mountain, my son, and thou wilt reach his
castle; but, when in his presence, do not
speak to him. Whatever thou shalt see
him do, that do thou, until he questions
thee." The traveller having thanked the
hermit, took the road which led up the
mountain.

But, when he had arrived at the castle, he
was much amazed at its magnificence.
Servants were hurrying in all directions, and
everything around him was of more than
royal splendour. As for Fate, he was seated
at a table quite alone; the table was spread,
and he was in the act of supping. When
the traveller saw that, he seated himself, and
ate with the master of the house. After
supper, Fate went to his couch, and the man
retired with him. Then, at midnight, there
was heard the rushing of a fearful sound
through all the chambers of the castle; and,
in the midst of the noise a voice was heard
crying aloud "Fate! Fate! To-day such
and such souls have come into the world.
Deal with them according to thy pleasure!"
Then, behold, Fate arose, and opened a gilt
coffer full of golden ducats, which he sowed
upon his chamber floor, saying, "Such as I
am to-day, you shall be all your lives!"

At the break of day, the beautiful castle
vanished; and, in its place, stood an ordinary
house; but a house in which nothing was
wanting. When the evening came Fate sat
down to supper, and his guest sat by his
side; but not a word was spoken. When
they had done supper they went to bed. At
midnight the rushing sound was heard again;
and, in the midst of the noise, a voice cried,
"Fate! Fate! Such and such souls have
seen the light to-day. Deal with them according
to thy pleasure!" Then, behold, Fate
opened a silver coffer; but there were no
ducats therein, only silver money, with a few
gold pieces mingled. And Fate sowed this
silver on the ground, saying, "Such as I am
to-day, you shall be all your lives!"

At break of day this house also had
disappeared; and, in its place, there was one
smaller still. Every night the same thing
happened, and every morning the house
became smaller and poorer, until at last it was
nothing but a miserable hovel. Then Fate
took a spade and dug the earth, the man
doing the same. And they worked all day.
In the evening Fate took a piece of bread and
broke it in two pieces, and gave one to his
guest. This was all they had to eat; and,
when they had eaten it, they went to bed.
During all this time, they had not exchanged
a word.

At midnight the same fearful sound was
heard, and the voice which cried, "Fate!
Fate! Such and such souls have come into
the world this night. Do unto them according
to thy pleasure!" And, behold. Fate
arose, and opened a coffer, and took out of it
stones, and sowed them upon the earth, and
among the stones were small pieces of money.

This he did, repeating at the same time,
"Such as I am to-day you shall be all your
lives.

When morning returned the cabin had
disappeared, and the palace of the first day
had come back again. Then, for the first
time, Fate spoke to his guest, and said, "Why
camest thou here?" The other told him truly
all the story of his journey, and its cause,
namely, to ascertain why Fate had awarded
to him a lot so unhappy. And Fate
answered, "Thou didst see how, on the first
night, I sowed ducats, and what followed.
Such as I am in the night wherein a man is
born, such will that man be during all his life.
Thou wert born on a night when I was poor,
and thou wilt remain poor all thy days. As
for thy brother, he came into the world when
I was rich, and rich will he be ever. Yet,
because thou hast laboured hard to seek me,
I will tell how thou mayst aid thyself. Thy
brother has a daughter named Miliza, who
was born in a golden hour. When thou
returnest to thy country take her for thy
wife. Only take heed that of whatsoever
thou shalt afterwards acquire, say that it is
hers,—call nothing thine."

And the man, thanking Fate, departed.
When he had come back to his own country,
he went to his brother, and said, "Brother,
give me Miliza; for thou seest that without
her I am alone." The brother answered: "I
am glad at thy request. Take her, for she is
thine." Therefore he took her to his house;
and, from that time, his flocks and herds
began to multiply, so that he became rich.
But he was careful to exclaim aloud, every
day, "All that I have is Miliza's!"

One day he went to the field to see his
crops, which were all rustling and whispering
to the breeze songs of plenty; when, by chance,
a traveller passed by, who said to him:
"Whose crops are these?" And he, without
thinking, replied, "They are mine." Scarcely
had he finished speaking, when, behold, the
harvest was on fire and the flames leapt from
field to field. But, when he saw this he ran with
all his speed after the traveller, and shouted,
"Stop, brother! I told you a lie. These crops
are not mine, they are my wife's!" The fire
went out when he had spoken, and from that
hour he continued to be—thanks to Miliza—
rich and happy.

     This day is published, for greater convenience, and
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                      THE FIRST TEN VOLUMES
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