and
they sat down and discussed the best opportunity of showing off their
skill. Just then a hare came running across the field towards them.
'Look!' said the barber, 'here comes something in the nick of time!'
seized basin and soap, made a lather whilst the hare was approaching,
and then, as it ran at full tilt, shaved its moustaches, without cutting
it or injuring a single hair on its body.

'I like that very much indeed,' said the father. 'Unless the others
exert themselves to the utmost, the house will be yours.'

Soon after they saw a man driving a carriage furiously towards them.
'Now, father, you shall see what I can do!' said the blacksmith, and he
sprang after the carriage, tore off the four shoes of the horse as
it was going at the top of its speed, and shod it with four new ones
without checking its pace.

'You are a clever fellow!' said the father, 'and know your trade as well
as your brother. I really don't know to which of you I shall give the
house.'

Then the third son said, 'Father, let me also show you something;' and,
as it was beginning to rain, he drew his sword and swung it in cross
cuts above his head, so that not a drop fell on him, and the rain fell
heavier and heavier, till at last it was coming down like a waterspout,
but he swung his sword faster and faster, and kept as dry as if he were
under cover.

When the father saw this he was astonished, and said, 'You have produced
the greatest masterpiece: the house is yours.'

Both the other brothers were quite satisfied, and praised him too, and
as they were so fond of each other they all three remained at home and
plied their trades: and as they were so experienced and skilful they
earned a great deal of money. So they lived happily together till they
were quite old, and when one was taken ill and died the two others were
so deeply grieved that they were also taken ill and died too. And so,
because they had all been so clever, and so fond of each other, they
were all laid in one grave.

The Snow-queen

Translated from the German of Hans Andersen by Miss Alma Alleyne.

There was once a dreadfully wicked hobgoblin. One day he was in capital
spirits because he had made a looking-glass which reflected everything
that was good and beautiful in such a way that it dwindled almost to
nothing, but anything that was bad and ugly stood out very clearly and
looked much worse. The most beautiful landscapes looked like boiled
spinach, and th