Page:Tales from the Fjeld.djvu/239

Rh his worry, and the end was Taper Tom got leave to stay there and carry wood and water for the kitchen-maid.

So one day, when he was going to fetch water from the beck, he set eyes on a big fish which lay under an old fir stump, where the water had eaten into the bank, and he put his bucket so softly under the fish, and caught it. But as he was going home to the grange he met an old woman who led a golden goose by a string.

"Good day, godmother," said Taper Tom; "that's a pretty bird you have got; and what fine feathers!—they dazzle one a long way off. If one only had such feathers one might leave off splitting fir tapers."

The goody was just as pleased with the fish Tom had in his bucket, and said if he would give her the fish, he might have the golden goose; and it was such a goose, that when any one touched it he stuck fast to it, if Tom only said, "Hang on, if you care to come with us."

Yes! that swap Taper Tom was willing enough to make.

"A bird is as good as a fish, any day," he said to himself; "and if it's such a bird as you say, I can use it as a fish-hook." That was what he said to the goody, and was so pleased with the goose. Now, he hadn't gone far before he met another old woman, and as soon as she saw the lovely golden goose she was all for running up to it and patting it; and she spoke so prettily, and coaxed him so, and begged him give her leave to stroke his lovely golden goose.

"With all my heart," said Taper Tom; "but mind you don't pluck out any of its feathers."