Page:Christmas Fireside Stories.djvu/233

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The Widow'3 Son. 221 water-jug and throw all the water out behind you, but mmd you donotspillanyofItonme!" The lad did as he was told, but for all the care he took, he happened to spill a drop on the horse's flank. Well, the water he threw behind him became a great lake, but on account of the drop he spilled on the horse he found himself far out in the water, but the horse swam safely to land with him. When the trolls came to the lake they laid down to drink it dry, but they drank till they burst. " Now wc have got rid of them," said the horse. So when they had travelled a long, long time, they came to a green plain in a wood. " Now you must take off your whole suit of armour and only put your own ragged clothes on/' said the horse, " and then take the saddle off me and let me go ; but hang all the things inside this big hollow lime-tree here. You must then make yourself a wig of pine-moss and go up to the king's palace, which is close by ; there you must ask for service. Whenever you want me, only come and shake the bridle, and 111 come to you." Yes, the lad did as the horse had told him, and when he put the wig of moss on his head he became so ugly, and pale, and miserable looking that no one would know him again. He then went to the palace and asked first, if he could get some work in the kitchen and carry water and wood for the cook ; but the cook asked: "Whydoyouwear thatuglywig? Takeit offyou! I won't have such a fright in here." — "I can't do that," answered the lad, "I am not all right in my head." — " Do you think I will have you here near the food, if that's the case ? " said the cook ; "go down to the coachman ; you are better suited for cleaning out the stable." But when the coachman asked him to take off his wig and got the same answer he would not have him either. " You had better go to the gardener," he said ; " you are more fit for digging in the garden." Yes, the gardener would take him, and gave him leave to stay with him, but none of the other servants would sleep with him, so he had to sleep by himself under the steps of the summer-