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notall swan； only swan's feathers。' You know； mother； you have the sameintuitive feeling that I have； you know whether a thing is right ornot immediately。〃
〃Yes； of course；〃 said she； 〃but tell me about the princess； Iam tired of hearing about the swan's feathers。〃
〃Well； you know that in the middle of the moor there issomething like a lake；〃 said the stork…papa。 〃You can see the edgeof it if you raise yourself a little。 Just there； by the reeds and thegreen banks； lay the trunk of an elder…tree； upon this the three swansstood flapping their wings； and looking about them； one of themthrew off her plumage； and I immediately recognized her as one ofthe princesses of our home in Egypt。 There she sat； without anycovering but her long； black hair。 I heard her tell the two othersto take great care of the swan's plumage； while she dipped down intothe water to pluck the flowers which she fancied she saw there。 Theothers nodded； and picked up the feather dress； and took possession ofit。 I wonder what will bee of it？ thought I； and she most likelyasked herself the same question。 If so； she received an answer； a verypractical one； for the two swans rose up and flew away with her swan'splumage。 'Dive down now！' they cried； 'thou shalt never more fly inthe swan's plumage； thou shalt never again see Egypt； here； on themoor； thou wilt remain。' So saying； they tore the swan's plumageinto a thousand pieces； the feathers drifted about like a snow…shower；and then the two deceitful princesses flew away。〃
〃Why； that is terrible；〃 said the stork…mamma； 〃I feel as if Icould hardly bear to hear any more； but you must tell me what happenednext。〃
〃The princess wept and lamented aloud； her tears moistened theelder stump； which was really not an elder stump but the Marsh Kinghimself； he who in marshy ground lives and rules。 I saw myself how thestump of the tree turned round； and was a tree no more； while long；clammy branches like arms； were extended from it。 Then the poorchild was terribly frightened； and started up to run away。 Shehastened to cross the green； slimy ground； but it will not bear anyweight； much less hers。 She quickly sank； and the elder stump divedimmediately after her； in fact； it was he who drew her down。 Greatblack bubbles rose up out of the moor…slime； and with these everytrace of the two vanished。 And now the princess is buried in thewild marsh； she will never now carry flowers to Egypt to cure herfather。 It would have broken your heart； mother； had you seen it。〃
〃You ought not to have told me；〃 said she； 〃at such a time asthis； the eggs might suffer。 But I think the princess will soon findhelp； some one will rise up to help her。 Ah！ if it had been you orI； or one of our people； it would have been all over with us。〃
I mean to go every day；〃 said he； 〃to see if anything es topass；〃 and so he did。
A long time went by； but at last he saw a green stalk shootingup out of the deep； marshy ground。 As it reached the surface of themarsh； a leaf spread out； and unfolded itself broader and broader； andclose to it came forth a bud。
One morning； when the stork…papa was flying over the stem； hesaw that the power of the sun's rays had caused the bud to open； andin the cup of the flower lay a charming child… a little maiden；looking as if she had just e out of a bath。 The little one was solike the Egyptian princess； that the stork； at the first moment；thought it must be the princess herself； but after a little reflectionhe decided that it was much more likely to be the daughter of theprincess and the Marsh King； and this explained also her beingplaced in the cup of a water…lily。 〃But she cannot be left to liehere；〃 thought the stork； 〃and in my nest there are already so many。But stay； I have thought of something： the wife of the Viking has nochildren； and how often she has wished for a little one。 People alwayssay the stork brings the little ones； I will do so in earnest thistime。 I shall fly with the child to the Viking's wife； whatrejoicing there will be！〃
And then the stork lifted the little girl out of the flower…cup；flew to the castle； picked a hole with his beak in thebladder…covered； window； and laid the beautiful child in the bosomof the Viking's wife。 Then he flew back quickly to the stork…mamma andtold her what he had seen and done； and the little storks listenedto it all； for they were then quite old enough to do so。 〃So you see；〃he continued； 〃that the princess is not dead； for she must have senther little one up here； and now I have found a home for her。〃
〃Ah； I said it would be so from the first；〃 replied thestork…mamma； 〃but now think a little of your own family。 Ourtravelling time draws near； and I sometimes feel a little irritationalready under the wings。 The cuckoos and the nightingale are alreadygone； and I heard the quails say they should go too as soon as thewind was favorable。 Our youngsters will go through all themanoeuvres at the review very well； or I am much mistaken in them。〃
The Viking's wife was above measure delighted when she awoke thenext morning and found the beautiful little child lying in herbosom。 She kissed it and caressed it； but it cried terribly； andstruck out with its arms and legs； and did not seem to be pleased atall。 At last it cried itself to sleep； and as it lay there so stilland quiet； it was a most beautiful sight to see。 The Viking's wife wasso delighted； that body and soul were full of joy。 Her heart felt solight within her； that it seemed as if her husband and his soldiers；who were absent； must e home as suddenly and unexpectedly as thelittle child had done。 She and her whole household therefore busiedthemselves in preparing everything for the reception of her lord。The long； colored tapestry； on which she and her maidens had workedpictures of their idols； Odin； Thor； and Friga； was hung up。 Theslaves polished the old shields that served as ornaments； cushionswere placed on the seats； and dry wood laid on the fireplaces in thecentre of the hall； so that the flames might be fanned up at amoment's notice。 The Viking's wife herself assisted in the work； sothat at night she felt very tired； and quickly fell into a soundsleep。 When she awoke； just before morning； she was terribly alarmedto find that the infant had vanished。 She sprang from her couch；lighted a pine…chip； and searched all round the room； when； at last；in that part of the bed where her feet had been； lay； not the child；but a great； ugly frog。 She was quite disgusted at this sight； andseized a heavy stick to kill the frog； but the creature looked ather with such strange； mournful eyes； that she was unable to strikethe blow。 Once more she searched round the room； then she started athearing the frog utter a low； painful croak。 She sprang from the couchand opened the window hastily； at the same moment the sun rose； andthrew its beams through the window； till it rested on the couchwhere the great frog lay。 Suddenly it appeared as if the frog'sbroad mouth contracted； and became small and red。 The limbs movedand stretched out and extended themselves till they took a beautifulshape； and behold there was the pretty child lying before her； and theugly frog was gone。 〃How is this？〃 she cried； 〃have I had a wickeddream？ Is it not my own lovely cherub that lies there。〃 Then shekissed it and fondled it； but the child struggled and fought； andbit as if she had been a little wild cat。
The Viking did not return on that day； nor the next； he was；however； on the way home； but the wind； so favorable to the storks；was against him； for it blew towards the south。 A wind in favor of oneis often against another。
After two or three days had passed； it became clear to theViking's wife how matters stood with the child； it was under theinfluence of a powerful sorcerer。 By day it was charming in appearanceas an angel of light； but with a temper wicked and wild； while atnight； in the form of an ugly frog； it was quiet and mournful； witheyes full of sorrow。 Here were two natures； changing inwardly andoutwardly with the absence and return of sunlight。 And so ithappened that by day the child； with the actual form of its mother；possessed the fierce disposition of its father； at night； on thecontrary； its outward appearance plainly showed its desc