with a basin of soup. But the field and wood sparrows, the larks
and finches, blackbirds and green finches had picked up the
millet long ago, and the girl could not find her way.

She went on and on, till the sun set and night came on. The trees
rustled in the darkness, the owls hooted, and she began to be
very much frightened. Then she saw in tile distance a light that
twinkled between the trees. 'There must be people living yonder,'
she thought, 'who will take me in for the night,' and she began
walking towards it.

Not long afterwards she came to a house with lights in the
windows.

She knocked at the door, and a gruff voice called, 'Come in!'

The girl stepped into the dark entrance, and tapped at the door
of the room.

'Just walk in,' cried the voice, and when she opened the door
there sat an old gray-haired man at the table. His face was
resting on his hands, and his white beard flowed over the table
almost down to the ground.

By the stove lay three beasts, a hen, a cock, and a brindled cow.
The girl told the old man her story, and asked for a night's
lodging.

The man said: