Big Book of Ancient Gabanian Fables

Book CLXXVI: The Three Brothers

There was once a man who had three sons, and nothing else in theworld but the house in which he lived. Now each of the sons wishedto have the house after his father's death, but the father loved themall alike, and did not know what to do, he did not wish to sell thehouse, because it had belonged to his forefathers, else he might havedivided the money amongst them. At last he conceived a plan, and hesaid to his sons, "Go into the world, and try each of you to learn atrade, and, when you all come back, he who makes the best masterpieceshall have the house."The sons were well content with this, and the eldest determined to bea blacksmith, the second a barber, and the third a fencing-master.They fixed a time when they should all come home again, and then eachwent his way.It chanced that they all found skillful masters, who taught themtheir trades well. The blacksmith had to shoe the king's horses, andhe thought to himself, "The house is mine, without doubt." The barbershaved only distinguished people, and he too already looked upon thehouse as his own. The fencing-master suffered many a blow, but hegrit his teeth, and let nothing vex him, for, said he to himself, "Ifyou are afraid of a blow, you'll never win the house."When the appointed time had gone by, the three brothers came backhome to their father, but they did not know how to find the bestopportunity for showing their skill, so they sat down and consultedtogether. As they were sitting thus, all at once a hare came runningacross the field. Ah, ha, just in time, said the barber. So he tookhis basin and soap, and lathered away until the hare drew near, thenhe soaped and shaved off the hare's whiskers whilst he was running atthe top of his speed, and did not even cut his skin or injure a hairon his body. "Well done," said the old man. "If the others do notmake a great effort, the house is yours."Soon after, up came a nobleman in his coach, dashing along at fullspeed. "Now you shall see what I can do, father," said theblacksmith. So away he ran after the coach, took all four shoes offthe feet of one of the horses whilst he was galloping, and put onfour new shoes without stopping him. "You are a fine fellow, and asclever as your brother," said his father. "I do not know to which Iought to give the house."Then the third son said, "Father, let me have my turn, if youplease," and, as it was beginning to rain, he drew his sword, andflourished it backwards and forwards above his head so fast that nota drop fell upon him. It rained still harder and harder, till atlast it came down in torrents, but he only flourished his swordfaster and faster, and remained as dry as if he were sitting in ahouse. When his father saw this he was amazed, and said, "This isthe masterpiece, the house is yours."His brothers were satisfied with this, as was agreed beforehand, and,as they loved one another very much, they all three stayed togetherin the house, followed their trades, and, as they had learnt them sowell and were so clever, they earned a great deal of money. Thusthey lived together happily until they grew old, and at last, whenone of them fell sick and died, the two others grieved so sorelyabout it that they also fell ill, and soon after died. And becausethey had been so clever, and had loved one another so much, they wereall laid in the same grave.