the queen and her daughters fall on their knees, and my father threatens them with his sword." The old man said, "The king desired to see your corpse, and so your wicked stepmother has been forced to confess the truth." On hearing this, the princess entreated fervently: "Let me go,

let me go, that I may console my father in his great affliction." But the old man still detained her, saying, “Attend to my counsel, and stay here a little while. We have not yet seen how everything will terminate."

Another interval passed, and the princess, and the prince, and the little old man, still continued sitting on the mountain. Then said the old man, "Turn about, fair maiden. Do you observe anything yonder?" "Yes," answered the princess, "I see my father, and my stepmother, and my stepsisters, coming this way with all their attendants." The old man continued, "They have now set out in search of you. Go down now, and bring the wolfskin which is lying below." The king's daughter did so, and the old man then said, "Place yourself on the brink of the mountain." The princess did so, and at the same moment perceived the queen and her daughters coming along the road just beneath the mountain where they were sitting. "Now," said the old man, "cast the wolfskin straight down." The princess obeyed, and cast the wolfskin as the old man had directed. It fell exactly over the wicked queen and her two daughters. But now a wonderful event took place, for hardly had the skin touched the three women than they changed their guise, gave a hideous howl, and were transformed into three fierce werwolves, which at full speed rushed into the wild forest.

Scarcely had this taken place before the king himself with all his men came to the foot of the mountain. When he looked up and beheld the princess, he could not at first believe his eyes, but stood immovable, thinking it was a spectre. The old man then cried, "Fair maiden, hasten now down and gladden the heart of your father." The princess did not wait to be told a second time, but, taking her lover by the hand, was in an instant at the mountain's foot. When they reached the spot where the king was standing, the princess fell on her father's breast and wept for joy; the young prince also wept; even the king himself

shed tears, and to every one present their meeting was a delightful spectacle. Great joy was there and many embracings, and the princess related all she had suffered from her stepmother and stepsisters, and all about her beloved prince, and the little old man who had so kindly assisted them. But when the king turned to thank him he had already vanished, and no one could ever say either who he was or whither he went.

On

The king and all his suite now returned to the palace, on their way towards which much was said both about the little old man and what the princess had undergone. reaching home the king ordered a sumptuous banquet to be prepared, to which he invited all the most distinguished and exalted persons of his kingdom, and bestowed his daughter on the young prince; and their nuptials were celebrated with games and rejoicings for many days. And I, too, was at the feastings; and as I rode through the forest I was met by a wolf with two young ones; they were ravenous, and seemed to suffer much. I have since learned that they were no other than the wicked stepmother and her two daughters.

PRINCE HATT UNDER THE EARTH;

OR, THE THREE SINGING LEAVES.

From South Småland.

THERE was once, very, very long ago, a king who had three daughters, all exquisitely beautiful, and much more amiable than other maidens, so that their like was not to be found far or near. But the youngest princess excelled her sisters, not only in beauty, but in goodness of heart, and kindness of disposition. She was, consequently, greatly beloved by all, and the king himself was more fondly attached to her than to either of his other daughters.

It happened one autumn that there was a fair in a town not far from the king's residence, and the king himself resolved on going to it with his attendants. When on the eve of departure, he asked his daughters what they would like

for fairings, it being his constant custom to make them some present on his return home. The two elder princesses began instantly to enumerate precious things of various kinds; one would have this, the other that; but the youngest princess wished for nothing. At this the king was surprised, and asked her whether she would not like some ornament or other; but she answered that she had plenty of gold and jewels. When the king, however, would not desist from urging her, she at length said, “There is one thing that I would gladly have, if only I might venture to ask it of my father." "What may that be?" inquired the king. Say what it is, and if it be in my power, you shall have it." It is this," said the princess; I have heard talk of THE THREE SINGING LEAVES, and them I wish to have before anything else in the world." The king laughed at her for making so trifling a request; and at length exclaimed, "I cannot say that you are very covetous, and would rather by much that you asked for some greater gift. You shall, however, have what you desire, though it should cost half my realm.” He then bade his daughters farewell, and rode away.

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When he reached the town where the fair was held, there was assembled a vast multitude of people from all parts of the country; many foreign merchants were also there, displaying their wares in the streets and market-places; so that there was no lack of gold and silver, or any other precious things, of which the king made purchases for his two elder daughters. But although he went from booth to booth, and inquired of the dealers both from the east and the west, he found no one that could give him any information respecting the three singing leaves, which he had promised to his youngest daughter. At this he was much disappointed, for he would gladly have gratified her as well as his other daughters; but having no alternative, and the evening drawing on, he ordered his horse to be saddled, summoned his attendants, and out of humour proceeded on his way towards his own country.

While riding along absorbed in thought, he suddenly heard sounds, as of harps and other stringed instruments, so exquisitely sweet, that it seemed to him he had never heard the like in his whole life. At this he was greatly astonished, held in his horse, and sat listening, and the

longer he listened the sweeter did the sounds become; but the evening being dark, he was unable to see from whence they proceeded. He did not long deliberate, but rode into a spacious green meadow, from which the tones were heard, and the further he went the clearer and sweeter did they strike upon his ear. Having ridden some distance, he came at length to a hazel-bush, on the top of which were three golden leaves, which moved to and fro, and as they played there came forth a sound such as it would be impossible to describe. The king was now not a little glad, for he was convinced that these were the three singing leaves, of which his daughter had spoken. He was just about to pluck them, but the instant he stretched forth his hand towards them, they withdrew from his grasp, and a powerful voice was heard from under the bush, saying, Touch not my leaves!" At this the king was somewhat surprised, but soon recovering himself, he asked who it was, and whether he could not purchase the leaves for gold or good words? The voice answered, "I am PRINCE HATT UNDER THE EARTH, and you will not get my leaves either with bad or good, as you desire. Nevertheless, I will propose to you one condition." "What condition is that?" asked the king with eagerness. 'It is," answered the voice, that you promise me the first living thing that you meet, when you return home to your palace." This seemed to the king a singular condition; but he thought on his young daughter, and on his promise, and assented to the prince's proposal. The leaves now no longer withdrew from his touch, and he easily gathered them, and full of joy returned home to his people.

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Let us now look into the royal palace. There sat the king's three daughters the whole livelong day, sewing silk on their knee, and talking of nothing but the costly presents their father was to bring them from the fair. On the approach of evening, the youngest princess asked whether they would not go and walk along the road by which their father was to return home. No," answered the sisters, "why should we do so? It is already late, and the evening dew would spoil our silk-embroidered stockings." But the princess cared little for that, and said, "If my proposal is not agreeable to you, stay here at

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home: I will go alone and meet my father." She then put on a cloak and set forth on her way. After she had proceeded a short distance, she heard the tramp of horses, and the noise of people, and the clashing of arms, among all which she could distinguish the sweetest song ever listened to by mortal ears. At this she was overjoyed, for she knew that it was her father, and also that he had got the three singing leaves, as she had requested. She ran to him, sprang up to embrace him, and bade him welcome with great affection. But at the sight of her the king was thunderstruck; for the promise he had given instantly recurred to his memory, and he now saw that he had promised away his own child. For a long time he could not speak, not even to answer the inquiries made by the princess as to the cause of his sorrow. At length, however, he related to her all that had taken place in connection with the leaves, and that he had promised the first living being he should meet on his return. Now there was lamentation and sorrow such as the like had never before been witnessed, and the king himself grieved more than all the others. The conclusion, however, was, that he returned to the meadow, and left his daughter by the hazelbush, and it seemed to him that he had sustained a calamity that could never be repaired.

We will now let the king ride back with his attendants, and accompany the young princess, who was left sitting weeping by the green hazel-bush. She had not continued there long, before the earth suddenly opened, so that she descended into a spacious apartment beneath its surface. This apartment was not like others that she had seen, but was by far more splendid, ornamented with both gold and silver, and in all manner of ways; but not a living soul was there. The princess now found pleasure in viewing all the beautiful things to be seen in it; and while so engaged, almost forgot her sorrow. When she at length grew weary, she laid herself on a bed, that stood all ready with sheets and coverlet whiter than the driven snow. She had not rested long when the door was opened, and a man entered, who proceeded straight to the bed, bade her welcome with many affectionate words, and said that he was the master of the place, and that he was Prince Hatt. The