Once upon a time, there was a poor man who had three sons.
Their names were =Peter, =Paul, and =Boots.
One day he called them to him.
I am sorry, my sons, but we are so poor you will have to find some
way of seeking your fortunes.
Shall we go out into the world or shall we stay here?
I don't know, =Boots. But you will have to do something soon.

Now the cottage where =Boots and his brothers lived was not far from the palace of the king.
The king and the princess were very unhappy.
What is the good of having a palace on a hilltop when there isn't any view or any sunlight?
It is that terrible tree in front of the windows!
It blocks out everything in sight!
You must do something about it, =Father.
You are right my dear, you are perfectly right.
We must get rid of that terrible tree.

He called his messengers.
Give notice throughout all the land.
I will give a bad of gold to anyone who can chop down this tree.
Men came from far and wide.
Woodcutting is my trade.
It will be an easy task for me.
But when he started to chop.
Look, =Father!
The tree must be magic!
Why, so it must!
Every time he chops a chip, two grow back in its place.
And so it went with each man who tried.
Instead of getting weaker, the trunk of the tree grew stronger with every blow.
Amazing!
Unbelievable!

The tree wasn't the only thing that made the king and the princess unhappy.
What is wrong my daughter?
What is the good of living in a palace that doesn't even have a wishing well?
We should have water to wash in and water to wish in.
You are right, my dear.
You are perfectly right.
We must do something about getting a wishing well.

The king again called his messengers.
Give notice throughout all the land.
I will give a bag of gold to anyone who can dig a wishing well that will hold enough water for one year.
Men came from far and wide.
Well digging is my trade.
It will be an easy task for me.
But when he started to dig.
Look, =Father.
The ground on this hilltop must be magic.
Why, so it must!
For each spadeful of dirt dug up, two come back in its place!
And so it went with each man who tried.
The more they dug, the higher the mound of dirt grew.
Amazing!
Unbelievable!

We may as well forget about getting rid of the magic tree and having a wishing well of our own.
No, no!
I will not give up as easily as that.
Again he called his messengers.
Give notice throughout all the land.
I will give half my kingdom and the princess' hand in marriage
to the man who performs these two tasks.
First, he must chop down the magic tree.
Next, he must dig a wishing well that will hold enough water for one year.
If he fails, he will be sent from this land forever.

The news of the King's reward spread quickly.
So many men came to try that they had to stand in line and wait their turn.
The line stretched from the palace down the hill and through the village
and past the cottage where =Boots and his brothers lived.

I wonder what all those men are doing out there.
They are standing in line, you simpleton.
Anyone can plainly see that!
But why?
Why are they standing in line?
You never can tell what you may discover if you take the time to ask.
=Boots is right.
A curious mind never hurt anyone.
=Boots will go far in this world, mark my words!
At least as far as that line, =Father.
I always like to find out for myself what makes things as they are.

=Boots went up to the line.
Good day, my friends.
So you stand in line and wait your turn, do you?
Indeed we do!
It is worth standing in line for a chance to win the princess and half the kingdom.
And all we have to do is chop down a tree and dig a wishing well.
=Boots went back into the cottage and told his family what he had heard.
You say the tasks are to cut down a tree and dig a wishing well.
That seems like very easy work for such a great reward.
You see, boys?
A curious mind never hurt anyone.
=Boots will go far in this world, mark my words!
At least as far as the palace, =Father.
It is time for me to seek my fortune.
I am going to try to win the hand of the princess and half the kingdom as well.

The next morning.
Goodby, =Boots.
I shall miss you.
Wait, =Boots!
We are going with you!
So =Peter, =Paul and =Boots set out together.
Soon they met some sad looking men.
What happened?
Weren't all of you  on line yesterday waiting to try the two tasks?
We have all had our turn and failed.
We are being sent from this land forever!

=Peter, =Paul and =Boots continued their journey.
They had not gone far when they heard a sound.
I wonder what that noise is?
It is the sound of an ax chopping, you simpleton.
Anyone can plainly hear that!
But why?
Why is the ax chopping?
You never can tell what you may discover if you take the time to ask.
I will follow that sound and see where it leads me.
I always like to find our for myself what makes things as they are.

=Boots followed the sound to a clearing in the woods.
Why, look at that!
The ax is chopping all by itself!
It must be a magic ax!

Good day to you, ax.
So you stand there chopping, all by yourself do you?
Indeed I do, =Boots!
I have stood here chopping for a long, long time, waiting for you to come.
Well, here I am at last, ax.
You need not wait any longer.
=Boots took the ax and hurried back to his brothers.
Well, =Boots, what did you find?
It was only an ax chopping.

The brothers laughed at =Boots and continued on their way.
They had not gone far when they heard another sound.
I wonder what that noise is.
It is the sound of a spade digging you simpleton.
Anyone can plainly hear that!
But why?
Why is the spade digging?
You never can tell what you may discover if you take the time to ask.
I will follow that sound and see where it leads me.
I always like to find out for myself what makes things as they are.

=Boots followed the sound to a hollow on a hill.
Why, look at that!
The spade is digging all by itself!
It must be a magic spade!

Good day to you, spade.
So you stand there digging all by yourself, do you?
Indeed I do, =Boots!
I have stood here digging for a long, long time,
waiting for you to come.
Well here I al at last, spade.
You need not wait any longer.
=Boots took the spade and hurried back to his brothers.
Well, =Boots, what did you find?
It was only a spade digging.

The brothers laughed at =Boots and continued on their way.
They had not gone far when they came to a brook.
I wonder where this brook comes from.
It comes from a spring that it bubbling out of the earth somewhere, you simpleton.
Anyone would know that!
But where?
Where is the spring that is bubbling?
You never can tell what you may discover if you take the time to ask.
I will follow this brook and see where it leads me.
I always like to find out for myself what makes things as they are.

=Boots followed the brook.
It got smaller and smaller until.
Why, look at that!
There is a bug walnut, and all the water in the brook is bubbling out of it!
It must be a magic walnut!

Good day to you, walnut.
So you sit there bubbling all by yourself, do you?
Indeed I do, =Boots!
I have sat here bubbling a long, long time, waiting for you to come.
Well, here I am at last walnut.
You need not wait any longer.
=Boots took the walnut and plugged up the hole with moss.
They he put it in his pocket and hurried back to his brothers.
Well, =Boots.
What did you find?
It was only a walnut that water ran out of.

The brothers laughed at =Boots and continued on their way.
Soon they came to the palace.
What do you wish here?
We have come to win the hand of the princess.
They were taken before the King.
Ah, there is the princess!
How beautiful she is!
Ah, what a fine looking fellow that young one is.
Gentlemen, each of you will have a chance to perform the tasks.
If you fail, you will be sent from this land forever!

The King led the way to the magic tree.
Here is the tree that must be chopped down.
Which of you will be the first to try?
I am the eldest, so I will try first.
=Peter picked up the ax and began to chop.
But.
It is the same with you as with all the others.
For each chip you chop, two grow in its place.
Maybe you had better try to dig the wishing well.
So =Peter picked up a spade and began to dig.
But.
It is the same with you as with all the others.
For each spadeful of dirt dug up, two come back in its place.
You have had your turn and failed.
You may never return to this kingdom again.

Which of you is next?
I am older than =Boots, so I will try now.
=Paul picked up the same ax as =Peter had, and began to chop.
But.
It is the same with you as with all the others.
For each chip you chop, two grow in its place.
Maybe you had better try to dig the wishing well.
So =Paul picked up the same spade as =Peter had, and began to dig.
But.
It is the same with you as with all the others.
For each spadeful of dirt dug up, two come back in its place.
You have had your turn and failed.
You may never return to this kingdom again.

Well, my boy, you can see it is impossible to perform these tasks.
Let my guards take you away before you begin.
Don't waste your energy, lad.
I'll try anyway, your highness.
I always like to see for myself if things are as they seem.
The princess was happy that =Boots was going to try to win her hand.
Oh, I hope he succeeds!

=Boots took his magic ax.
Chop away ax!
And the ax began to chop.
Look, =Father, look!
Just see how the chips are flying!
Why, so they are!
He is already making a hold in the trunk!
He chopped and chopped until the tree came crashing down.
Amazing!
Unbelievable!

You have done very well, my boy.
But there is still the wishing well to be dug.
I am ready, your highness.
=Boots took his magic spade.
Dig away, spade!
And the spade began to dig.
Look, =Father, look!
Just see how the dirt is flying!
Why, so it is!
He is already making a hole in the ground!
He dug and dug until.
Amazing!
Unbelievable!

Splendid, my boy!
But how can I be certain the wishing well will hold enough water for a year?
We need water to wash in and water to wish in.
That is the easiest part of all!
=Boots took out the magic walnut, laid it in the bottom of the well and
pulled otu the plug of moss.
Bubble away, walnut!
In no time at all, the well was full.
Amazing!
Unbelievable!

There can be no doubt about it.
You have won half my kingdom and my daughter, as well.
Thank you, your highness.
I am so pleased I will allow you to make the first wish in the wishing well.
That is very good of you, your highness.
I wish that my brothers could return for my wedding.
So the brothers returned for the wedding and =Boots and the princess lived happily ever after.