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3i4 BROTHER FROLICK'S ADVENTURES. |
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he went out, and travelled on for some distance, and there again was the fairy in the form of a discharged soldier like himself.
" Good evening, comrade," he said ; " could you give me a piece of bread, and a kreutzer to buy something to drink P
" Where am I to get it ?" answered Brother Frolick. " I had my discharge to-day, and they gave me a loaf of bread and four gold kreutzers. But I met three beggars on the high road, and I gave them each a fourth part of my bread and a kreutzer, and the last kreutzer I have just paid for something to drink with my last piece of bread. Now I am empty, and, if you also have nothing, we can go and beg together."
" No," answered the fairy, " we need not do that; I understand a little of medicine and surgery, and can soon earn as much as I shall want."
" Well," replied Brother Frolick, " I don't understand doctoring at all, so I must go and beg alone."
" No ; come with me," cried the other; " whatever I earn, you shall have half."
" That is good news for me," said Brother Frolick, so they went away together.
After a time, as they passed a peasant's house, they heard great cries and lamentations, so they went in, and found the husband very ill and at the point of death, and the wife weeping and howling with all her might.
"Leave off that noise," said the fairy; "I will soon cure your husband." Then he took some salve out of his pocket, and healed the man so quickly that he could stand up and was quite well.
The husband and wife joyfully thanked the stranger, and said, " What can we give you in return for this kindness ?"
But the fairy would name nothing, and, worse still, refused all they brought to him; and although Brother Frolick nudged him more than once, he still said, " No; I will take nothing—we do not want it"
At last the grateful people brought a lamb, and said that he must take it whether he would or not. Then Brother Frolick nudged him in the side, and said: "Take it, you stupid; you know we do want it."
Then the fairy said at last, " Well, I will take the lamb, but I cannot carry if j you must do that, if you want it so much." |
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