The Little Robber Maiden

           Theydrovethroughthedarkwood;butthecarriageshonelikeatorch,anditdazzledtheeyesoftherobbers,sothattheycouldnotbeartolookatit. 

           "’Tisgold!’Tisgold!"theycried;andtheyrushedforward,seizedthehorses,knockeddownthelittlepostilion,thecoachman,andtheservants,andpulledlittleGerdaoutofthecarriage. 

           "Howplump,howbeautifulsheis!Shemusthavebeenfedonnut-kernels,"saidtheoldfemalerobber,whohadalong,scrubbybeard,andbushyeyebrowsthathungdownoverhereyes. "Sheisasgoodasafattedlamb!Howniceshewillbe!" Andthenshedrewoutaknife,thebladeofwhichshonesothatitwasquitedreadfultobehold. 

           "Oh!"criedthewomanatthesamemoment.Shehadbeenbittenintheearbyherownlittledaughter,whohungatherback; andwhowassowildandunmanageable,thatitwasquiteamusingtoseeher. "Younaughtychild!"saidthemother:andnowshehadnottimetokillGerda. 

           "Sheshallplaywithme,"saidthelittlerobberchild."Sheshallgivemehermuff,andherprettyfrock;sheshallsleepinmybed!" Andthenshegavehermotheranotherbite,sothatshejumped,andranroundwiththepain;andtheRobberslaughed,andsaid, "Look,howsheisdancingwiththelittleone!" 

           "Iwillgointothecarriage,"saidthelittlerobbermaiden;andshewouldhaveherwill,forshewasveryspoiledandveryheadstrong. SheandGerdagotin;andthenawaytheydroveoverthestumpsoffelledtrees,deeperanddeeperintothewoods.