Once there were three brothers.
Not far from where they lived was the king’s castle.
A large oak tree grew beside the door.
It made the castle very dark.
So the king said, “This tree must be cut down.”
But no one could cut it down.
The more they cut the larger the tree grew.
The king’s castle was on a high hill.
Every drop of water had to be carried up the hill.
So the king said, “I must have a well that will hold water all the year.”
But no one could dig the well.
At last the king said, “I will give half my kingdom to the man who will cut down the tree and dig the well.”
II
The three brothers set out to go to the king’s castle.
On their way they passed through a great wood.
By and by they heard something chopping and cutting.
“I wonder what it is that is cutting and chopping,” said the youngest brother.
“Did you never hear woodmen before? asked the brothers.
“Oh, yes!” said the youngest brother.
“But I should like to know what it is that we hear.
I am going to find out.”
So away he went.
Far off in the woods he saw an ax chopping all alone.
“Good morning, Ax,” he said.
“Are you cutting here all by yourself?”
“Yes,” said the ax.
“I have been chopping here a hundred years, waiting for you.
“Well, here I am,” said the youngest brother.
He put the ax in his bag.
Then he ran off to catch up with his brothers.
III
The three brothers walked on together.
By and by they came to a high hill.
They heard something picking and digging.
“I wonder what it is that is picking,” said the youngest brother.
“Did you never hear a woodpecker before?” asked the brothers.
“Yes, I have,” said the youngest brother.
But I should like to know what it is that we hear.
I am going to find out.”
The brothers laughed at him, but away he went.
Far off in the wood he saw a pick digging all alone.
“Good morning, Pick,” he said.
“Are you digging here all by yourself?
“Yes,” said the pick.
“I have been picking here a hundred years, waiting for you.”
“Well, here I am,” said the youngest brother.
He put the pick in his bag.
Then he ran down to his brothers.
IV
On they went together until they came to a brook.
They sat down there to rest and to get a drink of water.
“I wonder where the brook comes from, said the youngest brother.
Well, did you never see a brook before?” asked the brothers.
“Yes,” he said, “but I wonder where it comes from.”
So he followed the brook.
At last he saw a tiny stream come out of a walnut.
“Good morning, Walnut,” he said.
“Are you here all alone?”
“Yes,” said the walnut.
“The water has been running here a hundred years, waiting for you.”
“Here I am,” said the youngest brother.
He put some moss in the hole in the walnut.
Then he put it in his bag.
“Did you find where the water came from?” asked the brothers.
“Yes,” said the youngest brother.
“It came out of a hole.”