“We are Fairies,” said she. “I must go away for a short time, but do you work in the kitchen while I am gone. Dig up the kitchen floor, smash the pitcher, break the plates. Whip the children, throw dirt in their faces, and rumple their hair.” Then the lady went away.
The girl, who thought these orders very strange, began to feed the children. Just then a little dog came creeping up to her, wagging his tail.
“Bow! Bow! Bow!” said he. “I, too, want something to eat!”
So the girl gave him a plateful of breakfast, and when he had eaten all he wished, he said:—
“You are a good girl, and I will tell you what to do to please my mistress. What she really meant was for you to sweep the kitchen floor, fill the pitcher, wash the dishes, and dress and feed the children. Do all this well, and she will give you the choice of a beautiful star on your forehead or a donkey’s tail hanging from your nose. Then she will offer you a sack of gold or a bag of charcoal. You must choose the donkey’s tail and the bag of charcoal.”
Well, the girl did all as the little dog told her, and when the mistress came home she smiled and said:—
“Choose which you will have, a beautiful star on your forehead, or a donkey’s tail hanging from your nose.”
“A donkey’s tail is the same to me,” said the girl.
“Will you have a sack of gold or a bag of charcoal?” asked the lady.