Page 35 - The Daughters of the Wild Cabbages' Gatherer

he reached the third hermit, who told him what
to do. Soon he began climbing the mountain
where encountered the giants with their eyes
open. So he entered and found the door closed.
He opened it and went past the lions and the
scissors. Then he continued through the room
until he saw the entrance to the garden in which
he found the statues and the Talking Bird on top
of the basin.
Meanwhile, the aunts, who saw that both their
nephews were missing,were very glad. At the
same time, the sister took out the ring and
noticed that it had become clear again. Yet,
when the Talking Bird saw her second brother
appear in the garden, it said to him, «Do you
see what happened to your brother? And your
mother has been sent to the treadmill!»
«Alas, my mother is in the treadmill?»
As soon as he uttered these words, he became a
statue. The sister looked at her ring, and it had
become black. Poor girl! There was nothing left
for her to do but to get dressed like a page and
set out on a journey. When she approached the
first hermit, he asked, «Where are you going,
my fine lad?»

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