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LABOULAYE S FAIRY BOOK
Destiny took a crust of bread and, breaking it in two,
gave half to his companion. This was all his supper.
When they had eaten it they went to bed.
At midnight a terrible noise was heard, and a voice cried
out, “ Destiny, Destiny, such a number of souls have come
into the world this night; give them something according to
thy good pleasure."
And behold! Destiny rose, and opened a wooden chest
filled with pebbles mixed with a few copper coins, which he
scattered on the ground, saying, "Such as I am to-day, such
shalt thou be all thy life!”
When morning dawned the cabin was changed into a
splendid palace, as on the first day. ‘Then, for the first
time, Destiny spoke to his guest. “Why did you come
here? " asked he.
The poor man told him the whole story of his wretched¬
ness, and how he had come to ask Destiny himself why he
had given him such a bad fortune.
“You saw what I was the first night, when I scattered
guineas, and what followed,” replied Destiny. “Such as I
am on the night that a man is born, such will that man be
all his life. You were born on a night of poverty; you
will always be poor. Your brother, on the contrary, came
into the world on a lucky night; he will always be fortunate.
But, since you have taken so much trouble to find me, I
will tell you how to help yourself. Your brother has a
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