Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-01-15
H THREE SISTERS.


The following story Of sThe Three
Sisters is taken from Mr.. Sergeant's
new book on modern Greece. 1t is am
old friend in a new dress, but so pretty
is the dress that its perusal will repay
the trouble
Once upon a time there were three
sisters who slept together.
One night the Fates came to tell
their fortunes, and safe above their
heads: for each sister had her Fate.
When the first two had spoken. it
was the turn of the Fate who belonged
to the youngest sister
Mine, she said, being the pref
test, shall have the best fortune. She
shall marry the kings SON.
But the eldest sister had awoke.
and was listening. When the morn
ing had come she took the second sis
ter on n side and told her all that
the Fates had said; and they began TO
tyfannize over the youngest.
One day they resolved to 90 and cut
some wood. They therefore made q
cake, and set out. When they had
gathered their fagOts they sat down on
the edge of a precipice, so deep that
no one could climb down it on any
side. Then the eldest sister said TO
the youngest
Now, little one, come and let me
do up your hair.
The little one went. and the eldest
began to arrange her hair. But as
she was doing it she let the cake roll
from her knees on the ground.
There, she said, now go and look
for itp'
And she gave her a great push, and
the little one fell over the precipice.
The poor child fell to the bottom
and being unable to climb up again
began to weep. But then behold. a
Neried came to her and said
Why are you weeping, child? Have
you fallen from the rock and cannot
get up again? Come with me and [
will take you for my daughter.
And she took her to her house.
80 the little girl was very happy with
the Nereid. But when Sunday came
the Nereid wanted to go to her church;
aud, as she would be a long time away,
she told her that she was to open the
copper in which the serpents were and
and give them something to eat.
You must not be afraid she add
ed. When you want them to 20 in
again you have only { orap with a stick
on the pot, and the serpents will 90 in
ofthemselves.
Meanwhile the two sisters. when
they got home again, said to the Sun:
Sun, dear Sun, which is now the
fairest one? Is it one Of us, or she
whom We have thrown over the prec-
ipice?"
ut is your sister, he replied who
is in the Nereid's home
Then the two sisters returned to
the precipice; and the younger of the
two pushed the elder so that she fell
in the same place where the Youngest
had fallen. When she was at the
bottom she came to the home of the
Nereid, went in, and found her sister.
and the little one kissed her when she
saw her.
Then the eldest one began TO dress
her sisters hair again, and by-and-by
she stuck a poisoned pin in her head
The poor little one fell down dead on
the spot, and the eldest one ran away.
When the Nereid returned she
found the little one, and took her in
her arms and wept over her. Then
she saw the pin aud pulled it out, and
the little one came to life again.
Meanwhile the eldest sister had
gone home but when she repeated
her question to the Sun and received
the same answer she returned TO the
Nereid house. The Nereid ives again
ont, but she had forbidden the little
one to open the door; so the eldest
sister took q slate off the roof and
threw in a poisoned grape. The little
one ate it and fell down dead again.
This time the Nereid could not find
the cause Of her death, so she put her
in a box and threw her into the sea
But her Fate did not desert her. The
waves shook the grape from her mouth
and she revived aud the box Aoated
until it came TO tho kings palace.
BasiiopoulO saw it and told his ser
ysAts TO bring it 10 land but when
he found th9t it was onlya box he sent
II down to the kitchen.
In the night the little one was hun.
cry; so she opened the lid, got out, ate
some food, and lay down in the box
again. This she did every night, uutil
The servants found how the food dis
appeared and went and told the kings
son.
l see" said Basilopoulo. Very
well, | will 60 and catch the thief
SO he went to the kitchen al mid.
night aad saw the little one come out
aud caught her ie his arms, Aud the
king son. seeing her SO pretty and so
sweet, loved her and took her for his
wife.
Then the two sisters said to the
SUI.
Sun, dear Sun, which is now the
fairest one? Is it enc Of us or she
whom we poisoned2'
Aud the sun replied II is your