Page:Fairytales00auln.djvu/245

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
THE GOOD LITTLE MOUSE.
205

crooked, blind with one eye, and lame, was saying to her, roughly, "If you refuse me your heart, I will kill you." She answered him proudly, "I will not marry you, you are too ugly; you resemble your cruel father; leave me in peace with my little turkeys—I love them better than all your fine clothes." The little Mouse looked at her with admiration; for she was as beautiful as the sun. As soon as the wicked King's son was gone, the Fairy assumed the figure of an old shepherdess, and said to her, "Good morning, my darling; your turkeys look very fine ones." The young turkey-keeper looked at the old woman sweetly, and replied, "They want me to leave them for a paltry crown—what would you advise me to do?" "My little girl," said the Fairy, "a crown is very beautiful, you know neither the value nor the weight of it." "But I do know," promptly replied the turkey-keeper, "and, therefore, refuse to accept it; at the same time I know not who I am, nor where my father and mother are. I have neither friends nor relations." "You are beautiful and virtuous, my child," said the wise Fairy, "which is worth ten kingdoms. Tell me, I entreat you, who placed you here, since you have neither father nor mother, friends nor relations?" "A fairy named Cancaline is the cause of my being here: she beat me, and knocked me about without cause or reason. I ran away one day, and not knowing where to go, I sat down in a wood. The son of the wicked King came to walk there; he asked me if I would attend to his poultry-yard. I was very willing to do so. I had the care of the turkeys; he frequently came to see them, and he saw me also. Alas! without any wish on my part, he took it in his head to love me so much, that he worries me greatly."

The Fairy, after hearing this story, began to think that the turkey-keeper was the Princess Joliette; she said to her, "My child, tell me your name?" "I call myself Joliette, at your service," said she. At this name, the Fairy no longer doubted about it, and throwing her arms round her neck, she thought she should devour her with kisses. She then said to her, "Joliette, I have known you for some time past; I am delighted to find you are so discreet, and so well-informed; but I wish you were cleaner, for you look like a little scullion. Take the beautiful clothes that are here,