The Fairy's Two Gift (1)

The Fairy's Two Gift (1)

  In olden times, when the fairies lived on earth  in the forms of human beings, a good Fairy, once wandering for some distances became tired, and night came on before she could find shelters

  At last she saw before her two houses just opposite each other -  one large and beautiful, which belonged to a rich man ; the other, small and wretched in appearances which was owned by poor peasants

  The Fairy thoughts " I shall not be much trouble to the rich man. "

  So she went up to the door of the beautiful house, and knocked.

  The rich man opened a windows and asked the stranger what she wanted. 

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The Fairiy's Two Gifts (2)

The Fairy's Two Gifts (2)

  Then the owner of the beautiful house looked at the wanderer from head to foot, and he saw that she was dressed in ragged clothes, but he could not see how much gold she had in her pocket.

  So he shook his head and said, " I cannot take you in -  my rooms are full of valuable things, and if I were to admit into my house everyone who knocks at my door, I should soon have to take the beggar's staff myself. You must seek for what you want elsewhere. "

  Then he shut down the window, and left the good Fairy standing outside.

  She turned her back on the grand house and went across to the other.

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The Fairy's Two Gifts (3)

The Fairy's Two Gifts (3)

  Scarcely had she knocked, when the poor an opened the door, and begged the wanderer to enter.

  " You must remain all night with us, " he said : " it's already quite dark, and you cannot attempt to go further. "

  The Fairy was pleased so she steoped in, and the wife of the poor man came forward to welcome her, and led her in and told her to make herself quite comfortable.

  " We have not much, " she said, " but what thereis, we will give you with all our hearts. "

  She placed the potatoes on the fire and while they were cooking milked the goats that the visitor might have a little milk.

  As soon as the cloth was laid the Fairy seated herself at he table and ate with them, and the poor fare tasted good, because it was shared amid contentment and peace.

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The Fairy's Two Gifts (4)

The Fairy's Two Gifts (4)

  When bedtime came, the wife called her husband away privately and said, " Dear husband, let us for tonight make up a straw bed for ourselves, that the travellar may lie in our bed and rest ; after walking the whole day she must be tired. "

  " With all my heart, " he replied ; " I will go and ask her to do so."

  The good Fairy would not at first accept this kind offer, but at length  she could not refuse.

  The poor man and his wife, therefore, slept on their bed of straw, and the Fairy rested comfortably in the bed.

  In the morning she found the wife cooking a breakfast for her of the best they had.

  The fairy again took her place at the table, the sun shone brightly into the room, and the faces of the poor people wore such a happy, contented expression that she was sorry to leave them.

(4/13)
書き忘れていましたが、グリム童話です。

The Fairy's Two Gifts (5)

The Fairy's Two Gifts (5)

  As she rose to go she said farewell, and thanked them for their hospitality.

  At the door she turned and said : " As you have been so kind to me when you thought I was poor and in need, therefore I will show you that I have power to reward you. Three times shall your wish be granted you. "

  "  and What greater blessings can I wish for, " said the husband, " but that we two, as long as we live, may be healthy and strong, and that we may always have our simple daily  wants  provided for ?   I cannot  think of a third wish. "

  " Would you not like a new house instead of this old one ? " she asked.

  " Oh yes, " they both cried ; " if we have these three wishes granted we shall want nothing more. "

  The the Fairy changed the old house into a new one, and promising them the fulfilment of their other wishes, went on her way.

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Fairy's Two Gifts (6)

The Fairy's Two Gifts (6)

  About noon the owner of the fine house happened to look out of his window, and saw with surprise opposite a pretty new cottage with red tiles, on the spot where the old house once stood.

  He stared at it for some time, and at last called his wife, and said to her : " Tell me how this can have happened : yesterday there stood an old old wretched hut ; today,  this beautiful new cottage. Run over and ask how it has all come about. "

  The wife went over to ask the poor man to explain this wonderful cahnge.

(6/13) 
遅くなりました。
The Travelling Conpanion も、じきに出ます。

The Fairy's Two Gifts (7)

The Fairy's Two Gifts (7)

  " Yesterday evening, " he said, " came a poor traveller to our door who begged for a night's lodging. She was very poorly clad, but we gave her all we had, and our bed. This morning when she left us she offered to grant us the fulfilment of three wishes. We wished for continued health and our daily food as the greatest blessings, and at last she changed our old hut into this new and beautiful cottage. "

  On hearing this, the rich man's wife ran hastily back, and told her husband what she had heard.

  " I could tear myself to pieces, " he explained.
  " Oh, if I had only known ! That stranger came here first, such a shabby-looking woman she was, and begged me to give her a night's lodging, but I refuse her. "

  " Never mind, " said his wife ; " now make haste, ride after this woman ; if you can overtake her you can ask her to grant you three wishes also. "

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The Fairy's Two Fifts (8)

The Fairy's Two Gifts (8)

  The rich man followed this good advice, saddled his horse, rode after the traveller, and at last overtook her.

  He spoke to her then most gently and kindly, and hoped that she would not take it amiss that he had not admitted her the evening before.

  " I assure you, " he said, " I was only looking for the key of the house door, and in the meantime you went away ; if you should pass our way again you must sray with us. "

  " Yes, " she replied, " I will do so, if I ever pass your house again. "

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The Fairy's Two Gifts (9)

The Fairy's Two Gifts (9)

  Then the rich man asked the woman if she would not grant him three wishes. 

  " I would grant you this willingly, " replied the Fairy, " but I do not think it would be good for you ; you have nothing to wish for. "

  The rich man replied that he could easily find something to wish for that would bring him good fortune, if he only knew that his wishes would be accomplished.

  " Very well, " said the Fairy ; " ride home, and your three wishes shall be granted. "

(9/13)
遅くなり申し訳ありません。
明日はきちんとでます。

The Fairy's Two Gifts (10)

The Fairy's Two Gifts (10)

  The rich man had obtained his desire, and he rode homewards, thinking deeply of what the wishes should be.

  He allowed the bride to hang so loosely that his horse began to dance about till his thoughts were all so scattered that he could not collect them again.

  He struck the horse and said, " Be quiet, Bess, " but the animal pranced and reared till he was nearly thrown off.

  At last he became angry, and cried out, " What do you mean by it ? I wish your meck was broken. "

  No sooner had he spoken the words than his horse fell under him, and lay dead, and so was his first wish fulfilled.

  He was a greedy man and so he would not leave the saddle and bride behind him.

  He cut the straps, hung them on his back, and prepared to walk home.
  " We have still two wishes remaining, " he said, and comforted himself with the thought.

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The Fairy's Two Gifts (11)

The Fairy's Two Gifts (11)

  As he now walked along through the hot sand, with the burning noonday sun shining upon him, he became fretful with the heat and fatigue.

  The saddle dragged him back, and he could not decide what to wish for.
  
  " If I were to wish for all the riches and treasures in the world, " he said to himself, " what would be the use ? I should not know which to chose."

  Then he sighed, and said, " If I were only like the Bavarian peasant, who had three wished offered him. First he wished for a draught of beer ; the second time for as much beer as he could drink ; and the third time for a whole cask. Each time he thought he had gained what he wanted, but afterwards it seemed to him like nothing. "

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The Fairy's Two Gifts (12)

The Fairy's Two Gifts (12)

  Presently, there came to him a thought of how happy his wife must be, sitting in their cool room at home, and enjoying something very nice.

  It vexed him so much not to be there with her, that, without a thought of consequences, he exclimed, " Ah ! I wish this heavy saddle would slip from my back, and that she was sitting upon it, not able to move. "

  As the last word fell from his lip, the saddle and bride vanished, and he became aware that his second wish was fulfilled.

  He ran home, for he wanted to sit alone in his chamber and think of something great for his last wish.

  But when he opened the door, there sat his wife on the saddle, screming and lamenting that she was fixed, and could not get down.

  " Make yourself quite happy, " he said.

  " I can wish for all the riches in the world to be ours ; and my wish will be accomplished if you will only remain sitting there. "

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The Fairy's Two Gifts (13 完)

The Fairy's Two Gifts (13)

  " But, "she replied angrily, " you stupid head, what would be the use of all those riches to me if I am obliged to sit always on this saddle ? No, no ; you wished me here, and now you must wish me off again. "

  He was obliged, therefore, much against his will, to utter as his third wish that his wife might be set free, and the wish was immediately granted.

  The rich and selfish man had, therefore, no other result from his three wishes than anger, vexation, trouble, and loss of his horse.

  The poor man, who was charitable and kind to others, had gained happiness and contentment for the rest of his days.

(13/13 完)