Page:Segnius Irritant or Eight Primitive Folk-lore Stories.pdf/39



was a king and he had a daughter, and no one could make her laugh; she was always gloomy. So this king said he would give her to him who made her laugh. So there was a shepherd, and he had a son, and they called him George. He said: “Little father! I will also go and see if I can make her laugh. I do not ask anything of you except this nanny-goat.” And his father said: Well, go then.” This goat was of such a kind that when she wished, she held every one fast, and the man must remain stuck to her.

So he took this nanny-goat and went, and he met a certain one, he had his foot on his shoulder. George said: “Why, prythee, hast thou thy foot on thy shoulder?” And he: “I, when I lift it off, so I make a skip of a hundred miles.” “And where goest thou?” “I go into service if any one will take me.” “Soh! come with me.”

They went on, and again met a certain one, he had a small plank across his eyes. “Thou, prythee, why hast thou that plank across thy eyes?” And he: “I, if I raise that plank, so I see an hundred miles.” “And where goest thou?” I go into service if thou wouldst take me.” “Very well, I will take thee. Come thou, too, with me.”

They went a piece of the way and met a third comrade; he held a bottle under his arm, and held his thumb in it instead of a cork. “Why dost thou hold thy thumb so—eh?” “When I uncork it I send a jet a hundred miles, and souse everything I please. If thou wilt take me too, into thy service, that can be our fortune and thine likewise.” And George replied: “Well, then, come.”

After that they went into that city where that king was, and piled up ribbands on their goat. And they came to an ale-house, and the man there had been told beforehand, when such and such people came that he was to give them what they wanted to eat and drink, and that the king would pay him everything. So they led