Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1875-12-10
WHAT THE OLD MAN DOES rs AL
VA VS. RIGHT
HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN.

HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN.
/ will tell you a story which was told to
me when was little boy. Every time l
thought of the story it seemed to me 10 be-
come more and more charming; for II is
with stories as with many people-they be-
come better as they grow older.
take it for granted that you have been
in the country, and seen: very old farm
house with a matched roof, and moses and
small plants growing wild upon the thatch.
There is stork's nest on the summit OF
the gable for we can't do without the
stork. The walls of the house are sloping,
and the windows are low, and only one of
the latter is made so that it will open. The
baking-oven sticks out Of the wall like n
little fat body. The elder-tree hangs over
the paling, and beneath its branches, at the
foot of the paling, is a pool of water in
which few ducks are dlsporting them
selves. There is a yard-dog, too, who
| barks at all comers.
Just such a farmhouse stood out In the
country and in this house dwelt an old
couple-a peasant and his wife. Small as
was their property, there was single arli-
| Gle they could do without-a horse, which
made living out of the grass 1t found by
| the high road. The old peasant rode into
| the town on this horse and often his
neighbors borrowed it from him, and rem
dered the old couple some service in return
for the loan of it. But they thought il
| would be best if they sold their horse, or
exchanged il for something that might be
more useful 10 them. But what might this
something bef
"You'll know that best, old man." said
the wife. at is Gair-day to-day, so ride in-
to town, and get rid of the horse for money
or make good exchange; whichever you
do will be right to me. Ride to the fair"
And she fastened his neckerchief for him
for she could do this better than he could
and she tied it in double bow, for She
could do that very prettily. Then she
brushed his hat round and round with thu
palm other hand, and gave him kiss. 81
he rode away upon The horse that was to b'
sold or bartered for something else. Yes
the old man knew what he was about
The sun shone holly down, not a clou'
| was 10 be seen in the sky. The road wa
very dusty, for many people who wer
bound for the fair were driving, or riding
or walking upon it. There was no shelte
anywhere from the sunbeams.
Among the rest was man truding alon'
and driving a COW 10 the fair. The COS
was as beautiful creature as any COW coul
be.
.'She gives good milk, Pm sure" said th
peasant. "That wonld be very good ex
, change-the cow for the horse"
"Hallo, you there with the COW y he sale
"Tll tell you what-I fancy horse cost
p more than a COW, but don't care for that;
cow would be more useful TO me. If yo
like, we'll exchange"
"To be sure will" said the man an
. they exchanged accordingly.
: : So that was settled, and the peasan
, might have turned back, for he had don
the business he came TO do; but as he ha
once made up his mind to go to the fair, b
determined to proceed, merely TO have
look at 1t so he went on to the town wit
his COW.
e Leading the animal, he strOde sleadll
on; and afIer a time he overlook ma