'And I', said the second, 'ever since I was young, I have sat and
scuttled backwards and forwards over my loom, and that's how my back
has got so broad and humped as you now see it.'

'And I', said the third, 'ever since I was little, I have sat, and
stared, and sewn, and sewn and stared, night and day; and that's why
my eyes have got so ugly and red, and now there's no help for them.'

'So! so! 'said the Prince, ''twas lucky I came to know this; for if
folk can get so ugly and loathsome by all this, then my bride shall
neither spin, nor weave, nor sew all her life long.'




THE COCK, THE CUCKOO, AND THE BLACK-COCK

[This is another of those tales in which the birds' notes must be
imitated.]

Once on a time the Cock, the Cuckoo, and the Black-cock bought a cow
between them. But when they came to share it, and couldn't agree
which should buy the others out, they settled that he who woke first
in the morning should have the cow.

So the Cock woke first.

Now the cow's mine!
Now the cow's mine!
Hurrah! hurrah!