031-第1节

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everyone　in　the　world　to　be　godfather；　and　when　still　another
child　was　born；　no　one　else　was　left　whom　he　could　invite。
He　knew　not　what　to　do；　and；　in　his　perplexity；　he　lay　down
and　fell　asleep。　　Then　he　dreamt　that　he　was　to　go　outside　the
gate；
and　ask　the　first　person　he　met　to　be　godfather。　　When　he　awoke；
he　determined　to　obey　his　dream；　and　went　outside　the　gate；　and
asked　the　first　person　who　came　up　to　him　to　be　godfather。　　The
stranger　presented　him　with　a　little　glass　of　water；　and　said；
this　is　a　wonderful　water；　with　it　you　can　heal　the　sick；　only
you　must　see　where　death　is　standing。　　If　he　is　standing　by　the
patient's　head；　give　the　patient　some　of　the　water　and　he　will
be　healed；　but　if　death　is　standing　by　his　feet；　all　trouble
will　be　in　vain；　for　the　sick　man　must　die。　　From　this　time　forth；
the　man　could　always　say　whether　a　patient　could　be　saved　or
not；　and　became　famous　for　his　skill；　and　earned　a　great　deal
of　money。　　Once　he　was　called　in　to　the　child　of　the　king；　and
when　he　entered；　he　saw　death　standing　by　the　child's　head　and
cured　it　with　the　water；　and　he　did　the　same　a　second　time；　but
the　third　time　death　was　standing　by　its　feet；　and　then　he　knew
the　child　had　to　die。

Once　the　man　thought　he　would　visit　the　godfather；　and　tell　him
how　he　had　succeeded　with　the　water。　　But　when　he　entered　the
house；　the　strangest　things　were　going　on　within。　　On　the　first
flight　of　stairs；　the　broom　and　shovel　were　disputing；　and
knocking　each　other　about　violently。　　He　asked　them；　where　does
the　godfather　live。　　The　broom　replied；　one　flight　of　stairs
higher　up。　　When　he　came　to　the　second　flight；　he　saw　a　heap　of
dead　fingers　lying。　　He　asked；　where　does　the　godfather　live。
One　of　the　fingers　replied；　one　flight　of　stairs　higher。　　On
the　third　flight　lay　a　heap　of　dead　heads；　which　again　directed
him　to　the　flight　beyond。　　On　the　fourth　flight；　he　saw　fishes　on
the　fire；　which　frizzled　in　pans　and　baked　themselves。　　They；
too；　said；　one　flight　of　stairs　higher。　　And　when　he　had
ascended　the　fifth；　he　came　to　the　door　of　a　room　and　peeped
through　the　keyhole；　and　there　he　saw　the　godfather　who　had
a　pair　of　long　horns。　　When　he　opened　the　door　and　went　in；
the　godfather　got　into　bed　in　a　great　hurry　and　covered　himself
up。　　Then　said　the　man；　sir　godfather；　what　a　strange　house…hold
you　have。　　When　I　came　to　your　first　flight　of　stairs；　the　shovel
and　broom　were　quarreling；　and　beating　each　other　violently。
How　stupid　you　are；　said　the　godfather。　　That　was　the　boy
and　the　maid　talking　to　each　other。　　But　on　the　second　flight　I
saw　dead　fingers　lying。　　Oh；　how　silly　you　are。　　Those　were　some
roots　of　scorzonera。　　On　the　third　flight　lay　a　heap　of　dead
men's　heads。　　Foolish　man；　those　were　cabbages。　　On　the　fourth
flight　I　saw　fishes　in　a　pan；　which　were　hissing　and　baking
themselves。　　When　he　had　said　that；　the　fishes　came　and　served
themselves　up。　　And　when　I　got　to　the　fifth　flight；　I　peeped
through　the　keyhole　of　a　door；　and　there；　godfather；　I　saw
you　and　you　had　long；　long　horns。　　Oh；　that　is　not　true。　　The
man　became　alarmed；　and　ran　out；　and　if　he　had　not；　who　knows
what　the　godfather　would　have　done　to　him。