"My father was a mighty king, who ruled over many lands. He was having a palace built, and caused a corner-stone to be brought from the mountain in which the giant dwelt. At this the giant was enraged, slew my father, and turned me into a dog, which transformation was to continue until a pure virgin should shed my blood." At this recital the young maiden was overjoyed, for she loved the prince with all her heart.

Preparations were now made for the wedding, &c.

4. In a variation from S. Småland, it is related that there was a peasant family so poor that they were obliged to leave their home and seek their fortune each in a different direction. When they came to divide the property, there was found nothing to divide, save a pot, a pot-ladle, a cow, and a cat. The old man and the old woman quarrelled who should have the pot, and the old woman, snatching it up, ran off with it into the forest; but the old man seized the ladle and ran after her. Neither of them ever came home again.

In like manner the boy and girl also quarrelled; for both would have the cow. But the cat, approaching the girl, said: "Take me, take me; I will help thee." So the maiden took the cat, and they both proceeded to the king's palace, where the girl begged for employment. The queen asked her what she could do. The girl answered, as she had been instructed by the cat: "I can sew silk." So she was set to sew a coverlet. "Now," said the cat, "take a hair from my tail, and use it for a needle." The girl did so, and sewed a coverlet such as no one had ever seen the like.

One day the girl saw her parents come running out of the forest, the old woman first, and the old man after, at which she could not refrain from laughing. The king asked her why she laughed so; and the girl, as the cat had instructed her, answered: "I was just thinking how your palace stands on wooden pillars, while mine stands on golden ones. The king thereupon resolved to see the palace that he had heard spoken of, and they set out on the journey.

When they arrived there was no one at home except the giant's wife. The cat went in, greeted the giantess, and told her she must prepare a great feast; for the giant had invited many guests. The crone did as the cat had said, and they began their preparations. They had now to cut up an ox, and the cat held it while the crone cut; but as she did the work awkwardly, the cat said: "Mother, let me cut, and do you hold." The giantess assented; but no sooner had the cat got hold of the axe than he clove the giantess's skull, and she fell down dead. He then closed the gate, and enticed the giant to look up at the sun; and so he came by his death.

When the giant and giantess were thus disposed of, the cat recovered his right form, and became a handsome prince, who ruled in the beautiful castle. He then caused a sumptuous banquet to be prepared for the king and his young consort, and entertained them nobly for many days.

5. In a variation of the story from S. W. Finland, it is related, that after the giant burst, the cat conducted his mistress to a place where there lay a large heap of human bones. He then gave the girl a

sithe that had been dipped in milk and rubbed over with whortleberries and dough, at the same time desiring her to cut off his head. The girl did so, and instantly the cat became a handsome prince, with a golden crown on his head. The bones also received life, and became a numerous body of courtiers, knights, and pages. Thus was the sorcery dissolved, and the young prince solemnized his marriage with the fair maiden.

THE HERD-BOY.
From Upland.

THERE was once a poor herd-boy, who had neither kith nor kin except his stepmother, who was a wicked woman, and hardly allowed him food or clothing. Thus the poor boy suffered great privation; during all the livelong day he had to tend cattle, and scarcely ever got more than a morsel of bread morning and evening.

One day his stepmother had gone out without leaving him any food; he had, therefore, to drive his cattle to the field fasting, and being very hungry, he wept bitterly. But at the approach of noon he dried his tears, and went up on a green hill, where he was in the habit of resting, while the sun was hot in the summer. On this hill it was always cool and dewy under the shady trees; but now he remarked that there was no dew, that the ground was dry, and the grass trampled down. This seemed to him very singular, and he wondered who could have trodden down the green grass. While thus sitting and thinking, he perceived something that lay glittering in the sunshine. Springing up to see what it might be, he found it was a pair of very, very small shoes of the whitest and clearest glass. The boy now felt quite happy again, forgot his hunger, and amused himself the whole day with the little glass shoes.

In the evening, when the sun had sunk behind the forest, the herd-boy called his cattle and drove them to the village. When he had gone some way, he was met by a very little boy, who in a friendly tone greeted him with "Good evening!" "Good evening again," answered the herd-boy. Hast thou found my shoes, which I lost this morning in the green grass?" asked the little boy. The herd-boy answered: " Yes, I have found them; but, my good little

fellow, let me keep them. I intended to give them to my stepmother, and then, perhaps, I should have got a little meat, when I came home." But the boy prayed so earnestly, "Give me back my shoes; another time I will be as kind to thee," that the herd-boy returned him the shoes. The little one then, greatly delighted, gave him a friendly nod, and went springing away.

The herd-boy now collected his cattle together, and continued his way homewards. When he reached his dwelling it was already dark, and his stepmother chided him for returning so late. "There's still some porridge in the pot," said she; "eat now, and pack thyself off to bed, so that thou canst get up in the morning betimes, like other folks." The poor herd-boy durst not return any answer to these hard words, but ate, and then slunk to bed in the hayloft, where he was accustomed to sleep. The whole night he dreamed of nothing but the little boy and his little glass shoes.

Early in the morning, before the sun shone from the east, the boy was waked by his stepmother's voice: "Up with thee, thou sluggard! It is broad day, and the animals are not to stand hungry for thy sloth." He instantly rose, got a bit of bread, and drove the cattle to the pasture.

When he came to the green hill, which was wont to be so cool and shady, he again wondered to see that the dew was all swept from the grass, and the ground dry, even more so than on the preceding day. While he thus sat thinking, he observed something lying in the grass and glittering in the bright sunshine. Springing towards it, he found it was a very, very little red cap set round with small golden bells. At this he was greatly delighted, forgot his hunger, and amused himself all day with the little elegant cap.

In the evening, when the sun had sunk behind the forest, the herd-boy gathered his cattle together, and drove them towards the village. When on his way, he was met by a very little and, at the same time, very fair damsel. She greeted him in a friendly tone with " Good evening!" "Good evening again," answered the lad. The damsel then said: "Hast thou found my cap, which I lost this morning in the green grass?" The boy answered: "Yes, I have found it; but let me keep it, my pretty maid. I thought of giving it to

my wicked stepmother, and then, perhaps, I shall get a little meat when I go home." But the little damsel entreated so urgently, "Give me back my cap; another time I will be as good to thee," that the lad gave her the little cap, when she appeared highly delighted, gave him a friendly nod, and sprang off.

On his return home, he was received as usual by his cruel stepmother, and dreamed the whole night of the little damsel and her little red cap.

In the morning he was turned out fasting, and on coming to the hill, found it was drier than on either of the preceding days, and that the grass was trodden down in large rings. It then entered his mind all that he had heard of the little elves, how in the summer nights they were wont to dance in the dewy grass, and he found that these must be elfin-rings, or elfin-dances*. While sitting absorbed in thought, he chanced to strike his foot against a little bell that lay in the grass, and which gave forth so sweet a sound, that all the cattle came running together, and stood still to listen. Now the boy was delighted, and could do nothing but play with the little bell, till he forgot his troubles and the cattle forgot to graze. And so the day passed much more quickly than can be imagined.

When it drew towards evening, and the sun was level with the tree-tops, the boy called his cattle and prepared to return home. But let him entice and call them as he might, they were not to be drawn from the pasture, for it was a delightful grassy spot. Then thought the boy to himself, "Perhaps they will pay more heed to the little bell." So drawing forth the bell, he tingled it as he went along the way. In one moment the bell-cow came running after him, and was followed by the rest of the herd. At this the boy was overjoyed, for he was well aware what an advantage the little bell would be to him. As he was going on, a very little old man met him, and kindly bade him a good evening. "Good evening again," said the boy. The old man asked: "Hast thou found my little bell, which I lost this morning in the green grass?" The herd-boy answered: "Yes, I have found it." The old man said: Then give it me back."

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* See Thorpe, Northern Mythology and Traditions, vol. i.

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"No," answered the boy, "I am not so doltish as you may think. The day before yesterday I found two small glass shoes, which a little boy wheedled from me. Yesterday I found a cap, which I gave to a little damsel; and now you come to take from me the little bell, which is so good for calling the cattle. Other finders get a reward for their pains, but I get nothing." The little man then used many fair words, with the view of recovering his bell, but all to no purpose. At last he said: "Give me back the little bell, and I will give thee another, with which thou mayest call thy cattle; thou shalt, moreover, obtain three wishes." These seemed to the boy no unfavourable terms, and he at once ageed to them, adding, "As I may wish whatever I will, I will wish to be a king, and I will wish to have a great palace, and also a very beautiful queen." "Thou hast wished no trifling wishes," said the old man, but bear well in mind what I now tell thee. To-night, when all are sleeping, thou shalt go hence, till thou comest to a royal palace, which lies due north. Take this pipe of bone. If thou fallest into trouble, blow it; if thou afterwards fallest into great trouble, blow it again; but if, on a third occasion, thou findest thyself in still greater peril, break the pipe in two, and I will help thee, as I have promised." The boy gave the old man many thanks for his gifts, and the elfking for it was he went his way. But the boy bent his steps homewards, rejoicing as he went along, that he should so soon escape from tending cattle for his wicked stepmother. When he reached the village it was already dark, and his stepmother had been long awaiting his coming. She was in a great rage, so that the poor lad got blows instead of food. 66 This will not last long," thought the boy, comforting himself with the reflection, as he went up to his hayloft, where he laid himself down and slumbered for a short time. About midnight, long before the cock crew, he arose, slipped out of the house, and began his journey in a northward direction, as the old man had enjoined. He travelled incessantly, over hill and dale, and twice did the sun rise and twice set, while he was still on his way.

Towards evening on the third day he came to a royal palace, which was so spacious that he thought he should never again see the like. He went to the kitchen and