Page:Hansel and Gretel and other stories.djvu/233

THE THREE MAGIC GIFTS LONG time ago, there lived a tailor who had three sons and one goat. As the goat had to feed them all with its milk, it was necessary that it should have good fodder and be taken out to the meadow to graze every day. The sons took it in turns to go with the goat. Once the eldest led it to the churchyard, where the best herbs grew, and let it graze and jump about there. In the evening, when it was time to come home, he asked, "Are you satisfied, goat?"

The goat answered:

"So come home," said the boy; and he put a cord round his neck and led him away and tied him up in the stable.

"Did the goat have its right fodder, and enough?" asked the tailor.

"Oh, yes," answered the son. "She is so full she couldn't eat another leaf." 229