d you will find a
spring."

Lenka went and there, sure enough, was a clear bubbling spring and on
the ground beside it a bucket. She filled the bucket and carried it
back to the hut.

As she entered the door she could hardly believe her eyes, for on the
wall she saw a row of shining plates, big plates and little plates,
and cups, and everything else that ought to be in a kitchen. The old
beggar had started a fire, so Lenka at once put on water to boil.

"Look in the sack," the beggar said.

Lenka untied the sack again and here it was full of fine meal and
bread and smoked meat!

So now Lenka lost no time in preparing a good supper. Then she washed
the old beggar's face and hands and together they ate. After supper
Lenka spread out her ragged clothes on the floor of the inner room and
put the beggar in there for the night. She herself stretched out on
the kitchen bench. It was a hard bed but Lenka made no complaint and
presently she fell asleep.

At midnight there was a knocking at the door and a voice called out:

"_A man am I
Six inches high,
But a long, long beard
Hangs from my chin.
Open the door
And let me in!_"

Lenka jumped down and opened the door and there before her stood a
tiny dwarf with a long beard. He was Long Beard who lived in the
mountains and of whom Lenka had often heard stories.

He came in dragging after him a heavy bag of golden ducats.

"I was that old beggar," he said, "whose face you washed and with whom
you shared your supper. These ducats are to reward you for your
kindness. Now go into your bedroom and lie down comfortably."

As he said this he vanished.

Lenka went into her bedroom and there, instead of her few rags on the
floor, was a fine feather bed and coverlets and a painted chest full
of clothes. Lenka lay down on the feather bed and instantly fell
asleep.

On the third day her father came, supposing by that time Lenka had
either died of hunger or been devoured by wild beasts. At least, he
thought, he would gather together her bones.

But when he reached the hut he rubbed his eyes in surprise. Instead of
the rough hut, there was a pretty little cottage and instead of a
handful of bones there was a happy girl singing away at her spinning.

"My daughter, my daughter!" he cried. "How are you?"

"Very well, dear father. You couldn't have found a better place for
me."

She told him how happy she was and how pleasantly she passed the
time, s