THE GOLDEN HAIRS

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 35, 11 February 1939, Page 3 (Supplement)

THE GOLDEN HAIRS

There was once a poor man who had all only son born to him. The child was supposed to be born under a lucky star, and those who told his fortune said that in his 14th year he would marry the king's daughter. It so happened that the king of that land soon after the child's birth passed through the village in disguise, and asked wliether there was any news. "Yes," said the people, "a child has just been born who, they say, is to be a lucky one, and when he is 14 yeans old he is to marry the king's daughter." This did not please the king, so he went t-o the poor child's parents and asked them whether tllcy would sell ihi'iti their son. They refused. But the stranger lagged very hard and offered a great deal of money, and as they had scarcely any bread to cat, at last they consented, thinking to themselves: He is a lucky Child; he will come to no harm. The king took the oliild, put it into a box, and rode away; but, when he came to a stream he threw it into the water. The box, however, floated down the stream j some kind fairy watched over it so that no water reached the child, and at last, about two miles from the capital, it stopped beside a mill. The miller saw it and took a long pole and drew it toward the shore. Inside he found a pretty little boy, who smiled upon him merrily. Now, the miller and his wife had no children, and were glad to see the baby, saying, "Heaven has sent it to ns." They treated it kindly, and 'brought it up with suoli caire that everyone loved it. About 13 years had passed, when the king came by accident to the mill, and asked the miller if that were his son. "No," said he. "I found him When a babe in a box in the stream some 13 years ago." "He is a fine fellow," said the king. "Can you spare him to carry a letter to the queen?" "As your Majesty pleases," answered the_ miller. Now, the king had soon guessed that this was the child whom he had tried to drown, and he sent a letter by liim to the queen savin?, "As soon as the bearer of this letter arrives let him be killed and immediately buried, so

that all may be over before I return."

The young man set out with this letter, but misstfd his way and came in the evening to a little cottage. There was no one within except an old woman, who said: "Why do you come here ? And where are you going?'' "I am going to the queen, to whom I was to have taken a letter; but I have lost my way, and shall be glad if you will give me a night's lodging." "You are very unlucky," said she, "for this is a robbers' hut, and if the band returns while you are here it may be the worse for you." Hilt he was so tired that he laid the letter on the table, stretched himself out upon a bench atid fell asleep. When the robbers came l>onie and saw him they asked the old woman who the strange lad was. "I have given him shelter for charity," said she. '"He had a letter to carry to the queen, and lost his way." The robbers took up the letter, broke it open and read the directions which it contained to murder the bearer. The leader tore it up and wrote a fresh one desiring the queen, as soon as the young man arrived, to marry him to.the king's daughter. Meantime, they let him sleep on till morning broke, and then showed him the right way to the queen's palace, where, as soon as she had read the letter, she had preparations made for the wedding. After a while the king returned, and when he saw the prediction fulfilled, and that this child of fortune was married to his daughter, he was very angry, and said: "No man shall have my daughter who does not descend into the wonderful cave and bring ine three golden hairs from the head of the Giant King who reigns there." "I will soon manage that," said the youth. And he took leave of his wife and set out on his journey. At the first city that he came to the guard of the gate stopped him and asked him what trade he followed and what he knew. "I know everything," he said. "If that be so," replied they, "you are just the man we want. Be so good as to tell us why our fountain in the market place is dry and will give no

water. Fitul out the cause of that and we will give you two asses laden with gold." "With all my lieart," 6aid he, "when I come back." Then he' journeyed on and came to another city, and there the guard also asked him what trade he followed and what he understood. "I know everything," he answered. "Then do us a service," said they. "Tell us why a tree which used to bear golden apples does not now even produce a leaf." "Most willingly will I do so," answered he, "as I come back." At last his way led him to the side of a great lake, over which he must pass. The ferryman who rowed him soon began to ask, as the others had done, what was his trade and what lie knew. "Everything," said he. "Then," said the other, "pray inform me why I am bound for ever to ferry over this water, and have never been able to get my liberty." "I will tell you about it," said the young man, "as I come home." When he had passed tlie water he came to the wonderful cave. But the Giant King was not at home, and his grandmother sat at the door in her easy-chair. "What do you seek?" she said. "Three golden hairs from the giant's head," answered he. "You Tun a great risk." said she; "yet when he returns home I will see what I can do for you." Then she changed him into an ant, and told him to hide in her cloak. "Very well," said he; "but I want also to know why the city fountain is dry, and why the tree that bore golden apples is now leafless, and what is it that binds the ferryman 10 his post?" "Those are three puzzling questions," said the old woman, "but lie quiet and listen to what the giant says when I pull the golden hairs." _ Presently night set in, and the Giant King returned home. As soon as he entered he began to snuff up the air, and cried: "All is not right here: I smell man's flesh." Then he searched all round in vain, and the old dame scolded and said:

"Why should you tilth everything topsy turvy? I have just cleared up and set all in order." Upon this he laid his head in her lap and fell asleep. As soon as he began to snore, she seized one of the golden hairs and pulled it out. "Mercy!" exclaimed he, starting up, "What are you about?" "I had a dream that disturbed me," said she, "and in my trouble I seized your hair. I dreamed that the fountain in the market-place of the city had become dry and would give no water. "What can he the cause?" "Ah, if they could find that out they would be glad," said the giant. "Under a stone in the fountain aits' a toad; when they kill him the water will flow again." This said, he fell asleep, and the witch pulled out another hair. "What would you be at?" cried he, in a rage. "Don't be angry," said she. "I did it in my sleep. I dreamed that in a great kingdom there was a beautiful tree that U6ed to bear golden apples, and now it has not even a leaf on it. What is the reason of that?" "Aha!" said the giant. "They would like very well to know that secret. At the root of the tree A mouse is gnawing; if tliey were to kill him the tree would bear golden apples again." Then once more he fell asleep; and when she heard him snore she pulled out the third golden hair, and the giant jumped up and threatened her, but she soothed him and said: "It was a strange dream. I thought I saw a ferryman who was fated to row backward and forward over a lake, and could never be set at liberty; what is the chain that binds him ?" "A silly fellow!" said the giant. "If lie were to give the rudder into the_ hand of any passenger he would find himself at liberty, and the other would be obliged to take his place." In the morning the giant arose and went out; and the old woman gave the young man the three golden hairs, reminded him of the answers, and sent him, filled with gratitude, on his. way. He soon came to the ferryman, who knew him again and asked him for the answer which he had promised him. "Ferry me over first," said he, "and then I will tell you." ■When the boat arrived on the other side he told him to give the rudder to any of his passengers, and then he might run away as soon as. he pleased. _ The next place he came to was the city where the barren tree stood. "Kill the mouse that gnaws at the root," said lie, "and you will have golden apples again." They gave him a rich present and he journeyed on to the city where the fountain had dried up. and the guard demanded his answer to their question. So he told them how to cure the mischief, and they thanked him and gave him the two asses laden with gold that they had promised. And now at last this luckv young man reached home, and his wife rejoiced greatly to see him and to hear how well everything had gone with him. He gave the three golden hairs to the king, who could no longer raise any objection to him, and he and his beautiful wife lived happily together, and in the course of time became king and queen. The old king ~vas well punished, for he was the very next passenger the ferryman had. The ferryman gave the rudder into his hand, and to this day the old king sits ferrying passengers acr. ss the lake.