United States or Sierra Leone ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Then he sat down and tried what he could do at it, but it was soon very clear that single-handed he could never hope to accomplish it in the time. Assistance was out of the question unless, he suddenly thought unless the King of the Ants could help. On him he began to call, and before many minutes had passed that royal personage made his appearance. Jesper explained the trouble he was in.
'H-m, said the king; 'that is something, but the tub isn't full yet. To the queen he whispered, 'I didn't think you would be such a fool. 'What did YOU do? she whispered in return. 'Do you suppose I would do anything for HIM? said the king, and then hurriedly ordered Jesper to go on. 'In the next place, said Jesper, 'there came a fat old fellow on the same errand.
Great was the wonder over all the palace, and the king and queen seemed very much put out, but it was noticed that the princess actually smiled to Jesper. 'Well, well, said the king; 'you have done that very well indeed. If you are as successful with a little task which I shall give you to-morrow we shall consider the matter settled, and you shall marry the princess.
Jesper was inclined to laugh at this, but he kept a grave face, said he would remember the offer, and walked on. At a turn of the road he suddenly came upon the old woman. 'Good morning, said she; 'what have YOU got in your basket? 'Pearls, said Jesper; 'I'm going to the palace to win the princess with them. And in case she might not believe him, he lifted the cover and let her see them.
There are many who might say that these qualities do not meet with reward in life and that they end in establishing a habit of drudgery, but, after all, we must have poetic justice in a fairy story, occasionally, at any rate, even if the child is confused by the apparent contradiction. Such a story is "Jesper and the Hares."
There was no help for it, and a pretty figure the old lady made in carrying out her task; the cackling wasn't very well done, but Jesper said it would do, and gave her the hare. As soon as she had left the field, the whistle was sounded again, and back came long-legs-and-ears at a marvellous speed.
'Don't you trouble about that, said the king; 'that's my part of the business. This seemed to everybody present rather unfair, but no one liked to be the first to say so, and Jesper had to put the best face he could on the matter, and begin his story. 'Yesterday, he said, 'when I was herding the hares, there came to me a girl, in a shabby dress, and begged me to give her one of them.
At a sign from the king, two servants carried in a large empty tub, which they set down in the open space before the throne, and Jesper was told to stand beside it. 'Now, said the king, 'you must tell us as many undoubted truths as will fill that tub, or you can't have the princess. 'But how are we to know when the tub is full? said Jesper.
'Stop, stop, shouted the king; 'you needn't say another word; the tub is full. Then all the court applauded, and the king and queen accepted Jesper as their son-in-law, and the princess was very well pleased, for by this time she had quite fallen in love with him, because he was so handsome and so clever.
By an hour before sunset you must have these sorted out into four heaps, and if a single grain is found to be in a wrong heap you have no further chance of marrying my daughter. I shall lock the door, so that no one can get in to assist you, and I shall return at the appointed time to see how you have succeeded. The king walked off, and Jesper looked in despair at the task before him.
Word Of The Day