Butheansweredhim: “Nay, forthecloakisneitherminenorthine, butthechild’sonly,” andhebadehimGodspeed, , sheputherarmsroundhisneckandkissedhim, andtookfromhisbackthebundleoffaggots, andbrushedthesnowoffhisboots, , “Ihavefoundsomethingintheforest, andIhavebroughtittotheetohavecareofit,” andhestirrednotfromthethreshold.“Whatisit?” shecried.“Showittome, forthehouseisbare, andwehaveneedofmanythings.” Andhedrewthecloakback, andshowedherthesleepingchild.“Alack, goodman!” shemurmured, “havewenotchildrenofourown, thatthoumustneedsbringachangelingtositbythehearth? Andwhoknowsifitwillnotbringusbadfortune? Andhowshallwetendit?” Andshewaswrothagainsthim.“Nay, butitisaStar-Child,” heanswered; , butmockedathim, andspokeangrily, andcried: “Ourchildrenlackbread, andshallwefeedthechildofanother? Whoistherewhocarethforus? Andwhogivethusfood?”
“Nay, butGodcarethforthesparrowseven, andfeedeththem,” heanswered.“Donotthesparrowsdieofhungerinthewinter?” sheasked.“Andisitnotwinternow?”
Andthemananswerednothing, , andmadehertremble, andsheshivered, andsaidtohim: “Wiltthounotclosethedoor? Therecomethabitterwindintothehouse, andIamcold.”
