III

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III

The boy left the house and set out along the road. He had been walking for several hours when he met a stranger who stopped him and said:

“Good day to you, my boy. Where are you going?”

And the boy answered:

“I went to see my godmother and to give her my Easter greeting, and when I got home I asked my parents where my godfather lives, that I might go and greet him also. They told me they did not know. They said he went away as soon as I was christened, and they know nothing about him, not even if he be still alive. But I wished to see my godfather, and so I have set out to look for him.”

Then the stranger said: “I am your godfather.”

The boy was glad to hear this. After kissing his godfather three times for an Easter greeting, he asked him:

“Which way are you going now, godfather? If you are coming our way, please come to our house; but if you are going home, I will go with you.”

“I have no time now,” replied his godfather, “to come to your house. I have business in several villages; but I shall return home again tomorrow. Come and see me then.”

“But how shall I find you, godfather?”

“When you leave home, go straight towards the rising sun, and you will come to a forest; going through the forest you will come to a glade. When you reach this glade sit down and rest awhile, and look around you and see what happens. On the further side of the forest you will find a garden, and in it a house with a golden roof. That is my home. Go up to the gate, and I will myself be there to meet you.”

And having said this the godfather disappeared from his godson’s sight.