And he went away and washed himself , and dressed himself in fine clothes and entered the hall again , looking so handsome that the proud princess fell in love with him on the spot . But Paperarello took no notice of her , and said to the king : ` It was kind of you to offer me your daughter in marriage , and for that I thank you ; but I have a wife at home whom I love better , and it is to her that I am going . But as a token of farewell , I wish that your ear , and nose , and finger may be restored to their proper places . ' So saying , he bade them all goodbye , and went back to his home and his fairy bride , with whom he lived happily till the end of his life . -LSB- From Sicilianisohen Mahrchen . -RSB- The Gifts Of The Magician Once upon a time there was an old man who lived in a little hut in the middle of a forest . His wife was dead , and he had only one son , whom he loved dearly . Near their hut was a group of birch trees , in which some black-game had made their nests , and the youth had often begged his father 's permission to shoot the birds , but the old man always strictly forbade him to do anything of the kind . One day , however , when the father had gone to a little distance to collect some sticks for the fire , the boy fetched his bow , and shot at a bird that was just flying towards its nest . But he had not taken proper aim , and the bird was only wounded , and fluttered along the ground . The boy ran to catch it , but though he ran very fast , and the bird seemed to flutter along very slowly , he never could quite come up with it ; it was always just a little in advance . But so absorbed was he in the chase that he did not notice for some time that he was now deep in the forest , in a place where he had never been before . Then he felt it would be foolish to go any further , and he turned to find his way home . He thought it would be easy enough to follow the path along which he had come , but somehow it was always branching off in unexpected directions . He looked about for a house where he might stop and ask his way , but there was not a sign of one anywhere , and he was afraid to stand still , for it was cold , and there were many stories of wolves being seen in that part of the forest . Night fell , and he was beginning to start at every sound , when suddenly a magician came running towards him , with a pack of wolves snapping at his heels . Then all the boy 's courage returned to him . He took his bow , and aiming an arrow at the largest wolf , shot him through the heart , and a few more arrows soon put the rest to flight . The magician was full of gratitude to his deliverer , and promised him a reward for his help if the youth would go back with him to his house . ` Indeed there is nothing that would be more welcome to me than a night 's lodging , ' answered the boy ; ' I have been wandering all day in the forest , and did not know how to get home again .
` Come with me , you must be hungry XXXXX well as tired , ' said the magician , and led the way to his house , where the guest flung himself on a bed , and went fast asleep .
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