The King at last asked the waiting-maid what punishment should be
dealt to a traitor.
Not knowing that she was passing sentence on herself, the
waiting-maid's answer was as cruel as she was wicked. Said she:
"Let her be put into a barrel, and drawn by two white horses, up hill
and down, till she is dead."
When the wicked maid had been punished according to her own decree,
the Princess was wedded to the young Prince, and reigned with him
for many happy years over the kingdom where she had first served as a
goose-girl.
* * * * *
THE GOLDEN BIRD
BY WILHELM AND JAKOB GRIMM
There was once a King who had a beautiful pleasure-garden behind his
palace, in which grew a tree that bore golden apples. As fast as the
apples ripened they were counted, but the next day one was always
missing.
This was made known to the King, who commanded that a watch should be
kept every night under the tree. Now, the King had three sons, and
he sent the eldest into the garden when night was coming on; but at
midnight he fell fast asleep, and in the morning another apple was
missing. The following night the second son had to watch, but he did
not succeed any better, and again another apple was missing in the
morning.
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