Page:Danish Fairy Tales (IA danishfairytales00gruniala).pdf/19

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DANISH FAIRY TALES


THE PLEIADES

THERE was once a man and he had six sons. He did not give them, however, any names such as other people have, but called them according to their age, the Oldest, Next to the Oldest, the Next to the Next to the Oldest, the Next to the Next to the Youngest, the Next to the Youngest and the Youngest. They had no other names.

When the Oldest was eighteen and the Youngest twelve, their father sent them out into the world that each might learn a trade. They went together for a short distance until they came to a place where six roads diverged; there they separated and each was to go his own way. But before parting they agreed to meet in two years at that same place and to return to their father together.


On the day appointed they all met and went home to their father who asked each one what he had learned. The Oldest said that he was a ship-builder and could build ships which could propel themselves.

The Next to the Oldest had gone to sea and had

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