THE THREE DOGS.


Once upon a time there was a king who travelled to a strange country,
where he married a queen. When they had been married some time the queen
had a daughter, which gave rise to much joy through the whole land, for
all people liked the king, he was so kind and just. As the child was
born there came an old woman into the room. She was of a strange
appearance, and nobody could guess where she came from, or to what place
she was going. This old woman declared that the royal child must not be
taken out under the sky until it was fifteen years old. If she was she
would be in danger of being carried away by the giants of the mountains.

The king, when he was told what the woman had said, heeded her words,
and set a guard to see that the princess did not come out into the open
air.

In a short time the queen bore another daughter, and there was again
much joy in the land. The old woman once more made her appearance, and
she said that the king must not let the young princess go out under the
sky before she was fifteen.

The queen had a third daughter, and the third time the old woman came,
warning the king respecting this child as she had done regarding the two
former. The king was much distressed, for he loved his children more
than anything else in the world. So he gave strict orders that the three
princesses should be always kept indoors, and he commanded that every
one should respect his edict.