Then the old woman fumbled in her pocket and brought out a ring set with diamonds, with rubies redder than strawberries, and turquoise bluer than violets.
“Here, wear this ring, my child; you deserve the prize for the most beautiful hands, for they have been the most helpful.”
And the old woman vanished, leaving the four girls still sitting by the brook.
THE DISCONTENTED MEMBERS
All the parts must work together for the good of the whole. In union there is strength and safety.
Once upon a time all the parts of the body began to complain of how little the stomach did, and of what each one did to support that lazy member.
“Just look at that stupid old stomach,” said the mouth. “It won’t say a word; never sings a song. Won’t even say ‘thank you,’ for what I let go by me on the way down to fill it up. I am getting tired of opening and shutting and swallowing and never a word of thanks.”
“You are perfectly right,” said the hands. “Here we are working hard all day, digging and pulling and pushing and doing our best to make a little money. Our palms are hard and knotty, and sometimes our fingers are sore and cold. Then to make it worse, when we come home we have to lift food to go into that good-for-nothing stomach, and never a word do we get for it.”
The head nodded violently: “Yes, indeed!” it said. “I have to lie awake at night thinking of ways to make food. I sometimes am positively worn out worrying about where I am going to find provisions enough to satisfy that stomach. I should think it would make some suggestions of its own, but not a sound do I ever hear.”