Then she took a tiny golden needle , pricked Elsa in the arm , and gave the needle to the old man , who stuck it into the heart of the doll . When this was done he placed the figure in the basket , promising that the next day they should all see what a beautiful piece of work he had finished . When Elsa awoke the next morning in her silken bed , with its soft white pillows , she saw a beautiful dress lying over the back of a chair , ready for her to put on . A maid came in to comb out her long hair , and brought the finest linen for her use ; but nothing gave Elsa so much joy as the little pair of embroidered shoes that she held in her hand , for the girl had hitherto been forced to run about barefoot by her cruel stepmother . In her excitement she never gave a thought to the rough clothes she had worn the day before , which had disappeared as if by magic during the night . Who could have taken them ? Well , she was to know that by-and-by . But WE can guess that the doll had been dressed in them , which was to go back to the village in her stead . By the time the sun rose the doll had attained her full size , and no one could have told one girl from the other . Elsa started back when she met herself as she looked only yesterday . ` You must not be frightened , ' said the lady , when she noticed her terror ; ` this clay figure can do you no harm . It is for your stepmother , that she may beat it instead of you . Let her flog it as hard as she will , it can never feel any pain . And if the wicked woman does not come one day to a better mind your double will be able at last to give her the punishment she deserves . ' From this moment Elsa 's life was that of the ordinary happy child , who has been rocked to sleep in her babyhood in a lovely golden cradle . She had no cares or troubles of any sort , and every day her tasks became easier , and the years that had gone before seemed more and more like a bad dream . But the happier she grew the deeper was her wonder at everything around her , and the more firmly she was persuaded that some great unknown power must be at the bottom of it all . In the courtyard stood a huge granite block about twenty steps from the house , and when meal times came round the old man with the long beard went to the block , drew out a small silver staff , and struck the stone with it three times , so that the sound could be heard a long way off . At the third blow , out sprang a large golden cock , and stood upon the stone . Whenever he crowed and flapped his wings the rock opened and something came out of it .
First a long table covered with dishes ready laid for the number XXXXX persons who would be seated round it , and this flew into the house all by itself .
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