142 TABULATION OF FOLKTALES.
[No. 55.]
Title of Story- Maria Wood.
Dramatis PerSOnSB- King (widower). Daughter (Maria Wood). Teacher (fairy godmother). Prince (deviD. Pages. Charcoal-burners. Young king. Wild boar and dogs. Huntsmen. Steward. Scullion. Turnspit. Guards. Physicians. Queen mother. Ladies. Goldsmiths, refiners, alche- mists.
Abstract Of Story. (1) King, widower, left with one daughter, Maria, dying queen has given him ring he only whom it fits is worthy to be Maria's husband. Maria has teacher, a good fairy, whose services her mother has secured for her. Father growing old and feeble is in a hurry for Maria to marry, but no one comes whom the ring will fit. (2) At last suitor comes, declares himself prince of distant region, objects to such a trivial test, father inclined to omit it, suddenly prince consents to submit to it, but the ring cannot be found, urges as the ring can't be found it is not reasonable to refuse him as he is so suitable in every respect, but suggests Maria shall name three tests for him. (3) Maria has instinctive dislike to prince, con- sults with teacher, who by fairy powers knows that prince is the devil. Suggests 1st test the prince shall get Maria a dress woven of stars of heaven, 2nd one of moonbeams, 3rd one of sunbeams. Prince very angry at each test but procures them. They are so dazzling that the pages who carry them are hard put to it, and the second and third dresses have to be carried by relays of pages. Teacher tells Maria who suitor is and instructs her how to evade him, tells her when she goes away with prince, towards night they will come to a dark wood, there to find some excuse to alight, having first got ring from feather of prince's hat, where he will wear it, he having stolen it. Says Maria will find wooden figure of an old woman which she has had made for her, in which she has stowed everything Maria has that is valuable, including the three dresses. She is to get inside the figure when prince's head is turned and walk away. (4) At last after sunbeam dress arrives they go off. Maria twitches ring off feather as it is getting dark, and com- plaining of being cramped asks to get out and walk awhile. Prince having got his own way, is all graciousness, and consents. They see form of old woman under a tree, Maria gets prince to chase a firefly for her, she pretends to chase one herself, goes towards old woman, gets into figure. Prince comes back with fly, misses Maria, asks supposed old woman where she is, she sends him off looking for her ; he spends the night searching in vain, then drives home. (5) Maria goes on a little while, soon is hailed by a party of charcoal-burners, who offer her such hospitality as they can command. Clothes on figure just like country people's, so no one suspects Maria ; she stays with them a long time, working with them. (6) One day when she is at some distance from camp, young king of that country is out hunting
