Page:Tales from the Fjeld.djvu/296



NCE on a time there was a widow who had a son, and he had set his heart on being nothing else than a tradesman. But you must know they were so poor, that they had nothing that he could begin his trading with. The only thing his mother owned in the world was a sow pig, and he begged and prayed so long and so prettily for it, that at last she was forced to let him have it.

When he had got it, he was to set off to sell it, that he might have some money to begin his trading. So he offered it to this man and that, good and bad alike; but there was no one who just then cared to buy a pig. At last he came to a rich old hunks; but you know much will always have more, and that man was one of the sort that never can have enough.

"Will you buy a pig to-day?" said the lad; "a good pig, and a long pig, and a fine fat pig." That was what he said.

The old hunks asked what he would have for it. It was at least worth six dollars, even between brothers, said the lad; but the times were so hard, and money so scarce, he didn't mind selling it for four dollars; and that was as good as giving it away.