him
Slyboots, and used to say to the brothers, "You two elder ones must earn
your living by your bodily strength and by the work of your hands, but
as for you, little Slyboots, you will be able to rise higher in the
world than your brothers, by your own cleverness."

Before the father died, he divided all his corn-land and meadows between
his two elder sons, but to the youngest he gave enough money to enable
him to go forth into the wide world to seek his fortune. But the
father's corpse was scarcely cold when the two elder brothers stripped
the youngest of every farthing, and thrust him out of the door, saying
mockingly, "Your cleverness alone, Slyboots, is to exalt you over our
heads, and therefore you might find the money troublesome to you."

The youngest brother scorned to notice the ill-treatment of his
brothers, and went cheerfully on his way. "Good fortune may come from
God," was the comforting reflection which he took with him from his
father's house, and he whistled away his sad thoughts. Just as he was
beginning to feel hungry, he encountered two travelling journey-men. His
pleasant countenance and cheerful talk pleased them, and when they
rested, they shared their provisions with him, so that Slyboots did not
fare so badly on the first day. He parted from his companions before
evening quite contented, for his present comfort left him without
anxiety for the morrow. He could sleep anywhere with the green grass for
a couch and the blue sky above, and a stone under his head served as
well as a soft pillow. Next morning he set out on his way again, and
arrived at a lonely farm, where a young woman was sitting at the door,
weeping bitterly. Slyboots asked what was her trouble, and she answered,
"I have a bad husband, who beats me every day if I cannot humour his mad
freaks. He has ordered me to-day to cook him a fish which is not a fish,
and which has eyes, but not in its head. Where in the world shall I find
such a creature?" "Don't cry, young woman," answered Slyboots. "Your
husband wants a crab, which is a water-animal to be sure, but is not a
fish, and which has eyes, but not in its head." The woman thanked him
for his good advice, and gave him something to eat, and a bag of
provisions which would last him for several days. As soon as he received
this unexpected assistance, he determined to set out for the royal
capital, where cleverness was likely to be in most request, and where
he hoped to make his fortun