"Go along," said the aunt, "go along, for a poor article that will sell well, and don't set your foot down,[84] but let it be as God will."
"Into what a thorn-brake you have put me, madam!" said the niece, crying.
"Well, see that you get out of it," answered the aunt; "but these three hanks must be spun, for your fortune depends upon them."
The poor girl went to her room in sore distress, and betook herself to imploring the blessed souls, for which she had great devotion.
While she prayed, three beautiful souls, clothed in white, appeared to her, and told her not to be troubled, for they would help her in return for the good she had done them by her prayers; and, taking each one a hank, they changed the flax into thread as fine as your hair in less time than would be worth one's while to name.
When the nabob came, the next day, he was astonished to see the result of so much diligence united with so much skill.
"Did I not tell your worship so!" exclaimed the old woman, beside herself with delight.
The gentleman asked the girl if she knew how to sew.
"And why shouldn't she?" answered the aunt with spirit. "Pieces of sewing are no more in her hands than cherries would be in the big snake's mouth."[85]
The gentleman then left her linen to make him three shirts, and, not to tire your worship, it happened just as it had the day before; and the same took place on the day after, when the nabob brought a satin waistcoat to be embroidered; except that, when, in answer to her many tears and great fervor, the souls appeared and said to the girl, "Don't be troubled, we are going to embroider this waistcoat for you," they added, "but it must be upon a condition."