Then he pushed the little man rudely on one side and went his way. He soon came to a likely-looking tree, and began to hew it down, but he made a false stroke, and instead of striking [page 52] the tree he buried his axe in his own arm, and was obliged to hurry home as fast as he could to have the wound dressed.
And this was what came of offending the little gray man!
The following day the second son set out to the wood, and his mother treated him just as she had done her eldest son—gave him a slice of cake and a flask of wine, in case he should feel hungry. The little gray man met him at the entrance to the wood, and begged for a share of his food, but the young man answered:
"The more I give to you, the less I have for myself. Be off with you."
Then he left the little gray man standing in the road, and went on his way. But it was not long before he, too, was punished; for the first stroke he aimed at a tree glanced aside and wounded his leg, so that he was obliged to be carried home.
Then said the Simpleton: "Father, let me go to the wood for once. I will bring you home plenty of fuel."
"Nonsense," answered the father. "Both your brothers have got into trouble, and it is not likely that I am going to trust you."
But Johnny would not give up the idea, and worried his father, till at last he said:
"Very well, my son, have your own way. You shall learn by experience that I know better than you."
There was no rich cake for the simpleton of the family. His mother just gave him a little loaf of dough and a bottle of sour beer.