Page:The grandmother; a story of country life in Bohemia.pdf/351

Rh the miller's wife declared that she looked like a "Meissen apple" in it.

"Now to the groom! Which one of you will go to tease him?" asked Grandmother.

"The oldest," said the miller's wife.

"Wait, I'll bring him one," quickly cried Mrs. Tomesh. She ran out and brought the old washerwoman, who was helping in the kitchen. They threw a shawl over head, and the wedding matron took her by the arm and led her out to the groom to see if he would "buy her." The groom walked about her and examined her till he had an opportunity to raise the shawl; underneath he saw an old wrinkled face soiled with ashes. All laughed. The groom did not want to claim such a bride, so the matron hurried with her out of the room. A second one was brought out. Both the groom and the spokesman thought she looked more like a bride; at first they thought they would buy her, but the spokesman said: "Indeed, we won't buy a hare in a bag!" he raised the shawl and they saw the fat face of the miller's wife, whose small black eyes laughed mischievously.

"Buy her, buy her; I'll sell her cheap!" laughed the miller, turning his snuff box in his fingers, but slowly, either because it was heavy or his fingers were stiff.

"Hush, hush, Father," laughed his wife, "to-day you would sell, to-morrow you'd be glad to buy back."

The third was the tall, slender form of the bride. The spokesman offered an old kreutzer for her, but the groom emptied the silver from his purse and won her. The women came rushing into the