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108

La Société de Litterature Finnoise. MS. Collections. By Kaarle Krohn. No. O. 364. (From Hyrynsalmi, in Ostrobothnia. Narrated in 1882 by Aato Kemppainen, aged seventy. "Conteur excellent."--K. K.)

"THE SWINEHERD."

ABSTRACT

Two sisters have washed hands and eyes for three years to go to king's son, who seeks bride. They refuse (1) to turn loaves in oven, (2) shear ram, (3) milk cow, (4) help old man--Menial heroine (swineherd)--Heroine follows sisters to Court; turns loaves and gets loaf; shears ram and gets wool; milks cow and gets milk; helps old man, and gets stick to open treasure-rock-- Magic dresses--Meeting-place (church)--Threefold flight-- Gold pieces thrown to detain king's son--Lost shoe--Shoe marriage test--Mutilated feet--King's son tears off heroine's gown covering magic dresses--Happy marriage--Villain Nemesis--Sisters hang themselves.

TABULATION

(1) There are three sisters; two of them have been for three years washing their hands and their eyes to go to couit, on the chance of king's son choosing one as his bride; the third, who is swineherd, only washes in the ordinary course.-- (2) Clad in her working gown, she sets out behind sisters. On the way an oven says to proud sisters, "Take the shovel and turn my loaves; you shall have a loaf for your trouble." "Is it likely we should go and soil our hands after washing them for three years? There's a swineherd following us; she'll turn your loaves." Heroine comes by, turns the loaves, has one for herself, and replaces shovel. Proud sisters are still in sight.-- (3) They meet a ram with shears on its horns. "Shear me," etc.; "you shall have wool." Same answer. Heroine comes along, shears ram, has the wool, and replaces shears.-- (4) Proud sisters meet cow with pail on her horns. "Milk me," etc., "and you shall have milk." Same answer. Heroine milks cow and has the milk; replaces pail. Proud sisters are still in sight.-- (5) They see by the roadside an old man whose carriage is overturned. "Help me; I will give you my stick for your trouble." Same answer. Heroine helps old man up, and he gives her his stick, saying, "At some little distance from the palace, whither you are going, there is an enormous stone. If you strike it three times with this stick a door will open, and inside you will find every thing you can possibly want all your life long." (No doubt the old man had other treasures hidden elsewhere.)-- (6) Proud sisters reach the Court and have a pleasant time. And the swineherd, despised by all, idles the long hours away on the chimney-seat.-- (7) All go to church, the proud sisters too, whilst heroine stays behind. When they have started she goes to stone, dresses herself magnificently, takes carriages and horses, the like of which are not to be seen at court, and goes to church. King's son wonders in astonishment who she can be. She leaves rather before the rest, and is soon at a distance. King's son follows to see where she goes, but she has filled carriage with gold pieces, and throws out handfuls behind her. King's son stops to pick them up, and meanwhile she gallops to stone, returns finery, dons old gown, and does back to chimney corner. Proud sisters return, and taunt her with not having seen the wonders they have seen.-- (8) Another day they go to church, and all happens just as before, and a third day the same.-- (9) Heroine appears in church, looking still more beautiful, and king's son tells his valet to run after her the moment she leaves. He gets into carriage with valet, and does not stop for the gold this time, but follows with all speed. Valet stops to pick it up. Heroine, who is only just ahead of king's son, dashes into stone and hides horse and carriage.-- (10) In her haste she drops a shoe, and has not time to change her clothes, but can only cover them over with old gown. She returns to her bench by the fire. King's son sees shoe by the stone, and carries it off. He shows it at home, and says he will marry whomsoever it fits.-- (11) Proud sisters try to get it on, and even cut off their toes, but in vain. At length king's son invites swineherd to try. "What's the good? I shall only soil the pretty shoe." Nevertheless she is to try, and shoe fits her perfectly. King's son takes her in his arms to his room; there he tears off her old gown, which was hiding fine clothes. She takes him to stone and shows her treasure.-- (12) He marries her.-- (13) Proud sisters go into stove and hang themselves out of vexation. Pride comes to shame.

Cox, Marian Roalfe. Cinderella: Three Hundred and Forty-five Variants of Cinderella, Catskin, and Cap O' Rushes, abstracted and tabulated. London: David Nutt for the Folklore Society, 1893.

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