However , ' she said , ' I see you have brought something with you to eat . Wo n't you give that to me : you are sure to get a good dinner at the palace . ' ` Yes , of course , ' said Jesper , ' I had n't thought of that ' ; and he handed over the whole of his lunch to the old woman . He had already taken a few steps on the way again , when the old woman called him back . ` Here , ' she said ; ` take this whistle in return for your lunch . It is n't much to look at , but if you blow it , anything that you have lost or that has been taken from you will find its way back to you in a moment . ' Jesper thanked her for the whistle , though he did not see of what use it was to be to him just then , and held on his way to the palace . When Jesper presented his pearls to the king there were exclamations of wonder and delight from everyone who saw them . It was not pleasant , however , to discover that Jesper was a mere fisher-lad ; that was n't the kind of son-in-law that the king had expected , and he said so to the queen . ` Never mind , ' said she , ` you can easily set him such tasks as he will never be able to perform : we shall soon get rid of him . ' ` Yes , of course , ' said the king ; ` really I forget things nowadays , with all the bustle we have had of late . ' That day Jesper dined with the king and queen and their nobles , and at night was put into a bedroom grander than anything of the kind he had ever seen . It was all so new to him that he could not sleep a wink , especially as he was always wondering what kind of tasks would be set him to do , and whether he would be able to perform them . In spite of the softness of the bed , he was very glad when morning came at last . After breakfast was over , the king said to Jesper , ` Just come with me , and I 'll show you what you must do first . ' He led him out to the barn , and there in the middle of the floor was a large pile of grain . ` Here , ' said the king , ` you have a mixed heap of wheat , barley , oats , and rye , a sackful of each . By an hour before sunset you must have these sorted out into four heaps , and if a single grain is found to be in a wrong heap you have no further chance of marrying my daughter . I shall lock the door , so that no one can get in to assist you , and I shall return at the appointed time to see how you have succeeded . ' The king walked off , and Jesper looked in despair at the task before him .
Then he sat down and tried what he could do at it , but it was soon very clear XXXXX single-handed he could never hope to accomplish it in the time .
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