Hal-Brave Walter, Hunted Wolves from the Lylac 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 Jessica A. C. Snyder, July 2007. The Lylac Fairy Book by Andrew Lang, Editor. Hal-Brave Walter, Hunted Wolves. A Tale from Finland by Z. Topelius. A little back from the high road, there stands a house which is called Hemgat. Perhaps you remember the two beautiful mountain ash trees by the reddish-brown palings and the high gate and the garden with the beautiful barberry bushes which are always the first to become grown in spring and which in summer are weighed down with their beautiful berries. Behind the garden there is a hedge with tall aspens which rustle in the morning wind. Behind the hedge is a road, behind the road is a wood, behind the wood the wide world. But on the other side of the garden there is a lake and beyond the lake is a village and all around stretch meadows and fields, now yellow, now green. In the pretty house which has white window frames, a neat porch and clean steps which are always strewn with finely cut juniper leaves, Walter's parents live, his brother Frederick, his sister Lotta, old Lina, Jonah, Karo and Bravo, Pute and Mure and Kukeliku. Karo lives in the doghouse, Bravo in the stable, Pute with the stableman, Mure a little here and a little there and Kukeliku lives in the henhouse that is his kingdom. Walter is six years old and he must soon begin to go to school. He cannot read yet but he can do many other things.   For the rest he has a good heart but a bad memory and forgets his father's and his mother's admonitions and so often gets into trouble and meets with adventures as you shall hear. But first of all I must tell you how brave he was and how he hunted wolves. Once in the spring, a little before mid-summer, Walter heard that there were a great many wolves in the wood and that pleased him. He was wonderfully brave when he was in the midst of his companions or at home with his brothers and sister than he used often to say, one wolf is nothing, there ought to be at least four. When he wrestled with Klaus Bogenstrom or Frithioth Valderfeldt and struck them in the back he would say, that is what I shall do to a wolf and when he shot arrows at Jonas and they rattled against his sheepskin coat he would say, that is how I should shoot you if you were a wolf. Indeed some thought that the brave boy boasted a little but one must indeed believe him since he said so himself. So Jonas and Lena used to say of him, look there goes Walter who shoots the wolves and other boys and girls would say, look there goes brave Walter who is brave enough to fight with four. There was no one so fully convinced of this as Walter himself and one day he prepared himself for a real wolf hunt. He took with him his drum which had holes in one end since the time he had climbed up on it to root a cluster of rowan berries and his tin saber which was a little broken because he had with incredible courage fought his way through a whole unfriendly army of gooseberry bushes. He did not forget to arm himself quite to the teeth with his pop gun his bow and his air pistol. He had a burnt cork in his pocket to blacken his moustache and a red cox feather to put in his cap to make himself look fierce. He had besides in his trouser pocket a clasp knife with a bone handle to cut off the ears of the wolves as soon as he had killed them for he thought it would be cruel to do that while they were still living. It was such a good thing that Jonas was going with corn to the mill for Walter got a seat on the load while Karo ran barking beside them. As soon as they came to the wood Walter looked cautiously around him to see perchance there was a wolf in the bushes and he did not omit to ask Jonas if wolves were afraid of a drum. Of course they are that is understood said Jonas. There upon Walter began to beat his drum with all his might while they were going through the wood. When they came to the mill Walter immediately asked if there had been any wolves in the neighborhood lately. Alas yes said the miller. Last night the wolves have eaten our fattest ram there by the kiln not far from here. Ah said Walter do you think that there were many? We don't know answered to the miller. Oh it is all the same said Walter. I only asked so that I should know if I should take Jonas with me. I could manage very well alone with three but if there were more I might not have time to kill them all before they ran away. In Walter's place I should go quite alone. It is more manly said Jonas. No it is better for you to come to said Walter perhaps there are many. No I have not time said Jonas and besides there are sure not to be more than three. Walter can manage them very well alone. Yes said Walter certainly I could but you see Jonas it might happen that one of them might bite me in the back and I should have more trouble in killing them. If I only knew that there were not more than two I should not mind. For them I should take one in each hand and give them a good shaking like Susanna once shook me. I certainly think that there will not be more than two said Jonas. There are never more than two when they slay children and rams. Walter can very well shake them without me. But you see Jonas said Walter if there are two it might still happen that one of them escapes and bites me in the leg for you see I am not so strong in the left hand as in the right. You can very well come with me and take a good stick in case there are really two. Look if there is only one I shall take him so with both my hands and throw him living on to his back and he can kick as much as he likes I shall hold him fast. Now when I really think over the thing said Jonas I am almost sure there will not be more than one. What would two do with one ram? There will certainly not be more than one. But you should come with me all the same Jonas said Walter you see I can very well manage one but I am not quite accustomed to wolves yet and he might tear holes in my new trousers well just listen said Jonas I am beginning to think that Walter is not so brave as people say first of all Walter would fight against four and then against three then two and then one and now Walter wants help with one such a thing must never be what would people say perhaps they would think that Walter is a coward that's a lie said Walter I am not at all frightened but it is more amusing when there are two I only want someone who will see how I strike the wolf and how the dust flies out of his skin well then Walter can take the miller's little Lisa with him she can sit on a stone and look on said Jonas no she would certainly be frightened said Walter and how would it do for a girl to go wolf hunting come with me Jonas and you shall have the skin and I will be content with the ears and the tail no thank you said Jonas Walter can keep the skin for himself now I see quite well that he is frightened thigh shame on him this touched Walter's pride very near I shall show that I am not frightened he said and so he took his drum saber cocks feather clasp knife pop gun and air pistol and went off quite alone to the wood to hunt wolves it was a beautiful evening and the birds were singing in all the branches Walter went very slowly and cautiously at every step he looked all around him to see if perchance there was anything lurking behind the stones he quite thought something moved away there in the ditch perhaps it was a wolf it is better for me to beat the drum a little before I go there thought Walter but so he began to beat his drum then something moved again a crow flew up from the ditch Walter immediately regained courage it was well I took my drum with me he thought and went straight on with courageous steps very soon he came quite close to the kiln where the wolves had killed the ram but the nearer he came the more dreadful he thought the kiln looked it was so gray and old who knew how many wolves there might be hidden there perhaps the very ones which killed the ram were still sitting there in a corner yes it was not at all safe here and there were no other people to be seen in the neighborhood it would be horrible to be eaten up here in the daylight thought Walter to himself and the more he thought about it the uglier and grayer the old kiln looked and the more horrible and dreadful it seemed to become the food of wolves shall I go back and say that I struck one wolf and it escaped thought Walter thy said his conscience do you not remember that a lie is one of the worst sins both in the sight of god and man if you tell a lie today and say you struck a wolf tomorrow surely it will eat you up no I will go to the kiln thought Walter and so he went but he did not go quite near he went only so near that he could see the ram's blood which colored the grass red and some tufts of wool which the wolves had torn from the back of the poor animal it looked so dreadful I wonder what the ram thought when they ate him up thought Walter to himself and just then a cold shiver ran through him from his collar right down to his boots it is better for me to beat the drum he thought to himself again and so he began to beat it but it sounded horrid and an echo came out from the kiln that seemed almost like the howl of a wolf the drums stick stiffened in Walter's hands and he thought now they are coming yes sure enough just then a shaggy reddish brown wolf's head looked out from under the kiln what did Walter do now yes the brave Walter who alone could manage for threw his drum far away took to his heels and ran and ran as fast as he could back to the mill but alas the wolf ran after him Walter looked back the wolf was quicker than he and only a few steps behind him then Walter ran faster but fear got the better of him he neither heard nor saw anything more he ran over sticks stones and ditches he lost drumsticks saber bow and air pistol and in his terrible hurry he tripped over a tuft of grass there he lay and the wolf jumped onto him it was a gruesome tale now you may well believe that it was all over with Walter and all his adventures that would have been a pity but do not be surprised if it was not quite so bad as that for the wolf was quite a friendly one he certainly jumped onto Walter but he only shook his coat and rubbed his nose against his face and Walter shrieked yes he shrieked terribly happily Jonas heard his cry of distress for Walter was quite near the mill now and he ran and helped him up what has happened he asked why did Walter scream so terribly a wolf a wolf cried Walter and that was all he could say where is the wolf said Jonas I don't see any wolf take care he is here he's bitten me to death cried Walter then Jonas began to laugh yes he laughed so that he nearly burst his skin belt well well was that the wolf was that the wolf which Walter was to take by the neck and shake and throw down on its back no matter how much it struggled just look a little closer at him he is your old friend your own good old caro I quite expect he found a leg of the ram in the kiln when Walter beat his drum caro crept out and when Walter ran away caro ran after him as he so often does when Walter wants to romp and play down caro you ought to be rather ashamed to have put such a great hero to flight Walter got up feeling rather foolish down caro he said both relieved and annoyed it was only a dog then if it had been a wolf I certainly should have killed him if Walter would listen to my advice and boast a little less and do a little more said Jonas consolingly Walter is not a coward is he I you shall see Jonas when next we meet a bear you see I like so much better to fight with bears indeed laughed Jonas are you at it again dear Walter remember that it is only cowards who boast a really brave man never talks of his bravery end of how brave Walter hunted wolves a tale from Finland by Zetopelius from the lilac fairy book by Andrew Lang editor this recording is in the public domain the king of the waterfalls from the lilac 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 Ted Delorm in Fort Mill South Carolina December 2006 the lilac fairy book edited by Andrew Lang chapter nine the king of the waterfalls from West Highland Tales Scotland when the young king of Yesai Grieg came into his kingdom the first thing he thought of was how he could amuse himself best the sports that all his life had pleased him best suddenly seemed to have grown dull and he wanted to do something he had never done before at last his face brightened I know he said I will go and play a game with the gruelgac now the gruelgac was a kind of wicked fairy with long curly brown hair and his house was not very far from the king's house but though the king was young and eager he was also prudent and his father had told him on his deathbed to be very careful in his dealings with the good people as the fairies were called therefore before going to the gruelgac the king sought out a wise man of the countryside I am wanting to play a game with the curly haired gruelgac said he ah you indeed replied the wizard if you will take my counsel you will play with someone else no I will play with the gruelgac persisted the king well if you must you must I suppose answered the wizard but if you win that game ask as a prize the ugly crop-headed girl that stands behind the door I will said the king so before the sun rose he got up and went to the house of the gruelgac who was sitting outside oh king what has brought you here today asked the gruelgac but the right welcome you are and more welcome will you be still if you will play a game with me that is just what I want said the king and they played and sometimes it seemed as if one would win and sometimes the other but in the end it was the king who was the winner and what is the prize that you will choose inquired the gruelgac the ugly crop-headed girl that stands behind the door replied the king why there are twenty others in the house and each fairer than she exclaimed the gruelgac fairer there may be but it is she whom I wish for my wife and none other and the gruelgac saw that the king's mind was set upon her so he entered his house and bade all the maidens in it come out one by one and pass before the king one by one they came tall and short dark and fair plump and thin and each said I am she whom you want you will be foolish indeed if you do not take me but he took none of them neither short nor tall dark nor fair plump nor thin till at last the crop-headed girl came out that is mine said the king though she was so ugly that most men would have turned from her where will be married at once and I will carry you home and married they were and they set forth across a meadow to the king's house as they went the bride stooped and picked a sprig of shamrock which grew amongst the grass and when she stood upright again her ugliness had all gone and the most beautiful woman that ever was seen stored by the king's side the next day before the sun rose the king sprang from his bed and told his wife he must have another game with the gruelgac if my father loses that game and you win it said she accept nothing for your prize but the shaggy young horse with the stick saddle I will do that answered the king and he went does your bride please you asked the gruelgac who was standing at his own door ah does she not answered the king quickly otherwise I should be hard indeed to please but will you play a game today I will reply the gruelgac and they played and sometimes it seemed as if one would win and sometimes the other but in the end the king was the winner what is the prize that you will choose asked the gruelgac the shaggy young horse with the stick saddle answered the king but he noticed that the gruelgac held his piece and his brow was dark as he let out the horse from the stable rough was its mane and dull was its skin but the king cared nothing for that and throwing his leg over the stick saddle rode away like the wind on the third morning the king got up as usual before dawn and as soon as he had eaten food he prepared to go out when his wife stopped him I would rather she said that you did not go to play with the gruelgac for though twice you have won yet someday he will win and then he will put trouble upon you oh I must have one more game cried the king just this one and he went off to the house of the gruelgac joy filled the heart of the gruelgac when he saw him coming and without waiting to talk they played their game somehow or other the king's strength and skill had departed from him and soon the gruelgac was the victor choose your prize said the king when the game was ended but do not be too hard on me or ask what I cannot give the prize I choose answered the gruelgac is that the crop headed creature should take thy head and thy neck if thou dost not get for me the sword of light that hangs in the house of the king of the oak windows I will get it replied the young man bravely but as soon as he was out of sight of the gruelgac he pretended no more and his face grew dark and his steps lagging you have brought nothing with you tonight said the queen who was standing on the steps awaiting him she was so beautiful that the king was feigned to smile when he looked at her but then he remembered what had happened and his heart grew heavy again what is it what is the matter tell me thy sorrow that I may bear it with thee or it may be help thee then the king told her everything that had befallen him and she stroked his hair the while that is nothing to grieve about she said when the tale was finished you have the best wife in erin and the best horse in erin only do as I bid you and all will go well and the king suffered himself to be comforted he was still sleeping when the queen rose and dressed herself to make everything ready for her husband's journey and the first place she went to was the stable where she fed and watered the shuggy brown horse and put the saddle on it most people thought this saddle was of wood and did not see the little sparkles of gold and silver that were hidden in it she strapped it lightly on the horse's back and then let it down before the house where the king awaited good luck to you and victories in all your battles she said as she kissed him before he mounted I need not be telling you anything take the advice of the horse and see you obey it so he waved his hand and set out on his journey and the wind was not swifter than the brown horse no not even the march wind which raced it and could not catch it but the horse never stopped nor looked behind till in the dark of the night he reached the castle of the king of the oak windows we're at the end of the journey said the horse and you will find the sword of light in the king's own chamber if it comes to you without scrape or sound the token is a good one at this hour the king is eating his supper and the room is empty so none will see you the sword has a knob at the end and take heed that when you grasp it you draw it softly out of its sheath now go I will be under the window stealthily the young man crept along the passage pausing now and then to make sure that no man was following him and entered the king's chamber a strange white line of light told him where the sword was and crossing the room on tiptoe he seized the knob and drew it slowly out of the sheath the king could hardly breathe with excitement lest it should make some noise and bring all the people in the castle running to see what was the matter but the sword slid swiftly and silently along the case till only the point was left touching it then a low sound was heard as of the edge of a knife touching a silver plate and the king was so startled that he nearly dropped the knob quick quick cried the horse and the king scrambled hastily through the small window and leapt into the saddle he is heard and he will follow said the horse but we have a good start and on they sped on and on leaving the winds behind them at length the horse slackened its pace look and see who is behind you it said and the young man looked i see a swarm of brown horses racing madly after us he answered we are swifter than those said the horse and flew on again look again oh king has anyone coming now a swarm of black horses and one has a white face and on that horse a man is seated he is the king of the oak windows that is my brother and swifter still than i said the horse and he will fly past me with a rush then you must have your sword ready and take off the head of the man who sits on him as he turns and looks at you and there is no sword in the world that will cut off his head save only that one i will do it replied the king and he listened with all his might till he judged that the white faced horse was close to him then he sat up very straight and made ready the next moment there was a rushing noise as of a mighty tempest and the young man caught a glimpse of a face turned towards him almost blindly he struck not knowing whether he had killed or only wounded the rider but the head rolled off and was caught in the brown horse's mouth jump on my brother the black horse and go home as fast as you can and i will follow as quickly as i may cried the brown horse and leaping forward the king alighted on the back of the black horse but so near the tail that he almost fell off again but he stretched out his arm and clutched wildly at the main and pulled himself into the saddle before the sky was streaked with red he was at home again and the queen was sitting waiting till he arrived for sleep was far from her eyes glad was she to see him enter but she said little only took her heart and sang softly the songs which he loved till he went to bed soothed and happy it was broad day when he woke and he sprang up saying now i must go to the grooguck to find out if the spells he laid on me are loose have a care answered the queen for it is not with a smile as on the other days that he will greet you furiously he will meet you and will ask you in his wrath if you have got the sword and you will reply that you have got it next he will want to know how you got it and to this you must say that but for the nab you had not got it at all then he will raise his head to look at the nab and you must stab him in the mole which is on the right side of his neck but take heed for if you missed a mole with the point of the sword then my death and your death are certain he is brother to the king of the oak windows and sure will he be that the king must be dead or the sword would not be in your hands after that she kissed him and bade him good speed didst thou get the sword asked the grooguck when they met in the usual place i got the sword and how didst thou get it if it had not had a nab on the top then i had not got it answered the king give me the sword to look at said the grooguck peering forward but like a flash the king had drawn it from under his nose and pierced the mole so that the grooguck rolled over on the ground now i shall be at peace thought the king but he was wrong for when he reached home he found his servants tied together back to back with cloths bound round their mouths so that they could not speak he hastened to set them free and he asked who had treated them in so evil a manner no sooner had you gone than a great giant came and dealt with us as you see and carried off your wife and your two horses said the men then my eyes will not close nor will my head lay itself down till i fetched my wife and horses home again and said he and he stopped and noted the tracks of the horses on the grass and followed after them till he arrived at the wood when the darkness fell i will sleep here he said to himself but first i will make a fire and he gathered together some twigs that were lying about and then he took two dry sticks and rubbed them together till the fire came and he sat by it the twigs cracked and the flame blazed up and a slim yellow dog pushed through the bushes and laid his head on the king's knee and the king stroked his head rough rough said the dog sore was a plight of thy wife and my horses when the giant drove them last night through the forest but as why i have come answered the king and suddenly his heart seemed to fail him and he felt that he could not go on i could not fight that giant he cried looking at the dog with a white face i am afraid let me turn homewards no don't do that replied the dog eat and sleep and i will watch over you so the king ate and lay down and slept till the son waked him it is time for you to start on your way said the dog and if danger presses call on me and i will help you farewell then answered the king i will not forget that promise and on he went and on and on till he reached a tall cliff with many sticks lying about it is almost night he thought i will make a fire and rest and thus he did and when the flames blazed up the hoary hawk of the gray rock flew onto a bow above him sore was a plight of my wife and thy horses when they passed here with the giant said the hawk never shall i find them answered the king and nothing shall i get for all my trouble oh take heart replied the hawk things are never so bad but what they might be worse eat and sleep and i will watch thee and the king did as he was bitten by the hawk and by the morning he felt brave again farewell said the bird and if danger presses call on me and i will help you on he walked and on and on till as dusk was falling he came to a great river and on the bank there were sticks lying about i will make myself a fire he thought and thus he did and by and by a smooth brown head peered at him from the water and a long body followed it sore was a plight of thy wife and thy horses when they passed the river last night said the otter i have sought them and not found them answered the king and nor shall i get for my trouble be not so downcast replied the otter before noon tomorrow thou shalt behold thy wife but eat and sleep and i will watch over thee so the king did as the otter bid him and when the sun rose he woke and saw the otter lying on the bank farewell cried the otter as he jumped into the water and if danger presses call to me and i will help you for many hours the king walked and at length he reached a high rock which was rent into two by a great earthquake throwing himself on the ground he looked over the side and right at the very bottom he saw his wife and his horses his heart gave a great bound and all his fears left him but he was forced to be patient for the sides of the rock were smooth and not even a goat could find foothold so he got up again and made his way round through the wood pushing by trees scrambling over rocks wading through streams till at last he was on flat ground again close to the mouth of the cavern his wife gave a shriek of joy when he came in and then burst into tears for she was tired and very frightened but her husband did not understand why she wept and he was tired and bruised from his climb and a little cross too you give me but a sorry welcome grumbled he when i have half killed myself to get to you do not heed him said the horses to the weeping woman bought him in front of us where he will be safe and give him food for he is weary and she did as the horses told her and he ate and rested till by and by a long shadow fell over them and their hearts beat with fear for they knew that the giant was coming our smell a stranger cried the giant as he entered but it was dark inside the chasm and he did not see the king who was crouching down between the feet of the horses a stranger my lord no stranger ever comes here not even the son and the king's wife laughed gaily as she went up to the giant and stroked the huge hand which hung down by his side well i perceive nothing certainly answered he but it is very odd however it is time that the horses were fed and he lifted down an armful of hay from a shelf of rock and held out a handful to each animal who moved forward to meet him leaving the king behind as soon as the giant's hands were near their mouths they each made a snap and began to bite them so that his groans and shrieks might have been heard a mile off then they wheeled round and kicked him till they could kick no more had linked the giant crawled away and lay quivering in a corner and the queen went up to him poor thing poor thing she said they seem to have gone mad it was awful to behold if i had had my soul in my body they would certainly have killed me grown the giant it was lucky indeed answered the queen but tell me where is thy soul that i may take care of it up there in the bonnock stone answered the giant pointing to a stone which was balanced loosely on an edge of rock but now leave me that i may sleep but i have far to go tomorrow soon snores were heard from the corner where the giant lay and then the queen lay down to and the horses and the king was hidden between them so that none could see him before the dawn the giant rose and went out and immediately the queen ran up to the bonnock stone and tugged and pushed at it till it was quite steady on its ledge and could not fall over and so it was in the evening when the giant came home and when they saw his shadow the king crept down in front of the horses why what have you done to the bonnock stone asked the giant i feared lest it should fall over and be broken with your soul in it said the queen so i put it further back on the ledge it is not there that my soul is answered it is on the threshold but it is time the horses were fed and he fetched the hay and he gave it to them and they bit and kicked him as before till he lay half dead on the ground next morning he rose and went out and the queen ran to the threshold of the cave and washed the stones and pulled up some moss and little flowers that were hidden in the crannies and by and by when dusk had fallen the giant came home you've been cleaning the threshold said he and was i not right to do it seeing that your soul is in it asked the queen it is not there that my soul is answered the giant under the threshold is a stone and under the stone is a sheep and in the sheep's body is a duck and in the duck is an egg and in the egg is my soul but it is late and i must feed the horses and he brought them the hay but they only bit and kicked him as before and if his soul had been within him they would have killed him outright it was still dark when the giant got up and went his way and then the king and the queen ran forward to take up the threshold while the horses looked on but sure enough just as the giant had said underneath the threshold was the flagstone and they pulled and tugged till the stone gave way then something jumped out so suddenly that it nearly knocked them down and as it fled past they saw it was a sheep if the slim yellow dog of the greenwood would only hear he would soon have that sheep cried the king and as he spoke the slim yellow dog appeared from the forest with the sheep in his mouth with a blow from the king the sheep fell dead and they opened its body only to be blinded by a rush of wings as the duck flew past if the hoary hawk of the rock were only here he would soon have that duck cried the king and as he spoke the hoary hawk was seen hovering above them with the duck in his mouth they cut off the duck's head with a swing of the king's sword and took the egg out of its body but in his triumph the king held it carelessly and it slipped from his hand and rolled swiftly down the hill right into the river if the brown otter of the stream were only here he would soon have that egg cried the king and the next minute there was the brown otter dripping with water holding the egg in his mouth but beside the brown otter a huge shadow came stealing along the shadow of the giant the king stood staring at it as if he were turned into stone but the queen snatched the egg from the otter and crushed it between her two hands and after that the shadow suddenly shrank and was still and they knew that the giant was dead because they had found his soul next day they mounted the two horses and rode home again visiting their friends the brown otter and the hoary hawk and the slim yellow dog by the way end of the king of the waterfalls this recording is in the public domain a french puck from the lilac fairy book this is a libravox recording all libravox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit libravox.org recording by claire goge the lilac fairy book by andrew lang editor a french puck a tale from france among the mountain pastures and valleys that lie in the center of france they're dwelt a mischievous kind of spirit who's delighted was to play tricks on everybody and particularly on the shepherds and the cowboys they never knew when they were safe from him as he could change himself into a man woman or child a stick a goat a plowshare indeed there was only one thing whose shape he could not take and that was a needle at least he could transform himself into a needle but try as he might he never was able to imitate the whole so every woman would have found him out at once and this he knew now the hour often is chosen by this naughty sprite whom we will call puck for performing his pranks was about midnight just when the shepherds and cowards tired out with their long day's work were sound asleep then he would go into the cowsheds and unfasten the chains that fixed each beast in its own stall and let them fall with a heavy clang to the ground the noise was so loud that it was certain to awaken the cowboys however fatigued they might be and they dragged themselves warily to the stable to put back the chains but no sooner had they returned to their bed that the same thing happened again and so on till the morning or perhaps puck would spend his night in plating together the mains and tails of two of the horses so that it would take the groom's hours of labor to get them right in the morning while puck hidden among the hay in the loft would peep out to watch them enjoying himself amazingly all the time one evening more than eighty years ago a man named william was passing along the bank of his stream when he noticed a sheep who was bleeding loudly william thought it must have strayed from the flock and that he had better take it home with him till he could discover its owner so he went up to where it was standing and as it seemed so tired that it could hardly walk he hoisted it on his shoulders and continued on his way the sheep was pretty heavy but the good man was merciful and staggered along as best he could under his load it is not much further he thought to himself as he reached an avenue of walnut trees when suddenly a voice spoke out from over his head and made him jump where are you said the voice and the sheep answered here on the shoulders of a donkey in another moment the sheep was standing on the ground and william was running towards home as fast as his legs could carry him but as he went a laugh which yet was something of a bleat rang in his ears and though he tried not to hear the words reached him oh dear what fun i have had to be sure puck was careful not always to play his tricks in the same place but visited one village after another so that everyone trembled lest he should be the next victim after a bit he grew tired of cowboys and shepherds and wondered if there was no one else to give him some sport at length he was told of a young couple who are going to the nearest town to buy all that they needed for setting up house quite certain that they would forget something which they could not do without puck waited patiently till they were jogging along in their cart on their return journey and changed himself into a fly in order to overhear their conversation for a long time it was very dull all about their wedding day next month and who were to be invited this led the bride to her wedding dress and she gave a little scream just think oh how could i be so stupid i've forgotten to buy the different colored reels of cotton to match my clothes dear dear exclaimed the young man that is unlucky and didn't you tell me that the dressmaker was coming in tomorrow yes i did and then suddenly she gave another little scream which had quite a different sound from the first look look the bridegroom looked and on one side of the road he saw a large ball of thread of all colors of all the colors that is of the dresses that were tied on the back of the cart well that is a wonderful piece of good fortune cried he as he sprang out to get it what would think a fairy had put it there on purpose perhaps she has laughed the girl and as she spoke she seemed to hear an echo of her laughter coming from the horse but of course that was nonsense the dressmaker was delighted with the thread that was given her it matched the stuff so perfectly and never tied itself in knots or broke perpetually as most thread did she finished her work much quicker than she expected and the bride said she was to be sure to come to the church and see her in her wedding dress there was a great crowd assembled to witness the ceremony for the young people were immense favorites in the neighborhood and their parents were very rich the doors were open and the bride could be seen from afar walking under the chestnut avenue what a beautiful girl exclaimed the men what a lovely dress whispered the women but just as she entered the church and took the hand of the bridegroom who was waiting for her a loud noise was heard crick crick crick crick and the wedding garments fell to the ground to the great confusion of the wearer not that the ceremony was put off for a little thing like that cloaks and perfusion were instantly offered to the young bride but she was so upset that she could hardly keep from tears one of the guests most curious than the rest stayed behind to examine the dress determined if she could to find out the cause of the disaster the thread must have been rotten she said to herself I will see if I can break it but search as she would she could find none the thread had vanished and of a french puck this recording is in the public domain the three crowns from the lilac fairy book this is a libra vox recording all libra vox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit libra vox.org recording by claire gauget the lilac fairy book by andrew lang editor the three crowns a tale from scotland there once was a king who had three daughters the two eldest were very proud and quarrelsome but the youngest was as good as they were bad well three princes came to court them and two of them were exactly like the eldest ladies and one was just as lovable as the youngest one day they were all walking down to a lake that lay at the bottom of the lawn when they met a poor beggar the king wouldn't give him anything and the eldest princesses wouldn't give him anything nor their sweethearts but the youngest daughter and her true love did give him something and kind words along with it and that was better than all when they got to the edge of the lake what did they find but the beautifulest boat you ever saw in your life and says the eldest i'll take a sail in this fine boat and says the second eldest i'll take a sail in this fine boat and says the youngest i won't take a sail in that fine boat for i'm afraid it's an enchanted but the others persuaded her to go in and her father was just going in after her when up sprung on the deck a little man only seven inches high and ordered him to stand back well all the men put their hands to their swords and if the same swords were only play things they weren't able to draw them for all strength that was left their arms seven inches loosened the silver chain that fastened the boat and pushed away and after grinning at the four men says he to them bid your daughters and your brides farewell for a while you says he to the youngest need and fear you'll recover your princess all in good time and you and she will be as happy as the day is long bad people if they were rolling stark naked in gold would not be rich goodbye away they sailed and the ladies stretched out their hands but weren't able to say a word well they weren't crossing the lake while a cat up bid lick in her ear and the poor men couldn't stir hand or foot to follow them they saw seven inches handing the three princesses out of the boat and letting them down by a basket into a draw well but king nor princes ever saw an opening before in the same place when the last lady was out of sight the men found the strength in their arms and legs again round the lake they ran and never drew rain till they came to the well and win less and there was the silk rope rolled on the axle and the nice white basket hanging to it let me down says the youngest prince i'll die or recover them again no says the second daughter sweetheart it is my turn first and says the other i'm the eldest so they gave way to him and in he got into the basket and down they let him first they lost sight of him and then after winding off a hundred perches of the silk rope it slackened and they stopped turning they waited two hours and then they went to dinner because there was no pull made at the rope guards were set till next morning and then down went the second prince and sure enough the youngest of all got himself let down on the third day he went down perches and perches while it was as dark about him as if he was in a big pot with a cover on at last he saw a glimmer far down and in a short time he felt the ground out he came from the big lime kiln and low and behold you there was a wood in green fields and a castle in a lawn and a bright sky overall it's in turn on an aug i am he says he let's see what sort of people are in the castle on he walked across the fields and lawn and no one was there to keep him out or let him into the castle but the big hall door was wide open he went from one fine room to another that was finer and at last he reached the handsomest of all with a table in the middle and such a dinner as was laid upon it the prince was hungry enough but he was too mannerly to eat without being invited so he sat by the fire and he did not wait long till he heard steps and in came seven inches with the youngest sister by the hand well prince and princess flew into one another's arms and says the little man says he why aren't you eating i think sir says the prince it was only good manner to wait to be asked the other princes didn't think so says he each of them fell to without leave and only gave me the rough words when i told them they were making more free than welcome well i don't think they feel much hunger now there they are good marble instead of flesh and blood says he pointing to two statues one in one corner and the other in the other corner of the room the prince was frightened but he was afraid to say anything and seven inches made him sit down to dinner between himself and his bride and he'd be as happy as the day is long only for the sight of the stone men in the corner well that day went by and when the next came says seven inches to him now you'll have to set out that way pointing to the sun and you'll find the second princess in a giant castle this evening when you'll be tired and hungry and the eldest princess tomorrow evening and you may as well bring them here with you you need not ask leave of their masters and perhaps if they ever get home they'll look on poor people as if they were flesh and blood like themselves away with the prince and bedad it's tired and hungry he was when he reached the first castle at sunset oh wasn't the second princess glad to see him and what a good supper she gave him but she heard the giant at the gate and she hit the prince in a closet well when he came in he snuffed and snuffed and says he by the life i smell fresh meat oh says the princess it's only the calf i got killed today i i says he is supper ready it is says she and before he rose from the table he ate three quarters of a calf and a flask of wine i think says he when all was done i smell fresh meat still it's sleepy you are says she go to bed when will you marry me says the giant you're putting me off too long st tibs eve says she i wish i knew how far off that is says he and he fell asleep with his head in the dish next day he went out after breakfast and she sent the prince to the castle where the elder sister was the same thing happened there but when the giant was snoring the princess wakened up the prince and they saddled two steeds in the stables and wrote into the field on them but the horses heel struck the stones outside the gate and up got the giant and strode after them he roared and he shouted and the more he shouted the faster ran the horses and just as the day was breaking he was only 20 perches behind but the prince didn't leave the castle of seven inches without being provided with something good he reigned in his steed and flung a short sharp knife over his shoulder and up sprung a thick wood between the giant and themselves they caught the wind that blew before them and the wind that blew behind them did not catch them at last they were near the castle where the other sister lived and there she was waiting for them under a high hedge and to find steed under her but the giant was now in sight roaring like a hundred lions and the other giant was out in a moment and the chase kept on for every two springs the horses gave the giants gave three and at last there were only 70 perches off then the prince stopped again and flung the second knife behind him down went all the flat field till there was a quarry between them a quarter mile deep and the bottom filled with black water and before the giants could get round it the prince and princesses were inside the kingdom of the great magician where the high thorny hedge opened of itself to everyone that he chose to let in there was joy enough between the three sisters till the last eldest saw their lovers turned into stone but while they were shedding tears for them seven inches came in and touched them with his rod so they were flesh and blood and life once more and there was great hugging and kissing and all sat down to breakfast and seven inches sat at the head of the table when breakfast was over he took them into another room where there was nothing but heaps of gold and silver and diamonds and silks and satins and on a table there were lying three sets of crowns a gold crown was in a silver crown and that was lying in a copper crown he took up one set of crowns and gave it to the eldest princess and another set and gave it to the second youngest princess and another and gave it to the youngest of all and says he now you may all go to the bottom of the pit and you have nothing to do but stir the basket and the people that are watching above will draw you up but remember ladies you are to keep your crown safe and be married in them all the same day if he be married separately or if he be married without your crowns a curse will follow mind what I say so they took leave of him with great respect and walked arm in arm to the bottom of the draw well there was a sky and a sun over them and a great high wall covered with ivy rose before them and was so high they could not see the top of it and there was an arch in in this wall and the bottom of the draw well was inside the arch the youngest pair went last and says the princess to the prince I'm sure the two princess don't mean any good to you keep these crowns under your cloak and if you are obliged to stay last don't get into the basket but put a big stone or any heavy thing inside and see what will happen as soon as they were inside the dark cave they put in the eldest princess first and stirred the basket and up she went then the basket was let down again and up went the second princess and then up went the youngest but first she put her arms around her princess neck and kissed him and cried a little at last it came to the turn of the youngest prince and instead of going into the basket he put in a big stone he drew on one side and listened and after the basket was drawn up about 20 perches down came it in the stone like thunder and the stone was broken into little bits well the poor prince had nothing for it but to walk back to the castle and through it and round and he walked in the finest of eating and drinking he got and a bed of dog down to sleep on and long walks he took through gardens and lawns but not a sight could he get high or low of seven inches he before a week got tired of it he was so lonesome for his true love and at the end of a month he didn't know what to do with himself one morning he went into the treasure room and took notice of a beautiful snuff box on the table that he didn't remember seeing there before he took it in his hands and opened it and out seven inches walked on the table I think prince says he you're getting a little tired of my castle oh said the other if I had my princess here and you could see now and then I never know a dismal day well you're long enough here now and you're wanted there above keep your brides crown safe and whenever you want want my help open the snuff box now take a walk down the garden and come back when you're tired the prince was going down a gravel walk with a quits set hedge on each side and his eyes on the ground and he was thinking of one thing in another at last he lifted his eyes and there he was outside of a smith's gate that he had often passed before about a mile away from the palace of his betrothed princess the clothes he had on him whereas ragged as you please but he had his crown safe under his old cloak then the smith came out and says he it's a shame for a strong big fellow like you to be lazy and so much work to be done are you any good with the hammer and tongs come in and bear a hand and i'll give you diet and lodging and a few pence when you earn them never say it twice says the prince I want nothing but to be busy so he took the hammer and pounded away at the red hot bar that the smith was turning on the anvil to make it into a set of horseshoes they hadn't been long at work when a tailor came in and he sat down and began to talk you all heard how the two princesses were lost to be married till the youngest would be ready with her crowns and her sweetheart but after the wind last loosened accidentally when they were pulling up her bridegroom that was to be there was no more sign of a well or a rope or a wind last that there is on the palm of your hand so the princes that were courting the eldest ladies wouldn't give peace or ease to their lovers nor the king till they got consent to the marriage and it was to take place this morning myself went down out of courtesy and to be sure i was delighted with the grand dress of the two brides and the three crowns on their heads gold silver and copper one inside the other the youngest was standing by mournful enough and all was ready the two bridegrooms came in as proud and grand as you please and up they were walk into the altar rails when the boards opened two yards wide under their feet and down they went among the dead men in the coffins in the vaults oh such shrieks as the ladies gave and such running and racing and peeping down as there was but the clerk soon opened the door of the vaults and up came the two princes their fine clothes covered an inch thick with cobweb and mold so the king said they should put off the marriage four says he i see there is no use in thinking of it till the youngest gets her three crowns and is married with the others i'll give my youngest daughter for a wife to whoever brings three crowns to me like the others and if he doesn't care to be married some other one will and i'll make his fortune i wish says the smith i could do it but i was looking at the crowns after the princess has got home and i don't think there's a black or a white smith on the face of the earth that could imitate them faint heart never one fair lady says the prince go to the palace and ask for a quarter of a pound of gold and a quarter of a pound of silver and a quarter of a pound of copper get one crown for a pattern in my head for a pledge i'll give you out the very things that are wanted in the morning are you an earnest as the smith faith i am so says he go you can't do worse than lose to make a long story short the smith got the quarter of a pound of gold and the quarter of a pound of silver and the quarter of a pound of copper and gave them and the pattern crown to the prince he shut the forge door at nightfall and the neighbors all gathered in the yard and they heard him hammering hammering hammering from that to daybreak and every now and then he'd throw out through the window bits of gold silver and copper and the idler scrambled for them and cursed one another and prayed for the good luck of the workman while just as the sun was thinking to rise he opened the door and brought out the three crowns he got from his true love and such shouting and huzzahing as there was the smith asked him to go along with him to the palace but he refused so offset the smith and the whole townland with him and wasn't the king rejoice when he saw the crowns well says he did the smith you're a married man what's to be done faith your majesty i didn't make them crowns at all it was a big fellow that took service with me yesterday well daughter will you marry the fellow that made these crowns let me see them first father said she but when she examined them she knew them right well and guessed it was her true love that sent them i will marry the man that these crowns came from says she well says the king to the elder of the two princes go up to the smith's forge take my best coaches and bring home the bridegroom he did not like doing this he was so proud but he could not refuse when he came to the forge he saw the prince standing at the door and beckoned him over to the coach are you the fellow says he that made these crowns yes says the other then says he maybe you'd give yourself a brushing and get into that coach the king wants to see you i pity the princess the young prince got into the carriage and while they were on their way he opened the snuff box and out walked seven inches and stood on his thigh well says he what troubles on you now master says the other please let me go back to my forge and let this carriage be filled with paving stones no sooner said than done the prince was sitting in his forge and the horses wondered what was after happening to the carriage when they came into the palace yard the king himself opened the carriage door for respect to his new son-in-law as soon as he turned the handle a shower of small stones fell on his powdered wig and his silk coat and down he fell under them there was great fright and some laughter and the king after he wiped the blood from his forehead looked very cross at the eldest prince my lord says he i'm very sorry for this accident but i'm not to blame i saw the young smith get into the carriage and we never stopped a minute since it's uncivil you were to him go says he to the other prince and bring the young smith here and be polite never fear says he but there's some people that couldn't be good natured if they tried and not a bit similar was the new messenger than the old and when the king opened the carriage door a second time it's a shower of mud that came down on him there's no use says he going on this way the fox never got a better messenger than himself so he changed his clothes and washed himself and out he set to the prince's forge and asked him to sit along with himself the prince begged to be allowed to sit in the other carriage and when they were halfway he opened his snuff box master says he i'd wish to be dressed now according to my rank you shall be that says seven inches and now i'll bid you farewell continue as good and kind as you always were love your wife and that's all the advice i'll give you so seven inches vanished and when the carriage door was opened in the yard out walks the princess fine as hands could make him and the first thing he did was to run over to his bride and embrace her everyone was full of joy but the two other princes there was not much delay about the marriage and they were all celebrated on the one day soon after the two elder couples went to their own courts but the youngest pair stayed with the old king and they were as happy as the happiest married couple you ever heard of in any story end of the three crowns this recording is in the public domain the story of a very bad boy from the lilac fairy book this is a libervox recording all libervox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit libervox.org recording by john leader the lilac fairy book by andrew lang editor the story of a very bad boy a tale from france once upon a time there lived in a little village in the very middle of france a widow and her only son a boy about 15 whose name was antoine though no one ever called him anything but twainow bueno they were very poor indeed and their hut shook about their ears on windy nights till they expected the walls to fall in and crush them but instead of going to work as a boy of his age ought to do twainow bueno did nothing but lounge along the street his eyes fixed on the ground seeing nothing that went on around him you are very very stupid my dear child his mother would sometimes say to him and then she would add with a laugh certainly you will never catch a wolf by the tail one day the old woman bat antoine go into the forest and collect enough dry leaves to make beds for herself and him before he had finished it began to rain heavily so he hid himself in the hollow trunk of a tree where he was so dry and comfortable that he soon fell asleep by and by he was awakened by a noise which sounded like a dog scratching at the door and he suddenly felt frightened why he did not know very cautiously he raised his head and right above him he saw a big hairy animal coming down tail foremost it is the wolf that they talk about so much he said to himself and he made himself as small as he could and shrunk into a corner the wolf came down the inside of the tree slowly slowly antoine felt turned to stone so terrified was he and hardly dared to breathe suddenly an idea entered his mind which he thought might save him still he remembered to have heard from his mother that a wolf could neither bend his back nor turn his head so as to look behind him and quick as lightning he stretched up his hand and seizing the wolf's tail pulled it towards him then he left the tree and dragged the animal to his mother's house mother you have often declared that i was too stupid to catch a wolf by the tail now see he cried triumphantly well well wonders will never cease answered the good woman who took care to keep at a safe distance but as you really have got him let us see if we can't put him to some use fetch the skin of the ram which died last week out of the chest and we will sew the wolf up in it we will make a splendid ram and tomorrow we will drive him to the fair and sell him very likely the wolf who was cunning and clever may have understood what she said but he thought it best to give no sign and suffered the skin to be sewn upon him i can always get away if i choose thought he it is better not to be in a hurry and so he remained quite still while the skin was drawn over his head which made him very hot and uncomfortable and resisted the temptation to snap off the fingers or noses that were so close to his mouth the fair was at its height next day when tueno bueno arrived with his wolf in ram's clothing all the farmers crowded round him each offering a higher price than the last never had they beheld such a beautiful beast said they and at last after much bargaining he was handed over to three brothers for a good sum of money it happened that these three brothers owned large flocks of sheep though none so large and fine as the one they had just bought my flock is the nearest observed the eldest brother we will leave him in the fold for the night and tomorrow we will decide which pastures will be best for him and the wolf grinned as he listened and held up his head a little higher than before early next morning the young farmer began to go his rounds and the sheepfold was the first place he visited to his horror the sheep were all stretched out dead before him except one which the wolf had eaten bones and all instantly the truth flashed upon him it was no ram that lay curled up in the corner pretending to be asleep for in reality he could bend back and turn his head as much as he liked but a wolf who was watching him out of the corner of his eye and might spring upon him at any moment so the farmer took no notice and only thought that here was a fine chance of revenging himself on his next brother for a trick which he had played and merely told him that the ram would not eat the grass in that field and it might be well to drive him to the pasture by the river where his own flock was feeding the second brother eagerly swallowed the bait and that evening the wolf was driven down to the field where the young man kept the sheep which had been left him by his father by the next morning they also were all dead but the second brother likewise held his peace and allowed the sheep which belonged to the youngest to share the fate of the other two then they met and confessed to each other their disasters and resolved to take the animal as fast as possible back to Tuenobueno who should get a sound threshing Antoine was sitting on a plum tree belonging to a neighbor eating the ripe fruit when he saw the three young farmers coming towards him swinging himself down he flew home to the hut crying breathlessly mother mother the farmers are close by with the wolf they have found out all about it and will certainly kill me and perhaps you too but if you do as I tell you I may be able to save us both lie down on the floor and pretend to be dead and be sure not to speak whatever happens thus when the three brothers each armed with a whip entered the hut a few seconds later they found a woman extended on the floor and Tuenobueno kneeling at her side whistling loudly into her ears what are you doing now you rascal ask the eldest what am I doing all my poor friends I am the most miserable creature in the world I have lost the best of mothers and I don't know what will become of me and he hid his face in his hands and sobbed again but what are you whistling like that for well it is the only chance this whistle has been known to bring the dead back to life and I hoped here he buried his face in his hands again but peeping between his fingers he saw that the brothers had opened their eyes as wide as saucers look he suddenly exclaimed with a cry look I am sure I felt her body move and now her nostrils are twitching ah the whistle has not lost its power after all and stooping down Tuenobueno whistled more loudly than before so that the old mother's feet and hands showed signs of life and she soon was able to lift her head the farmers were so astonished at her restoration that it was some time before they could speak at length the eldest turned to the boy and said now listen to me there is no manner of doubt that you are a young villain you sold us a ram knowing full well that it was a wolf and we came here today to pay you out for it but if you will give us that whistle we will pardon what you have done and we'll leave you alone it is my only treasure and I set great store by it answered the boy pretending to hesitate but as you whisper it so much well I suppose I can't refuse and he held out the whistle which the eldest brother put in his pocket armed with the precious whistle the three brothers returned home full of joy and as they went the youngest said to the others I have such a good idea our wives are all lazy and crumbling and make our lives a burden let us give them a lesson and kill them as soon as we get in of course we can restore them to life at once but they will have had a rare fright ah how clever you are answered the other two nobody else would have thought of that so gaily the three husbands knocked down their three wives who fell dead to the ground then one by one the men tried the whistle and blew so loudly that it seemed as if their lungs would burst but the women lay stark and stiff and never moved an eyelid the husbands grew pale and cold for they had never dreamed of this nor meant any harm and after a while they understood that their efforts were of no use and that once more the boy had tricked them with stern faces they rose to their feet and taking a large sack they retraced their steps to the hut this time there was no escape Twaino had been asleep and only opened his eyes as they entered without a word on either side they thrust him into the sack and tying up the mouth the eldest threw it over his shoulder after that they all set out to the river where they intended to drown the boy but the river was a long way off and the day was very hot and Antoine was heavy heavier than a whole sheaf of corn they carried him in turns but even so they grew very tired and thirsty and when a little tavern came in sight on the roadside they thankfully flung the sack down on a bench and entered to refresh themselves they never noticed that a beggar was sitting in the shade at the end of the bench but Twaino's sharp ears caught the sound of someone eating and as soon as the farmers had gone into the inn he began to groan softly what's the matter asked the beggar drawing a little near why have they shut you up poor boy because they wanted to make me a bishop and I would not consent answered Twaino dear me exclaimed the beggar yet it isn't such a bad thing to be a bishop I don't say it is replied the young rascal but I should never like it however if you have any fancy for wearing a mitre you need only untie the sack and take my place I should like nothing better said the man as he stooped to undo the big knot so it was the beggar and not Twaino bueno who was flung into the water the next morning the three wives were buried and on returning from the cemetery their husbands met Twaino bueno driving a magnificent flock of sheep at the sight of him the three farmers stood still with astonishment what you scoundrel they cried at last we drowned you yesterday and today we find you again as well as ever it does seem odd doesn't it answered he but perhaps you don't know that beneath this world there lies another yet more beautiful and far far richer well it was there that you sent me when you flung me into the river and though I felt a little strange at first yet I soon began to look about me and to see what was happening there I noticed that close to the place where I had fallen a sheep fair was being held and a bystander told me that every day horses or cattle were sold somewhere in the town if I had only had the luck to be thrown into the river on the side of the horse fair I might have made my fortune as it was I had to content myself with buying these sheep which you can get for nothing and do you know exactly the spot in the river which lies over the horse fair as if I did not know it when I have seen it with my own eyes then if you do not want us to avenge our dead flocks and our murdered wives you will have to throw us into the river just over the place of the horse fair very well only you must get three sacks and come with me to that rock which juts into the river I will throw you in from there and you will fall nearly on to the horse's backs so he threw them in and as they were never seen again no one ever knew into which fair they had fallen and of the story of a very bad boy this recording is in the public domain recording by john leader bloomington illinois the brown bear of norway from the lilac ferry book this is a libervox recording all libervox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit libervox.org recording by john leader the lilac ferry book by andrew lang editor the brown bear of norway a tale from scotland there was once a king in ireland and he had three daughters and very nice princesses they were and one day when they and their father were walking on the lawn the king began to joke with them and to ask them whom they would like to be married to i'll have the king of holster for a husband says one and i'll have the king of monster says another and says the youngest i'll have no husband but the brown bear of norway for a nurse of hers used to be telling her of an enchanted prince that she called by that name and she fell in love with him and his name was the first name on her tongue for the very night before she was dreaming of him well one laughed and another laughed and they joked with the princess all the rest of the evening but that very night she woke up out of her sleep in a great hall that was lighted up with the thousand lamps the richest carpets were on the floor and the walls were covered with cloth of gold and silver and the place was full of grand company and the very beautiful prince she saw in her dreams was there and it wasn't a moment till he was on one knee before her and telling her how much he loved her and asking her wouldn't she be his queen well she hadn't the heart to refuse him and married they were the same evening now my darling says he when they were left by themselves you must know that i am under enchantment a sorceress that had a beautiful daughter wished me for her son-in-law but the mother got power over me and when i refused to wed her daughter she made me take the form of a bear by day and i was to continue so till a lady would marry me of her own free will and endure five years of great trials after well when the princess woke in the morning she missed her husband from her side and spent the day very sadly but as soon as the lamps were lighted in the grand hall where she was sitting on a sofa covered with silk the folding doors flew open and he was sitting by her side the next minute so they spent another happy evening but he warned her that whenever she began to tire of him or cease to have faith in him they would be parted forever and he'd be obliged to marry the witch's daughter she got used to find him absent by day and they spent a happy twelve month together and at last a beautiful little boy was born and happy as she was before she was twice as happy now for she had her child to keep her company in the day when she couldn't see her husband at last one evening when herself and himself and her child were sitting with a window open because it was a sultry night in flew an eagle took the infant's sash in his beak and flew up in the air with him she screamed and was going to throw herself out the window after him but the prince caught her and looked at her very seriously she be thought of what he had said soon after their marriage and she stopped the cries and complaints that were on her tongue she spent her days very lonely for another twelve month when a beautiful little girl was sent to her then she thought to herself she'd have a sharp eye about her this time so she never would allow a window to be more than a few inches open but all her care was in vain another evening when they were all so happy and the prince dandling the baby a beautiful greyhound stood before them took the child out of the father's hand and was out of the door before you could wink this time she shouted and ran out of the room but there were some of the servants in the next room and all declared that neither child nor dog passed out she felt somehow as if it were her husband's fault but still she kept command over herself and didn't once reproach him when the third child was born she would hardly allow a window or a door to be left open for a moment but she wasn't the nearer to keep the child to herself they were sitting one evening by the fire when a lady appeared standing by them the princess opened her eyes in a great fright and stared at her and while she was doing so the lady wrapped a shawl around the baby that was sitting in its father's lap and either sank through the ground with it or went up through the wide chimney this time the mother kept her bed for a month my dear she said to her husband when she was beginning to recover i think i'd feel better if i was to see my father and mother and sisters once more if you give me leave to go home for a few days i'd be glad very well said he i will do that and whenever you feel inclined to return only mention your wish when you lie down at night the next morning when she awoke she found herself in her own old chamber in her father's palace she rang the bell and in a short time she had her mother and father and married sisters about her and they laughed till they cried for joy at finding her safe back again in time she told them all that had happened to her and they didn't know what to advise her to do she was as fond of her husband as ever and said she was sure that he couldn't help letting the children go but still she was afraid beyond the world to have another child torn from her well the mother and sisters consulted a wise woman that used to bring eggs to the castle for they had great faith in her wisdom she said the only plan was to secure the bear skin that the prince was obliged to put on every morning and to get it burned and then he couldn't help being a man night and day and the enchantment would be at an end so they all persuaded her to do that and she promised she would and after eight days she felt so great a longing to see her husband again that she made the wish the same night and when she woke three hours after she was in her husband's palace and he himself was watching over her there was great joy on both sides and they were happy for many days now she began to think how she never minded her husband leaving her in the morning and how she never found him neglecting to give her a sweet drink out of a gold cup just as she was going to bed one night she contrived not to drink any of it though she pretended to do so and she was wakeful enough in the morning and saw her husband passing out through a panel in the wainscot though she kept her eyelids nearly closed the next night she got a few drops of the sleepy poset that she saved the evening before put into her husband's night's drink and that made him sleep sound enough she got up after midnight passed through the panel and found a beautiful brown bear's hide hanging in the corner then she stole back and went down to the parlor fire and put the hide into the middle of it till it was all fine ashes she then lay down by her husband gave him a kiss on the cheek and fell asleep if she was to live a hundred years she'd never forget how she wakened the next morning and found her husband looking down on her with misery and anger in his face unhappy woman said he you have separated us forever why hadn't you patience for five years i am now obliged whether i like or no to go a three days journey to the witch's castle and marry her daughter the skin that was my guard you have burned it and the egg wife that gave you the council was the witch herself i won't reproach you your punishment will be severe without it farewell forever he kissed her for the last time and was off the next minute walking as fast as he could she shouted after him and then seeing there was no use she dressed herself and pursued him he never stopped nor stayed nor looked back and still she kept him in sight and when he was on the hill she was in the hollow and when he was in the hollow she was on the hill her life was almost leaving her when just as the sun was setting he turned up a lane and went into a little house she crawled up after him and when she got inside there was a beautiful little boy on his knees and he kissing and hugging him here my poor darling says he is your eldest child and there says he pointing to a woman that was looking on with a smile on her face is the eagle that carried him away she forgot all her sorrows in a moment hugging her child and laughing and crying over him the woman washed their feet and rubbed them with anointment that took all the soreness out of their bones and made them as fresh as a daisy next morning just before sunrise he was up and prepared to be off here said he to her is a thing which may be of use to you it's a scissors and whatever stuff you cut with it will be turned into silk the moment the sun rises i'll lose all memory of yourself and the children but i'll get it at sunset again farewell but he wasn't far gone till she was in sight of him again leaving her boy behind it was the same today as yesterday their shadows went before them in the morning and followed them in the evening he never stopped and she never stopped and as the sun was setting he turned up another lane and there they found their little daughter it was all joy and comfort again till morning and then the third day's journey commenced but before he started he gave her a comb and told her that whenever she used it pearls and diamonds would fall from her hair still he had his memory from sunset to sunrise but from sunrise to sunset he traveled on under the charm and never threw his eye behind this night they came to where the youngest baby was and the next morning just before sunrise the prince spoke to her for the last time here my poor wife sihi is a little hand real with gold thread that has no end and the half of our marriage ring if you ever get to my house and put your half ring to mine i shall recollect you there is a wood yonder at the moment i enter it i shall forget everything that ever happened between us just as if i was born yesterday farewell dear wife and child forever just then the sun rose and away he walked towards the woods she saw it open before him and close after him and when she came up she could no more get in than she could break through a stone wall she wrung her hands and shed tears but then she recollected herself and cried out wood i charge you by my three magic gifts the scissors the comb and the real to let me through and it opened and she went along a walk till she came inside of a palace and a lawn and a woodman's cottage on the edge of the wood where it came nearest the palace she went into the lodge and asked the woodman and his wife to take her into their service they were not willing at first but she told them she would ask no wages and would give them diamonds and pearls and silkstuffs and gold thread whenever they wished for them and then they agreed to let her stay it wasn't long till she heard how a young prince that was just arrived was living in the palace of the young mistress he seldom stirred abroad and everyone that saw him remarked how silent and sorrowful he went about like a person that was searching for some lost thing the servants and conceded folk at the big house began to take notice of the beautiful young woman at the lodge and to annoy her with their impudence the head footman was the most troublesome and at last she invited him to come and take tea with her oh how rejoiced he was and how he bragged of it in the servants hall well the evening came and the footman walked into the lodge and was shown to her sitting room for the lodgekeeper and his wife stood in great awe of her and gave her two nice rooms for herself well he sat down as stiff as a ramrod and was talking in a grand style about the great doings in the castle while she was getting the tea and toast ready oh she says to him would you put your hand out at the window and cut me off a sprig or two of honeysuckle he got up in great glee and put out his hand in head and she said by the virtue of my magic gifts let a pair of horns spring out of your head and sing to the lodge just as she wished so it was they sprung from the front of each ear and met at the back oh they sprung from the front of each ear and met at the back oh the poor wretch and how he bawled and roared and the servants that he used to be boasting to were soon flocking from the castle and grinning and hazzying and beating tunes on tongs and shovels and pans and he cursing and swearing and the eyes ready to start out of his head and he so black in the face and kicking out his legs behind him like mad at last she pitied him and removed the charm and the horns dropped down on the ground and he would have killed her on the spot only he was as weak as water and his fellow servants came in and carried him up to the big house well some way or other the story came to the ears of the prince and he strolled down that way she had only the dress of a country woman on her as she sat sowing at the window but that did not hide her beauty and he was greatly puzzled after he had a good look just as a body is puzzled to know whether something happened to him when he was young or if he only dreamed it well the witch's daughter heard about it too and she came to see the strange girl and what did she find her doing but cutting out the pattern of a gown from brown paper and as she cut away the paper became the richest silk she ever saw the witch's daughter looked on with greedy eyes and says she what would you be satisfied to take for that scissors i'll take nothing says she but leave to spend one night outside the prince's chamber well the proud lady fired up and was going to say something dreadful but the scissors kept on cutting and the silk growing richer and richer every inch so she promised what the girl had asked her when night came on she was let into the palace and laid down till the prince was in such a dead sleep that all she did couldn't wake him she sung this verse to him sighing and sobbing and kept singing it the night long for it was all in vain for long years i was married to the three sweet babes i bore to the brown bear of norway turned to me at the first dawn the proud lady was in the chamber and led her away and the footman of the horns put out his tongue at her as she was quitting the palace so there was no luck so far but the next day the prince passed by again and looked at her and saluted her kindly as a prince might a farmer's daughter and passed one and soon the witch's daughter passed by and found her combing her hair and pearls and diamonds dropping from it well another bargain was made and the princess spent another night of sorrow and she left the castle at daybreak and the footman was at his post and enjoyed his revenge the third day the prince went by and stopped to talk with the strange woman he asked her could he do anything to serve her and she said he might she asked him did he ever wake at night he said that he often did but that during the last two nights he was listening to a sweet song in his dreams and could not wake and that the voice was one that he must have known and loved in some other world long ago says she did you drink any sleepy posset either of these evenings before you went to bed i did said he the two evenings my wife gave me something to drink but i don't know whether it was a sleepy posset or not well prince said she as you say you would wish to oblige me you can do it by not tasting any drink tonight i will not says he and then he went on his walk well the great lady came soon after the prince and found the stranger using her hand real and winding threads of gold off it and the third bargain was made that evening the prince was lying on his bed at twilight and his mind much disturbed and the door opened and his princess walked and down she sat by his bedside and sung four long years i was married to the three sweet babes i bore to the brown bear of norway turned to me brown bear of norway said he i don't understand you don't you remember prince that i was your wedded wife for four years i do not said he but i'm sure i wish it was so don't you remember our three babes that are still alive show me them my mind is all a heap of confusion look for the half of our marriage ring that hangs at your neck and fit it to this he did so and the same moment the charm was broken his full memory came back on him and he flung his arms around his wife's neck and both burst into tears well there was a great cry outside and the castle walls were heard splitting and cracking everyone in the castle was alarmed and made their way out the prince and princess went with the rest and by the time all were safe on the lawn down came the building and made the ground tremble for miles around no one ever saw the witch and her daughter afterwards it was not long till the prince and princess had their children with them and then they set out for their own palace the kings of ireland and of moonster and ulster and their wives soon came to visit them and may everyone that deserves it be as happy as the brown bear of norway and his family and of the brown bear of norway this recording is in the public domain recording by john leader bloomington illinois little lase from the lilac fairy book this is a libravox recording all libravox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit libravox.org recording by john leader the lilac fairy book by andrew lang editor little lase a tale from finland there was once a little boy whose name was lars and because he was so little he was called little lase he was a brave little man for he sailed round the world in a p-shell boat it was summertime when the p-shells grew long and green in the garden little lase crept into the pee bed where the peace stalks rose high above his cap and he picked 17 large shells the longest and straightest he could find little lase thought perhaps that no one saw him but that was foolish for god sees everywhere then the gardener came with his gun over his shoulder and he heard something rustling in the pee bed i think that must be a sparrow he said rust rust but no sparrows flew out for little lase had no wings only two small legs wait i will load my gun and shoot the sparrows said the gardener then little lase was frightened and crept out onto the path forgive me dear gardener he said i wanted to get some fine boats well i will this time said the gardener but another time little lase must ask leave to go and look for boats in the pee bed i will answered lase and he went off to the shore then he opened the shells with a pin split them carefully in two and broke small little bits of sticks for the rowers seats then he took the peas which were in the shells and put them in the boats for cargo some of the shells got broken some remained whole and when all were ready lase had twelve boats but they should not be boats they should be large warships he had three liners three frigates three brigs and three schooners the largest liner was called hercules and the smallest schooner the flea little lase put all the twelve into the water and they floated as splendidly and as proudly as any great ships over the waves of the ocean and now the ships must sail around the world the great island over there was asia that large stone africa the little island america the small stones were palanese and the shore from which the ship sailed out was europe the whole fleet set off and sailed far away to other parts of the world the ships of the line steered a straight course to asia the frigates sailed to africa the brigs to america and the schooners to palanese but little lase remained in europe and threw small stones out into the great sea now there was on the shore of europe a real boat father's own a beautiful white painted boat and little lase got into it father and mother had forbidden this but little lase forgot he thought he should very much like to travel to some other part of the world i shall row out a little way only a very little way he thought the p-shelled boats had traveled so far that they only look like little specks on the ocean i shall seize hercules on the coast of asia said lase and then row home again to europe he shook the rope that held the boat and as strange to say the rope became loose ditch rats a man is a man and sold it to lase manned the boat now he would row and he could row for he had rowed so often on the steps at home when the steps pretended to be a boat and father's big stick and oar but when little lase wanted to row there were no oars to be found in the boat the oars were locked up in the boat house and little lase had not noticed that the boat was empty it is not so easy as one thinks to row to asia without oars what could little lase do now the boat was already some distance out on the sea and the wind which blew from land was driving it still further out lase was frightened and began to cry but there was no one on the shore to hear him only a big crow perched alone in the birch tree and the gardener's black cat sat under the birch tree waiting to catch the crow neither of them troubled themselves in the least about little lase who was drifting out to sea ah how sorry little lase was now that he had been disobedient and gotten to the boat when father and mother had so often forbidden him to do so now it was too late he could not get back to land perhaps he would be lost out on the great sea what should he do when he had shouted until he was tired and no one heard him he put his two little hands together and said good god do not be angry with little lase and then he went to sleep for although it was daylight old nukumati was sitting on the shores of the land of nad and was fishing for little children with his long fishing rod he heard the low words which little lase said to god and he immediately drew the boat to himself and laid the little lase to sleep on a bed of rose leaves then nukumati said to one of the dreams play with little lase so that he does not feel lonesome it was a little dream boy so little so little that he was less than lase himself he had blue eyes and fair hair a red cap with a silver band and a white coat with pearls on the collar he came to little lase and said would you like to sail around the world yes said lase in his sleep i should like to come then said the dream boy and let us sail in your p-shell boats you shall sail in hercules and i shall sail in the flea so they sailed away from the land of nad and in a little while hercules in the flea were on the shores of asia away at the other end of the world where the icy flows through the bearing straits into the pacific ocean a long way off in the winter mist they could see the explorer norton scrolled with his ship vega trying to find an opening between the ice it was so cold so cold the great icebergs glittered strangely and the huge whales now lived under the ice for they could not make a hole through with their awkward heads all around on the dreary shore there was snow and snow as far as the eye could see little gray men and shaggy skins moved about and drove in small sledges through the snow drifts but the sledges were drawn by dogs shall we land here asked the dream boy no said little lasa i am so afraid that the whales would swallow us up and the big dogs bite us let us sail instead to another part of the world very well said the dream boy with the red cap and the silver band it is not far to america and at the same moment they were there the sun was shining and it was very warm tall palm trees grew in long rows on the shore and bore coconuts in their top branches men red as copper galloped over the immense green prairies and shot their arrows at the buffaloes who turned against them with their sharp horns an enormous cobra which had crept up the stem of a tall palm tree threw itself on to a little llama that was grazing at the foot canops it was all over the little llama shall we land here asked the dream boy no said little lasa i am so afraid that the buffaloes will but us and the great serpent eat us up let us travel to another part of the world very well said the dream boy with the white coat it is only a little way to polynesia and then they were there it was very warm there as warm as in a hot bath in finland costly spices grew on the shores the pepper plant the cinnamon tree ginger saffron the coffee plant and the tea plant brown people with long ears and thick lips and hideously painted faces hunted a yellow spotted tiger among the high bamboos on the shore and the tiger turned on them and stuck its claws into one of the brown men that all the others took flight shall we land here ask the dream boy no said little lasa don't you see the tiger away there by the pepper plant let us travel to another part of the world we can do so said the dream boy with the blue eyes we are not far from africa and as he said that they were there they anchored at the mouth of a great river where the shores was green as the greenest velvet a little distance from the river an immense desert stretched away the air was yellow the sun shone so hot so hot as if it would burn the earth to ashes and the people were as black as the blackest jet they rode across the desert on tall camels the lions roared with thirst and the great crocodiles with their gray lizard heads and a sharp white teeth gaped up out of the river shall we land here asked the dream boy no said little lasa the sun would burn us and the lions and the crocodiles would eat us up let us travel to another part of the world we can travel back to europe said the dream boy with the fair hair and with that they were there they came to a shore where it was all so cool and familiar and friendly there stood the tall birch tree with its drooping leaves at the top sat the old crow and at its foot crept the gardener's black cat not far away was a house which little lasa had seen before near the house there was a garden and in the garden a pee bed with long pee shells an old gardener with a green coat walked about and wondered if the cucumbers were ripe phylax was barking on the steps and when he saw little lasa he wagged his tail old estina was milking the cows in the farmyard and there was a very familiar lady in a Czech woollen shawl on her way to the bleaching green to see if the clothes were bleached there was too a well-known gentleman in a yellow summer coat with a long pipe in his mouth he was going to see if the reapers had cut the rye a boy and a girl were running on the shore and calling out little lasa come home for bread and butter shall we land here ask the dream boy and he blinked his blue eyes roguishly come with me i shall ask mother to give you some bread and butter and a glass of milk said little lasa wait a little said the dream boy and now little lasa saw that the kitchen door was open and from within there was heard a low pleasant frizzling like that which is heard when one whisks yellow batter with a wooden ladle into a hot frying pan perhaps we should sail back to Polynesia now said the happy dream boy no they are frying pancakes in Europe just now said little lasa and he wanted to jump ashore but he could not the dream boy had tied him with a chain of flowers so that he could not move and now all the little dreams came about him thousands and thousands of little children and they made a ring around him and sang a little song the world is very very wide little lasa lasa and though you sail beyond the tide you can never tell how wide it is on the other side lasa little lasa you have found it cold and hot little lasa little lasa but in no land is god not lasa little lasa many men live there is here but they all to god are dear little lasa lasa when his angel is your guide little lasa lasa then no harm can air be tied even on the other side where the wild beasts wonder but tell us now when air you roam do you not find the best is home of all the land you've looked upon lasa little lasa when the dreams had sung their song they skipped away and nukumati carried lasa back to the boat he lay there for a long time quite still and he still heard the frying pan frisling at home of the fire the frisling was very plain let the lasa heard it quite near him and so he woke up and rubbed his eyes there he lay in the boat where he had fallen asleep the wind had turned and the boat had drifted out with one wind and drifted in with another while little lasa slept and what lasa thought was frisling in a frying pan was the low murmur of the waves as they washed against the stones on the shore but he was not altogether wrong for the clear blue sea is like a great pan in which god's son all day makes cakes for good children little lasa rubbed the sleep out of his eyes and looked around him everything was the same as before the crow in the birch tree the cat on the grass and the peashell fleet on the shore some of the ships had foundered and some had drifted back to land hercules had come back with its cargo from asia the flea had arrived from palan Asia and the other parts of the world were just where they were before little lasa did not know what to think he had so often been in that grotto in the land of nod and did not know what tricks dreams can play but little lasa did not trouble his head with such things he gathered together his boats and walked up the shore back to the house his brother and sister ran to meet him and called out from the distance where have you been so long lasa come home and get some bread and butter the kitchen door stood open and inside was heard a strange frizzling the gardener was near the gate watering the dill and parsley the carrots and parsnips well he said where has little lasa been so long little lasa straightened himself up stiff and answered i have sailed round the world in a p shall boat oh said the gardener he has forgotten dreamland but if you have not forgotten it you know that it exists you know the beautiful grotto and the bright silver walls whose luster never fades the sparkling diamonds which never grow dim the music which never ceases its low soft murmur through the sweet evening twilight the airy fairy fancies of happy dreamland never grow old they like the glorious stars above us are always young perhaps you have caught a glimpse of their ethereal wings as they flew around your pillow perhaps you have met the same dream boy with the blue eyes and the fair hair the one who wore the red cap with the silver band and the white coat with pearls on the collar perhaps he has taken you to see all the countries of the world and the peoples the cold wastelands and the burning deserts the many colored men and the wild creatures in the sea and in the woods so that you may learn many things but come gladly home again yes who knows perhaps you also have sailed round the wild world once in a p shall boat and of little lasa this recording is in the public domain recording by john leader bloomington illinois