“I will have,” said Peter, “a fine white horse to ride.”

No sooner said than done; for there, before him in the road, stood a fine white horse, with a long mane and tail, just like so much spun silk.  In his mouth was a silver bit; on his back was a splendid saddle, covered all over with gold and jewels; on his feet were shoes of pure gold, so that he was a very handsome horse indeed.

Peter mounted on his great horse and rode away home, as grand as though he were a lord or a nobleman.

Every one whom he met stopped in the middle of the road and looked after him.  “Just look at Peter!” cried they; but Peter held his chin very high, and rode along without looking at them, for he knew what a fine sight he was on his white horse.

And so he came home again.

“What didst thou get for thy eggs, my little duck?” said his mother.

“I got a bottle, mother,” said Peter.

Then at first Peter’s mother began to think as others thought, that Peter was a dull block.  But when she saw what a wonderful bottle it was, and how it held many good things and one over, she changed her mind again, and thought that her Peter was as wise as the moon.

And now nothing was lacking in the cottage; if Peter and his mother wanted this, it came to them; if they wished for that, the two tall men in the bottle fetched it.  They lined the house all inside with pure gold, and built the chimneys of bricks of silver, so that there was nothing so fine between all the four great rivers.  Peter dressed in satin and his mother in silk, and everybody called him “Lord Peter.”  Even the minister of the village said that he was no dull boy, for nobody is dull who rides on horseback and never wears wooden shoes.  So now Peter was a rich man.

[Illustration:  Clever Peter rides to the King’s Palace upon his fine Horse.]

One morning Peter said to his mother, “Mother, I am going to ask the King to let me marry his daughter.”

To this his mother said nothing, for surely her Peter was as good as any princess that ever lived.

So off Peter rode, dressed all in his best and seated astride of a grand horse.  At last he came to the palace which was finer than the handsome new house of Herr Mayor Kopff.  Rap! rap! rap!  Peter knocked at the door, and presently came a neat servant girl and opened it to him.  “Is the King at home, my dear?” said Peter.

Yes, the King was at home; would he come into the parlor and sit down?  So Peter went into the parlor and sat down, and then the King came in, dressed all in his best dressing-gown, with silver slippers upon his feet, and a golden crown upon his head.

“What is your name?” said the King.

“Peter Stultzenmilchen,” said Peter.

“And what do you want, Lord Peter,” said the King; for, as I have said, Peter was dressed in his best clothes, and the old King thought that he was a great lord.