The man rushed up to separate them, but all his efforts only served to make them fiercer.
"Why do you fight like this?" he cried.
"We are fighting for that stone," replied one of the lads; "I saw it first!"
"No, you didn't," replied the other, "it was I, and it belongs to me!" And once more they fell to blows more desperate than before.
The poor man, fearing that the quarrel might end fatally, cried out to them:—
"Here, take each of you one of these coins, and let alone the stone; it is of no value, for it is no bigger than a walnut. And be off with you!"
The lads were glad to take the money, and ran away, thinking themselves lucky to make so good a bargain.
His wife was at the cottage door impatiently awaiting her husband. Great was her disappointment when all he brought her was a stone.
"Well, to be sure!" she cried, after he had recounted what had taken place, "I am disappointed." And, taking the little stone, she threw it into a corner of the room.
"Dear wife," replied the man, "do not take it so to heart. The money was spent in a good work; in making peace between the children of our neighbours."
His wife at length became more reconciled to the loss, considering that after all he had done right to make peace between their neighbours' sons at any cost. Not many minutes after, the parents of the two lads came to thank the man for having separated the boys. They also thanked him for the money he had given to the boys, for they knew he sorely needed it himself. Each of the parents gave him a present for his friendly service; and from that day they always treated him most kindly, and often gave him little jobs to do, so that the poor couple never wanted bread.
Not long afterwards, it happened that the King's Ambassador passed that way, with a great retinue of officials, secretaries, and servitors, and it fell out that, night coming on, the Ambassador decided upon taking up his quarters in the village.
The village inns were small, and could not afford accommodation for so large a retinue, and the various cottagers were asked to take in one or more of the servants. Among those who gave lodgings to the retinue were our good couple, who took in a lodger, for whom they were paid handsomely. The wife quickly prepared a clean, tidy bed, and did her best to make things comfortable.
"It sent out rays of vivid light."
The guest, being tired, was soon fast asleep. Towards morning he awoke, and was surprised to see the chamber bathed in a resplendent light. Knowing well that the people of the house could not afford a lamp or candles, he arose to find out whence proceeded this unusual brilliancy. Great was his astonishment to find that it proceeded from a small stone in the corner of the room, which, as the sun struck on it, sent out rays of vivid light. He took up the stone, and, believing it to be of great value, took it to the Ambassador.
When the nobleman examined the stone, he admired it greatly, and desired its owner to be sent for in order to learn all particulars about it.
"Please your Excellency," said the poor man, "it is of no use to us, and if it pleases you, take it, for it only cost me a small coin;" and he proceeded to relate how it had come into his possession.
