Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1851-03-27
"A Hungarian Legend.

Once upon time there was man who had
three sons. My sons, said he one morning,
you have hitherto seen and learned nothing
1t is time for you to know the country, and the
world generally therefore set off as soon as
possible, and go as far as your eyes can reach
The three sons got ready fol the Journey and
when each of them had packed up some toasted
cakes in his knapsack, they took leave of the
paternal house. After they had proceeded
little way they stopped to rest themselves and
then the two elder proposed that, like good
brothers, they should have all things in common;
that first they should eat the cakes of the young
est when these were finished, those of the Sec
ond, and lastly those of the eldest. This plan
was agreed upon; and on the first day the
cakes of the youngest were eaten; but when
on the second day the time came for snack,
the two elder brothers would not let the lesser
5sio cat wItu sls. unu when he da1anueu his
rights, they put out his eyes, and lett hlT to
starye. We will let them both 60 their own
way, and see what became of the poor blind
lad.
He resigned himself wholly to providence,
and went cropping about when all of sudden
he fell into ditch. In this there was no water
but plenty of mud and when he fell in he was
bespattered all over. He now felt quite new
man; for after the mud had molstened his face
and the sockets of his eyes, he saw everything
clearly; the magic power contained IN the mois-
ture restored his eyes to their places, and had
even changed bis countenance in the handsom-
est Manner
The youth now scraped up as much of the
mud as he could into some potsherd5, and saun-
tered on. Suddenly he observed a mouse
which lay crushed, and which squeaked to him
for help. When he heard this, he wetted the
mouse with the wonderful mud upon which
she Immediately recovered, and gave her bene-
factor fife, telling him that if he was i'll any
difficulty he need only blow it. and she would
come to his assistance, as queen Of the mice,
with all the mice in the world. Going little
further, he saw bee which had been trodden
upon, and which he healed with his mud. From
her he also received fife, which, if he blew 1t
in the time of danger, would bring the queen
bee to his assistance. Pursuing his journey
still further, he found wolfthat had been beat
en- and wounded. At first he did not like to
heal him, fearing that he should be eaten up fol
his pains but the wolf suplicated him so long
that he at last smeared him with the mud, whicl
) made him very big and strong. The wolf als|
gave the youth fife to be used in times of diff
fculty.
Our youth now went slowly on, till at last HI
a came to the chief city, and hired himself as on
d of the kings servants. His two brothers wer
y also in service there; and when they recognize
d him, they tried in every possible way u desuo
= him. After many vain attempts, they went
1t the king and assured him that their brother ha
=, told them lie could bring into the kings gram
), ry all the corn in the whole country II
" youth protested he knew nothing about thi
i but the king ordered him to be hanged unle
lie the corn was gathered in the granary on t
to following day. For long time the boy WEI
of when suddenly recolecting his fife, he piped
IN the mouse, told her his difficulty, and by mi
n. night all the corn was gathered in from all pa
n- Of the country.
I'd The next day the brothers were more emb
re cred against him than ever, and pretended
ID the king he would build a handsome bridge
n wax from the royal palace to the market.plac
W This task was also imposed upon him; but
i. had scarcely sounded his second fife when
lg bees flowed to his assistance and completed
f. work. In the morning the king looked W
asonishment on the elegant arches OF the W
bridge.
The brothers being now ready to burst W
spleen, told the king to order the younger one
drive the twelve strongest wolves into his COZ
" on the following day. They now thought tn
id were sure of victory, because either the wolv
9 would eat their brother, or if he did not perfo
ID the task, the king would have him hanged.
r. They were, however, again deceived. The you
W then sounded the third fife, and the wolf-kiI
J. appeared at his command. The youth explain
7. his difficulty; when the wolf brought not OIL
5, twelve of his subjects, but all the wolves of t
h. country, into the kings court, The youth no
lie seated himself on the wolf kings back, and wi
If q whip in his hand drove before him the enc
+, nous herd, who bore down and tore in piec
all who came before them. There was sour
IS of bowling, weeping, and waing, IN the roy
h. residence but it was of no avail The kir
3 promised sack of gold but this was Off
,e avail, for the the wolf-king kept crying out, o
re on The king now promised he would gi,
o-three-ten-twenty SACKS of golC
r but all was of no avail. The wolves tore evel
= one in pieces; here lay the brothers-there Ii
a. the king with all his insoIence- the king
re- daughter only was spared. The youth took h
for wife; assumed the royal government hin
N self; was happy, and is happy still, if he is n
= dead. Tomorrow, so he says in his last lette
,e he will give us acall.-Stier'S Hungarian Tai
and Traditions.
il. An Argument for the Graham
er Theory.