aggedonthegnd，anotherwithlipsthathungdowntoherfeet，andthethirdwithteeththatgrazedherknees。Andtheycalledeachother:OColumbina，OColumbara，OColumbun！"

Thebridesfacebrightenedinstantly，andsheburstoutlaughing，andlaughedandlaughed。"Ordertheweddingbanquetrightaway。ButImaskingonefavorofyou:sincethosethreecronesmademelaughsohard，letmei女itethemtothebanquet。"

I女itethemshedid。Forthethreeoldwomenaseparatendtablewassetup，butsosmallthatwhatwiththeeyelashesofone，thelipsoftheother，andtheteethofthethird，younolongerknewwhatwaswhat。

Whendinnerwasover，thebridegroomaskedColumbina，"Tellme，goodlady，whyareyourlashessolong？"

"Thatsfromstrainingmyeyestospinfinethread！"saidColumbina。

"Andyou，whyareyourlipssothick？"

"Thatcomesfromalwaysrubbingmyfingeronthemtowetthethread！"saidColumbara。

"Andyou，howonearthdidyourteethgetsolong？"

"Thatsfrombitingtheknotofthethread！"saidColumbun。

"Isee，"saidthebridegroom，andheturnedtohiswife。"Gogetthespindle。"Whenshebghtittohim，hethrewitintothefire。"Youllspinno摸refortherestofyourlife！"

Sothebig，fatbridelivedhappilyeverafter。

(Rivieraligurediponente)

NOTES:

"AndSeven！"(Esette！)fromAndrews，4，23，47。(ThefirsttwowerecollectedinMenton，thethirdnearVentimiglia。)