Scarcelyhadsheutteredthesewordsthanthetwolittleonesdrewtheirlastbreath，whereuponherheartbroke，andshesankdowndead。
Therewasonceuponatimeahermitwholivedinaforestatthefootofamountain，andpassedhistimeinprayerandgoodworks，andeveryeveninghecarried，tothegloryofGod，twopailsofwaterupthemountain。Manyabeastdrankofit，andmanyaplantwasrefreshedbyit，forontheheightsabove，astrongwindblewcontinually，whichdriedtheairandtheground，andthewildbirdswhichdreadmankindwheelaboutthere，andwiththeirsharpeyessearchforadrink。Andbecausethehermitwassopious，anangelofGod，visibletohiseyes，wentupwithhim，countedhissteps，andwhentheworkwascompleted，broughthimhisfood，evenastheprophetofoldwasbyGod\'scommandfedbytheraven。Whenthehermitinhispietyhadalreadyreachedagreatage，ithappenedthatheoncesawfromafarapoorsinnerbeingtakentothegallows。Hesaidcarelesslytohimself，there，thatoneisgettinghisdeserts。Intheevening，whenhewascarryingthewaterupthemountain，theangelwhousuallyaccompaniedhimdidnotappear，andalsobroughthimnofood。Thenhewasterrified，andsearchedhisheart，andtriedtothinkhowhecouldhavesinned，asGodwassoangry，buthedidnotdiscoverit。Thenheneitheratenordrank，threwhimselfdownontheground，andprayeddayandnight。Andashewasonedaythusbitterlyweepingintheforest，heheardalittlebirdsingingbeautifullyanddelightfully，andthenhewasstillmoretroubledandsaid，howjoyouslyyousing，theLordisnotangrywithyou。Ah，ifyoucouldbuttellmehowIcanhaveoffendedhim，thatImightdopenance，andthenmyheartalsowouldbegladagain。Thenthebirdbegantospeakandsaid，youhavedoneinjustice，inthatyouhavecondemnedapoorsinnerwhowasbeingledtothegallows，andforthattheLordisangrywithyou。Healonesitsinjudgement。However，ifyouwilldopenanceandrepentyoursins，hewillforgiveyou。Thentheangelstoodbesidehimwithadrybranchinhishandandsaid，youshallcarrythisdrybranchuntilthreegreentwigssproutoutofit，butatnightwhenyouwillsleep，youshalllayitunderyourhead。Youshallbegyourbreadfromdoortodoor，andnottarrymorethanonenightinthesamehouse。ThatisthepenancewhichtheLordlaysonyou。
Thenthehermittookthepieceofwood，andwentbackintotheworld，whichhehadnotseenforsolong。Heateanddranknothingbutwhatwasgivenhimatthedoors。Manypetitions，however，werenotlistenedto，andmanydoorsremainedshuttohim，sothatheoftendidnotgetacrumbofbread。
Oncewhenhehadgonefromdoortodoorfrommorningtillnight，andnoonehadgivenhimanything，andnoonewouldshelterhimforthenight，hewentforthintoaforest，andatlastfoundacavewhichsomeonehadmade，andanoldwomanwassittinginit。
Thensaidhe，goodwoman，keepmewithyouinyourhouseforthisnight。Butshesaid，no，Idarenot，evenifIwished，Ihavethreesonswhoarewickedandwild，iftheycomehomefromtheirrobbingexpedition，andfindyou，theywouldkillusboth。Thehermitsaid，letmestay，theywilldonoinjuryeithertoyouortome。Andtheoldwomanwascompassionate，andletherselfbepersuaded。Thenthemanlaydownbeneaththestairs，andputthebitofwoodunderhishead。Whentheoldwomansawhimdothat，sheaskedthereasonofit，onwhichhetoldherthathecarriedthebitofwoodaboutwithhimforapenance，anduseditatnightforapillow，andthathehadoffendedtheLord，because，whenhehadseenapoorsinneronthewaytothegallows，hehadsaidhewasgettinghisdeserts。