Page 24 - Humà the Lucky Bird

and was obliged to pound rice for a living. But
although he was so reduced in circumstances, that
there was scarcely a poorer man than he in the
whole country, yet he had the same generous
heart and was as desirous as ever of bettering
others. When the woodcutter reached his country
and happened to meet with him, we have a
beautiful instance of his generous spirit. The
woodcutter, not knowing who he was, related to
him all his sad tale, and begged to be directed to
King Hatam the Noble. The poor king advised
him to stay there for the night and continue his
journey on the morrow ; to which the
woodcutter consented, and walked with him to
his house. That night Hatam fasted, in order to
give something to his guest, and in the morning
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