The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1848-10-21
o.xsss.A .r sse me.,.ssus.
A NORWEGIAN LEGRyD.

was Gidbrand ; and as he possessed farm
in remote spot OIL the declivity Of noun
tain, people called him Gudbrand OF the
Mountain.
He lived SO happily with his wife, and
they agreed SO well, that she thought every
thing her husband did was for the best, and
that it could not have been improved upon.
Let him manage anyhow, she always found
means to be delighted at what he had done.
This worthy couple were the owners Of
piece of arabic land, and had hundred dol
lars in their strong box, besides couple of
cows in the stable. One day the wife said |
TO Gudbrand 81 think that we ought TO |
take one of the cows TO town and sell it, |
in order that We may have little pocket.
money at our disposal; for we are such in |
dustrious people that we ought to have |
lew shillings in our purse as other folks |
have, particularly as we don't wish to touch |
the hundred dollars in the chest. And
really don't know what we should want
with more than one COW, and shall be the
gsiner by having only one to attend to, in
stead Of being bothered with two.''
Gudbrand thought this was all very reas.
enable and very proper so he Immediately
took the COW, and went to town to sell it.
But il happened that there was nobody in
the town that was willing to purchase the
COW.
"Never mind, " thought Gudbrand; all
90 home again with my COW; | have both
stable and yoke ready for her, and the way
is no longer going back than coming"
and with this cheering reflection he plodded
homewards in the most contented mood.
lie had not gone far before he met a man
with horse that he wanted TO sell. Now
GTudbrand thought il were better to have a
horse than COW, so he made an exchange
with the stranger.
When he had gone little further he met
another man who was driving a Eat pig be.
fore him, and then Gudbrand thought it
would be still better to have fat pig than
horse, and so he exchanged with the man.
tie then went on, and after while he met
man with goat. sit is certainly better
anyhow to have goat than pig" thought
Gudbrand, and again he made an exchange
with the owner Of the goat. He now went
a good deal further, till he met man with
a sheep, and with him he likewise made an
exchange, OH the principle "that it is al
ways better to have sheep than goat I"
On going further he met man with goose,
and then Gudbrand exchanged his sheep
against the goose. After this he went
long, long way, ill he met man with a
cock, and ne once more made an exchange:
Tor he thought, safer all, il is still better TO
have cock than goose" He then
walked on and on, I'LL it began to grow late,
when feeling very hungry he sold the cock
Tor threepence, with which he bought some.
thing to eat; ''for after all, thus reasoned
Gndbrand Of the Mountain, sit is better TO
bring ones self back safe and sound, than
to bring home cock" He then sped on
his way home, till he reached the farm OF
his nearest neighbor, where in he went, Just
as Hans the plOughboy was driving home
the cattle.
"Well how did you fare in town? 2" in
quired the good folks.
"Why, but so 80, answered Gudbrand.
al can't say much for my luck, neither have
| much reason to complain And here.
upon he related all that had happened from
beginning to end.
"Well, I'm sure. you'll get warm re.
cePtion from your wife, when you reach
home, quoth the farmer. "Lord help
you! shouldn't like to be in your shoes. j.
Things might have gone worse, how.
ever" replied Gudbrand of the Mountain;
''but whether good, bad, or Indifferent, |
have such an excellent wife that she never
reproaches me, let me do what | will"
THAT may be, said the man; "yet
somehow can't believe il"
"Shall We lay wager ?" asked Gud.
brand. 81 have hundred dollars in my
chest, will you lay as much against them 2"
"Done" said the neighbor, and as twi
light was now coming on, they both set out
for Gudbrand's farm. When they had
reached it, the neighbor remained outside
the door, while Gudbrand went in to his
wife, and they began to talk in the follow.
ing manner -
"Good evening"" said Gudbrand of the
Mountain, as he walked into the room.
"Good evening"" replied the wife
praised be God you are come back again.
are you?"
Sure enough he was bask. Then the
wife inquired how he had got on in town.
"but so so" answered Gudbrand al can't
much boast Of my luck. On reaching
town, nobody would purchase my COW, 50 /
changed it for horse"
"Ay-there, indeed. you do deserve nv
thanks" said she. "We are so well off
that we may as well drive to church as
other people, and if we have the means of
getting ourselves horse, why should not
we! Pray, goodman, go and bring him
in"
"Stop," replied Gudbrand, 81 have not
got the horse exactly; for after going OH a
bit changed it for pig"
mo did you ?" cried the wife; "why
that's the very thing | should have done
myself! Thank you thousand times, nv
dear husband. Now shall have some ba-
con in the house to offer The folks that come
to see us. What, indeed, do we want with
a horse? People would only say that we
had grown too grand to walk to church as
we used to do. Prithee, goodman, go and
fetch IN The pig
"Bat haven't got the pig any more than
the horse, said Gudbrand; dor ON going
somewhat further changed it for mich. |
roa,