sband had described the
exact way which led to the sparrow-princess's house. When she had got it
into her head, she put on her best clothes and set out at once. But in
her blind haste she often missed the path, and she wandered for several
hours before she at length reached the little house. She walked boldly
up to the door and entered the room as if the whole place belonged to
her, and quite frightened the poor girl, who was startled at the sight
of her old enemy. However, she concealed her feelings as well as she
could, and bade the intruder welcome, placing before her food and wine,
hoping that when she had eaten and drunk she might take her leave. But
nothing of the sort.

'You will not let me go without a little present?' said the greedy wife,
as she saw no signs of one being offered her. 'Of course not,' replied
the girl, and at her orders two chests were brought in, as they had been
before. The old woman instantly seized the bigger, and staggering under
the weight of it, disappeared into the forest, hardly waiting even to
say good-bye.

It was a long way to her own house, and the chest seemed to grow heavier
at every step. Sometimes she felt as if it would be impossible for
her to get on at all, but her greed gave her strength, and at last she
arrived at her own door. She sank down on the threshold, overcome with
weariness, but in a moment was on her feet again, fumbling with the lock
of the chest. But by this time night had come, and there was no light in
the house, and the woman was in too much hurry to get to her treasures,
to go and look for one. At length, however, the lock gave way, and
the lid flew open, when, O horror! instead of gold and jewels, she saw
before her serpents with glittering eyes and forky tongues. And they
twined themselves about her and darted poison into her veins, and she
died, and no man regretted her.

The Story of Ciccu

From Sicilianische Mahrchen.

Once upon a time there lived a man who had three sons. The eldest was
called Peppe, the second Alfin, and the youngest Ciccu. They were all
very poor, and at last things got so bad that they really had not enough
to eat. So the father called his sons, and said to them, ' My dear boys,
I am too old to work any more, and there is nothing left for me but to
beg in the streets.'

'No, no!' exclaimed his sons; 'that you shall never do. Rather, if it
must be, would we do it ourselves. But we have thought of a better plan
than t