MOGARZEA AND HIS SON There was once a little boy , whose father and mother , when they were dying , left him to the care of a guardian . But the guardian whom they chose turned out to be a wicked man , and spent all the money , so the boy determined to go away and strike out a path for himself . So one day he set off , and walked and walked through woods and meadows till when evening came he was very tired , and did not know where to sleep . He climbed a hill and looked about him to see if there was no light shining from a window . At first all seemed dark , but at length he noticed a tiny spark far , far off , and , plucking up his spirits , he at once went in search of it . The night was nearly half over before he reached the spark , which turned out to be a big fire , and by the fire a man was sleeping who was so tall he might have been a giant . The boy hesitated for a moment what he should do ; then he crept close up to the man , and lay down by his legs . When the man awoke in the morning he was much surprised to find the boy nestling up close to him . ` Dear me ! where do you come from ? ' said he . ' I am your son , born in the night , ' replied the boy . ` If that is true , ' said the man , ` you shall take care of my sheep , and I will give you food . But take care you never cross the border of my land , or you will repent it . ' Then he pointed out where the border of his land lay , and bade the boy begin his work at once . The young shepherd led his flock out to the richest meadows and stayed with them till evening , when he brought them back , and helped the man to milk them . When this was done , they both sat down to supper , and while they were eating the boy asked the big man : ` What is your name , father ? ' ` Mogarzea , ' answered he . ' I wonder you are not tired of living by yourself in this lonely place . ' ` There is no reason you should wonder !
Do n't you know that there was never a bear yet who danced XXXXX his own free will ? '
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