Page:Story of the little white mouse, or, The overthrow of the tyrant king (1).pdf/10

10 always brought some into the chamber; and as at usual meal-time the queen always gave it the three peas, she found in exchange a number of dishes of the most delicate meats.

One day the queen was looking out of the window, to see how long she should make the cord to tie the basket to, when she should let it down, and she perceived an old woman below, leaning upon a stick, who spoke to her thus:---"I know your trouble, and if you wish it, I will serve you." "Alas! my dear friend," replied the queen, "you will very much oblige me, if you will come every evening to the bottom of the tower, to receive my child, whom I will let down to you: you must feed and nurse it, and if ever I am rich I will repay you well." "I care for no pecuniary reward," answered the old woman; "but I am very nice in my eating, and wish for nothing so much as a fat plump mouse. If you find such a one in your prison, kill it and throw it to me; your infant will be the better for it."

When the queen heard this, she began to weep without answering, and the old woman, after having waited a little, asked her why she cried: "Because," replied the queen, "there only comes into my chamber one little mouse, so pretty and so engaging, I cannot find in my heart to kill it." "How," replied the old woman, with great do