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　　Theoldwomannoddedherhead，andputthesackontheboy’sback，andtheywentdownthestreettogether，theoldwomanquiteforgettingtoaskMartintopayfortheapple。Martinstoodandwatchedthemastheywentalongtalkingtoeachother。

　　WhentheywereoutofsightMartinwentbacktothehouse。Havingfoundhisspectaclesunbrokenonthesteps，hepickeduphisawlandsatdownagaintowork。Heworkedalittle，butcouldsoonnotseetopassthebristlethroughtheholesintheleather；andpresentlyhenoticedthelamplighterpassingonhiswaytolightthestreetlamps。

　　’Seemsit’stimetolightup，’thoughthe。Sohetrimmedhislamp，hungitup，andsatdownagaintowork。Hefinishedoffonebootand，turningitabout，examinedit。Itwasallright。Thenhegatheredhistoolstogether，sweptupthecuttings，putawaythebristlesandthethreadandtheawls，and，takingdownthelamp，placeditonthetable。ThenhetooktheGospelsfromtheshelf。Hemeanttoopenthemattheplacehehadmarkedthedaybeforewithabitofmorocco，butthebookopenedatanotherplace。AsMartinopenedit，hisyesterday’sdreamcamebacktohismind，andnosoonerhadhethoughtofitthanheseemedtohearfootsteps，asthoughsomeoneweremovingbehindhim。Martinturnedround，anditseemedtohimasifpeoplewerestandinginthedarkcorner，buthecouldnotmakeoutwhotheywere。Andavoicewhisperedinhisear:’Martin，Martin，don’tyouknowme？’

　　’Whoisit？’mutteredMartin。

　　’ItisI，’saidthevoice。AndoutofthedarkcornersteppedStep&aacute；nitch，whosmiledandvanishinglikeacloudwasseennomore。

　　’ItisI，’saidthevoiceagain。Andoutofthedarknesssteppedthewomanwiththebabyinherarmsandthewomansmiledandthebabylaughed，andtheytoovanished。

　　’ItisI，’saidthevoiceoncemore。Andtheoldwomanandtheboywiththeapplesteppedoutandbothsmiled，andthentheytoovanished。

　　AndMartin’ssoulgrewglad。Hecrossedhimselfputonhisspectacles，andbeganreadingtheGospeljustwhereithadopened；

　　andatthetopofthepageheread’Iwasanhungred，andyegavememeat:Iwasthirsty，andyegavemedrink:Iwasastranger，andyetookmein。’

　　Andatthebottomofthepageheread’Inasmuchasyedidituntooneofthesemybrethreneventheseleast，yedidituntome’Matt。xxv。

　　AndMartinunderstoodthathisdreamhadcometrue；andthattheSaviourhadreallycometohimthatday，andhehadwelcomedhim。

　　thestoryofivanthefoolTHESTORYOFIV&Aacute；NTHEFOOL

　　ANDOFHISTWOBROTHERS，SIMONTHESOLDIERANDTAR&Aacute；STHESTOUT；

　　ONCEuponatime，inacertainprovinceofacertaincountry，therelivedarichpeasant，whohadthreesons:SimontheSoldier，Tar&aacute；stheStout，andIv&aacute；ntheFool，besidesanunmarrieddaughter，Martha，whowasdeafanddumb。SimontheSoldierwenttothewarstoservetheking；Tar&aacute；stheStoutwenttoamerchant’sintowntotrade，andIv&aacute；ntheFoolstayedathomewiththelass，totillthegroundtillhisbackbent。

　　SimontheSoldierobtainedhighrankandanestate，andmarriedanobleman’sdaughter。Hispaywaslargeandhisestatewaslarge，butyethecouldnotmakeendsmeet。Whatthehusbandearnedhisladywifesquandered，andtheyneverhadmoneyenough。

　　SoSimontheSoldierwenttohisestatetocollecttheincome，buthisstewardsaid，’whereisanyincometocomefrom？Wehaveneithercattle，nortools，norhorse，norplough，norharrow。Wemustfirstgetallthese，andthenthemoneywillcome。’

　　ThenSimontheSoldierwenttohisfatherandsaid:’You，father，arerich，buthavegivenmenothing。Dividewhatyouhave，andgivemeathirdpart，thatImayimprovemyestate。’

　　Buttheoldmansaid:’Youbroughtnothingintomyhouse；whyshouldIgiveyouathirdpart？ItwouldbeunfairtoIv&aacute；nandtothegirl。’

　　ButSimonanswered，’Heisafool；andsheisanoldmaid，anddeafanddumbbesides；what’sthegoodofpropertytothem？’

　　Theoldmansaid，’WewillseewhatIv&aacute；nsaysaboutit。’

　　AndIv&aacute；nsaid，’Lethimtakewhathewants。’

　　SoSimontheSoldiertookhisshareofhisfather’sgoodsandremovedthemtohisestate，andwentoffagaintoservetheking。

　　Tar&aacute；stheStoutalsogatheredmuchmoney，andmarriedintoamerchant’sfamily，butstillhewantedmore。Sohe，also，cametohisfatherandsaid，’Givememyportion。’

　　ButtheoldmandidnotwishtogiveTar&aacute；sashareeither，andsaid，’Youbroughtnothinghere。Iv&aacute；nhasearnedallwehaveinthehouse，andwhyshouldwewronghimandthegirl？’

　　ButTar&aacute；ssaid，’Whatdoesheneed？Heisafool！Hecannotmarry，noonewouldhavehim；andthedumblassdoesnotneedanythingeither。Lookhere，Iv&aacute；n！’saidhe，’givemehalfthecorn；Idon’twantthetools，andofthelivestockIwilltakeonlythegreystallion，whichisofnousetoyoufortheplough。’

　　Iv&aacute；nlaughedandsaid，’Takewhatyouwant。Iwillworktoearnsomemore。’

　　SotheygaveasharetoTar&aacute；salso，andhecartedthecornawaytotown，andtookthegreystallion。AndIv&aacute；nwasleftwithoneoldmare，toleadhispeasantlifeasbefore，andtosupporthisfatherandmother。

　　NowtheoldDevilwasvexedthatthebrothershadnotquarrelledoverthedivision，buthadpartedpeacefully；andhesummonedthreeimps。

　　’Lookhere，’saidhe，’therearethreebrothersSimontheSoldier，Tar&aacute；stheStout，andIv&aacute；ntheFool。Theyshouldhavequarrelled，butarelivingpeaceablyandmeetonfriendlyterms。ThefoolIv&aacute；nhasspoiltthewholebusinessforme。Nowyouthreegoandtacklethosethreebrothers，andworrythemtilltheyscratcheachother’seyesout！Doyouthinkyoucandoit？’

　　’Yes，we’lldoit，’saidthey。

　　’Howwillyousetaboutit？’

　　’Why，’saidthey，’firstwe’llruinthem。Andwhentheyhaven’tacrusttoeatwe’lltiethemuptogether，andthenthey’llfighteachother，sureenough！’

　　’That’scapital；Iseeyouunderstandyourbusiness。Go，anddon’tcomebacktillyou’vesetthembytheears，orI’llskinyoualive！’

　　Theimpswentoffintoaswamp，andbegantoconsiderhowtheyshouldsettowork。Theydisputedanddisputed，eachwantingthelightestjob；butatlasttheydecidedtocastlotswhichofthebrotherseachimpshouldtackle。Ifoneimpfinishedhistaskbeforetheothers，hewastocomeandhelpthem。Sotheimpscastlots，andappointedatimetomeetagainintheswamptolearnwhohadsucceededandwhoneededhelp。

　　Theappointedtimecameround，andtheimpsmetagainintheswampasagreed。Andeachbegantotellhowmattersstood。Thefirst，whohadundertakenSimontheSoldier，began:’Mybusinessisgoingonwell。To-morrowSimonwillreturntohisfather’shouse。’

　　Hiscomradesasked，’Howdidyoumanageit？’

　　’First，’sayshe，’ImadeSimonsoboldthatheofferedtoconquerthewholeworldforhisking；andthekingmadehimhisgeneralandsenthimtofighttheKingofIndia。Theymetforbattle，butthenightbefore，IdampedallthepowderinSimon’scamp，andmademorestrawsoldiersfortheIndianKingthanyoucouldcount。

　　AndwhenSimon’ssoldierssawthestrawsoldierssurroundingthem，theygrewfrightened。Simonorderedthemtofire；buttheircannonsandgunswouldnotgooff。ThenSimon’ssoldierswerequitefrightened，andranlikesheep，andtheIndianKingslaughteredthem。Simonwasdisgraced。Hehasbeendeprivedofhisestate，andto-morrowtheyintendtoexecutehim。Thereisonlyoneday’sworkleftformetodo；Ihavejusttolethimoutofprisonthathemayescapehome。To-morrowIshallbereadytohelpwhicheverofyouneedsme。

　　Thenthesecondimp，whohadTar&aacute；sinhand，begantotellhowhehadfared。’Idon’twantanyhelp，’saidhe，’myjobisgoingallright。Tar&aacute；scan’tholdoutformorethanaweek。FirstIcausedhimtogrowgreedyandfat。Hiscovetousnessbecamesogreatthatwhateverhesawhewantedtobuy。Hehasspentallhismoneyinbuyingimmenselotsofgoods，andstillcontinuestobuy。

　　Alreadyhehasbeguntouseborrowedmoney。Hisdebtshanglikeaweightroundhisneck，andheissoinvolvedthathecannevergetclear。Inaweekhisbillscomedue，andbeforethenIwillspoilallhisstock。Hewillbeunabletopayandwillhavetogohometohisfather。’

　　ThentheyaskedthethirdimpIvan’s，’Andhowareyougettingon？’

　　’Well，’saidhe，’myaffairgoesbadly。FirstIspatintohisdrinktomakehisstomachache，andthenIwentintohisfieldandhammeredthegroundhardasastonethatheshouldnotbeabletotillit。Ithoughthewouldn’tploughit，butlikethefoolthatheis，hecamewithhisploughandbegantomakeafurrow。Hegroanedwiththepaininhisstomach，butwentonploughing。Ibrokehisploughforhim，buthewenthome，gotoutanother，andagainstartedploughing。Icreptundertheearthandcaughtholdoftheploughshares，buttherewasnoholdingthem；heleantheavilyupontheplough，andtheploughsharewassharpandcutmyhands。

　　Hehasallbutfinishedploughingthefield，onlyonelittlestripisleft。Comebrothers，andhelpme；forifwedon’tgetthebetterofhim，allourlabourislost。Ifthefoolholdsoutandkeepsonworkingtheland，hisbrotherswillneverknowwant，forhewillfeedthemboth。’

　　SimontheSoldier’simppromisedtocomenextdaytohelp，andsotheyparted。