the young man answered:

"The more I give to you, the less I have for myself. Be off with you."

Then he left the little gray man standing in the road, and went on his
way. But it was not long before he, too, was punished; for the first
stroke he aimed at a tree glanced aside and wounded his leg, so that
he was obliged to be carried home.

Then said the Simpleton: "Father, let me go to the wood for once. _I_
will bring you home plenty of fuel."

"Nonsense," answered the father. "Both your brothers have got into
trouble, and it is not likely that I am going to trust you."

But Johnny would not give up the idea, and worried his father, till at
last he said:

"Very well, my son, have your own way. You shall learn by experience
that I know better than you."

There was no rich cake for the simpleton of the family. His mother
just gave him a little loaf of dough and a bottle of sour beer.

No sooner did he reach the wood than the little gray man appeared.

"Give me a piece of your cake and a drink of your wine?" said he.

But the young man told him he had only a dough loaf and a bottle of
sour beer.

"Still," said he, "you are welcome to a share of the food, such as it
is."

So the two sat down together; but when Johnny took his humble fare
from his pocket, what was his surprise to find it changed into the
most delicious cake and wine. Then the young man and his guest made a
hearty meal, and when it was ended the little gray man said:

"Because you have such a kind heart, and have willingly shared your
food with me, I am going to reward you. Yonder stands an old tree: hew
it down, and deep in the heart of the roots you will find something."

The old man then nodded kindly, and disappeared in a moment.

Johnny at once did as he had been told, and as soon as the tree fell
he saw, sitting in the midst of the roots, a goose with feathers of
purest gold. He lifted it carefully out, and carried it with him to
the inn, where he meant to spend the night.

Now, the landlord had three daughters, and no sooner did they see the
goose than they wanted to know what curious kind of bird it might be,
for never before had they seen a fowl of any kind with feathers of
pure gold. The eldest made up her mind to wait for a good opportunity
and then pluck a feather for herself. So as soon as Johnny went out
of the room she put out her hand and seized the wing of the goose,
but what was her horror to find that she could not uncl