Then the red one looked and looked again, but he could tell no better
this time than he could 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.
Pages:
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27