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THE BOYS WITH THE GOLDEN STARS
Once upon a time what happened did happen： and if it had not
happened； you would never have heard this story。
Well； once upon a time there lived an emperor who had half a
world all to himself to rule over； and in this world dwelt an old
herd and his wife and their three daughters； Anna； Stana； and
Laptitza。
Anna； the eldest； was so beautiful that when she took the sheep
to pasture they forgot to eat as long as she was walking with
them。 Stana； the second； was so beautiful that when she was
driving the flock the wolves protected the sheep。 But Laptitza；
the youngest； with a skin as white as the foam on the milk； and
with hair as soft as the finest lamb's wool； was as beautiful as
both her sisters put togetheras beautiful as she alone could
be。
One summer day； when the rays of the sun were pouring down on the
earth； the three sisters went to the wood on the outskirts of the
mountain to pick strawberries。 As they were looking about to
find where the largest berries grew they heard the tramp of
horses approaching； so loud that you would have thought a whole
army was riding by。 But it was only the emperor going to hunt
with his friends and attendants。
They were all fine handsome young men； who sat their horses as if
they were part of them； but the finest and handsomest of all was
the young emperor himself。
As they drew near the three sisters； and marked their beauty；
they checked their horses and rode slowly by。
'Listen； sisters！' said Anna； as they passed on。 'If one of
those young men should make me his wife； I would bake him a loaf
of bread which should keep him young and brave for ever。'
'And if I；' said Stana； 'should be the one chosen； I would weave
my husband a shirt which will keep him unscathed when he fights
with dragons； when he goes through water he will never even be
wet； or if through fire； it will not scorch him。'
'And I；' said Laptitza； 'will give the man who chooses me two
boys； twins； each with a golden star on his forehead； as bright
as those in the sky。'
And though they spoke low the young men heard； and turned their
horses' heads。
'I take you at your word； and mine shall you be； most lovely of
empresses！' cried the emperor； and swung Laptitza and her
strawberries on the horse before him。
'And I will have you；' 'And I you；' exclaimed two of his friends；
and they all rode back to the palace together。
The following morning the marriage ceremony took place； and for
three days and three nights there was nothing but feasting over
the whole kingdom。 And when the rejoicings were over the news
was in everybody's mouth that Anna had sent for corn； and had
made the loaf of which she had spoken at the strawberry beds。
And then more days and nights passed； and this rumour was
succeeded by another onethat Stana had procured some flax； and
had dried it； and combed it； and spun it into linen； and sewed it
herself into the shirt of which she had spoken over the
strawberry beds。
Now the emperor had a stepmother； and she had a daughter by her
first husband； who lived with her in the palace。 The girl's
mother had always believed that her daughter would be empress；
and not the 'Milkwhite Maiden；' the child of a mere shepherd。 So
she hated the girl with all her heart； and only bided her time to
do her ill。
But she could do nothing as long as the emperor remained with his
wife night and day； and she began to wonder what she could do to
get him away from her。
At last； when everything else had failed； she managed to make her
brother； who was king of the neighbouring country； declare war
against the emperor； and besiege some of the frontier towns with
a large army。 This time her scheme was successful。 The young
emperor sprang up in wrath the moment he heard the news； and
vowed that nothing； not even his wife； should hinder his giving
them battle。 And hastily assembling whatever soldiers happened
to be at hand he set off at once to meet the enemy。 The other
king had not reckoned on the swiftness of his movements； and was
not ready to receive him。 The emperor fell on him when he was
off his guard； and routed his army completely。 Then when victory
was won； and the terms of peace hastily drawn up； he rode home as
fast as his horse would carry him； and reached the palace on the
third day。
But early that morning； when the stars were growing pale in the
sky； two little boys with golden hair and stars on their
foreheads were born to Laptitza。 And the stepmother； who was
watching； took them away； and dug a hole in the corner of the
palace； under the windows of the emperor； and put them in it；
while in their stead she placed two little puppies。
The emperor came into the palace； and when they told him the news
he went straight to Laptitza's room。 No words were needed； he
saw with his own eyes that Laptitza had not kept the promise she
had made at the strawberry beds； and； though it nearly broke his
heart； he must give orders for her punishment。
So he went out sadly and told his guards that the empress was to
be buried in the earth up to her neck； so that everyone might
know what would happen to those who dared to deceive the emperor。
Not many days after； the stepmother's wish was fulfilled。 The
emperor took her daughter to wife； and again the rejoicings
lasted for three days and three nights。
Let us now see what happened to the two little boys。
The poor little babies had found no rest even in their graves。
In the place where they had been buried there sprang up two
beautiful young aspens； and the stepmother； who hated the sight
of the trees； which reminded her of her crime； gave orders that
they should be uprooted。 But the emperor heard of it； and
forbade the trees to be touched； saying； 'Let them alone； I like
to see them there！ They are the finest aspens I have ever
beheld！'
And the aspens grew as no aspens had ever grown before。 In each
day they added a year's growth； and each night they added a
year's growth； and at dawn； when the stars faded out of the sky；
they grew three years' growth in the twinkling of an eye； and
their boughs swept across the palace windows。 And when the wind
moved them softly； the emperor would sit and listen to them all
the day long。
The stepmother knew what it all meant； and her mind never ceased
from trying to invent some way of destroying the trees。 It was
not an easy thing； but a woman's will can press milk out of a
stone； and her cunning will overcome heroes。 What craft will not
do soft words may attain； and if these do not succeed there still
remains the resource of tears。
One morning the empress sat on the edge of her husband's bed； and
began to coax him with all sorts of pretty ways。
It was some time before the bait took； but at length even
emperors are only men！
'Well； well；' he said at last； 'have your way and cut down the
trees； but out of one they shall make a bed for me； and out of
the other； one for you！'
And with this the empress was forced to be content。 The aspens
were cut down next morning； and before night the new bed had been
placed in the emperor's room。
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