The Silly Son.

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was crazy, released the woman, and sent herhusband to the madhouse, where he re-mained for some days, till his wife, pityinghis condition, contrived to get him set atliberty. She visited her husband, and coun-selled him, should any one ask him if he hadseen it rain fish and flesh, to answer," No;who ever saw it rain anything but water?Then she informed the keeper that he wascome to his senses, and suggested he shouldquestion him; and on the poor fellow answer-ing properly he was released.

In a Russian variant, an old man had threesons, one of whom was a noodle. When theold man died, his property was shared be-tween the brothers, but all that the simpletonreceived was one ox, which he took to themarket to sell. On his way he chanced topass an old birch- tree, which creaked andgroaned in the wind. He thinks the treeis offering to buy his ox, and so he says,Well, you shall have it for twenty roubles."But the tree only creaked and creaked, andhe fancied it was asking the ox on credit." Very good," says he." You'll pay me to-morrow? I'll wait till then." So he ties theox to the tree and goes home. His brothersquestion him about his ox, and he tells themhe has sold it for twenty roubles and is to get

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