him to bits, body
and bones, and tossed him out into the burn, and after that he went up
to the hill-side. There the billy-goats got so fat they were scarce
able to walk home again; and if the fat hasn't fallen off them, why
they're still fat; and so:

Snip, snap, snout,
This tale's told out.

THE THREE PRINCESSES IN THE BLUE MOUNTAIN

There were once upon a time a _King_ and _Queen_ who had no children,
and they took it so much to heart that they hardly ever had a happy
moment. One day the _King_ stood in the portico and looked out over
the big meadows and all that was his. But he felt he could have no
enjoyment out of it all, since he did not know what would become of it
after his time. As he stood there pondering, an old beggar woman came
up to him and asked him for a trifle in heaven's name. She greeted him
and curtsied, and asked what ailed the _King_, since he looked so
sad.

"You can't do anything to help me, my good woman," said the _King_;
"it's no use telling you."

"I am not so sure about that," said the beggar woman. "Very little is
wanted when luck is in the way. The _King_ is thinking that he has no
heir to his crown and kingdom, but he need not mourn on that account,"
she said. "The _Queen_ shall have three daughters, but great care must
be taken that they do not come out under the open heavens before they
are all fifteen years old; otherwise a snowdrift will come and carry
them away."

When the time came the _Queen_ had a beautiful baby girl; the year
after she had another, and the third year she also had a girl.

The _King_ and _Queen_ were glad beyond all measure; but although the
_King_ was very happy, he did not forget to set a watch at the Palace
door, so that the _Princesses_ should not get out.

As they grew up they became both fair and beautiful, and all went well
with them in every way. Their only sorrow was that they were not
allowed to go out and play like other children. For all they begged
and prayed their parents, and for all they besought the sentinel, it
was of no avail; go out they must not before they were fifteen years
old, all of them.

So one day, not long before the fifteenth birthday of the youngest
_Princess_, the _King_ and the _Queen_ were out driving, and the
_Princesses_ were standing at the window and looking out. The sun was
shining, and everything looked so green and beautiful that they felt
that they must