No, if I have a sheep, I shall have both wool and clothing, and
fresh meat in the house. Run out, child, and put up the sheep."
"But I haven't the sheep any more than the rest," said Gudbrand, "for
when I got a bit farther, I traded it away for a goose."
"Thank you, thank you, with all my heart," cried his wife, "what should
I do with a sheep? I have no spinning wheel or carding comb, nor should
I care to worry myself with cutting, and shaping, and sewing clothes. We
can buy clothes now as we have always done; and now I shall have roast
goose, which I have longed for so often; and, besides, down with which
to stuff my little pillow. Run out, child, and put up the goose.
"Well!" said Gudbrand, "I haven't the goose either; for when I had gone
a bit farther I traded it for a cock."
"Dear me!" cried his wife, "how you think of everything! just as I
should have done myself. A cock! think of that! Why it's as good as an
eight day clock, for every day the cock crows at four o'clock, and we
shall be able to stir our stiff legs in good time. What should we do
with a goose? I don't know how to cook it; and as for my pillow, I can
stuff it with cotton grass. Run out, child, and put up the cock."
"But after all, I haven't the cock either," said Gudbrand, "for when I
had gone a bit farther, I became as hungry as a hunter, so I was forced
to sell the cock for a shilling, for fear I should starve.
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