"Fill it with moss and fill it with clay,[*]
And carry a basketful away."

[*]From an old folk tale.

The boy did not know what the bird was saying. "Out of my path, you
stupid creature!" he cried, flinging a stone at it. But the little
bird flew away into the forest, where he was quite safe. When at last
the boy reached the pond, there sat a great green frog who croaked in a
great hoarse voice:--

"Fill it with moss and fill it with clay,
And carry a basketful away."

But the boy did not know what the frog was saying. "Out of my way, you
ugly creature!" he cried, flinging a stone at it. The great frog
jumped back into the water, where he was quite safe. The eldest boy
covered the bottom of the basket with sand, thinking that that would
keep the water from running out; then he filled it to the very brim.
But, though he ran all the way home, not a single drop of water was
left inside the basket when he reached his father.

Then it was the second son's turn. As he walked quickly toward the
pond, the same little bird hopped along the path in front of him, and
in the same sweet voice sang:--

"Fill it with moss and fill it with clay,
And carry a basketful away."