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spake： 〃Ah！ how ill have I rewarded such great fidelity！〃
and made them lift up the stone image and place it in
his bedroom near his bed。 As often as he looked at it
he wept and said： 〃Oh！ if I could only restore you to
life； my most trusty John！〃 After a time the Queen
gave birth to twins； two small sons； who throve and grew；
and were a constant joy to her。 One day when the
Queen was at church； and the two children sat and played
with their father； he gazed again full of grief on the stone
statue； and sighing； wailed： 〃Oh； if I could only restore
you to life； my most trusty John！〃 Suddenly the stone
began to speak； and said： 〃Yes； you can restore me to
life again if you are prepared to sacrifice what you hold
most dear。〃 And the King cried out： 〃All I have in the
world will I give up for your sake。〃 The stone
continued： 〃If you cut off with your own hand the heads of
your two children； and smear me with their blood； I shall
come back to life。〃 The King was aghast when he
heard that he had himself to put his children to death；
but when he thought of Trusty John's fidelity； and how
he had even died for him； he drew his sword； and with
his own hand cut the heads off his children。 And when
he had smeared the stone with their blood； life came back；
and Trusty John stood once more safe and sound before
him。 He spake to the King： 〃Your loyalty shall be
rewarded；〃 and taking up the heads of the children； he
placed them on their bodies； smeared the wounds with
their blood； and in a minute they were all right again
and jumping about as if nothing had happened。 Then
the King was full of joy； and when he saw the Queen
coming； he hid Trusty John and the two children in a
big cupboard。 As she entered he said to her： 〃Did you
pray in church？〃 〃Yes；〃 she answered； 〃but my
thoughts dwelt constantly on Trusty John； and of what
he has suffered for us。〃 Then he spake： 〃Dear wife； we
can restore him to life； but the price asked is our two
little sons； we must sacrifice them。〃 The Queen grew
white and her heart sank； but she replied： 〃We owe it
to him on account of his great fidelity。〃 Then he
rejoiced that she was of the same mind as he had been； and
going forward he opened the cupboard； and fetched the
two children and Trusty John out； saying： 〃God be
praised！ Trusty John is free once more； and we have our
two small sons again。〃 Then he related to her all that
had passed； and they lived together happily ever
afterward。＇1＇
＇1＇ Grimm。