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1、1WhatWhatthetheOldOldManManDoesDoesisisAlwaysAlwaysRightRightNow Im going to tell you a story that I heard when I was a little fellow and thatI like better and better the more I think of it.For its the same with stories aswith many people;the older they grow,the nicer they grow,and that is delightfu
2、l.You have been out in the country,of course.There you must have seen a really oldfarmhouse with a thatched roof,where moss and weeds have planted themselves;astorks nest decorates the chimney(you can never do without the stork);the wallsare slanting;the windows are low(in fact,only one of them was
3、made to open);thebaking oven sticks out like a fat little stomach;and an elderbush leans over thegate,where you can see a tiny pond with a duck or ducklings,under a gnarled willowtree.Yes,and then,of course,theres a watchdog which barks at everybody andeverything.Well,there was a farmhouse just like
4、 that out in the country,and in it there livedtwo people,a farmer and his wife.They had few enough possessions,but still therewas one they could do without,and that was a horse,which grazed along the ditchbeside the highway.The old farmer used it to ride to town and lent it to his neighbors,receivin
5、g some slight services from them in return,but still it would be much moreprofitable to sell the horse,or at least exchange it for something that would bemore useful to them.But which should they do,sell or trade?Youll know whats best,Father,said the wife.Its market day.Come on,rideoff to town,and g
6、et money for the horse,or make a good bargain with it.Whateveryou do is always right;so be off for the market!So she tied on his neckerchief-for that was something she understood much betterthan he-tied it with a double bow,and made him look quite dashing.She brushedhis hat with the palm of her hand
7、,and she kissed him on the mouth,and then offhe went,riding the horse that was to be either sold or bartered.Of course,he wouldknow the right thing to do.The sun was scorching,and there was not a cloud in the sky.The road was dusty,and crowded with people on their way to market,some in wagons,some o
8、n horseback,and some on their own two legs.Yes,it was a fierce sun,with no shade all the way.Now a man came along,driving a cow,as pretty a cow as you could wish to see.Imsure she must give grand milk,thought the peasant.It would be a pretty goodbargain if I got her.Hey,you with the cow!he said.Lets
9、 have a little talk.Look here,I believe a horse costs more than a cow,but it doesnt matter to me,since I have more use for a cow.Shall we make a swap?Fair enough,said the man with the cow;and so they swapped.Now the farmer might just as well have turned home again,for he had finished hisbusiness.But
10、 he had planned to go to market,so to market he would go,if only tolook on;hence,with his cow,he continued on his way.He walked fast,and so didthe cow,and pretty soon they overtook a man who was leading a sheep;it was afine-looking sheep,in good condition and well clothed with wool.2I certainly woul
11、d like to have that,thought the peasant.It would find plentyof grazing beside our ditch,and in the winter we could keep it in our own room.It would really be much more sensible for us to be keeping a sheep rather than acow.Shall we trade?Yes,the sheeps owner was quite willing,so the exchange was mad
12、e,and now the farmerwent on along the highway with his sheep.Near a road gate he met a man with a biggoose under his arm.Well,youve got a fine heavy fellow there!said the farmer.Its got plenty offeathers and fat!How nice it would be to have it tied up near our little pond,and,besides,it would be som
13、ething for Mother to save the scraps for.She has often said,If we only had a goose.Now she can have one-and she shall,too!Will you swap?Ill give you my sheep for your goose,and my thanks,too.The other had no objection,so they swapped,and the farmer got the goose.By nowhe was close to the town;the ro
14、ad was getting more and more crowded,people andcattle pushing past him,thronging in the road,in the ditch,and right up to thetollkeepers potato patch,where his one hen was tied up,in case it should loseits head in a panic and get lost.It was a bobtailed hen that winked with one eyeand looked in good
15、 condition.Cluck,cluck,it said;what it meant by that,I wouldnt know;but what the peasantthought when he saw it was this,Shes the prettiest hen Ive ever seen-muchprettier than any of our parsons brood hens.I would certainly like to have her.A hen can always find a grain of corn,and she can almost pro
16、vide for herself.Ialmost think it would be a good idea to take her instead of the goose.Shall we trade?he asked.Trade?said the other.Well,not a bad idea!And so they traded.The tollkeepergot the goose,and the farmer got the hen.He had completed a good deal of business since he started for town;it was
17、 hot,andhe was tired.What he needed was a drink and a bite to eat.He had reached an inn and was ready to enter,when the innkeepers helper met himin the doorway,carrying a sackful of something.What have you got there?asked the farmer.Rotten apples,was the answer.A whole sackful for the pigs.What a lo
18、t!Wouldnt Mother like to see so many!Why,last year we had only onesingle apple on the old tree by the peat shed.That apple was to be kept,and itstood on the chest of drawers till it burst.That is always a sign of prosperity,Mother said.Here she could see plenty of prosperity!Yes,I only wish she coul
19、dhave it!Well,whatll you give me for them?asked the innkeepers helper.Give for them?Why,Ill give you my hen!So he turned over the hen,took the apples,and went into the inn,straight up to the bar;he set his sack upright against thestove,without noticing that there was a fire in it.There were a number
20、 of strangerspresent,horse dealers,cattle dealers,and two Englishmen so rich that their pocketswere bursting with gold coins.They were fond of making bets,as Englishmen in storiesalways are.3Suss!Suss!Suss!What was that noise at the stove?It was the apples beginningto roast!Whats that?everybody said
21、,and they soon found out.They were hearing the wholestory of the horse that had been traded first for a cow and finally for a sack ofrotten apples.Well,youll get a good beating from your old woman when you go home!said theEnglishmen.Youre in for a rough time.Ill get kisses,not cuffs,said the farmer.
22、Mother will say,Whatever the oldman does is right.Shall we bet on it?said the Englishmen.We have gold by the barrel!A hundredpounds sterling to a hundred-pound weight?Lets say a bushelful,replied the peasant.I can only bet my bushel of apples,and throw in myself and the old woman,but I think thatll
23、be more than full measure.Thats a bet!the Englishmen cried,and the bet was made!So the innkeepers cartwas brought out,the Englishmen got into it,the farmer got into it,the rotten applesgot into it,and away they went to the old mans cottage.Good evening,Mother.Same to you,Father.Well,Ive made the bar
24、gain.Yes,you know how to do business,said the wife,and gave him a big hug,forgettingboth the sack and the strangers.I traded the horse for a cow.Thank God for the milk!said the wife.Now we can have milk,butter,and cheeseon our table!What a splendid swap!Yes,but I swapped the cow for a sheep.Thats st
25、ill better!cried the wife.Youre always so thoughtful.We have plentyof grass for a sheep.But now well have sheeps milk,and sheeps cheese,and woolenstockings,yes,and a woolen nightgown,too.A cow couldnt give us that;she losesall her hairs.But youre always such a thoughtful husband.But then I exchanged
26、 the sheep for a goose.What!Will we really have goose for Michaelmas this year,dear Father?You alwaysthink of what would please me,and that was a beautiful thought!We can tie up thegoose,and itll grow even fatter for Michaelmas Day.But I traded the goose for a hen,continued the peasant.A hen?Well,th
27、at was a fine trade!replied his wife.A hen will lay eggs andsit on them and well have chickens.Imagine,a chicken yard!Just the thing Ivealways wanted most!Yes,but I exchanged the hen for a sack of rotten apples.Then I must certainly give you a kiss!said the wife.Thank you,my own husband.And now I ha
28、ve something to tell you.When you had gone I decided Id get a finedinner ready for you-omelet with chives.Now I had the eggs all right,but no chives.So I went over to the schoolmasters,because I know they have chives;but that sweetwoman is so stingy she wanted something in return.What could I give h
29、er?Nothinggrows in our garden,not even a rotten apple;I didnt even have that for her.But4now I can give her ten or even a whole sackful!Isnt it funny,Father!she said,and kissed him right on his mouth.I like that!cried both the Englishmen.Always downhill,but always happy.Thatalone is worth the money!
30、So they were quite content to pay the bushelful of goldpieces to the peasant,who had got kisses instead of cuffs for his bargains.Yes,it always pays when the wife believes and admits that her husband is the wisestman in the world and that whatever he does is right.Well,this is the story.I heard it when I was a youngster,and now youve heardit,too,so you know that what the old man does is always right.