Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Mass.) 1828-1830, 1828-08-19

FROM POPULAR GERMAN TALES.
PEE-WIT.

"A poor countryman, whose name was
Pee-wit, lived with his wife in very quiet
way, in the parish where he was born. One
day, as he was ploughing with his two oxen
in the field, he heard all on sudden some
one calling out his name. Turning around,
he saw nothing but bird that kept CRYING
Pee-wit! Pee-wit! Now this poor bird is
called Pee-wit, and like the Cuckoo, al
ways keeps crying out its own name. But
the countryman thought is was knocking
him, so he took up huge stone and threw
at it; the bird flew away safe and sound,
| but the stone fell upon the head of one of
his oxen, and killed him on the spot
t"What is to be done with the odd one ?''
thought Pee-wit to himself as he looked at
the OK that was left; so without more ado
he killed him too, skinned them both, and set
out for the neighbouring town, to sell the
hides to the tanner for as much as he could
get. He soon found out where the tanner
lived, and knocked at the door. Before,
however, the door was opened, he saw thro'
the window that the mistress of the house
was hiding in an old chest friend of hers
whom she seemed to wish no one should see
| By and by the door was opened: "what do
you want ?" said the woman. Then he told
her he wanted to sell his hides; and it
came out that the tanner was not at home,
and that no one there ever made bargains
but himself. The countryman said he
would sell cheap, and did not mind giving
his hides for the old chest in the corner
meaning the one he had seen the good wo-
mans friend get into. Of course the wife
would not agree to this; and they went on
talking the matter so long, that at last in
came the tanner and asked what it was all
about. Pee-wit told him the whole story
and asked him whether he would give the
old chest for the hides. "To be sure
WILL" said he; and scolded his wife for say
ling nay to such bargain, which she ought
to have been glad to make if the country
man was willing. Then up he took the
chest on his shoulders, and all the good wo.
man could say mattered nothing; away il
went into the countryman's cart, and off he
drove. But when they had gone some
way, the young man within began to make
himself heard, and to beg and pray to be lei
out. Pee-wit, however, was not to be
brought over till at last, after long par
Hey, a thousand dollars were bid and taken
the money was paid, and at that price the
Ipoor fellow was set free, and went about hi
business.
\ Then Pee-wit went home very happy
and built new house, and seemed so rici
that his neighbours wondered, and said
! (" Pee-wit must have been where the colder
snow falls" So they took him before the
next justice of the peace, to give an &C
count of himself and show that he camt
honestly by his wealth; and then he toll
them that he had sold his hides for one thou
sand dollars. When they heard it they al
killed their oxen, and would sell the hide
to the same tanner; but the justice said
I" My maid shall have the first chance !" so of
she went, and when she came to the tanne
he laughed at them ell, and said he had givel
their neighbour nothing but an old chest
At this they were all very angry ant
laid their heads together to work him some
mischief, which they thought they could de
while he was digging in his garden. AL
this however, came to the ears of the coun
tryman, who was plagued with a sad scolt
for his wife and he thought to himself
Z" If any one'is to come into trouble, dom
see why it should not be my wife rather
than me - so he said to her that he wished
tshe would humour him in a within he hao
taken into his head, and would put on his
clothes, and dig the garden in his stead
The wife did what was asked, and next
morning began digging; but soon came
some of the neighbours, and thinking it was
Pee-wit, threw stone at her, (harder per-
haps than they meant) and killed her al
once. Poor Pee-wit was rather sorry at
this, but still thought that he had had
lucky escape for himself, and that perhaps
he might after all turn the death of his wife
to some account: so he dressed her in her
! own clothes, put basket of fine fruit
(which was now scarce, it being winter) into
; her hand, and set her by the road side On q
Lroo houch