COMPANIONS OF MY SOLITUDE. 161 



Poor things, they have had a hard time ever 

 since the first. For the Sclavonic nations say 

 that the origin of elves was sorrowful enough. 

 The first man, they say, had thirty sons and thirty 

 daughters, but, being ashamed of the number of 

 girls, he answered, when asked the number of his 

 children, " Thirty boys and twenty-seven girls." 



And, in punishment for his falsehood, three of 

 the most beautiful of the girls were taken from 

 him and changed into elves. Good creatures they 

 were, and they must retain much patience even 

 until now, if during all these years they have 

 been barbers to the goats. What an unhappy 

 trade is that ! But perhaps it belongs to the 

 Celtic fairies only. 



But there are a few other people who greet 

 dredgers with silent respect. There are some in- 

 dustrious hens who visit here at times. They be- 

 lieve with all their hearts in dredging, for they 

 get many a meal among these water-weeds. 



I met a rooster here, too, one afternoon. He 

 was quite tall; at least his shape gave one that 

 impression, and in this respect he reminded me of 

 Mahomet's cock. For believers in the Prophet 

 will remember that he was said to have found in 

 the first heaven a cock of so great size that its 

 crest touched the second heaven, and it is the 

 crowing of this creature that awakes all the ani- 

 mal creation on earth except man. Therefore say 

 the Moslem wise men, " Allah lends a willing ear 



