"As you are so poor," said the king, "I will take one of your daughters with me on my return."
Then the king gave the old woman a piece of gold money, and, wishing her heaven's blessing, departed.
The woman became a little easier in her mind on the receipt of this present; but not so her daughters. They were all well-conducted and obedient children; but when a fine gentleman comes and asks to take one of them away—for his wife, of course!—it is no trifling matter. They began to discuss the question together, and each claimed the strange gentleman for herself. At length, as after a long dispute they could not agree who was the most eligible, the eldest sister said,—
"I am the eldest, and according to custom I ought to be married first."
"That's of no consequence," cried the second sister; "the gentleman may pay little respect for custom, and choose any one of us he likes best."
"Certainly," concurred the third sister, "such gentlemen don't care much for custom. What do you say, sisters?"
"No, no; of course not!" they all cried, with the exception of the eldest—and the youngest, who was but five years old, and the most beautiful of them all.
Then the mother came among her daughters, and sent them to their work. The girls set to work, but some-
