The tiny , tumble-down cottage was rebuilt , the girls had new dresses , and their mother ceased selling veils . It was such a new thing to them to have money to spend , that they were not as careful as they might have been , and by-and-by there was not a single coin left in the purse . When this happened their hearts sank within them , and their faces fell . ` Have you spent your fortune ? ' asked the head from its corner , when it saw how sad they looked . ` Well , then , go at midnight , good mother , to the bridge , and call out `` Mahomet ! '' three times , as loud as you can . A negro will appear in answer , and you must tell him to open the trunk , and to give you the red purse which he will find there . ' The old woman did not need twice telling , but set off at once for the bridge . ` Mahomet ! Mahomet ! Mahomet ! ' cried she , with all her might ; and in an instant a negro , still larger than the last , stood before her . ` What do you want ? ' asked he . ` The head , your master , bids you open the trunk , and to give me the red purse which you will find in it . ' ` Very well , good mother , I will do so , ' answered the negro , and , the moment after he had vanished , he reappeared with the purse in his hand . This time the money seemed so endless that the old woman built herself a new house , and filled it with the most beautiful things that were to be found in the shops . Her daughters were always wrapped in veils that looked as if they were woven out of sunbeams , and their dresses shone with precious stones . The neighbours wondered where all this sudden wealth had sprung from , but nobody knew about the head .
` Good mother , ' said the head , one day , ` this morning you are to XXXXX to the city and ask the sultan to give me his daughter for my bride . '
cried go knew reappeared sank set spent telling vanished wondered