 CHAPTER 48 FARMER WEATHER SKY Once on a time there was a man and his wife who had an only son, and his name was Jack. The old dame thought at high time for her son to go out into the world to learn a trade, and bade her husband be off with him. "'But all you do,' she said, "'mind you bind him to someone who can teach him to be master above all masters?' and with that she put some food and a roll of tobacco into a bag and packed them off. "'Well, they went to many masters, but one and all said they could make the lad as good as themselves, but better they couldn't make him. So when the man came home again to his wife with that answer, she said, "'I don't care what you make of him, but this I say and stick to. You must bind him to someone where he can learn to be master above all masters.' And with that she packed up more food and another roll of tobacco, and father and son had to be off again. Now when they had walked awhile they got upon the ice, and there they met a man who came whisking along in a sledge and drove a black horse. "'Wither away,' said the man. "'Well,' said the father, "'I'm going to bind my son to someone who is good to teach him a trade, but my old dame comes of such fine folk. She will have taught him to be master above all masters.' "'Well met, then,' said the driver. "'I'm just the man for your money, for I'm looking out for such an apprentice.' "'Up with you behind,' he added to the lad, and whisk off they went, both of them, and sledge and horse, right up into the air. "'Nay, nay,' cried the lad's father, "'you haven't told me your name, nowhere you live.' "'Oh,' said the master, "'I'm at home, alike, north and south and east and west, and my name's Farmer Weather Sky. "'In a year and a day you may come here again, and then I'll tell you if I like him.' So away they went through the air, and were soon out of sight. So when the man got home his old dame asked what had become of her son. "'Well,' said the man, "'heaven knows, I'm sure I don't. They went up aloft.' And so he told her what had happened. But when the old dame heard that her husband couldn't tell it all when her son's apprenticeship would be out, nor wither he had gone, she packed him off again, and gave him another bag of food and another roll of tobacco. So when he had walked a bit he came to a great wood, which stretched on and on all day as he walked through it. When it got dark he saw a great light, and he went towards it. After a long, long time he came to a little butt under a rock, and outside stood an old hag drawing water out of a well with her nose. So long was it.' "'Good evening, mother,' said the man.' "'The same to you,' said the old hag. It's hundreds of years since anyone called me mother.' "'Can I have lodging here to-night?' asked the man. "'No. That you can't,' said she. But then the man pulled out his roll of tobacco, lighted his pipe, and gave the old dame a whiff and a pinch of snuff. When she was so happy she began to dance for joy, and the end was she gave the man leave to stop the night. So the next morning he began to ask after Farmer Weather Sky. No, she never heard tell of him, but she ruled over all the four-footed beasts. Perhaps some of them might know him. So she played them all home with a pipe, she had, and asked them all. But there wasn't one of them who knew anything about Farmer Weather Sky. "'Well,' said the old hag, "'there are three sisters of us. Maybe one of the other two know where he lives. I'll lend you my horse and my sledge, and then you'll be at her house by night. But it's at least three hundred miles off the nearest way.' Then the man started off. And at night reached the house, and when he came there, there stood another old hag before the door, drawing water out of the well with her nose. "'Good evening, mother,' said the man. "'Same to you,' said she. "'It's hundreds of years since anyone called me mother.' "'Can I lodge here to-night?' asked the man. "'No,' said the old hag. But he took out his roll of tobacco, lighted his pipe, and gave the old dame a whiff, and a good pinch of snuff besides on the back of her hand. Then she was so happy she began to jump and dance for joy, and so the man got leave to stay the night. When that was over, he began to ask after Farmer Weather Sky. "'No,' she had never heard tell of him. But she ruled all the fish in the sea. Of some of them might know something about him.' So she played them all home with the pipe she had, and asked them. But there wasn't one of them who knew anything about Farmer Weather Sky. "'Well, well,' said the old hag. "'There's one sister of us left. Maybe she knows something about him. She lives six hundred miles off, but I'll lend you my horse and sledge, and then you'll get there by nightfall.' Then the man started off, and reached the house by nightfall. And there he found another old hag who stood before the grate, and stirred the fire with her nose, so long and tough it was. "'Good evening, mother,' said the man. "'The same to you,' said the old hag. It's hundreds of years since anyone called me mother. "'Can I lodge here to-night?' asked the man. "'No,' said the old hag. Then the man pulled out his roll of tobacco again, and lighted his pipe, and gave the old hag such a pinch of snuff it covered the whole back of her hand. Then she got so happy she began to dance for joy, and so the man got leave to stay. But when the night was over he began to ask after Farmer Weather Sky. She never heard tell of him, she said. But she ruled over all the birds of the air, and so she played them all home with a pipe she had. And when she had mustered them all, the eagle was missing. But a little while after he came flying home. And when she asked him, he said he had just come straight from Farmer Weather Sky. Then the old hag said he must guide the man thither. But the eagle said he must have something to eat first. And besides, he must rest till the next day. He was so tired with flying that long way he could scarce rise from the earth. So when he had eaten his fill and taken a good rest, the old hag pulled a feather out of the eagle's tail, and put the man there in its stead. So the eagle flew off with the man, and flew, and flew. But they didn't reach Farmer Weather Sky's house before midnight. So when they got there, the eagle said, There are heaps of dead bodies lying about outside, but you mustn't mind them. Inside the house, every man jack of them are so sound asleep to be hard work to wake them. But you must go straight to the table drawer and take out of it three crumbs of bread, and when you hear someone snoring loud, pull three feathers out of his head. He won't wake for all that. So the man did as he was told, and after he had taken the crumbs of bread he pulled out the first feather. Oof! grouled Farmer Weather Sky, for it was he who snored. So the man pulled out another feather. Oof! he growled again. But when he pulled out the third, Farmer Weather Sky roared so. The man thought the roof and the wall would have flown asunder. But for all that the snorer slept on. After that the eagle told him what he was to do. He went to the yard, and there at the stable door he stumbled against a big gray stone. And that he lifted up. Beneath it lay three chips of wood, and those he picked up too. Then he knocked at the stable door, and it opened of itself. Then he threw down the three crumbs of bread, and a hair came and ate them up. That hair he caught and kept. After that the eagle bade him pull three feathers out of his tail, and put the hair, the stone, the chips, and himself there instead, and then he would fly away home with them all. So when the eagle had flown a long way, he lighted on a rock to rest. Do you see anything? It asked. Yes, said the man. I see a flock of crows coming flying after us. We'd better be off again, then, said the eagle, who flew away. After a while it asked again. Do you see anything now? Yes, said the man. Now the crows are close behind us. Drop now the three feathers you pulled out of his head, said the eagle. Well, the man dropped the feathers, and as soon as ever he dropped them they became a flock of ravens which drove the crows home again. Then the eagle flew on far away with the man, and at last it lighted on another stone to rest. Do you see anything? It said. I'm not sure, said the man. I fancy I see something coming far, far away. We'd better get on, then, said the eagle. After a while it said again. Do you see anything? Yes, said the man. Now he's close at our heels. Now you must let fall the chips of wood which you took from under the grey stone at the stable door, said the eagle. Yes. The man let them fall, and they grew at once into a tall thick wood so that farmer weather-sky had to go back home to fetch an axe to hew his way through. While he did this the eagle flew ever so far. But when it got tired it lighted on a fur to rest. Do you see anything? It said. Well, I'm not sure, said the man. But I fancy I catch a glimpse of something far away. We'd best be off, then, said the eagle. And off it flew as fast as it could. After a while it said, Do you see anything now? Yes. Now he's close behind us, said the man. Now you must drop the big stone you lifted up at the stable door, said the eagle. The man did so. And as it fell it became a great high mountain which farmer weather-sky had to break his way through. When he had got half through the mountain he tripped and broke one of his legs, and so he had to limp home again and patch it up. But while he was doing this the eagle flew away to the man's house with him and the hare. And as soon as they got home the man went into the churchyard and sprinkled Christian mold over the hare, and lo! It turned into Jack, his son. Well, you may fancy the old dame was glad to get her son again, but still she wasn't easy in her mind about his trade, and she wouldn't rest until he gave her a proof that he was master above all masters. So when the fair came round the lad changed himself into a bay horse and told his father to lead him to the fair. Now when anyone comes, he said, to buy me. You may ask a hundred dollars for me, but mind you don't forget to take the headstall off me. If you do, Farmer Weather Sky will keep me forever, for he it is, who will come to deal with you. So it turned out up came a horse dealer who had a great wish to deal for the horse, and he gave a hundred dollars down for him. But when the bargain was struck and Jack's father had pocketed the money, the horse dealer wanted to have the headstall. Nay, nay, said the man, there's nothing about that in the bargain, and besides you can't have the headstall for I've other horses at home to bring to town to-morrow. So each went his way, but they hadn't gone far before Jack took his own shape and ran away. And when his father got home, there sat Jack in the ingle. Next day he turned himself into a brown horse and told his father to drive him to the fair. And when anyone comes to buy me, you may ask two hundred dollars for me. He'll give that and treat you besides. But whatever you do, and however much you drink, don't forget to take the headstall off me, else you'll never set eyes on me again. So all happened as he had said. The man got two hundred dollars for the horse and a glass of drink besides. And when the buyer and seller parted, it was as much as he could do to remember to take off the headstall. But the buyer and the horse hadn't got far on the road before Jack took his own shape, and when the man got home, there sat Jack in the ingle. The third day it was the same story over again. The lad turned himself into a black horse and told his father someone would come and bid three hundred dollars for him and fill his skin with meat and drink besides. But however much he ate or drank, he was to mind and not forget to take the headstall off, else he'd have to stay with the farmer weather-sky all his life long. No, no, I'll not forget, never fear, said the man. So when he came to the fair he got three hundred dollars for the horse, and as it wasn't to be a dry bargain, farmer weather-sky made him drink so much that he quite forgot to take the headstall off, and away went farmer weather-sky with the horse. Now when he had gone a little way, farmer weather-sky thought he would just stop and have another glass of brandy. So he put a barrel of red-hot nails under his horse's nose, and a sieve of oats under his tail hung the halter upon a hook and went into the inn. So the horse stood there and stamped and pawed and snorted and reared. Just then out came a lassie who thought it a shame to treat a horse so. Oh, poor beastie! she said. What a cruel master you must have to treat you so! And as she said this, she pulled the halter off the hook, so that the horse might turn around and taste the oats. I'm after you, roared farmer weather-sky, who came rushing out of the door, but the horse had already shaken off the headstall and jumped into a duck pond, where he turned himself into a tiny fish. In went farmer weather-sky after him, and turned himself into a great pike. Then Jack turned himself into a dove, and farmer weather-sky made himself into a hawk, and chased and struck at the dove. But just then a princess stood at the window of the palace and saw this struggle. Ah, poor dove! she cried. If you only knew what I knew, you'd fly to me through this window. So the dove came flying in through the window, and turned itself into Jack again, who told his own tale. Turn yourself into a gold ring, and put yourself on my finger, said the princess. Nay, nay, said Jack. That'll never do. For then farmer weather-sky will make the king sick. And then there'll be no one who can make him well again until farmer weather-sky comes and cures him. And then, for his fee, he'll ask for that gold ring. Then I'll say I had it for my mother, and can't part with it, said the princess. Well, Jack turned himself into a gold ring, and put himself on the princess's finger. And so farmer weather-sky couldn't get at him. But then followed what the lad had foretold. The king fell sick, and there wasn't a doctor in the kingdom who could cure him till farmer weather-sky came. And he asked for the ring off the princess's finger, for his fee. So the king sent a messenger to the princess for the ring. But the princess said she wouldn't part with it. Her mother had left it her. When the king heard that, he flew into a rage, and said he would have the ring whoever left it to her. Well, said the princess, it's no good being cross about it. I can't get it off, and if you must have the ring, you must take my finger, too. If you let me try, I'll soon get the ring off, said farmer weather-sky. No thanks, I'll try myself, said the princess, and flew off to the grate, and put ashes on her finger. Then the ring slipped off, and was lost among the ashes. So farmer weather-sky turned himself into a cock who scratched and pecked after the ring in the grate, till he was up to his ears in ashes. But while he was doing this, Jack turned himself into a fox and bit off the cock's head. And so, if the evil one was in farmer weather-sky, it is all over with him now. End of Section 48 Section 49 Once upon a time was a poor couple, and they had nothing in the world but three sons. What names the two elder had, I can't say, but the youngest was called Peter. So when their father and mother died, the sons were to share what was left, but there was nothing but a porridge pot, a griddle, and a cat. The eldest, who was to have the first choice, took the pot. Four said he, Whenever I lend the pot to any one to boil porridge, I can always get leave to scrape it. The second took the griddle. Four said he, Whenever I lend it to any one, I'll always get a morsel of dough, to make a bannock. But the youngest had no choice left him. If he was to choose anything, it must be the cat. Well, said he, If I lend the cat to any one, I shan't get much by that, for if Pussy gets a drop of milk, she'll want it all to herself. Still, I'd best take her along with me. I shouldn't like her to go about here and starve. So the brothers went out into the world to try their luck, and each took his own way. But when the youngest had gone a while, the cat said, Now you shall have a good turn, because you wouldn't let me stay behind in the old cottage and starve. Now I'm off to the wood to lay hold of a fine, fat head of game, and then you must go up to the king's palace that you see yonder, and say you are come with a little present for the king. And when he asks, Who sends it? You must say, Why, who should it be from but Lord Peter? Well, Peter hadn't waited long before the cat came back with a reindeer from the wood. She had jumped up on the reindeer's head between his horns and said, If you don't go straight to the king's palace, I'll claw your eyes out. So the reindeer had to go, whether he liked it or no. And when Peter got to the palace, he went into the kitchen with the deer and said, Here I'm come with a little present for the king, if he won't despise it. Then the king went out into the kitchen, and when he saw the fine plump reindeer, he was very glad. But, my dear friend, he said, Who in the world is it that sends me such a fine gift? Oh, said Peter, Who should send it but Lord Peter? Lord Peter, Lord Peter, said the king, Pray tell me where he lives, for he thought it a shame not to know so great a man. But that was just what the lad wouldn't tell him. He daren't do it, he said, because his master had forbidden him. So the king gave him a good bit of money to drink his health and bade him be sure and say all kind of pretty things and many thanks for the present to his master when he got home. Next day the cat went again into the wood and jumped up on a red deer's head and sat between his horns and forced him to go to the palace. Then Peter went again into the kitchen and said he was come with a little present for the king, if he would be pleased to take it. And the king was still more glad to get the red deer than he had been to get the reindeer, and asked again who it was that sent so fine a present. Why it's Lord Peter, of course, said the lad. But when the king wanted to know where Lord Peter lived he got the same answer as the day before, and this day too he gave Peter a good lump of money to drink his health with. The third day the cat came with an elk, and so when Peter got into the palace kitchen and said he had a little present for the king if he'd be pleased to take it, the king came out at once into the kitchen, and when he saw the grand, big elk he was so glad he scarcely knew which leg to stand on. And this day too he gave Peter many more dollars, at least a hundred. He wished now, once for all, to know where this Lord Peter lived, and asked and asked about this thing and that, but the lad said he dared not say, for his master's sake, who had strictly forbidden him to tell. Well then, said the king, beg Lord Peter to come and see me. Yes, the lad would take that message, but when Peter got out into the yard and met the cat he said, A pretty scrape you've got me into now, for here's the king who wants me to come and see him. And you know I've nothing to go in but these rags I stand and walk in. Oh, don't be afraid about that, said the cat. In three days you shall have a coach and horses and fine clothes so fine that the gold falls from them, and then you may go and see the king very well. But mind, whatever you see in the king's palace you must say that you have far finer and grander things in your own. Don't forget that. No, no, Peter would bear that in mind, never fear. So when three days were over the cat came with a coach and horses and clothes and all that Peter wanted, and all together it was as grand as anything you ever set eyes on. So off he set, and the cat ran alongside the coach. The king met him well and graciously. But whatever the king offered him, and whatever he showed him, Peter said, Twas all very well, but he had far finer and better things in his own house. The king seemed not quite to believe this, but Peter stuck to what he said, and at last the king got so angry he couldn't bear it any longer. Now, I'll go home with you, he said, and see if it be true what you've been telling me, that you have far finer and better things of your own, but if you've been telling a pack of lies heaven help you, that's all I say. Now you've got me into a fine scrape, said Peter to the cat, for here's the king coming home with me. But my home, that's not so easy to find, I think. Oh, never mind, said the cat, only do you drive after me as I run before. So off they set, first Peter who drove after his cat, and then the king and all his court. But when they had driven a good bit they came to a great flock of fine sheep that had wool so long it almost touched the ground. If you'll only say, said the cat to the shepherd, this flock of sheep belongs to Lord Peter when the king asks you, I'll give you this silver spoon which she had taken with her from the king's palace. Yes, he was willing enough to do that. So when the king came up he said to the lad who watched the sheep. Well, I never saw so large and fine a flock of sheep in my life. Whose is it, my little lad? Why, said the lad, whose should it be but Lord Peter's? A little while after they came to a great, great herd of fine brindled kind who were all so sleek the sun shone from them. If you'll only say, said the cat, to the neat herd, this herd is the Lord Peter's when the king asks you, I'll give you this silver ladle. And the ladle too she had taken from the king's palace. Yes, with all my heart, said the neat herd. So when the king came up he was quite amazed at the fine fat herd. For such a herd he had never seen before. And so he asked the neat herd, who owned those brindled kind? Why, who should own them but Lord Peter, said the neat herd. So they went on a little farther and came to a great, great drove of horses, the finest you ever saw, six of each color, bay and black and brown and chestnut. If you'll only say this drove of horses is Lord Peter's when the king asks you, said the cat, I'll give you this silver stoop. And the stoop, too, she had taken from the palace. Yes, the lad was willing enough. So when the king came up he was quite amazed at the grand herd of horses. For the matches of such horses he had never yet said eyes on. He said. So he asked the lad, who watched them, whose all those blacks and bays and browns and chestnuts were? Whose should they be? said the lad, but Lord Peter's. So when they had gone a good bit farther they came to a castle. First there was a gate of tin, next there was a gate of silver, and next a gate of gold. The castle itself was of silver and so dazzling white that it quite hurt one's eyes to look at it in the sunbeams which fell on it just as they reached it. So they went into it, and the cat told Peter to say this was his house. As for the castle inside it was far finer than it looked outside, for everything was of pure gold, chairs and tables and benches and all, and when the king had gone all over it and seen everything high and low he got quite shameful and downcast. Yes, he said at last, Lord Peter has everything far finer than I have, there's no gain saying that, and so he wanted to be off home again. But Peter begged him to stay to supper, and the king stayed, but he was sour and surly the whole time. So as they sat at supper back came the troll who owned the castle and gave such a great knock at the door. Who's this eating my meat and drinking my mead like swine in here, roared out the troll. As soon as the cat heard that she ran down to the gate. Stop a bit, she said, and I'll tell you how the farmer sets to work to get in his winter rye. So she told him such a long story about the winter's rye. First of all, you see, he plows his field, and then he dungs it, and then he plows it again, and then he harrows it, and so she went on till the sun rose. Oh, do look behind you, and there you'll see such a lovely lady, said the cat to the troll. So the troll turned round, and of course, as soon as he saw the sun, he burst. Now all this is yours, said the cat to Lord Peter. Now you must cut off my head. That's all I ask for what I have done for you. Nay, nay, said Lord Peter, I'll never do any such thing. That is flat. If you don't, said the cat, see if I don't claw your eyes out. Well, so Lord Peter had to do it, though it was sore against his will. He cut off the cat's head. But there and then she became the loveliest princess you ever set eyes on, and Lord Peter fell in love with her at once. Yes, all this greatness was mine, first, said the princess, but a troll bewitched me to be a cat in your father's and mother's cottage. Now you may do as you please, whether you take me as your queen or not, for you are now king over all this realm. Well, well, there was little doubt Lord Peter would be willing enough to have her as his queen, and so there was a wedding that lasted eight whole days and a feast besides, and after it was over, I stayed no longer with Lord Peter and his lovely queen, and so I can't say anything more about them. Section 50 of Popular Tales from the Norths This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Section 50 The Seven Fools Once on a time there was a poor couple who lived in a wretched hut, far, far away in the wood. How they lived, I can't tell, but I'm sure it was from hand to mouth, and hard work even then, but they had three sons, and the youngest of them was Boots, of course, for he did little else than lie there and poke about in the ashes. So one day the eldest lad said he would go out to earn his bread, and soon he got leave and wandered out into the world. There he walked and walked the whole day, and when evening drew in he came to a king's palace, and there stood the king out on the steps and asked whether he was bound. Oh, I'm going about looking after a place, said the lad. Will you serve me as the king and watch my seven foals? If you can watch them one whole day and tell me at night what they eat and what they drink, you shall have the princess to wife and half my kingdom. But if you can't, I'll cut three red stripes out of your back. Do you hear? Yes, that was an easy task the lad thought. He'd do that fast enough, never fear. So next morning, as soon as the first peep of dawn came, the king's coachmen let out the seven foals. Away they went and the lad after them. You may fancy how they tore over hill and dale through bush and bog. When the lad had run so long a time he began to get weary, and when he had held on a while longer he had more than enough of his watching, and just there he came to a cleft in a rock where an old hag sat and spun with a distaff. As soon as she saw the lad who was running after the foals till the sweat ran down his brow, this old hag bawled out, come hither, come hither, my pretty son, and let me comb your hair. Yes, the lad was willing enough, so he sat down in the cleft of the rock with the old hag and laid his head on her lap, and she combed his hair all day whilst he lay there and stretched his lazy bones. So when evening drew on the lad wanted to go away. I may just as well tattle straight home now, said he, for it's no use my going back to the palace. Stop a bit till it's dark, said the old hag, and then the king's foals will pass by here again, and then you can run home with them, and then no one will know that you have lain here all day long instead of watching the foals. So when they came she gave the lad a flask of water and a clot of turf. Those he was to show to the king and say that was what his seven foals ate and drank. Have you watched true and well the whole day now, asked the king when the lad came before him in the evening? Yes, I should think so, said the lad. Then you can tell me what my seven foals eat and drink, said the king. Yes, and so the lad pulled out the flask of water and the clot of turf, which the old hag had given him. Here you see their meat, and here you see their drink, said the lad. But then the king saw plain enough how he had watched, and he got so wroth he ordered his men to chase him away home on the spot. But first they were to cut three red stripes out of his back and rub salt into them. So when the lad got home again, you may fancy what a temper he was in. He'd gone out once to get a place, he said, but he'd never do so again. Next day the second son said he would go out into the world and try his luck. His father and mother said no, and bade him look at his brother's back. But the lad wouldn't give in, he held to his own. And at last he got leave to go and set off. So when he had walked the whole day, he too came to the king's palace. There stood the king out on the steps and asked whether he was bound. And when the lad said he was looking about for a place, the king said he might have a place there and watch his seven foals. But the king laid down the same punishment and the same reward as he had settled for his brother. Well, the lad was willing enough, he took the place at once with the king, for he thought he'd soon watch the foals and tell the king what they ate and drank. So in the gray of the morning, the coachman let out the seven foals and off they went again over hill and dale and the lad after them. But the same thing happened to him as had befallen his brother. When he had run after the foals a long, long time, till he was both warm and weary, he passed by the cleft in a rock where an old hag sat and spun with a distaff. And she bawled out to the lad, come hither, come hither, my pretty son, and let me comb your hair. That the lad thought a good offer, so he let the foals run on their way and sat down in the cleft with the old hag. There he sat and there he lay, taking his ease and stretching his lazy bones the whole day. When the foals came back at nightfall, he too got a flask of water and a clod of turf from the old hag to show to the king. But when the king asked the lad, can you tell me now what my seven foals eat and drink? And the lad pulled out the flask and the clod and said, here you see their meat and here you see their drink. Then the king got wroth again and ordered them to cut three red stripes out of the lads back and rub salt in and chase him home that very minute. And so when the lad got home, he also told how he had fared and said he had gone out once to get a place, but he'd never do so anymore. The third day, Boots wanted to set out. He had a great mind to try and watch the seven foals, he said. The others laughed at him and made a game of him saying, when we fared so ill, you'll do it better, a fine joke. You look like it, you who have never done anything but lie there and poke about in the ashes. Yes, said Boots, I don't see why I shouldn't go, for I've got it into my head and I can't get it out again. And so in spite of all the jeers of the others and the prayers of the old people, there was no help for it. And Boots set out. So after he had walked the whole day, he too came at dusk to the king's palace. There stood the king out on the steps and asked whether he was bound. Oh said Boots, I'm going about seeing if I can hear of a place. Wants to you come then, said the king, for he wanted to know a little more about them before he took any one into his service. So Boots said once he came and how he was brother to those two who had watched the king's seven foals and ended by asking if he might try to watch them next day. Oh stuff, said the king, for he got quite cross if he even thought of them. If you're brother to those two, you're not worth much, I'll be bound. I've had enough of such scamps. Well, said Boots, but since I've come so far, I may just as well get leave to try. I too. Oh, very well, with all my heart, said the king, if you will have your back flayed, you're quite welcome. I'd much rather have the princess, said Boots. So next morning, at gray of dawn, the coachman let out the seven foals again, and away they went over hill and dale, through bush and bog, and Boots behind them. And so when he too had run a long while, he came to the cleft in the rock where the old hag sat spinning at her distaff. So she bawled out to Boots. Come hither, come hither, my pretty son, and let me comb your hair. Don't you wish you may catch me, said Boots. Don't you wish you may catch me, as he ran along, leaping and jumping, and holding on by one of the foals' tails. And when he had got well past the cleft in the rock, the youngest foal said, jump up on my back, my lad, for we've a long way before us still. So Boots jumped up on his back. So they went on and on a long, long way. Do you see anything now, said the foal? No, said Boots. So they went on a good bit farther. Do you see anything now, asked the foal. Oh, no, said the lad. So when they had gone a great, great way farther, I'm sure I can't tell how far, the foal asked again. Do you see anything now? Yes, said Boots. Now I see something that looks white, just like a tall, big, birch trunk. Yes, said the foal. We're going into that trunk. So when they got to the trunk, the eldest foal took and pushed it on one side. And then they saw a door where it had stood. And inside the door was a little room. And in the room, there was scarce anything but a little fireplace and one or two benches. But behind the door hung a great, rusty sword and a little pitcher. Can you brandish the sword, said the foals? Try. So Boots tried, but he couldn't. Then they made him take a pull at the pitcher first once, then twice, and then thrice. And then he could wield it like anything. Yes, said the foals. Now you may take the sword with you. And with it, you must cut off all our seven heads on your wedding day. And then we'll be princes again as we were before. For we are brothers of that princess whom you are to have when you can tell the king what we eat and drink. But an ugly troll has thrown this shape over us. Now mind, when you have hewn off our heads to take care to lay each head at the tail of the trunk, which it belonged to before, and then the spell will have no more power over us. Yes, Boots promised all that. And then on they went. And when they had traveled a long, long way, the foal asked, do you see anything? No, said Boots, so they traveled a good bit still. And now, said the foal, no, I see nothing, said Boots. So they traveled many, many miles again over hill and dale. Now then, said the foal, do you see anything now? Yes, said Boots. Now I see something like a blue stripe far, far away. Yes, said the foal, that's a river we've got to cross. Over the river was a long, grand bridge. And when they had got over to the other side, they traveled on a long, long way. At last, the foal asked again if Boots didn't see anything. Yes, this time he saw something that looked black, far, far away, just as though it were a church steeple. Yes, said the foal, that's where we are going to turn in. So when the foals got into the churchyard, they became men again and looked like princes, with such fine clothes that it glistened from them. And so they went into the church and took the bread and wine from the priest who stood at the altar. And Boots, he went in too. But when the priest had laid his hands on the princes and given them the blessing, they went out of the church again, and Boots went out too. But he took with him a flask of wine and a wafer. And as soon as ever, the seven princes came out into the churchyard, they were turned into foals again. And so Boots got up on the back of the youngest. And so they all went back the same way they had come. Only they went much, much faster. First they crossed the bridge. Next they passed the trunk. And then they passed the old hag who sat at the cleft and span. And they went by her so fast that Boots couldn't hear what the old hag screeched after him. But he heard so much as to know she was in an awful rage. It was almost dark when they got back to the palace. And the king himself stood out on the steps and waited for them. Have you watched well and true the whole day? Said he to Boots. I've done my best, answered Boots. Then you can tell me what my seven foals eat and drink, said the king. Then Boots pulled out the flask of wine and the wafer and showed them to the king. Here you see their meat. And here you see their drink, said he. Yes, said the king. You have watched true and well. And you shall have the princess and have the kingdom. So they made ready the wedding feast. And the king said it should be such a grand one. It should be the talk far and near. But when they sat down to the bridal feast, the bridegroom got up and went down to the stable. For he said he had forgotten something and must go fetch it. And when he got down there, he did as the foals had said and hewed their heads off, all seven, the eldest first and the others after him. And at the same time, he took care to lay each head at the tail of the foal to which it belonged. And as he did this low, they all became princes again. So when he went into the bridal hall with the seven princes, the king was so glad he kissed boots and padded him on the back. And his bride was still more glad of him than she had been before. Half the kingdom, you have got already, said the king. And the other half, you shall have after my death. For my sons can easily get themselves lands and wealth. Now they are princes again. And so, like enough, there was mirth and fun at that wedding. I was there too, but there was no one to care for poor me. And so I got nothing but a bit of bread and butter. And I laid it down on the stove. And the bread was burnt and the butter ran. And so I didn't get even the smallest crumb. Wasn't that a great shame? End of section 50. Section 51 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 North by Sir George Webb Dawson. Section 51, The Widow's Son. Once on a time there was a poor, poor widow who had an only son. She dragged on with a boy till he had been confirmed, and then she said she couldn't feed him any more. He must just go out and earn his bread. So the lad wandered out into the world, and when he had walked a day or so, a strange man met him. With her way asked the man, Oh, I'm going out into the world to try and get a place, said the lad. Will you come and serve me, said the man? Oh, yes, just as soon you as anyone else, said the lad. Well, you'll have a good place with me, said the man, for you'll only have to keep me company and do nothing at all else beside. So the lad stopped with him and lived on the fat of the land, both in meat and drink, and had little or nothing to do. But he never saw a living soul in that man's house. The one day the man said, Now I'm going off for eight days, and that time you'll have to spend here all alone. But you must not go into any of those four rooms here. If you do, I'll take your life when I come back. No, said the lad, he'd be sure not to do that. But when the man had been gone three or four days, the lad couldn't bear it any longer, but went into the first room, and when he got inside he looked around. And he saw nothing but a shelf over the door where a bramble-bush rod lay. Well, indeed thought the lad a pretty thing to forbid my seeing this. So when the eight days were out, the man came home, and the first thing he said was, You haven't been in any of those rooms, of course. No, no, that I haven't, said the lad. I'll soon see that, said the man, and went at once into the room where the lad had been. Nay, but you have been in here, said he, and now you shall lose your life. Then the lad begged and prayed so hard that he got off with his life. But the man gave him a good thrashing. And when it was all over they were as good friends as ever. Some time after the man set off again and said he should be away fourteen days, but before he went he forbade the lad to go into any of the rooms he had not been in before. As for that he had been in he might go into that and welcome. Well, it was the same story over again, except that the lad stood out eight days before he went in. In this room too he saw nothing but a shelf over the door, and a big stone and a pitcher of water on it. Well, after all there's not much to be afraid of my seeing here, thought the lad. But when the man came back he asked if he had been into any of the rooms. No, the lad hadn't done anything of the kind. Well, well, I'll soon see that, said the man, and when he saw that the lad had been in them after all he said, ah, now I'll spare you no longer, now you must lose your life. But the lad begged and prayed for himself again, and so this time too he got off with stripes, though he got as many as his skin could carry. But when he got sound and well again he led just as easy a life as ever and he and the man were just as good friends. So a while after the man was to take another journey and now he said he should be away three weeks, and he forbade the lad anew to go into the third room, for if he went in there he might just make up his mind at once to lose his life. Then after fourteen days the lad couldn't bear it, but crept into the room, but he saw nothing at all in there but a trapdoor on the floor. And when he lifted it up and looked down there stood a great copper cauldron which bubbled and boiled away down there, but he saw no fire under it. Well, I should just like to know if it's hot thought the lad and stuck his finger down into the broth, and when he pulled it out again low it was gilded all over. So the lad scraped and scrubbed it, but the gilding wouldn't go off, so he bound a piece of rag round it, and when the man came back and asked what was the matter with his finger the lad said he'd given it such a bad cut, but the man tore off the rag and then he soon saw what was the matter with the finger. First he wanted to kill the lad outright, but when he wept and begged he only gave him such a thrashing that he had to keep to his bed three days. After that the man took down a pot from the wall and rubbed him over with some stuff out of it and so the lad was sound and fresh as ever. So after a while the man started off again and this time he was to be away a month, but before he went he said to the lad if he went into the fourth room he might give up all hope of saving his life. Well the lad stood out for two or three weeks, but then he couldn't hold out any longer. He must and would go into that room and so in he stole. There stood a great black horse tied up in a stall by himself, with a manger of red-hot coals at his head and a truss of hay at his tail. Then the lad thought this all wrong so he changed them about and put the hay at his head. Then said the horse, since you are so good at heart as to let me have some food I'll set you free that I will, for if the troll comes back and finds you here he'll kill you outright. But now you must go up to the room which lies just over this and take a coat of mail out of those that hang there and mind whatever you do don't take any of the bright ones, but the most rusty of all you see that's the one to take and sword and saddle you must choose for yourself just in the same way. So the lad did all that, but it was a heavy load for him to carry them all down at once. When he came back the horse told him to pull off his clothes and get into the cauldron which stood and boiled in the other room and bathe himself there. If I do thought the lad I shall look an awful fright, but for all that he did as he was told. So when he had taken his bath he became so handsome and sleek and as red and white as milk and blood and much stronger than he had been before. Do you feel any change? Ask the horse. Yes, said the lad. Try to lift me then, said the horse. Oh yes, he could do that. And as for the sword he brandished it like a feather. Now saddle me, said the horse, and put on the coat of mail and then take the bramble bush rod and the stone and the pitcher of water and the pot of ointment and then we'll be off as fast as we can. So when the lad had got on the horse off they went at such a rate he couldn't at all tell how they went. But when he had ridden a while the horse said, I think I hear a noise, look round, can you see anything? Yes, there are ever so many coming after us, at least a score, said the lad. Aye, aye, that's the troll coming, said the horse, now he's after us with his pack. So they rode on a while until those who followed were close behind them. Now throw your bramble bush rod behind you, over your shoulder, said the horse, but mind you throw it a good way off my back. So the lad did that and all at once a close thick bramble wood grew up behind them. So the lad rode on a long, long time while the troll and his crew had to go home to fetch something to hew their way through the wood. But at last the horse said again, look behind you, can you see anything now? Yes, ever so many, said the lad, as many as would fill a large church. Aye, aye, that's the troll and his crew, said the horse, now he's got more to back him, but now throw down the stone and mind you throw it far behind me. And as soon as the lad did what the horse said, up there was a great black hill of rock behind him. So the troll had to be off home to fetch something to mine his way through the rock, and while the troll did that, the lad rode a good bit further on. But still the horse begged him to look behind him. And then he saw a troop like a whole army behind him, and they glistened in the sunbeams. Aye, aye, said the horse, that's the troll, and now he's got his whole band with him, so throw the pitcher of water behind you, but mind you don't spill any of it upon me. So the lad did that, but in spite of all the pains he took, he still spilt one drop on the horse's flank. So it became a great deep lake, and because of that one drop the horse found himself far out in it. But still he swam safe to land. But when the trolls came to the lake, they laid down to drink it dry, and so they swilled and swilled till they burst. Now we're rid of them, said the horse. So when they had gone a long, long while, they came to a green patch in a wood. Now strip off all your arms, said the horse, and only put on your ragged clothes, and take the saddle off me and let me loose, and hang all my clothing and your arms up inside that great hollow lime tree yonder. Then make yourself a wig of firm moss, and go up to the king's palace, which lies close here and ask for a place. Whenever you need me, only come here and shake the bridle, and I'll come to you. Yes, the lad did all his horse told him, and as soon as ever he put on the wig of moss he became so ugly and pale and miserable to look at, no one would have known him again. Then he went up to the king's palace, and begged first for leave to be in the kitchen, and bring in wood and water for the cook. But then the kitchen maid asked him, why do you wear that ugly wig off of that I won't have such a fright in here? No, I can't do that, said the lad, for I'm not quite right in my head. Do you think, then, I'll have you in here about the food, cried the cook, away with you to the coachman, your best fit to go and clean the stable? But when the coachman begged him to take his wig off, he got the same answer, and he wouldn't have him either. You'd best go down to the gardener, said he, your best fit to go about and dig in the garden. So he got leave to be with the gardener, but none of the other servants would sleep with him, and so he had to sleep by himself under the steps of the summer house. It stood upon beams and had a high staircase. Under that he got some turf for his bed, and there he lay as well as he could. So when he had been some time at the palace, it happened one morning, just as the sun rose, that the lad had taken off his wig and stood and washed himself, and then he was so handsome it was a joy to look at him. So the princess saw from her window the lovely gardener's boy and thought she had never seen anyone so handsome. Then she asked the gardener why he lay out there under the steps. Oh, said the gardener, none of his fellow servants will sleep with him, that's why. Let him come up to-night and lie at the door inside my bedroom, and then they'll not refuse to sleep with him anymore, said the princess. So the gardener told that to the lad, Do you think I'll do any such thing, said the lad, why they'd say next there was something between me and the princess? Yes, said the gardener, you've good reason to fear any such thing, you who are so handsome. Well, well, said the lad, since it's her will, I suppose I must go. So when he was to go up the steps in the evening, he tramped and stamped so on the way that they had to beg him to tread softly lest the king should come to know it. So he came into the princess' bedroom, lay down, and began to snore at once. Then the princess said to her maid, Go gently and just pull his wig off, and she went up to him. But just as she was going to whisk it off, he caught hold of it with both hands and said she would never have it. After that he lay down again and began to snore. Then the princess gave her maid a wink, and this time she whisked off the wig and there lay the lad so lovely and white and red, just as the princess had seen him in the morning sun. After that the lad slept every night in the princess' bedroom. But it wasn't long before the king came to hear how the gardener's lad slept every night in the princess' bedroom, and he got so wroth he almost took the lad's life. He didn't do that, however, but threw him into the prison tower, and as for his daughter, he shut her up in her own room when she never got leave to stir day or night. All that she begged and all that she prayed for the lad and herself was no good. The king was only more wroth than ever. Sometime after came a war and uproar in the land, and the king had to take arms against another king who wished to take the kingdom from him. So when the lad heard that, he begged the jailer to go to the king and ask for a coat of mail and a sword and for leave to go to the war. All the rest laughed when the jailer told his errand and begged the king to let him have an old worn out suit that they might have the fun of seeing such a wretch in battle. So he got that and an old broken down hack besides which went upon three legs and dragged the fourth after it. Then they went out to meet the foe, but they hadn't got far from the palace before the lad got stuck fast in a bog with his hack. There he sat and dug his spurs in and cried, gui up, gui up to his hack. And all the rest had their fun out of this and laughed and made game of the lad as they rode past him. But they were scarcely gone before he ran to the lime tree threw on his coat of mail and shook the bridle. And there came the horse in a trice and said, Do now your best and I'll do mine. But when the lad came up the battle had begun and the king was in a sad pinch. But no sooner had the lad rushed into the thick of it than the foe was beaten back and put to flight. The king and his men wondered and wondered who it could be who had come to help them. But none of them got so near him as to be able to talk to him. And as soon as the fight was over he was gone. When they went back there sat the lad still in the bog and dug his spurs into his three legged hack and they all laughed again. No only just look they said there the fool sits still. The next day when they went out to battle they saw the lad sitting there still so they laughed again and made game of him. But as soon as ever they had ridden by the lad ran again to the lime tree and all happened as on the first day. Everyone wondered what strange champion it could be that had helped them. But no one got so near him as to say a word to him and no one guessed it could be the lad that's easy to understand. So when they went home at night and saw the lad still sitting there on his hack they burst out laughing at him again and one of them shot an arrow at him and hit him in the leg so he began to shriek and to be wail was enough to break one's heart and so the king through his pocket-hank achieved to him to bind his wound. When they went out to battle the third day the lad still sat there. Gee up, gee up he said to his hack nay nay said the king's men if he won't stick there till he's starved to death and then they rode on and laughed at him till they were fit to fall from their horses. When they were gone he ran again to the lime and came up to the battle just in the very nick of time. This day he slew the enemy's king and then the war was over at once. When the battle was over the king caught sight of his handkerchief which the strange warrior had bound round his leg and so it wasn't hard to find him out. So they took him with great joy between them to the palace and the princess who saw him from her window got so glad no one can believe it. Here comes my own true love, she said. Then he took the pot of ointment and rubbed himself on the leg and after that he rubbed all the wounded and so they all got well again in a moment. So he got the princess to wife. But when he went down into the stable where his horse was on the day the wedding was to be there it stood so dull and heavy and hung its ears down and wouldn't eat its corn. So when the young king for he was now a king and had got half the kingdom spoke to him and asked what ailed him the horse said now I have helped you on and now I won't live any longer so just take the sword and cut my head off no I'll do nothing of the kind said the young king but you shall have all you want and rest all your life well said the horse if you don't do as I tell you see if I don't take your life somehow so the king had to do what he was asked but when he swung the sword and was to cut his head off he was so sorry he turned away his face for he would not see the stroke fall but as soon as ever he had cut off the head there stood the loveliest prince on the spot where the horse had stood why where in all the world did you come from asked the king it was I who was a horse said the prince for I was a king of that land whose king you slew yesterday he it was who threw this troll shape over me and sold me to the troll but now he is slain I get my own again and you and I will be neighbor kings but war we will never make on one another and they didn't either for they were friends as long as they lived and each paid the other very many visits end of section 51 section 52 of popular tales from the north this is a LibriVox recording or LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org reading by Lars Rolander popular tales from the north by Sir George Webb Dessent section 52 bushy bride once on a time there was a widower who had a son and a daughter by his first marriage both were good children and loved each other dearly some time after the man married a widow who had a daughter by her first husband and she was both ugly and bad like her mother so from the day the new wife came into the house there was no peace for her step children in any corner and at last the lad thought he'd best go out into the world and try to earn his own bread and when he had wondered a while he came to a king's palace and got a place under the coachman and quick and willing he was and the horses he looked after were so sleek and clean that their coach shown again but the sister who stayed at home was treated worse than badly both her stepmother and stepsister were always at her and wherever she went and whatever she did they scolded and snarled so the poor lassie hadn't an hours peace all the hard work she was forced to do and early and late she got nothing but bad words and little food besides so one day they had sent her to the burn to fetch water and what do you think up popped an ugly ugly head out of the pool and said wash me you lassie yes with all my heart i'll wash you said the lassie so she began to wash and scrub the ugly head but truth to say she thought it nasty work well as soon as she had done washing it up popped another head out of the pool and this was uglier still brush me you lassie said the head yes with all my heart i'll brush you and with that she took in hand the matted locks and you may fancy she hadn't very pleasant work with them but when she had got over that if a third head didn't pop up out of the pool and this was far more ugly and low the sum than both the others put together kiss me you lassie yes i'll kiss you said the lassie and she did it too though she thought it worst work she had ever had to do in her life then the heads began to chatter together and each asked what they should do for the lassie who was so kind and gentle that she be the prettiest lass in the world and as fairest the bright day said the first head that gold shall drop from her every time she brushes it said the second head that gold shall fall from her mouth every time she speaks said the third head so when the lassie came home looking so lovely and beaming as the bright day itself her stepmother and her stepsister got more and more cross and they got worse still when she began to talk and they saw how gold and guineas fell from her mouth as for the stepmother she got so mad with rage she chased the lassie into the pigsty that was the right place for all her gold stuff but as for coming into the house she wouldn't hear of it well it wasn't long before the stepmother wished her own daughter to go to the burn to fetch water so when she came to the water's edge with her buckets up popped the first head wash me your lassie it said the devil wash you said the stepdaughter so the second head popped up brush me your lassie it said the devil brush you said the stepdaughter so down it went to the bottom and the third head popped up kiss me your lassie said the head the devil kiss you you pig snout said the girl then the heads chatter together again and asked what they should do to the girl who was so spiteful and cross-grained and they all agreed she should have a nose four else long and a snout three else long and a pine bush right in the midst of her forehead and every time she spoke ashes were to fall out of her mouth so when she got home with her buckets she bawled out to her mother open the door open it yourself my darling child said the mother i can't reach it because of my nose said the daughter so when the mother came out and saw her you may fancy what a way she was in and how she screamed and groaned but for all that there were the nose and the snout and the pine bush and they got no smaller for all her grief now the brother who had got the place in the king's table had taken a little sketch of his sister which he carried away with him and every morning and every evening he knelt down before the picture and prayed to our lord for his sister whom he loved so dearly the other grooms had heard him praying so they peered through the keyhole of his room and there they saw him on his knees before the picture so they went about saying how the lad every morning and every evening knelt down and prayed to an idol which he had and at last they went to the king himself and begged him only to peep through the keyhole and then his majesty would see the lad and what things he did at first the king wouldn't believe it but at last they talked him over and he crept on tiptoe to the door and peeped in yes there was the lad on his knees before the picture which hung on the wall praying with class times opened the door called out the king but the lad didn't hear him so the king called out in a louder voice but the lad was so deep in his prayers he couldn't hear him this time either open the door I say roared out the king it is I the king who wants to come in well up jumped the lad and ran to the door and unlocked it but in his hurry he forgot to hide the picture but when the king came in and saw the picture he stood there as if he were fettered and couldn't stir from the spot so lovely he thought the picture so lovely a woman there isn't in all the wide world said the king but the lad told him she was his sister whom he had drawn and if she wasn't prettier than that at least she wasn't uglier well if she's so lovely said the king I'll have her for my queen and then he ordered the lad to set off home that minute and not be long on the road either so the lad promised to make as much haste as he could and started off from the king's palace when the brother came home to fetch his sister the stepmother and stepsister said they must go too so they all set out and the good lassie had a casket in which he kept her gold and a little dog whose name was Little Flow those two things were all her mother left her and when they had gone a while they came to a lake which they had to cross so the brother sat down at the helm and the stepmother and the two girls sat in the bow forward and so they sailed a long long way at last they caught sight of land there said the brother where you see the white strand yonder there's where we're to land and as he said this he pointed across the water what is it my brother says ask the good lassie he says you must throw your casket overboard said the stepmother well when my brother says it I must do it said the lassie and overboard went the casket when they had sailed a bit farther the brother pointed again across the lake there you see the castle we're going to what is it my brother says ask the lassie he says now you must throw your little dog overboard said the stepmother then the lassie wept and was sore-greed for Little Flow was the dearest thing she had in the world but at last she threw him overboard when my brother says it I must do it but heaven knows how it hurts me to throw you over Little Flow she said so they sailed on a good bit still there you see the king coming down to meet us said the brother and pointed towards the strand what is it my brother says ask the lassie now he says you must make haste and throw yourself overboard said the stepmother well the lassie wept and moaned but when her brother told her to do that she thought she ought to do it and so she leapt down into the lake but when they came to the palace and the king saw the lowly bride with a nose four else long and a snout three else long and a pine bush in the midst of her forehead he was quite scared out of his wits but the wedding was already both in brewing and baking and there set all the wedding guests waiting for the bride and so the king couldn't help himself what was forced to take her for better for worse but angry he was that anyone can forgive him and so he had the brother thrown into a pit full of snakes well the first Thursday evening after the wedding about midnight in came a lovely lady into the palace kitchen and begged the kitchen maid who slept there so prettily to lend her a brush that she got and then she brushed her hair and as she brushed down dropped gold a little dog was at her heel and to him she said run out little flow and see if it will soon be day this she said three times and the third time she sent the dog it was just about the time the dawn begins to peep then she had to go but as she went she sang out on you ugly bushy pride lying so warm by the king's left side while I on sand and gravel sleep and over my brother Adder's creep and all without a tear now I come twice more and then never again so next morning the kitchen maid told what she had seen and heard and the king said he'd watch himself next Thursday night in the kitchen and see if it were true and as soon as it got dark out he went into the kitchen to the kitchen maid but all he could do and however much he rubbed his eyes and tried to keep himself away it was no good for the bushy bride saunted and sang till his eyes closed and so when the lovely lady came there he slept and snored this time too as before she borrowed a brush and brushed her hair till the gold drop and sent her dog out three times and as soon as it was gray dawn away she went singing the same words and adding now I come once more and then never again the third Thursday evening the king said he would watch again and he said two men to hold him one under each arm who were to shake and jog him every time he wanted to fall asleep and two men he said to watch his bushy bride but when the night were on the bushy bride began to taunt and sing so that his eyes began to wink and his head hung down on his shoulders then in came the lovely lady and got the brush and brushed her hair till the gold dropped from it after that she sent little flow out again to see if it would soon be day and this she did three times the third time it began to get gray in the east then she sang out on you ugly bushy bride lying so warm by the king's left side while I on sand on grave will sleep and over my brother adders creep and all without a tear now I come back never more she said and went towards the door but the two men who held the king under the arms clenched his hands together and put a knife into his grasp and so somehow or other they got him to cut her in her little finger and drew blood then the true bride was freed and the king woke up and she told him now the whole story and how her stepmother and sister had deceived her so the king sent at once and took her brother out of the pit of snakes and the adders hadn't done him the least harm but the stepmother and her daughter were thrown into it in his stead and now no one can tell how glad the king was to be rid of that ugly bushy bride and to get a queen who was as lovely and bright as the day itself so the true wedding was held and everyone talked of it over seven kingdoms and then the king and queen drove to church in their coach and little flow went inside with them too and when the blessing was given they drove back again and after that I saw nothing more of them Boots and his brothers once on a time there was a man who had three sons Peter Paul and John John was Boots of course because he was the youngest I can't say the man had anything more than these three sons for he hadn't one penny to rub against another and so he told his sons over and over again they must go out into the world and try to earn their bread for there at home there was nothing to be looked for but starving to death now a bit of the man's cottage was the king's palace and you must know just against the king's windows a great oak had sprung up which was so stout and big that it took away all the light from the king's palace the king had said that he would give many many dollars to the man who could fill the oak but no one was man enough for that for as soon as ever one chip of the oak's trunk flew off two grew in its stead a well too the king had dug which was to hold water for the whole year for all his neighbors had wells but he hadn't any and that he thought a shame so the king said he would give anyone who could dig him such a well as would hold water for a whole year round both money and goods but no one could do it for the king's palace lay high high up on a hill and they hadn't dug a few inches before they came upon the living rock but as the king had set his heart on having these two things done he had it given out far and wide in all the churches of his kingdom that he who could fill the big oak in the king's courtyard and get him a well that would hold water the whole year round should have the princess and half the kingdom well you may easily know there was many a man who came to try slug but for all their hacking and ewing and all the digging and delving it was no good the oak got bigger and stouter at every stroke and the rock didn't get softer either so one day those three brothers thought they'd set off and try to and their father hadn't a word against it for even if they didn't get the princess and half the kingdom it might happen they might get a place somewhere with a goods master and that was all he wanted so when the brother said they thought of going to the palace their father said yes at once so Peter Paul and Jack went off from their home well they hadn't gone far before they came to a fur wood and up along one side of it rose a steep hillside and as they went they heard something ewing and hacking away up on the hill among the trees i wonder now what it is that is ewing away up yonder said jack you're always so clever with your wanderings said Peter and Paul both at once what wonder is it pray that a woodcutter should stand and hack upon a hillside still i'd like to see what it is after all said jack and up he went oh if you're such a child it will do you good to go and take a lesson bald out his brother's after him but jack didn't care for what they said he climbed the steep hillside towards where the noise came and when he reached the place what do you think he saw why an axe that stood there hacking and ewing all of itself at the trunk of a fur good day said jack so you stand here all alone and you do you yes here i've stood and you'd and hacked a long long time waiting for you said the axe well here i am at last said jack as he took the axe pulled it off its half and stuffed both head and half into his wallet so when he got down again to his brothers they began to cheer and laugh at him and now what funny thing was it you saw up jonder on the hillside they said oh it was only an axe we heard said jack so when they had gone a bit farther they came under a steep spur of raw and up there they heard something digging and shoveling i wonder now said jack what it is digging and shoveling up jonder at the top of the rock ah you're always so clever with your wonderings said peter and paul again as if you never heard a woodpecker hacking and pecking at a whole of tree well well sir jack i think it would be a piece of fun just to see what it really is and so off he said to climb the rock while the others laughed and made game at him but he didn't care a bit for that up he clohm and when he got near the top what do you think he saw why a spade that's to their digging and delving good day said jack so you stand here all alone and dig and delve yes that's what i do said the spade and that's what i've done this many a long day waiting for you well here i am said jack again as he took the spade and knocked it off its handle and put it into his wallet and then down again to his brothers well what was it so rare and strange said peter and paul that you're so up there at the top of the rock oh sir jack nothing more than a spade that was what we heard so they went on again a good bit till they came to brook they were thirsty all three after their long walk and so they lay down beside the brook to have a drink i wonder now sir jack where all this water comes from i wonder if you're right in your head said peter and paul in one breath if you're not mad already you'll go mad very soon with your own wanderings where the brook comes from indeed have you never heard our water rises from a spring in the earth yes but still i have a great fancy to see where this brook comes from said jack so up alongside the brook he went in spite of all that his brothers bald after him nothing could stop him on he went so as he went up and up the brook got smaller and smaller and at last a little way farther on what do you think he saw why a great walnut and out of that the water trickled good day said jack again so you lie here and trickle and run down all alone yes i do said the walnut and here have i trickled and run this many a long day waiting for you well here i am said jack as he took up a lump of moss and plugged up the hole that the water might not run out then he put the walnut into his wallet and ran down to his brothers well now said peter and paul have you found out where the water comes from a rare sight it must have been oh after all it was only a hole it ran out of said jack and so the others laughed and made game of him again but jack didn't mind that a bit after all i had the fun of seeing it said he so when they had gone a bit farther they came to the king's palace but as everyone in the kingdom had heard how they might win the princess and half the realm if they could only fail the big oak and dig the king's well so many had come to try their luck that the oak was now twice as stout and big as it had been at first for two chips grew for everyone they viewed out with their axes as i dare say you all bear in mind so the king had now laid it down as a punishment that if anyone tried and couldn't fail the oak he should be put on a barren island and both his ears were to be clipped off but the two brothers didn't let themselves be scared by that they were quite sure they could fail the oak and peter as he was eldest was to try his hand first but it went with him as with all the rest to a dune at the oak for every chip he cut out two grew in its place so the king's men seized him and clipped off both his ears and put him out on the island now paul he was to try his luck but he fared just the same when he had dune two or three strokes they began to see the oak grow and so the king's men seized him too and clipped his ears and put him out on the island and his ears they clipped closer because they said he ought to have taken a lesson from his brother so now jack was to try if you will look like a marked sheep we're quite ready to clip your ears at once and then you'll save yourself some bother said the king for he was angry with him for his brother's sake well i'd like just to try first said jack and so he got lead then he took his axe out of his wallet and fitted it to its half you away said it to his axe and away it used making the chips fly again so that it wasn't long before down came the oak when that was done jack pulled out his spade and fitted it to its handle dig away said it to the spade and so the spade began to dig and delve to the earth and rock flew out in splinters and so he had the well soon dug out you may think and when he had got it as big and deep as he choose jack took out his walnut and laid it in one corner of the well and pulled the plug of moss out trickle and run said jack and so the nut trickled and ran till the water gushed out of the hole in the stream and in a short time the well was brimful then jack had felt the oak which shaded the king's palace and dug a well in the palace yard and so he got the princess and half the kingdom as the king had said but it was lucky for Peter and Paul that they had lost their ears else they had heard each hour and day how everyone said well after all jack wasn't so much out of his mind when he took to wandering end of section 52 read by Los Rolander