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LAST FAIRY TALES

" He entered a vast hall, surrounded with marble statues."

LAST FAIRY TALES

BY

EDOUARD LABOULAYE

AUTHOR OF "FAIRY BOOK," ETC.

AUTHORIZED TRANSLATION

BY
MARY L. BOOTH

ILLUSTRATED

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HARPER & BROTHERS PUBLISHERS
NEW YORK AND LONDON

The Twilight Series

Imaginative Stories and Fairy Tales
Illustrated — Jackets Printed in Colors

THE HOLLOW TREE AND DEEP WOODS BOOK. By A. B. Paine

THE HOLLOW TREE SNOWED-!N BOOK. By A. B. Paine

HOLLOW TREE NIGHTS AND DAYS. By A. B. Paine

ALICE IN WONDERLAND. By Lewis Carroll

THROUGH THE LOOKING-GLASS. By Lewis Carroll

HOME FAIRY TALES. By Jean Mace

DANISH FAIRY AND FOLK TALES. By J. Christian Bay

FAVORITE FAIRY TALES. Illustrated by Peter Newell

TWILIGHT LAND. By Howard Pyle

THE DWARF'S TAILOR. By Zoe Dana Underbill

FAIRY BOOK. By Edouard Laboulaye

LAST FAIRY TALES. By Edouard Laboulaye

PINOCCHIO. By Carlo Collodi

THE HEART OF PINOCCHIO. By Collodi Nipote

THE WATER BABIES. By Charles Kingsley

LAST FAIRY TALES

*
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SfcyjifeH 1884
Atf£Ek & BROTHERS
i£f&& in the U. S. A.

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CONTENTS

PAGE

AUTHOR'S PREFACE vii

TRANSLATOR'S PREFACE xi

THE THREE WONDERS OF THE WORLD ... 1

THE FAIRY CRAWFISH 37

FRAGOLETTE ..... 60

THE THREE WISHES 79

THE GOLDEN FLEECE 83

POOR HANS 107

ZERBINO THE SAVAGE 108

THE SHEPHERD PACHA 151

BRIAM THE FOOL 181

THE LITTLE GRAY MAN 195

GAGLIUSO ; OR, THE GOOD CAT 216

THE WOLF AND THE GOAT 225

THE WICKED DAUGHTERS-IN-LAW .... 234

THE SPINNING QUEEN 239

THE KING OF THE SERPENTS 243

POUCINET 251

THE PRUDENT FARMER 281

A FEMALE SOLOMON 287

DAME GUDBRAND .... .... 293

GRIZZLED PETER 304

THE TAILOR'S DAUGHTER . . .... 311

' ' >

DAME WEASEL AND HER HUSBAND ... 314

THE SUN'S DAUGHTER ... .... 317

* «••••*»

THE LITTLE MAN . . .,..., ... . 324

FALSEHOOD AND FRUIT . 330

THE MYSTIC GARDEN 335

THE EVE OF ST. MARK 346

. • .

, .....
1 . . •

ILLUSTRATIONS

HE ENTERED A VAST HALL, SURROUNDED

WITH MARBLE STATUES .... Frontispiece

HE HALF RECLINED IN A HOWDAH BORNE

BY A HUGE ELEPHANT Facing p. 10

THE HONEST WOOD-CUTTER FLUNG
OVER His SHOULDER AN EMPTY SACK
AND WENT OUT SIGHING .... 38

A RICHLY DRESSED LADY CAME DOWN

THE STEPS 52

WHEN SHE WAS GATHERING HER HAR-
VEST AS USUAL A FRIGHTFUL BLOW ON
THE HEAD STRETCHED HER ON THE
GROUND 64

THE PRINCESS OF THE INDIES, FOLLOWED
BY TWELVE COMPANIONS, CAME TO
THE SHORE 98

HANDSOME, HAUGHTY, AND MELAN-
CHOLY, HE ATTRACTED THE GAZE OF
ALL " 102

SHE MANAGED TO LAY HOLD OF SOME
HUGE MULLET OR SUPERB SWORD-
FISH, WHICH SHE CARRIED TO THE
KING " 218

REYNARD CAST His EYES ON THE HEAP
OF STRAW AND SAW THE DOGS' TAILS
STICKING OUT 230

THE FAITHFUL GIANT COULD THINK OF
NOTHING BETTER TO DO THAN TO SET
THE CARRIAGE ON His HEAD . . .

LETIKO RUSHED IN FIRST, FOLLOWED BY

THE HARES 320

AUTHOR'S PREFACE

WHEN we were children (which was
somewhere about 1820), we were presented
with fairy tales at New- Year for our amuse-
ment. By whom they were written mattered
little; provided they kept us still for an hour
without quarrelling or breaking things, the
book was thought a good one, and nothing
more was asked of the author.

Since that time a great change has taken
place. Fairy tales now hold a prominent
place in literature. Like great noblemen,
they have their pedigree and history. They
treat of geography, astronomy, and zoology,
and will very soon include philosophy and
religion. Analysis has appeared; farewell
to jollity. An ancient muse, of whom we
must speak no ill, because she is a lady, and
of uncertain age, and also because she is too
often in the right — Science, since we must
call her by her name — with her long fingers,
hooked nose, and great round goggles, is
prying into everything. We can no longer

• •

vn

AUTHOR'S PREFACE

laugh at an ogre without being lacking in re-
spect to the god Orcus; Riquet with the Tuft
is nothing but the Winter Solstice; and the
White Cat, in her enchanted castle, is the
nymph Calisto, or, rather, the Great Bear in
person. A plague on our grandnephews;
they are too wise for us old fellows!

For my part, I, too, could invent theories
as well as others, if I saw fit. With the pro-
tection and support of a respectable political
coterie I should stand a good chance of ad-
mission to the Academy of Mother Goose;
for I have her blood in my veins. I know
what fairy tales are. I have tried to make
them, and have thereby learned a great
truth, namely, that these tales are not manu-
factured to order. The brightest man is put
to his wit's end when he undertakes the task.
At most, he invents some allegory as inno-
cent as it is transparent; he tells a story at
which he himself is the first to laugh, and
which does not for an instant beguile his
readers, however young. I therefore hold it
as a maxim that the more sense a man has,
the more insipid and tedious are his fairy
tales.

"But, grandpapa," says my little grand-
son, "your stories are very amusing."

• • •

Vlll

AUTHOR'S PREFACE

"Sancta simplicitas! If my stories are
amusing, as you say, it is because I did not
make them, my child."

"Then who did make them, grandpapa?"
"My child, I have taken them by piece-
meal from all parts, North, South, and else-
where."

"But who invented them in the South?"
"Everybody and nobody, my young critic.
A fairy tale is a story, a legend, or an event
that chances to be told of a winter's evening
by some soldier or sailor, who dresses it up to
suit himself, regardless of time or place.
Then it is caught up by nurses and sung to
children to amuse them or to serve as a lulla-
by, until at last some one with a poetic imag-
ination gives it a fantastic turn, when lo! the
fairy tale is brought forth. The author is
nameless and unknown ; the work is immor-
tal. Who would dare claim the paternity of
Cinderella and Tom Thumb?"

Stranger still, the fairy-tale has no native
land, any more than it has an author. Every
nation tells Little Red Riding Hood in its
own fashion, and it would take a sharp critic
to discover the original text of all these ver-
sions. The canvas is of no consequence, the

ix

AUTHOR'S PREFACE

embroidery is everything; and this embroid-
ery changes with each century.

What is Puss in Boots, for example? A
good genius, in the skin of an animal, that
enriches his young master. The idea might
occur a hundred times in different countries,
trivial and insignificant as it is. Now, com-
pare Perrault's Puss in Boots with the version
of the Pentameron, which will be found in
the present volume, with some other old
friends under new faces. Perrault was but a
child when Gianbattista Basilio died, and, in
all probability, never heard of the Neapoli-
tan tales. Yet here is the same story told in
two different countries. The idea is the
same, and the details resemble each other;
but what a difference there is between the
two stories! With Perrault the work is fan-
tastic, the result of a cat's caprice. With
Basilio it is a moral tale, designed as a lesson
to ingrates. And now, where is the primitive
story to be found? Perchance it may yet be
discovered in India; but we may be sure that
, it will have been so often retold and trans-
formed on its way that it can only be dis-
cerned by the sharp eye of an expert in fairy
lore.

PARIS, 1883. EDOUARD LABOULAYE.

x

TRANSLATOR'S PREFACE

THIS compilation contains all the fairy
tales written by the lamented Edouard La-
boulaye, that prince of story-tellers and most
eloquent of statesmen, from the publication
of his Fairy Book, several years ago, to the
time of his death, last year. The brilliant
Professor of the Institute of France, whose
lively sympathy during the late civil war won
him our country's love and gratitude, found
recreation from his graver labors in narrat-
ing these fanciful stories, overflowing with
wit and humor, which delighted both old
and young, and this task he continued to his
dying day, the preface to the volume contain-
ing part of the tales found herein being his
last work, and the touching dedication to
his little grandchildren bearing date only
five days before his death.

M. Laboulaye always delighted in seeing
his writings in an English dress, and took
keen pleasure in the interest and apprecia-
tion of his American readers. This transla-

xi

TRANSLATOR'S PREFACE

tion is made with his authorization, and the
subsequent kind approval of his family.
Death alone prevented him from furnishing
to this volume, as he did to the last, a preface
especially addressed to American children.
It is sad to think that these pages will never
meet his kindly eye, and that the pen which
had such power to charm is laid aside for-
ever.

Those who remember the publication by
Harper & Brothers of that sparkling collec-
tion of stories, Laboulaye's Fairy Book,
know what a furore it created, not only
among the children, who were fascinated
with its giants, fairies, and hobgoblins, but
still more among their elders, who were
charmed with the flashing wit and keen sa-
tire which leavened every page, and which,
to the writer's personal knowledge, beguiled
the Vice-President of the United States, as
well as the president of one of our largest
banking institutions, into sitting up nearly
all night to finish the volume.

The present collection is even richer, wit-
tier, and more varied than its predecessor.
It is compiled from the different works of
M. Laboulaye, and contains all the chil-
dren's tales not included in the first Fairy

• •

xn

TRANSLATOR'S PREFACE

Book. And what a wealth is there of fan-
tastic stories of enchantments that rival the
Arabian Nights, together with delightful
apologues, and old tales retold with a be-
witching humor that gives them a new
charm, all narrated with a purity and high
moral tone that make them safe as well as
amusing reading for the young! Children
will be enchanted with this new Fairy Book,
which is sure to hold a lasting place in their
affections for this and succeeding genera-
tions. But the truest appreciation, after all,
of this witty volume will come from the
adults, who, as they laugh at its diverting
sallies, will breathe a sigh in memory of the
author, and rejoice at the opportunity to lay
a leaf on the grave of one of the most ardent
friends of our Union in its hour of peril.

NEW YORK, 1884. MARY L. BOOTH.

Xlll

LAST FAIRY TALES

LAST FAIRY TALES

THE THREE WONDERS
OF THE WORLD

ONCE upon a time there was a queen who
had three sons. The eldest was named Prince
Lofty; the second, Prince Reckless; and the
third, Prince Prosper. All three were as
beautiful as the day; all three adored their
mother; and all three took the greatest de-
light in forestalling her wishes and doing her
will. The queen must have been very happy,
one would suppose. She was, as a mother,
but not as a woman. She was a prey to a
malady which none of us can escape, and
which is called old age. When she looked
in the mirror, the horrible grimness which
years had stamped upon her face made her
turn pale with dread. Her white hair, her
wrinkled forehead, her toothless gums, and

1

2 LAST FAIRY TALES

her watery eyes all told her that she must
die.

The poor queen was terribly afraid of
death. She could not be resigned to quit
her children, her throne, and her people.
Her sons sought in vain to comfort her; the
more they loved her, the less courage she
had to bid them an eternal farewell.

One day they heard, I know not how, that
the King of the Bitter Waters had a won-
derful bird, whose warbling renewed the
youth of those over whose heads it sung.
The most marvellous tales were told concern-
ing this peerless songster. One day, it was
said, a minister of state, ninety years old,
who chanced to pass under the tree where
this marvel was singing, instantly became re-
juvenated to such a degree that he had to
be carried away in a nurse's arms. What
would not the good queen have given to hear
these heavenly songs, had she been made
only twenty or thirty years younger thereby!

The three brothers consulted together.
The eldest insisted on being the first to go in
search of this wonderful bird. The queen
refused her consent. "It is for you, my chil-
dren," she said, "that I wish to live. If one
of you should perish in this undertaking.

THE THREE WONDERS OF THE WORLD $

nothing would be left me but to die. Stay
with me, and let God's will be done!"

Prince Lofty, however, was not one to be
dismayed. Taking a good horse, arms, and
money, he told his brothers that if he did
not return within a year they might know
that he was dead or a prisoner, embraced his
mother, and set out on his way. He went
straight onward till he reached the city
where dwelt the happy owner of the wonder-
ful bird. Here he found an inn, and inquired
what truth there was in the story.

"All you have heard is true," answered the
host, "but the whole truth has not been told
you. The King of the Bitter Waters is a
treacherous and cruel magician. No one
who has entered his palace has ever come out
again. If you have kindred and friends,
handsome youth, do not attempt a perilous
enterprise, in which you will succeed no bet-
ter than those who have gone before you."

Lofty thanked the host, put his horse in
the stable, supped heartily, went to bed, and
had the most delightful dreams. Early the
next morning he repaired to the king's pal-
ace. The door was wide open; neither
guards nor servants were to be seen. Lofty
mounted the staircase without meeting any

4 LAST FAIRY TALES

one, pushed open a door, and entered a vast
hall, surrounded with marble statues of hel-
meted knights of all nations, vizors down
and swords in hand. In the middle of the
hall were hundreds of cages with the most
beautiful birds imaginable. One of these,
all of gold, especially struck the prince's
eye. "That must be the wonderful bird,"
thought he. He called aloud, and knocked
at all the doors, but no one answered. Then,
without thinking of harm, he approached the
golden cage and thrust his hand into it, upon
which a bell rang. One of the statues de-
scended from its pedestal, advanced slowly
towards the young man, and touched him
with the point of his sword, when lo! Lofty
was turned into a statue.

II

One mouth, two months, passed away, the
year finished its course, and the queen had
no news of her son. Consumed with grief,
she wept without ceasing, saying over and
over she had sent her son to his death. The
two brothers were no less grieved than their
mother. Reckless went to the queen and said,
"Do not weep, dear mother. I am going in

THE THREE WONDERS OF THE WORLD 5

search of Lofty, who is doubtless a prisoner.
You may be sure that I shall soon bring him
back to you, with the wonderful bird into
the bargain."

The unhappy queen vainly entreated her
son to stay with her; the prince's honor for-
bade him to listen to counsels or prayers.
Furnished with a good horse and a well-
filled purse, he set out and went straight on-
ward until he reached the same inn where
his elder brother had stopped. It was in
vain that the host lavished advice upon him;
this was not the time to think of prudence.
Reckless hastened to the deserted palace,
mounted the staircase, entered the great hall,
and was about to lay hold of the bird, when
the bell rang, the statue descended from its
pedestal and touched him as it had his
brother; and lo! he, too, was enchanted.

Ill

One month, two months passed away, the
year finished its course, and the queen had
no news of her sons. She was plunged in
grief, and longed to die. Prosper fell on his
knees. "Do not despair, dear mother," he
cried. "Let me go and I will succeed. I am

6 LAST FAIRY TALES

sure that I shall soon bring back both my
brothers and the wonderful bird."

"You shall not go, my child," said the poor
queen, bathed in tears; "you surely would not
add to my sorrow and remorse. If you for-
sake me, what will become of me, with no
one to close my eyes?"

But Prosper kissed her hands so tenderly
and made her such fair promises that she was
forced to let him go. He equipped himself
like his brothers, and took with him a sword
that had been left in his cradle by his fairy
godmother, a friend of the family, whom he
had never since seen.

He set out on his journey, followed the
fatal road, reached the city of the King of
the Bitter Waters, stopped at the inn, and at
daybreak went to the deserted palace. On
entering the great hall, he saluted the green
bird that was hopping about behind its gold-
en bars, then called aloud. No one answered.
He drew his sword and approached the cage.
The bell rang, and the statue descended from
its pedestal, sword in hand; but the prince
was beforehand with his enemy, and dealt
his weapon such a blow that the stone was
splintered in pieces.

The statue uttered a cry, and paused. A

THE THREE WONDERS OF THE WORLD 7

second knight descended from his pedestal
and was received in the same way. A third
and fourth met the like fate. At this moment
a door opened, and a host of soldiers entered,
in the midst of which was the king in person.
He was a fat, little old man, with a huge
turban on his head, and an enormous scimi-
tar in his hand, which he wielded with diffi-
culty. In a shrill voice, which he vainly
tried to swell, he addressed the young prince.
"Who gave you permission to enter my royal
palace? Were you not told that no one ever
quits this hall alive?"

"I knew it well," answered Prosper. "If
I have confronted death, great prince, it was
not to brave your power. It was through
love of my mother. She is old, and yonder
bird can restore her youth. Before touching
its cage I knocked at all the doors ; I am not
a robber, and respect the property of others.
I wished to offer a large sum for this wonder
of the world, but could obtain no answer.
How then am I to blame? O king, if you
have a mother whom you love, be indulgent
to me for her sake. Fix the price of this
bird yourself, and all that I have, my life
even, is yours."

The king burst out laughing. "Young

8 LAST FAIRY TALES

man," he said, "you are a simpleton. Do you
take me for a bird-seller? I might put you
to death, but I pity you. I like courage, and
your filial love touches my heart. If you
wish for the bird, I will put you in the way
of obtaining it. Two days' journey from here
dwells my rival, the King of the Green Isles,
who has a daughter whose beauty eclipses
any ever beheld, whence she is called The
Fairest of the Fair. This treasure the King
of the Green Isles guards with jealous care.
Find her, carry her off, and bring her here,
and I will give you the green bird in ex-
change for your conquest. If you are satis-
fied with the bargain, set out instantly. You
may leave the castle; but remember that if
you dare to return empty-handed you will
perish, like all before you."

IV

Prosper, with his heart full of hope, ac-
cepted the king's conditions, and immediate-
ly set out on his way. After two days' jour-
ney he reached the shore of a sea as blue as
the heavens, interspersed with islands planted
with tall green trees, which rose from the
waters like great clumps of verdure. At

THE THREE WONDERS OF THE WORLD 9
the west was the roval island, the residence

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of the princess. Prosper hastened thither,
already promising himself the victory, but
his joy was of short duration.

In a meadow, surrounded with poplars
which trembled at the lightest breeze, was
a lake as smooth as a mirror. From the midst
of this lake rose a tower a hundred feet high,
without doors or windows, made of a single
sheet of glass. In this tower was imprisoned
the Fairest of the Fair. How it was ap-
proached, or in what way it was entered, no
one had ever known. It was vaguely fancied
that a subterranean passage, built under the
lake, connected the tower with the royal pal-
ace, more than a mile distant. But no one
had ever seen such a passage, and, when it
was talked of, the good people in the neigh-
borhood shook their heads. According to
them, the tower was enchanted, and opened
at night at the sound of a magical word
which was known to the king alone. And
this secret was well guarded, for the prince
knew to a certainty that the fate of his king-
dom was bound up with that of this crystal
donjon. An oracle had foretold that on the
day his daughter quitted the prison the
tower would sink beneath the waters, carry-

10 LAST FAIRY TALES

ing with it the beautiful kingdom of the
Green Isles, with all its inhabitants.

Prosper skirted the lake slowly, carefully
noting the tower which glistened in the mid-
day light like a topaz in the sun's rays. The
walk was a long one; it took the prince more
than five hours to return to the place from
which he started. The day was closing; the
tower, colored by the setting sun, changed to
a ruby tint. Weary with the journey and
worn with anxiety, the prince alighted from
his horse, seated himself on a hillock, and fell
into a reverie. A distant clock struck six.
Prosper raised his head, and spied a figure
in white between the battlements of the
tower. It was the Fairest of the Fair. The
last rays of the sun gilded the fair hair of
the prisoner. She leaned forward to look
over the plain, and at the same moment there
was heard a loud sound of men and horses.
It was the princess's suitors, who were ac-
customed to march past at the hour she took
her airing, all striving which should win a
glance of her beautiful eyes.

They came from all countries. First in
the procession was an Indian rajah, clad in
silk and gold, with a necklace and bracelets
of pearls. He half reclined in a howdah,

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" He half reclined in a howdah, borne by a huge elephant."

THE THREE WONDERS OF THE WORLD II

borne by a huge elephant, buried beneath
housings embroidered with precious stones,
A numerous train of musicians, jugglers, and
dancing-girls surrounded him on all sides,
singing and dancing as they marched along.
They paused before the tower, and a body
of archers, armed with golden bows, let fly
a shower of arrows, bearing on their points
wreaths of flowers, gallant mottoes, and fire-
works that blazed in the air. It was labor
lost; the arrows struck the walls of glass with
a dull thud, without attracting the least no-
tice from the princess.

Then followed a second caravan, headed
by a Mantchoo prince, who came, it was
said, to ask the Fairest of the Fair in mar-
riage in behalf of the Emperor of China.
The Tartar envoy, whose mustache fell to
his knees, was mounted on a superb black
horse, whose nostrils snorted fire. He was
followed by a troop of soldiers dressed in
tiger-skins, that marched proudly to the
sound of trumpets; but what attracted most
attention, and what certainly had never been
seen in our western armies, was a new kind
of company, each soldier of which carried,
instead of a shield, an immense kite, in the
shape of a dragon. On the belly of the ani-

12 LAST FAIRY TALES

mal was fastened a placard, upon which a
skilful pencil had traced, in huge red let-
ters, verses that might have softened the prin-
cess's heart, supposing her to have under-
stood Chinese. It was labor lost ; they did not
attract the least notice from the princess.

After the Chinese came a troop of bar-
barians; a genuine horde of Attila. Dressed
in wolf-skins, they resembled wolves, with
their howls, gaunt forms, and savage ges-
tures. At a signal from the chief they opened
their ranks, to make way for a band of four
hundred drummers, who instantly unchained
the most formidable tempest of harmony that
the world had ever heard. This was the
serenade devised by a general as musical as
he was gallant, to make a striking impres-
sion on the Fairest of the Fair. He suc-
ceeded beyond his hopes, for, at the first
burst of thunder, the princess raised her
hands to heaven, stopped her ears, and ran
away.

The crowd had vanished, night had fallen,
and the moon shed her silver light on the
tremulous waters of the lake, giving it by

THE THREE WONDERS OF THE WORLD 13

turns the whiteness and changing tints of the
opal. Yielding to the neighing of his horse,
that was tired of being alone, Prosper re-
paired to the inn. A fire of great logs was
blazing in a huge chimney-place in which
one might stand upright. Chilled by the
night air, he drew near to warm himself,
when he spied a strange object, looking like
a bundle of rags that had been flung into the
corner of the hearth. As he gazed, from the
bundle emerged a copper-colored face, round
eyes with red eyelids, a nose hooked like a
parrot's beak, a chin whose turned-up point
seemed to threaten the nose, and a toothless
mouth that stretched from ear to ear. The
prince recoiled with dismay, when this
shapeless mass rushed towards him, stretch-
me. If you are suffering, I can at least re-
— for witch it surely was — seized his hand
and covered it with kisses.

"My good lord," said she, in a plaintive
voice, "do not drive me away. I am cold
and hungry; if you have a mother, take pity
on the wretchedest of women for her sake."

"Be easy, my good woman," answered the
kind-hearted Prosper, touched by his moth-
er's name. "You have nothing to fear from
ing out a pair of fleshless arms, and the witch

14 LAST FAIRY TALES

lieve your want." And he opened his pouch,
and flung a handful of gold into the lap of
the witch, who clutched it greedily. "Yes,"
he added, "be happy, good dame. It is
enough to have one unhappy creature in the
house." His eyes filled with tears.

"My lord," said the old woman, rising,
"you are sorrowful. What causes your sor-
row— the Fairest of the Fair? You love her,
you wish to carry her off, and you are in de-
spair because you are unable to do so. It is
the disease of the country. Tell me your
troubles; I have friends everywhere; among
the small and the great. Perhaps I can help
you. She whom you have befriended is not
ungrateful."

Prosper sat down by the table where his
supper was laid, and told her his story. The
old woman took a seat, without ceremony,
opposite him, and listened with attention.
"Very well," said she, when he had finished ;
"you are a good son, and it is a pleasure to
be of use to you. Let me drink a drop,
just one drop, of this Canary, to refresh my
memory. It will give me ideas."

Upon which she seized the bottle, emptied
it into a large goblet, and gulped it down at

THE THREE WONDERS OF THE WORLD 15

one draught, smacking her lips when she had
finished.

"Confess," she said, "that all you suitors
— Indian, Chinese, Tartar, and the rest —
have very little imagination. There is but
one way of entering the tower, and that is
the only one you have never thought of."

"What is that?" asked the prince.

"Guess!" answered she; "and meanwhile,
to refresh my poor memory, let me drink an-
other drop, just a drop, of this Canary."

Upon which she seized another bottle,
emptied it all into the great goblet, and
gulped it down at one draught, smacking her
lips when she had finished. Then she turned
towards the prince, who stood aghast at this
conduct, and laughed in his face.

"Who has been in the tower? No one,
you tell me. You are wrong. I see the swal-
lows go in there every moment, and if the
princess does not take care, she will have a
whole garrison of crows on her hands."

"Do you think, then," exclaimed the
prince, angrily, "that some crow will take
me on its wings and fly up there, and then
carry me off with my booty? You are mak-
ing a laughing-stock of me, old dame."

"My lord," returned the witch, coldly,

1 6 LAST FAIRY TALES

"people do not make a laughing-stock of
princes before their faces. I am in earnest;
I mean that you should go up there on horse-
back, as befits a noble personage like your-
self."

"On horseback! My good woman, the
Canary has sharpened your imagination al-
together too much ; you had better hold your
tongue, and sleep it off."

"Yes, on horseback," continued the old
woman. "Have you never heard of Pegasus,
and of the hippogriff? Are you ignorant of
history? And Bellerophon, and Perseus;
have you forgotten them? Cannot you, too,
deliver the new Andromeda?"

And, as the prince shook his head,

"Know," she said, "that ten leagues from
here, in the stables of the Marquis of Lindas
Piernas, is a flying horse named Griffon, that
would make nothing of carrying you to the
Fairest of the Fair. The whole secret is to
know his language, and to make him fly. I
will teach you his language if you will kiss
me on both cheeks. As to making him fly,
that is another matter; for this, you must
have something which I have in my pocket,
and which I will give you on the same

terms.'

THE THREE WONDERS OF THE WORLD 17

She thrust her hand among her rags, and
drew out a mass of chicken bones, frogs' legs,
little wax figures, long needles, and finally a
broken bit, held by two silken cords. "Here
it is," said she; "the noble courser can only
endure this light rein."

"And now," she added, simpering, "be
good-natured, and give me a kiss."

The prince made a frightful grimace,
which he tried to hide by biting his lips;
then, shutting his eyes, he kissed the old
woman on both her cheeks, which were like
parchment.

"One good turn deserves another," said the
witch, and approaching him, she blew into
his mouth, and exclaimed:

"Nun kannst du die pferdische, eselische, burschi-
kosiche, katzenjammerische Sprache, sprechen und
verstehen."

"A miracle!" cried the prince; "I hear
an ass braying in the yard, and this is what
he says, 'Hi! han! men are even more stupid
than they are wicked. Hi! han!' An excel-
lent thought, and well worthy of an ass!"

"Or of a philosopher. The two are well
matched. And now, my dear prince, do you
want the bridle?"

For his sole answer, Prosper clasped in

1 8 LAST FAIRY TALES

his arms the old woman, who struggled
against him. "Oh! these men!" she cried;
"how beautiful they always think us when we
do as they wish!"

But the prince did not listen; he was so
happy that he kissed her frantically, with his
eyes shut, and thought her cheeks as fresh as
at twenty. He was not far from right, for on
opening his eyes he saw before him, instead
of the witch, a charming woman, whose smile
disclosed teeth of dazzling whiteness. He
attempted to thank her again, but she gently
retreated. "That is enough," she said, "more
would be showing too much gratitude.
Adieu, prince; it is well to have a godmother
who does not forget you. Have courage and
hope!"

Like a gallant knight, the prince bent his
knee to the ground; but as he laid his hand
on his heart and was about to protest his
eternal gratitude, the fairy disappeared,
laughing in his face. It appears that there
is no Academy in Fairy Land, and that no
one ever speaks there when he has nothing to

VI

At daybreak the next morning Prosper set
out in search of the famous Griffon. On the

THE THREE WONDERS OF THE WORLD 19

way he learned that the Marquis of Lindas
Piernas would allow no one to enter his
stables. He disguised himself as a groom,
and applied for employment to the chief
equerry of the marquis. This personage, a
fat, bow-legged, red-nosed man, dressed in
the Spanish fashion, listened contemptuous-
ly with both hands thrust in his girdle, and
answered that raw louts were not wanted in
the marquis's stables.

"Give me a horse," cried the prince, an-
grily, "and see if I do not know how to man-
age him better than all your bearded clowns."

For his sole answer the fat man turned his
back on him. At this moment a groom came
running up, out of breath, and, raising his
hands to heaven, cried, "Oh! my lord, there
is another accident, the tenth within a month!
Joseph has had his leg broken by that fiend
of a horse that no one can tame. He will be
the death of all of us."

"Bah!" said the equerry, "you don't know
what you are talking about. Here is a fel-
low from I know not where, who thinks he
can teach you all. Give him Joseph's place,
and put up another bed in the hospital."

Prosper followed the frightened groom.
On entering the stable he saw a coal-black

20 LAST FAIRY TALES

horse with a large head, full, prominent eye,
powerful chest, and thin flanks, that stood
drawn up, with arched neck, casting sidelong
glances that boded no good.

"There is the famous Griffon, " said the
groom; "the wretch is plotting a kick for us
or some new trick. Any one may go near
him that will; I shall take care to keep out
of his way."

The prince picked up a large whip and
snapped it five or six times; then sang the
following song at the top of his voice:

"He! juchhe! he juchhe! juch heisa! heisa he! he juch-

he! juchhe! heisa he!
Liebst du mich, ich liebe dich ; Liebst du mich nicht,

ich liebe dich nicht.
Juvallera, juvallera, juvallevallera!"

Oh, power of harmony! At these melodi-
ous words, Griffon relaxed his neck, raised
his head, and answered, in his language, by
a prolonged neigh, of which Prosper did not
lose a word :

"Kommen sie her, Schelm. . ., und kiissen sie mich
Landsmann."

The prince did not wait to be bidden twice,
but went straight to the horse and began to
stroke him.

"Who are you," said Griffon, "and why

THE THREE WONDERS OF THE WORLD 21

have you come here? Are you going to free
me from the hands of these fools, who want
to make a circus-horse of a grandson of Peg-
asus?'7

"Yes, my dear Griffon, I bring you your
liberty; but one good turn deserves another.
Listen to what I expect you to do;" and, as
if he were afraid that some one might hear,
he whispered his project in the horse's ear.

"All right," said Griffon; "we will carry
off the princess, but on one condition; living
or dead, you must always keep me with you.
I have had enough of menageries."

"Done," answered the prince; and he ca-
ressed Griffon.

While they talked together like old friends,
all the stablemen gathered around in amaze-
ment; and the equerry, who had been sent
for, hastened to the spot.

"Well! well! young man," said he, "I see
you and the horse are on excellent terms.
Bring him out, and let us put him through
his paces."

The prince took from his pocket the magic
bridle. The horse once saddled, he sprang on
his back, and rode upon a track where some
race-horses were exercising. Every one
looked at Griffon, who seemed clumsy, and

22 LAST FAIRY TALES

hard to manage. Suddenly he quickened his
pace and overtook the other horses, that, four
abreast, filled the track; then leaped over
them with one bound. Thirty paces farther
on he retraced his steps, leaped again over
the heads of the coursers and their aston-
ished jockeys, and returned to the starting-
point without having turned a hair.

"Prodigious!" exclaimed the equerry; "I
never saw the like. I will bet that this beast
could jump over the moon if he tried."

"Mr. Equerry," said the prince, gravely,
"I take the bet."

And as all stood agape, he shouted two
words in the horse language, which no one
understood, whereupon Griffon drew him-
self up, darted like an arrow through the air,
and vanished from the eyes of the astonished
crowd.

VII

The clock had struck six. The Fairest of
the Fair was wearily promenading on the
balcony of her prison, while below, in the
valley, Indians, Chinamen, elephants, horses,
and drums were continuing their monoto-
nous round. Suddenly, she spied a black
speck in the distance advancing rapidly

THE THREE WONDERS OF THE WORLD 23

through the air. Was it a cloud, a gigantic
bird, or some strange monster? As it ap-
proached the tower the thing took shape, and
the Fairest of the Fair clearly perceived a
horse swimming in the air, and upon this
horse a handsome rider, richly dressed, with
embroidered tunic, velvet cap, and floating
plume. Her first emotion was fear; and she
thought of flight. Her second was curiosity
— she was a woman and captive. Nothing,
moreover, proved that the horse would stop
in his mad course; but when it landed on
the platform, and she saw Prosper alight and
offer her his hand, she was so overcome with
surprise that she swooned. The prince was
ready to receive her in his arms, but he was
terrified at her pallor and unconsciousness.
"Griffon, my friend, she is dying/' he cried.
"We are lost! What is to be done?"

"Carry her off, my lord," answered Grif-
fon, "carry her off; we have no time to lose:
you can settle matters on the road. There is
no better time for mutual explanations than
when a thing is done and cannot be undone."

Prince Prosper was so excited that he
hardly knew what he was about. He seated
the princess on the horse, passed his arm
round her waist, and pressed her to his heart

24 LAST FAIRY TALES

to keep her from falling. As to Griffon, he
gave a joyful neigh, and darted into space
like a bird spreading its wings to cleave the
air.

It was high time. A terrible crackling was
heard. The tower of glass broke into a
thousand pieces,-and melted away in the lake,
which instantly overflowed. Princes, ele-
phants, horses, and drummers all fled pell-
mell, and probably more than one of them
was drowned. As to what became of the
Green Isles, no one ever knew. No trace of
them is found on the maps. The savans have
formed nine hundred and sixty-four hypo-
theses as to the discovery of these lost lands,
all of which are so probable that the sub-
ject remains a perfect muddle to this day.

VIII

One cannot remain forever in a swoon. By
degrees the princess regained her senses, but
it took some time for her to understand what
was going on around her. Griffon soared
above the clouds, illumined by the last rays
of the sun; and it seemed to the Fairest of
the Fair as if she were passing through a val-
ley of snow, bordered with purple and gold
mountains. In attempting to move, she per-

THE THREE WONDERS OF THE WORLD 25

ceived that her head was resting on Prospers
shoulder; but she felt so weak that she did
not dream of raising it. All that she could
do was to ask the handsome cavalier who he
was; and it was with a certain pleasure that
she learned that he was a prince, and that he
tenderly loved his mother.

"And where are we going?" she asked,
with a smile.

"To the palace of the King of the Bitter
Waters."

"Is he your brother, kinsman, or friend?
Is he young and handsome? What is the
matter that you do not answer?"

Prosper turned pale, and attempted in vain
to open his lips. Then, making a desperate
effort to control himself, he stammeringly
told her of his mother, the wonderful bird,
and the pledge he had made. The princess
suddenly sat upright, and pushed away the
arm about her waist.

"Let me go," she cried, "I do not need your
support. What, was it for others that you
tore me from my home and family, and that
to exchange me for a parrot. We read of
such things in fairy tales without believing
them. What had I done to you to be treated
in this way?"

26 LAST FAIRY TALES

"Alas," said Prosper, "I had never seen
you when I made that rash promise."

"Ah! unhappy that I am," cried the prin-
cess, k(behold me alone, delivered up to a
barbarian, without a friend, and forsaken by
all!" She sobbed, and shook convulsively
with grief. The terrified prince once more
supported her with his arm; she let him do
so in silence, like one who knew not what she
did.

This state of affairs could not be prolonged
without peril, but happily Griffon went
faster than the wind. At daybreak they were
in the kingdom of the Bitter Waters. The
king was celebrating his birthday by a grand
review. They saw from above the troops
drawn up on the plain. Loud shouts of
"Long live the King" attested the love of the
people for their prince. Griffon began his
descent by circling in the air like an eagle
that leaves his rock to swoop down into the
plain, and landed before the king's palace
with his double load in the most gallant
fashion.

Prosper alone alighted from the horse.
He saluted the king, and, speaking in a whis-
per that the Fairest of the Fair might not
hear, told the story of his feats, and, in ex-

THE THREE WONDERS OF THE WORLD 27

change for the princess, claimed the wonder-
ful bird whose conquest had cost him so dear.

"Very well," said the king, who was eying
Griffon rather than the princess, "I know
what I promised; but first of all I must have
that horse, otherwise the bargain is broken."

"That cannot be," answered Prosper; "you
ordered me to bring you the Fairest of the
Fair, and here she is. It is your turn to keep
your promise; a prince's word is sacred."

"Do you dare to brave me?" cried the
king. "Learn, young man, that a king does
what he pleases, and is bound to no one. I
shall keep the princess, the horse, and the
bird into the bargain. Begone this instant,
and presume no longer on my goodness!"

"Disloyal prince and false knight," ex-
claimed Prosper, "you shall pay with your
life for your breach of faith; stand, and de-
fend yourself!" Then, drawing his good
sword, he fell upon the King of the Bitter
Waters, who had barely time to put himself
on guard. The struggle was short; the king
counted upon his magic to overcome Pros-
per; but the prince's sword was enchanted;
and at the very first encounter it pierced the
throat of his foe, who threw up his arms and
fell motionless on the ground. An instant

28 LAST FAIRY TALES

after, the corpse was nothing but a heap of
dust and ashes, which, as my readers all
know, is the usual end of sorcerers.

The king dead, the palace doors opened
of their own accord; the enchantment was
ended. A host of princes, who had resumed
their own shapes, ranged themselves round
their deliverer. At their head was Prince
Lofty, followed by Prince Reckless, who
bore the wonderful bird on his wrist, as a
falconer carries his hawk. At this sight the
troops disbanded; all the generals and high
officials clustered around Prosper, and off-
ered him the crown, shouting "Long live the
King!" The people and soldiers echoed the
cry, and the rejoicing was universal.

Prosper thanked them all. His ambition
was in a different direction; but, in order not
to disoblige them, he offered them in his
place Prince Reckless, who was endowed
from birth with all the qualities of a great
sovereign. They were in need of a ruler, and
had no time to wait; moreover, Prince Reck-
less was very nearly as good-looking as his
brother. The generals proclaimed him king;
the officers of the crown applauded; the peo-
ple and soldiers echoed the cry; and the re-
joicing was universal.

THE THREE WONDERS OF THE WORLD 29

Meanwhile, Prosper approached Griffon,
and, bowing to the Fairest of the Fair, who
was still mute and pensive.

"And now, madam," said he, "where does
it please you to be conducted by your faith-
ful knight?"

"Take me to your mother's house!" she
answered, in a mournful tone, "I would not
delay for a moment her pleasure in embrac-
ing so good a son."

IX

People are right in saying that when Hap-
piness enters a house Misfortune always
stands on watch at the door to strangle it and
take its place. Never had Prosper been so
happy; yet he was on the eve of losing every-
thing, without even suspecting the danger by
which he was threatened.

The coronation of Prince Reckless over,
Prosper set out to rejoin his mother. The
princess rode a snow-white nag, which, by
a strange instinct, clung close to Griffon's
side; a fortunate circumstance, since Pros-
per and the Fairest of the Fair constantly had
some secret to confide to each other, which

30 LAST FAIRY TALES

could not have been of a tragic kind, since
the pair were always laughing.

But behind them, with head bent, lips
compressed, and lowering brow, rode Prince
Lofty, his heart consumed with envy.
"What," said he to himself, "must this boy
return with the three wonders of the world,
to be welcomed with transport by my mother,
the court, and my people, while I, the eldest,
come empty-handed, to be neglected by all.
Am I less brave or less generous than he?
No, but luck was on his side and ill-luck on
mine!" And he was beset by these evil
thoughts, which he vainly tried to banish.

It chanced that on the third day they halted
in a mountainous region, where there was a
deep valley, at the bottom of which was heard
a rushing torrent, while on the top of the
cliff a narrow footpath followed the wind-
ings of the brook as it dashed among the
rocks. The moon rose in all its beauty.
Prosper went out to breathe the fresh air; he
followed the footpath which led along the
brow of the mountain, and admired the ca-
pricious play of the light and shade, think-
ing as he walked of all the dangers he had
passed through, and of his happiness on see-
ing his mother again and presenting to her

THE THREE WONDERS OF THE WORLD 31

a daughter. His heart overflowed, and the
toilsome past only rendered the present joy
the sweeter.

But behind him, in the darkness, stalked
an ungrateful brother and terrible foe. Hid-
den by the brush and rocks, Lofty had fol-
lowed Prosper; why, he dared not own to
himself. Hatred instinctively led him to
dog the footsteps of his rival. Suddenly, a
diabolical thought crossed his mind. Pros-
per was standing on the edge of the cliff,
looking down at the brook as it glittered in
the moonlight far down the valley. A false
step, and he was lost. Lofty did not hesitate ;
he sprang upon his brother, and pushed him
over the precipice. Prosper fell, uttering
a cry; then nothing was heard but the noise
of the stones as they rolled into the torrent
and awakened the neighboring echoes.

The next morning, when the party was
ready to go, Prosper was missing. Every
one wished to wait for him, but Lofty harsh-
ly ordered them to proceed, and they were
forced to obey. The prince was pale and
haggard, and at the same time nervous and
irritable. He attempted to mount Griffon
and lead the way; but, in spite of a shower
of abuse and blows, the horse reared and

32 LAST FAIRY TALES

kicked until he was left at liberty. He did
not abuse it, but followed the princess with
so meek and submissive an air that she took
him in preference to her nag. The green
bird also perched on the shoulder of its new
mistress, and the train moved on without a
word being spoken by any one.

After travelling four days in silence they
reached the kingdom of the old queen, who
hastened to meet the procession, somewhat
astonished at its gloomy air. It seemed more
like a funeral train than a triumphal entry.
On not seeing her dear Prosper, the poor
mother burst into tears, which threw Lofty
in such ill-humor that he left the party and
shut himself up in his own apartments, and
was not seen again until the next day.

A horse that does not neigh, a bird that
does not sing, and a woman that does not talk
are so far out of the common order of things
that they can be accounted for only by magic.
The good queen therefore affixed to the pal-
ace door a huge placard, offering an immense
reward to any one who would make the lady
speak and the bird sing. To keep off char-
latans, however, a short shrift and a long rope
were promised to all who proved by their
failure that they were not sorcerers. It was

THE THREE WONDERS OF THE WORLD 33

the custom in olden times thus to treat those
who promised marvels in order to build their
fortunes on others' credulity. The custom
had its advantages, and it is somewhat of a
pity that it ever fell into disuse.

Half a dozen had already been hung, and
the rest were beginning to be disheartened,
when one day a new aspirant rang the great
bell at the palace entrance. The unhappy
man was brought into the main hall on the
ground-floor, and warned of the fate there
was in store for him. He did not seem dis-
mayed, but shook his head in an ironical fash-
ion. He was an old peasant, clad in goat-
skins; his shaggy white locks fell over his
face, and he walked, leaning on a thick staff,
with a slow but firm tread. He approached
the throne where the queen was sitting, and
was about to speak, when, lo! the bird began
to sing. "E desso," said he, in his jargon.
At the same instant Griffon came on a gal-
lop, and leaped the wall, neighing, "Da ist
der Herr!" and, strange to say, the princess
placed her hand on her heart and murmured,
"It is he!" All gazed at each other; when
quicker than lightning, the pretended peas-
ant snatched off his wig, and threw himself

34 LAST FAIRY TALES

into the queen's arms. It was Prosper,
younger and handsomer than ever.

He turned to look for his brother; he was
so happy that he was rea.dy to forgive him.
But Lofty had fled, and never more was
seen; good luck, and good riddance to him!
A wicked man the less in the world is a boon
to all honest people.

How it happened that Prosper was still
living; whether he had been caught by the
brush on the rocks, or, what was more proba-
ble, whether his fairy godmother had caught
him as he fell, and laid him in safety on the
opposite bank, is something on which his-
tory is in doubt, and I do not venture to hold
an opinion. It is certain, however, that the
marriage of Prosper and the Fairest of the
Fair took place without delay. The guests
came from eight hundred leagues round, and
Prince Reckless was there with all his court.
It was a magnificent spectacle. In thirty
days' feasting and dancing they spent the
revenues of the whole year, and were forced
to double the taxes. But the people were
highly amused ; so much amused, indeed, that
for years to come they dated everything from
the marriage of Prince Prosper. Happy

THE THREE WONDERS OF THE WORLD 35

country, where the people can be amused at
their own expense !

The festivities over, the bird proposed to
the old queen to make her young again. "I
shall be very glad," said she, " but do not go
too far. At no price would I be willing to
live over again the pleasures and vexations
of youth. I should like to be a youthful
grandmother, that I might see my grandchil-
dren grow up; I desire nothing more, and
would not exchange my grandmother's
crown for a bridal wreath." The bird did
as it was told, and stopped when the old
queen had gone back to the age of forty-five.

Prince Prosper and the Fairest of the Fair
had a large family, and lived happily. Grif-
fon stayed with his young masters, as did
likewise the parrot, and they all grew old
together. The bird more than once pro-
posed to Prosper to make him young again,
but he always refused. "No," said he ; "there
are but three beings in the world that know
how to love: an old dog, an old horse, and
an old wife. I have found two of these treas-
ures, and I mean to cling to them." On her
side, the princess, woman though she was,
refused to renew her youth. "What is the
use," said she, "as long as my husband is

36 LAST FAIRY TALES

satisfied with me as I am? Whoever is be-
loved is always young and handsome."

Thus their lives were passed — loving, be-
loved, trusting, and happy. Their mutual
affection was darkened by no cloud; and, if
they are not dead, they are loving each other
to this very day.

THE FAIRY CRAWFISH

AN ESTHONIAN TALE

IN the neighborhod of Revel, near the
shores of the Baltic, there once lived a wood-
cutter in a wretched hovel, situated by a de-
serted road, on the edge of the forest. Lop-
pi, for that was our hero's name, was as poor

/

as Job, and likewise as patient. That noth-
ing might be lacking to complete the resem-
blance, Providence in its mercy had granted
him a wife who might have given points to
the spouse of the patriarch. Her name was
Masicas, which signifies, it is said, wild
strawberry. She was not naturally vicious,
and never flew into a rage when other people
agreed with her or did as she liked. But the
rest of the time she was not so good-tempered.
If she was silent from morning to night, when
her husband was in the fields or the forest,
she scolded from night to morning, when her
lord was in the house. It is true that, accord-

?7

38 LAST FAIRY TALES

ing to the old proverb, "horses quarrel when
there is no hay in the rack;" and plenty did
not reign in the wood-cutter's hut. The spid-
ers spun few webs there, for there was not a
fly to catch, and two mice that chanced to
stray into the wretched dwelling perished
with hunger.

One day, when there was nothing to eat in
the house, and the charming Masicas was
more vixenish than usual, the honest wood-
cutter flung over his shoulder an empty sack,
his sole possession, and rushed from the house
sighing. He used to go out with this wallet
every morning in search of work, or, rather,
of alms, too happy when he could carry home
a crust of dry bread, a head of cabbage, or
a few potatoes bestowed on him in charity.

He was passing by a pond, lighted by the
first beams of day, when he spied in the wet
grass a blackish object, lying motionless, and
looking like some strange animal. It was a
huge crawfish, whose like he had never seen.
The morning sun, or perhaps fatigue, had
put the creature to sleep. To seize it around
the body and fling it into his sack, without
giving it time to look about, was the work
of an instant. "What a windfall!" thought

" The honest wood-cutter flung over his shoulder an empty sack, and

went out sighing."

THE FAIRY CRAWFISH 39

Loppi; "and how pleased my wife will be!
It is long since she had such a treat."

He leaped with joy; then suddenly stopped
and turned pale. From the sack arose sepul-
chral tones — a human voice ; it was the craw-
fish speaking.

"Halloa! my friend," it cried, "stop, and
let me go. I am the oldest of the crawfish
tribe; I am more than a hundred years old.
What could you do with my tough carcass?
It would blunt the teeth of a wolf. Do not
abuse the chance that has thrown me into
your hands. Remember that I, like yourself,
am one of God's creatures, and pity me as you
would some day have him take pity on you."

"My dear crawfish," answered the wood-
cutter, "your preaching is fine, but do not
blame me for not listening to your sermon.
For my own part, I would willingly let you
go, but my wife is waiting for me to bring
her our dinner. If I return empty-handed,
and tell her that I caught the finest craw-
fish that ever was seen, and let it go again,
she will raise an uproar that might be heard
from here to Revel. And, with her quick
temper, she is quite capable of meeting me
with a broomstick."

40 LAST FAIRY TALES

"What need is there of telling your wife?"
asked the crawfish.

Loppi scratched his ear and then his head,
and, heaving a deep sigh,

"My dear," said he, "if you knew Masicas,
and understood how sharp she is, you would
not talk to me in this style. She has a way
of leading you by the nose, whether you will
or no. There is no resisting her. She turns
you inside out like the skin of an eel, and
makes you tell all you know, and even some
things that you do not know. She is a su-
perior woman."

"My dear friend," resumed the crawfish,
"I see that you belong to the brotherhood of
good husbands. I congratulate you! But as
empty compliment will not serve your turn,
I am ready to redeem my liberty at a price
that will satisfy madame. Do not judge me
by appearances. I am a fairy, and have some
power. If you listen to me, you will be the
gainer; if you turn a deaf ear, you will re-
pent it all your life."

"Oh, dear," said Loppi, "I do not want to
harm anybody. Fix matters so that Masicas
will be pleased, and I am quite ready to let
you go free."

THE FAIRY CRAWFISH 41

"What kind of fish does your wife like
best?'7

"I have no idea. We poor people have not
time to pick and choose. It is enough that I
do not go home empty-handed. No one will
complain."

"Lay me on the ground," said the craw-
fish, "then dip your open sack into this cor-
ner of the pond. Right. Now, Fish in the
sack!"

Was such a marvel ever seen! In an in-
stant the sack was full of fish; so full, indeed,
that it nearly slipped from its owner's hands.

"You see that she whom you have be-
friended is not ungrateful," said the craw-
fish to the astonished wood-cutter. "You can
come here every morning and fill your wallet
by repeating the words Fish in the sack.
I will keep my promise. You have been kind
to me, and I will be kind to you. And if, by
and by, you wish for something else, come
here and call me, in these solemn words,

'Crawfish, dear friend,
Succor pray lend.'

I will answer your voice, and see what I can
do. A last piece of friendly counsel; if you
wish to be happy at home, be prudent; and

42 LAST FAIRY TALES

say nothing to your wife of what has hap-
pened to-day."

"I will try, Madame Fairy," answered the
wood-cutter. Then, taking the crawfish
around the body, he gently placed her in the
water, into which she plunged out of sight.

As to the proud and happy Loppi, he re-
turned home with a light step and a lighter
heart. He hardly waited to enter the house
before opening his sack, when, behold, there
sprang from it a superb pike, an ell long, a
great golden carp, that leaped in the air and
fell back gasping, two fine tenches, and a
mass of whitefish. Any one would have said
that it was the pick of the Revel market. At
the sight of all this wealth Masicas uttered a
cry of joy, and threw herself on Loppi's neck.

"My husband, my dear husband, my love
of a husband," she said, "you see how right
your little wife was in making you go out so
early this morning to seek your fortune. An-
other time you will listen to her. What splen-
did fish! Go to the garden, where you will
find a little garlic and onions, then run to the
woods and get some mushrooms. I will
make you a fish soup such as king nor em-
peror ever tasted. Then we will broil the

THE FAIRY CRAWFISH 43

carp; and we shall have a feast fit for an
alderman."

The meal was a merry one. Masicas had
no will but that of her husband. Loppi
thought that the honeymoon had come again.
But, alas ! the very next day, which was Mon-
day, the fish he brought were more coldly
received. On the fourth day madame made
a face at them, and on Sunday she burst forth
in a passion.

"Have you vowed to shut me up in a con-
vent? Am I a nun, that you condemn me to
keep Lent to all eternity? What can be more
insipid than this fish? The very sight of it
turns my stomach."

"What do you want, then?" cried honest
Loppi, who had not yet forgotten his desti-
tution.

"Nothing but what every honest peasant
family has to eat. A good soup, and a piece
of roast pork; that is all I need to be happy.
I am content with so little."

"It is true," thought the wood-cutter, "that
the fish from the pond is a little tasteless, and
that there is nothing so good for a weak stom-
ach as a nice slice of pork. But will the fairy
be able to grant me so great a favor?"

44 LAST FAIRY TALES

The next morning, at daybreak, he hast-
ened to the pond and called his benefactress:

"Crawfish, dear friend,
Succor pray lend."

And behold, a huge claw rose from the wa-
ter, then another, and then a head in a
bishop's mitre, with two great staring eyes.

"What do you want, brother?" asked a
well-known voice.

"Nothing for myself," answered the wood-
cutter. "What have I to wish for? But my
wife has a weak stomach, and is beginning
to tire of fish; she would like something else;
soup, for example, or a roast of pork."

"If that is all your dear wife needs to make
her happy, I can satisfy her," answered the
crawfish. "At dinner-time tap thrice on the
table with your little finger, saying each time,
'Soup and roast appear!' and you will be
served. But beware : your wife's wishes may
not always be so modest; do not become a
slave to them, or you will repent when it is
too late."

"I will try," said Loppi, sighing.

At the appointed hour the dinner appeared
on the table. Masicas was overcome with
joy. The gentleness of a lamb and the tender-
ness of a dove was nothing compared with

THE FAIRY CRAWFISH 45

the submission she showed her husband.
These halcyon days lasted a whole week.
But ere long the horizon darkened, and at
last the storm broke on the head of the inno-
cent Loppi.

"How long is this torture to last? Do you
mean to sicken me to death by feeding me on
this greasy broth and fat pork? I am not a
woman to stand such treatment."

"What do you want then, my love?" asked
Loppi.

"I want a good, plain dinner: a roast
goose, and some tarts for dessert."

What answer could he make? There were
a number of things, indeed, that he might
have said, but Loppi was not equal to risking
the peace of the family. A look from his
wife would have made him sink into the
earth. One is so weak when he loves!

The poor man did not close his eyes that
night. Early the next morning he set out
for the pond, and walked for a long time up
and down the bank, his heart consumed by
anxiety. If the fairy thought he was asking
too much, what was he to do? At last he
summoned up his courage, and cried,

"Crawfish, dear friend,
Succor pray lend."

46 LAST FAIRY TALES

"What do you want, brother?" answered
a voice that made him start.

"Nothing for myself. What have I to
wish for? But my wife's stomach is begin-
ning to tire of soup and roast pork. She
would like something light; for instance, a
roast goose and some tarts."

"Is that all?" replied the good fairy, "we
will try once more to satisfy her. Return
home, brother, and do not come to me every
time your wife wishes to change her bill of
fare; let her order what she likes; the table
is a faithful servant, and will obey her."

No sooner said than done. On returning
home, the wood-cutter found the table al-
ready laid, with pewter mugs and plates,
wrought-iron spoons, and three-pronged steel
forks; the fairy had done things on a grand
scale, to say nothing of the roast goose and
potatoes, stewed sauce, and toothsome plum-
pudding. Nothing was lacking, not even a
flask of anisette cordial to enliven the feast.
This time Loppi thought his troubles at an
end.

Alas! it is sometimes a misfortune for a
husband to inspire his wife with too high an
idea of his might. Masicas had sense enough
to understand that there was something magi-

THE FAIRY CRAWFISH 47

cal about this wonderful plenty. One day
she insisted on knowing what good genius
had taken them under his protection. Loppi
attempted at first to keep silence, but how
could one resist so trusting, tender, and lov-
ing a wife? Let the first husband that would
not do likewise dare to cast a stone at him and
tell it at home; I shall think him rasher than
Alexander, and bolder than Ca3sar.

Masicas had sworn to betray this precious
confidence to no one ; she kept her oath (there
was not a neighbor within two leagues
around) ; but if she kept the secret, she took
care not to forget it.

An occasion soon offers to him who is on
the watch for it. One evening, when Masi-
cas had delighted her husband with her ten-
derness and good-humor, "Loppi," she said,
"my dear Loppi, you have been lucky, it is
true, but you do not know how to make the
most of your luck. You do not think about
your little wife. I dine like a princess, and
dress like a beggar. Am I so old and ugly
that you are willing to let me go ragged? I
do not say this through coquetry, my love;
there is but one man whom I care to please;
but I must have clothes like a lady. Do not
tell me that you cannot help it," added she,

48 LAST FAIRY TALES

with the most winning smile, "I know better;
I know that the fairy is always ready to serve
you. Can you deny the modest request of
her who lives for you alone?"

When a woman asks for a dress to shine
only in her husband's eyes, who could be
barbarous enough to refuse to please his com-
panion, even though it took a new toilette
every day. Loppi was not a monster. In-
deed, in the bottom of his heart, he thought
that Masicas was not wrong. With their
squalid garments, it seemed as though they
were eating stolen food. How much brighter
their table would be with a well-dressed mis-
tress of the house at its head!

Despite these good reasons Loppi set out
for the pond in an uneasy frame of mind.
He began to fear that he was going too far.
It was not without dread that he called his
benefactress —

"Crawfish, dear friend,
Succor pray lend."

Suddenly the fairy appeared above the wa-
ter. "What do you want, brother?" said she.

"Nothing for myself. What have I to
wish for? But you are so good and generous
that my wife's wishes come a little too fast.
Her rags remind her of our former wretched-

THE FAIRY CRAWFISH 49

ness, and nothing will do but that she must
be dressed like a lady."

The good crawfish laughed heartily. "Re-
turn home, brother," said she, "your wife's
wishes are granted."

Loppi could not find words to express his
thanks, and insisted on kissing the claw of
his friend. He sang along the road, as gay
and light-hearted as a lark. On the way he
met a beautiful lady, dressed in cloth, silk,
and furs. He bowed humbly to the noble
princess, when the stranger laughed in his
face and flung herself on his neck. It was
Masicas, in all her beauty, and, to speak
frankly, she was second to none in majesty
and grace. The proverb that the habit makes
the monk and the feathers the bird, is, above
all, true where women are concerned.

This time Masicas was happy, there was
no denying it; but it is the misfortune of the
happy that desires beget desires. Of what
use was it to play the lady when she lived
alone in a wretched hovel, without a neigh-
bor to madden with jealousy at her sight, or
a mirror in which to gaze at herself from
head to foot? Masicas had not promenaded
about in her cloth and furs for a week when
she said to her husband,

50 LAST FAIRY TALES

"I have been thinking about the way we
live; it is really absurd. I will stand it no
longer. A princely table and elegant dress
do not agree with a hovel open on all sides.
The fairy has too much sense, and she loves
you too well, my dear husband, not to feel
that she owes us a mansion where I can play
lady of the castle all day long. With this, I
shall have nothing left to desire."

"Alas! we are lost," cried Loppi. "The
string that is drawn too tight is sure to snap ;
we shall be poorer than ever. Why not be
content with what we have? How many
would be thankful for such comfort as ours!"

"Loppi," said Masicas, impatiently, "you
will never be anything but a milksop. Don't
you know that those who are afraid to speak
for themselves always go to the wall? Are
you any the worse for taking my advice? Go
on; don't be afraid; I will answer for the
consequences."

She railed at the good man until he set out,
his limbs trembling beneath him. Should
the fairy refuse to listen, he could bear the
disappointment well enough, but how could
he face his wife's despair on his return? He
did not feel able to brave the tempest she
would raise; and the only way in which he

THE FAIRY CRAWFISH 51

could summon up his courage was to vow
within his heart that if the crawfish said no,
he would fling himself head foremost into the
pond. However violent might be the rem-
edy, the evil was still greater.

Nothing is braver than poltroons at bay.
It was in a gruff voice that he cried:

"Crawfish, dear friend,
Succor pray lend."

"What do you want, brother?" said the
fairy.

"Nothing for myself. What have I to wish
for? But my wife, in spite of all the favors
you have heaped upon us, torments me night
and day to make a new demand of you,
against my will."

"Ho, ho!" cried the crawfish, "you have
changed your tune. You have told our sec-
ret to your wife; now you may bid farewell
to peace at home. And what does this fair
lady ask, now that she thinks she has me in
her power?"

"A mansion, good fairy, a modest little
castle, that her house may correspond with
the fine clothes you have given her. Make
Masicas a baroness, and she will be so happy
that we shall have nothing left to wish for."

"Brother," answered the crawfish, grave-

52 LAST FAIRY TALES

ly, "be it as your wife desires." And she
abruptly disappeared.

Loppi had some trouble in finding his
way back. The whole aspect of the country
had changed; around him were well-tilled
fields, and pastures full of cattle; beyond he
saw a brick mansion, in the midst of a garden
full of fruit and flowers. Wondering what
this castle could be, which he beheld for the
first time, he gazed at it with admiration,
when a richly dressed lady came down the
steps. Strange to say, she smiled at him
and held out her hand — it was Masicas.

"At last," she exclaimed, "I have nothing
left to wish for. Kiss me, my dear Loppi.
You have crowned my wishes. I thank you,
and also the good fairy."

The honest wood-cutter was ravished with
delight. No dream could have been more
enchanting. In an hour to be transported
from poverty to riches, and from obscurity
to a lofty station; to dwell in a castle with a
graceful woman, always good-humored, and
whose only thought was to please him —
Loppi wept for joy.

But, unhappily, there is no dream without
a waking. Masicas tasted all the pleasures
of wealth and greatness. All the barons and

" A richly dressed lady came down the steps.'

THE FAIRY CRAWFISH 53

baronesses in the neighborhood disputed
with each other the honor of visiting and re-
ceiving her; the governor of the province
was at her feet; and her dresses, castle,
horses, and stables were the talk of the whole
neighborhood. Had she not the finest trot-
ters in the country; English cows with
scarcely any horns and still less milk; Eng-
lish hens that seldom laid, but that were as
handsome and wild as pheasants; and Eng-
lish pigs so fat that neither head, tail, nor
feet could be seen? What did Masicas lack,
then, to make her the happiest of women?
Alas, everything had succeeded but too well
with her. She felt that she was born to rule,
and did not hide it from her husband. The
great lady wished to be a queen.

"Do you not see," said she to Loppi, "with
what respect every one treats me? It is be-
cause I am always in the right. Even you,
who are more stubborn than a mule, cannot
help owning that I am never wTrong. I was
born to be a queen! I feel it."

Loppi cried out in amazement. He was
sharply told in reply that he was nothing but
a simpleton. Who had forced him, against
his will, to apply again to the crawfish? It
would be the same way this time. He would

54 LAST FAIRY TALES

be king, in spite of himself, and it was to his
wife that he would owe his crown.

Loppi had no wish to reign. He break-
fasted well and dined better; his desires went
no further. But he loved his repose before
everything, and he could not be ignorant
that, with his beloved better half, he could
enjoy repose only on condition of submitting
to madame's will and caprices. He scratched
his head and sighed; it is even said that he
swore a little; but he set out, and on reaching
the pond called in a tender voice to his dear
friend the crawfish.

He saw the black claws rise from the wa-
ter, and heard the "What do you want,
brother?" but stood for some time without
speaking, himself appalled by the temerity
of his request. At last he answered,

"Nothing for myself. What have I to
wish for? But my wife is beginning to be
tired of being a baroness."

"What does she want, then?" asked the
fairy.

"Alas!" murmured Loppi, "she wants to
be a queen."

"Ho, ho!" cried the crawfish. "It was a
lucky thing for her and you that you saved
my life; this time also I will grant your

THE FAIRY CRAWFISH 55

wife's wish. Hail, husband of a queen, I
wish you much joy! Good-evening, Prince
Consort!"

When Loppi returned home the castle had
become a palace; Masicas was a queen.
Valets, chamberlains, and pages were rushing
about in all directions to execute the com-
mands of their sovereign.

"God be praised," said the wood-cutter,
"I have found rest at last! Masicas is at the
top of the ladder; she can climb no higher;
and she has so many around her to do her
will that I can sleep in peace without her in-
sisting on waking me."

Nothing is more fragile than the happi-
ness of kings, unless it be that of queens.
Two months had hardly passed when Masi-
cas had a new whim. She sent for Loppi.

"I am tired of being queen," she said; "I
am sick to death of the platitudes of these
courtiers. I wish to rule over free men. Go
for a last time to the fairy, and make her give
me what I desire."

"Good heavens!" cried Loppi, "if a crown
does not satisfy you, what will? Perhaps
you would like to be God himself?"

"Why not?" answered Masicas, coolly.

56 LAST FAIRY TALES

"Would the world be any the worse gov-
erned?"

On hearing this blasphemy, Loppi gazed
at his wife, aghast. The poor woman had
evidently lost her mind. He shrugged his
shoulders.

"Say and do what you like," said he, "I
shall not trouble the fairy with such folly."

"We will see about that," cried the queen,
in a rage. "Do you forget who I am? Obey
me instantly, or off goes your head."

"I will go as fast as I can," cried the wood-
cutter. "I may as well die one way as an-
other," thought he; "as well by the hand of
the fairy as that of my wife. Perhaps the
crawfish will have pity on me."

He staggered like a drunken man, and
found himself on the edge of the pond with-
out knowing how he came there. He cried
at once, in despairing accents,

"Crawfish, dear friend,
Succor pray lend."

There was no answer. The pond remained
silent; not even the buzz of a fly was heard.
He called a second time; there was no echo.
Terrified, he called a third time.

"What do you want?" said a harsh voice.

"Nothing for myself. What have I to

THE FAIRY CRAWFISH 57

wish for? But the queen my wife, makes me
come here for the last time."

"What more does she want?"

Loppi fell on his knees.

"Forgive me, it is not my fault. She wants
to be God."

The crawfish rose half-way out of the wa-
ter, and, stretching a threatening claw to-
wards Loppi, cried,

"You wife deserves to be shut up in prison,
and you to be hung, wicked fool. It is the
cowardice of husbands that causes the folly
of wives. To your kennel, wretch, to your
kennel!"

And she dived into the pond in such a
rage that the water hissed as if a red-hot
iron had been dipped in it.

Loppi fell face downward upon the
ground as if struck by lightning. When he
set out for home, with hanging head, he knew
but too well the road he had travelled so
often; the edge of the forest, bordered with
puny birches and sickly firs, stagnant pools
here and there, and, farther on, a wretched
hovel; he had relapsed into direr want than
ever.

What would Masicas say, and how should
he comfort her? He had not much time for

58 LAST FAIRY TALES

these melancholy thoughts; for a hag, in tat-
ters, flung herself on his neck as if to strangle
him.

"Here you are at last, you monster!" cried
she. "It is you that have ruined us by your
stupidity and folly. It is you that have en-
raged your accursed crawfish. I might have
expected it. You never loved me ; you never
did anything for me; you have always been
a selfish wretch. Die by my hand!"

She would have torn out his eyes, if he had
not with great difficulty held both her arms.

"Take care, Masicas, be quiet; you will
hurt yourself."

It was lost labor; Loppi felt himself giv-
ing way, when suddenly the veins in the
throat of fury swelled, her face turned pur-
ple, she threw herself back, flung up her
arms, and fell heavily on the ground. She
was dead ; rage had killed her.

Loppi mourned for his wife, as every good
husband ought to do. He buried her with
his own hands under a great fir-tree in the
neighborhood. Over the grave he placed a
stone, and surrounded the whole with a rough
wall to keep off the wild beasts of the forest.
This sad duty fulfilled, he returned home
and strove to forget.

THE FAIRY CRAWFISH 59

But he fell a prey to despair; he was not
made to live alone. "What shall I do; what
will become of me?" he cried, weeping.
"Here I am, solitary, forsaken, a burden to
myself. Who will think for me, choose for
me, speak for me, and act for me, as my dear
wife used to do? Who will waken me a
dozen times in the night to tell me what I
must do to-morrow? I am nothing but a
body without a soul, a corpse. My life fled
with my beloved Masicas. I have nothing
left but to die."

He spoke truly. Early the next winter, a
peasant on his way through the forest saw a
man lying in the snow. It was Loppi, who
had been dead a week — dead of cold, hun-
ger, and sorrow, without a friend or neigh-
bor to close his eyes. His icy fingers grasped
an awl, with which he had traced on the
stone this last tribute to her who had been
the delight of his life —

TO THE
BEST OF WIVES,

FROM THE
MOST INCONSOLABLE OF HUSBANDS.

FRAGOLETTE

IN the neighborhood of Mantua there
once lived an orphan, already a tall girl, who
went to school every morning with her books
and dinner-basket. The school was not far
off, but it took a long time to go there, for
the way led along a ditch, lined with bushes
and great trees, full of blossoms, fruit, birds,
and butterflies, according to the season. Who
could help stopping to look at all these won-
ders of creation?

One day our school-girl spied in the heart
of a wild rose the prettiest blue butterfly that
ever was seen. She held her breath, as she
advanced on tiptoe, and gently raised her
hand, when the butterfly slipped through her
fingers, fluttered to the right and left, and
settled a little higher up the slope. She fol-
lowed, it flew away, alighted on a flower f ar-

60

FRAGOLETTE 6 1

ther up, and flitted thus from place to place,
until it led her up the side of the ditch, near
a walled enclosure, which bore a bad repu-
tation in the neighborhood. This was the
spot, it was said, where the fairies danced in
a ring on Midsummer Eve, and witches held
their Sabbaths on dark winter nights. Al-
though the walls had crumbled in many
places, and filled up the ditch, no Christian
dared venture into this accursed place; but
butterflies have no scruples, and children are
like butterflies.

Our blue-winged traveller unceremonious-
ly entered this garden, which looked like a
virgin forest, and the little girl followed,
carried away by the pleasure of the chase.
But scarcely had she pushed through a clump
of bushes when she stopped short and cried
out with wonder. Before her was a mead-
ow, bordered with large trees, and dotted
with red and black spots which enamelled
the turf. They were great, luscious straw-
berries, strawberries that had no owner, and
that offered themselves to any one ready to
profit by this wasted treasure. Forgetting
the butterfly, the school-girl threw herself on
her knees in the grass, and, in less than a
quarter of an hour, filled her basket; after

62 LAST FAIRY TALES

which she took to her heels, and arrived at
the school out of breath, and with cheeks
redder than the strawberries she had gath-
ered. She was scolded for coming so late;
but she was so proud and happy that she did
not hear a word that was said to her. What
is the use of laying down the law to con-
querors!

At luncheon-time she divided her treasure
with her little friends, who could not suf-
ficiently praise her courage and good luck.
She seemed like a queen surrounded by a
host of courtiers. Nothing was wanting in
her triumph. They called her Fragolette,
which means in French, Little Strawberry,
and this title she kept all her life. At least,
it is the only name by which she is known in
history.

It is true that there were timid souls who
could not rid themselves of certain scruples.
While eating the strawberries, they ques-
tioned whether it might not be tempting the
devil to rob him on his own ground ; but these
idle murmurs were lost in the tumult of vic-
tory; and no one paid any attention to them.

It would have been better to have listened
to them, as the sequel of our story proves.
Intoxicated with her good fortune and popu-

FRAGOLETTE 63

larity, Fragolette returned again and again
to the spot, and finally began to look upon the
place as her own. "It is a deserted field,"
she thought, "whose fruit is devoured by the
blackbirds and thrushes; and surely a Chris-
tian has quite as much right to it as the
birds."

One day, however, when she was gathering
her harvest, as usual, a frightful blow on the
head stretched her on the ground. "I have
caught you, you thief," cried a terrible voice,
"you shall pay for this!"

Stunned by the blow, Fragolette tried to
rise, when she saw before her a figure, the
very sight of whom froze her with horror.
It was a tall, thin, yellow, wrinkled old wom-
an, with red eyes, and a nose like the beak of
a vulture. From her gory mouth projected
two teeth, longer and sharper than a wild
boar's tusks. Fragolette tried to stammer an
apology; but the old woman, who was a
witch, and an ogress into the bargain, did
not deign to hear a word; she tied her hands
behind her, wound a rope seven times round
her waist, and made a running knot in it,
through which she passed the handle of the
enormous broom with which she had
knocked down the child.

64 LAST FAIRY TALES

Then, muttering in the devil's language
some of those horrible words which make the
earth tremble and the heavens turn pale, she
seated herself astride the broomstick, and
darted like an arrow through the air, carry-
ing with her the unhappy Fragolette, sus-
pended in space, like a spider hanging from
its web.

If she had ever studied geography she
might have enjoyed the magnificent spectacle
spread out beneath her, of beautiful Italy,
bordered by the snowy Alps and the blue
ocean, and traversed by the verdant ridges of
the Apennines ; but in those days women spun
on their distaffs at home, and troubled them-
selves little about what was taking place in
China and Peru — geography was of small
use to them; and, besides, the poor child was
too frightened to open her eyes. She passed
over Vesuvius and Etna without seeing them,
and was more dead than alive when the mag-
ic broomstick descended to the earth amid
the forests of Sicily.

"Up, little brigand," said the witch, pull-
ing her by the hair, "you belong to me now;
begin your work. Go, set the table in the
dining-room. How I should like to eat you
if you were not so thin!" she added, feeling

! When she was gathering her harvest, as usual, a frightful blow on the
head stretched her on the ground."

FRAGOLETTE 65

her arms ; "but in my house people soon grow
fat, and you will lose nothing by waiting."
With this horrible jest, she opened wide her
great mouth, and licked her lips with a smile
that made poor Fragolette shudder.

The dinner was not very merry, as may
be thought. The old woman greedily de-
voured a roast of cat, mice in jelly, and
stewed turnips. Fragolette gnawed a crust
of bread, and threw herself, in tears, on a
wretched pallet that was laid for her in a cor-
ner. Happily, she was of the age when slum-
ber is stronger than sorrow, and she had
scarcely touched the ground when she fell
asleep.

II

The day after this sad adventure Frago-
lette's slavery began. Every morning she
was forced to sweep and dust the whole
house, cook the meals, set the table, wash the
dishes, and, what was worst, help to dress
her frightful mistress. She stood for whole
hours curling the only three hairs that the
ogress had on her head, after which she had
to clean her two great teeth, and put rice-
powder, rouge, and court-plaster patches on

66 LAST FAIRY TALES

her face; and she was lucky, indeed, when all
this painting was done, if she was let off with
three or four boxes on the ear.

Nevertheless, in spite of this hard life,
Fragolette grew taller and prettier every day.
I do not say that she grew better, for she was
not one of those good creatures that stoop to
kiss the hand that strikes them; no, indeed,
her blood boiled in her veins, and she
dreamed only of rage and vengeance. The
old hag saw this — people always fear those
whom they injure. Often while Fragolette
was curling her hair, she wondered whether
her servant might not seize the opportunity
to throttle her, and whether it would not be
wise to be beforehand with the girl.

One day, when Fragolette seemed to her
more beautiful than ever, she was seized with
anger and jealousy.

"Take this basket," said she to the young
girl, "go to the fountain, and bring it back
full of water; if you do not, I will eat you
up."

The innocent girl ran at full speed, fancy-
ing that the basket was enchanted, and that
the witch was amusing herself by frightening
her, as usual. She dipped the basket into the
fountain, but, on lifting it up, the water all

FRAGOLETTE 67

ran out, as from a sieve. Three times she
tried to fill it, and three times her labor was
in vain. At last she understood that the
ogress meant to kill her. Filled with rage,
and despair, she leaned against the fountain
and burst into tears. Suddenly she heard a
gentle voice saying, "Fragolette, Fragolette,
why do you weep?" She raised her head,
and saw a handsome young man looking at
her tenderly.

"Who are you," she said, "and how do you
know my name?"

"I am the witch's son, and my name is
Belebon. I know that she has resolved to
take your life, but she shall not succeed, I
promise you. Give me a kiss and I will fill
your basket."

"Kiss the son of the witch! Never!" said
Fragolette, proudly.

"Well, I will be less cruel than you," an-
swered the young man. And, breathing three
times on the basket, he dipped it into the
fountain and drew it out full of water. Not
a drop escaped.

Fragolette returned to the house, and set
the basket on the table without saying a word.
The ogress turned pale as death.

"Do you, by chance, belong to the trade?"

68 LAST FAIRY TALES

said she, staring the young girl full in the
face. Then, striking her forehead, she said,
"You have seen Belebon, and he has helped
you; own it."

"You must know, since you are a witch."

For her sole answer the hag dealt her such
a box on the ear that she had to cling to the
table to keep from falling.

"Ho, ho!" cried the witch, "we shall see
who will win! He laughs best who laughs
last!"

The next day the ogress said to Fragolette,
"I am going to take a trip to Africa. I shall
be back this evening. You see that sack of
wheat; it must all be made into bread before
I return. It is no harder than to carry water
in a basket. If you do not succeed, look out
for yourself!"

Saying this, she went out chuckling, and
locked the door.

"This time I am lost," cried the young girl.
"How can I grind the grain, and knead and
bake the bread? I have neither mill nor
oven, nor time to do it." She beat upon the
door again and again, hoping to break it
open and escape. It was opened by Bele-
bon.

"Fragolette, Fragolette," said he, "I only

FRAGOLETTE 69

wish to do you good : give me a kiss, and I
will make the bread and save you."

"Kiss the son of the witch!" answered
Fragolette, trembling. "Never!"

"You are pitiless, Fragolette, but I cannot
let you die."

He whistled, and, behold, from all the
holes in the house came a host of rats and
mice. The rats carried the wheat to the mill,
and came running back with a sack of flour;
after which, they heated the oven while the
mice made the bread. And when the witch
returned it was all baked; and the golden
loaves were piled to the ceiling.

"Wretch !" cried the old woman, "you have
seen Belebon, and he has helped you: own
it."

"You must know, since you are a witch."

The ogress dealt her a savage blow, but
Fragolette suddenly stooped, and her enemy
fell forward, striking her nose on the table,
and turned blue with rage and pain.

"Ho, ho !" cried she, "we shall see who will
win ! He laughs best who laughs last!"

Ill

Three days later, the hag, putting on her
most smiling countenance, called Fragolette.

70 LAST FAIRY TALES

"My child," said she, "go to my sister's house,
ask her for her casket, and bring it to meJ

:How am I to know where your sister
lives, or what she is called?'

'Nothing is easier," answered the witch;

'iviy ciiiiu, &a.iu. MIC, gu LU my sibicr b ill

her for her casket, and bring it to me,"
"How am I to know v
s, or what she is called?"

tr

"go straight forward till you come to a tor-
rent that crosses the road, ford it, and a little
farther on you will see an old castle, with an
iron gate, where my sister, Viperine, lives.
Go, and hurry back, my child."

"What a miracle!" thought Fragolette!
"the old witch is in good-humor."

Saying this, she set out with a light step.
On the way she met Belebon, who was wait-
ing for her.

"Where are you going this morning?" he
asked.

"I am going to my mistress's sister, to
fetch back her casket."

"Unhappy girl!" cried Belebon, "you are
sent to your death. No one ever quitted
Viperine's castle alive. But I can save you.
Give me a kiss, and I will answer for your
safety."

"No, I will never kiss the son of a witch !"

"Fragolette, Fragolette, you are ungrate-
ful; but I love you better than my life, and
will save you in spite of yourself. Mark rne

FRAGOLETTE 71

well; when you have reached the brink of
the torrent, you must say, 'Beautiful river,
let me pass through thy silvery waters!"
Then take this bottle of oil, loaf of bread,
rope, and small broom. On reaching the
iron gate of the old castle, rub the hinges
with oil and it will open of its own accord.
A great dog will spring at you, barking;
throw him this bread and he will stop. In
the courtyard you will see a poor woman
drawing water from the well by tying the
bucket to her braids of hair; offer her this
rope; go up the steps and you will find in
the kitchen another woman cleaning the
oven with her tongue, give her this broom.
Then go into the chamber where Viperine
is asleep ; the casket is on a cabinet, seize it,
and escape as fast as you can. If }rou obey
me you will not die."

Fragolette forgot nothing that Belebon
had told her. On the brink of the torrent,
she cried, "Beautiful river, let me pass
through thy silvery waters!" and the nymph
of the torrent answered in her sweetest
tones, "Pass, lovely girl," whereupon the
waters parted so that she passed over dry-
shod. The gate, rubbed with oil, opened of
its own accord. The dog pounced en the

72 LAST FAIRY TALES

bread, turned round, curled himself up, and
lay down, his head on his paws, looking
lovingly at Fragolette. The two women joy-
fully took the gifts that were brought them,
and our heroine noiselessly entered the room
where Viperine lay snoring. She ran to the
cabinet and seized the casket. Her heart
beat loudly, and she thought herself saved,
when suddenly the witch awoke. Fragolette
was already on the steps.

"Ho! ho! there 1" cried Viperine; "woman
in the kitchen, kill that thief for me!"

"Not I," answered the victim; "she has
given me a broom, while you make me clean
the oven with my tongue."

"Woman at the well," cried the witch,
"seize that thief and drown her!"

"Not I," answered the victim; "she has
given me a rope, while you make me draw
up the bucket with my hair."

"Dog, tear her to pieces!"

"Not I," said the mastiff, without even
raising his head; "she has given me bread,
while you let me die of hunger."

"Door, shut her in!"

"Not I," said the door; "she has oiled
my hinges, while you let me be eaten with
rust."

FRAGOLETTE 73

The witch reached the bottom of the steps
with one bound; but the door, delighted at
regaining its liberty, swung back and forth
without ceasing, and just as Viperine was
about to go out, it closed upon her so sud-
denly that she was nearly crushed by it.

Fragolette ran on without looking behind
her, but, in her terror, she did not forget to
pay a compliment to the river, and passed
over as before. Viperine was close behind
her. "You dirty brook," said she, "open a
way for me or I will dry you up!"

The torrent parted; but when Viperine
was half-way over the waters suddenly
rose, and closed upon the witch, who was
instantly drowned. The nymph had avenged
herself.

On reaching home, Fragolette gave the
casket to her terrible mistress. What a fig-
ure the ogress cut can well be imagined.
"This is a new trick of Belebon's," she
thought, "but I know another worth two
of that. He laughs best who laughs last!"

IV

That night she made Fragolette sleep
in her room. "Mark me well," said she,

74 LAST FAIRY TALES

"in the poultry-yard there are three cocks,
one red, one black, and the third white. To-
night when one of these cocks crows, you
must tell me which it is. Look out for your-
self if you guess wrong; I will make but
one mouthful of you."

"Belebon will not be here," thought
Fragolette; "I am lost," and she did not
close her eyes for an instant.

"Which cock was it that crowed?" asked
the witch.

"Belebon," whispered Fragolette, "tell me
which it was."

"Give me a kiss," murmured a voice,
"and I will tell you."

"No."

"Cruel girl, I will not let you die; it was
the red one."

The witch sprang from her bed and ap-
proached Fragolette.

"Answer, or I will eat you up."

"It was the red cock that crowed," said
Fragolette, trembling.

And the witch went back to bed, grum-
bling.

At the same instant, another cock was
heard.

FRAGOLETTE 75

"Which cock was it that crowed?" asked
the witch.

And Belebon whispered the answer to his
beloved, "It was the black one."

And the witch went back to bed, grum-
bling.

At daybreak, the cock crew again.

"Belebon, help me," cried Fragolette.

"Give me a kiss," said he; "I have borne
your cruelty long enough."

And behold, the witch came near, opening
wide her gory mouth.

"Belebon, Belebon," cried the child, "if
you forsake me, it is you that will be my
murderer!"

"It was the white cock," answered Bele-
bon, unable to resist her tenderness.

"It was the white cock," cried Fragolette.

"No matter, traitress," exclaimed the
ogress, in a rage, "your time is come; you
must die."

With these words she fell upon her prey.

But Fragolette, young and agile, slipped
from her hands, opened the window, and
leaped into the garden. The furious witch
prepared to follow her, but her foot caught
in the window, she fell head foremost, and
broke off both her teeth — those teeth on

76 LAST FAIRY TALES

which her power and life depended. Be-
neath the window lay a corpse !

V

Left alone with Belebon, Fragolette soon
began to wonder what would become of her.
To return to her own country scarcely
crossed her mind; she was an orphan, and
all there had forgotten her. To stay in the
house where she had suffered so much was
also out of the question. For his part Bele-
bon said nothing; he was happy at having
Fragolette near him, and dared not think
of the future.

There came a time, however, when Frago-
lette claimed her liberty. Belebon dared
not refuse to let her go; but he reminded the
ungrateful girl of all he had done for her,
and offered her his heart and hand.

"No," said Fragolette, "I will not marry
the son of a witch."

"Go, then," said poor Belebon, "go since
nothing will keep you. But before leaving
this house, where I shall die without you,
give me at least one token of friendship —
the only one I shall have ever received from
you. Put your hand in mine and forgive me

FRAGOLETTE 77

the crime of my birth. We will not part as
strangers."

She gave him her hand, which he took
and covered with kisses; she did not with-
draw it, and looked at him in a strange
fashion.

"Farewell," said Belebon, "you take with
you my happiness and life. Blessed, a hun-
dred fold blessed, be him to whom you give
this hand."

"Since you have it, you may as well keep
it," said she.

He fell on her neck, sobbing; and she, the
capricious girl, took his head in her hands,
and kissed his forehead, laughing and cry-
ing at the same time. No one can ever tell
what is passing in the heart of a woman.
Two days after, they were married.

Thus ends the story; but it is natural to
ask what became of the pair. Did Bele-
bon continue his mother's wicked practices?
Did Fragolette and her husband return to
the life of common mortals? I wrote, on
this subject, to a learned Sicilian, a member
of the Academies of Catania, Agrigentum,
and other places, and this is his answer:

"Most illustrious and reverend seignior: —

"I have been unable to find in our ancient

78 LAST FAIRY TALES

chronicles the name of either Fragolette or
Belebon. Distrusting my own humble eru-
dition, I have consulted very learned breth-
ren of all the Academies, and their answer
has been that among all the peoples who
successively conquered Sicily — Pelasgians,
Sicanians, Phoenicians, Greeks, Carthagin-
ians, Romans, Arabs, Normans, Spaniards,
and others — there never had been seen a mar-
ried man who was a wizard. We have rea-
son, therefore, to believe, by analogy, that
Belebon, once married, was no worse than
the rest."

Such is the opinion for which I asked,
and it seems to me wise and just. I refer the
point to my readers, both male and female,
and especially to the latter.

THE THREE WISHES

THERE was once a wise emperor who
made the following law: Every stranger
who comes to court shall be served with a
fried fish. The attendants shall carefully
watch the new-comer; and if, after eating
the fish down to the bone, he turns it over
to eat the other side also, the man guilty of
this unheard-of crime shall be instantly ar-
rested, and hung three days after. But,
through our imperial grace, the culprit may
each day make a wish, which shall immedi-
ately be granted, provided he does not ask
for his life.

There had already been more than one
victim to this legal caprice, when one day
a count, followed by his young son, appeared
at court. The two noble guests were wel-
comed in the warmest manner; and, in ac-
cordance with the law of the emperor, a
fried fish was served up to them in the midst

79

8o LAST FAIRY TALES

of their repast. Both father and son relished
it heartily; and, after eating down to the
bone, the count turned over the fatal fish.
He was instantly seized by two attendants
and dragged before the emperor, who or-
dered him to be thrown into prison. This
filled the young son of the count with such
grief that he begged the emperor to let him
die in his father's stead. As the emperor
was not cruel, and, provided some one was
hung, cared little who it was, he accepted
the exchange, shut up the son in prison, and
let the father go free.

Once in his dungeon, the youth said to
his jailers, "You know that, before dying,
I am entitled to three wishes. Go to the em-
peror, and tell him to send me his daughter
and a priest to marry us directly."

A man more astonished than the emperor
at this insolent demand it would be hard to
find. But a sovereign's word is sacred, and
he can hardly break his own law. His
daughter, moreover, was resigned to this
three days' marriage; and, like a good father,
the emperor gave his consent.

The next day the prisoner asked the em-
peror to send him his treasure. This de-
mand was little less audacious than that of

THE THREE WISHES 8r

the day before; but what can be refused a
man who is to be hung on the morrow? The
emperor, therefore, sent him his money and
jewels, which he immediately proceeded to
divide among all the courtiers; and as at
that time there chanced to be those at court
who were weak enough to be fond of money,
they began to take an interest in this poor
young man who had been so well brought
up.

On the third day, the emperor, who had
slept badly went himself to the culprit.
"Come," said he, "make haste to tell me your
last wish, which, once granted, you shall be
strung up without delay, for I am beginning
to be a little tired of your unreasonable de-
mands."

"Sire," said the youth, "I have but one
more favor to entreat of your majesty, after
which I shall die contented. It is to put out
the eyes of all those who saw my father turn
over the fish."

"Very well," answered the emperor.
"Your demand is quite natural, and does
credit to your goodness of heart."

Upon which he arrested the major-domo.

"I, sire!" cried the major-domo; "I saw
nothing of the kind; it was the cupbearer."

82 LAST FAIRY TALES

"Seize the cupbearer," cried the emperor,
"and put out his eyes."

But the cupbearer declared, with tears,
that he had seen nothing; he referred to the
taster, who referred to the butler, who re-
fered to the pantler, who referred to the
first waiter, who referred to the second, who
referred to the third; in short, no one had
seen the count turn over the fish.

"Father," said the princess, "I appeal to
you as a second Solomon. If no one saw
it, the count is not guilty, and my husband
is innocent."

The emperor frowned, and the court at
once began to murmur; he smiled, and every
mouth grinned from ear to ear.

"All right," said he; "let this handsome
innocent live. I have hung more than one
who was no more guilty than he. But if
he is not hung, he is married; justice is
done."

THE GOLDEN FLEECE

A SERVIAN FAIRY TALE

I LOVE the Servians; they are a brave
people, who remind me of the heroes of
Homer. Their war-songs are epics, and
their fairy tales have the freshness and grace
of the marvellous stories of the East. As
a speciman, here is one of the most cele-
brated, which an aged spinster on the banks
of the Morava lately related to Vouk
Stephanovitch.

At Kroujevatz there was once a hunter by
the name of lanko Lazarevitch. He was
the king of the mountain. Though his only
worldly wealth was a little cottage surround-
ed by an orchard, he lived there in peace and
plenty, with his wife and child. His bees
supplied him with honey, his plum-trees
furnished him the best brandy in the coun-
try, and thanks to his carbine, game was
never lacking on his table. The rich have

83

84 LAST FAIRY TALES

their fields, mines, and treasures; lanko had
his forest. The hares, roes, and bucks, for
ten miles round, belonged to him; and when
fine fox-skins or superb bear-furs were
wanted at Belgrade, Widna, Pesth, or even
Constantinople, to whom did men go for
them but to lanko, the hunter of Krouje-
vatz?

Happiness is like the flower of the field?*
it whithers in a day. On a fine winter's
night, as lanko was lying in wait for game,
he spied a strange light in the distance. The
forest-trees were lighted up for an instant as
if by a passing torch, then fell again into
shadow, while the light went on. At the
same time he heard a heavy tread and the
sound of crackling boughs. lanko instantly
quit his hiding-place, and ran to see what
was the matter, when there rushed from the
forest a huge ram, whose eyes darted fire, and
whose fleece glittered like the sun. He raised
his carbine, but the beast sprang upon him
quicker than lightning, and hurled him to
the ground.

The next morning at daybreak some
wood-cutters, on their way to work found
the poor hunter stretched on the earth, and
already cold in death. Two deep wounds

THE GOLDEN FLEECE 85

were in his breast, from which his life-blood
had ebbed. The wood-cutters carried the
body of their brave comrade back to town;
he was buried, and all was over. In the
happy dwelling, which had so often rung
with lanko's merry songs, nought was heard
but the wails of a widow and the sobs of a
child.

Joyous or sad, the years pass away, bearing
with them our pleasures and sorrows. Stoi-
an, the son of lanko, grew up to manhood,
and his chief desire was to be a hunter. His
father's blood flowed in his veins, and, while
still a child, it had been his greatest delight
to look at and handle the carbine hanging
on the wall. But, when he asked his mother
to give him the fatal weapon and let him
go to the forest, the poor woman burst into
tears.

"No, my child," she said, "nothing will
induce me to give you that carbine. I have
already lost my husband through it, and
must I also lose my son?" Stoian held his
peace, and kissed his mother, but the very
next morning he renewed his entreaties, and
was so tender and caressing, and promised
to be so prudent, that she finally yielded.

Early in the morning Stoian hastened to

86 LAST FAIRY TALES

the mountain, intoxicated with joy. He
hunted all day long, and at night took up
his watch at the very spot where his father
was killed.

The night was dark, and the tired young
hunter was falling asleep in spite of himself,
when he was aroused by a loud noise. He
perceived a strange light; he saw the forest-
trees lighted up one after another, as if by a
torch, and heard a heavy tread and the sound
of crackling boughs. Without quitting his
hiding-place, Stoian raised his carbine and
commended himself to God. Suddenly there
rushed from the forest a huge ram, whose
eyes darted fire, and whose fleece glittered
like the sun.

"Stoian! Stoian!" he cried, "I killed your
father, and have come to kill you!"

"No," answered the young man; "with
God's help, it is I who will kill you."

He took aim so truly that the bullet struck
the ram between the eyes. He sprang in the
air and fell as if struck by lightning.

Stoian threw himself on the beast, and
was beginning to skin it, when suddenly
there appeared at his side a tall woman with
raven tresses and green eyes. It was the
Vila, or fairy of the mountain.

THE GOLDEN FLEECE 87

"Stoian," said she, "you have delivered me
from an enemy; take my hand ; I am your sis-
ter. When you are in need of help, call on

me.'

The young hunter thanked the lady, and
went down the mountain to Kroujevatz,
happy, and proud of his game. The fleece
of the ram was hung on the wall, where it
lighted up the whole cottage. The entire
province came to admire it, and Stoian was
proclaimed king of the mountain, like his
father. There was not a young girl that did
not smile on him as he passed by.

In those days the Turk (whom God con-
found!) was master of Servia. Raschid, the
pacha of Belgrade, was an old janizary,
who, perhaps, had been brave in his time,
but who was now nothing but a coarse and
selfish old man, who spent his life in drink-
ing, smoking, and sleeping. To aid in rul-
ing a people whose language, religion, and
customs he despised, he kept near him a rene-
gade from none knew where — one of those
miscreants, without faith or law, who live
only by plunder. Yacoub, for that was the
name of this honest man, had a low forehead,
eyes like a weasel's, a nose as hooked as the
beak of an eagle, and ten fingers, even

88 LAST FAIRY TALES

crookeder than his nose. Of all the words
in the language, the one he knew best was
the verb take, and this he conjugated in all
its moods and tenses. As to the verb re-
store, he was ignorant of it. May Satan
teach it to him to all eternity!

It is a common saying that one Turk makes
more havoc than half a score of wolves, and
that, in this respect, one renegade is equal
to half a score of Turks. Yacoub did not
belie the proverb. One day, when Raschid
had come to Kroujevatz to hunt, Yacoub,
according to custom, set about collecting the
taxes on his own behalf. It is just to say,
however, that he gave something to his mas-
ter, who gave nothing to the sultan.

On entering the house of Stoian the rene-
gade was dazzled by the golden fleece. His
eyes sparkled and his hands clenched with
envy.

"My son," said he to the young hunter,
"that is a beautiful specimen. The pacha
ought to know all the animals of his forests;
carry him that fleece. It belongs to him."

"The fleece is mine," answered Stoian,
"and I shall not give it away."

"Who talks of giving?" returned the rene-
gade; "with the great men of earth every

THE GOLDEN FLEECE 89

gift is a barter. The pacha, my master and
yours, is too generous to remain under ob-
ligations to a raya."

"I do not sell my property; I keep it," re-
plied Stoian.

"Weigh your words, young man," said Ya-
coub, with a frown. "Pride goeth before a
fall, and the pacha's arm is long. I want
this fleece, and must have it."

For his only answer Stoian took down his
carbine, and showed the renegade the door.

"Don't be rash, my son," said Yacoub,
hurrying out; "you may some day regret
not taking my advice."

On his return to the palace, the renegade
found Raschid gulping down glass after
glass of the white wine of Semendria.

"Taste this wine," said he to Yacoub; "it
is tokay. If the cadis were to try it, they
would give their whole Koran in exchange
for a bottle."

"The vintage is excellent," answered the
renegade, "but it is not as good as the white
wine I drank at Smyrna. It is true that the
pacha there has a vine which bears grapes
without their equal."

"He is very fortunate," said Raschid,
drinking deeper and deeper every moment.

90 LAST FAIRY TALES

"What hinders you from being as for-
tunate as he?" continued Yacoub. "There
is in this country a certain Stoian, a kind
of sorcerer, who could plant you such a vine,
and make it bear grapes in a week. But
perhaps he might raise some difficulties
about it."

"Difficulties!" exclaimed the Turk, shrug-
ging his shoulders. "Send a janizary, and
tell him that if, within a week, I have not
a vine as fine and grapes as good as those of
Smyrna, I will cut off his head."

"That is an argument that admits of no
reply," said Yacoub, laughing heartily. He
added to himself, "The golden fleece is

mine."

On receiving this terrible message, Stoian
burst into tears. "Alas! mother, we are
lost!" he exclaimed.

"My son," said the poor woman, "did not
I tell you that the carbine would cost your
life, as it did your father's?"

In despair the young man rushed from the
house, and wandered onward, not knowing
whither he went. On reaching the moun-
tain he met a young girl, who said,

"Brother, why do you weep?"

"God be with you!" answered Stoian,

THE GOLDEN FLEECE 91

roughly; "you cannot help me in my
trouble."

"How do you know?" rejoined she; "it is
by trying them that we learn what our
friends are worth."

The hunter raised his head, and recog-
nized the Vila. He threw himself, weeping,
into her arms, and told her of the wickedness
of Yacoub and the folly of the pacha.

"Is that all?" said the fairy. "Courage,
brother! I am here. Go to the pacha, ask
him where he would like to have his vine
planted, and tell him to have the trenches
dug. Then take a sprig of basil, plant it in
the trench, and sleep peacefully in the new
garden. Before a week is past you will gath-
er ripe grapes."

Stoian did as the Vila had bidden him.
On the first day he planted the sprig of basil ;
but he had little confidence in the fairy's
promises, and went to sleep with a heavy
heart. He rose before daybreak, and ran to
the spot; the shoots were already above the
ground. The second day they grew tall ; on
the third they put forth leaves; on the fourth
they blossomed. On the sixth day the grapes
were golden, although it was only spring-
time. Stoian gathered and pressed them,

92 LAST FAIRY TALES

and carried to his terrible master a jug of
new wine and a plate of ripe grapes.

At the sight of this wonderful vintage,
every one was astonished except the pacha,
who thought it quite natural, and did not
even thank poor Stoian. Nothing is easier,
says the proverb, than to catch snakes with
other people's hands.

"Well," said Raschid to Yacoub, uwhat
do you think of my power? I am not a
sorcerer, and I am proud of it. He who
wields the sword needs neither wealth nor
knowledge; the purse and brains of others
all belong to him."

"I marvel at your highness's genius," an-
swered the renegade, bowing low, "and hope
that you will not leave your work un-
finished."

"Is anything lacking to my vineyard?"
asked Raschid, with a dissatisfied air.

"It lacks the ivory tower which, at Smyr-
na, is the admiration of the faithful and the
despair of unbelievers."

"Is that all?" said the pacha, laughing.
"Come here, young man. If, in a month, I
have not an ivory tower like that of Smyrna,
I will cut off your head. Hear and obey!"

THE GOLDEN FLEECE 93

Stoian ran to his mother, weeping. "Alas,
we are lost!" he cried.

"Go, my son, hasten to the mountain; per-
haps you will find there our friend and
protectress."

The young man hurried to the mountain,
and called the fairy three times. She came,
smiling, and listened to him with tenderness.

"Is that all?" she said. "Courage,
brother! I am here. Go to the pacha, and
ask him for a ship, three hundred tuns of
wine, two hundred pipes of brandy, and a
dozen carpenters. Set sail and steer straight
ahead. When the vessel is between two
mountains, go on shore, empty the pond that
you will see there, and fill it with wine and
brandy. When the elephants come thither
at night to quench their thirst, they will
drink until they fall dead-drunk. Let the
carpenters saw of! their tusks, and you will
have a full cargo of ivory. Then return to
the vineyard with your booty, take with you
a sprig of basil, and sleep tranquilly in this
new garden; in a week the tower will be
built."

Stoian did all that the Vila had bidden
him. The vessel anchored between two
mountains; they emptied the pond, and filled

94 LAST FAIRY TALES

it with wine and brandy. At nightfall the
elephants came thither in herds. The first
that tasted the brandy seemed astonished;
but he soon went back to it with delight, and
the rest followed his example. A scene of
jollity, noise, and general confusion follow-
ed. The whole elephant nation kept holi-
day. In contempt of etiquette, the king of
the elephants danced a hornpipe, and the
queen waltzed with a young chamberlain.
The whole company soon fell sound asleep,
and the carpenters began their work. Do
not blush at this humiliation, good people
of Elephant Land ; you are not the first na-
tion that have had their teeth filed while
drunk or asleep, and you will not be the
last.

On his return, Stoian had the huge mass
of ivory piled in the garden. From his hid-
ing-place behind the wall Yacoub watched
the young hunter, in hopes to steal his sec-
ret; but Stoian spent the whole day singing
plaintive songs, accompanying himself on
the guzla. When night cast its veil over
the earth, nothing was done. Yacoub went
away rubbing his hands. "He is lost!" he
thought; "the golden fleece is mine."

But the next morning the foundations of

THE GOLDEN FLEECE 95

the ivory tower were laid; the day after it
had risen to the second story; and on the
sixth day it was finished, with its dome and
minarets. For ten leagues round it shone
in the sunlight with a brilliancy more dazz-
ling than that of the silver moonbeams upon
the waters.

At the sight of this marvellous structure
all were astonished except the pacha, who
thought it quite natural, and did not even
thank poor Stoian.

"Well," said he to Yacoub, stroking the
handle of his ataghan, "what do you think
of my power?"

"I marvel at your highness's genius," an-
swered the renegade, bowing low, "and hope
that you will not leave your work unfin-
ished."

"Is anything lacking to my ivory tower?"
asked Raschid, with a dissatisfied air.

"It lacks the Princess of the Indies. Of
what use is the ivory tower if it does not con-
tain the masterpiece of creation?"

"You are right," said the pacha. "It is the
bird that gives value to the cage. Come
hither, young man," said he to Stoian. "Go,
fetch me the Princess of the Indies. If you

96 LAST FAIRY TALES

return without this miracle of beauty, I will
cut off your head. Hear and obey!"

Stoian ran to his mother, weeping.

"Alas! we are lost," he cried. "You will
never see your child again."

"Go, my son, hasten to the mountain; per-
haps you will find there our friend and pro-

tectress.'

The young man hurried to the mountain,
and called the fairy three times. She came,
smiling, and listened to him with tenderness.

"Is that all?" said she. "Courage, brother!
I am here. Go to the pacha, and ask him for
a large ship. In this ship build twelve fine
shops, and fill them with rarer stuffs and
jewels than are found in all the bazaars of
Constantinople. In these shops put twelve
of the handsomest youths of Servia, dressed
like princes. Then set sail, and when the
ship stops between two mountains, go on
shore; you will be in the kingdom of the
Indies. Take your guzla, sing with your
companions, and when the girls of the coun-
try come to the fountain, invite them to see
the treasures in your ship. Make them pres-
ents; they will be delighted with your gen-
erosity, and, on returning home, will say that
never was there seen a finer ship, richer treas-

THE GOLDEN FLEECE 97

ures, or more obliging merchants. Being a
woman and a princess, the daughter of the
King of the Indies has a double share of cu-
riosity. She will come to see you ; amuse her
all day, but as soon as night falls, weigh
anchor and set sail. But when the princess
is on board, the task is not done. She is a
magician, and may put you more than once
in danger. Follow my counsels, however,
and you will succeed."

Saying this, the fairy drew near the brook
that trickled down the mountain, and called
a salmon that was swimming up the stream.
She detached a scale from it, which she gave
to Stoian.

"Take this talisman," said she. "If ever
you need a service done you in the depth of
the sea, throw this scale into the water, and
call my brother, the salmon, to your aid."

Then, raising her eyes to the sky, the Vila
saw a falcon chasing a dove. She whistled,
and both birds flew to her, and perched on
her shoulder. She pulled a feather from the
falcon's crest, and another from the wing of
the dove, and gave them to Stoian.

"Take these talismans," said she; "and if
ever you need a service done you in the air,
fling these feathers on the breeze, and call to

98 LAST FAIRY TALES

your aid my brother, the falcon, and my sis-
ter, the dove. And now farewell, brother.
I have exhausted for you all the secrets of my
art; you will see me no more."

Stoian thanked his sister, the Vila, and did
all that she had bidden him. The vessel
stopped between two mountains; the young
girls came to the fountain, they listened to
the songs of Stoian, they came on board, they
took the choicest gifts without much urging,
and that very evening they repeated through-
out the town, "Never was there seen a finer
ship, richer treasures, or more obliging mer-
chants."

The next morning the Princess of the
Indies, followed by twelve companions, came
to the shore in a magnificent howdah, borne
by the gentlest and handsomest of elephants.
She carried on her shoulder a little parrot,
that diverted her with its chatter. Stoian
hastened to meet the lady, and did her the
honors of his ship. At each shop the richest
stuffs were spread before her, and the rarest
jewels, rings, bracelets, necklaces, and dia-
dems displayed before her eyes. The prin-
cess and her attendants were as fascinated as
larks before a mirror; and the day passed

" The Princess of the Indies, followed by twelve companions, came to

the shore."

THE GOLDEN FLEECE 99

without their being able to tear their aston-
ished and delighted gaze from such wonders.

As soon as night fell upon the sea Stoian
weighed anchor and set sail. At the first
motion of the ship the princess took alarm:
she hastened on deck, and, taking the parrot
on her finger, "Fly, dear bird," she said, aand
tell my father some one is carrying off his
child."

The parrot took flight, but Stoian instant-
ly flung on the breeze the falcon's feather,
and cried, "Brother Falcon, come to my aid."

And, lo! a black speck was seen far off on
the horizon; the falcon darted through the
air, pounced upon the parrot, and carried
it to a rock to devour it.

The princess looked at Stoian with a dis-
dainful air, and threw her ring into the sea,
when, lo! the ship instantly stopped as if it
were aground. It was in vain that the wind
filled the sails — a hidden power held the ves-
sel motionless.

Stoian flung into the waves the scale of the
salmon, crying, "Brother Salmon, come to
my aid."

He had not done speaking when the rich
scales of a huge salmon were seen shining
through the water; then the fish dived and

ioo LAST FAIRY TALES

caught the ring, upon which the vessel floated
swiftly over the sea, impelled by the fairest
of winds.

The princess cried out, and hastened below
to her companions. At daybreak the next
morning she came again on deck, and said
to Stoian,

"With a word I could turn this ship to
stone, and you would never more see your
country. But if you will give me the water
of immortality, I am ready to go with you.
Do you see yonder rock, where a thick
smoke is rising? There is a fountain,
guarded by two dragons, whose nostrils
breathe fire. No one has ever been able to
overcome the vigilance of those monsters,
who sleep neither night nor day. If you can
succeed where all others have failed, and can
fill this little flask, I will be your most de-
voted friend and servant."

For his only answer Stoian seized the
flask, and, flinging on the breeze the feather
of the dove, cried,

"Sister Dove, come to my aid!"

In an instant a dove, white as snow,
perched on Stoian's shoulder; she seized the
flask in her beak, soared high in the heavens,
and vanished from sight. In an hour she

THE GOLDEN FLEECE IOI

came flying back, and Stoian could offer the
princess the water of immortality.

"Thank you, my friend," said she, in the
tenderest of tones. "Now you have nothing
more to fear from my power. Say, whither
are you taking me?"

"To my master, the pacha," answered
Stoian.

"Ah!" exclaimed she; and, drawing her
veil over her face, she went below, and did
not speak again to Stoian for the rest of the
voyage.

When it was learned that the young hunter
had returned, there was universal rejoicing
at Kroujevatz. The people flocked from all
directions to see the entry of the Princess of
the Indies. It was a wonderful spectacle.
First came the twelve attendants, each
mounted upon a black horse, which was led
by the bridle by one of Stoian's companions.
Nothing more magnificent had ever been
seen than these young men, with their rich
garments, girdles glittering with gems, sabres
with silver scabbards, and inlaid carbines.
But all were forgotten at the sight of Stoian
and his conquest. Enveloped though she was
in a long veil, which hid all but her great
black eyes, the princess eclipsed her com-

102 LAST FAIRY TALES

panions as the moon eclipses the stars. Her
white horse seemed proud to carry her. All
the men admired her as she passed, but the
women looked at Stoian. Handsome,
haughty, and melancholy, he attracted the
gaze of all.

On entering the palace where the pacha
was awaiting her the princess threw aside her
veil. At the sight of this marvellous beauty,
Raschid, forgetting his age, hastened to her
with a tottering step, and attempted to em-
brace her. But she repulsed him so roughly
that, if the faithful Yacoub had not been at
hand, the pacha would have bruised his nose
on the ground, in spite of all his power.

"Ha! beautiful savage," cried he, "what
has your faithful slave done to be treated in
this way?"

"You are an ill-bred fellow," answered the
princess. "You ask neither my name nor that
of my father; you know neither who I am
nor what I wish. Am I a dog or a hawk, to
be taken thus by force? Learn that he who
marries me must possess a twofold youth,
that of the soul and that of the body."

"I have a very youthful soul," said the
pacha. "As to the body, I should ask noth-
ing better than to renew its age, were it only

" Handsome, haughty, and melancholy, he attracted the gaze of all.'"

THE GOLDEN FLEECE 103

to marry you, and live long by your side.
But how is it to be done?"

"I have found the means," returned the
princess. "This flask contains the water of
immortality. Let yourself be beheaded ! once
dead, I will sprinkle you with this magic
water, and will make you as young and hand-
some as at twenty."

The pacha made a grimace; then, looking
round him, he saw Stoian, and frowned.

"I believe in this marvellous water," said
he; "but I should not object to see it tried.
What if I test it on this fellow, whose looks
I dislike, I know not why? Come here, raya ;
to make you young again, we will cut off
your head."

"I am young enough to dispense with such
a trial," answered Stoian, looking at the beau-
tiful East-Indian; "but, though I perish, I
will not shrink from danger. What matters
life to me?"

At a sign from the pacha a janizary drew
his sword, and with one blow Struck off the
young man's head. Every one uttered a cry
of horror ; but the princess instantly sprinkled
the quivering body with her marvellous wa-
ter; when, lo! Stoian rose full of life and

104 LAST FAIRY TALES

health, and so young and handsome that the
pacha, wild with jealousy, exclaimed,

"Make me young again, princess! Quick,
without losing an instant!"

He called the janizary and gave him his
orders; then, seeing Yacoub, who pretended
to weep,

"Poor Yacoub," he said; "my faithful
friend and right hand, I cannot let you re-
main old while I am young; we should no
longer understand each other's wants. No,
my friend, I am not selfish; I need you, and
we must both renew our youth together. We
will be beheaded at the same time."

At this mark of friendship Yacoub turned
pale as death. He opened his lips and tried
to speak, but the signal was given, and at the
same instant his head rolled on the ground
by the side of that of the pacha.

"Take away that carrion," said the prin-
cess coldly, "and throw to the dogs the body
of the wretch who dared treat me with in-
sult."

At these words all looked at each other;
the Turks frowned, but the Servians drew
their sabres, and said, "The princess is right:
an insult recoils on him who dealt it. Woe
to him who does not respect a woman."

THE GOLDEN FLEECE 105

An old Turk responded, "What is done is
done. No one can escape his fate."

Peace restored, the princess said to Stoian,
"Here I am, a widow without being married,
and you are left without a master. Are you
not going to take me back to my father?"

"No," cried Stoian; "the dearest right of
a Servian is to carry ofT his wife, and I have
twelve companions ready to follow my ex-
ample."

"Stoian," said the princess, smiling, "you
know that I dislike violence. What need is
there of carrying me off? Will it not suffice
to take me to your mother's house, and give
me a place at your fireside?"

No sooner said than done, and the same
day saw thirteen weddings at Kroujevatz.

Raschid had more than one successor, and
there was more than one Yacoub; for wher-
ever there is a pacha like Raschid, there is
also a flatterer and a traitor; but the wicked
profit by experience, and fear holds them in
check. No one disturbed Stoian, and all re-
spected the Princess of the Indies. The
house is still seen where the pair dwelt, and
strangers are shown above the door a stone,

106 LAST FAIRY TALES

carved, it is said, by Stoian's own hands. On
it are a carbine and yataghan, crossed; the
whole surmounted by the motto, which is the
delight of Servia and the terror of the Os-
manli, Svobodnost, LIBERTY.

POOR HANS

OLD Hans lay dying. His pastor sat by
his bedside, offering the last consolations.

"Alas!" said old Hans, "life is small loss
to me. I have never been anything but a
poor wretch, bowed down with toil and pain.
Where no one else wanted to go, there poor
Hans was sent; and when others overturned
the cart, it was Hans that had to set it up
again."

"Rejoice then, my friend," said the pastor,
"your sufferings will soon be over. Blessed
are they who suffer, for theirs is the king-
dom of heaven."

"Ah!" cried old Hans, "I am sure before-
hand that it will be just the same up there.
Every one will shout after me, 'Hans, light
up the sun!' 'Hans, put out the moon!'
'Hans, let fly the thunder!' 'Hans, put the
angels to bed!'

And without even heaving a sigh, poor
Hans closed his eyes, folded his hands, and
breathed his last.

107

ZERBINO THE SAVAGE

A NEAPOLITAN FAIRY TALE

ONCE upon a time there lived in Salerno
a young wood-cutter named Zerbino. Poor
and an orphan, he had no friends; shy and
taciturn, he spoke to nobody and nobody
spoke to him. As he never meddled with
other people's business, every one took him
for a fool. He was nicknamed The Sav-
age, and never was title better deserved. In
the morning, when the whole town was still
asleep, he went to the mountain, with his
jacket and axe on his shoulder; stayed all
day in the woods, and did not return until
dusk, dragging after him a bundle of fagots
with which he bought his supper. When he
passed the fountain where the young girls
of the neighborhood congregated every even-
ing to fill their pitchers and empty their
throats, they all laughed at his glum face,

108

ZERBINO THE SAVAGE 109

and made a butt of the poor wood-cutter.
Neither the black beard nor glittering eyes
of Zerbino dismayed the bold huzzies, who
vied with each other in jeering at the simple-
ton.

"Zerbino of my soul," cried one, "speak
but one word to me and I will give you my
heart."

"Delight of my eyes," exclaimed another,
"let me hear the sound of your voice and I
am yours."

"Zerbino! Zerbino!" cried all the mad-
caps in chorus, "which of us will you take
for a wife? Is it I? Is it I? Which one
will you have?"

"The greatest chatterbox of you all," an-
swered Zerbino, shaking his fist at them;
upon which they cried, "Thank you, good
Zerbino, thank you!"

Pursued by shouts of laughter, the poor
savage retreated home, with the grace of the
wild boar fleeing before the hunter. His
door once shut, he supped on a crust of
bread and glass of water, rolled himself in
a ragged old coverlet, lay on the bare earth,
and instantly fell into a dreamless slumber,
free from care and sorrow. If happiness

no LAST FAIRY TALES

consists in feeling nothing, Zerbino was the
happiest of men.

II

One day, when he had tired himself with
hacking at an old box-tree as hard as flint,
Zerbino thought he would take a nap by the
side of a pool surrounded with spreading
trees. To his great surprise, he found
stretched on the turf there a lady of mar-
vellous beauty, arrayed in a robe of swan's-
down. The stranger seemed to be in a night-
mare; with drawn features and clenched
hands, she was vainly struggling to shake off
a hideous dream.

"What folly to go to sleep at noon with
the sun shining on one's face!" said Zerbino.
"Women are all fools."

He wove some branches together so as to
shade her head, and threw his jacket over
the rude arbor.

Just as he had finished arranging the leaves
he spied a viper in the grass, close by the
stranger, that was crawling towards her and
darting out its venomous tongue.

"What!" said Zerbino, "so small and yet
so wicked!" And with two strokes of his

ZERBINO THE SAVAGE ill

axe he cut the serpent into three pieces, which
writhed as if still trying to reach the lady.
Zerbino kicked them into the pool, where
they fell hissing like a red-hot iron dipped in
water.

At this moment the fairy awoke and sprang
up, her eyes sparkling with joy.

"Zerbino! Zerbino!" she shouted.

"That is my name ; I know it; you need not
scream so loud."

"What, my friend," said the fairy, "will
you not let me thank you for the service you
have done me? You have saved me from
worse than death."

"I have saved you from nothing at all,"
answered Zerbino, with his usual grace.
"Another time don't go to sleep on the grass
without looking to see whether there are any
serpents about, that is my advice to you.
Now good-day! Let me sleep; I have no
time to waste."

He stretched himself his full length on the
grass and closed his eyes.

"Zerbino," said the fairy, "have you noth-
ing to ask of me."

"I ask you to let me alone. When a man
wants nothing, he has all he wants ; when he
has all he wants, he is happy. Good-day!"

112 LAST FAIRY TALES

And the churl began to snore.

"Poor boy!" said the fairy, "your soul is
asleep ; but, say what you may, I will not be
ungrateful. Had it not been for you, I
should have fallen into the hands of a genie,
my cruel foe; had it not been for you, I
should have been turned into a viper for a
hundred years. I owe you a hundred years
of youth and beauty. How shall I pay you?
I have it," she cried; "he who has what he
wants is happy, you said yourself just now.
Well, my good Zerbino, whatever you may
desire, whatever you wish for, shall be yours.
I hope you will soon have cause to bless the
fairy of the waters."

She made three circles in the air with her
hazel wand, then stepped into the lake so
lightly that the waters were not even rippled.
At the approach of their queen the reeds
bowed their heads; the water-lilies opened
their freshest blossoms; the tree, the sun-
shine, and the winds themselves all smiled
on the fairy, and all seemed to share in her
happiness. A last time she raised her wand,
and the waters opened instantly with a flash
of light, as if a sunbeam had pierced their
depths, to receive their young sovereign.

ZERBINO THE SAVAGE 113

t

Then shadow and silence fell over all, and
nothing was heard but Zerbino still snoring.

Ill

The sun was beginning to decline when
the wood-cutter awoke. He returned tran-
quilly to his task, and with a vigorous arm
attacked the trunk of the tree whose branches
he had lopped off in the morning. The re-
sounding blows of the axe made no impres-
sion on the hard wood. Bathed in perspira-
tion, Zerbino vainly smote the gnarled trunk,
which defied all his efforts.

"Ah!" said he, looking at the jagged edge
of his axe, "what a pity that some one would
not invent a tool that would cut wood like
butter. I should like to have one of that
sort."

He drew back a step, whirled the axe
around his head, and struck with such force
that he fell flat, ten paces forward, with his
arms outstretched, and his face on the
ground.

"Pshaw!" he exclaimed, "I must see
double; I struck on one side."

Zerbino wras quickly reassured, for at the
same instant the tree fell so near him that

H4 LAST FAIRY TALES

the poor fellow just escaped being crushed
by it.

"That was a fine stroke," said he, "it helps
my day's work amazingly. What a clean
cut I made; it looks as if it were sawed.
There is not another wood-cutter in the town
that could have done it."

Upon this he gathered up all the branches
that he had hewed off that morning, un-
wound a rope from his waist, seated him-
self astride the bundle of fagots, the better
to tie them together, and fastened them with
a slip-knot.

"Now!" said he, "I must drag them home.
What a pity that bundles of fagots had not
four legs like horses, so that I could gallop
proudly into Salerno like a fine gentleman
that rides about doing nothing. How
I should like to see myself prancing into town
in that fashion!"

And', behold, instantly the bundle of fagots
rose and began to trot at a measured pace.
Without being at all astonished, the honest
Zerbino let himself be carried along by this
new kind of steed, and pitied the poor
wretches on the way, who went on foot for
want of a bundle of fagots.

ZERBINO THE SAVAGE 115

IV

At the time of which we are speaking there
was a great square in the centre of Salerno,
where the king's palace stood. This king,
as every one knows, was the famous Mouch*
amiel, whose name is immortal in history.

Every afternoon the king's daughter, the
Princess Leila, might have been seen seated
in her balcony in a melancholy mood. It was
in vain that her slaves attempted to amuse
her by their songs, tales, or flatteries — Leila
listened only to her thoughts. For three
years the king her father had sought to marry
her to every baron in the neighborhood, and
for three years the princess had refused all
suitors. Salerno was her dowry, and she
knew that it was her dowry alone that they
wished to marry. Earnest and tender, Leila
had no ambition; she was not a coquette; she
did not laugh merely to show her teeth ; she
knew how to listen, and never talked when
she had nothing to say — a malady so rare
among women that it drove the doctors to
despair.

Leila was even more dreamy than usual,
when suddenly Zerbino appeared on the
square, guiding his bundle of fagots with the

Ii6 LAST FAIRY TALES

majesty of a plumed Caesar. At the sight, the
princess's two waiting-women were seized
with a mad fit of laughter, and, happening
to have some oranges in their hands, they
flung them at the rider so adroitly that two of
them struck him full in the face.

"Laugh, you wretches!" cried Zerbino,
shaking his fist at them, uand may you keep
on laughing till your teeth are worn to the
gums."

And, behold, the two women laughed con-
vulsively without stopping either for the
threats of the wood-cutter or the commands
of the princess, who pitied the poor churl.

"Good little woman!" said Zerbino, look-
ing at Leila, "so sweet and so sad ; I wish you
nothing but good-luck. May you love the
first man that makes you laugh, and marry
him into the bargain."

Upon which he pulled his forelock, and
bowed to the princess in the most gracious
manner imaginable.

As a general rule, when one is astride a
bundle of fagots it is better to bow to no one,
not even a queen. Zerbino forgot this, to his
sorrow. In order to salute the princess, he
let go the rope that held the bundle together,
when, behold, the sticks fell apart, and the

ZERBINO THE SAVAGE 117

honest Zerbino tumbled backward, his feet
in the air, in the most grotesque way imagina-
ble. He made a bold somersault, carrying
with him half the leaves, and, crowned like
a sylvan god, rolled over once more on the
ground.

Why do we always laugh when a person
falls at the risk of breaking his neck? I
know not; it is a mystery which philosophy
has not yet solved. What I do know is that
every one laughed on that occasion, the Prin-
cess Leila like the rest. But she instantly
sprang up, gazed at Zerbino with a peculiar
expression, laid her hand on her heart and
then on her head, and went in-doors, strange-
ly agitated.

Meanwhile Zerbino gathered up the scat-
tered sticks, and returned home on foot, like
a simple woodman. Prosperity had not daz-
zled him, neither was he cast down by ill-
luck. He bought a good Italian cheese, as
white and hard as marble, cut a large slice
from it, and dined with a hearty appetite.
The poor simpleton little suspected what
harm he had wrought, and what trouble he
had left behind him.

US LAST FAIRY TALES

y

While these grave events were taking
place, four o'clock struck in the tower of
Salerno. The day was sultry, and silence
reigned in the streets. Secluded in a lower
chamber, far from the heat and noise, King
Mouchamiel was dreaming of the happiness
of his people — he was asleep.

All at once he awoke with a start. A pair
of snowy arms were wound around his neck,
and his face was wet with scalding tears.
The fair Leila was embracing her father in
a paroxysm of tenderness.

"What does this mean?" said the king, sur-
prised at this outburst of affection. "What
signify these kisses and tears? Child of your
mother, you are trying to coax something out
of me."

"On the contrary, my dear father, your
obedient daughter has come to tell you that
she is ready to follow your will. I have
found the son-in-law you have been seeking,
and to please you will give him my hand."

"Good!" said Mouchamiel; "so this is the
end of your whims. Who is it that you are
going to marry? Is it the Prince of Cava?

ZERBINO THE SAVAGE 119

No. The Count of Capri, or the Marquis of
Sorrento? No. Who is it, then?"

"I do not know, father."

"What! you do not know! You must have
seen him, however?"

"Yes, just now, in the palace square."

"And did he speak to you?"

"No, father, what need is there of words,
when hearts understand each other?"

Mouchamiel made a grimace, rubbed his
ear, and, peering at his daughter through his
half-closed eyelids, asked,

'At least, he is a prince?"

:I do not know, father; but what matters
it?"

"It matters a great deal, my daughter.
You know nothing of politics. You are
free to choose any son-in-law that suits
me, and it will be all right. As a king
and a father, I will never interfere with your
will while it agrees with mine. But other-
wise, I have duties to fulfil towards my fam-
ily and subjects; and I intend that my will
shall be done. Where is this fine fellow,
whom you do not know, who has never
spoken to you, and who adores you?"

"I do not know."

"This is too much!" cried Mouchamiel.

a
it'

120 LAST FAIRY TALES

"Is it to talk such nonsense that you come
hither to rob me of moments that belong to
my people? Ho, there, chamberlains! Call
the princess's women, and let them take her
back to her apartments."

On hearing these words Leila raised her
arms to heaven, burst into tears, and fell at
the king's feet, sobbing. At the same moment
the two women entered, still laughing ready
to split their sides.

"Silence, wretches, silence!" exclaimed
Mouchamiel, indignant at this lack of re-
spect.

But the more the king cried silence the
louder the women laughed, regardless of
etiquette.

"Guards!" said the king, beside himself,
"seize these insolent women and cut off their
heads. I will teach them that there is noth-
ing less laughable than a king."

"Sire!" said Leila, clasping her hands, "re-
member that you have rendered your reign
illustrious by abolishing the penalty of
death."

"You are right, my daughter. We are a
civilized people. We will spare these wom-
en, and content ourselves with treating them
in the Russian fashion with all possible con-

ZERBINO THE SAVAGE 121

sideration. Let them be knouted till they
die a natural death."

"Pardon, father, pardon," said Leila. "It
is your daughter that entreats you."

"For heaven's sake, let them stop laugh-
ing, and rid me of their presence," cried the
good Mouchamiel. "Take away these idiots.
I forgive them. Shut them up in a cell, till
they die of silence and ennui!'

"Oh* father!" said poor Leila.

"Begone!" said the king; "marry them, and
let that end the matter."

"Thanks, sire! We shall laugh no longer,"
cried the two women, as they fell on their
knees, opening their mouths and showing
their toothless gums. "We are the victims of
and infernal art; a wizard has bewitched us."

"A wizard in my state!" cried the king,
who was a free-thinker. "It is impossible;
there are none; I do not believe in them."

"Sire," said one of the women, "is it na-
tural for a bundle of fagots to trot like a
horse, and prance under the rein of a wood-
cutter? This is what we have just seen in
the square before the palace."

"A bundle of fagots!" returned the king.
"That looks like witchcraft. Guards, seize
the man and his fagots, and let them both be

122 LAST FAIRY TALES

burned. After that I hope I shall be suffered
to sleep in peace."

"Burn my beloved!" exclaimed the prin-
cess, tossing her arms like a sibyl. "Sire,
this noble knight is my husband, my love,
my life! Let a hair of his head be touched
and I shall die."

"My household has gone distracted," said
poor JVlouchamiel. "What is the use of be-
ing king if I cannot even take an afternoon
nap. It is all my good-nature. Call Mis-
tigris! Since I have a minister, the least that
he can do is to tell me what to think, and let
me know what to wish."

VI

Signer Mistigris was announced. He was
a little man; fat, short, round, and broad,
who rolled rather than walked. Weasel eyes,
looking every way at once, a low forehead,
hooked nose, fat cheeks, and a triple chin:
such was the minister that made Salerno
happy, in the name of King Mouchamiel.
He entered, simpering, puffing, and minc-
ing like a man who lightly bears the weight
of power.

"Here you are at last!" said the prince.

ZERBINO THE SAVAGE 123

"How is it that strange things take place in
my dominions, and I, the king, am the last
to be informed of them?"

"Everything is going on as usual," said
Mistigris, calmly. "I have the police re-
ports here; peace and happiness prevail
throughout the state," and he opened a large
packet of papers and read as follows:

"Report of the Port of Salerno. All is
tranquil. No more frauds in the custom-
house than usual. Three quarrels between
sailors, six stabs; five admissions to the hospi-
tal. Nothing new.

"City report. Taxes doubled; prosperity
and morality continually on the increase.
Two women dead of hunger ; ten foundlings ;
three men who have beaten their wives; ten
wives who have beaten their husbands; thirty
robberies; two assassinations; three poison-
ings. Nothing new."

"Is that all you know about it?" cried
Mouchamiel, in an angry tone. "Well, sir,
though it is not my business to be informed of
the affairs of state, I know more about them
than you do. A man has ridden through the
square on a bundle of fagots, and bewitched
my daughter. Here she is, wishing to marry
him."

124 LAST FAIRY TALES

"Sire," said Mistigris, "I was not ignorant
of this incident. A minister knows every-
thing; but why trouble your majesty with
such trifles? The man will be hung, and
there \ rill be an end of the matter."

"An^ can you tell me where this wretch is
to be fc und?"

"Doubtless, sire!" replied Mistigris; "a
minister sees everything, hears everything,
and is prc sent everywhere."

"Well, L-ir," said the king, "if in a quarter
of an hour this fellow is not here, you will
leave the m listry to those who are not con-
tent with sec 'g, but who also act. Begone!"

Mistigris 1 the room, still smiling. But,
once in the an oom, he turned purple with
excitement, an was forced to cling to the
arm of the firs^ man he met. This was the
prefect of the ity, whom a happy chance
threw in his way Mistigris drew back and
seized the magistrate by the collar.

"Sir!" said he, emphasizing each of his
words, "if in ten minutes you do not bring me
the man who rides through Salerno on a
bundle of fagots, I will dismiss you. Do you
understand? I will dismiss you. Begone!"

Stunned by this threat, the prefect ran to
the chief of police.

ZERBINO THE SAVAGE 125

"Where is the man that rides a bundle of
fagots?" said he.

"What man?" asked the chief of police.

"Do not argue with your superior, i will
not endure it. By not arresting this rascal
you have utterly failed in your duty. ' If this
man is not here in five minutes, I sliall dis-
charge you. Begone!"

The chief hastened to the police station,

> .

where he found the men set to watch over
the public safety playing dice.

"You knaves !" he cried. "If,'; A three min-

,

utes you do not bring me the tj ;^i who rides
a bundle of fagots, I will ba- aado you like
galley-slaves. Begone with <. a word."

The men went out cursin^ ..? while the wise
and able Mistigris, confidin 1 in the miracles
of hierarchy, tranquilly retii >ned to the king's
chamber, recalling to his lips that perpetual

smile which formed a pa*;; of his profession.

>

VII

Two words whispered by the minister into
the king's ear delighted Mouchamiel. The
idea of burning a wizard was not displeasing
to him. It was a striking little event that

126 LAST FAIRY TALES '

would do honor to his reign, a proof of wis-
dom that would astonish posterity.

One thing alone embarrassed the king,
namely, poor Leila, who was drowned in
tears, and whom her women vainly attempted
to drag to her apartments.

Mistigris winked at the king, then ap-
proaching the princess, said, in his least surly
tones :

"Madam, he is coming, and he must not
find you in tears. Adorn yourself, on the con-
trary, be more beautiful than ever, and let
the very sight of you assure him of his hap-
piness."

"I understand you, good Mistigris," ex-
claimed Leila. "Thanks, my dear father,
thanks," she added, seizing her father's
hands, and covering them with kisses. "Bless
you, bless you a thousand times!"

She went out intoxicated with joy, with
head erect, eyes sparkling, and so happy that
she stopped the first chamberlain on her way
to inform him herself of her marriage.

"My good chamberlain," she added, "he
is coming. Do the honors of the palace your-
self, and be sure that we shall not be ungrate-
ful."

ZERBINO THE SAVAGE 127

Left alone with Mistigris, the king looked
at his minister angrily.

"Are you mad?" he cried. "What! with-
out consulting me, do you pledge my word?
Do you think yourself the master of my em-
pire, that you dispose of my daughter and me
without my consent?"

"Bah!" said Mistigris, tranquilly. "The
first thing to be done is to calm the princess.
In politics one never troubles himself about
the morrow. 'Sufficient unto the day is the
evil thereof.'

"But my word 1" resumed the king. "How
can I break it without perjuring myself? I
will have revenge on that insolent fellow who
has stolen my daughter's heart."

"Sire," said Mistigris, "a prince never
breaks his word; but there are several ways
of keeping it."

"What do you mean by that?" asked Mou-
chamiel.

"Your majesty," continued the minister,
"has just promised your daughter that she
shall be married; we will marry her, after
which we shall obey the law, which decrees,

" 'If a noble under the rank of a baron
dares pretend to the love of a princess of

128 LAST FAIRY TALES

royal blood, he shall be treated like a noble,
that is, decapitated.

" 'If the suitor is a citizen, he shall be
treated like a citizen, that is, hung.

" 'If he is a peasant, he shall be drowned
like a dog.'

"You see, sire, that nothing is easier than
to harmonize your paternal love and your
royal justice. We have so many laws in Sa-
lerno that one can always be found to suit

our case.'

"Mistigris," exclaimed the king, "you are
a scoundrel!"

"Sire," said the fat man, "you flatter me!
I am nothing but a politician. I have been
taught that there is one kind of morality for
princes and another for the people, and I
have profited by the lesson. It is this dis-
cernment which makes the genius of a states-
man the admiration of the astute and the
scandal of fools."

"My good friend," said the king, "with
your long-winded phrases, you are as tire-
some as an academical eulogy. I do not ask
you for words, but for deeds; make haste to
punish this man and let us have done with
the matter."

As he was speaking, the Princess Leila en-

ZERBINO THE SAVAGE 129

tered the royal chamber. She was so beau-
tiful, and her eyes shone with such joy, that
the good Mouchamiel sighed, and began to
wish that the rider of the fagots might be a
prince, so that he should not be hung.

VIII

Glory is a fine thing, but it has its disad-
vantages. Its possessor must bid farewell to
the pleasure of living unknown and defying
the silly curiosity of the crowd. The trium-
phal entry of Zerbino was not finished before
every child in Salerno was acquainted with
his person, home, and mode of life. The
guards had little trouble, therefore, in find-
ing the man they sought.

Zerbino was on his knees in the courtyard,
busied in sharpening his famous axe. He
was just trying the edge with his thumb-nail
when a hand laid hold of his collar and set
him on his feet. Half a score of kicks and a
score of cuffs propelled him into the street.
It was in this way that he learned that a min-
ister was interested in his person, and that
the king himself deigned to invite him to the
palace.

Zerbino was a philosopher, and a philos-

130 LAST FAIRY TALES

opher is astonished at nothing. He thrust
his hands into his pockets and walked on
quietly, without troubling himself about the
hail of blows that fell upon him. Never-
theless, a philosopher is not always a saint.
A kick in the thigh wore out the patience of
the wood-cutter.

"Gently!" said he; "have a little pity on a
poor man!"

"I believe that the simpleton is arguing,"
said one of his tormentors. "Our gentleman
is made of down; we must handle him with
gloves."

"I wish you were in my place," said Zer-
bino. "We should see whether you wrould
laugh."

"Hold your tongue, you scoundrel," said
the leader of the band, as he dealt him a
blow that might have felled an ox.

The blow was badly aimed, doubtless, for
instead of striking Zerbino, it went straight
into the eye of one of the guards. Furious,
and half blinded, the wounded man threw
himself on the awkward fellow who had
struck him, and seized him by the hair, A
scuffle ensued; the bystanders attempted to
separate them; fisticuffs rained up and down,
right and left, and a general affray followed,

ZERBINO THE SAVAGE 131

enlivened with the shrieks of women, cries
of children, and barking of dogs. It became
necessary, at last, to call in the patrol, to re-
store order by arresting assailants, defenders,
and spectators.

Zerbino, still unmoved, was proceeding to-
wards the castle, when he was accosted, in
the square, by a file of well-made fellows in
embroidered coats and short breeches. They
were the valets of the king, who, by the di-
rection of the major-domo and the grand
chamberlain himself, had come to meet the
betrothed of the princess. Having been in-
structed to be polite, each one had his hat in
his hand and a smile on his lips. They bowed
to Zerbino. The wood-cutter, like a well-
bred man, returned the salute. They bowed
anew, and Zerbino again returned it; a per-
formance which was repeated eight or ten
times in succession with unmoved gravity.
Zerbino was the first to tire; not having been
born in the palace, his back was less supple
than theirs; he was not accustomed to bend-
ing it.

"Stop!" he cried; "enough! three refusals
are a sign of good-luck, and three bows are
a sign of a dance. You have bowed long
enough, now dance." And, lo! the valets

132 LAST FAIRY TALES

began to dance and bow, and to bow and
dance, and, preceding Zerbino in admirable
order, gave him an entrance into the castle
worthy of a king.

IX

To give himself a majestic air, Moucham-
iel was gravely staring at the end of his nose,
Leila was sighing, Mistigris was whittling
a quill, like a diplomatist in search of an idea,
and the courtiers, motionless and mute,
seemed lost in contemplation. At last the
great door of the saloon opened; the major-
domo and valets entered with a measured
tread, dancing a saraband which greatly sur-
prised the court. Behind them walked the
wood-cutter, as little moved by the royal
splendors as if he had been born in a palace.
Nevertheless, at the sight of the king, he
stopped, took off his hat, and, clasping it in
both hands to his breast, bowed three times,
stretching out his right foot, after which he
put on his hat again, seated himself calmly
in an arm-chair, and crossed his legs.

"My father!" cried the princess, throwing
herself on the king's neck, "this is the hus-

ZERBINO THE SAVAGE 133

band that you have given me. How hand-
some and noble he is ! Do you not love him?"

"Mistigris," murmured Mouchamiel, half
strangled, "question this man with the great-
est respect. Think of my daughter's repose
and my own. What luck! Oh, how happy
fathers would be if they had no children!"

"Your majesty may be tranquil," said Mis-
tigris; "humanity is my duty and pleasure."

"Up, scoundrel!" said he, harshly, turning
to Zerbino, "answer quickly if you wish to
save your skin. Are you a prince in dis-
guise? You are silent, wretch! You are a
wizard!"

"I am no more a wizard than you are, my
fat fellow," answered Zerbino, without stir-
ring from his chair.

"You villain!" exclaimed the minister,
"your denial proves your crime, your silence
proclaims you guilty."

"If I confessed should I be innocent?"
asked Zerbino.

"Sire!" said Mistigris, who mistook rage
for eloquence; "do justice, purge your state,
purge the earth of this monster. Death is
too mild a punishment for such a ruffian."

"Go on!" said Zerbino. "Bark! my fat
fellow, bark! but don't bite."

134 LAST FAIRY TALES

"Sire!" said Mistigris, puffing and pant-
ing, "your justice and humanity are at stake:
bow, wow, wow. Humanity commands you
to protect your subjects by delivering them
from this wizard: bow, wow, wow; justice
demands that he should be hung or burned:
bow, wow, wow. You are a father, bow,
wow, but you are a king, bow, wow, and the
king, bow, wow, should take precedence of
the father, bow, wow, wow"

"Mistigris," said the king, "you speak well,
but your stammer is unbearable. Don't be
so affected. Have done!"

"Sire!" screamed the minister, "death to
the villain; the halter or the stake. Bow,
wow, wow."

While the king sighed, Leila, suddenly
quitting her father, placed herself by Zer-
bino's side.

"Give your commands, sire!" said she.
"This is my husband; his fate shall be mine."

At this shameless speech, all the court
ladies covered their faces; Mistigris himself
thought it incumbent upon him to blush.

"Unhappy girl!" cried the king, in a
frenzy of rage; "by dishonoring yourself,
you have pronounced your doom. Guards!
seize these two creatures ; let them be married

ZERBINO THE SAVAGE 135

on the spot; then confiscate the first boat that
you find in the port, thrust these wretches into
it, and abandon them to the waves."

"Oh, sire!" cried Mistigris, as the guards
were dragging away the princess and Zer-
bino, "you are the greatest king on earth.
Your goodness, gentleness, and indulgence
will be the example and astonishment of pos-
terity. In what language will the Official
Gazette narrate it to-morrow! As for us,
confounded by such magnanimity, we can
only admire it in silence."

"My poor daughter," exclaimed the king,
"what will become of her without her father?
Guards! seize Mistigris, and put him, too, in
the boat. It will be a consolation to me to
know that so able a man is with my dear
Leila. And then, to change ministers is al-
ways diverting, and in my sad condition I
need something of the sort. Farewell, my
good Mistigris."

Mistigris stood with his mouth wide open.
He had just recovered breath enough to curse
princes and their ingratitude when he was
dragged from the palace. In spite of his
prayers, threats, and tears he was thrust into
the boat, and the three friends soon found
themselves alone on the waters.

136 LAST FAIRY TALES

As to the good king Mouchamiel, he wiped
away a tear, and shut himself up in his cham-
ber to finish the nap so rudely interrupted.

X

The night was calm and beautiful; the
moon shed its silver light on the sea, and
over its tremulous waters; the wind from the
land drove on the bark, and already Capri
was seen rising from the waves like a basket
of flowers. Zerbino was at the helm, mur-
muring some plaintive woodman's or sailor's
song. Leila sat at his feet, silent, but not
sad. She was listening to her beloved. The
past she had forgotten, for the future she had
little care; to stay by Zerbino's side was life
to her.

Mistigris, less tender, was less of a phil-
osopher. Restless and angry, he bustled
about like a bear in its cage, and made fine
speeches to Zerbino, to which the wood-cut-
ter paid no heed, but only nodded, stolid as
ever. Unaccustomed to official harangues,
the orations of the minister put him to sleep.

"What will become of us?" cried Misti-
gris. "Wretched wizard, if you have any
power show it, and come to our rescue.

ZERBINO THE SAVAGE 137

Make yourself prince or king somewhere,
and appoint me your prime-minister. I must
have something to rule. What is the use of
having power if you do not make your
friends' fortune?"

"I am hungry," said Zerbino, half opening
his eyes.

Leila sprang up instantly, and began to
look around her.

"My love," said she, "what would you
like?"

"Some figs and raisins," said the wood-
cutter.

Mistigris uttered a cry; a barrel of figs and
raisins sprung up between his legs and threw
him down.

"Oh!" thought he, springing up, "I know
your secret, accursed wizard. If you can
have what you wish for, my fortune is made;
I have not been minister for nothing, hand-
some prince, and I will make you wish for
whatever I do."

While Zerbino was eating his figs Misti-
gris approached him, bowing and smiling.

"Signor Zerbino," said he, "I entreat of
your excellency your incomparable friend-
ship. Perhaps your excellency has not
understood all the devotion that was hidden

138 LAST FAIRY TALES

under the affected harshness of my words,
but I assure you that it was planned the more
speedily to insure your happiness. It was I
alone that hastened your happy marriage."

"I am hungry," said Zerbino. "Give me
some figs and raisins."

"Here they are, my lord," said Mistigris,
with all the grace of a courtier. "I hope his
excellency will be satisfied with my humble
services, and will often permit me to display
my zeal.

"Brute!" he murmured to himself, "you
do not even listen to me. I must win Leila's
favor at all hazards. The great secret of
politics is to know how to please the ladies.

"By the way, Signor Zerbino," resumed
he, simpering, "you forget that you were
married this evening. Ought you not to
make a wedding-gift to your royal bride?"

"A wedding-gift! you tire me, my fat
fellow," answered Zerbino. "Where do you
expect me to find such a thing? Go and
bring me one from the fishes, at the bottom
of the sea?"

At that very instant, as if hurled by an in-
visible hand, Mistigris leaped overboard and
disappeared under the waves.

Zerbino set to work anew to stone and

ZERBINO THE SAVAGE 139

munch his raisins, while Leila never tired
of watching him.

"There is a porpoise coming to the sur-
face," said Zerbino.

It was not a porpoise, but the happy mes-
senger, who had risen to the top and was
struggling with the waves. Zerbino seized
him by the hair and pulled him into the boat.
Strange to say, Mistigris held in his teeth a
carbuncle, that shone like a star in the dark-

ness.

u

Here is the gift sent to the charming Leila
by the king of the fishes," stammered he, as
soon as he could breathe. "You see, Signer
Zerbino, that you have in me the most faith-
ful and devoted of slaves. If ever you have
a little ministry to intrust to me — "

"I am hungry," interrupted Zerbino; "give
me some figs and raisins."

"My lord," resumed Mistigris, "will you
do nothing for your wife, the princess? This
boat, exposed to the changes of the weather,
is not a fitting abode for one so young and
lovely."

"Hush, Mistigris," said Leila. "I am com-
fortable here. I ask for nothing more."

"Do you remember, madam?" said the
officious minister, "that when the Prince of

140 LAST FAIRY TALES

Capri offered you his hand he sent to Sa-
lerno a splendid ship of mahogany inlaid
all over with gold and ivory, with sailors
dressed in velvet, silken cordages, and three
saloons adorned with mirrors. That is what
a petty prince did for you. Signer Zerbino,
noble, powerful, and good as he is, surely
will not be left in the background."

"The man is a fool," said Zerbino; "he
talks all the time. I should like to have such
a vessel as that if only to stop your mouth,
you chatterbox, and make you hold your
tongue."

And lo! Leila uttered a cry of surprise and
delight that made the woodsman start. He
was on board a magnificent ship, that cleft
the waves with the grace and majesty of a
stately swan. A tent lighted with alabaster
lamps formed a richly furnished drawing-
room on deck. Leila, still seated at her hus-
band's feet, gazed at him with admiration.
Mistigris ran after the crew, and tried to
give orders to all the sailors. But on this
strange vessel no one said a word. Mistigris
wrasted his eloquence, and could not even
find a cabinboy to rule. Zerbino rose to look
at the wake of the ship; and Mistigris ran
after him, simpering.

ZERBINO THE SAVAGE 141

"Is your lordship satisfied with my efforts
and zeal?" asked he.

"Hold your tongue, you chatterer," said
the woodsman. "I forbid you to say another
word till morning. I am drowsy, let me go
to sleep."

Mistigris stood with his mouth open, mak-
ing respectful gestures; then in despair he
went below to the dining-room and ate his
supper in silence. He drank for four hours
without being able to console himself, and
ended by falling under the table. In the
meantime Zerbino dreamed at his ease.

Leila alone did not close her eyes.

XI

One tires of everything, even of happiness,
says the proverb. With much greater rea-
son might one tire of being at sea in a ship
where no one said a word and which was
drifting none knew whither. As soon, there-
fore, as Mistigris had regained his senses and
speech, his sole idea was to persuade Zer-
bino to wish to be on land. The task was
difficult. The adroit courtier was in con-
stant fear that some indiscreet wish might
send him again among the fishes; he trem-

142 LAST FAIRY TALES

bled, above everything, lest Zerbino should
regret his axe and forest. What a fate, to
become the minister of a wood-cutter!

Happily, Zerbino awakened in excellent
humor. He was becoming accustomed to
the princess, and her charming face pleased
him, churl as he was. Mistigris wished to
improve the occasion, but women, alas! are
so unreasonable when they are in love ! Leila
declared to Zerbino that it would be sweet
to live alone together, far from the world,
in some tranquil cottage in an orchard, on
the banks of a stream. Without understand-
ing anything of this poetry, the honest Zer-
bino listened with pleasure to her loving
words.

"A cottage with cows and chickens," said
he, "that would be fine, if — "

Mistigris felt himself lost, and struck a
decisive blow.

"Oh, my lord!" he cried, "look yonder be-
fore you. How beautiful that is!"

"What?" asked the princess; "I see noth-
ing."

"Nor I either," said Zerbino, rubbing his
eyes.

"Is it possible?" resumed Mistigris, with
an air of astonishment. "What! do you not

ZERBINO THE SAVAGE 143

see that marble palace gleaming in the sun,
and that stately staircase shaded with orange-
trees, with its hundred steps leading down
to the sea-shore?"

"A palace?" said Leila, "I want none; to
live surrounded with courtiers, selfish fol-
lowers, and valets. Let us fly!"

"Yes," said Zerbino. "A cottage is bet-
ter; we should be quieter there."

"But this palace is unlike any other," ex-
claimed Mistigris, his imagination excited
by his fears. "In this fairy abode there are
neither courtiers nor valets; you are served
by invisible hands, and are at once alone and
surrounded by attendants. The furniture
has hands, and the walls have ears."

"Have they a tongue?" said Zerbino

"Yes," returned Mistigris, "they tell you
everything you wish to know, but only speak
at your bidding."

"Well," said the wood-cutter, "they have
more wit than you. I should like to have
such a castle as that. Where is this fine
palace? I do not see it."

"It is there before you, my love," ex-
claimed the princess.

The vessel had made for land, and an-
chored in a harbor just deep enough for it to

144 LAST FAIRY TALES

come up to the pier. The harbor was half
surrounded by a great staircase of wrought
iron. At the head of this staircase, over-
looking the sea, on a vast plateau, arose the
most charming palace that ever was seen.

The three friends gayly mounted the stair-
case, Mistigris at the head, puffing and blow-
ing at every step. On reaching the gate of
the castle he attempted to ring, but there was
no bell; he called, and the gate itself an-
swered.

"What do you want, stranger?" it asked.

"To speak with the master of this palace,"
said Mistigris, a little embarrassed at talking
for the first time to a gate.

"The master of this palace is Signer Zer-
bino," replied the gate. "I will open to him
when he appears."

Zerbino came up, with the fair Leila on
his arm; the gate opened respectfully, and
let the pair pass, followed by Mistigris.

Once on the terrace, Leila gazed with de-
light at the magnificent spectacle of the vast
sea glittering in the morning sun.

"How pleasant it is here," said she, "and
how delightful it would be to sit in this gal-
lery, under the shade of the blossoming
laurels."

ZERBINO THE SAVAGE 145

"Well," said Zerbino, "we can sit on the
ground."

"Are there no easy-chairs here?" ex-
claimed Mistigris.

"Here we are ! here we are !" cried the easy-
chairs, and they hurried up, one after an-
other, as fast as their four feet could carry
them.

"This is a nice place to breakfast in," said
Mistigris.

"Yes," returned Zerbino, "but where is the
table?"

"Here I am! here I am!" answered a con-
tralto voice, and a beautiful mahogany table,
marching with matronly gravity, strode for-
ward and placed itself before the guests.

"This is charming," exclaimed the prin-
cess, "but where is the food?"

"Here I am! here I am!" cried a number
of little shrill voices, and thirty platters, fol-
lowed by their sisters, the plates, and their
cousins, the knives and forks, without for-
getting their aunts, the salt-cellars, ranged
themselves on the table, which was covered
with game, fruit, and flowers.

"Signor Zerbino," said Mistigris, "you see
what I have done for you. All this is my
work."

146 LAST FAIRY TALES

"You lie!" cried a voice.

Mistigris turned around, but saw no one.
It was one of the pillars of the gallery that
had spoken.

"My lord," said he, "no one can accuse me
of imposture. I have always spoken the
truth."

"You lie!" said a voice.

"This palace is detestable," thought Mis-
tigris. "If the walls speak the truth, we shall
never have a court here, and I shall never be
minister. We must change this."

"Signer Zerbino," he resumed, "instead of
living here alone, would you not rather be a
king, and have subjects to pay you taxes,
furnish you with soldiers, and surround you
with love and tenderness?"

"Be a king — what good would that do
me?" replied Zerbino.

"My friend, do not listen to him," said
Leila. T'Let us stay here; we are so happy,
we two alone."

"We three," cried Mistigris; "I am the
happiest of men here, and with you I desire
nothing more."

"You lie!" said a voice.

"What, my lord, is there any one here that
dares doubt my devotion?"

ZERBINO THE SAVAGE 147

"You lie!" returned the echo.

"My lord, do not listen to this," ex-
claimed Mistigris. "I honor and love you;
I swear it."

"You lie!" repeated the pitiless voice.

"Oh! if you do nothing but lie, begone to
trie moon," said Zerbino, "it is the land of
liars."

It was an imprudent speech, for instantly
Mistigris shot into the air, and disappeared
above the clouds. Whether he ever de-
scended again to earth no one knows, though
some chroniclers say that he has since been
seen there under another name. It is cer-
tain that he was never more beheld in a pal-
ace where the very walls spoke the truth.

XII

Left alone, Zerbino folded his arms and
looked at the sea, while Leila abandoned her-
self to the sweetest thoughts. To live in an
enchanted solitude alone with one we love is
the dream of our happiest days. She took
Zerbino's arm and together they surveyed
their new domain. On the right and left, the
palace was surrounded with beautiful mead-
ows watered with sparkling streams. Shady

148 LAST FAIRY TALES

trees, purple beeches, larches with feathery
cones, and fragrant orange-trees cast length-
ening shadows over the turf. Among the
foliage warbled the linnet, breathing joy and
repose. Leila laid her hand on her heart,
and, looking at Zerbino,

"My love," said she, "are you happy here,
and have you nothing more to wish for?"

"I have never wished for anything," said
Zerbino. "To-morrow I shall take my axe
and set to work; there are fine forests to cut
down here, and I can get plenty of fagots."

"Oh!" said Leila, sighing, "you do not
love me."

"Love you!" exclaimed Zerbino, "what is
that? I wish you no harm, certainly; quite
the contrary. Here is a palace fallen from
the clouds; it is yours. Write to your father
and tell him to come hither; I shall be glad
to see him. If I have hurt your feelings it
was not my fault, I did not mean to. A
wood-cutter I was born, and a wood-cutter
I shall die. I was brought up to it, and I
know how to keep my place. Don't cry; I
don't want to say anything to grieve you."

"Oh, Zerbino!" cried poor Leila, "what
have I done that you should treat me so? Am

ZERBINO THE SAVAGE 149

I ugly and ill-tempered that you cannot love
me?"

"Love you! I never thought of such a
thing. There, there, don't cry, there is no
use in it. Be calm, my child, be reasonable.
What! crying again. Well! well! I should
like to love you, if it would give you pleas-
ure. I do love you, Leila, I do love you!"

Poor Leila, bathed in tears, raised her
eyes. Zerbino had undergone a transforma-
tion. In his glance she saw the tenderness
of a husband; — the devotion of a man who
has given his heart and life forever to an-
other. At the sight, Leila's tears flowed more
freely than ever, but she smiled through them
at Zerbino, who, for his part, wept for the
first time in his life. Is it not the greatest
pleasure of earth to shed tears without know-
ing why?

All at once, the fairy of the waters ap-
peared, leading the sage Mouchamiel by the
hand. The good king had been very unhappy
since the loss of his daughter and his min-
ister. He embraced his children tenderly,
gave them his blessing, and bade them fare-
well the same day, in order to spare his feel-
ings and health. The fairy of the waters re-
mained the protectress of the spouses, who

150 LAST PAIRY TALES

lived long in their beautiful palace, happy
in forgetting the world, and still happier in
being forgotten by it.

Did Zerbino remain a boor, like his
father? Did his soul ever open to the light
of higher things? When he could unseal
his mind with a word, was this word never
whispered? I know not, and am unable to
conjecture. But what did it matter, after
all, since he was happy? He was beloved,
and that is the greatest joy of life. It was
not necessary that he should have wit;
whether princess or shepherdess, every wom-
an in a household has wit enough for two.

THE SHEPHERD PACHA

A TURKISH TALE

ONCE upon a time there lived at Bagdad
a pacha who was greatly beloved by the sul-
tan, and greatly dreaded by his people. Ali,
for this was the name of our friend, was a
true Mussulman, a Turk of the old school.
As soon as the dawn of day permitted him to
distinguish a black thread from a white one,
he spread a carpet on the ground and, his
face turned towards Mecca, piously went
through with his ablutions and prayers. His
devotions finished, two negro slaves, dressed
in scarlet, brought him his pipe and coffee,
when he settled himself on the divan, with
his legs crossed, and remained thus all day
long . To sip black, bitter, and scalding
Mocha, smoke Smyrna tobacco slowly
through a long nargile, sleep, do nothing, and
think less, such was his fashion of govern-
ing. Every month, it is true, an order came

151

152 LAST FAIRY TALES

from Stamboul requiring him to send to the
imperial treasury a million of piasters, the
taxes of the pachalic. The good Ali, depart-
ing from his usual quiet, then summonded
before him the richest merchants of Bag-
dad, and politely asked them for two millions
of piasters. The poor men raised their hands
to heaven, beat their breasts, tore their beards,
cast up their eyes, and swore that they had
not a para; they implored pity of the pacha
and mercy of the sultan. Upon which Ali,
without ceasing to sip his coffee, ordered
them to be bastinadoed on the soles of their
feet till they brought this money which they
did not possess, and which they always suc-
ceeded in rinding somewhere. The sum
counted out, the faithful administrator sent
one half to the sultan and put the other into
his own coffers, then again returned to his
smoking. On these occasions he sometimes
complained, despite his patience, of the cares
of greatness and weariness of power; but the
next day he thought no more of them, and
levied the taxes the next month with the same
calmness and disinterestedness. He was a
model pacha.

Next to his pipe, coffee, and money, the
thing dearest to Ali was his daughter, De-

THE SHEPHERD PACHA 153

light-of-the-Eyes. He had reason to love
her, for in his daughter as in a living mirror
All saw himself reflected, with all his vir-
tues. As indolent as she was beautiful, De-
light-of-the-Eyes could not take a step with-
out three women ready to wait on her: a
white slave had charge of her hair and dress;
a yellow slave held her mirror or fanned her,
and a black slave amused her by her antics,
and received her caresses or blows. The
pacha's daughter drove out every morning in
a great chariot, drawn by oxen; she spent
three hours in the bath, and employed the
rest of her time in making calls, munching
rose conserves, drinking pomegranate sher-
bet, looking at dancing-girls, and ridiculing
her dear friends. After a day so well spent
she returned to the palace, kissed her father,
and slept a dreamless slumber. Reading,
thinking, embroidering, singing, and play-
ing were tiresome tasks, which Delight-of-
the-Eyes took care to leave to her servants.
When a girl is young, beautiful, rich, and a
pacha's daughter, she is born to amuse her-
self, and what is there more amusing and
more praiseworthy than doing nothing. This
is the way that the Turks reason; but how
many Christians are Turks in this respect?

154 LAST FAIRY TALES

There is no happiness here below with-
out alloy; were it not so, earth would make
us forget heaven. Ali experienced this.
One tax-day the vigilant pacha, less wide-
awake than usual, bastinadoed, by mistake,
a Greek raya, a protege of England. The
bastinadoed man clamored, as he had a right
to do, but the English consul, whose slum-
bers had been broken, clamored louder than
the raya, and England, who never sleeps,
clamored still mroe loudly than the consul.
She howled through the journals, vociferated
in Parliament, and shook her fist at Constan-
tinople. The sultan grew tired of so much
fuss about such a trifle, and being unable to
rid himself of his faithful ally, of whom he
stood in awe, he determined at least to shake
off the pacha, the innocent cause of all this
hubbub. His highness's first idea was to
strangle his late friend; but he reflected that
to punish a Mussulman would give too much
exultation and joy to those dogs of Chris-
tians, who were always barking. In his in-
exhaustible clemency, therefore, the Com-
mander of the Faithful contented himself
with ordering the pacha to be set on some
desert shore and left to die of hunger.

Happily for Ali his judge and successor

THE SHEPHERD PACHA 155

was an old pacha whose zeal was tempered
by years, and who knew by experience that
the will of sultans is immutable only in the
almanac. He said to himself that his high-
ness might some day regret his old friend,
and would then give him credit for a clem-
ency that cost him nothing. He caused Ali
and his daughter to be brought to him in se-
cret, gave them slaves' dresses and a few pias-
ters, and warned them that if they were found
in the pachalic the next day, or if he ever
heard their names mentioned again, he would
strangle or decapitate them, whichever they
preferred. Ali thanked him for all his good-
ness, and an hour later was on his way with
a caravan bound to Syria. That very even-
ing the fall and exile of the pacha were pro-
claimed in the streets of Bagdad, and there
was universal rejoicing. On all sides men
extolled the justice and vigilance of the sul-
tan, whose eyes were always open to the suf-
ferings of his children. The next month,
therefore, when the new pacha, whose hand
was somewhat heavy, demanded two and a
half million piasters, the good people of
Bagdad paid it without grumbling, too
happy at having escaped the claws of the

156 LAST FAIRY TALES

brigand who for so many years had pillaged
them with impunity.

To save one's head is fortunate, but it is
not everything; it is necessary to live, and this
is a somewhate difficult task for one accus-
tomed to count upon the labor and money of
others. On reaching Damascus, Ali found
himself destitute of resources. A stranger,
without friends or kinsmen, he was on the
point of starving, and, what was still greater
grief for a father, he saw his daughter grow-
ing pale and wasting away by his side.

What was he to do in this extremity? Ask
alms? This was unworthy of a personage
who the day before had a nation at his feet.
Work? Ali had always lived like a noble-
man; there was nothing that he knew how to
do. His only secret of raising money had
been to bastinado his fellows; but to exer-
cise this respectable means of livelihood in
peace it was necessary to be a pacha, and to
have permission from the sultan. To carry
it on as an amateur, at his own risk and peril,
was to run the risk of being hung as a high-
way robber. Pachas dislike competition.
Ali knew something about it; it had been the
pride of his life from time to time to strangle

THE SHEPHERD PACHA 157

some petty thief who had had the folly to
poach upon rich men's domains.

One day, when he had eaten nothing, and
Delight-of-the-Eyes, worn out by long fast-
ing, was unable to rise from the mat on which
she lay, Ali, prowling around the streets of
Damascus like a famished wolf, saw some
men lifting jars of oil on their heads and
carrying them to the warehouse near by. At
the door of the warehouse stood a clerk who
paid each porter a para for a jar. The sight
of this little piece of copper made the ex-
pacha's heart leap within him. He took his
place in the line, and, mounting a narrow
staircase, received a huge jar, which he had
great difficulty in raising upon his back with
both hands.

With rigid neck, elevated shoulders, and
wrinkled brow Ali was slowly descending
the stairs, when, at the third step, he felt his
burden inclining forward. He threw him-
self back, his feet slipped, and he rolled to
the bottom of the staircase, followed by the
jar, which broke in a thousand pieces, and
deluged him with oil. He was rising, cov-
ered with shame, when the clerk of the ware-
house seized him by the collar.

"Rascal!" said the latter, "pay me fifty

158 LAST FAIRY TALES

piasters quickly, to repair your awkwardness,
and begone; when a man knows nothing of
a trade, he should let it alone."

"Fifty piasters!" said Ali, smiling bitter-
ly. "Where do you expect me to get them?
I have not a para."

"If you do not pay with your purse you
shall with your skin," returned the clerk. At
a sign from him Ali was seized by four vigor-
ous arms and flung on the ground, his feet
were tied with ropes, and, in the attitude in
which he had but too often placed others, he
received fifty blows on his soles, as con-
scientiously applied as if a pacha had pre-
sided over the punishment.

He arose, lame and bleeding, wrapped his
feet in some rags, and dragged himself home,
sighing.

"God is great!" murmured he. "It is just
that I should suffer myself what I have made
others suffer. But the merchants of Bag-
dad whom I bastinadoed were happier than
I ; they had friends who paid for them, while
I am famishing, and have nothing to reward
me for my beating."

He was mistaken. A good woman, who,
by chance or curiosity, had seen his mishap,
took pity on him. She gave him oil to dress

THE SHEPHERD PACHA 159

his wounds, a little sack of flour, and a few
handfuls of pease on which to live till he was
cured, and that night, for the first time since
his fall, Ali could sleep without care for the
morrow.

Nothing sharpens the wits like sickness and
suffering. In his forced rest Ali was struck
with a bright thought. "I was a fool," re-
flected he, "to undertake to be a porter. A
pacha's strength does not lie in his muscles ;
to oxen belongs that honor. What distin-
guish men of my condition are skill and
sleight of hand. I was an unequalled hunter,
and, moreover, I know how to flatter and lie.
I ought to know how, I have been a pacha.
I will choose a business in which I can as-
tonish the world by these brilliant qualities,
and rapidly win an honorable fortune." Re-
flecting thus, Ali turned barber.

The first few days all went well. The
master of the new barber made him draw
water, scrub the shop, shake the rugs, keep
the utensils in order, and serve the custom-
ers with coffee and pipes. Ali performed
these delicate functions admirably. If by
chance the head of some mountain peasant
was intrusted to him, a wrong slip of the
razor passed unnoticed: these good people

l6o LAST FAIRY TALES

are tough-skinned, and are not ignorant that
they were made to be flayed ; a little more or
less does not affect them or rouse them from
their torpor.

One morning, in the absence of the head
barber, a great personage entered the shop,
the very sight of whom intimidated poor
Ali. It was the pacha's buffoon, a hideous
little humpback with a head like a pumpkin,
long hairy claws, a restless eye, and teeth
like an ape. While Ali covered his face with
a fragrant lather, the buffoon, leaning back in
his chair, amused himself with pinching the
new barber, laughing in his face, and running
out his tongue at him. Twice he knocked
from his hands the basin of suds, which de-
lighted him to such a degree that he flung
him four paras. Nevertheless, the prudent
Ali preserved his gravity. Absorbed in the
care of so precious a face, he was guiding his
razor with admirable regularity and light-
ness, when all at once the humpback made
such a hideous grimace and uttered such a cry
that the barber, frightened, suddenly drew
back his hand, carrying away on the end of
his razor half of an ear, and that not his own.

Buffoons like to laugh, but it is at the ex-
pense of others. There are few men with

THE SHEPHERD PACHA 161

thinner skins than those who chafe the skins
of their neighbors. To fling himself on AH
and cuff and choke him, shouting murder
meanwhile, was the humpback's first im-
pulse. Happily for Ali, the cut was so deep
that the wounded man was soon forced to
think of his ear, from which a stream of
blood was gushing. Ali seized the lucky
moment and fled through the lanes of Da-
mascus with the swiftness of a man who
knows that to be caught is to be hung.

After many windings, he hid himself in a
ruined cellar, and only ventured home in
the darkness and silence of night. To stay at
Damascus after such an accident was certain
death. Ali had no difficulty in convincing
his daughter that it was necessary to depart,
and that at once. Their baggage was little
encumbrance to them, and before dawn they
had reached the mountain. For three days
they walked without stopping, with nothing
to eat but a few figs filched from the trees on
the road, and a little water procured with
great difficulty from the bottom of the dried-
up ravines. But every misfortune has its
compensation, and it must be said that never,
in the times of their splendor, had the pacha

162 LAST FAIRY TALES

or his daughter eaten or drunk with better
appetite.

At their last stopping-place the fugitives
were welcomed by an honest peasant who lib-
erally practised the holy law of hospitality.
After supper he talked with Ali, and, finding
him without resources, offered to take him
for a shepherd. To lead to the mountain a
score of goats, followed by half a hundred
sheep, was not a tiresome task; two good
dogs did the hardest part of the work; he
ran no risk of being beaten for his awkward-
ness; he had all the milk and cheese he
wanted, and if the farmer did not give him
a para, he at least permitted Delight-of-the-
Eyes to take as much wool as she could spin,
for her father's clothes and her own. Ali,
who had no choice but to die of hunger or be
hung, decided, without much reluctance, to
lead the life of the patriarchs; the very next
morning he made his way to the mountain
with his daughter, his dogs, and his flock.

Once in the fields, Ali relapsed into his
indolent ways. Stretched on his back smok-
ing his pipe, he passed his time watching the
flight of the birds through the air. Poor
Delight-of-the-Eyes was less patient; she

THE SHEPHERD PACHA 163

thought of Bagdad, and did not forget in her
distaff the sweet leisure of olden times.

"My father 1" she often said, "what is the
use of life when it is nought but perpetual
misery? Is it not better to put an end to it
at once than to die by a slow fire?"

"God is great! my daughter," answered the
wise shepherd; "what he does is well done.
I have repose; at my age this is the chief of
blessings; you see, therefore, that I am re-
signed. Ah! if I had only learned a trade.
You have youth and hope, and can look for
a change of fortune. Are not these good rea-
sons for taking comfort?"

"I am resigned, my good father," said De-
light-of-the-Eyes, sighing. The more she
hoped, the less was her resignation.

Ali had led this happy life in solitude for
more than a year when one morning the son
of the pacha of Damascus was hunting on
the mountain. While chasing a wounded
bird he lost his way. Alone, and far from
his suite, he sought to find his path by fol-
lowing the course of a brook, when, on turn-
ing a rock, he saw before him a young girl
sitting on the grass with her feet in the wa-
ter, and braiding up her long hair. At the
sight of this beautiful creature Yousouf ut-

1 64 LAST FAIRY TALES

tered a cry. Delight-of-the-Eyes raised her
head. Terrified at the sight of a stranger,
she fled to her father, and disappeared from
the gaze of the astonished prince.

"Who can this be?" thought Yousouf.
"The flower of the mountain is fresher than
the rose of our gardens; this daughter of the
desert is more beautiful than our sultanas.
Here is the woman of whom 1 have
dreamed."

He followed the steps of the unknown as
fast as the slippery stones would let him, and
at last found Delight-of-the-Eyes busied in
milking the goats, while Ali called off the
dogs, whose furious barking announced the
stranger's approach. Yousouf complained
that he had lost his way and was dying of
thirst. Delight-of-the-Eyes immediately
brought him milk in a great earthen jug; he
drank slowly, gazing at the father and daugh-
ter without speaking, and at last decided to
ask his way. Ali, followed by his two dogs,
conducted the hunter to the foot of the moun-
tain and returned trembling; the stranger
had given him a piece of gold; he must be
an officer of the sultan, perhaps a pacha. To
Ali, who judged from his own recollections,
a pacha was a man who could only do harm,

THE SHEPHERD PACHA 165

and whose friendship was to be dreaded quite
as much as his hatred.

On reaching Damascus, Yousouf threw
himself on his mother's neck: he repeated to
her that she was as beautiful as at sixteen, and
as brilliant as the moon in its full; that she
was his only friend, and that he loved no
one else in the world ; saying which he kissed
her hands again and again.

His mother smiled. "My child," said she,
"you have a secret to confide to me; speak
quickly. I know that I am not as beautiful
as you call me, but I am sure of this, that you
will never have a better friend than I."

Yousouf did not wait to be urged. He
was burning to tell what he had seen on the
mountains ; he drew a marvellous portrait of
the fair stranger, and declared that he could
not live without her, and would marry her
the next day.

"A little patience, my son!" said his
mother. "Let us learn who this miracle of
beauty is; after that we will persuade your
father to give his consent to this happy mar-
riage."

When the pacha learned of his son's pas-
sion, he began with expostulations and ended
with a fit of rage. Were rich and elegant

1 66 LAST FAIRY TALES

girls so scarce in Damascus that his son
must go to the desert in search of a shep-
herdess? Never would he give his consent
to this wretched marriage, never!

Never is a word which a prudent man
should beware of speaking in his household
when his wife and son are arrayed against
him. A week had not passed before the
pacha, moved by the mother's tears and the
son's pallor, retired from the field, tired of
the contest; but, like a strong-minded man
who knows his own value, he openly declared
that he was doing a foolish thing and that he
knew it.

"All right!" said he; "let my son marry a
shepherdess, if he will; his folly be on his
own head; I wash my hands of him. But,
that nothing may be lacking to this absurd
marriage, let my fool come hither; he is the
fitting messenger to send for this wretched
goatherd who has bewitched my household."

An hour after the humpback, mounted on
an ass, was on his way to the mountain,
execrating the caprice of the pacha and the
love of Yousouf. What sense was there in
sending as ambassador to a shepherd, through
dust and sun, a delicate man, born to live
under the canopy of a palace and to delight

THE SHEPHERD PACHA 167

lords and princes by the brilliancy of his
wit? But, alas! fortune is blind; it seats
fools on the pinnacle of power, and reduces
geniuses who would not die of hunger to the
condition of fools.

Three days of fatigue had not softened the
ill-humor of the humpback, when he saw Ali
lying in the shade of a tree, and more oc-
cupied with his pipe than his sheep. Giving
his ass a kick, the fool advanced towards the
shepherd with the majesty of a vizier.

"Fellow!" said he, "you have bewitched
the pacha's son; he does you the honor to
marry your daughter. Scour up this pearl
of the mountain quickly as you can, I must
carry her back to Damascus. As for your-
self, the pacha sends you this purse, and or-
ders you to clear out of the country as fast as
possible."

Ali let fall the purse that was flung him,
and, without turning his head, asked the
humpback what he wanted.

"Stupid brute!" returned the latter.
"Didn't you hear me? The pacha's son
takes your daughter in marriage."

"What does the pacha's son do for a liv-
ing?" asked Ali.

"What does he do for a living?" cried the

1 68 LAST FAIRY TALES

buffoon, bursting into a fit of laughter.
"Blind dotard that you are, do you imagine
that so exalted a personage as he is a rustic
of your sort. Don't you know that the pacha
shares the tithes of the provinces with the
sultan, and that out of the forty sheep that
you tend so badly, there are five that belong
to him by right, and thirty-five that he can
take if he chooses."

"I am not talking of the pacha," tranquilly
returned Ali. "God protects his Excellency!
I ask you what his son does for a living? Is
he an armorer?"

"No! you fool!"

"A blacksmith?"

"By no means!"

"A carpenter?"

"No!"

"A charcoal-burner?"

"No, no; he is a great gentleman. Don't
you know, you blind bat, that nobody but
beggars work? The son of the pacha is a
noble lord ; that is to say, he has white hands
and does nothing."

"Then he shall not have my daughter,"
said the shepherd, gravely. "Housekeeping
is expensive, and I will never give my daugh-
ter to a husband who cannot support his

THE SHEPHERD PACHA 169

wife. But perhaps the pacha's son has some
lighter trade. Is not he an embroiderer?"

o

"No," said the buffoon, shrugging his
shoulders.

"A tailor?"

"No."

"A potter?"
• "No."

"A basket-maker?"

"No."

"Is he a barber, then?"

"No," said the humpback, purple with
rage; "stop this folish jesting or I will have
you beaten to a jelly. Call your daughter, I
am in haste."

"My daughter shall not go," said the shep-
herd.

He whistled to his dogs, who gathered
round him, growling, and showing fangs
which appeared to give little amusement to
the envoy of the pacha. He mounted his ass,
and, shaking his fist at Ali, who held back
his dogs, bristling with rage,

"Wretch!" said he, "you shall soon hear
from me. You shall know what it costs to
have any other will than that of the pacha,
your master and mine."

The buffoon returned to Damascus with

1 70 LAST FAIRY TALES

his maimed ear hanging lower than usual.
Happily for him, the pacha took the matter
in good part. It was a little disappointment
for his wife and son, and a triumph for him-
self; a double success which agreeably tickled
his pride.

"Upon my word!" said he, "the honest
man is even madder than my son. But don't
be troubled, Yousouf, a pacha never breaks
his word. I will send four horsemen to the
mountain to bring me the girl; as for the
father, have no anxiety about him; I have a
decisive argument in store for the fellow."

Saying this, he made an airy gesture with
his hand, as if cutting down something that
was in his way.

At a sign from his mother Yousouf arose,
and entreated his father to leave to him the
care of carrying out this little adventure.
Doubtless the means proposed was irresisti-
ble, but Delight-of-the-Eyes might be weak
enough to love the old shepherd ; she would
weep for him; and the pacha would not wish
to sadden the honeymoon. Yousouf hoped,
with a little persuasion, easily to overcome a
resistance wrhich seemed to him unreason-
able.

"Very well," said the pacha. "You think

THE SHEPHERD PACHA 171

yourself wiser than your father; it is the way
with sons. Go, and do as you please; but I
warn you that from this day forth I wash my
hands of your affairs. If that old fool of a
shepherd refuses you, that ends the matter.
I would give a thousand piasters to see you
return as discomfited as the humpback."

Yousouf smiled; he was sure of success.
How could Delight-of-the-Eyes help loving
him? He adored her. Moreover, at twen-
ty, who doubts himself or his good fortune.
Doubt is for those whom life has deceived,
and not for those whom she intoxicates with
her first illusions.

Ali received Yousouf with all the respect
due to the son of a pacha. He thanked him
politely for his honorable proposal, but con-
tinued inexorable. No trade — no marriage.
It was for him to choose. The young man
had thought that Delight-of-the-Eyes would
come to his aid ; but Delight-of-the-Eyes was
invisible; and there was a good reason for her
not disobeying her father; the prudent Ali
had not said a word to her about the mar-
riage. Since the visit of the buffoon he had
carefully kept her shut up in the house.

The pacha's son returned from the moun-
tain utterly cast down. What should he do?

172 LAST FAIRY TALES

Return to Damascus to be the butt of his
father's railleries? Never would Yousouf
resign himself to this. Lose Delight-of-the-
Eyes? Rather death. Make this old shep-
herd change his mind? Yousouf could not
hope for it, and he almost came to the point
of regretting that he had ruined his cause by
too great kindness of heart.

Amid these sad reflections he suddenly
perceived that his horse, left to himself, had
strayed away. Yousouf found him on the
edge of an olive wood. In the distance he
spied a village. The bluish smoke rose above
the roofs, and he heard the barking of dogs,
the song of the workmen, and the noise of the
forge and hammer. An idea struck Yousouf.
What hindered him from learning a trade?
Was it so very difficult? Was not Delight-
of-the-Eyes worth any sacrifice? The young
man tied his horse to an olive-tree, upon
which he hung his weapons, embroidered
jacket, and turban. At the first house he
reached he complained of having been rob-
bed by the Bedouins, bought a rough suit of
clothes, and, thus disguised, went from door
to door to offer himself as an apprentice.
Yousouf's appearance was so prepossessing
that every one welcomed him cordially, but

THE SHEPHERD PACHA 173

he was appalled at the conditions proposed
to him. The blacksmith asked two years to
teach him, the potter one year, and the mason
six months; it was a century. The pacha's
son would not resign himself to this long
servitude. All at once a shrill voice called
out: "Ho! my son, if you are in haste and
are not ambitious, come with me; in a week
I will teach you how to earn your living."

Yousouf raised his head. A few steps
from him a little fat man with round belly
and rosy face was seated on a bench with his
legs crossed ; he was a basket-maker. He was
surrounded with straw and reeds of all col-
ors. With a skilful hand he plaited the
braids, which he then sewed together into
baskets, mats, and hats of varied shades and
patterns. It was a charming sight.

"You are my master," said Yousouf, tak-
ing the hand of the basket-maker; "and if
you can teach me your trade in two days, I
will pay you well for your pains. Here is
my advance fee."

With these words he flung two pieces of
gold to the amazed workman.

An apprentice who scatters gold about him
is not seen every day. The basket-maker did
not doubt that he had to deal with a prince

174 LAST FAIRY TALES

in disguise. He did wonders, and, as his
pupil lacked neither intelligence nor good-
will, before night he had taught him all the
secrets of his trade.

"My son," said he, "your education is fin-
ished; you shall judge before night whether
your master has earned his money. The sun
is setting; it is the time when people pass
my door on their way home from work. Take
this mat, which you have braided and sewed
with your own hands, and offer it for sale.
Either I am greatly mistaken or you will sell
it for four paras. For a beginner that is do-
ing well."

The basket-maker was not mistaken. The
first purchaser offered three paras. He was
asked five, and after more than an hour's
haggling he finally decided to give four.
He drew out his long purse, looked several
times at the mat, criticised it, and finally
made up his mind to count out his four cop-
per coins, one by one. But, instead of taking
the money, Yousouf flung a piece of gold to
the purchaser, and ten to the basket-maker;
then, seizing his masterpiece, he rushed from
the village like a madman. On reaching his
horse he spread the mat on the ground, en-
veloped his head in his mantle, and slept

THE SHEPHERD PACHA 175

the most restless but, nevertheless, the sweet-
est sleep that he had ever tasted in his life.

At daybreak, when Ali came to the pasture
with his sheep, he was greatly astonished to
see Yousouf installed before him under the
old carob-tree. As soon as he perceived the
shepherd, the young man arose, and, taking
the mat on which he had been lying,

"My father!" said he, "you required me to
learn a trade. I have done so. Here is my
work, examine it for yourself."

"It is a fine bit of work," said Ali; "if it
is not very smoothly braided, it is honestly
sewed. What can you earn by making one
mat a day like this?"

"Four paras," said Yousouf, "and with a
little practice, I could make two at least in
a day."

"Be modest," returned Ali; "modesty be-
comes youthful talent. Four paras a day is
not much, but four paras to-day and four to-
morrow make eight paras, and four paras
the day after will make twelve. In fine, it
is a trade at which a man can earn a living,
and if I had had the wit to learn it when I
was pacha, I should not have had to turn
shepherd to-day."

These words filled Yousouf with aston-

176 LAST FAIRY TALES

ishment. All told him his whole story. It
was risking his head, but a little pride is ex-
cusable in a father on giving his daughter in
Carriage. Ali was not sorry to show his son-
in-iaw that Delight-of-the-Eyes was not un-
worthy to be the wife of a pacha's son.

The sheep that day went home earlier than
usual. Yousouf was anxious to thank the
honest farmer who had given shelter to Ali
and his daughter. He bestowed on him a
purse of gold to reward him for his charity.
None is so liberal as a happy man. Delight-
of-the-Eyes, on being introduced to the
mountain hunter, and informed of Yousouf's
intentions, declared that it was a daughter's
first duty to obey her father. In such cases,
it is said, daughters are always obedient in
Turkey.

The same day, in the cool of the evening,
they set out for Damascus. The horses were
fleet, and their hearts were light; they went
like the wind, and, before the close of the
second day, they had reached hteir destina-
tion. Yousouf presented his bride to his
mother. It is needless to say how great was
her joy. After the first caresses, she could
not resist the pleasure of showing her hus-
band that she had been wiser than he, and

THE SHEPHERD PACHA 177

took pleasure in revealing to him the birth of
the fair Delight-of-the-Eyes.

"By Allah!" cried the pacha, stroking his
long beard to keep himself in countenance,
and hide his confusion, "do you imagine,
madam, that you can surprise a statesman like
me? Should I ever have consented to this
union if I had not known the secret that as-
tonishes you? Understand that a pacha
knows everything." And he instantly re-
tired to his study to write to the sultan, that
he might decide Ali's fate. He was not
ready to displease his highness for the bright
eyes of an outlawed family. Youth loves
romance in life, but the pacha was a serious
man, who was anxious to live and die a pacha.

All sultans love stories, if we are to be-
lieve "The Thousand and One Nights." Ali's
protector had not degenerated from his an-
cestors. He sent a ship expressly to Syria
to bring the ex-pacha of Bagdad to Constan-
tinople. Ali, clad in rags, with crook in
hand, was led to the seraglio, where, before
a numerous audience, he had the honor of
amusing his majesty during a whole after-
noon.

When Ali had finished his story, the sul-
tan ordered him to be clothed in a robe of

178 LAST FAIRY TALES

honor. Of a pacha his highness had made a
shepherd; he wished now to astonish the
world by a new miracle of his omnipotence,
and of a shepherd to make a pacha.

The whole court applauded this brilliant
mark of favor. Ali threw himself at the sul-
tan's feet, and declined an honor which had
lost all attractions for him. He did not wish,
he said, to run the risk of displeasing the mas-
ter of the world a second time, and begged
to grow old in obscurity, blessing the gener-
ous hand that had rescued him from the
abyss into which he had justly fallen.

Ali's boldness appalled the spectators, but
the sultan smiled.

"God is great!" he cried, "and has some
new surprise in store for us each day. Dur-
ing the twenty years that I have reigned, this
is the first time that one of my subjects has
asked to be nothing. For the rarity of the
thing, Ali, I grant your prayer. All that I
ask is that you shall accept a gift of a thou-
sand purses. No one must leave my presence
empty-handed."

On his return to Damascus Ali bought a
beautiful garden, filled with oranges, lemons,
apricots, plums, and grapes. To dig, hoe,
graft, prune, and water these was his sole

THE SHEPHERD PACHA

delight. He went to bed every night with a
tired body and tranquil soul, and arose every
morning refreshed and light-hearted.

Delight-of-the-Eyes had three sons, all
more beautiful than their mother. Old Ali
undertook to bring them up. He taught all
of them gardening, and made each one learn
a different trade. To engrave on their hearts
the truth that he had learned only in exile,
he inscribed on the walls of his house and
garden the finest passages of the Koran, above
which he wrote these wise sayings, which
the Prophet himself would not have dis-
owned :

"Labor is the only treasure that never fails us."
"Use thy hands for work and thou wilt never stretch

them for alms."

"When thou knowest what it costs to earn a para,

thou wilt respect others' property and labor."
"Work, brings health, wisdom, and joy."
"Labor and dulness never dwell under the same roof."

It was amid such wise teachings that the
sons of Delight-of-the-Eyes grew up. All
three were pachas. Whether they profited by
their grandfather's counsels I know not. I
like to think so, although the annals of the
Turks are silent concerning it. The first
lessons of infancy are not forgotten. It is

i8o LAST FAIRY TALES

to education that we owe three fourths of
our vices and half our virtues. Good people,
remember what you owe to your fathers, and
say to yourselves that wicked men and
pachas, are, for the most part, only children
badly trained.

BRIAM THE FOOL

AN ICELANDIC TALE
I

IN the good country of Iceland, there once
lived a king and queen who ruled a faithful
and obedient people. The queen was good
and gentle, and little attention was paid to
her; the king was grasping and cruel, and
all who feared him, therefore, vied with each
other in praising his virtue and kindness.
Thanks to his avarice, the king had more
castles, farms, herds, goods, and jewels than
he could count, but the more he had, the
more he wanted. Woe to the man, rich or
poor, who fell into his power!

At the lower end of the park about the
royal castle stood a little hut, where dwelt
an old peasant and his wife. Providence had
bestowed on them seven sons, and these were
all their riches. To feed this large family
the good people had nothing but a cow,

181

1 82 LAST FAIRY TALES

called Bukolla. She was a splendid animal,
black-and-white, with short horns, and large,
soft, and gentle eyes. Her beauty, moreover,
was her very least merit; she was milked
thrice a day, and never gave less than five
gallons at a time. She was so devoted to her
masters that she came home of her own ac-
cord at milking-time, dragging her full ud-
ders, and lowing from afar for them to come
to her relief; in short, she was the delight of
the houeshold.

One day, as the king was hunting, he
chanced to pass through the pasture where
the cows of the castle were feeding. Un-
luckily, Bukolla had strayed among the
herd.

"What a fine cow I have there!" exclaimed
he.

"Sire," answered the herdsman, "it is not
yours; it is Bukolla, the cow of the old peas-
ant that lives in the hovel yonder."

"I must have her," said the king, and
through the whole hunt he talked of nothing
but Bukolla. At night, on his return, he
called the captain of his guard, who was as
wicked as himself, and said, "Go find that
peasant, and bring me directly the cow that
has struck my fancy."

BRIAM THE FOOL 183

The queen begged him to forbear. "These
poor people," said she, "have nothing in the
world but their cow; to take her away is to
make them die of starvation."

"I must have her," returned the king, "by
purchase, barter, or force, no matter which.
If, in an hour, Bukolla is not in my stables,
woe to the knave that has failed in his duty!"
And he frowned so fiercely that the queen
dared not open her lips, and the captain of
the guard set off post-haste with a band of
soldiers.

The peasant was milking the cow in front
of the door, with all the children gathered
round, caressing her. On hearing the king's
message the good man shook his head, and
declared that he would not sell Bukolla at
any price. "She is mine," said he, "she is
my joy and treasure, and I love her better
than all the king's gold."

It was growing late, and the captain of the
guard feared his master's wrath. He seized
Bukolla by the horns to drag her away. The
peasant sprang to his feet, to offer resistance,
when a blow from an axe laid him dead on
the ground. At the sight, all the children
burst into tears except Briam, the eldest, who

1 84 LAST FAIRY TALES

stood, pale and speechless, as if transfixed to
the spot.

The captain of the guard knew that blood
for blood is the law in Iceland, and that
sooner or later the sons would avenge their
father. If the tree was not to grow again,
it must be plucked up, root and branch. With
a frenzied grasp, the ruffian seized one of the
crying children. "Where is your pain?" he
asked. "Here," said the child, laying his
hand on his heart, whereupon the wretch in-
stantly plunged a dagger into his breast. Six
times he put the same question and received
the same answer, and six times he flung the
corpse of the son upon that of the father. Ail
this time, Briam, with his eyes and mouth
wide open, was running about, chasing the
flies as they buzzed in the air.

"Come here, you rascal! where is your
pain?" cried the executioner.

For his sole answer, Briam put his thumb
and forefinger to his nose in token of con-
tempt, and ran off as fast as his legs could
carry him, singing and dancing. The cap-
tain of the guard was about to pursue the
insolent fellow, when he was stopped by his
companions.

"Fie!" said they; "kill the cub after the

BRIAM THE FOOL 185

X

wolf, but do not kill a fool ! What harm can
he do you?"

That evening the king had the pleasure of
stroking Bukolla, and the thought never
crossed his mind that she had cost him too
dear. But in the ruined hovel an old woman,
in tears, entreated justice of God. The whim
of a prince had robbed her in an hour of her
husband and six children. Of all whom she
loved, of all who were her support, nought
was left her but a wretched idiot.

II

Ere long, nothing was talked of for twenty
leagues round but Briam and his antics. One
day, he wanted to drive a nail into the axle
of the sun; another, he tossed up his cap to
the man in the moon. The king, who was
ambitious, thought that it would be a good
thing to have a fool at his court, in humble
imitation of the great princes of the Con-
tinent. Briam was sent for, accordingly, and
dressed in a motley suit, with one leg red and
the other blue, one sleeve green and the other
yellow; and an orange body. In this parrot-
like costume, he was set to amuse the court-
iers. Sometimes caressed and oftener beaten,

1 86 LAST FAIRY TALES

the poor fool suffered everything without
complaint. He passed whole hours in talk-
ing with the birds or watching the burial of
an ant. If he opened his lips, it was to make
some mad speech, which greatly delighted
those who were not its butt.

One day, when dinner was about to be
served, the captain of the guard entered the
castle kitchen. Briam, armed with a chop-
ping-knife, was cutting up carrot leaves in
the style of parsley. The sight of the knife
terrified the murderer, and aroused his sus-
picions. "Briam, where is your mother?"
asked he.

"There she is, hanging yonder," answered
the idiot, pointing with his finger at the huge
pot, where the royal dinner was stewing.

"Stupid lout, what do you mean?" ex-
claimed the guardsman, opening his eyes.

"That is my mother; it is what feeds me,"
returned Briam. And, springing to the fire-
place, he grasped the sooty pot in his arms,
and ran off with it to the forest. They chased
him, but it was labor lost; when they caught
him, the dinner was spilled and everything
spoiled. That night the king was forced to
dine on a crust of bread, and his only con-

BRIAM THE FOOL 187

solation was to have Briam soundly whipped
by the scullions of the castle.

Briam limped to his mother's hovel, and
told her what had happened. "My son, my
son," said the poor woman, "that is not what
you should have said."

"What should I have said, mother?"

"My son, you should have said, 'This is
the pot that is filled every day by the king's
generosity.'

"Well, mother, I will say that to-morrow."

The next day the court was assembled.
The king was talking with his high-steward
— a great lord, who loved good cheer, fat,
sleek, and jolly; with a large, bald head, a
thick neck, a huge belly, over which he could
not cross his arms, and a pair of little legs
which with difficulty supported this vast
structure. As the steward was talking with
the king, Briam came up, and struck him a
smart blow in the belly, saying : "This is what
is filled every day by the king's generosity."

It is needless to say that a beating followed.
The king was furious, and the court like-
wise; but it was whispered that evening
throughout the castle that fools, without
knowing it, sometimes speak the truth.

Briam limped to his mother's hut, and

1 88 LAST FAIRY TALES

told her what had happened. "My son, my
son/' said the poor woman, "that is not what
you should have said."

"What should I have said, mother?"
"My son, you should have said, 'This is
the best and most faithful of courtiers.'
"Well, mother, I will say that to-morrow."
The next day the king held a grand levee,
and while the ministers, officers, chamber-
lains, fine gentlemen, and fair ladies were dis-
puting the smiles of the monarch, he amused
himself by teasing a large spaniel that was
trying to snatch a cake from his hands.

Briam seated himself at the king's feet,
and seizing the dog by the nape of the neck,
causing it to howl piteously, cried, "This is
the best and most faithful of courtiers."

The king smiled at this jest, upon which
the courtiers all burst out laughing, but no
sooner had he left the room than a shower of
blows and kicks rained upon poor Briam,
who had great difficulty in escaping the
storm. He limped to his mother's hut and
told her what had happened.

"My son, my son," said the poor woman,
"that is not what you should have said."
"What should I have said, mother?"
"You should have said, 'This creature

BRIAM THE FOOL 189

would eat up everything if one would let
her.7 "

"Well, mother, I will say that to-morrow."
The next day was a holiday, and the queen
appeared in her most gorgeous array. She
was covered with velvet, laces, and jewels;
her necklace alone was worth the tax of
twenty villages. All admired her splendor.
Just then Briam came up, crying, "This
creature would eat up everything if one
would let her."

It would have been all over with the inso-
lent wretch if the queen herself had not inter-
ceded for him.

"Poor fool," said she, "begone; no one
shall hurt you. If you knew how these
jewels weigh me down, you would not re-
proach me for wearing them."

Briam hastened to his mother's hut, and
told her what had happened. "My son, my
son," said the poor woman, "that is not what
you should have said."

"What should I have said, mother?"
"My son, you should have said, 'This is
the king's love and pride.' "

"Well, mother, I will say that to-morrow."

The next day, the king was going to the

chase. His favorite mare was brought him ;

190 LAST FAIRY TALES

he mounted, and was carelessly bidding the
queen good-bye, when Briam struck the horse
on the shoulder, saying, "This is the king's
love and pride."

The king looked angrily at Briam, upon
which the poor fool ran off as fast his legs
could carry him, already beginning to scent
the whip in the air. He entered his mother's
hut, out of breath, and told her what had
happened.

"My son," said the poor mother, "do not
go back to the castle; they will kill you."

"Patience, mother, none can say who will
slay and who will be slain."

"Alas!" said his mother, weeping; "how
happy your father is to be in his grave, where
he cannot see your shame and mine."

"Patience, mother, no two days are alike."

Ill

Almost three months had passed since
Briam's father slept in the grave with his
children, when the king gave a great feast
to the chief officers of his court. The cap-
tain of the guard sat at his right and the fat
high-steward at his left. The table was cov-
ered with lights, fruits arid flowers, and the
guests quaffed the choicest wine from golden

BRIAM THE FOOL

cups. As the drink went round their blood
grew heated, words ran high, and more than
one quarrel was threatening. Briam, madder
than ever, poured the wine, and took care not
to leave a glass empty, but while he held the
golden flagon with one hand, with the other
he pinned the clothing of the guests together,
two by two, so that no one could rise with-
out dragging his neighbor after him.

He had made the round of the board three
times, when the king cried, heated with wine :

"Jump upon the table, fool, and give us a
song!"

Briam leaped up lightly among the fruits
and flowers, and began chanting in a mourn-
ful strain:

"Each has its turn,
Wind and rain,
Night and day,
Death and life,
Each has its turn."

"What do you mean by this dismal dirge?"
exclaimed the king. "Fool, make me laugh
or I will make you cry."

Briam looked at the king fiercely, and
chanted, in a menacing voice:

"Each has its turn,
Good luck and ill,

192 LAST FAIRY TALES

Outrage and vengeance,
Deaf are the fates,
Each has its turn."

"What! villain, it looks as if you were
threatening me," cried the king; "you shall
be punished as you deserve."

He rose to his feet so suddenly that he
dragged after him the captain of the guard.
The latter, taken by surprise, fell forward,
and, to steady himself, caught hold of the
king's elbow and neck.

"Wretch!" cried the prince, "do you dare
to lay hands on your master?" And, seizing
his dagger, he was about to stab the officer
when the latter grasped the king's arm with
one hand, and, with the other, plunged his
dirk into his throat. The blood gushed forth
in torrents, and the prince fell, dragging his
murderer with him in the death-struggle.

The captain of the guard rose quickly,
amid shrieks and confusion, and, drawing
his sword, exclaimed, "Gentlemen, the ty-
rant is dead. Hurrah for liberty. I will be
king and will marry the queen. If any one
objects, let him speak, I am ready for him."

"Long live the king!" cried all the cour-
tiers; and there were even a few who took
advantage of the occasion to draw a petition

BRIAM THE FOOL 193

from their pockets. The joy was universal,
and almost delirious. Suddenly, with flash-
ing eyes and uplifted axe, Briam stood be-
fore the usurper.

"Dog, and son of a dog," he cried, "when
you slew my kindred, you thought neither of
God nor man. Your time has come!"

The captain of the guard attempted to
draw his sword, but Briam dealt his right
arm such a blow that it fell like a broken
bough.

"And now," cried Briam, "if you have a
son, let him avenge you, as Briam this day
avenges his father." With these words, he
cleft his skull asunder.

"Long live Briam!" cried the courtiers;
"long live our liberator !" At that instant the
queen entered, terror-stricken, and threw her-
self at the fool's feet, calling him her aven-
ger. Briam raised her from the ground,
then, seating himself by her side and brand-
ishing his axe, he called on all the courtiers
to swear fidelity to their lawful sovereign.

"Long live the queen!" cried every one.
The joy was universal and almost delirious.

The queen wished to keep Briam at the
court; but he begged to return to his hut,
and asked no other reward than the poor cow,

194 LAST FAIRY TALES

the innocent cause of so much suffering. On
approaching the door of the cottage, the cow
began to low for those who could no longer
hear her. The poor woman came out, in
tears.

"Mother," said Briam, "here is Bukolla;
you are avenged!"

Here ends the story. What became of
Briam none can tell; but the whole country
still points out the ruins of the hut where he
and his brothers dwelt, and mothers say to
their children, "There lived the lad who
avenged his father and comforted his
mother." And the children answer, "We
will follow his example."

THE LITTLE GRAY MAN

AN ICELANDIC TALE

IN olden times — I speak of three or four
hundred years ago — there lived at Skalholt,
in Iceland, an old peasant, who was no more
richly endowed with wit than he was with
money. One day, when the honest man was
at church, he heard a fine sermon on charity.
"Give alms, brethren, give alms!" said the
curate, "and the Lord will restore it to you
a hundred-fold." These words, which were
repeated again and again, fixed themselves
in the peasant's mind, and muddled what
little brains he had. Scarcely had he re-
turned home when he began to cut down the
trees in his garden, dig up the ground, and
fetch wood and stones, as if he were about
to build a palace.

"What are you doing, my poor man?"
asked his wife.

"Don't call me 'poor man' any longer,"

195

196 LAST FAIRY TALES

said the peasant, gravely; "we are rich, my
dear wife, or, at least, we soon shall be. In
a fortnight I am going to give away my cow."

"Our only means of livelihood," cried the
wife; "we shall die of starvation."

"Hold your tongue, you ignoramus," said
the peasant; "it is clearly to be seen that you
did not listen to the curate's sermon. By giv-
ing away our cow we shall receive a hundred
more as a reward; the curate said so, and it
is gospel truth; I shall put fifty of them in
the stable that I am going to build, and with
the money that I get for the other fifty I
shall buy meadow-land enough to keep our
herd both in winter and summer. We shall
be richer than the king." And, without
troubling himself about either the prayers
or reproaches of his wife, the simpleton went
on building his stable, to his neighbors' great
astonishment.

The work finished, he tied a rope around
the cow's neck, and led her straight to the
curate's house. He found him talking with
two strangers, at whom he scarcely glanced,
so eager was he to make his gift and to re-
ceive the promised reward. The curate was
greatly astonished at this new form of char-
ity. He made a long speech to his foolish

THE LITTLE GRAY MAN 197

sheep, to prove to him that our Lord had
spoken of spiritual rewards alone; but it was
sheer waste of time; the peasant only an-
swered, "You said so, Mr. Curate; you said
so." Tired, at last, of reasoning with such
a dolt, the pastor fell into a fit of holy wrath,
and shut his door in the face of the peasant,
who stood in the road thunder-struck, repeat-
ing, "You said so, Mr. Curate; you said so."

Nothing was left for him but to return
home; and this was not an easy matter. It
was early spring ; the ice was melting, and the
gusts of wind blew the snow in all directions.
He slipped at every step, while the cow
lowed, and would not go on. At the end of
an hour he had lost his way, and was in
danger of losing his life. He stopped, per-
plexed, execrating his ill-fortune, and not
knowing what to do with the animal that he
was dragging along. As he was sadly re-
flecting, a man came up, carrying a huge
sack, and asked him what he was doing
abroad in such wretched weather.

The peasant told the story of his troubles.
"My good man," said the stranger, "if you
take my advice, you will make a trade with
me. I live close by here; give me your cow,
which you can never get home, and take this

LAST FAIRY TALES

sack, which is no more than you can carry,
and which is full of good things; it holds
nothing but meat and bone."

The bargain struck, the stranger led away
the cow, while the peasant threw over his
shoulder the sack, which he found fright-
fully heavy. Dreading his wife's reproaches
and ridicule, the instant he entered the house
he hastened to tell of the danger he had run,
and what a good trade he had made in ex-
changing a dying cow for a sack full of
victuals. On hearing this fine story, his wife
began to snarl. He begged her to keep her
ill-humor to herself, and to hang on her big-
gest pot. "You will see what I have
brought," said he. "Wait a little, and you
will thank me." He opened the sack, when
out stepped a little man, all in gray, like a
mouse.

"How are you, good people?" said he, with
the air of a prince. "I hope that, instead of
cooking me, you will give me something to
eat; this little journey has made me very
hungry."

The peasant dropped upon his bench as if
he were thunderstruck.

"There!" said his wife; "I was sure it
would turn out so. Here is a new piece of

THE LITTLE GRAY MAN 199

folly. But what else can one expect of a hus-
band? Here you have lost the cow, that was
our only means of livelihood, and, now that
we have nothing, you bring us another mouth
to feed. I wish you had stayed in the snow
with your sack and its treasure."

The good woman would have gone on talk-
ing till doomsday, if the little gray man had
not thrice remonstrated with her that hard
words would not fill the pot, and that the
wisest course was to go and hunt for game.
He went out at once, in spite of the dark-
ness, wind, and snow, and soon came back,
bringing a fat sheep.

"There!" said he; "kill this creature, and
do not let us die of starvation."

The old peasant and his wife looked ask-
ance at the little man and his booty. This
boon, that fell, as it were, from the clouds,
savored strongly of theft; but, when hunger
cries aloud, farewell to scruples. Lawful
prey or not, the sheep was hungrily eaten.

From that day plenty reigned in the peas-
ant's household. One sheep followed an-
other, and the honest man, more credulous
than ever, marvelled within himself whether
he had not gained by the exchange, when,
instead of the hundred cows that he expected,

200 LAST FAIRY TALES

heaven had sent him so skilful a purveyor as
the little gray man.

There are two sides to everything. While
the sheep multiplied in the old man's house
they perceptibly diminished in the royal
flock which was at pasture in the neighbor-
hood. The head shepherd, in great distress,
informed the king that for some time, in
spite of his redoubled vigilance, the finest
wethers in the flock had disappeared one
after another. Some adroit thief had certain-
ly taken up his abode in the neighborhood. It
did not take long to discover that there was
a stranger in the peasant's cabin, whom no
one knew, and who had come from none
knew whither. The king ordered the
stranger to be instantly brought before him.
The little gray man set out without a frown,
but the peasant and his wife began to feel a
little remorse on thinking that receivers and
thieves were hung on the same gallows.

When the little gray man appeared at
court, the king asked him whether, by chance,
he had not heard that five fat sheep had been
stolen from the royal flock.

"Yes, your majesty!" answered the little
man; "it was I that took them."

"By what right?" said the prince.

THE LITTLE GRAY MAN 2OI

"Your majesty, I took them because an old
man and his wife were suffering with hunger,
while you, oh, king, were rolling in wealth,
and could not use one tenth of your income.
It seemed to me just that these honest people
should live on your superfluity, rather than
die of want, while you knew not what to do
with your abundance."

The king stood stupefied at such audacity;
then, looking the little man in a manner that
boded no good, "As far as I can see," said he,
"your chief talent is stealing."

The little man bowed with modest pride.

"Very well!" said the king; "you deserve
to be hung; but I forgive you, on condition
that, by this time to-morrow, you shall have
stolen from my shepherds my black bull,
which they tell me they guard so carefully."

"You majesty, you ask an impossibility.
How do you expect me to deceive such vigil-
ance?"

"If you do not do it," returned the king,
"you will be hung," and with a gesture he
dismissed the thief, while all around echoed,
"Hung!" "hung!" "hung!"

The little gray man returned to the hut,
where he was tenderly received by the peas-
ant and his wife. He only told them, how-

202 LAST FAIRY TALES

ever, that he needed a rope, and that he
should leave the next morning at daybreak.
They gave him the cow's old halter, upon
which he went to bed and slept soundly.

At the first dawn of day the little gray
man set out with his rope. He went into the
forest along the road by which the king's
shepherds were to pass, and, choosing a great
oak, well in sight, hung himself by the neck
to its largest bough. He took good care, how-
ever, not to make a slipnoose.

Two shepherds soon came by, leading the
black bull.

"Look," said one, "the knave has already
got his reward. It is certain, at least, that
he did not steal his halter. Good-bye, my fine
fellow! There is no danger of your taking
the king's bull."

No sooner were the shepherds out of sight
than the little gray man sprang down from
the tree, ran up a cross-road, and hung him-
self anew to a great oak near the road. The
shepherds were astonished to see another
man hung.

"Who is that?" cried one. "Do I see
double? Here is the man that was hung over
yonder."

"How stupid you are!" said his compan-

THE LITTLE GRAY MAN 203

ion; "how can a man be hung in two places
at once? This is another robber, that is all."

"I tell you that it is the same one," re-
turned the first shepherd; "I know him by
his coat and his grimace."

"And I will bet that it is some one else,"
said the second shepherd, who was strong-
minded.

The bet was taken, and the two shepherds
tied the bull to a tree, and ran back to the
first oak. But no sooner were they out of
sight than the little gray man leaped from his
gibbet, and stealthily led the bull to the peas-
ant's cottage. He was joyfully welcomed,
and the animal was put into the stable till
it could be sold.

The two shepherds returned at night to
the castle wth hanging heads and dejected
air. The king saw at once that a trick had
been played them. He sent for the little
gray man, who presented himself with the
serenity of a hero.

"You have stolen my bull," said the king.

"Your majesty," answered the little man,
"I only did it in obedience to your com-
mands."

"Very well!" said the king; "here are ten
gold crowns as its ransom ; but if, in two days,

204 LAST FAIRY TALES

you do not steal the clothes off my bed while
I am asleep, I will hang you."

"Your majesty, do not ask such a thing.
You are too well guarded for a poor man like
me to be able even to approach the castle."

"If you do not do it," said the king, "I
shall have the pleasure of hanging you."

When evening came, the little gray man,
who had returned to the hut, took a long
rope and a basket. This basket he lined with
moss, and put in it a cat that had just kit-
tened, with all her litter. Then, groping
his way through the thick darkness, he slip-
ped into the castle, and mounted to the roof
without being seen. To enter the garret, saw
through a plank of the floor, and let himself
down through this opening into the king's
chamber, was the work of a few moments.
Once there, he carefully turned down the
bedclothes, and laid the cat and kittens in
the royal bed. He then clambered up the
bedpost, and seated himself on the canopy,
and in this elevated position waited to see
what would happen.

The palace clock struck eleven, and the
king and queen entered their apartment.
Having undressed, both knelt down and said
their prayers; after which the king put out

THE LITTLE GRAY MAN 205

the light, and the queen got into bed. All at
once she shrieked, and sprang to the middle
of the room.

"Are you mad?" said the king. "Do you
want to alarm the whole castle?"

"My dear," answered she, "come away
from that bed, I beg of you; I felt a burning
breath there, and my feet touched something
hairy."

"Why not say at once that the devil is in
the bed?" said the king, laughing contemptu-
ously. "All women have the heart of a hare
and the head of a linnet."

Upon which, like a true hero, he bravely
lay down under the coverlet, and instantly
sprang out, dragging after him the cat,
which had fastened its claws into his thigh.
At the king's shrieks the sentinel rushed to
the door, and knocked thrice with his hal-
berd, as a signal that aid was at hand.

"Silence!" said the prince, ashamed of his
weakness, and not wishing to be caught in a
fright.

He struck a match, lighted the lamp, and
saw in the bed the cat, tenderly licking her
kittens.

"This is too much!" he cried. "This im-
pudent creature has no respect for our crown,

206 LAST FAIRY TALES

but takes our royal couch in which to deposit
her litter. Wait, puss, and I will give you
what you deserve."

"She will bite you," said the queen; "she
may be mad."

"Don't be afraid, my dear!" returned the
good prince, and, raising the corners of the
under-sheet, he wrapped the whole litter in
it; after which he rolled it in the coverlet
and upper-sheet, made a huge bundle of the
whole, and threw it out the window.

"Now," said he to the queen, "let us go to
your room, and sleep in peace, since we are
avenged."

The king slept, and pleasant dreams lulled
his slumbers; but while he reposed, a man
climbed on the roof, and fastened a rope
thereto, bv which he let himself down to the

j

ground. Once there, he groped for the bun-
dle, took it on his back, leaped over the wall,
and ran off through the snow. The sentinels
declared the next morning that a phantom
had flitted before them, and that they had
heard the cries of a new-born child.

When he awoke the next morning, the
king collected his thoughts, and began for
the first time to reflect calmly. He suspected
that he had been the victim of some trickery,

THE LITTLE GRAY MAN 207

and that the author of the crime was the little
gray man. He sent for him at once.

The little gray man came, carrying on his
shoulder the clothes, freshly ironed. He
bent his knee before the queen, and said, in a
respectful tone,

"Your majesty knows that what I did was
only in obedience to the king's orders. I
hope that you will be good enough to for-
give me."

"Very well," said the queen; "but never
do it again, or you will kill me with fright."

"But I do not forgive you," said the king,
greatly vexed that the queen should take it
upon herself to show clemency without con-
sulting her lord and master. "Listen to me,
you scoundrel. If by to-morrow night you
have not stolen the queen herself from her
castle, to-morrow night you shall be hung."

"Your majesty!" cried the little man,
"hang me at once, and spare me twenty-four
hours of anguish. How do you expect me to
succeed in such an undertaking? It would
be easier to pull down the moon with my
teeth."

"That is your business and not mine," re-
turned the king. "Meanwhile, I shall order
the gallows to be set up."

208 LAST FAIRY TALES

The little man went out in despair. He
buried his face in his hands, and sobbed
ready to break his heart. The king laughed
for the first time.

Towards dusk a holy Capuchin monk, with
his rosary in his hand, and his wallet upon
his back, came to the castle, according to cus-
tom, to beg for his convent. When the queen
gave him alms,

"Madam!" said he, "God will reward your
charity. Even now I bring you a recom-
pense. To-morrow, as you well know, a
wretch, who is doubtless guilty, is to be hung
in the castle."

"Alas!" returned the queen, "I forgave
him heartily, and would gladly have saved
his life."

"That cannot be," said the monk; "but this
man, who is a kind of wizard, may make
you a valuable gift before he dies. I know
that he possesses three marvellous secrets,
one alone of which is worth a kingdom. One
of these he may be ready to bequeath to her
who looked on him with pity."

"What are these secrets?" asked the queen.

"By virtue of the first, a woman can make
her husband do whatever she chooses."

"Ah!" said the princess, shrugging her

THE LITTLE GRAY MAN 209

shoulders, "there is nothing wonderful about
that recipe. From the time of Eve, of blessed
memory, this mystery has been handed down
from mother to daughter. What is the sec-
ond secret?"

"The second one confers wisdom and good-
ness on its possessor."

"Indeed!" said the queen, in an absent-
minded way; "and the third?"

"The third secures to the woman who pos-
sesses it unequalled beauty, and the power of
pleasing to the end of her life."

"Father, that is the secret that I want!"
cried the queen.

"Nothing is easier than to obtain it," said
the monk. "It is only necessary that before
dying, and while he is still at full liberty, the
wizard should take both your hands, and
blow three times upon your hair."

"Let him come!" said the queen. "Father,
go bring him here!"

"That cannot be," said the monk. "The
king has given the strictest orders that this
man shall not enter the castle. If he sets
his foot within these grounds, he dies on the
spot. Do not deprive him of the few hours
he has to live."

210 LAST FAIRY TALES

"But, father, the king has forbidden me
to go out till to-morrow evening."

"That is a pity," said the monk. "I see
that you must give up this priceless treasure.
It would be sweet, however, never to grow
old, but always to remain young and beauti-
ful, and, above all, beloved."

"Alas! father, you are quite right. The
king's command is the height of injustice.
But even if I should attempt to go, the guards
would stop me. Don't look so astonished;
you see how the king treats me, with his
caprices. I am the most unhappy of

women."

"My heart is wrung," said the monk.
"What tyranny! What barbarism! Well,
madam, you should not give way to such un-
reasonable commands. It is your duty to do
as you please."

"But how can I do so?"

"There is one way, if you are strong in the
consciousness that you are right. Get into
this sack, and I will carry you out of the
castle at the risk of my life. And fifty years
hence, when you are as young and beautiful
as you are to-day, you will applaud yourself
for resisting the will of a tyrant."

THE LITTLE GRAY MAN 21 1

"Very well," said the queen. "But is not
this some snare laid for me?"

"Madam," said the holy man, raising his
hands to heaven and beating his breast, "as
sure as I am a monk, you have nothing to
fear. Besides, I will stay by your side all the
time you are with this unhappy man."

"And you will bring me back to the
castle?"

"I swear it."

"And with the secret?"

"With the secret. But if your majesty has
any scruples, stay here and let the secret die
with its. possessor, unless he chooses to give
it to some more confiding woman."

For her sole answer, the queen crept into
the sack; the monk drew the strings together,
threw the bundle over his shoulder, and
crossed the courtyard with measured steps.
On his way he met the king, who was making
his rounds.

"The alms must have been plentiful to-
day, judging by appearances," said the king.

"Sire," answered the monk, "your ma-
jesty's charity is inexhaustible, and I fear that
I have abused it. Perhaps I had better leave
this sack and its contents."

"No! no!" said the king; "carry it away,

212 LAST FAIRY TALES

father, and good riddance to it. I fancy that
all you have there is not worth much. You
will make a slender supper."

"I wish your majesty may sup with as good
an appetite," returned the monk, as he went
away, muttering under his breath.

The supper-bell rang, and the king entered
the dining-room, rubbing his hands. He was
satisfied with himself, and he hoped to have
vengeance — a double reason for being
hungry.

"The queen not down yet!" said he, sar-
castically. "That does not surprise me, how-
ever; unpunctuality is the virtue of women."

He was about to sit down to the table,
when three soldiers entered, crossing their
halberds, and driving before them the little
gray man.

"Sire," said one of the guards, "this fel-
low has had the audacity to enter the court-
yard of the castle in spite of the royal com-
mand. We should have hung him on the
spot, without disturbing your majesty's sup-
per, but he pretends that he has a message
from the queen, and that he is the bearer of
a state secret."

"The queen!" cried the king, amazed.

THE LITTLE GRAY MAN 213

"Where is she, wretch? and what have you
done with her?"

"I have stolen her," said the little man,
coolly.

"But how?" asked the king.

"Sire, that monk, with the huge sack on
his back, to whom your majesty deigned to
say, 'Take it away, and good riddance to
it' "—

"Was you!" said the prince. "Wretch,
there is no longer any safety for me. One
of these days you will take me, and my king-
dom into the bargain."

"Sire, I come to ask you for more than
that."

"You frighten me," said the king. "Who
are you — a wizard, or the devil in person?"

"No, sire. I am simply the Prince of
Holar. You have a marriageable daughter.
I was on my way to ask her hand, when the
bad weather forced me and my squire to
take refuge with the curate of Skalholt.
There I chanced to fall in with a foolish
countryman, who made me play the part you
know. All that I have done, moreover, has
been only to obey and please your majesty."

"All right," said the king. "I understand;
or, rather, I don't understand. No matter.

214 LAST FAIRY TALES

Prince Holar, I would rather have you for
a son-in-law than a neighbor. Where is the
queen?7'

"Sire, she is here. My squire was ordered
to bring her to the palace."

The queen soon entered, a little abashed at
her credulity, but easily consoled by thinking
that she would have so clever a son-in-law.

"But the famous secret," she whispered to
the Prince of Holar; "you owe it to me."

"The secret of being always beautiful,"
said the prince, "is to be always beloved."

"And the way to be always beloved?" said
the queen.

"Is to be good and simple, and to do your
husband's will."

"He dares say that he is a wizard," said
the queen, indignantly raising her hands to
heaven.

"Have done with these mysteries!" cried
the king, who was beginning to be nervous.
"Prince Holar, when you marry our daugh-
ter, you will have more time than you will
want to talk with your mother-in-law. The
supper is cooling. To table! Amuse your-
self, my son-in-law! Give the evening to
pleasure! To-morrow you will be married."

At these words, which he thought witty,

THE LITTLE GR£Y MAN 215

the king looked at the queen, who answered
with such a frown that he instantly began to
rub his chin, and watch the flies on the ceil-
ing.

Here end the adventures of Prince Holar.
Happy days have no history. We know,
however, that he succeeded his father-in-law,
and that he was a great king. Something of
a liar and something of a robber; bold and
cunning, he had the virtues of a conqueror.
He took from his neighbors more than a
thousand leagues of snow, which he lost and
won three times by the sacrifice of half a
dozen armies. His name, however, figures
gloriously in the celebrated annals of Skal-
holt and Holar, and to these famous docu-
ments we refer our reader.

GAGLIUSO; OR, THE GOOD CAT

A FAIRY TALE FROM THE PENTAMERON

INGRATITUDE, sirs, is a nail that blights the
tree of courtesy when once it is driven in it;
it is a broken arch, that lays in ruins the foun-
dations of affection; it is a handful of soot
that, falling into the dish of friendship, de-
stroys its taste and flavor, as is seen and
proved daily, as well as by the tale which I
am about to tell.

There was once in my beloved city of
Naples a poor old man named Gagliuso, so
squalid and destitute that he was as naked
as a worm. Feeling himself at the point of
death, he said to his two children, Oratiello
and Pippo, "My sons, I am summoned to
pay the debt of nature. Believe me, Chris-
tians as you are, that my only regret in quit-
ting this sad abode of toil and pain is that
I leave you without a farthing. Alas! you
will have less than a fly could carry of! on

216

GAGLIUSO; OR, THE GOOD CAT 217

his foot. I have led a dog's life ; I have dined
off an empty stomach, and gone to bed in the
dark. But in spite of all, I wish on my death-
bed to leave you some token of my love.
Oratiello, my first-born, take that wallet
hanging on the wall, and may you find in it
every night what I have often sought in vain
all day, a crust of bread. As to you, my
youngest, take the cat. My children, remem-
ber your dear father." With these words, he
burst into tears, and a little while after said,
"Farewell, it is night."

Oratiello buried his father at the public
expense; after which he plucked up his cour-
age, and went down to the bay to help the
fishermen draw the seine.

But Pippo, looking at the cat, cried, "See
what a fine legacy my father has left me! I
cannot keep myself, and here I have two
mouths to feed !"

The cat heard these lamentations, and re-
marked, "You complain without cause, and
have more luck than sense. You do not know
your good-fortune, for I can make you rich
if I set about it."

Pippo felt that she was right. He stroked
the cat three or four times, and warmly be-
sought the favor of Dame Puss, who took

218 LAST FAIRY TALES

compassion on the poor lad. She went out
every morning, to the bay, or the fish-market,
where she managed to lay hold of some huge
mullet or superb sword-fish, which she car-
ried to the king, saying, "Your majesty's
slave, Signer Gagliuso, sends this fish, with
his compliments, as a small gift to a great
prince."

Upon which the king, with the pleased air
of one receiving a present, would answer,
"Tell this stranger gentleman that I am in-
finitely obliged to him."

Another time the cat would scour the
fields and marshes, and when the hunters
shot down a blackbird, lark, or woodcock,
would snatch up the game, and hurry with it
on the same errand to the king. She used
this artific so long that at last, one morning,
the king said, "I am under so many obliga-
tions to Signor Gagliuso, that I should like
to make his acquaintance and thank him for
all his courtesy." The cat replied, "Signor
Gagliuso's blood and life are at your maj-
esty's disposal. My master will wait upon
you to-morrow morning without fail."

Morning having come, the cat hastened to
the king, crying, "Signor Gagliuso begs you
to excuse him for not presenting himself

SBSSTtE PAR E.PCXE

She managed to lay hold of some huge mullet or superb sword-fish,
which she carried to the king."

GAGLIUSO ; OR, THE GOOD CAT 219

before you. Some of his rascally valets ran
off with his clothes last night; the thieves
have not left him a shirt to his back."

On hearing this, the king ordered a quan-
tity of linen and wearing apparel to be taken
from his own wardrobe and sent to Gagliuso.

Before two hours had passed our hero en-
tered the palace, escorted by the cat. The
king received him most graciously, and seat-
ing him by his side, ordered a magnificent
feast to be served him.

While they were at dinner, Gagliuso
turned from time to time to the cat, and said,
"Look here, Puss, keep an eye on our things!"
to which she answered, "Hush! hush! don't
speak of such trifles." The king asked what
troubled Gagliuso, whereupon the cat said
that he would like a small lemon, when the
king sent to the garden for a whole basketful.
But Gagliuso continued to repeat the same
thing, while the cat tried to hush him, and
when the king insisted upon knowing what
was the matter, invented one excuse after
another to conceal her master's meanness, in
thinking that any one there would be likely
to steal his hat and cloak.

At last, after sitting long at the table, talk-
ing of one thing and another, Gagliuso asked

220 LAST FAIRY TALES

permission to withdraw. Left alone with the
king, the cat extolled her master's merit, wit,
and good sense, and, above all, the immense
wealth that he possessed in the Roman Cam-
pagna and Lombardy. He was just such a
son-in-law as a crowned head might desire.
The king, asking what his fortune might be,
the cat declared that it was impossible to
reckon the value of the goods and chattels
of this Croesus, who did not know himself
what he was worth. But if the king wished
to be sure, it was a very easy matter; he had
only to send some trusty messengers across
the frontier, and they would learn for them-
selves that there was no wealth in the world
like Gagliuso's.

The king summoned his faithful counsel-
lors, and ordered them carefully to inquire
into the affair. They followed the cat, who,
as soon as they had crossed the frontier, ran
on before, on the pretence of preparing re-
freshments. Wherever she found a flock of
sheep, cows, horses, or swine, she said to the
shepherds, or keepers, "Look here! there is
a company of robbers coming to plunder
everything they find. If you wish to escape
and save your property, you must say/All this

GAGLIUSO; OR, THE GOOD CAT 221

belongs to Signor Gagliuso!' and they will
not touch a hair."

She repeated the same thing at all the
farms along the way, so that, wherever the
king's messengers went, they heard the same
song. All that they saw belonged to Signor
Gagliuso. Tired of asking the same question,
they returned to the king and told him won-
ders concerning Signor Gagliuso's posses-
sions. On hearing this the monarch prom-
ised the cat a heavy fee if she would make
the match, and her friendly tongue bobbed
back and forth like a shuttle till it had woven
the whole intrigue. Gagliuso offered him-
self, and the king gave him a fat dowry with
his daughter.

After a month's merry-making Gagliuso
told his royal father-in-law that he wished
to carry his bride to his estates. The king
accompanied them as far as the frontier, after
which they went to Lombardy, where, by the
cat's advice, Gagliuso bought a vast domain
with the title of baron.

Master Gagliuso, on seeing himself as rich
as a prince, thanked the cat in the warmest
way imaginable, telling her over and over
again that it was to her that he owed his
wealth and grandeur. The wit of a cat had

222 LAST FAIRY TALES

done more for him than all his father's sense.
She might dispose of the property and life of
her dear master as she saw fit. And when she
died — would to Heaven that she might live
a hundred years! — he pledged her his word
that he would have her embalmed and put in
a golden casket, which he would keep in his
chamber, that he might always have her cher-
ished remembrance before his eyes.

The cat was greatly puffed up with all
these fine speeches. Before three days had
passed, she stretched herself at full length
along the garden terrace, pretending to be
dead.

"Husband! husband!" cried Gagliuso's
wife, "what a great misfortune! the cat is
dead!"

"The deuce take her," answered Gagliuso;
"better that she should die than we."

"What shall we do with her?" asked the
princess.

"Take her by the paw and fling her out of
the window."

On hearing this funeral oration, which was
not exactly what she was looking for, the cat
jumped up, and cried: "So these are your
thanks to me for cleansing you of your filth!
This is your gratitude for stripping you of

GAGLIUSO ; OR, THE GOOD CAT 223

rags fit for nothing but a wad for a distaff!
This is the way you reward me for feeding
you, you scoundrel! for clothing you, you
wretch! But it is wasting soap to wash an
ass's head. Accursed be all I have done for
you. You are not even worth the trouble of
spitting in your face. A fine gold casket you
have made ready for me! A splendid fun-
eral you have ordered for me! Well, puss,
you have sweated, labored, and worn your-
self out, to be paid in such coin! Fool that
you were, not to know that service is no in-
heritance. The philosopher was right who
said, 'He who goes to bed an ass will get up
an ass.7 The more one does, the more one
may do. But fine words and foul deeds de-
ceive wise men and fools alike."

With these words she started for the door.
Gagliuso followed, and attempted in the
humblest accents to soften her. His labor
was in vain; she would not return, but went
straight onward, without turning her head,
saying, "Beware of enriching a pauper, he is
sure to turn out a villain."

And now, friendly reader, that you know
Basilio's version of Puss in Boots, referred
to in our Preface, as well as the old familiar
one, tell us which is the original and which

224 LAST FAIRY TALES

the copy. Guess if you can, and choose if
you dare.

A learned friend suggests that it is not
necessary that one of these stories should be
a repetition of the other; both may have
come from a common theme. It is a melody
which has been sung in many countries, but
though it has produced more than one varia-
tion in its journeyings, it is still the same mel-
ody, which each nurse sings in her own key.

Here is another example; a Middle Age
fable, found in the Recitals of a Minstrel of
Rheims of the 13th Century, published by
the Historical Society of France. We give
it as it was chanted by a minstrel in the days
of St. Louis.

THE WOLF AND THE GOAT

A MEDIEVAL FABLE

THERE was once a wolf named Isengrin,
who had a piece of arable land. He went
to a goat, with two kids, and said to her,
"Dame Goat, I have a bit of an old vineyard
that I would like to have you farm for me on
shares. The soil is so fertile that it will bear
wheat without enriching; and, I assure you,
that I would much rather till it all myself
than divide it with others. But I have an
important suit before my noble lord Lion,
against Belin, the shepherd, who pretends
that I have eaten two of his sheep, so that I
have to go to court every week, and furnish
counsel, at a heavy cost."

"I dare not," answered the goat.

"Why not?"

"Forsooth, because you are a great and
mighty lord, with powerful connections,
while I am an humble and defenceless crea-

225

226 LAST FAIRY TALES

ture. It would be useless for me ever to
bring a suit against you, in case we should
disagree."

"Zounds!" cried the wolf, "Dame Goat,
my fair friend, what have you to fear from
me? I swear by the faith I owe Dame Her-
sent, my wife, and by the twelve living chil-
dren she has given me, that I will deal
honestly by you, and never wrong you in all
my life."

"Well," said the goat, "I will do it; but I
have great misgivings that you will not give
me my fair share."

The wolf went away. The goat cleared
the ground of the vine-roots, ploughed it, and
sowed it with wheat, which yielded a fine
crop. When harvest-time had come, she
went to the wolf and said, "Sir Wolf, our
wheat is ripe; will you come, or send some
one, to look after it?"

"In faith," returned the wolf, "I can
neither go nor send; gather it in yourself;
put the grain on one side and the straw on
the other, and when I return from court we
will make a fair division."

The goat left, unable to obtain any other
answer. She cut and thrashed the wheat, and

THE WOLF AND THE GOAT 227

put the grain on one side and the straw on
the other.

No sooner had she finished than the wolf
appeared. This was what he had been wait-
ing for. He went to the goat, and said,
loftily, "Come, dame, shall we divide the
crop?"

"Whenever you please, noble sir," an-
swered she. "Here is the grain on one side,
and the straw on the other, as you com-
manded; take half of each."

"Out upon you, foolish beast, you do not
know what you are talking about. I shall
do no such thing."

"What will you do, then?" asked the goat.

"Forsooth, I am a great lord, and have an
expensive household to keep up. My needs
are greater than yours, you underling. A
little will suffice for you; you shall have the
straw and I will take the grain."

"Oh, my lord, you are unjust; for God's
sake, take your share and leave me mine."

"Zounds!" cried the wolf, "I shall do noth-
ing of the kind. And I warn you that I
shall come back to-morrow to know whether
you will do as I wish."

The wolf departed. The goat stood
aghast. Suddenly, she bethought herself of

228 LAST FAIRY TALES

two mastiffs that she had nursed, and that
lived near by, at the Abbey of Citeaux. One
was named Tabarel and the other Roenel.
The goat went straightway there, and found
them sitting by the gate. On seeing their
foster-mother they ran to meet her, gave her
a warm welcome, and asked what brought
her hither. She told them how the wolf
wished to treat her.

"In faith/' cried both the dogs, "by our
fangs, but this shall not be. Return home,
dear mother, we promise to be there early in
the morning, to see the division between you
and Isengrin. Please Heaven, Sir Wolf shall
not wrong you while we are by!"

The goat returned home, and found her
kids crying. She quieted them, and went to
bed. However, she slept little, and rose very
early, praying to God for aid.

The two brothers, Tabarel and Roenel, ap-
peared. They bade her good-morning, and
asked if Isengrin had come.

"Not yet," she answered.

"Mother," said the dogs, "we have thought
of a good plan. We will creep under this
heap of straw, and curl ourselves up there
until we see and hear what Isengrin means
to do. For, if he knew we were here, per-

THE WOLF AND THE GOAT 229

haps he would not come, but would wait un-
til we were gone."

"You are right, my children," replied the
goat. And the dogs crept under the straw.

Isengrin soon appeared, bringing with him
his friend and counsellor Reynard the fox,
who had played him more than one scurvy
trick. "Well, dame," said he to the goat,
"have you consulted your friends yet?"

"Whom could I consult?" answered the
goat. "Take your share, and leave me mine."

"Grumble as much as you like, it shall be
as I say," exclaimed the wolf.

While the wolf and goat were disputing,
Reynard cast his eyes on the heap of straw
and saw the dogs' tails sticking out.

"Neighbor, be on your guard," said he to
Isengrin. "I see more in this business than
you do."

"Come what will, Sir Reynard, I mean to
have my way in the matter. I will have the
grain and she shall take the straw."

"Mark me, neighbor/' said Reynard,
"what I tell you is only for your good ; and
may good befall you! Beware! I am going
away."

Reynard quitted Isengrin and mounted a
hillock close by to see how the affair would

230 LAST FAIRY TALES

end. Isengrin and his cartmen took their
sacks and filled them with wheat.

"Holy Mother, help me!" cried the goat,
"My children," she called to Roenel and
Tabarel, "you see how I am treated!" And,
behold, the dogs sprang from the straw, and,
without stopping to argue the matter, fell
upon the wolf, threw him down, seized him
by the throat, and inflicted more than a hun-
dred wounds upon his body, so that locks of
hair flew in all directions. They worried
him until his pulse and breath were gone, and
left him for dead.

Then they took the wheat; and while they
were carrying it to the granary of the goat,
the cartmen hastened, with great difficulty,
to lift Isengrin into the cart, and drove home
with him at full speed.

And, behold, Reynard came to meet them.
He had seen the whole affair, and chuckled
over it, for such was his nature. The pain
of others was his delight. He approached
the mangled wolf, and said, in a honeyed
tone:

"Good neighbor, I am grieved at your ac-
cident. If you had listened to me it would
not have happened. I told you to be on your

" Reynard cast his eyes on the heap of straw and saw the dogs' tails

sticking out."

THE WOLF AND THE GOAT 231

guard, for I saw more in the business than
you did."

"Reynard, Reynard!" exclaimed the wolf,
"he who has no friend but you has none at all,
I have been put to shame; but I will have
my revenge." And he turned his back on
Reynard, who made a face at him.

Isengrin was carried to his house, where
Dame Hersent, his wife, and his children
were looking for him. When they saw him
stretched in the cart on a wisp of hay, they
began to laugh at him, saying, "He who
tackles a goat will get a butting. Is this
the grain you were to bring us for our wheat
cakes?" Such was the greeting which Isen-
grin received from his household. Whence
came the saying, "When a man falls the
whole world treads upon him." He was
lifted from the cart, groaning and shame-
faced, and carried to bed. It was five months
before his wounds were healed.

Let us return to Roenel and Tabarel.
When they had carried the wheat to the
granary, they said to the goat, "Good mother,
we are going to the abbey, which is close by;
if you need us we shall be ready to help you.
Take this horn and blow on it in case of
danger, when we will run to your aid."

232 LAST FAIRY TALES

"Many thanks, dear children," answered
the goat. "Blessed be the day I nursed you."
The dogs bade her farewell, and returned
home.

As soon as he had somewhat recovered
from his adventure Isengrin went to see the
goat, but she was on her guard, and as soon
as she spied him began to blow the horn.
And, lo! sounds of Bow, wow, wow! were
heard in the distance, as if to say, Here we
are! here we are! Upon this, Master Wolf
pricked up his ears directly, and began to
amble gently along, then took to his heels
with his tail between his legs, as if the devil
were after him. He never came back again.

Violence and Knavery almost always end
in the ruin of the author. Honesty is the best
policy.

This mediaeval fable is a new version of
the Wolf and the Lamb. But the wolf has
had the upper hand long enough, and here
the lamb, or, in other words, the goat, has its
turn. It is a law of nature for us to turn
things wrong side out after using them on
the right side. In this way David overthrows
Goliath, Omphale makes Hercules hold her
distaff, and Delilah robs Samson of his
strength. Nothing is more natural. It is the

THE WOLF AND THE GOAT 233

swinging of the pendulum; or what the uni-
versities call the law of compensation. For
example, if our philosophers are to be be-
lieved, man is descended from the ape. This
will hold true until a new order of things
prevails, when it will be found that the ape
is descended from man. It is inevitable.

THE WICKED
DAUGHTERS-IN-LAW

ONCE upon a time there were three old
women, who were neighbors, and who lived
together in the greatest harmony. Each of
them had a son. The three young men, who
were brought up together and were in the
same business, loved each other like broth-
ers. The friendship of the children ren-
dered the mutual affection of the mothers
even warmer than ever. But the good wom-
en were wise; they reflected that death was
approaching, and that when they were gone
their sons would be left alone. Their great
desire was, therefore, to see them marry.

One day, as the three friends were walking
together, they saw three young girls in a
balcony, who seemed to them so charming
that they asked them in marriage that very
evening. They did not have to wait long
for an answer, and the three marriages took

234

THE WICKED DAUGHTERS-IN-LAW 235

place the next day. Then, as they were very
fond of each other, and were not rich, it was
agreed that they should all live together
under one roof, and that the poor mothers
should pass their old age peacefully with
their children.

Business compelled the three young mer-
chants to travel, and it once chanced that they
were all three obliged to be absent for some
time. They were scarcely on the road when
their wives began to quarrel with their moth-
ers-in-law. To live with these old women
was unendurable; and they were determined
at any cost to rid themselves of this burden.
Two of them proposed simply to choke their
mothers-in-law, but the youngest objected.
"No," said she, "that would be cruel, and,
besides, it would be no revenge; it is better
to torment them from morning till night,
and from night till morning."

No sooner said than done. One of the
wives sent her mother-in-law to school, to
learn to read and write. It was a little late,
at seventy! The second one sent her mother-
in-law to a fiddler, to learn to play the fiddle;
and the third shut hers up in the cellar, with
a basket of eggs to hatch. In this way the fair
dames rid themselves of their troublesome

236 LAST FAIRY TALES

companions, and led a merry and contented
life in their husbands' absence.

On returning to town, the three friends
were astonished at the uproar that prevailed
in the school. They looked through the win-
dow, and saw an old woman trying to say
the alphabet. As she did not know the let-
ters, the teacher scolded and punished her,
to the great amusement of the mischievous
urchins.

"Is not that your mother?" asked one of the
friends of his companion.

"Ho! there; mother, what are you doing
at school?" cried the young man.

"It was your wife, my daughter-in-law,
that sent me here. You see how I am
treated."

"Be patient for a little while, mother, I
will soon come and take you away."

Two paces beyond lived the fiddler, and
it was almost as noisy there as at the school.
A poor old woman was squeaking her bow
in such a fashion as to set all the dogs in the
neighborhood howling, while all around
scoffed at her, and roared with laughter.

"Oh, mother!" cried one of the friends,
"what are you doing there?"

THE WICKED DAUGHTERS-IN-LAW 237

"Alas, my son, it was your wife, my daugh-
ter-in-law, that set me to learn this trade."

"Be patient for a little while, mother, I
will soon come and take you away."

On approaching the house, they heard
groans in the cellar. The three companions
looked through the darkness, and discerned
an old woman crouching over a basket, with
nothing near her but a crust of dry bread
and a jug of water.

"Ah! mother," cried one of the friends,
"what are you doing there?"

"Alas ! my son, it was your wife, my daugh-
ter-in-law, who put me where you find me."

"Be patient for a little while, mother, I
will soon come and take you away."

The three friends entered the house, their
hearts burning with wrath. They found
their wives dressed in mourning, with tears
in their eyes.

"What has happened?"

"Alas!" cried each of the wives, "I have
lost my dear mother-in-law."

"What! all three dead?"

"Yes," answered their wives, "all three are
gone."

The three husbands sighed, and seemed

238 LAST FAIRY TALES

deeply grieved, like good sons. But the very
next morning they said to their wives,

"Dress yourselves handsomely, and we will
take a sail and enjoy ourselves."

The delighted wives put on their best
gowns. How happy they were to have rid
themselves of their mothers-in-law, and so
easily deceived their husbands. They would
have laughed less had they known of three
sacks in the boat, hidden under a seat.

As soon as they were out at sea, the faces
of the three men turned black as thunder.
Each of them seized his wife, thrust her into
a sack, and flung her into the water, crying,
"Go send your mother-in-law to school, to
play the fiddle, or to hatch eggs!"

After which the three sons took their moth-
ers home with them, and vowed never to
marry again.

THE SPINNING QUEEN

A DALMATIAN FAIRY TALE

THERE was once a Dalmatian woman who
had a daughter as beautiful as the day, but
hopelessly lazy and unwilling to do any kind
of work. After vainly trying to coax her
to be useful, the mother took her to the forest,
near a crossroad, and began to beat her with
all her might. Just then the prince chanced
to pass that way, who asked why she treated
the girl so cruelly.

"My lord," said she, "it is because our
daughter wears our life out with her intol-
erable industry. She spins up everything,
even to the moss that grows on the walls."

"Let me have her," said the prince. "I
will give her wherewith to spin to her heart's

content.'

U'

'Take her," said the mother, "take her, I
am glad to be rid of her."

The prince carried her home, enchanted

239

240 LAST FAIRY TALES

with such a valuable acquisition. The same
evening, he shut the young girl up alone in
a chamber with a huge load of flax. What
to do in such a plight she knew not. She
paced up and down, wringing her hands, and
crying, "What will become of me? I can't
spin, and I won't spin."

Her anguish was at its height, when be-
hold, at midnight, three old witches tapped
at the window-pane, and she quickly let
them in.

"If you will ask us to your wedding, we
will help you spin this evening," said they.

"Spin, ladies," she answered; "I will ask
you with all my heart."

And behold, the three witches spun and
spun all the flax that was there while Miss
Lazybones slept at her ease.

In the morning, when the prince came to
the chamber, he saw the whole wall hung
with skeins of thread and the girl asleep.
He went out on tiptoe, and forbade any one
to enter the room, so that the spinner could
rest after her hard labor. This did not pre-
vent him from sending thither on the same
day a second huge load of flax. The witches
returned at midnight, and finished the work,
as the night before. The prince was wonder-

THE SPINNING QUEEN 241

struck; and as there was nothing more to spin
in the house, he said to the young girl,

"I will marry you, for you are the Spin-
ning Queen."

On the evening before the wedding, the
pretended spinner said to the prince, "I must
invite my aunts."

"They shall be welcome," was his answer.

Once admitted, the three witches grouped
themselves around the stove. They were
hideous to behold. On seeing how ugly they
were, the prince could not forbear saying to
his bride," Your aunts are not handsome."

Then, approaching the first witch, he
asked her why her nose was so long.

"My dear nephew," she answered, "it is
through spinning so much. When one spins
all the time and wags her head all day long,
the nose grows long insensibly."

The prince passed on to the second, and
asked her why her lips were so thick.

"My dear nephew," said she, "it is through
spinning so much. When one spins all the
time, and moistens the thread all day long,
the lips grow thick insensibly."

He then asked the third why she was so
humpbacked.

"My dear nephew," said she, "it is through

242 LAST FAIRY TALES

spinning so much. When one sits bent over
her work all day long, the back becomes
humped insensibly."

Upon this, the prince was seized with such
a fear that, through spinning, his wife might
become as horrible as these three frights, that
he flung both spindle and distaff into the fire,
and forbade her ever again to spin a thread,
under penalty of his deep displeasure. What
anger this caused the bride, I leave those to
guess who resemble her.

THE KING OF THE SERPENTS

A FAIRY TALE OF THE DANUBE

THERE was once a shepherd who had
served his master zealously and faithfully
for long years. One day, as he was watching
his flocks, he heard a hissing noise, that came
from the woods. Wishing to learn what it
was, he entered the forest and followed the
sound. After going on a little way, he saw
that the dry grass and dead leaves had caught
fire, making a blazing circle, in the midst of
which a serpent was hissing. The shepherd
stopped to see what it would do, as the flames
were fast closing in upon it. On spying him,
the serpent cried, "For God's sake, save me
from the fire!" The shepherd stretched his
crook over the flames to the snake, which
twined around it, and glided on to his hand
and thence to his throat, around which it
coiled itself like a necklace.

"Alas!" cried the frightened shepherd,

243

244 LAST FAIRY TALES

"have I saved you only for my own destruc-
tion?"

"Fear nothing," answered the snake, "but
take me back to my father, the King of the
Serpents."

The shepherd tried to excuse himself, say-
ing that he could not leave his flock without
a keeper; but the serpent cried, "Do not
trouble yourself about your sheep; no harm
will come to them; only make haste as fast
as you can."

The shepherd ran through the forest with
the snake coiled around his neck till he
reached a gate made of adders interlaced to-
gether. The snake gave a hiss, upon which
the adders separated, and made way for them
to pass. The serpent then said to the shep-
herd, "When we reach the castle, my father
will offer you anything you wish: silver,
gold, jewels, and all the most precious treas-
ures of earth; accept none of them, but only
ask to know the language of the animals. He
will long refuse this favor, but will grant it at
last." While talking they reached the castle,
and were met by the King of the Serpents,
who exclaimed, with tears in his eyes, "My
child, where have you been?"

The young serpent told his father how he

THE KING OF THE SERPENTS 245

had been surrounded by fire and had been
saved by the shepherd. The King of the
Serpents then turned to the shepherd and
said,

"What shall I give you for saving my
child ?"

"Teach me the language of the animals,"
he answered, "that I may talk with all the
earth as you do."

"That would be of no use to you," said the
king, "for if I should enable you to under-
stand this language, and you should tell any
one, you would die on the spot. Ask me for
something that will serve you better, and it
shall be yours."

"If you wish to pay me," returned the
shepherd, "teach me the language of the ani-
mals; if not, adieu, and God be with you!
I want nothing else."

He feigned to depart. The king called
him back, saying, "Stop! come here, since
you insist upon it. Open your mouth."

The shepherd did as he was bid; the king
blew into his mouth, and said, "Now blow
in turn in mine." When they had blown thus
three times into each other's mouths, the king
said, "Now you understand the language of
the animals. God be with you; but if you

246 LAST FAIRY TALES

care for life, beware of betraying the secret,
for if you say a word of it to any one, you are
a dead man."

The shepherd returned. As he passed
through the wood he heard what the birds,
the insects, and all on the earth were saying.
On reaching his flock, he found it safe and in
good order, and stretched himself on the
ground for a nap. Scarcely had he lain down
when two crows perched on the bough of a
tree overhead, and said, in their own lan-
guage, "What if this shepherd knew that just
under the spot where that black lamb is
standing there is a cavern full of gold and
silver!"

No sooner had the shepherd heard this
than he went and told his master. They
brought a wagon, and dug until they found
the door of the cavern, the treasure of which
they carried off. The master was a man of
honor; he gave the whole to the shepherd,
saying, "This treasure is yours; it was God
who bestowed it on you."

The shepherd took the money, built a
house, found a wife, and lived happy and
contented. He soon became the richest man,
not only in the village, but in the country;
for ten leagues around there was not one that

THE KING OF THE SERPENTS 247

could compare with him. He had flocks of
sheep, and herds of cattle and horses, with a
keeper for each flock and herd, besides much
land and money. One Christmas Eve he said
to his wife, "Get ready a good stock of wine,
brandy, and victuals to carry to the farm to-
morrow, that the shepherds may have a
feast. This was done, and they all as-
sembled at the farm the next day, when the
master said, "My friends, eat, drink, and be
merry; I will watch the flocks and herds to-
night in your place."

At midnight, as he was keeping guard, the
wolves began to howl and the dogs to bark.
The wolves said, "Let us come in and harry
the cattle, and there will be plenty of fresh
meat for you."

And the dogs answered, "Come in; we
shall be glad for once to have our fill."

But among the dogs there was an old mas
tiff with only two fangs in his jaws, who said,
"As long as my two fangs are left, you shall
not prey on my master's property."

The master heard and understood every-
thing. When morning came, he ordered all
the dogs, except the old mastiff, to be taken
out and shot. The astonished servants re-
monstrated, saying it was a great pity to kill

248 LAST FAIRY TALES

so many fine animals, but the master only
said, "Do as I bid you."

He set out for home with his wife, the hus-
band mounted on a handsome gray horse, and
the wife on an ambling mare, which was hid-
den from sight by the long folds of her dress.
The husband took the lead, and the wife fell
in the rear. The horse turned and said to the

mare,

"Hurry! why do you go so slow?"

"Oh, it is easy enough for you to go fast,
with only my master to carry, but I have not
only my mistress, but all her necklaces, brace-
lets, skirts, petticoats, satchels and key-bags
without end. It needs two yoke of oxen to
carry all this paraphernalia."

The husband turned and laughed. His
wife, noticing it, pricked on her mare, and
having overtaken her spouse, asked what he
was laughing at.

"A mere nothing," said he; "a foolish
thought that entered my brain."

This did not satisfy his wife, who insisted
on knowing what he laughed at. Tired of
her importunity, he cried out at last, "Why
can't you leave me in peace? what business is
it of yours? I really do not know myself
why I laughed."

THE KING OF THE SERPENTS 249

But the more he stormed, the more she per-
sisted in knowing the cause of his laughter.
At last he said, "Know then that if I revealed
what I was laughing at, that instant would be
my last."

Even this did not stop the dame, who tor-
mented her husband more than ever to tell
her. At last they reached home. On alight-
ing from his horse, the husband ordered a
bier to be brought. As soon as it was ready,
he had it set before the house, and said to his
wife,

"Mark me, I shall stretch myself on this
bier, and then tell you at what I was laugh-
ing, but the instant I have spoken I shall be
a dead man."

He stretched himself on the bier, and as
he cast a last look around him he saw the old
house-dog approaching, with tears in his
eyes. The poor man called to his wife to
give him a piece of bread. She flung it to
the dog, that did not even look at it. The
barnyard cock ran up and gulped it down,
upon which the dog exclaimed, "Wretched
glutton, have you the heart to eat when our
master is going to die?"

"Let him die," said the cock, "if he is fool
enough to do so. I have a hundred wives ; I

250 LAST FAIRY TALES

call them all when I find a kernel of corn,
and swallow it as soon as they get there. If
any of them should take it into her head to
complain I would peck her well for it, while
he, who has only one wife, has not wit enough
to keep her in order."

No sooner had the husband heard this than
he leaped from the bier, seized a stick, and
called his wife into the house, saying, "Come,
and I will tell you what you want so much to
know." He then reasoned with the stick,
saying, as each blow fell, "This is it, wife,
this is it." Such was the answer he gave her,
and never again did the dame ask her hus-
band why he laughed.

POUCINET

A FINNISH TALE

ONCE upon a time there was a peasant who
had three sons, Peter, Paul, and Jack. Peter
was big, fat, red-faced, and dull-witted;
Paul was spare, sallow, envious, and spite-
ful; Jack was as sharp as a steel-trap and as
fair as a woman, but small — so small that he
could have hidden away in his father's great
boots, whence he was nicknamed Poucinet.

The peasant's sole worldly wealth was his
family, and there was joy in the household
when by chance they caught a glimpse there
of the shadow of a penny. Black bread was
dear, and it was hard to earn a living. As
soon as the three children were old enough
to begin to work, their father begged them
from morning to night to leave the hut where
they were born and go out into the world to
seek their fortune.

251

252 LAST FAIRY TALES

"In other lands," said he, "bread is not
always easily earned, but there is some to be
had for the getting; while here there is none
at all, and the best thing that can happen to
you is to die of starvation."

But, lo! a league from the peasant's cabin
the king of the country had his palace — a
magnificent building, all of wood, with
twenty carved balconies and six glass win-
dows. And, behold, suddenly, on a fine sum-
mer's night, just over against the windows
there sprung from the ground a huge oak,
with such thick branches and foliage that it
darkened the whole palace. To cut down
this giant was no easy task; not an axe could
be found that its trunk did not blunt, and for
every branch or root that was cut off two
sprouted forth in its place. It was in vain
that the king offered three bags of dollars
to any one who would rid him of this trouble-
some neighbor. Tired of the struggle, he
was forced to resign himself to the necessity
of having the palace lighted at midday.

This was not all. In a country where
brooks sprang from the very stones, there was
no water in the royal household. In sum-
mer the inmates had to wash their hands in
beer and to shave with honey. This was a

POUCINET 253

shocking state of affairs, and the prince had
promised lands, money, and the title of mar-
quis to any one who should dig a well in the
courtyard of the castle deep enough to furn-
ish water all the year round. But no one had
been able to win the prize, for the palace was
on high ground, with a solid bed of granite
an inch below the surface.

Now the king had revolved these two ideas
in his brain till he could think of nothing else.
Petty prince as he was, he was just as self-
willed as an Emperor of China. It is the
monopoly of royalty. To attain his ends, he
distributed throughout the length and
breadth of his kingdom huge placards,
stamped with the royal arms, offering to any
one who should cut down the tree and dig the
well nothing less than the hand of the prin-
cess his daughter and half his kingdom. The
princess was as beautiful as the day; the half
of a kingdom is never to be despised; and
the reward was enough to tempt the most
ambitious. From Sweden and Norway, from
Denmark and Russia, from Great Britain
and the Continent, came a host of sturdy
workmen, axe on shoulder and pick in hand.
But it was in vain for them to cut and to
chop, to dig and to hew; their labor was al]

254 LAST FAIRY TALES

lost. At every stroke the oak became harder
and the granite more flinty, so that the bold-
est were forced at last to give up the task in
despair.

II

One day, when the people in all the coun-
try round were talking of this matter that
turned every one's brains, the three brothers
asked themselves why, if their father was
willing, they should not go and try their for-
tune. It is true that they hardly hoped to
succeed, and aspired neither to the princess
nor half of the kingdom; but who knew
whether they might not find a place and a
good master at the court or elsewhere; and
this was all they needed. Their father ap-
proved of the plan, and Peter, Paul, and
Jack set out for the king's palace.

On the way, Poucinet skipped along the
road, scampering hither and thither like a
hound, noticing and studying all he saw, and
ferreting into every nook and corner. In-
sects, weeds, and pebbles, nothing escaped
his mouse-like eyes. Every moment he stop-
ped his brothers to ask them the reason for
this and that — why the bees burrowed into

POUCINET 255

the flower-cups, why the swallows skimmed
the surface of the streams, and why the but-
terflies flew in zigzag fashion. At all these
questions Peter laughed, while Paul shrug-
ged his shoulders, and told him to hold his
tongue.

On the way they came to a great forest of
firs that covered a mountain, upon the sum-
mit of which they heard the sound of an axe
and the crash of falling branches.

"I wonder very much why any one is chop-
ping wood on the top of the mountain," said
Poucinet.

"I should wonder very much if you did
not wonder," answered Paul, harshly.
"Everything is wonderful to the ignorant."

"Why, child, any one would think you
had never heard of wood-choppers before,"
said Peter, pinching his little brother's cheek.

"No matter," returned Poucinet, "I am
curious to see what is going on up there."

"Go, then," said Paul, "and tire yourself
out; it will be a lesson to you, you conceited
imp, who are always wanting to know more
than your big brothers."

Poucinet troubled himself little about this
remark. He clambered up the mountain,
listening for the sound, and making his way

256 LAST FAIRY TALES

in that direction. On reaching the top, what
do you think he found there? An enchanted
axe, which, all alone by itself, was cutting
down a huge pine-tree.

"Good-morning, Madam Axe," said Pou-
cinet. "Are you not tired of hacking away
all alone at that old tree?"

"For long years I have been waiting for
thee, my son," answered the axe.

"Well, here I am," replied Poucinet.

And, without being at all astonished, he
took the axe, put it in his great leather bag,
and skipped merrily down the mountain.

"Did you find anything up there that was
so wonderful?" asked Paul, scornfully.

"It was really an axe that we heard," an-
swered the boy.

"I told you so," said Peter; "you have put
yourself in a dripping sweat for nothing.
You might better have stayed with us."

A little farther on the narrow path wound
laboriously among masses of jagged rocks.
In the distance, up the cliff, they heard a dull
sound, like iron striking the stone.

"I wonder why any one is breaking stone
up there," said Poucinet.

"Really," exclaimed Paul, "here is a

POUCINET 257

chicken just out of his shell, who has never
heard a woodpecker tapping a hollow tree."

"That's so," said Peter, laughing; "it is
nothing but a woodpecker; stay with us, my
boy."

"No matter," returned Poucinet; "I am
curious to see what is going on up there."

And, behold, he set about clambering up
the rocks on his hands and knees, while Peter
and Paul laughed at him. On reaching the
top of the precipice, what do you think he
found there? An enchanted pickaxe, which,
all alone, and by itself, was hollowing out
the rock as if it had been butter. At every
stroke it penetrated more than a foot.

"Good-morning, Madam Pickaxe," cried
Poucinet. "Are you not tired of digging
away there all alone at that old rock?"

"For long years I have been waiting for
thee, my son," answered the pickaxe.

"Well, here I am," rejoined Poucinet.

And, without the least astonishment, he
took the pickaxe, separated the axe from the
handle, put the two pieces in his great leather
bag, and skipped merrily down the rocks.

"What miracle did your lordship find up
there?" asked Paul, in an insulting tone.

"It was a pickaxe that we heard," answered

258 LAST FAIRY TALES

the boy, and he went on his way without say-
ing anything more.

A little way farther on they came to a
brook. The water was cool and clear, and
the travellers were thirsty. As they stooped
to drink from the hollow of their hands,
Poucinet remarked,

"I wonder why there is so much water in
such a shallow valley. I should like to know
where this brook comes from."

"You conceited fool," cried Paul, "you
want to pry into everything. Don't you know
that brooks spring from the ground?"

"No matter," said Poucinet; "I am curi-
ous to see where this water comes from."

And he followed up the course of the
stream in spite of the cries and reproaches of
his brothers. He went on and on, while the
stream became narrower and narrower.
And when he reached the end, what do you
think he found? A walnut-shell, from which
the water spouted and sparkled in the sun.

"Good-morning, Madam Spring," cried
Poucinet. "Are you not tired of staying all
alone here in a little corner, spouting wa-
ter?"

"For long years I have been waiting for
thee, my son," answered the walnut-shell.

POUCINET 259

"Well, here I am!" said Poucinet.

And, without the least astonishment, he
took the walnut-shell, stopped it up with
moss, so that the water could not flow, put it
in his great leather bag, and skipped merrily
down the mountain.

"Do you know now where the brook
comes from?" cried Peter, as soon as he saw
him.

"Yes, brother, from a little hole," answered
Poucinet.

"This boy is too bright," said Paul; "he
will never live to grow up."

"I have seen what I wished to see," whis-
pered Poucinet to himself, "and I know what
I wished to know; I am satisfied." And he
rubbed his hands.

Ill

At last they reached the king's palace.
The oak was larger and more umbrageous
than ever; there was no well in the court-
yard, and at the palace gate still hung the
great placard promising the hand of the
princess and one half of the kingdom to any
one, noble, burgher, or peasant, that should
accomplish the two tasks desired by his
majesty. But, as the king was tired of so

260 LAST FAIRY TALES

many useless attempts, which had served no
purpose but to drive him to despair, a small
placard had been hung under the large one,
and on this small placard was written, in red
letters,

"Know all men by these presents, that, in
his inexhaustible goodness, his majesty the
king has deigned to command that any one
who does not succeed in cutting down the
oak or digging the well shall have his ears
cut off on the spot, to teach him to know him-
self, which is the first lesson of wisdom."

And, in order that every one might profit
by this prudent counsel, thirty bloody ears
were nailed around this placard, belonging
to those who had been lacking in modesty.

On reading the placard, Peter burst out
laughing, turned up his mustaches, looked
at his arms, with their great muscles, like
whip-cords, and swinging his axe twice
around his head, with one blow he cut off
one of the largest branchest of the accursed
tree. But, no sooner had it fallen than two
thicker and stronger boughs sprouted forth
in its place; whereupon the king's guards
seized the unlucky wood-chopper, and cut
off his ears on the spot.

"You awkward fellow!" exclaimed Paul;

POUCINET 261

and, taking his axe, he walked slowly round
the tree, and, seeing a root springing from
the ground, he chopped it of! at one blow.
At the same instant two enormous roots
sprang up in its place, from each of which
sprouted forth a vigorous branch, full of
leaves.

"Seize this wretch!" cried the king, fren-
zied with rage, "and, since he did not profit
by his brother's example, shave off his ears
close to his head."

No sooner said than done. But the double
family misfortune did not terrify Poucinet,
who resolutely advanced to try his luck.

"Drive away that dwarf!" exclaimed the
king; "and if he refuses to go, cut off his ears
directly; it will teach him a lesson, and save
us from witnessing his folly."

"I beg your pardon, your majesty, a king's
word is sacred," said Poucinet. "I have the
right to try; it will be time enough to cut off
my ears when I fail."

"Go on, then," returned the king, sighing;
"but take care that I do not cut off your nose
into the bargain."

Poucinet drew the enchanted axe from the
bottom of his great leather bag. It was al-
most as tall as himself, and he had great

262 LAST FAIRY TALES

difficulty in setting it upright, the handle on
the ground. "Cut! cut!" he cried.

And, behold, the axe cut, chopped, and
split, hewing in all directions, right and left,
up and down, trunk, branches, and roots; in
a quarter of an hour the tree was in pieces,
and there was so much wood that the whole
palace was warmed with it for more than a
year.

When the tree was hewn down and chop-
ped up, Poucinet approached the king, who
was seated with the princess by his side, and
bowed gracefully to them both.

"Is your majesty satisfied with your faith-
ful servant?" asked he.

"Yes," said the king, "but I must have my
well, or look out for your ears!"

"If your majesty will kindly show me
where you wish it placed, I will endeavor
once more to please my sovereign," answered
Poucinet.

They repaired to the great courtyard of
the palace. The king took a raised seat; the
princess placed herself a little below her
father, and began to look with some anxiety
on the diminutive husband sent her by
Heaven. She had not dreamed of a spouse
of this size. Without troubling himself at all

POUCINET 263

about it, Poucinet took from his great leather
bag the enchanted pickaxe, coolly fitted the
axe to the handle, and, placing it on the
ground at the designated spot, cried,

"Dig! dig!"

And, behold, the pickaxe splintered the
granite, and in less than a quarter of an hour
dug a well more than a hundred feet deep.

"Does your majesty think this cistern large
enough?" asked Poucinet, with a bow.

Yes, indeed," said the king; "but there is

"

no water."

"Let your majesty grant me a minute," re-
turned Poucinet, "and your just impatience
shall be satisfied."

Saying this, he took from his great leather
bag the walnut-shell, wrapped in moss, and
placed it in a large basin, which, in default
of water, had been filled with flowers. When
the walnut-shell was firmly imbedded in the
earth, he cried,

"Spout! spout!"

And, behold, the water spouted forth
among the flowers, with a gentle murmur,
forming a fountain that filled the whole
courtyard with its coolness, and fell again in
a cascade in such abundance, that in a quar-
ter of an hour the well was full, and it was

264 LAST FAIRY TALES

necessary to hasten to dig a channel to carry
or! this menacing wealth of water.

"Sire," said Poucinet, bending one knee to
the ground before the royal seat, "does your
majesty think that I have fulfilled your con-
ditions?"

"Yes, Marquis de Poucinette," replied the
king. "I am ready to cede you half my king-
dom, or, rather, to pay you the value there-
of, by means of a tax which my faithful sub-
jects will be too happy to raise; but to give
you the princess and to take you for my son-
in-law is another affair, which does not de-
pend on me alone."

"What must I do?" asked Poucinet,
haughtily, resting his hand on his hip, and
gazing at the princess.

"You shall know to-morrow," said the
king. "Meanwhile, you are our guest, and
the best chamber in the palace shall be made
ready for you."

The king having gone, Poucinet hastened
to find his brothers, who, with their cropped
ears, looked like rat-terriers.

"Well, brothers," said he, "was I wrong
in keeping my eyes open, and seeking out the
reason of things?"

POUCINET 265

"You have been lucky," answered Paul,
coldly. "Fortune is blind and chooses
blindly."

"You have done well, my boy," cried Peter.
"With or without ears, I rejoice in your
good-fortune, and wish our father were here

to see it.'

Poucinet carried his two brothers away
with him, and, being in favor, the chamber-
lain found a post in the palace the same day
for the two cropped varlets.

IV

On retiring to his apartments, the king
could not sleep. A son-in-law like Poucinet
was not to his liking. His majesty studied
how to avoid keeping his word without
seeming to break it. For honest men, this
task is difficult. Between his honor and his
interest a knave never hesitates, but it is for
this very reason that he is a knave.

In his anxiety, the king summoned Peter
and Paul. The two brothers alone could tell
him the birth, character, and manners of
Poucinet. Peter praised his young brother,
which delighted his majesty but little; Paul
put him more at his ease by proving to him

266 LAST FAIRY TALES

that Poucinet was nothing but an adventurer,
and that it would be absurd for a great prince
to feel himself pledged to a low-born wretch.

"The lad is so conceited," said the spite-
ful Paul, "that he thinks himself able to face
a giant. In this district there lives an ogre
who is the terror of the neighborhod, and
\vho carries off the sheep and cattle for ten
league around. Now Poucinet has said again
and again that if he liked he could make this
giant his servant."

"We shall see if he will," exclaimed the
king; and he dismissed the brothers and slept
tranquilly.

The next morning, in the presence of the
whole court, the king sent for Poucinet. He
came, looking as fair as a lily, as fresh as a
rose, and as smiling as the morning.

"My son-in-law," said the king, dwelling
upon the words, "a brave man like you can-
not marry a princess without giving her a
household worthy of her. There is in this
forest an ogre who, it is said, is twenty feet
high, and who breakfasts every day on an ox.
With a laced coat, a cocked hat, gold epau-
lets, and a halberd fifteen feet long, he would
make a porter worthy of a king. My daugh-
ter begs you to make her this little present,

POUCINET 26;

after which she will see about giving you
her hand."

"It is not easy," said Poucinet, "but to
please her highness I will try."

He went to the kitchen, put in his great
leathern bag the enchanted axe, a loaf of
bread, a piece of cheese, and a knife, then,
throwing it over his shoulder, set out for the
forest. Peter wept, but Paul smiled, think-
ing that, once gone, he would never be heard
from again.

On entering the wood, Poucinet looked to
the right and the left, but the tall grass pre-
vented him from seeing. Upon this, he be-
gan to sing, at the top of his voice, "Ogre!
ogre! where are you, ogre? Show yourself!
I must have your body or your life! Here I
am !"

"And here I am!" cried the giant, with a
frightful roar; "wait for me, and I will make
but one mouthful of you."

"Don't be in a hurry, my friend," ex-
claimed Poucinet, in a shrill, piping voice,
"I have an hour at your disposal."

The giant turned his head on all sides, as-
tonished to see no one, then, casting down his
eyes, he spied a lad, seated on the trunk of

268 LAST FAIRY TALES

a fallen tree, holding a great leather bag be-
tween his knees.

"Was it you that broke up my nap, you ras-
cal?" cried the giant, rolling his great flam-
ing eyeballs.

"Yes, my good fellow," said Poucinet; "I
have come to take you into my service."

"Ah!" said the giant, who was as dull as
he was big, "that is a good joke. I am going
to toss you into the crow's nest that I spy up
yonder; that will teach you to prowl about
my forest."

"Your forest!" returned Poucinet, "it is
more mine than yours; if you say another
word, I will cut it down in a quarter of an
hour."

"Ah!" said the giant, "I should like to see
you do that, my little fellow."

Poucinet had placed the axe on the ground.
"Cut! cut!" he cried, and, behold, the axe
cut, chopped, split, and hewed to the right
and left, and up and down, while the
branches rained on the ogre like hail in a
storm.

"Enough! enough!" cried the giant, who
began to be alarmed; "do not destroy my
forest. Who are you?"

"I am the famous sorcerer Poucinet, and

POUCINET 269

I have only to speak a word for my axe to
chop off your head. You don't know yet
whom you have to deal with. Stay where
you are."

The giant stood still, greatly puzzled at
what he had seen. Poucinet, who was hun-
gry, opened his great leather bag, and took
out his bread and cheese.

"What is that white thing?" asked the
giant, who had never seen any cheese.

"It is a stone," said Poucinet, beginning
to munch it greedily.

"Do you eat stones?" asked the giant.

"Yes, they are my usual diet; that is the
reason why I do not grow like you, who eat
beef; and that too is why, small as I am, I
am ten times stronger than you. Show me
the way to your house."

The giant was conquered. He led the way
for Poucinet, like a huge dog, and brought
him to an immense building.

"Listen!" said Poucinet to the giant; "one
of us must be the master and the other the
servant. Let us make a bargain. If I can-
not do what you can, I will be your slave;
if you cannot do what I can, you shall be
mine."

"Agreed!" said the giant; "I should like

270 LAST FAIRY TALES

to have a little fellow like you to wait on me.
It tires me to think, and you have wit enough
for both of us. To begin with, here are my
two buckets; go bring me the water for din-

ner.'

Poucinet raised his head and looked at the
buckets. They were two immense tuns, each
ten feet high and six feet in diameter. It
would have been easier to drown in them
than to stir them.

aAh!" said the giant, opening his huge
mouth, "you are already nonplussed, my son.
Do what I do, and go draw the water."

"What is the use of that?" asked Poucint;
"I will go and fetch the spring, and turn that
into the dinner-pot; it will be much easier."

"No, no," cried the giant; "you have al-
ready spoiled my forest; do not meddle with
my spring — to-morrow I shall be thirsty.
Make a fire and I will bring the water."

Having hung the dinner-pot over the fire,
the giant threw in it a whole ox, cut in pieces,
with fifty cabbages and a cartload of carrots.
He skimmed it with a frying-pan, and tasted
it again and again.

"Come to the table," said he, at length,
"and now let me see you do what I do. For
my part, I feel hungry enough to eat this

POUCINET 271

whole ox and you into the bargain. You
will answer for my dessert."

"Very well," said Poucinet. But before
sitting down he slipped under his jacket his
great leather bag, so that it fell from his
throat to the ground.

The giant ate and ate, and Poucinet was
not behind him, only, instead of putting the
meat, cabbages, and carrots into his mouth,
he slipped them into the bag.

"Oh!" cried the giant," I can eat no more;
I must undo a button of my waistcoat."

"Don't stop yet, you lazy fellow," said
Poucinet, shoving half a cabbage under his
chin.

"Ah!" cried the giant, "I must undo an-
other buttton. What an ostrich's stomach
you have! Any one could see that you are
in the habit of eating stones."

"Go on!" said Poucinet, slipping a huge
piece of beef out of sight.

"Ugh!" exclaimed the giant, "I have un-
done my third button — I feel stuffed. And
how is it with you, sorcerer?"

"Bah!" said Poucinet, "nothing is easier
than to give one's self a little room."

He took his knife and slit his jacket and
bag the whole length of the stomach. "It is

272 LAST FAIRY TALES

your turn," said he to the giant, "do what I
do!"

"No, I thank you," answered the giant.
"I would rather be your servant; I cannot
digest steel."

No sooner said than done. The giant
kissed his little master's hand in token of sub-
mission; then, lifting him on one shoulder
and a large bag of gold on the other, he set
out for the palace.

V

There was a holiday at the palace, and no
one was thinking any more of Poucinet than
if the giant had eaten him a week before,
when suddenly there was heard a terrible up-
roar, which shook the building to its foun-
dation. It was the giant, who, finding the
great gate too small for him, had knocked it
down with one blow of his foot. Every one
ran to the window, the king with the rest,
and saw Poucinet tranquilly seated on the
shoulder of his terrible servant, on a level
with the second-story balcony, where the
court was assembled. He stepped down
among them, and, bending his knee before
his betrothed, said, "Princess, you wished for
a slave; here are two of them."

POUCINET 273

This gallant speech, which was inserted the
next day in the court journal, embarrassed
the king not a little at the moment when it
was spoken. Not knowing what answer to
make, he drew the princess aside in the em-
brasure of a window and said, "My daughter,
I have no excuse for refusing your hand to
this daring youth. Sacrifice yourself, for
state reasons; princesses do not marry for
their inclination alone."

"I beg your pardon," returned she, with a
courtesy, "princess or not, every woman
wishes to marry to suit her taste. Leave me
to defend my rights in my own way.

"Poucinet," she added, aloud, "you are
brave and successful, but that is not sufficient
to please the ladies."

"I know it," answered Poucinet; "it is
necessary besides to do their will and bend
to their caprices."

"You are a bright fellow," said the prin-
cess. "Since you are so good at guessing, I
propose to you a last ordeal, which should
not terrify you, since you will have me for
your adversary. Let us try which is the
cleverer, you or I. My hand shall be the
price of victory."

Poucinet made a low bow. The whole

274 LAST FAIRY TALES

court descended to the throne-room, where,
to the general consternation, they found the
giant seated on the ground. The ceiling be-
ing only fifteen feet high, the poor giant
could not stand upright. At a sign from his
young master, he crept to his side, proud and
happy to obey him. It was strength in the
service of intellect.

"We will begin with an extravaganza,"
said the princess. "It is said that women do
not stick at untruths ; let us see which can tell
the greatest falsehood. The one who first
cries, 'That is too much!' will have lost."

"I am at your highnesses orders, to lie in
jest, or to speak the truth in earnest," an-
swered Poucinet.

"I am sure," said the princess, "that your
farm is not so large as ours. When two
shepherds blow their horns at each end of the
land, neither can hear the other."

"That is nothing," said Poucinet. "My
father's estate is so vast that a heifer that is
two months old when she enters the gate on
one side is a full-grown milch cow when she
leaves it on the other."

"That does not astonish me," said the prin-
cess. "But you have not such a huge bull as

POUCINET 275

ours. Two men, seated on its horns, cannot
touch each other with a twenty-foot pole."

"That is nothing," said Poucinet. "The
head of my father's bull is so large that a
servant perched on one horn cannot see the
man sitting on the other."

"Neither does that surprise me," said the
princess. "But you have not so much milk
as we, for we fill daily twenty tuns each a
hundreds feet in height, and pile up a moun-
tain of cheeses every week as high as the
great pyramid of Egypt."

"What of that!" said Poucinet. "In my
father's dairy they make such mammoth
cheeses that our mare one day having fallen
into the mould, we did not find her until after
a week's search. The poor animal had broken
her back, and to use her I was forced to re-
place her spine by a large fir-tree, which
worked admirably. But one fine morning
the fir put forth a branch in the air, which
grew so tall that, on climbing it, I reached
the sky. There I saw a lady dressed in white,
spinning thread from the foam of the sea; I
caught hold of it, when, crack! it snapped,
and I fell into a mouse-hole. There, whom
should I find but your father and my mother,
each with a distaff; and your father was so

276 LAST FAIRY TALES

awkward that my mother boxed his ears till
his mustaches shook."

"That is too much!" cried the princess,
furious; amy father would never have sub-
mitted to such an indignity."

"She said, 'That is too much,' cried the
giant. "Master, the princess is ours."

VI

"Not yet," said the princess, blushing,
"Poucinet, I have three riddles to set you;
guess them, and nothing will be left me to do
but to obey my father. Tell me what it is
that is always falling and is never broken?"

"Oh!" said Poucinet, "my mother told me
that long ago; it is a waterfall."

"That is so," said the giant; "who would
have guessed that?"

"Tell me," said the princess, in a more
tremulous voice, "what it is that travels the
same road every day, yet never retraces its
steps?"

"Oh!" answered Poucinet, "my mother
taught me that long ago; it is the sun."

"That is right," said the princess, pale with
anger. "There remains a last question : what
is it that vou think and I do not? what is it

POUCINET 277

that I think and that you do not? what is it
that we both think? and what is it that neither
of us thinks?"

Poucinet cast down his head and reflected;
he was embarrassed.

"Master," said the giant, "if the question
is too hard, don't bother your brains about it.
Make a sign, and I will carry off the princess
and settle the matter."

"Be silent, slave," answered Poucinet.
"Strength can do little, my poor fellow, as
you must know. Let me try some other
means.

"Madam," said he, after a profound si-
lence, "I scarcely dare guess your riddle, in
which, nevertheless, I discern my happiness.
I ventured to think that your words would
not puzzle me, while you justly thought the
contrary. You are good enough to think that
I am not unworthy to please you, while I
have not the temerity to think so. Lastly,
what we both think," added he, smiling, "is
that there are greater fools than we in the
world ; and what neither of us think is that
the king, your august father, and this poor
giant have as much — "

"Silence!" said the princess. "Here is my
hand."

278 LAST FAIRY TALES

"What is it that you think about me?"
asked the king. "I should be glad to know."

"My good father," said the princess,
throwing herself on his neck, "we think that
you are the wisest of kings and the best of

men."

"Right!" returned the king. "I know it.
Meanwhile, I must do something for my
good people. Poucinet, I make you a duke."

"Long live my master, Duke Poucinet!"
cried the giant, in such a voice that it was
thought a thunderbolt had fallen upon the
palace. Luckily, the only harm done was a
general panic and a score of broken window-
panes.

VII

To describe the marriage of the princess
and Poucinet would be a useless task. All
weddings are alike; the only difference is in
the day after. Nevertheless, it would be in-
excusable on the part of a faithful historian
not to tell how much interest the giant's pres-
ence added to the magnificent festival. For
example, on coming out of the church, in the
excess of his joy the faithful giant could think
of nothing better to do than to pick up the
bridal carriage and put it on his head, and

faithful giant could think of nothing better to do than to set the
carriage on his head."

POUCINET 279

thus bring back the pair in triumph to the
palace. This is one of the incidents that it is
well to note, as its like is not seen every day.

In the evening there was a scene of fes-
tivity. Feasting, speech-making, epithalami-
ums, colored glass, fireworks, flowers, and
bouquets — nothing was lacking; there was
universal rejoicing. In the palace, every one
was laughing, singing, eating, drinking, or
talking. One man alone, lurking in a corner,
solaced himself in a way different from the
rest: this was Paul; he was glad his ears had
been cut off, since he was thus made deaf and
unable to hear the praises lavished on his
brother; and wished that he were also blind,
that he might not see the happiness of the
spouses. Unable to bear his thoughts, he at
last fled to the woods, where he was devoured
by the bears. I wish that all spiteful people
might share his fate.

Poucinet was so small that it seemed hard
at first for him to command respect; but his
affability and gentleness soon won the love
of his wife and the affection of all his people.
After the death of his father-in-law he filled
the throne for fifty-two years, without any
one for a single day desiring a revolution.
Incredible as this fact may seem, it is attested

280 LAST FAIRY TALES

by the official chronicle of his reign. He was
so shrewd, says the history, that he always
divined what would serve and please his sub-
jects, and so good that the pleasure of others
was his chief joy. He lived only for the good
of those about him.

But why praise his goodness? Is it not
the virtue of men of wit? Whatever may be
said, there is no such thing on earth as stupid
people that are good. When one is stupid,
he is not good, and when he is good, he is not
stupid; trust my long experience. If all the
fools in the world are not wicked, which I
suspect, all the wicked are fools. This is the
moral of my story; if any one finds a better
let him go and tell it at Rome.

THE PRUDENT FARMER

A RAGUSAN TALE

ONCE upon a time there lived at Ragusa
a farmer who dabbled a little in trade. One
day he set out for town to make a few pur-
chases, taking with him all his money. On
reaching a cross-road he stopped and asked
an old man whom he chanced to find there
which route he should take.

"I will tell you for a hundred crowns and
no less," answered the stranger; "every piece
of advice I give is worth a hundred crowns."

"Indeed!" thought the farmer, closely ob-
serving the foxy-looking old man. "What
kind of advice can it be that is worth a hun-
dred crowns? It must be something very
rare, for in general you get plenty of advice
for nothing; it is true that it is not worth
much more than you give for it. Well !" said
he to the old man, "speak, here is your
money."

281

282 LAST FAIRY TALES

"Mark me well," resumed the stranger,
"the straight road that you see before you is
the road of the present; the other one, which
makes a curve, is the road of the future. I
have some more advice to give you," he
added, "but for that you must pay me another
hundred crowns."

The farmer reflected long, but finally
thought to himself, "Since I have bought the
first, I may as well buy the second." And he
gave another hundred crowns.

"Listen," said the stranger, "when you are
on a journey, and stop at an inn where the
host is old and the wine is new, begone quick-
ly, if you would escape harm. Give me an-
other'hundred crowns," he added, "I have
still something more to tell you."

The farmer reflected, "What can this new
piece of advice be? Bah! since I have
bought two, I may as well buy the third one."
And he gave his last hundred crowns.

"Heed me well!" said the old man, "if
ever you fly in a passion, keep half of your
wrath for the morrow, and do not use up all
your anger in one day."

The farmer returned home empty-handed.

"What did you buy?" asked his wife.

"Nothing but three pieces of advice, each

THE PRUDENT FARMER 283

of which cost me a hundred crowns," he an-
swered.

"That is just like you, wasting your money,
and scattering it to the winds, as usual!"

"My dear wife," said the farmer, gently,
"I do not regret my money. Just listen to
the sayings which I bought with it."

But his wife shrugged her shoulders at
what she styled idle words, and called her
husband a fool, who would ruin his house-
hold and leave his wife and children to
starve.

A short time after, a merchant stopped be-
fore the farmer's door, with two wagons full
of goods. He had lost his partner on the
way, and he offered the farmer fifty crowns
if he would take charge of one of the wagons
and go with him to town.

"I hope you will not refuse," said the
farmer's wife to him, "this time you will earn
something at least."

They set out, the merchant driving the
first wagon, and the farmer the second. The
weather was bad and the roads heavy, and
they travelled with great difficulty. At last
they reached the cross-road, where the mer-
chant asked which route they should take.

"That one, which is the road of the fu-

284 LAST FAIRY TALES

ture," said the farmer; "it is longer but it is

surer."

The merchant, however, insisted on taking
the .road of the present. "I would not go
that way for a hundred crowns," said the
farmer.

They separated, therefore; the farmer,
who had taken the longer road, nevertheless
arrived much before his comrade, with his
wagon in good condition. The merchant
did not rejoin him till night; his wagon had
fallen in a morass, all the load had been dam-
aged, and the master had been hurt into the
bargain.

At the first inn they reached the host was
old, and a green branch announced that new
wine was sold there cheap. The merchant
wished to stop there for the night.

"I would not do it for a hundred crowns,"
exclaimed the farmer, and he departed hur-
riedly, leaving his companion. During the
evening, a group of young idlers, who had
drank too freely of the new wine, quarrelled
for some trifling cause, knives were drawn,
the host, cumbered with years, had not the
strength to separate the combatants, a man
was killed, and, in order to escape the law,
the corpse was hid in the wagon of the mer-

THE PRUDENT FARMER 285

chant. The latter, who had slept well, and
had heard nothing of the affray, rose early
to harness his horses. Terrified at finding a
dead body in his wagon, he drove off as fast
as he could in order to escape a tedious law
suit. But the Austrian police were on his
track; they pursued and overtook him, and
while waiting for the case to be brought to
trial, threw the merchant in prison and con-
fiscated his goods.

On learning of what had happened to his
comrade, the farmer determined at least to
save the wagon under his charge, and re-
turned to his own house. On nearing the
garden, he saw through the twilight a young
soldier seated in his finest plum-tree, coolly
munching his favorite fruit. The farmer
raised his gun to shoot the thief, when he
reflected, "I have paid a hundred crowns to
learn that I must not spend all my wrath in
one day. Let us wait till to-morrow; the
thief will return."

He made a circuit to enter the house by an-
other way. As he knocked at the door, the
young soldier flung himself in his arms, cry-
ing, "Father, I have a furlough, and have
come to surprise and embrace you."

Said the farmer to his wife, uNow hear

286 LAST FAIRY TALES

what has happened to me, and see whether I
paid too dear for my three pieces of advice."
He told them the whole story. As the poor
merchant was hung, in spite of all he could
do, the farmer found himself the heir of this
imprudent man. Enriched thereby, he daily
repeated that good advice is never bought too
dearly, and for the first time his wife and he
are of one and the same mind.

A FEMALE SOLOMON

A CROATIAN TALE

THERE was once upon a time a poor man
who lived in a hut alone with his daughter;
but this daughter was as wise as Solomon.
She went everywhere in search of alms, and
also taught her father what to say to obtain
what he needed. One day he chanced to
solicit aid from the emperor, who, surprised
at his manner of speaking, asked him who
he was, and who had taught him to express
himself in a way so much above his station.

"My daughter, sire," he answered.

"And who taught your daughter?" asked
the emperor.

"It was God, as well as our great misery,"
was the reply.

"Take these thirty eggs to your daughter,"
said the emperor, "and tell her to hatch
chickens from them; if she does not, woe be-
tide her!"

287

288 LAST FAIRY TALES

The poor man went to his hut in tears, and
told the story to his daughter. She saw at
once that the eggs were boiled; but told her
father to go to bed, and she would see to
everything. He followed her advice; for
her part, she took a pot, filled it with water
and beans and hung it over the fire ; then, next
morning, when the beans were boiled, she
called her father and told him to take a
plough and oxen and plough up the earth by
the side of the road where the emperor was
to pass.

"And," she added, "when you see the em-
peror, sow these beans, and say, in a loud
voice, 'God bless my boiled beans and make
them grow!' Then, if the emperor asks how
it is possible for boiled beans to grow, answer
that it is as easy as to hatch a chicken from
a boiled egg."

The poor man did as he was bid; he
ploughed up the ground, sowed the beans,
and cried, when he saw the emperor, "God
bless my boiled beans and make them grow!"
And when the emperor stopped and said,
"Poor fool, how is it possible for boiled beans
to grow?" he answered, "Gracious emperor,
it is as easy as to hatch a chicken from a
boiled egg."

A FEMALE SOLOMON 289

The emperor knew that the daughter had
prompted her father to act in this way. He
ordered his valets to bring the poor man be-
fore him; then he gave him a small package
of hemp, and said, "Take this, and make of
it sails, cordage, and all that is needed for a
vessel, or else I will cut off your head."

The poor man took the package and re-
turned drowned in tears to his daughter. On
hearing what had happened she told him to
go to bed, and that she would put matters
right. The next day she took a bit of wood,
awoke her father, and said,

"Take this match to the emperor, and let
him make from it a spindle, a shuttle, and a
loom, after which I will do what he asks."

The poor man once more followed his
daughter's advice; he went to the emperor
and repeated what he had been bid to say.
The emperor was astonished. After a
moment's thought he took a goblet, and, giv-
ing it to the poor man, said, "Take this gob-
let to your daughter, and tell her to bale out
the ocean, and make of it an arable field."

The poor man obeyed, sighing, and car-
ried the goblet to his daughter, repeating the
emperor's message. Again she told him to
go to bed, and leave the matter to her. The

290 LAST FAIRY TALES

next day she called him and gave him a
bunch of tow, saying,

"Take this to the emperor and let him stop
up all the springs and the mouths of all the
rivers, after which I will bale out the sea."

When the emperor heard this, he per-
ceived that the maiden was wiser than he.
He ordered her to be brought before him,
and when they were face to face, asked the
question, "My girl, can you tell me what is
heard farthest off?"

"Thunder and falsehood are heard farthest
off, gracious emperor," she answered.

The emperor thereupon took his beard in
his hand and, turning to the courtiers, said,
"Guess how much my beard is worth."

When they had all estimated its value,
some more and others less, the damsel main-
tained to their faces that none of them had
guessed right, saying, "An emperor's beard
is worth three rains in a summer's drought."

The emperor was delighted, and said,
"She has guessed nearest of all." He asked
her if she would be his wife, adding that he
would not let her go until she had consented.
The damsel bowed and said,

"Gracious emperor, your will be done! I
only ask that you shall give me a writing, in

A FEMALE SOLOMON 291

your own hand, declaring that if at any time
you grow tired of me and wish to send me
away from you and out of the palace, I shall
have the right to carry away with me what I
love best."

The emperor consented, and gave her a
writing sealed with the red wax and great
official stamp of the empire.

It chanced after a time that the emperor
grew tired of his wife, as she had foreseen,
and said to her, "I will live with you no
longer; leave the palace, and go where you
please."

"Illustrious emperor," answered the em-
press, "I will obey you; only permit me to
stay here one night longer, and to-morrow I
will go."

The emperor having granted this request,
before supper the empress mixed brandy and
sweet herbs with the wine, and persuaded
him to drink of it, saying,

"Drink and be merry; to-morrow we part;
and, believe me, I shall be happier than on
my wedding-day."

The emperor had scarcely swallowed the
beverage when he fell fast asleep. The em-
press had him taken at once to a carriage
which she had ready, and carried him away

292 LAST FAIRY TALES

with her to a grotto hewn in the rock. On
awaking, he rubbed his eyes, and looking
around him at the strange spectacle, cried,
"Where am I, and who brought me here?"

"It was I," answered the empress.

"Why did you do this? Did I not tell you
that you were no longer my wife?"

"It is true that you said so," returned she,
extending to him a paper, "but do you re-
member what you promised me in this writ-
ing? On quitting the palace I had a right to
take away with me what I loved best in it,
and this dearest thing is you."

At these words the emperor's heart melted ;
he embraced her, and they returned to the
palace together, never more to part.

DAME GUDBRAND

A NORWEGIAN TALE

THERE was once an old man called Gud-
brand of the Hill, who lived in a lonely cot-
tage on a distant hillside.

Now it must be known that this Gudbrand
had an excellent wife, which sometimes hap-
pens. But what happens far more seldom
was that Gudbrand understood the value of
such a treasure. The husband and wife lived
peacefully together, enjoying their common
happiness, and troubling themselves neither
about the lack of money nor their advancing
years. Everything that Gudbrand did, his
wife declared to be just what she most
wanted ; so that the good man could not move
or change a single thing in the house without
his wife's thanking him for having foreseen
and accomplished her wishes.

They led an easy life, moreover; the farm
belonged to them, and they had a hundred

293

294 LAST FAIRY TALES

dollars in their drawer, and two good milch
cows in their stable. They lacked for noth-
ing, and could grow old without fearing want
and wretchedness, or needing the pity or as-
sistance of their neighbors. One evening, as
they were talking together by the fireside of
their work and their plans, Dame Gudbrand
said to her husband,

"My dear, a happy thought strikes me.
Why not take one of our cows to town and
sell it? The other one will give us all the
milk and butter we need, and what is the use
of wearing ourselves out for others? We
have no children, and money lying idle; and
it is better to save our strength. You will
always find enough to do to keep you busy at
home, mending tools and furniture, and I
shall have more time to sit by you with my
spindle and distaff."

Gudbrand, as usual, thought his wife was
quite right, and set off early the next morning
for town, with his cow. But it was not mar-
ket-day, and he found no one ready to buy
her.

"Well, well," said he to himself, "I have
only to drive her home again; I have plenty
of straw and fodder for her, and the road is
no longer going than coming;" and with

DAME GUDBRAND 295

these words, he tranquilly turned his face
homeward.

After a few hours' walk, just as he was be-
ginning to feel a little tired, he met a man
riding a horse to town — a superb-looking
animal, all saddled and bridled.

"The way is long, and darkness is coming
on fast," thought Gudbrand ; "I shall not get
home to-night with my cow, and my wife will
be worried. How proud she would be to see
me come prancing into the yard on this horse,
like a bailiff!" And with this thought, he
stopped the rider, and exchanged his cow for
the horse.

Once in the saddle he had some misgiv-
ings. Gudbrand was old and heavy, and the
horse was young, fiery, and skittish. In half
an hour Gudbrand was on foot, with the
bridle on his arm, trying hard to hold the
frisky animal, that tossed his head in the
wind, and reared and pranced at every stone
by the wayside. "It is a bad bargain,"
thought Gudbrand; when, just at that in-
stant, he spied a countryman leading a pig
as fat as butter, whose belly touched the
ground.

"I have often heard my wife say," thought
Gudbrand, "that a humble nail that is of use

296 LAST FAIRY TALES

is worth more than a sparkling diamond that
is good for nothing." And he exchanged his
horse for the pig.

It was a happy thought, but the good man
had counted without his host. Master
Porker was tired, and would not budge an-
other step. Gudbrand talked, coaxed, and
swore, but all in vain. He dragged the pig
by the snout, he pushed him from behind, he
beat him on all sides, and had his trouble for
his pains. The creature lay in the dust like
a ship stuck in the mud. The farmer was in
despair, when a man passed leading a goat,
which, with its udders full of milk, pranced,
ran, and curveted with an agility charming
to behold.

"Just what I want," cried Gudbrand; "I
had rather have that lively, merry goat, than
this stupid, vile beast." And thereupon,
without a second thought, he exchanged the
pig for the goat.

Everything went smoothly for the space of
half an hour. The long-horned damsel led
on Gudbrand, who at first laughed at her
pranks. But when one is past twenty, he
soon tires of climbing rocks; and the farmer,
chancing to meet a shepherd watching his
flock, was easily persuaded to exchange his

DAME GUDBRAND 297

goat for a sheep. "I shall have just as much
milk," thought he, "and this animal at least
will be quiet, and will not tire my wife and

me.'

Gudbrand had judged rightly; there is
nothing more placid than a sheep. She
played no pranks, and did not try to butt
him; but she would not go on, and stood
bleating for her sisters. The more Gud-
brand pulled, the more she endeavored to
return to the flock, and the more pitifully
she moaned.

"The whimpering fool!" cried Gudbrand.
"She is as headstrong and as whining as my
neighbor's wife. Who will take this bleat-
ing, crying, groaning beast off my hands? I
will sell her at any price."

"It is a bargain," said a peasant who was
passing. "Take this fine, fat goose, which is
far better than a sheep that will moan itself
to death in an hour."

"Agreed," said Gudbrand; "a live goose
is worth more than a dead sheep." And he
carried off the goose with him.

This, however, was no easy task. The bird
was an uneasy companion. Frightened at
being off the ground, it fought lustily with

298 LAST FAIRY TALES

wings, claws, and beak, till Gudbrand was
tired of the struggle.

"Pooh !" said he, "a goose is a hateful bird ;
my wife never would have one in the house."

And, thereupon, at the first farmhouse
where he stopped, he exchanged the goose
for a handsome cock, with gay plumage, and
fine spurs and comb. This time he was satis-
fied with his bargain. The cock, it is true,
screamed from time to time, in a voice too
shrill to please sensitive ears, but as his legs
were tied together and he was carried head
downward, he soon submitted to his fate.
The only trouble was that it was growing
late. Gudbrand, who had set out before day-
break, found himself at evening hungry and
penniless. He had still a long way to go ; his
legs were faltering, and his stomach was cry-
ing for food. He was equal to the occasion.
At the first inn, he sold his cock for half a
dollar, and as he had a good appetite, spent
it to the last penny in satisfying his hunger.

"After all," thought he, "of what use
would a cock be to me after I had perished
of starvation?"

On nearing home, Gudbrand began to re-
flect on the strange way in which his journey

DAME GUDBRAND 299

had turned out. Before entering his house,
he stopped at his neighbor's, Grizzled Peter.

"Well, Gudbrand," said Peter, "what luck
did you have in town?"

"So, so," said he ; "I cannot say that I have
been very lucky, but neither have I reason
to complain." And he told him all that had
happened.

"Well, neighbor," exclaimed Peter, "you
have made a fine mess of it! What will your
wife say to you? May God protect you! I
would not be in your shoes for ten dollars."

"Why," said Gudbrand, "matters might
have turned out much worse with me; as it
is, I am well, and at peace in body and soul.
And whether I have been wise or foolish, I
have such a good wife that she will be per-
fectly satisfied with everything I have done."

"I hear what you say, neighbor, and mar-
vel at it, but with all due respect to you, I
don't believe a word of it."

"Will you bet that I am wrong?" said
Gudbrand. "I have a hundred dollars in my
drawer at home; I will venture twenty-five
of them; will you do the same?"

"Yes, indeed," said Peter.

The bargain concluded, the two friends

300 LAST FAIRY TALES

entered Gudbrand's house. Peter stood at
the chamber-door to listen.

"How are you, dame?" said Gudbrand.

"Thank God, you are home again!" ex-
claimed his wife; "I was beginning to be so
uneasy about you. How are you, and what
success have you had in town?"

"So, so," said Gudbrand; "I could find
no one to whom to sell our cow, so I ex-
changed her for a horse."

"For a horse!" exclaimed his wife; "what
an excellent idea. I thank you with all my
heart. Now we can go in our wagon to
church, like so many people who look down
upon us, and are no better than we. If we
choose to keep a horse, and feed it, it is no-
body's business; we have a perfect right to
do so. Where is the horse? He must be put
into the stable."

"I did not bring him home," said Gud-
brand ; "on the way I changed my mind and
traded him for a pig."

"Why," said his wife, "that is just what I
should have done in your place. A thousand
thanks, my dear. Now, when the neighbors
drop in, I shall have a bit of bacon to offer
them, like other people. What do we want
of a horse? The neighbors would say, 'See

DAME GUDBRAND 3O1

those proud folks, looking down on us who
have to walk to church.' Come, we must put
the pig in his sty."

"I did not bring the pig, either," said Gud-
brand; "on the way I changed him for a
goat."

"Bravo!" cried his wife, "what a wise and
prudent man you are! Now I think of it,
what should we have done with a pig? Folks
would have pointed their fingers at us, say-
ing, 'Look at those people, who eat up all
they make!' But with my goat I shall have
milk and cheese, to say nothing of kids.
Make haste and put the goat in the stable."

"But I did not bring the goat," said Gud-
brand; "on the way I exchanged it for a
sheep."

"That is just like you!" cried his wife;
"you did this for my sake. I am too old to
climb over hills and rocks after a goat. But
with a sheep I shall have milk and wool be-
sides. Put the sheep in the stable."

"I did not bring the sheep, either," said
Gudbrand; "on the way I changed it for a
goose."

"Thank you with all my heart," said the
good woman; "what should I have done with
a sheep? I have neither spinning-wheel nor

302 LAST FAIRY TALES

loom; weaving is hard work, and when the
cloth is woven, it must be cut out and made.
It is much easier to buy ready-made clothing,
as we have always done. But a goose — a fat
goose — is just what I wanted; I need down
for our bed ; and I have always had a longing
for once in my life to eat a roast goose.
Come, let us put the goose in the barn-yard."

"But neither did I bring the goose home,"
said Gudbrand; "on the way I changed it for
a cock."

"My dear," said his wife, "you are wiser
than I. A cock is really useful; it is better
than a clock, which must be wound every
week. A cock crows every morning at four
o'clock, and tells us that it is time to praise
God and go to work. After all, of what good
would a goose have been to us? I do not
know how to cook it; and as for our bed,
thank God, there is plenty of moss as soft as
down. Put the cock in the barn-yard."

"I did not bring the cock, either," said
Gudbrand, "for at nightfall I found myself
as hungry as a hunter, and had to sell the cock
for half a dollar, without which I should
have died of starvation."

"God be praised for giving you this happy
thought!" cried his wife. "My dear, you

DAME GUDBRAND 303

have done everything just as I wished. What
do we need of a cock? We are our own
masters; no one has a right to order us about,
and we can lie in bed as late as we like. Now
that you are here, my dear husband, I am
happy. I need but one thing, and that is, to
know that you are by my side."

Upon this Gudbrand opened the door, and
called, "Neighbor Peter, what did I tell you?
Go, fetch your twenty-five dollars." And he
kissed his old wife on both cheeks with as
much pleasure and more tenderness than if
she had been twenty years old.

GRIZZLED PETER

A NORWEGIAN TALE

THE story does not end here. Every medal
has its obverse side. The day would not ap-
pear so bright if it were not blotted out by
the night. However good and perfect all
women may be, there are, nevertheless, a few
who are not always as easy-tempered as Dame
Gudbrand. Need I say that this is the hus-
band's fault? If he always gave way, would
he ever be contradicted? "Give way!" I
hear some whiskered gentleman exclaim.
Yes, of course; else hear with what you are
threatened. A Norwegian experience may
be useful elsewhere.

Grizzled Peter bore no resemblance to his
neighbor, Goodman Gudbrand. He was
petulant, imperious, choleric, and about as
impatient as a dog from whom a bone is
snatched, or a cat that is seized by the nape
of the neck. He would have been unbear-

304

GRIZZLED PETER 3°5

able if Heaven, in its mercy, had not given
him a wife worthy of him. This good wom-
an was headstrong, quarrelsome, rasping,
shrewish, and always ready to be silent
when her husband wanted to talk, or to rail
when he wished to be at peace. It was great
good luck for Grizzled Peter to have such a
treasure. Without his wife, how could he
have ever known that patience is not the
merit of fools, and that gentleness is the chief
of virtues.

One night, in harvest, when he returned
home after fifteen hours' hard labor, more ill-
tempered than ever, loudly asking if supper
was not ready, and furiously scolding at
women and their laziness,

Hold your tongue, Peter," said his wife.
Would you like to change places? To-
morrow I will go harvesting and you shall
keep house. We will see which has the
harder work, and does it better."

"Done!" answered Peter. "You will
learn, for once, by experience, what your
husband suffers. It may teach you to re-
spect him; you need the lesson."

The next morning, at daybreak, his wife
set out, her rake over her shoulder and her

u
ti

306 LAST FAIRY TALES

sickle by her side, rejoiced to see the sun
rise, and singing like the lark.

Grizzled Peter was a little surprised to
find himself alone in the house. He made
the best of it, however, and set to work to
churn the butter, as if he had been accus-
tomed to it all his life. One soon gets heated
at a new trade. Peter's throat was dry, and
he went down cellar to draw some beer. He
had just taken the spigot out of the cask, and
was about to put in the spout, when he heard
overhead the grunting of the pig, who was
ravaging the kitchen.

"My butter is lost!" cried Peter. He
rushed up the cellar steps, four at a time,
with the spigot in his hand. Such a spec-
tacle as met his sight! The churn was over-
turned, the cream was on the ground, and the
pig was wallowing in floods of milk. A
wiser man would have lost patience. Peter
flung himself upon the animal, that ran
away grunting. The thief paid dearly for
his crime, for his master seized him on the
way, and dealt him such a blow on the head
with the spigot that he fell stark dead on the
spot.

As he gazed at his bloody work, Peter be-
thought himself that he had not closed the

GRIZZLED PETER 307

bunghole, and that the beer was still run-
ning. He rushed down cellar. Fortunate-
ly, the beer was running no longer; it is true
that not a drop was left in the cask.

It was necessary to begin anew and churn
the butter if he wished to have any dinner.
Peter went to the dairy, and found cream
enough there, fortunately, to repair the acci-
dent of the morning. He set about churning
with all his might, when he suddenly re-
membered, rather late in the day, that the
cow was still in the stable, and had had noth-
ing yet to eat or drink, though the sun was
now high in the heavens. He started for the
stable, but experience had made him wise.

"There is the baby crawling on the floor,"
he thought; "he will be sure to upset the
churn if I leave it here."

He took the churn on his back, and went
to draw water for the cow. The well was
deep, and the bucket did not fill. Peter be-
came impatient, and leaned over to pull the
rope, when pop! a deluge of cream from the
churn poured over his head and into the well.

"Oh, dear!" cried Peter; "I shall have no
butter to-day. I must think now of the cow.
It is too late to drive her to pasture, but there
is a fine growth of hay that has not been cut

308 LAST FAIRY TALES

on the thatched roof. She will lose nothing
by staying at home."

Having taken the cow from the stable, it
was not difficult to get her on the roof. The
house being built in a hollow, the thatch on
one side was nearly on a level with the
ground, and, with the help of a broad plank,
the cow was easily installed in her aerial
pasture.

Peter could not stay on the roof to watch
the cow. He had to make soup and carry it
to the reapers. But being a prudent man, and
not wishing to expose his cow to the danger
of breaking her bones, he tied a long rope
around her neck, which he carefully lowered
down the kitchen chimney; this done, he re-
turned to the kitchen, and fastened the rope
around his leg. "Now," thought he, UI can
be quite sure that the animal will be quiet,
and that nothing will happen to her."

He filled the pot, put into it a good piece
of bacon, some vegetables, and water, hung
it over the fagots, lighted a match, and blew
the fire, when, presto! the cow slipped from
the roof and dragged our gentleman up the
chimney, head downward and heels in air.
There is no knowing what would have hap-
pened to him had not a strong iron bar luck-

GRIZZLED PETER 3°9

ily stopped him on the way. There they both
hung between heaven and earth, Peter and
the cow, he in the chimney and she from the
roof, both shrieking and groaning fright-
fully.

Happily, the good wife had no more pa-
tience than her husband. After waiting three
seconds for the soup to be brought her at the
usual time, she ran home as if the house were
on fire. At the sight of the cow suspended
from the roof she drew her sickle and cut
the rope. It was a great joy for the poor
animal to find herself once more upon the
ground she loved ; and it was no less fortun-
ate for Peter, who was not in the habit of
viewing the heavens feet in air, and who fell
head foremost into the pot. But luck seemed
to be on his side that day the fire had not
caught, the water was cold, and the pot hung
awry, so that he escaped with honor from this
trying ordeal with no other accident than a
scratched forehead, grazed nose, and two cut
cheeks. Happily, nothing was broken but
the dinner-pot.

On entering the kitchen and seeing her hus-
band standing abashed and bloody, in the
prevailing disorder, the dame stuck her arms
akimbo, and exclaimed,

310 LAST FAIRY TALES

"Well, which of us is it that is always
right? I have done my work in the harvest-
field, and here I am! And you, Mr. Cook,
Mr. Shepherd, Mr. Housekeeper, where is
the butter, where is the beer, where is the
pig, where is the cow, where is our dinner?
If the baby is not dead, it is not your fault!
Poor little one, if you had not your mother!"
Clasping the baby in her arms, tears came
to her relief. Is not sensibility the triumph
of woman, and are not tears the triumph of
sensibility?

Peter bore the storm sukily, but in silence.
He did well; resignation befits great minds.
But a few days after the neighbors perceived
that he had changed the motto of his house.
Instead of two clasped hands bearing a heart
encircled with a blue ribbon and surmounted
by an eternal flame, he had painted on the
front of the cottage a hive surrounded with
bees, with the following inscription:

"Bees sting sharp,

But evil tongues sharper."

It was his only vengeance for this day of
defeat.

THE TAILOR'S DAUGHTER

A SENEGAL TALE

THERE was, once upon a time, a Senegal
tailor, who had a daughter as dazzling as
the sun. All the youths in the neighborhood
were in love with her beauty, and two of
them went to her and asked for her hand.
The girl, like a well-trained daughter, made
them no answer, but called her father, who
listened to them, and said :

"It is late; go home, and come again to-
morrow. I will tell you then which of you
shall have my daughter."

At daybreak the next morning the young
men were at his door.

"Here we are," they cried; "remember
what you promised us yesterday."

"Wait," said the tailor; "I must go out
and buy a piece of cloth; when I return, you
will hear what I expect you to do."

311

312 LAST FAIRY TALES

He soon returned, and, calling his daugh-
ter, said to the young men,

"My sons, there are two of you, and I have
but one daughter. I cannot give her to both
of you, and must refuse one. You see this
piece of cloth; I will cut from it two pairs
of breeches, exactly alike; each of you shall
make one of them, and the one that finishes
first shall be my son-in-law."

Each of the rivals took his task, and pre-
pared to set to work under the tailor's eyes.
The latter said to his daughter, "Here is
thread; you can thread the needles for the
workmen."

The girl obeyed; she took the spool and
sat down by the youths. But the pretty witch
was full of cunning; her father did not know
which one she loved, neither did the young
men, but, for her part, she knew very well.
The tailor went out, the girl threaded the
needles, and her suitors set to wrork. But to
the one she loved she gave short needlesful,
while she gave long needlesful to his rival.
Both sewed zealously; at eleven o'clock the
work was scarcely half done, but at three in
the afternoon the young man with the short
needlesful had finished his task, while the
other was far behind. When the tailor re-

THE TAILOR'S DAUGHTER 3J3

turned, the victor carried him the finished
breeches. His rival was still sewing.

"My children," said the father, "I did not
wish to show any partiality between you, for
which reason I divided the cloth into two
equal parts, and gave each a fair chance.
Are you satisfied?"

"Perfectly," answered they. "We under-
stood your meaning, and accepted the trial;
what is to be will be!"

But the tailor had reasoned to himself:
"He who finishes his task first will be the
better workman, and consequently the one
better fitted to support his household." It
did not occur to him that his daughter might
out-wit him by giving the longer needlesful
to the one she did not wish to win. Woman's
wit decided the contest, and the girl chose
her husband herself.

DAME WEASEL AND
HER HUSBAND

A NUBIAN TALE

DAME WEASEL brought a son into the
world. She called her husband and said,
"Go get me the kind of swaddling-clothes I
want, and bring them here to me."

The husband listened to his wife with a
puzzled air, and asked, "But what kind of
swraddling-clothes do you want?"

"I want the skin of an elephant," snapped
the weasel.

The poor husband stood agape in amaze-
ment, wondering if his wife had not lost her
wits, till the angry weasel flung the baby in
his arms, and rushed out, with a toss of her
head.

She went straight to the Earth-worm and
said, "Neighbor, I have a field covered with
turf; come and help me dig it up."

314

DAME WEASEL AND HER HUSBAND 315

The Worm once busy at work, Dame
Weasel went to the Hen, and said, "Cousin,
my field is full of worms, we need your help
in getting rid of them."

The Hen ran thither without waiting for
another word, hastily gobbled up the Worm,
and began scratching in the dirt for more.

A little farther on the Weasel met the Cat;
"My friend," said she, "there are some hens
in my field, and it might be to your advan-
tage to take a turn that way while I am gone."

A moment after, the Cat had devoured the
Hen.

While the Cat was thus regaling himself,
the Weasel said to the Dog, "Master, will you
allow the Cat to lord it over that field?" The
furious Dog rushed on the Cat and strangled
him, determined that there should be no other
ruler there than himself.

The Lion, passing that way, Dame Weasel
bowed to him respectfully. "My lord," said
she, "do not go near that field, it belongs to
the Dog;" upon which the Lion, blinded
with jealousy, flung himself on the Dog and
tore him to pieces.

The Elephant came next. Dame Weasel
entreated his help against the Lion, and
begged him to come into her territory as a

316 LAST FAIRY TALES

protector. But he little knew the treachery
of the Weasel, who had digged a deep pit
there and covered it with boughs. The Ele-
phant fell into the snare, and was killed by
the fall, while the Lion, who was afraid of
the Elephant, fled to the forest.

The Weasel then stripped off the Ele-
phant's skin, and showed it to her husband,
saying, "I asked you in vain for this skin;
with God's help I have obtained it myself,
and I bring it to you."

The husband of Dame Weasel had not sus-
pected before that his wife was more cun-
ning than all the beasts of the earth, still less,
that she was more cunning than he. He was
convinced of it at last; and hence came the
saying, aHe is as cunning as a weasel."

THE SUN'S DAUGHTER

A GREEK FAIRY TALE

THERE was once a woman who could not
be comforted because she had no children.
One day she said to the Sun,

"Good Sun, if you will but give me a
daughter, you may take her back when she is
twelve years old."

The Sun immediately sent a daughter to
the good woman. She named her Letiko, and
cherished her for twelve years like the apple
of her eye. But one day, when Letiko was
gathering herbs, the Sun came to her and
said, "My child, when you go home, tell
your mother to remember what she promised

me."

Letiko went home and said to the good
woman, "Mother, as I was gathering herbs,
a handsome prince came and bade me tell
you to remember what you had promised
him."

317

318 LAST FAIRY TALES

At this message, the good woman trembled
and turned pale; then set instantly to work to
shut the doors and windows, and stop up the
holes and crevices, that the Sun might not
make his way into the house and carry off
Letiko. Unhappily she forgot the keyhole,
and the Sun sent one of his beams through it,
which seized Letiko, and bore her away.

The Sun was not a bad master, but Letiko
could not forget, in his service, the mother
she had lost.

One day the Sun sent her to the barn for
some hay. Letiko seated herself on the
sheaves, and sighed, "As this hay is crushed
beneath my feet, so my heart is crushed by
the loss of my mother." She stayed so long
in the barn that the Sun called to her, "Le-
tiko, what are you doing there?"

"My shoes are so large that I cannot
walk," she answered. Upon which the Sun
made her smaller shoes.

Another day the Sun sent her for water.
On reaching the spring, Letiko sighed, "As
this water moans as it falls, so moans my
heart for my poor mother."

She stayed so long at the spring that the
Sun called to her, "Letiko, what are you do-
ing there?" She said, "My skirt is so long

THE SUN'S DAUGHTER 319

that I cannot walk." Upon which the Sun
cut off the hem of her skirt.

Another time the Sun sent her for a pair
of sandals. On her way back she sat down
by the roadside, and sighed, "As this leather
creaks in my hand, so does my heart cry out
for my mother."

She remained seated there so long that the
Sun called to her, "Letiko, what are you
doing there?"

"My hat is so large that it falls over my
eyes, and hinders me from walking."

Upon which the Sun cut off the brim of
her hat.

At last the Sun saw that Letiko was sor-
rowful. He sent her once more to the barn
for hay; but listened at the door and heard
the child cry for her mother. He then called
to him two foxes, and said,

"Will you take Letiko back home?"

"With pleasure."

"But if you are hungry and thirsty, what
will you eat and drink on the way."

"We will eat the child's flesh and drink
her blood," answered the honest foxes.

When the Sun heard this, he said to him-
self, "Good people, you will not do for me."
He thanked the foxes, and called two hares.

320 LAST FAIRY TALES

"Will you take Letiko back to her
mother?"

"With pleasure."

"But if you are hungry and thirsty, what
will you eat and drink on the way?"

"We will eat the grass of the fields and
drink the water of the springs."

"Good, take the child; I trust her to you."

And, behold, the hares set out with Letiko ;
but the way was long, and they were hungry.

"Dear Letiko," said the hares to the young
girl, "climb this tree, and stay there till we
have satisfied our appetite."

Letiko climbed the tree, and the hares ran
to the forest. They were hardly out of sight,
when a lamia appeared beneath the tree —
this is what an ogress is called in Greece.
She was a horrible old witch, with only one
eye, in the middle of her forehead, and a huge
mouth with two great tusks. "Letiko! Leti-
ko! come down and see what pretty shoes I
have on!" she cried.

"Mine are as pretty as yours."

"Come down, I am in haste, my house is
not swept."

"Go and sweep it, and come back when it
is done."

;Letiko rushed in first, followed by the hares."

THE SUN'S DAUGHTER 32i

The lamia ran home and hurried back as
fast as she could. "Letiko! Letiko!" she
cried, "come down and see what a handsome
sash I have on."

"My sash is handsomer than yours."

"If you do not come quickly, I will break
down the tree and eat you up."

"Break it down first and eat me up after-
wards."

And, behold! the ogress shook the tree,
without being able to stir it. "Letiko! Leti-
ko! make haste, I must go and feed my
babies."

"Go and feed them, and come back when
you have done."

The monster gone, Letiko cried, "Help!
my hares, help!" And one of the hares said
to the other, "Brother, do you hear? The
child is calling us." They came running like
the wind. Letiko sprang down from the tree,
and all three took to their heels.

The witch hurried back as fast as she
could, but the bird had flown, whether east,
west, north, or south, she knew not.

She saw some men working in the fields,
and went to them, but they were as deaf as
posts.

322 LAST FAIRY TALES

"Have you seen any one go by?" asked she.

"We are planting beans," they answered.

"I asked you if you had seen any one go
by?" she cried, in a furious tone.

"What is the matter?" replied the good
men; "are you deaf? we are planting beans,
do you hear? beans, beans, beans!"

When Letiko approached the house, the
dog scented her, and cried, "Bow, wow,
wow! here is Letiko!" The cat, that was
roaming on the roof, spied the child from
afar, and began to call, "Miaow, miaow!
here is Letiko!" The poor mother answered,
"Hush, cruel beasts, would you kill me with
grief?"

The cock, stretching up his neck and head,
saw the child in turn, and crew"Cock-a-
doodle-doo! Cock-a-doodle-doo! here is Leti-
ko." And the poor mother sobbed, "Hush,
cruel bird, would you kill me with grief?"

The three friends reached the door, but the
ogress was at their heels, and had them just
within her grasp. Letiko rushed in first, fol-
lowed by the hares, one after the other, but
the last one left the hair of his tail in the
witch's clutches. On seeing this, the poor
mother clasped Letiko to her breast, and
cried, "Welcome! my good hares, you have

THE SUN'S DAUGHTER 323

brought my daughter back in safety, and in
return I will dye your tails silver.7' And
ever since that day all the hares have had
silver tails.

THE LITTLE MAN

THERE was once a little gentleman who
every day grew twenty-four hours older.
But when he went to the inn to drink a glass
of wine or a schooner of beer, the inn-keeper
always greeted him with, "Good-morning,
my little man!" which vexed him greatly.

One morning he went to the shoemaker, to
have a pair of high heels put on his boots.
No sooner had he entered the shop than the
shoemaker exclaimed, "Good-morning, my
little man; what can I do for you to-day?"

"Master Crispin," he answered, "hasten to
put a pair of heels on my boots, and let them
be high enough to make people stop calling
me little man. I am tired of it."

The shoemaker set to work, and when he
had finished and been paid, "Good-bye, my
little man," said he, "if you are satisfied, re-
member me another time."

The little gentleman was greatly vexed that

324

THE LITTLE MAN 325

the shoemaker had no more respect for his
own work. "It will be different with the inn-
keeper," he thought; "he will open his eyes,
and greet me by another name."

He entered the inn, stamping his feet, and
standing as straight as if he had swallowed a
bayonet. As soon as the inn-keeper saw him,
he cried, "Good-morning, my little man;
what will you have, beer or wine?"

Fancy the vexation of the little gentle-
man that his heels had produced no more
effect! He hastened to the hatter, to buy the
tallest hat that could be found. He had not
let go the door-knob before the hatter
greeted him with, "Good-morning, my little
man, what can I do for you to-day?"

"I want a hat tall enough to make pepole
stop calling me little man ; it vexes me beyond

measure."

The hatter gave him a hat that might have
served for a grenadier, took his money, and
thanked his customer. "Good-bye, my little
man, remember me next time."

The little man was angry that the hatter
paid so little respect to his own wares.
"Bah !" thought he, "it will be different at the
inn." He hastened thither and entered the

326 LAST FAIRY TALES

bar-room, his hat on his head like an English-
man.

"Good-morning, my little man," said the
inn-keeper, "what will you have, beer or
wine?"

It is needless to say how much the little
man was vexed. What was the use of having
such high heels under his feet, and such a tali
hat on his head! And how was it that, in
spite of all these dearly bought advantages,
every one persisted in calling him little man?

Right and left, up and down, he asked all
he met why he was still called little man, in
spite of his heels and hat, but no one could or
would tell him. This vexed him horribly.

"How stupid I am!" thought he; "if the
people here know nothing, I will go to Rome
and ask the pope, who knows everything."

No sooner said than done; he packed his
valise, and set out for Rome.

On the way he stopped at a tavern to pass
the night. "Good-day, my little man," said
the host; "where are you going at this pace?"

"I am going to Rome to see the pope," an-
swered the little gentleman, ill-humoredly.
"The pope will tell me why, in spite of my
high heels and tall hat, every one takes the

THE LITTLE MAN" 327

liberty of calling me little man. It makes
me furious."

"Bravo!" cried the host. "I will go along
with you. I, too, have something to ask the
pope. I should like to know why every one
calls me the poor tavern-keeper. John, you
lazybones, pack my valise, I am going to
Rome."

"Master, I am going too," said the hostler.
UI should like to ask the pope why every one,
without knowing me, calls me lazybones."

On reaching Rome, the three friends asked
an audience of the pope. They were re-
ceived in a drawing-room, in which there
was a large mirror.

The pope listened to them kindly, and said
to the tavern-keeper,

"Turn your back to this mirror; then look
over your left shoulder, and tell me what
you see in the glass."

"I see," cried the tavern-keeper, "ten or
twelve women, sitting round a table, drink-
ing coffee and chattering. Why! there is my
wife. I'll warrant she will not lose a word
of the gossip."

"Well, my son," said the pope, "as long as
your wife spends her time in this way, away
from home, you will be called a poor tavern-

328 LAST FAIRY TALES

keeper, and you will stay a poor tavern-
keeper."

It was the hostler's turn. He placed him-
self in the same position, and looked over his
left shoulder.

"Holy Father!" he cried, "I see dogs chas-
ing a hare. They think to catch him; ho!
ho! Dash and Rover, you did not get up
early enough, the hare is too fast for you!"

"Well, my son," said the pope, "when you
run as fast as this hare the first time an order
is given you, be sure that no one will call you
lazybones any longer."

After the hostler came the little gentleman.
He too turned his back to the glass, and
looked over his left shoulder. The pope
asked him what he saw.

"I see nothing but myself," answered the
little man.

"Do you see yourself larger than you
are?"

"No," said the little man, "I see myself
just as I am, neither smaller nor larger."

"In that case, my son," rejoined the pope,
"I have but one piece of advice to give you;
to have yourself measured until you have
grown. When you are tall, you will no
longer be called little man."

THE LITTLE MAN 329

The little gentleman retired discontented,
it is said, in which he was wrong. But how
many there are who are no wiser than he!
How many there are who wish to soar above
their shadow, who think to add to their sta-
ture by borrowed plumes, and who need to
go to Rome to see themselves just as they are
between their hats and their heels!

FALSEHOOD AND TRUTH

AN OLD SPANISH FABLE

IN olden times, Falsehood and Truth
agreed to live together like a pair of friends.
Truth was a good soul, simple, timid, and
confiding; Falsehood was plausible, brilliant,
and dashing. One commanded, and the other
always obeyed. As may be supposed, every-
thing went on smoothly in such a delightful
partnership.

One day Falsehood suggested to Truth that
it would be well to plant a tree that would
give them blossoms in spring, shade in sum-
mer, and fruit in autumn. Truth was
pleased with the plan, and the tree was set
out directly.

No sooner had it begun to grow than
Falsehood said to Truth: "Sister, let us
each choose a share of the tree. Possessions
held too closely in common breed strife; short
accounts make long friends. There are the

330

FALSEHOOD AND TRUTH 331

roots, for example ; it is they that support and
nourish it; they are sheltered from wind and
weather; why do you not take them? To
oblige you, I will content myself, for my part,
with the branches, that grow in the open air,
at the mercy of birds, beasts, and men, wind,
heat, and frost. There is nothing that we
would not do for those we love."

Truth, abashed by such goodness, thanked
her comrade, and burrowed under ground, to
the great joy of Falsehood, who found him-
self alone among mankind, and able to reign
at his ease.

The tree shot up fast; its great boughs
spread shade and coolness far and wide, and
it soon put forth blossoms fairer than the rose.
Men and women hastened from all sides to
admire the marvel. Perched upon the top-
most branch Falsehood harangued them, and
soon charmed them with his honeyed words.
He taught them that society is nothing but
falsehood, and that men would be ready to
tear each other to pieces if they always spoke
the truth. "There are three ways to suc-
ceed here below," added he : "by simple false-
hood, as when the vassal says to his lord, (I
respect and love you;' by double falsehood,
as when he exclaims, 'May the thunderbolts

332 LAST FAIRY TALES

of Heaven fall on me if I am hot your most
faithful servant;' and by triple falsehood, as
when he repeats, 'My goods, my arm, and
my life all are my lord's;' and then deserts
his master at the moment of danger." The
good apostle gave these lessons in so airy a
manner, and illustrated them by such fine ex-
amples, that all who heard him were intoxi-
cated with his words; they jeered at those
who did not applaud, and even began to
doubt themselves. For a hundred leagues
around nothing was talked of but Falsehood
and his wisdom ; it was proposed to make him
king. As to good Truth, who lay crouching
in her den, no one gave her a thought; she
might die forgotten.

Abandoned as she was by all, she was
forced to live on whatever she could find
under ground ; and while Falsehood was en-
throned among verdure and flowers, the poor
mole gnawed the bitter roots of the tree she
had planted. She gnawed them so deep that
one day, when Falsehood, more eloquent than
usual, was addressing an innumerable multi-
tude, the wind rose slightly, and suddenly
blew down the tree, that had no longer any
roots to support it. The branches in their
fall crushed all who were beneath them.

FALSEHOOD AND TRUTH 333

Falsehood escaped with an injured eye and
broken leg, which left him lame and squint-
ing; which was coming off cheaply.

Truth, suddenly restored to light, rose
from the ground with dishevelled hair and
a stern countenance, and began harshly to re-
buke those about her for their weakness and
credulity.

No sooner had he heard her voice than
Falsehood cried, "Behold the author of all
our ills ; the one who has destroyed us. Death
to her!" Upon which the people, armed
with sticks and stones, gave chase to the un-
happy woman, and thrust her again into the
hole, more dead than alive. Having done
this, they quickly sealed it with a large stone,
that Truth might never more arise from her
tomb.

However, she had still a few friends; for
during the night an unknown hand traced
the following epitaph upon the stone:

"Aqui yaze la Verdad,
A quein el mundo cruel
Mato sin enfermedad
Porque no reinase en el
Sino Mentira y Maldad."

Or, " Here lies Truth, slain not by disease,

334 LAST FAIRY TALES

but by the cruel world, that nought might
reign in it but Falsehood and Disloyalty."

It is Falsehood's smallest fault not to suffer
contradiction. The friend of Truth was
hunted down, and hung as soon as found.
Dead men only never grumble. To be better
assured of his victory, Falsehood built him
a palace over the sepulchre of Truth. But
it is said that sometimes she turns in her
grave, and thereupon the palace crumbles
like a house of cards, and buries beneath its
ruins all wTho dwell therein, both innocent
and guilty.

But men have something else to do than
mourn their dead; they fall heirs to their in-
heritance. The people, those eternal dupes,
each time rebuild the palace with greater
splendor than before, and Falsehood, lame
and squinting, reigns therein to this very day.

THE MYSTIC GARDEN

A HEBREW APOLOGUE

"REMEMBER the days of old, consider the
years of many generations: ask thy father,
and he will shew thee; thy elders, and they
will tell thee."

If ever a people remained faithful to tra-
dition it has been the Jewish people, to whom
these words were addressed. It has pre-
served everything, history and legends, and,
to be just, let us add that, the Bible excepted,
it has jumbled them all up together. For
this reason lovers of fairy lore have a weak-
ness for this unhappy race, that has so long
been the sport of fate and the scorn of na-
tions. It has hoarded up for us the traditions
of the East, and has borne and disseminated
them through every quarter of the globe. Its
spirit lives in us more than we are aware.

We are too ignorant how great has been the
influence of the persecuted rabbis. Their

335

336 LAST FAIRY TALES

books have been almost as much despised as
themselves; yet they have been drawn upon
largely. When we read an ingenious moral
tale or a transparent apologue, w7e trouble
ourselves little about the source from which
it came; it is a kind of ingratitude which we
commit every day, and for which we suffer
little remorse.

Here is a story bequeathed us by the rabbis,
which, though very old, deserves to be held
in everlasting remembrance.

Once upon a time there lived a king who
was exceeding mighty, sage, and just. This
monarch caused a law to be proclaimed
throughout his dominions, decreeing that no
rewards, offices, or honors should be be-
stowed on any who had not merited them by
services rendered their king or country, and
that each should be rewarded according to
his deserts.

In the course of time there were born at
the court three children, all of royal blood.
All three grew up richly endowed with vir-
tue and talent — handsome, well-made, amia-
ble, and beloved and esteemed by every one.
The king, who was very fond of them, and
was anxious to give them a station in accord-
ance with their merit, called them to him one

THE MYSTIC GARDEN

337

day, and said, "My children, I wish to do
you the greatest possible honor and good.
I would like to set you above all others in
my palace, for you have found favor in my
sight, and I believe you capable of the high-
est deeds of virtue. But all my people know,
and you know with them, that there is a law
in my kingdom which I cannot break. I
can confer honors and office on no one, save
as a reward for services that he has done.
You cannot attain the high rank for which I
destine you, therefore, by remaining at court.
I advise you to go out into the world, scour
the country far and wide, and try to win, by
your exploits, the prize promised you by the
law, and which I shall delight to bestow upon
you. At my summons, you will return to
court; until then, mark well what you do;
for, according to your merit, such will be
your reward."

The three young men were very loath to
quit the court, but the king had ordered it,
and they were forced to obey. All three,
therefore, took leave of their sovereign, and
embarked in fine weather, leaving it to
chance to shape their course.

They had sailed a long way, when they
spied an island which looked fertile and

LAST FAIRY TALES

smiling from the sea. They landed, and
found in the middle of the isle a fair garden
full of fruit. As they drew near it, three
guards came out to meet them, who permitted
them to enter, but each gave them a word of
advice.

The first guard told them that they must
not expect to stay forever in this garden.
The time would come when they wrould be
forced to depart. None of those who had
lived there before them had ever been al-
lowed to remain. Such was the rule; some
came and others went.

The second guard bade them engrave it
upon their memory that they must quit this
garden precisely as they had entered it. They
were free to enjoy all that they found there,
and no one would hinder them; but, on leav-
ing, they were expressly forbidden to carry
anything away with them.

The third guard advised them to be mod-
erate in their enjoyments and pleasures, and
to do nothing but what was virtuous and up-
right, adding, that this conduct would do
much towards prolonging their lives.

Having heard these wise counsels, the
youths entered the garden, which was even
more beautiful and enchanting than it had

THE MYSTIC GARDEN 339

seemed from outside. They found an abun-
dance of trees laden with rich fruit, and
plants and flowers as pleasing to the smell as
to the sight. Nightingales were warbling in
the branches of the huge oaks, myriads of
birds delighted the ear with their melodious
songs, and running streams diffused fresh-
ness and life everywhere.

It is needless to tell how great was the joy
of the three comrades. They ate of the de-
licious fruits, drank of the sweet waters, and
reposed under the leafy shade of the great
tress, listening to the nightingales, while the
gentle breeze wafted through the foliage the
sweet odor of the flowers.

After a little while they parted, and each
went his way to the part of the garden that
pleased him best.

Fascinated by the beauty of the fruit and
the coolness of the waters, the first of the
three youths thought only of enjoying what
lay nearest at hand. To eat, drink, sleep, lead
a merry life, and cast away all care, such was
his sole idea. He wholly forgot the counsels
of the third guard.

The second of the young men was charmed
neither by the fruit nor the Mowers. He had
found gold, silver, and precious stones in

340 LAST FAIRY TALES

abundance in a corner of the garden. Daz-
zled by these treasures, he thought only of
amassing them, and made his clothes into
bags to hold all these riches. Absorbed in
this idea, he neither ate, drank, nor slept.
As to using the garden and its pleasures, he
did not dream of it for a moment, forgetting
what the second guard had told him, that
whatever was found there must be enjoyed,
and not hoarded, for nothing could be car-
ried away with him.

The third youth had engraved upon his
memory all that the three guards had told
him, and did not follow his companions' ex-
ample. The course that they had pursued
seemed to him dangerous and wrong; it was
not what they had been taught to do. He
made use of the garden and its pleasures,
but only so far as was needful to sustain life.
He passed his time in studying this abode,
and what it contained. On beholding the
fruits, flowers, and animals, with their pro-
digious diversity, and seeking the property of
each plant, he marvelled at the perpetual
miracle of nature; and on following the wa-
tercourses, so well distributed that, from step
to step, and from ridge to ridge, there was
not a blade of grass that was not watered, he

THE MYSTIC GARDEN 341

never tired of contemplating the incredible
order that set everything in its place.

What added to his astonishment was that,
in this well-regulated garden, no gardener
was to be seen. But reflection soon told him
that order so perfect could not exist through
accident, and that there must surely be a
most wise gardener — an invisible master —
who ruled this beautiful domain. Each day
heightened his admiration; each day in-
creased his desire to know the master of the
garden; he sought him everywhere, and,
without ever seeing him, he loved him for
all the pleasure he had enjoyed in the sight
and study of so many marvels.

While each of the young men was enjoying
himself in his own fashion, a slave of the king
brought them a summons to return at once to
court and give an account of their life. They
set out for the gate by which they had en-
tered, but scarcely had he passed it, when the
first of the three — he who had thought only
of his pleasure — grew faint from the change
of air, and, no longer having the fruit of the
garden to sustain him, his body puffed up, his
strength failed him, and he fell on the ground
and expired.

The second one dragged himself slowly

342 LAST FAIRY TALES

along, laden like a pack-mule. The hope of
one day enjoying his treasure made him for-
get his fatigue; but, on reaching the gate of
the garden, the guards, astonished at seeing
him move so heavily, laid hold of him, and
stripped him in an instant of all his spoil.
The unhappy youth groaned and wept; all
his pains and labor had led to nothing but
wretchedness and despair.

The third youth had felt a lively joy on
hearing the voice of the messenger who sum-
moned him by order of the king. The master
whom he had been unable to see, he should
doubtless find on quitting the garden, and
could express to him all his love and grati-
tude. Moreover, he had committed no of-
fence; far from it; he had done everything
to recognize his will and to obey him. It
was, therefore, with a heart full of hope, and
without a thought of what he left behind
him, that he ran to the garden gate. He was
warmly welcomed by the guards, who re-
joiced to see the alacrity with which he
obeyed the king's commands.

On drawing near the court, the youth who
had been stripped of his booty was so weary
and miserable that he could scarcely keep his
feet. It was in vain that he insisted that he

THE EVE OF ST. MARK 343

was of royal blood ; no one believed him ; still
more, the slaves of the palace, indignant that
such a beggar should claim relationship with
the king, turned him from the palace door,
and threw him into a narrow dungeon, where
he would have full time to expiate his faults
and bewail his folly.

The third youth was as royally welcomed
as his comrade was harshly treated. All the
grandees of the court went out to meet him,
embraced him, and accompanied him to the
king's presence to do him honor. The king
was greatly rejoiced to see this young man, so
alert and ready to do his bidding, and al-
though nothing was hidden from his knowl-
edge, he asked the new-comer what he had
done since he saw him last. The youth told
the story of all the great and beautiful things
he had seen in the delicious place where he
had been, and added: "I am quite sure that
this garden has a master of exceeding great
wisdom ; this master cannot be far off, though
he takes delight in hiding himself from our
sight; and it is my chief desire to express to
him the love and gratitude I have felt at the
sight of his works."

"Since your time has been so well spent, I
w7ill grant your wish," answered the king. "I

344 LAST FAIRY TALES

am the master of yonder garden; I rule it
from here through the ministers of my will;
and there is not a creature so small, or a blade
of grass so humble, that it has not a servant
to cherish it and watch its growth."

On hearing these words, and comprehend-
ing this mystery, the happy youth felt his
love for his master glow still brighter in his
breast; he tasted infinite joy in the knowl-
edge of his power, and dwelt forevermore
side by side with him at the court, raised to
the highest pinnacle of honor.

The moral of this story, continue the rab-
bis, is easily discerned. The king is the su-
preme Creator and Sovereign Ruler of all
things. The garden is the world; the three
youths represent the three kinds of men that
are here on earth; one seeks nothing but
pleasure; the second pursues fortune, and the
third loves goodness alone, which is the true
aim of man. That the three young men are
of royal blood signifies that they belong to
Israel, the chosen people of God. As to the
counsels of the three guards, we know that
they are true. The first is God's own words
to Adam, "Dust thou art, and to dust shalt
thou return." The second is the saying of
Job, "Naked came I out of my mother's

THE MYSTIC GARDEN 345

womb, and naked shall I return thither/'
Lastly, the third is the great speech of Moses,
our master in Israel, appointed by God: "I
have set before thee this day life and good,
and death and evil. Therefore choose life,
that both thou and thy seed may live."

Does not this signify that life consists in
doing good, and death in doing evil?

He who weighs well these three sayings,
and always bears them in mind, cannot mis-
take the true path, but will find the road
which, on quitting life, leads to everlasting
repose. Keep this example, therefore, before
thine eyes like a mirror. And now, in his
infinite mercy, may God grant thee grace to
serve him, and may'st thou in this manner
obtain peace in this life, and glory in the life
to come. Amen.

THE EVE OF ST. MARK

AN ESTHONIAN FAIRY TALE

NEAR Revel, in Esthonia, on the shores
of the Gulf of Finland, there once lived an
old sorcerer, who had thoroughly mastered
all the secrets of the black art. He knew
everything, saw everything, understood
everything, and could do everything. To
turn dust into gold, or gold into dust, to
assemble the winds, summon or quell the
tempest, hush the thunders, or call the dead
from their graves — all this was to him but
child's play. He held earth, sea, and air at
his bidding. It was a common saying con-
cerning him, that the sun and moon trembled
at his sight, lest he should send them to shine
upon a world even wickeder than ours. The
devil himself, with all his pride and cunning,
was nought but a slave before this terrible
magician.

346

THE EVE OF ST. MARK 347

In spite of all his knowledge, might, and
wealth, our hero was not happy. Although
he harmed nobody, and willingly showed
kindness to the poor, he was detested and
shunned by all. When he entered a village
the women fled with their children in their
arms, and the men shut themselves up in their
houses till he went by. The only ones who
remained in the streets were those who had
some favor to ask; they bowed to the ground
and kissed his hand, as if he had been a lord;
but no sooner had he turned his back than
they cursed him in their hearts, or shook their
fists after him. It is the penalty of omnipo-
tence to be loved by no one, and to have your
footsteps dogged by envy, malice, and in-
gratitude.

Our magician had had a sad experience.
When young he had sought to marry; but,
in spite of his knowledge and power, no one
had been willing to accept him as a suitor.
A woman does not like to have her heart
always laid bare, and no girl is so young as
not to know that it is the first requisite of a
good husband that he should not be a sor-
cerer. The poor man lived alone, therefore,
in an old Gothic manor-house, with a great
dog and a black cat for his sole companions.

34^ LAST FAIRY TALES

With the first he talked politics, and philoso-
phized with the second. Let no one be sur-
prised to see a feline philosopher; it was
long ago acknowledged by sages that the fin-
est systems of metaphysics are nought but pap
for cats.

One stormy day, our sorcerer amused him-
self by walking upon the raging waters.
The whistling wind, rumbling thunder, and
dashing breakers helped him to forget his
sad thoughts. Suddenly, by the flash of the
lightning, he saw a sinking ship, upon whose
deck lay an infant in its cradle. To snatch
the innocent victim from death, and bear it
away in his arms, was the work of an instant.
The waves had not closed over the vessel be-
fore the old man was in his house, lulling
with ineffable tenderness the child, who
gazed in his face without fear. It was the
first time that any human being had smiled
upon him. The dog licked the tiny feet of
the new-comer, happy to share in his mas-
ter's joy, while the cat, with sphinx-like grav-
ity, fixed his green eyes upon the stranger, as
if about to ask him some riddle, and devour
him if it was not solved.

In this solitude, far from towns and men,
the orphan grew up among the three friends

THE EVE OF ST. MARK 349

by whom he had been adopted. Adolf, as he
was named by the sorcerer, was no common
child, and profited well by the lessons of his
masters. The magician taught him the lan-
guage of birds and beasts; the dog showed
him how to be gentle, patient, kind, and
good; as to the cat, it was by means of his
claws that he inducted into his flesh and spirit
the first principle of all morality, "Do not
scratch others, if you wish them to leave you
with a whole skin."

For sixteen years Adolf lived happily with
his father, He could not take a step in the
great forests that surrounded the old manor,
without meeting friends and comrades. He
gambolled with the doe's fawns around their
mother; he played hot cockles with the bear
cubs, and hide-and-seek with the rabbits ; the
ever-anxious hare confided to him her cares
and troubles, and the squirrel taught him
how to climb the trees and pick the plumpest
nuts. The lark, linnet, and thrush warbled
their sweetest songs at his approach. To-
gether they leaped, sang, and made such an
uproar that some owl, disturbed in his slum-
bers, would come, with his round eyes and
hooked beak, gravely to preach that the day
was made for sleep, and that stagnation was

35° LAST FAIRY TALES

wisdom. You should have seen how the
troop of madcaps greeted the poor fool,
and what a noise they made when he returned
to his hole in despair, carrying with him his
hooting and sermonizing.

In this way Adolf passed his days, know-
ing neither sorrow nor care. When he re-
turned home at night, with sparkling eyes
and flowing locks, the sorcerer never tired of
listening to and admiring him. To spare
him a tear, he would have laid at his feet all
his learning and treasures. It is the privi-
lege of youth to be loved — an inestimable
blessing, of whose value it is ignorant; as for
old age, its only joy is in loving and being
happy in the happiness of others.

Unhappily, in the forests as in the town,
evil tongues are always found, that meddle
with what does not concern them. That gos-
sip, the magpie, that goes prowling about,
peering into everything, and that can keep
neither her eyes nor her beak to herself, had
no sooner spied the handsome Adolf than
she asked him, with a pitying air, why he
lived alone in the woods like a wolf. Revel
was only six leagues away; why did he not
go to see the walls, towers, castle, and bell
of the ancient city of Waldemar? "It is

THE EVE OF ST. MARK 351

true," she added, in her jargon, "that the
thrushes are coquettish dames who chatter
all the time, but what are they in comparison
with the fine city belles who change their
plumage and their tune every day? Then
there are the men at the tavern at night, with
their songs, laughter, noise, and jollity. He
who has not seen all this has lived with his
eyes shut. People vegetate in the woods;
they live only in the city."

Saying this, the magpie shook her tail,
cocked up her head, and called on a sparrow
who had come from Revel that morning to
munch cherries, to prove her words. Fri-
quet, a true cit, a bold glutton and impudent
braggart, screeched in his shrillest tones that
it was the most shameful thing in the world
for any one but a beast to live in the woods.
"Hurrah for the town!" he cried; "where
men drink when they are not thirsty, eat when
they are not hungry, and amuse themselves
by doing nothing. They turn day into night
there, and winter into summer; it is the land
of pleasure and liberty. To bury one's self
in the country when one is young, rich, and
handsome, is stupid, foolish, and wicked."

"Unless," added Margot, the magpie,
"there are those who selfishly keep you at

352 LAST FAIRY TALES

home, knowing that in the town they would
have to share their treasure with delightful
men and lovely women. Farewell, my dear
Adolf, you are a good little boy, and your
papa ought to be very much pleased with
you. Come, Friquet, there are some charm-
ing people expecting us in town; we must
not tire them with waiting; how could they
dine without us?"

The silly talk of these feather-brained gos-
sips threw poor Adolf into strange confusion.
It was in vain that his friends the birds sang
him their merriest songs, and that the rabbit
tried to amuse him with his tricks and antics;
the forest seemed a desert. At the corner of
each path he looked for a human figure; he
felt the need of mingling with beings like
himself, whom he had never seen except in
books and pictures. Weary with this vain
desire, he returned home with hanging head
and dejected mien. For the first time in his
life he felt unhappy.

Scarcely had he let himself drop upon a
seat when Caesar, the dog, looked at him with
anxious eyes.

"Adolf," said he, "something is the matter
with you."

THE EVE OF ST. MARK 353

The child stroked the dog and did not an-
swer.

Mustache, the cat, who was asleep under
the stove, half opened one eye, and pricked
up his ears.

"Adolf," said he, "something is the mat-
ter with you."

Adolf sighed, and did not answer.

The sorcerer, who had been listening, drew
from his girdle a little mirror in which he
could read men's thoughts. Scarcely had he
cast his eyes on it when he turned pale.

"Adolf," he murmured, in a trembling
voice, "you wish to leave us."

"To leave you, father!" cried the child;
"never! I am so happy with you."

And he burst into tears.

"My child," said the sorcerer, "I read
your soul better than you can yourself. You
are tired of staying here; you wish to go to
the city, and live with men. I had planned
for you a happier lot. I wished to keep you
with me, and to spare you the bitterness and
deceptions of life. But man cannot escape
his fate. Go where your heart calls you; to-
morrow you shall set out for the city."

"With you, father?"

"No, my son; at my age and with my ex-

354 LAST FAIRY TALES

perience, solitude alone is endurable. But
you shall not go alone; I will give you com-
panions that will watch over you."

Adolf, threw himself, weeping, into his
father's arms, and vowed he would never
leave him. The sorcerer embraced him, and
smiled mournfully. An hour later, Adolf
was asleep and sweetly dreaming, while the
old man sat on the foot of the bed and gazed
at the child through his tears.

II

At sunrise Adolf was ready to go. Three
black horses stood in waiting at the castle
gate. The handsomest and most spirited was
for him; the others were held by two impos-
ing-looking squires; one, dressed in white,
with a cocked hat on his head, was none other
than honest Caesar, turned into a valet; while
the other, in black, with a knife thrust in his
belt, was easily recognized, by his grimace,
as Mustache, with his green eyes, and thick,
bristling coat.

There is nothing so sad as parting. Once
on the road, the three friends proceeded a
long way in silence. But by degrees the sun
rose in the heavens, their tongues were loos-

THE EVE OF ST. MARK 355

ened, and they chattered as merrily as birds.
Cssar admired all Adolf's madcap speeches,
for he loved him; Mustache grumbled un-
ceasingly, and admired nothing in the world
but himself — he was a philosopher.

Laughing and disputing, they passed
through the forest, and came to the turn of
the road where it entered the plain, when
Adolf cried out, pointing to his companions
a strange figure, at which he shuddered. By
the side of the road, leaning with both hands
on a crutch, and shaking all over, was an old
woman, in rags. Her uncombed gray locks
fell dishevelled about her wrinkled, yellow
face; her dim eyes were almost hidden under
her inflamed eyelids; her hooked nose and
sharp, turned-up chin nearly met, like the
beaks of two fighting-cocks, and her mouth,
with its toothless gums, babbled confused
sounds.

"What is this?" asked Adolf.

"A gypsy, a beggar, a thief," said Mus-
tache.

"A poor woman bowed down with old
age," said Caesar.

"What is old age?" asked Adolf, who had
never seen anything like this in the forest.

"Old age," answered the sententious Mus-

356 LAST FAIRY TALES

tache, "is the winter of life. When the snow
falls, the trees shed their leaves; when the
hair turns white, man sheds his teeth, eyes,
stomach, and legs. It is the law of nature."

"And I shall soon be like this poor crea-
ture," sighed Adolf.

"No, my son," returned Caesar. "It takes
seventy or eighty years to make an old man
of a child, and you are only sixteen."

"Seventy years soon pass," exclaimed Mus-
tache. "As the great poet Pindar sings, 'Life
is the dream of a shadow.' An admirable
saying for a personage who was neither a cat
nor a philosopher by trade."

By Caesar's advice, Adolf flung some
money to the old woman, then spurred on his
horse to escape this mournful spectacle.
They rode fast, moreover, for they were be-
ginning to be hungry, like mere mortals, and
they spied in the distance the smoke of a vil-
lage. "At last," thought Adolf, "I shall be-
hold mankind."

The first house that they came to was a de-
cent-looking inn, with a golden lion for a
sign. They called, but no one answered.
The door stood half-way open; they entered
the public room, and knocked with their
whips on the table. Suddenly, they heard a

THE EVE OF ST. MARK 357

groan in an adjoining chamber. Adolf ran
to answer the plaintive call, and found him-
self face to face with a new kind of misery.

Upon a mattress on the floor lay a young
woman with two children in her arms, one
shaking with chills, and the other burning
with fever. The poor hollow-eyed mother
could only stammer a few words with her
parched lips.

"Pardon me, good sirs," said she, "we have
the spring fever; this is the day of the chills,
and I am not able to wait on you."

"Is there not another inn in the village?"
asked Mustache.

"Yes, but do not go there, good sir. Small-
pox is raging in it just now. The best thing
for you to do is to hasten to Revel, for our
village is full of the epidemic. Excuse me,
and may God be with you!"

"Is there nothing I can do for you?" cried
Adolf.

"Thank you, my lord," answered she;
"time is the onlv cure for the sickness sent

mt

by Heaven. We must be resigned."

Once out of this gloomy abode, Adolf

turned to Mustache.

"What is sickness?" asked he. "I never

u

U'

358 LAST FAIRY TALES

saw anything of the kind among the com-
panions of my solitude."

"In truth," returned the green-eyed phil-
osopher, "sickness is the monopoly of man:
he alone has fevers and physicians."
'Are people often ill?" asked Adolf.
'That depends upon temperaments," re-
plied Mustache; "women are ill all their
lives, or think that they are, which amounts
to the same thing. As to men, the healthiest
suffer little except during childhood, old age,
and a part of middle life."

"It is frightful!" cried the youth.

"Bah!" replied the philosopher, "it is the
law of human nature. As yonder woman
said, with excellent judgment, we must be
resigned."

"Poor creatures!" thought Adolf. "Men-
aced with sickness and old age, how you must
cling together, and help and love each
other!"

"Look yonder, master!" exclaimed Caesar.

Adolf raised his eyes and saw a crowd of
peasants, seated around tables set along the
road. Each one held a mug or bottle in his
hand ; some were singing and others shouting.
One was dancing on the table amid the clat-
tering glasses, while his companions kept

THE EVE OF ST. MARK 359

time with him by drumming on the wood
with their knives.

"What is that?" asked Adolf.

"A village festival," answered Caesar.

"Happy men!" sneered Mustache; "drunk
and crazy!"

"At last," said Adolf, "we have found
people who enjoy life."

As he was speaking, some soldiers marched
along the highway, and were hailed by the
revellers. One of them answered with an
oath, whereupon a bottle was flung at his
head. He stooped in time to avoid the blow,
and picked up a huge stone, which he hurled
among the crowd. A sharp cry was heard;
the stone had struck a woman full in the
face, and the blood was trickling down her
cheeks. At the sight, the drunken men fell
in a body upon the soldiers, arming them-
selves with whatever came to hand — bottles,
jugs, benches, and sticks. The soldiers drew
their swords in self-defence, and a sharp con-
flict followed, which, however, was of short
duration.

Before Adolf could reach the field of bat-
tle, two of the soldiers, followed by volleys
of stones, were fleeing towards the town,
loudly calling for help, and leaving their

360 LAST FAIRY TALES

comrades on the ground, lifeless or writhing
in death. They were avenged, however, for
side by side with them lay three dead and
several dying peasants, while others were
carried off by their comrades, who stanched
their wounds while trying to escape before
the soldiers returned. The men were sullen
and angry; the women shrieking and the chil-
dren crying; it was a heart-rending sight.

Adolf threw himself on his knees by the
side of a peasant who had been ripped open
by a sabre thrust, and was wrapped in eternal
slumber, and tried to question his sightless
eyes and speechless lips.

"What is this?" asked he of Caesar.

"Alas, master," was the answer, "it is
death. This man's sufferings are over; he
will never more awake."

"Yes," said Mustache, "life is a dream that
begins and ends in nothingness. Dust before
birth, and dust after death. Such are man
and his destiny."

"What!" exclaimed Adolf, "is life so easily
lost, and yet do men so little respect this
precious possession of their fellows?"

"Bah!" said Mustache, "their greatest
pleasure is to kill each other. Nations hold

THE EVE OF ST. MARK

in remembrance none but the conquerors who
slay them. Fame is bloodshed."

"My friends," cried the youth/' let us re-
turn to my father. I will not go to Revel.
As for men, I have seen too much of them;
my heart is broken. Take me back to our
forests, and let me forget the terrible lesson
I have had to-day."

Ill

On hearing these words, Mustache smiled
grimly to himself, and hastily turned back
towards the manor. C^sar tried to comfort
Adolf, but the youth hung his head and paid
no heed to him. He was crushed with grief,
and his heart was overflowing with bitter-
ness. He was tired of men, but solitude ap-
palled him. On the word of two chattering
birds, he had pictured to himself a world
full of enchantment; he had had a delight-
ful dream, and at sixteen it is not easy to re-
nounce these sweet illusions.

While Caesar and Mustache galloped on,
each seeking to be the first to tell the sorcerer
of his child's return, Adolf pensively fol-
lowed the path that he had trodden so gayly

362 LAST FAIRY TALES

in the morning. Night was falling, and the
shadows deepened his sadness.

"What is the matter, Adolf?" murmured
a gentle voice. "Has anything gone wrong
with you?"

The youth raised his head, and saw a
nightingale perched upon a twig.

"Good-evening, dear bird," said he, "why
are you not singing as usual? Is your heart
wrung like mine? Perhaps you too have
seen mankind?"

"No," answered the nightingale, "I am
not singing to-night, because I am saving my-
self for a great occasion. This is the eve of
St. Mark; and I am keeping my voice to
serenade the one I love."

"Alas!" said Adolf, "she whom you love
cannot escape sickness, old age, or death."

"What are you thinking of?" returned the
nightingale; "the fairies of the night are im-
mortal; their youth and beauty never fade."

"Are they good?" asked the youth.

"They are goodness itself. Their hearts
are full of pity for all who suffer here be-
low."

;I must see them," cried Adolf.

:My handsome friend," said the nightin-
gale, "they are only to be seen once a year.

ti'
it

THE EVE OF ST. MARK 3^3

on the eve of St. Mark, and to reach their
dwelling without danger, you must have

wings."

'Oh, nightingale, dear nightingale," cried
the youth, "take me with you. Show me the
way to them. Do not refuse me, if you love

me."

"My child," returned the nightingale, "I
fear I have talked too much. We birds have
more feathers than brains. Forget my gos-
siping, and forgive me."

But Adolf insisted so warmly, and with so
many prayers and tears, that the nightingale
said, shaking his head,

"My child, my child, there is danger in
knowing too much. Many things are hid
from man's eyes for his happiness. If ever
you see the fairies, farewell to your peace of
mind; the world that delights you will be
nought but a desert, and you will pass your
life in regretting a vanished dream."

"No, no, dear bird," cried the youth;
"away with this mistaken pity. If I do not
see the fairies this night, nothing is left me
but to die. Grant my prayer, and save my
life."

"If that is so," said the nightingale, "I will

364 LAST FAIRY TALES

tell you what to do; but the danger is great
and the success doubtful.

"Know, then, that every year, on the eve
of St. Mark, at midnight, the King of the
Serpents holds high court in the great marsh
where the water-lilies grow. A golden cup,
filled with the milk of the goats of the sky, is
then offered him. If you can seize the cup
and drink a draught of this magic milk, your
eyes will be opened, and you will see all that
night hides with its sable cloak from the eyes
of mortals. But remember that all the ser-
pents in the world will be at this meeting,
and that one of their bites will kill you."

"They cannot be worse than men," re-
joined Adolf, "and, besides, what have I to
fear from death? I have lost all relish for
life."

And with these words he leaped from his
horse, threw the reins on its neck, and
plunged into the forest.

IV

When Adolf reached the great water-lily
marsh after a long walk, he found nothing
there but silence and darkness. Although it
was spring, he thought he saw by the light

THE EVE OF ST. MARK 365

of the stars that the grass had just been cut.
Piles of new-mown hay were lying here and
there, as in harvest-time, otherwise all was
unchanged; nothing was stirring, and our
hero began to think that a trick had been
played on him, when a distant clock slowly
struck midnight. Immediately a strange
light appeared in the midst of the marsh,
looking like a star fallen from heaven. Adolf
approached this apparition, when the turf
around him seemed crawling like an ant-hill.
What he had taken for heaps of grass were
thousands of serpents asleep on the ground,
that had awakened at the summons of their
lord and were hastening to pay him homage.
The youth's surprise may well be imagined,
but it was too late to draw back. All that he
could do was to keep in the shade, and fol-
low this multitude, crawling silently onward.
Ere long, he saw an enormous dragon, wear-
ing on its head a crown of emeralds and
rubies, the lustre of which lighted the forest
afar off. It was his majesty, the King of
the Serpents. Around him, like courtiers
vying with each other for the smile of their
prince, thronged adders, asps, vipers, and
serpents of all sizes and colors, entangled to-
gether, all stretching up their turgid necks,

366 LAST FAIRY TALES

and darting out their forked tongues, hissing
loudly. The noise was deafening, and the
sight one that might have frozen the boldest
heart with terror.

We would not venture to say that our hero
was not frightened; but at the sight of the
golden cup he forgot his terror. Without
thinking of danger, he threw himself like a
madman into this host of serpents, more num-
erous and closely serried than the blades of
grain in a wheat-field, rushed to the cup,
seized it, drained it at a draught, and flung
it far from him. Then, feeling escape im-
possible, he folded his arms, and awaited
death.

To his great joy, however, the dragon
snatched the cup and fled with it. The
whole army of serpents followed their chief
with frightful hisses. Adolf found himself
alone in the forest, where all again was silent.
His heart had not yet ceased to throb loudly,
when he heard the first notes of the nightin-
gale. The bird had not deceived him; the
fairies were coming.

The moon rose, illumining the forest with
its silver light. Our hero looked around him.

THE EVE OF ST. MARK 36^

The marsh was transformed into a glade car-
peted with moss ; the trees were covered with
leaves, and violets were blossoming every-
where. In the distance, Adolf caught
glimpses of light figures flitting through the
forest like sylphs floating over the turf.

There was no more doubt, they were the
fairies of the night. How beautiful they
were, in their white drapery, clasped on one
shoulder, their hair carelessly knotted be-
hind, and their arms and feet bare, as they
skimmed over the moss without touching it!

On reaching the place of rendezvous, each
was eagerly questioned by her companions.
Adolf listened with delight to the soft mur-
mur of their voices, sweeter than the babbling
of the forest brooks.

"Where have you been, sister, where have
you been?"

"I have been to the red house, where poor
old Bridget had fallen asleep over her spin-
ning-wheel, exhausted with toil, and forget-
ting that she would have no bread for
to-morrow if her task was not done. I sat
in her lap, took her distaff in my hand, turned
her wheel, and spun thread enough for a
whole week."

368 LAST FAIRY TALES

"Where have you been, sister; where have
you been?"

"I have been to the little cabin by the sea-
shore, where a poor woman has been waiting
for a year for her husband to come home

mf

from sea. Yesterday I spied his ship off the
coast; I showed him to her in a dream, smil-
ing, and saying, 'Patience, dear love, in three
days I will be in your arms.'

"Where have you been sister; where have
you been?"

"I have been to the shop of Harold, the
money-lender. For three nights past I have
scratched on the wall like a mouse, and cried
in his ear, 'Look to your treasure, the robbers
are here!' He shall not sleep who shows no
pity to the poor."

"Where have you been, sister; where have
vou been?"

*?

"I have been to the cottage of Wilhelm,
the gamekeeper. The poor man lost his wife
nine months ago, and when he makes his
rounds at night, the house is left alone. I
found the baby crying, and about to fall
from its bed. I took it in my arms and sung
it a lullaby, upon which it smiled at me as if
I had been its mother, and fell asleep."

THE EVE OF ST. MARK 3^9

"Where have you been, sister; where have
you been?"

"I have been to the house of the rich Gus-
taf , who has no mercy on his tenants. I found
him snoring in an arm-chair, drunk with
wine and his newly-gotten wealth. I set all
the candles ablaze, upon which he tumbled
on the floor in affright, crying Tire !' Let his
castle burn; it will teach him that the great
have need of the small here below."

"Where have you been, sister ; where have
you been?"

"I have been to the green cottage, where
Matilda is mourning the loss of her child.
I gave it back to her in a dream, and she will
hold it in her arms until daybreak. When
she awakes, she will doubtless weep ; but she
will know that her child is still living in the
unseen world, and hope will spring up anew
in her heart."

At this moment the nightingale greeted the
moon at the zenith with his sweetest song.
The fairies joined hands in a circle, and
danced around, singing, in low tones,

"When summer days die,
All who breathe, all who sigh,
Come under our sceptre,
The dark world we keep.

370 LAST FAIRY TALES

Then mortals, poor children,
Wake not nor weep,
Sleep, all of you, sleep;
tWe will watch over you,
Watch we will keep!

''Silence rules the vast land
While we dance, hand in hand,
And through the dance murmur

Our songs soft and deep.
Then mortals, poor children,
W^ake not nor weep,
Sleep, all of you, sleep;
We will watch over you,

Watch we will keep."

The round finished, the fairies separated
into different groups. Some seated them-
selves on the grass, and gathered the violets,
primroses, and white strawberry blossoms
that grew about them; while others danced
in couples, to the music of their companions'
song :

"We are the voices,
And all the sweet noises,

Of the wind in the tree ;
And where perfumes and shadows
Chase over the meadows,

The zephyrs are we.

"We are the lightning

That, darkling and brightening,

Furrows all the thick night.
And the marsh fires wre are,
That, glancing afar,

Shake the shepherd with fright.

THE EVE OF ST. MARK 37 l

"In the starbeam that nightly
Some great sail leads lightly

O'er the bitter, salt wave,
Our torches are burning,
To clear lustre turning

Seas dark as the grave.

"In bell tones whose sweetness
Clangs out day's completeness

We dwell with delight;
We the plash of the stream,
And we, too, the dream

That is born of the night.

"We, murmurs eternal,
We, whispers supernal,

We, smiles of the skies,
Charm all sadness away
From a world far too gray,

Far too old, far too wise!"

Intoxicated by these magic songs and
dances, Adolf, forgetting all prudence, quit-
ted his retreat and approached the fairies.
One of them — the most graceful of all —
passed so near him that she touched him with
her dress. Adolf madly seized her hand.
The fairy turned round sharply, but sadly
smiled on seeing the trembling youth.

"Poor child," she murmured, "you would
have it so."

Leaving her hand in Adolf's, she looked at
him, burst into tears, and kissed his forehead.

372 LAST FAIRY TALES

He felt a thrill run through his veins, and
swooned away.

VI

When he regained consciousness, the sun
was high in the heavens. He looked around
him with astonishment. On his left was
Caesar, trying to warm him with his breath;
on his right sat Mustache, washing his own
face.

"Imprudent boy," cried Caesar, "why did
you stay so late on the marsh? The night
cold has chilled you through. If you knew
how anxious your father is about you!"

"Caesar, my good Caesar," exclaimed
Adolf, "where are the fairies? I must see
them again."

"He is raving," said the grave Mustache.
"Just as I expected. It is the effort of nature
to bring back the warmth by an increase of
the vital force."

"Mustache," cried Adolf, "where are the
fairies? I have seen them; I must see them

again."

"What fairies?"

"The fairies of the night; the invisible

ones.'

THE EVE OF ST. MARK 373

"How can you see what is invisible?' re-
turned the cat; "the idea is unphilosophical."

"Csesar, my friend," said Adolf, "let us re-
turn to my father; he alone can understand
my trouble."

"I will run and tell my master to send
some way of carrying you home," exclaimed
Mustache; "for, judging by your pale face,
my poor boy, you are not able to set one foot
before the other. If you had had the wis-
dom to listen to my lessons in philosophy,
you would never have lost yourself in the
woods, chasing a will-o'-the-wisp ; you would

have—"

"Adolf," said Caesar, "put your arms round
my neck, and try to climb on my back, as you
used to do when a child. Perhaps I shall
have strength enough to carry you home."

It was in this style that our hero returned
to the old manor, and was deposited in the
sorcerer's great arm-chair. His father felt
very much like scolding him, but was seized
with deep anxiety on seeing him so trembling
and dejected.

"What is the matter, rny son?" cried he,
folding him in his arms.

"Father, where are the fairies? I have
seen them, and I must see them again."

374 LAST FAIRY TALES

u

a

Curses on them!" cried the sorcerer;
they have stolen away my child! My dear
Adolf, ask anything my art can procure.
Would you have gold? I will make you so
rich that men will grovel on their knees be-
fore you and kiss the ground you tread on.
Are you ambitious? I will give you a king-
dom; twenty of them, if you like. You shall
be surrounded with smiling faces; men shall
applaud all your whims, and women shall
crowd around you to win a glance from your
eyes. The world is mine; it shall be yours;
I lay it at your feet; but my power does not
extend beyond this world; do not ask me for
what belongs to another."

"Father, I want but one thing — again to
see the invisible fairies.7'

"Alas!" cried the sorcerer, "of what use
is all my power and knowledge? The heart
of a child has desires that the empire of the
world will not satisfy."

"Father!" cried the youth, "I see them! I
hear them! Listen to the heavenly melo-
dies." And he murmured in a faint voice:

'Then mortals, poor children,
Wake not nor weep.
Sleep, all of you, sleep ;
We will watch over you,

V

Watch we will keep!1'

THE EVE OF ST. MARK 375

"Adolf, my child, be yourself again!" cried
the old man, pressing his son to his heart.

"Look, father, she is there! Do you sec
her? She smiles on me; she calls me! This
time, she herself stretches out her hand to
me. 'Poor child !' she says, 'you would have
it so.' Yes, I would indeed. Oh, fairies, my
sisters, I cannot live without you. Wait for
me; I am coming, I am coming!"

A smile flitted over his pale face, he
stretched out his arms and tried to rise, then
his head fell back in the chair, and all was
over.

VII

The old manor has long been in ruins.
The ivy has invaded everything, even to the
dilapidated roof, and a great oak has pushed
its boughs through the front steps. For
more than a century this gloomy abode has
been inhabited only by flocks of ravens, with
here and there a solitary osprey ; yet the peas-
ants never willingly pass its abandoned walls
after nightfall. It is said that groans are
heard to issue from the turrets at night, and
that fiery eyes blaze there through the dark-
ness. The sorcerer is not forgotten, and at

o/

76 LAST FAIRY TALES

evening, when the doors are closed, men still
talk of Adolf and the fairies whose sight was
death to him. Whether this is history or
legend, he would be bold, indeed, who would
venture to aver. The sages of our day be-
lieve only in what they can see or touch. For
my part, not being a sage, all that a long
life has taught me is that there is nothing
true in this world but what we do not see.
God grant that, like Adolf, I may some day
behold the unseen, were it only to forget for
a moment what I cannot avoid seeing here
on earth.

THE END

ON

C OOM

1939