“I haven’t received the money yet. It was settled I should go for it to-morrow.”
“There’s simplicity for you!” say they.
Early next morning the Simpleton got up, dressed himself, and went to the Birch-tree for his money. He reached the wood; there stood the Birch, waving in the wind, but the ox was not to be seen. During the night the wolves had eaten it.
“Now, then, neighbor!” he exclaimed, “pay me my money. You promised you’d pay me to-day.”
The wind blew, the Birch creaked, and the Simpleton cried:
“What a liar you are! Yesterday you kept saying, ‘I’ll pay you to-morrow,’ and now you make just the same promise. Well, so be it, I’ll wait one day more, but not a bit longer. I want the money myself.”
When he returned home, his brothers again questioned him closely:
“Have you got your money?”
“No, brothers; I’ve got to wait for my money again.”
“Whom have you sold it to?”