aster than ahorse； and afterwards； when he fell in with the wild swans； he swunghimself on the strongest of them； for he loved change； and away heflew over the sea to distant lands； where there were great forests；deep lakes； lofty mountains； and proud cities。 Wherever he came itseemed as if sunshine travelled with him across the fields； forevery flower； every bush； exhaled a renewed fragrance； as if consciousthat a friend and protector was near； one who understood them； andknew their value。 The stunted rose…bush shot forth twigs； unfolded itsleaves； and bore the most beautiful roses； every one could see it； andeven the black； slimy wood…snail noticed its beauty。 〃I will give myseal to the flower；〃 said the snail； 〃I have trailed my slime upon it；I can do no more。
〃Thus it always fares with the beautiful in this world；〃 saidthe poet。 And he made a song upon it； and sung it after his ownfashion； but nobody listened。 Then he gave a drummer twopence and apeacock's feather； and posed a song for the drum； and the drummerbeat it through the streets of the town； and when the people heardit they said； 〃That is a capital tune。〃 The poet wrote many songsabout the true； the beautiful； and the good。 His songs were listenedto in the tavern； where the tallow candles flared； in the fresh cloverfield； in the forest； and on the high…seas； and it appeared as if thisbrother was to be more fortunate than the other two。
But the evil spirit was angry at this； so he set to work with sootand incense； which he can mix so artfully as to confuse an angel；and how much more easily a poor poet。 The evil one knew how tomanage such people。 He so pletely surrounded the poet withincense that the man lost his head； forgot his mission and his home；and at last lost himself and vanished in smoke。
But when the little birds heard of it； they mourned； and for threedays they sang not one song。 The black wood…snail became blackerstill； not for grief； but for envy。 〃They should have offered meincense；〃 he said； 〃for it was I who gave him the idea of the mostfamous of his songs… the drum song of 'The Way of the World；' and itwas I who spat at the rose； I can bring a witness to that fact。〃
But no tidings of all this reached the poet's home in India。 Thebirds had all been silent for three days； and when the time ofmourning was over； so deep had been their grief； that they hadforgotten for whom they wept。 Such is the way of the world。
〃Now I must go out into the world； and disappear like the rest；〃said the fourth brother。 He was as good…tempered as the third； butno poet； though he could be witty。
The two eldest had filled the castle with joyfulness； and nowthe last brightness was going away。 Sight and hearing have always beenconsidered two of the chief senses among men； and those which theywish to keep bright； the other senses are looked upon as of lessimportance。
But the younger son had a different opinion； he had cultivated histaste in every way； and taste is very powerful。 It rules over whatgoes into the mouth； as well as over all which is presented to themind； and； consequently； this brother took upon himself to tasteeverything stored up in bottles or jars； this he called the rough partof his work。 Every man's mind was to him as a vessel in whichsomething was concocting； every land a kind of mental kitchen。〃There are no delicacies here；〃 he said； so he wished to go out intothe world to find something delicate to suit his taste。 〃Perhapsfortune may be more favorable to me than it was to my brothers。 Ishall start on my travels； but what conveyance shall I choose？ Are airballoons invented yet？〃 he asked of his father； who knew of allinventions that had been made； or would be made。
Air balloons had not then been invented； nor steam…ships； norrailways。
〃Good；〃 said he； 〃then I shall choose an air balloon； my fatherknows how they are to be made and guided。 Nobody has invented one yet；and the people will believe that it is an aerial phantom。 When Ihave done with the balloon I shall burn it； and for this purpose；you must give me a few pieces of another invention； which will enext； I mean a few chemical matches。〃
He obtained what he wanted； and flew away。 The birds acpaniedhim farther than they had the other brothers。 They were curious toknow how this flight would end。 Many more of them came swoopingdown； they thought it must be some new bird； and he soon had agoodly pany of followers。 They came in clouds till the air becamedarkened with birds as it was with the cloud of locusts over theland of Egypt。
And now he was out in the wide world。 The balloon descended overone of the greatest cities； and the aeronaut took up his station atthe highest point； on the church steeple。 The balloon rose againinto the air； which it ought not to have done； what became of it isnot known； neither is it of any consequence； for balloons had not thenbeen invented。
There he sat on the church steeple。 The birds no longer hoveredover him； they had got tired of him； and he was tired of them。 All thechimneys in the town were smoking。
〃There are altars erected to my honor；〃 said the wind； whowished to say something agreeable to him as he sat there boldlylooking down upon the people in the street。 There was one steppingalong； proud of his purse； another； of the key he carried behindhim； though he had nothing to lock up； another took a pride in hismoth…eaten coat； and another； in his mortified body。 〃Vanity； allvanity！〃 he exclaimed。 〃I must go down there by…and…by； and touchand taste； but I shall sit here a little while longer； for the windblows pleasantly at my back。 I shall remain here as long as the windblows； and enjoy a little rest。 It is fortable to sleep late in themorning when one had a great deal to do；〃 said the sluggard； 〃so Ishall stop here as long as the wind blows； for it pleases me。〃
And there he stayed。 But as he was sitting on the weather…cockof the steeple； which kept turning round and round with him； he wasunder the false impression that the same wind still blew； and thathe could stay where he was without expense。
But in India； in the castle on the Tree of the Sun； all wassolitary and still； since the brothers had gone away one after theother。
〃Nothing goes well with them；〃 said the father； 〃they will neverbring the glittering jewel home； it is not made for me； they are alldead and gone。〃 Then he bent down over the Book of Truth； and gazed onthe page on which he should have read of the life after death； but forhim there was nothing to be read or learned upon it。
His blind daughter was his consolation and joy； she clung to himwith sincere affection； and for the sake of his happiness and peaceshe wished the costly jewel could be found and brought home。
With longing tenderness she thought of her brothers。 Where werethey？ Where did they live？ How she wished she might dream of them； butit was strange that not even in dreams could she be brought near tothem。 But at last one night she dreamt that she heard the voices ofher brothers calling to her from the distant world； and she couldnot refrain herself； but went out to them； and yet it seemed in herdream that she still remained in her father's house。 She did not seeher brothers； but she felt as it