asked the old King . `` Because she does nothing but annoy me all day long , '' replied Curdken ; and he proceeded to relate all her iniquities , and said : `` Every morning as we drive the flock through the dark gate she says to a horse 's head that hangs on the wall : '' ` Oh ! Falada , 't is you hang there ' ; and the head replies : '' '' Tis you ; pass under , Princess fair : If your mother only knew , Her heart would surely break in two . ' '' And Curdken went on to tell what passed on the common where the geese fed , and how he had always to chase his hat . The old King bade him go and drive forth his flock as usual next day ; and when morning came he himself took up his position behind the dark gate , and heard how the goose-girl greeted Falada . Then he followed her through the field , and hid himself behind a bush on the common . He soon saw with his own eyes how the goose-boy and the goose-girl looked after the geese , and how after a time the maiden sat down and loosed her hair , that glittered like gold , and repeated : `` Wind , wind , gently sway , Blow Curdken 's hat away ; Let him chase o'er field and wold Till my locks of ruddy gold Now astray and hanging down , Be combed and plaited in a crown . '' Then a gust of wind came and blew Curdken 's hat away , so that he had to fly over hill and dale after it , and the girl in the meantime quietly combed and plaited her hair : all this the old King observed , and returned to the palace without anyone having noticed him . In the evening when the goose-girl came home he called her aside , and asked her why she behaved as she did . `` I may not tell you why ; how dare I confide my woes to anyone ? for I swore not to by heaven , otherwise I should have lost my life . '' The old King begged her to tell him all , and left her no peace , but he could get nothing out of her . At last he said : `` Well , if you wo n't tell me , confide your trouble to the iron stove there , '' and he went away . Then she crept to the stove , and began to sob and cry and to pour out her poor little heart , and said : `` Here I sit , deserted by all the world , I who am a king 's daughter , and a false waiting-maid has forced me to take off my own clothes , and has taken my place with my bridegroom , while I have to fulfill the lowly office of goose-girl . `` If my mother only knew Her heart would surely break in two . '' But the old King stood outside at the stove chimney , and listened to her words . Then he entered the room again , and bidding her leave the stove , he ordered royal apparel to be put on her , in which she looked amazingly lovely . Then he summoned his son , and revealed to him that he had got the false bride , who was nothing but a waiting-maid , while the real one , in the guise of the ex-goose-girl , was standing at his side . The young King rejoiced from his heart when he saw her beauty and learned how good she was , and a great banquet was prepared , to which everyone was bidden . The bridegroom sat at the head of the table , the Princess on one side of him and the waiting-maid on the other ; but she was so dazzled that she did not recognize the Princess in her glittering garments .
Now when they had eaten and drunk , and were merry , the old King asked the waiting-maid to solve a knotty point XXXXX him .
In at behind for from if of on through while