"
The old man then nodded kindly, and disappeared in a moment.
Johnny at once did as he had been told, and as soon as the tree fell
he saw, sitting in the midst of the roots, a goose with feathers of
purest gold. He lifted it carefully out, and carried it with him to
the inn, where he meant to spend the night.
Now, the landlord had three daughters, and no sooner did they see the
goose than they wanted to know what curious kind of bird it might be,
for never before had they seen a fowl of any kind with feathers of
pure gold. The eldest made up her mind to wait for a good opportunity
and then pluck a feather for herself. So as soon as Johnny went out
of the room she put out her hand and seized the wing of the goose,
but what was her horror to find that she could not unclasp her fingers
again, nor even move her hand from the golden goose!
Very soon the second sister came creeping into the room, meaning also
to steal a feather; but no sooner did she touch her sister than she,
too, was unable to draw her hand away.
Lastly came the third, anxious to secure a feather before the goose's
master returned.
"Go away! go away!" screamed her two sisters, but she could not
understand why she should not help herself as well as the others.
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