The shepherd agreed to do so. The princess then retired within some encircling rocks, and when the shepherd’s clothes were thrown over to her, took her own off and tossed them without. Then dressing herself in the coarse garments, and tucking her hair under her cap, she set out to continue her wandering.
After going a long way, she came to the far outskirts of a town. The first building she reached was a coffeehouse, which she entered, and said to the owner, “Father, will you take me as an apprentice?” [[133]]
The coffee-maker, being a little short-sighted, looked at her attentively, then answered that he had been desirous of a helper and engaged her at once.
Time passed, and all went well until, one day, the coffee-maker said to his apprentice: “I am going home to-night. Do you sleep in the coffeehouse. Do not let anyone steal the goods. Take care of everything!” Having thus commanded, he went away.
When it became quite dark, the lonely girl locked the coffeehouse and lay down in a corner. After a time she persuaded herself that there was no cause for fear, and went to sleep. In the middle of the night, while deep sleep held her senses, the bird which the queen dowager had purchased in the market entered, and broke all the nargilehs (water-smoking pipes) and all the cups that were in the place, into little bits. Then he went up to the girl and wakened her roughly.
What did she see? Everything that had been in the coffeehouse when she went to sleep was destroyed. Seized with terror, she covered her eyes with her hands to shut out the unhappy sight.
But the bird rejoiced at her misery, and cried out, with glee: “There, do you see? Only wait a little longer. Then you will behold other afflictions [[134]]of the same sort. They are upon the way to you!” So saying, he flew off.
All the remainder of the night the poor girl sat in her corner in dread of the morrow. When morning came she was racking her mind to find an answer, to give the master when he should come and question her about the matter.
The coffee-maker arrived early, and—what should he see but every one of his possessions broken into tiny bits! He believed it to have been done by the malicious action of the girl. Dealing her a dreadful blow, he seized her by the collar, and threw her out of the house.
At this she wept bitterly and protested her innocence, but the enraged man would not listen. There was nothing left for her but to seek another place.