Story

transcribed at

Story  [duchas:4562857]

There was once upon a time a king who had twelve daughters, every one of whom was nicer than the other. They slept together in one room where their beds all stood in one row, and in the night when they were all gone to sleep the king bolted the door. One morning when he opened the door he noticed that their shoes were worn by dancing and nobody could tell how it happened since the doors were bolted. The king then said that whoever could discover where they had dance should get one of them for his wife and become king at his death, but whoever should attempt to do it and fail after three night and three days should loose his life. In a short time a young prince came and offered himself to undertake the task. The king received him kindly and at night led him to a room which was near the

Story  [duchas:4562858]

bedroom of the Princesses. He was left to watch until at last a mist came over his eyes and he fell fast asleep. When he awaoke in the morning he found that the princesses had all been dancing as usual. The second and third night passed in like manner and on the following morning he was beheaded.  One day it chanced that a poor soldier who had a wound which prevented him from serving cme along the road which led to the king's palace. There he met an old woman who asked him whiter he was going. "I do not know" replied the soldier "but I had an idea of going to the place where the king's daughters dance their shoes to pieces to find out the mystery and so become king". "That is not difficult" said the old woman. "If you do not drink the wine but pretend to be asleep you will suceed"  With these words she gave him a cloak and told him that if he put it on his shoulders

Story  [duchas:4562859]

he would become invisible and be able to follow the princess. As soon as the soldier had recieved this advice he presented himself to the king. When evening came he was led to his sleeping room and as he was about to go to bed the eldest daughter of the king gave him a cup of wine but he fastened a bag under his throat into which he poured the wine and drank none. THen he laid himself down and began to snore as if in a deep sleep while the twelve sisters laughed to one another saying, " He might have spared himself the trouble" In a few minutes they arose, dressed themselves in beautiful clothes. As soon as they were dressed they began to dance but the youngest sister said "I do not know how you are enjoying yourself but my heart feels as if some misfortune were about to happen to us." "What a goose you are" said the eldest sister "you are always afraid of

Story  [duchas:4562860]

something. As they were now ready they looked first at the soldier and seeing that his eyes were closed the eldest sister laid herself on her bed which sank down in the ground and the twelve princesses went through the opening, the eldest one going first. The soldier having seen everything put on his invisible cloak and followed them. As they descended the steps he stood on the youngest sisters dress and she said much frightened "Who is that who holds my cloak" "Dont be so silly" said the eldest sister "you caught it in some nail". So they went away down and at the bottom was a beautiful avenue of trees whose leaves were all silver. The soldier broke off one branch as a token, when the youngest girl replied Did you hear the crack". "That is a shot of welcome said the eldest because we were so lucky. Then they went through another avenue where the leaves and branches were of gold and another where they shone like diamonds. From

Story  [duchas:4562861]

both trees he broke a branch and at each crack the youngest sister grew very much afraid but the eldest sister calmed her fear by telling her that they were shouts of welcome. So they went farther and came to a lake in which were twelve little boats. In each boat sat a handsome prince each of whom took one sister. The old soldier sat down in the boat where the youngest one was. "I do not know how it is but the boat is much harder to row than usual" said the prince. On the other side of the lake stood a castle which was covered with lights. TOwards this they rowed, went it, and each danced with his own partner while the soldier danced among them without being seen. Here they danced until three o clock and at that time their shoes were full of holes. The princes rowed them back again but at this time the soldier sat in the same boat as the eldest princess. When they came back to the steps the soldier ran up first and lay down again to sleep. When the twelve

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sisters came up weary and sleepy he snored so loudly that they said "how much better could we be". Then they took off their clothes, put their dancing shoes under their beds and lay down to sleep. The next night the same things happen and on the third night also.
On the fourth morning the soldier told the king where his daughters had danced the nights before. As a proof that he was telling the truth he showed the king the branches which he had broken from the trees. THe king then asked him, which of the daughters he would have fo a wife. He said "I am no longer young so I better have the eldest". The wedding was celebrated that same day and the kingdom was given to the soldier at the old king's death.