[THE THREE GOLD HAIRS OF OLD VSEVEDE]
A Story for Children From the SERVIAN
It is related that there was once a King who was passionately fond of hunting the wild beasts of his forests. On one occasion he chased a stag so far and so long that he lost his way. Finding himself quite alone and night coming on, he was glad to fall in with the hut of a charcoal-burner.
"Will you be so good as to conduct me to the nearest highway? I will generously reward you for the service."
"I would do it with pleasure," replied the charcoal-burner, "but I have a wife who is about to become a mother, and I cannot leave her alone. On the other hand, why cannot you pass the night with me? Go up into our hay-loft, and rest yourself upon a truss of sweet-smelling hay which you will find there, and to-morrow I will guide you on your way."
A few minutes later the charcoal-burner's wife brought into the world an infant son.