55
THE NINE PEA-HENS AND THE
GOLDEN APPLES
ONCE upon a time there stood before the palace of an
emperor a golden apple tree, which blossomed and bore
fruit each night. But every morning the fruit was gone,
and the boughs were bare of blossom, without anyone
being able to discover who was the thief.
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At last the emperor said to his eldest son, ' If only I
could prevent those robbers from stealing my fruit, how
happy I should be ! '
And his son replied, ' I will sit up to-night and watch
the tree, and I shall soon see who it is ! '
So directly it grew dark the young man went and hid
himself near the apple tree to begin his watch, but the
apples had scarcely begun to ripen before he fell asleep,
and when he awoke at sunrise the apples were gone.
He felt very much ashamed of himself, and went with
lagging feet to tell his father!
Of course, though the eldest son had failed, the second
made sure that he would do better, and set out gaily at
nightfall to watch the apple tree. But no sooner had he
lain himself down than his eyes grew heavy, and when
the sunbeams roused him from his slumbers there was
not an apple left on the tree.
Next came the turn of the youngest son, who made
himself a comfortable bed under the apple tree, and pre-
pared himself to sleep. Towards midnight he awoke, and
sat up to look at the tree. And behold ! the apples were
beginning to ripen, and lit up the whole palace with their
