Then he went to the second, and asked:
"Why have you such an overhanging lip?"
"From moistening the thread," she replied, "from moistening the
thread."
Then he asked the third:
"Why have you such a big thumb?"
"From pressing the thread," answered she.
Then the Prince became frightened, and said:
"Then shall my lovely bride never more turn a spinning-wheel, as long
as she lives!"
Thus was the maiden freed from the hated flax-spinning.
* * * * *
THE CAT AND THE MOUSE IN PARTNERSHIP
A cat having made the acquaintance of a mouse, told her so much of the
great love and affection that he had for her, that the mouse at
last consented to live in the same house with him, and to have their
domestic affairs in common. "But we must provide for the winter,"
said the cat, "or we shall be starved; you, little mouse, cannot go
everywhere looking for food, or you will meet with an accident."
This advice was followed, and a pot was brought with some grease in
it. However, when they had got it, they could not imagine where it
should be put; but at last, after a long consideration, the cat said:
"I know no better place to put it than in the church, for there no
one dares to steal anything; we will set it beneath the organ, and not
touch it till we really want it.
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