The Lilac Fairy Book, part 36 · page 21 2101But in the night soft music was heard stealing close towards the house, and every man slept, and the mother slept also.102When they woke again it was morning, and the baby was gone.103High and low they looked for it, but nowhere could they find it, and the farmer, who had come to see his daughter, was greatly grieved, as he feared it might be thought that he had stolen it, because he did not want the hoodie for a son-in-law.104The next year the hoodie’s wife had another son, and this time a watch was set at every door.105But it was no use.106In vain they determined that, come what might, they would not close their eyes; at the first note of music they all fell asleep, and when the farmer arrived in the morning to see his grandson, he found them all weeping, for while they had slept the baby had vanished.107Well, the next year it all happened again, and the hoodie’s wife was so unhappy that her husband resolved to take her away to another house he had, and her sisters with her for company.108So they set out in a coach which was big enough to hold them, and had not gone very far when the hoodie suddenly said:109‘You are sure you have not forgotten anything?’110‘I have forgotten my coarse comb,’ answered the wife, feeling in her pocket, and as she spoke the coach changed into a withered faggot, and the man became a hoodie again, and flew away.111The two sisters returned home, but the wife followed the hoodie.112Sometimes she would see him on a hill-top, and then would hasten after him, hoping to catch him.113But by the time she had got to the top of the hill, he would be in the valley on the other side.114When night came, and she was tired, she looked about for some place to rest, and glad she was to see a little house full of light straight in front of her, and she hurried towards it as fast as she could.115At the door stood a little boy, and the sight of him filled her heart with pleasure, she did not know why.116A woman came out, and bade her welcome, and set before her food, and gave her a soft bed to lie on.117And the hoodie’s wife lay down, and so tired was she, that it seemed to her but a moment before the sun rose, and she awoke again.118From hill to hill she went after the hoodie, and sometimes she saw him on the top; but when she got to the top, he had flown into the valley, and when she reached the valley he was on the top of another hill--and so it happened till night came round again.119Then she looked round for some place to rest in, and she beheld a little house of light before her, and fast she hurried towards it.120At the door stood a little boy, and her heart was filled with pleasure at the sight of him, she did not know why.121After that a woman bade her enter, and set food before her, and gave her a soft bed to lie in.122And when the sun rose she got up, and left the house, in search of the hoodie.123This day everything befell as on the two other days, but when she reached the small house, the woman bade her keep awake, and if the hoodie flew into the room, to try to seize him.124But the wife had walked far, and was very tired, and strive as she would, she fell sound asleep.125Many hours she slept, and the hoodie entered through a window, and let fall a ring on her hand.126The girl awoke with a start, and leant forward to grasp him, but he was already flying off, and she only seized a feather from his wing.checked by a teacher127And when dawn came, she got up and told the woman.128‘He has gone over the hill of poison,’ said she, ‘and there you cannot follow him without horse-shoes on your hands and feet.129But I will help you.130Put on this suit of men’s clothes, and go down this road till you come to the smithy, and there you can learn to make horse-shoes for yourself.’131The girl thanked her, and put on the cloths and went down the road to do her bidding.132So hard did she work, that in a few days she was able to make the horse-shoes.133Early one morning she set out for the hill of poison.134On her hands and feet she went, but even with the horse-shoes on she had to be very careful not to stumble, lest some poisoned thorns should enter into her flesh, and she should die.135But when at last she was over, it was only to hear that her husband was to be married that day to the daughter of a great lord.1 2← previousThe Lilac Fairy Book, part 35next →The Lilac Fairy Book, part 37↑ back to The Lilac Fairy BookThis page in Markdown → https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3454/36/page/2/