Page:Christmas Fireside Stories.djvu/211

 Peik* 199 '^Well, had he been at home now he wouldn't have had long fø IHÉ|,*' said the king ; " it's no use sparing the life of such a scamp," pliyed so many tricks upon you, and so he ran away and leffc me béhind here both without food or money," said Peik, trying to aj|pear like a shy bashful maiden. to live on ; there is little use in sitting in the cottage here and st|rving," said the king. Ves, he would willingly do that, and so the king took him and let him learn everything, and kept him as one of his own daughters ; in fact the king felt now as if he had all his three daughters again4 for Peik stitched and sewed and sung and played with them, and was in their company early and late. Some time afterwards a prince came to the palace to woo one of the princesses. tosay which one you will have." So the prince got leave to go up in their bower and get acquainted with them. In the end he liked Peik best, and threw a silk handkerchief into his lap, and so they began getting every th|ng ready for the wedding, and shortly the prince's relations arrived at the palace, and the wedding festivities commenced in eapiest with feasting and drinking ; but on the wedding day, as night was coming on, Peik dared not remain any longer, and he stole out of the palace and ran across the fields ; and there was no bride to be found. And worse remains to be told, for the two princesses were suddenly tåken ill, and all the guests had to break up and take their departure just as they were in the middle of all the fun and fekting. The king was both enraged and sorrowful at these misforturaes, aqd began to wonder what could really be the cause of them. So he mounted his horse and rode out, for he thought it was so lonely to stay aione by himself a.t home ; but when he came out
 * Hes gone away," said he who sat m the sister's clothes.
 * He knew your majesty was coming to punish him for håving
 * Come along with me to the palace, and you shall get enoragh
 * Yes, I have three daughters," said the king ; " you have only