ourson

7/23/2019 Ourson

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OURSON

THE LARK AND THE TOAD

THERE was once a pretty woman named Agnella, who cult!ated a "arm# She

l!ed alone wth a young ser!ant named $asserose# The "arm was small %ut

%eaut"ul and n &ne order# She had a most charmng cow, whch ga!e a

'uantty o" ml(, a cat to destroy the mce and an ass to carry her "rut,

%utter, !egeta%les, eggs, and cheese to mar(ets e!ery )ednesday#

No one (new up to that tme how Agnella and $asserose had arr!ed at ths

un(nown "arm whch rece!ed n the county the name o" the )oodland *arm#

One e!enng $asserose was %usy ml(ng the pretty whte cow whle Agnella

prepared the supper# At the moment she was placng some good soup and a

plate o" cream upon the ta%le, she saw an enormous toad de!ourng wth

a!dty some cherres whch had %een put on the ground n a !ne+lea"#

Ugly toad- e.clamed Agnella, / wll teach you how to eat my cherres- At

the same moment she l"ted the lea!es whch contaned the cherres, and

ga!e the toad a (c( whch dashed t o0 a%out ten steps# She was a%out to

throw t "rom the door, when the toad uttered a sharp whstle and rased tsel"

upon ts hnd legs1 ts great eyes were 2ashng, and ts enormous mouth

openng and shuttng wth rage, ts whole ugly %ody was trem%lng and "rom

ts 'u!erng throat was heard a terr%le %ellowng#

Agnella paused n ama3ement1 she recoled, ndeed, to a!od the !enom o"

the monstrous and enraged toad# She loo(ed around "or a %room to e4ect ths

hdeous monster, when the toad ad!anced towards her, made wth ts "ore

paws a gesture o" authorty, and sad n a !oce trem%lng wth rage56

7ou ha!e dared to touch me wth your "oot- 7ou ha!e pre!ented me "rom

sats"yng my appette wth the cherres whch you had placed wthn my

reach- 7ou ha!e tred to e.pel me "rom your house- 8y !engeance shall reach

you and wll "all upon that whch you hold most dear- 7ou shall (now and "eel

that the "ary *urous s not to %e nsulted wth mpunty# 7ou shall ha!e a son,

co!ered wth coarse har l(e a %ear9s cu% and666

Stop, sster, nterrupted a small !oce, sweet and 2ute+l(e, whch seemed

to come "rom a%o!e# Agnella rased her head and saw a lar( perched on thetop o" the "ront door# 7ou re!enge yoursel" too cruelly "or an n4ury n2cted,

not upon you n your character o" a "ary %ut upon the ugly and dsgustng

"orm n whch t has pleased you to dsguse yoursel"# :y my power, whch s

superor to yours, / "or%d you to e.aggerate the e!l whch you ha!e already

done n your %lnd rage and whch, alas- t s not n my power to undo# And

you, poor mother, she contnued, turnng to Agnella, do not utterly despar1

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there s a poss%le remedy "or the de"ormty o" your chld# / wll accord to hm

the power o" changng hs s(n wth any one whom he may, %y hs goodness

and ser!ce rendered, nspre wth su;cent grattude and a0ecton to

consent to the change# He wll then resume the handsome "orm whch would

ha!e %een hs " my sster, the "ary *urous, had not g!en you ths terr%le

proo" o" her malce and cruelty#

Alas- madam Lar(, repled Agnella, all ths goodness cannot pre!ent my

poor, unhappy son "rom %eng dsgustng and l(e a wld %east# Hs !ery

playmates wll shun hm as a monster#

That s true, repled the "ary Drolette1 and the more so as t s "or%dden to

yoursel" or to $asserose to change s(ns wth hm# :ut / wll nether a%andon

you nor your son# 7ou wll name hm Ourson untl the day when he can

assume a name worthy o" hs %rth and %eauty# He must then %e called the

prnce 8ar!ellous#

Sayng these words, the "ary 2ew lghtly through the ar and dsappeared

"rom sght#

The "ary *urous wthdrew, &lled wth rage, wal(ng slowly and turnng e!ery

nstant to ga3e at Agnella wth a menacng ar# As she mo!ed slowly along,

she spat her !enom "rom sde to sde and the grass, the plants and the

%ushes pershed along her course# Ths was a !enom so su%tle that nothng

could e!er 2oursh on the spot agan and the path s called to ths day the

Road o" the *ary *urous#

)hen Agnella "ound hersel" alone, she %egan to so%# $asserose, who had

&nshed her wor( and saw the hour o" supper approachng, entered the

dnng+room and wth great surprse saw her mstress n tears#

Dear 'ueen, what s the matter< )ho can ha!e caused you ths great gre"< /

ha!e seen no one enter the house#

No one has entered, my dear, e.cept those who enter e!erywhere# A wc(ed

"ary under the "orm o" a toad and a good "ary under the appearance o" a

lar(#

And what ha!e these "ares sad to you, my 'ueen, to ma(e you weep so

pteously< Has not the good "ary nter"ered to pre!ent the ms"ortunes whchthe wc(ed "ary wshed to %rng a%out<

No, my dear "rend# She has somewhat lghtened them %ut t was not n her

power to set them asde altogether# Agnella then recounted all that had

ta(en place and that she would ha!e a son wth a s(n l(e a %ear# At ths

narrat!e $asserose wept as %tterly as her mstress#

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)hat a ms"ortune- she e.clamed# )hat degradaton and shame, that the

her o" a great (ngdom should %e a %ear- )hat wll Kng *erocous, your

hus%and, say " he should e!er dsco!er us<

And how wll he e!er &nd us, $asserose< 7ou (now that a"ter our 2ght we

were swept away %y a whrlwnd and dashed "rom cloud to cloud "or twel!ehours wth such astonshng rapdty that we "ound oursel!es more than three

thousand leagues "rom the (ngdom o" *erocous# :esdes, you (now hs

wc(edness# 7ou (now how %tterly he hates me snce / pre!ented hm "rom

(llng hs %rother /ndolent and hs sster Nonchalante# 7ou (now that / 2ed

%ecause he wshed to (ll me also# / ha!e no reason to "ear that he wll pursue

me "or / am sure that he wll wsh ne!er to see me agan#

$asserose, a"ter ha!ng wept and so%%ed some tme wth the 'ueen Amee,

"or that was her true name, now entreated her mstress to %e seated at the

ta%le#

/" we wept all nght, dear 'ueen, we could not pre!ent your son "rom %eng

shaggy %ut we wll endea!or to educate hm so well, to ma(e hm so good,

that he wll not %e a long tme n &ndng some good and grate"ul soul who wll

e.change a whte s(n "or ths hary one whch the e!l "ary *urous has put

upon hm# A %eaut"ul present ndeed- She would ha!e done well to reser!e t

"or hersel"#

The poor 'ueen, whom we wll contnue to call Agnella "or "ear o" g!ng

n"ormaton to Kng *erocous, rose slowly, dred her eyes and succeeded n

somewhat o!ercomng her sadness# Lttle %y lttle the gay and cheerng

con!ersaton o" $asserose dsspated her "ore%odngs# :e"ore the close o" thee!enng, $asserose had con!nced her that Ourson would not reman a long

tme a %ear1 that he would soon resume a "orm worthy o" a no%le prnce# That

she would hersel" ndeed %e most happy to e.change wth hm, " the "ary

would permt t#

Agnella and $asserose now retred to ther cham%ers and slept peace"ully#

:/RTH AND /N*AN=7 O* OURSON

THREE months a"ter the appearance o" the toad and the cruel sentence o" the

"ary *urous, Agnella ga!e %rth to a %oy whom she named Ourson, as the

"ary Drolette had commanded# Nether Agnella nor $asserose could decde "

he was ugly or handsome "or he was so hary, so co!ered wth long %rown

%rstles, you could see nothng %ut hs eyes and hs mouth, and not e!en

these unless he opened them#

/" Agnella had not %een hs mother and " $asserose had not lo!ed her l(e a

sster, poor Ourson would ha!e ded "rom neglect "or he was so "rght"ul no

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one would ha!e dared to touch hm6he would ha!e %een ta(en "or a lttle

cu% and (lled wth ptch"or(s# :ut Agnella was hs mother and her &rst

mo!ement was to em%race hm lo!ngly and, %athed n tears, to e.clam56

$oor lttle Ourson- who can e!er lo!e you well enough to del!er you "rom

ths horr%le curse< Alas- why wll not the "ary permt me to ma(e thse.change, whch s allowed to another who may lo!e you< No one can e!er

lo!e you as / do#

Ourson dd not reply to these endearments1 he slept peace"ully#

$asserose wept also n sympathy wth Agnella %ut she was not n the ha%t o"

a>ctng hersel" "or a long tme on any occason so she dred her eyes and

sad to Agnella56

Dear 'ueen, / am !ery certan that your dear son wll %e clothed %ut a short

tme wth ths !llanous %ear+s(n and "rom ths day / shall call hm $rnce

8ar!ellous#

/ %eseech you not to do so, sad the 'ueen, an.ously1 you (now that the

"ares lo!e to %e o%eyed#

$asserose too( the chld, clothed t n the lnen that had %een prepared "or t

and leaned o!er to em%race t %ut she prc(ed her lps aganst the rough

%rstles o" Ourson and drew %ac( precptately#

/t wll not %e / who wll em%race you "re'uently, my %oy, sad she, n a low

!oce1 you prc( l(e a real hedgehog#

/t was $asserose, howe!er, to whom Agnella ga!e the charge o" the lttle

Ourson# He had nothng o" the %ear %ut hs s(n5 he was the sweetest

tempered, the most (nowng, the most a0ectonate chld that e!er was seen#

$asserose soon lo!ed hm wth all her heart#

As Ourson grew up he was sometmes permtted to lea!e the "arm# He was n

no danger "or no one (new hm n the country# The chldren always ran away

at hs approach and the women repulsed hm# 8en a!oded hm6they loo(ed

upon hm as somethng accursed# Sometmes when Agnella went to mar(et

she put hm on her don(ey and too( hm wth her and on those days she

"ound more d;culty n sellng her !egeta%les and cheese# The mothers 2ed"rom her, "earng that Ourson would come too near them#

Agnella wept o"ten and !anly mplored the "ary Drolette# )hene!er a lar(

2ew near her, hope was %orn n her %reast# :ut the lar(s, alas, were real

lar(s, &t only to ma(e pes and not "ares n dsguse#

OURSON at eght years o" age was tall and strong, wth magn&cent eyes and

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a sweet !oce1 hs %rstles were no longer st0 %ut hs har was so"t as sl( and

those who lo!ed hm could em%race hm wthout %eng scratched, as

$asserose had %een the day o" hs %rth# Ourson lo!ed hs mother tenderly

and $asserose almost as well %ut he was o"ten alone and !ery sad# He saw

too well the horror he nspred and he saw also that he was unl(e other

chldren#

One day he was wal(ng along a %eaut"ul road whch %ordered on the "arm#

He had wal(ed a long tme and o!ercome wth heat and "atgue he loo(ed

a%out hm "or some "resh and 'uet spot "or repose when he thought he saw a

lttle o%4ect, "ar and rosy, a "ew steps "rom hm# Drawng near wth precauton

he saw a lttle grl asleep# She seemed to %e a%out three years old and she

was %eaut"ul as the Lo!es and ?races# Her %londe har partly co!ered her "ar

and dmpled shoulders whle her so"t chee(s were round and "resh and

dmpled and a hal" smle played upon her rosy and parted lps, through whch

small teeth, whte and e!en as pearls, could %e seen# Her charmng head was

reposng upon a lo!ely rounded arm and the lttle hand was %eaut"ully

"ormed and whte as snow# The atttude o" ths lttle grl was so grace"ul, so

enchantng, that Ourson stood %e"ore her mmo!a%le wth admraton# He

watched wth as much surprse as pleasure, ths chld sleepng as soundly and

peace"ully n the wood as " she had %een at home n her own lttle %ed#

Ourson loo(ed at her a long tme and e.amned her tolet whch was more

rch and elegant than anythng he had e!er seen# Her dress was o" whte sl(

em%rodered n gold1 her %oots were o" %lue satn also em%rodered n gold1

her stoc(ngs were sl( and &ne as a spder9s we%1 magn&cent %racelets were

spar(lng upon her arms and the clasp seemed to contan her portrat1 a

strng o" %eaut"ul pearls encrcled her throat#

A lar( now commenced ts song 4ust a%o!e the lo!ely lttle grl and awa(ened

her "rom her pro"ound slum%er# She loo(ed a%out her, called her nurse %ut

&ndng hersel" alone n the woods, %egan to weep %tterly#

Ourson was much a0ected at her tears and hs em%arrassment was !ery

great#

/" / show mysel", sad he to hmsel", ths poor lttle one wll ta(e me "or

some wld %east o" the "orest# /" she sees me she wll %e terr&ed1 she wll ta(e

to 2ght and wander stll "urther "rom her home# /" / lea!e her here, she wll

de o" terror and hunger# )hat shall / do-

)hlst Ourson re2ected thus, the lttle grl turned around, saw hm, uttered a

cry o" alarm, tred to 2ee and "ell %ac( n a panc#

Do not 2y "rom me, dear lttle one, sad Ourson, n hs sad, so"t !oce1 /

would not n4ure you "or the whole world1 on the contrary, / wll assst you to

&nd your "ather and mother#

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The chld ga3ed at hm wth starng eyes and seemed much alarmed#

Spea( to me, lttle one, sad Ourson1 / am not a %ear, as you mght

suppose, %ut a poor and most un"ortunate lttle %oy, who nspres e!ery one

wth terror and whom e!ery%ody a!ods#

The sweet chld9s eyes %ecame calmer and so"ter, her "ear seemed meltng

away and she loo(ed undecded#

Ourson too( one step towards her %ut she %ecame greatly "rghtened, uttered

a sharp cry and tred agan to rse and run o0# Ourson paused and %egan to

weep %tterly#

Un"ortunate wretch that / am, he sad1 / cannot e!en assst ths poor lost

chld# 8y appearance &lls her wth terror- She would rather %e lost than ha!e

help "rom me-

So sayng, poor Ourson co!ered hs "ace wth hs hands and so%%ng pteouslythrew hmsel" on the ground# A "ew moments a"terwards he "elt a lttle hand

see(ng to ta(e possesson o" hs own# He rased hs head and saw the chld

standng %e"ore hm, her eyes &lled wth tears# She caressed and patted the

hary chee(s o" poor Ourson#

Don9t cry, lttle cu%, don9t cry, sad she# @olette s no longer a"rad, she wll

not run away agan# @olette wll lo!e poor lttle cu%# )on9t lttle cu% g!e hs

hand to @olette< And " you cry agan, @olette wll em%race you, poor lttle

cu%#

Tears o" happness and tenderness succeeded those o" despar n Ourson#@olette, seeng that he was agan weepng, approached her so"t rosy lps to

Ourson9s hary chee( and ga!e hm se!eral (sses#

7ou see, lttle cu%, that @olette s no longer a"rad# @olette (sses you- The

lttle cu% won9t eat @olette6she wll "ollow you-

/" Ourson had "ollowed the dctates o" hs heart, he would ha!e pressed her to

hs %osom and co!ered wth (sses the good and charmng chld who

o!ercame her natural terror n order to assuage the gre" and mort&caton o"

a poor %eng whom she saw un"ortunate and msera%le# :ut he "eared to

arouse her terrors#

She would thn( that / was a%out to de!our her, he sad#

He contented hmsel", there"ore, wth claspng her hands so"tly, and (ssng

them delcately# @olette permtted ths smlngly#

Now lttle cu% s sats&ed# Lttle cu% wll lo!e @olette1 poor @olette, who s

lost-

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Ourson understood well that her name was @olette1 %ut he could not

comprehend how ths lttle grl, so rchly clad, was le"t alone n the "orest#

)here do you l!e, my dear lttle @olette<

7onder6yonder6wth papa and mamma#

)hat s the name o" your papa<

He s the (ng and dear mamma s the 'ueen#

Ourson was more and more surprsed and as(ed5

)hy are you alone n ths "orest<

@olette doesn9t (now# $oor @olette rode on a %g dog6he ran, oh- so "ast6

so "ast, a long tme- @olette was so tred, she "ell down and slept-

And the dog, where s he<

@olet turned n e!ery drecton and called so"tly56

Am- Am-

No dog appeared#

Alas- Am has gone- $oor @olette s alone6alone-

Ourson too( @olence9s hand and she dd not wthdraw t %ut smled sweetly#

Shall / go and see( mamma, @olette<

No, no- @olette cannot stay all alone n ths wood# @olette wll go#

=ome, then, wth me, dear lttle grl# / wll ta(e you to my mother#

Ourson and @olette now turned ther steps towards the "arm# Ourson

gathered straw%erres and cherres "or @olette, who would not touch them tll

Ourson had eaten hal"# )hen she "ound that he stll held hs hal" n hs hand,

she too( them, and placed them hersel" n hs mouth, sayng56

Eat6eat, lttle cu%# @olette wll not eat unless you eat# @olette cannot ha!e

lttle cu% unhappy# @olette wll not see you weep#

She loo(ed at hm to see " he was content and happy# Ourson was really

happy# He saw that hs good and pretty lttle companon not only tolerated

hm %ut was nterested n hm and sought to ma(e hersel" agreea%le# Hs eyes

were spar(lng wth 4oy, hs !oce, always so"t and sad, was now tender# A"ter

hal" an hour9s wal(, he sad to her5

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@olette, you are no longer a"rad o" poor Ourson, are you<

Oh- no, no, no- e.clamed she# Ourson s good6@olette wll not lea!e

hm#

7ou are wllng, then, that / shall em%race you< you are no longer a"rad o"

me<

@olette, wthout "urther reply, threw hersel" n hs arms# Ourson em%raced

her tenderly and pressed her to hs heart#

Dear @olette, / wll always lo!e you# / wll ne!er "orget that you are the only

chld who was e!er wllng to spea( to me, touch me or em%race me#

A short tme a"ter they arr!ed at the "arm# Agnella and $asserose were

seated at the door, tal(ng together# )hen they saw Ourson arr!e holdng a

lttle grl rchly dressed %y the hand, they were so surprsed that nether could

utter a word#

Dear mamma, here s a good and charmng lttle grl whom / "ound sleepng

n the "orest# She s called @olette# She s !ery well %red and s not a"rad o"

me# She e!en em%raced me when she saw me weepng#

And why dd you weep, my poor %oy< sad Agnella#

:ecause the lttle grl was a"rad o" me, sad Ourson, n a sad and trem%lng

!oce, and hurt hersel" when tryng to run away "rom me#

@olette s not a"rad now, sad she, nterruptng hm hastly# @olette ga!e

her hand to poor Ourson, em%raced hm and "ed hm wth cherres and

straw%erres#

:ut what s all ths a%out< sad $asserose# )hy has our Ourson the charge

o" ths lttle grl< why was she alone n the wood< who s she< Answer,

Ourson, / do not understand ths#

/ (now nothng more than yoursel", dear $asserose, sad Ourson# / saw ths

lttle chld asleep n the wood all alone# She awo(e and %egan to weep#

Suddenly she saw me and cred out n terror# / spo(e to her and %egan to

approach her1 %ut she screamed agan wth "rght# / was sorrow"ul6oh- so

!ery sorrow"ul- / wept %tterly#

Hush- hush- poor Ourson, e.clamed @olette, puttng her lttle hand on hs

mouth1 @olette wll certanly ne!er ma(e you cry agan#

)hle sayng these words @olette9s !oce was trem%lng and her sweet eyes

were "ull o" tears#

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?ood lttle grl- sad Agnella, em%racng her1 you lo!e our poor Ourson,

who s so unhappy-

Oh, yes- @olette lo!es Ourson6wll always lo!e Ourson-

Agnella and $asserose as(ed @olette many 'uestons a%out her "ather,

mother and country1 %ut they could learn nothng more "rom her than she

had already told Ourson# Her "ather was a (ng, her mother a 'ueen and she

dd not (now how she came to %e alone n the "orest#

Agnella dd not hestate to ta(e under her protecton ths poor lost chld# She

lo!ed her already %ecause o" the a0ecton the lttle one seemed to entertan

"or Ourson and %ecause o" the happness Ourson9s whole manner e.pressed

on seeng hmsel" lo!ed %y some one else than hs mother and $asserose#

/t was now the hour "or supper# $asserose lad the cloth and they all too( ther

seats at the ta%le# @olette as(ed to %e put at Ourson9s sde# She was gay and

laughed and tal(ed merrly# Ourson was more happy than he had e!er %een#

Agnella was contented and $asserose 4umped "or 4oy on seeng a lttle

playmate "or her dear Ourson# /n her transports she splled a pan o" cream

whch was not lost, howe!er, as a cat came and lc(ed t up to the last drop#

A"ter supper, @olette "ell asleep n her char#

)here shall we lay her< sad Agnella# / ha!e no %ed "or her#

?!e her mne, dear mamma, sad Ourson1 / can sleep 'ute as well n the

sta%le#

Agnella and $asserose at &rst re"used %ut Ourson nssted so much upon%eng allowed to ma(e ths lttle sacr&ce, that they at last consented#

$asserose carred @olette stll sleepng n her arms, undressed her wthout

awa(ng her and lad her 'uetly n Ourson9s %ed, near that o" Agnella# Ourson

went to sleep n the sta%le on the %undles o" hay# He slept peace"ully wth

content n hs heart#

$asserose re4oned Agnella n the parlor# She "ound her medtatng, wth her

head restng on her hand#

O" what are you thn(ng, dear 'ueen< sad she1 your eyes are sad, your

lps do not smle# / am come to show you the %racelets o" the lttle stranger# Ths medallon ought to open %ut / ha!e tred n !an to open t# $erhaps we

shall &nd here a portrat or a name#

?!e t to me, my chld# These %racelets are %eaut"ul1 they may ad us,

perhaps, n &ndng a resem%lance whch presents tsel" !aguely to my

remem%rance and whch / am tryng n !an to ma(e clear#

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Agnella too( the %racelets and turned them "rom sde to sde and pressed

them n e!ery way, tryng to open the medallon, %ut she succeeded no %etter

than $asserose had done#

At the moment when, weary o" her !an e0orts, she returned them to

$asserose, she saw n the mddle o" the room a woman gltterng as the sun1her "ace was o" da33lng whteness, her har seemed made o" threads o" gold

and a crown o" gltterng stars adorned her %row# Her wast was small and her

person seemed transparent, t was so delcate and lumnous1 her 2oatng

ro%e was studded wth stars l(e those whch "ormed her crown# Her glance

was so"t yet she smled malcously %ut stll wth goodness#

8adam, sad she to Agnella, you see n me the "ary Drolette, the

protectress o" your son and o" the lttle prncess whom he %rought home ths

mornng "rom the "orest# Ths prncess s nearly related to you "or she s your

nece6the daughter o" your %rother+n+law /ndolent and sster+n+law

Nonchalante# 7our hus%and succeeded a"ter your 2ght n (llng /ndolent andNonchalante, who dd not dstrust hm and who passed all ther tme n

sleepng, eatng and loungng# Un"ortunately, / could not pre!ent ths crme as

/ was a%sent assstng at the %rth o" a prnce whose parents are under my

protecton, and / "orgot mysel" whle playng trc(s upon a wc(ed old mad o"

honor and an old lan who was cruel and a!arcous, %oth o" them "rends o"

my sster, the "ary *urous# :ut / arr!ed n tme to sa!e the prncess @olette,

only daughter and heress o" Kng /ndolent and ueen Nonchalante# She was

playng n the garden whle the (ng *erocous was see(ng her wth hs

ponard n hs hand# / nduced her to mount on the %ac( o" my dog Am, who

was ordered to lea!e her n the "orest and to that pont / drected the steps o"

the prnce your son# =onceal "rom %oth o" them ther %rth and your own and

do not allow @olette to see these %racelets, whch contan the portrats o" her

"ather and mother, nor the rch clothng whch / ha!e replaced %y other

artcles %etter suted to the 'uet e.stence she wll lead here# / ha!e here,

sad the "ary, a cas(et o" precous stones# /t contans the happness o"

@olette %ut you must hde them "rom all eyes and not open the cas(et untl

she shall ha!e %een lost and "ound#

/ wll e.ecute your orders most "ath"ully, madam, %ut / pray you tell me "

my unhappy son must long wear hs "rght"ul co!erng#

$atence- patence- cred the "ary, / watch o!er you, o!er @olette and o!er

your son# /n"orm Ourson o" the "aculty he has o" e.changng hs s(n wth any

one who lo!es hm well enough to ma(e ths sacr&ce "or hs sa(e# Remem%er

that no one must (now the ran( o" Ourson or o" @olette# $asserose, on

account o" de!oton, deser!es to %e the only one ntated nto ths mystery

and she can always %e trusted# Adeu, 'ueen1 count always upon my

protecton# Here s a rng, whch you must place upon your lttle &nger# As

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long as you wear t there you wll want "or nothng#

)a!ng her "arewell wth her hand, the "ary too( the "orm o" a lar( and 2ew

away sngng merrly#

Agnella and $asserose loo(ed at each other# Agnella sghed, $asserose

smled#

Let us hde ths precous cas(et, dear 'ueen, and the clothng o" @olette# /

am gong now to see what the "ary has prepared "or @olette9s dress to+

morrow mornng#

She ran 'uc(ly and opened the wardro%e, and "ound t &lled wth clothng,

lnen and hosery, all plan %ut good and com"orta%le# A"ter ha!ng loo(ed at

all, counted all and appro!ed all and a"ter ha!ng asssted Agnella to undress,

$asserose went to %ed and was soon sound asleep#

/N the mornng Ourson was the &rst awa(e, aroused %y the lowng o" the cow#He ru%%ed hs eyes and loo(ed a%out hm and as(ed hmsel" why he was n a

sta%le# Then he recalled the e!ents o" the day %e"ore, sprang up "rom hs

%undle o" hay and ran 'uc(ly to the "ountan to wash hs "ace#

)hle he was washng, $asserose, who had l(e Ourson rsen at a !ery early

hour and had come out to ml( the cow, le"t the house+door open# Ourson

entered 'uetly and proceeded to the cham%er o" hs mother, who was stll

sleepng# He drew %ac( the curtans "rom @olette9s %ed and "ound her

sleepng as peace"ully as Agnella#

Ourson watched her "or a long tme and was happy to see that she smled nher dreams# Suddenly @olette9s %row contracted and she uttered a cry o"

alarm, hal" rased hersel" n the %ed, and throwng her lttle arms around

Ourson9s nec(, she e.clamed5

Ourson- good Ourson- sa!e poor @olette- poor @olette s n the water and a

wc(ed toad s pullng @olette-

She now awo(e, weepng %tterly, wth all the symptoms o" great alarm# She

clasped Ourson tghtly wth her lttle arms1 he tred n !an to reassure and

control her %ut she stll e.clamed5

)c(ed toad- good Ourson- sa!e @olette-

Agnella, who had awa(ed at her &rst cry, could not yet understand @olette9s

alarm %ut she succeeded at last n calmng her and the chld told her dream#

@olette was wal(ng wth Ourson %ut he dd not g!e hs hand to @olette nor

loo( at her# A wc(ed toad came and pulled @olette nto the water1 she "ell

and called Ourson1 he came and sa!ed @olette# She lo!es good Ourson, she

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added, n a tender !oce1 wll ne!er "orget hm#

Sayng these words, @olette threw hersel" nto hs arms# He, no longer "earng

the e0ect o" hs %ear+s(n, em%raced her a thousand tmes and com"orted

and encouraged her#

Agnella had no dou%t that ths dream was a warnng sent %y the "ary

Drolette# She resol!ed to watch care"ully o!er @olette and to ma(e (nown to

Ourson all that she could re!eal to hm wthout dso%eyng the "ary#

)hen she had washed and dressed @olette, she called Ourson to %rea("ast#

$asserose %rought them a %owl o" ml( "resh "rom the cow, some good %rown

%read and a pot o" %utter# @olette, who was hungry, shouted "or 4oy when she

saw ths good %rea("ast#

@olette lo!es good ml(, good %read, good %utter, lo!es e!erythng here,

wth good Ourson and good 8amma Ourson-

/ am not called 8amma Ourson, sad Agnella, laughng1 call me only

8amma#

Oh no, no- not mamma- cred @olette, sha(ng her head sadly# 8amma-

mamma s lost- she was always sleepng, ne!er wal(ng, ne!er ta(ng care o"

poor @olette, ne!er (ssng lttle @olette, 8amma Ourson spea(s, wal(s,

(sses @olette and dresses her# / lo!e 8amma Ourson, oh, so much- she

sad, se3ng Agnella9s hand and pressng t to her heart#

Agnella repled %y claspng her tenderly n her arms#

Ourson was much mo!ed6hs eyes were most# @olette perce!ed ths and

passng her hand o!er hs eyes, she sad, entreatngly5

/ pray you don9t cry, Ourson1 " you cry, @olette must cry too#

No, no, dear lttle grl, / wll cry no more# Let us eat our %rea("ast and then

we wll ta(e a wal(#

They %rea("asted wth good appettes# @olette clapped her hands "re'uently

and e.clamed5

Oh how good t s- / lo!e t- / am !ery glad-

A"ter %rea("ast, Ourson and @olette went out to wal( whle Agnella and

$asserose attended to the house# Ourson played wth @olette and gathered

her 2owers and straw%erres# She sad to hm5

)e wll always wal( wth each other# 7ou must always play wth @olette#

/ cannot always play, lttle grl# / ha!e to help mamma and $asserose to

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wor(#

)hat sort o" wor(, Ourson<

To sweep, scour, ta(e care o" the cow, cut the grass and %rng wood and

water#

@olette wll wor( wth Ourson#

7ou are too lttle, dear @olette, %ut stll you can try#

)hen they returned to the house, Ourson started on hs !arous tas(s#

@olette "ollowed hm e!erywhere, she dd her %est and %ele!ed that she was

helpng hm %ut she was really too small to %e use"ul# A"ter some days had

passed away, she %egan to wash the cups and saucers, spread the cloth, "old

the lnen and wpe the ta%le# She went to the ml(ng wth $asserose, helped

to stran the ml( and s(m t and wash the mar%le 2ag+stones# She was ne!er

out o" temper, ne!er dso%edent and ne!er answered mpatently or angrly#

Ourson lo!ed her more and more "rom day to day# Agnella and $asserose

were also !ery "ond o" her and the more so %ecause they (new that she was

Ourson9s cousn#

@olette lo!ed them %ut Ourson most o" all# How could she help lo!ng ths

good %oy, who always "orgot hmsel" "or her, who was constantly see(ng to

amuse and please her and who would ndeed ha!e %een wllng to de "or hs

lttle "rend<

One day, when $asserose had ta(en @olette wth her to mar(et, Agnellarelated to Ourson the sad crcumstances whch had preceded hs %rth# She

re!ealed to hm the poss%lty o" hs gettng rd o" hs hary s(n and rece!ng

a smooth whte s(n n e.change " he could e!er &nd any one who would

!oluntarly ma(e ths sacr&ce "rom a0ecton and grattude#

Ne!er, cred Ourson, ne!er wll / propose or accept such a sacr&ce# / wll

ne!er consent to de!ote a %eng who lo!es me to that l"e o" wretchedness

whch the !engeance o" the "ary *urous has condemned me to endure1

ne!er, "rom a wsh o" mne, shall a heart capa%le o" such a sacr&ce su0er all

that / ha!e su0ered and all that / stll su0er "rom the "ear and antpathy o"

men#

Agnella argued n !an aganst ths &rm and no%le resol!e o" Ourson# He

declared that she must ne!er agan spea( to hm o" ths e.change, to whch

he would most assuredly ne!er g!e hs consent and that t must ne!er %e

named to @olette or any other person who lo!ed hm#

Agnella promsed complance, a"ter a "ew wea( arguments# /n realty she

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appro!ed and admred hs sentments# She could not %ut hope, howe!er, that

the "ary Drolette would recompense the generous and no%le character o" her

lttle charge and, %y some e.traordnary e.ercse o" her power, release hm

"rom hs hary s(n#

SO8E years passed away n ths peace"ul manner wthout the occurrence o"any remar(a%le e!ent# Ourson and @olette %oth grew rapdly# Agnella thought

no more o" @olette9s "rght"ul dream1 her !glance had greatly rela.ed and

she o"ten allowed her to wal( alone or under the care o" Ourson#

Ourson was now &"teen years o" age and he was tall and strong# No one could

say whether he was handsome or homely "or hs long %lac( har co!ered hs

%ody and "ace entrely# He was good, generous and lo!ng6always ready to

render a ser!ce, always contented and cheer"ul# Snce the day when he had

"ound @olette n the wood hs melancholy had dsappeared1 he was utterly

nd0erent to the general antpathy whch he nspred and he no longer

wal(ed n unnha%ted places %ut l!ed happly n the crcle o" the three %engswhom he chershed and who lo!ed hm supremely#

@olette was now ten years old and she had not lost a sngle sweet charm o"

her %eauty n growng up# Her eyes were so"ter and more angelc, her

comple.on "resher and purer, her mouth more %eaut"ul and arch n ts

e.presson# She had grown much n heght6was tall, lght and grace"ul and

her rch %londe har, when un%ound, "ell to her "eet and entrely en!eloped

her l(e a !el# $asserose had the care o" ths super% har and Agnella ne!er

ceased to admre t#

@olette had learned many thngs durng those se!en years# Agnella hadtaught her how to do housewor(# /n other thngs, Ourson had %een her

teacher# He had taught her to read, wrte and (eep accounts and he o"ten

read aloud to her whle she was sewng# /nstruct!e and amusng %oo(s were

"ound n her room wthout any one (nowng where they came "rom# There

was also clothng and other necessary o%4ects "or @olette, Ourson, Agnella

and $asserose# There was no longer any necessty "or gong to mar(et to sell

or the negh%orng !llage to %uy# Through the agency o" the rng on Agnella9s

lttle &nger e!erythng they wshed "or, or had need o", was speedly %rought

to them#

One day when Ourson was wal(ng wth @olette she stum%led aganst astone, "ell and hurt her "oot# Ourson was "rghtened when he saw hs

chershed @olette %leedng# He dd not (now what to do to rele!e her1 he

saw how much she su0ered, "or, notwthstandng all her e0orts, she could not

suppress the tears whch escaped "rom her eyes %ut &nally he remem%ered

that a %roo( 2owed not ten paces "rom them#

Dear @olette, he sad, lean upon me and we wll endea!or to reach the

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r!ulet6the "resh water wll rele!e you#

@olette tred to wal( whle Ourson supported her# He succeeded n seatng

her on the %orders o" the stream where she too( o0 her shoe and %athed her

delcate lttle "oot n the "resh 2owng water#

/ wll run to the house, dear @olette, and %rng some lnen to wrap up your

"oot# )at "or me, / shall not %e long a%sent and ta(e good care not to get

nearer the stream "or ths lttle %roo( s deep and " you slp you mght

drown#

)hen Ourson was out o" sght @olette "elt an uneasness whch she

attr%uted to the pan caused %y her wound# An unaccounta%le repulson

made her "eel nclned to wth draw her "oot "rom the water n whch t was

hangng# :e"ore she decded to o%ey ths strange mpulse she saw the water

trou%led and the head o" an enormous toad appear upon the sur"ace# The

great swollen angry eyes o" the loathsome anmal were &.ed upon @olette,

who snce her dream had always had a dread o" toads# The appearance o"

ths hdeous creature, ts monstrous swollen %ody and menacng glance, "ro3e

her wth such horror that she could nether mo!e nor cry out#

Ah- ha- you are at last n my doman, lttle "ool- sad the toad# / am the

"ary *urous, the enemy o" your "amly# / ha!e %een lyng n wat "or you a

long tme and should ha!e had you %e"ore " my sster, the "ary Drolette, had

not protected you and sent you a dream to warn you aganst me# Ourson

whose hary s(n s a talsman o" sa"ety s now a%sent, my sster s on a

4ourney and you are at last mne#

Sayng these words, she se3ed @olette9s "oot wth her cold and shnng paws

and tred to draw her down nto the water# @olette uttered the most percng

shre(s1 she struggled and caught hold o" the plants and shru%s growng on

the %orders o" the stream# The &rst, alas, ga!e way, and @olette n despar

se3ed hold o" others#

Ourson- oh, Ourson- help- help- dear Ourson, sa!e me, sa!e your poor

@olette- / am pershng- sa!e me- help- help-

The "ary *urous, n the "orm o" a toad, was a%out to carry her o0# The last

shru% had g!en way and @olette9s last cry was hushed#

The poor @olette dsappeared under the water 4ust as another cry, more

desparng, more terr%le, answered to her own# :ut, alas- her har alone

appeared a%o!e the water when Ourson reached the spot, %reathless and

pantng wth terror# He had heard @olette9s cres and had turned %ac( wth

the rapdty o" lghtnng#

)thout a moment9s hestaton he sprang nto the water and se3ed @olette

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%y her long har %ut he "elt nstantly that he was sn(ng wth her# The "ary

*urous was drawng them to the %ottom o" the stream# He (new he was

sn(ng %ut he dd not lose hs sel"+possesson# /nstead o" releasng @olette,

he se3ed her %oth arms and n!o(ed the "ary Drolette# )hen they reached

the %ottom, he ga!e one !gorous stro(e wth hs heel whch %rought hm

agan to the sur"ace# Holdng @olette securely wth one arm, he swamsturdly wth the other and through some supernatural "orce he reached the

shore where he deposted the unconscous @olette#

Her eyes were closed, her teeth tghtly clenched and the pallor o" death was

on her "ace# Ourson threw hmsel" on hs (nees %y her sde weepng %tterly#

:ra!e Ourson, whom no dangers could ntmdate, no pr!aton, no su0erng

could master, now wept l(e a chld# Hs sweet sster, so well %elo!ed- hs only

"rend, hs consolaton, hs happness was lyng there motonless, l"eless-

Ourson9s strength and courage had deserted hm and he san( down wthout

conscousness %y the sde o" hs %elo!ed @olette#

At ths moment a lar( 2ew rapdly up, approached @olette and Ourson, ga!e

one stro(e o" her lttle %ea( to Ourson and another to @olette and

dsappeared#

Ourson was not the only one who repled to the shre(s o" @olette# $asserose

had heard them and then the more terr%le cry o" Ourson whch succeeded

them# She ran to the house to apprse Agnella and they %oth ran rapdly

toward the stream "rom whch the cres "or help seemed to come#

On approachng, they saw wth surprse and alarm that @olette and Ourson

were lyng on the ground n a state o" unconscousness# $asserose placed herhand on @olette9s heart and "elt t stll %eatng# Agnella ascertaned at the

same moment that Ourson was stll l!ng# She drected $asserose to ta(e

@olette home, undress her and put her to %ed whle she endea!ored to

restore conscousness to Ourson wth salts and other restorat!es %e"ore

conductng hm to the "arm# Ourson was too tall and hea!y to %e carred whle

@olette, on the contrary, was lght and t was easy "or $asserose to carry her

to the house# )hen she arr!ed there, she was soon restored to anmaton# /t

was some moments %e"ore she was conscous# She was stll agtated wth a

!ague remem%rance o" terror %ut wthout (nowng what had alarmed her#

Durng ths tme the tender care o" Agnella had restored Ourson to l"e# Heopened hs eyes, ga3ed tenderly at hs mother and threw hmsel" weepng

upon her nec(#

8other, dear mother- he e.clamed, my @olette, my %elo!ed sster, has

pershed- Let me de wth her-

:e composed, my son, repled Agnella1 @olette stll l!es# $asserose has

7/23/2019 Ourson


carred her to the house and wll %estow upon her all the attenton she

re'ures#

Ourson seemed to re!!e on hearng these words# He rose and wshed to run

to the "arm %ut hs second thought was consderaton "or hs mother and he

restraned hs mpatence to sut her steps# On ther way to the "arm he toldhs mother all that he (new o" the e!ents whch had almost cost @olette and

hmsel" ther l!es# He added that the slme "rom the mouth o" the "ary

*urous had le"t a strange dulness n hs head#

Agnella now told hm how $asserose and hersel" had "ound them stretched

unconscous upon the %order o" the stream# They soon arr!ed at the "arm,

and Ourson, stll drppng, rushed nto @olette9s presence#

On seeng hm @olette remem%ered e!erythng and she sprang towards hm#

She threw her arms around hm and wept upon hs %osom# Ourson also wept

and Agnella and $asserose were %oth n tears# /t was a concert o" emoton,

enough to so"ten all hearts# $asserose put an end to t %y cryng out56

)ould not one say6ha- ha-6that we were the most6ha- ha-6un"ortunate

people6ha- ha-6n the un!erse-6Loo( at our poor Ourson, wet as a water+

reed, %athng hmsel" n hs own and @olette9s tears# =ourage, chldren,

courage and happness- See, we are all al!e, than(s to Ourson#

Oh, yes- nterrupted @olette1 than(s to Ourson6to my dear, my well+

%elo!ed Ourson# How shall / e!er repay hm "or all / owe hm< How can / e!er

test"y my pro"ound grattude, my tender a0ecton<

:y lo!ng me always as you do now, my dear @olette, my sster# Ah- " t has

ndeed %een n my power to render you some lttle ser!ce, ha!e you not

changed my whole e.stence< Ha!e you not made me gay and happy6me

who was so wretched and so msera%le %e"ore< Are you not e!ery day and

e!ery hour o" the day the consolaton and happness o" my l"e and o" that o"

my e.cellent mother<

@olette was stll weepng and she answered only %y pressng more tenderly

to her heart her Ourson, her adopted %rother#

Dear son, sad hs mother, you are drppng wet# ?o and change your

clothng# @olette has need o" some hours9 repose# )e wll meet agan atdnner#

@olette consented to go to %ed %ut dd not sleep "or her heart was meltng,

o!er2owng wth grattude and tenderness# She sought n !an "or some

means o" rewardng the de!oton o" Ourson# She could thn( o" no other way

than that o" tryng to %ecome per"ect so as to ncrease the happness o"

Ourson and Agnella#

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)HEN the dnner hour came, @olette arose, dressed hersel" and entered the

dnng+room where Agnella and $asserose were awatng her# Ourson was not

there#

Ourson s not wth you, mother, sad @olette#

/ ha!e not seen hm, sad Agnella#

Nor /, sad $asserose1 / wll go and see( hm#

She entered hs cham%er and "ound hm seated upon hs %ed, hs head

restng upon hs arm#

=ome, Ourson, come 'uc(1 we are watng dnner "or you#

/ cannot come, sad Ourson, n a wea( !oce1 / ha!e a strange hea!ness n

my head#

$asserose 2ew to n"orm Agnella and @olette o" hs llness and they were %y

hs sde n an nstant# Ourson made an e0ort to rse n order to reassure them

%ut he "ell upon a char# Agnella "ound that he had a !olent "e!er and she

pre!aled upon hm to le down# @olette a%solutely re"used to lea!e hm#

/ am the cause o" hs llness, she sad, and / wll not lea!e hs sde tll he s

well# / shall de o" an.ety " you "orce me to lea!e my dear %rother#

Agnella and $asserose also nstalled themsel!es near ther dear n!ald %ut

alas- soon poor Ourson dd not recognse them# He was delrous- He called

hs mother and @olette e!ery moment and contnued to call them most

mportunately and to complan o" ther a%sence, e!en whle they were

holdng hm n ther arms#

Agnella and @olette ne!er le"t hm day nor nght durng all hs sc(ness# The

eghth day, Agnella, e.hausted wth "atgue, had "allen asleep near the poor

su0erer9s %ed1 hs d;cult respraton and l"eless eye seemed to announce

the near approach o" death# @olette was on her (nees, holdng and pressng

n her &ne whte hands the hary hands o" Ourson and co!erng them wth

tears and (sses#

/n the mdst o" ths scene o" desolaton, a clear sweet song nterrupted the

mourn"ul slence o" the cham%er o" the dyng %oy# @olette started# Ths so"t

melody seemed to %rng consolaton and happness1 she rased her head and

saw a lar( perched upon the open shutter#

@olette- sad the lar(#

@olette trem%led "ear"ully#

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@olette, repeated the lttle so"t !oce o" the lar(, do you lo!e Ourson<

Do / lo!e hm< Ah- lo!e hm6/ lo!e hm more than any one else6more than /

lo!e mysel"#

)ould you purchase hs l"e at the prce o" your happness<

7es, gladly would / purchase l"e "or hm %y the sacr&ce o" my happness and

o" my own l"e#

Lsten, then, @olette# / am the "ary Drolette# / lo!e Ourson, / lo!e you and /

lo!e your "amly# The !enom whch my sster the "ary *urous has %lown upon

the head o" Ourson s su;cent to cause hs death# Ne!ertheless, " you are

sncere, " you really "eel "or Ourson the sentments o" grattude and

tenderness whch you e.press, hs l"e s n your hands# 7ou are permtted to

redeem t- :ut remem%er that you wll soon %e called upon to g!e the most

terr%le proo" o" your attachment and that " he l!es you wll pay "or hs

e.stence %y a most horr%le sacr&ce#

Oh, madam- 'uc(, 'uc(, tell me what / am to do to sa!e my dear Ourson#

Nothng wll %e terr%le to me, all wll %e 4oy and happness " you ad me to

sa!e my %rother Ourson#

)ell, my chld, !ery well, repled the "ary# Kss hs le"t ear three tmes,

sayng at each (ss5 9To thee-6*or thee-6)th thee-9 Re2ect agan, @olette,

%e"ore underta(ng ths cure# /" you are not prepared "or the most d;cult

scar&ces, the greatest ms"ortunes wll o!erwhelm you and my sster *urous

wll %e the mstress o" your l"e#

As her only reply, @olette crossed her hands upon her %reast, cast upon the

"ary, who was a%out to 2y away, a loo( o" tender grattude, and, throwng

hersel" upon Ourson, she (ssed hs le"t ear three tmes, sayng, wth an

accent lo!ng and penetratng5

To thee-6*or thee-6)th thee-

Scarcely had she sad these words, when Ourson uttered a pro"ound sgh,

opened hs eyes, perce!ed @olette and se3ng her hands carred them to hs

lps, sayng5

@olette, dear @olette- t seems to me / am awa(ng "rom a long dream# Tell

me all that has passed# )hy am / here< )hy are you so pale and thn< 7our

chee(s are hollow, you seem to ha!e grown old and your %eaut"ul eyes are

red wth weepng#

Hush- sad @olette, do not wa(e your mother, who s sleepng %y your sde#

She has not slept "or a long tme and s much "atgued# 7ou ha!e %een !ery ll,

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Ourson-

And you, dear @olette, ha!e you %een restng<

@olette %lushed and hestated#

How could / sleep, dear Ourson, when / was the cause o" all your su0erngs<

Ourson was slent# He loo(ed at her tenderly, (ssed her hands and agan

as(ed her to tell hm what had passed# She told hm %ut she was too modest

and too truly de!oted to re!eal to hm the prce that the "ary had a;.ed to

hs cure# Ourson, there"ore, was "ar "rom (nowng the truth#

Ourson now "elt hmsel" restored to health, rose up, proceeded to hs mother

so"tly and awa(ened her %y a (ss# Agnella thought he was delrous and

called $asserose who was astonshed when @olette told them that Ourson

had %een restored %y the good "ary Drolette#

A"ter all ths, Ourson and @olette lo!ed each other more tenderly than e!er

and they ne!er le"t each other unless ther occupatons "orced them to %e

apart#

T)O years passed# One day Ourson had %een cuttng wood n the "orest#

@olette was to %rng hm hs dnner and return wth hm n the e!enng# At

mdday $asserose hung on @olette9s arm a %as(et contanng wne, %read, a

lttle pot o" %utter, some ham and some cherres# @olette set o0 eagerly# The

mornng had appeared to her !ery long and she was mpatent to %e agan

wth Ourson# To shorten the way she went through the "orest whch was

composed o" large trees under whch she could easly wal(# There werenether %rars nor thorns n her way and a so"t, thc( moss co!ered the earth#

@olette stepped lghtly "or she was happy to ha!e "ound a shorter path to her

dear Ourson# )hen she had passed o!er a%out hal" the dstance she heard

the nose o" a hea!y and precptate step %ut too "ar o0 "or her to magne

what t could %e# A"ter some moments o" e.pectaton she saw an enormous

wld %oar comng towards her# He seemed greatly enraged, ploughed the

ground wth hs tus(s and ru%%ed the %ar( "rom the trees as he passed along#

Hs hea!y snortng and %reathng were as dstnctly heard as hs step# @olette

dd not (now where to 2y or to hde hersel"# )hle she was hestatng the wld

%oar came n sght, saw her, and paused# Hs eyes were 2amng, hs whole%ody %rstlng, hs tus(s clashng together# He uttered a "erocous grunt, and

sprang towards @olette# Happly she was near a tree whose %ranches were

wthn her reach# She se3ed one, sprang up wth t, and clm%ed "rom %ranch

to %ranch, untl she (new she was %eyond hs reach# Scarcely was she n

sa"ety when the sa!age anmal precptated hmsel" wth all hs weght

aganst the tree n whch she had ta(en re"uge# *urous at ths o%stacle, he

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commenced tearng the %ar( "rom the tree and ga!e t such "urous %lows

wth hs snout that @olette was terr%ly "rghtened# The concusson caused %y

these !olent and repeated %lows mght at last cause the "all o" the tree# She

clung tghtly and trem%lng to the tree# The wld %oar at last weary o" hs use

less attac(s lad hmsel" down at the "oot o" the tree castng "rom tme to tme

a menacng loo( at @olette#

8any hours passed n ths pan"ul stuaton, @olette trem%lng %ut holdng on

steadly and the wld %oar, some tmes calm, sometmes n a terr%le rage,

sprngng aganst the tree and tearng t wth hs tus(s#

@olette called on her %rother, her dear Ourson, "or help# At e!ery new

attempt o" the wld %oar she renewed her cres "or ad %ut alas- Ourson was

too "ar o0 and he could not hear# No one came to her ad#

Dscouragement and despar ganed upon her1 she %egan to "eel hunger# She

had thrown away the %as(et o" pro!sons when she sprang up the tree, the

wld %oar had trampled upon t, crushed t and eaten up e!erythng t

contaned#

)hlst @olette was a prey to these terrors and !anly callng "or help Ourson

was ama3ed at not seeng her come wth the dnner#

=an they ha!e "orgotten me< he sad to hmsel"# No, nether my mother nor

@olette could ha!e "orgotten me# / could not ha!e e.planed mysel" well#

)thout dou%t they e.pected me %ac( to dnner1 they are loo(ng "or me now

and are perhaps uneasy#

At ths thought Ourson a%andoned hs wor( and commenced wal(ng

precptately towards the house# He also wshed to shorten the way and

determned to cross the "orest# Soon he thought he heard plant!e cres o"

dstress# He paused6he lstened, hs heart %eat !olently as he %ele!ed he

recogn3ed the !oce o" @olette# :ut, no6he heard nothng now# He was

a%out to resume hs march when he heard a more dstnct and percng cry#

Now he (new that t must %e @olette, hs @olette, who was n danger and

callng upon Ourson "or help# He ran n the drecton "rom whch the nose

seemed to come# Approachng, he heard not only calls "or help %ut roars and

growls accompaned %y "erocous cres and !olent %lows# $oor Ourson ran on

wth the speed o" despar# At last he perce!ed the wld %oar sha(ng wth hs

snout the tree upon whch @olette was stll crouched n sa"ety though pale

and o!ercome#

Ths sght ga!e hm new strength# He n!o(ed the protecton o" the good "ary

Drolette and rushed upon the wld %oar wth hs a.e n hs hand# The wld %oar

n hs rage %ellowed "urously# He gnashed hs "ormda%le tus(s one aganst

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the other and sprang towards Ourson, who dodged the attac( and 4umped to

one sde# The %oar passed %eyond hm, paused a moment, then turned more

"urous than e!er aganst Ourson who had now ta(en %reath and wth hs a.e

rased n hs hand awated hs enemy#

The wld %oar sprung on Ourson and rece!ed on hs head a most !olent %low%ut hs %ones were so hard he scarcely seemed to "eel t# The !olence o" the

attac( o!erthrew Ourson# The wld %oar, seeng hs enemy on the ground, dd

not g!e hm tme to rse %ut sprang upon hm and wth hs tus(s endea!ored

to tear hm to peces#

Ourson now thought hmsel" lost, ndeed he thought no more o" hmsel", he

prayed only "or @olette9s sa"ety#

)hlst the wld %oar was thus tramplng and (c(ng hs enemy, a 4eerng song

was heard 4ust a%o!e the com%atants# The wld %oar shuddered, suddenly

'utted Ourson, rased hs head and saw a lar( 2yng a%o!e them# The

moc(ng song contnued and the %rute, utterng a cry o" rage, lowered hs

head and wthdrew slowly wthout once turnng round#

@olette at sght o" Ourson9s danger had "anted away %ut had rested

supported %y the %ranches o" the tree# Ourson, who thought hmsel" torn to

peces, scarcely dared attempt to mo!e %ut "eelng no pan he rose promptly

to assst @olette# Hs heart was "ull o" grattude to the "ary Drolette to whom

he attr%uted hs rescue# At ths moment the lar( 2ew towards hm, pec(ed

hs chee(s and whspered n hs ear5

Ourson, t was the "ary *urous who sent ths wld %oar# / arr!ed n tme to

sa!e you# $ro&t %y the grattude o" @olette and change s(ns wth her# She

wll consent 4oy"ully#

Ne!er- cred Ourson# / would rather %e a %ear all my l"e6rather de# $oor

@olette- / should ndeed %e %ase " / a%used her tenderness towards me n

ths way#

?ood+%ye, o%stnate one- sad the lar(, 2yng away sngng, tll we meet

agan# / shall come agan6and then66

The result wll %e the same, sad Ourson#

He then clm%ed the tree, too( @olette n hs arms, and descended# He lad

her upon the so"t green moss and %athed her "orehead wth a lttle wne he

"ound n a %ro(en %ottle#

/n a "ew moments @olette was restored to conscousness# She could scarcely

%ele!e her senses when she saw Ourson, l!ng and unwounded, (neelng %y

her sde and %athng her "orehead and temples#

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Ourson- dear Ourson- agan you ha!e sa!ed my l"e# Tell me, oh- tell me,

what can / do to pro!e my grattude<

Do not spea( o" grattude, my chershed @olette# Do / not owe all my

happness to you< /n sa!ng your l"e / sa!e my own and all / !alue#

All that you say, dear %rother, s sweet and tender %ut / desre no less to

render you some real and sgnal ser!ce, whch wll show all the grattude and

all the lo!e wth whch my heart s &lled#

?ood- good- we shall see, sad Ourson, laughng# /n the mean tme let us

thn( o" preser!ng our l!es# 7ou ha!e eaten nothng snce mornng, poor

@olette "or / see on the ground the remnants o" the pro!sons you %rought,

as / suppose, "or our dnner# /t s late and the day s declnng so we must

hurry to return to the "arm %e"ore dar(#

@olette now tred to rse %ut her terror and her long "ast had wea(ened her

so much that she "ell to the ground#

/ cannot stand, Ourson, / am too wea(# )hat wll %e come o" us<

Ourson was greatly em%arrassed# @olette was no longer a chld and had

grown so large that he could not carry her so "ar, nether could he lea!e her

e.posed to the attac(s o" the "erocous %easts o" the "orest and he "eared she

could not do wthout "ood tll the mornng# /n ths perple.ty he saw a pac(et

"all at hs "eet# He rased t, opened t and "ound a pe, a loa" o" %read and a

%ottle o" wne# Ourson (new that ths %ounty was "rom the hand o" the "ary

Drolette and wth a heart "ull o" grattude he put the %ottle to @olette9s lps#

One mouth"ul o" ths good wne whch was ndeed une'ualled restored a

porton o" @olette9s strength# The pe and the %read completely restored her

as well as Ourson who dd "ull honor to the repast# )hle eatng and drn(ng

they con!ersed o" ther past terrors and present happness#

Now, howe!er, t was nght and nether @olette nor Ourson (new whch way

to turn ther steps n order to reach the "arm# They were n the mdst o" a

wood# @olette was reclnng aganst the tree whch had %een her re"uge "rom

the wld %oar# They dared not 'ut ths spot lest n the o%scurty they mght

not &nd as com"orta%le a one#

)ell, dear @olette, do not %e alarmed# /t s warm, the weather s %eaut"uland you are reclnng upon a %ed o" so"t green moss# Let us pass the nght

where we are# / wll co!er you wth my coat and / wll le at your "eet to

protect you "rom all danger and alarm# 8amma and $asserose wll not %e

!ery an.ous "or they are gnorant o" the dangers we ha!e encountered and

you (now that we ha!e o"ten on a lo!ely e!enng l(e ths reached home a"ter

they had retred#

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@olette consented wllngly to pass the nght n the "orest# /n the &rst place,

they could not do otherwse1 secondly, she was ne!er a"rad wth Ourson and

always thought that what he decded to do was rght#

Ourson now arranged @olette9s %ed o" moss n the %est poss%le manner,

too( o0 hs coat and n spte o" her resstance spread t o!er her# Then, a"terha!ng seen @olette9s eyes close and sleep ta(e possesson o" all her senses

he lay at her "eet and soon slept most pro"oundly#

@olette was the &rst awa(e n the mornng# She wal(ed around the tree whch

had sheltered them durng the nght# Ourson awa(ed and not seeng @olette

he sprang up n an nstant and called her name n a !oce cho(ng wth terror#

/ am here- / am here, dear %rother- she repled, runnng towards hm1 / am

see(ng the path to the "arm# :ut what s the matter< you trem%le-

/ thought you had %een carred away %y some wc(ed "ary, dear @olette,

and / reproached mysel" "or ha!ng "allen asleep# Let us go now 'uc(ly n

order to reach home %e"ore mamma and $asserose are awa(e#

Ourson (new the "orest well# He soon "ound the path to the "arm and they

arr!ed some moments %e"ore Agnella and $asserose awo(e# They agreed to

conceal "rom Agnella the dangers to whch they had %een e.posed, to spare

her angush and ds'uetude "or the "uture# $asserose alone was made the

con&dant o" ther dangerous ad!entures#

OURSON now "or%ade @olette to go alone n the "orest# She was no longer

allowed to carry hm hs dnner so he always returned to the house at mdday#

@olette ne!er le"t the "arm wthout Ourson#

Three years a"ter the e!ent n the "orest, Ourson saw @olette arse n the

mornng pale and e.hausted# She was see(ng hm#

=ome, come, she sad, drawng hm along, / ha!e somethng to say6

somethng to relate6 Oh, come-

Ourson was much alarmed and "ollowed her precptately#

)hat s t, dear @olette< *or the lo!e o" Hea!en, spea( to me- )hat can / do

"or you<

Nothng, nothng, dear Ourson1 you can do nothng6only lsten to me# 7ou

remem%er the dream / had n my chldhood, o" the toad- the r!er- the

danger- )ell, last nght / had ths same dream agan# /t s terr%le- terr%le-

Ourson, dear Ourson, your l"e s menaced- /" you de, / wll de also-

How- :y whom s my l"e threatened<

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Lsten- / was sleepng and a toad6stll a toad6always a toad6came to me

and sad5

9The moment approaches when your dear Ourson s to resume hs natural

s(n# To you he s to %e nde%ted "or ths change# / hate hm- / hate you- 7ou

shall not ma(e each other happy- Ourson shall persh and you cannotaccomplsh the sacr&ce whch n your "olly you medtate# /n a "ew days, yes,

perhaps n a "ew hours / shall ta(e a sgnal !engeance upon you %oth# ?ood+

%ye6do you hear<6tll we meet agan-9

/ awo(e, suppressed a cry whch was a%out to ssue "rom my lps and saw, as

/ saw on that day n whch you sa!ed me "rom the water, the hdeous toad

creepng upon the shutter and ga3ng at me menacngly# /t dsappeared,

lea!ng me more dead than al!e# / arose dressed mysel" and came to &nd

you my %rother, my "rend to warn you aganst the !engeance o" the "ary

*urous and to entreat you to see( the ad o" the good "ary Drolette#

Ourson lstened n great alarm# He was not "rghtened %y the "ate whch

menaced hmsel"6he was agtated %y the sacr&ce whch *urous announced

and whch he under stood %ut too well# The thought alone o" hs dear and

lo!ely @olette %eng mu>ed up n hs hdeous %ear9s s(n through de!oton to

hm made hm trem%le and he pre"erred death# Ourson9s angush was

pctured n hs countenance, and @olette, who was watchng hm closely,

threw hersel" upon hs nec( and so%%ed !olently#

Alas- my %rother, my dear %rother, you wll soon %e torn "rom me# 7ou, who

do not (now what t s to "ear, now trem%le# 7ou who com"ort me encourage

me and sustan me n all my "ears ha!e now no word to utter to restore my"alng courage# 7ou who ha!e com%ated the most terr%le dangers now %ow

your head and are resgned to "ate#

No, @olette, t s not "ear whch ma(es me trem%le6t s not "ear whch

agtates me# /t s a word whch the "ary *urous has uttered, o" whch you do

not comprehend the meanng %ut whch / understand per"ectly# The threat

was addressed to you, my @olette# /t s "or you / trem%le-

@olette d!ned "rom ths that the moment o" sacr&ce had come, that she

was a%out to %e called upon to (eep the promse she had made to the "ary

Drolette# /n place o" trem%lng and shrn(ng, she "elt the most l!ely 4oy# Shecould now at last ma(e some return "or the de!oton, the ncessant watch"ul

tenderness o" her dear Ourson6could n her turn %e use"ul to hm# She made

no response to the "ears e.pressed %y Ourson %ut than(ed hm and spo(e to

hm more tenderly than e!er %e"ore, thn(ng that soon perhaps she would %e

separated "rom hm %y death# Ourson had the same thought# They %oth

"er!ently n!o(ed the protecton o" the "ary Drolette# Ourson, ndeed, called

upon her n a loud !oce %ut she dd not respond to hs appeal#

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The day passed away sadly# Nether Ourson nor @olette spo(e to Agnella on

the su%4ect o" ther ds'uet "or "ear o" aggra!atng her melancholy whch had

%een constantly ncreasng as Ourson grew to manhood#

Already twenty years old- thought she# /" he perssts n l!ng n ths

soltude and seeng no one and n re"usng to change wth @olette, who as(snothng %etter, / am certan, / am con!nced, he wll wear ths %ear+s(n tll hs

death#

Agnella wept, o"ten wept1 %ut her tears %rought her no remedy#

The day @olette had her "rght"ul dream, Agnella also had a dream# The "ary

Drolette had appeared to her5

=ourage, 'ueen, she sad to her, n a "ew days Ourson wll lose hs %ear9s

s(n and you can g!e hm hs true name o" $rnce 8ar!ellous#

Agnella had awa(ed "ull o" hope and happness# She redou%led hertenderness to @olette, %ele!ng that t was to her she would owe the

happness o" her son#

E!ery one retred at nght wth d0erent "eelngs# @olette and Ourson, "ull o"

an.ety "or the "uture whch appeared so threatenng, Agnella9s heart

%oundng wth 4oy at that same "uture whch appeared so near and so replete

wth happness, $asserose, astonshed at the melancholy o" the one and the

4oy o" the other and gnorant o" the cause o" %oth#

All slept, howe!er# @olette a"ter weepng pro"usely# Ourson a"ter ha!ng

n!o(ed the "ary Drolette1 Agnella a"ter smlng and thn(ng o" Oursonhandsome and attract!e and $asserose a"ter sayng to hersel" a hundred

tmes5 :ut what s the matter wth them all to+day<

Scarcely an hour a"ter all at the "arm were asleep, @olette was aroused %y

the smell o" &re and smo(e# Agnella awo(e at the same moment#

8other, sad @olette, do you not smell some thng<

The house s on &re, sad Agnella# Loo( what a lght s round a%out us-

They sprang "rom ther %eds and ran to the parlor# The 2ames had already

ta(en possesson o" t and o" the negh%orng cham%ers#

Ourson- $asserose- cred Agnella#

Ourson- Ourson- e.clamed @olette#

$asserose sprang hal" clothed nto the parlor#

)e are lost, madam- The 2ames are all through the house# The doors and

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wndows are &rmly closed6t s mposs%le to open them#

8y son- my son- cred Agnella#

8y %rother- my %rother- e.clamed @olette#

They ran to the doors1 all ther e0orts to open them or the wndows werene0ectual#

Oh- my terr%le dream- murmured @olette# Dear Ourson, adeu "or e!er-

Ourson had also %een awa(ened %y the 2ames and smo(e# He slept out o"

the "arm+house, and near the sta%le# Hs &rst mpulse was to run to the "ront

o" the house %ut not wthstandng hs e.traordnary strength he could not

open t# One would ha!e thought that the door would %rea( to peces under

hs e0orts# /t was e!dently held "ast %y the "ary *urous#

Ourson sprang upon a ladder and passed across the 2ames nto a granarythrough an open wndow, then descended nto the room where hs mother

and @olette were em%racng, e.pectng nstant death# :e"ore they had tme

to recogn3e hm he se3ed them n hs arms and cred to $asserose to "ollow

hm# He ran along the granary and descended the ladder wth hs mother n

one arm and @olette n the other and "ollowed %y $asserose# The moment

a"ter they reached the ground n sa"ety, the ladder and granary %ecame a

prey to the 2ames#

Ourson led Agnella and @olette some dstance "rom the &re# $asserose was

sel"+possessed5 she had 'ute a large pac(age o" clothng whch she had

collected at the commencement o" the &re# Agnella and @olette had escaped%are"ooted and n ther nght ro%es, and the clothng %rought %y $asserose

was thus !ery necessary to protect them "rom the cold# A"ter ha!ng than(ed

Ourson "or sa!ng ther l!es at the perl o" hs own they complmented

$asserose upon her "orethought#

See, sad $asserose, the ad!antage o" not losng one9s senses# )hlst you

two were only thn(ng o" your Ourson, / made up ths pac(age o" necessary

thngs#

That s true, my good $asserose1 %ut what purpose would your pac(age ha!e

ser!ed, " my mother and @olette had pershed n the 2ames<

Oh, / (new !ery well that you would not allow them to %e %urned up al!e# /s

any one e!er n danger when you are present< /s not ths the thrd tme you

ha!e sa!ed @olette9s l"e<

@olette pressed Ourson9s hands tenderly and carred them to her lps#

Agnella em%raced her and sad5

7/23/2019 Ourson


Dear @olette, Ourson s happy n your tenderness whch "ully rewards hm

"or all he has done "or you# / "eel assured that on your part you would %e

happy to sacr&ce yoursel" "or hm " an occason o0ered, that only too

wllngly would you help hm#

:e"ore @olette could spea(, Ourson sad wth anmaton5

8other, do not say anythng to @olette o" sacr&cng hersel" "or me# 7ou

(now the thought alone ma(es me wretched#

/n place o" replyng to Ourson, Agnella placed her hand on her "orehead and

cred out an.ously5

The cas(et, $asserose- the cas(et- Ha!e you sa!ed the cas(et<

/ "orgot t, madam, sad $asserose#

The countenance o" Agnella e.pressed such regret and an.ety, that Ourson'uestoned her as to ths precous cas(et whch seemed to trou%le her so

much#

The cas(et was a present o" the "ary Drolette# She told me that the

happness o" @olette was contaned n t# /t was n the wardro%e, at the "oot

o" my %ed# Alas- %y what "atalty dd / "orget t<

She had scarcely uttered these words when the %ra!e Ourson sprang towards

the %urnng house and notwthstandng the tears and supplcatons o"

Agnella, @olette and $asserose, dsappeared n the 2ames e.clamng5

7ou shall ha!e the cas(et, mother, or / wll persh wth t-

A horr%le slence "ollowed ths act o" Ourson# @olette "ell on her (nees wth

her arms e.tended towards the %urnng house, Agnella wth her hands

clasped loo(ed wth stranng eyes at the openng through whch Ourson had

entered whle $asserose was motonless, hdng her "ace wth her hands#

Some moments passed thus and they appeared ages to the three women

who were e.pectng a sentence o" l"e or death#

Ourson dd not reappear# The crac(lng o" the %urnng wood, the 2ashng o"

the 2ames, ncreased n !olence# Suddenly, a "rght"ul nose made @olette

and Agnella utter a cry o" despar#

The roo", co!ered wth 2ames, had "allen n and Ourson was %ured under the

runs6crushed %y the runs, consumed %y the &re#

The slence o" death succeeded ths dread"ul catastrophe# The 2ames

dmnshed, then ded away6no sound now nterrupted the despar o" Agnella

and @olette#

7/23/2019 Ourson


@olette had "allen nto the arms o" Agnella and they so%%ed thus a long tme

n slence# $asserose contemplated the smo(ng runs and wept# $oor Ourson

was %ured there a !ctm o" hs courage and hs de!oton- Agnella and

@olette stll wept %tterly1 they appeared nether to hear nor understand what

was passng around them#

Let us lea!e ths place, sad $asserose, at last#

Agnella and @olette made no response#

$asserose tred to lead @olette away#

=ome, sad she1 come, @olette, let us see( a shelter "or the nght6the

e!enng "ortunately s mld#

)hat shelter do / want< sad @olette# )hat s the e!enng to me or the

mornng< There are no more %eaut"ul days "or me- The sun wll shne no

more %ut to llumne my despar-

:ut " we reman here weepng we shall de o" hunger, @olette, and n spte

o" the %tterest gre", we must thn( o" the necesstes o" l"e#

:etter to de o" hunger than o" gre"- / wll not lea!e ths place where / saw

my dear Ourson "or the last tme6where he pershed, a !ctm o" hs

tenderness "or us#

$asserose shrugged her shoulders1 she remem%ered that the sta%le had not

%een %urned so she ran there wth all speed, ml(ed the cow, dran( a cup"ul

o" ml( and tred n !an to ma(e Agnella and @olette do the same#

Agnella rose and sad to @olette n a solemn tone5

7our gre" s 4ust, my daughter# Ne!er dd a more no%le or generous heart

%eat n a human "orm than Ourson9s and he lo!ed you more than he lo!ed

hmsel"6to spare your gre" he sacr&ced hs happness and hs l"e#

Agnella now recounted to @olette the scene whch preceded Ourson9s %rth,

the power @olette had to del!er hm "rom hs de"ormty %y acceptng t "or

hersel" and Ourson9s constant prayer that @olette should ne!er %e n"ormed

o" the poss%lty o" such a sacr&ce#

/t s easy to comprehend the "eelngs o" lo!ng tenderness and regret whch

rlled the heart o" @olette a"ter ths con&dence and she wept more %tterly

than e!er#

And now, my daughter, contnued Agnella, there remans one duty to "ul&l,

that s to g!e %ural to my son# )e must clear away these runs and remo!e

the ashes and when we ha!e "ound the remans o" our well+%elo!ed Ourson

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66

So%s nterrupted her speech1 she could say no more#

A?NELLA, @olette and $asserose wal(ed slowly towards the %urned walls o"

the "armhouse# )th the courage o" despar they remo!ed the smo(ng runs#

They wor(ed dlgently two days %e"ore ths wor( was completed# No !estge

o" poor Ourson appeared and yet they had remo!ed pece %y pece, hand"ul

%y hand"ul, all that co!ered the ste# On remo!ng the last hal"+%urned plan(s,

@olette perce!ed an aperture, whch she 'uc(ly enlarged# /t was the or&ce

o" a well# Her heart %eat !olently a !ague hope nspred t#

Ourson- cred she, wth a "ant !oce# @olette- dear @olette- / am here1 /

am sa!ed- @olette could reply only %y a smothered cry1 she lost her

conscousness and "ell nto the well whch enclosed her dear Ourson# /" the

good "ary Drolette had not watched o!er her "all, she would ha!e %ro(en her

head and lm%s aganst the sdes o" the well# :ut ther (nd protectress, who

had already rendered them so many ser!ces, sustaned her and she "ell

sa"ely at Ourson9s "eet#

@olette soon returned to conscousness# Ther happness was too great to %e

%ele!ed n to %e trusted# They dd not cease to g!e the most tender

assurances o" a0ecton# And now they were aroused "rom ther ecstasy %y the

cres o" $asserose, who, losng sght o" @olette and see(ng her amongst the

runs, dsco!ered the open well# $eerng nto the dar(ness she saw @olette9s

whte ro%e and she magned that the poor grl had thrown hersel"

ntentonally nto the well and there "ound the death she sought# $asserose

screamed loud enough to destroy her lungs# Agnella came slowly "orward to(now the cause o" ths alarm#

:e slent, $asserose, cred Ourson n a loud !oce1 you are "rghtenng our

mother# / am n the well wth @olette1 we are happy and want "or nothng#

Oh %lessed news- %lessed news- cred $asserose1 / see them- / see them-

8adam, madam, come 'uc(ly, 'uc(ly- They are here they are well they

ha!e need o" nothng-

Agnella, pale, and hal" dead wth emoton, lstened to $asserose wthout

comprehendng her# She "ell on her (nees and had not strength to rse# :ut

when she heard the !oce o" her dear Ourson callng to her5 8other, mother,

your poor son Ourson stll l!es- she sprang toward the well, and would ha!e

precptated hersel" wthn, had not $asserose se3ed her %y the arms and

drawn her %ac( suddenly#

*or the lo!e o" Ourson, dear 'ueen, do not throw your sel" nto ths hole1 you

wll (ll yoursel"- / wll restore Ourson and @olette to you unharmed#

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Agnella, trem%lng wth happness, comprehended the wsdom o" the counsel

g!en %y $asserose# She remaned rooted to the spot %ut shudderng wth

agtaton whle $asserose ran to see( a ladder#

$asserose was a%sent a long tme whch was e.cusa%le as she was somewhat

con"used# *rst she se3ed a cord, then a ptch"or(, then a char# *or an nstantshe thought o" lowerng the cow to the %ottom o" the well so that poor Ourson

mght ha!e a drn( o" "resh warm ml(# At last she "ound the ladder %e"ore her

eyes, almost n her hands, %ut she had not seen t#

)hle $asserose was see(ng the ladder, Ourson and @olette tal(ed

ncessantly o" ther present happness and the despar and angush they had

endured#

/ passed unn4ured through the 2ames, sad Ourson, and sought gropng

a%out "or the wardro%e o" my mother# The smo(e su0ocated and %lnded me#

Then / "elt mysel" rased %y the har and cast to the %ottom o" ths well where

you ha!e come to 4on me, dear @olette#

/n place o" &ndng water, or e!en mosture here, / "elt at once a sweet, "resh

ar# A so"t carpet was spread on the %ottom5 you see t s stll here# There was

"rom some source su;cent lght around me# / "ound ample pro!sons at my

sde# Loo( at them, @olette, / ha!e not touched them# A "ew drops o" wne

was all / could swallow#

The (nowledge o" your despar and that o" my mother rendered me too

unhappy and the "ary Drolette too( pty on me# She appeared to me under

your "orm, dear @olette, and / too( her "or you and sprang "orward to se3e

you n my arms %ut / em%raced only a !ague "orm o" ar or !apor# / could see

her %ut / could not touch her#

9Ourson,9 sad the "ary, smlng sweetly upon me, 9/ ha!e assumed @olette9s

"orm to test"y my "rendshp n the most agreea%le way# :e com"orted1 you

shall see her to morrow# She weeps %tterly, %ecause she %ele!es you to %e

dead %ut / wll send her to you to+morrow# She wll ma(e you a !st at the

%ottom o" ths well# She wll accompany you when you go "orth "rom ths

tom% and you shall see your mother and the %lue hea!ens and the da33lng

sun whch nether your mother nor @olette wsh to loo( upon snce your loss,

%ut whch appeared %eaut"ul to them whle you were wth them# 7ou wllreturn once more to ths well "or t contans your happness#9

98y happness-9 / e.clamed to the "ary1 9when / ha!e "ound my mother and

my @olette / shall %e n possesson o" all my happness#9 9:ele!e mplctly

what / say# Ths well contans your happness and that o" @olette#9

9@olette9s happness, madam, s to l!e wth me and my mother#9

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Ah- you repled well, nterrupted @olette# :ut what sad the "ary<

9/ (now what / say,9 she answered# 9/n a "ew days somethng wll %e wantng

to complete your happness# 7ou wll &nd t here# )e wll meet agan, Ourson#

Re mem%er what / ha!e sad#9

97es, madam1 / hope t wll %e soon#9

)hen you see me agan, my poor chld, you wll %e scarcely content and

then you wll wsh that you had ne!er seen me# Slence and "arewell#9

She 2ew away smlng sweetly, lea!ng %ehnd her a delcous per"ume and

an atmosphere so so"t and hea!enly that t d0used a peace"ul calm n my

heart# / su0ered no more6/ e.pected you#

@olette on her part comprehended %etter than Ourson why the ne.t return o"

the "ary would %e pan"ul to hm# Snce Agnella had re!ealed to her n

con&dence the nature o" the sacr&ce that she could mpose upon hersel", shewas resol!ed to accomplsh t, n spte o" the opposton o" Ourson# She

thought only o" the delght o" g!ng an mmense proo" o" her a0ecton# Ths

hope tempered her 4oy at ha!ng "ound hm#

)hen Ourson had completed hs narrat!e, they heard the shrll !oce o"

$asserose cryng out to them5

Loo(, loo(, my chldren- the ladder# / wll put t down to you# Ta(e care that t

does not "all on your heads# 7ou must ha!e some pro!sons down there1 send

them up, " you please1 we are somewhat desttute a%o!e here# *or two days /

ha!e only had a lttle ml( to drn( and a crust# 7our mother and @olette ha!el!ed upon the ar and ther tears# So"tly- so"tly- ta(e care not to %rea( the

ladder# 8adam- madam- here they are5 here are Ourson9s and @olette9s

heads#6?ood- Step up- There you are-

Agnella, stll palld and trem%lng, was mmo!a%le as a statue#

A"ter ha!ng seen @olette n sa"ety, Ourson sprang "rom the well and threw

hmsel" nto hs mother9s arms# She co!ered hm wth tears and (sses and

held hm a long tme clasped to her heart# A"ter ha!ng thought hm dead

durng so many pan"ul hours, t seemed a dream to her almost mposs%le to

real3e that she was holdng hm sa"e once more# *nally $asserose termnatedths meltng scene %y se3ng Ourson and sayng to hm 5

Now t s my turn- / am "orgotten, "orsooth, %ecause / do not %athe mysel" n

tears1 %ecause / (eep my head cool and preser!e my strength# )as t not

$asserose, a"ter all, who got you out o" that terr%le hole< Spea( the truth#

7es, yes, my good $asserose- 7ou may %ele!e that / lo!e you and ndeed /

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than( you "or drawng me out o" t where, howe!er, / was dong !ery well

a"ter my sweet @olette came down to me#

:ut now / thn( o" t, sad $asserose, tell me, @olette, how dd you get to

the %ottom o" that well wthout (llng yoursel"<

/ dd not go down purposely# / "ell and Ourson rece!ed me n hs arms#

All ths s not !ery clear, sad $asserose# The "ary Drolette had somethng

to do wth t#

7es, the good and ama%le "ary, sad Ourson# She s always counteractng

the crueltes o" her wc(ed sster#

)hle thus tal(ng merrly, ther stomachs ga!e ndcaton that they were

su0erng "or dnner# Ourson had le"t n the well the pro!sons "urnshed %y

the "ary# The rest o" the happy "amly were stll em%racng and weepng o!er

past remem%rances %ut $asserose wthout sayng a word descended nto thewell and remounted wth the pro!sons whch she placed on a %undle o"

straw1 she then placed around the ta%le "our other %undles o" straw "or seats#

Dnner s ready, sad she1 come and eat1 you all need "ood# The good

'ueen and @olette wll soon "all "rom e.hauston# Ourson has had a lttle wne

%ut he has eaten nothng# Here s a pe, a ham, %read and wne# Long l"e to

the good "ary-

Agnella, @olette and Ourson dd not re'ure to %e told a second tme %ut

placed themsel!es gayly at the ta%le# Ther appettes were good and the

repast e.cellent# Happness llumnated e!ery countenance1 they tal(ed,laughed, clasped each other9s hands and were n paradse#

)hen dnner was o!er, $asserose was surprsed that the "ary Drolette had

not pro!ded "or all ther wants#

Loo(, sad she, the house s n runs, we are desttute o" e!erythng- The

sta%le s our only shelter, the straw our only %ed and the pro!sons / %rought

up "rom the well our only "ood# *ormerly e!erythng was pro!ded %e"ore we

had the tme to as( "or "#

Agnella loo(ed suddenly at her hand6the rng was no longer there- They

must now gan ther %read %y the sweat o" ther %rows# Ourson and @olette

seeng her ar o" consternaton demanded the cause o" t#

Alas- my chldren, you wll no dou%t thn( me !ery ungrate"ul to "eel

ds'ueted a%out the "uture n the mdst o" our great happness %ut / perce!e

that durng the &re / ha!e lost the rng g!en me %y the good "ary and ths

rng would ha!e "urnshed us wth all the necessares o" l"e so long as t was

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upon my &nger# Alas- / ha!e t no longer# )hat shall we do<

Dsmss all an.ety, dear mother, sad Ourson# Am / not tall and strong< /

wll see( "or wor( and you can all l!e on my wages#

And /, too, sad @olette, can / not assst my good mother and $asserose< /n

see(ng wor( "or yoursel", Ourson, you can also &nd somethng "or me to do#

/ wll go at once and see( wor(, sad Ourson# Adeu, mother# )e wll meet

agan, @olette#

Kssng ther hands, he set o0 wth a lght step#

He had no presentment, poor %oy, o" the recepton whch awated hm n the

three houses where he sought employment#

OURSON wal(ed more than three hours %e"ore he arr!ed at a large and

%eaut"ul "arm where he hoped to o%tan employment# He saw "rom adstance the "armer and hs "amly seated %e"ore hs "ront door ta(ng ther

e!enng meal#

He was %ut a short way o0 when one o" the chldren, a lttle %oy a%out ten

years o" age, perce!ed hm# He sprang "rom hs seat, uttered a cry o" terror

and 2ed nto the house#

A second chld, a lttle grl eght years old, hearng the cry o" her %rother

turned towards Ourson and commenced the most percng shre(s#

All the "amly now "ollowed the mo!ement o" the chldren and turned around#

At the sght o" Ourson the women cred out wth terror and the chldren 2ed n

wld alarm# The men se3ed stc(s and ptch"or(s e.pectng to %e attac(ed %y

poor Ourson whom they too( "or some e.traordnary anmal escaped "rom a

menagere#

Ourson, seeng ths mo!ement o" terror and preparaton "or attac(, spo(e to

them hopng to dsspate ther "ears#

/ am not a %ear, as you seem to suppose, %ut a poor %oy see(ng wor( and

who would %e !ery glad " you should g!e hm employment#

The "armer was greatly ama3ed to hear a %ear spea(# He dd not (nowwhether to 2y or to nterrogate hm "urther# He resol!ed, howe!er, to spea(#

)ho are you and "rom whence do you come<

/ come "rom the )oodland *arm and / am the son o" Agnella, Ourson

repled#

Ah, then t was you who n your chldhood went wth your mother to mar(et

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and "rghtened all our chldren to death# 7ou ha!e l!ed n the woods and

done wthout our help# )hy do you see( us now< ?o away and l!e as you

ha!e l!ed hereto"ore#

Our "arm+house s %urned to the ground# / ha!e to wor( now wth my hands

to support my mother and sster# *or ths reason, / pray you to g!e me wor(# /wll do all you command me#

Do you suppose, %oy, that / wll ta(e nto my ser!ce a !llanous anmal l(e

you who wll "rghten my w"e and my ser!ants to death and throw my

chldren nto con!ulsons< / am not 'ute such a "ool, my %oy1 not 'ute such a

"ool# Enough o" ths# :e o0, and allow us to &nsh our dnner#

8aster "armer, %e merc"ul# Only try my wor(# $lace me altogether %y

mysel"1 then no one wll "ear me# / wll conceal mysel" so well that your

chldren shall not see me#

)ll you %e done tal(ng, wc(ed %ear< ?o nstantly1 " you don9t you shall

"eel the teeth o" my ptch"or(#

$oor Ourson %owed hs head# Tears o" humlaton and dsappontment

glttered n hs eyes# He wthdrew slowly, "ollowed %y the coarse laugh and

shouts o" the "arm hands#

)hen out o" sght he no longer restraned hs tears, %ut n all ths shame and

despar the thought that @olette could ta(e upon hersel" hs ugly co!erng dd

not enter hs thoughts#

Ourson wal(ed on tll he came n sght o" a castle where he saw a crowd o"men comng, gong and la%orng at e!ery (nd o" wor(# Some were mowng,

some ra(ng, some curryng horses, some sweepng, some waterng plants,

some sowng#

Here s a house where / shall certanly &nd wor(, sad Ourson to hmsel"# /

see nether women nor chldren and / thn( the men wll not %e a"rad o" me#

Ourson drew near wthout %eng seen# He too( o0 hs hat and stood %e"ore a

man who seemed to %e the superntendent#

Sr sad he#

The man loo(ed up, recoled a step when he saw Ourson and e.amned hm

wth the greatest surprse#

)ho are you and what do you want< sad he, n a rude !oce#

Sr, / am the son o" Agnella, mstress o" the )oodland *arm#

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)ell- and what has %rought you here<

Our house s %urned down, sr# / am see(ng wor( n order to support my

mother and sster# / hope you wll %e good enough to g!e me employment#

?!e employment to a %ear<

Sr, / ha!e only the appearance o" a %ear# Under ths rough outsde, whch s

so repugnant to you, there %eats a human heart a heart capa%le o" grattude

and a0ecton# 7ou shall ha!e no reason to complan ether o" my wor( or o"

my good wll#

)hlst Ourson spo(e and the superntendent lstened wth a moc(ng ar, a

great nose was heard amongst the horses# They %egan to (c( and prance

and the grooms could scarcely hold them# Some o" them ndeed escaped and

2ed n terror to the woods#

/t s the %ear- /t s the %ear- cred the grooms# /t has terr&ed the horses#Dr!e t o0- =hase t away- )e cannot control our horses#

O0 wth you- cred the superntendent#

Ourson was stupe&ed %y hs ms"ortunes and was mmo!a%le#

Ha- you wll not go, !oc"erated the man# )at a "ew moments, you hary

%east# / wll g!e you somethng to run "or# Halloa, men- %rng out the dogs,

and set them upon ths anmal# Hurry- see hm scamperng o0-

/n "act Ourson, more dead than al!e at ths cruel treatment, precptately

wthdrew "rom the presence o" these wc(ed and nhuman men# Ths second

attempt had "aled utterly %ut he would not allow hmsel" to %e dscouraged#

/t s stll three or "our hours %e"ore sunset so / ha!e tme to contnue my

search "or wor(#

He drected hs steps towards a "orge whch was some dstance "rom

)oodland *arm# The master o" the "orge employed a great many wor(men#

He ga!e wor( to those who as(ed t, not n charty, %ut n !ew o" hs own

nterest# He was "eared %ut he was not lo!ed# He de!eloped the rches o" the

country %ut no one than(ed hm "or t %ecause he alone pro&ted %y t# :y hs

a!dty and hs opulence he ground down the poor wor(men who could only

&nd employment wth ths new 8ar'us o" =ara%as#

$oor Ourson arrr!ed at the "orge# The master was at the door, scoldng some,

threatenng others and terr"yng all#

Sr, sad Ourson, drawng near, ha!e you any wor( to g!e me<

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=ertanly# )hat (nd o" wor(666<

He rased hs head at these words "or he had repled wthout loo(ng at

Ourson# )hen hs eye "ell upon hm he dd not &nsh hs phrase1 hs eyes

2ashed wth rage and he stammered out56

)hat "oolery s ths< Are we n the mdst o" the =arn!al, that a wor(man

!entures upon such a rdculous mas'uerade< Throw o0 your ugly %ear9s s(n

nstantly or / wll crsp your %rstles "or you n my &re#

Ths, sr, s no mas'uerade, repled Ourson, sadly1 t s, alas- my natural

s(n %ut " you wll %e humane enough to employ me you wll see that my

strength s e'ual to my goodwll#

/ g!e wor( to you, you !le anmal- cred the master o" the "orge, "oamng

wth rage5 / wll put you nto a sac( and send you to a menagere or / wll

throw you nto a den wth your %rother %ears# 7ou wll ha!e wor( enough to

de"end yoursel" "rom ther claws# :e o0-

And %randshng hs clu% he would ha!e dealt Ourson a hea!y %low " the poor

%oy had not made a hasty retreat#

OURSON turned hs steps homeward, dscouraged and e.hausted# He wal(ed

slowly and arr!ed at the "arm late# @olette ran to meet hm, too( hm %y the

hand, and wthout sayng a word led hm to hs mother# There she "ell on her

(nees and sad56

8y mother, / (now what our well+%elo!ed Ourson has su0ered to+day# Durng

hs a%sence the "ary *urous has told me all and the good "ary Drolette hascon&rmed her story# 8y mother, when our Ourson was, as we %ele!ed, lost to

us "or e!er and lost "or my sa(e you re!ealed to me that whch n hs no%lty

and goodness he wshed to conceal# / (now that %y changng s(ns wth hm /

can restore to hm hs orgnal %eauty# Happy, a hundred tmes happy n

ha!ng ths opportunty to recompense the tenderness and de!oton o" my

dearly+lo!ed %rother Ourson, / demand to ma(e ths e.change allowed %y the

"ary Drolette and / entreat her to complete the trans"er mmedately#

@olette- @olette- e.clamed Ourson, n great agtaton, ta(e %ac( your

words- 7ou do not (now to what you engage yoursel"1 you are gnorant o" the

l"e o" angush and msery unparalleled, the l"e o" soltude and solaton towhch you thus condemn yoursel"1 you (now not the unceasng desolaton

you wll "eel at (nowng that you are an o%4ect o" "ear to all man(nd# @olette,

@olette, n pty to me, wthdraw your words-

Dear Ourson, sad @olette, calmly, %ut resolutely, n ma(ng what you

%ele!e to %e so great a sacr&ce, / accomplsh the dearest wsh o" my heart1 /

secure my own happness1 / sats"y an ardent and mperous desre to test"y

7/23/2019 Ourson


my tenderness and my grattude# / esteem mysel" "or dong what / propose# /

should despse mysel" " / le"t t undone#

$ause, @olette, "or one nstant longer, / %eseech you- Thn( o" my gre",

when / no longer see my %eaut"ul @olette, when / thn( o" you e.posed to

the ralleres, the horror o" men# Oh- @olette, do not condemn your poorOurson to ths angush#

The lo!ely "ace o" @olette was !eled wth sadness# The "ear that Ourson

would "eel repugnance towards her made her heart trem%le1 %ut ths thought,

whch was wholly personal, was !ery 2eetng t could not trumph o!er her

de!oted tenderness# Her only response was to throw hersel" n the arms o"

Agnella, and say56

8other, em%race your "ar and pretty @olette "or the last tme#

)hlst Agnella, Ourson and $asserose em%raced her and loo(ed lo!ngly upon

her6whlst Ourson, on hs (nees, supplcated her to lea!e hm hs %ear+s(n

to whch he had %een accustomed "or twenty years6@olette called out agan

n a loud !oce56

*ary Drolette- *ary Drolette- come and accept the prce o" the l"e and

health o" my dear Ourson#

At ths moment the "ary Drolette appeared n all her glory# She was seated n

a mass!e charot o" gold, drawn %y a hundred and &"ty lar(s# She was

clothed wth a ro%e o" %utter2es9 wngs, o" the most %rllant colors whle "rom

her shoulders "ell a mantle o" networ( o" damonds, whch traled ten "eet

%ehnd her and t was so &ne n te.ture that t was lght as gau3e# Her har,

gltterng l(e tssue o" gold, was ornamented %y a crown o" car%uncles more

%rllant than the sun 1 each o" her slppers was car!ed "rom a sngle ru%y and

her %eaut"ul "ace, so"t, yet gay, %reathed contentment# She &.ed upon

@olette a most a0ectonate regard#

7ou wsh t, then, my daughter< sad she#

8adam, cred Ourson, "allng at her "eet, degn to lsten to me# 7ou, who

ha!e loaded me wth undeser!ed %ene&ts6you, who ha!e nspred me wth

%oundless grattude6you, good and 4ust6wll you e.ecute the mad wsh o"

my dear @olette< )ll you ma(e my whole l"e wretched %y "orcng me toaccept ths sacr&ce< No, no, charmng and humane "ary, you could not, you

wll not do t-

)hlst Ourson was thus supplcatng, the "ary ga!e @olette a lght touch wth

her wand o" pearl and Ourson another6then sad56

Let t %e accordng to the wsh o" your heart, my daughter# Let t %e contrary

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to your ardent desres, my son#

At the same moment, the "ace, arms and the whole %ody o" the lo!ely young

grl were co!ered wth the long har whch Ourson had worn, and Ourson

appeared wth a whte smooth s(n, whch set o0 hs e.treme %eauty to

ad!antage#

@olette ga3ed at hm wth admraton, whle he, hs eyes cast down and "ull o"

tears, dared not loo( at hs poor @olette, so horr%ly metamorphosed# At last

he loo(ed up, threw hmsel" n her arms, and they wept together#

Ourson was mar!ellously handsome# @olette was, as Ourson had %een,

wthout "orm, wthout %eauty, %ut not ugly# )hen @olette rased her head and

loo(ed at Agnella, the latter e.tended her hands towards her, and sad56

Than(s, my daughter, my no%le, generous chld#

8other, sad @olette, n low !oce, do you lo!e me stll<

Do / lo!e you, my chershed chld< 7es, a hundred tmes, a thousand tmes

more than e!er %e"ore#

@olette, sad Ourson, ne!er "ear %eng ugly n our eyes# To my eyes, you

are a hundred tmes more %eaut"ul than when clothed wth all your

lo!elness# To me you are a sster6a "rend ncompara%le# 7ou wll always %e

the companon o" my l"e, the deal o" my heart#

@/OLETTE was a%out to reply, when a (nd o" roarng was heard n the ar, and

they saw descend a charot made o" crocodle9s s(n, drawn %y &"ty enormoustoads# All the toads were hssng and %lowng, and would ha!e cast ther

n"ectous !enom n e!ery drecton, " they had not %een restraned %y the

power o" the "ary Drolette#

)hen the charot reached the ground, the "ary *urous, a huge and hea!y

creature, ssued "rom t# Her %g eyes seemed %urstng "rom ther soc(ets, her

large 2at nose co!ered her wrn(led, wthered chee(s, her monstrous mouth

e.tended "rom ear to ear and when t was open a long ponted %lac( tongue

was seen lc(ng her horrd teeth#

She was not more than three "eet n heght and was !ery corpulent1 her

gr33ly s(n was gluey and cold, l(e a snal9s and her thn red har "ell n loc(s

o" une'ual length around her throat, whch was ds&gured %y a gotre# Her

large, 2at hands loo(ed l(e the &ns o" a shar(, her dress was made o" snal9s

s(ns and her mantle o" the s(ns o" toads#

She ad!anced towards Ourson Bwho shall herea"ter %e (nown %y hs true

name o" $rnce 8ar!ellousC wth a slow step# She paused n "ront o" hm and

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castng a "urous glance upon the "ary Drolette and an eye o" moc(ng

trumph upon @olette, she "olded her great cold arms and sad n a sharp yet

hoarse !oce56

8y sster has trumphed o!er me, $rnce 8ar!ellous# / ha!e, howe!er, one

consolaton5 you wll not %e happy, %ecause you ha!e o%taned your orgnal%eauty at the e.pense o" that lttle "ool, who s now "rght"ul and repugnant

and whom you wll now ne!er wsh to approach# 7es- yes- weep, my

handsome Ourson- 7ou wll weep a long tme, @olette, and you wll regret

%tterly, " you do not already regret, that you ha!e g!en your %eaut"ul s(n

to the prnce 8ar!ellous#

Ne!er, madam, ne!er- 8y only regret s that / dd not (now sooner what /

could do to test"y my grattude#

The "ary Drolette, whose countenance had assumed an unaccustomed

e.presson o" se!erty and rrtaton, now wa!ed her wand and sad56

Slence, sster- 7ou shall not trumph long o!er the ms"ortunes o" @olette# /

wll pro!de a remedy "or those ms"ortunes5 her generous de!oton merts

recompense#

/ de"y you to come to her assstance under penalty o" my wrath, sad

*urous#

/ do not dou%t your rage, sster, %ut / dsdan to punsh you "or t, repled

Drolette#

To punsh me-6Do you dare to threaten me< sad *urous# And hssng"urously, she called her charot, mounted t, rose n the ar and tred to

launch upon Drolette all the !enom o" her toads n order to su0ocate her#

:ut Drolette (new her sster per"ectly# Her "ath"ul lar(s held the door o" her

charot open and she sprang wthn# The lar(s rose n the ar, ho!ered a%o!e

the toads, and then lowered themsel!es rapdly upon them# The toads, n

spte o" ther weght, escaped the %lows %y turnng adrotly to one sde# They

howe!er threw ther !enom on the lar(s whch were nearest to them, who

ded nstantly#

Drolette detached them wth the rapdty o" a thunder %olt, rose agan n thear and "ell so adrotly on the toads, that the lar(s tore out ther eyes wth

ther claws, %e"ore *urous had tme to come to the rescue o" her army#

The outcres o" the toads and the hssng o" the lar(s made a dea"enng nose1

and the "ary Drolette called out to her "rends, who were regardng the

com%at wth terror56

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)thdraw mmedately and stop your ears-

)hch was done nstantly, n o%edence to her command#

The "ary *urous made one last e0ort# She guded her %lnded toads n such a

way as to meet the lar(s "ace to "ace, and to dart ther !enom upon them#

:ut Drolette rose hgher and hgher n the ar and *urous "ound hersel"

always under her sster9s charot#

At last, una%le to contan her rage, *urous cred out5

7ou are asssted %y the 'ueen o" the "ares, an old "ool whom / should gladly

see n the lower regons-

Scarcely had she pronounced these words when her charot "ell hea!ly to the

earth# The toads pershed and the charot dsappeared# The "ary *urous only

remaned, n the "orm o" an enormous toad# She wshed to spea( %ut shecould only %ellow and snu>e# She ga3ed at Drolette and her lar(s at $rnce

8ar!ellous, @olette and Agnella, n a transport o" rage %ut her power was

destroyed#

The "ary Drolette lowered her charot, descended to the earth and sad56

The 'ueen o" the "ares has punshed you "or your audacty, sster# Repent, "

you wsh to o%tan pardon#

The only answer o" *urous was to spt "orth her posonous !enom, whch

happly reached no one#

Drolette e.tended her wand towards her and sad5

/ command you to dsappear and ne!er to appear agan to the prnce

8ar!ellous, to @olette or to ther mother#

Drolette had scarcely uttered these words when the toad dsappeared1 there

remaned no !estge o" the charot or o" hersel"#

Drolette remaned some tme motonless# She passed her hand o!er her

%row, as " to chase away a sad thought1 then approachng $rnce 8ar!ellous,

she sad to hm56

$rnce, the ttle whch / g!e you ndcates your %rth# 7ou are the son o" Kng

*erocous and the 'ueen Amee, concealed tll now under the appearance o" a

modest "armer woman# The name o" your "ather su;cently ndcates hs

character# 7our mother ha!ng pre!ented hm "rom (llng hs %rother /ndolent

and hs sster+n+law Nonchalante, %e turned hs rage aganst her# / was her

protectress, and carred her o0 wth her "ath"ul $asserose n a cloud#

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And you, $rncess @olette, your %rth s e'ual to that o" $rnce 8ar!ellous#

7our "ather and mother were that same Kng /ndolent and ueen Nonchalante

who, sa!ed once %y ueen Amee, %ecame at last the !ctms o" Kng

*erocous and ther own apathy# Snce that tme Kng *erocous has %een

(lled %y hs su%4ects who could no longer support hs cruel yo(e#

They e.pect you, prnce, to regn o!er them# / ha!e re!ealed to them your

e.stence and / ha!e promsed them that you wll ta(e a w"e worthy o" you#

7ou can select "rom the twel!e prncesses whom your "ather retaned capt!e

a"ter ha!ng slan ther parents# They are all wse and %eaut"ul and each has

a (ngdom "or her marrage porton#

Surprse had (ept $rnce 8ar!ellous slent# At the last words o" the "ary he

turned towards @olette, and seeng that she was weepng, he sad56

)hy do you weep, my @olette< Do you "ear that / wll %lush "or you6that /

wll not dare to test"y %e"ore my whole court the tenderness wth whch you

nspre me< That / wll conceal what you ha!e done "or me or "orget the %onds

whch attach me to you "or e!er< =an you %ele!e that / wll %e ungrate"ul

enough to see( any other a0ecton than yours and &ll your place %y any o"

those prncesses held capt!e %y my "ather< No, dearest @olette- Untl ths

tme / ha!e seen n you only a sster %ut "rom ths moment you are the

companon o" my l"e, my sole "rend, my w"e-

7our w"e, dear %rother< That s mposs%le- How can you seat upon your

throne a creature so repuls!e as your poor @olette< How wll you dare to

%ra!e the rallery o" your su%4ects and o" the negh%orng (ngs< And how

could / show my de"ormty n the mdst o" the "est!als g!en on your return toyour (ngdom< No, no, my %rother- Let me l!e near you, near to your

mother, alone, un(nown, co!ered wth a !el# / cannot %e your w"e- No one

shall %lame you "or ha!ng made so sad a choce#

The prnce nssted long and &rmly# @olette could scarcely control her

emotons %ut she ressted wth as much resoluton as de!oton# Agnella sad

nothng# She would ha!e %een wllng that her son should accept e!en ths

last sacr&ce "rom poor @olette and smply allow her to l!e near to them %ut

hdden "rom the world#

$asserose wept and n a low tone encouraged the prnce n hs determnaton#

@olette, sad the prnce, at last, snce you a%solutely re"use to ascend the

throne wth me, / a%andon t and all royal power n order to l!e wth you as

%e"ore n soltude and happness# )thout your sweet presence, the sceptre

would %e a hea!y %urden1 wth you at my sde, our lttle "arm wll %e a

paradse- Say, dear @olette, shall t %e so<

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7es, dear %rother, you ha!e trumphed1 let us l!e as we ha!e l!ed so many

years 5 modest n our l!es, happy n our a0ectons#

No%le prnce and generous prncess, sad the "ary, you shall %e

recompensed "or ths rare and de!oted tenderness# $rnce, n the well to

whch / carred you durng the &re, there s a prceless treasure "or @oletteand yoursel"# Descend nto the well, see( "or t, and when you ha!e "ound t

%rng t to me# / wll teach you ts !alue#

The prnce dd not wat to %e told a second tme1 he ran towards the well1 the

ladder was stll there and he descended# On arr!ng at the %ottom, he saw

nothng %ut the carpet whch had %een there "rom the &rst1 he searched the

walls o" the well, %ut saw no ndcaton o" treasure# *nally he rased the

carpet, and perce!ed a %lac( stone wth a rng attached1 he rased the stone

and dsco!ered a cas(et whch glttered l(e a constellaton#

Ths must contan the treasure spo(en o" %y the "ary, sad he#

The prnce se3ed the cas(et1 t was as lght as a nut shell# He ascended the

ladder hastly, holdng the cas(et care"ully n hs arms#

They were awatng hs return wth mpatence# He handed the cas(et to the

"ary# Agnella e.clamed56

Ths s the same cas(et you con&ded to me, madam, and whch / supposed /

had lost n the &re#

/t s the same, repled the "ary# Here s the (ey1 open t, prnce#

$rnce 8ar!ellous hastened to open t# :ut who can descr%e the general

dsappontment, when, n place o" some rch treasure whch they supposed t

contaned, they "ound only the %racelets whch @olette had worn when her

cousn "ound her sleepng n the wood, and a !al o" per"umed ol-

The "ary loo(ed "rom one to the other, and en4oyed ther surprse and

consternaton# She too( the %racelets and ga!e them to @olette#

Ths s my %rdal present, my dear chld1 e!ery one o" these damonds has

the property o" guardng "rom all e!l n2uences the person who wears t, and

o" endowng ts wearer wth e!ery !rtue, enormous rches and resplendent

%eauty, wth wt, ntellect and all desra%le happness# Use them "or the

chldren who wll %e %orn o" your unon wth $rnce 8ar!ellous#

As to ths !al o" per"umed ol, t s the weddng g"t o" the prnce your cousn#

/ (now you lo!e per"umes, ths has pecular !rtues1 use t to+day# To+morrow /

wll return to see( you and carry you all to your (ngdom, she sad#

/ renounce my (ngdom, madam, sad Ourson#

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)ho wll go!ern your people< sad Agnella#

7ou, my mother, " you are wllng, repled Ourson#

The 'ueen was a%out to re"use, when the "ary nter"ered#

)e wll spea( o" ths to+morrow, sad she# 7ou, madam, / (now, desre toaccept the crown whch you are a%out to re"use# / "or%d you, howe!er, to

accept t %e"ore my return# And you, dear and ama%le prnce, added she, n

a sweet !oce, accompaned wth an a0ectonate glance, / "or%d you to

repeat ths o0er %e"ore my return# Adeu tll to+morrow# )hen you are truly

happy, my dear chldren, thn( (ndly o" your "rend the "ary Drolette#

The "ary ascended her charot# The lar(s 2ew l(e lghtnng and she soon

dsappeared, lea!ng %ehnd her a delcous per"ume#

$R/N=E 8AR@ELLOUS loo(ed at @olette and sghed hea!ly1 @olette ga3ed at

the prnce and smled sweetly#

How handsome you are, my dear cousn- / am so happy to ha!e t n my

power to restore you your %eauty# And now / wll pour some o" ths per"umed

ol upon my hands1 snce / cannot please your eye, / wll at least em%alm

you, sad she, laughng#

She uncor(ed the !al, and entreated 8ar!ellous to sprn(le some drops on

her "orehead and chee(s# The heart o" the prnce was too "ull "or words# He

too( the !al and o%eyed the order o" hs cousn# Ther surprse and 4oy were

ndescr%a%le on seeng that as soon as the ol touched @olence9s "orehead

the har dsappeared and her s(n resumed ts orgnal purty and da33lngwhteness#

The prnce and @olette, on seeng the !rtue o" ths wonder"ul ol, uttered

loud cres o" delght and ran towards the sta%le where they saw Agnella and

$asserose# They called ther attenton to the happy e0ect o" ths per"umed ol

g!en them %y the "ary# :oth 4oned n ther happness# The prnce could

scarcely %ele!e the e!dence o" hs senses# And now nothng could pre!ent

hs unon wth @olette, so good, so de!oted, so tender, so lo!ely, so well

consttuted to ma(e hm supremely happy#

The 'ueen thought o" the morrow6o" her return to her (ngdom, whch shehad a%andoned twenty years ago# She wshed that she hersel", that @olette,

that her son the prnce had clothng worthy o" so great an occason %ut, alas-

she had nether the tme nor the means to procure them5 they would

there"ore %e compelled to wear ther coarse clothng, and thus show

themsel!es to ther people# @olette and 8ar!ellous laughed at ths dstress o"

ther mother#

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Do you not thn(, mamma, sad @olette, that our dear prnce s su;cently

adorned wth hs rare %eauty and that a rch and royal ro%e would not ma(e

hm more %eaut"ul or more ama%le<

And do you not agree wth me, my dear mother, sad 8ar!ellous, n

thn(ng that our dear @olette s lo!ely enough n the smplest clothng, thatthe lustre o" her eyes surpasses the most %rllant damonds, that the clear

whte ness o" her teeth r!als success"ully the rarest pearls, that the rchness

o" her %londe har surpasses a crown o" %rllants<

7es, yes, my chldren repled Agnella, wthout dou%t, you are %oth o" you

handsome and attract!e %ut a rch dress spols nothng, not e!en %eauty#

ewels, em%rodery and hea!y %rocades would detract nothng "rom your

charms# And / who am old666

:ut not ugly, madam, nterrupted $asserose, hastly# 7ou are stll ama%le

and handsome, n spte o" your lttle country cap, your s(rts o" coarse strped

cloth, your wast o" red camlet and your stomacher o" smple cloth# :esdes,

when you return to your (ngdom, you can %uy e!ery (nd o" dress your heart

desres#

The e!enng passed away gayly and there seemed no an.ety a%out the

"uture# The "ary had pro!ded ther supper1 they passed the nght on the

%undles o" hay n the sta%le and as they were all "atgued %y the emotons o"

the day they slept pro"oundly# The sun had %een shnng a long tme and the

"ary Drolette was wth them, %e"ore they awo(e#

A so"t Hem- hem- o" the "ary aroused them# The prnce was the &rst to

open hs eyes1 he threw hmsel" on hs (nees %e"ore the "ary and than(ed her

wth such warmth and grattude that her heart was touched#

@olette was on her (nees %y hs sde and 4onng her than(s to those o" the

prnce#

/ do not dou%t your grattude, dear chldren, sad the "ary1 %ut / ha!e much

to do# / am e.pected n the (ngdom o" the (ng :enn where / am to attend at

the %rth o" the thrd son o" the prncess :londne# Ths prnce s to %e the

hus%and o" your &rst daughter, $rnce 8ar!ellous, and / am resol!ed to

endow hm wth all the 'ualtes whch wll o%tan "or hm the warm lo!e o"

your daughter# And now / must conduct you to your (ngdom1 / wll return n

tme to %e present at your weddng# ueen, she contnued, turnng to Amee,

who was now 4ust openng her eyes, we are a%out to set out mmedately "or

your son9s (ngdom# Are you and your "ath"ul $asserose ready "or the

4ourney<

8adam, repled the 'ueen, wth a slght em%arrassment, we are ready to

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"ollow you %ut wll you not %lush "or our dress, so lttle worthy o" our ran(<

/t s not / who wll %lush, 'ueen, sad the "ary, smlng, %ut rather yoursel"

who ha!e ths sensaton o" shame# :ut / wll remedy ths e!l also#

Sayng ths, she descr%ed a crcle wth her wand a%o!e the head o" the

'ueen, who n the same moment "ound hersel" clothed n a ro%e o" gold

%rocade# Upon her head was a hat wth splendd plumes, "astened wth a

%and o" super% damonds and her %oots were o" !el!et, spangled wth gold#

Amee loo(ed at her ro%e wth an ar o" complasance#

And @olette and my son the prnce, wll you not e.tend your goodness to

them also<

@olette and the prnce ha!e as(ed "or nothng# / wll do as they wsh# Spea(,

@olette, do you desre to change your costume<

8adam, repled @olette, castng down her sweet eyes and %lushng, / ha!e

%een su;cently happy n ths ro%e o" smple cloth# /n ths costume my

%rother (new me and lo!ed me# $ermt me to contnue to wear t as "ar as

regard "or my staton allows and allow me to preser!e t always n

remem%rance o" the happy years o" my chldhood#

The prnce than(ed @olette "or these sweet words, and pressed her hand

tenderly#

The "ary (ndly nodded her appro!al and called "or her charot, whch was

watng a "ew steps "rom them# She entered and placed the 'ueen ne.thersel", then the prnce, @olette and $asserose#

/n less than an hour the lar(s had 2own o!er the three thousand leagues

whch separated them "rom the (ngdom o" $rnce 8ar!ellous# All hs court

and all hs su%4ects, apprsed %e"orehand %y the "ary, e.pected hm# The

streets and the palaces were &lled %y the eager, happy crowd#

)hen the charot appeared n sght, the people uttered cres o" 4oy whch

were redou%led when t drew up %e"ore the great entrance o" the palace,

when they saw descend ueen Amee, a lttle older, no dou%t, %ut stll pretty

and gracous, and the $rnce 8ar!ellous, whose natural %eauty and grace

were enhanced %y the splendor o" hs clothng, gltterng wth gold and

precous stones, whch were also a present "rom the "ary#

:ut the acclamatons arose to "ren3y when the prnce, ta(ng @olette %y the

hand, presented her to the people#

Her sweet, attract!e countenance, her super% and elegant "orm, were

adorned wth a dress wth whch the "ary had clothed her %y one stro(e o"

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her wand#

Her ro%e was o" gold lace, whle her wast, her arms and shoulders shone wth

nnumera%le lar(s "ormed o" damonds larger than hummng+%rds# On her

grace"ul head she wore a crown o" lar(s made o" precous stones o" all colors#

Her countenance, so"t %ut gay, her grace, her %eauty, won the hearts o" all#

*or a long tme nothng was heard %ut shouts o" Long l!e Kng 8ar!ellous-

Long l!e ueen @olette- The nose and tumult were so great that many

persons %ecame dea"# The good "ary, who desred that only 4oy and

happness should pre!al throughout the (ngdom on ths auspcous day,

cured them nstantly at the re'uest o" @olette#

There was a magn&cent "east spread "or the court and the people# A mllon,

three hundred and "orty+s. thousand, eght hundred and twenty+two persons

dned at the e.pense o" the "ary and each guest was permtted to carry away

enough "or eght days#

Durng the repast the "ary set o0 "or the (ngdom o" Kng :enn, promsng to

return n tme "or the weddng o" 8ar!ellous and @olette# Durng the eght

days o" the "ary9s a%sence 8ar!ellous, who saw that hs mother was a lttle

sad at not %eng 'ueen, entreated her earnestly to accept @olette9s (ngdom

and she consented to regn there on condton that Kng 8ar!ellous and

ueen @olette would come e!ery year and pass three months wth her#

ueen Amee, %e"ore partng wth her chldren, wshed to wtness ther

marrage# The "ary Drolette and many other "ares o" her ac'uantance and

many gen were n !ted to the marrage# They all rece!ed the most

magn&cent presents, and were so sats&ed wth the welcome g!en them %y

Kng 8ar!ellous and ueen @olette that they gracously promsed to return

whene!er they were n!ted#

Two years a"terwards they rece!ed an n!taton to %e present at the %rth o"

the &rst chld o" Kng 8ar!ellous# There came to ueen @olette a daughter,

who, l(e her mother, was a mar!el o" goodness and %eauty#

The (ng and 'ueen could not "ul&l the promse they had made to ueen

Amee# One o" the gen who had %een n!ted to the weddng o" 8ar!ellous

and @olette, "ound n ueen Amee so much o" goodness, sweetness, and

%eauty, that he lo!ed her, and, !stng her se!eral tmes n her new (ngdom

and %eng a0ectonately and gracously rece!ed %y her, he carred her o0

one day n a whrlwnd# ueen Amee wept "or a whle %ut as she lo!ed the

genus she was not nconsola%le1 ndeed, she promptly consented to wed hm#

The (ng o" the gen granted to her as a weddng present the power o"

partcpatng n all the pr!leges o" her hus%and5 ne!er to de, ne!er to grow

old and the a%lty to transport hersel" n the twn(lng o" an eye where!er she

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wshed to go# Amee used ths power !ery o"ten to !st her son and hs

chldren#

Kng 8ar!ellous and ueen @olette had eght sons and "our daughters and

they were all charmng# They were happy, wthout dou%t, "or they lo!ed each

other tenderly and ther grandmother, who, t was sad spoled them a lttlenduced ther grand"ather, the genus :en!ellant, to contr%ute all n hs

power to ther happness# =onse'uently, they rece!ed many rch g"ts#

$asserose, who was warmly attached to ueen Amee, had "ollowed her nto

her new (ngdom %ut when the genus carred her o0 n a whrlwnd,

$asserose, seeng hersel" "orgotten and not %eng a%le to "ollow her mstress

was so sad n the lonelness caused %y the departure o" Amee, that she

prayed the "ary Drolette to transport her to the (ngdom o" Kng 8ar!ellous

and ueen @olette# She remaned wth them and too( care o" ther chldren

to whom she o"ten recounted the ad!entures o" Ourson and @olette# She stll

remans, t s sad, though the genus and hs 'ueen ha!e made her manye.cuses "or not ha!ng carred her o0 n the whrlwnd#

No, no, $asserose repled to all these e.planatons1 let us reman as we

are# 7ou "orgot me once you mght "orget me another tme# Here, my dear

Ourson and my sweet @olette ne!er "orget ther old nurse# / lo!e them and /

wll reman wth them# They lo!ed me and they wll ta(e care o" me#

The "armer, the superntendent, and the master o" the "orge who had %een so

cruel to Ourson were se!erely punshed %y the "ary Drolette#

The "armer was de!oured %y a %ear, some hours a"ter he had chased away

Ourson#

The superntendent was dsmssed %y hs master "or ha!ng let loose the

dogs, who escaped and ne!er could %e "ound# The same nght he was %tten

%y a !enomous serpent and e.pred some moments a"terwards#

The master o" the "orge ha!ng reprmanded hs wor( men too %rutally, they

resol!ed upon !engeance5 se3ed hm and cast hm nto the %la3ng "urnace

where he pershed msera%ly#

ourson

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