The mother said she must have a little time to think over it , as her daughter was still very young ; so it was settled that the man should go away for a month with his friends , and then come back to see if the girl was willing . Now ever since Ball-Carrier 's death the family had been very poor , and often could not get enough to eat . One morning the girl , who had had no supper and no breakfast , wandered off to look for cranberries , and though she was quite near home was astonished at noticing a large hut , which certainly had not been there when last she had come that way . No one was about , so she ventured to peep in , and her surprise was increased at seeing , heaped up in one corner , a quantity of food of all sorts , while a little robin redbreast stood perched on a beam looking down upon her . ` It is my father , I am sure , ' she cried ; and the bird piped in answer . From that day , whenever they wanted food they went to the hut , and though the robin could not speak , he would hop on their shoulders and let them feed him with the food they knew he liked best . When the man came back he found the girl looking so much prettier and fatter than when he had left her , that he insisted that they should be married on the spot . And the mother , who did not know how to get rid of him , gave in . The husband spent all his time in hunting , and the family had never had so much meat before ; but the man , who had seen for himself how poor they were , noticed with amazement that they did not seem to care about it , or to be hungry . ` They must get food from somewhere , ' he thought , and one morning , when he pretended to be going out to hunt , he hid in a thicket to watch . Very soon they all left the house together , and walked to the other hut , which the girl 's husband saw for the first time , as it was hid in a hollow . He followed , and noticed that each one went up to the redbreast , and shook him by the claw ; and he then entered boldly and shook the bird 's claw too . The whole party afterwards sat down to dinner , after which they all returned to their own hut . The next day the husband declared that he was very ill , and could not eat anything ; but this was only a presence so that he might get what he wanted . The family were all much distressed , and begged him to tell them what food he fancied . ` Oh ! I could not eat any food , ' he answered every time , and at each answer his voice grew fainter and fainter , till they thought he would die from weakness before their eyes . ` There must be some thing you could take , if you would only say what it is , ' implored his wife . ` No , nothing , nothing ; except , perhaps -- but of course that is impossible ! ' ` No , I am sure it is not , ' replied she ; ` you shall have it , I promise -- only tell me what it is . ' '
I XXXXX -- but I could not ask you to do such a thing .
begged cried followed go going knew promise think walked wandered