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Once upon a time there lived in France a man whose name was Jalm
Riou. You might have walked a whole day without meeting anyone
happier or more contented, for he had a large farm, plenty of
money, and above all, a daughter called Barbaik, the most
graceful dancer and the best-dressed girl in the whole country
side. When she appeared on holidays in her embroidered cap, five
petticoats, each one a little shorter than the other, and shoes
with silver buckles, the women were all filled with envy, but
little cared Barbaik what they might whisper behind her back as
long as she knew that her clothes were finer than anyone else's
and that she had more partners than any other girl.
Now amongst all the young men who wanted to marry Barbaik, the
one whose heart was most set on her was her father's head man,
but as his manners were rough and he was exceedingly ugly she
would have nothing to say to him, and, what was worse, often made
fun of him with the rest.
Jegu, for that was his name, of course heard of this, and it made
him very unhappy. Still he would not leave the farm, and look for
work elsewhere, as he might have done, for then he would never
see Barbaik at all, and what was life worth to him without that?
One evening he was bringing back his horses from the fields, and
stopped at a little lake on the way home to let them drink. He
was tired with a long day's work, and stood with his hand on the
mane of one of the animals, waiting till they had done, and
thinking all the while of Barbaik, when a voice came out of the
gorse close by.
'What is the matter, Jegu? You mustn't despair yet.'
The young man glanced up in surprise, and asked who was there.
'It is I, the brownie of the lake,' replied the voice.
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Fairytales 
