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THE FAIRY GIFTS

NCE upon a time there was a widow who had two daughters. The older was so like her mother, both in looks and in temper, that those who had seen one had as good as seen both. They were so proud. and disagreeable that no one could live with them. The younger was the very pattern of her father in goodness and pleasant ways, and was, besides, one of the prettiest girls ever seen.

The mother, as one might suppose, thought a great deal of her older daughter, and had a hearty dislike for the younger. She, poor child, had to work hard all day, and every day, and take her meals in the kitchen.

Twice every day she had to go to a well half a mile away and bring home a great pitcher full of water.

One day, while she was at the spring, a poor woman came and asked if she might have a drink of water. 'Why, yes, good mother," said she. She took her pitcher and rinsed it and drew some clear, cool water from the well, and held it for the old woman, that she might drink the more easily.

When she had finished drinking, the woman said, "You are such a kind, good girl, and your face pleases me so well, that I must find a gift for you" (for she was a fairy, who had taken the form of a poor woman, so that she might find out whether or not she was a good and kind girl); "and this shall be my gift: for every word you speak, a flower or a jewel shall fall from your lips."

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When she reached home again, her mother scolded her for being gone so long. "I am very sorry," she said, "for being so late." As she spoke, there fell from her lips two roses, two pearls, and two big diamonds. "Why, what is this?" said her mother. "What are all these pearls and diamonds, and how did they

come here?" This was the first time her mother had ever spoken so kindly to her.

The poor girl then told her mother just what had happened, and as she was telling her, a shower of sparkling stones fell from her lips.

"Your sister shall certainly go there also," said her mother. "See, Fanny, what falls from that child's mouth! The same gift would be fine for you. You have only to go to the spring for some water, and, if a poor woman asks for some, to give it to her very politely."

"A fine sight that would be," answered she, rudely. "Indeed, I'll carry no water."

"But you shall go," answered her mother, "and that at once."

So Fanny went, scolding all the way. She took with her the prettiest silver jug to be found in the house. No sooner had she reached the spring than she saw, coming from the wood, a lady splendidly dressed, who asked her for a drink. It was the same fairy who had spoken to her sister, but she now came dressed as a princess, so as to prove how ill-natured the older sister was.

"Perhaps you think I have come here only to bring water for you," she said, impudently. "To be sure I have brought this silver jug on purpose for you to drink from! Very likely, isn't it? Get your own water if you want any!"

"You are not very polite," said the fairy, coolly. "Since these are your ways, my gift to you shall be that for every word you speak, a snake or a toad shall fall from your lips."

When her mother saw her coming back, she called to her, "How now, daughter?"

"How now, mother!" said she, rudely, and lo! there fell from her lips two vipers and a toad.

"Oh, what is this I see?" cried her mother. "This is some naughty trick of your sister's; she shall pay for it!" And she ran to bring a stick to beat her.

The poor child was frightened, and ran and hid herself in the forest near by. The king's son, who was out hunting, happened to meet her, and seeing her sweet face, asked what she was doing there all alone, and why she was crying.

"Alas! sir," she said, "my mother has driven me from home!"

The king's son, when he saw five or six pearls and as many diamonds fall from her lips, was astonished, and begged her to tell him how such a thing could be. So she told him all that had happened, and he fell in love with her at once, and thought his father must be pleased with a daughter who had such a fairy gift. He took her home to his palace and married her.