iting-maids, and all the
womenkind in the castle had to come and try on the shoe, but there was
not one whom it would fit.

'But where is Kari Woodengown, then?' asked the Prince, when all the
others had tried on the shoe, for he understood the song of birds and it
came to his mind what the bird had said.

'Oh! that creature!' said the others; 'it's not the least use for her to
come here, for she has feet like a horse!'

'That may be,' said the Prince, 'but as all the others have tried it,
Kari may try it too.'

'Kari!' he called out through the door, and Kari came upstairs, and her
wooden gown clattered as if a whole regiment of dragoons were coming up.

'Now, you are to try on the gold shoe and be a Princess,' said the other
servants, and they laughed at her and mocked her. Kari took up the
shoe, put her foot into it as easily as possible, and then threw off her
wooden gown, and there she stood in the golden gown which flashed like
rays of sunshine, and on her other foot she had the fellow to the gold
shoe. The Prince knew her in a moment, and was so glad that he ran and
took her in his arms and kissed her, and when he heard that she was a
King's daughter he was gladder still, and then they had the wedding.(14)

(14) From P. C. Asbjornsen.

DRAKESTAIL

DRAKESTAIL was very little, that is why he was called Drakestail; but
tiny as he was he had brains, and he knew what he was about, for having
begun with nothing he ended by amassing a hundred crowns. Now the King
of the country, who was very extravagant and never kept any money,
having heard that Drakestail had some, went one day in his own person
to borrow his hoard, and, my word, in those days Drakestail was not a
little proud of having lent money to the King. But after the first and
second year, seeing that they never even dreamed of paying the interest,
he became uneasy, so much so that at last he resolved to go and see His
Majesty himself, and get repaid. So one fine morning Drakestail, very
spruce and fresh, takes the road, singing: 'Quack, quack, quack, when
shall I get my money back?'

He had not gone far when he met friend Fox, on his rounds that way.

'Good-morning, neighbour,' says the friend, 'where are you off to so
early?'

'I am going to the King for what he owes me.'

'Oh! take me with thee!'

Drakestail said to himself: 'One can't have too many friends.' ... 'I
will,' says he, 'but going on all-fours you will soon be tired. Make
y