Page:The Folk-Lore Journal Volume 2 1884.djvu/248

240 his youngest brother. As the latter comes alone he is asked why he has not brought his wife, whereupon he runs home and tells her. She directs him to go to the lake and make a peculiar cry to which he will receive an answer. He must then say "Your daughter has sent me. Give me a gold rod and a silver one; a goose's egg, and two hen's eggs. Bring them home." He follows her directions, obtains all the enchanted objects, and returns home with them. She strikes the ground with the gold rod, and three female slaves appear. She strikes again, and another female slave appears with a basket full of magnificent clothes, and the prince and princess dress themselves in these. The princess then strikes the ground with the silver rod, and a coach with four white horses appears. In the meantime the sisters-in-law arc laughing in expectation of the frog princess's coming, but they are to be disappointed. The carriage drives up to the door, the expected frog, now a brilliantly attired young princess, is handed out by her brothers-in-law, and is introduced to the king. She gives the eggs to them and they become presents of inestimable value. The marriage of the youngest prince and his bride is straightway celebrated, and the king and queen from the lake send their daughter a marriage portion.

This is the same as a story in Imbriani's Florentine collection. We cannot overlook also the riscontro between Cinderella's coach and horses, produced so conveniently for the heroine in the Italian and French stories.

No. 9, The Cats.

A poor old beggar-woman goes home supperless one night to her little house, but, as there is nothing there for her to eat, hunger drives her out again into the street. After wandering about for some time she sees a light at a distance. She makes for it, thinking that there is some wedding festivity going on. She knocks at the door, and a great black cat opens it. She enters and goes up stairs, and in a beautifully furnished room sees two lady-cats, each sitting on her own sofa and smoking respectively a chibouque and a narghileh. The old woman apologizes, but the cats receive her kindly and tell her to fetch her sack. She goes out and borrows one of a friend, telling her that some one has given some flour. On her return with the sack