The Book of Stories for the Story-teller

by Fanny E. Coe

Wondering Jack[9]

JAMES BALDWIN

The Brothers set out to seek their Fortunes

nce there was a poor farmer who had three sons—Peter, Paul, and Jack.

[9] A fairy-tale of Finland.

Now Peter was big, fat, red-faced, and slow; Paul was slender, awkward, and ill-natured; Jack was quick, and bright, and so little that he might have hidden himself in one of Peter's big boots.

The poor farmer had nothing in the world but a little hut that seemed ready to tumble down every time the wind blew. He worked hard, but it was all he could do to earn bread for his family.

The boys grew very fast, and by-and-by they were old enough to work. Then their father said to them, "Boys, I have taken care of you these many days when you were too little to take care of yourselves. Now I am old, and you are strong. It is time for you to go out and earn your living."