FIRESIDE STORIES, 467

 

you shall do. There is a fair at the neighbouring town; you
shall take these forty guineas and buy a cow. I can make
butter and cheese, which you shall sell at market, and we shall
then be able to live very comfortably.” Mr. Vinegar joyfully
assents, takes the money, and goes off to the fair. When he
arrived, he walked up and down, and at length saw a beautiful
red cow. It was an excellent milker, and perfect in every respect.
Oh! thought Mr. Vinegar, if I had but that cow I should be the
happiest man alive. So he offers the forty guineas for the cow,
and the owner declaring that, as he was a friend, he’d oblige him,
the bargain was made. Proud of his purchase, he drove the cow
backwards and forwards to show it. By-and-bye he saw a
man playing the bagpipes, tweedledum, tweedledee ; the children
followed him about, and he appeared to be pocketing money on
all sides. Well, thought Mr. Vinegar, if I had but that beautiful
instrument I should be the happiest man alive—my fortune
would be made.

So he went up to the man. “ Friend,” says he, “what a beau-
tiful instrument that is, and what a deal of money you must
make.” “Why, yes,” said the man, “I make a great deal of

money, to be sure, and it is a wonderful instrument.’ “Oh!”
cried Mr. Vinegar, “how I should like to possess it!” “Well,”
said the man, “as you are a friend, I don’t much mind parting
with it; you shall have it for that red cow.” “Done,” said the

delighted Mr. Vinegar; so the beautiful red cow was given for

the bagpipes. He walked up and down with his purchase, but

in vain he attempted to play a tune, and instead of pocketing

pence, the boys followed him hooting, laughing, and pelting.
30—2