Centuries ago there lived—
"A king!" my little readers will say immediately.
No, children, you are mistaken. Once upon a time there was a piece of wood.
Mastro Antonio, very glad indeed, went immediately to his bench to get the piece of wood which had frightened him so much.
Perhaps we can come to terms.
Whoever steals his neighbor's shirt, usually dies without his own.
Stolen money never bears fruit.
Bad wheat always makes poor bread!
"What if, instead of a thousand, I should find two thousand? Or if, instead of two thousand, I should find five thousand—or one hundred thousand?
Then he ended by doing what all boys do, when they have no heart and little brain.
I'm a boy, you see, and all boys hate medicine more than they do sickness.
"Well," said the four Rabbits, "this time we have made the trip for nothing."
And turning on their heels, they marched solemnly out of the room, carrying their little black coffin and muttering and grumbling between their teeth.
