So she paid no heed to their cries, but came toward them and stretched
out her hand to the goose.
In doing so she touched her second sister, and then, alas! she too,
was held fast.
They pulled and tugged with might and main, but it was all of no use;
they could not get away, and there they had to remain the whole night.
The next morning Johnny tucked the goose under his arm, and went on
his way, never troubling himself about the three girls hanging on
behind.
Then what a dance he led them: over hedges and ditches, highways and
byways! Wherever he led they were bound to follow. Half way across a
sunny meadow, they met the parson, who was terribly shocked to see the
three girls running after a young man.
"For shame!" he cried angrily, and seized the youngest by the hand to
drag her away.
But no sooner did he touch her than the poor parson was made fast too,
and had to run behind the girls, whether he would or no.
They had scarcely gone half a dozen paces before they met the sexton,
who stared with astonishment to see his master running at the heels of
the three girls.
"Hi! stop, your reverence," he cried. "You will be late for the
christening."
He seized the parson's sleeve as he ran past him, but the poor sexton
had to join the procession too.
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