Now I stand with one foot on one side my threshold and
the other foot on the other side; tell me whether I mean to go in or
come out. If you cannot guess my riddle, you should not require me to
guess yours."
Being unable to guess her intention the mandarin took his departure,
and the family lived long in opulence and good repute under its chosen
head.
* * * * *
A DREADFUL BOAR
A poor old woman who lived with her one little granddaughter in a
wood was out gathering sticks for fuel, and found a green stalk of
sugar-cane, which she added to her bundle. She presently met an elf in
the form of a wild Boar, that asked her for the cane, but she declined
giving it to him, saying that, at her age, to stoop and to rise again
was to earn what she picked up, and that she was going to take the
cane home, and let her little granddaughter suck its sap. The Boar,
angry at her refusal, said that he would, during the coming night, eat
her granddaughter instead of the cane, and went off into the wood.
When the old woman reached her cabin she sat down by the door and
wailed, for she knew she had no means of defending herself against the
Boar.
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