TABULATION OF FOLKTALES.
29
[No. 12.]
Title of Story—The Good Bargain.
Dramatis Personæ—Peasant.—Cow.—Frogs.—Another cow.—Troop of dogs, headed by greyhound.—Butcher.—King.—His daughter.—Sentry.—Jew.
Abstract of Story.—(1) a peasant returning from fair, where he has sold his cow for seven thalers, hears frogs in pond, crying, "Aik, aik, aik, aik." They persist in their cry, though he rates them for their ignorant stupidity in contradicting him, and counts out the money in his pocket to convince them that he received seven and not eight thalers. Enraged at their heedless croaking, "Aik, aik," he throws money into water, telling frogs to count it for themselves. He waits in vain for money to be returned, the frogs instead maintaining their opinion, "aik, aik;" and at last by evening is obliged to return home.—(2) After awhile he buys another cow, kills it, and calculates that the meat ought to fetch value of the two cows, and he would have the skin besides. At the gate of the town he finds a great troop of dogs, headed by a greyhound, who sniffs at the meat, barking "Wow, wow, wow." Peasant, who cannot silence greyhound, supposes he is asking for meat, and offers, if he will promise not to devour it, and to go bail for his companions, to leave it for him, saying that he knows dog's master, and if payment is not brought within three days the dog will rue it. He unloads meat and returns home; dogs fall upon it, barking. Hearing them from afar, he reflects that the big one is responsible to him. After three days, receiving no money, he goes to butcher to demand it. Butcher at first thinks he is joking about the dog, but afterwards grows angry, and drives peasant away with broomstick.—(3) Peasant goes to palace, and asks for audience with king. Complains that the frogs and dogs have taken his property, and butcher has paid him with a stick. King's daughter, who is present, laughs heartily, and king says he cannot give him justice, but he may have his daughter to wife, for she was promised to the man who could make her laugh. Peasant declines her, saying his wife at home is one too many for him. King is angry and calls him a boor, and peasant rejoins, what can one expect from an ox but beef?—(4) King promises another reward. If he returns in three days he shall have five hundred counted out in full. Sentry at the gate remarks to him that he will certainly have something good for making princess laugh, and, hearing that peasant is promised five hundred, asks for some of it. Peasant promises him two hundred, and tells him to claim it from king in three days.—(5) A Jew overhearing runs after peasant and offers to change the heavy thalers into small coin. Peasant says he will take the small coin at once, and the Jew can get payment from king in three days. Jew gives the sum in bad groschen.—(6) In three days peasant goes before king, who gives orders for
