صفحة 257 من 626

And now the little peasant and his wife had the cow for which

they had so long wished, and they were heartily glad, but they

had no food for it, and could give it nothing to eat, so it soon

had to be killed. They salted the flesh, and the peasant went

into the town and wanted to sell the skin there, so that he might

buy a new calf with the proceeds. On the way he passed by a mill,

and there sat a raven with broken wings, and out of pity he took

him and wrapped him in the skin. But as the weather grew so bad

and there was a storm of rain and wind, he could go no farther,

and turned back to the mill and begged for shelter. The miller's

wife was alone in the house, and said to the peasant: 'Lay

yourself on the straw there,' and gave him a slice of bread and

cheese.