The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-08-01

curious to recognise the roots, and in fact the en-
tire body of many of the tales which still keep
their place even in American nurseries.
Once time there was poor man who had
three sons When he died, the two elder set of
into the world to try their luck, but the Youngest
they wouldn't have with them at any price
CAS- for you,' they said, ''youre fit for nothing
but to sit and poke about in the ashes"
so the two went off and got places at palace
the one under the coachman, and the other under
the gardener. But Boots, he set off too and took
with him great kneading trough, which was the
only thing his parents left behind them, but which
the other two would not bother themselves with.
1t was heavy to carry but he did not like leave
it behind, and So after he had trudged bit, he too
came to the palace and asked for place. So they
told him they did not want him, but he begged So
pretty that at last he got leave to be in the kitch
en-, and carry in wood and water for the kitchen
maid. He was quick and ready, and in little
while every one liked him; but the two others were
dull, and so they got more kicks than halpence and
grew quite envious of Boots, when they saw how
much better he got on.
Just opposite the palace across lake, lived
! Troll, who had seven silver ducks which swan on
the lake. so that they could be seen from The pal
ace. These the king had often longed for; and so
| the two elder brothers told the coachman-
'.lf our brother only chose, he has said he could
easily get the king those seven silver ducks"
| You may fancy it wasn't long before the coach
| before him, and said
''Your brothers say you can get me the silver
| ducks; so now 60 and fetch them"
| ''Pm sure | never thought or said ANYTHING of
| the kind" said the lad
''You did say so, and You shall fetch them" said
the king, who would hold his own.
''Welll well!' said the lad ''needs must | sup
pose; but give me a bushel Ofrye, and bushe of
wheat and I'll try what | can do
| So he got the rye and the wheat, and put them
into the kneading- trough he had brought with him
! from home, got in, and rowed across the lake.
! When he reached the other side he began to walk
! along the shore, and to sprinkle and strew the
| grain, and at last he coaXed the ducks into his
/ tDnaf tpNt nIra,. IL l,,,I-
| could
When he got half over, the Troll came out of his
! house and set eyes on him.
"Halloa!" roared out the Troll; "is it YOU that
| has gone off with my seven silver ducks?"
| cave! aye!" said the lad
''Shall you be back soon?'' asked the Troll.
| every likely" said the lad.
So when he got back to the king, with the seven
silver ducks, he was liked more than ever. and even
the king was pleased to say, "Well done!' But at
this his brothers grew more and more spiteful and
| envious; and so they went and told the coachman
that their brother had said, if fhe chose he was
man enough to get the king the Trolls bed-quilt
which had a gold patch and silver patch, and
silver patch and gold patch; and this time too the
cOachman was not slow in telling all this to the
king. So the king said to the lad, how his brothers
had said he good to steal the Trolls bed-uuilt
with gold and silver patches so now he must go
| and do it, or lose his life.
Boots answered, he had never thought or said
any such thing; but when he found there was no
help for it, he begged for three days to think
the matter.
SO when the three days were gonc he rowed
over in his kneading trough and went spying
about At last he those in the Trolls cave
come out and hang the quilt out to air, and as soon
as ever they had gone back into the face of the
rock, Boots pulled the quilt down. and rowed away
| with it as fast as he could.
And when he was half across, out came the Troll
and set eyes on him, and roared out
"Halloa! 1t is you who took my seven silver
ducks?"
''Aye! aye!' said the lad.
"And now have You taken my bed-dut with sill
yer patches and gold patches, and gold patches and
| silver patches"'
''Ayel ayc!" said the lad
':ShaIl YOU come back again?"
every likely" said the lad.
= But when he got back with the gold and silver
patchwork quilt, every one was fender of him
than ever, and he was made the kings body-ser-
want.
At this the other two were still more vcxDd,
and to be revenged they went and toli the coach
| man
"Now, our brother has said, he is man enough to
get the king the gold harp, which the Troll has,
and that harp is of such kind that all who listen
be-"
Yes! the coachman went and told the king, ard
he said to the lad
of you have said this You shall do it. Ify you DO
it, you shall have the Princess and half the king
dom. If you don't, you shall lose your life
"im sure never thought or said anything of
the kind said the lad; 'but if there's no help for
1t, may as well try; but | must have six days to
think about it,
Yes! he might have six days, but when they were
| over he must set out
Then he took tenpennv-naiI 4 birch-pin and
! waXen taper-end in his pocket, and rowed across,
and walked up aud down before the Trolls cave
looking steathily about him. So when the Troll
came out he saw him at once.
"Ho! ho! roared the Troll; ''is it you who took
my seven silver ducks?"
"Aye aye!" said the lad.
"And it is YOU who took my bed-uuilt with the
gold and silver patches" asked the Troll.
"Ave aye" said the lad.
So the Troll caught hold of him at once, and
took him off into the cave in the face Of the rock
"NOw daughter dear" said the Troll ''Ive
caught the fellow who stole the silver ducks and
my bed-quilt,, with gold and silver patches; put
him into the fattenng COOP and when he's fat wen
i'll him. and make a feast for our friends"
She was willing enough, and put him at once in
to the fattening coop. and there he stayed eight
days, fed on the best, both in meat and drink, and
as much as he could cram. So when the eight
days were over, the Troll said to his daughter to
go down and cut him in his little finger that they
might see if he were fat Down she came to the
coop.
''Out with yourlitte finger!" she said.
But Boots stuck out his teupcnny nail, and sha
cut at it.
"Nay! nay! he's as hard as iron STILL" said the
Trolls daughter, when she got back to her father;
eve can't take him yet'
After another eight days the same thing hap
pened, and this time Boots stuck out his birchen
pin.
wv ELL neS n lttle better, she SaId, when she
got back to the TROLL but still hen be hard as
! wood to chew"
But when another eight days were gone the
Troll told his daughter TO 90 down and see if he
wasn't fat now
"Out with your little finger" said the Trolls
daughter, when she reached the coop, and this time
Boots stuck out the taper end
'Now he'll do nicely" she said.
''Will he?" said the Troll '.Well then, I'll just
set off and ask the guests; meantime you must Kill
him, and roast half and boil half
So when the Troll had been gone little while,
the daughter began to sharpen a great long knife.
at that what you're going to kill me WITH" ask
ed the lad
"But it isn't sharp" said the lad. ''Just let me
sharpen it for you, and then you'll find it easier
| work to kill me-"
So she let him have the knife, and he began to
rub and sharpen it on the grindstone.
''Just let me try it on one of your hair plaits; |
! think it's about right nOw.''
So he got leave to do that; but at the same time
that he grasped the plat of hair, he pulled back her
head; and half other he roasted and half of her he
| boiled and served it all up.
After that he dressed himself in her clothes, and
| sat away in the corner.
So when the Troll came home with lis guests.
! he called out to his daughter-!or he thought
all the time it was his daughter-to come and take
a snack.
'No thank YOU" said the lad, 81 don't care for
| food I'm so sad and downcast"
'sOhp' said the Troll, ''ifthats all, you know the
! cure: take the harp, and play tune on it,
'"YesI' said the lad; "but where has it got to l
can't find it,"
"Why you know well enongh," said the Troll;
'you used it last where should it be but over the
! door yonder?'
| The lad did not wait to be told twice; he took
! down the harp, and went in aud playing tunes;
! but all at once he showed off the kneadng trough,
jumped into it, and rowed off, that the foam few
around the trough.
| After while the Troll thought his daughter was
a long while gone, and went ont 10 see what allied
her; and then he the lad in the trough, far far
| out on the lake.
"HaIloal Is ii you,' he roarad, that took my
seven silver ducks?"
"Aye, aye!" said the lad.
''ls it you that took my bed-quilt, with the gold
and silver patches?"
''Yes! said the lad.
"And now you have taken off my cold harp?"
screamed the Troll.
"Ies!" said the lad; "'ye got it sure enough"
| And haven't eaten YOU up after all them
mo, no! twas your own daughter YOU ate, an
swered the lad.
But when the Troll heard that, he so sorry,
he burst; and then Boots rowed back, and took
whole heap Of gold and silver with him, as much RS
the trough could carry. And so when he came TO
the palace with the gold harp, he got the ltheeS3
and half the kingdom, as the king had promlsSu
him and as for his brothers. he treated them well,
for he thought thev had only wished his good When
they said what they said.