GRIMM'S FAIRY TALES - online book

130 Fairy Stories Adapted & Arranged for young people

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	THE TAILOR AND THE BEAR.
	he regain his liberty than he immediately set off in a rage to run after the carriage, The princess heard him growling and snorting behind it, and in her terror she cried out, " Oh, the bear is behind, and if he overtakes us we shall be lost." The tailor was quite prepared and self-possessed; he stood on his head, and sticking his legs through the window cried out, " Bear, do you see the vice ? if you don't go away now, you shall be screwed down and never again set free." When the bear heard this he turned round and ran back with all his might. Our young tailor travelled with his bride to church where he was happily married, and on their return the princess took him by the hand and led him into the castle, where they continued to live in peace and were as happy as skylarks. Whoever will not believe this story must pay a forfeit of one dollar.
	A sparrow had brought up four little ones in a swallow's nest; just as they were all fledged, a dreadful wind knocked in the nest and destroyed it. They were all, however, fortunately able to fly and take care of themselves, but the old bird was very sad because her children had been driven into the world so young, and before she had warned them of the dangers to which they would be ex­posed and taught them how to escape from them. In the autumn, a large number of sparrows met together in a ploughed field, and among others, the old birds met their children, and full of joy, led them home to the old tree where they had been brought up. "Ah, my dear children," said the mother bird, "you cannot think how anxious I have been about you all the summer, for you were carried away by the wind before I could teach you a single lesson. Now listen to my advice and follow the example of your father, for little birds have many great dangers to withstand." Then she asked them how they had fared during the summer, and if they had found plenty of food. " Oh yes," said one, " we stayed in a garden and sought for worms and caterpillars till the cherries were ripe." aAh; my son," said.the father bird, "it is not wrong to indulge