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The little old man jumped from his hollow tree and ran forward to claim his bride. But when he saw the star shining on her forehead he gave a loud cry, threw his hands before his eyes, and turned and fled through the wood faster than any deer could have done. Nobody ever saw him again, and the Strawberry-Girl married the rich man and lived happily for many long years."
Besides, they are a great deal easier to pick. "The way to the rich man's house led through a very thick wood, and while the Strawberry-Girl was going through this wood a little old man stepped from a hollow tree and stood in the path before her. "'Aha! says he, 'I find you alone at last. Where are you going, and what have you got?
"The stupid Strawberry-Girl gave her promise, and then the little old man touched her on the forehead with his left thumb, pointed at a bright star with his right forefinger, and then went back to his hollow tree, warning the girl not to forget her promise.
"So she went to her chest and got the silver chain with which the Strawberry-Girl had been fastened to the blackberry-bush, and wrapped and twined it in the shape of a star. This star she fixed on the Strawberry-Girl's forehead by means of a velvet band, and told her to wear it constantly. "It happened that on the very day the year expired the Strawberry-Girl was walking through the wood.
"Leave your cards on your friends, old boy; say good-bye to that pretty little strawberry-girl whose picture you have been doing; polish it off to-day, and dry the little thing's tears. I read P.P.C. in the stars last night, and my familiar spirit came to me in a vision, and said, 'Clive, son of Thomas, put thy travelling-boots on."
Lest any premature moralist should prepare to cry fie against the good, pure-minded little J. J., I hereby state that his strawberry-girl was a little village maiden of seven years old, whose sweet little picture a bishop purchased at the next year's Exhibition. "Are you going already?" cries J. J., removing the bit out of his mouth.
In fact, I have heard my mother say that the Strawberry-Girl was as stupid and as silly as she could be, but she was so beautiful that people were inclined to forgive her for being stupid. "Granny Grim-Eye used to send her with strawberries to sell to the rich man who owned nearly all the land in that part of the country.
You would have known everything that is hidden in nature everything that has been stored between the lids of all the books. It is a great pity! "'Yes, says the stupid Strawberry-Girl, 'I expect it is; but what must I do with these berries? I haven't time to pick more. "'Well, says the little old man, 'I'll make a bargain with you.
"'I am carrying some strawberries to your master, says the Strawberry-Girl, who imagined that the rich man was everybody's master. "'My master! cries the little old man; 'my master! But if he were my master, and I wanted to get rid of him, I'd not get in your path, for every berry in your basket is rank poison. "'Well, anyhow, they are red, says the stupid Strawberry-Girl.
In the shade of this tree the harvesters sit and eat their lunch, and look out upon the quivering air of the fields. Here the Sunday saunterer stops and lounges with his book, and bathes his hands and face in the cool fountain. Hither the strawberry-girl comes with her basket and pauses a moment in the green shade.
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