Story 33 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. Recording by Sarah Williams. The Fairy Ring, edited by Kate Douglas-Wigan and Nora Archibald-Smith. Story 33, The Long Leather Bag. Once on a time, long, long ago, there was a widow woman who had three daughters.  When he was not long dead, when an old hag came begging to the house one day and stole the long leather bag filled with gold and silver, and went away out of the country with it, no one knew where. So from that day, the widow woman and her three daughters were poor, and she had a hard struggle to live and bring up her three daughters. But when they were grown up, the eldest said one day, Mother, I'm a young woman now, and it's a shame for me to be here doing nothing to help you or myself. Bake me a bannock and cut me a callot till I go away to push my fortune. The mother baked her a whole bannock and asked her if she would have half of it with her blessing or the whole of it without. She said to give her the whole bannock without. So she took it and went away. She told them if she was not back in a year and a day from that, then they would know she was doing well and making her fortune. She traveled away and away before her, far farther than I could tell you, and twice as far as you could tell me, until she came into a strange country and going up to a little house she found an old hag living in it. The hag asked her where she was going. She said she was going to push her fortune. Said the hag, How would you like to stay here with me for I want a maid? What will I have to do? said she. You will have to wash me and dress me and sweep the hearth clean, but on the peril of your life never look up the chimney, said the hag. All right, she agreed to this. The next day when the hag arose she washed her and dressed her and when the hag went out she swept the hearth clean and then she thought it would do no harm to have one we look up the chimney. And there what did she see but her own mother's long leather bag of golden silver. So she took it down at once and getting it on her back started away for home as fast as she could run. But she had not gone far when she met a horse grazing in a field and when he saw her he said, Rub me, rub me for I haven't been rubbed these seven years. But she only struck him with a stick she had in her hand and drove him out of her way. She had not gone much farther when she met a sheep who said, Oh, cheer me, cheer me for I haven't been sure in these seven years. But she struck the sheep and sent it scurrying out of her way. She had not gone much farther when she met a goat tethered and he said, Oh, change my tether, change my tether for it hasn't been changed these seven years. But she flung a stone at him and went on. Next she came to a lime kiln and it said, Oh, clean me, clean me for I haven't been cleaned these seven years. But she only scowled at it and hurried on. After another bit she met a cow and it said, Oh, milk me, milk me for I haven't been milked these seven years. She struck the cow out of her way and went on. Then she came to a mill. The mill said, Oh, turn me, turn me for I haven't been turned these seven years. But she did not heed what it said. Only went in and lay down behind the mill door with the bag under her head for it was then night. When the hag came into her hut again and found the girl gone she ran to the chimney and looked up to see if she had carried off the bag. She flew into a great rage and started to run as fast as she could after her. She had not gone far when she met the horse and she said, Oh, horse, horse of mine, did you see this maid of mine with my tig, with my tag, with my long leather bag, and all the gold and silver I have earned since I was a maid? I, said the horse, it is not long since she passed here. So on she ran and it was not long till she met a sheep and said she, Sheep, sheep of mine, did you see this maid of mine with my tig, with my tag, with my long leather bag, and all the gold and silver I have earned since I was a maid? I, said the sheep, it is not long since she passed here. So she goes on and it was not long before she met the goat, and she said, Goat, goat of mine, did you see this maid of mine with my tig, with my tag, with my long leather bag, and all the gold and silver I have earned since I was a maid? I, said the goat, it is not long since she passed here. So she goes on and it was not long before she met the lime kiln, and she said, Lime kiln, lime kiln of mine, did you see this maid of mine with my tig, with my tag, with my long leather bag, and all the gold and silver I have earned since I was a maid? I, said the lime kiln, it is not long since she passed here. So she goes on and it was not long before she met the cow, and said she, Cow, cow of mine, did you see this maid of mine with my tig, with my tag, with my long leather bag, and all the gold and silver I have earned since I was a maid? I, said the cow, it is not long since she passed here. So she goes on and it was not long before she met the mill, and said she, Mill, Mill of mine, did you see this maid of mine with my tig, with my tag, with my long leather bag, and all the gold and silver I have earned since I was a maid? And the mill said, Yes, she is sleeping behind the door. She went in and struck her with a white rod, and turned her into a stone.  A year and a day had gone by after the eldest daughter left home, and when they found she had not returned, the second daughter got up, and she said, My sister must be doing well in making her fortune, and isn't it a shame for me to be sitting here doing nothing, either to help you, mother, or myself? Bake me a bannock, she said, and cut me a calyp till I go away to push my fortune. The mother did this, and asked her if she would have half the bannock with her blessing, or the whole bannock without. She said the whole bannock without, and set off. Then she said, If I am not back here in a year and a day, then you may be sure that I am doing well in making my fortune, and then she went away. She traveled away and away before her, far farther than I could tell you, and twice as far as you could tell me. Until she came into a strange country, and going up to a little house, she found an old hag living in it. The old hag asked her where she was going. She said she was going to push her fortune. Said the hag, How would you like to stay here with me for I want a maid? What will I have to do? says she. You will have to wash me and dress me, and sweep the hearth clean, and on the peril of your life never look up the chimney, said the hag. All right, she agreed to this. The next day, when the hag arose, she washed her and dressed her, and when the hag went out, she swept the hearth clean, and she thought it would do no harm to have one wee look up the chimney. And there, what did she see with her own mother's long leather bag of gold and silver, so she took it down at once, and getting it on her back started away for home as fast as she could run. But she had not gone far when she met a horse grazing in a field, and when he saw her, he said, Rub me, rub me, for I haven't been rubbed these seven years. But she only struck him with a stick she had in her hand, and drove him out of her way. She had not gone much farther when she met a sheep, who said, Oh, shear me, shear me, for I haven't been shorn in seven years. But she struck the sheep, and sent it scurrying out of her way. She had not gone much farther when she met a goat tethered, and he said, Oh, change my tether, change my tether, for it hasn't been changed in seven years. But she flung a stone at him, and went on. Next she came to a lime kiln, and that said, Oh, clean me, clean me, for I haven't been cleaned these seven years. But she only scowled at it, and hurried on. Then she came to the cow, who said, Oh, milk me, milk me, for I haven't been milked these seven years. She struck the cow out of her way, and went on. Then she came to the mill. The mill said, Oh, turn me, turn me, for I haven't been turned these seven years. But she did not heed what it said, only went in, and lay down behind the mill door, with the bag under her head, for it was then night. When the hag came into her hut again, and found the girl gone, she ran to the chimney, and looked up to see if she had carried off the bag. She got into a great rage, and started to run as fast as she could after her. She had not gone far when she met the horse, and she said, Oh, horse, horse of mine, did you see this maid of mine with my tig, with my tag, with my long leather bag, and all the gold and silver I have earned since I was a maid? I said the horse, it is not long since she passed here. So she ran on, and it was not long until she met the sheep, and said she, Oh, sheep, sheep of mine, did you see this maid of mine with my tig, with my tag, with my long leather bag, and all the gold and silver I have earned since I was a maid? I said the sheep, it is not long since she passed here. So she goes on, and it was not long before she met the goat, and said, Goat, goat of mine, did you see this maid of mine with my tig, with my tag, with my long leather bag, and all the gold and silver I have earned since I was a maid? I said the goat, it is not long since she passed here. So she goes on, and it was not long before she met the lime kiln, and she said, Lime kiln, lime kiln of mine, did you see this maid of mine with my tig, with my tag, with my long leather bag, and all the gold and silver I have earned since I was a maid? I said the lime kiln, it is not long since she passed here. So she goes on, and it was not long before she met the cow, and says she, Cow, cow of mine, did you see this maid of mine with my tig, with my tag, with my long leather bag, and all the gold and silver I have earned since I was a maid? I, said the cow, it is not long since she passed here." So she goes on, and it was not long before she met the mill, and said she, mill, mill of mine, did you see this maid of mine, with my tig, with my dag, with my long leather bag, and all the gold and silver I have earned since I was a maid? And the mill said, yes, she is sleeping behind the door. So she went in and struck her with a white rod, and turned her into stone. She then took the bag of gold and silver on her back, and went home. When the second daughter had been gone a year and a day, and she hadn't come back, the youngest daughter said, my two sisters must be doing very well indeed, and making great fortunes when they're not coming back. And it's a shame for me to be sitting here doing nothing, either to help you, mother, or myself. Make me a bannock, and cut me a callop, till I go away and push my fortune. The mother did this, and asked her if she would have half of the bannock with her blessing, or the whole bannock without. She said, I will have half the bannock with your blessing, mother. The mother gave her a blessing and half a bannock, and she set out. She travelled away in a waybond before her, far farther than I could tell you, and twice as far as you could tell me, until she came into a strange country, and going up to a little house she found an old hag living in it. The hag asked her where she was going. She said she was going to push her fortune. Said the hag, how would you like to stay here with me, for I want a maid? What will I have to do? said she. You'll have to wash me and dress me, and sweep the hearth clean, and on the peril of your life never look up the chimney, said the hag. All right, she agreed to this. The next day, when the hag arose, she washed her and dressed her, and when the hag went out, she swept the hearth, and thought it would do no harm to have one wee look up the chimney. And there, what did she see but her own mother's long leather bag of gold and silver? So she took it down at once, and getting it on her back, started away from home as fast as she could run. When she got to the horse, the horse said, Rub me, rub me, for I haven't been rubbed these seven years. Oh, poor horse, poor horse, she said, I'll surely do that. And she laid down her bag and rubbed the horse. And then she went on, and it wasn't long before she met the sheep, who said, Oh, shear me, shear me, for I haven't been sure in these seven years. Oh, poor sheep, poor sheep, she said, I'll surely do that. And she laid down the bag and sheared the sheep. On she went until she met the goat, who said, Oh, change my tether, change my tether, for it hasn't been changed these seven years. Oh, poor goat, poor goat, she said, I'll surely do that. And she laid down the bag and changed the goat's tether. Then she went on until she met the lime kiln. The lime kiln said, Oh, clean me, clean me, for I haven't been clean these seven years. Oh, poor lime kiln, poor lime kiln, she said, I'll surely do that. And she laid down the bag and cleaned the lime kiln. Then she went on and met the cow. The cow said, Oh, milk me, milk me, for I haven't been milked these seven years. Oh, poor cow, poor cow, she said, I'll surely do that. And she laid down the bag and milked the cow. At last she reached the mill. The mill said, Oh, turn me, turn me, for I haven't been turned these seven years. Oh, poor mill, poor mill, she said, I'll surely do that. And she turned the mill to. As night was on her, she went in and laid down behind the mill door to sleep. When the hag came into her hut again and found the girl gone, she ran to the chimney to see if she had carried off the bag. She got into a great rage and started to run as fast as she could after her.  And all the gold and silver I have earned since I was a maid? The horse said, Do you think I have nothing to do but watch your maids for you? You may go somewhere else and look for information. Then she came upon the sheep. Oh, sheep, sheep of mine, have you seen this maid of mine with my tig, with my tag, with my long leather bag? And all the gold and silver I have earned since I was a maid? The sheep said, Do you think I have nothing to do but watch your maids for you? You may go somewhere else and look for information. Then she went on until she met the goat. Oh, goat, goat of mine, have you seen this maid of mine with my tig, with my tag, with my long leather bag? And all the gold and silver I have earned since I was a maid? The goat said, Do you think I have nothing to do but watch your maids for you? You may go somewhere else and look for information. Then she went on until she came to the lime kiln.  And all the gold and silver I have earned since I was a maid? Said the lime kiln. Do you think I have nothing to do but watch your maids for you? You may go elsewhere and look for information. Next she met the cow. Oh, cow, cow of mine, have you seen this maid of mine with my tig, with my tag, with my long leather bag? And all the gold and silver I have earned since I was a maid? The cow said, Do you think I have nothing to do but watch your maids for you? You may go somewhere else and look for information. Then she got to the mill. Oh, mill, mill of mine, have you seen this maid of mine with my tig, with my tag, with my long leather bag? And all the gold and silver I have earned since I was a maid? The mill said, Come nearer and whisper to me. She went nearer to whisper to the mill, and the mill dragged her under the wheels and ground her up. The old hag had dropped the white rod out of her hand, and the mill told the young girl to take this rod and strike the two stones behind the mill door. She did that, and her two sisters stood up. She hoisted the leather bag on her back, and the three of them set out and traveled away and away till they reached home. The mother had been crying all the time while they were away, and was now ever so glad to see them. And rich and happy they all lived ever after. End of The Long Leather Bag, recording by Sarah Williams. Story 34 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. Recording by Bridget. The Fairy Ring, edited by Kate Douglas-Wigan and Nora Archibald-Smith. Story 34. The Widow's Daughter. There was once a poor widow woman living in the north of Ireland, who had one daughter named Nabla. And Nabla grew up both idle and lazy. Till at length, when she had grown to be a young woman, she was both thriftless and useless, fit only to sit with her heels in the ashes and croon to the cat the day long.  As her mother was giving Nabla the whacking, she had so richly earned. Who should happen to be riding past but the king's son himself? He heard the mother beating and scolding and Nabla crying and pleading within. So he drew rain, and at the top of his voice shouted to know what was the matter. The widow came to the door, curtsying when she saw who he was. Not wishing to give out a bad name on her daughter, she told the king's son that she had a daughter who killed herself working the lee-long day and refused to rest when her mother asked her, so that she always had to be beaten before she would stop. What work can your daughter do, the prince asked? She can spin, weave, and sew, and do every work that ever a woman did, the mother replied. Now it so happened that a twelve-month before the prince had taken a notion of marrying, and his mother, anxious he should have none but the best wife, had with his approval, sent messengers all over Ireland to find him a woman who could perform all a woman's duties, including the three accomplishments the widow named, spinning, that is, weaving, and sewing. But all the candidates whom the messengers had secured were found unsatisfactory on being put to trial, and the prince had remained unwetted. When now the king's son heard this account of Nabla for her own mother, he said, you are not fit to have the charge of such a good girl. For twelve months, through all parts of my mother's kingdom, search was being made for just such a young woman that she might become my wife. I'll take Nabla with me. Poor Nabla was rejoiced, and her mother astonished. The king's son helped Nabla to a seat behind him on the horse's back, and bidding a dew to the widow, rode off. When he had got Nabla home, he introduced her to his mother, telling the queen that by good fortune he had secured the very woman they had so long sought in vain. The queen asked what Nabla could do, and he replied that she could spin, weave, and sew, and do everything else a woman should. And moreover, she was so eager for work that her mother was beating her within an inch of her life to make her rest herself when he arrived on the scene at Nabla's own cottage. The queen said that was well. She took Nabla to a large room, and gave her a heap of silk and a golden wheel, and told her she must have all the silk spun into thread in twenty-four hours. Then she bolted her in. Poor Nabla, in amazement, sat looking at the big heap of silk and the golden wheel, and at length she began to cry, for she had not spun a yard of thread in all her life. As she cried, an ugly woman, having one of her feet as big as a bolster, appeared before her. What are you crying for, she asked. Nabla told her, and the woman said, I'll spin the silk for you if you ask me to the wedding. I'll do that, Nabla said. And to then the woman sat down to the wheel, and working it with her big foot, very soon had the whole heap spun. When the queen came and found all spun she said, that is good. Then she brought in a golden loom, and told Nabla she must have all that thread woven in twenty-four hours. When the queen had gone, Nabla sat down and looked from the thread to the loom and from the loom to the thread, wondering, for she had not in all her life even thrown a shuttle.   She asked Nabla why she cried. Nabla told her, and then the woman said, I'll weave all that for you if you'll give me the promise of your wedding. Nabla said she would surely, so the woman sat down to the golden loom, and very soon had all the thread woven into webs. When again the queen came and found all woven she said, that is good. And then she gave Nabla a golden needle and thimble, and said that in twenty-four hours more she must have all the webs made into shirts for the prince. Again when the queen had gone, Nabla, who had never even threaded a needle in all her life, sat for a while looking at the needle and thimble and looking at the webs of silk, and again she broke down and began to cry heartily.  When Nabla had told her, the ugly woman said, I'll make up all those webs into shirts for the prince if you'll promise me the wedding. I'll do that, Nabla said, and a thousand welcomes. So the woman with the big nose, taking the needle and thimble, sat down, and in a short time had made all the silk into shirts and disappeared again. When the queen came a third time and found all the silk made up in shirts, she was mightily pleased and said, You are the very woman for my son, for he'll never want a housekeeper while he has you. When Nabla and the prince were betrothed, and on the wedding night there was a gay and a gorgeous company in the hall of the castle, all was mirth and festivity, but as they were about to sit down to a splendid repast, there was a loud knock at the door. A servant opened it, and there came in an ugly old woman with one foot as big as a bolster, who, amid the loud laughter of the company, hobbled along the floor and took a seat at the table. She was asked of which party was she, the bride or the grooms, and she replied that she was of the bride's party. When the prince heard this, he believed that she was one of Nabla's poor friends. He went up to her and asked her what had made her foot so big. Spinnig, she said, I have been all my life at the wheel, and that's what it has done for me. Then by my word, said the prince, striking the table a great blow, my wife shall not turn a wheel while I am here to prevent it. As the party were again settling themselves, another knock came to the door. A servant opening it led in a woman with one hand as big as a pot. The weight of this hand, hanging by her side, gave her body a great lean over, so that as she hobbled along the floor, the company at the table lay back, laughing and clapping their hands at the funny sight. This woman, taking a seat at the table, was asked by whose invitation she was there, to which she replied that she was of the bride's party. Then the prince went up to her and inquired what caused her hand to be so big. Weaving, she said, I have slaved at the shuttle all my life, that's what has come on me. Then said the prince, striking the table a thundering blow, by my word, my wife shall never throw a shuttle again while I live to prevent it. A third time the guests were ready to begin the repast. When again there came a knock to the door.  This woman likewise took a chair at the table. She was then asked who had invited her, the bride or the groom. She said she was one of the bride's party. Then the prince, going up to her, asked her why her nose had come to be so very big. It's with sewing, she said, all my life I've been bending my head over sewing, so that every drop of blood ran down into my nose, smelling it out like that. Then the prince struck the table a blow that made the dishes leap and rattle. By my word, he said, my wife shall never either put a needle in cloth again or do any other sort of household work while I live to prevent it. And the prince faithfully kept his word. He was always on the lookout to try and catch Nabla, spinning, weaving, or sewing, or doing any other sort of work, for he thought she might at any time try to work on the sly. Poor Nabla, however, never did anything to confirm his uneasiness, but taking her old mother to stay in the castle with her, lived happy and contented, and as lazy as the day was long, ever after. SC. Story 35 of The Faerie Ring. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.com. SC. Recording by Ashwin Jan. The Faerie Ring, edited by Kate Douglas, Virgin, and Nora Archibald Smith, Story 35, Munachar and Manachar. They once lived a Munachar and a Manachar a long time ago, and it is a long time since it was, and if they were alive now, they would not be alive then. They went out together to pick raspberries, and as many as Munachar used to pick, Manachar used to eat. Munachar said, you must go look for a rod to make a gag to hang Manachar, who ate his raspberries every one, and he came to the rod. What news today? Said the rod. It is my news that I am seeking. Good looking for a rod, a rod to make a gag, a gag to hang Manachar, who ate my raspberries every one. You will not get me, said the rod, until you get an axe to cut me. He came to the axe. What news today? Said the axe. It is my own news I am seeking. Going looking for an axe, an axe to cut a rod, a rod to make a gag, a gag to hang Manachar, who ate my raspberries every one. You will not get me, said the axe, until you get a flag to edge me. He came to the flag. What's the news today? Said the flag. It's my own news I am seeking. Going looking for a flag, a flag to edge axe, an axe to cut a rod, a rod to make a gag, a gag to hang Manachar, who ate my raspberries every one. You will not get me. Said the flag. Till you get water to wet me. He came to the water. What news today? Said the water. It's my own news I am seeking. Going looking for water, water to wet flag, flag to edge axe, axe to cut a rod, a rod to make a gag, a gag to hang Manachar, who ate my raspberries every one. You will not get me. Said the water. Until you get a deer, who will swim me. He came to the deer. What news today? Says the deer. It's my own news I am seeking. Going looking for a deer, deer to swim water, water to wet flag, flag to edge axe, axe to cut a rod, a rod to make a gag, a gag to hang Manachar, who ate my raspberries every one. You will not get me. Said the deer. Until you get a hound, who will hunt me. He came to the hound. What news today? Says the hound. It's my own news I am seeking. Going looking for a hound, hound to hunt deer, deer to swim water, water to wet flag, flag to edge axe, axe to cut a rod, a rod to make a gag, a gag to hang Manachar, who ate my raspberries every one. You will not get me. Said the hound. Until you get a bit of butter to put in my claw. He came to the butter. What news today? Says the butter. It's my own news I am seeking. Going looking for butter, butter to go in claw of hound, hound to hunt deer, deer to swim water, water to wet flag, flag to edge axe, axe to cut a rod, hound to hunt deer, deer to swim water, water to wet flag, flag to edge axe. Water to wet flag, flag to edge axe, axe to cut a rod, a rod to make a gag, a gag to hang Manachar, who ate my raspberries every one. You will not get me. Said the butter. Until you get a gag. Who shall scrape me? He came to the gag. What news today? Said the gag. It's my own news I am seeking. Going looking for a cat. Cat to scrape butter, butter to go in claw of hound, hound to hunt deer, deer to swim water, water to wet flag, flag to edge axe, axe to cut a rod, a rod to make a gag, a gag to hang Manachar, who ate my raspberries every one. You will not get me. Said the cat. Until you get milk, which will give me. He came to the cow. What news today? Said the cow. It's my own news I am seeking. Going looking for a cow. Cow to give me milk. Milk I will give to the cat. Cat to scrape butter, butter to go in claw of hound, hound to hunt deer, deer to swim water, water to wet flag. Flag to edge axe, axe to cut a rod, a rod to make a gag, a gag to hang Manachar, who ate my raspberries every one. You will not get any milk from me. Said the cow. Until you bring me a whisk of straw from those threshers yonder. He came to the threshers. What news today? Said the threshers. It's my own news I am seeking. Going looking for a whisk of straw. To give to the cow. A cow to give me milk. Milk I will give to the cat. Cat to scrape butter, butter to go in claw of hound, hound to hunt deer, deer to swim water, water to wet flag. Flag to edge axe, axe to cut a rod, a rod to make a gag, a gag to hang Manachar. Who ate my raspberries every one. You will not get any whisk of straw from us. Said the threshers. Until you bring us the makings of a cake from the miller over yonder. He came to the miller. What news today? Said the miller. It's my own news I am seeking. Going looking for the makings of a cake which I will give to the threshers. The threshers to give me a whisk of straw. The whisk of straw I will give to the cow. The cow to give me milk. Milk I will give to the cat. Cat to scrape butter, butter to go in claw of hound, hound to hunt deer, deer to swim water, water to wet flag, flag to edge axe, axe to cut a rod, a rod to make a gag, a gag to hang Manachar. Who ate my raspberries every one. You will not get any makings of a cake from me. Said the miller. Until you bring me the full of that sieve of water from the river over there. He took the sieve in his hand and went over to the river. But as often as ever he would stoop and fill it with water. The moment he raced it the water would run out of it again. And sure if he had been there from that day till this he never could have filled it. A crow went flying by him over his head. Dog. Dog. Said the crow. My blessings on you. Then said Manachar. It is the good advice you have. He took the red clay and the dog that was by the brink. And he rubbed it to the bottom of the sieve until all the holes were filled. And then the sieve held the water. And he brought the water to the miller. And the miller gave him the makings of a cake. And he gave the makings of the cake to the treasures. And the treasures gave him a wisp of straw. And he gave the wisp of straw to the cow. And the cow gave him milk. The milk he gave to the cat. The cat scraped the butter. The butter went into the claw of the hound. The hound hunted the deer. The deer swam the water. The water went the flag. The flag sharpened the axe. The axe cut the rod. And the rod made a cad. And when it had ready to hang Manachar. He found that Manachar had burst. End of Manachar. End Manachar. Recording by Ashwin Jain. Story 36 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. Recording by Carolyn Francis. The Fairy Ring. Edited by Kate Douglas-Wiggin. And Nora Archibald-Smith. Story 36. The Wild Swans. Far away in the land to which the swallows fly when it is winter, dwelt a king who had eleven sons and one daughter named Eliza. The eleven brothers were princes. And each went to school with a star on his breast and a sword by his side. They wrote with diamond pencils on gold slates and learned their lessons so quickly and read so easily that everyone might know they were princes. Their sister Eliza sat on a little stool of plate glass and had a book full of pictures which had cost as much as half a kingdom. Oh these children were indeed happy, but they were not to remain so always. Their father, who was king of the country, married a very wicked queen who did not love the poor children at all. They knew this from the very first day after the wedding. In the palace there were great festivals and the children played at receiving company. But instead of having as usual all the cakes and apples that were left, she gave them some sand in a teacup and told them to pretend it was cake. The week after she sent little Eliza into the country to a peasant and his wife and then she told the king so many untrue things about the young princes that he gave himself no more trouble respecting them.  Fly like great birds who have no voice. But she could not make them ugly as she wished, for they were turned into eleven beautiful swans. Then with a strange cry they flew through the windows of the palace over the park to the forest beyond. It was yet early morning when they passed the peasant's cottage where their sister Eliza lay asleep in her room. They hovered over the roof, twisted their long necks and flapped their wings, but no one heard them or saw them. So they were at last obliged to fly away high up in the clouds and over the wide world they flew till they came to a thick dark wood which stretched far away to the seashore.  And she pierced a hole through the leaf and looked through it at the sun, and it was as if she saw her brother's clear eyes, and when the warm sun shone on her cheeks she thought of all the kisses they had given her. One day passed just like another. Sometimes the winds rustled through the leaves of the rose bush and would whisper to the roses, Who can be more beautiful than you? But the roses would shake their heads and say, Eliza is. And when the old woman sat at the cottage door on Sunday and read her hymn book, the wind would flutter the leaves and say to the book, Who can be more pious than you? And then the hymn book would answer, Eliza. And the roses and the hymn book told the real truth. At fifteen she returned home, but when the queen saw how beautiful she was she became full of spite and hatred towards her. Willingly would she have turned her into a swan like her brothers, but she did not dare to do so yet because the king wished to see his daughter. Early one morning the queen went into the bathroom. It was built of marble and had soft cushions trimmed with the most beautiful tapestry.  Then she said to another, Place yourself on her forehead that she may become as ugly as you are and that her father may not know her. Rest on her heart, she whispered to a third. Then she will have evil inclinations and suffering consequence. So she put the toads into clear water and they turned green immediately. She next called Eliza and helped her to undress and get into the bath.  But she did not seem to notice them and when she rose out of the water there were three red poppies floating upon it. Had not the creatures been venomous or been kissed by the witch they would have been changed into red roses. At all events they became flowers because they had rested on Eliza's head and on her heart. She was too good and too innocent for witchcraft to have any power over her. When the wicked queen saw this she rubbed her face with walnut juice so that she was quite brown. Then she tangled her beautiful hair and smeared it with disgusting ointment till it was quite impossible to recognize the beautiful Eliza. When her father saw her he was much shocked and declared she was not his daughter. No one but the watchdog and the swallows knew her and they were only dumb animals and could say nothing. Then poor Eliza wept and thought of her eleven brothers who were all away. Sorefully she stole away from the palace and walked the whole day over fields and moors till she came to the great forest. She knew not in which direction to go but she was so unhappy and long so for her brothers who had been, like herself, driven out into the world that she was determined to seek them. She had been but a short time in the wood when night came on and she quite lost the path so she laid herself down on the soft moss offered up her evening prayer and leaned her head against the stump of a tree. All nature was still and the soft mild air fanned her forehead. The light of hundreds of glowworms shone amidst the grass and the moss on fire and if she touched a twig with her hand ever so lightly the brilliant fireflies fell down around her like shooting stars. All night long she dreamed of her brothers she and they were children again playing together. She saw them riding with their diamond pencils on golden slates while she looked at the beautiful picture book which had cost half a kingdom. They were not writing lines and letters as they used to do but descriptions of the noble deeds they had performed and of all they had discovered and seen. In the picture book too everything was living the bird sang and the people came out of the book and spoke to Eliza and her brothers but as the leaves turned over they darted back again to their places that all might be in order. When she awoke the sun was high in the heavens yet she could scarcely see him for the lofty trees spread their branches thickly over her head and his beams were glancing through the leaves here and there like a golden mist. There was a sweet fragrance from the fresh verger and the birds almost perched upon her shoulders. She heard water rippling from a number of springs all flowing into a lake with golden sands. Bushes grew thickly around the lake and at one spot an opening had been made by a deer through which Eliza went down to the water. The lake was so clear that had not the wind rustled the branches of the trees and the bushes so that they moved they would have appeared as if painted in the depths of the lake every leaf was reflected in the water whether it stood in the shade or the sunshine. As soon as Eliza saw her own face she was quite terrified at finding it so brown and ugly but when she wetted her little hand and rubbed her eyes and forehead the white skin gleamed forth once more and after she had undressed and dipped herself in the fresh water a more beautiful king's daughter could not be found in the wide world. As soon as she had dressed herself again and braided her long hair she went to the bubbling spring and drank some water out of the hollow of her hand then she wandered far into the forest not knowing whether she went she thought of her brothers and felt sure that God would not forsake her it is God who makes the wild apples grow in the wood to satisfy the hungry and he now led her to one of these trees which was so loaded with fruit that the boughs bent beneath its weight here she held her noonday repast placed props under the boughs and then went into the gloomiest depths of the forest it was so still that she could hear the sound of her own footsteps as well as the rustling of every withered leaf which she crushed under her feet not a bird was to be seen not a sunbeam could penetrate through the large dark boughs of the trees the lofty trunk stood so close together that when she looked before her it seemed as if she were enclosed within trellis work such solitude she had never known before the night was very dark not a single glow worm glittered in the moss sorrowfully she laid herself down to sleep and after a while it seemed to her as if the branches of the trees parted over her head and that the mild eyes of angels looked down upon her from heaven when she awoke in the morning she knew not whether she had dreamed this or if it had really been so then she continued her wandering but she had not gone many steps forward when she met an old woman with berries in her basket and begged a few to eat then Eliza asked her if she had seen eleven princes riding through the forest no replied the old woman but I saw yesterday eleven swans with gold crowns on their heads swimming on the river close by then she let Eliza a little distance farther to a sloping bank at the foot of which wound a little stream the trees on its banks stretched their long leafy branches across the water towards each other and where the growth prevented them from meeting naturally the roots had torn themselves away from the ground so that the branches might mingle their foliage as they hung over the stream Eliza bade the old woman farewell and walked by the flowing river till she reached the shore of the open sea and there before the young maiden's eyes lay the glorious ocean but not a sail appeared on its surface not even a boat could be seen how was she to go farther she noticed how the countless pebbles on the seashore had been smoothed and rounded by the action of the water glass, iron, stones everything that lay there mingled together had taken its shape from the same power and felt as smooth or even smoother than her own delicate hand the water rolls on without weariness she said till all that is hard becomes smooth so will I be unwearyed in my task thanks to your lessons bright rolling waves my heart tells me you will lead me to my dear brothers on the foam covered seaweeds lay eleven white swan feathers which she gathered up and placed together drops of water lay upon them whether they were dew drops or tears no one could say lonely as it was on the seashore she did not observe it for the ever moving sea showed more changes in a few hours than the most varying lake could produce during a whole year if a black heavy cloud arose it was as if the sea said I can look dark and angry too and then the wind blew and the waves turned to white foam as they rolled when the wind slept and the clouds glowed with the red sunlight then the sea looked like a rose leaf but however quietly its white glassy surface rested there was still a motion on the shore as its waves rose and fell like the breast of a sleeping child when the sun was about to set Eliza saw eleven white swans with golden crowns on their heads flying toward the land one behind the other like a long white ribbon then Eliza went down the slope from the shore and hid herself behind the bushes the swans alighted quite close to her and flapped their great white wings as soon as the sun had disappeared under the water the feathers of the swans fell off and eleven beautiful princes Eliza's brothers stood near her she uttered a loud cry for although they were very much changed she knew them immediately she sprang into their arms and called them each by name then how happy the princes were at meeting their little sister again for they recognized her and although she had grown so tall and beautiful they laughed and they wept and very soon understood how wickedly their mother had acted to them all we brothers said the eldest fly about as wild swans so long as the sun is in the sky but as soon as it sinks behind the hills we recover our human shape therefore must we always be near a resting place near our feet before the sunset for if we should be flying towards the clouds at the time we recover our natural form as men we should fall deep into the sea we do not dwell here but in a land just as fair that lies beyond the ocean which we have to cross for a long distance there is no island in our passage upon which we could pass the night nothing but a little rock rising out of the sea upon which we can scarcely stand with safety even closely crowded together if the sea is rough the foam dashes over us yet we thank God even for this rock we have passed whole nights upon it or we should never have reached our beloved fatherland for our flight across the sea occupies two of the longest days of the year we have permission to visit our home once in every year and to remain eleven days during which we fly across the forest to look once more at the palace where our father dwells and where we were born and at the church where our mother lies buried here it seems as if the very trees and bushes were related to us the wild horses leap over the plains as we have seen them in our childhood the charcoal burners sing the songs to which we have danced as children this is our fatherland to which we are drawn by loving ties and here we have found you our dear little sister two days longer we can remain here and then must we fly away to a beautiful land which is not our home and how can we take you with us we have neither ship nor boat how can I break this spell said their sister and then she talked about it nearly the whole night only slumbering for a few hours Eliza awakened by the rustling of the swan's wings as they soared above her brothers were again changed to swans and they flew in circles wider and wider till they were far away but one of them the youngest swan remained behind and laid his head in his sister's lap while she stroked his wings and they remained together the whole day toward evening the rest came back and as the sun went down they resumed their natural forms tomorrow said one we shall fly away not to return again till a whole year has passed but we cannot leave you here have you courage to go with us my arm is strong enough to carry you through the wood and will not all our wings be strong enough to fly with you over the sea yes take me with you said Eliza then they spent the whole night in weaving a net with a pliant willow and rushes it was very large and strong Eliza laid herself down on the net and when the sun rose and her brothers again became wild swans they took up the net with their beaks and flew up to the clouds with their dear sister who still slept the sunbeams fell on her face therefore one of the swans soared over her head so that his broad wing might shade her they were far from the land when Eliza awoke she thought she must still be dreaming it seemed so strange to her to feel herself being carried so high in the air over the sea by her side lay a branch full of beautiful ripe berries and a bundle of sweet roots the youngest of her brothers had gathered them for her and placed them by her side she smiled her thanks to him she knew it was the same who had hovered over her to shade her with his wings they were now so high that a large ship beneath them looked like a white seagull skimming the waves a great cloud floating beneath them appeared like a vast mountain and upon it Eliza saw her own shadow and those of the eleven swans looking gigantic in size altogether it formed a more beautiful picture than she had ever seen as the sun rose higher and the clouds were left behind the shadowy picture vanished away onward the whole day they flew through the air like a winged arrow yet more slowly than usual for they had their sister to carry the weather seemed inclined to be stormy and Eliza watched the sinking sun with great anxiety for the little rock in the ocean was not yet in sight it appeared to her as if the swans were making great efforts with their wings alas she was the cause of their not advancing more quickly when the sun set they would change to men fall into the sea and be drowned then she offered a prayer from her inmost heart but still no appearance of the rock dark clouds came nearer the gusts of the wind told of a coming storm while from a thick heavy mass of clouds the lightning burst forth flash after flash the sun had reached the edge of the sea when the swans darted down so swiftly that Eliza's head trembled she believed they were falling but they again soared onward presently she caught sight of the rock just below them at that time the sun was half hidden by the waves the rock did not appear larger than a seals head thrust out of the water they sank so rapidly that at the moment their feet touched the rock the sun shone only like a star and at last disappeared like the last spark in a piece of burned paper then she saw her brother standing closely around her with their arms linked together there was but just room enough for them and not the smallest space to spare the sea dashed against the rock and covered them with spray the heavens were lighted up with continual flashes and peel after peel of thunder rolled but the sister and brother sat holding each other's hands and singing hymns from which they gained hope and courage in the early dawn the air became calm and still and at sunrise the swans flew away from the rock with Eliza the sea was still rough and from their high position in the air the white foam on the dark green waves looked like millions of swans swimming on the water as the sun rose higher Eliza saw before her floating in the air a range of mountains with shining masses of ice on their summits in the center rose a castle apparently a mile long with rows of columns rising one above another while around it palm trees waved and flowers bloomed as largest mill wheels she asked if this was the land to which they were hastening the swans shook their heads for what she beheld were the beautiful ever changing cloud palaces of the Fata Morgana into which no mortal can enter Eliza was still gazing at the scene when the mountains, forests and castles melted away and twenty stately churches rose in their stead with high towers and pointed gothic windows Eliza even fancied she could hear the tones of the organ but it was the music of the murmuring sea which she heard as they drew nearer to the churches these also changed into a fleet of ships which seemed to be sailing beneath her but as she looked again she found it was only a sea mist gliding over the ocean so there continued to pass before her eyes a constant change of scene till at last she saw the real land to which they were bound with its blue mountains its cedar forests and its cities and palaces long before the sun went down she sat on a rock in front of a large cave on the floor of which the overgrown yet delicate green creeping plants looked like an embroidered carpet now we shall expect to hear what you dream of tonight said the youngest brother as he showed his sister her bedroom heaven grant that I may dream how to save you she replied and this thought took such hold upon her mind that she prayed earnestly to god for help and even in her sleep she continued to pray then it appeared to her as if she were flying high in the air toward the cloudy palace of Fata Margana and a fairy came out to meet her radiant and beautiful in appearance and yet very much like the old woman who had given her berries in the wood and who had told her of the swans with golden crowns on their heads your brothers can be released she said if you have only courage and perseverance true water is softer than your own delicate hands and yet it polishes stones into shapes it feels no pain as your fingers would feel it has no soul and cannot suffer such agony and torment as you will have to endure do you see the stinging nettle which I hold in my hand quantities of the same sort grow about the cave in which you sleep but none will be of any use to you unless they grow upon the graves in a church yard these you must gather even while they burn blisters on your hands break them to pieces with your hands and feet and they will become flax from which you must spin and weave eleven coats with long sleeves if these are then thrown over the eleven swans the spell will be broken but remember that from the moment you commence your task until it is finished even should it occupy years of your life you must not speak the first word you utter will pierce through the hearts of your brothers like a deadly dagger their lives hang upon your tongue remember all I have told you and as she finished speaking she touched her hand lightly with the nettle and a pain of burning fire awoke Eliza it was broad daylight and close by where she had been sleeping lay a nettle like the one she had seen in her dream she fell on her knees and offered her thanks to God then she went forth from the cave to begin her work with her delicate hands she groped in among the ugly nettles which burned great blisters on her hands and arms but she determined to bear it gladly if she could only release her dear brothers so she bruised the nettles with her bare feet and spun the flax at sunset her brothers returned and were very much frightened when they found her dumb they believed it to be some new sorcery of their wicked stepmother but when they saw her hands they understood what she was doing on their behalf and the youngest brother wept and where his tears fell the pain ceased and the burning blisters vanished she kept at her work all night for she could not rest till she had released her dear brothers during the whole of the following day while her brothers were absent she sat in solitude but never before had the time flown so quickly one coat was already finished and she began the second when she heard a huntsman horn and was struck with fear the sound came nearer and nearer she heard the dogs barking and fled with terror into the cave she hastily bound together the nettles she had gathered into a bundle and sat upon them immediately a great dog came bounding toward her out of the ravine and then another and another they barked loudly ran back and then came again in a very few minutes all the huntsman stood before the cave and the handsomest of them was the king of the country he advanced toward her for he had never seen a more beautiful maiden how did you come here my sweet child he asked but Eliza shook her head she dared not speak at the cost of her brothers lives and she hid her hands under her apron so that the king might not see how she must be suffering come with me he said here you cannot remain if you are as good as you are beautiful I will dress you in silk and velvet I will place a golden crown on your head and you shall dwell and rule and make your home in my richest castle and then he lifted her on his horse she wept and rung her hands but the king said I wish only your happiness a time will come take me for this and then he galloped away over the mountains holding her before him on his horse and the hunters followed behind him as the sun went down they approached a fair royal city with churches and copolas on arriving at the castle the king led her into marble halls where large fountains played and where the walls and the ceilings were covered with rich paintings but she had no eyes for all these glorious sights she could only mourn and weep patiently she allowed the women to array her in royal robes to weave pearls in her hair and draw soft gloves over her blistered fingers as she stood before them in all her rich dress she looked so dazzlingly beautiful that the court bowed low in her presence then the king declared his intention of making her his bride but the archbishop shook his head and whispered that the fair young maiden was only a witch who had blinded the king's eyes and enchanted his heart but the king would not listen to this he ordered the music to sound the daintiest dishes to be served and the loveliest maidens to dance afterwards he led her through fray fragrant gardens and lofty halls but not a smile appeared on her lips or sparkled in her eyes she looked the very picture of grief then the king opened the door of a little chamber in which she was to sleep it was adorned with rich green tapestry and resembled the cave in which she had found her on the floor lay the bundle of flax which she had spun from the nettles and under the ceiling hung the coat she had made these things had been brought away from the cave as curiosities by one of the huntsmen here you can dream yourself back again in the old home in the cave said the king here is the work with which you employed yourself it will amuse you now in the midst of all this splendor to think of that time when Eliza saw all these things which lay so near her heart a smile played around her mouth and the crimson blood rushed to her cheeks she thought of her brothers and their release made her so joyful that she kissed the king's hand then he pressed her to his heart very soon the joyous church bells announced the marriage feast and that the beautiful dumb girl out of the wood was to be made queen of the country then the archbishop whispered wicked words in the king's ear but they did not sink into his heart the marriage was still to take place and the archbishop himself had to place the crown on the bride's head in his wicked spite he pressed the narrow circlet so tightly on her forehead that it caused her pain but a heavier weight encircled her heart sorrow for her brothers she felt not bodily pain her mouth was closed a single word would cost her brothers their lives but she loved the kind handsome king who did everything to make her happy more and more each day she loved him with her whole heart and her eyes beamed with the love she dared not speak oh if she'd only been able to confide in him and tell him of her grief but dumb she must remain till her task was finished therefore at night she crept away into her little chamber which had been decked out to look like the cave and quickly wove one coat after another but when she began the seventh she found she had no more flax she knew that the nettles she wanted to use grew in the churchyard and that she must pluck them herself how should she get out there oh what is the pain in my fingers to the torment which my heart endures said she I must venture I shall not be denied help from heaven then with a trembling heart as if she were about to perform a wicked deed she crept into the garden in the broad moonlight and passed through the narrow walks and the deserted streets till she reached the churchyard then she saw on one of the broad tombstones a group of ghouls these hideous creatures took off their rags as if they intended to bathe and then clawing open the grassy graves with their long skinny fingers pulled out the bones and threw them about Eliza had to pass close by them and they fixed their wicked glances upon her but she prayed silently gathering the burning nettles and carried them home with her to the castle one person only had seen her and that was the archbishop he was awake while everybody was asleep now he thought his opinion was evidently correct all was not right with the queen she was a witch and had enchanted the king and all the people secretly he told the king what he had seen and what he feared and as the hard words came from his tongue the carved images of the saints shook their heads as if they would say it is not so Eliza is innocent but the archbishop interpreted it in another way he believed that they witnessed against her and were shaking their heads at her wickedness two large tears rolled down the king's cheeks and he went home without in his heart and at night pretended to sleep but there came no real sleep to his eyes for he saw Eliza get up every night and disappear in her own chamber from day to day his brow became darker and Eliza saw it and did not understand the reason but it alarmed her and made her heart tremble for her brothers her hot tears glittered like pearls on the regal velvet and diamonds while all who saw her were wishing they could be queens in the meantime she had almost finished her task only one coat of mail was wanting but she had no flax left and not a single nettle once more only and for the last time must she venture to the churchyard with a few handfuls she thought with terror of the solitary walk and of the horrible ghouls but her will was firm as well as her trust in providence Eliza went and the king and the archbishop followed her they saw her vanish through the wicked gate into the churchyard and when they came nearer they saw the ghouls sitting on the tombstone as Eliza had seen them and the king turned away his head for he thought she was with them she whose head had rested on his breast that very evening the people must condemn her said he and she was very quickly condemned by everyone to suffer death by fire away from the gorgeous regal halls was she led to a dark dreary cell the wind whistled through the iron bars instead of the velvet and silk dresses they gave her the coats of mail which she had woven to cover her and the bundle of nettles for a pillow but nothing they could give her would have pleased her more she continued her task with joy and prayed for help while the street boys sang jeering songs about her and not a soul comforted her with a kind word she heard toward evening she heard at the grating the flutter of a swan's wing it was her youngest brother he had found his sister and she sobbed for joy although she knew that very likely this would be the last night she would have to live but still she could hope for her task was almost finished and her brothers were come then the archbishop arrived to be with her during her last hours as he had promised the king but she shook her head and begged him by looks and gestures not to stay for in this night she knew she must finish her task otherwise all her pain and tears and sleepless nights would have been suffered in vain the archbishop withdrew uttering bitter words against her but poor Eliza knew that she was innocent and diligently continued her work the little mice ran about the floor they dragged the nettles to her feet to help as well as they could and the thrush sat outside the grating of the window and sang to her the whole night long as sweetly as possible to keep up her spirits it was still twilight and at least an hour before sunrise when the eleven brothers stood at the castle gate and demanded to be brought before the king they were told it could not be it was yet almost night and as the king slept they dared not disturb him they threatened they entreated then the guard appeared and even the king himself inquiring what all the noise meant at this moment the sun rose the eleven brothers were seen no more but eleven wild swans flew away over the castle and now all the people came streaming forth from the gates of the city to see the witch burned an old horse drew the cart on which she sat they had dressed her in a garment of coarse sack cloth her lovely hair hung loose on her shoulders her cheeks were deadly pale her lips moved silently while her fingers still worked at the green flax even on the way to death she would not give up her task the ten coats of mail lay at her feet she was working hard at the eleventh while the mob jeered her and said see the witch how she mutters she has no him book in her hand she sits there with her ugly sorcery let us tear it in a thousand pieces and then they pressed toward her and would have destroyed the coats of mail but at the same moment eleven wild swans flew over her and alighted on the cart they slapped their large wings and the crowd drew on one side an alarm it is a sign from heaven that she is innocent whispered many of them but they ventured not to say it aloud as the executioner seized her by the hand to lift her out of the cart she hastily threw the eleven coats of mail over the swans and they immediately became eleven handsome princes but the youngest had a swan's wing instead of an arm for she had not been able to finish the last sleeve of the coat now I may speak she exclaimed I am innocent then the people who saw what had happened bowed to her as before a saint but she sank lifeless in her brother's arms overcome with suspense anguish and pain yes she is innocent said the eldest brother and then he related all that had taken place and while he spoke there rose in the air a fragrance as from millions of flowers every piece of faggot in the pile had taken root and thrown out branches and appeared a thick head large and high covered with roses while above all loomed a white and shining blossom that glittered like a star this flower the king plucked and placed in Eliza's bosom when she awoke from her swoon with peace and happiness in her heart and all the church bells rang of themselves and the birds came in great troops and a marriage procession returned to the castle such as no king had ever before seen end of the wild swans recording by Carolyn Francis Story 37 of the Fairy Wing 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 Wing edited by Kate Douglas Wigan and Nora Archibald Smith Story 37 The Road to Fortune One fine morning two young men were strolling together through the fields when they perceived at a great distance a very high hill on the top of which stood a beautiful castle which sparkled so brightly in the sunshine that the youths were quite delighted and could not help gazing at it let us go to it said one of the labs it is easy to say let us go but how can we walk so far retorted the other who was a lazy fellow you may do it easily replied a clear voice behind them on looking around to see when these words came they perceived a beautiful fairy standing on the large ball which rolled along with her upon it in the direction of the castle it is no very difficult task for her at all events look she can get forward without moving a limb said the lazy one throwing himself down on the grass the other however was not so easily satisfied for without stopping to reflect he started off after the fairy as fast as he could run and catching hold of the skirts of a robe cried who are thou I am fortune answered a fairy and yonder is my castle follow me there if thou reaches it before midnight I will receive thee as a friend but remember should is thou arrive one moment later my door will be close against thee with these words the fairy drew her robe from the hand of the young man and went off so quickly upon our ball that she was soon out of sight the youth immediately ran back to his companion and told him all that had happened adding I am tontaking the fairy's advice will you accompany me are you mad inquire the other for my part if I had a good horse I should not mind a journey but as for walking all that way I certainly shall not attempt it farewell then answered his comrade who started off at the brisk pace in the direction of the castle the lazy one however reasoned as to himself as to where we were to friend good fortune often comes while we are dozing perhaps it may be my case today and without more ado he stretched himself on the grass and fell fast asleep not however before he had cast a longing glance at the beautiful castle and the hill after sleeping some time he felt as though there were a warm wind blowing on his ear and when he had stretched his slothful limbs and rubbed his sleepy eyes that he saddled standing beside him shaking his mane and kneeling lustily in the clear morning air ah did I not say as much cried a youth oh if people would but trust to fate come here you fine creature we must be good friends so saying he threw himself into the saddle and the steed galoop off with him as swift as the wind thus mounted our lazy friend very soon overtook our companion and hailing him as he passed cried show respect to my horses heels the other however continued on at the steady pace without paying much heed to his satire about midday on arriving at the summit of a beautiful hill the horse suddenly stopped quite right cried his rider I find you are a very sagacious creature soft and fairly is a good proverb the castle is now not very far off from the great deal nearer so dismounting he sought out a shady slope and having laid down in the moss with his feet against the stump of a tree he began to take some refreshment for happily he had a good supply of bread and sausage in his pocket and a pleasant drink in his glass as soon as the youth had satisfied his appetite he began to feel rather drowsy and as is usual with indolent people he gave full vent to the inclination of himself on the moss and fell into a sound sleep never had man a more pleasant sleep nor accompanied with more delightful dreams he imagined that he was already in a castle reposing on silken cushions and that all that he desired came to him immediately upon his beckoning with his little finger after thus enjoying himself for some time it seemed as though a far work went off with a great explosion this was followed by strains of soft music the tune of a song he had often heard every verse of which terminated with his words healthful limbs and spirits gay buried traveler on his way this continued some time when he awoke with a song still ringing in his ears then rubbing his eyes he perceived that the setting sun was fast sinking behind a castle and heard the voice of his companions singing from the valley before him the very words he had heard in his dream what a time I have slept he cried the lazy fellow it is high time that I was getting on my way come here my steed where are you but no steed was to be found the only creature that he could see after looking all around was an old grey donkey grazing at the top of a hill at some distance he shouted and whistled with all his might but the horse was gone quite out of hearing and the old donkey didn't seem to pay the least attention so after exerting his lungs to no purpose the lazy fellow was obliged to go and try to make friends with the grey old bees which allowed itself to be quietly mounted and then trudged slowly on with him but our youth found this kind of travelling very different from the previous stage for then he not only proceeded at a much quicker pace but had a more comfortable seat which was by no means an important consideration with him in the course of a short time it began to grow dark and heavy clouds overspread the sky however he could perceive that a castle was being lighted up and now he began to be very frightened and anxious to get forward the donkey however did not seem in any way to partake of his feelings but continued on at even a slower pace than before at length it became quite dark and the donkey after going slower and slower came to a dead stand in the midst of a thick wood all his entreaties were of no use nor were threats and kicks were availed the donkey would not move at last the rider became so exasperated that he struck it with his fists but this did not much improve our lazy friend's condition for the obstinate brute instantly flung up its hind legs and by that process released itself of its burden which fell heavily on the ground it required much less violence than our youth experience in his fall to prove to him that he was not lying in a sadding couch his legs and arms were dreadfully bruised he remained some time in this miserable plight but the bright and inviting appearance of the light in the castle at length attracted his attention ah! thought he what beautiful beds must there be in that fine building this thought alone arose for a moment his sluggish energies and he managed to get on his feet perhaps thought he the grey old donkey may by this time had got into a better temper so he searched about for him in every direction but after knocking his head against the trees here tearing his face with the thorns there and stumbling over roots and stones for a full quarter of an hour without finding it he gave up the search as hopeless it was high time however that he made some effort to get out of this dismal wood which every now and then resounded with dreary howls sounding very much as though at last when quite bewildered with fear he suddenly stumbled again something soft and slimy he knew by the touch that it was not the donkey but fancying it to be in the form of a saddle he was about to be strided at once yet shuddered at the thought he was still hesitating when the castle clock struck and he counted eleven recollecting that it was drawing near to the eventful time and that he had no other hope he threw himself on what appeared to be the saddle it was not tolerably easy as it was very soft and at his back was something to lean against another great advantage was that the creature in which he was mounted seemed to be very sure-footed there was however one great objection to it and that was the creeping pace at which it moved for it went along much slower than even the obstinate donkey proceeding thus for some time he got so near to the castle that he could count the windows and suddenly the moon shone out from between the clouds and oh horror what did he behold the creature in which he sat was neither a horse nor a donkey but an enormous snail quite as large as a calf and its house which it carried upon its back had served him to lean against now we could well understand why he had come at such a creeping pace he turned as cold as death and his hair stood on end with fright but there was now no time for fear for the castle clock had already made the woods resound with the first stroke of the midnight hour just as his steed crawled out of the wood then how great was the young man's astonishment when he beheld the castle of fortune in all its grandeur hitherto he had sat quietly on the snail without hastening it or in any way interfering with its pace at the sight of the castle however he dashed both his heels into its sides and attempted to urge it on so this treatment the snail was quite unaccustomed and instantly it drew its head into its shell and left the youth sprawling on the ground the castle clock rang out the second stroke had the lazy fellow but mustered up resolution and trusted to his feet even then he might have reached the castle in time but no there he stood crying bitterly and screaming out abyss, abyss of whatever kind it may be to carry me to young castle the inmates of the building had already began to extinguish the lights and the moon being hidden by the clouds he was again in total darkness as the clock struck the third time he heard something moving near him and as well as he could make out in the dark it seemed like a saddled horse ah that is my long lost steed cried he that heaven is kindly sent to me at the needful moment as quickly as his lazy limbs would enable him he leap on the back of the creature there was now only a little elevation to be surmounted and he could easily see his companion standing at the open door of the castle waving his cap and beckoning him on the clock chimed out the fourth stroke when the creature were on he sat began to move slowly then went the fifth and sixth strokes and it began to advance a little at a very awkward pace at the seventh the creature began to move first sideways and then went backward to his great horror and surprise the rider found out that he could not throw himself off though he struggled with all his might by a passing ray of the moon he discovered that the new steed on which he was riding was a horrid monster with ten legs and there extended a large claw with which it held him fast by the arms the youth screamed loudly for help but also no purpose the animals still kept receding farther and farther from the castle while the eventful moment approached nearer and nearer until the twelfth stroke proclaimed the midnight hour a flitting ray of the moon displayed a castle once more to his view in all its splendor but in the same moment there was a rattling noise of chains and bolts the entrance to the castle of fortune was closed against him forever the moon shone again in full luster and discovered a horrid monster that still kept carrying him away to be nothing more nor less than an enormous crab where he went to on these and common steed I cannot tell for the fact is nobody ever troubled themselves in recording by Jandondra Nilla Story 38 at 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 38 The Golden Crab Once upon a time there was a fisherman who had a wife and three children every morning he used to go out fishing and whatever fish he caught he sold to the king one day among the other fishes he caught a golden crab when he came home he put all the fishes together into a great dish he wrapped the crab separate because it shone so beautifully and placed it upon a high shelf in the cupboard now while the old woman his wife was cleaning the fish and had tucked up her gown so that her feet were visible she suddenly heard a voice which said let down let down my petticoat be seen she turned around in surprise and then she saw the little creature the golden crab what? you can speak can you? you ridiculous crab she said because she was not quite pleased at the crab's remark then she took him up and placed him on a dish to dinner they presently heard the crab's little voice saying give me some too they were all very much surprised but they gave him something to eat when the old man came to take away the plate which had contained the crab's dinner he found it full of gold and as the same thing happened every day he soon became very fond of the crab and one day the crab said to the fisherman's wife go to the king and tell him I wish to marry his younger daughter the old woman went accordingly and laid the matter before the king who laughed a little at the notion of his daughter marrying a crab but did not decline the proposal altogether because he was a prudent monarch and knew that the crab would be in disguise he said therefore to the fisherman's wife go old woman and tell the crab I will give him my daughter if by tomorrow morning he can build a wall in front of my castle much higher than my tower upon which all the flowers of the world must grow and bloom the fisherman's wife went home and gave this message then the crab gave her a golden rod and said go and strike with this rod three times upon the ground on the place which the king showed you and tomorrow morning the wall will be there the old woman did so and went away again the next morning when the king awoke what do you think he saw the wall stood there before his eyes exactly as he had bespoken it then the old woman went back to the king and said to him your majesty's orders have been fulfilled that is very well said the king but I cannot give away my daughter until there stands in front of my palace a garden in which there are three fountains of which the first must play gold the second diamonds and the third brilliance so the old woman had to strike again three times upon the ground with the rod and the next morning the garden was there the king now gave his consent and the wedding was fixed for the very next day then the crab said to the old fisherman now take this rod you are knocked with it on a certain mountain then a black man will come out and ask you what you wish for answer him thus your master the king has sent me to tell you that you must send him his golden garment that is like the sun make him give you besides the queenly robes of gold and precious stones which are like the flowery meadows and bring me also the golden cushion the old man went and did his errand when he had brought the precious robes the crab put on the golden garment and then crept upon the golden cushion and in this way the fisherman carried him to the castle where the crab presented the other garment to his bride now the ceremony took place and when the married pair the crab made himself known to his young wife and told her how he was the son of the greatest king in the world and how he was enchanted so that he became a crab by day and was a man only at night and he could also change himself into an eagle as often as he wished no sooner had he said this then he shook himself and became a handsome youth but the next morning he was forced to creep back again into his crab shell and the same thing happened every day but the princesses affection for the crab and the polite attention with which she behaved to him surprised the royal family very much they suspected some secret but though they spied and inspired they could not discover it thus a year passed away and the princess had a son whom she called Benjamin but her mother still thought the whole matter very strange at last she said to the king that he ought to ask his daughter whether she would not like to have another husband instead of the crab but when the daughter was questioned she only answered I am married to the crab and him only I will have then the king said to her I will appoint a tournament in your honor and I will invite all the princesses in the world to it and if any one of them pleases you you shall marry him in the evening the princess told this to the crab who said to her take this rod go to the garden gate and knock with it then a black man will come out and say to you why have you called me and what do you require of me answer him thus your master the king has sent me hither to tell you to send him his golden armor and his steed and the silver apple and bring them to me the princess did so and brought him what he desired the following evening the prince dressed himself for the tournament before he went he said to his wife now mind you do not say when you see me that I am the crab for if you do this evil will come of it place yourself at the window with your sisters take it in your hand but if they ask you who I am say that you do not know so saying he kissed her repeated his warning once more and went away the princess went with her sisters to the window and looked on at the tournament presently her husband rode by and threw the apple up to her she called it in her hand and went with it to her room and by and by her husband came back to her but her father was much surprised that she did not seem to care about any of the princess he therefore appointed a second tournament the crab then gave his wife the same directions as before only this time the apple which she received was of gold but before the prince went to the tournament he said to his wife now I know you will betray me today but she swore to him that she would not tell who he was he then repeated his warning and went away in the evening while the princess with her mother and sisters were standing at the window and threw her the golden apple then her mother flew into a passion gave her a box on the ear and cried out does not even that prince please you fool the princess in her fright exclaimed that is the crab himself her mother was still more angry because she had not been told sooner ran into her daughter's room where the crab shell took it up and threw it into the fire then the poor princess cried bitterly but it was of no use her husband did not come back now we must leave the princess and turn to the other persons in the story one day an old man went to a stream to dip in a crust of bread which he was going to eat when a dog came out of the water and ran away the old man ran after him but the dog reached a door pushed it open and ran in the old man following him he did not overtake the dog but found himself above a staircase which he descended then he saw before him a stately palace an entering he found in a large hall a table set for twelve persons he hid himself in the hall behind a great picture that he might see what would happen at noon he heard a great noise so that he trembled with fear when he took courage to look out from behind the picture he saw twelve eagles flying in at this site his fear became still greater the eagles flew to the basin of a fountain that was there and bathed themselves when suddenly they were changed into twelve handsome youths now they seated themselves at the table and one of them took up a goblet filled with wine and said a health to my father and another said so the healths went round then one of them said a health to my dearest lady long may she live and well but a curse on the cruel mother who burned my golden shell and so saying he wept bitterly then the youths rose from the table went back to the great stone fountain turned themselves into eagles again and flew away then the old man went away too returned to the light of day and went home soon after he heard that the princess was ill and that the only thing that did her good was having stories told to her he therefore went to the royal castle obtained an audience of the princess and told her about the strange things he had seen in the underground palace no sooner had he finished than the princess asked him whether he could find the way to that palace yes certainly he answered and now she desired him to guide her dither at once the old man did so and when they came to the palace he hid her behind the great picture and advised her to keep quite still and he placed himself behind the picture also presently the eagles came flying in and changed themselves into young men and in a moment the princess recognised her husband among them all and tried to come out of the hiding place but the old man held her back the youths seated themselves at the table and now the prince set again while he took up the cup of wine a health to my dearest lady long may she live and well but a curse on the cruel mother who burned my golden shell then the princess could restrain herself no longer but ran forward and threw her arms around her husband and immediately he knew her again and said do you remember how I told you that day that you would betray me now you see that I spoke the truth but all that evil time is past now listen to me I must still remain enchanted for three months will you stay here with me till that time is over so the princess stayed with him and said to the old man I will settle and tell my parents that I am staying here her parents were very much vexed when the old man came back and told them this but as soon as the three months of the princess enchantment were over he ceased to be an eagle and became once more a man and they returned home together and then they lived happily and who hear the story are happier still end of the golden cramp