THE Two BROTHERS Ui

So he sat down, and felt warm directly he was near
them. But he dared not speak while they were silent.
What astonished him most was that they changed seats
one after another, and in such a way that each one passed
round the fire and came back to his own place. When
he drew near the fire an old man with long white beard
and bald head arose from the flames and spoke to him
thus : !

““Man, waste not thy life here; return to thy cottage,
work, and live honestly. Take as many embers as thou
wilt, we have more than we need.”

And having said this he disappeared. Then the twelve
filled a large sack with embers, and, putting it on the poor
man’s shoulders, advised him to hasten home.

Humbly thanking them, he set off. As he went he
wondered why the embers did not feel hot, and why they
should weigh no more than a sack of paper. He was
thankful that he should be able to have a fire, but imagine
his astonishment when on arriving home he found the sack
to contain as many gold pieces as there had been embers;
he almost went out of his mind with joy at the possession
of so much money. With all his heart he thanked those
who had been so ready to help him in his need.

He was now rich, and rejoiced to be able to provide for
his family. Being curious to find out how many gold pieces
there were, and not knowing how to count, he sent his
wife to his rich brother for the loan of a quart measure.

This time the brother was in a better temper, so he
lent what was asked of him, but said mockingly, ‘What can
such beggars as you have to measure?” ,