Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 18, 1907.djvu/234

 198 Collectanea.

too hard, she weeps. (3) An old woman comforts her ; she need but say: "My knife, butcher! my rubber, scour! my broom, sweep!" and work will be done. (4) Heroine looks ugly and dirty ; prince throws water at her, and asks whence she comes. She is silent ; but old woman bids her answer: "From Water-throwing Country." Afterwards, when prince has thrown slipper at her, she says she comes from "Slipper-throwing Country." (5) On Sundays she goes to church, wearing in turn, at old woman's advice, star, moon, and sun dresses ; hastens home and changes for crow-bill cloak. (6) Third Sunday she is advised to loosen one shoe-string ; as she hurries back prince follows, and catches loose shoe. (7) All the girls are summoned to court to try shoe, and, last of all, Crowbill-cloak. Shoe fits her ; she produces its fellow ; throws off cloak, and appears in golden sun-dress. Happy marriage to prince.

Ibid.

D " Den tillfalliga bruden " (The bride by chance).

(i) Two princesses agree upon the marriage of their unborn children. This girl and boy when born are, for some unknown reason, separated. The girl is put into a pit underground with a maid-servant and little dog, for three or seven years. (2) Boy discovers her, but is obliged to go away ; he promises to return three times. First time heroine gives him handkerchief with three drops of blood on it, saying: "If ever you find a person able to wash out these blood-spots I shall be dead, and you can marry." Second time she gives a finely- woven kerchief: "When you find a person able to weave a kerchief like this, marry her." Third visit she gives an embroidered kerchief: "If you find a girl able to embroider another like this, marry her." (3) At last, girl and maid being famished, cast lots which shall die ; but wild animals scratch open the earth-house. (4) Heroine goes to seek her lover ; comes to royal castle, where hero-prince is about to marry lady if she can wash out the blood-spots.^ She cannot ; heroine offers assistance, is scolded, but does the task ; also weaves and embroiders a kerchief without prince's know- ledge. (5) Wedding to be celebrated ; but lady bears a child,^ and heroine goes to church in her stead. Heroine says to the horse : " Fall on thy knees, thou falcon gray !

'Tis a king's child that will ride you to-day." To the bridge that breaks beneath every person who is not the child of a king, she says :

" Thou broad bridge keep strong, A royal child rides along."

^Comp. Cinderella, No. 275, from Agen, and see Note 13, p. 481 ; also. Am. Folk-Lore Journal, ix, 284.

^Comp. Swedish Story, No. 276, and see Note 14, p. 483.