Peter Christen Asbjørnsen

“ When the bridge was ready, the lad was to stand down at its end and take toll of those who wanted to cross, and his mother bade him be sure not to let any one over unless they paid the toll. It was all the same, she said, if it were not always in money. Goods and wares were just as good pay. ”

“ But Matt was just as wise as when he set out, for he did not know the name any better the last than the first time.
"You are the same big fool, that you are," said the goody. "You won't do any better this time either. But now I'll just set off myself and fetch the girl home and get you married. Meanwhile you must fetch water up to the fifth plank all round the room, and wash it, and then you must take a little fat and a little lean, and the greenest thing you can find in the cabbage garden, and boil them all up together ”

“ So when he got to the spot where he had buried the parson the sheriff pulled out the billy-goat, and asked—
"Had your parson horns?"
Now when the judges heard the story, they made up their minds that the lad was quite out of his wits, and so he got off scot-free.
So after all the bridal was to stand, and the goody had a long talk with her son, and bade him be sure to behave prettily when they sat at table. He was not to look too much at the bride, but to cast an eye at her now and then. Peas he might eat by himself, but he must share the eggs with her ”

“ But now, you must set out and take no notice of any one you meet, for you must be off to woo a wife; and see if you can get some one who knows more of the ways of the world, and has a better head on her shoulders than yours. ”