Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1875-12-10


winter we couldkeep him in the room with
us. Perhaps it would be more practical 10
have sheep instead of a COW. Shall we
exchauge2"
The man with the sheep was quite ready,
and the bargain was struck. SO the peas
ant went on In the high-road with his
sheep.
Soon he overlook another man, who came
into the road from a field, carrying great
goose under his arm.
"Thars heavy thing you have there. 1t
has plenty of feathers and plenty offat, and
would look well tied TO string and pad
ding in the wafer at our place. That
would be someting for my old womani
she could make all kinds of profit out Of it.
How often she has said, IF we only had
goose Now perhaps, she can have one;
and, If possible, 1t shall be hers. Shall we
exehangeS I'll give you my sheep for
your goose, and thank you into the bar
gain"
The other man had not the least objec-
tion; and accordingly they exchanged, aud
| our peasant became proprietor of the
| goose.
The crowd on The high-road became greater
and greater; there was quite crush of
men and cattle. They walked in the road,
aud close by the palings; and at the barri-
rier they even walted into the toll-man's
potato field, where his one fowl was strut
ting about, with a string 10 its leg, lest it
should take fright at the crowd, and stray
away, and so be lost. This fowl had short
tal-fealhers, and winked with both its eyes,
and looked very cunning. "Cluck, cluck !"
said the fowl. What it thought when ii
said this l cannot tell you; but as soon as
our good man saw it., he thought, "Thats
the finest fowl I've ever seen in my life /!
Why it's finer than our parsons brood hen.
On my wold, should like TO have that
fowl. A fowl can always find grain or
two, and can almost keep itself. think it
would he a good exchange if l could get
that for my goose"
"Shall we exchange ?" he asked the toll
taker.
"Exchaugew repeated the man "well,
that would not be bad thing"
And SO they exchanged the toll-taker
at the barrier kept the goose, and the peas
| ant carried away lne ioWl.
Now, he had done good deal of busi-
ness in his way to the fair, and he was hot
and tired. He wanted something to eat,
and a glass of brandy to drink and soon
he was in front of the inn. He was just
about 10 step in when The hostler came out,
so they met at the door. The hoster was
carrying q sack.
"What have you in that sack ?" asked
the peasant.
"Rotten apples" answered the hostler (;
"a whole sackful OF lhem-enough to feed
the pigs with"
"Why, that's terrible waste! l should
like to take them TO my old woman at
home. Last year the Old tree by the turf
hole only bore single apple, and we kept
II on the cupboard Till 1t was quite rotten
and spoilt. 1t was always property my
old woman said but here she could see a
quantity Of property-a whole sackful.
Yes, l shall he glad 10 show them TO her."
"What will you give for the sackful?"
asked the hostler.
"What will give3 will give my fowl
in exchange"
And he gave the fowl accordingly. and
received the apples, which he carried into
the guest-room. lie leaned the sack care
fully by The siove, and then went to the Ia
bic. But the stove was hot he had not
thought of that. Many guests were pres
eut-horse- dealers, OK herds, and two Eng
lisbmen-and the Two EnglishmeD were SO
ri ch that their pockets bulged out with
gold coins, and almost burst; and Il ey
CO uld bet too, as you shall hear.
Hiss-s-s! hiss-s-s! What was that by
the stovef The apples we're beginning 10
roast!
"What is that?"
"Why, do you know" said our peas
ant.
And he told the whole story Of the horse
that he had changed for n cow, aud all the
rest of 1t, down to the apples.
"Well, your old woman will give ii to
you well when you get homel" said one o
the two Englisbmen. "There will be a
disturbance"
"What-give me what?" said the peas
ant. "She will kiss me, and say, 'Wha
the old man does is always right"
"Shall we wager?" said the Englishmen
"We'll wager coined gold by the ton-i
hundred pounds to the hundred -weghtW
"a bushel will be enough" replied th'
peasant ~ can only set the busEel of ap
pies against it and I'll throw myself anC
my old woman into the bargain-and fan
cy that's piling up the measure"
"Done-taken
And the bet was made. The hosts car
riage came up, and the Englishmen got in
and the peasant got in : away they went
and soon they stopped before the peasant
hut.
, "Good evening, old woman"
"Good evening, old man."
"rve made the exchange"
"Yes, you understand what you're about,
said the woman.
And she embraced him and paid no at
y, tenlion TO the stranger guests, nor did sh
; notice the sack.
: ~ got a COW in exchange for The horse,
= said he.
"Heavens be thankedw said she. "Wha
glorious milk we shall have, and butter an
cheese on the tablet That was a capita
exchangep
4 "Yes, but 1 changed the COW for a sheep.
g "Ah, that's better stillp cried the wifi
"a "You always think Of everything; W
have just pasture enough for sheeI
7, Ewes milk and cheese, and woollen jack
cts and stockingsl The COW cannot Civ
q those, and her hair will only come oil. Ho'
~ you think of everythingp
a "But l changed away the sheep for
goose"
le 'Then this year we shall really haT
E roast goose to eat, my dear old man. Yo
are always thinking ofgiving me pleasur