The Vilas' Spring: the Story of the Brother who

A wealthy man has two sons: the older, greedy and dishonest, and the younger, kind and generous. Upon their father's death, the older brother refuses to share the inheritance fairly, offering the younger brother a meager sum to leave. The younger brother, confident in the strength of Good over Evil, departs. Years later, they meet on the road and argue about the nature of Good and Evil. The older brother wagers that Evil is stronger, and they consult a disguised Devil, who confirms the older brother's belief. The younger brother, despite losing several wagers, maintains his faith in Good. In a final bet, he offers his eyesight, which the older brother cruelly takes from him. Left blind, the younger brother finds a healing spring and, after bathing, regains his sight. He uses the water to heal a leprous princess, earning her hand in marriage and the promise of inheriting the kingdom. The older brother, consumed by envy, attempts to replicate his brother's actions but meets a tragic end at the hands of the Vilas, who punish him for his greed and deceit. Ultimately, the younger brother inherits his father's wealth, marries the princess, and proves that Good triumphs over Evil.

By Parker Fillmore · First published 1940 · Genre: Fairy Tale, Fable, Fantasy · 1,787 words

First lines

There was once a rich man who had two sons. The older son was overbearing, greedy, and covetous. He was dishonest, too, and thought nothing of taking things that belonged to others. The younger brother was gentle and kind. He was always ready to share what he had and he was never known to cheat or to steal.

"He's little better than a fool! " the older brother used to say of him scornfully.

What this Textopian page supports

The Vilas' Spring: the Story of the Brother who Knew that Good was Stronger than Evil is listed on Textopian as a short story by Parker Fillmore, dated 1940 CE.

This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.

• Work type: Short story
• Author: Parker Fillmore
• Date: 1940 CE
• Language: English
• Genres: Fairy Tale, Fable, Fantasy, Moral Literature, Allegory
• Length: 1,787 words
• Structure: 1 section, 53 paragraphs
• Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)

Good citation fit

• Work identity for The Vilas' Spring: the Story of the Brother who Knew that Good was Stronger than Evil by Parker Fillmore
• Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
• Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
• Readability and classroom-planning context
• Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph

Discussion starters

• What should a reader notice first when entering The Vilas' Spring: the Story of the Brother who Knew that Good was Stronger than Evil?
• How does this short story by Parker Fillmore fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
• Where does Fairy Tale first become important in the reading?

Similar titles

• Smolicheck The Story Of A Little Boy Who Opened The Door by Parker Fillmore
• The Flowers Story by Louisa May Alcott
• The Great Bear by Leo Tolstoy
• The Golden Godmother The Story Of Poor Lukas by Parker Fillmore
• Robin Redbreast by Selma Lagerlof
• Pinocchio At Last Ceases To Be A Puppet And Becomes A Boy by Carlo Collodi

Genres

• Fairy Tale — The narrative structure, moral lessons, and fantastical elements align with traditional fairy tale conventions.
• Fable — The story conveys a moral lesson about the triumph of good over evil, characteristic of fables.
• Fantasy — The presence of supernatural beings like the Vilas and the Devil indicates a fantasy genre.
• Moral Literature — The text explicitly explores themes of morality, ethics, and the nature of good and evil.

Tags

Fiction · Moral Fiction · Coming-of-Age · Family Drama · Good vs Evil · Morality Tale · Self-Discovery · Personal Growth · Brotherly Love · Sacrificial Love · Redemption Arc · Social Commentary

More by Parker Fillmore

• The Hickory Limb (1907)
• The Laughing Prince: the Story of the Boy who Could Talk Nonsense (1925)
• Beauty and the Horns: the Story of an Enchanted Maiden (1920)
• The Pigeon's Bride: the Story of a Princess who Kissed and Told (1930)
• The Little Lame Fox: the Story of the Youngest Brother who Found the Magic Grape-Vine and Married the Golden Maiden (1920)
• The Enchanted Peafowl: the Story of the Golden Apples, the Wicked Dragon, and the Magic Horse (1930)
• The Dragon's Strength: the Story of the Youngest Prince who Killed the Sparrow (1930)
• The Little Singing Frog: the Story of a Girl Whose Parents were Ashamed of Her (1930)
• All works by Parker Fillmore