successful he would make the inquiry, and went
on till he came to another village, where he was
kindly received by another host, with whom he
remained all night, and to whom also he stated
the purpose of his journey. This second host
complained that his cattle never throve, and
begged him to ask Fate what was the cause of
the calamity. The Pilgrim, on his departure,
promised to comply with his request, and still
journeying onwards came to a river, which
kindly carried him to its opposite bank, on
learning that he was in search of Fate, and as
soon as he was landed, begged him to ask why
there were never any fish in its waters.

After a great deal more wandering our
Pilgrim came to another dense forest, and finding
in the middle of it a venerable hermit, began to
make inquiries as to how the object of his search
might best be obtained.

Recluses seem to have known everything in
the good old times, though they apparently kept
remote from the usual sources of information.
The hermit of the forest was not inferior to the
rest of his class, but without hesitation told
the Pilgrim that the Castle of Fate was on the
other side of a neighbouring chain of mountains,
and warned him when he entered it to
refrain from speech, until Fate accosted him, but
closely to imitate all his actions.

The mountains were soon crossed, and the
castle was reached just as Fate was sitting down
to supper. And splendid was the sight that
presented itself. Never was banqueting-room
in the palace of an emperor more superbly
furnished than the hall which the Pilgrim entered;
never was seen a more brilliant crowd of
attendants than those who waited on Fate, who,
however, sat quite alone, until he was joined by
his visitor, who, implicitly following the directions
of the hermit, helped himself to a share
of the meal. When supper was over, Fate
went to sleep, and so did the Pilgrim, but
shortly before midnight both were roused by a
dreadful groaning which filled the whole palace,
while a voice uttered these words: "Oh, Fate,
Fate, so many persons have been born on this
day; bestow thy bounty on them all." With a
solemn aspect Fate arose, opened a chest filled
with golden ducats, some of which he scattered
about the room, saying: " As it has fared with
me to-day so may it fare with them during the
whole of their lives."

On the following morning the magnificent
palace had vanished, and in its place was a
house, that might have been the residence of a
wealthy noble, fitted up with an appearance of
decided comfort and opulence. The day was
passed in silence. Fate and his visitor supped
together and slept as before, and just before
midnight were again awakened by the groaning and
the voice, which repeated the words already
recorded. From the chest which he now opened
Fate took some silver coins, with one or two
gold pieces among them, and repeated the
benediction of the previous night.

For several days the same ceremony was
repeated, the house becoming meaner and meaner
with every dawn, until at last Fate and his
visitor found themselves in a wretched little
hovel. Instead of remaining at ease, as before,
Fate now took a spade and dug all day, while
the Pilgrim taking another spade assisted him
in his labours. Supper consisted of a morsel of
bread, half of which was offered by Fate to his
guest; and when the voice, as usual, called on
Fate to bestow his gifts, he threw on the floor a
few copper coins of the least possible value,
wishing that all who had been born on that day
might fare as he had fared for the whole of their
lives.

On the following day the gorgeous palace was
restored; and at last Fate accosted his guest,
and asked the cause of his visit. The Pilgrim
told his story, and said he wished to know the
reason of his ill luck, whereupon Fate affably
but solemnly uttered these words:

'' Thou hast, doubtless, marked the events that
have taken place during the short period of thy
visit, and hast observed that every morning there
is a change in my manner of living. As it fares
with me on any particular day so does it fare
through life with those who on that day begin
their mortal career. Thy brother was born on a
day which I passed in opulence, therefore with
him all goes well; thou wert born on a day when
I lived in a wretched hovel, so with thee all goes
ill, in spite of thy industry and frugality."

"Then is my case altogether hopeless?" asked
the Pilgrim, with an exceedingly sorrowful
countenance.

"Thou mayst in some measure amend thy
lot," replied Fate, "if thou wilt follow my
advice. Thy brother has a daughter, who is as
fortunate as himself. Marry her, and when thy
possessions again increase, say that they are hers
and not thine. Then wilt thou surely prosper,
in spite of thy unlucky birth."

The Pilgrim thanked Fate for the information
and advice so freely bestowed, and then modestly
put the questions asked by the different persons
he had met in the course of his journey. Fate
had a ready answer to them all. The man whose
children ate too much, and whose parents lived
too long, was so afflicted because he did not treat
them both with sufficient veneration, whereas
if, instead of allowing them to remain behind the
stove, he placed them at the head of his table,
and gave them the first glass of wine and the
first glass of brandy, their lives would be
shortened, and the appetites of his children
would likewise decrease. The other grumbler,
whose cattle would not thrive, was justly
punished for the stinginess which he displayed
towards his patron saint, on whose day he
invariably killed his worst beast. As for the river,
no fish would live in it, because no human being
had been drowned in its waters. Fate sagaciously
advised the Pilgrim to keep this last piece of
information to himself, till the river had carried
him across, as it might otherwise supply its own
deficiency at the expense of its instructor.

Well stored with knowledge useful both to
himself and to his acquaintance, the Pilgrim now
returned home. When he came to the river he