Once on a time there was a man so mean and cross that he never thought
his wife did anything right in the house. So one evening in hay-making
time he came home scolding and tearing, and showing his teeth and making
a fuss.

"Dear love, don't be so angry; there's a good man," said his goody;
"to-morrow let's change our work. I'll go out with the mowers and mow,
and you shall mind the house at home."

The husband thought that would do very well. He was quite willing, he
said.

So, early next morning his goody took a scythe on her shoulders, and
went out into the hayfield with the mowers, and began to mow; but the
man was to mind the house and do the work at home.

First of all he wanted to churn the butter; but when he had churned a
while, he grew thirsty and went down to the cellar to tap a barrel of
ale. So, just when he was putting the tap into the cask, he heard
overhead the pig come into the kitchen. Then off he ran up the cellar
steps, with the tap in his hand, as fast as he could to look after the
pig, lest it should upset the churn. But when he got up, and saw the pig
had already knocked the churn over and stood there grunting and rooting
in the cream which was running all over the floor, he became so wild
with rage, that he quite forgot the ale barrel, and ran at the pig as
hard as he could.

He caught it, too, just as it ran out of doors, and gave it such a kick