troubles disturbed the king so much, that he couldn't get
them out of his head. Although he was not a very great monarch, yet he
was as obstinate as the Emperor of China himself. So one fine day he hit
upon this wise plan. He caused an enormous placard to be prepared, with
the royal arms magnificently displayed at the top; and in it he
promised, to whoever would cut down the troublesome oak-tree, and dig
him a satisfactory well, no less rewards than the hand of his only
daughter, and the half of his kingdom. This placard was posted up on the
palace-gate, and copies all over the kingdom. Now, as the princess was
as beautiful as the morning, and the half of a kingdom by no means to be
despised, the offer was enough to tempt any one; and there shortly came
to the palace, from Sweden and Norway, from Denmark and Russia, from the
continent and from the islands, a host of sturdy suitors, with axe on
shoulder and pick in hand, ready to undertake the task. But all that
they hacked and hewed, picked and hollowed, was labor lost. At every
stroke the oak grew harder, and the granite no softer; so that the most
persevering had at last to give up in despair.

II.

One fine day, about this time, when everybody all over the land was
talking of this wonderful affair, and everybody's head was full of it,
our three brothers began to ask each other why, since their father
wished them to do so, they shouldn't go out into the world to seek their
fortune. They didn't hope for any great success, nor did they expect the
hand of the princess, or the half of the kingdom. All they wished for
was a good place and a kind master; and who could say they wouldn't find
them both somewhere at the court? So they decided to try their luck; and
after receiving the blessing of their good father, they started off,
with stout hearts, on their way to the king's palace.

Whilst the two older brothers were slowly trudging along, Thumbling
scampered up and down the road like a wild thing, running backwards and
forwards like a sportive dog, spying here, there, and everywhere, and
noticing everything that was to be noticed. Nothing was too small for
his sharp little eyes, and he kept constantly stopping his brothers to
ask the why and the wherefore of everything: why the bees dived into the
fragrant flower-cups? why the swallows skimmed along the rivers? why the
butterflies zigzagged capriciously along the fields? To all these
questions Peter only answered with