One night, when the poor mother could not sleep, she took her beads and began to pray for her dear child, who gave her more than one care. Marienka was asleep by her side. As the mother gazed lovingly at her beautiful daughter, Marienka laughed in her sleep. "What a beautiful dream she must have to laugh in this way!" said the mother. Then she finished her prayer, hung her beads on the wall, laid her head on the same pillow with her daughter, and fell asleep. "My dear child," said she in the morning, "what did you dream last night that you laughed so?" "What did I dream, mamma? I dreamed that a nobleman came here for me in a copper coach, and that he put a ring on my finger set with a stone that sparkled like the stars. And when I entered the church the people had eyes for no one but the blessed Virgin and me." "My daughter, my daughter, that was a proud dream!" said the mother, shaking her head. But Marienka went out singing. The same day a wagon entered the yard. A handsome young farmer in good circumstances came to ask Marienka to share a peasant's bread with him. The mother was pleased with the suitor, but the proud Marienka refused him, saying, "Though you should come in a copper coach, and put a ring on my finger set with a stone that sparkled like the stars, I would not have you for a husband." And the farmer went away storming at Marienka's pride. The next night the mother waked, took her beads, and prayed still more earnestly for her daughter, when, behold! Marienka laughed again as she was sleeping. "I wonder what she is dreaming," said the mother, who prayed, unable to sleep. "My dear child," she said the next morning, "what did you dream last night that you laughed aloud?" "What did I dream, mamma? I dreamed that a nobleman came here for me in a silver coach, and that he offered me a golden diadem. And when I entered the church the people looked at me more than they did at the blessed Virgin." "Hush! you are blaspheming. Pray, my daughter, pray that you may not fall into temptation." But Marienka ran away to escape her mother's sermon. The same day a carriage entered the yard. A young lord came to entreat Marienka to share a nobleman's bread with him. "It is a great honor," said the mother; but vanity is blind. "Though you should come in a silver coach," said Marienka to the new suitor, "and should offer me a golden diadem, I would not have you for a husband." "Take care, my child," said the poor mother; "pride is a device of the Evil One." "Mothers never know what they are saying," thought Marienka, and she went out shrugging her shoulders. The third night the mother could not sleep for anxiety. As she lay awake, praying for her daughter, behold! Marienka burst into a loud fit of laughter. "Oh!" said the mother, "what can the unhappy child be dreaming now?" And she continued to pray till daylight. "My dear child," said she in the morning, "what did you dream last night?"