THE SERPENT-WIFE.

ELERE was once a gentleman who
had a labourer who never went
about in company. His fellow-
servants did all they could to
make him come with them, and

 

now and then enticed him into
the tavern, but they could never get him to stay there
long, and he always wandered away by himself through
the woods. One day he went strolling about in the
forest as usual, far from any village and the haunts
of men, when he came upon a huge Serpent, which
wrigeled straight up to him and said: “Iam going
to cat thee on the spot!” But the labourer, who was
used to the loneliness of the forest, replied: “ Very
well, eat me if thou hast a mind to!’”—Then the
Serpent said: “Nay! [ will not eat thee; only do
what I tell thee!” And the Serpent began to tell
the man what he had to do. “Turn back home,” it