Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1859-08-16
rzy The following is one of the tales trans

American nurseries: ..f
Once on time there was q poor man who
had three sons. When be died, the two elder
-, of into the world to try their luck, but the
Youngest they wouldn't have with them at any
price. . -
nothing but to sit and poke about in the ashes. y
So the two went of and got places at a
palace-the one under the coachman, and the
pther under the gardener But Boots, he set
oS to6 and took with him a great kneadins-
trough, which was the only thing his parents
left behind them, but which the other two
would not bother themselves with. It was
heavy to carry, but he did not like to leave it
behind, and 50, after he had trudged abit, he
too came to the palace and asked fer place.
60 they told him they did not want him, but
he begged 80 prettily that at last he got leave
10 be in the kitchen. 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
% they got more kicks than haifpences 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 palace. These the king had often
loDged for; and so the two elder brothers told
the eOschman-
off 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
eoaehman told this TO the king; and the king
called Boots before him, and said
Your brothers say You can get me the sill
yer ducks; 80 now go and fetch them.''
I'm sure | never thought or said ANYTHING
Of the kind, 3" said the lad.
You did say so, and you shall fetch them
said the king, who would hold his own.
We'll, well W said the lad; needs must I
suppose; but give nae a bushel of rye and q
bushel Of wheat, and 1 ii try can do.
so he got the rye and wheat, and put them
into the kneading- trough be had brought with
him from home got in, and rowed across the
lake. When he reached the other side he be-
gan to walk along the shore, and to sprinkle
and strew the grain, and at last he coaxed the
ducks into his kneadiDg- trough, and royed
back as fast as ever he could
When he got half over, the Troll came ont
Of bis house and set eyes on him
"'HallOa :" rOared out the Troll; sis it you
that has gone of with my seven silver ducks3n
Aye, aye" said the lad
Shall you be back soon7" asked the Troll
Every likely said the lad.
90 when he got back to the king with the
seyen silver ducks, be was liked more than
ever, and even the king was pleased to say,
W ell done But at this his brothers grew
they went and told the coachman that their
brother had said, If he chose he was man
enough to get the king the Trolls bed-ouilt.
which bad a gold patch and a silver patch,
and silver patch and a gold patch; and this
time too. the coachman was not slow in telling
sii this to the king So the king said to the
lad, how his brothers had said he was good to
steal the Trolls bed-quilt, with gold and silver
patches; 50 now he must 60 and do it, or lose
his life.
Boots answered, he had never thought or
SAID and such thing; but when he found there
was no help for it, he begged for three days to
think over the matter.
% when the three days were gone, he rowed
over IN his kneading-trOugh, and went spying
about At last he saw those in the Trolls cave
come out and hang out the quilt to air, and as
s1on as they had gone back into the face of the
rock, Boots pulled the quilt down, and rowed
away with 1t rs fast be could
and when he was half across, out came the
IrOll and sent eyes on him, and roared out
YER ducks?'
Aye aye" said the lad
Aud now have you taken my bed-quilt,
WIN SILVER patches and gold patches, and gold
patches and silver patches ,''
Aye aye" said the lad. .. e.
Shall you come back again ,"
very likely said the lad
yer patchwork quilt every one was fonder of
MN than ever, and he was made the kings s
bOdy-seryant
NJ thls the other two was still more yexed
ana 10 De revenged they went and told the
cOsehman-
Nov, our brother has said be is man enough
eet the kiHg the gold harp which the Troll
nl'' and that harp is of such kind that all
who listen when it is PLAYED grow olad. how
ever sad they may be y %
les the eoachman went and told the king.
and ne said to the lad
II you have said this you shall do it, If
.ol 40 II, you shall have the Princess and half
Ete I1e kslingdOm Ifyou don't you shall lose your
IN sure never thought or said ANYTHING
"a the KIND, said the lad .'but if there's No
u.IP ior II may as we'll try, but must have
aI days to think about il. - - = =
es' DC might have six days; but when they
"SIe over be must set out. .r.- ~
inca he took a tenpenny nail "A birch pin,
a"l "sxen tsper-end in his pock CT and row ed
TI'Iis, 's, and walked up and down before the
Itol cave, hooking stealthily about him. So
ne IroIl came out he saw him at once.
no no " roared the Troll, is it you who
U''k my seven silver ducksH''
aye aye said the lad
=. An1 1t is you who took my bed quilt, with
'ae gold and silver patches 2' said the Troll.
A!0 dSc talu the lad.
% ihe Troll caught bold Of him at once, and
'''A aim on Into the cave In the face of the rock
vow, daughter dear" said the Troll. s.I'ye
Iaugnt the fellow who stole the silver ducks
and my bed-quilt, with gold and silver patches:
Put him into the fattening coop. and when he :
iat We III Kill him and make a feast for our
friends"
She was willing enough, and put him at ono
Ih'o the fattening coop, and there ne STAYED
eight days, fed on the best, both in meat and
drirk, and as much as he could cram. So when
tHe eight days were over, the Troll said to his
SAHghter to go down and cut him in his little
nHhser, that they might see if be were fat
A'Wn she came to the coop.
Out with your little finger" she said
but Boots stuck out his ten-p penny nail and
she cut at il.
Aay' nay! he's as hard rs iron still" said
.e zoe Iroll's s daughter, when she got back to her
ia'her; I'VE can't take him yet.
A!'er another eight days the same thing hap
PShed and this time Boots stuck out his bircheI
Well, he'sa iitus better she said, wher
ne got back to the Troll s'but still he IL be a:
hard as wood 10 chey.o tftaa
bIt when another eight days wers gone. the
1aOii told his daughter to go down and s9e il
Out with your little finger ,, aid tha Tall :.