to the old man's own narrative.

said the young man,

1 bird.

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I will at all events try," whether I cannot get hold of the It is true that the way is long and unknown to me, and the church is well secured; but by God's help I may #succeed." "Do so," said the young woman, seek the bird; for as long as that lives thy brothers cannot be released. This night thou must hide thyself under the bedstead, that the old man may not find thee: to-morrow thou canst continue thy journey." Accordingly he crept under the bed just before the old man's return, and on the following morning, as soon as the old man was gone out, the young woman drew her bridegroom forth from his hiding-place, gave him a whole basketful of provisions, and after a tender farewell, he resumed his journey. He had proceeded a considerable way, when feeling hungry he sat down, placed his basket before him and opened it. While in the act of taking forth some bread and meat, he said: "Let come now every one that desires to eat with me!" At the instant there came a huge red ox, and said: 66 If thou didst say that every one should come that desires to eat with thee, I would gladly eat with thee." "Very well," said the young man, 'I did say so, and thou shalt partake with me." They then began to eat, and when they were satisfied, the red ox, when about to depart, said: "If at any time thou art in difficulty and requirest my aid, thou hast only to utter the wish, and I will come and help thee." He then disappeared among the trees, and the young man recommenced his journey.

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When he had proceeded a considerable way farther, he was again hungry, so sat down, opened his basket, and said as before: "Let those come that desire to eat with me!" In a moment there came from the thicket a large wild boar and said: 66 Thou hast said that whoever desired to eat with thee should come; now I would gladly eat with thee." The bridegroom answered: "Thou art quite right, comrade; so just fall to." When they had eaten, the boar said: “If thou art ever in difficulty and needest my aid, thou hast only to utter the wish, and I will help thee." He then disappeared in the forest, and the young man pursued his ourney.

On the third day, when about to eat, he said again: “Let

all that desire to eat with me come!" At the instant a rattling was heard among the trees and a large griffon descended and placed himself by the side of the traveller, saying: "If thou didst say that all who desired to eat with thee might come, I would gladly eat with thee." "With all my heart," answered the bridegroom; "'t is far more pleasant to eat in company than alone; so just fall to." Both then began to eat. When their hunger was satisfied, the griffon said: "If ever thou art in difficulty, thou hast only to call me and I will aid thee." He then disappeared in the air, and the young man went his way.

After travelling a while longer he perceived the church at a distance; so redoubling his pace, he was soon close by it. But now there was the moat in his way, which was too deep for him to wade through, and he could not swim. Now the red ox occurred to his recollection: "He could help thee," thought he, "if he were to drink a green path through the water. Oh, that he were here!" Hardly had he expressed the wish when the red ox was there, laid himself on his knees and drank until there was a dry green path through the water. The young man now passed through the moat and stood before the church, the iron doors of which were so strong that he could not force one open, and the walls many feet thick, without an opening in any part. Knowing no other means, he endeavoured to break some stones, one by one out of the wall, and after great labour succeeded in extracting a few. It then occurred to him that the wild boar could help him, and he cried: " Oh, if the wild boar were here!" In an instant it came rushing up, and ran with such force against the wall, that in one moment a large hole was broken through it, and the young man entered the church. Here he saw the bird flying about. Thou canst not catch it thyself," thought he, but if the griffon were here!" Scarcely had he uttered the thought, when the griffon was there; but it cost even the griffon a great deal of trouble to catch the little bird; at last, however, he seized it, gave it into the young man's hand and flew away. Overjoyed, he placed his prize in the basket, and set forth on his way back to the house in which his bride was.

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When he reached the house and informed her that he had the bird in his basket, she was overjoyed, and said:

"Now thou shalt first eat something in haste, and then creep again under the bed with the bird, so that the old man may know nothing of the matter." This was done, and just as he had crept under the bed, the old man returned home, but felt ill and complained. The young woman then again began to weep, and said: "Ah, now father will die, that I can well see, and he has a heart in his breast!"

Ah, my child," answered the old man, "be still only; I cannot die; it will soon pass over." The bridegroom under the bed now gave the bird a little pinch, and the old man felt quite ill and sat down, and when the young man squeezed it yet harder, he fell to the earth in a swoon. The bride then cried out: “ Squeeze it quite to death." The young man did so, and the old man lay dead on the ground. The young woman then drew her bridegroom from under the bed, and afterwards went and took the stones and the little white staff from the shelf over the door, struck every stone with the staff, and in one instant there stood all her sisters and the brothers before her. "Now," said she, "we will set out for home, and celebrate our marriage and be happy; for the old man is dead, and there is nothing more to fear from him." They did so, and lived many years in harmony and happily together.

GOLDMARIA AND GOLDFEATHER.

From Puttgarden on the Isle of Femeru.

THERE was once a nobleman who had a daughter of wondrous beauty named Goldmaria. Her parents one day resolved on making an excursion, and Goldmaria would fain have accompanied them, but they would not allow her; so Goldmaria remained at home. At night, on their return, they lost their way in a vast forest, and were unable to find it, when they were met by a large poodle. "I will lead you into the right path," said the poodle, "if you will give me that which first meets you from your house." The parents instantly thought of their dear Goldmaria, and feared that she might be the first to meet them; but as the weather

from bad became worse and worse, and they had totally lost their way, they at last consented, and promised the poodle what he required, thinking that the house-dog might probably be the first to come to their carriage. They now soon reached home; but the first that came to their carriage was no other than Goldmaria. Thereupon said the poodle: "She now belongs to me and not to you." The parents earnestly besought him to take everything else, only to leave them their dear Goldmaria; but the poodle was inexorable and would have Goldmaria, and no prayers were of any avail. A respite of three days only would he grant them, and then return and fetch her away.

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Goldmaria now employed her time in taking leave of her friends and relations. Amid all their lamentations she was quite calm and content. On the last evening she said to her mother: "I will now bid farewell to our old neighbour." "My daughter," said the mother, what hast thou to do at the old woman's?" "I must and will go," answered the daughter. She went accordingly, and when she came, the old woman said to her: "Fear nothing, my child; if thou wilt sleep with me to-night, I will teach thee to wish, and that will be highly useful to thee." Goldmaria was quite rejoiced at this, and went back to her mother to tell her she would pass the night with her neighbour. When Goldmaria rose on the following morning she could conjure forth anything that she wished; and, having heartily thanked the old woman, took leave, hoping that, by means of her art, she might be able to see her parents as often as she desired.

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When she returned home, the poodle was already there to fetch her away. Goldmaria then bade farewell to her disconsolate parents, but made no mention of her having learned to wish. On coming to the open country the poodle said to her: Set thyself on my back, and I will soon bring thee to our journey's end." Goldmaria did so, and in a short time they came to a house, in which were two young maidens. When they entered, the poodle immediately transformed himself into an old woman, and was the mother of the two maidens. 'Now," said she, "I have three lasses in whom I can find pleasure. Thou, Goldmaria, wilt be very happy with me, if thou wilt be obedient." Goldmaria

promised to be so, and whenever the old woman said: "Goldmaria, do this, or do that," she would always do it quickly, as she had only to wish it.

One day when the old woman, in the likeness of a poodle, went again into the forest, she met with a comely young man who had lost his way, and was named Goldfeather. The poodle said to him: "I will conduct thee out of the forest, if thou wilt promise to return and abide with me." Goldfeather answered that he could make no promise, for that he was a king's son, and must speak with his father. At length, however, when he found himself quite unable to recover his path, he was obliged to say yes, and promise to belong to the poodle, who then conducted him out of the forest to his father's court. But at the expiration of three days he returned to fetch away Goldfeather. The father at first would not deliver him up, but was at length forced to comply, when the poodle said: "Goldfeather has himself promised, and he must keep his word." So Goldfeather was obliged to go, and came to the place where Goldmaria already was. Goldmaria said to Goldfeather: "Be on thy guard against the old woman, for she is a bad one, and can do more than eat bread: to-morrow thou wilt certainly have to mow the grass.' "But," answered Goldfeather, "I cannot; I don't know how I am to do it." And so it proved; for in the evening the old woman said to him: Goldfeather, thou must get a sithe ready, for to-morrow thou shalt mow the grass." Goldfeather then went to Goldmaria and said: "I am to get a sithe ready, and don't know how.' "Oh," said she, "just knock a little on the sithe, then it will soon be ready." Goldfeather did so, and the sithe was instantly fit for use. On the following morning the old woman said: Goldfeather, go and mow the grass.' He went, however, first to Goldinaria, and asked her: "How am I to do it? I know nothing of the matter." Goldmaria answered:

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"Only strike the sithe so that it rings, about the time when the old woman brings thee food." Goldfeather then went to the meadow and laid himself down to sleep; but at the time when his food was to be brought, he struck the sithe so that it rang, and in one moment all the grass fell down at once. Now came the old woman, who, seeing that all was