The Three Billy Goats Gruff
Taper Tom
Why the Bear is Stumpy-Tailed
Reynard and the Cock
Bruin and Reynard Partners
Boots and His Brothers
The Lad Who Went to the North Wind
The Giant Who Had No Heart in His Body
The Sheep and the Pig Who Set Up Housekeeping
The Parson and the Clerk
Father Bruin
The Pancake
Why the Sea is Salt
The Squire’s Bride
Peik
The Princess Who Could Not Be Silenced
The Twelve Wild Ducks
Gudbrand-on-the-Hillside
The Princess on the Glass Hill
The Husband Who Was to Mind the House
Little Freddy with His Fiddle
[Illustration: “Are you afraid?”]
Once on a time there was a poor woodcutter who had
so many children that he had not much of either food
or clothing to give them. Pretty children they
all were, but the prettiest was the youngest daughter,
who was so lovely there was no end to her loveliness.
It was on a Thursday evening late in the fall of the
year. The weather was wild and rough outside,
and it was cruelly dark. The rain fell and the
wind blew till the walls of the cottage shook.
There they all sat round the fire busy with this thing
and that. Just then, all at once, something gave
three taps at the window pane. Then the father
went out to see what was the matter, and, when he
got out of doors, what should he see but a great White
Bear.
“Good evening to you!” said the White
Bear.
“The same to you,” said the man.
“Will you give me your youngest daughter?
If you will, I’ll make you as rich as you are
now poor,” said the Bear.
Well, the man would not be at all sorry to be so rich;—but
give him his prettiest lassie, no, that he couldn’t
do, so he said “No” outright and closed
the door both tight and well. But the Bear called
out, “I’ll give you time to think; next
Thursday night I’ll come for your answer.”
Now, the lassie had heard every word that the Bear
had said, and before the next Thursday evening came,
she had washed and mended her rags, made herself as
neat as she could, and was ready to start. I can’t
say her packing gave her much trouble.
Next Thursday evening came the White Bear to fetch
her, and she got upon his back with her bundle, and
off they went. So when they had gone a bit of
the way, the White Bear said, “Are you afraid?”
“No, not at all,” said the lassie.
“Well! mind and hold tight by my shaggy coat,
and then there’s nothing to fear,” added
the Bear.
So she rode a long, long way, till they came to a
great steep hill. There on the face of it the
White Bear gave a knock, and a door opened, and they
came into a castle, where there were many rooms all
lit up, gleaming with silver and gold, and there too
was a table ready laid, and it was all as grand as
grand could be. Then the White Bear gave her a
silver bell. When she wanted anything she had
only to ring it, and she would get what she wanted
at once.
