So the bargain was struck , and Antonio agreed to become the ogre 's servant . He was very well treated , in every way , and he had little or no work to do , with the result that in a few days he became as fat as a quail , as round as a barrel , as red as a lobster , and as impudent as a bantam-cock . But , after two years , the lad got weary of this idle life , and longed desperately to visit his home again . The ogre , who could see into his heart and knew how unhappy he was , said to him one day : ` My dear Antonio , I know how much you long to see your mother and sisters again , and because I love you as the apple of my eye , I am willing to allow you to go home for a visit . Therefore , take this donkey , so that you may not have to go on foot ; but see that you never say `` Bricklebrit '' to him , for if you do you 'll be sure to regret it . ' Antonio took the beast without as much as saying thank you , and jumping on its back he rode away in great haste ; but he had n't gone two hundred yards when he dismounted and called out ` Bricklebrit . ' No sooner had he pronounced the word than the donkey opened its mouth and poured forth rubies , emeralds , diamonds and pearls , as big as walnuts . Antonio gazed in amazement at the sight of such wealth , and joyfully filling a huge sack with the precious stones , he mounted the donkey again and rode on till he came to an inn . Here he got down , and going straight to the landlord , he said to him : ` My good man , I must ask you to stable this donkey for me . Be sure you give the poor beast plenty of oats and hay , but beware of saying the word `` Bricklebrit '' to him , for if you do I can promise you will regret it . Take this heavy sack , too , and put it carefully away for me . ' The landlord , who was no fool , on receiving this strange warning , and seeing the precious stones sparkling through the canvas of the sack , was most anxious to see what would happen if he used the forbidden word . So he gave Antonio an excellent dinner , with a bottle of fine old wine , and prepared a comfortable bed for him . As soon as he saw the poor simpleton close his eyes and had heard his lusty snores , he hurried to the stables and said to the donkey ` Bricklebrit , ' and the animal as usual poured out any number of precious stones . When the landlord saw all these treasures he longed to get possession of so valuable an animal , and determined to steal the donkey from his foolish guest . As soon as it was light next morning Antonio awoke , and having rubbed his eyes and stretched himself about a hundred times he called the landlord and said to him : ` Come here , my friend , and produce your bill , for short reckonings make long friends . ' When Antonio had paid his account he went to the stables and took out his donkey , as he thought , and fastening a sack of gravel , which the landlord had substituted for his precious stones , on the creature 's back , he set out for his home . No sooner had he arrived there than he called out : ` Mother , come quickly , and bring table-cloths and sheets with you , and spread them out on the ground , and you will soon see what wonderful treasures I have brought you . ' His mother hurried into the house , and opening the linen-chest where she kept her daughters ' wedding outfits , she took out table-cloths and sheets made of the finest linen , and spread them flat and smooth on the ground . Antonio placed the donkey on them , and called out ` Bricklebrit . '
But this time he met with no success , for the donkey took no more notice of the magic word than he would have done XXXXX a lyre had been twanged in his ear .
So after because for if in that through to with