` My poor little pussies , ' said she , ` of course you shall have some . ' And she went into the dairy , followed by all the cats , and gave each one a little red saucerful . But before they drank they all rubbed themselves against her knees and purred by way of thanks . The next thing the girl had to do was to go to the storehouse , and to sift the corn through a sieve . While she was busy rubbing the corn she heard a whirr of wings , and a flock of sparrows flew in at the window . ` We are hungry ; give us some corn ! give us some corn ! ' cried they ; and the girl answered : ` You poor little birds , of course you shall have some ! ' and scattered a fine handful over the floor . When they had finished they flew on her shoulders and flapped their wings by way of thanks . Time went by , and no cows in the whole country-side were so fat and well tended as hers , and no dairy had so much milk to show . The farmer 's wife was so well satisfied that she gave her higher wages , and treated her like her own daughter . At length , one day , the girl was bidden by her mistress to come into the kitchen , and when there , the old woman said to her : ' I know you can tend cows and keep a diary ; now let me see what you can do besides . Take this sieve to the well , and fill it with water , and bring it home to me without spilling one drop by the way . ' The girl 's heart sank at this order ; for how was it possible for her to do her mistress 's bidding ? However , she was silent , and taking the sieve went down to the well with it . Stopping over the side , she filled it to the brim , but as soon as she lifted it the water all ran out of the holes . Again and again she tried , but not a drop would remaining in the sieve , and she was just turning away in despair when a flock of sparrows flew down from the sky . ` Ashes ! ashes ! '
they twittered ; and the girl looked at them and said : ` Well , I ca n't be XXXXX a worse plight than I am already , so I will take your advice . '
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