Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1875-12-29
Che family Girtle.
What the Old Man Does is Always Right
HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN

me when was little boy. Every time |
thought of the story it seemed to me to be-
come more and more charming; for it is
with stories as with many people-they be-
come better rs they grow older.
take it for granted that you have been
in the country, and seen very old farm
house with Il matched roof, and moses and
small plants growing wild upon the thatch.
There is 4 stolks nest on the summit of
the gable; for we cant do without the
Stork The walls of the house are sloping
and the windows low, and only one of the
latter is made so that it will open. The
baking oven sticks out of the wall like 4
little fat body. The clder-tree hangs over
the palinr. and beneath its branches, at
the foot of the paing. is n pool of water in
which u few ducks are disporting them
selves. There is yard-dog, too. who barks
at all corners.
Just such Il farmhouse stood out in the
country; and in this house dwelt an old
couple-a peasant and his wife Small rs
was their property, there WAS :, single AZ
ticlr they could do without-a horse which
made a living out of the grass it found by
the hiTh-road. The old peasant rode into
the town on this horse; and often his
neirhbors borrowed it from him. and rem
dcrrd The couple some service in return
for the loan of it. But they thought it
would be best if they sold their horse or
exchanged it for something that might be
more useful to them But what miUht this
something be?
You II know that best, old man. said
the wife 1T is fair-day to-day. SO ride in
to town, and get rid of the horse for money.
or make a good exchange; whichever You
do will be right to me. Ride to the fair. T."
And She fastened his neckerchief for him,
for she could do this better than he could !;
and she tied it in i double bow. for she
could do that very prettilv. Then She
brushed his hat round and round with the
palm of her hand, and gave him a kiss. 50
he rode away upon the horse that was to
he sold or bartercd for something else
Yes. the old man knew what he was
about.
The sun shonc holly down. not IL cloud
was to be seen in the sky. The road was
very dusty, for many people who We're
bound for the fair were driving. or riding,
or walking upon it. There was no shelter
anywhere from the sunbeams.
Among the rest WAS \ man trudging
along and driving 4 COW to the fair The
COW WAS as beautiful a creature rs any COW
could be.
"Shc gives good milk. I'm sure said
the peasant That would be very GOOD
cxchange-thc COW for The horse
Halo. YOU there with the cow" he
said. I'll tell you what fancy "A horse
costs more than a COW, but | don't care
for that; Il cow would be more useful to
me- If You like we II exchange"
- TO be sure | WILL" said the man; and
they exchanged accordingly
SO that was settled. and the peasant
might have turned back, for he had done
the business he came to do; but a> he had
once made up his mind to go to the fair,
he determined to proceed, merely to have
:, look at it; SO he went on to the town
with his cow.
Leading the animal, he strobe steadily
on; and after Il time he overlook 4 man
who was driving Il sheep. 1t was good
fat sheep. with Il fine fleece on its back.
Il should like to have that fellow" said
orr peasant to himself " He would find
plenty of grass ly our palings, and in the
winter we could keep him in the room
with us. Perhaps it would be more prac-
teal to have a sheep instead Of Il COW
Shall we exchange?'
The man with the sheep was quite
ready, and the bargain was struck. SO the
peasant went on in the high road with his
sheep.
Soon he overlook another man, who
came into the road from Il field, carving
Il great goose under his arm
"That's Il heavy thing You have there.
1t has plenty of feathers and plenty of
fat, and would look we'll tied to a string
and padding in the water at our place
That would be something for nv old
woman; she could make all kinds of prof
it out of it. How often she has said, If
we only had a goose" Now perhaps, she
can have one; and if possible, it shall be
hers. Shall we exchange? I'll give YOU
my sheep for your goose, and thank YOU in
to the bargain.
The other man had not the least obiec-
ton; and accordingly they exchan ged, and
our peasant became proprietor of the
goose.
BY this time he was very near the town.
The crowd on the high-roai became great
er and greater; there was quite rush of
men and cattle. They walked in the road.
and close to the palings; and ut the barri-
er they even walked into the tol-man's
potato field. where his one fowl was strut.
ting about, with Il string to his leo, lest it
should take fright at the crowd. and stray
away, and SO be lost. This fowl had short
tail-feathers, and winked with both eyes.
and looked very cunning. "Cluck, cuckr'
said the fowl. What it thought when it
said this | cannot tell you but rs soon as
our good man saw it. he thought, "That's
the finest fowl I've ever seen in nv life
Why its finer than our parsons brood hen.
On my word, l should like to have that
fowl, A fowl can always find grain or
two. and can almost keep itself | think it
would be good exchange if l could get
that for my goose"
Shall we exchanged he asked of the
'Exchange" repeated the man; 6" well,
that would not be a bad thing"
And SO they exchanged; the toll-taker
at the barrier kept the goose, and the
peasant carried away the fowl