Page:Tales and Legends from the Land of the Tzar.djvu/251

Rh fulness is there in this world? You get sent to Siberia if you are honest and tell the truth!"

"You see, my friend, I am right after all!" said the liar. "Every one thinks as I do, that it is better to live dishonestly."

"No," said the truthful man, "it is not better, and I do not intend to live dishonestly, to please any one. If any misfortunes happen to me—well, let them!"

After this the two men went off in search of work; they journeyed on together for some time. The dishonest man always knowing how to adapt himself to the company he was in, wherever he went he had plenty to eat and drink and nothing to pay; while the honest man had to work for every drop of water and morsel of bread he got—yet he did not grumble, he was perfectly satisfied.

The dishonest man meanwhile laughed to himself as he watched his companion.

When they had at last passed the village and reached the open country, where there were no inns or houses of any kind, the honest man became very hungry, and asked his companion to give him a morsel of bread, for he had plenty.

"But what will you give me for the bread?"

"Take whatever you like, though I have not much to lose."

"Well, then, let me put out your eye!"

"Very well, put it out!"

The horrid man did so, and gave him a very small piece of bread in return.

They went on and on, until the honest man again