Theboysgrewfast。Ineverydaytheygrewayear’sgrowth，andineverynightanotheryear’sgrowth，butatdawn，whenthestarswerefading，theygrewthreeyears’growthinthetwinklingofaneye。Andtheygrewinotherthingsbesidesheight，too。Thriceinage，andthriceinwisdom，andthriceinknowledge。Andwhenthreedaysandthreenightshadpassedtheyweretwelveyearsinage，twenty—fourinstrength，andthirty—sixinwisdom。
’Nowtakeustoourfather，’saidthey。Sothefishermangavethemeachalambskincapwhichhalfcoveredtheirfaces，andcompletelyhidtheirgoldenhairandthestarsontheirforeheads，andledthemtothecourt。
Bythetimetheyarrivedthereitwasmidday，andthefishermanandhischargeswentuptoanofficialwhowasstandingabout。
’Wewishtospeakwiththeemperor，’saidoneoftheboys。
’Youmustwaituntilhehasfinishedhisdinner，’repliedtheporter。
’No，whileheiseatingit，’saidthesecondboy，steppingacrossthethreshold。
Theattendantsallranforwardtothrustsuchimpudentyoungstersoutsidethepalace，buttheboysslippedthroughtheirfingerslikequicksilver，andenteredalargehall，wheretheemperorwasdining，surroundedbyhiswholecourt。
’Wedesiretoenter，’saidoneoftheprincessharplytoaservantwhostoodnearthedoor。
’Thatisquiteimpossible，’repliedtheservant。
’Isit？letussee！’saidthesecondprince，pushingtheservantstorightandleft。
Buttheservantsweremany，andtheprincesonlytwo。Therewasthenoiseofastruggle，whichreachedtheemperor’sears。
’Whatisthematter？’askedheangrily。
Theprincesstoppedatthesoundoftheirfather’svoice。
’Twoboyswhowanttoforcetheirwayin，’repliedoneoftheservants，approachingtheemperor。
’ToFORCEtheirwayin？Whodarestouseforceinmypalace？
Whatboysarethey？’saidtheemperorallinonebreath。
’Weknownot，Omightyemperor，’answeredtheservant，’buttheymustsurelybeakintoyou，fortheyhavethestrengthoflions，andhavescatteredtheguardsatthegate。Andtheyareasproudastheyarestrong，fortheywillnottaketheircapsfromtheirheads。’
Theemperor，ashelistened，grewredwithanger。
’Thrustthemout，’criedhe。’Setthedogsafterthem。’
’Leaveusalone，andwewillgoquietly，’saidtheprinces，andsteppedbackwards，weepingsilentlyattheharshwords。Theyhadalmostreachedthegateswhenaservantranuptothem。
’Theemperorcommandsyoutoreturn，’pantedhe:’theempresswishestoseeyou。’
Theprincesthoughtamoment:thentheywentbackthewaytheyhadcome，andwalkedstraightuptotheemperor，theircapsstillontheirheads。
Hesatatthetopofalongtablecoveredwithflowersandfilledwithguests。Andbesidehimsattheempress，supportedbytwelvecushions。Whentheprincesenteredoneofthecushionsfelldown，andthereremainedonlyeleven。
’Takeoffyourcaps，’saidoneofthecourtiers。
’Acoveredheadisamongmenasignofhonour。Wewishtoseemwhatweare。’
’Nevermind，’saidtheemperor，whoseangerhaddroppedbeforethesilverytonesoftheboy’svoice。’Stayasyouare，buttellmeWHOyouare！Wheredoyoucomefrom，andwhatdoyouwant？’
’Wearetwins，twoshootsfromonestem，whichhasbeenbroken，andhalfliesinthegroundandhalfsitsattheheadofthistable。Wehavetravelledalongway，wehavespokenintherustleofthewind，havewhisperedinthewood，wehavesunginthewaters，butnowwewishtotellyouastorywhichyouknowwithoutknowingit，inthespeechofmen。’
Andasecondcushionfelldown。
’Letthemtaketheirsillinesshome，’saidtheempress。
’Oh，no，letthemgoon，’saidtheemperor。’Youwishedtoseethem，butIwishtohearthem。Goon，boys，singmethestory。’
Theempresswassilent，buttheprincesbegantosingthestoryoftheirlives。
’Therewasonceanemperor，’beganthey，andthethirdcushionfelldown。
Whentheyreachedthewarlikeexpeditionoftheemperorthreeofthecushionsfelldownatonce。
Andwhenthetalewasfinishedtherewerenomorecushionsundertheempress，butthemomentthattheyliftedtheircaps，andshowedtheirgoldenhairandthegoldenstars，theeyesoftheemperorandofallhisguestswerebentonthem，andtheycouldhardlybearthepowerofsomanyglances。
Andtherehappenedintheendwhatshouldhavehappenedinthebeginning。Laptitzasatnextherhusbandatthetopofthetable。Thestepmother’sdaughterbecamethemeanestsewingmaidinthepalace，thestepmotherwastiedtoawildhorse，andeveryoneknewandhasneverforgottenthatwhoeverhasamindturnedtowickednessissuretoendbadly。
[RumanischeMarchen。]
THEFROG
Onceuponatimetherewasawomanwhohadthreesons。Thoughtheywerepeasantstheywerewelloff，forthesoilonwhichtheylivedwasfruitful，andyieldedrichcrops。Onedaytheyallthreetoldtheirmothertheymeanttogetmarried。Towhichtheirmotherreplied:’Doasyoulike，butseethatyouchoosegoodhousewives，whowilllookcarefullyafteryouraffairs;and，tomakecertainofthis，takewithyouthesethreeskeinsofflax，andgiveittothemtospin。Whoeverspinsthebestwillbemyfavouritedaughter—in—law。’
Nowthetwoeldestsonshadalreadychosentheirwives;sotheytooktheflaxfromtheirmother，andcarrieditoffwiththem，tohaveitspunasshehadsaid。Buttheyoungestsonwaspuzzledwhattodowithhisskein，asheknewnogirl（neverhavingspokentoany）towhomhecouldgiveittobespun。Hewanderedhitherandthither，askingthegirlsthathemetiftheywouldundertakethetaskforhim，butatthesightoftheflaxtheylaughedinhisfaceandmockedathim。Thenindespairhelefttheirvillages，andwentoutintothecountry，and，seatinghimselfonthebankofapondbegantocrybitterly。
Suddenlytherewasanoiseclosebesidehim，andafrogjumpedoutofthewaterontothebankandaskedhimwhyhewascrying。
Theyouthtoldherofhistrouble，andhowhisbrotherswouldbringhomelinenspunforthembytheirpromisedwives，butthatnoonewouldspinhisthread。
Thenthefroganswered:’Donotweeponthataccount;givemethethread，andIwillspinitforyou。’And，havingsaidthis，shetookitoutofhishand，andfloppedbackintothewater，andtheyouthwentback，notknowingwhatwouldhappennext。
Inashorttimethetwoelderbrotherscamehome，andtheirmotheraskedtoseethelinenwhichhadbeenwovenoutoftheskeinsofflaxshehadgiventhem。Theyallthreelefttheroom;
andinafewminutesthetwoeldestreturned，bringingwiththemthelinenthathadbeenspunbytheirchosenwives。Buttheyoungestbrotherwasgreatlytroubled，forhehadnothingtoshowfortheskeinofflaxthathadbeengiventohim。Sadlyhebetookhimselftothepond，andsittingdownonthebank，begantoweep。
Flop！andthefrogappearedoutofthewaterclosebesidehim。
’Takethis，’shesaid;’hereisthelinenthatIhavespunforyou。’
Youmayimaginehowdelightedtheyouthwas。Sheputthelinenintohishands，andhetookitstraightbacktohismother，whowassopleasedwithitthatshedeclaredshehadneverseenlinensobeautifullyspun，andthatitwasfarfinerandwhiterthanthewebsthatthetwoelderbrothershadbroughthome。
Thensheturnedtohersonsandsaid:’Butthisisnotenough，mysons，Imusthaveanotherproofastowhatsortofwivesyouhavechosen。Inthehousetherearethreepuppies。Eachofyoutakeone，andgiveittothewomanwhomyoumeantobringhomeasyourwife。Shemusttrainitandbringitup。Whicheverdogturnsoutthebest，itsmistresswillbemyfavouritedaughter—in—law。’
Sotheyoungmensetoutontheirdifferentways，eachtakingapuppywithhim。Theyoungest，notknowingwheretogo，returnedtothepond，satdownoncemoreonthebank，andbegantoweep。
Flop！andclosebesidehim，hesawthefrog。’Whyareyouweeping？’shesaid。Thenhetoldherhisdifficulty，andthathedidnotknowtowhomheshouldtakethepuppy。
’Giveittome，’shesaid，’andIwillbringitupforyou。’
And，seeingthattheyouthhesitated，shetookthelittlecreatureoutofhisarms，anddisappearedwithitintothepond。
Theweeksandmonthspassed，tillonedaythemothersaidshewouldliketoseehowthedogshadbeentrainedbyherfuturedaughters—in—law。Thetwoeldestsonsdeparted，andreturnedshortly，leadingwiththemtwogreatmastiffs，whogrowledsofiercely，andlookedsosavage，thatthemeresightofthemmadethemothertremblewithfear。
Theyoungestson，aswashiscustom，wenttothepond，andcalledonthefrogtocometohisrescue。
Inaminuteshewasathisside，bringingwithherthemostlovelylittledog，whichsheputintohisarms。Itsatupandbeggedwithitspaws，andwentthroughtheprettiesttricks，andwasalmosthumaninthewayitunderstoodanddidwhatitwastold。
Inhighspiritstheyouthcarrieditofftohismother。Assoonasshesawit，sheexclaimed:’ThisisthemostbeautifullittledogIhaveeverseen。Youareindeedfortunate，myson;youhavewonapearlofawife。’
Then，turningtotheothers，shesaid:’Herearethreeshirts;
takethemtoyourchosenwives。Whoeversewsthebestwillbemyfavouritedaughter—in—law。’
Sotheyoungmensetoutoncemore;andagain，thistime，theworkofthefrogwasmuchthebestandtheneatest。
Thistimethemothersaid:’NowthatIamcontentwiththetestsIgave，Iwantyoutogoandfetchhomeyourbrides，andIwillpreparethewedding—feast。’
Youmayimaginewhattheyoungestbrotherfeltonhearingthesewords。Whencewashetofetchabride？Wouldthefrogbeabletohelphiminthisnewdifficulty？Withbowedhead，andfeelingverysad，hesatdownontheedgeofthepond。
Flop！andoncemorethefaithfulfrogwasbesidehim。
’Whatistroublingyousomuch？’sheaskedhim，andthentheyouthtoldhereverything。
’Willyoutakemeforawife？’sheasked。
’WhatshouldIdowithyouasawife，’hereplied，wonderingatherstrangeproposal。
’Oncemore，willyouhavemeorwillyounot？’shesaid。
’Iwillneitherhaveyou，norwillIrefuseyou，’saidhe。
Atthisthefrogdisappeared;andthenextminutetheyouthbeheldalovelylittlechariot，drawnbytwotinyponies，standingontheroad。Thefrogwasholdingthecarriagedooropenforhimtostepin。
’Comewithme，’shesaid。Andhegotupandfollowedherintothechariot。
Astheydrovealongtheroadtheymetthreewitches;thefirstofthemwasblind，thesecondwashunchbacked，andthethirdhadalargethorninherthroat。Whenthethreewitchesbeheldthechariot，withthefrogseatedpompouslyamongthecushions，theybrokeintosuchfitsoflaughterthattheeyelidsoftheblindoneburstopen，andsherecoveredhersight;thehunchbackrolledaboutonthegroundinmerrimenttillherbackbecamestraight，andinaroaroflaughterthethornfelloutofthethroatofthethirdwitch。Theirfirstthoughtwastorewardthefrog，whohadunconsciouslybeenthemeansofcuringthemoftheirmisfortunes。
Thefirstwitchwavedhermagicwandoverthefrog，andchangedherintotheloveliestgirlthathadeverbeenseen。Thesecondwitchwavedthewandoverthetinychariotandponies，andtheywereturnedintoabeautifullargecarriagewithprancinghorses，andacoachmanontheseat。Thethirdwitchgavethegirlamagicpurse，filledwithmoney。Havingdonethis，thewitchesdisappeared，andtheyouthwithhislovelybridedrovetohismother’shome。Greatwasthedelightofthemotheratheryoungestson’sgoodfortune。Abeautifulhousewasbuiltforthem;shewasthefavouritedaughter—in—law;everythingwentwellwiththem，andtheylivedhappilyeverafter。
[FromtheItalian。]
THEPRINCESSWHOWASHIDDENUNDERGROUND
Oncetherewasakingwhohadgreatriches，which，whenhedied，hedividedamonghisthreesons。Thetwoeldestoftheselivedinriotingandfeasting，andthuswastedandsquanderedtheirfather’swealthtillnothingremained，andtheyfoundthemselvesinwantandmisery。Theyoungestofthethreesons，onthecontrary，madegooduseofhisportion。Hemarriedawifeandsoontheyhadamostbeautifuldaughter，forwhom，whenshewasgrownup，hecausedagreatpalacetobebuiltunderground，andthenkilledthearchitectwhohadbuiltit。Nextheshutuphisdaughterinside，andthensentheraldsallovertheworldtomakeknownthathewhoshouldfindtheking’sdaughtershouldhavehertowife。Ifhewerenotcapableoffindingherthenhemustdie。
Manyyoungmensoughttodiscoverher，butallperishedintheattempt。
Aftermanyhadmettheirdeaththus，therecameayoungman，beautifultobehold，andascleverashewasbeautiful，whohadagreatdesiretoattempttheenterprise。Firsthewenttoaherdsman，andbeggedhimtohidehiminasheepskin，whichhadagoldenfleece，andinthisdisguisetotakehimtotheking。Theshepherdlethimselfbepersuadedsotodo，tookaskinhavingagoldenfleece，sewedtheyoungmaninit，puttinginalsofoodanddrink，andsobroughthimbeforetheking。
Whenthelattersawthegoldenlamb，heaskedtheherd:’Willyousellmethislamb？’
Buttheherdanswered:’No，ohking;Iwillnotsellit;butifyoufindpleasuretherein，Iwillbewillingtoobligeyou，andI
willlendittoyou，freeofcharge，forthreedays，afterthatyoumustgiveitbacktome。’
Thisthekingagreedtodo，andhearoseandtookthelambtohisdaughter。Whenhehadleditintoherpalace，andthroughmanyrooms，hecametoashutdoor。Thenhecalled’Open，SartaraMartaraoftheearth！’andthedooropenedofitself。Afterthattheywentthroughmanymorerooms，andcametoanothercloseddoor。Againthekingcalledout:’Open，SartaraMartaraoftheearth！’andthisdooropenedliketheother，andtheycameintotheapartmentwheretheprincessdwelt，thefloor，walls，androofofwhichwereallofsilver。
Whenthekinghadembracedtheprincess，hegaveherthelamb，tohergreatjoy。Shestrokedit，caressedit，andplayedwithit。
Afterawhilethelambgotloose，which，whentheprincesssaw，shesaid:’See，father，thelambisfree。’
Butthekinganswered:’Itisonlyalamb，whyshoulditnotbefree？’
Thenheleftthelambwiththeprincess，andwenthisway。
Inthenight，however，theyoungmanthrewofftheskin。Whentheprincesssawhowbeautifulhewas，shefellinlovewithhim，andaskedhim:’Whydidyoucomeheredisguisedinasheepskinlikethat？’
Thenheanswered:’WhenIsawhowmanypeoplesoughtyou，andcouldnotfindyou，andlosttheirlivesinsodoing，Iinventedthistrick，andsoIamcomesafelytoyou。’
Theprincessexclaimed:’Youhavedonewellsotodo;butyoumustknowthatyourwagerisnotyetwon，formyfatherwillchangemeandmymaidensintoducks，andwillaskyou，\"Whichoftheseducksistheprincess？\"ThenIwillturnmyheadback，andwithmybillwillcleanmywings，sothatyoumayknowme。’
Whentheyhadspentthreedaystogether，chattingandcaressingoneanother，theherdcamebacktotheking，anddemandedhislamb。Thenthekingwenttohisdaughtertobringitaway，whichtroubledtheprincessverymuch，forshesaidtheyhadplayedsonicelytogether。
Butthekingsaid:’Icannotleaveitwithyou，mydaughter，foritisonlylenttome。’Sohetookitawaywithhim，andgaveitbacktotheshepherd。
Thentheyoungmanthrewtheskinfromoffhim，andwenttotheking，saying:’Sire，IampersuadedIcanfindyourdaughter。’
Whenthekingsawhowhandsomehewas，hesaid:’Mylad，Ihavepityonyouryouth。Thisenterprisehasalreadycostthelivesofmany，andwillcertainlybeyourdeathaswell。’
Buttheyoungmananswered，’Iacceptyourconditions，ohking;I
willeitherfindherorlosemyhead。’
Thereuponhewentbeforetheking，whofollowedafterhim，tilltheycametothegreatdoor。Thentheyoungmansaidtotheking:’Speakthewordsthatitmayopen。’
Andthekinganswered:’Whatarethewords？ShallIsaysomethinglikethis:\"Shut;shut;shut\"？’
’No，’saidhe;’say\"Open，SartaraMartaraoftheearth。\"’
Whenthekinghadsosaid，thedooropenedofitself，andtheywentin，whilethekinggnawedhismoustacheinanger。Thentheycametotheseconddoor，wherethesamethinghappenedasatthefirst，andtheywentinandfoundtheprincess。
Thenspokethekingandsaid:’Yes，truly，youhavefoundtheprincess。NowIwillturnheraswellasallhermaidensintoducks，andifyoucanguesswhichoftheseducksismydaughter，thenyoushallhavehertowife。’
Andimmediatelythekingchangedallthemaidensintoducks，andhedrovethembeforetheyoungman，andsaid:’Nowshowmewhichismydaughter。’
Thentheprincess，accordingtotheirunderstanding，begantocleanherwingswithherbill，andtheladsaid:’Shewhocleansherwingsistheprincess。’
Nowthekingcoulddonothingmorebutgivehertotheyoungmantowife，andtheylivedtogetheringreatjoyandhappiness。
[FromtheGerman。]
THEGIRLWHOPRETENDEDTOBEABOY
Onceuponatimetherelivedanemperorwhowasagreatconqueror，andreignedovermorecountriesthananyoneintheworld。Andwheneverhesubduedafreshkingdom，heonlygrantedpeaceonconditionthatthekingshoulddeliverhimoneofhissonsfortenyears’service。
Nowonthebordersofhiskingdomlayacountrywhoseemperorwasasbraveashisneighbour，andaslongashewasyounghewasthevictorineverywar。Butasyearspassedaway，hisheadgrewwearyofmakingplansofcampaign，andhispeoplewantedtostayathomeandtilltheirfields，andatlasthetoofeltthathemustdohomagetotheotheremperor。
Onething，however，heldhimbackfromthisstepwhichdaybydayhesawmoreclearlywastheonlyonepossible。Hisnewoverlordwoulddemandtheserviceofoneofhissons。Andtheoldemperorhadnoson;onlythreedaughters。
Lookonwhichsidehewould，nothingbutruinseemedtoliebeforehim，andhebecamesogloomy，thathisdaughterswerefrightened，anddideverythingtheycouldthinkoftocheerhimup，butalltonopurpose。
Atlengthonedaywhentheywereatdinner，theeldestofthethreesummonedupallhercourageandsaidtoherfather:
’Whatsecretgriefistroublingyou？Areyoursubjectsdiscontented？orhavewegivenyoucausefordispleasure？Tosmoothawayyourwrinkles，wewouldgladlyshedourblood，forourlivesareboundupinyours;andthisyouknow。’
’Mydaughter，’answeredtheemperor，’whatyousayistrue。
Neverhaveyougivenmeonemoment’spain。Yetnowyoucannothelpme。Ah！whyisnotoneofyouaboy！’
’Idon’tunderstand，’sheansweredinsurprise。’Telluswhatiswrong:andthoughwearenotboys，wearenotquiteuseless！’
’Butwhatcanyoudo，mydearchildren？Spin，sew，andweave——thatisallyourlearning。Onlyawarriorcandelivermenow，ayounggiantwhoisstrongtowieldthebattle—axe:whosesworddealsdeadlyblows。’
’ButWHYdoyouneedasonsomuchatpresent？Tellusallaboutit！Itwillnotmakemattersworseifweknow！’
’Listenthen，mydaughters，andlearnthereasonofmysorrow。
YouhaveheardthataslongasIwasyoungnomaneverbroughtanarmyagainstmewithoutitcostinghimdear。Buttheyearshavechilledmybloodanddrunkmystrength。Andnowthedeercanroamtheforest，myarrowswillneverpiercehisheart;strangesoldierswillsetfiretomyhousesandwatertheirhorsesatmywells，andmyarmcannothinderthem。No，mydayispast，andthetimehascomewhenItoomustbowmyheadundertheyokeofmyfoe！Butwhoistogivehimthetenyears’servicethatispartofthepricewhichthevanquishedmustpay？’
’_I_will，’criedtheeldestgirl，springingtoherfeet。Butherfatheronlyshookhisheadsadly。
’NeverwillIbringshameuponyou，’urgedthegirl。’Letmego。
AmInotaprincess，andthedaughterofanemperor？’
’Gothen！’hesaid。
Thebravegirl’sheartalmoststoppedbeatingfromjoy，asshesetaboutherpreparations。Shewasnotstillforasinglemoment，butdancedaboutthehouse，turningchestsandwardrobesupsidedown。Shesetasideenoughthingsforawholeyear——dressesembroideredwithgoldandpreciousstones，andagreatstoreofprovisions。Andshechosethemostspiritedhorseinthestable，witheyesofflame，andacoatofshiningsilver。
Whenherfathersawhermountedandcurvettingaboutthecourt，hegavehermuchwiseadvice，astohowshewastobehaveliketheyoungmansheappearedtobe，andalsohowtobehaveasthegirlshereallywas。Thenhegaveherhisblessing，andshetouchedherhorsewiththespur。
Thesilverarmourofherselfandhersteeddazzledtheeyesofthepeopleasshedartedpast。Shewassoonoutofsight，andifafterafewmilesshehadnotpulleduptoallowherescorttojoinher，therestofthejourneywouldhavebeenperformedalone。
Butthoughnoneofhisdaughterswereawareofthefact，theoldemperorwasamagician，andhadlaidhisplansaccordingly。Hemanaged，unseen，toovertakehisdaughter，andthrowabridgeofcopperoverastreamwhichshewouldhavetocross。Then，changinghimselfintoawolf，helaydownunderoneofthearches，andwaited。
Hehadchosenhistimewell，andinabouthalfanhourthesoundofahorse’shoofswasheard。Hisfeetwerealmostonthebridge，whenabiggreywolfwithgrinningteethappearedbeforetheprincess。Withadeepgrowlthatfrozetheblood，hedrewhimselfup，andpreparedtospring。
Theappearanceofthewolfwassosuddenandsounexpected，thatthegirlwasalmostparalysed，andneverevendreamtofflight，tillthehorseleapedviolentlytooneside。Thensheturnedhimround，andurginghimtohisfullestspeed，neverdrewreintillshesawthegatesofthepalacerisingbeforeher。
Theoldemperor，whohadgotbacklongsince，cametothedoortomeether，andtouchinghershiningarmour，hesaid，’DidInottellyou，mychild，thatfliesdonotmakehoney？’
Thedayspassedon，andonemorningthesecondprincessimploredherfathertoallowhertotrytheadventureinwhichhersisterhadmadesuchafailure。Helistenedunwillingly，feelingsureitwasnouse，butshebeggedsohardthatintheendheconsented，andhavingchosenherarms，sherodeaway。
Butthough，unlikehersister，shewasquitepreparedfortheappearanceofthewolfwhenshereachedthecopperbridge，sheshowednogreatercourage，andgallopedhomeasfastasherhorsecouldcarryher。Onthestepsofthecastleherfatherwasstanding，andasstilltremblingwithfrightshekneltathisfeet，hesaidgently，’DidInottellyou，mychild，thateverybirdisnotcaughtinanet？’
Thethreegirlsstayedquietlyinthepalaceforalittlewhile，embroidering，spinning，weaving，andtendingtheirbirdsandflowers，whenearlyonemorning，theyoungestprincessenteredthedooroftheemperor’sprivateapartments。’Myfather，itismyturnnow。PerhapsIshallgetthebetterofthatwolf！’
’What，doyouthinkyouarebraverthanyoursisters，vainlittleone？Youwhohavehardlyleftyourlongclothesbehindyou！’butshedidnotmindbeinglaughedat，andanswered，’Foryoursake，father，Iwouldcutthedevilhimselfintosmallbits，orevenbecomeadevilmyself。IthinkIshallsucceed，butifIfail，Ishallcomehomewithoutmoreshamethanmysisters。’
Stilltheemperorhesitated，butthegirlpettedandcoaxedhimtillatlasthesaid，’Well，well，ifyoumustgo，youmust。ItremainstobeseenwhatIshallgetbyit，exceptperhapsagoodlaughwhenIseeyoucomebackwithyourheadbentandyoureyesontheground。’
’Helaughsbestwholaughslast，’saidtheprincess。
Happyathavinggotherway，theprincessdecidedthatthefirstthingtobedonewastofindsomeoldwhite—hairedboyard，whoseadviceshecouldtrust，andthentobeverycarefulinchoosingherhorse。Soshewentstraighttothestableswherethemostbeautifulhorsesintheempirewerefeedinginthestalls，butnoneofthemseemedquitewhatshewanted。Almostindespairshereachedthelastboxofall，whichwasoccupiedbyherfather’sancientwar—horse，oldandwornlikehimself，stretchedsadlyoutonthestraw。
Thegirl’seyesfilledwithtears，andshestoodgazingathim。
Thehorseliftedhishead，gavealittleneigh，andsaidsoftly，’Youlookgentleandpitiful，butIknowitisyourloveforyourfatherwhichmakesyoutendertome。Ah，whatawarriorhewas，andwhatgoodtimeswesharedtogether！ButnowItoohavegrownold，andmymasterhasforgottenme，andthereisnoreasontocarewhethermycoatisdullorshining。Yet，itisnottoolate，andifIwereproperlytended，inaweekIcouldviewithanyhorseinthestables！’
’Andhowshouldyoubetended？’askedthegirl。
’Imustberubbeddownmorningandeveningwithrainwater，mybarleymustbeboiledinmilk，becauseofmybadteeth，andmyfeetmustbewashedinoil。’
’Ishouldliketotrythetreatment，asyoumighthelpmeincarryingoutmyscheme。’
’Tryitthen，mistress，andIpromiseyouwillneverrepent。’
Soinaweek’stimethehorsewokeuponemorningwithasuddenshiverthroughallhislimbs;andwhenithadpassedaway，hefoundhisskinshininglikeamirror，hisbodyasfatasawatermelon，hismovementlightasachamois。
Thenlookingattheprincesswhohadcomeearlytothestable，hesaidjoyfully，’Maysuccessawaitonthestepsofmymaster’sdaughter，forshehasgivenmebackmylife。TellmewhatIcandoforyou，princess，andIwilldoit。’
