ut to lie down in bed he would creep out of his
hedgehog skin, and leave it lying at the bedside; then the men must rush
in, throw the skin into the fire, and stand by till it was entirely
burnt up.

And so it was, for when it struck eleven, Jack my Hedgehog went to his
room, took off his skin and left it at the foot of the bed. The men
rushed in, quickly seized the skin and threw it on the fire, and
directly it was all burnt Jack was released from his enchantment and lay
in his bed a man from head to foot, but quite black as though he had
been severely scorched.

The King sent off for his physician in ordinary, who washed Jack all
over with various essences and salves, so that he became white and was a
remarkably handsome young man. When the King's daughter saw him she was
greatly pleased, and next day the marriage ceremony was performed, and
the old King bestowed his kingdom on Jack my Hedgehog.

After some years Jack and his wife went to visit his father, but the
farmer did not recognise him, and declared he had no son; he had had
one, but that one was born with bristles like a hedgehog, and had gone
off into the wide world. Then Jack told his story, and his old father
rejoiced and returned to live with him in his kingdom.

Grimm.

_THE GOLDEN LADS_

A poor man and his wife lived in a little cottage, where they supported
themselves by catching fish in the nearest river, and got on as best
they could, living from hand to mouth. One day it happened that when the
fisherman drew in his net he found in it a remarkable fish, for it was
entirely of gold. As he was inspecting it with some surprise, the fish
opened its mouth and said: 'Listen to me, fisher; if you will just throw
me back into the water I'll turn your poor little cottage into a
splendid castle.'

The fisher replied: 'What good, pray, will a castle be to me if I have
nothing to eat in it?'

'Oh,' said the gold fish, 'I'll take care of that. There will be a
cupboard in the castle, in which you will find dishes of every kind of
food you can wish for most.'

'If that's the case,' said the man, 'I've no objection to oblige you.'

'Yes,' observed the fish, 'but there is one condition attached to my
offer, and that is that you are not to reveal to a soul where your good
fortune comes from. If you say a word about it, it will all vanish.'

The man threw the fish back into the water, and went home. But on the
spot where his cottage used to sta