第15章

Hegropedaboutforsometime，tillhefoundthestaircaseinthetower，andthenbegantofeelhiswayupthesteps。

Onthefirstlandingaglimmeroflightcamethroughaslitinthewall，andhesawatinymansittingthere，withoutahead。

’Ho！ho！mylittlefellow，whatareyoudoingthere？’askedHans，and，withoutwaitingforananswer，gavehimakickwhichsenthimflyingdownthestairs。Thenheclimbedhigherstill，andfindingashewentdumbwatcherssittingoneverylanding，treatedthemashehaddonethefirst。

Atlasthereachedthetop，andashepausedforamomenttolookroundhimhesawanotherheadlessmancoweringintheverybellitself，waitingtillHansshouldseizethebell—pullinordertostrikehimablowwiththeclapper，whichwouldsoonhavemadeanendofhim。

’Stop，mylittlefriend！’criedHans。’Thatisnotpartofthebargain！Perhapsyousawhowyourcomradeswalkeddownstairs，andyouaregoingafterthem。Butasyouareinthehighestplaceyoushallmakeamoredignifiedexit，andfollowthemthroughthewindow！’

Withthesewordshebegantoclimbtheladder，inordertotakethelittlemanfromthebellandcarryouthisthreat。

Atthisthedwarfcriedoutimploringly，’Oh，brother！sparemylife，andIpromisethatneitherInormycomradeswillevertroubleyouanymore。Iamsmallandweak，butwhoknowswhethersomedayIshallnotbeabletorewardyou。’

’Youwretchedlittleshrimp，’repliedHans，’agreatdealofgoodyourgratitudeislikelytodome！ButasIhappentobefeelinginacheerfulmoodto—nightIwillletyouhaveyourlife。Buttakecarehowyoucomeacrossmeagain，oryoumaynotescapesoeasily！’

Theheadlessmanthankedhimhumbly，slidhastilydownthebellrope，andrandownthestepsofthetowerasifhehadleftafirebehindhim。ThenHansbegantoringlustily。

Whentheministerheardthesoundofthemidnightbellshewonderedgreatly，butrejoicedthathehadatlastfoundsomeonetowhomhecouldtrustthisduty。Hansrangthebellsforsometime，thenwenttothehay—loft，andfellfastasleep。

Nowitwasthecustomoftheministertogetupveryearly，andtogoroundtomakesurethatthemenwereallattheirwork。

ThismorningeveryonewasinhisplaceexceptHans，andnooneknewanythingabouthim。Nineo’clockcame，andnoHans，butwhenelevenstrucktheministerbegantofearthathehadvanishedliketheringerswhohadgonebeforehim。When，however，theservantsallgatheredroundthetablefordinner，Hansatlastmadehisappearancestretchinghimselfandyawning。

’Wherehaveyoubeenallthistime？’askedtheminister。

’Asleep，’saidHans。

’Asleep！’exclaimedtheministerinastonishment。’Youdon’tmeantotellmethatyoucangoonsleepingtillmid—day？’

’ThatisexactlywhatIdomean，’repliedHans。’Ifoneworksinthenightonemustsleepintheday，justasifoneworksinthedayonesleepsinthenight。IfyoucanfindsomebodyelsetoringthebellsatmidnightIamreadytobeginworkatdawn;butifyouwantmetoringthemImustgoonsleepingtillnoonattheveryearliest。’

Theministertriedtoarguethepointwithhim，butatlengththefollowingagreementwascometo。Hanswastogiveuptheringing，andwastoworkliketherestfromsunrisetosunset，withtheexceptionofanhourafterbreakfastandanhourafterdinner，whenhemightgotosleep。’But，ofcourse，’addedtheministercarelessly，’itmayhappennowandthen，especiallyinwinter，whenthedaysareshort，thatyouwillhavetoworkalittlelonger，togetsomethingfinished。’

’Notatall！’answeredHans。’UnlessIweretoleaveoffworkearlierinsummer，IwillnotdoastrokemorethanIhavepromised，andthatisfromdawntodark;soyouknowwhatyouhavetoexpect。’

Afewweekslatertheministerwasaskedtoattendachristeningintheneighbouringtown。HebadeHanscomewithhim，but，asthetownwasonlyafewhours’ridefromwherehelived，theministerwasmuchsurprisedtoseeHanscomeforthladenwithabagcontainingfood。

’Whatareyoutakingthatfor？’askedtheminister。’Weshallbetherebeforedark。’

’Whoknows？’repliedHans。’Manythingsmayhappentodelayourjourney，andIneednotremindyouofourcontractthatthemomentthesunsetsIceasetobeyourservant。Ifwedon’treachthetownwhileitisstilldaylightIshallleaveyoutoshiftforyourself。’

Theministerthoughthewasjoking，andmadenofurtherremark。

Butwhentheyhadleftthevillagebehindthem，andhadriddenafewmiles，theyfoundthatsnowhadfallenduringthenight，andhadbeenblownbythewindintodrifts。Thishinderedtheirprogress，andbythetimetheyhadenteredthethickwoodwhichlaybetweenthemandtheirdestinationthesunwasalreadytouchingthetopsofthetrees。ThehorsesploughedtheirwayslowlythroughthedeepsoftsnowandastheywentHanskeptturningtolookatthesun，whichlayattheirbacks。

’Isthereanythingbehindyou？’askedtheminister。’Orwhatisityouarealwaysturningroundfor？’

’IturnroundbecauseIhavenoeyesinthebackofmyneck，’

saidHans。

’Ceasetalkingnonsense，’repliedtheminister，’andgiveallyourmindtogettingustothetownbeforenightfall。’

Hansdidnotanswer，butrodeonsteadily，thougheverynowandthenhecastaglanceoverhisshoulder。

Whentheyarrivedinthemiddleofthewoodthesunsankaltogether。ThenHansreineduphishorse，tookhisknapsack，andjumpedoutofthesledge。

’Whatareyoudoing？Areyoumad？’askedtheminister，butHansansweredquietly，’Thesunissetandmyworkisover，andI

amgoingtocamphereforthenight。’

Invainthemasterprayedandthreatened，andpromisedHansalargerewardifhewouldonlydrivehimon。Theyoungmanwasnottobemoved。

’Areyounotashamedtourgemetobreakmyword？’saidhe。’Ifyouwanttoreachthetownto—nightyoumustgoalone。Thehourofmyfreedomhasstruck，andIcannotgowithyou。’

’MygoodHans，’entreatedtheminister，’Ireallyoughtnottoleaveyouhere。Considerwhatdangeryouwouldbein！Yonder，asyousee，agallowsissetup，andtwoevil—doersarehangingonit。Youcouldnotpossiblysleepwithsuchghastlyneighbours。’

’Whynot？’askedHans。’Thosegallowsbirdshanghighintheair，andmycampwillbeontheground;weshallhavenothingtodowitheachother。’Ashespoke，heturnedhisbackontheminister，andwenthisway。

Therewasnohelpforit，andtheministerhadtopushonbyhimself，ifheexpectedtoarriveintimeforthechristening。

Hisfriendsweremuchsurprisedtoseehimdriveupwithoutacoachman，andthoughtsomeaccidenthadhappened。ButwhenhetoldthemofhisconversationwithHanstheydidnotknowwhichwasthemostfoolish，masterorman。

ItwouldhavematteredlittletoHanshadheknownwhattheyweresayingorthinkingofhim。Hesatisfiedhishungerwiththefoodhehadinhisknapsack，lithispipe，pitchedhistentundertheboughsofatree，wrappedhimselfinhisfurs，andwentsoundasleep。Aftersomehours，hewasawakenedbyasuddennoise，andsatupandlookedabouthim。Themoonwasshiningbrightlyabovehishead，andclosebystoodtwoheadlessdwarfs，talkingangrily。AtthesightofHansthelittledwarfscriedout:

’Itishe！Itishe！’andoneofthemsteppingnearerexclaimed，’Ah，myoldfriend！itisaluckychancethathasbroughtushere。Mybonesstillachefrommyfalldownthestepsofthetower。Idaresayyouhavenotforgottenthatnight！Nowitistheturnofyourbones。Hi！comrades，makehaste！makehaste！’

Likeaswarmofmidges，ahostoftinyheadlesscreaturesseemedtospringstraightoutoftheground，andeveryonewasarmedwithaclub。Althoughtheyweresosmall，yetthereweresuchnumbersofthemandtheystrucksohardthatevenastrongmancoulddonothingagainstthem。Hansthoughthislasthourwascome，whenjustasthefightwasatthehottestanotherlittledwarfarrivedonthescene。

’Hold，comrades！’heshouted，turningtotheattackingparty。

’Thismanoncedidmeaservice，andIamhisdebtor。WhenIwasinhispowerhegrantedmemylife。Andevenifhedidthrowyoudownstairs，well，awarmbathsooncuredyourbruises，soyoumustjustforgivehimandgoquietlyhome。’

Theheadlessdwarfslistenedtohiswordsanddisappearedassuddenlyastheyhadcome。AssoonasHansrecoveredhimselfalittlehelookedathisrescuer，andsawhewasthedwarfhehadfoundseatedinthechurchbell。

’Ah！’saidthedwarf，seatinghimselfquietlyunderthetree。

’YoulaughedatmewhenItoldyouthatsomedayImightdoyouagoodturn。NowyouseeIwasright，andperhapsyouwilllearnforthefuturenottodespiseanycreature，howeversmall。’

’Ithankyoufrommyheart，’answeredHans。’Mybonesarestillsorefromtheirblows，andhaditnotbeenforyouIshouldindeedhavefaredbadly。’

’Ihavealmostpaidmydebt，’wentonthelittleman，’butasyouhavesufferedalready，Iwilldomore，andgiveyouapieceofinformation。Youneednotremainanylongerintheserviceofthatstingyminister，butwhenyougethometo—morrowgoatoncetothenorthcornerofthechurch，andthereyouwillfindalargestonebuiltintothewall，butnotcementedliketherest。

Thedayafterto—morrowthemoonisfull，andatmidnightyoumustgotothespotandgetthestoneoutofthewallwithapickaxe。Underthestoneliesagreattreasure，whichhasbeenhiddenthereintimeofwar。Besideschurchplate，youwillfindbagsofmoney，whichhavebeenlyinginthisplaceforoverahundredyears，andnooneknowstowhomitallbelongs。Athirdofthismoneyyoumustgivetothepoor，buttherestyoumaykeepforyourself。’Ashefinished，thecocksinthevillagecrowed，andthelittlemanwasnowheretobeseen。Hansfoundthathislimbsnolongerpainedhim，andlayforsometimethinkingofthehiddentreasure。Towardsmorninghefellasleep。

Thesunwashighintheheavenswhenhismasterreturnedfromthetown。

’Hans，’saidhe，’whatafoolyouwerenottocomewithmeyesterday！Iwaswellfeastedandentertained，andIhavemoneyinmypocketintothebargain，’hewenton，rattlingsomecoinswhilehespoke，tomakeHansunderstandhowmuchhehadlost。

’Ah，sir，’repliedHanscalmly，’inordertohavegainedsomuchmoneyyoumusthavelainawakeallnight，butIhaveearnedahundredtimesthatamountwhileIwassleepingsoundly。’

’Howdidyoumanagethat？’askedtheministereagerly，butHansanswered，’Itisonlyfoolswhoboastoftheirfarthings;wisementakecaretohidetheircrowns。’

Theydrovehome，andHansneglectednoneofhisduties，butputupthehorsesandgavethemtheirfoodbeforegoingtothechurchcorner，wherehefoundtheloosestone，exactlyintheplacedescribedbythedwarf。Thenhereturnedtohiswork。

Thefirstnightofthefullmoon，whenthewholevillagewasasleep，hestoleout，armedwithapickaxe，andwithmuchdifficultysucceededindislodgingthestonefromitsplace。

Sureenough，therewasthehole，andintheholelaythetreasure，exactlyasthelittlemanhadsaid。

ThefollowingSundayhehandedoverthethirdparttothevillagepoor，andinformedtheministerthathewishedtobreakhisbondofservice。As，however，hedidnotclaimanywages，theministermadenoobjections，butallowedhimtodoashewished。

SoHanswenthisway，boughthimselfalargehouse，andmarriedayoungwife，andlivedhappilyandprosperouslytotheendofhisdays。

[EhstnischeMarchen。]

THEYOUNGMANWHOWOULDHAVEHISEYESOPENED

Onceuponatimetherelivedayouthwhowasneverhappyunlesshewaspryingintosomethingthatotherpeopleknewnothingabout。Afterhehadlearnedtounderstandthelanguageofbirdsandbeasts，hediscoveredaccidentallythatagreatdealtookplaceundercoverofnightwhichmortaleyesneversaw。Fromthatmomenthefelthecouldnotresttillthesehiddensecretswerelaidbaretohim，andhespenthiswholetimewanderingfromonewizardtoanother，beggingthemtoopenhiseyes，butfoundnonetohelphim。AtlengthhereachedanoldmagiciancalledMana，whoselearningwasgreaterthanthatoftherest，andwhocouldtellhimallhewantedtoknow。Butwhentheoldmanhadlistenedattentivelytohim，hesaid，warningly:

’Myson，donotfollowafteremptyknowledge，whichwillnotbringyouhappiness，butratherevil。Muchishiddenfromtheeyesofmen，becausedidtheyknoweverythingtheirheartswouldnolongerbeatpeace。Knowledgekillsjoy，thereforethinkwellwhatyouaredoing，orsomedayyouwillrepent。Butifyouwillnottakemyadvice，thentrulyIcanshowyouthesecretsofthenight。Onlyyouwillneedmorethanaman’scouragetobearthesight。’

Hestoppedandlookedattheyoungman，whonoddedhishead，andthenthewizardcontinued，’To—morrownightyoumustgototheplacewhere，onceinsevenyears，theserpent—kinggivesagreatfeasttohiswholecourt。Infrontofhimstandsagoldenbowlfilledwithgoats’milk，andifyoucanmanagetodipapieceofbreadinthismilk，andeatitbeforeyouareobligedtofly，youwillunderstandallthesecretsofthenightthatarehiddenfromothermen。Itisluckyforyouthattheserpent—king’sfeasthappenstofallthisyear，otherwiseyouwouldhavehadlongtowaitforit。Buttakecaretobequickandbold，oritwillbetheworseforyou。’

Theyoungmanthankedthewizardforhiscounsel，andwenthiswayfirmlyresolvedtocarryouthispurpose，evenifhepaidforitwithhislife;andwhennightcamehesetoutforawide，lonelymoor，wheretheserpent—kingheldhisfeast。Withsharpenedeyes，helookedeagerlyallroundhim，butcouldseenothingbutamultitudeofsmallhillocks，thatlaymotionlessunderthemoonlight。Hecrouchedbehindabushforsometime，tillhefeltthatmidnightcouldnotbefaroff，whensuddenlytherearoseinthemiddleofthemoorabrilliantglow，asifastarwasshiningoveroneofthehillocks。Atthesamemomentallthehillocksbegantowritheandtocrawl，andfromeachonecamehundredsofserpentsandmadestraightfortheglow，wheretheyknewtheyshouldfindtheirking。Whentheyreachedthehillockwherehedwelt，whichwashigherandbroaderthantherest，andhadabrightlighthangingoverthetop，theycoiledthemselvesupandwaited。Thewhirrandconfusionfromalltheserpent—housesweresogreatthattheyouthdidnotdaretoadvanceonestep，butremainedwherehewas，watchingintentlyallthatwenton;butatlasthebegantotakecourage，andmovedonsoftlystepbystep。

Whathesawwascreepierthancreepy，andsurpassedallhehadeverdreamtof。Thousandsofsnakes，bigandlittleandofeverycolour，weregatheredtogetherinonegreatclusterroundahugeserpent，whosebodywasasthickasabeam，andwhichhadonitsheadagoldencrown，fromwhichthelightsprang。Theirhissingsanddartingtonguessoterrifiedtheyoungmanthathisheartsank，andhefeltheshouldneverhavecouragetopushontocertaindeath，whensuddenlyhecaughtsightofthegoldenbowlinfrontoftheserpent—king，andknewthatifhelostthischanceitwouldnevercomeback。So，withhishairstandingonendandhisbloodfrozeninhisveins，hecreptforwards。Oh！

whatanoiseandawhirrroseafreshamongtheserpents。

Thousandsofheadswerereared，andtongueswerestretchedouttostingtheintrudertodeath，buthappilyforhimtheirbodiesweresocloselyentwinedoneintheotherthattheycouldnotdisentanglethemselvesquickly。Likelightningheseizedabitofbread，dippeditinthebowl，andputitinhismouth，thendashedawayasiffirewaspursuinghim。Onheflewasifawholearmyoffoeswereathisheels，andheseemedtohearthenoiseoftheirapproachgrowingnearerandnearer。Atlengthhisbreathfailedhim，andhethrewhimselfalmostsenselessontheturf。Whilehelaytheredreadfuldreamshauntedhim。Hethoughtthattheserpent—kingwiththefierycrownhadtwinedhimselfroundhim，andwascrushingouthislife。Withaloudshriekhespranguptodobattlewithhisenemy，whenhesawthatitwasraysofthesunwhichhadwakenedhim。Herubbedhiseyesandlookedallround，butnothingcouldheseeofthefoesofthepastnight，andthemoorwherehehadrunintosuchdangermustbeatleastamileaway。Butitwasnodreamthathehadrunhardandfar，orthathehaddrunkofthemagicgoats’milk。Andwhenhefelthislimbs，andfoundthemwhole，hisjoywasgreatthathehadcomethroughsuchperilswithasoundskin。

Afterthefatiguesandterrorsofthenight，helaystilltillmid—day，buthemadeuphismindhewouldgothatveryeveningintotheforesttotrywhatthegoats’milkcouldreallydoforhim，andifhewouldnowbeabletounderstandallthathadbeenamysterytohim。Andonceintheforesthisdoubtsweresetatrest，forhesawwhatnomortaleyeshadeverseenbefore。

Beneaththetreesweregoldenpavilions，withflagsofsilverallbrightlylightedup。Hewasstillwonderingwhythepavilionswerethere，whenanoisewasheardamongthetrees，asifthewindhadsuddenlygotup，andonallsidesbeautifulmaidenssteppedfromthetreesintothebrightlightofthemoon。Thesewerethewood—nymphs，daughtersoftheearth—mother，whocameeverynighttoholdtheirdances，intheforest。Theyoungman，watchingfromhishidingplace，wishedhehadahundredeyesinhishead，fortwowerenotnearlyenoughforthesightbeforehim，thedanceslastingtillthefirststreaksofdawn。Thenasilveryveilseemedtobedrawnovertheladies，andtheyvanishedfromsight。Buttheyoungmanremainedwherehewastillthesunwashighintheheavens，andthenwenthome。

Hefeltthatdaytobeendless，andcountedtheminutestillnightshouldcome，andhemightreturntotheforest。Butwhenatlasthegottherehefoundneitherpavilionsnornymphs，andthoughhewentbackmanynightsafterheneversawthemagain。

Still，hethoughtaboutthemnightandday，andceasedtocareaboutanythingelseintheworld，andwassicktotheendofhislifewithlongingforthatbeautifulvision。Andthatwasthewayhelearnedthatthewizardhadspokentrulywhenhesaid，’Blindnessisman’shighestgood。’

[EhstnischeMarchen。]

THEBOYSWITHTHEGOLDENSTARS

Onceuponatimewhathappeneddidhappen:andifithadnothappened，youwouldneverhaveheardthisstory。

Well，onceuponatimetherelivedanemperorwhohadhalfaworldalltohimselftoruleover，andinthisworlddweltanoldherdandhiswifeandtheirthreedaughters，Anna，Stana，andLaptitza。

Anna，theeldest，wassobeautifulthatwhenshetookthesheeptopasturetheyforgottoeataslongasshewaswalkingwiththem。Stana，thesecond，wassobeautifulthatwhenshewasdrivingtheflockthewolvesprotectedthesheep。ButLaptitza，theyoungest，withaskinaswhiteasthefoamonthemilk，andwithhairassoftasthefinestlamb’swool，wasasbeautifulasbothhersistersputtogether——asbeautifulasshealonecouldbe。

Onesummerday，whentheraysofthesunwerepouringdownontheearth，thethreesisterswenttothewoodontheoutskirtsofthemountaintopickstrawberries。Astheywerelookingabouttofindwherethelargestberriesgrewtheyheardthetrampofhorsesapproaching，soloudthatyouwouldhavethoughtawholearmywasridingby。Butitwasonlytheemperorgoingtohuntwithhisfriendsandattendants。

Theywereallfinehandsomeyoungmen，whosattheirhorsesasiftheywerepartofthem，butthefinestandhandsomestofallwastheyoungemperorhimself。

Astheydrewnearthethreesisters，andmarkedtheirbeauty，theycheckedtheirhorsesandrodeslowlyby。

’Listen，sisters！’saidAnna，astheypassedon。’Ifoneofthoseyoungmenshouldmakemehiswife，Iwouldbakehimaloafofbreadwhichshouldkeephimyoungandbraveforever。’

’AndifI，’saidStana，’shouldbetheonechosen，Iwouldweavemyhusbandashirtwhichwillkeephimunscathedwhenhefightswithdragons;whenhegoesthroughwaterhewillneverevenbewet;orifthroughfire，itwillnotscorchhim。’

’AndI，’saidLaptitza，’willgivethemanwhochoosesmetwoboys，twins，eachwithagoldenstaronhisforehead，asbrightasthoseinthesky。’

Andthoughtheyspokelowtheyoungmenheard，andturnedtheirhorses’heads。

’Itakeyouatyourword，andmineshallyoube，mostlovelyofempresses！’criedtheemperor，andswungLaptitzaandherstrawberriesonthehorsebeforehim。

’AndIwillhaveyou，’’AndIyou，’exclaimedtwoofhisfriends，andtheyallrodebacktothepalacetogether。

Thefollowingmorningthemarriageceremonytookplace，andforthreedaysandthreenightstherewasnothingbutfeastingoverthewholekingdom。Andwhentherejoicingswereoverthenewswasineverybody’smouththatAnnahadsentforcorn，andhadmadetheloafofwhichshehadspokenatthestrawberrybeds。

Andthenmoredaysandnightspassed，andthisrumourwassucceededbyanotherone——thatStanahadprocuredsomeflax，andhaddriedit，andcombedit，andspunitintolinen，andseweditherselfintotheshirtofwhichshehadspokenoverthestrawberrybeds。

Nowtheemperorhadastepmother，andshehadadaughterbyherfirsthusband，wholivedwithherinthepalace。Thegirl’smotherhadalwaysbelievedthatherdaughterwouldbeempress，andnotthe’MilkwhiteMaiden，’thechildofamereshepherd。Soshehatedthegirlwithallherheart，andonlybidedhertimetodoherill。

Butshecoulddonothingaslongastheemperorremainedwithhiswifenightandday，andshebegantowonderwhatshecoulddotogethimawayfromher。

Atlast，wheneverythingelsehadfailed，shemanagedtomakeherbrother，whowaskingoftheneighbouringcountry，declarewaragainsttheemperor，andbesiegesomeofthefrontiertownswithalargearmy。Thistimeherschemewassuccessful。Theyoungemperorsprangupinwraththemomentheheardthenews，andvowedthatnothing，notevenhiswife，shouldhinderhisgivingthembattle。Andhastilyassemblingwhateversoldiershappenedtobeathandhesetoffatoncetomeettheenemy。Theotherkinghadnotreckonedontheswiftnessofhismovements，andwasnotreadytoreceivehim。Theemperorfellonhimwhenhewasoffhisguard，androutedhisarmycompletely。Thenwhenvictorywaswon，andthetermsofpeacehastilydrawnup，herodehomeasfastashishorsewouldcarryhim，andreachedthepalaceonthethirdday。

Butearlythatmorning，whenthestarsweregrowingpaleinthesky，twolittleboyswithgoldenhairandstarsontheirforeheadswereborntoLaptitza。Andthestepmother，whowaswatching，tookthemaway，anddugaholeinthecornerofthepalace，underthewindowsoftheemperor，andputtheminit，whileintheirsteadsheplacedtwolittlepuppies。

Theemperorcameintothepalace，andwhentheytoldhimthenewshewentstraighttoLaptitza’sroom。Nowordswereneeded;hesawwithhisowneyesthatLaptitzahadnotkeptthepromiseshehadmadeatthestrawberrybeds，and，thoughitnearlybrokehisheart，hemustgiveordersforherpunishment。

Sohewentoutsadlyandtoldhisguardsthattheempresswastobeburiedintheearthuptoherneck，sothateveryonemightknowwhatwouldhappentothosewhodaredtodeceivetheemperor。

Notmanydaysafter，thestepmother’swishwasfulfilled。Theemperortookherdaughtertowife，andagaintherejoicingslastedforthreedaysandthreenights。

Letusnowseewhathappenedtothetwolittleboys。

Thepoorlittlebabieshadfoundnorestevenintheirgraves。

Intheplacewheretheyhadbeenburiedtherespranguptwobeautifulyoungaspens，andthestepmother，whohatedthesightofthetrees，whichremindedherofhercrime，gaveordersthattheyshouldbeuprooted。Buttheemperorheardofit，andforbadethetreestobetouched，saying，’Letthemalone;Iliketoseethemthere！TheyarethefinestaspensIhaveeverbeheld！’

Andtheaspensgrewasnoaspenshadevergrownbefore。Ineachdaytheyaddedayear’sgrowth，andeachnighttheyaddedayear’sgrowth，andatdawn，whenthestarsfadedoutofthesky，theygrewthreeyears’growthinthetwinklingofaneye，andtheirboughssweptacrossthepalacewindows。Andwhenthewindmovedthemsoftly，theemperorwouldsitandlistentothemallthedaylong。

Thestepmotherknewwhatitallmeant，andhermindneverceasedfromtryingtoinventsomewayofdestroyingthetrees。Itwasnotaneasything，butawoman’swillcanpressmilkoutofastone，andhercunningwillovercomeheroes。Whatcraftwillnotdosoftwordsmayattain，andifthesedonotsucceedtherestillremainstheresourceoftears。

Onemorningtheempresssatontheedgeofherhusband’sbed，andbegantocoaxhimwithallsortsofprettyways。

Itwassometimebeforethebaittook，butatlength——evenemperorsareonlymen！

’Well，well，’hesaidatlast，’haveyourwayandcutdownthetrees;butoutofonetheyshallmakeabedforme，andoutoftheother，oneforyou！’

Andwiththistheempresswasforcedtobecontent。Theaspenswerecutdownnextmorning，andbeforenightthenewbedhadbeenplacedintheemperor’sroom。

Nowwhentheemperorlaydowninitheseemedasifhehadgrownahundredtimesheavierthanusual，yethefeltakindofcalmthatwasquitenewtohim。Buttheempressfeltasifshewaslyingonthornsandnettles，andcouldnotclosehereyes。

Whentheemperorwasfastasleep，thebedbegantocrackloudly，andtotheempresseachcrackhadameaning。Shefeltasifshewerelisteningtoalanguagewhichnoonebutherselfcouldunderstand。

’Isittooheavyforyou，littlebrother？’askedoneofthebeds。

’Oh，no，itisnotheavyatall，’answeredthebedinwhichtheemperorwassleeping。’Ifeelnothingbutjoynowthatmybelovedfatherrestsoverme。’

’Itisveryheavyforme！’saidtheotherbed，’foronmeliesanevilsoul。’

Andsotheytalkedontillthemorning，theempresslisteningallthewhile。

Bydaybreaktheempresshaddeterminedhowtogetridofthebeds。Shewouldhavetwoothersmadeexactlylikethem，andwhentheemperorhadgonehuntingtheyshouldbeplacedinhisroom。

Thiswasdoneandtheaspenbedswereburntinalargefire，tillonlyalittleheapofasheswasleft。

Yetwhiletheywereburningtheempressseemedtohearthesamewords，whichshealonecouldunderstand。

Thenshestoopedandgathereduptheashes，andscatteredthemtothefourwinds，sothattheymightblowoverfreshlandsandfreshseas，andnothingremainofthem。

Butshehadnotseenthatwherethefireburntbrightesttwosparksflewup，and，afterfloatingintheairforafewmoments，felldownintothegreatriverthatflowsthroughtheheartofthecountry。Herethesparkshadturnedintotwolittlefisheswithgoldenscales，andonewassoexactlyliketheotherthateveryonecouldtellatthefirstglancethattheymustbetwins。

Earlyonemorningtheemperor’sfishermenwentdowntotherivertogetsomefishfortheirmaster’sbreakfast，andcasttheirnetsintothestream。Asthelaststartwinkledoutoftheskytheydrewthemin，andamongthemultitudeoffisheslaytwowithscalesofgold，suchasnomanhadeverlookedon。

Theyallgatheredroundandwondered，andaftersometalktheydecidedthattheywouldtakethelittlefishesaliveastheywere，andgivethemasapresenttotheemperor。

’Donottakeusthere，forthatiswhencewecame，andyonderliesourdestruction，’saidoneofthefishes。

’Butwhatarewetodowithyou？’askedthefisherman。

’Goandcollectallthedewthatliesontheleaves，andletusswiminit。Thenlayusinthesun，anddonotcomenearustillthesun’sraysshallhavedriedoffthedew，’answeredtheotherfish。

Thefishermandidastheytoldhim——gatheredthedewfromtheleavesandletthemswiminit，thenputthemtolieinthesuntillthedewshouldbealldriedup。

Andwhenhecameback，whatdoyouthinkhesaw？Why，twoboys，twobeautifulyoungprinces，withhairasgoldenasthestarsontheirforeheads，andeachsoliketheother，thatatthefirstglanceeveryonewouldhaveknownthemfortwins。