THE GIANT WHO HAD NO HEART IN HIS BODY


Once on a time there was a King who had seven sons. Six of them were
stout, brave lads, but the youngest was the cinderlad, you must know;
and he went about by himself neither saying nor doing much. Best of all
he liked to sit by the hearth and watch the glowing cinders, so they
called him Boots, and thought little of him.

Now, when the Princes were grown up, the six were to set off to fetch
brides for themselves. As for Boots, they would not be seen with him, so
he was to stay at home; but the others were to bring back a bride for
him, if any could be found willing to marry such a one. The King gave
the six the finest clothes you ever set eyes upon, so fine that the
light gleamed from them a long way off; and each had his horse, which
cost many, many hundred dollars, and so they set off. Now, when they had
been to many palaces, and seen many princesses, they came to a king who
had six daughters. Such lovely king's daughters they had never seen, and
so they asked them to be their brides, and when they had got them, they
set off home again. But they quite forgot that they were to bring back a
bride for Boots, their brother, who was staying at home.

When they had gone a good bit on their way, they passed close by a steep
hillside, like a wall, where was a giant's house. Out came the giant and
set his eyes upon them, and turned them all into stone, princes,
princesses and all. Now, the king waited and waited for his six sons,
but so long as he waited so long they stayed away; so he fell into great
grief, and said he would never know what it was to be happy again.

One day Boots said to the King,--