Seite 609 von 626

They often ran about the forest alone and gathered red berries,

and no beasts did them any harm, but came close to them

trustfully. The little hare would eat a cabbage-leaf out of their

hands, the roe grazed by their side, the stag leapt merrily by

them, and the birds sat still upon the boughs, and sang whatever

they knew.

No mishap overtook them; if they had stayed too late in the

forest, and night came on, they laid themselves down near one

another upon the moss, and slept until morning came, and their

mother knew this and did not worry on their account.