The house was built on an eminence upon the banks of a river
which wound like a thread of silver through the valleys for many miles.
Afar from the mansion were a large number of cottages, in which dwelt
carpenters, shipbuilders, gardeners, and some of every trade. Most of
them were good and honest people, though tinged with the love of earthly
gains, and many of them, too, often crushed many of the soul's finer and
better emotions in the greedy love of material things. The owner of the
mansion sorrowed over this failing of theirs, and, to rid them of it,
devised a plan by which to give those who wished an opportunity to be led
by their better nature, and forget, for the time, self and gain.
Accordingly, he told his daughters to deck themselves in their richest
apparel and ornaments, which were rare and choice, and then to throw
over the whole large and unsightly cloaks, so that the disguise might be
perfect, and conceal all the splendor beneath. To each he gave a purse
filled with gold to bestow upon the one who should welcome and give
them shelter.
At evening he went forth with them to the narrow street, and bade
them knock at the doors of the cottages, while he waited outside, and see
who would admit and give food and shelter to travelers in need. They
obeyed him, and first approached a dimly-lighted cottage. Making
known their presence by a gentle rap, the door was opened by a woman
of large and coarse features, whose eyes had no welcome in their rude
stare.
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