East O the Sun and West O the Moon | Page 3

wood, and by her side lay the same bundle of rags she had
brought with her from home.
Then she wept and wept till she was tired, and all the while she thought
of the lovely Prince and how she should find him.
So at last she set out on her way and walked many, many days and
whomever she met she asked: "Can you tell me the way to the castle
that lies East o' the Sun and West o' the Moon?" But no one could tell
her.
And on she went a weary time. Both hungry and tired was she when
she got to the East Wind's house one morning. There she asked the East
Wind if he could tell her the way to the Prince who dwelt East o' the
Sun and West o' the Moon. Yes, the East Wind had often heard tell of it,
the Prince, and the castle, but he couldn't tell the way, for he had never
blown so far.
"But, if you will, I'll go with you to my brother the West Wind. Maybe
he knows, for he's much stronger. So, if you will just get on my back,
I'll carry you thither."
Yes, she got on his back, and I can tell you they went briskly along.
So when they got there, they went into the West Wind's house, and the
East Wind said that the lassie he had brought was the one who ought to
marry the Prince who lived in the castle East o' the Sun and West o' the
Moon; and that she had set out to seek him, and would be glad to know
if the West Wind knew how to get to the castle.
"Nay," said the West Wind, "so far I've never blown; but if you will, I'll
go with you to our brother the South Wind, for he is much stronger
than either of us, and he has flapped his wings far and wide. Maybe
he'll tell you. You can get on my back and I'll carry you to him."
Yes, she got on his back, and so they travelled to the South Wind, and
were not long on the way, either.
When they got there, the West Wind asked him if he could tell her the
way to the castle that lay East o' the Sun and West o' the Moon, for it
was she who ought to marry the Prince who lived there.
"You don't say so. That's she, is it?" said the South Wind.
"Well, I have blustered about in most places in my time, but that far I

have never blown; however, if you will, I'll take you to my brother the
North Wind; he is the oldest and strongest of all of us, and if he doesn't
know where it is, you'll never find anyone in the world to tell you. You
can get on my back and I'll carry you thither."
Yes, she got on his back, and away he went from his house at a fine
rate. And this time, too, she was not long on the way. When they got
near the North Wind's house he was so wild and cross that cold puffs
came from him.
"Heigh, there, what do you want?" he bawled out to them ever so far
off, so that it struck them with an icy shiver.
"Well," said the South Wind, "you needn't be so put out, for here I am
your brother, the South Wind, and here is the lassie who ought to marry
the Prince who dwells in the castle that lies East o' the Sun and West o'
the Moon. She wants to ask you, if you ever were there, and can tell her
the way, for she would be so glad to find him again."
"Yes, I know well enough where it is," said the North Wind. "Once in
my life I blew an aspen leaf thither, but I was so tired I couldn't blow a
puff for ever so many days after it. But if you really wish to go thither,
and aren't afraid to come along with me, I'll take you on my back and
see if I can blow you there."
"Yes! and thank you," she said, for she must and would get thither if it
were possible in any way; and as for fear, however madly he went, she
wouldn't be at all afraid.
"Very well then," said the North Wind, "but you must sleep here
to-night, for we must have the whole day before us if we're to get
thither at all."
Early next morning the North Wind woke her, and puffed himself up,
and blew himself out, and made himself so stout and big, it was
gruesome to look at him. And