142 THE WISE GOOSE.

It is her first sitting, but I think she’ll bring them out. If I
find she is not taking to the eggs I must sell them—or put
another goose to them. But she took so pretty to the nest this
morning. Come now! She’s had enough—she'll go back to
her golden eggs now. Come and see how set up she is about
Gein ae

And the farmer’s wife, with her friend, followed the goose
across the yard, after telling the two children to finish their
dinner and run out to their work again.

As little Harry had been eating his food, he had been very
much surprised at what the farmer’s wife had been saying, for
he had listened to every word.

He had no idea, until then, of what wonderful things geese
could do—for he and his brother had been born in London,
and had lived there all their lives until a few months ago, when
their father died and their mother brought them to live in the
country. Like many poor little London children, they had
never seen a duck or a goose except lying without any feathers
on them in the shops—and they had not any idea of a country
poultry-yard, and of ducks and geese walking about and
enjoying themselves.

What! could geese pay the rent? How did they do it?
And lay golden eggs? What useful birds. How Harry wished
that he had one such bird to take home to his mother! Or even
an egg!

He could hardly believe it, and yet he had seen that
wonderful watch and chain with his own eyes. It must be
true—no doubt it was made out of one of the golden eggs—
and there was a goose actually sitting on some now in the shed.

“Did you hear what the farmer’s wife said, Billy,” said
Harry.

“Aw,” said Silly Billy. But he was too busy smiling at