The Magic Ring and Other Stories

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Коллектив авторов. The Magic Ring and Other Stories

THE MAGIC RING

THE WHITE DUCK

LOVELY ILONKA

CLEVER MARIA

THE LANGUAGE OF BEASTS

THE CAT AND THE MOUSE IN PARTNERSHIP

THE SIX SWANS

STORY OF THE EMPEROR'S NEW CLOTHES

THE GOLDEN CRAB

THE IRON STOVE

THE DRAGON AND HIS GRANDMOTHER

THE DONKEY CABBAGE

LUCKY LUCK

TO YOUR GOOD HEALTH!

Отрывок из книги

Once upon a time a great and powerful King married a lovely Princess. No couple were ever so happy; but before their honeymoon was over they were forced to part, for the King had to go on a warlike expedition to a far country, and leave his young wife alone at home. Bitter were the tears she shed, while her husband sought in vain to soothe her with words of comfort and counsel, warning her, above all things, never to leave the castle, to hold no intercourse with strangers, to beware of evil counsellors, and especially to be on her guard against strange women. And the Queen promised faithfully to obey her royal lord and master in these four matters.

So when the King set out on his expedition she shut herself up with her ladies in her own apartments, and spent her time in spinning and weaving, and in thinking of her royal husband. Often she was very sad and lonely, and it happened that one day while she was seated at the window, letting salt tears drop on her work, an old woman, a kind, homely-looking old body, stepped up to the window, and, leaning upon her crutch, addressed the Queen in friendly, flattering tones, saying:

.....

'Little ones, are you asleep?'

And the little drake answered for the other two:

.....