Andthemaidenanswered:
　　'No,Iwillnothurtyou;fearnothing。'Andthenseeingaspotwheretheclematisgrewlessthicklythaninotherplaces,shejumpedlightlyover。
　　'Mayallgowellwiththee,'saidthefence,asthegirlwalkedon。
　　Shesoonleftthemeadowandturnedintoapathwhichranbetweentwofloweryhedges。Rightinfrontofherstoodanoven,andthroughitsopendoorshecouldseeapileofwhiteloaves。
　　'Eatasmanyloavesasyoulike,butdomenoharm,littlemaiden,'
　　criedtheoven。Andthemaidentoldhertofearnothing,forsheneverhurtanything,andwasverygratefulfortheoven'skindnessingivinghersuchabeautifulwhiteloaf。Whenshehadfinishedit,downtothelastcrumb,sheshuttheovendoorandsaid:'Good—morning。'
　　'Mayallgowellwiththee,'saidtheoven,asthegirlwalkedon。
　　By—and—byshebecameverythirsty,andseeingacowwithamilk—pailhangingonherhorn,turnedtowardsher。
　　'Milkmeanddrinkasmuchasyouwill,littlemaiden,'criedthecow,'butbesureyouspillnoneontheground;anddomenoharm,forI
　　haveneverharmedanyone。'
　　'NorI,'answeredthegirl;'fearnothing。'Soshesatdownandmilkedtillthepailwasnearlyfull。Thenshedrankitallupexceptalittledropatthebottom。
　　'Nowthrowanythatisleftovermyhoofs,andhangthepailonmyhornsagain,'saidthecow。Andthegirldidasshewasbid,andkissedthecowonherforeheadandwentherway。
　　Manyhourshadnowpassedsincethegirlhadfallendownthewell,andthesunwassetting。
　　'WhereshallIspendthenight？'thoughtshe。Andsuddenlyshesawbeforeheragatewhichshehadnotnoticedbefore,andaveryoldwomanleaningagainstit。
　　'Goodevening,'saidthegirlpolitely;andtheoldwomananswered:
　　'Goodevening,mychild。Wouldthateveryonewasaspoliteasyou。
　　Areyouinsearchofanything？'
　　'Iaminsearchofaplace,'repliedthegirl;andthewomansmiledandsaid:
　　'Thenstopalittlewhileandcombmyhair,andyoushalltellmeallthethingsyoucando。'
　　'Willingly,mother,'answeredthegirl。Andshebegancombingouttheoldwoman'shair,whichwaslongandwhite。
　　Halfanhourpassedinthisway,andthentheoldwomansaid:
　　'Asyoudidnotthinkyourselftoogoodtocombme,Iwillshowyouwhereyoumaytakeservice。Beprudentandpatientandallwillgowell。'
　　Sothegirlthankedher,andsetoutforafarmatalittledistance,whereshewasengagedtomilkthecowsandsiftthecorn。
　　Assoonasitwaslightnextmorningthegirlgotupandwentintothecow—house。'I'msureyoumustbehungry,'saidshe,pattingeachinturn。Andthenshefetchedhayfromthebarn,andwhiletheywereeatingit,shesweptoutthecow—house,andstrewedcleanstrawuponthefloor。Thecowsweresopleasedwiththecareshetookofthemthattheystoodquitestillwhileshemilkedthem,anddidnotplayanyofthetricksonherthattheyhadplayedonotherdairymaidswhowereroughandrude。Andwhenshehaddone,andwasgoingtogetupfromherstool,shefoundsittingroundherawholecircleofcats,blackandwhite,tabbyandtortoise—shell,whoallcriedwithonevoice:
　　'Weareverythirsty,pleasegiveussomemilk！'
　　'Mypoorlittlepussies,'saidshe,'ofcourseyoushallhavesome。'
　　Andshewentintothedairy,followedbyallthecats,andgaveeachonealittleredsaucerful。Butbeforetheydranktheyallrubbedthemselvesagainstherkneesandpurredbywayofthanks。
　　Thenextthingthegirlhadtodowastogotothestorehouse,andtosiftthecornthroughasieve。Whileshewasbusyrubbingthecornsheheardawhirrofwings,andaflockofsparrowsflewinatthewindow。
　　'Wearehungry;giveussomecorn！giveussomecorn！'criedthey;andthegirlanswered:
　　'Youpoorlittlebirds,ofcourseyoushallhavesome！'andscatteredafinehandfuloverthefloor。Whentheyhadfinishedtheyflewonhershouldersandflappedtheirwingsbywayofthanks。
　　Timewentby,andnocowsinthewholecountry—sideweresofatandwelltendedashers,andnodairyhadsomuchmilktoshow。Thefarmer'swifewassowellsatisfiedthatshegaveherhigherwages,andtreatedherlikeherowndaughter。Atlength,oneday,thegirlwasbiddenbyhermistresstocomeintothekitchen,andwhenthere,theoldwomansaidtoher:'Iknowyoucantendcowsandkeepadiary;nowletmeseewhatyoucandobesides。Takethissievetothewell,andfillitwithwater,andbringithometomewithoutspillingonedropbytheway。'
　　Thegirl'sheartsankatthisorder;forhowwasitpossibleforhertodohermistress'sbidding？However,shewassilent,andtakingthesievewentdowntothewellwithit。Stoppingovertheside,shefilledittothebrim,butassoonasshelifteditthewaterallranoutoftheholes。Againandagainshetried,butnotadropwouldremaininginthesieve,andshewasjustturningawayindespairwhenaflockofsparrowsflewdownfromthesky。
　　'Ashes！ashes！'theytwittered;andthegirllookedatthemandsaid:
　　'Well,Ican'tbeinaworseplightthanIamalready,soIwilltakeyouradvice。'Andsheranbacktothekitchenandfilledhersievewithashes。Thenoncemoreshedippedthesieveintothewell,and,behold,thistimenotadropofwaterdisappeared！
　　'Hereisthesieve,mistress,'criedthegirl,goingtotheroomwheretheoldwomanwassitting。
　　'YouareclevererthanIexpected,'answeredshe;'orelsesomeonehelpedyouwhoisskilledinmagic。'Butthegirlkeptsilence,andtheoldwomanaskedhernomorequestions。
　　Manydayspassedduringwhichthegirlwentaboutherworkasusual,butatlengthonedaytheoldwomancalledherandsaid:
　　'Ihavesomethingmoreforyoutodo。Thereareheretwoyarns,theonewhite,theotherblack。Whatyoumustdoistowashthemintherivertilltheblackonebecomeswhiteandthewhiteblack。'Andthegirltookthemtotheriverandwashedhardforseveralhours,butwashasshewouldtheyneverchangedonewhit。
　　'Thisisworsethanthesieve,'thoughtshe,andwasabouttogiveupindespairwhentherecamearushofwingsthroughtheair,andoneverytwigofthebirchtreeswhichgrewbythebankwasperchedasparrow。
　　'Theblacktotheeast,thewhitetothewest！'theysang,allatonce;
　　andthegirldriedhertearsandfeltbraveagain。Pickinguptheblackyarn,shestoodfacingtheeastanddippeditintheriver,andinaninstantitgrewwhiteassnow,thenturningtothewest,sheheldthewhiteyarninthewater,anditbecameasblackasacrow'swing。
　　Shelookedbackatthesparrowsandsmiledandnoddedtothem,andflappingtheirwingsinreplytheyflewswiftlyaway。
　　Atthesightoftheyarntheoldwomanwasstruckdumb;butwhenatlengthshefoundhervoicesheaskedthegirlwhatmagicianhadhelpedhertodowhatnoonehaddonebefore。Butshegotnoanswer,forthemaidenwasafraidofbringingtroubleonherlittlefriends。
　　Formanyweeksthemistressshutherselfupinherroom,andthegirlwentaboutherworkasusual。Shehopedthattherewasanendtothedifficulttaskswhichhadbeensether;butinthisshewasmistaken,foronedaytheoldwomanappearedsuddenlyinthekitchen,andsaidtoher:
　　'ThereisonemoretrialtowhichImustputyou,andifyoudonotfailinthatyouwillbeleftinpeaceforevermore。Herearetheyarnswhichyouwashed。Takethemandweavethemintoawebthatisassmoothasaking'srobe,andseethatitisspunbythetimethatthesunsets。'
　　'ThisistheeasiestthingIhavebeensettodo,'thoughtthegirl,whowasagoodspinner。Butwhenshebeganshefoundthattheskeintangledandbrokeeverymoment。
　　'Oh,Icanneverdoit！'shecriedatlast,andleanedherheadagainsttheloomandwept;butatthatinstantthedooropened,andthereentered,onebehindanother,aprocessionofcats。
　　'Whatisthematter,fairmaiden？'askedthey。Andthegirlanswered:
　　'Mymistresshasgivenmethisyarntoweaveintoapieceofcloth,whichmustbefinishedbysunset,andIhavenotevenbegunyet,fortheyarnbreakswheneverItouchit。'
　　'Ifthatisall,dryyoureyes,'saidthecats;'wewillmanageitforyou。'Andtheyjumpedontheloom,andwovesofastandsoskilfullythatinaveryshorttimetheclothwasreadyandwasasfineasanykingeverwore。Thegirlwassodelightedatthesightofitthatshegaveeachcatakissonhisforeheadastheylefttheroombehindonetheotherastheyhadcome。
　　'Whohastaughtyouthiswisdom？'askedtheoldwoman,aftershehadpassedherhandstwiceorthriceovertheclothandcouldfindnoroughnessanywhere。Butthegirlonlysmiledanddidnotanswer。Shehadlearnedearlythevalueofsilence。
　　Afterafewweekstheoldwomansentforhermaidandtoldherthatasheryearofservicewasnowup,shewasfreetoreturnhome,butthat,forherpart,thegirlhadservedhersowellthatshehopedshemightstaywithher。Butatthesewordsthemaidshookherhead,andansweredgently:
　　'Ihavebeenhappyhere,Madam,andIthankyouforyourgoodnesstome;butIhaveleftbehindmeastepsisterandastepmother,andIamfaintobewiththemoncemore。'Theoldwomanlookedatherforamoment,andthenshesaid:
　　'Well,thatmustbeasyoulike;butasyouhaveworkedfaithfullyformeIwillgiveyouareward。Gonowintotheloftabovethestorehouseandthereyouwillfindmanycaskets。Choosetheonewhichpleasesyoubest,butbecarefulnottoopenittillyouhavesetitintheplacewhereyouwishittoremain。'
　　Thegirllefttheroomtogototheloft,andassoonasshegotoutside,shefoundallthecatswaitingforher。Walkinginprocession,aswastheircustom,theyfollowedherintotheloft,whichwasfilledwithcasketsbigandlittle,plainandsplendid。Shelifteduponeandlookedatit,andthenputitdowntoexamineanotheryetmorebeautiful。Whichshouldshechoose,theyellowortheblue,theredorthegreen,thegoldorthesilver？Shehesitatedlong,andwentfirsttooneandthentoanother,whensheheardthecats'voicescalling:'Taketheblack！taketheblack！'
　　Thewordsmakeherlookround——shehadseennoblackcasket,butasthecatscontinuedtheircryshepeeredintoseveralcornersthathadremainedunnoticed,andatlengthdiscoveredalittleblackbox,sosmallandsoblack,thatitmighteasilyhavebeenpassedover。
　　'Thisisthecasketthatpleasesmebest,mistress,'saidthegirl,carryingitintothehouse。Andtheoldwomansmiledandnodded,andbadehergoherway。Sothegirlsetforth,afterbiddingfarewelltothecowsandthecatsandthesparrows,whoallweptastheysaidgood—bye。
　　Shewalkedonandonandon,tillshereachedtheflowerymeadow,andthere,suddenly,somethinghappened,sheneverknewwhat,butshewassittingonthewallofthewellinherstepmother'syard。Thenshegotupandenteredthehouse。
　　Thewomanandherdaughterstaredasiftheyhadbeenturnedintostone;butatlengththestepmothergaspedout:
　　'Soyouarealiveafterall！Well,luckwaseveragainstme！Andwherehaveyoubeenthisyearpast？'Thenthegirltoldhowshehadtakenserviceintheunder—world,and,besideherwages,hadbroughthomewithheralittlecasket,whichshewouldliketosetupinherroom。
　　'Givemethemoney,andtaketheuglylittleboxofftotheouthouse,'
　　criedthewoman,besideherselfwithrage,andthegirl,quitefrightenedatherviolence,hastenedaway,withherpreciousboxclaspedtoherbosom。
　　Theouthousewasinaverydirtystate,asnoonehadbeennearitsincethegirlhadfallendownthewell;butshescrubbedandswepttilleverythingwascleanagain,andthensheplacedthelittlecasketonasmallshelfinthecorner。
　　'NowImayopenit,'shesaidtoherself;andunlockingitwiththekeywhichhungtoitshandle,sheraisedthelid,butstartedbackasshedidso,almostblindedbythelightthatburstuponher。Noonewouldeverhaveguessedthatthatlittleblackboxcouldhaveheldsuchaquantityofbeautifulthings！Rings,crowns,girdles,necklaces——allmadeofwonderfulstones;andtheyshonewithsuchbrilliancethatnotonlythestepmotherandherdaughterbutallthepeopleroundcamerunningtoseeifthehousewasonfire。Ofcoursethewomanfeltquiteillwithgreedandenvy,andshewouldhavecertainlytakenallthejewelsforherselfhadshenotfearedthewrathoftheneighbours,wholovedherstepdaughterasmuchastheyhatedher。
　　Butifshecouldnotstealthecasketanditscontentsforherself,atleastshecouldgetanotherlikeit,andperhapsastillricherone。
　　Soshebadeherowndaughtersitontheedgeofthewell,andthrewherintothewater,exactlyasshehaddonetotheothergirl;and,exactlyasbefore,theflowerymeadowlayatthebottom。
　　Everyinchofthewayshetrodthepathwhichherstepsisterhadtrodden,andsawthethingswhichshehadseen;buttherethelikenessended。Whenthefenceprayedhertodoitnoharm,shelaughedrudely,andtoreupsomeofthestakessothatshemightgetoverthemoreeasily;whentheovenofferedherbread,shescatteredtheloavesontothegroundandstampedonthem;andaftershehadmilkedthecow,anddrunkasmuchasshewanted,shethrewtherestonthegrass,andkickedthepailtobits,andneverheardthemsay,astheylookedafterher:'Youshallnothavedonethistomefornothing！'
　　Towardseveningshereachedthespotwheretheoldwomanwasleaningagainstthegate—post,butshepassedherbywithoutaword。
　　'Haveyounomannersinyourcountry？'askedthecrone。
　　'Ican'tstopandtalk;Iaminahurry,'answeredthegirl。'Itisgettinglate,andIhavetofindaplace。'
　　'Stopandcombmyhairforalittle,'saidtheoldwoman,'andIwillhelpyoutogetaplace。'
　　'Combyourhair,indeed！Ihavesomethingbettertodothanthat！'Andslammingthegateinthecrone'sfaceshewentherway。Andsheneverheardthewordsthatfollowedher:'Youshallnothavedonethistomefornothing！'
　　By—and—bythegirlarrivedatthefarm,andshewasengagedtolookafterthecowsandsiftthecornasherstepsisterhadbeen。Butitwasonlywhensomeonewaswatchingherthatshedidherwork;atothertimesthecow—housewasdirty,andthecowsill—fedandbeaten,sothattheykickedoverthepail,andtriedtobutther;andeveryonesaidtheyhadneverseensuchthincowsorsuchpoormilk。Asforthecats,shechasedthemaway,andill—treatedthem,sothattheyhadnoteventhespirittochasetheratsandmice,whichnowadaysranabouteverywhere。Andwhenthesparrowscametobegforsomecorn,theyfarednobetterthanthecowsandthecats,forthegirlthrewhershoesatthem,tilltheyflewinafrighttothewoods,andtookshelteramongstthetrees。
　　Monthspassedinthismanner,when,oneday,themistresscalledthegirltoher。
　　'AllthatIhavegivenyoutodoyouhavedoneill,'saidshe,'yetwillIgiveyouanotherchance。Forthoughyoucannottendcows,ordividethegrainfromthechaff,theremaybeotherthingsthatyoucandobetter。Thereforetakethissievetothewell,andfillitwithwater,andseethatyoubringitbackwithoutspillingadrop。'
　　Thegirltookthesieveandcarriedittothewellashersisterhaddone;butnolittlebirdscametohelpher,andafterdippingitinthewelltwoorthreetimesshebroughtitbackempty。
　　'Ithoughtasmuch,'saidtheoldwomanangrily;'shethatisuselessinonethingisuselessinanother。'
　　Perhapsthemistressmayhavethoughtthatthegirlhadlearntalesson,but,ifshedid,shewasquitemistaken,astheworkwasnobetterdonethanbefore。By—and—byshesentforheragain,andgavehermaidtheblackandwhiteyarntowashintheriver;buttherewasnoonetotellherthesecretbywhichtheblackwouldturnwhite,andthewhiteblack;soshebroughtthembackastheywere。Thistimetheoldwomanonlylookedathergrimlybutthegirlwastoowellpleasedwithherselftocarewhatanyonethoughtabouther。
　　Aftersomeweeksherthirdtrialcame,andtheyarnwasgivenhertospin,asithadbeengiventoherstepsisterbeforeher。
　　Butnoprocessionofcatsenteredtheroomtoweaveaweboffinecloth,andatsunsetsheonlybroughtbacktohermistressanarmfulofdirty,tangledwool。
　　'Thereseemsnothingintheworldyoucando,'saidtheoldwoman,andlefthertoherself。
　　Soonafterthistheyearwasup,andthegirlwenttohermistresstotellherthatshewishedtogohome。
　　'LittledesirehaveItokeepyou,'answeredtheoldwoman,'fornoonethinghaveyoudoneasyouought。Still,Iwillgiveyousomepayment,thereforegoupintotheloft,andchooseforyourselfoneofthecasketsthatliesthere。Butseethatyoudonotopenittillyouplaceitwhereyouwishittostay。'
　　Thiswaswhatthegirlhadbeenhopingfor,andsorejoicedwasshe,that,withoutevenstoppingtothanktheoldwoman,sheranasfastasshecouldtotheloft。Therewerethecaskets,blueandred,greenandyellow,silverandgold;andthereinthecornerstoodalittleblackcasketjustliketheoneherstepsisterhadbroughthome。
　　'Iftherearesomanyjewelsinthatlittleblackthing,thisbigredonewillholdtwicethenumber,'shesaidtoherself;andsnatchingitupshesetoffonherroadhomewithoutevengoingtobidfarewelltohermistress。
　　'See,mother,seewhatIhavebrought！'criedshe,assheenteredthecottageholdingthecasketinbothhands。
　　'Ah！youhavegotsomethingverydifferentfromthatlittleblackbox,'
　　answeredtheoldwomanwithdelight。Butthegirlwassobusyfindingaplaceforittostandthatshetooklittlenoticeofhermother。
　　'Itwilllookbesthere——no,here,'shesaid,settingitfirstononepieceoffurnitureandthenonanother。'No,afterallitistofinetoliveinakitchen,letusplaceitintheguestchamber。'
　　Somotheranddaughtercarrieditproudlyupstairsandputitonashelfoverthefireplace;then,untyingthekeyfromthehandle,theyopenedthebox。Asbefore,abrightlightleaptoutdirectlythelidwasraised,butitdidnotspringfromthelustreofjewels,butfromhotflames,whichdartedalongthewallsandburntupthecottageandallthatwasinitandthemotheranddaughteraswell。
　　Astheyhaddonewhenthestepdaughtercamehome,theneighboursallhurriedtoseewhatwasthematter;buttheyweretoolate。Onlythehen—housewasleftstanding;and,inspiteofherriches,therethestepdaughterlivedhappilytotheendofherdays。
　　[FromThorpe'sYule—TideStories。]
　　TheGoldsmith'sFortuneOnceuponatimetherewasagoldsmithwholivedinacertainvillagewherethepeoplewereasbadandgreedy,andcovetous,astheycouldpossiblybe;however,inspiteofhissurroundings,hewasfatandprosperous。Hehadonlyonefriendwhomheliked,andthatwasacowherd,wholookedaftercattleforoneofthefarmersinthevillage。
　　Everyeveningthegoldsmithwouldwalkacrosstothecowherd'shouseandsay:'Come,let'sgooutforawalk！'
　　Nowthecowherddidn'tlikewalkingintheevening,because,hesaid,hehadbeenoutgrazingthecattleallday,andwasgladtositdownwhennightcame;butthegoldsmithalwaysworriedhimsothatthepoormanhadtogoagainsthiswill。Thisatlastsoannoyedhimthathetriedtothinkhowhecouldpickaquarrelwiththegoldsmith,sothatheshouldnotbeghimtowalkwithhimanymore。Heaskedanothercowherdforadvice,andhesaidthebestthinghecoulddowastogoacrossandkillthegoldsmith'swife,forthenthegoldsmithwouldbesuretoregardhimasanenemy;so,beingafoolishperson,andtherebeingnolawsinthatcountrybywhichamanwouldbecertainlypunishedforsuchacrime,thecowherdoneeveningtookabigstickandwentacrosstothegoldsmith'shousewhenonlyMrs。Goldsmithwasathome,andbangedherontheheadsohardthatshediedthenandthere。
　　Whenthegoldsmithcamebackandfoundhiswifedeadhesaidnothing,butjusttookheroutsideintothedarklaneandproppedherupagainstthewallofhishouse,andthenwentintothecourtyardandwaited。
　　Presentlyarichstrangercamealongthelane,andseeingsomeonethere,ashesupposed,hesaid:
　　'Good—evening,friend！afinenightto—night！'Butthegoldsmith'swifesaidnothing。Themanthenrepeatedhiswordslouder;butstilltherewasnoreply。Athirdtimeheshouted:
　　'Good—evening,friend！areyoudeaf？'butthefigureneverreplied。
　　Thenthestranger,beingangryatwhathethoughtveryrudebehaviour,pickedupabigstoneandthrewitatMrs。Goldsmith,crying:
　　'Letthatteachyoumanners！'
　　InstantlypoorMrs。Goldsmithtumbledover;andthestranger,horrifiedatseeingwhathehaddone,wasimmediatelyseizedbythegoldsmith,whoranoutscreaming:
　　'Wretch！youhavekilledmywife！Oh,miserableone;wewillhavejusticedonetothee！'
　　Withmanyprotestationsandreproachestheywrangledtogether,thestrangerentreatingthegoldsmithtosaynothingandhewouldpayhimhandsomelytoatoneforthesadaccident。Atlastthegoldsmithquieteddown,andagreedtoacceptonethousandgoldpiecesfromthestranger,whoimmediatelyhelpedhimtoburyhispoorwife,andthenrushedofftotheguesthouse,packeduphisthingsandwasoffbydaylight,lestthegoldsmithshouldrepentandaccusehimasthemurdererofhiswife。Nowitverysoonappearedthatthegoldsmithhadalotofextramoney,sothatpeoplebegantoaskquestions,andfinallydemandedofhimthereasonforhissuddenwealth。
　　'Oh,'saidhe,'mywifedied,andIsoldher。'
　　'Yousoldyourdeadwife？'criedthepeople。
　　'Yes,'saidthegoldsmith。
　　'Forhowmuch？'
　　'Athousandgoldpieces,'repliedthegoldsmith。
　　Instantlythevillagerswentawayandeachcaughtholdofhisownwifeandthrottledher,andthenextdaytheyallwentofftoselltheirdeadwives。Manyawearymiledidtheytramp,butgotnothingbuthardwordsorlaughter,ordirectionstothenearestcemetery,frompeopletowhomtheyoffereddeadwivesforsale。Atlasttheyperceivedthattheyhadbeencheatedsomehowbythatgoldsmith。Soofftheyrushedhome,seizedtheunhappyman,and,withoutlisteningtohiscriesandentreaties,hurriedhimdowntotheriverbankandflunghim——plop！——intothedeepest,weediest,andnastiestplacetheycouldfind。
　　'Thatwillteachhimtoplaytricksonus,'saidthey。'Forashecan'tswimhe'lldrown,andwesha'n'thaveanymoretroublewithhim！'
　　Nowthegoldsmithreallycouldnotswim,andassoonashewasthrownintothedeepriverhesankbelowthesurface;sohisenemieswentawaybelievingthattheyhadseenthelastofhim。But,inreality,hewascarrieddown,halfdrowned,belowthenextbendintheriver,wherehefortunatelycameacrossa'snag'floatinginthewater（asnagis,youknow,apartofatreeorbushwhichfloatsverynearlyunderthesurfaceofthewater）;andheheldontothissnag,andbygreatgoodluckeventuallycameashoresometwoorthreemilesdowntheriver。Attheplacewherehelandedhecameacrossafinefatcowbuffalo,andimmediatelyhejumpedonherbackandrodehome。Whenthevillagepeoplesawhim,theyranoutinsurprise,andsaid:
　　'Whereonearthdoyoucomefrom,andwheredidyougetthatbuffalo？'
　　'Ah！'saidthegoldsmith,'youlittleknowwhatdelightfuladventuresI
　　havehad！Why,downinthatplaceintheriverwhereyouthrewmeinI
　　foundmeadows,andtrees,andfinepastures,andbuffaloes,andallkindsofcattle。Infact,Icouldhardlytearmyselfaway;butI
　　thoughtthatImustreallyletyouallknowaboutit。'
　　'Oh,oh！'thoughtthegreedyvillagepeople;'iftherearebuffaloestobehadforthetakingwe'llgoaftersometoo。'Encouragedbythegoldsmiththeynearlyallranofftheverynextmorningtotheriver;
　　and,inorderthattheymightgetdownquicklytothebeautifulplacethegoldsmithtoldthemof,theytiedgreatstonesontotheirfeetandtheirnecks,andoneafteranothertheyjumpedintothewaterasfastasthecould,andweredrowned。Andwheneveranyoneofthemwavedhishandsaboutandstruggledthegoldsmithwouldcryout:
　　'Look！he'sbeckoningtherestofyoutocome;he'sgotafinebuffalo！'Andotherswhoweredoubtfulwouldjumpin,untilnotonewasleft。Thenthecunninggoldsmithwentbackandtookallthevillageforhimself,andbecameveryrichindeed。Butdoyouthinkhewashappy？Notabit。Liesnevermadeamanhappyyet。Truly,hegotthebetterofasetofwickedandgreedypeople,butonlybybeingwickedandgreedyhimself;and,asitturnedout,whenhegotsorichhegotveryfat;andatlastwassofatthathecouldn'tmove,andonedayhegottheapoplexyanddied,andnooneintheworldcaredtheleastbit。
　　[ToldbyaPathantoMajorCampbell。]
　　TheEnchantedWreathOnceuponatimetherelivednearaforestamanandhiswifeandtwogirls;onegirlwasthedaughteroftheman,andtheotherthedaughterofhiswife;andtheman'sdaughterwasgoodandbeautiful,butthewoman'sdaughterwascrossandugly。However,hermotherdidnotknowthat,butthoughtherthemostbewitchingmaidenthateverwasseen。
　　Onedaythemancalledtohisdaughterandbadehercomewithhimintotheforesttocutwood。Theyworkedhardallday,butinspiteofthechoppingtheywereverycold,foritrainedheavily,andwhentheyreturnedhome,theywerewetthrough。Then,tohisvexation,themanfoundthathehadlefthisaxebehindhim,andheknewthatifitlayallnightinthemuditwouldbecomerustyanduseless。Sohesaidtohiswife:
　　'Ihavedroppedmyaxeintheforest,bidyourdaughtergoandfetchit,forminehasworkedhardalldayandisbothwetandweary。'
　　Butthewifeanswered:
　　'Ifyourdaughteriswetalready,itisallthemorereasonthatsheshouldgoandgettheaxe。Besides,sheisagreatstronggirl,andalittlerainwillnothurther,whilemydaughterwouldbesuretocatchabadcold。'
　　Bylongexperiencethemanknewtherewasnogoodsayinganymore,andwithasighhetoldthepoorgirlshemustreturntotheforestfortheaxe。
　　Thewalktooksometime,foritwasverydark,andhershoesoftenstuckinthemud,butshewasbraveaswellasbeautifulandneverthoughtofturningbackmerelybecausethepathwasbothdifficultandunpleasant。Atlast,withherdresstornbybramblesthatshecouldnotsee,andherfactscratchedbythetwigsonthetrees,shereachedthespotwheresheandherfatherhadbeencuttinginthemorning,andfoundtheaxeintheplacehehadleftit。Tohersurprise,threelittledovesweresittingonthehandle,allofthemlookingverysad。
　　'Youpoorlittlethings,'saidthegirl,strokingthem。'Whydoyousitthereandgetwet？Goandflyhometoyournest,itwillbemuchwarmerthanthis;butfirsteatthisbread,whichIsavedfrommydinner,andperhapsyouwillfeelhappier。Itismyfather'saxeyouaresittingon,andImusttakeitbackasfastasIcan,orIshallgetaterriblescoldingfrommystepmother。'Shethencrumbledthebreadontheground,andwaspleasedtoseethedovesflutterquitecheerfullytowardsit。
　　'Good—bye,'shesaid,pickinguptheaxe,andwentherwayhomewards。
　　Bythetimetheyhadfinishedallthecrumbsthedovesfeltmustbetter,andwereabletoflybacktotheirnestinthetopofatree。
　　'Thatisagoodgirl,'saidone;'Ireallywastooweaktostretchoutawingbeforeshecame。IshouldliketodosomethingtoshowhowgratefulIam。'
　　'Well,letusgiveherawreathofflowersthatwillneverfadeaslongasshewearsit,'criedanother。
　　'Andletthetiniestsingingbirdsintheworldsitamongsttheflowers,'rejoinedthethird。
　　'Yes,thatwilldobeautifully,'saidthefirst。Andwhenthegirlsteppedintohercottageawreathofrosebudswasonherhead,andacrowdoflittlebirdsweresingingunseen。
　　Thefather,whowassittingbythefire,thoughtthat,inspiteofhermuddyclothes,hehadneverseenhisdaughterlookingsolovely;butthestepmotherandtheothergirlgrewwildwithenvy。
　　'Howabsurdtowalkaboutonsuchapouringnight,dresseduplikethat,'sheremarkedcrossly,androughlypulledoffthewreathasshespoke,toplaceitonherowndaughter。Asshedidsotherosesbecamewitheredandbrown,andthebirdsflewoutofthewindow。
　　'Seewhatatrumperythingitis！'criedthestepmother;'andnowtakeyoursupperandgotobed,foritisnearuponmidnight。'
　　Butthoughshepretendedtodespisethewreath,shelongednonethelessforherdaughtertohaveonelikeit。
　　Nowithappenedthatthenexteveningthefather,whohadbeenaloneintheforest,camebackasecondtimewithouthisaxe。Thestepmother'sheartwasgladwhenshesawthis,andshesaidquitemildly:
　　'Why,youhaveforgottenyouraxeagain,youcarelessman！Butnowyourdaughtershallstayathome,andmineshallgoandbringitback';
　　andthrowingacloakoverthegirl'sshoulders,shebadeherhastentotheforest。
　　Withaveryillgracethedamselsetforth,grumblingtoherselfasshewent;forthoughshewishedforthewreath,shedidnotatallwantthetroubleofgettingit。
　　Bythetimeshereachedthespotwhereherstepfatherhadbeencuttingthewoodthegirlwasinaverybadtemperindeed,andwhenshecaughtsightoftheaxe,therewerethethreelittledoves,withdroopingheadsandsoiled,bedraggledfeathers,sittingonthehandle。
　　'Youdirtycreatures,'criedshe,'getawayatonce,orIwillthrowstonesatyou！Andthedovesspreadtheirwingsinafrightandflewuptotheverytopofatree,theirbodiesshakingwithanger。
　　'Whatshallwedotorevengeourselvesonher？'askedthesmallestofthedoves,'wewerenevertreatedlikethatbefore。'
　　'Never,'saidthebiggestdove。'Wemustfindsomewayofpayingherbackinherowncoin！'
　　'Iknow,'answeredthemiddledove;'sheshallneverbeabletosayanythingbut"dirtycreatures"totheendofherlife。'
　　'Oh,howcleverofyou！Thatwilldobeautifully,'exclaimedtheothertwo。Andtheyflappedtheirwingsandcluckedsoloudwithdelight,andmadesuchanoise,thattheywokeupallthebirdsinthetreescloseby。
　　'Whatintheworldisthematter？'askedthebirdssleepily。