The angel thanked him and went away. On the following day the second brother stopped at home to watch the tree; the angel came also to him and asked for a pear. The second brother likewise plucked one of the pears which belonged to him, and gave it to the angel, and said,—
"Here you have one of my own pears; of those which belong to my brothers I cannot give you any."
The angel thanked him and went away. When the turn came for the third brother to watch the tree, the angel came to him also and asked for a pear. The youngest brother, in like manner, plucked one of those which belonged to him, gave it to the angel, and said,—
"Here you have one of my own pears; of those which belong to my brothers I cannot give you any."
On the fourth day the angel took the form of a monk, and having come early in the morning he found the brothers still at home, to whom he said,—
"Come with me, and I will give you something better to do."
The brothers followed the angel without any hesitation. When they had come to a broad, rapid stream, they all rested there, and the angel said to the eldest brother,—
"What would you like to have?"
