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166 THE TAILOR'S THREE SONS. |
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nothing when compared with what T carry in my bag, even the wonderful things I have seen myself in the whole world, are nothing to it."
The landlord pricked up his ears, "What! could nothing in the world be compared to the contents of that bag r" thought he; " no doubt then it is full of precious stones, and I ought in fairness to have it with my other two prizes. All good things go in threes."
When bed-time came, the young man stretched himself on a bench and placed the bag under his head for a pillow. The landlord waited in another room till he thought the visitor was fast asleep, then he approached softly and tried in the most gentle manner to pull the bag from under the sleeper's head, intending to put another in its place. But the traveller was not asleep, he lay watching the innkeeper's movements, and just as he had nearly succeeded in pulling away the bag, he cried out suddenly, " Stick, stick, come out of your bag." In a moment the stick was on the thief's shoulders, thumping away on his back, till the seams of his coat were ripped from top to bottom. In vain he cried for mercy; the louder he screamed so much the stronger were the blows he received, till at last he fell to the ground quite exhausted.
Then the youth bade the stick desist for a time, and said to the innkeeper, " It is useless for you to cry for mercy yet. Where are the table and the golden ass that you stole? you had better go and bring them here, for if they are not given up to me we will begin the same performance over again."
"Oh, no, no r cried the landlord feebly, "I will give everything up to you directly, if you will only make that little imp creep back into the bag."
" I will do so," said the young man, "and I advise you to keep to your word, unless you wish for another thrashing—Into your bag, stick," he continued, and the stick obeyed, so the innkeeper rested in peace till the next day, when, still smarting with the chastisement he had received, he gave up the stolen goods to the owner of the bag.
The youth arrived at his father's house with the table and the donkey, and was received very joyfully. The tailor asked him about his trade, and whether he had brought home anything worth having, " J have a bag and a stick in it, dear father," he replied |
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