theappleswerebeginningtoroast."whatisthat?"askedone.

"why,doyouknow"-saidourpeasant.andthenhetoldthemthewholestoryofthehorse,whichhehadexchangedforacow,andalltherestofit,downtotheapples.

"well,youroldwomanwillgiveityouwellwhenyougethome,"saidoneoftheenglishmen."won'ttherebeanoise?"

"what!givemewhat?"saidthepeasant."why,shewillkissme,andsay,'whattheoldmandoesisalwaysright.'"

"letuslayawageronit,"saidtheenglishmen."we'llwageryouatonofcoinedgold,ahundredpoundstothehundred-weight."

"no;abushelwillbeenough,"repliedthepeasant."icanonlysetabushelofapplesagainstit,andi'llthrowmyselfandmyoldwomanintothebargain;thatwillpileupthemeasure,ifancy."

"done!taken!"andsothebetwasmade.

thenthelandlord'scoachcametothedoor,andthetwoenglishmenandthepeasantgotin,andawaytheydrove,andsoonarrivedandstoppedatthepeasant'shut."goodevening,oldwoman.""goodevening,oldman.""i'vemadetheexchange."

"ah,well,youunderstandwhatyou'reabout,"saidthewoman.thensheembracedhim,andpaidnoattentiontothestrangers,nordidshenoticethesack.

"igotacowinexchangeforthehorse."

"thankheaven,"saidshe."nowweshallhaveplentyofmilk,andbutter,andcheeseonthetable.thatwasacapitalexchange."

"yes,butichangedthecowforasheep."

"ah,betterstill!"criedthewife."youalwaysthinkofeverything;wehavejustenoughpastureforasheep.ewe'smilkandcheese,woollenjacketsandstockings!thecowcouldnotgiveallthese,andherhaironlyfallsoff.howyouthinkofeverything!"

"butichangedawaythesheepforagoose."

"thenweshallhaveroastgoosetoeatthisyear.youdearoldman,youarealwaysthinkingofsomethingtopleaseme.thisisdelightful.wecanletthegoosewalkaboutwithastringtiedtoherleg,soshewillbefatterstillbeforeweroasther."

"butigaveawaythegooseforafowl."

"afowl!well,thatwasagoodexchange,"repliedthewoman."thefowlwilllayeggsandhatchthem,andweshallhavechickens;weshallsoonhaveapoultry-yard.oh,thisisjustwhatiwaswishingfor."

"yes,butiexchangedthefowlforasackofshrivelledapples."

"what!ireallymustgiveyouakissforthat!"exclaimedthewife."mydear,goodhusband,nowi'lltellyousomething.doyouknow,almostassoonasyouleftmethismorning,ibegantothinkofwhaticouldgiveyouniceforsupperthisevening,andthenithoughtoffriedeggsandbacon,withsweetherbs;ihadeggsandbacon,butiwantedtheherbs;soiwentovertotheschoolmaster's:iknewtheyhadplentyofherbs,buttheschoolmistressisverymean,althoughshecansmilesosweetly.ibeggedhertolendmeahandfulofherbs.'lend!'sheexclaimed,'ihavenothingtolend;nothingatallgrowsinourgarden,notevenashrivelledapple;icouldnotevenlendyouashrivelledapple,mydearwoman.butnowicanlendherten,orawholesackful,whichi'mverygladof;itmakesmelaughtothinkaboutit;"andthenshegavehimaheartykiss.

"well,ilikeallthis,"saidboththeenglishmen;"alwaysgoingdownthehill,andyetalwaysmerry;it'sworththemoneytoseeit."sotheypaidahundred-weightofgoldtothepeasant,who,whateverhedid,wasnotscoldedbutkissed.

yes,italwayspaysbestwhenthewifeseesandmaintainsthatherhusbandknowsbest,andwhateverhedoesisright.

thatisastorywhichiheardwheniwasachild;andnowyouhaveheardittoo,andknowthat"whattheoldmandoesisalwaysright."

theend.

鏇村绮惧僵锛屾洿澶氬ソ涔︼紝灏藉湪濂囦功缃憌