This is a public domain book converted by anonymous volunteers and you may find it for free on the web.This work is respectfully inscribed by the author. THE GOLDEN BIRD A certain king had a beautiful garden, and in the garden stood a tree which bore golden apples. These apples were always counted, and about the time when they began to grow ripe it was found that every night one of them was gone. The king became very angry at this, and ordered the gardener to keep watching all night under the tree. The gardener set his eldest son to watch; but about twelve o'clock he fell asleep, and in the morning another of the apples was missing. Then the second son was ordered to watch; and at midnight he fell too asleep, and in the morning another apple was gone. Then the third son offered to keep…