it over, what should I do with a pig? People would only point at us and
say 'Yonder they eat up all they have.' No, now I have a goat, and I
shall have milk and cheese, and keep the goat too. Run out, child, and
put up the goat."

"Nay, but I haven't the goat either," said Gudbrand, "for a little
farther on I traded it away and got a fine sheep instead!"

"You don't say so!" cried his wife, "why, you do everything to please
me, just as if I had been with you. What do we want with a goat? If I
had it I should lose half my time in climbing up the hills to get it
down. No, if I have a sheep, I shall have both wool and clothing, and
fresh meat in the house. Run out, child, and put up the sheep."

"But I haven't the sheep any more than the rest," said Gudbrand, "for
when I got a bit farther, I traded it away for a goose."

"Thank you, thank you, with all my heart," cried his wife, "what should
I do with a sheep? I have no spinning wheel or carding comb, nor should
I care to worry myself with cutting, and shaping, and sewing clothes. We
can buy clothes now as we have always done; and now I shall have roast
goose, which I have longed for so often; and, besides, down with which
to stuff my little pillow. Run out, child, and put up the goose.

"Well!" said Gudbrand, "I haven't the goose either; for when I had gone
a bit farther I traded it for a cock."

"Dear me!" cried his wife, "how you think of everything! just as I
should have done myself. A cock! think of that! Why it's as good as an
eight day clock, for every day the cock crows at four o'clock, and we