Then Harald started to run home with the little ash tree, but had gone only a few steps when he struck his foot against something. Stooping to see what it was, he found a bag, glistening with brightness and full of something heavy. Upon opening the bag, he found it to be full of pieces of gold money.
“I must go to town and ask who has lost a bag filled with gold,” thought the boy. “Oh, I do wish I might keep it and buy mother a nice warm coat.”
But the next instant he loosened his tightening grip on the bag. “It is not my gold, and stolen money is worse than a mill-stone about one’s neck, says mother, so I think it would be too heavy for me.”
“Keep the purse, little boy,” said a sweet voice at his elbow. Turning, he saw a little girl as radiant as a sunbeam, dressed in shining gold.
“I am your friend, little boy, and I tell you that a lady who wears a fine cloak and a long veil, and who has more gold than she needs, dropped that purse, and if she asks for it I will say it fell into a hole in the ground.”
“Poor misguided Angel,” said Harald, “you are a beautiful temptress, but I must go to town and try to find the lady you speak of, who wears a fur cloak and a long veil.”
“Well, if you are determined to be so foolish, I will go with you to show you the way,” replied the Fairy, for such was the beautiful little girl.
So Harald wrapped his jacket about the little ash tree, to protect the tender roots from the cold, and tucking it under his arm, ran to town in the footsteps of his guide. The beautiful fairy led him to the doorsteps of a great mansion and then vanished from sight.
The lady of the house was glad to get her purse back, and offered Harald one of the gold pieces as reward for bringing it to her. But, much as he wished to have it, he shook his head, saying, “My mother taught me not to take pay for not being a thief, and she always tells me to be honest without hope of reward.”
Then Harald ran home with all speed to tell his mother of his wonderful adventures, and while they were talking together about the strange little ash tree they discovered a soft, unfrozen spot of earth near a southern window, and there planted the green sapling. Harald cared for it tenderly and prayed Odin to shield it from frost and wind.