[Illustration: "Are you afraid?"]




EAST O' THE SUN AND WEST O' THE MOON


Once on a time there was a poor woodcutter who had so many children that
he had not much of either food or clothing to give them. Pretty children
they all were, but the prettiest was the youngest daughter, who was so
lovely there was no end to her loveliness.

It was on a Thursday evening late in the fall of the year. The weather
was wild and rough outside, and it was cruelly dark. The rain fell and
the wind blew till the walls of the cottage shook. There they all sat
round the fire busy with this thing and that. Just then, all at once,
something gave three taps at the window pane. Then the father went out
to see what was the matter, and, when he got out of doors, what should
he see but a great White Bear.

"Good evening to you!" said the White Bear.

"The same to you," said the man.

"Will you give me your youngest daughter? If you will, I'll make you as
rich as you are now poor," said the Bear.

Well, the man would not be at all sorry to be so rich;--but give him his