Page:Tales from the Fjeld.djvu/384

362 Next day the lad was down at the foot of the bridge to take toll, and so there came a man with a horse-load of brandy, and wanted to cross.

"You can't cross till you pay the toll," said the lad.

"I've got no money," said the man.

"Well, then, you can't cross; but you have goods, of course," said the lad. Yes; so he got half a quart of brandy, and that he poured up his shirt-sleeve.

A while after came a man with a drove of goats, and wanted to cross the bridge.

"You can't cross till you pay the toll," said the lad.

Well, he was no richer than the rest. He had no money; but still he gave the lad a little billy-goat, and he got over with his drove. But the lad took the goat and trod it down into a bucket he had brought with him. So when he got home, the goody asked again—

"What did you take to-day?"

"Oh, there came a man with a load of brandy, and from him I got a pint of brandy."

"And what did you do with it?"

"I did as you bade me, mother; I poured it up my shirt-sleeve."

"Ay! but that was silly, my son; you should have come home to fetch a bottle and poured it into it."

"Well, well! be still this time, mother, and I'll be sure to do what you say next time;" and then he went on, "Next came a man with a drove of goats, and he gave me a little billy-goat, and that I trod down into the bucket."

"Dear me," said his mother, "that was silly, and sillier than silly, my son; you should have twisted a