"Go," I said to the steward, "take back this calf, take great care
of it, and bring me another in its place instantly."

As soon as my wife heard me speak this she at once cried out,
"What are you doing, husband? Do not sacrifice any calf but this."

"Wife," I answered, "I will not sacrifice this calf," and in spite
of all her remonstrances, I remained firm.

I had another calf killed; this one was led away. The next day
the steward asked to speak to me in private.

"I have come," he said, "to tell you some news which I think you will
like to hear. I have a daughter who knows magic. Yesterday, when I
was leading back the calf which you refused to sacrifice, I noticed
that she smiled, and then directly afterwards began to cry.
I asked her why she did so."

"Father," she answered, "this calf is the son of our master.
I smile with joy at seeing him still alive, and I weep to think
of his mother, who was sacrificed yesterday as a cow. These changes
have been wrought by our master's wife, who hated the mother
and son."

"At these words, of Genius," continued the old man, "I leave you
to imagine my astonishment. I went immediately with the steward
to speak with his daughter myself. First of all I went to the stable
to see my son, and he replied in his dumb way to all my caresses.
When the steward's daughter came I asked her if she could change my