ould have for herself a dress of shining silk."
"Go, little brother, it shall be as she wishes," said the fox.
But only for a time was Marleen content with the beautiful dress. "I
will stay no longer in this smoky old hut," said she. "Go, brother,
and ask the fox for a fine house to live in. He can give us one if he
will."
"Be satisfied, dear sister," said Ludwig. "We are quite happy as we
are."
"No, no, I will not be satisfied!" said Marleen, "You must do as I tell
you;" and she gave her brother no peace until he went again into the
forest.
"How now, little brother!" said the fox, when he saw Ludwig coming
toward him through the trees; "is it not well with you?"
"Alas, my sister is not satisfied with the dress," said Ludwig.
"What would she, little brother?"
"A fine house in place of our poor old hut."
"Go, little brother, it shall be as she wishes," said the fox.
Soon Marleen wearied also of the stately house in which they now lived.
"I am tired to death of this old doll and this empty house and this
poor dress," she said. "I must have something to amuse me. Go,
brother, to the fox and tell him that I must have one of every kind of
toy in the whole world, and quickly, too."
"Be satisfied, dear sister," said Ludwig. "We are quite happy as we
are."
"No, no, I will not be satisfied!" said Marleen. "You must do as I
tell you;" and she gave her brother no peace until he went again into
the forest.
"How now, little brother!" said the fox when he saw Ludwig coming
toward him through the trees; "is it not well with you?"
"Alas, my sister is not satisfied with the house."
"What would she, little brother?"
"One of every kind of toy in the whole world."
"Go, little brother, it shall be as she wishes," said the fox.
Now there were so many of the toys that they filled the whole house,
and it took days and days just to look at them. At last, however,
Marleen had seen and touched every one, and she cried:
"These things are dull and stupid. I must have something to amuse me.
Go, brother, and tell the fox that these toys are all ugly and useless;
but that there is one thing that I would like above all else, one thing
that would make me quite happy. Tell him I must have the great silvery
ball that hangs at night above us in the sky,"
"Be satisfied, dear sister," said Ludwig. "We are quite happy as we
are."
"No, no, I will not be satisfied!" said Marleen. "You must do as I
te
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