=THE LAUGHINGPRINCE=

A book of Jugoslav Fairy Talesand Folk Tales. 

RETOLD BYPARKER FILLMORE

With illustrations and decorations by Jay Van Everen. 

When Mr. Fillmore started his study of the folk lore of Eastern Europe, he tapped a mine of treasure for children. The gorgeousness of theimagery in the stories, their rollicking humor, the adventures, wereentirely new to child and adult readers. The stories in this thirdvolume reflect the folk lore of many races, for the country now known asJugoslavia has been one of the great highways and battlefields of theworld where Orient and Occident, Greek and Roman, Turk and Slav havefought out their national aspirations. Basically, it has the Slavicexuberance of imagination and humor, but it has also absorbed much ofthe spirit and tales of the Near and Far East. 

_Harcourt, Brace & World, Inc. _757 THIRD AVENUE, NEW YORK 17, N. Y. 

80-120

_BY PARKER FILLMORE_

CZECHOSLOVAK FAIRY TALESTHE SHOEMAKER'S APRON

_Illustrated by Jan Matulka_

THE LAUGHING PRINCE

A Book of Jugoslav Fairy Tales and Folk Tales

BY

PARKER FILLMORE

WITH ILLUSTRATIONS AND DECORATIONS

BY

JAY VAN EVEREN

[Illustration]

NEW YORK

HARCOURT, BRACE & WORLD, INC. 

COPYRIGHT, 1921, BY

PARKER FILLMORE

RENEWED BY LOUISE FILLMORE

0. 1. 68

PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

TO BUTTON

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NOTE

In calling this _A Book of Jugoslav Fairy Tales and Folk Tales_ I haveused the word Jugoslav in its literal sense of Southern Slav. TheBulgars are just as truly Southern Slavs as the Serbs or Croats or anyother of the Slav peoples now included within the state of Jugoslavia. Moreover in this case it would be particularly difficult to make theliterary boundaries conform strictly to the political boundaries sincemuch the same stories and folk tales are current among all these Slavpeoples of the Balkan Peninsula. The special student taking the variantsof the same story might discover special differences that would markeach variant as the product of some one locality. The work of such astudent would have philological and ethnological value but not a verystrong appeal to the general reader. My appeal is first of all to thegeneral reader--to the child who loves fairy tales and to the adult wholoves them. I hope they will both find these stories entertaining andamusing quite aside from any interest in their source. 

Yet these tales as presented do give the reader a true idea of theamazing vigor and the artistic inventiveness of the Jugoslavimagination, and also of the various influences, Oriental and Northernas well as Slavic, which have made that imagination what it is to-day. Here are gay picaresque tales of adventure--how they go on and on andon!--charming little stories of sentiment, a few folk tales of starksimplicity and grim humor, one story showing a superficial Turkishinfluence, and one spiritual allegory as deep and moving as anything inthe Russian. 

The renderings in every case are my own and are not in any sensetranslations. I have taken the old stories and retold them in a newlanguage. To do them justice in this new language I have found itnecessary to present them with a new selection of detail and with anoccasional shifting of emphasis. I do not mean by this that I haveinvented detail in any unwarranted fashion. I haven't had to for anyfolk tale, however bald, contains all sorts of things by implication. The true story teller, it seems to me, is he who is able to grasp theseimplications and turn them to his own use. 

I must confess that the setting in which I have placed the famous oldSerbian nonsense story, _In my young days when I was an old, old man_, is my own invention. The nonsense story needs a setting and as itchanced I had one ready as I have long wanted to tell the world what wasback of the determination of that princess who refused to eat until someone had made her laugh. 

So far as I know most of these stories are not familiar to Englishreaders--certainly not in this form. Madame Mijatovich uses one of themin her _Serbian Fairy Tales_, but I make no apology for offering asprightlier version. Nor do I apologize for presenting any stories thatmay have been included somewhere among the indifferent translations towhich Andrew Lang lent his name. 

I am of course deeply indebted to the various people who told me thesestories in the first place and to many scholarly folklorists, Jugoslav, Czechoslovak, Bulgarian, German, and English whose books and reports Ihave studied. 

P. F. 

_Decoration Day, 1921. _

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CONTENTS

 PAGE

THE LAUGHING PRINCE: The Story of the Boy WhoCould Talk Nonsense 1

BEAUTY AND THE HORNS: The Story of an EnchantedMaiden 27

THE PIGEON'S BRIDE: The Story of a Princess WhoKissed and Told 51

THE LITTLE LAME FOX: The Story of the YoungestBrother Who Found the Magic Grape-Vine and Marriedthe Golden Maiden 73

THE ENCHANTED PEAFOWL: The Story of the GoldenApples, the Wicked Dragon, and the Magic Horse 107

THE DRAGON'S STRENGTH: The Story of the YoungestPrince Who Killed the Sparrow 139

THE LITTLE SINGING FROG: The Story of a GirlWhose Parents were Ashamed of Her 161

THE NIGHTINGALE IN THE MOSQUE: The Story ofthe Sultan's Youngest Son and the Princess Flower o' theWorld 171

THE GIRL IN THE CHEST: The Story of the ThirdSister Who was Brave and Good 201

THE WONDERFUL HAIR: The Story of a Poor ManWho Dreamed of an Angel 219

THE BEST WISH: The Story of Three Brothers and anAngel 229

THE VILAS' SPRING: The Story of the Brother WhoKnew that Good was Stronger than Evil 241

LORD AND MASTER: The Story of the Man Who Understoodthe Language of the Animals 253

THE SILVER TRACKS: The Story of the Poor Man WhoBefriended a Beggar 267

THE LAUGHING PRINCE

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_The Story of the Boy Who Could Talk Nonsense_

THE LAUGHING PRINCE

There was once a farmer who had three sons and one little daughter. Theeldest son was a studious boy who learned so much out of books that thefarmer said:

"We must send Mihailo to school and make a priest of him. "

The second boy was a trader. Whatever you had he would get it from youby offering you something else for it. And always what he gave you wasworth less than what you gave him. 

"Jakov will make a fine peddler, " the farmer said. "He's industrious andsharp and some day he will probably be a rich man. "

But Stefan, the farmer's youngest son, had no special talent and becausehe didn't spend all his time with his nose in a book and because henever made the best of a bargain his brothers scorned him. Militza, hislittle sister, loved him dearly for he was kind and jolly and in theevening he was always ready to tell her stories and play with her. Butthe farmer, of course, listened to the older brothers. 

"I don't know about poor Stefan, " he used to say. "He's a good boy buthe talks nonsense. I suppose he'll have to stay on the farm and work. "

Now the truth is the farm was a fine place for Stefan for he was strongand lusty and he liked to plow and harvest and he had a wonderful waywith the animals. He talked to them as if they were human beings and thehorses all whinnied when he came near, and the cows rubbed their softnoses against his shoulder, and as for the pigs--they loved him so muchthat whenever they saw him they used to run squealing between his legs. 

"Stefan is nothing but a farmer!" Mihailo used to say as though being afarmer was something to be ashamed of. 

And Jakov said:

"If the village people could see the pigs following him about, howthey'd laugh at him! I hope when I go to the village to live he won't bevisiting me all the time!"

Another thing the older brothers couldn't understand about Stefan waswhy he was always laughing and joking. He did the work of two men butwhether he was working or resting you could always hear him cracking hismerry jokes and laughing his jolly laugh. 

"I think he's foolish!" Mihailo said. 

Jakov hoped that the village people wouldn't hear about his carryingson. 

"They'd laugh at him, " he said, "and they'd laugh at us, too, becausewe're his brothers. "

But Stefan didn't care. The more they frowned at him, the louder helaughed, and in spite of their dark looks he kept on cracking his merryjokes and talking nonsense. And every evening after supper his littlesister, Militza, clapped her hands and cried:

"Now, Stefan, tell me a story! Tell me a story!"

"Father, " Mihailo would say, "you ought to make him keep quiet! He'sfoolish and all he does is fill Militza's head with nonsense!"

This always made Militza very indignant and she would stamp her littlefoot and say:

"He isn't foolish! He knows more than any one! And he can do more thingsthan any one else and he's the handsomest brother in the world!"

You see Militza loved Stefan dearly and when you love a person of courseyou think that person is wonderful. But the father supposed that Mihailomust be right for Mihailo studied in books. So he shook his head andsighed every time he thought of Stefan. 

Now the kingdom in which the three brothers lived was ruled over by agreat Tsar who had an only daughter. In disappointment that he had noson, the Tsar was having his daughter brought up as though she were aboy. He sent all over the world for tutors and teachers and had the poorgirl taught statecraft and law and philosophy and all the other thingsthat the heir to the throne ought to know. 

The Princess because she was an obedient girl and because she loved herfather tried to spend all her time in study. But the dry old scholarswhom the Tsar employed as teachers were not amusing companions for ayoung girl and the first lady-in-waiting who was in constant attendancewas scarcely any better for she, too, was old and thin and very prim. 

If the poor little Princess between her geography lesson and herarithmetic lesson would peep for a moment into a mirror, the firstlady-in-waiting would tap her arm reprovingly and say:

"My dear, vanity is not becoming in a princess!"

One day the little Princess lost her temper and answered sharply:

"But I'm a girl even if I am a princess and I love to look in mirrorsand I love to make myself pretty and I'd love to go to a ball everynight of my life and dance with handsome young men!"

"You talk like the daughter of a farmer!" the first lady-in-waitingsaid. 

Then the Princess, because she lost her temper still further, saidsomething she should not have said. 

"I wish I were the daughter of a farmer!" she declared. "Then I couldwear pretty ribbons and go dancing and the boys would come courting me!As it is I have to spend all my time with funny old men and silly oldwomen!"

Now even if her tutors and teachers were funny looking old men, even ifthe first lady-in-waiting was a silly old woman, the Princess should nothave said so. It hurt the feelings of the first lady-in-waiting and madeher angry and she ran off to the Tsar at once and complained mostbitterly. 

"Is this my reward after all my years of loving service to yourdaughter?" she asked. "It is true that I've grown old and thin lookingafter her manners and now she calls me a silly old woman! And all thelearned wise men and scholars that you have gathered from the farcorners of the earth--she points her finger at them and calls them funnyold men!"

The fact is they were funny looking, most of them, but yet the firstlady-in-waiting was right: the Princess should not have said so. 

"And think of her ingratitude to yourself, O Tsar!" the firstlady-in-waiting continued. "You plan to make her the heir to your throneand yet she says she wishes she were a farmer's daughter so that shecould deck herself out in ribbons and have the boys come courting her! Anice thing for a princess to say!"

The Tsar when he heard this fell into an awful rage. (The truth iswhatever temper the Princess had she inherited direct from her father. )

"Wow! Wow!" he roared, just that way. "Send the Princess to me at once. I'll soon have her singing another tune!"

So the first lady-in-waiting sent the Princess to her father and as soonas he saw her he began roaring again and saying:

"Wow! Wow! What do you mean--funny old men and silly old women?"

Now whenever the Tsar began roaring and saying, "Wow! Wow!" the Princessalways stiffened, and instead of being the sweet and obedient daughtershe usually was she became obstinate. Her pretty eyes would flash andher soft pretty face would harden and people would whisper: "Mercy onus, how much she looks like her father!"

"That's just what I mean!" the Princess said. "They're a lot of funnyold men and silly old women and I'm tired of them! I want to be amused!I want to laugh!"

"Wow! Wow! Wow!" roared the Tsar. "A fine princess you are! Go straightback to the schoolroom and behave yourself!"

So the little Princess marched out of the throne room holding her headvery high and looking so much like the Tsar that the firstlady-in-waiting was positively frightened. 

The Princess went back to the schoolroom but she did not behave herself. She was really very naughty. When the poor man who knew more thananybody in the world about the influence of the stars upon the destiniesof nations came to give her a lesson, she threw his book out the window. When the superannuated old general who was teaching her militarymanoeuvers offered her a diagram on which the enemy was represented bya series of black dots and our soldiers by a series of red dots, shetook the paper and tore it in two. And worst of all when the old scholarwho was teaching her Turkish--for a princess must be able to speak alllanguages--dropped his horn spectacles on the floor, she deliberatelystepped on them and broke them. 

When the Tsar heard all these things he just _wow-wowed_ somethingterrible. 

"Lock that young woman in her chamber!" he ordered. "Feed her on breadand water until she's ready to apologize!"

But the Princess, far from being frightened by this treatment, calmlyannounced:

"I won't eat even your old bread and water until you send me some onewho will make me laugh!"

Now this frightened the Tsar because he knew how obstinate the Princesscould be on occasions. (He ought to know, too, for the Princess had thatstreak of obstinacy direct from himself. )

"This will never do!" he said. 

He hurried to the Princess's chamber. He found her in bed with herpretty hair spread out on the pillow like a golden fan. 

"My dear, " the Tsar said, "I was joking. You don't have to eat onlybread and water. You may have anything you want. "

"Thank you, " the Princess said, "but I'll never eat another bite ofanything until you send me some one who will make me laugh. I'm tired ofliving in this gloomy old castle with a lot of old men and old women whodo nothing but instruct me and with a father who always loses histemper and says, 'Wow! Wow!'"

"But it's a beautiful castle!" the poor Tsar said. "And I'm sure we'reall doing our very best to educate you!"

"But I want to be amused as well as educated!" the little Princess said. And then, because she felt she was going to cry, she turned her face tothe wall and wouldn't say another word. 

What was the Tsar to do? He called together his councilors and askedthem how was the Princess to be made to laugh. The councilors were wiseabout state matters but not one of them could suggest a means of amusingthe Princess. The Master of Ceremonies did indeed begin to say somethingabout a nice young man but instantly the Tsar roared out such awrathful, "Wow! Wow!" that the Master of Ceremonies coughed andpretended he hadn't spoken. 

Then the Tsar called together the scholars and the teachers and thefirst lady-in-waiting. He glared at them savagely and roared:

"Wow! Wow! A nice lot you are! I put you in charge of my daughter andnot one of you has sense enough to know that the poor child needs alittle amusement! I have a good mind to have you all thrown into thedungeon!"

"But, Your Majesty, " quavered one poor old scholar, "I was not employedas a buffoon but as a teacher of astrology!"

"And I, " another said, "as a teacher of languages!"

"And I as a teacher of philosophy!"

"Silence!" roared the Tsar. "Between you all you have about killed mypoor child! Now I ask you: With all your learning doesn't one of youknow how to make a young girl laugh?"

Apparently not one of them did, for no one answered. 

"Not even you?" the Tsar said, looking at the first lady-in-waiting. 

"When you called me to Court, " the first lady-in-waiting answered, drawing herself up in a most refined manner, "you said you wished me toteach your daughter etiquette. As you said nothing about amusement, quite naturally I confined myself to the subject of behavior. If I dosay it myself, no one has ever been more devoted to duty than I. I amconstantly saying to her: 'That isn't the way a princess should act!' Infact for years there has hardly been a moment in the day when I haven'tcorrected her for something!"

"Poor child!" groaned the Tsar. "No wonder she wants a change! Oh, whatfools you all are in spite of your learning! Don't you know that a younggirl is a young girl even if she is a Princess!"

Well, the scholars weren't any more help to the Tsar than thecouncilors, and finally in desperation he sent heralds through the landto announce that to any one who could make the Princess laugh he wouldgive three bags of gold. 

Three bags of gold don't grow on the bushes every day and instantly allthe youths and men and old men who had stories that their sweetheartsand their wives and their daughters laughed at hurried to the castle. 

One by one they were admitted to the Princess's chamber. They enteredhopefully but when they saw the Tsar sitting at one side of the doormuttering, "Wow! Wow!" in his beard, and the old first lady-in-waitingat the other side of the door watching them scornfully, and the Princessherself in bed with her lovely hair spread out like a golden fan on thepillow, they forgot their funny stories and hemmed and hawed andstammered and had finally, one after another, to be turned out indisgrace. 

One day went by and two and three and still the Princess refused to eat. In despair the Tsar sent out his heralds again. This time he said thatto any one who would make the Princess laugh he would give thePrincess's hand in marriage and make him joint heir to the kingdom. 

"I had expected to wed her to the son of some great Tsar, " he sighed, "but I'd rather marry her to a farmer than see her die of starvation!"

The heralds rode far and wide until every one, even the people on themost distant farms, had heard of the Tsar's offer. 

"I won't try again, " said Mihailo, the oldest son of the farmer I'vealready told you about. "When I went there the day before yesterday Ibegan telling her a funny story out of my Latin book but instead oflaughing she said: 'Oh, send him away!' So now she'll have to starve todeath for all of me!"

"Me, too!" said Jakov, the second son. "When I tried to tell her thatfunny story of how I traded the moldy oats for the old widow's fat pig, instead of laughing she looked me straight in the face and said:'Cheat!'"

"Stefan ought to go, " Mihailo suggested. "Maybe she'd laugh at him!Everybody else does!"

He spoke sneeringly but Stefan only smiled. 

"Who knows? Perhaps I will go. If I do make her laugh then, O mybrothers, the laugh will be on you for I shall become Tsar and you twowill be known as my two poor brothers. Ho! Ho! Ho! What a joke thatwould be!"

Stefan laughed loud and heartily and his little sister joined him, buthis brothers looked at him sourly. 

"He grows more foolish all the time!" they told each other. 

When they were gone to bed, Militza slipped over to Stefan and whisperedin his ear:

"Brother, you must go to the Princess. Tell her the story that begins:_In my young days when I was an old, old man_. . . . I think she'll justhave to laugh, and if she laughs then she can eat and she must be veryhungry by this time. "

At first Stefan said no, he wouldn't go, but Militza insisted andfinally, to please her, he said he would. 

So early the next morning he dressed himself in his fine Sunday shirtwith its blue and red embroidery. He put on his bright red Sunday sashand his long shiny boots. Then he mounted his horse and before hisbrothers were awake rode off to the Tsar's castle. 

There he awaited his turn to be admitted to the Princess's chamber. Whenhe came in he was so young and healthy and vigorous that he seemed tobring with him a little of the freshness of outdoors. The firstlady-in-waiting looked at him askance for without doubt he was a farmerlad and his table manners probably were not good. Well, he was a farmerlad and for that reason he didn't know that she was firstlady-in-waiting. He glanced at her once and thought: "What an ugly oldwoman!" and thereafter he didn't think of her at all. He glancedlikewise at the Tsar and the Tsar reminded him of a bull of his own. Hewasn't afraid of the bull, so why be afraid of the Tsar?

Suddenly he saw the Princess lying in bed with her lovely hair spreadout on the pillow like a golden fan and for a moment he couldn't speak. Then he knelt beside the bed and kissed her hand. 

"Princess, " he said, "I'm not learned and I'm not clever and I don'tsuppose I can succeed where so many wise men have failed. And even if Ido make you laugh you won't have to marry me unless you want to becausethe reason I really came was to please Militza. "

"Militza?"

"Yes, Princess, my little sister, Militza. She loves me very much and soshe thinks the stories I tell are funny and she laughs at them. Lastnight she said to me: 'Stefan, you must go to the Princess and tell herthe story that begins: _In my young days when I was an old, oldman_. . . . I think she'll just have to laugh and if she laughs then shecan eat and she must be very hungry by this time. '"

"I am, " the Princess said, with a catch in her voice. Then she added: "Ithink I like that little sister of yours and I think I like you, too. Iwish you would tell me the story that begins: _In my young days when Iwas an old, old man_. . . . "

"But, Princess, it's a very foolish story. "

"The foolisher, the better!"

Just here the first lady-in-waiting tried to correct the Princess for ofcourse she should have said: "The more foolish, the better!" but theTsar shut her up with a black frown and one fierce, "Wow!"

"Well, then, " Stefan began:

_In my young days when I was an old, old man I used to count my beesevery morning. It was easy enough to count the bees but not the beehivesbecause I had too many hives. One day when I finished counting I foundthat my best bee was missing. At once I saddled a rooster and set out tofind him. _

"Father!" cried the Princess. "Did you hear what Stefan said? He said hesaddled his rooster!"

"Umph!" muttered the Tsar, and the first lady-in-waiting said severely:

"Princess, do not interrupt! Young man, continue. "

_His track led to the sea which I rode across on a bridge. The firstthing I saw on the other side of the sea was my bee. There he was in afield of millet harnessed to a plow. "That's my bee!" I shouted to theman who was driving him. "Is that so?" the man said, and without anywords he gave me back my bee and handed me a bag of millet to pay forthe plowing. I took the bag and tied it securely on the bee. Then Iunsaddled the rooster and mounted the bee. The rooster, poor thing, wasso tired that I had to take him by the hand and lead him along besideus. _

"Father!" the Princess cried, "did you hear that? He took the rooster bythe hand! Isn't that funny!"

"Umph!" grunted the Tsar, and the first lady-in-waiting whispered:

"Hush! Let the young man finish!"

_Whilst we were crossing the bridge, the string of the bag broke and allmy millet spilled out. When night came I tied the rooster to the bee andlay down on the seashore to sleep. During the night some wolves cameand killed my bee and when I woke up I found that all the honey had runout of his body. There was so much honey that it rose up and up until itreached the ankles of the valleys and the knees of the mountains. I tooka hatchet and swam down to a forest where I found two deer leaping abouton one leg. I shot at the deer with my hatchet, killed them, and skinnedthem. With the skins I made two leather bottles. I filled these with thehoney and strapped them over the rooster's back. Then I rode home. I nosooner arrived home than my father was born. "We must have holy waterfor the christening, " I said. "I suppose I must go to heaven to fetchsome. " But how was I to get there? I thought of my millet. Sure enoughthe dampness had made it grow so well that its tops now reached the sky. So all I had to do was to climb a millet stalk and there I was inheaven. Up there they had mown down some of my millet which they bakedinto a loaf and were eating with boiled milk. "That's my millet!" Isaid. "What do you want for it?" they asked me. "I want some holy waterto christen my father who has just been born. " So they gave me some holywater and I prepared to descend again to earth. But on earth there was aviolent storm going on and the wind carried away my millet. So there Iwas with no way of getting down. I thought of my hair. It was so longthat when I stood up it covered my ears and when I lay down it reachedall the way to earth. So I pulled out a hair, tied it to a tree ofheaven, and began descending by it. When it grew dark I made a knot inthe hair and just sat where I was. It was cold, so I took a needle whichI happened to have in my coat, split it up, and lighted a fire with thechips. _

"Oh, father!" the Princess cried, "Stefan says he split a needle intokindling wood! Isn't he funny!"

"If you ask me--" the first lady-in-waiting began, but before she couldsay more the Tsar reached over and stepped on her toe so hard that shewas forced to end her sentence with a little squeally, "Ouch!" ThePrincess, you see, was smiling and the Tsar was hoping that presentlyshe would burst into a laugh. So he motioned Stefan to continue. 

[Illustration: _Stefan Tells the Princess a Story_]

_Then I lay down beside the fire and fell asleep. While I slept a sparkfrom the fire fell on the hair and burned it through. I fell to earthwith such force that I sank into the ground up to my chest. I couldn'tbudge, so I was forced to go home and get a spade and dig myself out. Onthe way home I crossed a field_ _where the reapers were cutting corn. The heat was so great that they had to stop work. "I'll get our mare, " Isaid, "and then you'll feel cooler. " You know our mare is two days longand as broad as midnight and she has willow trees growing on her back. So I ran and got her and she cast such a cool shadow that the reaperswere at once able to go back to work. Now they wanted some freshdrinking water, but when they went to the river they found it had frozenover. They came back to me and asked me would I get them some water. "Certainly, " I said. I went to the river myself, then I took off my headand with it I broke a hole in the ice. After that it was easy enough tofetch them some water. "But where is your head?" they asked. "Oh!" Isaid, "I must have forgotten it!"_

"Oh, father!" the Princess cried with a loud laugh, "he says he forgothis head! Then, Stefan, what did you do? What did you do?"

_I ran back to the river and got there just as a fox was sniffing at myskull. "Hi, there!" I said, pulling the fox's tail. The fox turnedaround and gave me a paper on which was written these words: =NOW THEPRINCESS CAN EAT FOR SHE HAS LAUGHED AND STEFAN AND HIS LITTLE SISTERARE VERY HAPPY. =_

"What nonsense!" the first lady-in-waiting murmured with a toss of herhead. 

"Yes, beautiful nonsense!" the Princess cried, clapping her hands andgoing off into peal after peal of merry laughter. "Isn't it beautifulnonsense, father? And isn't Stefan a dear lad? And, father, I'm awfullyhungry! Please have some food sent in at once and Stefan must stay andeat with me. "

So the Tsar had great trays of food brought in: roast birds andvegetables and wheaten bread and many kinds of little cakes and honeyand milk and fruit. And Stefan and the Princess ate and made merry andthe Tsar joined them and even the first lady-in-waiting took one littlecake which she crumbled in her handkerchief in a most refined manner. 

Then Stefan rose to go and the Tsar said to him:

"Stefan, I will reward you richly. You have made the Princess laugh andbesides you have not insisted on her marrying you. You are a fine ladand I shall never forget you. "

"But, father, " the Princess said, "I don't want Stefan to go. He amusesme and I like him. He said I needn't marry him unless I wanted to but, father, I think I want to. "

"Wow! Wow!" the Tsar roared. "What! My daughter marry the son of afarmer!"

"Now, father, " the Princess said, "it's no use your _wow-wowing_ at meand you know it isn't. If I can't marry Stefan I won't marry any one. And if I don't marry any one I'm going to stop eating again. So that'sthat!" And still holding Stefan's hand, the Princess turned her face tothe wall. 

What could the poor Tsar do? At first he fumed and raged but as usualafter a day or two he came around to the Princess's way of thinking. Infact it soon seemed to him that Stefan had been his choice from thefirst and when one of his councilors remarked: "Then, Your Majesty, there's no use sending word to the neighboring kings that the Princesshas reached a marriageable age and would like to look over their sons, "the Tsar flew into an awful temper and roared:

"Wow! Wow! You blockhead! Neighboring kings, indeed, and theirgood-for-nothing sons! No, siree! The husband I want for my daughter isan honest farmer lad who knows how to work and how to play! That's thekind of son-in-law we need in this kingdom!"

So Stefan and the little Princess were married and from that day thecastle was no longer gloomy but rang with laughter and merriment. Presently the people of the kingdom, following the example of theirrulers, were laughing, too, and cracking jokes and, strange to say, theysoon found they were working all the better for their jollity. 

Laughter grew so fashionable that even Mihailo and Jakov were forced totake it up. They didn't do it very well but they practised at itconscientiously. Whenever people talked about Stefan, they always pushedforward importantly and said:

"Ho! Ho! Ho! Do you mean Stefan, the Laughing Prince? Ha! Ha! Ha! Why, do you know, he's our own brother!"

As for Militza, the Princess had her come to the castle and said to her:

"I owe all my happiness to you, my dear, for you it was who knew that ofcourse I would laugh at Stefan's nonsense! What sensible girlwouldn't?"

BEAUTY AND THE HORNS

[Illustration]

_The Story of an Enchanted Maiden_

BEAUTY AND THE HORNS

There was once a rich man who when he was dying called his son to hisbedside and said:

"Danilo, my son, I am leaving you my riches. The only thing I ask of youis this: close your ears to all reports of an enchanted maiden who isknown as Peerless Beauty and when the time comes that you wish to marrychoose for wife some quiet sensible girl of your native village. "

Now if the father had not mentioned Peerless Beauty all might have beenwell. Danilo might never have heard of her and after a time he wouldprobably have fallen in love with a girl of his native village andmarried her. As it was, after his father's death he kept saying tohimself:

"Peerless Beauty, the enchanted maiden of whom my father warned me! Iwonder is she really as beautiful as all that! I wonder where shelives!"

He thought about her until he could think of nothing else. 

"Peerless Beauty! Peerless Beauty! Oh, I must see this enchanted maideneven if it costs me my life!"

His father had a brother, a wise old man, who was supposed to knoweverything in the world. 

"I will go to my uncle, " the young man said. "Perhaps he will tell mewhere I can find Peerless Beauty. "

So he went to his uncle and said:

"My dear uncle, my father as he lay dying told me about a wonderfulmaiden called Peerless Beauty. Can you tell me where she lives because Iwant to see her for myself and judge whether she is as beautiful as myfather said. "

His uncle looked at him gravely and shook his head. 

"My poor boy, how can I tell you where that enchanted maiden lives whenI know it would mean death to you if ever you saw her? Think no moreabout her but go, find some suitable maid in the village, and marry herlike a sensible young man. "

But his uncle's words, far from dissuading Danilo, only excited him themore. 

"If my uncle knows where Peerless Beauty lives, " he thought, "other menalso know. "

So one by one he went to all the old men in the village and asked themwhat they knew of Peerless Beauty. One by one they shook their heads andtold him that Peerless Beauty was no maiden for him to be thinkingabout. 

"Put her out of your mind, " they said. "These enchanted maidens are asnare to young men. What you want to do is marry some quiet industriousgirl here in the village and settle down like a sensible young man. "

But the oftener Danilo heard this advice, the more firmly convinced hebecame that it was just what he did not want to do. 

"Time enough to settle down after I've seen Peerless Beauty, " he toldhimself. "She must be beautiful indeed, or all these old men would notbe so anxious to keep me from seeing her. Well, if they won't tell mewhere she is, I'll go out in the world and find her for myself. "

So he put on rich clothes as befitted his wealth, took a bag of the goldhis father had left him, mounted his horse, and rode off into the world. Everywhere he went he made inquiries about Peerless Beauty andeverywhere he found old men who knew about the enchanted maiden butwould tell him nothing. Every one of them advised him to go home like asensible young man and think no more about her. But all they said onlymade him the more determined to see the maiden for himself. 

Finally one day as evening approached he came to a little hut in thewoods. At the door of the hut sat a poor old woman. She held out herhand as he passed and begged an alms. Danilo, being a kind hearted youngman, gave her a gold piece. 

"May God reward you!" the old woman said. 

"Granny, " Danilo asked, "can you tell me the way to Peerless Beauty?"

"Aye, my son, that I can but he is a rash youth who seeks that maiden!It were better for you to turn back than to go on!"

"But I'm not going to turn back!" Danilo declared. "Whatever the outcomeI'm going to find Peerless Beauty and see for myself why all men fearher. "

When the old woman saw that Danilo was determined, she gave up pleadingwith him and pointed out a faint trail in the forest which, she toldhim, would lead him to Peerless Beauty's castle. 

He slept that night in the old woman's hut and early next morning setout on the forest trail. By afternoon he reached the castle. 

"What do you want?" the guards demanded roughly. 

"I want to see Peerless Beauty. "

"Have you gold?" they asked him. 

Danilo showed them his bag of ducats. 

They led him into a hall of the castle and told him to put his gold on atable. If he did so, perhaps Peerless Beauty would show herself andperhaps she wouldn't. 

Danilo did as the guards directed and then faced a curtain behind which, they told him, Peerless Beauty was seated. The curtain opened a little, but instead of showing her face Peerless Beauty extended only onefinger. However, that finger was so ravishingly beautiful that Daniloalmost fainted with delight. He would have stayed gazing on that oneenchanting finger for hours if the guards had not taken him roughly bythe shoulders and thrown him out of the castle. 

"Come again when you've got more gold!" they shouted after him. 

Like a man in a dream Danilo rode back to the old woman's hut. 

"Now, my son, are you satisfied?" she asked him. "Are you ready now togo home and settle down like a sensible young man?"

"Oh, granny!" Danilo raved. "Such a finger! I must see that finger againif it cost me my whole fortune!"

He slept that night in the old woman's hut and the next day returned tohis native village. There he got another bag of the golden ducats whichhis father had left him and at once started back to the castle ofPeerless Beauty. 

This time that heartless maiden stripped him again of his gold, showedhim two of her enchanting fingers, and as before had her guards throwhim out of the castle. 

"Come again when you've got more gold!" they shouted after him. 

That's exactly what the poor young man did. He went back and back untilthe fortune that his father had left him was entirely squandered. Andall he had seen of Peerless Beauty up to that time were the fingers ofone hand! Shouldn't you suppose that now with all his wealth lost hewould get over his foolish infatuation? Well, he didn't. 

"I must go back again!" he kept telling himself. 

His gold was gone but he still had his father's house. It was a big oldhouse with garrets and cellars. 

"Perhaps if I hunt I shall find some treasures hidden away in oddcorners, " Danilo said. 

So he hunted upstairs and down. He opened old boxes and rummaged aboutamong the dark rafters. One day he came upon a funny looking little cap. 

"I wonder whose this was, " he thought to himself. 

He went to a mirror and tried the cap on. Then a strange thing happened. The moment the cap touched his head, Danilo disappeared. 

"Ah!" he cried, "it's a magic cap and the moment I put it on I becomeinvisible! Now I can slip into Peerless Beauty's chamber and see herlovely face!"

With his magic cap pulled tightly down over his forehead, he set offonce more for Peerless Beauty's castle. Sure enough he was able to passunseen the guards at the gate, he was able to go boldly into the greathall, and beyond it through the curtain into Peerless Beauty's ownchamber. 

The Beauty was seated with her back to the curtain and a serving maidwas combing out her hair for the night. It was lovely hair and it felldown over Beauty's shoulders like a mantle of gold. At mere sight of itDanilo was so overcome with emotion that he sighed. 

"What's that?" Beauty cried. "There's some one in my chamber!"

The serving maid looked under the bed and behind the chairs and in thecorners. 

"There's no one here, my lady. "

"That's strange!" Beauty said. "I feel as though some one were lookingat me. "

When Danilo saw the actual face of the enchanted maiden, it was all hecould do to keep from crying aloud. She was so unutterably beautifulthat he almost swooned away in ecstacy. 

Presently the maiden went to bed and fell into an uneasy sleep. Thelight of a single candle shed a faint radiance over her face making itlovelier than ever. Through all the long hours of night Danilo stoodperfectly still, gazing at her, afraid almost to breathe lest he shoulddisturb her. 

"Unless I win her for wife, " he thought to himself, "I shall nevermorebe happy!"

When morning came the maiden awoke with a start and said:

"There's some one looking at me! Who is it? Who is it?"

"It's only your poor Danilo, " a voice answered. 

"Danilo? Who is Danilo?"

"The youth whom you have been treating so cruelly. But though you havetreated me cruelly, I love you still!"

"If you love me still, " the maiden said, "let me see you. "

Danilo took off the magic cap and there he stood, a handsome youth, atthe foot of her bed. Then the crafty maiden spoke him fair and Danilotold her about the magic cap, and when she said to him that she repentedhaving treated him so cruelly and asked him to let her see the cap, thepoor young man was so dazzled by her beauty and her seeming kindnessthat he handed it to her at once. 

Instantly she clapped it on her head and disappeared. Then she laughedin derision and called out loudly to the guards:

"Ho, there! Take out this young man and drive him forth! Let him returnwhen he has another treasure to offer me!"

So the guards dragged Danilo out and drove him away. 

With no more gold, with no more magic cap, Danilo returned to hisfather's house. 

"Perhaps there are other treasures hidden away, " he thought. "I'llsearch further. "

In his search he came upon an old pitcher and thinking it might besilver he began rubbing it. Instantly there was a clap of thunder and acompany of soldiers appeared. Their captain saluted Danilo respectfullyand said:

"We are the servants of that magic pitcher. What does our master wish?"

"Magic pitcher?" stammered Danilo. "And am I your master?"

"Yes, " said the captain, "you are our master as long as you hold themagic pitcher in your hands. "

"You may disappear now, " Danilo said. "I will rub the pitcher when Ineed you. "

Delighted with this unexpected good fortune, he hurried off to the woodsto the hut of the old woman who had befriended him before. He showed herthe pitcher and demonstrated for her how it worked. Then he asked her tocarry a message to Peerless Beauty. 

"Tell her, " he said, "that unless she consents to marry me at once I'lllead a mighty army against her, take her captive, and then send her offin exile to that howling wilderness which people call the Donkeys'Paradise. "

"I will deliver your message, " the old woman said, "on condition thatyou promise me to be on your guard this time. Don't let the maiden trickyou again. She is under an enchantment that makes her cruel and craftyand the enchantment will never be broken until she meets a man upon whomher wiles have no effect. "

"Trust me this time, " Danilo said. "I've had my lesson. "

So the old woman delivered the message and when Peerless Beautyreceived it with scorn, Danilo at once set out for the castle with themagic pitcher in his hand. He began rubbing and every time he rubbed acompany of soldiers appeared. Soon the castle was surrounded by a greatarmy and in fright and dismay Peerless Beauty sent out word that she wasready to make an unconditional surrender. 

When Danilo entered the castle he found her humble and meek. 

"I have treated you cruelly, " she said. "Now I am in your power, do withme what you will. " And she began weeping softly until the sight of hertears drove Danilo distracted. 

"Weep no more, dear lady!" he cried. "You have nothing to fear from me!I love you! I am your slave!"

The Peerless one slowly dried her tears. 

"If you love me as you say you do, you will tell me by what magic youhave raised this great army. "

Then Danilo, forgetting the old woman's warning, took the magic pitcherout of his shirt and showed the maiden how it worked. 

"Ah!" she murmured wonderingly. "It looks like any old pitcher! Please, Danilo, let me see it in my own hands. "

Danilo handed her the pitcher and, quick as a flash, she rubbed it. There was a clap of thunder, a company of soldiers appeared, and theircaptain saluting her respectfully said:

"What does the mistress of the pitcher want?"

"Nay!" cried Danilo, "it is I who own the pitcher, not she!"

"We are the servants, " the captain said, "of whoever holds the pitcher. "

At that Peerless Beauty laughed loud and scornfully until the castlerang with her merriment. 

"Seize that wretch!" she said, pointing to Danilo. "Tie his hands anddrive him out in exile to the Donkeys' Paradise! Let him stay thereuntil he has another treasure to present me!"

So they drove Danilo out to the wilderness and left him there. 

He wandered about for many days hungry and thirsty, subsisting on rootsand berries, and having for drink only the water that collected in thehoof prints of the wild beasts. 

"See what I've come to!" he cried aloud. "Why didn't I heed the oldwoman's warning! If I had, I should have broken the evil enchantmentthat binds my Peerless Beauty and all would have been well!"

One day as he wandered about he came upon a vine that was laden withgreat clusters of luscious red grapes. He fell upon them ravenously andate bunch after bunch. Suddenly he felt something in his hair andlifting his hands he found that horns had grown out all over his head. 

"Fine grapes these are!" he exclaimed, "to bring out horns on a person'shead!"

However, he was so hungry that he kept on eating until his head was onemass of horns. 

The next day he found a vine that had clusters of white grapes. He beganeating the white grapes and he hadn't finished a bunch before the hornsall fell off his head. 

"Ha!" he said. "The red grapes put horns on and the white grapes takethem off! That's a trick worth knowing!"

He took some reeds and fashioned two baskets one of which he filled withred grapes and the other with white grapes. Then staining his face withthe dark juice of a leaf until he looked brown and sunburned like acountryman, he went back to Peerless Beauty's castle. There he marchedup and down below the Peerless one's window crying his wares like ahuckster:

"Sweet grapes for sale! Who wants my fresh sweet grapes!"

Now it was not the season for grapes, so Peerless Beauty when she heardthe cry was surprised and said to her serving maid:

"Go quickly and buy me some grapes from that huckster and mind you don'teat one yourself!"

The serving maid hurried out to Danilo and he sold her some of the redgrapes. As she carried them in, she couldn't resist the temptation ofslipping a few into her mouth. Instantly some horns grew out on herhead. 

"That's to punish me for disobeying my mistress!" the poor girl cried. "Oh, dear, what shall I do?"

She was afraid to show herself to Peerless Beauty, so she pretended shewas taken sick and she went to bed and pulled the sheet over her headand sent in the grapes by another serving maid. 

Peerless Beauty ate them all before she discovered their frightfulproperty. Then there was a great to-do, and cries of anger and offright, and a quick sending out of the guards to find the huckster. Butthe huckster had disappeared. 

What could Peerless Beauty do now? She tried to pull the horns out butthey wouldn't come. She tried to cut them off but they resisted the edgeof the sharpest knife. She was too proud to show herself with horns, soshe swathed her head with jewels and ribbons and pretended she waswearing an elaborate head-dress. 

Then she sent heralds through the land offering a huge reward to any onewho could cure her serving maid of some strange horns that had grown outon her head. You see she thought if she could get hold of some one whowould cure the maid, then she could make him cure her, too. 

Well, doctors and quacks and all sorts of people came and tried everykind of remedy, but all in vain. The horns stayed firmly rooted. 

A whole week went by and when the last of the quacks had come and gone, Danilo, disguised as an old physician, presented himself and cravedaudience with the Peerless one. He carried two small jars in his handsone of which was filled with a conserve made from the white grapes andthe other with a conserve made from the red grapes. 

Peerless Beauty, her horns swathed in silk and gleaming with jewels, received him coldly. 

"Are you one more quack?" she asked. 

"Not a quack, " he said, bowing low, "but a man who has happened upon astrange secret of nature. I can cure your serving maid of her hornsprovided she confess to me all her misdeeds and hand over to me anythingshe has that does not belong to her. "

Peerless Beauty had him shown to the room where the serving maid lay inbed. The poor frightened girl at once confessed that she had stolen afew of her mistress's grapes and eaten them. Danilo spoke kindly to her, gave her some of the white grape conserve, and as soon as she had tastedit the horns of course dropped off. 

Thereupon Peerless Beauty led Danilo to her own chamber, ordered all herpeople out, and then acknowledged that she, too, was suffering fromhorns. 

"I am sure I can cure you, " Danilo told her, "provided you confess to meall your misdeeds and hand over to me whatever you have that belongs tosome one else. "

"I cheated a foolish young man out of five bags of gold, " PeerlessBeauty said. "Here they are in this chest. Take them. "

Danilo opened the chest and took out his own five bags of gold. 

"Is that all?" he asked. 

[Illustration: _The Magic Pitcher_]

"Yes, that is all. "

Danilo gave her some of the red grape conserve and of course, instead ofthe horns already on her head falling off, more grew on. 

"You're not telling me the truth, " Danilo said, "and I can't cure you. There's no use my treating you further. "

He turned to go and Peerless Beauty, in great fright, begged him tostay. 

"I do remember another misdeed, " she confessed. "I took by trickery amagic pitcher from the same foolish young man. "

She gave Danilo the pitcher and he hid it in his shirt. 

"Is that all?"

"Yes, that is all. "

Danilo gave her some more of the red grape conserve and, of course, morehorns grew out on her head. Then he pretended to get angry. 

"How can you expect to be cured when you don't tell me the truth? I toldyou I could not cure you unless you confessed all!"

Peerless Beauty wanted much to keep the magic cap but when the strangephysician thundered and scowled and threatened again to leave her, morehorned than ever, she acknowledged that she had taken the cap, too, andhanded it over. 

This time Danilo gave her some of the white grape conserve and as soonas she had eaten it all the horns fell off and her head shimmered andshone as of old with her beautiful hair. 

Then Danilo told her who he was and at once the maiden sought to ensnarehim again with her wiles. 

"What a wonderful man you are, Danilo! I could love you now if you lovedme, but I know of course that you will never love me again after thecruel way I have treated you!"

"But I do love you!" Danilo cried. "I do love you!"

"No, you don't!" she said, and she pretended to weep. "If you did loveme, you'd tell me where you found those red grapes and what this magicconserve is made of. But of course you don't love me enough to tell me. "

Because she looked more beautiful than ever with the tears on her lovelycheeks, Danilo was about to tell her what she wanted to know when heremembered the old woman's warning. That was enough. He hardened hisheart and declared:

"No! I'll never tell you! Do you hear me: I'll never tell you!"

She wept and implored him and used all her wiles, but Danilo rememberingthe past was firm. And presently he had the reward that a man always haswhen he's firm, for as soon as it was evident that she could no longerbefool him, the evil enchantment that bound her broke with a snap andPeerless Beauty became a human maiden as gentle and sweet and loving asshe was beautiful. 

She knelt at Danilo's feet and humbly begged his pardon and promised, ifhe would still marry her, to make him the most dutiful wife in theworld. 

So Danilo married Peerless Beauty and with the servants of the magicpitcher transported her and her castle and her riches together with theold woman who had befriended them both to his own native village. Therehe still lives happy and prosperous. 

His uncle and all the old men in the village take credit to themselvesfor the success of his adventures. 

"It is due entirely to us, " they tell any one who will listen to them, "that Danilo went out in search of Peerless Beauty in the first place. When he came to us and asked our advice we said to him: 'Go, by allmeans! You're young and brave and of course you'll win her!' If wehadn't urged him to go, he would probably have settled down here athome, married some quiet village girl, and never be heard of again!"

That's how the old men talk now, but we know what they really did say atthe time!

Yet after all that doesn't matter. All that matters is that Danilo andPeerless Beauty love each other and are happy. 

[Illustration]

THE PIGEON'S BRIDE

[Illustration]

_The Story of a Princess Who Kissed and Told_

THE PIGEON'S BRIDE

There was once a King who had an only daughter. She was as lovely as aprincess ought to be and by the time she reached a marriageable age thefame of her beauty had spread far and wide over all the world. Neighboring kings and even distant ones were already sending envoys toher father's court begging permission to offer their sons as suitors tothe Princess's hand. As he had no son of his own the Princess's fatherwas delighted that the day was fast approaching when he might have ason-in-law, and long before even the name of any particular prince wasdiscussed the Princess's mother had planned the wedding down to its lastdetail. 

The Princess alone was uninterested. 

"I'm not ready to get married yet, " she'd say to her parents every daywhen they'd begin telling her about the various princes who were anxiousto gain her favor. "Why such haste? I'm young and there's plenty oftime. Besides, just now I'm too busy with my embroidery to be botheredwith a crowd of young men. "

With that, before the King could reprove her, the Princess would throwher arms about his neck, kiss him under the corner of his mustache, andgo flying off to the tower-room where she had her embroidery frame. 

Her mother, the Queen, was much upset by the Princess's attitude. 

"In my youth, " she said, "girls were not like this. We were brought upto think that courtship and marriage were the most important events inour lives. I don't know what's getting into the heads of the young girlsnowadays!"

But the King, who was still smiling from the tickling little kiss whichthe Princess had planted under the corner of his mustache, alwaysanswered:

"Tut! Tut! We needn't worry yet! Take my word for it when someparticular young man comes along she'll be interested fast enough!"

At this the Queen, ending the discussion every day with the same words, would shake her head and declare:

"I tell you it isn't natural for a girl to be more interested inembroidery than in a long line of handsome young suitors!"

The Princess was interested in her embroidery--there's no doubt aboutthat. She spent every moment she could in the tower-room, working andsinging. The tower was high up among the treetops. It was reached bywinding stairs so narrow and so many that no one any older than thePrincess would care to climb them. The Princess flew up them like abird, scarcely pausing for breath. At the top of the stairs was atrap-door which was the only means of entrance into the tower-room. Oncein the tower-room with the bolt of the trap-door securely fastened, thePrincess was safe from interruption and could work away at herembroidery to her heart's content. The tower had windows on all sides, so the Princess as she sat at her embroidery frame could look out north, east, south, and west. 

The clouds sailed by in the sky, the wind blew and at once the leaves inthe treetops began murmuring and whispering among themselves, and thebirds that went flying all over the world would often alight on somebranch near the tower and sing to the Princess as she worked or chattersome exciting story that she could almost understand. 

"What!" the Princess would think to herself as she looked out north, east, south, and west. "Leave my tower and my beautiful embroidery tobecome the wife of some conceited young man! Never!"

From this remark you can understand perfectly well that the particularyoung man of whom her father spoke had not yet come along. And I'm sureyou'll also know that shutting herself up in the tower-room and boltingthe trap-door was not going to keep him away when it was time for him tocome. Yet I don't believe that you'd have recognized him when he didcome any more than the Princess did. This is how it happened:

One afternoon when as usual she was working at her embroidery andsinging as she worked, suddenly there was a flutter of wings at theeastern window and a lovely Pigeon came flying into the room. It circledthree times about the Princess's head and then alighted on theembroidery frame. The Princess reached out her hand and the bird, instead of taking fright, allowed her to stroke its gleaming neck. Thenshe took it gently in her hands and fondled it to her bosom, kissing itsbill and smoothing its plumage with her lips. 

"You beautiful thing!" she cried. "How I love you!"

"If you really love me, " the Pigeon said, "have a bowl of milk here atthis same hour to-morrow and then we'll see what we'll see. "

With that the bird spread its wings and flew out the western window. 

The Princess was so excited that for the rest of the afternoon sheforgot her embroidery. 

"Did the Pigeon really speak?" she asked herself as she stood staringout the western window, "or have I been dreaming?"

The next day when she climbed the winding stairs she went slowly for shecarried in her hands a brimming bowl of milk. 

"Of course it won't come again!" she said, and she made herself sit downquietly before the embroidery frame and work just as though she expectednothing. 

But exactly at the same hour as the day before there was a flutter ofwings at the eastern window, the sound of a gentle _coo! coo!_ and therewas the Pigeon ready to be loved and caressed. 

"You beautiful creature!" the Princess cried, kissing its coral beak andsmoothing its neck with her lips, "how I love you! And see, I havebrought you the bowl of milk that you asked for!"

The bird flew over to the bowl, poised for a moment on its brim, thensplashed into the milk as though to take a bath. 

The Princess laughed and clapped her hands and then, as she looked, shesaw a strange thing happen. The bird's feathers opened like a shirt andout of the feather shirt stepped a handsome youth. 

(You remember I told you how surprised the Princess was going to be. And you're surprised, too, aren't you?)

He was so handsome that all the Princess could say was, "Oh!"

He came slowly towards her and knelt before her. 

"Dear Princess, " he said, "do not be frightened. If it had not been foryour sweet words yesterday when you said you loved me I should neverhave been able to leave this feather shirt. Do not turn from me nowbecause I am a man and not a pigeon. Love me still if you can, for Ilove you. It was because I fell in love with you yesterday when I sawyou working at your embroidery that I flew in by the open window and letyou caress me. "

For a long time the Princess could only stare at the kneeling youth, tooamazed to speak. He was so handsome that she forgot all about the pigeonhe used to be, she forgot her embroidery, she forgot everything. Shehadn't supposed that any young man in the whole world could be sohandsome! Why, just looking at him, she could be happy forever and everand ever!

"Would you rather I were still a pigeon?" the young man asked. 

"No! No! No!" the Princess cried. "I like you ever so much better thisway!"

The young man gravely bowed his head and kissed her hand and thePrincess blushed and trembled and wished he would do it again. She hadnever imagined that any kiss could be so wonderful!

They passed the afternoon together and it seemed to the Princess it wasthe happiest afternoon of all her life. As the sun was sinking the youthsaid:

"Now I must leave you and become a pigeon again. "

"But you'll come back, won't you?" the Princess begged. 

"Yes, I'll come back to-morrow but on one condition: that you don't tellany one about me. I'll come back every day at the same hour but if everyou tell about me then I won't be able to come back any more. "

"I'll never tell!" the Princess promised. 

Then the youth kissed her tenderly, dipped himself in the milk, wentback into his feather shirt, and flew off as a pigeon. 

The next day he came again and the next and the next and the Princessfell so madly in love with him that all day long and all night long, too, she thought of nothing else. She no longer touched her embroiderybut day after day sat idle in the tower-room just awaiting the hour ofhis arrival. And every day it seemed to the King and the Queen and allthe people about the Court that the Princess was becoming more and morebeautiful. Her cheeks kept growing pinker, her eyes brighter, her lovelyhair more golden. 

"I must say sitting at that foolish embroidery agrees with her, " theKing said. 

"No, it isn't that, " the Queen told him. "It's the big bowl of milk shedrinks every afternoon. You know milk is very good for the complexion. "

"Milk indeed!" murmured the Princess to herself, and she blushed rosierthan ever at thought of her wonderful secret. 

But a princess can't keep growing more and more beautiful withouteverybody in the world hearing about it. The neighboring kings soonbegan to feel angry and suspicious. 

"What ails this Princess?" they asked among themselves. "Isn't one ofour sons good enough for her? Is she waiting for the King of Persia tocome as a suitor or what? Let us stand together on our rights and demandto know why she won't consider one of our sons!"

So they sent envoys to the Princess's father and he saw at once that thematter had become serious. 

"My dear, " he said to the Princess, "your mother and I have humored youlong enough. It is high time that you had a husband and I insist thatyou allow the sons of neighboring kings to be presented to you nextweek. "

"I won't do it!" the Princess declared. "I'm not interested in the sonsof the neighboring kings and that's all there is about it!"

Her father looked at her severely. 

"Is that the way for a princess to talk? Persist in this foolishness andyou may embroil your country in war!"

"I don't care!" the Princess cried, bursting into tears. "I can't marryany of them, so why let them be presented?"

"Why can't you marry any of them?"

"I just can't!" the Princess insisted. 

At first, in spite of the pleadings of both parents, she would tell themno more, but her mother kept questioning her until at last inself-defense the Princess confessed that she had a true love who came toher in the tower every afternoon in the form of a pigeon. 

"He's a prince, " she told them, "the son of a distant king. At presenthe is under an enchantment that turns him into a pigeon. When theenchantment is broken he is coming as a prince to marry me. "

"My poor child!" the Queen cried. "Think no more about this PigeonPrince! The enchantment may last a hundred years and then where will yoube!"

"But he is my love!" the Princess declared, "and if I can't have him Iwon't have any one!"

When the King found that nothing they could say would move her from thisresolution, he sighed and murmured:

"Very well, my dear. If it must be so, it must be. This afternoon whenyour lover comes, bring him down to me that I may talk to him. "

But that afternoon the Pigeon did not come. Nor the next afternooneither, nor the next, and then too late the Princess remembered hiswarning that if she told about him he could never come back. 

So now she sat in the tower-room idle and heartbroken, reproachingherself that she had betrayed her lover and praying God to forgive herand send him back to her. And the roses faded from her cheeks and hereyes grew dull and the people about the Court began wondering why theyhad ever thought her the most beautiful princess in the world. 

At last she went to the King, her father, and said:

"As my love can no longer come back to me because I forgot my promiseand betrayed him, I must go out into the world and hunt him. Unless Ifind him life will not be worth the living. So do not oppose me, father, but help me. Have three pairs of iron shoes made for me andthree iron staffs. I will wander over the wide world until these areworn out and then, if by that time I have not found him, I will comehome to you. "

So the King had three pairs of iron shoes made for the Princess andthree iron staffs and she set forth on her quest. She traveled throughtowns and cities and many kingdoms, over rough mountains and desertplaces, looking everywhere for her enchanted love. But nowhere could shefind any trace of him. 

At the end of the first year she had worn out the first pair of ironshoes and the first iron staff. At the end of the second year she hadworn out the second pair of iron shoes and the second iron staff. At theend of the third year, when she had worn out the third pair of ironshoes and the third staff, she returned to her father's palace lookingthin and worn and sad. 

"My poor child, " the King said, "I hope now you realize that the PigeonPrince is gone forever. Think no more about him. Go back to yourembroidery and when the roses begin blooming in your cheeks again we'llfind some young prince for you who isn't enchanted. "

But the Princess shook her head. 

"Let me try one thing more, father, " she begged, "and then if I don'tfind my love I'll do as you say. "

The King agreed to this. 

"Well, then, " the Princess said, "build a public bath-house and have theheralds proclaim that the King's daughter will sit at the entrance andwill allow any one to bathe free of charge who will tell her the storyof the strangest thing he has ever heard or seen. "

So the King built the bath-house and sent out his heralds far and wide. Men and women from all over the world came and bathed and told thePrincess stories of this marvel and that, but never, alas, a word of anenchanted pigeon. 

The days went by and the Princess grew more and more discouraged. 

"Isn't it sad, " the courtiers began whispering, "how the Princess haslost her looks! Do you suppose she ever was really beautiful or did wejust imagine it?"

And the neighboring kings when they heard this remarked softly amongthemselves:

"It's just as well we didn't hurry one of our sons into a marriage withthis young woman!"

[Illustration: _The Princess Kissed Its Coral Beak_]

Now there was a poor widow who lived near the bath-house. She had adaughter, a pretty young girl, who used to sit at the window and watchthe Princess as people came and told her their stories. 

"Mother, " the girl said one day, "every one in the world goes to thebath-house and I want to go, too!"

"Nonsense!" the mother said. "What story could you tell the Princess?"

"But everybody else goes and I don't see why I can't!"

"Well, my dear, " the mother promised, "you may just as soon as you seeor hear something strange. Talk no more about it now but go, fetch me apitcher of water from the town well. "

The girl obediently took an empty pitcher and went to the town well. Just as she had filled the pitcher she heard some one say:

"Mercy me, I fear I'll be late!"

She turned around and what do you think she saw? A rooster in woodenshoes with a basket under his wing!

"I fear I'll be late! I fear I'll be late!" the rooster kept repeatingas he hurried off making a funny little clatter with his wooden shoes. 

"How strange!" the girl thought to herself. "A rooster with woodenshoes! I'm sure the Princess would love to hear about him! I'll followhim and see what he does. "

He went to a garden where he filled his basket with freshvegetables--with onions and beans and garlic. Then he hurried home to alittle house. The girl slipped in after him and hid behind the door. 

"Thank goodness, I'm on time!" the rooster murmured. 

He put a big bowl on the table and filled it with milk. 

"There!" he said. "Now I'm ready for them!"

Presently twelve beautiful pigeons came flying in by the open door. Eleven of them dipped in the bowl of milk, their feather shirts opened, and out they stepped eleven handsome youths. But the Twelfth Pigeonperched disconsolately on the windowsill and remained a pigeon. Theeleven laughed at him and said:

"Poor fellow, your bride betrayed you, didn't she? So you have to remainshut up in your feather shirt while we go off and have a jolly time!"

"Yes, " the Twelfth Pigeon said, "she broke her promise and now she goeswandering up and down the world hunting for me. If she doesn't find me Ishall nevermore escape the feather shirt but shall have to fly aboutforever as a pigeon. But I know she will find me for she will neverstop until she does. And when she finds me, then the enchantment will bebroken forever and I can marry her!"

The eleven youths went laughing arm in arm out of the house and in a fewmoments the solitary Pigeon flew after them. Instantly the girl slippedout from behind the door and hurried home with her pitcher of water. Then she ran quickly across to the bath-house and all out of breath shecried to the Princess:

"O Princess, I have such a wonderful story to tell you all about arooster with wooden shoes and twelve pigeons only eleven of them are notpigeons but handsome young men and the twelfth one has to stay in hisfeather shirt because--"

At mention of the enchanted pigeons, the Princess turned pale. She heldup her hand and made the girl pause until she had her breath, then shequestioned her until she knew the whole story. 

"It must be my love!" the Princess thought to herself. "Thank God I havefound him at last!"

The next day at the same hour she went with the girl to the town welland when the rooster clattered by in his wooden shoes they followed himhome and slipping into the house they hid behind the door and waited. Presently twelve pigeons flew in. Eleven of them dipped in the milk andcame out handsome young men. The Twelfth sat disconsolately on thewindow sill and remained a pigeon. The eleven laughed at him and twittedhim with having had a bride that had betrayed him. Then the eleven wentaway laughing arm in arm. Before the Twelfth could fly after them, thePrincess ran out from behind the door and cried:

"My dear one, I have found you at last!"

The Pigeon flew into her hands and she took him and kissed his coralbeak and smoothed his gleaming plumage with her lips. Then she put himin the milk and the feather shirt opened and her own true love steppedout. 

She led him at once to her father and when the King found him welltrained in all the arts a prince should know he accepted him as hisfuture son-in-law and presented him to the people. 

So after all the Princess's mother was able to give her daughter thegorgeous wedding she had planned for years and years. Preparations werebegun at once but the Queen insisted on making such vast quantities oflittle round cakes and candied fruits and sweetmeats of all kinds thatit was three whole months before the wedding actually took place. Bythat time the roses were again blooming in the Princess's cheeks, hereyes were brighter than before, and her long shining hair was moregolden than ever. 

All the neighboring kings were invited to the wedding and when they sawthe bride they shook their heads sadly and said among themselves:

"Lost her looks indeed! What did people mean by saying such a thing?Why, she's the most beautiful princess in the world! What a pity shedidn't marry one of our sons!"

But when they met the Prince of her choice, they saw at once why thePrincess had fallen in love with him. 

"Any girl would!" they said. 

It was a big wedding, as I told you before, and the only guest presentwho was not a king or a queen or a royal personage of some sort was thepoor girl who saw the rooster with wooden shoes in the first place. TheQueen, of course, had wanted only royalty but the Princess declared thatthe poor girl was her dear friend and would have to be invited. So theQueen, when she saw that the Princess was set on having her own way, hadthe poor girl come to the palace before the wedding and decked her outin rich clothes until people were sure that she was some strangeprincess whom the bride had met on her travels. 

"My dear, " whispered the Princess as they sat down beside each other atthe wedding feast, "how beautiful you look!"

"But I'm not as beautiful as you!" the girl said. 

The Princess laughed. 

"Of course not! No one can be as beautiful as I am because I have thesecret of beauty!"

"Dear Princess, " the poor girl begged, "won't you tell me the secret ofbeauty?"

The Princess leaned over and whispered something in the poor girl's ear. 

It was only one word:

"Happiness!"

[Illustration]

THE LITTLE LAME FOX

[Illustration]

_The Story of the Youngest Brother Who Found the Magic Grape-Vine andMarried the Golden Maiden_

THE LITTLE LAME FOX

There was once a wealthy farmer who had three sons. The oldest was aselfish overbearing fellow. The second was a weak chap who always dideverything his brother suggested. The youngest whose name was Janko wasnot as bright and clever as his brothers but he was honest and, moreover, he had a good heart and in this world a good heart, you know, is more likely to bring its owner happiness than wicked brains. 

"That booby!" the oldest brother would say whenever he saw Janko. Andthe second would snicker and repeat the ugly word, "Booby!"

The father was proud of his three sons and happy to see them grow upstrong and healthy. 

"They're good boys, " he'd say to himself, "and I'm a fortunate father. "

Now there was one very curious thing about this farmer that nobodyunderstood. One of his eyes was always laughing and the other was alwaysweeping. 

"What's the matter with your father's eyes?" people used to ask thesons. 

The sons didn't know any more than any one else. One day they were inthe garden discussing the matter among themselves. 

"Why don't we just go and ask him?" Janko suggested. 

"If anybody is to ask him, I will!" declared the oldest brotherimportantly. 

So he went indoors to his father and said:

"Father, people are forever talking about your eyes. Now I wish youwould tell me why one of them is always laughing and the other alwaysweeping. "

"My eyes, indeed!" cried the farmer, and in a rage he snatched up aknife and hurled it straight at his son. The young man dodged aside andfled and the knife stuck in the door jamb. 

All out of breath the oldest brother returned to the others but ofcourse he was ashamed to tell them what had happened. So he said tothem:

"If you want to know what's the matter with father's eyes, you'll haveto ask him yourselves. "

So the second brother went in to the farmer and he had exactly the sameexperience. When he came out he gave his older brother a wink and saidto Janko:

"Now it is your turn, Booby. Father is waiting for you. "

So Janko went in to his father and said:

"You have told my brothers why one of your eyes is always laughing andthe other always weeping. Now please tell me for I, too, want to know. "

In a rage the farmer snatched up the knife again and lifted his arm tohurl it. But Janko stood perfectly still. Why should he turn and runaway as though he had done something wrong? He had only asked his fathera civil question and if his father did not wish to answer it, he couldtell him so. 

The farmer when he saw that the boy was not to be frightened smiled andlaid the knife aside. 

"Thank God, " he said, "I have one son who is not a coward! I have beenwaiting these many years to have my sons ask me this very question. Myright eye laughs because God has blessed me and made me rich and hasallowed my three sons to grow to manhood, strong and healthy. My lefteye weeps because I can never forget a Magic Grape-Vine which once grewin my garden. It used to give me a bucket of wine every hour of thetwenty-four! One night a thief came and stole my Magic Vine and I havenever heard of it since. Do you wonder that my left eye weeps at thememory of this wonderful Vine? Alas, the bucket of wine that used toflow out of it every hour of the day and night--I have never tasted itslike since!"

"Father, " Janko said, "dry your weeping eye! I and my brothers will goout into the world and find your Magic Grape-Vine wherever it ishidden!"

With that Janko ran out to his brothers and when they heard what he hadto say they laughed and called him, "Booby!" and asked him didn't hesuppose that they had already planned to do just this thing. Of coursethey hadn't, but they were so jealous and ill-natured that they couldn'tbear the thought of his being the first to suggest anything. 

"We mustn't lose any more time, " Janko said. 

"It doesn't matter how much time you lose, Mr. Booby! As for us we twoare going to start out to-morrow at sunrise. "

"But, brothers, " Janko begged, "please let me go, too!"

"No!" they told him shortly. "You can stay home and look after thefarm!"

But their father when he heard the discussion said, no, Janko was alsoto go as he was the bravest of them all. After that the brothers, because they didn't want their father to tell how they had been afraidand run away, had to agree. 

So the next morning early the three of them started out, each with awallet well-stocked with food. 

"How are we going to get rid of the Booby?" the second one whispered. 

"Trust me!" the oldest one whispered back with a wink. 

Presently they came to a crossroads where three roads branched. Now theoldest brother knew that after a short distance two of the roads cametogether again. So he motioned the second brother slyly that he was totake the middle road. Then he said:

"Brothers, let us part here and each take a different road. Do youagree?"

"Yes, " the other two said, "we agree. "

"Then suppose Janko take the left-hand road. "

"And I'll take the middle road, " the second cried. 

"And I, " the eldest said, "will take the one that's left. So farewell, brothers, and let us meet here in a year's time. "

"God bless us all, " Janko called out, "and grant that one of us may findour dear father's Magic Grape-Vine. "

The two older brothers of course met in a short time when their roadsjoined and they had a good laugh to think how they had outwitted theBooby. 

"Time enough to look for that old Grape-Vine when we've had a littlefun!" the eldest said. "Let us sit down here and eat a bite and thenpush on to the next village. There's an inn there where we can try ourluck at cards. "

So they sat down by the roadside, opened their wallets, and laid outsome bread and cheese. Just then a Little Lame Fox came limping up onthree feet, and whimpering and fawning it begged for something to eat. 

"Get out!" bawled the older brother and the second, picking up a handfulof stones, threw them at the Fox. 

The little animal shied and then came timidly back, again begging forsomething to eat. 

"Let's kill it!" cried one of the brothers. 

They both jumped up and tried to strike the little creature with theirsticks. The Fox limped off and they followed, hitting at it as they ranand always just missing it. It was so weak and lame that they expectedevery minute to overtake it and so kept on chasing it until it had ledthem pretty far into the woods. Then suddenly it disappeared and therewas nothing left for the brothers to do but make their way back to theroadside grumbling and cursing. In their absence some shepherd dogs hadfound their open wallets and eaten all their food. So now they reallyhad something to curse about. 

Janko meanwhile had been trudging along steadily on the third road. Atlast when he began to feel hungry, he sat down by the wayside and openedhis wallet. Instantly the same Little Lame Fox came limping up andwhimpered and fawned and begged for something to eat. 

"You poor little creature, " Janko said, "are you hungry?"

He held out his hand coaxingly and the animal gave it a timid sniff. 

"Of course I'll give you something to eat, " Janko said. "There's enoughfor both of us. "

With that he divided his bread and cheese and gave the Little Fox half. Then they ate together and the Little Fox allowed Janko to pat her head. 

When they finished eating the Fox sat up on her haunches and said:

"Now, Janko, tell me about yourself. Who are you and where are yougoing?"

The Fox seemed such a sensible little person that it didn't surpriseJanko in the least to have her sit up and talk. Janko's brothers wouldhave said that he hadn't sense enough to be surprised. But he had a goodheart, Janko had, and as you'll soon hear a good heart is a much betterguide for conduct than wicked brains. 

Janko answered the Fox simply and truthfully. He told about his fatherand his two brothers and about his father's weeping eye and the MagicGrape-Vine for which he and his brothers were gone in search. 

"You've been good to me, " the Little Fox said. "You've shared your breadwith me and that makes us friends. So from now on if you'll be a brotherto me, I'll be a little sister to you. "

Goodness knows Janko's own brothers weren't very good to him, but Jankounderstood what the Little Fox meant and he agreed. 

"Well then, brother, " the Fox said, "I know where that Grape-Vine is andI'm going to help you to get it. If you do just as I say I don't believeyou'll have any trouble. Now take hold of my tail and away we'll go. "

So Janko took hold of the Little Fox's tail and sure enough away theywent. Whether they sailed through the air or just ran fleetly along theground I don't know. But I do know that they went a great distance andthat when they stopped Janko didn't feel in the least tired orbreathless. 

"Now, my brother, " the Little Fox said, "listen carefully to what I tellyou. The king of this country has a wonderful garden. In the midst of ityour father's Grape-Vine is planted. We are close to the garden now. Itis protected by twelve watches each of which is composed of twelveguards. To get to the Grape-Vine you will have to pass them all. Now asyou approach each watch look carefully. If the eyes of all the guardsare open and staring straight at you, have no fear. They sleep withtheir eyes open and they won't see you. But if their eyes are closed, then be careful for when their eyes are closed they are awake and readyto see you. You will find the Grape-Vine in the very center of thegarden. Standing near it you will see two spades, a wooden spade and agolden spade. Take the wooden spade and dig up the Vine as quickly asyou can. Under no condition touch the golden spade. Now, Janko, do youunderstand?"

Yes, Janko thought he understood. He slipped into the garden and thefirst thing he saw were twelve fierce looking guards who were staring athim with great round eyes. He was much frightened until he rememberedthat the Little Fox had said that if their eyes were open they were fastasleep. So he picked up courage and walked straight by them and sureenough they didn't see him. He passed watch after watch in the same wayand at last reached the center of the garden. He saw the Grape-Vine atonce. There was no mistaking it for at that very moment it was pouringout wine of itself into a golden bucket. Near it were two spades, Jankoin great excitement snatched up the first that came to his hand andbegan to dig. Alas, it was the golden spade and as Janko drove it intothe earth it sent out a loud ringing sound that instantly woke theguards. They came running from all directions with their eyes tightlyclosed for now, of course, they were awake. They caught Janko anddragged him to the king to whom they said:

"A thief! A thief! We found him trying to steal your Magic Grape-Vine!"

"My Magic Grape-Vine!" thundered the king. "Young man, what do you meantrying to steal my Magic Grape-Vine?"

"Well, you see, " Janko answered simply, "the Grape-Vine really belongsto my father. It was stolen from him years ago and ever since then hisleft eye has wept over the loss of it. Give me the Vine, O king, for ifyou don't I shall have to come back and try again to steal it for itbelongs to my father and I have sworn to get it!"

The king frowned in thought and at last he said:

"I can't give away my precious Grape-Vine for nothing, young man, but Itell you what I'll do: I'll give it to you provided you get for me theGolden Apple-Tree that bears buds, blossoms, and golden fruit everytwenty-four hours. "

With that Janko was dismissed and turned out of the garden. 

The Little Fox was waiting for him and Janko had the shame of confessingthat he had forgotten the warning about the golden spade and had beencaught. 

"But the king says he will give me the Grape-Vine provided I get for himthe Golden Apple-Tree that bears buds, blossoms, and golden fruit everytwenty-four hours. "

"Well, brother, " the Little Fox said, "you were good to me, so I'll helpyou again. Take hold of my tail and away we'll go. "

Janko took hold of the Little Fox's tail and away they went a greaterdistance than before. In spite of going so quickly it took them a longtime but whether it was weeks or months I don't know. Whichever it waswhen they stopped Janko didn't feel in the least tired or breathless. 

"Now, brother, " the Little Fox said, "here we are in another countryclose to the king's garden where the Golden Apple-Tree grows. To reachit you will have to pass twenty-four watches of twelve guards each. Take care that you pass each guard as before when his eyes are wide openand staring straight at you for that means he is asleep. When you reachthe Golden Apple-Tree you will see two long poles on the ground--awooden pole and a golden pole. Take the wooden pole and beat down someof the golden fruit. Don't touch the golden pole. Remember!"

So Janko crept into the second garden and succeeded in passing all theguards of the twenty-four watches when their eyes were wide open andstaring straight at him. He reached the Golden Apple-Tree and saw atonce the two long poles that were lying near it on the ground. Nowwhether because he was excited or because he forgot what the Foxsaid--he had a good heart, Janko had, but he was a little carelesssometimes--I don't know. But I do know that instead of taking the woodenpole as the Fox had told him, he took the golden pole. At the firststroke of the golden pole against the golden branches of the tree, thegolden branches sent out a loud clear whistle that woke all the sleepingguards. Every last one of them came running to the Apple-Tree and in notime at all they had captured poor Janko and carried him to theirmaster, the king. 

"Trying to steal my Golden Apple-Tree, is he?" roared the king in agreat rage. "What do you want with my Golden Apple-Tree, young man?"

"Well, you see, " Janko answered simply, "I have to have the GoldenApple-Tree to exchange it for the Magic Grape-Vine that really belongsto my father. It was stolen from him years ago and ever since then hisleft eye has wept over the loss of it. Give me the Golden Apple-Tree, Oking, for if you don't I shall have to come back and try again to stealit. "

The king seemed impressed with Janko's words for after a moment he said:

"Janko, I can't give you the Golden Apple-Tree for nothing, but I tellyou what I'll do: I'll let you have it provided you get for me theGolden Horse that can race around the world in twenty-four hours. "

With that Janko was dismissed and turned out of the garden. 

As usual the Little Fox was waiting for him and again Janko had theshame of confessing that he had forgotten the warning about the goldenpole and had been caught. 

"But the king says he will give me the Golden Apple-Tree provided I gethim the Golden Horse that can race around the world in twenty-fourhours. I wonder, dear Little Fox, will you help me again?"

"Yes, brother, I will help you again for you were good to me. Take holdof my tail and away we'll go. "

So Janko took hold of the Little Fox's tail and away they went. How farthey went and how long they were gone I don't know, but it was a greatdistance and a long time. However they arrived without feeling in theleast tired or breathless. 

"Now, brother, " the Little Fox said, "this time listen carefully to whatI tell you. Here we are in another kingdom close to the king's ownstable where the Golden Horse is guarded by thirty-six watches of twelveguards each. When night comes you must slip into the stable and pass allthose guards when they are asleep with their eyes wide open and staringstraight at you. When you reach the Golden Horse you will see hangingbeside him a golden bridle and a common bridle made of hempen rope. Slipthe hempen bridle over the Horse's head and lead him quietly out of thestable. But mind you don't touch the golden bridle! This time don'tforget!"

Janko promised faithfully to remember what the Little Fox said and whennight came he crept into the stable and cautiously made his way throughthe sleeping guards. He reached at last the stall of the Golden Horse. It was the most beautiful horse in the world and the gleam of itsshining flanks was like sunshine in the dark stable. 

Janko stroked its golden mane and whispered softly into its ear. Thehorse responded to his touch and rubbed its muzzle against his shoulder. 

Janko reached over to take the hempen bridle and then he paused. "Itwould be an outrage, " he thought to himself, "to put a common rope onthis glorious creature!"

Just think of it! For the third time Janko forgot the Little Fox'swarning! I have no excuse to make for him. I don't see how he could haveforgotten a third time! But he did. He took the golden bridle instead ofthe hempen one and put it over the head of the Golden Horse. The Horseneighed and instantly all the sleeping guards awoke and came running tothe stall. They caught Janko, of course, and when morning broke carriedhim to their master, the king. 

He questioned Janko as the others had done and Janko answered himsimply:

"You see I have to have the Golden Horse, O king, to exchange it for theGolden Apple-Tree. And I have to have the Golden Apple-Tree to exchangeit for the Magic Grape-Vine that really belongs to my father. It wasstolen from him years ago and ever since then his left eye has wept overthe loss of it. Give me the Golden Horse, O king, for if you don't givehim to me I shall have to come back and try again to steal him. "

"But, Janko, " the king said, "I can't give you the Golden Horse fornothing! But I tell you what I'll do: I will give him to you providedyou get for me the Golden Maiden who has never seen the sun. "

With that Janko was dismissed and led out of the stable. 

Janko really was awfully ashamed this time when he had again to confessto the Little Fox that he had forgotten her warning and had touched thegolden bridle. 

"Janko! Janko!" the Little Fox said. "Where are your wits! Now whatshall we do?"

Then Janko told the Little Fox of the king's offer:

"He will give me the Golden Horse provided I get for him the GoldenMaiden who has never seen the sun. Dear Little Fox, will you help methis one time more? I know I am very stupid but I promise you faithfullythat this time I will not forget. "

"Of course, brother, " the Little Fox said, "I'll help you again. Butthis will have to be the last time. If you forget this time I won't beable to help you any more. Take hold of my tail and away we'll go. "

So for the fourth time Janko took hold of the Little Fox's tail and awaythey went. They went and they went--I can't tell you how far! But theyweren't tired when they arrived, they weren't even breathless. 

"Now, brother, " the Little Fox said, "listen carefully to what I tellyou. Here we are in another kingdom close to a great cavern where forsixteen years the Golden Maiden has been kept a prisoner under theenchantment of her wicked mother and never allowed to see the goldenlight of the sun. There are forty-eight chambers in the cavern and eachchamber is guarded by a watch of twelve guards. Steal softly througheach chamber when the eyes of all the guards are wide open and staringstraight at you. In the last chamber of all you will find the GoldenMaiden playing in her Golden Cradle. Over the Cradle stands a fearfulghost who will cry out to you to go away and threaten to kill you. Butdon't be afraid. It is only an empty ghost which the wicked mother hasplaced there to frighten men off from rescuing the Golden Maiden. Takethe Golden Maiden by the hand, put the Golden Cradle on your shoulder, and hurry back to me. But one thing: As you leave each chamber be sureto lock the door after you so that the guards when they wake cannotfollow you. "

Janko crept into the cavern and cautiously made his way from chamber tochamber through the wide-eyed guards. In the forty-eighth chamber hefound the Golden Maiden playing in her Golden Cradle. He ran to take herwhen a horrible creature rose above the Cradle and in hollow tonescried: "Back! Back! Back!" For a moment Janko was frightened, then heremembered that the awful creature was only an empty ghost. So he wentboldly up to the Golden Cradle and sure enough the ghost faded away. 

"You have come to rescue me, haven't you?" the Golden Maiden cried. 

She gave Janko her hand and he helped her to her feet. Then he put theGolden Cradle on his shoulder and together they hurried out from chamberto chamber. And I am happy to tell you that this time Janko rememberedthe Little Fox's warning and locked the door of every chamber as theyleft it. So they reached the upper world safely and found the Little Foxwaiting for them. 

"There's no time to lose, " the Little Fox said. "Put the Cradle acrossmy back, Janko, and take hold of my tail with one hand and give yourother hand to the Golden Maiden and away we'll go. "

Janko did as the Little Fox said and away they all three went. 

When they reached the stable of the Golden Horse, the Little Fox said:

"It doesn't seem right to give the Golden Maiden to the king of theGolden Horse unless she wants us to, does it?"

The Golden Maiden at once begged them to keep her. 

"Don't give me to the king of the Golden Horse!" she said. "I want tostay with Janko who has rescued me!"

"But unless I give up the Golden Maiden, " Janko asked, "how can I getthe Golden Horse?"

"Perhaps I can help you, " the Little Fox said. "Perhaps I can enchantmyself into looking like the Golden Maiden. "

With that the Little Fox leaped up in the air, turned this way and that, and lo! you might have thought her the Golden Maiden except that hereyes were still fox's eyes. 

"Now leave the Maiden outside here hidden in her Golden Cradle and takeme in to the master of the stable. Exchange me for the Golden Horse andmake off at once. Then pick up the Golden Maiden in her Golden Cradleand ride away and soon I'll join you. "

Janko did this very thing. He took in the fox maiden and exchanged herfor the Golden Horse and instantly rode off as the Little Fox had toldhim. 

The king of the stable at once called all his courtiers together andshowed them the fox maiden. 

"See, " he said, "this is the Golden Maiden who has never seen the sun!She is the most beautiful maiden in the world and she now belongs tome!"

The courtiers looked at her and admired her, but one of them a littlekeener than the others said:

"Yes, she's very beautiful and all that but look at her eyes. They don'tlook like maiden's eyes but like fox's eyes!"

Instantly at the word _fox_ the false maiden turned to a fox and wentscampering off. 

"See what you've done!" cried the king in a fury. "You have changed myGolden Maiden into a fox with your nonsense! You shall pay for this withyour life!" And he had him executed at once. 

The Little Fox meantime had caught up with Janko and the Golden Maidenand the Golden Horse. As they neared the garden of the king of theGolden Apple-Tree the Fox said:

"It would be a pity to give away the Golden Horse. Rightly it belongs tothe Golden Maiden and was taken from her by her wicked mother. "

"Don't give my Golden Horse away!" the Golden Maiden begged. 

"But how else can I get the Golden Apple-Tree?" Janko asked. 

"Perhaps I can help you, " the Little Fox said. "Perhaps I can enchantmyself into looking like the Golden Horse. "

With that the Little Fox leaped up in the air, turned this way and that, and lo! you might have thought her the Golden Horse except that her tailwas still a fox's tail. 

When they reached the garden of the Golden Apple-Tree, Janko left theGolden Horse and the Golden Maiden outside and took the fox horse in tothe king. 

The king was delighted and at once had his servants deliver to Janko theGolden Apple-Tree. 

When Janko was safely gone, the king called all his courtiers togetherand showed them the fox horse. 

"See my Golden Horse!" he said. "Isn't it the most beautiful horse inthe world!"

"It is! It is!" they all told him. 

But one courtier, a little keener than the rest, remarked:

"What a curious tail for a horse to have! It is like a fox's tail!"

At the word _fox_ the false horse changed back into a fox and wentscampering off. 

"See what you've done with your nonsense!" cried the king. "You havelost me my Golden Horse and now you shall lose your own life!" And heordered the courtier to be executed at once. 

The Fox soon caught up with the real Golden Horse and with Janko and theGolden Maiden who were holding in their arms the Golden Cradle and theGolden Apple-Tree. 

"It will never do to give up the Golden Apple-Tree, " the Fox said, "forit, too, rightly belongs to the Golden Maiden. I'll have to see again ifI can help you. "

So when they neared the garden of the Magic Grape-Vine, the Little Foxleaped in the air, turned this way; and that, and lo! you might havethought her the Golden Apple-Tree except that her fruit instead of beinground was long and pointed like a fox's head. 

[Illustration: _The Golden Maiden, the Farmer and the Empty Ghost_]

Janko gave the king the fox tree and received in return the MagicGrape-Vine that really belonged to his father and not to the king atall. He hurried back to the Golden Maiden who was waiting for him withthe Golden Horse and the Golden Apple-Tree and the Golden Cradle and offthey all went. 

The king was delighted with his fox tree and called his courtiers tocome and admire it. 

"Beautiful! Beautiful!" they all said, and one of them examining thefruit carefully remarked:

"But see these apples! They are not round like apples but long andpointed like a fox's head!"

He had no sooner said the word _fox_ than the tree turned into a fox andwent scampering off. 

"See what you've done with your nonsense!" cried the king. "You havelost me my Golden Apple-Tree and now I shall lose you your head!" And heordered the courtier to be executed at once. 

When the Fox caught up with the Golden Horse, she said to Janko:

"Now, my brother, it is time for us to part. You have the MagicGrape-Vine and soon your father's left eye will no longer weep. Besides, you are carrying home the Golden Maiden on her own Golden Horse and withher Golden Apple-Tree and her Golden Cradle. God has blessed you in yourundertaking and will continue to bless you so long as you are good andkind. Farewell now and think sometimes of your sister, the Little LameFox. "

Janko wept at thought of parting with the Little Fox and the Little Foxpromised him that she would help him again if ever he needed her. Thenshe turned and trotted off into the woods and Janko rode homewardswithout her. 

When he reached the crossroads where he had parted from his brothersjust one year before he came upon a crowd of angry farmers belaboringtwo men who had been robbing their barns. Janko found that the two menwere his own brothers who since he had seen them had fallen into badcompany, lost all their money at cards, and had finally taken tothieving. Janko paid the farmers for the damage his brothers had donethem and took his brothers home with him. 

You can imagine the old farmer's happiness at seeing all three of hissons after a whole year's absence. It was even greater than his delightat getting back his Magic Grape-Vine. But that doesn't mean that hewasn't delighted to have back the Grape-Vine. At the first cup of winethat the Vine poured him, his left eye ceased weeping and it was neverknown to weep again. 

He was delighted, too, at having the Golden Maiden in the house andpleased when people came from far and near to see the Maiden's GoldenHorse and Golden Apple-Tree and Golden Cradle. He even began to hopethat she might marry one of his sons before some prince came along andsnatched her away. He thought the Maiden would make a wonderful bridefor the oldest. Unfortunately Janko had not told him what reprobates thetwo older sons were, and the older brothers themselves had given theirfather to understand that it was really they who had found the MagicGrape-Vine and rescued the Golden Maiden. You see instead of beinggrateful to Janko for having saved their necks from the angry farmers, they hated him worse than ever. 

"That Booby!" the older brother growled. "Just because he took theleft-hand road and found the Magic Grape-Vine he thinks himself so muchbetter than us! It was just luck--that's all it was! Any one who tookthe left-hand road could have found the old Grape-Vine!"

"And do you notice the way the Golden Maiden always smiles on him?" theother said. "The first thing we know she'll be marrying him and givinghim the Golden Horse and the Golden Apple-Tree and the Golden Cradle!Then where will we be?"

"Brother, " whispered the first, "let us make away with him!"

So they plotted together and they asked Janko to go hunting with themthe next day. Suspecting nothing Janko went. When they came to a deepwell in the woods they asked Janko to reach them a cup of water. As hestooped over into the well they pushed him all the way in and drownedhim. That's the kind of brothers they were! Then they went home andpretended to be surprised that Janko hadn't come home before them. 

He didn't come that night or the next day either, and the Golden Maidengrew sad and quiet, the Magic Grape-Vine no longer poured out itsprecious wine every hour, the Golden Apple-Tree stopped putting forthits buds and blossoms and golden fruit, and the Golden Horse languishedand drooped its lovely head. 

"Everything goes wrong when Janko isn't here!" the farmer said. "Wherecan he be?"

On the third day the Golden Maiden suddenly began to laugh and sing, theMagic Grape-Vine again poured forth a bucket of precious wine everyhour, the Golden Apple-Tree put out buds and blossoms and golden fruit, and the Golden Horse lifted its beautiful head and neighed loud andhappily. And do you know why? Because the Little Lame Fox had justrescued Janko and brought him back to life! She pulled him out of thewell, and rolled him about on the ground, and worked over him until allthe water was emptied from his lungs and he was able to breathe again. 

Then as he opened his eyes the Little Fox said:

"I told you, brother, I'd come again if you needed my help. I was justin time for a little longer and I could never have brought you back tolife. And now, brother, the enchantment that held me is broken and Ineed no longer go about as a Little Lame Fox. My mother was a wickedwitch and she enchanted me because she was angry with me for saving aman whom she wanted to kill. So she turned me into a little fox and shesaid I should have to remain a fox forever unless I succeeded inbringing back to life my benefactor. You are my benefactor, Janko, foryou shared your bread and cheese with me the first time we met, and nowI have been able to bring you back to life. "

As she spoke she changed into a lovely maiden. 

"Good-by, Janko, " she said. "Go home now and tell your father how yourevil brothers have treated you. Unless you do this they will plotagainst the Golden Maiden and you may not be able to protect her. "

So Janko and the maiden kissed each other as a brother and sister mightand the maiden went her way and Janko returned to his father's house. 

The Golden Maiden and the old farmer were not in the least surprised tosee him for things were so happy again that they just knew it must bebecause Janko was coming back. But his two brothers when they caughtsight of him alive and well were so frightened that they took to theirheels and ran off as fast as they could go and what's more they've nevershown themselves since. And good riddance, too, I say, for they werewicked evil fellows and would only have injured Janko further if theycould. 

When Janko told his father all the wicked things they had done, the oldfarmer could scarcely believe his ears. 

"And to think, " he said, "I had been hoping the Golden Maiden wouldmarry one of them! Mercy me! Mercy me!"

"But, father, " the Golden Maiden said--she called him _father_ now andit pleased him mightily; "father, I should rather marry Janko!"

"Marry Janko!" the farmer cried. "Why, my dear, Janko is a stupid lad, not nearly so clever as his two brothers!"

"I don't care if he is stupid. He's got a good heart and that's morethan the other two have. And besides that he's got a brave heart for herescued me from the dark cavern and he faced the awful ghost that stoodover my Golden Cradle. Why, father, I'd rather marry Janko than anyprince in the world!"

You can imagine Janko's feelings when he heard this!

"I'd feel like a prince if you did marry me, dear Golden One!" he cried. 

Well, she did marry him, and sure enough he did feel like a prince. Whatprince, I'd like to know, had a lovelier bride? None! And was there anyprince in the world whose bride brought him greater riches than theGolden Apple-Tree, the Golden Horse, and Golden Cradle? No, not one! Andfurthermore the farmer promised that, when he died, he would leave himthe Magic Grape-Vine. 

So Janko lived happy and prosperous. And it all came about through hishaving a good honest heart. 

[Illustration]

THE ENCHANTED PEAFOWL

[Illustration]

_The Story of the Golden Apples, the Wicked Dragon, and the MagicHorse_

THE ENCHANTED PEAFOWL

_Have you ever heard the story of the Peafowl who became a Queen and ofthe Tsar's Youngest Son who married her? Well, here it is:_

There was once a Tsar who took great delight in his garden. Everymorning you could see him bending over his flowers or picking the fruitof his favorite tree. This was an apple-tree that had the magic propertyof bearing buds, blossoms, and golden fruit every twenty-four hours. Itwas known as the golden apple-tree. In the morning the first thing whenhe woke up the Tsar would look out his bedroom window to see that allwas well with his beloved tree. 

One morning when as usual he looked out he was grieved to see that thetree had been stripped of all the golden fruit which had ripened duringthe night. 

"Who has stolen my golden apples?" he cried. 

The palace guards looked everywhere for some trace of the thief butfound nothing. 

The next morning the same thing had happened and every morningthereafter when the Tsar looked out of his bedroom window he saw thatthe tree had again been stripped of its golden fruit. 

He called his three sons to him and said:

"Is it seemly that a Tsar who has three able-bodied sons should berobbed night after night of his golden apples? Are you willing that thisshould happen and you do nothing about it?"

The eldest son who was a braggart said:

"My father, you need say no more. I myself will watch to-night and whenthe thief appears I will overpower him and bring him to you. "

So the eldest son watched that night, standing on guard under theapple-tree and leaning against its trunk. 

As midnight approached his eyes grew heavy and he fell asleep. While heslept the golden apples ripened and were stolen and the next morning, asusual, the branches were bare. 

The second son who was a crafty youth laughed at his brother and said:

"To-night I will watch. I will pretend to be asleep and when the thiefappears I will jump upon him and overpower him. "

So when night came the second son went on guard under the tree and inorder to deceive the thief he lay down on the ground and closed hiseyes. At first he stayed wide awake but as the hours dragged by he grewtired and then, because he was in such a comfortable position, he toofell soundly asleep. Midnight came and the apples ripened but the nextmorning, when the second prince awoke, the tree had again been strippedof its golden fruit. 

The Tsar's Youngest Son now said:

"Father, let me go on guard to-night. "

His brothers jeered and the Tsar shook his head. 

"Nay, nay, my boy, why should you succeed where your older brothers havefailed? It is God's will that my golden apples should be stolen and Imust submit. "

But the Youngest Son insisted that he, too, be given a chance to capturethe thief and at last the Tsar consented. 

"I will sleep soundly the first part of the night, " the Youngest Princethought to himself, "and with God's help wake up at midnight. "

As soon as it was dark he had his bed carried outdoors and placed underthe apple-tree. Then after commending his undertaking to God he lay downand fell soundly to sleep. Just before midnight he awoke. The appleshad ripened and were shining among the leaves like golden lanterns. 

On the stroke of midnight there was a whirr of wings and nine beautifulpeafowl came flying down from the sky. Eight of them settled on thebranches of the apple-tree and began eating the golden fruit. The ninthalighted beside the Young Prince and as she touched the ground changedinto a lovely maiden. 

She was so beautiful and gentle that the Young Prince fell madly in lovewith her and at once began wooing her with kisses and caresses. Sheresponded to his love and they spent the night together in greathappiness. 

At the first streak of dawn she jumped up, saying:

"My dear one, I must leave you now!"

"But you will come again, won't you?" the Prince asked. 

"Yes, " she promised him. "To-night. "

Suddenly the Prince remembered the golden apples. The peafowl in thetree were about to eat the last of them. 

"Can't you make them leave just one apple for my father?" the Princebegged. 

The maiden spoke to the birds and they flew down with two of the goldenapples, one for the Tsar and one for the Prince himself. 

Then the maiden lifted her arms above her head, changed into a peafowl, and with the other eight flew off into the morning sky. 

The Prince carried the two apples to his father and the Tsar was sodelighted that he forgot to ask the Prince the particulars of hisadventure. 

The next night the Prince again slept under the apple-tree and awokejust before midnight to hear the whirr of wings and see the nine peafowlcome flying down from the sky. Eight of them settled on the branches ofthe apple-tree and the ninth, as before, alighted beside him and as shetouched the earth changed into the lovely maiden of his heart. Againthey passed the night together in great happiness and in the early dawnbefore she flew away the maiden gave him the last two of the goldenapples. 

This went on night after night until the Prince's two elder brotherswere mad with jealousy and consumed with curiosity to know what happenedevery night under the apple-tree. At last they went to an evil old womanand bribed her to spy on the Young Prince. 

"Find out what happens every night at the apple-tree, " they told her, "and we will reward you richly. "

So the evil old woman hid herself near the apple-tree and that nightwhen the prince fell asleep she crept under his bed. Midnight came andshe heard the whirr of wings and presently she saw the white feet of alovely maiden touch the ground and she heard the prince say: "My love, is it you?"

Then as the Prince and the maiden began kissing each other andexchanging vows of love very slowly and cautiously she reached up herhand from under the bed and groped around until she felt the maiden'shair. Then with a scissors she snipped off a lock. 

"Oh!" the maiden cried in terror. She jumped up, lifted her arms aboveher head, changed into a peafowl, and without another word flew off withthe other eight and vanished in the sky. 

In a fury the Prince searched about to see what had frightened his lovedone. He found the old woman under the bed and dragging her out by thehair he struck her dead with his sword. And good riddance it was, too, for she was an evil old thing and only caused mischief in the world. 

But putting the evil old woman out of the way did not, alas, bring backthe lovely maiden. The Prince waited for her the next night and the nextand many following nights but she nevermore returned. 

The magic apple-tree of course was no longer robbed of its golden fruit, so the Tsar was happy once again and never tired of praising the valorof his youngest son. But as for the prince, in spite of his father'spraise he grew sadder and sadder. 

Finally he went to the Tsar and said:

"Father, I have lost the maiden whom I love and life without her is notworth the living. Unless I go out in the world and find her I shalldie. "

The Tsar tried to dissuade him but when he could not he mounted him on afine horse, gave him a serving man to accompany him, and sent him offwith his blessing. 

The Prince and his man wandered hither and thither over the worldinquiring everywhere for news of nine peafowl one of whom was a lovelymaiden. They came at last to a lake on the shore of which lived an uglyold woman with an only daughter. 

"Nine peafowl, " she repeated, "and one of them a lovely maiden! You mustmean the nine sisters, the enchanted princesses, who fly about aspeafowl. They come here every morning to bathe in the lake. What can youwant with them?"

The Prince told the old woman that one of them was his love and thatunless he married her he would die. 

"Die, indeed!" scoffed the old woman. "That's no way for a handsomeyoung man to talk! I'll tell you what you ought to do: give up thoughtof this peafowl princess and marry my daughter. Then I'll make you heirto all my riches. "

She called out her daughter who was as ugly as herself and cross andill-natured in the bargain. Just one look at her and the Prince saidfirmly:

"No! If I can't marry my own dear love I won't marry any one!"

"Very well!" said the old woman shortly. 

When the Prince's back was turned she called the serving man aside andwhispered:

"Will you do what I tell you if I pay you well?"

The serving man who was a mean greedy fellow nodded his head and the oldwoman handed him a small bellows. 

"Hide this in your shirt, " she told him, "and don't let your master seeit. Then to-morrow morning when you go down to the lake with him to seethe nine peafowl slip it out and blow it on the back of his neck. Dothis and I'll give you a golden ducat. "

The serving man took the bellows and did as the old woman directed. Thenext morning down at the lake just as the nine peafowl came flying intosight he crept up behind the Prince and blew the bellows on the back ofhis neck. Instantly sleep overcame the Prince. His eyes closed, his headdrooped, and the reins fell from his hands. 

Eight of the peafowl alighted on the water's edge, changed into lovelymaidens and went bathing in the lake, but the ninth flew straight downto the Prince, fluttered her wings in his face and uttering sad criestried hard to arouse him. 

The eight finished their baths, changed back into birds, and callingtheir sister they all flew off together. Then and not till then did thePrince awaken. 

"Ah!" he cried, "how could I have fallen asleep just when the peafowlappeared? Where are they now? Are they gone?"

"Yes, " his man told him, "they're gone. Eight of them changed intolovely maidens and went bathing in the lake but the ninth flutteredabout your head and tried in every way to arouse you. I tried to arouseyou, too, but you kept on sleeping. "

"Strange!" thought the Prince. "How could I have fallen asleep at such atime? I'll have to try again to-morrow morning. "

The next morning the same thing happened. The treacherous serving managain blew the bellows on the back of the Prince's neck and instantlythe Prince sank into a deep sleep from which the ninth peafowl wasunable to arouse him. 

As she rose to join her sisters she said to the serving man:

"When your master awakens tell him that to-morrow is the last day weshall come here to bathe in the lake. "

The peafowl were no sooner gone than the Prince rubbed his eyes andlooked about. 

"What! Where are they? Have I been asleep again?"

The serving man pretended to be deeply grieved. 

"I tried hard to awaken you, master, but I couldn't. The ninth peafowlas she flew away said to tell you that to-morrow is the last day they'llcome to the lake. "

The next day as the Prince waited for the appearance of the nine peafowlhe galloped madly along the shore of the lake hoping in this way to wardoff the strange sleep. But the moment the nine peafowl appeared in thesky he was so delighted that he drew rein and the treacherous servingman was able to slip up behind him and blow the magic bellows on hisneck. So again he slept soundly while the ninth peafowl fluttered abouthis head and tried vainly to arouse him. 

As she was flying away she said to the serving man:

"Tell your master that now he will never find me unless he strikes offthe head from the nail. "

When the Prince awoke the serving man delivered this message. 

"What can she mean?" the Prince said. 

He looked hard at the serving man and something in the fellow'sappearance made him suspect treachery. 

"You know more than you're telling me!" the Prince cried, and taking thecowardly fellow by the throat he shook him and choked him until he hadgot the truth out of him. 

"Ha!" cried the Prince. "Now I understand! You are the nail of which mydear love warns me!"

The fellow whined and begged for mercy but the Prince with one blow ofhis sword struck off his head. Then, leaving the body where it fell forthe old woman to bury, he mounted his horse and again set forth on hisquest. 

Everywhere he went he made inquiries about the nine enchanted peafowland everywhere people shook their heads and said they had never heard ofthem. At last high up in a wild mountain he found an old hermit whoknew all about them. 

"Ah, " he said, "you mean the nine princesses. Eight of them have brokenthe enchantment that held them and are now happily married. The ninthawaits you. She is living in the royal palace of a beautiful city thatlies three days' journey to the north of this mountain. When you findher, if you do just as she says she, too, will soon be free of allenchantment. Then she will be made queen. "

The Prince thanked the hermit and rode on. After three days he came tothe city of which the hermit had told him. He made his way to the palaceand into the Princess's presence. Sure enough the Princess was his owndear love. She received him with joy, promised soon to marry him, andgave over to him the keys of the palace. 

"You shall now be master here, " she told him, "to go where you like anddo as you like. There is only one thing that you must not do, only oneplace where you must not go. Under the palace are twelve cellars. Hereare the keys to them all. Go into eleven of them whenever you will butyou must never open the door of the twelfth one. If you do a heavymisfortune may fall upon both of us. "

One day while the Princess was walking in the garden, the young Princethought he would go through the cellars. So, taking the keys, heunlocked the cellars one after another until he had seen eleven of them. Then he stood before the door of the twelfth wondering why the Princesshad warned him not to open it. 

"I'll open it just a little, " he thought to himself. "If there'ssomething inside that tries to get out, I'll close it quickly. "

So he took the twelfth key, unlocked the twelfth door, and peeped insidethe twelfth cellar. It was empty except for one huge cask with an openbunghole. 

"I don't see anything in here to be afraid of, " he said. 

Just then he heard a groan from inside the cask and a voice called outin a begging, whining tone:

"A cup of water, brother! A cup of water! I am dying of thirst!"

Now the Prince thought to himself that it was a terrible thing for anyliving creature to be dying of thirst. So he hurried out, got a cup ofwater, and poured it into the open bunghole. Instantly one of the threeiron hoops that bound the cask burst asunder and the voice inside thecask said:

"Thank you, brother! Thank you! Now give me another cup! I am dying ofthirst!"

So the Prince poured in a second cup and the second iron hoop snappedapart and when the voice still begged for more water he poured in athird cup. The third hoop broke, the staves of the cask fell in, and ahorrid dragon sprang out. Before the Prince could move, he had flownthrough the door of the twelfth cellar into the eleventh cellar, theninto the tenth cellar, the ninth cellar, the eight cellar, the seventhcellar, the sixth, the fifth, the fourth, the third, the second, thefirst, and so out into the garden. The Prince reached the garden just intime to see the monster overpower the Princess. 

"Alas, my dear one, what have you done?" cried the poor Princess as thedragon carried her off. "The enchantment would soon have been broken andI could have married you if only you had not gone into the twelfthcellar!"

Heartbroken at what had happened, the Prince mounted his horse andstarted off in pursuit of the dragon. 

"I must do what I can to rescue my loved one, " he said, "even if itcosts me my life. "

He rode many days until he came to the castle of the dragon. The dragonwas out and the Princess received him with tears of joy. 

"Come, " he said to her, "let us escape before the dragon returns. "

The Princess sighed and shook her head. 

"How, my loved one, can we escape? The dragon rides a magic horse andhowever fast we go he will be able to overtake us. "

But the Prince insisted that they make the attempt. So she mounted withhim and off they went. 

When the dragon arrived home and found her gone, he laughed a brutallaugh and said to his horse:

"I suppose that foolish young Prince has been here and is trying tocarry her off. Shall we start after them now or wait till we've had oursupper?"

"We might as well eat, " the horse said, "for we'll overtake themanyway. "

So they both ate and then the dragon mounted the magic horse and in notime at all they had overtaken the fugitives. 

"I ought to tear you to pieces, " the dragon said to the Prince, "but Iwon't this time because you gave me a cup of water. However, I warn younot to try this foolishness again!"

With that he clutched the poor weeping Princess in his scaly arms andcarried her back to the castle. 

What was the Prince to do now? He tried to plan some other way ofrescuing the Princess but he could think of none. In spite of thedragon's threat he went back the next day and tried the same thingagain. Again the dragon overtook him and snatched back the Princess. 

"I have spared you one time, " he said to the Prince, "and I will spareyou this one time more for the sake of the water you gave me. But I warnyou if you come again I will tear you to pieces. "

But what man worthy the name will accept such a warning when the safetyand happiness of his loved one is concerned? The next day while thedragon was out the Prince again returned to the castle. 

"It is plain, " he said to the Princess, "that we can never escape untilwe, too, get a magic horse. We must find out where the dragon got his. To-night when he comes home, speak him fair and caress his head and whenhe is in fine humor ask him about his horse--what kind of a horse it isand where he got it. Then I will come back to-morrow at this same hourand you can tell me. "

So that night when the dragon came home the Princess allowed him to puthis head in her lap and she scratched him softly behind the ears andpetted him until he was purring like a giant cat. 

"Urrh! Urrh! Urrh!" purred the dragon. "How happy we are here, just youand I! What a foolish young man that Prince of yours is to think I'd lethim carry you off! Urrh! Urrh! Urrh!"

"Yes, " the Princess agreed, "he is foolish or he would never suppose hishorse could outrace yours. "

"Urrh! Urrh!" the dragon purred. "You're right! He seems to think myhorse is an ordinary horse. Why, I got my horse from the Old Woman ofthe Mountain and the only other horse in the world that can outstrip himis another horse that the Old Woman still has. The Prince would have ahard time getting him!"

The Princess still scratching the dragon behind his ears, just where heloved it most, asked softly:

"Why?"

"Urrh! Urrh! Urrh! Because the Old Woman will never give that horse awayuntil a man comes along who is able to guard for three nights insuccession the Old Woman's mare and foal. Any one who attempts this andfails she kills. But even if a man were to succeed he would never getthe right horse for the old witch would palm off another on him. Urrh!Urrh! Urrh! Oh, that feels good, my dear!"

"How would she do that?" the Princess asked. 

"Urrh! Urrh! Urrh! You see she says to every man who undertakes to guardthe mare: 'If you succeed you may have any horse in my stable. ' Then sheshows him twelve beautiful stallions with shiny coats, but she doesn'tshow him a scrawny miserable looking beast that lies neglected on thedung heap. Yet this is the magic horse and brother to mine. "

Now the Princess knew all she needed to know and the next day when thePrince came she told him what the dragon had said. So the Prince at onceset out to find the Old Woman of the Mountain. 

He traveled three days over waste places and through strange lands. Onthe first day as he was riding along the shores of a lake he heard alittle voice crying out:

"Help me, brother, help me and--who knows?--some day I may help you!"

The Prince looked down and saw a fish that was floundering on the sand. He dismounted to get the fish and throw it back into the water. 

"Take one of my scales, " the fish said. "Then if ever you need my helpjust rub the scale. "

So the Prince, before he threw the fish into the lake, scraped off ascale and tied it in a corner of his handkerchief. Then he rode on. 

The second day a fox that had been caught in a trap called out to him:

"Help me, brother, help me and--who knows?--some day I may help you!"

The Prince opened the trap and the fox, before it limped away, gave thePrince one of its hairs and said:

"If ever you need me, rub this hair. "

The third day he met a raven that had fallen on a thorn and was pinnedto the ground. 

"Help me, brother, help me!" the raven begged, "and--who knows?--someday I may help you!"

The Prince lifted the raven off the thorn and the raven, before it flewaway, gave the Prince one of its feathers saying:

"If ever you need me, rub this feather. "

So the Prince reached the house of the Old Woman of the Mountain withthe fish's scale, the fox's hair, and the raven's feather each safelytied in a corner of his handkerchief. 

The Old Woman of the Mountain was an ugly old witch with a long nosethat hooked down and a long chin that hooked up. 

"Ha! Ha!" she cackled when she saw the Prince. "Another one that wantsservice with the Old Woman, eh?"

"Yes, " said the Prince. 

"You know the conditions?" the Old Woman said. "Guard my mare and herfoal for three nights in succession and you may have any horse in mystable. But if she escapes you, then your head is mine and I'll stick itup there as a warning to other rash young men. "

The Old Woman pointed to a high picket fence that surrounded thecourtyard. On every picket but one there was a grinning human skull. ThePrince looked and the only picket that had no skull called out:

"I want my skull, granny! I want my skull!"

The Old Woman gave a wicked laugh. 

"You see, " she said, "we were expecting you!"

When night fell the Prince led out the mare and her foal to a grassymeadow. To make sure that she would not escape him, he mounted her. Midnight came and he must have fallen asleep for suddenly he awoke tofind himself astride a rail with an empty bridle in his hand. In despairhe looked in all directions. At one end of the meadow was a pond. 

"She may have gone there to drink, " he said to himself. 

At the pond he saw a hoofprint. 

[Illustration: _The Old Woman of the Mountain and the Wonder Horse_]

"Ah, " he thought, "if my fish were here, it could tell me. "

He untied the corner of the handkerchief that had the fish scale, rubbedthe scale gently, and at once a little voice called out from the water:

"What is it, brother? Can I help you?"

"Can you tell me what has become of the Old Woman's mare and foal?"

"Aye, brother, that I can! She and the foal are turned into fish and aredown here in the water hiding amongst us. Strike the water three timeswith the bridle and say: 'Mare of the Old Woman, come out!' That willbring her!"

The Prince did this. There was a commotion in the water, a big fish anda little fish leaped high in the air, fell on shore, and instantlychanged to mare and foal. When morning came the Prince drove them backto the Old Woman. 

She grinned and pretended to be pleased but, when she had the mare alonein the stable, the Prince heard her beating the poor creature andsaying:

"Why didn't you do as I told you and hide among the fishes?"

"I did, " whinnied the mare, "but the fishes are his friends and he foundme!"

"To-night, " the Old Woman snarled, "hide among the foxes and this timedon't let him find you! Do you hear me? The foxes!"

The Prince remembered this and the second night when he awoke to findhimself again sitting astride a rail and holding an empty bridle in hishand, he untied the second corner of his handkerchief, took out thefox's hair, and rubbed it gently. 

Instantly he heard a little bark and the fox's voice said:

"What is it, brother? Can I help you?"

"Can you tell me, " the Prince asked, "what has become of the Old Woman'smare and foal?"

"Aye, brother, that I can! She and the foal are turned into foxes andare over in yonder woods now hiding among my people. Strike the earththree times with the bridle and say: 'Mare of the Old Woman, come back!'That will bring her!"

The Prince did this and instantly two foxes, a vixen and a cub, cametrotting out of the woods and when they reached the Prince they changedback to mare and foal. 

In the morning the Prince drove them home to the Old Woman. As beforeshe grinned and pretended to be pleased but when she had the mare alonein the stable the Prince heard her giving the poor creature anotherbeating and saying:

"Why didn't you do as I told you and hide among the foxes?"

"I did, " whinnied the mare, "but the foxes are his friends, too, and hefound me!"

"To-night, " the Old Woman ordered, "hide among the ravens and this timedon't let him find you!"

The third night the Prince tried hard to stay awake but sleep againovercame him and when he woke he found himself for the third timesitting astride a rail and holding the empty bridle in his hand. But heremembered the Old Woman's words and at once opened the third corner ofhis handkerchief and taking out the raven's feather rubbed it gently. 

There was a flutter of wings and a raven's hoarse voice said:

"Caw! Caw! What is it, brother? Can I help you?"

"Can you tell me what has become of the Old Woman's mare and foal?"

"Aye, brother, that I can! She and the foal are turned into ravens andare perched in yonder tall fir tree hiding among my folk. Strike thetrunk of the tree three times with your bridle and say: 'Mare of theOld Woman, come down!' That will bring her!"

The Prince went over to the fir tree, struck it three times with thebridle and said:

"Mare of the Old Woman, come down!"

Instantly two ravens, a big one and a fledgling, fluttered to earth andchanged to mare and foal. So when morning came the Prince was able todrive them back to the Old Woman and claim his reward. 

The Old Woman was angry enough to kill him but she pretended to bepleased and she smiled and grinned and she patted the Prince on the armand said:

"Aye, my son, but you are a hero! You have won the reward and you areworthy of it. Choose now the finest horse in my stable. It is yours. "

She drove the twelve handsome stallions out into the courtyard and urgedthem on the Prince one after the other. But at each the Prince shook hishead. 

"I am only a poor adventurer, " he said. "Such horses as these are toofine for me. Give me rather that poor mangy creature that lies overyonder on the dung heap. That is the one I choose. "

Then the Old Woman fell into an awful rage and shook and chattered andbegged the Prince not to take that horse. 

"It would shame me, " she said, "to have you ride off on that poor beastwhich is half dead already! No, no, my son, you mustn't take him!"

"But that's the one I'm going to take, " the Prince said firmly, "thatand none other!" He drew his sword and lifted it threateningly. "I havewon whatever horse I choose and now, Old Woman, if you do not keep yourbargain I shall strike you dead with this sword and stick up yourgrinning skull on that empty picket!"

At that the empty picket began to shout:

"I want my skull! I want my skull!"

When the Old Woman of the Mountain saw that the Prince knew what he wasabout, she gave up trying to deceive him and let him lead off the horsehe wanted. So the Prince walked away dragging the poor mangy creatureafter him. When he was out of sight of the Old Woman's house, he turnedto the horse and began rubbing down his rough coat and patting hiswobbly legs. 

"Now, my beauty, " he said, "we'll see what you're made of!"

Under his hand the mangy beast changed to a glorious animal--one ofthose wonder horses of the olden days that rise on the wind and gallopwith the clouds. Soon his coat shone like burnished gold and his tailand mane streamed out like flames of fire. 

"Ah, my master, " the horse said, "I have been waiting for you this manya day! We shall have glorious adventures together!"

Then the Prince mounted him and he rose on the wind and went so swiftlythat he covered in three minutes all the distance that it had taken thePrince three days to go on an ordinary horse. Whiff! and there they wereat the dragon's castle and there was the Princess running out to welcomethem. 

"Now, my dear one, " the Prince said, lifting the Princess up in front ofhim, "this time the dragon will not overtake us!"

The wonder horse rose on the wind and off they went. 

When the dragon got home and found that the Princess had fled again, hesaid to his horse:

"Shall we follow her at once or shall we eat supper first?"

"It's all one what we do, " the horse said, "for we shall never overtakeher. "

At that the dragon leaped upon his horse and, mounting on the wind, started off in hot pursuit. Presently they caught sight of the otherhorse carrying the Prince and the Princess but, try as he would, thedragon's horse could not overtake the other. The dragon beat his horseunmercifully and dug his sharp claws into the horse's tender flanksuntil the horse in agony called out to the Prince's horse:

"Hold, brother, hold! Let me overtake you or this monster will kill mewith his cruelty!"

"Why do you carry such a monster?" the Prince's horse called back. "Throw him from you and be rid of him forever!"

At that the dragon's horse reared suddenly and the dragon, losing hisbalance, fell and was dashed to pieces on the rocks below. 

And that was the end of that dragon!

Then the Princess wept but her tears were tears of joy for she knew nowthat the enchantment that had bound her was broken forever. Never againwould she be changed into a peafowl at the whim of a wicked dragon, never again be separated from her loved one. Presently she mounted thedragon's horse and together she and the Prince returned to the beautifulcity. The people came out to meet them and when they heard of thedragon's death a holiday was proclaimed and amidst music and dancing andmerrymaking the Princess married the Prince. Then she was made Queen ofthat beautiful city and the Prince was made King. They ruled long andwisely and better than that they lived happily for they loved eachother. 

_So now you know the story of the Peafowl who became a Queen and of theTsar's Youngest Son who married her. _

[Illustration]

THE DRAGON'S STRENGTH

[Illustration]

_The Story of the Youngest Prince Who Killed the Sparrow_

THE DRAGON'S STRENGTH

There was once a King who had three sons. One day the oldest son wenthunting and when night fell his huntsmen came riding home without him. 

"Where is the prince?" the King asked. 

"Isn't he here?" the huntsmen said. "He left us in midafternoon chasinga hare near the Old Mill up the river. We haven't seen him since and wesupposed he must have come home alone. "

When he hadn't returned the following day his brother, the secondprince, went out to search for him. 

"I'll go to the Old Mill, " he said to the King, "and see what's becomeof him. "

So he mounted his horse and rode up the river. As he neared the Old Milla hare crossed his path and the second prince being a hunter like hisbrother at once gave chase. His attendant waited for his return butwaited in vain. Night fell and still there was no sign of the secondprince. 

The attendant returned to the palace and told the King what hadhappened. The King was surprised but not unduly alarmed and thefollowing day when the Youngest Prince asked to go hunting alone theKing suggested that he go in the direction of the Old Mill to find outif he could what was keeping his brothers. 

The Youngest Prince who had listened carefully to what his brothers'attendants had reported decided to act cautiously. So when a harecrossed his path as he approached the Old Mill, instead of giving itchase, he rode off as though he were hunting other game. Later hereturned to the Old Mill from another direction. 

He found an old woman sitting in front of it. 

"Good evening, granny, " he said in a friendly tone, pulling up his horsefor a moment's chat. "Do you live here? You know I thought the Old Millwas deserted. "

The old woman looked at him and shook her head gloomily. 

"Deserted indeed! My boy, take an old woman's advice and don't haveanything to do with this old mill! It's an evil place!"

"Why, granny, " the Prince said, "what's the matter with it?"

The old woman peered cautiously around and when she saw they were aloneshe beckoned the Prince to come near. Then she whispered:

"A dragon lives here! A horrible monster! He takes the form of a hareand lures people into the mill. Then he captures them. Some of them hekills and eats and others he holds as prisoners in an undergrounddungeon. I'm one of his prisoners and he keeps me here to work for him. "

"Granny, " the Youngest Prince said, "would you like me to rescue you?"

"My boy, you couldn't do it! You have no idea what a strong evil monsterthe dragon is. "

"If you found out something for me, granny, I think I might be able toovercome the dragon and rescue you. "

The old woman was doubtful but she promised to do anything the YoungestPrince asked. 

"Well then, granny, find out from the dragon where his strength is, whether in his own body or somewhere else. Find out to-night and I'llcome back to-morrow at this same hour to see you. "

So that night when the dragon came home, after he had supped and whenshe was scratching his head to make him drowsy for bed, the old womansaid to him:

"Master, I think you're the strongest dragon in the world! Tell me now, where does your strength lie--in your own beautiful body or somewhereelse?"

"You're right, old woman, " the dragon grunted: "I am pretty strong asdragons go. But I don't keep my strength in my own body. No, indeed!That would be too dangerous. I keep it in the hearth yonder. "

At that the old woman ran over to the hearth and, stooping down, shekissed it and caressed it. 

"O beautiful hearth!" she said, "where my master's strength is hidden!How happy are the ashes that cover your stones!"

The dragon laughed with amusement. 

"That's the time I fooled you, old woman! My strength isn't in thehearth at all! It's in the tree in front of the mill. "

The old woman at once ran out of the mill and threw her arms about thetree. 

"O tree!" she cried, "most beautiful tree in the world, guard carefullyour master's strength and let no harm come to it!"

Again the dragon laughed. 

"I've fooled you another time, old woman! Come here and scratch my headsome more and this time I'll tell you the truth for I see you reallylove your master. "

So the old woman went back and scratched the dragon's head and thedragon told her the truth about his strength. 

"I keep it far away, " he said. "In the third kingdom from here near theTsar's own city there is a deep lake. A dragon lives at the bottom ofthe lake. In the dragon there is a wild boar; in the boar a hare; in thehare a pigeon; in the pigeon a sparrow. My strength is in the sparrow. Let any one kill the sparrow and I should die that instant. But I amsafe. No one but shepherds ever come to the lake and even they don'tcome any more for the dragon has eaten up so many of them that the lakehas got a bad name. Indeed, nowadays even the Tsar himself is hard putto it to find a shepherd. Oh, I tell you, old woman, your master is aclever one!"

So now the old woman had the dragon's secret and the next day she toldit to the Youngest Prince. He at once devised a plan whereby he hoped toovercome the dragon. He dressed himself as a shepherd and with crook inhand started off on foot for the third kingdom. He traveled throughvillages and towns, across rivers and over mountains, and reached atlast the third kingdom and the Tsar's own city. He presented himself atthe palace and asked employment as a shepherd. 

The guards looked at him in surprise and said:

"A shepherd! Are you sure you want to be a shepherd?"

Then they called to their companions: "Here's a youth who wants to be ashepherd!" And the word went through the palace and even the Tsar heardit. 

"Send the youth to me, " he ordered. 

"Do you really want to be my shepherd?" he asked the Youngest Prince. 

The Youngest Prince said yes, he did. 

"If I put you in charge of the sheep, where would you pasture them?"

"Isn't there a lake beyond the city, " the Prince asked, "where thegrazing is good?"

"H'm!" said the Tsar. "So you know about that lake, too! What else doyou know?"

"I've heard the shepherds disappear. "

"And still you want to try your luck?" the Tsar exclaimed. 

Just then the Tsar's only daughter, a lovely Princess, who had beenlooking at the young stranger, slipped over to her father and whispered:

"But, father, you can't let such a handsome young man as that go offwith the sheep! It would be dreadful if he never returned!"

The Tsar whispered back:

"Hush, child! Your concern for the young man's safety does credit toyour noble feelings. But this is not the time or the place forsentiment. We must consider first the welfare of the royal sheep. "

He turned to the Youngest Prince:

"Very well, young man, you may consider yourself engaged as shepherd. Provide yourself with whatever you need and assume your duties at once. "

"There is one thing, " the Youngest Prince said; "when I start outto-morrow morning with the sheep I should like to take with me twostrong boarhounds, a falcon, and a set of bagpipes. "

"You shall have them all, " the Tsar promised. 

Early the next morning when the Princess peeped out of her bedroomwindow she saw the new shepherd driving the royal flocks to pasture. Afalcon was perched on his shoulder; he had a set of bagpipes under hisarm; and he was leading two powerful boarhounds on a leash. 

"It's a shame!" the Princess said to herself. "He'll probably neverreturn and he's such a handsome young man, too!" And she was so unhappyat thought of never again seeing the new shepherd that she couldn't goback to sleep. 

Well, the Youngest Prince reached the lake and turned out his sheep tograze. He perched the falcon on a log, tied the dogs beside it, and laidhis bagpipes on the ground. Then he took off his smock, rolled up hishose, and wading boldly into the lake called out in a loud voice:

"Ho, dragon, come out and we'll try a wrestling match! That is, ifyou're not afraid!"

"Afraid?" bellowed an awful voice. "Who's afraid?"

The water of the lake churned this way and that and a horrible scalymonster came to the surface. He crawled out on shore and clutched thePrince around the waist. And the Prince clutched him in a grip just asstrong and there they swayed back and forth, and rolled over, andwrestled together on the shore of the lake without either getting thebetter of the other. By midafternoon when the sun was hot, the dragongrew faint and cried out:

"Oh, if I could but dip my burning head in the cool water, then I couldtoss you as high as the sky!"

"Don't talk nonsense!" the Prince said. "If the Tsar's daughter wouldkiss my forehead, then I could toss you twice as high!"

After that the dragon slipped out of the Prince's grasp, plunged intothe water, and disappeared. The Prince waited for him but he didn't showhis scaly head again that day. 

When evening came, the Prince washed off the grime of the fight, dressedhimself carefully, and then looking as fresh and handsome as ever drovehome his sheep. With the falcon on his shoulder and the two hounds athis heels he came playing a merry tune on his bagpipes. 

The townspeople hearing the bagpipes ran out of their houses and criedto each other:

"The shepherd's come back!"

The Princess ran to her window and, when she saw the shepherd alive andwell, she put her hand to her heart and said:

"Oh!"

Even the Tsar was pleased. 

"I'm not a bit surprised that he's back!" he said. "There's somethingabout this youth that I like!"

The next day the Tsar sent two of his trusted servants to the lake tosee what was happening there. They hid themselves behind some bushes ona little hill that commanded the lake. They were there when the shepherdarrived and they watched him as he waded out into the water andchallenged the dragon as on the day before. 

They heard the shepherd call out in a loud voice:

"Ho, dragon, come out and we'll try a wrestling match! That is, ifyou're not afraid!"

And from the water they heard an awful voice bellow back:

"Afraid? Who's afraid?"

Then they saw the water of the lake churn this way and that and ahorrible scaly monster come to the surface. They saw him crawl out onshore and clutch the shepherd around the waist. And they saw theshepherd clutch him in a grip just as strong. And they watched the twoas they swayed back and forth and rolled over and wrestled togetherwithout either getting the better of the other. By midafternoon when thesun grew hot they saw the dragon grow faint and they heard him cry out:

"Oh, if I could only dip my burning head in the cool water, then I couldtoss you as high as the sky!"

And they heard the shepherd reply:

"Don't talk nonsense! If the Tsar's daughter would kiss my forehead, then I could toss you twice as high!"

Then they saw the dragon slip out of the shepherd's grasp, plunge intothe water, and disappear. They waited but he didn't show his scaly headagain that day. 

So the Tsar's servants hurried home before the shepherd and told theTsar all they had seen and heard. The Tsar was mightily impressed withthe bravery of the shepherd and he declared that if he killed thathorrid dragon he should have the Princess herself for wife!

He sent for his daughter and told her all that his servants had reportedand he said to her:

"My daughter, you, too, can help rid your country of this monster if yougo out with the shepherd to-morrow and when the time comes kiss him onthe forehead. You will do this, will you not, for your country's sake?"

The Princess blushed and trembled and the Tsar, looking at her insurprise, said:

"What! Shall a humble shepherd face a dragon unafraid and the daughterof the Tsar tremble!"

"Father, " the Princess cried, "it isn't the dragon that I'm afraid of!"

"What then?" the Tsar asked. 

But what it was she was afraid of the Princess would not confess. Instead she said:

"If the welfare of my country require that I kiss the shepherd on theforehead, I shall do so. "

So the next morning when the shepherd started out with his sheep, thefalcon on his shoulder, the dogs at his heels, the bagpipes under hisarm, the Princess walked beside him. 

Her eyes were downcast and he saw that she was trembling. 

"Do not be afraid, dear Princess, " he said to her. "Nothing shall harmyou--I promise that!"

"I'm not afraid, " the Princess murmured. But she continued to blush andtremble and, although the shepherd tried to look into her eyes toreassure her, she kept her head averted. 

This time the Tsar himself and many of his courtiers had gone on beforeand taken their stand on the hill that overlooked the lake to see thefinal combat of the shepherd and the dragon. 

When the shepherd and the Princess reached the lake, the shepherd puthis falcon on the log as before and tied the dogs beside it and laid hisbagpipes on the ground. Then he threw off his smock, rolled up his hose, and wading boldly into the lake called out in a loud voice:

"Ho, dragon, come out and we'll try a wrestling match! That is, ifyou're not afraid!"

"Afraid?" bellowed an awful voice. "Who's afraid?"

[Illustration: _Next Morning the Princess Peeped Out and Saw theShepherd_]

The water of the lake churned this way and that and the horrible scalymonster came to the surface. He crawled to shore and clutched theshepherd around the waist. The shepherd clutched him in a grip justas strong and there they swayed back and forth and rolled over andwrestled together on the shore of the lake without either getting thebetter of the other. The Princess without the least show of fear stoodnearby calling out encouragement to the shepherd and waiting for themoment when the shepherd should need her help. 

By midafternoon when the sun was hot, the dragon grew faint and criedout:

"Oh, if I could but dip my burning head in the cool water, then I couldtoss you as high as the sky!"

"Don't talk nonsense!" the shepherd said. "If the Tsar's daughter wouldkiss my forehead then I could toss you twice as high!"

Instantly the Princess ran forward and kissed the shepherd three times. The first kiss fell on his forehead, the second on his nose, the thirdon his mouth. With each kiss his strength increased an hundredfold andtaking the dragon in a mighty grip he tossed him up so high that for amoment the Tsar and all the courtiers lost sight of him in the sky. Thenhe fell to earth with such a thud that he burst. 

Out of his body sprang a wild boar. The shepherd was ready for this andon the moment he unleashed the two hounds and they fell on the boar andtore him to pieces. 

Out of the boar jumped a rabbit. It went leaping across the meadow butthe dogs caught it and killed it. 

Out of the rabbit flew a pigeon. Instantly the shepherd unloosed thefalcon. It rose high in the air, then swooped down upon the pigeon, clutched it in its talons, and delivered it into the shepherd's hands. 

He cut open the pigeon and found the sparrow. 

"Spare me! Spare me!" squawked the sparrow. 

"Tell me where my brothers are, " the shepherd demanded with his fingersabout the sparrow's throat. 

"Your brothers? They are alive and in the deep dungeon that lies belowthe Old Mill. Behind the mill there are three willow saplings growingfrom one old root. Cut the saplings and strike the root. A heavy irondoor leading down into the dungeon will open. In the dungeon you willfind many captives old and young, your brothers among them. Now that Ihave told you this are you going to spare my life?"

But the shepherd wrung the sparrow's neck for he knew that only in thatway could the monster who had captured his brothers be killed. 

Well, now that the dragon was dead the Tsar and all his courtiers camedown from the hill and embraced the shepherd and told him what a braveyouth he was. 

"You have delivered us all from a horrid monster, " the Tsar said, "andto show you my gratitude and the country's gratitude I offer you mydaughter for wife. "

"Thank you, " said the shepherd, "but I couldn't think of marrying thePrincess unless she is willing to marry me. "

The Princess blushed and trembled just as she had blushed and trembledthe night before and that morning, too, on the way to the lake. Shetried to speak but could not at first. Then in a very little voice shesaid:

"As a Princess I think it is my duty to marry this brave shepherd whohas delivered my country from this terrible dragon, and--and I think Ishould want to marry him anyway. "

She said the last part of her speech in such a very low voice that onlythe shepherd himself heard it. But that was right enough because afterall it was intended only for him. 

So then and there beside the lake before even the shepherd had time towash his face and hands and put on his smock the Tsar put the Princess'shand in his hand and pronounced them betrothed. 

After that the shepherd bathed in the lake and then refreshed and cleanhe sounded his bagpipes and he and the Princess and the Tsar and all thecourtiers returned to the city driving the sheep before them. 

All the townspeople came out to meet them and they danced to the musicof the bagpipes and there was great rejoicing both over the death of thedragon and over the betrothal of the Princess and the brave shepherd. 

The wedding took place at once and the wedding festivities lasted aweek. Such feasting as the townspeople had! Such music and dancing!

When the wedding festivities were ended, the shepherd told the Tsar whohe really was. 

"You say you're a Prince!" the Tsar cried, perfectly delighted at thisnews. Then he declared he wasn't in the least surprised. In fact, hesaid, he had suspected as much from the first!

"Do you think it likely, " he asked somewhat pompously, "that anydaughter of mine would fall in love with a man who wasn't a prince?"

"I think I'd have fallen in love with you whatever you were!" whisperedthe Princess to her young husband. But she didn't let her father hearher!

The Prince told the Tsar about his brothers' captivity and how he mustgo home to release them, and the Tsar at once said that he and hisbride might go provided they returned as soon as possible. 

They agreed to this and the Tsar fitted out a splendid escort for themand sent them away with his blessing. 

So the Prince now traveled back through the towns and villages of threekingdoms, across rivers and over mountains, no longer a humble shepherdon foot, but a rich and mighty personage riding in a manner thatbefitted his rank. 

When he reached the deserted mill, his friend the old woman was waitingfor him. 

"I know, my Prince, you have succeeded for the monster has disappeared. "

"Yes, granny, you are right: I have succeeded. I found the dragon in thelake, and the boar in the dragon, and the rabbit in the boar, and thepigeon in the rabbit, and the sparrow in the pigeon. I took the sparrowand killed it. So you are free now, granny, to return to your home. Andsoon all those other poor captives will be free. "

He went behind the mill and found the three willow saplings. He cut themoff and struck the old root. Sure enough a heavy iron door opened. Thisled down into a deep dungeon which was crowded with unfortunateprisoners. The Prince led them all out and sent them their various ways. He found his own two brothers among them and led them home to hisfather. 

There was great rejoicing in the King's house, and in the King's heart, too, for he had given up hope of ever seeing any of his sons again. 

The King was so charmed with the Princess that he said it was a pitythat she couldn't marry his oldest son so that she might one day beQueen. 

"The Youngest Prince is a capable young man, " the King said, "andthere's no denying that he managed this business of killing the dragonvery neatly. But he is after all only the Youngest Prince with verylittle hope of succeeding to the kingdom. If you hadn't married him insuch haste one of his older brothers might easily have fallen in lovewith you. "

"I don't regret my haste, " the Princess said. "Besides he is now myfather's heir. But that doesn't matter for I should be happy with theYoungest Prince if he were only a shepherd. "

THE LITTLE SINGING FROG

[Illustration]

_The Story of a Girl Whose Parents Were Ashamed of Her_

THE LITTLE SINGING FROG

There was once a poor laborer and his wife who had no children. Everyday the woman would sigh and say:

"If only we had a child!"

Then the man would sigh, too, and say:

"It would be pleasant to have a little daughter, wouldn't it?"

At last they went on a pilgrimage to a holy shrine and there they prayedGod to give them a child. 

"Any kind of a child!" the woman prayed. "I'd be thankful for a child ofour own even if it were a frog!"

God heard their prayer and sent them a little daughter--not a littlegirl daughter, however, but a little frog daughter. They loved theirlittle frog child dearly and played with her and laughed and clappedtheir hands as they watched her hopping about the house. But when theneighbors came in and whispered: "Why, that child of theirs is nothingbut a frog!" they were ashamed and they decided that when people wereabout they had better keep their child hidden in a closet. 

So the frog girl grew up without playmates of her own age, seeing onlyher father and mother. She used to play about her father as he worked. He was a vine-dresser in a big vineyard and of course it was great funfor the little frog girl to hop about among the vines. 

Every day at noontime the woman used to come to the vineyard carryingher husband's dinner in a basket. The years went by and she grew old andfeeble and the daily trip to the vineyard began to tire her and thebasket seemed to her to grow heavier and heavier. 

"Let me help you, mother, " the frog daughter said. "Let me carryfather's dinner to him and you sit home and rest. "

So from that time on the frog girl instead of the old woman carried thedinner basket to the vineyard. While the old man ate, the frog girlwould hop up into the branches of a tree and sing. She sang very sweetlyand her old father, when he petted her, used to call her his LittleSinging Frog. 

Now one day while she was singing the Tsar's Youngest Son rode by andheard her. He stopped his horse and looked this way and that but for thelife of him he couldn't see who it was who was singing so sweetly. 

"Who is singing?" he asked the old man. 

But the old man who, as I told you before, was ashamed of his frogdaughter before strangers, at first pretended not to hear and then, whenthe young Prince repeated his question, answered gruffly:

"There's no one singing!"

But the next day at the same hour when the Prince was again riding by heheard the same sweet voice and he stopped again and listened. 

"Surely, old man, " he said, "there is some one singing! It is a lovelygirl, I know it is! Why, if I could find her, I'd be willing to marryher at once and take her home to my father, the Tsar!"

"Don't be rash, young man, " the laborer said. 

"I mean what I say!" the Prince declared. "I'd marry her in a minute!"

"Are you sure you would?"

"Yes, I'm sure!"

"Very well, then, we'll see. "

The old man looked up into the tree and called:

"Come down, Little Singing Frog! A Prince wants to marry you!"

So the little frog girl hopped down from among the branches and stoodbefore the Prince. 

"She's my own daughter, " the laborer said, "even if she does look like afrog. "

"I don't care what she looks like, " the Prince said. "I love hersinging and I love her. And I mean what I say: I'll marry her if she'llmarry me. My father, the Tsar, bids me and my brothers present him ourbrides to-morrow. He bids all the brides bring him a flower and he sayshe'll give the kingdom to the prince whose bride brings the loveliestflower. Little Singing Frog, will you be my bride and will you come toCourt to-morrow bringing a flower?"

"Yes, my Prince, " the frog girl said, "I will. But I must not shame youby hopping to Court in the dust. I must ride. So, will you send me asnow-white cock from your father's barnyard?"

"I will, " the Prince promised, and before night the snow-white cock hadarrived at the laborer's cottage. 

Early the next morning the frog girl prayed to the Sun. 

"O golden Sun, " she said, "I need your help! Give me some lovely clotheswoven of your golden rays for I would not shame my Prince when I go toCourt. "

The Sun heard her prayer and gave her a gown of cloth of gold. 

Instead of a flower she took a spear of wheat in her hand and then whenthe time came she mounted the white cock and rode to the palace. 

[Illustration: _This, the Bride of the Youngest Prince, Is My Choice_]

The guards at the palace gate at first refused to admit her. 

"This is no place for frogs!" they said to her. "You're looking for apond!"

But when she told them she was the Youngest Prince's bride, they wereafraid to drive her away. So they let her ride through the gate. 

"Strange!" they murmured to one another. "The Youngest Prince's bride!She looks like a frog and that was certainly a cock she was riding, wasn't it?"

They stepped inside the gates to look after her and then they saw anamazing sight. The frog girl, still seated on the white cock, wasshaking out the folds of a golden gown. She dropped the gown over herhead and instantly there was no frog and no white cock but a lovelymaiden mounted on a snow-white horse!

Well, the frog girl entered the palace with two other girls, thepromised brides of the older princes. They were just ordinary girls bothof them. To see them you wouldn't have paid any attention to them oneway or the other. But standing beside the lovely bride of the YoungestPrince they seemed more ordinary than ever. 

The first girl had a rose in her hand. The Tsar looked at it and at her, sniffed his nose slightly, and turned his head. 

The second girl had a carnation. The Tsar looked at her for a moment andmurmured:

"Dear me, this will never do!"

Then he looked at the Youngest Prince's bride and his eye kindled and hesaid:

"Ah! This is something like!"

She gave him the spear of wheat and he took it and held it aloft. Thenhe reached out his other hand to her and had her stand beside him as hesaid to his sons and all the Court:

"This, the bride of the Youngest Prince, is my choice! See how beautifulshe is! And yet she knows the useful as well as the beautiful for shehas brought me a spear of wheat! The Youngest Prince shall be the Tsarafter me and she shall be Tsarina!"

So the little frog girl of whom her parents were ashamed married theYoungest Prince and when the time came wore a Tsarina's crown. 

[Illustration]

THE NIGHTINGALE IN THE MOSQUE

[Illustration]

_The Story of the Sultan's Youngest Son and the Princess Flower o' theWorld_

THE NIGHTINGALE IN THE MOSQUE

There was once a Sultan who was so pious and devout that he spent manyhours every day in prayer. 

"For the glory of Allah, " he thought to himself, "I ought to build themost beautiful mosque in the world. "

So he called together the finest artisans in the country and told themwhat he wanted. He spent a third of his riches on the undertaking, andwhen the mosque was finished everybody said:

"See now, our Sultan has built the most beautiful mosque in the worldfor the greater glory of Allah!"

On the first day when the Sultan went to pray in the new mosque, aDervish who was sitting cross-legged at the entrance spoke to him in adroning sing-song voice and said:

"Nay, but your mosque is not yet beautiful enough! There is something itlacks and your prayers will be unavailing!"

The words of the holy man grieved the Sultan and he had the mosque torndown and another built in its place even more beautiful. 

"This is certainly the most beautiful mosque in the world!" the peoplesaid, and the Sultan's heart was very happy on the first day as he wentin to pray. 

But again the Dervish, seated at the entrance, said to him in hisdroning, sing-song voice:

"Nay, but your mosque is not yet beautiful enough! There is something itlacks and your prayers will be unavailing!"

At the holy man's words the Sultan had the second mosque torn down and athird one built, the most beautiful of them all. But when it wasfinished for a third time the Dervish droned out:

"Nay, but your mosque is not yet beautiful enough! There is something itlacks and your prayers will be unavailing!"

"What can I do?" the Sultan cried. "I have spent all my riches and now Ihave no means wherewith to build another mosque!"

He fell to grieving and nothing any one could say would comfort him. 

His three sons came to him and said:

"Father, is there not something we can do for you?"

The Sultan sighed and shook his head. 

"Nothing, my sons, unless indeed you were to find out for me why mythird mosque is not the most beautiful in the world. "

"Brothers, " the youngest suggested, "let us go to the Dervish and askhim why it is that the third mosque is not yet beautiful enough. Perhapshe will tell us what is lacking. "

So they went to the Dervish and asked him what he meant by saying to theSultan that the third mosque was not yet beautiful enough and theybegged him to tell them what it was that was lacking. 

The Dervish fixed his eyes in the distance and slightly swaying his bodyback and forth answered them in his sing-song tone. 

"The mosque is beautiful, " he said, "and the fountain in its midst isbeautiful, but where is the glorious Nightingale Gisar? With theNightingale Gisar singing beside the fountain, then indeed would theSultan's third mosque be the most beautiful mosque in the world!"

"Only tell us where this glorious Nightingale is, " the brothers begged, "and we will get him if it costs us our lives!"

"I cannot tell you that, " the Dervish droned. "You will have to go outinto the world and find him for yourselves. "

So the three brothers returned to the Sultan and told him what theDervish had said. 

"All your third mosque lacks to be the most beautiful mosque in theworld, " they told him, "is the Nightingale Gisar singing beside thefountain. So grieve no more, father. We, your three sons, will go outinto the world in quest of this glorious bird and within a year's timewe will return with the bird in our hands if so be that it is anywhereto be found in all the wide world. "

The Sultan blessed them and they set forth the three of them, side byside. They traveled together until they reached a place where threeroads branched. Upon the stone of the left-hand road nothing waswritten. Upon the stone of the middle road was the inscription: _Whogoes this way returns_. The inscription on the third stone read: _Whogoes this way shall meet many dangers and may never return_. 

"Let us part here, " the oldest brother said, "and each take a separateroad. Then if all goes well, let us meet here again on this same spotone year hence. As our father's oldest son it would be wrong for me torun unnecessary risks, so I will take the left-hand road. "

"And I will take the middle road, " the second brother cried. 

The Youngest Brother laughed and said:

"That leaves the dangerous road for me! Very well, brothers, that's thevery road I wish to take for why should I leave home if it were not tohave adventures! Farewell then until we meet again in one year's time. "

The oldest traveled his safe road until he reached a city where hebecame a barber. He asked every man whose head he shaved:

"Do you know anything of the Nightingale Gisar?"

He never found any one who had even heard of the bird, so after a timehe stopped asking. 

The second brother followed the middle road to a city where he settleddown and opened a coffee-house. 

"Have you ever heard of a glorious Nightingale known as Gisar?" he askedat first of every traveler who came in and sipped his coffee. Not one ofthem ever had and as time went by the second brother gradually stoppedeven making inquiries. 

The Youngest Brother who took the dangerous road came to no city at allbut to a far-off desolate place without houses or highways or farms. Wild creatures hid in the brush and snakes glided in and out among therocks. One day he came upon a wild woman who was combing her hair with abranch of juniper. 

"That isn't the way to comb your hair, " the Youngest Brother said. "Here, let me show you. "

He took his own comb and smoothed out all the tangles in the wildwoman's hair until she was comfortable and happy. 

"You have been very kind to me, " she said. "Now isn't there something Ican do for you in return?"

"I am looking for the Nightingale Gisar. If you know where that gloriousbird is, tell me and that will more than repay me. "

But the wild woman had never heard of the Nightingale Gisar. 

"Only wild animals inhabit this desolate place, " she said, "and a fewwild people like me. The Nightingale Gisar is not here. "

"Then I must go farther, " the Youngest Brother said. 

This the wild woman begged him not to do. 

"Beyond these mountains, " she said, "is a wilder desert with fierceranimals. Turn back while you can. "

"No, " the Youngest Brother insisted, "I'm going as God leads me. "

So he left the wild woman and crossed the mountains. He went on and onuntil he was footsore and weary. Then at last he came to the Tiger'shouse. 

The Tiger's wife met him. 

"Be off, young man!" she warned him, "or the Tiger when he comes homewill eat you!"

"No!" said the Youngest Brother, "now I'm here I'm going to stay for Ihave a question to ask the Tiger. "

The Tiger's wife was making bread. When the dough was ready to go intothe oven, she leaned over the glowing embers of the fire and began tobrush them aside with her body. 

"Stop!" the Youngest Brother cried. "You will burn yourself!"

"But how else can I brush aside the glowing embers?" the Tiger's wifeasked. 

"I'll show you. "

The Youngest Brother cut a branch from a tree outside and fashioned itinto a rough broom. Then he showed the Tiger's wife how to use it. 

"Ah!" she said gratefully, "before this always when I've baked breadI've been sick for ten days afterwards. Now I shall be sick no more foryou have taught me how to use a broom. In return let me hide you in adark corner and when the Tiger comes home I'll tell him how kind youhave been and perhaps he will not eat you. "

So she hid the Youngest Brother in a dark corner and when the Tigercame home she met him and said:

"See, I have baked bread to-day but I am not sick, for a youth has shownme how I can brush aside the embers without burning myself. "

The Tiger was overjoyed to hear that his wife had been able to bakebread without being made sick and he swore to be a brother to him whohad taught her the use of a broom. So the Youngest Brother came out fromthe dark corner where he was hiding and the Tiger made him welcome. 

"What are you doing wandering about in this wild country?" the Tigerasked. 

"I am searching for the Nightingale Gisar and I have come to you to askyou if you can tell me where I can find that glorious bird. "

The Tiger had never heard of the Nightingale Gisar but he thought thathis oldest brother the Lion might know. 

"Go straight on from here, " he said, "until you come to the Lion'shouse. His old wife stands outside facing the house with her long thinold dugs thrown over her shoulders. Go up to her from behind and takeher dugs and put them in your mouth and suck them and when she asks youwho you are, say: 'Don't you know me, old mother? I'm your oldest cub. 'Then she will lead you in to the Lion who is so old that his eyelidsdroop. Prop them open and when he sees you he will tell you what heknows. "

So the Youngest Brother went on to the Lion's house and he found theLion's old wife standing outside as the Tiger said he would. He did allthe Tiger had told him to do and when the Lion's wife asked him who hewas, he said: 'Don't you know me, old mother? I'm your oldest cub. ' Thenthe Lion's old wife led him in to the Lion and he propped open theLion's drooping eyelids and asked about the Nightingale Gisar. 

The old Lion shook his head. 

"I have never heard of the Nightingale Gisar. He has never sung in thiswild place. Turn back, young man, and seek him elsewhere. Beyond this isa country of wilder creatures where you will only lose your life. "

"That is as God wills, " the Youngest Brother said. 

With that he bade the old Lion and his old wife farewell and pushed oninto the farther wilds. The mountains grew more and more rugged, theplains more parched and barren, and the Youngest Son was hard put to itto find food from day to day. 

Once when he was crossing a desert three eagles swooped down upon himand it was all he could do to fight them off. He slashed at them withhis sword and succeeded in cutting off the beak of one, a wing ofanother, and a leg of the third. He put these three things in his bag astrophies. 

He came at last to a hut where an old woman was baking cakes on thehearth. 

"God bless you, granny!" he said. "Can you give me a bite of supper andshelter for the night?"

The old woman shook her head. 

"My boy, you had better not stop here. I have three daughters and ifthey were to come home and find you here, they'd kill you. "

But the Youngest Brother insisted that he was not afraid and at last theold woman let him stay. She hid him in the corner behind the firewoodand warned him to keep still. 

Presently the three eagles whom he had maimed came flying into the hut. The old woman put a bowl of milk on the table, the birds dipped in themilk, and lo! their feather shirts opened and they stepped out threemaidens. One of them had lost her lips, one an arm, and the third a leg. 

"Ah!" they cried to their mother, "see what has befallen us! If only theyouth who maimed us would return the beak and the wing and the leg thathe hacked off, we would tell him anything he wants to know. "

At that the Youngest Brother stepped out from behind the firewood andsaid:

"Tell me then where I can find the Nightingale Gisar and you shall haveback your beak and your wing and your leg. "

He opened his bag and the maidens were overjoyed to see their beak andtheir wing and their leg. Then they told the Youngest Brother all theyknew about the Nightingale Gisar. 

"Far from here, " they said, "there is a Warrior Princess, so beautifulthat men call her Flower o' the World. She has the Nightingale Gisar ina golden cage hanging in her own chamber. The chamber door is guarded bya lion and a wolf and a tiger for the Flower o' the World knows that shewill have to marry the man who steals from her the Nightingale Gisar. "

"How can a man enter the chamber of the Flower o' the World?" theYoungest Brother asked. 

"For a few moments at midnight, " the sisters told him, "the threeanimals sleep. During those few moments a man could enter the chamber, get the Nightingale Gisar, and escape. But even then he might not besafe for the Flower o' the World might gather her army together andpursue him. "

"Now tell me how to reach the palace of that Warrior Princess, Flower o'the World. "

"You could never get there alone, " they told him, "the way is too longand the dangers are too many. Stay here with us for three months and atthe end of three months we will carry you thither on our wings. "

So for three months the Youngest Brother stayed on in the hut with theold woman and her three daughters. The three daughters flew in theireagle shirts to the spring of the Water of Life and bathing in thatmagic pool they made grow on again the beak and the wing and the legwhich the Youngest Brother had hacked off. 

At the end of three months they carried the Youngest Brother on theirwings to the distant kingdom where the Warrior Princess, Flower o' theWorld, lived. 

At midnight they set him down in front of the palace and he slippedunseen through the guards at the gate and through the halls of thepalace to the Princess's own chamber. The lion, the wolf, and the tigerwere asleep and he was able to push back the curtain before which theywere lying and creep up to the Princess's very bedside without beingdiscovered. 

He looked once at the sleeping Flower o' the World and she was sobeautiful that he dared not look again for fear he should forget theNightingale Gisar and betray himself by crying out. 

At the head of the bed were four lighted candles and at the foot fourunlighted ones. He blew out the lighted ones and lit the others. Thenquickly he took the golden cage in which the Nightingale Gisar wasperched asleep, unfastened it from the golden chain on which it washanging, and hurried out. The eagles were waiting for him and at oncethey spread their wings and carried him away. 

They put him down at the crossroads where he had parted from hisbrothers just one year before. Then they bade him farewell and flew offto their home in the desert. 

"My brothers will probably be here in an hour or so, " the Youngest Sonthought. "I had better wait for them. "

He felt sleepy, so he lay down by the roadside and closed his eyes. 

While he slept his brothers arrived and of course the first thing theysaw was the golden cage and the Nightingale Gisar. 

Then envy and hatred filled their hearts and they began cursing andcomplaining to think that he who was the Youngest had succeeded wherethey had failed. 

"We'll be the laughing-stock of the whole country!" they said, "if welet him come home carrying the Nightingale Gisar! Let us take the birdwhile he sleeps and hurry home with it. Then if he comes home later andsays it was he who really found the bird no one will believe him. "

So they beat their brother into insensibility and tore his clothes torags to make him think that he had been set upon by robbers, and thentaking the golden cage and the Nightingale Gisar they hurried home andpresented themselves to their father, the Sultan. 

"Here, O father, " they said, "is the Nightingale Gisar! To get thisglorious bird for you we have endured all the perils in the world!"

"And your Youngest Brother, " the Sultan asked, "where is he?"

"The Youngest? Think no more of him, father, for he is unworthy to beyour son. Instead of searching the wide world for the Nightingale Gisar, he settled down in the first city he reached and lived a life ofidleness and ease. Some say he became a barber and some say he opened acoffee-house and spent his days chatting with passing travelers. He hasnot come home with us for no doubt it shames him to know that we havesucceeded where he has failed. "

The Sultan was grieved to hear this evil report of his Youngest Son, buthe was overjoyed to have the Nightingale Gisar. He had the golden cagecarried to the mosque and hung beside the fountain in the court. 

But imagine his disappointment when the bird refused to sing!

"Let him who found the Nightingale come to the mosque, " the Dervish saidin his droning sing-song voice, "and then the Nightingale will sing. "

The Sultan immediately sent for his two sons. They came but still thebird was silent. 

"See now, " the Sultan said, "my two sons are here and yet the bird issilent. "

But the Dervish would only repeat:

"Let him who found the Nightingale come to the mosque and then theNightingale will sing. "

The next day a youth in rags whom nobody knew entered the mosque to prayand instantly the Nightingale began to sing. 

A messenger was sent running to the Sultan with the news that theNightingale was singing. The Sultan hurried to the mosque but by thetime he got there the beggar youth was gone and the Nightingale hadstopped singing. 

"Now that I'm here, " cried the Sultan, "why does the bird not sing?"

The Dervish, swaying his body gently back and forth, made answer asbefore:

"Let him who found the Nightingale come to the mosque and then theNightingale will sing. "

Thereafter every day when the beggar youth came to the mosque to praythe Nightingale sang, and always when the Sultan approached the beggarwalked away and the bird stopped singing. At last people beganwhispering:

"Strange that the Nightingale should sing only when that beggar youth isnear! And yet the Dervish says it will not sing unless he who found itcomes to the mosque! What can he mean?"

Report of the beggar youth reached the ears of the Sultan and he went tothe Dervish and questioned him. 

"Why do you say that the Nightingale Gisar will not sing unless he whofound him comes to the mosque? Lo, here are my two sons who found himand the bird remains silent, yet people tell me that when a certainbeggar comes to the mosque he sings. Why does he not sing when I and mytwo sons come to pray?"

And always the Dervish made the same answer in the same sing-song voice:

"Let him who found the Nightingale come to the mosque and then theNightingale will sing. "

Soon a terrifying rumor spread through the land that a great WarriorPrincess called Flower o' the World was coming with a mighty army tomake war on the Sultan and to destroy his city. Her army far outnumberedthe Sultan's and when she encamped in a broad valley over against thecity the Sultan's people, seeing her mighty hosts, were filled withdread and besought their ruler to make peace with the Princess at anycost. So the Sultan called his heralds and sent them to her and throughthem he said:

"Demand of me what you will even to my life but spare my city. "

The Warrior Princess returned this answer:

"I will spare you and your city provided you deliver me your son whostole from me the Nightingale Gisar. Him I shall have executed or letlive as it pleases me. "

Now the Sultan's two sons knew that the Flower o' the World was fated tomarry the man who had stolen from her the Nightingale Gisar, so whenthey heard the Princess's demand they were overjoyed thinking that shewould have to fall in love with one of them. So they disputed at greatlength as to which of them had done the actual deed of taking the bird, each insisting that it was he and not his brother. The Sultan himselfhad finally to decide between them. 

"You have told me, " he said, "that you captured the bird together. Asthat is the case and as I can't send you both to the Warrior Princess itis only right that the older should go. "

So under a splendid escort the oldest son rode to the tent of theWarrior Princess. She bade him enter alone and when he appeared beforeher she looked at him long and steadily. Then she said:

"Nay, but you are never the man who stole from me the Nightingale Gisar!You would lack the courage to face the perils of the way!"

The oldest prince answered the Flower o' the World craftily:

"But how, Princess, if I did not steal from you the Nightingale Gisarwas I then able to bring back that glorious bird and hang his cagebeside the fountain in the mosque?"

But Flower o' the World was not to be deceived by such specious words. 

"Tell me then, " she said, "if it was you who stole my gloriousNightingale, where did you find him hanging in his golden cage?"

The oldest prince could not answer this, so he said at random:

"I found his golden cage hanging in the cypress tree that grows in thegarden of your palace. "

"Enough!" cried the Princess. 

She clapped her hands and when her guards appeared she said to them:

"Have this man executed at once and let his head be sent to the Sultanwith the message: _This is the head of a liar and a coward! Send me atonce your son who stole my glorious Nightingale Gisar or I will marchagainst your city!_"

The Sultan was greatly shocked to receive this message together with thehead of his oldest son. 

"Alas!" he cried, calling his second son, "would that I had listened toyou when you insisted that it was you and not your brother who actuallydid the deed! Unhappily I listened to your brother! See now the awfulresult of this mistake! Go you now to this heartless Princess whom mencall Flower o' the World or else our poor defenseless city will have topay the penalty. "

So the second prince was taken to the tent of the Warrior Maiden and sheput to him the same questions and he fared even worse than his brotherhad fared. So his head, too, was sent to the Sultan with this message:

"_Send me no more liars and cowards but the son who actually did stealfrom me my glorious Nightingale Gisar. _"

In despair the Sultan went to the mosque to pray. As he bowed his headhe heard the Nightingale burst forth in song. Then when he looked up hesaw a beggar youth standing near the fountain. 

When his prayers were finished the Sultan went outside to the Dervishand said to him:

"The Warrior Princess, Flower o' the World, demands that I send heranother son. I know not where my Third Son is. What shall I do?"

Without looking at the Sultan the Dervish answered in his sing-songvoice:

"Send her the son for whom the Nightingale sings. "

The Sultan turned away in disappointment, not understanding what theDervish meant, but one of his attendants plucked his sleeve andwhispered:

"The Nightingale sings for yonder beggar youth. Perhaps it is he theDervish means. Why not ask him if he will go to Flower o' the World inplace of your Youngest Son?"

[Illustration: _The Flower o' the World Asleep_]

The Sultan nodded, so the attendant called the beggar youth and theSultan asked him would he go to the Warrior Princess as the YoungestPrince. 

"Allah alone knows where my Youngest Son is, " the Sultan said, "but heis just about your age and if you were washed and anointed and dressedin fitting garments you would not be unlike him. "

The beggar youth said he would go but he insisted on going just as hewas. The Sultan begged him to go dressed as a prince or the Flower o'the World might not receive him. 

"No, " said the youth, "I shall go as a beggar or not at all. It is forthe Flower o' the World to know me whether or not I am the Sultan'sYoungest Son and the man who stole from her the Nightingale Gisar. "

So he went as he was to the tent of the Flower o' the World and herwarriors when they saw him coming said to the Princess:

"This Sultan mocks you and sends you a beggar when you demand his ThirdSon. "

But the Flower o' the World ordered them all out and bade the beggarenter alone. She looked at him long and steadily and she saw through hisrags that he was indeed a noble youth with a body made strong andbeautiful through exercise and toil and she thought to herself:

"It were not a hard fate to marry this youth!"

Then she questioned him:

"Are you the Sultan's Third Son?"

"I am. "

"Then why are you dressed as a beggar?"

"Because I was set upon at the crossroads and beaten insensible and myclothes torn to rags. I was coming home with the Nightingale Gisar in myhands and I lay down at the roadside to rest while I awaited the comingof my brothers. When I awoke to consciousness the Nightingale and itsgolden cage were gone. I came home to my father's city as a beggar andthere they told me that my brothers had come just before me bringingwith them the Nightingale and boasting of the perils they had beenthrough and the dangers they had faced. But the Nightingale, they toldme, hanging in its golden cage beside the fountain, was silent. Yet whenI went to the mosque it always sang. "

The Warrior Princess looked deep into his eyes and knew that he wasspeaking truth. Her heart was touched with compassion at the wrong hehad suffered from his brothers, but she hid her feelings and questionedhim further. 

"Then it was you, " she said, "who really took from me my gloriousNightingale Gisar?"

"Yes, Princess, it was. I crept past the lion and the wolf and the tigerjust after midnight while they slept. I blew out the four candles at thehead of your bed and lighted those at the foot. The golden cage of theNightingale was hanging from a golden chain. Before I unfastened it Ilooked at you once, as you lay sleeping, and dared not look a secondtime. "

"Why not?" the Princess asked. 

"Because, O Flower o' the World, you were so beautiful that I feared, were I to look again, I should forget the Nightingale Gisar and cry outin ecstacy. "

Then the compassion in the Princess's heart changed to love and she knewfor a certainty that this was the man she was fated to wed. 

She clapped her hands and when the guards came in she said to them:

"Call my warriors together that I may show them the Sultan's YoungestSon and the man who stole from me my glorious Nightingale Gisar and whomI am fated to wed. "

So the warriors came in until they crowded the tent to its utmost. Thenthe Princess stood up and took the Sultan's Youngest Son by the hand andpresented him to the warriors and told them of his great bravery andcourage and of all the perils he had endured in order to get theNightingale Gisar for his father's mosque. 

"He came to me now as a beggar, " she said, "but I knew him at once fortruth was in his mouth and courage in his eye. Behold, O warriors, yourfuture lord!"

Then the warriors waved their swords and cried:

"Long live the Flower o' the World! Long live the Sultan's YoungestSon!"

All the Princess's army when they heard the news raised such a mightyshout that the people in the Sultan's city heard and were filled withdread not knowing what it meant. But soon they knew and then they, too, went mad with joy that what had threatened to be a war was turning to awedding!

The Flower o' the World and her chief warriors and with them theYoungest Prince rode slowly to the city. The Prince was now dressed asbefitted his rank and the Sultan when he saw him recognized him at once. 

"Allah be praised!" he cried, "my Youngest Son lives!"

Then they told him all--how it was this Prince and not the olderbrothers who had found the Nightingale Gisar and how the older brothershad robbed him of his prize and beaten him insensible. 

When the Sultan heard how wicked his older sons had been his grief fortheir death was assuaged. 

"Allah be praised, " he said, "that I have at least one son who isworthy!"

After the betrothal ceremony the Sultan and the Youngest Prince went tothe mosque to pray. While they prayed the Nightingale sang so gloriouslythat it seemed to them they were no longer on earth but in Paradise. 

When their prayers were finished and they were passing out, the Dervishraised his sing-song voice and said:

"Now indeed is the Sultan's Mosque the most beautiful Mosque in theWorld for the Nightingale Gisar sings beside the Fountain!"

[Illustration]

THE GIRL IN THE CHEST

[Illustration]

_The Story of the Third Sister Who Was Brave and Good_

THE GIRL IN THE CHEST

There was once a horrible Vampire who took the form of a handsome youngman and went to the house of an old woman who had three daughters andpretended he wanted to marry the oldest. 

"I live far from here, " the Vampire said. "I own my own farm and amwell-to-do and in marrying me your daughter would get a desirablehusband. Indeed, I am so well off that I don't have to ask any dowry. "

Now the old woman was so poor that she couldn't have given a penny ofdowry. That was the only reason why all three of her daughters hadn'tlong ago been married to youths of their own village. So when thestranger said he would require no dowry, the old woman whispered to heroldest daughter:

"He seems to be all right. Perhaps you had better take him. "

The poor girl accepted her mother's advice and that afternoon startedoff with the Vampire who said he would lead her home and marry her. 

They walked a great distance and as evening came on they reached a wildghostly spot which frightened the girl half to death. 

"This way, my dear, " the Vampire said, pushing her into an opening inthe earth. "We take this underground passage and soon we'll be home. "

The passage led to a sort of cave which really was the Vampire's home. 

"What an awful place!" the poor girl cried in terror. "Let me out!"

"Let you out, indeed!" the Vampire sneered, taking his own horribleshape and laughing cruelly. "Here you are and here you stay and if youdon't do everything I tell you, I'll soon finish you! Here now, drinkthis. "

He offered the poor girl a pitcher and when she saw what was in it shenearly fainted with horror. 

"No!" she cried. "I won't! I won't!"

"If you don't drink this, " the Vampire said, darkly, "then I'll drinkyou!"

And with that he killed her with no more feeling than if she were a fly. 

Then in a short time he went back to the old woman and said:

"Dear mother, my poor wife is ill and she begs that you send her yoursecond daughter to nurse her. She asks for her sister night and day andI fear she will die unless she sees her. "

When the poor old mother heard this, she begged the second daughter togo at once with the young man and nurse her sick sister. 

Well, the same thing happened to the second sister and in no time at allthe Vampire had killed her, too, to satisfy his awful thirst. 

Then he returned again to the old mother and this time he pretended thatboth sisters were sick and were trying for the third sister to come andnurse them. So the poor old woman sent her Youngest Daughter away withthe Vampire. 

The Youngest Sister when she found out the truth about the horridVampire didn't sit down and weep helplessly as the others had done andwait for the Vampire to kill her, but she prayed God's help and thentried to find some way of escape. 

There were doors in the cave which the Vampire told her were doors toclosets she must not enter. When the Vampire was out she opened thesedoors and found that they all led into long underground passages. 

"This is my one chance to get back to earth!" the girl thought andcommending her undertaking to God she fled down one of the passages. 

You may be sure the Vampire when he came back and found her gone fellinto a great rage. He went running wildly up and down the variouspassages and lost so much time searching the wrong passages that thegirl was able to make good her escape and reach the upper world insafety. 

She came out in a wood with no sign of human habitation anywhere insight. 

"What shall I do now?" she thought. "If I stay here alone andunprotected some wild beast or evil creature may get me. "

So she knelt down and prayed God to give her a chest that she could lockfrom the inside with one of her own golden hairs so securely that no onecould force it open. God heard her prayer and presently behind somebushes she found just such a chest. When it grew dark and she was readyto go to bed, she crept into the chest, locked it with a hair, and sleptpeacefully knowing that nothing could harm her. 

So she lived in the wood some time, eating berries and fruits, andsleeping safely in the chest. 

Now it so happened that the King's son one morning went hunting in thisvery wood and caught a glimpse of the girl as she was gathering berries. He thought he had never seen such a beautiful creature and instantly hefell in love with her. But when he reached the clump of bushes where hehad seen her, she was gone. He called his huntsmen together and toldthem to search everywhere. They hunted for hours and all they could findwas a chest. They tried to open the chest to see what was in it butcouldn't. 

"Waste no more time over it, " the Prince said at last. "Carry it home tothe palace as it is and have it placed in my chamber. "

The huntsmen did this and a few hours later when the girl peeped out ofher chest she found herself alone in the Prince's chamber. His supperwas standing on a table in readiness for his coming. The girl ate thesupper and was safely back in her chest before he arrived. When he didcome the Prince was amazed to see empty plates and called the servantsto know who had eaten his supper. The servants were as much surprised asthe Prince and declared that no one had entered the chamber. 

The same thing happened the next day and the following day the Princehad one of his servants hide behind the curtains and watch to find outif possible how the food disappeared. 

The story the servant had to tell of what he saw was so thrilling thatthe Prince could scarcely wait for the next day when he himself hidbehind the curtains and watched. 

The serving people put the food on the table and retired and presentlythe lid of the chest opened and the Prince saw the beautiful maiden ofthe wood step out. When she sat down at the table the Prince slipped upbehind her and caught her in his arms. 

"You lovely creature!" he said, "I'm not going to let you escape meagain!"

At first the girl was greatly frightened but the Prince reassured her, telling her that he loved her dearly and only wanted to make her hiswife. 

He led her at once to the King, his father, and the girl was so modestand lovely that the King soon agreed to the marriage. 

[Illustration: _The Chest Opened and the Prince Saw the BeautifulMaiden_]

Everybody in court was delighted--everybody, that is, but theChamberlain who had had hopes of marrying his own daughter to thePrince. His daughter was an ugly ill-tempered girl and the Prince hadnever even looked at her. The Chamberlain was sure, however, that with alittle more time he could arrange the match to his liking. So theappearance of this beautiful girl who came from Heaven knows where threwhim into a fearful rage and he decided to do away with her at any cost. Now he had in his employ a great burly Blackamoor. He called thisfellow to him and he told him that he must kidnap the girl at once andkill her. The Blackamoor who was accustomed to do such deeds for theChamberlain nodded and said he would. 

So when the palace was quiet that night he stole to the bedchamber wherethe girl was lying asleep, threw a great robe over her head to stifleher cries, and carried her off. She fainted away from fright and theBlackamoor thinking her dead tossed her into a field of nettles in theoutskirts of the town. 

Now, as you can imagine, in the morning there was a great uproar in thepalace when it was discovered that the Prince's beautiful bride-to-behad disappeared. The Prince was utterly grief-stricken and refused toeat. The King and all the ladies of the court tried their best tocomfort him but he turned away from them declaring he would die if hisbride were not restored to him. 

The rascally Chamberlain put his handkerchief to his eyes and pretendedto weep he was so affected by the sight of the Prince's grief. 

"My dear boy, " he said, "I would that I could find this maiden for you!It breaks my heart to see you sad and unhappy! But I'm sorry to tell youthat I hear she was a Vila and not a human maiden at all. You know howmysteriously she came, and now she's gone just as mysteriously. So putthe thought of her out of your mind and I'm sure you'll soon find ahuman maiden who is worthy of your love. Come here, my daughter, andtell the Prince how sorry you are that he is in grief. "

But the sight of the Chamberlain's ugly daughter only made the Princelong the more for the beautiful girl who was gone. 

She meantime had found refuge in the hut of an old woman who had heardher groan in the early dawn when she lay among the nettles and had takencompassion on her. 

"You may stay with me until you're well, " the old woman said. 

The girl was young and healthy and in a day or two had recovered the illtreatment she had suffered at the hands of the Blackamoor. 

"Won't you let me live with you awhile, granny?" she said to the oldwoman. "I'll cook and scrub and work and you won't have to regret thelittle I eat. "

"Can you cook? Because if you can perhaps you know a dish that wouldtempt the appetite of our poor young Prince, " the old woman said. "Youknow the poor boy has had a terrible disappointment in love and herefuses to eat. The heralds were out this morning proclaiming that theKing would richly reward any one who could prepare a dish that wouldtempt the Prince's appetite. "

"Granny!" the girl said, "I know a wonderful way to prepare beans! Letme cook a dish of beans and do you carry them to the palace. "

So the girl cooked the beans and placed them prettily in a dish and onone side of the dish she put a tiny little ringlet of her own goldenhair. 

"If he sees the hair, " she thought to herself, "he'll know the beans arefrom me. "

And that's exactly what happened. To please his father the Prince hadconsented to look at every dish as it came. He had already looked athundreds of them before the old woman arrived and turned away from themall. Then the old woman came. As she passed before the Prince, shelifted the cover of the dish, held it towards him, and curtsied. ThePrince was just about to turn away when he saw the tiny ringlet of hair. 

"Oh!" he said. "Wait a minute! Those beans look good!"

To the King's delight he took the dish out of the old woman's hand, examined it carefully, and when no one was looking slipped the ringletinto his pocket. Then he ate the beans--every last one of them!

The King gave the old woman some golden ducats and begged her to prepareanother dish for the Prince on the morrow. 

So the next day the girl again sent a tiny ringlet of her hair on theside of the plate and again the Prince after scorning all the other foodoffered him took the old woman's dish and ate it clean. 

On the third day the Prince engaged the old woman in conversation. 

"Where do you live, granny?"

"In a little tumble-down house beside the nettles, " she told him. 

"Do you live alone?"

"Just now, " the old woman said, "I have a dear girl living with me. Ifound her one morning lying in the nettles where some ruffians had lefther for dead. She's a good girl and she scrubs and bakes and cooks forme and lets me rest my poor old bones. "

Now the Prince knew what he wanted to know. 

"Granny, " he said, "to-morrow's Sunday. Now I want you to stay home inthe afternoon because I'm coming to see you. "

In great excitement the old woman hurried home and told the girl thatthe Prince was coming to see them on Sunday afternoon. 

"He mustn't see me!" the girl said. "I'll hide in the bread trough undera cloth and if he goes looking for me you tell him that I've gone out. "

"Foolish child!" the old woman said. "Why should you hide from ahandsome young man like the Prince?"

But the girl insisted and at last when Sunday afternoon came the oldwoman was forced to let her lie down in the bread trough and cover herwith a cloth. 

The Prince arrived and when he found the old woman there alone he wasmightily disappointed. 

"Where's that girl who lives with you?" he asked. 

"She's gone out, " the old woman said. 

"Then I think I'll wait till she comes back. "

This made the old woman feel nervous. 

"But, my Prince, I don't know when she's coming back. "

Just then the Prince thought he saw something move in the bread trough. 

"What's that lumpy thing in the bread trough, granny?"

"That? Oh, that's just dough that's rising, my Prince. I'm bakingto-day. "

"Then make me a loaf, granny. I'll wait for it until it rises and untilyou bake it. Then I'll eat it hot out of the oven. "

What was the old woman to say to that? She fussed and fidgeted andthought again what a foolish young girl that was to be hiding in thebread trough when there was a handsome young Prince in the room. 

"I don't know why that dough doesn't rise, " she remarked at last. 

"Perhaps there's something the matter with it, " the Prince said. 

Before the old woman could stop him, he jumped up, tossed the clothaside, and there was his lovely bride!

"Why are you hiding from me?" he asked as he lifted her up and kissedher tenderly. 

"Because I knew if you really loved me you would find me, " she said. 

"Now that I have found you, " the Prince declared, "I shall never let youleave me again. "

Then the girl told the Prince about the wicked Chamberlain and theBlackamoor and it was all she and the old woman could do to keep thePrince from drawing his sword and rushing out instantly to kill both ofthem. 

The old woman begged the Prince to take the girl secretly to the Kingand have the King hear her story, and then let him pass judgment on theChamberlain according to the laws of the land. At last the Prince agreedto this. 

So they covered the girl's head with a veil and took her to the King. When the King heard her story he called the court together at once andtold them the outrage that had been committed against his son's promisedbride. He commanded that the murderous Blackamoor be executed the nextday and he decreed that the Chamberlain and his wicked daughter bestripped of their lands and riches and sent into exile. 

Let us hope that exile taught them the evil of their ways and made themrepent. 

As for the girl, she married the Prince and they lived together in greathappiness. And she deserved to be happy, too, for she was a brave girland a good girl and God loves people who are brave and good and blessesthem. 

[Illustration]

THE WONDERFUL HAIR

[Illustration]

_The Story of a Poor Man Who Dreamed of an Angel_

THE WONDERFUL HAIR

There was once a poor man who had so many children that he was at hiswit's end how to feed them all and clothe them. 

"Unless something turns up soon, " he thought to himself, "we shall allstarve to death. Poor youngsters--I'm almost tempted to kill them withmy own hands to save them from suffering the pangs of hunger!"

That night before he went to sleep he prayed God to give him help. Godheard his prayer and sent an angel to him in a dream. 

The angel said to him:

"To-morrow morning when you wake, put your hand under your pillow andyou will find a mirror, a red handkerchief, and an embroidered scarf. Without saying a word to any one hide these things in your shirt and goout to the woods that lie beyond the third hill from the village. Thereyou will find a brook. Follow it until you come to a beautiful maidenwho is bathing in its waters. You will know her from the great masses ofgolden hair that fall down over her shoulders. She will speak to youbut do you be careful not to answer. If you say a word to her she willbe able to bewitch you. She will hold out a comb to you and ask you tocomb her hair. Take the comb and do as she asks. Then part her back haircarefully and you will see one hair that is coarser than the others andas red as blood. Wrap this firmly around one of your fingers and jerk itout. Then flee as fast as you can. She will pursue you and each time asshe is about to overtake you drop first the embroidered scarf, then thered handkerchief, and last the mirror. If you reach the hill nearestyour own village you are safe for she can pursue you no farther. Takegood care of the single hair for it great value and you can sell it formany golden ducats. "

In the morning when the poor man awoke and put his hand under his pillowhe found the mirror and the handkerchief and the scarf just as the angelhad said he would. So he hid them carefully in his shirt and withouttelling any one where he was going he went to the woods beyond the thirdhill from the village. Here he found the brook and followed it until hecame to a pool where he saw a lovely maiden bathing. 

"Good day to you!" she said politely. 

The poor man remembering the angel's warning made no answer. 

[Illustration: _The Mirror, the Handkerchief, and the EmbroideredScarf_]

The maiden held out a golden comb. 

"Please comb my hair for me, won't you?"

The man nodded and took the comb. Then he parted the long tresses behindand searched here and there and everywhere until he found the one hairthat was blood-red in color and coarser than the others. He twisted thisfirmly around his finger, jerked it quickly out, and fled. 

"Oh!" cried the maiden. "What are you doing? Give me back my one redhair!"

She jumped to her feet and ran swiftly after him. As she came close tohim, he dropped behind him the embroidered scarf. She stooped and pickedit up and examined it awhile. Then she saw the man was escaping, so shetossed the scarf aside and again ran after him. This time he dropped thered handkerchief. Its bright color caught the maiden's eye and shepicked it up and lost a few more minutes admiring it while the man racedon. Then the maiden remembered him, threw away the handkerchief, andstarted off again in pursuit. 

This time the man dropped the mirror and the maiden who of course was aVila and had never seen a mirror before picked it up and looked at itand when she saw the lovely reflection of herself she was so amazed thatshe kept on looking and looking. She was still looking in it and stilladmiring her own beauty when the man reached the third hill beyond whichthe maiden couldn't follow him. 

So the poor man got home with the hair safely wound about his finger. 

"It must be of great value, " he thought to himself. "I'll take it to thecity and offer it for sale there. "

So the next day he went to the city and went about offering hiswonderful hair to the merchants. 

"What's so wonderful about it?" they asked him. 

"I don't know, but I do know it's of great value, " he told them. 

"Well, " said one of them, "I'll give you one golden ducat for it. "

He was a shrewd buyer and the others hearing his bid of one golden ducatdecided that he must know that the hair was of much greater value. Sothey began to outbid him until the price offered the poor man reachedone hundred golden ducats. But the poor man insisted that this was notenough. 

"One hundred golden ducats not enough for one red hair!" cried themerchants. 

They pretended to be disgusted that any one would refuse such a pricefor one red hair, but in reality they were all firmly convinced by thistime that it was a magic hair and probably worth any amount of money inthe world. 

The whole city became excited over the wonderful hair for which all themerchants were bidding and for a time nothing else was talked about. Thematter was reported to the Tsar and at once he said that he himselfwould buy the hair for one thousand golden ducats. 

One thousand golden ducats! After that there was no danger of the poorman's many children dying of starvation. 

And what do you suppose the Tsar did with the hair? He had it split openvery carefully and inside he found a scroll of great importance tomankind for on it were written many wonderful secrets of nature. 

[Illustration]

THE BEST WISH

[Illustration]

_The Story of Three Brothers and an Angel_

THE BEST WISH

There were once three brothers whose only possession was a pear tree. They took turns guarding it. That is to say while two of them went towork the third stayed at home to see that no harm came to the pear tree. 

Now it happened that an Angel from heaven was sent down to test thehearts of the three brothers. The Angel took the form of a beggar andapproaching the pear tree on a day when the oldest brother was guardingit, he held out his hand and said:

"In heaven's name, brother, give me a ripe pear. "

The oldest brother at once handed him a pear, saying:

"This one I can give you because it is mine, but none of the othersbecause they belong to my brothers. "

The Angel thanked him and departed. 

The next day when the second brother was on guard he returned in thesame guise and again begged the charity of a ripe pear. 

"Take this one, " the second brother said. "It is mine and I can give itaway. I can't give away any of the others because they belong to mybrothers. "

The Angel thanked the second brother and departed. 

The third day he had exactly the same experience with the youngestbrother. 

On the following day the Angel, in the guise of a monk, came to thebrothers' house very early while they were still all at home. 

"My sons, " he said, "come with me and perhaps I can find you somethingbetter to do than guard a single pear tree. "

The brothers agreed and they all started out together. After walkingsome time they came to the banks of a broad deep river. 

"My son, " the Angel said, addressing the oldest brother, "if I were togrant you one wish, what you ask?"

"I'd be happy, " the oldest brother said, "if all this water was turnedinto wine and belonged to me. "

[Illustration: _The Angel Took the Form of a Beggar_]

The Angel lifted his staff and made the sign of the cross and lo! thewater became wine from great wine-presses. At once numbers of casksappeared and men filling them and rolling them about. A huge industrysprang up with sheds and storehouses and wagons and men runninghither and thither and addressing the oldest brother respectfully as"Master!"

"You have your wish, " the Angel said. "See that you do not forget God'spoor now that you are rich. Farewell. "

So they left the oldest brother in the midst of his wine and went onfarther until they came to a broad field where flocks of pigeons werefeeding. 

"If I were to grant you one wish, " the Angel said to the second brother, "what would you ask?"

"I'd be happy, father, if all the pigeons in this field were turned tosheep and belonged to me. "

The Angel lifted his staff, made the sign of the cross, and lo! thefield was covered with sheep. Sheds appeared and houses and women, someof them milking the ewes and others skimming the milk and makingcheeses. In one place men were busy preparing meat for the market and inanother cleaning wool. And all of them as they came and went spokerespectfully to the second brother and called him, "Master!"

"You have your wish, " the Angel said. "Stay here and enjoy prosperityand see that you do not forget God's poor!"

Then he and the youngest brother went on their way. 

"Now, my son, " the Angel said, "you, too, may make one wish. "

"I want but one thing, father. I pray heaven to grant me a truly piouswife. That is my only wish. "

"A truly pious wife!" the Angel cried. "My boy, you have asked thehardest thing of all! Why, there are only three truly pious women in allthe world! Two of them are already married and the third is a princesswho is being sought in marriage at this very moment by two kings!However, your brothers have received their wishes and you must haveyours, too. Let us go at once to the father of this virtuous princessand present your suit. "

So just as they were they trudged to the city where the princess livedand presented themselves at the palace looking shabby andtravel-stained. 

The king received them and when he heard their mission he looked at themin amazement. 

"This makes three suitors for my daughter's hand! Two kings and now thisyoung man all on the same day! How am I going to decide among them?"

"Let heaven decide!" the Angel said. "Cut three branches of grape-vineand let the princess mark each branch with the name of a differentsuitor. Then let her plant the three branches to-night in the gardenand to-morrow do you give her in marriage to the man whose branch hasblossomed during the night and by morning is covered with ripe clustersof grapes. "

The king and the two other suitors agreed to this and the princess namedand planted three branches of grape-vine. In the morning two of thebranches were bare and dry, but the third, the one which was marked withthe name of the youngest brother, was covered with green leaves and ripeclusters of grapes. The king accepted heaven's ruling and at once ledhis daughter to church where he had her married to the stranger and senther off with his blessing. 

The Angel led the young couple to a forest and left them there. 

A year went by and the Angel was sent back to earth to see how the threebrothers were faring. Assuming the form of an old beggar, he went to theoldest brother who was busy among his wine-presses and begged thecharity of a cup of wine. 

"Be off with you, you old vagabond!" the oldest brother shouted angrily. "If I gave a cup of wine to every beggar that comes along I'd soon be abeggar myself!"

The Angel lifted his staff, made the sign of the cross, and lo! thewine and all the wine-presses disappeared and in their place flowed abroad deep river. 

"In your prosperity you have forgotten God's poor, " the Angel said. "Goback to your pear tree. "

Then the Angel went to the second brother who was busy in his dairy. 

"Brother, " the Angel said, "in heaven's name, I pray you, give me amorsel of cheese. "

"A morsel of cheese, you lazy good-for-nothing!" the second brothercried. "Be off with you or I'll call the dogs!"

The Angel lifted his staff, made the sign of the cross, and lo! thesheep and the dairy and all the busy laborers disappeared and he and thesecond brother were standing there alone in a field where flocks ofpigeons were feeding. 

"In your prosperity you have forgotten God's poor, " the Angel said. "Goback to your pear tree!"

Then the Angel made his way to the forest where he had left the youngestbrother and his wife. He found them in great poverty living in a meanlittle hut. 

"God be with you!" said the Angel still in the guise of an old beggar. "I pray you in heaven's name give me shelter for the night and a bite ofsupper. "

"We are poor ourselves, " the youngest brother said. 

"But come in, you are welcome to share what we have. "

They put the old beggar to rest at the most comfortable place beside thefire and the wife set three places for the evening meal. They were sopoor that the loaf that was baking in the oven was not made of grainground at the mill but of pounded bark gathered from the trees. 

"Alas, " the wife murmured to herself, "it shames me that we have no realbread to put before our guest. "

Imagine then her surprise when she opened the oven and saw a brownedloaf of wheaten bread. 

"God be praised!" she cried. 

She drew a pitcher of water at the spring but when she began pouring itinto the cups she found to her joy that it was changed to wine. 

"In your happiness, " the Angel said, "you have not forgotten God's poorand God will reward you!"

He raised his staff, made the sign of the cross, and lo! the mean littlehut disappeared and in its place arose a stately palace full of richesand beautiful things. Servants passed hither and thither and addressedthe poor man respectfully as "My lord!" and his wife as "My lady!"

The old beggar arose and as he went he blessed them both, saying:

"God gives you these riches and they will be yours to enjoy so long asyou share them with others. "

They must have remembered the Angel's words for all their lives longthey were happy and prosperous. 

[Illustration]

THE VILAS' SPRING

[Illustration]

_The Story of the Brother Who Knew That Good Was Stronger Than Evil_

THE VILAS' SPRING

There was once a rich man who had two sons. The older son wasoverbearing, greedy, and covetous. He was dishonest, too, and thoughtnothing of taking things that belonged to others. The younger brotherwas gentle and kind. He was always ready to share what he had and he wasnever known to cheat or to steal. 

"He's little better than a fool!" the older brother used to say of himscornfully. 

When the brothers grew to manhood the old father died leaving directionsthat they divide his wealth between them, share and share alike. 

"Nonsense!" the older brother said. "That fool would only squander hisinheritance! To every poor beggar that comes along he'd give an almsuntil soon my poor father's savings would be all gone! No! I'll give himthree golden ducats and a horse and tell him to get out and if he makesa fuss I won't give him that much!"

So he said to his younger brother:

"You're a fool and you oughtn't to have a penny from our father'sestate. However, I'll give you three golden ducats and a horse oncondition that you clear out and never come back. "

"Brother, " the younger one said quietly, "you are doing me a wrong. "

"What if I am?" sneered the older. "Wrong is stronger than Right just asI am stronger than you. Be off with you now or I'll take from you eventhese three golden ducats and the horse!"

Without another word the younger brother mounted the horse and rodeaway. 

Time went by and at last the brothers chanced to meet on the highway. 

"God bless you, brother!" the younger one said. 

"Don't you go God-blessing me, you fool!" the older one shouted. "Itisn't God who is powerful in this world but the Devil!"

"No, brother, " the other said, "you are wrong. God is stronger than theDevil just as Good is stronger than Evil. "

"Are you sure of that?"

"Yes, brother, I'm sure. "

"Well, then, let us make a wager. I'll wager you a golden ducat thatEvil is stronger than Good and we'll let the first man we meet on thisroad decide which of us is right. Do you agree?"

"Yes, brother, I agree. "

They rode a short distance and overtook a man who seemed to be a monk. He wasn't really a monk but the Devil himself disguised in the habit ofa monk. The older brother put the case to him and the false monk at onceanswered:

"That's an easy question to decide. Of course Evil is stronger than Goodin this world. "

Without a word the younger brother took out one of his golden ducats andhanded it over. 

"Now, " sneered the older one, "are you convinced?"

"No, brother, I am not. No matter what this monk says I know that Goodis stronger than Evil. "

"You do, do you? Then suppose we repeat the wager and ask the next manwe meet to decide between us. "

"Very well, brother, I'm willing. "

The next man they overtook looked like an old farmer, but in reality hewas the Devil again who had taken the guise of a farmer. They put thequestion to him and of course the Devil made the same answer:

"Evil is stronger than Good in this world. "

So again the younger brother paid his wager but insisted that he stillbelieved Good to be stronger than Evil. 

"Then we'll make a third wager, " the other said. 

With the Devil's help the older brother won the third golden ducat whichwas all the money the younger one had. Then the older brother suggestedthat they wager their horses and the Devil, disguised in another form, again acted as umpire and the younger one of course lost his horse. 

"Now I have nothing more to lose, " he said, "but I am still so sure thatGood is stronger than Evil that I am willing to wager the very eyes outof my head!"

"The more fool you!" the other one cried brutally. 

Without another word he knocked his younger brother down and gouged outhis eyes. 

"Now let God take care of you if He can! As for me I put my trust in theDevil!"

"May God forgive you for speaking so!" the younger one said. 

"I don't care whether He does or not! Nothing can harm me! I'm strongand I'm rich and I know how to take care of myself. As for you, you poorblind beggar, is there anything you would like me to do for you before Iride away?"

[Illustration: _Vilas at Play_]

"All I ask of you, brother, is that you lead me to the spring that isunder the fir tree not far from here. There I can bathe my wounds andsit in the shade. "

"I'll do that much for you, " the older one said, taking the blinded manby the hand. "For the rest, God will have to take care of you. "

With that he led him over to the fir tree and left him. The blinded mangroped his way to the spring and bathed his wounds, then sat down underthe tree and prayed God for help and protection. 

When night came he fell asleep and he slept until midnight when he wasawakened by the sound of voices at the spring. A company of Vilas werebathing and playing as they bathed. He was blind, as you remember, so hecouldn't see their beautiful forms but he knew that they must be Vilasfrom their voices which were as sweet as gurgling waters and murmuringtreetops. Human voices are never half so lovely. Yes, they must be Vilasfrom the mountains and the woods. 

"Ho, sisters!" cried one of them, "if only men knew that we bathed inthis spring, they could come to-morrow and be healed in its water--themaimed and the halt and blind! To-morrow this water would heal even theking's daughter who is afflicted with leprosy!"

When they were gone the blind man crept down to the spring and bathedhis face. At the first touch of the healing water his wounds closed andhis sight was restored. With a heart full of gratitude he knelt down andthanked God for the miracle. Then when morning came he filled a vesselwith the precious water and hurried to the king's palace. 

"Tell the king, " he said to the guards, "that I have come to heal hisdaughter. "

The king admitted him at once to the princess's chamber and said to him:

"If you succeed in healing the princess you shall have her in marriageand in addition I shall make you heir to my kingdom. "

The moment the princess was bathed in the healing water she, too, wasrestored to health and at once the proclamation was sent forth that theprincess was recovered and was soon to marry the man who had cured her. 

Now when the evil older brother heard who this fortunate man was, hecould scarcely contain himself for rage and envy. 

"How did that fool get back his sight?" he asked himself. "What magicsecret did he discover that enabled him to heal the princess of leprosy?Whatever it was he got it under the fir tree for where else could hehave got it? I've a good mind to go to the fir tree myself to-night andsee what happens. "

The more he thought about it the surer he became that if he went to thefir tree in exactly the same condition as his brother he, too, wouldhave some wonderful good fortune. So when night came he seated himselfunder the tree, gouged out his eyes with a knife, and then waited to seewhat would happen. At midnight he heard the Vilas at the spring buttheir voices were not sweet but shrill and angry. 

"Sisters, " they cried to each other, "have you heard? The princess ishealed of leprosy and it was with the water of this, our spring! Who hasspied on us?"

"While we were talking last night, " said one, "some man may have beenhiding under the fir tree. "

"Let us see if there is any one there to-night!" cried another. 

With that they all rushed to the fir tree and took the man they foundsitting there and in a fury tore him to pieces as though he were a bitof old cloth. So that was the end of the wicked older brother. And youwill notice that in his hour of need his friend, the Devil, was not onhand to help him. 

So after all it was the younger brother who finally inherited all hisfather's wealth. In addition he married the princess and was made heirto the kingdom. So you see Good is stronger than Evil in this world. 

[Illustration]

LORD AND MASTER

[Illustration]

_The Story of the Man Who Understood the Language of the Animals_

LORD AND MASTER

There was once a young shepherd, an honest industrious fellow, whopassed most of his time in the hills looking after his master's flocks. One afternoon he happened upon a bush which some gipsies had set a-fire. As he stopped to watch it he heard a strange hissing, whistling sound. He went as close as he could and in the center of the bush which theflames had not yet reached he saw a snake. It was writhing and tremblingin fear. 

"Help me, brother!" the snake said. "Help me and I will reward yourichly! I swear I will!"

The shepherd put the end of his crook over the flames and the snakecrawled up the crook, up the shepherd's arm, and wound itself about hisneck. 

It was now the shepherd's turn to be frightened. 

"What! Will you kill me as a reward for my kindness?"

"Nay, " the snake said. "Do not be afraid. I will not injure you. Do as Itell you and you will have nothing to regret. My father is the Tsar ofthe Snakes. Take me to him and he will reward you for rescuing me. "

"But I can't leave my flocks, " the shepherd said. 

"Have no fear about your flocks. Nothing will happen to them in yourabsence. "

"But I don't know where your father, the Tsar of the Snakes, lives, " theshepherd protested. 

"I'll show you, " the snake said. "I'll point out the direction with mytail. "

So in spite of his misgivings the shepherd at last agreed to the snake'ssuggestion and, leaving his sheep in God's care, started up themountainside in the direction which the snake pointed out with his tail. 

They reached finally a sort of pocket in the hills which was sandy androcky and exposed to the full force of the sun. The snake directed theshepherd to the entrance of a cave which had a huge door composedentirely of living snakes closely wound together. The shepherd's snakesaid something in his breathy whistling voice and the door pulled itselfapart and allowed the shepherd to enter the cave. 

"Now, " whispered the snake, "when my father asks you what you want, tellhim you want the gift of understanding the language of the animals. Hewill try to give you something else but don't you accept anythingelse. "

The Tsar of the Snakes was a huge creature clothed in a gorgeous skin ofred and yellow and black. They found him reclining on a golden tablewith a crown of precious jewels on his head. 

"My son!" he cried, when he saw the snake that was still wound about theshepherd's neck, "where have you been? We have been grieving for youthinking you had met some misfortune. "

"But for this shepherd, my father, " the snake said, "I should have beenburned to death. He rescued me. "

Then he told the Tsar of the Snakes the whole story. The Tsar of theSnakes listened carefully and when the Snake Prince was finished heturned to the shepherd and said:

"Sir, I am deeply indebted to you for saving my son's life. Ask of meanything I can grant and it is yours. "

"Give me then, " the shepherd said, "the gift of understanding thelanguage of the animals. "

"Not that!" the Tsar of the Snakes cried. "It is too dangerous a gift!If ever you confessed to some other human being that you had this giftand repeated what some animal said you would die that instant. Asksomething else--anything else!"

"No, " the shepherd insisted. "Give me that or nothing!"

When the Tsar of the Snakes saw that the shepherd was not to bedissuaded, he said:

"Very well, then. What must be, must be. Come now very close to me andput your mouth against my mouth. Do you breathe three times into mymouth and I shall breathe three times into your mouth. Then you willunderstand the language of the animals. "

So the shepherd put his mouth close to the mouth of the Tsar of theSnakes and breathed into it three times. Then the Tsar of the Snakesbreathed into the shepherd's mouth three times. 

"Now you will understand the language of all animals, " the Tsar of theSnakes said. "It is a dangerous gift but if you remember my warning itmay bring you great prosperity. Farewell. "

So the shepherd went back to his flocks and lay down under a fir tree torest. Presently he wondered whether he hadn't been asleep and dreamedabout the burning bush and the snake and the Tsar of the Snakes. 

"It can't be real!" he said to himself. "How can I or any man understandthe language of the animals!"

[Illustration: _The Tsar of the Snakes Listened Carefully_]

Just then two ravens alighted on the tree above his head. 

"Caw! Caw!" said one of them. "Wouldn't that shepherd be surprised if heknew he was lying on some buried treasure!"

"Caw! Caw!" laughed the other. "He'll never know for he's only one ofthose poor stupid human beings who can't understand a word we say!"

The ravens flew off and the shepherd sat up and rubbed his eyes to makesure he was awake. 

"Am I dreaming again?" he asked himself, "or did I really understandthem? Well, I'll soon find out. To-morrow I'll bring a spade and then ifthere's any treasure buried under this tree I won't be long in diggingit up. "

He marked the spot where he had been lying when the ravens spoke and thenext day came back and dug. Three feet below the surface his spade hitsomething that proved to be a big iron pot chock-full of golden ducats. 

He carried the treasure to his master and his master was so pleased athis honesty that he gave him half of it. 

So now the shepherd was able to set up in life for himself. He bought afarm and married and "settled down" as the saying is. The years went byand he grew prosperous and rich. 

One Christmas Eve he said to his wife:

"I'm thinking, wife, of my youth when I was a shepherd and how lonely itwas at times like this when other folk were at home seated about thefire and making merry. Let us give our shepherds out on the hills asurprise to-night. We can take them meats and wine and other food andthen I'll go out and guard the sheep while you serve them a fineChristmas supper. "

His wife agreed and they mounted their horses and rode out to the hillstaking with them great hampers of food and wine. The wife entertainedthe shepherds in their hut with a big jolly supper and the master stayedoutside all night with the dogs guarding the sheep. 

At midnight some wolves came prowling around the flocks. 

"See here, " they said to the dogs, "if you let us in we'll kill thesheep and then we'll divide the carcasses with you. "

The dogs for the most part were young and thoughtless and ready enoughto fall in with the wolves' suggestion. But there was one old sheepdogthat nothing could tempt. 

"I've only a few teeth left!" he growled, "but those few are stillsound and let any wolf come a step nearer and I'll tear him to pieces!"

All night long that one old sheepdog stood on guard faithful to duty. 

In the morning the master ordered the shepherds to kill the young dogsand train in new ones. 

The shepherds were surprised. 

"The master's a clever one!" they told each other. "Just one night andhe found out how worthless those young dogs were!"

As the farmer and his wife were riding home, the farmer's horse ran onahead. 

"Not so fast!" begged the mare that the wife was riding. "Have pity onme and go more slowly. You have only the master to carry while I'm allladen down with hampers and empty jugs and I don't know what and with amistress that's twice as big as she was a few months ago!"

The farmer when he heard the mare's complaint burst out laughing. 

"What are you laughing at?" his wife asked sharply. 

"Nothing, " the farmer said. 

"You're laughing at me!" the wife declared, "I know you are, justbecause I'm so big that I'm awkward in the saddle!"

"No, my dear, I'm not laughing at you, truly I'm not. "

"You are! I know you are and I don't think it's kind of you, either!"And the wife burst into tears. 

"Now, my dear, " the husband said, soothingly, "be sensible and believeme when I tell you I was not laughing at you. "

"Then what were you laughing at?"

"I can't tell you because if I did tell you then I should die the nextmoment. "

"Die the next moment!" the wife said. "Stuff and nonsense! It must be astrange thing indeed if a man can't tell his own wife for fear he'll diethe next moment!"

The more she thought about it the more enraged she became and also themore curious. 

"If you really loved me, you'd tell me!" she wept. 

All the way home she kept on worrying her husband and nagging at himuntil at last in utter exhaustion he said:

"Peace, woman, peace, and I'll tell you! But first let me have my coffinmade for as I've warned you I shall die the moment I've spoken. "

So he had the village carpenter build him a coffin and when it wasready he stood it up on end against the house and got inside of it. 

The news of what was about to happen spread among the animals and thefaithful old sheepdog hurried down from the hills to be with his masterat the end. He lay down at the foot of the coffin and howled. 

"I've one faithful friend!" the farmer said. "Wife, give the poor dogsome bread before I tell you my secret and die. "

The woman threw the old dog a hunk of bread but the dog refused it andkept on howling. 

The rooster from the barnyard came running up and began gobbling downthe bread with great gusto. 

"You shameless animal!" the dog said sternly. "Here's the poor masterabout to die on account of that foolish inquisitive wife of his and yetyou have so little feeling that you're delighted at the chance to gorgeyourself with food!"

The rooster clucked scornfully. 

"See here, old dog, I can't waste any sympathy on that master of ours!Any man who allows his wife to bully him deserves whatever he gets! Lookat me!" The rooster puffed out his chest and gave a loud:"_Cock-a-doodle-do_! I've got fifty wives but do they bully me? They donot! Whenever I find a nice fat worm or a grain of corn I set up anawful noise and gather them all around me. Then I eat it while theystand there and admire me! No, no, old dog, I have no patience with themaster! He has only one wife and he doesn't know how to rule her!"

"The rooster's right!" thought the farmer. 

With that he jumped out of the coffin, picked up a stick, and gave hiswife a sound beating. 

"So you'd kill your husband just to satisfy your curiosity, would you?"he shouted angrily. "Very well, then! Take this and this and this! Andif your curiosity is still unsatisfied I'll give you some more!"

"Stop! Stop! Stop!" cried the wife. "Do you want to injure me!"

But the farmer did not stop until he had given her such a whipping thatshe never forgot it. When it was over she begged his pardon humbly andpromised never again to ask him anything that he didn't want to tellher. 

"You just mustn't let me be so foolish again!" she said. 

"I won't!" the farmer declared. 

Then he puffed out his chest and strutted about until you'd have laughedto see him--he looked so much like the rooster!

THE SILVER TRACKS

[Illustration]

_The Story of the Poor Man Who Befriended a Beggar_

THE SILVER TRACKS

There were once three brothers who lived in the same village. One ofthem was very rich. He had houses and fields and barns. He had nothingto spend his money on for he had no children and his wife was as savingand hardworking as himself. The second brother was not so rich but he, too, was prosperous. He had one son and all his thought was toaccumulate money and property in order to leave his son rich. He schemedand worked and slaved and made his wife do the same. 

The third brother was industrious but very poor. He worked early andlate and never took a holiday. He couldn't afford to for he had a wifeand ten children and only by working every hour of the day and often farinto the night could he earn enough to buy food for so large a family. He was a simple man and a good man and he taught his children that themost important thing for them to do in life was to love God and be kindto their fellowmen. 

Now it happened that once, when our Lord Christ was on earth testing outthe hearts of men, he came in the guise of a beggar to the villagewhere the three brothers lived. He came in a brokendown cart driving awheezy old horse. It was cold and raining and night was falling. 

The Beggar knocked at the door of the richest brother and said:

"I pray you in God's name give shelter for the night to me and myhorse. "

"What!" cried the rich man, "do you suppose I have nothing better to dothan give shelter to such as you! Be off with you or I'll call my menand have them give you the beating you deserve!"

The Beggar left without another word and went to the house of the nextbrother. He was civil at least to the Beggar and pretended that he wassorry to refuse him. 

"I'd accommodate you if I could, " he said, "but the truth is I can't. Myhouse isn't as big as it looks and I have many people dependent on me. Just go on a little farther and I'm sure you'll find some one who willtake you in. "

The Beggar turned his horse's head and went to the tiny little housewhere the poor brother lived with his big family. He knocked on the doorand begged for shelter. 

"Come in, brother, " said the Poor Man. "We're pretty crowded here butwe'll find a place for you. "

"And my horse, " the Beggar said; "I'm afraid to leave him out in therain and cold. "

"We'll stable him with my donkey, " the Poor Man said. "Do you come inhere by the fire and dry off and I'll see to the horse. "

The Poor Man pulled out his own cart until it was exposed to the rain inorder to make a dry place in the shed for the Beggar's cart. Then he ledthe Beggar's gaunt horse into his tiny stable and fed him for the nightout of his own slender store of oats and hay. 

He and his family shared their evening meal with the Beggar and thenmade up for him a bed of straw near the fire where he was able to passthe night comfortably and warmly. 

The next morning as he was leaving he said to the Poor Man:

"You must come sometime to my house and visit me and let me return thehospitality you have shown me. "

"Where do you live?" the Poor Man asked. 

"You can always find me, " the Beggar said, "by following the tracks ofmy cart. You will know them because they are broader than the tracks ofany other cart. You will come, won't you?"

"Yes, " the Poor Man promised, "I will if ever I have time. "

They bade each other good-by and the Beggar drove slowly off. Then thePoor Man went to the shed to get his own cart and the first thing he sawwere two large silver bolts lying on the ground. 

"They must have fallen from the Beggar's cart!" he thought to himselfand he ran out to the road to see whether the Beggar were still insight. But he and the cart had disappeared. 

"I hope he has no accident on account of those bolts!" the Poor Mansaid. 

When he went to the stable to get his donkey he found four goldenhorse-shoes where the Beggar's horse had been standing. 

"Four golden horse-shoes!" he exclaimed. "I ought to return them and thesilver bolts at once! But I can't to-day, I'm too busy. Well, I'll hidethem safely away and some afternoon when I have a few hours to spareI'll follow the tracks of the cart to the Beggar's house. "

That afternoon he met his two rich brothers and told them about theBeggar. 

"Silver bolts!" cried one. 

"Golden horse-shoes!" cried the other. "Take us home with you and let ussee them!"

So they went home with the Poor Man and saw for themselves the silverbolts and the golden horse-shoes. 

"Brothers, " the Poor Man said, "if either of you have time I wish you'dtake these things and return them to the Beggar. "

They both said, no, no, they hadn't time, but they would like to knowwhere the Beggar lived. 

"He said I could always find him, " the Poor Man said, "by following thetracks of his cart. "

"The tracks of his cart!" echoed the other two. "Show us the tracks ofhis cart!"

They went to the shed where the cart had been and followed the tracksout to the road. Even on the road they were easy to see for besidesbeing wider than any other cart tracks they shone white like glisteningsilver. 

"H'm! H'm!" murmured the two rich brothers. 

"You don't think either of you have time to follow them to the Beggar'shouse?" the Poor Man said. 

"No! Of course not! Of course not!" they both answered. 

But in his heart each had already decided to go at once and see forhimself what kind of a Beggar this was who had silver bolts in his cartand golden shoes on his horse. 

The oldest brother went the very next day driving a new wagon and a finehorse. The silver tracks led through woods and fields and over hills. They came at last to a river which was spanned by a wooden bridge. Itwas cunningly constructed of timbers beautifully hewn. The rich man hadnever seen such wood used on a bridge. 

By the roadside beyond the bridge there was a pigsty with one troughfull of corn and another full of water. There were two sows in the styand they were fighting each other and tearing at each other and payingno attention whatever to all the good food in the trough. 

A little farther on there was another river and over it anotherwonderful bridge, this one made entirely of stone. 

Beyond it the rich man came to a meadow where there was a hayrick aroundwhich two angry bulls were chasing each other and goring each otheruntil the blood spurted. 

"I wonder some one doesn't stop them!" the rich man thought to himself. 

The next river had an iron bridge, more beautiful than the rich man hadever supposed an iron bridge could be. 

Beyond the iron bridge there was a field and a bush and two angry ramsthat were chasing each other around the bush and fighting. Their hornscracked as they met and their hides were torn and bleeding where theyhad gored each other. 

"I never saw so many angry fighting animals!" the rich man thought tohimself. 

The next bridge glowed in the sun like the embers of a fire for it wasbuilt entirely of shining copper--copper rivets, copper plates, copperbeams, nothing but copper. 

The silver tracks led over the copper bridge into a broad valley. By theroadside there was a high crossbar from which depended heavy cuts ofmeat--lamb and pork and veal. Two large bitch dogs were jumping at themeat and then snarling and snapping at each other. 

The next bridge was the loveliest of them all for it was built of whitegleaming silver. 

The rich man climbed down from his wagon and examined it closely. 

"It would be worth a man's while to carry home a piece of this bridge!"he muttered to himself. 

He tried the rivets, he shook the railing. At last he found four loosebolts which he was able to pull out. The four together were so heavythat he was scarcely able to lift them. He looked cautiously about andwhen he saw that no one was looking, he slipped them one by one into thebottom of his wagon and covered them with straw. Then he turned hishorse's head and drove home as fast as he could. It was midnight when hegot there and nobody about to spy on him as he hid the silver bolts inthe hay. 

The next day when he went out alone to gloat over his treasure he foundinstead of four heavy silver bolts four pieces of wood!

So that's what the rich brother got for following the silver tracks. 

A day or two later without saying a word to any one, the second brotherdecided that he would follow the silver tracks and have a look at thestrange Beggar whose cart had silver bolts and whose wheezy horse hadgolden shoes. 

"Perhaps if I keep my wits about me I'll be able to pick up a few goldenhorse-shoes. Not many boys inherit golden horse-shoes from theirfathers!"

[Illustration: _The Beggar's Garden_]

Well, the second brother went over exactly the same route and sawexactly the same things. He crossed all those wonderful bridges that hisbrother had crossed--the wooden bridge, the stone bridge, the ironbridge, the copper bridge, the silver bridge, and he saw all thoseangry animals still trying to gore each other to death. 

He didn't stop at the silver bridge for he thought to himself:

"Perhaps the next bridge will be golden and if it is I may be able tobreak off a piece of it!"

Beyond the silver bridge was another broad valley and the second brothersaw many strange sights as he drove through. There was a man standingalone in a field and trying to beat off a flock of ravens that wereswooping down and pecking at his eyes. Near him was an old man withsnow-white hair who was making loud outcries to heaven praying to bedelivered from the two oxen who were munching at his white hair asthough it were so much hay. They ate great wisps of it and the more theyate the more grew out. 

There was an apple-tree heavily laden with ripe fruit and a hungry manforever reaching up and plucking an apple. The apples were apples ofSodom and always as the hungry man raised each new one to his mouth itturned to ashes. 

In another place a thirsty man was reaching with a dipper into a welland always, just as he was about to scoop up some water, the well movedaway from under the dipper. 

"What a strange country this is!" thought the second brother as he droveon. 

At last he reached the next bridge and sure enough it was shining gold!Every part of it--bolts and beams and pillars, all were gold. In greatexcitement the second brother climbed down from his wagon and beganpulling and wrenching at various parts of the bridge hoping to find someloose pieces which he could break off. At last he succeeded in pullingout four long bolts which were so heavy he could scarcely lift them. After looking about in all directions to make sure that no one saw him, he put them into his wagon and covered them up with straw. Then he drovehomewards as fast as he could. 

"Ha! Ha!" he chuckled as he hid the golden bolts in the barn. "My sonwill now be a richer man than my brother!"

He could scarcely sleep with thinking of his golden treasure and at thefirst light of morning he slipped out to the barn. Imagine his rage whenhe found in the straw four bolts of wood!

So that was all the second brother got for following the silver tracks. 

Well, years went by and the Poor Man worked day after day and all dayand often far into the night. Some of his children died and the restgrew up and went out into the world and married and made homes of theirown. Then at last his good wife died and the time came when the Poor Manwas old and all alone in the world. 

One night as he sat on his doorstep thinking of his wife and of hischildren when they were little and of all the years he had worked forthem to keep them fed and clothed, he happened to remember the Beggarand the promise he had made to visit him sometime. 

"And to think of all the years I've kept his golden horse-shoes and hissilver bolts! Well, he'll forgive me, I know, " thought the Poor Man, "for he'll understand that I've always been too busy up to this timeever to follow the tracks of his cart. I wonder are they still there. "

He went out to the roadside and peered down and how it happened I don'tknow, but to his dim eyes at least there were the silver tracks as clearas ever. 

"Good!" cried the Poor Man. "To-morrow morning bright and early I'llhitch up the donkey and visit my old friend, the Beggar!"

So the next day he took out the silver bolts and the golden horse-shoesfrom the place where he had kept them hidden all these years and he putthem in a bag. Then he hitched his old donkey to his old cart andstarted out to follow the silver tracks to the Beggar's home. 

Well, he saw just exactly the same things that his brothers had seenthose many years before: all those terrible fighting animals and allthose unfortunate men. 

"I'll have to remember and ask the Beggar what ails all thesecreatures, " he thought to himself. 

Like his brothers he passed over the wooden bridge and the stone bridgeand the iron bridge and the copper bridge and the silver bridge and eventhe golden bridge. Beyond the golden bridge he came to a Garden that wassurrounded by a high wall of diamonds and rubies and sapphires and allkinds of precious stones that blazed as brightly as the sun itself. Thesilver tracks turned in at the garden gate which was locked. 

The poor man climbed down from his cart, unhitched the donkey, and sethim out to graze on the tender grass that grew by the wayside. 

Then he took the bag that held the golden horse-shoes and the silverbolts and he went to the garden gate. It was a very wonderful gate ofbeaten gold set with precious stones. For a moment the Poor Man wonderedif he dare knock at so rich a gate, then he remembered that his friendthe Beggar was inside and he knew that he would be made welcome. 

It was the Beggar himself who opened the gate. When he saw the Poor Manhe smiled and held out his hands and said:

"Welcome, dear friend! I have been waiting for you all these years! Comein and I will show you my Garden. "

So the Poor Man went inside. And first of all he gave the Beggar hisgolden horse-shoes and his silver bolts. 

"Forgive me, " he said, "for keeping them so long, but I've never hadtime until now to return them. "

The Beggar smiled. 

"I knew, dear friend, that they were safe with you and that you wouldbring them some day. "

Then the Beggar put his arm over the Poor Man's shoulder and led himthrough the Garden showing him the wonderful golden fruits and beautifulflowers. They sat them down beside a fountain of crystal water and whilethey listened to the songs of glorious birds they talked together andthe Poor Man asked about the strange things he had seen along the road. 

"All those animals, " the Beggar said, "were once human beings whoinstead of fearing God and being kind to their fellowmen passed alltheir time fighting and cheating and cursing. The two sows were twosisters-in-law who hated each other bitterly. The two bulls and the tworams were neighbors who fought for years and years over the boundarylines of their farms and now they keep on fighting through eternity. Thetwo bitches were two sisters who fought until they died over theinheritance left them by their father. The old man whose hair the oxeneat was a farmer who always pastured his cattle on his neighbors'fields. Now he has his reward. The man at whose eyes the ravens peck wasan ungrateful son who mistreated his parents. The man with the awfulthirst that can never be quenched was a drunkard, and the one at whoselips the apples turn to ashes was a glutton. "

So they talked on together, the Poor Man and the Beggar, until it waslate afternoon and the Beggar said:

"And now, dear friend, you will sup with me as I once supped with you. "

"Thank you, " the Poor Man said, "I will. But let me first go out and seehow my donkey is. "

"Very well, " the Beggar said, "go. But be sure to come back for I shallbe waiting for you. "

So the Poor Man went out the garden gate and looked for his donkey. Butthe donkey was gone. 

"He must have started home, " the Poor Man thought. "I'll hurry andovertake him. "

So he started back afoot the way he had come. He went on and on but sawno donkey. He crossed the golden bridge and the silver bridge and thecopper bridge and the iron bridge and the stone bridge and last of allthe wooden bridge, but still there was no donkey. 

"He must have got all the way home, " he thought. 

When the Poor Man reached his native village things looked different. Houses that he remembered had disappeared and others had taken theirplaces. He couldn't find his own little house at all. He asked thepeople he met and they knew nothing about it. And they knew nothingabout him, either, not even his name. And nobody even knew about hissons. At last he did meet one old man who remembered the family name andwho told him that many years before the last of the sons had gone toanother village to live. 

"There's no place here for me, " the Poor Man thought. "I better go backto my friend the Beggar and stay with him. No one else wants me. "

So once again he followed the silver tracks all that long way over allthose bridges and when at last he reached the garden gate he was verytired, for he was old and feeble now. It was all he could do to give onefaint little knock. But the Beggar heard him and came running to lethim in. And when he saw him, how tired he was and how feeble, he put hisarm around him and helped him into the Garden and he said:

"You shall stay with me now forever and we shall be very happytogether. "

And the Poor Man when he looked in the Beggar's face to thank him sawthat he was not a beggar at all but the Blessed Christ Himself. And thenhe knew that he was in the Garden of Paradise. 

[Illustration]

THE END

STORIES TO TELL

IT'S PERFECTLY TRUE AND OTHER STORIES. _By Hans Christian Andersen. _Twenty-eight stories translated from the Danish by Paul Leyssac. 

13 DANISH TALES. _By Mary C. Hatch. _ A baker's dozen of robust, humorousfolk tales. 

MORE DANISH TALES. _By Mary C. Hatch. _ Fifteen rollicking folk talesretold from Sven Grundtvig's _Folkaeventyr_. 

A BAKER'S DOZEN. _Selected by Mary Gould Davis. _ Thirteen stories whichare especially successful in storytelling. 

THE TREASURE OF LI-PO. _By Alice Ritchie. _ Six original fairy tales setin China and told with beauty and distinction. 

THE SHEPHERD'S NOSEGAY: Stories from Finland and Czechoslovakia. _ByParker Fillmore. _ Children and storytellers alike will welcome theserich and robust folk tales, long unavailable. 

ROOTABAGA STORIES. _By Carl Sandburg. _ An omnibus volume including allthe stories originally published in the two books _Rootabaga Stories_and _Rootabaga Pigeons_. 

THE TIGER'S WHISKER: And Other Tales and Legends from Asia and thePacific. _By Harold Courlander. _ Thirty-one Far Eastern folk tales, fullof sly humor, adventure, and virtue rewarded. 

THE HAT-SHAKING DANCE and Other Tales from the Gold Coast. _By HaroldCourlander and Albert Kofi Prempeh. _ A handsome collection of twenty-onewise and humorous Ashanti folk tales. 

HARCOURT, BRACE & WORLD, INC. 757 _Third Avenue, New York 17, N. Y. _

_=The Magic Listening Cap=_

_More Folk Tales from Japan_

BY YOSHIKO UCHIDA

Wisdom and humor abound in the fourteen folk tales of this secondcollection by the author of _The Dancing Kettle_. Once more Miss Uchidahas dipped into the wealth of Japanese folklore to retell delightfulstories that American children have seldom heard. 

"The Wrestling Match of the Two Buddhas, " "The Man Who Bought a Dream, ""The Golden Axe, " and others are a fascinating combination of thestrange and the familiar. A different land, a different people, adifferent kind of magic all come to life in these colorful, imaginativetales. And yet running through them are such universal folk themes asthe inevitable downfall of the greedy and the foolish. In all of theseadventures there is a keen sense of the Japanese countryside with itsmountains and sea, rice fields, deep green forests, and delicategardens. 

Retold with freshness and simplicity, these ancient tales are not onlyfun to read but also welcome new material for storytelling. 

_Illustrated by the author_

Honor Book in the 1955 _N. Y. Herald Tribune_ Children's Spring BookFestival

60-100

TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE

Please hover your mouse over the words with a thin dotted gray lineunderneath them for seeing what the original reads. The text in the solidblack box is the text from the dust cover flaps. 

LIST OF FIXED ISSUES

p. 023--removed a duplicate period after 'frozen over'p. 094--typo fixed: changed 'to to' into 'to'p. 096--inserted a missing 'is' between 'It' and 'like a fox's tail!'p. 131--typo fixed: changed 'hankerchief' into 'handkerchief'p. 214--typo fixed: changed 'tomorrrow's' into 'tomorrow's'. P. 225--removed a duplicate 'and' in front of 'searched here'p. 238--typo fixed: changed 'winepresses' into 'wine-presses'p. 281--typo fixed: changed 'horseshoes' into 'horse-shoes'