BAUCIS AND PHILEMON 157 



noon, two poor travellers came to a little village 

 in Greece. 



They must have walked a long distance, for 

 they were grimy with the dust of the road. One 

 was tall and grave and stern. The other was 

 young, and his eyes were bright and twinkling 

 with fun. 



They knocked at the door of one house after 

 another. They asked for something to eat, and 

 a place to sleep. 



But, because they were poor and could not 

 pay, they were driven away. 



For the people in this place were not good to 

 the poor. 



If they had known that the tired-looking 

 travellers were rich men or powerful gods, they 

 would have gladly welcomed them. 



Some of them even set their dogs on the 

 tramps, as they thought them. Many of the 

 wicked boys threw stones at them. 



After a while they came to a poor little 

 cottage. Here lived an old man named Phile- 

 mon, and his wife Baucis. 



Here they were taken in by this tender- 

 hearted old couple. 



Philemon talked to them. He told them 



