Page:Lays and Legends of Germany (1834).djvu/254

 way and cannot find it again. So I pray you, good man, take pity on me, and lead me out of the thicket into the right path, that I may make the best of my way home?’

To this Rubezahl answered, ‘Well, my good woman, make yourself happy, I will show you the way. But what good are these roots to you—they will be of little benefit. Throw away this rubbish, and gather from this tree as many leaves as will fill your basket, you will find them answer your purpose much better.’

‘Alas, who would give a penny for them, they are but common leaves, and good for nothing.’

‘Be advised, my good woman,’ said Rubezahl, ‘throw away those you have got and follow me.’ But Rubezahl repeated his injunctions over and over again in vain, so often, that he at last was almost tired of doing, for the woman would by no means be persuaded; at last, he was fairly obliged to lay hands upon the basket, throw the herbs by main force out, and supply their place with leaves from the surrounding bushes. When he had done so, he told the woman to go home, and that she might do so, put her in the right way.

Upon this, the woman with her children and her basket, though certainly against her will, journeyed forth some distance, but they had not gone far before she saw some valuable herbs growing by the way-side; and no sooner did she perceive them, than she longed to gather them, and carry them with her, because she felt a hope that she should obtain something more for them, than for the good-for-nothing leaves with which her basket was crammed. Accordingly, she emptied it, threw away what she sup-