As for the muleteer , he was informed very plainly that he had proved himself mean and ungrateful for the help that had been given him , and as a punishment he must pay to the poor man a fine of fifty pounds , and hand him over the mule till his tail had grown again . Lastly , there came the two sons of the sick man . ` This is the wretch who killed our father , ' they said , ` and we demand that he should die also . ' ` How did you kill him ? ' asked the judge , turning to the accused , and the poor man told how he had leaped from the wall , not knowing that anyone was beneath . ` Well , this is my judgment , ' replied the judge , when they had all spoken : ` Let the accused sit under the wall , and let the sons of the dead man jump from the top and fall on him and kill him , and if they will not to this , then they are condemned to pay eight hundred pounds for their false accusation . ' The young men looked at each other , and slowly shook their heads . ` We will pay the fine , ' said they , and the judge nodded . So the poor man rode the mule home , and brought back to his family enough money to keep them in comfort to the end of their days . Adapted from the Portuguese . The One-Handed Girl An old couple once lived in a hut under a grove of palm trees , and they had one son and one daughter . They were all very happy together for many years , and then the father became very ill , and felt he was going to die . He called his children to the place where he lay on the floor -- for no one had any beds in that country -- and said to his son , ' I have no herds of cattle to leave you -- only the few things there are in the house -- for I am a poor man , as you know . But choose : will you have my blessing or my property ? ' ` Your property , certainly , ' answered the son , and his father nodded . ` And you ? ' asked the old man of the girl , who stood by her brother . ' I will have blessing , ' she answered , and her father gave her much blessing . That night he died , and his wife and son and daughter mourned for him seven days , and gave him a burial according to the custom of his people . But hardly was the time of mourning over , than the mother was attacked by a disease which was common in that country . '
I am going away from you , ' she said XXXXX her children , in a faint voice ; ` but first , my son , choose which you will have : blessing or property . '
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