matter! lie down and sleep; the morning is wiser than
the evening."

She ordered him to sleep, but she herself went out on the
steps, and called aloud with a mighty whistling cry. Then from
all sides there ran together carpenters and workmen; one
levelled the ground, another carried bricks. Soon had they
built a crystal bridge, and traced cunning devices on it; and then
they dispersed to their homes.

Early next morning Vasilissa the Wise awoke the Prince:

"Get up, Prince! the bridge is ready: my father will be
coming to inspect it directly."

Up jumped the Prince, seized a broom, took his place on the
bridge, and began sweeping here, clearing up there.

The Water King bestowed praise upon him:

"Thanks!" says he. "You've done me one service: now
do another. Here is your task. Plant me by to-morrow a
garden green--a big and shady one; and there must be birds
singing in the garden, and flowers blossoming on the trees, and
ripe apples and pears hanging from the boughs."

Away went the Prince from the Water King, all dissolved in
tears. Vasilissa the Wise opened her window and asked:

"What are you crying for, Prince?"

"How can I help crying? Your father has ordered me to
plant a garden in one night!"

"That's nothing! lie down and sleep: the morning is wiser
than the evening."

She made him go to sleep, but she herself went out on the
steps, called and whistled with a mighty whistle. From every
side there ran together gardeners of all sorts, and they planted
a garden green, and in the garden birds sang, on the trees
flowers blossomed, from the boughs hung ripe apples and pears.

Early in the morning Vasilissa the Wise awoke the Prince:

"Get up, Prince! the garden is ready: Papa is coming to
see it."

The Prince immediately snatched up a broom, and was off to
the garden. Here he swept a path, there he trained a twig.
The Water King praised him and said:

"Thanks, Prince! You've done me right trusty service. So
choose yourself a bride from among my twelve daughters. They
are all exactly alike in face, in hair, and in dress. If you can
pick out the same one three times running, she shall be your
wife; if you fail to do so, I shall have you put to death."

Vasilissa the Wise knew all about that, so she found time to
say to the Prince:

"The first time I will wave my handkerchief, the second I
will be arrangin