Well," said
he, "I have lived more than seventy years, and have read all the books
in the world; I have practised magic and necromancy, and know all about
algebra and geometry, and yet, wise as I am, I never thought of this
little thing."

That is the way with your wise man.

"Pooh!" said Babo; "that is nothing. I know how to do many more tricks
than that."

"Do you?" said Simon Agricola; "then listen: to-morrow I am going out
into the world to make my fortune, for little or nothing is to be had in
this town. If you will go along with me I will make your fortune also."

"Very well," said Babo, and the bargain was struck. So the next morning
bright and early off they started upon their journey, cheek by jowl, the
wise man and the simpleton, to make their fortunes in the wide world,
and the two of them made a pair. On they jogged and on they jogged,
and the way was none too smooth. By-and-by they came to a great field
covered all over with round stones.

"Let us each take one of these," said Simon Agricola; "they will be of
use by-and-by;" and, as he spoke, he picked up a great stone as big as
his two fists, and dropped it into the pouch that dangled at his side.

"Not I," said Babo; "I will carry no stone with me. It is as much as my
two legs can do to carry my body, let along lugging a great stone into
the bargain."

"Very well," said Agricola; "born a fool, live a fool, die a fool.'" And
on he tramped, with Babo at his heels.

At last they came to a great wide plain, where, far or near, nothing was
to be seen but bare sand, without so much as a pebble or a single blade
of grass, and there night caught up with them.

"Dear, dear, but I am hungry!" said Babo.

"So am I," said Simon Agricola. "Let's sit down here and eat."

So down they sat, and Simon Agricola opened his pouch and drew forth the
stone.

The stone? It was a stone no longer, but a fine loaf of white bread as
big as your two fists. You should have seen Babo goggle and stare! "Give
me a piece of your bread, master," said he.

"Not I," said Agricola. "You might have had a dozen of the same kind,
had you chosen to do as I bade you and to fetch them along with you.
Born a fool, live a fool, die a fool,'" said he; and that was all that
Babo got for his supper. As for the wise man, he finished his loaf of
bread to the last crumb, and then went to sleep with a full stomach and
a contented mind.

The next morning off they started again bright and e