2. There never were giants as big as fir trees.
3. There never was a saddle that could itself carry anyone anywhere.
4. There never was an old woman who could enchant a maiden.
5. There never was a magic ring that could grant wishes. Fish never jumped from water and sorted themselves, wood never cut itself nor piled itself.
6. Never was a princess enchanted into a log and no log ever became a king’s beautiful daughter.
7. It never made any difference in a young man’s fortunes if he did kiss his parents on the right instead of the left cheek.
8. No castle such as this was ever built in a day.
V. Things that Happen in Threes.
How absurd it is that in fairy stories things so often happen in sets of three! In this one short story we find:
1. The Drummer saw three pieces of white linen.