THE BOY WHO KNEW WHAT THE BIRDS SAID
laid them back on their shelf. Then she went to the well for pails of water. When she went out she stayed long, for first she would look into the well at her own image and then she would make a wreath of flowers and put it on her head and look at herself again. After that, maybe, she would delay to pick berries and eat them. Then she would go without hurrying along the path, singing to herself.—
'Said when he saw
Me all in blue,
"Who is the maid
The sky must woo?"
'Said when he saw
Me all in green,
"Who is the maid
The grass calls queen?"'
When she would have got back to the hut the fire on the hearth would have gone out and she would have to light it again and then sweep the floor clear of the ashes that had blown upon it. After that she would have little time to do anything
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