Before he set out on his journey the ogre presented him with a beautifully carved stick and said , ` Take this stick as a remembrance of me ; but beware of saying , `` Rise up , Stick , '' and `` Lie down , Stick , '' for if you do , I can only say I would n't be in your shoes for something . ' Antonio took the stick and said , ` Do n't be in the least alarmed , I 'm not such a fool as you think , and know better than most people what two and two make . ' ` I 'm glad to hear it , ' replied the ogre , ` but words are women , deeds are men . You have heard what I said , and forewarned is forearmed . ' This time Antonio thanked his master warmly for all his kindness , and started on his homeward journey in great spirits ; but he had not gone half a mile when he said ` Rise up , Stick . ' The words were hardly out of his mouth when the stick rose and began to rain down blows on poor Antonio 's back with such lightning-like rapidity that he had hardly strength to call out , ` Lie down , Stick ' ; but as soon as he uttered the words the stick lay down , and ceased beating his back black and blue . Although he had learnt a lesson at some cost to himself , Antonio was full of joy , for he saw a way now of revenging himself on the wicked landlord . Once more he arrived at the inn , and was received in the most friendly and hospitable manner by his host . Antonio greeted him cordially , and said : ` My friend , will you kindly take care of this stick for me ? But , whatever you do , do n't say `` Rise up , Stick . '' If you do , you will be sorry for it , and you need n't expect any sympathy from me . ' The landlord , thinking he was coming in for a third piece of good fortune , gave Antonio an excellent supper ; and after he had seen him comfortably to bed , he ran to the stick , and calling to his wife to come and see the fun , he lost no time in pronouncing the words ` Rise up , Stick . ' The moment he spoke the stick jumped up and beat the landlord so unmercifully that he and his wife ran screaming to Antonio , and , waking him up , pleaded for mercy . When Antonio saw how successful his trick had been he said : ' I refuse to help you , unless you give me all that you have stolen from me , otherwise you will be beaten to death . ' The landlord , who felt himself at death 's door already , cried out : ` Take back your property , only release me from this terrible stick ; ' and with these words he ordered the donkey , the table-cloth , and other treasures to be restored to their rightful owner . As soon as Antonio had recovered his belongings he said ` Stick , lie down , ' and it stopped beating the landlord at once . Then he took his donkey and table-cloth and arrived safely at his home with them . This time the magic words had the desired effect , and the donkey and table-cloth provided the family with treasures untold . Antonio very soon married off his sister , made his mother rich for life , and they all lived happily for ever after . -LSB- From the Italian , Kletke . -RSB-
A FAIRY 'S BLUNDER Once upon a time there XXXXX a fairy whose name was Dindonette .
arrived carved felt forewarned gone hear lived ordered received took