Page:Tales from the Fjeld.djvu/393

Rh, for there wasn't room for him in the soup-kettle."

"But what have you done with that new green gown I meant for my daughter-in-law?" said the goody, trying to hide his silliness.

"Oh, I did as you bade me, mother. It hung out in the cabbage-garden, and as it was the greenest thing there, I took it and cut it up small, and yonder it boils in the soup."

Away ran the goody to the chimney-corner, tore off the pot, and turned it upside down with all that was in it. Then she filled it anew, and put it on to boil. But when she had time to look at Matt she was quite shocked.

"Why is it you are such a figure?" she cried.

"I did as you bade me, mother," said Matt. "First I rubbed myself all over with treacle to make myself sweet for my bride, and then I tore open the pillow and put myself into fine feathers."

Well, the goody turned it off as well as she could, and picked off the feathers from her son, and washed him clean, and put fresh clothes on him.

So at last they were to have the wedding, but first Matt was to go to the town and sell a cow to buy things for the bridal. The goody had told him what he was to do, and the beginning and end of what she said was, he was to be sure to get something for the cow. So when he got to the market with the cow, and they asked what he was to have for her, they could get no answer out of him than that he was to have something for her. So at last came a butcher, who begged him to take the cow and follow him home,