church. Go
along, children, and put the pig in the sty."

"But I have not got the pig either," said Gudbrand. "When I had gone on
a bit further I exchanged it for a milch goat."

"Bless me," said the wife, "you do everything well! When I think of it,
what could we have done with a pig? Folk would only have said we eat up
all we had. Now we have a goat we shall have milk and cheese, and we
shall have the goat too. Run, children, and put up the goat."

"But I have not got the goat," said Gudbrand. "I went on a bit, and
exchanged it for a fine sheep."

"Well," said the wife, "you have done just what I should have
wished--just as if I had done it myself. What did we want a goat for? I
should have had to go over hill and dale after it. Now we have a sheep
I shall have wool and clothes in the house, and food as well. Go,
children, and put up the sheep."

"But I have not got the sheep either," said Gudbrand. "I went on a
while, and then I exchanged it for a goose."

"You shall have thanks for that," said the wife, "many thanks! What
would we have done with a sheep? I have no spinning-wheel nor distaff,
and I should not care to bother about making clothes. We can buy
clothes, as we have always done. Now we shall have roast goose, which I
have so often wished for, and I shall be able to stuff my little pillow
with the down. Go and bring in the goose, children."

"But," said Gudbrand, "I have not got the goose either. When I had gone
a bit further I gave it in exchange for a cock."

"Heaven knows," said his wife, "how you thought all this out so well! It
is just what I should have done myself. A cock! why it is just the same
as if you had bought an eight-day clock, for the cock crows at four
o'clock every morning, so we shall be able to get up in good time. What
could we have done with a goose? I don't know how to cook it, and I can
stuff my pillow with moss. Run and fetch the cock in, children."

"But," said Gudbrand, "I have not got the cock either. When I had gone a
bit further I got hungry, and so I sold the cock for twelve shillings so
that I might live."

"Thank God you did so," said his wife; "whatever you do you do it just
as I should have wished. What could we have done with a cock? We are our
own masters, and can lie in bed in the morning as late as we please.
Thank Heaven you have come back again safe. You do everything so well
that we can well spare the cock, the goose, the pig, and the cow."

Then Gudbr