St. George drew a long whiff of his pipe, and then puffed out a cloud of smoke as big as his head. “Perhaps,” said he to Fortunatus, “you know of a story which turns out differently. If you do, let us have it, for it is your turn now.” “Very well,” said Fortunatus, “I will tell you a story that turns out as it should, where the lad marries a beautiful princess and becomes a king into the bargain.” “And what is your story about?” said the Lad who fiddled for Jew in the bramble-bush. “It is,” said Fortunatus, “about--” The Good of a Few Words There was one Beppo the Wise and another Beppo the Foolish. The wise one was the father of the foolish one. Beppo the Wise was called Beppo the Wise because he had laid up a great treasure after a long life of hard work. Beppo the Foolish was called Beppo the Foolish because he spent in five years after his father was gone from this world of sorrow all that the old man had laid together in his long life of toil. But during that time Beppo lived as a prince, and the life was never seen in that town before or since--feasting and drinking and junketing and merrymaking. He had friends by the dozen and by the scores, and the fame of his doings went throughout all the land. While his money lasted he was called Beppo the Generous. It was only after it was all gone that they called him Beppo the Foolish. So by-and-by the money was spent, and there was an end of it. Yes; there was an end of it; and where were all of Beppo’s fair-weather friends? Gone like the wild-geese in frosty weather. “Don’t you remember how I gave you a bagful of gold?” says Beppo the Foolish. “Won’t you remember me now in my time of need?” But the fair-weather friend only laughed in his face. “Don’t you remember how I gave you a fine gold chain with a diamond pendant?” says Beppo to another. “And won’t you lend me a little money to help me over to-day?” But the summer-goose friend only grinned. “But what shall I do to keep body and soul together?” says Beppo to a third. The man was a wit. “Go to a shoemaker,” said he, “and let him stitch the soul fast;” and that was all the good Beppo had of him. Then poor Beppo saw that there was not place for him in that town, and so off he went to seek his fortune else whither, for he saw that there was nothing to be gained in that place. So he journeyed on for a week and a day, and then towards evening he came to the king’s town. There it stood on the hill beside the river--the grandest city in the kingdom. There were orchards and plantations of trees along the banks of the stream, and gardens and summer-houses and pavilions. There were white houses and red roofs and blue skies. Up above on the hill were olive orchards and fields, and then blue sky again.