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HANS IN LUCK. 17 quite right about your pig. In the village I have just left one had actually been stolen from the bailiffs yard. I fear, I fear you have it in your hand; they have sent after the thief, and it would be a bad look-out for you if it was found upon you; the least that could happen would be to be thrown into a dark hole.” ú Poor Hans grew pale with fright. " For heaven’s sake," said he, “help me out of this scrape, I am a stranger in these parts; take my pig and give me your goose.” “Tt will be running some risk,” answered the man, “ but I will do it sooner than that you should come to grief.” And so, taking the cord in his hand, he drove the pig quickly along a by-path, and lucky Hans went on his way home with the goose under his arm. ‘The more I think of it,’ said he to himself, “the better the bargain seems; first I get the roast goose; then the fat ; that will last a whole year for bread and dripping ; and lastly the beautiful white feathers which I can stuff my pillow with ; how comfortably I shall sleep upon it, and how pleased my mother will be!” And when he reached the last village, he saw a knifegrinder with his barrow ; and his wheel went whirring round, and he sang, ** My scissors I grind, and my wheel I turn ; And all good fellows my trade should learn, For all that I meet with just serves my turn." And Hans stood and looked at him; and at last he spoke to him and said, “You seem very well off, and merry with your grinding.” “Yes,” answered the knife-grinder, “my handiwork pays very well. I call a man a good grinder who, every time he puts his hand in his pocket finds money there. But where did you buy that fine goose?” ‘*T did not buy it, but I exchanged it for my pig,” said Hans. “And the pig?” ‘That I exchanged for a cow.” “And the cow?” “That I exchanged for a horse.” ** And the horse?" “T gave for the horse a lump of gold as big as my head.” C
