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went his way; and as the and wanted to leave his upon, the four brothers
eldest was hastening on a master, he gave him a met at the four cross-
man met him, and asked glass, and said, ’With this roads; and having
him where he was going, you can see all that is welcomed each other, set
and what he wanted. ’I passing in the sky and on off towards their father’s
am going to try my luck earth, and nothing can be home, where they told
in the world, and should hidden from you.’ him all that had
like to begin by learning The third brother met happened to them, and
some art or trade,’ a huntsman, who took how each had learned
answered he. ’Then,’ said him with him, and taught some craft.
the man, ’go with me, and him so well all that Then, one day, as they
I will teach you to become belonged to hunting, that were sitting before the
the cunningest thief that he became very clever in house under a very high
ever was.’ ’No,’ said the the craft of the woods; tree, the father said, ’I
other, ’that is not an and when he left his should like to try what
honest calling, and what master he gave him a each of you can do in this
can one look to earn by it bow, and said, ’Whatever way.’ So he looked up,
in the end but the you shoot at with this and said to the second
gallows?’ ’Oh!’ said the bow you will be sure to son, ’At the top of this
man, ’you need not fear hit.’ tree there is a chaffinch’s
the gallows; for I will only The youngest brother nest; tell me how many
teach you to steal what likewise met a man who eggs there are in it.’ The
will be fair game: I meddle asked him what he star-gazer took his glass,
with nothing but what no wished to do. ’Would not looked up, and said,
one else can get or care you like,’ said he, ’to be a ’Five.’ ’Now,’ said the
anything about, and tailor?’ ’Oh, no!’ said the father to the eldest son,
where no one can find young man; ’sitting cross- ’take away the eggs
you out.’ So the young legged from morning to without letting the bird
man agreed to follow his night, working backwards that is sitting upon them
trade, and he soon and forwards with a and hatching them know
showed himself so clever, needle and goose, will anything of what you are
that nothing could escape never suit me.’ ’Oh!’ doing.’ So the cunning
him that he had once set answered the man, ’that thief climbed up the tree,
his mind upon. is not my sort of tailoring; and brought away to his
The second brother come with me, and you father the five eggs from
also met a man, who, will learn quite another under the bird; and it
when he found out what kind of craft from that.’ never saw or felt what he
he was setting out upon, Not knowing what better was doing, but kept
asked him what craft he to do, he came into the sitting on at its ease.
meant to follow. ’I do not plan, and learnt tailoring Then the father took the
know yet,’ said he. ’Then from the beginning; and eggs, and put one on each
come with me, and be a when he left his master, corner of the table, and
star-gazer. It is a noble he gave him a needle, and the fifth in the middle,
art, for nothing can be said, ’You can sew and said to the
hidden from you, when anything with this, be it huntsman, ’Cut all the
once you understand the as soft as an egg or as eggs in two pieces at one
stars.’ The plan pleased hard as steel; and the shot.’ The huntsman took
him much, and he soon joint will be so fine that up his bow, and at one
became such a skilful no seam will be seen.’ shot struck all the five
star-gazer, that when he After the space of four eggs as his father wished.
had served out his time, years, at the time agreed
Extensive Listening & Reading | 67
