THE PLENTIFUL TABLECLOTH 339

The herdsman gave his youngest son the king’s message.

“The king, I see,” he replied, “is fond of a good bargain ;
he does not ask, he commands—and insists upon a fool
fetching him acorns of solid gold in return for promises made
of air. No, I shall not go.”

And neither prayers nor threats were of the slightest avail
to make him change his mind. At last his brothers pulled
him forcibly off the stove, put his coat on him and a new cap,
and dragged him into the yard, where they gave him a good
beating and drove him away, saying, ‘ Now, you stupid, lose
no time; be off, and be quick. If you return without the
golden acorns you shall have neither supper nor bed.”

What was the poor fellow to do? For a long time he
wept, then crossing himself he went in the direction of the
forest. He soon reached the dead stump, upon which his
cap still rested, and going up to the mother oak, said to her:

“O Oak Tree so green, and with acorns of gold,
In my helplessness I to thee cry ;
In Heaven’s great name now to beg I make bold,
My pressing needs pray satisfy.”

The oak moved, and shook its branches: but instead of
golden acorns, a tablecloth fell into the fool’s hands. And
the tree said, ‘‘ Keep this cloth always in your possession, and
for your own use. When you want a benefit by it, you need
only say:

“¢Q Tablecloth, who for the poor,
The hungry, and thirsty, makes cheer,

May he who begs from door to door
Feed off you without stint or fear.”