THE WISE GOOSE. I4I

“That’s funny too!” said the farmer's wife, glancing at
the tall clock in the corner. ‘‘There’s something gone wrong
with mine too. Howsomever I can tell you the time of day
by farmer’s watch. He always leaves it at home when he goes
out to the sheep-washing for fear of getting the water to it.
Sit ye down a minute. I’Il get it out.”

The farmer’s wife took a key from inside a china cup on
the mantel-shelf, and unlocking a drawer, took out a handsome
gold watch and chain.

‘When we first took to keeping geese,’ she said, after
telling the time, ‘I was all for letting the geese pay the rent.
But farmer, he said ‘No. You'll have all the trouble with
‘em, Missus; with the eggs and that—and it’s nothing but
right you should do as you like with the money they'll
fetch,

‘“So I have saved up the money ever since—and bought
many a thing. And last year I bought him this gold watch
and chain, for he had naught but a silver one afore. He is
proud of it too! He says there isn’t a handsomer watch and
chain in all the market-town where he goes—let alone that it
goes so well. The old silver one was always wanting a knock
or something to keep it going. He says the farmers joke about
my geese, and tell him his wife’s geese lay golden eggs!”

The farmer's wife looked pleased and proud too, as she
held out the rich heavy chain, letting it slip through her fingers
till she came to the large seal at the end—before she locked
away the gleaming watch in its drawer again.

“Golden eggs! to be sure they must!” said the neighbour,
as she smiled admiringly at the thought of the watch. ‘“ And
have you got any sitting now?”

“Only one as yet,” said the farmer’s wife. ‘There she is
—pretty dear !—waiting for me to scatter her some barley-meal.