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KING ROUGHBEARD. 201 |
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" It is my house and yours," he replied, " where we must live together;" and he led her in, but the door was so low that they had to stoop as they entered.
"Where are the servants ?" asked the king's daughter.
"What servants?" replied her husband. "You must wait upon yourself now; and you will have to do all the work, to light the fire, to fetch the water, and cook my dinner, for I am too tired to help you."
The princess was being punished now for her pride. Her husband, although he could sing, looked so repulsive in his ragged clothes, and with his face tied up as if he had the toothache, that she did not care to do anything for him. Besides, she knew nothing of cooking or lighting fires, so he had to get up and do it himself. After she had taken a little—for she was too sad to eat much—she laid herself down on a miserable bed quite tired out In the morning, however, her husband woke her very early that she might clean up the house and get breakfast, and she tried to do it to please him; for he was kind and patient with her. Thus they continued for a few days till their stock of provisions was all gone. Then said the husband, " Wife, we cannot go on in this way, staying here and earning nothing; you shall learn to plait willow and make baskets—it is not difficult—while I go and earn money some other way."
So he went out, cut some willow twigs, and brought them home. She soon learnt to plait, but the hard willow twigs wounded her soft hands and made them quite sore.
" I see that will not do," said her husband; "you must try to spin, dearest; perhaps you may manage that better."
The king's daughter tried spinning also, but it was of no use ; the hard thread soon cut through her soft white fingers till the blood ran down.
" See, now," said her husband, " you are good for nothing at work. I am badly oft" indeed with such a helpless wife; so I must find a trade for you. If I purchase a basket-full of different wares, you can sit in the market and sell them."
"Ah !" thought she, "when the market people from my father's kingdom come out and see me sitting there with things to sell, how they will mock me."
But she could not help herseh; she was obliged to go, for she did |
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