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CLEVER PEOPLE. |
375 |
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"Stay here, and sit<lown for awhile, then," said the woman; "I will go and fetch the purse, and be back again very soon. I shall, not sit on the truss of straw; but stan<T up, so that I can guide the oxen better."
Away she drove as she spoke, and the man thought to himself: "She has a good stock of folly at all events, and if she really brings the money, my wife will be lucky, and escape without a single stripe. He had not waited long before he saw her running back to him with the purse of money in her hand, which she herself placed in his pocket. Then she thanked him a thousand times for his kindness, and went away.
. But, on reaching home, she met her son coming from the field, and told him what an unexpected thing had happened to her. " I am so delighted," she continued, " that I really met with some one who has seen my poor husband, and to be able to send him something, for the man told me he was suffering for want of clothes and money."
The son was full of wonder at this account; but presently he exclaimed, " Mother, men do not come from heaven every day. I will go out immediately and try to find this man, for I should like to see him; he will be able to;tell me how it looks up there, and what work there is to do." So he went out, saddled his horse, and rode away quickly.
He had not gone far before he saw the farmer sitting under a willow-tree, counting the money that was in the purse. " Have you seen a man pass here who has just come from heaven ?" asked the youth.
" Yes," answered the farmer; "but he has set out to return, and has taken the road over yonder mountain, which is rather a nearer way. You could overtake him, if you rode quickly."
i'' Ah," said the young man, "I have been the whole day hard at work, and the ride here has tired me. You know the man, so will you be so good as to seat yourself on my horse, and overtake him, and bring him back here?"
" Ah," thought the farmer, "here is another with no wick in his lamp. Why should I not do you this favour?" said he aloud, aa he mounted the horse, and rode away at a rapid trot.
The young man remained sitting where the farmer had left him till night came on, but he did not return. "Ah, well," he thought, |
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