Stranica 110 [110]
OCR
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 wretchedness, 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 S4
