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The Rogue And The Herdsman |
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In a tiny cottage near the king's palace there once lived an old man,
his wife, and his son, a very lazy fellow, who would never do a
stroke of work. He could not be got even to look after their one
cow, but left her to look after herself, while he lay on a bank and
went to sleep in the sun. For a long time his father bore with him,
hoping that as he grew older he might gain more sense; but at last
the old man's patience was worn out, and he told his son that he
should not stay at house in idleness, and must go out into the world
to seek his fortune.
The young man saw that there was no help for it, and he set out
with a wallet full of food over his shoulder. At length he came to a
large house, at the door of which he knocked.
'What do you want?' asked the old man who opened it. And the
youth told him how his father had turned him out of his house
because he was so lazy and stupid, and he needed shelter for the
night.
'That you shall have,' replied the man; 'but to-morrow I shall give
you some work to do, for you must know that I am the chief
herdsman of the king.'
The youth made no answer to this. He felt, if he was to be made to
work after all, that he might as well have stayed where he was. But
as he did not see any other way of getting a bed, he went slowly in.
The herdsman's two daughters and their mother were sitting at
supper, and invited him to join them. Nothing more was said about
work, and when the meal was over they all went to bed.
In the morning, when the young man was dressed, the herdsman
called to him and said:
'Now listen, and I will tell you what you have to do.'
'What is it?' asked the youth, sulkily.
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Fairytales 
