Page:Household stories from the collection of the Bros Grimm (L & W Crane).djvu/174

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GRIMM'S FAIRY TALES.

"What is this that I hear?" cried the tailor, and he ran and called out to the youth,

"O you liar, to say that the goat was full, and she has been hungry all the time!" And in his wrath he took up his yard-measure and drove his son out of the house with many blows.

The next day came the turn of the second son, and he found a fine place in the garden hedge, where there were good green sprouts, and the goat ate them all up. In the evening, when he came to lead her home, he said,

"Well, goat, have you had enough?" And the goat answered,


"I am so full,
I cannot pull
Another blade of grass—ba! baa!"


"Then come home," said the youth, and led her home, and tied her up.

"Now," said the old tailor, "has the goat had her proper food? "

"Oh," answered the son, "she is so full, she no more can pull."

The tailor, not feeling satisfied, went out to the stall, and said,

"My dear goat, are you really full?" And the goat answered,


"How can I be full?
There was nothing to pull,
Though I looked all about me—ba! baa!"


"The good-for-nothing rascal," cried the tailor, "to let the dear creature go fasting!" and, running back, he chased the youth with his yard-wand out of the house.

Then came the turn of the third son, who, meaning to make all sure, found some shrubs with the finest sprouts possible, and left the goat to devour them. In the evening, when he came to lead her home, he said,

"Well, goat, are you full?" And the goat answered,


"I am so full,
I cannot pull
Another blade of grass—ba! baa!"