Page 87 - Viva Real English 3 : Ebook

had finished drinking, ‘and so polite. I shall give you a gift. This is the boon

I grant you: with every word that you utter there shall fall from your mouth
either a flower or a precious stone.’

When the girl reached home the mother scolded her for being so long in

coming back from the spring.

‘I am sorry I got late, mother,’ said the poor child.

As she spoke these words there fell from her mouth three roses, three pearls,
and three diamonds.

‘What’s this?’ cried her mother. ‘Did I see pearls and diamonds dropping out
of your mouth? What does this mean, dear daughter?’ This was the first time
she called her daughter ‘dear’.

The poor child told a simple tale of what had happened. While speaking she
scattered diamonds right and left.

‘Really,’ said her mother, ‘I must send my own child there. Come here,

Fanchon; look what comes out of your sister’s mouth whenever she speaks!
Wouldn’t you like to be able to do the same? All you have to do is to go and
draw some water at the spring, and when a poor woman asks you for a
drink, give it to her very nicely.’

‘Oh, indeed!’ replied the ill-mannered girl, ‘I don’t want to waste my time. Go
there yourself!’

‘I tell you that you are to go,’ said the mother, ‘and to go this instant.’

The girl went off sulkily, taking with her the best silver flagon in the house.
When she reached the spring, she saw a lady, magnificently dressed, who
came towards her from the forest, and asked for a drink. This was the same

polite : having good manners scattered : threw about
boon : blessing instant : moment

precious : valuable sulkily : annoyed and keeping
scolded : blamed using angry silent
words fl agon : a large container for

long in coming back : late in coming drinks
back magnifi cently : very beautifully

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