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What would I give to have such a prize!' 'Well,' said the

shepherd, 'if you are so fond of her, I will change my cow for

your horse; I like to do good to my neighbours, even though I

lose by it myself.' 'Done!' said Hans, merrily. 'What a noble

heart that good man has!' thought he. Then the shepherd jumped

upon the horse, wished Hans and the cow good morning, and away he

rode.

Hans brushed his coat, wiped his face and hands, rested a while,

and then drove off his cow quietly, and thought his bargain a

very lucky one. 'If I have only a piece of bread (and I certainly

shall always be able to get that), I can, whenever I like, eat my

butter and cheese with it; and when I am thirsty I can milk my

cow and drink the milk: and what can I wish for more?' When he

came to an inn, he halted, ate up all his bread, and gave away

his last penny for a glass of beer. When he had rested himself he

set off again, driving his cow towards his mother's village. But

the heat grew greater as soon as noon came on, till at last, as

he found himself on a wide heath that would take him more than an

hour to cross, he began to be so hot and parched that his tongue

clave to the roof of his mouth.