The Donkey Cabbage, part 1 · page 21 2101If you will take them, give them food and stabling, and do as I tell you with them, I will pay you as much as you want.’102The miller replied, ‘Why not?103What shall I do with them?’104Then the Hunter said that to the old donkey, which was the witch, three beatings and one meal; to the younger one, which was the servant, one beating and three meals; and to the youngest one, which was the maiden, no beating and three meals; for he could not find it in his heart to let the maiden be beaten.105Then he went back into the castle, and he found there all that he wanted.106After a couple of days the miller came and said that he must tell him that the old donkey which was to have three beatings and only one meal had died.107‘The two others,’ he added, ‘are certainly not dead, and get their three meals every day, but they are so sad that they cannot last much longer.’108Then the Hunter took pity on them, laid aside his anger, and told the miller to drive them back again.109And when they came he gave them some of the good cabbage to eat, so that they became human again.110Then the beautiful maiden fell on her knees before him, saying, ‘Oh, my dearest, forgive me the ill I have done you!111My mother compelled me to do it; it was against my will, for I love you dearly.112Your wishing-cloak is hanging in a cupboard, and as for the bird-heart I will make a drink and give it back to you.’1 2← previousThe Dragon and His Grandmothernext →The Donkey Cabbage, part 2↑ back to The Yellow Fairy BookThis page in Markdown → https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg640/10/page/2/