Thirteenth EveningThe Moon said, "Beside the woodland path there are two
small farm-houses. The doors are low, and some of the windows are
placed quite high, and others close to the ground; and whitethorn
and barberry bushes grow around them. The roof of each house is
overgrown with moss and with yellow flowers and houseleek. Cabbage
and potatoes are the only plants cultivated in the gardens, but out
of the hedge there grows a willow tree, and under this willow tree
sat a little girl, and she sat with her eyes fixed upon the old oak
tree between the two huts.
"It was an old withered stem. It had been sawn off at the
top, and a stork had built his nest upon it; and he stood in this
nest clapping with his beak. A little boy came and stood by the
girl's side: they were brother and
