The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1904-09-17

mo" she said; why should lose
my dearest child, now that the others
are gomez"
Don't fear he said: the maiden
will never wander. she is too clever
and sensible; besides, l will take a
quantity of peas with me and strew
them in the way, to show her the
right path; they are SO much larger
than linseed, and will be sure to re-
MAIN
So the next day the mother, with
much advice and caution, sent her
youngest daughter to the forest. She
carried basket on her arm, but there
were no peas to guide her; they were
all in the crops of the pigeons. and
therefore she knew not which path
TO take She was very unhappy. and
thought how very hungry her poo"
father would be. and how her mother
would fret if she remained away all
night. However, in her wanderings
after darl: she also saw the light. and
came as her sisters had done to the
house in the wood. She went in ana
begged for nights lodging 50 gently
that the old man with the white board
said to his animals:
Little chicks and spotted COW,
Shall we keep her here or no?"
The voice answered Yes" and
presently the maiden went over to
the stove where the animals lay
stroked the smooth feathers Of the
cock and hen with her hand. and rub
bed the spotted COW between the
horns When the old man told her
to go and cook some supper, she got
it ready very quickly, but when she
placed the dishes on the table she
said:
81 am not going to feast myself
with all these good things while the
poor animals have nothing. There
will be plenty left for me, and l shall
take care of them first
Then she went and fetched some
barley, which she scattered before the
chickens. and whole armful of sweet
hay for the COW.
Eat that up, you dear animals,
she said, and perhaps you are thirsty,
so 1 will bring you some fresh water.
Then she brought in a large basin
of water, and the cock and the hen
sprang on the brink. dipped in their
beaks and lifted their heads in the
manner that birds always do drink.
while the spotted COW took a long
draught. After the animals were fed
the maiden seated herself at the table
and ate what the old man had left
her. In very little while the fowls
had their heads behind their wings,
and the COW began to blink her eyes,
so the maiden said:
Shall we not go to rest?"
And the old man cried:
Little chicks and spotted COW,
Shall we let her sleep here now?'
And they replied ouickly:
Eyes, for she is good
She has brought us drink and food"
Then the maiden went up stairs,
shook both beds, and made them up,
and presently the old man came to
his room. and when he laid himself
on the bed his white beard nearly
reached his feet.
The maiden also said her prayers
and lying down slept peacefully till
midnight, when a number of strange
| noises awOke her. The corners of the
house were creaking and cracking.
| the doors sprang open and struck
against the walls. The rafterS groan-
ed as if their joints We're broken and
| separated; the stairs were turning
upside down. and at last there was a
crash as if the roof and the walls had
fallen in together. Then all was still.
The maiden had been too friGhten-
ed to move. and all had happened so
quickly that she would have had
scarcely time to do So But no. find
| ing she was not hurt. and still in her
comfortable bed, she lay quiet and
went to sleep again.
| But in the morning when the bright
sunshine awolle her what a sight met
her eyes, She was lying in q noble
room, and everything around her was
as splendid as the furniture of a roy
| al palace. The walls were covered
| with golden flowers on a SilEcn
| ground. Tho bed was of ivory. and
the covering OF red velvet, and on 4