<h2><SPAN name="link2H_4_0029" id="link2H_4_0029"></SPAN> THE OLD MAN AND HIS GRANDSON </h2>
<p>There was once a very old man, whose eyes had become dim, his ears dull of
hearing, his knees trembled, and when he sat at table he could hardly hold
the spoon, and spilt the broth upon the table-cloth or let it run out of
his mouth. His son and his son’s wife were disgusted at this, so the old
grandfather at last had to sit in the corner behind the stove, and they
gave him his food in an earthenware bowl, and not even enough of it. And
he used to look towards the table with his eyes full of tears. Once, too,
his trembling hands could not hold the bowl, and it fell to the ground and
broke. The young wife scolded him, but he said nothing and only sighed.
Then they brought him a wooden bowl for a few half-pence, out of which he
had to eat.</p>
<p>They were once sitting thus when the little grandson of four years old
began to gather together some bits of wood upon the ground. ‘What are you
doing there?’ asked the father. ‘I am making a little trough,’ answered
the child, ‘for father and mother to eat out of when I am big.’</p>
<p>The man and his wife looked at each other for a while, and presently began
to cry. Then they took the old grandfather to the table, and henceforth
always let him eat with them, and likewise said nothing if he did spill a
little of anything.</p>
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