'No,' answered he, 'that is no longer considered an honest trade; and
the end of that song would be that I should swing as the clapper in a
bell.'
'Oh,' said the Man, 'you need not be afraid of the gallows. I will
only teach you how to take things no one else wants, or knows how to
get hold of, and where no one can find you out.'
So he allowed himself to be persuaded, and under the Man's
instructions he became such an expert thief that nothing was safe from
him which he had once made up his mind to have.
The second Brother met a Man who put the same question to him, as to
what he was going to do in the world.
'I don't know yet,' he answered.
'Then come with me and be a Star-gazer. It is the grandest thing in
the world, nothing is hidden from you.'
He was pleased with the idea, and became such a clever Star-gazer,
that when he had learnt everything and wanted to go away, his master
gave him a telescope, and said--
'With this you can see everything that happens in the sky and on
earth, and nothing can remain hidden from you.'
The third Brother was taken in hand by a Huntsman, who taught him
everything connected with sport so well, that he became a first-rate
Huntsman.
On his departure his master presented him with a gun, and said: 'This
gun will never miss: whatever you aim at you will hit without fail.'
The youngest Brother also met a Man who asked him what he was going to
do.
'Wouldn't you like to be a Tailor?' he asked.
'I don't know about that,' said the young man. 'I don't much fancy
sitting cross-legged from morning till night, and everlastingly
pulling a needle in and out, and pushing a flat iron.'
'Dear, dear!' said the Man, 'what are you talking about? If you come
to me you will learn quite a different sort of tailoring. It is a most
pleasant and agreeable trade, not to say most honourable.'
So he allowed himself to be talked over, and went with the Man, who
taught him his trade thoroughly.
On his departure, he gave him a needle, and said: 'With this needle
you will be able to stitch anything together, be it as soft as an egg,
or as hard as steel; and it will become like a whole piece of stuff
with no seam visible.'
When the four years, which the Brothers had agreed upon, had passed,
they met at the cross-roads. They embraced one another and hurried
home to their Father.
'Well!' said he, quite pleased to see them, 'has the wind wafted you
back to me again?'
They told him all that had happened to them, and that each had
mastered a trade. They were sitting in front of the house under a big
tree, and their Father said--
'Now, I will put you to the test, and see what you can do.'