`` Your son has been the cause of a pretty misfortune , '' she cried ; `` he threw my husband downstairs so that he broke his leg . Take the good-for-nothing wretch out of our house . '' The father was horrified , hurried to the youth , and gave him a scolding . `` What unholy pranks are these ? The evil one must have put them into your head . '' `` Father , '' he replied , `` only listen to me ; I am quite guiltless . He stood there in the night , like one who meant harm . I did n't know who it was , and warned him three times to speak or begone . '' `` Oh ! '' groaned the father , `` you 'll bring me nothing but misfortune ; get out of my sight , I wo n't have anything more to do with you . '' `` Yes , father , willingly ; only wait till daylight , then I 'll set out and learn to shudder , and in that way I shall be master of an art which will gain me a living . '' `` Learn what you will , '' said the father , `` it 's all one to me . Here are fifty dollars for you , set forth into the wide world with them ; but see you tell no one where you come from or who your father is , for I am ashamed of you . '' `` Yes , father , whatever you wish ; and if that 's all you ask , I can easily keep it in mind . '' When day broke the youth put the fifty dollars into his pocket , set out on the hard high road , and kept muttering to himself : `` If I could only shudder ! if I could only shudder ! '' Just at this moment a man came by who heard the youth speaking to himself , and when they had gone on a bit and were in sight of the gallows the man said to him : `` Look ! there is the tree where seven people have been hanged , and are now learning to fly ; sit down under it and wait till nightfall , and then you 'll pretty soon learn to shudder . '' `` If that 's all I have to do , '' answered the youth , `` it 's easily done ; but if I learn to shudder so quickly , then you shall have my fifty dollars . Just come back to me to-morrow morning early . ''
Then the youth went XXXXX the gallows-tree and sat down underneath it , and waited for the evening ; and because he felt cold he lit himself a fire .
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