master　now；　this　evening　our　marriage　must　take　place。〃
  〃I　am　very　pleased　to　hear　it；〃　said　the　old　king。　〃It　is　just
  what　I　wish。〃
  Then　all　the　people　shouted　〃Hurrah。〃　The　band　played　music　in　the
  streets；　the　bells　rang；　and　the　cake…women　took　the　black　crape　off
  the　sugar…sticks。　There　was　universal　joy。　Three　oxen；　stuffed　with
  ducks　and　chickens；　were　roasted　whole　in　the　market…place；　where
  every　one　might　help　himself　to　a　slice。　The　fountains　spouted　forth
  the　most　delicious　wine；　and　whoever　bought　a　penny　loaf　at　the
  baker's　received　six　large　buns；　full　of　raisins；　as　a　present。　In　the
  evening　the　whole　town　was　illuminated。　The　soldiers　fired　off
  cannons；　and　the　boys　let　off　crackers。　There　was　eating　and　drinking；　dancing　and　jumping　everywhere。　In　the　palace；　the　high…born　gentlemen　and　beautiful　ladies　danced　with　each　other；　and　they　could　be　heard　at　a　great　distance　singing　the　following　song：…
  〃Here　are　maidens；　young　and　fair；
  Dancing　in　the　summer　air；
  Like　two　spinning…wheels　at　play；
  Pretty　maidens　dance　away…
  Dance　the　spring　and　summer　through
  Till　the　sole　falls　from　your　shoe。〃
  But　the　princess　was　still　a　witch；　and　she　could　not　love　John。
  His　fellow…traveller　had　thought　of　that；　so　he　gave　John　three
  feathers　out　of　the　swan's　wings；　and　a　little　bottle　with　a　few　drops
  in　it。　He　told　him　to　place　a　large　bath　full　of　water　by　the
  princess's　bed；　and　put　the　feathers　and　the　drops　into　it。　Then；　at
  the　moment　she　was　about　to　get　into　bed；　he　must　give　her　a　little
  push；　so　that　she　might　fall　into　the　water；　and　then　dip　her　three
  times。　This　would　destroy　the　power　of　the　magician；　and　she　would
  love　him　very　much。　John　did　all　that　his　companion　told　him　to　do。
  The　princess　shrieked　aloud　when　he　dipped　her　under　the　water　the
  first　time；　and　struggled　under　his　hands　in　the　form　of　a　great　black
  swan　with　fiery　eyes。　As　she　rose　the　second　time　from　the　water；
  the　swan　had　become　white；　with　a　black　ring　round　its　neck。　John
  allowed　the　water　to　close　once　more　over　the　bird；　and　at　the　same
  time　it　changed　into　a　most　beautiful　princess。　She　was　more　lovely
  even　than　before；　and　thanked　him；　while　her　eyes　sparkled　with　tears；
  for　having　broken　the　spell　of　the　magician。　The　next　day；　the　king
  came　with　the　whole　court　to　offer　their　congratulations；　and　stayed
  till　quite　late。　Last　of　all　came　the　travelling　companion；　he　had　his
  staff　in　his　hand　and　his　knapsack　on　his　back。　John　kissed　him　many
  times　and　told　him　he　must　not　go；　he　must　remain　with　him；　for　he　was　the　cause　of　all　his　good　fortune。　But　the　traveller　shook　his　head；　and　said　gently　and　kindly；　〃No：　my　time　is　up　now；　I　have　only　paid　my　debt　to　you。　Do　you　remember　the　dead　man　whom　the　bad　people　wished　to　throw　out　of　his　coffin？　You　gave　all　you　possessed　that　he　might　rest　in　his　grave；　I　am　that　man。〃　As　he　said　this；　he　vanished。
  The　wedding　festivities　lasted　a　whole　month。　John　and　his
  princess　loved　each　other　dearly；　and　the　old　king　lived　to　see　many　a
  happy　day；　when　he　took　their　little　children　on　his　knees　and　let
  them　play　with　his　sceptre。　And　John　became　king　over　the　whole
  country。
  THE　END
  LastIndexNext
  Written　By　Anderson