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BUSHY BRIDE
THERE was once on a time a widower who had a son and a
daughter by his first wife。 They were both good children；
and loved each other with all their hearts。 After some time had
gone by the man married again； and he chose a widow with one
daughter who was ugly and wicked； and her mother was ugly and
wicked too。 From the very day that the new wife came into the
house there was no peace for the man's children； and not a corner
to be found where they could get any rest； so the boy thought that
the best thing he could do was to go out into the world and try to
earn his own bread。
When he had roamed about for some time he came to the
King's palace； where he obtained a place under the coachman； and
very brisk and active he was； and the horses that he looked after
were so fat and sleek； that they shone again。
But his sister； who was still at home； fared worse and worse。
Both her step…mother and her step…sister were always finding
fault with her； whatsoever she did and whithersoever she went；
and they scolded her and abused her so that she never had
an hour's peace。 They made her do all the hard work； and hard
words fell to her lot early and late； but little enough food
accompanied them。
One day they sent her to the brook to fetch some water home；
and an ugly and horrible head rose up out of the water； and said；
‘Wash me； girl！'
‘Yes； I will wash you with pleasure；' said the girl； and began
to wash and scrub the ugly face； but she couldn't help thinking
that it was a very unpleasant piece of work。 When she had done
it； and done it well； another head rose up out of the water； and
this one was uglier still。
‘Brush me； girl！' said the head。
‘Yes； I will brush you with pleasure；' said the girl； and set to
work with the tangled hair； and； as may be easily imagined； this
too was by no means pleasant work。
When she had got it done； another and a much more ugly and
horrible…looking head rose up out of the water。
‘Kiss me； girl！' said the head。
‘Yes； I will kiss you；'' said the man's daughter； and she did it；
but she thought it was the worst bit of work that she had ever had
to do in her life。
So the heads all began to talk to each other； and to ask what
they should do for this girl who was so full of kindliness。
‘She shall be the prettiest girl that ever was； and fair and
bright as the day；' said the first head。
‘Gold shall drop from her hair whenever she brushes it；'
said the second。
‘Gold shall drop from her mouth whenever she speaks；'
said the third head。
So when the man's daughter went home； looking as beautiful
and bright as day； the step…mother and her daughter grew much
more ill…tempered； and it was worse still when she began to talk；
and they saw that golden coins dropped from her mouth。 The
step…mother fell into such a towering passion that she drove the
man's daughter into the pig…styeshe might stay there with her
fine show of gold； the step…mother said； but she should not be
permitted to set foot in the house。
It was not long before the mother wanted her own daughter to
go to the stream to fetch some water。
When she got there with her pails； the first head rose up out of
the water close to the bank。 ‘Wash me； girl！' it said。
‘Wash yourself！' answered the woman's daughter。
Then the second head appeared。
‘Brush me； girl！' said the head。
‘Brush yourself！' said the woman's daughter。
So down it went to the bottom； and the third head came up。
‘Kiss me； girl！' said the head。
‘As if I would kiss your ugly mouth！' said the girl。
So again the heads talked together about what they should do
for this girl who was so ill…tempered and full of her own importance；
and they agreed that she should have a nose that was four ells
long； and a jaw that was three ells； and a fir bush in the middle of
her forehead； and every time she spoke ashes should fall from her
mouth。
When she came back to the cottage door with her pails； she
called to her mother who was inside； ‘Open the door！'
‘Open the door yourself； my own dear child！' said the mother。
‘I can't get near； because of my nose；' said the daughter。
When the mother came and saw her you may imagine what a
state of mind she was in； and how she screamed and lamented； but
neither the nose nor the jaw grew any the less for that。
Now the brother； who was in service in the King's palace； had
taken a portrait of his sister； and he had carried the picture away
with him； and every morning and evening he knelt down before it
and prayed for his sister； so dearly did he love her。
The other stable…boys had heard him doing this； so they peeped
through the key…hole into his room； and saw that he was kneeling
there before a picture； so they told everyone that every morning
and evening the youth knelt down and prayed to an idol which he
had； and at last they went to the King himself； and begged that he
too would peep through the key…hole； and see for himself what the
youth did。 At first the King would not believe this； but after a
long； long time； they prevailed with him； and he crept on tip…toe
to the door； peeped through； and saw the youth on his knees； with
his hands clasped together before a picture which was hanging on
the wall。
‘Open the door！' cried the King； but the youth did not
hear。
So the King called to him again； but the youth was praying so
fervently that he did not hear him this time either。
‘Open the door； I say！' cried the King again。 ‘It is I！ I want
to come in。'
So the youth sprang to the door and unlocked it； but in his
haste he forgot to hide the picture。
When the King entered and saw it； he stood still as if he were
in fetters； and could not stir from the spot； for the picture seemed
to him so beautiful。
‘There is nowhere on earth so beautiful a woman as this！' said
the King。
But the youth told him that she was his sister； and that he had
painted her； and that if she was not prettier than the picture she
was at all events not uglier。
‘Well； if she is as beautiful as that； I will have her for my
Queen；' said the King； and he commanded the youth to go home
and fetch her without a moment's delay； and to lose no time in
coming back。 The youth promised to make all the haste he could；
and set forth from the King's palace。
When the brother arrived at home to fetch his sister； her
stepmother and step…sister would go too。 So they all set out together；
and the man's daughter took with her a casket in which she kept
her gold； and a dog which was called Little Snow。 These two
things were all that she had inherited from her mother。 When
they had travelled for some time they had to cross the sea； and the
brother sat down at the helm； and the mother and the two half…
sisters went to the fore…part of the vessel； and they sailed a long；
long way。 At last they came in sight of la