"
So the old witch went after her and caught her, she took all the money
away from her, beat her, and sent her off home just as she was.
The Three Wishes
Once upon a time, and be sure 't was a long time ago, there lived a poor
woodman in a great forest, and every day of his life he went out to fell
timber. So one day he started out, and the goodwife filled his wallet
and slung his bottle on his back, that he might have meat and drink in
the forest. He had marked out a huge old oak, which, thought he, would
furnish many and many a good plank. And when he was come to it, he took
his axe in his hand and swung it round his head as though he were minded
to fell the tree at one stroke. But he hadn't given one blow, when what
should he hear but the pitifullest entreating, and there stood before
him a fairy who prayed and beseeched him to spare the tree. He was
dazed, as you may fancy, with wonderment and affright, and he couldn't
open his mouth to utter a word. But he found his tongue at last, and,
"Well," said he, "I'll e'en do as thou wishest.
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