.

"I've been asleep," answered Hans, yawning.

"Asleep?" cried the parson in amazement. "You don't mean that you sleep
every day till this hour?"

"I think," answered Hans, "it's as clear as spring-water. Nobody can
serve two masters. He who works at night must sleep during the day, for
night was meant for labourers to rest. If you relieve me from tolling
the bell at night, I'm quite ready to set to work at daybreak. But if I
have to toll the bell at night, I must sleep in the daytime, at any rate
till mid-day."

After disputing over the matter for some time, they finally agreed on
the following conditions:--Hans was to be relieved of his nocturnal
duties, and was to work from sunrise to sunset. He was to be allowed to
sleep for half-an-hour after nine o'clock in the morning, and for a
whole hour after dinner, and was to have the whole of Sunday free.
"But," said the parson, "you might sometimes help with odd jobs at other
times, especially in winter, when the days are short, and the work would
then last longer."

"Not at all," cried Hans, "for that's why the days are longer in summer.
I won't do any more than work from sunrise to sunset on week-days, as I
promised."

Some time afterwards the parson was asked to attend a grand christening
in town. The town was only a few hours from the parsonage, but Hans took
a bag of provisions with him. "What's that for?" said the parson. "We
shall get to town before evening." But Hans answered, "Who can foresee
everything? Many things may happen on the road to interfere with our
journey, and you know that our bargain was that I am only obliged to
serve you till sunset. If the sun sets before we reach town, you'll have
to finish your journey alone."

They were in the middle of the forest when the sun set. Hans stopped the
horses, took up his provision-bag, and jumped out of the sledge. "What
are you doing, Hans? Are you mad?" asked the pastor of souls. But Hans
answered quietly, "I'm going to sleep here; for the sun has set, and my
time of work is over." His master did his utmost to move him with
alternate threats and entreaties, but it was all of no use, and at last
he promised him a good present and an increase in his wages. "Are you
not ashamed, Mr. Parson?" said Hans. "Would you tempt me to stray from
the right way and break my agreement? All the treasures of the earth
would not induce me, for you hold a man by his word, and an ox by his
horns. If you want to go to town