J. F. Campbell Collection > Household stories

THE SEVEN CROWS.
There was a man who had seven sons, but never a daughter, although
he wished very much for one ; at hxst his wife promised him another
child, and when it was born, lo! it was a daughter. Their happiness
was great, but the child was so weak and small that, on account of its
delicate health, it had to be baptized immediately. The father sent one
of his sons hastily to a spring in order to fetch some water, but the other
six would run as well ; and as each strove to be first to fill the pitcher,
between them all it fell into the water. They stood by, not knowing
what to do, and none of them dared to go home. As they did not come
back, the father became impatient, saying, " They have forgotten all
about it in a game of play, the godless youths." Soon he became
anxious lest the child should die unbaptized, and in his haste he ex-
claimed, "I would they were all changed into Crows!" Scarcely
were the words out of his mouth, when he heard a whirring over his
head, and looking up he saw seven coal-black Crows flying over the
house.
The parents could not recall their curse, and grieved very much for
their lost sons ; but they comforted themselves in some measure with
their dear daughter, who soon grew strong, and became more and more
beautiful every day. For a long time she did not know she had any
brothers, for her parents were careful not to mention them ; but one
day accidentally she overheard some people talking about her, and saying,
" She is certainly very beautiful ; but still the guilt of her seven
brothers rests on her head." This made her very sad, and she went to
her parents and asked whether she had any brothers, and whither they
were gone. The old people durst no longer keep their secret, but said
it was the decree of heaven, and her birth had been the unhappy cause.
Now the maiden daily accused herself, and thought how she could again
deliver her brothers. She had neither rest nor quiet, until she at last