And when the hermit looked upon his face, behold it was the boy who had given the riddle of the four winds upon the side of the hill.
Then the hermit fed him with some of the confection which he had with him, and it was so grateful to the boy's parched palate, that he thanked and blessed the hermit aloud, and prayed him to leave a morsel of it behind, to soothe his torments in the night.
Then said the hermit, "My Son, I would that I had more of this confection, for the sake of others as well as for thee.

But indeed I have only two trees which bear the fruit whereof this is made; and in two successive years have the apples been stolen by some thief, thereby robbing not only me, which is dishonest, but the poor, which is inhuman." Then the boy's theft came back to his mind, and he burst into tears, and cried, "My Father, I took the crab-apples!" And after a while he recovered his health; the plague also abated in the hamlet, and the hermit went back to his cell.

But the boy would thenceforth never leave him, always wishing to show his penitence and gratitude.

And though the hermit sent him away, he ever returned, saying-- "Of what avail is it to drive me from thee, since I am resolved to serve thee, even as Samuel served Eli, and Timothy ministered unto St.
Paul ?" But the hermit said, "My rule is to live alone, and without companions; wherefore begone." And when the boy still came, he drove him from the garden.
Then the boy wandered far and wide, over moor and bog, and gathered rare plants and herbs, and laid them down near the hermit's cell.

And when the hermit was inside, the boy came into the garden, and gathered the stones and swept the paths, and tied up such plants as were drooping, and did all neatly and well, for he was a quick and skilful lad.