Page:Danish fairy and folk tales.djvu/349

This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.

BEND THE BOUGH IN TIME

"Karèn, Karèn, come here!" But she did not obey, and even when he opened the door, went in and tried to drag her away, she refused. The second one had no better success with his Marèn. Now the third one's turn came. He walked up to the door and called, "Metté, come here!" She was immediately before him, asking what he wanted. "Hand me the bough which I gave to you in the forest," said he. She at once produced it, and he, showing it to the two others, said: "Look at this bough; I bent it while it was green. You should have done the same."