THE GOOSE WITH THE GOLDEN EGGS 



(His wife rouses him) 

 What's that you say ? " It's dinner time " ! Did I doze in my chair ? 

 My word ! I've had an awful dream — a regular nightmare. 

 I dreamt — well, never mind, old girl — I hear the huntsman's horn — 

 There — see the pack come streaming out and right across our corn ! 

 What's that you say ? Put wire up ? Someone might get a fall : 

 I'd rather they'd ruin every crop than seem so mean and small ; 



/ mangle them, and tangle them, and roll them in the mire ? 



No I /'// not kill the goose with golden eggs — I'll take down all my wire ! 



197 



