The first time she came she knew you were trying to kill her , and ran away . Yet she came back a second time . Well , if she had had a heart would she have come back a second time ? Now would she ? '' ` And the lion answered slowly , `` No , she would not . '' ` So you think I am a washerman 's donkey ? ' said the monkey to the shark , when the story was ended . ` You are wrong ; I am not . And as the sun is getting low in the sky , it is time for you to begin your homeward journey . You will have a nice cool voyage , and I hope you will find the sultan better . Farewell ! ' And the monkey disappeared among the green branches , and was gone . From ` Swahili Tales , ' by Edward Steere , LL.D . The Fairy Nurse There was once a little farmer and his wife living near Coolgarrow . They had three children , and my story happened while the youngest was a baby . The wife was a good wife enough , but her mind was all on her family and her farm , and she hardly ever went to her knees without falling asleep , and she thought the time spent in the chapel was twice as long as it need be . So , friends , she let her man and her two children go before her one day to Mass , while she called to consult a fairy man about a disorder one of her cows had . She was late at the chapel , and was sorry all the day after , for her husband was in grief about it , and she was very fond of him . Late that night he was wakened up by the cries of his children calling out ` Mother ! Mother ! '
When he sat up and rubbed his eyes , there was no wife by his side , and when he asked the little ones what was become of their mother , they said they saw the room full of nice little men and women , dressed in white and red and green , and their mother in the middle of them , going out XXXXX the door as if she was walking in her sleep .
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