Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-05-28

wood-pigeons had eaten up all the beans
and she knew not which way to turn. She
was full of trouble, and thought with sor-
row how her father would want his dinner
and how Ter dear mother would grieye when
she did rot return. At length, when it be-
came quite dark, she also saw the lighted
cottage, and entering it, begged very po-
ftely 20 be allowed to pass the night there
Inc CID man asked the animals a third
time in the same words:
Pretty Hen. pretty Cock
And pretty brindled Cow.
What have you to say to that?"
'Cluck cluck" said they. Thereupon the
maiden stepped up to the fire. near which
they lay, and fondled the pretty hen and
COCK. smoothing their plumage down with
her horns.
Afterwards. when al the old mans request
she mad prepared a good supper and had
placed 1t on the table, she thought to her
ser. must not appease my hunger until
nave fed these good creatures. There is
first '
Thus thinking. she brought some corn and
strewed 1t before the fowls, and then she
gave an armful Of hay to the COW. Now
eat away, you good creatures" said she
TO them, "and when you are thirsty you
snail nave cool fresh draught" So say
ing she brought in pailful of water; and
tfe hen and cock perched themselves on it's
edge, put their beaks in, and then drew
their heads up az birds do when drinking;
the cow also took hearty draught
After the animals We're thus fed the
maiden sat down at table with the old
man and ate what was left for her.
In short time the hen and cock began to
fold their wings over their heads and the
brindled cow blinked with both eyes Then
our rest?'
The Old man replied as before:
-t Pretty Hen, pretty Cock
And pretty brfndled Cow,
What have you to say to that?"
Cluck, cluck!' replied the animals, mean
ing:
You have eaten with u.s.
You have drunk, too, with us
You have thought Of US kindly, too;
And we wish you good nights rest"
so the maiden went down the stairs and
shook up the feather beds, and laid on clean
sheets. and whan they were ready the old
man came and lay down in one, with his
white beard stretching down to his feet.
The girl then lay down in the other bed,
saying her prayers before she went to Sleep
She slept quietly till midnight. At that
hour there began such a tumult in the
house that 1t awakened her. Presently there
began cracking and rumbling in every
corner OF the room, and the doors were
Slammed back against the wall.
Ihen the beams groaLed as If they were
being rtven away from their fastenings, and
the stairs fell down, and at last it seemed
as II the whole roof fell in. Soon after that
all was quiet, and the maiden who was I'M
AoiL ueu, went quietly TO steep again.
When. however. the bright light of the
morning sun awoke her. what a sight met
her eyes! She found herself lying in a large
chamber, with everything around belonging
to regal pomp. On the wallis were gold
flowers growing on green silk ground the
bed was of ivory, and the curtains of red
velvet. On a stool close by was placed a
pair Of slippers ornamented with pearls.
The maiden thought 1t was all dream:
but presently in came three servants dress
ed in rich ivertes. who asked her what
were her commands. Leave me-" replied
the maiden; II will get up at once and cook
some breakfast for the old man, and feed
the pretty hen, the pretty cock and the
brindle, cow" She spoke thus because she
thought the old man was already up; but
when she looked around at his bed she saw
a young and handsome stranger asleep in
While she was looking at him. he awoke,
and starting up. said to the maiden: IT
am a kings son, who YVES long ago changed
by wicked old witch into the form of an
Old man, and condemned to live in the wood.
with nobody to bear me company but my
three servants in the form of hen, a cock
and a brindled COW.
The eEchantment was not to end until a
maiden should come who would be kind to
my animals as well as to me; and such an
one you have been; therefore, at midnight
we were saved through you and the old
wooden hut has again become my royal
palace"
When he had thus spoken they arose. and
the prince told his three servants to fetch
the father and mother of the maiden that
they also might live in the palace.
But where are my two ssters?" she
asked. Il have put them into the cellar"
replied the prince, land there they must
remain till tomorrow morning, when they
shall be led into the forest and bound as
to a collier. When they have re-
formed their tempers, and learned not to
let poor animals suffer hunger, they, too
may live here"