Page:The fairy tales of Hans Christian Andersen (c1899).djvu/52

 thing for you; however, I’ll bear it in mind. But, now I think of it, I am in want of somebody to take care of the swine; for I have a vast number of pigs.”

So the prince became the imperial swineherd. They gave him a wretched little room near the pig-sty, and here he was obliged to remain. But he sat and worked the whole day, and by the evening he had made a neat little pipkin, and round it was a set of bells, and the moment the pot began to boil, they fell to jingling most sweetly, and played the old melody:—

But the most ingenious part of the business was, that if one held one’s finger in the steam of the pipkin, one could immediately smell what dinner was cooking on every hearth in the town. This was indeed something far superior to the rose!

The princess now happened to be walking out with her ladies-in-waiting; and on hearing the melody, she stood still, and appeared highly delighted; for she could play “Oh! dearest Augustine.” It was, indeed, the only tune she could play, but then she played it with one finger.

“Why, that’s what I play!” cried she. “He must be a very intellectual swineherd. I say, go and ask him the price of his instrument.”

So one of the ladies-in-waiting was obliged to go down to speak to him; but she put on pattens.

“How much do you ask for your pipkin?” inquired the lady.

“I ask ten kisses from the princess,” said the swineherd.

“Good gracious!” said the lady-in-waiting.

“I will not take less,” answered the swineherd.

“Well, what did he say?” asked the princess.

“I dare not repeat it,” replied the lady-in-waiting.

“Then whisper it into my ear.”

“He is very ill bred!” observed the princess, as she turned away. But after walking a few steps, the bells jingled so sweetly—