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True and Untrue

Once upon a time, there were two brothers. One was called True, and the other Untrue. True was always honest and good to everyone, and he was blind. He could not see. Untrue was full of dishonesty and lies. No one could believe what he said. Their mother was a widow because her husband had died. She didn't have much money to live on, so when her sons had grown up, she had to send them away to earn money and support themselves in the world. Each got a small bag with some food in it, and then they went on their way.

When they had walked until evening, they sat down and took out their food because they were hungry after walking the whole day. They thought a piece of food would be enough.

Then Untrue said, "I think we had better eat the food from your bag, as long as there is anything in it, and after that, we can eat from mine."

His brother True was alright with this, so they started eating, but Untrue got all the best of the food and stuffed himself with it, while True got only the burnt crusts and crumbs.

The next morning they had True's food for breakfast, and they had it for dinner too, and then there was nothing left in his bag. So when they had walked until late at night and were ready to eat again, True wanted to eat out of his brother's bag, but Untrue said 'No,' the food was his, and he only had enough for himself.

"But you know, you ate out of my bag until there was nothing left in it," said True.

"If you are foolish enough to let others eat up all of your food, you have to deal with it; all you can do is be hungry," said Untrue.

"You're Untrue by name and untrue is who you are; you always have been, and you always will be," said True.

When Untrue heard this, he was so angry that he ran away and left his brother alone.

Poor True! He could only walk by feeling his way through the woods. Blind and alone, he didn't know which way to turn. He caught hold of the trunk of a big tree, so he thought he would climb up into it. He would sit there until the night was over because he was afraid of the wild animals.

"When the birds begin to sing," he said to himself, "then I will know it is daytime, and I can try to continue walking."

So he climbed up into the big tree. After he had sat there a little while, he heard someone come and begin to make noise under the tree, and soon after, others came.

End of Part 1 of 4.