Kaethe

I'm not sure I understand it. It's a simple story: Two sisters, Lizzie and Laura, and Laura is tempted to try the delicious fruits sole by the goblin-men who are animal-like. In exchange for a lock of her hair the goblin men give her all the most delicious fruits, quite a long list, and she eats, but thereafter falls into a decline. She longs for more such fruit, but doesn't hear the goblin-men any more. Then Lizzie, fearing that her sister is soon to die, goes to the goblin-men, and offers them a penny for their fruit. But they don't want to sell it, instead they squish it all over her face, but she won't open her mouth to taste it. Then she goes home, Laura licks her face, and in the morning is all healed.Well, apparently I understand it, but I don't get it. I don't grok. Beyond the lesson: sisters will save your life. But I can tell you this. I now have a fierce hankering for all kinds of fruits I don't know what they are, but man, did Rosetti make them sound tempting.Available online.