Now on the borders of his kingdom lay a country whose emperor was as brave as his neighbour , and as long as he was young he was the victor in every war . But as years passed away , his head grew weary of making plans of campaign , and his people wanted to stay at home and till their fields , and at last he too felt that he must do homage to the other emperor . One thing , however , held him back from this step which day by day he saw more clearly was the only one possible . His new overlord would demand the service of one of his sons . And the old emperor had no son ; only three daughters . Look on which side he would , nothing but ruin seemed to lie before him , and he became so gloomy , that his daughters were frightened , and did everything they could think of to cheer him up , but all to no purpose . At length one day when they were at dinner , the eldest of the three summoned up all her courage and said to her father : ` What secret grief is troubling you ? Are your subjects discontented ? or have we given you cause for displeasure ? To smooth away your wrinkles , we would gladly shed our blood , for our lives are bound up in yours ; and this you know . ' ` My daughter , ' answered the emperor , ` what you say is true . Never have you given me one moment 's pain . Yet now you can not help me . Ah ! why is not one of you a boy ! ' ' I do n't understand , ' she answered in surprise . ` Tell us what is wrong : and though we are not boys , we are not quite useless ! ' ` But what can you do , my dear children ? Spin , sew , and weave -- that is all your learning . Only a warrior can deliver me now , a young giant who is strong to wield the battle-axe : whose sword deals deadly blows . '
` But WHY do you need a son so much XXXXX present ?
To as at by for from in of on though