When breakfast was over , he took them into another room , where there was nothing but heaps of gold , and silver , and diamonds , and silks , and satins ; and on a table there was lying three sets of crowns : a gold crown was in a silver crown , and that was lying in a copper crown . He took up one set of crowns , and gave it to the eldest princess ; and another set , and gave it to the second youngest princess ; and another , and gave it to the youngest of all ; and says he , ` Now you may all go to the bottom of the pit , and you have nothing to do but stir the basket , and the people that are watching above will draw you up . But remember , ladies , you are to keep your crows safe , and be married in them , all the same day . If you be married separately , or if you be married without your crowns , a curse will follow -- mind what I say . ' So they took leave of him with great respect , and walked arm-in-arm to the bottom of the draw-well . There was a sky and a sun over them , and a great high wall , covered with ivy , rose before them , and was so high they could not see to the top of it ; and there was an arch in this wall , and the bottom of the draw-well was inside the arch . The youngest pair went last ; and says the princess to the prince , ` I 'm sure the two princes do n't mean any good to you . Keep these crowns under your cloak , and if you are obliged to stay last , do n't get into the basket , but put a big stone , or any heavy thing inside , and see what will happen . ' As soon as they were inside the dark cave , they put in the eldest princess first , and stirred the basket , and up she went . Then the basket was let down again , and up went the second princess , and then up went the youngest ; but first she put her arms round her prince 's neck , and kissed him , and cried a little . At last it came to the turn of the youngest prince , and instead of going into the basket he put in a big stone . He drew on one side and listened , and after the basket was drawn up about twenty perches , down came it and the stone like thunder , and the stone was broken into little bits . Well , the poor prince had nothing for it but to walk back to the castle ; and through it and round it he walked , and the finest of eating and drinking he got , and a bed of bog-down to sleep on , and long walks he took through gardens and lawns , but not a sight could he get , high or low , of Seven Inches . He , before a week , got tired of it , he was so lonesome for his true love ; and at the end of a month he did n't know what to do with himself . One morning he went into the treasure room , and took notice of a beautiful snuff-box on the table that he did n't remember seeing there before . He took it in his hands and opened it , and out Seven Inches walked on the table . ' I think , prince , ' says he , ` you 're getting a little tired of my castle ? ' ` Ah ! ' says the other , ` if I had my princess here , and could see you now and then , I 'd never know a dismal day . ' ` Well , you 're long enough here now , and you 're wanted there above .
Keep your bride 's crowns safe , and whenever you want my help , open this XXXXX .
day first month morning perches satins second silks snuff-box week