WIFE.  Ah, better still!  We have just enough grass for a sheep.—­Ewe’s milk and cheese!  Woolen jackets and stockings!  The cow could not give all those.  How you think of everything!

GOODMAN.  But I changed the sheep for a goose.

WIFE.  Then we shall have roast goose to eat this year.  You dear Goodman, you are always thinking of something to please me!

GOODMAN.  But I gave away the goose for a fowl.

WIFE.  A fowl?  Well, that was a good exchange.  The fowl will lay eggs and hatch them.  We shall soon have a poultry-yard.  Ah, this is just what I was wishing for!

GOODMAN.  Yes, but I exchanged the fowl for a sack of rotten apples.

WIFE.  My dear, good husband!  Now, I’ll tell you something.  Do you know, almost as soon as you left me this morning, I began thinking of what I could give you nice for supper.  I thought of bacon with eggs and sweet herbs.

GOODMAN.  But we have no sweet herbs.

WIFE (nodding).  For that reason, I went over to our neighbor’s and begged her to lend me a handful.

GOODMAN.  That was right; they have plenty.

WIFE (nodding).  So I thought, but she said, “Lend?  I have nothing to lend, not even a rotten apple.”  Now I can lend her ten or the whole sackful.  It makes me laugh to think of it.  I am so glad.

GOODMAN.  So you think what I did was right?

WIFE.  What the Goodman does is always right.

THE CAT AND THE MOUSE

TIME:  perhaps this minute. 
PLACE:  perhaps your own garret.

* * * * *

MOTHER MOUSE. 
HER DAUGHTER, MISS MOUSE. 
THE CAT.

* * * * *

[MOTHER MOUSE and MISS MOUSE are in their spare room because Mother Mouse is getting ready for a journey.  Miss Mouse helps her.  The CAT is outside, peeping now and then through the window, but so slyly that the mice do not see her.]

MOTHER MOUSE (going).  Now mind you keep one eye on our grease-pot, child.

MISS MOUSE.  That I will, dear mother!

MOTHER MOUSE.  Let no one in,—­no one! no one!

MISS MOUSE.  No one, dear mother!

MOTHER MOUSE.  I’ll not be long away.  Good-by, my child.

(Starting out; stopping.)

Mind you show no one the grease-pot, child,—­no one! no one!

Miss MOUSE.  No one, dear mother!

[Mother Mouse goes out of the front door.]

CAT (calling through window).  Oh, Miss Mouse!  Oh, Miss Mouse!

MISS MOUSE (showing alarm).  Who calls?

CAT (very sweetly).  Only I!  Will you please let me in?

MISS MOUSE (shaking head).  Mother said—­

CAT (interrupting quickly).  ’T is a matter of business!