Sotheoldwomanreturned，andfoundthemasterandthemistressdrinkingcoffee。Andwhenheheardwhatthegazellehadsaid，hecried:’Holdyourpeace，oldwoman，andstayyourfeetandcloseyoureyes，andstopyourearswithwax;andifthegazellebidsyoucometome，sayyourlegsarebent，andyoucannotwalk;andifitbegsyoutolisten，sayyourearsarestoppedwithwax;andifitwishestotalk，replythatyourtonguehasgotahookinit。’
Theheartoftheoldwomanweptassheheardsuchwords，becauseshesawthatwhenthegazellefirstcametothattownitwasreadytosellitslifetobuywealthforitsmaster。Thenithappenedtogetbothlifeandwealth，butnowithadnohonourwithitsmaster。
Andtearssprunglikewisetotheeyesofthesultan’swife，andshesaid，’Iamsorryforyou，myhusband，thatyoushoulddealsowickedlywiththatgazelle’;butheonlyanswered，’Oldwoman，paynoheedtothetalkofthemistress:tellittoperishoutoftheway。Icannotsleep，Icannoteat，Icannotdrink，fortheworryofthatgazelle。ShallacreaturethatIboughtforaneighthtroublemefrommorningtillnight？Notso，oldwoman！’
Theoldwomanwentdownstairs，andtherelaythegazelle，bloodflowingfromitsnostrils。Andshetookitinherarmsandsaid，’Myson，thegoodyoudidislost;thereremainsonlypatience。’
Anditsaid，’Mother，Ishalldie，formysoulisfullofangerandbitterness。Myfaceisashamed，thatIshouldhavedonegoodtomymaster，andthatheshouldrepaymewithevil。’Itpausedforamoment，andthenwenton，’Mother，ofthegoodsthatareinthishouse，whatdoIeat？Imighthaveeverydayhalfabasinful，andwouldmymasterbeanythepoorer？Butdidnottheelderssay，"Hethatdoesgoodlikeamother！"’
Anditsaid，’Goandtellmymasterthatthegazelleisnearerdeaththanlife。’
Soshewent，andspokeasthegazellehadbiddenher;butheanswered，’Ihavetoldyoutotroublemenomore。’
Buthiswife’sheartwassore，andshesaidtohim:’Ah，master，whathasthegazelledonetoyou？Howhashefailedyou？Thethingsyoudotohimarenotgood，andyouwilldrawonyourselfthehatredofthepeople。Forthisgazelleislovedbyall，bysmallandgreat，bywomenandmen。Ah，myhusband！Ithoughtyouhadgreatwisdom，andyouhavenotevenalittle！’
Butheanswered，’Youaremad，mywife。’
Theoldwomanstayednolonger，andwentbacktothegazelle，followedsecretlybythemistress，whocalledamaidservantandbadehertakesomemilkandriceandcookitforthegazelle。
’Takealsothiscloth，’shesaid，’tocoveritwith，andthispillowforitshead。Andifthegazellewantsmore，letitaskme，andnotitsmaster。Andifitwill，Iwillsenditinalittertomyfather，andhewillnurseittillitiswell。’
Andthemaidservantdidashermistressbadeher，andsaidwhathermistresshadtoldhertosay，butthegazellemadenoanswer，butturnedoveronitssideanddiedquietly。
Whenthenewsspreadabroad，therewasmuchweepingamongthepeople，andSultanDaraiaroseinwrath，andcried，’Youweepforthatgazelleasifyouweptforme！And，afterall，whatisitbutagazelle，thatIboughtforaneighth？’
Buthiswifeanswered，’Master，welookeduponthatgazelleaswelookeduponyou。Itwasthegazellewhocametoaskmeofmyfather，itwasthegazellewhobroughtmefrommyfather，andI
wasgiveninchargetothegazellebymyfather。’
Andwhenthepeopleheardhertheylifteduptheirvoicesandspoke:
’Weneversawyou，wesawthegazelle。Itwasthegazellewhometwithtroublehere，itwasthegazellewhometwithresthere。
So，then，whensuchanonedepartsfromthisworldweweepforourselves，wedonotweepforthegazelle。’
Andtheysaidfurthermore:
’Thegazelledidyoumuchgood，andifanyonesayshecouldhavedonemoreforyouheisaliar！Therefore，touswhohavedoneyounogood，whattreatmentwillyougive？Thegazellehasdiedfrombitternessofsoul，andyouorderedyourslavestothrowitintothewell。Ah！leaveusalonethatwemayweep。’
ButSultanDaraiwouldnotheedtheirwords，andthedeadgazellewasthrownintothewell。
Whenthemistressheardofit，shesentthreeslaves，mountedondonkeys，withalettertoherfatherthesultan，andwhenthesultanhadreadtheletterhebowedhisheadandwept，likeamanwhohadlosthismother。Andhecommandedhorsestobesaddled，andcalledthegovernorandthejudgesandalltherichmen，andsaid:
’Comenowwithme;letusgoandburyit。’
Nightanddaytheytravelled，tillthesultancametothewellwherethegazellehadbeenthrown。Anditwasalargewell，builtroundarock，withroomformanypeople;andthesultanentered，andthejudgesandtherichmenfollowedhim。Andwhenhesawthegazellelyingthereheweptafresh，andtookitinhisarmsandcarrieditaway。
Whenthethreeslaveswentandtoldtheirmistresswhatthesultanhaddone，andhowallthepeoplewereweeping，sheanswered:
’Itoohaveeatennofood，neitherhaveIdrunkwater，sincethedaythegazelledied。Ihavenotspoken，andIhavenotlaughed。’
Thesultantookthegazelleandburiedit，andorderedthepeopletowearmourningforit，sotherewasgreatmourningthroughoutthecity。
Nowafterthedaysofmourningwereatanend，thewifewassleepingatherhusband’sside，andinhersleepshedreamedthatshewasoncemoreinherfather’shouse，andwhenshewokeupitwasnodream。
Andthemandreamedthathewasonthedust—heap，scratching。
Andwhenhewoke，behold！thatalsowasnodream，butthetruth。
[SwahiliTales。]
HOWAFISHSWAMINTHEAIRANDAHAREINTHEWATER。
Onceuponatimeanoldmanandhiswifelivedtogetherinalittlevillage。Theymighthavebeenhappyifonlytheoldwomanhadhadthesensetoholdhertongueatpropertimes。Butanythingwhichmighthappenindoors，oranybitofnewswhichherhusbandmightbringinwhenhehadbeenanywhere，hadtobetoldatoncetothewholevillage，andthesetaleswererepeatedandalteredtillitoftenhappenedthatmuchmischiefwasmade，andtheoldman’sbackpaidforit。
Oneday，hedrovetotheforest。Whenhereachedtheedgeofithegotoutofhiscartandwalkedbesideit。Suddenlyhesteppedonsuchasoftspotthathisfootsankintheearth。
’Whatcanthisbe？’thoughthe。’I’lldigabitandsee。’
Soheduganddug，andatlasthecameonalittlepotfullofgoldandsilver。
’Oh，whatluck！Now，ifonlyIknewhowIcouldtakethistreasurehomewithme————butIcanneverhopetohideitfrommywife，andoncesheknowsofitshe’lltellalltheworld，andthenIshallgetintotrouble。’
Hesatdownandthoughtoverthematteralongtime，andatlasthemadeaplan。Hecoveredupthepotagainwithearthandtwigs，anddroveonintothetown，whereheboughtalivepikeandalivehareinthemarket。
Thenhedrovebacktotheforestandhungthepikeupattheverytopofatree，andtiedupthehareinafishingnetandfasteneditontheedgeofalittlestream，nottroublinghimselftothinkhowunpleasantsuchawetspotwaslikelytobetothehare。
Thenhegotintohiscartandtrottedmerrilyhome。
’Wife！’criedhe，themomenthegotindoors。’Youcan’tthinkwhatapieceofgoodluckhascomeourway。’
’What，what，dearhusband？Dotellmeallaboutitatonce。’
’No，no，you’lljustgooffandtelleveryone。’
’No，indeed！Howcanyouthinksuchthings！Forshame！IfyoulikeIwillswearneverto————’
’Oh，well！ifyouarereallyinearnestthen，listen。’
Andhewhisperedinherear:’I’vefoundapotfullofgoldandsilverintheforest！Hush！————’
’Andwhydidn’tyoubringitback？’
’Becausewe’lldrivetheretogetherandbringitcarefullybackbetweenus。’
Sothemanandhiswifedrovetotheforest。
Astheyweredrivingalongthemansaid:
’Whatstrangethingsonehears，wife！Iwastoldonlytheotherdaythatfishwillnowliveandthriveinthetreetopsandthatsomewildanimalsspendtheirtimeinthewater。Well！well！
timesarecertainlychanged。’
’Why，youmustbecrazy，husband！Dear，dear，whatnonsensepeopledotalksometimes。’
’Nonsense，indeed！Why，justlook。Blessmysoul，ifthereisn’tafish，arealpikeIdobelieve，upinthattree。’
’Gracious！’criedhiswife。’Howdidapikegetthere？ItISapike——youneedn’tattempttosayit’snot。Canpeoplehavesaidtrue————’
Butthemanonlyshookhisheadandshruggedhisshouldersandopenedhismouthandgapedasifhereallycouldnotbelievehisowneyes。
’Whatareyoustandingstaringatthere，stupid？’saidhiswife。
’Climbupthetreequickandcatchthepike，andwe’llcookitfordinner。’
Themanclimbedupthetreeandbroughtdownthepike，andtheydroveon。
Whentheygotnearthestreamhedrewup。
’Whatareyoustaringatagain？’askedhiswifeimpatiently。
’Driveon，can’tyou？’
’Why，IseemtoseesomethingmovinginthatnetIset。Imustjustgoandseewhatitis。’
Herantoit，andwhenhehadlookedinithecalledtohiswife:
’Justlook！Hereisactuallyafour—footedcreaturecaughtinthenet。Idobelieveit’sahare。’
’Goodheavens！’criedhiswife。’Howdidtheharegetintoyournet？ItISahare，soyouneedn’tsayitisn’t。Afterall，peoplemusthavesaidthetruth————’
Butherhusbandonlyshookhisheadandshruggedhisshouldersasifhecouldnotbelievehisowneyes。
’Nowwhatareyoustandingtherefor，stupid？’criedhiswife。
’Takeupthehare。Anicefathareisadinnerforafeastday。’
Theoldmancaughtupthehare，andtheydroveontotheplacewherethetreasurewasburied。Theysweptthetwigsaway，duguptheearth，tookoutthepot，anddrovehomeagainwithit。
Andnowtheoldcouplehadplentyofmoneyandwerecheeryandcomfortable。Butthewifewasveryfoolish。Everydaysheaskedalotofpeopletodinnerandfeastedthem，tillherhusbandgrewquiteimpatient。Hetriedtoreasonwithher，butshewouldnotlisten。
’You’vegotnorighttolectureme！’saidshe。’Wefoundthetreasuretogether，andtogetherwewillspendit。’
Herhusbandtookpatience，butatlengthhesaidtoher:’Youmaydoasyouplease，butIsha’n’tgiveyouanotherpenny。’
Theoldwomanwasveryangry。’Oh，whatagood—for—nothingfellowtowanttospendallthemoneyhimself！ButjustwaitabitandseewhatIshalldo。’
Offshewenttothegovernortocomplainofherhusband。
’Oh，mylord，protectmefrommyhusband！Eversincehefoundthetreasurethereisnobearinghim。Heonlyeatsanddrinks，andwon’twork，andhekeepsallthemoneytohimself。’
Thegovernortookpityonthewoman，andorderedhischiefsecretarytolookintothematter。
Thesecretarycalledtheeldersofthevillagetogether，andwentwiththemtotheman’shouse。
’Thegovernor，’saidhe，’desiresyoutogiveallthattreasureyoufoundintomycare。’
Themanshruggedhisshouldersandsaid:’Whattreasure？Iknownothingaboutatreasure。’
’How？Youknownothing？Whyyourwifehascomplainedofyou。
Don’tattempttotelllies。Ifyoudon’thandoverallthemoneyatonceyouwillbetriedfordaringtoraisetreasurewithoutgivingduenoticetothegovernoraboutit。’
’Pardonme，yourexcellency，butwhatsortoftreasurewasitsupposedtohavebeen？Mywifemusthavedreamtofit，andyougentlemenhavelistenedtohernonsense。’
’Nonsense，indeed，’brokeinhiswife。’Akettlefullofgoldandsilver，doyoucallthatnonsense？’
’Youarenotinyourrightmind，dearwife。Sir，Ibegyourpardon。Askherhowitallhappened，andifsheconvincesyouI’llpayforitwithmylife。’
’Thisishowitallhappened，Mr。Secretary，’criedthewife。
’Weweredrivingthroughtheforest，andwesawapikeupinthetopofatree————’
’What，aPIKE？’shoutedthesecretary。’Doyouthinkyoumayjokewithme，pray？’
’Indeed，I’mnotjoking，Mr。Secretary！I’mspeakingthebaretruth。’
’Nowyousee，gentlemen，’saidherhusband，’howfaryoucantrusther，whenshechatterslikethis。’
’Chatter，indeed？I！！Perhapsyouhaveforgotten，too，howwefoundalivehareintheriver？’
Everyoneroaredwithlaughter;eventhesecretarysmiledandstrokedhisbeard，andthemansaid:
’Come，come，wife，everyoneislaughingatyou。Youseeforyourself，gentlemen，howfaryoucanbelieveher。’
’Yes，indeed，’saidthevillageelders，’itiscertainlythefirsttimewehaveheardthatharesthriveinthewaterorfishamongthetreetops。’
Thesecretarycouldmakenothingofitall，anddrovebacktothetown。Theoldwomanwassolaughedatthatshehadtoholdhertongueandobeyherhusbandeverafter，andthemanboughtwareswithpartofthetreasureandmovedintothetown，whereheopenedashop，andprospered，andspenttherestofhisdaysinpeace。
TWOINASACK
Whatalifethatpoormanledwithhiswife，tobesure！Notadaypassedwithoutherscoldinghimandcallinghimnames，andindeedsometimesshewouldtakethebroomfrombehindthestoveandbeathimwithit。Hehadnopeaceorcomfortatall，andreallyhardlyknewhowtobearit。
Oneday，whenhiswifehadbeenparticularlyunkindandhadbeatenhimblackandblue，hestrolledslowlyintothefields，andashecouldnotenduretobeidlehespreadouthisnets。
Whatkindofbirddoyouthinkhecaughtinhisnet？Hecaughtacrane，andthecranesaid，’Letmegofree，andI’llshowmyselfgrateful。’
Themananswered，’No，mydearfellow。Ishalltakeyouhome，andthenperhapsmywifewon’tscoldmesomuch。’
Saidthecrane:’Youhadbettercomewithmetomyhouse，’andsotheywenttothecrane’shouse。
Whentheygotthere，whatdoyouthinkthecranetookfromthewall？Hetookdownasack，andhesaid:
’Twooutofasack！’
Instantlytwoprettyladssprangoutofthesack。Theybroughtinoaktables，whichtheyspreadwithsilkencovers，andplacedallsortsofdeliciousdishesandrefreshingdrinksonthem。Themanhadneverseenanythingsobeautifulinhislife，andhewasdelighted。
Thenthecranesaidtohim，’Nowtakethissacktoyourwife。’
Themanthankedhimwarmly，tookthesack，andsetout。
Hishomewasagoodlongwayoff，andasitwasgrowingdark，andhewasfeelingtired，hestoppedtorestathiscousin’shousebytheway。
Thecousinhadthreedaughters，wholaidoutatemptingsupper，butthemanwouldeatnothing，andsaidtohiscousin，’Yoursupperisbad。’
’Oh，makethebestofit，’saidshe，butthemanonlysaid:
’Clearaway！’andtakingouthissackhecried，asthecranehadtaughthim:
’Twooutofthesack！’
Andoutcamethetwoprettyboys，whoquicklybroughtintheoaktables，spreadthesilkencovers，andlaidoutallsortsofdeliciousdishesandrefreshingdrinks。
Neverintheirliveshadthecousinandherdaughtersseensuchasupper，andtheyweredelightedandastonishedatit。Butthecousinquietlymadeuphermindtostealthesack，soshecalledtoherdaughters:’Goquicklyandheatthebathroom:Iamsureourdearguestwouldliketohaveabathbeforehegoestobed。’
Whenthemanwassafeinthebathroomshetoldherdaughterstomakeasackexactlylikehis，asquicklyaspossible。Thenshechangedthetwosacks，andhidtheman’ssackaway。
Themanenjoyedhisbath，sleptsoundly，andsetoffearlynextmorning，takingwhathebelievedtobethesackthecranehadgivenhim。
Allthewayhomehefeltinsuchgoodspiritsthathesangandwhistledashewalkedthroughthewood，andnevernoticedhowthebirdsweretwitteringandlaughingathim。
Assoonashesawhishousehebegantoshoutfromadistance，’Hallo！oldwoman！Comeoutandmeetme！’
Hiswifescreamedback:’Youcomehere，andI’llgiveyouagoodthrashingwiththepoker！’
Themanwalkedintothehouse，hunghissackonanail，andsaid，asthecranehadtaughthim:
’Twooutofthesack！’
Butnotasoulcameoutofthesack。
Thenhesaidagain，exactlyasthecranehadtaughthim:
’Twooutofthesack！’
Hiswife，hearinghimchatteringgoodnessknowswhat，tookupherwetbroomandsweptthegroundallabouthim。
Themantookflightandrushedoftintothefield，andtherehefoundthecranemarchingproudlyabout，andtohimhetoldhistale。
’Comebacktomyhouse，’saidthecrane，andsotheywenttothecrane’shouse，andassoonastheygotthere，whatdidthecranetakedownfromthewall？Why，hetookdownasack，andhesaid:
’Twooutofthesack！’
Andinstantlytwoprettyladssprangoutofthesack，broughtinoaktables，onwhichtheylaidsilkencovers，andspreadallsortsofdeliciousdishesandrefreshingdrinksonthem。
’Takethissack，’saidthecrane。
Themanthankedhimheartily，tookthesack，andwent。Hehadalongwaytowalk，andashepresentlygothungry，hesaidtothesack，asthecranehadtaughthim:
’Twooutofthesack！’
Andinstantlytworoughmenwiththickstickscreptoutofthebagandbegantobeathimwell，cryingastheydidso:
’Don’tboasttoyourcousinsofwhatyouhavegot，One——two——
Oryou’llfindyouwillcatchituncommonlyhot，One——two——’
Andtheybeatontillthemanpantedout:
’Twointothesack。’
Thewordswerehardlyoutofhismouth，whenthetwocreptbackintothesack。
Thenthemanshoulderedthesack，andwentoffstraighttohiscousin’shouse。Hehungthesackuponanail，andsaid:
’Pleasehavethebathroomheated，cousin。’
Thecousinheatedthebathroom，andthemanwentintoit，butheneitherwashednorrubbedhimself，hejustsatthereandwaited。
Meantimehiscousinfelthungry，soshecalledherdaughters，andallfoursatdowntotable。Thenthemothersaid:
’Twooutofthesack。’
Instantlytworoughmencreptoutofthesack，andbegantobeatthecousinastheycried:
’Greedypack！Thievishpack！
One——two——
Givethepeasantbackhissack！
One——two——’
Andtheywentonbeatingtillthewomancalledtohereldestdaughter:’Goandfetchyourcousinfromthebathroom。Tellhimthesetworuffiansarebeatingmeblackandblue。’
’I’venotfinishedrubbingmyselfyet，’saidthepeasant。
Andthetworuffianskeptonbeatingastheysang:
’Greedypack！Thievishpack！
One——two——
Givethepeasantbackhissack！
One——two——’
Thenthewomansentherseconddaughterandsaid:’Quick，quick，gethimtocometome。’
’I’mjustwashingmyhead，’saidtheman。
Thenshesenttheyoungestgirl，andhesaid:’I’venotdonedryingmyself。’
Atlastthewomancouldholdoutnolonger，andsenthimthesackshehadstolen。
NOWhehadquitefinishedhisbath，andasheleftthebathroomhecried:
’Twointothesack。’
Andthetwocreptbackatonceintothesack。
Thenthemantookbothsacks，thegoodandthebadone，andwentawayhome。
Whenhewasnearthehouseheshouted:’Hallo，oldwoman，comeandmeetme！’
Hiswifeonlyscreamedout:
’Youbroomstick，comehere！Yourbackshallpayforthis。’
Themanwentintothecottage，hunghissackonanail，andsaid，asthecranehadtaughthim:
’Twooutofthesack。’
Instantlytwoprettyladssprangoutofthesack，broughtinoaktables，laidsilkencoversonthem，andspreadthemwithallsortsofdeliciousdishesandrefreshingdrinks。
Thewomanateanddrank，andpraisedherhusband。
’Well，now，oldman，Iwon’tbeatyouanymore，’saidshe。
Whentheyhaddoneeating，themancarriedoffthegoodsack，andputitawayinhisstore—room，buthungthebadsackuponthenail。Thenheloungedupanddownintheyard。
Meantimehiswifebecamethirsty。Shelookedwithlongingeyesatthesack，andatlastshesaid，asherhusbandhaddone:
’Twooutofthesack。’
Andatoncethetworogueswiththeirbigstickscreptoutofthesack，andbegantobelabourherastheysang:
’Wouldyoubeatyourhusbandtrue？
Don’tcryso！
Nowwe’llbeatyoublackandblue！
Oh！Oh！’
Thewomanscreamedout:’Oldman，oldman！Comehere，quick！
Herearetworuffianspommellingmefittobreakmybones。’
Herhusbandonlystrolledupanddownandlaughed，ashesaid:
’Yes，they’llbeatyouwell，oldlady。’
Andthetwothumpedawayandsangagain:
’Blowswillhurt，remember，crone，Wemeanyouwell，wemeanyouwell;
Infutureleavethestickalone，Forhowithurts，younowcantell，One——two——’
Atlastherhusbandtookpityonher，andcried:
’Twointothesack。’
Hehadhardlysaidthewordsbeforetheywerebackinthesackagain。
Fromthistimethemanandhiswifelivedsohappilytogetherthatitwasapleasuretoseethem，andsothestoryhasanend。
[FromRussicheMarchen。]
THEENVIOUSNEIGHBOUR
Long，longagoanoldcouplelivedinavillage，and，astheyhadnochildrentoloveandcarefor，theygavealltheiraffectiontoalittledog。Hewasaprettylittlecreature，andinsteadofgrowingspoiltanddisagreeableatnotgettingeverythinghewanted，asevenchildrenwilldosometimes，thedogwasgratefultothemfortheirkindness，andneverlefttheirside，whethertheywereinthehouseoroutofit。
Onedaytheoldmanwasworkinginhisgarden，withhisdog，asusual，closeby。Themorningwashot，andatlastheputdownhisspadeandwipedhiswetforehead，noticing，ashedidso，thattheanimalwassnufflingandscratchingataspotalittlewayoff。Therewasnothingverystrangeinthis，asalldogsarefondofscratching，andhewentonquietlywithhisdigging，whenthedogranuptohismaster，barkingloudly，andbackagaintotheplacewherehehadbeenscratching。Thishedidseveraltimes，tilltheoldmanwonderedwhatcouldbethematter，and，pickingupthespade，followedwherethedogledhim。Thedogwassodelightedathissuccessthathejumpedround，barkingloudly，tillthenoisebroughttheoldwomanoutofthehouse。
Curioustoknowifthedoghadreallyfoundanything，thehusbandbegantodig，andverysoonthespadestruckagainstsomething。
Hestoopeddownandpulledoutalargebox，filledquitefullwithshininggoldpieces。Theboxwassoheavythattheoldwomanhadtohelptocarryithome，andyoumayguesswhatasupperthedoghadthatnight！Nowthathehadmadethemrich，theygavehimeverydayallthatadoglikesbesttoeat，andthecushionsonwhichhelaywerefitforaprince。
Thestoryofthedogandhistreasuresoonbecameknown，andaneighbourwhosegardenwasnexttheoldpeople’sgrewsoenviousoftheirgoodluckthathecouldneithereatnorsleep。Asthedoghaddiscoveredatreasureonce，thisfoolishmanthoughthemustbeabletodiscoveronealways，andbeggedtheoldcoupletolendhimtheirpetforalittlewhile，sothathemightbemaderichalso。
’Howcanyouasksuchathing？’answeredtheoldmanindignantly。
’Youknowhowmuchwelovehim，andthatheisneveroutofoursightforfiveminutes。’
Buttheenviousneighbourwouldnotheedhiswords，andcamedailywiththesamerequest，tillatlasttheoldpeople，whocouldnotbeartosaynotoanyone，promisedtolendthedog，justforanightortwo。Nosoonerdidthemangetholdofthedogthanheturnedhimintothegarden，butthedogdidnothingbutraceabout，andthemanwasforcedtowaitwithwhatpatiencehecould。
Thenextmorningthemanopenedthehousedoor，andthedogboundedjoyfullyintothegarden，and，runninguptothefootofatree，begantoscratchwildly。Themancalledloudlytohiswifetobringaspade，andfollowedthedog，ashelongedtocatchthefirstglimpseoftheexpectedtreasure。Butwhenhehadduguptheground，whatdidhefind？Why，nothingbutaparcelofoldbones，whichsmeltsobadlythathecouldnotstaythereamomentlonger。Andhisheartwasfilledwithrageagainstthedogwhohadplayedhimthistrick，andheseizedapickaxeandkilleditonthespot，beforeheknewwhathewasdoing。Whenherememberedthathewouldhavetogowithhisstorytotheoldmanandhiswifehewasratherfrightened，buttherewasnothingtobegainedbyputtingitoff，sohepulledaverylongfaceandwenttohisneighbour’sgarden。
’Yourdog，’saidhe，pretendingtoweep，’hassuddenlyfallendowndead，thoughItookeverycareofhim，andgavehimeverythinghecouldwishfor。AndIthoughtIhadbettercomestraightandtellyou。’
Weepingbitterly，theoldmanwenttofetchthebodyofhisfavourite，andbroughtithomeandburieditunderthefig—treewherehehadfoundthetreasure。Frommorningtillnightheandhiswifemournedovertheirloss，andnothingcouldcomfortthem。
Atlength，onenightwhenhewasasleep，hedreamtthatthedogappearedtohimandtoldhimtocutdownthefig—treeoverhisgrave，andoutofitswoodtomakeamortar。Butwhentheoldmanwokeandthoughtofhisdreamhedidnotfeelatallinclinedtocutdownthetree，whichborewelleveryyear，andconsultedhiswifeaboutit。Thewomandidnothesitateamoment，andsaidthatafterwhathadhappenedbefore，thedog’sadvicemustcertainlybeobeyed，sothetreewasfelled，andabeautifulmortarmadefromit。Andwhentheseasoncameforthericecroptobegatheredthemortarwastakendownfromitsshelf，andthegrainsplacedinitforpounding，when，loandbehold！inatwinklingofaneye，theyallturnedintogoldpieces。Atthesightofallthisgoldtheheartsoftheoldpeoplewereglad，andoncemoretheyblessedtheirfaithfuldog。