d so
it will remain in the family--when I was compelled to lay down the
burgomastership and take off the chain of honor, I might as well have
been knocked on the head with an axe, like one of my own fat oxen, and
I bore my deposition not at all submissively; but as I reflected more
upon the subject, I came to consider it less an evil, and now all is
well with me. There was much vexation about the office also, and I
oftentimes felt that I was not adapted to it. When a man once
undertakes to perform duties, which his education has not prepared him
for, he always continues unsuitable for the place, and often
inadvertently does great injustice to the people. It was truly a
fortunate circumstance, however, that my learned colleague
Knipperdolling had sufficient acuteness to keep us out of difficulty,
else I should have been compelled to abandon my office on the first
day. Now, comparatively, I live in heaven, slaughtering my oxen and my
swine, which I understand thoroughly--my sausages are always the best
in Munster--and it is wholly a different thing when one is quite at
home in his employment. Mark me, if the chief prophet should at any
time offer me an office, so true as my name is Gerhard Kippenbrock, I
would say NO, and would stick to my hatchet and chopping-block!'

Alf praised his noble renunciation of office, and then formally brought
forward his invitation.

'I wish you much happiness!' cried Gerhard, heartily shaking his
kinsman's hand. 'That all the preparations of the meat kind for the
marriage and festival are to be my care, is already understood; and I
may, moreover, take some care for the new housekeeping.'

Alf wished to protest against such great generosity; but he
answered,--'I, an old housekeeper, must understand these things better
than a young chicken like you,--I know what one housewife has cost me,
and you take two at once. There are the rich trencher-caps, the
bodices, the cloth and silk doublets and robes, and the furred cloak,
and shoes and stockings, and the golden ornaments, and the bed and
other white linen, all in double proportion--and, God preserve us,
finally the baby-clothes and the cradle also. You will be compelled to
wield your hammer merrily in the workshop, and will be too much
occupied to be able to make the necessary preparations, and your old
butcher kinsman will stand you in good stead.

To strike out one half of this formidable list, Alf related to him how
he had come by his s