“But I have not got the sheep,” said Gudbrand, “for as I went a little further, I changed it away for a goose.”

“Many, many thanks for that,” said his wife.  “What should I have done with a sheep?  For I have neither a spinning-wheel nor have I much desire to toil and labor to make clothes; we can purchase clothing as we have hitherto:  now I shall have roast goose, which I have often longed for; and then I can make a little pillow of the feathers.  Go and bring in the goose, children.”

“But I have not got the goose,” said Gudbrand; “as I came on a little further, I changed it away for a cock.”

“Heaven only knows how thou couldst think of all this,” exclaimed his wife, “it is just as if I had managed it all myself.  A cock! that is just as good as if thou hadst bought an eight-day clock; for as the cock crows every morning at four o’clock, we can be stirring betimes.  What should I have done with a goose?  I do not know how to dress a goose, and my pillow I can stuff with moss.  Go and fetch in the cock, children.”

“But I have not brought the cock home with me,” said Gudbrand; “for when I had gone a long, long way, I became so hungry that I was obliged to sell the cock for twelve shillings to keep me alive.”

“Well! thank God thou always dost just as I could wish to have it done.  What should we have done with a cock?  We are our own masters; we can lie as long as we like in the morning.  God be praised, I have got thee here safe again, and as thou always dost everything so right, we want neither a cock, nor a goose, nor a pig, nor a sheep, nor a cow.”

Hereupon Gudbrand opened the door:—­“Have I won your hundred dollars?” asked he of the neighbor, who was obliged to confess that he had.

Translation by Benjamin Thorpe in ‘Yule-Tide Stories’ (Bonn’s Library).

THE WIDOW’S SON

There was once a very poor woman who had only one son.  She toiled for him till he was old enough to be confirmed by the priest, when she told him that she could support him no longer, but that he must go out in the world and gain his own livelihood.  So the youth set out, and after wandering about for a day or two he met a stranger.  “Whither art thou going?” asked the man.  “I am going out in the world to see if I can get employment,” answered the youth.—­“Wilt thou serve us?”—­“Yes, just as well serve you as anybody else,” answered the youth.  “Thou shalt be well cared for with me,” said the man:  “thou shalt be my companion, and do little or nothing besides.”

So the youth resided with him, had plenty to eat and drink, and very little or nothing to do; but he never saw a living person in the man’s house.