_Source_.--Henderson, _l.c._, first edition, pp. 327-9, by the Rev. S.
Baring-Gould.
_Parallels_.--Mr. Baring-Gould gives another version from the East
Riding, _l.c._, 329, in which there are three brothers who go through
the adventures. He also refers to European Variants, p. 311, which could
now be largely supplemented from Cosquin, i. 53-4, ii. 66, 171.
_Remarks_.--As an example of the sun-myth explanation of folk-tales I
will quote the same authority (p. 314): “The Master, who gives the three
precious gifts, is the All Father, the Supreme Spirit. The gold and
jewel-dropping ass, is the spring cloud, hanging in the sky and shedding
the bright productive vernal showers. The table which covers itself is
the earth becoming covered with flowers and fruit at the bidding of
the New Year. But there is a check; rain is withheld, the process
of vegetation is stayed by some evil influence. Then comes the
thunder-cloud, out of which leaps the bolt; the rains pour down, the
earth receives them, and is covered with abundance--all that was lost is
recovered.”
Mr. Baring-Gould, it is well-known, has since become a distinguished
writer of fiction.