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A certain king had a beautiful garden, and in the garden stood a

tree which bore golden apples. These apples were always counted,

and about the time when they began to grow ripe it was found that

every night one of them was gone. The king became very angry at

this, and ordered the gardener to keep watch all night under the

tree. The gardener set his eldest son to watch; but about twelve

o'clock he fell asleep, and in the morning another of the apples

was missing. Then the second son was ordered to watch; and at

midnight he too fell asleep, and in the morning another apple was

gone. Then the third son offered to keep watch; but the gardener

at first would not let him, for fear some harm should come to

him: however, at last he consented, and the young man laid

himself under the tree to watch.