Chapter III

Amy sat down under a tree to think about it.
“The squirrels, the bees, and the ants work from
morning till night,” said Amy.
“I will ask the flowers if they have to work.”
So she ran into the garden.
“Do flowers have to work?” she said to a pretty red clover.
“My dear Amy,” said the red clover, “the flowers must all work.
We are busy now making honey for the bees.
That is why we are so happy.”
Amy ran home to her mother and said, “I have come
back to help you, Mother dear.
The squirrels, the bees, the ants and the flowers
all have work to do.
I should like to work, too.”
“You may help me sew,” said her mother.
“Then you will be happy, like the squirrels, the
bees, the ants, and the flowers.”

THE THREE BROTHERS.

Once there were three brothers.
Not far from where they lived was the king’s castle.
A large oak tree grew beside the door.
It made the castle very dark.
So the king said, “This tree must be cut down.”
But no one could cut it down.
The more they cut the larger the tree grew.
The king’s castle was on a high hill.
Every drop of water had to be carried up the hill.
So the king said, “I must have a well that will hold water all the year.”
But no one could dig the well.
At last the king said, “I will give half my kingdom
to the man who will cut down the tree and
dig the well.”

II

The three brothers set out to go to the king’s castle.
On their way they passed through a great wood.
By and by they heard something chopping and cutting.
“I wonder what it is that is cutting and chopping,”
said the youngest brother.
“Did you never hear woodmen before? asked the brothers.
“Oh, yes!” said the youngest brother.
“But I should like to know what it is that we hear.
I am going to find out.”
So away he went.
Far off in the woods he saw an ax chopping all alone.
“Good morning, Ax,” he said.
“Are you cutting here all by yourself?”
“Yes,” said the ax.
“I have been chopping here a hundred years, waiting for you.
“Well, here I am,” said the youngest brother.
He put the ax in his bag.
Then he ran off to catch up with his brothers.