s happy and as fond of one another as they could be Now the king had some quarrelsome neighbors who, tired of leaving him in peace began to make war upon him so fiercely that he feared he would be all together beaten if he did not make an effort to defend himself so he collected a great army and set off to fight them leaving the princesses with their governess in a castle where news of the war was brought every day sometimes that the king had taken a town or won a battle and at last that he had all together overcome his enemies and chased them out of his kingdom and was coming back to the castle as quickly as possible to see his dear little Miranda whom he loved so much The three princesses put on dresses of satin which they had made on purpose for this great occasion one green, one blue and the third white their jewels were the same colors the eldest wore emeralds the second turquoise and the youngest diamonds and thus adorned they went to meet the king singing verses which they had composed about his victories when he saw them all so beautiful and so gay he embraced them tenderly but gave Miranda more kisses than either of the others presently a splendid banquet was served and the king and his daughter sat down to it and as he always thought there was some special meaning in everything he said to the eldest tell me why you have chosen a green dress Sire she answered having heard of your victories I thought that green would signify my joy and the hope of your speedy return that is a very good answer said the king and you my daughter he continued to take a blue dress Sire said the princess to show that we constantly hoped for your success and that the sight of you is as welcome to me as the sky with its most beautiful stars why said the king your wise answers astonished me and you Miranda what made you dress yourself all in white because Sire she answered white suits me better than anything else what said the king angrily was that all you thought of vain child I thought you would be pleased with me the king who loved her was satisfied with this and even pretended to be pleased that she had not told him all her reasons at first and now he said as I have supped well and it is not time yet to go to bed tell me what you dreamed last night the eldest said she had dreamed that he brought her a dress and the precious stones and golden embroidery on it were brighter than the sun the dream of the second was that the king had brought her a spinning wheel and a disc staff that she might spin him some shirts but the youngest said I dreamed that my second sister was to be married and on her wedding day you father held a golden ure and said come Miranda and I will hold the water that you may tip your hands in it the king was very angry indeed when he heard this dream and frowned horribly indeed he made such an ugly face that everyone knew how angry he was and he got up and went off to bed in a great hurry but he could not forget his daughter's dream does the proud girl wish to make me her slave he said to himself I am not surprised at her choosing to dress herself in white satin without a thought of me she does not think me worthy of her consideration but I will soon put an end to her pretensions he rose in a fury and although it was not yet daylight he sent for the captain of his bodyguard and said to him you have heard the princess Miranda's dream I consider that it means strange things against me therefore I order you to take her away into the forest and kill her and that I may be sure it is done you must bring me her heart and her tongue if you attempt to deceive me you shall be put to death the captain of the guard was very much astonished when he heard this barbarous order but he did not dare to contradict the king for fear of making him still more angry or causing him to send someone else so he answered that he would fetch the princess the king had said when he went to her room they would hardly let him in it was so early but he said that the king had sent for Miranda and she got up quickly and came out a little black girl called Patti Pada held up her train and her pet monkey and her little dog ran after her the monkey was called Grubudian and the little dog Tintin the captain of the guard begged Miranda to come down into the garden where the king was enjoying the fresh air and when they got there he pretended to search for him but as he was not to be found he said no doubt his majesty has strolled into the forest and he opened the little door that led to it by this time the daylight had begun to appear and the princess looking at her conductor saw that he had tears in his eyes and seemed too sad to speak what is the matter? she said in the kindest way you seem very sorrowful alas princess he answered who would not be sorrowful who was ordered to do such a terrible thing as I am the king has commanded me to kill you here and carry your heart and tongue to him and if I disobey I shall lose my life the poor princess was terrified she grew very pale and began to cry softly looking up at the captain of the guard with her beautiful eyes she said gently will you really have the heart to kill me I have never done you any harm and have always spoken well of you to the king if I had deserved my father's anger I would suffer without a murmur but alas he is unjust to complain of me when I have always treated him with love and respect fear nothing princess said the captain of the guard I would far rather die myself than hurt you but even if I am killed you will not be safe we must find some way of making the king believe that you are dead what can we do? said Miranda make him my heart and my tongue he will never believe you the princess and the captain of the guard were talking so earnestly that they did not think of Patti Pada but she had overheard all they said and now came and threw herself at Miranda's feet madam, she said I offer you my life let me be killed I shall only be too happy to die for such a kind mistress why Patti Pada cried the princess kissing her that would never do your life is as precious to me as my own especially after such a proof of your affection as you have just given me you are right princess said Grebujin she is coming forward to love such a faithful slave as Patti Pada she is of more use to you than I am I offer you my tongue and my heart most willingly especially as I wish to make a great name for myself in goblin land oh no my little Grebujin replied Miranda I cannot bear the thought of taking your life such a good little dog as I am cried Tintin could not think of letting either of you die for his mistress if anyone is to die for her it must be me and then began a great dispute between Patti Pada Grebujin and Tintin and they came to high words until at last Grebujin who was quicker than the others ran up to the very top of the nearest tree and let herself fall head first to the ground and there she lay quite dead the princess was very sorry but as Grebujin was really dead she allowed the captain of the guard to take her tongue but alas it was such a little one not bigger than the princess's thumb that they decided sorrowfully that it was of no use at all the king would not have been taken in by it for a moment alas my little monkey cried the princess I have lost you and yet I am no better off than I was before the honor of saving your life is to be mine interrupted Patti Pada and before they could prevent her she had picked up a knife and cut her head off in an instant but when the captain of the guard would have taken her tongue it turned out to be quite black so that would not have deceived the king either am I not unlucky? cried the poor princess I lose everything I love and am none the better for it if you had accepted my offer said Tintin you would only have had me to regret and I should have had all your gratitude Miranda kissed her little dog crying so bitterly that at last she could bear it no longer and turned away into the forest when she looked back the captain of the guard was gone and she was alone except for Patti Pada Grabujian and Tintin who lay upon the ground she could not leave the place until she had buried them in a pretty little mossy grave at the foot of a tree and she wrote their names upon the bark of the tree and how they had all died to save her life and then she began to think where she could go for safety for this forest was so close to her father's castle that she might be seen and recognized by the first passerby and besides that it was full of lions and wolves who would have snapped up a princess just as soon as a straight chicken so she began to walk as fast as she could but the forest was so large and the sun was so hot that she nearly died of heat and terror and fatigue look which way she would there seemed to be no end to the forest and she was so frightened that she fancied every minute that she heard the king running after her to kill her you may imagine how miserable she was and how she cried as she went on not knowing which path to follow and with the thorny bushes scratching her dreadfully and tearing her pretty frock to pieces at last she heard the bleeding of a sheep and said to herself no doubt there are shepherds here with their flocks they will show me the way to some village where I can live disguised as a peasant girl alas it is not always kings and princes who are the happiest people in the world who could have believed that I should ever be obliged to run away and hide because the king for no reason at all wishes to kill me so saying she advanced toward the place where she heard the bleeding but what was her surprise when in a lovely little glade quite surrounded by trees she saw a large sheep its wool was as white as snow and its horns shone like gold it had a garland of flowers round its neck and strings of great pearls around its legs and a collar of diamonds it lay upon a bank of orange flowers under a canopy of cloth of gold which protected it from the heat of the sun nearly a hundred other sheep were scattered about not eating the grass but some drinking coffee, lemonade or sherbet others eating ices, strawberries and cream or sweet meats while others again were playing games many of them were golden collars with jewels, flowers and ribbons Miranda stopped short in amazement at this unexpected sight and was looking in all directions for the shepherd of this surprising flock when the beautiful sheep came bounding toward her approach lovely princess he cried have no fear of such gentle and peaceable animals as we are what a marvel! cried the princess starting back a little here is a sheep that can talk your monkey and your dog could talk madame said he are you more astonished at us than at them a fairy gave them the power to speak replied Miranda so I was used to them perhaps the same thing has happened to us he said smiling sheepishly but princess what can have led you here a thousand misfortunes sir sheep she answered I am the unhappiest princess in the world and I am seeking a shelter against my father's anger come with me madame said the sheep I offer you a hiding place which you only will know of and where you will be mistress of everything you see I really cannot follow you said Miranda for I am too tired to walk another step the sheep with the golden horns ordered that his chariot should be fetched and a moment after appeared six goats harnessed to a pumpkin which was so big that two people could quite well sit in it and was all lying with cushions of velvet and down the princess stepped into it much amused at such a new kind of carriage and the king of the sheep took his place beside her and the goats ran away with them at full speed and only stopped when they reached a cavern the entrance to which was blocked by a great stone this the king touched with his foot and immediately it fell down and he invited the princess to enter without fear now if she had not been so alarmed by everything that had happened nothing could have induced her to go into this frightful cave but she was so afraid of what might be behind her that she would have thrown herself even down a well at this moment so without hesitation she followed the sheep who went before her down, down, down until she thought they must come out at the other side of the world indeed she was not sure that he wasn't leading her into fairy land at last she saw before her a great plain quite covered with all sorts of flowers the scent of which seemed to her nicer than anything she had ever smelled before a broad river of orange flower water flowed round it and fountains of wine of every kind ran in all directions and made the prettiest little cascades and brooks the plain was covered with the strangest trees there were whole avenues where partridges ready roasted hung from every branch or if you preferred pheasants, quails, turkeys or rabbits you had only to turn to the right hand or to the left and you were sure to find them in places the air was darkened by showers of lobster patties white puddings, sausages, tarts and all sorts of sweet meats or with pieces of gold and silver, diamonds and pearls this unusual kind of rain and the pleasantness of the whole place would no doubt have attracted numbers of people to it if the king of the sheep had been of a more sociable disposition but from all accounts it is evident that he was as grave as a judge as it was quite the nicest time of the year when Miranda arrived in this delightful land the only palace she saw was a long row of orange trees, jasmine honeysuckles and musk roses and their interlacing branches made the prettiest rooms possible which were hung with gold and silver gauze and had great mirrors and candlesticks and most beautiful pictures the wonderful sheep begged that the princess would consider herself queen over all that she saw and assured her that though for some years he had been very sad and in great trouble she had it in her power to make him forgetful of all his grief you are so kind and generous noble sheep, said the princess that I cannot thank you enough but I must confess that all I see here seems to be so extraordinary that I don't know what to think of it as she spoke a band of lovely fairies came up and offered her amber baskets full of fruit but when she held on her hands to them they glided away and she could feel nothing when she tried to touch them oh, she cried, what can they be? whom am I with? and she began to cry at this instant the king of the sheep came back to her and was so distracted to find her in tears that he could have torn his wool what is the matter lovely princess? he cried has anyone failed to treat you with due respect? oh no, said Miranda only I am not used to living with sprites and with sheep that talk and everything here frightens me it was very kind of you to bring me to this place but I shall be even more grateful to you if you will take me up into the world again do not be afraid, said the wonderful sheep I entreat you to have patience and listen to the story of my misfortunes I was once a king and my kingdom was the most splendid in the world my subjects loved me, my neighbors envied and feared me I was respected by everyone and it was said that no king ever deserved it more I was very fond of hunting and one day while chasing a stag I left my attendance far behind suddenly I saw the animal leap into a pool of water and I rashly urged my horse to follow it but before we had gone many steps I felt an extraordinary heat instead of the coolness of the water the pond dried up, a great gulf opened before me out of which flames of fire shot up and I fell helplessly to the bottom of a precipice I gave myself up for lost but presently a voice said even this fire is hardly enough to warm your cold heart who complains of my coldness in this dismal place, I cried an unhappy being who loves you hopelessly replied the voice and at the same moment the flames began to flicker and cease to burn and I saw a fairy whom I had known as long as I could remember and whose ugliness had always horrified me she was leaning upon the arm of a most beautiful young girl who wore chains of gold on her wrists and was evidently her slave why ragot, I said, for that was the fairy's name what is the meaning of all this? is it by your orders that I am here? whose fault is it? she answered that you have never understood me until now must a powerful fairy like myself condescend to explain her doings to you who are no better than an ant by comparison though you think yourself a great king call me what you like, I said impatiently but what is it that you want, my crown or my cities or my treasures? treasures said the fairy disdainfully if I choose I could make any one of my Skolians richer and more powerful than you I do not want your treasures but she added softly if you will give me your heart, if you will marry me I will add twenty kingdoms to the one you have already you shall have a hundred castles full of gold and five hundred full of silver and, in short, anything you like to ask me for madame ragot, I said, when one is at the bottom of a pit where one has fully expected to be roasted alive it is impossible to think of asking such a charming person as you are to marry one I beg that you will set me at liberty and then I shall hope to answer you fittingly ah, she said, if you really loved me you would not care where you were a cave, a wood, a foxhole, a desert would please you equally well do not think that you can deceive me you fancy you are going to escape but I assure you that you are going to stay here and the first thing I shall give you to do will be to keep my sheep they are very good company and speak quite as well as you do as she spoke she advanced and led me to this plain where we now stand and showed me her flock but I paid little attention to it or to her to tell the truth I was so lost in admiration of her beautiful slaves that I forgot everything else and the cruel ragot perceiving this turned upon her so furious and terrible a look that she fell lifeless to the ground at this dreadful sight I drew my sword and rushed at ragot and should certainly have cut off her head had she not by her magic arts changed me to the spot on which I stood all my efforts to move were useless and at last when I threw myself down on the ground in the despair she said to me with a scornful smile I intend to make you feel my power it seems that you are a lion at present I mean you to be a sheep so saying she touched me with her wand and I became what you see I did not lose the power of speech or of feeling the misery of my present state for five years she said you shall be a sheep and lord of this pleasant land while I no longer able to see her face which I loved so much shall be better able to hate you as you deserve to be hated she disappeared as she finished speaking and if I had not been too unhappy to care about anything I should have been glad that she was gone the talking sheep received me as their king and told me that they too were unfortunate princes who had in different ways offended the revengeful fairy and had been added to her flock for a certain number of years some more some less from time to time indeed one regains his own proper form and goes back again to his place in the upper world but the other beings whom you saw are the rivals or the enemies of regot whom she has imprisoned for a hundred years or so even though they will go back at last the young slave of whom I told you about is one of these I have seen her often and it has been a great pleasure to me she never speaks to me and if I were nearer to her I know I should find her only a shadow which would be very annoying however I noticed that one of my companions in Miss Fortune was also very attentive to this little sprite and I found out that he had been her lover whom the cruel regot had taken away from her long before since then I have cared for and thought of nothing but how I might regain my freedom I have often been in the forest that is where I have seen you lovely princess sometimes driving your chariot which you did with all the grace and skill in the world sometimes riding to the chase on so spirited a horse that it seemed as if no one but yourself could have managed it and sometimes running races on the plane with the princesses of your court running so lightly that it was you always who won the prize oh princess I have loved you so long and yet how dare I tell you of my love what hope can there be for an unhappy sheep like myself Miranda was so surprised and confused by all that she had heard that she hardly knew what answer to give to the king of the sheep but she managed to make some kind of little speech which certainly did not forbid him to hope and said that she should not be afraid of the shadows now she knew that they would some day come to life again alas! she continued if my poor patty patta, my dear Grebujan and pretty little Tintin who all died for my sake were equally well off I should have nothing left to wish for here prisoner though he was the king of the sheep had still some powers and privileges go, said he to his master of the horse go and seek the shadows of the little black girl the monkey and the dog they will amuse our princess and an instant afterward Miranda saw them coming toward her and their presence gave her the greatest pleasure though they did not come near enough for her to touch them the king of the sheep was so kind and amusing and loved Miranda so dearly that at last she began to love him too such a handsome sheep who was so polite and considerate could hardly fail to please especially if one knew that he was really a king and that his strange imprisonment would soon come to an end so the princesses days passed very gaily while she waited for the happy time to come the king of the sheep with the help of all the flock got up balls, concerts and hunting parties and even the shadows joined in all the fun and came making believe to be their own real selves one evening when the couriers arrived for the king sent most carefully for news and they always brought the very best kinds it was announced that the sister of the princess Miranda was going to be married to a great prince and nothing could be more splendid than all the preparations for the wedding ah! cried the young princess how unlucky I am to miss the sight of so many pretty things here am I imprisoned under the earth with no company but sheep and shadows while my sister is to be adorned like a queen and surrounded by all who love and admire her and everyone but myself can go to wish her joy why do you complain princess? said the king of the sheep did I say that you were not to go to the wedding? set out as soon as you please only promise me that you will come back for I love you too much to be able to live without you Miranda was very grateful to him and promised faithfully that nothing in the world should keep her from coming back the king caused an escort suitable to her rank to be got ready for her and she dressed herself splendidly to bring anything that could make her more beautiful her chariot was of mother of pearl drawn by six done colored griffins just brought from the other side of the world and she was attended by a number of guards and splendid uniforms who were all at least eight feet high and had come from far and near to ride in the princess's train Miranda reached her father's palace just as the wedding ceremony began and everyone as soon as she came in was struck with surprise at her beauty and the splendor of her jewels she heard exclamations of admiration on all sides and the king her father looked at her so attentively that he must recognize her but he was so sure that she was dead that the idea never occurred to him however the fear of not getting away made her leave before the marriage was over she went out hastily leaving behind her a little coral casket set with emeralds on it was written in diamond letters jewels for the bride and when they opened it which they did as soon as it was found there seemed to be no end to the pretty things it contained the king who had hoped to join the unknown princess and find out who she was was dreadfully disappointed when she disappeared so suddenly and gave orders that if she ever came again she might not get away so easily short as Miranda's absence had been it had seemed like a hundred years to the king of the sheep he was waiting for her by a fountain in the thickest part of the forest and the ground was strewn with splendid presence which he had prepared for her to show his joy and gratitude of her coming back as soon as she was inside he rushed to meet her leaping and bounding like a real sheep he caressed her tenderly throwing himself at her feet and kissing her hands and told her how uneasy he had been in her absence and how impatient for her return was an eloquence which charmed her after some time came the news that the king's second daughter was going to be married when Miranda heard it she begged the king of the sheep to allow her to go and see the wedding as before this request made him feel very sad as if some misfortune must surely come of it but his love for the princess being stronger than anything else he did not like to refuse her you wish to leave me princess said he it is my unhappy fate you are not to blame I consent to your going but believe me I can give you no stronger proof of my love than by so doing the princess assured him that she would only stay a very short time as she had done before and begged him not to be uneasy as she would be quite as much grieved if anything detained her as he could possibly be so with the same escort she set out and reached the palace as the marriage ceremony began everybody was delighted to see her she was so pretty that they thought she must be some fairy princess and the princess who were there could not take their eyes off her the king was more glad than anyone else that she had come again and gave orders that the doors should all be shut and bolted that very minute when the wedding was all but over the princess got up quickly hoping to slip away unnoticed among the crowd but to her great dismay she found every door fastened she felt more at ease when the king came up to her and with the greatest respect begged her not to run away so soon but at least to honor him by standing for the splendid feast which was prepared for the princes and princesses he led her into a magnificent hall where all the court was assembled and himself taking up the golden bowl full of water he offered it to her that she might dip her pretty fingers into it at this the princess could no longer contain herself throwing herself at the king's feet she cried out my dream has come true after all you have offered me water to wash my hands on my sister's wedding day and it has not vexed you to do it the king recognized her at once indeed he had already thought several times how much like his poor little Miranda she was oh my dear daughter he cried kissing her can you ever forget my cruelty I ordered you to be put to death because I thought your dream pretended the loss of my crown and so it did he added for now your sisters are both married and have kingdoms of their own and mine shall be for you so saying he put his crown on the princess's head and cried long live queen Miranda all the court cried long live queen Miranda after him and the young queen's two sisters came running up and threw their arms round her neck and kissed her a thousand times and then there was such a laughing and crying talking and kissing all at once and Miranda thanked her father and began to ask after everyone particularly the captain of the guard to whom she owed so much but to her great sorrow she heard that he was dead presently they sat down to the banquet and the king asked Miranda to tell them all that had happened to her since the terrible morning when he had sent the captain of the guard to fetch her this she did with so much spirit that all the guests listened with breathless interest but while she was thus enjoying herself with the king and her sisters the king and the sheep was waiting impatiently for the time of her return and when it came and went and no princess appeared his anxiety became so great that he could bear it no longer she is not coming back anymore he cried my miserable sheep's face displeases her and without Miranda what is this life to me wretched creature that I am oh cruel rug got my punishment is complete for a long time he bewailed his sad fate like this and then seeing that it was growing dark and that still there was no sign of the princess he set out as fast as he could in the direction of the town when he reached the palace he asked for Miranda but by this time everyone had heard the story of her adventure and did not want her to go back again to the king of the sheep so they refused sternly to let him see her in vain he begged and prayed them to let him in though his entreaties might have melted hearts of stone they did not move the guards of the palace and at last quite broken hearted he fell dead at their feet in the meantime the king who had not the least idea of the sad thing that was happening outside the gate of his palace proposed to Miranda that she should be driven in her chariot all round the town which was to be eliminated with thousands and thousands of torches placed in windows and balconies and in all the grand squares but what a sight met her eyes at the very entrance of the palace there lay her dear kind sheep silent and motionless upon the pavement she threw herself out of the chariot and ran to him crying bitterly for she realized that her broken promise had cost him his life and for a long long time she was so unhappy that they thought she would have died too so you see that even a princess is not always happy especially if she forgets to keep her word and the greatest misfortunes often happen to people just as they think they have obtained their heart's desires end of the wonderful sheep little thumb of the blue fairy book this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org the blue fairy book by Andrew Lang little thumb there was once upon a time a man and his wife faggot makers by trade who had several children all boys the eldest was about ten years old and the youngest only seven they were very poor and their seven children incommodated them greatly because not one of them was able to earn his bread that which gave them yet more uneasiness was that the youngest was of a very puny constitution and scarce ever spoke a word which made them take that for stupidity which was a sign of good sense he was very little and when bore no bigger than one's thumb which made him be called little thumb the poor child bore the blame of whatsoever was done a miss in the house and, guilty or not was always in the wrong he was notwithstanding more cunning and had a far greater share of wisdom than all his brothers put together and if he spoke little he heard and thought them more there happened now to come a very bad year and the famine was so great that these poor people resolved to rid themselves of their children one evening when they were all in bed and the faggot maker was sitting with his wife at the fire he said to her with his heart ready to burst with grief thou seest plainly that we are not able to keep our children and I cannot see them starve to death before my face I am resolved to lose them in the wood tomorrow which may very easily be done for while they are busy and tying up faggots we may run away and leave them without their taking any notice ah! cried his wife and canst thou thyself have the heart to take thy children out along with thee on purpose to lose them in vain did her husband represent to her their extreme poverty she would not consent to it she was indeed poor but she was their mother however having considered what a grief it would be to her to see them perished with hunger she at last consented and went to bed all in tears little thumb heard every word that had been spoken for observing as he lay in his bed that they were talking very busily he got up softly and hid himself under his father's stool that he might hear what they said without being seen he went to bed again but not sleep a wink all the rest of the night thinking on what he had to do he got up early in the morning and went to the riverside where he filled his pockets full of small white pebbles and then returned home they all went abroad but little thumb never told his brothers one syllable of what he knew they went into a very thick forest where they could knot another at ten paces distance the faggot maker began to cut wood and the children to gather up the sticks to make faggots their father and mother seeing them busy at their work got away from them insensibly and away from them all at once along a byway through the winding bushes when the children saw they were left alone they began to cry as loud as they could little thumb let them cry on knowing very well how to get home again for as he came he took care to drop all along the way the little white pebbles he had in his pockets then he said to them be not afraid brothers father and mother have left us here but I will lead you home again only follow me they did so and he brought them home by the very same way they came into the forest they dare not go in but sat themselves down at the door listening to what their father and mother were saying the very moment the faggot maker and his wife reached home the lord of the manor sent them ten crowns which he had owed them a long while in which they never expected this gave them new life for the poor people were almost famished the faggot maker sent his wife immediately to the butchers as it was a long while since they had eaten a bit she bought thrice as much meat as would sub two people when they had eaten the woman said alas where are now our poor children they would make a good feast of what we have left here but it was you William who had a mind to lose them I told you we should repent of it what are they now doing in the forest alas dear god the wolves have probably already eaten them up they are very inhuman thus to have lost their children the faggot maker grew at last quite out of patience for she repeated it above twenty times that they should repent of it and that she was in the right of it for so saying he threatened to beat her if she did not hold her tongue it was not that the faggot maker was not perhaps more vex than his wife but that she teased him and that he was of the humour of a great many others who love wives to speak well but think those very importinate who are continually doing so she was half drowned in tears crying out alas there are now my children my poor children she spoke this so very loud that the children who were at the gate began to cry out altogether here we are here we are she ran immediately to open the door and said hugging them I am glad to see you my dear children you are very hungry and weary and my poor Peter thou art horribly bemired come in and let me clean thee now you must know that Peter was her eldest son of the rest because he was somewhat charity as she herself was they sat down to supper and ate with such a good appetite as pleased both father and mother whom they acquainted how frightened they were in the forest speaking almost always all together the good folks were extremely glad to see their children once more at home and this joy continued while ten crowns lasted but when the money was all gone they fell again into their former uneasiness and resolved to lose them again and they might be the sure of doing it to carry them to a much greater distance than before they could not talk of this so secretly but they were overheard by little thumb who made a count to get out of this difficulty as well as the former but though he got up very early in the morning to go and pick up some little pebbles he was disappointed for he found the house door double locked and was at a stand what to do when their father had given them each a piece of bread for their breakfast instead of the pebbles by throwing it in little bits all along the way they should pass and so he put the bread in his pocket their father and mother brought them into the thickest and most obscure part of the forest when stealing away into a bypass they there left them little thumb was not very uneasy at it for he thought he could easily find the way again by means of his bread which he had scattered all along as he came but he was very much surprised when he could not find so much as one crumb the birds had come and eaten it up every bit they were now in great affliction for the farther that they went the more they were out of their way and were more and more bewildered in the forest night now came on and there arose a terribly high wind which made them dreadfully afraid they fancied they heard on every side of them the howling of wolves coming to eat them up they scarce dared to speak or turn their heads after this it rained very hard which wetted them to the skin their feet slipped every step they took and they fell into the mire once they got up in a very dirty pickle their hands were quite benumbed little thumb climbed to the top of a tree to see if he could discover anything and having turned his head about on every side he saw at last a glimmering light like that of a candle but a long wave from the forest he came down and when upon the ground he could see it no more which grieved him sadly however having walked for some time with his brothers toward that side on which in the light he perceived it again as he came out of the wood they came at last to the house where this candle was and not without an abundance of fear for very often they lost side of it which happened every time they came into a bottom they knocked at the door and a good woman came and opened it she asked them what they would have little thumb told them they were poor children who had been lost in the forest and desired to lodge there for God's sake the woman seeing them so very pretty began to weep said to them alas poor babies wither are ye come do ye know that this house belongs to a cruel ogre who eats up little children ah dear madam answered little thumb who troubled every joint of him as well as his brothers what shall we do to be sure the wolves of the forest will devour us tonight if you refuse us to lie here and so we would rather the gentleman should eat us and perhaps he might take pity upon us especially if you pleased to beg it of him the ogre's wife who believed she could conceal them from her husband till morning let them come in and brought them to warm themselves at a very good fire for there was a whole sheep upon the spit roasting for the ogre's supper as they began to be a little warm they heard three or four great raps at the door this was the ogre who had come home upon this she hid them under the bed and went to open the door the ogre presently asked if supper was ready and the wine drawn and then sat himself down to table the sheep was at yet all raw and bloody but he liked it the better for that he sniffed about to the right and left saying I smell fresh meat what you smell so said his wife must be the calf which I have just now killed and played I smell fresh meat I tell thee once more replied the ogre looking cross-legged at his wife and there is something here which I do not understand as he spoke these words he got up from the table and went directly to the bed ah ah said he I see then how thou wouldst cheat me thou cursed woman I know not why I do not eat thee up too but it is well for thee that thou art a tough old carrion here is good game which comes very quickly to entertain three ogre's of my acquaintance who are to pay me a visit in a day or two with that he dragged them out from under the bed one by one the poor children fell upon their knees and begged his pardon but they had to do with one of the most cruel ogre's in the world who far from having any pity on them had already devoured them with his eyes and told his wife there would be delicate eating when tossed up with good savoury sauce he then took a great knife and coming up to these poor children wetted it upon a great whetstone which he held in his left hand he had already taken hold of one of them when his wife said to him why do you need it now is it not time enough tomorrow hold your priting said the ogre they will eat the tenderer but you have so much meat already replied his wife you have no occasion hear a calf two sheep and have a hog that is true said the ogre give them their belly full that they might not fall away said the good woman was overjoyed at this and gave them a good supper but they were so much afraid they could not eat a bit as for the ogre he sat down again to drink being highly pleased that he had got wherewithal to treat his friends he drank a dozen glasses more than ordinary which got up into his head and obliged him to go to bed the ogre had seven daughters old little children and these young ogre's had all of them in their collections because they used to eat fresh meat like their father but they had little grey eyes quite round hooked noses and very long sharp teeth standing at a good distance from each other they were not as yet over and above mischievous but they promised very fair for it for they had already bitten little children that they might suck their blood they had been put to bed early with everyone a crown of gold upon her head there was in the same chamber a bed of the like-bigness and it was into this bed the ogre's wife put the seven little boys after which she went to bed to her husband little thumb who had observed that the ogre's daughters had crowns of gold upon their heads and was afraid less that ogre should repent his not killing them got up about midnight and taking his brother's bonnets and his own went very softly and put them upon the heads of the seven little ogre's and having taken off their crowns of gold which he put upon his own head and his brother's that the ogre's might take them for his daughters and his daughters for the little boys whom he wanted to kill all this succeeded according to his desire for the ogre waking about midnight and sorry that he deferred to do that till morning which he might have done overnight threw himself hastily out of bed and taking his great knife let us see said he how our little rogues do and don't make two jobs of a matter he then went up groping all the way into his daughters' chamber and coming to the bed where the little boys lay who were every soul of them fast asleep except little thumb who was terribly afraid when he found the ogre fumbling about his head as he had done about his brothers the ogre feeling the golden crowns said I should have made a fine piece of work of it truly I thought I drank too much last night then he went to the bed where the girls lay having found the boys' little bonnets ah said he my merry lads are you there let us work as we ought and saying these words without more ado he cut the throats of all his seven daughters well pleased with what he had done he went to bed again to his wife so soon as little thumb heard the ogre snore he waked his brother and bade them all put on their clothes presently and follow him they stole down softly into the garden and got over the wall they kept running about all night and trumbled all the while without knowing which way they went the ogre when he awoke said to his wife go upstairs and dress those young rascals who came here last night the wife was very much surprised at this goodness of her husband not dreaming after what manner she should dress them but thinking that he had ordered her to go and put on their clothes she went up and was strangely astonished when she perceived her seven daughters killed and waltering in their blood she fainted away for this is the first expedient almost all women find in such cases the ogre fearing his wife would be too long and doing what he had ordered went up himself to help her he was no less amazed than his wife at this frightful spectacle ah, what have I done cried he the wretches shall pay for it and that instantly he threw a pitcher of water upon his wife's face and having brought her to herself said give me quickly my boots of seven leagues that I may go and catch them he went out and having run over a vast deal of ground both on this side and that he came at last into the very road where the poor children were and not above a hundred paces from their father's house they aspired the ogre who went at one step from mountain to mountain and over rivers as easily as the narrowest canals little thumb seeing a hollow rock near the place where they were made his brothers hide themselves in it and crowded into it himself minding always what would become of the ogre the ogre who found himself much tired with his long and fruitless journey for these boots of seven leagues greatly fatigued the wearer had a great mind to rest himself and by chance went to sit down upon the rock where the little boys had hid themselves as it was impossible he could be more wary than he was he fell asleep and after reposing himself some time began to snore so frightfully that the poor children were no less afraid of him than when he held up his great knife and was going to cut their throats little num was not so much frightened as his brothers and told them that they should run away immediately toward home while the ogre was asleep so soundly and that they should not be in any pain about him they took his advice and got home presently little thumb came up to the ogre pulled off his boots gently and put them on his own legs the boots were very long and large but as they were fairies they had the gift of becoming big and little according to the legs of those who wore them so that they fitted his feet and legs as well as if they had been made on purpose for him he went immediately to the ogre's house where he saw his wife crying bitterly for the loss of the ogre's murdered daughters your husband said little thumb is in very great danger being taken by a gang of thieves who have sworn to kill him if he does not give them all his gold and silver the very moment they held their daggers at his throat he perceived me and desired me to come and tell you the condition he is in and that you should give me whatsoever he has of value without retaining any one thing for otherwise they will kill him without mercy and as his case is very pressing he has desired to make use you see I have them on of his boots that I might make them o' haste and show you that I do not impose upon you the good woman being sadly frightened gave him all she had for this ogre was a very good husband though he used to eat up little children little thumb having thus got all the ogre's money came home to his father's house where he was received with abundance of joy there are many people who do not agree in this circumstance and pretend that little thumb never robbed the ogre at all and that he only thought he might very justly and with a safe conscience take off his boots of seven leagues because he made no other use of them but to run after little children these folks affirm that they are very well assured of this and the more is having drunk and eaten often at the faggot maker's house they averred that when little thumb had taken off the ogre's boots he went to court where he was informed that they were very much in pain about a certain army which was two hundred leagues off and the success of a battle he went say they to the king and told him that if he desired it he would bring him news from the army before night the king promised him great sum of money upon that condition little thumb was as good as his word and returned that very same night with the news and this first expedition causing him to be known he got whatever he pleased for the king paid him very well for carrying his orders to the army after having for some time carried on the business of a messenger he gained thereby great wealth he went home to his father where it was impossible to express the joy they were all in at his return he made the whole family very easy bought places for his fathers and brothers and by that means brought them very handsomely in the world and in the meantime made his court to perfection End of Little Thumb Recording by Scott Robbins The Forty Thieves from the Blue Fairy Book This is a LibriVox recording All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Recording by Karen Savage The Blue Fairy Book by Andrew Lang The Forty Thieves In a town in Persia there dwelt two brothers one named Kaseem the other Alibaba Kaseem was married to a rich wife and lived in plenty while Alibaba had to maintain his wife and children by cutting wood in a neighbouring forest and selling it in the town One day when Alibaba was in the forest he saw a troop of men on horseback coming toward him in a cloud of dust He was afraid they were robbers and climbed into a tree for safety When they came up to him and dismounted he counted forty of them They unbridled their horses and tied them to trees Their captain went a little way among some bushes and said, open sesame so plainly that Alibaba heard him Footnote, sesame is a kind of grain End footnote A door opened in the rocks and having made the troop go in he followed them and the door shut again of itself They stayed some time inside and Alibaba, fearing they might come out and catch him was forced to sit patiently in the tree At last the door opened again and the Forty Thieves came out As the captain went in last he came out first and made them all pass by him He then closed the door saying, shut sesame Every man bridled his horse and mounted The captain put himself at their head and they returned as they came Then Alibaba climbed down and went to the door concealed among the bushes and said, open sesame and it flew open Alibaba, who expected a dull, dismal place was greatly surprised to find it large and well-lighted hollowed by the hand of man in the form of a vault which received the light from an opening in the ceiling He saw rich bales of merchandise silk, stuffed brocades, all piled together Gold and silver and heaps and money and other purses He went in and the door shut behind him He did not look at the silver but brought out as many bags of gold as he thought his asses, which were browsing outside, could carry Loaded them with the bags and hid it all with faggots Using the words, shut sesame he closed the door and went home Then he drove his asses into the yard shut the gates, carried the money bags to his wife and emptied them out before her He bade her keep the secret and he would go and bury the gold Let me first measure it, said his wife Go borrow a measure of someone while you dig the hole So she ran to the wife of Kasim and borrowed a measure Knowing Alibaba's poverty the sister was curious to find out what sort of grain his wife wished to measure and artfully put some suet at the bottom of the measure Alibaba's wife went home and set the measure on the heap of gold and filled it and emptied it often to her great content She then carried it back to her sister without noticing that a piece of gold was sticking to it which Kasim's wife perceived directly her back was turned She grew very curious and said to Kasim when he went home your brother is richer than you he does not count his money he measures it He begged her to explain this riddle which she did by showing him the piece of money and telling him where she had found it Then Kasim grew so envious that he could not sleep and went to his brother in the morning before sunrise Alibaba he said showing him the gold piece you pretend to be poor and yet you measure gold By this Alibaba perceived that through his wife's folly Kasim and his wife knew their secret so he confessed all and offered Kasim a share That I expect, said Kasim I must know where to find the treasure otherwise I will discover all and you will lose all Alibaba, more out of kindness than fear told him of the cave and the very words to use Kasim left Alibaba meaning to be beforehand with him and get the treasure for himself He rose early next morning and set out with ten mules loaded with great chests He soon found the place and the door in the rock He said, open sesame and the door opened and shut behind him He could have feasted his eyes all day on the treasures but he now hastened to gather together as much of it as possible but when he was ready to go he could not remember what to say for thinking of his great riches Instead of sesame he said, open barley and the door remained fast He named several different sorts of grain all but the right one and the door still stuck fast He was so frightened of the danger he was in that he had as much forgotten the word as if he had never heard it About noon the robbers returned to their cave and saw Kasim's mules roving about with great chests on their backs This gave him the alarm and the door which opened on their captain saying open sesame Kasim who had heard the trampling of their horses' feet resolved to sell his life dearly so when the door opened he leapt out and threw the captain down in vain, however, for the robbers with their sabers soon killed him On entering the cave they saw all the bags laid ready and could not imagine how anyone had got in without knowing their secret They cut Kasim's body into four quarters and nailed them up inside the cave in order to frighten anyone who should venture in and went away in search of more treasure Onward Kasim's wife grew very uneasy and ran to her brother-in-law and told him where her husband had gone Ali Baba did his best to comfort her and set out to the forest in search of Kasim The first thing he saw on entering the cave was his dead brother Full of horror he put the body on one of his asses and bags of gold on the other two and covering all with some faggots returned home He drove the two asses laden with gold into his own yard and led the other to Kasim's house The door was opened by the slave Morgiana whom he knew to be both brave and cunning Unloading the ass he said to her This is the body of your master who has been murdered but whom we must bury as though he had died in his bed I will speak with you again but now tell your mistress I am come The wife of Kasim, on learning the fate of her husband broke out into cries and tears but Ali Baba offered to take her to live with him and his wife if she would promise to keep his council and leave everything to Morgiana whereupon she agreed and dried her eyes Morgiana, meanwhile, sought an apothecary and asked him for some lozenges My poor master, she said can either eat nor speak and no one knows what his distemper is She carried home the lozenges and returned next day weeping and asked for an essence only given to those just about to die Thus in the evening no one was surprised to hear the wretched shrieks and cries of Kasim's wife and Morgiana telling everyone that Kasim was dead The day after Morgiana went to an old cobbler near the gates of the town who opened his stall early put a piece of gold in his hand and made him follow her with his needle and thread Having bound his eyes with a handkerchief she took him to the room where the body lay and sewed the quarters together after which she covered his eyes again and led him home Then they buried Kasim and Morgiana, his slave, followed him to the grave weeping and tearing her hair while Kasim's wife stayed at home uttering lamentable cries Next day she went to live with Ali Baba who gave Kasim's shop to his eldest son The forty thieves on their return to the cave were much astonished to find Kasim's body gone in some of their money bags We are certainly discovered, said the captain and shall be undone if we cannot find out two men must have known it We have killed one, we must now find the other To this end one of you who is bold and artful must go into the city dressed as a traveller and discover whom we have killed and whether men talk of the strange manner of his death If the messenger fails he must lose his life lest we be betrayed One of the thieves started up and offered to do this and after the rest had highly commended him for his bravery he disguised himself and happened to enter the town at daybreak just by Baba Mustafa's stall The thief baited him good day saying How can you possibly see to stitch at your age? Old as I am, replied the cobbler I have very good eyes and will you believe me when I tell you that I sewed a dead body together in a place where I had less light than I have now The robber was overjoyed at his good fortune and giving him a piece of gold desired to be shown the house where he stitched up the dead body At first Mustafa refused saying that he had been blindfolded but when the robber gave him another piece of gold he began to think he might remember the turnings if blindfolded as before This means succeeded The robber partly led him and was partly guided by him right in front of Kasim's house the door of which the robber marked with a piece of chalk Then well pleased he made farewell to Baba Mustafa and returned to the forest By and by Morgiana going out saw the mark the robber had made quickly guessed that some mischief was brewing and fetching a piece of chalk marked two or three doors on each side without saying anything to a master or mistress The thief meantime told his comrades the captain thanked him They saw that five or six of the houses were chalked in the same manner The guide was so confounded that he knew not what answer to make and when they returned he was at once beheaded for having failed Another robber was dispatched and having one over Baba Mustafa marked the house in red chalk But Morgiana, being again too clever for him the second messenger was put to death also The captain now resolved to go himself but wiser than the others he did not mark the house but looked at it so closely that he could not fail to remember it He returned and ordered his men to go into the neighbouring villages and buy nineteen mules and thirty-eight leather jars all empty except one which was full of oil The captain put one of his men fully armed into each rubbing the outside of the jars with oil from the full vessel Then the nineteen mules were loaded with thirty-seven robbers in jars and the jar of oil and reached the town by dusk The captain stopped his mules in front of Ali Baba's house and said to Ali Baba who was sitting outside for coolness I have brought some oil from a distance to sell at tomorrow's market but it is now so late that I know not where to pass the night unless you will do me the favour to take me in Though Ali Baba had seen the captain as a robbers in the forest he did not recognise him in the disguise of an oil merchant He baked him welcome, opened his gates for the mules to enter and went to Mogiana to bid her prepare a bed and suburb for his guest He brought the stranger into his hall and after they had subbed went again to speak to Mogiana in the kitchen while the captain went into the yard under pretense of seeing after his mules but really to tell his men what to do Beginning at the first jar and ending at the last he said to each man I will throw some stones from the window of the chamber where I lie cut the jars open with your knives and come out and I will be with you in a trice He returned to the house and Mogiana led him to his chamber She then told Abdullah, her fellow slave to set on the pot to make some broth for her master who had gone to bed Meanwhile her lamp went out and she had no more oil in the house Do not be uneasy said Abdullah go into the yard and take some out of one of those jars Mogiana phoned him for his advice took the oil pot and went into the yard When she came to the first jar the robber inside said softly Is it time? Any other slave but Mogiana on finding a man in the jar instead of the oil she wanted would have screamed and made a noise But she, knowing the danger her master was in they thought herself of a plan and answered quietly not yet, but presently She went to all the jars giving the same answer till she came to the jar of oil She now saw that her master thinking to entertain an oil merchant had let thirty-eight robbers into his house She filled her oil pot, went back to the kitchen and having lit her lamp went again to the oil jar and filled a large kettle full of oil When it boiled she went and poured enough oil into every jar to stifle and kill the robber inside When this brave deed was done she went back to the kitchen, put out the fire in the lamp and waited to see what would happen In a quarter of an hour the captain of the robbers awoke, got up and opened the window As all seemed quiet he threw down some little pebbles which hid the jars He listened and as none of his men seemed to stir he grew uneasy and went down into the yard I'm going to the first jar and saying Are you asleep? He smelled the hot, boiled oil and knew at once that his plot to murder Alibaba and his household had been discovered He found all the gang was dead and missing the oil out of the last jar became aware of the manner of their death He then forced the lock of a door leading into a garden and climbing over several walls made his escape Moghiana heard and saw all this and rejoicing at her success went to bed and fell asleep At daybreak Alibaba arose The first jar still there asked why the merchant had not gone with his mules Moghiana bade him look in the first jar and see if there was any oil Seeing a man, he started back in terror Have no fear, said Moghiana The man cannot harm you, he is dead Alibaba, when he had recovered somewhat from his astonishment asked what had become of the merchant Merchant, said she he is no more a merchant than I am and she told him the whole story assuring him that it was a plot of the robbers of the forest of whom only three were left he had something to do with it Alibaba at once gave Moghiana her freedom saying that he owed her his life They then buried the bodies in Alibaba's garden while the mules were sold in the market by his slaves The captain returned to his lonely cave which seemed frightful to him without his lost companions and firmly resolved to avenge them by killing Alibaba He dressed himself carefully and went into the town where he took lodgings and an inn In the course of a great many journeys to the forest he carried away many rich stuffs and much fine linen in the shop opposite that of Alibaba's son He called himself Kogia Hassan and as he was both civil and well dressed he soon made friends with Alibaba's son and threw him with Alibaba whom he was continually asking to stop with him Alibaba, wishing to return his kindness invited him into his house and received him smiling, thanking him for his kindness to his son When the merchant was about to take his leave Alibaba stopped him saying Where are you going, sir, in such haste? Will you not stay and stop with me? The merchant refused, saying that he had a reason and on Alibaba's asking him what that was he replied, it is, sir, that I can eat no victuals that have any salt in them If that is all, said Alibaba, let me tell you that there shall be no salt in either the meat or the bread that we eat tonight He went to give this order to Morgiana, who was much surprised Who is this man, she said who eats no salt with his meat? He is an honest man, Morgiana, returned her master therefore do as I bid you But she could not withstand the desire to see this strange man so she helped Abdullah to carry up the dishes and saw in a moment that Kogia Hassan was the robber captain and carried a dagger under his garment I am not surprised, she said to herself that this wicked man who intends to kill my master will eat no salt with him, but I will hinder his plans She sent up the supper by Abdullah while she made ready for one of the boldest acts that could be thought on When the dessert had been served Kogia Hassan was left alone with Alibaba and his son whom he thought to make drunk and then to murder them Morgiana, meanwhile, put on a headdress like a dancing-girls and clasped a girl around her waist from which hung a dagger to the silver hilt and said to Abdullah Take your table and let us go and divert our master and his guest Abdullah took his table and played before Morgiana until they came to the door, where Abdullah stopped playing and Morgiana made a low courtesy Come in, Morgiana, said Alibaba and let Kogia Hassan see what you can do And turning to Kogia Hassan he said, she's my slave and my housekeeper Kogia Hassan was by no means pleased for he feared that his chance of killing Alibaba was gone for the present but he pretended great eagerness to see Morgiana Abdullah began to play and Morgiana to dance After she had performed several dances she drew her dagger and made passes with it sometimes pointing it at her own breast sometimes at her master's as if it were part of the dance Suddenly out of breath she snatched the table from Abdullah with her left hand and holding the dagger in her right hand held out the table to her master Alibaba and his son put a piece of gold into it and Kogia Hassan, seeing that she was coming to him pulled out his purse to make her a present but while he was putting his hand into it Morgiana plunged the dagger into his heart unhappy girl, cried Alibaba and his son what have you done to ruin us it was to preserve you master, not to ruin you answered Morgiana, see here opening the false merchant's garment and showing the dagger see what an enemy you have entertained remember he would eat no salt with you and what more would you have look at him, he is both the false oil merchant and the captain of the forty thieves Alibaba was so grateful to Morgiana for thus saving his life that he offered her to his son in marriage who readily consented and a few days after the wedding he collaborated with greatest splendour at the end of a year Alibaba hearing nothing of the two remaining brothers, Judge Clay were dead and set out to the cave the door opened on his saying, open sesame he went in and saw that nobody had been there since the captain left it he brought away as much gold as he could carry and returned to town he told his son the secret of the cave which his son handed down in his turn so the children and grandchildren of Alibaba were rich to the end of their lives footnote, Arabian knights and thieves Ansel and Gretel from The Blue Fairy Book this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org this recording is by Mark Smith of Simpsonville, South Carolina The Blue Fairy Book by Andrew Lang Ansel and Gretel once upon a time they're dwelt on the outskirts of a large forest and cut her with his wife and two children the boy was called Ansel and the girl Gretel he had always little enough to live on and once when there was a great famine in the land he couldn't even provide them with daily bread one night as he was tossing about in bed full of cares and worry he sighed and said to his wife what's to become of us how are we to support our poor children now that we have nothing more for ourselves I'll tell you what husband said the woman early tomorrow morning we'll take the children out into the thickest part of the wood there we shall light a fire for them and give them each a piece of bread then we'll go on to our work and leave them alone they won't be able to find their way home and we shall thus be rid of them no wife said her husband that I won't do how could I find it in my heart to leave my children alone in the wood the wild beast would soon come and tear them to pieces oh you fool before die of hunger and you may just as well go and plane the boards for our coffins and she left him no peace till he consented but I can't help feeling sorry for the poor children had it the husband the children too had not been able to sleep for hunger and had heard what their stepmother had said to their father Gretel wept bitterly and spoke to Hansel now it's all up with us no no Gretel said Hansel don't fret yourself there's no way to escape no fear and when the old people had fallen asleep he got up slipped on his little coat opened the back door and stole out the moon was shining clearly and the white pebbles which lay in front of the house glittered like bits of silver Hansel bent down and filled his pocket with as many of them as he could cram in then he went back and said to Gretel be comforted my dear little sister and go to sleep God will not desert us again at daybreak even before the sun was up the woman came and woke the two children get up you lie beds we're all going to the forest to fetch wood she gave them each a bit of bread and said there's something for your luncheon but don't you eat it up before for it's all you'll get Gretel took the bread under her apron and Hansel had the stones in his pocket then they all set out together on the way to the forest after they had walked for a little Hansel stood still and looked back at the house and this maneuver he repeated again and again his father observed him and said Hansel what are you gazing at there and why do you always remain behind take care and don't lose your footing oh father said Hansel I'm walking back at my white kitten which is sitting on the roof waving me a farewell the woman exclaimed what a donkey you are that isn't your kitten that's the morning sun shining on the chimney but Hansel had not looked back at his kitten but had always dropped one of the white pebbles out of his pocket onto the path when they had reached the middle of the forest the father said now children go and fetch a lot of wood and I'll light a fire that you may not feel cold Hansel and Gretel heaped up brushwood till they had made a pile nearly the size of a small hill the brushwood was set fire too and when the flames leaped high the woman said now light down at the fire children and rest yourselves just to cut down wood when we finished we'll come back and fetch you Hansel and Gretel sat down beside the fire and at midday ate their little bits of bread they heard the strokes of the axe so they thought their father was quite near but it was no axe they heard but a bow he had tied on a dead tree and that was blown about by the wind and when they had sat for a long time their eyes closed with fatigue and they fell fast asleep when they awoke at last it was pitch dark Gretel began to cry and said how are we ever going to get out of the wood? but Hansel comforted her wait a bit, he said till the moon is up and then we'll find our way sure enough and when the full moon had risen he took his sister by the hand and followed the pebbles which shone like new three-penny bits and showed them the path they walked on through the night and at daybreak reached their father's house again they knocked at the door and when the woman opened it she exclaimed ah, you naughty children what a time you slept in the wood we thought you were never going to come back but the father rejoiced for his conscience had reproached him for leaving his children behind by themselves not long afterward there was again great dearth in the land and the children heard their mother address their father thus in bed one night everything is eaten up once more we've only half a loaf in the house and when that's done it's all up with us the children must be got rid of and we'll lead them deeper into the wood this time so that they won't be able to find their way out again there is no other way of saving ourselves the man's heart smote him heavily and he thought surely it would be better to share the last bite with one's children but his wife wouldn't listen to his arguments and did nothing but scold and reproach him if a man yields once he's done for and so because he had given in the first time he was forced to do so the second but the children were weak and had heard the conversation when the old people were asleep Hansel got up and wanted to go out and pick up pebbles again as he had done the first time but the woman had barred the door and Hansel couldn't get out but he consoled his little sister and said don't cry Gretel and sleep peacefully for God is sure to help us at early dawn the woman came and made the children get up they recede their bit of bread but it was even smaller than the time before on the way to the wood Hansel crumpled it in his pocket and every few minutes he stood still and dropped a crumb on the ground Hansel what are you stopping and looking about you for? said the father I'm looking back at my little pigeon which is sitting on the roof waving me a farewell, answered Hansel Fool, said the wife, that isn't your pigeon it's the morning sun glittering on the chimney Hansel gradually threw all his crumbs on the path the woman lit the children still deeper into the forest farther than they had ever been in their lives before then a big fire was lit again and the mother said just sit down there children and if you're tired you can sleep a bit we're going into the forest to cut down wood and in the evening when we're finished we'll come back to fetch you at midday Gretel divided her bread with Hansel for he had strewn his all along their path then they fell asleep and evening passed away but nobody came to the poor children they didn't wait till it was pitch dark and Hansel comforted his sister saying only wait Gretel till the moon rises then we shall see the bread crumbs I scattered along the path they will show us the way back to the house when the moon appeared they got up but they found no crumbs for the thousands of birds that fly about the woods and fields and picked them all up never mind said Hansel to Gretel you'll see we'll find a way out but all the same they did not they wandered about the whole night and the next day from morning till evening but they could not find a path out of the wood they were very hungry too for they had nothing to eat but a few berries they found growing on the ground and at last they were so tired that their legs refused to carry them any longer so they lay down under a tree and fell fast asleep on the third morning after they had left their father's house they set about their wandering again but only got deeper and deeper into the wood and now they felt that if help did not come to them soon they must perish at midday they saw a beautiful little snow white bird sitting on a branch which sang so sweetly that they stopped still and listened to it and when its song was finished it flapped its wings and flew on in front of them they followed it and came to a little house on the roof of which it perched and when they came quite near they saw that the cottage was made of bread and roofed with cakes while the window was made of transparent sugar now was set too, said Hansel and had a regular blowout I'll eat a bit of the roof and you Gretel can eat some of the window which you'll find a sweet morsel Hansel stretched up his hand a little bit of the roof to see what it was like and Gretel went to the casement and began to nibble at it there upon a shrill voice called out from the room inside nibble nibble little mouse who's nibbling my house the children answered his heavens own child the 10thest wild and went on eating without putting themselves about Hansel who thoroughly appreciated the roof tore down a big bit of it cut down a whole round window-pane and sat down the better to enjoy it suddenly the door opened and an ancient dame leading on a staff hobbled out Hansel and Gretel were so terrified that they let what they had in their hands fall the old woman shook her head and said, you dear children, who led you here just come in and stay with me no ill shall befall you she took them both by the hand and let them into the house to eat a most sumptuous dinner before them milk and sugared pancakes with apples and nuts after they had finished two beautiful little white beds were prepared for them and when Hansel and Gretel lay down in them they felt as if they had got into heaven the old woman had appeared to be most friendly but she was really an old witch who had waylaid the children and had only built the little bread house in order to lure them in to her power she killed cooked and ate him and held a regular feast-day for the occasion now witches have red-eyes and cannot see far but like beasts they have a keen sense of smell and know when human beings pass by when Hansel and Gretel fell into her hands she laughed maliciously and said jeeringly I've got them now shall escape me early in the morning Gretel shows up and when she saw them both sleeping so peacefully with their round rosy cheeks she muttered to herself that'll be a dainty bite then she seized Hansel with her bony hand and carried him into a little stable and barred the door on him he might scream as much as he liked it did him no good then she went to Gretel, shook her till she awoke and cried get up you lazy bones fetch water and cook something for your brother when he's fed, eat him up Gretel began to cry bitterly but it was of no use she had to do what the wicked witch bait her so the best food was cooked for poor Hansel but Gretel got nothing but crab shells every morning the old woman hobbled out to the stable and cried Hansel put out your finger that I may feel if you are getting fat but Hansel always stretched out a bone an old dame whose eyes were dim couldn't see it and thinking always it was Hansel's finger wondered why he fattened so slowly when four weeks had passed and Hansel still remained thin she lost patience and determined to wait no longer hi Gretel she called to the girl be quick and get some water Hansel may be fat or thin I'm going to kill him tomorrow and cook him oh how the poor little sister sobbed as she carried the water and how the tears rolled down her cheeks kind heaven help us now she cried if only the wild beast in the wood had eaten then at least we should have died together just hold your peace said the old hag it won't help you early in the morning Gretel had to go out and hang up the kettle full of water and light the fire first we'll bake said the old dame I heated the oven already and kneaded the dough she pushed Gretel up to the oven from which fiery flames were already issuing creep in, said the witch and see if it's properly heated so that we can shove in the bread for when she had got Gretel in she meant to close the oven and let the girl bake that she might eat her up too but Gretel perceived her intention and said, I don't know how I had to do it how do I get in you silly goose, said the hag the opening is big enough see I could get in myself and she crawled toward it then Gretel gave her a shove that sent her right in shut the iron door and drew the bolt gracious, how she yelled it was quite horrible but Gretel fled and the wretched old woman was left to perish miserably Gretel flew straight to Hansel opened the little stable door and cried Hansel, we are free the old witch is dead then Hansel sprang like a bird out of a cage when the door is opened how they rejoiced and fell on each other's necks and jumped for joy and kissed one another and as they had no longer any cause for fear they went in the old hag's house and here they found in every corner of the room boxes with pearls and precious stones these are even better than pebbles said Hansel and crammed his pockets full of them and Gretel said I too will bring something home and she filled her apron full but now, said Hansel let's go and get well away from the witch's wood when they had wandered about for some hours they came to a big lake we can't get over, said Hansel I see no bridge of any sort or kind yes and there's no ferry boat either and Gretel but look, there swims a white duck if I ask her she'll help us over and she called out here are two children mournful very seeing neither bridge nor ferry take us upon your white back and row us over quack quack the duck swam toward them and Hansel got on her back and bade his little sister sit beside him no, answered Gretel we should be too heavy a load for the duck she shall carry us across separately the good bird did this and when they were landed safely on the other side and had gone for a while the wood became more and more familiar to them and at length they saw their father's house in the distance and bounding into the room fell on their father's neck the man had not passed a happy hour since he left them in the wood but the woman had died Gretel shook out her apron so that the pearls and precious stones rolled about the room and Hansel threw down one handful after the other out of his pocket thus all their troubles were ended and they lived happily ever after my story is done see, there runs a little mouse and anyone who catches it may make himself a large fur cap out of it and a story Snow White and Rose Red of the Blue Fairy Book this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org that's L-I-B-R-I-V-O-X dot O-R-G recording by Kristi Noak The Blue Fairy Book by Andrew Lang Snow White and Rose Red a poor widow once lived in a little cottage in front of it in which grew two rose trees one bearing white roses and the other red she had two children who were just like the two rose trees one was called Snow White and the other Rose Red and they were the sweetest and best children in the world always diligent and always cheerful but Snow White was quieter and more gentle than Rose Red Rose Red loved to run about the fields and meadows and to pick flowers and catch butterflies but Snow White sat at home with her mother and helped her in the household or read aloud to her when there was no work to do the two children loved each other so dearly that they always walked about hand in hand whenever they went out together and when Snow White said we will never desert each other Rose Red answered no not as long as we live and the mother added whatever one gets she shall share with the other they often roamed about in the woods gathering berries and no beast offered to hurt them on the contrary they came up to them in the most confiding manner the little hare would eat a cabbage leaf from their hands the deer grazed beside them the stag would bound past them merrily and the birds remained on the branches and sang to them with all their might no evil ever befell them if they tarried late in the wood and night overtook them they lay down together on the moss and slept till morning and their mother knew they were quite safe and never felt anxious about them once when they had slept all night in the wood and had been awakened by the morning sun they perceived a beautiful child in a shining white robe sitting close to their resting place the figure got up looked at them kindly but said nothing and vanished into the wood and when they looked round about them they became aware that they had slept quite close to a precipice over which they would certainly have fallen had they gone on a few steps further in the darkness and when they told their mother of their adventure she said what they had seen must have been the angel that guards good children snow white and rose red kept their mother's cottage so beautifully clean and neat that it was a pleasure to go into it in summer rose red looked after the house and every morning before her mother awoke she placed a bunch of flowers before the bed from each tree arose in winter snow white lit the fire and put on the kettle which was made of brass but so beautifully polished that it shone like gold in the evening when the snowflakes fell their mother said snow white go and close the shutters drew round the fire while the mother put on her spectacles and read aloud from a big book and the two girls listened and sat and span beside them on the ground lay a little lamb and behind them perched a little white dove with its head tucked under its wings one evening as they sat thus closely together someone knocked at the door as though he desired admittance the mother said rose red open the door quickly it must be some traveller seeking shelter rose red hastened to unbar the door and thought she saw a poor man standing in the darkness outside but it was no such thing there who poked his thick black head through the door rose red screamed aloud and sprang back in terror the lamb began to bleed the dove flapped its wings and snow white ran and hid behind her mother's bed but the bear began to speak and said don't be afraid I won't hurt you I'm half frozen and only wish to warm myself a little my poor bear said the mother lie down by the fire only take care you don't burn your fur then she called out snow white and rose red come out the bear will do you no harm he is a good honest creature they both came out of their hiding places and gradually the lamb and dove drew near too and they all forgot their fear the bear asked the children to beat the snow a little out of his fur and they fetched a brush and scrubbed him till he was dry then the beast stretched himself in front of the fire and growled quite happily and comfortably the children soon grew quite at their ease with him and led their helpless guest a fearful life they tugged his fur with their hands put their small feet on his back and rolled him about here and there or took a hazel wand and beat him with it and if he growled they only laugh the bear submitted to everything with the best possible good nature only when they went too far he cried old children spare my life snow white and rose red don't beat your lover dead when it was time to retire for the night and the others went to bed the mother said to the bear you can lie there on the hearth in heaven's name it will be shelter for you from the cold and wet as soon as day dawned the children let him out and he trotted over the snow into the wood from this time on the bear came every evening at the same hour and lay down by the hearth and let the children play what pranks they liked with him and they got so accustomed to him that the door was never shut till their black friend had made his appearance when spring came and all outside was green the bear said one morning to snow white now I must go away and not return again the whole summer where are you going to dear bear asked snow white I must go to the wood and protect my treasure from their wicked dwarves in winter when the earth is frozen hard they are obliged to remain underground for they can't work their way through but now when the sun has thawed and warmed the ground they break through and come up above high the land and steal what they can what once falls into their hands and into their caves is not easily brought back to light snow white was quite sad over their friend's departure and when she unbarred the door for him the bear stepping out caught a piece of his fur on the door knocker and snow white thought she caught sight of glittering gold beneath it but she couldn't be certain of it and the bear ran hastily away and soon disappeared behind the trees a short time after this the mother sent the children into the wood to collect faggots they came in their wanderings upon a big tree along grass they noticed something jumping up and down but what it was they couldn't distinguish when they approached nearer they perceived a dwarf with a wise and face and a beard a yard long the end of the beard was jammed into a cleft of the tree and the little man sprang about like a dog on a chain and didn't seem to know what he was to do he glared at the girls with his fiery red eyes and screamed out what are you standing there for won't you come and help me what were you doing little man you stupid inquisitive goose replied the dwarf I wanted to split the tree the wood for our kitchen fire those thick logs that served to make fires for coarse greedy people like yourselves quite burn up all the little food we need I had successfully driven in the wedge and all was going well but the cursive wood was so slippery that it suddenly sprang out and the tree closed up so rapidly that I had no time to take my beautiful white beard out so here I am stuck fast and I can't get away and you silly smooth-faced milk and water girls just stand and laugh oh what wretches you are the children did all in their power but they couldn't get the beard out it was wedged in far too firmly and fetch somebody said rooms red crazy blockheads snap the dwarf what's the good of calling anyone else you're already too too many for me does nothing better occur to you than that don't be so impatient said snow white I'll see you get help and taking her scissors out of her pocket she cut off the end of his beard as soon as the dwarf felt himself free he seized a bag full of gold which was hidden among the roots of the tree lifted it up and muttered aloud curse these rude wretches cutting off a piece of my splendid beard with these words he swung the bag over his back and disappeared without as much as looking at the children again shortly after this snow white and rose red went out to get a dish of fish as they approached the stream they saw something which looked like an enormous grasshopper springing toward the water as if it were going to jump in they ran forward and recognized their old friend the dwarf where are you going to ask rose red you're surely not going to jump into the water I'm not such a fool screamed the dwarf don't you see that cursed fish is trying to drag me in the little man had been sitting on the bank fishing when unfortunately the wind had entangled his beard in the line which immediately afterward the big fish bit the feeble little creature had no strength to pull it out the fish had the upper fin and dragged the dwarf toward him he clung on with all his might to every rush and blade of grass but it didn't help him much he had to follow every movement of the fish and was in great danger of being drawn into the water the girls came up just at the right moment held him firm and did all they could to disentangle his beard from the line but in vain beard and line were in a hopeless muddle nothing remained but to produce the scissors and cut the beard by which a small part of it was sacrificed when the dwarf received what they were about he yelled to them do you call that mad as you told stools to disfigure a fellow's face it wasn't enough that you shortened my beard before but you must now needs cut off the best bit of it I can't appear like this before my own people I wish you'd been in Jericho first then he fetched a sack of pearls that lay among the rushes and without saying another word he dragged it away and disappeared behind a stone it happened that soon after this the mother sent the two girls to the town to buy needles thread laces and ribbons their road led over a heath where huge boulders of rock lay scattered here and there while trudging along they saw a big bird hovering in the air circling slowly above them but always descending lower till at last it settled on a rock not far from them immediately afterward they heard a sharp piercing cry they ran forward and saw with horror that the eagle had pounced on their old friend the dwarf and was about to carry him off the tender hearted children seized hold of the little man and struggled so long with the bird that at last he let go his prey when the dwarf had recovered from the first shock he screamed in his screeching voice couldn't you have treated me more carefully for my thin little coat all the shreds useless awkward hussies that you are then he took a bag of precious stones and vanished under the rocks into his cave the girls were accustomed to his ingratitude and went on their way and did their business in town on their way home as they were again passing the heath they surprised the dwarf pouring out his precious stones on an open space for he had thought no one would pass by it so late an hour the evening sun shone on the glittering stones and they glanced and gleamed so beautifully that the children stood still and gazed on them adding their gaping for screams the dwarf and his ashen gray face became scarlet with rage he was about to go off with these angry words when a sudden growl was heard and a black bear trotted out of the wood the dwarf jumped up in great fright but he hadn't time to reach his place of retreat for the bear was already close to him then he cried in terror dear mr bear spare me i'll give you all my treasure put those beautiful precious stones lying there my life what pleasure would you get from a poor feeble little fellow like me you won't feel me between your teeth there lay hold of those two wicked girls they will be a tender morsel for you as fat as young quails eat them up for heaven's sake but the bear paying no attention to his words gave the evil little creature one blow with his paw and he never moved again the girls ran away but the bear called after them snow white and rose red don't be afraid wait and i'll come with you then they recognized his voice and stood still and when the bear was quite close to them his skin suddenly fell off and a beautiful man stood beside them all dressed in gold i am the king's son and have been doomed by that unholy little dwarf who had stolen my treasure to roam about the woods as a wild bear till his death should set me free now he has got his well merited punishment snow white married him and rose red his brother and they divided the great treasure the dwarf had collected in his cave between them the old mother lived for many years peacefully with her children and she carried the two rose trees with her and they stood in front of her window and every year they bore the finest red and white roses end of snow white and rose red the goose girl of the blue fairy book this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by Brett Gondren the blue fairy book by Andrew Lang the goose girl once upon a time an old queen whose husband had been dead for many years had a beautiful daughter when she grew up she was betrothed to a prince who lived a great way off now when the time drew near for her to be married and to depart into a foreign kingdom her old mother gave her much costly baggage and many ornaments, gold and silver trinkets and knickknacks and in fact everything that belonged to the royal truce for she loved her daughter very dearly she gave her a wedding maid also who was to ride with her and hand her over to the bridegroom and she provided each of them with a horse for the journey now the princess's horse was called Falada and could speak when the hour for departure drew near the old mother went to her bedroom and taking a small knife she cut her fingers till they bled then she held a white rag under them and letting three drops of blood fall into it she gave it to her daughter and said dear child take great care of this rag it may be of use to you on the journey so they took a sad farewell of each other and the princess stuck the rag in front of her dress mounted her horse and set forth on the journey to her bridegroom's kingdom after they had ridden for about an hour the princess began to feel very thirsty and said to her wedding maid pray get down and fetch me some water in my golden cup out of yonder stream I would like a drink if you're thirsty said the maid dismount yourself and lie down by the water and drink I don't mean to be your servant any longer the princess was so thirsty that she got down bent over the stream and drank for she wasn't allowed to drink out of the golden goblet as she drank she murmured oh heaven what am I to do and the three drops of blood replied if your mother only knew her heart would surely break in two but the princess was meek and said nothing about her maid's rude behavior and quietly mounted her horse again they rode on their way for several miles but the day was hot and the sun's rays smote fiercely on them so that the princess was soon overcome by thirst again as they passed by a brook she called once more to her wedding maid pray get down and give me a drink from my golden cup for she had long ago forgotten her maid's rude words but the wedding maid replied more haughtily than ever before if you want a drink you can dismount and get it I don't mean to be your servant then the princess was compelled by her thirst to get down and bending over the flowing water she cried and said oh heaven what am I to do and the three drops of blood replied if your mother only knew her heart would surely break in two and as she drank thus and leaned right over the water the rag containing the three drops of blood fell from her bosom and floated down the stream and she and her anxiety never even noticed her loss but the wedding maid had observed it with delight as she knew it gave her power over the bride for in losing the drops of blood the princess had become weak and powerless when she wished to get on her horse philata again the wedding maid called out I mean to ride philata you must mount my deest and this too she had to submit to then the wedding maid commanded her harshly to take off her royal robes and put on common ones and finally she made her swear by heaven not to say a word about the matter when they reached the palace and if she hadn't taken this oath she would have been killed on the spot but philata observed everything and laid it all to heart the wedding maid now mounted philata and the real bride the worst horse and so they continued their journey till at length they arrived at the palace yard there was great rejoicing over the arrival and the prince sprang forward to meet them and taking the wedding maid for his bride he lifted her down from her horse and led her upstairs to the royal chamber in the meantime the real princess the king who was looking out of his window beheld her in this plight and it struck him how sweet and gentle even beautiful she looked he went at once to the royal chamber and asked the bride who it was she had brought with her and had left thus standing in the court below oh replied the bride but the old king had no work for her and couldn't think of anything so he said I have a small boy who looks after the geese the use name was kurdkin and the real bride was made to assist him in herding geese soon after this the false bride said to the prince dearest husband I pray you grant me a favour he answered that I will then let the slaughterer cut off the head of the horse I rode here upon because it behaved very badly on the journey but the truth was she was afraid lest the horse should speak and tell how she had treated the princess and made her point and the faithful philata was doomed to die when the news came to the ears of the real princess she went to the slaughterer and secretly promised him a piece of gold if he would do something for her there was in the town a large dark gate through which she had to pass night and morning with the geese would he kindly hang up philata's head there that she might see it once again the slaughterer said he would do as she desired chopped off the head and nailed it firmly over the gateway early the next morning as she and kurdkin were driving their flock through the gate she said as she passed under oh philata, did you hang there? and the head replied did you pass under princess fair if your mother only knew her heart would surely break in two and she left the tower and drove the geese into a field and when they had reached the common where the geese fled she sat down and unleashed her hair which was of pure gold kurdkin loved to see it glitter in the sun and wanted much to pull some hair out then she spoke then a gust of wind blew kurdkin's hat away let him chase to a field and wode till my locks of ruddy gold now astray and hanging down be calmed and plated in a crown then a gust of wind blew kurdkin's hat away and he had to chase it over hill and dale when he returned from the pursuit she had finished her combing and curling and his chance of getting any hair was gone kurdkin was very angry and wouldn't speak to her so they herded the geese till the evening and then went home the next morning as they passed under the gate did you hang there? and the head replied if your mother only knew her heart would surely break in two then she went on her way till she came to the common where she sat down and began to comb out her hair then kurdkin ran up to her and wanted to grasp some of the hair from her head and she called out hastily wind, wind, gently sway, blow kurdkin's hat away let him chase to a field and wode till my locks of ruddy gold now astray and hanging down wind came and blew kurdkin's hat far away so that he had to run after it and when he returned she had long finished putting up her golden locks and he couldn't get any hair so they watched the geese till it was dark but that evening when they got home kurdkin went to the old king and said I refuse to herd geese any longer with that girl for what reason asked the old king because she does nothing but annoy me all day long replied kurdkin and he proceeded to relate all her inequities and said every morning as we drive the flock through the dark gate she says to a horse's head that hangs on the wall oh for that I think you hang here and the head replies he's you patient you princess fear if your mother only knew her hurt would surely break him too and kurdkin went on to tell what passed on the common where the geese fed and how he had always to chase his hat the old king made him go and drive forth his flock as usual the next day and when morning came he himself took up his position behind the dark gate and heard how the goose girl greeted felada then he followed her through the field and hid himself behind a bush on the common he soon saw with his own eyes how the goose boy and goose girl looked after the geese and how after a time the maiden sat down and loosed her hair that glittered like gold and repeated wind, wind, gently sway blow kurdkin's hat away let him chase or field and wold till my locks of ruddy gold now astray and hanging down be calmed and plated in a crown then a gust of wind came and blew kurdkin's hat away so that he had to fly over hill and dale after it and the girl in the meantime quietly calmed and plated her hair the old king observed and returned to the palace without anyone having noticed him in the evening when the goose girl came home he called her aside and asked her why she behaved as she did I may not tell you why how dare I confide my woes to anyone for I swore not to by heaven otherwise I should have lost my life the old king begged her to tell him all and left her no peace but when he could get nothing out of her that last he said well if you won't tell me confide your trouble to the iron stove there and he went away he looked to the stove and began to sob and cry and to pour out her poor little heart and said here I sit deserted by all the world I who am a king's daughter and a false waiting mate has forced me to take off my own clothes and has taken my place with my bridegroom while I have to fulfill the lowly office of goose girl if my mother only knew her heart would surely break in two but the old king stood outside at the stove chimney and listened to her words then he entered the room again and bidding her leave the stove he ordered royal apparel to be put on her in which she looked amazingly lovely then he summoned his son and revealed to him that he had got the false bride who was nothing but a waiting mate while the real one in the guise of the ex-goose girl was standing at his side the young king rejoiced from his heart when he saw her beauty and learned how good she was and a great banquet was prepared to which everyone was bitten the bridegroom sat at the head of the table the princess on one side of him and the waiting mate on the other side but she was so dazzled that she did not recognize the princess and her glittering garments she was drunk and were married the old king asked the waiting mate to solve a naughty point for him what he said should be done to a certain person who has deceived everyone and he proceeded to relate the whole story ending with now what sentence should be passed and the false bride answered she deserves to be put star-naked into a barrel lined with sharp nails which should be dragged by two white horses up and down the street till she is dead you are the person said the king and you have passed sentence on yourself and even so should it be done to you and when the sentence had been carried out the young king was married to his real bride and both reigned over the kingdom in peace and happiness end of The Goose Girl the eldest was so much like her in the face and humor that whoever looked upon the daughter saw the mother they are both so disagreeable and so proud that there was no living with them the youngest who was the very picture of her father for courtesy and sweetness and temper was with all one of the most beautiful girls ever seen as people naturally love their own likeness this mother even doted on her eldest daughter and at the same time had a horrible aversion for the youngest she made her eat in the kitchen and work continually among other things this poor child was forced twice a day to draw water above a mile and a half off the house and bring home a picture full of it one day as she was at this fountain there came to her a poor woman who begged if her to let her drink oh I with all my heart goodies said this pretty little girl and rinsing immediately the picture she took up some water from the clearest place of the fountain and gave it to her holding up the picture all the while that she might drink the easier the good woman having drunk said to her very pretty my dear so good and so mannerly that I cannot help giving you a gift for this was a fairy who had taken the form of a poor country woman to see how far the civility and good manners of this pretty girl would go I will give you for a gift continue the fairy that at every word you speak there shall come out of your mouth either a flower or a jewel when this pretty girl came home her mother scolded her for staying so long at the fountain I beg your pardon mum said the poor girl for not making more haste and in speaking these words there came out of her mouth two roses two pearls and two diamonds what is it I see there said the mother quite astonished I think I see pearls and diamonds come out of the girl's mouth how happens this child this was the first time she had ever called her child the poor creature told her frankly all the matter not without dropping out infinite numbers of diamonds in good faith cried the mother I must send my child dither come hither family look what comes out of that sister's mouth when she speaks what's not thou be glad my dear to have the same gift given to thee thou has nothing else to do but to go and draw water out of the fountain and when a certain poor woman asks you to let her drink to give it to her very civility it will be a very fine sight indeed said this ill breadmix to see me go draw water you shall go Hasi said the mother and this minute so away she went but grumbling all the way taken with her the best silver tankered in the house she was no sooner at the fountain than she saw coming out of the wood a lady most gloriously dressed who came up to her and asked to drink this was you must know the very fairy who appeared to her sister but now had taken the air and dressed her princess to see how far this girl's rudeness would go am I come hither said the proud saucy one to serve you with water pray I suppose the silver tankered was brought purely for your ladyship was it however you may drink out of it if you have a fancy you are not over and above mannerily answered the fairy without putting yourself in a passion well then since you have so little breeding and are also so disobliging I give for you a gift that at every word you speak there shall come out of your mouth a snake or a toad so soon as her mother saw her coming she cried out well daughter well mother answered the pert Hasi throwing out of her mouth two vipers and two toads oh mercy cried the mother what is it I see oh it is that wretch her sister who has occasioned all this but she shall pay for it immediately she ran to beat her the poor child fled away from her and went to hide herself in the forest but not far from thence the king's son then on his return from hunting met her and seeing her so very pretty asked her what she did there alone and why she cried alas sir my mom has turned me out of doors the king's son who saw five or six pearls and as many diamonds come out of her mouth desired her to tell him how that happened she there upon told him the whole story and so the king's son fell in love with her and considering himself that such a gift was worth more than any marriage portion conducted her to the palace of the king's father and there married her as for the sister she made herself so much hated that her own mother turned her off and the miserable wretch having wandered about a good while without finding anybody to take her in went to a corner of the wood and there died footnote written by Charles Perot Prince Darling of the Blue Fairy Book this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by Avery once upon a time there lived a king who was so just and kind that his subjects called him the good king it happened one day when he was out hunting that a little white rabbit which his dogs were chasing away sprang into his arms for shelter the king stroked it gently and said to it well buddy as you have come to me for protection I will see that nobody hurts you and he took it home to his palace and had it put in a pretty little house with all sorts of nice things to eat that night when he was alone in his room a beautiful lady suddenly appeared before him her long dress was as white as snow and she had a crown of white roses upon her head the good king was very much surprised to see her for he knew his door had been tightly shut and he could not think how she had got in but she said to him I am the fairy truth I was passing through the wood when you were out hunting and I wished to see if you were really good I said you were so I took the shape of a little rabbit to come to your arms for shelter for I knew that those who are merciful to animals will be still kinder to their fellow men if you would refuse to help me I should have been certain that you were wicked I thank you for the kindness you have shown me which has made me your friend forever you have only to ask me anything you want and I promise that I will give it to you madam said the good king since you are a fairy you no doubt know all my wishes I have that one son whom I love very dearly that is why he is called Prince Darling if you are really good enough to wish to do me a favour I beg that you will become his friend with all my heart answer the fairy I can make your son the handsomest prince in the world or the richest or the most powerful choose whichever you like for him I do not ask either of these things for my son replied the good king but if you will make him the best of princes I shall indeed be grateful to you what good would it do to him to be rich or handsome or to possess all the kingdoms of the world if you were wicked you know well he would still be unhappy only a good man can be really contented you are quite right answer the fairy but it is not my power to make Prince Darling a good man unless he will help me he must himself try hard to become good I can only promise to give him good advice to scold him for his faults and to punish him if he will not correct and punish himself the good king was quite satisfied with this promise and very soon afterward he died Prince Darling was very sorry for he loved his father with all his heart and he would willingly have given all his kingdoms and all his treasures of gold and silver if they could have kept the good king with him two days afterward when the prince had gone to bed the fairy suddenly appeared to him and said I promised your father that I would be your friend and to keep my word I have come to bring you a present at the same time she put a little gold ring upon his finger take great care of this ring she said it is more precious than diamonds every time you do a bad deed it will prick your finger but if in spite of its pricking you go on your own evil way you will lose my friendship and I shall become your enemy so saying the fairy disappeared leaving Prince Darling very much astonished for some time he behaved so well that the ring never pricked him and that he was so contented that his father called him Prince Darling the happy one day however he went out hunting but couldn't get no sport which put him in a very bad temper it seemed to him as he rode along that his ring was piercing into his finger but as it did not prick him he did not heed it when he got home and went to his own room his little dog Bibi ran to meet him jumping around him with pleasure get away said the prince quite gruffly I don't want you you are in the way who didn't understand this at all pulled at his coat to make him at least look at her and this made Prince Darling so cross that he gave her quite a hard kick instantly his ring pricked him sharply as it had been a pin he was very much surprised and sat down in a corner of his room feeling quite ashamed of himself I believe the fairy is laughing at me he thought surely I can have done no great wrong in just kicking a tiresome animal what is the good of my being ruler of a great kingdom if I am not even allowed to beat my own dog I am not making fun of you said voice you have committed three faults first of all you were out of temper because you could not have what you wanted and you thought all men and animals were only made to do your pleasure then you were really angry which is very naughty indeed and lastly you were cruel to a poor little animal who did not in the least deserve to be ill treated I know you are far above a little dog but if it were right and allowable that great people should ill treat all those who were beneath them I might at this moment beat you or kill you for a fairy is greater than a man the advantage of possessing a great empire is not to be able to do the evil that one desires but to do all the good that one possibly can the prince saw how naughty he had been and promised to try and do better in the future but he did not keep his word the fact was he had been brought up by a foolish nurse who had spoiled him when he was little if he wanted anything he only had to cry and fret and stamp his feet and she would give him whatever he asked for which have made himself willed also she had told him from morning to night that he would one day be a king and that kings were very happy they would obey and respect them and no one could prevent them from doing just as they wanted when the prince grew old enough to understand he soon learned that there could be nothing worse than to be proud obstinate and conceited and he had really tried to cure himself of these defects but by that time all his faults had become habits and a bad habit is very hard to get rid of not that he was naturally of a bad disposition he was truly sorry when he had been naughty and said I am very unhappy to have to struggle against my anger and pride every day if I had been punished for them when I was little they would not be such a trouble to me now his ring pricked him very often but sometimes he left off when he was doing it once but at other times he would not attend to it strangely enough it gave him only a slight prank for trifling fault but when he was really naughty it made his finger actually bleed at last he got tired of being constantly reminded and wanted to be able to do as he liked so he threw his ring aside and thought himself the happiest of men to have got rid of its teasing pricks he gave himself up to doing every foolish thing that occurred to him until he became quite wicked and he could like him any longer one day when the prince was walking about he saw a young girl who was so very pretty that he made up his mind at once that he would marry her her name was Celia and she was as good as she was beautiful Prince Darling fancied that Celia would think herself only too happy if he offered to make her a great queen but she said fearlessly Sire I am only a separatist and a poor girl but nevertheless I will not marry you do you dislike me? asked the prince who was very much vexed at this answer and all my prince replied Celia I cannot help thinking you very handsome but what good would riches be to me but all the grand dresses and splendid carriages that you would give me if the bad deeds which I should see you do every day made me hate and despise you the prince was very angry at this speech and commanded his officers to make Celia a prisoner and carry her off to his palace all day long the remembrance of what she had said annoyed him but as he loved her he could not make up his mind to have her punished one of the prince's favorite companions was his foster brother he trusted entirely but he was not at all a good man and gave prince darling very bad advice and encouraged him in all his evil ways when he saw the prince so downcast he asked what was the matter and when he explained that he could not bear Celia's bad opinion of him and was resolved to be a better man in order to please her this evil advisor said to him you are very kind to trouble yourself about this little girl if I were you I would soon make her obey me remember that you are a king and that it would be laughable to see you trying to please a separatist who ought to be only too glad to be one of your slaves keep her in prison and feed her on bread and water for a little while and then if she still says she will not marry you have her head cut off to teach other people that you need to be obeyed why if you cannot make a girl like that do as you wish your subjects will soon forget that they are only put on this world for our pleasure but said prince darling would it not be a shame if I had an innocent girl put to death for Celia has done nothing to deserve punishment if people will not do as you tell them they ought to suffer for it answered his foster brother but even if it were unjust you better be accused of that by your subjects than that they should find out that they may insult and thwart you as soon as they please in saying this he was touching a weak point in his brother's character for the prince's fear of losing any of his power made him at once abandon his first idea of trying to be good and resolved to try and frighten the separatists into consenting to marry him his foster brother who wanted him to keep this resolution invited three young courtiers as wickeders himself to suck with the prince and they persuaded him to drink a great deal of wine and continued to excite his anger against Celia by telling him that she'd laughed at his love for her until it last in quite a furious rage he rushed off to find her declaring that if she still refused to marry him she should be sold as a slave the very next day but when he reached the room in which Celia had been locked up he was greatly surprised to find that she was not in it though he had the key in his own pocket all the time his anger was terrible and he vowed vengeance against whoever had helped her escape his bad friends when they heard him resolved to turn his wrath upon an old normal man who had formerly been his tutor and who still dared sometimes to tell the prince of his faults for he loved him as if he had been his own son at first Prince Darling had thanked him but after a time he grew impatient and thought it must be just near love of fault finding that made his old tutor blame him when everyone else was praising and flattering him so he ordered him to retire from his court though he still from time to time spoke of him as a worthy man whom he respected even if he no longer loved him his unworthy friends feared that he might someday take it into his head to recall his old tutor so they thought now a good opportunity of getting him banished forever they reported to the prince that Suleiman for that was the tutor's name had boasted of having helped Celia to escape and they bribed three men to say that Suleiman himself had told them about it the prince, in great anger, sent his foster brother with a number of soldiers to bring his tuner before him in chains like a criminal after giving this order he went to his own room but he had scarcely got into it when there was a clap of thunder which made the ground shake and the fairy truth appeared suddenly before him I promised your father, said she sternly to give you good advice punish you if you refuse to follow it you have despised my counsel and have gone your own evil way until you are not outwardly a man really you are a monster the horror of everyone who knows you it is time that I should fulfill my promise and begin your punishment I condemn you to resemble the animals whose ways you have imitated you have made yourself like the lion by your anger and like the wolf by your greediness like a snake you have unbravely turned upon those who would be a second father to you your cheerlessness has made you a bull therefore in your new form take the appearance of all these animals the fairy has scarcely finished speaking when the prince darling saw to his horror that her words were fulfilled he had a lion's head, a bull's horns a wolf's feet and a snake's body at the same instance he found himself in a great forest beside a clear lake in which he could see plainly the horrible creature he had become and a voice said to him look carefully at the state to which your wickedness has brought you believe me your soul is a thousand times more hideous than your body prince darling recognized the voice of the fairy truth and turned into fury to catch her and eat her up if he possibly could but he saw no one the same voice went on I laugh at your powerlessness and anger and I intend to punish your pride by letting you fall into the hands of your own subjects the prince began to think that the best thing he could do would be to get as far away from the lake as he could then at least he would not be continually reminded of this terrible ugliness so he ran toward the wood but before he had gone many yards he fell into a deep pit which had been made to trap bears and the hunters who were hiding in a tree leapt down and secured him with several chains in the city of his own kingdom on the way, instead of recognizing that his own faults had brought this punishment upon him he accused the fairy of being the cause of all his misfortunes and bit and tore at his chains furiously as they approached the town he saw that some great rejoicing was being held and when the hunters asked what had happened they were told that the prince whose only pleasure it was to torment his people had been found in his room killed by a thunderbolt for that was what had supposed to become of him four of his courtiers those who had encouraged him in his wicked doings had tried to seize the kingdom and divide it between them but the people who knew it was their bad counsels which had so changed their prince had cut off their heads and had offered the crown to Suleiman whom the prince had left in prison this noble lord had just been crowned and the deliverance of the kingdom was the cause of the rejoicing four they said he is a good and just man and we shall once more enjoy peace and prosperity Prince Darling roared with anger when he heard this but it was still worse for him when he reached the great square before his own palace he saw Suleiman seated upon a magnificent throne and all the people crowded around him in the long life that he might undo all the mischief done by his predecessor presently Suleiman made a sign with his hand that the people should be silent and said I have accepted the crown you have offered me but only that I may keep it for Prince Darling who was not dead as you suppose the fairies assured me that there is still hope that you may one day see him again good and virtuous as he was when he first came to the throne alas he continued he was led away by flatterers I knew his heart and I'm certain that if it had not been for the bad influence on those who surrounded him he would have been a good king and a father to his people we may hate his faults but let us pity him and hope for his restoration as for me I would die gladly if that would bring back our prince to reign justly and worthily once more these words went to Prince Darling's heart he realized the true affection and faithfulness of his old tutor and for the first time approached himself for all his evil ways at the same instant he felt his anger melting away and began quickly to think of his past life and to admit that his punishment was not more than he had deserved he left off tearing at the iron bars of the cage in which he was shut up and became as gentle as a lamb the hunters who had caught him took him to a great menagerie from where he was chained up among the other wild beasts and he was determined to show his sorrow for his past bad behavior by being gentle and obedient to the man who had to take care of him unfortunately this man was very rough and unkind and though the poor monster was quite quiet he often beat him without rhyme or reason when he happened to be in a bad temper one day when this keeper was asleep a tiger broke its chain and flew at him to eat him up so he saw that this was going on and first felt quite pleased to think that he should soon be delivered from his persecutor but soon thought better of it and wished that he were free I would return good for evil he said to himself and saved the unhappy man's life he had hardly wished this when his iron cage flew open and he rushed to the side of the keeper who was awake and was defending himself against the tiger when he saw the monster had got out he gave himself up for lost but his fear was soon changed into joy for the kind monster flew itself upon the tiger and very soon killed it overcome with gratitude the keeper stood to caress the strange creature which had done him such a great service but suddenly a voice said in his ear a good action should never go unrewarded and at the same instant the monster disappeared and he saw at his feet only a pretty little dog Prince Darling, delighted by this change frisked about this keeper showing his joy in every way he could and the man taking him up in his arms carried him to the king to whom he told the whole story the queen said that she would like to have this wonderful little dog Prince would have been very happy in his new home if he could have forgotten that he was a man and a king the queen petted and took care of him but she was so afraid that he would get too fat that she consulted the court physician who said that he was to be fed only upon bread and was no