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THE LOST SON. |
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that the queen had been asleep, and allowed the wild beasts to destroy the child.
The king, when he saw the blood on the apron, believed the eook's story, and, in his wrath against the queen, ordered a high vower to be built, in which the sun and moon could never shine. In this tower the poor queen was to be shut up for seven years, without food or water, and where he supposed she would soon die of starvation. But he was mistaken; two good fairies were sent to her, in the form of white doves, who brought her meat and drink twice a day, for the whole time.
After a time, the cook, who knew nothing about the doves, left the castle, and the service of the king, for he thought if the child should wish anything while I am here it would be unlucky for me. So he went to the place where the child was concealed, and found him much grown, and able to speak. After a time, he said to him, "Why don't you wish that we may have here a beautiful castle, and garden, and furniture, and all that is necessary to make it complete ? "
The boy uttered the wish, and the words were no sooner out of his mouth than his wish was accomplished.
Time passed on, and again the cook said to the boy, " Why don't you wish to have a pretty little girl as a companion?"
No sooner was the wish expressed, than a little girl made her appearance, who was so beautiful that no painter could have truly represented her in a picture.
The children played together, and were very happy, and the cook went out hunting as if he had been a nobleman. At last, a fear arose in his mind that if the boy should one day wish for his father to come, it would bring great trouble upon him, and as he had a fine castle, and plenty of money, he did not want the boy any longer.
So one day he called the little maiden to go out with him, an& said, "To-night, while the boy is asleep, you must take a knife, and thrust it into his heart; for I have discovered that if he lives he can do us great harm.'1
The poor child begged him not to ask her to do such a dreadful thing; but he said, " If you disobey me, it will cost you your life."
So she went away; but in the morning she had not done the wicked deed: " I could not do it," she said with tears; " why |
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