said the boy . ` Will you serve me ? ' asked the man . ` Oh , yes ; just as readily you as anyone else , ' said the boy . ` But can you read ? ' said the man . ` No , I do n't know a single letter , ' said the boy . The man then took him into his service , and all the work he had to do was to dust his master 's books . But as he did this he had plenty of time to read them as well , and he read away at them until at last he was just as wise as his master -- who was a great wizard -- and could perform all kinds of magic . Among other feats , he could change himself into the shape of any animal , or any other thing that he pleased . When he had learned all this he did not think it worth while staying there any longer , so he ran away home to his parents again . Soon after this there was a market in the next village , and the boy told his mother that he had learned how to change himself into the shape of any animal he chose . ` Now , ' said he , ' I shall change myself to a horse , and father can take me to market and sell me . I shall come home again all right . ' His mother was frightened at the idea , but the boy told her that she need not be alarmed ; all would be well . So he changed himself to a horse , such a fine horse , too , that his father got a high price for it at the market ; but after the bargain was made , and the money paid , the boy changed again to his own shape , when no one was looking , and went home . The story spread all over the country about the fine horse that had been sold and then had disappeared , and at last the news came to the ears of the wizard . ` Aha ! ' said he , ` this is that boy of mine , who befooled me and ran away ; but I shall have him yet . ' The next time that there was a market the boy again changed himself to a horse , and was taken thither by his father .
The horse soon found a purchaser , and XXXXX the two were inside drinking the luck-penny the wizard came along and saw the horse .
So about at by for into of that to while