t the peculiarity of their father's eyes, and as they could
not puzzle out the reason for themselves, they determined to ask their
father why he did not have eyes like other people.

So the eldest of the three went one day into his father's room and put
the question straight out; but, instead of answering, the man flew into
a fearful rage, and sprang at him with a knife. The young fellow ran
away in a terrible fright, and took refuge with his brothers, who were
awaiting anxiously the result of the interview.

'You had better go yourselves,' was all the reply they got, 'and see if
you will fare any better.'

Upon hearing this, the second son entered his father's room, only to be
treated in the same manner as his brother; and back he came telling the
youngest, the fool of the family, that it was his turn to try his luck.

Then the youngest son marched boldly up to his father and said to him,
'My brothers would not let me know what answer you had given to their
question. But now, do tell me why your right eye always laughs and your
left eye always weeps.'

As before, the father grew purple with fury, and rushed forwards with
his knife. But the simpleton did not stir a step; he knew that he had
really nothing to fear from his father.

'Ah, now I see who is my true son,' exclaimed the old man; 'the others
are mere cowards. And as you have shown me that you are brave, I will
satisfy your curiosity. My right eye laughs because I am glad to have a
son like you; my left eye weeps because a precious treasure has been
stolen from me. I had in my garden a vine that yielded a tun of wine
every hour--someone has managed to steal it, so I weep its loss.'

The simpleton returned to his brothers and told them of their father's
loss, and they all made up their minds to set out at once in search of
the vine. They travelled together till they came to some cross roads,
and there they parted, the two elder ones taking one road, and the
simpleton the other.

'Thank goodness we have got rid of that idiot,' exclaimed the two elder.
'Now let us have some breakfast.' And they sat down by the roadside and
began to eat.

They had only half finished, when a lame fox came out of a wood and
begged them to give him something to eat. But they jumped up and chased
him off with their sticks, and the poor fox limped away on his three
pads. As he ran he reached the spot where the youngest son was getting
out the food he had brought with him, and t