'I see you don't quite like my sister's gift; but you may be sure
she would not have promised it if it had not been a good gift,
after you have been so kind to us; and when it comes true, it will
somehow all turn out very nice and right. But now, meantime, that I
may not similarly disappoint you with my gift by choosing it for you,
I shall let you choose it for yourself; so say, what shall it be?'
Scioccolone was almost as much embarrassed with the second fairy's
permission of choosing for himself as he had been with the first
fairy's choice for him. First he grinned, and then he twisted his
great awkward mouth about, and then he grinned again, till, at last,
ashamed of keeping the fairies waiting so long for his answer, he said,
with another grin:--
'Well, to tell you what I should really like, it would be that when
I have finished making up my faggot of logs this evening, instead of
having to stagger home carrying it, it should roll along by itself,
and then I get astride of it, and that it should carry me.'
'That would be fine!' he added, and he grinned again as he thought
of the fun it would be to be carried home by the load of logs instead
of carrying the load as he had been wont.
'Certainly! That wish is granted,' replied the second fairy
readily. 'You will find it all happen just as you have described.'