Page:Danish fairy and folk tales.djvu/363

This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.

THREE HAPPY TAILORS

leave behind him as much as a tired crow might perch upon. The king became terribly frightened, and was nearly choked in a fine piece of canary-bird steak; but as he found that defence would be of no use, he forwarded the table-cloth at once, and offered to the tailor, who proved himself such a mighty man, a position as chief commander of the government armies. The offer was accepted, and the tailor liked his new occupation, because he was never himself asked to fight, but able to let his soldiers do the acting. So he lived pleasantly all the rest of his days, and often visited the court, bringing with him the magic table-cloth, which gained for him the good-will and friendship of the king and all others. He died in old age, honored and beloved on account of his fine dinners; and the two other tailors often thought their comrade had taken the wiser course, and gained the greatest happiness.

I think so too.