likes to pull out a feather. But as soon as the swan feels as much as a finger on it it will scream out, and then you must say: 'Swan, hold fast.' Then the hand of the person who has touched the bird will be held as in a vise, and nothing will set it free unless you touch it with this little stick which I will make you a present of. When you have captured a whole lot of people in this way, lead your train straight on with you; you will come to a big town where a princess lives who has never been known to laugh. If you can only make her laugh your fortune is made; then I beg you won't forget your old friend."

Peter promised again that he wouldn't, and at sunset he went to the tree the old woman had mentioned. The man lay there fast asleep, and a large beautiful swan was fastened to the tree beside him by a red cord. Peter loosed the bird and led it away with him without disturbing the bird's master.

He walked on with the swan for some time, and came at last to a building-yard where some men were busily at work. They were all lost in admiration of the bird's beautiful plumage, and one forward youth, who was covered with clay from head to foot, called out: “Oh, if I'd only one of those feathers how happy I should be!"

"Pull one out, then," said Peter kindly, and the youth seized one from the bird's tail. Instantly the swan screamed, and Peter called out, "Swan, hold fast,' and do what he could the poor youth couldn't get his hand away. The more he howled the more the others laughed, till a girl who had been washing clothes in a neighboring stream hurried up to see what was the

matter. When she saw the poor boy fastened to the swan she felt so sorry for him that she stretched out her hand to free him. The bird screamed.

"Swan, hold fast," called out Peter, and the girl was caught also.

When Peter had gone on for a bit with his captives they met a chimney-sweep, who laughed loudly over the extraordinary troop and asked the girl what she was doing.

"Oh, dearest John," replied the girl, "give me your hand and set me free from this cursed young man."

"Most certainly I will, if that's all you want," replied the sweep, and gave the girl his hand. The bird screamed.

"Swan, hold fast," said Peter, and the black man was added to their number.

They soon came to a village where a fair was being held. A travelling circus was giving a performance, and the clown was just doing his tricks. He opened his eyes wide with amazement when he saw the remarkable trio fastened on to the swan's tail.

"Have you gone raving mad, blackie?" he asked as well as he could for laughing.

"It's no laughing matter," the sweep replied. "This wench has got so tight hold of me that I feel as if I were glued to her. Do set me free, like a good clown, and I'll do you a good turn some day."

Without a moment's hesitation the clown grasped the black outstretched hand. The bird screamed.

"Swan, hold fast," called out Peter, and the clown became the fourth of the party.

Now, in the front row of the spectators sat the re

spected and popular mayor of the village, who was much put out by what he considered nothing but a foolish trick. So much annoyed was he that he seized the clown by the hand and tried to tear him away, in order to hand him over to the police.

Then the bird screamed and Peter called out, "Swan, hold fast," and the dignified mayor shared the fate of his predecessors.

The mayoress, a long, thin stick of a woman, enraged at the insult done to her husband, seized his free arm and tore at it with all her might, with the only result that she too was forced to swell the procession. After this no one else had any wish to join them.

Soon Peter saw the towers of the capital in front of him. Just before entering it a glittering carriage came out to meet him, in which was seated a young lady as beautiful as the day, but with a very solemn and serious expression. But no sooner had she per

loud fit of laughter, in which she was joined by all her servants and ladies-in-waiting.

"The princess has laughed at last," they all cried with joy.

She stepped out of her carriage to look more closely at the wonderful sight, and laughed again over the capers the poor captives cut. She ordered her carriage

to be turned round and drove slowly back into the town, never taking her eyes off Peter and his procession.

When the king heard the news that his daughter had actually laughed he was more than delighted, and had Peter and his marvellous train brought before him. He laughed himself when he saw them till the tears rolled down his cheeks.

"My good friend," he said to Peter, "do you know what I promised the person who succeeded in making the princess laugh?"

"No, I don't," said Peter.

"Then I'll tell you," answered the king. "A thousand gold crowns or a piece of land. Which will you choose?"

Peter decided in favor of the land. Then he touched the youth, the girl, the sweep, the clown, the mayor, and the mayoress with his little stick, and they were all free again and ran away home as if a fire were burning behind them; and their flight, as you may imagine, gave rise to renewed merriment.

Then the princess felt moved to stroke the swan, at the same time admiring its plumage.

screamed.

The bird

"Swan, hold fast," called out Peter, and so he won the princess for his bride. But the swan flew up into the air and vanished in the blue horizon. Peter now received a duchy as a present and became a very great man indeed; but he did not forget the little old woman who had been the cause of all his good fortune, and appointed her as head housekeeper to him and his royal bride in their magnificent castle.

THE ENCHANTED PIG

BY N. KREMNITZ.

NCE upon a time there lived a king who had three daughters. Now it happened that he had to go out to battle, so he called his daughters and said to them:

"My dear children, I am obliged to go to the wars. The enemy is approaching us with a large army. It is a great grief to me to leave you all. During my absence take care of yourselves and be good girls; behave well and look after everything in the house. You may walk in the garden, and you may go into all the rooms in the palace, except the room at the back in the right-hand corner; into that you must not enter, for harm would befall you."

in

"You may keep your mind easy, father," they replied. "We have never been disobedient to you. Go peace, and may Heaven give you a glorious victory!" When everything was ready for his departure, the king gave them the keys of all the rooms and reminded them once more of what he had said. His daughters kissed his hands with tears in their eyes, and wished him prosperity, and he gave the eldest the keys.

Now when the girls found themselves alone they felt so sad and dull that they did not know what to do.