Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1886-05-15
WHAT THE OLD MAN DOES is AL
WAYS RIGHT.
A Story for Boys and Girls Between
the Ages of Seven and
Seventy.
BY HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSON.


l will tell you story which was
told to me when l was little boy.
Every time thought of the story, it
seemed to me to become more and
more charming; for it is with stories
as with many people-they become
better as they grow older.
take it for granted that you have
been in this country, and seen very
old farmhouse with a thached roof,
and moses and small plants growing
wild upon the thach. There is a
stork's nest on the summit of the ga
BILE; for we can't do without the
stork. The walls of the house are
sloping, and the windows are low,
and only one of the latter is made so
as to open. The baking oven sticks
out of the house like little fat body.
The elder-tree hangs over the paling,
and beneath its branches, at the foot
of the paling, is pool of water in
which a few ducks are disporting
themselves. There is yard-dog, too,
who banks at all corners.
Just such a 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 one article among it that they
could do without-a horse, which
made a living out of the grass it
found by the side of the high-road.
The old peasant rode into the town
on this horse; and often his neigh
bors 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 some
thing that might be more useful to
them. But what might this some
thing be?
"You'll know that best, old man."
said the wife. at is fair-day today,
so ride into town, and get rid of the
horse for money, or make good eX-
change; whichever you do will be all
right to me Ride to the fair"
And she fastened his neckerchiei
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 prettily. Then she brushed his
hat round and round with the palm
of her hand, and gave him a kiss
So he rode away upon the horse that
was to be sold or to be battered fol
something else. Yes, the old mar
knew what he was about.
The sun shone holly down, not {
cloud was to be seen in the sky. The
road was very dusty, for many PEG
pie who were all bound for the fail
were driving, or riding, Or walking
upon it. There was no shelter any
where from the sunbeams.
Among the rest, was a man trudg
ing along, and driving a COW to tn,
fair. The cow was as beautiful a crea
ture as any COW can be.
"She gives good milk, Pm sure
said the peasant. That would be
very good exchange-the COW for tn
horse"
"Hello, you there with the cow
he said; I'll tell you what fancy
horse costs more than cow, but
don't care for that a COW would b
more useful to me. If you like. we'l
exchange"
"To be sure l WILL" said the man
and they exchanged accordingly.
So that was settled, and the peasan
might have turned back, for he ha
done the business he came to do; bu
as he had once made up his mind t
goto thefair he acknowledgement
merely to have look at it; so
went on to the town with his cow.
Leading theanimal, hestrode sturC
lily on; and after time he overtoo
man who was drivinga sheep, wit
fine fleece on its back.
81 should lileto haVethat fellow,
said the peasant to himself. "H