The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1872-11-01
7 Cunq Folks.


Her mother at last became very angry
with her because of her lazincss, and
losing all patience, gave her such a good
boxing rs caused her to cry aloud. Just
Mt this moment the queen was passing,
and hearing the girls screams, stopped
her carriage and went into the house TO
see what was the cause of the disturb
ance. The queen asked the mother
why she punished the girl so severely
as to make her cries reach the street,
The woman being ashamed TO say what
a lazy child she had, replied, "I wish
to take away her dstafr; she would
spin forever, and in my poverty l
am unable to furnish her with
flax"
The queen replied THE dlsteR is a
great favorite of mine the noise of the
spinning.whcel charms me. Let your
daughter go TO my palace; l ave a
quantity of flax, she may there spin at
her pleasure" The mother gladly con.
scented, and the queen carried the young
girl off in her carriage. When they ar
rived at the place the girl was shown
into three chambers, which were filled
from the floor TO the ceiling with the
most beautiful fax. "Spin me all this
flax" said the queen, "and when it is
finished l shall give you in marriage to
my eldest son. Do not worry yourself
about your poverty; your zeal
for work will be dowry sufli-
cient."
The girl said nothing, but was filed
with CONSERVATION, for if she worked
for three hundred years without rest
ing, from morning until night, she
would not be able to reach the bottom
of this enormous pile of fax. When
alone she began to weep, and contin.
ued to do SO for three days and three
nights without touching her work. The
third day the queen coming to see her
was astonished to find that no work had
been done. The young girl excused
herself on account of grief at leaving
her mother, and the queen was obliged
to be contented with this answer but,
on leaving, said to her: "See to it
that you begin tomorrow to
work"
When the young girl was once more
alone, she did not know what to do
In her trouble she walked to the win
dow and saw coming towards her three
women. The first one had an immense
flat foot the second, such tremend-
ously large lower lip that it hung over
and quite covered her chin and the
third, thumb large and fat. They
stopped before the window, and look
ing into the window asked the young
girl what she would like to have. She
told them her trouble, and they offered
to aid her on condition that she would
invite them to the nuptials, call them
her cousins without being ashamed of
them, and give them seats at the table I;
promise this and we will go to work on
the fax and it will soon be spun. p
with all my heart" replied she; come
in and begin quick. ".She brought in the
three singular looking women, and |
cleared a place for them in the first room |
to work in. The first woman spun the |
flax and turned the wheel, the second |
wet the flax, and the third twisted it,
holding it on the table with her thumb.
At each stroke of the thumb she drop
ped on, the floor skein of the finest
thread.
Every time the queen came in the
girl hid the women, and showed the
work that was done, the queen was al
ways filed with admiration. When
he first chamber was finished they
passed to the second, and then the third,
which was well finished also. The
hree sisters then prepared to leave,
aging to her. "Do not forget
'our promise, you shall never be sorry
for it.n
When the young girl had shown to
he queen the empty chambers and the
pun thread, she fixed day for the we'd
ling. The prince was delighted to
lavea wife so competent and indus
rious, and he was filled with love to-
yard her. ~ have three cousins"
aid she, "who have been very good to
ne, and whom would not neglect in
ny good fortune allow me to invite
hem to my wedding and to scat them
t our table, The queen and prince
made no objections. The day of the
east the three woman arrived in mag
iilcent equipages. The bride said
them Dear cousins, am glad to
'elcome you" The prince whispered
err. "You have very ugly relations !"
hen addressing himself to the one
18th the large foot he asked, ''How
anne your foot so large ?" SIT was
lade so by turning the spinning
'heel," replied she. To the second he
nd, where did you get such hang
lg lip?" 'By wetting the fax" she
nsWered. To the third he said, "Howl
lme your thumb so large ?'' "Twist-
lg flax" she replied. The prince,
ightened at this prospect declared that
is bride should never again touch spin
le or staff. Thus was the young girl
,lieved from the occupation which she
lost disliked.
THE SPIDERS BRIDGE.-One chiIIyl
n 4 I.,E| l