Story 7 of The Fairy Ring This is a LibriVox recording, or LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org, reading by Lars Rolander. The Fairy Ring, edited by Kate Douglas Wiggin and Nora Archibald Smith Story 7 The Princess on the Glass Hill Once upon a time, there was a man who had a meadow which lay on the side of a mountain, and in the meadow there was a barn in which he stored hay. But there had not been much hay in the barn for the last two years, for every St John's Eve, when the grass was in the height of its vigor, it was all eaten clean up. Just as if a whole flock of sheep had gnawed it down to the ground during the night. This happened once, and it happened twice. But then the man got tired of losing his crop, and said to his sons, he had three of them, and the third was called Cynderlad, that one of them must go and sleep in the barn on St John's night, for it was absurd to let the grass be eaten up again, blade and stalk, as it had been the last two years. And the one who went to watch must keep a sharp look out, the man said. The eldest was quite willing to go to the meadow. He would watch the grass, he said, and he would do it so well that neither man nor beast, nor even the devil himself, should have any of it. So when evening came he went to the barn and lay down to sleep, but when night was drawing near there was such a rumbling and such an earthquake that the walls and roofs shook again, and the lad jumped up and took to his heels as fast as he could, and never looked back. And the barn remained empty that year as it had been for the last two. Next St John's Eve the man again said he could not go on in this way, losing all the grass in the outlying field year after year, and that one of his sons must go there and watch it, and watch well too. So the next oldest son was willing to show what he could do. He went to the barn and lay down to sleep as his brother had done, but when night was drawing near there was a great rumbling and then an earthquake which was even worse than that on the former St John's night. And when the youth heard it he was terrified and went off running as if for a wager. The year after it was Cyndalad's turn, but when he made ready to go the others laughed at him and mocked him. Well, you are just the right one to watch the hay. You who have never learnt anything but how to sit among the ashes and bake yourself, said they. Cyndalad did not trouble himself about what they said, but when evening drew near rumbled away to the outlying field. When he got there he went into the barn and lay down, but in about an hour's time the rumbling and creaking began and it was frightful to hear it. Well, if it gets no worse than that I can manage to stand it, thoughts Cyndalad. In a little time the creaking began again and the earthquakeed so that all the hay flew about the boy. Oh, if it gets no worse than that I can manage to stand it, thoughts Cyndalad. But then came a third rumbling and a third earthquake, so violent that the boy thought the walls and roof had fallen down, but when that was over everything suddenly grew as still as death around him. I am pretty sure that it will come again, thought Cyndalad, but no it did not.    Ha, ha, ha! It is thou who eatest up our hay then, thought the boy. But I will stop that. So he made haste and took out his steel for striking fire and threw it over the horse and then it had no power to stir from the spot and became so tame that the boy could do what he liked with it. So he mounted it and rode away to a place which no one knew but himself and there he tied it up. When he went home again his brothers laughed and asked how he had got on. You didn't lie long in the barn, even if you have been so far as the field, said they. I lay in the barn till the sun rose, but I saw nothing and heard nothing. Not I, said the boy.  Well, we shall soon see whether you have watched the meadow or not, answered the brothers. But when they got there the grass was all standing, just as long and as thick as it had been the night before. The next St. John's Eve it was the same thing once again. Neither the two brothers dared to go to the outlying field to watch the crop, but sin the lad went, and everything happened exactly the same as on the previous St. John's Eve. First there was a rumbling and an earthquake, and then there was another, and then a third, but all three earthquakes were much, very much more violent than they had been the year before. Then everything became still as death again, and the boy heard something chewing outside the barn door, so he stole as softly as he could to the door, which was slightly ajar, and again there was a horse standing close by the wall of the house, eating and chewing. And it was far larger and fatter than the first horse, and it had a saddle on its back, and a bridle was on it, too, and a full suit of armour for a night, all of bright silver, and as beautiful as anyone could wish to see. Ho, ho! hoped the boy. Is it thou who eatest up our hay in the night? But I will put a stop to that. So he took out his steel for striking fire, and threw it over the horse's mane, and the bee stood there as quiet as a lamb. Then the boy rode this horse, too, away to the place where he kept the other, and then went home again. I suppose you will tell us that you have watched well again this time, said the brothers. Well, so I have, said Sindelad. So they went there again, and there the grass was standing as high and as thick as it had been before, but that did not make them any kinder to Sindelad. When the third St. John's night came, neither of the two elder brothers dared to lie in the outlying barn to watch the grass, for they had been so heartily frightened the night that they had slept there that they could not get over it. But Sindelad dared to go, and everything happened just the same as on the two former nights. There were three earthquakes, each worse than the other, and the last flying the boy from one wall of the barn to the other, but then everything suddenly became still as death. When he had lain quietly a short time, he heard something chewing outside the barn door. Then he once more stole to the door, which was slightly ajar, and behold, a horse was standing just outside it, which was much larger and fatter than the two others he had caught. Ho-ho! It is thou then who art eating up our hay this time, thought the boy, but I will put a stop to that. So he pulled out his steel for striking fire, and threw it over the horse, and it stood as still as if it had been nailed to the field. And the boy could do just what he liked with it. Then he mounted it and rode away to the place where he had the two others, and then he went home again. Then the two brothers mocked him just as they had done before, and told him that they could see that he must have watched the grass very carefully that night, for he looked just as if he were walking in his sleep. But Sindela did not trouble himself about that, but just made them go to the field and see. They did go, and this time too the grass was standing, looking as fine and as thick as ever. The king of the country in which Sindela's father dwelt had a daughter, whom he would give to no one who could not ride up to the top of the glass hill, for there was a high hill of glass, slippery as ice, and it was close to the king's palace. Upon the very top of this the king's daughter was to sit with three golden apples in her lap, and the man who could ride up and take the three golden apples should marry her and have half the kingdom. The king had this proclaimed in every church in the whole kingdom, and in many other kingdoms too. The princess was very beautiful, and all who saw her fell violently in love with her, even in spite of themselves. So it is needless to say that all the princes and knights were eager to win her and half the kingdom besides. And that for this course they came riding thither from the very end of the world, dressed so splendidly that the raiments gleamed in the sunshine and riding on horses which seemed to dance as they went. And there was not one of these princes who did not think that he was sure to win the princess. When the day appointed by the king had come, there was such a host of knights and princes under the glass hill that they seemed to swarm, and everyone who could walk or even creep was there too, to see who won the king's daughter. Sin the lads two brothers were there, but they would not hear of letting him go with them, for he was so dirty and black with sleeping and grubbing among the ashes that they said everyone would laugh at them if they were seen in the company of such an oath. Well then, I will go alone by myself, said Sin the lad. When the two brothers got to the glass hill, all the princes and knights were trying to ride up it, and their horses were in a foam, but it was all in vain. For no sooner did the horses set foot upon the hill than down they slipped, and there was not one which could get even so much as a couple of yards up. Nor was that strange, for the hill was as smooth as glass windowpane, and as steep as the side of a house, but they were all eager to win the king's daughter and half the kingdom, so they rode and they slipped, and thus it went on. At length all horses were so tired that they could do no more, and so hot that the foam dropped from them, and the riders were forced to give up the attempt. The king was just thinking that he would cause it to be proclaimed that the riding should begin afresh on the following day, when perhaps it might go better, when suddenly a knight came riding up on so fine a horse that no one had ever seen the like of it before, and the knight had armor of copper, and his bridle was of copper, too, and all his accoutrements were so bright that they shone again. The other knights all called out to him that he might just as well spare himself the trouble of trying to ride up the glass hill, for it was of no use to try, but he did not heed them and rode straight off to it and went up as if it were nothing at all. Thus he rode for a long way, it may have been a third part of the way up, but when he had got so far he turned his horse round and rode down again. But the princess thought that she had never yet seen so handsome a knight, and while he was riding up she was sitting thinking, oh, how I hope he may be able to come up to the top, and when she saw that he was turning his horse back she threw one of the golden apples down after him, and it rolled into his shoe. But when he had come down from off the hill he rode away, and that so fast that no one knew what had become of him. So all the princes and knights were bidden to present themselves before the king that night, so that he who had ridden so far up the glass hill might show the golden apple which the king's daughter had thrown down. But no one had anything to show. One knight presented himself after the other, and none could show the apple. At night too, Cinderella's brothers came home again and had a long story to tell about the riding up the glass hill. At first, they said, there was not one who was able to get even so much as one step up, but then came a knight who had armor of a copper and a bridle of copper, and his armor and trappings were so bright that they shone to a great distance, and it was something like a sight to see him riding. He rode one-third of the way up the glass hill, and he could easily have ridden the whole of it if he had liked, but he had turned back for he had made up his mind that that was enough for once. Oh, I should have liked to see him too, that I should, said Cinderella, who was as usual sitting by the chimney among the cinders.  Next day the brothers were for setting out again, and this time too Cinderella begged them to let him go with them, and see who rode, but no, they said he was not fit to do that, for he was much too ugly and dirty. Well, well, then I will go all alone by myself, said Cindalad. So the brothers went to the glass hill, and all the princes and knights began to ride again, and this time they had taken care to rough the shoes of their horses, but that did not help them. They rode and they slipped as they had done the day before, and not one of them could even get so far as a yard up the hill. When they had tied up their horses so that they could do no more, they again had to stop altogether. But just as the king was thinking that it would be well to proclaim that the riding should take place next day for the last time, so that they might have one more chance, he suddenly bethought himself that it would be well to wait a little longer to see if the knight in copper armor would come on this day too, but nothing was to be seen of him. Just as they were still looking for him, however, came a knight riding on a steed that was much, much finer than that which the knight in copper armor had ridden, and this knight had silver armor and a silver saddle and bridle, and all were so bright that they shone and glistened when he was a long way off. Again the other knights called to him and said that he might just as well give up the attempt to ride up the glass hill, for it was useless to try. But the knight paid no heed to that, but rode straight away to the glass hill, and went still farther up than the knight in copper armor had gone. But when he had ridden two-thirds of the way up, he turned his horse round and rode down again. The princess liked this knight still better than she had liked the other, and sat longing that he might be able to get up above, and when she saw him turning back, she threw the second apple after him, and it rolled into his shoe, and as soon as he had got down the glass hill, he rode away so fast that no one could see what had become of him. In the evening when everyone must appear before the king and princess, in order that he who had the golden apple might show it, one knight went in after the other, but none of them had a golden apple to show. At night the two brothers went home, as they had done the night before, and told how things had gone, and how everyone had ridden, but no one had been able to get up the hill.  He took his horse two-thirds of the way up the hill, but then he turned back. He was a fine fellow, said the brothers, and the princess threw the second golden apple to him. Oh, how I should have liked to see him, too, said Cyndalad. Oh, indeed, he was a little brighter than the ashes that you sit grubbing among.  On the third day everything went just as on the former days. Cyndalad wanted to go with them to look at the riding, but the two brothers would not have him in their company, and when they got to the glass hill, there was no one who could ride even so far as a yard up it. And everyone waited for the night in silver armor, but he was neither to be seen nor heard of. At last, after a long time came a night riding upon a horse that was such a fine one its equal had never yet been seen. The night had golden armor, and the horse a golden saddle and bridle. And these were all so bright that they shone and dazzled everyone, even while the night was still at a great distance. The other princes and knights were not able even to call to tell him how useless it was to try to send the hill. So amazed were they at the sight of his magnificence. He rode straight away to the glass hill and galloped up it as if it were no hill at all, so that the princess had not even time to wish that he might get up the whole way. As soon as he had ridden to the top, he took the third golden apple from the lap of the princess, and then turned his horse about and rode down again and banished from their sight before anyone was able to say a word to him. When the two brothers came home again at night, they had much to tell of how the riding had gone off that day, and at last they told about the night in the golden armor, too. He was a fine fellow, that was. Such another splendid night is not to be found on earth, said the brothers. Oh, how I should have liked to see him too, said Cinderella.  Next day all the knights and princess were to appear before the king and the princess. It had been too late for them to do it the night before, in order that he who had the golden apple might produce it. They all went in turn, first princess and then knights, but none of them had a golden apple. But somebody must have it, said the king, for with our own eyes we all saw a man right up and take it. So he commanded that everyone in the kingdom should come to the palace and see if he could show the apple, and one after the other they all came, but no one had the golden apple, and after a long, long time Cinderella's two brothers came likewise. They were the last of all, so the king inquired of them if there was no one else in the kingdom left to come. Oh, yes, we have a brother, said the two, but he never got the golden apple. He never left the cinder heap on any of the three days. Never mind that, said the king, as everyone else has come to the palace, let him come too. So Cinderella was forced to go to the king's palace. Has thou the golden apple? asked the king. Yes, here is the first, and here is the second, and here is the third too, said Cinderella, and he took all the three apples out of his pocket, and with that threw off his sooty rags and appeared there before them in his bright golden armor, which gleamed as he stood. Thou shalt have my daughter and the half of my kingdom, and thou hast well earned both, said the king. So there was a wedding, and Cinderella got the king's daughter, and everyone made merry at the wedding. For all of them could make merry, though they could not ride up the glass hill, and if they have not left off their merry-making, they must be at it still. End of The Princess on the Glass Hill Read by Lars Rolander Story 8 of the Fairy Ring This is a Libovax recording. All Libovax recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libovax.org. Recording by Huijing The Fairy Ring, edited by Kate Douglas Wiggin and Nora Archibald Smith. Story 8, The Rain and the Pig who went into the woods There was once upon a time a rain, who was being fattened up for killing.  One day the dairy-maid came and gave him some more food. You must eat, Rem, she said. You will not be long here now.  There's an old saying that no one should sneer at old woman's advice. And that advice and physics can be had for everything except death, thought the rain to himself. But perhaps I might manage to escape it this time. And so he went on eating till he was full. And when he was quite satisfied, he ran his horn against the door, burst it open and set off to the neighboring farm.  Since they had always been good friends and got on well together. Good day and thanks for your kindness last time we met, said the rain to the pig. Good day and thanks to you, said the pig. Do you know why they make you so comfortable? And why they feed you and look after you so well, said the rain. No, said the pig. There are many mouths to feed on this farm you must know, said the rain.  Are they, said the pig. Well, much good may do them. If you are of the same mind as I, we will go into the woods and build a house and live by ourselves. There's nothing like having a home of your own, you know, said the rain.  It's nice to be in fine company, said he, and off they started. When they had got a bit on the way, they met a goose. Good day, my good people and thanks for your kindness last time we met, said the goose. Where are you off to? Good day and thanks to you, said the rain. We had it all together too comfortable at our place, so we are off to the woods to live by ourselves. In your own house, you are your own master, you know, said he. Well, I'm very comfortable where I am, said the goose. But why shouldn't I join you? Good company makes the day shorter, said she. But neither hut nor house can be built by gathering and quacking, said the pig. What do you think you can do? Good counsel and skill may do as much as a giant swill, said the goose. I can pluck moss and stuff it into the crevices so that the house will be warm and comfortable. Well, she might come with them, thought the pig, for he likes the place to be warm and cozy. When they had gone a bit on the way, the goose was not getting along very fast. They met a hare who came scampering out of the wood. Good day, my good people and thanks for your kindness the last time we met, said the hare. How far are you going today, said he? Good day and thanks to you, said the ram. We had it all together too comfortable at our place, so we are off to the woods to build a house and live by ourselves. When you have tried both east and west, you'll find a home of your own this, after all, the best, said he. Well, I have, of course, a home in every bush, said the hare. But I have often said to myself in the winter that if I live till the summer, I will build a house, so I have a good mind to go with you and build one after all, said he. Well, if the worst comes through the worst, we might take you with us to frighten the dogs away, said the pig. For you couldn't help us build a house, I should say. There is always something for willing hands to do in this world, said the hare. I have teeth to now pegs with, and I have paws to knock them into the walls, so I'll do very well for a carpenter, for good tools makes good work. As the man said, when he skinned his mare with an auger, said the hare, Well, he might come along with them, and help to build a house. There could be no harm in that. When they had got a bit farther on the way, they met a cock. Good day, my good people, and thanks for your kindness the last time we met, said the cock. Where are you all going today, he said. Good day and thanks to you, said the rain. We had it all together too comfortable at our place, so we are off to the woods to build a house and live by ourselves. For unless at home you bake, you'll lose both fuel and cake, said he. Well, I'm comfortable enough where I am, said the cock, but it's better to have your own roost than to sit on the stranger's perch and crawl.  If I could join such fine company as yours, I too would like to go to the woods and build a house. Well, flapping and crawling is all very well for noise, but it won't cut the joists, said the pig. You can't help but spill the house, he said.  I'm early to rise and early to crawl. Yes, early to rise makes one wealthy and wise, so that him come with us, said the pig. He was always the heaviest sleeper. Sleep is a big thief and steals half one's life, he said. So they all set off to the woods and build a house. The pig fell the trees and the rain dragged them home. The hare was the carpenter, and all packs and hammered them into walls and roof. The goose plucked moss and stuffed it into the crevices between the logs.  And when the house was ready and the roof covered with birch bark and fetched with turf, they could at least live by themselves, and they were all both happy and contented. It's pleasant to travel both east and west, but home is, after all, the best, said the rain. But a bit further into the wood, two wolves had their lair. And when they saw that a new house had been built hard by, they wanted to know what sort of folks they had got from neighbors. For they thought a good neighbor is better than a brother in a foreign land. And it is better to live among good neighbors than to be known far and wide. So one of them made it his business to call there and ask for a light for his pipe. The moment he came inside the door, the rain brushed at him and gave him such a butt with his horns that the wolf fell on his head into the hearth. The pig snapped and bit, the goose nipped and pecked. The cock flew up on the rafter and began to crawl and cackle, and the hare became so frightened that he scampered and jumped around both high and low and knocked and scrambled about from one corner of the room to the other. At last, the wolf managed to get out of the house. Well, to know one's neighbors is to add to one's wisdom, said the wolf who was waiting outside. I suppose you had a great reception since you stayed so long. But what about the light? I don't see either pipe or smoke, said he. Yes, that was a nice light I got and a nice lot of people they were, said he who had been inside. Such treatment I never met with before, but as you make your bed, so you must lie and an unexpected guest must put up with what he gets, said the wolf. No sooner was I inside the door than the shoemaker threw his glass at me and I fell on my head in the middle of the forge. There said two smiths, blowing bellows and pinching and snipping bits of flesh off me with red hot tongs and pincers. The hunter rushed about the room looking for his gun, but the slug would have it. He couldn't find it.  And if he had only got hold of me, I should never have come out alive. End of the rain and the pig who went into the woods, recording by Huijing. Story nine of the Fairy Ring. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. The Fairy Ring, edited by Kate Douglas Wigan and Nora Archibald Smith. Story nine, The Troll's Hammer. When a great famine prevailed in a country even the rich suffer, hard indeed must the lot of the poor peasant be at such a time. During a famine a poor peasant, unable to support all his family, told his eldest son, Niels, that he would have to go out in the world and provide for himself. Niels left home and went out to seek his fortune. As the evening of the first day drew on he found himself in a dense forest and fearing lest the wild beasts might do him harm during the night, he climbed into a tree. Hardly had he reached his perch when he saw a little man running toward the tree. He was hunchbacked and had crooked legs, a long beard, and wore on his head a red cap. He was pursued by a wolf which attacked him just under the tree in which Niels was sitting. The little man began to scream. He bit and scratched and defended himself as well as he could. But the wolf was stronger and would have torn the little fellow to pieces if Niels had not sprung down from the tree. As soon as the wolf saw that he had two to contend with, he fled back into the forest. The troll then said to Niels, Thou has preserved my life and done me a good service. In return I shall give thee something that will be of use. See, here is a hammer with which thou shalt be able to do smith's work that no one shall be able to equal. When the troll had spoken these words he sank into the ground and disappeared. The next day the boy wandered on until he came to the neighbourhood of the royal palace and there he engaged himself to a smith. Now it just happened that a few days before a thief had broken into the king's treasury and stolen a large bag of money. All the smiths in the city were therefore sent for to the palace and the king promised that he who could make the best lock should be appointed court locksmith and have a handsome reward into the bargain. The lock had to be finished in eight days and so constructed that it could not be picked by any one. The smith, with whom Niels lived, returned home and related this, the boy thought he should like to try whether his hammer really possessed those qualities which the troll had said. He therefore begged his master to allow him to make a lock and promised that it should be finished by the appointed time. Although the smith had no great opinion of the boy's ability he permitted the trial. Niels then requested a separate workshop, locked himself in and began hammering the iron. One day went and then another and the master began to be curious but Niels let no one come into his shop and the smith was obliged to remain outside and peep through the keyhole. The work however succeeded far better than the boy himself had expected and without really knowing how it came to pass the lock was finished on the evening of the third day. The following morning he went down to his master and asked for some money. Yesterday I worked hard said Niels and today I will enjoy myself. He went out of the city and did not return to the workshop till late in the evening. The next day and the next he did the same and so through the rest of the week. His master was very angry at this and threatened to turn him away unless he finished his work at the appointed time. But Niels told him to rest easy and engaged that his lock should be the best. When the day arrived Niels brought his work forth and carried it up to the palace. His lock was so ingenious and so delicately made that it far excelled all the others. Niels's master was acknowledged as the most skillful and he received the promised office and reward. The smith was delighted but he took good care not to confess to anyone who it was that had made the curious lock. He received one job after another from the king and let Niels do them all. In the meantime the report spread from place to place of the wonderful lock the king had got for his treasury. Travellers came from a distance to see it and a foreign king came among them. When he had examined the work a long time he said that the man who had made such a lock deserved to be honoured and respected. But however good a smith he may be, added the foreign king, I have his master at home. He continued boasting in this manner till at length the two kings made a wager as to which smith could execute the most skillful piece of workmanship. The smiths were sent for and the two kings determined that each smith should make a knife. The smith related to Niels would had passed and desired him to try whether he could make as good a knife as the lock he had made. Niels promised to do so although his last work had not brought him much. The smith was in truth a mean man and treated Niels so niggeredly that some time he had not enough to eat and drink. One day as he was out buying steel to make the knife he met a man from his own village and in the course of conversation Niels learned that his father was in great want and misery. Then he asked his master for some money but this was the answer you shall not have a shilling until you have made the knife. Thereupon Niels shut himself up in the workshop for a whole day and as on the former occasion the knife was made without knowing how it had happened. The work was to be exhibited. Niels dressed himself in his best clothes and went with his master up to the palace where the two kings were expecting them. The strange smith first showed his knife. It was so beautiful and so curiously wrought that it was a pleasure to look at. It was moreover so sharp and well tempered that it would cut through a millstone as easily as through cheese. Niels's knife on the contrary looked very poor and common. He had lost his wager and spoke harshly to the master smith when his boy begged leave to examine the stranger's knife a little more closely. After having looked at it for some time he said, this is a beautiful piece of workmanship which you have made and shame on those who would say otherwise but my master is nevertheless your superior as you shall soon experience. Saying this he took the stranger's knife and split it lengthwise from point to handle with a big of willow. The kings could scarcely believe their eyes and the consequence was that Niels's master was declared the victor. When Niels asked for payment the master refused to give him anything although knowing full wealth that the poor boy only wanted the money to help his father. Upon this Niels grew very angry. He went to the king and told who it was that had made both the lock and the knife. He said everything and accused Niels of being an idle boy whom he had taken into service out of charity and compassion. We shall soon find out the truth of this story said the king who sided with the master since thou sayest it is thou who hast made this wonderful knife and thy master says it is he who has done it I will adjudge each of you to make a sword for me within eight days he who can make the most perfect one shall be my master Smith but he who loses satisfied with this agreement he went home packed up all his things and bade his master farewell the Smith would gladly have made all good again but Niels appeared not to understand him and went on his way he engaged with another master and began cheerfully to work on the sword when the appointed day arrived both Niels and his former master met at the palace and the master produced a sword of the most beautiful workmanship that anyone could wish to see met with precious stones the king was greatly delighted with it now little Niels said he what does thou say to this sword it is not so badly made as one might expect from such a bungler said the boy can't thou show anything like it asked the king I believe I can answered Niels well where is thy sword said the king in my waistcoat pocket the search was increased when they saw the boy take a little packet out of his waistcoat pocket Niels opened the paper in which the blade was rolled up like a watch spring here is my work said he will you just cut the thread master the Smith did it willingly and in a moment the blade straightened out and struck him in the face Niels took out of his pocket a hilt of gold and screwed it fast to the blade then he presented the sword to the king but he never had before seen such matchless workmanship Niels was declared the victor and the master was obliged to acknowledge that the boy had made both the lock and the knife the king in his indignation would have had the master put to death if the boy had not begged for mercy on the culprit Niels received a handsome reward from the king and from that day all the work from the palace was entrusted to him he took his old father to reside with him until his death and of the trolls hammer story 10 of the fairy ring this is a libra vox recording all libra vox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit libravox.org recording by Rachel Trishka the fairy ring edited by Kate Douglas Wigan and Nora Archibald Smith story 10 the clever prince once upon a time there was a youthful prince who was so wonderfully handsome that no one had ever seen his like and he knew this and was very glad of it and everybody said that he was as clever as he was handsome and that no one could be compared to him of this he was quite convinced he made a solemn vow that he would never take any woman to wife unless she was as handsome and nearly as clever if he could find such a paragon he would marry her there were many beautiful maidens in the land but they were not the cleverest there were also many maidens who were clever enough but they were not the fairest this is much as certain the prince found no girl who combined in her person half enough good looks and wit to suit him he was now of an age when he and his father the king and their faithful subjects had an opinion that he ought to get married but as we have seen because of the vow he had made there was not a maiden in the land to whom he could play his addresses so he determined to journey to other countries and to travel incognito and unattended he wanted to see things for himself and to have no one with him who could reveal anything about him he travelled far and wide from one land to another but it fared with him abroad as it had fared with him at home he could find no girl beautiful or clever enough for him much less could he find one who could lay claim to the possession of both these attributes so once more he felt his quest for a worthy bride had proved vain and turned his face homeward one day he was riding through a wood he rode and rode but still he could not get to the end of the forest noon day came and evening came and he was still in the wood and still could see no way out of it he had completely lost his way he had no idea where he was nor where he was going nor where he should find shelter for the night and food and risk for himself and his horse and they were both tired out at last he saw a small cloud of blue smirk rising amid the green trees and riding towards it he soon came to a little cottage very poor and mean looking but he was glad enough where here at least he should find somebody he got off his horse and knocked at the door a poor old man opened it and a poor old woman also came forward they appeared very much astonished to see such a fine hence my young knight the prince after wishing them good evening said that he had lost his way and that he had been riding through the wood all day long and now he begged them to give him shelter for the night at first they said they were not the sort of people to receive such grand gentle folk it was easy to see they wanted to get rid of him but when he told them that neither he nor his horse could hold out any longer so greatly did they need rest at a night's lodging the old couple had not the heart to refuse so they agreed to take him if he would put up what they could offer him his first care was for his horse stay where there was none but there was a bit of a shed for the old people's cow as it was summer time the cow was out to grass so the prince put his horse up in the shed and gave him a drink of water and a bundle of hay to the great content of the poor tired beast then he went into the cottage which consisted of one little room which was both dark and low he sat down on a wooden bench and began to talk to the old people did they live here or alone in the wildwood? yes the old folks said they did there was nobody else in the house and there was no other house for miles and miles around they got one as best they could and managed to make a living out of their goat and their cow then the prince had his supper the best the house could afford a crust of dry bread and a bowl of milk the old folk then fetched a wisp of straw and spread it out on the floor intending to lie upon it they had but one bed and they meant to give it up to this grand guest but the prince would not hear of such a thing they should sleep in their own bed and he would lie on the bundle of straw that was spread upon the floor so it was arranged as he wished and all three retired to rest it was quite a different sort of couch from one he was accustomed to but he was thoroughly tired out so he soon fell asleep and he dreamt of all the beautiful maidens who were not clever enough and of all the clever maidens who were not beautiful enough and so he slept sweetly till the day began to dawn then he awoke and stiff enough he was and all his limbs from lying on so hard a bed twists and turns he might could not get to sleep again recently he heard something stirring a little loft overhead it might be rats or mice or perhaps a cat yes it was certainly a cat but a little while after he heard a whirring sound exactly like a spinning wheel then he heard singing that could not be the cat nor was it the song of the birds out in the wood no it was a woman's sweet voice keeping time of the whirring of the wheel so sweet a song he had never heard before he sprang to his feet robbed his eyes pricked up his ears and at the same moment the old folk got up too the prince at once asked them who it was up there in the loft that had begun spinning and singing at the break of day all was quite quiet overhead now all the people persisted as they had the previous night that there was no one in the house but themselves nay said the prince there's no use trying to make me believe that I prefer believing what I've heard with my own ears and you may as well tell me the plain truth for I'm determined to learn it one way or another so then the old man made a clean breast of it the prince was quite right there was somebody else in the house it was their daughter and her little room up in the loft they were so afraid unless someone should see her and want to take her away from them for indeed they would miss her sadly old and feeble as they were she earned a few pints by her spinning and weaving who else was there to take care of them soon there would be no longer able to look after themselves well the prince said he had heard her and now he wanted to see her he was no man-eater nor woman-eater either so far as he knew therefore they might surely let him see the maiden so the old man had to go and call her and she came running down tripping along clad in mean attire so blithe and fresh and fair when she saw the handsome young man she blushed rosy red the prince was thunderstruck as he looked on her never had he seen anything half so lovely as she was he was utterly at loss what to say or do when all his travels he had seen no one to be compared with her this poor peasant stout was far more beautiful than all the princesses and grandlady as he had ever met at home or abroad he could not picture to himself anything more lovely but a poor bigger maid such as she was he might not even dream of making his wife so he turned resolutely away and at once bestowed himself kissing his horse for you to start it would not so much as allow himself to look at her again but when he was in the saddle just sitting off as he nodded goodbye to the old folk to whom he had given a broad gold piece for his night's lodging and who were now bowing and scraping before him he could not help giving a side glance to where she stood gazing at him with lovely wondering eyes and now of course was it blithe she lift his hat and bowed fair well and as he returned his greeting with downcast eyes and bowed and blushing face the prince felt as if his heart were in his mouth the lovely eyes looked up once more as he galloped off and they followed him till he was out of sight and not only did they follow him thus far but long after he had left both house and wood far behind those beautiful eyes still haunted him and as he rode along he said to himself yes she is beautiful and more than beautiful enough for me but I also vowed that she whom I marry must be as clever or nearly as clever as I am and that of course she cannot be he marked well with a little cottage stood and soon he reached a road he knew well for the wild would lay on the very border of his own lands he rode straight home to his father's castle and told him he had not yet found anyone could be considered as equal the old king was much fixed on hearing this but he was so certain of his son's exceeding cleverness that he had no doubt met his were exactly as the prince represented he had but one wish to see his son married before closing his eyes forever and he had such faith in his son that he knew the prince's choice of a wife would be a wife so now the prince was at home once more surrounded by all the good things imaginable and yet he knew not one moment's certainty dainty food failed attempt to sabotage no sweet sleep came to him on his downy couch thoughts were always with the fair young maiden he dwelt in the wild wood he thought of her early and late and whether he would or not at last he said to himself there must be an end of this he also mined his vow that a loveliest and cleverest girl should be his bride and so an odd she rid of all thought of her he determined to convince himself that although the peasant's daughter might be beautiful enough she was far from being clever enough for him so he wrote a letter to her enclosing two skeins of silk and bidding her weave for him with them a pair of bear curtains he sent off a royal courier at once bidding him bring back an immediate answer the messenger returned the same evening with a letter from the woodland maiden and in the letter it made two splinters of wood the maiden had written that if out of these bits of wood he would make her a loom she would weave him the curtains he had ordered after this the prince could no longer doubt that she was quite as clever as he was and now he felt bound to perform the vow that he had made which was just what he most wished to do so he rode forth with all his royal train to the cottage in the wild wood and he told the old people that he had come to boo their daughter for his bride if she were willing and she was willing the old folk were very downhearted at parting from their child but they did not wish to stand in the way of her happiness so they gave their consent then the court ladies clared the bride and the scarlet and silica tire and adorned her with goggles and jewels and she had ladies in waiting and coaches and carriages and all sorts of splendor and the wedding was celebrated with joy and great magnificence into the clever prince accorded by Rachel Trishka Story 11 of the Fairy Ring This is a LibriVox recording All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Reading by Lars Rolander The Fairy Ring Edited by Kate Douglas Wigging and Nora Archibald Smith Story 11 Lars Mylad There was once a prince or a duke or something of that sort but at any rate he belonged to a very grand family and he would not stop at home so he traveled all over the world and wherever he went he was well liked and was received in the best and gayest families for he had no end of money he made friends and acquaintances as you may imagine wherever he went for he who has a well-filled trough is sure to fall in with pigs who want to have their fill but he went on spending his money until he came to want and at last his purse became so empty that he had not even a fathering left and now there was an end to all his friends as well for they behaved like the pigs when the trough was empty and he had no more to give them they began to grunt and grin and then they ran away in all directions there he stood alone with a long face everybody had been so willing to help him get rid of his money but nobody would help him without it and so there was nothing for it but to trudge home and beg for crusts on the way so late one evening he came to a great forest he did not know where he should find a shelter for the night but he went on looking and searching till he could sight of an old tumble-down hut which stood in the middle of some bushes it was not exactly good enough for such a fine cavalier but when you cannot get what you want you must take what you can get and since there was no help for it he went into the hut not a living soul was to be seen there was not even a stool to sit upon but alongside the walls stood a big chest could there be inside that chest? if only there were some bits of moldy bread in it how nice they would taste for you must know he had not had a single bit of food the whole day and he was so hungry and his stomach so empty that it groaned with pain he lifted the lid but inside the chest was another chest and inside that chest there was another and so it went on each one smaller than the other until they became quite tiny boxes the more there were the harder he worked away for there must be something very fine inside he thought since it was so well hidden at last he came to a tiny little box and in this box lay a bit of paper and that was all he got for his trouble it was very annoying of course but then he discovered there was something written on the paper and when he looked at it he was just able to spell it out although at first it looked somewhat difficult Lars my lad as he pronounced these words something answered right in his ear what our masters orders he looked round but he saw nobody this was very funny he thought and so he read out the words once more Lars my lad and the answer came as before what our masters orders but he did not see anybody this time either if there is anybody about to here's what I say then be kind enough to bring me something to eat he said and the next moment there stood a table laid out with all the best things one could think of he said to work to eat and drink and had a proper meal he had never enjoyed himself so much in all his life he thought when he had eaten all he could get down he began to feel sleepy and so he took out the paper again Lars my lad what our masters orders well you have given me food and drink and now you must get me a bed to sleep in as well but I want a really fine bed he said for you must know he was a little more bold now that his hunger was stayed well there it stood a bed so fine and dainty that even the king himself might covet it now this was all very well in its way but when once you are well off you wish for still more and he had no sooner got into bed than he began to think that the room was altogether too wretched for such a grand bed so he took out the paper again Lars my lad what our masters orders since you are able to get me such food and such a bed here in the midst of the wild forest I suppose you can manage to get me a better room for you see I am accustomed to sleep in a palace with golden mirrors and drape walls and ornaments and comforts of all kinds he said well he had no sooner spoken the words than he found himself lying in the grandest chamber anybody had ever seen now he was comfortably thought and felt quite satisfied as he turned his face to the wall and closed his eyes but that was not all the grander for when he woke up in the morning and looked round he saw it was a big palace he had been sleeping in one room led into the other and wherever he went this was full of all sorts of finery and luxuries both on the walls and on the ceilings and they glittered so much when the sun shone on them that he had to shade his eyes with his hand so strong was the glare of gold and silver wherever he turned he then happened to look out of the window good gracious how grand it was there was something else than pine forest and juniper bushes to look at it was the finest garden anyone could wish for with splendid trees and roses of all kinds but he could not see a single human being or even a cat and that you know was rather lonely for otherwise he had everything so grand and had been set up as his own master again so he took out the bit of paper Lars my lad what are master's orders well now you have given me food and bed and a palace to live in I intend to remain here for I like the place he said yet I don't like to be quite by myself I must have both lads and lassies whom I may order about to wait on me he said and there they were there came servants and stewards and scullery mates and chamber mates of all sorts and some came bowing and some purchasing so now the Duke thought he was really satisfied but no it happened that there was a large palace on the other side of the forest and there the king lived who owned the forest and the great big fields around it as he was walking up and down in his room he happened to look out through the window and saw the new palace and the golden weather cocks were swinging to and fro on the roof in the sunlight dazzling his eyes this is very strange he thought and so he called his courtiers they came rushing in and began bowing and scraping do you see the palace over there said the king they opened their eyes and began to stare yes of course they saw it who is that has dared to build such a palace on my grounds said the king they bowed and they scraped with their feet but they did not know anything about it the king then called his generals and captains they came stood at attention and presented arms be gone soldiers and troopers said the king and pulled down the palace over there and hang him who has built it and don't lose any time about it well they set off in great haste to arm themselves and away they went the drummers beat the skins of their drums and the trumpeters blew their trumpets and the other musicians played and blew as best they could so that the duke heard them long before he could see them but he had heard this kind of noise before and knew what it meant so he took out his scrap of paper lars my lad what are masters orders there are soldiers coming here he said and now you must provide me with soldiers and horses that I might have double as many as those over in the wood and with sabers and pistols and guns and cannons with all that belongs to them but be quick about it and no time was lost for when the duke looked out he saw an immense number of soldiers who were drawn up around the palace when the king's men arrived they came to sudden halt and dared not advance but the duke was not afraid he went straight up to the colonel of the king's soldiers and asked him what he wanted the colonel told him his errand it is of no use said the duke you see how many men I have and if the king will listen to me we shall become good friends and I will help him against his enemies and in such a way that it will be heard of far and wide he said the colonel was of the same opinion and the duke then invited him and all the soldiers inside the palace and the men had more than one glass to drink and plenty of everything to eat as well but while they were eating and drinking they began talking and the duke then got to hear that the king had a daughter who was his only child and was so wonderfully fair and beautiful that no one had ever seen her like before and the more the king's soldiers ate and drank the more they thought she would suit the duke for a wife and they went on talking so long that the duke at last began to be of the same opinion the worst of it said the soldiers is that she is just as proud as she is beautiful and will never look at a man but the duke laughed at this if that's all said the duke there is sure to be a remedy for that complaint when the soldiers had eaten and drunk as much as they could find room for they shouted hurrah so that it echoed among the hills and then they set out homeward but as you may imagine they did not walk exactly in parade order they were rather unsteady about the knees and many of them did not carry their guns in regulation manner the duke asked them to greet the king from him he would call on him the following day he said when the duke was alone again he began to think of the princess and to wonder if she were as beautiful and fair as they had made her out to be he would like to make sure of it and as so many strange things had happened that day she must not be impossible to find that out as well he thought Lars my lad what are master's orders well now you must bring me the king's daughter as soon as she has gone to sleep he said but she must not be awakened either on the way here or back do you hear that he said and before long the princess was lying on the bed she slept so soundly and looked so wonderfully beautiful as she lay there yes she was as sweet as sugar I can tell you the duke walked round about her but she was just as beautiful from whatever point of view he looked at her the more he looked the more he liked her Lars my lad what are master's orders you must now carry the princess home he said for now I know how she looks and tomorrow I will ask for her hand he said next morning the king looked out to the window I suppose I shall not be troubled with the sight of that palace anymore he thought but sounds there it stood just as on the day before and the sun shone so brightly on the roof and the weathercocks dazzled his eyes he now became furious and called all his men they came quicker than usual the courtiers bowed and scraped and the soldiers stood at attention and presented arms do you see the palace there screamed the king they stretched their necks and stared and gave yes of course that they did have I not ordered you to pull down the palace and hang the builder he said yes they could not deny that but then the colonel himself stepped forward and reported what had happened and how many soldiers the duke had and how wonderfully crowned the palace was and next he told him what the duke had said and how he had asked him to give his greetings to the king and all that sort of thing the king felt quite confused and had to put his crown down on the table and scratch his head he could not understand all this although he was a king for he could take his oath it had been all been built in a single night and if the duke were not an evil one himself he must in any case have done it by magic while he said pondering the princess came into the room good morning to you father she said just fancy I had such a strange and beautiful dream last night she said what did you dream then my girl said the king I dreamt that I was in the new palace over jonder and that I saw a duke there fine and handsome that I could never have imagined the like and now I want to get married father she said do you want to get married you who have never cared to look at a man that's very strange said the king that may be said the princess but it's different now and I want to get married and it is the duke I want she said the king was quite beside himself so frightened did he become of the duke but all of a sudden he heard a terrible noise of drums and trumpets and instruments of all kinds and then came a message that the duke had just arrived with a large company all of whom were so grandly dressed that gold and silver glistened in every fold the king put on his crown and his coronation robes and then went out on the steps to receive them the princess was not slow to follow him the duke bowed most graciously and the king of course did likewise and when they had talked a while about their affairs and their grandeur they became the best of friends a great banquet was then prepared and the duke was placed next to the princess at the table what they talked about is not easy to tell but the duke spoke so well for himself that the princess could not very well say what he said and then he went up to the king and asked for her hand the king could not exactly say no either for he could very well see that the duke was a person with whom it was best to be on friendly terms but give his sanction there and then he could not very well do that either he wanted to see the duke's palace first and find out about the state of affairs over there as you may understand so it was arranged to make the princess with him to see his palace and with this they parted company when the duke returned home Lars became busier than ever for there was so much to attend to but he said to work and strove hard and when the king and his daughter arrived everything was so magnificent and splendid that no words can describe it they went through all the rooms and looked about and they found everything as it should be and even still more splendid thought the king and so he was quite pleased the wedding then took place and that in grand style and on the duke's arrival home with his bride he too gave a great feast and then there was an end to the festivities some time passed by and one evening the duke heard these words are you satisfied now it was Lars as you may guess but the duke could not see him well I ought to be said the duke you have provided me with everything I have he said yes but what have I got in return asked Lars nothing said the duke but bless me what could I have given you who are not of flesh and blood and whom I cannot see either he said but if there is anything I can do for you tell me what it is and I shall do it well I should like to ask you for that little scrap of paper which you found in the chest said Lars nothing else said the duke if such a trifle can help you I can easily do without it for now I begin to know the words by heart he said Lars thanked the duke and asked him to put the paper on the chair in front of the bed when he retired to rest he was sure to fetch it during the night the duke did as he was told and so he and the princess lay down and went to sleep but early in the morning the duke awoke and felt so cold that his teeth chattered and when he had got his eyes quite open he found that he was quite naked and had not even as much as a thread on his back and instead of the ground bed and the beautiful bedroom in the adjacent palace he lay on the big chest in the old tumble-down hut he began to shout Lars my lad but he got no answer he shouted once more Lars my lad but he got no answer this time either so he shouted all he could Lars my lad but it was all in vain now he began to understand how matters stood when Lars had got the scrap of paper he was freed from service at the same time and now he had taken everything with him but there was no help for it there stood the duke in the old hut quite naked and as for the princess she was not much better off although she had her clothes on for she had got them from her father so Lars had no power over them the duke had now to tell the princess everything and ask her to leave him he would have to manage as best as he could, he said but she would not hear of it she well remembered what the parson had said when he married them and she would never, never leave him, she said in the meantime the king in his palace had also awakened and when he looked out to the window he did not see any sign whatever of the other palace where his daughter and son-in-law lived he became uneasy as you may imagine and called his courtiers they came in and began to bow and scrape do you see the palace over yonder behind the forest he asked they stretched their necks and stared with all their might no, they did not see it where had it gone then asks the king well really they did not know it was not long before the king set out with all his court through the forest and when he arrived at the place where the palace with the beautiful gardens should have been he could not see anything but heather and juniper bushes and furs but then he discovered the old tumbledown hut which stood there among the bushes he entered the hut and mercy on us sight met his eyes there stood his son-in-law quite naked and his daughter who had not very many clothes on either and who was crying and moaning dear, dear what does all this mean said the king but he did not get any answer for the duke would rather have died than tell him the king did his outmost to get him to speak but in spite of all the king's promises and threats the duke remained obstinate and would not utter a word the king then became angry and no wonder for now he could see that this grand duke was not what he pretended to be and so he ordered the duke to be hanged and that without any loss of time the princess begged and prayed for mercy but neither prayers nor tears were of any help now for an impostor he was and as an impostor he should die said the king and so it had to be they erected a gallows and placed the rope around the duke's neck but while they were getting the gallows ready the princess got hold of the hangman and gave both him and his assistant some money that they should so manage the hanging of the duke that he should not lose his life and in the night they were to cut him down so that he and the princess might then flee the country and that's how the matter was arranged in the meantime they had strung up the duke and the king and his court and all the people went their way the duke was now in great straits he had however plenty of time to reflect how foolish he had been in not saving some of the scrums when he was living in plenty and how unpardonably stupid he had been in letting Lars have the scrape of paper this vexed him more than all if only he had it again he thought they should see he had been gaining some sense in return for all he had lost but it is of little use snarling if you haven't got any teeth ah well well he sighed and so he dangled his legs which was really all he could do the day passed slowly and tediously for him and he was not at all displeased when he saw the sun setting behind the forest but just before it disappeared he heard a fearful shouting and when he looked down the hill he saw seven cartloads of worn out shoes and on the top of the innmost cart he saw a little old man in grey clothes and with a red pointed cap on his head his face was like that of the worst scare crow and the rest of him was not very handsome either he drew straight up to the gallows and when he arrived right under it he stopped and looked up at the Jew and then burst out laughing the ugly old fellow how stupid you were he said but what should the fool do with his stupidity if he did not make use of it then he laughed again yes there you are hanging now and here am I carting away all the shoes I have worn out for your whims I wonder if you can read what is written on this bit of paper and if you recognize it he said with an ugly laugh holding up the paper before the Duke's eyes but all who hang are not dead and this time it was Lars was befooled the Duke made a clutch and snatched the paper from him Lars my lad what are master's orders well you must cut me down from the gallows and put the palace and all the rest in its place again exactly as it was before and when the night has set in you must bring back the princess all went merrily as in a dance and before long everything was in its place just as it was when Lars took himself off when the king awoke the next morning he looked out of the windows as was his custom and there stood the palace again with a weathercocks glittering so beautifully in the sunshine he called his courtiers and they came and began to bow and scrape they stretched their necks as far as they could and stared and gait do you see the palace over there said the king yes of course they did the king then sent for the princess but she was not to be found he then went out to see if his son-in-law was still hanging on the gallows but neither son-in-law nor gallows was to be seen he had to lift off his crown and scratch his head but that did not improve matters he could not make head or tail of either one thing or the other he set off at once with all his court through the forest and when he came to the place where the palace should stand there stood sure enough the garden and the roses were exactly as they used to be and the duke's people were to be seen everywhere among the trees his son-in-law and his daughter received him on the steps dressed in their finest clothes well I never saw the like of this said the king to himself he could scarcely believe his own eyes so wonderful did it all seem to him God's peace be with you father and welcome here said the duke the king stood staring at him are you my son-in-law he asked well I suppose I am said the duke did I not order you to be hanged yesterday like any common thief said the king I think you must have been bewitched on the way said the duke with a laugh do you think I am the man to let myself be hanged or is there anyone here who dares to believe it he said and looked so fiercely at the courtiers that they felt as if they were being pierced through and through they bowed and scraped and cringed before him who could believe such a thing was it at all likely well if there is anyone who dares to say the king could have wished me such evil let him speak out said the duke and fixed his eyes upon them still more fiercely than before then they went on bowing and scraping and cringing how could anyone dare say such a thing no they had more sense than that they should hope the king did not know what to believe for when he looked at the duke he thought he never could have wished him such evil but still he was not quite convinced did I not come here yesterday and was not the whole palace gone and was there not an old hut in its place and did not I go into that hut and did not you stand stark naked right before my eyes he asked I wonder the king can talk so said the duke I think the trolls must have bewitched your eyes in the forest and made you quite crazy or what do you think he said and turned round to the courtiers they bowed and bowed till their backs were bent double and agreed with everything he said there could be no mistake about that the king rubbed his eyes and looked round about him I suppose it is as you say then he said to the duke and it is well I have got back my proper sight and have come to my senses again for it would have been a sin and a shame if I had let you be hanged he said and so he was happy again and nobody thought any more about the matter once bitten twice shy as the proverb says and the duke now took upon himself to manage and look after most of his affairs so that it was seldom Lars had to wear out his shoes the king soon gave the duke half the kingdom into the bargain so he had now plenty to do and people said they would have to search a long time to find his equal in wise and just ruling then one day Lars came to the duke looking very little better than the first time he had seen him but he was of course more humble and did not dare jiggle and make grimaces you do not want my help any longer now he said for although I did wear out my shoes at first I am now unable to wear out a single pair and my feet will soon be covered all over with moss so I thought I might now get my leave of absence he said the duke quite agreed with him I have tried to spare you and I almost think I could do without you he said but the palace and all the rest I do not want to lose for such a clever builders you I shall never get again nor do I ever want to adorn the gallows again as you can well understand so I cannot give you back the paper on any account he said well as long as you have got it I need not fear said Lars but if anybody else should get hold of it there will be nothing but running and trudging about again and that's what I want to avoid for when one has been tramping about for a thousand years as I have done to get tired of it he said but they went on talking and at last they agreed that the duke should put the paper in the box and then buried seven elves under the ground under a stone fixed in the earth then they gave mutual thanks for the time they had spent in each other's company and so they parted the duke carried out his part of the agreement for he was not likely to want to change it he lived happy and contended with the princess and they had both sons and daughters when the king died he got the whole of the kingdom and you may guess he was none the worse off for that and there no doubt he still lives in grains if he's not dead but as for the box with the scrap of paper in it there are many who are still running about looking for it End of Lars Milat Read by Lars Rolander Story 12 of The Fairy Ring This is a LibriVox recording All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Recorded by Larianne Walden The Fairy Ring Edited by Kate Douglas-Wigan and Nora Archibald-Smith Story 12 Twigmontus, Calbelliantis, Perchnosius Once upon a time there was a king who was so very learned that no person in the whole world could surpass him in fact he was so learned that ordinary folks could hardly understand what he said nor could he understand them either but in order to have someone to talk with he procured seven wise professors who were not quite so learned as himself but who were just able to interpret the learned sayings so that people could apprehend them and who could twist and turn about the talk of ordinary folk so that it became sufficiently learned and complicated for the king to understand it The king had no son but he had a daughter and in order that she should be happily married and the country governed according to the fundamental principles of his learning he issued an edict that he who was so learned as to put the king and his professors to silence should have his daughter and half the kingdom there and then but anyone who attempted the task and did not succeed should lose his head for having dared to exchange words with the king That was no joke but the princess was so fair and beautiful that it was no joke to gaze at her either and the king did not keep her caged up for anyone who wished could see her There came princes and counts and barons and parsons and doctors and learned persons from all quarters of the world and no sooner did they see the princess than one in all wanted to try their luck but however learned they were their learning never proved sufficient and every one of them lost his head Over in the corner of the kingdom there lived a farmer who had a son This lad was not stupid he was quick of apprehension and sharp-witted and he was not afraid of anything When the king's edict came to this out-of-the-way place and the parson had read it from the pulpit the lad wanted to try his luck He who nothing risks, nothing wins and he said he wanted to help a lad and so he went to the parson and told him that if he would give him lessons in the evenings he would work for this worship in the daytime but he wanted to become so learned that he could try about with the king and his professors Whoever means to compete with them must be able to do something more than much bread said the parson That may be said the lad but I'll try my luck The parson thought of course that he was mad but when he could get such a clever hand to his keep he thought he could not very well say no and so the lad got what he wanted He worked for the parson in the daytime and the parson read with him in the evening and in this way they went on for some time but at last the lad grew tired of his books I am not going to sit here and read and grind away and lose what few wits I have he said and it won't be of much help either for if you are lucky things will come right of themselves and if you are not lucky you can never make a silk purse out of a sow's ear and with this he pitched the books on the shelf and went his way all at once he came to a large forest where the trees and the bushes were so thick that it was with difficulty he could get along while he was thus pushing his way through he began wondering what he should say when he came to the king's palace and how best he could make use of the learning he had picked up from the parson all of a sudden the twig of a tree trunk struck him across the mouth so that his teeth rattled that is twig montus he said a little while after he came to a meadow where a cow was standing bellowing so furiously that it almost deafened him that is cowbelliantus he said he then came to a river but as there was neither bridge nor planks across it he had to put his clothes on his head and swim across while he was swimming a perch came and bit him on the nose he said at last he came to the king's palace where things did not look at all pleasant for there were men's heads stuck on long stakes round about and they grinned so horribly that they were enough to frighten anyone out of his wits but the lad was not easily frightened God's peace he said and raised his cap there you stick and grin at me but who knows if I may not be keeping you company before the day is over if you may not be alive you shall not stick there any longer gaping at people he said so he went up to the palace and knocked at the gate the guard came out and asked what he wanted I have come to try my luck with the princess said the lad you said the guard well you're a likely one you are have you lost your senses there have been princes and counts and barons and parsons and doctors and learned persons here and yet you think you'll succeed he said I should say it is no concern of yours said the lad just open the gate and you'll see one who's not afraid of anything but the guard would not let him in do as I tell you said the lad or there'll be a fine to do but the guard would not the lad then seized him by the collar and flung him against the wall so that it creeped the king who sat in his parlor with his seven professors about him their faces were long and thin and they looked like puny sickly persons about to die they were sitting with their heads on one side meditating and staring at the floor then one of them who looked up asked the lad in ordinary language who are you a suitor said the lad do you want to try for the princess's hand well that's about it said the lad have you lost your wits there have been princes and counts and barons and parson and doctors and learned persons here and all of them have gone headless away so you would better turn about and get away while your head is on your shoulders he said don't trouble yourself on that account but rather think of the head on your own shoulders said the lad you look after yours and I'll take care of mine so just begin I think you look so very clever he said the first professor then began a long harang of gibberish and when he had finished the second went on and then the third and in this way they continued till at length it was the turn of the seventh the lad did not understand a single word of it all but he didn't lose courage for all that he only nodded his approval to all of it when the last had finished his harang he asked can you reply to that that's easy enough said the lad why when I was in my cradle and in my go-kart I could twist my mouth about and pray in jabber like you he said but since you are so terribly learned I'll put a question to you and that shall not be a long one twigmontus cowbelliantus perchnosius can you give me an answer to that they put on their spectacles and began to look into their books and turn over the leaves but while they were searching and meditating the lad put his hands in his trousers pockets and looked so frank and fearless that they could not help admiring him and wondering that one who was so young could be so learned and yet look just like other people well how are you getting on said the lad cannot all your learning help you to open your mouths so that I can have an answer to my question he said and then they glanced at the ceiling and then they stared at the walls and then they fixed their eyes upon the floor but they could not give him any answer nor could the king himself although he was much more learned than all the others together they had to give it up and the lad got the princess and half the kingdom this he ruled in his own way and if it did not fare better it did not fare worse for him than for the king with all his fundamental principles Dementes, Calbeleantes, Parchnosius master tobacco. Once upon a time there was a poor woman who went about begging with her son. For at home she had neither a morsel to eat nor a stick to burn. First she tried the country, and went from parish to parish, but it was poor work, and so she came into the town. There she went about from house to house for a while, and at last she came to the Lord Mayor. He was both open-hearted and open-handed, and he was married to the daughter of the richest merchant in the town, and they had one little daughter. As they had no more children, you may fancy she was sugar and spice and all that's nice, and in a word there was nothing too good for her.  And as the Lord Mayor was a wise man, as soon as he saw what friends the two were, he took the boy into his house that he might be his daughter's playmate. Yes, they played and read, and went to school together, and never had so much as one quarrel. One day the lady Mayoress stood at the window, and watched the children as they were trudging off to school. There had been a shower of rain, and the street was flooded, and she saw how the boy first carried the basket with their dinner over the stream, and then he went back and lifted the little girl over, and when he set her down he gave her a kiss. When Lady Mayoress saw this she got very angry. To think of such a rag-and-muffin kissing our daughter, we who are the best people in the place, that was what she said. Her husband did his best to stop her tongue. No one knew, he said. How children would turn out in life, or what might befall his own? The boy was a clever, handy lad, and often a grey tree sprang from a slender plant. But no, it was all the same, whatever he said and whichever way he put it. The Lady Mayoress held her own, and said beggars on horseback always rode their cattle to death, and that no one had ever heard of a silk purse being made out of a silk's ear, adding that a penny would never turn into a shilling even though it glittered like a guinea.  When the Lord Mayor saw there was no help for it, he sent him away with a trader who had come dither with the ship, and he was to be a cabin boy on board her. He told his wife he had sold the boy for a roll of tobacco. But before he went, the Lord Mayor's daughter broke her ring into two bits, and gave the boy one bit, that it might be a token to know him by if they ever met again. And so the ship sailed away, and the lad came to a town far, far off in the world, and to that town a priest had just come who was so good a preacher that everyone went to church to hear him, and the crew of the ship went with the rest the Sunday after to hear the sermon. As for the lad, he was left behind to mine the ship and to cook dinner. So while he was hard at work he heard someone calling out across the water on an island, so he took the boat and rode across, and there he saw an old hag who called and roared. Hey, she said, you have come at last. Here have I stood a hundred years calling and bowling and thinking how I should ever get over this water, but no one has ever heard or heeded but you, and you shall be well paid if you will put me over to the other side. So the lad had to row her to her sister's house, who lived on a hill on the other side close by, and when they got there she told him to beg for the old tablecloth which lay on the dresser. Yes, he would beg for it, and when the old witch who lived there knew that he had helped her sister over the water, she said he might have whatever he chose to ask. Oh, said the boy, then I won't have anything else than that old tablecloth on the dresser yonder. Oh, said the old witch, that you never asked out of your own wits. Now I must be off, said the lad, to cook the Sunday dinner for the churchgoers.  Here have I stood and called and bawled for a hundred years, but no one has ever heeded me but you. The end was he had to go with her to another sister, and when he got there the old hag said he was to be sure and ask for the old sword, which was such that he could put it into his pocket and it became a knife, and when he drew it out it was a long sword again. One edge was black and the other was white, and if he smote with the black edge everything fell dead, and if with the white everything came to life again. So when they came over and the second old witch heard how he had helped her sister across, she said he might have anything he chose to ask for her fair. Oh, said the lad, then I will have nothing else but the old sword which hangs over the cupboard. That you never asked out of your own wits, but the old witch, but for all that he got that sword. Then the old hag said again, come on with me to my third sister. Here have I stood and called and bawled for a hundred years, and no one has heeded me but you. Come on to my third sister, and you shall have better pay still. So he went with her, and on the way she told him he was to ask for the old hymn book, and that was such a book that when anyone was sick and the nurse sang one of the hymns, the sickness passed away, and they were well again. Well, when they got across, and the third old witch heard he had helped her sister across, she said he was to have whatever he chose to ask for his fair. Oh, said the lad, then I won't have anything else but granny's old hymn book. That, said the old hag, you never asked out of your own wits. When he got back to the ship, the crew was still at church, so he tried his tablecloth, and spread just a little bit of it out, for he wanted to see what good it was before he laid it on the table. Yes, in a trice it was covered with good food and strong drink, enough and to spare. So he just took a little snack, and then he gave the ship's dog as much as it could eat. When the church goers came on board, the captain said, wherever did you get all that food for the dog? Why, he's as round as a sausage, and as lazy as a snail. Oh, if you must know, said the lad, I gave him the bones. Good boy, said the captain, to think of the dog. So he spread out the cloth, and once the whole table was covered all over with such brave meat and drink as they had never before seen in all their born days. Now when the boy was again alone with the dog, he wanted to try the sword, so he smote at a dog with a black edge, and it fell dead on the deck. But when he turned the blade and smote with the white edge, the dog came to life again and wiped his tail and fawned on his playmate. But the book, that he could not get tried just then. Then they sailed well and far till a storm overtook them, which lasted many days. So they laid to and drove till they were quite out of their course, and could not tell where they were. At last the wind fell, and then they came to a country far, far off that none of them knew. They could easily see there was great grief there, as well there might be, for the king's daughter was a leper. The king came down to the shore, and asked was there anyone on board who could cure her and make her well again? No, there was not. That was what they all said, who were on deck. Is there no one else on board the ship than those I see? Ask the king? Yes, there's a little beggar boy. Well, said the king, let him come on deck.  And then the captain got so wroth and mad, with rage, that he ran round and round like a squirrel in a cage. For he thought the boy was only putting himself forward to do something in which he was sure to fail. And he told the king not to listen to such childish chatter. But the king only said that wit came as children grew, and that there was the making of the man in every bayern. The boy had said that he could do it, and he might as well try. After all, there were many who had tried and failed before him. So he took him home to his daughter, and the lad sang a hymn once. Then the princess could lift her arm. Once again he sang it, and she could sit up in bed. And when he had sung it thrice, the king's daughter was as well as you and I are. The king was so glad he wanted to give him half his kingdom and the princess to wife. Yes, said the lad. Land and power are fine things to have half of. And was very grateful. But as for the princess, he was betrothed to another, he said, and he could not take her to wife. So he stayed there a while and got half the kingdom. And when he had not been very long there, war broke out. And the lad went out to battle with the rest. And you may fancy he do not spare the black edge of his ward. The enemy soldiers fell before him like flies. And the king won the day. But when they had conquered, he turned the white edge, and they all rose up alive and became the king's soldiers who had granted them their lives. But then there were so many of them that they were badly off for food. Though the king wished to send them away full, both of meat and drink. So the lad had to bring out his tablecloth. And then there was not a man that lacked anything. Now when he had lived a little longer with the king, he began to long to see the lord's mayor's daughter. So he fitted out four ships of war and set sail. And when he came off the town where the lord mayor lived, he fired off his cannon-like thunder. Till half the pains of glass in the town were shivered. On board those ships everything was as grand as in a king's palace. And as for himself, he had gold on every seam of his coat. So fine he was. It was not long before the lord mayor came down to the shore and asked if the foreign lord would not be so good as to come up and dine with him. Yes, he would go, he said. And so he went up to the mansion house where the lord mayor lived. And there he took his seat between the lady mayoresse and her daughter. So as they sat there in the greatest state, and ate and drank and were merry, he threw the half of the ring into the daughter's glass and no one saw it. But she was not so to find out what he meant and excused herself from the feast and went out and fitted his half to her half. Her mother saw there was something in the wind and hurried after her as fast as she could. Do you know who that is in there, mother? said the daughter. No, said the lady mayoresse. He whom papa sold for a roll of tobacco, said the daughter. At these words, the lady mayoresse fainted and felt down flat on the floor. In a little while the lord mayor came out to see what was the matter. And when he heard how things stood, he was almost as uneasy as his wife. There is nothing to make a fuss about, said master tobacco. I have only come to claim the little girl I kissed as we were going to school. But to the lady mayoresse said, you should never despise the children of the poor and needy, for none can tell how they may turn out. Since there is the making of a man in every child of man, and which and wisdom come with growth and strength. End of Master Tobacco. Recording by Beron Nasser.