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16 GRIMM’S FAIRY TALES.
awkwardly, the impatient beast gave him such a kick on the
head with his hind foot that he fell to the ground, and for
some time could not think where he was; when luckily there
came by a butcher who was wheeling along a young pig in a
wheelbarrow.
“ Here’s a fine piece of work!” cried he, helping poor
Hans on his legs again. Then Hans related to him all that
had happened; and the butcher handed him his pocket-flask,
saying,
‘“ Here, take a drink, and be a man again; of course the
cow would give no milk; she is old and only fit to draw
burdens, or to be slaughtered.”
‘Well, to be sure,” said Hans, scratching his head. ‘ Who
would have thought it? of course it is a very handy way of
getting meat when a man has a beast of his own to kill; but
for my part I do not care much about cow beef, it is rather
tasteless. Now, if I had but a young pig, that is much better
meat, and then the sausages !”
6 Look here, Hans,” said the butcher, “just for love of
you I will exchange, and will give you my pig instead of your
COW. *
“ Heaven reward such kindness!” cried Hans, and hand¬
ing over the cow, received in exchange the pig, who was
turned out of his wheelbarrow and was to be led by a string.
So on went Hans, thinking how everything turned out
according to his wishes, and how, if trouble overtook him, all
was sure to be set right directly. After a while he fell in with
a peasant, who was carrying a fine white goose under his arm.
They bid each other good-day, and Hans began to tell about
his luck, and how he had made so many good exchanges.
And the peasant told how he was taking the goose to a
christening feast. _
“Tust feel how heavy it is,” said he, taking it up by the
wings; “it has been fattening for the last eight weeks; and
when it is roasted, won’t the fat run down!”
“Ves, indeed,” said Hans, weighing it in his hand, “ very
fine to be sure; but my pig is not to be despised.”
Upon which the peasant glanced cautiously on all sides,
and shook his head.
TT am afraid,’ said he, “that there is something not