stayed there to carry wood and water for the kitchen maid.

So one day, when he was going to fetch water from the brook, he set eyes
upon a big fish which lay under an old fir stump, where the water had
eaten into the bank, and he put his bucket softly under the fish and
caught it. But as he was gong home to the grange he met an old woman who
led a golden goose by a string.

"Good-day, godmother," said Taper Tom, "that's a pretty bird you have,
and what fine feathers! If one only had such feathers one might leave
off splitting fir tapers."

The goody was just as pleased with the fish Tom had in his bucket and
said, if he would give her the fish, he might have the golden goose. And
it was such a curious goose. When any one touched it he stuck fast to
it, if Tom only said, "If you want to come along, hang on." Of course,
Taper Tom was willing enough to make the exchange. "A bird is as good as
a fish any day," he said to himself, "and, if it's such a bird as you
say, I can use it as a fish hook." That was what he said to the goody,
and he was much pleased with the goose.

Now, he had not gone far before he met another old woman. As soon as she
saw the lovely golden goose she spoke prettily, and coaxed and begged
Tom to give her leave to stroke his lovely golden goose.

"With all my heart," said Taper Tom, and just as she stroked the goose
he said, "If you want to come along, hang on."

The goody pulled and tore, but she was forced to hang on whether she
would or not, and Taper Tom went on as though he alone were with the