Page:The disobedient kids and other Czecho-Slovak fairy tales.pdf/47

 "Born this morning and bringing my dinner! You are a wonder, a very miracle of a son", laughed the father, as sitting down he began to eat his dinner.

While his father was eating. Palecek said that he would like to plow a bit for him. He also asked for the whip to drive the oxen.

"How can you drive the oxen, my little son, when you can't even carry the whip". laughed the father?

"I will make them go without a whip", answered the boy, as with one bound, he jumped on the nearest ox and crept into his ear. As he did so, he cried as loud as he could, "Hoi! Heiso! Hwi!"

The boy's voice sounded like thunder in the ear of that ox, as he started off in a mad race, dragging his mate with him. The oxen ran up and down, over that field so fast, that Palecek plowed more that noon than the father had the whole morning.

Around the field where Palecek was plowing, wound the main road. About that time a rich merchant, who had been to market, was on his way home. When he saw the oxen plowing alone, he was greatly astonished. He could hardly believe his eyes and went up closer to see what it all meant. Then for the first time, he heard the voice of Little Thumb urging them on. With amazement he listened to see where the voice came from. Then he heard it say, "Here I am in the ear of the ox".

Looking in the ear of the ox, there he spied Palecek. He was delighted with the little chap and wished that he might have him for his own. "Ha, ha", he said, "that's the lad for me. He's so small, that he won't eat very much." That suited him, for he was a very stingy man.