42
THE GRATEFUL BEASTS
A CERTAIN man, who had lost almost all his money, resolved to set off with the little that was left him, and travel into the wide world. Then the first place he came to was a village, where the young people were running about crying and shouting. "What is the matter?" asked be. "See here," answered they, "we have got a mouse that we make dance to please us. Do look at him: what a droll sight it is! how he jumps about!" But the man pitied the poor little thing, and said, "Let the mouse go, and I will give you money." So he gave them some, and took the mouse and let him run; and he soon jumped into a hole that was close by, and was out of their reach.
Then he travelled on and came to another village, and there the children had got an ass that they made stand on its hind legs and tumble, and cut capers, at which they laughed and shouted, and gave the poor beast no rest. So the good man gave them some of his money to let the poor creature go away in peace.
At the next village he came to, the young people had found a bear that had been taught to dance, and they were plaguing the poor thing sadly. Then he gave them, too, some money to let the beast go, and the bear was very glad to get on his four feet, and seemed quite at his ease and happy again.
But he found that he had given away all the money he had in the world, and had not a shilling in his pocket. Then said he to himself, "The king has heaps of gold in his treasury that he never uses; I
