XI. (Page

There was once a boy who was seven years olti, and (was) so small that he was called Little Thumb. He was more cunning than ail his brothers ; yet, though^ he listened nuch, he spoke little, which ^ people^ took for a sign of foolishness.

His father and (his) mother, who were very poor, were much beset, because their children could not yet earn their living. They grieved* still more, because Little Thumb, who was the youngest of ail, was so délicate and spoke so little.

At last ^ the father said : " I am resolved to rid myself of my children. I can no longer support them. We could not see them die before our eyes. To-morrow I shall take them to the woods, and lose them there, without their kiiowin^ it."

1 bien que or quoique, with subj. 2 ce que. 3 on. * reflex. verb. 5 enfin.