A poor man had three sons. Two of them were very clever, but the youngest was thought to be rather foolish. When the father died, he left his sons one ox. The sons agreed that each of them should build a stable and that the ox should belong to the one whose stable he first entered.
The two older brothers built beautiful stables, quite good enough for a person to live in. But the youngest brother built only a little rough shed.
"The ox will surely go into one of our stables," said the older brothers. "They are so fine; our foolish brother's stable isn't fit for a pig to live in."
But when the ox was let loose, he passed by the two line stables and, much to the disgust of the two clever brothers, walked straight into the stable of the youngest brother.
"Now," said he, "I will take this ox to the fair and sell him. With the money I get, I will travel all over the world and have a fine time."
So saying, he tied a rope around the ox's horns and started off for the fair. As he was plodding along, a dreadful storm arose. The wind blew fiercelv and set the branches of an old willow tree swaying and creaking. The foolish fellow thought the tree was speaking to him.
"What was that you said? Do you want to buy my ox. Willow Tree?" he asked. The old tree creaked louder than ever.
"I don't quite understand you," said the foolish one, but I think you want me to tie the ox. Is that what you want ?" Again the old tree creaked.
"Yes, I am sure that is what you mean," and he tied the ox to the tree. "Now where is my money? " he asked. Once more the old tree creaked in the wind.
" Oh, you haven't any money to-day ? Well, never mind, I will come for it next week." So saying, the youngest brother returned to his home.
" Have you sold the ox?" asked one brother.
"I am sure you made a bad bargain," said the other.
"Yes, I sold the ox and I made a very good bargain," was the answer.
"For how much and to whom did you sell it?"
"For forty gold dollars; I sold the ox to an old willow tree."
" Let us see the money," said his brothers.
"I cannot do that. The willow did not have the money to-day, but will pay me next week."
" Ha! ha! ha! You will never get that money as long as you live. How foolish you are!"
But in spite of their teasing, the foolish fel- low was sure he would get his money. So the next week he again went to the old willow tree.
"I have come for my money, Mister Willow." But as there was no wind that day the willow made no answer.
"Don't you mean to pay me?" he shouted angrily. "Do yon think that is fair or just? I gave you my line ox and you give me nothing."
But not a branch of the willow tree creaked. This continued silence made the foolish fellow furious. He rushed at the innocent tree and struck the roots a few mighty blows with his sharp ax. Then he seized the branches and pulled with might and main. The old tree swayed and groaned and finally yielded slowly to the giant strength of the enraged man. It measured its length by the roadside, its roots turned high up in the air.
"There, lie there, you old thief!" panted the man, as he walked to the upturned roots to pick up his ax. But as he stooped, what do you think he saw right under where the tree trunk had just stood? A great pot of shining gold pieces!
"Ah, ha!" he cried, "I'll take my forty dollars out of that, and put the rest out at interest."
Then, hanging the pot on his ax handle and throwing his burden over his shoulder, the foolish brother set off proudly for home. When his clever brothers saw the gold, they were astonished.
"How much better we could spend this gold than that foolish fellow," they said between themselves. " Let us throw him into the river to-night," said one of them; "then the gold will be ours."
But the youngest, brother had very good ears. He heard all his older brothers said. So at night when it was dark and his brothers were asleep, he look his bag of gold and hurried off to the king to make complaint against his wicked brothers.
Next day he told the king the whole story, just as I have told it to you. The king's daughter, a beautiful princess, chanced to be sitting beside her father. When she heard the story and looked at the foolish fellow, she burst out laughing. And she laughed and laughed and laughed; it seemed g as though she conld iiever stop! Whereupon all the people at court cried out: "See, the princess laughs! The princess laughs!"
Then the king called the young man to him.
"My friend," he said, "for many years my daughter has been very sad. Nothing could make her smile even. So I have said that the man who first caused her to laugh should marry her and have half my kingdom. You have done this, and my promise shall be kept. But your wicked brothers shall be hanged."
Then the younger brother begged the king to spare his brothers' lives and let them come to court and live as servants. The king granted his request and the foolish brother married the beautiful princess, and reigned over half the kingdom.
