The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1878-12-13

BY HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN.
take it for granted that you have been
in the same country, and seen a very old
farmhouse with 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 with
out 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 little fat body. The elder
tree hangs over the palings, and beneath
its branches, at the foot of the palings, is a
pool of water in which few ducks are
disporting themselves. There are yard
dogs, too, who bark at all corners.
Just such 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 a single arti-
Gle they could not do without-a horse,
which made living out of the grass it
found by the high road. The old peasant
rode into 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 it
would be best if they sold the horse, or
exchanged it for something that might be
more useful to them. But what might the
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 a good exchange; which
ever you do will be right to me. HE to
the fair"
And she fastened his neckerchief for
him, for she could do that 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 the
palm of her hand, and gave him kiss
So he rode away upon his 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 holly 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 walk
ing upon it. There was no shelter any,
where from the sunbeams.
Among the rest was q man trudging
along and driving cow to the fair. The
COW was as beautiful creature as any cow
could be.
"She gives good milk, I'm sure" said the
peasant. "That would be very good ex-
change-the cow for the horse"
"Hallo, you there with the COW |" he
said.
"I'll tell you what 1 fancy horse costs
more than cow, but I don't care for that;
a cow would be more useful to me. Ifyou
like, we'll exchange"
ITO 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 as 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
the cow.
Leading the animal, he strobe steadily
on; and after time he overlook man
who was driving sheep. 1t was a good
fat sheep, with a 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 palings, and in the
winter we could keep him in the room with
us. Perhaps it would be more practicable
to have sheep than COW. Shall we ex-
changer"
The man with the sheep was quite ready
and the bargain was struck. So the peas
ant went on the high road with his sheep
Soon he overlook another man, who came
into the road from field, carrying great
goose under his arm.
"That's 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. Thai
would be something for my old woman
she could make all kinds of profit out o.
it, How often she has said, if we only had
goose Now, perhaps, she can have one
and, if possible, it shall be hers. Shall
exchanged I'll give you my sheep tol
your goose, and thank you into the bar
gain"
The other man had not the least objec
ton and accordingly they exchanged, ant
and our peasant became proprietor of thu
goose.
By this time he was very near the town
The crowd on the high road became create
and greater; there was quite crush of mel
and cattle. They walked in the road, anc
close by the palings; and at the barrie
they even walked into the toll mans potat,
field, where his one fowl was struttin,
about, with string to his leg, lest it SHOULD
take fright at the crowd and stray away
and 30 be lost. This fowl had short tail
feathers, and winked with both its eyes
and looked very cunning. "Cluck, cluck!
said the fowl. What 1t thought when
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