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![[Illustration]](http://www.gatewaytotheclassics.com/gold/books/skinner/nursery/skinner_nursery_zpage027.gif)
Munachar and Manachar lived a long time ago. One day they went out to pick blackberries. But as fast as Munachar picked the blackberries Manachar ate them, every one.
Munachar said,
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"I shall look for a reed To tie Manachar's hands. He is eating my blackberries, every one." |
Munachar walked until he came to a reed growing near the brook.
"What news do you bring?" asked the reed.
"I bring you no news," said Munachar.
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"I want a reed To tie Manachar's hands. He is eating my blackberries, every one." |
"You shall not get me," said the reed, "until you bring an axe to cut my stem."
Munachar walked on until he came to an axe near a wood-pile.
"What news do you bring?" asked the axe.
"I bring you no news," said Munachar.
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"I want an axe; An axe to cut a reed; A reed to tie Manachar's hands. He is eating my blackberries, every one." |
"You shall not get me," said the axe, "until you fetch a stone to sharpen my edge."
Munachar walked on until he came to a stone near a wall.
"What news do you bring?" asked the stone.
"I bring you no news," said Munachar.
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"I want a stone; A stone to sharpen an axe; An axe to cut a reed; A reed to tie Manachar's hands. He is eating my blackberries, every one." |
"You shall not get me," said the stone, "until you fetch some water to wet me."
Munachar walked on until he came to a spring in the meadow.
"What news do you bring?" asked the spring.
"I bring you no news," said Munachar.
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"I want some water; Water to wet a stone; A stone to sharpen an axe; An axe to cut a reed; A reed to tie Manachar's hands. He is eating my blackberries, every one." |
"You shall not get me," said the spring, "until you drive the cow here to drink my water."
Munachar walked on until he came to the cow in the barnyard.
"What news do you bring?" asked the cow.
"I bring you no news," said Munachar.
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"I want a cow; A cow to drink some water; Water to wet a stone; A stone to sharpen an axe; An axe to cut a reed; A reed to tie Manachar's hands. He is eating my blackberries, every one." |
"You shall not get me," said the cow, "until you bring me a wisp of hay from the farmer."
Munachar walked on until he came to a farmer in the stable.
"What news do you bring?" asked the farmer.
"I bring you no news," said Munachar.
![[Illustration]](http://www.gatewaytotheclassics.com/gold/books/skinner/nursery/skinner_nursery_zpage031.gif)
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"I want a wisp of hay; Hay to feed the cow; Cow to drink some water; Water to wet a stone; A stone to sharpen an axe; An axe to cut a reed; A reed to tie Manachar's hands. He is eating my blackberries, every one." |
"You shall not get a wisp of hay from me," said the farmer, "until you bring me water from the brook in a sieve."
So Munachar got a sieve and ran away to the brook in the meadow.
He filled the sieve with water and lifted it up. But the water ran through the sieve and left it empty. Again he filled the sieve with water and lifted it up. Again the water ran through the sieve and left it empty.
"Oh, what shall I do?" asked Munachar. "The water will not stay in the sieve."
A crow flew over the brook and cried out, "Daub! Daub! Daub it with clay!"
"I never thought of that," laughed Munachar.
He took up a handful of clay and daubed it all over the holes in the sieve. Then he filled the sieve with water and carried it to the farmer.
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The farmer gave a wisp of hay; The hay fed the cow; The cow drank the water; The water wet the stone; The stone sharpened the axe; The axe cut the reed. |
Away ran Munachar with the reed to Manachar's hands. But the greedy Manachar had eaten all the blackberries—and had burst!
| Celtic Nursery Tale |