This was the first time she had ever called her “my child.”

The girl told her frankly all the matter, not without dropping out great numbers of diamonds.

“Truly,” cried the mother, “I must send my own dear child thither.  Fanny, look at what comes out of your sister’s mouth when she speaks.  Would you not be glad, my dear, to have the same gift?  You have only to go and draw water out of the fountain, and when a poor woman asks you to let her drink, to give it to her very civilly.”

[Illustration:  “With all my heart, Goody.” p. 75.]

“I should like to see myself going to the fountain to draw water,” said this ill-bred minx.

“I insist you shall go,” said the mother, “and that instantly.”

She went, but grumbled all the way, taking with her the best silver tankard in the house.

She no sooner reached the fountain than she saw coming out of the wood, a magnificently dressed lady, who came up to her, and asked to drink.  This was the same fairy who had appeared to her sister, but she had now taken the air and dress of a princess, to see how far this girl’s rudeness would go.

“Am I come hither,” said the proud, ill-bred girl, “to serve you with water, pray?  I suppose this silver tankard was brought purely for your ladyship, was it?  However, you may drink out of it, if you have a fancy.”

“You are scarcely polite,” answered the fairy, without anger.  “Well, then, since you are so disobliging, I give you for gift that at every word you speak there shall come out of your mouth a snake or a toad.”

So soon as her mother saw her coming, she cried out:—­

“Well, daughter?”

“Well, mother?” answered the unhappy girl, throwing out of her mouth a viper and a toad.

“Oh, mercy!” cried the mother, “what is it I see?  It is her sister who has caused all this, but she shall pay for it,” and immediately she ran to beat her.  The poor child fled away from her, and went to hide herself in the forest nearby.

The King’s son, who was returning from the chase, met her, and seeing her so beautiful, asked her what she did there alone and why she cried.

“Alas! sir, my mother has turned me out of doors.”

The King’s son, who saw five or six pearls and as many diamonds come out of her mouth, desired her to tell him how that happened.  She told him the whole story.  The King’s son fell in love with her, and, considering that such a gift was worth more than any marriage portion another bride could bring, conducted her to the palace of the King, his father, and there married her.

As for her sister, she made herself so much hated that her own mother turned her out of doors.  The miserable girl, after wandering about and finding no one to take her in, went to a corner of the wood, and there died.

LITTLE RED RIDING-HOOD.