Therewasonce a millerwhohadonebeautifuldaughter, andasshewasgrownup, hewasanxiousthatsheshouldbewellmarriedandprovidedfor. Hesaidtohimself, 'I willgivehertothefirstsuitablemanwhocomesandasksforherhand.' Notlongafter a suitorappeared, andasheappearedtobeveryrichandthemillercouldseenothinginhimwithwhichtofindfault, hebetrothedhisdaughtertohim. Butthegirldidnotcareforthemanas a girloughttocareforherbetrothedhusband. Shedidnotfeelthatshecouldtrusthim, andshecouldnotlookathimnorthinkofhimwithoutaninwardshudder. Onedayhesaidtoher, 'Youhavenotyetpaidme a visit, althoughwehavebeenbetrothedforsometime.' 'I donotknowwhereyourhouseis,' sheanswered. 'Myhouseisoutthereinthedarkforest,' hesaid. Shetriedtoexcuseherselfbysayingthatshewouldnotbeabletofindthewaythither. Herbetrothedonlyreplied, 'YoumustcomeandseemenextSunday; I havealreadyinvitedguestsforthatday, andthatyoumaynotmistaketheway, I willstrewashesalongthepath.'
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WhenSundaycame, anditwastimeforthegirltostart, a feelingofdreadcameoverherwhichshecouldnotexplain, andthatshemightbeabletofindherpathagain, shefilledherpocketswithpeasandlentilstosprinkleonthegroundasshewentalong. Onreachingtheentrancetotheforestshefoundthepathstrewedwithashes, andtheseshefollowed, throwingdownsomepeasoneithersideofherateverystepshetook. Shewalkedthewholedayuntilshecametothedeepest, darkestpartoftheforest. Thereshesaw a lonelyhouse, lookingsogrimandmysterious, thatitdidnotpleaseheratall. Shesteppedinside, butnot a soulwastobeseen, and a greatsilencereignedthroughout. Suddenly a voicecried:
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'Turnback, turnback, youngmaidenfair,
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Lingernotinthismurderers' lair.'
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Thegirllookedupandsawthatthevoicecamefrom a birdhangingin a cageonthewall. Againitcried:
'Ah, youpoorchild,' answeredtheoldwoman, 'what a placeforyoutocometo! Thisis a murderers' den. Youthinkyourself a promisedbride, andthatyourmarriagewillsoontakeplace, butitiswithdeaththatyouwillkeepyourmarriagefeast. Look, doyouseethatlargecauldronofwaterwhich I amobligedtokeeponthefire! Assoonastheyhaveyouintheirpowertheywillkillyouwithoutmercy, andcookandeatyou, fortheyareeatersofmen. If I didnottakepityonyouandsaveyou, youwouldbelost.'
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Thereupontheoldwomanledherbehind a largecask, whichquitehidherfromview. 'Keepasstillas a mouse,' shesaid; 'donotmoveorspeak, oritwillbealloverwithyou. Tonight, whentherobbersareallasleep, wewillfleetogether. I havelongbeenwaitingforanopportunitytoescape.'
Thedaycamethathadbeenfixedforthemarriage. Thebridegroomarrivedandalso a largecompanyofguests, forthemillerhadtakencaretoinviteallhisfriendsandrelations. Astheysatatthefeast, eachguestinturnwasaskedtotell a tale; thebridesatstillanddidnotsay a word.
'I willtellyou a dream, then,' saidthebride. 'I wentalonethrough a forestandcameatlastto a house; not a soulcould I findwithin, but a birdthatwashangingin a cageonthewallcried:
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'Turnback, turnback, youngmaidenfair,
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Lingernotinthismurderers' lair.'
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Andagain a secondtimeitsaidthesewords.'
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'Mydarling, thisisonly a dream.'
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'I wentonthroughthehousefromroomtoroom, buttheywereallempty, andeverythingwassogrimandmysterious. Atlast I wentdowntothecellar, andtheresat a very, veryoldwoman, whocouldnotkeepherheadstill. I askedherifmybetrothedlivedhere, andsheanswered, "Ah, youpoorchild, youarecometo a murderers' den; yourbetrotheddoesindeedlivehere, buthewillkillyouwithoutmercyandafterwardscookandeatyou."'
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'Mydarling, thisisonly a dream.'
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'Theoldwomanhidmebehind a largecask, andscarcelyhadshedonethiswhentherobbersreturnedhome, dragging a younggirlalongwiththem. Theygaveherthreekindsofwinetodrink, white, red, andyellow, andwiththatshedied.'
'Andoneoftherobberssawthattherewas a goldringstillleftonherfinger, andasitwasdifficulttodrawoff, hetook a hatchetandcutoffherfinger; butthefingersprangintotheairandfellbehindthegreatcaskintomylap. Andhereisthefingerwiththering.' Andwiththesewordsthebridedrewforththefingerandshewedittotheassembledguests.