The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1848-10-07
The Queen-Bee.
TRANSLATED BY JOHN KDwARD TAYLOR,
FROM THE GERMAN or GRIMM.

fkOM luE 1EhmAN VI Nhi'e@' L
Two kings sons once went out into the
world to seek adventures; but they soon
fell into wild and Tiotous life, and never
came home again. After a time the young
est son, who was called Dummling, went
out 10 look for his brothers; but when he
found them, they only laughed at him for
thinking that such simpletOn as he could
fight his way in the world, whilst they who
were so much cleverer could not get on.
However they all travelled on together, and
at length came to an anthill. The two ell |
dest brothers wanted to dig it up, to see
how the little ants would run about IN their
fright, and carry off their eggs. But DUNN
ling said. "Let the little creatures alone;
will not have you disturb them. Then
they went further, and came to lake,
upon which there were many, many ducks
swimming about. The two brothers wish
ed to catch couple and roast them; but
Dummling again said, "Leaye the poor
things in peace; | will not let you kill
them" At length they came to bees
nest, in which there was so much honey
that it ran down the side of the tree. The
two brothers would have set fire to the tree,
and killed the bees, 50 that they might take
away the honey but Dummling again stop
ped them and said, "Leave the poor bees
in peace; will not have you burn them. :"
Then the three brothers came to a castle,
and in the stables they saw many horses
but al were Of stone. No one was to be
seen, and they went on and on through all
the rooms, until they came to door al the
furthest end, upon which hung three locks.
In the middle Of the door was little wick
ct, through which they could peep into the
chamber. There they saw a little grey
man sitting at a table, and they called to
him again and again; but he did not hear.
At last they called third time; then he
got up from his seat and came out. He
did not speak word, but took them by the
hand, and led them to a table covered with
all sorts Of good things. And when they
had eaten and drunk their fill, he took each
one to his own sleeping room.
The next morning the little man came
TO the eldest brother, beckoned to him, and
led HIM to a stone-table, whereon were
written three tasks, by which the castle
might be disenchanted. The first was as
2 follows, ain the wood beneath the moss lie
hid the pearls OF the kings daughter, a
$ thousand in number these must be sought
P and If at sunset a single one is missing, hi
! who searched shall be turned to stone.
|, The eldest of the brothers sailed forth, anC
e looked about all day long for the pearls
but when evening came he had not found
n more than an hundred; so it came to pas
S as was written on the table, and he wa
i turned into stone. On the following day
d the second brother undertook the task bu
q he had not much better luck than the cid
81 est, for he found only two hundred pearls
and so he was changed to stone. At las
Q came Cummings turn. He searched an
II searched about in the moss, but, alas! tn
n pearls were hard to find, and the work wen
IS slowly on. Then he sat down upon
stone and began to cry. And whilst b
d was sitting thus. up came the antking
d whose life he had saved, with a troop o
u FIVE thousand ants, and in a very shol
1 llllc tie HUT CIcdlulc5 udu lOuAu oil III
e. pearls and dragged them together in
X heap.
~ Now the second task was, to fetch n
- key of the plincess's chamber from the DO
NJ tom of lake. When Dummling came
= the lake, the ducks, which he had befoI
= saved, came swimming up to him, Owed |
- the bottom, and fetched up the key. tt
" third task, however, was the hardest one
= to find out the youngest and best Of Il
~ three sleeping daughters of the king. b
" they were all exactly alike and in no wa
" differed from one another, except that, b
=, fore falling asleep. they had eaten Of difie
ent sweets-the eldest piece Of sugar, Il
q second little treacle, and the youngest
'e spoonful Of honey. Then came the queel
bee, which Dummling had saved from Il
. fire, and tasted the lips of all the three;
~ last she settled upon the lips Of the one wi
r. had eaten the honey, and thus the king
son knew the right princess. Then Il
spell was broken; all were awakened o
Of sleep, and those who had been changt
~ to stone now returned to their proper for
Dummling married the youngest and be
bs daughter. and became king after her father
:. death: but his two brothers married d
two other sisters.