Pagina 57 van 626

Then the queen took pity on the little fish, and threw it back

again into the river; and before it swam away it lifted its head

out of the water and said, 'I know what your wish is, and it

shall be fulfilled, in return for your kindness to me--you will

soon have a daughter.' What the little fish had foretold soon

came to pass; and the queen had a little girl, so very beautiful

that the king could not cease looking on it for joy, and said he

would hold a great feast and make merry, and show the child to

all the land. So he asked his kinsmen, and nobles, and friends,

and neighbours. But the queen said, 'I will have the fairies

also, that they might be kind and good to our little daughter.'

Now there were thirteen fairies in the kingdom; but as the king

and queen had only twelve golden dishes for them to eat out of,

they were forced to leave one of the fairies without asking her.