Why the Sea is Salt (3)

Why the Sea is Salt (3)

An old man with a long white beard was standing in the shed, chopping logs.

" Good evening, " said the poor brother with the ham.

" Good evening to you, Where are you going at this late hour ? " asked the man.

" I am going to Dead Man's Hall, if only I am on the right track, " answered the poor brother.

" Oh ! yes, you are right enough, for it is here, " replied the old man.

" When you get inside they will all want to buy your ham, for they don't get much meat to eat there: but you must not sell it unless you can get the hand-mill which stands behind the door for it.
When you come out again I will teach you how to step the hand-mill, which is useful for almost everything. "

So the man with the ham thanked the old man for his good advice, and rapped at the door.

When he got in, everything happened just as the old man had said it would: all the people, great and small, came round him like ants on an ant-hill, and each tried to outbit the other for the ham.



" By right my wife and I ought to have it for our Christmas dinner, but since you have set your hearts upon it, I must just give it up to you, " said the poor man.
" But, if I sell it, I will have the hand-mill which is standing there behind the door. "

At first they would not hear of this, and hagged and bargained with the man, but he stuck to what he had said, and they were forced to five him the hand-mill.

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タグ：Why the Sea is Salt