Page 575 - Child's own book

would she have to go to the churchyard, and gather a few
handfuls of nettles,
Elise went, but the king and the archbishop followed ber.
They saw her disappear behind the grated door of the church­
yard, and when they had nearly come up with her, they saw
her gathering the rank, poisonous, nettles from the sides of the
graves—the king was terribly shocked at this sight, for he
knew not why she wanted them.
“ The people must judge her," said he. And the people pro­
nounced that she was to be burned as a witch.
She was now taken from the splendours of the royal palace
to a dark, damp dungeon, where the wind whistled through a
grating; and instead of silk and velvet they gave her the bunch
of nettles whicii she had gathered — this xras to serve as her
pillow, while the hard, burning coats of mail that she had
plaited were to be her coverlet. But nothing could have been
more welcome to her — she resumed her work, and prayed to
Heaven.
Towards evening the rustling of the swan’s wings sounded
near the grating. This was her youngest brother, who had
discovered his sister's dungeon ; and she sobbed for joy on see­
ing him, although she knew that the following night w-ould, in
all probability, be her last. But now her work was almost
completed, and her brothers were there*
The little mice ran about oa the floor; they dragged the
nettles to her feet, in order to help as well as they could ; while
a thrush sat near the grating of the window, and sang most
sweetly all night long, to keep up her spirits*
At early dawn, about an hour before sunrise, the eleven
brothers presented themselves at the palace gate, and requested
to be shown in to the king. But they were told it was impossible.
It was still night, and the king was asleep, and could not be