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'Dear children,' said a poor man to his four sons, 'I have

nothing to give you; you must go out into the wide world and try

your luck. Begin by learning some craft or another, and see how

you can get on.' So the four brothers took their walking-sticks

in their hands, and their little bundles on their shoulders, and

after bidding their father goodbye, went all out at the gate

together. When they had got on some way they came to four

crossways, each leading to a different country. Then the eldest

said, 'Here we must part; but this day four years we will come

back to this spot, and in the meantime each must try what he can

do for himself.'