repeatedtheportuguese,"indeedyouhave,almostastenderastheducksinportugal."

"letusthinkofgettingsomethingtosatisfyourhunger,"saidthedrake,that'sthemostimportantbusiness.ifoneofourtoysisbroken,whywehaveplentymore."

theend.

1872

fairytalesofhanschristianandersen

theprincessandthepea

byhanschristianandersen

onceuponatimetherewasaprincewhowantedtomarryaprincess;butshewouldhavetobearealprincess.hetravelledallovertheworldtofindone,butnowherecouldhegetwhatherewereprincessesenough,butitwasdifficulttofindoutwhethertheywererealones.therewasalwayssomethingaboutthemthatwasnotasitshouldbe.sohecamehomeagainandwassad,forhewouldhavelikedverymuchtohavearealprincess.

oneeveningaterriblestormcameon;therewasthunderandlightning,andtherainpoureddownintorrents.suddenlyaknockingwasheardatthecitygate,andtheoldkingwenttoopenit.

itwasaprincessstandingoutthereinfrontofthegate.but,goodgracious!whatasighttherainandthewindhadmadeherwaterrandownfromherhairandclothes;itrandownintothetoesofhershoesandoutagainattheheels.andyetshesaidthatshewasarealprincess.

"well,we'llsoonfindthatout,"thoughttheoldqueen.butshesaidnothing,wentintothebed-room,tookallthebeddingoffthebedstead,andlaidapeaonthebottom;thenshetooktwentymattressesandlaidthemonthepea,andthentwentyeider-downbedsontopofthemattresses.

onthistheprincesshadtolieallnight.inthemorningshewasaskedhowshehadslept.

"oh,verybadly!"saidshe."ihavescarcelyclosedmyeyesallnight.heavenonlyknowswhatwasinthebed,butiwaslyingonsomethinghard,sothatiamblackandblueallovermybody.it'shorrible!"

nowtheyknewthatshewasarealprincessbecauseshehadfeltthepearightthroughthetwentymattressesandthetwentyeider-downbeds.