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eyes as a token that she had obeyed。
But the old mother wept to think such innocent blood was to
be shed； and had a hind brought by night and cut out her tongue
and eyes； and kept them。 Then said she to the queen； 〃I cannot
have you killed as the king commands； but here you may stay
no longer。 Go forth into the wide world with your child； and
never come here again。〃 The poor woman tied her child on her back；
and went away with eyes full of tears。 She came into a great wild
forest； and then she fell on her knees and prayed to God； and the
angel of the Lord appeared to her and led her to a little house
on which was a sign with the words； here all dwell free。 A
snow…white maiden came out of the little house and said； welcome；
lady queen； and conducted her inside。 Then she unbound the
little boy from her back； and held him to her breast that he might
feed； and laid him in a beautifully…made little bed。 Then
said the poor woman； 〃From whence do you know that I was a queen？〃
The white maiden answered； 〃I am an angel sent by God； to watch
over you and your child。〃 The queen stayed seven years in the
little house； and was well cared for； and by God's grace； because
of her piety； her hands which had been cut off； grew once more。
At last the king came home again from his journey； and his first
wish was to see his wife and the child。 Then his aged mother
began to weep and said； 〃You wicked man； why did you write to me
that I was to take those two innocent lives；〃 and she showed him
the two letters which the evil one had forged； and then
continued； 〃I did as you bade me； and she showed the tokens； the
tongue and eyes。〃 Then the king began to weep for his poor wife
and his little son so much more bitterly than she was doing；
that the aged mother had compassion on him and said； 〃be at peace；
she still lives； I secretly caused a hind to be killed； and
took these tokens from it； but I bound the child to your wife's
back and bade her go forth into the wide world； and made her
promise never to come back here again； because you were so
angry with her。〃 Then spoke the king； 〃I will go as far as
the sky is blue； and will neither eat nor drink until I have
found again my dear wife and my child； if in the meantime they
have not been killed； or died of hunger。〃
Thereupon the king traveled about for seven long years； and
sought her in every cleft of the rocks and in every cave； but
he found her not； and thought she had died of want。 During the
whole time he neither ate nor drank； but God supported him。 At
length he came into a great forest； and found therein the little
house whose sign was； here all dwell free。 Then forth came
the white maiden； took him by the hand； led him in； and said；
〃Welcome； lord king；〃 and asked him from whence he came。 He
answered； 〃Soon shall I have traveled about for the space of
seven years； and I seek my wife and her child； but cannot find
them。〃 The angel offered him meat and drink； but he did not
take anything； and only wished to rest a little。 Then he lay
down to sleep； and laid a handkerchief over his face。
Thereupon the angel went into the chamber where the queen
sat with her son； whom she usually called Sorrowful； and
said to her； go out with your child； your husband has come。 So
she went to the place where he lay； and the handkerchief
fell from his face。 Then said she； 〃Sorrowful； pick up your
father's handkerchief； and cover his face again。〃 The child picked
it up； and put it over his face again。 The king in his sleep
heard what passed； and had pleasure in letting the handkerchief
fall once more。 But the child grew impatient； and said；
〃Dear mother； how can I cover my father's face when I have no
father in this world。 I have learnt to say the prayer … Our
Father； which art in heaven … you have told me that my father
was in heaven； and was the good God； and how can I know a wild
man like this。 He is not my father。〃 When the king heard that；
he got up； and asked who they were。 Then said
she； 〃I am your wife； and that is your son； Sorrowful〃。 And he
saw her living hands； and said； 〃My wife had silver hands。〃 She
answered； 〃The good God has caused my natural hands to grow again；〃
and the angel went into the inner room； and brought the silver
hands； and showed them to him。 Hereupon he knew for a certainty
that it was his dear wife and his dear child； and he kissed
them； and was glad； and said； 〃A heavy stone has fallen from off
my heart。〃 Then the angel of God ate with them once again； and
after that they went home to the king's aged mother。 There were
great rejoicings everywhere； and the king and queen were married
again； and lived contentedly to their happy end。