youmusttellmewhatthatis.'thelittleonelaysilent,andlookedathermotherinembarrassment.'whatisityousayafterourdailybread?''dearmother,don'tbeangry:ionlysaid,andplentyofbutteronit.'"

theend.

1872

fairytalesofhanschristianandersen

whattheoldmandoesisalwaysright

byhanschristianandersen

iwilltellyouastorythatwastoldmewheniwasalittleboy.everytimeithoughtofthisstory,itseemedtomemoreandmorecharming;foritiswithstoriesasitiswithmanypeople-theybecomebetterastheygrowolder.

ihavenodoubtthatyouhavebeeninthecountry,andseenaveryoldfarmhouse,withathatchedroof,andmossesandsmallplantsgrowingwilduponit.thereisastork'snestontheridgeofthegable,forwecannotdowithoutthestork.thewallsofthehousearesloping,andthewindowsarelow,andonlyoneofthelatterismadetoopen.thebaking-ovensticksoutofthewalllikeagreatknob.anelder-treehangsoverthepalings;andbeneathitsbranches,atthefootofthepaling,isapoolofwater,inwhichafewducksaredisportingthemselves.thereisayard-dogtoo,whobarksatallcorners.justsuchafarmhouseasthisstoodinacountrylane;andinitdweltanoldcouple,apeasantandhiswife.smallastheirpossessionswere,theyhadonearticletheycouldnotdowithout,andthatwasahorse,whichcontrivedtoliveuponthegrasswhichitfoundbythesideofthehighroad.theoldpeasantrodeintothetownuponthishorse,andhisneighborsoftenborroweditofhim,andpaidfortheloanofitbyrenderingsomeservicetotheoldcouple.afteratimetheythoughtitwouldbeaswelltosellthehorse,orexchangeitforsomethingwhichmightbemoreusefultothem.butwhatmightthissomethingbe?

"you'llknowbest,oldman,"saidthewife."itisfair-dayto-day;sorideintotown,andgetridofthehorseformoney,ormakeagoodexchange;whicheveryoudowillberighttome,soridetothefair."

andshefastenedhisneckerchiefforhim;forshecoulddothatbetterthanhecould,andshecouldalsotieitveryprettilyinadoublebow.shealsosmoothedhishatroundandroundwiththepalmofherhand,andgavehimakiss.thenherodeawayuponthehorsethatwastobesoldorbarteredforsomethingelse.yes,theoldmanknewwhathewasabout.thesunshonewithgreatheat,andnotacloudwastobeseeninthesky.theroadwasverydusty;foranumberofpeople,allgoingtothefair,weredriving,riding,orwalkinguponit.therewasnoshelteranywherefromthehotsunshine.amongtherestamancametrudgingalong,anddrivingacowtothefair.thecowwasasbeautifulacreatureasanycowcouldbe.

"shegivesgoodmilk,iamcertain,"saidthepeasanttohimself."thatwouldbeaverygoodexchange:thecowforthethere!youwiththecow,"hesaid."itellyouwhat;idaresayahorseisofmorevaluethanacow;butidon'tcareforthat,-acowwillbemoreusefultome;so,ifyoulike,we'llexchange."

"tobesureiwill,"saidtheman.

accordinglytheexchangewasmade;andasthematterwassettled,thepeasantmighthaveturnedback;forhehaddonethebusinesshecametodo.but,havingmadeuphismindtogotothefair,hedeterminedtodoso,ifonlytohavealookatit;soonhewenttothetownwithhiscow.leadingtheanimal,hestrodeonsturdily,and,afterashorttime,overtookamanwhowasdrivingasheep.itwasagoodfatsheep,withafinefleeceonitsback.

"ishouldliketohavethatfellow,"saidthepeasanttohimself."thereisplentyofgrassforhimbyourpalings,andinthewinterwecouldkeephimintheroomwithus.perhapsitwouldbemoreprofitabletohaveasheepthanacow.shalliexchange?"