"Was I not wise, dear sister, to get such a good breakfast for us with so little trouble?"
But Marleen was not satisfied, and cried:
"Foolish boy! It was no ordinary fox whose foot you pulled out of the trap. If he could fill your pail with berries, just for the asking, he could do far greater things. You should have wished for something better. Go back into the forest, find the fox, and tell him that our cupboard must be always full of food whenever we are hungry."
"Be satisfied, dear sister," said Ludwig. "We are quite happy as we are. When we are again hungry I will go and find food in the forest as I have always done before."
"No, no, I will not be satisfied!" said Marleen. "You must do as I tell you;" and she gave her brother no peace until he went again into the forest.
"How now, little brother!" said the fox, when he saw Ludwig coming toward him through the trees; "is it not well with you?"
"Alas, my sister is not satisfied with the pail of berries," said
Ludwig.
"What would she, little brother?"
"That our cupboard should be always full whenever we are hungry."
"Go, little brother, it shall be as she wishes," said the fox.