So she went on and came to a briar patch and saw down at the roots little people, not much longer than your finger.  Mary spoke so kindly to them; said she would be so glad if they would open a path for her to walk in, she would thank them so much; so they began to pull the briars back until there was a good path.  Mary thanked them and went on until she came to the spring and there was a rabbit jumping up and down in it.  Mary said:  “Please Mr. Rabbit, don’t muddy the water for I would like to get a bucket of nice clean water to take home to make tea for supper.”  The rabbit ran off and she dipped her bucket full of pure water.

Then she looked down the branch, and there was a little lamb that had fallen in and was lying down, and could not get up.  The lamb said:  “Little girl, please pick me up and lay me on the grass to dry.”  Mary stepped on some rocks till she got to the lamb and lifted him up and laid him on the bank to dry.  The lamb said:  “When you go home, spit in your mother’s hand.”  Mary thought that would not be right, but she said nothing.  She went back through the briar patch and the little folks held them from scratching her, and the little old man spoke nicely to her and the gate opened for her.  Her mother was watching for her and helped her home with the water, kissed her, and prepared them a good supper.

While they were sitting at the table Mary said:  “Mother, the little lamb told me to do something I do not like to do.”

“What was it?”

“He told me spit in your hand.”

“Well, you can my child; come on;” and the mother held out her hand and Mary spat in it, a diamond and a pearl.  This made the family happy and rich; they had men come the next day and dig a new well.

Now Sarah wished to try her fortune, her mother did not want her to go, because she knew what a bad girl she was, to talk saucy; but Sarah said she would do as well as Mary.  Her sister told her how she must do; she got angry at her, and said:  “You mind your own business; I reckon I know what I am about.”

So she took her bucket and went on until she came to the gate; she gave that a kick and said:  “Open gate!” and the gate opened and slammed on her.  The little old man came running with his stick.  Sarah said:  “Don’t you hit me, old man; I’ll tell my father.”  And the old man beat her and the little folks pushed up the briar bushes so she tore her clothes and scratched herself badly.  The little rabbit was in the spring and he jumped up and down and she threw at him, telling him she would knock his head off; but the rabbit jumped up and down ’till the spring was a lob-lolly of mud, so she had to take muddy water in her bucket.  The little lamb had gotten back into the branch and said:  “Please, little girl, pick me up and put me on the bank to dry.”

But Sarah said:  “I won’t do it.”

The lamb replied:  “Spit in your mother’s hand when you go home.”