Stranica 237 [237]
THE ALMOND TREE. 189
“Oh,” said the mother, "he is gone into the country to
ais great-uncle’s to stay for a little while.”
“What should he go for?” said the father, "and without
jidding me good-bye, too!"
“Oh, he wanted to go so much, and he asked me to let
im stay there six weeks; he will be well taken care of.”
“Dear me,” said the father, “I am quite sad about it ;
vas not right of him to go without bidding me good-bye.”
_ With that he began to eat, saying,
“Marjory, what are you crying for? Your brother will
some back some time.”
After a while he said,
“Well, wife, the food is very good; give me some more.”
And the more he ate the more he wanted, until he had
aten it all up, and he threw the bones under the table. Then
Marjory went to her chest of drawers, and took one of her best
iandkerchiefs from the bottom drawer, and picked up all the
ones from under the table and tied them up in her handker¬
hief, and went out at the door crying bitterly. She laid them
a the green grass under the almond tree, and immediately her
eart grew light again, and she wept no more. ‘Then the
-‘Imond tree began to wave to and fro, and the boughs drew
ogether and then parted, just like a clapping of hands for joy ;
nen a cloud rose from the tree, and in the midst of the cloud
here burned a fire, and out of the fire a beautiful bird arose,
nd, singing most sweetly, soared high into the air; and when
. "e had flown away, the almond tree remained as it was before,
ut the handkerchief full of bones was gone. Marjory felt
uite glad and light-hearted, just as if her brother were still alive.
o she went back merrily into the house and had her dinner.
The bird, when it flew away, perched on the roof of a
oldsmith’s house, and began to sing,
"c It was my mother who murdered me ;
It was my father who ate of me ;
It was my sister Marjory
. _ Who all my bones in pieces found ;
| | Them in a handkerchief she bound,
And laid them under the almond tree.
Kywitt, kywitt, kywitt, I cry,
Oh what a beautiful bird am [!”