s of a new merchant who had settled in
a town at some distance, and whose name was 'Peter Bull.' He put the
newspaper in his pocket, and went round to the sorrowing couple who had
lost their heir. He read the paragraph to them, and added, 'I wonder,
now, whether that could be your bull-calf Peter?'

'Yes, of course it is,' said the man; 'who else would it be?'

His wife then spoke up and said, 'You must set out, good man, and see
about him, for it is him, I am perfectly certain. Take a good sum of
money with you, too; for who knows but what he may want some cash now
that he has turned a merchant!'

Next day the man got a bag of money on his back and a sandwich in his
pocket, and his pipe in his mouth, and set out for the town where the
new merchant lived. It was no short way, and he travelled for many days
before he finally arrived there. He reached it one morning, just at
daybreak, found out the right place, and asked if the merchant was at
home. Yes, he was, said the people, but he was not up yet.

'That doesn't matter,' said the peasant, 'for I am his father. Just show
me up to his bedroom.'

He was shown up to the room, and as soon as he entered it, ad caught
sight of the merchant, he recognised him at once. He had the same broad
forehead, the same thick neck, and same red hair, but in other respects
he was now like a human being. The peasant rushed straight up to him
and took a firm hold of him. 'O Peter,' said he, 'what a sorrow you have
caused us, both myself and your mother, by running off like this just
as we had got you well educated! Get up, now, so that I can see you
properly, and have a talk with you.'

The merchant thought that it was a lunatic who had made his way in to
him, and thought it best to take things quietly.

'All right,' said he, 'I shall do so at once.' He got out of bed and
made haste to dress himself.

'Ay,' said the peasant, 'now I can see how clever our clerk is. He
has done well by you, for now you look just like a human being. If one
didn't know it, one would never think that it was you we got from the
red cow; will you come home with me now?'

'No,' said the merchant, 'I can't find time just now. I have a big
business to look after.'

'You could have the farm at once, you know,' said the peasant, 'and we
old people would retire. But if you would rather stay in business, of
course you may do so. Are you in want of anything?'

'Oh, yes,' said the merchant; 'I want nothing so