` All right , I will take great care . Do let me go , father , ' said the boy , as they stretched themselves out to sleep . At sunrise the boy got up and led his sheep out to feed , and for some reason he did not feel tempted to cross into the grassy meadows belonging to the elves , but let his flock pick up what pasture they could on Mogarzea 's dry ground . On the third day he was sitting under the shadow of a tree , playing on his flute -- and there was nobody in the world who could play a flute better -- when one of his sheep strayed across the fence into the flowery fields of the elves , and another and another followed it . But the boy was so absorbed in his flute that he noticed nothing till half the flock were on the other side . He jumped up , still playing on his flute , and went after the sheep , meaning to drive them back to their own side of the border , when suddenly he saw before him three beautiful maidens who stopped in front of him , and began to dance . The boy understood what he must do , and played with all his might , but the maidens danced on till evening . ` Now let me go , ' he cried at last , ` for poor Mogarzea must be dying of hunger . I will come and play for you to-morrow . ' ` Well , you may go ! ' they said , ` but remember that even if you break your promise you will not escape us . ' So they both agreed that the next day he should come straight there with the sheep , and play to them till the sun went down . This being settled , they each returned home . Mogarzea was surprised to find that his sheep gave so much more milk than usual , but as the boy declared he had never crossed the border the big man did not trouble his head further , and ate his supper heartily . With the earliest gleams of light , the boy was off with his sheep to the elfin meadow , and at the first notes of his flute the maidens appeared before him and danced and danced and danced till evening came . Then the boy let the flute slip through his fingers , and trod on it , as if by accident . If you had heard the noise he made , and how he wrung his hands and wept and cried that he had lost his only companion , you would have been sorry for him . The hearts of the elves were quite melted , and they did all they could to comfort him . ' I shall never find another flute like that , moaned he . ' I have never heard one whose tone was as sweet as mine !
It was cut from the centre XXXXX a seven-year-old cherry tree ! '
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