MARCHEN

ONCE THERE WAS A KING WHO HAD THREE SONS AND THEY WERE ALL
BELOVED. BEHIND THE KING'S PALACE THERE WAS A LARGE AREA WITH
SILKEN GRASS. THE GUARDS TOLD THE KING THAT THEY SAW A MYSTER-
IOUS ANIMAL GRAZE THERE, A BEAUTIFUL WHITE STALLION, BUT THEY
COULD NEVER CATCH IT. THE ELDEST SON OF THE KING GOT PERMISSION
FROM HS FATHER TO TRY TO CAPTURE THE STALLION. AS HE WAS GOING
HE MET A LITTLE MOUSE. THE MOUSE ASKED FOR A LITTLE SOMETHING
TO EAT BUT THE SON TOLD HIM TO GET AWAY. THE ELDEST SON LAID
DOWN IN THE GRASS TO WAIT FOR THE HORSE, BUT A SOFT MILD WIND
LULLED HIM TO SLEEP AND WHEN HE WOKE UP IT WAS VERY LATE. EXACTLY
THE SAME THING HAPPENED WITH THE SECOND SON. FINALLY, AFTER MUCH
PLEADING THE YOUNGEST SON WAS ALLOWED TO GO. THE LITTLE MOUSE
ASKED HIM FOR SOME FOOD AND THE BOY GAVE HIM SOME FROM HIS POCKET.
AS HE RODE AWAY THE LITTLE MOUSE SAID, "A GOOD DEED DESERVES A
GOOD DEED" BUT THE BOY COULDN'T UNDERSTAND HOW A LITTLE MOUSE
COULD EVER DO ANYTHING FOR HIM. THE PRINCE LAID DOWN IN THE
GRASS AND HE TOO WAS LULLED ASLEEP BY THE SOFT, MILD WIND. BUT
THE MOUSE NIBBLED ON HIS EAR AND WOKE HIM UP. WHEN HE WOKE UP
HE SAW THE BEAUTIFUL HORSE. HE JUMPED UP ON THE HORSE'S BACK AND
RIGHT AWAY. THE HORSE DISAPPEARED AND THERE WAS A BEAUTIFUL GIRL,
THE FAIRYLIKE ILONA. SHE EXPLAINED TO THE PRINCE THAT SHE HAD
BEEN TRANSFORMED. SHE HAD NEEDED SOMEONE TO STAY AWAKE TO MOUNT
HER. THE KING TOLD HIS SON THAT HE COULD MARRY THE GIRL AND HE
GAVE THEM A BIG WEDDING.
"HERE'S THE END, NOW RUN AWAY WITH IT."

Submitter comment: DR. DAMIN LEARNED THIS STORY FROM HER MOTHER IN HUNGARY. SHE
SAYS THAT MOST OF THE TALES SHE HEARD AS A CHILD ENDED WITH THIS
TRADITIONAL ENDING TRANSLATED FROM THE HUNGARIAN.

Where learned: HUNGARY

Date learned: 01-00-1964