The Mourning Brothers

  OBSERVING that he was about to die, an Old Man called his two Sons
to his bedside and expounded¹ the situation.

  "My children," said he, "you have not shown me many marks of
respect during my life, but you will attest² your sorrow for my
death.  To him who the longer wears a weed upon his hat in memory
of me shall go my entire fortune.  I have made a will to that
effect."

  So when the Old Man was dead each of the youths put a weed upon his
hat and wore it until he was himself old, when, seeing that neither
would give in, they agreed that the younger should leave off his
weeds and the elder give him half of the estate.  But when the
elder applied³ for the property he found that there had been an
Executor!

  Thus were hypocrisy⁴ and obstinacy⁵ fitly punished.