Page:Turkish fairy tales and folk tales (1901).djvu/254



Once upon a time, a long long time ago, when fleas were shod with ninety and nine pieces of iron, and flew up into the blue sky to fetch us down fairy-tales, there lived an Emperor who had three daughters. One day, when he was going to battle, he called these daughters to him and said to them:

"Look now, my darlings! Needs must that I go to the wars. My foe is advancing against me with a huge host. 'Tis with great bitterness of heart that I part from you. In my absence, take care that you have your wits about you, behave well, and look after the affairs of the household. You have my leave to walk in the garden and enter all the rooms of my house, only in the chamber at the bottom of the corridor on the right-hand side you must not enter, or it will not be well with you."

"Depart in peace, papa!" cried they. "Never yet have we disobeyed the words of thy commands.