Year: 1867

The Old Woman in the wood.


Once upon time a poor Servant
Girl was travelling with her boxes
through a wood, and just as she got to
the middle of it she found herself in the
power Of, a numbering band Of robbers.
All lat once they sprang out of the brush
wood, and came towards her; but she
jumped out of her cart in terror, and hid
herself behind tree. As soon as the
Iobbers had disappeared with their
booty she came from her hiding place,
and saw her great misfortune. She be-
gan to cry bitterly, and said to herself,
"What shall do now, 3 poor girl like
me; 1 cannot, find my way out OF the
wood; nobody lives here, and | must
perish with hunger" She looked about
for road, but could not find one; and
when evening came she sat down under
tree, and commencing herself to God
determined to remain where she was,
whatever might happen. She had not
sat there a long while before a little
white pigeon came flying towards her,
carrying in his beak ssmall golden key.
The bird put the key into the girls
hand, and said, '1Do you see yon great
treel within it is cupboard, which IS
opened with this key; and there you
will find food enough, 50 that you need
not suffer hunger any longer" The
girl went to the tree, and unlocking it,
found pure milk in a jug, aud white
bread fit to break into it; aud of
these she made good meal. When
she had finished, she said to herself,
"At home now the cocks and hens are
gone to roost, and l am 50 tired | should
Ike to 60 to bed myself In moment
the pigeon flew up, bringing another
gold key in his bin, and said, ado you
see yon trsei open it and you will find
bed within" She opened it, and
there stood the little white bed; and,
after saying her prayers and asking
Gods protection during the night, she
went to sleep In the morning the
pigeon came for the third time, bring
ing another key, with which he told the
girl to open certain tree, and there
she would find plenty of clothes. When
she did so, she found dresses Of all kinds
ornameDted with gold and precious
stones, as beautiful as any princess
could desire. And here in this spot the
maiden dwelt for a time; while the
pigeon every day brought her what she
needed; and it was very quiet and
peaceful life.


One day, however, the pigeon came
and asked the maiden whether she
would do an act of love for him. with
all my heart" was her reply. 81 wish
you then" said the pigeon, -''to come
with me to little cottage, and to go
into it, and there on the hearth you
will see an old woman, who will say,
'Good dayri But for my sake give her
no answer, let her do what she will;
but go past her right hand, and you
will see door which you must open,
and pass into q room, where upon Ia
bic will lie number of rings Of all de-
scriptions, and among them several with
glittering stones; but leave them alone,
and look out plain one which will be
there, and bring it to me as quickly as
possible"


The maiden thereupon went to the
cottage, and stepped in; and there sat
an old woman who made great face
when she saw her, but said, "Good day,
my child p The maiden made no an
swer, but went towards the door,.
"Whither are you going" cried the
old woman, ''that is my house, and no
body shall enter it unless l do wish !"
and she tried to detain the maiden by
catching hold of her dress. But she
silently loosened herself, and went into
the room, and saw the heap of rings
upon the table, which glittered and
shone before her eyes. She threw them
aside and searched for the plain ring,
but could not find it; and while she
searched she saw the old woman slip in
and takeiup bird cage, with which she
made of. So the maid pursued her,
and took the bird cage away from her.
As she looked at 1t she saw the the ring
in the bill of the bird which was in it.
She took the ring and ran home. JOY.
fully expecting the white pigeon would
come and fetch the ring, but he did not.
So she leaned herself back against her
tree and waited for the bird; but pres
emily the tree became as it were weak
and yielding, and its branches began to
droop. All at once the boughs bent
round, and became two arms; and as
the maiden turned round, the tree be-
came handsome man, who embraced
and kissed her, saying, "You have saw
ed me out of the power of the old wo-
man, who is an evil witch. She chang
ed me into tree long while ago. and


every day became white pigeon for
couple of hours; but so long as she


had possession of the ring l could not


regain my human FORM" Thereupon


his servants and horses recovered also


from the enehantment, for they ike


wise had been changed into trees; and


once more they accompanied their mas


ter to his kingdom flor he was Kings


son, and there he married the maiden.


and they lived happily ever afterwards.