01-a tale of the tontlawld-第2章
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had not a voice cried out to them； 'Children； it is time for you
to come home！'
So Kisika took the little box out of her pocket； with the piece
of cloth lying in it； and dipped the cloth in the water； and lo！
they were standing close to a splendid house in the middle of the
garden。 Everything round them was dry and firm； and there was no
water anywhere。 The mussel shell and the fish scales were put
back in the box； and the girls went in。
They entered a large hall； where four and twenty richly dressed
women were sitting round a table； looking as if they were about
to attend a wedding。 At the head of the table sat the lady of
the house in a golden chair。
Elsa did not know which way to look； for everything that met her
eyes was more beautiful than she could have dreamed possible。
But she sat down with the rest； and ate some delicious fruit； and
thought she must be in heaven。 The guests talked softly； but
their speech was strange to Elsa； and she understood nothing of
what was said。 Then the hostess turned round and whispered
something to a maid behind her chair； and the maid left the hall；
and when she came back she brought a little old man with her； who
had a beard longer than himself。 He bowed low to the lady and
then stood quietly near the door。
'Do you see this girl？' said the lady of the house； pointing to
Elsa。 'I wish to adopt her for my daughter。 Make me a copy of
her； which we can send to her native village instead of herself。'
The old man looked Elsa all up and down； as if he was taking her
measure； bowed again to the lady； and left the hall。 After
dinner the lady said kindly to Elsa； 'Kisika has begged me to let
you stay with her； and you have told her you would like to live
here。 Is that so？'
At these words Elsa fell on her knees； and kissed the lady's
hands and feet in gratitude for her escape from her cruel
stepmother； but her hostess raised her from the ground and patted
her head； saying； 'All will go well as long as you are a good；
obedient child； and I will take care of you and see that you want
for nothing till you are grown up and can look after yourself。
My waiting…maid； who teaches Kisika all sorts of fine handiwork；
shall teach you too。'
Not long after the old man came back with a mould full of clay on
his shoulders； and a little covered basket in his left hand。 He
put down his mould and his basket on the ground； took up a
handful of clay； and made a doll as large as life。 When it was
finished he bored a hole in the doll's breast and put a bit of
bread inside； then； drawing a snake out of the basket； forced it
to enter the hollow body。
'Now；' he said to the lady； 'all we want is a drop of the
maiden's blood。'
When she heard this Elsa grew white with horror； for she thought
she was selling her soul to the evil one。
'Do not be afraid！' the lady hastened to say； 'we do not want
your blood for any bad purpose； but rather to give you freedom
and happiness。'
Then she took a tiny golden needle； pricked Elsa in the arm； and
gave the needle to the old man； who stuck it into the heart of
the doll。 When this was done he placed the figure in the basket；
promising that the next day they should all see what a beautiful
piece of work he had finished。
When Elsa awoke the next morning in her silken bed； with its soft
white pillows； she saw a beautiful dress lying over the back of a
chair； ready for her to put on。 A maid came in to comb out her
long hair； and brought the finest linen for her use； but nothing
gave Elsa so much joy as the little pair of embroidered shoes
that she held in her hand； for the girl had hitherto been forced
to run about barefoot by her cruel stepmother。 In her excitement
she never gave a thought to the rough clothes she had worn the
day before； which had disappeared as if by magic during the
night。 Who could have taken them？ Well； she was to know that
by…and…by。 But WE can guess that the doll had been dressed in
them； which was to go back to the village in her stead。 By the
time the sun rose the doll had attained her full size； and no one
could have told one girl from the other。 Elsa started back when
she met herself as she looked only yesterday。
'You must not be frightened；' said the lady； when she noticed her
terror； 'this clay figure can do you no harm。 It is for your
stepmother； that she may beat it instead of you。 Let her flog it
as hard as she will； it can never feel any pain。 And if the
wicked woman does not come one day to a better mind your double
will be able at last to give her the punishment she deserves。'
From this moment Elsa's life was that of the ordinary happy
child； who has been rocked to sleep in her babyhood in a lovely
golden cradle。 She had no cares or troubles of any sort； and
every day her tasks became easier； and the years that had gone
before seemed more and more like a bad dream。 But the happier
she grew the deeper was her wonder at everything around her； and
the more firmly she was persuaded that some great unknown power
must be at the bottom of it all。
In the courtyard stood a huge granite block about twenty steps
from the house； and when meal times came round the old man with
the long beard went to the block； drew out a small silver staff；
and struck the stone with it three times； so that the sound could
be heard a long way off。 At the third blow； out sprang a large
golden cock； and stood upon the stone。 Whenever he crowed and
flapped his wings the rock opened and something came out of it。
First a long table covered with dishes ready laid for the number
of persons who would be seated round it； and this flew into the
house all by itself。
When the cock crowed for the second time； a number of chairs
appeared； and flew after the table； then wine； apples； and other
fruit； all without trouble to anybody。 After everybody had had
enough； the old man struck the rock again。 the golden cock
crowed afresh； and back went dishes； table； chairs； and plates
into the middle of the block。
When； however； it came to the turn of the thirteenth dish； which
nobody ever wanted to eat； a huge black cat ran up； and stood on
the rock close to the cock； while the dish was on his other side。
There they all remained； till they were joined by the old man。
He picked up the dish in one hand； tucked the cat under his arm；
told the cock to get on his shoulder； and all four vanished into
the rock。 And this wonderful stone contained not only food； but
clothes and everything you could possibly want in the house。
At first a language was often spoken at meals which was strange
to Elsa； but by the help of the lady and her daughter she began
slowly to understand it； though it was years before she was able
to speak it herself。
One day she asked Kisika why the thirteenth dish came daily to
the table and was sent daily away untouched； but Kisika knew no
more about it than she did。 The girl must； however； have told
her mother what Elsa had said； for a few days later she spoke to
Elsa seriously：
'Do not worry yourself with useless wondering。 You wish to know
why we never eat of the thirteenth dish？ That； dear child； is
the dish of hidden blessings； and we cannot taste of it without
bringing our happy life here to an end。 And the world would be a
great deal better if men； in their greed； did not seek to snatch
every thing for themselves； instead of leaving something as a
thankoffering to the giver of the blessings。 Greed is man's
worst fault。'
The years passed like the wind for Elsa； and she grew into a
lovely woman； with a knowledge of many things that she would
never have learned in her native village； but Kisika was still
the same young girl that she had been on the day of her first
meeting with Elsa。 Each morning they both worked for an hour at
reading and writing； as they had always done； and Elsa was
anxious to learn all she could； but Kisika much preferred
childish games to anything else。 If the humour seized her； she
would fling aside her tasks； take her treasure box； and go off to
play in the sea； where no harm ever came to her。
'What a pity；' she would often say to Elsa； 'that you have grown
s
