Product Synopsis

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1838 edition. Excerpt: ...some hundred kisses on the rosy lips of their charmers, the effect of which was that they became quite intoxicated with delight. " Hear me, my sons," said the old man, interrupting them, " you must now give a trifling proof of the sincerity of your love, without which I cannot consent to the marriage ceremony." "Willingly, willingly, " replied they, " ask for our lives and they are yours. " " I admire your readiness," replied the father, " and will immediately put it to the test. The fact is this: My daughters lost their three favourite birds yesterday evening, one is a starling, the second a raven and the third a magpie. You will doubtless find them somewhere in the adjoining wood and you will know them by the following signs. The starling, if it be my eldest daughter's, will ask you a riddle, the raven, which is the property of my second child, will sing you a song and the magpie, which belongs to my youngest, will tell you a tale of her grand-mother. If you are destined to become the husbands of their respective mistresses, they will hop upon your shoulders and follow you home. Go! may success attend you." The three youths thought this rather a strange commission and that the old roan was mad, but as the undertaking was not very perilous and the birds very tame, they instantly made their bows and sallied forth into the wood where they found the three birds sitting together upon a branch of withered oak about a quarter of a league from the rock-built castle. " Starling, " exclaimed the first youth smiling; "if you belong to my beloved, tell me thy riddle. " The starling chattered screamed and after a few circles in the air, flew upon his shoulder and said in a very distinct voice. ' Say, whal in thy face there be, Which in the glass thou cansl...