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The youngest daughter went to the spring, and found her
sisters sitting there weeping bitterly.
"What has happened?” she cried anxiously.
“Don’t you know?” answered her eldest sister.
“Some day I’ll marry and have a son
With hair of chestnut brown.
One day, I know he’ll climb this tree
And he’ll come tumbling down.
Alas, alas, Kikos dear!
Alas, dear Kikos is dead!”
“Alas, dear Kikos! Why have you left your poor old aunt
behind?” wailed the youngest sister, and sat down with the
other two. And she too began to weep.
Finally the mother couldn’t bear the suspense any longer,
and ran out to the spring herself. All three daughters ran to
meet her.
“Come, quick, you poor unfortunate grandmother! Sce what
has happened to your dear little grandson!”
“What grandson? And since when am I a grandmother?”
cried the amazed woman.