he remained an underling. Before he was
eighteen years of age he had got his own flocks, and in the course of a
few years was the richest sheep-master in the whole island of Bergen. At
last he was able to buy a knight's estate for himself, and that estate
was Grabitz, close by Rambin, which now belongs to the Lords of Sunde.
My father knew him there, and how from a shepherd's boy he became a
nobleman. He always conducted himself like a prudent, honest, and pious
man, who had a good word for every one. He brought up his sons like
gentlemen, and his daughters like ladies, some of whom are still alive,
and accounted people of great consequence.

Well may people who hear such stories wish that they had met with such
an adventure, and had found a little silver bell which the underground
people had lost!

MAIDEN SWANWHITE AND MAIDEN FOXTAIL.

There was once upon a time a wicked woman who had a daughter and a
step-daughter. The daughter was ugly and of an evil disposition, but the
step-daughter was most beautiful and good, and all who knew her wished
her well. When the girl's step-mother and step-sister saw this they
hated the poor girl.

One day it chanced that she was sent by her step-mother to the well to
draw water. When the girl came there she saw a little hand held out of
the water, and a voice said--

"Maiden, beautiful and good, give me your golden apple, and in return
for it I will thrice wish you well."

The girl thought that one who spoke so fairly to her would not do her an
ill turn, so she put the apple into the little hand. Then she bent down
over the spring, and, taking care not to muddy the water, filled her
bucket. As she went home the guardian of the well wished that the girl
would become thrice as beautiful as she was, that whenever she laughed a
gold ring might fall from her mouth, and that red roses might spring up
wherever she trod. The same hour all that he wished came to pass. From
that day the girl was called the Maiden Swanwhite, and the fame of her
loveliness spread all through the land.

When the wicked step-mother perceived this, she was filled with rage,
and she thought how her own daughter might become as beautiful as
Swanwhite. With this object she set herself to learn all that had
happened, and then she sent her own daughter to fetch water. When the
wicked girl had come to the well, she saw a little hand rise up out of
the water, and heard a voice which said--

"Maiden, beauti