld now ha ve pow e r ove r t he b r i de .A n d w he n s h e w a s go ing t o m o un t he r ho r s e a ga in t h e w a i ti ng -w om a n

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c r ie d : " F a l a d a b e lo n g s to me , a n d th i s j a d e to y o u . " A n d th e P r in c e s s h a d tog iv e wa y , a n d l e t i t b e a s sh e s a id . T h e n th e w a i t in g -w o m a n o rd e re d th e P r in cess to tak e off he r ' r ic h c lo th ing , an d pu t on he r p la in g ar m en ts , an d th en sh ema d e h e r swe a r to s a y n o th in g o f t h e ma t t e r wh e n th e y c a me to c o u r t .

T h e w a i t in g - w o m a n t h e n m o u n t i n g F a l a d a , a n d t h e P r i n c e s s t h e s o r r y j a d e ,th e y jo u rn e y e d o n t il l t h e y r e a c h e d th e ro y a l c a s t le . T h e Kin g ' s so n h a s t e n e dto m e e t t h e m , a n d l if te d th e w a i t in g -wo m a n f ro m h e r h o r se , t h i n k in g sh e w a sh is b r ide ; and the n he led her up the s ta i r s , whi le th e rea l P r in cess ha d to rem ainbe low. Bu t th e o ld K ing , wh o was loo k in g ou t of th e windo w, saw he r s t an d i ngin th e yard , and no t ice d how g en t le and beau t i fu l she was , an d the n he w en t dow na n d a sk e d th e s e e m in g b r id e wh o i t wa s th a t wa s n o w s t a n d in g in th e c o u r ty a rd .

" O h " a n s w e r e d t h e b r i d e , " I o n l y b r o u g h t h e r w i t h m e f or c o m p a n y ;g iv e th e ma id so me th in g to d o , t h a t sh e ma y n o t b e fo r e v e r s t a n d in g id l e . "

A n d so th e r e a l P r in c e s s wa s s e n t t o k e e p g e e se wi th th e g o o se -b o y , w h owa s ca l led Co nra d . So on a fte r the fa lse b r i de sa id to th e Pr in ce :

" Deares t husband , send fo r the knacker , tha t he may car ry o f f the horse 1c a me h e re u p o n , a n d m a k e a wa y wi th h im ; h e wa s v e ry t ro u b le so m e to m e o nth e jou rne y ." Fo r sh e was a f ra id th a t the hors e mig h t te l l how she had b eh a v e d to th e P r in c e s s. A n d wh e n th e o rd e r h a d b e e n g iv e n th a t F a l a d a sh o u ldd ie , i t cam e to t he P r incess ' s ea rs , an d she cam e to th e kn ac ke r ' s m an secr e t ly ,and p ro m ised h im a p iece o f go ld if he wo uld na i l Fa lad a ' s he ad on th e ga teth r o u g h wh ich sh e h a d to p a s s m o rn in g a n d e v e n in g wi th h e r g e e se . A n d t h em an promised , and he too k Fa lad a ' s he ad and na i led i t fas t in th e ga tew ay .

E a r ly n e x t mo rn in g , a s sh e a n d C o n ra d d ro v e th e i r g e e se th r o u g h th e g a t e ,

she sa id as she w ent b y :

" O Falada, dost thou hang there ?"

A n d t h e h e a d a n s w e r e d :

" Princess, dost thou so meanly fare ?But if thy mother knew thy pain,Her heart would surely break in twain."

A n d wh e n th e y c a me in to th e m e a d o w s sh e s a t d o w n a n d u n d id h e r h a i r ,wh ich was a l l of go ld , and w hen Co nra d saw how it g l i s ten ed he w an ted to pullout a few hairs for himself. A n d she sa id :

" O wind, blow Con rad's hat away, Wh ile I with my gold hair will play.Make him run after as it flies, An d twist it up in seemly wi se."

T h e n th e r e c a me a win d s t ro n g e n o u g h to b lo w C o n ra d ' s h a t f a r a wa y o v e rth e fie lds, an d he had to run a f te r i t ; and by the t im e he cam e ba ck she ha dpu t up her ha i r wi th com bs a nd p ins , an d he cou ld no t ge t a t an y to pu l l i t o u t ;an d he was su lky , and would no t speak to her .

T h e n e x t m o rn in g , a s t h e y p a s se d u n d e r t h e g a t e w a y , th e P r in c e s s s a id :

" O Falada, dost thou hang there ? "

An d F a la d a a n swe re d , a n d th e s a me th in g s h a p p e n e d a s b e fo re .

A n d a f t e r t h e y h a d g o t h o m e C o n r a d we n t t o t h e o id K in g a n d s a id ,: " I

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w ill t e n d t h e g e e s e n o lo n g e r w it h t h a t g i r l " " W h y n o t ? " a s k e d th e o l dK i n g .

T h en C on rad re la t ed a ll th a t ha pp en ed a t th e ga te and in th e fie lds.

T he o ld K ing t o ld h im to go t o d r i ve t he ge e s e t he ne x t m or n ing a s u s ua l ,and he h imse lf w en t beh ind th e ga te and l i s tened how the ma id en spo ke toFa lada ; and then he fo l lowed them in to the f i e lds and h id himself. A n d af te ra whi le he saw the g i r l m ak e he r ha i r al l loose , and ho w it g lea m ed and sho ne .So on she sa id the ve rses , and the re cam e a g us t of wind and away wen t Co nrad ' s ha t , and he a f te r i t , whi le the ma iden combed and bound up he r ha i r ; andth e o ld Ki ng saw a ll th a t wen t on . W h en the goose -g i rl came back in the evening he sen t for he r , and a sked he r the reason of he r do ing a l l th i s .

" T h a t I da re no t t e l l you , " she answe red , " for wh en I was in da ng e r of mylife, I s w ore an oa th no t to revea l i t . " A t las t he sa id :

" If yo u wil l no t te l l i t m e te l l i t to th e i ron oven," an d w en t away. T h e nsh e cre pt int o th e i ro n ov en an d sa id : " H e r e I s it forsaken of a l l th e wo rld,an d I am a Kin g ' s dau gh te r , and a wicked wa i t ing-wo man forced me to g ive upm y r oya l ga r m e n t s a nd m y p l a c e a t t he b r i de g r oom ' s s ide , a nd I a m m a d e agoo se -g i r l , an d hav e t o do me an se rv ice . A n d if m y m ot he r knew, i t wo uldb r e a k he r he a r t . "

N ow the o ld K ing w a s s t a nd ing ou t s i de by t he ove n door l i s t e n ing , a nd hehe ar d a l l sh e sa id, an d he ca l led to h er an d tol d he r to co m e ou t of the oven.A n d h e cause d roya l c lo th in g to b e p ut up on he r , an d ca l led h i s son and pro vedto h im th a t he had the w ro ng br ide , for she was rea l ly only a wa i t ing-w om an,and th a t th e t ru e br id e was she wh o ha d bee n the goose -g i r l . T h e Pr ince was

g l a d a t he a r t w he n he s a w he r be a u ty a nd ge n t l e n e s s ; a nd a g r e a t f e as t w a sm ad e ready , and al l th e cou r t pe op le and go od fr iends we re b id den to i t. T h ebr id e g r oo m s a t in t h e m ids t , w i th t h e P r inc e s s on on e s i de a nd t h e w a i t i ng -w om an on th e o t he r ; an d th e fa lse br id e d id no t know th e t rue one , because shew a s da z z l e d w i th he r g l i t t e r i ng b r a ve r i e s . T h e n t h e o ld K in g ga v e t he w a i t i ng -w om an a qu es t io n to answ er , a s to wha t such an on e dese rved wh o had dece ivedh e r m a s t e r s i n s uc h a nd s uc h a m a nn e r , t e l li ng t h e w ho le s t o r y , a nd e nd ing byas ki ng : " No w, w ha t doo m do es such an o ne des e rve ? "

" N o b e t te r than th i s , " answ ered th e fa lse br id e , " th a t she be p ut nak edin to a cask , s tu dd ed in s ide wi th sha rp na i ls , and be dr ag ge d a lon g in i t by two

whi te horses f rom s t ree t to s t r ee t un t i l she be dead . "" T h o u ha s t s po ke n t hy ow n doo m , " s a id t h e o ld K in g ; " a s t ho u ha s t s a id ,

so sha l l i t be do ne . " A n d wh en th e se n te nc e was fu lf il led, the Pr in ce m ar r ie dthe t r ue b r i de , a nd e ve r a f t e r t he y r u l e d ove r t he i r k ingdom in pe a c e .

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" O F A L A D A , dost thou hang there ?"

" Princess, dost thou so meanly fare ? "

But if thy mother knew thy pain,

Her heart would surely break in twain.

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THE GOLDEN BIRD

IN t i me s go ne by t h e r e was a k i ng w ho had a beau t i f u l ga r d en ,

i n wh i ch s t ood a t r e e t h a t bo r e go l de n app l es . A s t h e app l esr i pen ed t he y we r e cou n t ed , bu t one mo r n i ng on e was mi s si ng .T h e n t h e k i n g w a s a n g r y , a n d h e o r d e r e d t h a t w a t c h s h o u l d b eke p t ab ou t t he t r ee eve r y n i gh t . N ow t he k i n g ha d t h r e e s ons ,an d he s en t t he e l des t t o s pe nd t he n i g h t in t he ga r de n ; bu ta t m idn igh t , he could ke ep off s l eep no longe r , an d in th e

m or n i ng an o t he r ap p l e wa s mi s s i ng . T h e s econd s on ha d t o wa t ch t h e fo llowi ng n i g h t ; bu t a t t we l ve o ' c lock he w en t t o s l eep , an d i n t h e m or n i ng an o t h e rapp l e was mi s s i ng . N ow cam e t he t u r n o f t he t h i r d s on t o wa t ch . T h e k i ngha d l es s t ru s t in h im , bu t in th e en d he co ns en ted to l e t h im t ry . So th e yo un gm an l ay dow n un de r t h e t r ee t o wa t ch , and r e s o l ved t h a t s l ee p s hou l d n o t bem a s t e r . W h e n i t s t ru c k t w e l v e , s o m e t h i n g c a m e r u s h i n g t h r o u g h t h e a i r, a n dhe saw in th e mo on l ig ht a b i rd fly ing t ow ard s h im, w ho se fea ther s g l i t t e re d l ikego l d . T h e b i r d p e r c he d up on t h e t r ee , an d h ad a l r ead y pe cke d off an app l e,wh en th e yo un g m an l e t fly an ar ro w a t i t . T h e b i rd flew away , b u t t he ar rowha d s t ru ck i ts p lu m ag e, and on e of i t s go lde n fea ther s f ell to th e g ro u nd ; they o u n g m a n t o o k i t t o t h e k i n g , a n d t o l d h im w h a t h a d h a p p e n e d . T h e k i n gca l led h is counc i l t og e t h e r , an d a ll dec l a r ed t h a t s uch a f ea t he r was w or t h mo r et h a n t h e w h o l e k i n g d o m .

" Sinc e t h e f ea the r i s so va lua ble , " sa id th e k ing , " on e i s no t en ou gh forme ; I mus t and wi l l have the whole b i rd ."

S o th e e ld es t son se t off, an d h e th o u g h t h e sh ou ld soon f ind th e goldenb i r d . W h e n he had go ne s om e d i s t anc e h e saw a f ox and he po i n t e d h i s gunat h im . T h e fox cr i ed ou t :

" D o no t sho ot m e, an d I wi ll g ive yo u go od coun se l . Y ou are on you rw ay to f ind t h e go lde n b i rd , an d th i s ev en ing yo u wi ll co m e to a v i l lage , inwhi ch t wo t av e r n s s t an d f ac i ng each o t he r . O n e will be b r i g h t l y l i gh t ed up ,and t he r e w i l l be p l en t y o f mer r i men t go i ng on i ns i de ; do no t mi nd abou t t ha t ,bu t go i n t o t he o t he r one , a l t hou gh i t w i ll l ook t o you ve r y un i nv i t i ng . "

" How can a s i l ly beas t g ive one any ra t ional advice ? " t h ou gh t t he k i ng ' sson , an d l e t fly a t th e fox, bu t m issed h im, an d he ran quick ly in to th e wood.T h e n t h e y o u n g m a n w e n t o n , a n d t o w a r d s e v e n i n g h e c a m e t o t h e v i l l a g e , a n dt h e re s t o o d t h e t w o t a v e r n s . I n o n e s i n g i n g a n d d a n c i n g w e r e g o i n g o n ; t h e

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THE

GOLDEN BIRD

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ot he r l oo ked qu i te du l l an d wre tche d . " I sho u ld be a foo l, " sa id he , " to goin to th a t d ism al p lace , wh i le th e r e i s an y t h i ng so go od c lose by . " So he w en tin to th e m err y inn , an d th ere lived in c lover , qu i te fo r ge t t in g th e b i rd and h isfa the r , and a ll go od c oun sel .

A s t im e we nt on , and th e e lde s t son nev er came hom e, th e seco nd son setou t to seek the go lden b i rd . ' H e me t w i th th e fox , jus t a s t he e ldes t d id , an dre c e iv e d g o o d a d v ic e f ro m h im wi th o u t a t t e n d in g to i t. A n d wh e n h e c a m e toth e two t a v e rn s , h i s b r o th e r wa s s t a n d in g a n d c a l l i n g to h im a t t h e win d o w ofon e of them , ou t o f which cam e so un ds of m e rr im en t ; so he cou ld n o t res i s t ,bu t went and reve l led to h is hear t ' s con ten t .

T h e n th e yo un ge s t son wishe d to t ry h is luck , bu t h is fa ther wo uld no tconsen t .

But a t la s t , a s th e r e was no pe ace to be had , he le t h im go . By th e s ideof th e w ood sa t th e fox , w ho be gg ed h im to spa re h is l ife, and gav e h im g oo d

cou nsel . T h e y o un g m an w as kin d, an d said : " Be e asy, l i t t le fox, I wil l doy o u n o h a rm. "

" Y o u sh a ll n o t r e p e n t of i t, " a n sw e re d th e fox ; " a n d th a t y o u m a y g e tthere a l l the sooner , ge t up and s i t on my ta i l . "

A nd no soo ner ha d he d on e so th an the fox be ga n t o run , an d off th eywe n t . W h e n th e y r e a c h e d th e v il l a g e , t h e y o u n g ma n , fo l lo win g th e fo x 'sa d v ic e , we n t i n to th e me a n - lo o k in g t a v e rn , a n d th e re h e p a s se d a q u ie t n ig h t .T h e nex t m orn in g , wh en he w en t ou t in to th e f ie ld , th e fox , w ho was s i t t in gthere a l ready , sa id :

" G o on u n t i l you c om e to a cas t le , be for e whic h a g rea t ban d of so l

d ie rs l ie , bu t the y wi ll be a l l a s leep and sn o r i n g ; pass th ro ug h th em and fo rwa rd in to th e c a s t le , a n d g o th ro u g h al l t h e ro o m s , u n t i l y o u c o m e to o n e wh e reth e re i s a g o ld e n b i rd h a n g in g in a wo o d e n c a g e . N e a r a t h a n d wi ll s t a n dem pt y a go ld en cage ; bu t do no t tak e the b i r d ou t o f h is ug ly cag e an d pu thim into the f ine one."

T h e n th e fox s t r e tc he d ou t h is ta i l aga in , an d th e k ing ' s son sa t down up oni t, an d away the y we nt . A nd w hen th e k ing ' s son rea ch ed th e cas t le , he founde v e ry th in g a s t h e fox h a d s a id ; t h e th r e e g o ld e n a p p le s t o o we re in th e r o o m .T he n , th i nk ing i t foo li sh to le t th e b eau t i fu l b i rd s ta y in th a t m ea n an d ug l yc a g e , h e p u t i t i n t h e g o ld e n o n e . In th e s a m e mo m e n t th e b i rd u t t e r e d ap ie rc ing c ry . T h e so ld ie rs aw oke , rus hed in , se ized th e k in g ' s son an d pu t h imin p r i so n . T h e n e x t m o rn in g h e wa s b ro u g h t b e fo re ; a j u d g e a n d c o n d e m n e dto dea th . Bu t the k in g sa id he wo uld s par e h is li fe on on e condi t ion , th a t hesh o u ld b r in g h im th e g o ld e n h o r se wh o se p a c e s we re swi f t e r t h a n th e win d , a n dtha t then he shou ld a l so rece ive the go lden b i rd as a reward .

So th e kin g 's son set off to f ind th e go ld en h ors e , b ut he was ve ry sad, forhow should i t be done ? T h e n he saw th e fox s i t t ing by th e roa ds id e .

" No w, you see , " sa id the fox , " a l l th i s ha s ha pp en ed , b eca use you w ouldno t l i s ten to m e . Bu t I wi ll t e l l you h ow you a re to ge t the go l den horse .Y ou m us t g o on un t i l you com e to a cas t le , w he re the hor se s tand s in h iss t a b le ; be fore th e do or th e g r oo m s wi ll be ly ing , bu t th ey wi ll al l be as lee p ,

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T H E K in g th e P r in c e s s to h im b r in g s ;

Sh e ligh t ly to the sad d le sp r ing s ;

And away they go l ike wind in a ga le ,

W it h th e fox beh ind , o ' e r h il l an d da le .

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T H E G O L D E N B I R D

" Bu t how shall I ge t it ?" aske d the yo un g m an." I am go in g to t e l l yo u," a nsw ere d th e fox . " F i r s t , go to th e k ing w ho

se nt you to the go lde n cas t l e , an d t a ke to h im th e be aut i fu l pr incess . H e wi llw i l li ng l y g i ve you t he go l de n hor s e . M ou n t h im w i t hou t de l ay , and s t r e t ch ou ty o u r ha nd to eac h of the m to t ak e l eav e , an d l as t of a ll to th e pr inc ess , and

wh en you hav e he r by t he ha nd s wi ng he r up on t he ho r s e beh i nd you , and off

you go "A n d so th e k in g ' s son car r i ed off th e beau t i fu l pr incess . T h e fox d icr no t

s t ay behind , and he sa id to the young man : ." Now , I w ill he l p you t o ge t t h e go l den b i r d . W h e n you d r aw nea r t h e

cas t l e , l e t t he l ady a l ight ; the n you mu s t r ide the go lde n horse in to th e cas t l e -ya rd , and th ey wil l br i ng out to you the go lde n b i rd . A s soon as you ha ve th ecag e in yo ur han d , yo u m us t com e back t o us . "

W h e n t he yo un g m an r e t u r n ed wi t h t he t r eas u r e , t he f ox s a i d : " N owslay me, an d cut m y he ad an d feet off."

" I could not poss ib ly do such a th ing ," sa id the k ing ' s son ." T h e n ," said the fox, " if yo u wi ll no t do i t, le t m e give y ou som e g oo d

adv i ce . Bew ar e of t wo t h i n gs — bu y no ga l l ows - mea t , and s i t a t no b r o ok -s ide ." W i t h th a t th e fox ran off in to th e wo od.

T h e y o u n g m a n t h o u g h t t o himself, " H ow s hou l d any one bu y ga l l ows -meat ? and I am sure I have no par t i cu lar f ancy for s i t t ing by a brook-s ide ."

So t h ey r od e on t h r ou gh t he v i l lage w her e h i s t wo b r o t he r s ha d s t ayed .T h e r e t he y he a r d a g r e a t no i s e , an d l e a r ne d t ha t t wo peop l e wer e go i n g t o beha ng ed . A n d whe n he d r ew nea r , he s aw t h a t i t was h i s t wo b r o t he r s , who ha ddone al l sor ts of evi l t r icks .

H e bo ug ht them off, an d whe n the y w ere l e t g o th ey a ll w en t on the i r jou r n e y t o g e t h e r .

Af ter awhi le they came to the wood where the fox had met them f i r s t , andth er e i t s ee m ed so cool th a t th e two b ro th er s sa id : " L e t us r es t he re for a li t t l eby t he b r ook . "

T h e y o u n g m a n c o n s e n t e d , q u i t e f o r g e t t in g t h e f ox 's w a r n i n g . T h e n t h et w o b r o t he r s t h r us t h i m i n t o t h e b r ook , s e i zed t he p r i nces s , t h e ho r s e , and t h ebi rd , an d w en t hom e to the i r f a th er .

T h e n t he r e was g r ea t r e j o i c i ng in t h e r oya l cas t le , bu t t he ho r s e d i d no tfeed , the b i rd d id not ch i rp , and the pr incess sa t s t i l l and wept .

T h e y o u n g e s t b r o t h e r , h o w e v e r , h a d n o t p e r i s h e d . T h e b r o o k w a s , b yg oo d for tun e , dry , an d he fell on soft m oss wi th ou t r ece iv ing an y hu r t , bu t heco uld n ot g et u p aga in. B ut in his ne ed th e faithful fox wa s no t lack ing ; h ecame up r unn i ng , and r ep r oached h i m f o r hav i ng f o r go t t en h i s adv i ce .

" B ut I ca nn ot for sa ke you a l l th e sam e," sa id h e ; " I wi ll he lp you backaga i n in t o day l i gh t . " So he t o l d t he yo un g m an t o g r a s p h i s t ai l, and ho ld onto i t fas t , and so he drew him up again.

" S t i l l you are no t qu i t e ou t of a l l da ng er , " sa id the fo x; " yo ur bro th er s ,no t be i ng ce r t a in of y ou r d ea t h , hav e s u r r o un de d t he woo d w i t h s en t i ne l s wh oar e to p u t , "ou to dea th if yo u k t y ourse l f be seen ."

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A po or be gg a r - m a n w a s s i t t i ng b y t he pa th , a nd t he yo un g m a n c ha n ge dc lo the s w i th h im , a nd w e n t c l a d i n t h a t w i s e i n to t h e k ing ' s c ou r tya r d . N o bo dy kne w h im , bu t t he b i r d be ga n t o c h i r p , a n d t he ho r s e be ga n t o f ee d , a nd

the beaut i fu l pr incess ceased weeping ." W h a t doe s t h i s m e a n ? " s a id t h e k ing , a s t on i s he d .T h e p r i nc e s s a ns w e r e d : " I c a n no t t e ll , e xc e p t t h a t I w a s s a d , a n d now I

a m jo y f u l ; i t i s t o m e a s if m y r i gh t fu l b r i d e g r o om ha d r e tu r ne d . "T h e n s h e t o ld h i m a ll t h a t h a p p e n e d a l t h o u g h t h e t w o b r o t h e r s h a d t h r e a t

e ne d t o pu t he r t o de a th if s he l et ou t a ny th in g . T h e k in g t he n o r d e r e deve ry pe rs on wh o was in th e cas t le to be b ro ug ht b e fore h im , an d wi th th er e s t c a m e the yo un g m a n , l i ke a be gg a r , i n h i s w r e t c he d ga r m e n t s ; bu t t h epr incess kne w him, and gr ee ted h im we l l, f a l l ing on h i s neck and k i s s ing h im.T h e w ic ked b r o the r s w e r e s ei z e d a n d pu t t o de a th , a n d t he yo un ge s t b r o t he rw a s m a r r i e d t o t he p r i nc e s s , a nd s uc c e e de d t o t he i nhe r i t a nc e o f h i s f a t he r .

B u t w h a t be c a m e o f t he po or f ox ? L on g a f t e r w a r ds t he k ing ' s s on w a sgo ing t h r o ug h t h e w ood , a nd t he f ox m e t h im a nd s a id : " N ow , you h a vee v e r y th i ng t ha t you c a n w i s h f o r, bu t m y m i s f o r tune s ne ve r c om e to a n e nd ,a nd i t l ie s i n yo ur pow e r t o f re e m e f rom the m . " A nd onc e m or e he p r a y e dth e ki ng ' s son ear ne s t ly to s lay him an d c ut off his he ad an d fee t . So , a t las t ,he c ons e n t e d , a nd no s oone r w a s i t done t ha n t he f ox w a s c ha nge d i n to a m a n ,a n d w a s no o th e r t h a n t he b r o th e r o f t he be a u t i fu l p r i n c e s s ; a n d t hu s he w a sse t f r ee f rom a spe l l tha t had bound h im for a long , long t ime .

A n d now , i nde e d , t h e r e l a c ke d no th ing t o t he i r ha p p in e s s a s l on g a s t h e ylived.

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A L O N G while ago there was a Kin g who had a t ree which boregolde n app les, and as soon as the apples we re ripe the y werecoun ted, bu t the nex t day one was missing. Th is vexed the

K ing very m uch, and he ordered th at watch should be keptevery night ben eath th e t r e e ; and having three sonss he sentthe eldest, when evening set in, into the garden ; but the youth

fell into a de ep sleep, and in the m orning an othe r apple was missing. Th enext night the second son had to watch, but he fared no better; for he fell fastasleep, and ano the r apple was wan t ing in the mo rning. T h e turn came now tothe third son, who watched steadily, and at midnight he saw a bird with goldenfeathers com e and pick off an apple. T h e bird flew away, bu t no t before he hadsh ot at it , an d on e of i ts feathers fell to th e gro un d. W he n he showed the featherto his father, th e K ing sen t his eldest son to hu nt for the Go lden Bird. T h e sonha d not go ne far before he m et a Fo x, who said : " I f you will no t try to harm

m e, I will show you wh at you are look ing for." Bu t the yo un g m an raised hisgun to shoot , and the Fox ran away.

T h e n the Kin g sent his second son to look for the Golden Bird. H e alsom et the Fox , w ho said the sam e thing. But the yo un g man threw a s tone athim , and t h e Fo x ran away. T h e y ou ng est son sta rted to search for the Bird,an d whe n h e me t the Fo x, h e sa id : " D o not be afraid, l i t t le Fox, for I willnot hu rt you ." T he n th e Fo x said : " G et up on m y tail , and I will take youwhe re y ou wish to go." So he seated himself on th e Fox 's tail, and away theywent l ike the wind.

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T H E F O X ' S B R U S H .

A t last the y came to a castle wh ere th e Go lden Bird w as, in a woodencage. A golden cage stoo d near by, bu t the Fo x told him to tak e the bird inthe wooden cage. H e disobeyed th e Fo x, however, and took the go lden cage,

when the soldiers woke up and ca ugh t him, and took him to the Kin g. T h eK ing said he could have the B ird, if he bro ugh t him a Golden H ors e. H ewen t to th e Fo x and sp ran g upo n his tail, and away they wen t to the palacewhere the Golden H ors e was kept . T h e Fo x told him to take the old saddle,and n ot a fine one which hu ng n ear by. But he disobeyed, and the sold iersawoke and took him to an other King. Th is King told him he could have theGo lden Ho rse, if he would brin g him th e Princess of the Go lden Castle. T h eFox helped him again, and after many adventures, he secured the Princess, andthen the Horse, and finally the Golden Bird, which he took to his father.

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T H E R E was once a Sh oe-m ake r , wh o, f rom no fault of h i s own,ha d bec om e so po or tha t a t las t he had n ot h in g le ft , bu t jus tsufficient le at he r for on e pai r of sho es . In th e ev en in g he cutou t t h e l ea t he r , i n t en d i ng t o m ake it up in t he m o r n i n g ; and ,as he ha d a go od con scienc e, he lay qu iet ly do w n to s leep, f ir stco m m en di n g h i ms el f t o Go d . I n t he mo r n i n g he s a id h i s

p r a ye r s , and t h en s a t down t o w o r k ; bu t , beho l d , t he pa i r of s ho es wer e a l r eadym ade , and t he r e t hey s t ood up on h i s boa r d . T h e po or m an was ama zed , andkn ew no t w ha t to th in k ; bu t he too k th e sho es in to h i s ha nd to look a t themm ore c lose ly , and th ey w ere so ne a t ly wo rked , th a t no t a s t i t ch was wron g.Pr ese nt ly a cu s to m er ca m e in ; and as th e shoes p leased h im v ery m uch, hepa i d down mor e t han was u s u a l ; an d so mu ch t ha t t he Sh oe- m ake r was ab l e t obu y w i th it l ea the r for two pa i r s . By the eve nin g he had g ot h i s l ea th er sha pedo u t ; and when he a r os e t h e ne x t m or n i ng , he p r epa r ed t o wor k wi t h fre shsp i r i t ; bu t the re was no need ,— for th e shoe s s too d a l l per fec t on h i s boa rd .H e d id no t w an t e i th er for cu s to m ers ; for two cam e who paid h im so l ibera llyfor th e sho es , th a t he b ou gh t wi th th e mo ne y ma ter i a l for four pa i r s m ore .T h e s e a l s o— wh en he aw ok e— he f ound a ll r eady- ma de , and so it co n t i n ue d ;

THE ELVES AND THE COBBLER

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T H E ELVES A N D T H E COBBLER

w h a t h e c u t o u t o v e r n i g h t w a s , i n t h e m o r n i n g , t u r n e d i n t o th e n e a t e s t sh o e sposs ib le .

O ne ev en in g as he had cu t ou t the usua l q ua n t i ty , he sa id to h i s wi fe

befo re go ing to bed , " W h a t say yo u to s to pp ing up th i s n igh t , t o see w ho i t i sth a t h e lps us so k in d ly ? " H is wife was sa ti s fi ed , and the y h id the m se lv es inth e co rne r of the room . A s soon as i t wa s mid n ig h t in cam e two l i t t l e m an n i k i n s , w h o sq u a t t e d d o w n o n t h e b o a r d ; a n d , t a k i n g u p t h e p r e p a r e d w o r k , t h e yse t to s t i t ch ing and sew ing , an d ha m m er in g so swif tly an d l igh t ly , tha t th eSh oe -m ake r cou ld no t t ak e h i s eyes off them . T h ey d id no t cease un t i l t hesh o e s s t o o d r e a d y o n t h e t a b l e ; a n d t h e n t h e y sp r a n g q u i c k l y a w a y .

T h e fo l lowing m or n in g the wi fe sa id : " T h e l i t tl e men hav e m ad e us r i ch ,a n d w e m u s t sh o w o u r g r a t i t u d e t o t h e m ; t h e y m u s t b e c o ld , f or t h e y h a v eno th in g on the i r bod ies . I wi ll mak e a l i t t le sh i r t , coa t , wa i s t coa t , t rouse r s ,and s tock ings fo r each , and do you make a pa i r o f shoes fo r each ."

T h e h u s b a n d a s se n t e d ; a n d o n e e v e n i n g , w h e n a ll w a s r e a d y , t h e y la i dpresen t s , i ns t ead o f the usua l work , on the board , and h id themse lves to see theresu l t .

A t m i d n i g h t , in c a m e t h e E l v e s , a n d s o o n p r e p a r e d t o w o r k ; b u t w h e n t h e ysaw no l ea the r , bu t th e na t ty l i t t l e c lo thes , the y a t f irs t wer e as to n i sh ed , b u tso o n sh o w e d th e i r r a p t u r o u s g l e e . T h e y d r e w o n t h e i r c o a t s , a n d w e n t h o p p i n ga n d j u m p i n g o v e r t h e s t o o l s a n d c h a i r s , a n d a t l a s t o u t a t t h e d o o r . T h e y d i dn o t c o m e a g a i n ; b u t t h e S h o e - m a k e r p r o sp e r e d i n a l l h e u n d e r t o o k , a n d li v e dhapp i ly to the end o f h i s days .

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A W O N D E R F U L F i d dl e r w a s t ra v el in g th r ou g h a w o od , andhe sa id to himself, " I w il l f e tc h a g o o d c o m p a n i o n ; " a n d ,ta k in g th e f iddle f rom his bac k, he f iddled t i ll th e t rees ree c h o e d . P r e se n t l y a W o l f c a m e .

" A h a W ol f com es , fo r w ho m I ha ve no des i r e , " sa id th eF i d d l e r ; b u t t h e W o l f s a id , " H o w b e a u t i fu l l y y o u p l a y m i g h t

I l e a r n h o w ? "" I t i s soo n l e a rn t ; you ha ve on ly to do exac t ly as I t e l l you ." T h e y ca met o an o ld oak - t r ee , which was ho l low wi th in an d sp l i t i n th e midd le . " Se e h ere , "sa id th e M usic ian , " pu t yo ur fo re foo t in th i s c l ef t. " T h e W ol f o b e y ed ; andth e F i dd le r qu ick ly w ed ge d bo th h i s f ee t, and th e W ol f was s tuck fas t. " W ai tthere t i l l I come again ," sa id the Fiddler , and went on his way, f iddl ing.P r e s e n t l y a F o x c a m e , a n d s a i d : " Y o u f id d le so b e a u t i f u l l y ; m i g h t I le a rn ,t o o ?

" I t i s so o n l e a r n t , " a n sw e r e d h e ; " b u t y o u m u s t d o a ll I t e l l y o u . " T h eM usic ian s top pe d , and pu l l ing th e bou gh o f a haze l - t r ee dow n to th e g ro un d ono n e s ide , he pu t h i s foo t upo n i t, and th en b en t ano th er dow n on the o th er s ide,

THE WO NDERFUL MU SICIAN

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T H E W O N D E R F U L M U S IC IA N .

saying , " Co me , l i t tl e Fo x, r each m e you lef t fore foot . " T h e F o x obe yed , an dth e Mus ic ian bo un d the foot to the l ef t bo ug h. " N o w reach me th e o the r , "s a id he , a nd he boun d t ha t t o t he r igh t boug h . T he n he l e t go , a nd t he bo ug hs

spr an g back in to the a i r, ca r r y in g the F ox up wi th th em . " W ai t the r e t il l Icom e aga in , " sa id the M us ic ian , and w en t on h i s way, f idd l ing . T h e n a H a recam e, an d sa id : " Co uld I learn t o play, too ? "

" I t i s soon lea rn t , " r ep l ied the M us ic ian , " o n ly do a ll I t e l l yo u . " T h eMu s i c ia n boun d a tw ine r ou nd t h e ne c k of t he H a r e , a nd kn o t t e d t h e o th e r e n dto a t r e e . " N ow , m y l i tt le H a r e , j um p tw e n ty t im e s r ou nd t h e t r e e , " e xc l a im e dth e Mus i c i a n . T h e H a r e ob e ye d ; a nd t he tw ine ha d w ou nd i ts el f r ou nd t het r e e , and m ad e th e H ar e pr i sone r . " W ai t the re ti ll I com e aga in , " sa id th eMusic ian, and went on s t i l l f iddl ing for a companion.

A wo od-cu t te r hea rd h im, an d wh en h e came the F i dd le r sa id : " T h is i s th e

c o m p a n i o n I w a n t . " T h e Wolf, the Fox , an d th e H a re a ll go t loose , an d w enta f te r the F iddle r to k i l l h im, but the wood-cut te r r a i sed h i s axe and k i l l edthem all.

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T H E R E w a s o n c e a p o o r M i l le r w h o h a d a b e a u t if u l d a u g h t e r ;an d on e da y , ha v in g to g o t o s pe ak wi th th e K ing , he sa id , inorder to make h imse l f appear o f consequence , tha t he had ad a u g h t e r w h o c o u l d sp i n s t r a w i n t o g o l d . T h e K i n g w a s v e r yfond of gold , an d so h e sa id to th e M il ler , " B r ing h er to thecas t l e in th e m orn ing ."

A s soon as sh e a r r ived , the K in g l ed he r in to a ch am be r which was fu ll ofs t r a w ; an d g iv ing he r a wh ee l and a r ee l , he sa id , " If y ou hav e no t spu n th i s

s t r a w i n t o g o l d b y a n e a r l y h o u r t o - m o r r o w , y o u m u s t d i e . " W i t h t h e se w o r d sh e sh u t t h e d o o r .

W h e n th e m aid en wa s l e ft a lon e sh e be ga n to c ry , fo r sh e cou ld no t sp inat a l l . T h e n in cam e a l i t t le m an , w ho of fered to spin a l l th e s t ra w in to gold ,if sh e w o u l d g i v e h i m h e r n e c k l a c e . W h e n sh e h a d p r o m i se d h e s a t d o w n t oth e wh ee l , and befo re th e m or n i ng a ll t h e s t r a w was spun in to go ld . T h e nex tn i gh t th e g r ee dy K in g pu t he r in to a l a rg er roo m fu ll o f s t r aw, and sa id shem us t sp in i t a l l be fo re m or n i ng o r she s hou ld d ie . T h e l i t tl e ma n cam e in asbef ore an d spu n i t a ll , an d sh e ga ve h im h er r ing . T h e th i rd n igh t the K ingfook he r to a s t i l l la rg er ro om f il led w i th s t raw , an d to ld he r if sh e wo uld spin

RUMPEL-STILTZ-KEN

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R U M P E L - S T I L T Z - K E N .

it all he would mak e h er his bride . T h e little m an came again, and m ade herprom ise to give him her first child. T h e straw was all spun, and the wed dingwas celeb rated. A bo ut a ye ar after, when she had forgo tten all ab ou t he r

prom ise, she had a fine boy child, whom she loved very much . O ne d ay th elitt le man appeared to tak e the child which she had promised to give him. Sh ecried so much tha t th e little m an said if she wo uld guess h is n am e h e wou ldrelieve her of her prom ise. Sh e guessed all the nam es she could thin k of, bu tnone of them were correct, and the lit t le man gave her one day to think of more.

Sh e sent her serv ants in every direction to find o ut new nam es. O n e ofthem came back and said he had passed a curious little hut in which he saw alitt le man dancing and singing, that his nam e was Rum pel-stiltz-ken. So shefound out the name and saved her child.

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I N a cas t l e in the mid s t of a l a rge th ick woo d, th e re l ived an oldWitch a l l by herself. By day she c ha ng ed he rsel f in to a ca t ora n o w l ; bu t in t he e ve n ing s he r e s u m e d he r r i gh t f o rm . W h o e ve r ve n tu r e d w i th in a hun dr e d s t e ps o f he r c a s t le c ou ld no ts t i r f rom th e sp ot un t i l sh e a l lowed i t ; b u t if a pr e t ty m a idencam e in to the c i rc le, the Wi tc h cha ng ed h e r in t o a b i rd , an d

then pu t he r in to a bask e t , which sh e ca r r ied in to o ne of the roo m s in the ca s t l e ;a nd i n t h i s r oom w e r e a l r e a dy m a ny t hous a nd s uc h ba s ke t s o f b i r d s .

T h e r e w a s a yo un g m a ide n c a ll e d F lo r i nd a , a nd s h e w a s be t r o th e d t o ay o u t h n a m e d F l o r i n d e l .

O n e da y the y we nt in to th e fore s t for a wa lk , an d they we nt too nea r th eW i t c h ' s ca s t le , a nd F lo r ind a w a s c ha n ge d i n to a n igh t i ng a l e , a nd F lo r ind e lfound th a t he could no t s t i r no r speak . A n owl cam e hoo t in g ab ou t an d flewinto a bu sh , and soon ou t cam e an ug ly o ld wom an wh o se ized the b i rd an dwe nt awa y. S he cam e back a f te r awh i le and re leased F lor in de l , bu t she wo uldno t g ive h im ba c k t he m a ide n . O n e n ig h t F lo r i nd e l d r e a m e d t ha t he f ound aflower which wo uld free f rom en ch an tm en t al l th a t he tou che d wi th i t . H e

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F L O R I N D A A N D F L O R I N D E L

hu nte d till he found such a flower, and the n he went to the castle. T h e oldW itch tried all her p owe rs of enc han tm ent, but they did no t succeed, becauseof the flower in his hand.

H e wen t to the room wh ere th e bird s were kept, bu t how was h e to tellwhich was his Flor ind a am ong so many. W hile he s tood looking at them, hesaw the old W itch trying to hide one away. H e touched this one with hisflower, and immediately Florinda stood before him as beautiful as ever.

He afterwards disenchanted all the other birds, and they became beautifulyo un g ladies, and in time they all found their hom es. A s for Flo rind a andFlorindel, they at once went home and were married, and lived happily togethermany years .

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T H E R E was once a r ich man, who had a Servan t so hone st andindus trious t ha t he was every m orn ing the first up, and everyevening the last to come in. H e nev er complained, bu t wasconte nted and hap py un der all circumstances. W he n his yearwas up, his m aster gave him no reward. T h e Serva nt saidnothin g, but did his work durin g the sec ond year as well as the

first; bu t still he received no thi ng for it, so he m ade himself hap py ab ou t th ematter, and remained a year longer.

W he n this third year was a lso past the Servant asked him for his wages,and would stay no longer.

So th e miserly old man gave him thre e farthings, one for each year. A sth e S ervan t did no t know the value of money, he went away very happy. H ehad not gone far when he-met a li t t le, old man, who looked so poor and helpless tha t he gav e him the three farthings. T h en the lit t le man sa id : " I willprom ise you thre e wishes, one for each farthing." " T he n," said the Serv ant, " Iwish first for a gun that shall hit all I aim at; second, a fiddle which shall makeall who hea r i t d an ce ; third, that wha tever I request of any one, they cannot

THE JEW IN THE BU SH

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T H E J E W I N T H E B U S H .

refuse m e." T h e li t t le man at once produ ced th e gun and the fiddle, and toldhim that whatever he asked of any one, he should not be refused.

Going on, the Servant saw a Jew listening to the singing of a bird in a tree,and wishing tha t he could have it. T h e Se rvan t fired his gun and down cam eth e bird in the bushes. H e told the Jew to go in the bushes and get the bird,

and th e Jew crawled in an d go t stuck fast in the brambles. T h e n the Servant;bega n to play on his fiddle, and the Jew began to dance . T he bram bles torehis clothes into rags and pricked his body all over, but he could not stop dancinging. Finally, he gave the" Se rva nt a purs e of gold if he would sto p fiddling.

The Jew, however, followed him to the next town, and had him arrested forrobb ipg him. T he Serv ant 's story was not believed, and he was cond em ned o behu ng . W he n he was led to the gallows he began to play on hisfiddleand heJu dg e and Jew and all the rest began to dance, and could not stop untiltheJudge promised him his life if he would stop fiddling.

Grimm 1900

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