English

BIRD-FOUND THERE was once a forester, who went into the forest to hunt. When he entered it, he heard a screaming as if a little child was there. He followed the sound, and at last came to a high tree. In the top of it a little child was sitting. His mother had fallen asleep under the tree with the child, and a bird of prey had seen him in her arms, flown down, and snatched him away, and set him on the high tree. The forester climbed the tree, and brought the child down.

THE SPINDLE, THE SHUTTLE, AND THE NEEDLE THERE was once a girl whose father and mother died while she was still a little child. All alone, in a small house at the end of the village, dwelt her godmother, who supported herself by spinning, weaving, and sewing. The old woman took the forlorn child to live with her, kept her to her work, and educated her in all that is good. When the girl was fifteen, the old woman became ill, called the child to her bedside, and said, “Dear Daughter, I feel my end drawing near.