Her mother was still more angry because she had not been told sooner , ran into her daughter 's room where the crab-shell was still lying , took it up and threw it into the fire . Then the poor Princess cried bitterly , but it was of no use ; her husband did not come back . Now we must leave the Princess and turn to the other persons in the story . One day an old man went to a stream to dip in a crust of bread which he was going to eat , when a dog came out of the water , snatched the bread from his hand , and ran away . The old man ran after him , but the dog reached a door , pushed it open , and ran in , the old man following him . He did not overtake the dog , but found himself above a staircase , which he descended . Then he saw before him a stately palace , and , entering , he found in a large hall a table set for twelve persons . He hid himself in the hall behind a great picture , that he might see what would happen . At noon he heard a great noise , so that he trembled with fear . When he took courage to look out from behind the picture , he saw twelve eagles flying in . At this sight his fear became still greater . The eagles flew to the basin of a fountain that was there and bathed themselves , when suddenly they were changed into twelve handsome youths . Now they seated themselves at the table , and one of them took up a goblet filled with wine , and said , ' A health to my father ! ' And another said , ' A health to my mother ! ' and so the healths went round . Then one of them said : ' A health to my dearest lady , Long may she live and well ! But a curse on the cruel mother That burnt my golden shell ! ' And so saying he wept bitterly . Then the youths rose from the table , went back to the great stone fountain , turned themselves into eagles again , and flew away . Then the old man went away too , returned to the light of day , and went home .
Soon after he heard that the XXXXX was ill , and that the only thing that did her good was having stories told to her .
Long Princess crab-shell day fire goblet healths noon palace table