He went in and said, "See
what a beautiful bird that is--it has given me such a splendid gold
chain!"
But the wife was frightened, and fell flat down on the floor, and her
cap dropped off her head.
Then the bird sang again--
"My mother, she killed me;"
"Oh, that I were a thousand feet under the earth, so that I might not
hear!"
"My father, he ate me,"
Then she fell down, as if she was dead.
"My sister, little Margery,"
"Oh!" said Margery, "I will go out too, and see if the bird will give
me anything."
"Gathered up all my bones,
Tied them in a silk handkerchief,"
And the shoes were thrown down.
"And laid them under the Juniper-tree:
Kywitt! Kywitt! what a beautiful bird am I!"
Then Margery was very joyful; she put on the new red shoes, and danced
and jumped about. "Oh," said she, "I was so unhappy when I came out,
and now I am so happy! That is a wonderful bird; he has given me a
pair of red shoes."
"For me," cried the wife, and jumped up, and her hair stood on end
like flames of fire, "I feel as if the world were come to an end; I
will go out--perhaps I shall feel easier."
But as she went out of the door--smash!--the bird threw the millstone
on her head, and she was crushed to pieces.
The father and Margery heard it, and rushed out to see what had
happened: there was a great flame and smoke rising up from the place,
and when that was gone, there stood the little brother all alive
again--as if he had never died.
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