Nancy was a nurse that looked after sick people and helped mommies get babies. One night she was woken up at midnight, and when she went downstairs, she saw a strange squinty-eyed, little ugly old fellow, who asked her to come to his wife was about to get a bay. Though Nancy didn't like the old fellow's look, business is business; so she popped on her things and went down to him. And when she got down to him, he whisked her up onto a large black horse with fiery eyes that stood at the door, and soon they were going at a rare pace, Nancy holding on to the old fellow like for her life.
They rode, and they rode, till at last, they stopped before a cottage door. So both got down and went in and found the good woman abed with her children playing about, and then she got a babe, who was a fine bouncing boy, afforces with the help of Nancy.
Nancy took the baby, which was a fine baby boy as you'd wish to see. The mother, as she handed the baby to Nancy, also give her a bottle of Honey. Saying, "please give the baby half a spoon of this honey as soon as he opens his eyes." After a while, the baby began to open his eyes. Nancy saw that it had squinty eyes, just like his father. So she took the bottle of Honey and gave some to the child. No sooner had she give the baby the Honey, not only did the babies' eyes got alright and looked much healthier, happier, and started glowing like a gold ornament.
She couldn't help wondering what was in the Honey that made the child change so much, as she had never seen such a thing done before. So she looked to see if the others were looking, and when they were not noticing, she took a spoon of the same Honey.
As soon as she had done so, not only her age-old knee pain disappear, and she also felt much more energetic. Everything seemed changed about her. The cottage became warmer. She looked herself in the mirror, and she definitely looked younger and much more beautiful. Her hair was shining, and her skin glowed. She felt happier and so good inside like she had never felt. Nancy knew that she had got into trouble for stealing the Honey. But she said nothing to nobody and pulled her bonnet further down so that no one could notice the change in her. Soon, the lady was well enough to mind the baby by herself, and she asked the old fellow to take Nancy back to her home. So he came round to the door with the black horse with eyes of fire. Off they went as fast as before, or perhaps a little faster, till they came to Dame Nancy cottage, where the squinty-eyed old fellow lifted her down and left her, thanking her civilly enough and paying her more than she has ever been paid before for such services.
Now next day happened to be market-day, and as Nancy had been away from home, she wanted many things in the house and trudged off to get them at the market. As she was buying the things she wanted, who should she see but the squinty-eyed old fellow who had taken her on the black horse? And what do you think he was doing? He went about from stall to stall, buying things from each, some fruit, and some eggs, and so on.
Now Nancy did not think it her business to interfere, but she thought she ought not to let so good a customer pass without speaking. So she up to him and bowed a curtsey and said: "Good afternoon, sir, I hope that your good lady and the little one are as well as——"
But she couldn't finish what she was saying, for the funny old fellow looked back in surprise, and he says to her, says he: "What! You glow, and you look younger to me today?"
Nancy was embarrassed, for she knew she was caught for stealing the magic honey yesterday. So she tried to hurriedly cover up by saying, "I See you are busy in your bargain. I must leave you alone now, do convey my regards to the lady, Sir".
"Ah, so you did take quite a bit of that honey dear," said he; "now, pray, tell me if my guess us right?"
"Yes, I am sorry but, I was tempted," said she, with her head bowed down to the ground.
"The Honey! The Honey!" cried the old man. "Take that for meddling with what doesn't concern you: you shall not enjoy its effect anymore." And with that, he blew some powder from his palm at her face. She suddenly felt dizzy, and she held to the lamp post next to her to keep herself steady and closed her eyes. A few moments later, when she opened them, not only was she back in her old state, but her knee had gone much worst, and she had to walk with a limp, which she knew would not go at any cost. Nancy knew she was punished for using something that did not belong to her, which is called stealing.
The moral of the story never to steal, and stolen things bring harm to the one who has stolen them.
