“Not very likely, for she is too old and is not at all pretty.” The girl said nothing but went into the house.
By and by the old woman came out and said to the young man:
“You may go now, but you can have this box. It will bring you good luck,” and she gave him a small box cut out of a single emerald. He put it in his pocket and went on down the path, glad to get rid of the old woman, her geese, and goose girl.
After three days the young man came to a large city and asked to see the king and queen. They led him into the palace and he fell down on his knees before the queen. “I am the son of a count and have lost my way home. I pray you to believe me and to accept this present,” said he, and gave her the box.
The queen was delighted with the young man and the beautiful box. She took the box in her own hands and opened it. She saw it was full of beautiful pearls. Then she began to cry as if her heart would break, and the king was so angry he ordered the young man away. We shall find out to-morrow what she was crying about.
THE GOOSE GIRL
Part Two
No matter what misfortune overtakes us we should never forget the teachings of our good parents.
The queen stopped crying after a while and made the king send for the young man. She then sent everybody from the room and made the young count tell the story of how he came in possession of the emerald box. When he had finished the queen cried again.