Page:Segnius Irritant or Eight Primitive Folk-lore Stories.pdf/13

 I must get up early to-morrow morning and go to dry the tears which the king’s daughter weeps every night for her husband, the woodcutter’s son, whom the king has sent for my three golden hairs.”

Early next morning the wind again howled outside, and on the ap of his little old mother awoke, instead of an old man, a beautiful golden-haired child, the divine sunrise; bade adieu to his mother, and flew away out of the eastern window. The grandmother now unfastened the cask again and said to Plavachek: “Look, here are the three golden hairs, and what answers Grandfather Know-All gave about those three things thou also now knowest. Go, and God be with thee! Now thou wilt see me no more; there is no further need.” Plavachek thanked the grandmother finely and went.

When he came to the first city the king asked him what sort of news he brought them. “Good,” said Plavachek. “Have the well cleaned out, and the frog that sits at the source of it killed, and the water will flow for you as it did formerly.” The king immediately ordered this to be done, and when he saw that the water gushed forth in full force, he presented Plavachek with twelve horses white as swans, and upon them as much gold and silver and precious stones as they could carry.

“When he came to the second city the king again asked him what sort of news he brought them. “Good,” said Plavachek. “Have the apple tree dug up, you will find a snake under the roots; kill this snake; then replant the apple tree, and it will bear you fruit as before.” The king at once ordered this to be done, and the apple tree clothed itself in blossom during the night as if it had been sprinkled with roses. The king was highly delighted, and presented Plavachek with twelve horses black as ravens, and upon them as much treasure as they could carry.

After this, Plavachek rode forward, and when he reached the black sea the ferryman asked him whether he knew when he should be set at liberty. “I know,” said Pavachek; “but ferry me across first and then I will tell you.” The ferryman, indeed, was reluctant; but when he saw there was no help for it, he finally ferried him over, four-and-twenty horses and all. “The next time thou hast some one to ferry over,” said Plavachek to him, hereupon, “put the oar into his hands and jump ashore, and he will be ferryman in thy place.”