The Short-Legged Man had a voice so faint it was almost a whisper. It was as musical and delicate as a fiddle heard playing from a great distance. This little man whispered:
"What do we know
About boys and girls?
They have no feathers nor wings,
They are made of marzipan,
They have no claws nor beak,
They are everything that is sweet."
Smaly and Redy replied at once:
"We wish to have three girls,
Fine, sweet, pink, and good.
They shall have more pudding than they like,
And a green, green, and rosy garden."
The Short-Legged Man said, "It won't do."
"Why?" asked Redy.
"Because they should have three green, green, and rosy gardens."
"They shall have," said both the little man and his wife.
"It still won't do," said the Short-Legged Man.
"Why?"