Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-05-14

my brothers, and when night came she
went quite deep into the wood.
She walked all night and most of the
next day, until her feet were SO sore she
could go no further. Just then she saw a
rude hut and, walking in she found a
room with six little beds. She dared not
get into one, but crept under and. lying
down upon the hard EARTH thought she
would pass the night there. Just as the sun
was setting she heard a rustling and saw
six white swans come flying in at the WIN
dow.
They settled on the ground and began
blowing one another until they had blown
all their feathers off, and their swans down
dropped Off like shirt. Then the maiden
knew them at once for her brothers and
gladly crept out from under the bed, and
the brothers were not less glad to see their
sister. But here you must not stay, said
they to her; this is robbers hiding
place" "Can you not protect me, then !"
asked the sister.
NO" they replied, I'VE can lay aside our
swans feathers for only quarter of an
hour each evening For that time we re-
gain our human form, but afterward We
are again changed into swans"
Their sister then asked them, with tears
Can You not be my brothers AGAIN.
"Oh, no." replied they. THE task is too
hard. For six long years you must neither
speak nor laugh. and during that time you
must sew for US six little shirts of star
from your lips then all your labor will be
vain" Just as the brother said this the
quarter of an hour came to an end, and
they all few out of the window again like
swans
The little sister made solemn promise
to herself that she would save her brothers
or die in the attempt. So she left the cot
tage, and. going deep into the forest, pass
ed the night in the branches of a tree. The
next morning she went out and gathered
the star-flowers to sew.
She had no one to talk with, and for
laughing she had no spirits so there in the
tYa ShQ iuf
she had passed some time thus the king of
that country, who was hunting In the for
est with his men, came under the tree In
witch the maiden sat. They called to her
and asked. who art thou?' But she gave
no answer. Come down to us; we will do
thee no HARM
She simply shook her head. and. when
they pressed her further with questions,
she threw down to them her gold necklace,
hoping they would go away. But they did
not leave her: then she threw down her
girdle, but in vain.
At last the hunter himself climbed the
tree brought down the maiden and took her
before the king. The king asked her, Who
art thou? What doest thou in that tree?
But she did not answer.
She was so beautiful the kings heart was
touched, and he put around her his cloak,
and, placing her before him on his horse,
took her to his castle There he had rich
clothing made for her, and, although her
beauty shone as the sunbeams. not word
would she speak. The king kept her by his
side, and her gentle manners so won him
that he said "This maiden will I marry,
and no other
Now, the king had wicked subjects, who
spoke evil of the young queen. Who knows
whence she comes?" said they. "She who
cannot speak is not worthy of king"
Much evil was said OF her. but the king
would not believe it. At last 80 many be-
came her enemies because she would not
tell the secret of her sewing in consta 1t
silence that even the kings power could
not save her from harm, and 1T was de-
creed that she should be put to death.
When the time came for her to die 1t
happened that the very day had come when
her brothers should be freed. The shirts
were ready all but the last which lacked
the left sleeve AS she was led to the scat
fold she placed them upon her arm. Just
as she mounted 1t and the fire was about
to be kindled she saw six swans come fly
ing through the air.
Her heart leaped for Joy as she saw her
brothers coming. Soon the swans aiighted
so near that she was able to throw over
them the shirts, which caused their feath-
ers to fall off, and the brothers stood UP
alive and we'll; but the youngest had
swans wing instead Of his left arm The
queen could defend herself now, and the
people believed her innocent as soon as
they saw the swans changed into six noble
men by the work she had done in silence at
the risk of her life.