The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1876-07-19
THE GOOD WIFE.
A Norwegian Legend.

A Norwegian Legend.
There was once man named Gud-
brand; ho lived at solitary farm on the
slope of hill, therefore no was called
" Gudbrand of the hill" Now this man
had very excellent wife, thing which
often happens, but is not so common;
Gudbrand knew also the worth of such
a treasure, so the couple lived in great
peace and happiness, without thinking
about the progress of years and changes
of fortune. Whatever Gudbrand did
his wife had wished for beforehand, so
that the good man could not touch any
thing or change anything in his house
without his wife thanking him for his
forethought and kindness. Their life
was insured against anxiety; the farm
was their own property, they had
hundred solid dollars in the table draw
or, and two stately COWS in the meadow.
They wanted nothing; they could grow
old in peace without fearing helplessness
and misery, without needing the pity or
friendship of others.
One evening, as they were sitting
chattering together abouttheir work and
their plans, Gudbrand's wife said to
him: "My dear, I have thought; you
shall lead one of our COWS to the town
and sell it. The one which we shall
keep will be quite enough to provide us
with butter and milk, why should we
trouble ourselves for Others 2 We have
money in the chest, we have no chill
dren, would it not be well if we spared
our arms, now growing olda You will
always find something to do in the
house; there is first this then thst piece
of furniture to be mended and i'm
proved, and I, with my spinning wheel,
shall be able to stay great deal more
with you"
Gudbrand found that his wife was
right, as she always was. The very next
day he led the cow which was to be
sold to the town. But it was not mar.
ket day, 80 he found no purchaser.
"Very well, very WE'LL" said Gudbrand,
"I shall lead my COW back home again,
| have hay and straw for the beast, and
the way is not longer to return than it
was to come" Then he quietly took
the road home.
After few hours, just as he begun
to feel little tired, he met man who
was leading horse to the towE, q very
strong animal saddled and bridled.
"The way is long and the night is
coming on" thought Gudbrand; 81
shall not get home with my COW before
midnight, and then very early to-mor-
row I shall have TO begin the march
anew. Thif.; - just the sort of beast
might want, I should ride home
proudly, like magistrate; and how old
Gudbrand's wife would rejoice to see
her husband coming home in triumph
Like general"
Herewith he stopped the horseman,
and bargained with him to exchange the
COW for his horse. But when he sat in
the saddle he felt something like re-
gret. Gudbrand was old and feeble,
The horse was young and lively; after
half an hour the cavalier had to go on
foot and YEARLY led his horse by the
bride, for it shje6I and plunged at every
bush by the roadside. ga bad bar
gain," he thought.
Then he met man driving pig be-
fore him. ga nail which one really wants
is more valuable that diamond which
sparEles and is good for nothing, -
thought Gudbrand, $50 my wife often
says" and he exchanged the horse for a
pig. That was a fine idea; but the
good man had reckoned without his host
the pig was tired and would not move
an inch. Gudbrand dragged the beast,
he pushed it, he beat it with all his
might, but all in vain! The pig re-
mained lying in the dust like ship
stranded on q sandbank. Gudbrand was
in despair.
Now man passed by leadinga goat
by string; the goat sprung merrily be-
fore him. "That might be useful to me, "
said Gudbrand; 81 would rather have that
froicsome goat than this stupid, lazy
beast" Thereupon he exchanged the
pig for the goat. All went on well
enough for half an hour. Then tho
long-horned goat pulled Gudbrand on,
who laughed heartily at its jumps; but
when one is no longer young, one soon
becomes tired of climbing over the rocks;
80 our farmer, when he met shepherd
with his flock, did not hesitate to give
his goat for q sheep. 81 have got quite
enough milk" he thought, "and this
animal is at least quiet, and will neither
weary me nor my wife"
Gudbrand was not wrong, there was
nothing quieter than that sheep. It
showed no i'll temper, it did not butt,
but it did not 60 forward. 1t wanted to
20 back to the flock, and the more Gud-
brand dragged it, the more piteously it
bleated. "This stupid sheep" cried
Gudbrand, angrily, !" it is more whin-
ing than my neighbor's wife; how glad
T should be if any one would release me
from this burden"
"The bargain is made if you like, old
fellow" said farmer, who was passing
by. "Take this fat goose, it is worth
at least as much as that obstinate sheep"
$50 be it," said Gudbrand; "better to
have a living goose than a dead Sheep"
and he took the goose with him. It was
no light burden. The bird was bad
travelling companion; with beak and
wings it made stout resistance. Gud-
brand was soon tired of the conflict.
"The GOOSE" said he, sis bad bird;
my wife would never like to have such
an one III her house." And at the first
farmyard he passed on bis way he ex.
changed the goose for splendid cock,
with magnificent feathers and comb.
This time he was contented, but day was
fast declining, and Gudbrand, who had
started before sunrise, felt his knees
totter and his stomach call for food. he
entered the first public house he came
to, and sold the cock for a dollar, and
as he had a good appetite he gave away,
l.. s.c- L.