English Fairy Tales / Английские сказки

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“Well,” said the cobbler, “if I restore you to your natural complexion, and make a sound cure both in face and voice, will you in reward take me for a husband?”

“Yes, friend,” replied she, “with all my heart!”

With this the cobbler applied the remedies, and they made her well in a few weeks; after which they were married, and so set forward for the Court at Colchester. When the queen found that her daughter had married nothing but a poor cobbler, she hanged herself in wrath.

Master and Pupil

There was once a man who had a son who was very clever at reading, and took great delight in it. He went out into the world to seek service somewhere, and as he was walking between some mounds he met a man, who asked him where he was going.

�I am going about seeking for service,’ said the boy.

�Will you serve me?’ asked the man.

�Oh, yes; just as readily you as anyone else,’ said the boy.

�But can you read?’ asked the man.

�As well as the priest,’ said the boy.

Then I can’t have you,’ said the man. �In fact, I was just wanting a boy who couldn’t read. His only work would be to dust my old books.

The man then went on his way, and left the boy looking after him.

�It was a pity I didn’t get that place,’ thought he �That was just the very thing for me.’

Making up his mind to get the situation if possible, he hid himself behind one of the mounds, and turned his jacket outside in, so that the man would not know him again so easily. Then he ran along behind the mounds, and met the man at the other end of them.

�Where are you going, my little boy?’ said the man, who did not notice that it was the same one he had met before.

�I am going about seeking for service?’ said the boy.

�Will you serve me?’ asked the man.

�Oh, yes; just as readily you as anyone else,’ said the boy.

�But can you read?’ said the man.

�No, I don’t know a single letter,’ said the boy.

The man then took him into his service, and all the work he had to do was to dust his master’s books.