16 Fairy aeales

‘Jacob is gone,” sobbed the child, ‘and
when the boys tease me there will be no
one to pommel them.”

“And where is he gone?”

Roschen did not at first reply, for she had
suddenly noticed that a raven was perched
upon the old woman’s shoulder, and she
remembered that Jacob had come home very
full of it one day, and reported that the other
boys declared she was a witch. So she said
quickly—

“ Are you really a witch?”

The old woman looked at her, but she did
not seem angry. She only said—

“Tf I were a witch I suppose I should
know where he was gone without asking.”

“Ves, that’s true,” returned the little girl.
“Well, he did not tell me anything about
it to-day, but I can guess, for he has often
talked of what he wanted. He said that
here he could never learn what he cared
about, and I think he has gone to find out
where the clouds come from. Oh, do make
him come back!”