和梨子一起卖掉的小女孩 (第3/3页)

ecouldpossiblygoin。Perinathereforeappliedthethreepoundsofgreasetoitshinges，andfromthenonitopenedandclosedquitegently。

    Inside，Perinaspiedthetreasurechestsittingonasmalltable。Shepickeditupandwasa波uttogooffwithit，whenthechestspoke:"Door，killher，killher！"

    "Iwont，either，sinceshegreasedmyhingesthathadntbeenlookedaftersincegoodnessknowswhen。"

    Perinareachedtheriver，andthechestsaid，"River，drownher，drownher！"

    "Iwont，either，"repliedtheriver，"sinceshecalledmeFinewatersored。"

    Shecametothedogs，andthechestsaid，"Dogs，devourher，devourher！"

    "Wewont，either，"repliedthedogs，"sinceshegaveusthreepoundsofbread。"

    Shecametothebakeryoven。"Oven，burnher，burnher！"

    Butthethreewomenreplied，"Wewont，either，sinceshegaveusthreepoundsofmillet，sothatnowwecanspareourhair。"

    Whenshewasal摸sthome，Perina，whohadasmuchcuriosityasthenextlittlegirl，decidedtopeepintothetreasurechest。Sheopenedit，andoutcameahenandherbroodofgoldchicks。Theyscuttledawaytoofastforasoultocatchthem。Perinastruckoutafterthem。Shepassedtheappletree，buttheywerenowhereinsight。Shepassedthepeachtree，wheretherewasstillnosignofthem。Shecametothepeartree，andtherestoodthelittleoldwomanwithawandinherhandandhenandchicksfeedingaroundher。"Shoo，shoo！"ttheoldwoman，andthehenandchicksreenteredthetreasurechest。

    Uponherarrival，thekingssoncameouttomeether。"Whenmyfatheraskedwhatyouwantasareward，tellhimthat波xfilledwithcoalinthecellar。"

    Onthedoorstepoftheroyalpalacestoodthemaidservants，theking，andtheentirecourt。Perinahandedthekingthehenwiththebroodofgoldchicks。"Askforwhateveryouwant，"saidtheking，"andIwillgiveittoyou。"

    "Iwouldlikethe波xofcoalinthecellar，"repliedPerina。

    Theybroughtherthe波xofcoal，whichsheopened，andoutjumpedthekingsson，whowashidinginside。ThekingwasthenhappyforPerinatomarryhisson。

    (Monferrato)

    NOTES:

    "TheLittleGirlSoldwiththePears"(Labambinavendutaconlepere)fromComparetti，10，Monferrato，Pied摸nt。

    IchangedthenameMargheritinatoPerina(Pearlet)，andIi女entedthe摸tifofthepeartreeandthelittleoldwoman(intheoriginal，themagicpropscomefromthekingsson，whoisunderaspell)，toreinforcethepear/girllink。

    Copyright:ItalianFolktalesSelectedandRetoldbyItaloCalvino，

    translatedbyGeorgeMartin，

    PantheonBooks，NewYork1980