trees. On approaching it, he found that it issued from a small and very ruinous cottage standing on the sea-shore, in which sat a very very old woman, who appeared to have lived as many ages of man as others live changes of the moon. The youth stepped in, greeted the old dame from her sister, and asked whether he might stay there that night. When the old woman had heard him speak, she said: "Who art thou that comest hither and greetest me so courteously? I have seen four-and-twenty oak woods grow up, and four-and-twenty wither, but until now no one has ever come hither who greeted me so kindly." The youth answered: I am a poor traveller in search of the beautiful palace east of the sun and north of the earth, whither no human being may come. You, dear mother, can perhaps direct me in the way." "No," said the old woman, I cannot; but I rule over the fishes in the sea, and among them there may probably be one or other that can give thee the information thou desirest." The young man thanked her for her kindness, and stayed the night over.

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Early in the morning, as soon as it was light, the old dame summoned a meeting of her subjects. Thither came all the fishes of the sea, whales, pike, salmon, and flounders, and asked what might be their queen's commands. The old woman said, she wished to ascertain whether any among them knew the way to the beautiful palace east of the sun and north of the earth, whither no one may go. The fishes then held a long consultation, the result of which was that not one of them could give any information about the beautiful palace. Thereupon the old dame said to the youth: "Thou seest that I can give thee no further help; but I have another sister, who dwells many many thousand miles from here, and rules over the fowls of the air. Go to her; if she cannot direct thee, there is no one who can.” The youth then bade the old woman farewell, and resumed his journey.

When he had travelled a very long way further, many many thousand miles, he found himself, late one evening, in a vast desert, that seemed to be boundless. On looking around for a lodging, he perceived a little light glimmering among the trees. On approaching it, he found it proceeded. from a small ruinous cottage on a mountain, in which there

dwelt a very very old woman, who seemed to have lived as many ages of man as others live days. The youth entered, greeted the old dame from her sisters, and asked whether he could have a lodging for the night. When the old dame heard him speak, she said: "Who art thou that comest hither with so kind a greeting? Here have I seen eightand-forty oak forests grow up, and eight-and-forty wither, but until now no one has ever come who greeted me so kindly." The youth then said : 'I am a poor traveller, in search of the beautiful palace east of the sun and north of the earth, whither no human being may come. You, dear mother, can, perhaps, direct me thither." "No," said the old woman, "that I cannot; but as I rule over the birds of the air, perhaps there is one or other among them that can give thee the desired information." The youth thanked the old woman for her kindness, and stayed there the night over.

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Early in the morning, before the cock had crowed, the old woman summoned her subjects to an assembly. Then came flying all the fowls of heaven, eagles, swans, and hawks, and asked what might be their queen's commands. The old woman told them that she had summoned them to assemble, because she wished to learn whether any among them knew the way to the beautiful palace east of the sun and north of the earth. The birds thereupon held a long consultation, the result of which was, that not one could give any information about the beautiful palace. The old dame then appeared vexed, and said: "Are ye all assembled? I do not see the phoenix." She received for answer, that the phoenix was not yet come. After waiting for some time, they saw the beautiful bird come flying through the air, but so fatigued that it could hardly move its wings, and sank down on the earth. Now there was joy throughout the assembly that the phoenix had arrived; but the old dame was very angry, and demanded to know why it had kept them so long waiting. It was some time before the poor bird could recover itself, and then, in a humble tone, it said: Be not angry that I have tarried so long; but I have flown a very long way. I have been in a far distant land, at the beautiful palace, which lies east of the sun and north of the earth.' On hearing this, the queen

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was quite appeased, and said: "This must be thy punishment, that thou once again go to the beautiful palace, and take this youth with thee on the journey." The bird thought that this was rather a hard condition; but it had no alternative. The youth then bade the old dame farewell, and seated himself on the bird's back, which then soared aloft, flying over mountains and valleys, over the blue sea and the green forests.

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When they had thus journeyed a considerable time, the bird said: "Young man, seest thou anything?" "Yes," answered the youth, "I think I perceive a blue cloud far away in the horizon." "That is the country to which we are going," said the bird. They had now travelled a very long way, and evening was coming on, when the phoenix again said: "Young man, seest thou anything?" Yes," answered the youth, I see a speck in the blue cloud which glitters brightly, like the sun itself." The bird said: That is the palace to which we are proceeding." They still continued journeying on, and night was drawing near, when the phoenix said a third time: "Young man, seest thou anything?" Yes," said the youth, "I see a vast palace resplendent all over with gold and silver." "Now we are arrived," said the bird, descending near the beautiful structure, and setting the youth down on the earth. The youth thanked the bird for his great trouble, which returned through the air to the place whence it had come.

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At midnight, when all the Trolls lay in deep sleep, the youth went to the palace gate and knocked; whereupon the princess sent her attendant to inquire who it was that came so late. When the damsel came to the gate, the youth threw to her a golden apple, and prayed for admission. The damsel instantly recognised the apple, and at once knew who had knocked at the gate. She thereupon hastened to her mistress with these glad tidings. But the princess would not believe that her story was true.

The king's daughter now sent her other attendant, and when she came to the gate, the youth threw to her the other golden apple. She also immediately knew her apple again, and full of joy hastened to tell her mistress who it was outside the gate. Still the princess would not believe

what they had told her, but went to the gate herself, and asked who it was that had knocked. The youth then handed to her the golden ring which she had given him. Now she knew that her bridegroom was come; she therefore opened the gate and received him with great love and delight, as every one may easily imagine.

The youth then placing himself by the side of his fair bride, they chatted together all night. At the approach of morning, the king's daughter appeared in deep affliction, and said: "We must now part. For the sake of all that is dear to thee, hasten hence before the Trolls wake; else thy life is at stake." Bride and bridegroom then took leave of each other, and the princess let fall many tears. The youth, however, would not flee, but put on his cloak, drew on his hundred-mile boots, girded his precious sword by his side, and prepared him for a contest with the Trolls.

Early in the morning there was great life and bustle in all the palace. The gates were opened, and the Trolls entered one after another. But the youth stood in the entrance with drawn sword, so that when the Trolls approached he was quite ready for them, and struck off their heads before they were aware of him. There was, consequently, a bloody game, which was not concluded until every Troll had found his death. When the day was advanced, the king's daughter sent her maidens to get tidings how the contest had ended. They returned with the intelligence that the youth was alive, but that all the Trolls were slain. At this news the fair princess was overjoyed; for it now appeared to her that she had overcome all her sorrows.

When the first joy was over, the princess said: "Now our happiness is so great that it can hardly be greater; if only I could get back my relatives." The youth answered: "Show me where they lie buried, and I will see whether I cannot help them." They thereupon went to the spot where the father of the princess and her other relations were laid; when the youth touching each with the hilt of his sword, they were all quickened one after another. When they had thus come again to life, there were great rejoicings in the palace, and all thanked the youth for having restored

them. The relations of the princess then took the youth for their king, and the fair maiden was his queen. The youth ruled his realm prosperously, and lived to a good old age surrounded by friends. His queen bore him brave sons and fair daughters, and thus they lived in peace and happiness all their days.

Here ends the tale of the beautiful palace east of the sun and north of the earth, from which may be learned the truth of the old adage, that true love overcomes everything.

THE GIRL WHO COULD SPIN GOLD PROM CLAY AND LONG STRAW

From Upland.

THERE was once an old woman who had an only daughter. The lass was good and amiable, and also extremely beautiful; but, at the same time, so indolent, that she would hardly turn her hand to any work. This was a cause of great grief to the mother, who tried all sorts of ways to cure her daughter of so lamentable a failing; but there was no help. The old woman then thought no better plan could be devised than to set her daughter to spin on the roof of their cot, in order that all the world might be witness of her sloth. But her plan brought her no nearer the mark; the girl continued as useless as before.

One day, as the king's son was going to the chase, he rode by the cot, where the old woman dwelt with her daughter. On seeing the fair spinner on the roof, he stopped and inquired why she sat spinning in such an unusual place. The old woman answered: "Aye, she sits there to let all the world see how clever she is. She is so clever that she can spin gold out of clay and long straw." At these words the prince was struck with wonder; for it never occurred to him that the old woman was ironically alluding to her daughter's sloth. He therefore said: "If what you say is true, that the young maiden can spin gold from clay and long straw, she shall no longer sit there, but shall accompany me to my palace and be my consort." The daughter thereupon descended from the roof and accompanied the