, shaking his head. "Well, put it away for a
keepsake."

The kerchief of the second had cost a few cents more.

"A little better," the old man mumbled. "Perhaps it's good enough for
a farmer. And now," he said, turning to his youngest son, "let us see
what Kubik has brought from his promised bride."

They all looked at Kubik, and Kubik blushed as he pulled out a parcel
from under his shirt.

"Ho, ho!" his brothers laughed. "Kubik has such a fine kerchief that
he has to keep it wrapped up in paper!"

But when Kubik opened the paper they stopped laughing, and well they
might, for there was a silken kerchief so big that it could have
covered the whole room and so richly embroidered that any princess in
the world would have been proud to own it.

"Kubik!" the farmer cried when at last he was able to speak, "where
did you get that kerchief? You must have stolen it, you wicked boy!"
And without waiting to hear what Kubik had to say, he reached down the
whip again and trounced the poor boy to within an inch of his life.
Then he took the kerchief and hid it carefully away.

"Now, my sons," he said, "you will all have to make another trial.
But this time it will not be for a ring or a kerchief. This time bring
home your brides and he whose bride is the most beautiful shall be my
heir."

So the next day the three sons again started out, each in a different
direction.

"I don't want to see Kachenka again," poor Kubik said to himself.
"Twice I've brought back the best betrothal gift and each time I've
got a beating for it. I wonder what they would say if I brought home a
frog for a bride! Then they would have something to laugh at!"

So he took a different path through the forest but again he hadn't
gone far before the old frog hopped up in front of him. This time
Kubik turned and ran. The old frog called after him but the louder she
called the faster he ran.

He ran on and on until suddenly a great snake stopped him. The snake
reared high its head, then dropped into a coil. Again it reared up and
swayed from side to side threatening to strike if Kubik went on. So
Kubik saw that fate was determined that he should marry a frog and
reluctantly he turned back.

The snake led him to the cliff, where the old frog greeted him kindly
and thanked the snake for his faithful service.

Poor Kubik! He was very tired and very unhappy. When you come to think
of it, who wouldn't be unhappy at the prospect of being united for
lif