those days when our Lord and St. Peter wandered. upon eartli, they came once to an old wife's house, who sat baking. Her name was Gertrude, and she had a -red mutch on her head. They had walked a long way, and were both hungry, and our Lord begged hard for u bannock to stay their hunger. Yes, they should have it. y little piece of dou-h and rolled it out, So she took a tin but as she rolled it, it a ew and grew till it covered the z3r whole griddle.

Nay, that was too big; they couldn't have tliat. So she took a tinier bit still; but when that -was rolled out it J covered the whole griddle just the same, and that bannock was too big, she said; they couldn't have that either. The third time she took a still tinier bit-so tiny you could scarce see it; but it was the same story over again-the bannock was too big. "Well," said Gertrude, "I can't alve you anything; you must just go without, for all these bannocks are too big.)P Then our Lord waxed wroth, and said,- Since you love me so little as to grudge me a morsel of food, you shall have this punishment,-you shall be-come a bird, and seek your food between bark and bole, and never got a drop to drink save when it rains." He had scarce said the last word before she was turned into a great black woodpecker, or Gertrude's bird, and flew from her kneading-trough right up the chimney; and till this very day you may see her flying about, with her red mutch on her head, and her body all black, because of the soot in the chimney; and so she hacks and taps away, at the trees for her food, and whistles when rain is coming, for she is ever athirst, and then she looks for a drop to cool her tongue.

on a time there was a poor man who had three sons. When he died, the two elder set off into the world to try their luck, but the youngest they wouldn't have with them at any price. As for you," they said, " you're fit for nothing but to sit and poke about in the ashes." So the two went off and got places at a palace-the one under the coachman, and the other under the gardener. But Boots, he set off too, and took with him a great kneading-trough, which was the only thing his parents left behind them, but which the other two would not bother themselves with. It was heavy to carry, but he did not like to leave it behind, and so, after he had trudged a bit, he too came to the palace, and asked for a place. So they told him they did not want him, but he begged so prettily that at last he got leave to be in the kitchen, and carry in wood and water for the kitchen maid. He was quick and ready, and in a little while every one liked him; but the two others were dull, and so they got more kicks than half-pence, and grew quite envious of Boots, when they saw how much better he got on. Just opposite the palace, across a lake, lived a Troll, wbo had seven silver ducks which swam on the lake, so that they could be seen from the palace. These the king had often longed for; and so the two elder brothers told the coachman,