By his first wife the peasant had a daughter called Elsa , a good quiet girl , who only wanted to live in peace , but this her stepmother would not allow . She beat and cuffed the poor child from morning till night , but as the stepmother had the whip-hand of her husband there was no remedy . For two years Elsa suffered all this ill-treatment , when one day she went out with the other village children to pluck strawberries . Carelessly they wandered on , till at last they reached the edge of the Tontlawald , where the finest strawberries grew , making the grass red with their colour . The children flung themselves down on the ground , and , after eating as many as they wanted , began to pile up their baskets , when suddenly a cry arose from one of the older boys : ` Run , run as fast as you can ! We are in the Tontlawald ! ' Quicker than lightning they sprang to their feet , and rushed madly away , all except Elsa , who had strayed farther than the rest , and had found a bed of the finest strawberries right under the trees . Like the others , she heard the boy 's cry , but could not make up her mind to leave the strawberries . ` After all , what does it matter ? ' thought she . ` The dwellers in the Tontlawald can not be worse than my stepmother ' ; and looking up she saw a little black dog with a silver bell on its neck come barking towards her , followed by a maiden clad all in silk . ` Be quiet , ' said she ; then turning to Elsa she added : ' I am so glad you did not run away with the other children . Stay here with me and be my friend , and we will play delightful games together , and every day we will go and gather strawberries . Nobody will dare to beat you if I tell them not . Come , let us go to my mother ' ; and taking Elsa 's hand she led her deeper into the wood , the little black dog jumping up beside them and barking with pleasure . Oh ! what wonders and splendours unfolded themselves before Elsa 's astonished eyes ! She thought she really must be in Heaven . Fruit trees and bushes loaded with fruit stood before them , while birds gayer than the brightest butterfly sat in their branches and filled the air with their song . And the birds were not shy , but let the girls take them in their hands , and stroke their gold and silver feathers .
In the centre of the garden was the dwelling-house , shining with glass and precious stones , and XXXXX the doorway sat a woman in rich garments , who turned to Elsa 's companion and asked : ` What sort of a guest are you bringing to me ? ' '
By For after as beside from if in of with