--- title: The Lilac Fairy Book, part 24 — The Lilac Fairy Book · full text with trees description: The Lilac Fairy Book, part 24, «The Lilac Fairy Book» by Andrew Lang: the whole chapter, every sentence with its dependency tree and pragmatics. It begins: ‘What can that be?’ said the old woman, as she peeped out of the door. --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3454/24/) [home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [tales](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/) / [The Lilac Fairy Book](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3454/) / The Lilac Fairy Book, part 24 # The Lilac Fairy Book, part 24 The Lilac Fairy Book, part 24 of «The Lilac Fairy Book» by Andrew Lang: the whole text, 163 sentences and 2563 words. Every sentence has its own page with its syntax tree and pragmatics, parsed by Mova itself. **1** [2](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3454/24/page/2/) - [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3454/24/1/) — ‘What can that be?’ said the old woman, as she peeped out of the door. - [2](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3454/24/2/) — ‘It looks like a big seal,’ said Matte. - [3](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3454/24/3/) — ‘As sure as I live, it’s a cow!’ exclaimed Maie. - [4](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3454/24/4/) — And certainly it was a cow, a fine red cow, fat and flourishing, and looking as if it had been fed all its days on spinach. - [5](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3454/24/5/) — It wandered peacefully up and down the shore, and never so much as even looked at the poor little tufts of grass, as if it despised such fare. - [6](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3454/24/6/) — Matte could not believe his eyes. - [7](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3454/24/7/) — But a cow she seemed, and a cow she was found to be; and when the old woman began to milk her, every pitcher and pan, even to the baler, was soon filled with the most delicious milk. - [8](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3454/24/8/) — The old man troubled his head in vain as to how she came there, and sallied forth to seek for his lost net. - [9](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3454/24/9/) — He had not proceeded far when he found it cast up on the shore, and so full of fish that not a mesh was visible. - [10](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3454/24/10/) — ‘It is all very fine to possess a cow,’ said Matte, as he cleaned the fish; ‘but what are we going to feed her on?’ - [11](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3454/24/11/) — ‘We shall find some means,’ said his wife; and the cow found the means herself. - [12](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3454/24/12/) — She went out and cropped the seaweed which grew in great abundance near the shore, and always kept in good condition. - [13](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3454/24/13/) — Every one Prince alone excepted, thought she was a clever beast; but Prince barked at her, for he had now got a rival. - [14](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3454/24/14/) — From that day the red rock overflowed with milk and junkets, and every net was filled with fish. - [15](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3454/24/15/) — Matte and Maie grew fat on this fine living, and daily became richer. - [16](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3454/24/16/) — She churned quantities of butter, and he hired two men to help him in his fishing. - [17](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3454/24/17/) — The sea lay before him like a big fish tank, out of which he hauled as many as he required; and the cow continued to fend for herself. - [18](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3454/24/18/) — In autumn, when Matte and Maie went ashore, the cow went to sea, and in spring, when they returned to the rock, there she stood awaiting them. - [19](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3454/24/19/) — ‘We shall require a better house,’ said Maie the following summer; ‘the old one is too small for ourselves and the men.’ - [20](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3454/24/20/) — ‘Yes,’ said Matte. - [21](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3454/24/21/) — So he built a large cottage, with a real lock to the door, and a store-house for fish as well; and he and his men caught such quantities of fish that they sent tons of salmon, herring, and cod to Russian and Sweden. - [22](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3454/24/22/) — ‘I am quite overworked with so many folk,’ said Maie; ‘a girl to help me would not come amiss.’ - [23](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3454/24/23/) — ‘Get one, then,’ said her husband; and so they hired a girl. - [24](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3454/24/24/) — Then Maie said: ‘We have too little milk for all these folk. - [25](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3454/24/25/) — Now that I have a servant, with the same amount of trouble she could look after three cows.’ - [26](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3454/24/26/) — ‘All right, then,’ said her husband, somewhat provoked, ‘you can sing a song to the fairies.’ - [27](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3454/24/27/) — This annoyed Maie, but nevertheless she rowed out to sea on Sunday night and sang as before: - [28](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3454/24/28/) — Oh, Ahti, with the long, long beard, Who dwellest in the deep blue sea, A thousand cows are in thy herd, I pray thee give three unto me. - [29](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3454/24/29/) — The following morning, instead of one, three cows stood on the island, and they all ate seaweed and fended for themselves like the first one. - [30](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3454/24/30/) — ‘Art thou satisfied now?’ said Matte to his wife. - [31](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3454/24/31/) — ‘I should be quite satisfied,’ said his wife, ‘if only I had two servants to help, and if I had some finer clothes. - [32](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3454/24/32/) — Don’t you know that I am addressed as Madam?’ - [33](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3454/24/33/) — ‘Well, well,’ said her husband. - [34](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3454/24/34/) — So Maie got several servants and clothes fit for a great lady. - [35](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3454/24/35/) — ‘Everything would now be perfect if only we had a little better dwelling for summer. - [36](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3454/24/36/) — You might build us a two-storey house, and fetch soil to make a garden. - [37](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3454/24/37/) — Then you might make a little arbour up there to let us have a sea-view; and we might have a fiddler to fiddle to us of an evening, and a little steamer to take us to church in stormy weather.’ - [38](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3454/24/38/) — ‘Anything more?’ asked Matte; but he did everything that his wife wished. - [39](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3454/24/39/) — The rock Ahtola became so grand and Maie so grand that all the sea-urchins and herring were lost in wonderment. - [40](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3454/24/40/) — Even Prince was fed on beefsteaks and cream scones till at last he was as round as a butter jar. - [41](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3454/24/41/) — ‘Are you satisfied now?’ asked Matte. - [42](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3454/24/42/) — ‘I should be quite satisfied,’ said Maie, ‘if only I had thirty cows. - [43](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3454/24/43/) — At least that number is required for such a household.’ - [44](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3454/24/44/) — ‘Go to the fairies,’ said Matte. - [45](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3454/24/45/) — His wife set out in the new steamer and sang to the sea-king. - [46](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3454/24/46/) — Next morning thirty cows stood on the shore, all finding food for themselves. - [47](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3454/24/47/) — ‘Know’st thou, good man, that we are far too cramped on this wretched rock, and where am I to find room for so many cows?’ - [48](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3454/24/48/) — ‘There is nothing to be done but to pump out the sea.’ - [49](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3454/24/49/) — ‘Rubbish!’ said his wife. - [50](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3454/24/50/) — ‘Who can pump out the sea?’ - [51](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3454/24/51/) — ‘Try with thy new steamer, there is a pump in it.’ - [52](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3454/24/52/) — Maie knew well that her husband was only making fun of her, but still her mind was set upon the same subject. - [53](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3454/24/53/) — ‘I never could pump the sea out,’ thought she, ‘but perhaps I might fill it up, if I were to make a big dam. - [54](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3454/24/54/) — I might heap up sand and stones, and make our island as big again.’ - [55](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3454/24/55/) — Maie loaded her boat with stones and went out to sea. - [56](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3454/24/56/) — The fiddler was with her, and fiddled so finely that Ahti and Wellamos and all the sea’s daughters rose to the surface of the water to listen to the music. - [57](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3454/24/57/) — ‘What is that shining so brightly in the waves?’ asked Maie. - [58](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3454/24/58/) — ‘That is sea foam glinting in the sunshine,’ answered the fiddler. - [59](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3454/24/59/) — ‘Throw out the stones,’ said Maie. - [60](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3454/24/60/) — The people in the boat began to throw out the stones, splash, splash, right and left, into the foam. - [61](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3454/24/61/) — One stone hit the nose of Wellamos’s chief lady-in-waiting, another scratched the sea queen herself on the cheek, a third plumped close to Ahti’s head and tore off half of the sea-king’s beard; then there was a commotion in the sea, the waves bubbled and bubbled like boiling water in a pot. - [62](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3454/24/62/) — ‘Whence comes this gust of wind?’ said Maie; and as she spoke the sea opened and swallowed up the steamer. - [63](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3454/24/63/) — Maie sank to the bottom like a stone, but, stretching out her arms and legs, she rose to the surface, where she found the fiddler’s fiddle, and used it as a float. - [64](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3454/24/64/) — At the same moment she saw close beside her the terrible head of Ahti, and he had only half a beard!’ - [65](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3454/24/65/) — ‘Why did you throw stones at me?’ roared the sea-king. - [66](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3454/24/66/) — ‘Oh, your majesty, it was a mistake! - [67](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3454/24/67/) — Put some bear’s grease on your beard and that will soon make it grow again.’ - [68](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3454/24/68/) — ‘Dame, did I not give you all you asked for--nay, even more?’ - [69](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3454/24/69/) — ‘Truly, truly, your majesty. - [70](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3454/24/70/) — Many thanks for the cows.’ - [71](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3454/24/71/) — ‘Well, where is the gold from the sun and the silver from the moon that you promised me?’ - [72](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3454/24/72/) — ‘Ah, your majesty, they have been scattered day and night upon the sea, except when the sky was overcast,’ slyly answered Maie. - [73](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3454/24/73/) — ‘I’ll teach you!’ roared the sea-king; and with that he gave the fiddle such a ‘puff’ that it sent the old woman up like a sky-rocket on to her island. - [74](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3454/24/74/) — There Prince lay, as famished as ever, gnawing the carcase of a crow. - [75](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3454/24/75/) — There sat Matte in his ragged grey jacket, quite alone, on the steps of the old hut, mending a net. - [76](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3454/24/76/) — ‘Heavens, mother,’ said he, ‘where are you coming from at such a whirlwind pace, and what makes you in such a dripping condition?’ - [77](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3454/24/77/) — Maie looked around her amazed, and said, ‘Where is our two-storey house?’ - [78](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3454/24/78/) — ‘What house?’ asked her husband. - [79](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3454/24/79/) — ‘Our big house, and the flower garden, and the men and the maids, and the thirty beautiful cows, and the steamer, and everything else?’ - [80](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3454/24/80/) — ‘You are talking nonsense, mother,’ said he. - [81](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3454/24/81/) — ‘The students have quite turned your head, for you sang silly songs last evening while we were rowing, and then you could not sleep till early morning. - [82](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3454/24/82/) — We had stormy weather during the night, and when it was past I did not wish to waken you, so rowed out alone to rescue the net.’ - [83](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3454/24/83/) — ‘But I’ve seen Ahti,’ rejoined Maie. - [84](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3454/24/84/) — ‘You’ve been lying in bed, dreaming foolish fancies, mother, and then in your sleep you walked into the water.’ - [85](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3454/24/85/) — ‘But there is the fiddle,’ said Maie. - [86](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3454/24/86/) — ‘A fine fiddle! - [87](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3454/24/87/) — It is only an old stick. - [88](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3454/24/88/) — No, no, old woman, another time we will be more careful. - [89](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3454/24/89/) — Good luck never attends fishing on a Sunday.’ - [90](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3454/24/90/) — From Z. - [91](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3454/24/91/) — Topelius. - [92](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3454/24/92/) — The Raspberry Worm - [93](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3454/24/93/) — ‘Phew!’ cried Lisa. - [94](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3454/24/94/) — ‘Ugh!’ cried Aina. - [95](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3454/24/95/) — ‘What now?’ cried the big sister. - [96](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3454/24/96/) — ‘A worm!’ cried Lisa. - [97](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3454/24/97/) — ‘On the raspberry!’ cried Aina. - [98](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3454/24/98/) — ‘Kill it!’ cried Otto. - [99](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3454/24/99/) — ‘What a fuss over a poor little worm!’ said the big sister scornfully. - [100](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3454/24/100/) — ‘Yes, when we had cleaned the raspberries so carefully,’ said Lisa. **1** [2](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3454/24/page/2/) - ← previous: [The Lilac Fairy Book, part 23](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3454/23/) - next →: [The Lilac Fairy Book, part 25](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3454/25/) - ↑ back to [The Lilac Fairy Book](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3454/)