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THE CHILD WHO CAME FROM AN EGG
Once upon a time there lived a queen whose heart was sore because
she had no children。 She was sad enough when her husband was at
home with her； but when he was away she would see nobody； but sat
and wept all day long。
Now it happened that a war broke out with the king of a
neighbouring country； and the queen was left in the palace alone。
She was so unhappy that she felt as if the walls would stifle
her； so she wandered out into the garden； and threw herself down
on a grassy bank； under the shade of a lime tree。 She had been
there for some time； when a rustle among the leaves caused her to
look up； and she saw an old woman limping on her crutches towards
the stream that flowed through the grounds。
When she had quenched her thirst； she came straight up to the
queen； and said to her： 'Do not take it evil； noble lady； that I
dare to speak to you； and do not be afraid of me； for it may be
that I shall bring you good luck。'
The queen looked at her doubtfully； and answered： 'You do not
seem as if you had been very lucky yourself； or to have much good
fortune to spare for anyone else。'
'Under rough bark lies smooth wood and sweet kernel；' replied the
old woman。 'Let me see your hand； that I may read the future。'
The queen held out her hand； and the old woman examined its lines
closely。 Then she said； 'Your heart is heavy with two sorrows；
one old and one new。 The new sorrow is for your husband； who is
fighting far away from you； but； believe me； he is well； and will
soon bring you joyful news。 But your other sorrow is much older
than this。 Your happiness is spoilt because you have no
children。' At these words the queen became scarlet； and tried to
draw away her hand； but the old woman said：
'Have a little patience； for there are some things I want to see
more clearly。'
'But who are you？' asked the queen； 'for you seem to be able to
read my heart。'
'Never mind my name；' answered she； 'but rejoice that it is
permitted to me to show you a way to lessen your grief。 You
must； however； promise to do exactly what I tell you； if any good
is to come of it。'
'Oh； I will obey you exactly；' cried the queen； 'and if you can
help me you shall have in return anything you ask for。'
The old woman stood thinking for a little： then she drew
something from the folds of her dress； and； undoing a number of
wrappings； brought out a tiny basket made of birch…bark。 She
held it out to the queen； saying； 'In the basket you will find a
bird's egg。 This you must be careful to keep in a warm place for
three months； when it will turn into a doll。 Lay the doll in a
basket lined with soft wool； and leave it alone； for it will not
need any food； and by…and…by you will find it has grown to be the
size of a baby。 Then you will have a baby of your own； and you
must put it by the side of the other child； and bring your
husband to see his son and daughter。 The boy you will bring up
yourself； but you must entrust the little girl to a nurse。 When
the time comes to have them christened you will invite me to be
godmother to the princess； and this is how you must send the
invitation。 Hidden in the cradle； you will find a goose's wing：
throw this out of the window； and I will be with you directly；
but be sure you tell no one of all the things that have befallen
you。'
The queen was about to reply； but the old woman was already
limping away； and before she had gone two steps she had turned
into a young girl； who moved so quickly that she seemed rather to
fly than to walk。 The queen； watching this transformation； could
hardly believe her eyes； and would have taken it all for a dream；
had it not been for the basket which she held in her hand。
Feeling a different being from the poor sad woman who had
wandered into the garden so short a time before； she hastened to
her room； and felt carefully in the basket for the egg。 There it
was； a tiny thing of soft blue with little green spots； and she
took it out and kept it in her bosom； which was the warmest place
she could think of。
A fortnight after the old woman had paid her visit； the king came
home； having conquered his enemies。 At this proof that the old
woman had spoken truth； the queen's heart bounded； for she now
had fresh hopes that the rest of the prophecy might be fulfilled。
She cherished the basket and the egg as her chiefest treasures；
and had a golden case made for the basket； so that when the time
came to lay the egg in it； it might not risk any harm。
Three months passed； and； as the old woman had bidden her； the
queen took the egg from her bosom； and laid it snugly amidst the
warm woollen folds。 The next morning she went to look at it； and
the first thing she saw was the broken eggshell； and a little
doll lying among the pieces。 Then she felt happy at last； and
leaving the doll in peace to grow； waited； as she had been told；
for a baby of her own to lay beside it。
In course of time； this came also； and the queen took the little
girl out of the basket； and placed it with her son in a golden
cradle which glittered with precious stones。 Next she sent for
the king； who nearly went mad with joy at the sight of the
children。
Soon there came a day when the whole court was ordered to be
present at the christening of the royal babies； and when all was
ready the queen softly opened the window a little； and let the
goose wing fly out。 The guests were coming thick and fast； when
suddenly there drove up a splendid coach drawn by six
cream…coloured horses； and out of it stepped a young lady dressed
in garments that shone like the sun。 Her face could not be seen；
for a veil covered her head； but as she came up to the place
where the queen was standing with the babies she drew the veil
aside； and everyone was dazzled with her beauty。 She took the
little girl in her arms； and holding it up before the assembled
company announced that henceforward it would be known by the name
of Dotterinea name which no one understood but the queen； who
knew that the baby had come from the yolk of an egg。 The boy was
called Willem。
After the feast was over and the guests were going away； the
godmother laid the baby in the cradle； and said to the queen；
'Whenever the baby goes to sleep； be sure you lay the basket
beside her； and leave the eggshells in it。 As long as you do
that； no evil can come to her； so guard this treasure as the
apple of your eye； and teach your daughter to do so likewise。'
Then； kissing the baby three times； she mounted her coach and
drove away。
The children throve well； and Dotterine's nurse loved her as if
she were the baby's real mother。 Every day the little girl
seemed to grow prettier； and people used to say she would soon be
as beautiful as her godmother； but no one knew； except the nurse；
that at night； when the child slept； a strange and lovely lady
bent over her。 At length she told the queen what she had seen；
but they determined to keep it as a secret between themselves。
The twins were by this time nearly two years old； when the queen
was taken suddenly ill。 All the best doctors in the country were