Clever Maria There was once a merchant who lived close to the royal palace , and had three daughters . They were all pretty , but Maria , the youngest , was the prettiest of the three . One day the king sent for the merchant , who was a widower , to give him directions about a journey he wished the good man to take . The merchant would rather not have gone , as he did not like leaving his daughters at home , but he could not refuse to obey the king 's commands , and with a heavy heart he returned home to say farewell to them . Before he left , he took three pots of basil , and gave one to each girl , saying , ' I am going a journey , but I leave these pots . You must let nobody into the house . When I come back , they will tell me what has happened . ' ` Nothing will have happened , ' said the girls . The father went away , and the following day the king , accompanied by two friends , paid a visit to the three girls , who were sitting at supper . When they saw who was there , Maria said , ` Let us go and get a bottle of wine from the cellar . I will carry the key , my eldest sister can take the light , while the other brings the bottle . ' But the king replied , ` Oh , do not trouble ; we are not thirsty . ' ` Very well , we will not go , ' answered the two elder girls ; but Maria merely said , ' I shall go , anyhow . ' She left the room , and went to the hall where she put out the light , and putting down the key and the bottle , ran to the house of a neighbour , and knocked at the door . ` Who is there so late ? ' asked the old woman , thrusting her head out of the window . ` Oh , let me in , ' answered Maria . ' I have quarrelled with my eldest sister , and as I do not want to fight any more , I have come to beg you to allow me to sleep with you . ' So the old woman opened the door and Maria slept in her house . The king was very angry at her for playing truant , but when she returned home the next day , she found the plants of her sisters withered away , because they had disobeyed their father .
Now the window in the room of the eldest overlooked the gardens of the king , and when she saw how fine and ripe the medlars were on the trees , she longed to eat some , and begged XXXXX to scramble down by a rope and pick her a few , and she would draw her up again .
Maria Nothing day girls home house left merchant neighbour window