The Complete Fairy Tales & Other Stories
By Hans Christian Andersen - online book

Oxford Complete Illustrated Edition all his stories written between 1835 and 1872.

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	298 THE ELDER TREE MOTHER Hand in hand they went forth out of the arbour, and now they stood in the beauteous flower garden of home. The father's staff was tied up near the fresh grass-plot, and for the little boy there was life in that staff. As soon as they seated themselves upon it, the polished head
	turned into a noble neighing horse's head, with a flowing mane, and four slender legs shot forth ; the creature was strong and spirited, and they rode at a gallop round the grass-plot—hurrah ! ' Now we're going to ride many miles away,' said the boy; ' we'll ride to the nobleman's estate, where we went last year!' And they rode round and round the grass-plot, and the little girl, who, as we know, was no one else but Elder Mother, kept crying out,