ve the same gift as thy sister?" asked she. "Go
thou to the fountain and fetch water. And if an old woman asks thee
for a drink, mind thou treat her civilly."

The girl refused to perform the menial task, until the widow lost
patience and drove her to it. Finally, she took the silver tankard and
sullenly obeyed. No sooner was she at the fountain than from the wood
came a lady most handsomely attired, who asked the haughty girl for a
drink from her pitcher.

"I have not come here to serve you," she rudely replied, "but take the
pitcher and help yourself, for all I care. I would have you know that
I am as good as you."

The lady was the fairy, who had taken the appearance of a princess to
see how far the girl's insolence would go. "I will make you a gift,"
she said, "to equal your discourtesy and ill breeding. Every time you
speak, there shall come from your mouth a snake or a toad."

The girl ran home to her mother, who met her at the door. "Well,
daughter," she said, impatient to hear her speak. When she opened her
mouth, to the mother's horror, two vipers and two toads sprang from
it. "This is the fault of your wretched sister," the unhappy mother
cried. She ran to beat the poor younger sister, who fled to the
forest to escape the cruel blows. When she was past pursuit, she threw
herself upon the green grass and wept bitterly.

The King's son, returning from the hunt, found her thus, and asked the
cause of her tears.

"My mother has driven me from my home," she told him. She was so
pretty that he fell in love with her at once, and pressed her to tell
him more. She then related to him the whole story, while pearls and
diamonds kept falling from her lips. Enraptured, he took her to the
King, who gave his consent to their immediate marriage.

Meanwhile the ugly and selfish sister had made herself so disagreeable
that even her own mother turned against her. She, too, was driven
forth into the forest, where she died miserable and alone.

* * * * *

ENGLISH STORIES

* * * * *

THE HISTORY OF TOM THUMB

ADAPTED BY ERNEST RHYS

It is said that in the days of the famed Prince Arthur, who was king
of Britain, in the year 516 there lived a great magician, called
Merlin, the most learned and skilful enchanter in the world at that
time.

This great magician, who could assume any form he pleased, was
traveling in the disguise of a poor beggar, a