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NCE on a time there was a poor man who had three sons. When he died, the two eldest were to go out into the world to try their luck; but as for the youngest, they would not have him at any price.

"As for you," they said, "you are fit for nothing but to sit and hold fir tapers, and grub in the ashes, and blow up the embers; that's what you are fit for."

"Well, well," said Boots, "then I must e'en go alone by myself; at any rate, I shan't fall out with my company."

So the two went their way; and when they had travelled some days, they came to a great wood. There they sat down to rest, and were just going to take out a meal from their knapsack, for they were both tired and hungry. So as they sat there up came an old hag out of a hillock, and begged