Page:The disobedient kids and other Czecho-Slovak fairy tales.pdf/46



After a while he came to the brook over which there was no bridge. Now what was he going to do? He was a wise, clever little chap and remembered that there was a big wooden spoon in the basket, so he reached for it and placing it on the water, it became a little boat on which he gaily crossed over, towing the basket after him.

When he came to the field where his father was plowing, he bagan to call from far off,

"Father, father, here I am with your dinner".

But the father did not hear the thin little voice. Besides he did not even know that a son had been born to him that morning, and then he would not have believed that a newly born son could take his father's dinner to him that same day.

Palecek kept on calling. When he stood at his father's feet, the father fumed to see where that buzzing sound came from. Then he saw the basket behind him, but did not see Palecek. The father stared at the wonderful basket that had come to the field all alone, as he thought. Then for the first time, he saw a little boy no bigger than a thumb. Imagine his surprise to see such a little boy. Had anybody ever seen one like him before? And then to hear him talk. It was such a cunning sound. He could not believe his ears when Palecek said, "I am your son!"