Fairer-than-a-fairy

‘Fairer-than-a-Fairy.’

It never occurred to the good-natured monarch that such a name was

certain to call down the hatred and jealousy of the fairies in a body

on the child, but this was what happened. No sooner had they heard of

this presumptuous name than they resolved to gain possession of her

who bore it, and either to torment her cruelly, or at least to conceal

her from the eyes of all men.

The eldest of their tribe was entrusted to carry out their revenge.

This Fairy was named Lagree; she was so old that she only had one eye

and one tooth left, and even these poor remains she had to keep all

night in a strengthening liquid. She was also so spiteful that she

gladly devoted all her time to carrying out all the mean or

ill-natured tricks of the whole body of fairies.

With her large experience, added to her native spite, she found but

little difficulty in carrying off Fairer-than-a-Fairy. The poor child,

who was only seven years old, nearly died of fear on finding herself

in the power of this hideous creature. However, when after an hour’s

journey underground she found herself in a splendid palace with lovely

gardens, she felt a little reassured, and was further cheered when she

discovered that her pet cat and dog had followed her.

The old Fairy led her to a pretty room which she said should be hers,

at the same time giving her the strictest orders never to let out the

fire which was burning brightly in the grate. She then gave two glass

bottles into the Princess’s charge, desiring her to take the greatest

care of them, and having enforced her orders with the most awful

threats in case of disobedience, she vanished, leaving the little girl

at liberty to explore the palace and grounds and a good deal relieved

at having only two apparently easy tasks set her.

Several years passed, during which time the Princess grew accustomed

to her lonely life, obeyed the Fairy’s orders, and by degrees forgot

all about the court of the King her father.

[Illustration: Lagree Gives the 2 Bottles to Fairer-than-a-Fairy.]

One day, whilst passing near a fountain in the garden, she noticed

that the sun’s rays fell on the water in such a manner as to produce a

brilliant rainbow. She stood still to admire it, when, to her great

surprise, she heard a voice addressing her which seemed to come from

the centre of its rays. The voice was that of a young man, and its

sweetness of tone and the agreeable things it uttered, led one to

infer that its owner must be equally charming; but this had to be a

mere matter of fancy, for no one was visible.

The beautiful Rainbow informed Fairer-than-a-Fairy that he was young,

the son of a powerful king, and that the Fairy, Lagree, who owed his

parents a grudge, had revenged herself by depriving him of his natural

shape for some years; that she had imprisoned him in the palace, where

he had found his confinement hard to bear for some time, but now, he

owned, he no longer sighed for freedom since he had seen and learned

to love Fairer-than-a-Fairy.

He added many other tender speeches to this declaration, and the

Princess, to whom such remarks were a new experience, could not help

feeling pleased and touched by his attentions.

The Prince could only appear or speak under the form of a Rainbow, and

it was therefore necessary that the sun should shine on water so as to

enable the rays to form themselves.

Fairer-than-a-Fairy lost no moment in which she could meet her lover,

and they enjoyed many long and interesting interviews. One day,

however, their conversation became so absorbing and time passed so

quickly that the Princess forgot to attend to the fire, and it went

out. Lagree, on her return, soon found out the neglect, and seemed

only too pleased to have the opportunity of showing her spite to her

lovely prisoner. She ordered Fairer-than-a-Fairy to start next day at

dawn to ask Locrinos for fire with which to relight the one she had

allowed to go out.

Now this Locrinos was a cruel monster who devoured everyone he came

across, and especially enjoyed a chance of catching and eating any

young girls. Our heroine obeyed with great sweetness, and without

having been able to take leave of her lover she set off to go to

Locrinos as to certain death. As she was crossing a wood a bird sang

to her to pick up a shining pebble which she would find in a fountain

close by, and to use it when needed. She took the bird’s advice, and

in due time arrived at the house of Locrinos. Luckily she only found

his wife at home, who was much struck by the Princess’s youth and

beauty and sweet gentle manners, and still further impressed by the

present of the shining pebble.

She readily let Fairer-than-a-Fairy have the fire, and in return for

the stone she gave her another, which, she said, might prove useful

some day. Then she sent her away without doing her any harm.

Lagree was as much surprised as displeased at the happy result of this

expedition, and Fairer-than-a-Fairy waited anxiously for an

opportunity of meeting Prince Rainbow and telling him her adventures.

She found, however, that he had already been told all about them by a

Fairy who protected him, and to whom he was related.

The dread of fresh dangers to his beloved Princess made him devise

some more convenient way of meeting than by the garden fountain, and

Fairer-than-a-Fairy carried out his plan daily with entire success.

Every morning she placed a large basin full of water on her

window-sill, and as soon as the sun’s rays fell on the water the

Rainbow appeared as clearly as it had ever done in the fountain. By

this means they were able to meet without losing sight of the fire or

of the two bottles in which the old Fairy kept her eye and her tooth

at night, and for some time the lovers enjoyed every hour of sunshine

together.

One day Prince Rainbow appeared in the depths of woe. He had just

heard that he was to be banished from this lovely spot, but he had no

idea where he was to go. The poor young couple were in despair, and

only parted with the last ray of sunshine, and in hopes of meeting

next morning. Alas! next day was dark and gloomy, and it was only late

in the afternoon that the sun broke through the clouds for a few

minutes.

Fairer-than-a-Fairy eagerly ran to the window, but in her haste she

upset the basin, and spilt all the water with which she had carefully

filled it overnight. No other water was at hand except that in the two

bottles. It was the only chance of seeing her lover before they were

separated, and she did not hesitate to break the bottle and pour their

contents into the basin, when the Rainbow appeared at once. Their

farewells were full of tenderness; the Prince made the most ardent and

sincere protestations, and promised to neglect nothing which might

help to deliver his dear Fairer-than-a-Fairy from her captivity, and

implored her to consent to their marriage as soon as they should both

be free. The Princess, on her side, vowed to have no other husband,

and declared herself willing to brave death itself in order to rejoin

him.

They were not allowed much time for their adieus; the Rainbow

vanished, and the Princess, resolved to run all risks, started off at

once, taking nothing with her but her dog, her cat, a sprig of myrtle,

and the stone which the wife of Locrinos gave her.

When Lagree became aware of her prisoner’s flight she was furious, and

set off at full speed in pursuit. She overtook her just as the poor

girl, overcome by fatigue, had lain down to rest in a cave which the

stone had formed itself into to shelter her. The little dog who was

watching her mistress promptly flew at Lagree and bit her so severely

that she stumbled against a corner of the cave and broke off her only

tooth. Before she had recovered from the pain and rage this caused

her, the Princess had time to escape, and was some way on her road.

Fear gave her strength for some time, but at last she could go no

further, and sank down to rest. As she did so, the sprig of myrtle she

carried touched the ground, and immediately a green and shady bower

sprang up round her, in which she hoped to sleep in peace.

[Illustration: Fairer-than-a-Fairy Summons the Rainbow.]

But Lagree had not given up her pursuit, and arrived just as

Fairer-than-a-Fairy had fallen fast asleep. This time she made sure of

catching her victim, but the cat spied her out, and, springing from

one of the boughs of the arbour she flew at Lagree’s face and tore out

her only eye, thus delivering the Princess for ever from her

persecutor.

One might have thought that all would now be well, but no sooner had

Lagree been put to flight than our heroine was overwhelmed with hunger

and thirst. She felt as though she should certainly expire, and it was

with some difficulty that she dragged herself as far as a pretty

little green and white house, which stood at no great distance. Here

she was received by a beautiful lady dressed in green and white to

match the house, which apparently belonged to her, and of which she

seemed the only inhabitant.

She greeted the fainting Princess most kindly, gave her an excellent

supper, and after a long night’s rest in a delightful bed told her

that after many troubles she should finally attain her desire.

As the green and white lady took leave of the Princess she gave her a

nut, desiring her only to open it in the most urgent need.

After a long and tiring journey Fairer-than-a-Fairy was once more

received in a house, and by a lady exactly like the one she had

quitted. Here again she received a present with the same injunctions,

but instead of a nut this lady gave her a golden pomegranate. The

mournful Princess had to continue her weary way, and after many

troubles and hardships she again found rest and shelter in a third

house exactly similar to the two others.

These houses belonged to three sisters, all endowed with fairy gifts,

and all so alike in mind and person that they wished their houses and

garments to be equally alike. Their occupation consisted in helping

those in misfortune, and they were as gentle and benevolent as Lagree

had been cruel and spiteful.

The third Fairy comforted the poor traveller, begged her not to lose

heart, and assured her that her troubles should be rewarded. She

accompanied her advice by the gift of a crystal smelling-bottle,

with strict orders only to open it in case of urgent need.

Fairer-than-a-Fairy thanked her warmly, and resumed her way cheered by

pleasant thoughts.

After a time her road led through a wood, full of soft airs and sweet

odours, and before she had gone a hundred yards she saw a wonderful

silver Castle suspended by strong silver chains to four of the largest

trees. It was so perfectly hung that a gentle breeze rocked it

sufficiently to send you pleasantly to sleep.

Fairer-than-a-Fairy felt a strong desire to enter this Castle, but

besides being hung a little above the ground there seemed to be

neither doors nor windows. She had no doubt (though really I cannot

think why) that the moment had come in which to use the nut which had

been given her. She opened it, and out came a diminutive hall porter

at whose belt hung a tiny chain, at the end of which was a golden key

half as long as the smallest pin you ever saw.

The Princess climbed up one of the silver chains, holding in her hand

the little porter who, in spite of his minute size, opened a secret

door with his golden key and let her in. She entered a magnificent

room which appeared to occupy the entire Castle, and which was lighted

by gold and jewelled stars in the ceiling. In the midst of this room

stood a couch, draped with curtains of all the colours of the rainbow,

and suspended by golden cords so that it swayed with the Castle in a

manner which rocked its occupant delightfully to sleep.

On this elegant couch lay Prince Rainbow, looking more beautiful than

ever, and sunk in profound slumber, in which he had been held ever

since his disappearance.

Fairer-than-a-Fairy, who now saw him for the first time in his real

shape, hardly dared to gaze at him, fearing lest his appearance might

not be in keeping with the voice and language which had won her heart.

At the same time she could not help feeling rather hurt at the

apparent indifference with which she was received.

She related all the dangers and difficulties she had gone through, and

though she repeated the story twenty times in a loud clear voice, the

Prince slept on and took no heed. She then had recourse to the golden

pomegranate, and on opening it found that all the seeds were as many

little violins which flew up in the vaulted roof and at once began

playing melodiously.

The Prince was not completely roused, but he opened his eyes a little

and looked all the handsomer.

Impatient at not being recognised, Fairer-than-a-Fairy now drew out

her third present, and on opening the crystal scent-bottle a little

syren flew out, who silenced the violins and then sang close to the

Prince’s ear the story of all his lady love had suffered in her search

for him. She added some gentle reproaches to her tale, but before she

had got far he was wide awake, and transported with joy threw himself

at the Princess’s feet. At the same moment the walls of the room

expanded and opened out, revealing a golden throne covered with

jewels. A magnificent Court now began to assemble, and at the same

time several elegant carriages filled with ladies in magnificent

dresses drove up. In the first and most splendid of these carriages

sat Prince Rainbow’s mother. She fondly embraced her son, after which

she informed him that his father had been dead for some years, that

the anger of the Fairies was at length appeased, and that he might

return in peace to reign over his people, who were longing for his

presence.

The Court received the new King with joyful acclamations which would

have delighted him at any other time, but all his thoughts were full

of Fairer-than-a-Fairy. He was just about to present her to his mother

and the Court, feeling sure that her charms would win all hearts, when

the three green and white sisters appeared.

They declared the secret of Fairer-than-a-Fairy’s royal birth, and the

Queen taking the two lovers in her carriage set off with them for the

capital of the kingdom.

Here they were received with tumultuous joy. The wedding was

celebrated without delay, and succeeding years diminished neither the

virtues, beauty, nor the mutual affection of King Rainbow and his

Queen, Fairer-than-a-Fairy.

THE THREE BROTHERS[17]

There was once upon a time a witch, who in the shape of a hawk used

every night to break the windows of a certain village church. In the

same village there lived three brothers, who were all determined to

kill the mischievous hawk. But in vain did the two eldest mount guard

in the church with their guns; as soon as the bird appeared high above

their heads, sleep overpowered them, and they only awoke to hear the

windows crashing in.

Then the youngest brother took his turn of guarding the windows, and

to prevent his being overcome by sleep he placed a lot of thorns under

his chin, so that if he felt drowsy and nodded his head, they would

prick him and keep him awake.

The moon was already risen, and it was as light as day, when suddenly

he heard a fearful noise, and at the same time a terrible desire to

sleep overpowered him.

His eyelids closed, and his head sank on his shoulders, but the thorns

ran into him and were so painful that he awoke at once. He saw the

hawk swooping down upon the church, and in a moment he had seized his

gun and shot at the bird. The hawk fell heavily under a big stone,

severely wounded in its right wing. The youth ran to look at it, and

saw that a huge abyss had opened below the stone. He went at once to

fetch his brothers, and with their help dragged a lot of pine-wood and

ropes to the spot. They fastened some of the burning pine-wood to the

end of the rope, and let it slowly down to the bottom of the abyss. At

first it was quite dark, and the flaming torch only lit up dirty grey

stone walls. But the youngest brother determined to explore the abyss,

and letting himself down by the rope he soon reached the bottom. Here

he found a lovely meadow full of green trees and exquisite flowers.

[Footnote 17: From the Polish. Kletke.]

In the middle of the meadow stood a huge stone castle, with an iron

gate leading to it, which was wide open. Everything in the castle

seemed to be made of copper, and the only inhabitant he could discover

was a lovely girl, who was combing her golden hair; and he noticed

that whenever one of her hairs fell on the ground it rang out like

pure metal. The youth looked at her more closely, and saw that her

skin was smooth and fair, her blue eyes bright and sparkling, and her

hair as golden as the sun. He fell in love with her on the spot, and

kneeling at her feet, he implored her to become his wife.

The lovely girl accepted his proposal gladly; but at the same time she

warned him that she could never come up to the world above till her

mother, the old witch, was dead. And she went on to tell him that the

only way in which the old creature could be killed was with the sword

that hung up in the castle; but the sword was so heavy that no one

could lift it.

Then the youth went into a room in the castle where everything was

made of silver, and here he found another beautiful girl, the sister

of his bride. She was combing her silver hair, and every hair that

fell on the ground rang out like pure metal. The second girl handed

him the sword, but though he tried with all his strength he could not

lift it. At last a third sister came to him and gave him a drop of

something to drink, which she said would give him the needful

strength. He drank one drop, but still he could not lift the sword;

then he drank a second, and the sword began to move; but only after he

had drunk a third drop was he able to swing the sword over his head.

Then he hid himself in the castle and awaited the old witch’s arrival.

At last as it was beginning to grow dark she appeared. She swooped

down upon a big apple-tree, and after shaking some golden apples from

it, she pounced down upon the earth. As soon as her feet touched the

ground she became transformed from a hawk into a woman. This was the

moment the youth was waiting for, and he swung his mighty sword in the

air with all his strength and the witch’s head fell off, and her blood

spurted up on the walls.

Without fear of any further danger, he packed up all the treasures of

the castle into great chests, and gave his brothers a signal to pull

them up out of the abyss. First the treasures were attached to the

rope and then the three lovely girls. And now everything was up above

and only he himself remained below. But as he was a little suspicious

of his brothers, he fastened a heavy stone on to the rope and let them

pull it up. At first they heaved with a will, but when the stone was

half way up they let it drop suddenly, and it fell to the bottom

broken into a hundred pieces.

‘So that’s what would have happened to my bones had I trusted myself

to them,’ said the youth sadly; and he began to cry bitterly, not

because of the treasures, but because of the lovely girl with her

swan-like neck and golden hair.

[Illustration: ‘Then the youth swung his mighty sword in the air, and

with one blow cut off the serpent’s head’]

For a long time he wandered sadly all through the beautiful

underworld, and one day he met a magician who asked him the cause of

his tears. The youth told him all that had befallen him, and the

magician said:

‘Do not grieve, young man! If you will guard the children who are

hidden in the golden apple-tree, I will bring you at once up to the

earth. Another magician who lives in this land always eats my children

up. It is in vain that I have hidden them under the earth and locked

them into the castle. Now I have hidden them in the apple-tree; hide

yourself there too, and at midnight you will see my enemy.’

The youth climbed up the tree, and picked some of the beautiful golden

apples, which he ate for his supper.

At midnight the wind began to rise, and a rustling sound was heard at

the foot of the tree. The youth looked down and beheld a long thick

serpent beginning to crawl up the tree. It wound itself round the stem

and gradually got higher and higher. It stretched its huge head, in

which the eyes glittered fiercely, among the branches, searching for

the nest in which the little children lay. They trembled with terror

when they saw the hideous creature, and hid themselves beneath the

leaves.

Then the youth swung his mighty sword in the air, and with one blow

cut off the serpent’s head. He cut up the rest of the body into little

bits and strewed them to the four winds.

The father of the rescued children was so delighted over the death of

his enemy that he told the youth to get on his back, and in this way

he carried him up to the world above.

With what joy did he hurry now to his brothers’ house! He burst into a

room where they were all assembled, but no one knew who he was. Only

his bride, who was serving as cook to her sisters, recognised her

lover at once.

His brothers, who had quite believed he was dead, yielded him up his

treasures at once, and flew into the woods in terror. But the good

youth forgave them all they had done, and divided his treasures with

them. Then he built himself a big castle with golden windows, and

there he lived happily with his golden-haired wife till the end of

their lives.

THE BOY AND THE WOLVES, OR THE BROKEN PROMISE[18]

Once upon a time an Indian hunter built himself a house in the middle

of a great forest, far away from all his tribe; for his heart was

gentle and kind, and he was weary of the treachery and cruel deeds of

those who had been his friends. So he left them, and took his wife and

three children, and they journeyed on until they found a spot near to

a clear stream, where they began to cut down trees, and to make ready

their wigwam. For many years they lived peacefully and happily in this

sheltered place, never leaving it except to hunt the wild animals,

which served them both for food and clothes. At last, however, the

strong man felt sick, and before long he knew he must die.

So he gathered his family round him, and said his last words to them.

‘You, my wife, the companion of my days, will follow me ere many moons

have waned to the island of the blest. But for you, O my children,

whose lives are but newly begun, the wickedness, unkindness, and

ingratitude from which I fled are before you. Yet I shall go hence in

peace, my children, if you will promise always to love each other, and

never to forsake your youngest brother.’

‘Never!’ they replied, holding out their hands. And the hunter died

content.

Scarcely eight moons had passed when, just as he had said, the wife

went forth, and followed her husband; but before leaving her children

she bade the two elder ones think of their promise never to forsake

the younger, for he was a child, and weak. And while the snow lay

thick upon the ground, they tended him and cherished him; but when the

earth showed green again, the heart of the young man stirred within

him, and he longed to see the wigwams of the village where his

father’s youth was spent.

[Footnote 18: A North American Indian Story.]

Therefore he opened all his heart to his sister, who answered: ‘My

brother, I understand your longing for our fellow-men, whom here we

cannot see. But remember our father’s words. Shall we not seek our own

pleasures, and forget the little one?’

But he would not listen, and, making no reply, he took his bow and

arrows and left the hut. The snows fell and melted, yet he never

returned; and at last the heart of the girl grew cold and hard, and

her little boy became a burden in her eyes, till one day she spoke

thus to him: ‘See, there is food for many days to come. Stay here

within the shelter of the hut. I go to seek our brother, and when I

have found him I shall return hither.’

[Illustration: ‘My brother, my brother, I am becoming a wolf!’]

But when, after hard journeying, she reached the village where her

brother dwelt, and saw that he had a wife and was happy, and when she,

too, was sought by a young brave, then she also forgot the boy alone

in the forest, and thought only of her husband.

Now as soon as the little boy had eaten all the food which his sister

had left him, he went out into the woods, and gathered berries and dug

up roots, and while the sun shone he was contented and had his fill.

But when the snows began and the wind howled, then his stomach felt

empty and his limbs cold, and he hid in trees all the night, and only

crept out to eat what the wolves had left behind. And by-and-by,

having no other friends, he sought their company, and sat by while

they devoured their prey, and they grew to know him, and gave him

food. And without them he would have died in the snow.

But at last the snows melted, and the ice upon the great lake, and as

the wolves went down to the shore, the boy went after them. And it

happened one day that his big brother was fishing in his canoe near

the shore, and he heard the voice of a child singing in the Indian

tone—

 ‘My brother, my brother!

  I am becoming a wolf,

  I am becoming a wolf!’

And when he had so sung he howled as wolves howl. Then the heart of

the elder sunk, and he hastened towards him, crying, ‘Brother, little

brother, come to me;’ but he, being half a wolf, only continued his

song. And the louder the elder called him, ‘Brother, little brother,

come to me,’ the swifter he fled after his brothers the wolves, and

the heavier grew his skin, till, with a long howl, he vanished into

the depths of the forest.

So, with shame and anguish in his soul, the elder brother went back to

his village, and, with his sister, mourned the little boy and the

broken promise till the end of his life.

THE GLASS AXE[19]

There was once upon a time a King and Queen who had everything they

could possibly wish for in this world except a child. At last, after

twelve years, the Queen gave birth to a son; but she did not live long

to enjoy her happiness, for on the following day she died. But before

her death she called her husband to her and said, ‘Never let the child

put his feet on the ground, for as soon as he does so he will fall

into the power of a wicked Fairy, who will do him much harm.’ And

these were the last words the poor Queen spoke.

The boy throve and grew big, and when he was too heavy for his nurse

to carry, a chair was made for him on little wheels, in which he could

wander through the palace gardens without help; at other times he was

carried about on a litter, and he was always carefully watched and

guarded for fear he should at any time put his feet to the ground.

But as this sort of life was bad for his health, the doctors ordered

him horse exercise, and he soon became a first-rate rider, and used to

go out for long excursions on horseback, accompanied always by his

father’s stud-groom and a numerous retinue.

Every day he rode through the neighbouring fields and woods, and

always returned home in the evening safe and well. In this way many

years passed, and the Prince grew to manhood, and hardly anyone

remembered the Queen’s warning, though precautions were still taken,

more from use and wont than for any other reason.

[Footnote 19: From the Hungarian. Kletke.]

One day the Prince and his suite went out for a ride in a wood where

his father sometimes held a hunt. Their way led through a stream whose

banks were overgrown with thick brushwood. Just as the horsemen were

about to ford the river, a hare, startled by the sound of the horses’

hoofs, started up from the grass and ran towards the thicket. The

young Prince pursued the little creature, and had almost overtaken it,

when the girth of his saddle suddenly broke in two and he fell heavily

to the ground. No sooner had his foot touched the earth than he

disappeared before the eyes of the horrified courtiers.

They sought for him far and near, but all in vain, and they were

forced to recognise the power of the evil Fairy, against which the

Queen had warned them on her death-bed. The old King was much grieved

when they brought him the news of his son’s disappearance, but as he

could do nothing to free him from his fate, he gave himself up to an

old age of grief and loneliness, cherishing at the same time the hope

that some lucky chance might one day deliver the youth out of the

hands of his enemy.

Hardly had the Prince touched the ground than he felt himself

violently seized by an unseen power, and hurried away he knew not

whither. A whole new world stretched out before him, quite unlike the

one he had left. A splendid castle surrounded by a huge lake was the

abode of the Fairy, and the only approach to it was over a bridge of

clouds. On the other side of the lake high mountains rose up, and dark

woods stretched along the banks; over all hung a thick mist, and deep

silence reigned everywhere.

No sooner had the Fairy reached her own domain than she made herself

visible, and turning to the Prince she told him that unless he obeyed

all her commands down to the minutest detail he would be severely

punished. Then she gave him an axe made of glass, and bade him cross

the bridge of clouds and go into the wood beyond and cut down all the

trees there before sunset. At the same time she cautioned him with

many angry words against speaking to a black girl he would most likely

meet in the wood.

The Prince listened to her words meekly, and when she had finished

took up the glass axe and set out for the forest. At every step he

seemed to sink into the clouds, but fear gave wings to his feet, and

he crossed the lake in safety and set to work at once.

But no sooner had he struck the first blow with his axe than it broke

into a thousand pieces against the tree. The poor youth was so

terrified he did not know what to do, for he was in mortal dread of

the punishment the wicked old Fairy would inflict on him. He wandered

to and fro in the wood, not knowing where he was going, and at last,

worn out by fatigue and misery, he sank on the ground and fell fast

asleep.

He did not know how long he had slept when a sudden sound awoke him,

and opening his eyes he saw a black girl standing beside him. Mindful

of the Fairy’s warning he did not dare to address her, but she on her

part greeted him in the most friendly manner, and asked him at once if

he were under the power of the wicked Fairy. The Prince nodded his

head silently in answer.

Then the black girl told him that she too was in the power of the

Fairy, who had doomed her to wander about in her present guise until

some youth should take pity on her and bear her in safety to the other

side of the river which they saw in the distance, and on the other

side of which the Fairy’s domain and power ended.

The girl’s words so inspired the Prince with confidence that he told

her all his tale of woe, and ended up by asking her advice as to how

he was to escape the punishment the Fairy would be sure to inflict on

him when she discovered that he had not cut down the trees in the wood

and that he had broken her axe.

‘You must know,’ answered the black girl, ‘that the Fairy in whose

power we both are is my own mother, but you must not betray this

secret, for it would cost me my life. If you will only promise to try

and free me I will stand by you, and will accomplish for you all the

tasks which my mother sets you.’

The Prince promised joyfully all she asked; then having once more

warned him not to betray her confidence, she handed him a draught to

drink which very soon sunk his senses in a deep slumber.

His astonishment was great when he awoke to find the glass axe whole

and unbroken at his side, and all the trees of the wood lying felled

around him!

He made all haste across the bridge of clouds, and told the Fairy that

her commands were obeyed. She was much amazed when she heard that all

the wood was cut down, and saw the axe unbroken in his hand, and since

she could not believe that he had done all this by himself, she

questioned him narrowly if he had seen or spoken to the black girl.

But the Prince lied manfully, and swore he had never looked up from

his work for a moment. Seeing she could get nothing more out of him,

she gave him a little bread and water, and showing him to a small dark

cupboard she told him he might sleep there.

Morning had hardly dawned when the Fairy awoke the Prince, and giving

him the glass axe again she told him to cut up all the wood he had

felled the day before, and to put it in bundles ready for firewood; at

the same time she warned him once more against approaching or speaking

a word to the black girl if he met her in the wood.

Although his task was no easier than that of the day before, the youth

set out much more cheerfully, because he knew he could count on the

help of the black girl. With quicker and lighter step he crossed the

bridge of clouds, and hardly had he reached the other side than his

friend stood before him and greeted him cheerfully. When she heard

what the Fairy demanded this time, she answered smilingly, ‘Never

fear,’ and handed him another draught, which very soon caused the

Prince to sink into a deep sleep.

When he awoke everything was done. All the trees of the wood were cut

up into firewood and arranged in bundles ready for use.

He returned to the castle as quickly as he could, and told the Fairy

that her commands were obeyed. She was even more amazed than she had

been before, and asked him again if he had either seen or spoken to

the black girl; but the Prince knew better than to betray his word,

and once more lied freely.

On the following day the Fairy set him a third task to do, even harder

than the other two. She told him he must build a castle on the other

side of the lake, made of nothing but gold, silver, and precious

stones, and unless he could accomplish this within an hour, the most

frightful doom awaited him.

The Prince heard her words without anxiety, so entirely did he rely on

the help of his black friend. Full of hope he hurried across the

bridge, and recognised at once the spot where the castle was to stand,

for spades, hammers, axes, and every other building implement lay

scattered on the ground ready for the workman’s hand, but of gold,

silver, and precious stones there was not a sign. But before the

Prince had time to feel despondent the black girl beckoned to him in

the distance from behind a rock, where she had hidden herself for fear

her mother should catch sight of her. Full of joy the youth hurried

towards her, and begged her aid and counsel in the new piece of work

he had been given to do.

[Illustration: The Black Girl Stops the Witch with a Bit of the Rock]

But this time the Fairy had watched the Prince’s movements from her

window, and she saw him hiding himself behind the rock with her

daughter. She uttered a piercing shriek so that the mountains

re-echoed with the sound of it, and the terrified pair had hardly

dared to look out from their hiding-place when the enraged woman, with

her dress and hair flying in the wind, hurried over the bridge of

clouds. The Prince at once gave himself up for lost, but the girl told

him to be of good courage and to follow her as quickly as he could.

But before they left their shelter she broke off a little bit of the

rock, spoke some magic words over it, and threw it in the direction

her mother was coming from. In a moment a glittering palace arose

before the eyes of the Fairy which blinded her with its dazzling

splendour, and with its many doors and passages prevented her for some

time from finding her way out of it.

In the meantime the black girl hurried on with the Prince, hastening

to reach the river, where once on the other side they would for ever

be out of the wicked Fairy’s power. But before they had accomplished

half the way they heard again the rustle of her garments and her

muttered curses pursuing them closely.

The Prince was terrified; he dared not look back, and he felt his

strength giving way. But before he had time to despair the girl

uttered some more magic words, and immediately she herself was changed

into a pond, and the Prince into a duck swimming on its surface.

When the Fairy saw this her rage knew no bounds, and she used all her

magic wits to make the pond disappear; she caused a hill of sand to

arise at her feet, meaning it to dry up the water at once. But the

sand hill only drove the pond a little farther away, and its waters

seemed to increase instead of diminishing. When the old woman saw that

the powers of her magic were of so little avail, she had recourse to

cunning. She threw a lot of gold nuts into the pond, hoping in this

way to catch the duck, but all her efforts were fruitless, for the

little creature refused to let itself be caught.

Then a new idea struck the wicked old woman, and hiding herself behind

the rock which had sheltered the fugitives, she waited behind it,

watching carefully for the moment when the Prince and her daughter

should resume their natural forms and continue their journey.

She had not to wait long, for as soon as the girl thought her mother

was safely out of the way, she changed herself and the Prince once

more into their human shape, and set out cheerfully for the river.

But they had not gone many steps when the wicked Fairy hurried after

them, a drawn dagger in her hand, and was close upon them, when

suddenly, instead of the Prince and her daughter, she found herself in

front of a great stone church, whose entrance was carefully guarded by

a huge monk.

Breathless with rage and passion, she tried to plunge her dagger into

the monk’s heart, but it fell shattered in pieces at her feet. In her

desperation she determined to pull down the church, and thus to

destroy her two victims for ever. She stamped three times on the

ground, and the earth trembled, and both the church and the monk began

to shake. As soon as the Fairy saw this she retreated to some distance

from the building, so as not to be hurt herself by its fall. But once

more her scheme was doomed to failure, for hardly had she gone a yard

from the church than both it and the monk disappeared, and she found

herself in a wood black as night, and full of wolves and bears and

wild animals of all sorts and descriptions.

Then her wrath gave place to terror, for she feared every moment to be

torn in pieces by the beasts who one and all seemed to defy her power.

She thought it wisest to make her way as best she could out of the

forest, and then to pursue the fugitives once more and accomplish

their destruction either by force or cunning.

In the meantime the Prince and the black girl had again assumed their

natural forms, and were hurrying on as fast as they could to reach the

river. But when they got there they found that there was no way in

which they could cross it, and the girl’s magic art seemed no longer

to have any power. Then turning to the Prince she said, ‘The hour for

my deliverance has not yet come, but as you promised to do all you

could to free me, you must do exactly as I bid you now. Take this bow

and arrow and kill every beast you see with them, and be sure you

spare no living creature.’

With these words she disappeared, and hardly had she done so than a

huge wild boar started out of the thicket near and made straight for

the Prince. But the youth did not lose his presence of mind, and

drawing his bow he pierced the beast with his arrow right through the

skull. The creature fell heavily on the ground, and out of its side

sprang a little hare, which ran like the wind along the river bank.

The Prince drew his bow once more, and the hare lay dead at his feet;

but at the same moment a dove rose up in the air, and circled round

the Prince’s head in the most confiding manner. But mindful of the

black girl’s commands, he dared not spare the little creature’s life,

and taking another arrow from his quiver he laid it as dead as the

boar and the hare. But when he went to look at the body of the bird he

found instead of the dove a round white egg lying on the ground.

While he was gazing on it and wondering what it could mean, he heard

the sweeping of wings above him, and looking up he saw a huge vulture

with open claws swooping down upon him. In a moment he seized the egg

and flung it at the bird with all his might, and lo and behold!

instead of the ugly monster the most beautiful girl he had ever seen

stood before the astonished eyes of the Prince.

[Illustration: ‘But the waters seized her chariot and sunk it in the

lowest depths’]

But while all this was going on the wicked old Fairy had managed to

make her way out of the wood, and was now using the last resource in

her power to overtake her daughter and the Prince. As soon as she was

in the open again she mounted her chariot, which was drawn by a fiery

dragon, and flew through the air in it. But just as she got to the

river she saw the two lovers in each other’s arms swimming through the

water as easily as two fishes.

Quick as lightning, and forgetful of every danger, she flew down upon

them. But the waters seized her chariot and sunk it in the lowest

depths, and the waves bore the wicked old woman down the stream till

she was caught in some thorn bushes, where she made a good meal for

all the little fishes that were swimming about.

And so at last the Prince and his lovely Bride were free. They hurried

as quickly as they could to the old King, who received them with joy

and gladness. On the following day a most gorgeous wedding feast was

held, and as far as we know the Prince and his Bride lived happily for

ever afterwards.

THE DEAD WIFE[20]

Once upon a time there were a man and his wife who lived in the

forest, very far from the rest of the tribe. Very often they spent the

day in hunting together, but after a while the wife found that she had

so many things to do that she was obliged to stay at home; so he went

alone, though he found that when his wife was not with him he never

had any luck. One day, when he was away hunting, the woman fell ill,

and in a few days she died. Her husband grieved bitterly, and buried

her in the house where she had passed her life; but as the time went

on he felt so lonely without her that he made a wooden doll about her

height and size for company, and dressed it in her clothes. He seated

it in front of the fire, and tried to think he had his wife back

again. The next day he went out to hunt, and when he came home the

first thing he did was to go up to the doll and brush off some of the

ashes from the fire which had fallen on its face. But he was very busy

now, for he had to cook and mend, besides getting food, for there was

no one to help him. And so a whole year passed away.

At the end of that time he came back from hunting one night and found

some wood by the door and a fire within. The next night there was not

only wood and fire, but a piece of meat in the kettle, nearly ready

for eating. He searched all about to see who could have done this, but

could find no one. The next time he went to hunt he took care not to

go far, and came in quite early. And while he was still a long way off

he saw a woman going into the house with wood on her shoulders. So he

made haste, and opened the door quickly, and instead of the wooden

doll, his wife sat in front of the fire.

Then she spoke to him and said, ‘The Great Spirit felt sorry for you,

because you would not be comforted, so he let me come back to you, but

you must not stretch out your hand to touch me till we have seen the

rest of our people. If you do, I shall die.’

[Footnote 20: From the Iroquois.]

So the man listened to her words, and the woman dwelt there, and

brought the wood and kindled the fire, till one day her husband said

to her, ‘It is now two years since you died. Let us now go back to our

tribe. Then you will be well, and I can touch you.’

[Illustration: The Indian Finds His Wife Sitting by the Fire.]

And with that he prepared food for the journey, a string of deer’s

flesh for her to carry, and one for himself; and so they started. Now

the camp of the tribe was distant six days’ journey, and when they

were yet one day’s journey off it began to snow, and they felt weary

and longed for rest. Therefore they made a fire, cooked some food, and

spread out their skins to sleep.

Then the heart of the man was greatly stirred, and he stretched out

his arms to his wife, but she waved her hands and said, ‘We have seen

no one yet; it is too soon.’

But he would not listen to her, and caught her to him, and behold! he

was clasping the wooden doll. And when he saw it was the doll he

pushed it from him in his misery and rushed away to the camp, and told

them all his story. And some doubted, and they went back with him to

the place where he and his wife had stopped to rest, and there lay the

doll, and besides, they saw in the snow the steps of two people, and

the foot of one was like the foot of the doll. And the man grieved

sore all the days of his life.

IN THE LAND OF SOULS[21]

Far away, in North America, where the Red Indians dwell, there lived a

long time ago a beautiful maiden, who was lovelier than any other girl

in the whole tribe. Many of the young braves sought her in marriage,

but she would listen to one only—a handsome chief, who had taken her

fancy some years before. So they were to be married, and great

rejoicings were made, and the two looked forward to a long life of

happiness together, when the very night before the wedding feast a

sudden illness seized the girl, and, without a word to her friends who

were weeping round her, she passed silently away.

The heart of her lover had been set upon her, and the thought of her

remained with him night and day. He put aside his bow, and went

neither to fight nor to hunt, but from sunrise to sunset he sat by the

place where she was laid, thinking of his happiness that was buried

there. At last, after many days, a light seemed to come to him out of

the darkness. He remembered having heard from the old, old people of

the tribe, that there was a path that led to the Land of Souls—that

if you sought carefully you could find it.

So the next morning he got up early, and put some food in his pouch

and slung an extra skin over his shoulders, for he knew not how long

his journey would take, nor what sort of country he would have to go

through. Only one thing he knew, that if the path was there, he would

find it. At first he was puzzled, as there seemed no reason he should

go in one direction more than another. Then all at once he thought he

had heard one of the old men say that the Land of Souls lay to the

south, and so, filled with new hope and courage, he set his face

southwards. For many, many miles the country looked the same as it did

round his own home. The forests, the hills, and the rivers all seemed

exactly like the ones he had left. The only thing that was different

was the snow, which had lain thick upon the hills and trees when he

started, but grew less and less the farther he went south, till it

disappeared altogether. Soon the trees put forth their buds, and

flowers sprang up under his feet, and instead of thick clouds there

was blue sky over his head, and everywhere the birds were singing.

Then he knew that he was in the right road.

[Footnote 21: From the Red Indian.]

The thought that he should soon behold his lost bride made his heart

beat for joy, and he sped along lightly and swiftly. Now his way led

through a dark wood, and then over some steep cliffs, and on the top

of these he found a hut or wigwam. An old man clothed in skins, and

holding a staff in his hand, stood in the doorway; and he said to the

young chief who was beginning to tell his story, ‘I was waiting for

you, wherefore you have come I know. It is but a short while since she

whom you seek was here. Rest in my hut, as she also rested, and I will

tell you what you ask, and whither you should go.’

On hearing these words, the young man entered the hut, but his heart

was too eager within him to suffer him to rest, and when he arose, the

old man rose too, and stood with him at the door. ‘Look,’ he said, ‘at

the water which lies far out yonder, and the plains which stretch

beyond. That is the Land of Souls, but no man enters it without

leaving his body behind him. So, lay down your body here; your bow and

arrows, your skin and your dog. They shall be kept for you safely.’

Then he turned away, and the young chief, light as air, seemed hardly

to touch the ground; and as he flew along the scents grew sweeter and

the flowers more beautiful, while the animals rubbed their noses

against him, instead of hiding as he approached, and birds circled

round him, and fishes lifted up their heads and looked as he went by.

Very soon he noticed with wonder, that neither rocks nor trees barred

his path. He passed through them without knowing it, for indeed, they

were not rocks and trees at all, but only the souls of them; for this

was the Land of Shadows.

So he went on with winged feet till he came to the shores of a great

lake, with a lovely island in the middle of it; while on the bank of

the lake was a canoe of glittering stone, and in the canoe were two

shining paddles.

The chief jumped straight into the canoe, and seizing the paddles

pushed off from the shore, when to his joy and wonder he saw following

him in another canoe exactly like his own the maiden for whose sake he

had made this long journey. But they could not touch each other, for

between them rolled great waves, which looked as if they would sink

the boats, yet never did. And the young man and the maiden shrank with

fear, for down in the depths of the water they saw the bones of those

who had died before, and in the waves themselves men and women were

struggling, and but few passed over. Only the children had no fear,

and reached the other side in safety. Still, though the chief and the

young girl quailed in terror at these horrible sights and sounds, no

harm came to them, for their lives had been free from evil, and the

Master of Life had said that no evil should happen unto them. So they

reached unhurt the shore of the Happy Island, and wandered through the

flowery fields and by the banks of rushing streams, and they knew not

hunger nor thirst; neither cold nor heat. The air fed them and the sun

warmed them, and they forgot the dead, for they saw no graves, and the

young man’s thoughts turned not to wars, neither to the hunting of

animals. And gladly would these two have walked thus for ever, but in

the murmur of the wind he heard the Master of Life saying to him,

‘Return whither you came, for I have work for you to do, and your

people need you, and for many years you shall rule over them. At the

gate my messenger awaits you, and you shall take again your body which

you left behind, and he will show you what you are to do. Listen to

him, and have patience, and in time to come you shall rejoin her whom

you must now leave, for she is accepted, and will remain ever young

and beautiful, as when I called her hence from the Land of Snows.’