old woman, come and meet
me!'

His wife only screamed out:

'You broomstick, come here! Your back shall pay for this.'

The man went into the cottage, hung his sack on a nail, and said, as the
crane had taught him:

'Two out of the sack.'

Instantly two pretty lads sprang out of the sack, brought in oak tables,
laid silken covers on them, and spread them with all sorts of delicious
dishes and refreshing drinks.

The woman ate and drank, and praised her husband.

'Well, now, old man, I won't beat you any more,' said she.

When they had done eating, the man carried off the good sack, and put
it away in his store-room, but hung the bad sack up on the nail. Then he
lounged up and down in the yard.

Meantime his wife became thirsty. She looked with longing eyes at the
sack, and at last she said, as her husband had done:

'Two out of the sack.'

And at once the two rogues with their big sticks crept out of the sack,
and began to belabour her as they sang:

'Would you beat your husband true?

Don't cry so!
Now we'll beat you black and blue!
Oh! Oh!'

The woman screamed out: 'Old man, old man! Come here, quick! Here are
two ruffians pommelling me fit to break my bones.'

Her husband only strolled up and down and laughed, as he said: 'Yes,
they'll beat you well, old lady.'

And the two thumped away and sang again:

'Blows will hurt, remember, crone,
We mean you well, we mean you well;
In future leave the stick alone,

For how it hurts, you now can tell,
One--two--'

At last her husband took pity on her, and cried:

'Two into the sack.'

He had hardly said the words before they were back in the sack again.

From this time the man and his wife lived so happily together that it
was a pleasure to see them, and so the story has an end.

(From Russiche Marchen.)

THE ENVIOUS NEIGHBOUR

Long, long ago an old couple lived in a village, and, as they had no
children to love and care for, they gave all their affection to a little
dog. He was a pretty little creature, and instead of growing spoilt and
disagreeable at not getting everything he wanted, as even children will
do sometimes, the dog was grateful to them for their kindness, and never
left their side, whether they were in the house or out of it.

One day the old man w