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THE GOOD-TEMPERED TAILOR. 381 |
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that the thunder-clouds on his face began to disperse. He gave back the bottle to the tailor and said, " I have often heard it said, that men speak better after drinking than when they are thirsty; shall we travel together ?"
"With all my heart," said the tailor, "if your inclination is to go to a large town, where we may most likely find plenty of work."
" That is just what I should wish to do," replied the shoemaker ; " in a little nest like our village there is no work to be had, and in the country people like to go bare-footed.
So they agreed to travel together, and went away on their journey, always placing one foot before the other like a weasel in the snow. They had plenty of time for walking, but very little to eat and drink; so when they arrived at a town they each tried for work in their different trades, and the tailor looked so fresh and lively, and had such bright, rosy cheeks, that he readily obtained work; and when he had the luck, he would contrive to give the master's daughter a kiss behind the door, as he went away. Generally, when he again joined the shoemaker, he had the most money in his purse.
The peevish shoemaker would make a long face, and say: "The greater the rogue, the greater the luck." But the little tailor only laughed and sang, and shared all that he earned with his comrade. If he had only a couple of pence jingling in his pocket, he would take them out and throw them on the table so joyfully, that the glasses would dance again, and it might be said of him : " Easily earned, easily spent."
They had been travelling for some time, when they arrived near a large forest, through which lay the road to the chief town of the kingdom, and in which the king dwelt Two footpaths led to this town, one of which would occupy seven days to traverse, and the other only two; but neither of them knew which was the shorter way.
The two wanderers seated themselves under an oak tree, and began to consult respecting what quantity of food they should take with them.
The shoemaker said : "A man ought always to prepare for the future. I shall lake bread enough to last seven days."
" What !" cried the tailor, " drag bread enough for seven days On your back, like a beast of burden, and not be able to look |
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