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 The Charcoal-Burner. 309 about him. On his way home he fell in with some neighbours and other people from the same parish, and he talked and bragged to them about all that he had seen in town. The most remarkable thing he saw, he said, was the great number of parsons he met, and all the people in the streets took offtheir hats to them. " I wish I was a parson," he said, "perhaps the people would take off their hats to me too ; now, they don't appear to see me at all." " Well, your clothes are black enough, anyhow," said his neigh bours; " but now that wc are on the way, wc may as well call in at the sale at the old parson's, and get a glass with the others, —and you can buy yourself a gown and ruff 1 at the same time." Yes, he did so, and when he came home he hadn't a penny left. " I suppose you have brought both money and good manners home with you from town this time ? " said his wife. " Good manners ! yes, I should think so," said the charcoal-burner. "Just look here ! lam a parson now. Here is both the gown and the ruff! " " Yes, very Hkely ! " said his wife ; " strong beer måkes big words, it appears ! You don't care how things go ! " " You shouldn't boast or bother about the coals you are burning, till they are ready," answered the husband. But one day a great many people, dressed like parsons, passed the charcoal-burner's house on their way to the palace, and it was plain to see that something was going to take place there, so the charcoal-burner thought he would go as well, and put on the old parson's clothes. His wife thought it would be wiser of him to stay at home, for even if he got the chance to hold a horse for some grand person, she was afraid the sixpence he got for it would vanish down his throat, which usually was the case. " Yes, everybody talks about the drink, but no one about the thirst, do they, mothcr ? " said the husband ; "the more one drinks, the more one thirsts," and with that he started for the palace. All the strangers were invited to come into the presence of the king, and the charcoal-burner 1 The Norwegian clergy wear a long black gown and an Elizabethan ruff. X3