BEND THE BOUGH IN TIME
of me, and let us ride home." So they rode away. After a while the man dropped one of his mittens. "Pick it up," said he to his dog. But the dog did not obey him. "Pick it up at once," he again commanded; but, no, the dog would not touch it. When for the third time he had given the same command, and the dog refused to obey, he seized his rifle and shot the animal dead. They now proceeded on their way and soon came to a forest. Here the man desired to rest, so they alighted and turned the horse loose in the grass. When they wished to proceed on their journey, the man called to the horse and twice repeated his call, but all in vain. The animal paid no attention to him, and seemed determined to continue enjoying the fine grass under the trees. Whereupon he again snatched his rifle and shot the poor creature.
His wife, who witnessed this act, became greatly frightened, and promised herself that she would never gainsay her husband. The man now took a green bough, bent its ends together and gave it to his wife, saying: "Keep this bough until I ask for it." They then walked home together.
For several years this couple lived happily, Metté never forgetting the promise which she made herself in the forest. She was so kind and complaisant, that no one would ever recognize in her "the wicked Metté." One day her husband said to her: "Would you not like to go and see your parents?" Metté answered that it would afford her great pleas-
265
