第1章

PREFACE

TheEditortakesthisopportunitytorepeatwhathehasoftensaidbefore，thatheisnottheauthorofthestoriesintheFairyBooks;thathedidnotinventthem’outofhisownhead。’

Heisaccustomedtobeingasked，byladies，’HaveyouwrittenanythingelseexcepttheFairyBooks？’HeisthenobligedtoexplainthathehasNOTwrittentheFairyBooks，but，savethese，haswrittenalmosteverythingelse，excepthymns，sermons，anddramaticworks。

ThestoriesinthisVioletFairyBook，asinalltheothersoftheseries，havebeentranslatedoutofthepopulartraditionaltalesinanumberofdifferentlanguages。Thesestoriesareasoldasanythingthatmenhaveinvented。Theyarenarratedbynakedsavagewomentonakedsavagechildren。Theyhavebeeninheritedbyourearliestcivilisedancestors，whoreallybelievedthatbeastsandtreesandstonescantalkiftheychoose，andbehavekindlyorunkindly。Thestoriesarefulloftheoldestideasofageswhensciencedidnotexist，andmagictooktheplaceofscience。Anybodywhohasthecuriositytoreadthe’LegendaryAustralianTales，’whichMrs。LanglohParkerhascollectedfromthelipsoftheAustraliansavages，willfindthatthesetalesarecloselyakintoourown。Whowerethefirstauthorsofthemnobodyknows——probablythefirstmenandwomen。

EvemayhavetoldthesetalestoamuseCainandAbel。Aspeoplegrewmorecivilisedandhadkingsandqueens，princesandprincesses，theseexaltedpersonsgenerallywerechosenasheroesandheroines。Butoriginallythecharacterswerejust’aman，’

and’awoman，’and’aboy，’and’agirl，’withcrowdsofbeasts，birds，andfishes，allbehavinglikehumanbeings。Whenthenoblesandotherpeoplebecamerichandeducated，theyforgottheoldstories，butthecountrypeopledidnot，andhandedthemdown，withchangesatpleasure，fromgenerationtogeneration。

Thenlearnedmencollectedandprintedthecountrypeople’sstories，andthesewehavetranslated，toamusechildren。Theirtastesremainlikethetastesoftheirnakedancestors，thousandsofyearsago，andtheyseemtolikefairytalesbetterthanhistory，poetry，geography，orarithmetic，justasgrown—uppeoplelikenovelsbetterthananythingelse。

Thisisthewholetruthofthematter。Ihavesaidsobefore，andIsaysoagain。ButnothingwillpreventchildrenfromthinkingthatIinventedthestories，orsomeladiesfrombeingofthesameopinion。Butwhoreallyinventedthestoriesnobodyknows;itisallsolongago，longbeforereadingandwritingwereinvented。Thefirstofthestoriesactuallywrittendown，werewritteninEgyptianhieroglyphs，oronBabyloniancakesofclay，threeorfourthousandyearsbeforeourtime。

Ofthestoriesinthisbook，MissBlackleytranslated’DwarfLongNose，’’TheWonderfulBeggars，’’TheLutePlayer，’’TwoinaSack，’and’TheFishthatswamintheAir。’Mr。W。A。CraigietranslatedfromtheScandinavian，’JasperwhoherdedtheHares。’

Mrs。Langdidtherest。

SomeofthemostinterestingarefromtheRoumanion，andthreewerepreviouslypublishedinthelateDr。Steere’s’SwahiliTales。’BythepermissionofhisrepresentativesthesethreeAfricanstorieshaveherebeenabridgedandsimplifiedforchildren。

ATALEOFTHETONTLAWALD

Long，longagotherestoodinthemidstofacountrycoveredwithlakesavaststretchofmoorlandcalledtheTontlawald，onwhichnomaneverdaredsetfoot。Fromtimetotimeafewboldspiritshadbeendrawnbycuriositytoitsborders，andontheirreturnhadreportedthattheyhadcaughtaglimpseofaruinedhouseinagroveofthicktrees，androundaboutitwereacrowdofbeingsresemblingmen，swarmingoverthegrasslikebees。Themenwereasdirtyandraggedasgipsies，andtherewerebesidesaquantityofoldwomenandhalf—nakedchildren。

OnenightapeasantwhowasreturninghomefromafeastwanderedalittlefartherintotheTontlawald，andcamebackwiththesamestory。Acountlessnumberofwomenandchildrenweregatheredroundahugefire，andsomewereseatedontheground，whileothersdancedstrangedancesonthesmoothgrass。Oneoldcronehadabroadironladleinherhand，withwhicheverynowandthenshestirredthefire，butthemomentshetouchedtheglowingashesthechildrenrushedaway，shriekinglikenightowls，anditwasalongwhilebeforetheyventuredtostealback。Andbesidesallthistherehadonceortwicebeenseenalittleoldmanwithalongbeardcreepingoutoftheforest，carryingasackbiggerthanhimself。Thewomenandchildrenranbyhisside，weepingandtryingtodragthesackfromoffhisback，butheshookthemoff，andwentonhisway。Therewasalsoataleofamagnificentblackcataslargeasafoal，butmencouldnotbelieveallthewonderstoldbythepeasant，anditwasdifficulttomakeoutwhatwastrueandwhatwasfalseinhisstory。However，thefactremainedthatstrangethingsdidhappenthere，andtheKingofSweden，towhomthispartofthecountrybelonged，morethanoncegaveorderstocutdownthehauntedwood，buttherewasnoonewithcourageenoughtoobeyhiscommands。Atlengthoneman，bolderthantherest，struckhisaxeintoatree，buthisblowwasfollowedbyastreamofbloodandshrieksasofahumancreatureinpain。Theterrifiedwoodcutterfledasfastashislegswouldcarryhim，andafterthatneitherordersnorthreatswoulddriveanybodytotheenchantedmoor。

AfewmilesfromtheTontlawaldwasalargevillage，wheredweltapeasantwhohadrecentlymarriedayoungwife。Asnotuncommonlyhappensinsuchcases，sheturnedthewholehouseupsidedown，andthetwoquarrelledandfoughtalldaylong。

ByhisfirstwifethepeasanthadadaughtercalledElsa，agoodquietgirl，whoonlywantedtoliveinpeace，butthisherstepmotherwouldnotallow。Shebeatandcuffedthepoorchildfrommorningtillnight，butasthestepmotherhadthewhip—handofherhusbandtherewasnoremedy。

FortwoyearsElsasufferedallthisill—treatment，whenonedayshewentoutwiththeothervillagechildrentopluckstrawberries。Carelesslytheywanderedon，tillatlasttheyreachedtheedgeoftheTontlawald，wherethefineststrawberriesgrew，makingthegrassredwiththeircolour。Thechildrenflungthemselvesdownontheground，and，aftereatingasmanyastheywanted，begantopileuptheirbaskets，whensuddenlyacryarosefromoneoftheolderboys:

’Run，runasfastasyoucan！WeareintheTontlawald！’

Quickerthanlightningtheysprangtotheirfeet，andrushedmadlyaway，allexceptElsa，whohadstrayedfartherthantherest，andhadfoundabedofthefineststrawberriesrightunderthetrees。Liketheothers，sheheardtheboy’scry，butcouldnotmakeuphermindtoleavethestrawberries。

’Afterall，whatdoesitmatter？’thoughtshe。’ThedwellersintheTontlawaldcannotbeworsethanmystepmother’;andlookingupshesawalittleblackdogwithasilverbellonitsneckcomebarkingtowardsher，followedbyamaidencladallinsilk。

’Bequiet，’saidshe;thenturningtoElsasheadded:’Iamsogladyoudidnotrunawaywiththeotherchildren。Stayherewithmeandbemyfriend，andwewillplaydelightfulgamestogether，andeverydaywewillgoandgatherstrawberries。

NobodywilldaretobeatyouifItellthemnot。Come，letusgotomymother’;andtakingElsa’shandsheledherdeeperintothewood，thelittleblackdogjumpingupbesidethemandbarkingwithpleasure。

Oh！whatwondersandsplendoursunfoldedthemselvesbeforeElsa’sastonishedeyes！ShethoughtshereallymustbeinHeaven。Fruittreesandbushesloadedwithfruitstoodbeforethem，whilebirdsgayerthanthebrightestbutterflysatintheirbranchesandfilledtheairwiththeirsong。Andthebirdswerenotshy，butletthegirlstakethemintheirhands，andstroketheirgoldandsilverfeathers。Inthecentreofthegardenwasthedwelling—house，shiningwithglassandpreciousstones，andinthedoorwaysatawomaninrichgarments，whoturnedtoElsa’scompanionandasked:

’Whatsortofaguestareyoubringingtome？’

’Ifoundheraloneinthewood，’repliedherdaughter，’andbroughtherbackwithmeforacompanion。Youwillletherstay？’

Themotherlaughed，butsaidnothing，onlyshelookedElsaupanddownsharply。Thenshetoldthegirltocomenear，andstrokedhercheeksandspokekindlytoher，askingifherparentswerealive，andifshereallywouldliketostaywiththem。Elsastoopedandkissedherhand，then，kneelingdown，buriedherfaceinthewoman’slap，andsobbedout:

’Mymotherhaslainformanyyearsundertheground。Myfatherisstillalive，butIamnothingtohim，andmystepmotherbeatsmeallthedaylong。Icandonothingright，soletme，Iprayyou，staywithyou。Iwilllookaftertheflocksordoanyworkyoutellme;Iwillobeyyourlightestword;onlydonot，I

entreatyou，sendmebacktoher。Shewillhalfkillmefornothavingcomebackwiththeotherchildren。’

Andthewomansmiledandanswered，’Well，wewillseewhatwecandowithyou，’and，rising，wentintothehouse。

ThenthedaughtersaidtoElsa，’Fearnothing，mymotherwillbeyourfriend。Isawbythewayshelookedthatshewouldgrantyourrequestwhenshehadthoughtoverit，’and，tellingElsatowait，sheenteredthehousetoseekhermother。Elsameanwhilewastossedaboutbetweenhopeandfear，andfeltasifthegirlwouldnevercome。

AtlastElsasawhercrossingthegrasswithaboxinherhand。

’Mymothersayswemayplaytogetherto—day，asshewantstomakeuphermindwhattodoaboutyou。ButIhopeyouwillstayherealways，asIcan’tbearyoutogoaway。Haveyoueverbeenonthesea？’

’Thesea？’askedElsa，staring;’whatisthat？I’veneverheardofsuchathing！’

’Oh，I’llsoonshowyou，’answeredthegirl，takingthelidfromthebox，andattheverybottomlayascrapofacloak，amusselshell，andtwofishscales。Twodropsofwaterwereglisteningonthecloak，andthesethegirlshookontheground。Inaninstantthegardenandlawnandeverythingelsehadvanishedutterly，asiftheearthhadopenedandswallowedthemup，andasfarastheeyecouldreachyoucouldseenothingbutwater，whichseemedatlasttotouchheavenitself。Onlyundertheirfeetwasatinydryspot。Thenthegirlplacedthemusselshellonthewaterandtookthefishscalesinherhand。Themusselshellgrewbiggerandbigger，andturnedintoaprettylittleboat，whichwouldhaveheldadozenchildren。Thegirlssteppedin，Elsaverycautiously，forwhichshewasmuchlaughedatbyherfriend，whousedthefishscalesforarudder。Thewavesrockedthegirlssoftly，asiftheywerelyinginacradle，andtheyfloatedontilltheymetotherboatsfilledwithmen，singingandmakingmerry。

’Wemustsingyouasonginreturn，’saidthegirl，butasElsadidnotknowanysongs，shehadtosingbyherself。Elsacouldnotunderstandanyofthemen’ssongs，butoneword，shenoticed，cameoverandoveragain，andthatwas’Kisika。’Elsaaskedwhatitmeant，andthegirlrepliedthatitwashername。

Itwasallsopleasantthattheymighthavestayedthereforeverhadnotavoicecriedouttothem，’Children，itistimeforyoutocomehome！’

SoKisikatookthelittleboxoutofherpocket，withthepieceofclothlyinginit，anddippedtheclothinthewater，andlo！

theywerestandingclosetoasplendidhouseinthemiddleofthegarden。Everythingroundthemwasdryandfirm，andtherewasnowateranywhere。Themusselshellandthefishscaleswereputbackinthebox，andthegirlswentin。

Theyenteredalargehall，wherefourandtwentyrichlydressedwomenweresittingroundatable，lookingasiftheywereabouttoattendawedding。Attheheadofthetablesattheladyofthehouseinagoldenchair。

Elsadidnotknowwhichwaytolook，foreverythingthatmethereyeswasmorebeautifulthanshecouldhavedreamedpossible。

Butshesatdownwiththerest，andatesomedeliciousfruit，andthoughtshemustbeinheaven。Thegueststalkedsoftly，buttheirspeechwasstrangetoElsa，andsheunderstoodnothingofwhatwassaid。Thenthehostessturnedroundandwhisperedsomethingtoamaidbehindherchair，andthemaidleftthehall，andwhenshecamebackshebroughtalittleoldmanwithher，whohadabeardlongerthanhimself。Hebowedlowtotheladyandthenstoodquietlynearthedoor。

’Doyouseethisgirl？’saidtheladyofthehouse，pointingtoElsa。’Iwishtoadoptherformydaughter。Makemeacopyofher，whichwecansendtohernativevillageinsteadofherself。’

TheoldmanlookedElsaallupanddown，asifhewastakinghermeasure，bowedagaintothelady，andleftthehall。AfterdinnertheladysaidkindlytoElsa，’Kisikahasbeggedmetoletyoustaywithher，andyouhavetoldheryouwouldliketolivehere。Isthatso？’

AtthesewordsElsafellonherknees，andkissedthelady’shandsandfeetingratitudeforherescapefromhercruelstepmother;butherhostessraisedherfromthegroundandpattedherhead，saying，’Allwillgowellaslongasyouareagood，obedientchild，andIwilltakecareofyouandseethatyouwantfornothingtillyouaregrownupandcanlookafteryourself。

Mywaiting—maid，whoteachesKisikaallsortsoffinehandiwork，shallteachyoutoo。’

Notlongaftertheoldmancamebackwithamouldfullofclayonhisshoulders，andalittlecoveredbasketinhislefthand。Heputdownhismouldandhisbasketontheground，tookupahandfulofclay，andmadeadollaslargeaslife。Whenitwasfinishedheboredaholeinthedoll’sbreastandputabitofbreadinside;then，drawingasnakeoutofthebasket，forcedittoenterthehollowbody。

’Now，’hesaidtothelady，’allwewantisadropofthemaiden’sblood。’

WhensheheardthisElsagrewwhitewithhorror，forshethoughtshewassellinghersoultotheevilone。

’Donotbeafraid！’theladyhastenedtosay;’wedonotwantyourbloodforanybadpurpose，butrathertogiveyoufreedomandhappiness。’

Thenshetookatinygoldenneedle，prickedElsainthearm，andgavetheneedletotheoldman，whostuckitintotheheartofthedoll。Whenthiswasdoneheplacedthefigureinthebasket，promisingthatthenextdaytheyshouldallseewhatabeautifulpieceofworkhehadfinished。

WhenElsaawokethenextmorninginhersilkenbed，withitssoftwhitepillows，shesawabeautifuldresslyingoverthebackofachair，readyforhertoputon。Amaidcameintocomboutherlonghair，andbroughtthefinestlinenforheruse;butnothinggaveElsasomuchjoyasthelittlepairofembroideredshoesthatsheheldinherhand，forthegirlhadhithertobeenforcedtorunaboutbarefootbyhercruelstepmother。Inherexcitementshenevergaveathoughttotheroughclothesshehadwornthedaybefore，whichhaddisappearedasifbymagicduringthenight。Whocouldhavetakenthem？Well，shewastoknowthatby—and—by。ButWEcanguessthatthedollhadbeendressedinthem，whichwastogobacktothevillageinherstead。Bythetimethesunrosethedollhadattainedherfullsize，andnoonecouldhavetoldonegirlfromtheother。Elsastartedbackwhenshemetherselfasshelookedonlyyesterday。

’Youmustnotbefrightened，’saidthelady，whenshenoticedherterror;’thisclayfigurecandoyounoharm。Itisforyourstepmother，thatshemaybeatitinsteadofyou。Letherflogitashardasshewill，itcanneverfeelanypain。Andifthewickedwomandoesnotcomeonedaytoabettermindyourdoublewillbeableatlasttogiveherthepunishmentshedeserves。’

FromthismomentElsa’slifewasthatoftheordinaryhappychild，whohasbeenrockedtosleepinherbabyhoodinalovelygoldencradle。Shehadnocaresortroublesofanysort，andeverydayhertasksbecameeasier，andtheyearsthathadgonebeforeseemedmoreandmorelikeabaddream。Butthehappiershegrewthedeeperwasherwonderateverythingaroundher，andthemorefirmlyshewaspersuadedthatsomegreatunknownpowermustbeatthebottomofitall。

Inthecourtyardstoodahugegraniteblockabouttwentystepsfromthehouse，andwhenmealtimescameroundtheoldmanwiththelongbeardwenttotheblock，drewoutasmallsilverstaff，andstruckthestonewithitthreetimes，sothatthesoundcouldbeheardalongwayoff。Atthethirdblow，outsprangalargegoldencock，andstooduponthestone。Wheneverhecrowedandflappedhiswingstherockopenedandsomethingcameoutofit。

Firstalongtablecoveredwithdishesreadylaidforthenumberofpersonswhowouldbeseatedroundit，andthisflewintothehouseallbyitself。

Whenthecockcrowedforthesecondtime，anumberofchairsappeared，andflewafterthetable;thenwine，apples，andotherfruit，allwithouttroubletoanybody。Aftereverybodyhadhadenough，theoldmanstrucktherockagain。thegoldencockcrowedafresh，andbackwentdishes，table，chairs，andplatesintothemiddleoftheblock。

When，however，itcametotheturnofthethirteenthdish，whichnobodyeverwantedtoeat，ahugeblackcatranup，andstoodontherockclosetothecock，whilethedishwasonhisotherside。

Theretheyallremained，tilltheywerejoinedbytheoldman。

Hepickedupthedishinonehand，tuckedthecatunderhisarm，toldthecocktogetonhisshoulder，andallfourvanishedintotherock。Andthiswonderfulstonecontainednotonlyfood，butclothesandeverythingyoucouldpossiblywantinthehouse。

AtfirstalanguagewasoftenspokenatmealswhichwasstrangetoElsa，butbythehelpoftheladyandherdaughtershebeganslowlytounderstandit，thoughitwasyearsbeforeshewasabletospeakitherself。

OnedaysheaskedKisikawhythethirteenthdishcamedailytothetableandwassentdailyawayuntouched，butKisikaknewnomoreaboutitthanshedid。Thegirlmust，however，havetoldhermotherwhatElsahadsaid，forafewdayslatershespoketoElsaseriously:

’Donotworryyourselfwithuselesswondering。Youwishtoknowwhywenevereatofthethirteenthdish？That，dearchild，isthedishofhiddenblessings，andwecannottasteofitwithoutbringingourhappylifeheretoanend。Andtheworldwouldbeagreatdealbetterifmen，intheirgreed，didnotseektosnatcheverythingforthemselves，insteadofleavingsomethingasathankofferingtothegiveroftheblessings。Greedisman’sworstfault。’

TheyearspassedlikethewindforElsa，andshegrewintoalovelywoman，withaknowledgeofmanythingsthatshewouldneverhavelearnedinhernativevillage;butKisikawasstillthesameyounggirlthatshehadbeenonthedayofherfirstmeetingwithElsa。Eachmorningtheybothworkedforanhouratreadingandwriting，astheyhadalwaysdone，andElsawasanxioustolearnallshecould，butKisikamuchpreferredchildishgamestoanythingelse。Ifthehumourseizedher，shewouldflingasidehertasks，takehertreasurebox，andgoofftoplayinthesea，wherenoharmevercametoher。

’Whatapity，’shewouldoftensaytoElsa，’thatyouhavegrownsobig，youcannotplaywithmeanymore。’

Nineyearsslippedawayinthismanner，whenonedaytheladycalledElsaintoherroom。Elsawassurprisedatthesummons，foritwasunusual，andherheartsank，forshefearedsomeevilthreatenedher。Asshecrossedthethreshold，shesawthatthelady’scheekswereflushed，andhereyesfulloftears，whichshedriedhastily，asifshewouldconcealthemfromthegirl。

’Dearestchild，’shebegan，’thetimehascomewhenwemustpart。’

’Part？’criedElsa，buryingherheadinthelady’slap。’No，dearlady，thatcanneverbetilldeathpartsus。Youonceopenedyourarmstome;youcannotthrustmeawaynow。’

’Ah，bequiet，child，’repliedthelady;’youdonotknowwhatI

woulddotomakeyouhappy。Nowyouareawoman，andIhavenorighttokeepyouhere。Youmustreturntotheworldofmen，wherejoyawaitsyou。’

’Dearlady，’entreatedElsaagain。’Donot，Ibeseechyou，sendmefromyou。Iwantnootherhappinessbuttoliveanddiebesideyou。Makemeyourwaitingmaid，orsetmetoanyworkyouchoose，butdonotcastmeforthintotheworld。Itwouldhavebeenbetterifyouhadleftmewithmystepmother，thanfirsttohavebroughtmetoheavenandthensendmebacktoaworseplace。’

’Donottalklikethat，dearchild，’repliedthelady;’youdonotknowallthatmustbedonetosecureyourhappiness，howevermuchitcostsme。Butithastobe。Youareonlyacommonmortal，whowillhavetodieoneday，andyoucannotstayhereanylonger。Thoughwehavethebodiesofmen，wearenotmenatall，thoughitisnoteasyforyoutounderstandwhy。Somedayorotheryouwillfindahusbandwhohasbeenmadeexpresslyforyou，andwilllivehappilywithhimtilldeathseparatesyou。Itwillbeveryhardformetopartfromyou，butithastobe，andyoumustmakeupyourmindtoit。’ThenshedrewhergoldencombgentlythroughElsa’shair，andbadehergotobed;butlittlesleephadthepoorgirl！Lifeseemedtostretchbeforeherlikeadarkstarlessnight。

Nowletuslookbackamoment，andseewhathadbeengoingoninElsa’snativevillagealltheseyears，andhowherdoublehadfared。Itisawell—knownfactthatabadwomanseldombecomesbetterasshegrowsolder，andElsa’sstepmotherwasnoexceptiontotherule;butasthefigurethathadtakenthegirl’splacecouldfeelnopain，theblowsthatwereshoweredonhernightanddaymadenodifference。Ifthefatherevertriedtocometohisdaughter’shelp，hiswifeturneduponhim，andthingswereratherworsethanbefore。

Onedaythestepmotherhadgiventhegirlafrightfulbeating，andthenthreatenedtokillheroutright。Madwithrage，sheseizedthefigurebythethroatwithbothhands，whenoutcameablacksnakefromhermouthandstungthewoman’stongue，andshefelldeadwithoutasound。Atnight，whenthehusbandcamehome，hefoundhiswifelyingdeadupontheground，herbodyallswollenanddisfigured，butthegirlwasnowheretobeseen。Hisscreamsbroughttheneighboursfromtheircottages，buttheywereunabletoexplainhowithadallcomeabout。Itwastrue，theysaid，thataboutmid—daytheyhadheardagreatnoise，butasthatwasamatterofdailyoccurrencetheydidnotthinkmuchofit。Therestofthedayallwasstill，butnoonehadseenanythingofthedaughter。Thebodyofthedeadwomanwasthenpreparedforburial，andhertiredhusbandwenttobed，rejoicinginhisheartthathehadbeendeliveredfromthefirebrandwhohadmadehishomeunpleasant。Onthetablehesawasliceofbreadlying，and，beinghungry，heateitbeforegoingtosleep。

Inthemorninghetoowasfounddead，andasswollenashiswife，forthebreadhadbeenplacedinthebodyofthefigurebytheoldmanwhomadeit。Afewdayslaterhewasplacedinthegravebesidehiswife，butnothingmorewaseverheardoftheirdaughter。

AllnightlongafterhertalkwiththeladyElsahadweptandwailedherhardfateinbeingcastoutfromherhomewhichsheloved。

Nextmorning，whenshegotup，theladyplacedagoldsealringonherfinger，strungalittlegoldenboxonaribbon，andplaceditroundherneck;thenshecalledtheoldman，and，forcingbackhertears，tookleaveofElsa。Thegirltriedtospeak，butbeforeshecouldsoboutherthankstheoldmanhadtouchedhersoftlyontheheadthreetimeswithhissilverstaff。InaninstantElsaknewthatshewasturningintoabird:wingssprangfrombeneathherarms;herfeetwerethefeetofeagles，withlongclaws;hernosecurveditselfintoasharpbeak，andfeatherscoveredherbody。Thenshesoaredhighintheair，andfloateduptowardstheclouds，asifshehadreallybeenhatchedaneagle。

Forseveraldayssheflewsteadilysouth，restingfromtimetotimewhenherwingsgrewtired，forhungersheneverfelt。Andsoithappenedthatonedayshewasflyingoveradenseforest，andbelowhoundswerebarkingfiercely，because，nothavingwingsthemselves，shewasoutoftheirreach。Suddenlyasharppainquiveredthroughherbody，andshefelltotheground，piercedbyanarrow。

WhenElsarecoveredhersenses，shefoundherselflyingunderabushinherownproperform。Whathadbefallenher，andhowshegotthere，laybehindherlikeabaddream。

Asshewaswonderingwhatsheshoulddonexttheking’ssoncameridingby，and，seeingElsa，sprangfromhishorse，andtookherbythehand，sawing，’Ah！itwasahappychancethatbroughtmeherethismorning。Everynight，forhalfayear，haveIdreamed，dearlady，thatIshouldonedayfindyouinthiswood。AndalthoughIhavepassedthroughithundredsoftimesinvain，I

havenevergivenuphope。To—dayIwasgoinginsearchofalargeeaglethatIhadshot，andinsteadoftheeagleIhavefound——you。’ThenhetookElsaonhishorse，androdewithhertothetown，wheretheoldkingreceivedhergraciously。

Afewdayslatertheweddingtookplace，andasElsawasarrangingtheveiluponherhairfiftycartsarrivedladenwithbeautifulthingswhichtheladyoftheTontlawaldhadsenttoElsa。Andaftertheking’sdeathElsabecamequeen，andwhenshewasoldshetoldthisstory。ButthatwasthelastthatwaseverheardoftheTontlawald。

[FromEhstnischeMarchen。]

THEFINESTLIARINTHEWORLD

Attheedgeofawoodtherelivedanoldmanwhohadonlyoneson，andonedayhecalledtheboytohimandsaidhewantedsomecornground，buttheyouthmustbesurenevertoenteranymillwherethemillerwasbeardless。

Theboytookthecornandsetout，andbeforehehadgoneveryfarhesawalargemillinfrontofhim，withabeardlessmanstandinginthedoorway。

’Goodgreeting，beardlessone！’criedhe。

’Goodgreeting，sonny，’repliedtheman。

’CouldIgrindsomethinghere？’

’Yes，certainly！IwillfinishwhatIamdoingandthenyoucangrindaslongasyoulike。’

Butsuddenlytheboyrememberedwhathisfatherhadtoldhim，andbadefarewelltotheman，andwentfurtherdowntheriver，tillhecametoanothermill，notknowingthatassoonashisbackwasturnedthebeardlessmanhadpickedupabagofcornandrunhastilytothesamemillbeforehim。Whentheboyreachedthesecondmill，andsawasecondbeardlessmansittingthere，hedidnotstop，andwalkedontillhecametoathirdmill。Butthistimealsothebeardlessmanhadbeentoocleverforhim，andhadarrivedfirstbyanotherroad。Whenithappenedafourthtimetheboygrewcross，andsaidtohimself，’Itisnogoodgoingon;

thereseemstobeabeardlessmanineverymill’;andhetookhissackfromhisback，andmadeuphismindtogrindhiscornwherehewas。

Thebeardlessmanfinishedgrindinghisowncorn，andwhenhehaddonehesaidtotheboy，whowasbeginningtogrindhis，’Suppose，sonny，wemakeacakeofwhatyouhavethere。’

Nowtheboyhadbeenratheruneasywhenherecollectedhisfather’swords，buthethoughttohimself，’Whatisdonecannotbeundone，’andanswered，’Verywell，soletitbe。’

Thenthebeardlessonegotup，threwtheflourintothetub，andmadeaholeinthemiddle，tellingtheboytofetchsomewaterfromtheriverinhistwohands，tomixthecake。Whenthecakewasreadyforbakingtheyputitonthefire，andcovereditwithhotashes，tillitwascookedthrough。Thentheyleaneditupagainstthewall，foritwastoobigtogointoacupboard，andthebeardlessonesaidtotheboy:

’Lookhere，sonny:ifwesharethiscakeweshallneitherofushaveenough。Letusseewhocantellthebiggestlie，andtheonewholiesthebestshallhavethewholecake。’

Theboy，notknowingwhatelsetodo，answered，’Allright;youbegin。’

Sothebeardlessonebegantoliewithallhismight，andwhenhewastiredofinventingnewliestheboysaidtohim，’Mygoodfellow，ifTHATisallyoucandoitisnotmuch！Listentome，andIwilltellyouatruestory。

’Inmyyouth，whenIwasanoldman，wehadaquantityofbeehives。EverymorningwhenIgotupIcountedthemover，anditwasquiteeasytonumberthebees，butInevercouldreckonthehivesproperly。Oneday，asIwascountingthebees，I

discoveredthatmybestbeewasmissing，andwithoutlosingamomentIsaddledacockandwentouttolookforhim。Itracedhimasfarastheshore，andknewthathehadcrossedthesea，andthatImustfollow。WhenIhadreachedtheothersideI

foundamanhadharnessedmybeetoaplough，andwithhishelpwassowingmilletseed。

’"Thatismybee！"Ishouted。"Wheredidyougethimfrom？"’

"Brother，"repliedtheman，"ifheisyours，takehim。"Andhenotonlygavemebackmybee，butasackofmilletseedintothebargain，becausehehadmadeuseofmybee。ThenIputthebagonmyshoulders，tookthesaddlefromthecock，andplaceditonthebackofthebee，whichImounted，leadingthecockbyastring，sothatheshouldhavearest。Aswewereflyinghomeovertheseaoneofthestringsthatheldthebagofmilletbrokeintwo，andthesackdroppedstraightintotheocean。Itwasquitelost，ofcourse，andtherewasnousethinkingaboutit，andbythetimeweweresafebackagainnighthadcome。Ithengotdownfrommybee，andlethimloose，thathemightgethissupper，gavethecocksomehay，andwenttosleepmyself。ButwhenIawokewiththesunwhatascenemetmyeyes！Duringthenightwolveshadcomeandhadeatenmybee。Andhoneylayankle—deepinthevalleyandknee—deeponthehills。ThenI

begantoconsiderhowIcouldbestcollectsome，totakehomewithme。

’NowithappenedthatIhadwithmeasmallhatchet，andthisI

tooktothewood，hopingtomeetsomeanimalwhichIcouldkill，whoseskinImightturnintoabag。AsIenteredtheforestI

sawtworoe—deerhoppingononefoot，soIslewthemwithasingleblow，andmadethreebagsfromtheirskins，allofwhichI

filledwithhoneyandplacedonthebackofthecock。AtlengthIreachedhome，whereIwastoldthatmyfatherhadjustbeenborn，andthatImustgoatoncetofetchsomeholywatertosprinklehimwith。AsIwentIturnedoverinmymindiftherewasnowayformetogetbackmymilletseed，whichhaddroppedintothesea，andwhenIarrivedattheplacewiththeholywaterIsawtheseedhadfallenonfruitfulsoil，andwasgrowingbeforemyeyes。Andmorethanthat，itwasevencutbyaninvisiblehand，andmadeintoacake。

’SoItookthecakeaswellastheholywater，andwasflyingbackwiththemoverthesea，whentherefellagreatrain，andtheseawasswollen，andsweptawaymymilletcake。Ah，howvexedIwasatitslosswhenIwassafeonearthagain。