Page:Tales and Legends from the Land of the Tzar.djvu/256

240 of all kinds of treasures and good things; but no, he would have nothing.

"I don't want anything," he said.

"I shall marry him," the princess whispered to her father, "if he would care to have me!"

"Very well!" replied the king.

As for our friend he did not object in the least, but was delighted. The wedding was then prepared, and the news immediately spread all over the kingdom, so that when the great day arrived there was quite a crowd to see the bride and bridegroom.

From that day forth our friend, the truthful man, lived in the palace, was clad in royal garments, and dined at the king's table.

Time passed, and our friend asked the king and queen to let him go and have a look at his own country.

"I have an old mother living in the village from which I come, and I want to see her again."

"Let us go together," said the princess.

So they drove off in a lovely carriage and pair belonging to the king.

They drove and drove, and on their way they met the wretch who had knocked out our friend's eyes.

When the king's son-in-law saw him he stopped the carriage, and called out,—

"How are you, my brother? Have you forgotten me? Do you not remember the quarrel we had together about honesty and dishonesty? and you knocking my eyes out because I did not agree with you."