Карлик-ніс

           Afterthemcameacrowdofsquirrels,cladinwideTurkishtrousers,withlittlegreenvelvetcapsontheirheads.Theyappearedtobethekitchenservants,fortheyatoncebegantoclamberupanddownthewallsandbroughtpotsandpans,eggsandbutter,herbsandflour,andcarriedthemtothefirepkice,wheretheoldwomanseemedtobeverybusywithhercookery.Thefireburnedmerrilyandthecontentsofthepansbegantosteamandhissandsendforthaverypleasantsmell.

           AtlengththesoupwascookedandtheoldwomanpouredsomeintoasilverdishandsetitbeforelittleJacob,"Eat,mvlittleman,"saidshe,"andyouwillhaveallthatyouhavecovetedinme.Youshallbecomeaclevercooktoo,butyoushallnever,neverfindtheherbthatwasmissinginyourmother’sbasket."

           Theboydidnotunderstandwhatshewastalkingabout;buthewentoneatinghissoup,whichwasdelicious.Hismotheroftencookedtastydishesforhim,butneveranythinglikethis.Anodouroffineherbsandvegetablesarosefromit,itwasbothsourandsweetandverystrong.Ashefinishedthelastofittheguinea-pigssetlighttosomeincense,whichroseinabluecloudandwaswaftedthrouglitheroom.Thickerandthickertheincenseroseathelittleboybegantofeelstupefied.Hetriedtorise,tellinghimselfthathemusthastenbacktohismother,butheonlyfellbackagain,andatlength,quiteovercome,hefellfastasleepontheoldwoman’ssofa.