and nursed it for some time.
Then she carefully shook up the pillows of the little bed, laid the baby
down and tucked the coverlet in all round him. She did not forget the
little Roe either, but went to the corner where it lay, and gently
stroked its back. Then she silently left the room, and next morning when
the nurse asked the sentries if they had seen any one go into the castle
that night, they all said, 'No, we saw no one at all.'
For many nights the Queen came in the same way, but she never spoke a
word, and the nurse was too frightened to say anything about her visits.
After some little time had elapsed the Queen spoke one night, and said:
'Is my child well? Is my Roe well?
I'll come back twice and then farewell.'
The nurse made no answer, but as soon as the Queen had disappeared she
went to the King and told him all. The King exclaimed, 'Good heavens!
what do you say? I will watch myself to-night by the child's bed.'
When the evening came he went to the nursery, and at midnight the Queen
appeared and said:
'Is my child well? Is my Roe well?
I'll come back once and then farewell.'
And she nursed and petted the child as usual before she disappeared. The
King dared not trust himself to speak to her, but the following night he
kept watch again.
That night when the Queen came she said:
'Is my child well? Is my Roe well?
I've come this once, and now farewell.'
Then the King could restrain himself no longer, but sprang to her side
and cried, 'You can be no one but my dear wife!'
'Yes,' said she, 'I am your dear wife!' and in the same moment she was
restored to life, and was as fresh and well and rosy as ever. Then she
told the King all the cruel things the wicked witch and her daughter had
done. The King had them both arrested at once and brought to trial,
and they were condemned to death. The daughter was led into the forest,
where the wild beasts tore her to pieces, and the old witch was burnt at
the stake.
As soon as she reduced to ashes the spell was taken off the little Roe,
and he was restored to his natural shape once more, and so brother and
sister lived happily ever after.(6)
(6) Grimm.
PRINCESS ROSETTE
ONCE upon a time there lived a King and Queen who had two beautiful sons
and one little daughter, who was so pretty that no one who saw her could
help loving her. When it was time for the christening of the Princess,
the Queen--a
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