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164 the water; if it should swim, then have I earned it; but if it sink, then have I not earned it."

Thereupon he crossed himself and said,—

"Merciful heaven! if I have earned this penny, let it float on the top of the water; but if not, then let it sink to the bottom."

So saying, he threw the penny-piece into the stream; and lo! it sank to the bottom at once.

Then he stooped, took the penny out of the water, and brought it back to his master.

"Master," he said, "I bring you your money again, as I have not earned it; and I will serve you for another year."

And he began to serve as before; and when the year and a day were completed, he came again to his master, and asked him to pay him what he thought he had earned. The master again took out a penny and said to him,—

"There you have your wages."

The hind took the money, thanked his master, and went straight to the same rivulet, crossed himself, and threw the penny into the water, saying,—

"Merciful heaven! if I have rightly earned it, let this money float on the top of the stream; if not, then let it sink to the bottom."

But when he threw the coin into the stream, it sank