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GRIMM'S FAIRY TALES
THE HAZEL BRANCH
by Jacob Ludwig Grimm and Wilhelm Carl Grimm
Electronically Enhanced Text (c) Copyright 1996, World Library(R)
THE HAZEL BRANCH
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ONE AFTERNOON the Christ-child had laid himself in his cradle-bed
and had fallen asleep. Then his mother came to him, looked at him full
of gladness, and said, "Hast thou laid thyself down to sleep, my
child? Sleep sweetly, and in the meantime I will go into the wood, and
fetch thee a handful of strawberries, for I know that thou wilt be
pleased with them when thou awakest." In the wood outside, she found a
spot with the most beautiful strawberries; but as she was stooping
down to gather one, an adder sprang up out of the grass. She was
alarmed, left the strawberries where they were, and hastened away. The
adder darted after her; but Our Lady, as you can readily understand,
knew what it was best to do. She hid herself behind a hazel bush,
and stood there until the adder had crept away again. Then she
gathered the strawberries, and as she set out on her way home she
said, "As the hazel bush has been my protection this time, it shall in
future protect others also." Therefore, from the most remote times,
a green hazel branch has been the safest protection against adders,
snakes, and everything else which creeps on the earth.
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THE END
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