no harm came to the pear tree.

Now it happened that an Angel from heaven was sent down to test the
hearts of the three brothers. The Angel took the form of a beggar and
approaching the pear tree on a day when the oldest brother was guarding
it, he held out his hand and said:

"In heaven's name, brother, give me a ripe pear."

The oldest brother at once handed him a pear, saying:

"This one I can give you because it is mine, but none of the others
because they belong to my brothers."

The Angel thanked him and departed.

The next day when the second brother was on guard he returned in the
same guise and again begged the charity of a ripe pear.

"Take this one," the second brother said. "It is mine and I can give it
away. I can't give away any of the others because they belong to my
brothers."

The Angel thanked the second brother and departed.

The third day he had exactly the same experience with the youngest
brother.

On the following day the Angel, in the guise of a monk, came to the
brothers' house very early while they were still all at home.

"My sons," he said, "come with me and perhaps I can find you something
better to do than guard a single pear tree."

The brothers agreed and they all started out together. After walking
some time they came to the banks of a broad deep river.

"My son," the Angel said, addressing the oldest brother, "if I were to
grant you one wish, what you ask?"

"I'd be happy," the oldest brother said, "if all this water was turned
into wine and belonged to me."

[Illustration: _The Angel Took the Form of a Beggar_]

The Angel lifted his staff and made the sign of the cross and lo! the
water became wine from great wine-presses. At once numbers of casks
appeared and men filling them and rolling them about. A huge industry
sprang up with sheds and storehouses and wagons and men running
hither and thither and addressing the oldest brother respectfully as
"Master!"

"You have your wish," the Angel said. "See that you do not forget God's
poor now that you are rich. Farewell."

So they left the oldest brother in the midst of his wine and went on
farther until they came to a broad field where flocks of pigeons were
feeding.

"If I were to grant you one wish," the Angel said to the second brother,
"what would you ask?"

"I'd be happy, father, if all the pigeons in this field were turned to
sheep and belonged to me."

The Angel lifted his staff, made the sign of the cros