When Apples Grew Noses and White Horses Flew Read Online Free PDF Page B

“I can carry water and bring in the wood. I can chop vegetables and watch the meat. I can even wash the dishes because my mother taught me. I will work quickly and I will work hard.”
    At that, the cook agreed. Ti-Jean was true to his word, too. He worked as fast and as hard as he could. He brought in the wood. He brought in the water. He chopped great piles of vegetables. He watched the meat. He washed one mountain of dishes after another. He did not stop until everything that needed doing was done.
    The cook gave him food in plenty and a place to sleep in the stable. She made sure his horse was fed as well.
    In the morning when Ti-Jean was about to go on again, she offered him a gift.
    â€œI’ve never known anyone so cheerful and so willing,” she told him. “Here’s a napkin for you. If ever you’re hungry, open it up and tell it what you’d like to eat. Whatever you ask for will appear.”
    â€œThank you indeed,” said Ti-Jean.
    All day he followed his brothers again. By nightfall they had reached another town. It was the same as the day before. Ti-Jean’s brothers rented rooms for themselves at the inn. Ti-Jean had nowhere to go. Still, this time he did not have to wonder how he would manage. He went to the kitchen right off.
    The cook asked him the same kinds of questions. He gave the same answers.
    This inn was even busier. He worked even harder than he had before. All the servants were amazed at what he did for them. They made sure he had a good supper so he was not hungry. They made sure he had a place to sleep in the stable so he could rest.
    In the morning they all gathered together at the kitchen door to see him off.
    â€œYou really helped us. You made the whole evening go better than it has ever gone,” they said.
    They told him they had a gift for him. The gift turned out to be a bottle.
    â€œIf you’re thirsty and you want something to drink, all you have to do is pull out the cork and give your orders. You’ll have what you need and more,” they explained.
    â€œThank you indeed,” said Ti-Jean.
    This was the day when he and his brothers would come to where the seigneur lived. They arrived about noon. The seigneur’s servants told Ti-Jean’s brothers they would have to return the next morning. His brothers went off to find another inn. Ti-Jean thought maybe he would like a change.
    He went to find the seigneur’s gardener.
    â€œIf I would work the rest of the day for you, would you give me supper and a place to sleep?” he asked.
    â€œDo you know how to set seeds?” the gardener asked him.
    â€œI do,” said Ti-Jean.
    â€œCan you plant out seedlings and water them carefully?”
    â€œI can,” said Ti-Jean. “I can set seeds and plant out seedlings. I can weed and rake and hoe. I can even prune trees, for my mother taught me. I will work quickly and I will work hard.”
    Again he was true to his word. He worked the rest of the day for the gardener. He did everything he was asked. He smiled all the time because being in the garden made him think of his mother. He set seeds and he planted out seedlings. He weeded and raked and hoed and pruned.
    â€œYou’re the best helper I’ve ever had,” the gardener told him.
    The gardener was so grateful that he not only gave Ti-Jean a meal, he gave him a bed in his own house.

    â€œI wish you could stay longer,” the gardener said in the morning. “But since you can’t, I’ll give you a gift.”
    He brought out a violin — a fiddle. It was old and shiny and brown.
    â€œIs that for me?” Ti-Jean asked.
    â€œIt is,” said the gardener. “If ever you’re in need of singing and dancing, all you have to do is put the bow to the strings and the fiddle will play.”
    Ti-Jean was overjoyed. A fiddle was precious. It made people happy.
    â€œThank you indeed,” he said.
    He tucked