The Seven Ravens
There
was once a man who had seven sons, and still he had no daughter,
however much he wished for one. At length his wife again gave him hope
of a child, and when it came into the world it was a girl. The joy was
great, but the child was sickly and small, and had to be privately
baptized on account of its weakness. The father sent one of the boys in
haste to the spring to fetch water for the baptism. The other six went
with him, and as each of them wanted to be first to fill it, the jug
fell into the well. There they stood and did not know what to do, and
none of them dared to go home. As they still did not return, the father
grew impatient, and said, they have certainly forgotten it while
playing some game, the wicked boys. He became afraid that the girl
would have to die without being baptized, and in his anger cried, I wish
the boys were all turned into ravens. Hardly was the word spoken
before he heard a whirring of wings over his head, looked up and saw
seven coal-black ravens flying away.
The
parents could not withdraw the curse, and however sad they were at the
loss of their seven sons, they still to some extent comforted themselves
with their dear little daughter, who soon grew strong and every day
became more beautiful. For a long time she did not know that she had
had brothers,for
her parents were careful not to mention them before her, but one day
she accidentally heard some people saying of herself, that the girl was
certainly beautiful, but that in reality she was to blame for the
misfortune which had befallen her seven brothers. Then she was much
troubled, and went to her father and mother and asked if it was true
that she had had brothers, and what had become of them. The parents now
dared keep the secret no longer, but said that what had befallen her
brothers was the will of heaven, and that her birth had only been the
innocent cause. But the maiden took it to heart daily, and thought she
must save her brothers. She had no rest or peace until she set out
secretly, and went forth into the wide world to search for her brothers
and set them free, let it cost what it might. She took nothing with her
but a little ring belonging to her parents as a keepsake, a loaf of
bread against hunger, a little pitcher of water against thirst, and a
little chair as a provision against weariness.
And
now she went continually on wards, far, far to the very end of the
world. Then she came to the sun, but it was too hot and terrible, and
devoured little children. Hastily she ran away, and ran to the moon,
but it was far too cold, and also awful and malicious, and when it saw
the child, it said, I smell, I smell the flesh of men. At this she ran
swiftly away, and came to the stars, which were kind and good to her,
and each of them sat on its own particular little chair. But the
morning star arose, and gave her the drumstick of a chicken, and said,
if you have not that drumstick you can not open the glass mountain, and
in the glass mountain are your brothers.
The maiden took the drumstick, wrapped it carefully in a cloth, and went
on wards again until she came to the glass mountain. The door was shut,
and she thought she would take out the drumstick. But when she undid
the cloth, it was empty, and she had lost the good star's present. What
was she now to do. She wished to rescue her brothers, and had no key
to the glass mountain. The good sister took a knife, cut off one of her
little fingers, put it in the door, and succeeded in opening it. When
she had gone inside, a little dwarf came to meet her, who said, my
child, what are you looking for. I am looking for my brothers, the
seven ravens, she replied. The dwarf said, the lord ravens are not at
home, but if you will wait here until they come, step in. Thereupon the
little dwarf carried the ravens' dinner in, on seven little plates, and
in seven little glasses, and the little sister ate a morsel from each
plate, and from each little glass she took a sip, but in the last little
glass she dropped the ring which she had brought away with her.
Suddenly she heard a whirring of wings and a rushing through the air,
and then the little dwarf said, now the lord ravens are flying home.
Then they came, and wanted to eat and drink, and looked for their little
plates and glasses. Then said one after the other, who has eaten
something from my plate. Who has drunk out of my little glass. It was a
human mouth. And when the seventh came to the bottom of the glass, the
ring rolled against his mouth. Then he looked at it, and saw that it
was a ring belonging to his father and mother, and said, God grant that
our sister may be here, and then we shall be free. When the maiden, who
was standing behind the door watching, heard that wish, she came forth,
and on this all the ravens were restored to their human form again.
And they embraced and kissed each other, and went joyfully home.
Questions
1. Why the boys were all turned into ravens ?
a. Because the father angry with the boys and wished some curse.
b. Because the boys fell the jug into the well.
c. Because the boys fail the baptized.
d. Because the boys didn't return.
e. Because the girl die.
2. Why the girl had no rest or peace ?
a. Because she didn't find her brother.
b. Because she became more beautifull.
c. Because her parents couldn't withdraw the curse
d. Because she accidentally heard some people saying of herself, that she was to blame for the misfortune which had befallen her seven brothers.
e. Because her parents said that what had befallen her brothers was the will of heaven, and that her birth had only been the incorect cause.
3. What did the good star's give to the girl ?
a. Key.
b. Gold.
c. Ring.
d. Her brothers.
e. The chicken's drumstick.
4. What did the girl do when she lose the drumstick ?
a. Cried
b. Wished
c. She cut her little fingers.
d. Search the good star's
e. She search some knife.
5. But when she undid
the cloth, it was empty, and she had lost the good star's present.
What is the underline meaning?
a. gift.
b. awarding.
c. conferment.
d. Bestowal.
e. Conference.
