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448 THE ROYAL TURNIP.
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the branch of the tree, pushed the bound body of his brother into a sack, and took to flight. The brother, however, struggled till he worked a hole in the sack, through which he could push his head. Just as he had done so, there came walking his horse along the road a travelling scholar, a young fellow full of life and joy, singing a song as he rode through the wood or on the highway. As he came near the sack where the poor farmer lay, a prisoner bound, the farmer called out, "I wish you good-day, traveller."
The scholar looked about in every direction to see where the sound came from. At last he said, "Who calls me?"
"Raise your eyes," cried the voice from above. "Here sits Wisdom in a sack. I have in a very little while learnt great things, in comparison to which all scholars are vanity; and I have ascertained also that everyone who climbs up here may quickly become wiser than other men. I understand the stars and the heavenly bodies, the way the wind blows, the sand of the sea, the healing of sickness, and the strength of vegetables, birds, and stones. Were you once in my position, you would feel how gloriously wisdom flows out of a sack."
The scholar, when he heard all this, was astonished, aud cried, "Blessed be the hour that we have met! Cannot I come into the sack for a little while now?"
This was just what he up above wanted ; so he said, "I will let you stay here for a little while presently as a reward for your kind words; but you can remain only an hour. I have learnt all I know in less time than that."
The scholar waited; but the time appeared so long to him that he begged to be allowed to go into the sack at once—his thirst for wisdom was so great.
The man in the sack hesitated a little longer, and at last said, "Well, then, let me down, and unbind me, and you shall get in."
The scholar lowered the sack, and set him free. "Now, then." he cried, " draw me up quickly," and prepared to step into the sack.
"Stop, stop!" cried the other; "not so fast. He seized him by the head as he spoke, stuck him into the sack head foremost, drew the string tight, and raised the searcher after wisdom to the bough of the tree till he swung in mid air. Then he said to him, "Stay there, my dear fellow, for a while. Do you not already feel |
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