Page:The Folk-Lore Journal Volume 1 1883.djvu/231

 Rh Meanwhile the daughters illtreated Mariquita in all sorts of ways, until at last one of them more merciful than the others got them to leave her in peace. The maiden said to this one, "Little sister, bring me a little water to wash my hands." She brought it to her in a broken earthen pot. But the others cried out, "What a fine lady! she does not like to go and wash herself in the river!" But the kind one said, "There now, don't you see that the poor little thing is blind, and might fall into the water?" She washed her hands, and said, "Keep this water, little sister, till to-morrow." The old man's daughter said, "But to-morrow I will bring thee fresh water." Mariquita said, "But I want the same." At last the girl put it away among some shrubs, spilling a little on the ground. The next day Mariquita said, "Little sister, bring me the water that I asked thee yesterday to keep for me." She went to bring it, and found in its stead a block of silver, and silver on the ground where the water was spilt; and in bringing it the potsherd came to pieces from the weight of the silver. "What is this," said she, "that I have found instead of the water?" Mariquita said, "This is silver; tell daddy to go to the town and sell it, for it is worth a great deal; and let him buy for you clothes and food." The little old man did as Mariquita said; they bought it of him for a great deal of money; he bought plenty of clothes and plenty of food, and went home well pleased, for he had never even dreamed of so much riches.

Mariquita laughted heartily at the surprise of these people; and while she laughed, gathered in her lap the pearls that fell from her mouth. Then she said to the little old man, "Take these, daddy, they are fine pearls; take them to the town and sell them, for they are worth a great deal. Buy more food and all that you need." Meanwhile she asked the girls for a comb, to comb her hair. They brought her one; for since she had made them rich, they were so kind to her that they did not know what to make of her. She began to comb herself at the corner of the fireplace; and the girls to take care of her feet that she might warm them, put them so close to the fire that it almost burnt them. She kept the hair that fell from her head, and the next day she had a handful of golden threads. "Take these, daddy," said she to the little old man, "and go to town and sell them, for they are threads of gold. Buy all you need; all that you get for them is for you." The little old man was well pleased, and brought much money to his daughters.