home again, a lovely lady met him, dressed so fine, and who looked so
thoroughly good and kind; she offered to get the babe christened, but
after that, she said, she must keep it for her own. The husband
answered, he must first ask his wife what she wished to do; but when
he got home and told his story, the wife said, right out, 'No!'

Next day the man went out again, but no one would stand if they had
to pay the fees; and though he begged and prayed, he could get no
help. And again as he went home, towards evening the same lovely lady
met him, who looked so sweet and good, and she made him the same
offer. So he told his wife again how he had fared, and this time she
said, if he couldn't get any one to stand for his babe next day, they
must just let the lady have her way, since she seemed so kind and
good.

The third day, the man went about, but he couldn't get any one to
stand; and so when, towards evening, he met the kind lady again, he
gave his word she should have the babe if she would only get it
christened at the font. So next morning she came to the place where
the man lived, followed by two men to stand godfathers, took the babe
and carried it to church, and there it was christened. After that she
took it to her own house, and there the little girl lived with her
several years, and her foster-mother was always kind and friendly to
her.

Now, when the lassie had grown to be big enough to know right and
wrong, her foster-mother got ready to go on a journey. 'You have my
leave', she said, 'to go all over the house, except those rooms which
I shew you'; and when she had said that, away she went.