The little Elves once stole a child out of its cradle and put in its place a changeling with a clumsy head and red eyes, who would neither eat nor drink. The mother in great trouble went to a neighbor to ask her advice, and she advised her to carry the changeling into the kitchen, set it on the hearth, and boil water in two egg-shells. If the changeling was made to laugh, then all was up with him.

The woman did all the neighbor said, and as she set the eggshells over the fire the creature sung out —

"Though I am as old as the oldest tree,
Cooking in an eggshell never did I see"

Then it burst into a hoarse laugh. While he was laughing a number of little Elves entered, bringing the real child, whom they placed on the hearth, and then they took away the changeling with them.

 

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