96 FORTUNATUS.

never fail of yielding the same sum as long as it was kept by
him and his ‘children; but that when he and his children
should be dead, then the purse would lose its power.

 

Fortunatus now did not know what to do with himself for
joy, and began to thank the lady very much ; but she told him
that he had better think of making the best of his way out
of the wood. She then directed him which path to take, and
bade him farewells He walked by the light of the moon as
fast as his weakness and fatigue would let him, till he came
near an inn. But before he went into it, he thought it would
be best to see whether the lady Fortune had been as good as
her word ; so he put his hand into his purse, and to his great
joy he counted ten pieces of gold. Having nothing to fear,
Fortunatus walked boldly into the inn, and called for the best
supper they could get ready ina minute, “for,” said he, I
must wait till to-morrow before I am very nice. Tam so hungry
now, that almost anything will do.” Fortunatus very soon ate