Untitled

JfO WORK WITHOUT WAGES. 127
u And to sleep she went sure enough, without more
words.
Early in the morning, the qneen-mother, a little
frightened at what she had done, came to let out her
daughter-in-law, and found her still
sleeping, but with
the twelve pairs of stockings not only knitted, but beautifully
washed, and pressed, and folded in order upon the
table.
" ' '
Wonderful !
cried the queen, and the king, and the
court ;
and the whole nation cried * "Wonderful ' too, when
they heard of At it. last came the prince, who, when he
was told the story of his wife's industry, only laughed
and shook his finger at her, and said :
" *
!
Oh, oh, you rogue I will never believe it until I
see it. Knit a dozen pairs more to-night, and I will give
you a dress of woven sunbeams.'
" *
Yery well,' replied Cinderella, and, when night
came, shut herself up in the store-room, and called upon
her little friend among the wool to help her. But he
sulkily answered that he could not work without wages,
and that he had not yet been paid for his first dozen
pairs of stockings.
" '
"Well, what shall I pay you ? ' asked Cinderella,
wondering if she must give up the queen's diamonds as
soon as she got them.
;
"'"What shall you give me?' repeated
the voice.
Oh, not very much. You shall give me well, your first
3hild whet it is a m^nth old.
If you will agree to that.