Page:The Folk-Lore Journal Volume 4 1886.djvu/82

74 :8. Little Snow-White.
 * 9. Roland.


 * (The Step-mother appears in all these stories, except Nos. 6 and 7, in which, and in Nos. 1, 3, 4, and 6, Step-sisters are mentioned.).


 * 10. Fir-Apple.


 * (Here the place of the Step-mother is taken by the Old Cook.)

The idea entertained by the ancients that some persons understood the language of animals is expressed in the following stories:—


 * 1. The Twelve Hunters.


 * 2. Faithful John.


 * 3. The Two Brothers.


 * 4. The Three Languages.


 * 5. The Golden Bird.


 * 6. The White Snake.

Finally, the association of the idea of wisdom with the snake is shown in the following:—


 * 1. The Snake Leaves.


 * 2. The White Snake.

In conclusion, I will consider shortly how far the partial classification attempted above agrees with the views expressed by Mr. Ralston. There is not much to be said in connection with the non-mythological stories, except that those in which riddles or some other kind of problem is propounded are entitled to be regarded as "moral" where, as in The Riddle, the problem partakes of the nature of the difficult task which is so common in folk -tales. As to Mr. Ralston's mythological stories, it seems to me that the first class, which consists of transformation tales and those of magic and witchcraft, as well as the "Eclipse-Myths," contain a very important moral. They proclaim the ultimate triumph of good over evil, as well as, generally, that good and evil conduct meet with their just reward. The same may be said of many of Mr. Ralston's "Demon Stories," particularly the large