صفحة 202 من 626

So she stayed on with Mother Holle for some time, and then she

began to grow unhappy. She could not at first tell why she felt

sad, but she became conscious at last of great longing to go

home; then she knew she was homesick, although she was a thousand

times better off with Mother Holle than with her mother and

sister. After waiting awhile, she went to Mother Holle and said,

'I am so homesick, that I cannot stay with you any longer, for

although I am so happy here, I must return to my own people.'

Then Mother Holle said, 'I am pleased that you should want to go

back to your own people, and as you have served me so well and

faithfully, I will take you home myself.'

Thereupon she led the girl by the hand up to a broad gateway. The

gate was opened, and as the girl passed through, a shower of gold

fell upon her, and the gold clung to her, so that she was covered

with it from head to foot.