to ask him yourselves."
So the second brother went in to the farmer and he had exactly the same
experience. When he came out he gave his older brother a wink and said
to Janko:
"Now it is your turn, Booby. Father is waiting for you."
So Janko went in to his father and said:
"You have told my brothers why one of your eyes is always laughing and
the other always weeping. Now please tell me for I, too, want to know."
In a rage the farmer snatched up the knife again and lifted his arm to
hurl it. But Janko stood perfectly still. Why should he turn and run
away as though he had done something wrong? He had only asked his father
a civil question and if his father did not wish to answer it, he could
tell him so.
The farmer when he saw that the boy was not to be frightened smiled and
laid the knife aside.
"Thank God," he said, "I have one son who is not a coward! I have been
waiting these many years to have my sons ask me this very question. My
right eye laughs because God has blessed me and made me rich and has
allowed my three sons to grow to manhood, strong and healthy. My left
eye weeps because I can never forget a Magic Grape-Vine which once grew
in my garden. It used to give me a bucket of wine every hour of the
twenty-four! One night a thief came and stole my Magic Vine and I have
never heard of it since. Do you wonder that my left eye weeps at the
memory of this wonderful Vine? Alas, the bucket of wine that used to
flow out of it every hour of the day and night--I have never tasted its
like since!"
"Father," Janko said, "dry your weeping eye! I and my brothers will go
out into the world and find your Magic Grape-Vine wherever it is
hidden!"
With that Janko ran out to his brothers and when they heard what he had
to say they laughed and called him, "Booby!" and asked him didn't he
suppose that they had already planned to do just this thing. Of course
they hadn't, but they were so jealous and ill-natured that they couldn't
bear the thought of his being the first to suggest anything.
"We mustn't lose any more time," Janko said.
"It doesn't matter how much time you lose, Mr. Booby! As for us we two
are going to start out to-morrow at sunrise."
"But, brothers," Janko begged, "please let me go, too!"
"No!" they told him shortly. "You can stay home and look after the
farm!"
But their father when he heard the discussion said, no, Janko was also
to go as he was the bravest of them all. After that the brothers,
because they didn't want their father to tell how they had been afraid
and run away, had to agree.
So the next morning early the three of them started out, each with a
wallet well-stocked with food.
"How are we going to get rid of the Booby?" the second one whispered.
"Trust me!" the oldest one whispered back with a wink.
Presently they came to a crossroads where three roads branched. Now the
oldest brother knew that after a short distance two of the roads came
together again. So he motioned the second brother slyly that he was to
take the middle road. Then he said:
"Brothers, let us part here and each take a different road. Do you
agree?"
"Yes," the other two said, "we agree."
"Then suppose Janko take the left-hand road."
"And I'll take the middle road," the second cried.
"And I," the eldest said, "will take the one that's left. So farewell,
brothers, and let us meet here in a year's time."
"God bless us all," Janko called out, "and grant that one of us may find
our dear father's Magic Grape-Vine."
The two older brothers of course met in a short time when their roads
joined and they had a good laugh to think how they had outwitted the
Booby.
"Time enough to look for that old Grape-Vine when we've had a little
fun!" the eldest said. "Let us sit down here and eat a bite and then
push on to the next village. There's an inn there where we can try our
luck at cards."
So they sat down by the roadside, opened their wallets, and laid out
some bread and cheese. Just then a Little Lame Fox came limping up on
three feet, and whimpering and fawning it begged for something to eat.
"Get out!" bawled the older brother and the second, picking up a handful
of stones, threw them at the Fox.
The little animal shied and then came timidly back, again begging for
something to eat.
"Let's kill it!" cried one of the brothers.
They both jumped up and tried to strike the little creature with their
sticks. The Fox limped off and they followed, hitting at it as they ran
and always just missing it. It was so weak and lame that they expected
every minute to overtake it and so kept on chasing it until it had led
them pretty far into the woods. Then suddenly it disappeared and there
was nothing left for the brothers to do but make their way back to the
roadside grumbling and cursing. In their absence some shepherd dogs had
found their open wallets and eaten all their food. So now they really
had something to curse about.
Janko meanwhile had been trudging along steadily on the third road. At
last when he began to feel hungry, he sat down by the wayside and opened
his wallet. Instantly the same Little Lame Fox came limping up and
whimpered and fawned and begged for something to eat.
"You poor little creature," Janko said, "are you hungry?"
He held out his hand coaxingly and the animal gave it a timid sniff.
"Of course I'll give you something to eat," Janko said. "There's enough
for both of us."
With that he divided his bread and cheese and gave the Little Fox half.
Then they ate together and the Little Fox allowed Janko to pat her head.
When they finished eating the Fox sat up on her haunches and said:
"Now, Janko, tell me about yourself. Who are you and where are you
going?"
The Fox seemed such a sensible little person that it didn't surprise
Janko in the least to have her sit up and talk. Janko's brothers would
have said that he hadn't sense enough to be surprised. But he had a good
heart, Janko had, and as you'll soon hear a good heart is a much better
guide for conduct than wicked brains.
Janko answered the Fox simply and truthfully. He told about his father
and his two brothers and about his father's weeping eye and the Magic
Grape-Vine for which he and his brothers were gone in search.
"You've been good to me," the Little Fox said. "You've shared your bread
with me and that makes us friends. So from now on if you'll be a brother
to me, I'll be a little sister to you."
Goodness knows Janko's own brothers weren't very good to him, but Janko
understood what the Little Fox meant and he agreed.
"Well then, brother," the Fox said, "I know where that Grape-Vine is and
I'm going to help you to get it. If you do just as I say I don't believe
you'll have any trouble. Now take hold of my tail and away we'll go."
So Janko took hold of the Little Fox's tail and sure enough away they
went. Whether they sailed through the air or just ran fleetly along the
ground I don't know. But I do know that they went a great distance and
that when they stopped Janko didn't feel in the least tired or
breathless.
"Now, my brother," the Little Fox said, "listen carefully to what I tell
you. The king of this country has a wonderful garden. In the midst of it
your father's Grape-Vine is planted. We are close to the garden now. It
is protected by twelve watches each of which is composed of twelve
guards. To get to the Grape-Vine you will have to pass them all. Now as
you approach each watch look carefully. If the eyes of all the guards
are open and staring straight at you, have no fear. They sleep with
their eyes open and they won't see you. But if their eyes are closed,
then be careful for when their eyes are closed they are awake and ready
to see you. You will find the Grape-Vine in the very center of the
garden. Standing near it you will see two spades, a wooden spade and a
golden spade. Take the wooden spade and dig up the Vine as quickly as
you can. Under no condition touch the golden spade. Now, Janko, do you
understand?"
Yes, Janko thought he understood. He slipped into the garden and the
first thing he saw were twelve fierce looking guards who were staring at
him with great round eyes. He was much frightened until he remembered
that the Little Fox had said that if their eyes were open they were fast
asleep. So he picked up courage and walked straight by them and sure
enough they didn't see him. He passed watch after watch in the same way
and at last reached the center of the garden. He saw the Grape-Vine at
once. There was no mistaking it for at that very moment it was pouring
out wine of itself into a golden bucket. Near it were two spades, Janko
in great excitement snatched up the first that came to his hand and
began to dig. Alas, it was the golden spade and as Janko drove it into
the earth it sent out a loud ringing sound that instantly woke the
guards. They came running from all directions with their eyes tightly
closed for now, of course, they were awake. They caught Janko and
dragged him to the king to whom they said:
"A thief! A thief! We found him trying to steal your Magic Grape-Vine!"
"My Magic Grape-Vine!" thundered the king. "Young man, what do you mean
trying to steal my Magic Grape-Vine?"
"Well, you see," Janko answered simply, "the Grape-Vine really belongs
to my father. It was stolen from him years ago and ever since then his
left eye has wept over the loss of it. Give me the Vine, O king, for if
you don't I shall have to come back and try again to steal it for it
belongs to my father and I have sworn to get it!"
The king frowned in thought and at last he said:
"I can't give away my precious Grape-Vine for nothing, young man, but I
tell you what I'll do: I'll give it to you provided you get for me the
Golden Apple-Tree that bears buds, blossoms, and golden fruit every
twenty-four hours."
With that Janko was dismissed and turned out of the garden.
The Little Fox was waiting for him and Janko had the shame of confessing
that he had forgotten the warning about the golden spade and had been
caught.
"But the king says he will give me the Grape-Vine provided I get for him
the Golden Apple-Tree that bears buds, blossoms, and golden fruit every
twenty-four hours."
"Well, brother," the Little Fox said, "you were good to me, so I'll help
you again. Take hold of my tail and away we'll go."
Janko took hold of the Little Fox's tail and away they went a greater
distance than before. In spite of going so quickly it took them a long
time but whether it was weeks or months I don't know. Whichever it was
when they stopped Janko didn't feel in the least tired or breathless.
"Now, brother," the Little Fox said, "here we are in another country
close to the king's garden where the Golden Apple-Tree grows. To reach
it you will have to pass twenty-four watches of twelve guards each.
Take care that you pass each guard as before when his eyes are wide open
and staring straight at you for that means he is asleep. When you reach
the Golden Apple-Tree you will see two long poles on the ground--a
wooden pole and a golden pole. Take the wooden pole and beat down some
of the golden fruit. Don't touch the golden pole. Remember!"
So Janko crept into the second garden and succeeded in passing all the
guards of the twenty-four watches when their eyes were wide open and
staring straight at him. He reached the Golden Apple-Tree and saw at
once the two long poles that were lying near it on the ground. Now
whether because he was excited or because he forgot what the Fox
said--he had a good heart, Janko had, but he was a little careless
sometimes--I don't know. But I do know that instead of taking the wooden
pole as the Fox had told him, he took the golden pole. At the first
stroke of the golden pole against the golden branches of the tree, the
golden branches sent out a loud clear whistle that woke all the sleeping
guards. Every last one of them came running to the Apple-Tree and in no
time at all they had captured poor Janko and carried him to their
master, the king.
"Trying to steal my Golden Apple-Tree, is he?" roared the king in a
great rage. "What do you want with my Golden Apple-Tree, young man?"
"Well, you see," Janko answered simply, "I have to have the Golden
Apple-Tree to exchange it for the Magic Grape-Vine that really belongs
to my father. It was stolen from him years ago and ever since then his
left eye has wept over the loss of it. Give me the Golden Apple-Tree, O
king, for if you don't I shall have to come back and try again to steal
it."
The king seemed impressed with Janko's words for after a moment he said:
"Janko, I can't give you the Golden Apple-Tree for nothing, but I tell
you what I'll do: I'll let you have it provided you get for me the
Golden Horse that can race around the world in twenty-four hours."
With that Janko was dismissed and turned out of the garden.
As usual the Little Fox was waiting for him and again Janko had the
shame of confessing that he had forgotten the warning about the golden
pole and had been caught.
"But the king says he will give me the Golden Apple-Tree provided I get
him the Golden Horse that can race around the world in twenty-four
hours. I wonder, dear Little Fox, will you help me again?"
"Yes, brother, I will help you again for you were good to me. Take hold
of my tail and away we'll go."
So Janko took hold of the Little Fox's tail and away they went. How far
they went and how long they were gone I don't know, but it was a great
distance and a long time. However they arrived without feeling in the
least tired or breathless.
"Now, brother," the Little Fox said, "this time listen carefully to what
I tell you. Here we are in another kingdom close to the king's own
stable where the Golden Horse is guarded by thirty-six watches of twelve
guards each. When night comes you must slip into the stable and pass all
those guards when they are asleep with their eyes wide open and staring
straight at you. When you reach the Golden Horse you will see hanging
beside him a golden bridle and a common bridle made of hempen rope. Slip
the hempen bridle over the Horse's head and lead him quietly out of the
stable. But mind you don't touch the golden bridle! This time don't
forget!"
Janko promised faithfully to remember what the Little Fox said and when
night came he crept into the stable and cautiously made his way through
the sleeping guards. He reached at last the stall of the Golden Horse.
It was the most beautiful horse in the world and the gleam of its
shining flanks was like sunshine in the dark stable.
Janko stroked its golden mane and whispered softly into its ear. The
horse responded to his touch and rubbed its muzzle against his shoulder.
Janko reached over to take the hempen bridle and then he paused. "It
would be an outrage," he thought to himself, "to put a common rope on
this glorious creature!"
Just think of it! For the third time Janko forgot the Little Fox's
warning! I have no excuse to make for him. I don't see how he could have
forgotten a third time! But he did. He took the golden bridle instead of
the hempen one and put it over the head of the Golden Horse. The Horse
neighed and instantly all the sleeping guards awoke and came running to
the stall. They caught Janko, of course, and when morning broke carried
him to their master, the king.
He questioned Janko as the others had done and Janko answered him
simply:
"You see I have to have the Golden Horse, O king, to exchange it for the
Golden Apple-Tree. And I have to have the Golden Apple-Tree to exchange
it for the Magic Grape-Vine that really belongs to my father. It was
stolen from him years ago and ever since then his left eye has wept over
the loss of it. Give me the Golden Horse, O king, for if you don't give
him to me I shall have to come back and try again to steal him."
"But, Janko," the king said, "I can't give you the Golden Horse for
nothing! But I tell you what I'll do: I will give him to you provided
you get for me the Golden Maiden who has never seen the sun."
With that Janko was dismissed and led out of the stable.
Janko really was awfully ashamed this time when he had again to confess
to the Little Fox that he had forgotten her warning and had touched the
golden bridle.
"Janko! Janko!" the Little Fox said. "Where are your wits! Now what
shall we do?"
Then Janko told the Little Fox of the king's offer:
"He will give me the Golden Horse provided I get for him the Golden
Maiden who has never seen the sun. Dear Little Fox, will you help me
this one time more? I know I am very stupid but I promise you faithfully
that this time I will not forget."
"Of course, brother," the Little Fox said, "I'll help you again. But
this will have to be the last time. If you forget this time I won't be
able to help you any more. Take hold of my tail and away we'll go."
So for the fourth time Janko took hold of the Little Fox's tail and away
they went. They went and they went--I can't tell you how far! But they
weren't tired when they arrived, they weren't even breathless.
"Now, brother," the Little Fox said, "listen carefully to what I tell
you. Here we are in another kingdom close to a great cavern where for
sixteen years the Golden Maiden has been kept a prisoner under the
enchantment of her wicked mother and never allowed to see the golden
light of the sun. There are forty-eight chambers in the cavern and each
chamber is guarded by a watch of twelve guards. Steal softly through
each chamber when the eyes of all the guards are wide open and staring
straight at you. In the last chamber of all you will find the Golden
Maiden playing in her Golden Cradle. Over the Cradle stands a fearful
ghost who will cry out to you to go away and threaten to kill you. But
don't be afraid. It is only an empty ghost which the wicked mother has
placed there to frighten men off from rescuing the Golden Maiden. Take
the Golden Maiden by the hand, put the Golden Cradle on your shoulder,
and hurry back to me. But one thing: As you leave each chamber be sure
to lock the door after you so that the guards when they wake cannot
follow you."
Janko crept into the cavern and cautiously made his way from chamber to
chamber through the wide-eyed guards. In the forty-eighth chamber he
found the Golden Maiden playing in her Golden Cradle. He ran to take her
when a horrible creature rose above the Cradle and in hollow tones
cried: "Back! Back! Back!" For a moment Janko was frightened, then he
remembered that the awful creature was only an empty ghost. So he went
boldly up to the Golden Cradle and sure enough the ghost faded away.
"You have come to rescue me, haven't you?" the Golden Maiden cried.
She gave Janko her hand and he helped her to her feet. Then he put the
Golden Cradle on his shoulder and together they hurried out from chamber
to chamber. And I am happy to tell you that this time Janko remembered
the Little Fox's warning and locked the door of every chamber as they
left it. So they reached the upper world safely and found the Little Fox
waiting for them.
"There's no time to lose," the Little Fox said. "Put the Cradle across
my back, Janko, and take hold of my tail with one hand and give your
other hand to the Golden Maiden and away we'll go."
Janko did as the Little Fox said and away they all three went.
When they reached the stable of the Golden Horse, the Little Fox said:
"It doesn't seem right to give the Golden Maiden to the king of the
Golden Horse unless she wants us to, does it?"
The Golden Maiden at once begged them to keep her.
"Don't give me to the king of the Golden Horse!" she said. "I want to
stay with Janko who has rescued me!"
"But unless I give up the Golden Maiden," Janko asked, "how can I get
the Golden Horse?"
"Perhaps I can help you," the Little Fox said. "Perhaps I can enchant
myself into looking like the Golden Maiden."
With that the Little Fox leaped up in the air, turned this way and that,
and lo! you might have thought her the Golden Maiden except that her
eyes were still fox's eyes.
"Now leave the Maiden outside here hidden in her Golden Cradle and take
me in to the master of the stable. Exchange me for the Golden Horse and
make off at once. Then pick up the Golden Maiden in her Golden Cradle
and ride away and soon I'll join you."
Janko did this very thing. He took in the fox maiden and exchanged her
for the Golden Horse and instantly rode off as the Little Fox had told
him.
The king of the stable at once called all his courtiers together and
showed them the fox maiden.
"See," he said, "this is the Golden Maiden who has never seen the sun!
She is the most beautiful maiden in the world and she now belongs to
me!"
The courtiers looked at her and admired her, but one of them a little
keener than the others said:
"Yes, she's very beautiful and all that but look at her eyes. They don't
look like maiden's eyes but like fox's eyes!"
Instantly at the word _fox_ the false maiden turned to a fox and went
scampering off.
"See what you've done!" cried the king in a fury. "You have changed my
Golden Maiden into a fox with your nonsense! You shall pay for this with
your life!" And he had him executed at once.
The Little Fox meantime had caught up with Janko and the Golden Maiden
and the Golden Horse. As they neared the garden of the king of the
Golden Apple-Tree the Fox said:
"It would be a pity to give away the Golden Horse. Rightly it belongs to
the Golden Maiden and was taken from her by her wicked mother."
"Don't give my Golden Horse away!" the Golden Maiden begged.
"But how else can I get the Golden Apple-Tree?" Janko asked.
"Perhaps I can help you," the Little Fox said. "Perhaps I can enchant
myself into looking like the Golden Horse."
With that the Little Fox leaped up in the air, turned this way and that,
and lo! you might have thought her the Golden Horse except that her tail
was still a fox's tail.
When they reached the garden of the Golden Apple-Tree, Janko left the
Golden Horse and the Golden Maiden outside and took the fox horse in to
the king.
The king was delighted and at once had his servants deliver to Janko the
Golden Apple-Tree.
When Janko was safely gone, the king called all his courtiers together
and showed them the fox horse.
"See my Golden Horse!" he said. "Isn't it the most beautiful horse in
the world!"
"It is! It is!" they all told him.
But one courtier, a little keener than the rest, remarked:
"What a curious tail for a horse to have! It is like a fox's tail!"
At the word _fox_ the false horse changed back into a fox and went
scampering off.
"See what you've done with your nonsense!" cried the king. "You have
lost me my Golden Horse and now you shall lose your own life!" And he
ordered the courtier to be executed at once.
The Fox soon caught up with the real Golden Horse and with Janko and the
Golden Maiden who were holding in their arms the Golden Cradle and the
Golden Apple-Tree.
"It will never do to give up the Golden Apple-Tree," the Fox said, "for
it, too, rightly belongs to the Golden Maiden. I'll have to see again if
I can help you."
So when they neared the garden of the Magic Grape-Vine, the Little Fox
leaped in the air, turned this way; and that, and lo! you might have
thought her the Golden Apple-Tree except that her fruit instead of being
round was long and pointed like a fox's head.
[Illustration: _The Golden Maiden, the Farmer and the Empty Ghost_]
Janko gave the king the fox tree and received in return the Magic
Grape-Vine that really belonged to his father and not to the king at
all. He hurried back to the Golden Maiden who was waiting for him with
the Golden Horse and the Golden Apple-Tree and the Golden Cradle and off
they all went.
The king was delighted with his fox tree and called his courtiers to
come and admire it.
"Beautiful! Beautiful!" they all said, and one of them examining the
fruit carefully remarked:
"But see these apples! They are not round like apples but long and
pointed like a fox's head!"
He had no sooner said the word _fox_ than the tree turned into a fox and
went scampering off.
"See what you've done with your nonsense!" cried the king. "You have
lost me my Golden Apple-Tree and now I shall lose you your head!" And he
ordered the courtier to be executed at once.
When the Fox caught up with the Golden Horse, she said to Janko:
"Now, my brother, it is time for us to part. You have the Magic
Grape-Vine and soon your father's left eye will no longer weep. Besides,
you are carrying home the Golden Maiden on her own Golden Horse and with
her Golden Apple-Tree and her Golden Cradle. God has blessed you in your
undertaking and will continue to bless you so long as you are good and
kind. Farewell now and think sometimes of your sister, the Little Lame
Fox."