Treasury of Magical Tales from Around the World

Treasury of Magical Tales from Around the World — page 7
a rage the king sentenced her to run inside the treadmill that worked the crane used for building the new cathedral The nursemaid took the three babies outside the city walls and left them for wild beasts to devour But three fairies happened by What darling children Let’s give them presents I give them a deer as nursemaid I give them a purse that never runs out of money I give them a ring that will change color whenever misfortune comes to any one of them And so a deer raised the children Once they were grown the first fairy returned Here are suitable clothes Go rent a house in the city across from the palace The three young people moved to the city and the purse that never ran out of money served them well they furnished their home like a palace The children’s aunts who still worked at the king’s palace soon noticed them In horror they questioned the old nursemaid What did you do Our nephews and niece are alive See the apples in their hands See the star on her forehead Alas the trouble you’ve made Don’t worry the nursemaid said to the aunts I’ll handle this One day when the two brothers had gone out the nursemaid introduced herself to the girl You have lovely things she said But you need something that will make you truly happy She leaned close The Dancing Water Your brothers will get it for you if they love you When one of the brothers came home the sister said If you love me you’ll get me the Dancing Water This brother didn’t know what the Dancing Water was But he loved his sister So he set out to find it He met a hermit who asked him Where are you going horseman To fetch the Dancing Water What You’re going to your death But stay on the journey until you 14