 3. All three were married, and their wives were very good friends. They often talked about how stupid their husbands were, but they could never agree as to which of them had the most stupid one. Each one stuck up for her own husband, and maintained that it was he. The three wives went to church together every Sunday, and had a regular good gossip on the way, and when they were coming home from church they always turned into the tavern which lay by the wayside, and drank half a pint together. This was at the time when half a pint of brandy cost three pints, so that it was just a penny from each of them. But the brandy went up in price, and the taverner said that he must have four pints for the half pint. They were greatly annoyed at this, for there were only three of them to share it, and none of them was willing to pay the extra penny. As they went home from the church that day they decided to wager with each other as to whose husband was the most stupid, and the one who, on the following Sunday, should be judged to have played her husband the greatest trick, should thereafter go free from paying, and each of the two others would give two pints for their Sunday's half pint. Next day the tailor's wife said to her husband, I have some girls coming to-day to help to card my wool. There's a great deal to do, and we must be very busy. I am so annoyed that our watchdog is dead. Or in the evening the young fellows will come about to get fun with the girls, and they will get nothing done. If only we had a fierce watchdog, he would have kept them away. Yes, said the man, that would have been a good thing. Listen, good man, said the wife, you must just be the watchdog yourself, and scare the fellows away from the house. The husband was not very sure about this, although otherwise he was always ready to give in to her. Oh yes, you will see, it will work out all right, said the wife. And so towards the evening she got the tailor dressed up in a shaggy fur coat, tied a black woolen cloth round his head, and chained him up beside the dog's kennel. There he stood and barked and growled at everyone that moved in his neighborhood. The neighbor wives knew all about this, and were greatly amused at it. On the day after this the carpenter had been out at work and came home quite merry, but as soon as he entered the house his wife clapped her hands together and cried, my dear, what makes you look like that? You are ill. The carpenter knew nothing about being ill. He only thought he wanted something to eat, so he sat down at the table and began his dinner. His wife sat straight in front of him, with her hands folded, and shook her head and looked at him with an anxious air. You are getting worse, my dear, she said. You are quite pale now. You have a serious illness about you. I can see it by your looks. The husband now began to grow anxious and thought that perhaps he was not quite well. No indeed, said she, it's high time that you were in bed. Then she got him to lie down and piled above him all the bed clothes she could find, and gave him various medicines while he grew worse and worse. You will never get over it, said she. I'm afraid you're going to die. Do you think so? said the carpenter. I can well believe it, for I am indeed quite poorly. In a little while she said again, ah, now I must part with you. Here comes death. Now I must close your eyes, and she did so. The carpenter believed everything that his wife said, and so he believed now that he was dead, and lay still and let her do as she pleased. She got her neighbors summoned, and they helped to lay him in the coffin. It was one of those he himself had made. But his wife had bored holes in it to let him get some air. She made a soft bed under him and put a coverlet over him, and she folded his hands over his breast. But instead of a flower or a psalm book, she gave him a pint bottle of brandy in his hands. After he had lain for a little, he took a little pull at this, and then another and another, and he thought this did him good, and soon he was sleeping sweetly, and dreaming that he was in heaven. Meanwhile word had gone round the village that the carpenter was dead, and was to be buried the next day. It was now the turn of the smith's wife. Her husband was lying sleeping off the effects of a drinking-bout, so she pulled off all his clothes and made him black as coal from head to foot, and then let him sleep till far on in the day. The funeral party had already met at the carpenters, and marched off toward the church with the coffin, when the smith's wife came rushing in to her husband. Gracious man, said she, you are lying there yet, you are sleeping too long, you know you are going to the funeral. The smith was quite confused, he knew nothing about any funeral. It's our neighbor the carpenter, said his wife, who is to be buried to-day, they are already halfway to church with him. All right, said the smith, make haste to help me on with my black clothes. What nonsense, said his wife, you have them on already, be off with you now. The smith looked down at his person, and saw that he was a good deal blacker than he usually was, so he caught up his hat and ran out after the funeral. This was already close to the church, and the smith wanted to take part in carrying the coffin, like a good neighbor, so he ran with all his might, and shouted after them, hey, wait a little, let me get ahold of him. The people turned round and saw the black figure coming, and thought it was the devil himself, who wanted to get hold of the carpenter, so they threw down the coffin and took to their heels. The lid sprang off the coffin with a shock, and the carpenter woke up and looked out. He remembered the whole affair, he knew he was dead, and he was going to be buried, and recognized the smith, and said to him in a low voice. My good neighbor! If I hadn't been dead already, I should have laughed myself to death now to see you coming like this to my funeral. From that time forth the carpenter's wife drank free of expense every Sunday, for the others had to admit that she had fooled her husband the best. THE PINK FARYBOOK THE PINK FARYBOOK by Andrew Lang, King Lindorm, from the Swedish. There once lived a king and a queen who ruled over a very great kingdom. They had large revenues and lived happily with each other. Not as the years went past, the king's heart became heavy because the queen had no children. She also sorrowed greatly over it, because although the king said nothing to her about this trouble, yet she could see that it vexed him that they had no heir to the kingdom, and she wished every day that she might have one. One day a poor old woman came to the castle and asked to speak with the queen. The royal servants answered that they could not let such a poor beggar woman go into their royal mistress. They offered her a penny, and told her to go away. Then the woman desired them to tell the queen that they're stood at the palace gate one who could help her secret sorrow. This message was taken to the queen, who gave them orders to bring the old woman to her. This was done, and the old woman said to her, I know your secret sorrow, O queen, and am come to help you in it. You wish to have a son. You shall have two if you follow my instructions. The queen was greatly surprised that the old woman knew her secret wish so well, and promised to follow her advice. You must have a bath set in your room, O queen, said she, and filled with running water. When you have bathed in this you will find, under the bath, two red onions. These you must carefully peel and eat, and in time your wish will be fulfilled. The queen did as the poor woman told her, and after she had bathed she found the two onions under the bath. They were both alike in size and appearance. When she saw these she knew that the woman had been something more than she seemed to be, and in her delight she ate up one of the onions, skin and all. When she had done so she remembered that the woman had told her to peel them carefully before she ate them. It was now too late for the one of them, but she peeled the other and then ate it too. In due time it happened as the woman had said, but the first that the queen gave birth to was a hideous Lindorm, or serpent. No one saw this but her waiting-woman, who threw it out of the window into the forest beside the castle. The next that came into the world was the most beautiful little prince, and he was shown to the king and queen, who knew nothing about his brother the Lindorm. There was now joy in all the palace and over the whole country on account of the beautiful prince. But no one knew that the queen's first-born was a Lindorm, and lay in the wild forest. Time passed with the king, the queen, and the young prince in all happiness and prosperity, until he was twenty years of his age. Then his parents said to him that he should journey to another kingdom and seek for himself a bride, for they were beginning to grow old and would feign see their son married, before they were laid in their grave. The prince obeyed, had his horses harnessed to his gilded chariot, and set out to woo his bride. But when he came to the first cross-ways there lay a huge and terrible Lindorm right across the road, so that his horses had to come to a standstill. Where are you driving to? Asked the Lindorm with a hideous voice. What does not concern you, said the prince. I am the prince, and can drive where I please. Turn back, said the Lindorm. I know you're errand, but you shall get no bride until I have got a mate and slept by her side. The prince turned home again, and told the king and queen what he had met at the crossroads. But they thought he should try again on the following day, and see whether he could not get past it, so that he might seek a bride in another kingdom. The prince did so, but got no further than the first crossroads. There laid the Lindorm again, who stopped him in the same way as before. The same thing happened on the third day when the prince tried to get past. The Lindorm said with a threatening voice that before the prince could get a bride, he himself must find a mate. When the king and queen heard this for the third time, they could think of no better plan than to invite the Lindorm to the palace, and they should find him a mate. They thought that a Lindorm would be quite well satisfied with any one they might give him, and so they would get some slave woman to marry the monster. The Lindorm came to the palace and received a bride of this kind, but in the morning she laid torn in pieces, so it happened every time that the king and queen compelled any woman to be his bride. The report of this soon spread over all the country. Now it happened that there was a man who had married a second time, and his wife heard of the Lindorm with great delight. Her husband had a daughter by his first wife who was more beautiful than all other maidens, and so gentle and good that she won the heart of all who knew her. His second wife, however, had also a grown-up daughter, who by herself would have been ugly and disagreeable enough, but beside her good and beautiful stepsister seemed still more ugly and wicked, so that all turned from her with loathing. The stepmother had long been annoyed that her husband's daughter was so much more beautiful than her own, and in her heart she conceived a bitter hatred for his stepdaughter. When she now heard that there was in the king's palace a Lindorm which tore in pieces all the women that were married to him, and demanded a beautiful maiden for his bride, she went to the king, and said that her stepdaughter wished to wed the Lindorm, so that the country's only prince might travel and seek a bride. At this the king was greatly delighted, and gave orders that the young girl should be brought to the palace. When the messengers came to fetch her she was terribly frightened, for she knew that it was her wicked stepmother who in this way was aiming at her life. She begged that she might be allowed to spend another night in her father's house. This was granted her, and she went to her mother's grave. There she lamented her heart fate in being given over to the Lindorm, and earnestly prayed her mother for counsel. How long she lay there by the grave and wept one cannot tell, but sure it is that she fell asleep and slept until the sun rose. Then she rose up from the grave, quite happy at heart, and began to search about in the fields. There she found three nuts, which she carefully put away in her pockets. When I come into very great danger I must break one of these, she said to herself. Then she went home, and set out quite willingly with the king's messengers. When these arrived at the palace with the beautiful young maiden everyone pitied her fate. But she herself was of good courage, and asked the queen for another bridal chamber than the one the Lindorm had had before. She got this, and then she requested them to put a pot full of strong lye on the fire, and lay down three new scrubbing brushes. The queen gave orders that everything should be done as she desired, and then the maiden dressed herself in seven clean, snow-white shirts, and held her wedding with the Lindorm. When they were left alone in the bridal chamber, the Lindorm, in a threatening voice, ordered her to undress herself. Undress yourself first, said she. None of the others bade me do that. He said in surprise. But I bid you, said she. Then the Lindorm began to writhe and groan and breathe heavily, and after a little he had cast his outer skin, which lay on the floor, hideous to behold. Then his bride took off one of her snow-white shirts, and cast it on the Lindorm's skin. Then he ordered her to undress, and again she commanded him to do so first. He had to obey, and with groaning and pain cast off one skin after another, and for each skin the maiden threw off one of her shirts, until there lay on the floor seven Lindorm skins and six snow-white shirts. The seventh she still had on. The Lindorm now lay before her as a formless, slimy mass, which she, with all her might, began to scrub with the lye and new scrubbing brushes. When she had nearly worn out the last of these, there stood before her the loveliest youth in the world. He thanked her for having saved him from his enchantment, and told her that he was the king and queen's eldest son and heir to the kingdom. Then he asked her whether she would keep her promise she had made to the Lindorm, to share everything with him. To this she was well content to answer, yes. Each time that the Lindorm had held his wedding one of the king's retainers was sent next morning to open the door of the bridal chamber, and see whether the bride was alive. This next morning also he peeped in at the door, but what he saw there surprised him so much that he shut the door in a hurry, and hastened to the king and queen, who were waiting for his report. He told him of the wonderful sight he had seen. On the floor lay seven Lindorm skins and six snow-white shirts, and beside these three worn-out scrubbing-brushes, while in the bed a beautiful youth was lying asleep beside the fair young maiden. The king and queen marveled greatly what this could mean, but just then the old woman who was spoken of in the beginning of the story was again brought into the queen. She reminded her how she had not followed her instructions, but had eaten the first onion with all its skins, on which account her first-born had been a Lindorm. The waiting-woman was then summoned, and admitted that she had thrown it out through the window into the forest. The king and queen now sent for their eldest son and his young bride. They took them both in their arms and asked him to tell about his sorrowful lot during the twenty years he had lived in the forest as a hideous Lindorm. This he did, and then his parents had it proclaimed over the whole country that he was their eldest son, and along with his spouse should inherit the country and kingdom after them. Prince Lindorm and his beautiful wife now lived in joy and prosperity for a time in the palace, and when his father was laid in the grave, not long after this he obtained the whole kingdom. Soon afterwards his mother also departed from this world. Now it happened that an enemy declared a war against the young king, and as he foresaw that it would be three years at the least before he could return to his country and his queen, he ordered all his servants who remained at home to guard her most carefully, that they might be able to write to each other in confidence. He had two seal-rings made, one for himself and one for his young queen, and issued an order that no one, under pain of death, was to open any letter that was sealed with one of these. And he took farewell of his queen and marched out to war. The queen's wicked stepmother had heard with great grief that her beautiful stepdaughter had prospered so well that she had not only preserved her life, but had even become queen of the country. She now plotted continually how she might destroy her good fortune. While King Lindorm was away at the war, the wicked woman came to the queen and spoke fair to her, saying that she had always foreseen that her stepdaughter was destined to be something great in the world, and that she had on this account secured that she should be the enchanted prince's bride. The queen, who did not imagine that any person could be so deceitful, bade her stepmother welcome and kept her beside her. Soon after this the queen had two children, the prettiest boys that anyone could see. When she had written a letter to the king to tell him of this, her stepmother asked leave to comb her hair for her, as her own mother used to do. The queen gave her permission, and the stepmother combed her hair until she fell asleep. Then she took the seal-ring off her neck and exchanged the letter for another, in which she had written that the queen had given birth to two whelps. When the king received this letter he was greatly distressed, but he remembered how he himself had lived for twenty years as a lindorm, and had been freed from the spell by his young queen. He therefore wrote back to his most trusted retainer that the queen and her two whelps should be taken care of while he was away. The stepmother, however, took this letter as well and wrote a new one, in which the king ordered that the queen and two little princes should be burnt at the stake. This she also sealed with the queen's seal, which was in all respect like the king's. The retainer was greatly shocked and grieved at the king's orders, for which he could discover no reason, but, as he had not the heart to destroy three innocent beings, he had a great fire kindled, and in these he burnt a sheep and two lambs, so as to make people believe that he had carried out the king's commands. The stepmother had made these known to the people, adding that the queen was a wicked sorceress. The faithful servant, however, told the queen that it was the king's command that during the years he was absent in the war, she should keep herself concealed in the castle, so that no one but himself should see her and the little princes. The queen obeyed, and no one knew but that both she and her children had been burned. But when the time came near for King Lindorm to return home from the war, the old retainer grew frightened because he had not obeyed his orders. He therefore went to the queen and told her everything, at the same time showing her the king's letter containing the command to burn her and the princes. He then begged her to leave the palace before the king returned. The queen now took her two little sons and wandered out into the wild forest. They walked all day without ending a human habitation and became very tired. The queen then caught sight of a man who carried some venison. He seemed very poor and wretched. But the queen was glad to see a human being, and asked him whether he knew where she and her little children could get a house over their heads for the night. The man answered that he had a little hut in the forest, and that she could rest there, but he also said that he was one who lived entirely apart from men, and owned no more than the hut, a horse, and a dog, and supported himself by hunting. The queen followed him to the hut and rested there overnight with her children, and when she awoke in the morning the man had already gone out hunting. The queen then began to put the room in order and prepare food, so that when the man came home he found everything neat and tidy, and this seemed to give him some pleasure. He spoke but little, however, and all that he said about himself was that his name was Peter. Later in the day he rode out into the forest, and the queen thought that he looked very unhappy. While he was away she looked about her in the hut a little more closely, and found a tub full of shirts stained with blood lying among water. She was surprised at this, but thought that the man would get the blood on his shirt when he was carrying home venison. She washed the shirts and hung them up to dry, and said nothing to Peter about the matter. After some time had passed she noticed that every day he came riding home from the forest he took off a blood-stained shirt and put on a clean one. He then saw that it was something else than the blood of the deer that stained his shirts, so one day she took courage and asked him about it. At first he refused to tell her, but then she related to him her own story, and how she had succeeded in delivering the Lindorm. He then told her that he had formerly lived a wild life, and finally entered into a written contract with the evil spirit. Before this contract had expired he had repented and turned from his evil ways, and withdrawn himself to this solitude. The evil one had then lost all power to take him, but so long as he had the contract he could compel him to meet him in the forest each day at a certain time, where the evil spirits then scourged him till he bled. Next day when the time came for the man to ride into the forest the queen asked him to stay at home and look after the princes, and she would go to meet the evil spirits in his place. That man was amazed, and said that this would not only cost her life, but would also bring upon him a greater misfortune than the one he was already under. She bade him be of good courage, looked to see that she had the three nuts which she had found beside her mother's grave, mounted her horse, and rode out into the forest. When she had ridden for some time the evil spirits came forth and said, Here comes Peter's horse and Peter's hound, but Peter himself is not with them. Then at a distance she heard a terrible voice demanding to know what she wanted. I have come to get Peter's contract, said she. At this there arose a terrible uproar among the evil spirits, and the worst voice among them all said, Ride home and tell Peter that when he comes to-morrow he shall get twice as many strokes as usual. The queen then took one of her nuts and cracked it, and turned her horse about. At this sparks of flyer flew out of all the trees, and the evil spirits howled as if they were being scourged back to their abode. Next day at the same time the queen again rode out into the forest. But on this occasion the spirits did not dare come so near her. They would not, however, give up the contract, but threatened both her and the man. Then she cracked her second nut, and all the forest behind her seemed to be in fire and flames, and the evil spirits howled even worse than on the previous day, but the contract they would not give up. The queen had only one nut left now, but even that she was ready to give up in order to deliver the man. This time she cracked the nut as soon as she came near the place where the spirits appeared, and what then happened to them she could not see. But amid wild screams and howls the contract was handed to her at the end of a long branch. The queen rode happily home to the hut, and happier still was the man who had been sitting there in great anxiety. For now he was freed from all the power of the evil spirits. Meanwhile, King Lindorm had come home from the war, and the first question he asked when he entered the palace was about the queen and the whelps. The attendants were surprised, they knew of no whelps. The queen had had two beautiful princes, but the king had sent orders that all these were to be burned. The king grew pale with sorrow and anger, and ordered them to summon his trusted retainer, to whom he had sent the instructions that the queen and the whelps were to be carefully looked after. The retainer, however, showed him the letter in which there was written that the queen and her children were to be burned, and everyone then understood that some great treachery had been enacted. When the king's trusted retainer saw his master's deep sorrow, he confessed to him that he had spared the lives of the queen and the princes, and had only burned a sheep and two lambs, and had kept the queen and her children hidden in the palace for three years, but had sent her out into the wild forest just when the king was expected home. When the king heard this, his sorrow was lessened, and he said that he would wander out into the forest and search for his wife and children. If he found them, he would return to his palace, but if he did not find them, he would never see it again. And in that case the fateful retainer, who had saved the lives of the queen and the princes, should be king in his stead. The king then went forth alone into the wild forest, and wandered there the whole day without seeing a single human being. So it went with him the second day also. But on the third day he came by roundabout ways to the little hut. He went in there and asked for leave to rest himself for a little on the bench. The queen and princes were there, but she was poorly clad and so sorrowful that the king did not recognize her. Neither did he think for a moment that the two children, who were dressed only in rough skins, were his own sons. He lay down on the bench, and, tired as he was, he soon fell asleep. The bench was a narrow one, and as he slept his arm fell down and hung by the side of it. "'My son, go and lift your father's arm up onto the bench,' said the queen to one of the princes, for she easily knew the king again, although she was afraid to make herself known to him. The boy went and took the king's arm, but, being only a child, he did not lift it up very gently onto the bench. The king woke at this, thinking at first that he had fallen into a den of robbers, but he decided to keep quiet and pretend that he was asleep until he should find out what kind of folk were in the house. He lay still for a little, and as no one moved in the room he again let his arm glide down off the bench. Then he heard the woman's voice say, "'My son, go you and lift your father's arm up on the bench, but don't do it so roughly as your brother did.' Then he felt a pair of little hands softly clasping his arm. He opened his eyes and saw his queen and her children. He sprang up and caught all three in his arms, and afterwards took them along with the man and his horse and his hound, back to the palace with great joy. The most unbounded rejoicing reigned there then as well as over the whole kingdom, but the wicked stepmother was burned. King Lindorm lived long and happily with his queen, and there are some who say that if they are not dead now they are still living to this day. Pérez le Roe Editur There was once a dove who built a nice soft nest as a home for her three little ones. She was very proud of their beauty, and perhaps talked about them to her neighbors more than she need have done, till at last everybody from miles round knew where the three prettiest baby doves in the whole countryside were to be found. One day a jackal who was prowling about in search of a dinner came by chance to the foot of the rock where the dove's nest was hidden away, and he suddenly bethought himself that if he could get nothing better he might manage to make a mouthful of one of the young doves. So he shouted as loud as he could, Oh-ho, oh-ho, mother dove! And the dove replied, trembling with fear, What do you want, sir? One of your children, said he, and if you don't throw it to me, I will eat you up and the others as well. Now, the dove was nearly driven distracted at the jackals' words, but in order to save the lives of the other two she did at last throw the little one out of the nest. The jackal ate it up and went home to sleep. Meanwhile, the mother dove sat on the edge of her nest crying bitterly, when a heron, who was flying slowly past the rock, was filled with pity for her, and stopped to ask, What is the matter, you poor dove? And the dove answered, A jackal came by and asked me to give him one of my little ones, and said that if I refused he would jump on my nest and eat us all up. But the heron replied, You should not have believed him. He could never have jumped so high. He only deceived you because he wanted something for supper. And with these words the heron flew off. He had hardly got out of sight when again the jackal came creeping slowly round the foot of the rock, and when he saw the dove he cried out a second time, Oh-ho, oh-ho, mother dove! Give me one of your little ones, or I will jump on your nest and eat you all up. This time the dove knew better, and she answered boldly, Indeed, I shall do nothing of the sort. Though her heart beat wildly with fear, when she saw the jackal preparing for a spring. However, he only cut himself against the rock, and thought he had better stick to threats, so he started again with his old cry. Mother dove! Mother dove! Be quick and give me one of your little ones, or I will eat you all up. But the mother dove only answered as before, Indeed, I shall do nothing of the sort, for I know we are safely out of your reach. The jackal felt it was quite hopeless to get what he wanted, and asked, Tell me, mother dove, how have you suddenly become so wise? It was the heron who told me, replied she. And which way did he go, said the jackal? Down there among the reeds, you can see him if you look, said the dove. Then the jackal nodded good-bye, and went quickly after the heron. He soon came up to the great bird, who was standing on a stone on the edge of the river, watching for a nice fat fish. Tell me, heron, said he, when the wind blows from that quarter, to which side do you turn? And which side do you turn to, asked the heron. The jackal answered, I always turn to this side. Then that is the side I turn to, remarked the heron. And when the rain comes up from that quarter, which side do you turn to? And the heron replied, And which side do you turn to? Oh, I always turn to this side, said the jackal. And that is the side I turn to, said the heron. And when the rain comes straight down, what do you do? What do you do yourself, asked the heron. I do this, answered the jackal. I cover my head with my paws. Then that is what I do, said the heron. I cover my head with my wings. And as he spoke, he lifted his large wings and spread them completely over his head. With one bound, the jackal had seized him by the neck and began to shake him. Oh, have pity, have pity! cried the heron. I never did you any harm. You told the dove how to get the better of me, and I'm going to eat you for it. But if you will let me go, entreated the heron, I will show you the place where the panther has her lair. Then you it better be quick about it, said the jackal, holding tight on to the heron until you pointed out the panther's den. Now you may go, my friend, for there is plenty of food here for me. So the jackal came up to the panther and asked politely, Panther, would you like me to look after your children while you're out hunting? I should be very much obliged, said the panther, but be sure you take care of them. They always cry all the time that I am away. So saying, she trotted off, and the jackal marched into the cave where he found ten little panthers, and instantly ate one up. By and by the panther returned from hunting and said to him, Jackal, bring out my little ones for their supper. The jackal fetched them out one by one till he had brought out nine, and he took the last one and brought it out again, so that the whole ten seemed to be there, and the panther was quite satisfied. Next day she went again to the chase, and the jackal ate up another little panther, so now there were only eight. In the evening, when she came back, the panther said, Jackal, bring out my little ones, and the jackal brought out first one and then another, and the last one he brought out three times, so that the whole ten seemed to be there. The following day the same thing happened, and the next, and the next, and the next, till at length there was not even one left, and the rest of the day the jackal busied himself with digging a large hole at the back of the den. That night, when the panther returned from hunting, she said to him as usual, Jackal, bring out my little ones. But the jackal replied, bring out your little ones, indeed, why you know as well as I do that you have eaten them all up. Of course the panther had not the least idea what the jackal meant by this and only repeated. Jackal, bring out my children. As she got no answer she entered the cave, but found no jackal, for he had crawled through the hole he had made and escaped, and what was worse, she did not find the little ones either. Now the panther was not going to let the jackal get off like that, and set off at a trot to catch him. The jackal, however, had got a good start, and he reached a place where a swarm of bees deposited their honey in the cleft of a rock. Then he stood still and waited till the panther came up to him. Jackal, where are my little ones? She asked, and the jackal answered, there up there, it's where I keep school. The panther looked about, and then inquired, but where I see nothing of them. Come a little this way, said the jackal, and you will hear how beautifully they sing. So the panther drew near the cleft of the rock. Don't you hear them? said the jackal. They are in there, and slipped away while the panther was listening to the song of the children. She was still standing in the same place when a baboon went by. What are you doing there, panther? I am listening to my children singing. It is here that the jackal keeps his school. Then the baboon seized a stick and poked it in a cleft of the rock, exclaiming, Well then, I should like to see your children. The bees flew out in a huge swarm, and made furiously for the panther, whom they attacked on all sides while the baboon soon climbed up out of the way, crying, as he perched himself on the branch of a tree. I wish you joy of your children. While from afar the jackal's voice was heard, exclaiming, Sting her well, don't let her go. The panther galloped away as if she was mad, and flung herself into the nearest lake, but every time she raised her head the bees stung her afresh, so that at last the poor beast was drowned altogether. THE LITTLE HAIR Contas populares de basutos, rescuerles et tradices par et jaquette, Paris l'heureaux attitude. A long, long way off, in a land where water is very scarce, there lived a man and his wife and several children. One day the wife said to her husband, I am pining to have the liver of a niam et sain for my dinner. If you love me as much as you say you do, you will go out and hunt for a niam et sain, and I will kill it and get its liver. If not I shall know that your love is not worth having. Bake some bread, was all her husband answered, then take the crust and put it in this little bag. The wife did as she was told, and when she had finished she said to her husband, the bag is already in quite full. Very well, said he, and now good-bye, I am going after the niam et sain. But the niam et sain was not too easy to find as the woman had hoped. The husband walked on and on and on, without ever seeing one, and every now and then he felt so hungry that he was obliged to eat one of the crusts of bread out of his bag. At last, when he was ready to drop from fatigue, he found himself at the edge of a great marsh, which bordered on one side the country of the niam et sains. But there were no more niam et sains here than anywhere else. They had all gone on a hunting expedition as their larder was empty, and the only person left at home was their grandmother, who was so feeble she never went out of the house. Our friend looked on this as a great piece of luck, and made haste to kill her before the others returned, and to take out her liver, after which he dressed himself in her skin as well as he could. He had scarcely done this when he heard the noise of the niam et sains coming back to their grandmother, for they were very fond of her, and never stayed away from her longer than they could help. They rushed clattering into the hut, exclaiming, We smell human flesh. Some man is here. And began to look about for him. But they only saw their old grandmother, who answered in a trembling voice, No, my children, no! What should any man be doing here? The niam et sains paid no attention to her, and began to open all the cupboards, and peep under all the beds, crying out all the while, A man is here, a man is here! What they could find nobody, and, at length, tired out with their long days hunting, they curled themselves up and fell asleep. Next morning they woke up quite refreshed, and made ready to start on another expedition. But as they did not feel happy about their grandmother, they said to her, Grandmother, won't you come to-day and feed with us? And they led their grandmother outside, and all of them began hungrily to eat pebbles. Our friend pretended to do the same, but in reality he slipped the stones into his pouch, and swallowed the crusts of bread instead. However, as the niam et sains did not see this, they had no idea that he was not really their grandmother. When they had eaten a great many pebbles they thought they had done enough for that day, and all went home together and curled themselves up to sleep. Next morning when they woke they said, Let us go and amuse ourselves by jumping over the ditch. And every time they cleared it with a bound, then they begged their grandmother to jump over it too, and with a tremendous effort she managed to spring right over to the other side. After this they had no doubt at all of it being their true grandmother, and went off to their hunting, leaving our friend at home in the hut. As soon as they had gone out of sight our hero made haste to take the liver from the place where he had hid it, threw off the skin of the old niam et sain, and ran away as hard as he could, only stopping to pick up a very brilliant and polished little stone, which he put in his bag by the side of the liver. Towards evening the niam et sains came back to the hut full of anxiety to know how their grandmother had got on during their absence. The first thing they saw on entering in the door was her skin lying on the floor, and then they knew that they had been deceived, and they said to each other, So we were right after all, and it was human flesh we smelt. Then they stooped down to find traces of the man's footsteps, and when they had got them instantly set off in hot pursuit. Meanwhile, our friend had journeyed many miles and was beginning to feel quite safe and comfortable. When happening to look around he saw in the distance a thick cloud of dust moving rapidly. His heart stood still within him, and he said to himself, I am lost. It is the niam et sains, and they will tear me in pieces. And indeed the cloud of dust was drawing near with amazing quickness, and the niam et sains almost felt as if they were already devouring him. Then as a last hope the man took the little stone that he had picked up out of his bag and flung it on the ground. The moment it touched the soil it became a huge rock whose steep sides were smooth as glass, and on the top of it our hero hastily seated himself. It was in vain that the niam et sains tried to climb up and reach him. They slid down again much faster than they had gone up, and by sunset they were quite worn out and fell asleep at the foot of the rock. No sooner had the niam et sains tumbled off to sleep than the man stole softly down and fled away as fast as his legs would carry him. And by the time his enemies were awake he was a very long way off. They sprang quickly to their feet and began to sniff the soil around the rock in order to discover traces of his footsteps, and they galloped after him with terrific speed. The chase continued for several days and nights. Several times the niam et sains almost reached him, and each time he was saved by his little pebble. Between his fright and his hurry he was almost dead of exhaustion when he reached his own village, where the niam et sains could not follow him because of their enemies, the dogs, which swarmed all over the roads. So they returned home. Then our friend staggered into his own hut and called to his wife. He chewed how tired I am, quick, give me something to drink, then go and get fuel and light a fire. So she did what she was bid, and then her husband took the niam et sains liver from his pouch and said to her, There, I have brought you what you wanted, and now you know that I love you truly. And the wife answered, It is well. Now go and take out the children so that I may remain alone in the hut. And as she spoke she lifted down an old stone pot and put on the liver to cook. Her husband watched her for a moment and then said, Be sure you eat it all yourself. Do not give a scrap to any of the children, but eat every morsel up. So the woman took the liver and ate it all herself. Directly the last mouthful had disappeared. She was seized with such a violent thirst that she caught up a great pot full of water and drank it at a single draught. Then, having no more in the house, she ran in next door and said, Neighbor, give me, I pray you, something to drink. The neighbor gave her a large vessel, quite full, and the woman drank it off at a single draught, and held it out for more. But the neighbor pushed her away, saying, No, I shall have none left for my children. So the woman went into another house and drank all the water she could find. But the more she drank, the more thirsty she became. She wandered in this manner through the whole village till she had drunk every water pot dry. Then she rushed off to the nearest spring and swallowed that. And when she had finished all the springs and wells about she drank up first the river and then a lake. But by this time she had drunk so much that she could not rise from the ground. In the evening, when it was time for the animals to have their drink before going to bed, they found the lake quite dry, and they had to make up their minds to be thirsty till the water flowed again and the streams were full. Even then, for some time, the lake was very dirty, and the lion, as king of the beasts, commanded that no one should drink till it was quite clear again. But the little hare, who was fond of having his own way and was very thirsty besides, stole quietly off when the rest were asleep in their dens, and crept down to the margin of the lake and drank his fill. Then he smeared the dirty water all over the rabbit's face and paws, so that it might look as if it were he who had been disobeying Big Lion's orders. The next day, as soon as it was light, Big Lion marched straight for the lake and all the other beasts followed him. He saw at once that the water had been troubled again, and was very angry. "'Who has been drinking my water?' said he, and the little hare gave a jump and pointed to the rabbit. He answered, "'Look there! It must be he. Why, there is mud all over his face and paws.' The rabbit, frightened out of his wits, tried to deny the fact, exclaiming, "'Oh, no! Indeed I never did!' But Big Lion would not listen, and commanded them to cane him with a birch-rod. Now the little hare was very much pleased with his cleverness in causing the rabbit to be beaten instead of himself, and went about boasting of it. At last one of the other animals overheard him and called out, "'Little hare, little hare, what is that you are saying?' But the little hare hastily replied, "'I only asked you to pass me my stick.'" An hour or two later, thinking that no one was near him, he said to himself again, "'It was really I who drank up the water. But I made them think it was the rabbit.' But one of the beasts, whose ears were longer than the rest, caught the words, and went to tell Big Lion about it. Do you hear what the little hare is saying?' So Big Lion sent for the little hare, and asked him what he meant by talking like that. The little hare saw that there was no use trying to hide it, so he answered pertly, "'It was I who drank the water. But I made them think it was the rabbit.' Then he turned and ran as fast as he could, with all the other beasts pursuing him. They were almost up to him when he dashed into a very narrow cleft in the rock, much too small for them to follow. But in his hurry he had left one of his long ears sticking out, which they just managed to seize. But pull as hard as they might they could not drag him out of the hole. And at last they gave it up and left him, with his ear very much torn and scratched. When the last tail was out of sight, the little hare crept cautiously out, and the first person he met was the rabbit. He had plenty of impudence, so he put a bold face on the matter and said, "'Well, my good rabbit, you see I have had a beating as well as you.' But the rabbit was still sore and sulky, and he did not care to talk, so he answered coldly, "'You have treated me very badly. It was really you who drank that water, and you accused me of having done it.' "'Oh, my good rabbit, never mind that. I've got such a wonderful secret to tell you. Do you know what to do as to escape death?' "'No, I don't. Well, we must begin by digging a hole.' "'So they dug a hole. Then the little hare said, "'The next thing is to make a fire in the hole.' And they set to work to collect wood, and lit quite a large fire. When it was burning brightly the little hare said to the rabbit, "'Rabbit, my friend, throw me into the fire. And when you hear my fur crackling, and I call, "'Ichi, itchy,' then be quick and pull me out.' The rabbit did, as he was told, and threw the little hare into the fire. But no sooner did the little hare begin to feel the heat of the flames, then he took some green bay leaves he had plucked for the purpose and held them in the middle of the fire, where they crackled and made a great noise. Then he called loudly, "'Ichi, itchy, rabbit, my friend, be quick, be quick. Don't you hear how my skin is crackling?' And the rabbit came in a great hurry and pulled him out. Then the little hare said, "'Now it is your turn.' And he threw the rabbit in the fire. The moment the rabbit felt the flames he cried out, "'Ichi, itchy, I am burning. Pull me out, quick, my friend.' But the little hare only laughed and said, "'No, you must stay there. It is your own fault. Why were you such a fool as to let yourself be thrown in? Didn't you know that fire burns?' And in a very few minutes nothing was left of the rabbit but a few bones. When the fire was quite out the little hare went and picked up one of these bones, and made a flute out of it, and sang this song. "'Pee, pee, oh flute that I love. Pee, pee, rabbits are but little boys. Pee, pee, he would have burned me if he could. Pee, pee, but I burned him. And he crackled finally. When he got tired of going through the world singing this, the little hare went back to his friends and entered the service of Big Lion. One day he said to his master, "'Grandfather, shall I show you a splendid way to kill game?' "'What is it?' asked Big Lion. "'We must dig a ditch, and then you must lie in it and pretend to be dead.' Big Lion did as he was told, and when he had lain down the little hare got up on a wall, blew a trumpet, and shouted, "'Pee, pee, all you animals come and see. Big Lion is dead, and now peace will be.' Directly they heard this. They all came running. The little hare received them and said, "'Pass on, this way to the lion.' So they all entered into the animal kingdom. Last of all came the monkey with her baby on her back. She approached the ditch, and took a blade of grass and tickled Big Lion's nose. And his nostrils moved in spite of his efforts to keep them still. Then the monkey cried, "'Come, my baby, climb on my back, and let us go. What sort of a dead body is it that can still feel when it is tickled?' And she and her baby went away in a fright. Then the little hare said to the other bees, "'Now shut the gate of the animal kingdom.' And it was shut. And great stones were rolled against it. When everything was tight closed the little hare turned to Big Lion and said, "'Now!' and Big Lion bounded out of the ditch and tore the other animals in pieces. But Big Lion kept all the choice-bits for himself, and only gave away the little scraps that he did not care about eating, and the little hare grew very angry and determined to have his revenge. He had long ago found out that Big Lion was very easily taken in. So he laid his plans accordingly. He said to him, as if the idea had just come into his head, "'Grandfather, let us build a hut.' And Big Lion consented. And when they had driven the stakes into the ground, and had made the walls of the hut, the little hare told Big Lion to climb upon the top while he stayed inside. When he was ready he called out, "'Now, grandfather, begin!' And Big Lion passed his rod through the reeds with which the roofs are always covered in that country. The little hare took it and cried, "'Now it is my turn to pierce them!' And as he spoke, he passed the rod back through the reeds and gave Big Lion's tail a sharp poke. "'What is pricking me so?' asked Big Lion. "'Oh, just a little branch sticking out. I am going to break it,' answered the little hare. But of course he had done it on purpose, as he wanted to fix Big Lion's tail so firmly to the hut that he would not be able to move. In a little while he gave another prick, and Big Lion called again, "'What is pricking me so?' This time, the little hare said to himself, "'He will find out what I am at. I must try some other plan.' So he called out, "'Grandfather, you had better put your tongue here so that the branches shall not touch you.' Big Lion did as he was bid, and the little hare tied it tightly to the stakes of the wall. Then he went outside and shouted, "'Grandfather, you can come down now!' And Big Lion tried, but he could not move an inch. Then the little hare began quietly to eat Big Lion's dinner right before his eyes, and, paying no attention at all to his growls of rage, when he had quite done he climbed up on the hut, and, blowing his flute, he chanted, "'Pe-pe-fall rain and hail!' And directly the sky was full of clouds, the thunder roared, and huge hail-stones whitened the roof of the hut. The little hare, who had taken refuge within, called out again, "'Big Lion, be quick and come down and dine with me!' But there was no answer, not even a growl, for the hail-stones had killed Big Lion. The little hare enjoyed himself vastly for some time, living comfortably in the hut, with plenty of food to eat and no trouble at all in getting it. But one day a great wind arose, and flung down the Big Lion's half-dried skin from the roof of the hut. The little hare bounded with terror at the noise, for he thought Big Lion must have come to life again. But, on discovering what had happened, he said about cleaning the skin, and propped the mouth open with sticks, so that he could get through. So, dressed in Big Lion's skin, the little hare started on his travels. The first visit he paid was to the hyenas, who trembled at the sight of him, and whispered to each other, "'How shall we escape from this terrible beast?' Meanwhile, the little hare did not trouble himself about them, but just asked where the king of the hyenas lived, and made himself quite at home there. Every morning, each hyena thought to himself, "'Today he is certain to eat me!' But several days went by, and they were all still alive. At length, one evening, the little hare, looking around for something to amuse him, noticed a great pot full of boiling water, so he strolled up to one of the hyenas and said, "'Go and get in!' The hyena dared not disobey, and in a few minutes was scalded to death. Then the little hare went the round of the village, saying to every hyena he met, "'Go and get in the boiling water!' So that, in a little while, there was hardly a male left in the village. One day all the hyenas that remained alive went out very early into the fields, leaving only one little daughter at home. The little hare, thinking he was all alone, came into the enclosure, and wishing to feel what it was like to be a hare again, threw off big lion's skin, and began to jump and dance, singing, "'I am just the little hare, the little hare, the little hare. I am just the little hare who killed the great hyenas!' The little hyena gazed at him in surprise, saying to herself, "'What? was it really this tiny beast who put to death all our best people?' When suddenly a gust of wind rustled the reeds that surrounded the enclosure, and the little hare in a fright hastily sprang back into big lion's skin. When the hyenas returned to their homes, the little hyena said to her father, "'Father, our tribe has very nearly been swept away, and all this has been the work of a tiny creature dressed in a lion's skin.' But her father answered, "'Oh, my dear child, you don't know what you are talking about.'" She replied, "'Yes, father, it is quite true. I saw it with my own eyes.' The father did not know what to think, and told one of his friends who said, "'Tomorrow we had better keep watch ourselves.'" And the next day they hid themselves, and waited till the little hare came out of the royal hut. He walked gaily towards the enclosure, threw off big lion's skin, and sang and danced as before. "'I am just the little hare, the little hare, the little hare. I am just the little hare who killed the great hyenas.'" That night the two hyenas told all the rest, saying, "'Do you know that we have allowed ourselves to be trampled on by a wretched creature with nothing of the lion about him but his skin?' When supper was being cooked that evening, before they all went to bed, the little hare, looking fierce and terrible in big lion's skin, said, as usual to one of the hyenas, "'Go and get into the boiling water.'" But the hyena never stirred. There was silence for a moment. Then a hyena took a stone and flung it with all his force against the lion's skin. The little hare jumped out through the mouth with a single spring and fled away like lightning. All the hyenas in full pursuit uttering great cries. As he turned a corner, the little hare cut off both his ears, so that they should not know him, and pretended to be working at a grindstone which lay there. The hyena soon came up to him and said, "'Tell me, my friend, have you seen the little hare go by?' "'No, I have seen no one.'" "'Where can he be?' said the hyena's one to another. Of course this creature is quite different, and not at all like the little hare. Then they went on their way, but finding no traces of the little hare, they returned sadly to their village, saying, "'To think we should have allowed ourselves to be swept away by a wretched creature like that.'" END OF THE LITTLE HAIR A long, long time ago, an old couple dwelt in the very heart of a high mountain. They lived together in peace and harmony, although they were very different in character, the man being good-natured and honest, and the wife being greedy and quarrelsome when anyone came her way that she could possibly quarrel with. One day the old man was sitting in front of his cottage, as he was very fond of doing, when he saw flying towards him a little sparrow, followed by a big black raven. The poor little thing was very much frightened and cried out as it flew, and the great bird came behind it terribly fast, flapping its wings and craning its beak, for it was hungry and wanted some dinner. But as they drew near the old man, he jumped up and beat back the raven, which mounted with horse-screams of disappointment into the sky, and the little bird, freed from its enemy, nestled into the old man's hand, and he carried it into the house. He stroked its feathers and told it not to be afraid, for it was quite safe. But as he still felt its heart beating, he put it into a cage where it soon plucked up courage to Twitter and hop about. The old man was fond of all creatures, and every morning he used to open the cage door, and the sparrow flew happily about until it caught sight of a cat or a rat or some other fierce beast, when it would instantly return to the cage, knowing that there no harm could come to it. The woman, who was always on the lookout for something to grumble at, grew very jealous of her husband's affections for the bird, and would gladly have it done some harm had she dared. At last, one morning her opportunity came. Her husband had gone to the town some miles away down the mountain, and would not be back for several hours. But before he left he did not forget to open the door of the cage. The sparrow hopped about as usual, twittering happily, and thinking no evil. And all the while the woman's brow became blacker and blacker, and at length her fury broke out. She threw her broom at the bird, who was perched on a bracket high up on the wall. The broom missed the bird, but knocked down and broke the vase on the bracket, which did not soothe the angry woman. Then she chased it from place to place, and at last had it safe between her fingers, almost as frightened as on the day that it had made its first entrance into the hut. By this time the woman was more furious than ever. If she had dared she would have killed the sparrow then and there. But, as it was, she only ventured to slit its tongue. The bird struggled and piped, but there was no one to hear it, and then, crying out loud with the pain, it flew from the house and was lost in the depths of the forest. By and by the old man came back, and it once began to ask for his pet. His wife, who was still in a very bad temper, told him the whole story, and scolded him roundly for being so silly as to make such a fuss over a bird. But the old man, who was much troubled, declared that she was a bad, hard-hearted woman, to have behaved so to a poor, harmless bird. Then he left the house and went into the forest to seek for his pet. He walked many hours whistling and calling for it, but it never came, and he went sadly home, resolved to be out with the dawn and never to rest till he had brought the wanderer back. Day after day he searched and called, and evening after evening he returned in despair. At length he gave up hope, and made up his mind that he should see his little friend no more. One hot summer morning the old man was walking slowly under the cool shadows of the big trees, and without thinking where he was going he entered a bamboo thicket. As the bamboos became thinner he found himself opposite to a beautiful garden, in the center of which stood a tiny, spick-and-span little house, and out of the house came a lovely maiden, who unlatched the gate and invited him in the most hospitable way to enter and rest. "'Oh, my dear old friend,' she exclaimed, "'how glad I am you have found me at last. I am your little sparrow, whose life you saved, and whom you took such care of.'" The old man seized her hands eagerly, but no time was given him to ask any questions, for the maiden drew him into the house, and set food before him and waited on him herself. While he was eating the damsel and her maids took their loots and sang and danced to him, and altogether the hours passed so swiftly that the old man never saw that darkness had come, or remembered the scolding he would get from his wife for returning home so late. Thus, in dancing and singing and talking over the days when the maiden was a sparrow hopping in and out of her cage, the night passed away, and when the first rays of sun broke through the hedge of bamboo, the old man started up, thanked his hostess for her friendly welcome, and prepared to say farewell. "'I'm not going to let you depart like that,' said she. "'I have a present for you, which you must take as a sign of my gratitude.' And as she spoke, her servants brought in two chests, one of them very small, the other large and heavy. "'Now choose which of them you will carry with you.' So the old man chose the small chest, and hid it under his cloak, and set out on his homeward way. But as he drew nearer the house his heart sank a little, for he knew what a fury his wife would be in, and how she would abuse him for his absence. And it was even worse than he expected. However, long experience had taught him to let her storm and say nothing, so he lit his pipe and waited till she was tired out. The woman was still raging and did not seem likely to stop, when her husband, who by this time had forgotten all about her, drew out the chest from under his cloak and opened it. Oh, what a blaze met his eyes! Gold and precious stones were heaped up to the very lid, and laid dancing in the sunlight. At the sight of these wonders even the scolding tongue ceased, and the woman approached, and took the stones in her hand, setting greedily aside those that were the largest and most costly. Then her voice softened, and she begged him quite politely to tell where he had spent his evening, and how he had come by these wonderful riches. So he told her the whole story, and she listened with amazement, till he came to the choice which had been given him between the two chests. At this her tongue broke loose again, as she abused him for his folly in taking the little one, and she never rested till her husband had described the exact way which led to the Sparrow Princess's house. When she had got it into her head, she put on her best clothes and set out at once. But in her blind haste she often missed the path, and she wandered for several hours before she at length reached the little house. She walked boldly up to the door and entered the room as if the whole place belonged to her, and quite frightened the poor girl, she was startled at the sight of her old enemy. However, she concealed her feelings as well as she could, and bade the intruder welcome, placing before her food and wine, hoping that when she had eaten and drunk she might take her leave, but nothing of the sort. "'You will not let me go without a little present?' said the greedy wife, as she saw no signs of one being offered her. "'Of course not,' replied the girl, and at her orders two chests were brought in, as they had been before. The old woman instantly seized the bigger, and staggering under the weight of it, disappeared into the forest, hardly waiting even to say good-bye. It was a long way to her own house, and the chests seemed to grow heavier at every step. Sometimes she felt as if it would be impossible for her to get on at all, but her greed gave her strength, and at last she arrived at her own door. She sank down on the threshold, overcome with weariness, but in a moment was on her feet again, fumbling with the lock of the chest. But by this time night had come, and there was no light in the house, and the woman was in too much hurry to get to her treasures, to go and look for one. At length, however, the lock gave way, and the lid flew open, O horror! Instead of golden jewels she saw before her serpents with glittering eyes and forky tongues, and they twined themselves about her and darted poison into her veins, and she died, and no man regretted her. THE PINK FAIRY BOOK BY ANDRU LENG THE STORY OF SIKU From Sicilian Ashmerchen, once upon a time there lived a man who had three sons. The eldest was called Pepe, the second alphan, and the youngest Siku. They were all very poor, and at last things got so bad that they really had not enough to eat. So the father called his sons, and said to them, My dear boys, I am too old to work any more, and there is nothing left for me but to beg in the streets. No, no, exclaimed his sons, that you shall never do. Rather, if it must be, would we do it ourselves? But we have thought of a better plan than that. What is it, asked the father? Well, we will take you in the forest, where you shall cut wood, and then we will bind it up in bundles and sell it in the town. So their father let them do as they said, and they all made their way into the forest. And as the old man was weak from lack of food, his sons took it in turns to carry him on their backs. Then they built a little hut where they might take shelter and set to work. Every morning early the father cut his sticks, and the sons found them in bundles, and carried them to the town, bringing back the food the old man so much needed. Some months passed in this way, and then the father suddenly fell ill, and knew that the time had come when he must die. He paid his son's fetch a lawyer so that he might make his will, and when the man arrived he explained his wishes. I have, said he, a little house in the village, and over it grows a fig tree. The house I leave to my sons, who are to live in it together. The fig tree I divide as follows. To my son Pepe I leave the branches. To my son Elfin I leave the trunk. To my son Ziku I leave the fruit. Beside the house and the tree I have an old coverlet, which I leave to my eldest son. And an old purse which I leave to my second son, and a horn which I leave to my youngest son. And now farewell. Thus speaking he laid himself down and died quietly. The brothers wept bitterly for their father whom they loved, and when they had buried him they began to talk over their future lives. What shall we do now? said they. Shall we live in the wood or go back to the village? And they made up their minds to say where they were and continue to earn their living by selling firewood. One very hot evening, after they had been working hard all day, they fell asleep under a tree in front of the hut. And as they slept there came by three fairies, who stopped to look at them. What fine fellows said one! Let us give them a present. Yes, what shall it be? asked another. This youth has a coverlet over him, said the first fairy. When he wraps it round him, and wishes himself in any place, he will find himself there in an instant. Then said the second fairy, This youth has a purse in his hand. I will promise that it shall always give him as much gold as he asked for. Last came the turn of the third fairy. This one has a horn slung round him. When he blows at the small end the sea shall be covered with ships, and if he blows at the wide end they shall all be sunk in the waves. So they vanished, without knowing that Siku had been awake and heard all they said. The next day, when they were all cutting wood, he said to his brothers, That old coverlet and the purse are no use to you. I wish you would give them to me. I have a fancy for them, for the sake of old times. Now Pepe and Alfin were very fond of Siku, and never refused him anything. So they let him have the coverlet and the purse without a word. When he had got them safely, Siku went on, Dear brothers, I am tired of the forest. I want to live in the town, and work at some trade. Oh, Siku, stay with us, they cried. We are very happy here, and who knows how it shall get on elsewhere? We can always try, answered Siku. And if times are bad, we can come back here and take up wood-cutting. So saying, he picked up his bundle of sticks, and his brothers did the same. But when they reached the town they found that the market was overstocked with firewood, and they did not sell enough to buy themselves a dinner. Far less to get any food to carry home. They were wondering, sadly, what they should do when Siku said, Come with me to the inn, and let us have something to eat. They were so hungry by this time they did not care much whether they paid for it or not. So they followed Siku, who gave his orders to the host. Bring us three dishes, the nicest that you have, and a good bottle of wine. Siku, Siku, whispered his brothers, horrified at this extravagance. Are you mad? How do you ever mean to pay for it? Let me alone, replied Siku, I know what I am about. And when they had finished their dinner Siku told the others to go on, and he would wait to pay the bill. The brothers hurried on without needing to be told twice. Four thought they, he has no money. And of course there will be a row. When they were out of sight, Siku asked the landlord how much he owed, and then said to his purse, Dear purse, give me, I pray you, six florins. And instantly six florins were in the purse. Then he paid the bill and joined his brothers. How did you manage, they asked. Never you mind, answered he, I have paid every penny. And no more would he say. But the other two were very uneasy, for they felt sure something must be wrong, and the sooner they parted company with Siku the better. Siku understood what they were thinking, and, drawing forty gold pieces from his pocket, he held out twenty to each, saying, Take these and turn them to good account. I am going away to seek my own fortune. Then he embraced them, and struck down another road. He wandered on for many days, till at length he came to the town where the king had his court. The first thing Siku did was to order himself some fine clothes, and then buy a grand house just opposite the palace. Next he locked his door, and ordered a shower of gold to cover the staircase. And when this was done, the door was flung wide open, and everyone came and peeped at the shining gold stairs. Lastly, the rumour of these wonders reached the ears of the king, who left his palace to behold these blenders with his own eyes, and Siku received him with all respect, and showed him over the house. When the king went home he told such stories of what he had seen that his wife and daughter declared that they must go and see them too. So the king sent to ask Siku's leave, and Siku answered that if the queen and the princess would be pleased to do him such great honour, he would show them anything they wished. Now the princess was as beautiful as the son, and when Siku looked upon her his heart went out to her, and he longed to have her to wife. The princess saw what was passing in his mind, and how she could make use of it to satisfy her curiosity, as to the golden stairs. So she praised him and flattered him, and put cunning questions, till at length Siku's head was quite turned, and he told her the whole story of the fairies and their gifts. Then she begged him to lend her the purse for a few days, so that she could have one made like it, and so great was the love he had for her that he gave it to her at once. The princess returned to the palace, taking with her the purse, which she had not the smallest intention of ever restoring to Siku. Very soon Siku had spent all the money he had by him, and could get no more without the help of his purse. Of course he went at once to the king's daughter, and asked her if she had done with it. But she put him off with some excuse, and told him to come back next day. The next day it was the same thing, and the next, till a great rage filled Siku's heart. Instead of the love that had been there. And when night came, he took in his hand a thick stick, wrapped himself in the coverlet, and wished himself in the chamber of the princess. The princess was asleep, but Siku seized her arm and pulled her out of bed, and beat her till she gave back the purse. Then he took up the coverlet, and wished he was safe in his own house. No sooner had he gone than the princess hastened to her father and complained of her sufferings. Then the king rose up in a fury, and commanded Siku to be brought before him. "'You richly deserve death,' said he. "'But I will allow you to live, if you will instantly hand over to me the coverlet, the purse, and the horn.' What could Siku do? Life was sweet, and he was in the power of the king. So he gave up silently his ill-gotten goods, and was as poor as when he was a boy. While he was wondering how he was to live it suddenly came into his mind that this was the season for the figs to ripen, and he said to himself, I will go and see if the tree has borne well. So he set off home, where his brothers still lived, and found them living very uncomfortably, for they had spent all their money, and did not know how to make any more. However, he was pleased to see that the fig tree looked in splendid condition, and was full of fruit. He ran and fetched a basket, and was just feeling the figs to make sure which of them were ripe, when his brother Pepe called to him. "'Stop! The figs, of course, are yours, but the branches they grow on are mine, and I forbid you to touch them.' Siku did not answer, but set a ladder against the tree, so that he could reach the topmost branches, and had his foot already on the first rung when he heard the voice of his brother Alphin. "'Stop! The trunk belongs to me, and I forbid you to touch it.' Then they began to quarrel violently, and there seemed no chance that they would ever cease, till one of them said, "'Let us go before a judge.' The others agreed, and when they had found a man whom they could trust, Siku told him the whole story. "'This is my verdict,' said the judge, the figs in truth belong to you, but you cannot pluck them without touching both the trunk and the branches. Therefore you must give your first basketful to your brother Pepe, as the price of his leaf to put your ladder against the tree. And the second basketful to your brother Alphin, for leaf to shake his bowels, the rest you can keep for yourself.' And the brothers were contented and returned home, saying one to the other, "'We will each of us send a basket of figs to the king. Perhaps he will give us something in return. And if he does, we will divide it faithfully between us.' So the best figs were carefully packed in a basket, and Pepe set out with it to the castle. On the road he met a little old man who stopped and said to him, "'What have you got there, my fine fellow?' "'What is that to you?' was the answer. Mind your own business. But the old man only repeated his question, and Pepe, to get rid of him, exclaimed in anger, "'Dirt!' "'Good!' replied the old man. "'Dirt you have said, and dirt let it be.' Pepe only tossed his head and went on his way till he got to the castle, where he knocked at the door. "'I have a basket of lovely figs for the king,' he said to the servant who opened it. "'If his majesty will be graciously pleased to accept them with my humble duty.' The king loved figs and ordered Pepe to be admitted to his presence, and a silver dish to be brought on which to put the figs. When Pepe uncovered his basket, sure enough, a layer of beautiful purple figs met the king's eyes. But underneath there was nothing but dirt. "'How dare you play me such a trick!' shrieked the king in a rage. Take him away, and give him fifty lashes.' This was done, and Pepe returned home, sore and angry. He was not determined to say nothing about his adventure. And when his brothers asked him what had happened, he only answered, "'We have all three been, I will tell you.' A few days after this more figs were ready for plucking, and alphan in his turn set out for the palace. He had not gone far down the road before he met the old man, who asked him what he had in his basket. Horns answered alphan shortly. "'Good,' replied the old man, Horns, you have said, and Horns, let it be.' When alphan reached the castle, he knocked at the door and said to the servant, "'Here is a basket of lovely figs, if his majesty will be good enough to accept them with my humble duty.' The king commanded that alphan should be admitted to his presence, and a silver dish to be brought on which to lay the figs. When the basket was uncovered some beautiful purple figs lay on the top. But underneath there was nothing but horns. Then the king was beside himself with passion and screamed out, "'Is this a plot to muck me? Take him away and give him a hundred and fifty lashes.' So alphan went sadly home. But would not tell anything about his adventures, only saying grimly, "'Now it is Siku's turn.' Siku had to wait a little before he gathered the last figs on the tree, and these were not nearly so good as the first set. However, he plucked them, as they had agreed, and set out for the king's palace. The old man was still on the road, and he came up and said to Siku, "'What have you got in that basket?' "'Figs for the king,' answered he. "'Let me have a peep,' and Siku lifted the lid. "'Oh, do give me one. I am so fond of figs,' begged the little man. "'I am afraid if I do that the whole will show,' replied Siku. But as he was very good-natured he gave him one. The old man aided greedily and kept the stalk in his hand, and then asked for another and another and another, till he had eaten half the basketful. "'But there are not enough left to take to the king,' murmured Siku. "'Don't be anxious,' said the old man, throwing the stalks back into the basket. "'Just go on and carry the basket to the castle, and it will bring you luck.' Siku did not much like it. However he went on his way, and with a trembling heart rang the castle bell. "'Here are some lovely figs for the king,' said he. "'If His Majesty will graciously accept them with my humble duty.' When the king was told that there was another man with a basket of figs, he cried out, "'Oh, have him in, have him in! I suppose it is a wager!' But Siku uncovered the basket, and there lay a pile of beautiful ripe figs. And the king was delighted, and emptied them himself on the silver dish, and gave five Florence to Siku, and offered besides to take him into his service. Siku accepted gratefully, but said he must first return home and give the five Florence to his brothers. When he got home Pepe spoke, "'Now we will see what we each have got from the king. I myself received from him fifty lashes. And I, a hundred and fifty,' added Alphan, "'And I, five Florence and some sweets, which you can divide between you, for the king has taken me into his service.' Then Siku went back to the court and served the king, and the king loved him. The other two brothers heard that Siku had become quite an important person, and they grew envious, and thought how they could put him to shame. At last they came to the king and said to him, "'Oh, king, your palace is beautiful indeed. But to be worthy of you, it lacks one thing—the sword of the man-eater.' "'How can I get it?' asked the king. "'Oh, Siku can get it for you, ask him.' So the king sent for Siku and said to him, "'Siku, you must, at any price, manage to get the sword of the man-eater.' Siku was very much surprised at this sudden command, and he walked thoughtfully away to the stables and began to stroke his favourite horse, saying to himself, "'Ah, my pet, we must bid each other good-bye, for the king has sent me away to get the sword of the man-eater.' Now this horse was not like other horses, for it was a talking-horse, and knew a great deal about many things, so it answered, "'Fear nothing, and do as I tell you. Beg the king to give you fifty gold-pieces, and leave to ride me, and the rest will be easy.' Siku believed what the horse said, and prayed the king to grant him what he asked. Then the two friends set out, but the horse chose what roads he pleased, and directed Siku in everything. It took them many days hard-riding before they reached the country where the man-eater lived, and then the horse told Siku to stop a group of old women who were coming chattering through the wood, and offer them each a shilling if they would collect a number of mosquitoes and tie them up in a bag. When the bag was full, Siku put it on his shoulder and stole into the house of the man-eater, who had gone to look for his dinner, and let them all out in his bedroom. He himself hid carefully under the bed and waited. The man-eater came in late, very tired with his long walk, and flung himself on the bed, placing his sword with its shining blade by his side. Scarcely had he lain down, then the mosquitoes began to buzz about and bite him, and he rolled from side to side trying to catch them, which he could never do, though they always seemed to be close to his nose. He was so busy over the mosquitoes that he did not hear Siku steal softly out, or see him catch up the sword. But the horse heard and stood ready at the door, and as Siku came flying down the stairs and jumped on his back, he sped away like the wind, and never stopped till they arrived at the king's palace. The king had suffered much pain in his absence, thinking that if the man-eater ate Siku it would be all his fault, and he was so overjoyed to have him safe that he almost forgot the sword which he had sent him to bring. But the two brothers did not love Siku any better, because he had succeeded, and what they hoped he would have failed. And one day they spoke to the king. It is all very well for Siku to have got possession of the sword, but it would have been far more for your majesty's honor if he had captured the man-eater himself. The king thought upon these words, and at last he said to Siku, Siku, I shall never rest until you bring me back the man-eater himself. You may have any help you like, but somehow or other you must manage to do it. Siku felt very much cast down at these words, and went to the stable to ask advice of his friend the horse. Fear nothing, said the horse. Just say you want me in fifty pieces of gold. Siku did as he was bid, and the two set out together. When they reached the country of the man-eater, Siku made all the church bells toll and the proclamation to be made. Siku, the servant of the king, is dead. The man-eater soon heard what everyone was saying, and was glad in his heart, for he thought, well, it's good news that the thief who stole my sword is dead. But Siku bought an axe and a saw, and cut down a pine-tree in the nearest wood, and began to hew it into planks. What are you doing in my wood? asked the man-eater, coming up. Noble lord, answered Siku, I am making a coffin for the body of Siku, who is dead. Don't be in a hurry, answered the man-eater, who of course did not know whom he was talking to. And perhaps I can help you. And they said to work sawing and fitting, and very soon the coffin was finished. Then Siku scratched his ear thoughtfully and cried, Idiot that I am, I never took any measures! How am I to know if it is big enough? But now, I come to think of it, Siku was just about your size. I wonder if you would be so good as to just put yourself in the coffin and see if there's enough room? Oh, delighted, said the man-eater, and laid himself at full length in the coffin. Siku clapped on the lid and put a strong cord round it, tied it fast to his horse, and rode back to the king. And when the king saw that he really had brought back the man-eater, he commanded a huge iron chest to be brought, and locked the coffin up inside. Just about this time the queen died, and soon after the king thought he should like to marry again. He sought everywhere, but could not hear of any princess that took his fancy. Then the two envious brothers came to him and said, Oh, king, there is but one woman that is worthy of being your wife, and that is she who is the fairest in the whole world. But where can I find her? asked the king. Oh, Siku will know, and he will bring her to you. Now the king had got so used to depending on Siku that he really believed he could do everything. So he sent for him and said, Siku, unless within eight days you bring me the fairest in the world, I will have you hewn into a thousand pieces. This mission seemed to Siku a hundred times worse than either of the others, and with tears in his eyes he took his way to the stables. Cheer up, laughed the horse, tell the king you must have some bread and honey, and a purse of gold, and leave the rest to me. Siku did as he was bid, and they started at a gallop. After they had ridden some way they saw a swarm of bees lying down on the ground, so hungry and weak that they were unable to fly. Get down and give the poor thing some honey, said the horse, and Siku dismounted. By and by they came to a stream, on the bank of which was a fish, flapping feebly about in its efforts to reach the water. Jump down and throw the fish into the water. He will be useful to us. And Siku did so. Further along the hillside they saw an eagle whose leg was caught in a snare. Go and free that eagle from the snare. He will be useful to us. And in a moment the eagle was soaring up into the sky. At length they came to the castle where the fairest in the world lived with their parents. Then said the horse, you must get down and sit upon that stone, for I must enter the castle alone. Directly, you see me come tearing by with the princess on my back. Jump up behind and hold her tight, so that she does not as cave you. If you fail to do this we are both lost. Siku seated himself on the stone. And the horse went on to the courtyard of the castle, where he began to trot round in a graceful and elegant manner. Soon a crowd collected first to watch him, and then to pat him, and the king and queen and princess came with the rest. The eyes of the fairest in the world brightened as she looked, and she sprang on the horse's saddle, crying, Oh, I really must ride him a little. But the horse made one bound forward, and the princess was forced to hold tight by his mane, lest she should fall off. And as they dashed past the stone where Siku was waiting for them, he swung himself up and held her round the waist. As he put his arms round her waist, the fairest in the world unwound the veil from her head and cast it to the ground. And then she drew a ring from her finger and flung it into the stream. But she said nothing, and they rode on fast, fast. The king of Siku's country was watching for them at the top of a tower. And when he saw in the distance a cloud of dust, he ran down to the steps so as to be ready to receive them. Bowing low before the fairest in the world he spoke, No blue lady, will you do me the honor to become my wife? But she answered, That can only be when Siku brings me the veil that I let fall on my way here. And the king turned to Siku and said, Siku, if you do not find the veil at once, you shall lose your head. Siku, who by this time had hoped for a little peace, felt his heart sink at this fresh errand, and he went into the stable to complain to the faithful horse. It will be all right, answered the horse, when he had heard his tail, Just take enough food for the day for both of us, and then get on my back. They rode back all the way they had come till they reached the place where they had found the eagle caught in the snare. Then the horse bade Siku to call three times on the king of the birds, and when he replied to beg him to fetch the veil which the fairest in the world had let fall. Wait a moment! answered a voice that seemed to come from somewhere very high up indeed, and an eagle was playing with it just now, but he will be here with it in an instant. And a few minutes after there was the sound of wings, and an eagle came fluttering towards them with the veil in his beak, and Siku saw it was the very same eagle that he had freed from the snare, so he took the veil and rode back to the king. Now the king was enchanted to see him so soon, and took the veil from Siku and flung it over the princess, crying, Here is the veil you ask for, so I claim you for my wife. Not so fast, answered she, I can never be your wife till Siku puts on my finger the ring I threw into the stream. Siku, who was standing by expecting something of the sort, bowed his head when he heard her words, and went straight to the horse. Mounted once, said the horse, this time it is very simple, and he carried Siku to the banks of the little stream. Now call three times on the emperor of the fishes, and beg him to restore you the ring that the princess dropped. Siku did, as the horse told him, and a voice was heard in answer that seemed to come from a very long way off. What is your will? it asked, and Siku replied that he had been commanded to bring back the ring that the princess had flung away, as she rode past. A fish is playing with it just now, replied the voice, however you shall have it without delay. And sure enough, very soon a little fish was seen rising to the surface with a lost ring in its mouth, and Siku knew him to be the fish that he had saved from death. And he took the ring and rode back with it to the king. This is not enough, exclaimed the princess when she saw the ring. Before we can be man and wife, the oven must be heated for three days and three nights, and Siku must jump in. And the king forgot how Siku had served him, and desired him to do as the princess had said. This time Siku felt that no escape was possible, and he went to the horse and laid his hand on his neck. Now it is indeed good-bye, and there is no help to be got even from you. And he told him what fate awaited him. But the horse said, Oh, never lose heart, but jump on my back and make me go till the foam flies and flecks about me. Then get down and scrape off the foam with a knife. This you must rub all over you, and when you are quite covered you may suffer yourself to be cast into the oven, for the fire will not hurt you nor anything else. And Siku did exactly as the horse baited him, and went back to the king, and before the eyes of the fairest in the world he sprang into the oven. And when the fairest in the world saw what he had done, love entered into her heart, and she said to the king, One thing more, before I can be your wife, you must jump into the oven as Siku had done. They replied the king, stooping over the oven. But on the brink he paused a moment and called to Siku. Tell me, Siku, how did you manage to prevent the fire burning you? Now Siku could not forgive his master, whom he had served so faithfully for sending him to his death without a thought. So he answered, I rubbed myself over with fat, and I am not even singed. When he heard these words, the king, whose head was full of the princess, never stopped to inquire if they could be true, and smeared himself over with fat and sprang into the oven, and in a moment the fire caught him and he was burned up. Then the fairest in the world held out her hand to Siku and smiled, saying, Now we will be man and wife. So Siku married the fairest in the world and became king of the country. End of THE STORY OF SIKU Recording by Elliot Miller, www.voiceofe.com The Pink Fairy Book by Andrew Lang Don Giovanni di la Fortuna, Sicilian Ash Martian There was once a man whose name was Don Giovanni di la Fortuna, and he lived in a beautiful house that his father had built, and spent a great deal of money. Indeed, he spent so much that very soon there was none left, and Don Giovanni, instead of being a rich man with everything he could wish for, was forced to put on the dress of a pilgrim and to wander from place to place begging his bread. One day he was walking down a broad road when he was stopped by a handsome man he had never seen before. Who, little as Don Giovanni knew it, was the devil himself. Would you like to be rich, asked the devil, and to lead a pleasant life? Yes, of course I should, replied the Don. Well, here is a purse. Take it and say to it, Dear purse, give me some money, and you will get as much as you can want, but the charm will only work if you promise to remain three years, three months, and three days without washing, and without combing, and without shaving your beard or changing your clothes. If you do all this faithfully, when the time is up, you shall keep the purse for yourself, and I will let you off any other conditions. Now Don Giovanni was a man who never troubled his head about the future. He did not once think how very uncomfortable he should be all those three years, but only that he should be able, by means of the purse, to have all sorts of things he had been obliged to do without. So he joyfully put the purse in his pocket and went on his way. He soon began to ask for money for the mere pleasure of it, and there was always as much as he needed. For a little while he even forgot to notice how dirty he was getting. But this did not last long, for his hair became matted with dirt and hung over his eyes, and his pilgrim's dress was a mass of horrible rags and tatters. He was in this state when, one morning, he happened to be passing a fine palace, and as the sun was shining bright and warm he sat down on the steps and tried to shake off some of the dust which he had picked up on the road. But in a few minutes a maid saw him and said to her master, I pray you, sir, to drive away that beggar who is sitting on the steps, or he will fill the whole house with his dirt. So the master went out and called from some distance off, for he was really afraid to go near the man. You filthy beggar, leave my house at once! You need not be so rude, said Don Giovanni. I am not a beggar, and if I choose I could force you and your wife to leave your house. What is that you can do? laughed the gentleman. Will you sell me your house? asked Don Giovanni. I will buy it from you on the spot. Oh, the dirty creature is quite mad, thought the gentleman. I shall just accept his offer for a joke. And aloud he said, All right, follow me, and we will go to a lawyer and get him to make a contract. And Don Giovanni followed him, and an agreement was drawn up by which the house was to be sold at once, and a large sum of money paid down in eight days. Then the Don went to an inn where he hired two rooms, and standing in one of them, said to his purse, Dear purse, fill this room with gold, and when the eight days were up it was so full you could not have put in another sovereign. When the owner of the house came to take away his money Don Giovanni led him into the room and said, There, just pocket what you want. The gentleman stared with open mouth at the astonishing sight. But he had given his word to sell the house, so he took his money, as he was told, and went away with his wife to look for some place to live in. And Don Giovanni left the inn and dwelt in the beautiful rooms, where his rags and dirt looked sadly out of place, and every day these got worse and worse. By and by the fame of his riches reached the ears of the king, and as he himself was always in need of money he sent for Don Giovanni, as he wished to borrow a large sum. Don Giovanni readily agreed to lend him what he wanted and sent the next day a huge wagon laden with sacks of gold. Who can he be? thought the king to himself. Why, he is much richer than I. The king took as much as he had need of, then ordered the rest to be returned to Don Giovanni, who refused to receive it, saying, Tell his majesty I am hurt at his proposal. I shall certainly not take back that handful of gold, and if he declines to accept it keep it yourself. The servant departed and delivered the message, and the king wondered more than ever how anyone could be so rich. At last he spoke to the queen. Dear wife, this man has done me a great service, and has, besides, behaved like a gentleman in not allowing me to send back the money. I wish to give him the hand of our eldest daughter. The queen was quite pleased at this idea, and again messenger was sent to Don Giovanni, offering him the hand of the eldest princess. His majesty is too good, he replied. I can only humbly accept the honour. The messenger took back this answer, but a second time returned with a request that Don Giovanni would present them with his picture, so that they might know what sort of person to expect. When it came, and the princess saw the horrible figure, she screamed out, What? Mary this dirty beggar? Never, never! Ah, child! answered the king. How could I ever guess that the rich Don Giovanni would ever look like that? But I have passed my royal word, and I cannot break it. So there is no help for you. No, father, you may cut off my head if you choose, but Mary that horrible beggar, I never will! And the queen took her part, and reproached her husband bitterly for wishing his daughter to marry a creature like that. Then the youngest daughter spoke, Dear father, do not look so sad. As you have given your word, I will marry Don Giovanni. The king fell on her neck and thanked her and kissed her, but the queen and the elder girl had nothing for her but laughs and jeers. So it was settled, and then the king bade one of his lords go to Don Giovanni and ask him when the wedding day was to be, so that the princess might make ready. Let it be in two months, answered Don Giovanni, for the time was nearly up that the devil had fixed, and he wanted a whole month to himself to wash off the dirt of the past three years. The very minute that the compact with the devil had come to an end, his beard was shaved, his hair was cut, and his rags were burned. And day and night he lay in a bath of clear warm water. At length he felt he was clean again, and he put on splendid clothes, and hired a beautiful ship, and arrived in state at the king's palace. The whole of the royal family came down to the ship to receive him, and the whole way the queen and the elder princess teased the sister about the dirty husband she was going to have. But when they saw how handsome he really was, their hearts were filled with envy and anger, so that their eyes were blinded, and they fell over into the sea and were drowned. And the youngest daughter rejoiced in the good luck that had come to her, and they had a splendid wedding when the days of mourning for her mother and sister were ended. Soon after the old king died, and Don Giovanni became king. And he was rich and happy to the end of his days, for he loved his wife, and his purse always gave him money. End of Don Giovanni di La Fortuna, Recording by Elliot Miller, www.voiceofe.com The Pink Fairy Book by Andrew Lang