The Son of the King of Ireland (3)

The Son of the King of Lreland (3)

  The boat came in the morning and when they arrived at the castle, the lad, dusty with travel, went straight to the King of the Great World, to ask him for one of his daughters in marriage.

  " If you want to marry my daughter, you must be of nobler birth than you look, " said the King.

  " I am son of the King of Ireland, " said the boy.

  The King of the Great World paused.
  " You must do three things to win the hand of my daughter, " he said.
  " First, clear my great barn, make it so clean that a gold ball will run across the floor. "

  The youth started, but no matter how much he cleaned, it still stayed dirty.

  Just then, the King's three daughters came by.

  They could see that the lad was harassed and could not finish his task.

  Two daughters said, " If we thought you wanted either of us, we would clear the barn for you. "

  But the youngest daughter said, " Whether you want me or not, I will clear the barn. "

  She said, " Clean, clean, pitchfork, put out shovel. "

  Straight away the whole floor of the barn was clean.

(3/12)