Meanwhile, the kindly cook prepared to leave. He was hungry and broken-hearted, but before he could go, the elf appeared once more.

"You have been very kind," said the little man. "Take this gift." He handed the cook a small brown box and told him, "Whenever you need something, tap on the lid and state your wish out loud." Again he disappeared.

As the cook departed, he smelled the gamekeeper's soup. But since the gamekeeper offered nothing to him, the cook tapped on the box and wished for something to eat. Immediately a bag filled with delicious food was before him.

The gamekeeper was astonished. "Where did you get that box?" he asked the cook. The cook explained, then departed on his journey.

When the cook grew tired, he hesitantly tapped on his box and requested a carriage. To his delight, a fancy coach appeared, and he set off to see the world with his bag of food that never emptied.

Meanwhile, the gamekeeper wanted a box like the cook's. He hastily prepared a poor meal and impatiently called the little man to come and eat his fill.

The tiny man appeared, but since the cook had already fed him, he wasn't hungry. The gamekeeper insisted that the elf eat some soup. The elf sipped a spoonful and promised the gamekeeper his reward.

As soon as a little box appeared, the gamekeeper greedily tapped on the lid. To his dismay, a magic spoon flew out of the box and beat both the greedy gamekeeper and the hardhearted squire until they were bruised and sorry for their selfishness.

The little elf was never seen again.

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From Fairy Tales from Many Lands, edited by H. Herda, Franklin Watts Inc., N.Y., 1956