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poor。　　The　rich　one　was　a　goldsmith　and　evil…hearted。　The　poor　one
supported　himself　by　making　brooms；　and　was　good　and　honorable。　　He
had　two　children；　who　were　twin　brothers　and　as　like　each　other　as
two　drops　of　water。　　The　two　boys　went　in　and　out　of　the　rich　house；
and　often　got　some　of　the　scraps　to　eat。　　It　happened　once　when　the
poor　man　was　going　into　the　forest　to　fetch　brush…wood；　that　he　saw　a
bird　which　was　quite　golden　and　more　beautiful　than　any　he　had　ever
chanced　to　meet　with。　　He　picked　up　a　small　stone；　threw　it　at　it；
and　was　lucky　enough　to　hit　it；　but　one　golden　feather　only　fell
down；　and　the　bird　flew　away。　　The　man　took　the　feather　and　carried
it　to　his　brother；　who　looked　at　it　and　said；　it　is　pure　gold。　And
gave　him　a　great　deal　of　money　for　it。　　Next　day　the　man　climbed　into
a　birch…tree；　and　was　about　to　cut　off　a　couple　of　branches　when　the
same　bird　flew　out；　and　when　the　man　searched　he　found　a　nest；　and　an
egg　lay　inside　it；　which　was　of　gold。　　He　took　the　egg　home　with　him；
and　carried　it　to　his　brother；　who　again　said；　it　is　pure　gold；　and
gave　him　what　it　was　worth。　　At　last　the　goldsmith　said；　I　should
indeed　like　to　have　the　bird　itself。　　The　poor　man　went　into　the
forest　for　the　third　time；　and　again　saw　the　golden　bird　sitting　on
the　tree；　so　he　took　a　stone　and　brought　it　down　and　carried　it　to
his　brother；　who　gave　him　a　great　heap　of　gold　for　it。　　Now　I　can　get
on；　thought　he；　and　went　contentedly　home。

The　goldsmith　was　crafty　and　cunning；　and　knew　very　well　what　kind　of
a　bird　it　was。　　He　called　his　wife　and　said；　roast　me　the　gold　bird；
and　take　care　that　none　of　it　is　lost。　　I　have　a　fancy　to　eat　it　all
myself。　　The　bird；　however；　was　no　common　one；　but　of　so　wondrous　a
kind　that　whosoever　ate　its　heart　and　liver　found　every　morning　a
piece　of　gold　beneath　his　pillow。　　The　woman　prepared　the　bird；　put
it　on　the　spit；　and　let　it　roast。　　Now　it　happened　that　while　it　was
on　the　fire；　and　the　woman　was　forced　to　go　out　of　the　kitchen　on
account　of　some　other　work；　the　two　children　of　the　poor　broom…maker
ran　in；　stood　by　the　spit　and　turned　it　round　once　or　twice。　　And　as
at　that　very　moment　two　little　bits　of　the　bird　fell　down　into　the
pan；　one　of　the　boys　said；　we　will　eat　these　two　little　bits。　　I　am
so　hungry；　and　no　one　will　ever　miss　them。　　Then　the　two　ate　the
pieces；　but　the　woman　came　into　the　kitchen　and　saw　that　they　were
eating　something　and　said；　what　have　you　been　eating。　　Two　little
morsels　which　fell　out　of　the　bird；　answered　they。　　That　must　have
been　the　heart　and　the　liver；　said　the　woman；　quite　frightened；　and
in　order　that　her　husband　might　not　miss　them　and　be　angry；　she
quickly　killed　a　young　cock；　took　out　his　heart　and　liver；　and　put
them　beside　the　golden　bird。　　When　it　was　ready；　she　carried　it　to
the　goldsmith；　who　consumed　it　all　alone；　and　left　none　of　it。　　Next
morning；　however；　when　he　felt　beneath　his　pillow；　and　expected　to
bring　out　the　piece　of　gold；　no　more　gold　pieces　were　there　than
there　had　always　been。

The　two　children　did　not　know　what　a　piece　of　good…fortune　had　fallen
to　their　lot。　　Next　morning　when　they　arose；　something　fell　rattling
to　the　ground；　and　when　they　picked　it　up　there　were　two　gold　pieces。
They　took　them　to　their　father；　who　was　astonished　and　said；　how　can
that　have　happened。　　When　next　morning　they　again　found　two；　and　so
on　daily；　he　went　to　his　brother　and　told　him　the　strange　story。　　The
goldsmith　at　once　knew　how　it　had　happened；　and　that　the　children　had
eaten　the　heart　and　liver　of　the　golden　bird；　and　in　order　to　revenge
himself；　and　because　he　was　envious　and　hard…hearted；　he　said　to　the
father；　your　children　are　in　league　with　the　evil　one；　do　not　take
the　gold；　and　do　not　suffer　them　to　stay　any　longer　in　your　house；
for　he　has　them　in　his　power；　and　may　ruin　you　likewise。　　The　father
feared　the　evil　one；　and　painful　as　it　was　to　him；　he　nevertheless
led　the　twins　forth　into　the　forest；　and　with　a　sad　heart　left　them
there。

And　now　the　two　children　ran　about　the　forest；　and　sought　the　way
home　again；　but　could　not　find　it；　and　only　lost　themselves　more　and
more。　　At　length　they　met　with　a　huntsman；　who　asked；　to　whom　do　you
children　belong。　　We　are　the　poor　broom…maker's　boys；　they　replied；
and　they　told　him　that　their　father　would　not　keep　them　any　longer　in
the　house　because　a　piece　of　gold　lay　every　morning　under　their
pillows。　　Come；　said　the　huntsman；　that　is　nothing　so　very　bad；　if　at
the　same　time　you　remain　honest；　and　are　not　idle。　　As　the　good　man
liked　the　children；　and　had　none　of　his　own；　he　took　them　home　with
him　and　said；　I　will　be　your　father；　and　bring　you　up　till　you　are
big。　　They　learnt　huntsmanship　from　him；　and　the　piece　of　gold　which
each　of　them　found　when　he　awoke；　was　kept　for　them　by　him　in　case
they　should　need　it　in　the　future。

When　they　were　grown　up；　their　foster…father　one　day　took　them　into
the　forest　with　him；　and　said；　to…day　shall　you　make　your　trial　shot；
so　that　I　may　release　you　from　your　apprenticeship；　and　make　you
huntsmen。　　They　went　with　him　to　lie　in　wait　and　stayed　there　a　long
time；　but　no　game　appeared。　　The　huntsman；　however；　looked　above　him
and　saw　a　covey　of　wild　geese　flying　in　the　form　of　a　triangle；　and
said　to　one　of　them；　　shoot　me　down　one　from　each　corner。　　He　did　it；
and　thus　accomplished　his　trial　shot。

Soon　after　another　covey　came　flying　by　in　the　form　of　the　figure
two；　and　the　huntsman　bade　the　other　also　bring　down　one　from　each
corner；　and　his　trial　shot　was　likewise　successful。　　Now；　said　the
foster…father；　I　pronounce　you　out　of　your　apprenticeship。　　You　are
skilled　huntsmen。　　Thereupon　the　two　brothers　went　forth　together
into　the　forest；　and　took　counsel　with　each　other　and　planned
something。　　And　in　the　evening　when　they　had　sat　down　to　supper；　they
said　to　their　foster…father；　we　will　not　touch　food；　or　take　one
mouthful；　until　you　have　granted　us　a　request。　　Said　he；　what；　then；
is　your　request。　　They　replied；　we　have　now　finished　learning；　and　we
must　prove　ourselves　in　the　world；　so　allow　us　to　go　away　and　travel。
Then　spoke　the　old　man　joyfully；　you　talk　like　brave　huntsmen；　that
which　you　desire　has　been　my　wish。　　Go　forth；　all　will　go　well　with
you。　　Thereupon　they　ate　and　drank　joyously　together。

When　the　appointed　day　came；　their　foster…father　presented　each　of
them　with　a　good　gun　and　a　dog；　and　let　each　of　them　take　as　many　of
his　saved…up　gold　pieces　as　he　chose。　　Then　he　accompanied　them　a
part　of　the　way；　and　when　taking　leave；　he　gave　them　a　bright　knife；
and　said；　if　ever　you　separate；　stick　this　knife　into　a　tree　at　the
place　where　you　part；　and　when　one　of　you　returns；　he　will　will　be
able　to　see　how　his　absent　brother　is　faring；　for　the　side　of　the
knife　which　is　turned　in　the　direction　by　which　he　went；　will　rust　if
he　dies；　but　will　remain　bright　as　long　as　he　is　alive。　　The　two
brothers　went　still　farther　onwards；　and　came　to　a　forest　which　was
so　large　that　it　was　impossible　for　them　to　get　out　of　it　in　one　day。
So　they　passed　the　night　in　it；　and　ate　what　they　had　put　in　their
hunting…pouches；　but　they　walked　all　the　second　day　likewise；　and
still　did　not　get　out。　　As　they　had　nothing　to　eat；　one　of　them　said；
we　must　shoot　something　for　ourselves　or　we　shall　suffer　from　hunger；
and　loaded　his　gun；　and　looked　about　him。　　And　when　an　old　hare　came
running　up　towards　them；　he　laid　his　gun　on　his　shoulder；　but　the
hare　cried；
　　　　　dear　huntsman；　do　but　let　me　live；
　　　　　two　little　ones　to　thee　I'll　give；
and　sprang　instantly　into　the　thicket；　and　brought　two　young　ones。

But　the　little　creatures　played　so　merrily；　and　were　so　pretty；　that
the　huntsmen　could　not　find　it　in　their　hearts　to　kill　them。　　They
therefore　kept　them　with　them；　and　the　little　hares　followed　on　foot。
Soon　after　this；　a　fox　crept　past。　　They　were　just　going　to　shoot　it；
but　the　fox　cried；
　　　　　dear　hunstman；　do　but　let　me　live；
　　　　　two　little　ones　to　thee　I'll　give。

He；　too；　brought　two　little　foxes；　and　the　huntsmen　did　not　like　to
kill　them　either；　but　gave　them　to　the　hares　for　company；　and　they
followed　behind。　　It　was　not　long　before　a　wolf　strode　out　of　the
thicket。　　The　huntsmen　made　ready　to　shoot　him；　but　the　wolf　cried；
　　　　　dear　huntsman；　do　but　let　me　live；
　　　　　two　little　ones　to　thee　I'll　give。

The　huntsman　put　the　two　wolves　beside　the　other　animals；　and　they
followed　behind　them。　　Then　a　bear　came　who　wanted　to　trot　about　a
little　longer；　and　cried；
　　　　　dear　huntsman；　do　but　let　me　live；
　　　　　two　little　ones　to　thee　I'll　give。

The　two　young　bears　were　added　to　the　others；　and　there　were　already
eight　of　them。　　Then　who　should　come。　　A　lion　came；　and　tossed　his
mane。　　But　the　huntsmen　did　not　let　themselves　be　frightened　and
aimed　at　him　likewise；　but　the　lion　also　said；
　　　　　dear　huntsman；　do　but　let　me　live；
　　　　　two　little　ones　to　thee　I'll　give。

And　he　brought　his　little　ones　to　them；　and　now　the　huntsmen　had　two
lions；　two　bears；　two　wolves；　two　foxes；　and　two　hares；　who　followed
them　and　served　them。　　In　the　meantime　their　hunger　was　not　appeased
by　this；　and　they　said　to　the　foxes；　listen　you　sneakers；　provide　us
with　something　to　eat。　　You　are　crafty　and　cunning。　　They　replied；
not　far　from　here　lies　a　village；　from　which　we　have　already　brought
many　a　fowl。　　We　will　show　you　the　way　there。　　So　they　went　into　the
village；　bought　themselves　something　to　eat；　had　some　food　given　to
their　beasts；　and　then　traveled　onwards。　　The　foxes　knew　their　way
very　well　about　the　district　and　where　the　poultry…yards　were；　and
were　were　able　to　guide　the　huntsmen。

Now　they　traveled　about　for　a　while；　but　could　find　no　situation
where　they　could　remain　together；　so　they　said；　there　is　nothing　else
for　it；　we　must　part。　　They　divided　the　animals；　so　that　each　of　them
had　a　lion；　a　bear；　a　wolf；　a　fox；　and　a　hare；　then　they　took　leave
of　each　other；　promised　to　love　each　other　like　brothers　till　their
death；　and　stuck　the　knife　which　their　foster…father　had　given　them；
into　a　tree；　after　which　one　went　east　and　the　other　went　west。

The　younger；　however；　arrived　with　his　beasts　in　a　town　which　was　all
hung　with　black　crape。　　He　went　into　an　inn；　and　asked　the　host　if　he
could　accommodate　his　animals。　　The　innkeeper　gave　him　a　stable；
where　there　w