Once upon a time there was a father who had three sons. One day he bade the eldest go into the garden and keep watch that the swans did not eat the flowers. The son kept watch a long time, but at last sleep overcame him, and immediately the swans came and ate up the flowers.

Now these were not really swans, but Vilas.

Upon this the second brother betook himself to the garden, and with the same result.

Then it was the youngest brother’s turn; but this one put thorns under his head, so that he could not go to sleep. He lay there in a doze until the swans arrived; then, springing nimbly upon his feet, he caught one of them, which changed herself into a Vila. Upon this the other swans flew away, and the Vila and the youth both lay down and fell asleep.

Shortly after a girl came along that way and cut off the Vila’s hair. When the Vila awoke she fell into the deepest dejection over the loss. The youth asked her, “My beloved, wherefore so sorrowful?” and she answered, “Some one has robbed me of my hair.”

She remained with him for a whole week. Then, as it chanced, he was obliged to go away somewhere, and she improved the opportunity to quit the house—not, however, without leaving word that he would find her in the golden castle.

When he returned home and asked after her, he learned that she had gone to the golden castle. He therefore set out to find it. After much walking he came to a great forest, where he met an old man, whom he asked if he could give him any information about the golden castle.

The old man said he knew nothing about it, but perhaps a still older man, who lived a long way off in the forest, might know where it was. After long wandering the youth found this man, but neither could he give him any information, but sent him to a still older man. So he sought out the third old man, and from him he received the desired information.

The young man set out in the direction indicated, arrived at the castle, and perceived his beloved one, who smiled kindly upon him. In the castle he found an old Vila, who told him that he should not have her daughter to wife until he had executed the order which she was about to give. Then she handed him a wooden hoe, with the words:

“If you wish to be my son-in-law you must root up all this forest, plant vines in its place, and bring me wine from their fruit; and all must be done to-day.”

This command he certainly could not obey; but his beloved one drew near and asked him, “Why are you so sorrowful?”

He answered, “Why should I not be sorrowful? I can surely never obey that command.”

Then she cut down a tree, and the whole forest was uprooted; she planted a vine, and the whole vineyard was planted; she pressed one grape, and the work was already done.

When he brought the wine into the castle the old Vila said:

“You must perform another task. In a single day you must sow wheat, reap and thresh it, and store it away in the granary.”

He would not have been equal to this task either had not his beloved one done it for him.

When he showed the old Vila the threshed wheat she was still not satisfied, but said:

“If you wish to be my son-in-law you must gild the whole castle.” To this end she gave him a golden nut.

He succeeded in gilding a hand’s breadth, but more he could not do. Then his beloved came to his help; she only made a cross, and in a twinkling the whole was done.

Still the old Vila said, “If you are positively determined upon being my son-in-law you must to-morrow guess which Vila is yours. I may tell you beforehand that they all look precisely alike, even to a hair.”

Then his beloved one told him to notice well. When all the Vilas were standing in a row, a little dog would come and nose around her alone, and he must say, “That one is she.” She also gave him a comb, and a brush into the bargain, saying that they would be of the greatest use to them in their flight.

The next day, when the Vilas stood in a row before him, the little dog came and nosed around one of them. He at once said that this was she, and immediately they took to flight, the old Vila after them.

She had almost overtaken the fugitives, but the youth threw the brush behind them, and a thick forest grew up at their back, so that they gained a considerable start. But the old Vila soon overcame this hinderance, and had nearly caught up to them when, at the very moment, he threw the comb behind him. Instantly a great river flowed between them which the old woman could not cross.

Thus the two got away at last, arrived safely at home, married, and lived in happiness till their dying day.

The little boy made no remark. He was sound asleep.