 CHAPTER 9 THE ENCHANTED PIG Once upon a time there lived a king who had three daughters. Now it happened that he had to go out to battle, so he called his daughters and said to them, My dear children, I am obliged to go to the wars. The enemy is approaching us with a large army. It is a great grief to me to leave you all. During my absence, take care of yourselves and be good girls. Behave well and look after everything in their house. You may walk in the garden, and you may go into all the rooms in the palace, except the room at the back in the right hand corner. To that you must not enter, for harm would befall you. You may keep your mind easy, father, they replied. We have never been disobedient to you. Go in peace, and may heaven give you a glorious victory. When everything was ready for his departure, the king gave them the keys of all the rooms and reminded them once more of what he had said. His daughters kissed his hands with tears in their eyes and wished him prosperity, and he gave the eldest the keys. Now when the girls found themselves alone, they felt so sad and dull that they did not know what to do, so to pass the time they decided to work for part of the day, to read for part of the day, and to enjoy themselves in the garden for part of the day. As long as they did this or went well with them, but this happy state of things did not last long. Every day they grew more and more curious, and you will see what the end of that was. Sisters, said the eldest princess, all day long we sow, spin, and read. We have been several days quite alone, and there is no corner of the garden that we have not explored. We have been in all the rooms of our father's palace, and have admired the rich and beautiful furniture. Why should not we go into the room that our father forbade us to enter? Sisters, said the youngest, I cannot think how you can tempt us to break our father's command. When he told us not to go into that room, he must have known what he was saying, and have had a good reason for saying it. Surely the sky won't fall about our heads if we do go in, said the second princess. Dragons and such-like monsters that would devour us will not be hidden in the room, and how will our father ever find out that we have gone in? While they were speaking thus, encouraging each other, they had reached the room. The eldest fitted the key into the lock, and snap, the door stood open. The three girls entered, and what do you think they saw? The room was quite empty, and without any ornament, but in the middle stood a large table with a gorgeous cloth, and on it lay a big open book. Now the princesses were curious to know what was written in the book, especially the eldest, and this is what she read. The eldest daughter of this king will marry a prince from the east. Then the second girl stepped forward, and turning over the page she read. The second daughter of this king will marry a prince from the west. The girls were delighted, and laughed, and teased each other, but the youngest princess did not want to go near the table or to open the book. The elder sisters, however, left her no peace, and will she, nil she, they dragged her up to the table, and in fear and trembling she turned over the page and read. The youngest daughter of this king will be married to a pig from the north. Now if a thunderbolt had fallen upon her from heaven, it would not have frightened her more. She almost died of misery, and if her sisters had not held her up, she would have sunk to the ground, and cut her head open. When she came out of the fainting fit into which she had fallen in her terror, her sisters tried to comfort her, saying, How can you believe such nonsense? When did it ever happen that a king's daughter married a pig? What a baby you are, said the other sister. Has not our father enough soldiers to protect you, even if the disgusting creature did come to woo you? The youngest princess would feign have let herself be convinced by her sisters' words, and have believed what they said, but her heart was heavy. Her thoughts kept turning to the book, in which stood written that great happiness waited her sisters, but that her fate was in store for her such as had never before been known in the world. Besides, the thought weighed on her heart that she had been guilty of disobeying her father. She began to get quite ill, and in a few days she was so changed that it was difficult to recognize her. Formerly she had been rosy and merry, now she was pale, and nothing gave her any pleasure. She gave up playing with her sisters in the garden, seized to gather flowers to put in her hair, and never sang when they sat together at their spinning and sewing. In the meantime the king won a great victory, and having completely defeated and driven off the enemy, he hurried home to his daughters, to whom his thoughts had constantly turned. Everyone went out to meet him with cymbals and fives and drums, and there was great rejoicing over his victorious return. The king's first act, on reaching home, was to thank heaven for the victory he had gained over the enemies who had risen against him. He then entered his palace, and the three princesses stepped forward to meet him. His joy was great when he saw that they were all well, for the youngest did her best not to appear sad. In spite of this, however, it was not long before the king noticed that his third daughter was getting very thin and sad-looking, and all of a sudden he felt as if a hot iron were entering his soul, for it flashed through his mind that she had disobeyed his word. He felt sure he was right, but to be quite certain he called his daughters to him, questioned them, and ordered them to speak the truth. They confessed everything, but took good care not to say which had led the other two into temptation. The king was so distressed when he heard it that he was almost overcome by grief, but he took heart and tried to comfort his daughters, who looked frightened to death. He saw that what had happened had happened, and that a thousand words would not alter matters by a hair's breadth. Well, these events had almost been forgotten when one fine day a prince from the east appeared at the court and asked the king for the hand of his eldest daughter. The king gladly gave his consent. A great wedding banquet was prepared, and after three days of feasting the happy pair were accompanied to the frontier with much ceremony and rejoicing. After some time the same thing befell the second daughter, who was wooed and won by a prince from the west. Now when the young princess saw that everything fell out exactly as had been written in the book, she grew very sad. She refused to eat, and would not put on her fine clothes, nor go out walking, and declared that she would rather die than become a laughing stock to the world. But the king would not allow her to do anything so wrong, and he comforted her in all possible ways. So the time passed, till low and behold, one fine day an enormous pig from the north walked into the palace, and going straight up to the king said, Hail, O king! May your life be as prosperous and bright as sunrise on a clear day. I am glad to see you well, friend, answered the king. But what wind has brought you hither? I come a-wooing, replied the pig. Now, the king was astonished to hear so fine a speech from a pig, and that once it occurred to him that something strange was the matter. He would gladly have turned the pig's thoughts in another direction, as he did not wish to give him the princess for a wife. But when he heard that the court and the whole street were full of all the pigs in the world, he saw that there was no escape, and that he must give his consent. The pig was not satisfied with mere promises, but insisted that the wedding should take place within a week, and would not go away till the king had sworn a royal oath upon it. The king then sent for his daughter and advised her to submit to fate, as there was nothing else to be done, and he added, My child, the words and whole behavior of this pig are quite unlike those of other pigs. I do not myself believe that he always was a pig. Depend upon it, some magic or witchcraft has been at work. Obey him, and do everything that he wishes, and I feel sure that heaven will shortly send you release. If you wish me to do this, dear father, I will do it, replied the girl. In the meantime, the wedding day drew near. After the marriage, the pig and his bride set out for his home in one of the royal carriages. On the way they passed a great bog, and the pig ordered the carriage to stop, and got out and rolled about in the mire till he was covered with mud from head to foot. Then he got back into the carriage and told his wife to kiss him. What was the poor girl to do? She bethought herself of her father's words, and pulling out her pocket-hanker-chief, she gently wiped the pig's snout and kissed it. By the time they reached the pig's dwelling, which stood in a thick wood, it was quite dark. They sat down quietly for a little, as they were tired after their drive. Then they had supper together and laid down to rest. During the night the princess noticed that the pig had changed into a man. She was not a little surprised, but remembering her father's words, she took courage, determined to wait and see what would happen. And now she noticed that every night the pig became a man, and every morning he was changed into a pig before she awoke. This happened several nights running, and the princess could not understand it at all. Clearly her husband must be bewitched. In time she grew quite fond of him. He was so kind and gentle. One fine day she was sitting alone. She saw an old witch go past. She felt quite excited, as it was so long since she had seen a human being, and she called out to the old woman to come and talk to her. Among other things the witch told her that she understood all magic arts, and that she could foretell the future, and knew the healing powers of herbs and plants. I shall be grateful to you all my life, old Dame, said the princess, if you will tell me what is the matter with my husband. Why is he a pig by day, and a human being by night? I was just going to tell you that one thing, my dear, to show you what a good fortune teller I am. If you like I will give you a herb to break the spell. If you will only give it to me, said the princess, I will give you anything you choose to ask for, for I cannot bear to see him in this state. Here, then, my dear child, said the witch, take this thread, but do not let him know about it, for if he did it would lose its healing power. At night, when he is asleep, you must get up very quietly, and fasten the thread round his left foot as firmly as possible, and you will see in the morning he will not have changed back into a pig, but will still be a man. I do not want any reward. I shall be sufficiently repaid by knowing that you are happy. It almost breaks my heart to think of all you have suffered, and I only wish I had known it sooner, as I should have come to your rescue at once. When the old witch had gone away, the princess hid the thread very carefully, and at night she got up quietly, and with a beating heart she bound the thread round her husband's foot. Just as she was pulling the knot tight, there was a crack, and the thread broke, for it was rotten. Her husband awoke with a start, and said to her, unhappy woman, what have you done? Three days more, and this unholy spell would have fallen from me, and now, who knows how long I may have to go about in this disgusting shape? I must leave you at once, and we shall not meet again until you have worn out three pairs of iron shoes and blunted a steel staff in your search for me. So saying, he disappeared. Now, when the princess was left alone, she began to weep and moan in a way that was pitiful to hear. But when she saw that her tears and groans did her no good, she got up, determined to go wherever fate should lead her. On reaching her town, the first thing she did was to order three pairs of iron sandals and a steel staff, and having made these preparations for her journey, she set out in search of her husband. On and on she wandered over nine seas and across nine continents, through forests with trees whose stems were as thick as beer barrels, stumbling and knocking herself against the fallen branches, then picking herself up and going on. The boughs of the trees hit her face, and the shrubs tore her hands, but on she went and never looked back. At last, wearied with her long journey and worn out and overcome with sorrow, but still with hope at her heart, she reached her house. Now, who do you think lived there? The moon. The princess knocked at the door and begged to be let in that she might rest a little. The mother of the moon, when she saw her sad plight, felt a great pity for her and took her in and nursed and tendered her, and while she was here, the princess had a little baby. One day the mother of the moon asked her, How was it possible for you, a mortal, to get hither to the house of the moon? Then the poor princess told her all that happened to her and added, I shall always be thankful to heaven for leading me hither and grateful to you that you took pity on me and on my baby and did not leave us to die. Now I beg one last favour of you. Can your daughter the moon tell me where my husband is? She cannot tell you that, my child, replied the goddess, but if you will travel towards the east until you reach the dwelling of the sun, he may be able to tell you something. Then she gave the princess a roast chicken to eat and warned her to be very careful not to lose any of the bones because they might be of great use to her. When the princess had thanked her once more for her hospitality and for her good advice and had thrown away one pair of shoes that were worn out and had put on a second pair, she tied up the chicken bones in a bundle and, taking her baby in her arms and her staff in her hand, she set out once more on her wanderings. On and on and on she went across bare sandy deserts, where the roads were so heavy that for every two steps that she took forwards she fell back one, but she struggled on till she had passed these dreary plains. Next she crossed high rocky mountains, jumping from crag to crag and from peak to peak. Sometimes she would rest for a little on a mountain and then start afresh, always farther and farther on. She had to cross swamps and to scale mountain peaks covered with flints, so that her feet and knees and elbows were all torn and bleeding and sometimes she came to a precipice across which she could not jump and she had to crawl round on hands and knees, helping herself along with her staff. At length, weary to death, she reached the palace in which the sun lived. She knocked and begged her admission. The mother of the sun opened the door and was astonished at beholding a mortal from the distant earthly shores and wept with pity when she heard of all she had suffered. Then, having promised to ask her son about the princess's husband, she hid her in the cellar so that the sun might notice nothing on his return home, for he was always in a bad temper when he came in at night. The next day the princess feared that things would not go well with her, for the sun had noticed that someone from the other world had been in the palace. But his mother had soothed him with soft words, assuring him that this was not so. So the princess took heart when she saw how kindly she was treated and asked, But how in the world is it possible for the sun to be angry? He is so beautiful and so good to mortals. This is how it happens, replied the son's mother. In the morning when he stands at the gates of paradise he is happy and smiles on the whole world, but during the day he gets cross because he sees all the evil deeds of men and that is why his heat becomes so scorching, but in the evening he is both sad and angry, for he stands at the gates of death. That is his usual cause. From there he comes back here. She then told the princess that she had asked about her husband, but that her son had replied that he knew nothing about him and that her only hope was to go and inquire of the wind. Before the princess left the mother of the son gave her a roast chicken to eat and advised her to take great care of the bones, which she did, wrapping them up in a bundle. She then threw away her second pair of shoes, which were quite worn out, and with her child on her arm and her staff in her hand she set forth on her way to the wind. In these wanderings she met with even greater difficulties than before, for she came upon one mountain of flints after another, out of which tongues of fire would flame up. She passed through woods which had never been trodden by human foot, and had to cross fields of ice and avalanches of snow. The poor woman nearly died of these hardships, but she kept the brave heart, and at length she reached an enormous cave in the side of a mountain. This was where the wind lived. There was a little door in the railing in front of the cave, and here the princess knocked and begged for admission. The mother of the wind had pity on her, and took her in, that she might rest a little. Here, too, she was hidden away, so that the wind might not notice her. The next morning the mother of the wind told her that her husband was living in a thick wood, so thick that no axe had been able to cut her way through it. Here he had built himself a sort of house, by placing trunks of trees together and fastening them with wires, and here he lived alone, shining humankind. After the mother of the wind had given the princess a chicken to eat, and had warned her to take care of the bones, she advised her to go by the milky way, which at night lies across the sky, and to wander on till she reached her goal. Having thanked the old woman with tears in her eyes for her hospitality, and for the good news she had given her, the princess set out on her journey, and rested neither night nor day, so great was her longing to see her husband again. On and on she walked until her last pair of shoes fell in pieces, so she threw them away and went on with bare feet, not heeding the bogs nor the thorns that wounded her, nor the stones that bruised her. At last she reached a beautiful green meadow on the edge of a wood. Her heart was cheered by the sight of the flowers and the soft cool grass, and she sat down and rested for a little. But hearing the birds chirping to their mates among the trees made her think with longing of her husband, and she wept bitterly, and taking her child in her arms and her bundle of chicken bones on her shoulder, she entered the wood. For three days and three nights she struggled through it, but could find nothing. She was quite worn out with weariness and hunger, and even her staff was no further help to her, for in her many wanderings it had become quite blunted. She almost gave up in despair, but made one last great effort, and suddenly in a thicket she came upon the sort of house that the mother of the wind had described. It had no windows, and the door was up in the roof. Round the house she went, in search of steps, but could find none. What was she to do? How was she to get in? She thought and thought, and tried in vain to climb up to the door. Then suddenly she bethought her of the chicken bones that she had dragged all that weary way, and she said to herself, they would not all have told me to take such good care of these bones if they had not had some good reason for doing so. Perhaps now, in my hour of need, they may be of use to me. So she took the bones out of her bundle, and having thought for a moment, she placed the two ends together. To her surprise they stuck tight. Then she added the other bones, till she had two long poles, the height of the house. These she placed against the wall, at a distance of a yard from one another. Across them she placed the other bones, piece by piece, like the steps of a ladder. As soon as one step was finished, she stood upon it, and made the next one, and then the next, till she was close to the door. But just as she got near the top, she noticed that there were no bones left for the last sprung of the ladder. What was she to do? Without that last step, the whole ladder was useless. She must have lost one of the bones. Then suddenly an idea came to her. Taking a knife, she chopped off her little finger, and placing it on the last step, it stuck as the bones had done. The ladder was complete, and with her child on her arm, she entered the door of the house. Here she found everything in perfect order. Having taken some food, she laid the child down to sleep in a trail that was on the floor, and sat down herself to rest. When her husband the pig came back to his house, he was startled by what he saw. At first he could not believe his eyes, and stared at the ladder of bones, and at the little finger on the top of it. He felt that some fresh magic must be at work, and in his terror he almost turned away from the house. But then a better idea came to him, and he changed himself into a dove, so that no witchcraft could have power over him, and flew into the room without touching the ladder. Here he found a woman rocking a child. At the sight of her, looking so changed by all that she had suffered for his sake, his heart was moved by such love and longing, and by so great a pity that he suddenly became a man. The princess stood up when she saw him, and her heart beat with fear, for she did not know him. But when he had told her who he was, in her great joy she forgot all her sufferings, and they seemed as nothing to her. He was a very handsome man, as straight as a fir tree. They sat down together, and she told him all her adventures, and he wept with pity at the tail, and then he told her his own history. I am a king's son. Once, when my father was fighting against some dragons, who were the scourge of our country, I slew the youngest dragon. His mother, who was a witch, cast a spell over me and changed me into a pig. It was she who, in the disguise of an old woman, gave you the thread to bind round my foot, so that instead of the three days that had to run before the spell was broken, I was forced to remain a pig for three more years. Now that we have suffered for each other, and have found each other again, let us forget the past. And in their joy they kissed one another. Next morning they set out early to return to his father's kingdom. Great was the rejoicing of all the people when they saw him and his wife. His father and his mother embraced them both, and there was feasting in the palace for three days and three nights. Then they set out to see her father. The old king nearly went out of his mind with joy at beholding his daughter again. When she had told him all her adventures, he said to her, did not I tell you that I was quite sure that that creature who wooed and one knew as his wife had not been born a pig? You see, my child, how wise you were in doing what I told you. And as the king was old and had no heirs, he put them on the throne in his place, and they ruled as only king's rule who have suffered many things. And if they are not dead, they are still living and ruling happily. End of chapter 9 RECORDING BY MARIAN MARTON Chapter 10 of the Red Fairy Book This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org Recording by Alana Jordan. The Red Fairy Book by Andrew Lang. Chapter 10 The Norca Once upon a time there lived a king and a queen. They had three sons, two of them with their wits about them, but the third a simpleton. Now the king had a deer park in which were quantities of wild animals of different kinds. Into that park there used to come a huge beast, Norca was its name, and do fearful mischief, devouring some of the animals every night. The king did all he could, but he was unable to destroy it. So at last he called his sons together and said, whoever will destroy the Norca to him will I give the half of my kingdom. While the eldest son undertook the task, as soon as it was night he took his weapons and set out. But before he reached the park he went into a tractor or tavern, and there he spent the whole night in revelry. When he came to his senses it was too late. The day had already dawned. He felt himself disgraced in the eyes of his father, but there was no help for it. The next day the second son went and did just the same. Their father scalded them both soundly, and there was an end of it. Well, on the third day the youngest son undertook the task. They all laughed him to scorn, because he was so stupid, feeling sure he wouldn't do anything. But he took his arms and went straight into the park and sat down on the grass in such a position, that the moment he went to sleep his weapons would prick him, and he would awake. Presently the midnight hour sounded, the earth began to break, and the norca came rushing up and burst right through the fence into the park. So huge was it. The prince pulled himself together, leapt to his feet, crossed himself, and went straight at the beast. It fled back, and the prince ran after it, but he soon saw that he couldn't catch it on foot, so he hastened to the stable, laid his hands on the best horse there, and set off in pursuit. Presently he came up with the beast, and they began a fight. They fought and fought. The prince gave the beast three wounds. At last they were both utterly exhausted. So they lay down to take a short rest. But the moment the prince closed his eyes, up jumped the beast, and took to flight. The prince's horse awoke him up. Up he jumped in a moment, and set off again in pursuit, caught up the beast, and again began fighting with it. Again the prince gave the beast three wounds, and again to rest. Thereupon a way fled the beast as before. The prince caught it up, and again gave it three wounds. But all of a sudden, just as the prince began chasing it for the fourth time, the beast fled to a great white stone, tilted it up, and escaped into the other world, crying out to the prince, then only will you overcome me when you enter here. The prince went home, told his father all that had happened, and asked him to have a leather rope plated long enough to reach to the other world. His father ordered this to be done. When the rope was made, the prince called for his brothers, and he and they, having taken servants with them, and everything that was needed for a whole year, set out for the place where the beast had disappeared under the stone. When they got there they built a palace on the spot, and lived in it for some time. But when everything was ready, the youngest brother said to the others, now brothers, who was going to lift the stone? Neither of them could so much as stir it. But as soon as he touched it, a way it flew to a distance, though it was ever so big, big as a hill. And when he had flung the stone aside, he spoke a second time to his brother saying, who was going into the other world to overcome the Norca? Neither of them offered to do so, then he laughed at them for being such cowards and said, Well, brothers, farewell. Lower me into the other world, and don't go away from here. But as soon as the cord is jerked, pull it up. When his brothers lowered him accordingly, and when he had reached the other world underneath the earth, he went on his way, he walked and walked. Presently he aspired a horse with rich trappings. And it said to him, Hail, Prince Ivan, long have I awaited thee. He went at the horse and rode on, rode and rode, until he saw standing before him, palace made of copper. He entered the courtyard, tied up his horse, and went in doors. In one of the rooms a dinner was laid out. He sat down and dined, and then went into a bedroom. There he found a bed on which he lay down to rest. Presently there came in a lady, more beautiful than can be imagined anywhere, but in a fairytale, who said, Thou who art in my house, name thyself, if thou art an old man, thou shalt be my father. If a middle-aged man, my brother, but if a young man, thou shalt be my husband dear, and if thou art a woman, an old one, thou shalt be my grandmother. If middle-aged, my mother, and if a girl, thou shalt be my own sister. Thereupon he came forth, and when she saw him, she was delighted with him, and said, Wherefore, O Prince Ivan, my husband dear, shalt thou be? Wherefore has thou come hither? Then he told her all that had happened, and she said, That beast, which thou wishes to overcome, is my brother. He is staying just now with my second sister, who lives not far from here in a silver palace. I bound up three of the wounds which thou didst give him. Well, after this they drank, and enjoyed themselves, and held sweet converse together. And then the prince took leave of her, and went on to the second sister, the one who lived in the silver palace, and with her also he stayed a while. She told him that her brother Norka was then at the youngest sister's. So he went on to the youngest sister, who lived in a golden palace. She told him that her brother was at the time asleep on the blue sea, and she gave him a sword of steel and a draught of the water of strength. And she told him to cut off her brother's head at a single stroke. And when he had heard these things, he went on his way. And when the prince came to the blue sea, he looked, there slept the Norka on a stone in the middle of the sea, and when it snored the water was agitated for seven miles around. The prince crossed himself, went up to it, and smote it on the head with his sword. The head jumped off, saying the while, well, I'm done for now, and rolled far away into the sea. After killing the beast, the prince went back again, picking up all the three sisters by the way, with the intention of taking them out into the upper world, for they all loved him and would not be separated from him. Each of them turned her palace into an egg, for they were all enchantresses, and they taught him how to turn the eggs into palaces, and back again. And they handed over the eggs to him, and then they all went to the place from which they had to be hoisted into the upper world. And when they came to where the rope was, the prince took hold of it, and made the maidens fast to it. Then he jerked away the rope, and his brothers began to haul it up. And when they had hauled it up, and had set eyes on the wondrous maidens, they went aside and said, let's lower the rope, pull our brother part of the way up, cut the rope. Perhaps he'll be killed. But then if he isn't, he'll never give us these beauties as wives. So when they had agreed on this, they lowered the rope. But their brother was no fool, he guessed what they were at. So he fastened the rope to a stone, and then gave it a pull, his brothers hoisted the stone to a great height, and then cut the rope. Down fell the stone, and broke in pieces, and walked and walked. Presently a storm arose, the lightning flashed, the thunder roared, the rain fell in torrents. He went up to a tree in order to take shelter under it, and on that tree he saw some young birds which were being thoroughly drenched. So he took off his coat and covered them over with it. And he himself sat down under the tree. Presently there came flying a bird, such a big one that the lot was blotted out by it. It had been dark before, but now it became darker still. Now this was the mother of those small birds which the prince had covered up, and when the bird had come flying up, she perceived that her little ones were covered over, and said, who has wrapped up my nestlings, and presently seeing the prince she added, didst thou do that? Thanks! In return ask of me anything thou desirest. In their world he replied, make me a large vessel with a partition in the middle, she said, catch all sorts of game, and put them into one half of it, and into the other half pour water so that there may be meat and drink for me. All this the prince did, then the bird having taken the vessel on her back with the prince sitting in the middle of it of him and flew way back. But he went to the house of a certain tailor, and engaged himself as his servant. So much the worse for where was he, so thoroughly had he altered an appearance that nobody would have suspected him of being a prince. Having entered into the service of this master the prince began to ask brides from the other world and want to marry them. But those brides refuse for they insist on having all their wedding clothes made for them first exactly like those which they used to have in the other world and that without being measured for them. The king has called all the workmen together but not one of them will undertake to do it. Prince having their line. However can I undertake to make clothes of that sort? I work for quite common folks as his master. Go along master I will answer for everything says the prince. So the tailor went. The king was delighted that at least one good workman had been found and gave him as much money as ever he wanted. When the tailor had settled everything quickly tomorrow all will be ready and the tailor followed the lads advice and went to bed. Midnight sounded. The prince arose, went out of the city into the fields took out of his pocket the eggs which the maiden had given him and as they had taught him turned them into three palaces into each of these he entered and when he got there he hung up the robes on the wall and lay down to sleep. Early in the morning his master awoke and behold there hung such robes as he had never seen before all shining with gold and silver and precious stones he was delighted and he seized them and carried them off to the king when the princess saw that the clothes were those which had been changed glances with each other but they held their peace and the master having handed over the clothes went home but he no longer found his dear journeyman there for the prince had gone to a shoemakers and him too he sent to work for the king and in the same way he went the round of all the artificers and they proffered him thanks in as much as through him they were enriched by the king had gone the round of all the artificers the princesses had received what they had asked for all their clothes were just like what they had been in the other world then they wet bitterly because the prince had not come and it was impossible for them to hold out any longer it was necessary that they should be married but when they were ready for the wedding the youngest bride said to the king the man bestowing alms upon them and examining them closely and when she had come to one of them and was going to give him some money she caught sight of the ring which she had given to the prince in the other world and her sisters rings too for it really was he so she seized him by the hand and brought him into the hall and said to the king here is he who brought us out of the other world his brothers forbade us to say that to slay us if we did then the king was wroth with those sons and punished them as he thought best and afterwards three weddings were celebrated end of chapter 10 recording by Alana Jordan St. Louis, Missouri the red fairy book by Andrew Lang chapter 11 the wonderful birch once upon a time there were a man and a woman who had an only daughter now it happened that one of their sheep went astray and they set out to look for it and searched and searched each in a different part of the wood then the good wife met a witch who said to her if you spit you miserable creature if you spit into the sheath of my knife or if you run between my legs I shall change you into a black sheep the woman neither spat nor did she run between her legs but yet the witch changed her into a sheep then she made herself look exactly like the woman and called out to the good man oh old man hello I have found the sheep already the man thought the witch was really his wife and he did not feel bad at heart because the sheep was found when they were safe at home the witch said to the man look here old man we must really kill that sheep lest it run away to the wood again the man who was a peaceable quiet sort of fellow made no objections but simply said good let us do so the daughter however had overheard their talk and she ran to the flock and lamented aloud oh dear little mother they are going to slaughter you well then if they do slaughter me was the black sheep's answer eat you neither the meat nor the broth that is made of me but gather all my bones and bury them by the edge of the field shortly after this they took the black sheep from the flock and slaughtered it the witch made peas soup of it and said it before the daughter but the girl remembered her mother's warning she did not touch the soup but she carried the bones to the edge of the field and buried them there and there sprang up on the spot a birch tree a very lovely birch tree some time had passed away who can tell how long they might have been living there when the witch to whom a child had been born in the meantime began to take an ill will to the man's daughter and to torment her in all sorts of ways now it happened that a great festival was to be held at the palace and the king had commanded that all the people should be invited and that this proclamation should be made come people all poor and wretched one and all blind and crippled though ye be mount your steeds or come by sea and so they drove into the king's feast all the outcasts and the maimed and the halt and the blind in the good man's house too preparations were made to go to the palace the witch said to the man go you on in front old man with our youngest I will give the elder girl work to keep her from being dull in our absence so the man took the child and set out but the witch kindled a fire on the hearth threw a pot full of barley corns among the cinders and said to the girl if you have not picked the barley out of the ashes and put it all back in the pot before nightfall I shall eat you up then she hastened after the others and the poor girl stayed at home and wept she tried to be sure to pick up the grains of barley but she soon saw how useless her labor was and so she went and her sore trouble to the birch tree on her mother's grave and cried and cried because her mother laid dead beneath the sod and could help her no longer in the midst of her grief she suddenly heard her mother's voice speak from the grave and say to her why do you weep little daughter the witch has scattered barley corns on the hearth and bid me pick them out of the ashes said the girl that is why I weep dear little mother do not weep said her mother consolingly break off one of my branches and strike the hearth with it crosswise and all will be put right the girl did so she struck the hearth with a birch and branch and lo the barley corns flew into the pot and the hearth was clean then she went back to the birch tree and laid the branch upon the grave then her mother bathed her bathed on one side of the stem dry herself on another and dress on the third when the girl had done all that she had grown so lovely that no one on earth could rival her splendid clothing was given to her and a horse with hair partly of gold partly of silver and partly of something more precious still the girl sprang into the saddle and wrote a swift as an arrow to the palace as she turned into the courtyard of the castle the king's son came out to meet her tied her steed to a pillar and led her in he never left her side as they passed through the castle rooms and all the people gazed at her and wondered who the lovely maiden was and from what castle she came but no one knew her no one knew anything about her at the banquet the prince invited her to sit next to him in the place of honour but the witch's daughter gnawed the bones under the table the prince did not see her and thinking it was a dog he gave her such a push with his foot that her arm was broken are you not sorry for the witch's daughter it was not her fault that her mother was a witch towards evening the good man's daughter thought it was time to go home but as she went her ring caught on the latch of the door for the king's son had had it smeared with tar she did not take time to pull it off but hastily unfastening her horse from the pillar she rode away beyond the castle walls as swift as an arrow arrived at home she took off her clothes by the birch tree left her horse standing there and hastened to her place behind the stove in a short time the man and the woman came home again too and the witch said to the girl are you poor thing there you are to be sure you don't know what fine times we've had at the palace the king's son carried my daughter about but the poor thing fell and broke her arm the girl knew well how matters really stood but she pretended to know nothing about it and sat dumb behind the stove the next day they were invited again to the king's banquet hey old man said the witch get on your clothes as quick as you can we are bidden to the feast take you the child I will give the other one work lest she weary she kindled the fire threw a pot full of hemp seed among the ashes and said to the girl if you do not get this sorted in all the seed back into the pot I shall kill you the girl wept bitterly then she went to the birch tree washed herself on one side of it and dried herself on the other and this time still finer clothes were given to her and a very beautiful steed she broke off a branch of the birch tree struck the hearth with it so that the seeds flew into the pot and then hastened to the castle again the king's son came out to meet her tied her horse to a pillar and led her into the banquetting hall at the feast the girl sat next to him in the place of honor as she had done the day before but the witch's daughter nod bones under the table and the prince gave her a push by mistake which broke her leg he had never noticed her crawling about among the people's feet she was very unlucky the good man's daughter hastened home again be times but the king's son had smeared the doorposts with tar and the girl's golden circlet stuck to it she had not time to look for it but sprang to the saddle and rode like an arrow to the birch tree there she left her horse and her fine clothes and said to her mother I have lost my circlet to the castle the doorpost was tarred and it stuck fast and even had you lost two of them answered her mother I would give you finer ones then the girl hastened home and when her father came home from the feast with the witch she was in her usual place behind the stove then the witch said to her you poor thing what is there to see here compared with what we have seen at the palace the king's son carried my daughter from one room to another he let her fall tis true and my child's foot was broken the man's daughter held her peace all the time and busied herself about the hearth the night passed and when the day began to dawn the witch awakened her husband crying hi get up old man we are bidden to the royal banquet so the old man got up then the witch gave him the child saying take you the little one I will give the other girl work to do else she will weary at home alone she did as usual this time it was a dish of milk she poured upon the ashes saying if you do not get all the milk into the dish again before I come home you will suffer for it how frightened the girl was this time she ran to the birch tree and by its magic power her task was accomplished and then she rode away to the palace as before when she got to the courtyard she found the prince waiting for her he led her into the hall where she was highly honored but the witch's daughter sucked the bones under the table and crouching at the people's feet she got an eye knocked out poor thing now no one knew any more than before about the good man's daughter no one knew whence she came the prince had had the threshold smeared with tar and as she fled her gold slippers stuck to it she reached the birch tree and laying aside her finery she said alas dear little mother I have lost my gold slippers let them be was her mother's reply if you need them I shall give you finer ones scarcely was she in her usual place behind the stove when her father came home with the witch immediately the witch began to mock her saying ah you poor thing there is nothing for you to see here and we are what great things we have seen at the palace my little girl was carried about again but had the ill luck to fall and get her eye knocked out you stupid thing you what do you know about anything yes indeed what can I know replied the girl I had enough to do to get the hoth clean now the prince had kept all the things the girl had lost and he soon set about finding the owner of them for this purpose a great banquet was given on the fourth day and all the people were invited to the palace the witch got ready to go too she tied a wooden beetle on where her child's foot should have been a log of wood instead of an arm and stuck a bit of dirt in the empty socket for an eye and took the child with her to the castle all the people were gathered together the king's son stepped in among the crowd and cried the maiden whose finger this ring slips over whose head this golden hoop in circles and whose foot the shoe fits shall be my bride what a great trying on there was now among them all the things would fit no one however the cinder wench is not here said the prince at last go and fetch her and let her try on the things so the girl was fetched and the prince was just going to hand the ornaments to her when the witch held him back saying don't give them to her she soils everything with cinders give them to my daughter rather while the prince gave the witch's daughter the ring and the woman filed and paired away at her daughter's finger till the ring fitted it was the same with the circlet and the shoes of gold the witch would not allow them to be handed to the cinder wench she worked at her own daughter's head and feet till she got the things forced on what was to be done now the prince had to take the witch's daughter for his bride whether he would or no he sneaked away to her father's house with her however for he was ashamed to hold the wedding festivities at the palace with so strange a bride some days passed and at last he had to take his bride home to the palace and he got ready to do so just as they were taking leave the kitchen wench sprang down from her place by the stove on the pretext of fetching something from the cowhouse and in going by she whispered in the prince's ear as he stood in the yard alas, dear prince, do not rob me of my silver and my gold there upon the king's son recognized the cinder wench so he took both the girls with him and set out after they had gone some little way they came to the bank of a river and the prince threw the witch's daughter across to serve as a bridge and so got over with the cinder wench there lay the witch's daughter then like a bridge over the river and could not stir though her heart was consumed with grief no help was near so she cried at last in her anguish may there grow a golden hemlock out of my body perhaps my mother will know me by that token scarcely had she spoken when a golden hemlock sprang up from her and stood upon the bridge now as soon as the prince had got rid of the witch's daughter he greeted the cinder wench as his bride and they wandered together to the birch tree which grew upon the mother's grave there they received all sorts of treasures and riches three sacks full of gold and as much silver and a splendid steed which bore them home to the palace there they lived a long time together and the young wife bore a son to the prince immediately word was brought to the witch that her daughter had borne a son for they all believed the young king's wife to be the witch's daughter so so said the witch to herself I had better away with my gift for the infant then and so saying she said out thus it happened that she came to the bank of the river and there she saw the beautiful golden hemlock growing in the middle of the bridge and when she began to cut it down to take to her grandchild she heard a voice moaning Alas, dear mother, do not cut me so Are you here? demanded the witch Indeed I am, dear little mother answered the daughter they threw me across the river to make a bridge of me in a moment the witch had the bridge shivered to Adams and then she hastened away to the palace stepping up to the young queen's bed she began to try her magic arts upon her saying spit you wretch on the blade of my knife be witch my knife's blade for me and I shall change you into a reindeer of the forest Are you there again to bring trouble upon me? said the young woman she neither spat nor did anything else but still the witch changed her into a reindeer and smuggled her own daughter into her place as the prince's wife but now the child grew restless and cried because it missed its mother's care they took it to the court and tried to pacify it in every conceivable way but its crying never ceased what makes the child so restless? asked the prince and he went to a wise widow-woman to ask her advice Aye, aye, your own wife is not at home said the widow-woman she is living like a reindeer in the wood you have the witch's daughter for a wife now and the witch herself for a mother-in-law is there any way of getting my own wife back from the wood again? asked the prince give me the child answered the widow-woman I'll take it with me tomorrow when I go to drive the cows to the wood I'll make a rustling among the birch leaves and a trembling among the aspens perhaps the boy will grow quiet when he hears it yes, take the child away take it to the wood with you to quiet it said the prince and led the widow-woman into the castle how now you are going to send the child away to the wood said the witch in a suspicious tone and tried to interfere but the king's son stood firm by what he had commanded and said carry the child about the wood perhaps that will pacify it so the widow-woman took the child to the wood she came to the edge of a marsh and seeing a herd of reindeer there she began all at once to sing little bright eyes, little red skin come nurse the child you bore that bloodthirsty monster that many to grim shall nurse him, shall tend him no more they may threaten and force as they will he turns from her shrinks from her still and immediately the reindeer drew near and nursed and tended the child the whole day long but at nightfall it had to follow the herd and said to the widow-woman bring me the child to-morrow and again the following day after that I must wander with a herd far away to other lands the following morning the widow-woman went back to the castle to fetch the child the witch interfered, of course but the prince said take it and carry it about in the open air the boy is quieter at night to be sure when he has been in the wood all day so the widow took the child in her arms and carried it to the marsh in the forest there she sang as on the preceding day little bright eyes, little red skin come nurse the child you bore that bloodthirsty monster that many to grim shall nurse him, shall tend him no more they may threaten and force as they will he turns from her shrinks from her still and immediately the reindeer left the herd and came to the child and tended it as on the day before it was that the child throve till not a finer boy was to be seen anywhere but the king's son had been pondering over all these things and he said to the widow-woman is there no way of changing the reindeer into a human being again I don't rightly know was her answer come to the wood with me however when the woman puts off her reindeer skin I shall comb her head for her whilst I am doing so you must burn the skin thereupon they both went to the wood with the child scarcely were they there when the reindeer appeared and nursed the child as before then the widow-woman said to the reindeer since you are going far away tomorrow and I shall not see you again let me comb your head for the last time as a remembrance of you good the young woman stripped off the reindeer skin and let the widow-woman do as she wished in the meantime the king's son threw the reindeer skin into the fire unobserved what smells of singeing here asked the young woman and looking round she saw her own husband woe is me you have burnt my skin why did you do that to give you back your human form again a lack a day I have nothing to cover me now poor creature that I am cried the young woman and transformed herself first into a disc staff then into a wooden beetle into a spindle and into all imaginable shapes but all these shapes the king's son went on destroying till she stood before him in human form again alas wherefore take me home with you again cried the young woman since the witch is sure to eat me up she will not eat you up answered her husband and they started for home with the child but when the witch-wife saw them she ran away with her daughter and if she has not stopped she will still though at a great age and the prince and his wife and the baby lived happily ever afterwards from the Russo Karellian End of Chapter 11 Recording by Barony Chapter 12 of the Red Fairy Book This is a LibriVox recording All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer visit LibriVox.org This recording is by Mark Smith of Simpsonville, South Carolina The Red Fairy Book by Andrew Lang Chapter 12 Jack and the Beanstalk Part 1 Jack Sells the Cow Once upon a time there was a poor widow who lived in a little cottage with her only son Jack Jack was a giddy thoughtless boy but very kind-hearted and affectionate there had been a hard winter and after it the poor woman had suffered from fever and ague Jack did no work as yet and by degrees they grew dreadfully poor The widow saw that there was no means of keeping Jack and herself from starvation but by selling her cow so one morning she said to her son I am too weak to go myself Jack so you must take the cow to market for me and sell her Jack liked going to market to sell the cow very much but as he was on the way he met a butcher who had some beautiful beans in his hand Jack stopped to look at them and the butcher told the boy that they were of great value and persuaded the silly lad to sell the cow for these beans When he brought them home to his mother instead of the money she expected for her nice cow she was very vexed by the villagers scolding Jack for his folly He was very sorry and mother and son went to bed very sadly that night their last hope seemed gone At daybreak Jack rose and went out into the garden At least, he thought I will sow the wonderful beans Mother says that they are just common scarlet runners and nothing else but I may as well sow them So he took a piece of stick and made some holes on the ground and put in the beans That day they had very little dinner and went sadly to bed knowing that for the next day there would be none and Jack unable to sleep from grief and vexation got up at day dawn and went out into the garden What was his amazement to find that the beans had grown up in the night and climbed up and up till they covered the high cliff that sheltered the cottage and appeared above it The stalks had twined and twisted themselves together till they formed quite a ladder It would be easy to climb it thought Jack and having thought of the experiment he had once resolved to carry it out for Jack was a good climber However, after his late mistake about the cow he thought he had better consult his mother first Part 2 The Growth of the Beanstalk So Jack called his mother and they both gazed in silent wonder at the beanstalk which was not only of great height but was thick enough to bear Jack's weight I wonder where it ends said Jack to his mother I think I will climb up and see His mother wished him not to venture up the strange ladder but Jack coaxed her to give her consent to the attempt and there must be something wonderful in the beanstalk so at last she yielded to his wishes Jack instantly began to climb and went up and up on the ladder-like bean till everything he had left behind him the cottage, the village and even the tall church tower looked quite little and still he could not see the top of the beanstalk Jack felt a little tired and thought for a moment but he was a very persevering boy and he knew that the way to succeed in anything is not to give up so after resting for a moment he went on after climbing higher and higher till he grew afraid to look down for fear he should be giddy Jack at last reached the top of the beanstalk and found himself in a beautiful country finely wooded with beautiful meadows covered with sheep a crystal stream ran through the pastures not far from the place where he had got off the beanstalk stood a fine strong castle Jack wondered very much that he had never heard of or seen this castle before but when he reflected on the subject he saw that it was as much separated from the village by the perpendicular rock on which it stood as if it were in another land while Jack was standing looking at the castle a very strange-looking woman came out of the wood and advanced towards him she wore a pointed cap of quilted red satin turned up with ermine her hair streamed loose over her shoulders and she walked with the staff Jack took off his cap and made her a bow if you please ma'am said he is this your house no said the old lady listen and I will tell you the story of that castle once upon a time there was a noble knight who lived in this castle which is on the borders of fairyland he had a fair and beloved wife and several lovely children and as his neighbours the little people were very friendly towards him they bestowed on him many excellent and precious gifts rumour whispered of these treasures in a monstrous giant who lived at no great distance and who was a very wicked being resolved to obtain possession of them so he bribed a false servant to let him inside the castle when the knight was in bed and asleep and he killed him as he lay then he went to the part of the castle which was the nursery and also killed all the poor little ones he found there happily for her the lady was not to be found she had gone with her infant son who was only two or three months old to visit her old nurse who lived in the valley and she had been detained all night there by a storm the next morning as soon as it was light one of the servants at the castle who had managed to escape came to tell the poor lady of the sad fate of her husband and her pretty babes she could scarcely believe him at first and was eager at once to go back and share the fate of her dear ones but the old nurse with many tears besought her to remember that she had still a child and that it was her duty to preserve her life for the sake of the poor innocent the lady yielded to this reasoning and consented to remain at her nurse's house as the best place of concealment for the servant told her that the giant had vowed if he could find her he would kill both her and her baby years rolled on the old nurse died leaving her cottage and the few articles of furniture it contained to her poor lady who dwelled in it working as a peasant for her daily bread her spinning wheel and the milk of a cow which she had purchased with the little money she had with her sufficed for the scanty subsistence of herself and her little son there was a nice little garden attached to the cottage in which they cultivated peas beans and cabbages and the lady was not ashamed to go out at harvest time and glean in the fields to supply her little son's wants Jack, that poor lady is your mother this castle was once your father's and must again be yours Jack uttered a cry of surprise my mother oh madam what ought I to do my poor father your duty requires you to win it back for your mother but the task is a very difficult one and full of peril Jack have you courage to undertake it I fear nothing when I am doing right said Jack then said the lady in the red cap you are one of those who slay giants you must get into the castle and if possible possess yourself of a hen that lays golden eggs and a harp that talks remember all the giant possesses is really yours as she ceased speaking the lady of the red hat suddenly disappeared and of course Jack knew she was a fairy Jack determined at once to attempt the adventure so he advanced and blew the horn which hung at the castle portal the door was opened in a minute with a frightful giantess with one great eye in the middle of her forehead as soon as Jack saw her he turned to run away but she caught him and dragged him into the castle ho ho she laughed terribly you didn't expect to see me here that is clear no I shan't let you go again I am weary of my life I am so overworked and on my page as well as other ladies and you shall be my boy you shall clean the knives and black the boots and make the fires and help me generally when the giant is out when he is at home I must hide you for he has eaten up all my pages hitherto and you would be a dainty morsel my little lad while she spoke she dragged Jack right into the castle the poor boy was very much frightened I am sure you and I would have been in his place. But he remembered that fear disgraces a man, so he struggled to be brave and make the best of things. "'I am quite ready to help you and do all I can to serve you, madam,' he said. "'Only I beg you will be good enough to hide me from your husband, for I should not like to be eaten at all.' "'That's a good boy,' said the giantess, nodding her head. "'It is lucky for you that you did not scream out when you saw me, as the other boys who have been here did, for if you had done so my husband would have awakened and have eaten you, as he did them, for breakfast. Come here, child. Go into my wardrobe. He never ventures to open that. You will be safe there.' And she opened a huge wardrobe which stood in the great hall, and shut him into it. But the keyhole was so large that it admitted plenty of air, and he could see everything that took place through it. By and by he heard a heavy tramp on the stairs, like the lumbering along of a great cannon, and then a voice like thunder cried out, "'Fee, fa, fa, foe, foe. I smell the breath of an Englishman. Let him be alive or let him be dead. I'll grind his bones to make my bread.' "'Wife,' cried the giant, "'there is a man in the castle. Let me have him for breakfast.' "'You are grown old and stupid,' cried the lady in her loud tones. "'It is only a nice fresh steak off an elephant that I have cooked for you, which you smell. There, sit down and make a good breakfast.' And she placed a huge dish before him of savoury steaming meat, which greatly pleased him, and made him forget his idea of an Englishman being in the castle. When he had breakfasted he went out for a walk, and then the giant Jesus opened the door and made Jack come out to help her. He helped her all day. She fed him well, and when evening came put him back in the wardrobe. Part 3 The Hen That Lays Golden Eggs The giant came into supper. Jack watched him through the keyhole and was amazed to see him pick a wolf's bone and put half a fowl at a time into his capaceous mouth. When the supper was ended he bade his wife bring him his hen that laid the golden eggs. It lays as well as it did when it belonged to that paltry knight. He said, "'Indeed, I think the eggs are heavier than ever.'" The giantess went away and soon returned with a little brown hen, which she placed on the table before her husband. "'And now, my dear,' she said, "'I am going for a walk, if you don't want me any longer.'" "'Go,' said the giant, "'I shall be glad to have a nap by and by.'" Then he took up the brown hen and said to her, "'Lay!' and she instantly laid a golden egg. "'Lay!' said the giant again, and she laid another. "'Lay!' he repeated the third time, and again a golden egg lay on the table. Now Jack was sure this hen was that of which the fairy had spoken. By and by the giant put the hen down on the floor, and soon after went fast asleep, snoring so loudly that it sounded like thunder. Directly Jack perceived that the giant was fast asleep. He pushed open the door of the wardrobe and crept out. Very softly he stole across the room, and picking up the hen made haste to quit the apartment. He knew the way to the kitchen, the door of which he found was left ajar. He opened it, shut and locked it after him, and flew back to the beanstalk, which he descended as fast as his feet would move. When his mother saw him enter the house, she wept for joy, for she had feared that the fairies had carried him away, or that the giant had found him. But Jack put the brown hen down before her, and told her how he had been in the giant's castle and all his adventures. She was very glad to see the hen, which would make them rich once more. Part 4 The Money-Bags Jack made another journey up the beanstalk to the giant's castle one day while his mother had gone to market. But first he dyed his hair and disguised himself. The old woman did not know him again, and dragged him in as she had done before to help her to do the work. But she heard her husband coming, and hid him in the wardrobe, not thinking that it was the same boy who had stolen the hen. She bade him stay quite still there, or the giant would eat him. Then the giant came in saying, Vee fa, fae foe fum, I smell the breath of an Englishman. Let him be alive or let him be dead, I'll grind his bones to make my bread. Nonsense, said the wife. It is only a roasted bullock that I thought would be a tit-bit for your supper. Sit down, and I will bring it up at once. The giant sat down, and soon his wife brought up a roasted bullock on a large dish, and they began their supper. Jack was amazed to see them pick the bones of the bullock as if it had been a lark. As soon as they had finished their meal, the giant rose and said, Now, my dear, with your leave I am going up to my room to finish the story I am reading. If you want me, call for me. First, answered the giant, Bring me my money-bags, that I may count my golden pieces before I sleep. The giant has obeyed. She went in sin return with two large bags over her shoulders, which she put down by her husband. There, she said, that is all that is left of the night's money. When you have spent it you must go and take another baron's castle. That he shan't, if I can help it, thought Jack. The giant, when his wife was gone, took out heaps and heaps of golden pieces and counted them and put them in piles, till he was tired of the amusement. Then he swept them all back into their bags, and leaning back in his chair fell fast asleep, snoring so loudly that no other sound was audible. Jack stole softly out of the wardrobe and taking up the bags of gold, which were his very own, because the giant had stolen them from his father. He ran off and, with great difficulty, descended the beanstalk, laid the bags of gold on his mother's table. She had just returned from town and was crying and not finding Jack. Dear mother, I have brought you the gold that my father lost. Oh, Jack, you are a very good boy, but I wish you would not risk your precious life in the giant's castle. Tell me how you came to go there again." And Jack told her all about it. Jack's mother was very glad to get the money, but she did not like him to run any risk for her. But after a time Jack made up his mind to go again to the giant's castle. PART V. THE TALKING HARP So he climbed the beanstalk once more and blew the horn at the giant's gate. The giantess soon opened the door. She was very stupid and did not know him again, but she stopped a minute before she took him in. She feared another robbery. But Jack's fresh face looked so innocent that she could not resist him, and so she bade him come in and again hid him away in the wardrobe. By and by the giant came home, and as soon as he had crossed the threshold he roared out. Fee-fa, fife-o-fum! I smell the breath of an Englishman. Let him be alive or let him be dead. I'll grind his bones to make my bread. You stupid old giant! said his wife. You only smell a nice sheep which I have grilled for your dinner. And the giant sat down, and his wife brought up a whole sheep for his dinner. When he had eaten it all up he said, Now bring me my harp, and I will have a little music while you take your walk. The giantess obeyed, and returned with a beautiful harp. The framework was all sparkling with diamonds and rubies, and the strings were all of gold. This is one of the nicest things I took from the night, said the giant. I am very fond of music, and my harp is a faithful servant. So he drew the harp towards him and said, Play! and the harp played a very soft, sad air. Play something merrier! said the giant. And the harp played a merry tune. Now play me a lullaby! roared the giant, and the harp played a sweet lullaby, to the sound of which its master fell asleep. Then Jack stole softly out of the wardrobe and went into the huge kitchen to see if the giantess had gone out. He found no one there, so he went to the door and opened it softly, for he thought he could not do so with the harp in his hand. Then he entered the giant's room and seized the harp and ran away with it, but as he jumped over the threshold the harp called out, Master! Master! and the giant woke up. With a tremendous roar he sprang from his seat and in two strides had reached the door. But Jack was very nimble. He fled like lightning with the harp, talking to it as he went, for he saw it was a fairy, and telling it he was the son of its old master the night. Still the giant came on so fast that he was quite close to poor Jack, and had stretched out his great hand to catch him. But luckily, just at that moment he stepped upon a loose stone, stumbled, and fell flat on the ground, where he lay at his full length. This accident gave Jack time to get on the beanstalk and hastened down it, but just as he reached their own garden he beheld the giant descending after him. Mother! Mother! cried Jack! Make haste and give me the axe! His mother ran to him with a hatchet in her hand, and Jack with one tremendous blow cut through all the beanstalks except one. Now, Mother! Stand out of the way! said he. Part 6 The Giant Breaks His Neck Jack's mother shrank back, and it was well she did so, for just as the giant took hold of the last branch of the beanstalk, Jack cut the stem quite through and darted from the spot. Down came the giant with a terrible crash, and as he fell on his head he broke his neck and lay dead at the feet of the woman he had so much injured. Before Jack and his mother had recovered from their alarm and agitation, a beautiful lady stood before them. Jack, said she, you have acted like a brave knight's son and deserve to have your inheritance restored to you. Dig a grave and bury the giant, and then go and kill the giantess. But, said Jack, I could not kill any one unless I were fighting with him, and I could not draw my sword upon a woman. Moreover, the giantess was very kind to me. The fairies smiled on Jack. I am very much pleased with your generous feeling, she said. Nevertheless, return to the castle and act as you will find needful. Jack asked the fairy if she would show him the way to the castle, as the beanstalk was now down. She told him that she would drive him there in her chariot, which was drawn by two peacocks. Jack thanked her and sat down in the chariot with her. The fairy drove him a long distance round, till they reached a village which lay at the bottom of the hill. Here they found a nubble of miserable-looking men assembled. The fairy stopped her carriage and addressed them. My friends, said she, the cruel giant who oppressed you and ate up all your flocks and herds, is dead, and this young gentleman was the means of your being delivered from him, and is the son of your kind old master, the knight. The men gave a loud cheer at these words, and pressed forward to say that they would serve Jack as faithfully as they had served his father. The fairy bade them follow her to the castle, and they marched thither in a body, and Jack blew the horn and demanded admittance. The old giantess saw them coming from the turret loophole. She was very much frightened, for she guessed that something had happened to her husband, and as she came downstairs very fast she caught her foot in her dress, and fell from the top to the bottom, and broke her neck. When the people outside found that the door was not open to them, they took crowbars and forced the portal. Nobody was to be seen, but on leaving the hall they found the body of the giantess at the foot of the stairs. Thus Jack took possession of the castle. The fairy went and brought his mother to him with the hen and the harp. He had the giantess buried, and endeavored as much as lay in his power to do right to those whom the giant had robbed. Before her departure for Fairyland the fairy explained to Jack that she had sent the butcher to meet him with the beans, in order to try what sort of lad he was. If you had looked at the gigantic bean-stock and only stupidly wondered about it, she said, I should have left you where misfortune had placed you, only restoring her cow to your mother. But you showed an inquiring mind and great courage and enterprise. Therefore you deserved to rise, and when you mounted the bean-stock, you climbed the ladder of fortune. She then took her leave of Jack and his mother. A Little Good Mouse Once upon a time there lived a king and queen who loved each other so much that they were never happy unless they were together. Day after day they went out hunting or fishing, night after night they went to balls or to the opera. They sang and danced and ate sugar-plums, and were the gayest of the gay, and all their subjects followed their examples so that the kingdom was called the joyous land. Now in the next kingdom everything was as different as it could possibly be. The king was sulky and savage, and never enjoyed himself at all. He looked so ugly and cross that all his subjects feared him, and he hated the very sight of a cheerful face, so if he ever caught anyone smiling he had his head cut off that very minute. This kingdom was very appropriately called the Land of Tears. Now when this wicked king heard of the happiness of the jolly king, he was so jealous that he collected a great army and set out to fight him, and the news of his approach was soon brought to the king and queen. The queen, when she heard of it, was frightened out of her wits, and began to cry bitterly. Sire, she said, let us collect all our riches and run away as far as ever we can to the other side of the world. But the king answered, Fie, madam, I am far too brave for that. It is better to die than to be a coward. Then he assembled all his armed men, and after bidding the queen a tender farewell, he mounted his splendid horse and rode away. When he was lost to sight the queen could do nothing but weep and ring her hands and cry. Alas! If the king is killed, what will become of me and my little daughter? And she was so sorrowful that she could neither eat nor sleep. The king sent her a letter every day, but at last, one morning, as she looked out of the palace window, she saw a messenger approaching in hot haste. What news, courier? What news? cried the queen, and he answered. The battle is lost, and the king is dead, and in another moment the enemy will be here. The poor queen fell back insensible, and all her ladies carried her to bed and stood round her weeping and wailing. Then began a tremendous noise and confusion, and they knew that the enemy had arrived, and very soon they heard the king himself stamping about the palace seeking the queen. Then her ladies put the little princess into her arms and covered her up, head and all, in the bed-clothes, and ran for their lives, and the poor queen lay there shaking and hoping she would not be found. But very soon the wicked king clattered into the room, and in a fury because the queen would not answer him when he called to her, he tore back her silken coverings and tweaked off her lace cap, and when all her lovely hair came tumbling down over her shoulders he wound it three times round his hand and threw her over his shoulder where he carried her like a sack of flour. The poor queen held her little daughter safe in her arms and shrieked for mercy, but the wicked king only mocked her and begged her to go on shrieking as it amused him, and so mounted his great black horse and rode back to his own country. When he got there he declared that he would have the queen and the little princess hanged on the nearest tree. But his courtiers said that seemed a pity, for when the baby grew up she would be a very nice wife for the king's only son. The king was rather pleased with this idea, and shut the queen up in the highest room of a tall tower, which was very tiny and miserably furnished with a table and a very hard bed upon the floor. Then he sent for a fairy who lived near his kingdom, and after receiving her with more politeness than he generally showed, and entertaining her at a sumptuous feast, he took her up to see the queen. The fairy was so touched by the sight of her misery that when she kissed her hand she whispered, Courage, madam, I think I see a way to help you. The queen, a little comforted by these words, received her graciously and begged her to take pity upon the poor little princess who had met with such a sudden reverse of fortune. But the king got very cross when he saw them whispering together and cried harshly. Make an end of these fine speeches, madam. I brought you here to tell me if the child will grow up pretty and fortunate. Then the fairy answered that the princess would be as pretty and clever and well brought up as it was possible to be, and the old king growled to the queen that it was lucky for her that it was so, as they would certainly have been hanged if it were otherwise. Then he stamped off, taking the fairy with him, and leaving the poor queen in tears. How can I wish my little daughter to grow up pretty if she is to be married to that horrid little dwarf, the king's son, she said to herself, and yet if she is ugly we shall both be killed, if I could only hide her away somewhere so that the cruel king could never find her? As the days went on, the queen and the little princess grew thinner and thinner, for their hard-hearted jailer gave them every day only three boiled peas and a tiny morsel of black bread, so they were always terribly hungry. At last one evening, as the queen sat at her spinning-wheel, for the king was so avaricious that she was made to work day and night, she saw a tiny, pretty little mouse creep out of a hole and said to it, A last little creature. What are you coming to look for here? I only have three peas for my day's provision, so unless you wish to fast you must go elsewhere. But the mouse ran hither and thither and danced and capered so prettily that at last the queen gave it her last pee which she was keeping for her supper, saying, Here little one, eat it up, I have nothing better to offer you, but I give this willingly in return for the amusement I have had from you. She had hardly spoken when she saw upon the table a delicious little roast-partridge and two dishes of preserved fruit. Truly, said she, a kind action never goes unrewarded. And she and the little princess ate their supper with great satisfaction, and then the queen gave what was left to the little mouse who danced better than ever afterwards. The next morning came the jailer with the queen's allowance of three peas which he brought in upon a large dish to make them look smaller. But as soon as he set it down the little mouse came and ate up all three so that when the queen wanted her dinner there was nothing left for her. Then she was quite provoked and said, What a bad little beast that mouse must be. If it goes on like this I shall be starved. But when she glanced at the dish again it was covered with all sorts of nice things to eat and the queen made a very good dinner and was gayer than usual over it. But afterwards as she sat at her spinning-wheel she began to consider what would happen if the little princess did not grow up pretty enough to please the king and she said to herself, Oh, if I could only think of some way of escaping. And as she spoke she saw the little mouse playing in a corner with some long straws. The queen took them and began to plate them, saying, If only I had straws enough I would make a basket with them and let my baby down in it from the window to any kind passer-by who would take care of her. By the time the straws were all plated the little mouse had dragged in more and more until the queen had plenty to make her basket. And she worked at it day and night while the little mouse danced for her amusement. And at dinner and supper time the queen gave it the three peas and the bit of black bread and always found something good in the dish in their place. She really could not imagine where all the nice things came from. At last one day when the basket was finished the queen was looking out of the window to see how long a cord she must make to lower it to the bottom of the tower when she noticed a little old woman who was leaning upon her stick and looking up at her. Presently she said, I know your trouble, madam. If you like I will help you. Oh, my dear friend, said the queen, If you really wish to be of use to me you will come at the time that I will appoint and I will let down my poor little baby in a basket. If you will take her and bring her up for me when I am rich I will reward you splendidly. I don't care about the reward, said the old woman, but there is one thing I should like. You must know that I am very particular about what I eat. And if there is one thing that I fancy above all others it is a plump, tender little mouse. If there is such a thing in your garret just throw it down to me and in return I will promise that your little daughter shall be well taken care of. The queen, when she heard this, began to cry but made no answer and the old woman after waiting a few minutes asked her what was the matter. Why, said the queen, there is only one mouse in this garret and that is such a dear, pretty little thing that I cannot bear to think of its being killed. What! cried the old woman in a rage. Do you care more for a miserable mouse than for your own baby? Goodbye, madam. I leave you to enjoy its company and for my own part I thank my stars that I can get plenty of mice without troubling you to give them to me. And she hobbled off grumbling and growling. As to the queen she was so disappointed that in spite of finding a better dinner than usual and seeing the little mouse dancing in its merriest mood she could do nothing but cry. That night when her baby was fast asleep she packed it into the basket and wrote on a slip of paper this unhappy little girl is called Delicia. This she pinned to its robe and then very sadly she was shutting the basket when in sprang the little mouse and sat on the baby's pillow. Ah, little one, said the queen. It cost me dear to save your life. How shall I know now whether my Delicia is being taken care of or no? Anyone else would have let the greedy old woman have you and eat you up, but I could not bear to do it. Whereupon the mouse answered, Believe me, madam, you will never repent of your kindness. The queen was immensely astonished when the mouse began to speak and still more so when she saw its little sharp nose turn to a beautiful face and its paws to hands and feet then it suddenly grew tall and the queen recognized the fairy who had come with a wicked king to visit her. The fairy smiled at her astonished look and said, I wanted to see if you were faithful and capable of feeling a real friendship for me, for you see we fairies are rich in everything but friends and those are hard to find. It is not possible that you should want for friends you charming creature, said the queen kissing her. Indeed it is so, the fairy said. For those who are only friendly with me for their own advantage I do not count at all, but when you cared for the poor little mouse you could not have known there was anything to be gained by it and to try you further I took the form of the old woman whom you talked to from the window and then I was convinced that you really loved me. Then turning to the little princess she kissed her rosy lips three times saying, dear little one I promise that you shall be richer than your father and shall live a hundred years always pretty and happy without fear of old age and wrinkles. The queen quite delighted, thanked the fairy gratefully and begged her to take charge of the little delicia and bring her up as her own daughter. This she agreed to do and when they shut the basket and lowered it carefully baby in all to the ground at the foot of the tower the fairy then changed herself back into the form of a mouse and this delayed her for a few seconds after which she ran nimbly down the straw rope but only to find that when she got to the bottom the baby had disappeared. In the greatest terror she ran up again to the queen crying, all is lost my enemy cankeline has stolen the princess away you must know that she is a cruel fairy who hates me and as she is older than I am and has more power I can do nothing against her I know no way of rescuing delicia from her clutches. When the queen heard this terrible news she was heartbroken and begged the fairy to do all she could to get the poor little princess back again. At this moment in came the jailer and when he missed the little princess he had once told the king who came in a great fury asking what the queen had done with her. She answered that a fairy whose name she did not know had come and carried her off by force upon this the king stamped upon the ground and cried in a terrible voice you shall be hung I always told you you should and without another word he dragged the unlucky queen out into the nearest wood and climbed up into a tree to look for a branch to which he could hang her but when he was quite high up the fairy who had made herself invisible and followed them gave him a sudden push which made him lose his footing and fall to the ground with a crash and break four of his teeth and while he was trying to mend them the fairy carried the queen off in her flying chariot to a beautiful castle where she was so kind to her that but for the loss of delicia the queen would have been perfectly happy but though the good little mouse did her very utmost they could not find out where cankeline had hidden the little princess. Thus fifteen years went by and the queen had somewhat recovered from her grief when the news reached her that the son of the wicked king wished to marry the little maiden who kept the turkeys and that she had refused him the wedding dresses had been made nevertheless and the festivities were to be so splendid that all the people for leagues round were flocking in to be present at them the queen felt quite curious about a little turkey maiden who did not wish to be a queen so the little mouse conveyed herself to the poultry yard to find out what she was like she found the turkey maiden sitting upon a big stone barefooted and miserably dressed in an old coarse linen gown and cap the ground at her feet was all strewn with robes of gold and silver ribbons and laces diamonds and pearls over which the turkeys were stalking to and fro while the king's ugly disagreeable son stood opposite her declaring angrily that if she would not marry him she should be killed the turkey maiden answered proudly I will never marry you you are too ugly and too much like your cruel father leave me in peace with my turkeys which I like far better than all your fine gifts the little mouse watched her with the greatest admiration for she was as beautiful as the spring and as soon as the wicked prince was gone she took the form of an old peasant woman and said to her good day my pretty one you have a fine flock of turkeys there the young turkey maiden turned her gentle eyes upon the old woman and answered yet they wish me to leave them to become a miserable queen what is your advice upon the matter my child said the fairy a crown is a very pretty thing but you know neither the price nor the weight of it I know so well that I have refused to wear one said the little maiden though I don't know who was my father or who was my mother and I have not a friend in the world you have goodness and beauty which are of more value than ten kingdoms said the wise fairy but tell me child how came you here and how is it that you have neither father nor mother nor friend a fairy called kankaline is the cause of my being here answered she for while I have lived with her I got nothing but blows and harsh words until at last I could bear it no longer and I ran away from her without knowing where I was going and as I came through a wood the wicked prince met me and offered to give me charge of the poultry yard I accepted gladly not knowing that I should have to see him day by day and now he wants to marry me but that I will never consent to upon hearing this the fairy became convinced that the little turkey maiden was none other than the princess delicia what is your name my little one said she I am called delicia if it please you she answered then the fairy threw her arms around the princess's neck and nearly smothered her with kisses saying ah delicia I am a very old friend of yours and I am truly glad to find you at last but you might look nicer than you do in that old gown which is only fit for a kitchen maid take this pretty dress and let us see the difference it will make so delicia took off the ugly cap and shook out all her fair shining hair and bathed her hands and face in clear water from the nearest spring till her cheeks were like roses and when she was adorned with the diamonds and the splendid robe the fairy had given her she looked the most beautiful princess in the world and the fairy with great delight cried now you look as you ought to look delicia what do you think about it yourself and delicia answered I feel as if I were the daughter of some great king and would you be glad if you were said the fairy indeed I should answered she oh well said the fairy tomorrow I may have some pleasant news for you so she hurried back to her castle where the queen sat busy with her embroidery and cried well madam will you wager your thimble and your golden needle that I am bringing you the best news you could possibly hear alas side the queen since the death of the jolly king and the loss of my delicia all the news in the world is not worth a pin to me there there don't be so melancholy said the fairy I assure you the princess is quite well and I have never seen her equal for beauty she might be a queen tomorrow if she chose and then she told all that had happened and the queen first rejoiced over the thought of delicia's beauty and then wept at the idea of her being a turkey maiden I will not hear of her being made to marry the wicked king's son she said let us go at once and bring her here in the meantime the wicked prince who was very angry with delicia had sat himself down under a tree and cried and howled with rage and spite until the king heard him and cried out from the window what is the matter with you that you are making all this disturbance the prince replied it is all because our turkey maiden will not love me won't love you a said the king will very soon see about that so he called his guards and told them to go and fetch delicia see if I don't make her change her mind pretty soon said the wicked king with the chuckle then the guards began to search the poultry yard and could find nobody there but delicia who with her splendid dress and her crown of diamonds looked such a lovely princess that they hardly dared to speak to her but she said to them very politely pray tell me what you are looking for here madam they answered we are sent for an insignificant little person called delicia alas said she that is my name what can you want with me so the guards tied her hands and feet with thick ropes for fear she might run away and brought her to the king who was waiting with his son when he saw her he was very much astonished at her beauty which would have made anyone less hard hearted sorry for her but the wicked king only laughed and mocked at her and cried well little fright little toad why don't you love my son who is far too handsome and too good for you make haste and begin to love him this instant or you shall be tarred and feathered then the poor little princess shaking with terror went down on her knees crying oh don't tar and feather me please it would be so uncomfortable let me have two or three days to make up my mind and then you shall do as you like with me the wicked prince would have liked very much to see her tarred and feathered but the king ordered that she should be shut up in a dark dungeon it was just at this moment that the queen and the fairy arrived in the flying chariot and the queen was dreadfully distressed at the turn affairs had taken and said miserably that she was destined to be unfortunate all her days but the fairy bade her take courage i'll pay them out yet said she nodding her head with an air of great determination that very same night as soon as the wicked king had gone to bed the fairy changed herself into the little mouse and creeping up onto his pillow nibbled his ear so that he squealed out quite loudly and turned over on his other side but that was no good for the little mouse only set to work and nod away at the second ear until it hurt more than the first one then the king cried murder and thieves and all his guards ran to see what was the matter but they could find nothing and nobody for the little mouse had run off to the prince's room and was serving him in exactly the same way all night long she ran from one to the other until it last driven quite frantic by terror and want of sleep the king rushed out of the palace crying help help i am pursued by rats the prince when he heard this got up also and ran after the king and they had not gone far when they both fell into the river and were never heard of again then the good fairy ran to tell the queen and they went together to the black dungeon where delicia was imprisoned the fairy touched each door with her wand and it sprang open instantly but they had to go through forty before they came to the princess who was sitting on the floor looking very dejected but when the queen rushed in and kissed her twenty times in a minute and laughed and cried and told delicia all her history the princess was wild with then the fairy showed her all the wonderful dresses and jewels she had brought for her and said don't let us waste time we must go and harangue the people so she walked first looking very serious and dignified and wearing a dress the train of which was at least ten l's long behind her came the queen wearing a blue velvet robe embroidered with gold and a diamond crown that was brighter than the sun itself last of all walked delicia who was so beautiful that it was nothing short of marvelous they proceeded through the streets returning the salutations of all they met great or small and all the people turned and followed them wondering who these noble ladies could be when the audience hall was quite full the fairy said to the subjects of the wicked king that if they would accept delicia who was the daughter of the jolly king as their queen she would undertake to find a suitable husband for her and would promise that during their reign there should be nothing but rejoicing and merry making and all dismal things should be entirely banished upon this the people cried with one accord we will we will we have been gloomy and miserable too long already and they all took hands and danced around the queen and delicia and the good fairy singing yes yes we will we will then there were feasts and fireworks in every street in the town and early the next morning the fairy who had been all over the world in the night brought back with her in her flying chariot the most handsome and good tempered prince she could find anywhere he was so charming that delicia loved him from the moment their eyes met and as for him of course he could not help thinking himself the luckiest prince in the world the queen felt that she had really come to the end of her misfortunes at last and they all lived happily ever after end of chapter thirteen recording by