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The Sweetheart in the Wood


ONCE on a time there was a man who had a daughter, and she was so pretty, her name was spread over many kingdoms, and lovers came to her as thick as autumn leaves. One of these made out that he was richer than all the rest; and grand and handsome he was, too; so he was to have her, and after that he came over and over again to see her.

As time went on, he said he should like her to come to his house and see how he lived. He was sorry he could not fetch her and go with her, but the day she came he would strew peas all along the path right up to his house door; but somehow or other it fell out that he strewed the peas a day too early.

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