The Father of the Family
ONCE on a time there was a man who was out on a journey; so at last he came to a big and a fine farm, and there was a house so grand that it might well have been a little palace.
"Here it would be good to get leave to spend the night," said the man to himself, as he went inside the gate. Hard by stood an old man with grey hair and beard, who was hewing wood.
"Good evening, father," said the wayfarer. "Can I have house-room here to-night?"
"I'm not father in the house," said the greybeard. "Go into the kitchen, and talk to my father."
The wayfarer went into the kitchen, and there he met a man who was still older, and he lay on his knees before the hearth, and was blowing up the fire.
"Good evening, father," said the wayfarer. "Can I get house-room to-night?"
"I'm not father in the house," said the old man; "but go in and talk to my father. You'll find him sitting at the table in the parlour."
So the wayfarer went into the parlour, and talked to him who sat at the table. He was much older than either of the other two, and there he sat, with his teeth
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