IVAN THE FOOL AND ST. PETER’S FIFE.

HERE was once upon a time a man
who had three sons, and two were
clever, but the third, called Ivan,
was a fool. Their father divided
all his goods amongst them and
died, and the three brothers went

out into the world to seek their fortunes. Now the

two wise brothers left all their goods at home, but Ivan
the fool, who had only inherited a large millstone, took
it along with him. They went on and on and on till it
began to grow dark, when they came to a large forest.

Then the wise brothers said: “ Let us climb up to

the top of this oak and pass the night there, and then

robbers will not fall upon us.’—“ But what will this
silly donkey do with his millstone?” asked one of

them.—‘ You look to yourselves,” said Ivan, “for I

mean to pass the night in this tree also.” Then the