HOW A LAD STOLE THE GIANT'S TREASURE.

Once upon a time there lived a peasant who had three sons. The two elder
ones used to go with him to the field and to the forest, and helped him
in his work, but the youngest remained at home with his mother, to help
her in the house. His brothers despised him for doing this, and whenever
they had a chance they used him badly.

At length the father and mother died, and the sons divided the property
among them. As might have been looked for, the elder brothers took all
that was of any value for themselves, leaving nothing to the youngest
but an old cracked kneading-trough, which neither of them thought worth
the having.

"The old trough," said one of the brothers, "will do very well for our
young brother, for he is always baking and scrubbing."

The boy thought this, as was only natural, a poor thing to inherit, but
he could do nothing, and he now recognised that it would be no use his
remaining at home, so he wished his brothers good-bye, and went off to
seek his fortune. On coming to the side of a lake he made his trough
water-tight with oakum, and converted it into a little boat. Then he
found two sticks, and using these as oars rowed away.

When he had crossed the water, he saw a large palace, and entering it,
he asked to speak with the king. The king questioned him respecting his