Andthemaidenanswered:
\'No,Iwillnothurtyou;fearnothing。\'Andthenseeingaspotwheretheclematisgrewlessthicklythaninotherplaces,shejumpedlightlyover。
\'Mayallgowellwiththee,\'saidthefence,asthegirlwalkedon。
Shesoonleftthemeadowandturnedintoapathwhichranbetweentwofloweryhedges。Rightinfrontofherstoodanoven,andthroughitsopendoorshecouldseeapileofwhiteloaves。
\'Eatasmanyloavesasyoulike,butdomenoharm,littlemaiden,\'
criedtheoven。Andthemaidentoldhertofearnothing,forsheneverhurtanything,andwasverygratefulfortheoven\'skindnessingivinghersuchabeautifulwhiteloaf。Whenshehadfinishedit,downtothelastcrumb,sheshuttheovendoorandsaid:\'Good—morning。\'
\'Mayallgowellwiththee,\'saidtheoven,asthegirlwalkedon。
By—and—byshebecameverythirsty,andseeingacowwithamilk—pailhangingonherhorn,turnedtowardsher。
\'Milkmeanddrinkasmuchasyouwill,littlemaiden,\'criedthecow,\'butbesureyouspillnoneontheground;anddomenoharm,forI
haveneverharmedanyone。\'
\'NorI,\'answeredthegirl;\'fearnothing。\'Soshesatdownandmilkedtillthepailwasnearlyfull。Thenshedrankitallupexceptalittledropatthebottom。
\'Nowthrowanythatisleftovermyhoofs,andhangthepailonmyhornsagain,\'saidthecow。Andthegirldidasshewasbid,andkissedthecowonherforeheadandwentherway。
Manyhourshadnowpassedsincethegirlhadfallendownthewell,andthesunwassetting。
\'WhereshallIspendthenight？\'thoughtshe。Andsuddenlyshesawbeforeheragatewhichshehadnotnoticedbefore,andaveryoldwomanleaningagainstit。
\'Goodevening,\'saidthegirlpolitely;andtheoldwomananswered:
\'Goodevening,mychild。Wouldthateveryonewasaspoliteasyou。
Areyouinsearchofanything？\'
\'Iaminsearchofaplace,\'repliedthegirl;andthewomansmiledandsaid:
\'Thenstopalittlewhileandcombmyhair,andyoushalltellmeallthethingsyoucando。\'
\'Willingly,mother,\'answeredthegirl。Andshebegancombingouttheoldwoman\'shair,whichwaslongandwhite。
Halfanhourpassedinthisway,andthentheoldwomansaid:
\'Asyoudidnotthinkyourselftoogoodtocombme,Iwillshowyouwhereyoumaytakeservice。Beprudentandpatientandallwillgowell。\'
Sothegirlthankedher,andsetoutforafarmatalittledistance,whereshewasengagedtomilkthecowsandsiftthecorn。
Assoonasitwaslightnextmorningthegirlgotupandwentintothecow—house。\'I\'msureyoumustbehungry,\'saidshe,pattingeachinturn。Andthenshefetchedhayfromthebarn,andwhiletheywereeatingit,shesweptoutthecow—house,andstrewedcleanstrawuponthefloor。Thecowsweresopleasedwiththecareshetookofthemthattheystoodquitestillwhileshemilkedthem,anddidnotplayanyofthetricksonherthattheyhadplayedonotherdairymaidswhowereroughandrude。Andwhenshehaddone,andwasgoingtogetupfromherstool,shefoundsittingroundherawholecircleofcats,blackandwhite,tabbyandtortoise—shell,whoallcriedwithonevoice:
\'Weareverythirsty,pleasegiveussomemilk！\'
\'Mypoorlittlepussies,\'saidshe,\'ofcourseyoushallhavesome。\'
Andshewentintothedairy,followedbyallthecats,andgaveeachonealittleredsaucerful。Butbeforetheydranktheyallrubbedthemselvesagainstherkneesandpurredbywayofthanks。
Thenextthingthegirlhadtodowastogotothestorehouse,andtosiftthecornthroughasieve。Whileshewasbusyrubbingthecornsheheardawhirrofwings,andaflockofsparrowsflewinatthewindow。
\'Wearehungry;giveussomecorn！giveussomecorn！\'criedthey;andthegirlanswered:
\'Youpoorlittlebirds,ofcourseyoushallhavesome！\'andscatteredafinehandfuloverthefloor。Whentheyhadfinishedtheyflewonhershouldersandflappedtheirwingsbywayofthanks。
Timewentby,andnocowsinthewholecountry—sideweresofatandwelltendedashers,andnodairyhadsomuchmilktoshow。Thefarmer\'swifewassowellsatisfiedthatshegaveherhigherwages,andtreatedherlikeherowndaughter。Atlength,oneday,thegirlwasbiddenbyhermistresstocomeintothekitchen,andwhenthere,theoldwomansaidtoher:\'Iknowyoucantendcowsandkeepadiary;nowletmeseewhatyoucandobesides。Takethissievetothewell,andfillitwithwater,andbringithometomewithoutspillingonedropbytheway。\'
Thegirl\'sheartsankatthisorder;forhowwasitpossibleforhertodohermistress\'sbidding？However,shewassilent,andtakingthesievewentdowntothewellwithit。Stoppingovertheside,shefilledittothebrim,butassoonasshelifteditthewaterallranoutoftheholes。Againandagainshetried,butnotadropwouldremaininginthesieve,andshewasjustturningawayindespairwhenaflockofsparrowsflewdownfromthesky。
\'Ashes！ashes！\'theytwittered;andthegirllookedatthemandsaid:
\'Well,Ican\'tbeinaworseplightthanIamalready,soIwilltakeyouradvice。\'Andsheranbacktothekitchenandfilledhersievewithashes。Thenoncemoreshedippedthesieveintothewell,and,behold,thistimenotadropofwaterdisappeared！
\'Hereisthesieve,mistress,\'criedthegirl,goingtotheroomwheretheoldwomanwassitting。
\'YouareclevererthanIexpected,\'answeredshe;\'orelsesomeonehelpedyouwhoisskilledinmagic。\'Butthegirlkeptsilence,andtheoldwomanaskedhernomorequestions。
Manydayspassedduringwhichthegirlwentaboutherworkasusual,butatlengthonedaytheoldwomancalledherandsaid:
\'Ihavesomethingmoreforyoutodo。Thereareheretwoyarns,theonewhite,theotherblack。Whatyoumustdoistowashthemintherivertilltheblackonebecomeswhiteandthewhiteblack。\'Andthegirltookthemtotheriverandwashedhardforseveralhours,butwashasshewouldtheyneverchangedonewhit。
\'Thisisworsethanthesieve,\'thoughtshe,andwasabouttogiveupindespairwhentherecamearushofwingsthroughtheair,andoneverytwigofthebirchtreeswhichgrewbythebankwasperchedasparrow。
\'Theblacktotheeast,thewhitetothewest！\'theysang,allatonce;
andthegirldriedhertearsandfeltbraveagain。Pickinguptheblackyarn,shestoodfacingtheeastanddippeditintheriver,andinaninstantitgrewwhiteassnow,thenturningtothewest,sheheldthewhiteyarninthewater,anditbecameasblackasacrow\'swing。
Shelookedbackatthesparrowsandsmiledandnoddedtothem,andflappingtheirwingsinreplytheyflewswiftlyaway。
Atthesightoftheyarntheoldwomanwasstruckdumb;butwhenatlengthshefoundhervoicesheaskedthegirlwhatmagicianhadhelpedhertodowhatnoonehaddonebefore。Butshegotnoanswer,forthemaidenwasafraidofbringingtroubleonherlittlefriends。
Formanyweeksthemistressshutherselfupinherroom,andthegirlwentaboutherworkasusual。Shehopedthattherewasanendtothedifficulttaskswhichhadbeensether;butinthisshewasmistaken,foronedaytheoldwomanappearedsuddenlyinthekitchen,andsaidtoher:
\'ThereisonemoretrialtowhichImustputyou,andifyoudonotfailinthatyouwillbeleftinpeaceforevermore。Herearetheyarnswhichyouwashed。Takethemandweavethemintoawebthatisassmoothasaking\'srobe,andseethatitisspunbythetimethatthesunsets。\'
\'ThisistheeasiestthingIhavebeensettodo,\'thoughtthegirl,whowasagoodspinner。Butwhenshebeganshefoundthattheskeintangledandbrokeeverymoment。
\'Oh,Icanneverdoit！\'shecriedatlast,andleanedherheadagainsttheloomandwept;butatthatinstantthedooropened,andthereentered,onebehindanother,aprocessionofcats。
\'Whatisthematter,fairmaiden？\'askedthey。Andthegirlanswered:
\'Mymistresshasgivenmethisyarntoweaveintoapieceofcloth,whichmustbefinishedbysunset,andIhavenotevenbegunyet,fortheyarnbreakswheneverItouchit。\'
\'Ifthatisall,dryyoureyes,\'saidthecats;\'wewillmanageitforyou。\'Andtheyjumpedontheloom,andwovesofastandsoskilfullythatinaveryshorttimetheclothwasreadyandwasasfineasanykingeverwore。Thegirlwassodelightedatthesightofitthatshegaveeachcatakissonhisforeheadastheylefttheroombehindonetheotherastheyhadcome。
\'Whohastaughtyouthiswisdom？\'askedtheoldwoman,aftershehadpassedherhandstwiceorthriceovertheclothandcouldfindnoroughnessanywhere。Butthegirlonlysmiledanddidnotanswer。Shehadlearnedearlythevalueofsilence。
Afterafewweekstheoldwomansentforhermaidandtoldherthatasheryearofservicewasnowup,shewasfreetoreturnhome,butthat,forherpart,thegirlhadservedhersowellthatshehopedshemightstaywithher。Butatthesewordsthemaidshookherhead,andansweredgently:
\'Ihavebeenhappyhere,Madam,andIthankyouforyourgoodnesstome;butIhaveleftbehindmeastepsisterandastepmother,andIamfaintobewiththemoncemore。\'Theoldwomanlookedatherforamoment,andthenshesaid:
\'Well,thatmustbeasyoulike;butasyouhaveworkedfaithfullyformeIwillgiveyouareward。Gonowintotheloftabovethestorehouseandthereyouwillfindmanycaskets。Choosetheonewhichpleasesyoubest,butbecarefulnottoopenittillyouhavesetitintheplacewhereyouwishittoremain。\'
Thegirllefttheroomtogototheloft,andassoonasshegotoutside,shefoundallthecatswaitingforher。Walkinginprocession,aswastheircustom,theyfollowedherintotheloft,whichwasfilledwithcasketsbigandlittle,plainandsplendid。Shelifteduponeandlookedatit,andthenputitdowntoexamineanotheryetmorebeautiful。Whichshouldshechoose,theyellowortheblue,theredorthegreen,thegoldorthesilver？Shehesitatedlong,andwentfirsttooneandthentoanother,whensheheardthecats\'voicescalling:\'Taketheblack！taketheblack！\'
Thewordsmakeherlookround——shehadseennoblackcasket,butasthecatscontinuedtheircryshepeeredintoseveralcornersthathadremainedunnoticed,andatlengthdiscoveredalittleblackbox,sosmallandsoblack,thatitmighteasilyhavebeenpassedover。
\'Thisisthecasketthatpleasesmebest,mistress,\'saidthegirl,carryingitintothehouse。Andtheoldwomansmiledandnodded,andbadehergoherway。Sothegirlsetforth,afterbiddingfarewelltothecowsandthecatsandthesparrows,whoallweptastheysaidgood—bye。
Shewalkedonandonandon,tillshereachedtheflowerymeadow,andthere,suddenly,somethinghappened,sheneverknewwhat,butshewassittingonthewallofthewellinherstepmother\'syard。Thenshegotupandenteredthehouse。
Thewomanandherdaughterstaredasiftheyhadbeenturnedintostone;butatlengththestepmothergaspedout:
\'Soyouarealiveafterall！Well,luckwaseveragainstme！Andwherehaveyoubeenthisyearpast？\'Thenthegirltoldhowshehadtakenserviceintheunder—world,and,besideherwages,hadbroughthomewithheralittlecasket,whichshewouldliketosetupinherroom。
\'Givemethemoney,andtaketheuglylittleboxofftotheouthouse,\'
criedthewoman,besideherselfwithrage,andthegirl,quitefrightenedatherviolence,hastenedaway,withherpreciousboxclaspedtoherbosom。
Theouthousewasinaverydirtystate,asnoonehadbeennearitsincethegirlhadfallendownthewell;butshescrubbedandswepttilleverythingwascleanagain,andthensheplacedthelittlecasketonasmallshelfinthecorner。
\'NowImayopenit,\'shesaidtoherself;andunlockingitwiththekeywhichhungtoitshandle,sheraisedthelid,butstartedbackasshedidso,almostblindedbythelightthatburstuponher。Noonewouldeverhaveguessedthatthatlittleblackboxcouldhaveheldsuchaquantityofbeautifulthings！Rings,crowns,girdles,necklaces——allmadeofwonderfulstones;andtheyshonewithsuchbrilliancethatnotonlythestepmotherandherdaughterbutallthepeopleroundcamerunningtoseeifthehousewasonfire。Ofcoursethewomanfeltquiteillwithgreedandenvy,andshewouldhavecertainlytakenallthejewelsforherselfhadshenotfearedthewrathoftheneighbours,wholovedherstepdaughterasmuchastheyhatedher。
Butifshecouldnotstealthecasketanditscontentsforherself,atleastshecouldgetanotherlikeit,andperhapsastillricherone。
Soshebadeherowndaughtersitontheedgeofthewell,andthrewherintothewater,exactlyasshehaddonetotheothergirl;and,exactlyasbefore,theflowerymeadowlayatthebottom。
Everyinchofthewayshetrodthepathwhichherstepsisterhadtrodden,andsawthethingswhichshehadseen;buttherethelikenessended。Whenthefenceprayedhertodoitnoharm,shelaughedrudely,andtoreupsomeofthestakessothatshemightgetoverthemoreeasily;whentheovenofferedherbread,shescatteredtheloavesontothegroundandstampedonthem;andaftershehadmilkedthecow,anddrunkasmuchasshewanted,shethrewtherestonthegrass,andkickedthepailtobits,andneverheardthemsay,astheylookedafterher:\'Youshallnothavedonethistomefornothing！\'
Towardseveningshereachedthespotwheretheoldwomanwasleaningagainstthegate—post,butshepassedherbywithoutaword。
\'Haveyounomannersinyourcountry？\'askedthecrone。
\'Ican\'tstopandtalk;Iaminahurry,\'answeredthegirl。\'Itisgettinglate,andIhavetofindaplace。\'
\'Stopandcombmyhairforalittle,\'saidtheoldwoman,\'andIwillhelpyoutogetaplace。\'
\'Combyourhair,indeed！Ihavesomethingbettertodothanthat！\'Andslammingthegateinthecrone\'sfaceshewentherway。Andsheneverheardthewordsthatfollowedher:\'Youshallnothavedonethistomefornothing！\'
By—and—bythegirlarrivedatthefarm,andshewasengagedtolookafterthecowsandsiftthecornasherstepsisterhadbeen。Butitwasonlywhensomeonewaswatchingherthatshedidherwork;atothertimesthecow—housewasdirty,andthecowsill—fedandbeaten,sothattheykickedoverthepail,andtriedtobutther;andeveryonesaidtheyhadneverseensuchthincowsorsuchpoormilk。Asforthecats,shechasedthemaway,andill—treatedthem,sothattheyhadnoteventhespirittochasetheratsandmice,whichnowadaysranabouteverywhere。Andwhenthesparrowscametobegforsomecorn,theyfarednobetterthanthecowsandthecats,forthegirlthrewhershoesatthem,tilltheyflewinafrighttothewoods,andtookshelteramongstthetrees。
Monthspassedinthismanner,when,oneday,themistresscalledthegirltoher。
\'AllthatIhavegivenyoutodoyouhavedoneill,\'saidshe,\'yetwillIgiveyouanotherchance。Forthoughyoucannottendcows,ordividethegrainfromthechaff,theremaybeotherthingsthatyoucandobetter。Thereforetakethissievetothewell,andfillitwithwater,andseethatyoubringitbackwithoutspillingadrop。\'
Thegirltookthesieveandcarriedittothewellashersisterhaddone;butnolittlebirdscametohelpher,andafterdippingitinthewelltwoorthreetimesshebroughtitbackempty。
\'Ithoughtasmuch,\'saidtheoldwomanangrily;\'shethatisuselessinonethingisuselessinanother。\'
Perhapsthemistressmayhavethoughtthatthegirlhadlearntalesson,but,ifshedid,shewasquitemistaken,astheworkwasnobetterdonethanbefore。By—and—byshesentforheragain,andgavehermaidtheblackandwhiteyarntowashintheriver;buttherewasnoonetotellherthesecretbywhichtheblackwouldturnwhite,andthewhiteblack;soshebroughtthembackastheywere。Thistimetheoldwomanonlylookedathergrimlybutthegirlwastoowellpleasedwithherselftocarewhatanyonethoughtabouther。
Aftersomeweeksherthirdtrialcame,andtheyarnwasgivenhertospin,asithadbeengiventoherstepsisterbeforeher。
Butnoprocessionofcatsenteredtheroomtoweaveaweboffinecloth,andatsunsetsheonlybroughtbacktohermistressanarmfulofdirty,tangledwool。
\'Thereseemsnothingintheworldyoucando,\'saidtheoldwoman,andlefthertoherself。
Soonafterthistheyearwasup,andthegirlwenttohermistresstotellherthatshewishedtogohome。
\'LittledesirehaveItokeepyou,\'answeredtheoldwoman,\'fornoonethinghaveyoudoneasyouought。Still,Iwillgiveyousomepayment,thereforegoupintotheloft,andchooseforyourselfoneofthecasketsthatliesthere。Butseethatyoudonotopenittillyouplaceitwhereyouwishittostay。\'
Thiswaswhatthegirlhadbeenhopingfor,andsorejoicedwasshe,that,withoutevenstoppingtothanktheoldwoman,sheranasfastasshecouldtotheloft。Therewerethecaskets,blueandred,greenandyellow,silverandgold;andthereinthecornerstoodalittleblackcasketjustliketheoneherstepsisterhadbroughthome。
\'Iftherearesomanyjewelsinthatlittleblackthing,thisbigredonewillholdtwicethenumber,\'shesaidtoherself;andsnatchingitupshesetoffonherroadhomewithoutevengoingtobidfarewelltohermistress。
\'See,mother,seewhatIhavebrought！\'criedshe,assheenteredthecottageholdingthecasketinbothhands。
\'Ah！youhavegotsomethingverydifferentfromthatlittleblackbox,\'
answeredtheoldwomanwithdelight。Butthegirlwassobusyfindingaplaceforittostandthatshetooklittlenoticeofhermother。
\'Itwilllookbesthere——no,here,\'shesaid,settingitfirstononepieceoffurnitureandthenonanother。\'No,afterallitistofinetoliveinakitchen,letusplaceitintheguestchamber。\'
Somotheranddaughtercarrieditproudlyupstairsandputitonashelfoverthefireplace;then,untyingthekeyfromthehandle,theyopenedthebox。Asbefore,abrightlightleaptoutdirectlythelidwasraised,butitdidnotspringfromthelustreofjewels,butfromhotflames,whichdartedalongthewallsandburntupthecottageandallthatwasinitandthemotheranddaughteraswell。
Astheyhaddonewhenthestepdaughtercamehome,theneighboursallhurriedtoseewhatwasthematter;buttheyweretoolate。Onlythehen—housewasleftstanding;and,inspiteofherriches,therethestepdaughterlivedhappilytotheendofherdays。
[FromThorpe\'sYule—TideStories。]
TheGoldsmith\'sFortuneOnceuponatimetherewasagoldsmithwholivedinacertainvillagewherethepeoplewereasbadandgreedy,andcovetous,astheycouldpossiblybe;however,inspiteofhissurroundings,hewasfatandprosperous。Hehadonlyonefriendwhomheliked,andthatwasacowherd,wholookedaftercattleforoneofthefarmersinthevillage。
Everyeveningthegoldsmithwouldwalkacrosstothecowherd\'shouseandsay:\'Come,let\'sgooutforawalk！\'
Nowthecowherddidn\'tlikewalkingintheevening,because,hesaid,hehadbeenoutgrazingthecattleallday,andwasgladtositdownwhennightcame;butthegoldsmithalwaysworriedhimsothatthepoormanhadtogoagainsthiswill。Thisatlastsoannoyedhimthathetriedtothinkhowhecouldpickaquarrelwiththegoldsmith,sothatheshouldnotbeghimtowalkwithhimanymore。Heaskedanothercowherdforadvice,andhesaidthebestthinghecoulddowastogoacrossandkillthegoldsmith\'swife,forthenthegoldsmithwouldbesuretoregardhimasanenemy;so,beingafoolishperson,andtherebeingnolawsinthatcountrybywhichamanwouldbecertainlypunishedforsuchacrime,thecowherdoneeveningtookabigstickandwentacrosstothegoldsmith\'shousewhenonlyMrs。Goldsmithwasathome,andbangedherontheheadsohardthatshediedthenandthere。
Whenthegoldsmithcamebackandfoundhiswifedeadhesaidnothing,butjusttookheroutsideintothedarklaneandproppedherupagainstthewallofhishouse,andthenwentintothecourtyardandwaited。
Presentlyarichstrangercamealongthelane,andseeingsomeonethere,ashesupposed,hesaid:
\'Good—evening,friend！afinenightto—night！\'Butthegoldsmith\'swifesaidnothing。Themanthenrepeatedhiswordslouder;butstilltherewasnoreply。Athirdtimeheshouted:
\'Good—evening,friend！areyoudeaf？\'butthefigureneverreplied。
Thenthestranger,beingangryatwhathethoughtveryrudebehaviour,pickedupabigstoneandthrewitatMrs。Goldsmith,crying:
\'Letthatteachyoumanners！\'
InstantlypoorMrs。Goldsmithtumbledover;andthestranger,horrifiedatseeingwhathehaddone,wasimmediatelyseizedbythegoldsmith,whoranoutscreaming:
\'Wretch！youhavekilledmywife！Oh,miserableone;wewillhavejusticedonetothee！\'
Withmanyprotestationsandreproachestheywrangledtogether,thestrangerentreatingthegoldsmithtosaynothingandhewouldpayhimhandsomelytoatoneforthesadaccident。Atlastthegoldsmithquieteddown,andagreedtoacceptonethousandgoldpiecesfromthestranger,whoimmediatelyhelpedhimtoburyhispoorwife,andthenrushedofftotheguesthouse,packeduphisthingsandwasoffbydaylight,lestthegoldsmithshouldrepentandaccusehimasthemurdererofhiswife。Nowitverysoonappearedthatthegoldsmithhadalotofextramoney,sothatpeoplebegantoaskquestions,andfinallydemandedofhimthereasonforhissuddenwealth。
\'Oh,\'saidhe,\'mywifedied,andIsoldher。\'
\'Yousoldyourdeadwife？\'criedthepeople。
\'Yes,\'saidthegoldsmith。
\'Forhowmuch？\'
\'Athousandgoldpieces,\'repliedthegoldsmith。
Instantlythevillagerswentawayandeachcaughtholdofhisownwifeandthrottledher,andthenextdaytheyallwentofftoselltheirdeadwives。Manyawearymiledidtheytramp,butgotnothingbuthardwordsorlaughter,ordirectionstothenearestcemetery,frompeopletowhomtheyoffereddeadwivesforsale。Atlasttheyperceivedthattheyhadbeencheatedsomehowbythatgoldsmith。Soofftheyrushedhome,seizedtheunhappyman,and,withoutlisteningtohiscriesandentreaties,hurriedhimdowntotheriverbankandflunghim——plop！——intothedeepest,weediest,andnastiestplacetheycouldfind。
\'Thatwillteachhimtoplaytricksonus,\'saidthey。\'Forashecan\'tswimhe\'lldrown,andwesha\'n\'thaveanymoretroublewithhim！\'
Nowthegoldsmithreallycouldnotswim,andassoonashewasthrownintothedeepriverhesankbelowthesurface;sohisenemieswentawaybelievingthattheyhadseenthelastofhim。But,inreality,hewascarrieddown,halfdrowned,belowthenextbendintheriver,wherehefortunatelycameacrossa\'snag\'floatinginthewater（asnagis,youknow,apartofatreeorbushwhichfloatsverynearlyunderthesurfaceofthewater）;andheheldontothissnag,andbygreatgoodluckeventuallycameashoresometwoorthreemilesdowntheriver。Attheplacewherehelandedhecameacrossafinefatcowbuffalo,andimmediatelyhejumpedonherbackandrodehome。Whenthevillagepeoplesawhim,theyranoutinsurprise,andsaid:
\'Whereonearthdoyoucomefrom,andwheredidyougetthatbuffalo？\'
\'Ah！\'saidthegoldsmith,\'youlittleknowwhatdelightfuladventuresI
havehad！Why,downinthatplaceintheriverwhereyouthrewmeinI
foundmeadows,andtrees,andfinepastures,andbuffaloes,andallkindsofcattle。Infact,Icouldhardlytearmyselfaway;butI
thoughtthatImustreallyletyouallknowaboutit。\'
\'Oh,oh！\'thoughtthegreedyvillagepeople;\'iftherearebuffaloestobehadforthetakingwe\'llgoaftersometoo。\'Encouragedbythegoldsmiththeynearlyallranofftheverynextmorningtotheriver;
and,inorderthattheymightgetdownquicklytothebeautifulplacethegoldsmithtoldthemof,theytiedgreatstonesontotheirfeetandtheirnecks,andoneafteranothertheyjumpedintothewaterasfastasthecould,andweredrowned。Andwheneveranyoneofthemwavedhishandsaboutandstruggledthegoldsmithwouldcryout:
\'Look！he\'sbeckoningtherestofyoutocome;he\'sgotafinebuffalo！\'Andotherswhoweredoubtfulwouldjumpin,untilnotonewasleft。Thenthecunninggoldsmithwentbackandtookallthevillageforhimself,andbecameveryrichindeed。Butdoyouthinkhewashappy？Notabit。Liesnevermadeamanhappyyet。Truly,hegotthebetterofasetofwickedandgreedypeople,butonlybybeingwickedandgreedyhimself;and,asitturnedout,whenhegotsorichhegotveryfat;andatlastwassofatthathecouldn\'tmove,andonedayhegottheapoplexyanddied,andnooneintheworldcaredtheleastbit。
[ToldbyaPathantoMajorCampbell。]
TheEnchantedWreathOnceuponatimetherelivednearaforestamanandhiswifeandtwogirls;onegirlwasthedaughteroftheman,andtheotherthedaughterofhiswife;andtheman\'sdaughterwasgoodandbeautiful,butthewoman\'sdaughterwascrossandugly。However,hermotherdidnotknowthat,butthoughtherthemostbewitchingmaidenthateverwasseen。
Onedaythemancalledtohisdaughterandbadehercomewithhimintotheforesttocutwood。Theyworkedhardallday,butinspiteofthechoppingtheywereverycold,foritrainedheavily,andwhentheyreturnedhome,theywerewetthrough。Then,tohisvexation,themanfoundthathehadlefthisaxebehindhim,andheknewthatifitlayallnightinthemuditwouldbecomerustyanduseless。Sohesaidtohiswife:
\'Ihavedroppedmyaxeintheforest,bidyourdaughtergoandfetchit,forminehasworkedhardalldayandisbothwetandweary。\'
Butthewifeanswered:
\'Ifyourdaughteriswetalready,itisallthemorereasonthatsheshouldgoandgettheaxe。Besides,sheisagreatstronggirl,andalittlerainwillnothurther,whilemydaughterwouldbesuretocatchabadcold。\'
Bylongexperiencethemanknewtherewasnogoodsayinganymore,andwithasighhetoldthepoorgirlshemustreturntotheforestfortheaxe。
Thewalktooksometime,foritwasverydark,andhershoesoftenstuckinthemud,butshewasbraveaswellasbeautifulandneverthoughtofturningbackmerelybecausethepathwasbothdifficultandunpleasant。Atlast,withherdresstornbybramblesthatshecouldnotsee,andherfactscratchedbythetwigsonthetrees,shereachedthespotwheresheandherfatherhadbeencuttinginthemorning,andfoundtheaxeintheplacehehadleftit。Tohersurprise,threelittledovesweresittingonthehandle,allofthemlookingverysad。
\'Youpoorlittlethings,\'saidthegirl,strokingthem。\'Whydoyousitthereandgetwet？Goandflyhometoyournest,itwillbemuchwarmerthanthis;butfirsteatthisbread,whichIsavedfrommydinner,andperhapsyouwillfeelhappier。Itismyfather\'saxeyouaresittingon,andImusttakeitbackasfastasIcan,orIshallgetaterriblescoldingfrommystepmother。\'Shethencrumbledthebreadontheground,andwaspleasedtoseethedovesflutterquitecheerfullytowardsit。
\'Good—bye,\'shesaid,pickinguptheaxe,andwentherwayhomewards。
Bythetimetheyhadfinishedallthecrumbsthedovesfeltmustbetter,andwereabletoflybacktotheirnestinthetopofatree。
\'Thatisagoodgirl,\'saidone;\'Ireallywastooweaktostretchoutawingbeforeshecame。IshouldliketodosomethingtoshowhowgratefulIam。\'
\'Well,letusgiveherawreathofflowersthatwillneverfadeaslongasshewearsit,\'criedanother。
\'Andletthetiniestsingingbirdsintheworldsitamongsttheflowers,\'rejoinedthethird。
\'Yes,thatwilldobeautifully,\'saidthefirst。Andwhenthegirlsteppedintohercottageawreathofrosebudswasonherhead,andacrowdoflittlebirdsweresingingunseen。
Thefather,whowassittingbythefire,thoughtthat,inspiteofhermuddyclothes,hehadneverseenhisdaughterlookingsolovely;butthestepmotherandtheothergirlgrewwildwithenvy。
\'Howabsurdtowalkaboutonsuchapouringnight,dresseduplikethat,\'sheremarkedcrossly,androughlypulledoffthewreathasshespoke,toplaceitonherowndaughter。Asshedidsotherosesbecamewitheredandbrown,andthebirdsflewoutofthewindow。
\'Seewhatatrumperythingitis！\'criedthestepmother;\'andnowtakeyoursupperandgotobed,foritisnearuponmidnight。\'
Butthoughshepretendedtodespisethewreath,shelongednonethelessforherdaughtertohaveonelikeit。
Nowithappenedthatthenexteveningthefather,whohadbeenaloneintheforest,camebackasecondtimewithouthisaxe。Thestepmother\'sheartwasgladwhenshesawthis,andshesaidquitemildly:
\'Why,youhaveforgottenyouraxeagain,youcarelessman！Butnowyourdaughtershallstayathome,andmineshallgoandbringitback\';
andthrowingacloakoverthegirl\'sshoulders,shebadeherhastentotheforest。
Withaveryillgracethedamselsetforth,grumblingtoherselfasshewent;forthoughshewishedforthewreath,shedidnotatallwantthetroubleofgettingit。
Bythetimeshereachedthespotwhereherstepfatherhadbeencuttingthewoodthegirlwasinaverybadtemperindeed,andwhenshecaughtsightoftheaxe,therewerethethreelittledoves,withdroopingheadsandsoiled,bedraggledfeathers,sittingonthehandle。
\'Youdirtycreatures,\'criedshe,\'getawayatonce,orIwillthrowstonesatyou！Andthedovesspreadtheirwingsinafrightandflewuptotheverytopofatree,theirbodiesshakingwithanger。
\'Whatshallwedotorevengeourselvesonher？\'askedthesmallestofthedoves,\'wewerenevertreatedlikethatbefore。\'
\'Never,\'saidthebiggestdove。\'Wemustfindsomewayofpayingherbackinherowncoin！\'
\'Iknow,\'answeredthemiddledove;\'sheshallneverbeabletosayanythingbut\"dirtycreatures\"totheendofherlife。\'
\'Oh,howcleverofyou！Thatwilldobeautifully,\'exclaimedtheothertwo。Andtheyflappedtheirwingsandcluckedsoloudwithdelight,andmadesuchanoise,thattheywokeupallthebirdsinthetreescloseby。
\'Whatintheworldisthematter？\'askedthebirdssleepily。