The least they would do would be to throw you into jail."
Our friend Hans was downcast. "Alas," he cried, "help me in my need!
You know your way here better than I. Take my pig then, and give me
your goose."
"I shall be running great risks," said the youth, "but at least I will
prevent your getting into trouble."
He took the rope in his hand and drove the pig quickly away down a
by-path, and Hans went on relieved of his sorrow, towards home, with
the goose under his arm.
"What a lucky fellow I am!" he said to himself. "First, I shall have a
good roast; then there is the quantity of dripping that will fall out,
which will keep me in bread-and-dripping for a quarter of a year; and
lastly, the splendid white feathers, with which I will have my pillow
stuffed; then I shall fall asleep without rocking. How glad my mother
will be!"
When he was at length come to the village, there stood in the street
a scissors-grinder with his truck. His wheel hummed, and he sang the
while:
"My wheel I turn, and the scissors I grind,
And my cloak hangs flowing free in the wind."
Hans remained standing, and watched him; at length he spoke to him,
and said:
"You must be doing well since you are so merry over your grinding.
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