Chapter Chapter 23 · Laughing Eye and Weeping Eye, or the Limping Fox

. Laughing Eye and Weeping Eye, or the Limping Fox

(Servian Story)

Once upon a time there lived a man whose right eye always smiled, and

whose left eye always cried; and this man had three sons, two of them

very clever, and the third very stupid. Now these three sons were very

curious about the peculiarity of their father’s eyes, and as they could

not puzzle out the reason for themselves, they determined to ask their

father why he did not have eyes like other people.

So the eldest of the three went one day into his father’s room and put

the question straight out; but, instead of answering, the man flew into

a fearful rage, and sprang at him with a knife. The young fellow ran

away in a terrible fright, and took refuge with his brothers, who were

awaiting anxiously the result of the interview.

‘You had better go yourselves,’ was all the reply they got, ‘and see if

you will fare any better.’

Upon hearing this, the second son entered his father’s room, only to be

treated in the same manner as his brother; and back he came telling the

youngest, the fool of the family, that it was his turn to try his luck.

Then the youngest son marched boldly up to his father and said to him,

‘My brothers would not let me know what answer you had given to their

question. But now, do tell me why your right eye always laughs and your

left eye always weeps.’

As before, the father grew purple with fury, and rushed forwards with

his knife. But