Wonder Tales from Many Lands 13

Wonder Tales from Many Lands 13

Before long they were married, and then Hassan became more of a

favourite with them than ever. Wealth and honours were heaped upon him,

and there was nothing that the King and Queen were not ready to do for

him.

 

The former favourite was more filled with rage and envy than ever. He

could scarcely eat or sleep, he was so envious.

 

Now after the King and Queen had been married for little more than a

year the Queen fell ill, and her illness was so grievous that all the

doctors in the kingdom could do nothing for her. At last it seemed as

though she must surely die.

 

When this became known, Hassan’s enemy went to the King and said, “Your

Majesty, I am but an ignorant man. I know you think nothing of me or my

words, but is it not possible that there is some drug in the Queen’s

own country that might cure her? And if so, why should not Hassan be

sent to fetch it for her? For he and he alone knows where her island

lies.”

 

This the enemy said because he hoped that if Hassan returned to the

island the people there would either kill him or make a prisoner of him

because he had carried off their Queen.

 

The King, however, never thought of that. He thought only of what might

save the Queen’s life. The advice he received seemed to him very wise.

He at once sent for Hassan and told him what he wished him to do—that

he was to return to the Queen’s own country, and demand of her court

physician some drug that would make her well.

 

Hassan thoroughly understood how dangerous this errand might prove. He

knew, too, why his enemy had suggested it; that it was not through any

love of the Queen, but from hatred of him.

 

However, he said nothing of this to the King. He only agreed to what

his master wished and at once made ready to set out. First, however, he

took out the third feather that the crow had given him, blew it into

the air, and called the crow to come to him.

 

At once the crow appeared.

 

“What would you have of me now?” it asked of the youth. “Has some new

trouble come upon you?”

 

“That I do not know,” answered Hassan, “but the King is sending me upon

a mission that may, it seems to me, prove very dangerous.”

 

He then told the crow what it was that the King required of him.

 

The crow seemed greatly disturbed when it heard of the Queen’s illness.

“You must go,” it said, “and go at once. There is indeed a drug in

the Queen’s palace that will save her life if you can but fetch it in

time. You will suffer no harm from the people in the palace. They will,

indeed, give you the drug at once when they learn that the Queen is

in need of it. But at the gateway of the palace there are two fierce

lions. These would certainly tear you to pieces before ever you could

enter, unless you had my help to depend on.”

 

The crow then bade the youth look carefully at its right wing. “You

will find there a single silver feather,” it said. “Pluck it out and

carry it with you. When the lions spring at you, you must at once

touch them with that feather, and then they will become gentle, and you

can pass them by unharmed.”

 

The crow stooped before Hassan and spread wide its wings, and Hassan

saw that the third feather from the tip of the right wing was of pure

silver. He plucked it out, and having hidden it in a safe place in

his clothing, he started out on his journey. For seven days and seven

nights he sailed across the seas in the same direction as he had gone

before, and on the morning of the eighth day he came within sight of

the island. He landed and made his way toward the palace, and he saw no

one on his way. No sooner did he approach the gateway than two fierce

lions sprang out and rushed at him as though to tear him to pieces.

 

Hassan was terrified at their appearance. It seemed as though he must

surely lose his life, but he stood firm until they were almost upon

him, and then he touched them with the feather. At once they became

perfectly gentle, and even fawned at his feet as though he were their

master. So Hassan passed by them unharmed and entered the palace.

 

Those who were there were very much surprised to see a stranger enter.

They could not understand how it was he had been able to pass by the

lions without being torn to pieces.

 

The youth explained the matter to them, however, and showed them the

silver feather. He also told them the sore need of their Queen, and

begged them, if they had any drug that could save her, to bring it to

him at once and let him go.

 

The people of the palace looked at him strangely when he showed them

the feather. But when he made known the illness of the Queen they

hastened to fetch a drug she always used, and gave it to him.

 

“This will save her,” they told him, “for she has often used it to

bring back life when it was almost gone.”

 

They then escorted him to the seashore, showing him the greatest

honour, and many of them wished to return with him to the King’s

country, but this he dared not allow.

 

It was again seven days and seven nights before Hassan came to the end

of the journey, and by that time the King was in despair. He had no

longer any hope. However, when he heard that the ship had arrived, he

sent his swiftest horses and riders to meet Hassan and bring him to the

palace.

 

The youth was at once taken into the room where the Queen was lying

stretched upon a couch, seemingly lifeless. The King, the court

physician, and her attendants were with her.

 

“Have you brought it? The drug?” cried the King.

 

Hassan drew it forth from his bosom, where he carried it, and placed it

in the hands of the Queen’s physician. He did not notice that the crow

had followed him into the room.

 

The physician poured a few drops of the drug into a goblet and held it

to the Queen’s lips. No sooner had she swallowed it than a wonderful

change came over her. The colour returned to her cheeks and the life to

her limbs. She opened her eyes and sat up and looked about her.

 

At once her eyes fell upon the crow, and it was to it that she

addressed her first words.

 

“Oh, thou careless and disobedient one!” she cried, “into what danger

didst thou not throw thy mistress.”

 

“Alas!” answered the crow, “thou hast indeed been near to death. But

all that is over now. There is only happiness before thee. But for me,

is my misery never to end?”

 

“Yes, and that right soon,” cried the Queen. “If I owe my danger to

thee, so also do I owe to thee my happiness. Draw near to me.”

 

All in the room had listened in wonder to this talk between the Queen

and the crow. But a still stranger thing was to happen.

 

As the crow hopped close to the couch, the Queen took a few drops of

water from a vial near by and sprinkled it over the bird, at the same

time pronouncing some magic words.

 

At once, instead of the crow, a tall and graceful maiden stood there

before the Queen, a maiden of such great beauty that she was even the

equal of the Queen herself.

 

The King and Hassan were filled with wonder at this sight.

 

The Queen then turned to the King with a gentle smile.

 

“This maiden,” said she, “was my favourite of all the Peris that once

attended me. But she grew proud and haughty because of my favour, and

at last presumed to disobey even me. To punish her, I changed her into

a crow and sent her to fly about the world, despised by all. But I will

now forgive her because she brought me to you, and will take her back

into favour if she can assure me of her repentance.”

 

The Peri sank on her knees before the Queen and kissed her hand,

weeping. She assured her mistress that her pride was indeed broken, and

that from now on she would be her faithful and obedient servant.

 

The Queen then raised her from her knees and made her sit beside her,

and all was joy and happiness.

 

As for Hassan, he found the maiden so beautiful that he could not keep

his eyes from her. Already he loved her with his whole heart, and

longed for nothing so much as to have her for a wife. The Peri returned

his love, and with the consent of the King and Queen they were married,

and from that time on they lived in the greatest joy and contentment.

 

As for the former favourite, he was so miserable over the sight of

Hassan’s happiness that at length he could bear it no longer. He sold

his house and goods and sailed away, no one knew whither, and if anyone

regretted him, it was not Hassan.

 

 

 

 

THE FOUR WISHES

 

A GERMAN STORY

 

 

THERE was once a baron so rich and powerful that only the king himself

was greater. He was very fierce and warlike, and what he wished for he

took from rich and poor alike, and none was able to withstand him.

 

The baron had a very gentle and beautiful wife. Often she wept bitterly

over the evil deeds her husband did in the world, but this the baron

never knew, for she was careful to hide her tears from him.

 

One day the lady was sitting beside a fountain in the gardens, and she

was very sad. Presently she leaned her head on her hand and began to

weep. Suddenly the waters of the fountain were disturbed, and up from

the midst of them arose the figure of a nixie or water spirit.

 

The lady was frightened at such a strange sight, but the nixie spoke to

her gently and bade her not be afraid.

 

“I,” said she, “am the spirit who watches over the fortunes of the

castle. I have come to tell you that within a year a child will be born

to you—a little girl. This child will suffer many things, both dangers

and sorrows. There is only one way in which she can be protected. If

you will make me her godmother I will be able to guard her and bring

her safely through her troubles, but in no other way can she be saved

from them.”

 

The lady was filled with amazement at what she heard. She had known

there was a spirit that watched over the fortunes of the castle, and

now she promised eagerly that if a child came to her the nixie should

be its godmother.

 

At once the nixie smiled at her and waved its hand, and then sank back

again into the waters of the fountain.

 

In less than a year, as the nixie had foretold, a little daughter

was born to the lady, a child as beautiful as the day. The time for

christening the child was set. She was to be called Matilda, after her

mother, but the lady refused to say who was to stand godmother to the

child. A godmother she had chosen, but she would tell no one who that

godmother was.

 

The hour of the christening arrived, all the ladies and gentlemen of

the court were gathered together, and still no godmother. Suddenly,

without a sound, a stranger appeared among them. She was dressed from

head to foot in silver that shone and rippled like running water,

and a silver veil was wound about her head. At once the Lady Matilda

recognized her as the nixie.

 

The water spirit took her place as godmother to the child, and the

christening proceeded. When it was over, every one looked to see what

gift the godmother would give the child. They had no doubt that it

would be something very rare and handsome, but instead it was only

a common little carved wooden ball, such as ladies sometimes use to

carry perfume in. This the godmother placed in the child’s hand. Then,

turning to the lady, she said, “Guard carefully this ball which I have

given to the child. Place it in some safe place for her. Her good

fortune—yes, even her life itself—depends upon this ball.”

 

After saying this, the stranger at once disappeared, and none could

tell where she went, nor how.

 

The Lady Matilda took the ball and put it away among her jewels in a

strong chest, and orders were given that no one should touch or disturb

it. As soon as the little Matilda was old enough, the mother meant to

give the ball to her and tell her of its value.

 

Before that time, however, and while the child was still very young,

the lady died, and the ball was forgotten. The little Matilda grew up,

knowing nothing of its worth; indeed, she did not even know that there

was such a thing in the castle.

 

Not long after his wife’s death the baron married again. His second

wife was a very handsome woman, but she was cold and proud and

envious. From the first day she saw Matilda, she hated the child

because of her beauty and her gentleness. She treated her so unkindly

that Matilda was very unhappy. She was worse fed and clothed than any

servant in the castle, and the meanest room and the hardest bed were

given to her. Still she grew in beauty day by day, and every one except

the stepmother loved her for her gentle ways and her sweetness.

 

[Illustration: “DO NOT BE AFRAID, MY CHILD,” SAID THE NIXIE TO MATILDA]

 

One day the stepmother wished to examine the jewels that had once

belonged to the Lady Matilda. She intended to choose from among them

such as she might admire. She had the jewel casket brought to her room,

and unlocked it and began to examine the ornaments that were in it.

Some of them she decided to keep, but others she threw aside. At last,

hidden away in a corner, she came upon a common little carved wooden

ball.

 

“What is this?” she asked. “Why should this have been locked away with

the jewels as though it were valuable?”

 

Her ladies whom she had brought with her to the castle could not tell

her, and she disdainfully threw the ball out through the open window of

her room.

 

Now it so chanced that Matilda was passing under the window at that

very time, and the ball fell directly at her feet. Surprised, she

stooped and picked it up, and examined it. The top seemed to be screwed

on, but though she tried again and again she could not unscrew it.

However, Matilda took the greatest fancy to the ball. Through the day

she carried it in her pocket or the bosom of her dress, and at night

she slipped it under her pillow, and somehow she felt quite happy and

contented now in spite of the unkindness of her stepmother.

 

One day Matilda sat down beside the fountain in the garden, and, as

usual, she began to play with the ball, tossing it up into the air and

catching it again. Suddenly the ball slipped from her fingers and fell

into the fountain. Matilda bent over and tried to reach it, but it had

floated beyond her reach. Then a hand appeared in the waters and seized

it, and the figure of the nixie rose out of the fountain.

 

“Do not be afraid, my child,” said the nixie to Matilda. “I wish you

nothing but good. I am your godmother, and it was I who gave this ball

to your mother to keep for you until you were old enough to take charge

of it yourself. Unfortunately she died before that time arrived. It is

well you have found it at last, for the time is at hand when you will

need it. Listen well to what I now tell you. This ball contains three

wishes which you can use at any time. But be careful. Only in the time

of your greatest need must you use its magic, for after it has given

you three wishes, its power will be gone, and it can do nothing more

for you.”

 

The nixie then told Matilda that there was one other way in which the

ball could aid her. If at any time she wished to become invisible, she

had only to hold it in her hand and say:

 

“Light to guide me,

Dark to hide me,

Let no harm nor ill betide me.”

 

No one then would be able to see her until she wished to become visible

again.

 

At once, after saying this, the nixie disappeared, dissolving back

into the waters, but the ball she left lying on the grass beside the

fountain.

 

Matilda picked it up and slipped it into her bosom, and then went back

to the castle, very grave and thoughtful.

 

Now in the years while Matilda was growing to womanhood, the baron’s

enemies had grown very strong, so strong indeed that they no longer

feared him. A plan was made to attack him in his castle, to take him

prisoner, and to rob him of the possessions that he himself had stolen

from others. The attack was planned for a certain night when there

would be no moon, and it would be too dark for those inside the castle

to see their enemies approach.

 

Matilda went to bed early that evening, and soon fell asleep. She slept

for only a few hours, however. Suddenly, just before midnight, she

was awakened by a great uproar and confusion. The assault had begun.

The baron’s enemies had surrounded the castle. They entered in and

captured the baron and his wife, and presently they came to the door

of Matilda’s room and began to break down the door. The poor girl was

overcome with terror.

 

Suddenly she remembered the charm the nixie had taught her. She caught

up the wooden ball from under her pillow, and in a whisper she repeated:

 

“Light to guide me,

Dark to hide me,

Let no harm nor ill betide me.”

 

At once she became invisible. The door was broken open, and the foemen

came into the room, but they saw no one. Matilda, indeed, was there

close beside them, but they could not see her, and she was careful not

to brush against them. Unseen, she passed from the room and down the

stairs and out of the castle. There was a light in the heavens now, a

red glow of flames, for the castle had been set on fire.

 

Matilda hurried away, and when she had gone far enough to feel that

she was safe, she wished and became visible again. Just as day was

breaking, she came to a deep forest. So far she had seen no one, but

before venturing farther she gathered roots and herbs, and with them

she stained her face and hands so that no one would have known her. She

looked like a gipsy, or some poor servant-maid in search of work. She

had now no fear of robbers, for who would think of stopping anyone so

poor and miserable-looking as she?

 

All day she travelled through the forest, and by night she came out on

the other side of it and saw before her a great castle. Matilda knocked

at the door and humbly begged the woman who opened it to take her in

and give her food and shelter. In return for such help she would gladly

do any work that might be needed about the castle.

 

Now it so happened that the old woman was the housekeeper, and she was

in need of a scullery-maid. Matilda, with her poor clothes and her

darkened hands and face, looked just the one for such a place.

 

“If you are willing to work,” said the housekeeper, “it may be that we

can strike a bargain. You may begin by scouring these pots and pans. If

you do it well, I will keep you here as scullery-maid.”

 

Matilda at once set to work, and soon had the kettles and pans shining

like new. The housekeeper was very much pleased, and decided to engage

her. So Matilda became a scullery-maid in the castle. Sometimes she

helped the cook, for she was very clever in cookery.

 

Now the nobleman to whom this castle belonged was a young and handsome

count named Conrad. His father was dead and his mother was anxious

to see him married; but never yet had the count seen any lady who

attracted him sufficiently.

 

At last the old countess decided to give a ball for the count, and to

invite to it all the most beautiful ladies from the country round.

Among them all she hoped her son would see some one whom he would care

to make his wife.

 

The invitations were sent out, and everywhere there was great

excitement. Not only was the count young and handsome; he was also as

rich as a prince, and so courteous that he was beloved by all. There

were few among the ladies who did not hope that they might be chosen as

his bride.

 

At the castle nothing was talked of but the ball that was to be given

for the count. Matilda listened to all that was said, and the more

she heard, the more she wished that she too might go to the dance and

mingle with the other ladies. All the while she had been at the castle

she had kept the ball with her, but she had been careful not to use any

of the three wishes it contained. But now the time had come when she

determined to try its power. The night of the ball Matilda finished her

work early, and then she stole away to her room and fastened the door

so that no one could come in.

 

First of all she took water and washed off the stain from her face and

hands. When this was done, her skin was once more as fair as a lily,

and her cheeks as red as roses. She shook down her wonderful hair so

that it fell in a cloud about her. She combed and braided it, and then she took out the little wooden ball and held it in her hand.