“I am hungry,” said the gray man. “Have you not a bite or a sup to share with me?”
“Food I have and drink as well, but I am not such a simpleton as to give it away when I need all for myself.”
The lad went on to the place where he was going, and took his ax and began to chop, but scarcely had he begun when the ax slipped and cut his leg so badly that the blood ran, and he could scarcely get home again.
That was a bad business, for now both of the elder brothers were lame.
The next day the simpleton said he would go to the forest for wood.
“You, indeed!” cried his mother. “It is not enough that your two brothers are hurt? Do you think you are smarter than they are? No, no; do you stay quietly here at home. That is the best place for you.”
But the simpleton was determined to go, so his mother gave him an end of dough that was left from the baking and a bottle of sour beer, for that was good enough for him. With these in his wallet John started off, and after awhile he came to the forest, and there was the gray man sitting just as before.
“Good-day,” said the man.
“Good-day,” answered the simpleton.
“I am hungry,” said the gray man. “Have you not a bite or sup that you can share with me?”