Atondido Stories
The Story of a Man Who Didn't Beat His Wife
There was once a poor farm laborer, so poor that all he owned in
the world was a hen. He told his wife to take this hen to market
and sell it.
"How much shall I ask for it?" the woman wanted to know.
"Ask as much as they'll pay, of course," the laborer said.
So the woman took the hen by the feet and set out. Near the vil-
lage she met a farmer.
"Good day," the farmer said. "Where are you going with that
hen?"
"I'm going to market to sell it for as much as they'll pay me."
The farmer weighed the hen in his hand, pursed his lips, thought
a moment, and said:
"You better sell it to me. I'll pay you three pennies for it."
"Three pennies? Are you sure that's as much as you'll pay?"
"Yes," the farmer said, "three pennies is as much as I'll pay."
So the laborer's wife sold the hen for three pennies. She went on
to the village and there she bought a pretty little paper bag with
one of the pennies and a piece of ribbon with another penny. She
put the third penny into the bag, tied the bag with the ribbon,
slipped the ribbon on a stick, put the stick over her shoulder,
and then, feeling that she had done a very good day's work, she
tramped home to her husband.
When the laborer heard how stupidly his wife had acted, he
flew into a great rage and at first threatened to give her a sound
beating.
"Was there ever such a foolish woman in the world?" he
shouted angrily.
The poor woman, who by this time was snuffling and weep-
ing, whimpered out:
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