THE TALE OF A YOUTH WHO SET OUT TO LEARN WHAT FEAR WAS A father had two sons , of whom the eldest was clever and bright , and always knew what he was about ; but the youngest was stupid , and could n't learn or understand anything . So much so that those who saw him exclaimed : `` What a burden he 'll be to his father ! '' Now when there was anything to be done , the eldest had always to do it ; but if something was required later or in the night-time , and the way led through the churchyard or some such ghostly place , he always replied : `` Oh ! no , father : nothing will induce me to go there , it makes me shudder ! '' for he was afraid . Or , when they sat of an evening around the fire telling stories which made one 's flesh creep , the listeners sometimes said : `` Oh ! it makes one shudder , '' the youngest sat in a corner , heard the exclamation , and could not understand what it meant . `` They are always saying it makes one shudder ! it makes one shudder ! Nothing makes me shudder . It 's probably an art quite beyond me . '' Now it happened that his father said to him one day : `` Hearken , you there in the corner ; you are growing big and strong , and you must learn to earn your own bread . Look at your brother , what pains he takes ; but all the money I 've spent on your education is thrown away . '' `` My dear father , '' he replied , `` I will gladly learn -- in fact , if it were possible I should like to learn to shudder ; I do n't understand that a bit yet . '' The eldest laughed when he heard this , and thought to himself : `` Good heavens ! what a ninny my brother is ! he 'll never come to any good ; as the twig is bent , so is the tree inclined . '' The father sighed , and answered him : `` You 'll soon learn to shudder ; but that wo n't help you to make a living . '' Shortly after this , when the sexton came to pay them a visit , the father broke out to him , and told him what a bad hand his youngest son was at everything : he knew nothing and learned nothing . `` Only think !
when I asked him how he purposed gaining a livelihood , he actually asked XXXXX be taught to shudder . ''
OF after around as at beyond for in on to