Once there were three brothers whose father gave each of them a loaf of bread and sent them to seek their fortune. When they were a good way from home, and began to feel hungry, the two elder brothers said to the youngest, whom they had always taken for a simpleton, “Let us first eat your bread, and then we will give you some of ours.”
The youngest willingly shared his bread with them; but on the next day, when it was time to eat, the two brothers ate their bread comfortably without offering the other a single bit.
“Well, why don’t you give me a piece of bread, when you have eaten mine all up?” he asked, and received the answer:
“If you want to get anything from us you must let us put out your eyes, that we may go around with you begging and so earn our bread.”
What could the poor wretch do? He was tortured with hunger, so he allowed them to put out his eyes. But the brothers led him out among the high mountains, left him there in the lurch, and went on to seek their fortune.
Now was the poor fellow neither to help nor to counsel. At last night closed in, and the Vilas came to dance in a ring, and one of them said, “If that man should anoint his eyes with morning-dew he would see again that very moment.”
He had hardly heard the words when he began to grope about in the grass for dew, and he rubbed it on his eyes and saw again. Then he filled a glass with this dew and went on to seek his fortune.
On the way he stumbled across a Mouse which was staggering around, for the poor thing was blind. So he wet her eyes with morning-dew and she at once received her sight. The little Mouse thanked him, saying, “God reward you until I have an opportunity to show my gratitude!”
A little farther on his way he came upon a Bee which was tumbling around and weeping bitterly, for it was blind. So he anointed the Bee’s eyes, too, and it immediately regained its sight and thanked him, saying, “God reward you until I have an opportunity to prove my gratitude!”
A little farther he found a Dove rolling around in the sand. He asked her, “What is the matter that you tumble around so in the sand?” And the Dove replied, “Why do you tease me with questions when you cannot help me?” But the youth answered, “Keep quiet a moment,” and he anointed her eyes. Immediately she saw again, and said, “God reward you until I have an opportunity to repay you!”