The lad was very good-natured. “Very well,” said he, “I am willing”; and he arose and stretched himself and yawned, and then he was ready to set out.
The father put on his cap and took a staff in his hand, and then he was ready, too.
The two of them journeyed along together, in step and out of step, and after a while they came to a deep wood. When they were well into it, the father grew so weary that he had to sit down and rest.
“Oh! what have I done that I should have such a lazy son!” he cried.
At once a little old, wrinkled, weazened man, all dressed in green, with a green face, green hair, and a green beard stood before them.
“Why did you call me,” said he, “and what do you want?”
“I did not call you,” answered the man.
“But you did call me, for I heard you. Did not you call ‘Oh’? And that is my name.”
“I said, ‘Oh, what have I done to have such a lazy son,’” replied the man, “but I did not call you, for I did not know that was your name.”
The Green one looked closely at the lad. “Is he so lazy?” he asked. “He looks a stout, healthy fellow.”