The Three Green Twigs

{
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  "source_title": "The Three Green Twigs",
  "tts_title": "The Three Green Twigs",
  "speech_safe_title": "The Three Green Twigs",
  "kind": "story",
  "canonical_url": "https://www.cs.cmu.edu/~spok/grimmtmp/146.txt",
  "slug": "the-three-green-twigs",
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  "section_slug": null,
  "title": "The Three Green Twigs",
  "author": null,
  "publisher_label": null,
  "source_version": null,
  "content_type": null,
  "language": null,
  "summary": null,
  "clean_summary": null,
  "body": [
    "There was once upon a time a hermit who lived in a forest at the foot of a mountain, and passed his time in prayer and good works, and every evening he carried, to the glory of God, two pails of water up the mountain. Many a beast drank of it, and many a plant was refreshed by it, for on the heights above, a strong wind blew continually, which dried the air and the ground, and the wild birds which dread mankind wheel about there, and with their sharp eyes search for a drink. And because the hermit was so pious, an angel of God, visible to his eyes, went up with him, counted his steps, and when the work was completed, brought him his food, even as the prophet of old was by God's command fed by the raven. When the hermit in his piety had already reached a great age, it happened that he once saw from afar a poor sinner being taken to the gallows. He said carelessly to himself, there, that one is getting his deserts. In the evening, when he was carrying the water up the mountain, the angel who usually accompanied him did not appear, and also brought him no food. Then he was terrified, and searched his heart, and tried to think how he could have sinned, as God was so angry, but he did not discover it. Then he neither ate nor drank, threw himself down on the ground, and prayed day and night. And as he was one day thus bitterly weeping in the forest, he heard a little bird singing beautifully and delightfully, and then he was still more troubled and said, how joyously you sing, the Lord is not angry with you. Ah, if you could but tell me how I can have offended him, that I might do penance, and then my heart also would be glad again. Then the bird began to speak and said, you have done injustice, in that you have condemned a poor sinner who was being led to the gallows, and for that the Lord is angry with you. He alone sits in judgement. However, if you will do penance and repent your sins, he will forgive you. Then the angel stood beside him with a dry branch in his hand and said, you shall carry this dry branch until three green twigs sprout out of it, but at night when you will sleep, you shall lay it under your head. You shall beg your bread from door to door, and not tarry more than one night in the same house. That is the penance which the Lord lays on you. Then the hermit took the piece of wood, and went back into the world, which he had not seen for so long. He ate and drank nothing but what was given him at the doors. Many petitions, however, were not listened to, and many doors remained shut to him, so that he often did not get a crumb of bread. Once when he had gone from door to door from morning till night, and no one had given him anything, and no one would shelter him for the night, he went forth into a forest, and at last found a cave which someone had made, and an old woman was sitting in it. Then said he, good woman, keep me with you in your house for this night. But she said, no, I dare not, even if I wished, I have three sons who are wicked and wild, if they come home from their robbing expedition, and find you, they would kill us both. The hermit said, let me stay, they will do no injury either to you or to me. And the old woman was compassionate, and let herself be persuaded. Then the man lay down beneath the stairs, and put the bit of wood under his head. When the old woman saw him do that, she asked the reason of it, on which he told her that he carried the bit of wood about with him for a penance, and used it at night for a pillow, and that he had offended the Lord, because, when he had seen a poor sinner on the way to the gallows, he had said he was getting his deserts. Then the woman began to weep and cried, if the Lord punishes one single word, how will it fare with my sons when they appear before him in judgment. At midnight the robbers came home and blustered and stormed. They made a fire, and when it had lighted up the cave and they saw a man lying under the stairs, they fell in a rage and cried to their mother, who is the man. Have we not forbidden anyone whomsoever to be taken in. Then said the mother, let him alone, it is a poor sinner who is expiating his crime. The robbers asked, what has he done. Old man, cried they, tell us your sins. The old man raised himself and told them how he, by one single word, had so sinned that God was angry with him, and how he was now expiating this crime. The robbers were so powerfully touched in their hearts by this story, that they were shocked with their life up to this time, reflected, and began with hearty repentance to do penance for it. The hermit, after he had converted the three sinners, lay down to sleep again under the stairs. In the morning, however, they found him dead, and out of the dry wood on which his head lay, three green twigs had grown up on high. Thus the Lord had once more received him into his favor."
  ],
  "body_text": "There was once upon a time a hermit who lived in a forest at the foot of a mountain, and passed his time in prayer and good works, and every evening he carried, to the glory of God, two pails of water up the mountain. Many a beast drank of it, and many a plant was refreshed by it, for on the heights above, a strong wind blew continually, which dried the air and the ground, and the wild birds which dread mankind wheel about there, and with their sharp eyes search for a drink. And because the hermit was so pious, an angel of God, visible to his eyes, went up with him, counted his steps, and when the work was completed, brought him his food, even as the prophet of old was by God's command fed by the raven. When the hermit in his piety had already reached a great age, it happened that he once saw from afar a poor sinner being taken to the gallows. He said carelessly to himself, there, that one is getting his deserts. In the evening, when he was carrying the water up the mountain, the angel who usually accompanied him did not appear, and also brought him no food. Then he was terrified, and searched his heart, and tried to think how he could have sinned, as God was so angry, but he did not discover it. Then he neither ate nor drank, threw himself down on the ground, and prayed day and night. And as he was one day thus bitterly weeping in the forest, he heard a little bird singing beautifully and delightfully, and then he was still more troubled and said, how joyously you sing, the Lord is not angry with you. Ah, if you could but tell me how I can have offended him, that I might do penance, and then my heart also would be glad again. Then the bird began to speak and said, you have done injustice, in that you have condemned a poor sinner who was being led to the gallows, and for that the Lord is angry with you. He alone sits in judgement. However, if you will do penance and repent your sins, he will forgive you. Then the angel stood beside him with a dry branch in his hand and said, you shall carry this dry branch until three green twigs sprout out of it, but at night when you will sleep, you shall lay it under your head. You shall beg your bread from door to door, and not tarry more than one night in the same house. That is the penance which the Lord lays on you. Then the hermit took the piece of wood, and went back into the world, which he had not seen for so long. He ate and drank nothing but what was given him at the doors. Many petitions, however, were not listened to, and many doors remained shut to him, so that he often did not get a crumb of bread. Once when he had gone from door to door from morning till night, and no one had given him anything, and no one would shelter him for the night, he went forth into a forest, and at last found a cave which someone had made, and an old woman was sitting in it. Then said he, good woman, keep me with you in your house for this night. But she said, no, I dare not, even if I wished, I have three sons who are wicked and wild, if they come home from their robbing expedition, and find you, they would kill us both. The hermit said, let me stay, they will do no injury either to you or to me. And the old woman was compassionate, and let herself be persuaded. Then the man lay down beneath the stairs, and put the bit of wood under his head. When the old woman saw him do that, she asked the reason of it, on which he told her that he carried the bit of wood about with him for a penance, and used it at night for a pillow, and that he had offended the Lord, because, when he had seen a poor sinner on the way to the gallows, he had said he was getting his deserts. Then the woman began to weep and cried, if the Lord punishes one single word, how will it fare with my sons when they appear before him in judgment. At midnight the robbers came home and blustered and stormed. They made a fire, and when it had lighted up the cave and they saw a man lying under the stairs, they fell in a rage and cried to their mother, who is the man. Have we not forbidden anyone whomsoever to be taken in. Then said the mother, let him alone, it is a poor sinner who is expiating his crime. The robbers asked, what has he done. Old man, cried they, tell us your sins. The old man raised himself and told them how he, by one single word, had so sinned that God was angry with him, and how he was now expiating this crime. The robbers were so powerfully touched in their hearts by this story, that they were shocked with their life up to this time, reflected, and began with hearty repentance to do penance for it. The hermit, after he had converted the three sinners, lay down to sleep again under the stairs. In the morning, however, they found him dead, and out of the dry wood on which his head lay, three green twigs had grown up on high. Thus the Lord had once more received him into his favor.",
  "clean_body": [
    "There was once upon a time a hermit who lived in a forest at the foot of a mountain, and passed his time in prayer and good works, and every evening he carried, to the glory of God, two pails of water up the mountain. Many a beast drank of it, and many a plant was refreshed by it, for on the heights above, a strong wind blew continually, which dried the air and the ground, and the wild birds which dread mankind wheel about there, and with their sharp eyes search for a drink. And because the hermit was so pious, an angel of God, visible to his eyes, went up with him, counted his steps, and when the work was completed, brought him his food, even as the prophet of old was by God's command fed by the raven. When the hermit in his piety had already reached a great age, it happened that he once saw from afar a poor sinner being taken to the gallows. He said carelessly to himself, there, that one is getting his deserts. In the evening, when he was carrying the water up the mountain, the angel who usually accompanied him did not appear, and also brought him no food. Then he was terrified, and searched his heart, and tried to think how he could have sinned, as God was so angry, but he did not discover it. Then he neither ate nor drank, threw himself down on the ground, and prayed day and night. And as he was one day thus bitterly weeping in the forest, he heard a little bird singing beautifully and delightfully, and then he was still more troubled and said, how joyously you sing, the Lord is not angry with you. Ah, if you could but tell me how I can have offended him, that I might do penance, and then my heart also would be glad again. Then the bird began to speak and said, you have done injustice, in that you have condemned a poor sinner who was being led to the gallows, and for that the Lord is angry with you. He alone sits in judgement. However, if you will do penance and repent your sins, he will forgive you. Then the angel stood beside him with a dry branch in his hand and said, you shall carry this dry branch until three green twigs sprout out of it, but at night when you will sleep, you shall lay it under your head. You shall beg your bread from door to door, and not tarry more than one night in the same house. That is the penance which the Lord lays on you. Then the hermit took the piece of wood, and went back into the world, which he had not seen for so long. He ate and drank nothing but what was given him at the doors. Many petitions, however, were not listened to, and many doors remained shut to him, so that he often did not get a crumb of bread. Once when he had gone from door to door from morning till night, and no one had given him anything, and no one would shelter him for the night, he went forth into a forest, and at last found a cave which someone had made, and an old woman was sitting in it. Then said he, good woman, keep me with you in your house for this night. But she said, no, I dare not, even if I wished, I have three sons who are wicked and wild, if they come home from their robbing expedition, and find you, they would kill us both. The hermit said, let me stay, they will do no injury either to you or to me. And the old woman was compassionate, and let herself be persuaded. Then the man lay down beneath the stairs, and put the bit of wood under his head. When the old woman saw him do that, she asked the reason of it, on which he told her that he carried the bit of wood about with him for a penance, and used it at night for a pillow, and that he had offended the Lord, because, when he had seen a poor sinner on the way to the gallows, he had said he was getting his deserts. Then the woman began to weep and cried, if the Lord punishes one single word, how will it fare with my sons when they appear before him in judgment. At midnight the robbers came home and blustered and stormed. They made a fire, and when it had lighted up the cave and they saw a man lying under the stairs, they fell in a rage and cried to their mother, who is the man. Have we not forbidden anyone whomsoever to be taken in. Then said the mother, let him alone, it is a poor sinner who is expiating his crime. The robbers asked, what has he done. Old man, cried they, tell us your sins. The old man raised himself and told them how he, by one single word, had so sinned that God was angry with him, and how he was now expiating this crime. The robbers were so powerfully touched in their hearts by this story, that they were shocked with their life up to this time, reflected, and began with hearty repentance to do penance for it. The hermit, after he had converted the three sinners, lay down to sleep again under the stairs. In the morning, however, they found him dead, and out of the dry wood on which his head lay, three green twigs had grown up on high. Thus the Lord had once more received him into his favor."
  ],
  "clean_text": "There was once upon a time a hermit who lived in a forest at the foot of a mountain, and passed his time in prayer and good works, and every evening he carried, to the glory of God, two pails of water up the mountain. Many a beast drank of it, and many a plant was refreshed by it, for on the heights above, a strong wind blew continually, which dried the air and the ground, and the wild birds which dread mankind wheel about there, and with their sharp eyes search for a drink. And because the hermit was so pious, an angel of God, visible to his eyes, went up with him, counted his steps, and when the work was completed, brought him his food, even as the prophet of old was by God's command fed by the raven. When the hermit in his piety had already reached a great age, it happened that he once saw from afar a poor sinner being taken to the gallows. He said carelessly to himself, there, that one is getting his deserts. In the evening, when he was carrying the water up the mountain, the angel who usually accompanied him did not appear, and also brought him no food. Then he was terrified, and searched his heart, and tried to think how he could have sinned, as God was so angry, but he did not discover it. Then he neither ate nor drank, threw himself down on the ground, and prayed day and night. And as he was one day thus bitterly weeping in the forest, he heard a little bird singing beautifully and delightfully, and then he was still more troubled and said, how joyously you sing, the Lord is not angry with you. Ah, if you could but tell me how I can have offended him, that I might do penance, and then my heart also would be glad again. Then the bird began to speak and said, you have done injustice, in that you have condemned a poor sinner who was being led to the gallows, and for that the Lord is angry with you. He alone sits in judgement. However, if you will do penance and repent your sins, he will forgive you. Then the angel stood beside him with a dry branch in his hand and said, you shall carry this dry branch until three green twigs sprout out of it, but at night when you will sleep, you shall lay it under your head. You shall beg your bread from door to door, and not tarry more than one night in the same house. That is the penance which the Lord lays on you. Then the hermit took the piece of wood, and went back into the world, which he had not seen for so long. He ate and drank nothing but what was given him at the doors. Many petitions, however, were not listened to, and many doors remained shut to him, so that he often did not get a crumb of bread. Once when he had gone from door to door from morning till night, and no one had given him anything, and no one would shelter him for the night, he went forth into a forest, and at last found a cave which someone had made, and an old woman was sitting in it. Then said he, good woman, keep me with you in your house for this night. But she said, no, I dare not, even if I wished, I have three sons who are wicked and wild, if they come home from their robbing expedition, and find you, they would kill us both. The hermit said, let me stay, they will do no injury either to you or to me. And the old woman was compassionate, and let herself be persuaded. Then the man lay down beneath the stairs, and put the bit of wood under his head. When the old woman saw him do that, she asked the reason of it, on which he told her that he carried the bit of wood about with him for a penance, and used it at night for a pillow, and that he had offended the Lord, because, when he had seen a poor sinner on the way to the gallows, he had said he was getting his deserts. Then the woman began to weep and cried, if the Lord punishes one single word, how will it fare with my sons when they appear before him in judgment. At midnight the robbers came home and blustered and stormed. They made a fire, and when it had lighted up the cave and they saw a man lying under the stairs, they fell in a rage and cried to their mother, who is the man. Have we not forbidden anyone whomsoever to be taken in. Then said the mother, let him alone, it is a poor sinner who is expiating his crime. The robbers asked, what has he done. Old man, cried they, tell us your sins. The old man raised himself and told them how he, by one single word, had so sinned that God was angry with him, and how he was now expiating this crime. The robbers were so powerfully touched in their hearts by this story, that they were shocked with their life up to this time, reflected, and began with hearty repentance to do penance for it. The hermit, after he had converted the three sinners, lay down to sleep again under the stairs. In the morning, however, they found him dead, and out of the dry wood on which his head lay, three green twigs had grown up on high. Thus the Lord had once more received him into his favor.",
  "tts_chunks": [
    "There was once upon a time a hermit who lived in a forest at the foot of a mountain, and passed his time in prayer and good works, and every evening he carried, to the glory of God, two pails of water up the mountain. Many a beast drank of it, and many a plant was refreshed by it, for on the heights above, a strong wind blew continually, which dried the air and the ground, and the wild birds which dread mankind wheel about there, and with their sharp eyes search for a drink. And because the hermit was so pious, an angel of God, visible to his eyes, went up with him, counted his steps, and when the work was completed, brought him his food, even as the prophet of old was by God's command fed by the raven.",
    "When the hermit in his piety had already reached a great age, it happened that he once saw from afar a poor sinner being taken to the gallows. He said carelessly to himself, there, that one is getting his deserts. In the evening, when he was carrying the water up the mountain, the angel who usually accompanied him did not appear, and also brought him no food. Then he was terrified, and searched his heart, and tried to think how he could have sinned, as God was so angry, but he did not discover it. Then he neither ate nor drank, threw himself down on the ground, and prayed day and night.",
    "And as he was one day thus bitterly weeping in the forest, he heard a little bird singing beautifully and delightfully, and then he was still more troubled and said, how joyously you sing, the Lord is not angry with you. Ah, if you could but tell me how I can have offended him, that I might do penance, and then my heart also would be glad again. Then the bird began to speak and said, you have done injustice, in that you have condemned a poor sinner who was being led to the gallows, and for that the Lord is angry with you. He alone sits in judgement. However, if you will do penance and repent your sins, he will forgive you.",
    "Then the angel stood beside him with a dry branch in his hand and said, you shall carry this dry branch until three green twigs sprout out of it, but at night when you will sleep, you shall lay it under your head. You shall beg your bread from door to door, and not tarry more than one night in the same house. That is the penance which the Lord lays on you. Then the hermit took the piece of wood, and went back into the world, which he had not seen for so long. He ate and drank nothing but what was given him at the doors. Many petitions, however, were not listened to, and many doors remained shut to him, so that he often did not get a crumb of bread.",
    "Once when he had gone from door to door from morning till night, and no one had given him anything, and no one would shelter him for the night, he went forth into a forest, and at last found a cave which someone had made, and an old woman was sitting in it. Then said he, good woman, keep me with you in your house for this night. But she said, no, I dare not, even if I wished, I have three sons who are wicked and wild, if they come home from their robbing expedition, and find you, they would kill us both. The hermit said, let me stay, they will do no injury either to you or to me. And the old woman was compassionate, and let herself be persuaded. Then the man lay down beneath the stairs, and put the bit of wood under his head.",
    "When the old woman saw him do that, she asked the reason of it, on which he told her that he carried the bit of wood about with him for a penance, and used it at night for a pillow, and that he had offended the Lord, because, when he had seen a poor sinner on the way to the gallows, he had said he was getting his deserts. Then the woman began to weep and cried, if the Lord punishes one single word, how will it fare with my sons when they appear before him in judgment. At midnight the robbers came home and blustered and stormed. They made a fire, and when it had lighted up the cave and they saw a man lying under the stairs, they fell in a rage and cried to their mother, who is the man. Have we not forbidden anyone whomsoever to be taken in.",
    "Then said the mother, let him alone, it is a poor sinner who is expiating his crime. The robbers asked, what has he done. Old man, cried they, tell us your sins. The old man raised himself and told them how he, by one single word, had so sinned that God was angry with him, and how he was now expiating this crime. The robbers were so powerfully touched in their hearts by this story, that they were shocked with their life up to this time, reflected, and began with hearty repentance to do penance for it. The hermit, after he had converted the three sinners, lay down to sleep again under the stairs. In the morning, however, they found him dead, and out of the dry wood on which his head lay, three green twigs had grown up on high. Thus the Lord had once more received him into his favor."
  ],
  "speech_safe_body": [
    "There was once upon a time a hermit who lived in a forest at the foot of a mountain, and passed his time in prayer and good works, and every evening he carried, to the glory of God, two pails of water up the mountain. Many a beast drank of it, and many a plant was refreshed by it, for on the heights above, a strong wind blew continually, which dried the air and the ground, and the wild birds which dread mankind wheel about there, and with their sharp eyes search for a drink. And because the hermit was so pious, an angel of God, visible to his eyes, went up with him, counted his steps, and when the work was completed, brought him his food, even as the prophet of old was by God's command fed by the raven.",
    "When the hermit in his piety had already reached a great age, it happened that he once saw from afar a poor sinner being taken to the gallows. He said carelessly to himself, there, that one is getting his deserts. In the evening, when he was carrying the water up the mountain, the angel who usually accompanied him did not appear, and also brought him no food. Then he was terrified, and searched his heart, and tried to think how he could have sinned, as God was so angry, but he did not discover it. Then he neither ate nor drank, threw himself down on the ground, and prayed day and night.",
    "And as he was one day thus bitterly weeping in the forest, he heard a little bird singing beautifully and delightfully, and then he was still more troubled and said, how joyously you sing, the Lord is not angry with you. Ah, if you could but tell me how I can have offended him, that I might do penance, and then my heart also would be glad again. Then the bird began to speak and said, you have done injustice, in that you have condemned a poor sinner who was being led to the gallows, and for that the Lord is angry with you. He alone sits in judgement. However, if you will do penance and repent your sins, he will forgive you.",
    "Then the angel stood beside him with a dry branch in his hand and said, you shall carry this dry branch until three green twigs sprout out of it, but at night when you will sleep, you shall lay it under your head. You shall beg your bread from door to door, and not tarry more than one night in the same house. That is the penance which the Lord lays on you. Then the hermit took the piece of wood, and went back into the world, which he had not seen for so long. He ate and drank nothing but what was given him at the doors. Many petitions, however, were not listened to, and many doors remained shut to him, so that he often did not get a crumb of bread.",
    "Once when he had gone from door to door from morning till night, and no one had given him anything, and no one would shelter him for the night, he went forth into a forest, and at last found a cave which someone had made, and an old woman was sitting in it. Then said he, good woman, keep me with you in your house for this night. But she said, no, I dare not, even if I wished, I have three sons who are wicked and wild, if they come home from their robbing expedition, and find you, they would kill us both. The hermit said, let me stay, they will do no injury either to you or to me. And the old woman was compassionate, and let herself be persuaded. Then the man lay down beneath the stairs, and put the bit of wood under his head.",
    "When the old woman saw him do that, she asked the reason of it, on which he told her that he carried the bit of wood about with him for a penance, and used it at night for a pillow, and that he had offended the Lord, because, when he had seen a poor sinner on the way to the gallows, he had said he was getting his deserts. Then the woman began to weep and cried, if the Lord punishes one single word, how will it fare with my sons when they appear before him in judgment. At midnight the robbers came home and blustered and stormed. They made a fire, and when it had lighted up the cave and they saw a man lying under the stairs, they fell in a rage and cried to their mother, who is the man. Have we not forbidden anyone whomsoever to be taken in.",
    "Then said the mother, let him alone, it is a poor sinner who is expiating his crime. The robbers asked, what has he done. Old man, cried they, tell us your sins. The old man raised himself and told them how he, by one single word, had so sinned that God was angry with him, and how he was now expiating this crime. The robbers were so powerfully touched in their hearts by this story, that they were shocked with their life up to this time, reflected, and began with hearty repentance to do penance for it. The hermit, after he had converted the three sinners, lay down to sleep again under the stairs. In the morning, however, they found him dead, and out of the dry wood on which his head lay, three green twigs had grown up on high. Thus the Lord had once more received him into his favor."
  ],
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    "When the hermit in his piety had already reached a great age, it happened that he once saw from afar a poor sinner being taken to the gallows. He said carelessly to himself, there, that one is getting his deserts. In the evening, when he was carrying the water up the mountain, the angel who usually accompanied him did not appear, and also brought him no food. Then he was terrified, and searched his heart, and tried to think how he could have sinned, as God was so angry, but he did not discover it. Then he neither ate nor drank, threw himself down on the ground, and prayed day and night.",
    "And as he was one day thus bitterly weeping in the forest, he heard a little bird singing beautifully and delightfully, and then he was still more troubled and said, how joyously you sing, the Lord is not angry with you. Ah, if you could but tell me how I can have offended him, that I might do penance, and then my heart also would be glad again. Then the bird began to speak and said, you have done injustice, in that you have condemned a poor sinner who was being led to the gallows, and for that the Lord is angry with you. He alone sits in judgement. However, if you will do penance and repent your sins, he will forgive you.",
    "Then the angel stood beside him with a dry branch in his hand and said, you shall carry this dry branch until three green twigs sprout out of it, but at night when you will sleep, you shall lay it under your head. You shall beg your bread from door to door, and not tarry more than one night in the same house. That is the penance which the Lord lays on you. Then the hermit took the piece of wood, and went back into the world, which he had not seen for so long. He ate and drank nothing but what was given him at the doors. Many petitions, however, were not listened to, and many doors remained shut to him, so that he often did not get a crumb of bread.",
    "Once when he had gone from door to door from morning till night, and no one had given him anything, and no one would shelter him for the night, he went forth into a forest, and at last found a cave which someone had made, and an old woman was sitting in it. Then said he, good woman, keep me with you in your house for this night. But she said, no, I dare not, even if I wished, I have three sons who are wicked and wild, if they come home from their robbing expedition, and find you, they would kill us both. The hermit said, let me stay, they will do no injury either to you or to me. And the old woman was compassionate, and let herself be persuaded. Then the man lay down beneath the stairs, and put the bit of wood under his head.",
    "When the old woman saw him do that, she asked the reason of it, on which he told her that he carried the bit of wood about with him for a penance, and used it at night for a pillow, and that he had offended the Lord, because, when he had seen a poor sinner on the way to the gallows, he had said he was getting his deserts. Then the woman began to weep and cried, if the Lord punishes one single word, how will it fare with my sons when they appear before him in judgment. At midnight the robbers came home and blustered and stormed. They made a fire, and when it had lighted up the cave and they saw a man lying under the stairs, they fell in a rage and cried to their mother, who is the man. Have we not forbidden anyone whomsoever to be taken in.",
    "Then said the mother, let him alone, it is a poor sinner who is expiating his crime. The robbers asked, what has he done. Old man, cried they, tell us your sins. The old man raised himself and told them how he, by one single word, had so sinned that God was angry with him, and how he was now expiating this crime. The robbers were so powerfully touched in their hearts by this story, that they were shocked with their life up to this time, reflected, and began with hearty repentance to do penance for it. The hermit, after he had converted the three sinners, lay down to sleep again under the stairs. In the morning, however, they found him dead, and out of the dry wood on which his head lay, three green twigs had grown up on high. Thus the Lord had once more received him into his favor."
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    "There was once upon a time a hermit who lived in a forest at the foot of a mountain, and passed his time in prayer and good works, and every evening he carried, to the glory of God, two pails of water up the mountain. Many a beast drank of it, and many a plant was refreshed by it, for on the heights above, a strong wind blew continually, which dried the air and the ground, and the wild birds which dread mankind wheel about there, and with their sharp eyes search for a drink. And because the hermit was so pious, an angel of God, visible to his eyes, went up with him, counted his steps, and when the work was completed, brought him his food, even as the prophet of old was by God's command fed by the raven.",
    "When the hermit in his piety had already reached a great age, it happened that he once saw from afar a poor sinner being taken to the gallows. He said carelessly to himself, there, that one is getting his deserts. In the evening, when he was carrying the water up the mountain, the angel who usually accompanied him did not appear, and also brought him no food. Then he was terrified, and searched his heart, and tried to think how he could have sinned, as God was so angry, but he did not discover it. Then he neither ate nor drank, threw himself down on the ground, and prayed day and night.",
    "And as he was one day thus bitterly weeping in the forest, he heard a little bird singing beautifully and delightfully, and then he was still more troubled and said, how joyously you sing, the Lord is not angry with you. Ah, if you could but tell me how I can have offended him, that I might do penance, and then my heart also would be glad again. Then the bird began to speak and said, you have done injustice, in that you have condemned a poor sinner who was being led to the gallows, and for that the Lord is angry with you. He alone sits in judgement. However, if you will do penance and repent your sins, he will forgive you.",
    "Then the angel stood beside him with a dry branch in his hand and said, you shall carry this dry branch until three green twigs sprout out of it, but at night when you will sleep, you shall lay it under your head. You shall beg your bread from door to door, and not tarry more than one night in the same house. That is the penance which the Lord lays on you. Then the hermit took the piece of wood, and went back into the world, which he had not seen for so long. He ate and drank nothing but what was given him at the doors. Many petitions, however, were not listened to, and many doors remained shut to him, so that he often did not get a crumb of bread.",
    "Once when he had gone from door to door from morning till night, and no one had given him anything, and no one would shelter him for the night, he went forth into a forest, and at last found a cave which someone had made, and an old woman was sitting in it. Then said he, good woman, keep me with you in your house for this night. But she said, no, I dare not, even if I wished, I have three sons who are wicked and wild, if they come home from their robbing expedition, and find you, they would kill us both. The hermit said, let me stay, they will do no injury either to you or to me. And the old woman was compassionate, and let herself be persuaded. Then the man lay down beneath the stairs, and put the bit of wood under his head.",
    "When the old woman saw him do that, she asked the reason of it, on which he told her that he carried the bit of wood about with him for a penance, and used it at night for a pillow, and that he had offended the Lord, because, when he had seen a poor sinner on the way to the gallows, he had said he was getting his deserts. Then the woman began to weep and cried, if the Lord punishes one single word, how will it fare with my sons when they appear before him in judgment. At midnight the robbers came home and blustered and stormed. They made a fire, and when it had lighted up the cave and they saw a man lying under the stairs, they fell in a rage and cried to their mother, who is the man. Have we not forbidden anyone whomsoever to be taken in.",
    "Then said the mother, let him alone, it is a poor sinner who is expiating his crime. The robbers asked, what has he done. Old man, cried they, tell us your sins. The old man raised himself and told them how he, by one single word, had so sinned that God was angry with him, and how he was now expiating this crime. The robbers were so powerfully touched in their hearts by this story, that they were shocked with their life up to this time, reflected, and began with hearty repentance to do penance for it. The hermit, after he had converted the three sinners, lay down to sleep again under the stairs. In the morning, however, they found him dead, and out of the dry wood on which his head lay, three green twigs had grown up on high. Thus the Lord had once more received him into his favor."
  ],
  "child_friendly_title": "The Three Green Twigs",
  "child_friendly_body": [
    "Once upon a time, a kind hermit lived in a forest at the bottom of a mountain. He spent his days praying and doing good deeds. Every evening, he carried two heavy pails of water up the hill to thank God. Many animals drank from the water, and the plants were happy, too. The wind was very strong at the top, so the water was precious there. The wild birds were afraid of people, but they watched the hermit carefully. Because he was so good, an angel of God walked with him. The angel counted his steps and brought him food when he was done, just like the old stories.",
    "When the hermit was very old, he saw a sad man being taken to prison. The hermit thought, \"That man is getting what he deserves.\" In the evening, the angel did not come to help him. He did not bring him any food. The hermit was very scared. He looked inside his heart and asked, \"What did I do wrong?\" He could not find any answer. He did not eat or drink. He lay on the ground and prayed all day and all night.",
    "One day, he cried so hard in the forest. Then, he heard a little bird singing a happy song. He felt even sadder and asked, \"You sing so joyfully. The Lord must not be angry with you. Oh, if you could tell me how I have hurt him, I would do anything to fix it. Then my heart would feel happy again.\"\n\nThe bird spoke softly. \"You have done something wrong. You judged a poor person who was in trouble. The Lord is the only one who can judge. But if you say sorry and try to be good, He will forgive you.",
    "Then the angel stood beside him with a dry branch in his hand. He said, \"You shall carry this branch until three green twigs sprout out of it. But at night, when you sleep, you must lay it under your head. You must ask for your food from door to door, and you may stay in one house for only one night. This is the task the Lord gives you.\"\n\nThe hermit took the piece of wood and went back into the world. He had not seen it for so long. He ate and drank only what people gave him at the doors. Many people did not listen to his requests, and many doors stayed shut. He often did not get a single crumb of bread.",
    "One day he walked from house to house all morning and all afternoon. No one gave him any food, and no one let him stay the night. So he went into a big forest. He found a cave that someone had made. An old woman was sitting inside it.\n\nHe asked her kindly, \"Please, kind lady, let me stay in your home for tonight.\"\n\nBut she said, \"No, I dare not. I have three sons who are wild and naughty. If they come home from their trip and find you, they will hurt us both.\"\n\nThe hermit said, \"Please, let me stay. They will not hurt you or me.\"\n\nThe old woman felt sorry for him. She agreed to let him stay.\n\nThe man lay down under the stairs. He put a small piece of wood under his head to rest.",
    "When the old woman saw him do that, she asked why he was doing it. He told her he carried the stick because he felt sorry for his mistakes. He used it as a pillow at night. He said he had upset the Lord because he saw a sad man going to a bad place. The man had said he deserved it. The woman started to cry. She thought, \"If the Lord is angry about one word, what will happen to my sons when they stand before him?\"\n\nAt midnight, the robbers came home. They were loud and grumpy. They made a warm fire. When they saw a man sleeping under the stairs, they got very angry. They shouted at their mother, \"Who is this man? We said no one could stay here!",
    "Then the mother said, \"Let him be. He is a poor man who is trying to make things right.\"\n\nThe robbers asked, \"What did he do?\"\n\n\"Old man,\" they cried, \"please tell us your story.\"\n\nThe old man sat up. He told them how he had made a big mistake with just one word. He said God was sad with him, and now he was trying to fix it.\n\nThe robbers felt very touched by his story. They thought about their own lives. They felt sorry for what they had done. They began to change their hearts and do good things.\n\nThe hermit helped the three men feel better. Then, he lay down to sleep again under the stairs.\n\nIn the morning, they found him sleeping forever. But out of the dry wood where his head lay, three green twigs had grown up high.\n\nThe Lord had once more welcomed him back."
  ],
  "child_friendly_text": "Once upon a time, a kind hermit lived in a forest at the bottom of a mountain. He spent his days praying and doing good deeds. Every evening, he carried two heavy pails of water up the hill to thank God. Many animals drank from the water, and the plants were happy, too. The wind was very strong at the top, so the water was precious there. The wild birds were afraid of people, but they watched the hermit carefully. Because he was so good, an angel of God walked with him. The angel counted his steps and brought him food when he was done, just like the old stories.\n\nWhen the hermit was very old, he saw a sad man being taken to prison. The hermit thought, \"That man is getting what he deserves.\" In the evening, the angel did not come to help him. He did not bring him any food. The hermit was very scared. He looked inside his heart and asked, \"What did I do wrong?\" He could not find any answer. He did not eat or drink. He lay on the ground and prayed all day and all night.\n\nOne day, he cried so hard in the forest. Then, he heard a little bird singing a happy song. He felt even sadder and asked, \"You sing so joyfully. The Lord must not be angry with you. Oh, if you could tell me how I have hurt him, I would do anything to fix it. Then my heart would feel happy again.\"\n\nThe bird spoke softly. \"You have done something wrong. You judged a poor person who was in trouble. The Lord is the only one who can judge. But if you say sorry and try to be good, He will forgive you.\n\nThen the angel stood beside him with a dry branch in his hand. He said, \"You shall carry this branch until three green twigs sprout out of it. But at night, when you sleep, you must lay it under your head. You must ask for your food from door to door, and you may stay in one house for only one night. This is the task the Lord gives you.\"\n\nThe hermit took the piece of wood and went back into the world. He had not seen it for so long. He ate and drank only what people gave him at the doors. Many people did not listen to his requests, and many doors stayed shut. He often did not get a single crumb of bread.\n\nOne day he walked from house to house all morning and all afternoon. No one gave him any food, and no one let him stay the night. So he went into a big forest. He found a cave that someone had made. An old woman was sitting inside it.\n\nHe asked her kindly, \"Please, kind lady, let me stay in your home for tonight.\"\n\nBut she said, \"No, I dare not. I have three sons who are wild and naughty. If they come home from their trip and find you, they will hurt us both.\"\n\nThe hermit said, \"Please, let me stay. They will not hurt you or me.\"\n\nThe old woman felt sorry for him. She agreed to let him stay.\n\nThe man lay down under the stairs. He put a small piece of wood under his head to rest.\n\nWhen the old woman saw him do that, she asked why he was doing it. He told her he carried the stick because he felt sorry for his mistakes. He used it as a pillow at night. He said he had upset the Lord because he saw a sad man going to a bad place. The man had said he deserved it. The woman started to cry. She thought, \"If the Lord is angry about one word, what will happen to my sons when they stand before him?\"\n\nAt midnight, the robbers came home. They were loud and grumpy. They made a warm fire. When they saw a man sleeping under the stairs, they got very angry. They shouted at their mother, \"Who is this man? We said no one could stay here!\n\nThen the mother said, \"Let him be. He is a poor man who is trying to make things right.\"\n\nThe robbers asked, \"What did he do?\"\n\n\"Old man,\" they cried, \"please tell us your story.\"\n\nThe old man sat up. He told them how he had made a big mistake with just one word. He said God was sad with him, and now he was trying to fix it.\n\nThe robbers felt very touched by his story. They thought about their own lives. They felt sorry for what they had done. They began to change their hearts and do good things.\n\nThe hermit helped the three men feel better. Then, he lay down to sleep again under the stairs.\n\nIn the morning, they found him sleeping forever. But out of the dry wood where his head lay, three green twigs had grown up high.\n\nThe Lord had once more welcomed him back.",
  "child_friendly_chunks": [
    "Once upon a time, a kind hermit lived in a forest at the bottom of a mountain. He spent his days praying and doing good deeds. Every evening, he carried two heavy pails of water up the hill to thank God. Many animals drank from the water, and the plants were happy, too. The wind was very strong at the top, so the water was precious there. The wild birds were afraid of people, but they watched the hermit carefully. Because he was so good, an angel of God walked with him. The angel counted his steps and brought him food when he was done, just like the old stories.",
    "When the hermit was very old, he saw a sad man being taken to prison. The hermit thought, \"That man is getting what he deserves.\" In the evening, the angel did not come to help him. He did not bring him any food. The hermit was very scared. He looked inside his heart and asked, \"What did I do wrong?\" He could not find any answer. He did not eat or drink. He lay on the ground and prayed all day and all night.",
    "One day, he cried so hard in the forest. Then, he heard a little bird singing a happy song. He felt even sadder and asked, \"You sing so joyfully. The Lord must not be angry with you. Oh, if you could tell me how I have hurt him, I would do anything to fix it. Then my heart would feel happy again.\"\n\nThe bird spoke softly. \"You have done something wrong. You judged a poor person who was in trouble. The Lord is the only one who can judge. But if you say sorry and try to be good, He will forgive you.",
    "Then the angel stood beside him with a dry branch in his hand. He said, \"You shall carry this branch until three green twigs sprout out of it. But at night, when you sleep, you must lay it under your head. You must ask for your food from door to door, and you may stay in one house for only one night. This is the task the Lord gives you.\"\n\nThe hermit took the piece of wood and went back into the world. He had not seen it for so long. He ate and drank only what people gave him at the doors. Many people did not listen to his requests, and many doors stayed shut. He often did not get a single crumb of bread.",
    "One day he walked from house to house all morning and all afternoon. No one gave him any food, and no one let him stay the night. So he went into a big forest. He found a cave that someone had made. An old woman was sitting inside it.\n\nHe asked her kindly, \"Please, kind lady, let me stay in your home for tonight.\"\n\nBut she said, \"No, I dare not. I have three sons who are wild and naughty. If they come home from their trip and find you, they will hurt us both.\"\n\nThe hermit said, \"Please, let me stay. They will not hurt you or me.\"\n\nThe old woman felt sorry for him. She agreed to let him stay.\n\nThe man lay down under the stairs. He put a small piece of wood under his head to rest.",
    "When the old woman saw him do that, she asked why he was doing it. He told her he carried the stick because he felt sorry for his mistakes. He used it as a pillow at night. He said he had upset the Lord because he saw a sad man going to a bad place. The man had said he deserved it. The woman started to cry. She thought, \"If the Lord is angry about one word, what will happen to my sons when they stand before him?\"\n\nAt midnight, the robbers came home. They were loud and grumpy. They made a warm fire. When they saw a man sleeping under the stairs, they got very angry. They shouted at their mother, \"Who is this man? We said no one could stay here!",
    "Then the mother said, \"Let him be. He is a poor man who is trying to make things right.\"\n\nThe robbers asked, \"What did he do?\"\n\n\"Old man,\" they cried, \"please tell us your story.\"\n\nThe old man sat up. He told them how he had made a big mistake with just one word. He said God was sad with him, and now he was trying to fix it.\n\nThe robbers felt very touched by his story. They thought about their own lives. They felt sorry for what they had done. They began to change their hearts and do good things.\n\nThe hermit helped the three men feel better. Then, he lay down to sleep again under the stairs.\n\nIn the morning, they found him sleeping forever. But out of the dry wood where his head lay, three green twigs had grown up high.\n\nThe Lord had once more welcomed him back."
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