hat.'

'What is it?' asked the father.

'Well, we will take you in the forest, where you shall cut wood, and
then we will bind it up in bundles and sell it in the town.' So their
father let them do as they said, and they all made their way into the
forest; and as the old man was weak from lack of food his sons took it
in turns to carry him on their backs. Then they built a little hut where
they might take shelter, and set to work. Every morning early the father
cut his sticks, and the sons bound them in bundles, and carried them to
the town, bringing back the food the old man so much needed.

Some months passed in this way, and then the father suddenly fell ill,
and knew that the time had come when he must die. He bade his sons fetch
a lawyer, so that he might make his will, and when the man arrived he
explained his wishes.

'I have,' said he, 'a little house in the village, and over it grows a
fig-tree. The house I leave to my sons, who are to live in it together;
the fig-tree I divide as follows. To my son Peppe I leave the branches.
To my son Alfin I leave the trunk. To my son Ciccu I leave the fruit.
Besides the house and tree, I have an old coverlet, which I leave to
my eldest son. And an old purse, which I leave to my second son. And a
horn, which I leave to my youngest son. And now farewell.'

Thus speaking, he laid himself down, and died quietly. The brothers wept
bitterly for their father, whom they loved, and when they had buried him
they began to talk over their future lives. 'What shall we do now?' said
they. 'Shall we live in the wood, or go back to the village?' And they
made up their minds to stay where they were and continue to earn their
living by selling firewood.

One very hot evening, after they had been working hard all day, they
fell asleep under a tree in front of the hut. And as they slept there
came by three fairies, who stopped to look at them.

'What fine fellows!' said one. 'Let us give them a present.'

'Yes, what shall it be?' asked another.

'This youth has a coverlet over him,' said the first fairy. 'When
he wraps it round him, and wishes himself in any place, he will find
himself there in an instant.'

Then said the second fairy: 'This youth has a purse in his hand. I will
promise that it shall always give him as much gold as he asks for.'

Last came the turn of the third fairy. 'This one has a horn slung round
him. When he blows at the small end the seas shall be covered wit