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FrorUis, Seepage 1Ô9. 
 THE YOUNG LORD SAW A CHARMING GIRL SEATED AMONG THE BRANCHES. 
 
FRENCH 
 FAIRY TALES 
 
 TRANSLATED BY 
 
 M. CARY 
 
 ILLUSTRATED BY 
 E. BOYD SMITH 
 
 NEW YORK 
 
 THOMAS Y. CROWELL COMPANY 
 
 PUBLISHERS 
 
Copyright, 1887 and 1903, by 
 THOMAS Y. CROWELL AND COMPANY 
 
INTRODUCTORY NOTE 
 
 The young readers into whose hands this book 
 may come, will care little for a preface which 
 only keeps them from the entertainment which 
 they have learned unfailingly to expect from such 
 stories. But their elders havo rights which the 
 purveyors of folk-stories are bound to respect; 
 for these popular tales, or old wives' fables, while 
 losing none of their j^opularity in the nursery, 
 have descended thence, and found a place also in 
 the parlor and the study. They are like the 
 rough little box which the kind fairy has given 
 to the little brother, and at which his elders at 
 first look with disdain, until, when it has been 
 opened, and fold after fold of rich stuff has 
 tumbled out of it, they value it highly, for all its 
 outward roughness, and even would despoil the 
 youngest of his magic prize. The fairy stories, 
 which had hitherto been only food for childish en- 
 tertainment, became, in the hands of the brothers 
 Grimm and the philologians and literary students 
 who succeeded them, the foundation of a science 
 rich in conclusions respecting portions of human 
 history anterior to or unrepresented in more arti- 
 ficial literary memorials. 
 
 iii 
 
iv INTRODUCTORY NOTE 
 
 It is not possible, in an introductory page or 
 two, to say anything of all that the study of such 
 stories and of their transmission has added to the 
 sum of modern learning, nor of the light they 
 throw on peasant character; but it is only justice 
 to readers who approach these studies from this 
 point of view, with a more or less scientific in- 
 terest in studies of folk-lore, to state the sources 
 whence the tales in this collection have been trans- 
 lated, and to attest the fidelity of the translation. 
 Of these stories, — derived from the French prov- 
 inces or, in one or two cases, colonies, — the first 
 part, extending to page 192, have been selected 
 and translated from the pages of the admirable 
 French folk-lore journal, "Mélusine," of which 
 the first volume appeared in 1878, the second in 
 1884 and 1885, the third in 1886 and 1887; the 
 remaining stories have been selected and trans- 
 lated from Paul Sébillot's "Contes des Provinces 
 de la France" (Paris, 1884). Scrupulous care 
 has been taken to preserve a note of the sources 
 of the stories. 
 
 Naturally some slight verbal changes have 
 here and there been necessary; but these have 
 been few in number. In all other passages, a 
 scrupulous fidelity to the original has been aimed 
 at, and has, I believe, been attained. 
 
 J. F. Jameson, 
 
Contents 
 
 PAGE 
 
 The Legend of the Lake of îssarlès . . . ., . 1 
 
 The Fairies and the Two Hunchbacks .... 6 
 
 The Skilful Thief 8 
 
 The King's Three Sons , 23 
 
 The Hare, the Bear, and the Fox 33 
 
 Papa Tiger and Papa Sheep 52 
 
 John Bit-of-a-Man 60 
 
 Long Time 65 
 
 Skilful John 69 
 
 The Tailor and the Hurricane 72 
 
 The Baker's Three Daughters 85 
 
 You Must Not Work on Sunday 102 
 
 Destiny 106 
 
 The Little Ant That Was Going to Jerusalem, 
 
 and the Snow 110 
 
 The Most Powerful Husband in the World . .114 
 
 The Nine Brothers, Who Were Changed to Sheep, 
 
 and Their Sister 117 
 
 The King and His Three Sons 127 
 
 Fanch Scouarnec 130 
 
 The Roebuck Hunt 148 
 
 Pierre and Helene 153 
 
 The Three Eggs . . . . ,. 166 
 
 v 
 
vi CONTENTS 
 
 PAGE 
 
 The Three Brothers 176 
 
 The Cock's Wife 189 
 
 The Castle Hung in the Air 193 
 
 The Two Soldiers 204 
 
 The Three Brothers and the Giant 210 
 
 The Fairy and the Daughter of the Earth . . 220 
 
 Sister and Half-Sister 232 
 
 The Fairies' Ship 237 
 
 The Shepherd Who Won the King's Daughter by a 
 
 Single Word 246 
 
 The Enchanted Ring 251 
 
 The Siren of La Fresnaye 259 
 
 The Little Hunchback 267 
 
 The Princess of Tronkolaine ........ 276 
 
French Fairy Tales 
 
 THE LEGEND OF THE LAKE OF 
 ISSARLÈS 
 
 N^ORTHWEST of Ardèche, on the limits 
 of Haute-Loire and Lozère, in the com- 
 mune of Issarlès, may be seen one of the 
 largest lakes formed by the volcanic craters of 
 the Northern Cévennes. The origin of the lake 
 is thus told in a legend heard from an old woman 
 of Sainte Eulalie, the next commune to Issarlès. 
 There was, in old times, not far from where 
 I live, a large parish with houses scattered far 
 apart in the rural portions, and containing only 
 one town, named Issarlès. One day a poor man 
 came to this parish to ask for alms. He began in 
 the country. At the first house to which he came, 
 he cried, "Give me something, for I am hungry." 
 "Oh! my friend, I have nothing for you," an- 
 swered the woman, pityingly. "Have you not 
 even a few potatoes in your pot?" said he. 
 "Yes," replied the woman, "there are two, if you 
 want them." The poor man took one and de- 
 
2 ■ FRENCH FAIRY TALES 
 
 parted. Then he walked on, and came to another 
 house. "Give me something, for the love of 
 God," he cried. The woman rose, and said, "My 
 friend, we have no bread, but the dough is in the 
 tray all ready ; the oven is almost warm enough ; 
 we shall soon bake it, and then we will give you 
 some sweet bread; sit down and wait." The 
 poor man said, "Your bread is baked." The 
 woman said to her husband, "My husband, the 
 poor man says that our bread, which is in the tray, 
 is already baked. How can that be? We have 
 not yet put it in the oven." The husband looked 
 into the tray and saw the bread already baked, 
 and near the large loaves he saw a small sweet 
 loaf. "What you have declared is really so," said 
 he to the poor man; "the bread is baked without 
 having been in the oven. It is God's doing. Sit 
 down at our table, and eat with us." The poor 
 man refused. "Then take," said the husband, 
 "the loaf that my wife wished to prepare for you, 
 and which is already baked as well as the large 
 loaves." The poor man took the loaf, and be- 
 fore leaving, said to the husband, "In a little while 
 you will hear a great noise; don't be frightened." 
 At some distance from the house, the poor man 
 met two little children playing by the roadside. 
 "What are you doing, my children?" "We are 
 playing." "Are you hungry?" "No." "If 
 you want some sweet bread, I will give you 
 
* 
 
 THE BOTTOM OF THE LAKES OF ISSARLES. 
 
THE LAKE OF ISSARLES 3 
 
 some." "Hungry or not, we can eat it very 
 well," said the children. The poor man divided 
 his sweet loaf, and gave half of it to each of the 
 children, who ran off with it to their mother. 
 "Mamma, a poor man gave us each half a sweet 
 loaf," they cried. Their mother scolded them. 
 "Never take bread from beggars," she said; "it 
 is not clean; I forbid your eating it." "Mamma, 
 it is very good; it is better than our bread." "I 
 forbid your eating it; I do not know the person 
 who gave it to you," and saying this, she took 
 the pieces of bread from the children's hands and 
 threw them into the chicken coop. 
 
 A few moments after, the poor man appeared 
 at the door of this woman's house, which was at 
 the entrance of the town. The children pointed 
 him out to their mother, who said, "You begging! 
 you, who can give bread to the children you find 
 on the road! You had better keep your bread; 
 it is not fit food for my children. For me, I have 
 nothing to give to those who themselves can 
 give." The poor man went away; he entered the 
 town, begging from house to house, and every- 
 where was driven away. He was about to leave 
 the town, when in the suburbs, he saw two little 
 houses, and thought he would make one more at- 
 tempt, by applying there. A woman came out 
 of the first house to which he went, and said, "I 
 have no bread, I have only leaven; do you want 
 
4 FRENCH FAIRY TALES 
 
 some? I will give you some." "I cannot eat 
 leaven," replied the poor man. Now, this 
 woman told a lie, for she had bread, but did not 
 wish to give him any. 
 
 The poor man went a few steps further on, and 
 soon came to the second house. A woman was 
 seated by the wall, milking a goat. "I am very 
 thirsty," said the beggar; "would you give me a 
 little milk?" "Ah! my friend," she answered, 
 "I will give you all my goat's milk, if you want 
 it." "I do not want all the milk of your goat; 
 a little will be enough for me." The woman 
 went to get a glass ; filled it with milk, and offered 
 it to the beggar, saying, "Will you dip some 
 bread in it?" "No; I am not hungry; I am only 
 thirsty, and I have more than enough to drink." 
 Then he drank, and as the woman continued to 
 milk her goat, Jesus drew near to her (for the 
 beggar was Jesus), and said: "You will soon 
 hear a great noise, but no matter how loud it 
 may be, or from what direction it may come, do 
 not move; continue milking your goat." 
 
 At that very moment, a tremendous noise burst 
 upon them. It was the town of Issarlès sinking 
 down into the yawning earth. The woman half 
 turned her head to see whence the noise came; 
 she had no sooner done so than she was swallowed 
 up with the town. The ruins were immediately 
 covered up by a sheet of water. 
 
THE LAKE OF ISSARLES 5 
 
 On a clear day one may see to the bottom of the 
 lake the ruins of the town of Issarlès, and dis- 
 tinguish clearly by the side of a small house, the 
 last in the town, a woman, who with both her 
 hands is milking a goat. I have seen her many a 
 time when I was passing along the shore. 
 
 Victor Smith. 
 
THE FAIRIES AND THE TWO 
 HUNCHBACKS 
 
 A STORY OF PICARD Y 
 
 ONCE there were three fairies who used to 
 amuse themselves by dancing round and 
 round, and singing, "Sunday, Monday; 
 Sunday, Monday." One day a little hunchback 
 surprised them at this sport, and without being 
 afraid, he took them by the hand and began to 
 dance with them, repeating also, "Sunday, Mon- 
 day; Sunday, Monday." He danced so prettily 
 that the fairies were charmed, and to reward him 
 took away his hunch. Perfectly happy, he re- 
 turned home, constantly singing as he went, "Sun- 
 day, Monday; Sunday, Monday." On the road 
 he met another little hunchback whom he knew. 
 The latter was greatly astonished to see his friend 
 relieved of his hunch, and said: "How did you 
 manage it? Your hunch is gone." "It is all 
 very easy," replied the other; "you have only to 
 go to a certain wood, when you will find some 
 fairies; you must dance with them and sing, 
 'Sunday, Monday; Sunday, Monday,' and they 
 will take away your hunch." 
 
FAIRIES AND HUNCHBACKS 7 
 
 "I will go, I will go at once," cried the little 
 hunchback, and started immediately for the wood 
 to which he had been directed, where, sure 
 enough, he found the three fairies. Without hes- 
 itating, he took them by the hand and danced with 
 them, repeating, "Sunday, Monday." But un- 
 happily for him, he added, "Tuesday, Wednes- 
 day." The fairies, indignant, added to his hunch 
 that of the first hunchback, so that he was a frght 
 to behold, so frightful that if you had seen him 
 you would have run away from him. And then? 
 — And then the cock crew, and it was day. 
 
 Told by Auguste Gourdin, miller, aged 63, at Warloy- 
 Baillon (Somme). 
 
 Henri Carnoy. 
 
THE SKILFUL THIEF 
 
 A BRETON STORY 
 
 t | ^ HERE was once upon a time a poor man 
 
 I who had two children, a boy and a girl, 
 Efflam and Hénori. 
 
 One day the father said to Efflam: "My son, 
 now that you are grown up, you should be able 
 to get your own living and take care of yourself. 
 Suppose you go to Paris and seek your fortune." 
 
 "Very well, father," said Efflam; "1 will go to 
 Paris and seek my fortune." 
 
 And so the next day Efflam set out for Paris. 
 He traveled and traveled, always on foot. Once 
 night surprised him in the midst of a deep for- 
 est. He got up in a tree to wait for the morning 
 and to keep himself safe from the wild beasts. 
 Soon three robbers laden with booty stopped un- 
 der the tree. They lifted a large stone and de- 
 posited their booty in a cavern whose entrance the 
 stone had concealed. Then they seated them- 
 selves under the tree to eat and drink, meanwhile 
 talking of their adventures. Efflam listened, 
 and this is what he heard : — 
 
 "I," said one of the robbers, "have a marvel- 
 
 8 
 
THE SKILFUL THIEF 9 
 
 ous cloak which carries me through the air, wher- 
 ever I wish to go." 
 
 "I," said the second, "have a hat which ren- 
 ders me invisible, and when I have it on my head 
 I can go everywhere without being seen by any 
 one. 
 
 "And I," said the third, "have some boots with 
 which I can walk as swiftly as the wind blows." 
 
 "If I could have the cloak, the hat, and the 
 boots, or only one of the three," said Efflam to 
 himself, "that would easily make my fortune; 
 but how can I manage it?" Then he turned it 
 over in his head, and hit upon this plan: that, 
 by letting himself down through the leafy 
 branches, he would fall into the midst of the rob- 
 bers and shout, "Stop, thief!" so as to make them 
 believe that the devil or the police were at their 
 heels. No sooner said than done, and the three 
 robbers, seized with fright, ran off as fast as they 
 could, leaving on the ground the cloak, the hat, 
 and the boots. 
 
 Efflam seized the three talismans, and, having 
 put on the boots, he soon found himself in Paris. 
 As he was walking along the streets, astonished 
 at the beautiful things he saw on all sides, he 
 noticed a jeweler's shop which seemed finer and 
 richer than the others, and was tempted to take 
 from it a few articles of value. He put on his 
 magic hat, made his way into the shop without 
 
îo FRENCH FAIRY TALES 
 
 being perceived by any one, and took everything 
 he pleased. Afterward, in order to get ready 
 money, he sold in another shop the articles he had 
 obtained in this way. Meeting a soldier from his 
 own country, he led him a gay life for several 
 days. When the money was all gone, Efflam was 
 at no loss to know how to get more. One day he 
 saw at a market a vender of earthen vases who 
 was doing a good business, and put his money, 
 as he received it, into a wooden chest beside him. 
 "I must take away his chest," said Efflam to him- 
 self, and putting on his hat, he easily carried off 
 the chest, took it where no one could see him, 
 broke it open, took the money which was in it, 
 and once more lived a gay life while it lasted. 
 
 Another day, as he was taking a walk through 
 one of the squares of the city, he overheard three 
 men talking together about the king's treasure. 
 They were saying that they thought it a needless 
 piece of caution on the king's part to place sen- 
 tinels near the tower which contained his treas- 
 ure, because, since there were neither doors nor 
 windows to this tower, and the walls were so thick 
 and solid, it was impossible to make the slightest 
 breach in it. "Very good," said Efflam to him- 
 self; "now I know where the king's treasure is." 
 Then, addressing the three men, he said, "So you 
 think it impossible to steal the king's treasure?" 
 "Why, yes," they answered. "Well, I, for one, 
 
THE SKILFUL THIEF 1 1 
 
 do not think so." And with that he left them. 
 When night had come, he repaired to the foot of 
 the tower, and having spread his magic cloak on 
 the ground, he seated himself on it, put on his 
 hat, and said, "Cloak, do your duty, and bear me 
 immediately into the king's treasure-chamber." 
 This was immediately done without being per- 
 ceived by the guards or any one else. He went 
 out in the same manner, with his pockets filled 
 with gold and silver. The next night, and the 
 next, and every night after that, he returned to 
 the attack, and always with the same success. 
 Having now become rich in a short time, he 
 bought a palace, and sent for his father and sis- 
 ter. On the day on which they were to arrive he 
 went to meet them with a fine carriage drawn by 
 two horses. When he had got about three miles 
 from the city, seeing his father and sister coming 
 along the road on foot, and poorly clad, he or- 
 dered his coachman to return to his house with one 
 of the horses, and bring him a box Avhich he had 
 forgotten and left on the table in his chamber, and 
 which he wanted very much. He would wait for 
 him, he said, in a certain house by the roadside. 
 
 The coachman unhitched one of the horses and 
 set off. Efflam then took his father and sister 
 into the house by the roadside, gave them changes 
 of rich garments that he had brought for them 
 in the carriage, and also to each of them a purse 
 
12 FRENCH FAIRY TALES 
 
 filled with gold, so that the coachman, on his re- 
 turn, should not take them for poor peasants, as 
 they really were. The coachman returned, and 
 said to his master, "I did not find the box in your 
 chamber." "Oh ! I had it with me in my carriage 
 and did not know it." Then they returned to the 
 city. 
 
 One day the father asked his son how he had 
 managed to get so rich, and Efflam acknowl- 
 edged to him that he had stolen the king's treas- 
 ure. "If you wish," said the old man, "I will 
 go with you, and between us we can bring away a 
 larger sum." "Very well," said Efflam. 
 
 When night had come, they both placed them- 
 selves on the magic cloak, put both their heads 
 in the magic hat, and were transported into the 
 treasure-chamber ; then they returned in the same 
 manner, each bearing his load of money. 
 
 But the king perceived that his treasure was 
 being stolen, and was very much astonished at 
 it, for he never trusted any one with the key. 
 Moreover, he saw no traces of any attempt to 
 break in. Then he set traps around the vases 
 which contained the silver and the gold, in order 
 to catch the thief. And sure enough, the next 
 night the father was caught. Finding he could 
 not get away, and hoping at least to save his son, 
 he said to him, "Cut off my head and take it away 
 from here, with my clothes, so that I may not be 
 
THE SKILFUL THIEF 13 
 
 recognized," Efflam took his advice, cut off his 
 head, and took it away to bury it in his garden. 
 When the king came the next day to the treasure- 
 chamber, he cried out with joy, on seeing there 
 the lifeless body: "Aha! my thief is taken at 
 last. Let us see who he is." But neither he nor 
 any one else could identify the body without a 
 head, so that he was even more puzzled than ever. 
 Then he published through the city that the thief 
 had been caught, and that his body would be 
 dragged on a hurdle through all the streets of 
 the town. This was accordingly done, and four 
 soldiers, two before and two behind, accompanied 
 the body, with orders to listen attentively, and 
 look well about them to see if any one cried or 
 groaned or appeared distressed as they passed 
 along. Efflam ordered his carriage early in the 
 morning, and before setting out he told his neigh- 
 bors and all in his house, that he was going to take 
 his father to his own country, since he wished 
 very much to return. This was to explain the 
 disappearance of the old man. On getting about 
 a mile from the city, he said to his servant as 
 before, "Take one of the horses and return with 
 all speed to the city, and bring my father his 
 purse which he forgot when he came away." 
 The coachman took one of the horses and de- 
 parted. Then Efflam saw a postman coming 
 along down the road, and asked him if he was not 
 
14 FRENCH FAIRY TALES 
 
 very tired. "Not yet," replied the man; "but I 
 shall be before I have made my rounds, for I have 
 a long way to go." "If you wish," said Efflam, 
 "I will give you my horse and carriage." "You 
 are joking with me, my lord." "I am not joking 
 with you, and to prove it — here — take them." 
 Then Efflam got down from his carriage and al- 
 most forced the postman to mount, while he re- 
 turned to the city quietly on foot. When he met 
 his coachman coming again, he said: "Again I 
 gave you a useless ride : my father had his purse 
 in his pocket, and did not know it: at his age 
 memory begins to fail. I have given him my car- 
 riage and horse that he may return to his own 
 country, and I am hurrying back, for I have just 
 remembered that I ought to be at the house to- 
 day." Accordingly he mounted the horse the 
 coachman had ridden, and set off at a gallop. 
 On reaching home he told his sister the whole 
 affair, and advised her not to cry, or groan, or 
 appear sad, nor even to remain out of sight, 
 when the mutilated body of her father should 
 pass by on the hurdle; for if she showed the 
 slightest sign of grief, he would be lost, and she 
 too. Soon the crowd was heard crying, "Here 
 is the thief who stole the king's treasure!" All 
 the people ran to the doors of the houses, and a 
 great crowd followed the headless body, and no 
 one could say who he was. When they passed by 
 
THE SKILFUL THIEF 15 
 
 Efflam's house, he also was on his doorsteps, with 
 his sister by his side. But Hénori, not being 
 able to endure the sight, uttered a cry and ran 
 into the house. Efflam followed her, and draw- 
 ing his dagger he wounded her hand with it. 
 Two soldiers presented themselves and said, 
 "We have heard cries of grief in this house." 
 "Yes," said Efflam; "it was my sister, who had 
 just cut herself with my knife, and was crying 
 out; see how it is bleeding." And true enough, 
 there was the poor girl all bleeding and crying. 
 The soldiers withdrew. 
 
 This plan not having succeeded, the king 
 thought of another. He had the body of the thief 
 hung up on a nail fixed in the wall of his palace, 
 and set guards to watch near by, feeling sure that 
 when night came the friends and relatives of the 
 thief would try to carry off his body. When 
 Efflam saw this, he disguised himself as a wine 
 merchant, loaded an ass with leather bottles of 
 wine mixed with a narcotic, and went with it, ac- 
 companied by his sister, along under that side of 
 the palace wall where the body of his father was 
 suspended. With a movement of his shoulder, 
 he made the bottles fall off, and one of them, 
 which he had prepared for that purpose, came 
 unstopped. He and his sister began to cry and 
 call for help. The guards ran to them, helped 
 them to reload their ass, and received for reward 
 
i6 FRENCH FAIRY TALES 
 
 the bottle which had become unstopped in falling, 
 but which, nevertheless, was still more than half 
 full. Efflam and his sister then continued on 
 their way. But they retraced their steps about a 
 ha If -hour later, and found the guards stretched 
 upon the ground and sleeping as soundly as if 
 they were dead. "All right," said they. Then 
 they went to a monastery near by and pretended 
 to sell them some excellent wine very cheap. By 
 means of the wine they made the monks all sleep 
 soundly, from the abbot to the porter, and took 
 advantage of the opportunity to bury their 
 father's body in holy ground in the cemetery of 
 the monastery. Then they changed the cloth- 
 ing of the monks and soldiers, so that the monks 
 were dressed as soldiers, and the soldiers as 
 monks. Next morning, when the hour for 
 matins came, the monks dragged themselves to 
 the chapel, only half awake and not seeing very 
 clearly. The first one who perceived the singular 
 dress of the abbot was at first utterly confounded. 
 He rubbed his eyes, thinking he did not see well. 
 But as he continued to see before him a soldier 
 and not a monk, he touched his next neighbor 
 with his elbow and said, "Do you see how our ab- 
 bot is dressed? What does it mean?" The 
 monk next him was in turn also greatly aston- 
 ished, but, looking at those who stood on each 
 side of the abbot, they discovered that thev too 
 
THE SKILFUL THIEF 17 
 
 were dressed like soldiers; then they looked at 
 the whole line of monks opposite them on the 
 other side of the choir; and at last they looked at 
 each other, and found that all were in soldiers' 
 uniform. What could it mean? It was doubt- 
 less the work of the evil spirit! Then the chant 
 and prayers ceased, and they began trying to un- 
 ravel the mystery. 
 
 On the other hand, when the captain came in 
 the morning to inspect the soldiers set to guard 
 the body of the thief, he also w r as greatly aston- 
 ished to find them all sleeping profoundly, and 
 habited as monks. Worse still, the body of the 
 thief was gone. He flew into a great passion, 
 swore and raged, and kicked the soldiers till they 
 awaked. The report spread rapidly through the 
 city that the body of the thief who stole the king's 
 treasure had been carried off, and that the sol- 
 diers set to guard it had been found in the morn- 
 ing dead drunk, and disguised as monks; while 
 the monks of the neighboring monastery, equally 
 drunk, wore the uniform of the soldiers. It was 
 undoubtedly a fresh trick of an accomplice of the 
 thief who had been caught. It made a great stir 
 in the city, and every one laughed heartily. 
 
 "I am mocked again," said the king, when he 
 heard what had taken place. "It must be ac- 
 knowledged that this is a very skilful thief; but 
 all the same, I mean to find out how far his skill 
 
i8 FRENCH FAIRY TALES 
 
 goes, for I hope soon to foil it." Then he caused 
 notice to be given through the city that he would 
 the next day exhibit in the public square before 
 his palace a beautiful white goat of which he was 
 very fond, and that if the thief could succeed in 
 taking it away, it should be his. 
 
 "That's good," said Efflam to himself when he 
 heard the notice. "The king's white goat will be 
 mine to-morrow before the sun goes down." 
 
 Next day the white goat was in fact exhibited 
 on the square in front of the king's palace, and 
 a great crowd gathered, curious to know how the 
 thief would manage to take it away in spite of the 
 soldiers who guarded it. The king himself was 
 on the balcony with the queen, and surrounded by 
 princes, generals, and courtiers. 
 
 Efrlam put his magic hat on his head, and car- 
 ried off the goat as easily as possible, and without 
 any one's seeing or knowing anything about it. 
 
 "I am mocked again!" cried the king, in vexa- 
 tion, when he saw that the goat had disappeared. 
 "But who can this man be? He must be a great 
 
 >->• 
 
 magician, for there is magic in all this. Never 
 mind ; I will not acknowledge myself beaten, and 
 I propose to know how far this will go." 
 
 Effiam had killed the king's goat as soon as he 
 reached home, and told his sister to use it for 
 their own table as long as there was any of it, 
 advising her to cook it in the greatest secrecy, and 
 
THE SKILFUL THIEF 19 
 
 not to give the smallest portion of it to any other 
 person, not even to a beggar. 
 
 Meanwhile the king thought of another means 
 of testing the skill and cunning of the thief. He 
 sent for a blind beggar, and told him to go and 
 ask alms at the door of every house in the city, 
 and to beg at each door for a bit of meat, which 
 he should taste as soon as he received it. If any 
 bit of goat's flesh was given him, he should, with 
 a piece of white chalk, make a cross on the door 
 of the house where he had received it, and come 
 at once and tell the kins'. 
 
 ■,-,■ 
 
 The beggar at once began his rounds. When 
 he came to Efflam's house, Hénori, who had 
 doubtless forgotten her brother's warning, or had 
 no fear of being accused by a blind man who knew 
 neither her nor her house, gave him a morsel of 
 the king's goat. The blind man recognized it as 
 soon as he had tasted it, and, unknown to the 
 young girl, who had gone back into the house as 
 soon as she had ministered to his need, he marked 
 the door with a white cross, and hastened at once 
 to inform the king. The latter sent four sol- 
 diers to search the house, the door of which was 
 marked with a white cross in chalk, with orders 
 to bring to him immediately the inmates of the 
 house. But Eifflam had noticed the white cross 
 on his door, and questioned his sister, to see if she 
 had disobeyed him in anything. Hénori told 
 
2o FRENCH FAIRY TALES 
 
 him she had indeed given the remnant of their 
 last meal to an old beggar who had excited her 
 pity, but there was nothing to be feared from 
 him, for he was blind. Efflam, without waiting 
 to hear another word, got a bit of chalk and 
 went all about the city drawing crosses on all the 
 doors. The soldiers stopped at the first door 
 where they saw a cross, exclaiming, "Here it is!" 
 They entered and found two old people, hus- 
 band and wife, and requested them to accom- 
 pany them to the king's palace. "What does 
 the king want with us?" they asked, filled with 
 astonishment. "You have stolen his treasure and 
 his goat." "How could we do it," they cried, 
 overcome with fright, "old and feeble as we are? 
 It is more than six months since we have set foot 
 out of our house." The soldiers, seeing them so 
 old and so helpless, looked at each other, and said, 
 "These are not the right ones; that is evident: 
 come, let us see if we do not find a cross on some 
 other door." So they went out, and found with 
 surprise that the doors of all the houses in that 
 quarter of the city were marked with similar 
 crosses; so they went and told the king. 
 
 "What a man this thief is!" said the king; 
 and began to devise at once some other means of 
 catching him. The next day he caused notice to 
 be given throughout the city that he would expose 
 his royal crown on the public square in front of 
 
THE SKILFUL THIEF 21 
 
 the palace, and that it should belong to the person 
 who could steal it without being caught. When 
 Efflam heard that, he said to himself, "His crown 
 shall be mine as well as his goat." 
 
 The royal crown was exhibited at the appointed 
 time and place. A considerable crowd had as- 
 sembled on the square, curious to see if the thief 
 would succeed in carrying off this also. The king 
 and his court were on the balcony of the palace, 
 and a large number of soldiers mounted guard, 
 with drawn swords, around the velvet cushion on 
 which the crown set. But all these precautions 
 were vain; and Efflam, wearing his magic hat, 
 bore off the king's crown as easily as he had car- 
 ried away the goat. The old monarch, perceiv- 
 ing at last that he had to contend with the most 
 cunning thief in his kingdom, who was evidently 
 a great magician besides, perceived that it was 
 useless to contend against him, and that it would 
 be better to win him over and attach him to him- 
 self, than to persecute him. He then proclaimed 
 that he would set his only daughter in the same 
 place in the square where the white goat and the 
 royal crown had been exposed, and that if the 
 thief should succeed equally well in stealing her, 
 he would give her to him for his wife. 
 
 He was by this time quite certain that the 
 thief would stand this last test as well as all the 
 others. 
 
22 FRENCH FAIRY TALES 
 
 And true enough, Eifflam bore off the princess 
 in the same mysterious fashion, without any one 
 knowing what had become of her. 
 
 Then when the king had returned to his palace, 
 Efflam repaired thither also, accompanied by the 
 princess, and reminded the old monarch of his 
 promise. The latter did not hesitate to keep his 
 word, and the marriage of Efflam and the prin- 
 cess was celebrated with pomp and solemnity. 
 
 Moreover, the king, who was a widower, took 
 for his wife Hénori, the sister of his son-in-law, 
 and for a whole month there were holidays and 
 games and magnificent banquets every day. 
 
 Related in Breton, by Vincent Coat, a workman in a 
 tobacco factory in Morlaix, Aug. 20, 1876. 
 
THE KING'S THREE SONS; 
 
 OR, 
 
 The Hunchback and His Two Brothers 
 a breton story 
 
 NCE upon a time there was a king who 
 had three sons, two of whom were fine, 
 handsome young men, and the third was 
 a hunchback whose name was Alain. This last 
 was not beloved by his father, who sent him off 
 to the kitchen with the cooks, while the two older 
 brothers ate with him at his own table and went 
 with him everywhere. 
 
 One day the old king sent for his three sons, 
 and said to them: — 
 
 "You see I am getting old, my children, and 
 I want to spend the rest of my days in peace and 
 quiet. I wish to give up my crown, with the ad- 
 ministration of my kingdom, to that one of you 
 three who will bring me the finest piece of linen. 
 Set out, then, travel far away, and return in a 
 year and a day." 
 
 Thereupon the three brothers started off on 
 three different routes. The two older brothers 
 had each a fine horse to carry him, and pockets 
 full of gold and silver. They went first to see 
 
 23 
 
24 FRENCH FAIRY TALES 
 
 their sweethearts and bid them good-by. But 
 there they forgot their quest, and led gay lives 
 as long as their money lasted. 
 
 The hunchback, who had received from his 
 father only a six-franc piece, and no horse, 
 walked and walked bravely on. When he was 
 hungry he gnawed a crust of bread, gathered 
 hazel-nuts, whortleberries, and wild mulberries 
 from the bushes along the road, and drank out of 
 the hollow of his hand from the wayside springs. 
 One day as he was crossing a great moor he heard 
 a clear, fresh voice singing an old song. He 
 stopped to listen, and said, "I must see who it is 
 that sings like that"; and he followed the sound 
 of the voice. 
 
 He soon came upon a young girl of great 
 beauty, who addressed him thus,— 
 
 "Good morning, Alain, youngest son of the 
 king of France." 
 
 "You know me, then?" asked the astonished 
 prince. 
 
 "Yes, I know you; I even know where you are 
 going and what you seek; your father has told 
 you and your two brothers that he will give up 
 his crown and his kingdom to that one of you 
 three who will bring him the finest piece of linen : 
 is it not so?" 
 
 "It is quite true," replied Alain, more and 
 more astonished. 
 
THE KING'S THREE SONS 25 
 
 "Well, your two brothers have gone to see 
 their sweethearts, and are having a good time 
 with them, without caring anything about the 
 search for the fine linen. You, who have no 
 lady-love, have resolutely set to work, and you 
 deserve to succeed. Come with me to my castle, 
 and I will tell you what to do." 
 
 Alain followed her to what she called her cas- 
 tle, but which was only a miserable hut of mud 
 and clay. He remained there some time with 
 her, and, before he left, she gave him a little 
 box, not larger than his fist, and said to him, — ■ 
 
 "It is time for you to return home; take this 
 little box, and present yourself with confidence 
 before your father." 
 
 Alain returned with his box. When he 
 reached the court of his father's palace, he saw 
 his two brothers at the windows, quite happy and 
 content with themselves. They had returned, 
 with their horses laden with fine pieces of linen. 
 
 "See! Alain has come, too," they cried; "he 
 comes without the smallest piece of linen, as ugly 
 and miserable as when he set out, and has not 
 even lost his hunch by the way!" 
 
 The two elder brothers then spread out their 
 linens before their father. They were very fine 
 and expensive. 
 
 "And you, Alain," said his father, "do you re- 
 fuse to compete? for you have brought nothing." 
 
26 FRENCH FAIRY TALES 
 
 Then Alain drew the small box from his pocket, 
 and presented it to his father, saying, — 
 
 "Take this box, my father, and open it." 
 
 The old king took the box, opened it, and im- 
 mediately there fell out of it a piece of white 
 linen, smooth to the touch, soft and shining as 
 silk. And for more than an hour, piece after 
 piece fell out, so that the box seemed inexhausti- 
 ble. 
 
 "Alain has won!" said the king. "My crown 
 is his!" 
 
 "There is sorcery in this," said the two elder 
 brothers, much put out, "and there must be three 
 trials." 
 
 "I agree," said the king, who was much dis- 
 pleased at the idea of leaving his crown to a 
 hunchback. 
 
 "Give us another test," they cried. 
 
 "Very well; to him who brings me the finest 
 horse." 
 
 And the three brothers set out, each by him- 
 self. The two older ones went, as before, to see 
 their lady-loves, and the hunchback took once 
 more the road across the moor, where he had met 
 the beautiful young girl who had gained him his 
 first victory. When, after much trouble, he 
 reached it, he heard the same voice singing its 
 song. "All's well," said he, comforted and full 
 of hope. And he hastened toward the singer's 
 clay house. 
 
THE KING'S THREE SONS 27 
 
 "Good morning," said he, as he entered; "I 
 have come to see you again." 
 
 "Good morning, young son of the king," re- 
 plied the young girl; "I know why you have 
 come! Your brothers, beaten in the first con- 
 test, have demanded that there shall be three, 
 and the second test is to bring to your father the 
 finest horse." 
 
 "That is true; but how can I get a fine horse 
 without money?" 
 
 "You got the finest linen without money; why 
 should you not also have the finest horse without 
 money? Remain here with me until the time 
 comes to return, and do not be at all uneasy." 
 
 Alain took courage, and remained with the 
 young girl. When the day arrived, she gave him 
 another box, bidding him be sure not to open it 
 until he should be in the courtyard of his father's 
 palace. 
 
 Then he departed. But he had not gone far 
 when he yielded to curiosity. He opened his box 
 to see what was in it; and immediately a beautiful 
 horse jumped out, — swift as lightning, — and dis- 
 appeared in a moment. And. now, our young 
 man began to cry. What should he do now? 
 He resolved to return to the young girl, as he 
 had not gotten very far from her house, and tell 
 her of his misfortune. His kind friend gave him 
 a second box, bidding him again not to open it 
 
28 FRENCH FAIRY TALES 
 
 until he should be in the court-yard of his fa- 
 ther's palace, and holding 1 it between his knees. 
 
 This time he did not open it. When he 
 reached the court of the palace, his two brothers 
 had been there already some time, and each of 
 them had a magnificent horse, of which he was 
 very proud. When they saw Alain arrive, they 
 cried, — 
 
 "Here is the hunchback, at last; but he has 
 no horse!" 
 
 "I have a box, as before," answered Alain, 
 drawing his box from his pocket. 
 
 "Your fine horse is in that, no doubt," said 
 they. 
 
 "Perhaps," said Alain. 
 
 "Open it, then, that we may see your mouse." 
 
 Alain put his box between his knees, opened it, 
 and immediately he found himself in the saddle 
 on a superb horse with a golden bridle on his head, 
 fiery and spirited, and with sparks flying from his 
 four feet, his nostrils, and his eyes. 
 
 "Alain has won it this time, too," cried the old 
 king, filled with astonishment; and his victory 
 was indeed so apparent that his brothers did not 
 dream of disputing it. But they cried out spite- 
 fully: "Now for the third trial. What shall it 
 be, father?" 
 
 "Well," said the king, "this time to him who 
 shall bring me the most beautiful princess." 
 
THE KINGS THREE SONS 29 
 
 Then the three brothers set out again at once. 
 The two elder ones went as before to see then 1 fair 
 ladies, and Alain returned to his mysterious 
 friend in the great moor. 
 
 "Good morning, young son of the king," said 
 she, seeing him return. "Your father has said 
 that his crown shall be given to that one of his 
 three sons who shall bring him the most beautiful 
 princess." 
 
 "Yes," said the prince, "and I do not even 
 know a princess." 
 
 "That makes no difference; stay here with me 
 until the time comes to present yourself to your 
 father, and have faith in me." 
 
 So Alain remained again with his friend, and 
 when the time was come, she said to him: — 
 
 "Here is a hen with a linen cloth on her back; 
 return with it to your father's house, and be very 
 sure not to lose the hen and the linen also." 
 
 "But shall I have no princess, then?" 
 
 "Go on with your hen, and trust me for the 
 rest." 
 
 So Alain set out with the hen. But as he was 
 going through a dark forest, she flew away, and 
 then he began to cry. Two princesses, one more 
 beautiful than the other, suddenly appeared be- 
 side him. "Why do you weep thus?" said one of 
 them to him. 
 
 "I have lost my hen!" said Alain. 
 
3o FRENCH FAIRY TALES 
 
 "If that is all, be comforted; I will find her 
 for you." 
 
 And sure enough, the hen came back at a sign 
 from the princess, and she still had her linen on 
 her back. The most beautiful of the princesses 
 touched her with the end of a white wand she had 
 in her hand, and immediately she was changed 
 into a fine gilded carriage drawn by six superb 
 horses. Alain saw his hunch suddenly disap- 
 pear, and found himself a very handsome young 
 man, with magnificent princely clothes, and 
 seated in the coach by the side of the less beauti- 
 ful of the two princesses. The other, the more 
 beautiful one, was seated on the coachman's seat, 
 holding the reins and driving the coach. They 
 repaired in this state to the king's palace. The 
 two elder brothers had already arrived there, and 
 were waiting for the hunchback at the windows, 
 each having by his side a beautiful princess of 
 whom he was very proud. 
 
 When Alain entered the court-yard with his 
 splendid, shining coach and his two companions, 
 it seemed as if the sun himself had driven in 
 there in his chariot. The two elder brothers and 
 their princesses, dazzled by so much light and 
 beauty, and bursting with envy at seeing the state 
 in which their youngest brother returned, covered 
 their faces with their hands. The old king, for- 
 merly so cross and full of pains, brightened up 
 
THE KING'S THREE SONS 31 
 
 again, and slowly descended to the court to re- 
 ceive Alain and his train. 
 
 "My crown and my kingdom are yours, my son 
 Alain," he cried. 
 
 Then he gave his hand to the princesses to 
 help them alight and led them into the palace. 
 The two elder princes and their princesses hid 
 themselves for shame and envy. 
 
 However, they had to come to a great feast 
 which the old king ordered to be prepared, and 
 to which he invited all the court and the great 
 men of his kingdom. 
 
 During the feast, Alain's beautiful princess 
 put into her apron a bit of each of the dishes 
 served to her; seeing this, his brothers' princesses 
 imitated her. When all arose from the table, 
 she said that she wished to make a little present 
 to each guest, and even to the servants. And 
 putting her right hand into her apron, which, 
 with her left she held gathered up to her breast, 
 she drew from it again and again gold rings, 
 pearls, diamonds, and flowers, and distributed 
 them freely, to the great astonishment and sat- 
 isfaction of all. 
 
 The other two princesses wished to imitate her 
 also in this; but, alas! instead of gold rings, 
 pearls, diamonds, and lovely, sweet-scented flow- 
 ers, they drew out of their aprons, only what 
 they had put there — meat, sausages, and such 
 
32 FRENCH FAIRY TALES 
 
 eatables. Their fine clothes were all soiled by 
 the grease and gravy which ran out of them. 
 Attracted by the general bursts of laughter, the 
 dogs and cats pursued them and tore their 
 dresses to pieces. They ran away with their 
 lovers, filled with rage and confusion, and ap- 
 peared no more. 
 
 Soon afterward the marriage of Alain and his 
 beautiful princess was celebrated, and the holi- 
 days and plays and feasts continued for a whole 
 month. 
 
 Told by Marguerite Philippe, July 21, 1871. 
 
 F. M. Luzel. 
 
THE HARE, THE BEAR, AND 
 THE FOX 
 
 I 
 
 1HERE was a young soldier named 
 Hervé Laz-Bleiz. When he returned 
 from the war in far away lands, his 
 father and mother were dead. He had no 
 brother, but he had a young sister named 
 Hénori. Their parents had left them, for their 
 entire inheritance, a cow and two sheep. Hervé 
 said to Hénori, — 
 
 "Let us sell the cow and the sheep, and go to 
 seek our fortunes somewhere else, instead of re- 
 maining here in poverty." 
 
 The cow and the sheep were sold; then the 
 brother and sister set out on their journey, by 
 the grace of God. After having walked a long 
 time and gone very, very far, they found them- 
 selves one day in a great forest, in the midst of 
 which there was an old castle surrounded by high 
 walls. They gained entrance to the court, creep- 
 ing in under the door, but saw no one. The 
 castle door stood open. They entered and found 
 themselves in a hall, but no one was there. But 
 they saw on a table meals which were quite hot, 
 
 33 
 
34 FRENCH FAIRY TALES 
 
 and the odor of them was delicious. They were 
 very hungry, and they looked at each other out 
 of the corners of their eyes, and their mouths 
 watered. They remained silently standing, 
 waiting for some one to come, of whom they 
 might ask hospitality. 
 
 But they waited in vain; no one came, and 
 the castle appeared to be abandoned. Seeing 
 this, Hervé, who was not very timid, said to his 
 sister, — 
 
 "Upon my word, it is useless to wait longer, 
 and it is a shame to let such a good dinner get 
 cold; let us seize the opportunity, and eat and 
 drink, and then we shall see what will happen." 
 
 They seated themselves at the table, and ate 
 and drank with good appetites, without any one 
 coming to interrupt them. Hénori, who was at 
 first much frightened, became quite brave when 
 she had drank a glass or two of the excellent wine 
 she had found on the table; and as for Hervé, 
 who had drank much more, he already dreamed 
 of being master of the chateau, and thought it 
 would be a great pity to leave a hotel when he 
 was so comfortable. 
 
 On rising from the table, the brother and sis- 
 ter went through the halls and rooms. In the 
 first room, they found heaps of gold and silver; 
 in the second, more gold and silver; in the third, 
 there were guns, and pieces of linen and stuff 
 
THE HARE AND THE FOX 35 
 
 goods, and men's clothing of all shapes and sizes. 
 
 "It is a den of robbers," said Hervé, when he 
 saw all this. "They have gone off on some ex- 
 pedition, and will doubtless soon return. But 
 since we are here, and these are good arms, let 
 us take possession of them and all the treasure 
 will be ours." 
 
 And they began to prepare themselves, as well 
 as possible, to stand a siege. They barricaded 
 the doors and window casements, loaded all the 
 guns, and sat down to wait. 
 
 About two or three o'clock in the morning the 
 robbers returned, laden with booty and all drunk. 
 Hervé and Hénori, each stationed at a window 
 on the first floor, and having near them a great 
 many guns all loaded, began immediately to fire 
 on them. The robbers threw themselves against 
 the door, raging and swearing. But they could 
 not break it open, and Hervé and his sister killed 
 one with each discharge of their guns, so that 
 the number rapidly diminished. At last, seeing 
 that their efforts were in vain, all those who re- 
 mained still unhurt, retired, leaving the court- 
 yard strewn with dead and wounded. 
 
 Hervé and Hénori passed the day in strength- 
 ening the barricades of the doors and windows 
 and reloading their guns, for they were sure the 
 robbers had gone to seek reinforcements, and 
 would return to give them another charge. And 
 
36 FRENCH FAIRY TALES 
 
 they were not mistaken, for they returned, hav- 
 ing mustered up some comrades. It was now 
 broad daylight, so that Hervé and his sister, each 
 stationed at a window on the first floor, could see 
 clearly through the holes they had made in the 
 shutters, and they struck down one at each dis- 
 charge of their guns. They shot so well that 
 they finally killed them all, except two or three 
 wounded ones, who ran away. 
 
 The next day there was a third attack. But 
 this time the robbers were all killed, every single 
 one. 
 
 And now, Hervé and Hénori were in posses- 
 sion of the castle and all the treasure it contained. 
 However, they did not dare go out for several 
 days. But when they saw that no more robbers 
 came to trouble them, they grew bolder, and 
 visited the gardens and all the apartments of the 
 castle, and everywhere they found treasures and 
 provisions of every kind. So, seeing that every- 
 thing needful was provided, they determined to 
 take up their abode there. 
 
 The wood which surrounded the castle was 
 full of all sorts of game. Hervé went hunting 
 there every day, often with his sister and some- 
 times alone. One day when he went out alone, 
 he ran across a fine hare and aimed at it to kill it, 
 when he was perfectly astonished to hear the 
 animal say to him, as plainly as if it had been a 
 man, — 
 
THE HARE AND THE FOX 37 
 
 "Do not kill me, Hervé." 
 
 "What! do you know me, you poor beast of 
 the good God?" 
 
 "Yes, I know you, and I may perhaps be use- 
 ful to you some day." 
 
 "Very well! come with me then." 
 
 And he went on, followed by the hare. 
 
 Farther on he saw a fox, and aimed at him 
 also, but the fox said, as the hare had done, — 
 
 "Do not kill me, Hervé, and I will pay you 
 back some day." 
 
 "Am I then known to all the beasts of this 
 wood?" said Hervé, and he lowered his gun and 
 told the fox to follow him as well as the hare. 
 
 A little farther on he saw a bear and aimed at 
 his jaw. But the bear said to him, also, — 
 
 "Do not kill me, Hervé, and I will pay you 
 back some day." 
 
 "Good! come on; follow me and let us see what 
 will happen." 
 
 He continued to hunt until the evening, and 
 killed so much game that, not being able to carry 
 it himself, he put it on the back of the bear. 
 Then they started on the road to the castle. On 
 the way, the bear ate the game, and the fox, see- 
 ing him, said to Hervé, "Master, the bear is eat- 
 ing your game." Hervé threatened to shoot the 
 bear, who growled and promised not to eat any 
 more. When the four had reached the castle 
 
38 FRENCH FAIRY TALES 
 
 walls the hare said to Hervé, "Master, do you 
 know that your sister is in her room with the 
 chief of the robbers?" 
 
 "How can you say so? We killed all the rob- 
 bers." 
 
 "No matter, their chief still lives and he comes 
 every day to see your sister, while you are out 
 hunting. Look out for them, for they are think- 
 ing of betraying you and getting rid of you." 
 
 "My sister loves me, and I do not believe a 
 single word you tell me." 
 
 "Your life is in danger, I assure you; but leave 
 it to me: I will save you." 
 
 "Very well, I leave it to you, and we shall 
 see. 
 
 "When he knows that you are in the castle, he 
 will hide himself somewhere, so that he may 
 strangle you in the night while you sleep. But 
 as soon as we enter, you, fox, who have such a 
 good nose, you go sniff all around to find where 
 he is hid; then when you have found him, come 
 and tell me and we will see about it." 
 
 They entered the castle. Hervé remained in 
 the kitchen with the hare and the bear, and the 
 fox went on the search for the chief of the rob- 
 bers, sniffing and ferreting around everywhere 
 with his pointed snout. He discovered him in an 
 empty cask and came to inform his comrades. 
 
 "Go, bear," said the hare, "go with the fox, 
 and bring him to us." 
 
THE HARE AND THE FOX 39 
 
 The bear mounted the stairs, following the fox 
 and growling as he went. He pulled the robber 
 out of the cask, and taking him by one foot, he 
 dragged him down the stone stairway, his head 
 falling heavily on each step, and laid him at 
 Hervé's feet in the kitchen. When he saw the 
 latter, he ground his teeth and tried to throw 
 himself on him. But the bear prevented him 
 and tore him to pieces at his master's order. 
 Then Hénori was treated in the same manner. 
 
 Hervé continued to live in the castle with his 
 three animals. Every day they went out hunt- 
 ing and killed all the game they could wish. 
 
 II 
 
 One day the hare said suddenly, — 
 
 "I have just had something whispered in my 
 ear! 
 
 "What is it?" asked Hervé. 
 
 "The daughter of the king of England is about 
 to be taken to a dragon to be devoured by him; 
 shall we go and deliver her?" 
 
 "That would be a very perilous undertaking," 
 said Hervé. 
 
 "Pshaw!" said the bear, "I will undertake it: 
 you will see." 
 
 "All four of us," said the fox, "can surely 
 see it well put through." 
 
 "Let us go, then," said Hervé. 
 
40 FRENCH FAIRY TALES 
 
 "Let us go," they all repeated at once. 
 
 So they all four set out together. 
 
 But the road was long, and Hervé, overcome 
 with fatigue, could not walk any farther. Then 
 the bear took him on his back and they went on. 
 At last they reached England, and when they 
 came to the suburbs of London, they met the 
 procession which was conducting the poor prin- 
 cess. All the people of the land were there, and 
 they were grieved and weeping as though they 
 were at a funeral. When thej 7 came to the edge 
 of an immense plain, all bare and desolate, all 
 the people turned back and left the poor princess 
 to go on her way alone. The cavern of the 
 dragon was in the midst of this plain, and twice 
 a day he threw out fire from his seven mouths, 
 and burned up all vegetation for several leagues 
 around. 
 
 The poor princess, abandoned by all the world, 
 went slowly on, sobbing and shedding great tears. 
 Hervé, who was provided with a horse, joined 
 her, followed by his three animals, and said to 
 her, — 
 
 "Come with me in the croup, dear lady, and 
 I will take you where you are going." 
 
 "Alas!" she replied, "I shall get there only too 
 soon, and I do not wish to run to my death." 
 
 "Confide in me, mount to the croup on my 
 horse, and I will save vou from the monster, with 
 
THE HARE AND THE FOX 41 
 
 the aid of my three companions whom you see." 
 
 And he showed her the three animals who were 
 following* him. 
 
 The princess mounted, and immediately Hervé 
 put his horse at a gallop, for already the dragon 
 had begun to throw out fire. 
 
 The hare had told each one what to do. He 
 had said to the bear, — 
 
 "You, bear, must drag the monster from his 
 cavern; and you, fox, fill your stomach with 
 water so as to extinguish the fire which he will 
 throw on us, while I shall fight with my good 
 saber." 
 
 When they reached the opening of the cavern, 
 the dragon said, — 
 
 "Here you are at last, daughter of the king 
 of England! I was getting impatient, and you 
 have done well to come, for I should have re- 
 duced your father's whole kingdom to ashes if 
 you had kept me waiting too long. But I see 
 that you have not come alone; so much the bet- 
 ter, for I shall eat you all." 
 
 Then, addressing Hervé: — 
 
 "Throw me the princess first." 
 
 "Come take her," he replied. 
 
 "Throw her to me, I tell you, and at once!" 
 
 "Come take her, 1 tell you, if you want her." 
 
 "Throw her to me, or I shall burn you to 
 ashes." 
 
42 FRENCH FAIRY TALES 
 
 "Pshaw! I am not afraid of you." 
 And addressing his companions: — 
 "Come, my friends, do your duty and work 
 hard." 
 
 Then the bear seized the monster and dragged 
 him from his cave. Immediately he began to 
 throw fire from his seven mouths; but the fox 
 vomited over it torrents of water, and the hare, 
 on his part, made such frequent and terrible 
 thrusts with his sword, that at last they killed 
 the seven heads. "Victory!" then cried Hervé 
 and the princess. 
 
 They had conquered, in truth, but not without 
 difficulty, and the hare, the fox, and the bear, had 
 their skins all torn and burned, and they were 
 overcome with fatigue. Hervé, himself, and the 
 princess had suffered somewhat, though they kept 
 at a distance. Moreover, night was approach- 
 ing, and for many reasons they could not think 
 of returning to the city. They resolved then to 
 pass the night in the open plain, without shelter. 
 Hervé, fearing the effect of a night spent in the 
 open air upon the princess, whose constitution ap- 
 peared delicate, was much troubled. Fortu- 
 nately there were on the plain great masses of 
 rocks to which they repaired, and when the bear 
 had rolled together several bowlders so as to 
 form quite a sheltering cavern, they all gathered 
 there to wait for the morning, except the horse, 
 
THE BEAR SEIZED THE MONSTER AND DRAGGED HIM FROM HIS CAVE. 
 
THE HARE AND THE FOX 43 
 
 who was fastened near by and slept on the sand. 
 Then the hare served as a pillow for the prin- 
 cess, and the bear slept at her feet to keep them 
 warm. The fox was a little indisposed from 
 having drunk too much water, in spite of having 
 thrown it all up. 
 
 Before going to sleep, though very much fa- 
 tigued, they talked a little over the events of the 
 struggle and their plans for the future. It was 
 clearly understood that Hervé should marry the 
 princess. 
 
 A charcoal-burner, who was passing by, heard 
 a noise and stopped to listen. He drew near the 
 rocks, heard all their conversation, and resolved 
 to profit by it. When they were all fast asleep, 
 he took away the rock which closed the entrance 
 to the grotto, entered softly, cut off Hervé's 
 head, and carried off the princess. The hare, 
 the fox, and the bear were so broken down by 
 fatigue that they heard not a sound. When 
 they woke next morning, and saw Hervé dead, 
 with his head cut off, and the princess nowhere 
 to be seen, their astonishment was great. 
 
 "How is it, bear, that you who were at the feet 
 of the princess did not wake up?" said the hare. 
 
 "I was so weary," replied the bear, "that I 
 slept like a rock." 
 
 "And you, fox, whose ear is so keen?" 
 
 "And you, yourself, hare, who served as a 
 pillow for the princess?" replied the fox. 
 
44 FRENCH FAIRY TALES 
 
 "The first thing to be done," said the hare, 
 "is to put our master's head again upon his 
 shoulders and bring him to life ; then we will see 
 what has become of the princess. Fortunately 
 I know how to make an ointment which will 
 bring the dead to life, but I shall need the as- 
 sistance of you both to do this. You, bear, must 
 find and bring to me the solitary worm which 
 is hidden a thousand feet under the ground; and 
 you, fox, bring me a blackbird and a gray raven 
 to make my ointment." 
 
 "But that is not easy," said the bear, "a thou- 
 sand feet under the ground." 
 
 "Suppose you go look for them yourself," said 
 the fox. 
 
 "And would you know how to make the oint- 
 ment? You wouldn't, would you?" 
 
 "Go, then, each on your way, work, and do not 
 return without bringing me what I have or- 
 dered." 
 
 So the bear went in one direction, growling, 
 and the fox took another road, grumbling. 
 
 The bear went all over the plain, with his nose 
 to the earth, sniffing everywhere. He stopped 
 at last and began to dig up the earth. He dug 
 and dug till he came to the solitary worm, and 
 he seized it eagerly and carried it to the hare. 
 
 The fox had run to a forest which he had per- 
 ceived from a distance, mounting to it over a 
 
THE HARE AND THE FOX 45 
 
 mass of rocks. He stretched himself on his back 
 in the bottom of a ravine, where there was a little 
 running brook, his four paws in the air and his 
 mouth wide open, as if he were dead. Soon a 
 blackbird flew down upon him from a tree, hop- 
 ing to regale himself. But the make-believe 
 snapped it up quickly and strangled it. He hid 
 it in a bush, went a little farther, and stretched 
 himself under an old oak, and pretended to be 
 dead again. After a while a gray raven passed 
 by, crying, Oak! oak! and seeing a dead fox, 
 lighted on him, and was caught like the black- 
 bird. 
 
 Then the fox also took the fruit of his search 
 to the hare, who immediately set about preparing 
 the ointment. And when it was finished he said 
 to the bear, — 
 
 "Come, bear, stand your master 011 his feet 
 and keep him in that position." 
 
 The bear stood Hervé's body up. 
 
 "Now, then, put his head in its place." 
 
 The bear took his head, and put it on facing the 
 wrong way. 
 
 "Idiot! see what you are doing!" 
 
 Then the hare himself put it on in the right 
 way, rubbed the wound and the whole body with 
 his ointment, and the head grew again on the 
 neck, life returned little by little to the whole 
 body, Hervé opened his eyes, rubbed them as one 
 
46 FRENCH FAIRY TALES 
 
 does on awaking, and said, "How well I have 
 slept!" Then looking round and seeing only 
 the hare, the fox, and the bear, — 
 
 "Where is the princess?" he asked. 
 
 The hare told him all that had happened and 
 he was greatly astonished. But the disappear- 
 ance of the princess vexed him very much. 
 
 "Be comforted," said the hare to him, "we will 
 find her again." 
 
 The charcoal-burner carried her back to her 
 father, the king of England, and claimed to be 
 her deliverer and the conqueror of the dragon. 
 The old king had promised the hand of his daugh- 
 ter to the man who should deliver her from the 
 monster, whoever he might be. But the prin- 
 cess, who knew the treachery of the charcoal- 
 burner, refuses to take him for her husband, and 
 declares it is not he to whom she owes her life, 
 although the impostor shows the seven heads of 
 the dragon which he has cut off and brought 
 with him in a sack. He has the heads, but the 
 heads have no tongues in them, for "I cut them 
 out myself and here they are." Then he showed 
 them where he had put them in a corner of the 
 grotto, adding: "In spite of the resistance of the 
 princess, her father, finding the proofs quite 
 sufficient, and wishing to keep his word, has fixed 
 to-morrow for the wedding. We have then no 
 time to lose, and we must set off at once." So 
 
THE HARE AND THE FOX 47 
 
 they all four started out on the road to London. 
 Hervé was on horseback, having in the croup 
 the tongues of the dragon in a bag; the hare, the 
 fox, and the bear followed him. 
 
 They stopped in a small wood near the king's 
 palace, and the hare said to his companions, "You 
 three remain here, and I will go and see what is 
 going on in the king's palace." 
 
 Then he crept into the palace and went even 
 into the dining-hall, where they were at table 
 when he arrived. There had been feasting and 
 rejoicing every day since the return of the king's 
 daughter ; not only at the palace, but in the whole 
 city. 
 
 The charcoal-burner was betrothed to the prin- 
 cess, and although she steadily refused to take 
 him for her husband, the marriage was to take 
 place the next day. 
 
 "Look! look! a hare!" cried the guests, aston- 
 ished. 
 
 The servants w r ent in pursuit of it and tried to 
 catch it. About to be overtaken, he jumped into 
 the princess's lap, and said in a low voice, — 
 
 "It is I ! Hervé is still alive and loves you 
 always!" 
 
 "What! is it you, poor animal?" 
 
 And she embraced him and gave him some 
 sweetmeats. 
 
 The charcoal-burner, seeing this, cried, — 
 
4 8 FRENCH FAIRY TALES 
 
 "Drive it away, this ugly beast." 
 
 "What harm has he done?" said the princess, 
 wrapping the hare in the skirt of her gown. 
 
 "Drive it away quickly, I tell you; it is an in- 
 famous sorcerer." 
 
 "A sorcerer?" cried the old king, much fright- 
 ened. 
 
 "A sorcerer! put him out the door at once!" 
 
 And the servants, armed with brooms and 
 sticks, set to work to drive away the hare. 
 
 But the latter leaped lightly through the win- 
 dow, and rejoined his companions in the woods. 
 
 The charcoal-burner urged the old king to have 
 the marriage take place the next morning. But 
 the princess cried and implored her father so con- 
 stantly that the ceremony was deferred to the 
 day after. 
 
 The hare had told Hervé, as well as the fox 
 and the bear, what was going on at the palace. 
 
 "I, too, will go there to-morrow," said the fox. 
 
 "Take care you are not caught," said the hare. 
 
 "Fear nothing, and be sure that I shall not 
 return without having had a taste of the feast and 
 bringing you your share also." 
 
 So the fox set out the next day, as he had said, 
 at the hour for dinner. He also got well into the 
 dining-hall; but as soon as the charcoal-burner 
 saw him he rose and cried out,— 
 
 "See! the wicked sorcerer has come back again. 
 
THE HARE AND THE FOX 49 
 
 Drive him out at once, or something dreadful 
 will happen to us!" 
 
 Then all the servants hunted down the poor 
 animal with brooms and sticks. 
 
 He leaped on the table, passed near the prin- 
 cess, and said to her, "To-morrow we will all 
 come; Hervé, the hare, the bear, and I." Then 
 he jumped through the window. As he passed 
 through the court he snapped up a hen and ran 
 off with her to the wood. 
 
 The next day the whole little company, Hervé, 
 the hare, the fox and the bear, went to the pal- 
 ace. The bear marched at the head, carrying 
 Hervé on his back. The others followed, and 
 thus made their way into the banquet hall. 
 
 Every one wished to escape from this sight, 
 the charcoal-burner first of all. But Hervé, 
 raising his hand, said, — 
 
 "Stay! let no one go out for a moment, or he 
 will have to deal with my friend here." And 
 he pulled the bear's ear, who growled. 
 
 "Do you believe, sire, that it is this ugly char- 
 coal-burner here, this impostor, who has delivered 
 your daughter from the dragon, and are you will- 
 ing to give him your daughter's hand?" 
 
 "I am a man of my word," said the king. 
 
 "Very well! the man who delivered your 
 daughter from the monster is not this charcoal- 
 burner; it is I who have done it with the aid of 
 
So FRENCH FAIRY TALES 
 
 my friends;" and he pointed to his three an- 
 imals. 
 
 The charcoal-burner was white as the cloth be- 
 fore him. 
 
 "He has given us his proofs," replied the king; 
 "he brought us the seven heads of the dragon." 
 
 "Very well; let me see these heads and I will 
 expose the fraud." 
 
 The king ordered the dragon's heads to be 
 brought, and a servant emptied them from a bag 
 on the flags of the hall. 
 
 "Open their mouths," said Hervé then, "and 
 see if they have tongues." 
 
 The same servant opened the jaws of the seven 
 heads, one after the other, and not one had a 
 tongue; all had been cut out. 
 
 "Where are the tongues?" said the king. 
 
 "Here they are," said Hervé, throwing them 
 on the table. 
 
 "Yes, it is indeed he who is my deliverer, and 
 who shall be my husband!" cried the princess, 
 throwing herself on Hervé's neck. 
 
 Seeing that everything was going against him, 
 the charcoal-burner wanted to go out, but the 
 bear stopped the way. 
 
 Then the old king, addressing his servants, 
 said angrily, — 
 
 "Seize this impostor and let him be burned!" 
 
 And they built an enormous pile of fagots, set 
 
THE HARE AND THE FOX 51 
 
 it on fire, and threw the charcoal-burner into the 
 midst of the flames. Then Hervé married the 
 princess and they had holidays and magnificent 
 banquets. 
 
 Told by Margaret Philip, of Pluzunet, 1873. 
 
 F. M. Luzel. 
 
PAPA TIGER AND PAPA SHEEP 
 
 A CREOLE STORY 
 
 ALONG, long time ago the sheep was 
 feared by all the animals on the savannas, 
 and in the great forests. When he 
 passed along the road, walking slowly, his face 
 grave and stern, with his long white beard and 
 his curved horns, it was frightful, and the an- 
 imals who met him saluted him politely, then 
 ran away as fast as their legs could carry them. 
 Had he ever eaten any of his neighbors? The 
 gossips of the country dared not say so posi- 
 tively, but he looked so terrible, that, as they say, 
 it is better to believe it than to go to see. By 
 degrees, from hearing it said that he was to be 
 feared, he finally came to believe it entirely him- 
 self. Once when he was stooping over a brook 
 to drink, he saw his image in the stream, and 
 jumped three feet back, frightened at the sight 
 of his beard and his horns. 
 
 A Tiger, which lived not far from Papa 
 Sheep's hut, plucked up all his courage one day, 
 and determined to make a formal visit to his 
 neighbor. He took with him his son, a little 
 
 52 
 
PAPA TIGER AND PAPA SHEEP 53 
 
 tiger already able to walk about. As far off as 
 he could see P.apa Sheep, he saluted him very 
 humbly, and when he came near he asked after 
 his family. 
 
 "Neighbor, I have come to pay my respects to 
 you, and my wife would have been pleased to pay 
 her compliments to Madam Sheep if she had not 
 been kept at home by indisposition." 
 
 Papa Sheep invited Papa Tiger to come into 
 his house. While the two fathers conversed 
 gravely on the affairs of the country, little Tiger 
 went to play in the garden with little Sheep. 
 
 "Be very polite to little Sheep," said his father 
 to him, "or else he will eat you." 
 
 So the two children began to play together; 
 after a moment or so little Tiger jumped on 
 little Sheep and threw him down head over heels. 
 Then little Sheep laughed. 
 
 "Bless me! what little teeth you have!" said 
 little Tiger to him. 
 
 "It is so with all my family; Papa's are all 
 like mine," said little Sheep. 
 
 This remark made little Tiger reflect; and 
 when the visit was over, and father and son had 
 left their hosts, little Tiger scarcely waited for 
 Papa Sheep to shut the door before he said to his 
 father, — 
 
 "Papa, Papa, little Sheep has very small teeth, 
 and he told me that his father's were no longer 
 than his own." 
 
54 FRENCH FAIRY TALES 
 
 "Hold your tongue, hold your tongue, you 
 rascal; if Papa Sheep should hear us, he would 
 eat us both up." 
 
 Papa Tiger resolved, however, to know the 
 truth of this matter. Certainly, Papa Sheep 
 had seemed to him very fat, and only the thought 
 of it made him lick his moustaches. But how 
 could he see Papa Sheep's teeth? This was not 
 easy. Papa Sheep scarcely ever opened his 
 mouth to speak, and his beard entirely covered 
 his lower lip and chin. However, the oppor- 
 tunity came to the Tiger as it does to all those 
 who know how to wait. The day that Papa 
 Sheep and his son returned his visit, while the 
 children were playing outside, he was exceedingly 
 polite to Sheep, and gave him a bottle of his 
 best wine, then a second, and a third. Papa 
 Sheep became extremely gay, and losing his seri- 
 ousness, he opened his mouth wide so as to en- 
 joy his laugh. Then Papa Tiger saw his guest's 
 little teeth. Without hesitation he jumped on 
 the Sheep and throttled him. Hearing his 
 father scream, little Sheep ran off as fast as he 
 could, and reached his home before the Tiger, 
 excited over his first prey, had thought of fol- 
 lowing him. 
 
 All day long there were nothing but tears and 
 groanings in the Sheep's hut. Mamma Sheep 
 and her son cried until it was a pity to hear them. 
 
PAPA TIGER AND PAPA SHEEP 55 
 
 Hearing the noise they made, the Queen of the 
 Birds came flying from the great forest near by, 
 and lighting on the roof of the hut, she asked 
 Mamma Sheep the cause of her grief. 
 
 "Alas! kind lady, Papa Tiger has eaten up 
 my poor husband ! My child and I do not dare 
 to go out, for he will come prowling around here 
 to eat us also." 
 
 Touched by her grief, the Queen of the Birds 
 consoled her as well as she could, and promised 
 her a complete revenge. Then with a few flaps 
 of her wings she soon reached the neighboring 
 forest. All the birds of the great forest re- 
 sponded to her appeal ; the large Aras, with their 
 brilliant plumage; the Cockatoos, with their 
 white crests; thousands of emerald Paroquets, 
 with coral beaks; little scarlet and green Hum- 
 ming-birds, looking like precious stones, to which 
 God had given wings. The Queen told them of 
 the death of Papa Sheep. "Let us swear to 
 avenge our good neighbor," cried she, "We 
 swear it!" squalled, whistled, and screamed the 
 birds, each in his own language. 
 
 At this deafening noise, the Alligators ran to 
 hide themselves in the high grass, the Boas and 
 Rattlesnakes ran hastily into the hollows of the 
 trees. 
 
 "Be confident!" said the Queen of the Birds. 
 "To-morrow is Sunday; I will give a great feast 
 
56 FRENCH FAIRY TALES 
 
 in the forest. As soon as high mass is over I 
 wish all the birds of the forest to assemble. My 
 pretty Paroquets, fly around and give the invita- 
 tions. Get everything ready for the feast; be 
 prompt at the appointed hour, and obey me in 
 everything. I will fly over myself and invite 
 Papa Tiger." 
 
 Flattered by the visit of the Queen of the 
 Birds, Papa Tiger promised to come to the great 
 ball in the forest. He put on his finest clothes, 
 curled his moustache, and before setting out he 
 kissed his wife on her lips, and his son on his two 
 cheeks. 
 
 As soon as they saw him come the Queen of 
 the Birds cried to all her subjects, — 
 
 "Take your places quickly, form the quadrilles, 
 and let each one of you begin to dance, hiding his 
 head under his wing. Music, play!" 
 
 And the orchestra played, — 
 
 "Tig, tig, malinboin 
 La chelema che tango 
 
 Redj oum 
 La chelema che tango!" 
 
 The Queen of the Birds flew down before 
 Papa Tiger, and bade him welcome. How 
 splendid the feast was! Papa Tiger was daz- 
 zled by it! Long lines of birds with rich plum- 
 age placed themselves opposite each other. "The 
 
PAPA TIGER AND PAPA SHEEP 57 
 
 quadrille is beginning now," said the Queen; 
 "you shall be my cavalier." Papa Tiger stood 
 up beside his partner, and the orchestra played, — 
 
 "Tig, tig, malinboin 
 La chelema che tango 
 
 Redj oum 
 La chelema che tango !" 
 
 At once the birds, their heads under their 
 wings, began to dance to the music. The Queen 
 also hid her head, and when Papa Tiger, proud, 
 a»nd marching with his head high, was about to 
 make the first turn, she cried, — 
 
 "But, Papa Tiger, you don't understand! It 
 is the custom at my court, that in order to take 
 part in the dance, you must have no head. Look 
 at all my invited guests; they would consider 
 they had been wanting in the manners of distin- 
 guished society, indeed, in the simplest polite- 
 ness, if they dared raise their heads before their 
 sovereign. So, my friend, do as they do, and 
 you will then be able to move with distinction in 
 the quadrille of the Queen of the Birds." 
 
 Papa Tiger blushed red with shame. 
 
 "My Queen," he cried, "I beg your pardon 
 humbly for this breach of etiquette. I am a 
 wild hunter, accustomed to pass entire nights on 
 the watch, and I am ignorant of the customs of 
 courts. Kindly promise me a quadrille and I 
 
58 FRENCH FAIRY TALES 
 
 will return in a moment in the attitude that you 
 require." 
 
 With a few bounds Papa Tiger was at home. 
 He said to his wife, — 
 
 "My wife, in order to have the honor of danc- 
 ing with the Queen of the Birds, it is essential 
 to have no head; I saw all the guests dancing in 
 that condition. It is the etiquette of the court. 
 Take this axe and cut off my head." 
 
 "You have lost it already, my poor husband," 
 said Mamma Tiger. "Instead of dancing with 
 Queens, you would do better to stay at home with 
 your wife and children. I do not like husbands 
 who leave their wives in the lurch and pass the 
 night at balls." 
 
 "If you do not obey me," growled the Tiger, 
 in a rage at being scolded by his wife, "I will 
 strangle you this moment." 
 
 Then Mamma Tiger seized the axe, and with 
 one blow cut off her husband's head. It killed 
 him outright, as you may imagine. 
 
 Two Paroquets, waiting in ambush, flew off 
 rapidly to carry the news of the Tiger's death to 
 the Queen of the Birds. Then the birds all took 
 their heads from under their wings ; all the beasts 
 of the forest were brought in; each of them 
 wished in his turn to embrace Mamma Sheep and 
 her son. After that, they formed a line to dance 
 and the orchestra began to play : — 
 
PAPA TIGER AND PAPA SHEEP 59 
 
 "Tig, tig, malinboin 
 La chelema che tango 
 
 Red j oum 
 La chelema che tango !" 
 
 It would be impossible to tell you how they 
 leaped, how they fluttered ! At last it was neces- 
 sary to go away, for everything comes to an end 
 in this lower world; but before doing so, they 
 took up a collection and gave the money to little 
 Sheep and his mother. 
 
 Sheep, and you children who hear me. let the 
 death of Papa S'heep be a lesson to you ; it is bet- 
 ter not to open your mouth than to laugh with 
 people you know nothing about. 
 
 Loys Bruyère. 
 
JOHN BIT-OF-A-MAN 
 
 A STORY OF THE DISTRICT OF METZ 
 
 ONCE there was a woman who had a little 
 son who was extremely small; so very 
 small that she named him John Bit-of- 
 a-man. One day she called him to her and 
 said, — 
 
 "Come, take this to your father who is work- 
 ing down there in the fields, and when you get 
 to him, say: 'See, father! here is your buttered 
 roll!'" 
 
 "I will, mother," said John Bit-of-a-man ; and 
 all along the way he repeated the words so as not 
 to forget them: "See, father! here is your but- 
 tered roll; see, father! here is your buttered roll!" 
 
 When he reached his father, who was occupied 
 in repairing the ditches, he took up his refrain: 
 "See, father! here is your buttered roll." 
 
 The good man, hearing some one speak, looked 
 around him on every side, but saw no one ; at last, 
 however, he spied little John Bit-of-a-man in 
 the grass at his feet. 
 
 "Ah!" said he, "it is you, is it? What do you 
 
 want?" 
 
 6q 
 
JOHN BIT-OF-A-MAN 61 
 
 "I have brought you a buttered roll," said 
 John Bit-of-a-man. 
 
 "You are very good, my child, to bring me this 
 buttered roll;" and taking it in his hands he ate 
 it all up, without offering John Bit-of-a-man a 
 mite. 
 
 "The glutton! he did not give me any! The 
 glutton! he did not give me any!" groaned John 
 Bit-of-a-man. 
 
 Some time after that, a lord passed by. He 
 called to the laborer, "You have a pretty little 
 boy; will you sell him to me?" 
 
 "I will, gladly." 
 
 "How much will you take?" 
 
 "A hundred crowns." 
 
 "A hundred crowns you shall have." 
 
 The bargain concluded, the lord put John Bit- 
 of-a-man in his pocket and went on his way. At 
 the end of an hour, the child put his head out of 
 the pocket and begged his master to put him 
 down on the ground for a moment as he felt faint. 
 The lord was good enough to listen to him, and 
 in a moment John Bit-of-a-man glided under a 
 heap of leaves and his master could not find him. 
 John Bit-of-a-man, being free once more, went 
 back to his father. 
 
 A few days after that, the lord again passed 
 by the laborer, who was still repairing the ditches. 
 "You have a pretty little boy there," said he; 
 "will you sell him to me?" 
 
62 FRENCH FAIRY TALES 
 
 "I will, gladly." 
 
 "How much will you take?" 
 
 "A hundred crowns." 
 
 "A hundred crowns you shall have." 
 
 The bargain concluded, the lord clapped John 
 Bit-of-a-man into his pocket. At the end of an 
 hour the child put his head out of the pocket and 
 begged his master to put him down on the ground 
 awhile as he felt cramped. 
 
 "Well, stay in my pocket and be cramped!" 
 said the lord, who remembered how he had been 
 caught before. 
 
 When he reached his castle, he took John Bit- 
 of-a-man out of his pocket and put him in a 
 basket which he suspended from the kitchen ceil- 
 ing, and told him to watch everything he saw go- 
 ing on, and tell him faithfully all that he saw. 
 
 John Bit-of-a-man agreed to do this, and each 
 day he told his master all that he saw and heard. 
 
 One day our hero leaned his little head over 
 the edge of the basket, so he could see around 
 him, and a servant saw him and said to him, — 
 
 "So it is you who watch us, you little wretch! 
 It is you who tell the master all that happens! 
 Very well! you shall pay for it!" 
 
 Amid the applause of his companions, the ser- 
 vant took down the basket, seized the poor little 
 fellow by the hair, and threw him into the horse- 
 trough. That same day an ox went there to 
 drink, and swallowed him whole. 
 
JOHN BIT-OF-A-MAN 63 
 
 At the end of a week, the lord had the ox killed 
 for a great feast that he made ; the entrails were 
 thrown out into the road. An old woman pass- 
 ing by saw the entrails. "Qh! what splendid 
 entrails! What a pity to throw them away!" 
 and so saying, she clapped them into the basket 
 which she carried on her back. She had not 
 taken many steps, when she heard a noise that 
 came from her basket saying, — 
 
 "Toe ! toe ! 
 The devil's imp is in your basket ! 
 
 Toe ! toe ! 
 The devil's imp is in your basket !" 
 
 The old woman threw down her basket, and ran 
 away frightened. 
 
 A hungry wolf came along who seized on the 
 entrails with avidity, and John Bit-of-a-man was 
 once more swallowed alive. 
 
 As the wolf was crossing the plain, he heard a 
 voice which came from the inside of his body 
 cry out, — 
 
 "Help! shepherd! help! here is the wolf that 
 devours your sheep." 
 
 "Be quiet! you cursed stomach; be quiet! 
 cursed stomach!" said the wolf in desperation. 
 
 "I will not hold my tongue until you have put 
 me down at my father's door," answered John 
 Bit-of-a-man. 
 
 "Very well; I will go there," said the wolf. 
 
64 FRENCH FAIRY TALES 
 
 When they got there, John Bit-of-a-man got 
 out of the wolf's stomach, and ran quickly into 
 the house, passing by the cat's hole ; at the same 
 moment, seizing the wolf by the tail, he cried, 
 "Come, father, come, I have got the wolf by the 
 tail." His father ran to him, killed the wolf 
 with one stroke of his axe, and sold his skin. 
 
 Restored to his home again, John Bit-of-a-man 
 lived ever after happy and peaceful. 
 
 Told by Madam Richet, aged 77, at Woippy, near Metz. 
 
 Nérée Quepat. 
 
LONG TIME 
 
 A STORY OF C ARA Y AC (QUERCY) 
 
 ONCE upon a time there was a man who 
 was not rich, but by dint of hard work 
 he had saved up a little sum. Every 
 day when he went to his work, he said to his 
 wife, — 
 
 "Take care of this money. It is for the long 
 time." 
 
 The woman, as soon as he was gone, would 
 take pleasure in counting over the crowns and 
 the sous. One day when she was alone in her 
 house, counting her money as usual, a beggar 
 came by and asked her for charity. 
 
 "Alas! poor man," said she, "we are very poor; 
 I have nothing to give you." 
 
 "What!" said he, "and all those beautiful 
 crowns and those sous that you have there! 
 Could you not give me some of those for char- 
 ity?" 
 
 "I wish I could," said the woman, "but we are 
 keeping this for the long time." 
 
 "The long time?" said the beggar; "I am the 
 long time." 
 
66 FRENCH FAIRY TALES 
 
 "Ah! if you are the long time, that is another 
 thing. Take some, take some." 
 
 The beggar, not at all ashamed, pocketed the 
 whole sum, leaving not a farthing or a mite, and 
 went away satisfied with his windfall, as you may 
 imagine. 
 
 The husband returned. "Long Time came," 
 said the wife, "and I gave him the money that 
 we saved for him." 
 
 "Long Time? you miserable baggage!" 
 
 "Yes; a poor man who told me that he was 
 Long Time. I have given him all." 
 
 "Ah! poor dunce! you let him steal the sav- 
 ings from you. Come, there is nothing left for 
 us to do, but take a wallet and go out ourselves 
 and beg from village to village. Take your 
 clothes and let us go forth." 
 
 The husband had nothing but what he had on, 
 the wife not much more. He went in front, she 
 followed. 
 
 "Shut the door tight," said the husband. 
 
 "Did you say carry it?" 
 
 "I said shut it." 
 
 "Shall I carry it?" 
 
 "Yes, carry it." 
 
 The obedient wife took the door off the hinges, 
 put it on her shoulders, and followed her husband 
 towards the neighboring wood. 
 
 Night came on. They heard the noise of a 
 
KZ^tzJW. 
 
 i.lmiljylJBII ' - ■* 
 
 THE OBEDIENT WIFE FOLLOWED. 
 
LONG TIME 67 
 
 band of robbers, who were coming in their direc- 
 tion. "Let us climb up into a tree to hide," said 
 the husband. 
 
 "What shall I do with the door?" asked his 
 wife. 
 
 "The door? Leave it there." 
 
 "Shall I take it up?" 
 
 "Leave it there." 
 
 "Shall I take it up?" 
 
 "Yes, take it up." 
 
 She climbed up after her husband into a large 
 old spreading oak-tree, dragging the door after 
 her. They were scarcely settled in the branches 
 when the robbers arrived at the foot of the tree, 
 made a halt, opened their provisions, lighted a 
 fire, prepared their supper, counted the booty 
 they had taken during the day, and then began 
 to eat and drink. 
 
 The wife, from the top branch, said in a low 
 voice to her husband, — 
 
 "The door is going to fall!" 
 
 "Hold on to it, you miserable baggage, or we 
 are lost." 
 
 "Shall I let it go?" 
 
 "Hold on to it!" 
 
 "Shall I let it go?" 
 
 "Yes, let it go." 
 
 The woman let go the door, which tumbled 
 with a great crash from branch to branch, and fell 
 
68 FRENCH FAIRY TALES 
 
 into the midst of the robbers and frightened them 
 so that they ran away as fast as they could, for- 
 getting all their plunder and never looking be- 
 hind them. 
 
 The husband and wife came down, picked up 
 the jewels, the pieces of gold, and all the booty 
 left by the robbers, and returned to their house, 
 rich for the rest of their lives. 
 
 Marcel Devic. 
 
SKILFUL JOHN 
 
 A STORY OF PICARDY 
 
 NE day a poor man sent his son, Skil- 
 ful John, to carry some buttered rolls 
 to his parents, who lived three miles 
 off, telling him not to stop by the way. John 
 sauntered along the road and lost his waj^. See- 
 ing a light, he followed it and came to a little 
 hut. He knocked at the door. 
 
 "Tap ! tap ! 
 Open to a poor lost boy. 
 
 Tap ! tap ! 
 God therefor will have great joy." 
 
 The door opened; an old woman with a grin- 
 ning face appeared and asked, "Who are you?" 
 "I am Skilful John; will you lodge me for the 
 night?" 
 
 "If I lodge you, what will you pay me?" 
 "I will give you a piece of buttered roll." 
 The old woman made him come in; he seated 
 himself in a corner while the old woman made 
 him some broth. 
 
 "I bet," said she to him after a few moments, 
 
70 FRENCH FAIRY TALES 
 
 "that with my old legs I can reach my garden 
 wall before you do. If I win, I will eat your 
 buttered roll; and if I lose, you shall keep your 
 roll, and have my broth into the bargain." 
 
 "Very well," said the child; and, darting out, 
 he soon reached the garden wall. But the old 
 woman, instead of running, shut and bolted her 
 door and took possession of the buttered roll that 
 John had left on his bench. John knocked in 
 vain; the door was not opened for him a second 
 time ; and as it was raining very hard, he got into 
 a bee-hive. In the middle of the night some 
 thieves came to steal the hives. John heard a 
 voice say, — 
 
 "Lift the hives, and take away the heaviest." 
 
 As the hive in which John was, was one of the 
 heaviest, it was taken away by the thieves, who 
 put it in a bag. 
 
 When the thieves came to a wood, they put 
 down their burdens, John took his knife, made a 
 hole in the bag and escaped. 
 
 After wandering for some time, he met a shep- 
 herd who gave him a piece of bread, and took 
 him afterwards to sleep in the barn of a farm- 
 house. During the night the floor fell in, and 
 John woke up in a stable astride of an ox. Just 
 at that moment the thieves were busy unfasten- 
 ing the oxen; seeing John, they took him and 
 carried him away with them to the forest. Not 
 
SKILFUL JOHN 71 
 
 wishing to kill him, they shut him up in an old 
 cask and abandoned him to his unhappy fate. A 
 pack of wolves came up to devour the remains of 
 the thieves' repast: one of them passed near the 
 cask. John put his hand out of the bung-hole 
 and seized him by his tail. The frightened wolf 
 fled through the woods, dragging behind him the 
 cask, which was soon broken into a thousand 
 pieces. John, once more set free, went wander- 
 ing around till he came to a hut. It was the 
 same old woman's hut. Its door was only 
 latched. John entered softly; the old woman, 
 who was asleep, did not hear him. He took his 
 buttered roll and ate all there was left of the 
 broth, then went out singing as loud as he 
 could, — 
 
 "Old woman! old woman! 
 I have eaten your broth. 
 Old woman ! old woman ! 
 I am sharp enough !" 
 
 Told in Picardy by Narcisse Dufaux, aged 48 years, a 
 cap-maker at Warloy-Baillon (Somme). 
 
 Henri Carnoy. 
 
THE TAILOR AND THE 
 HURRICANE 
 
 A BRETON STORY 
 
 ONCE there was a tailor and his wife. 
 Tailors' wives are generally lazy, and 
 this one was like the rest. Her name 
 was Jeanne ar Balc'h and her husband's name 
 was Iann troad scarbet (John Cross-foot). In 
 the morning, as soon as Jean had gone out to 
 his work, Jeanne got back into bed, and when 
 she rose again, about eleven or twelve o'clock, 
 she went to gossip in the village, and chatted from 
 door to door like a magpie. When Jean re- 
 turned in the evening she was always at her spin- 
 ning-wheel; so he thought she had not left it the 
 whole day. 
 
 One morning Jean said to Jeanne, — 
 "I shall not go out to-day, wife, for a day's 
 work, and we will both go together to the market 
 to sell the yarn; for you must have a great deal 
 by this time." 
 
 Jeanne was greatly embarrassed at this; what 
 should she do? She had not three bobbins of 
 yarn. She went to the house of a neighboring 
 
 gossip, and told how it was. 
 
 72 
 
THE TAILOR AND THE HURRICANE 73 
 
 "Tell your husband," said the gossip, "that 
 after having washed your thread, you had put it 
 to dry in the oven of the furnace, and that he, 
 not knowing of it, lighted the fire as usual and 
 burned up all the thread." 
 
 Jeanne returned to her house, and told her hus- 
 band, word for word, what the gossip said. 
 
 "Fool!" cried Jean angrily; "you must have 
 lost the little sense you had, and I shall never 
 be anything but poor with you. Now, to pun- 
 ish you, you shall sow in the garden the half- 
 bushel of flaxseed that we have there; and this 
 evening when I come home, the flax must be ripe, 
 reaped, retted, dried, and put in bundles in the 
 barn." 
 
 "But my poor husband," said Jeanne, "how 
 can you talk in such a way? No one in the world 
 can do this; and how can you expect me to do 
 it?" 
 
 "You may manage it as you like," answered 
 Jean; "but it must be done when I come back 
 this evening, or woe to you!" 
 
 Then he went away as usual. Jeanne, mucli 
 disturbed, ran at once to the house of her gos- 
 siping neighbor. 
 
 "If you only knew, neighbor, what my hus- 
 band has ordered me to do! He must have lost 
 his senses completely." 
 
 "What has he ordered you to do?" 
 
74 FRENCH FAIRY TALES 
 
 "What has he ordered me to do? He says 
 that this evening when he turns from his day's 
 work, I must have sown in our garden a half- 
 hushel of flaxseed, and that, moreover, the flax 
 must be ripe, reaped, retted, dried, and put in 
 bundles in the barn! I should like to know if 
 you do not think he must have lost his senses to 
 ask such an impossible thing of me?" And she 
 cried as she said this. 
 
 "Be comforted, neighbor," said the other 
 woman; "we will find out some way of deceiving 
 Jean yet; he thinks himself cunning, but he is 
 only a fool. This is what you must do. I have 
 a little flax in my barn from last year. Take 
 two or three bundles of it, and scatter it over the 
 fields and meadows around, and hang some on 
 the hedges and bushes, and when he returns in 
 the evening, you can tell him that you have done 
 all that he ordered you, but that a hurricane came 
 while the flax was drying in the meadow, and car- 
 ried it all away; and as a proof of this you can 
 show him what is left hanging on the trees and 
 bushes." 
 
 This appeared to Jeanne to be an excellent 
 plan; so she took three bundles of her neighbor's 
 dry flax, and went and scattered it over the fields 
 and meadows, and hung it on the bushes and the 
 branches of the trees. 
 
 When Jean returned in the evening he asked at 
 once, — 
 
THE TAILOR AND THE HURRICANE 75 
 
 "Well, wife, have you done what I told you, 
 this morning?" 
 
 "Certainly, I did just exactly what you told 
 me; but we have no luck, my poor husband." 
 
 "Well, what has happened?" 
 
 "What has happened? Think of it! The 
 flax, after being taken out of the pond where it 
 had been retted, was drying in the meadow, and 
 I was getting ready to pick it up and bind it in 
 bundles to put it up in the barn, when a hurricane 
 came which has carried it all away." 
 
 "Tut, tut, tut! I do not believe any such 
 stories," said Jean. 
 
 "But, my husband, this is not a story at all; 
 come with me and I will show you that it is the 
 pure truth." 
 
 And she led him to the field, where she pre- 
 tended to have spread her flax to dry, and showed 
 it to him, scattered all over the neighboring fields 
 and meadows, or hanging on the bushes and 
 branches of the trees. 
 
 Jean believed her then, and he exclaimed, — 
 
 "Very well! since it is the hurricane that has 
 done all this damage, it is he that shall pay for 
 it, and I will go this moment and complain to 
 the master of the winds." 
 
 Then he went into his house, took his pennbaz, 
 a taste of barley bread and some buttered rolls, 
 and started off. He traveled a long time; after 
 
76 FRENCH FAIRY TALES 
 
 going straight ahead, farther and farther off, he 
 came, one day, to the foot of a hill on which 
 there was seated an old woman as large as a 
 giantess. Her white hair floated in the wind, 
 and one long, black tooth, the only one she had 
 left, shook in her mouth. 
 
 "Good morning, grandmother!" said Jean. 
 
 "Good morning, my son," answered the old 
 woman; "what do you want?" 
 
 "I am looking for the dwelling-place of the 
 winds." 
 
 "Then, my son, you are at the end of your 
 journey, for this is the dwelling-place of the 
 winds, and I am their mother. What do you 
 want with them?" 
 
 "I want to complain of the damage they have 
 caused me." 
 
 "What damage have they caused you? Tell 
 me, and I will repay you if it is possible." 
 
 "Your son Hurricane has ruined me"; and he 
 told the whole affair to the old woman. 
 
 She said to him, "Come into my house, my son, 
 and when my son the Hurricane returns I will 
 make him repay you." 
 
 And she then descended the hill and took Jean 
 to her house, which was at the foot of it. It was 
 a hut built of branches and clods of earth, and 
 the wind came in and blew through and through 
 it. She gave him something to eat, and told him 
 
THE TAILOR AND THE HURRICANE 77 
 
 not to be afraid of her son, when he returned, 
 although he might threaten to eat him up, for she 
 would know very well how to manage him. 
 
 Soon a terrible noise was heard; the trees 
 cracked, small stones flew through the air, and 
 the wolves howled. 
 
 "That is my son the Hurricane, coming," said 
 the old woman. 
 
 Jean was so terribly frightened that he hid 
 himself under the table. The Hurricane came 
 in muttering, sniffing the air, and cried out, — 
 
 "I smell the blood of a Christian! There is a 
 Christian here, and I must eat him up !" 
 
 "Do not think, my son, that I am going to let 
 you eat up this pretty little Christian; think 
 rather of repaying him for the damage you have 
 done him," said the old woman; and, taking Jean 
 by the hand, she made him come out from under 
 the table. 
 
 The Hurricane, as soon as he saw him, opened 
 his enormous mouth, and sprang at him to swal- 
 low him. But his mother said to him, pointing 
 with her finger to a bag which was hanging from 
 one of the beams of the hut, — 
 
 "Do you want to be put in prison?" And he 
 became calm immediately. Then the tailor 
 grew bold and said to him, — 
 
 "Good morning, Mr. Hurricane; you have 
 ruined me." 
 
78 FRENCH FAIRY TALES 
 
 "How is that, my good man?" answered the 
 Hurricane gently. 
 
 "You carried away all my flax from the 
 meadow where my wife had spread it to dry." 
 
 "That is not true; and your wife is a liar and 
 a good-for-nothing creature. But as you are an 
 honest man and a good workman, and because 
 in spite of all the trouble you take you will al- 
 ways be poor with such a wife, I will reward you 
 for the trouble you have taken in coming here, 
 and for your confidence in my justice. See ! here 
 is a mule, and when you are in want of silver and 
 gold you have only to spread a white napkin 
 under his mouth and say to him, 'Mule, do your 
 duty!' and he will furnish you with gold and 
 silver as much as you want. But take care not 
 to let him be stolen from you, or you will find 
 yourself poor as before." 
 
 Then the Hurricane gave him a mule which 
 was in a corner of a hut, and which was not at 
 all different from an ordinary mule. The tailor 
 thanked the Hurricane, bade farewell to him and 
 also to his mother, and then went away, taking 
 with him the precious animal. 
 
 When he had gone a considerable distance, as 
 he was crossing a large field, he wished to assure 
 himself that his mule really possessed the virtue 
 which had been attributed to him. He spread 
 his handkerchief under his mouth and said, 
 
THE TAILOR AND THE HURRICANE 79 
 
 "Mule, do your duty!" And immediately pieces 
 of gold and silver fell in his handkerchief until it 
 would not hold any more. He filled his pockets 
 with them, then he started again on his way, sing- 
 ing, laughing, dancing, and jumping for joy, as 
 if he were foolish. 
 
 Toward sunset he stopped to pass the night in 
 an inn by the roadside. As he left his mule with 
 the stable-boy, he charged him to take special care 
 of it and never to say to it, "Do your duty." 
 Poor Jean, as we have seen, was none of the 
 sharpest. After having supped comfortably, 
 eaten and drunk of the best there was in the house, 
 he went to bed and slept without anxiety till 
 morning. 
 
 The stable-boy was astonished at Jean's charg- 
 ing him not to say to the mule, "Do your duty" ; 
 no traveler had ever told him such a thing. 
 "There is something back of this," said he to 
 himself. 
 
 This thought kept him from sleeping: he went 
 to tell his master about it. When all the house- 
 hold was asleep, the inn-keeper, his wife, and the 
 stable-boy, went to the stable, and going up to 
 the mule the stable-boy said, — 
 
 "Mule, do your duty!" 
 
 And pieces of gold and silver fell at once, mak- 
 ing a ringing sound. They were overcome with 
 astonishment. After they had all three filled 
 
8o FRENCH FAIRY TALES 
 
 their pockets, they put another mule in place of 
 the tailor's and hid his in a room well fastened 
 up, far from the stable. 
 
 The next day, Jean breakfasted well, paid his 
 reckoning, and then set out again on his journey, 
 taking with him the mule which the stable-boy 
 brought him, and not dreaming of the trick that 
 had been played on him. 
 
 As he had his pockets filled with gold and sil- 
 ver, he had no need, during the rest of his jour- 
 ney, to say to his mule, "Do your duty." 
 
 When he reached his home, his wife and chil- 
 dren were ready to die of hunger. On seeing 
 him, Jeanne began to heap abuses upon him: 
 "So here you are at last, wicked, heartless man; 
 you run off, no one knows where, and leave your 
 wife and children at home to die of hunger.' 1 
 
 And she shook her fist at him. 
 
 "Hold your tongue! wife," said Jean, quietly, 
 and with the air of a man sure of his powers; 
 "you will never again want for bread or any- 
 thing else; we are rich now, as you shall see! 
 Take off your apron and spread it on the ground 
 under the mule's mouth." 
 
 Jeanne spread her apron on the ground and 
 Jean said, — 
 
 "Mule, do your duty!" 
 
 But to his astonishment nothing fell in the 
 apron. He said, a second time, louder than be- 
 fore, thinking perhaps he had not heard, — 
 
THE TAILOR AND THE HURRICANE 81 
 
 "Mule, do your duty!" 
 
 Still nothing; then a third time he cried still 
 louder, — 
 
 "Mule, do your duty!" 
 
 But neither gold nor silver fell on the apron. 
 Jeanne, now persuaded that her husband was 
 mocking her, seized «a stick and darted at him. 
 Poor Jean, to get out of her way, ran out, and 
 not daring to go into his house, and not knowing 
 just where his mule had been stolen, he deter- 
 mined to go again to see the Hurricane. 
 
 When the latter saw him returning all cast 
 down he said to him, — 
 
 "I know why you have come back; you let 
 them steal your mule from you at the first inn 
 where you lodged on your way home. Here is a 
 napkin, and when you spread it on a table or even 
 on the ground, saying to it, 'Napkin, do your 
 duty!' it will furnish you immediately with all 
 you want to eat and drink. But take care not 
 to let this be stolen also." 
 
 "Do not be anxious! they shall steal my life 
 first." 
 
 Then he bade farewell to the Hurricane and 
 his mother and set out on his journey. He 
 lodged, the first night, at the same inn as before. 
 There was a wedding feast going on when he 
 arrived. He was heartily welcomed and asked 
 to sit at the table with the newly married pair, 
 
82 FRENCH FAIRY TALES 
 
 to which he agreed with pleasure. Finding the 
 repast not much to his taste, or perhaps being 
 anxious to excite the astonishment of the guests 
 and to pass for a great scholar or a magician, he 
 drew his napkin from his pocket, spread it on the 
 table, and profoundly uttered the words, "Nap- 
 kin, do your duty!" 
 
 Immediately there was a magnificent repast, 
 delicious meats, such as are seen only on the ta- 
 bles of kings, and fine wines from all countries. 
 Intoxicated, as much by the praises as by the 
 wine, Jean let them steal away his napkin also, 
 and the next day he was as poor and destitute as 
 ever. 
 
 This time he dared not show himself before 
 his wife in such a condition, and. he thought that 
 the only thing he could do was to go again to 
 the home of the mother of the winds. So he 
 went there again, but this time very much 
 ashamed and cast down. 
 
 When the Hurricane saw him, he said to him, — 
 
 "You have let them steal away your napkin 
 also, unfortunate man!" 
 
 "Have pity on me, Mr. Hurricane," said the 
 tailor, humbly; "my wife and my children are 
 dying of hunger at home, and I cannot go back 
 to them without taking them something." 
 
 "I consent to come to your assistance one last 
 time, for you are not a wicked man"; and hand- 
 
THE TAILOR AND THE HURRICANE 83 
 
 ing him a stick — "Here is a stick, and when 
 whoever has it in his hand says, 'Stick, do your 
 duty !' he will immediately begin to beat his mas- 
 ter's enemies, and nothing can stop it until he 
 cries, 'Enough!' With this stick, you can re- 
 cover your mule and your napkin." 
 
 Jean thanked him and departed. He lodged 
 at the same imi as before. They welcomed him 
 in the heartiest manner, in the hope of stealing 
 some other talisman from him. He invited the 
 inn-keeper and his wife and also the stable-boy 
 to supper with him. When the repast was 
 nearly over, he said to his stick, which he had held 
 constantly in his hand, not being willing to be 
 separated from it,— 
 
 "Stick, do your duty!" 
 
 And immediately the stick was in motion and 
 beat the inn-keeper and his wife and the stable- 
 boy with all its might. All their efforts to stop 
 it were useless, and in vain they tried to hide 
 themselves under the table and other things; the 
 stick reached them everywhere, and Jean laughed 
 and made a joke of it. "Pity! Mercy!" they 
 cried to him, and he said to them, — 
 
 "That will teach you to steal mules and nap- 
 kins!" 
 
 "Pity! We will give them all back to you! 
 You will kill us!" 
 
 "Enough!" cried Jean, at the end of half an 
 
84 FRENCH FAIRY TALES 
 
 hour of this exercise ; and the stick stopped strik- 
 ing, and Jean returned to his home with his mule, 
 napkin, and stick. If he has been wise enough 
 to keep them, he has nothing to complain of. 
 For my part I have heard nothing of him since 
 that time. 
 
 Told by Barbe Tassel, of Plouaret (Côtes-du-Nord). 
 
 F. M. Luzel. 
 
THE BAKER'S THREE DAUGHTERS 
 
 OR, 
 
 THE DANCING WATER, THE SINGING APPLE, AND 
 
 THE BIRD OF TRUTH 
 
 THERE was once an old baker who was 
 a widower with three daughters. One 
 evening after supper they sat before the 
 fire talking about their loves. "Whom do you 
 love, oldest sister?" asked the youngest. 
 
 "The king's gardener," she replied. 
 
 "And you?" she asked of the second sister. 
 
 "The king's waiting-man." 
 
 "Very well; as for me, I love the king's son." 
 
 "The king's son! you are joking!" cried the 
 other two. 
 
 "Certainly not, and I tell you, moreover, that 
 we shall have three children, the king's son and 
 I, two boys, each with a gold star on his fore- 
 head, and a daughter with a silver star." 
 
 The father, who had gone to bed, and who 
 overheard the conversation of his daughters, said 
 to them then, — 
 
 "What sort of talk is this? You must be 
 crazy! go to bed at once." 
 
 So the three girls went to bed. 
 85 
 
86 FRENCH FAIRY TALES 
 
 The king's son was taking a walk that even- 
 ing through the village, accompanied by his wait- 
 ing-man and his gardener. A shower came up, 
 and they went under the baker's shed for shelter 
 and overheard the conversation of the three girls. 
 The prince took down the name of the baker, 
 which was on his sign, and the next morning he 
 sent to ask the oldest daughter to come to the 
 palace to speak to him. 
 
 "Do you remember," said he to her, "what you 
 said yesterday evening, beside your fire, in your 
 father's house?" The young girl was very much 
 surprised and frightened. "Do not be afraid, my 
 girl," said he, "speak boldly, for I have heard 
 all; do you remember what you said?" 
 
 "Yes," she replied. 
 
 "And you would be willing to marry my gar- 
 dener?" 
 
 "Yes, certainly." 
 
 "Very well; go home and tell your second sis- 
 ter to come and talk with me." 
 
 When the latter came to the palace, the prince 
 asked of her, as he had done of her elder sister, — 
 
 "Do you remember what you said yesterday 
 evening, beside your fire in your father's house?" 
 
 "Yes, sire, certainly," she replied. 
 
 "And you would be willing to take my wait- 
 ing-man for your husband?" 
 
 "Yes, certainly." 
 
THE BAKER'S DAUGHTERS 87 
 
 "Very well; go home and tell your youngest 
 sister to come also and talk with me." 
 
 The latter came also in her turn, and the prince 
 asked of her, as of the other two, "Do you re- 
 member what you said yesterday evening, by the 
 fireside, in your father's house?" 
 
 "I remember, sire," she replied. 
 
 "And you would be willing to marry me?" 
 
 "Yes, with all my heart." 
 
 "And you would have three children, as you 
 said, two boys, each with a gold star on his fore- 
 head, and a daughter with a silver star?" 
 
 "Yes, as truly as I have said it, sire." 
 
 "Very well; then you shall be my wife. Now 
 go home and tell your father to come and talk 
 with me." 
 
 The young girl went home, very happy, and 
 told her father to go to the palace and talk with 
 the king's son. 
 
 "Why?" asked the old man; "I told you so; 
 your foolish talk has come to the prince's ears, 
 and now he has doubtless sent for me to punish 
 me." 
 
 "No, no, my father; go and fear nothing," 
 said his daughter. 
 
 The old baker went to the palace, sad and sigh- 
 ing, as if he were going to his death. But when 
 he heard the son of the king ask his three daugh- 
 ters in marriage, one for his gardener, one for his 
 
88 FRENCH FAIRY TALES 
 
 waiting-man, and the third for himself, he was 
 as joyful and happy as before he had been anx- 
 ious and afraid. 
 
 The three weddings were celebrated at once, 
 and for a whole month there were feasts every 
 day, dances, and all sorts of amusements. 
 
 The gardener and the waiting-man went to 
 live in the city with their wives, and the young 
 prince remained with his, in his father's palace. 
 The other two were jealous of the youngest sis- 
 ter because she was a princess, and they tried 
 every day to find some means to destroy her. At 
 last they consulted an old fairy. She told them 
 that when the princess' baby was born they must 
 bribe the old nurse to put a little dog in the 
 cradle instead of the baby and send the baby out 
 on the river. Then they recommended a nurse 
 to their sister, who, they said, was the best in the 
 kingdom. The princess asked to see her and 
 welcomed her kindly. The baby that was born 
 was a magnificent child, with a gold star in the 
 middle of his forehead. The nurse gave the 
 poor little creature to a man who was waiting 
 at the door, to take it and leave it on the shore 
 of the Seine, which they tell me flows by Paris. 
 Then she put in his place in the cradle, a little 
 dog that she had brought with her. When the 
 prince asked to see his child they showed him 
 the little dog. 
 
THE BAKER'S DAUGHTERS 89 
 
 "Ah! ah! what is this that you are showing 
 me?" he cried. 
 
 "Alas! my prince," replied the perfidious 
 nurse, "God does all as it pleases Him!" 
 
 "Ah! misery for me! But it is useless to com- 
 plain, since it is the will of God. Take care 
 always of this poor creature." 
 
 The husband of the baker's oldest daughter, 
 the king's gardener, had a beautiful garden on 
 the shore of the river, and as he was walking in 
 it one day, he saw a basket which was floating 
 on the water. He jumped into his boat, caught 
 the basket, and was very much astonished to find 
 in it a beautiful child with a gold star in the 
 middle of his forehead. "God be praised," said 
 he, "who sends me such a lovely child, for I have 
 none of my own." And he carried it to his wife, 
 who received it with great joy, and took as much 
 pleasure in caring for it as if it had been her own 
 child. 
 
 A year after, a second son was born to the 
 princess, having also a gold star in his forehead 
 like the first. The perfidious nurse substituted a 
 little dog for him also, and the poor baby was 
 put out on the water in a basket as his brother 
 had been. 
 
 The king (the prince had become king, his 
 father having died) asked to see the new-born 
 son. 
 
go FRENCH FAIRY TALES 
 
 "Alas! another dog!" cried he, as soon as he 
 saw it, and he turned away his head and wept. 
 "But since it is the will of God," he added, "what 
 God does is well done." 
 
 The gardener, who was fishing with hook and 
 line in his garden, saw a basket floating down the 
 river. He caught it and hastened to carry to 
 his wife the beautiful child he found in it. The 
 latter received it joyfully, saying, — 
 
 "How delightful! Now we each have one, my 
 husband and I!" 
 
 They chose a godfather and godmother, and 
 the child was baptized. 
 
 A third child was born to the princess, and this 
 time it was a little girl, with a silver star in the 
 middle of her forehead. The perfidious nurse 
 put a little dog in her place, too, and the poor 
 thing was exposed as her brothers had been. 
 This time the king began to swear and storm 
 like one beside himself, when they showed him 
 another little dog. 
 
 "They will call me," said he, "the father of 
 dogs ! and not without reason. But all this does 
 not come from God ; there is some mystery at the 
 bottom of it." And he had the queen shut up in 
 a tower, with only bread and water for food, and 
 a little book to read. 
 
 The gardener found another child floating on 
 the water, and picked it up and carried it home, 
 as he had done the others. 
 
THE BAKER'S DAUGHTERS 91. 
 
 "Enough children like that," said his wife, 
 seeing him come in with the basket. "How is it 
 that you find so many children?" 
 
 "Very well, wife, do not worry; be quiet. I 
 will carry the child back where I found it on 
 the water; but it is a great pity; such a pretty 
 little girl!" 
 
 "It is a girl, do you say? Show her to me. 
 Oh! the pretty little angel, with a silver star in 
 the middle of her forehead. We will keep her, 
 husband ; we have sufficient means, and since God 
 has given us no children of our own, we will take 
 these instead." 
 
 Meanwhile the poor queen was in her tower, 
 weeping and moaning night and day, and no one 
 came to see her. Her two sisters were happy 
 with their husbands. 
 
 By and by the gardener and his wife died. 
 The king had their three children brought to his 
 palace, and as they were handsome children, and 
 well brought up, they pleased him very much. 
 Every Sunday they were seen in his pew at 
 church, — at high mass, — having each a bandage 
 round his forehead to hide his star. Every one 
 was astonished to see these bandages, and asked, 
 "What does it mean?" 
 
 One day, when the king was out hunting, an 
 old woman came to the kitchen of the palace, and 
 said, "Ugh! Ugh! Ugh! how cold I am!" And 
 she trembled and her teeth chattered. 
 
92 FRENCH FAIRY TALES 
 
 "Come near the fire, grandmother," said the 
 young girl with the silver star, who happened to 
 be there. 
 
 "Blessings on you, my child. Ah ! how beauti- 
 ful you are ! Ah ! if you had the dancing water, 
 the singing apple, and the bird of truth, you 
 would not have your equal on the earth!" 
 
 "Yes, grandmother; but how can I get these 
 marvelous things?" 
 
 "You have two brothers here who can get them 
 for you." 
 
 Then she went away without saying anything 
 more. 
 
 From that moment the young girl could think 
 of nothing but the words of the old woman; 
 she dreamed only of the dancing water, the sing- 
 ing apple, and the bird of truth, and she was 
 very sad. 
 
 "Why are you so sad?" asked her brothers. 
 
 "There is nothing the matter," she replied. 
 
 "Yes, there is something the matter, and you 
 must tell us what it is." 
 
 "An old woman came to warm herself in the 
 kitchen, and she said to me, 'My child, if you 
 had the dancing water, the singing apple, and the 
 bird of truth, you would not have your equal on 
 the earth!' And since then I am always dream- 
 ing of the dancing water, the singing apple, and 
 the bird of truth. But how can I ever procure 
 such marvelous things?" 
 
THE BAKER'S DAUGHTERS 93 
 
 "My little sister, I will find them for you if 
 they are anywhere on this earth," said the elder 
 brother. 
 
 "How can you do it, my poor brother?" 
 
 "Leave it to me, and do not be worried. See! 
 here is a dagger, which I give you ; draw it from 
 the scabbard several times a day for a whole year 
 and a day; as long as you can draw it out, no 
 harm will have happened to me; but when you 
 cannot pull it out, alas! I shall be dead!" 
 
 Then he bade farewell to his sister and brother, 
 and departed. 
 
 His sister often drew the dagger-blade from 
 the scabbard, and it came out easily. But alas! 
 one day she could not draw it out, although she 
 tried her best. Then she began to cry. 
 
 "What is the matter, my dear little sister?" 
 said her younger brother. 
 
 "Alas! poor brother, our older brother is dead!" 
 And they both began to cry. 
 
 "I must go and look for him." 
 
 "Oh, no ! do not go, my brother ; stay here with 
 me." 
 
 "Xo, I must go, and I never will stop walk- 
 ing till I have found my brother. Here ! I give 
 you this necklace; slip the beads around con- 
 stantly ; when you come to one that will not move, 
 then I also shall be dead." Then he said good-by 
 to his sister and went away. 
 
94 FRENCH FAIRY TALES 
 
 She, left all alone, was very sad and full of 
 care. She constantly slipped the beads on her 
 necklace around and she saw with pleasure that 
 they moved easily. But alas! one day there was 
 one that would not move. 
 
 "My God!" she cried, "my second brother is 
 dead, also! What shall I do now? I must go 
 and seek for them, and I will never stop travel- 
 ing until I have found them, dead or alive." 
 
 She bought a horse, dressed herself as a cava- 
 lier, and set out, without saying anything to any 
 one. She continued to go on and on till she 
 reached a great plain. 
 
 There she saw in an old hollow tree a little old 
 man with a long white beard. 
 
 "Good morning, daughter of the king of 
 France!" said the little old man with the white 
 beard. 
 
 "Good morning, grandfather; but you surely 
 take me for some one else, for I am not the 
 daughter of the king of France." 
 
 "No, no, I am not mistaken, for I know you 
 well." 
 
 "But, grandfather, is not that long beard very 
 much in your way?" 
 
 "It is, indeed, my child; I have worn it for 
 five hundred years, and it has been very much in 
 my way, I assure you." 
 
 "If you wish it, I will cut it off." 
 
THE BAKER'S DAUGHTERS 95 
 
 "Oh, yes, do!" 
 
 She took her scissors out of her pocket and cut 
 off the old man's beard. 
 
 "My blessing on you, daughter of the king of 
 France," said he, "for you have delivered me! 
 A great many people have passed by here, during 
 these five hundred years, and no one has had pity 
 on me but you, and you shall never have reason to 
 regret it. I know where you are going ; you are 
 going to look for your two brothers. Listen to 
 me well, and do exactly what I tell you. Sixty 
 miles from here you will find an inn by the road- 
 side. Alight there, eat, drink, and then leave 
 your horse there and say you will pay when you 
 return. Soon after you leave this house, you 
 will come to a high mountain. You will have 
 much difficulty in climbing this mountain, and it 
 will even be necessary sometimes to get down on 
 your hands and feet. A tremendous wind will 
 soon rise; hail, snow, ice, and a bitter cold will 
 assail you ; but take care and do not lose courage, 
 and continue to climb up as before. On each 
 side of the way you will see a great number of 
 stone pillars. These are so many persons, who, 
 like you, have attempted to climb this mountain, 
 but have lost courage, and have been changed 
 into pillars of stone. When you reach the top, 
 you will see a plain with a turf dotted with 
 flowers, as if in the month of May. Then you 
 
96 FRENCH FAIRY TALES 
 
 will see a golden seat under an apple-tree. Sit 
 down on this seat and pretend to be asleep, and 
 you will see a blackbird hop down the apple-tree 
 from branch to branch, and go into a cage which 
 is under the tree. Then shut the cage quickly, 
 for it is the Bird of Truth. Then cut a branch 
 of the apple-tree with an apple on it; that will 
 be the Singing Apple. And finally, draw a 
 phial full of water from the fountain under the 
 tree, for that is the fountain of the Dancing 
 Water. Then you can come away. As you de- 
 scend the mountain, drop a drop of water from 
 your phial on each pillar of stone, and out of 
 each pillar will rise a knight. Your two brothers 
 will rise also, like the others." 
 
 The young girl thanked the little old man and 
 continued her journey. She did just exactly 
 what she had been told. She ate and drank at 
 the inn, left her horse there, and began to climb 
 the mountain. But the cold became so intense 
 that her limbs were almost frozen, and she came 
 near stopping and being changed to stone like 
 the others. However, at last she reached the top 
 of the mountain. There the sky was clear, and 
 the air mild, as in the middle of summer. She 
 seated herself on the golden seat, under the apple- 
 tree, and pretended to be asleep. The blackbird 
 hopped down the tree, from branch to branch, 
 and went into the cage. Then she got up at once 
 
THE BAKERS DAUGHTERS 97 
 
 and shut the cage ; and the blackbird, seeing him- 
 self caught, said, — 
 
 "You have caught me, daughter of the king of 
 France! Many others, before you, have tried 
 to catch me, but none have succeeded. But you 
 have been guided by some one." 
 
 Then she cut a branch of the apple-tree with 
 an apple on it, filled her phial with water from 
 the fountain, and departed. As she went down 
 the mountain, she dropped a drop of water on 
 each pillar of stone, and out of them came 
 princes, dukes, barons, and knights; her two 
 brothers arose also, the last two; but they did 
 not recognize their sister ; and all crowded around 
 her, some saying, "Give me the Dancing Water, 
 young knight" ; and others,— "Give me the Sing- 
 ing Apple"; and others, — "Give me the Bird of 
 Truth." 
 
 But she went quickly away, taking with her the 
 water, the apple, and the bird. As she passed 
 the inn where she had left her horse, she paid her 
 reckoning, then turned quickly homeward and 
 arrived there a long time before her brothers. 
 When the latter arrived, they embraced their 
 sister. 
 
 "Ah! my poor brothers," said she to them, 
 "how anxious I have been about you. How long 
 your journey has been! But God be praised, 
 since I have you back again!" 
 
98 FRENCH FAIRY TALES 
 
 "Alas! yes, my poor sister, we were gone a long 
 time, and we have done no good by it; it is only 
 by chance that we returned at all." 
 
 "Why, have you not brought me the Dancing 
 Water, the Singing Apple, and the Bird of 
 Truth?" 
 
 "Alas! no, poor sister; a young knight whom 
 we did not know took them away. Ah! what a 
 handsome knight ! We wish you could have seen 
 him." 
 
 The old king, who had no children (as he 
 thought) loved his sister-in-law's children, and 
 was glad to see them back again. He ordered a 
 great feast, to which he invited many people, 
 princes, dukes, marquises, barons, and generals. 
 When the supper was nearly over the young girl 
 placed on the table the Dancing Water, the Sing- 
 ing Apple, and the Bird of Truth, and told each 
 of them to do his duty. And immediately the 
 water began to dance, the apple to sing, and the 
 bird to fly over the table. And all the people, in 
 ecstacy, mouths and eyes open, looked and lis- 
 tened at these wonders. They had never seen 
 nor heard anything like it. 
 
 "Whose are these wonderful things?" asked 
 the king, when he could speak. 
 
 "Mine, sire," said the young girl. 
 
 "And what are they?" 
 
 "The Dancing Water, the Singing Apple, and 
 the Bird of Truth." 
 
THE BAKER'S DAUGHTERS 99 
 
 "And from whom did you get them?" 
 
 "I went, myself, to seek for them." 
 
 Then the two brothers knew that it was their 
 sister who had delivered them. As for the king, 
 he was almost beside himself with joy and ad- 
 miration. 
 
 "My crown and my kingdom," he said, "for 
 your wonderful things; and you — you shall be 
 queen." 
 
 "Wait a moment, sire, till you have heard my 
 bird speak; the Bird of Truth, for he has im- 
 portant matters to reveal to you. Now, my little 
 bird, tell the truth." 
 
 "I will indeed," said the bird, "but let no one 
 go out of the room." 
 
 So they shut the doors. The wicked old nurse, 
 and one of the king's sisters-in-law were there, 
 and they were not at all comfortable when they 
 heard these words. 
 
 "Come, my bird, tell the truth now." And 
 this is what the bird said, — 
 
 "It is twenty years now, sire, since your wife 
 was shut up in the tower, abandoned by every 
 one, and you have long believed her to be dead. 
 But she is not dead; no harm has happened to 
 her, for she was unjustly accused and cast into a 
 dreary prison." 
 
 Just here the nurse and the king's sisters-in- 
 law said they felt sick and wanted to go out. 
 
loo FRENCH FAIRY TALES 
 
 "No one shall go out yet," said the king; "go 
 on telling the truth, little bird." 
 
 "You have had two sons and a daughter, sire," 
 continued the bird, "all three children of your 
 wife, and here they are! Take off their band- 
 ages, and you will see that each has a star in his 
 forehead." 
 
 The bandages were taken off, and they saw 
 that each of the two young men had a gold star 
 on his forehead and the young girl had a silver 
 star. 
 
 "The authors of all this wickedness," con- 
 tinued the bird, "are your two sisters-in-law and 
 the nurse, that sorceress of the devil. They made 
 you believe that your wife gave birth to dogs, 
 and your poor children were sent, as soon as they 
 were born, to float on the waters of the Seine. 
 When the nurse learned that the children had 
 been saved, and were being brought up in your 
 palace, she sought for other means of destroying 
 them. She went into the palace, one day, dis- 
 guised as a beggar, ready to die of cold and 
 hunger, and inspired the princess with a desire 
 to possess the Dancing Water, the Singing Ap- 
 ple, and the Bird of Truth. Her two brothers 
 went, one after the other, to seek them for her, 
 and the sorceress knew very well that they would 
 never return. And they never would have re- 
 turned, alas! if their sister had not succeeded, 
 
THE BAKER'S DAUGHTERS 101 
 
 after much trouble, in delivering them, and bring- 
 ing away the Dancing Water, the Singing Apple, 
 and the Bird of Truth." 
 
 The king fainted on hearing all this. When 
 he came to himself, he went himself to seek his 
 queen in the tower, and returned to the festive 
 hall, leading her by the hand. She had not 
 changed at all; she was beautiful and gracious 
 as ever. She ate and drank a little, then died 
 suddenly in her chair. The king, wild with grief 
 and anger, ordered that a furnace should be 
 heated immediately and his sisters-in-law and the 
 old nurse thrown into it. It was done. 
 
 I do not know anything more of the princess 
 and her two brothers. I think they were all hap- 
 pily married. And as for the bird, it is not told 
 whether he continued always to tell the truth, 
 but I presume that he did, as he was not a man. 
 
 Told by Barbe Tassel, written down and translated into 
 French by F. M. Luzel. Plouaret, December, 1858. 
 
YOU MUST NOT WORK ON SUNDAY 
 
 A STORY OF THE DISTRICT OF AMIENS 
 
 r~\ [^ HERE was once upon a time a woodcut- 
 ter and his wife who had an invalid 
 daughter ; they had made all the pilgrim- 
 ages in the neighborhood in vain, and had be- 
 come entirely discouraged. But it happened one 
 evening that Mathias (that was the woodcutter's 
 name), being belated in the forest, came upon a 
 noisy company of dwarfs, who insisted upon his 
 dancing with them. The dwarfs were singing, — 
 
 "The day is for working, 
 The day is for working;" 
 
 and they did not know how to sing anything 
 else. Mathias said to them, — "Your song has 
 but little variety; it would be well to add some- 
 thing to it." "Add! add!" cried the dwarfs. 
 And when they began to sing again, — 
 
 "The day is for working," 
 
 the woodcutter added, — 
 
 "And the night is for resting." 
 102 
 
YOU MUST NOT WORK ON SUNDAY 103 
 
 Then there was a great commotion ; a little old 
 man, mounted on a colt, appeared in the midst of 
 the assembly; when silence was re-established he 
 addressed these words to the woodcutter, — 
 
 "You shall be rewarded for having added some- 
 thing to our song; Ï will give you the choice be- 
 tween riches for yourself, and beauty, with 
 health, for your daughter." 
 
 Mathias did not hesitate; he preferred the hap- 
 piness of his child to riches; and when he re- 
 turned to his house, he found that she was in good 
 health and had become marvelously beautiful. 
 This adventure caused much stir in the country, 
 and the baker's wife, who had also an invalid 
 daughter, after having heard from the woodcut- 
 ter, in detail, all that had happened to him, re- 
 solved to go and find the dwarfs in the forest. 
 The latter seized her quickly by the petticoats 
 and dragged her round and round in their cir- 
 cle. After awhile, the dwarfs, seeing her out of 
 breath, gave her a moment to recover. 
 
 "It is my opinion, my joyous companions," 
 said she to them, "that your song is too short." 
 
 "Cheerly, woman, cheerly! Round we go!" 
 shouted the dwarfs as they again began their 
 dance, singing, — 
 
 "The day is for working, 
 And the night is for resting." 
 
104 FRENCH FAIRY TALES 
 
 The baker's wife added, — 
 
 "All the whole year long." 
 
 She was going to go on, but moved her lips in 
 vain ; she could not speak another word. At this 
 moment, the ground opened, and out of the open- 
 ing came a young girl mounted on a goat. 
 
 "Choose," said she, "between riches for your- 
 self, and beauty, with health, for your daughter." 
 
 The baker's wife was very avaricious ; she chose 
 riches, and when she returned to her house she 
 found her daughter dying. She became envious 
 of the happiness of the woodcutter, and as he 
 owed her some money, she threatened to sell his 
 hut and all that he possessed. 
 
 In order to pay their debts, the woodcutter, his 
 wife, and daughter, went to work earnestly to- 
 gether in the forest. While Mathias cut the 
 wood, his wife and daughter made fagots of the 
 twigs. 
 
 One Sunday our woodcutter left his wife and 
 daughter at home and went to work in the 
 wood ; but he was so overcome by fatigue that he 
 fell asleep; when he awoke he found himself 
 surrounded by the company of dwarfs who were 
 singing — 
 
 "The day is for working, 
 And the night is for resting. 
 AU the whole year long." 
 
EACH DWARF THEN CAME AND PLACED A LARGE SACK AT MATHIAS' FEET. 
 
YOU MUST NOT WORK ON SUNDAY 105 
 
 Mathias, who had been forced against his will 
 to join in the dance, cried out for spite, — 
 
 "Save Sunday alone, 
 Which God kept for his own." 
 
 At this moment the forest became illuminated ; 
 the little old man on the colt appeared, followed 
 by an immense crowd of dwarfs, and said to the 
 woodcutter, "By finishing our couplet you have 
 broken the charm which forced us to impose such 
 hard tests on mankind; for your reward we give 
 you all our riches." Each dwarf then came and 
 placed a large sack at Mathias' feet. He gath- 
 ered up as many of them as he could and returned 
 triumphantly to his house. But when he opened 
 them he saw that they contained only dry leaves ! 
 
 "The dwarfs have mocked thee," said his wife; 
 "I shall sprinkle the sacks with holy water, for 
 one must purify what comes from the evil one." 
 
 No sooner said than done ; but what was her as- 
 tonishment to see the dry leaves change into 
 bright gold crowns ! 
 
 The baker's wife was paid immediately; she 
 died of vexation a few days after ; the woodcutter 
 and his wife lived ever after rich and happy. 
 
 Told in the Picard dialect by Fernand Delaunoy, aged 
 51 years, at Warloy-Baillon (Somme). 
 
 Henri Carnoy. 
 
DESTINY 
 
 THERE was once a rich woman whose 
 son was born when the moon was hung 
 (suspended from a cloud by one horn). 
 As the child grew, the mother, who knew he 
 would be hung as soon as he was eighteen years 
 old, became sadder day by day, and could not 
 look at him without sighing and shedding tears. 
 Seeing this, he wished to know the cause, and one 
 day he asked her, — 
 
 "Why do you weep so much, mother?" 
 
 "Never mind, my child; do not trouble your- 
 self about it." 
 
 But he insisted so much, that at last his mother 
 said to him, — 
 
 "Alas! my poor child, you were born under a 
 very unfortunate star. A monk told me, the mo- 
 ment you came into the world, that you would be 
 hung at the age of eighteen because the moon was 
 hung at the same moment." 
 
 "Pshaw! mother," replied the child; "do not 
 
 believe that; and," he added, "I will leave the 
 
 country; I will go far away, and if it is the will 
 
 of God that what the monk told you should hap- 
 
 106 
 
DESTINY 107 
 
 pen to me, at least you will not have to blush for 
 me." 
 
 So he left his country and went far, far away. 
 He came to a beautiful castle and asked if they 
 needed a servant there. He was taken as assist- 
 ant gardener. Day and night he prayed to God 
 to avert his evil fate. As he was a handsome 
 young fellow, the young lady of the castle, who 
 saw him as she was walking in the garden, fell in 
 love with him. She passed most of her time in 
 the garden, watching him work and talking with 
 him. At last she made known her feelings to 
 him. 
 
 "I do not deserve such honor, my lady," said 
 the young man; "and moreover, for another rea- 
 son this cannot be. If you knew how sad my 
 destiny is!" 
 
 Then he told the young lady the monk's pre- 
 diction. But she only laughed at it. Her love 
 increased every day. She decided at last to tell 
 her father about it. The old lord got very angry. 
 "What," said he, "do you wish to dishonor me? 
 Marry a gardener, an adventurer? No one 
 knows where he comes from, or who he is!" 
 
 But the young lady was so persistent, that the 
 old lord, who had no child but her, and who could 
 refuse her nothing, finally yielded, and there was 
 a grand wedding, with holidays, plays, and re- 
 joicings of every sort. 
 
io8 FRENCH FAIRY TALES 
 
 The first night after the wedding, the young 
 husband went to sleep early. The new wife did 
 not sleep at all. Towards midnight she was 
 amazed to see her chamber suddenly illuminated. 
 Then the window opened and she saw some men 
 with horrible faces come in, who put up a gallows 
 in the middle of the room. When their task was 
 finished, they went straight to the bed and took 
 the newly married man, — who was still asleep, — 
 passed a rope around his neck, and fastened him 
 to the gibbet. One of the executioners rested his 
 feet on his shoulders; — then, after a little while 
 they unfastened him from the gallows, put him 
 back in his bed, and then went away through the 
 window. 
 
 The young woman saw all this, pale and hor- 
 ror-stricken,— she could neither move nor speak 
 a single word. Her husband was lying by her 
 side, motionless, cold as ice, and with the marks 
 of the rope around his neck. 
 
 Suddenly he awoke with a start, and cried 
 out, — 
 
 "Oh! how my body is bruised! and how sore 
 my throat is!" 
 
 Then his wife threw her arms around him and 
 covered him with kisses, exclaiming, — 
 
 "Oh! thank heaven, you are not really dead!" 
 
 "No, indeed, I am not dead, but I am so tired!" 
 
 "I thought you were dead. They hung you 
 
DESTINY 109 
 
 there, right before my eyes, in the middle of the 
 
 room 
 
 "Really? ah! God be praised! for my destiny 
 is then accomplished and I am released from my 
 terrible fate. A monk told my mother that I 
 should be hung at the age of eighteen, — and I 
 am eighteen j T ears old this very night!" 
 
 They lived together a long time, happy and 
 fearing God, and had many children. 
 
 Told by Marguerite Philippe, of Pluzunet (Côtes-du- 
 Nord). 
 
 F. M. LuSel. 
 
THE LITTLE ANT THAT WAS GOING 
 TO JERUSALEM, AND THE SNOW 
 
 I 
 
 "^HERE was once a little ant that was 
 going to Jerusalem. 
 
 She met the snow and the snow 
 cracked the paw of the little ant that was going 
 to Jerusalem. 
 
 "Oh! snow, how strong you are, to crack the 
 paw of the little ant that is going to Jerusa- 
 lem!" 
 
 And the snow replied, "The sun that melts me 
 is a great deal stronger." 
 
 "Oh! sun, how strong you are, to melt the 
 snow, that cracks the paw of the little ant that is 
 going to Jerusalem !" 
 
 And the sun replied, "The cloud that hides 
 me is a great deal stronger." 
 
 "Oh! cloud, how strong you are, to hide the 
 sun, that melts the snow, that cracks the paw of 
 the little ant that is going to Jerusalem!" 
 
 And the cloud replied, "The wind that drives 
 me away is a great deal stronger." 
 
 "Oh ! wind, how strong you are, to drive away 
 
 the cloud, that hides the sun, that melts the snow, 
 
 that cracks the paw of the little ant that is going 
 
 to Jerusalem!" 
 
 no 
 
THE LITTLE ANT 1 1 1 
 
 And the wind replied, "The mountain that 
 stops me is a great deal stronger." 
 
 "Oh! mountain, how strong you are, to stop the 
 wind, that drives away the cloud, that hides the 
 sun, that melts the snow, that cracks the paw of 
 the little ant that is going to Jerusalem!" 
 
 And the mountain replied, "The mouse that 
 bores through me is a great deal stronger." 
 
 "Oh! mouse, how strong you are, to bore 
 through the mountain, that stops the wind, that 
 drives away the cloud, that hides the sun, that 
 melts the snow, that cracks the paw of the little 
 ant that is going to Jerusalem !" 
 
 And the mouse replied, "The cat that eats me 
 is a great deal stronger." 
 
 "Oh ! cat, how strong you are, to eat the mouse, 
 that bores through the mountain, that stops the 
 wind, that drives away the cloud, that hides the 
 sun, that melts the snow, that cracks the paw of 
 the little ant that is going to Jerusalem!" 
 
 And the cat replied, "The dog that chases me 
 is a great deal stronger." 
 
 "Oh! dog, how strong you are, to chase the cat, 
 that eats the mouse, that bores through the moun- 
 tain, that stops the wind, that drives away the 
 cloud, that hides the sun, that melts the snow, 
 that cracks the paw of the little ant that is going 
 to Jerusalem!" 
 
 And the dog replied, "The stick that beats me 
 is a great deal stronger." 
 
112 FRENCH FAIRY TALES 
 
 "Oh! stick, how strong you are, to beat the 
 dog, that chases the cat, that eats the mouse, that 
 bores through the mountain, that stops the wind, 
 that drives away the cloud, that hides the sun, that 
 melts the snow, that cracks the paw of the little 
 ant that is going to Jerusalem!" 
 
 And the stick replied, "The fire that burns me 
 is a great deal stronger." 
 
 "Oh! fire, how strong you are, to burn the 
 stick, that beats the dog, that chases the cat, that 
 eats the mouse, that bores through the mountain* 
 that stops the wind, that drives away the cloud, 
 that hides the sun, that melts the snow, that cracks 
 the paw of the little ant that is going to Jerusa- 
 lem!" 
 
 And the fire replied, "The water that puts me 
 out is a great deal stronger." 
 
 "Oh! water, how strong you are, to put out the 
 fire, that burns the stick, that beats the dog, that 
 chases the cat, that eats the mouse, that bores 
 through the mountain, that stops the wind, that 
 drives away the cloud, that hides the sun that 
 melts the snow, that cracks the paw of the little 
 ant that is going to Jerusalem!" 
 
 And the water replied, "The cow that drinks 
 me is a great deal stronger." 
 
 "Oh! cow, how strong you are, to drink the 
 water, that puts out the fire, that burns the stick, 
 that beats the dog, that chases the cat, that eats 
 
THE LITTLE ANT 113 
 
 the mouse, that bores through the mountain, that 
 stops the wind, that drives awajr the cloud, that 
 hides the sun, that melts the snow, that cracks the 
 paw of the little ant that is going to Jerusalem!" 
 
 And the cow replied, "The man who kills me 
 is a great deal stronger." 
 
 "Oh! man, how strong you are, to kill the cow, 
 that drinks the water, that puts out the fire, that 
 burns the stick, that beats the dog, that chases the 
 cat, that eats the mouse, that bores through the 
 mountain, that stops the wind, that drives away 
 the cloud, that hides the sun, that melts the snow, 
 that cracks the paw of the little ant that is going 
 to Jerusalem!" 
 
 And the man replied, "God is much stronger, 
 who can kill the man, that killed the cow, that 
 drinks the water, that puts out the fire, that burns 
 the stick, that beats the dog, that chases the cat, 
 that eats the mouse, that bores through the moun- 
 tain, that stops the wind, that drives away the 
 cloud, that hides the sun, that melts the snow, that 
 cracks the paw of the little ant that is going to 
 Jerusalem!" 
 
 Told in 1876, by M. G. de la Landelle, the maritime 
 novelist, who had learned it in his childhood, at Mont- 
 pellier. 
 
 F. M. Luzel. 
 
THE MOST POWERFUL HUSBAND IN 
 THE WORLD 
 
 AN ARABIAN STORY 
 
 T is said that a monk, whose prayers were al- 
 ways answered, was one day seated on the 
 seashore, when he saw a kite fly holding in 
 one of its claws a little mouse, which escaped and 
 fell on the monk. Touched with compassion for 
 the mouse, he took it, wrapped it up in a leaf, and 
 carried it home with him. 
 
 Fearing that his people would not be very eager 
 to care for it, he prayed his Lord to change it into 
 a young girl ; and immediately it became a young 
 girl gifted with great beauty. The monk led her 
 to his wife, and said to the latter, — 
 
 "Here is a girl who belongs to me, and I de- 
 sire that you shall treat her as my own child." 
 
 When she had come to the age of womanhood, 
 the monk said to her,- — 
 
 "My dear daughter, you are quite grown up, 
 
 and you absolutely must have a husband ; choose 
 
 then, -one to suit yourself, so that I may unite you 
 
 to him." 
 
 "Since you leave me free to choose," she re- 
 114 
 
THE MOST POWERFUL HUSBAND 115 
 
 plied, "I wish for my husband, he who is the 
 most powerful in the world.'' 
 
 "Perhaps you would like the sun?" said he; 
 and he went to find the sun, and said to it, — 
 
 "O! thou who art so essentially great, I have 
 a daughter who desires to have for a husband he 
 who is the most powerful in the world ; would you 
 be willing to marry her?" 
 
 "I will show you some one who is more pow- 
 erful than I," said the sun; "it is the cloud which 
 obscures me, and makes my rays pale and tar- 
 nishes the splendor of my fires." 
 
 The monk went to the cloud and repeated to 
 him the sun's words. 
 
 "And I," said the cloud, "I will show you some 
 one more powerful than I ; go find the wind which 
 makes me come and go, which drives me from 
 east to west." 
 
 The monk went to find the wind, and said to 
 him the same things which he had said to the 
 cloud; but the wind said to him also, — 
 
 "I will show you some one more powerful than 
 I ; it is the mountain that I cannot move." 
 
 Then the monk went to speak to the mountain, 
 which made him this reply, — 
 
 "I will show you some one more powerful than 
 I ; it is the rat, against which I cannot defend my- 
 self, when he bores into me and makes his home 
 in me." 
 
n6 FRENCH FAIRY TALES 
 
 At last the monk went and said to the rat, — 
 "Do you wish to marry my young daughter?" 
 1 "And how could I do so?" cried the rat. "My 
 hole is narrow, and a rat only marries a mouse." 
 The monk then prayed his Lord to change the 
 young girl into a mouse, as she was before, and 
 this to the entire contentment of the young girl. 
 Immediately she resumed her original shape, and 
 she ran away with the rat. 
 
THE NINE BROTHERS, WHO WERE 
 
 CHANGED TO SHEEP, AND 
 
 THEIR SISTER 
 
 A BRETON STORY 
 
 r | ^HERE were once nine brothers and their 
 sister, who were left orphans. They 
 were rich also, and lived in an old castle 
 in the midst of a forest. The sister, whose name 
 was Lévénez, who was the oldest of the ten chil- 
 dren, undertook the direction of the house, when 
 the old lord died, and her brothers consulted and 
 obeyed her in everything, as if she had been 
 their mother. They often went hunting in the 
 woods, which were full of all sorts of game. One 
 day, following a roe, they came to a hut built 
 of branches of trees, wattled together with clods 
 of dirt. It was the first time they had seen it. 
 Curious to know who could live in it, they en- 
 tered under pretence of asking for some water 
 to quench their thirst. They saw only an old 
 woman with teeth as long as one's arm, and 
 whose tongue went nine times round her body. 
 Frightened at this sight, they were about to run 
 
 away, when the old woman said to them, — 
 
 117 
 
n8 FRENCH FAIRY TALES 
 
 "What do you want, my children? Come in, 
 and do not be so frightened ; I love children very 
 much, especially when they are good and gentle 
 like you." 
 
 "We should like a little water, if you please, 
 grandmother," said the oldest, whose name was 
 Goulven. 
 
 "Certainly, my children; I will give you some 
 fresh, clear water, which I drew this morning, 
 from my fountain. But come in, and do not be 
 afraid, my poor dears." 
 
 And the old woman gave them some water in 
 a wooden porringer, and while they drank it, she 
 caressed them, stroking the soft curls of their 
 blond hair, and when they were ready to go, 
 she said to them, "Now, my children, you must 
 pay me for the little service I have rendered you." 
 
 "We have no money with us, grandmother," 
 replied the children, "but we will ask our sister 
 for some, and bring it to you to-morrow." 
 
 "Oh! it is not money I want, my friends; but 
 one of you, — the oldest, perhaps, for the others 
 are still very young, — must take me for his 
 wife." 
 
 And turning to Goulven, — 
 
 "Will you, Goulven, take me to be your wife?" 
 
 The poor boy could not reply at once, the re- 
 quest seemed so strange to him. 
 
 "Come, answer, will you have me for your little 
 
THE NINE BROTHERS 119 
 
 wife?" asked the horrible old woman again, em- 
 bracing him. 
 
 "I do not know," said Goulven, confounded; 
 "I will ask my sister." 
 
 "Very well; to-morrow morning I will come 
 myself to the castle, for your answer." 
 
 The poor children returned to the house, sad 
 and trembling, and hastened to tell their sister all 
 that had happened. 
 
 "Shall I be obliged to marry that horrible old 
 woman, sister?" asked Goulven, weeping. 
 
 "No, my brother, you shall not marry her," re- 
 plied Lévénez; "I know that we shall all have to 
 suffer for it, but we will endure whatever comes 
 to us, and we will never abandon you." 
 
 The next day, the sorceress came to the castle 
 as she had promised. She found Lévénez and her 
 brothers in the garden. 
 
 "You know, doubtless, why I have come," said 
 she to Lévénez. 
 
 "Yes; my brother has told me everything," 
 said the young girl. 
 
 "And you are very willing that I should be- 
 come your sister-in-law?" 
 
 "No; that cannot be." 
 
 "Why not? Perhaps you do not know who I 
 am, and what I can do." 
 
 "I know that you can do a great deal of harm 
 to my brothers and me ; but you cannot force me 
 to consent to what you ask." 
 
i2o FRENCH FAIRY TALES 
 
 "Think well of it, and repent quickly of this 
 foolish resolution, while there is yet time, or mis- 
 ery to you!" cried the sorceress, furious, and her 
 eyes shone like two burning coals. 
 
 Lévénez's nine brothers trembled all over ; but 
 she, calm and resolute, replied to these threats, — 
 
 "I have thought of it all, and I shall change 
 nothing of all I have said." 
 
 Then the horrible old woman turned a wand, 
 which she carried in her hand, towards the castle, 
 pronbunced a magic sentence, and immediately 
 the castle fell to the ground with a great noise. 
 Not one stone was left upon another. Then 
 turning the wand towards the nine brothers, who 
 were hiding behind their sister in great terror, 
 she pronounced another magic sentence and the 
 nine brothers were immediately changed into nine 
 white sheep. Then she said to Lé venez, who still 
 retained her natural form, — 
 
 "Now, you can go and keep your sheep in this 
 plain. And take care never to tell any one that 
 they are your brothers, or the same thing will 
 happen to you." Then she went away, sneering. 
 
 The beautiful gardens of the castle, and the 
 grand wood which surrounded it, had been 
 changed also, instantly, into a great arid and des- 
 olate plain. 
 
 Poor Lévénez, left alone with her nine white 
 sheep, pastured them on the open plain, and never 
 
THE NINE BROTHERS 121 
 
 lost them from her sight a moment. She sought 
 for tufts of fresh grass, which they ate from her 
 hand, and she played with them, caressed them, 
 embraced them, and talked to them as if they un- 
 derstood her. And indeed they appeared to un- 
 derstand her. One of them was larger than the 
 others; it was Goulven, the oldest of the brothers. 
 Lévénez had built a shelter, a sort of hut, with 
 stones, clods of earth, moss and dry grasses, and 
 at night, or when it rained, she took refuge there 
 with her sheep. But when the weather was fine, 
 she ran and played about in the sun with them, or 
 sang songs, or recited her prayers, to which they 
 listened attentively, all ranged in a circle around 
 her. She had a very beautiful voice, clear and 
 correct. 
 
 One day a young lord who was hunting in those 
 parts, was astonished to hear such a beautiful 
 voice in a place so deserted. He stopped to lis- 
 ten; then going in the direction from which it 
 came, he soon found himself in the presence of a 
 lovely young girl, surrounded by nine white 
 sheep, who appeared to love her very much. He 
 spoke to her and was so struck with her sweet- 
 ness, her wit, and her beauty, that he wished to 
 take her and her sheep away with him to his cas- 
 tle. She refused to go. But the young lord 
 could think of nothing but the pretty shepherdess, 
 and every day, under pretence of hunting, he 
 
122 FRENCH FAIRY TALES 
 
 went to see her and talk with her in the great 
 plain. At last he carried her away with him to 
 his castle, and they were married, and there were 
 long holidays and great feasting. 
 
 The nine sheep had been installed in the gar- 
 den of the castle, and Lévénez passed almost all 
 her days there, playing with them, caressing them, 
 and talking to them as if they understood her; 
 and they did indeed seem to understand all that 
 she said to them. Her husband was astonished 
 to see them so intelligent, and he asked himself 
 if it were possible that they could be real sheep. 
 
 Lévénez had an attendant who was the wife of 
 the castle gardener, and who was also the daugh- 
 ter of the old woman who had changed her broth- 
 ers into sheep; but of this she knew nothing. 
 One day, when Lévénez was leaning over the 
 edge of a well which was in the garden, to see 
 how deep it was, her attendant took her by the 
 feet and threw her down the well. Then she ran 
 to her mistress' chamber, got into her bed, and 
 drew the curtains close around the bed and at 
 the windows, and pretended to be sick. The lord 
 was absent at the moment. But on his return, 
 not finding his wife in the garden among her 
 sheep as usual, he went to her chamber. 
 
 "What is the matter, my sweetheart?" said 
 he. 
 
 "I am very sick," replied the traitress; and 
 
THE NINE BROTHERS 123 
 
 when he was about to open the curtains, "Don't 
 open the curtains, I beg you ; I cannot stand the 
 light." 
 
 "Why are you alone? Where is your attend- 
 ant?" 
 
 "I do not know; I have not seen her the whole 
 day long." 
 
 The lord looked for her in the castle, and then 
 in the garden, and not finding her, he returned 
 to his wife, and said to her, — 
 
 "I do not know what has become of your at- 
 tendant. I cannot find her anywhere. Do you 
 want anything? Perhaps you are hungry?" 
 
 "Oh, yes! I am very hungry." 
 
 "What would you like to eat?" 
 
 "I must have a bit of that big white sheep in 
 the garden." 
 
 "What a strange notion! You who love your 
 sheep so much, and this one most of all!" 
 
 "That is the only thing that will soothe the 
 frightful pain I suffer. But do not make any 
 mistake; I want a piece of the big white sheep, 
 and not of any other." 
 
 The husband went to the garden and ordered 
 the gardener to take the big white sheep and kill 
 it at once and put it on the kitchen spit. 
 
 So the gardener, who was conniving with the 
 attendant, ran after the white sheep. But it ran 
 so fast round and round the well, bleating so 
 
124 FRENCH FAIRY TALES 
 
 pitifully all the time, that he could not catch it. 
 The lord, seeing this, wanted to help him, and 
 went up to the well. He was astonished to hear 
 moans and groans which seemed to come up from 
 it. He leaned over the opening and called out, — 
 
 "Who is there? is there any one down the 
 well?" 
 
 And a gentle voice that he knew so well, an- 
 swered him, — 
 
 "Yes, it is I, your wife, Lévénez." 
 
 The lord, without waiting to hear more, quickly 
 lowered the bucket into the well and drew up his 
 wife. She was all trembling and terrified. 
 
 Soon after this occurrence a child was born to 
 them, a son, as beautiful as the day. 
 
 Lévénez said it must be baptized at once. 
 
 "You may choose the godmother, if you wish, 
 but I want my big white sheep for the god- 
 father," said she to her husband. 
 
 "What! have a sheep for your son's god- 
 father?" 
 
 "I wish it, I tell you; do as I say and do not 
 be uneasy about it." 
 
 Not wishing to cross his young wife, and fear- 
 ing lest he should make her sick, the father con- 
 sented, though grieved at his heart, that the big 
 white sheep should be his son's godfather. 
 
 They went to church. The big white sheep, 
 very happy, walked in front with the father and 
 
THE NINE BROTHERS 125 
 
 the godmother, a young and beautiful princess. 
 The other eight sheep, his brothers, followed 
 him. The whole procession entered the church, 
 to the great astonishment of the village people. 
 The father presented the child to the priest. The 
 latter looked at the godmother, but seeing no god- 
 father, he asked, — 
 
 "Where is the godfather?" 
 
 "Here he is," replied the father, pointing to the 
 big white sheep. 
 
 "What! a sheep?" 
 
 "Yes, it seems so; but do not stop for a mat- 
 ter of form, but go on without fear with the 
 service." 
 
 The priest made no more objections, such 
 transformations being, doubtless, common in his 
 day, and proceeded to baptize the child. 
 
 The sheep then raised himself on his two hind 
 legs, took his godson in his two forelegs, with the 
 assistance of the godmother, and all passed off 
 very well. 
 
 But as soon as the ceremony was over, the 
 sheep godfather became a handsome young man. 
 He was Goulven, Lévénez's oldest brother. 
 
 He told how he and his brothers had been 
 changed into sheep by an old sorceress because 
 he had refused to marry her. His sister, the 
 child's mother, could not tell of it lest the same 
 fate should befall her; but now the charm was 
 
126 FRENCH FAIRY TALES 
 
 broken, and the sorceress had no longer any 
 power over them. 
 
 "Are the sheep really your brothers?" asked 
 the priest. 
 
 "Yes, they are my brothers, and the time has 
 come for them also to escape from the power of 
 the sorceress, and return to their human form. 
 Lay your stole over them, say a prayer, and you 
 will see them become men again, as I have done." 
 
 The priest followed his advice : he laid his stole 
 on each of the sheep successively, recited a prayer 
 each time, and immediately they resumed their 
 original form. 
 
 Goulven then told of the terrible deed which 
 had been done to his sister by her attendant, the 
 daughter of the sorceress. 
 
 So they returned to the castle determined to 
 treat each one as she had deserved. 
 
 They sent men to seek for the old sorceress in 
 the wood where she dwelt, and when they brought 
 her, she and her daughter and the gardener were 
 torn to pieces by four horses and then thrown 
 into a great fire and burned to ashes. 
 
 Goulven and Lévénez lived after that peace- 
 fully and happily, and were blessed, they say, 
 with many children. 
 
 Told by Le Noac'h, of Gourin, at Merville, near Lorient, 
 March 10, 1874. 
 
 F. M. Luzel. 
 
THE KING AND HIS THREE SONS 
 
 NCE there was a king who had three 
 sons. He wanted to lay aside his crown. 
 In his kingdom it was the custom to give 
 it tc the oldest; but as this king loved hi. c three 
 children equally, he could not resolve to obey 
 this custom and exclude the youngest in advance. 
 He wished that each of his children should have 
 equal chance to succeed him. He decided that 
 the crown should belong to whoever of his sons 
 should bring him the most beautiful flower. He 
 called them together and said to them, — 
 
 "The crown shall belong to the one who shall 
 bring me the most beautiful flower; go and 
 search." 
 
 The three sons started out, each his own way, 
 after having agreed to meet in a field well known 
 to them. The first who reached the field was the 
 oldest. He brought a beautiful flower. The 
 second arrived next, with a flower still more 
 beautiful. The oldest, seeing it, said bitterly, — 
 
 "I shall not have the crown!" 
 
 The youngest came last. His flower was so 
 beautiful that it eclipsed those of his brothers. 
 
 "I shall not have the crown," said the oldest to 
 
 127 
 
128 FRENCH FAIRY TALES 
 
 himself, angrily ; and seizing the knife which hung 
 from his girdle, he struck his youngest brother 
 and killed him. 
 
 The father, grieved at not seeing his youngest 
 child return, continued to wait for him before re- 
 signing his crown. The younger was so much 
 afraid of the oldest that he dared not speak. 
 
 Several years had passed after the murder, 
 when a shepherdess, who was keeping her sheep 
 in the field where the three brothers had had their 
 meeting, found a bone made like a flute. 
 
 She put it to her lips and blew. A voice came 
 out of it which sang, — 
 
 "Blow softly, shepherdess, 
 Blow, blow softly; 
 The knife from the girdle 
 Cruelly killed me." 
 
 The king heard that the shepherdess had found 
 a bone like a flute which made harmonious 
 sounds. He had it brought to him, put it to his 
 mouth and blew. The bone sang, — 
 
 "Blow softly, my father. 
 Blow, blow softly ; 
 The knife from the girdle 
 Cruelly killed me." 
 
 The king called his younger son, handed him 
 the bone and told him to blow in it. The son 
 blew; the bone sang, — 
 
THE KING AND HIS SONS 129 
 
 "Blow softly, my brother. 
 Blow, blow softly; 
 The knife from the girdle 
 Cruelly killed me." 
 
 The king called his oldest son, handed him the 
 bone and told him to blow in it. The son blew; 
 the bone sang, — 
 
 "Blow softly, my brother, 
 Blow, blow softly ; 
 The knife from thy girdle 
 Cruelly killed me." 
 
 At these words, "The knife from thy girdle," 
 the father understood it all. He had his oldest 
 son quartered at once. 
 
 Told at Fraisses (Loire) by Jacques Bayon, Aug. 19, 
 1877. 
 
 V. S. 
 
FANCH SCOUARNEC 
 
 A BRETON STORY 
 
 RICH lord was returning, alone, on 
 
 horseback, from Brest to Rennes. At 
 
 Brest, his footman had left him and 
 
 sailed. He wished to get another in his place, 
 
 and as he went along he had already proposed 
 
 to more than one; but all had refused; his terms 
 
 did not suit them. Between Plounevez-Moëdec 
 
 and Belle-Isle-en-Terre (doubtless on the bridge 
 
 of Saint-Elo) he saw by the roadside a little hut, 
 
 the one door and window of which stood open. 
 
 He got down from his horse so as to walk up to 
 
 it. He went to the hut to ask for a fire to light 
 
 his pipe. Holding his horse by the bridle, he 
 
 put his head in at the door, standing with one foot 
 
 inside and one out. His horse also put his head 
 
 in through the window, which, as I have said, was 
 
 open. A boy of twelve or thirteen years was 
 
 alone in the hut, seated by the hearth-stone. 
 
 "Are you alone, my boy?" asked the traveler. 
 
 "No," replied Fanch. (His name was Fanch 
 
 Scouarnec.) 
 
 130 
 
FANCH SCOUARNEC 131 
 
 "But I see no one beside you." 
 
 "It is nevertheless true, that there are in this 
 house at this moment, a man and a half and the 
 head of a horse." 
 
 "You love to joke I see, but give me a little 
 fire to light my pipe. Where is your father?" 
 
 "My father has gone hunting, and he will leave 
 what he catches, and bring back to the house what 
 he does not catch." 
 
 "That seems difficult; and where is your 
 mother?" 
 
 "My mother has gone to the oven to bake some 
 bread that has been eaten?" 
 
 "Good, good, you are a real joker; and your 
 sister?" 
 
 "My sister is crying for the joy of last year." 
 
 "I do not understand any of it; but you, what 
 are you doing there?" 
 
 "I, — I am watching some leap over others and 
 catching a few." 
 
 "Surely, I have never seen any one so full of 
 joke as you; but will you not explain it all to 
 me? 
 
 "There is nothing easier," said Fanch, "and 
 although you are a lord, you are not of the sharp- 
 est, it seems to me. My father is like me; he 
 never goes out alone; he is always accompanied 
 by a crowd of little animals who love him so 
 that they would like to eat him up. Once upon 
 
132 FRENCH FAIRY TALES 
 
 a time, when there were too many of them, he 
 seated himself down there in the sun, and went 
 hunting among the little beasts that I spoke of. 
 He left on the spot those he caught and brought 
 to the house those he did not catch. Do you un- 
 derstand me now?" 
 
 "Perfectly." 
 
 "My mother borrowed some bread last month 
 and she has gone to the oven to bake some bread 
 to return what she borrowed, so therefore you 
 see she has gone 'to bake some bread already 
 eaten. My sister had a lover, and her greatest 
 happiness was to go walking with him at the 
 hour for the angelus, and dance with him on the 
 new threshing-floors; but after promising to 
 marry her, he left her, and went away to France, 
 and that is the reason she is crying for the joy 
 she had last year. And as for me, I am busy 
 cooking some peas in a pot, and w T hen the pot 
 boils the peas leap over each other, and with my 
 spoon I catch some of them and eat them. Now, 
 my lord, is it not all just as I said?" 
 
 "Yes, upon my word! But you have not ex- 
 plained your first answer." 
 
 "You asked me if I was alone in the house; 
 and I told you that I was not alone, but that 
 there were here a man and a half and the head 
 of a horse. Now, you see, you have your head, 
 one foot, and half your body inside the house, 
 
FANCH SCOUARNEC 133 
 
 and I am entirely inside, that makes a man and a 
 half; and the horse's head is the head of your 
 horse which was in at the window." 
 
 "I see that there are bigger fools than you in 
 the country; but tell me now where this road 
 goes." 
 
 "That road, my lord, does not go anywhere; 
 I have always seen it there." 
 
 "I want to know to what place it leads; do 
 you hear me?" 
 
 "All! that is different; it leads to Belle-Isle, 
 to Louargat, to Bré, to Guingamp, and even to 
 Paris, they say." 
 
 "Very well! Would you like to come with me 
 and be my footman?" 
 
 "Perhaps, yes, when you have told me your 
 terms." 
 
 "I will give you a hundred crowns, and a bag 
 full of farthings, when you shall have served me 
 for a year and a day; but on condition that you 
 do everything I command you, and that you shall 
 never get angry, no matter what is said to you, 
 or what you are ordered to do; if you get angry, 
 you shall have a strip of skin taken off from your 
 neck to your heels, and be sent away without a 
 penny." 
 
 "The sum is tempting, a hundred crowns ! but 
 the conditions are hard. The strip of skin makes 
 me shiver. But now about your part, my lord? 
 Are you never to get angry either?" 
 
134 FRENCH FAIRY TALES 
 
 "That is the bargain," 
 
 "If you do, your skin shall be stripped off 
 too?" 
 
 "Just so; it shall be done to the first one who 
 gets angry." 
 
 "Very well, it is a bargain; I will go with you, 
 and I will go with you now while my father and 
 mother are away." 
 
 So they both started off on horseback, for the 
 lord was leading the horse of the footman who 
 had left him at Brest. 
 
 After traveling several days they came to the 
 lord's castle. At first Fanch was set to take care 
 of two children, four or five years old, with the 
 order never to contradict them and to do every- 
 thing they asked, if possible. 
 
 "Very well!" said Fanch; "that is not hard 
 work to begin with." 
 
 That evening" when they were at the table (for 
 Fanch ate with the master and mistress of the 
 house, so as to be always with the children) , the 
 two little brats cried out, — 
 
 "I want to get down, I want to get down!" 
 
 "Come, Fanch, do you not hear?" said the 
 lady. 
 
 "Yes, yes," answered Fanch; and he took them 
 away. He had only eaten his soup, and when he 
 came back into the room with the children, the 
 table was cleared away, there was nothing left 
 on it. 
 
FANCH SCOUARNEC 135 
 
 "How is it there is nothing on the table?" 
 asked he, after waiting a while. 
 
 "There is a rule in my house," replied the lord, 
 "that whoever comes after the table has been 
 cleared away shall have nothing." 
 
 "A bad rule!" he muttered. 
 
 "Are you not satisfied with it?" 
 
 "Oh! yes! I will not die for the loss of one 
 poor meal; I was used to that at my father's 
 house." 
 
 "If you are not pleased, you can have your 
 skin taken off." 
 
 "I am pleased, I tell you." 
 
 The next day at supper, Fanch had hardly be- 
 gun to eat his soup, when the little brats began 
 to cry out, — 
 
 "I want to go." 
 
 "Come, Fanch, do you not hear?" 
 
 And Fanch went to please the children. 
 
 "Come, children, make haste and go back!" 
 said he to them. 
 
 But when he returned, there was nothing on 
 the table. 
 
 "How is this," said he; "must I go without 
 supper two days together?" 
 
 "Are you dissatisfied, Fanch?" 
 
 "I did not say that; but the children could 
 just as well stay and let me eat in peace." 
 
 "You promised to do everything the children 
 asked, and if you are displeased, you know — " 
 
136 FRENCH FAIRY TALES 
 
 "Yes, yes, I am entirely satisfied." 
 
 And Fanch went to bed again without eating 
 anything. 
 
 "Ah!" said he, "this thing cannot go on; I 
 must eat sometime; we will see how it will be to- 
 morrow." 
 
 The next day the children began their song 
 again. 
 
 "Ah!" cried Fanch, "this is no way to live; 
 I must put an end to it. You want to go, my 
 little scamps? Very well, go to the devil! I 
 want some supper to-night, I do!" and he threw 
 the two children out of the window. 
 
 "Stop!" cried the master and mistress, ris- 
 ing, "this is too much! To throw our chil- 
 dren out of the window! Ah! you shall pay for 
 it!" 
 
 "So then you are angry, master?" said Fanch 
 quickly. 
 
 "I am not angry," he replied, growing a little 
 calmer, "but that is no way to do; it is a mercy 
 if my poor children are not crippled!" 
 
 "If you are angry, master, you know our con- 
 ditions, and I will strip off — " 
 
 "I tell you I am not angry, but I shall not 
 trust my children with you again." 
 
 "Just as you like; I would rather do anything 
 than mind children like a nurse." 
 
 That evening Fanch could eat comfortably. 
 The next day the lord said, — 
 
FANCH SCOUARNEC 137 
 
 "Go to the blacksmith's and have the horses' 
 feet shod." 
 
 "Very well," said Fanch; "I like that better 
 than minding children." 
 
 Then he went to the stable, cut off the horses' 
 feet with a hatchet, put them in a wagon, and 
 took them to the blacksmith. That evening when 
 he returned, the lord was in the court-yard of the 
 castle. 
 
 "Here are your horses' feet," said Fanch; "see 
 if they are well shod." 
 
 "What have you done, you miserable crea- 
 ture?" 
 
 "Did you not tell me to have the horses' feet 
 shod?" 
 
 "You have ruined me, you wretch!" 
 
 "Why, master, you are angry, it seems to me!" 
 
 "Ah! it is enough to make me, — but you know 
 very well that I do not get angry very easily." 
 
 "If you are angry, you know — I shall strip off 
 your skin — " 
 
 "Go to your supper at once and say nothing of 
 this to your mistress ; to-morrow I will see how I 
 can employ you." 
 
 The next day Fanch was sent to watch a great 
 herd of beeves, in a pasture which was by the side 
 of the high road. A butcher passed along the 
 road. He went into the pasture and began to 
 examine and feel the beeves. "Fine beeves." 
 
138 FRENCH FAIRY TALES 
 
 said he to himself. "They are fat as moles. I 
 have to furnish the meat at the castle, for the 
 wedding of the young lady, which will take place 
 the coming week, and if I can get three or four 
 of these beeves, that will suit me exactly. Eh! 
 boy!" cried he to Fanch, who was lying under a 
 beech-tree singing. 
 
 "What do you want?" he asked, without mov- 
 ing. 
 
 "Come here, so that I can speak to you." 
 
 "Come yourself, if you want me." 
 
 Then the butcher went to him, saying to him- 
 self, — 
 
 "He does not look like the sharpest kind of a 
 fellow." 
 
 "Will you sell me three or four of your 
 beeves?" 
 
 "All, if you wish." 
 
 "How much do you ask for them?" 
 
 "Five hundred crowns, and the tail of one of 
 them!" 
 
 "Why, for goodness' sake?" 
 
 "Do not bother about that; that is my busi- 
 ness." 
 
 "Very well, agreed! The bargain is made!" 
 
 And they shook hands with each other. 
 
 "And the money at once," added Fanch. 
 
 The butcher, pleased with his bargain, counted 
 the five hundred crowns to him, and was about to 
 
FANCH SCOUARNEC 139 
 
 go off with the beeves, when Fanch called out, — 
 
 "But the tail? I must have the tail." 
 
 "You insist upon that, do you?" 
 
 "Why, certainly, and nothing is concluded 
 without it." 
 
 Then the butcher cut off the tail of one of the 
 beeves and gave it to him. 
 
 When the butcher was gone with all the beeves, 
 Fanch climbed up into an oak-tree, with the tail, 
 and began crying out with all his might, "Help! 
 help! help at once!" 
 
 They heard his cry at the castle, and sent a 
 footman to see what was the matter. Fanch, 
 seeing the footman coming, called to him, — 
 
 "Run to the castle and tell the lord to come 
 here as quickly as possible, or all of his beeves 
 will be lost." 
 
 So the footman ran to the castle and said to 
 the lord, — 
 
 "Come as fast as you can to the field, master, 
 or all your beeves will be lost." 
 
 The lord ran to the field, and saw Fanch up 
 in a tree, and apparently holding on with all his 
 might to the tail of a beef. 
 
 "What are you doing there, Fanch, and where 
 are the beeves?" 
 
 "Come up here quickly, my poor master, come 
 up quickly, or you will lose them all! A terrible 
 whirlwind came suddenly and carried them up to 
 
140 FRENCH FAIRY TALES 
 
 the sky, each holding on to the other by the tail! 
 I seized the tail of the last one, and have been 
 lifted up here. I am still holding on, but for 
 goodness' sake make haste and come to my as- 
 sistance, or I shall have to let go; I cannot hold 
 on any longer." 
 
 So the lord went up and took hold of the tail 
 also. But as soon as he did so, Fanch let go, 
 and his master fell to the ground, taking the tail 
 along. 
 
 "Alas! my poor master," said he then, "we 
 held on so long that the tail is all that is left; 
 the beeves have gone to heaven." 
 
 The poor lord, all mangled and bleeding, 
 swore and stormed. 
 
 "Miserable wretch, accursed rascal! you have 
 almost killed me!" 
 
 "Why, master, are you angry?" asked Fanch 
 quietly; he was still in the tree. 
 
 "And who would not be angry?" 
 
 "Well, you know your conditions, and I shall 
 strip off your skin." 
 
 "But I did not say that I was angry, though 
 indeed I think I had good right to be. You will 
 ruin me! I shall be thankful if you do not kill 
 me." 
 
 Then the lord returned to his house, rubbing 
 his back and trying to think how he could get 
 rid of such a rascal. 
 
FANCH SCOUARNEC 141 
 
 The next day he sent Fanch to take care of 
 his hogs. A hog merchant passed by on his way 
 to the fair at Lannion. 
 
 "Will you sell me your hogs, my boy?" said 
 he to Fanch. 
 
 "I should like nothing better," he replied. 
 
 "How much will you take?" 
 
 "Two hundred crowns and the tail of one of 
 them." 
 
 "Agreed! It is a bargain!" 
 
 "And the money on the spot?" 
 
 "Yes, yes, on the spot." 
 
 Then the merchant paid two hundred crowns 
 and went away, taking the hogs along. 
 
 There was a pond near by, part of which was 
 all marshy and filled up with grass and branches 
 of trees. Fanch waded in up to his stomach, 
 and began to call out as loud as he could. He 
 had stuck the large end of the hog's tail which 
 he had, down in the mud, and was pretending 
 to pull it up with all his might, crying, "Help! 
 help! help, quickly!" The lord was walking in 
 the wood, not far from the pond, and ran to his 
 assistance on hearing his cries. 
 
 "What is the matter now?" asked he, seeing 
 Fanch in the mud up to his stomach. 
 
 "Come quickly and help me, my poor master, 
 or we shall lose all of them. An animal unlike 
 any I ever saw before, — a frightful creature, a 
 
142 FRENCH FAIRY TALES 
 
 real demon, I believe, — came up out of the pond, 
 when I was not dreaming of such a thing, and 
 then went back again dragging my hogs after 
 him, all holding on to each other by the tail. I 
 caught the tail of the last one, you see! Come 
 help me to pull it up, for if we can pull this one 
 up, all the others will come after it. Come 
 quickly, for I am ready to let go." 
 
 Then the lord went into the pond without 
 hesitation, and began to pull on the tail with 
 Fanch. But the latter, letting go suddenly, he 
 fell, and sinking into the mud, was almost stifled. 
 
 "Alas! they are all lost! They are gone be- 
 low!" cried Fanch. 
 
 The other, after getting out with great diffi- 
 culty, swore and threatened. 
 
 "Why, master, are you angry?" said Fanch to 
 him, jeeringly. 
 
 "Leave me in peace, you villain! I wish you 
 were in purgatory!" 
 
 "If you are angry, you have only to give me 
 my hundred crowns, with the bag of farthings, 
 according to our agreement, and I will go when- 
 ever you wish ; but before I go, you know, I will 
 strip off your skin from your neck — " 
 
 "Who said I was angry? Though indeed I 
 had great reason, I think; you will ruin me ut- 
 terly!" 
 
 "What could I do? I could not prevent the 
 demon's taking off your hogs." 
 
FANCH SCOUARNEC 143 
 
 "To-morrow I will give you another occupa- 
 tion, and as soon as the year is ended you shall 
 go, for you are good for nothing." 
 
 "As you like; but when will my year be 
 ended ?" 
 
 "When the cuckoo sings." 
 
 The next day the lord said to Fanch, — 
 
 "Take this gun and come with me into the 
 woods ; the poachers are destroying all my game, 
 and the poor people of the whole country pro- 
 vide themselves with wood at my expense; I 
 want to see after these matters." 
 
 "Vrey well," said Fanch, "that suits me." 
 
 And he put his gun on his shoulder, and fol- 
 lowed his master to the woods. At the edge of 
 it they saw an old woman who had a great load 
 on her back. 
 
 "Fire at her!" said the lord to Fanch. 
 
 "Must I do it?" 
 
 "Yes, sir." 
 
 "And if I kill her?" 
 
 "So much the worse for her! That will teach 
 her to steal my wood." 
 
 So Fanch fired, bang! and the old woman 
 rolled over on the ground with her load. They 
 went to her. 
 
 "She is dead!" said the lord. 
 
 "Quite," said Fanch, "unfortunately for you, 
 for I should not like to be in your place. This 
 
144 FRENCH FAIRY TALES 
 
 old" woman has two sons, — two jolly fellows, 
 upon my word, and when they know that you 
 have killed their mother, — " 
 
 "But it was you who killed her." 
 
 "Yes, but by your order; I am your servant, 
 and I must obey you, but you will have to pay 
 for it." 
 
 "You frighten me; go quickly to the castle 
 and bring me two shovels, so we can bury her in 
 the earth and no one will know anything about 
 it. You will find them in the passage near the 
 chamber of my wife and daughter. Put them 
 in a bag, so that no one can see, and return 
 quickly." 
 
 Fanch went to the castle and found the door 
 of the lady's room open, where she was sitting 
 with her daughter. He entered and said, — 
 
 "My master has ordered me to put both of you 
 in a bag." 
 
 "What is it you say, idiot? You must have 
 lost your senses!" 
 
 "You shall hear him say it himself." 
 
 And going to the window, he called out to the 
 lord, who was waiting for him below, — 
 
 "Both of them in a bag, shall I not, my lord?" 
 
 "Yes, both, and make haste." (He meant the 
 two shovels.) 
 
 "Do you hear? I must obey my master." 
 
 And he seized upon the mother and daughter, 
 
FANCH SCOUARNEC 145 
 
 and succeeded, not without difficulty, — for they 
 resisted as well as they could, — in shutting them 
 up in a bag. The lord, hearing the noise, and 
 their screams, ran up to see what was going on. 
 
 "What trick have you played on me now, mis- 
 erable wretch, demon incarnate?" cried he, seeing 
 the bag rolling on the floor, and hearing the 
 screams that came out of it. 
 
 "Well, I put them in the bag; did you not tell 
 me to bring you two women in a bag?" 
 
 "Two women, idiot!" 
 
 "Bless me! I thought you said two women." 
 
 "I have a good mind to run my sword through 
 your body." 
 
 "You are angry it seems to me, my master." 
 
 "Angry, angry, — and who would not be in my 
 place?" 
 
 "Oh! then I am going to strip off your skin." 
 
 "But I am not angry at all. I said nothing 
 of the sort; you know very well that I have a 
 good temper, and that I never get angry. But 
 go, run quickly to the woods, take two shovels 
 in a bag, — you understand now, two shovels, — 
 and do what I told you." 
 
 The lord then pulled his wife and daughter 
 out of the bag, and consulted with them upon 
 some means of getting rid of Fanch as soon as 
 possible. 
 
 "It was agreed," said the lady, "that his year 
 should end when the cuckoo began to sing." 
 
146 FRENCH FAIRY TALES 
 
 "Yes, but it is not yet time for the cuckoo to 
 sing." 
 
 "Pshaw! that boy is such a fool, he would never 
 know what time of the year the cuckoo ought to 
 sing ; to-morrow I will make the cuckoo sing my- 
 self." 
 
 The next day, just as Fanch was going to the 
 wood with his gun on his shoulder, he heard, 
 "Cuckoo! cuckoo!" from a large oak-tree which 
 was near the gate of the court-yard. 
 
 "What is this?" said he; "does the cuckoo sing 
 in the month of February in this country? I 
 will teach you in a moment, how to wait till the 
 right time comes to sing, vile bird!" 
 
 And he fired, bang! and the lady fell dead at 
 his feet. 
 
 "Why, what a singular cuckoo!" said he. 
 
 "Ah! you demon!" cried the lord, "you have 
 killed my wife! I will kill you, too, as I would 
 a dog." 
 
 "Oh ! this time you are angry, my master, you 
 are very angry, and I shall strip off your skin." 
 
 "No, I am not angry, because I never get 
 angry, myself. But from this moment, you shall 
 never have anything to do at the castle but eat, 
 drink, and go walking; for you would bring me 
 to beggary!" 
 
 "Oh! delightful! that is just what I had wished 
 for." 
 
FANCH SCOUARNEC 147 
 
 One day the cuckoo sang at last in the month 
 of May. They gave Fanch his hundred crowns 
 and his bag of farthings, and bade him farewell. 
 And he returned to his country, without having 
 had his skin stripped off; more fortunate than 
 many others who had been before him at this cas- 
 tle; for there was a room there where you could 
 see a great number of skins hung up against the 
 wall. 
 
 With the five hundred crowns that he got for 
 the beeves, the two hundred crowns for the hogs, 
 and the hundred crowns and the bag of farthings 
 for his wages, he found himself quite rich. 
 Moreover, he married one of the richest heiresses 
 in his neighborhood, and for three whole days 
 there were holidays and feasts, to which all the 
 people in the neighborhood were invited, the poor 
 as well as the rich. 
 
 Told in Breton by Barbe Tassel, Plouaret, December, 
 1868. 
 
 F. M. Luzel. 
 
THE ROEBUCK HUNT 
 
 AN IROQUOIS STORY 
 
 AN old man lived in a cabin with his grand- 
 son, who was twenty years old. They 
 were the last survivors of a nation ex- 
 terminated by the sorceresses. 
 
 The young man was a good hunter, but he had 
 one great trouble: his grandfather forbade his 
 huting the roebuck, without giving him any rea- 
 son for this interdiction. One day, returning 
 from the hunt sooner than usual, the young man 
 surprised his grandfather making soup of some 
 bones. Being questioned very narrowly on the 
 subject, the old man told the following story: — 
 
 "These bones that you have seen are the bones 
 of a roebuck. When you were born, our nation 
 was numerous and powerful. But unfortu- 
 nately there were some young people who would 
 not obey their chiefs. These young people be- 
 came more and more insolent, and were imitated 
 by others. The Lord of life became angry and 
 sent the sorceresses to destroy the cabins: you 
 see that ours is the only one now remaining. 
 
 Our warriors were all killed or made prisoners. 
 
 148 
 
THE ROEBUCK HUNT 149 
 
 You were very small then; I carried you away 
 with me, far away, to a nation allied to ours — a 
 fortunate journey which saved our lives, or at 
 least spared us from slavery. But what do I 
 say ? Are we free ? Alas ! no, for the sorceresses 
 allowed us to live only on condition that we 
 should never hunt the roebuck, and never eat his 
 flesh. The wolves have devoured a roebuck, I 
 gathered up the remains, these few naked bones ; 
 I could not resist the desire to taste some soup 
 made of the bones and to eat the marrow of 
 them." 
 
 Hearing this story, the young man became 
 very angiy with the sorceresses, and resolved to 
 find them and punish them. His grandfather 
 then said to him. 
 
 "Since you are determined to go, listen to me. 
 You will be obliged to go through a forest at the 
 end of which there is a place where there are a 
 great many wolves ; throw to them the game you 
 kill by the way, and you will then be able to catch 
 them. Soon after, you will come to the country 
 of the sorceresses; then, especially, you must be 
 very cautious. Take care not to touch a single 
 ear when you come to their field of Indian corn ; 
 or else immediately they will surprise you, and 
 you will be lost." 
 
 The young man took leave of the old man, 
 promising to follow his instructions. All went 
 
150 FRENCH FAIRY TALES 
 
 well till just when he went to the sorceresses' 
 corn-field. The ripe ears made him covetous, 
 and he had just put out his hand when suddenly 
 he heard some one whisper in his ear to go along 
 quietly and not touch a single ear. He had only 
 gone a few steps when he saw a skeleton leaning 
 against the enclosure of the field, as if put there 
 to scare away the birds. It was one of the vic- 
 tims of the sorceresses and the young warrior's 
 paternal uncle. He recognized his nephew and 
 called him by his name. 
 
 The latter coming up to him, his skeleton uncle 
 told him everything that he would have to do 
 when he went into the presence of the sorceresses. 
 Furnished with these instructions, he arrived at 
 the dwelling of the sorceresses. He was well re- 
 ceived, and they contended as to who should bring 
 him his pottage. The skeleton had told him this 
 beforehand; "Each sorceress," he told him, "will 
 bring you a plate of corn boiled with meat; do 
 not accept it, for if you do you make a fatal en- 
 gagement with them. Only one, the youngest 
 of them, will not invite you to eat out of her plate, 
 and hers is really the corn and meat of which you 
 must partake : you must put the spoon in boldly ; 
 she will give you a sweet smile, and by this you 
 will be married. Meanwhile the other sorceresses 
 will wish to kill you, but your young wife will 
 know very well how to take care of you: you 
 have only to follow our counsels." 
 
THE ROEBUCK HUNT 151 
 
 Everything happened as he said. 
 
 When evening came, the } r oung sorceress said 
 to her husband, — 
 
 "The great old woman will come to-night to 
 kill you; but do not be afraid, I will waken you 
 in time. 
 
 Sure enough, about midnight the great old 
 woman came suddenly to the bedside of the newly 
 married pair, but, surprised at finding them 
 awake, she went away without having been able 
 to execute her design. At dawn of day the hus- 
 band and wife arose, and the wife said to her 
 husband, — 
 
 "Go find your uncle; he has something to tell 
 you," and he went to him immediately. 
 
 "My nephew," said the skeleton to him, "what 
 you must do now is to seize upon the bag which 
 is in the chamber of the great old woman." 
 
 It was an enchanted bag which had shut up in 
 it all the secrets of sorcery, and he would have 
 been entirely unable to take it away without the 
 aid of his wife, who showed him how to do it, and 
 procured him the assistance of a rat that helped 
 him by cutting the string of the bag with its 
 teeth. As soon as this was done, the sorceresses 
 uttered cries of rage and despair. What did 
 they see? Roebucks running here and there in 
 their cornfield; and ducks, each wearing a heart 
 around his neck. It was all over with the sor- 
 
152 FRENCH FAIRY TALES 
 
 ceresses; the newly married husband, instructed 
 by his wife, took the hearts, one after the other, 
 and broke them. They were the hearts of the 
 sorceresses. The vengeance was complete; but 
 there was one more thing still to be done, — they 
 must free the prisoners. These numerous herds 
 of roebucks wandering about the country are a 
 sign of good fortune. 
 
 "Do you see that tree near the lake?" said 
 the wife to her husband; "you must cut it down 
 so that it will fall across the lake and serve as a 
 bridge." 
 
 No sooner said than done; thousands of war- 
 riors rose up at once and thanked their deliverer. 
 Then began a triumphal march to their own coun- 
 try; the emblem of the nation was erected, the 
 recaptured roebuck should be the family token 
 of the children that should be born to the young 
 couple. 
 
 Ten days had scarcely passed since the grand- 
 father and his grandson had parted. Five days, 
 thanks to the skill of the young sorceress, was 
 enough for the journey home. The joy of the 
 old man on seeing his grandson again and hear- 
 ing the story of his adventures, can scarcely be 
 imagined. And the nation arose from its ruins 
 and became more powerful than before. 
 
 J. A. Cuoq. 
 
PIERRE AND HELENE 
 
 A STORY OF LOWER BRITANNY 
 
 ONCE there were two orphans who lived 
 in a village, a brother and a sister; the 
 brother's name was Pierre, and the sis- 
 ter's Hélène. Pierre was married. The woman 
 he married was wicked and jealous, and from 
 the moment she entered Pierre's house she hated 
 her sister-in-law; Hélène was good. 
 
 A year passed, and Pierre became the father 
 of a little girl. 
 
 "Hélène shall be her godmother!" said he. 
 
 "As you like," said his wife, casting an angry 
 glance upon the poor girl. 
 
 Little Hélène grew; and when she began to 
 say a few words she was always lisping that of 
 her good godmother. Pierre's wicked wife was 
 very indignant at it. 
 
 "Hypocrite!" cried she in a rage, "is she going 
 to deprive me of my child's affection as she has 
 of my husband's love? I will find some sure 
 means of driving this perfidious creature out of 
 the house." 
 
 153 
 
154 FRENCH FAIRY TALES 
 
 One day she went to her husband. "See here/' 
 said she, "it is I who do all the work; your sis- 
 ter takes her pleasure when your wife is worn 
 out with fatigue; she folds her arms from morn- 
 ing to night while I do her work and mine. Send 
 her away, then, and you will see that everything 
 will go better in our household." 
 
 Pierre was very sad at these words, for he loved 
 Hélène tenderly. 
 
 "My sister," said he to her the next day, "it 
 is not right that you should eat the bread that 
 others have earned, and be idle yourself." 
 
 "I milk, I bake the bread, I make the butter," 
 said Hélène; "what more do you wish me to do?" 
 
 But the wicked woman could not restrain her 
 hatred, and a few days after this she said, — 
 
 "I cannot stand it any longer; she must go!" 
 
 And she ran to the stable and killed an ox. 
 
 "Pierre, Pierre!" cried she to her husband, 
 "see what your sister Hélène has done; she has 
 killed one of your oxen." 
 
 "My sister, why did you do this?" said Pierre 
 to her, greatly mortified. 
 
 "I did not do it, brother," answered Hélène 
 sweetly. 
 
 The next day the second ox died. 
 
 "Pierre, Pierre!" cried the wicked woman, 
 "see ; your other ox is dead, and it is Hélène who 
 killed this one also." 
 
PIERRE AND HELENE 155 
 
 "I shall be ruined if I have no beasts to take 
 into the fields," said Pierre to his sister, "and 
 this is the second one of my oxen that you have 
 killed." 
 
 "I did not do it, brother," answered Hélène 
 quietly. 
 
 The next day the horse was found dead in the 
 stable. 
 
 "Pierre, Pierre! see what your sister has done. 
 Next thing she will set the house on fire." 
 
 "Sister," said Pierre, "how could you kill my 
 horse? Do you wish me to be obliged to beg my 
 bread?" 
 
 "I did not do it, brother," Hélène answered 
 sadly. 
 
 "Pierre, Pierre!" cried the wicked woman, the 
 day after, "come see what your demon of a sister 
 has done. Look at our child; I found her smoth- 
 ered in her bed." 
 
 Pierre tore out his hair in despair, and sent 
 for Hélène, who had gone out to her work early 
 in the morning. 
 
 "Sister," said he angrily, "you killed my oxen 
 and my horse, and I pardoned you; but now 
 you have killed my child: you must leave this 
 house, and receive the punishment for your 
 crimes!" 
 
 Then Pierre cut off Hélène's two arms; and 
 they prepared to go away. 
 
156 FRENCH FAIRY TALES 
 
 "Where are you going to take me?" said 
 Hélène. 
 
 "You will see," said Pierre. 
 
 "Give me my mass-book, brother, and let my 
 little dog go with me." 
 
 Pierre took Hélène a long distance, and they 
 came at last to a great forest; the wind blew 
 through the trees and made the leaves shake. 
 Suddenly a large oak-tree fell. Pierre took his 
 sister in his arms and placed her up among the 
 branches; he opened the mass-book and laid it 
 on her lap, and the little dog played nimbly by 
 his mistress' side. 
 
 "Farewell, my sister!" said Pierre, turning 
 away to wipe his tears. 
 
 "Farewell!" answered Hélène. 
 
 At that moment she saw that Pierre had hurt 
 himself, and that there was a thorn in his foot. 
 
 "Go on, brother," said she to him; "some day 
 I will come and take it out." 
 
 Pierre went on his way, and when he returned 
 to his dwelling, he sat down beside his hearth- 
 stone; and suddenly the thorn grew immensely, 
 and a great tree sprang up from his foot and 
 went up the chimney. He was thus condemned 
 to remain where he was seated and to wait till 
 his sister should come to set him free as she had 
 promised him. 
 
 Hélène continued in the forest, seated in the 
 
PIERRE AND HELENE 157 
 
 top of the great tree, and the wind turned the 
 leaves of the mass-book she had on her knees. 
 Hélène prayed. 
 
 At the hour for meals, twice a day, the oak- 
 tree bent down as if blown down by the wind, 
 and the little dog jumped to the ground and went 
 to look for his mistress' breakfast. 
 
 There was in the neighborhood a castle where 
 a young lord and his mother lived. 
 
 Every day, for some time, the lady of the cas- 
 tle had remarked, on sitting down to her table, 
 that several of her dishes had been partly con- 
 sumed. 
 
 "See here!" said she to her astonished servants, 
 "who is permitted to eat of the meats before 
 they are brought to the table? Is it proper that 
 my son and I should eat what our servants 
 leave?" 
 
 "Madam," said the steward, "I placed those 
 meats there only a moment ago, and I assure you 
 they had not been touched." 
 
 "Very well," said the lady angrily; "find out 
 as soon as possible who this insolent creature is, 
 who feeds upon our meats before we have tasted 
 them ourselves." 
 
 The next day, at the dinner hour, the steward 
 took his place near the table, which was all served 
 for dinner. Suddenly a little dog leaped in at 
 the open window; he held a handkerchief be- 
 
158 FRENCH FAIRY TALES 
 
 tween his teeth. With one bound he was on the 
 table; and seizing several bits of meat, some 
 bread, and a few pieces of fruit, he fled away. 
 The steward was completely confounded. 
 
 "Well?" said the lady as she entered. 
 
 "I have seen him!" cried the steward; "I have 
 seen him!" 
 
 "Who?" she asked. 
 
 And he explained all that had passed. 
 
 "You must follow it," said the lady of the 
 castle. 
 
 "I will try, madam." 
 
 The next day, at the same hour, the steward 
 took his place near the table. The dog came in 
 through the window and took his provision as 
 usual; then, seeing they were watching for him, 
 he fled away rapidly. The steward tried to fol- 
 low him in vain; the little animal disappeared 
 in the forest. 
 
 "Leave it to me," said the young lord; "I will 
 find out where this dog goes." 
 
 And the next day he took the steward's place. 
 The window had been left open purposely. At 
 the usual hour the little dog appeared. The lord 
 of the castle did not interfere with him ; but when 
 he saw him take the four corners of Hélène's 
 handkerchief between his teeth, he darted out 
 and ran in pursuit of the thief. 
 
 He followed the dog for several minutes; but 
 
PIERRE AND HELENE 159 
 
 soon worn out by the useless chase, he threw 
 himself at the foot of a tree, breathless, but not 
 discouraged. 
 
 "To-morrow," said he resolutely, "to-morrow 
 I will find out where this dog goes." 
 
 So the next day he had his horse saddled, and, 
 taking his place under the window, he waited. 
 The little dog appeared, jumped on the table, 
 chose among the dishes that were served, a break- 
 fast for his mistress; but when he started as 
 usual to return to his retreat, the gallop of a 
 horse resounded behind him. 
 
 The dog stopped suddenly; one of the oak- 
 trees bent down just then, and the intelligent 
 little animal took his place near his mistress. 
 The young lord of the castle, looking up, saw a 
 charming young girl seated among the branches 
 at the top of the tree. He was struck with her 
 beauty. A book was lying on her lap, and the 
 wind turned the leaves of it as she read; for oh, 
 strange ! the poor child had been deprived of both 
 her arms. 
 
 He questioned Hélène; and she answered his 
 questions. 
 
 The lord of the castle heard all the young girl's 
 history. His heart was moved with pity. He 
 came to see her often; and one day he swore he 
 would have no one but her for his wife. 
 
 One day a carriage stopped at the foot of the 
 
i6o FRENCH FAIRY TALES 
 
 oak-tree, which bent down; and the young hus- 
 band received his betrothed in his arms. 
 
 When the ceremony was over, the old lady of 
 the castle, looking at the young wife, said to 
 herself, — 
 
 "So this is my son's wife!" and an expression 
 of hatred came over her face. "Patience!" she 
 added, in a low voice, "patience! the day will 
 come when she shall leave my house forever." 
 
 A few months after, the young husband went 
 away to the war. 
 
 One morning the crabbed old lady of the castle 
 came into the young wife's room. Twin babies 
 had just been born to her; and they were resting 
 quietly by her side in a gilded cradle. 
 
 "Ah!" she muttered with disgust, and went 
 out. Her hand trembled with anger as she 
 dipped the pen into the ink and wrote the news 
 to her son: — 
 
 "Well," said she, "your wife has brought two 
 very ugly little children into the world." 
 
 The springtime came; but still the lord of the 
 castle had sent no tidings of himself. 
 
 "Your husband is dead," said Hélène's wicked 
 mother-in-law to her one day; "I do not wish 
 you to be any longer under my roof. Go; 
 neither you nor your brats shall disgrace this 
 castle any longer." 
 
 "Alas, madam!" answered Hélène, "I can go 
 
PIERRE AND HELENE 161 
 
 away very well; but who will carry my dear 
 little ones?" 
 
 "You yourself," said the horrible woman. 
 "Do you suppose I would put my servants at 
 your service? They would refuse to go with a 
 beggar like you," 
 
 "Alas!" replied Hélène, "I have no arms, as 
 other mothers have, to carry my poor children." 
 
 "We will manage it," said the hard-hearted 
 mother-in-law. 
 
 And the next day Hélène left the castle, carry- 
 ing the two innocent little ones in a cloth which 
 was tied round her waist. 
 
 She wandered a long time in the forest, fol- 
 lowed by her little dog; and when evening came 
 on, weariness overcame her, and she was very 
 thirsty. A fountain flowed a few steps from her. 
 Hélène sighed. 
 
 "Alas!" she thought, "if I only had one arm, 
 I could catch some water in the palm of my hand 
 and quench my thirst." 
 
 And as she uttered the words, a little bird, 
 perched on the edge of the fountain, began to 
 twitter. He said, in his language, — 
 
 "Do not cry, poor Hélène." 
 
 Hélène, astonished, stopped to listen to it; but 
 the little bird continued to sing. Hélène ap- 
 proached the fountain, and leaned over the water; 
 she tried to drink, 
 
i62 FRENCH FAIRY TALES 
 
 But before her lips could reach the water, one 
 of her nurslings fell into the fountain. Poor 
 Hélène! who would give her little baby back to 
 her? 
 
 But the bird went on singing; and in its lan- 
 guage it said, — 
 
 "Dip what there is left of your right arm into 
 the fountain, and fear nothing for your child." 
 
 Hélène obeyed the little bird, and dipped what 
 remained of her arm; and at once a strong and 
 active arm and a supple hand grew out in place 
 of the right arm and hand that she had lost. 
 
 Hélène picked up her child with delight; but 
 at the same moment the other dropped from the 
 cloth that held it, and fell into the water, as his 
 brother had done. But the little bird kept on 
 singing; and in its joyous language it said, — 
 
 "Dip what remains to you of your left arm 
 into the fountain, and fear nothing for your 
 child." 
 
 Hélène dipped what there was left of her other 
 arm, and immediately she had a new left arm. 
 
 Hélène picked up her other child. 
 
 A cabin under the shade of an oak-tree shel- 
 tered Hélène and her children. One day the 
 two children were playing on the threshold. A 
 stranger passed by. He stopped before the two 
 children. 
 
 "I, too," cried he bitterly, "I would one day 
 
PIERRE AND HELENE 163 
 
 have been surrounded by fair young ones; but 
 Hélène has fled from my home." When sud- 
 denly Hélène appeared at the cabin door. 
 
 "It is she!" cried the stranger. 
 
 But he drew back as if struck by lightning. 
 This woman had two arms, and her fingers 
 fondled her children's hair. His Hélène had 
 both arms cut off. 
 
 Meanwhile, she had also recognized the stran- 
 ger, and sprang towards him. 
 
 A few hours after, a magnificent carriage 
 stopped at Pierre's farm. Hélène descended 
 quickly from her carriage, and went into the 
 house. Poor Pierre was still seated beside the 
 fire. He suffered terribly, and his wicked wife 
 never consoled him. When she heard the car- 
 riage stop, and saw her sister-in-law get out of 
 it, she suddenly disappeared. 
 
 "Where is your wife?" asked Hélène of her 
 brother. 
 
 "I do not know," answered Pierre. "Heaven 
 has punished me for my crime, for I have not 
 had a day of happiness since I left you in the 
 forest; and my wife, who caused me to do such 
 a deed, leaves me to my misery." 
 
 At this moment they heard the voice of the 
 wicked woman. "Hélène," said she, coming for- 
 ward, and speaking in a sweet voice, "I hope you 
 have pardoned me ; Heaven has punished us, and 
 
164 FRENCH FAIRY TALES 
 
 we are, as you see, very unhappy. But come," 
 she added, leading the way to the upper story. 
 
 "I cannot," said Hélène; "I must cure my 
 brother first." 
 
 "Come up, so that I may show you what 
 Heaven has left me to console me in my mis- 
 fortune." 
 
 Hélène, thinking her sister-in-law wished to 
 show her a new baby, started towards the wind- 
 ing stairway. 
 
 "Go first," said Pierre's wife, with hypocritical 
 respect. 
 
 "No," said Hélène; "I do not wish to go in 
 front of you. I am always poor Hélène, Pierre's 
 sister." 
 
 The sister-in-law then went up first, and sud- 
 denly a loud noise was heard; two steps of the 
 stairway fell in with a great crash, and the wicked 
 woman fell into a pot of boiling water that she 
 had prepared for Hélène. She thought she had 
 counted the steps, and was sure of the success of 
 her treachery; but hatred bewildered her, and 
 made her the victim of her own perfidy. Hélène 
 turned away her head in horror and descended 
 the stair. 
 
 "My brother," said she to Pierre, "Heaven has 
 punished the crime; your wife is dead; she fell 
 into the snare she set for me. But you see I 
 have come to fufill my promise. Show me your 
 
PIERRE AND HELENE 165 
 
 foot, and I will take out the thorn which has 
 caused you so much suffering." 
 
 "Alas, my sister! this thorn is a great tree 
 whose branches already cover the roof of my 
 dwelling," said Pierre. 
 
 But as he spoke, Hélène touched her brother's 
 foot, and in a moment the tree disappeared up the 
 chimney, and fell with a crash on the other side 
 of the house. 
 
 Marguerite de Belz, "La Clef des Champs." 
 
THE THREE EGGS 
 
 A CREOLE STORY 
 
 NCE upon a time there was a negro and 
 his wife who lived in a village on the 
 shore of the Oyapok. They had a little 
 girl who was much the prettiest child that ever 
 was seen. Obedient, intelligent, loving her par- 
 ents with all her soul, she was the joy and pride 
 of her father and mother. The whole family 
 lived on the produce of the little field of tapioca 
 and potatoes which surrounded their hut. 
 
 When winter came, the torrents of rain caused 
 the river to overflow, and when the waters re- 
 tired, all the plain, for a great distance, was only 
 a mass of gravel and stones. Poverty desolated 
 the country. In the negro's hut there was soon 
 scarcely a morsel of cassava ; the provision of po- 
 tatoes diminished day by day. After having 
 talked many times in a low voice over their sad 
 condition, after having wept over it, the poor 
 people resolved to go and leave their precious 
 child to be lost in the forest. 
 
 One morning they started out. As they went 
 along, the mother and her good man walked 
 
 166 
 
THE THREE EGGS 167 
 
 slowly, with great tears in their eyes; the little 
 girl went in front gathering berries that she 
 found in the bushes. Suddenly, not hearing her 
 parents talking any longer, the child called, — 
 
 "Mamma! mamma!" 
 
 No reply. Alas, poor little one! you are lost 
 in this thick forest! The more she tried to find 
 her way, the more she went astray. 
 
 Night came; the foliage was so thick that she 
 could not even see the moon or the stars to guide 
 her. The ferocious beasts howled terribly. The 
 child continued to walk on and on ; her little feet 
 were bleeding, her teeth chattered with fright, 
 she was faint from hunger and fatigue. Soon, 
 however, the trees became more scattered ; a light 
 shone in the distance. The child went in the 
 direction of the light. At last she saw a cabin. 
 She knocked at the door. "In the name of the 
 good Virgin, open to me," she cried. 
 
 The door opened, creaking. An old witch, all 
 wrinkled, appeared on the threshold. "What do 
 you want, my child?" said she, in a coarse voice. 
 
 "I am a poor little girl who has lost her par- 
 ents in the great forest below there ; I am afraid 
 of being eaten up by the ferocious beasts ; let me 
 rest to-night in your house." 
 
 The coarse voice answered, — 
 
 "Here, little one, raise your ej^es. Do you see 
 over the door those three large pumpkins? In 
 
i68 FRENCH FAIRY TALES 
 
 order to be able to enter my house, you must catch 
 them one by one on your head." 
 
 "Ah, good mamma! if they fall on my head, 
 surely they will crush me! I am so little, they 
 are so big!" 
 
 "Then, my child, I will catch them for you." 
 Then the old witch began to sing in a melancholy 
 tone, — 
 
 "Fall, fall, big pumpkins ! 
 So she can come into my house." 
 
 Then she leaned her poor old head forward 
 and caught the three big pumpkins on it, one 
 after the other. Each time, her body bent and 
 her knees gave way. 
 
 As soon as the child came in, she asked for 
 something to eat. 
 
 "Open this cupboard, little one; you will find 
 two plates. In one there is some good meat and 
 some good fish ; in the other there are only bones 
 and fish-bones. Put them in the fire, and when 
 they are cooked, you can give me whichever one 
 you choose." 
 
 The little one lighted the fire, warmed the two 
 plates, and gave the old witch the plate of meat 
 and fish; she kept for herself the plate of bones 
 and fish-bones. 
 
 When the dinner was over, the old witch put 
 the child to bed. 
 
 "To-morrow," said she, "when you are well 
 rested, we will go and bathe in the river." 
 
THE THREE EGGS 169 
 
 Before going to sleep, the child kneeled down 
 to pray, and thanked the little Jesus for having 
 rescued her from the dark night and the wicked 
 beasts. 
 
 As soon as it was day, the old witch and the 
 child went to the river. When they had taken 
 their bath, the old witch said to the child, — 
 
 "Little one, rub me all over my body to make 
 me clean. 
 
 The child then looked at the witch's back; it 
 was covered with razors, knives, pointed nails, 
 pieces of broken glass. However, she did not 
 hesitate to rub the witch's back and her old limbs 
 as well as she could. Soon her hands were all 
 bloody. When the witch saw that, she cried, — 
 
 "You are a good little girl; you have taken 
 pity on a poor old woman; give me your hands." 
 
 The child held them to her; then she spat in 
 her hands and said to her, — 
 
 "Now rub yourself." 
 
 Immediately the wounds disappeared. 
 
 "Now, my child, you must set out to go back 
 to your parents. Here are three eggs. When 
 you encounter any obstacle along the way, you 
 have only to break an egg, and the obstacle will 
 disappear. I only charge you one thing: do not 
 stop a moment, and if by chance, young people 
 meet you, and pay you compliments, do not lis- 
 ten to them, and continue your journey without 
 paying any attention to their fine speeches." 
 
i7o FRENCH FAIRY TALES 
 
 Then the little one embraced the old witch, 
 thanked her for her goodness, and departed. 
 After having traveled a long time, she came to a 
 large river. It was impossible to find a ford 
 where she could cross it. Then she broke her 
 first egg. A boat appeared upon the river. She 
 began to sing, — 
 
 "Put me across, O boatman ! 
 Put me across, O boatman !" 
 
 The boatman drew near, made her get into 
 the boat, and put her across to the other side of 
 the river. 
 
 "Thanks, good boatman, for your kindness." 
 
 "Good luck to you, miss." 
 
 She went on her way. She traveled and trav- 
 eled, and found herself at last stopped by a great 
 bare mountain. 
 
 "Mountain, open!" cried she, breaking her sec- 
 ond egg. 
 
 The mountain opened; a beautiful road ran 
 through it. Flowering shrubs bordered the 
 road; in the green trees, loaded with fruit, birds 
 of a thousand colors were singing. Suddenly 
 joyous voices were heard; a party of young 
 people drew near, dancing and laughing. 
 
 "Oh! what a beautiful little girl that is going 
 along the road ! see her beautiful hair," said one. 
 "Oh! what pretty little feet!" said another. 
 
THE THREE EGGS 171 
 
 "Come play with us, young lady; we will take 
 you to our house; you shall be the absolute mis- 
 tress of it, you shall do nothing all day long; we 
 will work for you. You will only have to look 
 at yourself in your mirror, comb your hair, and 
 make yourself beautiful." 
 
 But the little girl, remembering the counsels 
 of the old witch, did not even turn her head. 
 
 "Leave me alone," said she; "I have promised 
 not to stop till I have found my parents again." 
 
 Then she continued her journey and came to 
 a plain. The mountain closed up behind her, 
 and became, as before, barren and desolate. 
 After having traveled a long time, the little girl 
 came at last to a village. The people were in a 
 great commotion; the queen had just died. As 
 soon as the inhabitants saw the stranger, they 
 surrounded her, and charmed with her beauty 
 and grace, they proposed to her to choose her 
 to replace the queen whom they had just lost. 
 To all their entreaties she replied, — 
 
 "I can agree to reign over you only on one 
 condition; that is, that you shall take my father 
 and mother for your sovereigns as soon as I have 
 found them. It is not right for the child to be 
 above its parents." 
 
 The people having accepted the condition, the 
 child broke her third egg. 
 
 The egg was scarcely broken before the old 
 
i 7 2 FRENCH FAIRY TALES 
 
 negro and his wife were seen to arrive at the end 
 of the village, all covered with tatters, thin, 
 emaciated, and bent with grief and poverty. 
 Seeing their daughter, whom they believed lost 
 forever, they shed abundant tears, and were 
 about to throw themselves at her feet to ask her 
 pardon for having abandoned her. But she did 
 not give them time for this, and throwing her 
 arms around their necks, she embraced them ten- 
 derly. They were proclaimed sovereigns of the 
 country and lived happily with their daughter 
 ever after. They were good and charitable to 
 the poor people, for they had been poor them- 
 selves. 
 
 The news of this adventure was quickly spread 
 around. It reached the little village where the 
 good little girl formerly lived. All their neigh- 
 bors were delighted ; only one negro and his wife 
 became extremely jealous of them. These 
 people had a wicked, cross-grained daughter, the 
 very image of her mother. 
 
 "My daughter, I want you to be queen also; 
 I will go and lose you in the forest. You are 
 worth much more than that affected little thing; 
 and when you are queen, you can send for me 
 and your father also, so that we can pass the rest 
 of our days in sleeping and doing nothing." 
 
 Then they went into the forest and left their 
 daughter there. Night came, and the ferocious 
 
THE THREE EGGS 173 
 
 beasts began to howl ! Ah ! -truly, the child was 
 much frightened, but, taking courage in the face 
 of danger, she tried to get out of the forest. 
 Then she saw the light in the old witch's cabin. 
 She went in that direction and came to the door, 
 
 "Open to me," said she, thumping on it with 
 all her might with her feet and her fists; "I do 
 not want to spend the night out of doors." 
 
 The coarse voice answered, — 
 
 "Do you see those three enormous pumpkins? 
 In order to enter my house, you must catch them 
 on your head." 
 
 "Very well, catch them yourself, so I can come 
 in." 
 
 The witch, without saying anything, sang her 
 song, and caught the pumpkins on her poor old 
 head. 
 
 As soon as she had come in, the little girl 
 called out, — 
 
 "I am hungry; give me something to eat." 
 
 Then the old witch put two dishes on the fire ; 
 one of good meat and good fish, the other con- 
 taining only bones and fish-bones. The child, 
 without thanking her, took all that was good, 
 and paid no attention as to what was left for the 
 old woman. 
 
 When the morning came, they went to the 
 river, and when she saw the witch's back, she 
 said,— 
 
174 FRENCH FAIRY TALES 
 
 "What, do you think I am going to rub your 
 old back ? It is all full of broken glass and pieces 
 of broken bottles." 
 
 The witch dressed herself again, and when the 
 time came to go away, she gave the child three 
 eggs. 
 
 "My child, take my advice; do not stop on the 
 way until you have found your parents ; else some 
 harm will happen. When you see any obstacle, 
 or when you want anything, break one of the 
 eggs, and you will be quite satisfied." 
 
 Without even thanking the old witch, who had 
 been so good, the child went on her way. 
 
 Having reached the river, the breaking of the 
 first egg brought the boatman to her, and he put 
 her across to the other shore. Then after that 
 the mountain stopped her way; so she broke her 
 second egg, and the mountain opened. A beau- 
 tiful road bordered with flowers showed itself to 
 her. She followed it. Then the young people 
 approached. 
 
 "Beautiful child, will you come and play with 
 us ? You will find in our house mirrors in which 
 you can see your whole figure. We will be your 
 slaves; one who is as pretty as you are should 
 not work, but live to do nothing and think of 
 nothing but being amused." 
 
 Blushing with pleasure and vanity, the child 
 sprang towards the young people; but she had 
 
THE THREE EGGS 175 
 
 scarcely crossed the road bordered with flowers 
 when the mountain closed up with a great noise 
 and swallowed her up. 
 
 She was pitied by only one person, — the good 
 little girl. Young ladies, let this story be a les- 
 son to you. 
 
 Loys Brueyre. 
 
THE THREE BROTHERS 
 
 OR 
 
 The Cat, The Cock, And The Ladder 
 a breton story 
 
 ONCE upon a time there were three 
 brothers: the oldest was named Yvon; 
 the second Goulven; and the youngest, 
 Guyon. Their mother was dead, and they asked 
 their father to give each of them the portion that 
 would fall to him, so that they might go out into 
 the world to seek their fortunes. 
 
 "I am very willing," said the old man, "but 
 you know that we are not rich ; a cat, a cock, and 
 a ladder — these are all I have to give you." 
 
 "Very well; let us draw straws," replied the 
 three brothers, "and see what will fall to the lot 
 of each of us." 
 
 They drew straws, and the cat fell to Yvon, 
 the cock to Goulven, and the ladder to Guyon. 
 Each took his property and began to get read} r 
 to set out. Their father accompanied them to a 
 place near by, where four roads crossed and led 
 
 in different directions, and then they bade fare- 
 
 176 
 
THE THREE BROTHERS 177 
 
 well to each other, and took each a different road, 
 after having appointed a meeting at the same 
 place at the end of a year and a day. The old 
 man returned alone to his house, by the fourth 
 road. 
 
 Y von, to whom the cat had fallen, was led by 
 his road to the seashore. He followed the beach 
 for a long time without coming to any dwelling. 
 He and his companion were obliged to live for 
 several days on shell-fish, and principally on mus- 
 sels and lumpets, which cats love above all things. 
 They came at last to a mill, not far from which 
 rose the walls and towers of a castle high upon 
 the cliff. Yvon entered the mill, carrying the 
 cat on his left arm. He saw there four men, in 
 their shirt-sleeves, armed with sticks and earn- 
 estly engaged in chasing the mice which ran 
 about in every direction, so as to hinder them 
 from cutting holes in the sacks and eating the 
 flour. 
 
 "How much trouble you take for a small mat- 
 ter!" said he to them. 
 
 "How is it a small matter? Do you not see 
 that if we should let them, these vile beasts would 
 eat both the wheat and the flour and would re- 
 duce us to die of hunger?" 
 
 "Ah, well! here is a little animal" (and he 
 showed them his cat) "that, all by himself, in 
 less than an hour, will do more work than vou 
 
178 FRENCH FAIRY TALES 
 
 four in a whole year; he will very soon get rid 
 of all your mice." 
 
 "This little animal? You are joking, doubt- 
 less; he does not seem at all dangerous. What 
 do you call him?" (In that country they had 
 never seen a cat.) 
 
 "He is called Mr. Cat. Do you wish to see 
 him work?" 
 
 "Yes ; let us see something of what he can do." 
 
 Yvon let go his cat, which was very hungry. 
 The mice, which were not afraid of it, never hav- 
 ing seen a cat, made no haste to run into their 
 holes, and it made a frightful slaughter of them. 
 The four men watched it work, in great aston- 
 ishment, and in less than an hour the whole 
 threshing-floor of the mill was strewn with dead 
 mice. There were heaps of them in every direc- 
 tion. The men with the sticks and the miller 
 could not recover from their astonishment. One 
 of them ran to the castle, and said to the lord, — 
 
 "Make haste, my lord, and come to the mill; 
 you will see there what you have never seen be- 
 fore in your life." 
 
 "What is it?" asked the lord. 
 
 "A man has arrived from some country, we 
 know not where, bringing with him a little animal 
 that appears to be very mild and gentle, yet which 
 in the wink of an eye has killed all the mice 
 against which we have had so much trouble to 
 defend your wheat and your flour." 
 
THE THREE BROTHERS 179 
 
 "I trust this may be true!" cried the lord. 
 
 He hastened to the mill, and seeing the great 
 work of the cat, he stood still, filled with admira- 
 tion, his eyes and his mouth wide open. Then, 
 seeing on Yvon's arm the author of all this car- 
 nage, which, well fed and happy, and its eyes half 
 closed, was making a continuous sound like that 
 of a wheel turned by the hand of a spinner, he 
 asked, — 
 
 "And is it this animal, that looks so gentle 
 and sweet, which has worked so bravely?" 
 
 "Yes, my lord, it is indeed," replied the four 
 men armed with sticks. 
 
 "What a treasure such an animal must be! 
 Ah! if I could only have it! Will you sell it to 
 me?" asked he of Y von. 
 
 "Willingly," replied Yvon, passing his hand 
 down the back of his cat. 
 
 "How much will you take for it?" 
 
 "Six hundred crowns, with lodging for myself 
 and good board in your castle; for my friend, 
 the cat, will not work well if I do not stay with 
 him." 
 
 "Agreed! shake hands." 
 
 And they shook hands. 
 
 Yvon was accordingly installed in the castle, 
 having nothing to do every day but eat, drink, go 
 walking, and from time to time to make a visit 
 to his friend, the cat, at the mill. He had become 
 
180 FRENCH FAIRY TALES 
 
 the friend of the lord, and also of his daughter; 
 for he was a very handsome young man. His 
 acquaintance with the young girl became very 
 intimate; and he got from her all the gold and 
 diamonds' that he wanted. But the time came 
 when he thought it was most prudent for him to 
 go away; so he disappeared one night without 
 saying anything, taking with him the best horse 
 in the castle stable to carry him, and all that he 
 took away from the old lord. 
 
 Now we will follow him no farther, since his 
 fortune is made, but see what has become of 
 Goulven and his cock. 
 
 After having walked a long time, and getting 
 farther and farther from home, Goulven at last 
 reached a country where there were no cocks. 
 One evening, about sunset, overcome with fa- 
 tigue, he came to a beautiful castle, and knocked 
 at the door. 
 
 "What do you want?" asked the porter. 
 
 "Lodging for the night, if you please, for my 
 little comrade and myself." 
 
 "Come in," said the porter to him; "you may 
 lodge here, for my master is charitable." 
 
 He ate in the kitchen with the servants, then 
 went to sleep in the stable with the stable-boys 
 and wagoners, taking his cock with him. 
 
 In that country they were obliged to go each 
 morning to look for the day. So in the barn 
 
THE THREE BROTHERS 181 
 
 where he was with his cock, Goulven heard the 
 conversation of the stable-boys and wagoners. 
 They were saying to each other, — 
 
 "To-morrow morning we shall have trouble 
 again when we go to look for the day. Let us 
 grease the axle-tree well, so that the wagon will 
 run more easily, and not break down, as it did 
 the other day; for see how many wagons are al- 
 ready broken, and many horses worked to death, 
 and the master is displeased, and says that we 
 shall ruin him." 
 
 "Yes, grease the axle-tree well before we go 
 to bed." 
 
 Goulven listened, astonished at what he heard ; 
 and, as the lord and the servants had told him 
 that they had never seen a bird like his cock, the 
 idea struck him that he might make something 
 out of it; so that he cried to the stable-boys and 
 the wagoners,— 
 
 "Do not be so troubled and anxious, my 
 friends. I will undertake your task." 
 
 "You will undertake to go yourself, all alone, 
 to look for the day to-morrow morning?" 
 
 "Yes; I and my companion." 
 
 "But, unhappy man, if you do not bring it, 
 or if you are late returning, the master will have 
 you hanged on the spot." 
 
 "Let us alone, I tell you, and go to sleep 
 quietly." 
 
i82 FRENCH FAIRY TALES 
 
 Accordingly, the stable-boys and wagoners 
 went to sleep without greasing the wagon or 
 making any of the usual preparations. 
 
 The cock crowed out from the loft about three 
 o'clock in the morning. 
 
 "What is that?" cried the wagoners and stable- 
 boys, awakened by this song that they had never 
 heard before. 
 
 "It is nothing," replied Goulven; "do not dis- 
 turb yourselves. My comrade only announces 
 that he is about to go in search of the day." So 
 they went to sleep again. 
 
 About four o'clock the cock crowed again, and 
 they woke up as before, and cried,— 
 
 "What is it? what is it?" 
 
 "It is my comrade, telling you that he is com- 
 ing with the day," replied Goulven; "get up and 
 see." 
 
 So they got up, and saw with astonishment 
 that, sure enough, the da}^ had come without their 
 having been to look for it with so much trouble. 
 They hastened to go and tell their master. 
 
 "Master, if you only knew — " 
 
 "What is it? What has happened that you 
 should come to wake me so early?" 
 
 "You know the stranger whom you lodged last 
 night, with his little animal that he called a 
 cock?" 
 
 "Well, what has he done?" 
 
THE THREE BROTHERS 183 
 
 "What has he done? Why, this little animal, 
 that does not look as if he were anything in par- 
 ticular, is stronger than all your horses together, 
 and will be able to spare you much expense, and 
 us much trouble. Would you believe it? he has 
 brought us the day this morning all by himself, 
 without horses or wagons, while we slept quietly. 
 
 "It is impossible; you are mocking me!" 
 
 "Nothing is truer, however ; and you have only 
 to assure yourself of it by keeping the man and 
 his little animal at the castle and watching with 
 us to-night." 
 
 "Very well; tell him to remain, so that I can 
 see this thing." 
 
 So they told the man with the cock to remain 
 with his animal. 
 
 When evening came, after supper, the ser- 
 vants, the stable-boys, and the wagoners went to 
 sleep as usual, and Goulven climbed again to the 
 loft, with his cock, after having told them that 
 they need not disturb themselves at all, and that 
 he would undertake to bring the day back again 
 at the appointed hour. 
 
 About three o'clock in the morning the lord, 
 who had not gone to bed, came also to the stable 
 to see and hear for himself what took place. The 
 cock crowed the first time on the cock-loft. 
 
 "What is that?" asked the lord. 
 
 "It is my comrade, just setting out to look for 
 
184 FRENCH FAIRY TALES 
 
 the day," replied Goulven; "do not be disturbed. 
 Wait quietly; he will not be slow in returning." 
 
 At four o'clock the cock crowed again. 
 
 "Why has the cock crowed?" asked the lord. 
 
 "Because he has just arrived, bringing the day 
 back to us," replied Goulven. "Open the door, 
 and go out, and you will see." 
 
 The lord went out of the stable, and saw that 
 day had really dawned, all rosy and bright (it was 
 the month of May), without his horses and his 
 iron-bound wagons having gone to look for it. 
 He was filled with amazement, and could not un- 
 derstand it. He called Goulven, and said to 
 him, — 
 
 "The wagons that they break for me, the 
 horses they cripple for me, going every morning 
 to look for the dawn, are ruinous to me; if you 
 will sell me your little animal, you will do me a 
 great service; how much do you ask for it?" 
 
 "A thousand crowns," replied Goulven, "and 
 to remain with it at the castle, well fed, well 
 clothed, and having nothing to do but to go walk- 
 ing for my pleasure where I will." 
 
 "Agreed," said the lord. 
 
 So Goulven lived at the castle, the happiest of 
 men, having nothing to do every day but eat, 
 drink, sleep, and go out walking. The cock, for 
 his part, never failed to bring the day back at the 
 proper hour, and all were very well satisfied with 
 
THE THREE BROTHERS 185 
 
 their services. Goulven also made love to the 
 lord's daughter, who had noticed him because he 
 was a handsome fellow, and having behaved just 
 as Yvon had done under the same circumstances, 
 he ran away also, when he thought the moment 
 had come, taking with him not only the thousand 
 crowns that he had gotten for the cock, but hand- 
 some presents which he had received from the 
 young lady, and which he bore off on the best 
 horse in the lord's stable. 
 
 Of the three brothers, we have already seen 
 two entirely successful ; one with his cat, the other 
 with his cock. Now let us see what became of 
 the third, Guyon, the man with the ladder. 
 
 After having walked a long time, going always 
 straight before him, and carrying his ladder on 
 his shoulder, and having gone a great distance 
 from his own country, he found himself one day 
 in front of a grand castle, surrounded on all sides 
 by high walls, and brambles and thorns. At the 
 window of one of the towers he saw a young 
 lady of remarkable beauty. He stopped to look 
 at her; she smiled, and they soon began to talk 
 together. The lady told him that her husband, 
 the lord of the castle, was absent. He was a 
 jealous wretch, who kept her a captive in this 
 tower with only a servant for company, and al- 
 lowed her to receive no one else. She had grown 
 very weary of her tower and wished very much 
 
i86 FRENCH FAIRY TALES 
 
 to go out of it ; but her lord had taken away the 
 keys, and until his return she was obliged to stay 
 locked up. He was expected to return the next 
 day. 
 
 "I can come to you without a key, if you will 
 permit it," said Guy on. 
 
 "How can you, unless you change yourself to 
 a bird? Into this castle, no man but my husband 
 ever enters, and if any other should succeed in 
 getting in, he would never go out alive." 
 
 "We will see about that," said Guyon. 
 
 Then he leaned his ladder against the wall. 
 Alas! it was too short. But the lady and her 
 servant held the curtains out to him, and at last 
 he reached them, to their great joy. The next 
 morning, early, he departed by the same way by 
 which he had come. As he had greatly amused 
 the young lady and her servant, to whom such 
 good fortune had never happened, they filled his 
 pockets before he left with gold, jewels, and dia- 
 monds. 
 
 As Guyon was going quietly along, carrying 
 his ladder on his shoulder, he met the lord return- 
 ing, who said to him as he passed, — - 
 
 "You appear much burdened and very much 
 fatigued, my good man." 
 
 "A little," replied he; and each went on his 
 way. 
 
 As soon as the lord had entered his castle, his 
 
THE THREE BROTHERS 187 
 
 wife, who knew nothing, and who had never seen 
 any other man but her husband near enough to 
 speak, made haste to tell him everything. To 
 her great astonishment, her lord was furious. 
 
 "How could he get into the tower?" 
 
 "With an instrument that he called a ladder. 
 And he amused us very much ; and before he left, 
 to reward him, we filled his pockets with gold, 
 jewels, and diamonds." 
 
 "Ah! miserable woman, what do you say? 
 You have given my gold and my jewels and dia- 
 monds to this creature?" 
 
 And he was furious, and stamped his feet and 
 pulled out his hair. 
 
 "I shall run after him, and if I catch him! — " 
 
 "Do him no harm, I beg you," said the wife, 
 who could not understand her husband's anger. 
 
 The latter took the best horse from his stable 
 and was soon off at great speed in pursuit of 
 Gu} r on. But Guyon, who thought he would be 
 followed, looked behind him, from time to time; 
 and as he saw him just as he came near a house 
 covered with slate which was by the roadside, 
 he placed his ladder against the wall, mounted to 
 the roof, and began to throw down the slate tiles, 
 as a tiler does when repairing an old roof. When 
 the lord arrived in front of the house, he stopped 
 his horse, and addressing Guyon, said, — 
 
 "How now, tiler, have you seen a man go by 
 who carried a ladder on his shoulder?" 
 
i88 FRENCH FAIRY TALES 
 
 "Yes, indeed! my lord; he passed by only a 
 moment ago." 
 
 "Which way did he go?" 
 
 "He kept on straight along there; hold on, 
 you can see him still from here. Come up, and 
 you will see him." 
 
 Then Guyon descended, and the lord, leaving 
 his horse, climbed upon the roof. But as soon as 
 he had done so, Guyon took away the ladder, 
 mounted the horse, taking his ladder with him, 
 and set off at a full gallop, leaving the lord 
 swearing and storming on the roof. 
 
 At the end of a year and a day, exactly, the 
 three brothers, mounted on fine horses and 
 dressed like lords, met at the cross-roads where 
 they had parted, and found their father waiting 
 for them. 
 
 They had all three made their fortunes with 
 the cat, the cock, and the ladder; and they mar- 
 ried rich women, and built three fine castles, one 
 for each, and a fourth, finer than the others, for 
 their old father. 
 
 Told by Marguerite Philippe, September, 1873. 
 
 F. M. Luzel. 
 
THE COCK'S WIFE 
 
 A STORY OF THE DISTRICT OF METZ 
 
 NCE upon a time there was a cock's 
 wife who was scratching with all her 
 might in a great heap of rubbish, and 
 seemed deeply absorbed in her task. 
 
 "You are very silly, Cock's-wife," said a man 
 who passed by, "to waste your time so, and wear 
 out your feet so uselessly." 
 
 "You are mistaken, my good fellow; I am not 
 wasting my time, for I have just found a purse 
 with a hundred crowns." 
 
 "Really?" 
 
 "See here!" 
 
 "Come, my good creature, lend me a hundred 
 crowns; I will return them in eight days." 
 
 "Very well; here they are," said the Cock's- 
 wife, putting the purse into his hand : — she could 
 never refuse to do a kindness. 
 
 At the end of the week, the Cock's wife, seeing 
 that her debtor did not return, began to fear that 
 she had been deceived, and indignant, she started 
 in the direction of the house where the fellow 
 lived. As she was going along, at a turn in the 
 road she met a ladder. 
 
 180 
 
îço FRENCH FAIRY TALES 
 
 "Where are you going, Cock's-wife?" asked 
 the ladder. 
 
 "I am going to a fellow's house to get back a 
 hundred crowns that I lent him. Will you come 
 with me?" 
 
 "Gladly!" 
 
 "Very well; get inside of me," said the Cock's- 
 wife. 
 
 Cock's-wife went on her way, and a little far- 
 ther on she met a river. 
 
 "Where are you going, Cock's-wife?" said the 
 river. 
 
 "I am going to a fellow's house to get back a 
 hundred crowns that I lent him. Will you come 
 with me?" 
 
 "With pleasure," replied the river. 
 
 "Very well; get inside of me," said the Cock's- 
 wife. 
 
 The Cock's-wife started off again ; when in the 
 midst of a wood she came across a wolf. 
 
 "Where are you going, Cock's-wife?" asked 
 the wolf. 
 
 "I am going to a fellow's house to get back a 
 hundred crowns that I lent him. Will you come 
 with me?" 
 
 "I will." 
 
 "Very well; get inside of me." 
 
 In spite of the weight of her three companions, 
 the Cock's-wife got safely to the end of her jour- 
 ney. 
 
THE COCK'S WIFE 191 
 
 "Good morning:, my man, good morning," said 
 she, as she entered; "I have come to ask you to 
 pay me my hundred crowns." 
 
 The fellow, who had made up his mind not to 
 pay his deht. fell upon the Cock's-wife, seized her 
 by the wings, and threw her into a well near the 
 house. Although stunned by the fall, the poor 
 creature did not lose her senses. 
 
 "Ladder, ladder, come out of me, 
 Or I am a lost Cock's-wife/' 
 
 cried she. 
 
 The ladder obeyed immediately; and the 
 Cock's-wife rapidly climbed the ladder, and 
 jumped out of the well. 
 
 The fellow, who had thought she was drowned, 
 could not control his anger when he saw her. He 
 sprang on her £»o-ain. and threw her into his oven. 
 
 When she felt the heat of the flames, she cried 
 in an eager voice, — 
 
 "River, river, come out of me, 
 Or I am a lost Cock's wife." 
 
 The river flowed out immediately and put out 
 the fire. 
 
 The Cock's-wife, rejoiced at having so happily 
 escaped so many dangers, was going away un- 
 suspectingly, when she was again seized by the 
 fellow. 
 
 "Ah! vile beast," he screamed, "you thought to 
 
192 FRENCH FAIRY TALES 
 
 escape me, but you shall not succeed;" and say- 
 ing these words, he threw her violently between 
 the legs of his oxen standing close together in 
 a narrow stable, sure that they would certainly 
 trample her. 
 
 "Wolf, wolf, come out of me, 
 Or I am a lost Cock's wife." 
 
 At this despairing appeal, the wolf jumped 
 out, and in a few moments killed the oxen, and 
 then the man. 
 
 The Cock's-wife took the hundred crowns, 
 which she found hidden in the fellow's house, in 
 the bottom of a desk, and after having warmly 
 thanked the ladder, the river, and the wolf, she 
 returned to her own country, where she led ever 
 afterwards a peaceful and honored life. 
 
 Told by the widow Madame Richet, aged 77 years, at 
 Woippy, near Metz. 
 
 Nérée Quépat. 
 
THE CASTLE HUNG IN THE AIR 
 
 a sailor's story 
 
 NCE upon a time there was a fisher- 
 man whose only possessions consisted 
 of a little cabin by the seashore, his 
 boat, and his nets. He had a son who went 
 fishing with him, and he was so good-looking 
 that as he passed along every one turned to look 
 at him. He had also three daughters, very 
 nearly of the same age, and all three as beauti- 
 ful as the day. 
 
 The fisherman, who was old, died; his son be- 
 came the head of the family, and at all eventides 
 he went in his boat to fish, so as to get something 
 to eat for all his household. 
 
 One day as he was setting out to go to the 
 strand, he saw before his door three handsome 
 lords, who asked his permission to enter his cabin 
 to rest themselves there a few moments, as they 
 came from a distance and were tired. He con- 
 sented very willingly, and welcomed them to the 
 best that he had. They seated themselves in the 
 cabin, and were so struck with the beauty of the 
 sisters that they all three fell in love with them. 
 A few days after, they married them, and the 
 
 193 
 
194 FRENCH FAIRY TALES 
 
 next day after the wedding the three nobles, who 
 were the king of Fishes, the king of the Birds, 
 and the king of the Rats and the Mice, wished to 
 take their wives away to their own kingdoms. 
 Before leaving their brother-in-law, they each 
 made him a present. Two of them gave him 
 large purses full of gold, but the gift of the third 
 was only an old snuff-box. The fisherman put 
 it into the pocket of his jacket, without even hav- 
 ing a desire to open it, for he thought that his 
 brother-in-law had wished to mock him. 
 
 The fisherman grew very lonely after his sis- 
 ters were gone, and as he had a well-filled purse, 
 he dressed himself as a well-to-do countryman, 
 left his cabin, and went to Paris. For two years 
 he led a gay life there, as he wanted nothing, 
 having his pockets full of money ; but lie finished 
 all the same by seeing his last crown; and when 
 he had nothing left but debts, his friends turned 
 their backs on him, and he was turned out of his 
 house. Then he remembered his village and 
 his little cabin, and he resolved to return there 
 and once more take up his trade of fisherman. 
 But when he came to the little creek where he 
 had left his boat, he saw it no longer; for the 
 north wind had carried it away, and he found 
 only his grapnel and some bits of half-rotten 
 ground-tackling. He went into his cabin, which 
 had also suffered much from wind and weather, 
 
THE CASTLE HUNG IN THE AIR 195 
 
 and began to fumble in the pocket of his jacket 
 to see if he could find there some five-franc 
 pieces. But he turned his pockets in vain, there 
 was not even one poor penny; there was nothing 
 there but the old snuff-box that his brother-in- 
 law had given him. He was on the point of 
 throwing it into a corner, but he thought that 
 perhaps it contained some tobacco, and he opened 
 it. As soon as he had raised the lid, he heard a 
 small voice, which said to him, — 
 
 "Master, what do you want?" 
 
 "What do I want?" murmured the fisherman, 
 much astonished at hearing a voice, but seeing no 
 one. "There are a great many things; at this 
 moment I would like a table with a good dinner 
 on it. 
 
 Immediately a table was set before him cov- 
 ered with bread and meats; there were also bot- 
 tles of wine, and even coffee and brandy were not 
 forgotten. The fisherman, who had fasted some- 
 what for some time, ate with a good appetite; 
 then, when he was no longer hungry, he opened 
 his snuff-box again, and ordered it to transport 
 him to the chamber of the king's daughter. Im- 
 mediately he rose gently above the clouds as if 
 he had been borne on the wings of the wind, and 
 saw beside him a princess as beautiful as the day, 
 and who slept so quietly that one could scarcely 
 hear her breathe. In the morning he opened his 
 
196 FRENCH FAIRY TALES 
 
 snuff-box again so as to return to his cabin before 
 the princess was awake. For three days he had 
 himself served with good meals, and for three 
 nights he remained gating upon the king's daugh- 
 ter as she slept; but he would not awaken her, 
 lest he should frighten her and give her trouble. 
 
 However, the princess' father causes it to be 
 trumpeted throughout his kingdom and in the 
 neighboring countries that his daughter was of 
 an age to be married, and that he would give her 
 to the one who should bring him the greatest 
 quantity of grain; for the harvest had been bad, 
 and his subjects were threatened with famine. 
 Wagons were to be seen on the roads coming 
 from every direction, loaded with grain ; and in all 
 the ports ships whose holds were filled with wheat. 
 The young fisherman was delighted to hear of 
 the king's promise, for he thought that, thanks 
 to his snuff-box, he should be able to become the 
 husband of the princess who pleased him so much. 
 
 He opened his snuff-box, and immediately he 
 heard the small voice saying, — 
 
 "Master, what do you want?" 
 
 "I would like thousands and thousands of 
 wagons loaded with wheat, so that no one could 
 be able to carry as much to the king's palace as 
 I." 
 
 Accordingly the roads were covered, farther 
 than the eye could reach, with wagons, and the 
 
THE CASTLE HUNG IN THE AIR 197 
 
 fisherman took them to the king, who found that 
 he alone brought more grain than all the others 
 together. Eight days after, the fisherman mar- 
 ried the princess, who was not sorry for it, be- 
 cause he was a handsome fellow. 
 
 The day after the wedding he opened his snuff- 
 box and asked of it a beautiful castle which 
 should be hung from the sky by four golden 
 chains, near the palace of his father-in-law. As 
 soon as he had spoken, he saw the castle in the 
 sky, hanging from the clouds by four golden 
 chains. It was so beautiful that nothing had 
 ever been seen equal to it, and it shone as if it 
 had been made entirely of gold. When the king 
 saw this beautiful palace which glistened in the 
 sun, he asked his son-in-law what it could be. 
 
 "Sire," replied the fisherman, "it is my castle 
 that my invisible workmen have built this night 
 above your garden. If you wish to come and 
 look over it, you will see that it is perfectly fur- 
 nished." 
 
 The king embraced his son-in-law, for he was 
 charmed to see him with such a beautiful castle; 
 and when he had gone over it from the garret to 
 the cellar, he proposed to him to go hunting, and 
 they both started off. 
 
 Meanwhile one of the princess's old lovers 
 came to the castle hung by the golden chains, and 
 looking over it, he perceived in a corner an old 
 
198 FRENCH FAIRY TALES 
 
 worn-out snuff-box. Very much astonished to 
 see it in such a place, he wished to open it to find 
 out what there was inside; immediately he heard 
 a small voice, which said, — 
 
 "Master, what do you wish for?" 
 
 "What do I wish for?" replied the lord. "I 
 wish that this castle may be transported more 
 than four hundred and fifty leagues from here." 
 
 In a moment he felt the castle move, and he 
 saw it pass over great forests and vast seas, 
 which it crossed in the wink of an ej r e. At last 
 he saw it stop in the midst of a country where, as 
 far as the eye could reach, not a living soul could 
 be seen. 
 
 Returning from the hunt with his father-in- 
 law, the young fisherman came to a rising ground 
 from whence he thought he should perceive his 
 castle; but was greatly surprised to see it no 
 longer. He felt in his pockets and found that 
 his snuff-box was not there. 
 
 When the king learned that the castle where 
 his daughter was had disappeared, he got into a 
 great rage, and swore upon his kingly word that, 
 if his son-in-law did not bring the princess back 
 before two months had passed, he would have him 
 torn in pieces by four horses. 
 
 The fisherman was very sad at having lost his 
 wife and his castle ; but he thought that his broth- 
 ers-in-law would be able to help him, and he set 
 
THE CASTLE HUNG IN THE AIR 199 
 
 out to go and see them. He first went to find the 
 king of the Fishes. On entering the palace, he 
 embraced his sister, who was as happy as a prin- 
 cess should be; then he related his misfortune to 
 his brother-in-law, and asked him if he had not 
 heard of a castle hung from the sky by four gol- 
 den chains. 
 
 "No," replied the king of the Fishes; "I have 
 not heard of it: but wait, I think I can tell you 
 in a moment where it is." 
 
 He plunged into the sea, and assembled all his 
 subjects from the whale to the flea-of-the-sea, and 
 asked them if they had not seen a castle hung 
 from the clouds by four golden chains; but they 
 all declared that it was the first time they had 
 heard of it. As the king finished questioning 
 them, he saw an old porpoise come up, who had 
 stood many shots and many storms. 
 
 "And you, porpoise," asked the king of him, 
 "have you not seen the castle hung in the air 
 by four golden chains?" 
 
 "No," he answered, "I have not seen it; but 
 as I was playing on the waves, I met an eagle 
 who told me of a castle hung by four golden 
 chains; a marriage was to be celebrated there in 
 eight days, and so many meats were taken there 
 for the guests that the eagle told me he had never 
 seen so many before." 
 
 The king of the Fishes thanked the old por- 
 
2oo FRENCH FAIRY TALES 
 
 poise; then he came out of the sea and went to 
 tell his brother-in-law all he had learned. The 
 fisherman was ver} r glad of it, and set out at once 
 to go to see his other brother-in-law, the king of 
 the Birds. 
 
 When he reached his palace, he embraced his 
 sister, then told his adventures to the king of the 
 Birds, and asked him if he had not heard of a 
 castle hung in the air by four golden chains. 
 The king assembled his subjects, and asked them 
 if they had seen the castle. The eagle an- 
 swered, — 
 
 "Yes, I have seen it; it shines like gold, and 
 a marriage is to be celebrated there in seven days. 
 It will be a grand wedding, for already there are 
 so many meats of all sorts that yesterday I could 
 eat as much of them as I wanted." 
 
 "Could you," asked the king, "carry a man as 
 far as that?" 
 
 "Yes," answered the eagle; "but first I must 
 eat a great deal, for the way will be long." 
 
 During the whole night the eagle was supplied 
 with meats, and he feasted until the break of day. 
 In the morning he took the fisherman on his back, 
 and flew away to go to the castle hung in the air 
 by four golden chains. 
 
 For several hours the eagle flew over a great 
 sea, so vast that neither shores nor islands were 
 to be seen, nothing but the sky and the sea; but 
 
THE CASTLE HUNG IN THE AIR 201 
 
 his strength began to fail, and he put the fisher- 
 man down on a rock that the tide had just ex- 
 posed to view; then he went off at a single flight 
 for the castle of the four golden chains, so as to 
 fill his stomach again with meats, and be able to 
 take the man upon his back again. 
 
 The fisherman remained alone upon the rock, 
 and the time seemed long to him, for the eagle 
 did not return, and he knew that the high tide 
 would cover the rock. Meanwhile the tide rose 
 higher and higher, and in vain he looked with 
 all his eyes; he did not see the eagle returning. 
 He stood upon the highest point of the rock; 
 soon the water reached him there; it bathed his 
 feet, then his knees; it rose to his waist, then to 
 his shoulders, and still he saw nothing coming. 
 Just at the moment when the waves reached his 
 chin, the eagle appeared, and having taken him 
 on his back, he put him down in the court-yard 
 of the castle, where the wedding was to be cele- 
 brated the next day. 
 
 The fisherman's wife was at her window; she 
 recognized her husband, and was very glad to see 
 him, for she loved him very much, and it was 
 against her will that she had been taken away. 
 She found an opportunity to speak to him se- 
 cretly, and said to him, — 
 
 "The lord who carried me away never leaves 
 the magic snuff-box, and every evening when he 
 
2o2 FRENCH FAIRY TALES 
 
 goes to bed, he puts it under his pillow, so it is 
 difficult to take it without waking him. The 
 eagle must go and find the husband of your third 
 sister, the one who commands the Rats and the 
 Mice, and tell him to order some of his subjects 
 to come here. When the lord is snoring, a little 
 mouse will go and stuff his tail in his open mouth ; 
 then he will cough, and while he is sitting up, you 
 will be able to secure the snuff-box." 
 
 The eagle hastened to go to the country of 
 the Rats and Mice, and quickly returned, bring- 
 ing on his back a little mouse, that looked wise, 
 as all mice do, and a big rat with a long tail. 
 
 The following night, as soon as the lord, who 
 before going to bed had put the magic snuff-box 
 under his pillow, began to snore, the little mouse 
 stuffed her tail into his mouth; but it was not 
 long enough to reach to his throat, and without 
 waking, the man squeezed it so tightly that she 
 thought he had chopped it off. She began to 
 make a little plaintive sound, and he loosened his 
 teeth; then she ran to tell the fisherman's wife 
 that she had not been able to succeed, because 
 her tail was too short. Then the lady ordered 
 the big rat to try in his turn; he took his aim so 
 well that he stuffed his tail quite down the lord's 
 throat. The latter wakened with a start, half 
 strangled, and sat up in bed, coughing and spit- 
 ting as if he were ready to die. 
 
THE CASTLE HUNG IN THE AIR 203 
 
 Meanwhile the fisherman, who was hidden un- 
 der the bed, had passed his hand under the pil- 
 low and seized upon the snuff-box. He opened 
 it immediately and heard a small voice, which 
 said,— 
 
 "Master, what do you wish for?" 
 
 "What do I wish for? I wish that my castle 
 may be taken back again to my father-in-law's 
 garden, to the place where it was before this ras- 
 cal stole my snuff-box from me." 
 
 In a moment he felt that the castle was lifted 
 and borne through the air; he saw it cross over 
 vast seas and through great forests in the wink 
 of an eye, and soon it stopped still in the king's 
 garden, in front of the palace. 
 
 The king, who had just wakened, went to his 
 window, and when he saw the castle hung by 
 four golden chains between heaven and earth, he 
 rubbed his eyes, thinking he was losing his sight ; 
 but he saw his son-in-law and his daughter com- 
 ing, and they embraced him and told him all that 
 had happened to them. 
 
 He was greatly rejoiced to see them again, and 
 to punish him who had carried off the snuff-box, 
 he caused him to be torn in pieces by four horses. 
 There were great rejoicings in honor of the re- 
 turn of the princess, and the fisherman lived hap- 
 pily with her. But he took care to carry the 
 magic snuff-box always with him. 
 
 Paul Sebillot, "Contes des Marins." 
 
THE TWO SOLDIERS 
 
 A LORRAINE STORY 
 
 ONCE upon a time there were two sol- 
 diers who were about sixty years old. 
 Being obliged to leave the service, they 
 determined to return to their country. As they 
 were journeying along, they said one to the 
 other, — • 
 
 "What are we going to do to get our living? 
 We are too old to learn a trade; if we beg our 
 bread, we shall be told we are not too old to 
 work, and nothing will be given us." 
 
 "Let us draw lots," said one of them, "who 
 will let his eyes be put out, and we will go beg- 
 ging together." 
 
 The other one thought it a good idea. The 
 lot fell on the one who made the proposition; his 
 comrade put out his eyes, and, one leading the 
 other, they went from door to door begging their 
 bread. A great deal was given to them. But 
 the blind man got but little good of it; his com- 
 panion kept all that was good for himself, and 
 gave him only the bones and crusts of hard bread. 
 
 "Alas!" said the unfortunate creature, "is it 
 not enough to be blind? Must I be so badly 
 
 treated also?" 
 
 204 
 
THE TWO SOLDIERS 205 
 
 "If you complain again," said the other, "I 
 will leave you here." 
 
 But the poor blind man could not help com- 
 plaining. At last his companion left him in a 
 forest. 
 
 After having wandered all about, the blind 
 man stopped at the foot of a tree. 
 
 "What will become of me?" said he to himself, 
 "night is coming, and the wild beasts will devour 
 me." 
 
 He climbed up into a tree for safety. To- 
 wards eleven or twelve o'clock four animals came 
 to the same place, — the fox, the wild boar, the 
 wolf, and the roebuck. 
 
 "I know something," said the fox; "but I will 
 not tell it to any one." 
 
 "I also know something," said the wolf. 
 
 "And I also," said the roebuck. 
 
 "Pshaw!" said the wild boar, "you, with your 
 little horns, what do you know?" 
 
 "Ah!" remarked the roebuck, "there is a great 
 deal of wit in my little brain and in my little 
 horns." 
 
 "Well," said the wild boar, "let each one tell 
 what he knows." 
 
 The fox began, — 
 
 "There is a little river near here whose water 
 will restore the sight of the blind. I have had 
 an eye put out several times in my life ; I bathed 
 in that water, and I was healed." 
 
2o6 FRENCH FAIRY TALES 
 
 "I know that river too," said the wold; "I have 
 known it longer than you. The king's daughter 
 is very sick; she is promised in marriage to the 
 one who will cure her. To give her water of this 
 river would be quite sufficient to restore her 
 health." 
 
 The roebuck said in his turn, — 
 
 "The city of Lyons is in need of water, and 
 they have promised fifteen thousand francs to the 
 one who shall be able to get a supply for it. 
 Now, if they would dig up the tree of liberty, they 
 would find a spring, and they would have an 
 abundance of water." 
 
 "I," said the wild boar, "I know nothing." 
 
 Thereupon the animals separated. 
 
 "Ah!" said the blind man to himself, "if I 
 could only find that spring!" 
 
 He got down from the tree, and went groping 
 through the country. At last he came to the 
 river. There he bathed his eyes, and he began 
 to see again ; he bathed them again, and his sight 
 was perfectly restored. 
 
 Then he went at once to the mayor of Lyons, 
 and told him that if he wanted water he had 
 only to pull up the tree of liberty. Sure enough ! 
 when the tree was dug up, they discovered a 
 spring; and the city had as much water as was 
 necessary. The soldier received the promised 
 fifteen thousand francs, and went to see the king. 
 
THE TWO SOLDIERS 207 
 
 "Sire," said he to him, "I have heard that your 
 daughter is very sick; and I have something that 
 will cure her." 
 
 And he told him of the water of the river. 
 The king sent one of his footmen immediately 
 for some of the water. They made the princess 
 drink of it, they made her take baths of it, and 
 she was cured. 
 
 The king said to the soldier, — 
 
 "Although you are a little old, you shall marry 
 my daughter ; or else, if you prefer it, I will give 
 you some money." 
 
 The soldier preferred to marry the princess; 
 he knew very well that with the daughter he 
 would have the money also. The marriage took 
 place without delay. 
 
 One day when the soldier was taking a walk in 
 the garden, he saw a man all in rags who was ask- 
 ing charity; he recognized at once his old com- 
 rade. 
 
 "Were there not two of you begging for- 
 merly?" said he to him as he came up to him. 
 "Where is your companion?" 
 
 "He is dead," answered the beggar. 
 
 "Tell the truth; you will not repent of it. 
 What has become of him?" 
 
 "I abandoned him." 
 
 "Why?" 
 
 "He was always complaining. It was always 
 
2o8 FRENCH FAIRY TALES 
 
 he who got the good pieces ; when we had bread, 
 I gave him the crumbs, because he had no teeth, 
 and I ate the crusts; I gave him the meat, and 
 kept the bones for myself." 
 
 "It is a lie! you did just the opposite. Would 
 you recognize your companion?" 
 
 "I do not know." 
 
 "Well, I am that companion." 
 
 "But are you not the king?" 
 
 "Doubtless; but I am also your old comrade. 
 Come in; I will tell you all about it." 
 
 When the beggar learned all that had hap- 
 pened to the blind man, he said to him, — 
 
 "I would like to have the same luck. Take me 
 therefore to that same tree; perhaps the animals 
 will come there again." 
 
 "Willingly," said the other; "I am willing to 
 return you good for evil." 
 
 He took the beggar to the tree ; and the beggar 
 climbed up into it. 
 
 About eleven or twelve o'clock, the four ani- 
 mals collected there again. The fox said to the 
 others, — 
 
 "What we said the other night was overheard; 
 the king's daughter is cured, and the city of 
 Lyons has water. Who, then, has revealed our 
 secrets?" 
 
 "It is not I," said the wolf. 
 
 "Nor I," said the roebuck. 
 
THE TWO SOLDIERS 209 
 
 "I am sure that it is the wild boar," said the 
 fox; "he had nothing to say himself, and he went 
 and told what the others said." 
 
 "It is not true," replied the wild boar. 
 
 "Take care!" said the fox; "we shall all three 
 be against you." 
 
 "I am not afraid of you," said the wild boar, 
 showing his teeth; "just you meddle with me!" 
 
 Suddenly raising their eyes, they saw the beg- 
 gar up in the tree. 
 
 "Oh! oh!" said they, "here is a man who is 
 spying upon us." 
 
 Immediately they set to work to root up the 
 tree; then they seized upon the man and de- 
 voured him. 
 
 Emmanuel Cosquin, "Contes Populaires Lorrains." 
 
THE THREE BROTHERS AND THE 
 GIANT 
 
 A STORY OF PICARDY 
 
 GOOD woman had three children, all 
 boys : the first was named Jean ; the sec- 
 ond, Jeannot; and the third, Jeannois. 
 These three children passed for the sharpest in 
 the canton, and the good woman was very glad of 
 it, as you may imagine. One fine day she went 
 to the wood with them to pick up some dead 
 wood there, and make fagots of it for the ap- 
 proaching winter. The children soon had 
 enough of looking for pieces of dead wood, and 
 preferring to gather mulberries, nuts, and dog- 
 berries, they left their mother and plunged into 
 the coppice farther and farther, until they did 
 not hear the cries and calls of the good woman, 
 who after awhile, thinking they had returned to 
 the village, went back to her house. 
 
 Soon evening came on, and Jean, Jeannot, and 
 Jeannois perceived with terror that they were lost 
 in the woods. 
 
 "What shall we do?" said Jean. "What shall 
 we do?" said Jeannot. "What shall we do?" 
 added Jeannois. 
 
THE THREE BROTHERS 211 
 
 They did not know what to do, and they began 
 to hear the howling of the foxes and wolves in 
 the depth of the forest. At last Jean, the old- 
 est, had an inspiration. He climbed to the top of 
 a great oak-tree which grew near by, and turned 
 in every direction so that he could observe the 
 neighborhood. He discovered a light which 
 shone in the distance, and having well observed 
 the position of it, he came down from the oak 
 and walked with his brothers in the direction of 
 the light. 
 
 After they had gone beyond the wood, they 
 saw a palace before them, and went and knocked 
 at the door. 
 
 Tap ! tap ! 
 
 "Who is there at this hour?" 
 
 "We are three little children lost in the for- 
 est, and we want to pass the night in this beau- 
 tiful palace. Will you give us lodging here?" 
 
 A young woman half opened the door. 
 
 "Do you not know that this is the palace of the 
 Giant of the Golden Beard? He is out at this 
 moment, but he will be back before long. If you 
 take my advice you will make haste and run away, 
 for he might kill you and eat you as he has done 
 so many persons." 
 
 "But, madam, we do not know which way to go 
 this dark night. Hide us safely somewhere, and 
 to-morrow, at the break of day, we will go away 
 without the Giant's suspecting anything of it." 
 
212 FRENCH FAIRY TALES 
 
 The woman was moved with pity, and let the 
 children come into the castle. She made them go 
 down into the cellar, and gave them good cakes 
 to eat. Then, hearing the Giant's step in the dis- 
 tance, she charged the lost children to hide them- 
 selves well behind a big cask, and went up-stairs 
 as if nothing had happened. 
 
 The Giant of the Golden Beard had been on a 
 long tramp and was dying of thirst. He went 
 down into the cellar to refresh himself, in spite 
 of his wife, who besought him to go to bed. 
 
 "I smell fresh meat here," muttered the Giant 
 as he came near the cask behind which the chil- 
 dren were cowering. 
 
 As he was very thirsty, he took out the bung, 
 lifted the cask as if it had been a straw and drank 
 and drank through it. As he set the great wine 
 cask down on the ground he hurt little Jeannois, 
 who could not help uttering a cry. 
 
 "Ah! ah!" cried the Giant of the Golden 
 Beard, "I was sure I smelt fresh meat! It is 
 good! it is good! I shall take you up-stairs and 
 kill you; I shall have an excellent breakfast to- 
 morrow." 
 
 He took the three unfortunate boys in one 
 hand and brought them up into the kitchen. 
 
 But the wife who had heard what the Giant 
 had just said, had hastened to hide his big knife, 
 and her husband looked for it in vain: he could 
 not succeed in finding it. 
 
THE THREE BROTHERS 213 
 
 "Very well! very well! You will lose nothing 
 by waiting! Wife, put these three children in 
 my daughters' room and give them a bed. I will 
 kill them to-morrow. The flesh will be fresher." 
 
 The woman obeyed tremblingly, and every one 
 went to bed. 
 
 "We are in a very bad place," thought Jean- 
 not. And he got down from his bed to examine 
 the Giant's daughters, who were sleeping in the 
 bed near by. 
 
 The moon had risen, and Jeannot perceived 
 that the young girls wore a crown of gold on 
 their heads, and that there were, as in their own 
 case, three of them. 
 
 "Suppose the Giant should get up and come to 
 wring our necks during the night," thought Jean- 
 not. "It is very possible, certainly. I am going 
 to take off the three crowns and put them on my 
 head and my brothers'. The Giant will perhaps 
 be deceived." 
 
 So he did what he had thought of, and went to 
 bed again. He was just in time. The Giant of 
 the Golden Beard had drunk too much wine, and 
 found himself uncomfortable in his bed. To kill 
 time, he determined to get up and go and kill 
 the three little boys whom chance had sent to 
 him. 
 
 He went to the bed where the latter were pre- 
 tending to be asleep and took hold of Jean's 
 head. 
 
214 FRENCH FAIRY TALES 
 
 "Idiot!" said he to himself, "I was about to 
 kill my daughters. I have mistaken the bed." 
 And he went to the other bed and wrung the 
 necks of his own children. 
 
 Then, satisfied with his work, he went to bed 
 again. 
 
 Jean, Jeannot, and Jeannois dressed them- 
 selves hastily and escaped through the window. 
 
 Imagine the anger and dismay of the Giant, 
 when on waking the next morning he saw what 
 he had done during the night. He became more 
 wicked than before, and went about through the 
 country killing the travelers, murdering peasants, 
 and setting at defiance the armies that the king 
 sent against him. 
 
 As for Jean, Jeannot, and Jeannois, not know- 
 ing which way to go, they took at last a highway, 
 which at the end of two days' journey brought 
 them to the capital of the kingdom. They asked 
 to speak to the king and to tell him their adven- 
 tures in the palace of the Giant of the Golden 
 Beard. The king appointed them to be pages 
 from that day forth. 
 
 I told you that the Giant, made furious by 
 the death of his children, went about ravaging the 
 kingdom. This went on for two or three years. 
 Many knights had gone forth to fight against 
 him, and not one of them had returned. The 
 king also trembled in his palace, fearing that 
 
THE THREE BROTHERS 215 
 
 some day this terrible man would take a fancy 
 to come and attack him in his city. 
 
 One day Jean, the oldest of the three pages, 
 went to the king and asked the hand of his eldest 
 daughter, with the title of knight. The king re- 
 fused at first; then, on reflection, he said to the 
 page, — 
 
 "I grant you what you desire, on condition that 
 you show yourself worthy of it. You have not 
 forgotten that famous Giant of the Golden 
 Beard, who came near killing both yourself and 
 your brothers. Very well; bring me his golden 
 beard, and I swear to you that I will make you a 
 knight and give you my daughter in marriage." 
 
 Jean accepted these terms. The king wanted 
 to give him arms like those of the knights, but he 
 refused them. He took the road his brothers and 
 he had taken before, and presented himself at the 
 Giant's castle. It was broad daylight, and the 
 page sounded the horn. 
 
 "What do you want?" asked the Man with the 
 Golden Eeard. 
 
 "I want to fight with you to-morrow morning. 
 I have beaten all the giants I have been able to 
 encounter hitherto, and I want to beat you as I 
 have done all the others." 
 
 "You are very young, handsome page; but no 
 matter. Come into my castle, and to-morrow 
 we will fight." 
 
2i6 FRENCH FAIRY TALES 
 
 Jean did not wait to be persuaded, and entered 
 the palace of the Giant of the Golden Beard, who 
 gave him an invitation to dine with him. The 
 page accepted, and while the Giant had his back 
 turned, he poured out for him a liquor which pos- 
 sessed the quality of causing sleep for several 
 clays. 
 
 "Here is to your health!" 
 
 "Here is to your health!" 
 
 And the page and the Giant emptied their 
 glasses with a single draught. At the same mo- 
 ment the latter fell under the table and began 
 to snore so loud that the whole castle shook. 
 Without losing time the young man took the scis- 
 ors which he had brought, and cut off the Giant's 
 golden beard. Then he left the palace and «et 
 out for the capital, where he arrived two days 
 after. 
 
 The king was very much astonished; he had 
 promised his daughter to the page, and he be- 
 stowed her upon him, telling him he would dub 
 him knight later on. A short while after that, 
 Jeannot came also to find the king. 
 
 "My lord the king," said he, "I love your 
 daughter, Marie, and I think she loves me. Will 
 you make me a knight and bestow her hand upon 
 
 me 
 
 "But you have done nothing that I know of to 
 merit such an honor." 
 
THE THREE BROTHERS 217 
 
 "I am ready to show myself worthy of it. 
 Command, and I will obey you." 
 
 The king reflected, and then said, — 
 
 "Well, you shall have what you ask me for, 
 when you bring me the Giant's broadsword, that 
 you will remember." 
 
 Jeannot agreed, and set out for the Giant's 
 castle, wearing neither arms nor shield. 
 
 He arrived there at the end of two days and 
 sounded the horn. 
 
 "Ah! ah!" cried the Giant, "another one who 
 wishes to rob me! Very well; I will see to it." 
 
 "I do not come for that purpose; but I have 
 been told that you could drink more wine than 
 any one in the world, and I have come to compare 
 myself with you." 
 
 "Is that really true?" 
 
 "Perfectly true! But I verily believe that I 
 can beat you. I can drink fifty casks of wine 
 without being hurt by it." 
 
 "We will see; we will see. Come into the cas- 
 tle. I am ready to have a match with you. But 
 who will begin first?" 
 
 "You, if you please." 
 
 "Agreed." 
 
 Jeannot went down in the Giant's cellar, and 
 the latter wishing to drink as much as he possi- 
 bly could, swallowed ever and ever so much wine, 
 so that soon he staggered and fell down dead- 
 
2i8 FRENCH FAIRY TALES 
 
 drunk. Jeannot took his broadsword and car- 
 ried it to the king, who was more astonished 
 than when Jean returned with the golden beard. 
 
 Jeannot married the princess Marie, but the 
 king did not make him knight at once. 
 
 There was only Jeannois left. 
 
 One day he came to the king, and said, — 
 
 "My lord the king, I love your youngest 
 daughter; she loves me also, and I come to ask 
 you for her hand, and the title of knight." 
 
 "All that is very well. But you must deserve 
 it." 
 
 "Command, and I will do whatever you order 
 me to do." 
 
 The king thought awhile, and at last he said, — 
 
 "Your brothers have taken the Giant's beard 
 and his broadsword. Could you bring him to me 
 in an iron cage?" 
 
 "I will try, my lord the king; farewell." 
 
 Jeannois had a very large iron carriage made 
 and went to the Giant's castle. When he got 
 there he sounded the horn. 
 
 "What do you want? worm of the earth! dust 
 of nothingness!" 
 
 "Let me into your castle, and I will tell you." 
 
 "Ah ! you are one of those pages who stole my 
 beard and my broadsword. I see what you want, 
 and I am going to kill you." 
 
 "One moment, if you please. Do not be in a 
 
~ --"-':,;- •'. .;'- :l ,',., U -, à'. 
 
 
 THE GIANT GOT INTO THE IRON CARRIAGE. 
 
f** 
 
 
 
THE THREE BROTHERS 219 
 
 hurry. I have just come to find you in order to 
 restore what they stole from you. The two pages 
 are alone in a distant castle, and I have brought 
 my carriage so as to carry us there more quickly." 
 The Giant allowed himself to be deceived 
 again, and got into the iron carriage, where he 
 found himself imprisoned. And Jeannois re- 
 turned quickly to the court. The king was very 
 glad, as he well might have been, at having got 
 rid of the robber, who was burned on an immense 
 pile built on the great square of the city. Jean- 
 nois married the princess whom he loved, and the 
 king made the three brothers knights of his king- 
 dom. During the feasts that were given, the 
 mother of Jean, Jeannot, and Jeannois came to 
 the city, still searching for her children. Im- 
 agine her happiness and that of her sons. 
 
 E. H. Carnoy, "Littérature Orale de la Picardie." 
 
THE FAIRY AND THE DAUGHTER 
 OF THE EARTH 
 
 A STORY OF THE ISLE OF OUESSANT 
 
 ONCE upon a time, — a very long time ago, 
 — perhaps the time when Saint Pol came 
 to us from Hibernia in a stone trough, — 
 there was a young girl sixteen or seventeen years 
 old, with fair hair, blue eyes, and cheeks as red 
 as two apples, and her name was Mona Kerbile. 
 She was so beautiful that all who saw her stopped 
 to admire her, and said to her mother, old Jeanne 
 Kerbile, a poor woman like myself, — 
 
 "You have a very pretty daughter, Jeanne! 
 She is as pretty as a fairy! Such a beautiful 
 girl has never before been seen in the island, and 
 there are even those who say that she must be the 
 child of a fairy." 
 
 "Do not believe those who say so," replied the 
 erood woman, "for I truly am her mother, and 
 Fanch Kerbile, my husband, is surely her father." 
 
 Mona's father was a fisherman, and spent al- 
 most all of his time on the water, and her mother 
 tended a small spot of ground that she had, as 
 all the island people did, or spun in her hut when 
 
THE DAUGHTER OF THE EARTH 221 
 
 the weather was too bad. Mona went, as all the 
 young girls of her age did, to seek for limpets, 
 mussels, periwinkles, and other shell-fish on the 
 shore. It seems that the fairies, who were then 
 very numerous in the island, had observed her, 
 and had, themselves also, been struck with her 
 beauty. One day when she was on the shore 
 with her companions as usual, they were talking 
 of their lovers. Each one boasted of the skill 
 of her own in catching fish, and steering a boat, 
 and in guiding it among the numerous dangers 
 by which the island was surrounded. 
 
 "You, Mona," said Marc'harit Ar Fur to her, 
 "you are wrong to discourage Fanch Kerdudal as 
 you do, for he is a young fellow of excellent 
 character, clever, and no one comes back in the 
 evening with more fish than he, nor guides his 
 bark better among the difficult passes of the 
 Vieille Jument or the point of Stiff." 
 
 "I," said Mona, scornfully, — for on account of 
 hearing it said that she was beautiful, she had be- 
 come vain and proud, — "I will never take a fish- 
 erman for my husband ; I am too pretty for that. 
 I am as beautiful as a fairy ; they tell me so every 
 day, and I shall marry no one but a prince, or 
 at least the son of a great lord." 
 
 It happened that an old fairy, hidden behind 
 a rock or under a tuft of sea-wrack, heard her, 
 and jealous at seeing that a daughter of the earth 
 
222 FRENCH FAIRY TALES 
 
 could rival the beauty of the children of the 
 fairies, he conceived the design of carrying her off 
 and taking her with him to his home under the 
 water. He dared not try to do it that day, for 
 Mona was in the midst of her companions. But 
 the next day about sunset, while she was still 
 catching shell-fish with two other of the village 
 girls, and was somewhat apart from her friends, 
 the old fairy suddenly sprang out from behind a 
 rock where he was watching her, seized her and 
 took her away down to the bottom of the water. 
 She cried loudly, and called her friends to her 
 assistance, but alas! they could not come to help 
 her ; they could only run to the house and tell her 
 mother what they had seen. Old Jeanne was 
 spinning on her doorsteps. She threw down her 
 distaff and her spindle, and ran to the shore, and 
 called her daughter loudly, and even went into 
 the water as far as she could at the place where 
 they told her that Mona had disappeared with 
 the fairy. But it was all in vain, and no voice 
 replied to her cries and her tears. 
 
 The report of the adventure spread quickly 
 over the island, and every one was of the opinion 
 that what had happened to the beautiful Mona 
 was a punishment for her pride and her vanity; 
 for however beautiful a young girl may be, she 
 should neither be proud nor vain, for God gives 
 beauty and ugliness, and riches and poverty 
 also, as it pleases him. 
 
THE DAUGHTER OF THE EARTH 223 
 
 The old fairy was the king of the fairies in 
 those parts, and he took the young Ouessantine 
 with him to the bottom of the sea, to a beautiful 
 palace made of shells and coral. 
 
 The old fairy had a son, the handsomest fairy 
 that ever was seen, and he fell in love with Mona 
 and asked his father to let him marry her. But 
 the old king answered that he would never con- 
 sent to allow him to take for his wife a daughter 
 of man who boasted of being as beautiful as the 
 daughter of a fairy. There were plenty of the 
 most beautiful fairies, who would be glad to have 
 him for their husband, and he would not with- 
 hold his consent when he should have made his 
 choice among them. 
 
 Our young f aiiy was then in despair. He told 
 his father that he would never marry if he was not 
 allowed to have for his wife the daughter of man 
 whom he loved. His father seeing him dying of 
 sadness and grief, compelled him to marry a 
 young fairy, the daughter of an old lord among 
 the fairies, and who was celebrated for her 
 beauty. The wedding day was fixed, and a great 
 many people were invited. The betrothed cou- 
 ple set out on their way to the church, followed 
 by a rich and numerous train; for it appears that 
 these people of the sea have their religion and 
 their churches as we do, although they are not 
 Christians; they even have bishops, we are told, 
 
224 FRENCH FAIRY TALES 
 
 and an old bishop of the sea was to perform the 
 ceremony. Poor Mona received an order from 
 the old fairy to stay at home and prepare the 
 wedding feast. But they gave her nothing that 
 was needed for all this, absolutely nothing 
 but large pots and empty sauce-pans (which were 
 large shells) , but they told her that if everything 
 was not ready, and if she did not serve them a 
 good feast when they returned from church she 
 should be put to death immediately. Imagine 
 her grief and perplexity, poor girl! But the 
 poor young bridegroom was not less troubled 
 and disconsolate. 
 
 As the procession was on its way to the church, 
 he suddenly cried out, — 
 
 "I have forgotten the wedding ring!" 
 
 "Tell me where it is, and I will send for it," 
 said his father to him. 
 
 "No; no; I will go myself, for no one but me 
 could find it where I have put it. I will hasten 
 there and will return in a moment." 
 
 And he let go the bride's arm and ran to the 
 house. He found poor Mona in the kitchen, 
 weeping and desolate. 
 
 "Do not weep," said he to her; "your feast will 
 be ready and cooked to perfection ; so do not be 
 troubled on that account." 
 
 And going to the fireplace, he said* — 
 
 "Good fire in the fireplace!" 
 
THE DAUGHTER OF THE EARTH 225 
 
 And the fire burned up in the fireplace. Then 
 touching with his hand each of the pots and sauce- 
 pans successively, he said, — 
 
 "Some beef in this saucepan, veal and mutton 
 in that other one: here a mutton on the spit; 
 cider and wine in these pots !" and so on. 
 
 And the saucepans and pots were filled at once, 
 to the surprise and joy of Mona, who was no 
 longer weeping. 
 
 Then he hastened to rejoin his bride and his 
 party, and they went to the church, and the cere- 
 mony was performed by a bishop of the sea. 
 After that they returned to the house. 
 
 When they arrived there, the old fairy hastened 
 the first thing to the kitchen, and asked for Mona. 
 
 "Here we are; we have come back; is every- 
 thing ready for the feast?" 
 
 "Yes; everything is ready," answered Mona 
 quietly. 
 
 And he uncovered all the saucepans, examined 
 all the pots, and then said, with a displeased air, — 
 
 "You have been helped ; but never mind ; I have 
 not finished with you yet." 
 
 The wedding guests seated themselves at the 
 table, and they eat and drank as much as they 
 would; then they sang and danced till night. 
 
 After the evening's entertainment, the two 
 young married people retired to their chamber, 
 and the old fairy told Mona to go with them, and 
 
226 FRENCH FAIRY TALES 
 
 remain there, holding in her hand a burning wax- 
 taper to give them light. When the taper should 
 be burnt down to her hand, she should be put to 
 death. 
 
 Poor Mona was obliged to obey. The old 
 fairy was in a room near by, and from time to 
 time he asked, — 
 
 "Is the taper consumed?" 
 
 "Not yet," answered Mona. 
 
 He asked this question several times. At last 
 when the wax-taper was almost entirely con- 
 sumed, the young husband said to the new wife, — 
 
 "It is your turn now to go and hold the wax- 
 taper a while!" 
 
 As she did not know the intentions of her 
 father-in-law, she got up and took the wax-taper 
 from Mona's hands. 
 
 The old fairy asked again, — 
 
 "Has the wax-taper burned down to your 
 hand?" 
 
 "Tell him yes," said the bridegroom. 
 
 "Yes," answered the young fairy. 
 
 And immediately the old fairy came into the 
 room, seized upon her who held in her hand the 
 remnant of the wax-taper, and cut off her head. 
 Then he went away. 
 
 In the morning, as soon as he had risen, the 
 young fairy went to his father, and spoke thus to 
 him,— 
 
THE DAUGHTER OF THE EARTH 227 
 
 "I have come to ask you to allow me to marry, 
 my father." 
 
 "To allow you to marry? Were you not mar- 
 ried yesterday?" 
 
 "That is true; but my wife is dead, father." 
 
 "Your wife is dead? How did it happen? 
 Have you killed her, you miserable creature?" 
 
 "It is not I who have killed her, father, but 
 you, yourself." 
 
 "I?" 
 
 "Yes, father; did you not yesterday cut off the 
 head of the woman who was holding the lighted 
 wax-taper near my bed?" 
 
 "Yes; but it was the daughter of the earth." 
 
 "No, my father, it was the young fairy whom I 
 had just married; and if you do not believe me, 
 you can easily be assured of it, for her body is 
 still in my chamber." 
 
 The old fairy hastened to his son's chamber, 
 and recognized his mistake. His anger was ter- 
 rible, and a little more and he would have killed 
 his son himself. 
 
 "Whom do you wish to take for a wife?" he 
 asked his son the next daj 7 when he was a little 
 pacified. 
 
 "The daughter of the earth, my father." 
 
 The father found at last that it was useless to 
 seek to cure his son of this love, and he concluded 
 to allow him to marry the daughter of the 
 earth. 
 
228 FRENCH FAIRY TALES 
 
 The young fairy was very attentive to his wife. 
 He fed her on delicate little fish, and made for 
 her necklaces and bracelets of fine pearls, and 
 gathered for her every day pretty shell-fish and 
 the most beautiful and rarest sea-plants. In 
 spite of all this, Mona was weary, and wanted to 
 return to the earth to see once more her island, 
 and her father and mother in their little hut by 
 the seashore. The fairy would not let her go, 
 for he feared she would never return. Then she 
 became very sad, and did nothing but weep night 
 and day. Seeing this, her husband said to her 
 one day, — 
 
 "Smile on me a little, and I will take you back 
 to your father's house." 
 
 Mona smiled, and the fairy, who was also a 
 magician, then said, — 
 
 "Bridge, rise up!" 
 
 And immediately a beautiful bridge rose up, 
 reaching from the bottom of the sea to the land. 
 The old fairy, seeing this, and feeling sure that 
 his son knew well as he did himself how to use 
 magic, said, — 
 
 "I should like to go with you also." 
 
 The three went together on the bridge, the old 
 man behind, and the other two a few steps in ad- 
 vance of him. But as soon as the young fairy 
 stepped ashore with his wife, he turned and 
 said, — 
 
THE DAUGHTER OF THE EARTH 229 
 
 "Bridge, return!" 
 
 And immediately the bridge went back again 
 to the bottom of the sea, and with it the old fairy, 
 who was still on it. 
 
 The fairy not being able to accompany his wife 
 to her father's house, let her go alone, giving her 
 the following precautions before leaving her: — 
 
 "Come back at sunset, and you will find me 
 here waiting for you ; but do not let any man em- 
 brace you, or even take your hand, or you will 
 make me very unhappj^." 
 
 Mona promised, and hastened to her father's 
 house, which was not far off on the shore. It was 
 the dinner hour, and all the family were assem- 
 bled. 
 
 "Good morning, father and mother; good 
 morning, brothers and sisters," said she as she en- 
 tered the poor hut. 
 
 The good people opened their eyes wide, and 
 looked at her, astonished, and none of them rec- 
 ognized her for their daughter or their sister. 
 She was so "beautiful, so grand, and so well 
 dressed! This grieved her very much, and tears 
 came into her eyes ; then she began to go around 
 the house, touching each object with her hands, 
 and saying, — 
 
 "Here is the little stool on which I sat beside 
 the fire; here is the bed where I slept; here is 
 the pitcher with which I brought water from the 
 
23o FRENCH FAIRY TALES 
 
 spring; here is the broom with which I swept the 
 house; here is the wooden porringer from which 
 I ate n^ soup." 
 
 At last her brother, hearing all this, recognized 
 her, and threw himself on her neck to 'embrace 
 her, and her father and mother and sisters did 
 the same thing; but from that moment Mona lost 
 entirely all recollection of her husband, the fairy, 
 and his home under the sea. She remained with 
 her parents, and soon plenty of lovers came to 
 the house to sue for her hand ; but she would not 
 listen to any of them, and had no desire to many. 
 
 This family, like the other inhabitants of the 
 island, had a bit of ground where they planted 
 potatoes and sowed barley, and this, together 
 with the daily supply of fish and shell-fish which 
 they caught out of the sea, was sufficient for them 
 to live simply but contentedly. 
 
 There was a little space before the house con- 
 taining a stack of barley straw. Often when she 
 was lying in bed, and the winds howled, and the 
 waves dashed and broke against the rocks on the 
 shore, Mona thought she heard plaintive moan- 
 ings near her door ; but she believed it to be poor 
 shipwrecked souls asking for the prayers of the 
 careless living beings, and she recited a "De 
 profundis;" then she pitied the poor sailors who 
 were in the sea, and went to sleep again. 
 
 But one night she heard distinctly these words, 
 uttered in a sad, heart-broken voice : — 
 
THE DAUGHTER OF THE EARTH 231 
 
 "Oh, Mona! have you then forgotten your hus- 
 band, the fairy who loves you so much, who saved 
 you from death, and brought you back from the 
 depths of the sea to see your father and mother, 
 your brothers and sisters? You promised me so 
 faithfully to come back again; I have been wait- 
 ing for you so long and I am so unhappy with- 
 out you!" 
 
 Then Mona recollected everything all at once. 
 She rose up hastily, set out and found the fairy, 
 who was lamenting thus near the stack of barle}^ 
 straw. She threw herself into his arms, and since 
 then she has never been seen. 
 
 This story is taken from an article entitled "A Voyage 
 to the Island of Ouessant," published in the "Revue de 
 France," March and April, 1874. 
 
 F. M. Luzel. 
 
SISTER AND HALF-SISTER 
 
 A MULHOUSE STORY 
 
 NCE there was a woman who had two 
 daughters : one was her husband's daugh- 
 ter by his first marriage, and the other 
 was her own child. One day when the half-sis- 
 ter was spinning by the well, her spindle fell into 
 the water and her mother beat her cruelly. She 
 went back to the well and was trying to get her 
 spindle out again, when her hard-hearted mother 
 gave her such a push that the poor girl fell into 
 the well. 
 
 When she reached the bottom she found a large 
 and magnificent garden. As she was walking 
 along, in tears, the pear-tree said to her, — 
 
 "Young girl, why are you crying so?" 
 
 The young girl answered, — 
 
 "Have I not good reason to cry? My step- 
 mother gave me such a push that I fell into the 
 well." 
 
 The pear-tree said, — 
 
 "Young girl, hold your apron; I will give you 
 some pears." And the young girl received from 
 
 him the most delicious pears. 
 
 232 
 
SISTER AND HALF-SISTER 233 
 
 Afterwards she came to a plum-tree ; the plum- 
 tree said to her, — 
 
 "Young girl, why are you crying so ?" 
 
 The young girl answered, — 
 
 "Have I not good reason to cry? My step- 
 mother gave me such a push that I fell into the 
 well." 
 
 The plum-tree said to her, — 
 
 "Hold your apron; I will give you some 
 plums" ; and he shook into her lap the most beau- 
 tiful plums. And the good little girl was treated 
 in the same way by the other trees. 
 
 At last she came to a grand castle all of gold, 
 and she was still shedding bitter tears. A fair 
 lady was looking out at the window; she asked 
 her, — 
 
 "Young girl, why are you crying?" 
 
 "Have I not good reason to cry? My step- 
 mother gave me such a push that I fell into the 
 well." 
 
 "Come now," said the lady, "you can spend 
 the night with me; but first tell me, where do 
 you prefer to eat — with the little dog and the 
 little cat, or with the gentleman and lady?" 
 
 The young girl answered modestly,— 
 
 "With the little dog and the little cat. I 
 should not like to me in any one's way." 
 
 And on this account they permitted her to eat 
 with the lady and gentleman. 
 
234 FRENCH FAIRY TALES 
 
 The lady said to her, — 
 
 "Where do you prefer to sleep — with the little 
 
 dog and the little cat, or with the gentleman and 
 
 lady?" 
 
 The young girl answered, — 
 
 "With the little dog and the little cat." 
 
 And accordingly they permitted her to sleep 
 
 with the gentleman and lady. 
 
 The next day the lady said to her, — 
 
 "How would you prefer to be driven back to 
 
 your home? — in a carriage smeared with pitch 
 
 and resin, or in one all of silver and gold?" 
 The young girl answered, — 
 "In one smeared with pitch and resin." 
 But she was allowed to return in a carriage of 
 
 silver and gold. 
 
 When she arrived at home, her half-sister, who 
 
 was looking out of the window, began to clap her 
 
 hands and cry out, — 
 
 "O ! Bidi bidi bourn! 
 My half-sister comes, 
 And heavily laden 
 With silver and gold. 
 I must go and help her unload. 
 O ! Bidi bidi boum !" 
 
 When the wicked mother saw that the half-sis- 
 ter had become so distinguished, she said to her 
 own child, — 
 
 "Come now, Annette! throw your spindle also 
 
SISTER AND HALF-SISTER 235 
 
 into the well and jump in after it! Who knows? 
 Perhaps the same thing will happen to you down 
 there, and you will be able to come back in a 
 golden carriage." 
 
 But this one was a wicked and obstinate child. 
 Her mother had scarcely finished speaking before 
 the spindle was at the bottom of the well, and the 
 little girl leaped after it and came into the large 
 beautiful garden of which I have already spoken. 
 The sun shone with a golden brightness, and the 
 roses and lilies — oh! but it was perfectly splen- 
 did! 
 
 The little girl went to the pear-tree and said, — 
 
 "Come now, give me some pears also!' 
 
 But she waited a long time, and the pear- 
 tree did not move. 
 
 She went a little farther and came to a plum- 
 tree, and said to it, — 
 
 "Come, plum-tree, give me also some plums." 
 
 But it gave her nothing, that is what the plum- 
 tree did; what the other trees did, it is needless 
 for me to tell you. 
 
 The fair lady was again looking out from her 
 palace at the end of the garden, and said, — 
 
 "Young girl, where are you going? From 
 whence do you come? What does your little 
 heart long for?" 
 
 "I wish to come in, I wish to eat, I wish to 
 sleep in a little garden bed, and I wish to go 
 back again in a little golden carriage." 
 
236 FRENCH FAIRY TALES 
 
 The lady could scarcely help laughing, but she 
 continued her questions: — 
 
 "With which do you prefer to eat — with dog 
 and cat, or with lord and lady?" 
 
 "Why, with lord and lady, of course." 
 
 And consequently she was obliged, as a punish- 
 ment, to eat with the dog and cat. 
 
 A little while afterwards the lady asked her 
 again, — 
 
 "With which yould you like best to sleep — 
 with the dog and cat, or with the lord and lady?" 
 
 "Why, with the lord and lady, of course." 
 
 But who was obliged to sleep with the dog and 
 cat ? It was my wicked little girl. 
 
 The next morning when she got up, the lady 
 said to her, — 
 
 "How would you prefer to go back to your 
 home — in a carriage smeared with pitch and 
 resin, or in a carriage of gold and silver?" 
 
 "In the gold carriage, certainly," cried she. 
 
 But for punishment, she was obliged to go back 
 again in the carriage smeared with resin. 
 
 What did her mother say when she saw her 
 child return in the carriage smeared with pitch 
 and resin, disgraced and scoffed at, and what did 
 she look like then? Well, I should like to tell 
 you about it; but my great-grandmother, who 
 was so good as to tell me the story, was losing her 
 memory, and could not remember any more. 
 
 Auguste Stoeber, "Elsaessiches Volksbiichlein." 
 
THE FAIRIES' SHIP 
 
 A sailors' story 
 
 ONCE upon a time there was, at Saint- 
 Cast, a young captain who had no ship 
 to command. He made application 
 after application. He went to see the ship-own- 
 ers, and offered his services ; but although he was 
 known to be a good sailor, he had no command 
 given him. One day when he had been again at 
 Saint-Malo, without being more successful than 
 at other times, he started out late, and on foot, to 
 return to his village ; and when night came on, he 
 was not far from the wood which crossed the main 
 road. 
 
 "Ah!" said he, "I should have done better to 
 stay and sleep at Saint-Malo; for I shall have to 
 go through the wood of Pontual; and they say 
 that after nightfall one is apt to encounter 
 strange things there." 
 
 He quickened his pace and entered the wood; 
 when he was in the middle of it, he heard a 
 noise, and having stopped to listen, he heard a 
 voice which cried, "Help! help! save me!" 
 
 "Ah!" thought he, "it is perhaps some one 
 237 
 
238 FRENCH FAIRY TALES 
 
 whom the robbers are trying to kill; but it shall 
 never be said that I left any creature to die with- 
 out trying to help him." 
 
 He hastened to the spot from which the cries 
 came, and saw a good woman who was defending 
 herself as well as she could against five men, who 
 were trying to kill her. He took her part, and 
 between them they killed the robbers. 
 
 When they had gotten out of the wood, the old 
 woman, who was a fairy, said to him, — 
 
 "Captain, you are brave, and you shall be re- 
 warded for it. If I had wished I could easily 
 have killed all five of the robbers, for I have 
 power enough for that; but I wanted to see if 
 you were courageous, and ready to help poor 
 people." 
 
 Then she disappeared; the captain continued 
 his journey, and reached Saint-Cast without ac- 
 cident. 
 
 The next day a beautiful lady, whom he did 
 not know, came to his house, and said to him, — 
 
 "I am the good woman to whose assistance you 
 came yesterday in the wood of Pontual. I am a 
 fairy, and I know that you were returning from 
 Saint-Malo, where you had vainly applied for the 
 command of a ship. It is needless for you to 
 make any more applications. I will give you the 
 command of a ship — a splendid one; the hand- 
 somest that ever was seen," 
 
THE FAIRIES' SHIP 239 
 
 The captain thanked the lady with all his heart ; 
 then he invited her to dine with him. 
 
 When the meal was ended, she said to him, — 
 
 "Now, you come with me; I am one of the 
 fairies of the Cavern of Saint-Briac, and near my 
 grotto you will see your ship." 
 
 The captain followed the lady ; and when they 
 reached the seashore, she took him by the hand, 
 and they walked together over the waves, as 
 though they were on a high-road; the water did 
 not even wet the soles of their shoes. They ar- 
 rived at the cavern, and the fairy showed the 
 captain the ship she had designed for him. The 
 hull was all of gold, the masts, also, as well as the 
 yards and the pulleys, and the cordage was of 
 twisted threads of gold. It was not yet quite 
 ready; and the goldsmiths of the cavern were 
 busy finishing it. 
 
 It was so dazzling that the captain could 
 scarcely look at it. 
 
 "When will it be finished, this beautiful ship?" 
 he asked of the fairy who had brought him there. 
 
 "Why do you ask me that question?" 
 
 "So as to have time to get up a crew to man 
 the ship when it is finished." 
 
 "Do not be disturbed," said the fairy; "your 
 crew is ready, and I am going to show it to you." 
 
 She rubbed some salve round his eyes; imme- 
 diately he saw at least thirty little male fairies 
 
240 FRENCH FAIRY TALES 
 
 of tiny size, who were dressed like admirals ; and 
 she «aid to him, pointing to them with her 
 finger, — 
 
 "Captain, these are the little men who will be 
 your sailors. In three days the ship will be 
 ready ; you can set out, and they will help you to 
 manage it, for they are good sailors. Mean- 
 while, come and dine with me and the other in- 
 habitants of the cavern." 
 
 The captain followed the fairy. She led him 
 through a long suite of apartments bright as 
 gold ; and at last they came to a great hall, where 
 a handsome table was set. Here the fairy 
 women, with their husbands and sons, and the 
 tiny male fairies, came to take their meals. The 
 captain looked out of the window, and saw in a 
 court-yard some of the male fairies, large and 
 small, drilling with the sword and bayonet. 
 
 "Why," asked he, "are they drilling in this 
 way? 
 
 "They are our soldiers," answered the fairy, 
 "and they are preparing to go to fight with the 
 fairies of Chêlin, who have declared war against 
 us." 
 
 When the fairy men, large and small, had fin- 
 ished drilling, they made playful music with their 
 swords ; then every one went into the hall to dine. 
 That day there was a great feast at the cavern; 
 for the queen of the fairies had just given birth 
 to a boy, and they celebrated his birth. 
 
THE FAIRIES' SHIP 241 
 
 After the feast was over, the captain proposed 
 to go; the fairy who had brought him, and who 
 was named Gladieuse, conducted him as far as 
 the door of the grotto, and before leaving him, 
 she said to him, — 
 
 "Here are some boots which you must put on 
 to cross the sea; as long as you have them on, 
 you will be able to go over land or sea, wherever 
 you wish. To-morrow you must return here to 
 take command of your ship." 
 
 The captain thanked the fairy; then having 
 put on his boots, he walked over the waves of the 
 sea as if on a highway, and arrived at Saint-Cast. 
 But when he went into his house he found noth- 
 ing there ; his parents, who had seen him cross the 
 sea, believed him to be drowned, and they had 
 removed his furniture. He went to ask them for 
 it, but they took him, at first, for a ghost. When 
 he had convinced them that he was a man of flesh 
 and bone, he told them that he had taken com- 
 mand of a ship. He made them a present of his 
 furniture; then after having embraced hi-s father 
 and mother, he went away. 
 
 He proceeded to the point of the island, and 
 having put on his boots, he crossed the sea with- 
 out getting wet. His ship was close by the cav- 
 ern, all rigged and ready to set sail. He 
 stepped on board, and the fairy Gladieuse, who 
 was on the deck, said to him, — 
 
242 FRENCH' FAIRY TALES 
 
 "This ship will sail under the water, as well- 
 as on it, in the air as well as in the water, just 
 as you wish." 
 
 Then she went back to the land, and the sailors 
 of the cavern came on board; immediately the 
 wind swelled out the sails, and the ship started 
 off like lightning. 
 
 It sailed as fast as the wind, which blew always 
 right aft; they never had to tack about, they 
 never had head winds, and there was no need of 
 holding the helm nor of hauling in the sails; a 
 fairy man, who was unseen, directed everything 
 as he wished. At the end of a fortnight he 
 steered the ship into a port, and the anchor was 
 immediately thrown out. 
 
 The port was in an island where fairy men and 
 women lived, and they heartily welcomed the 
 captain and his crew. 
 
 The next day after their arrival in the island, 
 while all the sailors were on shore, and the cap- 
 tain was alone on board, the fairy man appeared 
 and said to him, — 
 
 "It is I, who by my will, have brought your 
 ship into this port; it is I who guided it here, 
 and you had no trouble in steering it, because the 
 wind was always right aft. Now you are to take 
 on board some fairy men to help us fight the 
 fairies of Chêlin." 
 
 "Very well, Mr. Fairy; I shall go ashore at 
 
THE FAIRIES' SHIP 243 
 
 once and take the passengers aboard according to 
 your orders." 
 
 "As soon as they are on board," said the fairy 
 man, "you must set sail for Saint-Briac; but I 
 shall leave the ship, which, hereafter, will sail 
 only under your own command. Here is a little 
 whistle which I give you; as soon as you reach 
 the shore, you have only to wistle, and immedi- 
 ately your sailors and the faiiy men who are to 
 take part in the war will come on board." 
 
 The captain went ashore on the island, and as 
 soon as he had blown his whistle, five hundred 
 fairy men, and the thirty tiny fairies that he had 
 brought with him, jumped aboard. In less than 
 ten minutes the ship spread her sails and went 
 out of the port. During the whole voyage he had 
 a wind right aft, and in less than three weeks 
 from the time he set sail he arrived at Saint- 
 Briac. 
 
 The five-hundred fairy men disembarked, and 
 went into the cavern, where they were well re- 
 ceived. Three days after they went to war 
 against the fairies of Chêîin; but they were not 
 the stronger, and they asked for peace. 
 
 The war was ended, and there were great re- 
 joicings at the cavern and at Saint-Briac; the 
 captain carried the fairy men back to their is- 
 land, then he went to Antwerp to take a load of 
 sea-coal for the fairies. They were very much 
 
244 FRENCH FAIRY TALES 
 
 * 
 
 pleased with him, and when he returned, they 
 paid him a hundred thousand francs for his voy- 
 age. 
 
 Two days after, the ship stood out to sea; for 
 three whole years it sailed over the seas without 
 touching at any land, and sometimes they were 
 left without provisions; but then the captain 
 made use of the ring that the fairy Gladieuse had 
 given him, and he obtained as much of everything 
 as he needed. 
 
 At the end of the third year they came in sight 
 of a little island, and the captain and the tiny 
 fairy sailors went ashore. Among the trees 
 there were fruits of every kind; the brooks were 
 of wine, cider, and all sorts of good things to 
 drink, and the ground was covered with precious 
 stones of gold and with diamonds. The tiny 
 fairies tasted everything; then they loaded the 
 ship with diamonds and precious stones of gold. 
 Just as they were ready to leave they saw an old 
 fellow coming, so old that he looked as if his years 
 numbered a thousand. He was the only inhabi- 
 tant of the island, and he begged them to take 
 him on board so that he could go to Saint-Briac. 
 
 He was so very, very ugly that the captain 
 himself was afraid of him ; and he was right, for 
 it was a demon. As soon as the old fellow came 
 on board he tried to take command of the ship; 
 but the captain resisted him and forced him to 
 obey. 
 
THE FAIRIES' SHIP 245 
 
 They set sail again, and when they were on the 
 broad sea they were attacked by pirates, who for 
 a long time had been chasing the golden ship. 
 At least two hundred of them leaped aboard, 
 and the old demon took their side; but the tiny 
 fairies killed them all, and also killed the devil. 
 They threw the dead bodies into the sea ; but the 
 pirates who were left on their ship ordered the 
 powder to be set on fire so as to blow themselves 
 up with the golden ship. Then the captain 
 said, — 
 
 "By the power of my ring, let my ship sail 
 under the water as it does on top of it." 
 
 Immediately the ship plunged under the sea, 
 and the pirates could not do it any harm. 
 
 Since that time the demon, to whom all the 
 race of fairies was subject, and who was coming 
 to Saint-Briac to punish them, having been cut 
 to pieces by the tiny fairies, dare not command 
 them any longer; and since then neither fairy 
 men nor women belong to him any more. 
 
 The golden ship continued its voyage and re- 
 turned to the Cavern of Saint-Briac. The fairy 
 men and women were so pleased with the load 
 that the captain brought them, that they married 
 him to the fairy Gladieuse, and he lived happily 
 with her in the grotto. 
 
 I picked up this story at the little port of Saint-Cast 
 (Côtes-du-Nord). 
 
 Paul Sebillot. 
 
THE SHEPHERD WHO WON THE 
 
 KING'S DAUGHTER BY A 
 
 SINGLE WORD 
 
 A TALE OF LOWER BRITANNY 
 
 NCE upon a time there was a king who 
 never told a single lie in his life. As 
 he heard the people about his court con- 
 stantly saying to each other, "That is not true! 
 You are a liar," he was very much displeased; 
 so much so that he said one day, — 
 
 "I am astonished at 3^011; a stranger who should 
 hear you speak in this way would not fail to say 
 that I am the king of liars. I do not wish to 
 hear any more such language in my palace. He 
 who hears me say to any one, no matter who he 
 may be, 'You are a liar!' — well, I will give him 
 the hand of my daughter." 
 
 A young shepherd, who was present at the 
 time, having heard these words of the king, said 
 to himself, "Good! we will see about this." 
 
 The old king loved to hear the old Giverziou 
 and the new Soniou sung, and marvelous tales 
 told. Often after supper he came into the 
 kitchen, and took pleasure in listening to the 
 songs and stories of his footmen. Each one sang 
 or related something in turn. 
 
THE KING'S DAUGHTER 247 
 
 "And you, young shepherd, do you know noth- 
 ing?" said the king one evening. 
 
 "Oh, yes! my king," answered the shepherd. 
 
 "Let us see what you know, then." 
 
 And the shepherd told what follows : — 
 
 "One da} T , as I was going through a wood, I 
 saw an enormous hare coming. I had in my 
 hand a ball of wax; I threw it at the hare, and 
 struck it just in the middle of the forehead, where 
 it stuck. Then the hare ran faster than ever 
 with the ball of wax on its forehead. He met 
 another hare which was coming from an opposite 
 direction; they struck against each other's fore- 
 heads and stuck together so that they could not 
 get apart, and thus I caught them very easily. 
 How do you like that, sire?" 
 
 "Very much," answered the king; "but go 
 on. 
 
 "Before coming to your court as a shepherd, 
 sire, I was a miller's boy in my father's mill, and 
 I went every day with an ass to carry the flour 
 to the customers. One day I had such a load on 
 my ass that, upon my word, his spine broke!" 
 
 "Poor beast!" said the king. 
 
 "Then I went to a hedge nearby, and with 
 my knife I cut a hazel-stick, which I stuffed into 
 the body of my ass to take the place of its spine. 
 Then the animal got up and carried its load 
 gently along to its destination as if no harm had 
 
248 FRENCH FAIRY TALES 
 
 happened to it. What do you say to that, sire?" 
 "That is very good; and what next?" 
 "The next morning I was very much aston- 
 ished (for it was then the month of December) 
 to see that branches, leaves, and even hazel-nuts 
 had grown upon the hazel-stick ; and when I took 
 my ass out of the stable, the branches continued 
 to grow up so very, very high that they reached 
 up to the sky." 
 
 "That is first-rate!" said the king; "but what 
 happened after that?" 
 
 "Seeing that, I began to climb from branch 
 to branch on the hazel-tree, so high and so safely 
 that at last I reached the moon." 
 
 "That is first-rate, first-rate! but go on." 
 "There I saw some old women who were win- 
 nowing oats from the chaff and straw, and I 
 stopped to look at them. But I soon got tired 
 of looking at these old women, and wanted to 
 descend to the earth again. Rut my ass had gone 
 away, and I could no longer find the hazel-tree 
 by which I had climbed up. What was to be 
 done? Then I went to work to tie the oat straw 
 together, head to head, so as to make a cord b} r 
 which I could go down." 
 
 "This is certainly first-rate!" said the king; 
 "and what next?" 
 
 "Unfortunately my cord was not long enough; 
 it was too short by thirty or forty feet, so that I 
 
THE KING'S DAUGHTER 249 
 
 fell on a rock head-foremost, and so heavily that 
 my head sank down into the rock as far as my 
 shoulders." 
 
 "That is first-rate, first-rate; and what next?" 
 
 "I struggled so vigorously and successfully 
 that my body became detached from my head, 
 which latter remained buried in the rock. I ran 
 at once to the mill to find an iron crow-bar, with 
 which to pry my head out of the rock." 
 
 "Better and better!" said the king; "but what 
 next?" 
 
 "When I returned, there was an enormous 
 wolf that also wished to pull my head out of the 
 rock, in order to eat it! I gave him a blow on 
 the back with my crow-bar, but such a very, very 
 heavy one, that a letter flew out of him!" 
 
 "Oh! a better one than that could not be told!" 
 cried the king; "but what was written on that 
 letter?" 
 
 "On that letter, my king, with all due respect 
 to you, was written that your father had formerly 
 been mill boy at my grandfather's mill." 
 
 "It's a lie, you young rascal!" cried the king, 
 immediately rising up, furious. 
 
 "Holloa, sire; I have won!" said the shepherd 
 quietly. 
 
 "How is that? What have you won?" 
 
 "Did not you say, my king, that you would 
 willingly give the hand of the princess, your 
 
250 FRENCH FAIRY TALES 
 
 daughter, to the first one who would make you 
 say, 'That is a lie,' or 'You are a liar' ?" 
 
 "It is true," replied the king, growing calmer; 
 "I did say so. A king should always keep his 
 word ; therefore your betrothal to my only daugh- 
 ter shall be celebrated to-morrow, and the wed- 
 ding in a week!" 
 
 And thus it was that the shepherd won the 
 king's daughter by a single word. 
 
 F. M. Luzel, "Archives des Missions Scientifiques." 
 
I GAVE HiM A BLOW ON THE BACK WITH MY CROW-BAR. 
 
THE ENCHANTED RING 
 
 A CORSICAN STORY 
 
 EFORE the invasion of the Saracens there 
 were six brothers and their sister who 
 were very, very poor; their parents were 
 sick and not able to work. One day when they 
 had been hunting for chestnuts in the neighbor- 
 ing wood and had scarcely been able to find any, 
 the smallest said to his brothers, — 
 
 "I want to go out into the world to see if I can 
 make a fortune. At the end of the week I will 
 come back to tell you what has happened to 
 me." 
 
 And the little brother went away. He trav- 
 eled for several days, and at last he saw a small 
 house in the midst of a forest. 
 
 "At last," said he to himself, "I shall be able 
 to rest myself a few moments and eat a piece of 
 bread." 
 
 Tap! tap! 
 
 "Who is there?" 
 
 "It is I." 
 
 Seeing it was a man, the mistress of the house, 
 who was a fairy, dropped her ring as if by mis- 
 take. 
 
 251 
 
252 FRENCH FAIRY TALES 
 
 The little brother saw it and put it on his fin- 
 ger, saying — 
 
 "Ah! what a beautiful ring!" 
 
 But immediately his body was covered with 
 hairs, two horns grew out from him, his ears be- 
 came long, and his two hands were changed into 
 the feet of a goat. 
 
 In fact, he was altogether changed into a goat. 
 
 "Baa! baa! baa!" said the little brother; but 
 nothing could bring him back to his original 
 shape. 
 
 The fairy tied him, put him down in the cellar ; 
 and gave him some very fresh grass. 
 
 Seeing that their brother did not come back, 
 the other five wished to go and look for him. 
 
 They started out one after the other ; but when 
 they reached the fairy's house, they each put on 
 the ring that she threw to them, and all shared 
 their youngest brother's fate. 
 
 The sister wanted to go too. 
 
 She was beautiful and well formed, with blue 
 eyes and black hair; her name was Milia. 
 
 As she was going along, the little sister came 
 upon a large bird caught in a bush ; it could not 
 get out in spite of all its efforts. 
 
 The young girl took her knife, cut off the 
 briers and set free the bird, which flew away, say- 
 ing— 
 
 "Thanks, thanks, Milia; thanks, thanks, 
 Milia." 
 
THE ENCHANTED RING 253 
 
 The latter continued her journey; as night 
 came on, she sat down under a tree to eat a piece 
 of bread. 
 
 As she was making her frugal meal, she saw 
 a poor old woman coming, who could scarcely 
 drag herself along. 
 
 Milia ran to meet her, saying to her, — 
 
 "My good mother, lean on me; come rest your- 
 self a moment and have part of the small quan- 
 tity of bread that I have left." 
 
 Milia had scarcely uttered these words when 
 she was completely dazzled. The old woman 
 was changed suddenly into a beautiful fairy, 
 adorned with a lovely necklace of fine pearls, 
 and dressed in a magnificent robe of blue and 
 rose-color, all embroidered with gold. 
 
 "What do you wish for? I am powerful; ask, 
 and it shall be granted you." 
 
 "I wish to know where my brothers are; are 
 they dead or alive?" 
 
 "Your brothers are living, but it will be very 
 difficult for you to recognize them. To find 
 them you have only to go on straight before you. 
 They are shut up in the first house that you will 
 find on your way." 
 
 "Thanks, good fairy." 
 
 And Milia set out. 
 
 After having walked hours and hours, the 
 little sister saw a house. 
 
254 FRENCH FAIRY TALES 
 
 "This is where they are, doubtless," she 
 thought, and she walked more rapidly. 
 
 Milia was not more than fifty paces from it 
 when the wicked fairy saw her. 
 
 She threw out her ring quickly. 
 
 But a large bird flew by and carried it off in 
 its beak. 
 
 It was the bird that the young girl had set free. 
 
 Tap! tap! 
 
 "Come in." 
 
 Milia entered. 
 
 "Sit down a moment, while I go to find you 
 something to eat; you must be tired," said the 
 old woman to her; then she went out. 
 
 Then the bird came and tapped at the window. 
 
 "Milia, take nothing from that wicked old 
 woman, or you will be turned to stone. Your 
 brothers, changed to goats, are shut up in the 
 cellar." 
 
 The old fairy came in at that moment. 
 
 "Here, eat a piece of this cake and drink a 
 little of this exquisite wine." 
 
 "Thanks, madam; I am neither hungry nor 
 thirsty." 
 
 "What, after such a long journey?" 
 
 "I do not want anything; if you wish to please 
 me, let me sleep quietly in this corner." 
 
 "Make yourself comfortable, my poor child." 
 
 However, the fairy thought, — 
 
THE ENCHANTED RING 255 
 
 "This little one must not escape me ; I wish to 
 have her at all hazards." 
 
 And she went for a necklace of gold and robes 
 changeable as the sky. 
 
 "Since you will not accept anything to eat, 
 take these things, at least ; for it must not be said 
 that any one rests at my house without taking 
 away some token of my good will." 
 
 "What do you wish a poor girl to do with all 
 these wonderful things? Robes and necklace 
 would soon be torn up among the bushes through 
 which I must pass." 
 
 Seeing that all her designs were baffled, the 
 perfidious fairy stretched «herself on her bed, and 
 slept soundly. 
 
 The bird came again and tapped at the win- 
 dow. 
 
 "Milia, wake up! wake up, Milia!" 
 
 "What do you want?" 
 
 "Kill that wicked fairy, or she will soon find 
 means to destroy you. Then take the chemise 
 that she wears, put it on yourself, and you will 
 possess her magic power." 
 
 Milia got up softly, and taking a knife which 
 was on the table, killed the wicked old woman; 
 then she undressed her, took her chemise and put 
 it on herself. 
 
 Her mind was enlightened in a moment. A 
 number of things which she had thought impene- 
 
256 FRENCH FAIRY TALES 
 
 trable mysteries were now explained to her. 
 
 Before trying her power, Milia went over the 
 whole house. In a hall were a number of statues, 
 two of which were in a niche. They were a king 
 and queen laid under a spell by the magician. 
 
 Then Milia went down into the cellar. There 
 she saw six goats, extremely emaciated, though 
 they had an abundance of food. 
 
 "Ah, poor beasts! and to think they are my 
 brothers !" 
 
 And Milia, good sister that she was, began to 
 cry. She would have restored them to their orig- 
 inal shape at that moment, but she did not know 
 how to manage it. 
 
 Happily, she remembered that on the fairy's 
 chemise was written, — 
 
 "Chemise, chemise, until death. 
 Obey me in everything." 
 
 Milia repeated these words, then thought, — 
 
 "Chemise, chemise, cause these goats to be- 
 come men again as they were before!" 
 
 And immediately the goats lost their hair, their 
 horns fell off, and their feet were changed into 
 the two hands and feet of a man. 
 
 Imagine Milia's joy! She threw herself on 
 her brothers' necks, for she knew them at once; 
 and for a long time they embraced each other 
 joyfully. 
 
THE ENCHANTED RING 257 
 
 "Where is the old fairy who changed us to 
 beasts?" 
 
 "She is dead; and I have all her power." 
 
 "How did it happen? In what does this 
 power reside?" 
 
 "I cannot tell you my secret. I am going now 
 to set free all those who are in the castle." 
 
 This was quickly done. 
 
 The king and the queen and all the other per- 
 sons thanked Milia very much, as you may sup- 
 pose. They wished to bestow castles and villas 
 on her; but she refused them all. Had she not 
 the fairy's chemise to put her in possession of all 
 that she desired? 
 
 By means of her magic power the young girl 
 made handsome carriages come up out of the 
 ground, and distributed them among all those 
 who were there, so that they could return to their 
 homes. 
 
 She bestowed one of them upon herself, and 
 harnessed to it two beautiful horses as fleet as 
 the wind. 
 
 Thus she went back to the home of her par- 
 ents, who were amazed to see her with her broth- 
 ers in such an equipage. 
 
 "Ah! our daughter has a fortune," said they 
 to themselves. 
 
 And they were happy. 
 
 Unfortunately, the chemise became so very, 
 
258 FRENCH FAIRY TALES 
 
 very dirty that one day Milia wanted to have it 
 washed. 
 
 It was spread in the sun to dry. 
 
 A tramp saw it, seized upon it, and ran away. 
 
 They sought for it a long time in vain; they 
 could never find it. 
 
 Milia died in despair at having lost the pre- 
 cious chemise from which she derived all her 
 power. 
 
 As for her brothers, who went in search of the 
 thief, nothing more was heard of them. If I 
 learn anything about them, you may be sure I 
 will tell you of it. 
 
 Ortoli, "Contes de l'ile de Corse." 
 
THE SIREN OF LA FRESNAYE 
 
 A STORY OF UPPER BRITANNY 
 
 ONCE upon a time there was in the woods 
 of the isle of Aval, in the parish of 
 Saint-Cast, a wooden-shoe maker, who 
 lived with his wife and two children in a poor 
 little mud hut which he had built himself by the 
 seashore, just at the end of the valley. There 
 are those who say that the ruins of it may still 
 be seen; but that is hardly credible, for it is a 
 long time since then, and usually the cabins of 
 wooden-shoe makers do not last very long. 
 
 They were not rich; for they had only their 
 work to live on ; and you know wooden-shoe mak- 
 ers rarely buy small farms. The husband dug 
 out the wooden shoes, his wife helped him as well 
 as she could, and the little boy and girl, who were 
 not large enough to work in the wood, went every 
 day to fish along the shore. 
 
 One day when the little boy was fishing among 
 the rocks, he heard suddenly a sweet, musical 
 songs, and looking in the direction from which it 
 seemed to come, he saw the Siren, who was sing- 
 ing as she swam among the waves; and around 
 
 259 
 
26o FRENCH FAIRY TALES 
 
 her the sea was so brilliant that it dazzled you 
 to look at it. 
 
 He ran very quickly to the cabin where his 
 father was working. 
 
 "Ah, papa!" said he to him, "do come and see! 
 there is a fish in the bay of Port-au-Moulin more 
 beautiful than any I have ever seen; it sings, and 
 it shines like gold!" 
 
 "Like fire, papa," added the little girl, who had 
 seen it also. 
 
 The wooden-shoe maker and his wife hastened 
 to follow their children; but when they reached 
 the shore, the Siren had disappeared; they saw 
 nothing on the sea and heard no singing. 
 
 "It was nothing," said the mother; "the chil- 
 dren dreamed it all." 
 
 But the wooden-shoe maker was not so incred- 
 ulous as his wife. The next morning he said to 
 the children, — 
 
 "Go back again to the edge of the water, and 
 watch attentively to see if the beautiful singing 
 fish will show herself again." 
 
 The little boy went out; but as soon as he had 
 gone a few steps from the cabin he ran back, cry- 
 ing out, — 
 
 "Ah, papa! the beautiful fish has returned; 
 you can hear it sing from here." 
 
 When they went outside, they heard a delicious 
 music in the distance; and they hastened to go 
 
THE SIREN OF LA FRESNAYE 261 
 
 to the seashore, where they saw the Siren, who 
 sang as she played about on the waves, and leaped 
 sometimes more than three feet above the water. 
 
 "It is not an ordinary fish," said the wooden- 
 shoe maker; "it looks like a human being." 
 
 "Ah!" said his wife, "we must get the lines; 
 perhaps you can catch it. I should like very 
 much to see it close by." 
 
 They all went to work to get the lines ready: 
 and when the sea was high, they set them; but in 
 vain. They put the choicest bait on the hook; 
 the singing fish did not come to take it, although 
 they saw it every day. 
 
 The wooden-shoe maker thought often of the 
 wonderful fish, and devised means to possess him- 
 self of it. One day as he was walking on the 
 shore, he saw the Siren, who, cradled by the 
 waves, and fast asleep, was floating at a short 
 distance from the shore. He went into the water 
 without making any noise, and slipped a large 
 basket that he had, under her, and carried her 
 off in it to the land without waking her. 
 
 She was about the size of a child of eight years. 
 She had golden hair on her head, and her white 
 and polished body resembled that of a woman; 
 but instead of feet she had fins, and her body 
 ended with the tail of a fish. 
 
 "Ah!" said the wooden-shoe maker, as he 
 looked at her, "my little brats did not lie; it is 
 
2Ô2 FRENCH FAIRY TALES 
 
 really the most curious thing that ever was seen. 
 It is doubtless a siren; for it is half woman and 
 half fish." 
 
 He made these reflections on his way back to 
 his cabin, and he had almost reached it when the 
 Siren awoke and said to him, — 
 
 "Ah, wooden-shoe maker! 5^ou surprised me 
 while I was asleep; I beg you to take me back 
 to the water, now that you have seen me close, 
 and I will protect you, you and all your family, 
 as long as you live." 
 
 "No," answered the wooden-shoe maker; "I 
 will not put you back into the sea ; I have watched 
 for you for a long time, and so have my wife and 
 children. I am going to take you to the house 
 so that they can see you ; but when you have sung 
 a song, if my wife wishes, I will carry you back 
 to the place from which I took you." 
 
 He called his wife, who was named Olérie, and 
 cried to her,— 
 
 "Olérie, come here and see, and bring the chil- 
 dren; I have the singer in my basket." 
 
 The good woman ran, full of joy, followed by 
 the little boy and girl, and began to examine the 
 Siren. 
 
 "She asks to be taken back to the water," said 
 the wooden-shoe maker; "she will sing you a song 
 first. Do you agree to that?" 
 
 "No," she answered; "it is too beautiful a fish; 
 I have never seen one like it; we must eat it." 
 
THE SIREN OF LA FRESNAYE 263 
 
 "Ah!" said the Siren, "if you feed upon my 
 flesh, if you feast upon my fish, you will never eat 
 anything else in this world, for you will perish. 
 I am not a fish like the others ; I am the Siren of 
 Fresnaye, and your husband surprised me while 
 I was sleeping. Ask of me what you will, and I 
 will grant it, for I have the power of a fairy. 
 But make haste to carry me back to the sea, and 
 do not lose any time ; I am already growing weak 
 and I shall soon die." 
 
 "What do you say about it?" asked Olérie of 
 her husband. 
 
 "If you consent to it, I am very willing to put 
 her back into the sea; it would be a shame to kill 
 her, she is so pretty and has never done any harm 
 to any one." 
 
 They each took hold of one end of the basket, 
 and carried the Siren gently to the sea, and let her 
 plunge into it again without thinking of asking 
 anything of her. 
 
 When she felt the freshness of the water, she 
 shouted with laughter, for joy that she was no 
 longer in captivity, and she said to the wooden- 
 shoe maker, — 
 
 "What do you ask of me now?" 
 
 "I ask," said he, "for some bread, some fish, 
 and clothing for my wife and my children." 
 
 "You shall have all that in twenty-four hours," 
 said the Siren, 
 
264 FRENCH FAIRY TALES 
 
 "I should like very well also," added he, "if 
 it is in your power, to have a little money to pay 
 my master, for I am not at all rich." 
 
 The Siren did not make any reply, but she 
 begun to flap the water with her fins, and each 
 time that she struck the waves they flashed up in 
 little drops, and all that went up in the air be- 
 came gold which fell down at the feet of the 
 wooden-shoe maker. The shore was soon cov- 
 ered with it ; then she became still and said to the 
 wooden-shoe maker and his wife, — 
 
 "All that is for you, good people ; you can pick 
 it up." 
 
 They thanked the Siren, who went off singing; 
 then they filled their pockets with gold and re- 
 turned to their cabin very happy. 
 
 When the twenty-four hours had passed, 
 Olérie and her husband returned to the seashore 
 to look for the clothing that the Siren had prom- 
 ised them. They heard her singing in the dis- 
 tance, and soon they saw her glide over the waves 
 and come near them, always singing her sweet 
 and melodious song. She flapped the water with 
 her fins; a large wave broke into foam on the 
 strand, and rolled back, leaving at the feet of 
 the wooden-shoe maker a very large and tightly 
 closed chest. Then the Siren leaped three times 
 out of the water and said to the wooden-shoe 
 maker,— 
 
THE SIREN OF LA FRESNAYE 265 
 
 "You will find in this chest what I promised 
 you; good-by, till I see you again, you who have 
 been so good to me ! When you want some fish, 
 do not forget this shore." 
 
 They took the chest away with them to their 
 house; it contained good clothing made to fit 
 them ; and every time that they or their children 
 wanted to catch fish, they went to the seashore, 
 and in a few moments they caught an abun- 
 dance. 
 
 For a whole year they did not see the Siren; 
 their purse grew lighter meanwhile, and the 
 lighter it grew, the more they thought of the 
 Siren. They often went to the seashore, listen- 
 ing and hoping to hear her voice. 
 
 One day they heard her singing in the distance ; 
 they ran at once to the shore, and were very glad 
 to see her gliding over the waves ; all along where 
 she had passed, the sea gleamed like a pathway 
 of fire. 
 
 When she came within a little distance, the 
 wooden-shoe maker said to her, — 
 
 "My Siren, I am very glad to see you again; 
 if you will, you can do me a great service, for I 
 have no longer either bread or money." 
 
 "I will give you," said the Siren, "enough to 
 fill your purse again." 
 
 After saying these words, she unfolded her 
 fins, and beating the water around her, she sent 
 to the shore a wave of gold and silver. 
 
266 FRENCH FAIRY TALES 
 
 "With that," said she, "you can buy all you 
 need; but if you wish to keep it, use it well. 
 Hereafter you will see me no more; I am going 
 to leave this country and go to India." 
 
 The Siren went away after having said this; 
 since then no one has ever seen her, or heard her 
 sing in the bay of Fresnaye. 
 
 Paul Sebillot, "Contes des Paysans et des Pêcheurs." 
 
ALL THAT WENT UP IN THE AIR BECAME GOLD. 
 
THE LITTLE HUNCHBACK 
 
 A LORRAINE STORY 
 
 ONCE there was a king who had three 
 sons; but he treated only the first two 
 as his sons: the youngest was a hunch- 
 back; only his mother loved him. 
 
 One day the king called the oldest to him and 
 said to him, — 
 
 "My son, I should like to have the water which 
 restores youth." 
 
 "My father, I will go after it." 
 
 The king gave him a beautiful carriage drawn 
 by four horses, and as much gold and silver as 
 he wanted, and the young man started on his 
 journey. 
 
 He had gone two hundred leagues on the way, 
 when he met a shepherd, who said to him, — 
 
 "Prince, my handsome prince, would you help 
 me to set free one of my sheep which is caught in 
 a thicket?" 
 
 "You should not have let it go there," replied 
 the prince; "I have no time to lose." 
 
 When he arrived at Pekin, he went to a fine 
 
 hotel, had his horse taken out, and ordered a good 
 
 267 
 
268 FRENCH FAIRY TALES 
 
 dinner. He soon made friends, and thought no 
 more of continuing his journey. 
 
 At the end of six months the king, seeing that 
 he did not return, called his second son, and asked 
 him to go and seek for the water that restored 
 youth. He gave him a handsome carriage drawn 
 by four horses, covered with pearls and diamonds. 
 The young man got into it and started off. After 
 having gone two hundred leagues, he met the 
 shepherd, who said to him, — 
 
 "Prince, my handsome prince, would you help 
 me to set free one of my sheep which is caught in 
 a thicket?" 
 
 "For whom do you take me?" answered the 
 prince. "You should not have let it go there." 
 
 He arrived at Pekin, where he lodged in the 
 same hotel as his brother. He also soon made 
 friends and did not think of going any farther. 
 The king waited a year, and seeing that he did 
 not return, he said to himself: "I have no more 
 children! Who, then, will wear my crown?" 
 He thought no more of the little hunchback than 
 if he had not been in the world. 
 
 Meanwhile the latter fell sick. They sent for 
 a physician; the young prince told him that he 
 was ill of grief seeing that his father did not love 
 him, and that he wished very much to travel. 
 The physician repeated these words to the king, 
 who came to see his son. 
 
THE LITTLE HUNCHBACK 269 
 
 "My father," said the little hunchback to him, 
 "I would like to go after the water that restores 
 youth, and I will not do as my brothers did; I 
 will bring it back with me." 
 
 "You can go if you wish," said the king. 
 
 He gave him an old carriage that had only 
 three wheels, an old horse that had only three 
 legs, very little money, — though the queen 
 added something to that,- — and the prince set out. 
 
 After having gone two hundred leagues, he 
 met the shepherd, who said to him, — 
 
 "Prince, my handsome prince, would you help 
 me to set free one of my sheep which is caught in 
 a thicket?" 
 
 "Willingly," said the prince. 
 
 And he helped the shepherd to set free his 
 sheep. When he had gone away, the shepherd, 
 remembering that he had given him nothing for 
 his trouble, called him back and said to him, — 
 
 "Prince, I forgot to reward you. Here, take 
 these arrows; all that these arrows pierce will be 
 well pierced. Here is a flageolet ; all who hear it 
 will dance." 
 
 The prince went on his way and arrived at 
 Pekin. When he passed by the hotel where his 
 brothers lodged, the latter, who were on the steps, 
 were ashamed of him and went into the house. 
 The poor little hunchback alighted at a miserable 
 inn, where he unhitched his horse himself; then 
 
27o FRENCH FAIRY TALES 
 
 he took with him a guide to show him the city. 
 As he was walking along he saw a dead man who 
 had been left unburied. 
 
 "Why do they not bury this man?" asked he. 
 
 "Because he had a great many creditors and 
 could not pay them." 
 
 "If they were paid for him, would they have 
 him buried?" 
 
 "Yes, certainly." 
 
 The prince sent for the creditors, paid the dead 
 man's debts, and gave the money to have him 
 buried. After that he continued his journey. 
 One day a good old woman received him in her 
 little house and gave him something to eat and 
 drink; he paid her generously and then went on 
 farther. 
 
 When he had gone two hundred leagues more, 
 he found that all his money was gone and he had 
 no longer anything to eat. His horse was more 
 fortunate than himself; he could browse a little 
 on the grass along the road. A fox passed by; 
 the prince was about to let fly one of his arrows 
 at him, when the fox cried to him, — 
 
 "Wretch ! what are you going to do? would you 
 kill me?" 
 
 The prince, seized with fright, put his arrow 
 back into the quiver. Then the fox gave him a 
 napkin in which he found something to eat and 
 drink, and said to him, — 
 
THE LITTLE HUNCHBACK 271 
 
 "You are looking for the water that restores 
 youth? It is in that castle very far below there. 
 The castle is guarded by an ogre, by tigers, and 
 by lions. To reach it, it is necessary to cross a 
 river ; on this river you will see a boat, which the 
 same man has steered for eighteen hundred years. 
 Be very careful to enter the boat feet foremost; 
 for if you should get in backwards, you would 
 take the man's place forever. When you reach 
 the castle, do not allow yourself to be charmed 
 by the magnificence that you will find there. 
 You will see in the stables mules adorned with 
 plates of gold : take the ugliest one : you will see 
 also two green birds : take the ugliest one. 
 
 The prince was careful to enter the boat feet 
 foremost, and arrived at the castle; he was just 
 going to take the mule and the bird when the orge 
 came in. 
 
 "What are you doing here?" said the ogre to 
 him. 
 
 The prince excused himself, bowed to him, and 
 asked his pardon. The ogre said to him, — 
 
 "I will not eat you; you are too thin." 
 
 He gave him something to eat and to drink, 
 and the prince remained at the castle, where he 
 had everything he wanted. The ogre sent him to 
 fight his enemies, beasts like himself; the prince, 
 thanks to his arrows, won the fight and brought 
 back the skins. He fought five or six times and 
 was always conqueror. 
 
272 FRENCH FAIRY TALES 
 
 Now there was in the castle a princess whom 
 the ogre wished to marry, but who did not want 
 him. One day, when the prince had won a great 
 fight, he took a notion to play a tune on his 
 flageolet. The princess was at table with the 
 ogre ; as they heard the marvelous flageolet, they 
 began to dance together, without knowing at first 
 whence the music came. When the ogre saw 
 that it was the prince who was playing, he made 
 him come to the table, and said to him, — 
 
 "Ask me what you will; I will grant it." 
 
 He thought surely that the prince would ask 
 of him permission to go away. 
 
 "I ask," said the prince, "for what is most 
 beautiful here, and for permission to go over the 
 castle three times." 
 
 The orge consented to it. There was so much 
 gold in the castle that they did not know what to 
 do with it; but the prince did not touch it: he 
 took the uglier of the two green birds, and the 
 ugliest mule, which stepped seven leagues at a 
 time, and did not forget a vial of the water which 
 restores youth ; then he put the princess, who was 
 a party to the whole thing, on the mule. Instead 
 of going over the castle three times, he only went 
 twice and ran off with the princess. As soon as 
 the ogre found it out, he went in pursuit of them, 
 but he could not catch them. 
 
 The young man met the fox the second time; 
 and the fox said to him, — 
 
THE LITTLE HUNCHBACK 273 
 
 "If you see any one in trouble, be sure not to 
 help them out." 
 
 A little farther on, he was very kindly received 
 by the good old woman in her little house. At 
 last he arrived at Pekin with the princess. On 
 one of the squares there was a gallows erected. 
 
 "For whom is that gallows?" asked the prince. 
 
 He was told that it was for two young stran- 
 gers who were to be hung that day. At that 
 moment the condemned men were brought out; 
 he recognized his brothers. Lie asked what 
 their crime was. 
 
 He was told that they had contracted debts 
 which they were not able to pay. 
 
 The young man assembled the creditors, paid 
 them, and set his brothers free ; then they set out 
 together on the road to their father's kingdom. 
 The little hunchback had given the mule to his 
 oldest brother; to the other, the green bird; and 
 the water which restores youth, he kept for him- 
 self and the princess. Still his brothers were 
 not satisfied; together they sought out oppor- 
 tunities to get rid of him, and the princess, who 
 saw their jealousy, was distressed on account 
 of it. 
 
 One day as they were passing by a well which 
 was three hundred feet deep, the two elder broth- 
 ers said to the youngest, — 
 
 "Look at that beautiful well!" 
 
274 FRENCH FAIRY TALES 
 
 And as he leaned over to look, they pushed him 
 in and carried off the princess, the mule, and the 
 bird. When they arrived at the castle, the prin- 
 cess was in a fainting condition ; the mule and the 
 bird were dejected. They put the mule in an 
 old stable, the bird in an old cage. The water 
 could not restore the king's youth : they put it in 
 a corner among the old rugs. 
 
 Meanwhile the poor prince sent up loud cries 
 from the bottom of the well; the fox hastened 
 to him- and went down into the well. 
 
 "I charged you especially not to help any one 
 out of trouble. However, I am going to help 
 you to get out of this place ; hold fast to my tail." 
 
 The young man did as he was told, and the fox 
 climbed up ; he had almost reached the top when 
 his tail broke, and the young man fell back to the 
 bottom of the well. The fox tied his tail on 
 again, rubbing it with grease, and took the prince 
 on his back. Once more in the open air, he 
 straightened him up, and the young man, dis- 
 burdened of his hunch, became an elegant prince. 
 
 He went to the castle of the king, his father, 
 and had himself announced as a great physician, 
 saying that he could cure the king and the prin- 
 cess. At first he went into the stable; at once 
 the mule took on a handsome hide and began to 
 neigh: he approached the bird; it resumed its 
 beautiful plumage and began to sing. He gave 
 
THE LITTLE HUNCHBACK 275 
 
 his father some of the water which restores youth ; 
 the king became young again immediately and 
 got up out of his sick-bed. The princess was re- 
 stored to health as soon as she saw the young 
 man. Then the prince made himself known to 
 his father and told him what had happened ; then 
 the bird spoke in its turn and told the whole 
 story over again. 
 
 The elder sons of the king were out hunting. 
 The king had their young brother concealed be- 
 hind the door ; and when they came in, he said to 
 them, — 
 
 "I have just heard of a strange adventure 
 which took place in one of the cities of my king- 
 dom. Three young men were walking together 
 on the shore of the lake ; two of them threw their 
 companion into the lake. Give Solomon's judg- 
 ment; what punishment do these men deserve?" 
 
 "They deserve death." 
 
 "Miserable creatures! then you also deserve it. 
 You shall not be thrown into the water, but you 
 shall be burned." 
 
 The sentence was executed. Afterwards they 
 made a great feast, and the young prince married 
 the princess. 
 
 Emmanuel Cosquin, "Contes Populaires Lorrains." 
 
THE PRINCESS OF TRONKOLAINE 
 
 A STORY OF LOWER BRITANNY 
 
 ONCE upon a time there was a poor coal- 
 man who had already had twenty-five 
 children baptized. God sent him the 
 twenty-sixth, and he set out to look for a god- 
 father and godmother for it. He saw the king 
 pass in his carriage, and knelt down in the mud 
 to greet him. The king threw him a piece of 
 gold. 
 
 "This is not what I am in search of at this 
 moment, although I am in great need of it," said 
 the coal-man; "I want a godfather for the 
 twenty-sixth child that my wife has just pre- 
 sented me." 
 
 "Twenty-six children, my poor man!" ex- 
 claimed the king. "Ah ! well ! come to the church 
 to-morrow with your child and a godmother, and 
 I will be the godfather, myself." 
 
 The coal-man was promptly at the appointed 
 place; he took with him the godmother, and the 
 king arrived also at the hour agreed upon. 
 
 The child was baptized, and named Louis. 
 
 The godfather gave the father a purse full of gold 
 
 and told him to send his son to school when he was 
 
 276 
 
THE PRINCESS OF TRONKOLAINE 277 
 
 ten years old. He gave him also half of a pla- 
 tine, keeping the other half himself, and charg- 
 ing him to give it to his son when he should have 
 reached the age of eighteen, to bring it back to 
 him at his court at Paris. He would recognize 
 him by this sign. Then he went away. 
 
 The child was put to school when he was ten 
 years old, and as he was intelligent, he made 
 rapid progress. When he was eighteen, his 
 father gave him the half -platine, and told him to 
 go and take it to his godfather, the king of 
 France, at his palace in Paris. Until then he 
 had concealed from him who his godfather was. 
 He gave him also one of his horses, a jade used 
 for hauling coal, and the young man set out. 
 
 As he was going along a long and narrow 
 street, he met a little old woman, bending over 
 her stick, who said to him, — 
 
 "Good morning, Louis, godson of the king of 
 France." 
 
 "Good morning, grandmother," answered 
 Louis, astonished at being known to the old 
 woman. 
 
 "Almost immediately, my child," said the lat- 
 ter, "you will come to a spring by the roadside, 
 and you will see some one there who will invite 
 you to get down from your horse and quench 
 your thirst; do not listen to him, but go on your 
 way." 
 
278 FRENCH FAIRY TALES 
 
 "Thanks, grandmother," answered the young 
 man. And he passed along. 
 
 Sure enough, a moment after, he came to a 
 spring near which there was a person of disagree- 
 ahle countenance, who cried to him,— 
 
 "Come, Louis! stop a moment, and get down 
 from your horse." 
 
 "I have not time," answered Louis; "I am in 
 a hurry." 
 
 "Come, I tell you, quench your thirst at this 
 spring, — the water is delicious, — and converse 
 a little; you do not recognize me, then — one of 
 your schoolmates?" 
 
 Louis, hearing these last words, got down from 
 his horse ; but he did not recognize the pretended 
 schoolmate. Nevertheless, he started to drink 
 from the spring, and as he was leaning over the 
 water to drink out of the hollow of his hand, the 
 other, with one hunch of his shoulder, threw him 
 into it; then he took away his half -platine, 
 mounted his horse and departed. Poor Louis 
 got out of the water as well as he could and be- 
 gan to run after the thief. The horse was old 
 and and foundered, so that at last he overtook 
 him, and they entered the courtyard of the king's 
 palace together. The king, at sight of the half- 
 platine, had no doubt that the bearer of it was 
 his godson, and welcomed him heartily, although 
 he thought him ill-looking. He asked him 
 
THE PRINCESS OF TRONKOLAINE 279 
 
 also, who the young man was who accompanied 
 him. 
 
 "That is a young countryman, godfather," re- 
 plied he, "who followed me, hoping to find em- 
 ployment at your court." 
 
 "Very well," answered the king; "occupation 
 shall be found for him." 
 
 He was, in fact, employed as a stable-boy, 
 while the other followed the king everywhere, 
 dressed like a prince, and had nothing to do 
 every day but eat, drink, and go out walking. 
 
 Very soon the pretended godson, wishing to 
 get rid of Louis, the sight of whom annoyed him, 
 said to the king one day, — 
 
 "If you could only know, godfather, what the 
 stable-boy from my country boasts that he will 
 do!" 
 
 "What does he boast that he will do?" asked 
 the king. 
 
 "That he will go and ask the sun why he is 
 red when he rises in the morning." 
 
 "Indeed? Very well; let him go, for I am 
 really very curious to know why." 
 
 And poor Louis was obliged to start off to go 
 to see the sun, although he declared that he had 
 never said anything of the sort. 
 
 As he was going sadly along by the seashore, 
 he met a venerable old man, who asked him, — 
 
 "Where are you going, my son?" 
 
28o FRENCH FAIRY TALES 
 
 "Truly, grandfather," lie replied, "I do not 
 know at all. I was told that, under pain of 
 death, I should find out from the sun why he is 
 so red when he rises in the morning, and I do not 
 know where to find the sun." 
 
 "Well! my son, I will help you to find him." 
 And showing him a wooden horse, he said, — 
 
 "Jump on this horse, which will rise in the air, 
 at your command, and carry you to the foot of a 
 mountain on the summit of which is the castle of 
 the sun. Leave the horse at the foot of the 
 mountain, where you will find it again on your 
 return, and go alone to the castle." 
 
 Louis mounted the wooden horse, which rose at 
 once into the air and put him down at the foot of 
 a high mountain. He climbed the mountain 
 with difficulty, and when at last he reached the 
 summit, he saw a place so fine, so resplendent, 
 that he was dazzled by it. It was the palace of 
 the sun. He knocked at the door. An old 
 woman came and opened it for him. 
 
 "Is my lord the sun at home?" asked he. 
 
 "No, my child; but he will soon return," an- 
 swered the old woman. 
 
 "I will wait for him, then." 
 
 "But, my poor child, my son will be very hun- 
 gry when he comes ; he might very likely eat you 
 up." 
 
 "I beg you, madam, do not let him eat me, for 
 I must speak to him." 
 
THE PRINCESS OF TRONKOLAINE 281 
 
 "Very well! come in at any rate, my boy, and 
 I will try to manage it." 
 
 And he went in. The sun arrived a little 
 while after, calling out, — 
 
 "I am hungry, I am very hungry, mother!" 
 Then having sniffed the air; "I smell the smell 
 of a Christian. There is a Christian here, and I 
 am going to eat him." 
 
 "Oh, yes," said his mother; "it's very likely 
 that I should give you this poor, pretty child to 
 eat. There is your supper all ready; eat it 
 quickly and keep silent, or look out for my stick!" 
 
 The sun hung his head, at this threat, like a 
 timid child, and began to eat in silence. When 
 he had finished, Louis, emboldened by seeing him 
 so gentle, put this question to him, — 
 
 "I should like very much to know, my lord the 
 sun, why you are so red, so handsome, when you 
 rise in the morning." 
 
 "I will tell you willingly," answered the sun; 
 "it is because the castle of the princess of Tronko- 
 laine is near here, and she is so beautiful that I 
 have to show myself in all my splendor so as not 
 to be surpassed by her." 
 
 "I am very much obliged, my lord the sun," 
 answered Louis. 
 
 And he bowed low and went away. He went 
 down the mountain again, mounted his wooden 
 horse, which was waiting for him, and quickly 
 returned to the king's court. 
 
282 FRENCH FAIRY TALES 
 
 "Well!" said the latter to him, "have you 
 really been all the way to the sun, and can you 
 tell me now why he is red when he rises in the 
 morning?" 
 
 "Yes, sire; I can tell you why." 
 
 "Let us hear it, then." 
 
 "It is in order not to be eclipsed by the Prin- 
 cess Tronkolaine, whose castle is near his own, 
 and who is the most wonderful beauty in exist- 
 ence." The king appeared satisfied with the ex- 
 planation. 
 
 But some time after that the false godson said 
 again, — 
 
 "If you could know, godfather, how this stable- 
 boy still brags!" 
 
 "What does he brag about?" asked the king. 
 
 "Of being able to bring the Princess Tron- 
 kolaine herself to your court so that you can 
 marry her." 
 
 "Indeed! has he boasted of that? Very well! 
 he must do it, or death is his only portion," 
 
 And poor Louis was obliged to attempt this 
 adventure, in spite of all his protestations of 
 never having said any such thing. Fortunately 
 for him, he met again on the road the unknown 
 old man, who said to him, — 
 
 "Go back to the king, and tell him that in order 
 to accomplish your enterprise you must have a 
 ship loaded with wheat, bacon, and beef, that you 
 
THE PRINCESS OF TRONKOLAINE 283 
 
 may distribute these provisions among the kings 
 of the ants, the sparrow-hawks, and the lions 
 which you will meet on your way, and which, 
 if you feast them well, will be useful to you 
 later." 
 
 He obtained the ship loaded with provisions. 
 Then the old man gave him besides a white stick, 
 by means of which he could obtain a favorable 
 wind from whatever direction he should turn it 
 toward. He set sail, passed by the kingdoms of 
 the ants, the sparrow-hawks, and the lions, and 
 regaled all these animals as well as he could, and 
 they all promised to come to his help as soon as 
 he called them. 
 
 Then he landed on an island. In the middle 
 of the island there was a magnificent castle. It 
 was there that the princess of Tronkolaine dwelt. 
 He saw her, beside a fountain, combing her blond 
 hair with a golden comb, and a large-toothed 
 comb of ivory. He plucked an orange from an 
 orange-tree near by and threw it into the foun- 
 tain. The princess turned, saw him, smiled at 
 him, and told him to come forward. Then she 
 led him to her castle, feasted him on exquisite 
 meats and delicious fruits, and invited him to re- 
 main with her. At the end of a fortnight's stay 
 at the castle Louis asked the princess if she would 
 agree to follow him to the court of France. 
 
 "Willingly," she answered, "when you shall 
 have done all the work there is to do here." 
 
284 FRENCH FAIRY TALES 
 
 "Tell me, princess, what you wish me to do, 
 and if it is possible, I will do it." 
 
 The next morning the princess took him to the 
 barn of the castle, and showed him a great heap 
 of mixed grain. 
 
 "There," said she, "is a heap of mixed grain, 
 — wheat, rye, and barley. You must put each 
 kind of grain in a pile by itself, without making 
 a mistake in a single grain, and it must be done 
 by sunset." Then she went away. 
 
 Louis called the ant to his assistance, and the 
 sorting was done perfectly by the appointed hour. 
 So when the princess came at sunset, she was 
 very much astonished. She examined carefully, 
 and not finding a single grain of a different sort 
 in any one of the three piles, — 
 
 "It is very well done," said she. 
 
 "Will you come with me now, princess?" asked 
 Louis of her again. 
 
 "Not yet; I have something else to ask of you 
 first." 
 
 Accordingly, the next morning, she gave him 
 a wooden axe, and having led him into the great 
 avenue of the castle, she said to him, showing him 
 the great oaks, — 
 
 "You must cut down all these trees before sun- 
 set, with your wooden axe." Then she went 
 away. 
 
 As soon as the princess was gone, Louis called 
 
THE PRINCESS OE TRONKOLAINE 285 
 
 the lions to his assistance, and when she returned 
 at sunset, there was not a single tree left stand- 
 ing in the avenue. Her astonishment was 
 greater than before. 
 
 "Will you follow me now, princess?" asked 
 Louis. 
 
 "I have still another task — a last test to give 
 you," she answered; "and if you get through it 
 as successfully as the others, nothing shall then 
 prevent me from following you." 
 
 The next morning the princess led him to the 
 foot of a high mountain, and said to him, — 
 
 "Here is a mountain which obscures my palace 
 and prevents my seeing at a distance, and I desire 
 that it shall disappear by the setting of the sun." 
 And she went away again. 
 
 This time Louis called the sparrow-hawks to 
 his assistance, and they were so numerous that 
 with their beaks and claws they soon made the 
 mountain disappear, and leveled down the earth. 
 When the princess returned at sunset, — 
 
 "Well, princess, are you satisfied?" said Louis. 
 
 "Yes," she replied, "you have not your equal 
 on the earth; and now I will follow you where 
 you will." 
 
 Then she gave him a kiss. They went towards 
 the sea after that. The ship in which Louis had 
 come to the island was there waiting for him. 
 They went aboard of her and reached the conti- 
 
286 FRENCH FAIRY TALES 
 
 nent without hindrance. During the voyage, the 
 princess let the key of her castle fall into the sea, 
 without saying anything of it to Louis. 
 
 The old man was waiting for them on the 
 other side of the water. 
 
 "Well, my son," said he to Louis, "did you 
 succeed?" 
 
 "Yes, grandfather, thanks to you, and may 
 God bless you." 
 
 When the princess arrived at the court, the old 
 king was so charmed with her beauty, that he 
 wished to marry her immediately. 
 
 "Holloa!" said she then, "I did not come here 
 for an old gray-beard like you, nor for this other 
 creature," and she pointed to the pretended god- 
 son, "whom you believe to be your godson, and 
 who is only a demon ! Here is your real godson, 
 and it is he who shall be my husband." And she 
 pointed to Louis. "Now, have the furnace 
 heated, and let this demon be thrown into it." 
 
 No sooner said than done. And as the demon, 
 otherwise the pretended godson, uttered fearful 
 cries, and tried to get out of the furnace, they 
 sent for a young woman with her first child, and 
 with her wedding ring, which she presented to 
 him at the opening of the furnace when he tried 
 to get out, she forced him to stay inside. Then 
 he cried out, — 
 
 "If I had remained at the court only a year, 
 
THE PRINCESS OF TRONKOLAINE 287 
 
 I should have reduced the kingdom to a hopeless 
 condition." 
 
 Then Louis married the Princess Tronkolaine, 
 and he succeeded to the throne of the old king, 
 his godfather, who had no children. He brought 
 his old father and mother to the court, and also 
 his brothers and his sisters, whom he established 
 very magnificently. 
 
 F. M. Luzel, 
 "Cinquième Rapport sur une Mission en Bretagne." 
 
 THE END 
 
 
 
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