go."

But the bear would not be moved by his speeches. He gave the
ill-disposed creature a blow with his paw, and he lay lifeless on the
ground. Meanwhile, the maidens were running away, making off for home
as well as they could; but all of a sudden they were stopped by a
well-known voice that called out, "Snow-White, Rose-Red, stay! Do not
fear. I will accompany you."

The bear quickly came towards them, but as he reached their side,
suddenly the bear-skin slipped to the ground, and there before them
was standing a handsome man, completely garmented in gold, who said,
"I am a king's son, who was enchanted by the wicked dwarf lying
over there. He stole my treasure, and compelled me to roam the woods
transformed into a big bear until his death should set me free.
Therefore he has only received a well-deserved punishment."

[Illustration: "THE BEARSKIN SLIPPED TO THE GROUND."]

Then Rose-Red and Snow-White and the Prince all went back to the
cottage, and some time afterwards Snow-White married the Prince, and
Rose-Red, his brother, who shared between them the enormous treasure
which the dwarf had collected in his cave.

The old mother spent many happy years with her children. The two
rose-trees she took with her when she left the cottage, and they grew
in front of her window, where they continued to bear each year the
most beautiful roses, red and white.

[Illustration]

[Illustration]

THE SLEEPING BEAUTY

Once upon a time there lived a king and queen who had no children; and
this they lamented very much. But one day, as the queen was walking by
the side of the river, a little fish lifted its head out of the water,
and said, "Your wish shall be fulfilled, and you shall soon have a
daughter."

What the little fish had foretold soon came to pass; and the Queen had
a little girl who was so very beautiful that the king could not cease
looking on her for joy, and determined to hold a great feast. So he
invited not only his relations, friends, and neighbours, but also all
the fairies, that they might be kind and good to his little daughter.
Now there were thirteen fairies in his kingdom, and he had only twelve
golden dishes for them to eat out of, so that he was obliged to leave
one of the fairies without an invitation. The rest came, and after the
feast was over they gave all their best gifts to the little princess;
one gave her virtue, another beauty, another riches, and so on till
she had all that was