Year: 1879

take it FOR granted that you have been
in the country and seen a very old farm
house with thatched roof, and MOSES
and small plants growing wild upon 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 a little fat body. The
elder tree hangs over the paling, and be-
meath it's branches, at the foot of the pal
ing, is a pool of water in which few ducks
are disporting themselves. There is
yard dog, too, who barks at all corners.


Just such farm house 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 article that they could 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 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 some
thing that might be more useful to them.
But what might this something be?


"You1l know that best, old man."
said the wife. 1T 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 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 bartcred fol
something else. Yes, the old man knew
what he was about.


The sun shone hotly down, not a clouo
was to be seen in the sky. The road was
very dusty, for many people, who were al
bound for the fair, were driving, o.
rlding, or walking upon it. There wa!
no shelter anywhere from the sunbeams
Among the rest was man trudglne
along, and driving a COW to the fair
The COW was as beautiful a creature a!
any COW could be.


'sShe gives good milk, I'm sure sale
the peasant. ''That would be yer.
good exchangc-the COW for the horse.


''Hallo, you there with the cow" h
said. ''I'll tell you what fancy
horse costs more than COW, but I don
care for that; a COW would be more usefu
to me- If you like, we'll exchange"


ITO be surely 1 WILL" said the man
and they exchanged accordingly.


So that was settled, and the peasan
might have turned back, for he had don
the business he came to do; but he ha'
once made up his mind to 60 to the fair, h
determined to proceed, merely to have
look at it; so he went on to the town wit
his COW.


Leading the animal, he strobe steadil
on; and after time he overlook ma
who was driving sheep. 1t was goo
fat sheep, with a fine fleece on its bach


Il should like to have that fellow,
said our peasant to himself. she woul
find plenty Of grass by our palings, an
in the winter we could keep him in til
room with us. Perhaps it would be MOI
practical to have a sheep instead of a Gov
Shall we exchange?''


The man with the sheep was quit
ready, and the bargain was struck. S
the peasant went on in the high-road wit
his sheep.


Soon he overlook another man, VII
came into the road from a field, carr,
ing great goose under his arm.
''That's heavy thing you have ther
It has plenty Of feathers and plenty
fat, and would look we'll tied to strin
and padding in the water at our plac
That would be something for my O
woman; she could make all kinds
profit out of it. How often she has sai
eff we only had a goose!" Now, pc
haps, she can have one; and, if possib]
it shall be hers. Shall we exhcange? l
give you my sheep for your goose, a,
thank you into the bargain"


The other man had not the least o
lection; and accordingly they exchange