七!
七! (第2/3页)
mmediately,hewentinandasked,"Sevenofwhat?"
Ashamedofherdaughtersgluttony,themotherreplied,"Sevenspindlesofhemp!Ihaveadaughtersocrazyaboutworkthatshedevenspinthewoolonthesheepsback!Canyouimaghatshesalreadyspunsevenspindlesofhempthismorningandstillwantstospin?Tomakeherstop,Ihavetobeather."
"Ifshesthathard-working,givehertome,"saidtheyoungman."IlltryherouttoseeifyouretellingthetruthandthenIllmarryher."
Hetookhertohishouseandshutherupinaroomfullofhempwaitingtobespun."Imaseacaptain,andImleavingonavoyage,"hesaid."IfyouvespunallthishempbythetimeIreturn,Illmarryyou."
Theroomalsocontainedexquisiteclothesandjewels,forthecaptainhappenedtobeveryrich."Whenyoubecomemywife,"heexplained,"thesethingswillallbeyours."Thenhelefther.
Thegirlspentherdaystryingondressesandjewelsandadmiringherselfinthemirror.Shealsodevotedmuchtimetoplanningmeals,whichthehouseholdseeofthehempwasspunyet,andinonemoredaythecaptainwouldbeback.Thegirlgaveupallhopeofevermarryinghimandburstintotears.Shewasstillcryingwhenthroughthewindowflewabundleofragsandcametorestonitsfeet:itwasanoldwomanwithlongeyelashes."Dontbeafraid,"shetoldthegirl."Ivecometohelpyou.Illspinwhileyoumaketheskein."
Youneversawanyonespinwiththespeedofthatoldwoman.Injustaquarterofanhourshehadspuneverybitofhemp.Andthemoreshespun,thelongerherlashesbecame;longerthanhernose,longerthanherchin,theycamedownmorethanafoot;andhereyelidsalsogrewmuchlonger.
Whentheworkwasfinished,thegirlsaid,"HowcanIrepayyou,mygoodlady?"
"Idontwanttoberepaid.Justinvitemetoyourweddingbanquetwhenyoumarrythecaptain."
"HowdoIgoaboutinvitingyou?"
"JustcallColumbinaandIllcome.Butheavenhelpyouifyouforgetmyname.ItwouldbeasthoughIdneverhelpedyou,andyoudbeundone."
Thenextdaythecaptainarrivedandfoundthehempallspun."Excellent!"hesaid."IbelieveyourejustthebrideIwasseeking.HerearetheclothesandjewelsIboughtforyou.ButnowIhavetogoonanothervoyage.Letshaveasecondtest.HerestwicetheamountofhempIgaveyoubefore.IfyouspinitallbythetimeIreturn,Illmarryyou."
Asshehaddonebefore,thegirlspenthertimetryingongownsandjewels,eatingsoupandlasagna,andgottothelastdaywithallthehempstillwaitingtobespun.Shewasweepingoveritwhen,loandbehold,somethingdroppeddownthechimney,andintotheroomrolledabundleofrags.Itcametorestonitsfeet,andtherestoodanoldwomanwithsagginglips.Thisoopromisedtohelp,beganspinning,andworkedevenfasterthantheotheroldwoman.Themoreshespun,themoreherlipssagged.Whenthehempwasallspuninahalf-hour,theoldwomanaskedonlytobeinvitedtotheweddingbanquet."JustcallColumbarayhelpwillhavebeeninvainandyouwillsuffer."
Thecaptainreturnedandaskedbeforeheevengotintothehouse,"Didyouspinitall?"
"Ijustnowfinished!"
"Taketw,ifIcomebackfrommythirdvoyageandfindyouvespunthisthirdloadofhemp,whichismuchbiggerthantheothertwo,Ipromisewellgetmarriedatonce."
Asusual,thegirlwaiteduntilthelastdaywithouttouchingthehemp.Downfromtheroofsgutterfellabundleofrags,andoutcameanoldwomanwithbuckteeth.Shebeganspinning,spinningevenfaster,andthemoreshespun,thelongergrewherteeth.
"Toinvitemetoyourweddingbanquet,"saidtheoldwoman,"youmustcallColumbun.Butifyouforgetmyname,itwouldbebetterifyoudneverseenme."
Whenthecaptaincamehomeand
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