before. "It may be this and it may be that,"
said he. "Only shoot and be done with it, for they are waiting for me at
home."

"Yes, my friend," said Jacob, "that is all very good; only tell me what
it is and I will shoot."

"Thunder and lightning!" bawled the red one, _"I do not know what it
is!"_

"Then be off with you!" said Jacob, "for, since you cannot answer my
question, all is over between us two."

At this the red one had to leave Jacob, so he fled away over hill and
dale, bellowing like a bull.

As for Jacob and Gretchen, they went back home together, very well
pleased with each other and themselves.

And the meaning of all this is, that many another
man beside Jacob Boehm would find himself
in a pretty scrape only for his wife.

[Illustration: Jacob and Gretchen get the best of the Red One and go
home together happily.]

[Illustration: TWO OPINIONS. This is a full page illustrated poem
depicting the magpie in the poem, with the poem weaving through the
pictures.]

TWO OPINIONS

(Ye first opinion)

A noisy chattering Magpie once
A talking gabbling hairbrained dunce
Came by where a sign-post stood.
He nodded his head with a modish air
And said "good day" for he wasn't aware
That the sign-post pointing its finger there
Was only a block of wood.

Quoth he, "An exceedingly sultry day.
T'is more like June than the first of May."
The post said never a word.
"I've just dropped over from Lincolnshire.
My home is in the Cathedral Spire--
The air is cooler and purer the higher
You get--as you've doubtless heard."

So on he chattered with never a stop,
And on and on till you'd think he would drop.
(The post was dumb as your hat.)
But so as the pie could say his say
He didn't care whether it spoke all day;
For thus he observed as he walked away--
"An intelligent creature that."

(Ye second opinion)

Now once when the sky was pouring rain,
The Magpie chanced to come by again--
And there stood the post in the wet.
"Helloa." said the Magpie. "What you here
Pray tell me I beg is there sheltering near--
A terrible day for this time of the year.
T'would make a Saint Anthony fret."

"I beg your pardon--I didn't quite hear."
(Then louder) "I say is there sheltering near"
But the post was as dumb as Death.
"What can't you answer a question pray
You will not--No--Then I'll say good-day."
And flirting his tail he walked away.
"You'r a fool." (this under his breath.)