Page 570 - Child's own book

41 Your brothers con be delivered,” said she ; “ but have you
sufficient couragc and constancy to break the spell. Water ia
softer than your delicate hands, and yet it wears away stones;
but it does not feel the pains your fingers will have to feel;
and, having no heart, it cannot suffer the cares and anxiety that
yon will have to endure. Do you see this stinging-nettle that
I hold in my hand ? A number of the same sort grow round
the cavern in which you are sleeping ; and, mark me well, only
those, and such as grow in churchyards, are available for the
purpose in question. You must pluck them, although they
will blister your hands. By treading upon them with your
feet, you will obtain flax, with which you must braid eleven
coats of mail, with long sleeves that will no sooner be ihrown
over the eleven swans, than the spell will be broken. But
remember that, from the moment you begin this work, untd
it be finished, though it should take years to accomplish,
you must not spenk a word, or the first syllable you pro­
nounce would strike a death dagger through your brothers’
heart*. Tlu ir lives depend on your silenec. Mark this well.'*
And at the same time she touched her hand with the nettle,
which was like burning fire, and caused Elise to wake. It
was broad day, and close beside her lay a nettle, like those she
bad seen in her dream. She then fell on her knees* and thanked
God, and left the cave to b<-gin her work.
Her delicate hands now plucked the ugly nettles, that were
like fire. Large blisters rose on her hands and arms ; yet she
suffered cheerfully, in the hopes of delivering her beloved
brothers* She trod each nettle with her bare feet, and then began
to hraid the green flax.
When the sun had sank^ hcT brothers camc home, and were
frightened to find her dumb* They thought it some fresh spell
contrived by their wicked step-mother. But on seeing her
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