Long ago, there lived two brothers. The older brother was rich and successful, but mean and arrogant¹. The younger brother was very poor, but kind and generous.

One day the poor brother and his wife found that they had nothing to eat in their house. They had no money either, and nothing that they could sell. To make matters worse, the next day was a holiday, a day of celebration.

'Where are we going to get something to eat? Tomorrow is a holiday. How will we celebrate?' asked the poor brother's wife in tears.

The poor brother was in a fix. He did not know what to do.

'Go to your brother and ask for his help,' suggested the poor man's wife. 'He killed a cow yesterday - I saw him. Surely he will not grudge²（怀恨） us a little meat for the holiday?'

The poor man sighed. He did not like to ask his brother for help, for he knew how mean and selfish his brother was. But the next day was a holiday, and he really could not think how else to get something to eat.

So the poor man put on his ragged³（衣衫褴褛的） cloak and walked to his rich brother's house.

'What do you want?' asked the rich brother as soon as he saw the poor man.

'Why do you come here?' cried the rich man's wife. 'Tomorrow is a holiday, and we are busy preparing the feast. Go away, we have no time for you!'

'Brother,' said the poor man, 'We have nothing to eat in the house, no food to celebrate the holiday. Lend me a little meat, so that I and my wife may also celebrate.'

'I knew it!' shrieked⁴ the rich man's wife at her husband. 'I knew your brother would come begging one day. Throw him out!'

The poor man ignored his brother's wife. 'Please, brother,' he said, looking at the rich man.

'Oh very well,' grumbled⁵ the rich man. 'Take this - and go to Hiysi!' And he threw a cow's hoof⁶（蹄） at the poor man.

The poor man thanked his brother, and wrapping the cow's hoof in his tattered⁷ cloak began walking back to his house. As he walked he thought, 'My brother did not give me the cow's hoof. He has told me to take it to Hiysi. So this piece of meat is not mine to eat, but Hiysi's. I must take it to Hiysi.'

Hiysi the Wood-Goblin lived deep in the forest. So the poor man turned around and started walking towards the forest. The forest was dark and gloomy, but the poor man was determined⁸ to deliver the cow's hoof to Hiysi. So he walked and he walked through the trees.