"theking'sdaughterlivesthere,"shereplied;"ithasbeenprophesiedthatshewillbeveryunhappyaboutalover,andthereforenooneisallowedtovisither,unlessthekingandqueenarepresent."

"thankyou,"saidthemerchant'sson.sohewentbacktothewood,seatedhimselfinhistrunk,flewuptotheroofofthecastle,andcreptthroughthewindowintotheprincess'sroom.shelayonthesofaasleep,andshewassobeautifulthatthemerchant'ssoncouldnothelpkissingher.thensheawoke,andwasverymuchfrightened;buthetoldherhewasaturkishangel,whohadcomedownthroughtheairtoseeher,whichpleasedherverymuch.hesatdownbyhersideandtalkedtoher:hesaidhereyeswerelikebeautifuldarklakes,inwhichthethoughtsswamaboutlikelittlemermaids,andhetoldherthatherforeheadwasasnowymountain,whichcontainedsplendidhallsfullofpictures.andthenherelatedtoheraboutthestorkwhobringsthebeautifulchildrenfromtherivers.theseweredelightfulstories;andwhenheaskedtheprincessifshewouldmarryhim,sheconsentedimmediately.

"butyoumustcomeonsaturday,"shesaid;"forthenthekingandqueenwilltaketeawithme.theywillbeveryproudwhentheyfindthatiamgoingtomarryaturkishangel;butyoumustthinkofsomeveryprettystoriestotellthem,formyparentsliketohearstoriesbetterthananything.mymotherprefersonethatisdeepandmoral;butmyfatherlikessomethingfunny,tomakehimlaugh."

"verywell,"hereplied;"ishallbringyounoothermarriageportionthanastory,"andsotheyparted.buttheprincessgavehimaswordwhichwasstuddedwithgoldcoins,andthesehecoulduse.

thenheflewawaytothetownandboughtanewdressing-gown,andafterwardsreturnedtothewood,wherehecomposedastory,soastobereadyforsaturday,whichwasnoeasymatter.itwasreadyhoweverbysaturday,whenhewenttoseetheprincess.theking,andqueen,andthewholecourt,wereatteawiththeprincess;andhewasreceivedwithgreatpoliteness.

"willyoutellusastory?"saidthequeen,-"onethatisinstructiveandfullofdeeplearning."

"yes,butwithsomethinginittolaughat,"saidtheking.

"certainly,"hereplied,andcommencedatonce,askingthemtolistenattentively."therewasonceabundleofmatchesthatwereexceedinglyproudoftheirhighdescent.theirgenealogicaltree,thatis,alargepine-treefromwhichtheyhadbeencut,wasatonetimealarge,oldtreeinthewood.thematchesnowlaybetweenatinder-boxandanoldironsaucepan,andweretalkingabouttheiryouthfuldays.'ah!thenwegrewonthegreenboughs,andwereasgreenasthey;everymorningandeveningwewerefedwithdiamonddropsofdew.wheneverthesunshone,wefelthiswarmrays,andthelittlebirdswouldrelatestoriestousastheysung.weknewthatwewererich,fortheothertreesonlyworetheirgreendressinsummer,butourfamilywereabletoarraythemselvesingreen,summerandwinter.butthewood-cuttercame,likeagreatrevolution,andourfamilyfellundertheaxe.theheadofthehouseobtainedasituationasmainmastinaveryfineship,andcansailroundtheworldwhenhewill.theotherbranchesofthefamilyweretakentodifferentplaces,andourofficenowistokindlealightforcommonpeople.thisishowsuchhigh-bornpeopleaswecametobeinakitchen.'

"'minehasbeenaverydifferentfate,'saidtheironpot,whichstoodbythematches;'frommyfirstentranceintotheworldihavebeenusedtocookingandscouring.iamthefirstinthishouse,whenanythingsolidorusefulisrequired.myonlypleasureistobemadecleanandshiningafterdinner,andtositinmyplaceandhavealittlesensibleconversationwithmyneighbors.allofus,exceptingthewater-bucket,whichissometimestakenintothecourtyard,liveheretogetherwithinthesefourwalls.wegetournewsfromthemarket-basket,buthesometimestellsusveryunpleasantthingsaboutthepeopleandthegovernment.yes,andonedayanoldpotwassoalarmed,thathefelldownandwasbrokentopieces.hewasaliberal,icantellyou.'

"'youaretalkingtoomuch,'saidthetinder-box,andthesteelstruckagainsttheflinttillsomesparksflewout,crying,'wewantamerryevening,don'twe?