Page:The Folk-Lore Journal Volume 6 1888.djvu/264

 256 sound, and will wake the watch, and you will fare ill; but take the wooden pole, beat a golden apple-tree, and then mind you come out immediately to me. If you do not obey me, I will not help you further." He said: "I will, fox; only that it may be mine to acquire the golden apple-tree, to purchase the vine. I am impatient to go to my father." He went into the garden and the fox stayed waiting for him outside. He passed the twelve watches and also arrived at the apple-tree. But when he saw the apple-tree, and the golden apples on the apple-tree, he forgot for joy where he was, and hastily took the golden pole to beat a golden apple-tree. As soon as he had stripped a golden branch with the pole, the golden branch emitted a whistling sound and woke the watch. The watch hastened up, seized and delivered him to the lord of the golden apple-tree.

The lord asked the simpleton; "How did you dare, and how were you able, to go into my garden, in face of so many watches of mine, to beat the golden apple-trees?" The simpleton said: "Thus and thus: my father's left eye weeps because a vine has been stolen from him, which poured forth a bucket of wine every hour. That vine is kept in such and such a garden, and the lord of the garden and the vine said to me: 'If you procure me the golden apple-tree which every twenty-four hours blooms, ripens, and produces golden fruit, I will give you the vine.' And therefore I have come to beat a golden apple-tree; to give the apple-tree for the vine; and to carry the vine to my father, that his left eye may not weep- And if you do not give me the golden apple-tree now, I shall come again to steal it."

The lord said: "It is good, if it is so. Go, you, and procure me the golden horse, which in twenty-four hours goes over the world. I will give you the golden apple-tree; give the apple-tree for the vine; and take the vine to your father, that he may weep no more."

Then he went outside, and the fox awaiting him said: "Now then, how is it!" "Not very well. The golden apple-trees are so beautiful that you can't look at them for beauty; I forgot myself, and couldn't take the wooden pole, as you told me; but took the golden pole to beat the golden apple-tree; the branch emitted a whistling sound, and woke the watch; the watch seized me, and delivered me to their lord, and the lord told me if i procured him the golden horse, which goes