The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1878-11-09

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rowed it from him, and rendered the
old couple some service in return for
the loan of it. But they thought it
would be best if they sold the horse, or
exchanged it for something that might
be more useful to them. But what
might this something be?
"You'll know that best, old man,"
said the WIFE, cit is fair-day to-day,
so ride into town, and get rid of the
horse for money, or make good ex-
change; whichever you do will be right
to me. Ride to the fair"
And she fastened his neckerchief for
him, for she could do that better than
he could; and she tied it in q double
bow, for she could do that very pref
tily. Then she brushed his hat round
and round with the palm of her hand,
and gave him kiss. So he rode away
upon the horse that was to be sold or to
be bartered for something else. Yes,
the old man knew what he was about.
The sun shone hotly down, not a
cloud was to be seen in the sky. The
road was very dusty, for many people,
who were all bound for the fair, were
driving, or riding, or walking upon it.
There was no shelter anywhere from
the sunbeams.
Among the rest was n man trudging
along, and driving COW to the fair.
The COW was as beautiful a creature as
any COW could be.
"She gives good milk, I'm sure"
said the peasant. "That would be q
very good exchange-the COW for the
| horse"
HALO, you there with the cowr' he
said. "Pll tell you what fancy a
horse costs more than COW, but dom
care for that; COW would be more
useful to me. If you like, we'll eX-
change"
"To be sure I 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
as he had once made up his mind to 90
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 stead
lily on; and after time he overlook a
man who was driving sheep. 1t was
good fat sheep, with fine fleece on
its back.
81 should like to have that fellow"
said our peasant to himself. He
would find plenty of grass by our pal
ings, and in the winter we could keep
him in the room with US. Perhaps it
would be more practical to have a sheep
instead of 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 field, carry
ing great goose under his arm.
That's heavy thing you have
there. 1t has plenty of feathers and
plenty of fat, and would look well tied
to string, and padding in the water
at our place. That would be something
for my old woman; she could make all
kinds of profit out of it. How often
she has said If we only had a goosen
Now, perhaps, she can have one; and,
if possible, it shall be hers. Shall we
exchanges? I'll give you my sheep for
your goose, and thank you into the bar
gain"
The other man had not the least OBJ
lection; and accordingly they ex-
changed, and our peasant became pros
prietor of the goose.
By this time he was very near the
town. The crowd on the high-road be-
came greater and greater; there was
quite crush of men and cattle. They
walked in the road, and close by the
| nc linpc. anh of tho l1o rrin, thayr
walked into the toll-man's potato-field,
where his one fowl was strutting about,
with a string to its leg, 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 its eyes, and looked very cunning.
"Cluck, cluckn' said the fowl. What
it thought when it said this | cannot
tell you; but as soon as our good man
saw it, he thought, "That's the finest
fowl I've ever seen in my life! Why
it's finer than our parsons brood hen.
On my word, should like to have that
fowl. A fowl can always find grain
or two, and can almost keep itself. l
think it would be good exchange if l
could get that for my goose"
OHdll VIC eAchdHSe! He dSheu 1Ho
toll-taker.
"Exchanger' 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
peasant carried away the fowl.
Now, he had done q good deal of
business in his way to the fair, and he
was hot and tired. He wanted some
thing to eat, and glass of brandy to
drink; and soon he was in front of the
inn. He was just about to step in when
the hostler came out, so they met at the
door. The hostler was carrying a sack.
"What have you in that sack?" asked
the peasant.
"Rotton apples,' answered the hos
tier; ga whole sackful of them-enough
to feed the pigs with"
"Why, that's terrible waste! !
should like to take them to my old
woman at home. Last year the old tree
by the turf-hole only bore single APP
pie, and we kept it on the cupboard till
it was quite rotten and spoiled. II
was always property my old woman
said; but here she could see quantity
J e