'Whatwillyouwishmetodowithher？'saidtheDog。AndCovananswered:
　　'Theoldmanbademebringher,andtheduckwiththegoldenneck,andthesalmonwiththesilversides,tohiscottage;ifIshallcatchthem,Iknownot。Butcarryyoutheroetothebackofthecottage,andtetherhersothatshecannotescape。'
　　'Itshallbedone,'saidtheDogofMaol—mor。
　　ThenCovanspedtothelakewhichledtothelandoftheSun,wheretheduckwiththegreenbodyandthegoldenneckwasswimmingamongthewater—lilies。
　　'SurelyIcancatchhim,goodswimmerasIam,'tohimself。But,ifhecouldswimwell,theduckcouldswimbetter,andatlengthhisstrengthfailedhim,andhewasforcedtoseektheland。
　　'Ohthattheblackravenwereheretohelpme！'hethoughttohimself。
　　Andinamomenttheblackravenwasperchedonhisshoulder。
　　'HowcanIhelpyou？'askedtheraven。AndCovananswered:
　　'Catchmethegreenduckthatfloatsonthewater。'Andtheravenflewwithhisstrongwingsandpickedhimupinhisstrongbeak,andinanothermomentthebirdwaslaidatthefeetofCovan。
　　Thistimeitwaseasyfortheyoungmantocarryhisprize,andaftergivingthankstotheravenforhisaid,hewentontotheriver。
　　Inthedeepdarkpoolofwhichtheoldmanhadspokenthesilver—sidedsalmonwaslyingunderarock。
　　'SurelyI,goodfisherasIam,cancatchhim,'saidCovansonofGorla。Andcuttingaslenderpolefromabush,hefastenedalinetotheendofit。Butcastwithwhatskillhemight,itavailednothing,forthesalmonwouldnotevenlookatthebait。
　　'Iambeatenatlast,unlesstheDoran—donncandeliverme,'hecried。
　　Andashespoketherewasaswishofthewater,andthefaceoftheDoran—donnlookedupathim。
　　'Ocatchme,Iprayyou,thatsalmonundertherock！'saidCovansonofGorla。AndtheDoran—donndived,andlayingholdofthesalmonbyhistail,boreitbacktotheplacewhereCovanwasstanding。
　　'Theroe,andtheduck,andthesalmonarehere,'saidCovantotheoldman,whenhereachedthecottage。Andtheoldmansmiledonhimandbadehimeatanddrink,andafterhehungerednomore,hewouldspeakwithhim。
　　Andthiswaswhattheoldmansaid:'Youbeganwell,myson,sothingshavegonewellwithyou。Yousetstorebyyourmother'sblessing,thereforeyouhavebeenblest。Yougavefoodtotheravenwhenithungered,youweretruetothepromiseyouhadmadetome,anddidnotsufferyourselftobeturnedasidebyvainshows。Youwereskilledtoperceivethattheboywhotemptedyoutoleavethetemplewasatelleroffalsetales,andtookwithagratefulheartwhatthepoorhadtoofferyou。Lastofall,difficultiesgaveyoucourage,insteadoflendingyoudespair。
　　Andnow,astoyourreward,youshallintruthtakeyoursisterhomewithyou,andyourbrothersIwillrestoretolife;butidleandunfaithfulastheyaretheirlotistowanderforever。Andsofarewell,andmaywisdombewithyou。'
　　'Firsttellmeyourname？'askedCovansoftly。
　　'IamtheSpiritofAge,'saidtheoldman。
　　[TakenfromaCelticStory。TranslatedbyDoctorMacleodClarke。]
　　ThePrincessBella—FlorOnceuponatimetherelivedamanwhohadtwosons。Whentheygrewuptheelderwenttoseekhisfortuneinafarcountry,andformanyyearsnooneheardanythingabouthim。Meanwhiletheyoungersonstayedathomewithhisfather,whodiedatlastinagoodoldage,leavinggreatrichesbehindhim。
　　Forsometimethesonwhostayedathomespenthisfather'swealthfreely,believingthathealoneremainedtoenjoyit。But,oneday,ashewascomingdownstairs,hewassurprisedtoseeastrangerenterthehall,lookingaboutasifthehousebelongedtohim。
　　'Haveyouforgottenme？'askedtheman。
　　'Ican'tforgetapersonIhaveneverknown,'wastherudeanswer。
　　'Iamyourbrother,'repliedthestranger,'andIhavereturnedhomewithoutthemoneyIhopedtohavemade。And,whatisworse,theytellmeinthevillagethatmyfatherisdead。IwouldhavecountedmylostgoldasnothingifIcouldhaveseenhimoncemore。'
　　'Hediedsixmonthsago,'saidtherichbrother,'andheleftyou,asyourportion,theoldwoodenchestthatstandsintheloft。Youhadbettergothereandlookforit;Ihavenomoretimetowaste。'Andhewenthisway。
　　Sothewandererturnedhisstepstotheloft,whichwasatthetopofthestorehouse,andtherehefoundthewoodenchest,sooldthatitlookedasifitweredroppingtopieces。
　　'Whatuseisthisoldthingtome？'hesaidtohimself。'Oh,well,itwillservetolightafireatwhichIcanwarmmyself;sothingsmightbeworseafterall。'
　　Placingthechestonhisback,theman,whosenamewasJose,setoutforhisinn,and,borrowingahatchet,begantochopupthebox。Indoingsohediscoveredasecretdrawer,andinitlayapaper。Heopenedthepaper,notknowingwhatitmightcontain,andwasastonishedtofindthatitwastheacknowledgmentofalargedebtthatwasowingtohisfather。Puttingthepreciouswritinginhispocket,hehastilyinquiredofthelandlordwherehecouldfindthemanwhosenamewaswritteninside,andheranoutatonceinsearchofhim。
　　Thedebtorprovedtobeanoldmiser,wholivedattheotherendofthevillage。Hehadhopedformanymonthsthatthepaperhehadwrittenhadbeenlostordestroyed,and,indeed,whenhesawit,wasveryunwillingtopaywhatheowed。However,thestrangerthreatenedtodraghimbeforetheking,andwhenthemisersawthattherewasnohelpforithecountedoutthecoinsonebyone。Thestrangerpickedthemupandputtheminhispocket,andwentbacktohisinnfeelingthathewasnowarichman。
　　Afewweeksafterthishewaswalkingthroughthestreetsofthenearesttown,whenhemetapoorwomancryingbitterly。Hestoppedandaskedherwhatwasthematter,andsheansweredbetweenhersobsthatherhusbandwasdying,and,tomakemattersworse,acreditorwhomhecouldnotpaywasanxioustohavehimtakentoprison。
　　'Comfortyourself,'saidthestrangerkindly;'theyshallneithersendyourhusbandtoprisonnorsellyourgoods。Iwillnotonlypayhisdebtsbut,ifhedies,thecostofhisburialalso。Andnowgohome,andnursehimaswellasyoucan。'
　　Andsoshedid;but,inspiteofhercare,thehusbanddied,andwasburiedbythestranger。Buteverythingcostmorethanheexpected,andwhenallwaspaidhefoundthatonlythreegoldpieceswereleft。
　　'WhatamItodonow？'saidhetohimself。'IthinkIhadbettergotocourt,andenterintotheserviceoftheking。'
　　Atfirsthewasonlyaservant,whocarriedthekingthewaterforhisbath,andsawthathisbedwasmadeinaparticularfashion。Buthedidhisdutiessowellthathismastersoontooknoticeofhim,andinashorttimeherosetobeagentlemanofthebedchamber。
　　Now,whenthishappenedtheyoungerbrotherhadspentallthemoneyhehadinherited,anddidnotknowhowtomakeanyforhimself。Hethenbethoughthimoftheking'sfavourite,andwentwhiningtothepalacetobegthathisbrother,whomhehadsoill—used,wouldgivehimhisprotection,andfindhimaplace。Theelder,whowasalwaysreadytohelpeveryonespoketothekingonhisbehalf,andthenextdaytheyoungmantookupisworkatcourt。
　　Unfortunately,thenew—comerwasbynaturespitefulandenvious,andcouldnotbearanyonetohavebetterluckthanhimself。Bydintofspyingthroughkeyholesandlisteningatdoors,helearnedthattheking,oldanduglythoughhewas,hadfalleninlovewiththePrincessBella—Flor,whowouldhavenothingtosaytohim,andhadhiddenherselfinsomemountaincastle,nooneknewwhere。
　　'Thatwilldonicely,'thoughtthescoundrel,rubbinghishands。'Itwillbequiteeasytogetthekingtosendmybrotherinsearchofher,andifhereturnswithoutfindingher,hisheadwillbetheforfeit。
　　Eitherway,hewillbeoutofMYpath。'
　　SohewentatoncetotheLordHighChamberlainandcravedanaudienceoftheking,towhomhedeclaredhewishedtotellsomenewsofthehighestimportance。Thekingadmittedhimintothepresencechamberwithoutdelay,andbadehimstatewhathehadtosay,andtobequickaboutit。
　　'Oh,sire！thePrincessBella—Flor——'answeredtheman,andthenstoppedasifafraid。
　　'WhatofthePrincessBella—Flor？'askedthekingimpatiently。
　　'Ihaveheard——itiswhisperedatcourt——thatyourmajestydesirestoknowwheresheliesinhiding。'
　　'Iwouldgivehalfmykingdomtothemanwhowillbringhertome,'
　　criedtheking,eagerly。'Speakon,knave;hasabirdoftheairrevealedtoyouthesecret？'
　　'ItisnotI,butmybrother,whoknows,'repliedthetraitor;'ifyourmajestywouldaskhim——'Butbeforethewordswereoutofhismouththekinghadstruckablowwithhissceptreonagoldenplatethathungonthewall。
　　'OrderJosetoappearbeforemeinstantly,'heshoutedtotheservantwhorantoobeyhisorders,sogreatwasthenoisehismajestyhadmade;andwhenJoseenteredthehall,wonderingwhatintheworldcouldbethematter,thekingwasnearlydumbfromrageandexcitement。
　　'BringmethePrincessBella—Florthismoment,'stammeredhe,'forifyoureturnwithoutherIwillhaveyoudrowned！'Andwithoutanotherwordheleftthehall,leavingJosestaringwithsurpriseandhorror。
　　'HowcanIfindthePrincessBella—FlorwhenIhaveneverevenseenher？'thoughthe。'Butitisnousestayinghere,forIshallonlybeputtodeath。'Andhewalkedslowlytothestablestochoosehimselfahorse。
　　Therewererowsuponrowsoffinebeastswiththeirnameswritteningoldabovetheirstalls,andJosewaslookinguncertainlyfromonetotheother,wonderingwhichheshouldchoose,whenanoldwhitehorseturneditsheadandsignedtohimtoapproach。
　　'Takeme,'itsaidinagentlewhisper,'andallwillgowell。'
　　Josestillfeltsobewilderedwiththemissionthatthekinghadgivenhimthatheforgottobeastonishedathearingahorsetalk。
　　Mechanicallyhelaidhishandonthebridleandledthewhitehorseoutofthestable。Hewasabouttomountonhisback,whentheanimalspokeagain:
　　'Pickupthosethreeloavesofbreadwhichyouseethere,andputtheminyourpocket。'
　　Josedidashewastold,andbeinginagreathurrytogetaway,askednoquestions,butswunghimselfintothesaddle。
　　Theyrodefarwithoutmeetinganyadventures,butatlengththeycametoanant—hill,andthehorsestopped。
　　'Crumblethosethreeloavesfortheants,'hesaid。ButJosehesitated。
　　'Why,wemaywantthemourselves！'answeredhe。
　　'Nevermindthat;givethemtotheantsallthesame。Donotloseachanceofhelpingothers。'Andwhentheloaveslayincrumbsontheroad,thehorsegallopedon。
　　By—and—bytheyenteredarockypassbetweentwomountains,andheretheysawaneaglewhichhadbeencaughtinahunter'snet。
　　'Getdownandcutthemeshesofthenet,andsetthepoorbirdfree,'
　　saidthehorse。
　　'Butitwilltakesolong,'objectedJose,'andwemaymisstheprincess。'
　　'Nevermindthat;donotloseachanceofhelpingothers,'answeredthehorse。Andwhenthemesheswerecut,andtheeaglewasfree,thehorsegallopedon。
　　Thehadriddenmanymiles,andatlasttheycametoariver,wheretheybeheldalittlefishlyinggaspingonthesand,andthehorsesaid:
　　'Doyouseethatlittlefish？Itwilldieifyoudonotputitbackinthewater。'
　　'But,really,weshallneverfindthePrincessBella—Florifwewasteourtimelikethis！'criedJose。
　　'Weneverwastetimewhenwearehelpingothers,'answeredthehorse。
　　Andsoonthelittlefishwasswimminghappilyaway。
　　Alittlewhileaftertheyreachedacastle,whichwasbuiltinthemiddleofaverythickwood,andrightinfrontwasthePrincessBella—Florfeedingherhens。
　　'Nowlisten,'saidthehorse。'Iamgoingtogiveallsortsoflittlehopsandskips,whichwillamusethePrincessBella—Flor。Thenshewilltellyouthatshewouldliketoridealittleway,andyoumusthelphertomount。WhensheisseatedIshallbegintoneighandkick,andyoumustsaythatIhavenevercarriedawomanbefore,andthatyouhadbettergetupbehindsoastobeabletomanageme。Onceonmybackwewillgolikethewindtotheking'spalace。'
　　Josedidexactlyasthehorsetoldhim,andeverythingfelloutastheanimalprophesied;sothatitwasnotuntiltheyweregallopingbreathlesslytowardsthepalacethattheprincessknewthatshewastakencaptive。Shesaidnothing,however,butquietlyopenedherapronwhichcontainedthebranforthechickens,andinamomentitlayscatteredontheground。
　　'Oh,Ihaveletfallmybran！'criedshe;'pleasegetdownandpickitupforme。'ButJoseonlyanswered:
　　'Weshallfindplentyofbranwherewearegoing。'Andthehorsegallopedon。
　　Theywerenowpassingthroughaforest,andtheprincesstookoutherhandkerchiefandthrewitupwards,sothatitstuckinoneofthetopmostbranchesofatree。
　　'Dearme;howstupid！Ihaveletmyhandkerchiefblowaway,'saidshe。
　　'Willyouclimbupandgetitforme？'ButJoseanswered:
　　'Weshallfindplentyofhandkerchiefswherewearegoing。'Andthehorsegallopedon。
　　Afterthewoodtheyreachedariver,andtheprincessslippedaringoffherfingerandletitrollintothewater。
　　'Howcarelessofme,'gaspedshe,beginningtosob。'Ihavelostmyfavouritering;DOstopforamomentandlookifyoucanseeit。'ButJoseanswered:
　　'Youwillfindplentyofringswhereyouaregoing。'Andthehorsegallopedon。
　　Atlasttheyenteredthepalacegates,andtheking'sheartboundedwithjoyatbeholdinghisbelovedPrincessBella—Flor。Buttheprincessbrushedhimasideasifhehadbeenafly,andlockedherselfintothenearestroom,whichshewouldnotopenforallhisentreaties。
　　'BringmethethreethingsIlostontheway,andperhapsImaythinkaboutit,'wasallshewouldsay。And,indespair,thekingwasdriventotakecounselofJose。
　　'ThereisnoremedythatIcansee,'saidhismajesty,'butthatyou,whoknowwheretheyare,shouldgoandbringthemback。AndifyoureturnwithoutthemIwillhaveyoudrowned。'
　　PoorJosewasmuchtroubledatthesewords。Hethoughtthathehaddoneallthatwasrequiredofhim,andthathislifewassafe。
　　However,hebowedlow,andwentouttoconsulthisfriendthehorse。
　　'Donotvexyourself,'saidthehorse,whenhehadheardthestory;
　　'jumpup,andwewillgoandlookforthethings。'AndJosemountedatonce。
　　Theyrodeontilltheycametotheant—hill,andthenthehorseasked:
　　'Wouldyouliketohavethebran？'
　　'Whatistheuseofliking？'answeredJose。
　　'Well,calltheants,andtellthemtofetchitforyou;and,ifsomeofithasbeenscatteredbythewind,tobringinitssteadthegrainsthatwereinthecakesyougavethem。'Joselistenedinsurprise。Hedidnotmuchbelieveinthehorse'splan;buthecouldnotthinkofanythingbetter,sohecalledtotheants,andbadethemcollectthebranasfastastheycould。
　　Thenhesawunderatreeandwaited,whilehishorsecroppedthegreenturf。
　　'Lookthere！'saidtheanimal,suddenlyraisingitshead;andJoselookedbehindhimandsawalittlemountainofbran,whichheputintoabagthatwashungoverhissaddle。
　　'Gooddeedsbearfruitsoonerorlater,'observedthehorse;'butmountagain,aswehavefartogo。'
　　Whentheyarrivedatthetree,theysawthehandkerchiefflutteringlikeaflagfromthetopmostbranch,andJose'sspiritssankagain。
　　'HowamItogetthathandkerchief？'criedhe;'whyIshouldneedJacob'sladder！'Butthehorseanswered:
　　'Donotbefrightened;calltotheeagleyousetfreefromthenet,hewillbringittoyou。'
　　SoJosecalledtotheeagle,andtheeagleflewtothetopofthetreeandbroughtbackthehandkerchiefinitsbeak。Josethankedhim,andvaultingonhishorsetheyrodeontotheriver。
　　Agreatdealofrainhadfalleninthenight,andtheriver,insteadofbeingclearasitwasbefore,wasdarkandtroubled。
　　'HowamItofetchtheringfromthebottomofthisriverwhenIdonotknowexactlywhereitwasdropped,andcannotevenseeit？'askedJose。
　　Butthehorseanswered:'Donotbefrightened;callthelittlefishwhoselifeyousaved,andshewillbringittoyou。'
　　Sohecalledtothefish,andthefishdivedtothebottomandslippedbehindbigstones,andmovedlittleoneswithitstailtillitfoundthering,andbroughtittoJoseinitsmouth。
　　Wellpleasedwithallhehaddone,Josereturnedtothepalace;butwhenthekingtookthepreciousobjectstoBella—Flor,shedeclaredthatshewouldneveropenherdoortillthebanditwhohadcarriedheroffhadbeenfriedinoil。
　　'Iamverysorry,'saidthekingtoJose,'Ireallywouldrathernot;
　　butyouseeIhavenochoice。'
　　Whiletheoilwasbeingheatedinthegreatcaldron,Josewenttothestablestoinquireofhisfriendthehorseiftherewasnowayforhimtoescape。
　　'Donotbefrightened,'saidthehorse。'Getonmyback,andIwillgalloptillmywholebodyiswetwithperspiration,thenrubitalloveryourskin,andnomatterhowhottheoilmaybeyouwillneverfeelit。'
　　Josedidnotaskanymorequestions,butdidasthehorsebadehim;andmenwonderedathischeerfulfaceastheyloweredhimintothecaldronofboilingoil。HewaslefttheretillBella—Florcriedthathemustbecookedenough。Thenoutcameayouthsoyoungandhandsome,thateveryonefellinlovewithhim,andBella—Flormostofall。
　　Asfortheoldking,hesawthathehadlostthegame;andindespairheflunghimselfintothecaldron,andwasfriedinsteadofJose。ThenJosewasproclaimedking,onconditionthathemarriedBella—Florwhichhepromisedtodothenextday。Butfirsthewenttothestablesandsoughtoutthehorse,andsaidtohim:'ItistoyouthatIowemylifeandmycrown。Whyhaveyoudoneallthisforme？'
　　Andthehorseanswered:'Iamthesoulofthatunhappymanforwhomyouspentallyourfortune。AndwhenIsawyouindangerofdeathIbeggedthatImighthelpyou,asyouhadhelpedme。For,asItoldyou,Gooddeedsbeartheirownfruit！'
　　[FromCuentos,Oraciones,yAdivinas,porFernanCaballero。]
　　TheBirdofTruthOnceuponatimetherelivedapoorfisherwhobuiltahutonthebanksofastreamwhich,shunningtheglareofthesunandthenoiseofthetowns,flowedquietlypasttreesandunderbushes,listeningtothesongsofthebirdsoverhead。
　　Oneday,whenthefishermanhadgoneoutasusualtocasthisnets,hesawbornetowardshimonthecurrentacradleofcrystal。Slippinghisnetquicklybeneathithedrewitoutandliftedthesilkcoverlet。
　　Inside,lyingonasoftbedofcotton,weretwobabies,aboyandagirl,whoopenedtheireyesandsmiledathim。Themanwasfilledwithpityatthesight,andthrowingdownhislineshetookthecradleandthebabieshometohiswife。
　　Thegoodwomanflungupherhandsindespairwhenshebeheldthecontentsofthecradle。
　　'Arenoteightchildrenenough,'shecried,'withoutbringingustwomore？Howdoyouthinkwecanfeedthem？'
　　'Youwouldnothavehadmeleavethemtodieofhunger,'answeredhe,'orbeswallowedupbythewavesofthesea？Whatisenoughforeightisalsoenoughforten。'
　　Thewifesaidnomore;andintruthherheartyearnedoverthelittlecreatures。Somehoworotherfoodwasneverlackinginthehut,andthechildrengrewupandweresogoodandgentlethat,intime,theirfoster—parentslovedthemaswellorbetterthantheirown,whowerequarrelsomeandenvious。Itdidnottaketheorphanslongtonoticethattheboysdidnotlikethem,andwerealwaysplayingtricksonthem,sotheyusedtogoawaybythemselvesandspendwholehoursbythebanksoftheriver。Heretheywouldtakeoutthebitsofbreadtheyhadsavedfromtheirbreakfastsandcrumblethemforthebirds。
　　Inreturn,thebirdstaughtthemmanythings:howtogetupearlyinthemorning,howtosing,andhowtotalktheirlanguage,whichveryfewpeopleknow。
　　Butthoughthelittleorphansdidtheirbesttoavoidquarrellingwiththeirfoster—brothers,itwasverydifficultalwaystokeepthepeace。
　　Mattersgotworseandworsetill,onemorning,theeldestboysaidtothetwins:
　　'Itisallverywellforyoutopretendthatyouhavesuchgoodmanners,andaresomuchbetterthanwe,butwehaveatleastafatherandmother,whileyouhaveonlygottheriver,likethetoadsandthefrogs。'
　　Thepoorchildrendidnotanswertheinsult;butitmadethemveryunhappy。Andtheytoldeachotherinwhispersthattheycouldnotstaythereanylonger,butmustgointotheworldandseektheirfortunes。
　　Sonextdaytheyaroseasearlyasthebirdsandstoledownstairswithoutanybodyhearingthem。Onewindowwasopen,andtheycreptsoftlyoutandrantothesideoftheriver。Then,feelingasiftheyhadfoundafriend,theywalkedalongitsbanks,hopingthatby—and—bytheyshouldmeetsomeonetotakecareofthem。
　　Thewholeofthatdaytheywentsteadilyonwithoutseeingalivingcreature,till,intheevening,wearyandfootsore,theysawbeforethemasmallhut。Thisraisedtheirspiritsforamoment;butthedoorwasshut,andthehutseemedempty,andsogreatwastheirdisappointmentthattheyalmostcried。However,theboyfoughtdownhistears,andsaidcheerfully:
　　'Well,atanyratehereisabenchwherewecansitdown,andwhenwearerestedwewillthinkwhatisbesttodonext。'
　　Thentheysatdown,andforsometimetheyweretootiredeventonoticeanything;butby—and—bytheysawthatunderthetilesoftheroofanumberofswallowsweresitting,chatteringmerrilytoeachother。Ofcoursetheswallowshadnoideathatthechildrenunderstoodtheirlanguage,ortheywouldnothavetalkedsofreely;but,asitwas,theysaidwhatevercameintotheirheads。
　　'Good-KanbaAPp点com-evening,myfinecitymadam,'remarkedaswallow,whosemannerswereratherroughandcountryfiedtoanotherwholookedparticularlydistinguished。'Happy,indeed,aretheeyesthatbeholdyou！Onlythinkofyourhavingreturnedtoyourlong—forgottencountryfriends,afteryouhavelivedforyearsinapalace！'
　　'Ihaveinheritedthisnestfrommyparents,'repliedtheother,'andastheyleftittomeIcertainlyshallmakeitmyhome。But,'sheaddedpolitely,'Ihopethatyouandallyourfamilyarewell？'
　　'Verywellindeed,Iamgladtosay。Butmypoordaughterhad,ashorttimeago,suchbadinflammationinhereyesthatshewouldhavegoneblindhadInotbeenabletofindthemagicherb,whichcuredheratonce。'
　　'Andhowisthenightingalesinging？Doesthelarksoarashighasever？Anddoesthelinnetdressherselfassmartly？'Butherethecountryswallowdrewherselfup。
　　'Inevertalkgossip,'shesaidseverely。'Ourpeople,whowereoncesoinnocentandwell—behaved,havebeencorruptedbythebadexamplesofmen。Itisathousandpities。'
　　'What！innocenceandgoodbehaviourarenottobemetwithamongbirds,norinthecountry！Mydearfriend,whatareyousaying？'
　　'Thetruthandnothingmore。Imagine,whenwereturnedhere,wemetsomelinnetswho,justasthespringandtheflowersandthelongdayshadcome,weresettingoutforthenorthandthecold？Outofpurecompassionwetriedtopersuadethemtogiveupthisfolly;buttheyonlyrepliedwiththeutmostinsolence。'
　　'Howshocking！'exclaimedthecityswallow。
　　'Yes,itwas。Andworsethanthat,thecrestedlark,thatwasformerlysotimidandshy,isnownobetterthanathief,andstealsmaizeandcornwhenevershecanfindthem。'
　　'Iamastonishedatwhatyousay。'
　　'YouwillbemoreastonishedwhenItellyouthatonmyarrivalhereforthesummerIfoundmynestoccupiedbyashamelesssparrow！"Thisismynest,"Isaid。"Yours？"heanswered,witharudelaugh。"Yes,mine;myancestorswerebornhere,andmysonswillbebornherealso。"
　　Andatthatmyhusbandsetuponhimandthrewhimoutofthenest。I
　　amsurenothingofthissorteverhappensinatown。'
　　'Notexactly,perhaps。ButIhaveseenagreatdeal——ifyouonlyknew！'
　　'Oh！dotellus！dotellus！'criedtheyall。Andwhentheyhadsettledthemselvescomfortably,thecityswallowbegan:
　　'Youmustknow,thenthatourkingfellinlovewiththeyoungestdaughterofatailor,whowasasgoodandgentleasshewasbeautiful。
　　Hisnobleshopedthathewouldhavechosenaqueenfromoneoftheirdaughters,andtriedtopreventthemarriage;butthekingwouldnotlistentothem,andittookplace。Notmanymonthslaterawarbrokeout,andthekingrodeawayattheheadofhisarmy,whilethequeenremainedbehind,veryunhappyattheseparation。Whenpeacewasmade,andthekingreturned,hewastoldthathiswifehadhadtwobabiesinhisabsence,butthatbothweredead;thatsheherselfhadgoneoutofhermindandwasobligedtobeshutupinatowerinthemountains,where,intime,thefreshairmightcureher。'
　　'Andwasthisnottrue？'askedtheswallowseagerly。
　　'Ofcoursenot,'answeredthecitylady,withsomecontemptfortheirstupidity。'Thechildrenwerealiveatthatverymomentinthegardener'scottage;butatnightthechamberlaincamedownandputtheminacradleofcrystal,whichhecarriedtotheriver。
　　'Forawholedaytheyfloatedsafely,forthoughthestreamwasdeepitwasverystill,andthechildrentooknoharm。Inthemorning——soIamtoldbymyfriendthekingfisher——theywererescuedbyafishermanwholivedneartheriverbank。'
　　Thechildrenhadbeenlyingonthebench,listeninglazilytothechatteruptothispoint;butwhentheyheardthestoryofthecrystalcradlewhichtheirfoster—motherhadalwaysbeenfondoftellingthem,theysatuprightandlookedateachother。
　　'Oh,howgladIamIlearntthebirds'language！'saidtheeyesofonetotheeyesoftheother。
　　Meanwhiletheswallowshadspokenagain。
　　'Thatwasindeedgoodfortune！'criedthey。
　　'Andwhenthechildrenaregrownuptheycanreturntotheirfatherandsettheirmotherfree。'
　　'Itwillnotbesoeasyasyouthink,'answeredthecityswallow,shakingherhead;'fortheywillhavetoprovethattheyaretheking'schildren,andalsothattheirmotherneverwentmadatall。Infact,itissodifficultthatthereisonlyonewayofprovingittotheking。'
　　'Andwhatisthat？'criedalltheswallowsatonce。'Andhowdoyouknowit？'
　　'Iknowit,'answeredthecityswallow,'because,oneday,whenIwaspassingthroughthepalacegarden,Imetacuckoo,who,asIneednottellyou,alwayspretendstobeabletoseeintothefuture。Webegantotalkaboutcertainthingswhichwerehappeninginthepalace,andoftheeventsofpastyears。"Ah,"saidhe,"theonlypersonwhocanexposethewickednessoftheministersandshowthekinghowwronghehasbeen,istheBirdofTruth,whocanspeakthelanguageofmen。"
　　'"Andwherecanthisbirdbefound？"Iasked。
　　'"Itisshutupinacastleguardedbyafiercegiant,whoonlysleepsonequarterofanhouroutofthewholetwenty—four,"repliedthecuckoo。
　　'Andwhereisthiscastle？'inquiredthecountryswallow,who,likealltherest,andthechildrenmostofall,hadbeenlisteningwithdeepattention。
　　'ThatisjustwhatIdon'tknow,'answeredherfriend。'AllIcantellyouisthatnotfarfromhereisatower,wheredwellsanoldwitch,anditisshewhoknowstheway,andshewillonlyteachittothepersonwhopromisestobringherthewaterfromthefountainofmanycolours,whichsheusesforherenchantments。ButneverwillshebetraytheplacewheretheBirdofTruthishidden,forshehateshim,andwouldkillhimifshecould;knowingwell,however,thatthisbirdcannotdie,asheisimmortal,shekeepshimcloselyshutup,andguardednightanddaybytheBirdsofBadFaith,whoseektogaghimsothathisvoiceshouldnotbeheard。'
　　'Andistherenooneelsewhocantellthepoorboywheretofindthebird,ifheshouldevermanagetoreachthetower？'askedthecountryswallow。
　　'Noone,'repliedthecityswallow,'exceptanowl,wholivesahermit'slifeinthatdesert,andheknowsonlyonewordofman'sspeech,andthatis"cross。"Sothateveniftheprincedidsucceedingettingthere,hecouldneverunderstandwhattheowlsaid。But,look,thesunissinkingtohisnestinthedepthsofthesea,andImustgotomine。Good—night,friends,good—night！'