Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-11-13

the sunbeams.
Among the rest, man was trudging
along, and driving COW to the far.
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 exchange-the COW for the
horse"
"Hullo, you there with the GOVT" he
said 81 tell you what fancy a horse
costs more than COW, but don't
care for that; COW Would be more
useful to me. If you like, We'll ex-
change"
ITO be sure I WILL" said the man;
and they exchanged accordingly.
So that was settled, and the peas
ant might have turned back; but as
he had once made up his mind to go
to the fair. he determined to proceed.
Leading the animal, he strobe stur-
Oily on; and after q short time he
overlook a man who was driving a
sheep. 1t was a 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 IL
would be more practical to have
sheep instead of COW. Shall we ex-
changer"
The man with the sheep was quite
ready, and the bargain was struck.
So our peasant went on in the high
road with his sheep.
! Soon he overlook another man, VINO
came into the road carrying great
goose under his arm.
| That's a heavy thing you have
there 1t has plenty of feathers ana
| 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 / only
had a goose!' Now, perhaps she can
have one; and, if possible, 1t shall be
hers. Shall we exchange? I'll give you
my sheep for your goose, and thank
you into the bargain"
The other man had not the least OBJ
lection. Accordingly they exchanged,
and our peasant became proprietor OF
the goose.
I BY this time he was very near the
/ town. The crowd on the highroad be-
came greater and greater; there was
quite a crush of men and cattle. They
walked in the road, and close by the
palings. They even walked into the
tollman's potato field, where his own
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 tai
: feathers, and winked both it's eyes
and looked very cunning. "Cmck!
cluck!" said the fowl.
i Directly our good man saw it ne
thought, "Thats 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 a grain or two
and can almost keep itself. think i
would be good exchange if l could
get that for my goose"
shall we exchange?" he asked thu
, toll taker.
Exchanged" repeated the man
'Well, that would not be a bad thing.
And so they exchanged; the toll
taker kept the goose and the peasan
: carried away the fowl.
Now, as he had done great deal o
business on his way to the fair, an
; he was hot and tired. He wante
something to eat and drink; and 500
he was in front of the inn. He wa
Just about to step in, when the hos
Ter came out, and they met at tn
door. The hostler was carrying sacl
What have you in that sack?" asl
!. ed the peasant.
Rotten apples answered tn
'. hostler; "a whole sack full of then
z enough to feed the pigs with
why, that's terrible waste
should like to take them to my oil
e woman at home. Last year the oil
tree by the turf hole only bore sing
y apple, and we kept it in the cupboar
till it was quite spoiled There ST
a could see quantity whole sacllfu
lie Yes, I shall be glad to show them
her.
II, what will you give me for the sac
ful?" said the hostler
What will give? I will give n
fowl in exchange"
And he gave the fowl accordingl
and received the apples, which he ca
ried into the guest room. He lean,
the sack carefully by the stove, al
A. then went to the table. But the sto
~ was hot. He had not thought Of thu
Many guests were present - hor
10 dealers, oxherds, and two Englishme
all The two Englishmen were so rich tn
ne their pockets bulged out with &C
DO coins, and almost burst.
ng Hiss-s-s! hiss-s-s! what was that
de the tove? The apples We're beginni
'de to roast!
en- what is that?"
nd "Why, do you know" said {
ice peasant.
asst And he told the whole story Of
eil horse that he had changed for a &C
ne and all the rest Of it, down to the
TO pies.
ing "Well, your old woman will give
to you we'll when you get home!" S
n, one of the two Englishmen. 9Th
ide will be disturbance"
rse "What?-give me what?" said
&c; peasant. "She will kiss me. and S
ne. What the old man does is alw'
right .
for "Shall we wager?" said the Engli