The Story of the Rooster

Once on a time there were three brothers, who were orphans. The oldest was called Jack, the second was called John, and the youngest was known as Jack-John. Their father was a poor laborer, who was compelled to get up in the morning when the roosters crew for daylight, and he worked all day, and until very late in the night. He found it a hard matter to earn his daily bread, and it was only with a great deal of toil and trouble that he could provide for his little children. When the mother was alive they could manage to make both ends meet, but after she died it seemed that everything was changed. The ground was less fertile, and the rains were less frequent, and the crops were smaller than they had been. In short, matters were in such a condition that the family had fallen into the most abject want; and to add to all this, during a very cold winter, their father died, leaving them alone. As may be supposed, the children cried and mourned a long time, but, at last, as is natural with children, they ceased to grieve. After a while, when all had ceased to mourn, the oldest said:

"The land has been a curse to us. Let us divide the inheritance of our father and go abroad. Perhaps we can make our fortunes elsewhere."

"What inheritance do you speak of? What riches have we?" inquired Jack-John.

"I know not, my dear brother," said the eldest. "Let us make an inventory and then we will see."

The inventory was made without any trouble, and, after paying a few just debts there was nothing left but a cat, a rooster, and a reap-hook. The brothers thereupon, in order to be perfectly fair, had to draw lots. The short straw gave the rooster to Jack, the cat to John, and the reap-hook to Jack-John.

Then the three brothers embraced each other affectionately, and promised to meet at the old homestead as soon as they had made their fortune; and each took a different road.

After travelling a long time in the plains and on the mountains, always keeping ahead, Jack, the eldest, reached a great kingdom belonging to Prince Calamor. Jack's journey had been a long one, and the sun was disappearing little by little, and the night coming on rapidly.

"Ah, how tired I am!" exclaimed Jack. "If I could only find a tavern where I could rest!"

He had hardly ceased to speak when, at a turn in the road he saw a beautiful castle, built on a rock, like an eagle's nest, and flanked on both sides by twelve towers.

"This is the very thing," said the tired traveller, and he announced his arrival by lifting the heavy knocker of a brass door.

"What do you want?" said a voice from the inside.

"I want a lodging-place," said Jack, "for myself and my little companion."

"The master of this house," said the porter, opening the door, "never refuses hospitality to those who demand shelter. Come in, and make yourself at home."

When Jack had entered, the friendly porter inquired:

"My friend, have you dined this afternoon?"

"My faith, no!" exclaimed Jack. "My wallet is empty, and it has been empty since morning."

"Come to the table, then," exclaimed the porter, pushing Jack along the wide hall-way. "Eat and drink and spare nothing, for you are the guest of his most powerful majesty King Calamor."

Jack did not wait for a second invitation. He hurried to the dining-room and ate his fill, and his rooster—the rooster with the golden feathers—ate heartily of the crumbs that fell from the table. As it was already late, the porter made haste to prepare a bed for the wayfarer, and Jack soon fell asleep, with the rooster perched on the headboard of his bed.

It so happened that in that country those who served King Calamor had to go and search for Day every morning. They not only had to search for Day, but they had to hunt for the place where it could be found. Jack slept but lightly, and he heard the conversation of the servants, who were in the same room.

"Get up!" said one; "it is time for us to be going. We must be hunting for Day."

"Wait a little," said the other, "I am very sleepy."

"No, no," said the first, "we must make haste, or some one who rises earlier might seize the Sun and carry it away, and then the King, our master, would be very angry."

"Is the wagon ready?" asked another.

"Yes, and the axles are all well greased. It is early, and the wagon will not break, as it did last week, and we will be able to go much faster."

All this time Jack was thinking to himself in this wise: "Truly this is a queer country that the King's people have to go off to hunt Day." The servants were up and ready to go, when Jack cried out:

"Friends, get back to bed, and I will take charge of your work. I will fetch the Day."

"What! you!" said a servant. "Only one man! And do you pretend that you can do what ten horses can hardly accomplish? You are making game of us."

"I make game of no one. You will soon see that I mean what I say," said Jack.

"That seems very queer," said the head-servant.

"Fear not," said Jack, "I will help you through this by the assistance of my little companion—my rooster with the golden feathers."

"But, see here!" exclaimed the head-servant, with an air of sternness, "if you do not bring Day at the appointed hour, the King will be without mercy, and you will be hanged."

"Nay, let me do as I wish," said Jack, sleepily; "go to bed quietly."

With this assurance the servants and the carters did not need to be coaxed. They returned to their beds and slept heavily. Shortly after, the rooster with the golden feathers crew.

"What is that?" exclaimed the sleepers arising from their couches in surprise.

"It is very simple," said one. "Our friend yonder is about to start on his journey in search of Day."

"That is very strange!" exclaimed the others as they fell back in their beds.

An hour afterward the rooster crew again. "Lock-the-Dairy-door! Lock-the-Dairy-door!"

The noise awoke them all.

"What is that?" exclaimed the servants.

"It is nothing," said Jack. "My little companion is merely telling me that he has returned from his journey in search of the Day. Get up and see."

The servants at once arose, and, to the astonishment of them all, they saw the Sun appearing over the mountain-tops more brilliant than ever. Seeing this there was at once a contention among the servants as to which should be the first to carry the strange news to King Calamor.

"Master! master!" cried one, more nimble than the rest, "if you only knew!"

"What has happened?" exclaimed the King; "speak quickly!"

"The horses are——"

"Broken down like the others," the King interrupted. "Well, it can't be helped."

"No, no, your Majesty; the horses are still in their stalls, and the wagons have not been out of the stables. But, get up and look! Get up and admire the Day."

"Ah, you rascals! Do you make game of me? Did Day come by itself to-day?"

"Yesterday, your Majesty," said the servant, "a stranger came and asked for lodging for himself and a queer creature with golden feathers. It carries a bunch of feathers in its tail and a tuft of feathers on its head."

"Ah, well, what did he do?" said King Calamor.

"What has he done? What has he done?"

"Yes," said the King, "answer me."

"Well, then," said the servant, "this insignificant creature, that seems as if it could be crushed by a blow of the hand, is stronger than all your horses put together. Without wagons or assistance of any kind it started out, about two hours ago, and has already returned, bringing the Sun."

"I cannot believe such a miracle!" exclaimed the King.

"Nevertheless it is the truth," said the servant. "What fatigue and trouble this creature would save us!"

"Yes," said the King, "how many horses and wagons would I not save! But what you say does not seem credible."

"Nothing can be truer," insisted the servant, "and you can easily satisfy yourself."

"How can that be?" inquired the King.

"Well," said the servant, "tell the stranger and his companion to remain in the castle, and by watching with us to-night you can be convinced."

"Tell him to stay," said the King. "I am anxious to witness this queer phenomenon."

These directions were followed, and to the King who was waiting, the day seemed long indeed. Never had he been so impatient. When night came he went to bed in the granary with the servants.

"Do not be uneasy," said Jack; "I shall take charge of these matters again to-morrow," and everybody went to sleep with the exception of the King, who could not close his eyes, he was so impatient.

At three o'clock in the morning the rooster crew, "Lock-the-Dairy-door!"

"Who is that?" exclaimed the King. "Who talks in that language?"

"It is my little companion, the rooster," said Jack. "He is preparing to go into the country in search of Day."

The King lay quiet. At four o'clock he heard again the sonorous voice of the strange creature with the golden feathers.

"Hey, my friend!" the King cried, "what is that?"

"It is the rooster who has returned," said Jack. "His expedition has been a prosperous one, as you can see. He has brought Day with him, and already the light of it is shining on the mountain-tops and filling the valleys. Rise, your Majesty, and see for yourself."

At these words the King arose and ran to the window. The stranger had spoken the truth. Day—clear, joyous, and resplendent—shone over the land. Bewildered and confused, the King could hardly recover from his astonishment. What would he not give to possess such an enchanted rooster! And if he possessed him, how jealous and envious of his good fortune the neighboring kings would be! Without loss of time the King said to Jack:

"My friend, your companion pleases me much, and he can be of great service to me. Will you sell him?"

"Sell him!" exclaimed Jack. "By no means! I would not sell him for gold and silver."

"Let us see," said the King, "for a hundred crown pieces?"

"No," said Jack, sturdily, "not for a thousand."

"By my kingdom!" said the ruler, "you are hard to please. What price have you set on him?"

"In exchange for my companion," said Jack, "I want you to give me your most beautiful daughter for a wife."

"What!" cried the King, "for no less?"

"For no less," said Jack.

"So be it," said the King. "I give you my youngest daughter, and a hundred thousand gold crown pieces for her dowry."

In a transport of joy Jack threw himself on the King's neck, and the marriage was celebrated at once, in the midst of pomp becoming so great a princess.

From that time the good King Calamor had no occasion to send his servants and his horses for the Day.

The Story of the Cat

We have seen how Jack made his fortune. Now let us see what became of his brother John, the possessor of the cat. We shall soon know whether he wandered over the earth in misery and misfortune.

Satisfied with the lot that had befallen him, the poor fellow went on his way singing and whistling, feeling no uneasiness as to his destination. He paused only to drink the sparkling waters, or to eat the luscious fruit that had been ripened by the golden sun. He travelled thus for many miles, until one day he found himself in the country where the birds speak the language of men—the country of the Murzipouloums, where the flowers sing songs to themselves, and the cattle fly in the air. He was astonished by these things, but presently he came to a village where a new and a more astonishing spectacle presented itself to his sight. More than a hundred people were abroad in the streets, armed with sticks, chasing rats and mice that seemed to laugh at them. At the sight of this new and peculiar war, John could not keep his countenance. He laughed aloud. At this unseemly display of jollity the people on all sides cried out:

"What in the world are you laughing at?" Some were furious and some were curious.

"I laugh, my poor friends," said John, "because you give yourselves so much trouble for so small a thing."

"So small a thing!" they cried—"a small thing! One can tell you are a stranger here, otherwise you would know that the rats and the mice are our most terrible enemies. It would be an easier matter for us to contend with ten thousand men."

"Now, is this true?" exclaimed John. "Well, here is my little companion who will aid you greatly. In one hour's time he will do more of this kind of work than all the rest of you could do in a year."

The people gathered around, admiring the little creature with gray eyes. It seemed to be very mild.

"Young man," cried they, "do you wish to have a laugh at our expense?"

"You can see for yourselves," said John, and with that he turned the cat loose among the rats and mice. You may be sure the cat was very happy. A leap here, a bound there, a jump yonder—to the right and to the left, before and behind—and the rats and the mice were destroyed by hundreds and by thousands. The people marvelled greatly, the more so since the cat had accomplished in a very short time a work that would have required the aid of an army of rat-killers.

While this work was going on, the Prince of the country happened to be passing by. He saw the work the cat had accomplished, and cried out:

"Hey, my friends! Where did you find such a creature as that? Where did you discover such a warrior?"

Thereupon John advanced politely, and said to the Prince:

"The creature which you see so cleverly amusing itself with the mice is called a cat. It is my faithful friend, and since it came into my possession I have never permitted it to leave me."

"My young friend," said the Prince, "you have there a fine fortune. My castle is infested with rats and mice; sell me your companion, and you shall be well paid."

"Be separated from my best friend!" exclaimed John. "Never, never will I do that."

"Let us see," said the Prince; "will you not sell me your companion for a hundred crown pieces?"

"No," cried John; "I would die of grief."

"I will give you a thousand then," said the Prince.

"Never," said John, stoutly.

"My friend," exclaimed the Prince, "be reasonable. I must have your cat. Name the price."

John scratched his head thoughtfully, and replied:

"Well, give me a meadow and a mill, a vineyard and a thousand crown-pieces, and a carriage to ride in."

"They shall be yours," said the Prince.

"Then," said John, "my beautiful cat is yours."

The Story of the Reap-hook

We have thus far followed the history of Jack, with his rooster, and John, with his cat. What became of Jack-John, the younger brother, with his reap-hook?

Journeying over hills and across valleys, with his reap-hook hung over his shoulder, stopping only to eat and to drink, the younger brother, at the end of thirty days and thirty nights, arrived in the great empire of Malissours. It was in the month of July, and the fields were yellow with the golden grain, which waved lightly in the wind. For the first time since he left home, Jack-John felt tired; his limbs refused to carry him farther. How happy he would be, he thought, if he could only reach the village near by, where there was an orange-grove. But his efforts were useless, and the young fellow lay down in the shadow of a big oak, and was soon fast asleep.

How long he remained there he did not know; but when Jack-John awoke, it was morning, and he was surrounded by a crowd of people who eyed him curiously without daring to approach.

"Hey, friends!" he cried, "I am ravenously hungry. Have you nothing to offer me?"

"Yes, yes," was the reply on all sides, "but on one condition."

"And what is that?" asked Jack-John.

"You must tell us what the half-moon in a handle, which you have sleeping beside you, is for."

"The half-moon that sleeps?" exclaimed Jack-John in surprise. "What do you mean?"

"Your companion that sleeps beside you on the green moss," said the people.

"You make me laugh," said Jack-John. "It is not my companion—it is not an animal. It is simply a reap-hook."

"A reap-hook," exclaimed the people. "What a strange name! Never before have we seen such a thing."

Jack-John was astonished, but in a moment he thought that the time had arrived for him to make his fortune; so he said:

"I see that your grain is ripe. It is time to harvest it. How do you cut it?"

"Like everybody else," said they, "we gnaw it with the teeth."

"That must be tedious," said Jack-John.

"Oh, there are hundreds of us to do the work," said the people.

"And how long does it take you to complete the task?" asked Jack-John.

"Two or three months only," the people replied.

"Ah, well!" said Jack-John, "what it takes all of you three months to accomplish my good reap-hook will do in one hour's time. A thousand of you working together could not make as much headway. Under its magic touch the grain falls and you have only to bind it."

"What!" they exclaimed, "that little instrument does all the work?"

"Yes, indeed," said Jack-John, "and if you desire it, I will prove it to you instantly."

Thereupon Jack-John made his way to the fields of ripe golden grain, and in a few minutes had cut quantities of it. The spectators were full of admiration. Never had they seen anything so extraordinary; and to these people it was indeed a most marvellous thing for them to see accomplished in a minute the work that would require the efforts of a hundred men from sunrise to sunset. On all sides there were shouts of joy and enthusiasm.

"Oh, the beautiful machine you have there!" the people cried—"the fairy that runs and cuts the grain. What a treasure to him who possesses it!"

"I see that my beautiful reap-hook pleases you," said Jack-John. "How much are you willing to pay for it?"

"All the gold in the world would not be sufficient to pay you," said the spokesman of the people. "Name your price."

"I want each one of you to give me as many gold-pieces as my reap-hook has cut stalks of wheat."

"Your demand is modest," they answered, "and to-day each one of us will bring the required sum."

After this Jack-John was lifted on the shoulders of the multitude and carried to the neighboring village, where he was treated with great honor, and for a little more he could have become king. Soon, on all sides, the people brought sacks of gold, and such was its weight that ten mules were required to carry it. Jack-John, however, did not stay very long in this empire. He rightly thought that no country is so beautiful as one's birthplace, and, at the end of a few weeks, he arrived at his native village, where he found his two brothers, who had been as successful.

"Our good fortune," exclaimed the eldest, "has made us rich, and now it ought to make us happy."