than the old woman," and
ordered her to be thrown into the fire.

It was not long before the two elder princesses married kings' sons,
like their youngest sister, and the golden thread which they had spun in
the cottage in the wood provided them with rich dowries. But they never
discovered their parents, nor the place of their birth. It was reported
that the old woman had buried many more loads of golden thread in the
ground, but no one could find the spot.

[Footnote 129: "These forests are very useful in delivering princes from
their courtiers, like a sieve that keeps back the bran. Then the princes
get away to follow their fortunes."--_George MacDonald_, "_The Light
Princess_."]

[Footnote 130: Compare the scene with the four Grey Women in the second
part of _Faust_.]

[Footnote 131: Nine is a mystical number as well as seven.]

[Footnote 132: Ahti, the God of the Waters.]

[Footnote 133: A sacred tree in Eastern Europe, as it is in the British
Isles.]

[Footnote 134: See page 108.]

SECTION II

_ORPHAN AND FOUNDLING STORIES_

The Esthonians appear to be very compassionate towards orphans, for many
of their tales relate to the adventures of neglected or ill-used orphan
children, and the wonderful events by which their welfare was finally
secured. Nevertheless, wicked stepmothers and farmers' wives are just as
common as in other folk-tales.

The first story of this class which we have selected, "The Wood of
Tontla,"[135] is specially interesting from its resemblance to Tieck's
well-known German story of "The Elves," which must originally have been
derived from the same source as the present narrative.

With the Orphan Stories proper I have placed others relating to stolen
or friendless children.

[Footnote 135: _Tont_ is a common name for a house-spirit.]

THE WOOD OF TONTLA.

(KREUTZWALD.)

In ancient times there was a beautifully wooded region in Alutaga (north
of Lake Peipus), which was called the Wood of Tontla. But no one dared
to enter it, and those who had chanced to approach it related that they
had seen an old tumbledown house through the thick trees, surrounded by
creatures of human appearance, with which the grass swarmed like an
anthill. These forms were ragged and dusky, and looked like gipsies, and
there were many old women and half-naked children among them. A peasant
who had wandered rather deeper into the wood than usual, as he was
returning home one dark night af