Three
Snake-Leaves;" _Basque Legends_, p. 117; Benfey, _Pant._ I. 454, Cox,
_Aryan Myth._ I. 160; and _Germania_, XXI. p. 68. For non-Italian
versions of the story in the text see Koehler's notes in _Melusine_, p.
213, to a Breton version, and _Indian Fairy Tales_, pp. 242, 277.

In the above formula are embraced several somewhat different stories in
which the persecution of innocent wife proceeds from various persons.
For instance, in the Italian legends Sta. Guglielma is persecuted by her
brother-in-law; Sta. Ulila by her father and mother-in-law; and Stella
by her stepmother. See D'Ancona, _op. cit._, pp. 199, 235, 317. A
popular version, somewhat distorted, of the second of the
above-mentioned legends may be found in Nerucci, No. 39; of the third in
Gonz., No. 24.

More commonly, however, the persecution is on the part of envious
sisters or wicked stepmother. The important role played by the last in
tales of the North of Europe has its counterpart in those of the South.
The following story from Siena (Pitre, _La Scatola di Cristallo_) will
sufficiently illustrate this class.

XXI. THE CRYSTAL CASKET.

There was once a widower who had a daughter. This daughter was between
ten and twelve years old. Her father sent her to school, and as she was
all alone in the world commended her always to her teacher. Now, the
teacher, seeing that the child had no mother, fell in love with the
father, and kept saying to the girl: "Ask your father if he would like
me for a wife." This she said to her every day, and at last the girl
said: "Papa, the school-mistress is always asking me if you will marry
her." The father said: "Eh! my daughter, if I take another wife, you
will have great troubles." But the girl persisted, and finally the
father was persuaded to go one evening to the school-mistress' house.
When she saw him she was well pleased, and they settled the marriage in
a few days. Poor child! how bitterly she had to repent having found a
stepmother so ungrateful and cruel to her! She sent her every day out on
a terrace to water a pot of basil, and it was so dangerous that if she
fell she would go into a large river.

One day there came by a large eagle, and said to her: "What are you
doing here?" She was weeping because she saw how great the danger was of
falling into the stream. The eagle said to her: "Get on my back, and I
will carry you away, and you will be happier than with your new mamma."
After a long journey they