DANISH FAIRY AND FOLK TALES
shoeing. This blacksmith was a merry fellow, and when the procession passed him he burst into laughing and reached for the sexton with his tongs. "Pip!" said the bird. "Hold on!" cried Jesper; and the blacksmith was, himself, forced to fall in line.
Some geese came walking slowly along. When they saw the hay in the blacksmith's hand, they could not afford to miss the opportunity, but rushed after and snapped at it. They could not tear themselves loose again, however, but were obliged to join the parade.
Very soon Jesper and his followers arrived at the palace, and passing through the gate, in great speed, drove three times around the court-yard. The girls wept and cried; the minister and the sexton panted and yelled; the blacksmith laughed and swore, and the geese quacked and hissed. The whole court came out and looked at this wonderful procession. The king laughed until the tears stood in his eyes, and when he turned around—behold! there the princess was standing, laughing as if she would never stop, and wiping the tears from her eyes with her handkerchief.
"Stop!" cried Jesper. The sledge obeyed. "Let go!" was the next command. The geese, the blacksmith, the sexton, the minister, and the girls immediately disappeared in different directions.
But Jesper skipped up-stairs to the princess. "Now you are cured," said he, "and now you are mine!" And thus it came to pass that Saucy Jesper came into possession of the princess and the kingdom.
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