Page:Tales and Legends from the Land of the Tzar.djvu/133

Rh woman, "the old man is more likely coming home with Mary's bones in a bag."

But at that moment the gates were thrown open and a troop of horses ran into the yard, while Mary and her father were sitting in a cart, loaded with gold and all kinds of good things.

The woman got red with rage, exclaiming,—

"You must take my daughter to-morrow, old man. Netty is much cleverer, and is sure to bring double what Mary has brought."

So the next day the old man took Netty into the forest, and provided her in the same way as he had done for his own daughter.

Netty had hardly put the porridge on the fire, when the same little mouse came out and asked her to give it some, but Netty cried out angrily,—

"Anything else, you horrid old thing!"

And taking up a piece of wood, Netty threw it at the mouse, who ran away disgusted. Netty then ate up all the porridge and went to bed.

At midnight our friend the bear walked in.

"Come, girl," he said, "let us have a game at blind-man's buff; here is a bell, take it and run about ringing it, while I try to catch you with my eyes closed."

Netty, who was dreadfully frightened, took the bell and began running about ringing it, but her hands trembled and her knees shook frightfully.

"You will be killed if you don't run fast enough, you bad-tempered, horrid girl!" cried the little mouse, coming from under the floor.

Next morning the woman told her husband to go