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THE YOUNG GIANT. 287 |
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carried the little creature away. The father who stood by could not utter a sound for fright, and thought that he had lost his child, and should never see him again as long as he lived.
The giant took the little dwarf to his home and gave him such wonderful food that he grew big and strong after the manner of giants. When two years had passed the giant took the boy into the wood, and said to him, "Cut a switch for yourself;" but the boy was so strong that he took a young tree and tore it up by the roots. The giant was not however yet satisfied; he took the boy home for another two years, and at the end of that time his strength was so great that he was able to pull up an old oak tree in the forest with ease.
But the giant considered he could make the boy still stronger, so he continued to feed him with giants' food, and at the end of another two years he led him to the forest and told him to break off a large bough for a switch. The young giant, however, pulled up the thickest trunk of a tree that he could find, and it was to him a mere trifle.
" That will do," said the giant, " your education is finished," and sent him back to the ploughed field from which he had taken him. His father was behind the plough, and the young giant going up to him said: " See, father, what a man your, son has become."
* No !" cried the father in terror, " you are not my son; I don't want you; go away from me."
" Indeed I am your son," he replied ; " let me do your work, I can plough as well as you and better."
" No, no !" he cried, " you are not my son; you cannot plough ; go away."
He was, however, in such terror of the big creature that he removed his hands from the plough and stepped out of his way. Then the youngster took hold of the handles of the plough and pressed them so heavily that the shares sunk quite deeply in the ground. The father seeing this, cried out, " If you will plough, you need not use so much force ; that will make the work bad."
The young man, without listening to his father, unyoked the horses and drew the plough himself, saying, " Go home, father, and tell my mother to get a plentiful dinner ready for me while I plough this piece of ground for you." |
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