 section 19 of popular tales from the Norse this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org read by Patty Marie in Istanbul popular tales from the Norse by Sir George Webb Dassent section 19 the cat on the Dover fell once upon a time there was a man up in Finnmark who had caught a great white bear which he was going to take to the King of Denmark now it so fell out that he came to the Dover fell just about Christmas Eve and there he turned into a cottage where a man lived whose name was Halvor and asked the man if he could get house room there for his bear and himself heaven never helped me if what I say isn't true said the man but we can't give any one house room just now for every Christmas Eve such a pack of trolls come down upon us that we are forced to flit and haven't so much as a house over our own heads to say nothing of lending one to anyone else oh said the man if that's all you can very well lend me your house my bear can lie under the stove yonder and I can sleep in the side room well he begged so hard that at last he got leave to stay there so the people of the house flitted out and before they went everything was got ready for the trolls tables were laid and there was rice porridge and fish boiled in lye and sausages and all else that was good just as for any grand feast so when everything was ready down came the trolls some were great and some were small some had long tails and some had no tails at all some too had long long noses and they ate and drank and tasted everything just then one of the little trolls caught side of the white bear who lay under the stove so he took a piece of sausage and stuck it on a fork and went and poked it up against the bears nose screaming out pussy will you have some sausage then the white bear rose up and growled and hunted the whole pack of them out of doors both great and small next year Halvor was out in the wood on the afternoon of Christmas Eve cutting wood before the holidays for he thought the trolls would come again and just as he was hard at work he heard a voice in the wood calling out Halvar Halvar well said Halvar here I am have you got your big cat with you still yes that I have said Halvor she's lying at home under the stove and what's more she's now got seven kittens far bigger and fiercer than she is herself oh then we'll never come to see you again bawled out the troll away in the wood and he kept his word for since that time the trolls have never eaten their Christmas bros with Halvor on the Dover fell end of section 19 section 20 of popular tales from the Norse this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org read by Linda Ferguson popular tales from the Norse by Sir George Webb descent section 20 Princess on the Glass Hill once upon a time there was a man who had a meadow which lay high up on the hillside and in the meadow was a barn which he had built to keep his hay in now I must tell you there hadn't been much in the barn for the last year or two for every St. John's night when the grass stood greenest and deepest the meadow was eaten down to the very ground the next morning just as if a whole drove of sheep had been there feeding on it overnight this happened once and it happened twice so at last the man grew weary of losing his crop of hay and said to his sons for he had three of them and the youngest was nicknamed boots of course that now one of them must just go and sleep in the barn in the outlying field when St. John's night came for it was too good a joke that his grass should be eaten root and blade this year as it had been the last two years so whichever of them went must keep a sharp look out that was what their father said well the eldest son was ready to go and watch the meadow trust him for looking after the grass it shouldn't be his fault if a man or beast or the fiend himself got a blade of grass so when evening came he set off to the barn and lay down to sleep but a little on in the night came such a clutter and such an earthquake that walls and the roof shook and groaned and creaked then up jumped the lad and took to his heels as fast as ever he could nor dared he once look round till he reached home and as for the hay why it was eaten up this year just as it had been twice before the next St. John's night the man said again it would never do to lose all the grass in the outlying field year after year in this way so one of his sons must just trudge off to watch it and watch it well too well the next oldest son was ready to try his luck so he set off and lay down to sleep in the barn as his brother had done before him but as the night wore on there came on a rumbling and a quaking of the earth worse even than on last St. John's night and when the lad heard it he got frightened and took to his heels as though he were running a race next year the turn came to boots but when he made ready to go the other two began to laugh and to make a game of him saying you're just the man to watch the hay that you are you have done nothing all your life but sit in the ashes and toast yourself by the fire but boots did not care a pin for their chattering and stumped away as evening drew on up the hillside to the outlying field there he went inside the barn and lay down but in about an hour's time the barn began to groan and creak so that it was dreadful to hear well said boots to himself if it isn't worse than this I can stand it well enough a little while after came another creak and an earthquake so that the litter in the barn flew about the lads ears oh said boots to himself if it isn't worse than this I dare say I can stand it out but just then came a third rumbling and a third earthquake so that the lad thought walls and roof were coming down on his head but it passed off and all was still as death about him it'll come again I'll be bound thought boots but no it didn't come again still it was and still it stayed but after he had lain a little while he heard a noise as if a horse was standing just outside the barn door and cropping the grass he stole to the door and peeped through a chink and there stood a horse feeding away so big and fat and grand a horse boots had never set eyes on by his side on the grass lay a saddle and bridle and a full set of armor for a night all of brass so bright that the light gleamed from it ho ho thought the lad it's you is it that eats up our hay I'll soon put a spoke in your wheel just see if I don't so he lost no time but took the steel out of his tinderbox and threw it over the horse then it had no power to stir from the spot and became so tame that the lad could do what he liked with it so he got on its back and rode off with it to a place which no one knew of and there he put up the horse when he got home his brothers laughed and asked how he had fared you didn't lie long in the barn even if you had the heart to go so far as the field well said boots all I can say is I lay in the barn till the sun rose and neither saw nor heard anything I can't think what there was in the barn to make you both so afraid a pretty story said his brothers but we'll soon see how you have watched the meadow so they set off but when they reached it there stood the grass as deep and thick as it had been overnight well the next st. john's eve it was the same story over again neither of the elder brothers dared to go out to the outlying field to watch the crop but boots he had the heart to go and everything happened just as it had happened the year before first a clatter and an earthquake then a greater clatter and another earthquake and so on a third time only this year the earthquakes were far worse than the year before then all at once everything was still as death and the lad heard how something was cropping the grass outside the barn door so he stole to the door and peeped through a chink and what do you think he saw why another horse standing right up against the wall and chewing and champing with might and main was far finer and fatter than that which came the year before and it had a saddle on its back and a bridle on its neck and a full suit of mail for a night lay by its side all of silver and as grand as you would wish to see poho said boots to himself it's you that gobbles up our hay is it I'll soon put a spoke in your wheel and with that he took the steel out of his tinderbox and threw it over the horse's crest which stood as still as a lamb while the lad rode this horse too to the hiding place where he kept the other one and after that he went home I suppose you'll tell us said one of his brothers there's a fine crop this year too up in the hayfield well so there is said boots and offer any others to see and there stood the grass thick and deep as it was the year before but they didn't give boots softer words for all that now when the third st John's eve came the two elders still hadn't the heart to lie out in the barn and watch the grass for they had got so scared at heart the night they lay there before that they couldn't get over the fright but boots he dared to go and to make a long story short the very same thing happened this time as had happened twice before three earthquakes came one after the other each worse than the one which went before and when the last came the lad danced about with the shock from one barn wall to the other and after that all at once it was still as death now when he had lain a little while he heard something tugging away at the grass outside the barn so he stole again to the doorchink and peeped out and there stood a horse close outside far far bigger and fatter than the two he had taken before ho ho said the lad to himself it's you is it that comes here eating up our hay all soon stop that all soon put a spoke in your bill so he caught up his steel and threw it over the horse's neck and in a trice it stood as if it were nailed to the ground and boots could do as he pleased with it then he rode off with it to the hiding place where he kept the other two and then went home when he got home his two brothers made game of him as they had done before saying they could see he had watched the grass well for he looked for all the world as if he were walking in his sleep and many other spiteful things they said but boots gave no heed to them only asking them to go and see for themselves and when they went there stood the grass as fine and deep this time as it had been twice before now you must know that the king of the country where boots lived had a daughter whom he would only give to the man who could ride up over the hill of glass for there was a high high hill all of glass as smooth and slippery as ice close by the king's palace upon the tip top of the hill the king's daughter was to sit with three golden apples in her lap and the man who could ride up and carry off the three golden apples was to have half the kingdom and the princess to wife this the king had stuck up on all the church doors in his realm and had given it out in many other kingdoms besides now this princess was so lovely that all who set eyes on her fell overhead and ears in love with her whether they would or know so I needn't tell you how all the princes and knights who heard of her were eager to win her to wife and half the kingdom beside and how they came riding from all parts of the world on high prancing horses and clad in the grandest clothes for there wasn't one of them who hadn't made up his mind that he and he alone was to win the princess so when the day of trial came which the king had fixed there was such a crowd of princes and knights under the glass hill that it made one's head whirl to look at them and everyone in the country who could even crawl along was off to the hill for they all were eager to see the man who was to win the princess so the two older brothers set off with the rest but as for boots they set out right he shouldn't go with them for if they were seen with such a dirty changeling all begrimed with smut from cleaning their shoes and sifting cinders in the dust hole they said folk would make game of them very well said boots it's all one to me i can go alone and stand or fall by myself now when the two brothers came to the hill of glass the knights and princes were all hard at it riding their horses till they were all in a foam but it was no good by my truth for as soon as ever the horses set foot on the hill down they slipped and there wasn't one who could get a yard or two up and no wonder for the hill was as smooth as a sheet of glass and as steep as a house wall but all were eager to have the princess and half the kingdom so their road and slipped and slipped and rode and still it was the same story over again at last all their horses were so weary that they could scarcely lift a leg and in such a sweat that the leather dripped from them and so the knights had to give up trying anymore so the king was just thinking that he would proclaim a new trial for the next day to see if they would have better luck when all at once a knight came riding up on so brave a steed that no one had ever seen the like of it in his born days and the knight had mail of brass and the horse of brass bit in his mouth so bright that the sunbeams shone from it then all the others called out to him he might just as well spare himself the trouble of riding at the hill for it would lead to no good but he gave no heed to them and put his horse at the hill and went up it like nothing for a good way about a third of the height and when he had got so far he turned his horse round and rode down again so lovely a night the princess thought she had never yet seen and while he was riding she sat and thought to herself would to heaven he might only come up and down the other side and when she saw him turning back she threw down one of the golden apples after him and it rolled down into his shoe but when he got to the bottom of the hill he rode off so fast that no one could tell what had become of him that evening all the knights and princes were to go before the king that he who had ridden so far up the hill might show the apple which the princess had thrown but there was no one who had anything to show one after the other they all came but not a man of them could show the apple at even the brothers of boots came home too and had such a long story to tell about the riding up the hill first of all they said there was not one of the whole lot who could get so much as a stride up but at last came one who had a suit of brass mail and a brass bridle and saddle all so bright that the sun shone from the mamal off he was a chap to ride just he rode a third of the way up the hill of glass and he could easily have ridden the whole way up if he chose but he turned round and rode down thinking maybe that was enough for once oh i should so like to have seen him that i should said boots who sat by the fireside and stuck his feet into the cinders as was his want oh said his brother you would would you you look fit to keep company with such high lords nasty beast that you are sitting there amongst the ashes next day the brothers were all for setting off again and boots beg them this time too to let him go with them and see the riding but no they wouldn't have him at any price he was too ugly and nasty they said well well said boots if i go at all i must go by myself i'm not afraid so when the brothers got to the hill of glass all the princes and knights began to ride again and you may fancy they had taken care to shoe their horses sharp but it was no good they rode and slipped and slipped and rode just as they had done the day before and there was not one who could get so far as a yard up the hill and when they had worn out their horses so that they could not stir a leg they were all forced to give it up as a bad job so the king thought he might as well proclaim that the riding should take place the day after for the last time just to give them one chance more but all at once it came across his mind that he might as well wait a little longer to see if the night in brass mail would come this day too well they saw nothing of him but all at once came one riding on a steed far far braver and finer than that on which the night in brass had written and he had silver mail and a silver saddle and bridle all so bright that the sunbeams gleamed in glance from them far away then the others shouted out to him again saying he might as well hold hard and not try to ride up the hill for all his trouble would be thrown away but the night paid no heed to them and rode straight at the hill and right up it till he had gone two-thirds of the way and then he wheeled his horse around and rode down again to tell the truth the princess liked him still better than the night in brass and she sat and wished he might only be able to come right up to the top and down the other side but when she saw him turning back she threw the second apple after him and it rolled down and fell into his shoe but as soon as ever he had come down from the hill of glass he rode off so fast that no one could see what became of him that even when all were to go in before the king and the princess that he who had the golden apple might show it in they went one after the other but there was no one who had any apple to show and the two brothers as they had done on the former day went home and told how things had gone and how all had ridden at the hill none got up but last of all they said came one in a silver suit and his horse had a silver saddle and a silver bridle he was just a chap to ride and he got two-thirds up the hill and then turned back he was a fine fellow and no mistake and the princess threw the second gold apple to him oh said boots I should so like to have seen him too that I should a pretty story they said perhaps you think his coat of mail was as bright as the ashes you're always poking about and sifting you nasty dirty beast the third day everything happened as it had happened the two days before boots beg to go and see the sight but the two wouldn't hear of his going with them when they got to the hill there was no one who could get so much as a yard up it and now all waited for the knight in silver mail but they neither saw nor heard of him at last came one riding on a steed so brave that no one had ever seen his match and the knight had a suit of golden mail and a golden saddle and bridle so wondrous bright that the sunbeams gleamed from them a mile off the other nights and princess could not find time to call out to him not to try his luck for they were amazed to see how grand he was so he rode right out the hill and tore up it like nothing so that the princess hadn't even time to wish that he might get up the whole way as soon as ever he reached the top he took the third golden apple from the princess's lap and then turned his horse and rode down again as soon as he got down he rode off at full speed and was out of sight in no time now when the brothers got home at even you may fancy what long story as they told how the riding had gone off that day and amongst other things they had a deal to say about the knight in golden mail he just was a chapter ride they said so grand a knight isn't to be found in the wide world oh said boots I should so like to have seen him that I should ah said his brothers his mail shone a deal brighter than the glowing coals which you are always poking and digging at nasty dirty beast that you are next day all the knights and princes were to pass before the king and the princess it was too late to do so the night before I suppose that he who had the gold apple might bring it forth but one came after another first the princess and then the knights and still no one could show the gold apple well said the king someone must have it for it was something that we all saw with our own eyes how a man came and rode up and bore it off so he commanded that everyone who was in the kingdom should come up to the palace and see if they could show the apple well they all came one after another but no one had the golden apple and after a long time the two brothers of boots came they were the last of all so the king asked them if there was no one else in the kingdom who hadn't come oh yes said they we have a brother but he never carried off the golden apple he hasn't stirred out of the dust hole on any of the three days never mind that said the king he may as well come up to the palace like the rest so boots had to go up to the palace how now said the king have you got the golden apples speak out yes i have said boots here is the first and here is the second and here is the third too and with that he pulled all three golden apples out of his pocket and at the same time threw off his sooty rags and stood before them in his gleaming golden mail yes said the king you shall have my daughter and half my kingdom for you well deserve both her and it so they got ready for the wedding and boots got the princess to wife and there was great merry making at the bridal feast you may well fancy for they could all be merry though they couldn't ride up the hill of glass and all i can say is if they haven't left off their merry making yet why they're still at it end of section 20 recording by linda fergusson section 21 of popular tales from north this is the livervox recording all livervox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit livervox.org read by veron real popular tales from the north by surge arch repetitions section 21 the cock and the hen in this tale the notes of the cock and hen must be imitated hen you promise me shoes year after year year after year and yet i get no shoes cock you shall have never fear henny penny hen highly egg after egg after egg and yet i go about barefoot cock well take your eggs and be off to the shrift and buy yourself shoes and don't go any longer barefoot end of section 21 section 22 of popular tales from the north this is a livervox recording all livervox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit livervox.org read by clerica popular tales from the north by sir george webb dascent section 22 how one went out to woo once on a time there was a lad who went out to woo him a wife amongst other places he came to a farmhouse where the household were little better than beggars but when the wooer came in they wanted to make out that they were well to do as you may guess now the husband had got a new arm to his coat pray take a seat he said to the wooer but there's a shocking dust in the house so he went about rubbing and wiping all the benches and tables with his new arm but he kept the other all the while behind his back the wife she had got one new shoe and she went stamping and sliding with it up against the stools and chairs saying how untidy it is here everything is out of its place then they called out to their daughter to come down and put things to rights but the daughter she had got a new cap so she put her head in at the door and kept nodding and nodding first to this side and then to that well for my part she said i can't be everywhere at once aye aye that was a well to do household the wooer had come to end of section 22 section 23 of popular tales from the north this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recorded by Didier popular tales from the north by Sir George Webb Descent section 23 The Master Smith once on a time in the days when our Lord and Saint Peter used to wander on earth they came to a Smith's house he had made a bargain with the devil that the Finian should have him after seven years but during that time he was to be the master of all masters in his trade and to this bargain both he and the devil had signed their names so he had stuck up in great letters over the door of his forge here dwells the master over all masters now when our Lord passed by and so that he went in who are you he said to the Smith read what's written over the door said the Smith but maybe you can't read writing if so you must wait till someone comes to help you before our Lord had time to answer him a man came with his horse which he begged the Smith to shoe might I have lived to shoot asked our Lord you may try if you like said the Smith you can do it so badly that I shall not be able to make it right again so our Lord went out and took one leg off the horse and let it in the furnace and made the shoe right hot after that he turned up the ends of the shoe and fell down the heads of the nails and clenched the points and then he put back the leg safe and sound on the horse again and when he was done with that leg he took the other four leg and did the same with it and when he was done with that he took the hind legs first the off and then the near leg and laid them in the furnace making the shoes red hot turning up the ends filing the heads of the nails and clenching the points and after all was done putting the legs on the horse again all the while the Smith stood by and looked on you're not so bad the Smith after all said he oh you think so do you said our Lord a little while after came the Smith's mother to the fort and called him to come home and eat his dinner she was an old old woman with a naggy crook on her back and wrinkles in her face and it was as much as she could do to crawl along mark now what you see said our Lord then he took the woman and laid her in the furnace and Smith it a lovely young maiden out of her well said the Smith I said now as I said before you are not such a bad Smith after all there it stands over my door he dwells the master over all masters but for all that I say right out one learns as long as one lives and with that he walked off to his house and ate his dinner so after dinner just after he had got back to his forge a man came riding up to have his horse short it shall be down in the twinkling of an eye said the Smith for I have just learned a new way to shoe and a very good way it is when the days are short so he began to cut and hack till he had got all the horses legs off for his sale I don't know why one should go puttering backwards and forwards first with one leg and then with another then he laid the legs in the furnace just as he had seen our Lord lay them and threw on a great heap of coal and made his mates work the bellows bravely but it went as one might suppose it would go the legs were burned to ashes and the Smith had to pay for the horse well he didn't care much about that but just then an old beggar woman came along the road and he thought to himself better luck next time so he took the old dam and laid her in the furnace and though she begged and prayed hard for life it was no good you're so old you don't know what is good for you so the Smith now you shall be a lovely young maiden in health no time and for all that I not charge you a penny for the job but it went a better with a poor old woman than with the horse's legs that was ill done and I say it said our Lord oh for that matter said the Smith there's not many will ask after her and be bound but it's a shame of the devil if this is the way he holds to what is written up over the door if you might have three wishes from me said our Lord what would you wish for only try me said the Smith and you'll soon know so our Lord gave him three wishes well said the Smith first and foremost I wish that anyone whom I ask to climb up into the pear tree that stands outside by the wall of my forge may stay sitting there till I ask him to come down again the second wish I wish is that anyone whom I asked to sit down in my easy chair which stands inside the workshop yonder may stay sitting there till I ask him to get up last of all I wish that anyone whom I ask to creep into the steel purse which I have in my pocket may stay in it till I give him leave to creep out again you have wished as a wicked man said Saint Peter first and foremost you should have wished for God's grace and goodwill I doesn't look so high as that said the Smith and after that our Lord and Saint Peter bid him goodbye and went on their way well the years went on and on and when the time was up the devil came to fetch the Smith as it was written in a bargain are you ready he said has he stuck his nose in at the door of the fort oh said the Smith I must just hammer the head of this 10 penny nail first meantime you can just climb up into the pear tree and pluck yourself a pear to gnaw at you must be both hungry and thirsty after your journey so the devil thanked him for his kind offer and climbed up into the pear tree very good said the Smith but now on thinking the matter over I found I shall never be able to have done hammering the head of this snail till four years are out at least this iron is so pliggie hard down you can come in all that time but may sit up there and rest your bones when the devil heard this he begged and prayed till his voice was as thin as a silver penny that he might have lived to come down but there was no help for it there he was and there he must stay at last he had to give his word of honor not to come again till the four years were out which the Smith has spoken of and then the Smith said very well now you may come down so when the time was up the devil came again to fetch the Smith you're ready now of course said he you've had time enough to hammer the head of that nail I should think yes the head is right enough now said the Smith but still you have come a little tiny bit too soon for I haven't quite done sharpening the point such pliggie hard iron I never hammered in all my born days so while I work at the point you may just as well sit down in my easy chair and rest yourself I'll be bound you worry after coming so far thank you kindly said the devil and down he plumped into the easy chair but just as he had made himself comfortable the Smith said on second thoughts he found he couldn't get the point sharp till four years were out first of all the devil begged so prettily to be let out of the chair and afterwards waxing rough he began to threaten and scald but the Smith kept on all the while excusing himself and saying it was all the iron's fault it was so pliggie hard and telling the devil he was not so badly off to have to sit quietly in easy chair and that he would let him out to the minute when the four years were over well at least there was no help for it and the devil had to give his word of honor not to fetch the Smith till the four years were out and then the Smith said well now you may get up and be off about your business and away when the devil as fast as he could lay legs to the ground when the four years were over the devil came again to fetch the Smith and he called out as he stuck his nose in at the door of the forge now I know you must be ready ready I ready answered the Smith we can go now as soon as you please but Hark here there is one thing I have stood here and thought and thought I would ask you to tell me is it true what people say that the devil can make himself as small as he pleases God knows it's the very truth said the devil oh said the Smith it is true is it then I wish you would just be so good as to creep into this still purse of mine and see whether it is sound at the bottom for to tell you the truth I'm afraid my traveling money will drop out with all my heart said the devil who made himself small in a trice and crept into the purse but he was scarce in when the Smith snapped to the clasp yes called out the devil inside the purse it's right and child everywhere very good said the Smith I'm glad to hear you say so but more has the worst speed says the also and for want is for armed says another so I just wear these links a little together just for safety sake and with that he laid the purse in the furnace and made it red hot oh oh screamed the devil are you mad don't you know I'm inside the purse yes I do said the Smith but I can't help you for another old soul says one must strike while the iron is hot and as he said this he took up his sledgehammer let the purse on the anvil and let fly at it as hard as he could oh oh oh bellowed the devil inside the purse dear friend do let me out and I'll never come near you again very well said the Smith now think the links are pretty well welded and you may come out so he unclapsed the purse and away when the devil in such a hurry that he didn't once look behind him now sometime after it came across the Smith mine that he had done a silly thing in making the devil his enemy for he said to himself if as is like enough they won't have me in the kingdom of heaven I shall be in danger of being houseless since I've fallen out with him rules over hell so he made up his mind it would be best to try to get either into hell or heaven and to try it once rather than to put it off any longer so that he might know how things really stood then he threw his sledgehammer over his shoulder and set off when he had gone a good bit of the way he came to a place where two roads met and where the path to the kingdom of heaven parts from the path that leads to hell and here he overtook a tailor who was pelting along with his goose in his hand good day said the smith whither are you off to to the kingdom of heaven said the tailor if I can only get into it but whither are you going yourself oh always don't run together said the smith for I have made up my mind to try first in hell as a devil and I know something of one another from old times so they bet one another goodbye and each one his way but the smith was a stout strong man and got over the ground far faster than the tailor and so it wasn't long before he stood at the gates of hell then he called the watch and bed him go and tell the devil there was someone outside who wished to speak a word with him go out said the devil to the watch and ask him who is so that when the watch came and told him that the smith answered go and greet the devil in my name and say it is the smith who owns the purse he walks off and beg him proudly to let me in at once for I worked at my forge till noon and I have had a long walk since but when the devil heard who it was he charged the watch to go back and locked up all the nine locks of the gates of hell and besides he said you may as well put on a padlock for if he only once gets in he'll turn hell taps it curvy well said the smith to himself when he saw them busy bolting up the gates there's no lodging to be got here that's plain so I may as well try my luck in the kingdom of heaven and with that he turned around and went back till he reached the crossroads and then he went along the path the teller had taken and now as he was crossed at having gone backwards and forward so far for no good he strode along with all his might and reached the gate of heaven just as Saint Peter was opening it a very little just enough to let the half-starved teller slip in the smith was still six or seven strides off the gate so he thought to himself now there's no time to be lost and grasping his sledgehammer he hurled it into the opening of the door just as the teller slunk in and if the smith didn't get in then when the door was a jar well I don't know what has become of him and of section 23 section 24 of popular tales from the Norse this is a LibraVox recording all LibraVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibraVox.org read by Solwyn popular tales from the Norse by Sir George Webb Dawson section 24 the two stepsisters once on a time there was a couple and each of them had a daughter by a former marriage the woman's daughter was dull and lazy and could never turn her hand to anything and the man's daughter was brisk and ready but somehow or other she could never do anything to her stepmother's liking and both the woman and her daughter would have been glad to be rid of her so it fell one day the two girls were to go out and spin by the side of the well and the woman's daughter had flax to spin but the man's daughter got nothing to spin but bristles I don't know how it is said the woman's daughter you're always so quick and sharp but still I'm not afraid to spin a match with you well they agreed that she whose thread first snapped should go down the well so they span away but just as they were hard at it the man's daughter's thread broke and she had to go down the well but when she got to the bottom she saw far and wide around her a fair green mead and she hadn't hurt herself at all so she walked on a bit till she came to a hedge which she had to cross uh don't tread hard on me pray don't and I'll help you another time that I will said the hedge then the lassie made herself as light as she could and trod so carefully she scarce touched a twig so she went a bit further till she came to a brindled cow which walked there with a milking pail on her horns it was a large pretty cow and her utter was so full and round ah be so good as to milk me pray said the cow I'm so full of milk drink as much as you please and throw the rest over my hoofs and see if I don't help you someday so the man's daughter did as the cow begged as soon as she touched the teats the milk spouted out into the pail then she drank till her thirst was slaked and the rest she threw over the cow's hoofs and the milking pail she hung on her horns again so when she had gone a bit further a big weather met her which had such thick long wall it hung down and dragled after him on the ground and on one of his horns hung a great pair of shears ah please clip off my wool said the sheep for here I go about with all this wool and catch up everything I meet and besides it's so warm I'm almost choked take as much fleece as you please and twist the rest around my neck and see if I don't help you someday yes she was willing enough and the sheep lay down of himself on her lap and kept quite still and she clipped him so neatly there wasn't a scratch on his skin then she took as much of the wool as she chose and the rest she twisted around the neck of the sheep a little further on she came to an apple tree which was loaded with apples all its branches were bowed to the ground and leaning against the stem was a slender pole ah do be so good as to pluck my apples off me said the tree so that my branches may straighten themselves again for its bad work to stand so crooked but when you beat them down don't strike me too hard then eat as many as you please lay the rest around my root and see if I don't help you someday or other yes she plucked all she could reach with her hands and then she took the pole and knocked down the rest and afterwards she ate her fill and the rest she laid neatly around the root so she walked on a long long way and then she came to a great farmhouse where an old hag of the trolls lived with her daughter there she turned in to ask if she could get a place oh said the old hag it's no use you're trying we've had ever so many maids but none of them was worth her salt but she begged so prettily that they would just take her on trial that at last they let her stay so the old hag gave her a sieve and bait her go and fetched water in it she thought it strange to fetch water in a sieve but still she went and when she came to the well the little birds began to sing doll bin clay stuff in straw doll bin clay stuff in straw yes she did so and found she could carry water in a sieve well enough but when she got home with the water and the old witch saw the sieve she cried out this you haven't sucked out of your own breast so the old witch said now she might go into the buyer to pitch out dung and milk time when she got there she found a pitchfork so long and heavy she couldn't stir it much less work with it she didn't know at all what to do or what to make of it but the little birds sang again that she should take the broomstick and toss out a little with that and all the rest of the dung would fly after so she did that and as soon as ever she began with the broomstick the buyer was as clean as if it had been swept and washed now she had to milk the kind but they were so restless that they kicked and frisked there was no getting near them to milk them but the little birds sang outside a little drop a tiny sub for the little birds to drink it up yes she did that she milked a tiny drop it was as much as she could for the little birds outside and then all the cows stood still and let her milk them they neither kicked nor frisked they didn't even lift a leg so when the old witch saw her coming in with the milk she cried out this you haven't sucked out of your own breast but now just take this black wool and wash it white this the lassie was at her wits end to know how to do where she had never seen or heard of anyone who could wash black wool white still she said nothing but took the wool and went down with it to the well there the little birds sang again and told her to take the wool and dip it into great butt that stood there and she did so and out it came as a white as snow well i never said the old witch when she came in with the wool it's no good keeping you you can do everything and at last will be the plague of my life with best part so take your wages and be off then the old hag drew out three caskets one red one green and one blue and if these the lassie was to choose one as wages for her service now she didn't know at all which to choose but the little bird sang don't take the red don't take the green but take the blue or maybe seen three little crosses all in a row we saw the marks and so we know so she took the blue casket as the bird sang bad luck to you then said the old witch see if i don't make you pay for this so when the man's daughter was just setting off the old witch shot a red hot bar of iron after her but she sprang behind the door and hit herself so that it missed her for her friends the little birds had told her beforehand how to behave then she walked on and on as fast as ever she could but when she got to the apple tree she heard an awful clatter behind her on the road and that was the old witch and her daughter coming after her so the lassie was so frightened and scared she didn't know what to do come hither to me lassie do you hear said the apple tree i'll help you get under my branches and hide for if they catch you they'll tear you to death and take the casket from you yes she did so and she had hardly hidden herself before up came the old witch and her daughter have you seen any lassie passed this way you apple tree said the old hag yes yes said the apple tree one ran by here an hour ago but now she's got so far ahead you'll never catch her up so the old witch turned back and went home again then the lassie walked on a bit but when she came just about where the sheep was she heard an awful clatter beginning on the road behind her and she didn't know what to do she was so scared and frightened for she knew well enough it was the old witch who had thought better of it come hither to me lassie said the weather and i'll help you hide yourself under my fleece and then they'll not see you else they'll take away the casket and tear you to death just then up came the old witch tearing along have you seen any lassie pass here you sheep she cried to the weather oh yes said the weather i saw one an hour ago but she ran so fast you'll never catch her so the old witch turned round and went home but when the lassie had come to where she met the cow she heard another awful clatter behind her come hither to me lassie said the cow and i'll help you to hide yourself under my udder else the old hag will come and take away your casket and tear you to death true enough it wasn't long before she came up have you seen any lassie pass here you cow said the old hag yes i saw one an hour ago said the cow but she's far away now for she ran so fast i don't think you'll ever catch her up so the old hag turned round and went back home again when the lassie had walked a long long way further on and was not far from the hedge she heard again that awful clatter on the road behind her and she got scared and frightened for she knew well enough it was the old hag and her daughter who had changed their minds come hither to me lassie said the hedge and i'll help you creep under my twigs so that they can't see you else they'll take the casket from you and tear you to death yes she made all the haste you could to get under the twigs of the hedge have you seen any lassie pass this way you hedge said the old hag to the hedge no i haven't seen any lassie answered the hedge and was as smooth tongued as if he had gotten melted butter in his mouth but all the while he spread himself out and made himself so big and tall no one had to think twice before crossing him and so the old witch had no help for it but to turn round and go home again so when the man's daughter got home her stepmother and her step sister were more spiteful against her than ever for now she was much neater and so smart it was a joy to look at her still she couldn't get lead to live with them but they drove her out into a pig's die that was to be her house so she scrubbed it out so neat and clean and then she opened her casket just to see what she had got for her wages but as soon as ever she unlocked it she saw inside so much gold and silver and lovely things which came streaming out till all the walls were hung with them and at last the pig's die was far grander than the grandest king's palace and when the stepmother and her daughter came to see this they almost jumped out of their skin and began to ask what kind of a place she had down there oh said the lassie can't you see when i have got such good wages to a such a family and such a mistress to serve you couldn't find there like anywhere yes the woman's daughter made up her mind to go out to serve too that she might get just such another gold casket so they sat down to spin again and now the woman's daughter was to spin bristles and the man's daughter flax and she used thread first snapped was to go down the well it wasn't long as you may fancy before the woman's daughter's thread snapped and so they threw her down the well so the same thing happened she fell to the bottom but met with no harm and found herself in a lovely green meadow when she had walked a bit she came to the hedge don't tread hard on me pray lassie and i'll help you again said the hedge oh said she what should i care for a bundle of twigs and tramped and stamped over the hedge till it crackled and groaned again a little further on she came to the cow which walked about ready to burst for want of milking be so good as to milk me lassie said the cow and i'll help you again drink as much as you please throw the rest over my hoofs yes she did that she milked the cow and drank till she could drink no more but when she left off there was none left to throw over the cow's hoofs and as for the pale she tossed it down the hill and walked on when she had gone a bit further she came to the sheep which walked along with his wool dragging after him oh be so good as to clip me lassie said the sheep and i'll serve you again take as much of the wool as you will but twist the rest around my neck well she did that but she went so carelessly to work that she cut great pieces out of the poor sheep and as for the wool she carried it all the way with her a little while after she came to the apple tree which stood there quite crooked with fruit again be so good as to pluck the apples off me that my limbs make her straight for it's a weary work to stand all awry said the apple tree but please take care not to beat me too hard eat as many as you will lay the rest neatly around my root and i'll help you again well she plucked those nearest to her and thrashed down those she couldn't reach with the pole but she didn't care how she did it and broke off and tore down great bows and ate till she was as full as full could be and then she threw down the rest under the tree so when she had gone a good bit further she came to the farm where the old witch lived there she asked for a place but the old hag said she wouldn't have any more maids for they were either worth nothing or were too clever and cheated her out of her goods but the woman's daughter was not to be put off she would have a place so the old witch said she'd give her a trial if she was fit for anything the first thing she had to do was to fetch water in a sieve well off she went to the well and drew water in a sieve but as fast as she got it in it ran out again so the little bird's song dob and clay put in straw dob and clay put in straw but she didn't care to listen to the bird's song and pelted them with clay till they flew off far away and so she had to go home with the empty sieve and got well scolded by the old witch then she was to go into the buyer to clean it and look the kind but she was too good for such dirty work she thought still she went out into the buyer but when she got there she couldn't get on at all with the pitchfork it was so big the bird said the same to her as they had said to her stepsister and told her to take the broomstick and toss out a little dung and then all the rest would fly after it but all she did with the broomstick was to throw it at the birds when she came to milk the kind were so unruly they kicked and pushed and every time she got a little milk in the pail over they kicked it then the bird sang again a little drop in a tiny sup for the little birds to drink it up but she beat and banged the cows about and threw and pelted at the birds everything she could they hold of and made such a to do too awful to see so she didn't make much either of her pitching or milking and when she came indoors she got blows as well as hard words from the old witch who sent her off to wash the black wool white but that too she did no better then the old witch thought this really too bad so she set out the three caskets one red one green and one blue and said she'd no longer any need of her services for she wasn't worth keeping but for wages she should have leave to choose whichever casket she pleased then sung the little birds don't take the red don't take the green but choose the blue where may be seen three little crosses all in a row we saw the marks and so we know she didn't care a pin for what the bird sang but took the red which caught her eye most and so she set out on her road home and she went along quietly and easily enough there was no one who came after her so when she got home her mother was ready to jump with joy and the two went at once into the engel and put the casket up there for they made up their minds there could be nothing in it but pure silver and gold and they thought to have all the walls and roof gilded like the pigsty but low when they opened the casket there came tumbling out nothing but toads and frogs and snakes and worse than that whenever the woman's daughter opened her mouth out popped a toad or a snake and all the vermin one ever thought of so that at last there was no living in the house with her that was all the weight she got for going out to service with the old witch end of section 24 section 25 of popular tales from the nurse this is a live box recording all live box recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit livebox.org read by Selena Mendoza popular tales from the nurse by sir church web dozen section 25 buttercup once on a time there was an old wife who sat and baked now to most know that his old wife had a little son who was a plump and fat and so fond of good things that they called him buttercup she had a dog too whose name was gold tooth and as she was baking all at once gold tooth began to bark run now buttercup there's a deer said the old wife and see what gold tooth is barking at so the boy ran out and came back crying out oh heaven help us here comes a great big witch with her head under her arm and back at her back jump under the needing chuff and hide yourself said his mother so in came the old hike good day said she god bless you said buttercup's mother isn't your buttercup at home today likes the hack not that he isn't he's out in the boot with his father shooting term again click take it said the hack for I had such a nice little silver knife I wanted to give him peep peep here I am said buttercup under the needing chuff and out he came I'm so old on his teeth in the bag said the hack to most creep into the bag and fetch it out for yourself but when buttercup was well into the bag the hack threw it over her back and strode off and when they had gone a good bit of the way the old hack got tired and asked how far is it off to snoring half a mile answered buttercup so the hack put down the sack on the road and went aside by herself into the boot and laid down to sleep meantime but our cops had to work and cut a hole in the sack with his knife then he crept out and put a great root of a fir tree into the sack and ran home to his mother when the hack at home and so what there was in the sack you may fancy she was in a fine rage next day the old wife sat and baked again and her dog began to bark just as he did the day before her now better cop my boy said she and see what gold tooth is barking at well I never cried buttercup as soon as he got out if there isn't that ugly old beast coming again with her head under her arm and a great sack at her back under the needing chop with you and hide said his mother good day said the hack is your buttercup at home today I'm sorry to say he isn't said his mother he's out in the boot with his father shooting charm again whatever said the hack here I have a beautiful little silver spoon I want to keep him peep peep here I am said buttercup and crept out I'm so stiff in the back so the old witch too much crept into the sack and fetch it out for yourself so when buttercup was well into the sack the hack thrown it over her shoulders and set off home as fast as her legs could carry her but when they had gone a good bit she grew weary and asked how far is she after snoring a mile and a half and sir buttercup so the hack set down the sack and went aside into the boot to sleep a bit but while she slept buttercup made a hole in the sack and got out and put a great stone into it now when the old witch got home she made a great fire on the earth and put a big pot on it and got everything ready to boil buttercup but when she took the sack and thought she was going to turn out buttercup into the pot down plumped the stone and made a hole into the bottom of the pot so that the water ran out and quenched the fire then the old hag was in a dreadful rage and said if he makes himself ever so happy next time he shouldn't take me in again the third day everything went just as it had gone twice before gold tooth began to bark and buttercup's mother said to him to run out and see what our dog is barking at so out he went but he soon came back crying out having said that here comes the old hag again with her head under her arm and a sack at her back jump on Georgian eating truff and hide said his mother good day set the hack as she came in at the tour it's your buttercup at home today but you're very kind to ask after him said his mother but he's out in the boot with his father shooting charm again what a bore now said the old hag here half a cat such a beautiful little silver fork for him peep peep who I am said buttercup as he came out from under the needing chaff and so stiff in the back set the hack she must creep into the sack and fetch it out for yourself but when buttercup was well inside the sack the old hag swung it across her shoulders and set off as fast as she could this time she did not turn aside to sleep by the way but when straight home with buttercup in the sack and when she reached her house it was Sunday so the old hag said to her daughter now to must take buttercup and kill him and boil him nicely till I come back frame off the church to beat my guests to dinner so when all in the house were going to church the daughter was to take buttercup and killing but then she didn't know how to set about it at all stop a bit said buttercup I'll soon show you how to do it just let your head on the chopping block and you'll soon see so the poor silly thing let her head down and buttercup took a necks and chopped her head off just as if she had been a chicken then he let her head in the bed and popped her body into the pot and boiled it so nicely and when he had done that he climbed out on the roof and dragged up with him the first tree root and the stone and put the one over the door and the other at the top of the chimney so when the household came back from church and saw the head on the bed they thought it was the daughter who later I slept and then they thought they would just taste the broth good by my child buttercup broth said the old hag good by my child daughter breath said buttercup down the chimney but no one hated him so the old hag's husband who was every bit as bad as she took the spoon to have a taste good by my child buttercup breath said he good by my child daughter breath said buttercup down the chimney pipe then they all began to wonder who it could be that chatter or so and ran out to see but when they came out at the door buttercup threw down on them the third tree root and the stone and broke all their heads to bits after that he took all the gold and silver that lay in the house and went home to his mother and became a rich man end of section 25 section 26 of popular tales from the north this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org read by Seldon popular tales from the north by Sir George Webb Dawson section 26 taming this room once on a time there was a king and he had a daughter who was such as cold and whose tongue went so fast there was no stopping it so he gave out that the man who could stop her tongue should have the princess to wife and half his kingdom into the bargain now three brothers who heard this made up their minds to go and try their luck and first of all the two elder went but they thought they were the cleverest but they couldn't cope with her at all and got well trashed besides then boots the youngest set off and when he had gone a little way he found an ulterior fan lying on the road and he picked it up when he had gone a little further he found a piece of a broken plate and he picked that up too a little further on he found a dead mac punk and a little further on still a crooked ram's horn so he went on a bit and found the fellow to the horn and at last just as he was crossing the field by the king's palace where they were pitching out dung he found a worn out shoe sole all these things he took with him into the palace and went before the princess good day said he good day said she and made a bright face can i get my mac bike up here he asked i'm afraid it will burst answer the princess oh never fear for i'll just tie this all your band around it said the lad as he pulled it out the fat will run out of it said the princess then i'll hold this under it said the lad and showed her the piece of broken plate you are so crooked in your words said the princess there is no knowing where to have you no i'm not crooked said the lad but this is as he held up one of the horns well said the princess i never saw the match of this in all my days why here you see the match to it said the lad as he pulled out the other ram's horn i think said the princess you must have come here to wear out my dung with your nonsense no i have not said the lad but this is worn out as he pulled out the shoe sole do this the princess hadn't a word to say but she had fairly lost her voice with rage now you are mine said the lad and so he caught the princess to wife and half the kingdom end of section 26 section 27 of popular tales from the north this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org read by Sharon Riscadal popular tales from the Norse by Sir George Webb Dawson section 27 shortchanks once on a time there was a poor couple who lived in a tumbledown hut in which there was nothing but black want so that they hadn't a morsel to eat nor a stick to burn but though they had next to nothing of other things they had God's blessings in the way of children and every year they had another babe now when this story begins they were just looking out for a new child and to tell the truth the husband was rather cross and he was always going about grumbling and growling and saying for his part he thought one might have too many of these God's gifts so when the time came that the babe was to be born he went off to the wood to fetch fuel saying he didn't care to stop and see the young squalor he'd be sure to hear him soon enough screaming for food now when her husband was well out of the house his wife gave birth to a beautiful boy who began to look about the room as soon as ever he came into the world oh dear mother he said give me some of my brother's cast-off clothes and a few days food and I will go out into the world and try my luck you have enough children as it is that I can see God help you my son answered his mother that can never be you are far too young yet but the tiny one stuck to what he said and begged and prayed until his mother was forced to let him have a few old rags and a little food tied up in a bundle and off he went right merrily and manfully into the wide world but he was scarce out of the house before his mother had another boy and he too looked about him and said oh dear mother give me some of my brother's old clothes and a few days food and I'll go out into the world to find my twin brother you have enough children already on your hands that I can see God help you my poor little fellow said his mother you are far too little this will never do but it was no good the tiny one begged and prayed so hard till he got some tattered rags and a bundle of food and so he wandered out into the world like a man to find his twin brother now when the younger had walked a while he saw his brother a good bit on before him so he called out to him to stop hello can't you stop why you lay legs to the ground as if you were running a race but you might just as well have stayed to see your youngest brother before you set off in the world in such a hurry so the elder stopped and looked around and when the younger had come up to him and told him the whole story and how he was his brother he went on to say well let's sit down here and see what our mother has given us for food so they sat down together and were soon great friends now when they had gone a bit farther on their way they came to a brook which ran through a green meadow and the youngest said now the time was come to give one another names since we set off in such a hurry that we hadn't time to do it at home we may as well do it here well said the elder and what shall your name be oh said the younger my name shall be shortchanks and yours what shall it be i will be called king sturdy answered the eldest so they christened each other in the brook and went on but when they had walked a while they came to a crossroad and agreed they should part there and each take his own road so they parted but they hadn't gone half a mile before their roads met again so they parted the second time and took each a road but in a little while the same thing happened and they met again they scarce knew how and the same thing happened a third time also then they agreed that they should each choose a quarter of the heavens and one was to go east and the other west but before they parted the elder said if you ever fallen to misfortune or need call three times on me and i will come and help you but mind you don't call on me till you are at the last pinch well said shortchanks if that's to be the rule i don't think we shall meet again very soon after that they bade each other goodbye and shortchanks went east and king sturdy went west now you must know when shortchanks had gone a good bit alone he met an old old crook backed hag who only had one eye and shortchanks snapped it up oh oh screamed the hag what has become of my eye what will you give me ask shortchanks if you get your eye back i'll give you a sword and such a sword it will put a whole army to flight be it ever so great answered the old woman out with it then said shortchanks so the old hag gave him the sword and got her eye back again after that shortchanks wandered on a while and another old old crook backed hag met him who had only one eye which shortchanks stole before she was aware of him oh oh whatever has become of my eye screamed the hag what will you give me to get your eye back asked shortchanks i'll give you a ship said the woman which can sail over fresh water and saltwater and over high hills and deep dales well out with it said shortchanks so the old woman gave him a little tiny ship no bigger than he could put in his pocket and she got her eye back again and they each went their own way but when he had wandered on a long long way he met a third time an old old crook backed hag with only one eye this eye too shortchanks stole and when the hag screamed and made a great to-do balling out what had become of her eye shortchanks said what will you give me to get back your eye then she answered i will give you the art how to brew a hundred lasts of malt at one strike well for teaching that art the old hag got back her eye and they each went their way but when shortchanks had walked a little way he thought it might be worthwhile to try his ship so he took it out of his pocket and put first one foot into it and then the other and as soon as ever he set one foot into it it began to grow bigger and bigger and by the time he set the other foot into it it was as big as other ships that sail on the sea then shortchanks said often away over fresh water and saltwater over high hills and deep dales and don't stop till you come to the king's palace and low away went the ship as swiftly as a bird through the air till it came down a little below the king's palace and there it stopped from the palace windows people had stood and seen shortchanks come sailing along and they were all so amazed that they ran down to see who it could be that came sailing in a ship through the air but while they were running down shortchanks had stepped out of his ship and put it into his pocket again for as soon as he stepped out of it it became as small as it was when he got it from the old woman so those who had run down from the palace saw no one but a ragged little boy standing down there by the strand then the king asked whence he came but the boy said he didn't know nor could he tell them how he got there there he was and that was all they could get out of him but he begged and prayed so pridly to get a place in the king's palace saying if there was nothing else for him to do he could carry in wood and water for the kitchen maid that their hearts were touched and he got leave to stay there now when shortchanks came up to the palace he saw how it was all hung with black both outside and in wall and roof so he asked the kitchen maid what all that morning meant don't you know said the kitchen maid I'll soon tell you the king's daughter was promised away a long time ago to three ogres and next Thursday evening one of them is coming to fetch her Ritter read it is true has given out that he is man enough to set her free but God knows if he can do it and now you know why we are all in grief and sorrow so when Thursday evening came Ritter read led the princess down to the strand for there it was she was to meet the ogre and he was to stay by her there and watch but he wasn't likely to do the ogre march harm I reckon for as soon as ever the princess had sat down on the strand Ritter read climbed up into a great tree that stood there and hid himself as well as he could among the bows the princess begged and prayed him not to leave her but Ritter read turned a deaf ear to her and all he said was tis better for one to lose life than for two that was what Ritter read said meantime short shanks went to the kitchen maid and asked her so prettily if he might go down to the strand for a bit and what should you take down to the strand asked the kitchen maid you know you've no business there oh dear friend said short shanks do let me go I should so like to run down there and play a while with the other children that I should well well said the kitchen maid off with you but don't let me catch you staying there a bit over the time when the bros for supper must be set on the fire and the roast put on the spit and let me see when you come back mind you bring a good armful of wood with you yes short shanks would mind all that so off he ran down to the strand but just when he reached the spot where the princess sat what should come but the ogre tearing along in his ship so that the wind roared and howled after him he was so tall and stout it was awful to look on him and he had five heads of his own fire and flame screamed the ogre fire and flame yourself said the short shanks can you fight roared the ogre if I can't I can learn said short shanks so the ogre struck at him with a great thick iron club which he had in his fist and the earth and stones flew up five yards into the air after the stroke my said short shanks that was something like a blow but now you shall see a stroke of mine then he grasped the sword he had got from the old crook back tag and cut at the ogre and away went all his five heads flying over the sand so when the princess saw she was saved she was so glad that she scarce knew what to do and she jumped and danced for joy come lie down and sleep a little in my lap she said to short shanks and as he slept she threw over him a tinsel robe now you must know it wasn't long before ridder red crept down from the tree as soon as he saw there was nothing to fear in the way and he went up to the princess and threatened her until she promised to say it was he who had saved her life for if she wouldn't say so he said he would kill her on the spot after that he cut out the ogre's lungs and tongue and wrapped them up in his handkerchief and so led the princess back to the palace and whatever honors he had not before he got then for the king did not know how to find honor enough for him and made him sit every day on his right hand at dinner as for short shanks he went first of all on board the ogre's ship and took a whole heap of gold and silver rings as large as hoops and trotted off with him as hard as he could go to the palace when the kitchen maid set her eyes on all that gold and silver she was quite scared and asked him but dear good short shanks where ever did you get all this from for she was rather afraid he hadn't come rightly by it oh answered short shanks i went home for a bit and there i found these hoops which had fallen off some old pales of ours so i laid hands on them for you if you must know well when the kitchen maid heard they were for her she said nothing more about the matter but thanked short shanks and they were good friends again the next thursday evening it was the same story over again all were in grief and trouble but ridder red said as he had saved the princess from one ogre it was hard if he couldn't save her from another and down he led her to the strand as brave as a lion but he didn't do this ogre much harm either for when the time came that they looked for the ogre he said as he had said before tis better one should lose life than two and crept up into his tree again but short shanks begged the kitchen maid to let him go down to the strand for a little oh asked the kitchen maid and what business have you down there dear friend said short shanks do pray let me go i long so to run down and play a while with the other children well the kitchen maid gave him leave to go but he must promise to be back by the time the roast was turned and he was to mind and bring a big bundle of wood with him so short shanks had scarce got down to the strand when the ogre came tearing along in his ship so that the wind howled and roared around him he was twice as big as the other ogre and he had 10 heads on his shoulders fire and flame screamed the ogre fire and flame yourself answered short shanks can you fight roared the ogre if i can't i can learn said short shanks then the ogre struck at him with his iron club it was even bigger than that which the first ogre had and the earth and stones flew up 10 yards into the air my said short shanks that was something like a blow now you shall see a stroke of mine then he grasped his sword and cut off all the ogre's 10 heads at one blow and sent them dancing away over the sand then the princes again said to him lie down and sleep a little while on my lap and while short shanks lay there she threw over him a silver robe but as soon as Ritter Red marked that there was no more danger in the way he crept down from the tree and threatened the princess till she was forced to give her word to say it was he who had set her free after that he cut the lungs and tongue out of the ogre and wrapped them in his handkerchief and led the princess back to the palace then you may fancy what mirth and joy there was and the king was at his wit's end to know how to show Ritter Red honor and favor enough this time too short shanks took a whole armful of gold and silver rings from the ogre's ship and when he came back to the palace the kitchen maid clapped her hands in wonder asking wherever he got all that gold and silver from but short shanks answered that he had been home a while and that the hoops had fallen off some old pales so he had laid his hands on them for his friend the kitchen maid so when the third thursday evening came everything happened as it had happened twice before the whole palace was hung with black and all went about mourning and weeping but Ritter Red said he couldn't see what need they had to be so afraid he had freed the princess from two ogres and he could very well free her from a third so he led her down to the strand but when the time drew near for the ogre to come up he crept into his tree again and hid himself the princess begged and prayed but it was no good for Ritter Red said again tis better that one should lose life than two that evening too short shanks begged for leave to go down to the strand oh said the kitchen maid what should take you down there but he begged and prayed so that at last he got leave to go only he had to promise to be back to the kitchen again when the roast was to be turned so off he went but he had scarce reached the strand when the ogre came with the wind howling and roaring after him he was much much bigger than either of the other two and he had 15 heads on his shoulders fire and flame roared out the ogre fire and flame yourself said short shanks can you fight scream the ogre if i can't i can learn said short shanks i'll soon teach you scream the ogre and struck at him with his iron club so that the earth and stones flew up 15 yards into the air my said short shanks that was something like a blow but now you shall see a stroke of mine as he said that he grasped his sword and cut off all the ogre's 15 heads at one blow and sent them all dancing over the sand so the princess was freed from all the ogre's and she both blessed and thanked short shanks for saving her life sleep now a while on my lap she said and he laid his head on her lap and while he slept she threw over him a golden robe but how will we let it be known that it is you that have saved me she asked when he awoke oh i'll soon tell you answered short shanks when ridder red has led you home again and given himself out as the man who has saved you you know he is to have you to a wife and half the kingdom now when they ask you on your wedding day whom you will have to be your cup bearer you must say i will have the ragged boy who does odd jobs in the kitchen and carries in wood and water for the kitchen maid so when i am filling your cups i will spill a drop on his plate but none on yours then he will be wroth and give me a blow and the same thing will happen three times but the third time you must mind and say shame on you to strike my heart's darling he it is who set me free and him will i have after that short shanks ran back to the palace as he had done before but first he went on board the ogre's ship and took a whole heap of gold and silver and precious stones and out of them he gave the kitchen maid another great armful of gold and silver rings well as for ridder red as soon as ever he saw that all risk was over he crept down from his tree and threatened the princess till she was forced to promise she would say it was he who had saved her after that he led her back to the palace and all the honor shown him before was nothing to what he got now for the king thought of nothing else than how he might best honor the man who had saved his daughter from the three ogres as for his marrying her and having half the kingdom that was a subtle thing the king said but when the wedding day came the princess begged she might have the ragged boy who carried in wood and water for the cook to be her cupbearer at the bridal feast i can't think why you would want to bring that filthy beggar boy in here said ridder red but the princess had a will of her own and said she would have him and no one else to pour out her wine so she had her way at last now everything went as it had been agreed between short shanks and the princess he spilled a drop on ridder red's plate but none on hers and each time ridder red got wroth and struck him at the first blow short shanks rags fell off which he had worn in the kitchen at the second the tinsel robe fell off and at the third the silver robe and then he stood in his golden robe all gleaming and glittering in the light then the princess said shame on you to strike my heart's darling he has saved me and him will i have ridder red cursed and swore it was he who had set her free but the king put in his word and said the man who saved my daughter must have some token to show for it yes ridder red had something to show and he ran off at once after his handkerchief with the lungs and tongues in it and short shanks fetched all the gold and silver and precious things he had taken out of the ogre ships so each laid his tokens before the king and the king said the man who has such precious stores of gold and silver and diamonds must have slain the ogre and spoiled his goods for such things are not to be had elsewhere so ridder red was thrown into a pit full of snakes and short shanks was to have the princess and half the kingdom one day short shanks and the king were out walking and short shanks asked the king if he hadn't any more children yes said the king i have another daughter but the ogre has taken her away because there was no one who could save her now you are going to have one daughter but if you can set the other free whom the ogre has carried off you shall have her too with all my heart and the other half of my kingdom well said short shanks i may as well try but i must have an iron cable 500 fathoms long and 500 men and food for them to last 15 weeks for i have a long voyage before me yes said the king he should have them but he was afraid there wasn't a ship in his kingdom big enough to carry such a freight oh if that's all said short shanks i have a ship of my own with that he whipped out of his pocket the ship he had got from the old hag the king laughed and thought it was all a joke but short shanks begged him only to give him what he had asked and he should soon see if it was a joke so they got together what he wanted and short shanks bade him put the cable on board the ship first of all but there was no one man who could lift it and there wasn't room for more than one at a time around the tiny ship then short shanks took hold of the cable by one end and laid a link or two into the ship and as he threw in the links the ship grew bigger and bigger till at last it got so big that there was room enough and to spare in it for the cable and the 500 men and their food and short shanks and all then he said to the ship often away over fresh water and salt water over high hill and deep dale and don't stop till you come to where the king's daughter is and away went the ship over land and sea till the wind whistled after it so when they had sailed far far away the ship stood stock still in the middle of the sea ah said short shanks now we have got so far but how we are to get back is another story then he took the cable and tied one end of it round his waist and said now i must go to the bottom but when i give the cable a good tug and want to come up again mind you all hoist away with a will or your lives will be lost as well as mine and with these words overboard he leapt and dived down so that the yellow waves rose around him in an eddy well he sank and sank and at last he came to the bottom and there he saw a great rock rising up with a door in it so he opened the door and went in when he got inside he saw another princess who sat and sewed but when she saw short shanks she clasped her hands together and cried out now god be thanked you are the first christian man i've set eyes on since i came here very good said short shanks but do you know i've come to fetch you oh she cried you'll never fetch me you'll never have that luck for if the ogre sees you he'll kill you on the spot i'm glad you spoke of the ogre said short shanks would be fine fun to see him where abouts is he then the princess told him that the ogre was out looking for someone who could brew a hundred lasts of malt at one strike for he was going to give a great feast and less drink would not do well i can do that said short shanks oh said the princess if only the ogre wasn't so hasty i might tell him about you but he's so cross i'm afraid he'll tear you to pieces as soon as he comes in without waiting to hear my story let me see what is to be done oh i have it just hide yourself in the side room yonder and let us take our chance well short shanks did as she told him and he had scarce crept into the side room before the ogre came in huff said the ogre what a horrid smell of christian man's blood yes said the princess i know there is for a bird flew over the house with a christian man's bone in his bill and let it fall down the chimney i made all the haste i could to get it out again but i dare say it's that you smell oh said the ogre like enough then the princess asked the ogre if he had laid hold of anyone who could brew a hundred lasts of malt at one strike no said the ogre i can't hear of anyone who can do it well she said a while ago there was a chap in here who said he could do it just like you with your wisdom said the ogre why did you let him go away when you knew he was the very man i wanted well then i didn't let him go said the princess but father's temper is a little hot so i hid him away in the side room yonder but if father hasn't hit upon anyone here he is well said the ogre let him come in then so short shanks came in and the ogre asked him if it were true that he could brew a hundred lasts of malt at one strike yes it is said short shanks twas good luck then to lay hands on you said the ogre and now fall to work this minute but heaven help you if you don't brew the ale strong enough oh said short shanks never fear it shall be stinging stuff and with that he began to brew without more fuss but all at once he cried out i must have more of you ogres to help in the brewing for these i have aren't half strong enough well he got more so many that there was a whole swarm of them and then the brewing went on bravely now when the sweet wart was ready they were all eager to taste it you may guess first of all the ogre and then all his kith and kin but short shanks had brewed the wart so strong that they all fell down dead one after another like so many flies as soon as they had tasted it at last there wasn't any one of them left alive but one vile old hag who lay bedridden in the chimney corner oh you poor old wretch said short shanks you may just as well taste the wart along with the rest so he went and scooped up a little from the bottom of the copper in the scoop and gave her a drink and so he was rid of the whole pack of them as he stood there and looked about him he cast his eye on a great chest so he took it and filled it with gold and silver then he tied the cable round himself and the princess and the chest and gave it a good tug and his men pulled them all up safe and sound as soon as ever short shanks was well up he said to the ship often away over fresh water and salt water high hill and deep dale and don't stop till you come to the king's palace and straight away the ship held on her course so that the yellow billows foamed around her when the people in the palace saw the ship sailing up they were not slow in meeting them with songs and music welcoming short shanks with great joy but the gladdest of all was the king who had now got his other daughter back again but now short shanks was rather downhearted for you must know that both the princesses wanted to have him and he would have no other than the one he had saved first and she was the youngest so he walked up and down and thought and thought what he should do to get her and yet do something to please her sister well one day as he was turning the thing over in his mind it struck him if he only had his brother king sturdy who was so like him that no one could tell the one from the other he would give up to him the other princess and half the kingdom for he thought one half was quite enough well as soon as ever this came into his mind he went outside the palace and called on king sturdy but no one came so he called the second time a little louder but still no one came then he called out the third time king sturdy with all his might and there stood his brother before him didn't I say he said to short shanks didn't I say you were not to call me except in your utmost need and here there is not so much as a net to do you any harm and with that he gave him such a box on the ear that short shanks tumbled head over heels on the grass now shame on you to hit so hard said short shanks first of all I won a princess and half the kingdom and then I won another princess and the other half of the kingdom and now I'm thinking to give you one of the princesses and half the kingdom is there any rhyme or reason in giving me such a box on the ear when king sturdy heard that he begged his brother to forgive him and they were soon as good friends as ever again now said short shanks you know we are so much alike that no one can tell one from the other so just change clothes with me and go into the palace then the princesses will think it is I that I'm coming in and the one that kisses you first you shall have for your wife and I will have the other for mine and he said this because he knew well enough that the elder king's daughter was the stronger and so he could very well guess how things would go as for king sturdy he was willing enough so he changed clothes with his brother and went into the palace but when he came into the princesses bower they thought it was short shanks and both ran up to him to kiss him but the elder who was stronger and bigger pushed her sister on one side and threw her arms around king sturdy's neck and gave him a kiss and so he got her for his wife and short shanks got the younger princess then they made ready for the wedding and you may fancy what a grand one it was when I tell you that the fame of it was noised abroad over seven kingdoms end of section 27 section 28 of popular tales from the north this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org section 28 Goodbrind on the hillside once on a time there was a man whose name was Goodbrind he had a farm which lay far far away upon a hillside and so they called him Goodbrind on the hillside now you must know this man and his good wife lived so happily together and understood one another so well that all the husband did the wife thought so well done there was nothing like it in the world and she was always glad whatever he turned his hand to the farm was their own land and they had a hundred dollars lying at the bottom of their chest and two cows tethered up in a stall in their farmyard so one day his wife said to Goodbrind do you know dear I think we ought to take one of our cows into town and sell it that's what I think for then we shall have some money in hand and such well to do people as we ought to have ready money like the rest of the world as for the hundred dollars in the bottom of the chest yonder we can make a hole in them and I'm sure I don't know what we want with more than one cow besides we shall gain a little in another way for then I shall get off with only looking after one cow instead of having as now to feed in litter and water too well Goodbrind thought his wife talked right good sense so he set off at once with the cow on his way to town to sell her but when he got to the town there was no one who would buy his cow well well never mind said Goodbrind at worst I can only go back home again with my cow I've got both stable and tethered for her I should think and the road is no farther out than in and with that he began to toddle home with his cow but when he had gone a bit of the way a man met him who had a horse to sell so Goodbrind thought it was better to have a horse than a cow so he swapped with the man a little farther on he met a man walking along and driving a fat pig before him and he thought it better to have a fat pig than a horse so he swapped with the man after that he went a little farther and a man met him with a goat so he thought it better to have a goat than a pig and he swapped with the man who owned the goat then he went on a good bit till he met a man who had a sheep and he swapped with him too for he thought it always better to have a sheep than a goat after a while he met a man with a goose and he swapped away the sheep for the goose and when he had walked a long long time he met a man with a cock and he swapped with him for he thought in this wife tis surely better to have a cock than a goose then he went on till the day was far spent and he began to get very hungry so he sold the cock for a shilling and bought food with the money for thought good brind on the hillside tis always better to save one's life than to have a cock after that he went on home till he reached his nearest neighbor's house where he turned in well said the owner of the house how did things go with you in town rather so so said good brind i can't breathe my luck nor do i blame it either and with that he told the whole story from first to last ah said his friend you'll get nicely called over the coals that one can see when you get home to your wife heaven help you i wouldn't stand in your shoes for something well said good brindon the hillside i think things might have gone much worse with me but now whether i've done wrong i have such a kind good wife she never has a word to say against anything that i do oh answered his neighbor i hear what you say but i don't believe it for all that shall we lay a bet upon it ask good brindon the hillside i have a hundred dollars at the bottom of my chest at home will you lay as many against them yes the friend was ready to bet so good brind stayed there till evening when it began to get dark and then they went together to his house and the neighbor was to stand outside the door and listen while the man went in to see his wife good evening said good brindon the hillside good evening said the good wife oh is that you now god be praised yes it was he so the wife asked how things had gone with him in town oh only so so answered good brind not much to brag of when i got to the town there was no one who would buy the cow so you must know i swapped it away for a horse for a horse said his wife well that is good of you thanks for selling my heart we are so ready to do that we may drive to church just as well as other people and if we choose to keep a horse we have a right to get one i should think run out child and put up the horse uh said good brind but you see i've not got the horse after all for when i got a bit farther on the road i swapped it away for a pig think of that now said the wife he did just as i should have done myself a thousand thanks now i can have a bit to bacon in the house except before people when they come to see me that i can what do we want with a horse people would only say we had got so proud that we couldn't walk to church go out child and put the pig in the sky but i've not got the pig either said good brind for when i got a little farther on i swapped it away for a milch goat bless us cried his wife how well you manage everything now i think it over what should i do with a pig people would only point to us and say yonder they ate up all they have got no now i have got the goat and i shall have milk and cheese and keep the goat to run out child and put up the goat nay but i haven't got the goat either said good brind for a little farther on i swapped it away and got a fine sheep instead he don't say so cried his wife why you do everything to please me just as if i had been with you what do we want with if i had it i should lose half my time climbing up the hills to get it down no if i have a sheep i shall both woolen clothing and fresh meat in the house run out child and put up the sheep but i haven't got the sheep any more than the rest said good brind for when i had gone a bit farther i swapped it away for goose thank you thank you with all my heart cried his wife what should i do with a sheep i have no spinning wheel no carding comb nor should i care to worry myself with cutting and shaping and sewing clothes we can buy clothes as we have always done and now i shall have a roast goose which i have longed for so often and besides down to stuff my pillow with run out child and put up the goose ah said good brind but i haven't the goose either for when i had gone a bit farther i swapped it away for a cock dear me cried his wife how you think of everything just as i should have done it myself a cock think of that why it's as good as an eight day clock for every morning the cock crows at four o'clock and we shall be able to stir our stumps in good time what should we do with a goose i don't know how to cook it and as for my pillow we can stuff it with cotton grass run out child and put up the cock but after all i haven't got the cock said good brind for when i had gone a bit farther i was as hungry as a hunter so i was forced to sell the cock for a shilling for fear i should starve now god be praised that you did so cried his wife whatever you do you do it always just after my own heart what should we do with the cock we're our own masters i should think and can lie a bed in the morning as long as we like heaven be thanks that i have got you safe and back again you who do everything so well that i want neither cock nor goose neither pig nor kind then good brind opened the door and said well what do you say now have i won the hundred dollars and his good neighbor was forced to allow that he had end of section 28