As the bamboos became thinner , he found himself opposite to a beautiful garden , in the centre of which stood a tiny spick-and-span little house , and out of the house came a lovely maiden , who unlatched the gate and invited him in the most hospitable way to enter and rest . ` Oh , my dear old friend , ' she exclaimed , ` how glad I am you have found me at last ! I am your little sparrow , whose life you saved , and whom you took such care of . ' The old man seized her hands eagerly , but no time was given him to ask any questions , for the maiden drew him into the house , and set food before him , and waited on him herself . While he was eating , the damsel and her maids took their lutes , and sang and danced to him , and altogether the hours passed so swiftly that the old man never saw that darkness had come , or remembered the scolding he would get from his wife for returning home so late . Thus , in dancing and singing , and talking over the days when the maiden was a sparrow hopping in and out of her cage , the night passed away , and when the first rays of sun broke through the hedge of bamboo , the old man started up , thanked his hostess for her friendly welcome , and prepared to say farewell . ' I am not going to let you depart like that , ' said she ; ' I have a present for you , which you must take as a sign of my gratitude . ' And as she spoke , her servants brought in two chests , one of them very small , the other large and heavy . ` Now choose which of them you will carry with you . ' So the old man chose the small chest , and hid it under his cloak , and set out on his homeward way . But as he drew near the house his heart sank a little , for he knew what a fury his wife would be in , and how she would abuse him for his absence . And it was even worse than he expected . However , long experience had taught him to let her storm and say nothing , so he lit his pipe and waited till she was tired out . The woman was still raging , and did not seem likely to stop , when her husband , who by this time had forgotten all about her , drew out the chest from under his cloak , and opened it . Oh , what a blaze met his eyes ! gold and precious stones were heaped up to the very lid , and lay dancing in he sunlight . At the sight of these wonders even the scolding tongue ceased , and the woman approached , and took the stones in her hand , setting greedily aside those that were the largest and most costly . Then her voice softened , and she begged him quite politely to tell her where he had spent his evening , and how he had come by these wonderful riches . So he told her the whole story , and she listened with amazement , till he came to the choice which had been given him between the two chests . At this her tongue broke loose again , as she abused him for his folly in taking the little one , and she never rested till her husband had described the exact way which led to the sparrow-princess 's house .
When she had got it XXXXX her head , she put on her best clothes and set out at once .
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