Stranica 137 [137]
OCR
THE FISHERMAN AND HIS WIFE. IOI “Then, did you wish for nothing?” said the wife. “No,” said the man; " what should I wish for?” “Oh dear!” said the wife ; "and it is so dreadful always to live in this evil-smelling hovel; you might as well have wished for a little cottage; go again and call him; tell him. we want a little cottage, I daresay he will give it us; go, and be quick.” And when he went back, the sea was green and yellow, and not nearly so clear. So he stood and said, ‘*Q man, O man !—if man you be, Or flounder, flounder, in the sea— Such a tiresome wife I’ve got, For she wants what I do not.” Then the flounder came swimming up, and said, - Now then, what does she want ?” “Oh,” said the man, "you know when I caught you my wife says I ought to have wished for something. She does have a cottage, “Go home with you,” said the flounder, “she has it already.” So the man went home, and found, instead of the hovel, a little cottage, and his wife was sitting on a bench before the EP = = _ me a EE * " Come in and see if this is not a great improvement.” So they went in, and there was a little house-place and a beautiful little bedroom, a kitchen and larder, with all sorts of furniture, and iron and brass ware of the very best. And at the back was a little yard with fowls and ducks, and a little garden full of green vegetables and fruit. “Look,” said the wife, “is not that nice ?” “ Yes,’ said the man, “if this can only last we shall be == SE ad “We will see about that,” said the wife. And after a meal they went to bed. So all went well for a week or fortnight, when the wife said, " Look here, husband, the cottage is really too confined, and the yard and garden are so small; I think the flounder
