They at once proceeded to light a fire in the huge fireplace ; then they placed a great cauldron of boiling water on it . When they had done this , they approached the bed on which the trembling girl lay , and , screaming and yelling all the time , they dragged her towards the cauldron . She nearly died with fright , but she never uttered a sound . Then of a sudden the cock crew , and all the evil spirits vanished . At the same moment the crow appeared and hopped all round the room with joy . It thanked the Princess most heartily for her goodness , and said that its sufferings had already been greatly lessened . Now one of the Princess 's elder sisters , who was very inquisitive , had found out about everything , and went to pay her youngest sister a visit in the ruined castle . She implored her so urgently to let her spend the night with her in the golden bed , that at last the good-natured little Princess consented . But at midnight , when the odd folk appeared , the elder sister screamed with terror , and from this time on the youngest Princess insisted always on keeping watch alone . So she lived in solitude all the daytime , and at night she would have been frightened , had she not been so brave ; but every day the crow came and thanked her for her endurance , and assured her that his sufferings were far less than they had been . And so two years passed away , when one day the crow came to the Princess and said : ` In another year I shall be freed from the spell I am under at present , because then the seven years will be over . But before I can resume my natural form , and take possession of the belongings of my forefathers , you must go out into the world and take service as a maidservant . ' The young Princess consented at once , and for a whole year she served as a maid ; but in spite of her youth and beauty she was very badly treated , and suffered many things . One evening , when she was spinning flax , and had worked her little white hands weary , she heard a rustling beside her and a cry of joy . Then she saw a handsome youth standing beside her ; who knelt down at her feet and kissed the little weary white hands . ' I am the Prince , ' he said , ` who you in your goodness , when I was wandering about in the shape of a black crow , freed from the most awful torments . Come now to my castle with me , and let us live there happily together . ' So they went to the castle where they had both endured so much . But when they reached it , it was difficult to believe that it was the same , for it had all been rebuilt and done up again . And there they lived for a hundred years , a hundred years of joy and happiness .
HOW SIX MEN TRAVELLED THROUGH THE WIDE WORLD There was once upon a time a man who understood all sorts XXXXX arts ; he served in the war , and bore himself bravely and well ; but when the war was over , he got his discharge , and set out on his travels with three farthings of his pay in his pocket .
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