Very many years ago, in a far-away land where the trees never changed their green leaves and where the birds always sang, there lived on an island a farmer with a large family.  Though all alone on the island and knowing nothing of people in the outer world, they were always happy,—­as happy as the laughing rills that rippled past their home.  They had no great wealth, depending from year to year on the crops which the father raised.  They needed no money, for they lacked nothing; and they never sold their produce, for no people were near to buy.

One day in the middle of the year, after the crops were well started, a loud, unusual roar was heard.  Suddenly a stiff gale blew up from the southwest, and with it came clouds which quickly hid the entire sky.  The day turned to night.  The birds ceased to sing and went to their nests.  The wild beasts ran to their caves.  The family sought shelter in the house from a heavy downpour of rain which continued for many days and nights.  So long did it last that they became very anxious about the condition of things around them.

On the eighth day the birds again began to sing, and the sun was, as usual, bright.  The farmer arose early and went out to look at his fields, but, lo! his crop was all destroyed.  He went back to the house and told the family that the water-god was angry and had washed away all that he had hoped to have for the coming year.

What were they to do?  The supply in the house was getting low and it was too late to raise another crop.  The father worried night and day, for he did not know how he could keep his children from starvation.

One day he made a long journey and came into a place that was strange to him.  He had never before seen the like of it.  But in the midst of a broad meadow he saw a tree with spreading branches like an elm, and as his legs and back were stiff from walking, he went over and sat down under it.  Presently, looking up, he discovered that on the tree were large red fruits.  He climbed up and brought some down, and after satisfying his hunger he fell asleep.

He had not slept long when he was awakened by a loud noise.  The owner of the place was coming.  He was fearful to look upon.  His body was like that of a person, but he was of enormous size; and he had a long tail, and two horns growing out of his head.  The farmer was frightened and did not know what to do.  He stood motionless till the master came up and began to talk to him.  Then he explained that he had come there in search of food to keep his family alive.  The monster was delighted to hear this, for he saw that he had the man and the man’s family in his power.  He told the traveller that in return for a certain promise he would help him out of his troubles.

The demon, as he was called by some travellers to that land, showed the farmer a smooth, round stone, which, he said, gave its possessor the power of a magician.  He offered to lend this to the farmer for five years, if at the expiration of that time the farmer and family would become his slaves.  The farmer consented.