Free eBooks at Planet eBook.com 1 and wished that she might become a maiden, and she stood there looking so beautiful that no painter could have made her look more so. And the king sent two waiting-maids and two attendants into the tower, to fetch the queen and bring her to the royal table. But when she was led in she ate nothing, and said: The gracious and merciful God who has supported me in the tower, will soon set me free. She lived three days more, and then died happily, and when she was buried, the two white doves which had brought her food to the tower, and were angels of heaven, followed her body and seated themselves on her grave. The aged king ordered the cook to be torn in four pieces, but grief consumed the kings own heart, and he soon died. His son married the beautiful maiden whom he had brought with him as a flower in his pocket, and whether they are still alive or not, is known to God. 10 Grimms Fairy Tales

CLEVER ELSIE There was once a man who had a daughter who was

And when she had grown up her father said: We will get her married. Yes, said the mother, if only someone would come who would have her. At length a man came from a distance and wooed her, who was called Hans; but he stipulated that Clever Elsie should be really smart. Oh, said the father, she has plenty of good sense; and the mother said: Oh, she can see the wind coming up the street, and hear the flies coughing. Well, said Hans, if she is not really smart, I wont have her. When they were sitting at dinner and had eaten, the mother said: Elsie, go into the cellar and fetch some beer. Then Clever Elsie took the pitcher from the wall, went into the cellar, and tapped the lid briskly as she went, so that the time might not appear long. When she was below she fetched herself a chair, and set it before the barrel so that she had no need to stoop, and did not hurt her back or do herself any unexpected injury. Then she placed the can before her, and turned the tap, and

Then Clever Elsie began to weep and said: If I get Hans, and we have a child, and he grows big, and we send him into Free eBooks at Planet eBook.com 11