صفحة 314 من 626

There was once a man who had a daughter who was called Clever

Elsie. And when she had grown up her father said: 'We will get

her married.' 'Yes,' said the mother, 'if only someone would come

who would have her.' At length a man came from a distance and

wooed her, who was called Hans; but he stipulated that Clever

Elsie should be really smart. 'Oh,' said the father, 'she has

plenty of good sense'; and the mother said: 'Oh, she can see the

wind coming up the street, and hear the flies coughing.' 'Well,'

said Hans, 'if she is not really smart, I won't have her.' When

they were sitting at dinner and had eaten, the mother said:

'Elsie, go into the cellar and fetch some beer.' Then Clever

Elsie took the pitcher from the wall, went into the cellar, and

tapped the lid briskly as she went, so that the time might not

appear long.