Page 334 of 626

Then she threw the peas down among the ashes, but the little

maiden ran out at the back door into the garden, and cried out:

'Hither, hither, through the sky, Turtle-doves and linnets, fly!

Blackbird, thrush, and chaffinch gay, Hither, hither, haste away!

One and all come help me, quick! Haste ye, haste ye!--pick, pick,

pick!'

Then first came two white doves, flying in at the kitchen window;

next came two turtle-doves; and after them came all the little

birds under heaven, chirping and fluttering in: and they flew

down into the ashes. And the little doves stooped their heads

down and set to work, pick, pick, pick; and then the others began

to pick, pick, pick: and among them all they soon picked out all

the good grain, and put it into a dish but left the ashes. Long

before the end of the hour the work was quite done, and all flew

out again at the windows.