第415章
《安徒生童话英文版 全TXT版》章节:第415章,宠文网网友提供全文无弹窗免费在线阅读。!
You must tellme what that is.' The little one lay silent, and looked at hermother in embarrassment. 'What is it you say after our daily bread?''Dear mother, don't be angry: I only said, and plenty of butter onit.'"
THE END.
1872
FAIRY TALES OF HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN
WHAT THE OLD MAN DOES IS ALWAYS RIGHT
by Hans Christian Andersen
I WILL tell you a story that was told me when I was a littleboy. Every time I thought of this story, it seemed to me more and morecharming; for it is with stories as it is with many people- theybecome better as they grow older.
I have no doubt that you have been in the country, and seen a veryold farmhouse, with a thatched roof, and mosses and small plantsgrowing wild upon it. There is a stork's nest on the ridge of thegable, for we cannot do without the stork. The walls of the houseare sloping, and the windows are low, and only one of the latter ismade to open. The baking-oven sticks out of the wall like a greatknob. An elder-tree hangs over the palings; and beneath itsbranches, at the foot of the paling, is a pool of water, in which afew ducks are disporting themselves. There is a yard-dog too, whobarks at all corners. Just such a farmhouse as this stood in a countrylane; and in it dwelt an old couple, a peasant and his wife. Smallas their possessions were, they had one article they could not dowithout, and that was a horse, which contrived to live upon thegrass which it found by the side of the high road. The old peasantrode into the town upon this horse, and his neighbors often borrowedit of him, and paid for the loan of it by rendering some service tothe old couple. After a time they thought it would be as well tosell the horse, or exchange it for something which might be moreuseful to them. But what might this something be?
"You'll know best, old man," said the wife. "It is fair-dayto-day; so ride into town, and get rid of the horse for money, or makea good exchange; whichever you do will be right to me, so ride to thefair."
And she fastened his neckerchief for him; for she could do thatbetter than he could, and she could also tie it very prettily in adouble bow. She also smoothed his hat round and round with the palm ofher hand, and gave him a kiss. Then he rode away upon the horse thatwas to be sold or bartered for something else. Yes, the old man knewwhat he was about. The sun shone with great heat, and not a cloudwas to be seen in the sky. The road was very dusty; for a number ofpeople, all going to the fair, were driving, riding, or walking uponit. There was no shelter anywhere from the hot sunshine. Among therest a man came trudging along, and driving a cow to the fair. The cowwas as beautiful a creature as any cow could be.
"She gives good milk, I am certain," said the peasant tohimself. "That would be a very good exchange: the cow for the horse.Hallo there! you with the cow," he said. "I tell you what; I daresay a horse is of more value than a cow; but I don't care for that,- acow will be more useful to me; so, if you like, we'll exchange."
"To be sure I will," said the man.
Accordingly the exchange was made; and as the matter wassettled, the peasant might have turned back; for he had done thebusiness he came to do. But, having made up his mind to go to thefair, he determined to do so, if only to have a look at it; so on hewent to the town with his cow. Leading the animal, he strode onsturdily, and, after a short time, overtook a man who was driving asheep. It was a good fat sheep, with a fine fleece on its back.
"I should like to have that fellow," said the peasant tohimself. "There is plenty of grass for him by our palings, and inthe winter we could keep him in the room with us. Perhaps it wouldbe more profitable to have a sheep than a cow. Shall I exchange?"