There was once a man who had three sons , and no other possessions beyond the house in which he lived . Now the father loved his three sons equally , so that he could not make up his mind which of them should have the house after his death , because he did not wish to favour any one more than the others . And he did not want to sell the house , because it had belonged to his family for generations ; otherwise he could have divided the money equally amongst them . At last an idea struck him , and he said to his sons : ` You must all go out into the world , and look about you , and each learn a trade , and then , when you return , whoever can produce the best masterpiece shall have the house . ' The sons were quite satisfied . The eldest wished to be a blacksmith , the second a barber , and the third a fencing-master . They appointed a time when they were to return home , and then they all set out . It so happened that each found a good master , where he learnt all that was necessary for his trade in the best possible way . The blacksmith had to shoe the king 's horses , and thought to himself , ` Without doubt the house will be yours ! ' The barber shaved the best men in the kingdom , and he , too , made sure that the house would be his . The fencing-master received many a blow , but he set his teeth , and would not allow himself to be troubled by them , for he thought to himself , ` If you are afraid of a blow you will never get the house . ' When the appointed time had come the three brothers met once more , and they sat down and discussed the best opportunity of showing off their skill . Just then a hare came running across the field towards them . ` Look ! ' said the barber , ` here comes something in the nick of time ! ' seized basin and soap , made a lather whilst the hare was approaching , and then , as it ran at full tilt , shaved its moustaches , without cutting it or injuring a single hair on its body . ' I like that very much indeed , ' said the father . ` Unless the others exert themselves to the utmost , the house will be yours . ' Soon after they saw a man driving a carriage furiously towards them . ` Now , father , you shall see what I can do ! '
said the blacksmith , and he sprang after the carriage , tore off the four shoes of the horse as it was going at the top of its speed , and shod it with four new ones XXXXX checking its pace .
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